[Video]

[weremongoose]

[Barabas looks subdued. It's not long after they were all snapped back out of Akvos. Long enough that he's clean and dry, looking less put together than usual, but at least not like the half-drowned ginger that he'd been when he landed back home.]

So. That was horrific.

[To the point and just this side of blunt. His usual, really.] I'd ask if everyone is okay, but I think that answer is probably already obvious.

[He sighs and manages a terse, tense almost smile.] I know a lot of us are still reeling. And still taking stock of who is still here.

In that vein... while what happened is still sharp in our minds, if anyone would like to stop by the office that Maes and I have established in the Temple to record their experiences, it would be appreciated. If we want to prevent this history from repeating, we'll need to learn from it.

I'll likely be here more often than not for a while, if anyone would like to stop by.

[Even if they're all exhausted and physically and emotionally drained.

He's quiet a moment, as if he's not sure of what he says next.]

But more than that... we need to allow ourselves to mourn as well. Perhaps a small vigil by the lake? Silence, remembrance... maybe candles? These things aren't my strong suit, but it might be a start at closure.



(( ooc: barabas will be hanging out in the office if anyone would rather an action thread. and really, anyone who'd like to add some words to the chronicle for akvos or anything else, please hit it up! ))

Comments

[weremongoose]

Law school ruined me forever, what can I say?

[Barabas admits with another shade of a smile, one shoulder rising in a shrug. Hank has a point. He can't deny that at all.

He's quiet half a beat before he continues.]

Maybe it's the lawyer in me that can't help but notice a dodged question when I see one.

[But maybe that's answer enough, isn't it?]

[fuck1ngusernam3]

[He huffs, the sound just avoiding coming off like a laugh, and glances back up at him.]

God, does it matter? We all got problems. I just want-

[He lets out a sighing, frustrated noise.]

I want to kick that witch's fucking teeth in. You don't send a team into- without even-

[Hank holds a hand over his mouth, clearing his throat a couple times. His voice comes out deflated, helpless.]

Is there even an outside chance we can figure out what's going on before next time? I couldn't understand all this- this fucking bullshit if you gave me a million fucking years.

[weremongoose]

[Ah there. Barabas nods his agreement.]

It matters. We all have problems, and at the moment I imagine many of them have a common genesis.

[He sighs, shaking his head.] Honestly? I don't know. I don't know if we can find that information on our own, and I don't know if Astoria will... or can... give it to us. It's a terrible setup. We got out alive this time, largely, and that's the only possible bright side. Who knows if we'll be so lucky next time. But... whatever information or lessons or anything we can tear out of this might make the difference in our next roller coaster ride through this bullshit.

[Barabas doesn't enjoy things outside his control so completely. So he's trying to hold onto whatever shreds of control he can find, even if it's just farming for information, compiling details.]

[fuck1ngusernam3]

[Hank gives a couple slow nods, slumping further down the wall.]

I'll uh... guess I'll fill out some notes on your little thing in your office at uh, some point. [Next time he can make himself leave his room for something other than food or a drink.] Who knows, it might... you know, whatever.

[And that's as close as Hank's going to sail toward the islands of optimism. Time to turn this ship around and head out somewhere a little less dangerous.

Hank watches his watch a second and then speaks slow, hesitant, looking like he's doubting the words as he hears them coming out, cause he didn't answer the same fucking question when it was pointed at him and his own bullshit hypocrisy always rubs him the wrong way - but as bullshit goes, Hank's getting used to it. He asks it anyway.]

And, uh. How about you? How are you holdin up?

[weremongoose]

Whenever you're up to it. If I'm there, we should have a cup of coffee.

[Everything is better over coffee.]

And yeah. It might.

[Barabas will take what he can get honestly, as far as scraps of almost optimism. He cracks a smile at the question. It isn't lost on him that it's the question he's yet to get an answer to in reverse, but that's all right.]

Of course. Always do. [One way or another.]

Though I'm almost starting to wish I could get drunk. [But alas, no dice.]

[fuck1ngusernam3]

You- really? What the fuck is it with this place and people who can't get drunk?

[That sparks a hint of life in Hank's voice. The life here is indignation, but that indignation is real.]

That shoulda been your superpower, not... whatever it was you got, weasel somethin right? Shit, no wonder you suggested coffee.

[weremongoose]

I could get drunk if I put a whole lot of effort into it. The virus that makes a shapeshifter a shapeshifter ramps up our metabolism. And usually it's better if we stay in control anyway.

[Shapeshifters who let their control and discipline slip were in greater danger of going Loup. No need to share that bit with Hank yet since Barabas thinks it might be a camel-back-breaking sort of straw.

However, Barabas holds up a hand to correct, gently-ish,] Not a weasel. Entirely different family. Back home, I'm a weremongoose. Here? I'm a bouda, a werehyena. ...which does make me wonder if Astoria's interference would affect my alcohol tolerance as well. [Interesting thought.]

[fuck1ngusernam3]

Oh. [Hank rubs the heel of a hand against his forehead, muttering to himself.] Guess I thought, uh... cause the lawyer thing.

Shit, um. [Because lawyers equal weasels, get it? Except it's not a bad joke, it's a bad genuine thought process, and he actually shouldn't talk to people he wants to make a sort-of positive or at least not straight up negative impression on while he feels like shit.] Sorry, uh- mongoose. Got it.

[How offensive is that, stereotyping were-not-wolves like that? How stupid is it that he's genuinely asking himself that question? God, fuck all this shit, actually.]

But uh, if you ever wanna experiment and see I got... somewhere, shit. [He looks around. His bottle's around here somewhere but he'd have to get up to find it, so fuck that shit, too.] Anyway, if you wanna test that out with something stronger than coffee, call me up. I'd say you could ask Astoria instead but...

[He grimaces and tilts his head from side to side.]

You know.

[weremongoose]

...oh fuck you admitted it.

[Barabas can't help it. Now he's just laughing. Honestly Hank? He needed that.] No apologies necessary. For what it's worth, it's often a well-earned reputation. [The Atlanta Police Department is not fond of him. He can't blame them. He's very good at his job.]

Honestly, that sounds great. I wouldn't mind giving it a test. ..and asking Astoria seems a last resort, especially just now.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

We’ll see how great you think it is once you taste this shit.

[Hank’s smiling a little bit, faintly, relieved at Barabas’s laughter, and the look only mostly fades off as he goes on.]

But uh, come by any time. Or uh- call or something, I’m not really-

[He plucks at his shirt, half-grimacing. He’s not really, you know, washed. But someone to drink with, that would be something. Worth getting up to wash the rest of Akvos off.]

But, yeah, got enough to go around. You might have to bring your own glass though.

[weremongoose]

Ha. Well, fair enough.

[Barabas will still likely take his chances. But he nods, offering another shadow of a smile.]

I'll call before I show up. That seems like better manners. But maybe later today?

[Go wash, Hank. It'll make you feel better anyway. Salt water is the worst.]

I can supply a glass.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

Yeah, that sounds fine.

[Hank runs a hand through his hair. When he'd answered this post in the first place he hadn't really- Well, yeah. Obviously. When he offered he was only thinking- well, it'd been a split-second thing, a little thought, fuck, wouldn't it be a relief-

And it's happening now, probably. So.

Hank digs around in his head, trying to remember how this sort of thing goes.]

Uh. See you then.

[That's how people sound when they're not realizing all at once that offering to be a welcoming, friendly human being for a while is setting this guy up for disappointment. Right? That's what normal sounds like? Well, it's happening. Time to figure out the bare minimum of hygiene standards in this situation.

Hank gives a self conscious little smile, then cuts the feed.]