When the big dog comes, tell him what this puppy done.

[awfulcer]

Who: Jason Dixon and You!
What: Dixon goes looking to pick fights and blow off steam. Bonus points if we can escalate to a straight-up fist fight.
Where: Around the Melai Temple.
When: Before the Crossroads Post
Warnings/Notes: all your typical Dixon warnings



[Each night so far he's been sneaking off into the woods from where everyone sleeping. He tells whomever is on watch that he's going to stretch his legs, and then he pops on his headphones and wanders out about half a mile before finding the base of a tree, where he'll sit and start his nightly breakdown. He probably shouldn't be listening to music wandering around in the dark in the woods, but he feels as if he isn't going to make it as far as the tree if he doesn't.

Once he gets there he just starts crying, snot-filled, stressed, shaking weeping that burns him out. Cries because his Chief killed himself and he would have let Chief down anyway and he's a fuck-up who got fired and threw an innocent person out a window and because he misses his mother and because he's useless and stupid and can't get anything right, couldn't solve a case, couldn't keep his temper in check, can't keep up here with everyone so much faster and hardier and smarter than he is, and because he's just sad and doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do.

He's out of smokes, which makes it all the worse. Once he gets it all out of his system, the nic-fitting morphs sadness into anger; these two have always been kissing cousins for him, or rather tectonic plates, bumping up and grinding next to each other, rattling shockwaves all through his impulses. So with sadness stirred up he slides easily into a thunderhead, pissed off, stomping around, spoiling for a fight. In the absence of anyone to take it all out on, he chucks rocks into the river or uses sticks to beat the hell out of trees until his hands hurt. And then he'll storm on back to the temple and try, mostly futilely, to get some more rest.

The sun's coming up by the time his crying jag is done, turning the whole sky a rosy pink. Birds are chirping. The beauty's lost on him. He almost feels in a trance, animated by an aura of rage that makes it feel like the air around him is vibrating. His fingers twitch in need of a cigarette. He gets a sort of tunnel vision.

It'll all feel better when it's someone else's fault.

When he runs into someone, his voice is thick and annoyed. If he gets close enough, he might enough shove them at the shoulder.]

The fuck are you doing out here? You been following me?

[He hopes they don't have a good answer, so he can escalate it.]

Comments

let's have a fist-fight :3

[invisibleheir]

[ Arturia was merely doing some early morning chores. Gathering fallen branches for fires, trying to spot any edible plants, and mostly taking her exercise as she can. It's nice to enjoy the world when you have a chance, even if things are weird and you're far from home. So it's a surprise when she almost runs headlong into Dixon as she scrambles over a tree root. The diminutive king hugs her bundle of kindling a little closer, a frown tugging at her lips. ]

I've been following no one. I'm merely gathering wood for the fire.

[ She studies Dixon for a moment, piercing inquisitive eyes staring up at him. ]

What are you doing out here?

I don't know if he'd have a fist-fight with her but let's see how close we get!

[awfulcer]

Patrolling, [he blusters. There's totally another person on watch but his excuses are moving faster than his knowledge.] Making sure nothing comes in and attacks people like you in the night. Nothing like those wheel things or anything.

[He reaches to grab Arturia's arm.] Come on, get inside, wait until it full light out before you go out here where it's dangerous.

[It's clear he isn't actually concerned about Arturia's safety and just wants to boss her around.]

[invisibleheir]

Patrolling? You have no weapon.

[ The shield is technically a weapon but Arturia doesn't trust Dixon to be able to wield it effectively yet. If he can wield it at all. ]

I am not in need of protection--I am a knight and I am armed.

[ True enough, she has Excalibur in its usual place, slung over her shoulders. As Dixon grabs at her, she starts to tug away, frowning. ]

Unhand me, you oaf. Remember that this is a king you're speaking to!

[ Because that's the first place her mind goes and not any of the other reasons Dixon might try to exert his paternalistic patriarchal control on her. ]

[awfulcer]

I got this. [He gestures with his shield, which has sharp edges and is actually kind of a terrifying weapon when handled by a person who flies off the handle when they get looked at funny.]

You can't be king. You're a chick. Come on, let's get you inside. [He clenches his hand around her shoulder harder, all but trying to drag her into the temple.]

[suckitblue]

Uh... No? Why would I?

[ Simmons, at least, is bright and alert. He's a morning person of the worst degree, and is currently hauling some firewood back because that's useful. ]

Where've you been, anyway?

[ Unlike him, Dixon does not look like a guy who's gotten any sleep. Weird? Weird. ]

[awfulcer]

What's it to you? [Somehow, the fact that Simmons is a morning person makes Dixon all the more annoyed. Sure, he's awake, but that's because nicotine addiction, detox and a sudden lack of alcohol to drug himself to sleep have not been kind to him. It hasn't made him particularly happy to be alive taking in the birdsong and the sunrise.

He gives Simmons a shove.] Get back into the temple until the sun's full up. You don't know what kind of weird shit's out here.

[suckitblue]

Nothing, you just look like you got hit by a truck or something.

[ Well. Not as much as he did when the gang first all met up, perhaps, but...

He's tempted to tell Dixon he's not the boss of him, because Dixon definitely isn't the boss of him, but what good would it do? None. Simmons has a little bit of a sense for that here. ]

[awfulcer]

Fuck off. [Dixon knows his face looks kind of gnarly; he is not only not happy to have it pointed out to him, but alchemizes that insult into that anger that keeps him fueled.

He shoves Simmons again, then goes to grab him and haul him into the temple.]

[greyerrant]

Yes. You seem distraught.

[ He looks the man over, and adds. ]

Very distraught. And you are one of the few humans I have seen since I arrived.

Why?

[awfulcer]

[Dixon's almost as confused by Garviel's nonchalance as he is by the categorization as human. As he doesn't particularly like adding confusion into his current mix of agitated and angry, he escalates, closing the distance between them and unquestionably pushing up into Garviel's personal space.]

Why am I human? Because I fucking am. That answer you?

[greyerrant]

No. Why are you distraught? And why are you closing on me like this? [ His eyes blink, once, twice, and then he ventures. ]

Are you attempting to pick a fight with me?

[loadme]

[Sleep and Monika currently have a complicated relationship.

She likes the idea of getting a sound night of rest. To close her eyes and just let herself drift away, to wake up re-energized the morning after.

So why is it that the idea of sleeping still makes her so terrified?]

N-No! I wasn't doing anything like that.

I just... couldn't fall back asleep.

I'm sorry if I upset you.

[awfulcer]

Don't apologize. Do I look upset? [Well, he does, and the way he kind of barks that at her is meant to bully her around and hurt her feelings. It's not that he has anything particular against Monika, but she's here and he's full of anger and frustration roiling around like snakes in his guts, so he snaps at her.]

Just get the fuck back in the temple. I don't want to have to come running if some kind of wheel-monster or whatever jumps you.

[loadme]

You won't...

[Ah yes, the Wheelers, when she tripped over and needed to be saved.

Not her finest moment, by any means.]

You won't have to. But I really don't think you should talk to me like that. Aren't we friends?

[somnioergosum]

[At home, Ronan had ways of coping with his insomnia. Usually music, sometimes drinking, and when he was lucky he had Adam Parrish to occupy him. He had none of that here. It was just him, some other people, and a vast expanse of emptiness where his mind once held dreams. After spending the whole night thinking about it, Ronan had come to one solid conclusion about this whole ordeal.

Fuck this place.

Ronan turned his tired, angry eyes on Dixon. He came to another conclusion.

Fuck this guy.]

Man, I don't even know you. Mind your own damn business.

[The raven perched on his shoulder took that as her cue to leave. She took off, claws digging into his tattooed shoulder and leaving deep scratches.]

Hey-- Chainsaw!

[Ronan relaxed only when he saw his raven had landed several feet away. But he wouldn't have had to worry about her running off if this asshole hadn't opened his mouth. He turned on him again.]

The fuck is your problem?

what an irony that they have the same coping mechanisms for insomnia

[awfulcer]

[Dixon startles a little as the bird takes off, if only because the motion is quick and unexpected. Then he takes a few steps towards Ronan - a new guy, someone he hasn't met yet, and somewhere in his head the line draws between the people already here and the new arrivals, with everyone who just came in as some kind of threat that needs to be vetted.

His shoulder's dislocated and there's no helping that showing in his posture, but pain is good fuel for anger; it alchemizes easy, makes the edges of everything sharp, transforms irritation to a full-blown inferno.]

The fuck is yours? [As if Ronan were the one intruding on his business, not vice versa. ] I didn't see you around back when those wheel things were trying to kill us. What're you doing, lingering around here like we're supposed to trust you and your bird?

if only it didn't make them bigger assholes

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan bristled. Of all the accusations, he most resented Chainsaw being brought into this. The bird didn't do shit to him. She just wanted a moment of peace. So did Ronan, but if a fight presented itself to him he wasn't about to back down.]

I don't give a damn if you trust me or not, but I didn't try to run you over or whatever the hell you're talking about. Why, were you in a hit and run? Cause that explains why you look like roadkill.

[mark_in_the_sands]

Yep.

[Cassie doesn't intend it to be confrontational. Her tone is very matter-of-fact. She'd seen him walk off into the woods with his headphones on, which didn't seem safe, so she'd followed him. Then he'd had a sobbing meltdown, which: fair, but also not exactly safe. So she'd stuck around.]

Feeling better?

[She muffles a yawn behind her hand. She hasn't gotten any sleep either, after all.]

[awfulcer]

[Somehow, he wasn't expecting someone to say they did. He had been asking the question almost rhetorically, an invitation to find something wrong with the other person's confusion or denial. When he actually gets an affirmative answer he's like a dog who caught the car he was chasing.

It's not a good look, nor is the way the intensity of his anger seems to launch upwards, his whole body shaking, fists clenched, his eyes welling up against his will.

He's probably loud enough for the whole temple to hear. Maybe even wake up the late risers.]

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Cassie's youth is the only reason he doesn't take a straight up swing at her.]

[mark_in_the_sands]

[Cassie blinks rapidly, shifting her weight in case he does take a swing at her. Well duh, Cassie, of course the guy who sneaked off to sob against a tree by himself isn't going to take well to the knowledge that someone saw him. Ugh. But, since honesty got her into this situation and it could darn well get her out again, she begins ticking off answers to his clearly rhetorical question on her fingers. Who knows, maybe it will actually help to let him know that other people are just barely holding it together.]

My powers have been taken away or suppressed and I made some incredibly bad decisions last time that happened, most of my survival skills are not backed by practical experience, my hair feels disgusting, I hate having to constantly be on-guard around my friends from the past so I don't drop information about their future, I'm still having having conflicting feelings about my ex, I miss my mom and sisters so bad I could throw up, I'm terrified that people are going to die because I'm not strong enough or fast enough to save them, and there are a few things that aren't technically my problem but I'm worried about anyway. Oh, and I have no idea what we're going to handle the menstruation situation.

[Dixon doesn't strike her as the kind of guy who'd be comfortable talking about menstruation, so the last is a little mean but might knock him out of his rage loop.]

[wherenoonegoes]

No....?

[Hiccup is currently in the middle of strapping Toothless's tack to the dragon.]

Just getting ready to fly morning patrol. How about you? What are you doing up?

[awfulcer]

How about you mind your own fucking business?

[God, he hates that fucking dragon. He has no reason to hate that dragon, and yet just the sight of it makes his jaw clench.]

[wherenoonegoes]

[Hiccup has spent his entire life around people who yell and rage for no obvious reason on a regular basis. Given that experience, it's pretty clear what Dixon wants, and Hiccup's not inclined to give it to him. All Dixon's outburst gets is a slightly raised eyebrow and a very dry look from Toothless.]

Fine, I'll leave it be. I suggest trying to calm down before you go inside, though. Starting a fight isn't going to solve any of your problems. It's just going to get you punched in the face.

[googledox]

[Brainy gives Dixon a long look that speaks volumes. It says, "I've tried to treat you with kindness or at least a lack of open hostility and 1) It'd be a jerk move to forget that, and 2) that means you haven't seen my bad side."]

[He provides a very even response.]

I've been taking scans of our environment to see if they'll provide any useful information about our predicament.

[Which entails wandering around the woods at the ass crack of dawn. Alone. He's mostly been within sight of the temple - if he needs to go in further, he'll ask for one of the other heroes/competent people for backup.]

[awfulcer]

[It does give Dixon pause, because he certainly hasn't forgotten that Brainy gave him compassion when he badly needed it. The furious desire to flip his lid at someone is quickly cowed into something abashed and apologetic.]

Sorry. Sorry, I'm real strung out right now. [Which is probably evident by the way his eyes are red and puffy and how he has that kind of wild look people get when they're carrying major sleep debt.] I ain't had a cigarette in two days.

[And the only reason he's not in even worse shape is because his magical Drinkin' Shield seems to replace all the functions of alcohol.

He bites his fingernails and looks down at his feet.]

You find anything? Useful information?