lydiascreams | [018. Why don't you lock me up with joy and kisses?]

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[018. Why don't you lock me up with joy and kisses?]

[Private Video - Peter]
[She's still not happy after talking to Stiles. After going down to Zero and shoving pillows, blankets and food at the two idiots, she's calmer, though. Because at least they are both alive and pissed off at each other, which is just the natural order of the universe. If they were hurting or feeling remorse, she'd be more worried. Probably. But that doesn't mean she doesn't want more details.]

Hey. I went to see Stiles and Jackson. Could you tell me what happened? I know there's not much of a point in asking them for the truth.

[Video - Wardens]
There are two inmates currently at Zero. Peter Parker took care of breaking a fight and taking them there, but I'm volunteering to take care of them until they are released. They aren't really dangerous to anyone but themselves. And it's mostly because they are being complete idiots.

I just ask that you please don't taunt them, or give them more reasons to be angry.

[Open Spam]
[It's a couple of days later and she finds herself going back to Zero again. She stops by the kitchen to pick up some food, but just for one person this time. Then by her room on the 5th floor to grab a comforter and a book. And then makes her way down to see Stiles.]

[Spam - Stiles]
[She's heard about Jackson getting out of Zero, and although she's been making her way there every day to bring them food and snacks, she hasn't actually been talking to either of them. Both because she's angry, disappointed, upset. And because she knows it will only make things worse. Because she cares about both of them. She wants to help both of them. And they will only be angrier to see her helping the other. The further apart they are, the better off everyone is.

Today, however, since Stiles is there alone. She plans on spending most, if not the rest of the day with him. She gets there and wordlessly sets his tray down and pushes it under the bars. Unlike all other days, however, she places her folded comforter on the ground and sits down by his cell. Adjusting until she's comfortable, then setting her book on her lap and turning to look at him.]

[Spam - Jackson]
[After seeing Stiles, and spending some time with him, she finally makes her way over to Jackson's cabin and knocks on the door. The last two times she saw him, he was completely broken, upset and more lost than she's ever seen him.

Now, she's not really sure what to expect. Surely glares thrown in her direction, but those never really bothered her. She can put up with his bad mood and attitude if she feels like she's actually getting through to him. Helping him. Because while she may have limited time to get through to Stiles, Jackson is not going anywhere. He's a long term project and she knows she can actually get him to be better if she doesn't give up on him. And Lydia doesn't give up.]

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[He hasn't tried talking to her, either. In fact, other than exchanging the occasional taunt or barb with Jackson, he hasn't said much at all since the day he landed in Zero. There's nothing to say. He doesn't regret defending himself, doesn't regret taking his anger out on the other boy. Jackson's lucky that Stiles hadn't killed him. His self-control as a werewolf is much tighter than it ever was when he was human. His actions are always intentional, deliberate.

If and when he hurts someone, it's because he intends to hurt them.

It's why he's dangerous.

Jackson was released earlier that day, and while he's glad he doesn't have to be in the same space with him anymore, he's bitter that he's still locked away. Bitter that despite all the reasons he has for his actions the previous day, he's still the one being punished. This Barge isn't so different from his own after all. He's just usually on the delivering end of the punishments and not the receiving.

It's fine. He'll deal. He's laying on the floor on his back, staring up at the ceiling as he absently rubs his thumbnail over the deep wounds in his arm that aren't healing as fast as they should. He glances over at Lydia briefly when she arrives, eyes the comforter she's carrying, watches as she spreads it out on the floor and sits down with a book.

He returns his gaze to the ceiling, saying nothing.]

[She doesn't really expect him to say anything. Not before she actually talks to him. Because if there's one thing with Stiles that seems to be universal is how stubborn he is.

But she doesn't really mind, because she's stubborn, too. And she knows that with enough patience, she'll get through to him. Which is the reason why she's there. After a lot of deep breaths and clearing her head, she knows that pulling away from him is the worst thing she can do for his development right now. He's locked up for longer, and that is probably bad enough as it is, but it also means he can't avoid her even if he tries.

And she knows she needs to be there and remind him he's not alone. Her eyes are still on him, book still closed on her lap and she takes a deep breath.]

You should eat while it's still warm.

[ He pulls open the door. And what she gets is far worse than anything before. There's no glares. No anger. Just indifference. He's fresh off a workout, bare chested with a shirt in his hand. He regards her with a cold eye, before pulling it on.

He'd been working out harder than ever. Using it to hide. To feed his denial. With all Stiles had said to him, with the way Lydia had treated Stiles down there. It didn't sit right with him. But he refused to look any deeper into it. Because he knew, deep down, it would destroy him. So he hid from it. Running harder. Utilizing the gym. Staying focused. ]

Did you want something?

[ His voice was cold. If he pushed her away, then she couldn't hurt him. The same old song and dance. ]

[For a moment he thinks maybe she's going to simply sit there and read. That she isn't going to speak to him. That she's trying to out-stubborn him. And maybe she is, ultimately.

He huffs when she tells him he needs to eat while the food is warm, and refuses to look over at her.]

Not hungry. [A beat.] Thanks anyway.

[When she gets to the kitchen she'll find a suite of clothes leaning on the kitchen counter and waiting for water to boil. If there's an electric kettle around here Jim hasn't found it yet, but he has found where they're hiding the tea. And he's already begun stockpiling it in anticipation of further warden interference.]

Good day, miss. [He gives her a slight nod of his hat.]

[When he huffs, she has to try really hard not to roll her eyes. She does feel bad that he's still locked up in there, but it's not easy to keep herself from being annoyed by this attitude.

But she's definitely sticking to her plan anyway. And the thanks does help. In fact, it makes her smile a little because at least she knows he can't even really pretend to be mad at her.]

You're welcome. How is the healing going?

[That's-- not at all what Lydia is expecting. Mostly, as far as his bare chest goes and she might have seen it a thousand times before but it's been a while and Jackson has always taken care of himself and-- shirt is on and it's a relief because now she can focus.

She glances away then takes a deep breath before focusing on his face. The indifference there is definitely not entirely expected. But she knows it's a bad sign. At least with anger, he's feeling something.]

Yes. [It's not going to be easy to push her away and lock her out, because without warning, she steps into his room, no plans to leave until they've talked.]

I wanna know how you're doing.

[Stiles being mad at Lydia -- even pretending to be mad at Lydia -- is about as apt to happen as Stiles turning his back on Scott. He can get annoyed with her pretty easily, he can feel bitter about all things that involve her and Jackson, he can feel disappointed and hurt by her, but he doesn't have it in him to be mad.

It'd be easier if she was willing to leave him alone. It would be easier for both of them if she just went to find Jackson. Instead, she's planted herself outside the cage he's in. He doesn't really understand this anymore than he understands why Allison keeps coming around him. Why she keeps insisting they're pack. It's confusing.

He doesn't like it.

Stiles shrugs his shoulders and glances at his arm. He's been picking at the wounds and they're bleeding again.]

Slowly.

[At first she only feels the chill she's come to associate with death, what with being a banshee and all. But since the death isn't happening, and is already done, she doesn't feel the urge to wail like she normally would. She sees the clothes and when she realizes the floating hat, she stills, eyes wide.]

Hi. [A ghost. With manners and who can dress himself. This place is turning into Hogwarts. But she needs a deep breath both to shake off the shock and the deathness she's feeling.]

-- Are you new?

[Of course he can dress himself, what kind of slovenly pervert do you think he is?]

I am, I've only arrived a few days ago. Jim Craddock, at your service. [Obliging raising of the hat and slight bow. The custom is decades out of favor but he finds many women favor a bit of Old World last-century charm.]

[And she's not planning on going anywhere. At least not until she gets him in a better place that doesn't involve huffing, puffing, pouting and not looking at her.

In fact, she turns more toward him, closer to the bars and cocks her head, trying to take a better look at him, at his arm. Is that-- blood? Fresh blood?]

Can I take a look at it?

[He rolls his head on the floor so that he can look at her, and almost sighs. He'd tell her it's nothing to worry about, but she's every bit as persistent and stubborn as he is. As Allison is. No wonder the two girls are best friends in Lydia's world.

Reluctantly he sits up and crawls over to where she's sitting.]

It's not a big deal. It itches so I scratched it.

[She definitely didn't think it was going to be that easy to get him to come closer to her, but apparently, it is. Once he's closer, she reaches inside and toward his arm and makes a face.]

You do remember that when you're basically a human, doing that can make it infected and a lot worse, right? [She knows he will heal as soon as he's out of here, but she also knows he still has a couple of days to go.]

[Definitely not like any ghost she's met before? Not that she's met any, she just... hears them, usually. In her head. She bows her head lightly back at him in form of greeting, now that the shock is wearing off.]

Lydia Martin. Nice meeting you, Mr. Craddock. [And then she realizes that-- he's in the kitchen, seemingly making tea but, why?]

Do you need help finding anything?

[Jim shakes his head, used to people being confused by his appearance. They all get past it eventually.]

No, I'm simply waiting for the kettle. [He gestures at the stove, where the kettle is beginning to hiss, and at the cup and saucer besidei t. It's not his china teapot, nor is this cup from his delicate matched set, but crude tea is still tea and he's drunk it out of a saucepan in his most desperate days.] If we must be trapped here, I refuse to be without my basic creature comforts.

[Allison has been staying with Stiles every possible moment she can. She doesn't know how much progress she's making, but she's doing the best she can. She leaves him only when she has to for basic things like grabbing food and using the bathroom...or to check in on Tig, or to work her shift in the kitchen...

She hasn't been this busy in a long time, but she barely feels it. She's taking care of people, her pack is growing...she's strong enough to handle it. Leading her people, protecting her territory, she's in her element.

She's also heading back down to Zero to sit with Stiles again when she scents Lydia near the fifth floor. She leaves the stairs and moves down the corridor, smiling when she spots her leaving her cabin.]

Lydia! Can I help you with that?

[She's definitely seen it, but she does glance toward it out of manners.]

I agree. You could probably get an electric teapot from the Admiral if you request one. [Which is really just a way for her to find out if he's a Warden.]

[She's just closing the door to her cabin when she feels Allison approaching. Since this version of her best friend showed up, Lydia can't help but start paying more attention to her instincts, which might be connected to her powers just like the werewolves' are. And it seems to be working. Because as she turns around with a smile on her lips, she knows exactly who she will find there, even as Allison calls out for her.

Lydia adjusts the comforter in her arms, along with the tray, and nods.]

Definitely! I was just heading down to see Stiles.

Really? As I said, I'm new. Still getting up to speed on the rulebooks and paperwork, and the recent chaos certainly hasn't made it easier.

[A faint smirk tugs at his mouth at her question, because yes, he does remember that. He's been a wolf for awhile now, but he still lived the majority of his life as a powerless human.]

I think I'll probably survive, but your concern is touching.

[Probably not a Warden, then. Lydia nods.]

You didn't get here at the best of times. But hopefully the Admiral will fix it soon.

Don't be a jerk, Stiles.

[She gives him a look as she brushes her thumb over his arm, then glancing down at the claw marks there. She wants to ask him what happened, but she doesn't think it's time yet.]

I'll bring something to clean this up next time I come.

Jerk is my default setting, Lydia.

[He shrugs, watching her thumb brush over his skin, watching the goosebumps rise at the simple, platonic touch. After a moment he pulls his arm away, back into the cell and rests it on his knees.]

You really don't have to sit down here with me.

Yes, on that. What can you tell me about the Admiral? He seems to be a most enigmatic figure.

No, it isn't.

[Jerk is what everything that happened in his world made him, and the environment in the other Barge. But it's not who he is underneath. Sarcastic? Yes. But not a jerk.

Her chest does clench when he pulls away, but she takes a deep breath as she sets her hands on her lap.]

I know. But I want to. I wanted to come for the past couple of days but I figured if I stayed, I'd have made things worse between the two of you.

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[018. Why don't you lock me up with joy and kisses?]

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