[log] Fighting Temptation [closed]

[thewarningafter]

Characters: Stephen, Alfie, Royce, and Sylar
Location: Building 31
Date: Day 249 (early afternoon)
Summary: Alfie hands off some supplies, and also something Stephen dropped a day or two ago.
Warnings: Embarrassed space wizard

31: This house is perhaps most easily recognized by the picket fence, paint worn off and wood exposed, that pushes up out of the snow and encircles the backyard. There's a half-buried doghouse near the main house, large enough for a human to crawl into--which is good, because the front and back doors are locked tight no matter the time of day. If you crawl through the doghouse, a large dog flap is attached to the house at the back, and you can get inside there; of course it's locked at night just like any other entryway. Inside is a standard single-story house consisting of a living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom (though the shower doesn't work), and bedroom. All drawers and cupboards have been haphazardly opened and most of the furniture has been upended. Two black amorphous blobs have been spraypainted on the fence.. Written on the wall is "EMERGENCY RATIONS IN CUPBOARD. MEETING DAY 67, HOUSE TO WEST. CONTACT @CMDRSHEPARD" The following is written on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 45 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a fairly accurate map showing house 31 in relation to houses 25, 28, 31, 34, and 35, the funeral home, and the school and athletic shed. The funeral home is labeled "UNSAFE, DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT". 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". "ALPHONSE ELRIC AND EDWARD ELRIC, DAY NINETY-SIX, TRAVELLING SOUTH. IF ANY ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME." has been carved onto the wall. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC." has been written on the wall.

Comments

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen instinctively moves to block that clap to the back, his forearm lifting to knock against the other man's as he takes a deceptively casual step away from him, his martial arts training kicking in about half a minute too late to salvage his pride.

He looks for a moment like he's going to protest, but with a resigned sigh he reaches out to take Sylar's pill bottle, too, clutching one in each hand now.]

Yeah. Thanks. I'm kind of getting that.

[He delivers the words with all the sincerity and gratitude of a wet cat.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie holds up his hands and steps back himself.]

We're just having a bit of fun, that's all.

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't feel all that bad. He tossed that bottle as easy as he possibly could, it's not his fault Stephen has a dexterity of seven. Royce settles against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. ]

Gabriel's right. Didn't need to worry. Men of our word. Isn't that right, Solomons?

[termineur]

[ And that settles that, as far as Sylar's concerned. He's fine handing over that bottle, which has his name on it and House's ridiculous dosage in it. Sylar has an almost-full bottle left, if he needs it for anything. It didn't turn out to be quite the standard of currency he had expected it to be. ]

Are you gonna be staying in this area, you think? Al and I are going to head back to the Industrial part of town, probably meet up with Steph.

[thewarningafter]

[To say this didn't go how Stephen expected would be a massive understatement. He'd shown his hand as far as his supplies went and figured that was that when it came to his chances of getting robbed. This, though...this is just embarrassing.

He clings to the change in topic.]

I'm not sure yet. I'm probably going to make my way east but I'm trying to put together enough supplies to make it worthwhile for everyone over there first.

[devoutish]

[Alfie goes to stand with Royce, leaning against the wall next to him.]

That's our plan, too.

[bywolves]

[ Royce eases just a little when Alfie settles next to him. ]

Mm. Checking a few houses up north that nobody looks through and then heading east.

[termineur]

[ Everyone seems to be settling down. This is good. ]

It's a good plan, I think. Al and I'll try to collect what we can, too. So far, I seem pretty set on tools and otherwise useless crap. But maybe they'll be needed someday.

At the very least, I want to make it back to the power plant. Didn't get to properly enjoy it last time.

[ You know, because of the death to the giant brain monster. ]

[thewarningafter]

[No idea who Al or Steph are, but the gist of it is clear. Stephen pockets the pills before starting the process of packing up all the other things he's been giving, beginning with slipping the rubbing alcohol into the spot recently vacated by the vodka.]

The real problem is getting real food over there with how long it takes to get through the ruins.

[Another problem: he's not keen to traverse those ruins again. He hated it the first two times, and the third trip killed him.]

[devoutish]

Store it up in the bus stations.

[Alfie's still watching Stephen, with little glances to Royce occasionally.]

I've spoken about it with Enoch a bit. He thinks they'll be good places for it.

[bywolves]

[ Royce is still, mostly. He's got his hood up and his arms folded, uncomfortable as usual in houses full of people. Four is a lot. ]

Eventually everybody is going to need to make it through. [ He offers idly. ] Can't stay back forever.

[termineur]

Really, the bus stations? Well, I guess some of them have lockers. I would've gone for the offices, personally.

[ But its not really his call- not until he has a bunch of food to leave somewhere, which may never happen. ]

But yeah. Everyone's probably going to have to make the trip sometime or another. At least if what we've heard about all that is true.

[thewarningafter]

The vending machines, actually. I was going to see if it affected the way they restock.

[Who had suggested that, again?]

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Alfie gives Strange a nod.]

Yeah, we were gonna stuff better rations in them. Things from the school.

[bywolves]

[ Royce stays quiet, not having much else to add here. His eyes are back on Stephen's cloak, though. ]

[termineur]

[ Okay, that makes sense. He nods. ]

Be nice if they started bringing us apple slices and chicken nuggets over there. Isn't it sad that I'm actually missing grade school food?

[ He shakes his head. ]

[thewarningafter]

[Oh, this guy. This guy suggested that. Stephen nods as well, side-eying the short guy and the way he keeps looking at him.]

Hey, don't knock school food. A lot of legislation went into making it.

[devoutish]

[And Alfie side-eyes Stephen side-eying - not really expecting him to advance on Royce, but keeping an eye out for it all the same.]

The apples are nice. Good to have fruit. And the nuggets, well--

[They're not terrible, he guesses.]

I'm missing the food at the grocery store already.

[Fresh bread. Mmmm.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce also doesn't expect Stephen to advance on him, really. He just trusts him the least. ]

Anything is better than the convenience store. Which of course is the closest to the tunnels. [ He sounds vaguely annoyed by this! ]

[termineur]

I never made it to the grocery store. -don't tell me what I'm missing out on, I'd rather not know. I've gotten used to the convenience store stuff.

Oh- Stephen, I've told Al about the whole procedure thing. He liked it about about as much as I figured he would, but he'll keep an eye out. You can get status reports from him.

[ Or he could once he remembered people's names again, at least. ]

[thewarningafter]

[Thanks, patient, for throwing in another name he won't remember in two seconds. At least it's obvious from context whom he means.]

Good. I'll catch up with him later, see if he's noticing anything I didn't.

[devoutish]

[Alfie, by now, has stepped back, and his doing up the ties on his bags.]

Well, very good. I'm glad all that's sorted. Have we got anything else to discuss?

[bywolves]

Unless you've got anything for us to deliver, Strange. [ Royce says, not moving from where he's leaning. ] Otherwise, no.

[termineur]

I just want to talk procedure things, myself. So if that's all, you two can move on ahead if you want. I'll catch up.

[ He nods in Royce's direction, before looking back to Strange. He'd rather talk about his murderous impulses in private, but it's not like it's anything these people don't know about. ]

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen shakes his head, still keeping an eye on the both of them as they move around, though it looks like he's gotten through this meeting just fine after all.]

No, nothing to deliver. That should be it, we're just going to have a quick talk here.