[log] Try not to feel the cold [open]

[revenantking]

Characters: Roland and House; Roland and anyone in the grocery store on Day 377
Location: Building 144
Date: Day 377
Summary: Two open prompts:
A) Roland wants as many people to like him as possible, for reasons. Can he win the favor of his constituents? Stay tuned.
B) Roland has a pet only he can see. It's awkward.
Warnings: Shouldn't be any.



A

[As Roland fills his bag with whatever he thinks will last him, he wonders how many times he'll need to start over like this.

How many times could a person be expected to rise out of the grave with their strength intact? He thinks this won't be the last time he'll need to get used to having nothing, if he ever does return to lord over the smoldering wastes that was now his kingdom. Maybe he'll be even less lucky there; having to seek out clean water in hot ash, searching for the first sign of life that wouldn't opt to finish his botched assassination.

At the very least, it was fortunate he hadn't needed to worry about that, here - not yet, anyway. On the contrary, Norfinbury, on the whole, seemed rather receptive to his identity.

Satisfied he has enough to live off of for awhile, Roland hoists his bag back over his shoulder. Before he left, there was something he needed to do. Having a stocked store in town meant that it could act as a sort of hub: aside from the people he had arrived with, there had to be others here. And he knew well that it was in his best interests to be liked.

Roland scouts the area for new faces, cautiously rounding the aisles and approaching anyone he sees slowly, with a straight back and a soft smile on his face.]

Hope I'm not interrupting anything. I've been meaning to introduce myself.

B

[Now, here's a common trapping of parenthood Roland can say he's never had to deal with. As he finds what is objectively the most appealing egg-washed bun on the shelf, he feels an urgent tug on his pant leg - it's Runcible, looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, drool prickling at the corner of his hungry mouth.

Roland sighs; the pickings had been rather slim until now, especially for Runcible, who has been forced to sift through his crumbs. He knew that higgledies ate, but did the embodiments of nature really need human food? Did they just like eating? Martha isn't around to ask, but it wouldn't be fair to deny Runcible his request.

He's not embarrassed of Runcible, but for all the apparent nonsense that fell out of his own mouth on occasion, he wasn't ready to have the "I see fairies" conversation with the people of Norfinbury, yet. He discreetly addresses his fae friend:]

Just a sec.

[He is careful to check if the coast is clear before ripping the bun apart, though it's possible a person might arrive just in time to see him drop a large piece rather purposefully on the floor. It bounces away from his intended target and lands a few feet away, where his invisible friend scrambles to chase it. Roland shakes his head surreptitiously, but with some alarm, when the bun is hoisted off the ground.]

Hey-

[He points to his feet, where he thinks there will be less of a chance the bread will be noticed disappearing into thin air if someone rounds the corner.]

Not there. Get over here.

[Runcible obeys, but carries the bread over his head as he putters across the aisle, making the whole thing rather obvious. Roland's fingers rub at his eyes in disappointment, before he lifts his gaze to see if they have been caught.]

[[Note: If your character is a child or young teen, Runcible will be visible to you. If you're not sure, feel free to ask me!]]

Comments

B

[fifty]

[Since there's more people here than usual, America doesn't think anything of Roland speaking to someone as America indulges in an endless amount of free samples and tries to decide what the most extravagant thing he can cook over a fire is. No one else is saying anything, though, so America peeks his head around the corner in time to see floating bread.]

Ah! [America darts back, knocking over some canned food. He's--he's not the best with ghosts.]

[revenantking]

[At the loud noise, Runcible squeaks and drops his food, scuttling in front of Roland in a defensive posture, all six inches of him ready to throw down - not that America could appreciate it. Roland sighs, hand on his forehead. So much for being careful.

At least it's just America. Roland had been meaning to broach the subject with him eventually, anyway. America had believed everything he'd said, so far. Roland trusted him not to think less of him over this.]

Runcible, it's America. He's a friend, remember?

[Battle-worn and wary in an unfamiliar environment, Runcible isn't quite convinced, and hides in his invisibility as Roland sorts things out. Roland steps forward, hands out to steady his travelling companion.]

Hey, sorry to startle you. You didn't hurt yourself, did you?

[fifty]

[For the moment, America is more concerned with saving face than with the possibly-ghost. He does his best to laugh it off as he gets back up, though he can't hide his embarrassment.]

Don't worry about it! I just tripped! I was a little startled by, uh, something?--Just a little!

[revenantking]

[Roland doesn't think America has anything to be embarrassed about, but doesn't have the awareness to know that he'd feel the same if he'd been the one to fall. He pretends not to notice, nonetheless.]

I imagine so. Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about something. Is it fairly common for people to arrive with pets?

[He knows of a couple, but not many. It's relevant, he promises.]

[fifty]

Yeah, it happens sometimes! There's been a cat here, some dogs, a bird, a snake, a hyena... [Actually there have been multiple cats here, but only one was a pet.]

[revenantking]

[Interesting. That makes him wonder if Runcible didn't hitch a ride of his own free will, after all. Poor little guy...]

So it's not unusual. That should make this easier.

I've been meaning to tell you and the others that I arrived with one, myself.

[Runcible casts an offended glance in Roland's direction- excuse yourself, Roland, he is a spirit who aids the worthy- but Roland ignores it for now.]

A

[rubikscomplex]

[Roland is in luck! House is an American. He even wrote to the President many, many months ago the first time he'd been in the post office. At the moment, he isn't particularly interested in being sociable. The doctor is tall, but he's extremely thin, already sharp cheekbones standing out sharp and high. His skin is also pale from almost a year without the kiss of true sunlight. His many layers of mismatched clothes are ragged, as are his hair and his beard. His blue eyes remain focused and bright, though. They're scanning the shelves, rather than looking at Roland.]

Yuh-huh... you seen vinegar around here?

[revenantking]

[...Guess he was interrupting, then. There was hardly a point in insisting on a gesture that wouldn't be appreciated, but he's still dedicated to at least introducing himself. There were just more important things first, apparently.

His expression switches from warm to neutral, but he keeps his back straight and his chin level, though it hardly makes up for the difference in height between them; Roland could hardly be called tall. Would he, too, eventually become so haggard, indifferent to the presence of others? The president responds flatly.]

No. I suppose I could help you look, if it's that important.

[What did a person need vinegar for in a situation like this? To clean mould off the floors?]

[rubikscomplex]

Nah, you're just not that interesting.

[He's testing. This is clearly that new guy, the one America had latched onto. House had known the country crew was in the area, just hadn't been expecting to run into them.

Time to see how Roland handles the dismissal.]

[revenantking]

[Roland is annoyed, but if he reacted to every person got under his skin, he wouldn't keep his power for long. Instead, he pretends to be slightly amused, as though entertaining the attitude of a bored child who has been forced to meet the President without understanding the honour.]

Ah. You're right, of course; that's typically the case for a stranger. The idea is to find some common ground.

[With the ball out of his court, he waits to see if the man will fill the silence.]

[rubikscomplex]

[House moves a little ways down the aisle.]

I'm trapped in a post-apocalyptic snowy hellscape. How 'bout you?

[revenantking]

[Well, okay, then. Roland allows House to put some distance between them before he casually starts after him, as to not appear desperate for his attention. It occurs to him that small talk won't be effective, so he cuts to the chase.]

Trying to navigate said hellscape with no idea who to trust.

[He says it more like a threat than he intends, though it isn't directed at the man, per se. There was a thin line between 'neutral party' and 'enemy' in his particular political sphere.]

[rubikscomplex]

[House pauses in his browsing as his lips quirk up into a smirk. He's tense, more tense than his seemingly casual demeanor would imply. As he rises up, that may become more apparent with the stiff set of his shoulders when he crosses his arms.]

Is this where I tell you you can trust me, Rolie Polie?

[He's a network stalker. Never you mind, Roland. House's face doesn't turn up much on the network, but his voice was there, relatively recently, offering to play piano music for people.]

A

[motherserpent]

[Tess glances over at him where she's been perusing a shelf of various kinds of preserved cherries, frowning over the labels. Her gaze gives a quick, assessing sweep up and down. She herself is dressed in layers of brightly colored but mildly shabby clothes; she hasn't been here long enough to look anywhere near as worn down as many of the residents but it's clear that she's been wearing the same clothes for too long. Her hands, where they poke out from the sleeves of her hoodie, are covered in little scars from nicks and burns; one has a larger burn scar that continues up her arm where most of it is hidden by her sleeve.]

Busy in here today. Usually I come here and it's just me and--

[Quite suddenly, a very large snake pokes his feathered head out from behind the canned goods on a shelf quite close to Roland, knocking some cans to the floor. By the cans strewn here and there on the floor nearby it looks like he's been lurking around in the shelves and knocking things over for a while.]

--and Roy--chill, Roy, you're fine. It's fine, stop knocking shit over and leave the nice man alone.

[Seems Roland's not the only one with a supernatural pet, not that Tess has any idea Runcible is about. She glances Roland's way, eyeing him to see how he reacts.]

[revenantking]

[Roland smiles, about to ask her if there's a place people usually do gather, when- from his perspective- a beast attacks. An old instict to protect ignites in him and he leaps to put himself between the threat and the woman, right hand reaching inside of his trenchcoat to grope for a pistol that isn't there. The woman speaks just as Roland remembers he's unarmed, and the realization that he might have shot her pet, given the opportunity, settles shamefully over him. He straightens, taking a slow breath.]

Oh - so it's with you...

[The way she's watching him, Roland suspects she'll judge him for his overeaction if he doesn't apologize. It's unfortunate he lacked the affinty for snakes that his other self seemed to have. Not sure if it would do any good, he thinks to show Roy that he isn't a threat by raising his hands, glancing apologetically back at his master.]

Sorry about that - there's some things I'll need to unlearn. I didn't come over here to start a fight.

[motherserpent]

[Tess burst in motion as well, her voice a little high as she gave that reassurance to Roygbiv. Her instinct seems to have been to reach for Roland to clamp a hand onto his shoulder, but she stops short as he fails to come up with a pistol. The look she gives him is as apologetic as it is annoyed, though she hadn't reached for a weapon at all.]

That's--you know, I should probably, uh, tell people. Who haven't seen him before. Believe it or not he's kind of...less noticeable back home. Usually.

[She shifts to move around him, reaching a hand out for the feathered serpent, which is still staring at Roland with cold, reptilian eyes, seeming if anything more perturbed by the raised hands.]

Roy. Hey, Roy.

[She taps the snake unceremoniously on the nose, finally getting his attention. He slithers out from the shelf to drape himself around her shoulders.]

[revenantking]

[Roland has trained himself not to react to cold expressions, but knows her annoyance won't translate into the greatest first impression of him ever.]

No, it's not your fault. Serpents weren't pets where I came from, but I shouldn't have assumed that was the same, here.

[He means where he came from most recently, at least.

He softens, trying to relax under the studious gaze of the creature, to radiate that in spite of his reflex, he had nothing against snakes - not really. He rather liked animals, actually. When Tess calls Roy away, Roland watches with admiration; it must have taken quite a bit of time to train a creature like that.]

Would you mind if I tried this again?

[He manages to smile, appreciating their patience with him.]

...I've been meaning to introduce myself. I don't believe we've had the pleasure. I'm Roland. [And in spite of starting over, there's no sense pretending he didn't hear what the creature was called.] This must be Roy. [This is the part where he might extend his hand for a handshake, but noticed that Roy didn't particularly like hands anywhere near his face.]

[motherserpent]

[She shrugs; she's had worse first meetings. And there's a lot about her snake that she's failing to clarify even now.]

I'm Tess. Recently mad and bloodthirsty, not so much right now.

[Best just get that out of the way in case he'd seen it. Tess does extend a hand to shake, since it seems like the thing to do.]

And he's Roy-gee-biv, but yeah, I call him Roy. He's just kind of bitchy right now because he didn't get his chicken yet.

[revenantking]

[Roland takes her hand and shakes it confidently. Whatever her history, she's obviously overcome it, at least for now - he does what he thinks is the polite thing to do and doesn't respond to the second half of her introduction, allowing his trust to speak in its place.]

A pleasure to meet you, Tess.

[And he knows better to assume that pets don't understand what is being said to them, especially those who are particularly extraordinary. He speaks half-seriously:]

You're quite an interesting beast, Roy. [He can safely say he's never seen a plumed snake before.] I'd been meaning to seek out residents who arrived with a pet, actually. It seems it's more common than I thought.

A

[fiammadellira]

Hah?

[It had just seemed.. practical to cut through this building again, getting out of the cold for a while and restocking simply because they could. But meeting others along the way? It certainly wasn't the goal, and annoyance at this interruption should be fairly clear on Xanxus' face.

Still, despite how intimidating a scene he must be providing, glaring down at the other man while Bester takes notice as well, he's not exactly angry just yet. There's.. some level of curiosity. Why would anyone here dare to approach him in the first place? Unless they think they can be some use...]

Do you expect me to take interest in scum like yourself?

[revenantking]

[Had Xanxus been older, Roland might have been offended, but the insult is so plain spoken that he's almost impressed. How typical of youth. Most of his enemies were patient enough to hide behind flattery, to use their deceptions to slowly pull strings in their favor. Here was a person who just didn't care.

Roland smiles, managing to be amused by it all.]

Ah, now I recognize you. We arrived the same day.

You seem to think you're above quite a few things in this town.

[Which Roland thinks is cute, considering he, himself, was once one of the most powerful rulers in the world, and here they both are. This man's apathy could be caused by anything, but if the reason for his disdain was that he held a similarly high status, he had a lot to learn before the fall.]

[fiammadellira]

["Think"? No, he knows he's above everything else, and the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth must show the offense he's already taken in hearing that word. He's worked too hard towards his goal to have all these complete nobodies question it.

So what about turning that around?]

And?

[What point can Roland possibly be trying to make, here?]

[revenantking]

[It was that easy to get under his skin, huh?]

I'm wondering how you intend to survive.

[He feels like trying to win the favor of this person might be a waste of time, but isn't so stupid that he'd outright enrage him. He settles on something in between the two - trying to get the dialogue going, without being hostile. There's a lot to be learned about this person.]

How are things going for you, so far? Have you been able to cope without the luxuries you are used to?

[fiammadellira]

This is nothing.

[The reality here isn't that he's never experienced worse, but that he's so irritable it may as well come off that way. Can he survive without comfortable bedding, freshly prepared meals, and multiple subordinates at his beck and call? Of course. Does he have to like it? No. Good luck to anyone who tries to make him.]

[revenantking]

[That isn't the answer he expected, but he's not disappointed by it. He nods almost approvingly.]

I see. Seems you'll be just fine, then. Glad to hear it.

[He does mean that; he wouldn't wish ill on someone just because he doesn't like them. That aside, it's his responsibility to make sure everyone is handling things as well as they can, which was one of the purposes of introducing himself.]