buy yourself another day

[impetuous]

Who: Gwaine and you
What: Random encounters
When: Saturday morning
Where: Near the gallery in town


[ Wearing modern clothing for once (sweatpants and a T-shirt that aren't his), Gwaine bounces a small, pink ball against the wall. Whenever it strikes something—wall, ground or his hand—lights arc inside it. A curious little toy, but Gwaine barely looks at it. He sits on the middle step, eyes unfocused. To any observer, his mind appears to be elsewhere. He has managed to recover a semblance of healthy coloring, but the bags under his eyes mark how fitful his sleep remains. He finds it difficult to concentrate on even simple tasks. Thus he misses his next catch and the ball bounces against the door behind him. It rolls away from him. ]

Comments

[save_the_souls]

Never about anything of substance. Arthur was the same way.

[They could talk on and on without saying a single thing. Effing Nobles]

[impetuous]

Let's keep the insults to a minimum, shall we? I don't compare you to him. And it's too early.

[ He drops the joking tone. ] What did you want to talk about?

[save_the_souls]

Sorry...

[But his tone softens]

I'm just...worried. You showed up in the clinic like that and everything I hear about you or Arthur or the others from your world [he knows to avoid the M word]...it's never good news.

[impetuous]

[ In a voice heavy with sarcasm: ] So your idea is to hit me? Don't worry about me next time. Please. Don't. [ Dropping his gaze to the side, he continues more seriously. ] You didn't have to then. I ended up there because of my own stupidity. Arthur...has a lot on him. He's king now if you didn't hear.

[ He studiously avoids even thinking of Morgana. ]

[save_the_souls]

Sorry! It was just- I'm sorry!

[Yep, now feeling the guilt from his little burst of temper. He knew it wasn't fair to take his problems out on Gwaine]

What happened with you...?

[And at the mention of Arthur, his gaze darkens and averts again] ...No, I didn't hear about that.

[impetuous]

[ Studiously avoiding talking about himself. ]

Yes, he's king. And...and Morgana tried the same thing again.

[save_the_souls]

[Nice try, because he sure doesn't want to talk Arthur right now]

And you...?

[impetuous]

I was sick. Shouldn't you know? You work there.

[save_the_souls]

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Yes, I know.

[But that doesn't explain the why]

[impetuous]

There you go. You probably know more about it than I do. [ He passes the ball from hand to hand. Without a forceful blow, the interior remains unlit. ]

[save_the_souls]

About the science of it. How to treat it, how to diagnose it.

...But not the why it occurred with a friend.

[impetuous]

[ Silent, he turns the ball over and over. ]

Did you get a child this past week?

[save_the_souls]

[a pause; then his tone softens]

My daughter, Anita....it was her third time here.

[impetuous]

Is her mother here?

[save_the_souls]

...No. She left a long time ago.

[impetuous]

My daughter had both parents, but...she probably would have been better off with someone else. I spent the entire week terrified. She'd get hurt or I'd do something wrong or she wouldn't leave or...she would. She did. Both did.

[save_the_souls]

So...you stopped drinking because of that?

[impetuous]

[ Gwaine looks anywhere but at Allen. ]

Her mother was drunk on spite. I was drunk on whatever I could get my hands on. Figured she deserved one sober parent while she was here. It was just easier for me to stop.

[save_the_souls]

[Bawwww Gwaine; ] Oh...

That...that was very kind of you, Gwaine.

[impetuous]

Yeah. [ His laugh is a mere exhalation of breath. Short. Bitter. ] Look where that got me.

[save_the_souls]

You didn't know. Honestly, how would you have even known something like that could happen?

[impetuous]

Doesn't matter. It's done.

[ He bounces the ball against the floor. The lights shiver on inside it. ]

[save_the_souls]

...What will you do now?

[impetuous]

Planning isn't my really strong point, Allen. I'll probably go back soon. [ He looks up in the direction of the castle. ] Haven't thought any further.

[save_the_souls]

I know, but...

The drinking?