Kenzi [011] Video - mid day 68

[onteamdyson]

[The communicator turns on with a sharp whack before suddenly turning off again. And on. And off. And on--] Stupid piece of spy-reject, cattle-tagging crap. Get. OFF!

[When it comes back on and stays on, it's obvious by the scratches in the paint that it was being banged against a wall. Kenzi turns the device on her wrist to peer at it, into it, and she stares... until realization hits her.]

... Oh. Oh shit.

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[onteamdyson]

[Oh my god, that's actually Galen. It feels like forever, but it also feels like no time at all? His smile is infectious, even if hers is a little smaller than usual.]

Not even close. [Not... exactly a joke? She moves towards the door, grabs him by the wrist, and pulls him into the room before latching onto him as tightly as possible.]

Didn't mean to ditch you like that, I am so sorry. [Don't cry. Do NOT cry.]

[gleans]

Hey -- ssh. [ He holds her tightly, pulls her close, kisses the top of her head. ] You got to go home, right? That's good. And it's just been, like -- a day. Like with me.

[onteamdyson]

[Yeah, she got to go home! She got to be kidnapped by an unstable fox-fae and trapped in a cave for days and she got to watch her best friend go through some bogus trial that could have changed her into some drooling, mindless underfae with back hair! And then she got to be useless while everyone important to her scattered.

And then she got to drive the most beautiful car she has ever seen only to have it taken away from her so she could be sent back to torture town. At least the Morrigan is easier to handle than shady, faceless scientists.

But it's only been a day. And Galen's still here, so... that's good.]

Because everything went smooth as freaking peanut butter when you were gone a day and no one resorted to getting totally smashed when Jesse was gone-- oh my god, Galen. You just got him back and then I have to go and pull that shiz.

[Her arms tighten around him, but she pulls away enough to look at him.]

[gleans]

Alright, yeah, you kinda scared me. But -- it's fine. It's really -- really fucking good to see you.

[onteamdyson]

[Ha, okay, that makes her smile for real.] Wow, Squishy. It's almost like you missed me or something.

[She finally lets go so she can squish his face between her hands! And then kiss him on the cheek.] Hey. I wanna show you something.

[gleans]

[ He snorts, then grins when she pulls away, looking down at her outfit. What, it's eyecatching! Then he looks back at her. ] Does it explain the shoulderpads? [ JOKING, DON'T KILL HIM. ]

[onteamdyson]

[SHOULDER PUNCH INITIATE! We do not joke about fashion in this house, Galen!] I'll have you know that this fine-ass tailoring doesn't have room for shoulderpads. What is this, the eighties? You are so incredibly lucky you're cute. Shut up.

[She shrugs out of the jacket and tosses it on the bed before pulling down one of her fishnet arm warmers to reveal... a completely healed arm. No Norn-rash. And she's still human.

For now.]

[gleans]

[ He snorts, elated to have Kenzi's attitude back, and watches her take off the -- whoa. ]

Holy shit. [ Galen takes her arm, looks at it closely. It's totally healed. ] What happened? What was it?

[onteamdyson]

I liked being a vampire so much that I went out and exposed my neck like some kind of pulse harlot to the first fang'd denizen of the night I could find. He was gentle. We had a moment.

[Okay, she can't keep up that serious face. She snorts and shakes her head.] Just... got better. No big. Nothing to worry about.

[gleans]

[ He gives her a flat look. Sure it did, Kenzi. ] So the flesh-eating witch juice disease just got better? You went back to the X-Ffff--faeles for a year, dude. I love the crap outta you, but I call bullshit.

[onteamdyson]

Yeah, it totally just-- [Hang on, she's trying not to laugh at that pun. Oh my god. Galen, you need a gold star. THIS IS SERIOUS! She's trying to avoid stuff! Which is easier to do after she turns away and goes to sit at the drums.]

Someone fixed it and it's been better for a while now and it's a really boring story, so-- Did anyone touch my kit while I was gone? I gotta set up better security or something. Maybe attack dogs or some wicked traps. Wanna jam? Grab the guitar! [DISTRACTION!]

[gleans]

Kenzi. [ Look, his tone is as patient as possible, and he takes both of her arms gently. Look at him. ] Listen, K, if it's something you don't wanna talk about, or don't feel ready to talk about, that's fine. I get it. But if you aren't okay, or something -- fucking -- I don't know, if something bad happened, I wanna know. A year is a long time.

[onteamdyson]

[Something bad... yeah, a year is a long time and a lot of stupid shit happened and she recovered from all of it. Except this one thing. Practically her worst fear. Hell, it almost broke her. Being trapped somewhere alone while someone else stole her life, her friends, her entire identity... and just left her there. By herself. With a disturbing lack of burgers.

She needs another hug. She just needs to be close to somebody. Galen especially. Just gonna wrap her arms around him again if that's cool.]

The stuff was from a kitsune. It was like... her powers. Or something. Shapeshifting, glamour shiz-- I dunno. She wanted them back.

[gleans]

[ Galen hugs her close. Kitsunes are real, too? Jesus. ] ... How'd she get them back, exactly?

[onteamdyson]

Heh... ha... oh, you know. The usual. Abduction, a lot of sniffing, some gross ... licking and then keeping me in a cave via bear trap to the ankle while she stole my life because I was her new power source? See. I told you it was no big.

[Bo had enough to deal with. Kenzi couldn't talk it out with her... when Bo actually had time to listen. Everyone was really busy. Maybe that's why they didn't notice right away. She tried telling them-- just... okay, now she might be crying a little.]

[gleans]

[ Jesus fucking Christ. He covers her, hand moving to the back of her head, other hand rubbing her back gently. Just -- a tiny bit hard to breathe now, no big deal. ]

Oh my god, Kenzi. That's a huge fucking deal.

[onteamdyson]

It's cool. She's dead. [All better. Only, not even a little bit. It's so fucking messed up! Dyson killed her. Dyson killed her before he KNEW. He had to call Lauren. Stop crying, god this is embarrassing. Clinging to Galen like he's life support, jeeze. Get it together.]

This isn't a pity thing, okay? You asked.

[gleans]

Ssssh. Not a pity thing. [ He continues to stroke her hair. ] How long ago did that happen?

[onteamdyson]

[That helps. It's good. She takes a deep breath, just calm down.]

Pretty recently. Things have been kinda hectic at home base. We've just... had a lot to deal with. Still have a lot to deal with. [And she's not there. And she can't help. But the worst part about all of it. Seriously, the one part that's freaking her out THE MOST is--] ... I didn't remember you.

[gleans]

[ That makes him feel a little sick, even though he suspected it'd be the case. If they ever get out of here, all this will have been for nothing. All these friendships, everything they've done... ] I was afraid of that. At -- least you remember me now, right? That's the important thing.

[onteamdyson]

[She pulls back just a bit. Just to look at him. Make sure she can see him, make sure he's still there.]

Yeah, hella important, but what if we get out for real and I can't find you? What if getting out of here permanently means that's the end. That's it. Finito. Sans Squishy. No beuno. That's like... it's like choosing between Bo, and Dyson, and Hale, and everyone--... and you and Jesse.

[gleans]

[ He looks back at her, expression a little tight. ]

I guess if we don't remember... [ It won't really matter. But he doesn't want to say it. ] We can -- that's something we can worry about when it happens, cuz we don't know what's gonna happen.

[onteamdyson]

[But, Galen! No. Nope, you better not say it. She's thinking it and shaking her head. It DOES matter. She doesn't want to forget. She's going to be worrying about it from now on, nevermind when it happens.... if it happens. WHEN it happens. Who the fuck knows.

Kenzi never loses her cool like this. She usually has better control over her feelings, but this is upsetting. This is the worst possible thing. She doesn't want to forget them and be alone again the next time the fae decide they're too busy to hear her out and she's still just a human because the Massimo plan doesn't work.

And now she knows she's not just getting asthma, she's having a panic attack. She needs to sit down. She needs to stop worrying about this, but she can't because how the fuck could she forget about Galen?]

[gleans]

Kenz -- [ His voice is shaky, now, both from thinking about what it'd be like to never see Kenzi again, and from being so close to such a ball of anxiety and upset, now -- it's contagious. Galen swallows thickly and leads her back to the bed to sit, pulls her to his chest. ]

It's -- gonna be okay, alright? We're all here, we're okay. You're okay. Breathe. [ So many panic attacks this week. ]

[onteamdyson]

[Breathe. Right. That's kind of a necessary function. Breathing. Not those shallow, panicked breaths. Actual ones. She huddles against him, literally clinging to his shirt.]

I know you promised, but do it again. Promise me we're sticking together no matter what. Galen, I can't-- ... wow, this is totes pathetic. I can't not have you around, okay? I'm serious.