Somewhere between July and December

[louboutinjudas]

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. ]

Comments

[louboutinjudas]

[ 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!

[graveresemblance]

[it goes to show how tired he is that the pillow actually connects. he snorts, rolls his eyes]

C'mon, Nicki, you don't wanna be tucked in all comfy?

[voice a coo, he kicks his shoes off, he was raised right, Wolfwood was clearly dragged-- and lays across about four of the beds there]

[louboutinjudas]

[ What kind of assassin takes their shoes off to sleep? Everything stays on so he's ready to leap into action at a moment's notice!

Besides, it's not like Miss Melanie is going to come through that door to yell at him for having his shoes on the blankets. ]

I'm gonna shave your head in your sleep, crybaby.

[graveresemblance]

[he's trying to get comfortable, okay??? not all of us are so vile as to not wear socks.

he chuckles, a wheezy sound]

Get one toe out of line and you'll see what happens.

[louboutinjudas]

[ Those are fighting words, brother! Wolfwood's gonna poke Livio in the shin with the toe of his loafer, all while pretending to be asleep. Because he's actually a six year old. ]

[graveresemblance]

[just for that Wolfwood's getting tucked in TAKE THAT]

[louboutinjudas]

[ Ow! Shit! No the fuck he's not! What's actually going to happen is that Livio is getting put in a headlock, and noogied. Sure it'll hurt his leg, but this is war. ]

[graveresemblance]

You little asshole, go to bed!

[and Livio's just wrapping those legs around him to pin him in turn]

[louboutinjudas]

[ He's down a limb, that's not fair! Those noogies might turn into punching, buddy -- okay, it's borderline slapping, but he's not actually trying to hurt Livio. It's not that kind of war! ]

I'm tryin' to! Some big oaf's crushin' the life outta me!

[graveresemblance]

OW-- you-- I'm trying to try too, but I got a little RAT clinging to me!

[more like they're both clinging. and this feels like-- like an almost, like when they were kids, this playful grappling]

[louboutinjudas]

Well then let go!

[ This has been the strangest day of his life -- and that's really saying something! -- but ending up here, in the orphanage, with Livio? It's everything he wished for, just a couple years too late.

No, fuck that. It's never too late. ]

I'm fuckin' wounded, have some respect for the wounded guy!

[graveresemblance]

YOU let go!

[he still hasn't, by the way-- he frowns]

I'm still a little hurt, too! Damn.

[louboutinjudas]

[ Livio can let go first! ...But Wolfwood can stop hitting first, how's that? ]

So that's two reasons for you to knock it off!

[graveresemblance]

I'm gonna knock your block off.

[he narrows his eyes]

Cut it out on the count of three.

[lets not do a repeat of the wound-mending]

[louboutinjudas]

All right, all right.

[ Ready? ]

Three.

[ Nope he's gonna stick Livio's face right in his armpit! ]

[graveresemblance]

[muffled:]

NICHOLAS!!!!

[louboutinjudas]

[ Can't hear you, laughing too hard! ]

[graveresemblance]

[now he's grabbing and slapping at Wolfwood, screaming this time]

[louboutinjudas]

[ Are they having a slap fight? Are they seriously having a slap fight? ]

[graveresemblance]

[they grew up to be little brats...again]

[louboutinjudas]

[ God dammit!

Okay, no, for real this, time, ow, hold up, hold up. ]

I yield, I yield! Shit, c'mon, I surrender.

[ He can't remember the last time he laughed this much. His stupid face hurts. ]

[graveresemblance]

[once he realizes there's some pain, there's some discomfort, Livio does release Wolfwood immediately.

but he's smiling]

Idiot. Go to bed.

[louboutinjudas]

Yeah, yeah.

[ The rain outside is nearly stopped and everything's gone quiet. Maybe he will close his eyes, just for a bit. ]

We'll figure this shit out in the morning, buddy.

[graveresemblance]

[sighing, he flops across the beds, dragging a blanket over him]

Yeah. It'll be alright. I know it.

[louboutinjudas]

[ He intends to stay awake, he really does. He was jut going to rest his eyes a minute, go over everything that's happened today. Decide what to do next.

But he closes his eyes and bam, he's out like a light. ]