psl; [the healing process]

[animalqueen]

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ELLE GRAYSON is generally a normal one, with enough variety sprinkled in throughout the week to prevent it from becoming a deadly dull routine. She lives in a flat in London, a charming little one bedroom and two bath, not particularly large, but cozy. It’s a strange fusion of modern and old fashioned, a dichotomy that reflects her own personality quite well.

Every morning, she wakes up and makes a cup of strong coffee. (Black, no sugar.) Her cat, a grey, long-haired, grumpy looking thing, lazes on her bed for longer than she does, only trotting out when he’s ready to be fed. His name is Paladin Leeroy. Sometimes she just calls him Lee.

When coffee and breakfast are a thing of the past, Elle usually hears chirping on her balcony, a structure small but laden with potted plants. She will open the doors, and sometimes, if she’s in a particularly energized mood, will announce, “Your Queen has arrived! Court will now be held,” and the little sparrows will chirp at her, and line up in a row. She’ll feed them birdseed, or bread, if she’s run out. Later, Leeroy will bound out, but she always tells him to leave the birds alone until they’re done eating. He listens. They always fly away before he gets a chance to do any real harm.

Lately, she’s been working part-time at an advertising agency, writing and tweaking copy that slides across her desk. It isn’t the most fulfilling job, but it pays the bills, and that’s what matters. Her real work is her own writing; freelancing for various websites, and poking and prodding at the idea for a book, slowly trying to force life into the narrative. Sometimes inspiration strikes her, and she sits and writes for hours at a time, until her eyes begin to strain, and she has to stop. Other times, she grows tired and can’t seem to string words together at all, and her word document looks a bit like this:

And then stuff happened. Everyone died tragically but it was fine, because it was thematically appropriate to the narrative.

ugh ugh you suck

That always gets deleted at the end, of course.

Crammed in the corner of the living area is an upright piano, white and well-used. Sheet music sits scattered on its stand, and an acoustic guitar rests on the floor next to it. There’s a television, of course, a flat-screen that looks larger than it actually is in her apartment. Connected to it is a Playstation 2, a blu ray player, and little else. On the shelves above, there are books — so many books. Mostly horror and old classics; copies of Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice look particularly worn.

The shelf next to it is stocked with board games. Tabletop and family ones, alike. One in particular is even out of its spot, instead spread out on the little glass coffee table. It looks as if a campaign hasn’t been started yet, though someone’s been flipping through the manual quite recently. Maybe quite frequently.

Her bedroom is small, but the bed is large and roomy. There are pictures of friends and family on the bookshelves in here, and a few on her nightstand. Beyond that, she keeps this part of the flat a little messier than the rest.

GENERALLY, SHE LIVES A RELATIVELY NORMAL LIFE, quiet and cozy. Sometimes living by herself is a bit lonely, and the time difference means that she cannot call her mom and step-dad any time she likes just to hear their voices. But like all things, these emotions pass like any other. Perhaps the only real oddity in her life are the strange surprises she sometimes finds on her balcony. There were a family of raccoons once. A possum. A falcon, who looked lost and confused when she opened the door, turning its head at her, blinking. There were even rats, but they only sniffed the air in her direction, and did little else.

Elle Grayson is just a normal 26 year-old, with a magnetism or two that might be considered abnormal. Perhaps that’s the extent of the oddities in her life. Perhaps this is all she could ever really wish for.

Perhaps she’ll be proven wrong, sooner rather than later.

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D I R E C T O R Y;

➤ a reunion
➤ a cat
➤ a novel
➤ an outing
➤ a resolution
➤ a sickness
➤ a home
➤ a boyfriend
➤ a horror

Comments

[animalqueen]

[She freezes when Corvus suddenly gets so close; Elle might have felt a little warm normally at the gesture, but today, she still feels cold, even as Corvus' fingers hover close to her forehead.]

Yeah... I know that. [She shakes her head, and despite him not wanting to touch her, she lightly brushes his hand away.]

But there's stuff to do today. [Stubborn as always, Elle does her best to stand up, despite Corvus' proximity to her.] You guys need to... [Eat. They need to eat. But, ah-- she's as bit wobbly on her feet.]

[coalheart]

[And he interrupts her train of thought by exhaling as if he was troubled by his next action, which is to take his fingertips, putting them on Elle's shoulder to gently, gently push her down back to bed.]

I know which packages are Leeroy's rations. [AGAIN WITH THE RATIONS]

As for myself, I can manage without sustenance longer than either you or him.

If it is supplies you need, I can retrieve them.





The normal way.

[animalqueen]

[She's pushed back down onto her bed, with a slight groan to boot. Granted, it's not like it would've been difficult to do, given the state she's in.]

Leeroy's "rations" are almost gone. I was going to stop by the store today and grab a few things I'm running low on...

[She looks up at him, obviously hesitant. Thinking back on the day they went clothes shopping, it's not like he couldn't handle himself. It's just... she feels bad for being a pain, lately.]

You really don't need to do that, Cor. I've been sick before without you to help me.

[coalheart]

I've been staying here without giving currency in exchange nor do I maintain the cleanliness of your space.

[Way to make yourself seem like a swell guy Corvus, but he is trying to make his point.]

My injuries are not causing me to be stationary anymore.

[animalqueen]

Ugh.

[She relents, but lays back down in bed as if to show that she's only a little exasperated.

But her gratefulness arrives soon after, overtaking everything else. And it certainly would be nice to... rest for a little more.]

...There's a list of groceries on the fridge. If you really want to help...

[coalheart]

Currency?

[He's already making his way to the door, with more purpose in his stride compared to before.]

[animalqueen]

Take my debit card with you. It's in my purse, on the coffee table.

...And thanks, Cor.

[coalheart]

[His only response is a nod. But he doesn't seem to leave just yet. Outside, he finds the list where she said it would be and tucks it in his pocket. Elle should then hear the sound of running water outside.

Corvus returns to her room, with a glass full of water and sets it beside her on side table.]

You need this.

[And then he leaves before she can say anything.]

[animalqueen]

[Elle's already bundled up under her blankets again when Corvus returns. Before she can sit up to ask what's the matter, or if he had forgotten something, he disappears again.

Leaving her with a glass of water.

...He really is considerate, in his own alien way. Elle reaches over, grasping the glass and looking down at it for a quiet moment, before taking a drink.

She'll rest more, and wait for him to come back. Hopefully he won't have much issue finding everything.]

[coalheart]

[Mingling with humans and blending in used to be a nerve wrecking experience. It still is in a way, when one has to keep in mind the constantly changing and shifting social conventions, knowing the what, hows, and whys of constantly changing technologies, and far more importantly, actually being around humans. Corvus, thankfully, is in his own way, a quick learner, and a survivalist in any environment. He can avoid most idle socializing by avoiding eye contact. He's had years of watching humans modeling their actions so he can imitate what they do, with only a bit of clumsiness which they then chalk up to human incompetence and not otherworldly or otherwise. His default form of a an adult male makes it so that many do not question him for his presence like they would a child or even a woman. In the modern age, humans tend to rush, grabbing their needed items with efficiency and urgency. He can do the same.

And so, Corvus, sporting his dark clothing makes his way out of Elle's flat, her currency on a card and the grocery list in his pockets. The cold is bothersome so he actually welcomes the interior of the brightly lit shopping center. First thing's first, a shopping cart. He goes through the store, looking at his list quietly, silently, taking no notice of anything else, except his cart, Elle's list, and the items that need to be purchased.

Of course, for all of his efforts to remain an inconspicuous shopper, Corvus cannot stop the unpredictable nature of humans who simply do not know how to leave him alone.

First, it was a young man who was glancing at Corvus out of the corner of his eye. He struck up a conversation with the dark haired man, asking Corvus about what kind of meal he was cooking tonight and if it was enough for two. Corvus simply nodded (he and Elle share meals kind of, so it's not a lie). The young man seems to sigh, but then he pulled out a card, a pen and wrote down a phone number, telling him that if he was ever bored, he was free to call him up. Corvus accepted the card unblinkingly and pocketed it without comment.

It happens again, with a woman whose eyes seem to soften at Corvus when he enters the feminine hygiene aisle and grabs a box of tampons. She asked if he was doing this for a sibling. He nodded, just to end the conversation right there. It ends with a coffee shop napkin with a number written on top and a hopeful gaze staring back at him. This is stuffed inside his pocket along with the first card.

Again. After getting the medicine and Leeroy's food, the woman at the cashier lane was delighted at the fact that there was finally a "cat person" who didn't look like a, in her words, "a creepy loser." She gave him a discount on the cat food and the shopping center's business card. It has her number on it.

This shopping trip took longer than he thought. No matter. What's done is done. He carries all the bags of groceries, all rather heavy with little effort and there are looks of awe, some of longing even. But he disappears as soon as he can, making his way back to Elle's place.]

* * *

[The door is opened to the flat and the rustling of bags is the first sound to break the silence. Corvus doesn't announce that he's back. He moves and shuffles the bags around, organizing some items, and taking out the cat food first.

He only goes to show that he's back by going to Elle's door, knocking on it and then going back to the living area to organize the groceries.]

[animalqueen]

[She had managed to fall asleep, though it felt like a restless one. Tossing and turning, it was hard to feel comfortable, especially when her body felt so cold, and it was as if she couldn't possibly garner enough heat from the blankets alone to stay warm. Regardless, time passes. Occasionally Elle blinks awake to look at the clock, and her first wonder is how Corvus is doing; as soon as the thought appears, it drifts off again, and she's pulled back into a half-slumber.

She's not sure how long it's been when she hears a knocking at her door. She awakens (or perhaps she had not been asleep again, not fully) and slowly, slowly sits up. She looks in the direction of her bedroom door, wondering, Is he back already?, unaware of the passage of time. After the knocking, she hears shuffling -- the rustling of bags, an all-too familiar sound.

With no one to push her back onto the bed, Elle stands... a bit wobbly, still. She's not sure if the sleep helped or just made her feel more tired, but she's determined to see if Corvus came back successful or not.

And so her door creaks open, and Elle gingerly steps out. She leans on the doorframe, and spotting Corvus, all she can think to say is:]

You're so domestic.

[It's meant to be teasing, to imply that she's totally okay now, see? Are you falling for it, Cor?]

[coalheart]

[He's sitting at the table on the chair in the middle of taking another item out of a bag. Corvus looks up to see Elle. It just gives one glance, before he says:]

You're still sick.

[He takes out the box of tampons and then takes out her wallet and the receipt, holding all of these things out with one hand while rolling up the bags to put them in a pile.]

Yours.

[animalqueen]

[She decides to shuffle to the chair, shivering a little, but too curious about his results to bother returning to bed. At least she won't argue with the fact that she's still sick, since it's obvious he isn't buying it.]

Yeah, yeah...

[She slumps into her seat, a couple of locks of hair in her face, then squints at the things that Corvus is handing to her. The box in particular, it doesn't register right away, and she stares at it, until-]

You... oh my god.

[She turns red, and this time it definitely isn't just because of the fever. Her hands come out to grab the box and she puts it in her lap, as if to hide it from him under the table.]

You... you bought... tampons...

[Why... why... (It was on the list, Elle.)]

[coalheart]

[It probably doesn't help that he remains in his humanoid form right now and is 0% bothered at Elle's reaction.]

It was on the list.

Hygiene is important. So is task completion.

[animalqueen]

[She isn't surprised that he remains unfazed. But she is absolutely mortified.]

I... I know, but-

[She groans, putting her head on the table. It feels... good. Kind of cool on her skin, even though the rest of her body dictates that she shiver.]

You don't... buy those kinds of things for women, unless... [She trails off.] I should've taken it off of the list. I forgot it was there.

[coalheart]

I was asked if those were for a sibling, if you must know.

[He wasn't going to mention that particular conversation thread when he was approached in that aisle, but somehow, he remembers it and thinks it would be best to give Elle some context. A little never hurt.]

I only nodded.

[animalqueen]

[She lifts her head only high enough to rest her chin on the table instead of her cheek, looking over at him, feeling a bit woozy. She lifts a brow, still somehow managing to look tiredly amused.]

Really.

[She also doesn't sound... surprised. At all. She's also a sensible (usually) young woman who doesn't need more context than that. Her lips pull up in a ghost of a grin.]

You know why they were asking you that, right? They probably wanted to... "copulate" with you. [She mirrors his phrasing from those days ago, and she can barely say the word without sniggering a little deliriously.]

[coalheart]

[He stares at her for a few seconds before reaching into his pocket, taking out the napkin and two cards he received with phone numbers scribbled onto them.]

Is that what these are for?

[HE'S ASKING... SO SERIOUSLY...]

If that is the case, I believe I've been propositioned three times.

[animalqueen]

[She eyes the cards and napkins, then sits up properly, taking them and turning them over in her fingers. He's right. He was definitely "propositioned" three times.

She's not sure why this dances on the knife edge of amusing and curiously alarming. She has no doubt that being sick had something to do with it.

She slides the numbers back across to him, searching for what to say.]

I can't believe that you went grocery shopping and came back with three people's numbers. [And then she lifts her eyes to examine his face again.] ...Actually, never mind. I guess I do.

[A sigh.]

You know, I think it's a good thing you weren't born human. I think you would've broken a lot of hearts in your time.

[coalheart]

[He glances up at her, with his usual hard to read expression. Is it blankness? Curiosity? Who can tell with Corvus sometimes. He points at the numbers.]

Should I just throw these away?

[JUST WHEN SHE SAID YOU'D BE A HEART BREAKER...]

I only accepted them because rejection would have made the shopping trip longer.

[animalqueen]

[The word "yes" almost comes too casually out of her mouth, and she has to stop and reconsider. Corvus doesn't exactly strike her as a man of... er, romance, and therefore she has a difficult time thinking that he'd at all be interested in hitting up random strangers.

But she hates assuming. She doesn't know him that well, and he's been full of surprises lately.]

Do you... want to throw them away? [She blows a strand of hair out of her face, but can't be bothered to move it when it lands in the same spot. Who cares. She feels gross, she probably looks gross, she's more interested in this conversation.]

They came up to you because they were attracted to you. Did you feel the same way?

[coalheart]

[The silence that follows is deafening and telling.]

Their faces were a blur.

I did not take any particular notice of their physical features to see if there was anything physically appealing by human standards.

I will not be calling any of them.

[animalqueen]

[Well.

That was definitive, once the silence is finally broken. She had been holding her breath, he had been ramping up the anticipation with it so much.]

...Then I guess you throw them away. [She squints at him. Elle wasn't sure what answer to expect (or maybe she did), but that seemed a little clinical, didn't it?]

When you're in your human form, do you feel attracted to other humans at all? Or does it not work like that?

[coalheart]

[Her question seems to... Trouble him. And he avoids looking at her directly, instead, focusing on another bag, taking a box of cereal.]

I never bothered with it. Knowing what I am, I avoid as much human contact as I can.

... Of course, in this case it's unavoidable.

[animalqueen]

[She frowns at his shift in demeanor; Elle calls herself an idiot, for having made him feel uncomfortable. She didn't mean to -- she only figured he would have answered as clinically as he did, concerning the mobile numbers.

Now she just feels awkward, and a little sorry for him. Unavoidable? What another sad choice of words.]

Unavoidable how? You do well enough as a human man; I mean, we get along, don't we? And I know what you really are. [At least, in the sense she knows he's a shapeshifting alien.

Feeling awkward and wanting to defuse the situation, she pushes herself off of the table, standing. She's a little dizzy, but maybe she'll make them both tea.]