room 224 ; sunday evening

[necroslacker]

So, that had happened.

When Sam actually came back to himself, he was standing in someone else's house (or no one's house, he couldn't remember), leaning against a wall with some very, very strange memories rattling around in his head.

He blinked a few times and even pinched himself to make sure it wasn't a dream. Nope, this was him and that had all happened. Feeling a little hollow and a lot confused, Sam eventually did get out of the house and made his way back to his room.

He was tired but he wasn't and he was unsure and he was almost a little hesitant to go in his room. But, Natalie wasn't there right now so he took that time to change, at least.

And then he sat down on the bed and tried to get himself together.

[Door closed and post for that one girl who is his roommate]

Comments

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie only had to walk back from the school building, but she'd taken her time. Seeing whether everything had gone back to its normal state, or so she'd say.

She came back eventually, though, unceremoniously slipping in the door before closing it behind herself.

She looked tired. "So, that happened."

[necroslacker]

"...yep."

Sam was gonna tread lightly here because she was unpredictable and he wasn't sure what was gonna happen.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie didn't say anything for a moment because she was pulling her t-shirt off. She felt like she needed a change of clothes, or maybe to have a shower. Like she could wash something off her skin that hadn't really been there to begin with.

"Where'd you come to?" she wondered. "I was at the school."

[necroslacker]

"Some house in town," Sam said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fortunately, either no one lived there or no one was home so I got out there without freaking anyone out."

[whenshewasnice]

"Don't think it would've done much, with how freaked out everyone already is," Natalie noted, going to unbutton her jeans. Yeah, she was gonna take that shower. "Good, anyway."

[necroslacker]

"So..."

He paused.

"...are you all right?"

[whenshewasnice]

"I'm freaked out."

Of course, she also said that pretty matter-of-factly. It was either admitting the feeling or letting it be heard in her tone. Not both.

[necroslacker]

"It's over," Sam pointed out, trying to be optimistic. "We're both back and in good shape, it looks like."

[whenshewasnice]

"Mm, so it would seem." She was going to be non-committal about being in good shape, sorry. The jeans got kicked off and draped over the back of her chair. "I'm gonna take a shower."

[necroslacker]

"Okey dokey," Sam said because, well, he didn't know what else to say. She looked to be throwing up some defenses and maybe he was a little sad she hadn't asked him if he was all right.

But, he kept that to himself. "I'll be here."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie sucked at being considerate when she had a lot on her mind. If only this had been news.

She slipped into the bathroom and stripped off the rest of what she was wearing before turning the water on and stepping under the spray. And somehow, it didn't feel as relaxing as she'd hoped.

Maybe it was because she felt a little hollow, and there was no miracle fix for that.

[necroslacker]

Sam stayed where he was for a little while before his stomach actually gave a little grumble and he realized he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. With that in mind, he slipped out of the room to find some food for himself.

He wasn't sure if Natalie wanted to eat but he'd probably bring something back for her.

[whenshewasnice]

While he was gone, Natalie gave up trying to get anything from the shower. And when she came out of the bathroom and found herself alone.

She didn't even know. She'd been on her own plenty of times over the last week, but that other her had minimized the time she had her door closed pretty much down to when she slept just to make sure she was rarely really alone. And now she was, and maybe it was the stress from both Natalies, but there was a sudden sob, then another.

Somehow, she got it under control, and started getting dressed again, but it was surprisingly hard when she wasn't really sure what the urge to cry was even for.

She just did a lot of deliberately steady and slow breathing.

[necroslacker]

Sam wasn't gone for too long. He'd made a few sandwiches for them, found some chips and some fruit and even grabbed some juice from the refrigerator in the common room before coming back. He had to open the door with one hand and balance the food in the other but he did manage it.

With the food in hand, he really didn't see Natalie at first but he'd be able to see her soon enough. "Got us some food," he said quietly.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie straightened up and inhaled deeply, and quickly wiped the back of her hand across her eyes – which was a bit pointless when there hadn't been any actual tears.

Then she turned more towards him and sighed and said, "Good. Thanks."

[necroslacker]

"You okay?" Sam asked, settling the food on the bed and giving her a look. "Good shower?"

[whenshewasnice]

"I'm fine, just tired," she replied, eyes on the food. Her stomach did actually rumble a bit. She glanced up. "How are you?"

It wasn't entirely to shift attention off herself.

[necroslacker]

"Hungry," he said, shrugging. "Other than that, I don't know."

It was a lot to sort out.

[whenshewasnice]

"Mm." Yeah. It really was. She sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for a sandwich. "Odd week."

[necroslacker]

"To say the least," Sam said, nodding. He took a few bites of his sandwich and then sat quietly, not sure what else to say.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie wasn't that sure either.

"I asked someone to bring you in," she said anyway, after a moment. "Sorry about that."

[necroslacker]

"Bring me in?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like a bounty?"

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shrugged a shoulder and kept her eyes on the food. "Like someone who'd pissed me off with his power but seemed useful for my side of the battle," she said. "But I also ordered a hit on the girl who looks like me, so..."

So this was actually the lesser evil.

[necroslacker]

"Oh." Sam sat quietly for a few seconds. "Sorry I used that power on you."

He didn't regret it but he was sorry.

[whenshewasnice]

She shrugged again. "I would've dragged you in if you hadn't. Or worse."

So, as far as she was concerned, it had been entirely justified.