(no subject)

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Who: Raye Satterfield and Open
What: In the wake of her berserker incident during the mafia battle, Raye has withdrawn and gone quiet while she tries to deal with the mistakes she's made.
Where: Locke City. Her old apartment.
When: Basically a catch-all for any day since the incident through the roughly the 20th.




In the day following the attack on Albero and the mafia, Locke City has changed. The relative calm immediately following the attack gives way to riot and violence and even that eventually changed to militarily enforced order.

Yet, despite all that, one person has missed it all. After recovering from the ordeal she'd simply got up and left wordlessly, making her way back to the only place she felt she belonged right now. Her old room.

The apartment has stayed mostly empty since the loss of her father but despite that, Raye had managed to keep up with the rent, paying out of the life insurance and whatever other funds had been left to her after her father's passing. It isn't something that could last forever, and she knew that from the start, but for whatever reason she'd been unwilling to stop. Maybe it was some hope that someday things would work out and she'd be able to return here with her sister one day... or maybe she'd just been unwilling to leave this place.

This one room. Even at the worst times when she'd felt unwelcome even in her own home, among her own family this room, this one little corner, had always been hers. She'd been at least allowed to do whatever she wanted with her own space and while others might have looked at the random plastering of posters and magazine cuttings one the walls, the heap of blankets and pillows on the bed and the clothes tossed haphazardly around and seen chaos she had always seen "home." A place she belonged... the only place.

The walls are blank now, and the chaos cleaned up and replaced with barren emptiness but she'd at least been able to recreate the pile on her bed, and that... well, that would have to do.

One by one the days ticked by and Raye just... sat there, only moving when necessity demanded it, and always returning to sit quietly, staring at nothing, barely even touching anything to eat or drink. The only light the dim light from her laptop, the only sound the faint music playing from the headphones connected to it, endlessly playing the same playlist on repeat.

Otherwise, there's no movement in the apartment. The only other occasional sound is the rustle of fabric whenever Senketsu shifts where he's hung up outside in the hallway, single eye closed in rest when he's not keeping watch on the unlocked door....

The playlist starts again, Raye sighs quietly and wraps her arms around herself, leaning her forehead on her knees.

"... I really fucked up."

Comments

[scarlet_devil]

It's with great reluctance that Emilia visits during the day to begin with. After the attack on the Mafia, things started to get out of control, and now that the military's here Emi thought it best to appear law abiding... There was something else that concerned her, and that was whatever happened to the girl Rakka fell for, Raye.

One afternoon the silence is broken by a loud knock on the door, followed by Emi opening the unlocked door... "Hey... Are you here, Raye?"

[guitar_case_vagabond]

It's the first time anybody's actually come to the door since it happened. In her room, Raye glances up briefly before lowering her head again, not answering or even making a move from her place. It was inevitable, really... at least it's Emi. She... might be able to face her at least.

At the door, Emi might find herself greeted by an unusual guard. As soon as she steps inside, Senketsu's eye opens up, regarding her cautiously.

[scarlet_devil]

Senketsu is hard to miss, fortunately, and seemingly on guard at the door. She half wonders if he wants her to leave, but since he can't actually speak, she can only guess.

"...Bună ziua. Raye is here, isn't she? It's Emilia."

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Emi.... Right, he remembers her from when they'd spoke briefly. Either way... she isn't somebody he'd consider an enemy, for as little good as he might do in that area. Nonetheless, his eye shifts from Emi toward the hallway, directing her further into the apartment and toward the slightly open door at the end of it.

[scarlet_devil]

She could only imagine what would happen if someone her did consider an enemy showed up. "Ah, good."

Anyway, she smiles a little at the Kamui and continues on to Raye's room. Carefully, she knocks on the door rather than just barge in. "Raye, it's Emi. I know you're there."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Eventually, sometime or another, enough was enough for Lily. She'd debated for days whether or not she should just continue to give Raye her space, let her breathe, but... no, she knows she can only let that sit for so long. Something horrible had happened to everyone involved, and even if they came out of it alive... That doesn't mean it's all over.

Lily hadn't seen Raye, in person, since that day back in October, on that Locke City street. When she and Winter had witnessed a horrible act, and she'd gotten a terrible memory. As much as she may have been on cloud nine about other things the past few days, Lily was left with this sinking, undeniable feeling that she could have done more, or that she'd just left her friend to suffer.

So as she knocks on the door, she realizes Raye may not want to see her. Maybe never again, but she has to try this, because if she didn't, she'd regret it for the rest of her life. She comes alone, this time - she's done it as safely as possible, but doesn't want to give Raye the impression that she's being ganged up on.

So, as she knocks, she also calls through the door. "Raye, it's Lily." A beat, before she adds: "And if you don't open this door, I can still get in, you know."

[guitar_case_vagabond]

It might have been some degree of comfort to know that things have been going well for Lily since the whole thing... as much as they could anyway. As it is though, her head jerks up toward the door, almost panicked, and she goes still, not making a sound. This... this definitely isn't something she'd expected. Lily... what's she doing here...?

Fortunately for the door, the apartment's other occupant seems to have a different idea. After a few moments pass without a sign from Raye, Senketsu lifts himself off his hangar and drops down, hopping over to the door. It might be a betrayal of sorts but... well, this had gone on long enough and perhaps Lily might be able to do some good where he had failed.

There's a second or two of struggling with the handle before the door finally creaks open, revealing the Kamui behind it. He... looks tired, if such a thing could be said for him. Rumpled, definitely, wrinkled and there's a slight weariness in his eye when he looks up at Lily.

"That won't be necessary." Unheard, of course, but he's certain his message would come across.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily's eyes widen with a bit of surprise when she sees the Kamui on the other end. There's a dull beat of silence before she suddenly stoops down and tries to scoop the clothing into a hug.

"Senketsu! God, I'm glad to see you're okay too." She smiles a bit, sighing. "You... look like you could use an iron, with all due respect."

[guitar_case_vagabond]

"Wha--?" There's a moment of slight surprise when Lily scoops him up, and if clothing even can tense up he seems to do just that for a second. Ah... a hug, right? Of course, that's what this is. It's... actually a little bit uncomfortable in how it just seems to make the wrinkles plaguing him even worse. However... he does recognize the gesture and in that sense it is somewhat comforting. So, after a moment he sort of... drapes his sleeves across her shoulders in return.

"Hm." He does something that might be a sort of sigh. "It has been some time...."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily gives something of a satisfied, small laugh as Senketsu makes a reasonable facsimile of hugging her back. After a few moments she sets him back down, and looks off into the apartment.

She draws in a breath and nods to herself, standing up and quietly closing the door behind her. "Raye is here then, isn't she?" she asks, but doesn't really wait for a response as she starts to move through the apartment, gravitating towards the younger girl's room. "Raye...?"

[dragon_blossom]

Seeing Jasmine hurt - nearly killed - by a friend was never going to go down easily. It wasn't really Raye's fault, near as Marina could tell; she wasn't in any sort of control, or else she wouldn't have done it, she probably felt worse about it than anyone else despite that... but after what she did to Jasmine, Marina couldn't just totally put it behind her.

That just made her feel more conflicted. Eventually, a few days after the incident, she shoots out a text to Raye.

your still in one piece and all right?

[purestambition]

She'd come at night. For awhile now, she's been standing outside the Satterfield home. Tracking it down wasn't terribly difficult, given everything else she'd pulled up on the girl in the past several months. No, that wasn't difficult at all. However, Saretha Kaiser was doing one thing that was very much unlike her.

She was hesitating.

Once more, she realizes she's the very last person that Raye must want to see. She can't blame her. Especially now. Especially once she says what she needs to, she anticipates that she really won't want to see her again.

If that ends up the case, Saretha may well be inclined to grant her that.

Luckily, she'd also been wise enough to not wear Junketsu, or else she expects Raye's "roommate" would already be alerted to her presence.

Finally, she reaches a hand out, and on an off chance jiggles the handle. It's open, which surprises her in one way, but not in another. Taking a sharp breath, she steps inside.

"Raydeisha Satterfield. Are you here?"

[guitar_case_vagabond]

It's thanks partly to timing and partly to Saretha's impromptu entrance that things line up. She's actually managed to catch Raye during one of her few sprees of activity over the last couple of weeks. And more than that... one of those moments with her guard down.

Everybody in the world puts forth some preparation before facing the world and while Raye isn't one to really dress up for anything, even she follows this rule. Even if that's little more than picking the right obnoxious metal band t-shirt, or getting her hair to look messy in the right way rather than actually leaving it disheveled. Projecting the image she wants. Right now, there's none of that. She's dressed in a nondescript slightly-too-large t-shirt and sweat pants, barefoot. Her hair's flat and messed in the way of somebody who's just spent a long time in bed. All in all, the way she looks now is a good ways off from the fierce, defiant girl that Saretha's run into before.

She's stopped on her way back to her room, looking toward the door. There's an energy drink in her hand and judging by the bags under her eyes and the slump in her posture, it's just one of many she's been drinking for awhile. Her eyes widen a little in surprise at seeing just who comes in the door and then grimaces a little at hearing her full name.

"Don't call me that." She mutters, and it sounds like it should have a good deal more ire behind it than it does. She turns away, takes a drink. "Too good for knocking too, huh? Figures."

[purestambition]

For someone she'd been in opposition with since... well, since Saretha first came onto the network, Saretha had witnessed more sides to Raye than she'd have anticipated. This is a whole new one, as is the feeling that grips her. It's almost physically painful, knowing what she does, knowing how strong and proud Raye is. Or was.

She closes her eyes and closes the door behind her. "If you absolutely want, I will leave. But I am not here to fight, for once. I know you have been through much, and I cannot promise anything that will grant you any real comfort, but..."

Saretha then bows her head to her, speaking a little quieter. "I have information you should know about it. Information that pertains to you, to... what's put you into the life you have. Not just about Ryuko, but about you." She takes another breath, but does not raise her head. "Please, Satterfield."

[guitar_case_vagabond]

If she wants her to leave. That... doesn't sound like such a bad idea now. Information about her, huh? About her life. She almost snorts at that. What life was that, exactly? The one that's in shambles around her right now? The one where she'd lost everything? Her parents, her sister... her life and maybe even her mind. There's nothing she needs to hear from Saretha about regarding that. She turns toward her, a brief flash of that spirit in her eyes, and opens her mouth to tell her just that--

-- and her voice catches in her throat. Bowing her head like that. On anybody else it's a simple enough gesture, even meaningless, but from her, after everything she's come to know of Saretha. Everything she remembered about Satsuki. It somehow feels almost momentous. And then there's that one word.

Raye blinks, eyes wide and she's left dumbstruck. Please? Her mouth closes, and she swallows.

"Okay." Her voice betrays her, coming out slightly shaky and unsure. She swallows again, steadying herself. "... Go ahead, I guess."

[purestambition]

There's a brief pause, but she rises her head and gives her a curt nod. "A couple of months ago, I came to have a certain suspicion. It was one that was wild and almost inconceivable, but I could not dismiss it, either. So... I hired a private investigator. Not just to look into you, but... even more than that, into my parents, and the business they once ran, Kaiser Solutions."

She keeps her expression even, though her eyes flicker away from Raye. "I do not suppose you would be aware that Laura Satterfield once worked for my mother, Rebecca. I certainly didn't, because it was hidden. Covered up. Quite a lot was, in a vain attempt for Mother to save face."

[peacefulwinter]

Winter has the contacts to readily find out where Raye's home is, and she makes her way there at some point once the military's moved in. She'd made a point of coming separately from Lily; both of them would project an image she didn't really want to deal with, but alone, she could talk to Raye relatively easily. Or so she hoped, at least. Nothing was easy, anymore, was it?

One afternoon, Winter steels herself and makes her way to the place she knows she needs to be. Raquel is at her side, standing by in case something decided to get in her way. But her approach is over far too soon, and she's standing in front of the door, hesitating. Eventually, she swallows, closes her eyes, and knocks at the door. "Raye... Raye, it's Winter. Please let me in. I want... to talk to you. I promise, I'm not mad, or annoyed, or anything. I just... mmn." She's aware she's babbling through a closed door, and decides to just let herself trail off. Even if she bothered to check the door handle right away, it's not her home, or one she's invited into - she'll wait for someone, or something, to let her in.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Winter's attempt to get Raye's attention doesn't meet with any success. Mostly because the girl inside has actually managed to grab few moments of actual sleep. Although... not entirely restful. Seconds go by as Raye tosses and turns on the couch where she'd managed to drift off, before whatever she's dreaming reaches the end and she sits bolt upright with a harsh gasp. Eyes wide, panicked, breathing hard, she looks around in confusion and then down at her hands.

Human hands. No monstrous fist or twisted fused sword. Human, normal. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tilts her head forward, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Raye." She raises her head at Senketsu's quiet voice, turning slightly toward him to see him gesture toward the door. "It's Winter."

Winter. Well... this was gonna happen, wasn't it? It had been a few days since Lily had stopped by and she was... well, okay was probably still a good way off but. She's a little better. Maybe.

Swallowing, she sits up and wipes the back of her hand across her eyes and tries to make sure her rumpled t-shirt and sweats are at least reasonably straight. ... Might as well get this over with. She takes a long, breath before finally saying loud enough to be heard.

"Door's open."

[peacefulwinter]

While she waits to hear something, anything, she has to resist the urge to pace. As it is, the toe of one shoe delicately but pointedly taps on the step, and she barely keeps from biting her lip in frustration. None of this was supposed to happen in the first place, but maybe Raye was asleep, or trying to ignore her, or actively wanting her to go away and considering how to make it happen, or not sure how to talk to her, or-

Ah. No, there she is. She reaches a hand out to the doorknob, pausing only a moment before setting her face in a firm expression and turning the handle. She's not sure was she was expecting, but... this seemed a little sparse. Not that she could blame Raye, considering she lived here alone, now. Trying not to spend too much time snooping, she steps forward, noticing Senketsu on her way in and kneeling down to talk to him face-to-eye. "Senketsu... I'm sorry we couldn't do more. And I hope..." She glances uneasily at the room she'll be heading into in a moment. "I hope there's something I can do for Raye. That me being here isn't going to make her angry, or depress her. She's... probably had enough of that." After a beat, she shakes her head. "Thank you for looking after her." She doesn't know why she's trying to reassure a piece of clothing, but it seems to have worked for Lily. Standing up again, she takes a deep breath and continues forward.

Forward to where Raye is waiting. A couple of emotions cross her face at once - relief, concern, curiosity - before she settles on a neutral, small smile. "Raye... um, hi. I..." She doesn't say anything for a few seconds, before she sighs heavily. "Sorry. I'm a little nervous. I wasn't sure you would want to talk to me, after... well, after everything." Winter rubs her hands together. "There are a million things I want to say, and I don't know what to start with."

A glance around the room to buy her time to think. Not that there's much to see, aside from Raye. "Are you hurt? I don't... really know what happened after we ran." There's a twitch of her lips; she has a feeling she's going to be tripping over her words and regretting how she says things, but she still wants to try.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Despite her doubts, it does do something. When she kneels by him, Senketsu turns toward her, meeting her eyes. He can't answer her, of course, his words still can't reach her but the reverse isn't so. He closes his eye briefly, nodding to her before moving aside to let her pass. He watches her go for a moment before his eye drops away again, looking at the floor in front of him, troubled by his own thoughts and memories....


When Winter makes it to her room, Raye still hasn't moved from where she'd awoken just moments ago, sitting with her arms folded over her knees and looking like an absolute mess. Rumpled clothes that she'd been sleeping in for days, hair disheveled. She glances up when Winter comes in and then looks away, staring forward at nothing, and letting Winter say her piece.

"I'm fine." Is all she says in response, at least for a second before thinking. "... What about you? I don't... really remember how hard I hit you."

[charcoalfeather]

This had to happen eventually. The city was a mess, following the battle with the mafia, all of Rakka's friend scattered around and hurt. Rakka had did her best to recover and hear from everyone else, making sure each of them had gotten through that mess in okay condition. But, there was one person she hadn't found yet, and that was the person she'd been worried about the most.

And that was Raye. Raye, the girl Rakka had to go and fall in love with. Ray, the girl that had been transformed into a giant monster and then disappeared.

It took some searching, but eventually everything brought her to the one place in Locke city where she could still be. And, soon enough, she was outside Raye's room, and the only door in the city that stood between her and Raye.

And, she paused, her hand hovering just inches away from the doorknob. The room inside was quiet, and the door even appeared to be unlocked. If Raye hadn't run away to Germany, she was here. And even though Rakka was worried about what she might have found inside... she had to know. She had to see her.

She gripped the doorknob slowly, instantly feeling a burning sensation in the palm of her hand that made her wince. With slow unsureness, the door crept open and light peeked into the room. With her other hand, Rakka rapped a few times on the door.

"...Raye?"

[guitar_case_vagabond]

Despite her best efforts, it hadn't exactly been a week of avoiding everyone she might have liked to. Visitors had been in and out the whole time. And... one of the more recent ones had left her with more to think about than ever. The papers Saretha had brought with her are still there, laid out not far from where Raye's still sitting.

This time, at least, it seems something had gotten her moving, at least a little bit. She's a little bit more put together albeit still in what probably pass for her pajamas, sweat pants and a t-shirt, and instead of being discarded on the floor, she's wearing her headphones and drumming the shrunk Scissor Blade in her palm to whatever music is playing while she stares off in thought.

It's a few seconds before she catches on that somebody's there, and she looks toward Rakka, surprised.

"... Rakka." She blinks, reaching up and letting her headphones drop to rest around her neck. "H-hey...."

[charcoalfeather]

"H-hey..." She repeated, noticeably keeping her hands at her sides, hidden away from view. There was surprise in her voice. There she was, Raye was here, and it was possible that she'd been here all along; all alone too. A sort of self-imposed exile from everyone.

Rakka swallowed, already feeling the tension of the moment growing. What was she going to say? There was no way that she was going to simply stand there when words needed to be spoken, now more then ever.

"..." The situation was certainly better then she expected though. Raye wasn't... whatever it was she turned into in that fight. "We've been looking everywhere for you..." She stepped further into the room. "I-I've been looking everywhere."

[guitar_case_vagabond]

For a second there, something manages to get past everything, all the guilt and all the anger she'd directed at herself. For the first time in all these days that had passed since locking herself away, she's... happy. Happy to see Rakka.

Then she glances down toward Rakka's hands, hidden at her sides, and memories come back again. As if everything else wasn't enough... she'd even hurt Rakka of all people.

"Yeah," her eyes drop, look away, "I know. I just... wanted to be alone for awhile."

[charcoalfeather]

The pain in her hands had returned. It was a slow, dull burn that Rakka wasn't able to shake at the moment. She'd gotten treatment, all the medicines had done their jobs, but actually seeing Raye now... it hurt.

Rakka shook, her emotions taking control. "I... was so worried..." She said quietly, "I thought, maybe... you'd gone for good."

Try as she might, Rakka had not been able to get in touch with Raye following the end of the mafia battle. Things had been just too hectic.