A Marsh Guest

[themorbidsocialite]

Bugsby's Marshes were home to a wide and varied array of micro- and macroorganisms, the biodiversity one of its most notable features. Yes, a great many of the creatures were incredibly dangerous, but wasn't every environment filled with such risk? Surely, all one had to do to avoid assault was avoid bothering the various animals. Surely.

This was how the Morbid Socialite- Mori- found himself in the depths of the marshes, gathering samples of water, plant life, lichen, and insects to start his research. He was too busy marking notes on a variety of mushroom to notice the eyes on him. The thoughtful hum to themselves and the squeaking of tall boots, worn to avoid staining the hems of their trousers, were enough to hide the sound of something treading through the muck. They only noticed the disturbance when the bugs they'd been surrounded by had scattered. He turned and his eyes widened, finding a second pair staring into his.

"Oh, bloody 'ell."

Screaming echoed across the marsh, likely reaching at least someone's ears.

Comments

[themorbidsocialite]

Mementomori was hunched over the bag, arms braced on either side, one of the wounds on the side slowly seeping once more through the carefully applied wrappings on the half open shirt (having been unable to close it all the way without disturbing the bandages). His face was unseen, blocked by a cascade of hair, the silver patch as clear as day at this angle. He was trembling slightly. When they spoke, their voice was cold, hollow, a shell of social niceties barely held together by a fraying string, a poor actor reciting their lines with nothing behind them.

"I should go. I've overstayed my welcome, clearly. Have a lovely night." He stood, face still shadowed, taking the bag's handle and pulling it to his side as he turned away.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven was already moving to block their exit as they spoke. She stood between the Socialite and the way out of the living room, bracing herself so they couldn't push her out of the way, "Mori, stop this. Please, I had only meant to check- I was afraid your samples might have broken. That's why you were in the marsh right? Getting samples for experiments? I was just going to check them, and offer to replace them if any were contaminated."

[themorbidsocialite]

Dr. Malodrema stopped, swaying as he did to keep the weight off his injured side. He didn't look angry or spiteful, he just looked hurt, tired, his eyes ringed red with the stress of the night.

"Don't pretend you didn't see it," they deadpanned. "I'm no fool, Jane. It was at the top, uncovered, clearly visible. Do you really wish to fight a man with nothing left to lose? Are you certain keeping me here is the hill you're willing to lay upon? Make your assumptions, lay your fears and anxieties at your feet, but do not keep a man from escaping the confines of a place that cannot respect his privacy and is moments from casting stones. I ask, this once, that you move. Please."

"Fortunately for you, the moment I leave here, you will never have the displeasure of directly interacting with me again. You have my word."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Mori..." Maven sighed, a look of shame on her face, "I'm sorry. You're right, it was an invasion of privacy. I apologize for that. That was why I didn't close the bag. I didn't want to pretend like I hadn't seen, it felt wrong to do that, to pretend like I didn't know. And I didn't want to keep up this charade of you being okay when there was clearly something wrong. I didn't want to sweep it under the rug. This... social dance of niceties and pleasantries where we dance around the truth... I hate it. I always have." At this point tears were pricking at Maven's eyes and she was holding herself, "It feel like I'm suffocating any time I have to play such games. I didn't... I don't want to do such things with you. And for the love of God I don't want to stop talking with you or stop being your friend! Again, I could just have closed the bag and distanced myself from you without all this if I wanted to! But I don't! I... I still want to be your friend. And I hope you still want to be mine, despite my transgression tonight..."

[themorbidsocialite]

Dr. Malodrema barely moved, only really shifting to avoid pain. His voice was distant, detached, and even dropped the posh accent into the much more real Northern. "You know, I simply don't understand it. I don't, genuinely. I have spent years agonizing over every little detail, making sure I knew the rules, knew the language, knew everything I could about talking with others. I became an expert at it, able to weave words into exactly what I wanted to convey in a way everyone else could understand. We were all following the rules, I simply needed more time to learn it. But fine. Yes, we can drop the niceties. They weren't serving me anyway. Allow me to tell you honestly, truly, that I am fine. I am a grown man who can handle my own messes, my own injuries, my own hubris.

"If I am going to destroy my life, my mind, my body, then don't I reserve the right to do it on my own terms? Am I not a free man? I am fine because I say I am fine. Do as you wish, but I am going home and that is my final choice."

He was teetering. There was no way he was going home. Not in his condition. To do so would be imminent death and also a risk to the materials in the bag. There was no choice but to argue this out.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"And what of your samples then? What of the arm?" Maven threw out in a small voice cracked from held back tears. If Mori wasn't going to care about themself, then maybe appeal to what he does care about will. "If you attempt to leave here, you will collapse. You've reopened your stitches, this is inevitable. And someone will find you, and your bag will likely be taken from you."

[themorbidsocialite]

There. There it was. Emotion, pathos, feeling. Unfortunately, such a feeling was rage, seething just under the surface as Mori braced. "Do not bring her into this. You do not what I have had to suffer, what I have had to sacrifice, just to get to this point, and I haven't even saved her yet! You do not get to speak on behalf of a situation you don't even know! You cannot pretend to know what's best for me and my-!"

And there was the wooziness once more, the rising of blood pressure unsupported by how much was lost. His world swam and his vision blurred at the edges as his body leaned desperately for the nearest supportive surface, head held in one of his hands. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph... I can't... Can't rightly see..."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven instantly went to Mori's side, hands coming around to support them, "Oh dear, hang on! I'll help you down slowly." She had to get Mori laying down and redo the stitches. Maybe she could get Mori to eat some Darkdew Cherries to help revitalize him. First things first, help them to the ground, get the supplies back out.

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori's breath had quickened with dizziness and delirium, unable to focus on trying to argue or fight it, slowly lowering with the Maven's assistance. He swore under his breath, trying to steady his breathing without disturbing the remaining stitches. He worked so hard on those... No, focus. He tried removing the bandaging to better reach the popped stitch and allow for deeper breaths than the bindings would allow. He was much more careful with this shirt, seeing as it wasn't his, and... Alright, moving their head down to inspect the damage was not a wise idea, as the shifting caused more dizziness and spotting in their vision. They would have to trust the Maven.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Stay here." Maven didn't have to say this because, well, where was Mori going to go now? She quickly ran and got the stitching supplies again, along with rags and disinfectant. When she was back with Mori, she got to work and removing the bandages. She was not as careful as Mori with the shirt, using it to mop up the blood at their side. After sterilizing the area and the needle, she began to redo the stitching.

[themorbidsocialite]

It would take a while for the blood pressure to lower, the breathing to slow, the skin to stop flinching away at every touch. Even still, Mori was quiet, letting Jane do her work as he supported his head and guarded his eyes with one hand. Another low voice, clear in the tentative quiet.

"I'm sorry... For everything..."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven did not look up from her work, still focused on fixing the stitches. But she replied softly, "You don't have to be. I'm sorry for invading your privacy. I should have thought... of course you wouldn't want me in your bag, even if it was to check your samples. I should have thought ahead and not let the stress of the situation cloud my judgement, and I am very sorry for that."

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori was silent for a long while, breathing slow, perhaps thinking, though it was difficult to tell with their eyes hidden behind their hand. They were still and silent, the only movement being the tentative rise and fall of their chest, until...

His voice cracked as it came out, the habit of keeping it inside stressing each word as it exited his ribs via his lungs and heart.

"She was my daughter..."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven did glance up briefly at that before refocusing back on the stitches. So, not something he picked up recently from graverobbing. She wasn't sure if that was better or worse. There were many thoughts going through her head at that, but in having to pick one to vocalize she settled on, "I'm sorry for your loss. What was her name?"

[themorbidsocialite]

"Persephone. She... She liked the name Percy on occasion..." Mori struggled to still his breaths, keep from sobbing while the Maven was working. "She was only but ten when she... I couldn't save her... I need to fix it. I must fix it. She deserved a full life and to be taken so young and in so much pain... I would go to the ends of the Earth. And I did. She's why I'm here."

Controlling a shaky breath in, and out, Mori paused. "I'm sorry for snapping. You were trying to be kind. I was... too stubborn for either of our own good..."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"You were in pain, in multiple ways," Maven soothed Mori, "You were being pushed to your limits, it's understandable. I was pushy, regardless of any well intentions, and you reacted accordingly."

Maven was silent for a moment as she finished up the stitches, then she said, "I... I understand your pain, in a way. At least, in term of losing family. My parents... I was only eight when I lost them both, but I still remember it vividly. You never forget such... carnage..." For a moment, the air of maturity she always seemed to carry had fallen, and in its place was a young lady much too young to be trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. With a breath she was back though, and she continued, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking about my losses after you were talking about yours, that was rude of me. I just... wanted to say that I understand how it feels, to lose someone so important to you, and in such a senseless way."

[themorbidsocialite]

"No, no," Mori said, sitting up with a wince. "It's... Commiseration. Empathy. To lose someone so important to you so young... I can't imagine the pain. It... It rather mirrors, doesn't it? Loss at a young age and grief for a lost child. It's not... fair. This world is not fair, not to the young and the helpless. But why should it not be? Why should we be forced to live such agony when we can do something about it? The Neath is capable of bringing someone back from the dead; why can't we?"

Mori realized what he'd just rambled about and pulled back. "I apologize. That was... That was too much. Forget what I've said."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven just smiled and nodded. She was not going to do any more pushing tonight, there had been enough of that. Besides, it wasn't hard to read between the lines of what he was saying. But she would let it lie for now.

She checked her work, changing the subject herself to spare Mori, "That should do it. Let me get some darkdew cherries for you, just to get something in you right now. I can get you new clothes, and dinner should still be warm. If it isn't, it'll be easy enough to reheat."

She rose and got her bag from a nearby surface, got her bag, and pulled out a couple darkdew cherry for Mori.

[themorbidsocialite]

Eating the cherries without argument, Mori pulled the shirt off and inspected the pants. "Just the shirt should be well. I do apologize for the inconvenience. You're... taking the revelation better than I expected and I suppose I was unnerved by that, issuing an undeserved reaction. Taking your food and supplies, staining your clothes and furniture... I make for a dreadful houseguest, it would seem." At least he still had the will to laugh at his own mistakes, even if it was just a brief chuckle.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"I can honestly say that I have had worse house guests," Maven said with a laugh, the look on her face saying that she was recalling a particular bad guest, "But that's a story for later, for now I'll go get the shirt and dinner."

Suddenly there was a little bap at Mori's side (thankfully not the injured one). Looking down revealed a small black kitten had crept up to Mori and batted them while they were distracted.

"Oh there you are Pepper," Maven laughed a little, "Decided to finally introduce yourself?"

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori looked down at the small kitten and smiled, holding out a hand. "Hello, luv. Aren't you just precious? Your name's Pepper? Mine's Mori. It's a pleasure to meet you." They softly stroked the kitten, letting it onto half a folded lap, if it so chose.

Even addressing the small kitten, he seemed exhausted. From life or death situation to overt masking to ripping his ribcage open and exposing his heart, Mori was drained of it.

But the mask was gone. No pretending, no Morbid Socialite, no rules of engagement or elegance or social niceties. Just pure Mori, all ruddy and awkward and genuine and real. He was bleeding (metaphorically, this time) from an open gap in his chest and it pooled into something unfamiliar and all at once recognizable.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Pepper looked up at Mori with big round green eyes. She bapped at their hand as she climbed onto his lap, intent on inspecting this new person.

Maven watched the scene, a strange feeling in her. It felt weird to be happy after everything that had just happened, but she couldn't deny that she was. She felt that she was seeing the real Mori for the first time, and it made her happy. She hoped... she hoped that they could have a pleasant evening, despite everything that happened.

"There are a few animals around, they come and go as they please," Maven said, "I often have Pepper at the orphanage but she wanted to come home with me tonight. Maybe if you're lucky you'll see Snowdrop, I feel you'll probably like her a lot." With that cryptic line (Maven wasn't sure if Mori remembered her mentioning the salt weasel in the past but she wasn't going to count on the idea that everyone she talked to would remember everything she ever said), Maven finally left to get the new shirt.

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori had a home quite the same, with animals constantly coming and going, urchins Dinah adopted coming through the carousel of occupancy almost as often. He whispered sweetly to the kitten as he petted her, unbothered by tiny claws. Was it strange to be enjoying this time spent in pain and stress? Mori wasn't sure, but the wax had been ripped off and all that was left was a strangely cool, relieving feeling over the pain. Maybe... Perhaps... It wasn't so bad to be honest...

No, no, a foolish idea. One or two confidantes did not prove that trust could be so easily shared in the rest of life. Jane was an exception. And Derek, were he to return. Mori supposed the Maven would tell the Devil everything. Lovers of their caliber don't keep secrets from each other.

Mori idly stroked Pepper as he thought, breathing slowing.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

After disposing of the first shirt, Maven got another shirt for Mori. There was a whole drawer of clothes she had gotten for the Devil for if he needed something less... devilish to wear. He had once said humans just haven't caught up to what was really in style yet. She had no idea what he meant by that, but gathered that he, like most other Devils, did not like wearing typical Londoner fashion. Needless to say, he was not going to miss these clothes Mori was using.

She also grabbed more towels, wetting two of them (one for Mori and another for the floor) before coming back. She smiled again, seeing Mori and Pepper playing together. She handed Mori both the shirt and the wet towel as she said, "I'm glad you two are getting along."

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori look up with a hum and smiled. "Ah, yes, she's lovely. A delight to accompany. Do you require any assistance?" Leave it to the Socialite to still want to help clean up after all of that, as if he hadn't been on the cusp of death.