[log] Did the devil say to you, you can make it through [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Steph, Zach, Al, Church, Luna, Kesara, Watson, Quark, Tifa
Location Building 58 and environs
Date: Days 157/158
Summary: A meeting of many people
Warnings: In comment headers, please!

58: A simple single-story building, the snow weighs uneasily on it, and it creaks and groans under the strain at the best of times. It's very dark, and only the kitchen and living room are intact. The kitchen has a back door. Two snowmen have been built outside. A message has been written on the wall in blue ink: "Don't wreck the snowmen! That's super mean!" "ALPHONSE ELRIC, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAY FORTY ONE, TRAVELLING EAST." has been carved into one of the walls. The following has been written on the wall in blue pen: "This is Building 95 97 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a fairly accurate map showing the house in relation to the school and buildings 29, 35, 35, 37, 40, 41, 47, 48, 50, 53. House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator". The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed".

Comments

Midday 157, ~E14

[spoileralert]

[ As she had the first time she met up with Zach, Steph left all of her belongings in the building she had spent the night in and went out to meet up with him. It was well into the day when she spotted the group in the distance, but she didn't care. She waved hugely, shouted Zach at the top of her lungs, and broke into a brisk jog.

By the time she actually reaches the group she slows, but doesn't stop. She goes straight to Zach and pulls him into a fierce hug. ]

[majorlazer]

[They've been walking steadily for most of the morning, and Zach knew that they obviously getting closer, but it felt like every step was harder to take, like his feet were wedging themselves deeper in the snow, like his legs were made of lead. The darkness surrounding him has been bringing his mood down, even with Al's constant reassurances that he would get his sight back. At the moment, it was what it was, and it made every thought in Zach's brain a little blacker.

That is, until he hears her voice.

His knees buckle, and he grips Al for a moment - he didn't dream that, did he, it was Steph, it was her voice, did he imagine it? But then he hears the rapid footsteps creaking in the snow, and he almost falls over when a body collides into his, gripping him into a strong hug, and, yeah - yeah.

Zach closes his arms around Steph immediately, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he fights back tears once again, fingers digging into her side and her back. He can't speak.]

[spoileralert]

[ She holds him tight for a long time, reassuring herself that he's real, and whole, and alive. There are definitely tears in her eyes, tears she can't fight. Finally she moves her hands to grip his face and presses an equally long, hard kiss to his lips. ]

[armoured]

[It's such a relief to see her.

He keeps his distance at first, seeing her eyes fix on Zach and her attention solely focus on him, and lets them have their reunion. He's not going to intrude, he doesn't even make a sound until they've finished embracing and conversing, only then stepping forwards with a dorky wave of his hand.]

Hey. Long time no see.

[spoileralert]

[ She doesn't wait. The moment she releases Zach she attacks Al with a hug just as tight as the one she gave Zach. She's crying, yes, but they're tears of joy and relief. ]

Hey.

Re: Midday 157, ~E14

[blueteamproblems]

[Oh, great. There are hugs and kisses going on. Seeing other people happily reuniting with their loved ones is just about the last thing Church wants right now.

He hangs back, turning away and trying his hardest to pretend he's anywhere but here. Maybe if he just aggressively ignores everyone, he won't get pestered.]

[spoileralert]

[ NO SUCH LUCK. Once Steph is finished hugging Al she turns to Church, arms open and eyebrows raised. ]

You want in on this?

[heavensreader]

[Kesara hasn't travelled such a great distance that day, but she's very tired, and her legs are short. It stands to reason, she thinks, that she gets there last, when a group is already gathered. Even when she tries to walk faster - tries; the snow is deep and her pack is heavy and even with her heart buoyed up by hope she's tired - she takes time to cross the final stretch of distance.

Thankfully, though, her lungs have all the strength her legs lack. She can't contain the tidal wave of emotion that crashes through her at the sight of familiar forms and faces. Her voice carries across all that distance, high-pitched and elated, almost singing the names - ]

Zach! Zach! Steph! I'm here, I'm here!

[majorlazer]

[Hearing her voice, hearing her call out for him here, real and not through a tablet and alive and and and - Zach's heart lurches, with relief and exhaustion and joy.

Even though Steph is holding him, walking along with him, he falls to his knees. The snow soaks his jeans immediately but he doesn't care, smiling like a loon as he opens his arms. He feels like he hasn't seen her in so, so long.]

Kiddo!

Day 157 (Building 58)

[brokethefirst]

[armoured]

[Al is by the door, keeping a watch for anyone else approaching the house who might need to stay for the night. The door is propped open for now and he's gathering snow to melt down to use for drinking water.

Unfortunately, he didn't notice that one of the cloths he uses to clean himself has attached itself to his arm with the freezing water. Not until he flaps it around, looking irritated even with an immovable faceplate.]

Again? Really?!

okay here for real this time

[brokethefirst]

[It's too cold.

Too cold, too late, and too familiar to the scenario she'd found herself in only a couple days before. Luna can't help how frantic and frightened she feels as she stiffly pushes her way towards the only building in sight. She's wrapped up as best she can manage, hood puled tight around her head to hide what remains of her hair, but it doesn't help how the dark metal of her face contrast to the lightness of her clothes or how her uncovered eyes now shine red, two bright pinpricks against the snowfall.

Luck was all that had kept her away from others the last few days, and seeing Alphonse now so close to the doorway only clinches the fact. As soon as she recognizes his shape, she instantly freezes, not daring to move for fear that he's seen her.]

[heavensreader]

A - Happy Smol Tiems

[It's early on in the evening, and Kesara is practically floating. It's been some time since she'd been in the company of so many people and able to enjoy it. Seeing Zach alive again, feeling him alive, hugging him, being near and basking in his warmth, him and Steph reunited - it's like a blanket of light over her, making her beam wherever she goes, whenever she talks.

She goes about the house, searching and scavenging with great enthusiasm, and she has questions and kind, smiling comments for everyone she meets there, even those she's never met before. She's happy to come up to anyone with a small wave of hullo! It's lovely to finally meet you!, and she's just as happy to share her little finds.]

Look, I found these stretchy bands! What are they for? And this?

[Even if the finds in question are just a few rubber bands and a TV remote without batteries. It's the thought that counts.]


B - The one with the intense grief/kid in distress CW

[And then, not that much later that night, everything breaks.

Kesara is sitting on a commandeered surface, tapping away at her tablet, when Alfie's message comes through. It makes her freeze. Suddenly, like the slamming of a door, her face empties. Her muscles go rigid. Even her breathing stops.

When movement begins again everything about her is different. She takes the tablet in one tremulous, straining hand, throws herself to her feet, grabs the backpack lying next to her. Storms out of everyone's way. Hurls herself into an empty room and hurls its door closed.

But even burying her face in the backpack, even closing the door, can only muffle so much of her screams.]

B

[majorlazer]

[He had no idea what had happened. She'd been so happy, relieved to be here, and so had Zach; he had her back, and he felt right - even with the blindness, it felt right to be with both Kes and Steph, now.

But then, it's like she goes cold. In seconds, just mere seconds, she'd gone from being her normal self to - being broken. And Zach could feel it, without even being able to see her, he could just feel it from the way she tensed up next to him, how she went hard and stiff and quiet. And then she'd walked off, and then - the screaming.

Zach was up in a second, possibly knocking over furniture, but he didn't really care; he didn't think anybody else cared, either. He walked towards the noise that he knew was Kesara, the door between them. He rasped his knuckles against it, giving her a moment, before walking in, and closing the door behind him. He sat right against it, not knowing where she was, he just sat there, staring at nothing, waiting.

Waiting for Kesara to be ready to talk.]

A a million years late

[armoured]

[Al is less than happy.

It's good to see Steph again, and know he helped reunite everyone, but he's been slowly breaking apart these past few days. He hides it well, however, and he's definitely not about to show it to a kid he doesn't know very well at all.

So he chuckles when she holds up the rubber bands, looking down from his massive height (wow, she's smaller than Ed!) to examine them.]

They're used to hold things together, usually document pages. Don't you have them where you're from?

Day 158

[brokethefirst]

[armoured]

[Al is considering leaving today, soon. He has done what he promised and reunited Zach and Steph, and now they'll be able to take care of one another. He's let the trail go cold enough on the Joker and he has to get back down to pick it up again. He's not going to let that man hurt anyone else.

He wants to help, though, so he's setting aside the food he's gathered into several small bundles, planning to give one to each of his friends to see them to their next supply point.

It's a glance up through the window, just by chance, that shows him more people approaching. So he hurries to open the door and wave in greeting, voice echoing across the snow.]

HELLO! OVER HERE!

[jumpthegun]

[John's just slightly startled by the exuberant greeting. You don't get many of those in Norfinbury. Reflexively, he raises a hand to wave back.]

Hullo!

[He glances back at Tifa and Quark before quickening his pace. It takes only a moment to recognize Al. John's... immediately wary, but that's not a terribly unexpected feeling at the moment. He's had the creeping sensation of everyone staring at him, knowing things, since he'd accidentally put up his full diary. Even Tifa and Quark are suspect and he likes them.

He puts on a friendly smile when they get near to the door, though.]

It's Alphonse, right? I'm John. I've got Tifa and Quark here with me. Just passing through.

[majorlazer]

[Zach slept in, cuddled between Steph and Kesara, the best sleep he's had in days. It's been needed, too - he's still exhausted but at least he had a dreamless night, a proper number of hours, and when he wakes up, he feels more refreshed than he had in a long time.

He still can't see, though.

However, he can hear voices, Al's, and someone that sounds familiar, but that he doesn't recognizes immediately. It takes him a while of more or less eavesdropping before he gets it - John, John Watson. Careful of the girls, Zach gets himself up, and walks over to - hopefully walks over to - the group.]

Doc? Is that you?

[jumpthegun]

[John's quietly trying to kick some of the snow off his boots before heading on. They need to get going quickly, but... that's Zach, the one who's blind. His voice is soft.]

It is. Still having some vision problems, Zach? Let me take a look.

[He'll step over and touch Zach's shoulder to gain his attention.]

[brokethefirst]

[Luna knows she shouldn't stay. Discomfort with her appearance aside, this building was too high-traffic to risk staying put for much longer. But the sound of additional voices freezes her up, unsure of who or where they are outside Alphonse's sudden rush to the door in greeting.

And then she recognizes Watson's reply. Watson was here... which meant Quark was, too.

She's intentionally tucked herself far away from the others, wrapped in a ball with her limbs pulled tight and her back to the door, holding her hood as close around her face as possible and forcing herself to hold perfectly still. They would recognize the clothes, of course, but maybe they would think she was still asleep. It would give her more time to quietly panic.]

Night 157

[spoileralert]

[ Steph saw Luna come in, but she hadn't paid much attention. Al had things under control, she figured. But after an hour or so she realized that Luna had isolated herself in a corner and seems to be frozen in the fetal position. She excuses herself to Zach to walk over there. ]

Hey... Luna? Are you okay?

[majorlazer]

[Zach's been feeling his way around for a little, just - trying to do things on his own, not just be another burden on everybody else's shoulders. It's infuriating, and frustrating, and frankly really fucking tiring to have to rely on everyone for everything - that's not something he's ever wanted to do, not someone he ever wants to be. He needs to be able to take care of himself, it's - essential.

But he's not doing a great job of it, obviously, because he's feeling his way along the walls when he almost falls over someone - at least, he's pretty sure it's someone. He catches himself, barely, hands planted on the wall and feet around the person's, who seems to be sitting on the floor.]

Shit, sorry, sorry! You okay? I'm sorry, I can't - see.

[It's always hard to say out loud.]

Late afternoon 158, for Watson

[armoured]

[Al has been watching Watson discretely as they've all been walking and, though he seems still pleasant to everyone, he also seems subdued. Enough that when he gets a moment, and sees a part of the tunnels where they can walk side by side without being easily overheard, he takes it and clomps up next to him with excessively loud metal footsteps.]

Are you okay?

[Just soft, quiet, and concerned.]

[jumpthegun]

[You sure are large and looming, Al. John tries not to instinctively put his guard up, but he answers a little too quickly, tone flat.]

I'm fine, thank you. It's been a long walk today, but I think we'll do all right, us short-legged folk.

[He knows exactly what you mean, Al. But you must be at least a level 3 friend to unlock his miserable last few days. Or press. John's fairly easy to bully into talking if the right buttons are pressed, and you're not playing therapist overtly at him.]