[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

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.

[armoured]

[He's not met any of these three in person before, though he's spoken to Quark a few times over the tablet and he knows of the other two from seeing them around. Watson especially, considering what went up the other day.

Not that he lets it colour his greeting or friendliness at all, just stepping back to let them into the relative warmth of the house.]

Really? Would you mind if I tagged along with you? I only came back up North to help Zach get here, I still have things I have to do back South.

[Wait, he's being rude.]

Oh! And right, it's Alphonse, Al. It's nice to meet you, John.

[jumpthegun]

[No. No more people he has to keep an immediate eye on.]

Sure! The more the merrier. We'll be stopping in at the hospital to have a look around with a program Tifa's got. Might take a little while, depending on if that's the final destination. Think it might be, but we'll see, yeah?

[He steps inside and sees there are Even More People. John just smiles and raises a hand in quiet greeting before turning his attention back to Al.]

You're shorter than I was expecting, but I'm sure you get that a lot.

[The comment is entirely deadpan.]

[armoured]

[He has to go much further than the hospital, but it will be nice to have at least some company that far. He's not a solitary creature by nature, he prefers to have people around him and friends to help have his back.

He rubs a hand on the back of his helmet and bursts out laughing. Probably longer and harder than the dumb joke deserves, but he's had a stressful few days and it's nice to be able to laugh for once.]

R-Right, people are always asking me if I need help reaching things from the top shelves.

[And then he mimes hopping to try and reach something above him like a dork.]

In fact, people are always telling me how inconspicuous I look wearing this.

[WEARING IT. WEARING.]

[jumpthegun]

[John can feel his facade cracking, wanting to laugh along with the kid, but he maintains it, putting on a thoughtful frown and nodding.]

Yeah, I can see that. Took me a minute to figure out who you were. Blend right into the background, you do. You should wear a funny hat. Might help people recognizing you.

[armoured]

[He's already constantly wearing the stupidest pink scarf wrapped around his helmet, obscuring everything but the lights of his eyes, he can't get much more obvious.]

I don't have any hats, but maybe I could carry a sign? HELLO, I'M ALPHONSE, something like that? Or I could whistle when I enter a room so people know I'm there.

[Why is he getting so into this? Maybe because it's nice to have some levity in the midst of all the sorrow.]

[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.]

[majorlazer]

[Zach's head turns when a hand lands on his shoulder, and he thinks he's looking in the right direction, not that - oh, well, whatever. He nods, feeling suddenly fucking helpless all over again, feeling like crying again.

He steels himself, turning his hands into fists and digging his nails in his palms.]

Yeah. Still can't see a thing.

[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?

[brokethefirst]

[She tightens immediately at the sound of Steph so close, turning her face almost to meet the floor. Getting inside had been a flurry of activity, so knowing who had seen her and who hadn't still fills her with a lingering sense of dread.]

Y-yes, I'm... I'm fine. [Even turned as she is, her voice sounds horribly off - tinny and distant, like a phone call cutting in and out of reception.]

I'm sorry, Steph. I... I need to be alone, if that's okay.

[spoileralert]

[ She drops into a squat and puts a hand on the woman's shoulder. ]

That's fine. Just, you know, if you want to talk about it, or you need anything at all? I'm not here to judge.

[brokethefirst]

I... I appreciate it, I really do... but I don't think I can.

[The lower angle should be enough to show that something's visibly iffy with the young woman. The curves of her nose and cheek that should be visible are missing, and some of her bright orange hair, while still properly framing her face, doesn't hold the right weight, looking as though it's simply a stiff breeze away from falling out.

More importantly, something is glowing red. As much as Luna tries to pull her hood to hide her face, the small amount of red light reflecting off her surroundings can't be missed.]

[spoileralert]

[ Theres definitely something weird going on, but Steph knows now is not the time for major prying. She'll figure it out sooner or later. Instead she gives Luna's shoulder a squeeze and rises to her feet. ]

Whatever you're comfortable with. And if you need anything else, feel free to ask. We've got plenty of food and blankets to share.

[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.]

[brokethefirst]

[His initial tripping earns a yelp, tucking further into herself out of reflex. There's something oddly familiar about the young man's voice, but nothing she can pinpoint. But she still spares a glance at him over her shoulder, seeing how his eyes focus on a distant, nonexistent portion of space.

He really can't see her.]

N-no, I'm... i'm fine, i-it's okay...

[Her own words sound distant and metallic, clipping oddly. It's enough to make her hesitate after a few syllables, pushing herself and her items further into the corner while gently extending a hand to anchor one of his arms.]

Um... here. Here, can you... can you straighten yourself up?

[majorlazer]

[Her voice, despite sounding a little funny, is also gentle, and so is her touch when she helps him straighten up, and he nods gratefully, his jaw clenched. He's trying his best - he really is, with this stupid fucking thing happening to him. He knows others have had it worse. He knows. It still sucks massive dick to feel like a baby bird, needing constant help and attention. That's not why he wants Kesara or Steph to be doing.]

Thank you. Sorry, it's just - disorienting. I didn't realize someone else was here.

[It's lucky they haven't got an anomaly around, then. If he does a headcount, that's - a lot of people. But they're all here, and they're okay.]

Do I kn- [That sounds rude. No. Zach stops himself.] I don't recognize your voice, so...hi. I'm Zach.

[brokethefirst]

It's okay. I, um... I guess I was a last minute addition of sorts. Alphonse helped me in.

[It's so strange to be speaking to the young man directly like this without a reaction of fear. But at the very least, she can keep up her charade if their touch stayed limited to her hands and arms.

The name surprises her, but it's easily put aside. This doesn't sound like the Zack she's already spoken to on several occasions, but it was a common enough name in the 2000's, wasn't it?]

I think I've seen you around the network before, Zach. It's nice to meet you. I'm Luna.

You're not hurt otherwise, are you?

[majorlazer]

Oh. Well, that's good.

[Of course, Al would do that if she was in danger of being locked out - and thank god he did. They don't need more people getting locked out and dying in the cold. It just - that's one of these things Zach wishes would completely stop happening. It always hurts, so much, if only because it always reminds him of Steph's death.

He turns his head towards her for a moment, where he thinks she's seating, anyway, takes a breath, then focuses back. Her voice is so soft.]

Oh, right! Yeah, I've seen you too. [He smiles ruefully, offering a hand - possibly way off from where she actually is.]

I'm not hurt, I'm fine, if not for this - [He gestures at his face.] Picture of health and all. What about you? What kept you outside almost until lockout time?

Night 157

[heavensreader]

[It isn't like Kesara to miss the presence of others in a house, not since she's found her courage again around people; but all her focus, all that day, had been on Zach and Steph. The miracle of their reunion. Her own place between them. It's only late, after lockdown and after everyone has quieted, that she really takes notice of Luna. And takes notice of her hiding.

Kesara knows hiding. Luna looks asleep, but something isn't quite right. Not quite. Is she still thinking of Quark? Kesara knows, too, that return from death does not change the fact that death has happened, death has meant something.

She doesn't quite creep up behind Luna - she doesn't mean to frighten the woman. But she approaches padding softly, pretending that she isn't sure whether Luna is asleep or not. she speaks low:]

Miss Luna, are you awake? I brought you some water.

[brokethefirst]

[The dark confinements have only made hiding her appearance that much harder, now resorting to covering her eyes with her hands to try to hide the constant light that emits from them. As long as she stays perfectly still...

The voice is enough to make her jump, though, fingers tightening on reflex and letting residual red light illuminate the inside of her arms. She's quickly scrambling to readjust her hands, but the damage has been done.]

I-I... yes, I am.

[There's a pause, her sigh a little more shaken than it should be.]

Thank you, Kesara. I'm... I'm okay.

[heavensreader]

[Now, Kesara has seen her share of strangeness, and then some more, in Norfinbury. Her alarm is not immediate. First she is focused mostly on feeling bad for having disturbed Luna so much; then she wonders what she might have imagined, and why. She had indeed had a water bottle in hand, ready to put by Luna if she wouldn't turn to take it. But before she moves, another thing clicks.

Luna is hiding her eyes.

Kesara stiffens, a little air escaping her. A flash cuts through of her old nervousness at being in such close quarters with near-strangers. Zach is here. Zach is blind. She needs to make sure he's safe. She forces her voice to be calm, and asks, seemingly all politeness:]

Do your eyes hurt? Did something happen to them?