Somebody slamming against metal, like one of the stall walls or maybe doors. Yelling. More yelling, still more yelling. A girl coming out of the bathroom.
Yep. Hades decided he'd just... use the bathroom in the opposite hallway. What was another two-or-three minute walk?
Without daring so much as a peek inside, he choked up on the strap of his backpack and trudged down the hall.
((Hades enters... and leaves.))
Teddie Bear Tears
Mens' Toilet; open
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
V8 Characters:
Hades Thompson: Scary on the outside, dying on the inside
Ruth Flanagan: Never talk to me or my brother or my brother or my brother or my brother ever again
Vladimir Tepes: Not a vampire, so invite him in
Hades Thompson: Scary on the outside, dying on the inside
Ruth Flanagan: Never talk to me or my brother or my brother or my brother or my brother ever again
Vladimir Tepes: Not a vampire, so invite him in
Teddie sat on the toilet seat, still wishing it was strong enough to support him hugging his knees to his chest. The air was thick with electric tension after the yelling tirade. Holy fuck he’d forgotten how lively school could get.
He actually cracked a smile at the thought.
Guys shouting their lungs out in a bathroom, him going nuttybars over facemasks, Marshall doing whatever the hell passed for logic in Marshall’s head. It was the insanity of other people that high school was renowned for.
His smile shrank back into his face. He still shouldn’t have been laughing at any of this, especially since this was his fault to begin with.
He thought back to Robin’s face mask. Thought of Jessica’s too. It wasn’t even as if they were the only face masks he’d seen that morning, just the two most prominent. He knew why they upset him, because he didn’t want to be stuck in his bedroom forever again with no-one to talk to or be around, but they were still a fact of life. A horribly upsetting fact of life, but one that wasn’t going to just disappear overnight. The Pandemic wasn’t just going to disappear-
Holy fuck, he didn’t want to finish that thought right now.
He sniffed up his tears, wiping at his face with his sleeve. Between the panic and the crying and the fiasco in the bathroom before first period, he was all worried out at this point. Now he just wanted to go back to class and feel super self-conscious and hate himself in there. It was better than running back home. He probably wouldn’t learn anything, but no-one ever learned anything on the first day anyway.
He hoisted himself up off the toilet, gingerly reaching for the cubicle lock. He opened it, and of course Marshall was standing right there. He avoided looking in Robin’s direction, because Robin was still a massive prick.
“Could you, like…” he mumbled, speaking at the boisterous man in front of him, but having difficulty finding the words. “...could you just, leave me alone, please?”
He actually cracked a smile at the thought.
Guys shouting their lungs out in a bathroom, him going nuttybars over facemasks, Marshall doing whatever the hell passed for logic in Marshall’s head. It was the insanity of other people that high school was renowned for.
His smile shrank back into his face. He still shouldn’t have been laughing at any of this, especially since this was his fault to begin with.
He thought back to Robin’s face mask. Thought of Jessica’s too. It wasn’t even as if they were the only face masks he’d seen that morning, just the two most prominent. He knew why they upset him, because he didn’t want to be stuck in his bedroom forever again with no-one to talk to or be around, but they were still a fact of life. A horribly upsetting fact of life, but one that wasn’t going to just disappear overnight. The Pandemic wasn’t just going to disappear-
Holy fuck, he didn’t want to finish that thought right now.
He sniffed up his tears, wiping at his face with his sleeve. Between the panic and the crying and the fiasco in the bathroom before first period, he was all worried out at this point. Now he just wanted to go back to class and feel super self-conscious and hate himself in there. It was better than running back home. He probably wouldn’t learn anything, but no-one ever learned anything on the first day anyway.
He hoisted himself up off the toilet, gingerly reaching for the cubicle lock. He opened it, and of course Marshall was standing right there. He avoided looking in Robin’s direction, because Robin was still a massive prick.
“Could you, like…” he mumbled, speaking at the boisterous man in front of him, but having difficulty finding the words. “...could you just, leave me alone, please?”
"Smile. The world's not ending just yet."
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ViolentMedic
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:53 am
Marshall didn’t move back when Robin jabbed a finger at him and started shouting at him, though not before doing the same to everyone else in the bathroom. It scared Lorenza off, and Marshall couldn’t imagine it would have made Teddie feel any better.
“Lorenza was trying to help! And there’s no need to use that language regarding some valid emotions! And… and.”
Marshall noticeably struggled with his words after that, turning bright red in the face.
If it was just Robin, there might have been room for debate. Particularly with the rudeness he had expressed towards the other two. But he had driven Teddie to the cubicle in the first place. And regarding Marshall himself, Robin was only wrong in that the pandemic couldn’t be blamed for Marshall’s inadequacy.
Teddie had opened the door, in order to make it clear that Marshall was not helping the situation. Marshall didn’t like leaving situations unattended. It was in his nature to deal with things as immediately as possible. But it wasn’t helping here. He should have written a note, or left a chocolate bar on Teddie’s desk, or some other non-verbal apology.
“I’ll go. I… I apologize for...” Marshall tailed off, still pink in the face. It was difficult to tell if it was from anger from the shouting or embarrassment for the absolute mess he’d made of things. He turned his head away quickly, eyes just a little too shiny. “...for everything.” The apology was directed more at the air than either Teddie or Robin. His voice was also at what most would have called a normal volume, but that was abnormally quiet for Marshall.
Class was about to start, and he needed to leave and prepare. And give the other two room to do the same, since this… clearly wasn’t something he could fix right now. Marshall quickly turned tail and marched out of the bathroom, as he tried to steer his mind back onto the topic of studies.
((Marshall West continued in Pain Is Temporary, Quitting Is Forever.))
“Lorenza was trying to help! And there’s no need to use that language regarding some valid emotions! And… and.”
Marshall noticeably struggled with his words after that, turning bright red in the face.
If it was just Robin, there might have been room for debate. Particularly with the rudeness he had expressed towards the other two. But he had driven Teddie to the cubicle in the first place. And regarding Marshall himself, Robin was only wrong in that the pandemic couldn’t be blamed for Marshall’s inadequacy.
Teddie had opened the door, in order to make it clear that Marshall was not helping the situation. Marshall didn’t like leaving situations unattended. It was in his nature to deal with things as immediately as possible. But it wasn’t helping here. He should have written a note, or left a chocolate bar on Teddie’s desk, or some other non-verbal apology.
“I’ll go. I… I apologize for...” Marshall tailed off, still pink in the face. It was difficult to tell if it was from anger from the shouting or embarrassment for the absolute mess he’d made of things. He turned his head away quickly, eyes just a little too shiny. “...for everything.” The apology was directed more at the air than either Teddie or Robin. His voice was also at what most would have called a normal volume, but that was abnormally quiet for Marshall.
Class was about to start, and he needed to leave and prepare. And give the other two room to do the same, since this… clearly wasn’t something he could fix right now. Marshall quickly turned tail and marched out of the bathroom, as he tried to steer his mind back onto the topic of studies.
((Marshall West continued in Pain Is Temporary, Quitting Is Forever.))
Fucking finally.
A stillness, and a silence, fell over the bathroom as the door slammed shut after Marshall, hopefully hitting him on the ass on the way. It lasted for a couple of seconds, before it was replaced with the sound of a faucet being turned on, a manageable stream rather than a maximum-pressure blast.
Robin sighed, the noise muffled by his mask and the running water, shaking his head and looking at himself in the mirror above the sink. Fucking christ. He’d been here for, what, half an hour, and already this fresh restart to his school life was proving to be dumb as all hell. He really didn’t remember the majority of his classmates acting this insane before the lockdown; had a year of isolation really fucked them up that badly?
Ugh. He’d had a perfect night’s sleep the previous night, and now he could have sworn he had bags under his eyes. This confrontation had seriously fucking drained him.
He grabbed a handful of paper towels, muttering sour nothings under his breath as he dried his hands. Whatever. It was whatever, honestly. Give it a week or so, he’d probably forget this shit had ever happened, and even if he didn’t, it wasn’t as though he actively sought out Marshall to spend time with him, far fucking from it. Dude was louder and more of a pain in the ass than a hurricane. As for the others, Teddie was totally fine most of the time, something must have gotten to him bad today, and Lorenza…
Well, hopefully he could run into her again under less batshit circumstances. And more romantic locations than the dude’s toilets.
Robin chucked the wad of damp paper into the bin, then turned around to see that Teddie was still just kinda standing there, just in front of the cubicle he’d locked himself away in, which was kinda fucking odd. If Robin had been in his shoes, he’d have wanted to get away from the scene of the crime as fast as possible and act like it’d never happened. Was there something outside of the bathroom doors that was turning the guy’s knees to jello? At least he was in the right place if he felt like he was about to piss himself.
“You good, dude?” Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.
A stillness, and a silence, fell over the bathroom as the door slammed shut after Marshall, hopefully hitting him on the ass on the way. It lasted for a couple of seconds, before it was replaced with the sound of a faucet being turned on, a manageable stream rather than a maximum-pressure blast.
Robin sighed, the noise muffled by his mask and the running water, shaking his head and looking at himself in the mirror above the sink. Fucking christ. He’d been here for, what, half an hour, and already this fresh restart to his school life was proving to be dumb as all hell. He really didn’t remember the majority of his classmates acting this insane before the lockdown; had a year of isolation really fucked them up that badly?
Ugh. He’d had a perfect night’s sleep the previous night, and now he could have sworn he had bags under his eyes. This confrontation had seriously fucking drained him.
He grabbed a handful of paper towels, muttering sour nothings under his breath as he dried his hands. Whatever. It was whatever, honestly. Give it a week or so, he’d probably forget this shit had ever happened, and even if he didn’t, it wasn’t as though he actively sought out Marshall to spend time with him, far fucking from it. Dude was louder and more of a pain in the ass than a hurricane. As for the others, Teddie was totally fine most of the time, something must have gotten to him bad today, and Lorenza…
Well, hopefully he could run into her again under less batshit circumstances. And more romantic locations than the dude’s toilets.
Robin chucked the wad of damp paper into the bin, then turned around to see that Teddie was still just kinda standing there, just in front of the cubicle he’d locked himself away in, which was kinda fucking odd. If Robin had been in his shoes, he’d have wanted to get away from the scene of the crime as fast as possible and act like it’d never happened. Was there something outside of the bathroom doors that was turning the guy’s knees to jello? At least he was in the right place if he felt like he was about to piss himself.
“You good, dude?” Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"bryony and alba would definitely join the terrorists quote me on this put this quote in signatures put it in history books" - Cicada Days, 2017
“Yeah, um…”
Teddie continued avoiding eye contact with Robin. He acknowledged Marshall’s apology, but he didn’t really feel like accepting it right then and there. He was still feeling pretty worked up over the whole thing, and wasn’t exactly in the mood to forgive and forget just yet. Maybe later.
He knew Robin was expecting a response. He couldn’t just ignore him and walk off. Actually he could absolutely do that, and that would be the least confrontational route with the least risk of upsetting himself again.
But Robin was still a massive prick.
“Could you, like, go fuck yourself?”
He still didn’t make actual eye contact as he said it, and he regretted it on some level straight away, but he felt it needed saying.
“You were really rude to everyone, you know? So, yeah, fuck you.”
Teddie continued avoiding eye contact with Robin. He acknowledged Marshall’s apology, but he didn’t really feel like accepting it right then and there. He was still feeling pretty worked up over the whole thing, and wasn’t exactly in the mood to forgive and forget just yet. Maybe later.
He knew Robin was expecting a response. He couldn’t just ignore him and walk off. Actually he could absolutely do that, and that would be the least confrontational route with the least risk of upsetting himself again.
But Robin was still a massive prick.
“Could you, like, go fuck yourself?”
He still didn’t make actual eye contact as he said it, and he regretted it on some level straight away, but he felt it needed saying.
“You were really rude to everyone, you know? So, yeah, fuck you.”
"Smile. The world's not ending just yet."
Well fuck you too, you little bitch.
Robin simply stared at Teddie for several seconds, before rolling his eyes, not even making a cursory attempt at hiding the gesture. Because, seriously? That was what the dude had been hanging around in here for? To sling insults around? Christ, what a tool. Robin had tried to offer him a shoulder to lean on, in case he was legitimately going through something shitty, and he’d just had it thrown back in his face. Real fucking nice guy, seriously. He’d never had a problem with the guy up until now, but clearly he was way more of a little shit than he let on in public.
“Whatever, dude,” Robin said, shaking his head, walking past Teddie as he spoke. “You can think whatever the fuck you like. I wasn’t the one yelling like a goddamn lunatic or slamming my fists against the fucking stall doors though. And in a goddamn public bathroom too, Jesus fuck…”
He tutted from behind his mask, striding across to the bathroom door and pulling it open. He paused as he was about to step through, before turning back to look at Teddie, unable to resist getting in one last parting shot.
“If it really pisses you off that badly, though, why don’t you go cry about it some more? Seems like that’s what you’re best at anyhow.”
He flipped Teddie off, and left the bathroom, letting the door slam shut behind him. He shook his head once more as he walked away. Man. That shoulda felt satisfying, or something, but the whole encounter just left a bitter taste in his mouth. Teddie had always been a part of the popular crowd, effortlessly getting into the sorta events and parties that Robin had a nagging feeling he was only invited to cause he could actually drive. And you could call him Nostradamus here, cause he was damn certain he knew exactly what the fallout of this would be; somehow, the entire event would be placed onto his shoulders, that he had just randomly started yelling at the poor, innocent bastards in the guy’s bathroom. Teddie’s cry session and bitchfit would, mysteriously, never get brought up. And the status quo would be maintained, hoo-fuckin’-ray.
Ugh. It really felt like he was spinning his wheels half the time here, stuck in the gravel trap and desperately trying to integrate himself into the J.E. hierarchy while every little thing he did got fucking misinterpreted and manipulated. He’d been actually looking forwards to getting back to school, God knows why, and already he was sick to death of it before the first class had even started.
Whatever. Speaking of, he should probably head over there now, didn’t wanna be late on top of all the other bullshit he’d just had to slog through. He adjusted his mask slightly, making sure it was fully covering his nose, before heading off down the corridor.
((Robin Valenti continued elsewhere))
Robin simply stared at Teddie for several seconds, before rolling his eyes, not even making a cursory attempt at hiding the gesture. Because, seriously? That was what the dude had been hanging around in here for? To sling insults around? Christ, what a tool. Robin had tried to offer him a shoulder to lean on, in case he was legitimately going through something shitty, and he’d just had it thrown back in his face. Real fucking nice guy, seriously. He’d never had a problem with the guy up until now, but clearly he was way more of a little shit than he let on in public.
“Whatever, dude,” Robin said, shaking his head, walking past Teddie as he spoke. “You can think whatever the fuck you like. I wasn’t the one yelling like a goddamn lunatic or slamming my fists against the fucking stall doors though. And in a goddamn public bathroom too, Jesus fuck…”
He tutted from behind his mask, striding across to the bathroom door and pulling it open. He paused as he was about to step through, before turning back to look at Teddie, unable to resist getting in one last parting shot.
“If it really pisses you off that badly, though, why don’t you go cry about it some more? Seems like that’s what you’re best at anyhow.”
He flipped Teddie off, and left the bathroom, letting the door slam shut behind him. He shook his head once more as he walked away. Man. That shoulda felt satisfying, or something, but the whole encounter just left a bitter taste in his mouth. Teddie had always been a part of the popular crowd, effortlessly getting into the sorta events and parties that Robin had a nagging feeling he was only invited to cause he could actually drive. And you could call him Nostradamus here, cause he was damn certain he knew exactly what the fallout of this would be; somehow, the entire event would be placed onto his shoulders, that he had just randomly started yelling at the poor, innocent bastards in the guy’s bathroom. Teddie’s cry session and bitchfit would, mysteriously, never get brought up. And the status quo would be maintained, hoo-fuckin’-ray.
Ugh. It really felt like he was spinning his wheels half the time here, stuck in the gravel trap and desperately trying to integrate himself into the J.E. hierarchy while every little thing he did got fucking misinterpreted and manipulated. He’d been actually looking forwards to getting back to school, God knows why, and already he was sick to death of it before the first class had even started.
Whatever. Speaking of, he should probably head over there now, didn’t wanna be late on top of all the other bullshit he’d just had to slog through. He adjusted his mask slightly, making sure it was fully covering his nose, before heading off down the corridor.
((Robin Valenti continued elsewhere))
"bryony and alba would definitely join the terrorists quote me on this put this quote in signatures put it in history books" - Cicada Days, 2017
Oh, wow. Um, ok.
It’s not like he was surprised by Robin’s response, because Teddie had told him to go fuck himself after all. But on the other hand, it was fucking rude and didn’t acknowledge any actual fault on his part. Also, he was making fun of him having an anxiety attack, which was a fucking dick move.
Teddie wiped at the tears on his face, moving over to wash his hands in the sink. Yeah, that was really not how he wanted to start his first day back. Christ.
He was the last to file out the bathroom, class on the horizon. He didn’t feel like he’d learn very much that day, but he wouldn’t forget the people he’d left hanging either. He’d have to resolve it later.
((Teddie Boyd continued elsewhere))
It’s not like he was surprised by Robin’s response, because Teddie had told him to go fuck himself after all. But on the other hand, it was fucking rude and didn’t acknowledge any actual fault on his part. Also, he was making fun of him having an anxiety attack, which was a fucking dick move.
Teddie wiped at the tears on his face, moving over to wash his hands in the sink. Yeah, that was really not how he wanted to start his first day back. Christ.
He was the last to file out the bathroom, class on the horizon. He didn’t feel like he’d learn very much that day, but he wouldn’t forget the people he’d left hanging either. He’d have to resolve it later.
((Teddie Boyd continued elsewhere))
"Smile. The world's not ending just yet."