Like I didn't hear the N͎͉͡O̢̥͍͍̼̣̳ͅI̗̼S̀͏̖̲͎̹E͙̱̝̳͢ͅ coming near

[heartandsoul]

Who: Maka + Kid + Rin + Whoever wants to come and visit at the Clinic!
When: Backdated to yesterday on the 29th of May, after Rin's network post
Where: THE CLINIC
Style: Action is preferred but I can change if you reeeeeally want to
Status: Ongoing, scenarios are listed under the cut!



[Scenario A:

Maka wasn't doing so well when she woke up--the last image in her mind was Asura's face looming, and the sharp, horrible pain of his hands breaking through her chest to the other side.

Oh. God. She's dead. It happened, she's dead. She couldn't save Crona or stop the Kishin.

So when she wakes, she's screaming, jerking violently around in her bed until she realizes that she's no longer on the battlefield. However, that does not mean her turmoil ends. Maka pats at her chest, realizing there's no hole, no pain, no Kishin, no Kid or Black*Star.

Where?

Then the memories of Vatheon flood back into her mind, signaled by her pressing her fingers to her forehead, hissing in pain.

...Ha. Hahaha. She's been here before. She's died here before. ...Where is Kid? Where's Rin? Has she finally succumbed to insanity, why does she feel nothing but fear and uncertainty? Where is the wound?]


[Scenario B:

"It's gone, it's not there anymore" was what she was told about the wound, though Maka is still lying in her bed jittering slightly at the memory, the feeling, was it real or was it not? She has so many questions, but all there is for an answer is overwhelming silence. She should be taking comfort in this silence, but it only drives her to wishing she could scream all the more.

But Vatheon. She's back in Vatheon. She had been taken away again and brought back with memories from her world leaving her hanging on a precipice of emotion, yet there were people she loved here. There was safety. Kid and Rin were here. It's all right, everything is all right.

Yet Maka still feels like she's going crazy. The trembling halts and all she is able to do is just stare at the blank white expanse of the ceiling.]

...I want to go home. Back to the villa.

[It's only a mumble to break the silence, but one thing at a time to bring back her peace of mind is what she wants at the moment.]

Comments

A

[keepsthefire]

Maka! MAKA!

[Sooner or later, a familiar voice would filter through to Maka, be it through her screaming or after she's quieted enough for him to be heard. Strong hands grab her arms, not enough to hurt, but enough to be felt. He wants her to know he's there, but he knows from experience that waking up in that kind of state after any sort of trauma, be it physical injury or having your half-insane brother damn near drug you to death, can be horridly disorienting. The state alone was often cause for panic, not to mention whatever the hell Maka had gone through before that.]

[heartandsoul]

--Where IS IT?!

[But that voice breaks through the fog, reaches into her hysteria and slaps her out of it.]

Rin...

[He's here, this is Vatheon again, it's okay isn't it?]

Rin...[and she hugs him, the beginnings of sobs wrack at her.] I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to leave.

[keepsthefire]

[Rin knew a hug was likely to come sooner or later, but he still hadn't been prepared for it quick enough. His reflexes were shit right now anyway. There was a little grunt from him, but it's only a second until his arms are around her tightly, fingers in her hair and a breath of relief escaping after what felt like an eternity of holding it in.]

I... it's okay... it's okay, I'm just so glad you're okay...

[heartandsoul]

But--the Kishin!

[He called her a nuisance, and--]

He--he got me...he killed me! It hurt so much...

[She doesn't even know if it actually happened, though...]

[keepsthefire]

He--...

[Rin actually stopped himself before he let that thought go too far. There had been blood, yes, a lot of it along with a lot of evidence of a pretty nasty fight. That much was true. But he was sure Maka had been breathing when they found her. She wasn't dead, he knew that, but what kind of injury she had sustained... that he wasn't so sure of.

He had reacted quickly, taking her to the clinic as fast as he could and calling Kohaku for help on the way there. Beyond that...

He just didn't know. Was it an illusion or was it real? He couldn't answer that question, for himself OR Maka, but in the end he figured it didn't matter as much as being there for her did. She was in pain, physical and emotional, and he wasn't going to sit there trying to figure out the truths of the situation when she needed him.]

It's okay... you're okay now, alright? You're safe here. I'm here and Kid is here and you're safe...

[heartandsoul]

Kid...

[There really was no guarantee if it was real or not, not even Kid could be a reliable witness to it, but he came back with her. They were all together again.]

Is he okay? I want to see him, too. I want both of you here with me.

[They can't protect you from him if he comes back, nobody can protect you from him, H̗̤̳͐͊E̖̘̳̹̰̝̩̿̌͊̄̾̈ ͦ͌͏͓͇͙̘͍̯̟I͔̜͎͚̤̝̽̽̈ͥ̆̉͋S͖̪̋̿͑ͧ̈ ́͑̋ͫC̶̝͍̘͍̱̰̰̍ͨ͆O̟̹̤̦̺̙M̦̰͉̮͙ͧ͌̏̋ͣI̞̝̼̻̯̞̾N̲͎̲͇͑ͪ͗̍ͪͥ̌ͅG̝̺̗̞̟͇̎̈̔ͤ͑̈́̚ͅ-̶͛ͫ͆̌-̷͓͕̰͔̩̏ͤ

HE IS NOT COMING BACK. I AM NOT AFRAID OF HIM.

Courage.

No, she is not afraid of the Kishin. The pain he brought to her isn't bad. What is most important is the people she cares for, not her own health.

Maka sighs and loosens her grip on Rin, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.]

I missed you.

[keepsthefire]

I'll go get him in a bit, alright? I don't wanna leave you alone for too long...

[Even if she was pushing through her fear, he was still concerned about her, and he knew it wasn't just going to go away all in one go. Like so many things, it would take time for all three of them to come back from the wreck of emotions they were having to deal with on top of everything else.

When she pulled back and kissed him on the cheek, he managed to pull up a tiny smile, brushing hair and tears away from her cheeks with both hands.]

I missed you, too. I hate my bed feelin' so empty without you.

[Certainly explained the dark circles under his eyes.]

B

[circumsutus]

[Stein can bring the comfort of a familiar face and a strong soul that's far calmer than it was on the moon.]

You're not quite ready to walk home yet, Maka.

[For all his creepiness, Stein does have the ability to pull together a comforting bedside manner.]

[heartandsoul]

But I want to.

[Said with all the maturity a 17 year old girl can muster.]

I'm not hurt...["anymore" but...was she even--?

Ugh. Her mind, maybe she's not actually ready to walk home.]

[circumsutus]

I know you want to, but unless you ask someone to carry you you're not going anywhere.

[heartandsoul]

[He can add in "completely mature grumbling and muttering about her shattered pride" to Maka's arsenal of mature acts.]

I'd rather go another round with the Kishin than do that.

[circumsutus]

In that case, you're staying here for a little bit longer.

[The slight grin fades.]

What happened?

[heartandsoul]

[Maka's hand goes to her chest--right in the center. That's where the memory of pain radiates and nags at her.

But was it even real?

Being killed...failure...]

We were fighting the Kishin...he...he did something to me...

B

[spiria]

Are you sure you're feeling okay enough? I mean, I'm not against it, but it might be a good idea for you to stick around here for a while.

[ She's sitting at her bedside, keeping an eye on her. She's really worried. ]

[heartandsoul]

[Augh, logic, why the logic.]

...I'm not sure at all. I still don't know if what happened was real or not.

[spiria]

[ Because logic, of course. ]

Maybe you should take some time to rest here. At least this place would have the means to take care of it if something did happen ...

[ Her expression becomes soft and she smiles gently at Maka. ]

In a little while, if it looks like you're safe to go back home, then you'll go. Just stay here a little longer and make sure everything's as okay as it can be?

[heartandsoul]

Uh-huh...

["Okay."

Will things ever be "okay" again?]

Thank you for all of your help, Kohaku.

[spiria]

I'm glad to help you out, Maka.

[ She knows this all must be really rough on her. Maka's been through way more than she has. It's a wonder she's holding up even half as well as she is. ]

I know that even after so long of being in the same general place we kinda don't know each other all too well, but ... you're dating my baby brother. And even if that weren't the case, I really would like to be friends.

[heartandsoul]

I'd like to be friends, too...heck, I definitely need more feminine influence in my life, with how many guys are at the Villa.

A

[openminded]

Maka!

[ She and Kid had been missing for a few days and Yuri was worried. Both for her son, and for the both of them. Seeing Maka here again brought a wave of relief to her, but also worried her ... mostly because Maka didn't look so good. ]

Maka, sweetheart, it's okay!

[heartandsoul]

[The pain is all in her mind isn't it? The wound is gone, there is no pain everything is OKAY

but--]

Ahhh!

[--No.

It's Yuri. Maka's eyes remain unfocused as she looks at the woman, but familiarity gradually comes back into her expression and--]

Yuri...where--?

[So many "wheres" could finish that question. Where is the Kishin, where is the wound in her chest, where is she. Instead she cuts herself off and focuses back on the ceiling, breathing shallowly.]

[openminded]

[ She takes Maka's hand and squeezes it gently, her worry clearly on her face. ]

You're in Vatheon again. You were missing for a few days ... you and Kid, both.

Take some deep breaths. Everything is okay now, Maka.

[ Whatever she went through back home, it can't have been good to put her in such a state. Yuri wants to help her feel at least a little better, though she knows that's easier said than done. ]

[heartandsoul]

...Kid.

[She did see him, didn't she? Or was that an illusion? Her mind is too frazzled to seek out his soul.]

Is he here too? Is he okay?

[openminded]

[ She doesn't know about Kid just yet ... she's only seen Maka. ]

I don't know. With you returning there's a good chance that he's here too, though.

[ If she understands the laws of Vatheon well enough, anyway. ]

[heartandsoul]

...If I...used Soul Perception, I would know, but...that's probably not a good idea right now.