2021-07-01 - Weasel Bites and Bandaids

Kailey is sitting on a cot in the small medical area set up. There's cotton pads rolled and inserted into one nostril as she lays on her side. One hand is propping up her head while the other scrolls through her phone with a bored expression.

Six sets of bite marks so precise you could photograph them and send them to a dentist for five sets of perfect weasel dentures. Ravn Abildgaard is not at his finest as he looks around at the basketball court and the people hunkering down from Storm Cimaron. Fortunately, after a couple of days confined here, so's no one else. Under normal circumstances somebody would probably have pointed out that his shirt looks like small animals with sharp teeth went to town on it. As it happens, no one either cares, or they're all busy worrying about their own issues, their own complaints, and in case of Mrs Price, whether anyone would really miss the resident fundamental vegan, Vicky Barrett.

If Vicky Barrett protests the lack of organic free range vegetables to Ravn one more time today, he may assist Mrs Price in hiding the body.

Weasels dealt with, he lopes towards the high school cafeteria. There's a first aid kit there somewhere, and more importantly, there's coffee. He picks a not quite so ruined shirt up from his duffel bag on the way, and mumbles something to himself about turning small animals into fur coats.

Kailey is pale but looking otherwise recovered from her fainting spell. The off-duty nurse and paramedics checked her over and, of course, recommended the hospital since she fainted with a nosebleed. But this is Kailey and she politely declines the hospital visit. When there is movement at the door she glances up from her phone at the Dane. A tired smile flutters across her face.

"Heeeey Ravn," She calls out, waving the one hand not holding her phone. "You okay? What about the DJ guy? He looked really roughed up. Never seen weasels attack anything except on discovery channel. I've a whole new respect for 'em." And she didn't even feel their sharp, sharp teeth.

"Not convinced those were weasels," Ravn murmurs and flops down ungracefully on a chair near the coffee pot. "Did you see what they were doing? No, you can't have -- they started doing it after your shield failed because you left. And then the DJ tried to throw up one, but they knocked him back down. They licked people. Drained the emotions right out of them. There's a couple of folks we need to keep an eye on, because they sucked them dry."

He shudders. "I think that poor radio guy may have developed a phobia of mustelidae. Don't blame him if they have -- they sure as hell went for him. And Mrs Jankowski is probably not going to be better off with her small, hairy things phobia. I ... didn't give her the gun back. If she asks, let's just pretend it stayed on the other side, lest she loses her last hold on reality and starts shooting Mrs Neely's cats."

"Oh yeah? Ohhh, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking about the other people, just that kid and getting him safe. Glad you guys were able to handle it," Kailey says. She starts to nod her head then cringes and lays her head down. "I feel like something it trying to beat its way out of my skulll. I over extended myself..." There is a pause in which she looks vaguely embarrassed as she asks, "Can we not tell Ev I fainted and got a nose bleed again?"

"Yeah, we can. And you did the right thing. The kid was the target for that jackass with the reed pipe at least, getting him out was the right choice." Ravn finds the strength to reach for a couple of cups and pour coffee into them. Patching up weasel bites and changing shirts can wait a minute. Or three. Exhausted. "We were lucky de la Vega was there. I'm useless in a fight. Radio guy had the worst luck ever, or he's just as useless. And you had your hands full, shielding everyone and rescuing that kid."

Kailey grins and nods her head very slightly in thanks. "Eh, not everyone can be a Force user extraordinaire like me," She says, her voice feigning at huge pride and confidence. Then she grins and lays her head down on the pillows made of her own overnight bag. "I was pretty sure the Chief could handle some weasels. I should show you how to shield yourself and others. You've got the bit of sparkle for it. I could teach you several things if you want?"

Blissful, dark, sat-on-the-stove-too-long, bitter-as-fuck coffee. Ravn closes his eyes and inhales, then sips.

Then, feeling a little more human, he replies, "I think I can kind of do that. I used to -- think my skin harder when I was a kid. But I can't do it to someone else the way you can, that's for sure. And I can't do something else at the same time. Never too old to learn new tricks. Also very glad I got a couple of small arms lessons from a friend -- I know how to use a hunting rifle, but a handgun is an entirely different ballgame. More so when you're firing into a crowded room."

Kailey smiles a bit at the subtle praise and rolls a shoulder. "I've been doing this long as I can remember. And had to learn to do more to survive foster care," She sighs and slowly stretches out. "Hey, I'm not allowed to get up on my own yet," Her eyes flick to the nurse over dealing with someone else having an anxiety attack and back. "Would you be willing to grab me a cup of tea with a bunch of sugar?" She's a heathen!

"See? You're not useless. You can fire a gun. That is helpful," Kailey agrees and encourages. "Even if it is different in those circumstance. I'm just glad we're all okay. I...do worry about you. The other side seems to like grabbing you a lot and your Shiny isn't very strong. I'd love to help you get at least a little better. If you want too. Never know when you'll be sucked in all on your lonesome..."

"Lord, I hope it won't get to that." Ravn manages to find the energy to find a cup, tea, and a sugar bowl as well. When the nurse gets to him at some point, she is no doubt going to tell him to shower in disinfectant and lie down. For now, though, he's fine where he is, a little roughed up and worse for the wear but at least with his emotions intact. "It's not my light. It's HOPE. I didn't get bothered a whole lot before that -- and now it's almost on a near-weekly basis. There are things on the other side we're trying to give the finger, and they're doing the same to us. Intimidation, that's what it's about."

He grins. "Ironically, that's also why they can't kill me. They need to me to break so that I'll be an example to others who try to do things like this. If I just die or disappear, someone else is just going to pick up where I left off, and they've achieved nothing. I have a very strange kind of life insurance."

"Ohhh, you think that is it? That makes a whole lot of sense. The Dark Ones don't like the happy and positive emotions," Kailey says with a slow nod. Then a big grin flits up as she reaches out to take the tea from him. "You rock, thanks," She says as she gingerly takes it and blows across the top before taking the tiniest sip.

A firm expression then passes over her face and she shakes a finger at Ravn, "You are not gonna just disappear. I'll come find you if you do, make the Veil give ya back," She says firmly. "I like you too much." And she blushes and looks down at her tea. "Maybe that's why I'm getting dragged into it too so much. Well...Ev says it's cause I," And she wiggles her fingers in the way he does to indicate 'magic', "Too much...But I think...I dunno...I've always been chased by the monsters and shadows. Just more here. And no wonder since this place is so thin."

"I'm not disappearing. I'm the last guy who's going to be disappearing because those assholes need to break me, not vanish me." Ravn grins again. "Challenge accepted. I've spent most of my life wishing I had a real, tangible fear to fight, rather than my own head. This is my ball game. They'll come for me, and they'll make damn sure there are witnesses every time. And on my end, I'll make as sure as I can, that I pick up useful skills. Such as being able to discharge a small firearm at a weasel if I have to."

Kailey looks relieved and nods. "Okay good. Cause I has skillz, okay? I'll find you!" It almost sounds like a threat especially with her eyes narrowed at him. But then her grin and normal expression is back as she sips her tea. "By the way...I have some really weirdcool news!"

Ravn resists the urge to curl up around his coffee cup in the fashion of the rag-tag Siamese cat he secretly mentally pictures himself as being (mostly because the table isn't big enough anyhow). "People keep telling me they'll hunt me down if I disappear. Do I have a price on my head no one's told me about? I have no intention of going anywhere, and I am honestly quite certain that even the Dark Ones, the dolorphages, don't want me gone either -- gone doesn't make a very good example."

He smiles, and considers the effort of pulling off his shirt to see how bad those weasel bites actually are, and how much iodine it's going to take (most fun pastime ever, disinfecting scrapes when you have his touch condition). "I like weirdcool. Tell me the weirdcool. Weirdcool should be the name of this bloody town. Weirdcool, WA."

"No no no, that isn't it at all. People here just care about you. Would really miss you and your quirky accent and turtleneck fashion," Kailey says quickly, shaking her head and holding up one hand. "And you are right. Though making someone die very publicly can do the same too. I just rather make sure you can hold a shield or however you think of it."

There's a little laugh as he gives Gray Harbor a nickname. The tea is a bit bitter, it's bargain bags after all, but enough sugar and powder creamer can make it decent. "Well," She draws out the world before blowing on her tea again. Takes a small sip hopefully leaves a bit of suspension in the Dane. Then she flashes teeth and says, "I found blood relatives. My Ancestor stuff came back finally!"

"I'd ask if you're an until now unknown heir to the British Empire or a secret Cherokee princess, but given that we are in Gray Harbor?" Ravn quirks a corner of a mouth and makes what he thinks is a joke: "So, are you a Baxter or an Addington, then?"

The smile widens and the Dane reaches for more sugar (because indeed, cafeteria tea, ergh). "Funnies aside -- that must be good news? Knowing where you came from, and all that. Just don't let it drag you down if there are bits in there that you don't like. In spite of what most of my family and relatives thinks, we are in fact more than the sum of our ancestors. Fortunately, I should add, since mine made the family wealth largely by conquest, exploitation, and colonisation."

The tea spills as Kailey coughs on her next small sip when Ravn gets it in one. She hisses and moves the cup to the floor as she flails the faintly singed hand. "Dude! How...that's...yeah. From what it says I'm Grant's cousin on the paternal side. I can't say for sure without another test or what not from his uncle, but apparently that's my dad. Grant and I are getting together after the storm to talk about things," As she talks she wipes off her hand. Then takes the time to pour more sugar in and stir it.

"But yeah. I never had family besides my mom. I don't count my various foster parents. Only one set stuck and only for 2 years, so," She shrugs a shoulder. Of course the last ones are still in contact and were the one who encouraged her and treated her like an actual daughter out of them all. Clearing her throat she shakes her head and wrinkles her nose as Ravn describes his ancestors. "Oh, so we both have serial killers in our family tree?" She morbidly jokes even as her eyes focus on the cuts in her friend's shirt.

"Uhh...you want some help checking those bites? Probably better get them cleaned sooner than later. How bad off are you?" Kailey is no doctor and while she has a first aid card, it was never really needed for more than a burn. But she can clean and bandage bites pretty well.

All sorts of things flash through Ravn's mind at the idea that Kailey's a Baxter; broken dolls with shattered ghost limbs, bodies in wood chippers, mass murder. He decides to keep quiet -- Grant knows about all of this as well, and Grant is probably in a better position to have that conversation. He decides to let Kailey have the moment untinged by Gray Harbor's horror stories, at least for now. So he nods instead and agrees, "It does matter, knowing where you're from. But no, no serial killers in my family tree, unless you count not giving a shit about how many slaves died in transport, or the conditions of small people on their land. You know -- feudal lords, not exactly famous for advocating social justice."

He glances down at himself. "I think it felt worse than it was if I have to be honest. Mostly cuts and scrapes. Neuropathy made those little assholes' bites feel like I was being ripped apart but I'm pretty sure it's superficial. The nurse will get around to me in a bit, I'm sure." A slight flush as Ravn speaks; though whether it's due to the idea of taking his shirt off in front of someone else, or embarrassment that he's as squeamish as he is, is anyone's guess.

A long look towards the nurse. "But that does remind me of something Woods threw out the other day. He thinks you and I are dating, you realise?" Oh, so it was the former after all.

"I did include the whole slave thing as serial killing," Kailey says while making a face. The hot tea is given another tiny sip and she sighs happily. The sweetness now cuts through the bitterness to leave the taste of it more pleasant. "Okay, if you're sure," She says around her paper cup.

The young woman should know better than to be eating or drinking anything when someone is about to tell them something Everett did. But it has been a long and wearying day and she misses the warning words. Doesn't help Ravn refers to him as Woods instead of Everett. So it is that Kailey's half-gulped mouthful is only half-gulped. The rest sputters out in a nice, fine, tea spray before she becomes coughing heavily.

"W-what?" Cough. "He...WHAT?!?" The nurse glances over and Kailey throws a thumb up even as she coughs a couple more times.

Ravn's cheek colours a little. This is not the kind of conversation he has often before, in his rather private life. "Maybe he was just joking." Everett is the kind of man who gets off on riling people up, this is well known. "Although it does explain something that happened a while back -- he was acting funny around Cassidy Bennett and myself at the coffee shop. If he thinks you and I are -- I mean, the poor sod might be jealous. Maybe tell him that, well, we're not."

He's also glad that he's not sitting right across from Kailey. Grabbing a paper towel, he helps wipe down the table that just got washed in sugared tea mist. "Sorry, that was -- actually kind of funny. A literal spit-take!"

Kailey takes a paper towel to wipe her face as well. Then out comes her pink tongue with an accompanying, "NYAH!" Before grinning. "Now, not that I would be opposed, but yes. He was giving you a hard time. Consider it an Everett imperative. If he's razzing on you or giving you a hard time he usually likes you. Watch the corner of his lips," She is giving away all of her partner's secrets. How rude! But she is also giggling finally.

"You just caught me off guard. Why do you call him Woods, anyway? Why not Everett?" Having gotten past the coughing stage she takes another careful and quick sip of her tea. "So what kind of funny was he acting anyway?" She's red cheeked now herself. But that could just be because of her coughing.

"He threw plates at our heads one night, then suggested that Cassidy Bennett and I are a couple the next," Ravn replies, laughing -- because yes, the idea that Everett Woods might get his jollies rustling the jimmies of others fits quite well into the mental image he has of the giant man.

Then he explains, "English has strange rules for names. I can never tell when to call someone sir, or mister, or son, last name or first name. It is very confusing. I think I took a cue from Rosencrantz and his buddies -- they call everyone by last name, and it seems to work, so I just stuck with that too. I actually have a list somewhere of ways people have managed to mangle 'Abildgaard'. It's getting quite extensive -- and Kelly and de la Vega keeps adding to it."

"What?! He threw plats?" And Kailey frowns and looks rather annoyed over her cup of tea. "Rude. I'll chide him about not throwing things at guests. But yeah...I mean, Hera he was always being a teenage boy with her front window. To be fair it did get her Gallery a lot of positive attention to counteract his pranks it seemed," And she shrugs and sips her tea. "Hmmm. Well, it just threw me. I think of him as Ev. Or Everett. Not Woods."

Then something occurs to her and she says, "I should probably text him and let him know things here are fine. I should probably head home soon. The boobs are telling me it is almost time for Morganna's dinner." Oh the weird things bodies do. And she laughs it off and is very glad for the leather jacket. It won't show the darkening spots on her shirt. "What is the worst way your name has been mangled?" She asks as she pulls out her phone and begins to text.

(TXT to Everett) Kailey : Hey. Had some excitement at the storm shelter. I'll be able to head home soon.

"I think de la Vega holds the record," Ravn says with a grin. "I can't even try to tell you. I couldn't spell what he said if I tried. I'm sure it made sense in Spanish -- if he was trying to say 'oh god I'm dying from a throat cold' or 'there's a potato chip stuck in my lung'. Apparently, Spanish and Danish are not very compatible in how we pronounce letters."

He upends his tea, hot or not. "I need to shrug out of this shirt, put on a couple of bandaids, and get back in there. You know how it's going to be -- an hour from now people are going to be arguing about who turned on a radio or an electrical shaver and blew all the light bulbs somehow, because people are bored and frustated, and stuck with only each other for entertainment. I might try to convince the kids' parents to put on Frozen for the nineteenth time for interference."

Kailey chuckles as she tries to think of what she knows of Spanish and Danish. For a moment her mind plays with what the sounds are and then goes "Hahahano!" Because she snorts and shakes her head as if to clear it. "Yeah I will not even try. But I can pronounce it perfectly now," And boy does she look proud of that fact. "Ravn Abildgaard," And indeed it is perfectly pronounced.

She slowly gets up and somehow manages to gulp hot tea down. "Oof. Frozen is so ooooold now. I am pretty sure I have my disney movie sleeve in the van," Kailey says or her trusty VW camper that she still keeps supplies in. Because you never know when you may need entertainment, a cup of tea, or a nap. "You'll be the blessing of everyone here. I think I have My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service in there. Plus more Ghibli and recent Disney stuff."