maskormenacelogs | well, some nights I wish that this all would end

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well, some nights I wish that this all would end

WHO: REGGIE MANTLE and ASSORTED.
WHERE: Various places!
WHEN: (Mostly) backdated to the first week of April.
WHAT: Reggie encounters a few disturbingly familiar strangers... among other things.
WARNINGS: Probable references to/mentions of underage drug use or drinking, canon-typical death/violence, and/or sexual implications. Will ETA as necessary!

KITTY JONES ▸ CASHING IN MY BAD LUCK | PULLPOINT

[ Reggie is not exactly a stranger to so-called "bad" neighborhoods these days anyway, because his cowardice all too frequently plays second fiddle to his impulsive poor decision-making. No one should wander around anywhere at night with pockets full of cash and painkillers, but leave it to Reggie Mantle to be reckless and desperate enough to find himself doing just that so he can turn that cash into fuel for another fix -- a common mistake in result of being too singularly focused to apply common sense to his actions. Between his sharp haircut and clothing he looks like someone who would be carrying money, too, despite the sullen way he slouches while he walks or his unfocused, dead-eyed gaze.

Despite his nerves and paranoia, Reggie is distracted tonight, lulled into the mental trap that routine can present where someone expects things to play out the same every time if they've done it enough times. His hands are buried in his pockets, expression blank but wary as surveys the area trying to determine which direction to go in or who to talk to, then pushes impatiently past a young girl when he finally makes a decision. ]

[ Like he's one to talk; it sure is a school night for him. ]

DICK GRAYSON ▸ BETTER THAN BEING IGNORED | PULLPOINT

[ With his attention so fixed on his phone the way it is it's amazing Reggie can see where he's walking at all, but somehow he seems to manage going forward in a relatively straight line without crashing into things. Or maybe it's just one of those essential skills teenagers pick up through practice or osmosis.

Regardless, he does look up at some point, having seen something out of the corner of his eye that merits a double-take. Well, someone, rather -- a stranger that's still weirdly familiar in some way, and it distracts Reggie enough trying to stare and figure out why he's familiar that now he crashes, getting hit hard in the face by a door as someone exits a store right in front of him. ]

[ Thanks a lot, handsome stranger, now he's going to get a black eye. ]

Ow.

ELSA BRANDT ▸ LEFT HIM FROZEN IN THE SPRING | POST-PULLPOINT

[ It's been a rough couple of weeks, and though Reggie doesn't have many people here he would (or could) really call "friends," those that might come close have been... well, some manner of unreachable as of late. Between Sasha disappearing and whatever the hell happened to Elsa, things had not only been a little more isolated than normal -- not that Reggie doesn't extend the effort to isolate himself half the time -- but also weird, unpleasant and confusing.

Par for the course around here in a way, but not in the way Reggie is used to. Maybe part of it is the damage to the ego being forgotten or ignored results in, but there's something else, too, that's harder to place -- a general, sinking anxiety that just orbits Reggie as he continues to flip-flop indecisively between being uncomfortable or relieved at how much more powerless each passing day makes him feel... basically, it's complicated. It both sucks feeling like life is totally out of control, and feels nice not to have to worry about responsibility or fault.

When he isn't out distracting himself through work, school, or otherwise, he spends a lot of time holed up in his room surrounded by dark and silence, usually in some state of sedation so he doesn't devour himself with his own nerves and paranoia. Today, though, Reggie can't tolerate being stuck inside, no matter how tempting it always is to just stay in and avoid reality -- but he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of going to school either. He doesn't really know where to go or what to do, so he takes off outside in some random direction until his legs and feet start to get sore, assuming maybe they'll know better where to go than he does. ]

SASHA BLOUSE ▸ LEAVING ISN'T WHAT I CAME HERE FOR | POST-PULLPOINT

[ It had been difficult dealing with Sasha leaving again, as much as Reggie tried not to react or be affected. He is, of course, more sensitive and emotive than he would freely admit, partially because he is a teenager and also capable of general empathy, despite once again how he presents himself. After what he's done and lost before, he's even more violently resistant than usual to allowing expectations to build up, either his own or anyone else's of him.

It's an impossible standard to maintain that's only, ultimately, twisting up his thoughts even more, but mental traps are always like that -- they seem like they'll help, but only mask the destructive consequences behind what seems like coping mechanisms. Stupid to get attached. Stupid to get invested. Stupid to get upset. This world may be a reprieve of sorts, but it doesn't actually matter. The people don't matter. Yet, the reality that does matter isn't exactly one he's able to cling to, either.

Since Sasha has come back, Reggie is spared from having to really address that sense of loss again, which is something of a relief. He doesn't even mind that she wants to postpone seeing him due to illness, because it buys him time to reign his emotions back, more under his own control -- at least he didn't mind until he saw Sasha at school looking totally fine as far as he could tell, and if there's anything that can ruffle him in a hurry it's the idea he's being deliberately avoided. Not just that, either, but it's what eats at him the most throughout the day until he decides to find her after school and finally confront the situation. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sasha doesn't know how she's gotten through her classes at all, but half the time she doesn't feel like she's quite there physically or mentally, spacing off more than usual or drifting into sleep when she was actually trying her hardest to stay awake. Though she's been faring better the past week, there's something much more comforting about rolling under her covers with the blinds pulled down and window shut to keep the noise away. It's why she's walking pretty fast down the hall, deliberating simply teleporting herself into bed. However, she manages to remind herself she's been cooped up for too long in her bedroom and the fresh air and sun could do her some good. After being stuck in classes all day, a change of scenery would be lovely right about now.

It helps her take her mind off certain things — home, for one. Every time she's dared to think about it her stomach recoils and her head starts buzzing. Her heart races, too, leaving her feeling breathless and dizzy and nauseated all at once. It leaves her feeling skittish and unlike herself, something she's come to hate in the past couple of weeks — the lack of control she appears to have over herself since her return. There's nothing more she wants than to feel like her proper self again.

But that's not yet. When she hears Reggie from behind her, the inflection in his voice, and when she peers over her shoulder to see his expression she jumps and starts walking faster. ]

Wrong person. So sorry!

[ Did that just happen? Did she seriously-- ]

Oh, hell no.

[ He mutters aggressively under his breath, brows bunching thickly with his frown as he grinds his molars and starts walking faster, too. ]

Sasha! I know that's you! [ He's not in as good a shape as he used to be, so she still maintains a decent lead on him for now. ] You think I can't tell when someone's ghosting me?! Sasha!

I'm —

[ She feels so embarrassed to have been caught like this in the open, but rather than do the sensible thing and turn around and face him Sasha keeps walking ahead. Maybe she should teleport and if he texts her later she can claim he was seeing a mirage.

The two of them and their strange, anti-climatic chase garners the attention of fellow schoolmates who pause whatever they're doing to stare. Sasha's shoulders pinch and she tries to sink her head down as much as possible before the attention is too much and she turns around, raising both hands to placate Reggie's vexation. ]

D-don't make a scene! Everyone is staring...

[ Huffing a little both from being irritated and a bit winded, Reggie stops short and stares Sasha down when she turns, hands clenched into indignant fists at his sides.

She has a point, and he avoids glancing around so as not to feel embarrassed or self-conscious about the outburst, which to be fair took him by surprise probably almost as much as it did her... it had just sort of come out without him even thinking it through. ]

Fine. [ His voice is lower, body language tense but not aggressive, though his hands do shake a little as he tries to repress... whatever. ] So what gives? You get back and suddenly now you're avoiding me?

[ Her stomach flips and flops uncomfortably following his accusation. She continues to shake both hands back and forth, gesticulating he's got it all wrong, but that guilty look in her eyes betrays her expression. ]

No... it isn't like that.

[ She looks to the side to see some students still eyeballing them, whispering to each other. Her face reddens. ]

Didn't I tell you? I got very sick... I didn't want you or anyone else catching it.

Bullsh-- [ Jaw clenching, Reggie stops himself, finally glaring over his shoulder at their spectators and gesturing angrily at them. ] What are you looking at?! This is a private conversation!

[ But by the time he looks back at Sasha a lot of the anger has fled his expression, replaced by something more like a sullen pout. ]

I know a brush-off when I see it, okay? You ain't exactly original. [ He pauses, glancing down at his feet for a long moment, then back up at her. ] We were fine before, weren't we? What's so wrong with me now?

Edited 2016-04-15 06:14 (UTC)

[ She can't help but flinch when he tells off the students hovering nearby. Even when they disperse she still feels like their eyes are on her and she wants to shrink back and disappear from their line of vision entirely. Her heart skips another beat as she reaches to grab Reggie's hand, her own shaking slightly. ]

Nothing is wrong with you. It's not you. [ Not in that sense anyway. She wanted to tell someone, maybe get some of this overbearing guilt off her chest, but she can't shake that telling Laurie or Reggie will somehow alter their opinion of her for the worse. They might understand, they might not... and that's where she falters. ] W-we should talk somewhere private... there's too many people.

[ Reggie flinches too, but when Sasha puts her hand on his; it happens without him even thinking, that slight jerk away before he forces himself to relax, which isn't easy with such a heavy cloud of dread suddenly hanging over him. He doesn't know what's going on here, but he has such a bad feeling about it -- he bites down hard on his tongue to physically restrain himself from saying something stupid. ]

Like I'm supposed to believe that. It's always me. [ He stares at her, trying to somehow gauge what her expression is supposed to mean. ] You got a better place then, or are we just gonna call it a day?

[ Having not expected him to pull away from her touch like that, Sasha's expression drops quickly, a mix of hurt and paranoia seeping into her expression. She pulls her hands close to her chest initially, her eyes falling to the floor before she looks back up and reaches for his hand again, slowly this time. ]

We can go to my and Laurie's apartment. [ Her hand continues to shake, warm and somewhat sweaty now, as she takes his and holds onto it tightly. It's only for the next few seconds anyway. ] Um, hold tight. I'll teleport us.

[ She knows he isn't too fond of it, so she figures the heads up is necessary before she does it. ]

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