unpocoloco | Daybreak IC Inbox

[With the call complete, (and only a little bit of grinning and silent snickering at Maverick's bottle trouble) he picks up where they left off.]

Mousie has me thinking someone small, quiet, possibly likes cheese. Those are vauge and broad descriptors you know.

[He takes up a bottle for himself and settles back in that cleared out space. He shows off with his effortless removal of the top.]

But the mouse is a he and has a girlfriend. Hm. Still got nothing, I don't keep up with all the romantic antics you kids get into.

[you got lucky is all........ he'll drown his inadequacies in booze.]

Yeah? I think of a skittering little shit that squeaks and panics, running off before you can do any fucking thing about it. Fluffy little fucker with a surprisingly mean set of teeth. That help?

[He opens his mouth, closes it, opens it again. Then he frowns, brows furrowing. He... does have a better idea, but if he says it, that feels cruel. And worse, if he's wrong, he's going to look like the ass here.

He makes a fave at Maverick, just so it's clear the trap he's been put in and how much he doesn't like it before he speaks.]

Mmmmokay. But he's been doing better.

... besides the girlfriend troubles I guess.

[haha yeah... that's what happens when you play with Maverick.]

Oh, for sure. I'm really...fucking proud of him, actually. Even the breaking up with Florida Woman thing, that's -- I think it's good for him. He's taking care of himself. I feel like...

[He hesitates, bringing the bottle back up to his lips but not drinking again just yet,]

If he can do it, I can do it. So I wanna see him while he's fucking doing it. He says he wants to, though -- move here, if they let him off the leash.

[Florida woman! He knows that one!

... Wow, he didn't know those two were dating. He doesn't see how that one worked. Except it didn't.

And then his expression is softening out of that surprise. His head tilts Maverick's way.]

You can do it. Both of you can.

[He's sure of it. The confidence comes easy. He smiles just a little.]

I think that sounds like a good plan though. And I'm really hoping they follow through on letting him free. He's definitely earned it... and it sounds like the both of you have gotten back on better terms. I'm glad to hear that.

[It was simultaneously a mess and something that made sense, which isn't exactly something Mav can judge, given his own love life or even just relationships in general. He rolls his eyes and tries to shrug off the comments. Come on, he hasn't had enough yet for this kind of talk, it's all too embarrassing...]

No shit? He realized I wasn't the fucking enemy and I actually knew what the fuck I was talking about, of course things are better. Only... [Now Maverick frowns again, more worried and contemplative than his previous uncaring show.] He doesn't remember who Cricket is. I know his memory's shit, and he doesn't like thinking about things that get complicated, but that's a whole new level...

I asked Cricket if it was something he did -- like another Contract. I could see that, you know? Fucking dumbass. But he didn't know anything about it. You ever see Mousie forget something big like that?

[He just gives a pointed look when Maverick rolls his eyes. He knows you've got your act, tough guy.

He pauses in drinking, lowering his bottle down when Maverick speaks of forgetting. He's heard of people being forgotten. Maverick himself held an example with his parents. He shakes his head, brow furrowing.]

He's always sort of had trouble hanging on to things. Like you said, his memory isn't that good and he gets overwhelmed. But it was always little things... people he didn't talk to much.

[Even with the traumatic, simply forgetting a person but remembering things around that person, he's not sure how that works.]

I don't know. It's something I'd see a doctor for but I wouldn't know how to bring that forward.

Yeah. I fucking dunno...

[With a heavy sigh and a free hand running through his hair, he goes back to his drink.]

Like I didn’t have enough shit I had to talk to him about already... I dunno how to bring up the — the whole “my boyfriend magicked you into fucking trying to drown yourself” thing. Or if I should... He’s better about not just saying the shit he needs to keep quiet, though. And he should fucking know?

That's really tough. I don't know what the best thing is either.

[He's had answers in some cases. Not in this one.]

It could set him back, telling him that. Whatever he thinks of it, and then to say nothing of how he'll react to your boyfriend when he's just gotten away from a watch.

But he should know. Not to mention, the longer you wait to tell him, the worse it might look. However you do it, it's going to take some crazy delicacy. And it might still go bad.

[Maverick groans before making a valiant effort to down the rest of the bottle, I don't know how possible this is because I have no idea what they'd be drinking tbh. Anyway, this is bullshit!!!]

Here I thought I knew better than to get fucking sucked into drama... No accounting for shitty luck, I guess.

[It's an effort aborted as Héctor reaches over and carefully tilts the bottle back to a reasonable angle. He brought these drinks for a good time not a drowning of sorrows. At least let them get some enjoyment out first.]

There's always going to be something, mijo. Probably even if you took off to be a buddhist monk in the mountains, but especially here, at this school. Especially as long as you care about people.

[And Maverick cares a lot.]

I guess... get him some support to sit with, figure out what you're going to say beforehand, maybe wait until he's settled here so he doesn't blow his own chances. Try not to blame yourself if things go south anyway and know it was for the best. Make sure you've got something lined up for yourself because it's going to be terrible either way.

[wow way to harsh the vibes, old man... maybe he's just thirsty, did you ever think of that? of course you didn't.]

Gosh, I feel so fucking encouraged.

[also he doesn't care, shut up!!!]

Anyway... I fucking said I was gonna focus on my own shit this semester. People can do whatever the fuck they want, long as I get to fucking graduate at some fucking time. Not that it'll matter if y'all fuck up that whole preventing Nightfall thing.

[That's him, the grandpa harshing the vibe. Despite having brought this all in the first place.

He lifts a brow by the end.]

You all? Not counting yourself among the defenders?

And yet still counting me?

[mmmm...]

Didn't do any of that Herald shit. Dunno if I will for this next one if there really is another one coming, either... Rather fucking bug out with Mama, even in the fucking...tropics, or something.

[He smiles rueful.]

I see. Can't say I fault you. I'd much rather just take care of Coco.

[Secure their home, hope for the best, wait it out. Not much a role model here.]

But Imelda is going to fight, so I probably will have to try unless something happens. If I can even survive the big Radiance blast the school always talks about wanting to do.

Oh... Oh, yeah, fuck. Fucking shit, that's pretty fucked up, huh?

[As a human, and a Candle that's supposed to be capable of Radiance to boot, he hadn't really...thought about it. He frowns and leans in a little now that he has.]

What the fuck are they even thinking? I may not like all the fucking freaks crawling around this place, but how goddamn ungrateful do they have to be to just throw that out there when a good fraction of their fucking forces are Blighted somehow?

[He hums his bitter amusement and shrugs his shoulders. He swigs some of his own drink.]

The working theory is that the Radiance could be a key to curing blight. I think that's why they haven't brought me to a lab, they want to see how I do rooming with all the candles here as a case study.

I really doubt it will work like that, but if it does, all those lycans and vampires are home free. The only non-vampiric undeads I know are held up by contract and mage magic. Maybe that will be enough. As for me, I've got blight or nothing so I really don't know. But I doubt one guy will make them think twice about stopping the apocalypse.

I'm going to play it close. That's all I can do, you know?

Tch...

[He's talking to himself more than anything when he mutters,] Rather trade every fucking vamp for just the "one guy". Far as I'm concerned, you're the one that actually fucking deserves the second chance. How can you be all Blight and not be a fucking dick like the rest of those monsters?

[It might be to himself but they're close enough he answers anyway.]

That's some loaded phrasing, mijo. [Really loaded.] You know I've got to point out that there's more just a handful of those guys who fight really hard to be safe.

[It's not worth fighting that bias, knowing where it comes from. He just can't not say it.]

But, being undead does mess with people deeply like that. It's meant to be a curse, blight. That's part of why they offered me to stay here, a blight without hunger, bad deals, or losing one's mind implies loopholes.

Thing is, I don't know if they understand that it's all got a price. All those other blights give more, they give strength and immortality. Things like that to go with hunger. I don't have that. I don't have forever. I've just got a little more time than I would have.

What the fuck ever.

[Vampires are awful!!!! He could never like one of those things, absolutely not, and most definitely doesn't already love one. That'd be ridiculous.]

That's basically bullshit anyway, though? You're too young, you can't be much older than I am, and you don't get to fuck around during the day, either. You used to rot, for fuck's sake! This "little more time" shoulda been yours in the first place, and all you got is drawbacks. My brief personal experience indicates skeleton shit ain't worth it without a better deal.

[Yes. Ridiculous. Because the dead always tell people that's what they are if they can help otherwise.

He laughs once and turns a wry look on Maverick.]

I'm twenty-three. Four years older. But that's not the point.

The point is that there is no better deal. It's death. No one gets more time without some kind of sacrifice. Being a skeleton is the best deal I could've gotten. No matter the drawbacks, I'm here.

And I like some parts of being a skeleton you know. You had one night to feel biased about it.

[But then he shouldn't have to be sacrificed in some Radiance blast thing!!! Everything sucks.]

Much as I fucking love the boner jokes? Not enough for me, man.

[He barks a laugh. Everything sucks but that cheers him.]

Ay, you're not seeing the bigger picture. For one, bones are way more comfortable. Also less gross. For two, no more paper cuts. Imagine it. You can't, because you will forever suffer paper cuts. For three, I can do tricks! Not that you'd like them but I think they're fun.

You're right, I wouldn't fucking like them.

[remember how you REMOVED YOUR DAMN ARM LIKE IT WAS NOTHING, BECAUSE HE SURE DOES!!!]

I'll give you the less gross on account of fluids n' shit, but you are fucking crazy if you think it's more comfortable. Skin's... People are -- soft. Warm. If I can't find someone that isn't a goddamn mess helping to end the fucking world, I wanna at least enjoy that, I deserve that much after this shit.

[Oh, he remembers.]

Okay, being bones is still more comfortable, but other people, yes, it's nice to hug you pillowcases. I wish you luck with your dating, whatever you do with it, but until then there's always hugs.

[A lame and cheesy thing to say. Look at him, no shame.]

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