[log] pretty pretty princesses [closed]

[theurgy]

Characters: Cassel and Adelina
Location: Building 145
Date: Day 190
Summary: Two teenagers try very hard not to freeze to death.
Warnings: Will edit as necessary!

[Cassel finally makes it to the storage unit minutes before lockdown. It doesn't take long to slip from the grocery store to the little building beside it, but by the time he does, he's already shivering violently. He's wearing a leather jacket and gloves more suited for fall than for winter, and while they cut the wind a bit, it feels like the chill has seeped down into his bones. He isn't used to cold like this, and he'd be lying if he didn't admit that his heart sinks when he sees where they'll be spending the night—a bare concrete floor and an empty, echoing room.

Cassel closes the door behind him and hears the lock engage a moment later, then drops his pack to the ground. He already looks a little ridiculous—there's a pink leopard print cutting cape wrapped around his throat like a scarf, and he's wearing sneakers that certainly weren't made for traipsing around in the snow and the ice. At least he has fresh food.]

Comments

[bloodbiter]

[She took care to get to the building before lockdown - she's not one to take risks when it offers her no benefit, and as soon as she was done putting as much food as possible in the strange pack she was provided, she headed towards the building they had decided on. It isn't much, certainly, but it's at least safe.

When Cassel comes in minutes later, she turns towards him. It's not the scarf that catches her attention first, it's how cold he looks. Her own coat is thicker and her boots sturdy enough to last in the snow, but she can sympathize nonetheless. Her legs, below where the coat falls and above where her boots rise, feel like they're made of ice. While she might be used to traveling in different conditions, she's never come up against this kind of weather before.

When he enters, she's sitting against a wall, resting a pillow she found in the hospital on top of her knees to at least protect them from the chill inside the room. She smiles despite the circumstances when she sees him, standing hurriedly in greeting.]

I was beginning to think you may not arrive in time. I'm glad that isn't the case.

[theurgy]

Yeah, I cut it close. Sorry if I worried you.

[She's still so polite that Cassel can't help but smile at her as he rubs his hands up and down his arms in a useless attempt to warm up. His eyes catch on her dress first. He shouldn't be surprised, considering the time period she's from, but there's something so strange about seeing it, well-made and clearly not a costume, contrasted with the modern cut of her Norfinbury coat. And then his gaze shifts to her hands, completely bare, and he can't help the slight awkwardness, but more than that, the instinctive discomfort. He's read enough to know that not all of the other worlds are like his, so workers might not even exist for her, and he knows all of their powers are supposed to be gone. His certainly are. Still, a lifetime of conditioning means that, despite the logic, he still shifts uncomfortably and then blurts out, automatic:]

You don't have any gloves?

[bloodbiter]

No, but I've been keeping my hands warm enough by holding them in these pockets.

[She says, misunderstanding. Even so, it does seem strange to her that he seems ill at ease rather than merely concerned, and it shows in the way she tilts her head at him slightly.]

Is something else amiss?

[theurgy]

No, I'm fine.

[The lie is automatic, too, and he smiles again quickly.]

We should find you some. I hear frostbite sucks.

[bloodbiter]

[She lets it go just as quickly, nodding along to his suggestion.]

I haven't been able to find any as of yet... I did locate an array of medical supplies and a strange object with a small blade inside, though.

[A boxcutter, not that she knows what it's called or even what it's typically used for.]

What about you? Have you found anything useful yet?

[theurgy]

[Cassel shrugs as he finally sits.]

The food was the most useful thing I found. Other than that it's just been a bunch of books and some shampoo.

[He plucks at the hideous cape around his neck.]

And this. Might as well stay fashionable.

[bloodbiter]

I think books have their own use. Perhaps they aren't as practical as other things, but all the same.

[A soft laugh, looking at the scarf. Of course, she doesn't even know what a leopard is, so some of the ridiculousness is lost on her.]

It is an interesting pattern, to be sure. Where did you find it?

[theurgy]

It was in a salon.

[And he's very quickly realizing that he might have to explain a lot of mundane, modern things to her.]

For cutting hair. You put this over someone so the clippings don't get all over them, you know? I didn't think pink was my color, but maybe I'm pulling it off.

[bloodbiter]

They have buildings specifically used to cut hair?

[Not the strangest thing she's heard since she arrived here, but it's curious all the same.]

It's certainly very bright, but I think it suits you all the same. And if it brings you more warmth, that's the most important thing.

[theurgy]

Warmth might be an overstatement.

[He gestures towards her dress, still feeling a little silly about the way he can't quite look at her hands.]

You must be freezing too.

[bloodbiter]

A slightly less intense cold, then.

[She shakes her head. It definitely isn't pleasant, but she'll just have to make the best of it until she can find something more suitable to wear. She does hope that happens soon, though.]

If I am, I'm certainly not the only one. I'm certain I will persevere until I can find something else. Although...

[She's glancing at his shoes.]

Are your feet in danger? Those seem very inadequate.

[theurgy]

[Cassel laughs a little, although it's humorless.]

I guess we'll find out if my toes start falling off, huh? I didn't plan on being whisked away to Alaska when I picked them out.

[So much for positivity.]

[bloodbiter]

Do you at least have warm socks underneath?

[Because that does seem like it could be bad. She wonders if the fabric is even waterproof.]

[theurgy]

[For a second, Cassel wonders what she would do if he said they weren't. If he's guessing correctly, she'd probably do everything she could to help him, maybe even try to find something of her own to give to him. The thought makes him uncomfortable, especially here, where he knows people are desperate enough to take advantage of her kindness, and he shifts.]

Warm enough. I'm fine, seriously. You don't have to worry about me so much. Don't be too nice.

[bloodbiter]

Showing concern for your safety is being too nice?

[She isn't disagreeing just yet, waiting to see where he goes with this.]

[theurgy]

[Cassel doesn't respond right away, weighing how to answer. It feels odd, warning her like this, but he doesn't want some asshole screwing her over. Some asshole like him or his brothers, a little, guilty part of him thinks.]

People are going to be desperate here. They'll take advantage of it.

[bloodbiter]

[A small smile. She's grateful, really, even if she doesn't think it's necessary.]

I assure you, I know how to take care of myself. But... Thank you. It's kind of you to be concerned.

[theurgy]

[He shrugs, then stretches his arms over his head lazily, trying to shake the slight awkwardness. He's been feeling weird ever since he got here, really, but maybe that's to be expected. He does smile, though, so that's something.]

If I was really kind I would have picked a better place for us to spend the night.

[bloodbiter]

Nonsense. It was very convenient, with how close it was to the shop.

[Besides, it could hardly be motivated by a lack of kindness if he's staying here as well, she thinks. She won't claim it's a particularly luxurious place, but it will do for the night.]

I hope it won't be too uncomfortable for you, all the same. Maybe we could look at the map and see if there's a better place nearby we could venture to tomorrow...

[theurgy]

[Man, she is aggressively nice. Nicer than Daneca, even. Cassel nods as he digs his tablet out of his backpack and pulls up House's map, scooting closer.]

Do you want to stay down here or go north? I guess it doesn't matter either way.

[Because they're stuck here, and Cassel doesn't know enough about what's going on to be much help getting them out.]

Maybe we should find you some pants.

[bloodbiter]

And some better shoes for you.

[She says, with a nod, looking at the map once he has it pulled up.]

I believe someone mentioned to me there's more to be found in the houses to the north. If that was correct, would you want to go there?

[theurgy]

Yeah, sure. Maybe we can poke around and try to figure out what the hell is going on.

[Maybe?]

[bloodbiter]

We'll have to go back through the ice spires. Are there any buildings in this area you'd like to search before we do?

[theurgy]

Uh...

[He pauses, studying the map for a moment.]

Look, honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. The hospital?

[bloodbiter]

[She nods.]

There were some items in there I didn't recognize... I wonder if you might be able to recognize some of them and determine if they're worth keeping.

[It'll be good to have a future person around.]