open | that's what you get for falling again

[morphogenia]

WHO: Kamala Khan
WHERE: House Six, Schoolhouse
WHEN: the days following her return from the village
OPEN TO: All, closed prompts for: Joe Miller
WARNINGS: Mentions of horror game mechanics, death, trauma.

---

House Six; closed to Miller

Things are tense. How can they not be after what she saw? Frank died. All kinds of awful stuff came out about what happened behind the scenes in Reims. While Kamala thinks it's for the better, no one can use this stuff against them ever again, it still hurts now. She needs a break from all the tension.

Once she's cleaned up, fed, done so many things to get the house and pets taken care of, and the loneliness of fighting with all the people you live with sets in: Kamala reaches out to someone she accidentally lost track of before this mess started. Lucky for her, Miller seems willing to pop by for a little bit. (How absolutely miserable she seems might be a factor.)

She'll be busy brewing coffee and heating up some leftovers to share when the telltale stomp of boots get close to the door. She shouts out in greeting, "Just come in. No one ever knocks." She tries not to think of how it freaks Frank out when he's here. 

Schoolhouse | open

Being home reminds her that things still aren't okay. When she finishes her chores, Kamala finds herself here. She always loved to learn. Now really isn't the exception. She spends a lot of time in the village picking up new skills whenever possible. This isn't about her quest to become a better Kamala.

She's spending hours curled up in whatever spot looks good reading fantasy and how-to books like it's going out of style. This is what she does when things get bad: retreat to a story or think of what she'll do next. This schoolhouse gives her plenty of options on where to go to forget what she's seen. Even if you didn't know her, it'd be obvious she's avoiding something.

Kamala can be found reading or napping here when her eyes get tired for the next few days. Eventually everyone in House Six will cool off and find a new normal. Right now? Kamala at least is retreating to old coping skills to get through this rough patch.

Comments

[pampa]

Miller starts, his hand held up to knock as he hears her voice through the door. How does she do that...? It isn't as though his steps are particularly heavy.

"Alright, but call Cujo off, will ya?" he calls before pushing at the door, staying behind it just in case. Sure enough, the insane crew of animals crowds around him, impeding his entry. It would seem whatever mystical bullshit made the squirreldogs listen to him had worn off somehow. "...A little help?"

[morphogenia]

There's a terrifying story about that! Kamala isn't getting to it. She's abandoning her mission to get mugs in favor of racing over to rescue Miller. She sees that isn't an overreaction on her part fairly quickly. There's no way he's getting through without her help. "On it." She whistles loudly to get their attention, motioning for them to come. They stall until she whistles louder. They get the picture that she isn't going to roll over this time and come over her way for real. (Nina is the expectation, of course.)

"Sorry. They're really big on making new friends."

[pampa]

"I can see that." He shakes off the weather from his jacket and makes his way inside. It's warmer than Elektra's house by miles, but at least he's used to the shoddy electricity from staying at the Inn. God, this place is weird. "That one looks like the mutt he had on the station. Max, I think. He didn't wear a sweater but he did have his own fucking mag-boots. That meathead guy is a trip."

Clearly, that's why Kamala keeps him around, right? For entertainment value. He glances around.

"Karen live here too?"

[morphogenia]

She brightens immediately at the mention of Max. Kamala leads the way, managing to talk and not pay the slightest attention to where she is going. She's got the layout memorized in case of emergencies because of course that's a thing she does. They get nervous when someone knocks at the door. This is who they are as people now. "We get Max back?! Yes!"

Her celebration does not last. Her face falls at the question. Kamala really likes Karen. Yeah she's wondered what it could be like before Jessica came into the fold. Now it's weird to picture anyone else at their side even after everything that's happened between the three of them. She guesses there might be? In another reality? "Oh... no." She heads all the way back into the kitchen to get those cups as she explains. She's pretty sure a small army of animals is trailing them, but at least they're showing some restraint. "I really like Karen, but she has a complicated friend status with Frank since you know. Horrible things happened to us. Mostly Frank which you probably aren't surprised to hear. It makes it hard for them to like connect or something. They seemed cool at my birthday party though just not you know... live with each other cool." She's not sure how she feels about it.

[pampa]

"Yeah, he showed up around the time I did. And Karen was my next door neighbor so I got to know him... better than we both would've liked, probably."

He talks a big game, but the way he surreptitiously reaches down to stritch at Aretha's ears says it all, really. Miller makes a little noise of understanding at her explanation, even if it's weird.

"They were always on-again off-again there too, but it was obvious Karen was crazy about him. Could never figure out why." Should he be talking about this to Frank's surrogate daughter??? Probably not.

[morphogenia]

Kamala gives it some thought as she retrieves too mugs for coffee. It's hard to miss how soft he's being. Maybe this whole tough noir detective thing he has going on isn't all he is. Come to think of it he was really sweet when he first answered her post, huh?

"... I don't know why girls like him so much either. Maybe it's because he's really big and sensitive? I know that's super popular in fanfic." Clearly that translates to real life! She goes to fill his cup first. "Do you want milk and stevia? It'll make it really yummy, I promise." At least the first is really fresh after their absence.

[pampa]

Ooooookay. Miller has no idea what that means and he's pretty sure he doesn't want to know. He leans up against the counter and Aretha leans against one of his popsicle stick legs to get some more quality pets. He doesn't protest despite all his posturing.

"Sure, that sounds like it'll make it less coffee-flavored." Which is his style so do it!! "So it's just you two, then? Well, and all these critters."

Schoolhouse

[cisskabob]

Once Cissie gets back to the village, she fairly aggressively sets about trying to return to life "as normal," or whatever passes for it here, since she's still acclimating. She wants to give people some space after what they've all experienced. She knows she was lucky; what she saw wasn't very traumatizing, even if it did dredge up old pains and hurts. It's nothing new; just things she thought she had moved on from and forgiven her mother for, but it turns out... Maybe she hasn't, completely. It's an uncomfortable feeling, considering how long it's been since she's seen her mother, and how long it might still be.

She heads for the schoolhouse, looking to check out some of the books Bruce had mentioned they have there, hoping to distract herself. She's there, browsing the shelves, when she comes across Kamala, dozing off over a book. The younger girl doesn't look very comfortable, and Cissie feels bad, but she doesn't want to just leave her there. She approaches her and gently puts a hand on her arm.

"Kamala?"

[morphogenia]

For a second she thinks it's her best friend Nakia. Kamala quickly remembers she's not on Earth. Nakia would be hardcore judging her right now for the pity party she's been throwing daily. "Hm?" She peers up Cissie with those big brown eyes that quickly widen in surprise. "Oh! Cissie!" She sits up and tries to desperately smooth her hair. Talk about a terrible second impression. "Sorry, did you want to read this?" She offers the book in her hands, a sweet story about a moon princess because of course it is.

[cisskabob]

Cissie's smile is kind, and a little amused. "No, that's okay," she says, sitting next to her. "It looks good, though. I just thought you looked kind of uncomfortable sleeping like that. I don't know how long you were sleeping; how's your neck?"

[morphogenia]

Just as she asks, Kamala reaches up to touch it. She winces. It's totally stuff. She must have been asleep for a while "Owie." She reluctantly moves it a little in order to start working that kink out. "Not so great. I guess this isn't the right spot for a nap."

[cisskabob]

"It's not a bad spot," Cissie counters, looking around them. "There are way more books here than I expected. It's kind of amazing. Just... not very comfortable." She shoots a grin at Kamala. "You okay?"

[morphogenia]

This is the part where she visibly wonders if it's okay to fess up. Kamala looks away, conflicted. "Uh.... hm." She is being too obvious not to explain it. Kamala sigh sadly. "I kind of.... I guess I have some family problems right now." That's all she can say to describe what's happening to her.

Schoolhouse

[skyward_eyes]

Well, Frank wasn't wrong. As he'd suggested, Kamala really was spending a lot of time in the schoolhouse. Of course for Nida it took a while to find her, to find that quiet corner. Mostly he was limping along, his ankle messed up and all that. Still, it doesn't take much searching before he finds her, and Nida looks at her as she naps, considering carefully. Should he wake her?

Yeah. Because no doubt she needed to have an ear.

At last he moves to lower himself down to sit next to her.

"Hey, Kam. Gonna wake up?"

[morphogenia]

It's the way he sits next to her; the way he calls her Kam. She opens her eyes and feels lonely. The relationship between Frank and Kamala has always been complicated. They started out roommates, but the roles were always shifting as the months ticked by. He was her leader and protector. At some point, they became friends. In a lot of ways, he truly is her best friend to this day. In others he's really the only family has now, a temporary guardian she loved dearly. The separation has been hard on her as someone who was always close to her family.

A frown tugs at her lips as she starts to sit up. "I guess." A part of her had hoped it'd be Frank. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes. "Hey, Nida."

[skyward_eyes]

"Frank sent me to check up on you," he says, moving to drape an arm around her shoulder in a brief hug. "I think he's afraid to come and see you."

Which Nida thinks he might have a reason to be. But for right now, he's going to be there for his friend, and he's going to be honest about it.

"Would have come anyway. Just taking me a bit longer to get around to find the people I care about. And here you are, top of my list, Kam. Just needed some help to find you."

[morphogenia]

It says a lot that Kamala doesn't look the least bit surprised that Frank not only knows where she is right now, but sent someone in to talk to her. She leans against him and surprises herself with how crummy of a friend she is being. A part of her wonders darkly if that effort to be a better friend died with Peter before putting the thought out of her mind. Self-pity isn't going to make her a better person.

"Thank you, Nida. I'm sorry I didn't find you. I should have asked what happened instead of moping here like a jerk." Okay... that definitely is more of her feeling sorry for herself. It does mean a lot that he came to see her even if she is struggling to get a grip.

[skyward_eyes]

Should have asked who what happened? Nida? Nothing. Nothing happened to him. At all. Period.

"Come on now, Kam, is finding me really all that important?" Nida asked, squeezing her just a little bit. "You're hurting, that much is obvious. I should be finding you. And look, as if by magic, here I am. So let's worry about you right now, not me. I'm a slayer of dragons, remember? Nothing can keep me down."

Such a lie, but he's always sold those well, or so he likes to believe. For now he's just smiling at her, a little soft, a lot concerned. "So, what happened? Maybe talking about it could help."

[morphogenia]

Her lips turn up a little when he squeezes her. It is comforting in a way she really needs right now. Nida does make a compelling argument even if she knows better. You can slay robots or dragons and that won't make you feel any better when the chips are down. Kamala really needs someone to talk to so lets him win that one. "I was taken to that shrine like the others. I watched... mostly I heard someone I really love die back in that place I told you about before; the horror movie." She explains even realizing now how childish that sounds. Kamala continues as she looks down at her lap as if that will make this story any less terrible. "Someone I thought was our guardian angel turned out to be controlled by a really horrible person. To save that woman, the person I loved basically killed himself. I found out someone else I care about let him do it because they didn't see any other options."

Tears well up in her eyes, her voice chokes as she goes on. "It made me so angry that I blew up at both of them. Now I just... I wonder if it's worth it. What they did was awful, but I'm awful too. I should have done something instead hiding in the quiet like some stupid kid. Maybe they wouldn't have done those things if I wasn't such a coward." That's the thought that eats her alive. She should have done more. Never mind that she was barely sixteen at the time, sheltered and terribly naive. She was also powerful and immune. She should have acted.

House 6

[oorah]

Frank is standing on his own porch with a croc-dog under one arm and his backpack slung over the opposite shoulder. It's mid-afternoon, around the time they'd usually be getting lunch together and his stomach gurgles helpfully. He's wearing the hotdog sweater Billy made him in the mind weather and it seems like he'd chopped some of his beard off, though it's still long. Likely at Elektra's behest or because they were both bored. He doesn't feel like he can just walk in, but they both hate knocking so instead his boots rap a familiar pattern against the doorframe in Morse code S-A-F-E. He takes in a deep breath and blows it back out again. This isn't going to be easy, not like choosing to leave her was, but in a way it felt right. It's up to her what happens now, but Frank can't help but believe she would have been better off without him indefinitely.

[morphogenia]

She's too nervous to cook so she doesn't. They won't be able to talk she accidentally burns the house down. It's a sobering reality given the fact that someone did in fact burn a house down not too long ago. Better safe than sorry, right? Even if she's starving.

Kamala paces the kitchen floor as the coffee brews and worries about what will happen next. She has an alternate take on the situation, of course. She pictures him not coming back because this is getting to be too much for him. She freaked out when things got a little too real. Who would want to put up with that? Jess' avoidance made it pretty clear how badly she can't handle the truth.

It's go time whether she likes it or not. She'd know that code in her sleep at this point. She rushes to the door with the other pets no doubt trailing behind since they're bound to know it too and opens it enough for him to pass through. "Hey. Were your arms too full?" She can't even conceive he may not feel comfortable waltzing into his own house.

[oorah]

"Yeah," he answers noncommittally even while trying to unload the croc-dog on Kamala so he can say hi to everyone else. He only barely gets the bag dropped to the ground before Aretha and Aloe are trying to climb on top of him so he crouches down to make it easier for them, accepting their slobber all over his face and neck while he laughs and pets them blindly. "Jesus Christ, you guys are monsters."

Even Nina rubs up against his ankle before zipping off again and he has to keep smiling while wiping dog spit off his face with the back of his sleeve.

"Yeah, yeah. I missed you jerks, too." He holds an arm up for her to help him off the floor automatically, though he still has not a clue where they stand. It's as good a test as any, right?

[morphogenia]

It's not a hard sell. Kamala missed the little weirdo being one herself. She doesn't waste any time taking him in her arms and petting his weird face with all the fondness in the world. Seeing the dogs attack Frank with their love puts a smile on her face. For a second it's like nothing happened. Maybe they just felt affectionate that day. She didn't temporarily break up their little family unit because things got too real.

Kamala drops Bruno to the floor so she can help Frank up. Normally she'd be proud that once again it's gotten a little easier this time. Everything feels so tense still. She just wants to spill her guts here and now. She should probably at least let him get caffeinated before she word vomits. "Uh... coffee is ready." She drops his hand so she can go pour a cup of it.

[oorah]

He opens his mouth to say something as she pulls him to his feet, but then she's walking away from him and he nods, scratching the back of his neck and following her into the kitchen. His boots make not one sound against the wood floor, and he'd forgotten how much he missed them: they fit a lot better than the ones he'd taken from the Inn, of course, plus they had the added benefit of the Natives' method of soundproofing. It's something he still doesn't understand, but they don't squeak or tap anymore unless he really smacks them against the door like earlier. Still, he's never said no to coffee in his life, and he's certainly never said no to Kamala when it counted either. He stares at the table the same way he did the door and decides to lean against the counter instead, accepting the cup she pours him with a little grunt as he wraps his hand around it and stares into the dark liquid as steam rises up against his face.

[morphogenia]

Kamala does a double take at the lack of noise. That in itself is familiar. She has to wonder if maybe those popped up along with the Ms. Marvel suit. She decides not to say anything just yet. It really does point out how oblivious she is which is another point against her.

She prepares the coffee with practiced ease the way they both like it. Her as always takes a little longer with the added milk and stevia. She notes the way he stays at the counter with some anxiety. He's not sitting with her anymore. Awesome.

She goes to take a seat at the table and takes a long sip of coffee to prepare herself. "I guess I should start, huh? Since I'm the one who called you over?" Kamala grips the cup with both hands to offer herself some comfort. Her eyes are trained on her feet as she talks. "I'm sorry for freaking out on you. I get why no one wants to tell me anything now. I knew whatever creep set this up was looking for a reaction, but I still lost it. I'm sorry for hitting you and yelling.... basically kicking you out of your own house. Seriously, I should have left. You were here first. I'm such a jerk." Just going to nervous sip her coffee now.