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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[oh-- OH!

well that was-- not something he loved, per se, but it certainly changed the tide! the shockwave sends him spinning and vaulting, he can't even think just yet whether this thing landed alive or not--

and Wolfwood, when he can peel his eyes open to look for his not-brother, is going through it too--]

Wolfwood!

[all he can do is hold on to his weapons and hope for the best once it stops

and it does in an instant]

[ Good luck with that landing, Livio! Falling out of the sky suddenly is no joke -- just ask Wolfwood.

Now, maybe the worm survived that blast, and maybe it didn't -- only time will tell. As for Wolfwood? Well, there's no response to Livio's call. But he certainly survived! The mud is soft, and he's tough, so he's definitely still alive down there.

He may have broken his leg, but that's nothing a vial can't cure! If only he had one. ]

Here!

[ His voice is tight with pain, and not a little frustration. Of all the stupid injuries! Now he's a frozen muddy mess, and his lower leg is bent in a way it's not supposed to? God dammit ]

I'm here. You okay?

[his heart, for a moment, is as heavy as a comet, as heavy as the ships falling from the sky 100 years ago, to ashes-- he can't hear Wolfwood, can't see him--

but then-- there he is-- his voice--

the landing--

was bad. let's not even talk about how badly he's hurt. it's bad. his voice screams this fact, but the relief is so palpable]

I'm fine! Where-- are you sure you're good?

Yeah, it's just my leg.

[ It was an unlucky fall, that's all. The mud's soft enough that he's hardly even bruised -- he just landed wrong, his foot caught...

Look, he's certainly had worse! He just needs a hand getting up, if you don't mind. ]

If you're thinkin' it's a good time for the i told you so's, I'm warning you now I'm not gonna listen. [ And maybe a hand inside? Just until he can splint it up. ] Is it dead? Did you see?

I'll tell you eventually...when you forget about it.

[he can't actually get up!

he's sort of

impaled. AGAIN can you believe it??]

You better not hit me for it either. [a groan] I've no idea...I know it landed. We're not in the air, so it's gotta at least be passed out.

[ With the worm gone underground -- dead or alive, guess they'll find out later -- the rain is clearing, and Wolfwood can finally see more of what's around him.

And what he sees makes his blood run cold. ]

Livio!

[ Oh look, he can get up after all! Punisher makes for a crappy crutch, but it's better than nothing! The long bar of Punisher slips and slides in the flood waters and mud, but he finds a rhythm soon enough, using the giant gun to drag himself to Livio's side.

Fuck his broken leg! This... god, Livio, don't you fucking dare die! ]

You're gonna be okay. [ How, he doesn't know, but don't think he won't move heaven and hell to make it happen, buddy. His hands are shaking as he reaches for Livio -- how's he even going to get the man free? ] Oh shit oh shit oh shit it's okay. It'll be okay.

[Wolfwood's leg looks real bad, but at least he's up and moving, and from where he's lying prone on the ground, he doesn't...think he sees bone sticking out? that's. reassuring.

speaking of, Livio lifts a hand as if to wave off the OBVIOUS concern]

I know. I'm gonna be just fine. I need you to pull this out, though.

[he coughs wetly, clears his throat, but his voice is very calm]

Otherwise it'll heal in me. I'll be alright.

[ No, his leg definitely bends a way it shouldn't at about the mid-calf point, but there's no visible bones or even any blood. As far as breaks go, it's a minor one.

Unlike Livio's broken insides! Look, Wolfwood's trained for this kind of thing, but this is different. This is Livio. If they were out fighting somewhere and everyone had a pocket full of vials he wouldn't think twice about an injury like this, but the idea of losing Livio again has shorted out his brain. He's not nearly as calm as Livio is right now. ]

Pull it...? [ Grab the thing coated in Livio's blood and pull it through his body? Sure. Sure, that sounds great, what could go wrong? ] Livio, I don't...

[ But it's not like there's any other help coming, is there? ]

Fuck. Fuck, okay. Okay.

[ He braces himself on his good leg, and wraps his hands around the protrusion. He doesn't want to do this! ]

If you die on me I'm gonna fucking kill you.

[in case you were wondering? the pain is immense. the blood tastes too familiar dribbling between his teeth-- but like always, he tries to work through the pain, try to grasp on to that pinprick of calm (but not serenity) to keep things. Calm.

he takes a deep breath, then laughs]

Think that'll ruin all your hard work, but alright. Just do it. It'll be fine, once it's out.

[it's gonna be bad.]

If I pass out, don't freak. That's normal.

[ He's got a whole jagged fucking thing stuck through his guts! Of course it hurts! And it's just going to hurt more when Wolfwood pulls it out. ]

If you don't want me to freak, don't give me reason to!

[ He said he heals. He said he heals like the other Livio doe-- did. Wolfwood watched that healing happen himself, bullet holes closing right up, no serum required. Maybe this Livio's the same.

He better fucking be the same. ]

On three, buddy, hold on. Ready? Three!

[ He yanks with everything he's got, pulling straight up and out. If the thing comes free and Livio doesn't heal up and stop bleeding in three goddamn seconds, Wolfwood's stuffing his own shirt in the wound and dragging Livio back into the orphanage. So heal quick, okay?

Okay? ]

[he doesn't really have much say in that-- Livio will do his best! Even when Wolfwood tugs the debris out of him, that sickening sound of it, he grits his teeth, clawing to keep consciousness

it's a close call-- his eyes begin to roll back in his head, and he whimpers--]

Nico--

[but it's when the darkness creeps in that the healing begins]

[ Oh you absolute son of a bitch he's gonna get you for that.

The healing better goddamn begin! Wolfwood throws the chunk of trash away, wipes his bloody hands on his jacket, and waits for a miracle. Heal, you bastard. ]

You're not dyin' from a toothpick, you damn crybaby. Snap out of it!

[ Please heal. ]

[it's more like a tragedy than a miracle when his skin begins to knit back together--more like smoke curling into the air, but where's the fire? back in hell, probably.

the familiar nickname has his eyelids fluttering, his throat swallowing back a lump]

'm fine.

[ A miracle, hard earned. He never doubted for a second. ]

You're damn right.

[ He really can heal from anything, can't he? Not even a bullet in his head would stop him.

Wolfwood holds out a blood-smeared hand, to help Livio to his feet. If he accepts, then as soon as he stands he's getting pulled into a hug, no fucking arguments. Sorry not sorry. ]

You fucking dumbass.

[nothing'll remain of this wound, just the psychological damage! no worries there. he sighs loudly, lugs expanding again now that there isn't anything metal in his stomach, ironing all his other organs out--

and takes Wolfwood's hand, hauling himself up with a groan]

Same to you.

[ He threatened a hug and he's gonna deliver. It's a great clinging bear hug of a hug, too -- no manly back slapping here, no. He fucking missed you, you stupid sonovabitch. ]

That's what you get for listening to me. [ Going up on the roof after the storm worm was a terrible idea! Don't listen to him when he has terrible ideas! ] The hell were you thinking?

[ No, he's not letting go. This hug is making up for lost time. ]

Oh--

[oh, this is--

oh. he hadn't had-- Wolfwood's very warm in his arms, that have automatically come up to wrap around the other's middle. hesitantly, like he's holding something precious, something fragile (1/2). he smells like blood and cigs and cheap crap]

That I was gonna follow you this time. [his voice shakes]

[The rain is lessening, noticeably, the desert reclaiming its ferocious dryness as quickly as it can. The clouds will take longer to dissipate, the occasional crack of lightning or slow roll of thunder likewise fading by degrees. This does little for all the standing water all over the place already.

By the faint stink of ichor and viscera on the wind that isn't theirs, isn't human, the grand worm that had apparently caused all this hadn't quite made it to safety as instinct demanded. Bullets can be brushed off with a hard carapace and sheer size, rockets are another matter. Out beyond the edge of the buildings, its unusual pale blue lights fade by degrees, leaving only agitated small swarmers darting about.

A small handful of the bugs dart around them instead for a minute or two. One lands on the discarded, bloody piece of trash, but none try to land on the pair or sting.

The wind from the south already feels hotter.]

No, Livio, jesus christ.

[ Oh you stupid...! He's gonna squeeze Livio until the other man stops being so goddamn careless with his life! Don't make Wolfwood feel this way! He hates feeling this way!

And he's not fucking fragile! Just because he's smaller than the other Wolfwood was doesn't mean anything!

He might have stood there forever, arms wrapped around somebody his brother could have been, if it weren't for the bugs. He doesn't notice the stink of viscera with the stink of all this mud, but he sure notices the little swarm of flyers buzzing around them. It's probably fine? But maybe they should get inside, just in case. ]

Hey. [ He pats Livio on the back -- c'mon, you big lug, cry time's over, time to get back to work. ] Hey, we should get inside.

[if he had failed, if he had failed this Wolfwood too, if he'd come out of this dead-- he wouldn't have been able to live with himself.

he pats Wolfwood right back, nods, sniffles.]

This is gonna be shitty.

Story of my life, pal.

[ Everything's shitty -- that's just how it is! But with Livio on one side and using Punisher as a crutch on the other, he can hobble his way into the building without having to put any more weight on his busted leg. And the rain easing up with help with that too -- the icy needles from earlier are slowing, and instead now the rain is big wet spattering drops as the clouds purge the last of their reserves.

They killed that big worm, and the rain went away. Damn. He kinda wishes they hadn't shot at it now. ]

You ever see a worm that big before? That could fly, I mean?

[this rain may be washng some of the blood from his clothes, his face, but not his hands, not ever. it's still refreshing, at least. waking him up, ensuring he won't pass out just yet-- but god he needs to sleep so bad.]

No, but...isn't The Beast connected to the worms? That's what I'd heard. Don't think I've met them.

[ There's got to be somewhere inside where they can both stop for awhile, Livio to sleep and Wolfwood to splint his leg. Just their luck that somewhere is probably upstairs, though, huh? ]

No? Lucky you. I can't stand that little shit.

[ Almost there, buddy. Punisher's going to be full of grit and they're both going to be filthy, but the door is just ahead, and then there's the stairs, and rest. ]

They're gonna outlive all of us, and they know it.

[at least they're nearly there. trailing all kinds of crap inside, all over Melanie's not so nice floors...]

That's probably why they're friends with Knives...don't understand that.

[ He catches a whiff of something disgusting right before they make it through the doorway, entrails and meat. Bug blood. Gross. Guess that answers that question. ]

They both want us all dead, what's to understand?

[ Is Zazie here? That's something he'll have to look into. There's worms here, so they probably have an avatar for talking to humans with.

Hope they're not too pissed off about the dead worm. ]

You doin' okay there, pal?

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