brockton bay, meet glam

[mxglam]

It's the anniversary. Glam would very much not like to celebrate.

It’s their last day on Winslow High - they’re being transferred to Arcadia on Monday - and also their last day without a patrol schedule assigned.

And the PRT released a small announcement on its website about Glam joining the Wards. Now their wiki page doesn’t get erased, of course - they’re no longer speculative. They wonder what it’s got on them.

Comments

[thinkering]

"Fair enough."

[mrglam]

He smiles. "I should probably go and- not duck anything up for a long time."

[thinkering]

"Good luck."

[mrglam]

"Thanks!"

He doesn't bother masking up before leaving.

[mxglam]

Glam waits and waits and waits and is not called to Piggot's office. The chaos dies down a little, and they're still not called. That's- worrying.

They hover over to her office and knock softly.

[alicornucopia]

"Come in."

[mxglam]

They do.

"Hello," they say, sounding somewhat subdued.

[alicornucopia]

"Hello, Glam," says Piggot. "What brings you here?"

[mxglam]

"I- would like to apologize. And, well, take blame for it, if it wasn't obvious already, but apologize anyway. I acted without thinking, without full knowledge of the consequences, it was foolish and immature."

[alicornucopia]

"Why," says Piggot, softly and evenly, pronouncing every consonant with exactitude, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. There is no blame to distribute for calling the Youth Guard, which you are absolutely free to do at any moment and with whom we are delighted to cooperate. It is no doubt I who should be apologizing to you for not making enough resources available to you here that you felt you could solve your problems internally."

[mxglam]

"I-" They swallow. "I don't think there is anything you should apologize for, I do not believe you or Ms. Yates are at fault for- anything. I was selfish and childish and rash and uninformed and naive. There is probably nothing I can say or do to help it, but I wish Ms. Yates was still here."

[alicornucopia]

"Ms. Yates's career decisions are of course entirely her own," says Piggot silkily.

[mxglam]

"Of course," they repeat in a low voice. "If- if you can think of anything I can do to, help, with anything, and if you can trust it's something I could do without breaking it, I would be glad if you told me," they continue, in the same low voice. "Even if it takes a long time for me to earn that modicum of trust."

[alicornucopia]

"I'll bear the offer in mind," says Piggot.

[mxglam]

They nod, then look up to meet her eyes, because staring at their lap is probably not very conductive to expressing whatever it is they want to express.

"I think that was all," they sigh.

[alicornucopia]

"Have a lovely afternoon," says Piggot, smiling thinly.

[mxglam]

"You too," they say, then leave.

...they should probably go check on Boots. Even thinking about it makes a few bruises felt, but they elect not to react to them.

[alicornucopia]

Boots is a little hard to find.

[mxglam]

Glam has time to look.

[alicornucopia]

Boots is hiding in the rafters of the gym.

[mxglam]

Glam floats up to them. "Do you want to talk? Or punch me? I'll go away if you want me to."

[alicornucopia]

Boots socks them in the shoulder.

[mxglam]

They grimace and bite their tongue not to cry out. They're pretty sure if Boots had been trying a little bit harder they might've dislocated the shoulder. As it is, it's just hurting like a- a lot, with their hovering having absorbed some of the impact. "I probably deserved that."

[alicornucopia]

"The fuck do you want," mutters Boots.

[mxglam]

"I don't know. To help. Try to make it better, if I can't fix it. Maybe serve as a target to your frustration and anger, I can take it and you might need it. I can't claim to understand, but." They shrug, and wince when they're rudely reminded that shrugging involves their shoulder. Ow.