[Maddison Lancaster]

Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy

---

Maddie felt relieved when Dane stopped protesting and sat back down. She had no right to be so worried and worked up about him leaving, it wasn’t like she really knew him. But she couldn’t stop imagining that something bad would happen to him if he went back to his apartment alone. Who did this to him? Were they still after him? Would he be too weakened to call for help if he needed it? Would he refuse to call for help if he needed it? There were too many possibilities swirling through her head, and she tried to shut them all out. She didn’t need to overthink this.

Now that Mason was here, he was taking charge like he always did. She didn’t have to worry as much. Mason would fix it. That’s what he did. Fixed things, cleaned up her messes. If she screwed up the stitches, he’d be able to redo them correctly. It would all be okay.

What Mason wouldn’t be able to fix was where she messed up with any trust she’d managed to build before. Dane had been talking to her, he’d seemed more comfortable before Mason got there. She knew she shouldn’t have just told Mason to come over like she’d done, she should have told Dane at the very least, before Mason walked in the door. It was too late now, she’d fucked that up pretty well.

As Mason began looking over the wound and stitches, Maddie quietly stepped into her bathroom. She turned on the hot water in the sink, and covered her hands in soap. She watched the water run red, and she scrubbed at them to get the blood off of them. She hadn't even considered gloves, like Mason was using. Though it wouldn’t have mattered if she had, she didn’t have any in her apartment anyway.

When she was done washing her hands, she dried them and stepped back into the kitchen, hanging back near the door so she wouldn’t crowd Mason while he was assessing Dane.

---

Dane Wayland
Omg, Maddie’s part is so short and she doesn’t really interact. If you need more to work with or any changes, let me know..

[Mason Lancaster]

Soapbox house of cards and glass so
Don't go tossin' your stones around

---

There was a lot Mason would be asking, if this was an official call. As it was, he wanted to ask more questions merely because this guy was in his sister’s apartment bleeding. Why had he come here, of all places? It wasn’t like Maddie was a nurse or medically trained at all. Why did he think she would be able to help? Maddie made it clear though, no more questions.

Once his sister’s neighbor was sitting again, lifting his shirt for access, Mason began looking at the stitches his sister had given him. It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it looked like it would hold together. He listened as the man explained he thought he was okay internally, and grew more concerned the more he said. He’d know if it was worse.. How would he know? How many times had he been in this sort of position?

Mason heard Maddie’s footsteps retreat into the bathroom, and he could hear the water turn on. He wondered if this was the first time she’d been dragged into a mess like this. He hoped so. He didn’t want to think that she’d been mixed up in the wrong crowd and he’d somehow missed it. He knew that her staying in the East End meant she was going to be more at risk, but she always insisted she was fine and that she liked her apartment. He knew that it was more likely that she liked the independence and being able to afford the place easily, which he couldn’t blame her for. She was stubborn and independent. He knew where she got it from, it happened to be a family trait.

”So, this looks like it’ll be alright, but I am concerned about the amount of blood lost already.” From what he could see around the apartment, there had been significant blood loss already. He wished he had the stocked ambulance. He could at least hook up an IV to replenish fluids, even if he didn’t need to be given blood or taken to a hospital. ”You’re going to want to take it easy for the next couple days though. Do you have a doctor you can follow up with?”

Mason was almost certain that the answer was going to be no. The old scars littering the guy’s skin hadn't gone unnoticed. Whatever this guy was into, it seemed he was used to getting patched up. By his attitude, probably not from medically trained personnel.

---

Mason’s is also kind of short. Feel free to move them around however, or give me a shout to add more.

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]Dane kept his gaze fixed decidedly upon the sliding glass door. He was vaguely aware of Maddie retreating from the room and almost began to consider whether or not he might have upset her. But then Mason shifted in his periphery, leaning just the tiniest bit closer to give him a proper lookover, and he decided — in a nameless, turn-heel sort of way — that he didn't care.[break][break]

The paramedic's conclusion didn't come as much of a surprise — the stitches were decent enough but he'd lost a concerning amount of blood. Dane knew that already. The floors of his own apartment looked more like a murder scene than Maddie's did. He would want to take it easy. He already planned on it. The same floors would likely go uncleaned for a couple of days while he slept off the worst of it. [break][break]

Did he have a doctor he could follow up with?[break][break]

Dane's head gave a subtle bob as he blew a scoffing breath through his nose, lids fluttering faintly over his eyes. "That's a necessary question?" He taunted quietly, the sarcastic tone of his voice ringing almost hollow as he finally dropped his gaze to study Maddie's work for the first time. It was a hack-job compared to what he was used to and he really couldn't say whose work was neater, her's or Nick's. Either way, he wasn't fussed. Could really only be grateful. The blood that'd freely wept from the ugly wound was successfully staunched. Once he wiped himself clean of the sticky mess of gore and peroxide (and changed his soaked clothes), he was sure it wouldn't even look that alarming anymore.[break][break]

"You needn't concern yourself." He continued tonelessly, shifting so that he could use both hands to tie an additional, hasty knot and snap the thread that still dangled Maddie's needle. He pursed his lips and gave a tiny shake of his head. Again, he knew he was making an ass of himself, and unnecessarily as well. He wasn't sure why he was doing it. Why the bitterness and bristle leaped to his lips without thought. But he did know willing himself to be compliant, even thankful, was beyond him at the moment. For no reason his addled brain could really point at, he just didn't like this guy. Almost as if on instinct or principle alone.[break][break]

But he supposed, should he leave it there, either Mason or Maddie would get the thought to check up on him later. Knock on his door just to ensure he made it through the night or was healing up nicely. It might have been an appealing imagining before the paramedic's arrival but now he could only roll his eyes at the thought. "I have someone I can follow up with," he relented finally — flatly — before he let his shirt drop and offered the needle toward the other man. He imagined it didn't need to be said that the someone wasn't exactly a doctor. "For your sharps container, Bones."[break][break]

He lifted his eyes to Mason's face and met his gaze, wishing his own wasn't swimming; knowing his stare was likely more dazed and unfocused rather than the dark and flinty he wanted it to be. He forced himself to hold anyway, making a conscious effort not to blink even as the room dimmed and the details of the man before him edged in and out of clarity. "Am I cleared to leave now?"

[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Sorry this is hot garbage lmao. Give me a nudge [break]
for any changes or if you need more to work with.

[newclass=.lizardstripe-text b]color:#1F2F22;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Maddison Lancaster]

Soapbox house of cards and glass so Don't go tossin' your stones around
Difficult to dance 'round this one 'Til you pull it out, boy

---

He’d known that it was pointless to ask if the guy had a doctor to follow up with, but Mason was used to asking certain questions. That was one of them. Mason took the sarcastic response as a positive sign, though he was still irritated by it. He’d been thinking something was wrong with his sister his whole way here, and now he was met with Mr. Sus bleeding in her living room. It wasn’t what he’d expected, though it was still what he would consider trouble.

Mason watched as his sister’s neighbor pulled at the end of the string after knotting it. He could have tried to step in, tried to do it the right way, but this dude had made it clear that he didn’t want much help. As much as he hated watching it, he was trying his best not to overstep, again.

“I’m glad to hear you have someone.” Mason took the needle in his still gloved hand. He watched the other man’s eyes find his own. He could see how they dilated and contracted every so slightly. He asked if he was cleared to go, and Mason shrugged. “It’s not like you are going to follow my advice anyway, so do what you want. Just don’t drag my sister into whatever resulted in this.”

It wasn’t necessary, and he could almost feel his sister’s irritation with him without even looking at her. He knew that he was going to hear it from her later, but it made him feel better in the moment.

-----

Maddie watched from her spot near the entry to her apartment as Mason and Dane had their back and forth. She could see that she’d made a mistake, that she shouldn’t have bothered texting Mason. She’d worried him, and it appeared like she had upset her neighbor. She couldn’t do anything right, and this wasn’t an exception.

Mason kept needling him, asking questions that were pretty obvious even to Maddie. She wondered if he was doing it intentionally, or if it was just a byproduct of his work. He was used to asking a lot of questions. Wasn’t he also used to people who didn’t want to talk? She shook her head, knowing part of his prickly demeanor had to be a direct result of the way she’d asked him for his help.

She rolled her eyes when Mason made a comment about not dragging her into anything. ”Sorry, my brother is a lot. If you want to go home, I get it. WIll you at least let me help you down to your apartment?” She was concerned about him making it down there alright, without either passing out or tearing open the substandard stitches that she had given him.

---

Dane Wayland
This is a hot mess. I've been working on it for days and they just aren't cooperating. I put them in the same post because they're too tragically short for their own. Let me know for changes or if you need more to work with.

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]The paramedic held his gaze steadily then shrugged and answered that he could do what he wanted (clearly — and correctly — ascertaining that he would anyway). Then he added not to drag Maddie into anything and, deep inside his chest, Dane felt a very innate part of himself flutter pleasantly; a languid desire to provoke challenge, test boundaries, and goad someone's dislike of him lifting its head at the words. He wondered if there was any honest threat behind the unspoken warning there. Or if the man thought Dane's "doing what he wanted anyway" would be anything but encouraged by it. [break][break]

Despite the queasiness that focusing was forcing upon him, Dane fought through the nauseating haze to keep his gaze fixed and unwavering. Then, when Maddie's voice reached them, apologizing for her brother, he let the faintest of smirks pull at his lips and puffed a small breath through his nose. "It's cool," he mused quietly, eyes still unmoving. "I'm a lot, too." [break][break]

Deciding Mason's warnings didn't warrant any actual, verbal response, Dane pulled himself slowly from his seat and winced at the agonized pull in his side. He stepped around the paramedic and slowly made his way toward the apartment's entry, trying not to feel the scattered aches and pains that protested with each step. He could feel yet another fresh sheen of sweat prickle at his hairline and another sweep of cold seep through his limbs but he tried to keep the creeping weariness from his face and the sway from his step as he paused beside Maddie and glanced down at her. [break][break]

"I'll manage... probably," he answered, letting his dark (still frustratingly unfocused) gaze sift about her face. Though a bit of bristliness lingered in his eyes and there remained a faint suggestion of a smirk in his voice, he allowed the tiniest tug at one corner of his mouth. With Mason at his back, likely wanting him to leave his sister alone, he felt much more inclined to be soft and friendly again. And as he searched her features, it was easier than expected to find the gratitude that'd felt unreachable while looking into Mason's face. "I've caused you more than enough trouble for the night, I think. Thanks, Maddie." He felt himself tip momentarily into the precarious blur of his dizziness and closed his eyes to breathe. [break][break]

As much as accepting her help would be smart — it was going to be a slow struggle down two flights of stairs and he'd be lucky if he had the remaining strength to force his way into his apartment by the end of it — a part of him didn't want to ask any more from her. She'd done more than enough already. Having her support him as he hobbled step from step, to help him fall into bed and glimpse the state of his apartment floor and its carnage, then letting her slip away to clean up the mess he'd made in her own apartment — it was a lot. And it stunk too much of a fragility and vulnerability that gritting through life-saving stitches didn't. [break][break]

"For keeping me from bleeding out on your balcony." He blinked open his eyes and reached for the door. "Not a lot of people would bother," — at least not the people he knew, the people that knew him — "So. Thank you."

[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! [break]And also feel free to just have him dip if ya want lolol~

[newclass=.lizardstripe-text b]color:#1F2F22;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Maddison Lancaster]

Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy

---

Maddie couldn’t keep the small smirk from gracing her lips when Dane said he was also a lot. With the state he had arrived at her apartment in, she could picture it being accurate. Maybe he shared more traits with Mason than either of them would likely want to acknowledge. Had he picked a fight that he couldn’t win? She still wanted to know what had actually happened to him, but that was just her own curiosity because she could feel that he was Gifted. What she really wanted to know was if that was the reason he’d been hurt. But she couldn’t just come out and ask him.

Maybe if she hadn't asked Mason for his help and it was still just the two of them in her apartment she could have worked up to asking him about it. It was such a delicate topic though. Some people got scared or angry. Some didn’t know. Some were harmless, and others could be dangerous if they lashed out, feeling cornered or called out. She was grateful for her particular combination of abilities. Though, over the years she’d learned to just keep her mouth shut unless there was a reason to bring up being Gifted.

“Yeah, that probably part is what I’m concerned about.” She searched his eyes as they flittered over her own face. She didn’t have to have Mason’s senses to see that his brown eyes seemed a little unfocused. When his eyes closed and his breathing changed, she worried he was about to fall over.

He opened his eyes, and Maddie still wasn’t sure that he wasn’t going to fall over. But he still reached for the door as he thanked her for stopping him from bleeding out. “Well, I mean, it was the only decent thing to do.” She brushed off his thanks. “And while I get being stubborn and independent, and refusing to let other people help, at least let me help you downstairs. Or you can rest here for a little bit before forcing yourself to go down two flights of steps. I’m also stubborn, and I insist. Otherwise you’re probably gonna have me knocking on your door every hour to make sure you didn’t die.”

She wasn’t sure if he would accept her help or not, but she was being honest. If he still refused, she’d be knocking on his door throughout the night to check on him, making sure he didn’t tear the stitches back open somehow and bleed out alone in his own apartment.

“If he doesn’t want your help, just let him be on his way.”

Maddie looked towards Mason and rolled her eyes. “Mason, if you're gonna be unhelpful you can go home and I’ll just text you in the morning.” She looked back at Dane, still concerned with how unsteady he seemed. “Truly, ignore him.”

---

As usual, gimme a poke for any changes.
My muse has been a fickle disaster lately, I’m so sorry.

[Mason Lancaster]

Soapbox house of cards and glass so
Don't go tossin' your stones around

---

If Mason tried to say he couldn’t feel the twitch in his fingers when his sister’s neighbor stared back at him with such a familiar challenge, it would be a lie. However, it was more than clear that if he let his anger boil up and get the better of him, he’d end up fighting someone who was already weakened. And that was aside from the fact that he just knew that Maddie would end up pissed off at him, yet again. So he tried to push the anger out as he let out a slow breath.

Even without knowing what happened tonight, Mason suspected that this particular neighbor was just trouble. Knowing his sister, though, the more he warned her to be careful, the more she’d dig her heels in, claiming to be trying to help. The fact that she was like a magnet for the most troubled and damaged people did not escape him. Maybe it was still because she was still here in East End, and that was just who lived here. Or maybe it was something bigger, something destined. He didn’t like to think about that. He wanted to believe that he’d be able to protect her, to keep her out of trouble and danger. At least, real trouble and danger.

The way his smirk tugged at his lips, the flippant way he responded to also being ‘a lot’, as Maddie had put it, riled Mason’s anger at the situation back to the front of his mind. He was going to have to talk to Maddie about the friends she made, about making better choices for herself. Not that it would help. It never helped. She was truly determined to be careless, and he worried that she was going to get herself hurt one of these days. Or caught up in something he could easily get her out of.

Watching the injured neighbor push himself up, there were subtle signs of pain playing across his face as he moved that were easy enough for Mason’s enhanced sight to notice. Mason remained still. Let the punk go around, move more, hurt more. It wasn’t like he wanted any help from Mason. He wasn’t cooperating in the slightest sense. Fuck it. If he couldn’t punch him, he could at least be stubborn and immovable.

But then, instead of leaving, he paused in front of Maddie. Mason’s jaw clenched as the words were crystal clear to his ears. Of course, Maddie would try to force her help on him, even when he’d refused several times now. “If he doesn’t want your help, just let him be on his way.”

Mason knew she was going to roll her eyes at him before she even did it. As much as he didn’t want to leave her alone with her troublesome neighbor, he supposed leaving was probably the best course of action for him. It would keep him from doing anything he regretted later, or from making his sister mad at him. Though what right she had to be mad was beyond him, when she’d just texted him to come over with his med kit and given no details. But even if he wanted to leave, they were blocking the door, and he wasn’t about to push past the two of them. So instead, he just leaned back against his sister's counter. “I'll leave when he does.”

---

Dane Wayland
Oh lord, they are both disasters. Mason wants to punch him and Maddie’s all “but he’s just a wounded puppy, let's take care of him!”
Let me know for changes or if you need more to actually work with.

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]Maddie's gaze, far sharper and more aware than his own, watched him searchingly as she voiced her doubts and brushed off his thanks. She said it was the only decent thing to do and Dane wanted to laugh — who expected anyone to be decent? But a fitting quip to voice the sentiment took too long to formulate in his addled brain. His wits were too unwieldy, too slow, and he could only quirk a brow faintly and blink amusedly before she continued; insisting he let her help him or that he rest for a while before leaving (lest he wanted her to be checking in on him every hour).[break][break]

Mason spoke up from behind them, his voice low as he advised his sister to just let him go, and Dane's lips pulled slightly at the corners as they made a quick back-and-forth. His eyes slipped closed and he steadied a breath in his chest, testing his growing weariness. He acknowledged again that time was precious — something inside him was ebbing, the whole of him on a steady drain — and if he spent much more of it lingering, arguing, then he was more likely to simply slip (or fold or crash) to the ground before he could make it to his own apartment. [break][break]

"Okay," he relented quietly, blinking his eyes open to train hazily on Maddie's face once more. He pulled her apartment door open. "I'll let you help me downstairs. Thank you. If we don't go now, well... I imagine it'll only get more difficult." Straightening just a bit — as if trying, futilely, to seem more steadied than he was — he cast Mason one last, lingering look over his shoulder. He wondered briefly if the man would object. If he'd offer to take his sister's place or step after them to hover as a disapproving chaperone. But he didn't consider it for too long; simply puffed a breath through his nose before stepping down the hall and toward the stairs. He grabbed at the banister with one hand, let Maddie support him on his other side, and then — after sucking in a long, preparing inhale — started hobbling down. [break][break]

The ache in his body was largely bearable. One didn't court violence as enthusiastically as he did and for as long as he had without earning a high tolerance for pain. Though each step threatened to screw a wince at his grimaced lips, it wasn't the tight, searing pull in his side that kept his movements slow and careful. Rather, it was the cold in his body. The swimmy disconnect in his skull, fluttering behind his unfocused eyes like a drunken buzz. The even colder cling of sweat to his brow and the feel of his hair plastered to his temples. The blatant lack of strength through his leaden limbs. All reminding him that there was far less blood coursing through him than usual and, that if he was too hasty, he might careen forward and fall. Also reminding him why he hadn't wanted, but probably needed, Maddie to accompany him at all. [break][break]

"I'll have to repay you for this somehow," he started quietly, watching his footfalls as cautiously as he could manage through his blurring vision. Feeling a little less critically seen without Mason in his immediate eyesight, he let the words quake more honestly on a slightly shaky breath. It was probably smarter to remain silent and preserve his focus — as if on cue, his shoe slipped on the edge of a step and he paused to steady himself with fingers clenched around the rail. "I can't imagine..." he added quickly, as if to distract from the slip. "Anything that I have to offer will be... quite equivalent, but," he swallowed, eyelids fluttering as they successfully descended onto the next landing. "Maybe you need an... egg sometime? A... cup of sugar? Your milk is bad and you... don't want to go to the store?" [break][break]

After a slow turn, they started down the next section and Dane felt himself tremble. "That's what neighbors are for, typically, right? Not this?" He chanced a distracted chuckle but it quickly petered into silence as he sipped in a quick breath and attempted to repress a more decided shudder.

[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! I took some pretty big liberties[break]
with this one, so feel free to override things or let me know if[break]
something doesn't jive. Or if you want me to add more! [break]

[newclass=.lizardstripe-text b]color:#1F2F22;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Maddison Lancaster]

Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy

---

As much as she relied on him and needed his help, Maddie hated when Mason got judgemental. This wasn’t the first time she’d ever asked for his help without fully explaining, and she knew that he hated it. That probably wasn’t helping his mood any. However, she knew (and he knew) that it wouldn’t be the last time she sent him a cryptic text for assistance in the middle of the night. Instead of answering Mason’s comment about leaving when Dane does, she just rolled her eyes at him, knowing he’d see it clearly from across the small apartment.

“Alright, let’s get you back to your own place where you can be more comfortable.” Maddie didn’t have to see him to know that Mason was going to be somewhere near the door, listening to them as long as he could. It didn't matter to her, she could stop him if she wanted to, but she knew that would just make him grumpier in the long run.

Maddie slipped into place next to Dane, in order to assist him down the stairs. He was clearly unsteady. It would have made more sense for him to just rest in her apartment, but she understood just wanting to go home. Especially with her brother being, well, his bristly self.

He listed ways to repay her, and Maddie let out a small chuckle. “If I was trying to cook anything that needed eggs or milk or sugar, you’d better hope the smoke alarms in this building actually work.” She could cook easy meals, usually whatever came in a box with instructions printed on the side. But even that wasn’t something that she did on a frequent basis. Her microwave was the most useful heating implement in her kitchen. She’d never had much reason to need to cook, especially since she worked in a restaurant and ate at work frequently.

She didn’t mention the small slip, and she tried to keep the worry off her face at what seemed to be a declining state of her neighbor. Sure, he dwarfed her small frame, but she determined that she would help him without asking for further assistance from Mason.

“How about you just repay me by not dying from blood loss? Cause if you do, then I’m gonna be pretty mad at you.” She made the conscious effort to keep her tone light, almost playful, though she was really concerned that he’d still lost too much blood.

Dane’s bravado seemed to be as determined as Maddie’s will to see him safely home, but it was easy to see that he was struggling. “Are you alright to keep going?”

---

Dane Wayland
Let me know for any changes.

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]Dane made a conceding noise in his throat — what had meant to be a laugh but was stopped dead by the need for another quick sip of steadying breath — as Maddie quietly chuckled and explained she was a fire hazard in the kitchen and likely wouldn't be knocking on his door in need of any cooking staples. "Probably for the best," he managed slowly, pausing every once in a while to breathe. "It would be a 50/50 chance I had any of that on offer anyway." He wasn't one to cook either. At least, not for himself. He had enough knowledge to be passably "endearing" when making meals at other people's homes. When women, the ones he actually put effort into "wooing", wanted to play at having a nice little dinner date. Then, sure, he could boil a pot of water and stir some noodles. Slice up some herbs and cut a few vegetables. But, otherwise... there were better ways to spend his time.[break][break]

When she asked if he was okay to keep going, he nodded and the corner of his mouth pulled into a weak half-smile. He was always good, he wanted to reassure her. Nothing could keep him down. If Dane was anything, he was hardy. Had pulled through far worse. But somehow, he felt that the words would only sound hollow. Or maybe even unconvincing. So he didn't try. Just steeled himself, tried to get a clamp on his shuddering, and began another descent. [break][break]

It took a moment, but eventually his brain returned to what she'd said before. How he might repay her by 'not dying' or she'd be 'pretty mad' at him. His eyelids fluttered. There weren't too many people who'd be mad at him for dying. He could probably count them with the fingers of one hand. Not that he'd care if she was upset — he'd be dead — but still, the threat was vaguely warming. Of course, Maddie didn't know him. And if she did, she'd likely become one of the larger population who'd celebrate his passing, but... he'd let himself entertain the sentiment for just a moment. Let it comfort him... just in case he did die tonight. It was a nice thought. Something pleasant to fall asleep to if he wasn't going to wake up in the morning. [break][break]

"Oh, don't ask for so little," he said, watching his shoes as they finally touched onto the hallway of his own floor. His voice was still quiet, still stilted with long, interjecting breaths, but he managed to successfully filter some meager tease into it. "I like owing favors. Well... to some people. Pretty girls, mostly."[break][break]

As they reached his apartment, Dane lifted his eyes from his stumbling step and huffed a breathless laugh. His door — with crimson smeared across its knob and the impression of red fingertips pressed into the cheap, white wood — was slightly ajar. And he'd been worried that it was locked. He tried a shake of his head — managed only a less-enthused tilt — and reached out to push it open. "Watch your step," he cautioned, voice touched with an attempted amusement that couldn't quite cut through his much stronger, much more present, lethargy. He moved into the apartment, swimmy gaze adjusting slowly to the darkness. [break][break]

Usually, his apartment was surprisingly neat. As much as Gemma would likely insist otherwise, the mess and clutter she had grown accustomed to in their youth was largely Dino's. Dane had been as like to bitch and nag on his brother as she was. He supposed, though, that the relative cleanliness of his space was a testament to how little time he actually spent there. Other than the scatter of drawings and sketchbooks always stacked on his coffeetable, usually with an accompanying collection of empty beer bottles (that he always cleared the next morning), the apartment rarely ever looked untidy.[break][break]

Except for nights like this.[break][break]

The floors were a mess. There was a concerning pool of smeared blood at the full-length mirror posted on the wall directly before them, next to the bathroom door, along with abandoned spools of bandages and wraps that he'd previously soaked through. The light from the bathroom was the only illumination currently provided but it filled his small apartment well enough to make it immediately clear that he'd been careless; had stepped through the blood more than once and tracked scarlet shoeprints everywhere. His tattered jacket — that he'd wrapped tight around his body to both conceal himself and try and keep from ruining the apartment building's hallways on his way inside — was simply shed in the middle of the floor, along with the ruined shirt he'd managed to change out of before climbing to Maddie's apartment.[break][break]

His kitchen countertops were similarly bloodied and cluttered with bandages, the drawers and cabinets pulled open and made a mess out of in his search for scissors and supplies. And the bathroom itself, where he'd spent the most time trying to mend himself, he knew was far worse — the floor littered with reddened towels and rags. Supplies scattered along the sink and the side of the tub. Bloody handprints smeared on every surface and wall he'd had to use to steady himself.[break][break]

Freeing Maddie from his lean — conscious that she might not want to actually come inside — Dane stumbled further into the room and toed his jacket more concealingly over the pair of knives that made a subtle peek from under it. Without pausing, he moved to the couch at the far end of the apartment and lowered himself into it, body slackening with relief. For a long moment, he allowed himself to just breathe. Felt the drowsiness seep into him and leaden him further. "Thank you, again... for the assist. Really. Truly. Thank you. Don't feel like you have to check up on me though. I'm sure I'll be fine."
[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! Or if you need more! [break]
This is a big YOLO post so sorry if it's a huge mess!

[newclass=.lizardstripe-text b]color:#1F2F22;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Maddison Lancaster]

Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy

---

It was no great surprise when Dane mentioned that it would be a 50/50 chance of him even having whatever ingredient she might have a need for even if she was apt to ask. Even without knowing him all that well, he didn’t strike her as the kind of guy that kept a stocked fridge and pantry at all times. Maddie smirked and rolled her eyes when he told her she was asking for too little, then commented about owing favors to pretty girls. He certainly knew how to lay on the charm, even why he’d halfway bleed to death tonight.

Once they reached the door to his apartment, she realized her assessment may have been wrong. Looking at the blood streaks on the door, she could only imagine there would be more inside. When he pushed the door open, her gaze swept over the dimly lit apartment. She’d been right, there was much more mess inside. How was he still standing right now? She found herself wondering what his gift was, if it was healing related or regeneration, but that wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense. If he had one of those types of abilities, surely he wouldn’t have had to go asking for her help in the first place.

He hadn't actually invited her inside, but Maddie followed anyway. She looked around, wondering how long he’d been in his apartment bleeding before he decided to mount the fire escape to come knock on her slider. From the looks of it, it had been at least a little while, long enough for him to try to take care of things himself. This was worse than any of the messes that Mason or Tomas had made when they used to get into fights. Sure, they’d drip blood from broken noses, or have bandaged knuckles here and there, but this level of bloody mess was a lot more than she had ever seen before.

“Are you sure that you’ll be okay, or even safe on your own tonight?” She had no clue what he’d gotten himself into, if it was random or targeted, but she was concerned. “Also, there is not a chance that I won’t be checking on you.”

She glanced around his apartment again. It wasn’t likely that he’d be up to cleaning the mess any time soon, and it would just get harder to get the bloodstains the longer they remained on the counters, cabinets, and every other surface. “Do you happen to have bleach somewhere? If not, I’m pretty sure I have some upstairs.” She was aware that he’d probably protest, but it wasn’t like she was good at listening. She was particularly stubborn when she was set on doing something. In this case, helping someone.

---

Dane Wayland
Let me know for any changes.

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]Sinking into his couch and tipping his head back, Dane focused on his breathing. His muscles ached with cold, tight from shivering, and he was somehow more aware of that dull pain than the sharper ones scattered across the whole of him. There was a long moment that passed between Maddie speaking behind him and him realizing she'd spoken. Another long moment between him realizing she'd spoken and processing what she'd asked. He forced himself to awareness with a sharp inhale.[break][break]

"I'll be alright," he reassured her, for what felt like the dozenth time that night, his voice heavy and quiet. Groaning, he shifted sidelong so he could pull the folded-up blanket draped over the back corner of his couch down and into his lap. His movements were growing thicker and increasingly clumsy, but he still managed to toe out of his shoes, wrap the blanket around himself, and — with an agonizing slowness — lever himself to stretch across the cushions. Though he typically slept on his stomach, dressed down to his boxer briefs, he didn't think that'd be feasible tonight. Nor did he think the deviation from his norm would cause any particular difficulty in finding sleep. It was going to be easier tonight than it'd ever been in his adult life. His eyelids were impossibly heavy and he could feel himself tip toward unconsciousness even before he was completely comfortable — or, as comfortable as he could expect to be.[break][break]

He cracked his eyes back open a hair at Maddie's voice. She wasn't standing in front of him and he couldn't see her, but he tried to imagine her taking a look around as she asked about bleach. He pressed his eyes back closed and lifted an arm; tucking it over his face and clenching his fingers into and out of a loose fist, attempting to nip a bit of warmth through them. To keep himself awake just a little while longer.[break][break]

"You must want..." as he started the joke, he almost regretted it. It required a bit of brainpower to think it completely through, energy to make it sound the way it should have sounded, and he could feel what little he had of both beginning a more dramatic wane from him. It would have been easier (and quicker), just to tell her "not to bother". Still, he tried to give it a finish — though he wasn't sure, with the breathy and muted way it left his lips (too stilted to be smooth), that she'd hear the humor in it. "Me to be... really indebted to you, Maddie... is that it? A... big favor?"[break][break]

He tried to chuckle but gave up and swallowed instead, shifting his forearm further up his clammy forehead so he could blink up at his ceiling. "Please don't worry about it. I'll clean it... when I'm well." His brow twitched. After a "quick" moment of thought — which wasn't quick at all with how addled his brain was — he pulled himself (painfully, very painfully, it was a mistake) to a sitting, so he could glance at her over the back of his couch. "Oh. Unless you want to take it, just in case... you don't have any. I have... the Clorox stuff. Spray bottles. Both the bleach-free kind and the one with bleach. They're... under the kitchen sink. Or, if the bleach one isn't there, it may be... under the bathroom sink." [break][break]

He settled his chin on the couch cushions, heavy head tipped drowsily, and moved a hand under the blanket to press against the heat at his side; checking that pulling himself up by his core hadn't broken her stitches open. They seemed about as fine as they could be. He exhaled a long breath through his nose, eyes slipping closed. "Sorry neighbor, but... I think I only have one more 'thank you' in me... before I pass out. Maybe," he pressed his eyes shut tighter, mouth giving a brief tuck, "You can give it to your brother for me."

[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes!

[newclass=.lizardstripe-text b]color:#1F2F22;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Maddison Lancaster]

Difficult to dance 'round this one
'Til you pull it out, boy

---

[attr="class","MaddiePost"]
Even through his assurance that he’d be alright, Maddie had strong doubts. He’d lost a lot of blood. Between his apartment and her own, she was surprised that he was still functioning as well as he was, still talking and moving around some. Clearly, he wasn’t doing any of that well at this point. She waited as he settled into the couch. As much as he protested, she was still worried, still unsure if he was really going to be okay.

It didn’t make much difference to Maddie that she didn’t really know Dane all that well. She was determined that she would help him, that she’d check back up on him and make sure he was alright. She didn’t expect he’d be feeling well for the next several days, and leaving his place looking like a murder scene wasn’t really an option. The longer the blood was there, the more it would seep in and stain the various surfaces that it currently covered. She wasn’t sure bleach would even be the best way to clean it all, but she didn’t know much else about cleaning up blood.

Maddie shook her head when he attempted to make a joke out of it, but he sounded more and more lethargic the longer he went on. She had a feeling that he was going to be drifting off to sleep soon enough, and she wasn’t planning on listening to his protest that he could handle it when he was better. She crossed her arms and was going to tell him as much, but he continued on, finally answering that his cleaning supplies were under the kitchen sink, or perhaps the bathroom sink.

“Okay, good.” She didn’t explain to him that she had no intention of letting the stains settle in his apartment. She was going to clean his place, then her. She had the thought that she should also check the fire escape. Neither one of them would want anyone asking questions, and there was bound to be some blood on the ladder between his apartment and hers a couple floors above. That would be if she still had motivation later.

“I’m sure Mason will appreciate your thanks.” She knew he wouldn’t really care, he would be too busy being moody about the whole situation, but she’d still tell him. Maddie started looking for the spray and cleaning supplies, finding a couple rags that didn’t look like they’d be any worse off after cleaning up the bloody disaster, then she set to task.

---

Dane Wayland
Omg I had more planned for this then just ran out of steam. Sorry it’s so short and kinda a hot mess! Let me know for changes. Feel free to do whatever. Or we could wrap this one up I’m cool with that too.

[newclass=.MaddiePost b]color:#702963;[/newclass]

[Dane Wayland]

[nospaces]

EYES WIDE, SHALLOW BREATHS

pulses race at a quickened pace; breathing matches heart rate

[break]

[attr="class","lizardstripe-text"]With an effort he almost couldn't manage, Dane cracked open a single eye to gaze across the room. Though Maddie's form was blurred in his swimmy vision, he got the vague impression she was looking around appraisingly. He considered telling her to just make sure the door shut behind her when she left but instead, only let himself slip back down into the couch. She wouldn't just leave it open anyway. And what would it really matter if she did? Most people of East End, if they looked into an apartment and saw the grisly state of it, would very quickly step on. [break][break]

Ideally, in his state, he'd use the rest of what little strength he had to summon Snowcone. Let the large, fluffy beast play guard-dog all night in case someone (perhaps someone especially opportunistic) did decide to peek in. But, with Maddie there, it wasn't really an option. [break][break]

Oh well. It was a shame — if he did end up dying in his sleep, he'd have liked to have had the dog there, even if he wasn't truly aware of her presence. He could never surmise what would happen to any of the beasts that happened to be existing when he died. But he'd wondered about it a time or two. He liked to imagine that they'd continue on, at least until something or someone managed to wear them down. Maybe Snowcone could live a normal, doggy life after him. Just for a bit. She deserved something like that. [break][break]

But maybe she'd just settle her massive face across him with a long, quiet whine in her throat as he ebbed away, somehow understanding or feeling that whatever "life" she embodied was coming to an end, too. He liked that idea less — the dog could have such sad eyes at times — but it was still, somehow, a comforting picture. It was always going to be just the two of them in the end, he figured. And they'd come close a couple of times already. [break][break]

At Maddie's reply that her brother would be "appreciative", Dane offered a drowsy (and belated — it took a long moment for his addled brain to process) snort. "Sure," he laughed quietly, not sure he was even speaking loud enough to be heard. "He'll probably think I'm being sarcastic." He grinned to himself as he rolled on his side to press into the back of the couch. "Which is hilarious..." he chuckled again, wrapping his arms tighter around himself with a hand settled protectively over the heat of his stitched side. Then he released what little energy he was barely clinging to and slipped into a fitful sleep.

[break]

i'm feeling kinda weirdly, like the end is near me [break]
i didn't know that dying slow would make me lose my ego

Tag: Maddison Lancaster [break]
Thread end! c:

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[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]