9452/Some Screw-ups Take Two

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Some Screw-ups Take Two
Date of Scene: 04 January 2022
Location: Sara and Cael's apartment
Synopsis: Cael and Sara air their grievences, and lay to rest the bad blood between them.
Cast of Characters: Cael Becker, Sara Pezzini




Cael Becker has posed:
    With news of the evacuations officially underway - Cael has packed up a bag of her most important belongings, including her sister's toolbox. She leaves her things, packed and ready, by the front door - ready to transport them to the Triskelion, where she intends to stay for the forseeable future. Hopefully the apartment won't be looted in the meantime? But she's not willing to take the risk with Bear's safety, and who knows how chaotic things are about to get in the meantime? But before leaving - she's settled on the couch, enjoying a cup of coffee in silence, Bear sitting beside her on the couch, with his head in her lap.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
There aren't too many things that Sara considers important. She already made certain her Aunt Ruth was on a plane to her friend's house in Florida, and in her own pack were some clothing, a picture album from her childhood and the two pictures of her father. Everything else in the apartment was up for grabs if the looters wanted it.

Exiting her room with the pack over her shoulder, she pauses for a moment when she see's Cael with Bear. "Triskelion?" she asks quietly, testing to see if they are speaking to each other.

==============================================================================

Alis had taken the few things she had collected from their hiding places and put them into a backpack, a normal sized backpack, and was now wearing it. Cael had made sure to get her toolbox, so that's all that really mattered. At the moment she was sitting in one of the chairs at the table sipping a cup of coffee that she had put a /lot/ of chocolate into.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "That's the plan. Isn't safe to leave Bear here while we're out," Cael says simply. Her voice is calm - with no rancor or obvious signs of distress, not for something so simple and unfrought. There's something both cautious and curious in her expression, though, as she looks at Sara, studying the other woman. "We getting a flat together, there? Or we taking our own apartments?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Taking a moment to set her pack by the front door with Cael's things, Sara steps into the kitchen for coffee then returns to the living room. The nice then about their apartment, the way it's laid out you can still hear conversation throughout it, unless in one of the bedrooms with the door closed.

Wandering back into the living room she sits herself on the other end of the couch and for a moment, she just looks at Cael.

"I figured we'd share a flat there," she admits quietly, taking a sip of the coffee and burning her mouth. "Ow..." she mutters then sighs, because it heals but still. "Unless you don't want to."

====================================================================

Alis takes another sip of her coffee, watching Sara walk through the room to the door then return with coffee. It was going there, she wondered if it would, but it is so she stays quiet and debates going incorporeal for now.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael lets out a sigh, shaking her head. "I'm not-" What does she even say? She isn't good at conversations like this - but is anyone? She runs an irritated hand through her hair before she tries again. "I don't mind sharing a flat. Look, I know that everything that's happened, it's put you through hell, too. Through... a different sort of hell, but hell. I know you've been- you've done your best to be there for me, and I appreciate it. I do. I just- you should have asked me first. You //never// should have sprung that on me, like that, especially knowing he honestly ain't my favorite person - and you should have let me walk away. I was trying to be //kind//. I didn't want to- after everything you've been doing for me, I didn't want to blow up and shower you and your friend with... with the shrapnel of my fucking issues. You know?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara stares into the cup of coffee as if all the answers in the world lie in the swirling creamy liquid.

"I got excited and forgot to ask," she states plainly. "I apologize for that. Even told him I should have asked you first."

Her eyes remain in the cup before she reaches up with her left hand to shove her hair off her face and look over at Cael. "I thought it was you usual dislike of people Cael, I really had no idea it was more than that... I mean, let's face it, you dislike everyone. You didn't like Wade at first either, so seriously... that's all I thought it was."

She sighs again, glancing for a moment toward Alis then looks back to Cael, "How as I supposed to know it wasn't your normal hatred of anything and anyone new? He told me over that beer we went to have, that it has to do with his religion, but I didn't know that until he told me. So not knowing it was something more, yeah... I pushed it, just like I did with Wade."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I never disliked Wade," Cael counters. "I mean - the guy's fuckin' nuts, but - I never disliked him, really." There's something... almost baffled in her voice, as if she doesn't understand that her actions are so hard to read and understand by other people. Like she had expected her discomfort for the man to be perfectly clear for all to see.
    "Look - he knows what's going on. That angels are coming and trying to end all of humanity - and reality - and sure maybe I never told him what happened to me, I mean - why the fuck would I share that with him? But- ugh. If you know the sort of shit that's going out, how the hell can you justify getting your knickers all in a twist if someone has a problem with your fucking religion right now? How can anyone who knows what's going on still worship and condone a God that would just... I don't fucking get it. The guy sets me on edge."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Finally Sara has an idea, clues as to what the problem is. Neither of them had shared a damn thing, which is why she had assumed it was another Wade like thing.

"The reactions, they were the same," she explains. "How you reacted to Johnny was how you initially reacted to Wade, so yeah... no idea there, and for that I'm sorry. I should have pushed you harder to tell me instead of assuming."

An now the real matter, the truth of the problem. "There's millions of people out there who believe in and worship God, Cael. They've been raised to do so, they've lived their lives doing so, and the knowledge that angels are coming, wouldn't and doesn't change that. If the only reason he sets you on edge is because he still worships God, okay, I'll accept that. I can't agree with it, but I'll accept it. Believing in God has nothing to do with the heavenly host about to invade Manhattan though."

Sitting back she takes another sip of her coffee. "God is indifferent to what the Archangel is doing, he's indifferent to his worshippers, but that doesn't change that for people like Johnny, and what he is, and what he's been through... religion is like his sanity. Take it away and you get insanity."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Indifferent or not - God is condoning this shit," Cael points out flatly, "and what happened to me. So, yeah, I have a fucking problem with it - and I have a fucking problem with the fact that... well that it seems to piss him off that I have a fucking problem with it, after what I went through-" She grits her teeth tightly. "I have that right." She takes a deep breath in, and lets it out in a slow, heavy sigh, her fingers running over Bear's head and ears. "There's all this shit about a loving God, and that's what- I mean. Michael filled me with that feeling of... of love, and acceptance, and- it's all a fucking lie, and it was the best, and the worst thing I ever experienced, and people just walk around believing that-" She shakes her head in frustration. "They don't understand what it is they're asking for is all, and it- gets under my skin."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Setting the coffee down, Sara scoots closer to Cael and lays her hand lightly on her arm.

"He doesn't condone what Michael did," she states bluntly and matter-a-factly. "He doesn't know what happened, and I'm sure if he did, he'd understand your anger.... and even if he doesn't understand, he actually accepts your anger and hatred of his religion. It's your right to be angry about it, your right to want justice and revenge, and your right to hate religion. It's also his right to keep his religion."

She offers a faint smile, "I know you can't accept that people still put their love and faith in God, and that's alright too. I may know that God is real now, but I still have no faith in him... at all, and I find people who do a bit moronic, but that's not all there is to a person."

There is a pause here, as she takes her hand off Cael's arm. "I can't get you all the details, it's not my place, but um... what Johnny went through, becoming the Ghost Rider... way worse than anything you can possibly imagine, I /saw/ what happens, it's what Alis was talking about seeing..." she shakes her head. "I'm not asking you to like him, you absolutely do not have to like him, okay? You can keep going right on hating him, but... when all this passes, could you maybe see your way to giving him a chance? Maybe talk this out and see if there's a way to tolerate him? If you can't, that's fine too, I'll accept that, I just... what I've seen, what I've heard, the man needs friends."

Cael Becker has posed:
    There's tension in Cael's arm, under Sara's hand, but she doesn't pull away - she just continues to stare down into her coffee, a frown pulling at her features. It's... a big ask. 'Friends' may be a relatively casual concept to many people - but not to Cael. It's vulnerable, and uncomfortable, and even at times frightening. "Look, I'm going to try not to be- I don't know. I'm gonna try not to be... unfair to him, but that's about all I can promise right now. We'll see where I am when all of this is over. You know I'm not really looking for more friends right now. Okay?"
    She takes another deep breath then adds, "I hated closing that door in your face, but I- I mean... you get it, right? You know why I had to- why I couldn't- it just wouldn't have gone well."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Settling her hands in her lap, Sara nods a little, a bit of a sheepish expression on her face.

"/NOW/ I get," she sighs, then looks back to Cael. "Didn't get it at the time, obviously, but I get it now."

Something flashes across her eyes and she oohs softly before saying, "Wait, I don't mean you need to be his friend. I meant I was being his friend and you... well, just try to tolerate. I know you don't do the friend thing Cael, totally get that. Tolerate is the most I would ever ask for, so sure... not being unfair is fine."

Leaning over she picks up her coffee again. "I'm sorry I yelled at you." she finally says.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I get it," Cael answer in a soft voice. "Life has been shit. Sometimes we all got to yell, but I knew that- well. That closing that door would hurt you, so... I'm sorry. I just didn't know what else to do that wouldn't end up much, much worse." She gives a helpless shrug of her shoulders, before taking a sip of her coffee.
    "We are okay, aren't we?" she asks in an uncertain voice. "I don't want to- I don't know. You know I'm shit at all of this."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara smiles. "Of course we're okay. Friend fight," she chuckles. "I was more worried that you were going to stay pissed at me. You say your shit at it, but I think we're both shit at it to be honest. You bottle it up, I bottle it up, and then at some point one of us explodes. We gotta work on that, talk more, alright? Good, bad, doesn't matter, we need to talk it out so this sort of thing doesn't happen again. Deal?"

Cael Becker has posed:
    "If and when we find the time," Cael remarks dryly. "But sure. We'll try." She's silent a moment before adding, "I don't mean to make you feel like shit, and - I mean, I do appreciate you caring... and trying to help me. I hope you know that."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"I know you don't, I know it's not intentional," Sara says quietly, chewing at her bottom lip for a moment then she takes a drink of her coffee. "I know you don't want to do it at all, intentional or not. It just happens, cause life is shit, and has been shit, and is apparently going to stay shit... which means," she sighs softly. "It means we have to make the time Ceal, once all this crap is passed or in between, we have to make the time."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael rubs at Bear's ears, her gaze still directed down towards the coffee she holds in her other hand. "And I'm a Grade A, enormous bitch," she remarks quietly. Just for a moment, her lips quirk upwards at the corners before her expression grows solemn again - then she adds, "I did the whole 'no friends at all thing' - but years. It was lonely. I don't want to go back to that again. So, yeah - we'll make the time, I guess. I really am sorry for any hurt I caused - and, you know, //will cause. Because fuck, we both know it's going to happen again."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara shakes her head again, offering a brighter smile. "No, I think at this point we've figured it out. See, I need to /tell/ you when it happens, not let it build up."

Another drink of coffee is taken before she continues, "I /know/ it's not intentional, so I just need to tell you, 'hey bitch, that hurt' so we can talk it out. And you... you need to try and let me in a little more, if you can. I know it's not easy for you, but well... it's what friends do."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Let Sara in more...? Just the thought heightens her anxiety. The more you let someone in - the more they can hurt you. Intentional, or not. In life... or in death - and no one is invincible. //No one//.
    Bear lets out a quiet whine, inching closer to Cael and nudging her with his head, as her fingers continue to pet him reflexively. "I- yeah. Sure. I'll... try," she offers, almost numbly, as she tries to bottle her fear and panic back up.
    It's ridiculous. She //knows// it's ridiculous - but it doesn't //feel// ridiculous.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Alis shifts in the chair, turning to look at the two finally. She knew Cael far too well, she had watched helplessly as her best friend and sister climbed inside herself and never climbed out... and the ghost teen knew it was her fault. Her death had been the catalyst that lead to Cael running from everything, including herself.

"Won't happen," she says bluntly with a snort. "Sure she'll try, but it won't happen... so you gotta ask yourself Sara, can you be friends with someone who doesn't really want to let you in?"

Sara blinks a few times as she looks over at Alis. She knew that Alis knew Cael better, but she hadn't been expecting that.

"If that's how it'll be, then that's how it will be. She said she'll try, can't ask for more then that."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael isn't sure how to respond to any of that at first, as she stares wordlessly down at her cup. Ridiculous. You're being ridiculous, Cael - but even as she tries to berate herself, she can feel a tear streaking down her cheek.
    "You're a better friend than I'll ever be," she finally murmurs. "I'm sorry." She doesn't know what else to say. Finishing off her coffee abruptly, and giving Bear a reassuring scritch, sne abruptly pushes herself to her feet. "Anyways. I'm gonna load up the Corvette and move it to the Trisk. I guess I'll see you there in a bit."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara sets her coffee down quickly and stands. Without any warning at all she hugs Cael and whispers something her ear so that Alis can't hear it.

'You're a good friend to me Cael, despite what you think... don't get down on yourself over it. It'll take time, and Alis, well... she's doesn't know you as well as she thinks she does.'

Cael Becker has posed:
    The hug is unexpected, causing Cael to freeze in place - as are the words. Tears start to streak down her cheeks - silently at first, but quickly they're accompanied by the unsteady gasps of someone having a good cry. Rather than pulling away from the hug as the tears start in earnest, she leans into it, not sure what to say - and not convinced she could speak, even if she did know.
    Bear jumps down from the couch, joining Cael and Sara and leaning in against Cael's legs, while letting out his quiet, worried whine.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
For as long as Cael needs the hug, Sara gives it because truthfully she needed one too. She really wished she could make it easier for Cael in some way, but she knew it was a process, step by step, that Cael has to take on her own. Alis didn't help in this particular case, though she knew the teen was actually trying, sometimes the truth was too bitter to be spoken and needed to be softened.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Other than the sounds of her uneven breathing, Cael remails silent - leaning into Sara for long minutes, but never once trying to wrap her arms around the the woman in return. As her breathing finally starts to steady, however, she pulls away slowly and lifts a hand to her face to wipe away the tears, steading her breathing with a few slow, deep breaths. "I'm, uhh... I'm okay," she finally. "I- I'll see you at the Trisk."
    That said, she starts towards the door, though she pauses with her things in her hands, and her back to Sara.
    "...thanks."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara lets Cael slip away when she's ready, not saying a word about it. If she helped Cael even once through one thing, then she'd done her part.

"I have to let Johnny know where I'll be, find out if he wants to stay here during it all or not," she finally says. "So I'll see you a little later this evening."

Alis stands up, not saying anything before she slips her pack on and goes incorporeal to follow Cael. It was a serious warning, she knows that, and Sara needed it because at the end of the day, the teen /did/ know Cael.