★ [Accidental Video--Memory Theater]

[mightbeconcussed]

[The video is a little out of focus but it shows Lucy from the shoulders up lying on what looks like a doctor’s table. There are tears trickling out of the corners of her eyes, making shiny streaks down a face that is deathly pale. She’s biting her bottom lip, gritting her teeth and her eyes closed. Clearly, she’s just trying to get through this moment and move onto the next. After a couple of seconds of this, a hand comes down on her shoulder to squeeze it gently.

“Alright, Lucy, we’re all done here. When you’re feeling up to it, you can get dressed. Make sure to pick up a packet of instructions and call us if there are any problems at all. You’re staying in town for a couple of nights with someone, right?”

Lucy nods and manages to croak out something that are more sounds than words. She’s alone after that for a few seconds before she gets to her feet. She’s wearing a hospital gown, the kind that ties in the back and she makes her way on shaky, unsteady legs to a partion that curtains off a dressing area. She emerges moments later dressed in a pair of sloppy sweat pants and an Alabama sweat shirt that swallows her. She’s still deathly pale, her movements choppy and slow. The door opens into a waiting room where Jill is sitting, perched on the edge of a chair. She’s out of the chair the moment, Lucy appears, one hand going to her friend’s arm to support her.

“We’ve got about a ton of Ben & Jerry’s to eat and lots of girls kick butt movies to watch.”

Lucy offers her a weak, forced smile and nods. “Okay. It’s our secret, Jilly. Right? Just us.”

“Just us, Luce. I promise.”]

[ooc: Memory theater. Lucy isn’t aware this broadcast…yet and she might not tell the whole truth about it when approached.]

Comments

[ladyinaband.livejournal.com]

Lucy? I think, uh...

Something broadcast.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[It takes Lucy a few minutes to find it on the network. When she does her only comment is a whispered curse word]

Shit

[ladyinaband.livejournal.com]

Hey. It's okay. It's happened to all of us, right?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Yeah...I guess so. The City just thinks it's funny to put it all out there. [She doesn't sound convinced.]

[ladyinaband.livejournal.com]

I don't know if 'funny' is the right word.

Are you... okay?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

I lived through it once. I'll be fine.

[ladyinaband.livejournal.com]

Do you... need anything?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

I think Jill and I are going to get a pound of ice cream and just...yeah. Thanks though.

[ladyinaband.livejournal.com]

Okay, good. That's good.

You can always call me if you need to... talk, or something.

[Lucy was super awesome about his whole recent crisis, and he totally wants to return the favour. Just... feelings are difficult.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Thanks Stephen. I'll be okay.

[Mostly Lucy just wants to forget this ever happened. The fewer people who know the details, the better. It's not that Lucy doesn't trust Stephen per say, it's just a very judgeable situation in which many, many people feel like they can make judgement.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Oh Luce...

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Yeah...out of all things.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

I don't get why the City does this.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Because sometimes misery makes the world go 'round. At least this world.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

I thought it did in the last world too so... ice cream?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

A bunch of it and all the Resident Evil movies. I feel the need to watch Alice kick ass.

Thanks Jilly.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

We'll do it. And we'll paint our nails.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Bright yellow because it's happy.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Bright yellow with a layer of glitter on top of it?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Yes please.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

You set up the TV and I'll get the ice cream and the nail polish. Or... I can do it all. You go sit on the couch.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

I can get the TV set up. I'll make a little den and put a No Eye Candy Allowed sign up.

[Because tonight she just wants girl time. Later she'll go snuggle with Jace.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Sounds perfect.

[Jill grabs two cartons of ice cream and all the nail painting supplies that she and Lucy shared. She slipped into her PJ's and headed back downstairs.] I have provisions!

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy has on her sloppiest sweats, a tank and she's got her hair pulled back in a ponytail. There is a sign on the entrance to the living room, several blankets piled on the couch and two cups of hot chocolate with bailey's in them.]

I'm prepared to receive said provisions.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

[Jill bounds down the stairs, the ice cream on top of the basket of nail polish and sits down on the couch.]

I'm gonna have to take this black polish off first.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Okay. I need to take mine off too. [It's bright blue though, not black. Lucy takes the ice cream off the top of the basket and puts it on the coffee table before she starts the movie.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

[Jill gets the nail polish remover and some cotton balls and starts working on her toes.] You know who I think is nice? Neil.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Neil is amazingly nice. [She's concentrating hard getting her nailpolish off.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

He really is. It's kind of a really rare kind of nice... one you don't come across too often.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Which is exactly why I can't see him anymore. [She bites her lip as she starts taking the polish off her toes now.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Or... which is exactly why you should nab him while you can. [She shrugs.] Just saying...

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy tucks her knee close to her chest while she takes off her toe polish.] Except he deserves someone so much better than me.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

[Jill shakes her head.] See I don't get that. You're awesome. You always have been. You grew up normal and you have always had this great environment around you. The fail boat in your past relationships is them, not you. They were the assholes. You're just... you. And you're awesome. Neil would be lucky to have a girl like you.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy gnaws on her bottom lip as she listens to Jill.] Do you know how many guys I've slept in the City alone? Neil is so good and so nice. He deserves someone else that's just as good and just as nice.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

And you think it's up to you to make that decision, as to whether he's cool with that or not, for him? I'm pretty sure he knows and I'm pretty sure he's still on the Lucy is awesome bandwagon. He likes you. You like him. Let him make the decisions about you for himself and you make the decisions about him for yourself. He's got history too.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

He was a virgin, Jill.He's 22 and he was a virgin. I haven't been one since I was 16. And I'm pretty sure it makes me a horrible person that he's not anymore. It's like sleeping with Baby Jesus. Or something. [And she feels like that's all she's got to say about that. It's possible she's freaking out about that now.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

It is not like sleeping with baby Jesus, baby Jesus has nothing on Neil in the nice, caring guy department. [Blasphemy omg! But Jill and religion have never gotten along. She's pretty sure Neil would come to her rescue before Jesus would.] Plus, according to all the paintings, Neil is way cuter and less hairy. You were just showing him the ropes... so maybe you should do it again... rinse and repeat.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy takes a long moment to consider Jill's argument and come up with a counter argument.]

So you think it's okay that I'm having sex with a guy who's nicer than Baby Jesus?

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Yes! I do! [Said without hesitation as she starts on a base coat on her toe nails.] Nicer than baby Jesus wants you to have sex with him again. And I know you wanna have sex with baby Jesus too. I'm so calling him baby Jesus when we're talking about him from now on, by the way.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[That makes Lucy giggle. She sobers after a minute, reaches over to grab the bright yellow toe nail polish and starts putting it on her big toe.]

I do. I really, really do but--[You knew there had to be one] I don't think things can stay just sex with Baby Jesus. [Concentrating very hard on that big toe, Luce.] I think...he told me he loved me. I mean it was a curse but there was this whole...like it was real Neil and not cursed Neil talking. And unlike the real Baby Jesus, I don't think Neil loves the whole world.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Baby Jesus deserves to want more than just sex. And you deserve more than just sex too. Besides, why would you even want him to want less than what he deserves. Why would you expect that for yourself? You're awesome and awesome people named Lucy deserve awesome things and people... like Baby Jesus.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Okay. Yes. [She takes a deep breath and starts on her other toes.] Eventually he'll break up with me, Jill and I'll end up broken hearted and you remember what happened the last time I got my heart broken. I don't want to be that again.

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

Lucy, you're not a fortune teller or a psychic so you can't know any of that. Although, it'd be cool if you were a psychic... we could play the lotto and bet on football games. But I digress... you don't know what he's gonna do. You've never dated Baby Jesus before. Plus if he ends up breaking your heart, we can kick Baby Jesus's ass together... in heels.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy looks up at Jill.] Are you sure Baby Jesus even wants to date me? He's been really good about the whole 'avoiding each other' thing. Like maybe it's a relief .

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

[As her toenails dry, she wraps both arms around Lucy's shoulders in a sideways hug and kisses her cheek.] I know he wants to. I think the whole he's been good at it and relief thing is in that Lucy brain of yours. He's still around. He still likes you.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

I'll try. Maybe. At least I'll think about it and see if he still wants to. [She rests her head on Jill's shoulder, relaxing into the hug.]

[sempreadagio.livejournal.com]

I think that's a good plan, Luce.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

And you aren't saying that just because you like Neil? Because if I end up crying, we're still going after him in heels.