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snowblindrpg2016-08-05 09:08 pm
bywolves) wrote in snowblindrpg2016-08-05 09:08 pm
[This single-story house is barely standing, with the rooms indistinguishable from each other. It must have caught fire at some point, for every room is charred black and all of the furniture reduced to ashes. It isn't good for much except huddling in overnight.]
Edited 2016-08-07 05:34 (UTC)
[It's just after lockdown that Zach goes to Kesara. He doesn't want to waste too much time and he's sure Duster's cool with being left alone for a bit; now is really Zach's best chance to discuss things with Kes. He joins her where she sits, writing notes on her tablet, and brings in knees in as he looks at her. His stomach twists a little - he feels bad about this.]
So, hey, I wanted to talk to you about something.
[How bad is it that he's stalling from telling her he's leaving? He hopes she will understand - hopes will not be mad at him. Man, since when did his life revolve so much around what a 12 year old thought of him?]
I'm thinking, tomorrow, I'm...I'm going to take off, Kes. Back towards the school. I - [He swallows hard, looking away for a moment.] - I don't know if you know, but Steph got got by an anomaly a few days ago, and she just came back and...I want to make sure she's okay.
[Kesara, herself, will be okay. Right? She's got to be.]
So, hey, I wanted to talk to you about something.
[How bad is it that he's stalling from telling her he's leaving? He hopes she will understand - hopes will not be mad at him. Man, since when did his life revolve so much around what a 12 year old thought of him?]
I'm thinking, tomorrow, I'm...I'm going to take off, Kes. Back towards the school. I - [He swallows hard, looking away for a moment.] - I don't know if you know, but Steph got got by an anomaly a few days ago, and she just came back and...I want to make sure she's okay.
[Kesara, herself, will be okay. Right? She's got to be.]
[Zach knew that Duster wasn't asleep. He wasn't sure the guy slept at all, but it was fine by Zach right now, since he was wide awake himself, excited and scared and worried and nauseous.
Sitting up, Zach makes sure that Kesara's asleep, and once her little kid snores start again, he nods, smiling to himself. He pulls himself away from her, joining Duster and taking a seat next to him on the floor, pulling his hat lower his face. He remembers being so mad at Duster, but he doesn't really remember why anymore. And, well. They seem to have Kesara in common. Duster can't be all bad if she likes him, and he likes her.
Taking a deep breath, Zach once again wishes he could have some booze with him right now. He remembers the cigar he's got, but doesn't take it out of his backpack. He's never really smoked.]
Can you promise me you'll take care of her?
[As a preamble, it's a bit abrupt. But Zach just wants to be sure she'll be in safe hands once he leaves. He can't abide anything less.]
Sitting up, Zach makes sure that Kesara's asleep, and once her little kid snores start again, he nods, smiling to himself. He pulls himself away from her, joining Duster and taking a seat next to him on the floor, pulling his hat lower his face. He remembers being so mad at Duster, but he doesn't really remember why anymore. And, well. They seem to have Kesara in common. Duster can't be all bad if she likes him, and he likes her.
Taking a deep breath, Zach once again wishes he could have some booze with him right now. He remembers the cigar he's got, but doesn't take it out of his backpack. He's never really smoked.]
Can you promise me you'll take care of her?
[As a preamble, it's a bit abrupt. But Zach just wants to be sure she'll be in safe hands once he leaves. He can't abide anything less.]
A single bedroom apartment. It's seen better days, but the door locks up at night. The window is sealed shut, with snow packed in on he other side allowing no light in. It's pitch black at night, but there is a couch to sleep on, even if the bed only has its frame. The bathroom has a toilet and shower--the shower doesn't work, but the toilet does.
[ Royce has a base sense of paranoia that makes it almost impossible for him to sleep in a house with people he doesn't know well. Zach and Kesara, he's decided, are not likely to hurt him or steal his things, and he figures that even if they were, he's got enough weapons that he can defend himself just fine. He meets Kesara for the first time in person, re-familiarizes himself with Zach and the way Zach carries himself, and then stakes out his own claim on an area in the apartment.
His quiet conversations with Emily, Tifa and Alfie are long finished by the time Zach makes his way over. Royce doesn't move from where he's propped himself up in the corner, bag pressed between him and the wall, hood up. He probably looks a little ridiculous, with his dumb knee socks, plaid pajama pants, and mittens, blanket curled around him, his hood up. But he'd rather be warm and dry over looking intimidating, so. Here it is.
Royce doesn't look up, but he does answer, after a moment of silence. ]
I won't promise anything, no, but she'll be looked after. [ He doesn't like promises. It means if something happens out of his control, he'll be held accountable. ]
His quiet conversations with Emily, Tifa and Alfie are long finished by the time Zach makes his way over. Royce doesn't move from where he's propped himself up in the corner, bag pressed between him and the wall, hood up. He probably looks a little ridiculous, with his dumb knee socks, plaid pajama pants, and mittens, blanket curled around him, his hood up. But he'd rather be warm and dry over looking intimidating, so. Here it is.
Royce doesn't look up, but he does answer, after a moment of silence. ]
I won't promise anything, no, but she'll be looked after. [ He doesn't like promises. It means if something happens out of his control, he'll be held accountable. ]
[Zach sighs. He's pretty sure that's the best he'll get from Duster. He's one of these people that's so scared of words, like they mean everything. They don't - Zach would know, he was halfway raised by a politician. Words are bullshit. They're for other people.
But then again, so can be promises. Maybe it's best that Duster doesn't promise anything.]
Okay, good. Because - I'm leaving, and I don't want to worry about her too much.
[They sit side by side, a few inches between them, not looking at each other. It's good, it's better like this. It's what Zach wants, get some reassurance from Duster that he won't leave Kesara to fence for herself.
Zach pulls the sides of his coat closer to him, bringing his knees up to get some more body warmth.]
I'm gonna miss her, though.
But then again, so can be promises. Maybe it's best that Duster doesn't promise anything.]
Okay, good. Because - I'm leaving, and I don't want to worry about her too much.
[They sit side by side, a few inches between them, not looking at each other. It's good, it's better like this. It's what Zach wants, get some reassurance from Duster that he won't leave Kesara to fence for herself.
Zach pulls the sides of his coat closer to him, bringing his knees up to get some more body warmth.]
I'm gonna miss her, though.
Edited 2016-08-06 18:52 (UTC)
[Zach rolls his eyes.] Good, because you're not getting paid for it. Pretty sure you have no qualifications for it, either.
[Sighing again, Zach twists his hands together, holding on to his knees.] I just don't want her to be alone. You don't have to be a dick, all right. You can say no if it's such a burden. You say no, and I'll stay.
[Zach's tone is defeated. Not angry, not trying to pick a fight; just defeated. Tired. He's starting to think he's not going to be able to leave, and he's not going to ever see Steph again. It sucks, but she'd understand.]
[Sighing again, Zach twists his hands together, holding on to his knees.] I just don't want her to be alone. You don't have to be a dick, all right. You can say no if it's such a burden. You say no, and I'll stay.
[Zach's tone is defeated. Not angry, not trying to pick a fight; just defeated. Tired. He's starting to think he's not going to be able to leave, and he's not going to ever see Steph again. It sucks, but she'd understand.]
This is not me being "a dick". [ He makes finger quotations with one hand before dropping it back into his lap. ] She doesn't need a babysitter.
[ Royce is not picking a fight. ] Go do whatever you're planning on doing. Kesara will be fine. You don't need to shackle yourself to her.
[ Royce is not picking a fight. ] Go do whatever you're planning on doing. Kesara will be fine. You don't need to shackle yourself to her.
[Zach shrugs.]
I'm not shackling myself to her. I stayed because I wanted to. I care about her, you know?
[Zach likes to feel useful, too. He enjoyed helping Kesara out.]
You can't tell me you don't understand. You must care about someone, somewhere, right?
I'm not shackling myself to her. I stayed because I wanted to. I care about her, you know?
[Zach likes to feel useful, too. He enjoyed helping Kesara out.]
You can't tell me you don't understand. You must care about someone, somewhere, right?
This place, though. I thought I was going to lose her, when I was stuck underground and you guys were so sick. I thought she was going to die. Afterwards, I needed to be there, and she needed me there.
[But now, Steph did die, and she's important too, and Zach wants to see her. He wants to - Zach stops that train of thought immediately, not really wanting to blush or whatever with Duster right there.]
Aren't you with Tifa all the time, anyway?
[But now, Steph did die, and she's important too, and Zach wants to see her. He wants to - Zach stops that train of thought immediately, not really wanting to blush or whatever with Duster right there.]
Aren't you with Tifa all the time, anyway?
Man, you make it difficult.
[Zach frowns, confused.]
I'm not worried about that. Do you think that's what I'm worried about? That Kesara will stop liking me, or something? Sorry to disappoint, but you got it wrong. What's so hard to understand about the fact that she's my friend and I don't want her to be completely alone?
[Holding up a hand, Zach gestures towards Kesara.]
It's not about me, Duster. I have no reason to think she'd turn on me, or stop being my friend, why would I think that?
[Zach frowns, confused.]
I'm not worried about that. Do you think that's what I'm worried about? That Kesara will stop liking me, or something? Sorry to disappoint, but you got it wrong. What's so hard to understand about the fact that she's my friend and I don't want her to be completely alone?
[Holding up a hand, Zach gestures towards Kesara.]
It's not about me, Duster. I have no reason to think she'd turn on me, or stop being my friend, why would I think that?
[ Royce turns his head to look at Zach from under his hood, raising his eyebrow. ] You talk too much.
[ A beat, then: ] I didn't say any of that. I was furthering my point that you can care for someone without being near them constantly. Wasn't commenting on your friendship with Kesara.
[ A beat, then: ] I didn't say any of that. I was furthering my point that you can care for someone without being near them constantly. Wasn't commenting on your friendship with Kesara.
Yeah, I know.
[His dad and brother always say that, too. He knows. He knows. He can't help it. The bruises - physical and mental - didn't manage to stop it, either.]
I still don't see the point of the 'turning on me' part, but okay. You know, just...okay.
[Maybe it's best if Zach just stops trying to understand Duster at all. Obviously, they're not good at communicating with each other. It's pretty obvious.]
[His dad and brother always say that, too. He knows. He knows. He can't help it. The bruises - physical and mental - didn't manage to stop it, either.]
I still don't see the point of the 'turning on me' part, but okay. You know, just...okay.
[Maybe it's best if Zach just stops trying to understand Duster at all. Obviously, they're not good at communicating with each other. It's pretty obvious.]
[ Royce rolls his eyes a little as he turns his head back away from Zach, resting against the wall again. ]
Wasn't referring to anybody turning on you. Was talking about me. [ People randomly turning on him is a concern of his. Always has been. ] Doesn't matter. Kesara will be fine. I promised not to harm her.
Wasn't referring to anybody turning on you. Was talking about me. [ People randomly turning on him is a concern of his. Always has been. ] Doesn't matter. Kesara will be fine. I promised not to harm her.
[ The house they end up in is small and cramped, but it's alright. Royce is reasonably sure they've been in worse areas. He pulls all of his stuff together, as usual - claims a spot on the ground with his blanket and pillow and dry clothes, and keeps to himself. If Tifa or Emily try to talk to him, he ignores them - unless they're particularly insistent.
He's not as angry as he could be, but - he's dwelling. Thinking about Alfie, and Kesara's revelation from a few days before. It means he's slowly working himself into a foul mood after a day of being in a poor one.
At least he's not sleeping with a weapon, tonight. ]
He's not as angry as he could be, but - he's dwelling. Thinking about Alfie, and Kesara's revelation from a few days before. It means he's slowly working himself into a foul mood after a day of being in a poor one.
At least he's not sleeping with a weapon, tonight. ]
[Tifa, of course, is insistent. After a few botched attempts to start a conversation, she finally plops down beside him, sighing.]
Royce, what's wrong? You're glaring at everything.
Royce, what's wrong? You're glaring at everything.
[It apparently doesn't work anymore, because she rolls her eyes.]
If I leave you alone, you'll be in an even worse mood. Just talk to me.
If I leave you alone, you'll be in an even worse mood. Just talk to me.
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