Damage Control
Quote from Indy on November 16, 2023, 11:23 amMy gaze shifted from the sunlight over the mountains to the shiny reflection of the menu as Lyra’s head ducked. I could hear the thrum of her heart. Something had made her nervous. I glanced around the dinner, but I saw nothing suspicious… just two older women chatting about how things used to be and an older couple chewing in silence. Henry was at the front and the lone cook at the back was humming to himself while a busser scrubbed a dish. I followed the object of her gaze, and watched as she studied the menu with far more intensity than it deserved.
There was a flush of color beneath her skin and then it hit me. It was me. I was making her nervous.
I tucked my head away, feeling the heat creep under my skin. Lyra might know what I am, but that didn’t mean she realized how much it let me see beneath the veil of appearances. I felt a little guilty for it, my skin crawling, but also something strangely giddy thrumming beneath the surface. Now there were two of us.
I glanced at her shyly from the corner of her gaze, catching them just as Henry came up. I deflated a little, but mumbled an order for appetizers. Once Henry left, I felt the pressure mount. How did I break the silence? Certainly, small talk hadn’t done it. Nor had my less-than stellar observations on the mountains.
Frankly, this kind of stuff needed a book. At least something I could study. I was woefully out of my depths without any help to call on – not Clay, not Chapman, and certainly not Robin. I tried not to imagine the laughter, disappointment, or pity each would give me.
“Sorry,” I laughed that awkward-laugh that I wished could die, “I… didn’t mean to make you nervous or anything… I’m sort of.. uh, bad at people’ing. Not in a werewolf way. Just in a normal-person-bad-at-people’ing-way. I’ve basically lived under a rock the last.. eh, forever basically”.
My gaze shifted from the sunlight over the mountains to the shiny reflection of the menu as Lyra’s head ducked. I could hear the thrum of her heart. Something had made her nervous. I glanced around the dinner, but I saw nothing suspicious… just two older women chatting about how things used to be and an older couple chewing in silence. Henry was at the front and the lone cook at the back was humming to himself while a busser scrubbed a dish. I followed the object of her gaze, and watched as she studied the menu with far more intensity than it deserved.
There was a flush of color beneath her skin and then it hit me. It was me. I was making her nervous.
I tucked my head away, feeling the heat creep under my skin. Lyra might know what I am, but that didn’t mean she realized how much it let me see beneath the veil of appearances. I felt a little guilty for it, my skin crawling, but also something strangely giddy thrumming beneath the surface. Now there were two of us.
I glanced at her shyly from the corner of her gaze, catching them just as Henry came up. I deflated a little, but mumbled an order for appetizers. Once Henry left, I felt the pressure mount. How did I break the silence? Certainly, small talk hadn’t done it. Nor had my less-than stellar observations on the mountains.
Frankly, this kind of stuff needed a book. At least something I could study. I was woefully out of my depths without any help to call on – not Clay, not Chapman, and certainly not Robin. I tried not to imagine the laughter, disappointment, or pity each would give me.
“Sorry,” I laughed that awkward-laugh that I wished could die, “I… didn’t mean to make you nervous or anything… I’m sort of.. uh, bad at people’ing. Not in a werewolf way. Just in a normal-person-bad-at-people’ing-way. I’ve basically lived under a rock the last.. eh, forever basically”.
Quote from Kaqurei on November 17, 2023, 4:16 pm"Dude, we're all bad at people-ing," Lyra said, visibly relaxing (though the blush had not left her cheeks).
"Anyone who actually thinks they're good at people-ing is actually bad at it because we all hate them for it. We hate them for being good at people-ing, ergo they're bad at it, ergo nobody's good at it. Tell me I'm wrong."
She shrugged her shoulders indifferently and took a sip of the water the waiter had brought them while they were making up their minds for their order.
"Dude, we're all bad at people-ing," Lyra said, visibly relaxing (though the blush had not left her cheeks).
"Anyone who actually thinks they're good at people-ing is actually bad at it because we all hate them for it. We hate them for being good at people-ing, ergo they're bad at it, ergo nobody's good at it. Tell me I'm wrong."
She shrugged her shoulders indifferently and took a sip of the water the waiter had brought them while they were making up their minds for their order.
Quote from Indy on November 17, 2023, 4:34 pm"Ehhh... huh?" I slow-blinked, blinked again, and failed short at arriving to the same destination Lyra's thought process had taken. Far be it from me to question it.
"Well as long as there's two of us," I managed shortly, "Because I'm going to tell you right now I can tell you ten different ways there's something wrong with a guy you meet on the street, but I probably won't manage a conversation with them. My circle of people, until recently, has been hilariously small".
"Ehhh... huh?" I slow-blinked, blinked again, and failed short at arriving to the same destination Lyra's thought process had taken. Far be it from me to question it.
"Well as long as there's two of us," I managed shortly, "Because I'm going to tell you right now I can tell you ten different ways there's something wrong with a guy you meet on the street, but I probably won't manage a conversation with them. My circle of people, until recently, has been hilariously small".
Quote from Kaqurei on November 17, 2023, 4:38 pmLyra couldn't help her curiosity. Before she could stop herself, the words "Have you always been a werewolf?" with perhaps too much enthusiasm bubbled out of her mouth.
Then she winced, groaned, and pressed her hand to her temple. "I already asked you that. We already had this conversation. 7 years. Chapman. Ignore me, I'm stupid."
She leaned back in her seat and sighed. "Será mejor que ese tipo regrese aquí y tome nuestro pedido rápido, o te juro que me comeré la mesa..." she muttered.
But then she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder at the busser and said without looking, "Tell me about that guy. What's wrong with him?"
Lyra couldn't help her curiosity. Before she could stop herself, the words "Have you always been a werewolf?" with perhaps too much enthusiasm bubbled out of her mouth.
Then she winced, groaned, and pressed her hand to her temple. "I already asked you that. We already had this conversation. 7 years. Chapman. Ignore me, I'm stupid."
She leaned back in her seat and sighed. "Será mejor que ese tipo regrese aquí y tome nuestro pedido rápido, o te juro que me comeré la mesa..." she muttered.
But then she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder at the busser and said without looking, "Tell me about that guy. What's wrong with him?"
Quote from Indy on November 22, 2023, 11:43 amI'd had a fair idea how hungry Lyra was before we entered the restaurant, but I was gaining the pressing idea if I didn't get something hot in front of her soon I'd loose fingers. I smiled painfully, not catching her Spanish, but imagining it along the lines of Yes, I can be a man-eater if I'm hungry enough.
Distraction seemed key. I glanced as the busser passed us. He was short and clumsy with curly brown hair and green eyes. I surmised him to be young. A job after school maybe?
I leaned back thoughtfully, "Unlikely to start a fight. Lives with an older woman - probably his mom. Two dogs. I don't know what kind, probably large ones? Eug, I think they've rolled around in - anyways. Not a threat. Seems shy though - see how he won't look at anyone in the eyes? "
I laughed, "Try an easier one. Usually I'll imagine someone as a serial killer at least once a day. That was my first thought about Clay when I met him, actually".
Thankfully, right when I was running out of meaningful distraction, our server came with the appetizers. I'd ordered just some stuffed potato skins. I gestured to Lyra, not wanting to loose a finger when she lunged for it.
Henry smiled pleasantly and asked if we were ready to order - as though sensing my invisible Batman signal I'd placed in the air. We'd been ready, and might eat the whole cow at this rate.
I'd had a fair idea how hungry Lyra was before we entered the restaurant, but I was gaining the pressing idea if I didn't get something hot in front of her soon I'd loose fingers. I smiled painfully, not catching her Spanish, but imagining it along the lines of Yes, I can be a man-eater if I'm hungry enough.
Distraction seemed key. I glanced as the busser passed us. He was short and clumsy with curly brown hair and green eyes. I surmised him to be young. A job after school maybe?
I leaned back thoughtfully, "Unlikely to start a fight. Lives with an older woman - probably his mom. Two dogs. I don't know what kind, probably large ones? Eug, I think they've rolled around in - anyways. Not a threat. Seems shy though - see how he won't look at anyone in the eyes? "
I laughed, "Try an easier one. Usually I'll imagine someone as a serial killer at least once a day. That was my first thought about Clay when I met him, actually".
Thankfully, right when I was running out of meaningful distraction, our server came with the appetizers. I'd ordered just some stuffed potato skins. I gestured to Lyra, not wanting to loose a finger when she lunged for it.
Henry smiled pleasantly and asked if we were ready to order - as though sensing my invisible Batman signal I'd placed in the air. We'd been ready, and might eat the whole cow at this rate.
Quote from Adriana on November 23, 2023, 12:07 pm***
Ken Hamada sat across the table from former officer Deglado. He was as silent as the grave. There was a form in front of him. Reggie leaned back in his chair with one leg forward and the other tucked beneath the chair, bouncing. The fluorescent light caught the red sheen of his eyes as he cast his gaze up towards a clock in the corner.
They'd been sitting this way for an hour. And several more in the days before.
Ken was patient. Reggie was stubborn.
His nose was still bruised and crooked but had mostly healed. The larger bandages and wrappings had been mostly replaced by smaller gauze pads.
Ken removed his glasses and sat them on the table, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Reggie caught the movement and lowered his chin a little. Rolled his head back onto the top of the chair and sighed.
"Man, he can't just do that." Reggie groaned.
Ken said nothing.
"Y'know like... pick and choose. Only reason I didn't get that promotion was because of Anita. Clay lost his cool back at the department, too. But yeah, I threw the first punch."
He tensed his knuckles.
"I've always worked hard. Took on OT, put in the time. Man, I've been grilled by my family for missing weddings, birthdays, quinceaneras, my nieces Baptism-but I did it because I was loyal. Invested." he raised a hand and dropped it heavily on the table, but not with force.
"First the old dog blows me off for a newbie. Then seeing Torres just, getting knees deep in our business, I don't know. I just kinda, blacked out, I was so mad." he leaned forward and his knee bounced faster. He pinched his bottom lip. "Nah, I mean - not literally - I can like, remember... but. I don't know. Wasn't myself. I admit it. Y'know I don't see myself above making mistakes. At least I'm honest about it. I just didn't care. Then really lost it at the bar. Wasn't going to hurt anyone; just came to talk, y'know. See how Roger felt, knowing, get some perspective, I don't know. Wanted to go back and see Anita again, maybe tell her. Needed to see it from the other side first though."
He clasped his hands together on the table and rubbed his thumb over the space between the forefinger and thumb on the other hand.
"Then Torres shows up. Was just gonna wait out their conversation. Clay rolls up next-knowing Clay was on my case, when he showed up, the tension rose, it just got hot fast after that. Decided to confront them all. Knew it wasn't gonna end pretty anyway, just decided to make it count. No secret Clay and I just, man-" he sighed, shaking his head, "I don't know, just a feeling - some people just rub you the wrong way and you can't do nothing about it. I waited til the civs were all out. It was stupid. Impulsive. Didn't think this through, I'd been mulling on it for a couple of days, y'know, in general-Chapman, my career, Anita. Had already decided to quit, depending on how my conversation with Chapman went. Then it didn't and that's when I knew."
***
Ken Hamada sat across the table from former officer Deglado. He was as silent as the grave. There was a form in front of him. Reggie leaned back in his chair with one leg forward and the other tucked beneath the chair, bouncing. The fluorescent light caught the red sheen of his eyes as he cast his gaze up towards a clock in the corner.
They'd been sitting this way for an hour. And several more in the days before.
Ken was patient. Reggie was stubborn.
His nose was still bruised and crooked but had mostly healed. The larger bandages and wrappings had been mostly replaced by smaller gauze pads.
Ken removed his glasses and sat them on the table, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Reggie caught the movement and lowered his chin a little. Rolled his head back onto the top of the chair and sighed.
"Man, he can't just do that." Reggie groaned.
Ken said nothing.
"Y'know like... pick and choose. Only reason I didn't get that promotion was because of Anita. Clay lost his cool back at the department, too. But yeah, I threw the first punch."
He tensed his knuckles.
"I've always worked hard. Took on OT, put in the time. Man, I've been grilled by my family for missing weddings, birthdays, quinceaneras, my nieces Baptism-but I did it because I was loyal. Invested." he raised a hand and dropped it heavily on the table, but not with force.
"First the old dog blows me off for a newbie. Then seeing Torres just, getting knees deep in our business, I don't know. I just kinda, blacked out, I was so mad." he leaned forward and his knee bounced faster. He pinched his bottom lip. "Nah, I mean - not literally - I can like, remember... but. I don't know. Wasn't myself. I admit it. Y'know I don't see myself above making mistakes. At least I'm honest about it. I just didn't care. Then really lost it at the bar. Wasn't going to hurt anyone; just came to talk, y'know. See how Roger felt, knowing, get some perspective, I don't know. Wanted to go back and see Anita again, maybe tell her. Needed to see it from the other side first though."
He clasped his hands together on the table and rubbed his thumb over the space between the forefinger and thumb on the other hand.
"Then Torres shows up. Was just gonna wait out their conversation. Clay rolls up next-knowing Clay was on my case, when he showed up, the tension rose, it just got hot fast after that. Decided to confront them all. Knew it wasn't gonna end pretty anyway, just decided to make it count. No secret Clay and I just, man-" he sighed, shaking his head, "I don't know, just a feeling - some people just rub you the wrong way and you can't do nothing about it. I waited til the civs were all out. It was stupid. Impulsive. Didn't think this through, I'd been mulling on it for a couple of days, y'know, in general-Chapman, my career, Anita. Had already decided to quit, depending on how my conversation with Chapman went. Then it didn't and that's when I knew."
Quote from Kaqurei on December 28, 2023, 7:25 pmLyra went with a double cheese jalapeno burger, extra jalapenos, and a side of fries. As Val predicted, she went for the fried potato skins already like her life depended on it. And, if not hers, somebody's probably did, anyway.
Licking her fingers, she nodded solemnly thinking about Val's assessment of the busboy. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "What about me?" she asked. "What was your first thought about me?"
Lyra went with a double cheese jalapeno burger, extra jalapenos, and a side of fries. As Val predicted, she went for the fried potato skins already like her life depended on it. And, if not hers, somebody's probably did, anyway.
Licking her fingers, she nodded solemnly thinking about Val's assessment of the busboy. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "What about me?" she asked. "What was your first thought about me?"
Quote from Indy on January 21, 2024, 3:24 amI felt the breath I'd been holding settle as soon as the plate of food was in front of her. Ask me how I knew what a hungry woman would do to the guy who kept her from it. With the future of my fingers now safe, I was sure this battle was over.
Until she watched me, sticky butter clinging to her fingers, with a solemn expression and that question. Ah.
I felt the pit in my stomach recondense like a lump of solid baking fat and managed a very short, very pained smile that probably said something like 'Well it's over now'.
My own thoughts were a muddy mess. Racing, stalling, somehow getting everywhere and nowhere. Could I remember the past? Or five minutes ago? Or five minutes from now?
"Well... I was down to the last twenty bucks in my pocket," I stalled the uncomfortable laugh that wanted to dart out from under my breath, "And I was sure somehow, I'd be doing community service for the rest of my life for my crimes against stop signs. Then..."
I tilted my face down, feeling just the edges of the warmth the wanted to break free and denying it.
"Then I saw you come out of that cop car, and I figured maybe it'd somehow be alright..."
I felt the breath I'd been holding settle as soon as the plate of food was in front of her. Ask me how I knew what a hungry woman would do to the guy who kept her from it. With the future of my fingers now safe, I was sure this battle was over.
Until she watched me, sticky butter clinging to her fingers, with a solemn expression and that question. Ah.
I felt the pit in my stomach recondense like a lump of solid baking fat and managed a very short, very pained smile that probably said something like 'Well it's over now'.
My own thoughts were a muddy mess. Racing, stalling, somehow getting everywhere and nowhere. Could I remember the past? Or five minutes ago? Or five minutes from now?
"Well... I was down to the last twenty bucks in my pocket," I stalled the uncomfortable laugh that wanted to dart out from under my breath, "And I was sure somehow, I'd be doing community service for the rest of my life for my crimes against stop signs. Then..."
I tilted my face down, feeling just the edges of the warmth the wanted to break free and denying it.
"Then I saw you come out of that cop car, and I figured maybe it'd somehow be alright..."
Quote from Kaqurei on February 16, 2024, 10:48 pmLyra flashed him a lopsided grin. In spite of her soft features and big brown eyes, the expression was almost threatening, somehow. Or a taunt. Somehow it said both come and get me and if you dare at once.
She was charmed by his sincerity, but couldn't resist the urge to make him squirm or blush. He made it too easy.
"Oh yeah?" she asked, "Took one look and thought, yeeaahh, that chica will go easy on me. She's a softy, I can tell."
She puffed a stray lock of her curly hair out of her face with a breath. "Funny story, actually, I wasn't even pulling you over for your crimes against stop signs. I took a wrong turn so I flagged you down to ask directions. I had no idea you were such a hardened criminal."
In her typical fashion, the delivery was flat, so perhaps it was unclear what part of the statement had been the joke. Or the punchline. But she watched him expectantly, as if waiting for the off-screen badum tsssh when he'd get it and laugh.
Lyra flashed him a lopsided grin. In spite of her soft features and big brown eyes, the expression was almost threatening, somehow. Or a taunt. Somehow it said both come and get me and if you dare at once.
She was charmed by his sincerity, but couldn't resist the urge to make him squirm or blush. He made it too easy.
"Oh yeah?" she asked, "Took one look and thought, yeeaahh, that chica will go easy on me. She's a softy, I can tell."
She puffed a stray lock of her curly hair out of her face with a breath. "Funny story, actually, I wasn't even pulling you over for your crimes against stop signs. I took a wrong turn so I flagged you down to ask directions. I had no idea you were such a hardened criminal."
In her typical fashion, the delivery was flat, so perhaps it was unclear what part of the statement had been the joke. Or the punchline. But she watched him expectantly, as if waiting for the off-screen badum tsssh when he'd get it and laugh.
Quote from Indy on February 17, 2024, 12:15 pmI had the feeling of balancing on something precarious - maybe some paver stones in a schoolyard, maybe the edge of a skyscraper - and at the bottom were sharp spikes and a mote of sharks. Or, maybe it wasn't like that at all. Maybe all of this was perfectly normal and I was out of my depths in something that wouldn't outright kill me but still cause my heart to beat that much faster.
I staggered my discomfort with a quick grin (grimace?) and leaned back in my chair. If dating was a game of chess, then I was playing checkers - and I may as well study the rulebook before she took my bishop in one fell swoop.
"Well," I said at last, "You don't know what the stop sign did to me first. Had to. See, it was a bad sign".
I waited a beat. Every sentence had been the same tone, the same mark - playing fire with fire, and now trying to see if I could illicit just the slightest squirm back.
Henry came over, holding our orders. But he paused, raised an eyebrow, and gave me the slightest expression that suggested... disappointment.
I had the feeling of balancing on something precarious - maybe some paver stones in a schoolyard, maybe the edge of a skyscraper - and at the bottom were sharp spikes and a mote of sharks. Or, maybe it wasn't like that at all. Maybe all of this was perfectly normal and I was out of my depths in something that wouldn't outright kill me but still cause my heart to beat that much faster.
I staggered my discomfort with a quick grin (grimace?) and leaned back in my chair. If dating was a game of chess, then I was playing checkers - and I may as well study the rulebook before she took my bishop in one fell swoop.
"Well," I said at last, "You don't know what the stop sign did to me first. Had to. See, it was a bad sign".
I waited a beat. Every sentence had been the same tone, the same mark - playing fire with fire, and now trying to see if I could illicit just the slightest squirm back.
Henry came over, holding our orders. But he paused, raised an eyebrow, and gave me the slightest expression that suggested... disappointment.
