The Major
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Affiliation: Fallanassi
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Saarlan
Mar 22, 2014 21:22:11 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 22, 2014 21:22:11 GMT -8
Now if the Major didn't know any better, than she might state that she has been provoking her better compatriot into speaking. Luckily she did know better, and while the Fallanassi was no stranger to feigning sentiments -both positive and negative- in order to gain a further insight into how her next alias might think so as to make her interpretation ring truer, she could not make the same boast in this situation. Unbelievable and preposterous as it seems, this was earnest, not an act, and that was far more terrible than some sinister life stealing plot. Interesting in risk as it was in arduous affectation, there was certain flair to the fact that the closer either party gets, the more deeper they could stick the backstabbing knife. Yet here Tess was, caring for a viper in those basic ways. Doesn't she know what those little actions do to a wrecked persona? Why, it was enough to make the Major feel ashamed with her lack of aptitude in regards to feeling and dealing with generosity. Except she wasn't ashamed. How could she be after such unoriginal actions, made a bit more pathetic because they were not a presentation.
Enlivened by the utterances of her mysterious friend, the Fallanassi takes Tess' hands, which shake just a tiny smidgen, both from a direct result of the self stabbing and from the way touching the auburn haired one made those unexplored pleasure and pressure centers twitch with high frequency shivers. Although bashful to say this at first, perhaps both out the outrageousness of the request and the likelihood of its rejection, she is steeled and speaks without dismay. "You are not some servant -you do not have to keep doting upon what makes me comfortable. How can I be calm around you? Normal around you? With this accelerated heart rate, you could probably hear it thumping through my flat chest, like some ugly time signature. Do not misunderstand: I rather like how you are twisting me around myself, and your raspy morning twange of reassurance. Are you not also troubled, weary, worn? Do you not need rejuvenation as a scraped soul?
"Join me. Get in this lavender pool and we'll relish it, together. Plus, if it makes you feel at ease, I will keep my eyes closed the entire time -scouts' honor." Without further trepidation or fuss, the markswoman turns about, unbuttons her now bed wrinkled slacks, and pulls them off a touch more gawky than she had hoped. She then practically sloshes and half tosses/half rolls into the tub, splashing some water out along its sides. A distinct murmur of satisfaction vibrates from out the Fallanassi's throat, and before one could count it, she had removed her undergarments -nondescript whites, now soapy and soggy- tossing them off without regard to anything against some corner, and then lets herself sink beneath the surface. As for the tub itself, it was large enough and deep enough to accommodate roughly five fully grown users, so the feat of a 6'4" person diving beneath the bubbly cover was something academic.
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 24, 2014 8:14:04 GMT -8
The sound of laughter traveled from where the auburn haired woman once stood to the kitchenette where the sound of dishes were heard clanking against each other. The sound of diminishing laughter trailed behind Tess in her jovial mood becuase of the blunt honesty she was receiving from the once closed off villain. She listened to the sound of the splashing coming from the overly large tub and weighed the pros and cons of Major's request. Shaking her head light heartedly, she procured the two mugs of caffeinated treasure and re-entered the bathroom.
She stood over Major as she relished in the luxuriously scented bath, and was grateful to have put in enough soap in to cover up the vital bits. Tess handed Major a mug and sat down with her back against the tub. "Major, er, Rip? Actually, which do you prefer?" she began, blowing on the steamy beverage. "I thank you for the offer, but don't you think it would be rather bold and hasty for us to start bathing together? I don't think we're up to that part yet. Because if I know you, and I think I'm starting to know you rather well, I'm sure there would be some ulterior motive lurking beneath. Heh. A simple bath time to lead to who knows what!" Tess paused, turning to look at her silently nude friend and her rather unamused face. Was she naseous again? Borderline insulted? Tess gulped. "I didn't mean any offense, you know. Your offer seemed so simplistic and honest I automatically expected it to be somehow diabolic. Sorry, bad habit. I'm just used to the dualities of people with opposite ideals colliding into themselves where it's hard to tell particular aspects apart. Well, what I think I'm trying to say is, I'm used to people saying one thing and doing another. Needless to say, I trust you, and shouldn't impose these previous experiences upon you. Damn, I'm rambling again. Sorry. I hope you like your coffee sweet. What do you want to do today? It looks nice out. You're making me nervous with that stare."
Tess sipped on her coffee trying to play off that it wasn't too hot to drink. That failed after she burnt her tongue and resulted in her spitting the liquid down the front of her shirt. Her eyes rolled upwards and grimaced. She didn't exactly blame Major. Not fully, anyway.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 24, 2014 20:28:59 GMT -8
Post by The Major on Mar 24, 2014 20:28:59 GMT -8
Thus Tess spoke, and what first started as laughter and chiding turned into a slowly panicking voice that sped up with each sentence -all supervised by a gloomier and gloomier looking person who went by a moniker named Major; a moniker that was proven to be not something she had chosen for herself, but something the lemmings used in her name's place. The proof was in the glare, the slow blinks, the downward tilt of the head, and the hushed breath. At the point that Tess ranted about the "dualities in people" the macabre markswoman's chin had dipped beneath the bubbly surface with deliberate slowness. Eventually the auburn haired one tries to be deft, changing the subject to plans for the day. But once this is done a marked silence fills this room, tense, wisping across the perimeter with the not so subtle bubbling of aggression.
And then the Major shoots.
Near superhuman talent at accuracy was always her prime skill, and this instance was no exception. Aiming her mouth upwards, the freeshooter sprays a concentrated burst of soapy water in a predetermined arc that neatly soars across the length of space separating tub and target. The propelled projectile of course did not break its physical limitations, and the further it flowed, the more it frayed outward in a cone like spread. Unfortunately, there was only so much force someone could put into spitting before the whole act became a malicious mixture of hissing spittle and anger. This was not an act of hatred, but one out of joviality. The whole mess translates into bath water splashing innocently enough into her knees and legs.
"Bleeegh." Curses. Soap water was still on her tongue. Grasping upon the coffee mug like a lifeline, she takes a careful gulp of the beverage in the hopes of getting the ichor of processed materials off her palette. Results are more or less effective.
"Ach. Outside? Under the bright sun? Ask me again in another hour." Pensively pleased, the Major clamps her jaw briefly from a thump of temple centered pain. "Hm. You are incredibly endearing when you act like this, no doubt thinking you are rambling, annoying. Nevertheless, your voice is something I can certainly see myself getting delightfully accustomed to. . . for now" She added, throwing in a jest of her own. "Excellent display: you have comfort zones and drawn lines, and you will not cross them. I will respect such staunch redoubts, and not tease you again like this." A pause to take another sup from the mug solidifies this new found understanding between us, before she lays the cup down and turns in order to sit back. A wide smile suddenly brightens her face. "Rip, hm? Never had someone pick that name for me; yet, you would think it would be the obvious choice due to the self same word in Basic. It feels about right! I really like trilling the "R" right at its start. Rrrrrrip! Rip!" Outward from the surface extends a lanky leg, serving as somewhat excited punctuation in the form of a wet kick. She flexes her ankle, seemingly triumphant, and extremely lacking in any kind of shame or shyness around Tess. The raven haired one then turns and rests her arms on one of the tubs edges while staring at her odd friend. "There it is: your name for me. Call me Rip. It sounds more intimate than anything else, don't you agree?"
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 8:45:02 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 25, 2014 8:45:02 GMT -8
"Which imagery is more intimate in your perspective?" Tess asked nefariously. "The one of ripping flesh or the other ripping paper? They both seem to complement you in a way. Heh, they accentuate your lighthearted days and morosely grumpy days. The question is, which one is which?"
Tess was enjoying their jovial morning, vomit included. Nothing solidifies a friendship more than holding back one's hair as they vomit the day after a sensual moment, then recovering in the bathroom while the same person is stark naked and other sitting close by. Very close by. Of course this wasn't what society would dictate as "normal," but which one of this pair was actually "normal?" The time Tess and Maj-, Rip, spent together was anything but expected, and all the more cherished by them. The days had began to blur as a singular experience and definitive base of their erupting relationship. What was their relationship, anyway? The more Tess thought about it, the harder it was to pinpoint what exactly she could describe them as. That was of little consequence though. She didn't need a label to solidify the sentiments they shared, or the ever present overwhelming sense of satisfaction. They would continue their time together as it began- a paradoxically pleasing cacophony of fresh experiences without bounds or expectations. It was the only way it could be.
Rip and Tess lingered in that fashion longer than they had anticipated. They got so caught up in their pleasant exchange, they had failed to hear the knocking on the door over the sounds of splashing water and laughter. They also failed to hear the key card sliding into the lock, and the door creaking open slowly. They didn't hear the oncoming footsteps because they were muffled by the carpets, nor the sound of disgruntled breaths. The shadow of a figure crept closer to the bathroom, the door of said room wide open. The women carried on, but scared witless when they heard it speak from beyond the threshhold--
"Housekeeping."
Tess and Major were startled, but for a very brief moment. Their faces morphed from content to vengeful in a matter of seconds. They glared at the ancient woman, who didn't at all seem flustered or shocked by the scene she was intruding on. She lingered in the doorway, observing the mess from the night before. Then a look of annoyance crept over face, imagining the work she would have in store for her later on. "I guess I'll come back."
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The Major
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Posts: 5,959
Affiliation: Fallanassi
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 9:03:30 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 25, 2014 9:03:30 GMT -8
"Better yet: do not come back until I specifically instruct for you to come back, understood? Good. We are done with you now. You are excused."
That did not go over well with the elderly woman who had to bare the brunt of the combined glare from the tall duo. Frowning deeply, the house keeper internally curses both her lot in life and the gangly shrew who could probably use a great stick shoved up into her hindquarters. Somehow managing to look even older, the keeper shuffles out while a wide grin plays out upon Rip's face. As the maid releases her frustrations on the door handle, she mutters:
"Bloody bull dykes. Think they own the world...."
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 11:50:40 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 25, 2014 11:50:40 GMT -8
Ignoring the ignorant comment uttered by the Crone, Tess and Rip went about their business. "By the way, that was kind of harsh," Tess said passively. "Yea, she shouldn't have prodded in here, but you didn't have to write her off as some sort of servant. And that grin? Eesh, that was scary." Tess gulped down the final dredges of her coffee. "I feel like I should begin giving you etiquette lessons or something in addition to these linguistic ones." Adding a pseudo-annoyed face Tess said, "Are you almost done yet? You look like a prune. I'd like to get washed too eventually."
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 12:36:53 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 25, 2014 12:36:53 GMT -8
Why, of course it wasn't necessary. Almost nothing was necessary. However, there was a certain brand of churning hatred, the innate internal hatred the Major had for all living things due to their potential and self imposed banality. This wasn't something that she should explain to her somewhat growing better half. It merely boiled down to that, at her core, and in her most natural state, the Major was violent, combative, and quite clearly a sociopath. Things that were pleasing to her were the things she kept close; things that were not so lucky tended to be targets, marks, things, and test subjects. Perhaps Tess would realize this one day. It was even possible that such emotionally disconnected tendencies would be the catalyst of their destruction. To make matters a touch more morose, it was likely that should Tess abandon her friend due to her permeating ugliness, that the Major wouldn't even understand why.
The sniper blinks a few times, apparently considering what was said aloud, and was perhaps a touch confused at the commentary. What was wrong with her smile? That old woman was undoubtedly a terrible person anyway.
"You want me to stand up in front of you now and get out? Jawohl." Purposefully playing off Tess' request for a turn to shower, Rip lists her legs underneath the rest of her form, and completely anticipating Tess' panicked departure, gets up as slowly from the tub as humanly possible -a lopsided smirk splitting her freckled cheeks.
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 13:36:56 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 25, 2014 13:36:56 GMT -8
"Is this a dare?" Tess asked coyly. She knew what Rip's angle was. She was seeing if she could anticipate Tess's reaction to her boldness and smart ass-ery. Tess remained seated on the floor and laced her fingers. "You want to play a game of chicken? I'll play." She twisted her body to face Rip as if she was about to watch a show in the best seat in the house. Center stage.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 15:05:07 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 25, 2014 15:05:07 GMT -8
A challenge she had, a challenge she would get. Our foolish and wreckless Fallanassi stands up and adopts as proud a posture as possible to the point of crossing the putrid event horizon. Water and soap slides off, but what ensues is not a small victory. As a soldier, one did not have need for contrite things as shyness around comrades. You fought together, died together, expelled waste together, ate together, and so on and so forth. In front of a medic, being gauzed up as wounds bled unto a bed was part of the same situation.
But here, now, in front of this one, the Major had nothing in or on her that was worth being proud over. She felt too exposed, too disgusting. Her skin was too white because she rarely had need to wander in the day light. She had the upper body of a prepubescent teen, with tiny black freckles adorning her chest like a million tiny back heads, looking sickly against skin so stark in its lack of color this body looked like a corpse. Round scars were scattered across the expanse and concentrated upon the torso -the last reminders that she had in fact been shot up and incapacitated. What the Hell was she doing? She was abhorrent, an atrocity of physique.
The realization wasn't instantaneous. As the thoughts formed, the woman self consciously covered herself with her arms, painfully aware that she hasn't shaven in days. Extreme discomfort consumes her face as scarlet and even purple fill its void with heat. She sits back down, feeling tiny. After all, she was the 25 year old passed up for someone more than twice her age. Appearances in her natural state, she thought, were not for the unprepared.
"Leave me alone. I will get out shortly."
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 15:59:44 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 25, 2014 15:59:44 GMT -8
The display before Tess was both humble and confusing. How could this menace go from over confident to meek in a matter of moments? As Rip towered over Tess inside the tub, Tess was transfixed by all of the markings on her moon lit body. All the freckles, all the scars, made up beautiful constellations. Though their images were hard to discern, their mere presence spoke volumes. Tess was enraptured by the sight, and couldn't hope to spend her days with anyone else. Given the history she had shared with her over the course of time spent together, Tess could feel the insecurities her friend tried so hard to mask with her morbid thoughts and words. So much prose could be written about this wretched soul! She clearly was once broken and is now struggling very hard to reassemble and reasses her lot in life. "No worries," Tess thought to herself. "I'll help her. She can be my broken rose."
Tess remained silent as she got off the floor to leave the room. She wasn't at all offended, fully understanding this predicament. She took a towel off of the rack and put it on the side of the tub. With a smile, she turned around and slightly closed the door.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 17:15:10 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 25, 2014 17:15:10 GMT -8
It didn't seem like the auburn haired one was angered by the sudden request, especially since she fetched a towel and departed with a smile. The laugh lines on the corners of her mouth didn't give a sinister air, so the Major could only surmise that Tess was in fact chipper. No doubt this stemmed from the fact that she had won this particular joust, resulting in the awkward freckle face looking quite stupid. The loser wasn't mad either -she had been the bold one, so appearing weak was entirely her own fault.
The problem wasn't that she thought her appearance was bottled affection killer. Even she would have to admit that if it was that much of an issue then it could be changed at any time. The principle idea was that regardless of how ugly society decided to level her as, she would wear it proudly because it was exactly who she was, and it makes up the essence of who she was. To cast illusions or undergo surgery would be dishonest to her values, or lack of them, in regards to appearance. The problem is that the Huntress did not feel fit enough to smear Tess' senses with her ungainly body. She wasn't good enough. And since she cared, she wouldn't continue to force and mar their continued friendship with a vile presence.
"Excuse me about before. You do not need such nonsense in your life. I am sure that eventually I will be exactly how you want me to be -once I learn what you want. Anyway, enjoy your shower." This she says while in a firmly secured bathrobe. Still a bit too ashamed of her behavior, the Major avoids Tess' gaze and focuses on finding her glasses, which were dropped somewhere last night.
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
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Saarlan
Mar 25, 2014 20:05:09 GMT -8
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Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 25, 2014 20:05:09 GMT -8
"Stop being a baby," Tess remarked while rummaging through the clothes heap on the floor. Which items were clean? Which were dirty? Who knew? "Clearly what I thought was a non- judgemental space has suddenly become one. No, you rarely, if ever, judge me, but you sure as hell pile it on high for yourself. Listen to me. You're not drowning anymore. You don't need to be insecure anymore. You're not surrounded by anyone trying to hurt you anymore. I'm not trying to be mean, but I'm trying to put it as simply as possible for you: you're special. You're wonderful. You're my best friend if not only friend in the world right now. Please stop being so rough on yourself and try to understand how important you are." Tess looked at Major who was playing with the cloth belt of her bathrobe.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 26, 2014 4:47:29 GMT -8
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Post by The Major on Mar 26, 2014 4:47:29 GMT -8
Blunt and direct again -it was really a terrifying thing. This girl, woman, obviously did not believe in leaving awkward silences to fester, or flashes of thought to remain deep seated. It is likely that her past experiences has taught her the penalty of such hidden natures, and the Major herself was only just learning about this price and trail of wreckage now. Tugging and picking at invisible lint upon the robe, the Fallanassi internally does agree that her behavior was childish, but this is not completely her fault. Well, it probably was, but since no one had taken the time to explain the whole concept of interacting with others as opposed to interacting, or acting, at others, this partnership of theirs was chugging along in a case by case basis. Oh, why did she have to be so bold, so insistent on being jarring? Showing herself off like that? Shivers. At least Tess believed it was okay. No, she could probably see the reasoning behind it and the causes which led to such embarrassing effects. Her rebuke was delivered with that typical strength of presence the auburn one so often exuded. Perhaps the Major did not believe it herself, but at least now she was convinced that her friend believed in her words.
Why did the markswoman want to embrace and feel the skin of the other one as form of thanks so badly at this very moment? It did had something to do with accepting this admonishing, but there was another side to it, another slant. Perhaps acceptance that she was quite vulnerable when honest in front of the other party? In anycase, the Major does not speak, instead silently musing on the words spoken, waiting for Tess to enter the bathroom before she herself wandered into the confines of the closet. Her head still was hurting, so if they did have to wander outside, she wanted something a bit more comfortable than a two piece suit. Although, her suits were exceedingly comfortable, regardless of their fitted style.
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
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Saarlan
Mar 26, 2014 6:45:08 GMT -8
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Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 26, 2014 6:45:08 GMT -8
"Why are you acting so strangely?" Tess asked as she collected the desired articles and draped them over her arm. "You're being unusually quiet and pensive. Do you still have a migraine? Do you want to talk about anything? Are you uncomfortable about--" Tess cut herself off midsentence. Was that what was wrong? Was there some kind of tension or apprehension because of last night? Neither of them had brought up the topic yet, but then again, Tess felt they didn't really need to. Wait a moment... Did Tess misread the signals? Was that scenario just something of an inebriated impulse? A twinge of darkness intermixed with disappointment flashed across her face. She suddenly felt overheated, and her thoughts whirled about too fast to comprehend. No, that couldn't be the case. She would have told her to leave by now, right? Tess opened her mouth to speak, then immediately decided against it. Instead of analyzing Rip's behavior any further, she strode to the bathroom in a hasty fashion, head down and biting her lip.
Tess closed the door as gently as she could, but of course that meant nervously slamming it at the last second because she thought about it too hard. She paused, wondering if Rip would say something and pressed her ear to the door. Nothing. Tess decided against locking it just in case Rip had another bout of vomitting. She then stripped down and entered the tub, minorly surprised Rip remembered to drain it. She noticed the lingering suds, and watched them disappear when the hot water washed them down the pipes. As the steaming water cascaded down her back, she played back the events from the night before. She attempted to pinpoint what exactly would make Rip seem so standoffish. It couldn't be that. It just had to be the hangover that was making her this way. What if it was something else, something deeper? Internal strife, perhaps? Conflicting emotions? A need for some kind of closure from her previous experiences? Does she feel a sense of betrayal? There were so many questions Tess wanted to ask but felt that doing so would be incredibly intrusive. Just because Rip had told her many things from her past, it didn't mean she had to tell everything. There were secrets not shared and meant to be hers alone. Tess usually wasn't afraid to speak her mind about anything, but these particular questions had her a little worried. She decided that she would just have to wait until Rip deemed it the appropriate time to delve into these matters. Maybe after this shower they could discuss whatever it was that was bogging her down.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 26, 2014 7:22:29 GMT -8
Post by The Major on Mar 26, 2014 7:22:29 GMT -8
Was she being that obvious that it was starting to trouble her friend's rather pleasant disposition? Of course she was. Playing back everything that had happened, including last night and this morning, it would had been considerate to call this all an emotional whirlwind. Still, it wasn't enough. The more she kept trying to downplay the undercurrent, the more jarring she was being towards Tess. That was more or less unfair. And for her own mental health, the Major could not go through another failed display like this morning.
Damn it all to the bowels of the Ice Queen's pit. She was going to have to come clean with Tess -otherwise some other grand awkwardness would ensue.
Although she did try to find something different to wear it's not like she had ever bothered to try a lot of different things. When she was a child, Rip used to enjoy striped patterns and bright colors, but the decade had been just a bit rough, obviously. So be it. A fresh pair of black slacks and a white button down blouse come on. Still, it feels a bit too formal, and so the Fallanassi unclips the cuff links on the shirt and rolls up the sleeves past her elbow. Blue socks slip on, then leather loafers go over them, and finally, more out of nervous energy -since Tess still was in the shower- a nondescript black tie secured on the unbuttoned collar. With great restraint, she refrains from wandering over to the bathroom door, and instead pours the both of them another cup of coffee. Rip herself filled up her mug until ultra sweetness was achieved. Five sugar packets did the trick.
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Tess/Tez Bola
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"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
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Saarlan
Mar 26, 2014 18:51:57 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 26, 2014 18:51:57 GMT -8
The water continued to pour. The steam made the air dense. Tess' skin began to prune. Her thoughts were still muddled and depressing. What exactly did she expect to happen next? She could go out there and confess what her true feelings were- the neverending conflicted sentiments that might seem so shallow in comparison to what Rip was experiencing. What did Rip really mean to her? Did they want something akin to just friendship, or could it turn into something deeper? If they were to be something more intimate, what would they do next? Keep living together? Pick out curtains? See each other on the weekends? What if Rip was falling for the wrong person? What was it that she wanted? Love? Acceptance? A sister figure? A lover? Best friend? All and more. What was she fighting for?
...
Tess nearly choked when she heard her mind ask that question. What was she fighting for? She had been asked that once! But what was her answer? How could she know the question and not the answer?! Who asked her that? Where was she when she gave the response she couldn't remember? What was wrong with her?! Why was her stomach clenching so hard? Why was she suddenly short of breath? What was this repulsive deja vu coursing over her consciousness? Tess had to get out, she couldn't breathe, her head was spinning too fast, her stomach was knotting, she had to tell someone-- Tell who what?! Who would believe her? Bog Rip down even more over a stupid thought that would lead nowhere? How, when, could, should she tell Rip about---
"Is it my turn yet?"
Tess tried jumping out of the tub, but felt herself slipping. She grasped a fistful of the plastic lining of shower curtain and it ripped from the pole. It wrapped around her arm as she collided on to the floor, arms and legs flailing pathetically. She groaned and tore at the plastic sheet nearly suffocating her right wrist and pulled herself up unsteadily. Her drenched long locks were pasted to the side of her face, but she didn't bother fixing it. She took a towel from the rack and haphazardly covered herself with it. She just had to get out of there. She needed air. Before she turned the door knob, she timidly turned to the mirror. It was covered in a slick fog, barring any reflection. Not a relief. It added more to the ominous presence she couldn't yet face. She swung open the door on unsteady legs. She took a step and fell on her knees, gasping harshly. A pitiful sight she must have been, adding more distress to someone who had enough of her own. She hoped Rip would forgive her.
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The Major
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Saarlan
Mar 27, 2014 6:19:09 GMT -8
Post by The Major on Mar 27, 2014 6:19:09 GMT -8
"Eh? Tess?"
She looked like a victim of a shooting, and for whatever reason this wasn't exactly the longest leap of logic considering there were enemies on this planet alone who'd take the opportunity to take a crack at assassinating not only the Major, who was more an unperson and collection of presences, but any citizen who was in Saarlan. After all, the lot of them were invaders or the loved ones of invaders. As the Fallanassi stands as though at a loss as to what to do, a quick snap shot of memory plays out: the bathroom had no windows. No windows = no sniper shot. Bloody Pit, this was internal. Hangover? Vertigo? Damn it, woman, what did it matter? Move!
Long legs equate to long strides. Lucky for the woman cringing on the floor, she had left her bathrobe from a night ago laying on a chair in plain sight. Scooping this up without changing her course thanks to long arms and a spindly like center of gravity, the Major swoops to her friend's side, trying to visually check for any abnormalities. Nothing was out of place or bleeding or bubbling out of her pores; the markswoman drapes on the dry bathrobe over her friend, taking great care to not be too rough. A hand slips through wet tendrils of redwood hair to press its index and middle fingers against Tess' neck, searching for a pulse. It has accelerated to nearly 130 BPMs, which for her friend's weight and health profile was about the equivalent of being in an active fight. Formulating heart attack? Perhaps a panic attack? If the latter, calming her down was a priority along with getting to her breathe. She was holding her breath as though being stabbed.
"Breathe. Can you? Talk to me. Tell me what assails you. It will be fine. You will always be fine, regardless of what color you turn, because I will always be here to steady you, like so. . ." She squeezes Tess lightly in a half hug, concerned enough not to smother her. "Unless you say, 'No,' I am going to take you to a hospital -assuming this is some sort of poisoning or other medical emergency. I have to assume such to protect you. What say you, 'Yea' or, 'Nay?' Would you like medical attention? Just breathe first, yes? Would you be so kind as to breathe?"
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Tess/Tez Bola
Member
"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Saarlan
Mar 27, 2014 10:42:14 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 27, 2014 10:42:14 GMT -8
Rip's voice was able to penetrate Tess' ears through the wheezing. The more Rip spoke, the calmer Tess became. It was as if she was the only anchor Tess needed to realize that all was alright in her world. The voice she heard was only that- just a voice. It couldn't touch or hurt her, only haunt and taunt with vague threats. Tess' eyes began to water as she looked up at her concerned friend. She felt pathetically useless, utterly miserable, completely embarrassed. Raspy high pitched noises came out of her mouth instead of words of thanks. Her head drooped and let out pained silent sobs. It was only a matter of time before her life would be torn asunder. Again.
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The Major
Member
Also known as Sailor Titan
Posts: 5,959
Affiliation: Fallanassi
Traffic Light: Blue
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Saarlan
Mar 27, 2014 11:51:45 GMT -8
Post by The Major on Mar 27, 2014 11:51:45 GMT -8
There was always a tiny bit of cruelty that this one out poured when confronted by the pathetic, whether on purpose or out of compulsion, it could not be determined. "That's not a 'nay." She then began to grin, her cheeks creaking as spit shuffled left and right. Why could she not help it? Was it seeing something beautiful in pain? Was she a sadist? Yes. A million times yes. The old platoon called her Huntress for a reason, after all. "Will I have to carry you now over my shoulder?" But she could resist; would have to resist. At least the Major had the decency to smile out of Tess' field of view. Because it was one of those grins, the kind that were even worse than the ones Tess commented on earlier. "Judging by your height and weight, I could do it while singing us both a simple tune, unless I began to hurt your head." Added Riplian, her voice brimming with mirth, yet soft. "Sublimity through suffering. Hm, maybe you have read my psychological profile?" For reasons unknown, for reasoning compelled, she runs a single index finger across Tess' face, tracing a line from one side of her chin to another.
Pause.
Reset.
This was barring exploitive.
". . . Ahem. . ."
More of that twanging background lust was slip sliding like snakey, venomous coils. Voices said, "Take advantage."
And destroy and make a mound of fecal matter of her companionship, and what she has bared?
Never.
Suddenly the Fallanassi understood. If she was going to keep holding on to this against her chest, it was going to murder Tess out of fear -fear for vulnerability. Subconsciously her psyche was trying to defend itself from what it perceived was an identifiable rupture if Rip went just a yard or two too far. But she was stronger than the mental networks of dragon's teeth in her brain. She could crush and dominate her limitations. Well, she could at least make a good blitz out of it. Tess' overall package, from emotionality, to vulnerability, to bluntness, to struggling inner demon would provide the extra fuel that would finish the forward motion. However, in order to make this grand shift in internal doctrine, the eventual truth would have to leak out, and soon. Obviously the truth wasn't due while her friend recovered from a panic attack. Shifting gears, the Fallanassi has her voice shift out of the subdued and predatory range and instead flows tenderly with concern.
"You are a vision, and seem like a vision I have met before, though meeting you again has caused me to realize that I didn't fully comprehend your visionary properties -I did not appreciate them at the time. And what is this? You're breathing. That's it. In and out; slow, and controlled. You are in control, yes? You can feel me right here, next to you, yes?" She rests her bandaged hand upon Tess', clasping gentle upon her wet fingers, which did indeed bring a twitch of pain in the Major's counterpart. "This is what is real. You, there; me, here. Do you think you are just here to support me? You are. Do you think that perhaps I am here to support you? I am." Our resident Fallanassi, empire builder, genetic manipulator, undead factory maker, fantasy weaver, adjutant kommandant of Hell, moves her face downward and forward so that Tess may see it, tilting in such a way to hopefully catch her compatriot's eyes within her own, wretched blue irises. "May I borrow your words but for a moment?
'You are not drowning anymore. You do not need to be insecure anymore. You are not surrounded by anyone trying to hurt you anymore.'
"There you are. Have them back. Thank you for the loan." She closes her eyes and smirks, wrinkling her nose and its freckles.
"Now, my migraine is passing. Would it please you to get dressed, Commodore? I am hungry. Very hungry. I know I would love something greasy and fried. Would you join me in searching for such breakfast? Do you need help dressing? I can still close my eyes and do it blindly. Shall I move myself away into another room?"
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Tess/Tez Bola
Member
"...I've discounted suicide in favor of killing everyone else in the entire world instead."
Posts: 633
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Saarlan
Mar 28, 2014 6:59:45 GMT -8
Post by Tess/Tez Bola on Mar 28, 2014 6:59:45 GMT -8
Wrapping the bathrobe tautly around herself, Tess readied for an attempt to stand. "I'm sorry," she said hoarsely. "I don't know what came over me. I'm fine now. I don't need to go to the hospital." She deeply breathed from her nose and exhaled from her mouth several more times, affirming she was herself and no one else. She squeezed Rip's hand and attempted a lopsided smirk. "We can get breakfast. As long as you don't sass anyone too badly." Tess accepted Rip's offer of helping her up from the floor and stood in front of her for a few moments to make sure she wouldn't topple right back down. Tess glanced into the foggy room, seeing that the shower was still running. During her episode, she had neglected to shut it off. Tess reached out to grab Rip's elbow before she had walked away too far. "Hey, Rip? This is going to sound odd, but could you turn off the water and hand me my clothes? I don't want to change in there because it's too stifling."
Silently, Rip complied with Tess' request. As she did so, she had looked around for any oddities or triggers that had set Tess off. She glanced down at the ripped shower lining, mentally taking note that it look like a twisted heap on the floor. She reached for the shower's knob and slightly winced when some of the scalding water that was being released from the showerhead landed on her arm. She muttered incoherently and quickly turned off the water. She picked up the clothes and walked over to Tess who was lingering in the doorway. Rip wanted to remark on the luminescent pale pallor of her skin and the deep darkness that surrounded her eyes, but refrained. For now. It was too soon for that. She instead told her friend to have the coffee she had prepared, and that she would return momentarily. She was headed to the lobby to inquire of any messges while she could change freely.
Tess let the bathrobe slide off her body and removed the towel for drying her hair. She paced herself as she put on her skivvies, then socks, then outerwear. She sat on the edge of her bed and patted her hair with the damp towel. She turned her thoughts over to mundane things such as what Rip would order at the restaurant, who would they see outside, what the weather was like, etc. She felt more in control now. She found where she had tossed her boots and got up to put them on. After doing so she went to where her mug awaited and sipped slowly as to not have a repeat of earlier. She waited for Rip to come back in a more content mood than before. She finally found someone who geniuinely cared for her. More importantly, she had found someone she genuinely cared for.
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