[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.

[grip_on_reality]

Must be a bit complicated.

[she says that like she's speculating, but she knows it's complicated. she's having trouble with all the different Doctors here herself]

Anything you need for your fight that you might be able to pick up here?

[uccellodifuoco]

We don't use weapons... The majority of us at least, only a few Saints have been allowed weapons by Athena. So nothing I could need for the fight and bandages and the like can wait until it's over.

[grip_on_reality]

[she eyes him at that--which is an interesting expression to make with one black eye] Uh, if you're injured, why wouldn't you do something about it now?

[uccellodifuoco]

I'm not injured enough yet to need it.

[He looks back. You're talking to a guy who returns from being dead as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Even if the cloth's regeneration capacities don't extent enough to make him heal alone, his endurance and everything else is still higher than normal. It's needed more than a few attacks to take him down, really.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she turns to pick up the ice pack, wincing as she puts it back over her eye] Seems like a waste of an opportunity. I take it you're not bleeding anywhere?

[uccellodifuoco]

Nothing that I've noticed at least. If you notice the floor getting covered in blood, be kind enough to tell me.

[It's... Hard to say if he's being sarcastic or not, honestly.]

[grip_on_reality]

Tch. I'd 'ope you'd notice that yourself.

[which obviously means yes; she just doesn't think it needs to be said]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He shrugs, smirking.]

Who knows, I may have gotten used to blood loss by now.

[Just joking, of course, though with the way they bleed it could be possible.]

So, besides having had a harsh day, how have things gone?

[grip_on_reality]

[she shrugs] Nothing out of the ordinary back 'ome. [her expression twists a bit, becoming rather wry, as she adds:] But I got the pleasure of finding out what the, ah, "individual experiments" are like 'ere.

You?

[uccellodifuoco]

What a great honor, did you have fun?

[So sarcastic, one can basically read it as "that's awful, did you get hurt" or something along those lines.]

No, I haven't had the pleasure of finding out what those are like yet.

[He smirks a little before he answers properly.]

Nothing particularly worth mentioning. It hasn't been that long for me in my reality since the last time I was here.

[grip_on_reality]

Oh yeah, loads of it. [her tone is sarcastic, but that's mostly to hide the fact that it's actually a true statement. because, from little Patricia's point of view, she did have fun] I got to relive my childhood! I 'ear people dream of doing that--but I don't think they mean it quite that literally. [she makes a face]

So, no deaths, then?

[after that part of the conversation, she has to ask]

[uccellodifuoco]

Hmm, some people do. I am the type that prefers to live things through once only.

[He already has enough continues and repetitions with being the Phoenix and all.]

And no, so far no new deaths yet.

[He's not counting them out, neither for him nor for others.]

[grip_on_reality]

[wryly] Think I 'ave to agree with you there.

Well, at least there's that! Just do me a favour and stay alive when you get back, all right? [her tone is light and sarcastic, but she's giving him a look--with the eye that's not covered by an ice pack, anyway]

[uccellodifuoco]

I never said I had dying as a hobby. I'll do what I can.

[No worries, it's not death what awaits him.]

You could return the favour trying to make sure you don't have a matching eye to that one next time we meet.

[That's the closest he will get to ask how she got that.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she chuckles, understanding the sentiment of the statement] I'll do what I can, too. [sourly] Unfortunately, you never know when someone's going to think resisting arrest by elbowing an officer in the face is a good idea.

[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?