Morning Tea

Who: Maddy and Alyson
Where: Around Town
When: Early morning

Maddy woke up alone, sprawled across her bed with hair in her mouth. It wasn't dark outside anymore. Morning had come, but the pinging against the window let her know that the freezing rain was continuing. Wonderful.

She changed clothes, discarding lace for old overalls, a heavier coat, and pink and green striped gloves. Stomach growling, Maddy headed outside, a couple of precious dollars in her pocket but all she had to eat was half-empty bottles of whiskey and schnapps and it was never good on an empty stomach.

Maddy was tired. Defintiely tired. Cold. Guilty. Confronting Dodge about Roy never happened. There was something seriously wrong with Dodge. She broke him. Maddy was pretty sure of that. Oh, he was trying to hide it but what she saw yesterday so wasn't Dodge. And she couldn't go to Roy for help. Roy would say that Dodge was faking. And he'd know she let him down.

She should just go kill herself. Terrible person, that's what she was. Terrible friend.

Something contracted painfully inside of her chest as she walked, jostled by businessmen too pre-occupied to look down and see her. Maddy covered her mouth, intending to cough but ended up stifling a painful sob instead. She wanted her brother. Jack would make everything better. But he was gone and she couldn't find him. Maybe he was dead.

Despite the weather, Alyson had decided to adventure outside -- there was only so much to do indoors and she'd read most of her books multiple times. Her destination was the library and she intended to get there as quickly as possible. She was beyond bundled up with a sweater under her coat, thick socks beneath her boots, a scarf, and a pair of white fur earmuffs.

The original Rabbit had been quite offended that she wore them, but Rabbit the Second seemed fine with it. After all, he was brown, and Alyson had learned early on that white rabbits and brown rabbits were at war with each other.

Spotting Maddy was trickier than one would think. With the weather, it was hard to see even a foot feet ahead and Alyson's umbrella didn't help matters. When she did make out Maddy's form, she took a moment to discern if it was an actual human being or something else (what else, Alyson could never be sure). She couldn't hear anything over the sound of the rain, but she got closer anyway, extending her umbrella out over the other person's form, realizing afterwards just who it was.

"You know, it's a misconception that people get colds from being outside in weather like this," she greeted, if a fact like that could be considered a greeting. "Colds, you only get from germs, but it probably won't do for you to be out in the rain either way."

Maddy blinked, wiping her blurry blue eyes and looking at Alyson, startled. She was one of the only people she knew that she could look at straight in the eyes. "Well I guess that means I gotta do more investigating as to how I got sick the other day then," she said, subdued still. She didn't fit in her skin. She didn't like this. She didn't like it one bit. Where was the old Maddy? Gone with the weather, maybe. Or maybe that Maddy had been killed by the fever.

"Germs," Alyson repeated, as if that would make sense to everyone. "You must have come in contact with someone else who was sick, or they came in contact with you. Same thing either way." Something in her arms squirmed, and she was aware that Rabbit the Second was anything but happy beneath two blankets and under her coat. Nonetheless, she pressed on, "Is there a reason you're standing out here in weather such as this?"

She glanced away, again wiping her eyes. Satisfied that they were no longer scratchy, she shrugged. "Looking to grab something to eat." She eyed Alyson's coat, that had started squirming around. "Is everything okay?" She noticed, then, that Alyson didn't have her pet in her arms. Maddy considered this for a moment. "Might I inquire as to the health of Sir Rabbit the Second?"

"Healthy, but cold," Alyson replied, glancing downward at the bulge in the front of her jacket. "Quite angry with me, honestly." She wrinkled her nose and added, "I wasn't about to go out alone in this kind of weather, though." Alyson loved adventures, but unfortunately for Rabbit the Second, she rarely took them alone.

"Most places are closed. If you'd like, I could heat you up some soup, though."

That poor rabbit. He was a lovely one though. Still, Alyson shouldn't be dragging the poor thing out in this weather, tightly bundled in her coat like that. "Did you know that ice rain is quite harmful to rabbits like Rabbit the Second? Perhaps an ambassodor who would be more hardy. Like an idol. And he would be able to report back to Rabbit the Second all his findings." Yes. A stuffed rabbit for Alyson to travel with might be a better idea.

It was the most logical choice and had before been brought up to Alyson by others. She'd always argued that Rabbit the Second was also stuffed -- stuffed with muscles, bones, and organs. "He's not directly in the rain," Alyson replied, smiling as the rabbit squirmed a little more. His brown ears were all that was currently visible, peeking out through her coat (though, she'd made sure that he had room to breathe; the last thing that she wanted was to suffocate her best friend). "I take it you don't want the soup?"

Oh well. "No! I mean, yes! I would like some soup." And as if on cue, her stomach growled rather loudly. She looked a little sheepishly at Alyson, watching Rabbit's ears twitch unhappily. "Maybe some bread if you have any?" Buttered bread and hot soup sounded really good, and there would be no dregs at the bottom of the pot like you could run into at the kitchen. "Would you like me to carry the umbrella as we walk?"

"I'm sure we can find you some bread," Alyson grinned, handing off the umbrella. "If you don't mind holding it -- I'm sure Rabbit the Second would prefer my full undivided attention." He'd gotten used to being tugged around like he was, but that didn't change the fact that he was uncomfortable being carried as he had been. "We have lettuce and tomatos as well, if you want an actual sandwich."

Maddy took the umbrella from Alyson's hand and held it above their heads as they started to walk to Alyson's apartment. She still felt... strange. Still felt trapped inside of her skin. She wanted someone to cry to, but she couldn't cry to Alyson. No. She was already a jerk and a terrible person. She didn't deserve Alyson's kindness but her stomach was dictating her movements at this point.

Alyson's negative judgments of the people she knew didn't last long unless she was given particular reason to dislike someone. As it was, while Maddy could be rude at times, she'd never given Alyson a reason to hate her. Therefore, when she needed help, Alyson was happy to offer her services. She led the way, shifting the balance of her arms and making Rabbit the Second considerably more comfortable. More of him poked out from her jacket, face peering out before burrowing back into his blanket.

"Oh, hush," Alyson spoke, though it was to her rabbit and not to Maddy. "We're almost home. There's no need to complain."

"Are you two lonely living by yourselves?" she found herself asking as they walked, Rabbit moving every now and then underneath Alyson's jacket. Maybe she should get a pet. But what kind should she get? Then again, she didn't have any money to share with a pet. It was a dilemma.

Maybe Jack would get her a pet when she found him again.

Alyson thought the question over before she answered, "Loneliness is a choice, I believe." When they were to her apartment, she opened the door and held it for Maddy. "If you're lonely, and you want not to be lonely, then you just make someone up. When someone is there, you're not lonely anymore."

It was the only implication Alyson would ever give that she was aware of the tricks her mind played on herself.

Maddy closed the umbrella and walked in, setting the umbrella against the wall behind the door, closing it after Alyson and her rabbit came inside. "That's a good way to look at it," she said quietly, fingers tracing the wood grain of the door. She couldn't do that. She'd tried, when she was little and Jack had left. Before... She really had to stop thinking about this.

Looking over as she undid her coat, Alyson could tell that Maddy didn't see things the way that she did. Unwrapping the blankets that held Rabbit the Second, she let the animal go. He hopped out onto the floor, scurrying to a carpeted section. "Do you have a preference of soups?"

"Do you have chicken noodle?" Maddy turned around and watched Rabbit hop across the ground and curl up in a pile of blankets and half eaten pillows. That looked comfortable. "Chicken noodle might be good. Would you like me to help with anything?" She looked down at her pink and green gloved hands, but she had a pair of surgeon's gloves that she could put on to help with anything if need be.

"I do!" Alyson replied cheerfully, heading towards the kitchen. "No need to help. You're our guest." She looked back at Rabbit and gave him a disappointed look. "I apologize for his rudeness. He's not used to guests." She returned her attention to the cabinets, finding a can of soup and a bowl to make it in. "You can look in the refrigerator for stuff to make a sandwich, if you'd like."

"I'm not offended. I think he's just frightened." She smiled a little at Alyson and went to the refrigerator to grab the butter and some cheese. "Would it be okay to give him a carrot? That might make him feel better." Maddy went to the table and set the butter and cheese on the top, looking around for a knife. She found it next to the bread box, pulling out a loaf. It was quiet in the apartment, at least with Maddy's one good ear, but at least it wasn't a lonely quiet.

"Frightened? Ha!" Alyson shook her head, though her cheerful expression never faded. "He wants you to think that. He's a tricky one." Once the soup was on the stove, she took the time to watch Maddy, who was obviously in a bit of a down mood (the extent and circumstances of which were a mystery to Alyson). "Yes, I'm sure he'd love a carrot."

Maddy didn't notice Alyson's studying of her, just finished slicing a few pieces of the bread and went back to the refridgerator to grab a carrot for Rabbit. She quietly crept over to the poor animal, hiding in his nest. "C'mere, boy," she murmured, holding out some of the carrot for him to nibble on. "How long have you been in the company of this fine sir?" she asked Alyson over her shoulder.

Rabbit peered up at Maddy, determining her level of threat. Eventually, he hopped forward twice and sunk his teeth into the carrot, trying to tug it out of her hands so he could steal it and retreat back to safety.

"About two years and..." Alyson counted on her fingers, as if that would help her memory. "Three months, I'd say."

Maddy giggle quietly, tugging very gently back on the carrot and Rabbit tugged back. "He's well behaved for being such a little boy." She wasn't exactly sure how long rabbits were meant to live and while they engaged in their tugging match, she reached over and stroked his soft head, trailing her fingers down the back of one downy ear. "You should be very proud, Lady Alyson."

Fortunately, Rabbit was used to being messed with, so being pet didn't startle him as much as it might have startled other rabbits. He didn't seem to enjoy it, but he was also focused on the carrot.

Alyson smiled and checked on the soup, deciding she had time to join them on the floor. She took a seat by Maddy and said, "Thank you. I am. He's quite the handsome young fellow." She scratched behind Rabbit's ears. "He's the talk of the town among the rabbits, or so he tells me." She had her doubts about it, really, but she was aware that Rabbit, above all, liked to impress people. She'd play along with his delusions of grandeur for now.

"Oh, I'd believe it," Maddy said with a grin. "He impresses me and it isn't easy to impress me, you know. Supreme Goddesses receive so many attempts at impressing that it takes a rare person indeed to accomplish that." It lacked most of Maddy's usual flair and grandeur but it was there. A glimmer of it at least. She leaned down and dropped a kiss on Rabbit's delicate little head. "Does he have many lady rabbits trying to curry favor?"

It was always nice to see someone get along with Rabbit, much less indulge him the way Alyson did. "He says he does, but," she leaned over to whisper into Maddy's ear, "between you and me, I've never seen them." She pulled back and giggled, patting Rabbit on the back. The rabbit, despite all of their talk, seemed oblivious that he was the topic of conversation and continued to munch on his carrot, just happy that he was being cared for.

"Well then we should take it upon ourselves to find him a nice lady Rabbit," Maddy said, another giggle bubbling out of her as she stroked his long ears. "And then Rabbit the Second can start the Rabbit family. They'll be the highest royalty in all of Rabbitdom, don't you think? As long as he behaves himself, of course."

"It's likely they'd start an empire," Alyson chuckled, standing up to go take the soup off the stove. She kept talking as she moved, "Two rabbits turns into four, four into eight, and soon, before you know it, Rabbit the Second and his mistress will take over Eidolon City. Then we'll be the ones on the floor, waiting for someone to give us a carrot." Once the soup was off and cooling, she searched for a large bowl -- Maddy looked hungry, and Alyson, while she planned on having some, had made the soup specifically for the other girl.

Maddy gave Rabbit the other half of the carrot, which he promptly sat on while he kept munching on the first piece. "Doesn't sound too bad to me," Maddy said, sliding into a seat at the table and grabbing up the bread. "Would you like me to butter some bread for you?" It was all another game, although Alyson's were far easier to play. Like a never ending tea party, in a way. Maddy could do that.

The other girl seemed to have it so easy. Go through life with her rabbit, never bothered, never lonely. She envied her. Supreme Goddesses weren't meant to have lowly mortal emotions but Maddy was feeling more human. More like a vulnerable little girl each hour that passed.

"No, I suppose not." Alyson had often pondered what it'd be like to have her own empire, and eventually, she'd decided that it was more trouble than it was worth. It was hard to keep her own affairs straight (and her affairs were next to nothing -- her life consisted of her elaborate fantasy world and disposing of bodies for the Walkers); she doubted that she could keep the affairs of others together as well.

Pouring the soup for Maddy, Alyson answered, "Oh, that's kind of you. No, thank you, though. I think I'm going to make a sandwich of some sorts." Once she'd finished preparing the soup, she set it on the table for Maddy with a spoon and napkin, and set out to make the sandwich in question. It ended up being a banana in between two pieces of lettuce and two pieces of bread, not a combination that most people would choose, but Alyson's food was as weird as anything else about her. "What can I get you to drink? We have water, tea, and orange juice, I believe."

"Tea would be nice," Maddy said, carefully trying out the soup. It was hot but really good, which was a comfort considering Alyson's choice of what made good food. Banana and lettuce... But at least she had a stock of food. "Thank you. The soup's quite good." this was easy. There was something... comforting about sitting there enjoying a simple meal with a friend, a rabbit munching on carrots in the corner... Yes. This was quite nice.

Alyson put on the kettle, realizing she should have started it beforehand. At least the soup itself was a liquid -- it would do until the tea was done. "I'm glad you like it," she smiled, taking a seat at the table for herself and taking a bite out of her sandwich. She didn't flinch at the taste; clearly, it was something she'd eaten before.

"How has your week gone? It's been awhile since I've seen you." Then again, she'd been holed up in the McKinnon's apartment sick and barely able to move so if Alyson had wandered by the theater, she wouldn't have seen her. "I hope no troubles have befallen you?"

"I've been well," Alyson replied, considering her week. Had it even been eventful? Then again, Alyson didn't have weeks that weren't eventful, at least in her mind. "I went for a walk and met a strange man, though." She tapped her finger on her chin, thinking it over and then deciding that it was nothing Maddy would be interested in. "How about you? I haven't seen you at the theater, though Rabbit the Second and I only went once this week."

"I was under the weather so I was away making sure I didn't get anyone else sick, especially since, as you say, germs spread sickness." Strange man? Worry curled in her stomach and Maddy leaned forward slightly. Girls like the two of them. Little girls that looked younger than they were, always were magnets for trouble.

"Oh!" Perhaps that explained why Maddy seemed to be in a sour mood. "You're still recovering then, I take it?" She got up and poured them both tea, setting Maddy's glass in front of her and putting her own glass down by her half-eaten sandwich. She got out a dish and poured water in it, setting it on the floor for Rabbit, whenever he decided that he was finished with his carrot (he was no longer nibbling on it, but it was still very much his property -- he was a large rabbit, so sitting on it was all he needed to do to guarantee that no one else would steal it from him; it generally worked until Alyson came along and picked him up).

"A little bit," she said reluctantly, nibbling at her piece of bread half-heartedly. It wasn't like she could really confide in Alyson. It would show weakness and she was positive that Alyson wouldn't understand how she was feeling. She hadn't thought about it earlier, but her dream that night had disturbed her and she was just more confused than ever. "Still tired."

Maddy was probably right in assuming that Alyson wouldn't understand. As much as she tried, Alyson had trouble comprehending most of what people went through. She was sympathetic no matter what, but that didn't mean she understood. "The best thing for that is to rest," she informed Maddy, though the younger girl most likely knew that. "You shouldn't push yourself." Alyson tapped the bridge of her nose and chuckled. "I sound like an old maid. 'Don't push yourself, Maddy. You should rest, Maddy.'"

She chuckled a little bit, eating more of the soup. Warmth spread through her, up and down her limbs. Comforting. "Well, old maid or not, you're probably right. Especially with the weather, although I doubt I'll have any power when I get back." The block the theater was on had enjoyed some intermitten power surges in the short time she had been awake and with the way everything was outside, she knew the whole block would be without power by noon.

Maddy half wanted to stop at Dodge's, make sure all the boys were okay but boy, that would give the older boy more ammunition than he had already. Lonely. Needy. She was disgusted with herself. Of course, she could always go over and yell at him, but she wasn't sure if he'd be too fragile or not.

And Roy. He'd probably be in his vault. Maybe. Marian would probably be there. Her mind flashed once more to the dream. The sharp crack and the pain she actually felt when Roy's sister had smacked her so hard her mouth bled.

Complications. So lame.

Thus far, Alyson's power had been behaving. If asked, she'd say it was because she had sat down and had a 'talk' with it. She stood up then and walked over to where Rabbit was resting, sitting down in front of him. "Rabbit the Second," she spoke as she picked him up, ignoring the way he tried to squirm out of her grasp, "would you mind terribly if I invited Maddy to stay the night?"

Rabbit seemed more focused on getting back to the ground than answering, but Alyson responded to him despite, "Don't be silly. She won't cause any trouble." She set him back down and he hopped over to hide under one of her chairs. Standing up, she brushed off her hands and smiled over to Maddy, as if she hadn't just had a conversation with her pet rabbit over whether or not her offer was acceptable: "If it's not too forward of me to suggest, you're welcome to stay here until your power is back. The weather is miserable, and I'd feel responsible if you froze to death and I hadn't so much as offered you a place to stay."

Maddy looked surprised at the offer, but it wasn't terribly unexpected. Alyson was like that. And she was just so lonely... With a nod, Maddy accepted. "I'd like that. Do you mind me crashing on your couch? That rest idea sounded like a good one." The pain was back in her chest, the pressure building somewhat and she rubbed at the spot absently, vainly trying to relieve it.

"Not at all," Alyson smiled. "I may slip out, but you're welcome to stay here and rest for as long as you need to." She motioned to the refrigerator. "You're welcome to the food as well -- everything but the strawberries." She frowned as she looked back towards Rabbit who had burrowed into a blanket that he'd, at some point or another, dragged under the chair. "Even I'm not allowed to eat the strawberries. He can be quite cranky."

"Is he a cuddler?" She was surprised to find herself asking that, but Rabbit was soft and floppy and yeah, he was squirmy but there was a difference between hugging a pillow or a stuffed animal versus something actually alive.

The question made Alyson giggle. "He is," she answered. "At times. Most of the time, all you have to do to get him to settle down is to rub his head for a few minutes." As a rabbit, he liked being near a warm body, which was convenient. Alyson hated to sleep alone; it was much more comforting to have her best friend lying there beside her. "Don't be surprised if he hops off the couch while you're sleeping though."

Maddy smiled a bit. "I'll keep that in mind." Maybe when she got her little house, she could have a rabbit. Small enough not to be too bothersome, but big enough to properly cuddle. In fact, she could feel another wave of sleep coming on. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leave Danny and Janey's like she did. "Do you mind if I crash now? It's not that the soup isn't good but I'm just really tired." That had to be it. She had to still be sick to be so out of sorts.

"I don't mind at all! I'll go fetch a pillow and some blankets." Alyson didn't wait for a response before scurrying back to her bedroom to retrieve just that. Pillows were something that she had an abundance of, so she had plenty to choose from. She picked one of the fluffiest and grabbed two blankets (it was freezing, and who knew how long Maddy had been standing in the cold before Alyson had found her) and practically skipped back into the main room, setting them on the couch.

"If you'd like dry clothes, I could probably find you an old nightgown of mine," Alyson offered. "It'd be a little big, but better than sleeping in something wet, I'd assume."

Maddy and Alyson were both the same size, so Maddy wasn't worried about having Alyson's clothes fit her. "Yeah, I'd like that please." She got up from the table, slipping off her shoes. She looked at Rabbit, who was peering at the going ons from the safe confines of his blanket. "I'll leave you alone, buddy," she told him with a little smile. "I hate it when people drag me around too."

Alyson laughed and told Maddy, "He appreciates it," before she disappeared back into her bedroom. When she returned, she had Maddy an old flannel nightgown and pointed down the hallway. "The bathroom is there, if you need it."

She took the nightgown from Alyson. It was soft and smelled nice. "Thanks, Alyson." Maddy quietly went to the bathroom, holding the nightgown. The pressure in her chest was so painful and she slid down to sit on the cold tile, pulling her knees up to her chest. After a moment of trying to calm herself, she buried her face against her knees and began to cry.