RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

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[animated]

[ Alyssa Lysander did not deal with things very well. She spent most of her life squandering her grandmother's generosity, lost and confused and trying to prove her self worth by flinging herself at anyone who would take her.

And now with the death of her grandmother, Lys' downward spiral seems to have gotten worse. It's not helped by the fact that Lys was the one to find the body. And it's further not helped by the fact that they know who did it, that it couldn't be more obvious to those on the outside of the situation looking in, but there was no proof. The eldest Lysander was ordered to stay away from the case- it was too personal- and with nowhere left to turn, Sandon had dragged his baby sister to meet Jacob Randall, to plead for the wizard's help in resolving this. Jacob had agreed, of course, which left Charlie with a shape-shifting couch surfer with an alcohol problem.

It's been a couple of months now, with no resolution in sight. Alyssa's presence around Charlie's apartment was often scarce. Sometimes she would stumble in the door at four in the morning, disheveled and reeking of alcohol, crashing on the couch to sleep the day away, other times she wouldn't come back at all, only to resurface in a day or two to start the cycle again. It was always a toss up of which it would be when Sandon would drop by to check up on his little sister.

Often times, when she was nowhere to be found, Charlie would have to talk the other man down, tell him that he's tried to talk to her about it, tried to help her and keep tabs on her as best he could, but in the end, Alyssa always found a way. She didn't want to live and the here and the now, and she'd do whatever it took to ensure that she didn't. Sandon would then take up residence on Charlie's couch and wait for her until eventually work dragged him away. It was awkward at first, with the wizard tiptoeing around the shifter, but once Charlie finally struck up conversation, it was clear that they got along well.

Other times, when Lys was passed out on the couch, Sandon would just sit silently, stroking her hair as she slept, worry written across his face. Eventually Charlie started inviting him to partake of a cup of coffee, and the two would sit in quiet conversation at the kitchen table while Alyssa dozed away on the couch.

This is one of the latter times. Charlie slides a mug across the kitchen table to the other man, offering him a small, sympathetic smile ]

She's been around the apartment a little more often lately. I think she misses you.

[arbitrated]

[ Sandon wasn't typically in a position where he felt powerless; his role in the magical community meant he could help his own more often than not, could manipulate situations as necessary to make trouble disappear. But this -- Alyssa's banishment, their grandmother's death, and a stepmother whose disposition is typically reserved for characters in fairytales -- he couldn't fix this. Not on his own, in any case.

It's difficult, watching his life spiral out of his control. Harder still to watch his sister slipping further and further away from him. His family is falling apart before his very eyes, and there's nothing he can do but watch.

He's watching his sister sleep when Charlie passes him the mug of coffee, and he tears his gaze away long enough to offer a nod of thanks. In answer to Charlie's words of reassurance, Sandon has little to say. (I miss her too, chief among them, but there's no need to voice that.) ]

Thank you, for keeping an eye on her. [ His smile is small and rueful when he adds, ] I'm going to guess this isn't exactly what you signed on for.

[animated]

[ He gives a little shrug ] I don't mind. I know what it's like, not knowing if there's anywhere you truly belong.

Besides, when I first came out here, your family had a big part in helping me get established. It's the least I could do.

[arbitrated]

[ That Charlie has been nothing but kind during all of this has been a balm, and Sandon is grateful for it -- especially during his less than stellar moments in the early days, when Lys would be gone and he had no one and nothing to vent his frustrations on but the Animator.

By now, he's just-- disappointed, when she's not here. And worried, and agitated, and, yes, angry, but more at the situation than anything. And when she is here, sleeping off the days she spent doing who knows what -- he's not quite happy, but calmer, at least. ]

How's the store? [ It's the only thing he can think of to change the topic. ]

[animated]

[ A change of subject isn't entirely unwarranted. They can only talk about Lys for so long before they're going in circles. ]

Doing fine. I'm probably gonna hire some part-time help, just to be around if I can't be. Jacob drags me away more often than not, these days.

[ he actually wants to offer the job to Lys, but considering her current state, that would be unwise. ]

[arbitrated]

I'll be honest -- sometimes I'm surprised you even have much business, these days, and that you haven't given up entirely. [ He says it with a bit of a smile. ] Turned it into a coffee shop, for instance.

[animated]

Okay, first of all, you could not pay me enough money to be a barista.

Second of all, I have plenty of business, thank you very much.

[arbitrated]

I'm going to assume the local high schoolers are keeping you afloat?

[animated]

I'm not having any problem "keeping afloat".

... But the high school kids do help.

[arbitrated]

[ His smile widens a hair. ]

Probably just the need to pick up assigned reading. You know most people buy ebooks, now.

[animated]

[ He can't help but grin back. He's glad to have gotten a smile out of Sandon, even if it is a small one ]

You kids and your new-fangled ereaders.

[ though it occurs to him that he does not, in fact, know how old the shifter is. Alyssa's barely 21, but that's hardly a stick to measure her whole family by considering shifters can live just as long, if not longer, than wizards can. ]

[arbitrated]

[ He holds up a hand, as if to placate him. ]

Sorry, Mr. Maxwell. We'll try to stay off your lawn when we're playing on our iPhones and our Androids and our Kindles.

[ He pauses, giving Charlie a considering look. ]

I doubt you're much older than I am, in any case.

[animated]

Don't let my good looks fool you. I'm coming up on 81.

[arbitrated]

Well, I'm 83, which means you have absolutely no excuse -- except, maybe, that you're just a Luddite.

[animated]

Hey now, let's not go that far. I just like to read on paper, that's all.

[arbitrated]

Alright, fair enough. Partial Luddite, then. Possibly still in the initiation stages.

[animated]

I don't know that I'm gonna go for the full membership. They'd probably make me get rid of my phone.

[arbitrated]

Among other things. Your movie collection, for starters.

It seems disingenuous to keep the membership card if you won't make the sacrifice, though.

[animated]

[ He gasps, pressing a hand to his chest ] Not my movies. That's where I draw the line.

[arbitrated]

[ That manages to coax a quiet laugh from him. ]

It is an expansive collection. It would take ages for you to smash all of them, anyway, and who has the time these days?

[animated]

I mean, I am an Animator, so it's possible, but no. Not gonna happen.

[ there's a little pause, and then, ] Nice to know you can still laugh.

[arbitrated]

[ He pauses, then, and picks up the mug as if to hide behind it. ]

Been a while, I'll admit. [ It's said softly, and he turns a little to check on Alyssa. ] Things have been-- less than ideal.

[animated]

[ Charlie's expression softens, and he follows the shifter's gaze. ]

I know.

Things like this... they don't last forever.

[arbitrated]

[ A few silent seconds pass, and Sandon exhales slowly before turning back to the table. ]

Let's hope so.

[ He doesn't quite smile, but there's something like it in his eyes -- slightly sheepish, for having brought down the mood again. He clears his throat quietly. ]

But the high schoolers. They're visiting your store often? I'm guessing they must come to ogle the good looking almost-81-year-old gentleman.

[animated]

[ Charlie props an elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand. ]

You think I'm good looking?

[ Let it never be said that Charlie turned down an opportunity to flirt ]