snowblindrpg | [network] @claytonator; BODIES AND MONSTERS; day 022 [open] [dismemberment mention?]

Entry tags:

[network] @claytonator; BODIES AND MONSTERS; day 022 [open] [dismemberment mention?]

afternoon - video

[The camera comes on to the dim interior of the abandoned school, focused on a nearby spot on the floor. There's nothing there, but there's plenty of other things to notice. Primarily, the heavy distortion of the film itself; it's stretched almost to the point that it's unrecognizable and frequently flickers in and out of focus. At the points where things seem to align and the video is reasonably coherent, Clayton's panicked, gasping breaths come through in the background. It sounds like he's trying to calm down. He's not doing a good job of calming down.]

[The tablet is given a firm shake, as if attempting to resolve the apparent camera abnormalities, then Clayton gives up and shuts it off.]

afternoon - text

[Thankfully, Clayton doesn't let this video stand alone for too long after he posts it.]

Sorry about that--thought I saw something. The air isn't right here.

[And that's putting it lightly. A hallucination that vivid and alarming isn't something Clayton can brush off so easily, especially after experiencing something similar the day before in the school's kitchens. It's recurring. That's a problem.]

[He would think it's a personal problem, if Enoch wasn't experiencing the same sorts of things.]

Who else has been to the school? What have you seen or heard while there that you would consider "abnormal," if anything?

slightly before lockdown - video

[It's much later in the day when Clayton turns on the camera again, and in significantly more dire circumstances. The video is trained on his face this time--he looks flushed and exhausted, like he just ran a marathon, and he's only now letting himself relax and slide the rest of the way down the wall of the sports shed. Other feet and voices murmur and shuffle in the background as three other people position themselves in the tight quarters. Clayton's eyes flicker to them with a look of immense relief.]

[There's a loud thump at the door, followed by distinctive scratching noises. Clayton's expression sobers.]

Alright... [Pant, pant. He quickly swipes a hand over his brow.] ...I got good news and I got bad news.

Bad news is, we ain't lost them shadows yet. [There's another round of clawing at the shed's door to verify this.] If any a y'all 're in the school, run. Don't you come to the shed t' the west. It ain't safe out there. Pack up what yer doin' an' head north 'r south. You ain't got much time.

[He lets that hang in the air for a few moments.]

...Good news! [Clayton chuckles giddily and his mouth twitches into a tired smile.] They ain't that smart. Enoch 'n I just gave one the runaround outside. If you get one of ya to lead 'em, the other can head in an' get the door--trick 'em 'fore they know what's happenin'.

Anybody else runnin' into these things out there? If they're gettin' bolder, we oughta start travelin' 'n pairs. Safer that way.

[He pauses again to finish catching his breath and adds a couple more airy laughs for good measure. The monster continues thumping against the door. Clayton is clearly too relieved to notice.]

Y'all be careful out there. Keep in touch.

[And the feed ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Clayton smiles back at Enoch, a look somewhere between I know right and let's never fucking do that again, before food and water from two separate directions thoroughly distracts him. He looks between Zelda and Link with some confusion. Very young hosts, these two--royalty and her guard, no less. Shouldn't he be serving them? But insisting as much might but him in bad standing with Zelda, since he'd be subtly outing her to Enoch (and besides, that same sense of hospitality tells him a refusal would be very rude). Time to improvise.]

[He can thank them, at lest.] Much obliged. Ma'am. [And a slow nod for their trouble, lingering on Zelda to also answer her question, before he accepts the food and water. He would continue with a suggestion to derail their selflessness, but Enoch's question catches him first.]

Yeah...met up 'fore the ice caves. [Clayton glances back at Link and Zelda for affirmation.] I found the door, Zelda here had the key. Took different paths inside. Nice t' see y'all two came out alright.

Now-- [Back to the casual deflection. Clayton puts the water bottle on the floor and the food in his lap.] --We all got food in there, don't we? How 'bout we put all the food 'n water together-like--get us a right feast fer when these doors lock, eh? Make that critter outside real jealous fer bein' so nasty.

["Came out alright" might be a bit of an overstatement, given all that happened on their side of those caves, but... well, they're alive. For seven years, that has counted for something in her book. No reason to stop counting it now.]

A feast? [She repeats, about three steps away from being genuinely incredulous. If Clayton didn't have a personality that naturally seemed to put her at ease, she would call the idea absurd; being frugal with resources, rationing things carefully has been ingrained in her so deeply it may as well be second nature. As things are, however, she answers more lightly, halfway in jest.] I thought you wished to minimize contact with the school as much as possible. We may have to return tomorrow should we engorge ourselves tonight.

[Your efforts at deflection are valiant, Clayton.]

[ Link, who is too hungry to think sensibly right now, is already nodding before Zelda is half-jokingly saying no. Well, not really saying no - but it was a warning. ]

I could go back to replace it.

[ He doesn't mind. A rest was important, and but so was enjoying themselves. Link and Zelda had had scant few reasons to do that lately, and Clayton was a nice man. He didn't know this Enoch person, but Clayton trusted him, so he'd be all right for the time being. ]

We can have a little.

[As the conversation goes on, there comes a muffled commotion outside the shed; a shout, at first, somewhat distant. The exchange grows closer, and it becomes obvious that there are two distinct voices, though the particulars of what they're saying are muffled by the walls of the building.

Their footsteps are muffled by the snow, but it sounds like they circle the shed a few times, undoubtedly with the monster in pursuit. It takes them a bit to get the space, but once they do, the door of the shed bursts open again, just long enough for a very unfortunate pair to throw themselves inside.

England practically drags America into the building so they can slam the door shut behind them, and he takes the extra moment to hold it closed, as if fearing the monster might drag it open once more.

England, at least, doesn't notice right away that they have company.]

[America, almost compulsively, pulls out his tablet before looking around, scrolling through the network, playing a video Clayton probably remembers making like two seconds ago or something.] Hey, look, it says that thing's-- [Wait. He looks up, still trying to get his pulse and breathing under control, and yeah, they're definitely not on their own in here

Which seems sort of unfortunate, since "in here" is pretty small..]

Uh. Hey! [He grins.]

[Clayton chuckles in appreciation for everyone's answers--at Zelda for keeping the future and their well-being in mind, and at Link for a rarely-seen youthful enthusiasm to enjoy himself. He's almost tempted to sit back and watch the two of them discuss it, just to observe their interactions outside of the more formal setting he met them in, but decides against it when he realizes that the possibility of tension in such a confined space is perhaps not something he should risk. He cuts in, hands raised.]

--Ain't no need t' fret over it. Way I see it, each a us puts in a little somethin'--much as we'd eat anyway--then we all share from it. Ain't quite a full-blow feast, but we, ah...huh.

[He looks up, distracted by something at the door. Or rather, the lack of something.]

...It's stopped knockin'. [Which means it's lost interest, more than likely because something else has become more interesting to it. Clayton sets down his food and quickly gets to his feet.] Enoch, the door.

[He's more than ready to go outside and investigate as soon as Enoch unblocks the door, but it seems that the cause is coming to meet them first. Hello, England and America. Clayton doesn't recognize either of you and is giving them very confused, very concerned looks as he moves out of their way. He gives them a moment or so to recover.]

...Well, wasn't expectin' that. [Clayton huffs and raises an eyebrow. He's trying to look as hospitable as possible, even though now he's been forced against the back wall and is feeling more than a little cramped. Very cramped. Deep breaths, Epps. He fumbles for his tablet so the backlight can illuminate the walls.] Y'all okay? Nobody's hurt?

[Enoch's barely gotten up before the door opens from the other side and he instinctively steps back, pressing himself up against the side of the shed as the two newcomers pile in.

That one doesn't even check his surroundings before checking his tablet is...a little worrying, to say the least.]

Ah...hello. I'm glad you were able to avoid the beast.

[Unlike Clayton, he doesn't mind the cramped space. But very much like Clayton, he takes up a lot of it, himself. He tries flattening himself against the wall to give the newcomers more room to orient themselves, though how "flat" he could ever get that bulk is not a question with a promising answer.]

[Zelda, meanwhile, nearly jumps out of her skin when the door bursts open, hand immediately reaching for the hockey stick she's been treating like an improvised weapon. The threat from the newcomers isn't immediate - they seem rather preoccupied at the moment - but that doesn't mean it isn't there. While Enoch and Clayton offer pleasantries, Zelda watches the duo from her place in the back with wary eyes, eventually leaning closer to Link to whisper in his ear.]

I do not recognize them. Do you?

[ Link has the frying pan in his left hand and is almost about to swing before Zelda whispers to him. His first thought is that the monster had burst through and he'd be ready to give the others some time to escape by taking the first blow. Unfortunately - or rather, fortunately - there isn't enough space in the place to swing the pan without hitting the others, and all he does is stand with muscles wired and ready to go, hunger forgotten even as Zelda whispers to him.

He shakes his head stiffly, giving a grunt of denial. Never seen them before. Who are they?

He jerks his chin at them and gives a 'mm?' sound, still stiff and wary. They don't look like enemies, but busting in like that... yeah, being wary probably wasn't a bad idea. ]

[When England turns away from the door, he mostly finds...some very unhappy people. Not that he's very happy about this turn of events either, a grimace on his face as he takes in each one of the strangers.] Bloody hell.

[And two of them look like they're ready to attack, so he extends an arm in front of America, stepping slightly between him and the others in the shed.] We're not hurt. And there's no need for hostilities. We simply wish to avoid the creature outside, much like the rest of you, I imagine.

[Diplomacy. England takes a steadying breath and lowers his arm, though he's still positioned protectively in front of America. He doesn't really want to give them his real name, but he also doesn't want to give them his human alias and give the two trigger-happy...elves? Further reason to attack him later if they discover his omission. Plus, America is probably just going to use his real name, anyway.] My name is England. I would appreciate it if we could take shelter here for the night.

[Especially considering that, so close to curfew and with a monster lurking outside, the only alternative is death. But he'll be courteous and won't say that out loud.]

There isn't really anywhere else for us to go nearby anyway. [America points that out with his usual oblivious cheer--but really, he doesn't plan on going back out when he can hear the monster at the door. They already had to run away from that thing once to just get in here. So there's really nothing to do about it but plow his way through with friendliness.]

I'm America! It's pretty cool to see more people again, I haven't seen anyone besides him [America gestures vaguely in England's direction] in like forever.

[It probably hasn't been "like forever", but America isn't ever going to get used to the lonely circumstances.]

[Well, two out of four isn't bad, but still alarming enough to very quickly catch Clayton's attention. He looks up from his tablet and is not too surprised to see Link brandishing a makeshift weapon, as Zelda's guard of sorts, but Zelda's hand resting on her hockey stick takes him aback. Touchy little princess, this one. And as the tension doesn't seem to have left either one, Clayton decides that perhaps some preventative measures ought to be taken.]

Whoa. Alright then. [Much like what England has opted for, Clayton takes a step out from the wall, putting him in the rough center of the shed (something he would have done anyways to give himself a little more room to breathe). The gesture is defensive, but more for the newcomers' sake--it puts him in the path of their more wary companions on the opposite end. It might have been a way to dispel both sides from violence if England didn't seem willing to compromise, and America wasn't so...well for lack of a better description, aggressively friendly given the circumstances. The fact that they're giving out aliases is kind of off-putting (because...surely names like "England" and "America" aren't real, right?), but they've probably got a good reason for it. Clayton's willing to trust them.]

[Knowing Clayton, this isn't saying much. Still though.]

Don't you worry--there ain't gonna be no hostilities in here. Lord knows all a us've had enough a that outside with the monsters. [He does not look back at Zelda and Link, but they can probably hear Clayton judging them in the tone of his voice anyway.] Ain't nothin' wrong with y'all stayin' here. Better bein' a lil' cramped in here than out there, I'll say.

[And that's the end of that discussion. No arguments allowed. Clayton speeds straight on to returned introductions.]

I'm Clayton--Clayton Epps, the doctor. [Since, if anyone new knows about him without them having actually talked to one another, he wagers it's probably through Clarke's information post.] Y'all 're lucky t' find yer way here so soon 'fore lockdown-- [craning his neck to look over England and America towards the entrance] --Enoch, you got that door still?

[He might have tried to defend the newcomers, himself, but with Clayton doing the same he went for the door.

He has to kind of shove his way around America to do it, but he's already on it, falling against the door the moment the monster's scratching starts again.]

Yes...I have it.

[He breathes a sigh of relief. He wouldn't want that thing to get inside with all of them trapped in such a small space.]

"America" is part of the name of the country we're in, isn't it? At least...that's what Dio said. He knew somehow, by looking at the "textbook" I found.

[Zelda's lips purse into a line. Yes, she hears Clayton's judgement, and she's not happy about it. She thought he understood; he accepted her fear of being targeted for her title so easily, and to her knowledge has kept it secret as she desired. Yet here he is, calling her wariness towards people she's never seen nor heard from before - England, unfortunately, used an alias and text only the one time they spoke - hostility.]

You may call me Zelda.

[She answers the call for introductions curtly, retreating to the back of the shed and sitting against the shelves. She watches America for his answer to Enoch's question, but otherwise doesn't feel very talkative at the moment.]

[ Link hears Clayton's judgement and doesn't give a toss. He didn't live through the six dungeons of Hyrule, three before that, and Ganon's Tower without being on his toes. And Zelda had more reason than he did to be jumpy. ]

It could have been the monster.

[ And, unsaid, is 'We didn't know them, either'. He lowers his Deadly Frying Pan and shifts slightly to the side of the room too, not beside Zelda, but where he can equally keep an eye on them. ]

Link.

[ His voice isn't unfriendly, but he is curt and brief, so it may come across that way. ]

...a pleasure to meet you all. Thank you, Doctor Epps. [Even though those other two, Link and Zelda, still don't look very pleased. They'll all be locked in together any minute now, so there's no point in arguing with them so soon into the night.

Something that Enoch fellow said distracts England, anyway. He turns to the other man — who probably shouldn't be alone in holding that door, really, so he positions himself next to Enoch to help hold it closed. His eyebrows are drawn down in concern and some scepticism.] You're probably thinking of the United States of America. But...

[Not as subtly as he'd like, England casts a brief, worried glance in America's direction.] ...I don't think that's where we are.

[There's doubt in his voice, but then, he's not saying it for his own sake.]

Why n- [He suddenly remembers being told about the avatars of nations. That's why not, or at least why it can't be brought up. If this is, literally, this poor man's future...

He suddenly doesn't think it's a good idea to show them his "proof", either.]

...Never mind. It doesn't matter where we are until we find a way out of this place.

[Well you win some and you lose some--something Clayton can understand, but damn if he doesn't want to accept it. Zelda and Link are clearly unhappy with him and he doesn't like it. There's a quick, apologetic glance passed over his shoulder and the vague hope that once tensions dissipate that they'll understand why he did what he did, and maybe be willing to forgive him.]

[Anyway.] Please--call me Clayton. I ain't on the clock here. [He chuckles nervously and nods the rest of his greeting in lieu of a handshake, since that might be a little too forward. The careful conversation between England and Enoch is not missed. Clayton doesn't quite know why it should be so delicate a subject, but he'll respect it.] Here, ah...have a seat, if you can find one.

[Clayton looks around to gesture at an open wall, only to find that open wall space is in short supply. It is. Very cramped in here. Damn, that confrontation was a good distraction...Clayton's smile falters and his face noticeably pales. Conversation, more distractions, come on, don't think about how stuffy it is in here...]

...Y'all got any food? We were jus' 'bout t' have some supper--we'll share some, if y'all need it.

[Forgiveness might be a bit soon, and Zelda is still wary about the newcomers, but she's a perceptive one. Though she might be irritated at Clayton's willingness to trust anyone that waltzes in, she is not so blinded by her frustration as to not notice his shift in demeanor, and she can't keep herself from worrying.]

Clayton.

[Her voice is firm, but gentler around the edges than it was previously. Grounding, or at least she hopes it to be.]

Are you all right?

[If England and America are hungry, they can wait until this is resolved.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[network] @claytonator; BODIES AND MONSTERS; day 022 [open] [dismemberment mention?]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject