so the sun, it can shine on me, and the clouds they can roll away (open to all)

[davin]

Davin missed a lot of things while he was being held in that warehouse, but coffee was up high on the list. By the second day, he was feeling the lack of caffeine and the added headache wasn't doing him any favors. The first few days back, he didn't want to leave his apartment. James or Mira would bring him coffee from Quill, or he'd fire up his little coffeemaker in his kitchen. He was allowed a few days of being lazy, he thought. Or fear disguised as laziness, if he's honest with himself.

But he needs to get back into in the swing of things. He hasn't really seen anyone aside from James, Mira, and Raleigh, and he doesn't really have any idea of what happened while he and Spencer were gone. He just knows that he needs to get back to his real life. He needs to put the kidnapping and the torture and all that behind him, and needs to keep moving forward.

He can start by going to get his own coffee. He takes a shower and puts himself together as much as he can, wrinkling his nose at his reflection in the mirror. His face is still bruised, and he has stitches above one cheekbone and a small line of them at his temple, where he was initially knocked out with the wrench. His right hand is in a cast and he walks stiffly, thanks to his cracked ribs, but he goes outside anyway.

It's a nice day and the sun is shining, and that's something that Davin will never take advantage of again. He went days without seeing the sun, or feeling any sort of warmth, and now he smiles when he feels it on his skin, and feels the soft breeze ruffling his hair. It's a short walk to Quill, but he takes his time. He feels stiff from all his healing injuries and inactivity, and he just wants to enjoy the sun for a little longer.

People are staring at him, whispering to each other as they pass, and Davin knows that word got around town. There are people who will see he and Spencer as victims, and he supposes they are, but they're so much more than that. They're survivors, and they're strong, no matter what. So Davin keeps his chin up, and he keeps walking.

Comments

[brigid_moran]

Brigid was on her way out of Quill with her most recent fix of espresso in the form of a triple shot latte. She was going to be firing the kiln later and with all the glazing she'd done since returning to Siren Cove, it stood to be a long night indeed.

She did a doubletake when she saw Davin walking in and had to keep herself in check from dropping the travel mug and throwing her arms around him.

"Davin," she said instead of yelling it and walked over towards him.

[davin]

There are only a few select people in this town who pronounce Davin's name the proper Irish way, and he's sure neither of his parents are calling out to him from Quill. Even Davin himself has gotten lax with it, actually preferring the lazier American pronunciation at this point.

So he knows that it's Brigid that's calling out to him, and he smiles as he raises his head to look at her. "Aye, you're back. I thought ya were still over in Ireland."

[brigid_moran]

"I was, but what can I say, I missed yer adorable mug," she told him with a grin and a soft pat to his cheek. "Couldn't bear t'be away a second longer."

The smile still on her face, she searched his eyes. "How are ye, love?"

[davin]

Davin winces slightly when she pats his cheek, but it isn't her fault. He's still uneasy with being touched unless he initiates it, but he's sure that will pass. He smiles at her and shrugs a little, fingers going down to unconsciously wrap around his wrist under his cast. "I'm pushin' forward, thanks."

[nomadic_cam]

"Boss!" Cam said even though he knew Davin couldn't hear him over the motorcycle's engine.

Grumbling and calling himself an idiot, he parked the bike and stowed his helmet before following him in to Quill.

He cleared his throat when he was right behind him and spoke again. "Boss. Welcome back."

[davin]

Davin jerks slightly when someone suddenly speaks right behind him, and then curses himself for being so jumpy. It's kind of to be expected, he supposes, but that doesn't mean that he has to like it.

"Cam, hey." He turns around to face him and smiles slightly, happy to see such a familiar face. "It's good t'be back. Is the garage still standin'?"

[nomadic_cam]

"Apart from one window that got a little shattered by a desperate husband, but that's been fixed, so no harm done," Cam told him, not imparting that he took care of the glass replacement himself. "Even managed to do a little auto work in there and finally figured out what was causing the squeak in the minivan's suspension. So all things considered, not bad at all."

[coopdetat]

Coop's been staring at the menu for close to five minutes now, like he's never even been to Quill before, and he can feel it every time the baristas look over at him again because he knows he looks like a total moron. He has a usual, it's possible that it's already even been made for him but for some reason, he feels like something different today. So he's studying the menu with intensity, scratching at his heavy stubble until he hears the door open behind him and after a casual glance over a shoulder, Coop does a double take because it's fucking Davin.

He widens his eyes, hand dropping to his side, just taking in the sight of his friend. He'd exchanged a few texts with him, brief ones because Coop hadn't known what he could possibly say, but he's admittedly glad to see him standing here and now. Davin has bruises and stitches, he's got a cast, but he's alive and hell, that counts the most.

"Hey," he calls softly, closing the short distance between them with a tight smile. "You're lookin' good, man. Few bruises aren't gonna stop you from needing that caffeine, huh?" It's a weak joke, both of them know it, and he's not trying to make light of what had happened to Davin and Spencer, not at all. Coop had seen glimpses of what they'd been through in Spencer's dream, but the guys had been gone for four days. He's not sure he'd even want to know all that had gone down in that time. "Let me pick your drink up for you, we can sit. If you're okay with that, I mean."

[davin]

Davin is incredibly glad to see Coop. He knows how hard Coop worked to find them, and he hasn't been able to properly thank him yet. He laughs at the joke and nods, smiling a little and looking up at him. "But I'm still pretty, right?"

His eyes are a little watery, but he's smiling. It's just so good to see his friends again, and to know that he's really okay. Coop offers to get his drink and Davin sort of thinks it should be the other way around, but he isn't going to argue. He can get the next round.

"Aye, that'd be great, thanks." He looks at Coop and finally just comes forward and wraps his good arm around Coop's shoulder, pulling him in for a gentle hug and resting his chin on Coop's shoulder, eyes sliding shut. "Really, thank ya for everythin', Coop."

[coopdetat]

Coop rolls his eyes at that, but he returns the hug with as much effort as he can manage without having to worry that he's going to hurt his friend. "Still just as modest, too, I see," he teases, and he has to admit that he's glad Davin hadn't responded negatively to what he'd said because he knows this isn't something to joke about. There's nothing remotely humorous about what had happened to Davin or Spencer, but Coop thinks Davin knows him well enough by now to understand just by looking at him how worried he'd been.

It's the thanks that confuses him, makes him frown and shake his head. "I didn't do anything, man," he insists, "it was all Joel and your cute little detective that everyone's jealous of. I took Joel into a dream, that's all, staked out Quill for the bastard who took you guys. I mean, if you're offering more than just a verbal thank you, I guess I'll suddenly decide to take some credit but..."

He trails off, letting out a soft sigh as he gently grips Davin's shoulder. "I did what anyone else would, which is everything I was capable of doing. We just wanted you guys back safe, that's all that mattered."

[overdrawing]

Gabe spends a lot of his time out these days, though it's usually tucked away in the library or in the park. It hasn't exactly been exciting; Gabe has too little money and few friends, so most of what he does is look at books he'd never been allowed to read as a child and can't bring himself to look at now.

It's better than staying in Mira's guest room all day, uncertain of what to do with people who are so kind and yet so completely counter his beliefs. The extent of their generosity feels so undeserved and Gabe tries everything he can do to be as unobtrusive as possible by leaving during the day.

He hasn't really let himself visit Quill but today he feels nervous and antsy and he shuffles in.

When he sees Davin, Gabe doesn't know if he should look up or away and freezes there instead.

[davin]

Davin is just turning to leave when sees Gabe, who immediately freezes like a deer in the headlights, and for a moment Davin just doesn't think that he has the energy for this. He's so tired, and he hurts all over, but he still wants to be nice.

"Hi, Gabe," he says with a small smile, stepping up closer to him. "Still can't relax 'round me, huh?"

[overdrawing]

"N-No..." he says, eyes casting down, feeling caught. Quieter, he says, "You were hurt?"

What does he say to that? An apology? Condolences? Ask if he's okay? Gabe can't imagine being okay after that

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn's smoking at the corner near Quill when the hum of the energy of pedestrian traffic changes, and it doesn't take him long to figure out why.

Auryn hasn't seen Davin, really, since the spell broke; since Davin broke the spell. Of course they had a week or so of running into each other at work, but they'd both been distant and in their own heads. Auryn could tell from the seething energies around him that Davin's powers had been awoken, a bit, though he's not sure if he knows that or if it's just emotion that runs high.

He'd spent most of that time throwing himself into work, doing whatever he was asked without being told twice. It was better to busy himself than have to contemplate what he'd helped birth -- which parts he was proud of and which he was ashamed of, and how to cope with that now that it was past and done with. And if he didn't know the words to explain himself, at least he could help get things done.

But after Davin and Spencer had been taken -- from right there, right in the garage where he'd been granted a job -- it's hit him a little harder and he thinks it's time he says something. He's not sure what that'll be.

He nods to Davin as he approaches, his glance respectful of what he's been through and a little inspecting, as always. "Glad to see you out and about," he says, with a small, tentative smile, and stubs out his cigarette on the ground.

[davin]

"It's good t'be out," Davin says with a rough chuckle, looking at Auryn from behind his sunglasses. They hide a lot of the bruising, and he can't even imagine what he would look like without his potions. "Thanks for helpin' t'keep the garage runnin' while I was gone."

He hates that he left his business in upheaval, again, but he knows that he has a good team working for him, and he's secure in the knowledge that it's in good hands. "I wanna come back soon, but--"

Davin raises the hand with the cast and shrugs a little, giving Auryn a small, wry smile. "I'll come in t'oversee things an' take care o' the books an' the orderin' and stuff, an' my potions should speed up the healin' process quite a bit."

He's rambling a little, but he can't seem to help it. There's this desperation for everything to just go back to how it was, and he's trying to help it along in some way. "Are ya grabbin' a coffee?"

[do_what_thou_wilt]

"It's my job," he says, with a small smile of you're-welcome. If Auryn took jobs as seriously as he used to take school, he'd never go, but they're a little more rewarding and he's not that same teenager being told he's a failure and a freak.

He's proud of what he can do, now.

At least, sometimes.

He glances at Davin's arm. "Take the time you need," he says. "We'll be all right." He thinks he could probably knit bone, it's simple and innate enough that his powers would speak to it, but he's not sure what potions Davin's already made and how they might react.

"I was thinking we should put a protection spell up. Not something that will ward everyone off. More intent based." He thinks about his father, the hexes and wards he'd crafted compulsively. It still hadn't kept his family safe. Under his shirt, his dogtags prickle.

"I was thinking about it," Auryn says, and reaches to get the door.

[asharpertongue]

"Davin!" Lara called, jogging across the street to him as he approached Quill. She'd been on her way over to see him after she heard he was ready for visitors from Joel. She'd left a couple of messages but she wasn't sure that he'd gotten them.

She smiled gently at him as she got to him, restraining herself from looking him over and checking to see that he was okay and instead looking him straight in the eye. "I heard you were out and about."

[davin]

"Lara," Davin says happily, giving her a tired but genuine smile as she approaches. "Sorry I hadn't called ya back yet. I was just--"

He cuts himself off and swallows hard. "Wasn't really in a place t'talk yet, I guess. But it is good t'see ya. D'ya forgive me?"

There's a cheeky smile on his face, and he's only half-faking it. He can't just brush off what happened, and it will take time to get over, but he isn't going to let the experience change who he is.

[asharpertongue]

Lara smiled and gave him a careful hug. He sounded better than he looked so there was that at least."Of course I forgive you." She said, kissing his cheek softly. She doesn't quite buy the cheeky smile because it doesn't exactly reach his eyes but she can fake it for his sake. Taking his hand, she gave it a squeeze. "Let me buy you breakfast?"

[katdelaney]

Kat is quickly learning that there are weird side effects of the whole, Luke skipping town thing. Kat's never been very good at having people, the way that she knows Davin really, really is. She'd had Luke, kind of, and by extension she knew his friends. She's always found it easy to relax and chat to strangers, but people don't seem to knit with her; she'll be a bit of fun to hang around with at a party but she doesn't have people. And since Luke left, she's had them even less.

It had come as a shock to learn that Davin was missing, and it had been an even bigger shock to hear it second hand from her father. It seemed like the kind of thing she should know before the police search; she should have been calling the police for their help. But Kat hasn't seen Davin in weeks, wouldn't know where to start to recognise he was missing, and she's reminded how much Luke leaving has distanced her from everyone else. Kat's determined to fix that, and she's starting with Davin.

She'd heard he was home, safe if a little beaten up, but she didn't know how welcome she was at his house, so she waited to spot him around town. If Kat knows anything, it's that Davin can't resist coffee, so she makes it a routine to head to the Quill every morning in the hope that she'll run into him. Eventually, her trip comes to fruition, and she spots him just outside, his face tilted towards the sun.

"Davin!" she calls before she can hold herself in check long enough to gauge whether he wants company. It takes a couple of jogged steps to reach him, and when she sees the bruises and stitches she feels a surge of guilt. How could she have been so absent while this was happening? "I've been looking for you," she starts. "Well, not looking so much as stalking the Quill figuring you'd turn up sooner or later." Is that weird? Kat's useless at self-filtering. "How are you?"

[davin]

Davin jumps slightly when someone calls his name and then internally curses himself. He's never been a person easily startled, and he hopes that will fade with time. He turns to see Kat jogging up to him, and he smiles a little. It's been quite awhile since he's spoken to her, and his first instinct is to ask why she's looking for him, but luckily he catches himself before he asks. The answer is kind of obvious.

"Hey! Ya found me," he tells her, laughing a little at her explanation. He squirms a little when she mentions stalking, because it reminds him that he actually was stalked for god knows how long. Roman knew his routine in and out. He knew where Davin went and what he liked, who was important to him, and it makes him a little cautious. But he knows that he didn't mean it like that, so it's easy enough to push past. "I'm doin' about as well as t'be expected, I guess. Wanna grab some coffee with me? It'll be good t'catch up."

[katdelaney]

His tone is a little off, and she doesn't know whether it's something she said or just that he's still a little off kilter, so she doesn't comment. She doesn't know what he's been through, but this is Siren Cove, and she remembers when it had been her who'd gone missing. She can still vividly remember the smell and taste of salt on the air, and she's never, ever going to be able to eat seafood again. Which, she thinks, is a damn shame, because she used to love it. So she kind of gets how he's feeling, and she remembers that the last thing she wanted was Jed and Luke fussing all over her. So, she turns on a bright smile and makes it her mission to distract him for a while. It's the least she can do.

"I never say no to coffee. Lead the way!"

[nealdouglas]

"You know you are going to give me a heart attack one of these days and not in the fun way." Neal drawled, looking over Davin with a slow appraisal. Checking his injuries out, Neal reached out to touch the stitches at his temple before raising an eyebrow. "So, this is the part where I'd threaten to go and beat someone up for you but I'm not that manly. I do know a lot of criminals though."

[davin]

"Oh Neal, it's always good t'know ya care." He smiles a little and swallows hard as Neal inspects his wounds, breath catching when he's touched, and then he reaches out with the hand that's not in a cast to straighten his tie. "Well, the guy's in jail, but if ya wanna be my sexy, capable lawyer again, I wouldn't turn ya away."

[nealdouglas]

"Of course, I do. You're the one who won't let me show you exactly how much I care." Neal drawled in response, hesitating when Davin's breath hitches at the gentle touch. Smiling as he felt Davin attempt to adjust his tie, Neal reached out to slide a hand down Davin's back. "What do you need?"