7323/Wellness Check

Wellness Check
Date of Scene:	11 August 2021
Location:	Clarice Ferguson's Quarters
Synopsis:	Mystique comforts a distraught Clarice - who ends the scene feeling much better, and determined to read a book.
Cast of Characters:	Raven Darkholme, Clarice Ferguson

---

Raven Darkholme has posed:
After numerous people spoke in Mystique's ear, all at the same time, about something going on with Rahne and Clarice, the cobalt mutant dropped what she was doing and headed to Clarice's room to press the chime.

"Clarice?" she says quietly when the chime activates for the twenty seconds of voice to the room. Only once, there is no nagging on the Asteroid.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    There's no answer from Clarice - no sign that anyone intends to open the door. Or perhaps no one is capable of opening the door? Not at the moment, anyways. Clarice is currently curled up on her bed with her pillow clutched tightly to her chest and face, sobbing for all that she's worth, with only one thought ringing loudly in her head.
    Why? Why, Clarice? //Why//?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique waits exactly 60 seconds, then security over rides the door to walk in.

"Clarice?" She asks quietly.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The sobbing continues, but somewhere in there - in between desperate hiccups and shakey (but futile) attempts to get her breathing under control might be a single word.
    "Boss..."
    Maybe she's just hearing what she wants to hear, though.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
No hesitation.

Mystique is into the room, letting the door close behind her, then over to the bed to sit on the side and lean down to hug Clarice is in the oddest sort of side hug possible, but that's all she could manage.

"What happened Clarice?" she asks softly, still hugging.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It's all that it takes, though, to have Clarice turn in towards Mystique, still clutching the pillow with one arm - while her other wraps tightly around Mystique. She sobs into Mystique's lap as she tries desperately to regain some control over her breathing. "I- ...I-"
    She tries holding her breath - once, and then twice... Finally, as she exhales she manages to get out, "I told her."
    And she ran. God, why did she tell her?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique wraps both arms around Clarice, pulling her in tight against her. She smooths Clarice's hair down, not petting really, caressing and trying trying to comfort. She begins to very gently rock the purple mutant as she talks.

"I'm so sorry Clarice," she offers quietly, just hugging and rocking. "Sometimes the truth is too much to handle, but give her some time, to process and think."

Mystique really wished there was more to say, more she could offer, but some people can't handle the truth. Clarice was what she was, a serial killer, but she put a purpose to it by killing those who really deserved it, those who hurt others.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "She won't come back," Clarice protests desperately. "She won't." Why did she tell her? Why?
    She can't get that single, desperate question out of her mind.
    Why did she have to ruin it?
    "I'm a monster..." she breathes quietly. That's the truth, isn't it? That's what people say about Mister Creed.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"Hey, you are not a monster, Clarice," comes the immediate and quick response from Mystique. "You have no idea if she will come back or not, you only see the pain right now, and that's understandable, but you know what? If she doesn't come back, that's on her. You're a wonderful person."

She caresses the purple mutants back lightly. "You turned a part of your nature into something amazing, you take out people who deserve it, people the law won't touch or can't touch. You're brave, selfless, kind, generous, beautiful and if that's not enough, to hell with her. Don't get me wrong, I think she'll come back, but if she doesn't, you're better off without her."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The hand wrapped around to Mystique's back clutches at a fistful of the woman's 'clothes' - if she were in a more coherent frame of mind, she might think twice about such a gesture. At the moment, though, it's simply what Clarice needs - and so she does it.
    The tears continue to fall - mostly soaking into her pillow as she she listens to Mystique's reassurances - and struggles to find her own words. She is a monster, though. Isn't she? She and Mister Creed both. Too broken to function like normal people.
    "Am I broken?" she manages to ask. Can she be fixed? How? Would that bring her back?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Again Mystique caresses Clarice's hair, tightening her arm around her.

"No Clarice, you aren't broken," she offers softly, then kisses the top of Clarice's head. "No more than anyone else in the world is broken. We all have part of us that aren't like anyone else, and those of us with the will and strength to stand against what is considered socially acceptably are going to have parts of ourselves that are a little broken.... but that isn't a bad thing Clarice, by a long shot. Just because some people can't understand you, or accept you, or like you... that doesn't mean your a bad person or broken, it means they need to either walk away or take the time to get to know you."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Whether it's Mystique's words, or the soothing feel of her hand on her hair, and her back - little by little the sobs lessen, and take on a less desperate tone. The tears still fall, but at least she has some hope of controling her breathing, and her words.
    She's silent a long while, just breathing, before she finally asks, "Why did I tell her? She- She said I was her best friend." The raggid edge of her breathing starts to ramp up again, and she has to hold her breath to control it. "She said she loves me. Why did I tell her?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The same motions, not changing, if Mystique could caress the pain right out of Clarice she would but all she can do is be there, hold her and rock her.

"You told her because she loves you," she replies. "And it was the right thing to do. You don't keep a secret like that from the ones you love. You did the right thing. I know it doesn't seem like it, but you did. I'm still trying to get the balls to do the right thing, you're one up on me."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Rahne hates violence," Clarice breathes quietly. "She'll hate me." Won't she? The thought felt right, and wrong at the same time. She continues to cling to Mystique's back with that one, desperate hand.
    "What do I do?" she asks helplessly. Is there //anything// she can do?
    She can't take it back.
    For one, horrible second - she realizes she can. She has Emma's coin.
    But no, the thought is rejected as quickly as it comes - a shiver running through her form. No.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique kisses the top of Clarice's head again, "You give her time to process, but she's not going to hate you. Love is a strange thing Clarice, you never know how it will effect someone. Sometimes its enough to see past things that you don't like or disagree about, sometimes it's not, but you have to give her time to work it out."

She doesn't know Rahna well enough to be able to actually offer firm words of yay or nay about it, she hasn't spent very much time with the woman.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Clarice. You did the right thing for the right reasons."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It doesn't feel right. None of this feels right.
    Clarice lapses into another silence, concentrating on her breathing as she tries to calm herself. Little by little it works - her tears slowing, and her breathing stablizying - until finally she lets a humorless laugh. "I'd feel better... if I just killed someone," she offers.
    But that's the problem, isn't it?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Giving Clarice time to collect herself, to breath, Mystique just remains there against Clarice letting her take her time to gather herself.

"Would you like to go to the training room?" She offers the only solution that might not look bad.

She pauses for a moment, then speaks into her communicator quietly. Being as close to Clarice as she is, it's likely she can hear part of the words. It's clearly Lydia she's talking to, about Rahne and keeping an eye on her and being safe.

"Or do you want to go to Iran?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It's uncertain if the quietly murmured words really register with Clarice as she remains still in Mystique's arms. Finally, though, her hand releases that grip at her 'clothes' - and flops back onto her bed.
    "No," she answers quietly. "Maybe I'm not supposed to feel better yet," she suggests.
    She takes a deep breath in, and lets it all out in an only slightly tremulous huff. "I'm... alright though. I'm alright."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Letting Clarice go so she can flop back, Mystique doesn't move from the side of the best yet. Sitting there, she merely adjusts her position slightly and looks at the young woman.

"Don't lie," she says quietly. "You aren't fine, you aren't alright, and that's okay. You will be though, in time."

Reaching over she caresses Clarice's arm, a reminder that she's still there and if she needed, she's not going anywhere. "You want to go get a drink in the bar, or have one brought to us?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Little by little, she pushes herself up into a sitting position, she pillow now falling to her lap where she can hug it tightly to her stomach. Her eyes are red, her hair is mussed, and dripping snot clings to the tip of her noise and dampens her pillow as well - along with her tears. She definitely doesn't //look// alright. "Here is better," she offers. "I don't want to-" go out there. At all. Maybe ever again, is how she feels at the moment.
    One hand lifts dips at her eyes, trying to dry them, but they well with more unshed tears.
    "Raven...?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Now she reaches over to smooth Clarice's hair a little. Everything else just stays at it is for now, she has no intentions of moving or pointing anything out.

"What?" She asks in return, getting the hair in just the right position, though still messed up.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Thank you," Clarice offers quietly, but with all the sincerity she can muster. She meets Raven's gaze for a moment, looks down at her hands, then back to her mentor's features once more. Just as her gaze starts to drop once more she adds, "I love you."
    She doesn't linger there, though, as she abruptly pushes herself up to head towards the bathroom, adding more loudly, "I'm a mess. I'll just..." Get the snot off her face. She leaves the door to the bathroom open as she pulls the hand towel down, getting it wet so she can start washing her face.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique shifts so Clarice can get up and by, watching her move, reading her body language.

"You're welcome, Clarice. It's what family does for each other." She stops when she hears the water start up, but she does stand up to pick up the soggy pillow and yank the wet case off. She had no idea if Clarice had any other pillow cases, so she chooses to adjust all the pillows so that one is on the bottom with a new one on top, and drop the wet case in the dirty clothes.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice isn't in the bathroom long - she soon returns with the wet towel in hand, throwing this into the hamper as well. If not for the redness of her eyes, it would be difficult to tell anything was amiss - after all, there were plenty of times and occassions when she wears solemn features as she does now.
    "Rahne, ummm, was telling me about a book. About a girl who didn't like homework. She saw a rabbit wearing clothes, and followed it into a strange world? Only it was all really a dream? Do you know is?" she asks uncertainly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique was just finishing remaking the bed, or rather straightening the blankets, she can't help herself, it just happens and she doesn't even realize she's doing it.

"Uh... damn," she mutters, looking back to Clarice. "Alice..." she's wracking her brain, she knows this one, clearly not from her own childhood. "Alice Through the Looking Glass?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It's famous then?" Clarice asks, her gaze flicking to the bed for a moment, not seeming to mind Mystique's effort to tidy up. The fingers of her left hand worry at her right thumb - simply for something to do. "Is it very hard to read?" she asks.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Once the blankets are straight again, Mystique sits herself back on the edge of the bed.

She looks like she's about to say something when she pauses, reaching up to tap her comm in her ear and nods to nothing at all. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice in Wonderland, Alice through the Looking Glass... they aren't that tough of books, might be a few words might be difficult, but we'll get you a dictionary on your phone that says the words for you." She pauses there for a moment.

"Rahne went to her mother in Scotland, she's asleep now, she wanted to make sure you knew, she loves you." Pulling out her cell phone she types something into it then puts it back in her pocket.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice nods as Mystique starts rattling off the names of the books and, after a moment, settles onto the edge of the bed beside her. "They'd have them on audiobook too, right?" she asks.
    And then Raven gives an update on Rahne, and Clarice's form stills completely, her gaze locked onto Mystique's. "She did?" she asks in a small, vulnerable voice. She said that? What does that mean? "Still?" She still loves her? A few tears leak out the corners of her eyes again as her hands tighten over one another.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique nods, then nods again.

"Yes they would have them on audio, they're a very popular set of books, and yes... still. Lydia gave me the message to give to you. I told you, love changes things. If she said it, she meant it. You just need to give her some time, alright?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I- okay. Yeah, okay," Clarice agrees, lifting her hands to wipe at her eyes again. She takes a few deep, slow breathes to help her keep her composure. "I, ummm... Will- can Lydia- tell her when she wakes up that- that I'm reading the book?" she asks. There's pause before she adds more quietly, "That I love her too?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique pulls her phone back out and types in a second text message to Lydia, word for word, then adds at the end, 'And I love you, too much love, want anything other than clothing brought down?'

"You want me to go get you copies of the books on audio for you? I can also get you printed copies to look at while you listen to them."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean - well. We could get the audiobooks on my tablet," Clarice suggests, pointing to the other room where the tablet sits on her desk. "But I- if someone could bring some copies of the books- I- I mean, I think I'd rather- I don't really want to see anyone else right now. Maybe we- if anyone asks, that I'm not feeling well?" She lets out a sigh. "Maybe have dinner sent over as well."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A slight smirk touches Mystique's face as she watches Clarice.

"I can have anything delivered to this room you want, and no one needs to be told a damn thing. If they ask, they can be told to fuck off," she says as the smirk turns to a grin. "You've got to remember, no one asks me questions about shit that goes on with other people cause they know it's not their business. Just text Eddie in the kitchen, tell him what you want, he'll send Giselle over with it when it's ready, she chimes, puts the food by the door and leaves. Ta da!"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Sure," Clarice agrees, her smile a bit wry - and almost embarrassed. With the height of her hysteria behind her - it was an awkward and embarrassing situation, after all. She pushes herself up, retrieving her tablet from the desk, where it rests not far from the framed photo she'd added. Her gaze lingers on the photo just for a moment before she makes her way back, thumbing through her apps until she finds the one where she'd downloaded the audio of Lydia's book. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," she murmurs quietly, sounding out the words and clicking once autocorrect starts filling things in for her.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Once again Mystique pulls out her phone, shooting off a text message to the kitchen. The way she figures it, waffles with fruit and whipped cream can never be the wrong choice, as well as a pot of herbal tea.

"Food will be here in fifteen. I'm going to go pack a bag for Lydia and take it down, make sure she's alright. I'll be back in a few hours, but if you need me, call me... got it? No faking fine, need... call. Okay?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Yeah boss," Clarice answers quietly. She flashes the woman a brief smile as she adds, "Did you put a bottle of scotch on that order?"
    On the tablet - the book is already downloading. At least she has something to keep her occupied for the evening.
    "I wouldn't mind if, you know, you ran into Mister Creed - maybe he wants a drink or something..." Right. 'Runs into.' Like the suggestion is fooling either of them.
    "Thanks again."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique heads out of Clarice's room, straight to Victor's room. He gets the instructions to grab a bottle of scotch and head to Clarice's room. The over night bag with a chance of clothing is then packed and she heads to Scotland. She's been there before, but that's a story for a NEVER time.