you see me now, a veteran, of a thousand psychic wars [Open]

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Who: Chris Freeman & Anyone... perhaps even... YOU?
What: Did I hear you say that this is victory?
When: February and maybe March
Where: around town...
Warning: watch the comment titles

Thread starters in comments this time around. If you have an idea for Chris, feel free to top-level comment this entry with a wildcard :)

2/8: Reposted opener regarding Calloway's Curios for theresalwaystheview

2/12: Chris has a little breakdown, and Erik overhears lordoftheozarks

2/18: New prompt, open to all, regarding Chris being sick around the time of Merrymeet.

Comments

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Stuff about her ex, mostly..." Chris admits. Nothing to risk one's health over, in the grand scheme of things. "But... mostly I just wanted to help her feel better. Be a friend. It's not Dahlia's fault that I was careless."

[300kgbackpack]

"Ex...that's Jones, right? Met him in that weird dream space once, he seemed alright. What happened?"

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Yeah, Ianto Jones. He sort of... volunteered Dahlia's help with one of Agent Jean's projects. Sent Jean along with a letter, instead of talking to her directly, which she felt trapped her into saying yes. She was really angry and confronted him. They argued, and he stormed out. Left a weird note, like 'if I can't have you, I don't want anyone else'. Don't remember the exact words."

Chris turns away to cough (habit, despite the mask).

"Maybe they could have mended things, but..." Chris shrugs. "Anyway, I told her about one my blockhead exes, to make her feel better. You know... 'you aren't the only one dealing with an emotionally constipated guy' or whatever."

[300kgbackpack]

"...Man I barely fuckin' know Dahlia and I kinda wanna knock him out for that," Sam mutters, already pissed that anyone else had to put up with the same shit that he dealt with.

He bends to check the tea, and now that it's starting to become a nice, dark amber color, he brings it over to Chris and sits down beside them toward the end of their couch opposite their head.

"Wish I could actually do somethin' to help with all that, though. She doesn't know me, so 's not like she's gonna tell me a damn thing, n' I ain't seen him around in a minute now. Seems like people are kinda disappearing, at least temporarily."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Eh, I think she's mad enough to do the punching part herself."

Chris accepts the teacup with a quiet 'thank you', waiting until Sam is distanced before lowering their mask and taking a sip. The warm liquid does help, soothing the pain of their coughing-ravaged throat.

"I wonder what that's about... it's not like I could give any answers, but... it's weird. I thought we were stuck. Here, or death, no third option..."

[300kgbackpack]

"Iunno, probably something about the gods' whims or whatever. Way above my pay grade. We all get this deal when we get here so maybe they actually meet whatever conditions that were agreed on."

He's a little envious, if that's the case. He wants to know what they actually want from him...

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Temporarily, though... if they meet the conditions, then why come back?"

Chris clears their throat and takes another sip of tea.

"I suppose... doesn't matter to speculate. We won't know unless it happens to us."

[300kgbackpack]

"I don't know. Doesn't make any damned sense to me. None of it does. I thought it'd start but fuck me for a fool, right?" He shakes his head, turning his back to the couch and letting his hands hang laced between his thighs. His head falls back against the cushion.

"I just wish askin' questions mattered. Here, home, anywhere. I wanna know what I'm supposed to do. If there's anything I'm supposed to do at all. At least if I know that then the rest'd be easier. I could just walk in her and now have to worry that you're just gonna be up n' gone too. You getting sick right before this big fuckin' thing..." It worried him.

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Well, me getting sick was mostly my own carelessness. I probably should have taken more precautions... masked up before I visited Dahlia, that kind of thing. And other people have been susceptible to illness due to the famine, too. Which was mostly poor planning or too many newcomers arriving all at once."

Chris says quietly. "I don't want to go. When this is all over, I probably will have to... but I want to see this through. I don't want to vanish on you, or Aidie, or Erik." A pause, as a thought occurs to Chris in the order he said those names. "I really don't want to vanish on you. I think... I'm pretty sure you're the first real friend I made here."

[300kgbackpack]

"Knowing you were being careless doesn't mean it doesn't also suck," he points out quietly. "'s when you gotta let people around you step in n' try to help, right?"

No he's not aware of the irony of this just yet, shush.

Sam shifts in place enough to nudge his shoulder against the nearest bit of Chris' leg, the faintest brush of contact, but monumental from a man that flinched at the offer of a handshake.

"Hey...if you end up disappearing on me, I'll just figure out how to get back across the Beach n' find you. Kick your ass for breakin' a promise."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

That momentary contact, knowing that Sam doesn't liked to be touched, feels monumental to Chris, and they're struck speechless for a moment. They manage a smile at the 'threat', shaking their head to buy some time.

Eventually the lump in their throat recedes, and Chris says roughly, "I'd deserve it in that case. I think I'd let you kick away."

Beat.

"Thank you for being my friend, Sam. Thank you for lookin' out for me."

(All the more cause for Chris to return the favor later, should the need arise.)