A Cauldron of Bats

Igraine rubbed her arm gently, "He loves you a lot," Igraine whispered. She only imagined what she felt was multiplied by a thousand when he'd gotten the news. "He'll get better now that you're here, he just needs to remember that you're safe with us."

That was going to be a hard sell to Quinten. "I am going to try my best to get him to get food, get a shower, and get some sleep. I'll figure it out with your dad, okay? I have got you both. I won't let him get sick." She reassured Babs. She was so sweet, she was in the hospital bed and still thinking of her dad. There was way more emotional intelligence in her than Igraine had at her age.

"How will they ever cope without you on night shift though?" She chuckled a little, since her dad and aunt had started working night shifts she'd seen how they changed, they all seemed to get along rather well and went on trips and stuff too. "I mean have you even gotten to tell them about that kraken documentary?"

Babs nodded as Igraine promised to try, that was more important to her than anything else right now. There was something about seeing him panicked that she hated. She'd never seen him look like that before and she'd rather not ever see again. "Thanks, I tried but he didn't want to leave me alone."

yeah. the world does need an asshole.

you're not my type.

i don't normally speak with the dead on a first date, but we'll think about it.

are you secretly in love with me?

it's a chair. it's a standard chair.

i'm really really nice, but i don't always make the best decisions.

sleep well with your bad decisions.

that sounds like someone whose ass i would like to kick.

it's entirely off-putting how disarmingly charming you are. i genuinely do not know how to react. take that as a compliment.

is that a natural thing for you guys to just attack each other in moments of stress?

fucking seaweed wraps are the shit!

well, my social anxiety is getting the best of me. i'm taking a walk. goodbye.

i've never traveled with a bunch of people i thought would die in front of me.

tell you what. i start sweating real hard, i'll let you know, okay?

please. please help me.

the rule is that evil dies.

you need me more than i need you.

eventually, someday somebody will pray for a miracle, pray for something to save them to whatever gods are nearby, and that prayer will be answered because you'll show up.

you were not born with venom in your veins.

i'm asking you to open your heart to chaos.

nothing happens for a reason. it's absolute fucking chaos.

we have to keep them from being... dead.

have you ever had a blueberry cupcake?

i smell like a crayon.

can i get a hug?

i could be her beacon.

i think we have a job to finish.

i pick and choose my apologies.

it's better to have someone's word broken than to have no word at all.

i would rather you put your faith in me for something more important than my curiosity.

oh shit, are we a cult?

i heard you.

man, you make vulnerability look so easy.

there's a dick hidden somewhere in there.

you pick and choose your fights. me? best not to give in to a man i can crush with one hand.

it's still you though, right?

you don't get to talk anymore.

it's a regular fucking turtle.

i'm trying to be nice. this is as painful for me as it is for you. just give me five seconds.

you are blue.

i mean, i don't want to impose, but i'm bleeding profusely.

i did my best every town i went to and every town i left, no matter how they treated me, and a lot of them treated me with deep disrespect. i left every town better than i found it.

❝ i don't mean to be too forward, you just seem like you could use a friend right now. ❞ - Richard

She'd escaped the loud noise of the party, needing to take a breather. The outside was nice enough, and she leaned against the brick wall. The voice startled her, but instantly she realized who he was. Dylan had a photo framed of him and her father from their younger days, but there was no mistaking him.

"Thank you," she chuckled, "I guess maybe I could use one right now. It just gets a bit loud sometimes for me lately." She noted. Igraine loved it, but for the past few months, she hadn't been able to concentrate well, one more month before deployment. She wanted to be here, be present, though, for Dylan to celebrate her properly. If she just gathered her thoughts for a few minutes, she'd be able to go back into the party.

She held her hand out, "Igraine Hale. I work with Dylan and Quinten, and uh...we're really good friends. Dylan's my best friend, actually."

"Richard, right? I've seen your photo in their apartment," she smiled.

"I get that way too. Dylan was always the out going one, I just tagged along with him or he'd find trouble somehow." He knew of her the kids had mentioned her a few times, including Babs, who had given quite the glorious review of the young woman. Rick could understand the reason why, from what he'd seen at the party he was rather impressed with her.

"You can call me Rick or Richard." He gave her a smile and shook her hand, "I've heard a bit about you and your unit, not all from those two and babs. One of your team, James Henderson? His father and I are old friends, he knew Dylan's father as well. Last I saw James I think he was.. mid 20s maybe? Now I just get updates over beers."