hasaknightjob | Semi-Secluded Park Bench, Monday afternoon

Marc couldn't be in the apartment, was the thing.

He didn't want to be anywhere. Marc Spector had solid method to his coping mechanisms and they all boiled down to one concept: just don't. Don't be there. Don't deal.

Only running away wasn't an option because Marc had to consider Steven. And handing the body over to Steven was definitely not an option because as bad as this week was for Marc for Steven it was going to be a thousand times worse.

No prize for guessing if that was Marc's fault, of course.

The Steven of it all was why the apartment was a no go. Too much there that was Steven, too much that was personal. Marc was trying not to deal with memories, thank you, he didn't need help with the reminders.

So he went somewhere that meant nothing to him, which was a quiet bench in the park. And he went there with his last option for coping mechanisms, which was currently contained in a paper bag wrapped bottle at his side.

Maybe if he was lucky he and Steven wouldn't wake up until Sunday.

[For thems who know who they are. Warning for potential sensitive topics in addition to the unhealthy use of alcohol. More specific warnings will go up as needed. Safe for broadcast unless otherwise noted.]

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From:

hasaknightjob

He hasn't been here that long. He can be chatty. Depending on when someone happens upon him he might even be more chatty than usual. Of course that might not be a good thing.

From:

flamesburned

That afternoon Liz had decided to go for a walk since she was trying to be better about that and she was finding that she was liking being out and taking her time with walks.

She had ended up in the park and then she came to a stop near a park bench when she realised that she recognised who was sitting there and she could see the brown bag, maybe Marc didn’t want company right now but she wanted to check first.

“Marc?” she said softly, hesitant as she approached.

From:

hasaknightjob

Well shit. If it was any other circumstance Marc would've taken Liz showing up as a cue to bail and let Steven handle it. But it wasn't any other circumstance and dumping Steven into anything without warning, this week especially, was beyond cruel.

Luckily Marc hadn't been there that long. He'd finished off what was back in the apartment, yeah, but - other than the wine which he wasn't touching - that had already been running low. This was fine.

"You okay?" he asked. Look, Liz had had her own shit time of it this year. He couldn't rule out life hadn't kicked her in the teeth again.

From:

flamesburned

Liz nodded, biting her lip, “I’m okay,” she assured him, “I … I was just out for a walk,” she told him.

There was another awkward pause, “are you okay?” she asked.

From:

hasaknightjob

"It's fine," Marc told her after a pause that was much longer than should have been needed. It also didn't actually answer her question.

From:

flamesburned

“Oh,” Liz wasn’t sure what she should do, since Marc didn’t seem fine and he hadn’t really answered her question.

Marc had always been so supportive and helpful to her, she didn’t want to just leave, at least not yet.

“Um … if you want to talk or would like some company? I don’t have to go, I can stay here with you … um … if you’d like me to that is,” Liz offered.