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 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]

[ If Livio can take some damage without needing vials to heal, then he just became Wolfwood's best friend! Or best shield, either way.

Wow, it's really starting to get dark outside. Is that a dust storm rolling in? Guess they're holing up in here for awhile -- hope there's candles or lamps or something, because he's willing to bet there's no power. ]

Yeah.

[ None of these other little compartments have anything useful. Oh, there's a little thing of gun oil and a whole cleaning kit, some tools for making adjustments and repairs, that kind of thing, but he was really hoping for a couple vials. Guess he's got to ask. ]

...Sorry, but when you, y'know. Buried him. Did he have any more of that magic juice on him?

[yup it's decided, he will become the best meat shield he can ever be! Wolfwood is not going to come to any harm on Livio's watch. Pssst, he might be overcompensating...that's okay though, right?

Livio's expression

shatters at the question]

Oh. No....no, he used 'em all.

[ He knew it was going to be a hard question to hear, yeah. Sorry, Livio. Wolfwood looks away, giving Livio time to pull himself back together. If he needs more than a just a few seconds, then Wolfwood can focus on putting Punisher here back together -- he's seen everything he needs to see. ]

Yeah, I guess he would have, huh.

[ If it were anyone else sitting across from him, he'd want to ask more -- what happened? Who finally took him down? Did he hold his own, or was he outnumbered? Did he die well? Did he keep the kids safe?

He can't ask Livio any of that. Won't ask him any of that. He's seen the damage outside -- that's answer enough.

In the distance, toward December, the thunderstorm that the radio warned about is moving in. The wind is growing colder by the minute and the sky is darkening -- they really do need to go find some light, and quickly. ]

[the storm's rolling in somewhere out there. the wind is a little crazy, a lot ominous. but Livio can't stop picking the last image he had of his Wolfwood, bickering and covered in blood, in his last words to him 'welcome back'.]

I won't...ask you not to do the same. I'll do my best to help in any way I can. But...

[he doesn't want to see that again]

[ No -- he holds up a hand to stop that line of thought right there. ]

It's not gonna happen. You don't need to think about it any more, all right?

[ There, Punisher's compartments are all closed up, switches all disengaged, case all sealed. All that remains now is to wrap her up, but he'll do that later, when they're ready to leave -- he still really wants to rest out that rocket launcher first! ]

This is a whole new world we got ourselves stuck in, and all the rules are different now. Whoever killed him is long gone, and sorry, but I've got no intention of following in his footsteps.

[ Everyone told him not to come to December, but he doesn't believe in fate. And look! Here he is, alive and doing just fine, because there's no such thing as destiny. ]

Don't bury me before I'm dead, got it?

[it probably isn't fair to Wolfwood, this one, or his, to even think that. destiny isn't real, neither is fate. but he can't help but worry]

Yeah, okay. You're right. We got other shit to worry about anyway, right?

[his heart is in his throat]

That's right! Much more important, real issues, like where the hell I'm gonna find a pack of Sk--

[ He's interrupted by the rumble of distant thunder, sounding like... well, thunder, but for people who have never seen rain before, it sounds like cannon. Wolfwood's on his feet in an instant, running to the kitchen door, Punisher in hand and damn, doesn't it feel good to have two hundred pounds of machine gun again?

Outside it's dark, overcast and windy, and there's thunderheads on the horizon. ]

What the hell was that?!

[now that's something they can agree on. if they focus on this other stuff, they might never be able to move again. Livio won't, anyway.

the thunder makes him jump-- for a moment it sounds like what Vash had-- he shakes his head]

I wonder if we need to barricade this place.

[ He's not the only one jumping. It really sounds like artillery! ]

Yeah. [ He's already backing up into the building again, although he can't tear his eyes away from the oncoming storm. The dust storms out here get bad enough to rip flesh from bone, and he's never seen one that dark. ] ...Yeah, let's get inside, close up everything we can.

[ Even just closing all the doors and windows will be better than standing outside in the storm, but will that be enough? Do they have a choice? ]

[might be a bit hard with some of the windows shattered but you know, they'll try.

a short nod, and he's moving, moving, the grave behind him not forgotten, but just, left for the moment. to be concluded when this mission is over

sure enough, the sand-water-whatever is going to get in here, one way or another, but there are some curtains-- or blankets, nearby that Livio immediately grabs]

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