[Broken Casket] The Ballad of Petch All {Orion}

by **Hadyn Skellig** on September 19th, 2013, 3:20 am

Her eyes closed as his verbal assault started, letting him have it out. This had gone horribly wrong. Part of her spent the duration of his speech chastising herself for getting him so worked up. Another part wanted to punch him between the eyes. Taking a measured breath she opened her eyes as he demanded she petch off. A muscle in her jaw clenched as she bit back a retort. He was coming closer and closer to her. Hadyn stood still, bracing for whatever Orion might do. But he simply passed her. Walking away.

Unbidden tears pricked the back of her eyes, his words echoing in the shadowy space. She inhaled swiftly, biting her lip to keep from weeping. It was simply too much. She'd tried. She'd tried to give him space. Turning to look at his retreating form the weaponsmith raised a hand to her face, closing her eyes to rub and pinch the bridge of her nose. Should she go after him? And say what? Even though you're an asshole I'd really like to keep talking.

"Orion!" she called out sharply. It probably wouldn't stop him but when did she get to express her anger? her hurt? he let loose enough for both of them yet she felt his words like a slap to the face. It would've been easier if he'd physically struck her. "I'm lost too."

Her voice rang out into the night. She didn't know if that would bring him back or if he was so done with her that he'd keep on walking. But now that she'd spoken she couldn't hold back. His words burned her but she hated the idea of him stalking off the way he had.

"I don't know what to do. It's just... I don't know how to be a mother. Less how to do it alone." Damn it there was no masking the strangled voice, words caught up with the tears threatening to spill. The last thing she'd ever do was cry before a man - Orion Michaels least of all. Leaning her back against the wall of the Casket the woman scrubbed her cheeks raw, one arm wrapped around her middle. Why did he have to be so unhinged? So hurtful?

"Don't leave like this," she muttered into the night.

by **Orion Michaels** on September 19th, 2013, 12:12 pm

There was a moment of . . . disbelief. Yes, disbelief at the suddenly vulnerable Hadyn Skellig. The woman was all too like him, unwilling to open, unwilling to show any emotional vulnerability, but when she did. . .

Orion slowed his pace. He'd only made it a couple dozen steps away when she'd called, but he couldn't shake the way she'd tensed up when he'd neared. Was she fearful of him? Did she expect him to accost her physically for all of this? Gods, no. He wouldn't lay a finger on the woman. They were both just dumb and selfish in their own ways. He was ready to leave and not look back, at least nottonight.

When she'd called his name, he had no intention of stopping. She was going to yell at him, tell him what a petcher he was for everything he'd done and said, and then they could be on their way. It's what he would have preferred, but instead she gave him something that he didn't know what to do with.

It was almost, no, it was pleading. It was genuine uncertainty, the first time he'd heard her admit she didn't know what to do, the first time that she'd shown her cards at all. Until this point the smithy had seemingly put all the ownness on him to make a decision, saying she'd support him in it. But this was different. The fear of a first child, uncertainty of how she was supposed to do it, uncertainty of how to do it alone. He finally stopped as was nearly in tears, an almost tinge of guilt touching his face. He didn't know what to do either. No one ever knew what to do. There wasn't an answer, there wasn't anything that would be correct for them. It was just picking what was least bad for the child, right?

Orion slowly opened and closed his fists, nervous and unsure. Should he go to her? Keep going? Was there no sign that could give him the answer?

"Why me?" He asked, a measure of calm about his voice, at least for the moment. For once it wasn't a 'woe is me' moment. "Beyond the obvious, why me?" Turning in place, Orion laid eyes on Hadyn, watching her lean against the wall in her struggle with controlling emotions. "You've gotta have someone better than I. I'm not gonna leave. I told you that. I'm not gonna hang you out to dry. That kid will make it, somehow. I can't..I won't promise anything more than that. The whole way this has happened has been absolute bullshyke, but neither of us know what we're doing, so I guess that's okay. But...but what the petch are you expecting of me? That's what I don't understand. You want me to make all the calls on something major in both our lives? I've laid out my plan, undetailed as it might be."

Orion could feel his temper starting to flare again, drawing slow, deep breaths to try and call himself and not yell at her anymore. It wasn't worth it, it wouldn't get them anywhere."So what's your plan, Hadyn! What are you going to do? You're as alone in this as I am. That' petching means you're as alone as you decide to be. So what's your plan!!"

by **Hadyn Skellig** on September 19th, 2013, 1:00 pm

Orion's words washed over her - neither comforting nor condemning but somewhere in the unfortunate middle. Now that he'd turned around and demanded her plan she wanted him to go. It was then that she understood the immense pressure and discomfort of being placed on the spot. She knew what she'd done to him tonight. And she was ashamed of herself. Moving a hand to the back of her neck, fingers running beneath the hair to press against the sore muscles the woman waited to respond.

In spite of the realization she'd arrived at his words still hurt. The way he had to calm himself before speaking to her. It was deplorable. She didn't want to have that effect on anyone - least of all the father of her child. Her heart swelled with anxiety and hurt, threatening to leave her standing there mute and dumb. But she would answer him.

"There's not much I can do," she murmured, ignoring the humiliating way in which her voice broke. "Continue on. Hope everythin' goes alright. I shouldn't have done this to you. It was wrong and I'm sorry it took me so long to see it."

Brown eyes rose to meet his somewhere in the darkness. He was bathed in shadow so his expression remained unreadable. Probably for the best. But Hadyn found his form with agonized patience. This was not her strong suit. In fact this was where she'd make a flippant remark, maybe smack him across the face and be on her way. Anything to avoid the exposure of her failings.

"I was hopin' you had a plan because I've got no control." Tyveth had cursed her with a tongue too thin to tell the honest truth when it was going to hurt or bare her before another. "And I'm scared. But..." she stood up straight, the intensity of their interaction still visible on her face. "I don't want to be alone."

Perfect, Haddie. Rope him in by guilt tripping him, you dumb bird. Irritation crossed her face. Did he know her well enough to understand she was being honest? Could he see that, whatever his decision in the next few moments, there would be no defensiveness or rebuffing from her?

The swell in her chest was becoming too much. He needed to go before she lost all manner of control over herself. She meant to take a step toward him, physical indication that she was contrite and not keeping him at arm's distance. Her legs buckled at the knees, her body seemingly in disagreement. She halted. There was no way on this petching earth that she was going to collapse in front of him. Instead she dragged a foot back until it connect with the wall and she let her body fall the few inches back until it hit the structure. The rough surface of the Casket's wall scrapped her clothing as she sank down, sitting with her legs drawn up. Well, this was better than falling in a heap at his feet like a beggar.

It took a physical toll on her, this altercation. It was enough to realize how poorly she'd treated him. But all the anger and raw emotion was giving her pathetic mind reason to cave in on itself. The brunette sat there pulling in racking breaths, head bowed so he wouldn't see how disgraced she felt. Half of her wanted him to join her - just to have another body there until she composed herself. The other half wanted him to turn around and petch off.

"You've fuckin' done me in," she mumbled through her hands, not caring whether he still stood there or not.

by **Orion Michaels** on September 20th, 2013, 1:38 am

Enough was enough. He couldn't stand there and listen to this. No matter how much she claimed to need him, no, the truth of the matter, it was no matter how much she claimed to need anyone. She'd never claimed to need Orion, she'd never really claimed anything but not wanting to be alone. He didn't really care about that, but the last thing he was going to do was sit there and let her try and guilt trip him into a commitment beyond what he was willing to do. She was out of control, emotional, nothing like what he'd seen from her before. Perhaps it was the pregnancy, or perhaps it was the truth that the mother of his child was mostly a stranger to him.

"I guess we're both going to have to figure it out on the go, huh? I haven't killed Emily yet. Hopefully that bodes well. I can't deal with anymore of this tonight. It's not going to get us anywhere." He was done. She continued her breakdown, her pleading, her attempt to hold it all together, and Orion wasn't going to be the one be that bond that helped it be so. Not tonight. Not after how it had gone. He couldn't handle anymore dramatics, from either of them, really. He opened his mouth to speak, to finish telling her off, to say goodbye for now, but nothing came. He'd said his part, he'd leave her broken, and they'd both move on in their lives, if only for another night.

It was tiring, she was tiring, everything was so fucking tiring. He would try and do his part? Wasn't that enough? Clearly not. Clearly even if he was there for the child, it wouldn't be enough. Nothing would ever be enough. "Petch this," he muttered quietly, turning from Hadyn, leaving her in her heap on the ground. She'd gotten here fine on her own, and he doubted she really wanted him there to see her in this state, anyways. Blue eyes cast theri sight on the ground, looking just barely ahead of every step he took. How could he feel so wicked and yet so vindicated at the same time? He didn't regret saying what he said, or how he said it.

So why do I feel like so much shyke?

by **Hadyn Skellig** on September 20th, 2013, 2:09 am

The words from Orion's mouth stung her but more deeply they angered her. There she sat like a gods damned idiot - pregnant and admitting her folly and he had the nerve to treat her like a common whore. Fierce ire rose in her, momentarily subduing the guilt and embarrassment. Hissing in a breath the woman, propelled by the wrath of Krysus herself, stood on unstable feet. Orion was already swallowed by the darkness, though his footsteps echoed softly.

She wouldn't run after him. Pride - that damnable pride - kept her from moving toward him, though she was loathe to admit it. Instead she sent her fist smashing into the side of the wall, bristling only for a moment before letting it drop to her side. Imagining it was Orion's face did nothing to soothe her fury. He couldn't be bothered to extend one modicum of kindness. One pinch of goodness. He was more petched than she.

Hadyn stood there, knuckles dripping occasional ponderous droplets of blood into the ground. She felt nothing but violent outrage, though no sound came from her lips. She'd allowed him to see her in a state no one was privy to and he spat on her. No attempt to give her reason to feel alright. No extension of understanding when she'd accepted the blame for placing him in a foul position.

The tears were back, stinging her eyes but this time they were not borne of confusion, misery or helplessness. She was so vexed by Orion Michaels' lack of empathy that her body's only response was to weep. Petch that. Petch him.

Physically turning her body from the direction in which he sulked off the weaponsmith took a sobering breath. She chose to take the long way home, the most efficient way sure to put her in his footsteps. Hadyn resolved herself not to go out of her way to tell him anything. Clearly he didn't give a shyke about her - which was frustratingly painful too though she couldn't comprehend why. They were both stupid selfish children who didn't know how to play nice with each other when it really counted. But there it was. He'd shown his feelings on any matter involving her and she would take the hint. Petch, she may as well have the child and not tell him. Let him petching find out. Hadyn could no long be bothered to give a damn about Orion Michaels.

by **Perplexity** on October 13th, 2013, 3:12 pm

Riddled with Rewards!

Hadyn

Observation	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP
Socialization	+2 XP
Philosophy	+3 XP

Lores :

Orion

Socialization	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+1 XP
Philosophy	+2 XP

Lores :

Notes :

Completed [Broken Casket] The Ballad of Petch All {Orion}