DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Modern/Historical DUC: Durham University Campus Hangover Saturday

"I have dispatched the Police to your location. Can you wait at the door for them to arrive?"

The voice on the phone sounds calm and professional.

The guy held by both Ian and Levon is limp and still sobbing quietly.

The girl seems startled by Skye's use of her name.

"He's not like this really, never seen him like this before. I don't think he would hurt me, not sure about Matt."

Matt is holding Tracy, asking if she is OK.

Ian

Realizing that they were now waiting and that Levon was helping decided that it'd be best for all concerned if he released the hold on John.

"Levon, you take one arm and I'll take the other. We can lead him to a chair and watch him there until the police arrive."

Levon
Never releasing his hold, Levon lifted the limp man and lead him forcefully to a chair, sat him down and flanked him with Ian on the other side. The assailant was going nowhere.

Emma

Damn it! This was not the fun getaway they all planned. Neither was the last one come to think of it. But still. "I wouldn't let go of him until the police arrive," Emma says, thoughtfully. "If he is upset enough to bring a knife out, no telling what he might try, or do, to anyone getting in his way."

Henri

As Levon, Skye and Ian watch over the three key people in this broken love triangle, he will speak up to say, "I'm told to wait by the main door to wait for the police. I'll be back with them." With that said he will stand just inside of the foyer watching for the police to arrive with a slightly annoyed expression as this day is not what he envisioned at all.

Generally people are milling around, shocked by what had happened but now curious to see what else happens. However no-one approaches the chair when the agressor is slumped, bookmarked between to two brave defenders. The minutes tick by. Matt and Tracy move to sit at a table, keeping it between them and Jonathon some distance away now. A friend brings them coffee. Tracy is now looking quite shaky, shock is setting in.

Henri moves over to the doorway to wait for the police and Miranda goes with him.

"I think you guys must be trouble magnets."

She shrugs.

"Sorry, not trying to belittle it all, just trying to deal with it."

She moves in close, tucking her arm through his.

"I'm not used to this."

Henri

He is pleasantly surprised to have Miranda come to wait with him. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he lets out a snort when she comments about them being trouble magnets. "Yes, today definitely is a weird one. I won't disagree with you there."

Henri goes silent for a minute just enjoying Miranda's close company. "You know what would make the day better, once the cops get here and settle this, is to have another drink or two and dance the night away with you. Sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful."

She smiles at him, reassured by his closeness.

They don't have too long to wait before the Police arrive, two uniformed policemen walking down the path toards the cafeteria.

Henri

When the policmen get close enough he will disengage from Miranda's arm and open the door for them. With a slight nod he succinctly greets them. "Hello officers. I'm the one that called. I'm Henri Monet. Everyone's over here." Henri will walk towards the group that have been patiently waiting and will let the police take it from there.

Ian

Ian waits patiently as Henri leads the police over. He glances over to the table where Emma, Sarah, and Tony were during the proceedings wishing he could sit back down and enjoy his drink but waits patiently. When the time to give a statement finally arrives he does so.

The policemen put Jonathon in cuffs and while one guards him, the other collects the knife and talks to all concerned.

"That was brave of you to tackle an armed man.." he says to Ian and Levon. "..ideally you should call the police but I appreciate there wasn't time. You could have saved some lives here."

He nods and the two depart, prisoner and weapon in custody.

{Skye}

Skye joined Matt and Tracy and their friend at the table moving slowly, carefully—like one might approach a skittish animal. With Tracy going in to shock, Skye attempted to use her training to keep the young woman. Without hesitation, she slid into the chair beside her on the other side of Matt. She tried to pull her attention from looking at Jonathon.

"It's good to have some coffee." Skye nodded encouragingly. “Tracy,” Skye continued gently, reaching out but not touching her yet. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

Tracy didn’t respond at first. Her breathing hitched, and she let out something between a gasp and a whimper.

Skye exchanged a quick look with Matt, who nodded slightly but didn’t speak. He was watching Tracy with concern but knew better than to crowd her right now.

“Hey,” Skye continued, keeping her voice low and steady, the way she’d once talked to one of the young women at the shelter. “I want you to do something for me. Can you copy me?”

Tracy blinked rapidly, her focus shifting to Skye for the first time.

Skye exhaled deeply through her nose and then inhaled slowly, exaggerating the movement so Tracy could follow. “In through the nose… out through the mouth.” She did it again. “Nice and slow.” Skye wanted to make a joke about Channing Tatum in "The Lost City" but stayed focused.

Tracy tried. Her first breath was shaky, shallow, but she followed Skye’s lead.

“That’s it,” Skye encouraged, nodding slightly. “Keep going. Slow it down.”

Tracy’s breaths started evening out, though she was still trembling.

“You’re safe,” Skye reassured her again. “He’s gone. He can’t hurt you.”

Tracy swallowed hard, her fingers still locked around the coffee cup. “I—” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I thought—” She shook her head, pressing her lips together, unable to finish.

“I know,” Skye said softly. “It’s a lot. But you’re here. You made it through and so did Matt.”

Matt cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “Tracy, do you need anything? Water? We can get you out of here—”

Tracy shook her head, her grip on the cup tightening. “I just… I just need a minute.”

“Take all the time you need,” Skye assured her. She reached out then, resting a warm hand lightly over Tracy’s. The touch was grounding—gentle but firm, not forcing anything, just offering presence. “You’re not alone, okay?”

Tracy’s eyes welled up slightly, but she blinked quickly, nodding. She squeezed Skye’s hand back. A small thing, but it was something.

And for now, that was enough. It was time for Matt and Tracy to figure out their own next steps. Skye looked over at Levon. A complicated look on her face. She had her own next steps to figure out as well.



[OOC: Okay, I cheated just a little with ChatGPT -- so it filled in the Tracy responses. But, I didn't want to hold things up. Hope it was okay to move them forward.]

Ian

Ian rolled his eyes. Not at the comment by the policeman but at himself. He sheepishly glances over to Levon.

"Thanks for not letting me the only idiot running at a guy with a knife. Think Skye is still talking to the girl and her boyfriend. Come join Emma, Henri, Miranda and me when you are done. We've been talking to a couple from Newcastle. We're over there." he says indicating where Emma still sits.

He then heads back, rights his chair, then sits down with Emma, Tony, Sara and Miranda again. Trying to sound nonchalant he says "Sorry about the interruption." as he takes his seat again next to Emma.

Quote

[OOC: Okay, I cheated just a little with ChatGPT -- so it filled in the Tracy responses. But, I didn't want to hold things up. Hope it was okay to move them forward.]

OOC: Cheater! LOL.
Levon
"You did good, Ian. I'm just glad he didn't go after you with the knife. Actually, I'm really glad I didn't snap his neck."

At the invite to join him, and the others he replied, "Yeah. In a bit. I'm gonna go see what's doing with that girl he threatened. Someone's gotta let her know that not all guys are wackos."

He makes his way over towards Skye.

"She okay?" He asked. But the better question might have been whether Skye was okay.

Henri

With the police leaving with Jonathan in cuffs, he will head back to the table too. With a slight smile on his face when Ian plays off his heroics, Henri playfully asks, "So, Ian. First your go up against a guy with a shotgun, then a guy with a knife. What's next for you?"

Ian

His face growing a slight shade of red tries to bury his face in his hands. Glancing over to Henri he sheepishly says, "I'm afraid to find out. Obviously I haven't learned my lesson from the last time."

Emma

Emma moves over to the heroes of today and smiles at them. "After you win tomorrow... first round of drinks is on me. I'd offer tonight, but I don't think the day before the match is a good time to tie one on." Even if they did need it after this excitement.

Henri

"Don't worry Ian, my friend. I'm just pulling your leg." He lifts his glass to toast Ian and Levon, and adds, "Cheers to our stalwart heroes, and good luck to all of you in tomorrows event!"

Ian

Ian trying to lighten the situation glances at Tony and Sarah.

"See she is my favorite bartender." he says. "Except, I don't fight tomorrow. So i can get away with it tonight."

[OOC NP Lionhawke ]

Sarah looks from Ian to where Levon is at the other table, and then back again.

"Well I'm impresssed! That was fast! Mind you that could have been reacting before thinking."

She grins at Ian, teasing him slightly.

"Yeah, very brave man. I barely had time to see what was happening. Good one. I guess we are going to have to be careful around you lot."

He winks at Sarah.

Miranda asks Ian. "You are OK yes? Didn't get hurt?"

**************

At the other table, Tracy is leaning against Matt at he has an arm around her shoulders. He looks over at Skye and Levon.

"Thanks. That took us all by surprise. Quick thinking."

"Yes, thanks.." Tracy adds, regaining some colour now.

{Skye}

As Levon came over, she pulled the young man close just to feel something solid herself.

"Yeah. She'll pull through." Skye nodded to his query about Tracy.

Matt and Tracy perked up with noting Levon's actions.

"We've had some experience with...situations." Skye tried to brush it off as if it was all in a days work.

Ian

Ian's face reddens slightly at Sarah's comment.

"Yeah not much thinking was involved there."

Everyone is a little unsettled given what has just happened. And conversation flounders a little. Then Ben (coach) arrives, a bundle of energy as always. He looks around, beckoning Skye and Levon over to the table with the others.

"I have booked a two hour slot at the gym this afternoon. Thought we could get some practice in before tomorrow. And I've been asked to remind anoyone who was at the pool this morning, to collect their belongings when they can. So those up for practice and interested spectators, see you at the gym in an hour."

Levon

He let Skye snuggle up to him. He liked it.

"Yeah, we seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

When the coach arrived and called them over, he put his arm around Skye's waist and led her towards him.

"Sounds good to me. I look forward to some more wresting" he said.

Ian

Ian kept quiet as the coach talked seems he was just a spectator for the tournament.

Looking to the rest of the guys he asks, "Since I don't have practice in an hour did any of you leave stuff at the pool? I can go pick it up for you guys." He offers