thebastion | Day 162, Closed | Colin's being a meddling kid, now he just needs a dog

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Day 162, Closed | Colin's being a meddling kid, now he just needs a dog

Who: Colin, Zayna
Open: Closed
What: Colin thinks Zulf needs to get some Ura help. Time to talk to the Ura.
When: Day 162, after Raile's been stabilized and things have settled.
Where: Zayna and Zahi's home.
Format: Action
Warning: So yeah, there was a heavy Colin-ing here.

[Colin's day was far from done. Zia had already been around the hospital, so he didn't imagine that he needed to get her... But Zia was no soldier. Nor, from what Colin understood, did Zia know about Post Traumatic Stress. Zulf needed help from someone who could related to him, and who stood a shot at understanding. In Colin's mind, he needed the other Ura at the Bastion.]

[So here he was at the double-Z house, knocking on the door.]

Hello! It's Colin, do you have a moment to talk?

It's important!

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[It was a good two minutes before the door opened in the Ura abode. It was dark inside, save for a single candle on a table, and Zayna... did not look pleased.]

Could this not wait until morning?

That depends.

[Colin grins at her.]

Would you want me to not get your friends ASAP if you were sinking into self-induced depression?

. . . if this is about Zulf, I am aware of his... current condition. But at this particular moment?

[Her lips draw tight, but there's something in her eyes that betrays a sadness. She didn't know Night, but it had still been a blow to this community.

There was a reason for that candle.

And for the silence permeating the Bastion.]

... there are other things to be concerned about. Things that I'm sure he has already wrapped himself up in plenty.

[She knew her father had gone to the Shrine shortly after sundown, and she imagined Zulf was there, too. Preparing that poor girl for a proper send off to the Mother.]

And I'm not worried about that.

[Colin shakes his head.]

You can keep a vigil all you want, but I'm concerned that he's going to do something stupid. He's no soldier, and he's seen too much. His brain isn't wired for this.

Is it going to happen immediately? No. But it's going to happen.

If he has a funeral to plan, that will occupy his mind for some time. I imagine even though that poor girl was not of the Ura, he will want to give her a send off fitting of our kind. My father is likely helping him with such a thing right now.

[Zayna lets out a wary sigh, resting against the door frame. Her stance wasn't defensive, just... weighted. Like there was much more than Night's death on her mind.]

If nothing else... he'll have something to keep him busy for a while.

I don't think planning the funeral will do much for him. He's blaming himself for his friend's injury.

Plus, that wonderful little confession out of Raile a few weeks ago...

[Days? Weeks? Colin actually hasn't kept track of the time.]

He's blaming himself for everything.

What makes you think I'll have any affect on him? What makes you think I am not grieving any less--

[She stopped at that, sucking in a breath between clenched teeth. What hadn't been a defensive posture a moment ago turned in to one, and she moved to put her hand on the door.]

If he wants help, he will go to some one for it. Some one that he trusts. Please, leave me to my vigil. I'm sorry, but my heart is heavy enough tonight...

No, as a matter of fact, he WON'T.

Why do you think I'm coming to you?

[He studies her briefly.]

I do not believe that he feels as though anyone here understands him. And I know for a fact that he's been spending time with you and your father.

...

And, simply put, I don't know his culture well enough to approach him properly. I don't know if you've seen me in action, but I'm not exactly a silver-tongued devil.

Our culture. He comes to us because we shared a home once upon a time. Because we are the last remaining connection to that home that exists in a physical form.

But that does not mean I understand him. Or even know him that well.

You have good intentions, Mr. Starfury, but they are misplaced. I am not the kindness he needs right now. Nor will I ever be.

[Colin looks her up and down, arching an eyebrow.]

Boy, you've got a weird case of denial.

Anyway, I'm not looking for kindness. Kindness has him shut down and not speaking a word. Kindness has him thinking that everything that happens in this place is his own responsibility.

Miss, you strike me as the sort who's seen the worst the world has to offer, and come out the other side intact, for better or worse.

I want him to come out the other side intact. Not lay down and die where he's stuck himself.

[Oh Colin, you were going the right way for a good Ura slap.]

You have no idea what we have been through. What men like Zulf have been through. What the Caels have taken away from us--!

[She cut herself off there, though, lips pressing together again tightly. She had a distinct look of "said too much" on her features.]

... we are attempting to rebuild what has been lost here. Putting old prejudices aside. Some of us suffered more than others and Zulf is one of them. And I know from personal experience that once a person has changed so much as to lose who they once were, there is no coming back from that.

Do you really wanna compare dick sizes here? Is that what you're gunning for in your self-righteous posturing?

[Colin arches his eyebrow.]

'Cause lady, I'm here asking you to HELP our mutual friend. But if you want to bring out the chorus line of emo-emus, I will be more than happy to smack you down and put you in your place before proceeding on my way to find someone with enough give a damn to not watch a man kill himself slowly.

[That's going to earn you a slap across the face, Colin. And Zayna does not have a weak hand by any means.]

You have no right to speak to me that way.

[She was hissing through clenched teeth, posture rigid but arms trembling at her sides.]

You and all your... friends are here by the grace of the Mother. You would do well not to test Her patience any more than it has already been tested.

[Sorry, Colin. That would be a door slamming in your face.

A door that incidentally doesn't have a lock on it.

>walk away
>force your way in
>stand outside the door and yell
>????]

[You act as though you're the first person to slap him across the face. Or the first person to slam a door in his face. By the way, that sure is his hand shooting out to stop the door in its path.]

Let's get a couple of things clear, miss.

I've just as much right to call you out on your Bulrathi shit as you do to call me out on mine.

And I don't give a damn what the gods and their graces have to do with anything. My family has dealt with the gods before. As a matter of fact, I've dined at the table of one for thirty years, so I may know them a little better than you.

Now if you wanna get all huffy and act like you're the only person in the world who's ever been hurt, that's fine by me.

But just remember, if you keep slapping away hands reaching out to you, there might not be one waiting for you when you finally reach out.

... you're a damn fool. Remove your hand! I'm certain Zulf doesn't need your kind of help, you arrogant sorry excuse of a man, nor do I want your kind of help.

Leave. And keep your nose out of Ura business.

Get it through your head, you lack-witted simpleton of a woman! I am trying to get YOU to help YOUR friend. I couldn't care less about you, the Ura, the Caeldonians, or ANY generality at the moment. That's GONE now. The only thing that matters now is the people who survived.

Everyone else, EVERYONE ELSE is dead. Everyone that matters any more is here, and if they're still alive and NOT here, then why are we sitting around yelling at each other?

You wanna hate me? Call me a fool? That's fine, you won't be the first. And you certainly won't be the best.

[He actually grins at her at that.]

But get your damn priorities straight, or this will just be the first of many funerals that nobody could prevent.

Least of all the gods.

[He smiles and lets go of the door then.]

My due diligence is done. Ta ta now.

[And that would be the door properly slamming closed.

Goodbye, Colin.]

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Day 162, Closed | Colin's being a meddling kid, now he just needs a dog

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