#sbl03

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Arc 2 Finale part 1 of 5

Rather than five posts a day, the end of this arc will have five days with one long post. Memories/flashbacks shown with pink borders

CW: Hospital, Cartoon injuries, Memory issues, Autistic struggles

The next time I can confidently say I remember after breakfast is being in a hospital room. I have bits and pieces of the ambulance ride there. Someone asking me my name, the date, things I knew. But when they started asking me if I could remember why I was there I shut down. I didn’t know. It was scary. Like... how could I not know?

I was lying down when my parents came in, cautiously approaching me and telling me everything would be alright. Then Dylan and Apollo came in. Dylan tried to hug me but I recoiled. I didn’t understand what was happening and I couldn’t stand touch. They sat opposite me and while Dylan tried softly talking to me, Apollo just looked wrecked.

Then an old man came in. I felt like I should remember him, but I couldn’t place him, thinking made my head hurt.

Malcolm: I’ve looked at all the scans, they’re clear. She’s going to be okay

Daniela: Oh thank the watcher

Papa let go of my hand and walked over to him.

Byron: Are you sure the scans are clear?

Malcolm: Yes. She has sustained no permanent brain damage. No swelling, no bleeding

Byron: But they were asking her questions about today... the only one she could answer was what day it is. The rest... well her echolalia kicked in

Malcolm: I know this is probably very scary son but memory problems, especially around the time of the injury, they’re pretty common in concussion. Give her time. Now Apollo was it?

Apollo: Yes?

Malcolm: Don’t fill in the blanks for her. When the police get her statement they will be looking for if she’s been coached on what to say or if it seems like genuine recall

Papa walked over to me and took hold of my hand again, bending down to be at my eye level.

Byron: I’m going to go talk to the police and the dean of the university jitterbug. There will be a way through this, I promise

Delilah: *quietly and confused* Promise

They left and some kind of nurse came in. She bent down to touch my arm and I tried to crawl away.

Delilah: NO *gasps at pain*

Daniela: Delilah, sweetie, sweetie, the nurse here just has to tend to your arm so it will heal properly

Delilah: Heal?

Daniela: She’s only going to touch you as much as necessary, no more

Mama looked at the nurse who nodded her agreement. Reluctantly I stuck my arm back out and she began to wrap a bandage around it.

When the nurse left I couldn’t stop staring at my arm. I didn’t understand anything. Dylan stood up and came over to sit on the bed with me. I was on a hospital bed?

Delilah: I...

Dylan: Take your time

Delilah: *scared* Dylan... I don’t understand what I’m doing here or why that nurse put this wrap on my arm. It hurts but I don’t know why

Daniela: Sweetie you sprained your wrist. They did an X-ray so they know nothing is broken. Do you remember that?

I remembered a woman lying my arm on a table and telling me to hold still. That must have been it. I nodded.

Delilah: Nothing is broken?

Dylan: Nope. You’ll be back to kneading bread with both hands soon if you just rest it

I looked over at Apollo. He looked so sad, and something else. Some emotion I couldn’t place.

Delilah: Apollo are you okay?

Apollo: *sadly* I’m not the one in a hospital bed. But I should be

Daniela: Apollo sweetie it’s not your fault

Dylan: Lilah, what is the last thing you remember from today before being here?

Delilah: Umm... We were all having breakfast. Rina said she would let me know when I could shower. *winces* My arm really hurts

Daniela: I’ll go check with a nurse if you can have more painkillers

As Mama left James walked in. Talk about a day that made no sense.

Apollo: *confused* What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you still be with the police?

James: They have no more questions right now. I wanted to see how she was doing

Apollo: Well she remembers fuck all and is lucky not to have a broken wrist

James: That is quite a shiner

Confused I felt around my eyes and winced. One side was definitely sore- maybe there was a bruise coming?

James: Look, I just wanted to apologise for-

Delilah: Wait. Wait wait wait. We’ve... we’ve talked already today? Is that right?

James: *nods* Yes. We were the last two on the roster for the staggered start

I closed my eyes, bits of memory trying to reassert themselves.

Delilah: Give me a minute...

The door closed behind Apollo and I was left with James. Fifteen minutes until he would go in, thirty minutes until I would.

Delilah: What do you make of the chef then?

James: He seems nice enough, if quiet. I do think it’s weird he doesn’t want to watch us cook

Delilah: Right? Like who doesn’t love to watch cooking?

For the first time we chuckled together and I felt my chest unclench a little.

James: Look, I ah... I think I might owe you an apology

Delilah: For what?

James: When we met I assumed you were spoiled idle rich. These last two years though... you’re a good cook Delilah. You have talent

Delilah: You really think so?

James: I do. I don't think we're ever going to be friends. While it's not malicious and you're hardly alone in this, you still have a lot of privilege to unpack. But I'll be happy to tell people I worked alongside you.

Delilah: *smiles* Thanks. You’re a good cook to. I don’t doubt you’ll work hard to achieve your dreams, whatever they are

[changingplumbob]

Struck By Love - Arc 2 Finale part 5 of 5

Rather than five posts a day, the end of this arc will have five days with one long post. Memories/flashbacks shown with pink borders

CW: Hospital, Cartoon injuries, Memory issues, Autistic struggles

I sat there on the bed starting to rock back and forth.

Delilah: *wailing* Oh no. Oh no no no no no

Daniela: Delilah sweetie, take a breath

Delilah: I’m going to go to jail. I am not built for jail

Daniela: Dylan go grab the nurse

Delilah: Mama what do I do? I killed someone

Apollo: You didn’t kill him!

Delilah: *confused* I- I didn’t? But I felt like I wanted to, surely I-

Daniela: Wanting to kill him isn’t the same thing sweetie. Physically he is fine okay? Unharmed. Yes hi, I’m worried she’s going to have another panic attack

Nurse: Let me get this into her IV line, it should work in a few minutes

Monroe: Put the fucking knife down Delilah, I won’t tell you again

Delilah: No! I’ll kill them humanely myself before I let you boil them to death

Monroe: Don’t you dare screw up my final dish

Delilah: It wouldn’t even cost you anything to let me-

Monroe: I am sick and tired of people like you thinking you can do whatever you want just because you have money and I don’t

I became aware of the others moving towards us, but I couldn’t put the knife down. I couldn’t let him subject those lobsters to torture. They couldn't speak, someone had to stand up for them.

Delilah: You can't-

Monroe: I said I wouldn’t tell you again

He swung for me and in my confusion I dropped the knife. His fist connected with the side of my face and I fell to the ground. My wrist twisted under me but before I could cry out at the pain my head hit the ground and I lost consciousness.

Monroe’s Father: This is clearly a matter for the police. She attempted to kill my son

Byron: She didn’t

Monroe’s Father: What don’t you get? She approached him, unprovoked, with a fucking knife

Byron: *pleading* Both instructors say that Monroe has been hostile to her in the past

Monroe’s Father: Neither of them were in the room! Delilah snapped and my son could have been killed had he not disarmed her. He deserves fair treatment

University dean: Surely there’s some other solution than to file charges and send the girl to prison. If that happens our entire culinary branch will have to be shut down and overhauled. It will effect years of students

Monroe’s Father: *sighs* I may be able to dissuade my son from pressing charges, providing Delilah does not get off consequence free solely because of who her family is to the university. She must be held accountable for her actions the same as any other student would be

I was sitting on my bed nervously when Papa came back. Whatever they had put in the IV had helped though, and I’d given my statement to a nice sounding officer half an hour before.

Byron: I spoke to the dean, and our lawyer... and the police, and Monroe

Delilah: Papa I am so so sorry for the mess

Byron: It’s okay jitterbug, I don’t blame you

Apollo: Are they going to charge her? Monroe was screaming his head off about attempted murder when she was unconscious

Byron: His father and I have talked to him. Since he is physically unharmed, he’s willing to not press charges. The university don’t want a court case tied to their classes either

Apollo: Do we know if they’re going to let us redo the exam?

Byron: They’re going to get Mr Warner and Clara to approximate your grade based on your past work

Delilah: That... Papa you didn’t use a plural for grade

Byron: No, I didn’t. I’m sorry jitterbug, but they were threatening to sue the university over financial discrimination. The dean caved... you’ve been expelled for breaking student code of conduct

I felt like the room was spinning around me and I leaned into Dylan to stop myself falling.

Daniela: By? That was the best they could do? Can’t we fight it?

Byron: We fight it and Delilah will have a record for the rest of her life. We can’t prove Monroe deliberately provoked her, he didn't break any rules, they can prove she brandished a knife at him. She will fail every police check for every job. Ela they won’t let her in any kitchen again if they can’t trust her around knives. Our lawyer is adamant. The best thing for Delilah is to accept the expulsion, there will still be a way to a career in food just... just not the way we all hoped

Delilah: *sniffling* And not counting all my perfect work

Dylan gathered me into her arms and rubbed my back as I got hold of myself. Once my sniffles subsided she tried talking to me again.

Dylan: This isn’t the end of the world

Byron: The university cannot give you the degree but I’ve spoken to Mr Warner and Clara, they’re both willing to act as referees for you still. And all the knowledge you gained during the course isn't going anywhere, it's in your head

Dylan: You need a break from full time food. There’s got to be some other job that is like, food adjacent

Delilah: Food adjacent?

Dylan: We’ll think of something. Some job where you can be you without a distinguished degree

Delilah: Okay. Umm... I like kids? I could try be a nanny maybe? I'd still be able to bake and to cook at least a little

Daniela: Good idea but you don’t have to decide right now sweetie, give yourself time to recover

Dylan: Yeah. You don't need to be perfect all the time

Delilah: No one could accuse me of being perfect after this

Dylan: *grins* Don't worry, I still will

[changingplumbob]

CW: Bullying

The video kept playing.

Audrina: Fashion Faux Pas one, sneakers with jeans. No girl, no. You should know better, that’s a basic mistake. And bell-bottom jeans? *tuts* Honey the seventies called, they want their style back. And a hoodie in a posh place? What are we, uneducated? I think for me it’s the beanie hoodie combo. Like you are not going to pull up your hoodie when you have a beanie on. Is it that hard to find a jacket?

My eyes left the screen and I looked at my hands, trying to process what I was hearing.

Audrina: Oh by the way, this is the chick that’s been ogling me in class. Like I know I’m a ten but babe, I’m not a lesbian. Keep your eyes to yourself, these boobs are for the boys. Oh, I think she’s spotted me. She’s coming over, to be continued!

Guess I could kiss the idea of having any kind of social life with my classmates goodbye.

[changingplumbob]

He sighed and turned away from the printers a little.

Delilah: New strategy?

James: Never know. If I ignore it, maybe it will remember it’s a printer. I’m sorry, I’m normally not such a grouch

Delilah: I get it. Grades are important to you

James: I mean I kind of figured grades are important to everyone at university. I’m James

He turned to face me and his smile wavered before disappearing.

James: Oh, it’s you. Asking the professors for an extension makes sense now

Delilah: *confused* I’m sorry, I don’t follow

James: You’re one of the Delarosa’s. Probably used to having things your way, professors doing what you need in the hopes of a grant for their department. I don’t want any part of that

[changingplumbob]

CW: Domestic Abuse

Elio cleared his throat and looked up from his hands. Crossing his arms to try and feel more steady he stood and waited as Dylan disappeared into the lift. He watched the lights go until at last they indicated it had reached the ground floor. She wasn’t coming back and the weight forced him to the floor. Behind him Molly’s harsh voice barked through the door.

Molly: So she's gone?

Elio: *sniffling* Yes, you heard her

Molly: Good. Now get inside and stop being a crybaby

Elio hadn’t seen it coming. Molly had some family function scheduled for the weekend. He told her casually that he couldn’t go and then the interrogation started. On learning that he planned to go on a trip with Dylan to celebrate them having been intimate for a year she lost it. Apparently she hadn’t agreed to either of them falling in love with anyone else. The barrage of insults and slurs dented Elio until he couldn’t see a way out. If he didn’t end things with Dylan then Molly would leave him, and eventually Dylan would leave him, and he’d be alone, because who wanted to build a life with someone as pathetically unfaithful dumb and clumsy as he was.

[changingplumbob]

Fidget appreciation post!

[changingplumbob]

Theo: Mr Cabello-Smit, thank you for joining us. We’ve only just started

James: Sorry Mr Warner, the bus broke down

Delilah: What do you mean the bus broke down

Monroe: Well a bus is this thing that people that can’t afford limo’s ride in

Delilah: *snaps* I know what a bus is. I just... thought they were electric now

Audrina: Please, when have you ever taken the bus

Apollo: We bus here every day actually

Delilah: Not if it’s raining. We do get a taxi then. If my hair is soaked I can’t focus properly

James: *quietly* Point proven

Monroe: Wouldn’t want you having messy hair

It wasn’t that my hair would be messy. It’s that if my hair was soaked I legit couldn’t focus on anything else because my wet hair kept occupying my attention. It’s why I had to use a hair dryer after every shower, and why I couldn’t risk the distance to the bus stop in the rain. If my hair was wet well, the one time I let it happen the lecture was a disaster. I couldn’t take any information in because my brain was too overwhelmed. Apollo, Mr Theo and Ms Danielson were the only ones in my classes that knew I had autism. The trio of Monroe, Audrina and James didn’t exactly create an environment I felt comfortable opening up in.

[changingplumbob]

Dylan happily wheeled her suitcase out of the lift in Elio’s apartment building and set off down the corridor. She had spent half the morning packing even though they were only going away for the weekend. It was a big deal. Since she and Elio both had partners who needed to sleep in their beds they hadn’t actually spent a full night together. The anniversary of the first time they’d crossed that woohoo line seemed like a good time to change that.

Stopping outside the apartment door Dylan knocked and waited. It wasn’t long before Elio came to the door. Dylan expected to be ushered in with a kiss but instead Elio came out swiftly, shutting the door behind him.

Dylan: What’s happening? Don’t you need a bag?

Elio: I haven’t packed

Dylan: Oh I can help with that. Let’s go and-

Elio: Dylan, you can’t come in