traitorous hippie

There were few sights more welcome than that of himself, Oscar decided upon the examination of his own reflection for what was possibly the thousandth time this day. It was comforting to know that even while empires fell and figureheads crumbled, he would look good. It was a testament to the skin and the mask he wore, though. A firm foundation of good genetics would do very little if someone could not sell their existence. That was something he was remarkable at, whether the skin was Finch or Oscar, it did not matter.

Someone so fixated on his appearance and perception would always pick up when someone else caught glimpse of the walking masterpiece that was his existence. When Oscar realized he had caught the eye of the lady next to him, he did nothing but smile as he continued to preen. That smile slid off his face like butter, however, once he realized what she said.

“It’s intentional,” he snapped, frowning at the shirt before deciding with a decisive nod that that was indeed the look he wanted. “Imperfections in the clothing make a perfect face all the more startling and welcome,” Oscar explained with more than a touch of impatience. Turning to fully face his conversational partner, he extended a hand. “Oscar Ryke,” he introduced, name slipping from his tongue in the way only well-trodden lies do.

“Now, who are you, and where do you get your makeup? It’s well-done and clearly of a quality I would appreciate.”

The snap and then sudden compliment gave her brain a feeling comparable to whiplash. Was she supposed to ignore his prickly comment and move on to give her recommendation? Or did she stop and mull over his words, let them annoy her and walk away? Regardless of her choice, she was left standing there, eyes wide while she grasped for words, "Uhhmm.."

Vex swallowed hard, trying to move past the mental roadblock. "I'm Dr. Atkins."

Her introduction tasted funny to her. Has she ever introduced herself that way outside of a professional setting? She didn't find herself so attached to the honorific, yet. It was a little too new but maybe it held up as a defence. A sort of wall or pedestal of self-respect. It was an extra step she could stand on after he knocked her confidence down so slightly.

"Thanks," Vex squinted her eyes at the man, unsure if she should even be offering that much up after his cross laments. "Its all a mix of things but most of its just mineral-based. One of those cruelty-free brands, I think they're based out of Australia or something."

he deserved it, august told himself. after a night like this, he always felt as though his ears were ringing (though he secretly hoped it was because of the terrible new york subway system, and not because of anything like guilt) and tonight was no exception. 

he deserved it - of course he did. the man, after all, had been getting a little too rough with one of the escorts at asphodel and it was his job to protect them. but the bruises scattered across his knuckles told a different story - after all, he wouldn’t have needed to do so much if all he wanted to do was scare the man but punishment was always at the back of his mind. 

so he was startled when someone spoke to him, visibly flinching in his seat. and once he saw the somewhat familiar face, he let out a sigh. 

“oh, right. ar…nica balm, was it?” august frowned, looking at his hands and bringing them closer to himself as though he was trying to hide them. “do you know where, um, i can get some?”

Slumping back into the hard plastic seat she knows she was wrong to say anything. It seemed he wasn’t interested and that was fair enough. After all, if she were on the receiving end of unsolicited advice she'd be anxious; it wasn't fair to expect someone else wouldn't react similarly.

Her eyes dropped back to any random spot on the floor. Vex quickly came to an understanding and acceptance that maybe this conversation was already over. Even if it was, she couldn't get out of her head how someone's hands could become so painted with bruises like his. A whole movie of different ideas played in her mind.

The man asking for a recommendation tore her from her vision, "I... wouldn't be surprised if it was in your local drug store. If not any holistic or natural health stores should have it. It can be kind of pricey though depending on where you go." Vex offers him a tight but kind smile. This time a little more wary about what and how much she should say.

It wasn’t typical of her to dare to try and give unsought advice but, the purpling around the knuckles of the man across from her was curious. She tried to analyze, being as inconspicuous as possible. All she could gauge was that they were simply bruises. Some looked like they were healing and some of it seemed fresh. Was it really her place to say anything, though?

Tilting her head to the side and removing a single earbud she asked, “Have you tried arnica balm before? It does wonders on a stubborn bruise.”

No - it definitely wasn’t her place to say something but, she was coming to that conclusion too late. Vex awkwardly cleared her throat before adding, “Feel free to ignore that though, it’s just my two cents.”

Bex didn’t relax immediately as Vex seemed to come back to reality. The two of them were still standing in the middle of an intersection as cars whipped past them, honking angrily. It was true that Vex getting distracted wasn’t new, but that didn’t mean Bex wasn’t concerned. The older woman was like family after how her parents had tried to look after Bex. There was nothing Bex wouldn’t do for her family.

Finally, when Vex looked to her and suggested they move, Bex breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Yeah. We should. Come on.” She linked arms with Vex, flipping off a car that comes especially close and loud as she looked for a gap to get off the road. “Yeah, long time, no see. Let’s catch up off the road though, yeah?”

She pulled the two of them to the sidewalk, and looked to Vex. “You okay?”

“A lot of people ask that.” Vex was musing her thoughts aloud rather than with any sort of conviction. It was true, how many people always asked if someone was okay while hoping the other would simply comply with the socially approved lie - ‘yeah, I’m fine’. Once she noticed her lingering absentmindedness she interjected, “I mean - not just to me but, in general.” Her words held no expectations of a response. Vex took a moment to take in her surroundings and a deep breath, now thankful she wasn’t left stranded in the middle of the street.

Tracing the buildings with her eyes, she finally responds, “Yeah - I’m okay.” Her eyes finally landing back on Bex, “Thanks for coming to my rescue. What are you doing in these parts? I feel like it’s been so long.” Another person she owed an apology to; no thanks to Vex making any solid intentional attempts to link up  

It takes her a second to swallow her pride, shifting uneasily in her boots, “Also, um - I’m sorry I haven’t replied to your texts, lately.”

For the most part Vex felt guided or protected when the stars and moon were out. Out loud she’d say that the night never scared her; the shadows and darkness never moved in a way to haunt her. She’d be conflicted to add, however: there is something unknown in it. That’s part of what makes it intriguing to humans. Even though the darkness is welcoming open arms, it’d be unwise to venture forth without a guide. 

Noctis’ paws padded the pavement alongside as her own trustworthy guide this night. He never reacted but it was undeniable that someone else’s stride could be heard a few feet behind her. It never passed her mind as odd, people were bound to find similar paths in life. The longer it went on though, the more unnerving the footsteps became.

Sometimes too inquisitive for her own sake - she stops dead in her tracks and spins to face whoever approached. Wisdom and curiosity fight for the first word and end up settling on an investigation, “Are you following me?”

Ego was inescapable for the conscious mind - she heard that some time ago in a university lecture. As it played out, humans took any chance they could get to check how they look. All of them from the beginning of existence until now. It’s the same as anyone does, the quick glance in the reflective surface as you pass it by. Vex wasn’t immune to it either. She had four checks in the span of seconds: hair, eyeliner, stockings and shoes.

This time Vex’s eyes didn’t focus as they were meant to. Instead, her attention was drawn to the man standing looking at himself too. Even more so, she was zeroing in on how odd the buttons of his coat looked. She knew she was staring for longer than what could ever possibly be considered a casual glance.

“Excuse me,” Vex points a single finger at his abdomen and offers her unsolicited observations, “That looks wrong. Not bad just, something looks off. The buttons aren’t done up properly I think.” 

“sweetheart, it’s in your head again. unless you mean the blaring of horns, in which case, it’s coming from the cars who are quite eager to run over that body of yours if you stand in one place for much longer.” his steps are brisk, already looping his arm with the girl’s and tugging her along the crosswalk. “come now, dear. my takeout is getting cold and i won’t have you being run over just to sit in a police station for hours on end to give my testimony on why you can hear things no one else can and leave me subjected to the horns honking at you.quite inconsiderate, if you ask me.” 

he’s quick, furs hardly doing enough to keep him from the near-october chill. his steps slow once they’ve reached the safety of the sidewalk on the other side of the street, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. 

“are you alright, sweetheart? i know you haven’t been sleeping well. shall i bring over one of my blankets for you? they’re heated and do wonders for your sleep.” 

'It’s in your head again.' How many times did she hear that one growing up? How many times has she said it to herself? Cleo wasn’t wrong though, Vex was barely there as he swept her away. The sound of sobbing drowned out most of his spiel. Dark brows tightly knit together out of what, concern? Worry or fear, perhaps? She deems its confusion above all else. The sounds she was so convinced of hearing seconds ago dissipated into thin air. Practically all faded as the two of them moved on to the sidewalk.

Cleo could read almost anyone and Vex knew that. If he was so openly asking how she was doing, then she wasn't hiding the answer nearly well enough. She let her guard down this time. She blinks a few times, letting herself feel the wind on her face. It takes only moments before her expression eases back to that of a neutral one.

Most of Phoebe’s work for each night at Asphodel started hours before the club opened. If she did the prep work right, then most nights ran as smooth as clockwork with very little help from her. She kept a routine, checking off lists even when she was almost certain she could remember it all anyway. It just made her feel more calm, better prepared. She prepared for a number of things to go slightly wrong, even if they so rarely did.

What she did not prepare for was a large and excited dog barrelling into the club. The dog slowed from its run to a sort of trot, before beginning to sniff around. Phoebe liked dogs, but she was not expecting to see one here. “What the–” As she spoke, the dog came up to her, sniffing at her hand. Phoebe grabbed its collar, looking around. 

“Could someone grab a rope or something?” They had to tie the dog up, make sure it didn’t get into something delicate. Figure out what to do with it. Just as someone ran to get a rope, Phoebe spotted a young woman who belonged in the club right now as much as the dog. Phoebe cleared her throat. “Can I help you?”

Some call it instinct - inherited from the creatures that roamed the earth before humans. Vex saw it as intuition - a sense beyond the planes of this dimension. The more her eyes evaluated the lavish surroundings, the more she could hear something tell her: she wasn’t expected here. She had not asked permission before crossing the threshold.

The stern call to attention that broke out from behind her confirmed suspicion. She hadn’t wandered into the most gracious of hands, at least not when she had wandered without approval. It was important to swallow her pride and admit her mistake but she wouldn’t go without maintaining her good intentions. How would she start? The more she thought on it the more the tension to say something weighed on her shoulders.

“Uhhh…” Vex finally made a move to face the woman behind her. First gauging the demeanor of the other woman before her eyes fall on the large canine at her side. Her eyes narrow slightly at Noct, feeling mildly betrayed as he sat so nicely now. “That’s my dog. Please tell me he didn’t destroy anything.”

she was not a savior. for christ’s sake, she loathed people. that’s why she had no problem with killing all the vermin. her hands were only meant to do one thing and one thing only ; take, take, take. take a life, squeeze it and turn it into dust, a pile of bones and dead meat. her hands knew nothing of softness. greed and cruelness were integrated into ever cell of her body, there was no escape. but maybe fate had something else in store for hope. 

was the girl blind or far too lost in her own thoughts? it didn’t matter in the end as hope quickly found herself jumping to her rescue. she yanked the girl forward in a matter of only a few moments, pushing her onto a sidewalk and far away from all the impatient drivers. “ are you fucking dumb or do you just have a death wish? who the fuck cares? this is new york! people make way too many fucking sounds here, ” she was always angry, but now that boiling, cell-consuming anger hope only felt toward herself. fuck.  did she just help someone? no, this had to be a mistake. this had to be a dream. she practically felt sick to her stomach. this really had to be a mistake, a mirage. 

A long time ago, Vex’s mother told her that people’s behaviors can mean a lot about what they feel towards themselves. Vex watched. Wide-eyed, curious and hardly phased through the yelling or curses. If anything she felt like a bizarre observer of events. Why was the other woman so angry at her? They didn’t know each other. Nor did she owe Vex anything. She had a firm belief that everything presented to her in life was some sort of chance to learn, experience or feel. The boiling rage that burned off the back of the other woman was no different.  ( It was wiser to let the screaming continue than give in to the venom burning her own insides though. )

It’s a full five seconds after the shouting stops before Vex draws in a long breath and starts, “Well... Thank you for saving my life. I’m... sorry it angered you…?” Was the other woman’s anger entirely misplaced though? Vex was carelessly caught up listening to ghost sounds. They weren’t real anymore and she needed to be awake now. The real world goes on regardless of spirits or events of the past. Even she couldn’t be so dull to not realize that.

“You are right though, there’s a ton of sounds out here. Nothing new.”

Keep your head down. Just this once, stay out of trouble. Stay alive. 

Following the shooting, that was what Bex told herself. She was angry, furious even, that the Olympians were being blamed for the commissioners death. If only because it would draw heat on them. No one had forgotten what the cops had done to them. But Rebecca wanted to stay alive too. And without a plan of any sort, staying alive meant waiting for now. Going about business as usual.

Spotting someone in New York doing something strange, like stopping in the middle of the crosswalk even as the cars started moving again, was not that strange. No, what really caught Bex’s attention, what made her stop in her tracks, was realising who was doing it. “Oh, fuck,” she muttered.

“Vex!” What the hell was Vex doing in the middle of the street? Bex groaned, looking for gaps in traffic. Ignoring the horns she got as brakes were slammed on, she dashed between cars to her friend. “Any reason you’ve stopped?”

Quick to turn on her heel, Vex was snapped back to reality when her name was shouted out from the crowded streets. It was easy to mock up the same assessing look Hera had given her only a week prior. This time Vex pointed it towards Rebecca. Now fully aware of where she was, Vex swallowed tightly before responding, “No reason in particular. Guess I’m distracted again. What else is new, right?”

The two of them unalike.

Vex was much more moonlit or odd like the crow cawing at you from the fence. Rebecca was everything she wasn’t. Bex was a whirlwind and always reaching for burning stars. Vex could still remember how close to Christmas it was when she made the realization the two of them were contrasting in every way. The feeling of comparison started years ago when her parents kindly invited Bex into their home.  There was no one to blame for her frustration.

It takes a few blinks before her shoulders ease. She looks to Rebecca’s face finally and nods her head towards the honking cars,  “I - We should move out of the way. It’s been a while, by the way.”

“Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He cursed at himself as he watched Vex nearly jump out of her own skin. His expression quickly fell at her reaction, crestfallen at his own lack of awareness and for scaring her. Jason’s eagerness would be the death of him someday, wanting far too much to please other people rather than simply just being himself. He was quickly pulled out of his state of melancholy with her hug, however, and he enveloped her in his arms for a brief moment before pulling away. “A little worried and tired, but I think that’s a given, all things considered. What about you? How have you been?”

His question was sincere, he knew it couldn’t have been easy to deal with what had happened at the ball. No matter how many years he spent with Olympus, gunfire and death was never something he had gotten used to and while Vex worked around death, he was sure she’d never been around for the actual moment it took place. He broke away from his thoughts momentarily to realize he was still standing there, holding the door open, before smiling sheepishly once again.

“You know, if you don’t feel like caffeine after the pre-Halloween scare I just gave you, we could always go somewhere else?”

Finally pulling out her headphones, she stuffs them back into the purse at her side and waves off his apology, “Oh, don't be, I was too caught up in the music.”

Tired and worried seemed appropriate as on some level she felt the same way. Even if they weren’t incredibly close, it was still a relief to hear that Jason was unscathed for the most part.

How had she been, though? She had been trying to figure out that narrative herself in the days leading up to now. Talk about the sounds that fill her silences? That was too much. Maybe she could mention the heightened anxiety or her resolution to that? Vex swallowed her words, unable to think of appropriate phrasing, she averted, “I’m alright. I’m getting a dog. Later tonight, actually.”  It took no time to clear her throat, unbearably aware of how awkwardly the words spilled from her.

Desperation to move on swam under her skin and heated up the back of her neck. A quick decision to play it off had her suggest, “Should we move out of the way instead of haunting doorways? It's okay if we stay here, I could go for tea actually - plus I picked this place because I think they sell the best brownies I’ve ever personally had not just because it was close by."

It was curious, what followed her in the days since the shooting. Sometimes it was scenes, sometimes it was a smell. Most of the time it was the sounds. The other day it was a pop and clang of metal hitting tile floors. The day before it was a specific shrill scream she heard when trying to sleep. Today she heard crying.

It traveled on the wind and echoed between the towering buildings. So loud sometimes she had to stop and check - look around and search the scene just in case. Even if looking meant stopping at the most inopportune moments like at work or standing in line. That moment today was crossing a street. Stood still in the crosswalk, Vex’s eyes frantically searched the crowd of people walking on sidewalks. 

Making little notice of the blaring horns of vehicles passing by, Vex asked out loud, “Where is that sound coming from?”