This is not the end

Darcy Reynolds - 22 - Magi - Spatial Manipulation "Everyone has a story to tell." +Determined - Positive - Friendly - Persistent - Impulsive - Lost

[thefaithchronicles]

[Faith looks away from her and down at the keys. Part of her wants to stop talking, but her mouth moves anyway. There’s a hint of venom in her tone; she hated her mother for what she put her through.] She was rarely ever sober enough to teach me.

[darcy-reynolds]

Oh. [That's all Darcy can manage for a moment. She certainly hadn't been trying to bring up anything negative, and there's a small pang of guilt now that she has, though the answer does give her some insight as to how Faith may have ended up in the kind of position that made her life like an action movie. It has her reaching out to put a hand on Faith's shoulder.] I'm sorry. [She tells the other woman softly, even though she doesn't think it means much, before she offers a small smile.] Betcha you'll be better than me when we're done here, though.

[thefaithchronicles]

[Faith listens with a smile, the memory seems nice, despite the mean cat. She looks back at the piano, attention on Darcy, when she asks her if she’s ready.] Uh, yeah, sure. [She pauses for a second before they start, then goes into a story. It’s not one of her crazy ones that Darcy had been so interested in; it’s more of a genuine one, provoked by Darcy’s story. It came out of nowhere; spilling out of her mouth, completely unexpected to Faith.] My mom used to play the piano.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Darcy's ready to start showing Faith where to place her hands when the girl says something else, and it has her looking up again. It's not as exciting as the other stories she'd shared, but it seems more genuine and Darcy gives her a small smile, albeit a slightly sad one because it's a reminder that no one really has parents anymore.] Yeah? That's cool. How come you never learned?

[mason-sullivan]

{Mason runs a hand through his hair, a habit he’s noticed he picked up recently. He’s done a lot of bad things in his life, but he can only assume she means putting a bullet into his girlfriend’s head.} She was going to die anyway, Darcy. Can’t you just let it go? {It’s a stupid question to ask, but maybe he’s hoping for her to get angry. At least yelling would be more familiar than this quiet disappointment.}

[darcy-reynolds]

[Her gaze hardens at the question, the tiniest flare of anger flashing across her eyes because she doesn't think it's a fair thing to ask. Not when he'd been the one to tell her what he'd done, and while she's grateful for the honesty she still doesn't entirely understand what he was hoping to accomplish. For her to push him away, maybe, and maybe that would be the smart choice. But there's something in his answer that makes her think maybe he doesn't understand what she was asking, so she shakes her head and tries again.] No. Not that. Why'd you tell her you didn't care about her? Even if it was true. Why'd you do it?

[mason-sullivan]

{Mason makes a face and bites the inside of his mouth when she asks him to stay. The word is so quiet he could feign not hearing the small request, but he has to stay, even though he knows whatever follows probably won’t be pleasant. He’d said some fucked up stuff, and though he’s used to letting people down, it stings pretty hard when it comes to Darcy. The question she finally asks is a bit deep, and he wonders if the black marks spreading on his chest are the real reason behind all of this.} I think if the world was black and white, I’d be leaning more towards the darker side of the scale. {He shrugs, but it’s an honest answer.}

[darcy-reynolds]

[A tiny nod is the only indication that she's heard his answer. She's not sure what she was looking for, but she thinks he's being honest and at the very least she's grateful for that much. There's a part of her that wonders if she should just leave it at that, let him walk away so he can go fight someone else or string along some other girl. She lifts her head so she can see him, and for a few seconds she just studies him, searching for anything there that might indicate that isn't what he's doing to her.] Why did you do it? [The question leaves her lips before she can decide if it's something she really wants to know or not, and she doesn't think she has to clarify what she's asking about so she just holds his gaze and waits.]

[jo-barrow]

[Lucy can’t really hear what Darcy says, not when the angry mob of voices in her head are screaming at her. Some of them don’t even bother with words. They just scream and scream. The hand on her back has choking back a sob and she crumples, curling into the other woman as if she might find some kind of safety or reprieve there.] I just want it to stop.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Lucy curls into her and Darcy pauses for a moment in surprise before she wraps her arms around her, still rubbing her back. She has no idea what to say to the woman's words and after a few seconds of floundering for something she just starts talking. Maybe a distraction will help.] Did you know there used to be this guy who lived in California, and he would stand on the corner of the street outside his house and just wave at people every morning? Every morning, Monday through Friday, he'd just stand outside wearing these bright orange gloves and wave at all the cars and bikes and stuff that went past his house for like two hours. Just 'cause he liked doing it. Did it for years, so long it got to the point where he was sick one morning and it was front page news all around the town that he wasn't outside that day.

[thefaithchronicles]

[Faith does as she’s told, pulling up next to Darcy and glancing at the piano, vaguely remembering constantly convincing people to play it for her, but never learning how to do it herself. Maybe she should’ve. She smiles at Darcy, and it’s geunine; she likes that the woman seems to like her outside of her interesting stories. At least, she isn’t kicking her out.] Where’d you learn how to play? Or somewhat learn.

[darcy-reynolds]

There was this old lady in my neighborhood who taught piano lessons, I'd go to her house a couple afternoons a week. She had this really nice old piano, and this really mean cat that would hiss at me. But I think that's cause the first time I met it I accidentally stepped on its tail. [A smile plays across her lips at the memory and she looks down at the keys before she glances up at Faith again.] You ready?

[bella-barnett-blog]

[Bella nods happily; the idea of Rory in a little suit with a cute little bowtie is one that will never fail to make her heart fill with love for her little guy.] Yeah! It’d be so cute. We only have one ring, but we’ll find the other one eventually.

[darcy-reynolds]

Oh. [Darcy nods, but the wheels are already turning in her mind and she's got a solution in a matter of seconds.] Well - have you met Natalie? She's got blue marks, and she can control metal and stuff. She's the one who's been making the armor for everyone? I even saw her make sort of a bullet once, so I bet she could make a ring for you guys no problem. And she's really nice, she'd totally do it. [If Darcy should feel bad for offering up her friends' service without consulting them, she doesn't, really. She thinks they'd be happy to help out, and if they're not they can just say no.]

[mason-sullivan]

{Darcy doesn’t look at him, but he doesn’t need to see her face to know she’s not happy with him. Between the fight, telling her he’d killed Jilly and sleeping with Beth, he doesn’t even think he deserves to talk to her. For the first time in a long time he’s unsure of what to say.} No. No, you can keep doing… that. I’m sorry. {He ducks his head and berates himself. He should’ve just left when he had the chance.} I’ll, uh, go. Sorry. {Mason turns and head for the door, restraining from te urge to hit his head against the wall.}

[darcy-reynolds]

Wait. [The word is weak and soft, and Darcy isn't even sure what makes her say it. Maybe it's the fact that he didn't follow up with some sarcastic comment, some kind of joke about how bad the piano sounded. Or maybe it's because while he's not the only reason, he has a lot to do with why she feels the way she does right now. She still doesn't look up, and when she finally says something she's not sure if he's even still in the room with her or not.] ...Do you really think your soul is black? [It's something he'd said as a joke the very first time they'd spoken, and she's not sure why she's bringing it up now except that suddenly she thinks it's important.]

[thefaithchronicles]

[Faith walks over to her, and runs a hand over the top of the piano. It’s been a while since she’s felt one, she can barely remember the sound of music. It used to be the only constant in her life.] It’s not bad. Can you teach it to me? [It sounds terrible since it’s off-key, of course, but she could use the distraction.]

[darcy-reynolds]

Oh. Uh. [The question takes Darcy by surprise, and she hesitates for a moment. She'd come down here to be alone, but that wasn't doing much for her state of mind and she likes Faith, so after a second she gives the other girl a smile and nods.] Yeah, sure. Pull up a chair. [She scoots hers farther down the side of the piano, leaving space for Faith right in front of middle C.]

[mason-sullivan]

{After being scraped off the pavement of the parking lot, Mason has somewhat gotten himself back in order. Though he’s still dizzy, he’s been drinking water and making sure not to fall asleep. Maybe that way he’ll prevent the massive hangover he’s going to have the next day. He doesn’t know how he finds his way into a church of all places, but the space is quiet and relaxing. He’s just about to doze off on a pew and get the whole hangover over with when a horribly out of tune song starts playing. Mason frowns and crosses through the shadows, already cursing the person making the noise.} What kind of cat are you killing in here? {He stops short when he recognizes the blonde sitting in front of the piano, shutting up completely.}

[darcy-reynolds]

[A particularly unpleasant sound echoes through the tiny room when Darcy's fingers land on the wrong keys, and for a few seconds she remains frozen, her gaze fixed on her hands. She doesn't have to look up to know who's standing in the room with her, and a million different thoughts race through her head, from their last conversation to the way he'd been attacking Evie's dad in the middle of the theatre a few days later. She doesn't know what she feels, doesn't know what she wants, and after a long moments' silence she just removes her hands gingerly from the keys and answers him quietly without looking up.] Sorry. I'll stop, if it's bothering you.

[thefaithchronicles]

[The sound of the piano is unsettling, but kind of calming at the same time. She’d seen Darcy walk down the stairs, so she wasn’t concerned about who was playing the piano, but she doesn’t go downstairs just yet. She’d come to the church, almost subconsciously, in search for some comfort after she’d met Alex. It’s weird, because churches never used to comfort her.. she assumes it’s just because its the building that seems the safest, maybe the calmest, too.

Finally, she moves down the stairs, not finding it hard to follow the sound of the piano to Darcy. She hasn’t talked to Darcy in a while, butt it unsettles her to see the woman after what had happened with Alex, because she knows she cares about Darcy and would be just as fucked up if that happened to Darcy.] I didn’t know you play.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Darcy's fingers pause over the keys and she looks up in surprise at the sound of a voice she hasn't heard in a while. A quick glance to the side confirms that it's Faith, and she manages a small, sheepish smile and a shrug at the woman's comment.] Oh, uh...well I don't, really. Took piano lessons for a couple years when I was really little, but all I can remember is Hot Cross Buns. And it's off key.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Darcy hasn't forgotten her promise to Mike - or the rules - but she hasn't been feeling herself since they got here she thinks the town is safe enough. And she can be back in the theatre in less than a second, and that's what she tells herself when she pops open a portal and steps into the church. It comes almost as a relief, to be completely alone even if only for a minute or two. She'd never been particularly religious, but once she's inside she doesn't head for the sanctuary. Instead she follows a set of stairs and finds herself in a hallways with classrooms, clearly intended for young children. They're all in the same sorry state as the rest of the town, but finally she spots something worthwhile and walks into one of the rooms. The old piano is coated in a thick layer of dust and it's missing a few keys, but when Darcy presses down on one of them it produces a sound. One that's very off key, but it's good enough and she pulls up a chair. The few years of piano lessons she'd taken when she was younger had clearly been a waste, because now as she sits there the only thing that comes into her mind is 'Hot Cross Buns,' and so after a minute that's what she plays, the tune barely recognizable on the untuned instrument but it's nice to hear all the same.]

[bella-barnett-blog]

[Bella smiles at Darcy, excitement clear in her eyes as Darcy goes on and she answers.] Oooh, yeah! Anyone cold get involved if they wanted to. Could give everyone a good distraction, and be fun at the same time. Oh, I even had this vision of Rory, my dog, being the ringbearer.

[darcy-reynolds]

[A small laugh finds its way from Darcy's lips when Bella mentions her dog as the ringbearer. It's something she'd always thought was a bit silly, but under this set of circumstances she thinks it's a cute idea and she says as much.] Oh my God, that'd be adorable! You could dress him in a little tuxedo and find him a little pillow. [And then another thought occurs to her.] Do you guys have rings?

[bella-barnett-blog]

[Bella chuckles; a party doesn’t sound too bad. Bella liftens to Darcy’s story, tilting her head a little at the thought. She hasn’t considered it, honestly she hasn’t considered that. They haven’t considered a venue at all, they’d always thought they’d have time to do that stuff. Maybe they should throw around ideas now.] That’s cute! No, I haven’t, but I will be sure to look for her, thanks!

[darcy-reynolds]

No problem. [Darcy offers Bella a smile, and she hopes she really does talk to Lilith because she thinks it would be something fun for the other girl, too. And that's the kind of thing that gets her mind working again, and she can't help herself from spouting a few more ideas as well, offering up people's services.] I bet that girl who grows all the food could make you some flowers. Or Mike could build ya something cool.

[jo-barrow]

They are. [Lucy says quietly, dropping her head. She’s too tired to argue. She’s too tired to do anything but the noise and the fear and the pain were enough to keep her from passing out even with how exhausted she felt. Darcy said they couldn’t hurt her but Lucy just sobbed quietly.] They are here and they do hurt. It hurts. It doesn’t stop. It never fucking stops. You don’t understand.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Again Darcy finds herself glancing nervously around the room, but she can't see anything. It doesn't make her believe Lucy's words any less, though whether it's a real threat or it's something confined to the other woman's head remains to be seen. All Darcy knows is that she has no idea what to do right now, no idea how to help. Part of her thinks she should find someone in charge, but she can't leave Lucy alone like this so after a moment she moves to sit beside her and rubs her back the same way her mother had done for her when she was upset about something. She doubts there's anything she can say or to do help, but she says the words anyways for lack of any better ideas.] It's gonna be okay.

[jo-barrow]

[Lucy places her hand over Darcy’s and clings to it, to something real. she doesn’t get it.] They are here. They’re always here. We don’t just disappear. We remain. I can hear them. And they hear us. [She says, looking up at Darcy with wide desperate eyes.] We are never alone. I am never, ever alone. They always know where I am. [Lucy searches the ground as if shadowy footsteps might approach.] They’re going to kill me.

[darcy-reynolds]

[Darcy's brows pull together in concern at the things Lucy says. It takes her a few seconds to wrap her head around what that means, and when she does she decides that either the other blonde has officially lost her mind, or what she's saying is true. And the blue marks on her arms mean either one is a possibility, though Darcy's hoping it's the former. But that doesn't stop her from glancing around them nervously, as if something or someone might jump out and attack them at any moment. She pushes aside her own worries for now though, turning her attention back to Lucy even though she has no idea how to help or if she even fully grasps what she's talking about.] Uh...no. No, they're not. We're not gonna let them, okay? They're not here. Or - they're not here, here. They can't hurt you. [Darcy has no idea if that's true at this point, but she sincerely hopes it is, for both their sakes.]

[jo-barrow]

[Lucy didn’t hear the footsteps, and the voice added to the multitude of violent ones in her head is too high and sweet. It makes her head snap up and she immediately make a small noise from the pain that causes her. Instinctively she pulls away, not ready to see someone so close to her and for one awful moment she thinks it may be one of the voices in her head, finding corporeal form just so it can carry out one of their many threats. It’s only Darcy. She wants to say she’s fine, but it hurts too much to even try lying, besides the tears on her face are a giveaway if nothing else about her frightened form was.] They want to kill me. I can’t- It hurts. It hurts, I can’t make it stop. [She says, gripping her head tighter and pressing it against her bent knees.]

[darcy-reynolds]

[Darcy shrinks away slightly with a mumbled 'sorry,' looking at the girl before her with wide, concerned eyes. Her head turns wildly, searching the room for whoever Lucy says is threatening her, but she can't see anything and it only makes her more concerned.] Wha - who wants to kill you? [Part of Darcy thinks they should be getting to their feet and making a run for it if something's coming after Lucy, but the rest of what she's saying and the way she'd balled herself up in here makes her wonder if the threat is something real, or something in the other girl's head. It's not something Darcy would discount, not after all the things she's seen happen, and she reaches out gently to place a hand on the other girl's shoulder.] Hey. There's no one else here. Just you and me.