[009]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies is back on the Plane as her regular self today. in fact, the younger Patricia disappeared about a week ago, but when the experiment ended, Menzies immediately went home, and she's been there since. she's been throwing herself into catching up with work. on top of that, she's rather disgruntled with the Plane at the moment--and the fact that the experiment started the second she came to the Plane one day hasn't exactly encouraged her to make another appearance]

[but today the Plane is perhaps the lesser of two evils. and more than that, it has a bar, which she's currently making good use of. she has a half-empty pint in front of her--as well as an ice pack and a small pile of papers. but those are unlikely to be the first things anyone from the Plane notices about her. because the reason she's sitting in the bar on the Plane is that she has a rather impressive black eye--blue and purple and swollen and clearly recently acquired. along with that, her lip is split. the sleeve of her shirt is torn at her right elbow, and a bandage is visible through it. her shirt and slacks are also rather rumpled and somewhat dirty. in general, she looks like she's had a bit of a nasty day--and her sour expression only reinforces that image. she picks up the ice pack, wincing as she holds it against her eye, and sighs in annoyance. with her other hand, she resumes filling out the top page of the papers, stopping every now and then to take a drink]

Comments

[uccellodifuoco]

Can't you leave those papers even when looking like that?

[It's mostly a rhetoric question as Ikki approaches and takes a seat besides her, not bothering to even ask if she wants company or not. If she doesn't want company it's okay, he's pretty good at being in a place and not being there at the same time. And he knows well what's like to be in a state that welcomes nothing but rest and yet be unable to take that rest, though he thinks that papers would be easier to ignore than enemies trying to kill you and what you protect.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she doesn't protest when he joins her. but she does give a snort, her expression wry] What would you like me to do--sit 'ere and wallow over it?

[she removes the ice pack, setting it down and taking another drink. he's misjudged a bit--she's not working because she can't afford to rest; she's working because she'd rather distract herself with that than do anything else]

[uccellodifuoco]

Not really. But isn't there anything else you could be doing, more productive than wallowing and less annoying than paperwork?

[Maybe it's too much to ask for.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she shrugs] Maybe I'll read a book later.

What about you? What brings you back 'ere?

[uccellodifuoco]

An accident. Seems I thought about this place for a split second during a fight and ended here.

[He's dressed in normal clothes but there's now a large metal box resting near the hangers that wasn't there before he arrived.]

Since I'm here I thought I could have a drink before I return.

[grip_on_reality]

[she gives him a look. he's lecturing her about taking a break when he's only taking one accidentally?] What, you're fighting now?

[uccellodifuoco]

[He shrugs, he never said he wasn't a hypocrite.]

Yes. We're in the middle of a rescue mission, per say. Dodged an attack... And fell right here. I've the impression the Plane sometimes gets more sensitive to thoughts related to it than normally.

[grip_on_reality]

[considering those circumstances, she's surprised he stayed. she can't imagine just up and leaving in the middle of an incident; if it happened by accident, she'd probably go straight back] Is it just you, or are any of the rest of your lot from the Plane part of the fight?

[she takes another drink. if she were being honest, she might admit that she's glad for a distraction from the paperwork]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He tried to return. But he's not as good as he would like in returning when he wants to, and he has a bad feeling about the fight so... He just gave up and came to get a drink before trying again.]

None of the others are from my same reality, specifically speaking.

[darkercalling]

[Riku originally came to the bar to unwind after some ~spying~ back home, intending to just be alone for a bit... but he completely changes his mind about all of that when he sees Menzies and just what state she's in. Concerned, he approaches.]

Do I want to know how the other one came out of it?

[grip_on_reality]

[she smiles, amused by the question--and she's happy to see Riku, too] He got arrested! With a couple new charges he wouldn't 'ave had if he 'adn't decided to elbow his arresting officer in the face.

[her expression is wry as she holds the ice pack against her black eye. somehow criminals never learn. but, on the bright side, he didn't break her nose]

[darkercalling]

[He laughs a little, shaking his head as he takes the seat next to her.]

Wasn't very intelligent, was he?

[grip_on_reality]

[she smirks back at him] Considering he's planning to plead innocent to assaulting 'is girlfriend? That move probably didn't 'elp his case.

[darkercalling]

Probably not. [He's smirking now, too. But he nods to the paperwork on the table.] And they're still making you do that?

[grip_on_reality]

[she shrugs] Not exactly life-threatening injuries, are they? [which means that she could probably have time off if she wanted it--but she doesn't] And if I don't do it now, I'd still 'ave to later. It doesn't fill itself out.

[she puts down the ice pack for the moment and takes another drink]

[darkercalling]

[He frowns, but only briefly. Then he shrugs a shoulder. It's Menzies - she's going to keep working no matter what. She probably would have tried to keep working even while she was a kid, if she'd kept all her memories...]

Well, at least you can take your time with it here.

[A pause, and then a slight change of subject.]

You know, rubbing at it helps. Especially if you have something with vitamins that you can rub into it. [Another shrug] Boosting circulation makes the black go away a little faster.

[Heeee might be speaking from experience. Just sayin'.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she agrees; the Plane definitely reduces the time crunch in her life. but since that's what he said, she doesn't feel the need to comment]

[she glances at him at the advice] Yeah? I'll 'ave to see what I can find. Thanks.

So what about you, then? 'ow's your world treating you? [because you didn't think she was just going to let you ask questions about her, did you?]

[betrayedtwin]

[the last time North saw Menzies, he'd left her to check on something back home. imagine his surprise when he couldn't find her anywhere. but when he does see her in the bar--her real self--he can't help but smile. unfortunately, that smile fades somewhat when he sees what state she's in, and he immediately goes to her.]

You know, I should have added, "Don't get into any fights," to what I told you about bars. [his tone may be casual and joking, but he's definitely concerned.] But something tells me, you wouldn't have listened even if I had.

[grip_on_reality]

[she looks up at the voice, smiling faintly. it's good to see him, however she might be feeling] I'd 'ave to change careers. Not a lot of incentive there.

So, 'ow goes your own policing? [because it's been a while since she was last in a state to ask him properly about how things were going for him]

[betrayedtwin]

[he chuckles] Yeah, I'm sure.

[takes a seat next to her] It's going well! Things are really heating up. Looks like I can say the same for yourself. That's quite the shiner you have there.

[grip_on_reality]

[curious] Yeah? What 'ave they got you doing?

[she snorts, shifting the ice pack against her eye] Nah, just a bloke who thought elbowing his arresting officer in the face would get 'im off the hook.

[betrayedtwin]

[now that she's an adult, he can kinda drop some of the act.] If I told you, I'd probably have to kill you. [he's only being partially serious.] And you're lucky he didn't decide to bribe you some other way.

[grip_on_reality]

Because I'm sure your organisation would find out about the security breach! Hey, 'ow 'bout we make a deal--if you tell me and they find out about it and track me down? I'll let 'em do whatever they're meant to.

[she scoffs] With Mike there? Then again, that was a bit of a flaw in his plan in any case, considering Mike arrested 'im the second I went down. With new charges into the bargain. [she sets the ice pack down to take another drink]

[betrayedtwin]

Honestly? I'd like to see them try. But I get your point, Patr--[he stops, then corrects himself]--Detective.

[puts a hand gently on her shoulder once she puts the ice pack down] Here, let me see. [he only got a glimpse of it before]

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts at his uncertainty over her name. she supposes anyone who's poked around her flat and heard her family background, not to mention took care of her for several weeks while she was a kid, can get away with her first name] If you'd rather, you can call me Patricia--North. [because yes, she is going to poke fun at his fake name in return]

[she's surprised by his concern. she turns toward him, giving him a full view of her swollen, blue and purple eye, not to mention her split lip. dryly, she comments:] It's a black eye. I promise it's not life-threatening.