VIDEO.

[cloud9]

[ at even intervals, there's alternating sounds of a reloading click and single shots of gunfire, echoing off the walls of what appears to be a shooting range. from the camera angle, abby is visible, though maybe hard to recognize at first, with her hair tied back severely from her face, her eyes shielded by protective glasses, and the large earmuffs covering her head.

she's also unusually calm, with something hard and focused in her expression. it's the first time she's been out of her home in a week. ]

Sometimes, I think it helps a little to cry when you're upset.

[ she squeezes off a few more rounds before setting her rifle down, pulling her muffs off her head to hang around her neck before she reels her paper target in. there's close clusters of shots in the center of the chest and head. she's still visibly wearing that band on her ring finger. ]

But sometimes I think you just have to shoot something.

It makes you feel better. If you imagine it's your problems, or someone that hurt your feelings. It makes you feel less helpless and weak.

Comments

voice

[acrossyourpath]

More productive than crying, too. Everyone has something that works.

[cloud9]

I guess-- I just. Couldn't lay around anymore.

[acrossyourpath]

Why were you?

[cloud9]

My-- boyfriend. [ maybe more, she isn't sure now, and might never know. ] He got sent home. After almost four years.

[text]

[undeadsidekick]

Congratulations, you've actually said something intelligent.

[cloud9]

[ quiet, but not unsteady: ]

I can't tell if you're making fun of me or not.

[undeadsidekick]

I'm not. Sometimes it feels great to shoot something.

permavideo

[insufferablysmug]

You've been missing quite a bit of work.

[cloud9]

[ a little pause. then, because excuses seem inadequate: ]

I'm sorry, Miss Monet.

[insufferablysmug]

Ready to return?

permavoice;

[recurve]

I'm happy you're feeling better, Abby.

[cloud9]

I guess I just needed to get out. Or something.

[recurve]

I get it. Do what you have to do.

private/permavid

[demonspawn]

Hey.

private

[cloud9]

Hi.

I didn't see you around, so. I fed Terror for you before I left.

private

[demonspawn]

Sorry. I was with -- [ friends? sort of? he's not sure really, what to call jenny and her crew ] Whatever. It's not important.

[ beat ]

So are you cool, or what?

[video]

[rocksforbrains]

Violence definitely helps more than crying, believe me.

[cloud9]

Still doesn't actually change anything though. Just kinda makes the bad feelings go away.

[rocksforbrains]

I know. It still sucks, but that's the best you can hope for.

voice

[deadthenred]

Sometimes it doesn't make you feel any better.

Shooting stuff, I mean.

[cloud9]

[ a little faltering beat. ]

It's. Better than laying at home feeling sorry for yourself.

[deadthenred]

Sometimes. [Sometimes it just gives you more to feel sorry about. But he doesn't want to talk about that, so—]

You're pretty good, you know.

permavoice;

[trickshot]

Oh yeah, it definitely makes you feel better.

_{( a pause, and then, idly: )} As long as you keep an eye on what you're shooting.

[cloud9]

[ a little pause, then in a way that makes it hard to tell if she's asking sincerely or playing a little dumb: ]

What do you mean?

[trickshot]

Nothing much. Just that it's a kind of therapy you've got to be careful with.