[log] Fly, cry, win, lose, live, die, take five, pleased to meet you (closed)

[spoileralert]

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Zach Spencer, Kesara Freamon, Death the Kid, Leonard Church, Charlie Kelly, Jade Harley, Brian Thomas, Kanan Jarrus, Vanitas
Location: Buildings 48. 29, ??, ???
Date: 162-165
Summary: Assorted shenanigans
Warnings: Discussion of domestic abuse

DAY 162
48: The only doors in this single-story house are the front door and the bathroom; all other doorways are separated by faded green and yellow curtain beads. Even the bedroom gets this treatment, and it's the same for the living room and kitchen. The beads seem to be made of glass; moving through the house is a bit of a noisy affair. The bead curtain leading into the living room has been torn down, with half of the strings now scattered on the floor and some of the beads shattered, leaving a small mess of glass. The sharp bits of broken glass have been swept to one side, out of the way of anyone walking. Small, finger-sized slits have been cut into the couch.

"ALPHONSE ELRIC, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAY FORTY THREE, TRAVELLING NORTH-EAST." has been written on one of the walls. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SIXTY-SIX, TRAVELLING NORTH-WEST. DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." has been written on the walls. "ALFIE SOLOMONS, 1922. Camden Town, London, England, UK, Europe, Earth. Day 133, January 23" is carved onto a wall.

DAY 163
29: A small shed outside the school, going inside reveals sports equipment is being stored in here. There are hurdles, various sports balls, giant mats, and the like. There's nothing that could be used as a weapon, though, unless you're going to try to hurl a basketball at someone's head. This is the only place on the campus it's possible to stay in overnight--if you try to stay anywhere else, you'll be made to leave at 7PM.

The following is written on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 46 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a fairly accurate map showing the shed in relation to the school and buildings 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 31, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, and 44. 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". Behind the shed is a small army of snowmen armed with sports equipment.

DAY 164


DAY 165

Comments

Day 162

[spoileralert]

Zach but also open

[equal_shots]

[Kid hadn't done particularly well the night of 161. After his conversation with Stein he'd headed south as instructed towards the houses--ending up in house 48 on the map. Filled with beads and beaded curtains, some spilled on the floor, the scattered mess did little for his usual neuroses. Of course, neither had the realization that Stein was wandering around in the snow in the throes of madness.

Hallucinating the presence of misshapen lost souls with eyes within them that are dangerously similar to the kishin from his home, still suffering the same sickness he has for some time in Norfinbury, and struggling with his own typical anxieties, Kid is a ticking time bomb. A time bomb who does not seem to realize that there is no feasible way he's going to make it anywhere near Franken Stein before lockdown.

At least he's about to wander near Zach, Kesara and Steph's group...and it is obvious that something isn't quite right. Right?]

[majorlazer]

[They've been walking for most of the day, back the way they came, on their way to the school. The mere thought makes Zach's stomach tighten up in knots, and it's all made worse by the static, the screaming, the town just going mad. His memories of being smashed through by concrete mix up with the wailing, the whispers, giving him the headache of the century, especially when combined with the static slowly enveloping everything.

As they walk, shadows of their former selves, fighting for every step, Zach gives some pained groans, but keeps going, frowning at himself, ducking his head down and advancing forward.

They're close to the house, close to lockdown time, when he sees the small shape in the distance, heading down to the same house they are. Zach waves, squinting - it's a kid, looks like, a kid that looks. Well. Pretty sick.]

Hey! You okay? Need help? [Zach shouts over the distance, starting to jog closer. It looks like Kid is about to pass out.]

[equal_shots]

[About to pass out is not an incorrect assessment--Kid's hallucinatory travels have been less than direct as he's wandered in the snow.

He turns to Zach with a startled gasp, wobbling on his feet. His eyes grow wide as he watches the same misshapen souls with kishin eyes attempt to infect the stranger. Kid had watched the listless souls attempt the act day without success; he clamped both hands over his ears.

His voice is hoarse. Weak. Tinged with desperation, panic.]

I must--I absolutely must--I--Professor Stein is in grave danger and--

[Interrupted by his own coughing, Kid tries to articulate the gravity of the situation with his hands. All he can do successfully by this really is demonstrate that he is incredibly small and rather disoriented.

I have to find--have to find him. He will not answer if I call--

[Kid turns to fave Zach fully, shivering. He has clearly traveled for some time and is at the end of his strength...he won't be able to go much further.]

If you have not-- [Kid voice snaps, the normally quite polite teen at the end of his rope.] --if you do not know his whereabouts then no, you can not--

Day 163

[spoileralert]

Open to any

[0thingsonmymind]

He and Jade had arrived at the shed earlier than the other groups. Mostly he'd spent that time searching the place and then shoving his stuff in a corner. By the time anyone else arrives, however, he can be found defacing Steve's map. Just to scribble out any mention of Clayton Epps, thought that may not be obvious.

[spoileralert]

"What are you doing?"

It's pretty obvious once she looks at the wall, and she knows he isn't going to answer her. But still, she can't help herself. Those maps are damned useful, okay?

"Don't mess up the map, somebody might need that."

[0thingsonmymind]

He pauses in his work and looks to Steph for a moment before pointing to the map as a whole. He shakes his head and then taps the little area he's scribbling over. "Clayton Epps" is just barely visible under it.

let me know if this is okay.

[darkincrement]

[ While most of the room's attention is diverted elsewhere, Vanitas helps himself to continuing where Brian left off. Taking a ink stained fabric to the wall to wash away the rest of the map. There is a creature the size of a medium sized dog skittering from him over to the others. Being careful to keep out of arms reach as it checks people out. It's red eyes appear to be stuck in an anger expression.

It wanders close to Brian's stuff to stare for a moment or two. Hello. ]

Night - OTA

[dumed]

[ Kanan doesn't immediately recognize anyone in the shed - he can't say he's been paying as much attention as he should, between the insanity of the past few days, the adjustment period, and his substandard company.

Company that has managed to arrive with him once again, along with what looks like a transport's worth of people stacked into a building that really shouldn't hold more than two. ]

Oh, great, [ he mutters, with a roll of his eyes. He doesn't bother to acknowledge anyone beyond that, just steps, nudges, and dodges his way to a place where he can drop his pack and begin on cool-down stretches after a day of trudging. ]

[majorlazer]

Yeah, that's the right attitude. [The words are slightly biting; it's no one's fault that suddenly there are so many people around, even if it sucks. It's going to be one uncomfortable night, and it's pretty certain that in the morning they'll have to face whatever bullshit the town decides to throw their way.

So it's not like Zach is in the best of moods himself, but really, going in all grumpy and unpleasant when he's obviously a newcomer - Zach has never seen him before anyway - is not going to get him far.]

Oh so sorry that we happened to be inconveniencing you, we'll just turn right back and freeze to death. You'll be comfortable, that way.

Night (For Kesara)

[darkincrement]

[ He had taken one of the mats for himself. Leaning it up in a corner to give some comfort against it as he swipes his fingers on the screen to scroll through the network. Standing guard, is a dark indigo creature, darting back and forth. It's eyes are red and seem to be stuck in an angry expression.

After a few moments, he'll look up, which is hard to tell with the stupid helmet, at the group invading the shed. If she's sensitive to it, Kesara may feel eyes on her. Then a private message is sent to her. ]


@betterhalf:
Quite the crowd you travel with.

[heavensreader]

[Kesara is particularly attentive to people whose faces she cannot see; people she cannot read. And from the first moment she'd seen Vanitas's helmet she'd known that he wore it especially so that he couldn't be read. Other reasons, maybe, but also this one. Which says something.

Between that, and his strange red-eyed companion, the hints seem clear. Dangerous, but thus interesting. But dangerous. She keeps her distance in a darting, glancing way, not frightened off, but clearly assessing the situation before stepping into it. That is, until he sends the message.

A private message. Text. He wants to talk without being heard. But of course she is going to have to have Alexander read it out for her, and record her own response, which would defeat the point. Instead she raises her eyes and, from across the room, meets what she assumes is his gaze. She raises her eyebrows, and tips her head just slightly, hinting at a corner of the room where a few mats are piled together, a little shelter within a shelter. It's as much privacy as they might get in the shed, but it might have to do, if that is what he wants.

It also says, she isn't afraid of him.]

Day 164

[spoileralert]

Morning - For Zach

[spoileralert]

[ Steph, after a long argument with several parties, puts the tablet down and buries her face in her hands. She isn't crying, but she's frustrated and pink in the face and pretty sure if she doesn't take a breather she's going to start crying. ]

[majorlazer]

[It's been a long fucking night of barely sleeping, constantly looking over both Kesara and Steph while reliving the evening and early night in his head, a constant loop that's just as awful as the static. He's so tired he can barely think, but he can tell Steph has had just as much sleep as he has, and when she puts her tablet down and drops her head, Zach shifts closer to her.

Without preamble, he wraps an arm around her back, and another around her legs, and pulls her bodily into him, her head to his chest. He doesn't try to pull her hood up and off, just holds her close as she breathes shakily, reminding him of holding Kesara like this just a few days ago.

Still holding her, he drops his head to whisper in her ear, through her hood.]

You wanna go for a walk?

[They don't have to go far. They can take a blanket with them. Just away, a little, let her breathe, compose herself, before she goes off to the school with Kes.]

morning

[blueteamproblems]

[Church has actually been doing... well, not great, because this place sucks, but better since the whole craziness with static and eyes everywhere. It's a lot easier not to worry about things when you don't believe anything around you is real.

It should be, at least. Not worrying about things exploding on the network? Not a problem. Crazy assholes running around wouldn't be any of his business anyway. But then Watson went and proposed mind alteration as a solution, and suddenly everything got a lot harder to deal with.

Which is why there is currently a very obviously freaking out Church curled up in a corner. But hey, everyone's got their issues in snowhell. It's probably nothing.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph has been neck deep in all this drama, and she saw Church's response. She knows he's not the most social of people, but she can't just leave him there in the corner. ]

Hey.

[majorlazer]

[When he sees Church sitting in a position Zach wouldn't mind reflecting, any trace of fight of combativeness just leaves him. He's done, too tired, and it's obvious that Church feels the same.

He waits until Steph is gone to sit next to Church himself. He's not here to try and make him talk, really. It's more about company. Reassurance. They're alive, and all.

For a while, he doesn't say anything. Then, softly:]

Aren't you amazed that Caboose has not died yet?

Midday - Charlie

[majorlazer]

[It's a pretty crazy morning. There's an anomaly, his almost fight with Steph, their talking it out, and then having to let them all go into the school, unable to follow, too fucking broken inside to make it just yet.

So he walks south, instead, walking through the snow alone and desperately hoping that everything goes well, that no one gets hurt on their quest in the school. It's terrifying to even think about it.

The house he ends up in is one of these really, really bare ones, but it's not long before he finds the basement.]

Ka-ching! [He mutters the word, an amused smile on his face as he walks into the basement to start rifling through the boxes in hopes of maybe finding something interesting. Hopefully, something to entertain himself with...

That is, until the front door clangs open, and Zach straightens up, narrowing his eyes as he tightens his grip on his crowbar. If an anomaly followed him in, he's not going down without a fight.]

[mightyratslayer]

[Charlie shakes the snow off of himself as he shuts the door behind him. Whew, okay, traveling over for the day. Good. Now he can sit the fuck down and get back into all this network bullshit.

Four of his friends on the obituary today. Four. And now Charles is apparently starting fights trying to defend his honor, and Watson's hurt, and Quark's stuck with Bucky and a beat up Watson... What a fucking mess.

Today is a bad day for a meetup. Or, well, it wouldn't be, except that he's specifically here to keep Zach from climbing the walls. If they were just meeting up to hang out, that'd be one thing, but Charlie is supposed to be the chill one today. How's he supposed to be chill with all this extra shit going on?

But, whatever. First and foremost, he's happy to see his friend. He hasn't hung out with anyone since he saw Ginger and America... Holy shit, over two weeks ago? He can't really remember. Wow. And that crazy one-handed kid doesn't count. No one gets to count after bashing him upside the head with a table leg. Fuck that guy.]

Hey, uhhh, Zach? You in here, buddy? [Maybe Zach's not here yet. It's still kinda early.]

Day 165

[spoileralert]

Evening 165

[majorlazer]

[Zach'd been quiet most of the day. Still processing, still trying to sort out everything that he's feeling about everything.

There's something about the whole situation that makes him think of Kyle. He's not sure what it is exactly, besides the Joker himself, the chaos he relishes in. Kyle lived to turn Zach's life into a nightmare, and he did it for fun, too. It's in how Steph was talking about nobody ever listening to her. It's in Alfie's contempt. It's in Nathan not being back yet. It's in tiny little things, reminding him that, back home, Kyle is probably waiting, probably enraged that Zach is considered a hero.

He sits in a corner of the house they ended up in, twirling the butt of the cigar he smoked in memory of Nathan. He stubbed it out before it was completely done, and now he just looks at it, one leg bent, his wrist on his knees, fingers twirling the cigar, the back of his hand red, blood tracks on the skin where he scratched the skin off.

Kyle is not here. Kyle can't hurt him. He's got better, bigger things to worry about. Steph, her meddling, how much her fear scares her. Kesara, of the many many plans and ideas. Charlie, just hanging around, staying with him to change his mind, being a good friend. Phi, trying to make sense of the town. Alfie and his plans and his assumptions.

They're all more important than Kyle.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph wasn't terribly interested in the reek of cigar smoke, so she wandered off a little while ago. Now she's back, and she has a first aid kit to offer when she sits down next to him. ]

Your hand looks infected. Let me take care of it?

[heavensreader]

[It takes a while, but somewhere between despondency and frustration, Kesara makes the decision to move on.

It isn't easy. A few days earlier she had a plan; then the town shattered that plan, and now she has nothing but a brand on her hand and a program whose use she deeply doubts. She had something she thought she could unite the townspeople around, and now conflict has reignited. She had a teacher, and now he's turned out as much a liar as the last.

But when she makes her last round of the house before sleep and sees Zach in the corner, with his bloodied hands and the heavy darkness about him, she decides to put all of that aside. A conscious decision. All of it can wait. Now she is going to do one thing, fix one thing. For the one person who will care for her even if she can't do anything else.

She creeps close, a little shadow, and settles next to him, just close enough to rest her small body against his and share their warmth. He did just this for her after Mr. Solomons died, this sitting close by. She knows what it counts for.]

Do you... want to talk about it, Zach?