Let Go of the Past

[jasonpschuyler]

Who: Elizabeth
When: *handwavey* After Jason and Nat's kids are born?
What: Elizabeth finds remnants of their past

She'd been in the storage unit for a couple hours and the tequila was already gone. She really wished she'd had the foresight to bring a couple of bottles, as she had foolishly started in on it when the tears started. But as she shifted through the things she'd salvaged from her and Gabriel's apartment, the grief-stricken tears shifted to tears of bitter rage. Most everything had already been divided into piles of things to keep and piles of things to pitch, and the trash pile was growing with her fury as she tried to untangle more and more evidence of Raina from her life with Gabriel.

That fucking cunt.

No one would ever change her mind that it had been Raina that ruined their lives. If she hadn't excited and seduced Gabriel, wouldn't he still be alive? Wouldn't he still be with her? Anita's ruthless taunts echoed in her mind: that Gabriel had become bored with her and that he despised her for being weak. She grabbed the empty bottle of tequila and hurled it to the ground, watching it nearly pulverize to dust with the force of her throw. If there was one person she hated more than Raina -and it was hard to conceive that was even possibile- it was Anita. Anita, the man-eating, black hole of a cunt who could never allow anyone else to be 'right' because no one could be more pure and insightful than she was. She didn't know Gabriel, not like Elizabeth did.

She wiped at her tear-streaked face in annoyance and started hauling bags to the dumpster. She could get another couple of bottles of tequila on the way home for when she unpacked what she was keeping. The small pile that remained was mostly her own things and several mementos of better days when she was with Gabriel. She'd even kept some of his clothes, the few things that still carried his scent but wasn't tainted with Raina's, which was exactly what made her throw out most of their gear. She only kept a few silver pieces they'd ordered special: they were well made and a comfortable percentage of silver, and damn it, whether Raina had touched them or not she wanted them back.

She carried the last bag out and swung it carelessly towards the dumpster; it caught on a piece of metal and tore open, spilling half of the contents onto the pavement. She growled a series of curses under her breath and leaned down to start gathering up what had fallen. Of course it would be a bunch of papers, unopened mail, and random clutter she'd shoved into a box to go through later; things saved in the moment but were always destined to be thrown out. She paused, though, when she came upon a large manila envelope bulging open with a broken clasp: several burned discs in their cases had been crammed inside, all labeled only with a number and nothing else. She pulled them out with a frown and extracted a small piece of paper that had been hastily folded.

Here are your discs. I hope you'll change your mind because I guarantee you'll have better reach with me. You produce great content. The door isn't closed on my end so don't feel you have to stick it out on your own if it's not working.

She felt a pit drop into her stomach. She had no doubt as to what content they were talking about, regardless of whether the package was intended for Gabriel or Raina. The Rats had destroyed any physical copies they came across 'in the wild', and they were still scouring online and hacking away at any videos that resurfaced. She shoved the remaining trash in the dumpster and grabbed the envelope. She would check to see which videos these were before calling the Rats' attention to them, but first she was stopping for that tequila. She had a feeling she was going to need it.

Comments

[nathanielgrayson]

"If you're gonna want to talk through everything, she should probably spend the night with whoever, and I don't think it's fair to ask Elizabeth to do that." He sounded almost...petulant.

[roughcutgem]

She...pinched his chin, actually looking, briefly, hurt by that comment as she looked into his eyes. "We're going to take this at your pace Nat, it's not MY trauma. Shit you don't know about can take time to think over in words, so no, I'm not assuming jack shit about time frames here."

[nathanielgrayson]

He dropped his gaze, and if he didn't looks so despondent it could have been considered a pout. "Babe..." He sighed again. "I just don't want you getting upset if I don't think it's a big deal."

[roughcutgem]

"Babe? It shook Liz. She wasn't as solid when she mentioned it as she likes to be." Just. Saying. "But sure. Maybe it's just pizza and beer level shit."

[nathanielgrayson]

He glanced up quickly, looking unnerved. "Babe, I...can you not drink if we watch it together? Please? I just..." He faded off uncomfortably, not even realizing he'd asked her not to do something. "But we can have pizza?"

[roughcutgem]

"...just an expression babe. Indication an idiot guys night level instead of hardcore, sorry," she blinked. "Wasn't going to."

[nathanielgrayson]

"Thanks, babe," he murmured and gave her a cautious nuzzle under her chin.

[roughcutgem]

She kissed his temple and sighed, "so I skip asking Liz and run upstairs real quick?"

[nathanielgrayson]

"Yeah," he agreed softly. "I'll wait downstairs with Elizabeth."

Elizabeth, who at the moment, was in the front of the shop swaying almost comically, dipping baby Nikazi with over-exaggerated gasps. She paused when she heard them coming back, looking to Beryl for an answer.

[roughcutgem]

That. Was. Fucking. Adorable.

She grinned at Liz for that alone since her girl was gurgling happily. "Hey, we're going to see if she can stay the night here while we figure this out. Thanks for handling her for a bit!"

[jasonpschuyler]

Elizabeth actually had a bit of a grin herself, and without any hint of menace to it! "No problem, she's a cute baby." She glanced towards the stairs. "Hey, if you guys want I can bring her up? I wanted to say hi to Khemrys since I...missed her at the clinic my last couple shifts."

[roughcutgem]

Hey, people being people without masks were great in her book! "Sure, after you then, as princesses get priority," she grinned, tweaking her kid's ears enough to make her squeal again. "Apparently eartips are ticklish." Shared like a secret of course.

[jasonpschuyler]

"Yeah, I noticed those. Looks like she got them from you?" Worth asking, anyway: the kid was...different for sure, and like her mother not in any way Elizabeth could place.

She grabbed her bag and made for the stairs, still doing a little swaying step to make the baby laugh.

Nathaniel was following them all quietly, only altering his expression to beam at Nikki.

[roughcutgem]

"Seems like it!" she agreed. "They'll probably get pointier as she grows, mine took a while to decide their angle," she chuckled, taking Nat's hand and squeezing it gently.

Khem poked her head out the door when she heard people on the steps? "Ah, there's stew?" she offered automatically? "And bread!"

[jasonpschuyler]

Nathaniel squeezed back slightly. "I love their ears," he said.

Elizabeth paused and looked back at him, surprised a bit by his sudden interjection. Surprised, but not in the least bit upset at this change in him. It was...promising. "It's cute. Can't say I've ever seen anything like it that was natural, not until now anyway."

Elizabeth held up the baby at Khemrys's greeting. "There's a baby. I'll trade for some stew?"

[roughcutgem]

"Sorta kinda, she comes by it natural, mine was a side effect of being myself," she chuckled easily. And she loved when Nat nibbled her ears too yes. More than a bit.

Khem smiled and stepped back, "I'll get her visiting chair set up with the twins? Follow me!" Since she had a spoon in one hand and the doorknob in the other!

Beryl chuckled, "we won't be staying Khem. We were hoping our girl could crash her for a bit? If not we can go ask at the Circus."

[jasonpschuyler]

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at that; she would have to remember to question Beryl a bit more about what she meant by 'side effect'. She slowly followed Khemrys, taking in the apartment. "I guess it's lucky they're all so close in age that you've got stuff for her here."

[roughcutgem]

Beryl just arched one back, amused when she caught that glance. She'd answer questions but vague was kinda fun for now! "Kids need..."

"...peers," Khem answered in tandem with Beryl, utterly floored by the idea of not having extra bits on hand just in case!

Beryl just pointed to Khem, grinning, "she always says that. Thanks Khem."

"Of course," the woman smiled, getting the third chair near the table. "Jason is showering if you wait a moment to say hello?"

[jasonpschuyler]

This was where Elizabeth was more out of her element, so once the chair was set up she held the baby out towards Khemrys. She was not about to be the one responsible for strapping the baby down safely.

Nathaniel was oddly quiet for being in Khem and Jason's apartment, staying pressed against Beryl as the others talked.

[roughcutgem]

"Nat, help get our wigglebutt secured?" Beryl asked him gently. "I'll help Khem dish for three."

Khem was reaching for Nikki naturally but paused and laughed when Beryl said that, "she does keep wiggling if others beside you buckle her," she admitted. "Oh, lady Liz, pull the bread from the oven? It's just staying warm but..." It gave the woman a graceful exit from baby zone for a moment!

[jasonpschuyler]

Nathaniel glanced up at her and nodded, sidling over to take Nikki from Elizabeth. "Hey Nikki-baby," he cooed softly as he started tucking her into the infant chair and securing the straps. "You be good for Aunt Khem and Uncle Jason, ok?" He couldn't help pressing his lips to her head and breathing deeply.

Elizabeth's shoulders slumped a bit as she saw that and she busied herself getting the bread out of the oven. She wasn't much of a cook either, but she felt enough for Nathaniel and what he was going to have to revisit because of that video. She closed her eyes briefly, feeling for herself as well since her night of playing the messenger wasn't over yet.

[roughcutgem]

Beryl honestly figured he needed a moment with another touchstone. In many ways Nikki was more reassuring than she could be some days so...baby time. She busied herself with much the same tension as Liz, fetching bowls down and spoons for the adults, and the little side plates for the bread and such. "Jason hides Khem's good butter behind the milk," she noted to Liz.

Khem busied herself with a bit of garnish chopping, recognizing mild tension but...she'd pry later if needed. She was the patient sort.

[jasonpschuyler]

Elizabeth paused, staring at Beryl incredulously. "The good butter?"
She wasn't a culinary neanderthal like Jason, but wasn't butter...butter?

Nathaniel was still fawning over Nikki, happily taking the reassurance whether he understood Beryl's hand in it or not.

[roughcutgem]

"Trust me. Ceramic crock with a lid." Trust her Liz. TRUST HER AND JASON JEALOUS GUARDING OF THE HAND WHIPPED MARROW BUTTER! "He's a spoiled wolf."

Khem flushed slightly, proud and embarrassed at the same time? But then Kirion saw Nikki getting cuddles and demanded attention so she was able to hide the blushing (maybe).

[jasonpschuyler]

"Who says I'm spoiled?" Jason's voice demanded as he emerged from the hallway. He was dressed comfortably in jeans and a t-shirt with his towel draped around his neck as he was still absently toweling his hair dry. "You got your chef right there, tell him to make you your own."

He stopped short when he saw Elizabeth, and then as he felt the tension buzzing in the room he shot a suspicious glance at Nathaniel. "Elizabeth," he greeted plainly.

"Jason," she replied, the crock of marrow butter in her hands.