House meeting

[no_reload]

Who: Reaper (no_reload), Fern (laminae), Luz (imaglyphwitch), Luca (schoolingfish), Varian (droptheious)
What: Disaster House has a meeting
When: Beginning of November
Where: Disaster House in Cassandra

Content Warnings: Will add as they come up.


[Reaper had taken his time with recovery, which left him trapped in his room for a few days. When it seemed that he could get around without having long episodes of shortness of breath, he appeared more downstairs. That's where he happened to be, settled into a chair with the other occupants of the house.

He knew they had questions, knew that most of them would have to do with Lance's outburst on the network. That wasn't the kid's fault; they didn't always control their Omens. And Lance had been circling the drain for years now, barely holding on. Not the kid's fault. For as long as he had known Lance, the kid had been teetering on the edge of a mental crisis.

However, this wasn't about Lance right now. This was about the household where he resided, and many of the youngsters who lived in it. As the eldest, he knew that his position here was the most tenuous.

So Reaper sat quietly, one ankle crossed over his other knee. He remained in comfortable black clothing, and while situations like these usually had him wearing his mask, he had decided against it. Instead, his scarred face was bare, though he kept his hood up to cover most of his white hair. His gloved hands were folded in his lap, thumbs clasping the mask that he would normally wear. Instead, it lightly tapped against his thigh.]

So, I suppose we should call this meeting to order, hmm?

Comments

[droptheious]

[Varian made plenty of mistakes even without Deerington's influence, it's put him in a position where he at least understands mistakes are just those...mistakes. Something that shouldn't be held over a person forever. ]

I don't think anyone would have wanted that aired publicly.

[He exhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. ]

I mean what he was talking about- Lance said you'd tortured him.

[no_reload]

[He shrugged his shoulders. He was secretive enough to be uncomfortable with past action thrown out there, but he had had enough investigations to his behaviour to know it was bound to happen eventually. He liked it as much now as he did back then. And he remained unapologetic.]

No. However, it's out and I'll deal with the fall out as it comes.

[Reaper loosely folded his arms over his chest, and he stared right at Varian, even raising an eyebrow.]

And?

[droptheious]

[Varian might not judge for past actions, but being COMPLETELY unapologetic about it is a different beast. This is what caused a rift between him and Maul way back, and Reaper's demeanour definitely drops some ice in the teen's expression.]

And? What happened? Was it this place? Or was it something else? Do you...actually care?

[no_reload]

[Did he care? He would be lying if he said he didn't, but it was far more complicated and there was a lot of history between himself and Lance. He could tell that Varian was already ramping up with disapproval.

His eyes narrowed slightly, considering how much information he wanted to divulge.]

He murdered a dear friend of mine. I sought revenge and punished us both for such a transgression. [He grunted and shook his head.] My emotional response surrounding Lance is complicated. So is his to me.

[droptheious]

Okay.

[It's breathed quietly. Having a reason helps. It's not a great one, but Varian has indulged in revenge for the loss of a loved one. If someone lashed out for him killing someone they cared about...well, he wouldn't really be able to blame them. ]

Revenge just...it just makes more revenge, you know that right? But...I get why. And I can understand why it's complicated. [And because he knows that Reaper plays his cards only too close to his chest:] Thank you for telling me.

[no_reload]

[Reaper thought of himself as a bit of a different person back then. He didn't have friends, few allies, and he kept to himself on purpose. Losing Moira had been a massive blow to him, since she was the only one that he fully trusted. That it had been broadcast and that it had been Lance made it far, far more complicated.

He had lost a lot of good soldiers, friends, and allies in the past. Moira had always weathered the storm and stood with him. To lose her was to lose everything as far as he was concerned. His last chance at normalcy or just plain a death that would stick.]

Revenge is a cycle I've been living since my first death. Back then, it was all I had. [And that was saying more than he usually would. If Varian wanted more answers for his reasons, he would be more willing in private.]

[droptheious]

[It's something Varian can understand. Being that close to someone- after all, he tore the kingdom apart when he thought he'd lost his father. ]

...I can understand that. It- well, sometimes it takes time to learn you can have more than that. That...that's not all that there is? [He doesn't push, though. Reaper provided him comfort and privacy on the boat, he can only do the same here, too. ] I hope it feels less like that for you now.

[no_reload]

[It had taken him a lot of time to allow himself to have more than revenge. It helped that Deerington had stolen it from him, and after fuddling around for a few years, he finally just allowed himself the start of an actual life. It remained complicated because he liked it that way, but all the same, it was something.]

I came to Trench to move beyond my revenge. [He came back because he could have his cake and eat it too, so to speak.] I have more than revenge now.

[droptheious]

[Oh, Reaper. Varian's expression softens a little. ]

I'm...I'm really glad to hear you have more of that now. You...deserve more than that- I think we all do, really. You know, finding stuff...beyond this. Beyond that.

[no_reload]

[He snorted softly, shaking his head. What he deserved was probably a lot less respect and potential happiness. But there was no point harping on that.]

Don't worry. I'll find something new to have revenge on. [He gave a cheeky wink to take the edge off the words.] Everyone deserves to make a life for themselves. Let's hope we make better choices than before.

[droptheious]

[That was Varian's go-to when people told him he deserved better. He can't be fooled so easily.]

Oh, I have no doubt of that. [The wink sure helps, and Reaper gets a lopsided smirk for his efforts. ] That's the best we can do, really, I...I think. Try to make better choices than we did before.

[no_reload]

[Reaper also had little belief that he deserved anything but a slow and painful final death. How he managed to grudgingly find happiness with this band of teenagers and kids and have friends and a lover was beyond him. Probably just part of a dream that would turn nightmare.]

At least you have those that will keep you on the straight and narrow these days.

[droptheious]

[Reaper lucked out, Varian doesn't understand it for himself, either. He's always waiting for the other shoe to drop in that regard. ]

I do that, I'm...pretty glad for them. They keep me grounded. You're one of them, you know. Just...so you're aware.

[no_reload]

[He didn't consider himself as close to the teens and kids that he lived with, not compared to how they were likely close to each other.]

And make sure you eat, sleep and bathe... and talk about your feelings.

[droptheious]

[Varian raises his eyes skyward, letting out a groan.]

Oh my goooood, okay. I am doing those things. [Is he? Is he really?]

[no_reload]

Daily.

[Just to make the timeline of expectation clear.]

You need frequent reminders, if I remember correctly.

[droptheious]

[Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy is this happening to him?

(Because he's terrible at looking after himself, that's why).]

Maybe!!! Maybe I just get... distracted by other things.

[no_reload]

Hence why you require reminders. Your hyperfixation is not unusual.

[Reaper was used to it. He probably didn't dedicate as much time as he should to poking Varian for healthier living, but that was partially Fern's responsibility as 'The Boyfriend'.]

[droptheious]

I...

Okay, I can't really disagree with that.

[Fern makes sure he goes to sleep, that's a herculean effort all in itself. ]

[no_reload]

Oh I know. Moira was the same. I'd bring her food and she'd make a point of throwing it in the garbage while staring me in the eye.

[He smirked and stroked blackened fingers over his goatee.]

She stopped when I picked her up and took her to the soldier's mess hall and made her sit with us. It only took three occasions.

[droptheious]

Oh wow! That's a whole new level of spite! At least I do eat what's brought to me.

[Mostly. He still needs to be reminded about it, but he still eats it!]

Fern's good at that one. Luz too. They like to make sure I...uh. Eat meals. With people. For some reason.

[Probably due to the being needed to be reminded to eat thing, Varian.]

[no_reload]

Oh it was, and I enjoyed every moment of it. [He smirked at the memory then went serious again.] Is that so? The last time I brought you a simple sandwich, I had to sit down and stare at you until you ate it.

[He knew the need for investment in one's work, but Reaper also knew the best way for results was either staring or knocking things off a table to smash on the floor. He and Varian thankfully hadn't reached smashing stuff stage.]

Yes well, next time I make dinner, I'm just carrying you up to the table. Good luck fighting me, pool noodle.

[droptheious]

But I still ate it!! Eventually!!

[The smashing stage would sure make a whole lot of something happen. Probably yelling. Mostly yelling. ]

Pfffft, I think I could get away if I really wanted to.

[Varian, no.]

[no_reload]

Eventually shouldn't be a word associated with the basics of life.

[He was more bemused than anything. He knew Varian wouldn't change, but it was more about management.]

Oh, challenge accepted, Varian....

[droptheious]

But it does mean I do it at some point.

[He already has so many regrets, but he's in too deep now.]

Pfffft, if you say so.