[log] a couple of setbacks later [closed]

[bywolves]

Characters: Royce Melborn, Alfie Solomons, Tifa Lockhart, Emily Kaldwin
Location: Building 50 (bonus Building 44)
Date: night of Day 142 (plus, bonus Day 144)
Summary: Reunion log!
Warnings: Will update as necessary!

A standard two-story house with an attic. The first floor has a kitchen, living room, and dining room, while the second floor has two bedrooms and a bathroom. The entire house has been done up inside in Victorian style--it probably cost quite a lot of money, and no detail is spared. The color scheme is a bit dark, though, and it's difficult to see in here during the night. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY EIGHT, TRAVELLING EAST" and "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPH BROWN, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, EDWARD ELRIC, DAY TWENTY-FOUR, TRAVELLING WEST" have been carved into the hallway wall. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SEVENTY-FIVE, TRAVELLING SOUTH-WEST. DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." has been written on the wall. Written on the wall in blue ink is the following: "This is Building 80 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a pretty accurate map showing the house in relation to the south and west snow walls, the school and athletic shed, the funeral home, and buildings 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 57, 58, and 59. The snow wall is labeled "Snow wall." House 58 is labeled "Entrance to ice tunnels." The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The athletic shed is labeled "Shed". The funeral home is labeled "UNSAFE; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator".

Comments

[devoutish]

Thanks.

[He folds it very carefully, tucking it into one of the inner pockets of his messenger bag.]

That'll keep it safe from the snow.

[empireofrats]

[Taking Alfie's paper, it's held with some strange revenance. Like a holy gift, or a fragile heirloom. She's a bit afraid to fold it.] Duster said that he died, that he was stabbed...

[She glances at Alfie, then carefully, tenderly folds the paper up.] But he came back? He said you lose something when you come back.

Do you think I'll lose your picture if that happens to me?

[devoutish]

We don't lose things like that.

[He leans back against the arm of the couch, closing his eyes for a moment.]

Duster lost his ability to walk straight, I lost my ability to speak, Dr. House lost his ability to speak or write. Your picture will be safe.

[empireofrats]

[Wow, thanks, Alfie...

The look she gives him is pretty worried. Losing those things doesn't sound so simple and whatever at all. They sound scary.] So... you've died, too? Did you get stabbed?

[devoutish]

I was caught by an anomaly.

[He reaches over to her to pat her hand.]

Another reason to be very careful, eh?

[empireofrats]

You mean a monster? [The pat to her hand doesn't really lessen her worry, but she takes it in stride. It helps a tad. She's still frowning.]

...Did it hurt?

[devoutish]

I don't know. I barely remember it.

[empireofrats]

Oh. [That's only mildly relieving. Maybe she won't remember it either if it happens to her...] But you came back, and you were better. I mean, except for what you lost.

Does dying happen a lot? Has Miss Tifa died, too?

[devoutish]

She did, yeah. Not recently.

How much have you heard about death here?

[empireofrats]

Um. [She fiddles with Alfie's folded paper, thinking.] Monsters eat you, and you can't talk to them. Duster said he was stabbed, and he died, but he said he came back, and he lost something because you lose something when you come back.

I guess you can die if you're outside for a long time because it's really cold. Duster said you could lose fingers and toes, so I guess your body can get so cold it stops working.

[devoutish]

And you know people can come back. But do you know that most of them don't?

[So you still need to be super careful, Emily.]

[empireofrats]

[ALFIE, WHAT THE FUCK. DON'T JUST TELL A LITTLE GIRL THAT.] They don't?

Where do they go...?

[devoutish]

[SHE NEEDS TO KNOW.]

Wherever dead people go when they stay dead.

[empireofrats]

[:'(] But...

You came back, and Duster came back, and... Why do some people come back and some people don't? Why do some people die like Mother and some people...?

[devoutish]

I don't know.

[He reaches for her hand again.]

I don't. I wish I did.

[empireofrats]

[Right. Alfie knows as much as she does concerning such things. It's funny. One would think adults would know so much about how and why things work the way they do. It's strange to slowly begin to realize they don't.] Maybe they go home.

I don't want to die and never come back.

[devoutish]

We will protect you. Those others you met - Natasha and Stark, yeah? They'll protect you, too.

[empireofrats]

Okay. [That's somewhat reassuring.] But if I do die... do you think I'll probably come back?

[devoutish]

[He has no idea.]

I hope so. Yeah.

[empireofrats]

Yeah. [Mimicking him.] I hope so, too.

[If not, welp. Time to app to Little Hades because she's dead.]

[devoutish]

[Don't worry Emily, you're cute enough that you'd totally be a heaven transfer.]

Are you scared?

[empireofrats]

[For a moment, she looks at Alfie without saying anything. She thinks she might can save face and lie, and be believable. (She couldn't.)

Corvo wouldn't be scared, she doesn't think. Is Corvo ever scared of anything at all?] Yes. But--

I can be brave--like you and Duster.

[devoutish]

Yeah, you can. I can tell. And if you get especially scared, right, you can come to us.

[empireofrats]

Yes. [Which might be, like, all the time until she knows how to fight proper.] I can call you on the funny notebooks, or... if we're together, I can find you.

Or I can hide.

[devoutish]

Are you good at hiding?