chiron_survivor: (frak off)
Adia Costas ([personal profile] chiron_survivor) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2017-03-06 09:04 pm

Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

Adia is sitting at a computer terminal in the Plaza with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and a carton of boxed wine, watching cute animal videos online and occasionally wiping at her red-rimmed eyes with the back of her hand.

It's every bad break-up cliché, but Adia does not care. After recently experiencing the (second) worst day of life, she needs a break. And unfortunately, the only place she can get that is the Nexus.

She clicks on a thumbnail of a hamster eating a tiny burrito and takes a swig of wine while it loads. "How do you get over someone," she asks the Nexus unhappily, "When they've clearly gotten over you?"
westfallcorndog: (Handface)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-08 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Adia forsaking her ice cream when the subject of detention centers comes up is not lost on him. There are deeper reasons at work for why Adia shouldn't -- or can't -- see Caspar again. Maybe he ought to let her have this excuse? Let Caspar be wrong, let him be the bad guy, and let her move on. Like he said earlier, her world isn't his, and her war isn't his. He can't pretend to fully understand it.

"Well..." he starts, unsure himself where he intends to take his next words. His palms rub together idly as if they might spark a thought.

"There was a time -- a long time ago, way back when I was alive -- when I had to get over someone I fell real deep in love with. She wasn't human, just like Caspar ain't human; She was a lady from a far-away place, another world I never got to see. We spent a long time ignorin' reality before we finally admitted there wasn't any hope for a future together. There was just too much in the way, too much difference between us. So I said my last goodbyes to her, and after that I pretended she was dead. I imagined I'd never see her again, and for me I guess that made it easier. It was too much to think that she was out there livin' a happy life while I went back to one I didn't really like."

Laughing quietly he puts his arm around her and once more jostles her in an attempt to inject a little hopefulness.

"I know it sounds selfish. You're supposed to want the person you love to live a happy life no matter what, right? But sometimes it don't really work out like that. Sometimes you gotta find a new way to convince yourself there's no goin' back even when you think there oughta be. Don't think too bad of me for suggestin' it, hmm?"
Edited 2017-03-08 21:42 (UTC)
westfallcorndog: (Default)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-09 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
"No, no!" Harrow hurries as he sees Adia's tears starting up. What can he say? What does he do? He's already holding her, he can't hold her more. He pats her arms all over like he's trying to smother small flames and looks around as if he expects help. When he finally looks back to her he's smiling and emboldened by the (approximate) knowledge of what to say.

"Naw, Adia, it ain't sad! Don't you worry, hun, you're just drunk. And I know you see your man everywhere, 'cause I felt that way about Farina, too." Maybe not quite so literally, as the person he loved wasn't a clone, but he's not going to let those facts get in the way of bullshit advice. "But, listen: I managed to get over her eventually, and I know you can get over Caspar. Just try this..."

Harrow takes in a deep breath and lets it sit in his lungs for a few seconds. One of his hands sweeps in a large arc, showcasing the Nexus as he says, "Rebound! That's what you need. A rebound relationship. Somethin' short, somethin' that ain't meant to last forever. Get with someone who gets your mind off Caspar, then go your own way! Maybe try someone who ain't like him at all? Someone you never thought you'd be interested in?"

His palm presses against his chest as he chances an example. "Like, for me, I was crazy about this one girl about two years back, right? Relationship was great, I was happy as hell, 'til one day she decided she didn't wanna be with me anymore because I couldn't give her kids. Up and left without so much as a goodbye. I was all torn up about it." He's not going to linger on any details for drunken minds to run with. When it comes to breakups, the less he says the better. "Right away I let myself get swept up in a romance with someone I never would'a seen myself with: a dude. And... It was real different! But different was what I really needed at the time. I forgot all about my ex and focused on someone who was new in all sorts of ways. It was like all those bad feelings never happened!"

Suddenly his brows lower and in a severe voice he hisses, "And when that low-down dirty motherfucker cheated on me it didn't matter half as much, 'cause I only went with him for a couple'a months. He doesn't matter. It didn't matter! I got right over it like it was nothin'." That is definitely an argument to convince Adia and not Harrowheart. Definitely.

Sighing, he raises his eyebrows and once again takes on a gentler tone. "What I'm tryin' to say..." he explains, "Is that maybe you oughta get a girlfriend?"
westfallcorndog: (thinkin' hard or hardly thinkin'?)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-09 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Woah, woah, woah. Adia has a boyfriend? Harrowheart's surprise shows on his face, then quickly gives way to a little tilt of the head and the sort of exaggerated, thoughtful frown that says 'That's fair.' Now he sets his elbow on Adia's computer desk and rests his cheek on his wrist. He is ready as Hell for some Story Time.

"So you met this Will guy and you're goin' with him, but –" Suddenly a thought occurs to him and his eyebrows rise quickly. He leans in slightly to ask, "Wait. You think Caspar knows about this? I mean, you said you were bein' interrogated... Did you mention Will at all? 'Cause if I was Caspar and I found out my girl 'moved on' from me just a couple'a months after I 'passed away,'" big air quotes, "I'd be pretty hurt. Like... Maybe he thought you betrayed him? And he had to go have a good robo-cry while drinkin' robo-wine and eatin' robo-ice cream?"

A few seconds pass before he thinks to add, "Not that you betrayed him. I mean, you thought he was gone for good. I'd be hurt if I were him, but I wouldn't blame you or nothin'. I think? Maybe. I-Idunno." Great show of confidence from the death knight here.
westfallcorndog: (thinkin' hard or hardly thinkin'?)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-10 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Adia's accusatory tone sends Harrowheart leaning backward and holding up his empty palms to prove he isn't trying to cause a fuss. Still, he doesn't try to interrupt her. She has a lot to say, and maybe it's for the best she lets it all out. When she mentions Caspar walking in and stopping imminent harm Harrow tilts his head down and looks at Adia from under raised eyebrows. That doesn't seem like just a coincidence to him... But Adia has much more to say, and so he lets her say it. Only when she's through and he's taken a few seconds to think over his answer does he reply.

"Don't beat yourself up for movin' on – or tryin' to. It's normal, it's natural. Even if maybe you weren't ready for it, it ain't like you did it to make things worse. Right?" Right. "But what I wanna hear about right now is Will. How'd you meet him? What do you see in him? In what ways is he better and worse than Caspar, discountin' the whole robot thing?"
westfallcorndog: (you wanna go?)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-10 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
It's enough for Harrow to listen neutrally to all she has to say, nodding occasionally as he absorbs every detail. Until, that is, she's accusing Caspar of being a coward. Now, he doesn't know Caspar, not personally. All he has to go on is what Adia has said. But something about Adia's implication of his cowardice rubs him the wrong way.

His brows furrow and his nostrils flare. "And Caspar's a coward? How? Is he a coward 'cause he killed himself? Is he a coward 'cause he slipped in and took you to safety when he saw the woman who was interrogatin' you was gonna take it to the next level? Or is it because he shoved you away when he was savin' your life?"

He prods his own chest with his thumb and says, "'Cause if you ask me? It sounds like Caspar was braver than I was. Sounds to me like he tried to make sure you were gonna keep livin' a free and happy life without him and his problems draggin' you down. I think you're underestimatin' how much he's tryin' to do to keep you alive."

He shakes his head and looks away for a moment, focuses on the other people passing by in the plaza. "Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he is a coward, and callin' him that makes it easier to forget about him. Sounds like he wants you to get over him, too." He shrugs one shoulder dismissively. "So maybe it's best you go on rememberin' him as a coward."
westfallcorndog: (Holy Light How Horrifying)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-11 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Harrowheart's disappointed glower lasts through the turning of the gears of her mind, but then that heart-breaking sob escapes her and his bitter facade immediately cracks, leaving only deep worry and discomfort in its place.

"N-no, no," he tries weakly even as Adia is accusing herself of being the deeply flawed person in the equation. Is she right? May– No, no, it doesn't matter! It doesn't matter if she's right, only that she's openly weeping in public and he caused it – if only by proxy, and even then by accident. Watching her cry into her hands like that feels like a crime. He glances around, positive someone's going to be coming for him for doing this.

"Adia, no..." he tries again, his voice hardly above a whisper. "No one's a coward here, I-I promise. Everyone's just confused. You're just confused. That's how life is. No one knows what's goin' on until things are said and done, and even then sometimes you need another person to point it all out to you."

One of his hands rubs at her shoulders to distract her from her feelings. "The thing that matters most is what you do once you do know. S-so maybe we oughta focus on that? Hmm?"
westfallcorndog: (Jim dot jpg)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-13 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Harrow nods along with everything Adia has to say – mostly. It's nods on nods, gentle shoulder rubs and wise humming of agreements until suddenly the record scratches and it all comes to a stop. Wait, wait, wait. Adia's brain took a turn for the worst there in the end.

"Now, hold on a second, there," he says, his voice warbling with uncomfortable laughter. "You don't gotta actually abandon him just 'cause of how he's actin' to cope! Don't you think, if he's out there hurtin' 'cause he can't have you, and you're sittin' here hurtin' 'cause you can't have him, that the solution might be to... Y'know..."

His floating hands come together and his fingers intertwine.

"Maybe get back together with your man, so no one's out there lonely and cryin'?..."
westfallcorndog: (you wanna go?)

>B[ !

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-14 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Harrowheart's jaw clenches when he hears what comes out of her mouth. All he can do is widen his eyes, lower his eyebrows, and turn away for a minute. Don't let her see you glaring FURIOUSLY into the distance. Don't clench your hands while she's holding them. DON'T TELL HER YOU WANT TO KILL HER. Let it go. Let it aaaaalllll out in one long, controlled breath, just like Dr. Hill taught you.

Eventually his swings his attention back to Adia, but he can't help looking totally incredulous. He opens and closes his mouth numerous times as he tries and fails to say something appropriate, until finally he manages something.

"Girl, are you shittin' me?" He stares hard at her a while before his eyes flit down to the box of wine, then back up to her face.

"How drunk are you right now? Am I gonna have to tuck your bad-decision-makin' ass into bed and get back to this conversation when you're sober? I am, aren't I?"
westfallcorndog: (Handface)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-24 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Harrowheart's expression runs the full gamut of emotions as she reacts to what he said: shock, grief, guilt, frustration. The clattering of the spoon startles him, but he quickly regains his composure. He opens his mouth a few times to defend himself, but each time forces himself to keep quiet while she vents – difficult though it is.

When there's silence between them he sighs through his nose. He begins to shake his head as he presses his lips together.

"No," he says quietly. "No, you're right. You're right, and... I'm bein' a jackass. I came in here treatin' your problems like some kinda fuckin' story that's supposed to have a happy endin', not like it's your life. Just... Don't listen to me, Adia. You just do what you gotta do."

He stands from where he had been crouching and looks down at Adia with a final sigh of regret.

"I'll leave you alone to do it. And... I hope it works out for you, whatever it is you choose to do."
westfallcorndog: (Default)

[personal profile] westfallcorndog 2017-03-25 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
He had fully intended to part ways, to leave Adia to her emotions in privacy. And, honestly, he expected she would have wanted that too. So when she says what she says he's surprised enough, but for her to ask him to stay? Oh, Adia...

It melts him instantly, and he can't help but smile. He nods in small, slow motions. Yes, Adia. He would love to stay and watch adorable animal videos with you. He would also like to give you a big, long hug, which she's getting unless she's swift enough to dodge it. To his bosom, Sweet Adia. Be trapped in his emotionally-warm, physically-cold embrace.