Are You Alive? [Abigail]

[Jesse Fforde]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Jesse Fforde> Jesse doesn't respond to Abigail's text. He knows where she is and he has what she needs - he tomes to the Eyrie to collect some fungi from his own stores, and to toss the containers of chemical waist into a bag. Another quick stop at the shop to purchase some hydroponics, before he makes his way to Larch Court. He finds Abigail right where she said she'd be - her skin burnt, and looking more than a little sore. "****'s sake, Abi, you should have said something," as he approaches, leaning the boxed Hydro gear by the door and dropping the bag of equipment on the bench in front of her.


<Abigail> Abi was leaning back in the chair, sore and frustrated as a mountain of parts sat in front of her. Some of them pieced together rather roughly in a manner that seemed to serve no purpose whatsoever. Looking up as she heard movement a weak smile crossed her face. "I didn't want to be a bother. I'll heal okay Jesse, I promise. Don't worry so much." She placed a hand on top of his as he set down the equipment. "Your far too kind sometimes you know that?"


<Jesse Fforde> It was a relief to him that she did think that he worried. That she was at least aware that his progeny were high up on his priority list - because sometimes he did worry. She had been dead, and he hadn't known, and there was guilt, even though he would not admit to it. Would not let it become a vulnerability. He snorted as he placed his free hand over Abigail's, trapping her hand between his palms. He focused, then - he knew what burns could be like. It was a right of passage, and he'd suffered one or two himself. They took it out of you. Blood might be appreciated, and so he helped her, without asking if she wanted it. Healed her, in a way, of her lost blood. "It's a secret. Don't tell anyone," he said with a smirk, referring to her comment on his kindness. "You aren't a bother."


<Abigail> She smiled as he took her hand, a soft sigh escaping her as she felt what he was doing. A grin was all she gave as she felt herself reinvigorated, more...content and full. There were plenty of days she spent buried in the various parts and pieces that were scattered all over the bench to the point she even forgot to feed sometimes. "Your too kind Jesse, and I won't tell. I don't want anyone to think i'm special or getting special treatment. Especially Grey. That one seems like she has a mean streak in her from time to time." His hand was released as she looked up at him.


<Jesse Fforde> "She's not mean. Just possessive," Jesse says with a shrug and a hint of a sharp glance. He considers Grey, half expecting her to walk through the doors at any moment. He has to shake his head - he doesn't like that Abigail should speak negatively of his Grey. "She won't care that I'm helping you. She's above all that," he clarifies. He and she had talked about Abigail. Grey had asked who else he'd slept with, so that she wouldn't be blind-sided again. And that's all it was. It wasn't jealousy, so much, as just wanting to be informed. Given all that, however, he does remember a small rant that Grey went on in the Andras Crownet. He recalled how many objects have been thrown at him, over time. He can't help the smirk. "She just has a bit of a temper," he says.


<Abigail> "I would hope I never see it. I prefer to avoid conflict where possible, you know me that well at least." He slowly and shakily moved to her feet, a deep breath taken before looking back at him. Her hands moving the project she was working on in to a plastic bin without even a glance down. She knew there were things she probably shouldn't say and there were a great many thoughts concerning the topic at hand and so she went to the old stand by. "As long as she makes you happy I don't need to worry about her or have words with her." she paused for a moment and grinned. "You know, I kinda feel bad for whoever decides to give my sire a hard time."


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse, too, is aware that the topic at hand is kind of like addressing the elephant in the room - but it's mainly one-sided. Of course he can understand why Abigail might be reluctant, but at the same time he can't sympathise. It could have worked, between he and Abigail. But she had disappeared for months. He should have looked for her, but he didn't. They're here now, however, and they're fine with each other - and Grey is his be all and end all. It's not worth trying to explain it, or make a bigger deal out of it than needed. He can only hope that, one day soon, Abigail will find a man who will see her the same way Jesse sees Grey. He doesn't gush about how happy Grey makes him. Instead, he just arches a brow. "Oh? Do explain," he says while opening the bag he'd brought to gesture to the forty plus containers of waste and fungi.


<Abigail> Her eyes went wide as she looked at all the fungi and waste she'd brought him. Where the hell was she going to put it all? she was out of space after the little excursion she'd gone on tonight. The pile of DVD players, stereo systems and microwaves was off in the corner just waiting to be dismantled. It looked like it was going to be one long night. "Good lord Jesse, stock pile much? It's gonna take me months to use up all of these!" She had forgotten about his question entirely when she'd seen what all he had brought for her.

[Abigail (DELETED 4656)]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Jesse Fforde> "Yes, I hoard things. It's a thing," he said with a grunt. She hadn't asked for these things as if she were in desperate need of them. But she had said that she might need them - and so he would provide. "I don't use the waste, and as I said, I have more fungi than I know what to do with," he says. He, too, forgets the question that he had asked, and why he had asked it. He gestured to the box by the door. "And a Hydro set. Everything's provided - you just need damp and humidity to grow the fungi. The fungi is easy," he says. He knows quite a bit about growing things. He has a bit of a green finger, himself. "It grows itself, really. Plant some, give it the right kind of love, and it'll flourish," he adds.


<Abigail> "That sounds simple enough, I think I can find a closet or something to grow em in. They look like they're going to be perfect for a few toxic traps. I managed one the other day but it kinda fell apart as soon as I picked it up." A slight grumble as the event was recalled with vivid clarity. Stupid. "Well, hopefully if I can find the right parts you won't have to worry about having too many of them." A finger placed to her lips as her eyes scanned the room. Bending down and picking up a small box a tiny camera was pulled out of it. "Do you have any use for cameras by the way? I have a few and they're just taking up space right now."


<Jesse Fforde> "I don't, no," he says with a shrug, eyeing the cameras with only a small amount of curiosity. "Maybe put it up on the Crow - see if any Fforde, or Andras for that matter, might have better use for them," he says. "Or sell 'em. Better to have cash in your pocket than clutter in your work space, I say," he says. He himself had been forced to sell some things, these days. He's run out of room. "Practice. You'll get better. With these, and with the Paladins," he says with a nod, sure and confident.


* Abigail nodded and tossed the camera back in to the box. "I'm hoping so, I just don't want this stuff to fall in to the wrong hands. I've seen and felt what they can do when some of the more....practical jokers in the city get antsy and have a ton of traps." She took his words about the family boards and churned them around for a bit an grin as an idea popped in to her head. "I got it, I'll offer to build the defenses for anyone that wants it when ever they buy a new place. I mean, people buy new homes all the time right?"


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse smiles and leans against the edge of the door frame - hands shoved into his pockets and one ankle crossed over the other. "They do," he says. He'd hope that none of them - none of his brood, anyway - would need those kinds of defences. It's almost as if, by being a member of Tytonidae, he is a member of one of the strongest and most feared gangs in the city. If anyone dares touch a hair on the head of any of his family, they'd have all hell descending upon them. No one but he will punish them should they break the masquerade. But, things do happen and it's better to be prepared than not. "That sounds like a good plan."


<Abigail> It was then that Abigail finally succumbed. Even though Jesse had worked his magic on her the burns and constant ache left her wanting for little more than sleep. Taking a seat on the bed she gave him a smile. "I'd like to thank you Jesse, for the items and just for being a wonderful sire in general. I know I'm not the best childe nor am I the one that is around the most but I do try. " She fell back on the bed and groaned. It felt good but the ache she evoked from the burns served to make it just a bit less enjoyable than she would have liked.


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse frowns. "There aren't awards for being good or bad progeny. A sire's different. A sire has a responsibility toward his progeny, it's not the other way around," he says, straightening himself as he watches Abigail relax. "You don't have to thank me. I'm doing what needs to be done," he says. "You look tired. I'll leave you be. Remember - you aren't a bother, okay?" he says, arching a brow.


<Abigail> Abigail nodded. "I know but I just want you to know that I deeply appreciate everything you do. Your a good sire, anyone would be lucky to have you as their maker." She crawled almost pathetically under the covers and let her eyes meet Jesse's. "Thank you, and I'll remember...I promise. Don't stay out too late unless your spending time with Grey in which case you better have a long night and enjoy yourself."


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse clears his throat and glances over his shoulder. There's plenty of times he and Grey have spent the night in, right here in Larch Court, knowing full well that Abigail's in this room. Of course, Jesse doesn't mention that. He just laughs and nods. "You do good work, Abigail. Keep it up," he says - he lingers momentarily by the door, wondering whether to tuck her in. But no, he doesn't coddle. And so, lingering only a few seconds longer to ponder, fleeting thoughts that don't catch hold as he watches Abigail get comfortable, he gives a salute. "I'll see you around," he says, and turns on his heel, closing the door behind him.