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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[ He'd be a lot better if he had any vials! But it's just a broken leg -- he'll live. ]

Well don't! This is nothing. I just don't want to waste a vial on somethin' so small, you know?

[ Also he's absolutely not telling Livio he doesn't have any vials. Why make him worry? ]

It'll slow me down, stop me climbin' on roofs for awhile. Stop worryin'.

But it'll keep you down, and it'll be painful.

[make no mistake, Livio doesn't mind being a crutch for a bit]

Maybe, but I'd rather you be climbing the walls than be hurt.

[ Good, because he's going to be a crutch all the way up these stairs, too. ...How the hell is he going to get up these stairs using Livio and the damn Punisher as crutches? ]

Me climbing the walls got you a hole in your guts, pal.

[someone's gonna be carried up the stairs, clearly

a shrug, a wince]

Maybe, but I've done worse with holes in my guts.

[ Pick him up and he will break something of yours, buddy. Instead, here -- he hands Punisher over. Mind carrying this? ]

That's not a reason to be so damn casual about it!

[ If Livio takes Punisher, Wolfwood can lean against the wall and make his way upstairs. It'll just be slow going. ]

It still hurts, doesn't it? I'm never gonna be good with you gettin' hurt, I don't care how fast you heal.

[he, dubiously, takes Punisher, and watches for a moment while Wolfwood tries to mosey upstairs.

he limbs along after him, even though sure, he could just breeze past him-- but Livio won't. not again.]

It does, but still...'m used to it. I'd rather me get hurt than you.

[they're both...real dumb]

[ Pain really is annoying. He's used to it by now, has been for years and years, but since he's been assigned field work he's always had a pocket full of vials. Having to walk on a busted leg is giving him flashbacks to training, and learning how to endure pain, and he's not loving it. He's sweaty and pale by the time they get to the top of the staircase, but he'll manage. He always manages. ]

And I don't... give a shit... what you'd rather.

[ A little out of breath, too. He's fine, it's fine, he just needs someplace to sit down. ]

I'm still... older'n you. Means I look out for you.

[he takes one look at Wolfwood there at the top of the stairs, where there's some light shining in, dim as it is, reflecting the shallowness of his face--

and promptly throws the other man over his shoulder]

It's my turn to look after you.

[ Oh you sonuva...! ]

Put me down!

[ He'd kick, but his leg doesn't work, so he's punching instead! Put him down, asshole! ]

I'm gonna break both your legs for this!

[nnnnnope he's just swaying, limping and jostling to get him to the kids' room...still there, right where they'd left it at children]

I'm thinking no.

[ The room isn't the same one he remembers, because of course it isn't, their worlds are different enough... but it's still familiar. It feels like he's been here before, and that's just strange. Rows of tiny beds, most only half-made, clothes and toys everywhere... at this rate, those kids are walking around in the ship barefoot, given how many socks they left behind! ]

Okay, okay, we're here, enough!

[Livio just drops him across a couple of the beds, then proceeds to grab blankets to tuck him in. The big man is rather determined]

Yeah, yeah, whatever, just shut up and go to sleep.

[ Whoa whoa whoa! Sitting down he'll allow, but he's not sleeping quite yet! ]

Hold up, pal! I'm sufferin' through being a normal mortal right now, remember? I've got to get this leg splinted up so it heals straight.

[oh, that's right. Livio, in Mission Mode, stops for the moment, but only so he can get a nearby broken board from a bed]

Well I'll get to it. You try and relax.

[ He's already rolling up his pant leg -- his (filthy, muddy) calf has a lump it's not supposed to have, and it's going to be a glorious bruise in a few hours. ]

What part of this is relaxing again?

[ Oh, bed boards, perfect. This sheet here can get shredded for bandages to hold them on with. He'll rip a few to start, then hand the pile of bandages over. Here you go, buddy: one armful of shredded sheets.

For the record: not having any vials sucks. ]

The part where possibly you pass out...and I can do all this while you're out.

[the board, okay...now...something for Wolfwood to bite ontoooo-- there's-- looks like another piece of the bed. jeez. what did these kids do..]

Here. Bite this. And I'll fix it up.

[ Okay, he sees the thought behind it, but he's not biting down on a piece of bedframe, thanks. He's braced on the bed, he's got the bedding and mattress to hold on to if need be, and Livio's looking weary enough that he really just wants to get this over with so they can both take a break for awhile. ]

Just fix it up. If I need to yell I'm gonna yell.

[ It won't be anywhere near as bad as the shit they've both already lived through, says this attempt at a grin. It'll be fine! ]

You're not gonna hurt me, buddy. The hurt's already done, you're just makin' it better, right? It's okay.

[Wolfwood can't just listen to him, can he. He just has to not. So Livio sighs, just a tiny one.

He doesn't believe his companion. It's going to hurt, it's gonna be bad. If he'd somehow stopped this wild plan, Wolfwood wouldn't have been hurt. He can't even manage a smile]

Alright, on three.

[he only pauses a moment before--]

Three--

[he sets it]

[ It's a good thing there's no kids left in the building, or they'd be learning all kinds of new words today. Straightening his leg out hurts worse than the original break, fuck! And they don't have anything to drink up here, do they?

It's not blackout pain -- Wolfwood doesn't know how bad pain would have to be for him to black out, and he doesn't really want to find out -- but it's bad enough! Ouch. ]

This sucks! Fuck!

[he winces just a little-- the sound doesn't bother him, the look of the wound, still bleeding, though a little slower, doesn't bother him. even the volume of Wolfwood's screams doesn't bother him.

it's that it's Wolfwood. that bothers him, there's a pit in his stomach]

I know, I know. It's alright, shhh. I've got you, Nico. You're alright.

[quickly, deftly, he splints his wound, wraps it tight]

[ Honestly, it's not the pain that's getting to him -- he can handle pain. It's having Livio here worrying about him that's really messing with him. The big doofus looks so upset! And that's really doing bad things to Wolfwood's heart. ]

Nice work.

[ He doesn't remember the last time he'd had to splint a broken bone so he doesn't really know what's supposed to happen there, but the bone's held in place and the bindings aren't so tight that his foot's going numb, so it's fine, right? Good enough. ]

Think you missed your calling as a nurse, buddy.

[he scoffs-- thankfully he's not close to crying or anything. he'd probably never stop at this point! his hands are steady, even if his voice isn't when he says--]

What, and get squeezed in the uniform? Fat chance.

[he sits back and observes his work]

Anything you need? Some water? Wish there was liquor..

[ What's he need? Liquor. Some cigarettes -- it's been weeks at this point since he ran out and while he's past the point of chewing his fingernails off from the cravings, he still misses smoking! Wouldn't say no to a burger?

Livio, however, looks like he needs a rest, and he probably won't take one unless Wolfwood does, right?

Okay then. ]

Nah. Think I'm just gonna close my eyes for a minute. [ Hey, doofus -- there's plenty of space! Whole room in here full of beds - take your pick! ] You should do the same, buddy, dont'cha think?

[he probably won't even if Wolfwood will-- which he knows it's going to be tough for that to happen, too. Livio doesn't believe the easy-sleeping for a moment.]

I could use it. [murmured softly, with a sigh.] I think I will, too, eventually.

[he's lying and he will stay by Wolfwood's bedside, he knows that right]

Don't gotta tuck you in, do I?

[ He's gonna stay awake too -- just a lay down will help, though. Any rest is good rest, right? Don't ever turn down a meal, a double dollar, or a chance to sleep.

He grabs the nearest pillow and flings it right at Livio's face for that last bit. ]

Try it and see what happens!

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