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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[don't worry (or do??), one of the bozos has the reluctant idea to find a vial somewhere, and give it to Wolfwood. it's a very, very horrible idea! he hates it! but it might be necessary, this one time.

otherwise, Livio is going to be the meat shield of this mission.]

Hike in...might have to sneak. Think you can manage? On account of how flashy you are.

[he knows, by now. his mouth even quirks bemusedly]

[ Are the vials here made the same way they were made in his world? Will it heal him, or kill him? Guess they're gonna find out!

The facility's outside of town, near the base of that mountain range. From here, Wolfwood can just barely see it -- a square, white structure, made of the same pale stone that the rest of the cities seem to have been built out of. It could be an office building, or a manufacturing plant -- just a couple stories tall, and completely mundane. Livio's right -- driving in would raise too much dust, and they'd be visible to anyone who might be in that building. Waiting for nightfall and sneaking in along the base of the cliff there is their best bet.

It's gonna be a long walk. ]

Hey, it's not my fault I got all the good looks, brother.

[ At least they won't have long to wait -- the suns will be down soon. In the meantime, where to leave the car? He spots a likely place, and points -- how about back behind that pile of rocks, well off the road? He likes this car! He wants this car to be waiting for them when they're done! ]

[he really doesn't want to find out but that might be their only option. a long walk...sneaking around takes effort, effort Wolfwood can't afford if they have to go on the attack.

when Wolfwood points out the spot, Livio immediately parks 'er there, content to wait it out at least for a bit. nightfall shouldn't be too long, now, and any extra rest his companion can get, he'll need.]

You mean that stupid mug of yours? Wouldn't bet on it.

[ He can walk as far as he needs to walk! It'll be dark soon, so as long as they stay at the edge of the cliff where the shadows are the deepest, and this place doesn't have any spotlights or, what, dogs, or lasers or anything like that, then they'll be fine! It's just a walk. That's what the walking cast is for, right? Walking.

Sitting and waiting for the suns to go down is boring as hell without a drink, or a cigarette. Wolfwood doesn't do well sitting still long -- the drive was already hard enough to endure! By the time they park he's twitching, his good leg bouncing, ready to go. Waiting is going to suck. ]

So how about you put your stupid mug to good use, huh? [ They could probably head out now, but it'll be safer to wait another hour. He settles back, getting comfortable for the wait. God he hates waiting. ] Tell me a story, whaddya say? Tell me somethin'. About you, about this world, whatever.

[look, things somehow never go according to plan. Livio's ready for just about anything, to the point of paranoia.

Despite that, he could very well try to doze off. Or at least meditate or pretend to. Wolfwood's questions do surprise him, though, into blinking owlishly at him.]

Oh...really? About-- uh, okay. I learned how to make bricks, recently. It's kinda nice, learning how not to destroy stuff....

[ Meditate? He meditates now? ...Did the Stampede put him up to that? That sounds like something a Vash would do. ]

Bricks? [ Like, for walls? ] You thinkin' about going into construction, buddy?

[that's absolutely something Vash would do.....pretend to meditate to be honest]

Yeah, for walls. And uh, roofs too. [a tiny chuckle] No, not really. But I was glad to help out, that's all.

[ And then start snoring? Yeah he would. ]

Sounds to me like you got taken for a sucker, pal. Did they at least pay well?

[ He's just messing around -- building things, creating things, some good honest manual labor.. that sounds nice. Safe. ]

A suck-- no, I wanted to help. Things were all fucked up, and people needed help...I got paid in food, at least. That was enough.

[a little defensive]

[ Oh. Okay, that's how it is, huh? The crybaby's out here in the world doing good! Wolfwood almost reaches over to muss Livio's hair -- his hand comes up off the seat and everything. But Livio's grown now, they both are. He's not the little brother anymore, is he? He's a responsible guy out there repairing houses for needy folks.

If Wolfwood was any more proud he'd actually burst from it. He's doing a medium good job at keeping that pride off his face, but it's definitely there. ]

All right, all right, don't bite my head off! Guess I know who to talk to next time I punch a hole in the wall, huh?

[he would have allowed it, by the way. choked by nostalgia and memories, and the warm feeling in his heart when he thinks Wolfwood could be proud of him-- he would have.

but he sees the look, and his mouth curls into a smile.]

For you? I might just start charging.

[ No, Wolfwood's poker face is horrendous. He thinks he's being stoic, but every feeling ends up written large over his whole face... and the glasses really only conceal so much. ]

And here I thought we were friends! You bastard.

We're more than friends, stupid, that's on you!

[he leans over and nudges Wolfwood with his shoulder]

[ Oh you sappy bastard! Wolfwood shoves right back, with more elbow than shoulder. ]

Don't say it like that! It sounds weird when you say it like that!

[okay he asked for it: he's getting a noogie]

How's it sound weird? We're brothers, idiot.

[ Goddammit no, he's gonna flail his way right out of Livio's grasp. Maybe? ]

No abusing the injured, hey!

Abusing? Just brotherly love!

[he laughs, gently grabbing those flailing arms]

[ Abuse! Abuse from the little brother who's no longer little. ]

Oi, oi! You're fucking loving this, aren't you?

[ He'd kick Livio in the head if he could! ...He's still considering it. ]

Little brother!

[he's not gonna get choked out here but Livio holds him steady, and noogies the hell out of him]

Who's the little brother now?

[ And Wolfwood's loving every second! Not that anyone could tell from the stream of profanity he's unleashing. ]

I'm gonna piss in your breakfast, get off!

[ The suns are almost down. They should probably head out -- it's not a terribly long walk, but Wolfwood's going to be slower than usual. ]

Asshole!

[Livio's loving it too, if his stupid from-the-gut laughter is anything to go by

he wishes this didn't have to end, that they didn't have to do this...sort of]

Dick.

[releases him but gives him a little shove]

[ This middle finger's all for Livio. ]

You're a goddamn pain in my ass, you know that?

[ C'mon, doofus, time to get out of the car and start walking. He just needs to get Punisher off the roof, and they can start sneaking their way around the base of this canyon toward the Eye facility on the other side. With only one way in, they'll have to be sneaky, and with the second moon -- the brightest of the five -- due to rise in just over an hour, they'll have to hurry. ]

[Livio waits as long as he has to for Wolfwood to haul himself from the car, get his Punisher and all that. All the while not making it obvious he's carefully watching him for any pain]

Alright.

[ Wolfwood's being a little cautious stepping on his broken leg, but the homemade walking cast is holding his weight just fine. It barely hurts at all to step on it! Even with the extra weight of Punisher the cast is holding up... although he's going to carry Punisher's weight on his other shoulder, to avoid putting too much extra weight on the pieces of busted bedframe strapped to his leg. ]

You know, there's a good chance there won't even be anyone here.

[ If he has to run he can run, and if he has to fight he can fight. C'mon buddy, he wouldn't have suggested this trip if he wasn't up for it! It's only a broken leg. ]

Could be we came all this way for nothing.

[ Given how empty all the rest of the towns have been, it's certainly possible that the Eye abandoned this facility months ago. ]

[Livio will wait about 30 minutes into this fray, if it happens, for Wolfwood to swing the cast and break someone's head open. he will bet money on this-- probably bet it with Razlo.]

Could be. Think that's the best scenario. But I think they're holed up somewhere like rats.

[it's too quiet...it gives him the creeps, like the air is charged with electricity only he can feel. again, could be paranoia...but he likes to think its just caution, healthy or not]

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