John Constantine (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
scouserer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unknownseas2021-02-13 06:30 pm
scouserer) wrote in unknownseas2021-02-13 06:30 pm
(too late) you're at the party
[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.
First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]
meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.
A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.
But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]
First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.
A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.
But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]
no subject
Either way, Plumeria will start working on stitching the fabric for the bed together while B.B. goes off to the side for a moment. Plumeria is definitely listening, though, and she winds up nodding her head in response.]
I understand. Everything just kind of happened all at once, with little time but to try and keep ourselves alive. [it was so much???] It was as if she became someone else entirely, and if she'd still been herself...none of this would have happened. We probably would have been fine for a week.
[Plumeria's look goes a little frustrated.]
...I was so ready to be angry at the culprit. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind for not only killing, but for making me remember. But after learning all of that about her, it feels...wrong to.
no subject
After what happened, it really does just make things feel even more complicated.
no subject
Yes, it is. It's an unpleasant wound I really would have liked to keep closed.
[Plumeria's look goes downcast at that, some mix between just...down and frustrated. She's not entirely sure what it's specifically at; her own weakness? The trial and subsequent battle that took place? The idea of more people suffering because of this?
...
When did that start mattering for anyone other than Lady Freyja...? It's probably not important.]
...For what it's worth, I'm...sorry, that yours wasn't kind to you either. It's awful that this had to happen in the first place. But with everything else...well, it really does just make everything worse.
[Plumeria starts to get back to work after saying that, though.]
...If it is something you want to talk about, and if it will help, I wouldn't mind listening. Or if you simply wish to get something off your mind.
[Helping isn't exactly Plumeria's strong suit, but she at least wants to try, if she can.]
no subject
[He stops his stitching for the time being, because he's starting to worry that he's going to get stuck in his own thoughts and stab himself with the needle.]
I appreciate it, honey. And I certainly extend the same offer to you, if you need it. [...] Do you recall when I told you about my journey with the Luminary? About how our initial encounter with the Lord of Shadows went poorly? Well...we lost one of our group that day. She sacrificed herself so the rest of us would survive the collapse of Yggdrasil.
The Captain took away the memory of her death, so this morning was like reliving the realization that she had died all over again.
no subject
Curious, now, how Plumeria feels the same sort of fury welling in her as she hears that, and she looks to Sylvando.]
That callow Captain of ours shouldn't have even touched something like that.
[Plumeria's words are bitter, biting. Deeply angry, though very restrained compared to what she could say.]
...I apologize that he forced you to re-experience such a memory. That's completely horrific--from what you told me prior, it was already horrifying enough that your encounter with this Lord of Shadows went so terribly, but to lose someone so dear to you as a result and relive that...
[Plumeria has to put down her own needle, really, because her hands are clenching so tight at this point.]
It's an action as wretched as himself. And he'll pay for it--along with what he's done to the others.
no subject
I appreciate it, Merry darling, and I couldn't agree more. The Captain is going to pay, one way or another. Even Davy darling is going to have to get in line with the rest of us once we've finally gotten the Captain against the ropes.
[Though he tries to keep his trademark positive tone, there's definitely a simmering fury underneath.]
no subject
...You know what, sure. Plumeria listens to Sylvando, though, noting his tone. It's strange to hear him still try to be so positive--he must be furious himself, isn't he? Or...maybe he's just trying to hold it in for the Captain. It's strange, at any rate, but Plumeria nods her head, electing not to comment.]
Of course. It'll be a shame for Mr. Jones, but he has been inflicting all of this suffering upon us; we absolutely get first punch. Each and every one of us left, and perhaps even some for our fallen.
[Plumeria can definitely get behind it, at any rate, the fury in her tone all the more apparent. It's mixed with spite; deep spite for that man's existence. He'll absolutely pay, by the time we're done.
...Even so, it does simmer down after, and Plumeria is...quiet, for a good long moment. Considering, really, but...when she speaks up again, the furious fire has died out entirely, and her tone is a little more quiet.]
...I would not mind talking about my memory, but--I must forewarn that it isn't pleasant. And I would ask you not to speak of it to anyone else. Would that be quite alright?
no subject
Then Plumeria mentions her own memory, and he turns his attention back to her.]
Of course, honey. Your memory will be safe with me. I'm more than willing to listen, if you think it would help getting it out there.
cw: child abuse, abandonment, being wished death upon
...Thank you. I truly appreciate it.
[Plumeria puts down her own sewing for a moment, not looking at Sylvando, but just...taking a bit of a deep breath.]
...My relationship with my Mother has never been particularly good. Ever since my Father left us when I was young, she was forced to raise me on her own. I was always such a useless child to her; all I seemed to be able to do was get in her way and mess things up. She yelled at me often. "If it weren't for you, I'd be happy," and...
"I wish you'd just die."
[Plumeria's gaze, at this point, is just...out into nowhere in particular, and it's kind of blank.]
...The memory I lost was of my Mother tossing me into a well, and leaving me behind to be with another man.
cw cont.
By the end of her story, his hand has instinctively reached toward Plumeria's.]
I'm so sorry. [His voice is gentle, respectful.] No matter what your mother might have thought or said, you didn't deserve that, not one bit. To say nothing of the Captain forcing back into your mind, fresh as if it had just happened.
[That awful man really is going to pay.]
...Is that when you met Lady Freyja?
cw cont.
Gods. The blank look gives way to something angry, something in agreement with those words.]
No disagreement from me. I spent so long wanting to make her proud, just once...I didn't realize how useless of an endeavor that was.
[Trivia: Plumeria has long wished to become a hero, so that she could make her mother proud.
Plumeria does look over when Sylvando mentions Lady Freyja, though, pausing for a moment before nodding her head.]
...We did meet before, but...after Mother did that much, Lady Freyja took me in permanently after what happened.
[She's sidestepping a bit here, if mostly due to just...not wanting to get into that much, but--]
It's because of Lady Freyja that I finally found a purpose. And I could not be more thankful, that she treated me so kindly and allowed me to become who I am. I'm...no longer that useless little girl, not anymore.
cw cont. just in case!
That's truly admirable, honey. From what I've seen, you really are a strong woman, and you carry the poise of a true knight. I wish your mother could have seen that.
[Plumeria is rough around the edges and her disdain for mortals is...problematic...but the dedication that she has for her queen speaks volumes. It's obvious to Sylvando that she really does try very hard.]
I'm so glad that you're in a better place where you have nothing to hold you back from shining bright.