[log] Screw up to the beat of my own drum [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Stephen Strange, Alphonse Elric, Hugo Vasquez
Location: AAB8 - 271
Date: Day 229
Summary: Event Shenanigans and a Reunion
Warnings: In comment subjects, please!

271: A small, enclosed bus stop that probably serviced the building inside the fence back when things weren't abandoned. The bus stop is enclosed completely in glass, making it possible to spend the night here, though the benches are a little uncomfortable to sleep on. Interestingly, the lights here still work, on and off--at night, the lights flicker on and off at random, which may also make it difficult to sleep. The vending machines here are smashed open, but food and drinks are still placed inside them. They do not restock when people are staying here, so make sure you don't run yourself out of food! "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC." is written on a wall.

Comments

[spoileralert]

"The windows don't break," she answers absently. That's been one constant - the buildings that close up at night don't seem capable of being breached. Opening windows and doors, on the other hand, was a distinct possibility.

"He's not attacking," she points out again, a rising note of hope in her voice. "He's not doing anything. Just watching... somehow." He doesn't have any eyes, but he seems to be able to see anyway.

"Zach? Is that you, babe?"

He nods, and the motion is so familiar and right that she can't take it anymore.

"It's him. Oh my god, it's Zach."

Without waiting for Vasquez to protest Steph races out the door and into the snow. Her body protests the motion in the direction of the thing making her so dizzy, but she ignores it. Tears in her eyes, she throws her arms around the creature...

and promptly slumps against the thing, unconscious. It turns to watch her with that gaping maw rather than its single eye, but makes no other move. Of course, it can't hold her up. Her arms around its shoulders slow her descent, but she finally slides down its chest into a heap on the snow-covered ground.

[24karat]

"Windows don't, but I'm pretty sure you will. And why are we not talking about all the teeth that thing has? That's kind of a huge problem!" He's half-yelling by this point, an obvious edge of panic settling into his tone-- this was the first time he'd even seen an anomaly, and of course it had to be when the only other person in the room wanted to throw herself at it. When Steph asks not-Zach that last question, Vasquez is half a second from continuing his argument-- he's left standing there with his mouth open as she rushes out the door, but he manages a loud curse when she falls into the snow.

After a moment of complete indecision, Vasquez realizes two things. The first was that the door was still open, which certainly didn't bode well for him-- that, and if he just left Steph out there, the anomaly would likely eat her or something, and that would be the end of that. There wasn't really much of a choice here, was there?
Dammit, he really hated mornings.
Maybe if he moved slowly, he wouldn't catch the anomaly's attention. It was far from a foolproof plan, but he didn't have much of one to start with-- sneak outside, grab Steph, and then barricade the door with...something if he managed to get that far. He stood in the doorway now, gritting his teeth-- this was probably going to get him killed, but what the hell. He'd rather not be stuck traveling solo for another month or so.

Getting close to the creature was more difficult than he'd been anticipating-- the feeling was wrong, and in the back of his mind, he's a little impressed Steph managed to run up and hug the fucking thing. When he's almost within reach of getting a hold of her, Vasquez hesitates, glancing up at the anomaly even though it makes his stomach turn. Is it going to attack, or what? He has absolutely no idea, and he's not sure how fast he can run while simultaneously dragging Steph along.

[spoileralert]

The Zach thing looks up at Vasquez when he steps outside, but then turns its attention back on Steph. It doesn't seem the least bit interested in Vasquez, though it doesn't move to give him room either. Even when he begins moving her, the thing just watches.

Steph is lighter than she should be, making her easier to drag than he probably expects. The whole incident goes pretty smoothly, all things considered.