Log:One Way to Cope

2019/12/11 Carpenter Grimm 1

Carpenter receives a text in the early afternoon on his first day of leave from Grimm. <>

Carpenter waits a while to respond. A half an hour? The response back. "I watched a man explode. No. Not exactly okay right now."

Grimm sucks on her teeth as she reads that. << Damn. I'm sorry. Do you need time alone? Or do you want somebody to talk to, or just take your mind off of it?>>

Carpenter responds back, quicker this time, "I'm not sure I'll be good company. But I'm over at Coffeebucks South, near the Towers. It's walking distance from my place."

Grimm sighs a little and replies back after eyeing the remainder of the essay she needs to finish. She's pretty sure she can finish it in time. <> She saves her progress and opens a portal to the Towers district to find her way towards Coffeebucks South. She ends up by North instead and starts walking across the street to the right one.

Carpenter is seated in a booth toward the back. And he's...basically staring at the seat across from him. He's not wearing his normal trench coat, and no shoulder holster. Instead, he has a winter coat that's hung up next to the booth.

Grimm steps in with her leather jacket zipped up, hands in pockets, and a warm woolen knit purple-ish gray scarf. She looks cozy and bundled up. It takes her a moment to recognize Carpenter without his work clothes on, and with that shell shocked look. Her expression is serious, but soft as she approaches. "Hey, Jack," she says softly as she reaches his booth. He's off duty, so she may as well address him by his first name.

Carpenter looks up at her, "Oh...uh...hey there." He motions to the booth. "Umm...feel free to join me." He definitely looks out of it. Like he didnt' sleep well, or at all, last night.

Grimm has dark circles under her eyes, too. Finals, and the nightmares getting worse. She offers a sad smile and slips into the booth across from him. "Thanks. Is there anything I can do to help...?"

Carpenter sighs and sips his coffee. His hand shakes a bit as he sets it back down and he furrows his brow, like he's admonishing himself internally. He takes a moment and then says, "I...don't know. I don't think so. I've been placed on leave. And they took my gun away...for my own safety, I think." He closes his eyes and shakes his head, "I keep seeing that kid explode. I can't get it out of my head. He died...for no reason."

He swallows slowly and looks down at the table, "Needless to say, I have to see a counselor. Starting tomorrow."

Grimm's breath catches at the revelation. She knows Jack's seen a lot of stuff, but a kid exploding is terrible. She's worried when he says the gun was taken away for his on safety. She couldn't imagine Jack hurting himself or others, but he does seem compromised.

After he sets down the cup, she slides a hand to cup over his shaking hand if he'll permit, hoping to steady it and offer comfort. She doesn't have to know more of the details to know what to say next. "It's not your fault."

Carpenter abruptly slams his hand on the table, which gets the attention of some of hte other patrons, but only briefly, since he keeps his voice low. "And that archer outside the place. Dressed in blue? Competing in the Best of the Best? She KNEW somethign was up. She KNEW he had been infected and suggested I check up on him. If she knew that was going to happen to him, why the didn't she help? She stayed outside and fought the culprit, leaving us inside to just...start to melt due to the acid..." His voice drops off, and there area tears in his eyes now, which he wipes away with the back of his hand.

Grimm startles at the sudden loud bang, gasping from the jump scare. She's only getting part of the picture here, trying to piece together what happened. "You think she knew he was going to explode? If she knew, she wouldn't have asked you to check on him, right? That...that'd be..."

Her voice is lost for a moment. She sees the tears in his eyes and wishes she could do something to help. "Oh my god...what...how could she?" She looks Carpenter over for injuries. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Jack..."

Carpenter can see what Grimm is looking at, and he says quietly, "I was healed after the fact by another of the metas there. But I'm not a hundred percent right now, physically. I still have some pain from it." He sighs, "Mostly the damage is up here." He points at his temple.

Grimm nods slowly. "You went through something traumatic. Horrifying. You wouldn't be sane if that didn't affect you." She pauses a moment in thought. "You should definitely go see a counselor. But I may be able to help. Or at least...dull the psychological pain a bit until you can get professional help to process it all."

Carpenter watches Grimm for a long moment, "I know enough about you to say...if you would do this at the expense of yourself and your own sanity, I'm going to refuse. I can handle it, if I have to."

Grimm smiles gently and shrugs. "That's really noble of you. It's not going to cost me to help you." She withdraws her hand from his and shrugs. "Besides...I've known you for a while. Shouldn't friends help each other with their burdens?"

Carpenter wipes his eyes again and takes a deep breath, getting back some of his composure. "I...don't want to be a burden on anyone. Even a friend."

"Psshh. Shut up," Grimm smirks. It just slips out, really, and Grimm blushes faintly as she realizes it. "I mean, you're not being a burden. It's okay to ask for help. Even if you just don't want to be alone for a bit."

Carpenter nods again slowly. "Thank you. I appreciate it." He takes a sip of his coffee again, and this time, his hand doesn't shake. "I...know I'm not really in good enough shape to be on duty. I think I surprised the Captain when she saw how rattled I was. I've seen plenty while I've been working as a cop here in town. But...nothing that close. And nothing that awful. I managed to keep my together in the moment, but I broke down last night. I literally collapsed in a heap in my apartment and just...cried."

Grimm nods and just listens to what he has to say, remaining understanding and trying to be gentle. "I wish I could've been there to help somehow. Either at the scene or after. I don't know many who could keep it together after going through that. And the ones who could aren't good people.."

Carpenter snorts and smiles. "Or metas who are...above it all? I don't know." His tone started bitter, but softened as the sentence ended. He takes a couple more deep breaths. "I didn't feel this scared after I was face to face with Dr. Destroyer. I mean, he could have vaporized me. But he didn't. And he didnt' strike anyone else around me. So...I didn't see the result. This was...worse." He sighs, "I'm...sorry. I'm just going on and on...I apologize."

"You don't have to apologize," Grimm reassures. She's taking a psych class or two and tries to remember the details. She mostly took it for criminal psychology. "It's good to talk about your experience and get it out. Process it." She pauses a moment to think. She has some ideas, but isn't sure if she should say anything and just let him process it as needed. "Just because it wasn't Dr. Destroyer doesn't mean you shouldn't feel this way."

Carpenter nods again. "I know that. In my head, at least. In my heart, I feel like...I'm not sure exactly what I feel. Numb? Helpless? Vulnerable?"

"That's a natural response. Something the counselor can help you process." Grimm's reminded of her own therapy sessions shortly after she got her powers. "Are you getting any anxious feelings? Or thoughts of self-harm?" she asks very gently.

Carpenter thinks about it. "Anxiety...yes. Self harm...not really. Though the department played it safe. I kind of want to feel numb and drink until I pass out tonight, but that's different than wanting to hurt or kill myself."

"That's...a coping mechanism. Maybe not the best one, but not problematic so long as it doesn't become a habit." Grimm chews a little on her lower lip. "So if you wanted, I could use my mental powers to try and dull or numb some of that anxiety. Make things bearable. Help you sleep. But it's mental powers, and I'm not sure if you'd be comfortable about that. I wouldn't do it without your permission. Alternatively...if you didn't want to be alone, I could stick around. Pour you drinks. Put on your fav movies. Make sure you're okay for the night until you can see a counselor."

Carpenter thinks about it. "I...um...no, no mental powers. Thank you, but I can't deal with that right now." He sips his coffee and thinks about the second offer. "Only if it doesnt' interfere with your classes or whatever. I have a friend or two locally that I can crash with if I need to make sure I'm safe."

Grimm nods gently, not offended that he refused. "That's fine. I understand. It's a bit much and I think you need something more normal and traditional." She leans back in her seat, seeing him potentially worried about being a burden again. So she lies. "I'm good with my classes, don't worry about that. I'm really just more concerned with what you need. And...yeah, I know maybe I'm not the best person to have around at a time like this. Especially if you have close friends to be with."

Carpenter smiles slightly. "Maybe not super close. Used to be closer than now." He rubs the back of his neck. "If you can spare the time tonight, I'd appreciate the company. I can call Tamara tomorrow, once my mind has settled a little bit."

Grimm smiles back warmly. "I can make the time. The drinks. Whatever," she offers affirmatively. She's never seen Carpenter like this. She can't abandon him when he needs help.

Carpenter nods slowly. "I was thinking scotch. And movies which are like comfort food for me. Old 30s, 40s, and 50s films. Something like...The Big Sleep."

Grimm grins a little. "Now that I can help with. Got a favorite scotch? Or a dream scotch you want to try? We can queue up a movie, or a few for binging...make a drinking game of shots any time someone says 'you dirty rat'?" She maybe has no clue about actual movies from that time period.

Carpenter chuckles. "Wrong movie for that particular game. Though if you want a good one for htat, drink every time you hear the word 'ground' in the old movie Gettysburg."

"Ground? Really? How often can they possibly say that in that film?" Grimm asks curiously. She's at least glad she got him to chuckle.

Carpenter smiles. "Know anything about the battle at all? It was on a hill. The commanders are constantly saying things like 'This is great ground'. 'It was the worst ground I ever saw'.

Grimm grins and shakes her head. "Just that it's the place of the Gettysberg address...? I think?" she confesses her shame. "Are we gonna get smashed if we play that game?" she asks, leaning in a bit with a conspiring smile. Good. He's smiling. This might just be helping.

Carpenter chuckles. "We would, yeah. But I'm...not sure I want to be THAT drunk." He smiles again. Another good sign.

Grimm laughs a little. She'll keep that game in the back pocket for if things get really bad. "Sounds like that movie will give us alcohol poisioning. So what's The Big Sleep about?"

Carpenter smiles, "It's an old noir film. Black and white, from 1946. It's a Bogart and Bacall film, so a lot of banter, but a convoluted plot. I like it because it hits some weird tropes from the time period.

"Hmmm...like what sort of tropes? I'm not too familiar with movies from that time." Grimm looks outside, trying to remember where there's a nice alcohol store around, then looks back to Carpenter. "We could pick up some scotch on the way if you want."

Carpenter nods. "I have some back at my apartment. We don't really need to pick more up, I think."

Grimm squints a little. "Are you sure? Is it the top shelf stuff?"

Carpenter shrugs, "Mid-shelf." He chuckles. "I'm not a fan of the really smokey stuff."

Grimm holds up her hands. "You're the expert. I don't know enough about scotch." She smiles at him as she sets her hands down. "You're just going to have to be my guide."

Carpenter chuckles. "I'm not an officiando. But I know what I like."

"That's all that really matters, then, right?" Grimm smiles. She just wants to keep his mind off of reliving the events he just went through. "So does popcorn go with scotch and a movie, you think?"

Carpenter thinks about it. "I...don't see why not?" He smiles again and then blinks a few times before the smile fades. "You going to be comfortable hanging out at my apartment?"

Grimm waves off his concern. "I'll be fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Carpenter shakes his head, "I'm...just remembering what happened at the beach. You're right. It's not really something to worry about."

Grimm looks a little guilty, but still smiling with an apologetic expression. "I'm not going to pull any tricks with you. In fact...no powers today. Just normalcy. That good with you?"

Carpenter nods slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, that is great, actually. Just...hanging out.

Grimm smiles as he agrees. "Alright, then. It's a promise. No powers during hang time." She winks at him as she adds, "That goes for you, too."

Carpenter holds up a hand, "I solemnly swear I won't use super powers tonight."

Grimm giggles gently. "Alright, we have a pact. So shall we grab munchies to go and get ready to binge watch, starting with The Big Sleep?"

Carpenter chuckles, "Sure, sounds good." He gets up and grabs his coat.

Carpenter grins, "You'll be speaking the lingo all the time after you watch a couple movies. Sure...you can buy the snacks. Thank you."

Grimm shrugs with a smile. "What're friends for?" she says simply, like it's no problem. "Will I be talking with that weird accent of theirs by the time the night's over?" she chuckles.

Carpenter chuckles. "I have no idea. We'll have to see."

"I think that depends on how much we drink," Grimm winks. She heads for the counter, looking at the baked goods display and other snacks. "Hmm, what're your favorites here? We'll get that. Or all of them?"

Carpenter chuckles. "I like the scones. And the coffee cake."

"Alright," Grimm grins, then looks to the person behind the counter. I'll have...uhhh...four scones, and four coffee cakes." They get bagged up and she pays with a tap of her phone.