snowblindrpg | [log] Pet Stop [closed]

Entry tags:

[log] Pet Stop [closed]

Characters: Charlie, Sora
Location Building 158 (pet shop)
Date: Night of 126
Summary: Charlie and Sora end up in the same building during lockdown; sleepover happens
Warnings: language, substance abuse, death/injury talk, blood (will edit as needed)

[Charlie makes it into the little shop with just a few minutes to spare. He trudges inside and slams the door behind him, having had quite enough of the cold for one day. Not like it's much warmer inside, though.

He slumps down against one of the barren shelves before just sprawling out on the floor, still breathing hard from booking it across the frozen tundra outside. God, what the fuck? This isn't a thing that just like, happens to people. What the fuck?

He wraps one arm over his face in an attempt to calm the headache he's had since yesterday. This bullshit situation isn't exactly helped by the fact that his body has been a total wreck the whole time he's been here. Is this what those guys on the network were talking about? How this place messes with you?

Charlie sighs. Nah, he just needs a drink. He reaches for his backpack even though he already tried to huff the gluesticks and the paint he found in the craft store and, well, no dice. It's the shitty made-for-kids stuff. People want their kids growing up all delicate and soft, apparently.

After confirming for a fifth time that the gluesticks aren't abusable, Charlie sits up and rubs his face.] Okay, okay. This is good, it's fine. Now. [He drops his hands into his lap.]

Where the hell am I?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sora had been setting up camp, so to speak, in the back office room when he heard the door slam. The young man startled and immediately hunkered down. For a moment he didn't move, didn't breath, just waiting to see what he would hear--praying that a monster hadn't gotten in--but there was nothing.

At all.

A soft frown worked its way onto his lips and he shifted to dig around in his bag for something he could use but there was nothing that would work for a weapon.

But..

Slipping out of the room, Sora snagged one of the broken table legs before ducking behind some cages and starting to work his way towards the front of the store. He ended up behind a row of shelves before he cautiously peered out just as Charlie spoke up finally. Sora froze, watching the man for a moment before allowing himself to relax.

He didn't seem all that threatening...]

It's a pet store.

[Sora inched out from behind the shelves a bit more, brandishing the table leg still. Just in case.]

Or, it was.

Whoa! [Charlie starts and bolts to his feet as Sora speaks. Holy shit, it feels like it's been years since he's seen another person. He could just about hug this kid. But he won't. Because he's waggling a table leg in Charlie's direction and that doesn't seem like a thing a hug-accepting person would do.]

Shit man, where'd you come from? [He fidgets, alternating between wiping his sweaty palms on his shirt and running a hand through his hair. But then he gets a good look at Sora and is all but dumbfounded.] What's with the getup, dude?

[Sora blinked, staring at the other for a second before motioning over his shoulder with a thumb.]

Back there.

[That's what Charlie meant, right? Yeah. Because Sora was pretty sure the other didn't want an in depth explanation of how he'd ended up in this place--not that Sora really knew but. Yeah.

The table leg is lowered as Sora realizes the man isn't going to do anything to him but he does look a bit offended when Charlie comments on his clothes.]

What do you mean? [Cue him looking down at himself--his normal clothes and his winter jacket.] They're clothes?

Oh, uhhh, no, I mean, they're sweet, just looks like you popped out of a comic book or something. [After giving the kid a thorough ocular patdown, Charlie's pretty sure he's not a threat despite the table leg. Guess he can't really blame him, though. Didn't someone on the network say something about monsters?

Anyway, Charlie glances around the room.] So, a pet shop, huh? Alright, alright. [He nods in approval. Makes sense that The Rat would've headed this way.] Hey, how long have you been in here? You seen a rat that's like, the size of a toddler, by any chance? [He holds his hands out to illustrate the ridiculous size of his arch nemesis.]

Comic book? [Um, he's pretty sure he doesn't look like anything he's ever seen in the comic books back home, sir. And he is totally a threat!

Most of the time.

When he has a keyblade.

Sora moves out from behind the shelf more, keeping the table leg in hand--just in case--but otherwise relaxing. Even as he gives Charlie a miffed look.] No? I searched the entire place when I got here and I didn't see any big rats. Are you sure it came here? [He's pretty sure he would have noticed.]

[Charlie deflates.] Damn. Nah, not sure at all. Lil' fucker is pretty quick. He took off in this direction but that's all I got. You definitely woulda noticed him, though. [He kicks at the scuffed linoleum.]

You find anything useful around here?

[...Sora really isn't sure what to make of this guy. At all. Reminds him a bit of Cid in a way.]

I'm sorry. I wish I could be more help. [He offers an apologetic smile and a shrug before he's lifting the table leg to tap it against his shoulder thoughtfully.]

No. There's not much of anything. I did find some stuff that would be good for starting fires, but that's about it!

Oh, hey, a fire would be pretty cool. [He looks around again.] Huh, doesn't look like this place would have any decent ventilation, though. [He claps his hands together.] Alright, let's see...

[He starts off down one of the aisles to check the place out more closely. Eventually, he wanders into the section labelled "Dogs. He stops short and calls back to Sora.] Holy shit, dude, come check this out. What the hell happened here? [He eyes the blood on the floor warily. Was that all from one person?]

This really isn't the best place, no. [He'd thought about it, Charlie. Trust him. He's tired of being cold all of the time but some things can't be helped.

Surprise flickers over his face as the other starts to wander down the aisles and Sora only hesitates a moment before following. One part of him wants to keep an eye on the other and one part of him just wants to stick close to someone now that he's not alone.

He really can't wait to meet up with Leon and Sheena again.]

Oh-- [He winces, peering around Charlie.] I..don't know. I saw that earlier, when I first got here. I couldn't find any clues as to what happened though.

Is this kind of stuff common in this town? [Charlie chews on his lip, remembering the bizarre scene he'd found in the jewelry store earlier today.] I've been here for like two days and I've already found two murder-looking scenes like this. What's up with that?

..Unfortunately. [He hates to admit that, he really does. This guy is new and Sora doesn't want to scare him or anything like that--

But lying would just make it worse.]

I'm not really sure. This whole place is a bit of a mystery, even to people that have been here awhile.

[Charlie crouches down to get a better look at the mess in front of him. Fuck, man. This was way too much to take in right now. He sighs.] Okay... So how long is "awhile," dude? Everyone on the network sounded like, wayyy too comfortable with this kind of shit.

[He waits for a moment, not sure if he wants to ask this next question. But he can't help himself.] I know that we gotta be indoors before nighttime because of the weather, but, uhh... This whole deal--[He waves a hand over the scene]--doesn't really look like that situation applies. Are people like, going nuts and offing each other or something? What, uhh... [What's the right word?] ...what would cause this sorta thing?

Almost a year? Maybe more. I don't..I don't really know for sure. I've only been here for...a month? [It was hard to keep track of time.

Sora hangs back as Charlie gets closer to the blood, the young man glancing away as his grip on the table leg tightens. Strange creatures? He could deal with that. Traveling alone? It wasn't fun but he could deal.

..Death? He..he didn't want to get use to that.]

There's monsters here. They attack for a lot of different reasons. I..there's some information on them I can send you on your tablet. [He glances at Charlie with an apologetic look.] I still haven't figured out what's going on. There's someone--the admin?--they're in control of things, or something like that. But no one really knows why we're here.

[Charlie's eyebrows shoot up.] Holy shit. Seriously? Seriously? [He stands up again and folds his arms. This is a lot to take in, especially given his headache. Is this kid for real?]

Okay, so you're telling me that this was some kind of monster attack? I've seen a lot of blood in my day, man, and this is a lot of blood for someone to just get up and walk away after losing. So, uh... Does that mean there's a body in here somewhere?

I wouldn't make something like that up.

[He doesn't want to believe it, he really doesn't. But enough people have told him similar things for Sora to know there has to be some truth to it.

Unfortunately.]

Probably? Unless something happened and someone-- [The young man shakes his head, brushing those thoughts aside.] The monsters here are capable of a lot of things. And they...they'll take the bodies away if given the chance.

Fuck, man. Just, like, fuck this. [Feeling suddenly restless, Charlie starts heading to another part of the store. Nowhere in particular; he just wants to put some distance between himself and the blood. Something has his stomach all queasy, but it's not like this is his first rodeo. He deals with blood stuff back at the bar all the time and it's never bothered him before.

Then again, he's never been faced with the possibility of it being his own blood all spilled out like that.]

Okay, but this is fine. It's fine. We're cool, we're good. Just need to like, chill out, sleep this off maybe, and everything's gonna be all good. [He winds up in the "Cats" section without really realizing.] If people have been here for a whole year, then like, there's no reason I can't make it that long, too.

[Of course, that would mean he'd be stuck here for a whole year, and that was a whole 'nother crisis to freak out over. He'll go ahead and table that panic attack for later.] I've been through some pretty tough shit before, so my odds are probably pretty good, right? I mean, I've survived getting run over, getting like really electrocuted, being aborted... [He rambles on, counting on his fingers how many times he's pulled through when the odds were against him.]

Yeah, okay, I've got this.

[Sora winces, reaching up to rub the back of his neck only for the motion to end up an aborted one as Charlie suddenly starts off to another part of the store.]

Hey! Wait!

[He follows after the older man but Charlie's in the "Cats" section before he finally catches him, starting to reach for the other's arm only to stop and draw his hand back. They've only just met and he's not entirely sure how the other will react to being touched right now.]

We're all going to make it. [It comes out a bit more firmly than Sora means for it to but he's not about to let anyone doubt that they'll find a way home. All of them will.] We're all going to survive and get home, okay?

[Expression softening slightly, Sora nods.]

You do. I promise. It's--it seems scary but if we just use all the resources we have, we'll be alright!

[Charlie gives Sora a weird look, but only because he's not used to this kind of support from his friends back home. He suddenly feels self-conscious, so he waves the kid off.] Scary? Nah, dude, I'm not scared. [He laughs, but it's not all that convincing.]

I'm just like, tired, y'know? It's been a long day of travelling and stuff. [He scans the empty shelves, looking for something to occupy his thoughts.] I was in this like, weird jewelry store earlier and--

[He stops short. Oh my god, cat food! Finally, his luck is turning around. He grabs the little tin off the shelf and holds it lovingly in both hands.] Dude! Okay, this has got to be like, a sign or something. [He pops off the lid and give the shredding mush a good whiff. Mm, chicken flavored!] Hey man, you wanna split this?

[Sora just blinks, staring at Charlie for a moment before he shrugs.]

If you say so.

[He doesn't really believe it but he's not going to call the other out on it, either. This guy seems to be really upset by things--out of it even.]

What happened at the--

[Unable to help himself as he tenses when Charlie suddenly stops talking, Sora looks in the direction of whatever the other spotted and...can't help but frown in confusion.

What--oh. That was--Ew!

Sora shakes his head quickly when offered the food, a weak laugh escaping him.]

Ah..no. I've got food--I could share what I have if you want something that isn't..that.

Oh yeah, I've got food too, but cat food isn't just any food! Me and Frank chow this shit down nightly. Let's you sleep through anything, man. Really, the best way to eat it is with a cold beer and a good huff of glue, but I mean, one out of three ain't bad, right?

[Charlie bends the can's lid into a makeshift spoon and starts in on his prize.] If you're sure you don't want any, dude. Your loss.

[He...oh man.

Sora's quick to shake his head, waving his hands--and the table leg--a bit.]

No! No I'm good--I'll be fine with what I have. [That is way too gross for him.] Thanks though.

Alright, suit yourself, pal. [Charlie horfs down the last bit of the cat food, and his stomach gurgles in response. Whew, he forgot how fast-acting this stuff is. Better find somewhere to hunker down for the night.]

I take it there aren't like, beds or anything in here, right? More like a "roughin' it" kind of deal. Oh, shit, not feeling so hot. [His stomach gurgles again and he lets out a loud, stinky belch. Whatever weird chemical reaction cat food has in his stomach doesn't feel good, but at least it's a familiar kind of not feeling good.]

Edited 2016-06-16 04:18 (UTC)

No there's--

[Sora grimaces when the other belches, taking a couple steps back.]

There's no beds. I was just going to find someplace to huddle up for the night. Maybe block an area off to try and make it warmer? [They didn't have a lot to work with but maybe they could figure something out! Even if he wasn't so sure about staying in close quarters with this guy right now.

Which, now that he thinks about it..]

I'm Sora by the way.

Oh, nice. I'm Charlie. [His stomach gurgles painfully. This kid's idea sounds like a pretty good one but there's no time for that now that he's downed his cat food. Maybe he should've waited, but too late now.]

That's a solid plan so you go right ahead and do that. I think I'm just gonna, y'know, stay here where it's nice and cozy. [He crawls into one of the empty bottom shelves and curls up, using his backpack as a pillow. Huh, not too terrible. Could be worse.] Oh yeah, just like home.

But what about you?

[Sora's plan had initially been for himself but there's someone else here now so he's more than willing to set up something for both of them.

Before he can press the subject more, though, Charlie's already crawling onto one of the bottom shelves and getting himself situated. Sora wants to protest it but the other seems content and..well...weird people like weird things right?]

...Sleep well, Charlie. [There's a small smile there before Sora's moving away to go set up his campsite for the night. At least he's not alone, right?]

[Charlie gives Sora a thumbs up before passing out. You too, little dude!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[log] Pet Stop [closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject