Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Six

[snowblindmods]

Characters: the marked, the unmarked, and their rescuers
Location: ???
Date: Morning 356
Summary: Time to get out of here.
Warnings: gore, psychological horror, warn for specifics in the subject lines

Part Six OOC Post

Comments

[fifty]

[There's a definite hesitance, but America moves his hand a little to touch a different part of England's neck. He's trying to aim where a collar would probably be, though it's hard when he can't see it.]

[keepscalm]

[At least the bruising is a pretty good guide!

With careful focus and America's gentle touch, England's breathing gradually slows. Eventually, he taps out another instruction, this time on the back of America's hand.] Help me stand.

[fifty]

Stand? [America's eyes drop to what's left of England's foot. Still, he'll do his best, moving his hands to England's arms.]

[keepscalm]

[Yes, as it turns out, the foot is a pretty big issue; England doesn't put any weight on it at all, and one of his arms is still broken, so he's only using half his limbs as he uses America to pull himself upright. He cringes every inch of the way, as well, his face scrunched and his jaw clenched.]

[fifty]

[America winces as England cringes upward.] Hey, uh--here. [He scoops England up bridal-style. He really can't just stand there and watch England hurt himself even more.]

[keepscalm]

[England takes in a sharp breath, partially from the sharp pain of being moved and partially just plain startled. He gives America an affronted look. He did not agree to this!]

[fifty]

Dude, your foot looks awful. [There's no way he can walk on that.]

[keepscalm]

[He's not in any position to tap out Morse code, but the expression on his face is clear enough that it's not necessary: So?]

[fifty]

So this is better. [He walks out of the cell--not that it looks like a cell to him, but maybe to England.] We can move faster this way.

[keepscalm]

[England shifts his good arm around until he can tap something else out onto America's shoulder.] Idiot.

[But America has a point, as indignant as England is. This is only a little more embarrassing than having to crawl to Ginger's cell.]

[fifty]

[America laughs a little--England has the energy to insult him in Morse code, so that's a good sign.] I'm being a hero.

[keepscalm]

[Given that his communication options are currently limited, England just gives America a light slap upside the head.]

[fifty]

Hey! [America's whining way more than that actually hurt, as usual.]

[keepscalm]

[England has to tap rapid fire to get his point across, and he is probably tapping a little more forcefully than necessary, which is not painful but definitely seems deliberately annoying.] Don't start that when I can't argue!

[fifty]

Sorry, sorry. [He doesn't sound totally sorry, but he is a little sorry. It would be better if England could really argue. Instead, he heads for the door.] Let's get out of here. [Not too far, since he has to go back to make sure Ginger gets out, but one thing at a time.]

[keepscalm]

[England is a little uncertain, given that he can still see the illusion. But...it's not real. He knew that even before everyone came in to rescue them. And America helped him confirm it, so they should have no problem leaving.

He takes a deep, rattling breath.] All right.

[fifty]

Let me know if anything feels weird. [He knows he doesn't have to tell England to complain, but he does it anyway. He takes the walk slow, just in case.]

[keepscalm]

[England nods carefully.

After a moment, and a lot of assessing the value of his pride, he closes his eyes and convinces himself to trust America wholeheartedly.]

[fifty]

[It's not too long before they're back in the hallway, not too far from the door into the room they were just in. America pauses to assess the area--there's nothing there right now, but he's keeping an eye out. He keeps his grip on England tight, but not enough to hurt--he's trying to be reassuring.] We're out of the room.

[keepscalm]

[With his eyes closed and his mind focused on replaying situations where America has been reliable, England doesn't feel any unfortunate pull from the chain that isn't there. Still, it feels like a longer walk than it is, perhaps due to his prior perception of the room or perhaps because he's absorbed in his own memories. He's a little slow to open his eyes after America speaks.

He squints around at the metal walls. Once again, no taps, but it's obvious what he's thinking: this isn't what he was expecting.]

[fifty]

Sometimes there's like... Ghost things in here. [America's definition of ghosts is pretty broad, though, so that's not super clear.] Here, this should work, they just kind of walk down the halls. ["This" is a little nearby nook that clearly hasn't been visited lately, judging by the dust.]

[keepscalm]

["Ghost things" could, indeed, be anything. Especially given that what they know of Norfinbury's various apparitions is already pretty limited--what new hell could this be?

England's gaze follows America's indication of the nook. His expression sours with realisation.] Should I wait there?

[America will want to go back in, after all, and England is simply dead weight.]

[fifty]

[America chews on his lower lip.] We could go back in? [He doesn't want to leave England out here by himself...]

[keepscalm]

[England is unresponsive for a moment, whatever is on his mind clearly becoming heavier as he mulls it over.

With as stony an expression as he can manage, he taps:] What if you need to carry someone else?

[fifty]

Two people can't be that heavy. [It'd be no problem if he had his real strength...]