capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO:

herturn.
WHERE: Nina and Terry's apartment.
WHEN: Afternoon.
WARNINGS: Possible supreme awkwardness. Swans and spiders.
SUMMARY: Abby stops by to see ~~if anyone has had a psychotic break yet~~ if Nina's settled in.
FORMAT: Paragraph to start, whatever we want inside!

She had to admit, it probably wasn't one of her best ideas ever-- at the time, she'd really just wanted to help out, because Nina had seemed so nice and quiet, and Abby still remembered what it was like to arrive in the City for the first time, trying to find a safe place to stay. On the one hand, it was a nice apartment, and there was definitely room. On the other... Well. Terry came with his own warning label. Abby knew her friend was something of an acquired taste for most people, and while living with him didn't come with the usual hazards of rooming with a teenage boy-- he kept to himself, he was decent-- there were certain other things that Abby worried about.

But she hadn't seen any panicked posts to the network, and she hadn't heard Terry complain either. So maybe things were working out after all. She could only hope. Just in case there was anything that needed smoothing over though, she'd brought a little plastic bag full of flat-warming gifts.

Abby hesitated only a moment before lifting her hand to knock on the door.

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Terry doesn't respond immediately. He takes a moment, reins in that automatic defensiveness -- because it's Abby, and he knows she means well, even when her questions annoy him and even when she's pointing a gun in his face, ready to pull the trigger. He exhales and turns his head away. He knows he's dangerous; he's just tired of people pointing it out to him all the time when he's trying.

"Listen, Abby," he says finally, "It's always hard, okay? If I don't focus, I can probably hear every fear on the entire floor. If I tried, I could hear the entire building." He tries not to sound as exasperated as he feels. It only half-works. "But I'm not going to hurt her. I'm not going into her head unless somebody's life depends on it or something, alright?"

Nina tries to entertain herself with putting away random things in the kitchen that look out of place, then, when she decides that it's taken her long enough, picks up the glasses and brings them to the living room with a pleasant and small smile.

"Here you go, Abby. I brought some for you too, Terry." She gives him a quick look in the middle of her movement, still hunched over to set the drinks on the coffee table before and stepping over to take a seat on the other end of the couch. She holds her hair and places it over her shoulder, hands then neatly clasped together on her legs. The girl looks like she has an absolutely flawless posture all the time.

Abby glances up, back straightening a bit when Nina returns. She reaches for the glass of water with a little 'thanks very much,' taking a sip of it before setting it back. She seems unsure what to say at first, unwilling maybe to openly discuss the topic of Terry's powers with someone who didn't know him well yet. It was a fine balance between keeping everyone safe and giving Terry a fair chance. Abby hasn't quite figured out the best way to do that yet.

At length, she exhales and says to Nina, "Terry was just telling me you guys are getting along pretty good. And, um-- I'm really glad." A beat, like she isn't sure she should say more, but... "I was worried. But I feel a little better now."

Terry murmurs a little thank you of his own, still a tinge ruffled by all the questions, maybe. His glance shifts between Nina and Abby, and he imagines if they got to know each other better, they'd get along well. Similar types. 'Course, it's always the quiet ones, and as much as he and Abby have patched things up, he's hoping Nina isn't going to shoot him in the face too -- or worse.

"Like I said," his voice comes a bit dryly, "I haven't touched her thoughts, and I haven't shapeshifted into anything horrible. Thanks for the faith though."

It's clear that Nina grows uncomfortable and awkward with Terry's blunt remark. She was hoping they'd stick to Abby's vague (but obvious) concern... but seeing as that isn't the case, all that is left to do is keep her discomfort discreet, despite slightly wide eyes shifting between the boy and the girl.

"He's been very respectful." That's all she says, producing a reassuring smile and a soft nod.

Abby too feels a little reprimanded-- though honestly, she doesn't blame Terry. She knows she has something of a chronic fear when it comes to his powers, because experiencing what Terry can do once, let one two or three times, is something you don't just forget. But more than that, she really wants this to work out-- for Terry and Nina. It would mean something, if he could prove to himself and to Abby that he could do this.

"Sorry," she says at length, fidgeting a little. "I know you got this, Terry." Abby glances at Nina, reaching out without really thinking to gently touch the other girl's arm in a gesture meant to be reassuring. "I'm not... You know. Trying to scare you or anything. Really. Everything-- I think it'll be okay."

Edited 2011-03-30 02:46 (UTC)