CLOSED ♔ what goes up will surely fall and I’m counting down the time

[behindcloseddoors]

hit the floor - linkin park

WHO || Myri, Mark, Dumage [Closed]
WHAT || On the even of war, Myri seeks out her friend
WHERE || Knights HQ
WHEN || Sept 18th, night 
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

As Myri makes her way through the halls of the Dragon's Hide a little bit after the meeting disperses, she hears voices as she approaches Mark's room.  It's not hard to make out that the other one is Dumage (listen 25), and the two seem to be practically sniping back and forth as she comes to a halt before the closed door.

"You know," Mark is saying, all the patience drained from his voice, his teeth sounding clenched.  "One day?  All of this is going to catch up to you.  And then I'm going to be more than happy to stand there and laugh you all the way to the door."

Dumage's usually smug tones are laced with something almost menacing as she responds: "That's never going to happen.  Whatever else you are, you're not a complete fool.  What do you think is going to happen to you if you speak up?  Don't act as if you don't know precisely what's waiting for you.  And what that means for everyone you care so much about."  She emphasizes the word with derision, and Mark rebuts instantly.

"You don't know me as well as you think."

Comments

[witchwoman]

[There was a time when hearing Dumage's voice would have made Myri turn and walk right the other way. As it stands, she perfectly tired of finding the woman badgering Mark, making snide comments, and being an all around bitch. So she knocks. Because she can wager that he's looking for an excuse to end the conversation.]

[nosdacariad]

[ there's a beat in their conversation, and then mark comes over and yanks the door open suddenly. dumage is standing in the middle of the room, arms folded in annoyance at the intrusion, an expression only multiplied when she sees who it is. ] Myri. ... Hey.

[witchwoman]

Hello. [She can't hide the concern from her eyes.] I was hoping I might be able to talk to you? [A glance over to where Dumage is standing before she adds.] Alone.

1/2

[nosdacariad]

It's fine. Dumage was just finished. [ he moves aside, indicating for dumage to walk out, and his words are so sharp, so full of clear and present DONE WITH YOU ness, that it's kind of jarring to think this is the same mark who seemed so uncomfortable around her years ago when myri caught them having these strange private conversations before.

there's also something ominous in his emphasis, and she raises an eyebrow at him even as she lifts her chin and waltzes past him. ]

[postergirl]

[ she tosses them both a look, defiance in her gaze as she can't help but add: ] Just think about what I said, darling.

You know how this has to go. [ ignoring myri, she heads down the hall as mark watches her go, glaring daggers into her back. ]

[witchwoman]

[Myri watches Dumage leave, utterly and completely done with her shit. Once she's gone, Myri turns her attention back to Mark.]

Are you alright?

[nosdacariad]

Yeah. [ the response is automatic, habit, but he seems to think better of it with a scowl, swiping a hand through his hair as he turns around and walks back inside. ] Actually, no. No, nothing is alright.

[witchwoman]

I think we can all agree on that. What did she want this time?

[Which is a thinly veiled way to also ask why she's always picking on him in the first place.]

[nosdacariad]

To protect her own hide. It's what she's usually worried about.

[witchwoman]

I'm guessing she won't be joining us, then?

[Thats what she thinks he means at least.]

...Will you?

[Its not that she doesn't think he's brave enough. But it's the same place he just said he couldn't go for the teams last mission. And that was a very short time ago.]

I know you said the situation with your family is... I wouldn't blame you if you still couldn't.

[nosdacariad]

[ ♬ and my hands denied me my right - arrange

mark stops with his back to her, his shoulders tight and squared. ]

It's now or never, isn't it?

[witchwoman]

[Myri doesn't say a word, just closes the distance between them and rests a gentle hand on his back. There's a lot on the line for them, but Mark has a whole other issue to deal with, one he doesn't like to talk about. So she won't press, but she's there.]

[nosdacariad]

[ he turns his head to look at her, and the emotions in his eyes are undisguised at this point. he looks absolutely anguished. ] Myri, I--

I want to thank you for always being there. I don't know what I would have done without you.

[witchwoman]

Thankfully, we don't have to wonder what that might have been like. [She gives him a gentle smile and tries to coax him to turn towards her.]

You said that Sarandis has your family. I want to help you find them, Mark. And I know you said you can't have help, but... I think the circumstances might be a bit different now.

[nosdacariad]

[ he turns easily to face her, studying her face as he seems to weigh something. ] They are. Everything is.

Myri, when I told you things were complicated--

That might have been an understatement.

[witchwoman]

I'm finding that it usually is. What is it, Mark? Please.

[nosdacariad]

It's something I can't run from anymore. [ he reaches out to grab her hand tightly ] Can you promise me something?

[witchwoman]

[She gives his hand a soft squeeze, nodding.]

Anything.

[nosdacariad]

No matter what happens, no matter what you find out, there's some part of us that can still just... eat ice cream and watch stupid movies, and just be us. That you won't forget all that.

I know it sounds dumb. But... you don't appreciate those kind of things unless you don't have them with someone. And if I-- if we both-- get through all this, everything...

Everything's going to be a lot different.

[witchwoman]

Mark... [She reaches with her free hand to use it to cover the one he's using to hold hers.] Nothing could ever change how I see you. Nothing could ever take away the fact that you're one of my very best friends. I don't care what happens. I don't care what changes.

I just... I wish you could just tell me whatever it is that has you so worried. Wouldn't it be better that way? Than to have me find out along the way? [Let's work on our communication skillz, guys.]

[nosdacariad]

No, you're-- you're right.

[ he straightens up a bit, dropping her hand, and looking at her with his chin lifted. ] That's why I'm going to tell everyone.

[witchwoman]

[Oh, she was definitely not expecting that. And there's not really a lot of time, is there?]

Now? Should I..? [Call them?? What are we doing here, Marky Mark.]

[nosdacariad]

No. Not... not quite yet. Before we leave, I promise. I just--

[ he looks up at the door that dumage went out earlier, expression darkening ] I just have to figure out how to say all this.

[witchwoman]

[Following his gaze, Myri's mouth twists slightly with worry.]

Does she know? Is that why she's always... bothering you?

[nosdacariad]

[ his jaw tenses and he glances back at her, and then down, not saying anything ]

[witchwoman]

[Reaching up, Myri places a hand against his cheek, trying to get him to look at her again.]

Mark, it's just me.

[nosdacariad]

[ he looks up, jaw still clenched, but he nods the tiniest bit ] She knows.

[witchwoman]

Please don't listen to her. Whatever she says, it's... Well, she's a bitch, Mark. And she doesn't speak for any of us- least of all, me.

[nosdacariad]

I know exactly what she is. It doesn't make it any easier, because half the time I know she's right. About... some of it, at least.

[witchwoman]

About what, Mark? [This conversation is hard because she doesn't honestly even know what they are talking about. So she can't really argue against Dumage's existence beyond just... disliking her.]

[nosdacariad]

About what being honest is going to cost me.

[witchwoman]

She can't know that. And you can't either. I'm sure it must be terrifying, but you have so many people who care about you, Mark. You need to trust that we can handle whatever this truth is.

[nosdacariad]

Myri...

[ he lifts one finger up tilt her chin up ] I never thought you couldn't.

[witchwoman]

[Her face lifts easily, tears shining in her eyes. Everything is too emotional right now. She just wants things to be okay again.]

You're so important to me.

[nosdacariad]

[ he wraps her up in a hug at that, sounding pretty emotional himself as he squeezes her tightly. ] Hey - likewise, alright?

[witchwoman]

[Burying her face against his chest, she clings back, nodding at his words.]

Whenever you decide to tell us, I'll be there. [She pulls back enough to look up at him.] Right by your side. I don't care what it is, Mark. I just want you not to feel like you have to carry it alone.

[nosdacariad]

I won't be able to. Like I said before, I--

I know I'm going to need help. And I hope I can count on the people I love, even the ones I've let down, to look past whatever might have happened. [ he gives her a sideways grimace ] You're one of the ones I'm not worried about.

[witchwoman]

Who are you worried about? [She will smack a bitch if they try to be mean to Mark tbh.]

[nosdacariad]

[ he grimaces ] I don't know. No one specific, maybe. But I remember what it was like, when some of them wanted to run me off the team before. That's... not the kind of thing you forget. It's hard to know how people are going to react when they find out you've been keeping something from them - even if it's not something like... like that.

[witchwoman]

You have to trust us a little. And that can be terrifying. But I have faith that we won't let you down. [And she will kill anyone who tries to prove her wrong basically.]

[nosdacariad]

I like to think we've... all come a long way.

[witchwoman]

We have. [She agrees with a nod and a smile.] And we still have a long way to go. But we're stronger together, and I think we'll get there.

[nosdacariad]

Go team.

[witchwoman]

Something like that. Are you going to be alright? [She won't push him to talk more, unless he really wants to. And she doesn't want to overstay her welcome when he has so much on his mind.]

[nosdacariad]

I... I think so, yeah. Don't worry about me, alright?

[witchwoman]

I can't promise that. But I'll try. [it's the best she can do okay.]

[nosdacariad]

I'll take it. [ /scene?????? idek. where else to go. lmao. so tired. ]