Boston Mariott, Thursday Night

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy...Kathy wasn't doing so well. She had a whole slew of reasons why she wasn't doing well, from her realization she remembered everything about being dead, to finding out Raven had killed her family, to her run-in with Ezra at the Coterie-run bar when she'd just wanted to drown her sorrows the old-fashioned way, it had been one thing after another after a-fucking-nother.

Which was why the phone call at ten pm found her putting the last touches on her makeup and hair for an evening out on the town. Her outfit left very little to the imagination and even less as protection to the elements, but she didn't care. Hell, that was the whole point. This was the third night she was in Boston and the third night of making questionable choices in the pursuit of getting her brain to shut down so she wouldn't have to think about any of the things she didn't want to think about. Sure, it was a weeknight in the dead of winter, but Boston was a college town. There were always people willing to party.

Though that didn't explain how Eliot knew what was going on. She listened to his message with a frown and immediately called him back. The only person who knew she was here was Ezra, so who'd gone to Eliot, carrying tales?

[Eliot's thread is chronologically first, but open to phone calls or that guy in Boston if he'd like! NFB for off-island shenanigans. Content warning for alcohol as a coping mechanism in the comments.]

Comments

[vdistinctive]

Eliot recognized that sound. He'd gotten very good at identifying pouring liquids while working with an alcoholic mastermind.

"You may wanna cut that with somethin', darlin'," he said dryly. "You can get drunk if you want, but it ain't actually gonna do this situation any good."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I dunno," Kathy said flippantly. "I drink enough of it and it might just solve the problem for me."

At least it the short term. She didn't dream--or, rather, remember--when she was passed out.

[vdistinctive]

"Kathy, no." He'd said no judgment, but this was a really bad idea. "Okay, that is not a solution. If that's what you wanna do that's not a problem, kiddo, we can make it happen, but straight liquor ain't gonna do it."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy gave her phone a confused look. How was she supposed to pass out if she wasn't drinking? "You think, what, pills? Would be a better idea?"

Sure, she'd been tempted, both by the sleeping and the recreational varieties, but both had seemed like a much worse idea.

[vdistinctive]

"No! I mean -- yes, there are pills for it. But you should be talkin' to someone about it first. A professional."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Right," Kathy scoffed. She drained half the glass in one long swallow, just because she could. So there, Eliot. You weren't the boss of her. "Because I'm going to get more than four words out before they're looking up places to send troubled teens. Unless you think I should talk to Dr. Lecter about this?"

Which again, probably not. Because she still felt guilty about stealing from Jono years ago. Not quite as guilty, no, but still not comfortable enough to open up to him about everything.

[vdistinctive]

"Pretty sure that's not his specialty." Sure, he'd been a surgeon, but, like, a trauma surgeon or something. "And it's the 21st century, darlin'. I know your family was real strict and traditional and all, but we don't lock girls up for this stuff anymore."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy sputtered on her drink and spent the next thirty seconds coughing and gasping for air. God, vodka burned. "M-my family?" she demanded when she could speak again, though her voice was raspy. "After what Raven did--you're gonna bring up my family? Like any other family would be so forgiving of my little issue!"

Seriously! What family heard 'I remember what it was like to be a zombie' and thought, 'Aww, this is totally fine and healthy!'

[vdistinctive]

"I'm sayin' I am," Eliot tried. "And -- it ain't even something to forgive, hon. These things happen."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well you're a lot more forgiving than I am," Kathy said coldly. "I haven't even had time to--what do you mean these things happen?"

It had taken her brain some time to catch up.

"To whom?"

Was there a spate of parent-killings performed by best friends that Kathy didn't know about?

[vdistinctive]

"Well, I ain't got statistics on it." He sighed. "And, alright, I'm pretty sure it probably doesn't happen exactly like this all the time." The whole 'shapeshifting best friend is the father' bit? Definitely a rarity. "But that doesn't have to mean it's the end of the world."

[spin_kick_snap]

"It was the end of my world, Eliot," Kathy said quietly, unable to believe that he could be so insensitive. "I mean, what else would you call it?"

[vdistinctive]

"How 'bout . . . a turning point," Eliot offered. "You've been through a whole lot this year. This probably feels like . . . the cherry on top of all that. But you've --" Well. 'Survived' wasn't quite the word, was it. "-- you've persevered. I know you can get through this, too."

[spin_kick_snap]

"But--but--" Fuck, she was crying now. Hadn't she done enough of that already? "You make it sound so easy! But every time I look at Raven, I'm going to be reminded of everything!"

[vdistinctive]

"Alright," Eliot said slowly. "I guess that's fair. But -- she did a lot for you too, right? Is this really somethin' to kick her out over?"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy couldn't believe Eliot was taking Raven's side over this.

"Oh really?!" she demanded. "And how would you feel if she'd done this to you?!"

[vdistinctive]

". . ."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Yeah, don't have an answer for me, do you?"

[vdistinctive]

"It's not really something I've had to think about before, Kathy," Eliot pointed out. "I mean . . . not from that side of it."

[spin_kick_snap]

"YOU'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS?!" Kathy gasped. "You neglected to mention that, well, ever!"

Sure, he'd told her about how he'd sometimes killed people for loving the wrong person, that going after family had been an effective motivator for people. She'd assumed he'd meant, like, boyfriends or wives but she supposed parents and siblings could have been part of that group, too.

"No wonder you're taking Raven's side on this," she said, bitter.

[vdistinctive]

"I was young once, you know," Eliot pointed out. "It's kinda like a rite of passage for a guy." He shook his head. This was not going like he'd planned. "Look, I'm not trying to take any sides."

[spin_kick_snap]

"..."

[vdistinctive]

". . . Kathy?" Unfortunately, boggling looks were not as distinctive as pouring alcohol. "You still there?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"A right of passage?!"

Sorry about those ear drums, Eliot. Kathy could be a little shrill sometimes.

[vdistinctive]

"I was young and stupid," Eliot said again. "Like I said, this stuff happens. Geez, kid, I never pegged you for such a prude."

He regretted it the moment it was out of his mouth but -- still. She was freaking out about this really hard.