intervention (closed)

[bloodbathing]

WHO: carolina, drake holloway, ephemera, and maine. later, wash.
WHERE: ye ol' abandoned warehouse
WHEN: 26 may 2512
WHAT: an intervention
NOTES OR WARNINGS: violence, emotional trauma, emeto (labeled)

1. The Gathering
   
2. The Reveal
   
3. The New Target
   
4. The Aftermath
   
5. The Healing Hands

Comments

[braveoff]

[ ...well that's not a reaction Drake's had before when his power wears off. He winces, stepping forward but then remembering Carolina talking about how comforting Maine was the wrong move for him. He holds still, looking to Ephemera.

He wants to apologize before they go, but maybe they should let Carolina handle this. She looks pretty unsteady, though. He changes course and goes to check on her. Give Maine a minute to gather himself. ]

Hey, you hit the wall pretty hard, are you sure you're okay?

[requiemshark]

[ Later, Ephemera knows the adrenaline's going to dump and he'll feel shaky, possibly even sick. Expecting a fight, to find blood on the ground. This feels too easy and he does not trust easy things. And there's a part of him that sees Maine doubled over and thinks, that's your chance. Get him. Break his skull open. Get him.

He spits on the ground. And he collapses the baton without a word. ]

[leaderboards]

[ maine's sick and carolina looks away with a wince that hurts far more than a wince should. she wants to help him, wants to offer some reassurance or comfort, but she doesn't know where to start. he's a difficult person to comfort and she's more upset than she wants to be that things played out like this, that he wouldn't listen to her to begin with.

she shoves all those thoughts to the backburner as drake approaches her, waving the hand that isn't attached to a shoulder that makes her want to scream when she moves it in a dismissive gesture. she's still shy of maine. thinks she needs to be. ]

I'll be fine. [ it's not "I'm fine," which is growth, for her. she's very visibly not fine right now and she knows it.

besides, she's had worse. carolina looks to ephemera, her expression furrowed, before her gaze settles on drake. ]

Are you two alright?

[braveoff]

[ Don't mind Drake, he's just peering at her pupils... he thinks she might have a concussion but if she's saying she'll be fine he knows better than to push. He nods. ]

I'm fine, he didn't touch me.

[ He glances back at Ephemera, who did get hit. ]

You okay?

[requiemshark]

Fine.

[ The blow staggered him, but he doesn't feel it much. There'll be a bruise when the adrenaline finally kicks it, but he isn't feeling it yet and doesn't care to start.

He gives a single curt nod. ]

[bloodbathing]

[ Distantly, Maine is aware that the others are talking. He's aware that he still doesn't understand why Drake and (especially) Ephemera are here. He's aware that this is no coincidence. That this was a trap. None of that matters right now.

Slowly, shakily, Maine collects himself. Recovers enough to wipe his lips and step away from his own sick. Moves not toward the others, but to a wall. Something solid to lean against. Something to steady him. He presses his back against it and closes his eyes. Tries to keep breathing despite the shooting pains and the storm in his mind.

He attacked Carolina. He tried to kill her again.

This is what he is now. ]

[leaderboards]

[ carolina gives a nod for drake's answer, and quiet gratitude for ephemera's: ] Thank you for stepping in.

[ it wasn't for her, she knows that. but it means that drake didn't get hurt because carolina asked him for a favour and she's grateful. her mistakes have gotten enough people hurt in the past and she doesn't need to add drake to her list. ]

I'm— [ movement interrupts her and for a moment she tracks maine, makes sure he's just going to lean against something and not to leave. she doesn't want to have to stop him again, but she would. ]

Drake. [ maine's staying. she can finish thanking her allies. ] I know this didn't go as planned, but I'm really glad your power works with his. I owe you more than one for this.

[braveoff]

[ Drake follows her gaze to Maine, but he isn't leaving, just leaning. That's okay. Focus back on Carolina, he reaches up and grips her shoulder gently, pulling her in for a careful hug. When he speaks his voice is low so only she can hear him. ]

Maybe now he'll realize people who know him will also know how to handle this best. Good luck, Carolina. Send him back my way before you go, okay?

[ He pulls back, careful to avoid activating the bond without her permission, and heads back to Ephemera to check him over more closely. ]