semifreakingnormal | ( 030 ) Ω ( VIDEO )

[The video clicks on, and Scott looks better than he has in a month. There's no perpetual droop to his shoulders, no hooded eyes, no cloud of doubt hanging on him. And what's more, he's not in his room, where he kind of ended up barricading himself at the end there. He is, in fact, in the Enclosure, standing on a lacrosse field. And he's smiling. It's small, a little apologetic, but very present.]

So last month....uh, it sucked. A lot. And I just want to say, to everyone I talked to or should have talked to, that I'm sorry. [His smile turns in a way that says he knows it wasn't strictly his fault, and he's not going to beat himself up over it, but he does wish he'd been able to beat it sooner.]

But I think we should all try to get past that, like, as quickly as possible, and I know there are some new people on board, so...Does anyone want to play lacrosse? We've still got a bunch of room on both teams. It's great for things like, working out aggression and...figuring out tactics? [Scott, never become a salesman.]

Plus, it's a ton of fun.

[He has resolved to be better and more available and throw some unrelenting optimism at everyone, look out Barge!!]

[Private to Clementine]

Hey. Um - I just, I want to apologize. For being so totally and completely useless. It's not gonna happen again.

[Because he's going to be better. He'll be stronger. Because he can't let anyone down again, and most importantly, he can't let anything happen to her.]

Wanna get something to eat?

[Private to Dean]

Hey, uh, I dunno if you don't want to hear it, but....thanks. I couldn't...I wasn't thinking straight. But I'm really glad you were there for her.

[Good job being a friend, Dean, now let Scott ooze gratitude.]

[Private to Cassel]

I've been thinking.

[He's been thinking about this on and off for a while, ever since Cassel and Chris got back from dinner at his mom's house. A lot of it is guilt: Mickey warned him, but Scott didn't go with. He let their heads get messed with.

But the part that bothers him most is that it was Cassel's mom. That she could be that twisted up, that she could do that to her own son. He knows how strongly Daneca felt about working, how she struggled with it, and the idea of someone - an adult, someone who should be completely trustworthy - not caring about it even half as much, has not sat well with him.

So he's been thinking about this a lot, because he wants to do something. Because he has to. Because Cassel is his friend, one of his best, and if he can do anything to make sure this won't ever happen again, then he has to do it.

Not to mention the other thing. Scott shrugs his shoulders.] ...About taking a trip back to your home.

[Private to Katniss]

I'm sorry if I freaked you out. I wasn't really thinking straight, when we met. Actually, I've been meaning to say hi for a while, I just....[He shrugs one shoulder apologetically.] Got distracted, I guess. I'm sorry.

[Private to pack + friends]

I'm going to be leaving the Barge for a bit. Just a day, two tops. I'll be back before you know it, but don't freak out if you can't find me for extra lacrosse practice or something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His posture relaxes as soon as Scott says he's not going home. It isn't that he doesn't think Scott is strong enough to go back home before they're done here. He just doesn't want him to have to deal with it. Especially not after what happened just a few days ago, after what's been happening for the last month.

He never even noticed something wasn't right with Scott until it was almost over. He's a shit friend.]

Oh.

[He draws in a breath, nodding as he thinks back to their last conversation about Daneca, and Kira, and the inevitable thing that was going to happen. He smiles a little, but it slips when he mentions Cassel's mom.]

Dude, are you sure that's a good idea?

[It's not like he was the only one; worse, Scott was noticing that people were off, but he couldn't trust his judgment to do anything about it. He smiles, because stiles is the opposite of a shit friend in his book.]

I've got the charm that Daneca made me. Actually....can I borrow the one she made you, too? I'll bring it back. [Assuming Cassel's mom doesn't break it if she tries to work him.]

I just want her to know she's got more than the police to worry about if she messes with her family again. [Cassel is pack. He's Scott's friend. And Scott has never been comfortable with letting people hurt his friends.]

[He chews his lower lip and studies Scott for a moment, then nods at his reassurance.]

Yeah, of course. [He reaches into his pocket to locate the charm and holds it up a second later for Scott to see.] Maybe hide it so she doesn't see it. Just in case. Actually hide both of them so she doesn't see them. [He's tempted to ask if he can just come with Scott, but he doesn't. He and Cassel are friends -- but they aren't close. This isn't his fight.]

I'm definitely hiding both of them. [But he smiles: it's not like he's planning on letting her search him anyway. Or touch him.]

I'll be careful. And I can get Iris or someone to check my brain when I get back, just to make sure.

[It's important to him that he reassure Stiles. It's important that those nerves fade as much as is possible; he doesn't want to leave Stiles worrying for a day, not if he can ease that.]

[He nods, exhaling slowly. Scott will go in prepared. That's all he really can do. He'll protect himself, and hopefully nothing will go wrong.]

All right.

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

When are you heading out? Cassel's going with you, right?

Um, maybe later tonight - we haven't hashed out the details with the Admiral yet. But yeah, he's coming. He's worried, too.

[His smile is a little rueful: that's his lot in life, to worry and be worried about. He's okay with it.]

Okay. Okay, good.

[Because he definitely doesn't want Scott going into this alone.]

I'll be back soon. If the ship crashes while I'm away, I'm gonna be so pissed. [Don't get into trouble without him. u_u]

( 030 ) Ω ( VIDEO )

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