snowblindrpg | [log] I left behind the home that you made me [closed]

[The Building description is as follows:

A two-story A-frame house. The first floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms. The second floor has a master bedroom, master bathroom, and balcony. There's no furniture in this house, but the central heating works for one hour a night--although the exact hour is random. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SIXTY-TWO, TRAVELLING WEST" is written on the wall, alongside "DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." "House 86 of the map" is written on the wall in marker.]

[Alright, first thing's first. The second they get inside, Quark's dumping all his things and stretching. It's hard on anyone to carry that much stuff, but on someone of his stature, and quietly suffering through his stacked exposure effects, it takes a definite toll. Next, it's search time. He can be found for most of the day looking around, seeming more interested in doing that than socializing.

But, really, part of it is nerves. He doesn't usually spend this much time looking around...at least not in this area any longer, since they've solved most of what they've needed to solve in these residential areas. This whole thing with Junpei--with his Grandpa--it has him as excited as it has him anxious. What should he say? What should he not say? If Phi was still here, would she warn him that he's going to ruin some kind of timeline? Or what if there's no avoiding it? Quark groans to himself.

Actually, if either of his companions comes across him, they'll probably notice he seems lost in thought, and is sighing a lot. He really isn't acting much like a little boy. What kind of kid has this much on his mind?]

[This isn't right.

Meeting up with Quark.. It was supposed to be to help him, not to make things worse. ... Well, maybe Junpei can't really judge what's "worse" when this is someone he still doesn't know, but it's not exactly how a kid that age should be.

Isn't there anything he can do?]

You alright..?

[His voice is gentle when he finally approaches the child, as if he thinks he might startle him otherwise.]

There's not too much to look at in this house, huh?

What?

[He jumps, taken off guard by the question, and looks around. It's like he's just noticing for the first time that there's nothing here.]

Oh...yeah, right.

[He rubs his arms.]

Sorry. I could've picked a better place for us to go.

[That was.. not the kind of reaction he was expecting.]

... No, all we needed was shelter. It's fine.

[But what else is he supposed to try, then?]

I asked if you're okay.

Right...

[Quark trails off, looking guilty.]

Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean to act weird. I am though, huh? Acting super weird.

[Yeah. Really weird.]

I don't have much to compare you to.

Probably looks more like I'm the one not acting right. I don't know what your gr--

[Ah, no, he can't say it like that.]

I mean, my future self, is supposed to be like...

[He pauses, looking Junpei over. The question causes him to focus on a more specific aspect of his thoughts. He shrugs, a little playfully.]

You're not too far off. You just have more hair right now. Do you like scotch yet? That's your drink of choice in...in the future.

More--

[That's not cool. If his timeline stays the same, he'll have to remember to teach this kid some manners.]

Yeah, scotch isn't bad. But beer's cheaper. Right now, it's kind of..

[He needs quantity over quality. All those nights after work... Taste isn't part of it at all.

But this topic seems kind of heavy to put on a kid.]

I still have other things to pay for. ... Or had, I guess. It doesn't sound like any of us need money, here, does it?

Not really.

[He sways from foot to foot, trying not to feel awkward. It's easier not to feel awkward when he's thinking about survival.]

If you want leverage, look for cigarettes and condoms. Pills are hard to find, and if you steal someone's assigned prescription you'll probably get a hit put on you.

[Are. Are those words really coming out of Quark's mouth?

What the hell did this town do to him?]

You.. don't have any of those, right?

Nope. I had matches, but I used them to make a bomb.

[He sighs. A waste of valuable resources. The bomb didn't even work.]

[... Aaagh he'll just have to be relieved enough with the first part of the answer to let the rest slide.]

So you're resourceful!

I made one with a water bottle, once.

But we should probably save any matches we find, from now on. They can heat up a whole house if there's a fireplace.

[Quark's eyes light up.]

Yeah! That's how I was raised! I can survive all on my own no problem!

[Not that he has to right now, of course. Because he has Diana and Junpei.]

Whoa. If I taught you lots of stuff like that, I bet you've got everyone else here beat.

[It's going right over his head, that this could possibly have meant anything bad.]

[Yeah...Quark's just gonna sidestep around exactly why he was raised with a set of survival skills. He puts his hands on his hips, clearly proud.]

You bet I do. I don't scare easy, either.

[He lets his hands fall, his stance relaxing a little.]

You're tough, too, so you'll be just fine.

[... He jumped pretty easily a couple minutes ago...

What a good boy, though, offering up that praise!]

You got that right.

But I don't have to worry, anyway. Aren't you looking out for me?

[Look that wasn't scared that was surprised don't be a jerk.]

Exactly. It's only fair.

[He wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for Junpei--so he's gotta make sure nothing happens to him. Even if this might be a different one from the one he remembers. It's weird, though. Being around him, he really can see a lot of similarities. He has the same smile, and the same eyes. Quark can tell that much, even without them being weathered by age. He looks down, no less relaxed but his eyes getting a bit more serious.]

Sorry again about how I was acting...it must've felt kinda like I was avoiding you or something...I guess I was, but I was just really happy to meet you, so I guess I got too worked up. I didn't wanna say something lame.

[This is getting.. a lot mushier than it should be.]

C'mon. Aren't you mine? You couldn't be lame if you tried.

[That's debatable.]

Good joke.

[But he grins.]

Anyway, did you have anything you wanted to ask? About Norfinbury or anything else? I'll try and answer everything I can.

[That's a good change of topic.]

Yeah!

You've been here over 300 days, now? So I bet you know a lot.

[So... Where should he even start?

... "Start"... That's the problem itself. He's missed so much. So...]

I kinda get where we're at now. I think.

That area by the highschool, where I woke up, it's only been around for.. two months? Well, "open", I guess. The town's probably not just putting itself together and expecting us to wait around for it. So I don't think we'll ever reach the center, either, unless we do something. And that something's probably gotta happen over there.

But how does that stuff work?

I don't know where everyone started back at.. "Day 1", let's call it. You came in pretty close to then, right? How did you guys find new parts of town?

Right. I woke up on day 13.

[He pulls out his tablet and brings up House's map. It'll help explain with a visual.]

If I'm remembering correctly, they got the ice tunnels open first. That was through this building here, but I don't remember how they got it unlocked. Then after that, they got downtown through the post office. That was locked by a cypher that needed to be decrypted. Someone found the key hidden in one of the houses, then consulted the network to help solve it.

[He points at each house as it's applicable, then waits and glances back up at Junpei, making sure he's keeping up.]

[He offers a nod when Quark looks to him.]

So, if it's all through buildings, we're looking for locked doors.

[That's definitely familiar.]

Do you know of any?

There are three that I know of right now. There's one in this area, building 68--that was why I made a bomb. We haven't been able to figure out how to get into it--and then two in the newest residential area that was found, over here.

[He goes from indicating the building marked 68 to the chapel and bunker.]

I haven't been there myself, so I'm not totally sure if that's still accurate. Just what I've heard being talked about.

[... The bomb didn't work...? That's a tough door. Still, if the other two are so far away, 68 seems like the right one to focus on.]

It seems weird that it's right there on its own. The others look like they could lead into something, you know? But that's just...

[There has to be a solution nearby, right..?]

That spot next to it. It's labelled as a grave. Has anyone checked if there's something hidden there? Like maybe where you'd put flowers. There could've been some other kind of offering, buried under the snow.

[log] I left behind the home that you made me [closed]

BUILDING 113

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