17

[perfectsymmetry]

[Since he got to Mayfield, Crowe had barely stayed in his home. He always managed to find a way to keep busy so that he could stay out of that creepy house, with its drone for a mother and professional killer for a father, as often as possible.

But for the last few days, he's barely left his room. He skipped school and practice, and his paper route - always delivered with a smile and on time every day for the last three months - has gone ignored. The only time he leaves is late at night, for his town watch duties, but he ended up just sitting somewhere, unsure of what to do. He stays out of the park, his usual hang out, to avoid the gruesome reminders that his friends were still trapped in Westport. That he failed to do anything to bring those people home; that they were still over there suffering through God knows what.

When he returns home at sunrise today, he goes to his room, but the phone keeps ringing. And ringing. And ringing. Wait, could that mean --- okay, something obviously happened. Maybe… maybe the rest have finally…

Picking up the phone, Crowe is treated to one of the many familiar voices of Mayfield screaming and sobbing in utter agony and grief. Startled, he hangs up the phone without thinking, and stares at it, scared.

For a few moments he stands there, a million thoughts going through his head. He tried so hard to do whatever he could to bring those people home safely, to do anything to help, to be any use at ALL, but nothing worked. Everyone just came back to Mayfield a broken mess, and he could do nothing about it.

Nothing.

He walks back upstairs to his room, and quietly closes the door.]

Comments

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

[And she'll just be standing awkwardly beyond his doorway, shuffling and looking uncomfortable and sick.]

I died, Crowe. I came back because I died.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He stops, tries to say something, but just can't.]

Margot... I'm so sorry...

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

[She just shrugs, hugging arms around herself.]

Least I'm back.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Y-yes but.....[He puts a hand on her shoulder. Oh god he doesn't even know what to do.]

... I-I'm sorry, I did everything I could to find a way back in there, I really did but there was just... _{I couldn't do anything. I'm so sorry.}

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

[She shrugs again, more at his words than the actual touch.]

There was nothing you or anyone else could have done.

[Which, actually, she doesn't believe. There is always something more that could be done; she should have tried harder, they should all have tried harder.]

Look. Do you want tea or something? I'm just... really tired of sitting by myself.

I only have 1 sad Crowe icon, ugh

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I know, but... there's people here with all kinds of abilities and whatever, someone ...

[He sighs.]

Yes, tea's a fine idea. How long have you been here?

same with margot B|

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

Sometime last night.

[Turning around to head to the kitchen.]

I haven't really left your couch, though.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Ah. [He had left and returned for town watch duties through the upstairs windows, as always. He never noticed an extra person in his home.] Well you're welcome to stay as long as you need, of course.

[He'll set to making tea. Hurray for tea. He really wants to ask about anything she may have found over there, but... now was not the time. Even Captain Awkward here knows that.]

I... I was worried sick about you, to be honest. You, Kay, Junpei, Lucas... at one point I heard Lucas over the radio, too. I tried to see if I could get a hold of something to radio them back, but... afraid I've never been the most technologically skilled...

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

[Sits cross-legged on one of the kitchen chairs, shoulders hunched. On their way to the kitchen, she's plucked up her Miffy doll to cuddle in her lap and if Crowe mentions it to anyone he will not live.]

You heard..? I didn't realize there was a radio there. I didn't even know anything got out.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Yes, but the broadcasts were choppy... hard to understand. It was... each was interrupted by an attack, it sounded like. I heard poor Lucas, and Flora...

then there was the last one. That one girl from school.... she was....raving. It sounded almost... biblical? I-I don't know.

[Tea, it is served.]

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

There were a lot of attacks. Men in these hazmat suits -- they kept coming out of nowhere.

[At that, she stares off for a moment before repeating in a hollow voice:]

'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord?'

...I spent some time in the church where it was written all over. It's kind of stuck.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He nods.] That was it.... I-I'm sorry. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

I don't... I don't really want to talk 'bout it. N-not right now... [shudders]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

R-right. It's okay.

[He stares into his tea as he talks.] I-I think I'm going to start combat training. There's plenty of people in this town who can help. I feel... like if something like this happens in town again, I don't want to be a liability. I want to be able to help myself and my friends.

[It sounds like he's still trying to convince himself into this.]