I got out of bed today...

[thetrudger]

Who: Geoffrey Chaucer and Phoenix Wright
What: Geoff found out someone’s gone
When: Backdated to June 8th, the night they get back from the mirrorland place
Where: Phoenix’s room
Rating: PG13? Probably filled with cursing from Geoff


The first person he’d gone to. And he was gone. No, not gone. More than that.
Geoff takes another swig of the bottle he’s carrying, tripping a little on the stairs up to the second floor. He knows where his feet are carrying him. Somewhere where he won’t be judged, with someone that truly cares for him.
He gives a laugh. Because wasn’t this funny? Wasn’t this hilarious? He bangs on Phoenix’s door.

“I’m having a… a party, firebird! Open up!”

It's rather late for Geoff to be shouting, or even visiting someone, but he can't seem to care. He just laughs and plops down on the floor next to Phoenix's door until he opens it.

Comments

[takethat]

Phoenix isn't asleep--he keeps late hours most of the time as it is, with no court dates or investigating to warrant getting up early and plenty on his mind to keep him up all night--but regardless, he's startled first by the knocking and then by Geoff's muffled voice on the other side of the door.

And then it hits him. He remembers hearing about it over the journal earlier that very day; Bucky was gone, wasn't he? Phoenix is on his feet and throwing on over his boxers and t-shirt whichever clothes he can reach the fastest. He makes it to the door in record time and flings it open, glancing around for his friend until he spots him there on the floor.

"Geoff."

It's not a question. There's nothing to ask about.

"Come on."

He stoops to take Geoff by the elbow and help drag him into the room, if need be.

[thetrudger]

He laughs, holding onto Phoenix and standing. He walks as gracefully as he can into Phoenix's room.

He holds out the bottle as soon as they're in. "Wanna drink?"

[takethat]

"Maybe later...."

Phoenix wouldn't be opposed to having something to drink in a little while, but for now, he's too concerned about Geoff for that. Pointing to his low Asian-style table surrounded by large floor pillows, he says, "Sit down," and goes to put on some tea.

[thetrudger]

"Ohhh... you're a bit... bossy today, aren't you?"

But he sits, still clutching his bottle.

[takethat]

With the tea brewing, Phoenix comes back and pulls a floor pillow over near Geoff, taking a seat too.

"Geoff... are you... okay?"

Of course he knows the answer to that, but he feels like it's worth asking, anyway, and he doesn't really know where else to begin.

[thetrudger]

Geoff puts the bottle on the table.

"Me? ...I'm fucking fantastic. Just waiting for you to leave. When will you... when are you going to leave? Disappear, poof! And perhaps... Gwaine will follow you. And then Nora and... Fred..."

He loses his train of thought, and just stares at the bottle, waiting for Phoenix to say something.

[takethat]

"I'm not going anywhere, Geoff."

Of course he can't be positive of that. Still, Geoff isn't the first person in recent weeks he's been emphatically telling the same thing...

"I'm so sorry Bucky's gone."

[thetrudger]

Oh, those words cut through him. He keeps his gaze on the bottle, his hand gripping the cool glass even harder.

"Do you know what's the last thing... the last thing I said to him? 'Leave then'. How fucking ironic is that?"

[takethat]

Phoenix is a bit of a bleeding heart, and he winces at that, just imagining the sort of pain his friend must be dealing with right now.

"I'm sure he knew you didn't mean it like that."

He puts a hand on Geoff's shoulder.

"It's not your fault he's gone."

[thetrudger]

It looks like he's going to shatter, break into little pieces at any second, but he shakes his head and looks away.

"Why did we have to argue? Why did the castle have to... have to take me away, steal my last moments with him?"

[takethat]

At least he's blaming the castle. That's... a start, even if it's a small one. Phoenix sighs.

"Because this place is a monster that can never let any of us be truly happy... or so I think, anyway."

[thetrudger]

He's having trouble being very articulate, the alcohol fogging his brain.

"It... hurts. And... I don't... I can't..."

Another swig of alcohol and maybe he can deal with this.

"I'm tired of losing people. I miss them."

[takethat]

And Phoenix is now going to be trying to get that bottle away from Geoff. How much has he had already, anyway?

"I... understand. Just don't forget you still have people here who care about you. And I'm positive you always will."

[thetrudger]

Geoff just lets him take the bottle. He can always wish up more if he really wants to. And he doesn't feel like fighting.

"But they'll always leave. Eventually."

[takethat]

"Even if they do, you can form new friendships and find new people to care for you."

He pushes the bottle to the other side of the table, well out of easy reach, and gets up to go check the tea.

"I'm not saying to replace the people you've lost," he says over his shoulder. "I'm just trying to remind you that it's not hopeless. All of us castle residents have to keep our heads above water like that, you know?"