overjoyed_logs | [closed] nothing is crueller than children who come from good homes

Entry tags:

[closed] nothing is crueller than children who come from good homes

Who: Steph, Rhys, & Gio
Where: Leith
When: W4D4
Summary: Rhys visits a sick Steph, Gio is dragged along because Rhys is a weirdo
Restrictions/Warnings: None just yet

[It's been a long week. Between Harvest Week and interrogations, Steph was exhausted enough, but adding in the virus had made it nigh impossible for even to get out of bed. She's spent days in a delirium, seeing things that can't be real and trying to commit them to memory, just in case they mean something. There's a notebook by her bedside table, with scattered words and sketches, an attempt to put it all down before she loses it.

At some point amongst it all, she texts a few people, checking up on them, though she only hazily remembers the conversations. At another point, a Company doctor checks up on her, then returns later with a cure.

It's been a little under 24 hours since that cure was given, and the hallucinations and fever have retreated. There's still the occasional wave of dizziness, or something flickering just out of sight, but she's managed food, a shower, and a change of sheets, all of which help to make her feel human again.

The effort of those few simple tasks has her back in bed, curled up with the notebook as she tries to piece things together. She's not having a whole lot of luck, so when she hears a knock at the door, it's almost a relief.]

Coming!

[It takes her a couple of seconds to get to the door, and she's still in what are essentially her pajamas, when she opens it up to see Rhys and Giovanni.]

Oh. [Despite making it quite clear that she considers Rhys a friend, she's still a little surprised to see him.] Hi?

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[ Calling it a "long week" is a bit of an understatement in Rhys's opinion. He may not exactly recall all of his time spent as a feverish, miserable, aching mess of a human being but he remembers enough of his own hallucinations (talking posters that looked like Jack Marten, ugh) to know that it was awful and quite possibly one of the worst weeks of his life. he still can't look at his ceiling when he wakes up; he keeps expecting to see that psychotic amalgamation of paraphernalia.

Because he's a Qreshi royal though he gets the cure before anyone else, which means his rest and recovery period is far advanced to that of any standard Company employees. He's fatigued and winds easy, but mended for the most part. A.k.a well enough to come visit a certain pilot who he's heard also caught the nasty infection going around. "She's been gotten to in time, Sir," he's been told. But Rhys wants to see that for himself with his own two eyes as he knocks stubbornly at her door.

Poor Gio's been pulled along for the ride as well, simply because Rhys can and he also...really should thank the Dog for getting him to medical attention. Because apparently he did that. ]

Heyyy.....yiiyyy... You. Uhh. [ Steph opens the door and, well, I mean that's what Rhys expected. This is where she lives, and if she's not dying naturally she would be the one to open the door. But somehow in his head he'd pictured her in the uniform she normally wears? Certainly not her pyjamas, and definitely not a pair that are just....ugh, they're cute? Like not sexy or revealing but the pattern on them reminds him of this one pair of socks he bought on vacation during the winter and for some reason it hits him that Steph...she looks good? in them?

Which is weird because he's seen her enough times and hung out with her enough on jobs by now that it shouldn't shock him to see her? But here he is, completely losing his train of thought and recoiling just a little, looking her up an down. ]

Yyyyou are...in your pyjamas. [ Your cute...very cute pyjamas. ]

[He never quite knows what's going to happen when he's assigned to Rhys. Most of these kinds of assignments tend to fall into one of two categories-- the sort where danger and violence become certainties, requested to guard an important individual or party as they enter a knowingly volatile situation, or the other type, where paranoid executives or Qreshi royalty with more money than sense feel the need to protect themselves from imagined threats, keep him standing about doing nothing for hours that seem to stretch on endlessly.

Rhys, though-- well. He's never sure what to make of him. The request could mean anything at all, from pointless chatter to strange excursions that really don't require the use of a Dog. Why he keeps asking for him specifically remains something of a mystery, unless he really is supposed to assume that it began with their shared dislike of a particular Company employee. In all honesty, he wouldn't put it past him. But Rhys is a Kendry, and even if he weren't, Giovanni is in no position to protest.

And so he doesn't, accompanies him as ordered, keeps a respectful two paces behind the man as he knocks at the door of a suspiciously residential-looking address. Then the door opens and there's a woman standing there in what appears to be her nightwear, with Rhys fumbling over his sentences like an imbecile. For just a moment, Giovanni's impassive expression slips, a shadow of vague uncertainty sliding over the sharp angles of his face. He remains straight and still and poised and yet his uncanny red eyes move from the woman to Rhys and back again, settle on his Boss in silent question.

He says nothing, of course, but if Rhys has brought him along on some tryst he might just have to leave him to it, consequences be damned. The hard lines of his body beneath the Cerberus Unit uniform quite clearly relay his discomfort.]

[Gio's concerns about booty calls might be slightly allayed by the sheer look of bewilderment on Steph's face, at the fact Rhys seems to have lost the ability to form a coherent sentence just because she's wearing her pyjamas. She's chalking it up to the fact there's probably some weird royalty thing about being Proper and not seeing the commoners in their sleep wear, but mostly she's sighing internally.]

I'll get changed. Come in.

[She steps aside to let them do just that, wandering further into her apartment, though she doesn't go to get changed right away; first she needs to address Gio:]

Did you actually want to visit me or is he making you be here?

[There's skepticism in her voice that makes it clear what answer she'd put money, but it's nothing against Gio personally, he just doesn't seem like the person to do check ins.]

[ Rhys will leave the replying to Giovanni for the moment. He's actually still a bit dazed and blown away by the fact tha Steph apparently wears clothes other than her Company uniform and that she looks good in them. Attractive-good, in a way he's never actually been aware of her?? It's weird. And makes him feel like he's forgotten how to do basic things like communicating beyond drawn-out imbecile noises.

Steph lets them in and he literally just wanders in, more than a little slack-jawed and still trying to process how this happened. How did he not notice Steph is a woman who looks nice before now? Why does he keep noticing? He needs to stop noticing this is so weird that pattern near her ankles is adorable.

This is a trainwreck and Rhys desperately needs to pull himself out of it before it gets Weird. Er. ]

[He doesn't expect to have to respond. What he expects is that Rhys will cut in over the top of him, explain what he is and why he's here and perhaps even throw in some imperial statement along the lines of there's no need to try and converse with it. But of course Rhys doesn't do that, just moves further into the apartment with that stunned and stupid look on his face, and Giovanni - hesitating slightly just beyond the doorway - has to fight back the urge to roll his eyes and sigh.

Further hesitation, but it's clear they expect him to follow and so he does, somewhat stiffly, body still strung like a bow from discomfort, before he finally offers up an answer. He turns his head, just slightly, to look at her (although his eyes don't meet her eyes, stay politely lower) and the metal of the collar bolted down through flesh and muscle into bone coruscates dully in the corridor's false light.]

I'm Mr Kendry's bodyguard, Ma'am. Of course, I'm accompanying him at his request.

[Why he requires a guard dog for this remains as much of a mystery to him as anything Rhys does.]

Mister Kendry - [It isn't mockery, just a sort of familiar teasing because Steph is morally opposed to letting Rhys get away with using his royalty for anything more than getting them into fancy bars, and that means she rarely calls him by his surname.] - really isn't in any danger here.

[She heads into the bedroom, half-closing the door and raising her voice loud enough to be heard despite the slight barrier.]

Rhys, tell Giovanni that he's allowed to go if he wants. [Actually, wait; Steph sticks her head back out from around the door.] Giovanni, you're totally welcome to stay, I'll put some tea on, but don't feel obligated.

Whahuh? Oh--uhh. [ Rhys snaps out of it at the sound of his name, jumping a little from his uncomfortable gawking at the interior of her apartment and looking quickly in Giovanni's direction. Since Steph was so kind to mention him and all and then...wow, is he being ordered around here?? Rhys huffs a laugh that's not anywhere near as affronted as he wants it to be. ]

Well I mean, yeah but--but I'm s, supposed to like, keep and eye on him and stuff. They gave me a ton of rules for when I take him out... [ And as cruddy as he is at most things he's almost good at following those! He's not sure where the Dog Bite he's supposed to keep with him at all times is and he doesn't use Giovanni for his intended purposes at all but...like, there's propriety you know? ]

[The tension in him, it's almost a palpable thing. Yet again it seems Rhys has dragged him into a situation where he really doesn't belong, a gross misapplication of Company property and as always it's a wonder what money and authority can allow one to get away with-- he could be doing something useful right now, eliminating threats to the Company, playing guard dog for someone who needs the particular skills Giovanni possesses, but no. He's here, for reasons he simply can't discern.

For a moment he thinks he may have to answer again, what with the way Rhys stares vacuously about, but then he's staggering over his words, comes up with something that vaguely resembles an explanation, and Giovanni settles into obedient silence, lets Rhys do the talking. He has things he could say, such as how he's inclined to agree with Steph, there's no reason for him to be here that he can see, that Rhys has more money and status than sense, but of course he does no such thing. His conditioning doesn't allow it, and he can only wonder at how Steph can be brazen enough to talk to a Kendry with such overt familiarity.

Even then, though-- she's a person, even if one of lesser standing. He's a Dog, a weapon, and as such he holds his tongue.]

[Steph manages to make her sigh audible, though that's all the sound that comes out of her bedroom, aside from her shuffling about for a minute or so while she changes into something a little more appropriate for company. When she pops back out, she's wearing floral print sweatpants and a t-shirt that's at least three sizes too big; not the most glamorous outfit, but comfortable, which is what matters.

There's an elastic in her hand as she walks to the kitchenette, and she uses it to pull her hair up into a loose bun, because it was starting to stick to her neck, the last trace of fever prickling on her skin.]

Since apparently you're both sticking around, take a seat and tell me whether you want green or black tea.

[There's a small table in the center of the room, with two chairs, so that's... probably the best spot for them to sit.]

What, no fruit tea? [ he says it like he's joking, and he is. But he's also...meaning that seriously. Rhys drinks pretentiously even when it comes to his teas alright, he's rich. He expects this to be accommodated somehow even by people who are not.

Also, unrelated, but those pants are cute too and this isn't fair. At least the oversized shirt helps. Rhys can concentrate a little better now as he follows after, moving to take up his own seat without being...offered... ]

[The offer of tea is clearly meant only for Rhys, right? Because that's how Giovanni understands it, and as such he says nothing regarding his preferences, follows Rhys silently into the kitchenette and rather than taking the adjacent chair, he stands two paces behind him, slightly to the right. He's in agreement with Steph-- he can see no cause for concern here, no immediate danger and therefore no need to have a Dog at his beck and call, but that doesn't mean he'll cease to act appropriately.

As such, he remains poised and alert, his expression made blank and impassive by the weight of duty.]

God, you're so fussy.

[But there is, in fact, a tiny container of fruit tea that Steph may or may not have acquired purely because she knows Rhys likes it. She'd forgotten about it until he asks, but manages to find it after a brief dig in the back of a cabinet.

After filling the kettle and switching it on, she turns back to the boys. When she realizes that Gio is still standing, still looking ready to take some order that isn't coming, her expression softens into something almost sympathetic.]

You can sit too, Giovanni, I meant both of you. For the tea, too.

Yeah c'mon man, don't be rude. You don't have to wait for her to sit, this isn't Qresh or anything. [ ...Where manners are so strict and proper that they sit and stand in order of familial importance and say very specific blessings. Rhys figures that's the reason Gio is being so uptight about sitting down, so look at him! Uplifting Giovanni and downgrading Steph all in one go so that they're equal.

Technically are in his mind because it goes Rhys > them. All non-Qreshi kind of fit into the same category in his head so long as they are dirty Westerlyns. ]

[If she's watching, Steph might catch the sharp cut of his eyes as Giovanni glances at Rhys, the quiet exhale that stands in place of an exasperated sigh. It still confounds him, the level of the man's density, his constant flouting of the correct protocol. Those small signs of disapproval, they're followed by a moment's hesitation-- this isn't right, it's not the way he's been instructed to behave and yet Rhys has told him to sit, made the implication that he's being rude by refusing. And so the moment breaks around his indecision as he finally moves to take the seat beside his (somewhat useless) Boss, discomfort discernible in the continued stiffness of his posture.

And he supposes he ought to answer, too. To give some kind of response, if that's really what they're expecting from him. He keeps his eyes down.]

It's not usual procedure, Sir. Any of this.

[He glances over at Steph, just briefly.]

And I don't have a preference, Ma'am.

[It's not exactly the most helpful answer, but she'll take it, grabbing two bags of green tea and adding them to a mug because then she doesn't have to worry about fussing with tea and sugar for Giovanni.

The fruit tea, of course, doesn't come in a tea bag, but she has an infuser for these occasions.]

Nothing Rhys does is usual procedure, it's part of his charm.

[There's a little bit of in inflection on charm that suggests she doesn't actually mean it, as does the wink she directs at Giovanni, trying to get him to relax.]

[ Well if she didn't have one that would be like, an actual crime. Who would prepare tea without an infuser?? Peasants. That's who. Peasants and gross poor people. ]

Thank you. [ he will be smug about that no matter her tone. He's perfect and he knows it, excuse y'all. His arms cross over his chest as he leans back in his chair, lips quirked. ]

[Well. He at least attempted to voice his concerns, even if they are going to be brushed over and ignored (which actually fits better with his schema of things, how one ought to react towards him). And whether Rhys catches the subtlety of Steph's inflection or not, Giovanni hears it, sees the wink-- yes there's the continued discomfort over her improper attitude towards a man of Rhys' standing, her improper attitude towards him, but combined with Rhys' obvious pride, wry amusement asserts himself in him regardless.

She's rewarded with the brief glimmer of his smile, the quick flash of teeth (too pointed, too sharp) before it's gone again.]

Edited 2017-01-31 09:41 (UTC)

[There we go.

Steph doesn't make a big deal about getting a smile (as small as it is) out of Giovanni, but she's mentally chalking it up as a victory and making a note that mocking Rhys is a good way to get a reaction.

It's not a very long lasting victory, because as Steph closes her fingers around the container of cake that she bought, there's a sudden whirring sound in her ears that sends panic through her and sends the cake tumbling to the countertop.]

Shit.

[The word is muttered under her breath, the sound gone as quickly as it was there, and she picks up the container again, trying to move straight past whatever the hell that was.]

Uhh...you okay? [ Rhys doesn't catch much beyond the tin slipping from Steph's hand to the counter, and for a second he has the nonsensical thought that maybe it was hot? before he realizes that's stupid, that's not the reason. But she does look a little ruffled. ]

You pinch your finger or something?

[Whereas Giovanni's eyes narrow, quickly honing in on her unexpected movement and for a moment his palms press flat to the table as he prepares to make the move to catch her (he could close the distance between them with inhuman speed, prevent her from falling before it ever really begins) despite that she isn't the one he's here to protect. But only the tin drops, and he settles back into awkward stillness, his eyes still on her.

He can smell it on her, the remnants of sickness. The poison still bleeding out of her system.

He turns to look up at Rhys, then. Speaks quietly, and though his voice is smooth and flat and even, there's perhaps the mildest hint of reproach there too, almost indiscernible.]

She's still unwell, Sir. She ought to be resting.

[Giovanni answers the question for her, which is a relief when her hands are shaking, but she still takes a steadying breath and turns around to offer a reassuring smile.]

I'm fine.

[She hasn't figured out what the sound she heard even was, only that it felt like ice in her chest.]

Anyway, I've been cooped up in here alone for ages, it's nice to have company.

[It's true, though she also doesn't want Rhys to feel bad about coming to visit. It was sweet of him to make the effort.]

Oh right, did they give you guys the vaccine or cure or whatever here too? They've got a cheap one they're giving the Westies, but you should've gotten the better one since you work for the Company on Leith, [ Rhys offers, because he's just that forthcoming with information like that when it comes to the people he spends any amount of time with.

His filters just sort of turn off after a while. ]

You know if you're not feeling too good you don't need to worry about hosting. [ Rhys is an asshole, but he's not entirely heartless. It just takes a while to find it. ]

[Oh yes, sweet is definitely what he is...

...Giovanni pretends to be looking at something over by the door to cover the sly roll of his eyes. Whilst he wonders vaguely whether Rhys considers him to be a Westie (the Kennel is situated there, after all, even if he isn't entirely sure where he'd been created to begin with) or whether Company equipment doesn't count as having a nationality, he says nothing. Just listens to them talk.]

[Unlike Gio, Step doesn't hide her reaction to what Rhys is saying, instead giving him a bit of an annoyed look. She's trying to gently train him out of being a shithead when it comes to class issues, but there's a lot of ingrained bullshit to work on.

Luckily the kettle is almost boiled, so she turns it off and fills up their mugs, before bringing them over to the table, along with the cake, a knife, and two plates for the boys.]

Yeah, I got the cure, wouldn't be on my feet otherwise.

[Since there's only two chairs (duh) Steph hops up on the counter to sit, curling her hands around her own mug and appreciating that something solid in her hands means she doesn't have to worry about whether or not they're shaking.

She considers saying something about how shitty it is that Westies are getting a cheap version of the cure, but she doesn't know Gio well enough to risk mouthing off, and anyway, she prefers to avoid that kind of thing in her apartment, just in case it's bugged.]

The aches have pretty much gone, it's just the hallucinations sticking around, but at least by now I've figured out when to ignore the weird shit.

[Before she'd realized what was happening it had been Wild.]

[ That's fair, Rhys deserves that look. And the silent judgment. His classism is a work in progress? He at least forgets most of it when he's in good company and puts his "I like you" blinders on. He's much worse with family.

Steph sits and Rhys takes a drink from his mug...until the subject of hallucinations comes up and he coughs a little, pulling back as he burns his upper lip. ]

--Ow. You uhh, you--you saw some of those t-too, huh?

[ Because Rhys sure had a...time...with those. Yep. In the form of dozens upon dozens of Handsome Jack posters filling his room, talking to him about their exploits on a "Pandora" before they began melting off the walls and falling to the floor in sentient puddles of Jack-goop.

Oh, and he may have hit on Gio a little. No biggie. ]

Edited (phone pls) 2017-02-01 00:01 (UTC)

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