[log] I wanna see you out that door, baby [closed]

[redrooms]

Characters: Steph, Zack, House, Bucky, Tony, Natasha, and Clint!
Location Building 199
Date: Day 178
Summary: A bunch of idiots get stuck in a museum and learn absolutely nothing.
Warnings: This will probably be a mess?

(This is long I'm sorry.)

Though the building itself isn't the largest, the high ceilings and information desk through the double doors make it clear that this is a museum. This area is clearly marked as the West Entrance. Occasionally, information pamphlets can be found naming this place as the Norfinbury Museum of Art.

Surprisingly, most of the art has been left in the museum, and what hasn't been left still bears an informative plaque about the piece. None of the artist names are familiar, and nothing is dated any later than 2050. Unfortunately, probably due to the failed climate control, much of the artwork has degraded.

What can still be made out seems to indicate that this museum had an eclectic collection of traditional Alaska Native art as well as pieces contributed by other artists living in Norfinbury. Some of the plaques indicate that the museum was dedicated to fully encompassing the diverse and creative spirit of the town. There appear to have been a few works addressing the protests, but the information on these is minimal compared to less political pieces.

The building is bisected through the middle by the collapsed glass roof. Once buried in snow and rubble, a path has been carved through the mess, revealing the other half of the museum.

Where the western hall seemed to degrade from neglect, it's very clear that the eastern hall has been purposefully destroyed. Glass display cases have been shattered, sculptures dissected, frames knocked to the floor and paintings shredded. Information plaques have been painted over or broken entirely. Graffiti covers the walls, even up near the high ceilings. It doesn't resemble traditional vandalism, though, the illustrations chaotic and abstracted even where they represent recognizable subjects. Eyes feature prominently, in various stages of abstraction and occasionally grotesque in appearance. Though often barely legible, the words "long live the prophet" are also recurring throughout.Continuing on, the East Entrance area is architecturally a mirror of the West Entrance, but it has been similarly ransacked. There's barely an inch of wall that hasn't been vandalized, and the only informational pamphlets have been ripped to tiny pieces. But at least the double doors can be opened.

Comments

[rubikscomplex]

Early
[There weren't supposed to be people here. House had expected Natasha's group to have left their food and moved on by now. But here they are, Bucky with them. Not only that, he has to deal with Steph and Zach in-person, as well. There are too many people. He's only just gotten to be on his own. And he found another doll on his own. It doesn't help that his personal level of paranoia is running high after Ecks' betrayal, going off the anti-depressants, and Bucky's not-at-all-veiled threats.

He's going to pretend to be unaffected for the early part of the evening, at least, just focusing on trying to destroy the graffiti on the eastern museum walls again. House has a hammer out and he's cracking through the wall, so that may be a deterrent to some.]


Late
[Everyone needs to go away. As it's lockdown and that's not possible, House retires to one of the little side gallery-type rooms. He can at least attempt to escape notice there. His anxiety is getting the better of him, though, and he can't focus on his tablet. Instead, he takes out the juggling balls he'd found nearly a month ago and puts them to their intended use.

He's actually pretty good at it once he gets back into the rhythm, just thinking about how to find more dolls and the mysterious knife puzzle in the apartment he couldn't figure out. If anyone comes in, he'll be entirely zoned out, thoughts turned inward.]

late -- Bucky, Nat, House?

[advanced]

[He managed to keep from going straight for House when they ran into the man at the museum. Not just because it would be stupid to attack him in front of everyone, but because he is trying to be that better man. But the more the day goes on, the more the whispers keep murmuring in the back of his head all that House is responsible for, all he might do in the future.

He blackmailed him, he kept him away from Agent Carter when she was killed, he could easily do the same with one of the others. He could-- he could--

It's the sight of him sitting and juggling, though, that tips him over the edge. How dare he sit so nonchalantly, playing around as if he hadn't a care in the world? The injustice of it, of him being here while Agent Carter and Steve are gone, fuels his actions. He strides in, swift and sure, with obvious intent to violence written in every line of his body.]

[redrooms]

[Natasha generally lets her guard down around Bucky after lockdown. Recently, they've just been traveling with Clint and Tony, and she trusts them to keep an eye on Bucky, beyond the fact that she doesn't expect Bucky to attack anyone in their group. Tonight is different, though, not only because they're spending the night with another group, but because House specifically told her he's afraid of Bucky. So, Natasha is watchful again, keeping an eye on Bucky and trusting Clint and Tony to do the same.

That means Natasha notices when Bucky leaves the room, and after a second, she follows. It was apparently a good idea, too, because Bucky's body language practically screams danger, and she's picking up the pace, closing the distance between them in long, quick strides. She reaches for his arm, fingers closing on his bicep firmly if he doesn't jerk away.]

Barnes.

[rubikscomplex]

[The barked name has the effect of startling House out of his reverie. Unfortunately, in the split second it takes for him to register that Natasha is trying to stop what's happening, he lets the other juggling balls fall, and chucks the one in his right hand full force at Bucky.

He and Nat might want to get out of the way.]

early -- Steph, Zach, House!

[spoileralert]

[ He has to deal with Steph and Zach sooner rather than later, as the two spot him and head in that direction. Before they're in earshot she tells Zach to start filming.

Once they're closer, as though the soothe any of House's fears, she pulls out the ragdoll they found and shows it to him. ]

Look what we found.

[majorlazer]

[Coming up behind Steph, Zach reaches out to grab one of the doll's arms, moving it in a wave towards House.]

You're welcome, Doc, we've been looking just for you.

[rubikscomplex]

[House is aware of Steph and Zach approaching, but only turns to them once Steph speaks. His eyes immediately zero in on the ragdoll.]

Seven. We need three more.

[And you can stop now. They're at a conversational distance. House unconsciously puts his back against the wall, grip on the hammer tightening. He doesn't actually intend to use it and knows they're not going to hurt him, but the reflex is there. He's met Zach in-person all of once, and Steph he's only ever met in dreams.]

Where'd you find it?

early!

[awwnoun]

[ Okay, so this whole trying to destroy the wall thing has Clint interested, and he was planning on talking to House anyway, so he puts on his best tough skin and makes his way down the eastern wing, with a pillowcase full of food and his choir robes and galaxy print makeshift bandana firmly in place.

On his way there, he totally rams into a bunch of rubble and makes a whole bunch of noise. Clumsy him. Totally clumsy. It's just far enough away that House can't hit him with that hammer out of surprise of someone sneaking up on him, though, curiously enough.

Clint lifts a hand with an apologetic grin. ]

Sorry, sorry. You hungry, Dr. Jerkass?

[rubikscomplex]

[You're not that much of a clumsy idiot, Hawkeye, and House is aware of it. He's also aware that the man is trying to avoid startling him. So. Whatever.]

No.

[He's eating half-rations most days when he can force down that much, and it's showing once more. He's not as bad off as he was a few weeks ago, but it's still bad. House is pale and gaunt with dark circles around his eyes. He looks like he should be hungry, certainly. His appetite has vanished once more, though.]

Leave whatever supplies you've got in a spare cupboard. I'll take a few days when I leave.

[And he's back to hammering; though, it's not as vigorous as before.]

[awwnoun]

[ Shoosh, stop seeing through his clever ruses.

House looks half dead, and Clint is not going to abide by this. He knows House is going to fight him every step of the way, but he's determined to do something nice for the guy. Something, even if it's just giving him food and making sure he eats it. Considering how much stuff House has contributed to all of them getting out of here, Clint thinks the guy deserves a little kindness, even if he's going to kick it down into the dirt and mash it down with the heel of his boot. ]

Yeah, because I'm just going to give up that fast. [ Clint rolls his eyes. ] You look like a skeleton that slapped some gross old man skin over the top of itself. Stop hammering and let me give you food.

[awwnoun]

[ Clint is endlessly fascinated by the paintings he can still see. He does a lot of exploring on his own - and yeah, okay, he's still like an ice cube when it comes to talking about Natasha, but otherwise, he's in a decent mood. He can be found all over the museum, trying to make out what the art is of, trying to read the plaques. He spends most of the day doing this, sorting through the rubble - making his way to the scarier part of the museum and just looking, staring up at the graffiti and frowning.

He keeps an eye on Bucky, because after the other night, he thinks it's probably a good idea. Mostly, he trusts him to stay out of trouble, though that trust is definitely misplaced.

And yes, the whole time that he's looking at the art and trying to move rubble, he's rubbing at his wrists, or having to pause and wince and take a break. He's so tired of being sore. He's very quick to hide it if anybody approaches, though, and when they do, he gives them a big cheery grin.

Yep. Nothing wrong here. ]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph has spent a night here once already, so rather than trying to explore a building whose layout she's memorized she focuses her energy on avoiding Bucky. Whatever Steve might have thought, the man was a danger she didn't see any need to mess around with.

She's wandering around when she runs into Clint. She knew he was here, of course, but she still smiles when she sees him. ]

Well, if it isn't the Hawk Guy in the flesh.

[awwnoun]

[ Steph surprises him! He's... not entirely sure if he's ever actually seen her before, but he recognizes her voice immediately and grins pretty widely when she approaches, offering out a hand. He'd hug her, but he's not sure if she's down for that or not. ]

And Miss Spoiler herself. Good to actually meet you in person. This place is weird for that. [ A beat. ] How are you doing? Everything okay?

[majorlazer]

[The only painting Zach knows about is that one of that girl that keeps on looking at you wherever you stand when you look at her, and he's pretty sure it's hung up somewhere in Europe or something. He's not quite sure why Clint seems to give a damn about any of the stuff here, but he looks super interested when he walks into the room Zach found to take a piss in a dark corner (sorry, museum). It's only luck that Zach was finished when Clint walked in.

Zach keeps his distances, pushing his hands deep in his pockets as he looks up at some of the art around.]

You into that stuff?

[awwnoun]

[ Clint glances over his shoulder when he hears Zach speak up, and turns to actually speak to him face to face, offering the guy a grin. ]

Nah. [ Shrug. ] Not really. High art stuff is sort of boring, normally. I'm more just curious as to what happened here than I am about any of the art.

[advanced]

I have painkillers.

[The voice comes from behind Clint to his left, where Bucky has crept up in his usual creepy ninja fashion.]

[awwnoun]

[ SQUAWK. What the heck, Bucky, don't sneak up on him like that! Clint pulls his hand away from his chest after having slapped it there like an old man reacting to a scare. ]

Jesus, Bucky. [ Deep breath. ] Anybody ever tell you not to sneak up on a deaf guy?

[definingfuture]

[Tony goes off by himself and checks the museum out. Things are tense between the other two and it seems like everyone has their own business to deal with, so he takes the opportunity to break off and look around the museum himself. The sharp division is sad. He can see the two wings and how they've been intentionally vandalized no matter what came before. He stops at the ruined remains of some classic native art, standing in front of it for a long time even though there is nothing really to see. If anyone happens to wander up, he does wave.]

I wonder if they have an archives that survived.

[Hello, you are now his conversation partner.]

[advanced]

[Things have become a little less strained between Tony and himself since the punching incident turned into Tony helping him properly. It's still awkward, but Bucky is making an effort to talk to Tony more. Which is why he doesn't just move on when he's waved over, instead slipping close to look over what Tony is examining.]

Doubtful.

[With how much else is destroyed, archives seem unlikely.]

Do you want to look for them?

[definingfuture]

[He tenses a little when Bucky approaches him. Not really with any intent on turning on him, but he's a little gun shy after that last hit. He relaxes after that first instinctive reaction and smiles once he's sure Bucky isn't going to have an episode. He seems okay for the moment.]

I'd like to dig around. There might be a lower level or sealed room left that has something worth exploring. The more we know, the better, right?

[rubikscomplex]

[House is tired of hammering, so he's wandering, as well, eyes cast over the artwork, searching for some clue there about what this place was or what happened. It's doubtful he'll find anything, he knows--no ragdolls here--but he doesn't have anything better to do. Wandering also gets him away from the group. Some of the group, anyway.

He doesn't really want to talk to Tony, but the comment bears comment in return.]

They're getting paintings in decent condition from somewhere.

[There are a few hanging up in the west wing of the place. House sounds wary along with weary, shoulders tensing as he comes to a halt nearby.]

[definingfuture]

Yeah. I wonder why they kept them. It doesn't seem like they'd do much good, does it?

[Not that anything really makes sense, but if they're put in the town to solve a big mystery then the art wouldn't be worth keeping up with. It's just a passing thought, though, and Tony gives House a curious look when the man keeps a tense distance.]

Having a hard time? [His question is quietly probing, with real concern for his health.]

before the House fight

[advanced]

[House and Spoiler, two of his least favourite people. Having them nearby puts him on edge and sets him even further into his bad habits of antisocial scowling and lurking in the shadows as opposed to trying to engage others in conversation.

He can be found sitting in front of one of the walls smeared with Prophet graffiti, a pill bottle rolling in his hands speculatively, though he'll shove it in his pocket if anyone approaches.]

[majorlazer]

[It's one of these things that still surprises Zach, that there are still people he doesn't know walking around. He's never seen this guy before - maybe they've talked over the network, but he's a new face to Zach.

He doesn't look like he wants to talk much, which doesn't really deter Zach. He's curious - wants to put a name on the face, so he walks over, hands in his pockets.]

So, um, hi. I'm Zach. I don't think we've met before?

[advanced]

[He recognises this kid from the network, Spoiler's boyfriend, and that just makes his already serious expression sour further into a scowl. He pockets the pill bottle immediately.]

We haven't.

[His voice and posture are both unwelcoming.]

I'm Bucky Barnes.

[That should at least give him the warning of who he is dealing with, considering he remembers this kid being unimpressed on his announcement.]