Private Finished It ended with a bullet

Zora

Zora

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Zora didn't quite need to ask who the headmaster was, she instinctively knew it had to be the entity that had taken over Broen. She had noticed the subtle changes in his demeanour, the way the darkness had surrounded him, she had seen the tears streaming down his face... and this thought made her feel a hard lump in throat, swallowing, she tried desperately not to lose it. She was not going to break down, not here, not now.

Nodding instead, Zora took a sip of her coffee, looking down for a second to collect herself, "I know it's gone. I felt it leave... " she told Jude quietly, meeting his gaze finally. "Whatever that was, was ..." here she just shook her head, her voice trailing off.

"Time off?!" here she actually laughed a little at Jude's attempt at a joke. Everything was a shambles. It'd take weeks to repair everything, even her house had been targetted. If she wasn't in a state of shock and worry, she'd probably be in a heap of tears or a furious rage.

"I think we can manage that," she said with a small smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Take the time you need, Jude. You deserve it, and I suspect you need it," Zora stated gently, knowing today had not been easy on anybody.

@Romi
 
Romi

Romi

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Jude hadn't even heard about her house. He'd been out of the loop. The only thing he really wanted to know was about the lizardman--had he died? Or had he made the right call and only seriously injured him? He wasn't likely to find out for a while, even if Giltenn was very clear that unless he had an unknown health condition, he should be fine.

"So do you," Jude said. "You need it. They were..."

He didn't need to say it, did he? So instead he trailed off, unwilling to say the words they were after you.

Because they were. No question about that, and Jude caught himself staring at the door to Broen's room.

"I'm exhausted," he admitted after a moment.
 
Zora

Zora

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Zora just smiled sadly and in understanding. Jude didn't need to finish the sentence. She knew they were after her. And they had caused a hell of a mess and hurt so many people to prove that point. She felt terrible on so many levels at the moment that she was numb, just barely keeping herself together.

"Go... " she urged Jude gently as she glanced at Broen's room. "Make sure Broen's okay, and get some rest. I'm sure Officer Geneovese is worried about you. I know I'd be if you were my son." she told him as she thought about Jeremiah and was so very thankful nothing had happened to him today.
 
Kada

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Broen shook his head, thinking. "I don't know. I just... feel. Like. Fuck me. It wasn't that long but like. Not feeling guilt? Or remorse? Or even just. Doubt. For even as short a time... it feels..."

How to put it? He couldn't say it with words, exactly. Broen gripped the edges of his sheet and squeezed hisneyes shut. What the fuck was he supposed to do? "I feel open. And kinda raw. Like a stuff breeze could blow me over and make me flinch."
 
Sarrain

Sarrain

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Rory nodded slowly. "I understand what you're trying to say." She was careful to say 'I get it' because she didn't think he'd appreciate the word choice.

Fuck. This was weird. "That'll even out in time. But it's going to feel like a lot for now." She paused to think. "Until then, I'm here if you need anything."
 
Romi

Romi

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Jude nodded to Zora. There was... well, he didn't know anymore. Before he'd have classed his feelings for her as mostly professional, with a side of friendship, only now? He didn't know. She felt dangerous, like a walking target. A part of Jude wanted to hop right in to defend her, but another part of himself wanted to run as far away as he could.

In a way, he took another.

"I'm sure I'll get my phone back before long," Jude said under his breath, his phone still no doubt in the middle of Woodland Imports. He hadn't asked. It'd find it's way back to him eventually, or he'd get Officer Genovese to ask. It didn't really matter--he had all the numbers in his head anyway.

He slipped over to the door, taking a breath before letting himself in with his left hand. He kept his right one limp, not wanting to use it and make the bruising worse. It was tender, even with the painkillers, and Jude hesitated more or less the moment he was inside.

"Everything okay?" Jude asked, eyes flicking between the two.
 
Kada

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"Yeah, than-" Broen paused when the door opened, his eyes snapping to see who is was. Jude. Of course. Broen tried to smile a little, but it didn't really want to happen.

"Hey Boyscout. Good to see you're not dead." And you know what? It was. It was good to see both of them, actually. He actually managed a small smile for half a second before he frowned again.

"Can you feel it too, Jude? Or, I guess... not feel it? And... thanks, Rory. I uh..."
How to say the things he wanted to say? It was all a jumbled mess.
 
Sarrain

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Rory almost reached out to pat Broen's hand. Almost. But she wasn't comfortable enough for it and besides, he looked so... Hm. She shook her head a little and stood up to give Jude her seat and grab another instead.

"Hey, Jude. Yeah, everything is about as okay as it could be. All things considered."
 
Romi

Romi

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As good as it could be, all things considered. Which meant bad. Things were bad, and he nodded briefly, stepping more into the room. He was about to grab his own seat when Rory moved, and Jude hesitated before giving her a small nod, taking her seat at last.

God, he was really tired.

"Yeah," he confirmed to Broen. "It was... it was a crack for me, and that's gone. Like it wasn't there in the first place."

It hadn't been hard to figure out what that meant. The crack hadn't repaired itself--it had gone up in smoke. Whatever the headmaster had done hadn't actually damaged it. Or maybe it had damaged it, but held the damage there rather than letting it heal.

It didn't really matter. What mattered was that the damage--something Jude would thought would be with him for the rest of his life--was gone.

Even Broen's smile was different.

"Did the cops already talk with you?" He gave a brief glance towards the door, thinking of Zora.
 
Kada

Kada

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"Not yet. I was kind of unconscious. I'll probably get an officer on my ass soon enough. But, uh."

He sighed and looked back at the ceiling. "It's gone for me too though. This feels fuckin weird, guys."

"Is Zora alright? Not dead? I kinda lost consciousness when I got shot. Fuck I really screwed the pooch on this."
 
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