( video. ) cw: blood and a deeply useless human being

[magnitudes]

( The scene:
Sarissa, with what looks like twisted up kitchen roll shoved up each nostril, the paper bloody. Her nose is puffy, bruised, the skin across the bridge of it and around her eyes looking almost purple, but it hasn’t bowed to either side.

Underneath said tragedy, Sarissa’s mouth is tugged in a wide smile. )

Fuckin’ oath, mates. My sister clocked me good. Can you see this?

( The camera is waved around, to get different angles of her poor nose. ) Bloody legend. I was worried she’d be useless at self-defence, but I take back everything. And she’s driving me to A n’ E.

( She’s in a car, by the way. A nice one. The seats are a deep red leather, and in the driver's seat but considerably less jovial is Sarah. She turns the camera to actually get a shot of Sarah for a couple of seconds before twisting the camera away again. )

It was an accident, we’re good and golden. Lesson learned, but, don’t try to tickle attack Saroula when she’s groggy.

( A sniff, and she makes a little “ow” sort of face that is more comical than sincere. )

Anyway, just wanted to say we’re gonna have a big fuck off barbie at ours, soon. Last part of the summer— or uh, first part of the autumn? And if you happen to also have a homicidal ex-boyfriend who has been ported out for more than a month, then you get to receive a special prize. Like, I dunno. You can take home the bouncy castle, or something. Everyone’s invited, unless I don’t like you, but if you ain’t sure and you got a seal of approval from one of the girls, then you’re good. But everyone bring some food or something, ‘cause I ain’t cooking endless bloody mountains of food when I don’t know how many people are turning up. For one, I'm cheap, and for two, I'm lazy.

( Another little sniff, and Sarissa looks across at Sarah. Dramatically: ) Do you reckon I can still get away with serenadin’ myself in the mirror? You’re beeeeautiful—

( That might just be Sarah’s hand reaching over to try and knock Sarissa’s device out of her hand. )

No, Sarah, you broke my nose, you get to listen to me sing James bloody Blunt, that’s the rules. Maybe Snow Patrol, okay, or Shania, that’s my compromise.

Comments

[hardedged]

[ too late. she already is. U G H. ]

Burgers and rings. Fine.

[ she can manage that much. ]

[magnitudes]

You're brilliant. But you have to be the big spoon, I can't risk knocking my nose on nothing.

[hardedged]

Watch it. That painkiller excuse only gets you so far.

[magnitudes]

Just think, though, the big spoon can sneak away more easily.

[hardedged]

Assuming I'd ever sleep over.

[ pretty big assumption there, theron. ]

[magnitudes]

Only if you were out of ethanol at home, I know.

[hardedged]

That's what the liquor store's for.

[ she's nailing this relationship thing. ]

[magnitudes]

Yeah, but they aren't all twenty-four hour, so it's safe having an emergency reserve for when you're really scraping the barrel.

[hardedged]

Not a problem when you buy in bulk.

[ so she rarely runs out. well, that's not completely true, but she does stock up. ]

[magnitudes]

That's why you're so strong, got it.

( And, well. She grins. ) You're secrets safe with me.

private.

[hardedged]

Hardly.

[ there's a scoff before she filters their conversation, which in retrospect, she should have done much sooner. if only to save herself the public embarrassment. ]

If you plan to run around in spandex like a moron, might wanna learn how to dodge first.

permaprivate.

[magnitudes]

My outfit is made of leather. You might actually like it.

[hardedged]

Yeah. It'll look great with all those matching bullet holes.

[ an exasperated exhale. ]

I can't believe you're doing this.

[magnitudes]

( Sarissa holds up her hand, and though the shape of her hand is still there, it starts to shift - the surging, shifting vapour of a cloud, before it shifts back to solidity. )

Bullets won't touch me, if I'm quick enough. And you can't believe that I wanna help people, or something else?

[hardedged]

[ yeah, if she's quick enough, which is exactly jessica's point. ]

You've kicked the bucket twice, Sarissa.

[ she doesn't want that number to increase. ]

[magnitudes]

( Inhale; exhale. This is fINE she doesn't hate this topic at all, it's great. )

Unless you plan on trying to kill me, and unless I am put in bizarre, contrived circumstances to kill me, I think my odds are good. I'm a survivor.

Generally speaking.

[hardedged]

You don't get it. This shit's not a game.

I've seen it. [ witnessed it herself. her voice hardens into a cold, yet almost distressed, reprimand. ] Back home, you play the hero, you wind up dead. Or worse.

[magnitudes]

Hey.

( She straightens up, with that, tone clipped to match the harshness in Jessica's. ) I'm in bomb disposal. I'm a cop. I used to be a firefighter. That might not be some super-powered bullshit, but you're still putting yourself in danger to help other people. That's the choice I made, because if I'm willing and able, then I think that's the right choice to make. It's not a choice I'd push on anyone else, but it is one that I reckon should be respected, because it's my choice to make.

( Her tone isn't cold, but it's less lazy-day. )

I act like an idiot because it's more comfortable for me, playin' around. Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm stupid or incompetent.

[hardedged]

[ that's not what she meant, though perhaps jessica has never been talented with words. she's crap at expressing herself, but this rebuke comes with good intentions. she played the hero herself, once upon a time, and then kilgrave happened. what if someone like him shows up here, in opposition to sarissa and her league of costumed idiots?

after a moment, she huffs a breath. ]

Don't have to be either to get screwed over.

[ it's more of a resigned mumble than anything else. she licks her lips in contemplation. ]

Whatever. Do what you want.

[magnitudes]

( Her expression softens a little bit, Sarissa chewing the side of her cheek contemplatively before speaking. )

No, but when you're on a team then there's people to have your back.

( Sarissa inhales, and exhales. ) I'm not gonna ask your permission every time I do shit, Jess. And you can act like you don't care, if that's how you wanna play it, but I know that ain't true.

[hardedged]

[ she's right, goddammit. jess does care, and each day, it's more difficult to detach from sarissa. again, her doubt starts to creep in, obscuring every positive, hopeful thought she could possibly have. not like there's much to begin with. ]

Like you said, you don't need my permission.

[ she should end this, here and now before it's too late. before either of them fall deeper. wouldn't that make it right? ]

[magnitudes]

( A pause. )

I wouldn't hate you havin' my back, though.

[hardedged]

Not gonna happen.

[ jess can't condone this, not when she's placing herself in constant danger. maybe this is her chance — the excuse she needs to pull the plug. she's always known, deep down, that they're too different to make this work. ]

[magnitudes]

( Huh. This seems... tense. )

How's about we talk about this more when you get here?

[hardedged]

Doesn't matter.

[ talking won't solve anything. it will only delay the inevitable and open more wounds she'd rather not mention. ]

Just get some rest.