March Mingle Madness (aka SURPRISE it's another mingle)

[bryces_pup]

Who: Crew members and visitors of the SS Blue Fish
Broadcast: nope
Action: On the Blue Fish, naturally.
When: Throughout March!

[Another month, another mingle. Once again, any visitors on the ship should bear in mind that there are locks installed all over the ship, so someone on board's gotta let you in. Or you can just stand there. And stare. And hope someone takes pity on you.]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

[Fortunately for Max, eventually Riona meanders her way by that part of the ship, and takes notice of someone camped out by the door. Her suspicion is raised; a friend of anyone on the Blue Fish knows about the locks, and knows to message a crew member to let them in. She approaches carefully.

To say she's surprised wouldn't be true, but saying she's not surprised wouldn't be right either. Her arms cross as she regards Max, a bit torn about how she feels about him at the moment. On the one hand, he rescued a dog. On the other, he punched Beverly. Not maliciously, as she found out, but still Not Okay.]

I hope you're here to apologize to Beverly.

[theroadwarrior]

[Max glances up from where he sits, making no move to stand up. For one, his leg likes it more when he doesn't, and for another — well, he'll look less imposing if he just sits, lets everyone know he's not here to be... you know. Mm. Whatever they think he might be. Beverly seems kind (too kind, actually), but they may have their own opinions of him.

Which is fine with him. He doesn't mind if people hate him, or think he's an idiot, or if they think he's a danger. He usually agrees with a lot of assessments. But he's here to see one particular person, and other than try to get them to let him in, he's really not interested in making friends or finding company.

When he looks, she can probably see the effects of Beverly's work on his jaw; the cheek and jawline is swollen still, will go away once he starts consistently taking his medications. He's just as fast to glance away, though, nodding wordlessly. At least he looks mildly discomforted — guilty? — when she mentions what happened.]

[bryces_pup]

[Riona sighs quietly before she unlocks the door. As it opens, she slowly reaches a hand down and offers it to Max to help him stand. Despite her annoyance with him, she knows what he did isn't entirely his fault - not according to Beverly, anyway.]

[theroadwarrior]

[He looks with great uncertainty towards her hand, as if she might as well have a snake for fingers, then reaches out with his own, the contrast a polar opposite. His knee pops as he grunts, rising back up to stand solidly. He doesn't reply to her quiet sigh; just stands, trying not to look too intimidating as he waits for wherever she plans to leave him.

It's clear upon him entering that he's already guarded, glancing around with a furrowed, concerned brow. Taking in every detail, ready for any sort of disturbance. Yeah. Being on another ship is not at all easy; it's not familiar, and therefore, it's utterly unsafe. Clearly.

But he is doing his damnedest not to get thrown out until he can give Beverly what he came to offer.]

[bryces_pup]

[The way his eyes dart around, the guardedness to his stance... It seems Beverly may have been onto something. No one is that wary just for the hell of it. Whatever he's been through, it's been nothing short of kind of fucking awful.

And here she is, being suspicious and annoyed. Unacceptable. So she puts a smile in place and takes a step back, giving him space.]

Beverly is... she should be in the lab. I can show you, if you'd like.

[theroadwarrior]

[He nods, licks dried lips, brow furrowed.]

Is she, um... Is she alright?

[He hasn't kept up well, isn't sure just how bad it looks. Probably bad.

... He's got a mean right hook.]

[bryces_pup]

She is all right, though she sports a black and blue eye.

[She gives him a slight smile.]

And she is not upset. She defended you to me, and likely a few others as well.

[theroadwarrior]

[He wrinkles his nose, apparently displeased with the news.]

She doesn't have to defend me.

I shouldn't have gone through with it to begin with.

[bryces_pup]

Considering I was just about ready to hunt you down and have a "word", yes, yes she did.

[At least he admits he was not right in doing it, and it's more forgivable considering it was an accident.]

She told me it was over an infected tooth. That isn't something you should really... not go through with.

[theroadwarrior]

[He quirks a brow.]

Used to people hunting me down for... hm. A 'word'.

[Is that what they call trying to stab.]

I followed advice. Shouldn't have done that. M'better at handling myself alone.

[bryces_pup]

[More like trying to punch, to be fair.]

It was sound advice. A skilled healer - or doctor - is the best option for handling such things. Perhaps what it comes down to is more a lack of... preparedness. You didn't expect to react the way you did, no?

[theroadwarrior]

Don't know. Didn't know how I'd... I haven't seen a normal doctor in a long time.

[He's not sure what he was expecting. More self-control?]

But I knew I was, ahm. Am. A psychotic.

[He shifts uncomfortably. Not because he said he was crazy -- that, he'll tell casually. He knows what he is. But it's more... talking about the vulnerability that came with it. Knowing he could be a stick of dynamite just when he thought he'd have control... It's disheartening, sure, but also a feeling of guilt, knowing he should have predicated as much.]

Wasn't good to let her treat me. Not worth a risk.

[bryces_pup]

So now you both know for next time to be more careful. Something went wrong, yes, but that doesn't mean you must shy away from it and never try again.

[Max... doesn't seem all that normal, no, but she's seen far crazier. Seen what psychotic really can do. To her, someone who's completely lost their mind or is crazy would know no remorse or guilt.

That's not the case here.]

It's how you learn and grow.

[theroadwarrior]

[He looks away, pursing his lips. He doesn't want to talk about this. Not with her, not with anyone; he knows it will come up with Beverly, being the doctor he'd gone and injured, but this? He wants to avoid this. So instead of offering any sort of reply, he turns it away uncomfortably.]

Which way?

[bryces_pup]

[...Fiiiine. Riona knows not to push the subject, especially with someone she doesn't know well. She jerks her head towards the hallway, an answer and a gesture to follow.]

Just down the hall and off that way. I'll accompany you there, just so none of the others see a stranger wandering around and get worried.

[theroadwarrior]

[He nods with a softer expression, which is as close to 'thanks' as he gets for the assistance. He's quiet from there -- simply follows along in that silent way of his, much like a shadow.]