[log] Trading Spaces [closed]

[coyoteking]

Characters: Charles, Al, Church, Zach, also Cecil
Location Somewhere around F21, the lake tunnel, then 242
Date: Day 156, midday and Day 157, evening
Summary: Brief meet-up with Al and Co while they travel in opposite directions, then meeting Cecil in the fire station
Warnings: Language for sure

[Charles doesn't like the lake tunnel. It makes him feel claustrophobic and sets his teeth on edge. Unfortunately, it's the only way into the Entrance, and that's where he's decided to go, good life decisions be damned. It's cold outside (duh) but not as cold as it has been, so he's a little less worried about frostbite while traipsing around out here. Actually, being in the tunnel helps a lot with that, cutting off the wind. So, you know, trade off.

He's starting to think 'hey maybe this isn't so bad' when he spots three shapes up ahead. Someone coming from the other end of the tunnel, and there really isn't an option to give them a wide berth. Which he isn't even sure why he wants to bother doing in the first place. It's not like he's fucking scared of these losers or something. Definitely not. He pointedly keeps trudging forward, hatchet over his right shoulder.]

Comments

[majorlazer]

[Zach hears the footsteps, creaking in the snow, coming from the other side of - wherever they are. A tunnel of some sort, noises echoing everywhere and giving him a headache. He's got a hand on the back of Al's massive metal arm, using him as a guide as they make their way through the cold. It's been fine - not a quick one, but at least Zach gets to give Church shit at all times, and it's good not to be alone.

Of course, he doesn't see who's coming, which - fuck you again, Norfinbury. He thinks of the people he's talked to since he woke up, and wonders if it could be Watson. Probably not.

Zach steps a tiny bit closer to Al, flipping the collar of his coat up with one hand. ]

There's someone, isn't there? Who is it?

[coyoteking]

[Charles isn't sure what to make of this group. Giant dude in armor? Plus two random guys. The armor dude is a concern, but the two dudes look safe enough. One of them's holding onto the armor guy's arm, not really looking at Charles, just kind of in his general direction. Is he... blind maybe? Huh.]

It's me, not that you probably know who that is. Charles. And you are?

[majorlazer]

Charles? The guy from the porn house?

[Zach remembers that night all too well. Not that he spoke to the guy much, but he remembers his grumbling and his complete lack of a sense of humor. At least he can visualize him in his head. It's better than a complete blank.]

You...Going south, I guess?

[Wow. Small talk? Really? Next, ask about the weather, Zach. That'd be interesting.]

[coyoteking]

I- [Porn house. The teenagers. Holy shit how did he forget that?? Whatever, there are a lot of people here, okay? And he's been sort of thinking of those two as a package deal, so without the girl, he just kind of- never mind.]

Right, yeah, that's me. But don't like, call me "guy from the porn house" to everyone else, okay?

Yeah I'm going south. Got some stuff I want to check out down there. You guys heading up, or downtown?

[majorlazer]

Nah, that's just a mental note for myself.

[As if he wouldn't call him that. Sorry, Charles, you're stuck with it now, but Zach's not going to say that out loud - no reason to die twice in so many days.]

Going up. Gotta get back to my friends, but I'm a bit...incapacitated, so. Al and Church are helping me out.

[coyoteking]

[Well, there's only one way someone could accidentally teleport across town and need help getting back. Also Charles saw him in the obituaries.]

You alright though? Like, overall? I saw the thing this morning. What even happened? You guys get surprised by a monster?

[majorlazer]

[The thing. Ah, yes, the thing. The bitterness of hearing his name being read out in an obituary still kinda stings.]

Nah. Part of the roof collapsed in the school when we were leaving. And, overall, we're both fine. Just this - [He gestures to his face, his broken fucking eyes. He's trying to not be too upset about it, but he's not very successful.]

[coyoteking]

Jesus, that's some shit luck. [It's also kind of a lame way to die, considering what other ways there are in this place, but he's not gonna say that.] Sorry about the eyes. Being half-blind's bad enough, I'm sure it sucks being all the way. But hey, at least you got people to watch out for you, and at least it's only temporary? [He shrugs. Not that... Zach can see it...]

Is the school still, you know, usable? [He thinks it's a valid concern, considering how important it is as a food source.]

[majorlazer]

[It was actually really badass, Charles, okay, he saved Steph's life and there was tons of blood everywhere and...

Yeah, no. Whatever, if there's a rating in how cool a death is, Zach wants no part of it really.]

Maybe. Who knows. I could be the first case of permanent loss post death. Gotta have one, right?

[Nope. No one's bitter around here. No one at all.]

I'm sure you can climb over the concrete that shishkebabed me or find another way to the cafeteria. Sorry, I didn't stop to check.

[Not biTTER, HE ISN'T.]

[armoured]

[Al is never the most comforting sight for people who don't know him.

He's aware that a seven foot tall spiked suit of armour can look suspiciously like an anomaly from a distance, and so he makes sure to raise a hand and wave in a friendly manner. He also calls out, high childish voice echoing in the tunnel.]

Hello? We're friends! I'm Alphonse, and this is Church and Zach.

[coyoteking]

[Charles' first thought isn't anomaly it's "oh, one of those old-timey people". He remembers Esta Bien's armor, and Haurchefant's. The only weird part about this one is that he can't see a face or... any skin at all. Good cover, or hiding something? God, whatever. He really needs to stop being so paranoid.

The voice is interesting. A lot younger than he would've thought for a huge dude wearing plate armor. He kinda sounds like a little kid.]

Alphonse? [Charles keeps walking until he's close enough to be at conversational distance.] Like, Al? Are you the one who keeps up that guide?

[armoured]

Yeah, that's right!

[He's so glad that he does the guide, it's a good springboard for people who don't know him and hopefully means people know he wants to help.

He looks even sillier up close, considering he has a lurid pink scarf wrapped so many times around his helmet that only the vague lights of his eyes are visible.]

Are you travelling all on your own? It's not very safe...

[coyoteking]

Yeah, but I'll be fine. Big groups aren't that safe either, as far as I've been told.

[Not to mention the last time he had a traveling companion, he almost got killed protecting Charles from a vampire attack. No thanks.]

How do you... see out of that? [He squints up at where Al's eyes should be.]

[armoured]

Th-This?

[Al gives the least convincing laugh possible.]

It's super easy, I just look out of the eye holes. Isn't that how anyone would see out of it?

[coyoteking]

[That's... kind of an oddly suspicious response. He'd partially been joking, or expecting something like "I can't" or "the visibility's better than it looks" but... ok... What does this even mean?]

No, I meant like... isn't it hard to see anything? [He's about to wave it off when he sees what might be lights in there.] Do your eyes glow? That's kinda cool, actually.

[armoured]

No!

[Wait, why did he deny it? That's so stupid. He's so stupid. It was a panicked response. He twists a little to get his head more out of focus.]

It's just the way the light is reflecting from the, uh, glasses I have on underneath.

[coyoteking]

Glasses?

[He was super ready to take Al at face value (ha-ha) before, but now it's suspicious. Why lie about that? He doesn't know much about armor, but he knows you don't wear glasses under there. Right?]

Are they like, sunglasses or... ? [Whatever.] Look if your eyes glow, dude, it doesn't bother me. That's like the least weird thing that's happened so far.

Toplevel for 157 with Cecil

[coyoteking]

[242: Even with the signs long gone, the large garage doors and the design of the building make it clear this is a firehouse. There's even two poles that can be used to slide all the way from the third floor down to the first. There aren't any fire trucks in the garage, sadly, but there are a few simple beds for sleeping in, and two bathrooms with working public showers. The water is cold, though. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE, TRAVELLING NORTH-WEST, IF ANY ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME" is written on one of the walls.]

[staytunednext]

[Cecil is celebrating.

Not only was he lucky enough to enjoy a second mandated death at the hands of a very friendly plastic bag, but his voice had returned approximately five hours after reviving for a second time. He is celebrating by standing in the entrance of the fire station and staring up at the sky. His eyes are wide and bulging, his mouth open so wide it seems as though it should not be possible, and sharp squawking shrieks are echoing eerily from the snowy surroundings.

It's been a long time since he just kicked back and relaxed with the mind numbing terror of how tiny their planet was in comparison to the universe.]

[coyoteking]

[If he didn't instantly recognize Cecil after seeing him a few times on the network, Charles might've thought he was looking at an anomaly.

What the hell is he doing now? Charles approaches with caution, despite the fact that Cecil has seemed relatively harmless in all their past encounters.]

Hey. Looks like you're back already? Are you... okay... ?

[staytunednext]

[He cuts off mid squawk and beams over at Charles.]

No!

[He sounds so cheerful.]

No, I am not okay. I am terrified and overwhelmed and alive. I am very much the not okay of alive, and it is wonderful.

[coyoteking]

[Charles opens his mouth and closes it. He squints a little.]

Well I mean... I guess fear can be some kind of life affirmation or something. [He shrugs. He's heard that before, after all. From like... hitmen... but you know, details.]

Um, glad you're alive? How long have you been out here doing that?

[staytunednext]

Only a few hours.

[He's very cold and should probably go inside, but it's so nice to just indulge in a bit of squawking every now and again. He smiles at Charles accommodatingly.]

Would you like to join me?

[coyoteking]

A few hours? [Cecil... just, Cecil.] Nah, I'm good on the... staring at the universe and shrieking front. I've got enough of that in, I think I'm covered.

Speaking of covered, you should probably get inside. We don't have that long before lockdown.

[Please don't die again, Cecil.]

[staytunednext]

I totally understand; it's like, yeah it's relaxing to shriek at the terror of the void once in a while, but it plays havoc on your throat. Right?

[He quite amenably goes inside, though.]

I sometimes wonder if the void that we all see, mostly black and sometimes littered with stars, is the same void our loved ones see if they still exist.