[log] Monster Mash [semi-open]

[rubikscomplex]

Characters: Clayton, Enoch, Dio, House, Miranda, Clem, and Quark
Location P10 - BUILDING 110
Date: Day 041, evening
Summary: Gas Station slumber party! Following a monster attack.
Warnings: Will add as necessary, but general House disclaimer for insensitivity.

[The evening is drawing in around them as Miranda and House make their way toward the gas station. It's a somewhat familiar road to tread, at least, and there's the promise of his meds at the end of it... also people to distract the irritating woman walking with him from his company.

Epps should be good for that. He seems like the sort.

There's a sudden hiss from somewhere behind them, when they're still a good distance from the building. House glances back, then does a double-take when he sees a four-legged shadow monster pounding across the snow after them. That... what is that? It doesn't look like a robot. It doesn't look anything but absolutely real.]

Six o'clock!

[The words are snapped out as House turns, gauging the thing's speed. It's moving too fast for him to reach the gas station in time, which means improvising.]

Comments

[dr_unconscious]

[Clayton falters more noticeably this time. Admitting that he might have been the source is bad enough--claiming that it's from the Beacon is even worse. He knows how uncomfortable talking about the Beacon makes Enoch. Maybe if he just talks about the app itself and not the events surrounding it...]

Well...America mentioned a bit ago that he's thinkin' that, ah. The "Beacon" thing's what gets their attention. [Clayton bites his lip.] Didn't hardly think about it 'til he said somethin'...don't reckon nobody else 's turned it on 'n this group, do ya?

[warriorscribe]

I don't know...

[If this is what he missed...he'd rather have had the monsters, in all honesty. Reliving literal hell was not something he ever wanted to do for any reason.]

We would only know if we asked, but... [He shakes his head, threads his fingers together in his lap. He doesn't remember seeing either of the two it had been attacking before the...thing had attacked all of them.]

It makes all too much sense, for it to have focused on you over them.

[He makes a note to himself, in the back of his mind, to remember that. He doesn't know how to protect him if a monster comes after him now that he knows they always will, but he'll have to try.]

[dr_unconscious]

[It makes enough sense that Clayton doesn't feel the need to dwell on the details. Instead he goes silent for a bit, staring ahead, waiting to see if anything else comes up. When it doesn't, Clayton speaks up instead.]

It'll be alright. [He glances back at Enoch, still worried, but with a good, honest attempt at a reassuring smile to make up for it.] Better fer anybody else with me, I'll bet. Ain't gotta worry 'bout runnin' no more. Might even be able t' draw 'em off to another house, if I got time. So y'all ain't gotta deal with this mess.

[He gestures back at the door, and partially at Enoch and his previously bloody nose along the way.]

[warriorscribe]

If one of us must be a guaranteed lure, I'd rather it be me.

[As much as he sits and frets? Enoch hates being reduced to doing just that. He doesn't want to sit and wait and hope Clayton, or whoever else may have the Beacon on, comes back. This one had been fast. What if the next one was faster?]

[dr_unconscious]

Enoch.

[Clayton's expression takes a more serious slant and his voice suddenly turns stern. It's not out of anger, surely--if anything he looks exasperated.]

Now we can go back 'n forth all day 'bout who oughta be fallin' on the sword fer everbody else, but you know well enough that ain't gonna accomplish nothin'. [His face lightens slightly with a chuckle.] 'Cept sound like a couple a housewives fussin' over guests...

[warriorscribe]

I don't like sitting idle while there's danger.

[For the longest time, longer than anyone here has been alive (as far as he knows), he's been the only one capable of doing anything, whether he likes it or not. He's used to taking action now, and even if he sometimes remembers he can leave something to someone else, immediate danger is not and probably never will be one of those times.]

If something happened, I would never be able to forgive myself.

[...Never mind that he would blame himself anyway regardless of his participation or lack thereof - but at least he is right, it would be much worse if he sat and hoped everyone got inside safely.]

[dr_unconscious]

[The light attempt at humor fades away, replaced in stages by a more pensive, reluctantly accepting glare at nothing in particular.]

...I know.

[Clayton breathes a long, shallow sigh. Then he turns back, abruptly, with the most deadpan and yet deeply sympathetic look he can muster, and blurts: ]

Ain't it a pisser?

[warriorscribe]

[He's not trying to kill his humor intentionally, he's just been having a bad time lately.

Persistence pays off, if for nothing else than its own merits, as the small smile he cracks is less over anything said than Clayton's repeated attempts - he can't help but appreciate it.

He reaches out to clap Clayton's arm or shoulder, whichever is less awkward with the inability to shift too much of his weight away from the doors at the moment.]

...Don't let them catch you, all right? That's all I ask.

[dr_unconscious]

[There we go. Clayton grins his own appreciation and grips the hand on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.]

Ain't much. Think I can manage.

[It's easy to say and tell himself the same thing, yes. He could even promise it. Words are funny that way. It's easy to imagine a situation in which he won't be able to follow through, too, but...they'll cross that bridge when they get there.]

[Clayton's rolling back onto his feet before they have time to dwell on that again.]

Oughta go make sure nobody's gettin' into trouble while we're over here shootin' the breeze. Holler if you need me?

[warriorscribe]

Of course.

[Enoch looks up at him as he rises, an earnest smile set in his exhausted face. Living a life like he has, timely support has become all he has, beyond its ordinary importance.]

And...thank you, for coming to my side.