Players:
Summary: Robin and Jeremy make a difficult and unhappy decision.
Date: March 30, 2011
Log Title: A Difficult Choice
Rating: PG-13
NYC- Thompson Square Park
Thompson Square Park is a small park in the middle of Mutant Town. The benches might need a fresh coat of paint, the fence might be rusted in places and the pavement is raised and has cracks but it's all part of the mutant haven and fairly relaxing. Trees and grassy areas are in between the many paths, there are a few structures and benches along the path as well as a special area of the park that is marked 'the dog walk'.
//Two trees have been planted in the park as a Memorial to Carmencita Florez and Detective Baxter each with a plaque stating the tree is in their memory. //
The night is young but not many people are out in the park as the temperature doesn't reflect that it's spring yet. For the last two days Jeremy hasn't been coming to the park but he's decided to tonight. He still looks worn down and like he hasn't well days currently he sits on a park bench not to far from the entrance to the park smoking a cigarette. He doesn't usually has his violin with him but tonight he has brought it out to maybe play a bit later.
Vinny enters the park for his usual meeting with Jeremy, the hybrid seen easily as he tends to stand out. His instrument case over one shoulder and caryring his dufflebag in the other hand. He spots Jeremy and walks over with a smile "G'day. Good ta see yer still comin' for these. I'm sorry bout last time mate, hope I didn't come across as a bit'a a jerk but I figured it would be best if I passed along what ya told me as soon as I could."
Robin is wearing a heavy jacket as she comes to the park, kind of nervous looking as she walks along. Every few moments she or her puppet, Blank, glances around to check the premises. Upon seeing the boy with the violin case, she starts heading in that direction, but before getting into conversational distance, she freezes at seeing Vinny.
Jeremy just shrugs at Vinny. "It's been a hard few days, I figure this might help me get over it." He says standing up before looking past Vinny and spotting Robin. He breaks out into a rare smile, one that's more then his usually half smile. "Give me a moment." He says to Vinny as he walks over to her. "Hey Robin, how have you and Blank been. I haven't seen you since the dance."
Vinny nods and is about to saw somthing when he spots where Jeremy is headed. He tips his hat to robin and gives a smile and a friendly "G'day." Before simply waiting for Jeremy.
Robin nods hesitantly in return to Vinny, and nods at Jeremy, "Hey, Jeremy. I just haven't been out much since then, all this stuff going on… We're doing kinda okay, I guess." She doesn't sound too convinced at that last part, and starts rubbing her arm over her jacket. "Weird couple of weeks."
Jeremy looks over to Vinny. "This is my friend Robin." He says before nodding to Robin. "Yeah, it's been a bit rough for me too. Dealing with the last thing I saw but yeah. Vinny over there has been working with me to hopefully get what I see to stop overwhelming me."
Vinny nods "We've met… kinda. Was a rather strange set'a circumstances ta be honest." He adjusts the instrument case on his shoulder.
Robin nods her head slowly, looking towards the ground, mumbling in return to what Vinny has to say, "Sorry 'bout that…" She slips her hand into the other sleeve of her coat and nods at Jeremy, "Um, I'm glad you have someone helping you with that stuff though."
Vinny smiles "Ah nothin' ta be sorry about miss. Ya weren't yerself, been alot of that goin' around these days. No harm done and ya seem to be lookin' alright. Jeremy I'll go set up and get ready, ya come along whenever yer ready for tonight's session.
Vinny turns and heads up one of the walking trails.
Jeremy nods to Vinny and watches him go before taking a deep breath. "Vinny's a good guy but, I'm kinda scared." He admits. "I know he's doing the right thing but.." He just shakes his head. "Anyway, what did he mean you weren't yourself?"
"I, um, I had this stuff sprayed in my face and I inhaled it and… and I was feeling kinda different," says Robin, averting her eyes and frowning slightly. "And he was trying to stop me, but… it was a huge mess. Uugh." She puts her hand on her forehead. "And the worst thing is, all I want right now is more. I've been trying not to think about it, but I've been tearing into my arms and thighs and it's all I've got to deal with it."
Jeremy's smile disappears and he looks a Robin wideeyed. "Kick?" He asks sounding surprised but already knowing the answer. "If it's Kick, please try to forget about it Robin, it's not good for you. Trust me. I already got this one girl involve and…" He shakes his head sadly. 'You don't want to end up like me."
Robin shakes her head and says, "I can't forget about it, Jeremy, it's so hard. I don't want to use but…" She pulls back the sleeve of her jacket and the sweater underneath. While her arm is covered with scars, it's also lined with fairly fresh cuts, some actually still bleeding from Robin's scratching. "This is all I've got, I just need it this once… Just to stop thinking about it, just for a bit."
Jeremy looks down at Robin's arm and his eyes seemed to be fixed on it. "Robin…" He says seeming quite torn. "There is no just once, believe me. You'll stop thinking about it for a bit and then in a few hours you'll want more and then, you'll start doing almost anything to get more. I….I don't know."
Robin scratches her arm some more while not focusing on that anymore, seeming not to be scratching because she's itchy, and then pulls down her sleeve. "I've already been on it once, I know what it's like. I feel like I would do anything to get more, right now. I've tried to resist, stay in the school and I… I can't. I'm not that strong."
Jeremy puts his gloved hand on Robin's shoulder and takes a deep breath. "I'm not either." He admits as he reaches into his pocket there are a few tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Robin, one day I hope you can forgive me for this." He says as he hands here the inhaler. "It only has a bit left." He whispers. "Don't take one hit more then once every six hours and..I won't give you anymore. I'm so sorry."
Robin takes the inhaler and turns it in her fingers, almost mesmerized. It seems to take all she has not to take a hit at this moment, and she tucks the inhaler away. "Thank you, thank you, I'm sorry I asked this of you," says Robin, face flashing through relief and sadness. "After this, I'll… I'll be done." She doesn't seem convinced.
"Get help if you can, it's not too late for you." Apparently Jeremy does think it's too late for him too. "I don't wish this path on anyone Robin, I really don't. It's all you're going to be thinking about, all you want. I know I sit and class waiting until I can leave school so that I sneak out and just get high."
Robin looks to the ground and nods slowly, "I know, I need to… figure out what to do, I'm going to get help… It's almost finals, and I want to get into pre-med, I can't… I can't let myself be distracted…" She puts her hands on her face and shakes her head, "This is not what I wanted. But… you should get help too, Jeremy. We could make a pact or something? At least it won't be going it alone…"
Jeremy nods as Robin talks and there's a sad look in his eyes. "Sure." He says not really believing he could ask for help. "You have that teacher, the scary blond lady. I remember her from dance committee meetings, she…saw me as a one of them, the NMO guys. I'm not one of them Robin."
Robin nods at Jeremy and says, "Ah, yeah, the scary blond lady is the one who beat me when I was on Kick the last time. She… frightens me a little, but I know she is just trying to do what she can for the students…" Robin tenses her fists lightly and says, "She's going to be so disappointed in me. It's crazy, but as scary she is, I feel like she cares about me more than my parents ever did."
"She thought…I was one of them." Jeremy says remembering the look she gave him. "I was just making sure that girl from you school..um..I don't know her name but she kinda explodes or something? I was just making sure she was okay but she didn't want me near her I guess. Sometimes I feel like people just see me and see I'm just a druggie but, I guess they're right."
Robin shakes her head and says, "No, you're not just a druggie… you're a human being who has some problems. You are not /just/ anything." She frowns for a moment and says, "Okay?" She frowns for a moment and says, "So they're not right when they see you like that. You're more than just the things you don't like about yourself…"
Jeremy nods looking down at his feet. "If…if someone asks you where you got it, it's okay if you tell them it was me. I can take the blame if it means you won't get in trouble. I don't want to see you get kicked out of school for this." He looks up at her and gives he a sad smile. "Okay?"
Robin shakes her head, "No, no, I don't want to do that to you, Jeremy… You just need to get help. Like you say I need to, right?" She crosses her arms and scratches lightly, "I don't want to do anything at your expense. These… are my mistakes."
Jeremy doesn't agree that they're her mistakes. "I could have refused but I didn't. Again, I'm sorry Robin. But, I gotta run anyway, I don't want to keep Vinny waiting to long." He says reaching out a hand to put it on her arm quickly. "I can't give you anymore Robin, please don't ask again." Just because it pains him to know he's helping her down this path.
Robin shakes her head, "I won't ask again… And I'm sorry for this." She nods at Jeremy slowly and looks towards the ground, "I guess I'll seeya sometime later then. Please, though, please ask for help. I just want to know you're okay…" She looks back at Blank, and says, "See you, Jeremy…"
Jeremy nods to Robin. "Okay." He says softly. "You'll definitely see me later Robin, we're friends. Two horribly messed up friends, but we're friends." He says. "Take care of yourself and, be careful." He says before turning around to meet with Vinny.
Robin nods at Jeremy and waves once more, before turning around herself and putting her hand in her pocket. She clenches her teeth slightly in guilt and starts to head towards somewhere that nobody will see her.
