spooky.

closed starter // @okieomi

closed starter // @sureophelia

closed starter // @smitebound

Kaya rolls his eyes at the teasing comment about ducks and ships, but he’s not really annoyed. He’s glad, he supposes, in a way, that whatever ails her doesn’t have her so down she can’t even joke. “They’re for the kids.” he says flatly, because he doesn’t want Kamelya to be miserable, obviously, but he still harbours a lot of resentment. It is hard to be too annoyed when he can see the way her eyes linger on Jane: a certain reminder of their own shared loss.

He hopes she doesn’t think Vee and Jane are replacements, in any way. But he can’t bring himself to say that.

Kami takes a tissue from him, and leaves a smear of blood on his hand. No; not blood. Something darker, ichorous. She either doesn’t notice, or doesn’t want him to comment, so she just goes on with her explanation. She sounds remarkably calm for someone who just got briefly… possessed? Kaya studies her with dark intensity as Jane holds onto her finger. “Why would that happen? Was it a particularly powerful spirit, or did you let your guard down?” he asks, suppressing the concern in his voice. A funeral home is probably a shitty, shitty place for someone with Kamelya’s abilities to come. Without looking down at his hand, his thumb rubs at the smudge of bloodlike fluid. It disturbs him.

“Whatever you say, chérie. You always did enjoy a luxurious bath. What’s more luxurious than a dozen rubber ducks floating round?” Kamelya knows that Kaya isn’t ready to forgive her for the past, and she doesn’t blame him, but she’s glad that they can at least talk civilly. It was hard at first, but it gets a little bit easier every time she’s around him. And, if she’s being completely honest with herself, she’s having a hard time forgiving him for moving on so quickly. It’s petty and bitter of her, but she’s got a heart and feelings just like everyone else.

Her thumb gently rubs against the back of Jane’s hand. The feeling of a small fist wrapped around her finger makes her heart clench. “I’m not sure. As far as I know, the spirit is only as powerful as the others that surround me from day to day. I might’ve let my guard down; this one has been around me for a while. It knows me better than I know myself by now, probably. I don’t know if it manipulated my energy or if my mutation is broken. Can mutations even break?”

         ezra doesn’t have the energy to argue, but mentally he is flipping her the bird. not exactly the shining example of maturity that a nearly forty year old man should have, but… well, he leaves a lot to be desired. regardless, he follows her into the office and settles himself into his usual seat. he knows the drill, as she says. “if i’d wanted to kill you, you’d be dead, already,” he grumbles, snagging a fistful of tissues to help stem the flow of bile flowing from his eyes and nose. at least the bits around his ears are starting to dry off… for now. “i’m trying to…” stop feels like hyperbole. he isn’t trying to stop. “…cut back on that, anyhow.”

“Okay, and you can tell me what the spirit wants as soon as you’re not actively bleeding,“ He sighs, guiding her instead into a bathroom. The coffee can wait. He’s not going to sit and just ignore the blood, even though she says it’s a mutation thing. If it’s new and she doesn’t understand it yet then it’s cause for concern. Maybe not his concern, because they’re divorced and you lose the right to certain things when that happens, but that doesn’t mean he stopped caring.

“Sit.“ He gestures to the cushioned wicker chair in the corner; he used to sit there while Sonya bathed, some nights, and told each other about their days. These days it’s more commonly used to supervise bathtime for the kids, as is evidenced by the selection of rubber duckies and bath toys. Grabbing a box of tissues from under the sink, he hands them to Kamelya and seats himself on the rim of the bathtub, perched a little stiffly to ensure Jane is comfortable on his knee. She blinks owlishly at Kamelya, probably not remembering having met her before. “Have you seen a doctor? I know you say it’s your mutation but there might be something they can do to help.”

Oh, they’re going to bathroom, that’s fine... Kamelya takes a seat, looking around to avoid eye contact with the baby. “Nice ducks. Do you have a ship, too? Your baths must be a lot of fun.” There’s a hint of a smirk on her face as she says it. Teasing Kaya has always been enjoyable. Jane is looking at her, she can feel her eyes on her. Taking the tissues, her hand accidentally brushes against Kaya’s, leaving a smear of blood that looks more like oil on his skin. So much for hiding this from him. 

         “my life revolves around me,” he mutters under his breath, reaching up to scrub at his face with his hands. “why don’t we finish this argument in your office?” he doesn’t think they’re ever really going to find an understanding—ezra doesn’t understand the point of focusing on others’ wellbeing and kamelya can’t imagine an existence where being a bad person is more gratifying than not. in spite of that, they’re both here. “i’ll hold you to that.”