nomans_land | Somewhere between July and December

Somewhere between July and December

1.
[ It wasn't the fastest car he'd ever driven, but it made better time than the old man's shitty station wagon had, and it was definitely faster than walking across the desert. None of the maps he'd found tucked under the seat had Hopeland on them, which was worrisome as all hell, but on one of the maps there was an orphanage marked, just off of a city called December.

The ghost he'd talked to on that mountaintop had told him he'd die in December, but that ghost had also ruined his last cigarette, so fuck that guy. If he died, he died, but first, he was going to make sure Miss Melanie and the kids were okay.

The sedan hums its way across the desert, kicking up a dust cloud that can be seen for miles. ]

2.
[ With a shudder and a hard jolt, the car comes screeching to a halt, the dash going dead as the engine seizes up. Wolfwood swears, punches the dash, then swears again when the solid dash nearly breaks his hand for his trouble. He'd managed to get the car hotwired, but apparently cars in this messed up version of Noman's were more different from the ones he knew than he'd realized. Is it out of oil? Out of charge? Not like he can do anything about it, whatever the problem.

Please ignore the man in black, standing next to a very dead car in the middle of absolute nowhere and screaming at the sky. It's therapeutic profanity, and it really is helping. ]

3.
[ Sunburned and exhausted, Wolfwood crests the hill and finally, there before him, sees the building that his map identifies as the December Orphanage. Even from a distance it's clear that the chaos that's affected the rest of the planet hit here, too -- there's clear bullet holes in at least one side of the building, walls that have collapsed, and the whole place seems as deserted as everywhere else he's been.

But he's here now, so he might as well have a look around.

He really wishes he still had his Punisher, though. ]

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[here's someone who also feels like he's being dissected, without even any effort. and he'd done it all himself, opening his big mouth.

he keeps his eyes off the Punisher.]

So fuck fate, basically.

[ No, Livio's not looking at the open Punisher, is he? Sorry, pal. There's no helping it -- he's got to know if there's any ammo left, what all the levers do, make sure everything is working, and opening it up like this is the only way to do that.

If it makes things any better, at least he's being respectful about it? Light touches, not forcing any of the switches that don't want to be forced... you know. Gentle and shit. ]

Basically!

[ So if the long end is the machine gun, and the T-bar is mostly just ammo, then what's in the short end? ]

Fate, God, call it whatever you like. If there's somebody who wanted you to be born just so you could have to suffer through all the shit you've been through? Then fuck that guy.

[ Oh, hmm, no. He thought this panel opened up on the ammo for whatever caliber is loaded up in the short end, but it's the personal effects hatch instead. It's surprisingly empty -- usually the spare suit takes up most of the room, at least on his. He had to really wedge his razor and toothbrush back in, and good luck if you wanted anything from the bottom of the hatch. Guess this guy didn't worry about a change of shorts, huh?

Let's see... what else is in here? ]

Hmm...never really thought of it. Not even when Chapel was training me.

[and that's another thing he grapples with, and tries not to-- wishes he could erase his memory of that, of the sound of his voice in his ear, of his praise. wanting to be the best for him...]

Ignored shit like that. Razlo was the strongest, that's all that mattered.

[ What is that, a hair tie? Did this Wolfwood have long enough hair to need to wear it back? Ha. Weirdo.

Oh no, some of that hair's blond. Heh. Is that a trophy, then? He must've... wait, Razlo? Wolfwood drops the hair elastic back into the Punisher and frowns at Livio. ]

Who's Razlo?

[oh
did his other self...not mention...
uh]

He's uh, me, mostly.

[ It's just one of those quirky differences between their worlds! ]

What, it's the name the Eye gave you? Like I'm Nicholas the Punisher?

[ Which is a stupid fucking name, getting named after the damn gun, but it could have been worse. ]

No, that's-- really stupid-- I was Livio the Doublefang...and he was Razlo the Trip of Death. He's. He's me, he's in my head.

[ It is really stupid! At least Doublefang sounds cool!

What doesn't sound cool is the idea that there's somebody else in Livio's head. Is that what the Eye did to him? Did they put an implant in there to make him hear voices? Wolfwood rubs a hand over his face, unable to believe what he's hearing. ]

Goddamn, Livio.

[ Killing them all isn't going to be good enough. It isn't going to be good enough by half. ]

I didn't know. Shit, they just... they just did whatever they wanted to, huh.

[it doesn't hearten him to hear Wolfwood so distressed for him-- it worries Livio in turn, actually. he frowns--]

They did-- but Razlo was before them. We're-- he was born to protect me, I guess.

[he Does Not want to go into what brought him out, but..]

[ Okay, that's less distressing but a lot more confusing! ]

I have to admit, I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.

[ And, at the end of the day, does it matter? They've both got their secrets, right? It's not his place to nose into somebody else's business like this, not even Livio's. Especially not Livio's -- the man deserves to have his privacy respected. He's had enough people poking around in his head -- Wolfwood's not going to be one of 'em. ]

If he protected you, then good. Maybe one day I'll get to meet him and buy him a drink.

[he ruffles his own hair, and sighs. he doesn't know how else to try and explain-- Razlo's just Razlo. and Livio's Livio. even now, he isn't afraid of his other self, doesn't hate him.

that's just a part of him. his mouth quirks]

You know, I think he'd like that. He's a real punk, though, so.

In case you haven't noticed, pal? So'm I.

[ Another person, inside him. Huh. This world is sure a strange one.

Anyway! Back to the gun in front of him. He was just trying to figure out what kind of ammo this top bar uses. If the machine gun takes a whopping 50 cal -- which is going to be so much fun to test out! -- then what's this top bit use?

And then he sees it, and it's like the light of heaven shines on this boy's face. It's Christmas, and he just got the best toy ever. This is amazing. ]

This thing's got a rocket launcher?!

[he's content to hum, and nod. they are punks. but he won't elaborate just how much of a punkass jerk Razlo is. let him discover that in due time, like all this.

the newest discovery brings a chuckle out of him]

Sure does. Hurts like hell, too.

[ Maybe it's not as hi-tech as his laser, but he can't wait to see the size of a hole this thing'll...

...did Livio just say he's been hit with it?

Wolfwood cackles, and waves for Livio to continue. ]

Oh, I've got to hear this story!

[he grimaces a little-- oh why did he open his mouth...]

It uh, we were in a fight with one another. And he fired it off at me-- the first one I caught, but the other one I caught with my face.

With your face?!

[ So it was a real fight, then? Maybe like the one that happened between him and his world's Livio on the sand steamer?

Crap. Wolfwood regards Livio evenly, shaking his head. ]

You know, you can just tell me to shut the fuck up if I ask you somethin' you don't want to talk about.

Oh-- no, no I don't...I don't mind that much, if it'll help you out.

[he wants to help Wolfwood prevent this, if he can. can he?]

[ Help him out? He's just asking ~~because he cares about his little brother~~ to be nosy, that's all. Just to kill time while he gets the Punisher checked out. ]

I don't know how much help it'll be... although knowin' that you can take a rocket to the face makes me feel a lot better about our chances against the Eye!

[ That's the only fight he's worried about, the fight that's coming up here. Not anything back home... because they're never going back home, are they? ]

[he'd do anything if he can prevent Wolfwood's death. if he can prevent his other self that pain, Vash that pain.

his smile is tiny, and he rolls his eyes]

Yeah, I'm a regular glutton for punishment.

[ Wolfwood's grinning too -- if he was within arm's reach he'd sock Livio for that glutton comment! -- but Livio's words are worrisome. If he could survive getting shot in the face with a rocket, then a bullet to the head and a fall off a sand steamer wouldn't do any lasting damage at all, would it?

Fuck. Fuck. ]

Well I hope you're stocked up on your magical healing potions, pal, because I've got a whole feast planned.

[ His Livio could heal without drinking that shit -- they'd done something to him, and he healed right away, no matter how many times he was shot. Is this Livio the same way? ]

[that's what he's saying, Wolfwood! Livios are apparently made of tougher stuff. and that's not necessarily a good thing, if he ended up back with the EOM.]

Mmm, I'll be just fine. No need to worry about me, I'm always ready for a meal.

[ He really wanted it to not be true! He really wanted Livio free of the Eye, but wishing and hoping never did a damn thing, huh. ]

You don't need 'em, do you? The vials that I've got to use to heal up... you can heal without 'em, can't you?

Sometimes I do, when the damage is really bad. But usually I can heal just fine without.

[the wick of his life burns without that vile stuff]

[ They are vile, he's right about that. ]

That's what I thought.

[ And he's amazed by that, but also sad. It'll be useful in their fight! But damn, what did they do to Livio to make that happen? ]

The Livio I knew, I watched him get shot five, six times, and his body just healed it away like it was nothing.

[ Should he tell Livio now that he doesn't have any vials left? ...No, that conversation can wait. If he says anything, Livio might not want to go after the Eye with him, since he'll be a liability without his ability to heal. Better to keep it a secret for now. ]

Sorry, but I'm glad to hear it. I don't even know if the ones I've got would work on you.

Yeah, sounds about right.

[his mouth quirks sardonically. it be like that. he hates that the other Livio had to go through what he did, but at the same time...it did make him tougher]

It's alright, I'd rather you save them if you really need 'em.

[And Livio's ADAMANT he won't let that happen]

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