riverview | Voice. (possible action outside of the wall)

[It's been... a hell of a last two weeks for Laura. She had woken up with a chunk of memory inexplicably gone, uninjured as always, and yet — the faintest scent of blood under her scrubbed nails. She wasn't in a hospital, but some big room with heavy doors and Linda the social worker; her head was bandaged, her look one of bone-deep concern as she sits beside the girl.

Oh. The memory of her recapture sits heavy in her gut. The collar, the chair, the network recording, just before everything vanished from her mind. Linda runs a hand through her hair and explains things basically: Shiloh came, he took her, and he used something on her to control her. But it's fine now — all fine, his body was found, he can't do anything anymore.

Laura looks tiredly skeptical at the whole thing. She asks if she killed anybody. Linda dodges the question, which is answer enough. "We just... what he used might still be in effect, so we're making sure you're back to yourself." Linda knows her bad history with rooms like this. Maybe it's why it's so big and spacious.

But she stays, and days pass, and she's not sure what happens outside. She just knows people are dead, and she hasn't any clue who. There's something terrifying about not remembering if you took a life, even if such an act is too easy for someone like her.

When she's finally cleared to leave, there's a paranoia in her that maybe she isn't.

So she steers clear and packs a bag and runs away into the woods. But she at least leaves Linda little note this time, so she doesn't pull her hair out panicking. Out there where she can find comfort in isolation, she makes herself known on the network; she doesn't use text. It feels like an easy out.]

I do not remember... what happened. I know a man did something to make me hurt people, but...

[A pause, heavy and unsure how to proceed; but the guilt is there to carry her forward.]

I am sorry for any pain or suffering I caused.

I will be staying outside the wall for a little while, to make sure I am not a danger.

[She thought she'd maybe figure out something to say after that, but...

Her mouth just sort of freezes there.]

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[She's quiet for a moment.]

He was one of the men who helped kidnap me. When the cult was taking people.

I killed his friend and took his arm, in the process. He did not like me much after that.

[This is hardly the first time he'd shown his hatred.]

Mm. That's why he did it. They were pretty mean to us in that place, though. I think he and his friend had it coming.

[Keith frowned a bit.]

But... how did he get you to... you know... lose control?

[Silence. Then grim relent—]

It was something in my file.

I don't remember the doctors saying anything about it, but he said they called it a Trigger Scent. They would have marked targets with it so I would kill them if I did not comply with orders.

[Maybe that's what those water balloons were.]

I'm sorry, Laura. You don't deserve to lose the ability to choose like that. You have the right to make your own decisions.

It's okay. I'm still getting used to that. Being able to make my own decisions.

In some ways, it's been easier being free — but also harder.

[It's not that she'd ever want to go back to being celled up.

It's just... some things are taking a lot of time and effort to learn. Things she should have known so much sooner.]

[Keith frowned a little, and then sighed softly.]

Yeah. It is. But that's part of learning and growing up. You learn how to make those decisions and how to deal with what happens.

But... you never have to do it alone. You can always ask your friends for help.

[A quiet hushes over her.]

What if those friends are put in danger because of it?

[Keith took a breath, letting it out in something almost light a sigh. It wasn't an annoyed sound or anything like that, just resigned... like he understood why she was asking.]

Most of my friends don't mind so much. They want to help more than they care about being in danger. I protect them as best I can, but I know they've got my back just like I've got theirs. We support each other. That's part of being a friend.

I... see. It makes a lot of sense.

There are still a lot of things I'm learning, about friends. It must seem very obvious, what friendship is supposed to be.

Edited 2018-10-10 08:24 (UTC)

It's not always easy to figure out. It took me some time to learn, too. Don't worry, though. It's worth it.

Then I will keep trying.

... I like having friends. Being alone so much was harder.

[Shiloh had almost ruined everything, and she hates that.]

Edited 2018-10-11 07:38 (UTC)

[Keith nodded, even if she couldn't see it over voice.]

That's good. It's good to keep trying for things you like.

Being alone is okay, but... you're right. It can also be a lot harder.

[Keith was okay with being alone, but it was more that he was used to it. And being alone was different than being lonely. And he hated being lonely.]

I'm here if you need anything, okay?

[Slowly, she nods. And it seems well-meant.]

I know.

I am not alone here.

That's right.

[He smiled a little to himself.]

Take care, then. I'll see you when you come back to town.

[Keith knew he wouldn't convince Laura into coming back before she was ready, so he'd let it be. He also knew she could very well take care of herself out there, so he wasn't too worried. But, he was glad to have talked to her a little.]

Voice. (possible action outside of the wall) | un: ilikehorses

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