Everyone Has Bad Days

Everyone Has Bad Days
5 December 2019
Anchorage, AK, United States
Movement. Right peripheral.
Raleigh. Looks tense, twitchy, half-exhausted, something else. Fumbles with boot laces.
Wave 'continue' to trainees doing katas. Jog over. Hand on shoulder. 'Hold up. You okay?'
Shakes head. ::Need distractin'. Mind's ....:: Small shudder.
Ah. Haunted. Nod. Tug him up straight.
Raleigh sags. Smiles. Still twitches.
::Wanna go somewhere 'n talk?::
Nods hard.
Smile. ::One minute.:: Grab a LOCCENT officer with good form, pull to front of group. 'Your turn.'
LOCCENT officer looks panicked.
Pat his back, smile 'you'll do fine.'
He smiles back weakly. "If you say so ...."
Raleigh bounces near entrance.
::Café?::
Nods.
Arm around shoulder. 'Lead on.' Match steps to first corner.
Steps stop. Damp eyes. ::You mean it about hugs?:: Looks over.
Nod. Open arm.
Steps closer. Squeezes. Drops head on shoulder. Shudders. Relaxes slowly. Breathing evens. Head flicks. Hears something. Turns.
Glance over his shoulder: The Gages.
Bruce: "So glad the higher ups are done exhaustin' us—Becket?" Wrinkle between his eyes. "Why're you huggin' the Bunny?"
Trevin, hovering behind. ::Hey, Bunny.::
Raleigh: ::Ye know how I get twitchy sometimes?::
Tilt an imaginary hat.
Bruce: "Yeah."
Raleigh: ::He's huggy and gives good ones.::
Bruce: "Oh, yeah. Forgot to mention, you two's signin' looks funny compared to a friend's back home."
Raleigh: ::It's British Sign Language, not ASL.::
Tug Raleigh's sleeve. 'Need an excuse?'
Raleigh shakes his head.
Bruce: ::We're probably a bit rusty in the signin' department.::
Trevin: ::Met this girl surfin'. Bein' deaf's no problem on the waves unless it's an inner ear thing 'n messes with your balance.::
Bruce: ::We picked it up 'cause she was a good teacher.::
Trevin: ::It was actually 'cause she was cool—::
Bruce blushes. ::We're gonna go crack each other's skulls. Wanna join us?::
Shake head.
Raleigh shakes his head. ::Nah. We were just steppin' out.::
Bruce and Trevin nod in sync. Move toward Kwoon.
::Let's go.::
Nods.
Arm around shoulder. Match steps back to his quarters.
Raleigh grabs his jacket. Offers Yancy's.
Pull it on. Wrap up in the spare scarf. Match steps to the taxi stand. Pile in. Stay awake. Stay awake. Stay awake. Manage it. Pay. Pile out. Match steps to the café. Steer Raleigh to booth at the back. Wave to Madison the Barista.
"The usual for you 'n Shy Becket?"
Nod.
"You got it." Shoos you away. "Go and don't get stepped on."
Grin. Return to booth, pull out phone. Smile at Raleigh. Text:
p_a_vos: gonna mess tstng
not_a_monkey: y?
p_a_vos: rawlee nds hlp
p_a_vos: chuck?
not_a_monkey: whatever. boss's gonna b mad.
p_a_vos: i'll deel
p_a_vos: l8r!
Shadow across the table.
Madison: "One mug of crude, one chai latte for the married cutie and his quiet friend."
Beam in thanks.
Raleigh: "Thank you."
Off she goes.
::What's happening?::
::Yancy ... Triton messed him up. I thought .... It brought back old habits.:: Lays hands flat on the table.
This seems very familiar ... Lightcap? Nod for now.
::But he's scared! He doesn't have to be scared anymore! He-he didn't sleep for three days watching over me, he's starting scuffles if someone so much as mumbles. Makes breakfast--doesn't eat half of it and sets it on my plate. It's like living a flashback—I'm worried about him. That puts my mind into overdrive, rattles the Drift ....:: Shoulders slump. Sighs. Pulls up sleeves. Tilts arms.
Scars. Lots of 'em. Wait for him to go on.
::I'm not gonna kill myself. I'm just thinking ....:: Pauses. ::If I'd managed it, he wouldn't be here. Wouldn't be a Ranger. Wouldn't worry about winding up like Triton's pair.::
::If you'd managed he'd be messed up worse.:: Pause. ::Coffee:: Smile.
Raleigh startles at the mug. Sips anyway. Holds it for a long while.
Take a drink. ::Drink.::
::Right. Thanks.:: Mug just touches the table. ::Yan's lost a lot. I don't—he doesn't—he can't lose any more.::
::Breathe.::
Throat stutters. ::I—what if I lost him? He's part of me. Was before the Drift, too.:: Hands twitch. ::I'd be lost.::
::Hopefully we win, you two find partners, retire, buy little houses next door to each other, and raise herds of kids.::
Smiles. ::You've got a head start on us.::
Warmth. ::Got lucky.:: Grin. ::He's got his eye on someone.::
Blinks.
::He's pining.::
Raises eyebrows.
::Has the look.:: No more warmth. ::Same as me.:: Ribbons. Ribbons are good. Find ribbons. ::Hope it works out for him. He's a good guy. Deserves all the happiness he can get.::
::He really does.::
::You do, too.::
Looks down. Knuckles white.
Tap the table. ::Trust me. I know good people when I see them.::
Shakes head.
::Go ahead and not believe me. Still true.:: Grin. ::Refill?::
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