bakerstreet | Rain Meme

Entry tags:

[meme] gen

Rain Meme

Caught in the rain

It started out quietly, and then, quite suddenly, you're caught in a storm. Time to find cover. Nothing much to do but to wait it out.

Scenarios listed below for those who want 'em.

i WHERE:
001 PLAYGROUND - Well, you can try to hide under the slide or maybe in the jungle gym... at least you're some place fun?
002 PARK - Always happens, caught outside trying to take advantage of the weather... and it ends up pulling a fast one on you.
003 STORE FRONT - Better hope they have an awning you can take advantage of.
004 THE BEACH - Not exactly the best place to be during a rainstorm, however it is possible to get caught in a sudden storm.
005 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it.

ii HOW:
001 TREE - Not the best cover, but it'll have to do, stay close to the roots and you won't get too wet.
002 UMBRELLA - Most conventional... Kinda boring. But it works.
003 NEWSPAPER - Not permanent, but it'll have to do. Good luck.
004 BAG - Well... y'gotta do what you gotta do.
005 NONE - You know what. You're a rebel. You don't need cover. Screw convention.
006 WILD CARD - that's the way you need it.

iii WHY:
001 REJECTED - Welp. Rejection sucks. And no one will see you crying in the rain.
002 WAITING - For the bus? For someone else? For some revelation? What are you waiting for.
003 MELANCHOLY - Sometimes the best place to feel a bit down is out in the rain.
004 HAPPINESS - Is everything going your way? Are you singing a refrain while walking down the lane? Just singing. Singin' in the rain.
005 ANGER - WELL YOU KNOW WHAT. SCREW YOU TOO, RAIN.
006 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it.

>> POST with your character
>> TAG others, use RNG if you need to, or just make up your own scenario if you want!
>> HAVE FUN.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

( April showers bring May flowers - Adora commended the optimism of people who could say that under this heavy rain. Not that it was awful in any way, just inconvenient in the way she wasn't prepared for it. Her spring dress might cover her legs down below her knees and her jacket might keep the cold at bay, but the splatter of rain droplets was merciless and she could hardly wait to get home.

... But then she couldn't help but notice the young man sitting under the heavy rain all by himself. He didn't look so well - and part of her wondered if he was high or just really not all there, but she couldn't help freezing in her tracks, stepping over to cover him under her umbrella as well. )

Hey- are you alright?

[It was a strange sensation, to all of a sudden not feel the steady pounding of the rain on his skull and over part of his body. He could still see it coming down, but he couldn't feel it. It took him a moment to make sense of the situation, and a bit longer to process the words he had heard.

He blinked a few times, trying to rid of the remaining drops of water from his eyes as he focused on the figure standing over him. His eyes traced the shape of an umbrella overhead, and then a young woman.

Rabastan's mental health had become progressively worse over time, and these episodes were lasting longer, and longer. If it wasn't for other people--usually his sister-in-law, or in this case, this concerned stranger--he might have sat in that state for hours at a time.]

It's raining...

It is. Weird, huh?

( His answer is met with an affirmative nod and something like a soft, sympathetic smile. He looks lost - not in the same way as someone who misread their directions, but something else entirely, and she worries that if he stays out here for too long he may even become ill.

She tilts her head slightly, dark eyes examining his figure before she draws a packet of paper tissues from her pocket and offers him one. It's not much help - but it's a start. He looks incredibly pale - but then it could be the light. She, herself, doesn't look entirely alive most days. )

Did- did something happen? ( She doesn't mean to pry, of course... But it doesn't feel right leaving him out here like this. ) Do you live nearby? I can take you home if you want.

( Or.. something. She doesn't consider inviting him to her house right away, but mostly she just wants to make sure he doesn't stay out here like this longer than he might have to. )

I'm, um. Adora, by the way. My name is Adora.

Rabastan. [He replied, wiping at his face with the tissues. He glanced around, trying to make sense of landmarks.]

Where.....am I?

( The question didn't seem to her like such a good sign - if he was beside himself in any way, then he could very well be far from home... She furrowed her brow, politely offering him some extra tissues though that alone hardly seemed like more than a temporary measure. )

In the park, ( she offered meekly, but taking a glance around prompted her to escalate the answer just a littke bit further. ) You're in... Kent...?

( Hopefully that could jog his memory somewhat. )

Kent? [Well, that seemed out of the ordinary, but who knows where he'd apparate to when he was out of sorts. The area did have some familiarity, so it may have just been stuck in some portion of his mind and triggered his arrival. Maybe he was following someone. Maybe he was supposed to be doing something. He couldn't quite remember. In fact, he couldn't really remember the last coherent moment he had.

His sister-in-law had been stating she was concerned about him, and he needed to stay put. Sometimes he'd be missing for days at a time. That was useful, she had said. That wasn't helpful to anyone.]

Suppose I've fucked up again, then. Or maybe I haven't. There was probably a reason. I just can't think of it at the moment.

[He gave her another cursory look, not sure what she might be: witch, muggle, or something else. He seemed to sense something a little off about her, but he couldn't be certain. He had a habit of making up a lot of nonsense about the people around him.]

Nothing strange in the news this morning? [He asked this, not really taking into consideration that his series of questions and statements likely made no sense to the young woman. Maybe he had been involved in something last night and just never cleared out; he could never be too certain.]

You sound like you need to dry up,

( There was a hint of concern in her voice, moreso when he seemed to visibly struggle to remember how he ended up here. It was odd but she could relate to that somehow; after all, much of her mind was composed of loose fragment, thoughts and words left in suspended animation, cut in half. Maybe that was what had her so worried about him in the first place. Someone had once given her a helping hand - how could she turn her back now? )

You think that might help you get your thoughts together? I can, um... ( She paused - invite him home? Or to the nearest self-service laundry place, but would that even help him at all? Home, that probably might. Maybe he could even use her phone to call someone to pick him up. Either way, she fidgeted a bit, the words knotted at the tip of her tongue. ) I've got some warm food and all. No one has to think on an empty stomach.

( Read: a personal struggle. Though her appetite was... Different. Raw. More gruesome than she could let on. Whatever Adora sensed about this Rabastan boy, it may be her own concerns projecting and nothing more. )

I've-- I haven't really listened to the news today. I think there was something about broken property in someone's house a few miles north from here, but I don't know. Looks like the owners weren't even home, no one managed to reach them. Like they just went... Missing. ( Stranger things have happened though. She offered a small, helping hand - and the suture on her forearm was evident. A little redder than usual. A little more pulled. She'd been doing some extra physical effort lately. ) Come on. Before you get sick.

[The muscles in Rabastan's face pulled his mouth into a faint smile. The noise in his head rattled around, moving in between shouting and whispering. Kindness was uncommon to him, lately, especially from young women. Sure, he could have easily popped out of the area and gone home, but what did he have to go home to? Loneliness. Depravity. Nonstop mental torture. Manipulative family and friends.

This could prove to be a splendid holiday.]

You hardly know me. Are you sure?

[Fuck you, 'Bastan. You're fucking this up.]

Edited 2017-04-11 03:44 (UTC)

You hardly know me, either.

( Her response is offered with a small shrug - effectively indicating that they are on equal standards here. She could be a terrible person luring him into a trap, or she could just be who she is and offering a helping hand. Sure, the same applies to him, but she's got enough certainty in her that no matter what they are still at fifty-fifty.

She tilts her head to the side, motioning towards her hand again. )

Come on Rabastan. I'll feel bad if you get sick out here.

[His teeth bit down on his lip as he processed this, and his smile pulled a little wider at the thought. With all he'd been through he shouldn't have been so careless and trusting, but he liked this element of the unknown. Reaching up, he took her hand, willing to be blindly led wherever, no matter the consequences.]

You're very kind. Do you often do this, or am I a special case?

Someone helped me out when I was in a rough spot once. Guess you're my way of showing gratitude for getting back on my feet.

( Back on her feet quite literally, having been all pulled back together almost limb for limb. Her smile was small, going on impercebtible but there was a calmness around her, as if she were in suspended animation. Her hand remained clasping his for a moment longer until it dawned on her that it was OK to let go and the young man wouldn't fall back onto the bench, or turn into dust. She motioned for him to come along, to walk beside her on the way back home. )

Besides, you looked lost. I know a thing or two about feeling that way and I'm pretty sure this weather wouldn't help.

[And he stayed close, or as close as worked with their pace and the umbrella's cover. It was moments like these where he felt somewhat normal. Maybe for a while he could forget his life devoted to servitude and focus on other things. Granted, he'd still be subject the turmoil in his head, but a friendly face and conversation made it mostly bearable.]

I hate gray. I mean, obviously, there's not much getting away from it around here, but...when I would holiday in Italy, that was pleasant. Haven't been back in a while. I hate being...wet.

You've been to Italy before? That must be really nice over there.

( She looked ahead as they walked, glad that he felt at least somewhat comfortable to keep talking. In a way she hoped it would jog his memory and help him out. If it didn't... Well, they'd be safe from the rain in no time anyway. )

I don't mind the gray- but I don't like getting wet, either. ( which didn't necessarily mean that she'd throw a fuss about getting caught without an umbrella, but it was also sure to trigger some very unkind thoughts. ) It reminds me of swimming.

Oh, yes! My father's family is from there. We've a manor outside of Turin. It's lovely.

[When she mentions 'swimming,' he falls silent for a while. He's not sure what caused his phobia, but it was enough to keep him far away from large bodies of water.]

I-I can't swim. I don't like the water.

I've only ever been to France, ( a beat. ) It was nice. Brighter than here at any rate.

( His silence doesn't go unnoticed, even when she seems focused on guiding him across the road to another street, just a few steps from her residential block. She glances back at him, brows knit in confusion before she exhales quietly. )

Sorry. I don't like it, either. ( Not when she remembers gasping for air - or at least she thinks she remembers it - with a hand keeping her down. Or whoever she was before. It still makes her freeze, stirring that sinking feeling back up. ) My house is- it's right over there. The apartment building's door is busted again, for a change.

France is all right. Some of my family is from there, as well. We lived along the border between the two countries for centuries.

[It felt good to have someone who seemed to agree with him on many things that others found strange. There were times where his mates would take off to the lake near the school, likely because they knew he wouldn't tag along. His thoughts were disrupted by the sighting of shelter, and he followed along.]

Do you have much trouble here?

[There was a slight sense of machismo he had about him. If she was surrounded by Muggles, he could easily make her life easier. He always felt the need to go overboard for those that showed him kindness. Whether they wanted it, or not.]

That's really cool - your family must have a really long heritage, huh? ( If only she coul relate. Some people, some people she knew they could but it wasn't the case for her. She was ground zero - just her and her immediate family were friends. No parents, silings, grandparents... None she knew. Technically, none were related to her anyway.

Upon reaching the door, Adora just sort of pushed it open and peeked inside to make sure it was empty, all of this before urging him along to go in. There were only stairs, but it wasn't a tall building to begin with so that was to be expected. She shook the excess water from her umbrella, motioning towards the stairs. )

I... Only sometimes. I don't really, but I try to stay away from troublemakers.
( But there are fights on occasion, broken glass or a busted lock like the front one. The houses themselves seemed to be okay, but her perspective was also that of someone who hardly paid that much attention. Even that small strain in his question seemed lost on her this time. ) Loud neighbours mostly. And the streets aren't always the safest at night, you know? We're, um- headed to the second floor, so I hope you don't mind. The stairs are a bit tight but the hallways are better.

Yes. The Lestrange Family goes back a thousand years, according to my father. It sounds impressive, but it's not really.

[Rabastan didn't seem to notice the condition of the building, as much. This was a palace compared to how he had kept his place, lately. Not that he really cared. It only seemed to matter if someone came over, which no one ever did. Or at least, not intentionally. He began to head up the stairs.]

You should carry a knife or something. Or hire a bodyguard. Yeah...ha! I could be your bodyguard.

It kind of is, when you think about it. That's a lot of generations.

( The wooden floorboards made a distinct creaking sound with each footstep, giving the staircase and even less reliable look. The building was definitely quite old, but she seemed to navigate it naturally, not really stopping on the first floor and just going up instead. )

I'm dirt poor, but I'd totally pay you for that. ( She offers a smile; it's a little blank but well-meant as she looks for her keychain to unlock the door. ) I've got a few tricks up my sleeve though.

[Rabastan almost commented that it was probably a lot of inbreeding, but that likely didn't bode well for pleasant conversation. He stands by, patiently, as she opens the door.]

I wouldn't charge you any money. What sort of tricks, then? I have a few, myself.

[He winced, suddenly, and reached up to tug at his hair a few times.]

Oh just... ( She trailed off while pushing the door open; at first, because what could she tell him? That she could do more than draw blood with a bite? That her fury was momentary but gruesome? That she would sooner bite off a chunk of someone's arm and eat it raw than let them hurt her? In the end she settled for a shrug, about to change the subject when she noticed how he seemed to be feeling unwell.

She reached over, half to urge him inside, half to make sure he hadn't gotten hurt. )

Hey- you okay? Is something the matter?

[He forced himself to let go of his grip on his chunk of hair and allow a fluttering smile back to his face.]

I'm...all right. I'm fine. Haven't had much sleep, so things get worse.

[He waved a hand, dismissively.] It should be okay. If I stay focused. I will, so it's okay. Sister says it's stress, and that it'll go away eventually. It's been a couple years, but maybe it'll get better.

Are you... ( Adora furrowed her brow but shut the door behind them nonetheless. The inside of the apartment wasn't wholly impressive, but it showed signs that someone was living there; there were some posters on the walls as opposed to paintings, and a corkboard with (still) pictures of a few people including her. The walls were a dull sort of yellow and the most prominent aspect (besides how small it was, with the main entrance giving way to the kitchen on one side and the living room area on the other, divided only by a criss-crossed wooden frame), were a few potted plants residing on different surfaces. ) Are you sure it's just stress?

( He seemed a little beside himself earlier... But who was she to argue with him on the matter? All she could do was offer a bit of support at this time. ) Hey just- you can sit down if you want, okay? I'll get you some towels to dry up and- oh I think Jay left some old clothes here.

( She was rambling to herself, but mostly thinking about how to help the young man. She urged him towards the living room area while she set off to look for something to dry him with -- even though her dress was wet from the rain and her feet were cold, she could take care of that later. )

[He muttered a bit to himself as he sat down where she had indicated.] It's stress.

[It was easier to make a number of excuses for his condition. First it was that he was psychic, but then that didn't seem to fit right. So now it was stress, because that's what Bella had said in a way to calm him and ignore the reality that maybe it was worse than everyone had thought. Rabastan could agree with that. He was always under duress. It was the nature of the job, after all. Revolution.

He let his eyes roam around the room, noticing how clean it was compared to his place. There wasn't paint splattered everywhere,
or scratches on the walls from sleepless nights. It felt comfortable in its simplicity. Very comfortable. He liked it.]

Is...Jay your boyfriend?

( It was something she liked to keep in check - the apartment. It could be plain, but as long as it wasn't a complete mess, it didn't make her feel completely disoriented. He was fortunate to not have found it before she had the time to wipe a puddle of blood or two - most were hers, sure, but still. )

Oh, what? No– ( She let out a soft laugh, returning with a warm, fluffy towl and some oversized clothes - some t-shirt and slacks but at least they were dry. ) Jay– it stands for Jared. He's my cousin.

( He isn't - but it was easier to say that than to say "he stitched me back together and helped reanimate me"; sometimes the truth just didn't cut it and that was probably the case here. )

He wont mind if you change into this-- if you want, anyway. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold.

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