Fighting trauma with trauma

Summer 2021, Week 5

Tuesday evening

Henry, The Wards

Storyteller

The rain beats down against the cracked asphalt slight hues of Franz once emerging between the cracks now drowned out by dull black puddles lit by only the moon and the bashed weakly humming streetlights.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

A hooded figure makes his way beneath one of the bridges his clothes dark with a small pack on his back all soaked by the falling rain. It was just his luck. He lost his home long ago. Then his friends more recently and now he was soaked head to toe.   It never bothered the poor teenager. After all he was somewhat naturally resistant to water and spending time in sewers to get around once he started changing definetly helped.   He carefully scanned around as he went under a bridge. No one wanted his kind here or anywhere. He was not sleeping tonight.  

Conspiratus

Some time goes by before a masked and hooded individual pops their head out from behind the bridge, seemingly hanging upside down from above. A distorted and computerized voice that sounded like a hundred people all mashed together quickly followed the strange persons appearance. "Is this the best you could do for shelter? Surely there are better options." They didn't seem to mind the rain as they spoke from afar.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus looked up to the individual drawing a knife from his boot with a calm look in his eyes revealing that not only where his hands blue so was the rest of his body. Small marks could be seen on his neck caused by years of turning them into gills over and over. He had small scales down his neck as well and it was clear from a single glance he was an evo.   The eyes that peered back pitch black and when he blinked there seemed to be an extra eyelid closing across whenever he did. “I tried your mother’s but her bed was full. And no. I don’t want to join your cult.” There was an odd calmness despite the fact the ‘fish boy’ was on edge.  

Conspiratus

"I'm just offering some friendly advice." they say, dropping a watertight case to the ground below. "I do not like to see people suffer because of things out of their control, so I try to help those I find who are the most in need. Sometimes the people I help want to return the favor later on, but 'joining the cult' as you put it is optional. There's a map of the district in there, has some good places marked that you can use as shelter. Abandoned buildings and the like. Unless you enjoy feeling so threatened out here that I can hear your heartbeat from a mile away." It was an exaggeration, but they could indeed hear their heartbeat which revealed the calm demeanor to be an act.

[Enhanced: x1 Normal, -3 EP (19/25)]

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Yeah well when did I ask? I don’t do fuckin’ handouts.” He watched the case hit the ground but his eyes were still locked on the stranger. “No matter if I follow your little colouring book or not I’m gonna feel the same way. So tell me what is it you really want? I know no one in this world does things for free.”  

Conspiratus

"Then you know very little, contrary to what you might believe. What do I really want, you ask? Well, that's simple. I want to change the world.. into a place where people don't have to feel so threatened anymore. A place where people can do what they want without hurting others or getting hurt. Is that really so much to ask?" The figure promptly raises back up to the top of the bridge as they speak the last line, vanishing beyond Marcus' view.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Uhuh. You got anything better to do then sit and annoy people.” Marcus waited until the stranger was gone. He didn’t believe a word he said it was all a lie to steal what little shit he had.   Why would anyone ever be nice. I’m not that fucking stupid…..they’ll just beat me down like every other idiot on this planet. Or if it is true I shouldn’t bother anyway. I fuck up everything. Even trying to die….   After a few minutes he’d give a deep sigh. “Fuck it not like I can die. Let’s see if he’s lying about what’s in the case.” Using his gravity powers from a distance to slam and break the container open as softly as possible waiting for something to fall out.

[Gravity manip/generation x(however many are needed) basic uses 15/15 EP]

 

Storyteller

The case is made of plastic so it doesn't take much for it to shatter. From the remains fall three different papers. The largest of them is the aforementioned map, depicting the district of Henry with several locations marked with either a 1, 2, or 3. There are three '1' markers, seven '2' markers, and dozens of '3' markers. The other two pieces of paper are much smaller and harder to discern from a distance. One is a hundred dollar bill but is folded up so that it's less likely to be caught by the wind, and the other is a note that reads:  

The map markers are divided into three categories. Those marked with a 1 are the safest locations, almost entirely unknown to others while providing good shelter and defensibility. Those marked with a 2 have some reason that makes them less desirable, whether it's a decently known spot that attracts more attention from others looking for shelter, has some security flaw such as not having a good escape route, or does not provide the best of shelter from the elements. Check these locations more thoroughly and think on your current situation before deciding to use one. Spots marked with a 3 carry multiple of these flaws if not most of them. They will still be better spots than out on a park bench or under a bridge but they should be last resorts and not a first pick. I've left some supplies hidden in the locations marked with a 1, though I've also included some money in this package that you can use to get whatever you need should you be unable to reach one of those locations or believe the supplies and/or locations to be a trap. If you choose not to keep the map, I ask that you burn it so that the locations remain uncompromised. Though regardless of what you do next, I wish you Safety and Peace.   Good luck
~Conspiratus

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus puts the money into a pocket reading the note and the map squatting down. Mumbling it quietly to himself. “What if it’s a trap…they wanna steal my shit…..too many moving parts…..what if…..well.” Markus let out an angered groan as he slammed his dark blue scaled forehead into the rusty exposed metal of some of the bridge.   If I stay here that gang might hunt me down….if I got they might rob me…Fuck.   The fish boys form rose as he pinpointed where he was and walked to the nearest location listed 1. At least for the time being he didn’t want to be hunted due to his flesh.  

Storyteller

The nearest '1' marking on the map was on the edge of an average looking residential neighborhood. All the houses here were made of brick and mostly well maintained, probably one of the better looking places within Henry. On the very edge of this neighborhood stood a home that on first glance looks just like any of the others, perhaps one of the more rundown, but on closer inspection stands out in one regard: No one goes near that house. The home is the location marked with the 1, without a doubt, and it can be seen why with some time. The building itself is structurally sound in every regard, as a few of the homes in this neighborhood are. It is made of brick, built on a solid foundation, and contains steel supports that root the building to the ground. It is essentially a miniature fortress, and yet it lies seemingly abandoned. The grass is overgrown and mostly consists of weeds, vines stretch up onto the building itself, the windows are all boarded up, the car resting in the driveway is a decrepit relic, and the fence was old and rotted from years of weather and vandalism.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Too quiet. Solid foundation, better then a flooded sewer again….I’ve got a knife and some powers I should be able to take control if anyone comes here gotta get off the street can’t let any of those motorbikes get close.   Pulling out the tools he had stolen Marcus began to walk and disappear to the back door checking to see if it was locked or not. Kicking a hole into the nearby fence making sure he could fit his head through it. That was all he needed to get through it if shit hit the fan.   Car makes good cover if cops shoot at me. Got an escape route covered. I’ll be good if anyone comes here and I’m outmatched……fuck I miss her….doing this with my friends was so much better.   “Ophelia…..” He mumbled out to himself in a stifled attempt to hide his emotions shaking his head.  

Storyteller

The backdoor opens without a problem, revealing a dark and dusty interior. The door seems to lead into a kitchen, though it's hard to see very far into the darkness at first. There is a total stillness in the air, almost eerily so. The faintest smell of smoke from an 'odorless' candle lingers in the air in a particular region of the house, though it is not an easily noticed detail.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus stares into the dark he had crouched to stand next to the door, incase there was some psycho with a shotgun, or a needle trying to kidnap him. He watched as his eyes slowly adjusted to focusing on the darkness. He remebered as a child that it was never this good.   There was a soft green coming from his eyes like that of a cat. The adaptation process was painful but when you do it so often you just learn to deal with it.   He slowly drew his knife from his padded boots scanning the doorway for a tripwire or motion sensor before he stepped in. Not at least able to see better the faintest smell of smoke entered his nose. Someone recently left, or was still here. He quickly looked in the kitchen around him for anything to use as a weapon. Better me then some other psycho.   He slowly made his way ensuring his best that the floorboards didn’t creak and peaking around the corners before he moved rhythmically clearing it.

[Adaptation Normal x 1 -3 12/15EP]

 

Storyteller

The doorway seems to contain no trap and the house is rather normal looking once his eyes are adjusted to the darkness. The kitchen has pots, pans, and utensils strewn about, the living room that is directly connected has a couch, a coffee table, and an old TV, and the hall branching off from the living room contained four doors all of which were left open. All of the furniture and kitchenware seem remarkably old-fashioned and yet the place seems hurriedly abandoned and untouched ever since, as if the family that lived here decades ago suddenly vanished and never returned. As Marcus looks around an occasional creaking of wood can be heard that breaks the silence, though it seems to be coming from all over the house rather than any one place in particular. The smell of smoke seems to only be in the hallway.. It isn't coming from any of the rooms, though on the ceiling there is a pulldown hatch that likely leads to an attic.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus slowly entered looking around and using any reflections to peak around corners before he made a move. Slowly clearing each room while he crawled less like a normal person that would shimmy. No he was more like a beast or wendigo with creepy long limbs extending with each finessed step.   Noticing the pull down hatch Marcus slowly focused on shifting his gravity slowly and softly stepping (though falling is also accurate) onto the wall and then up to the roof pulling the hatch down from behind it so anyone who looked down wouldn’t see him as he rested a knife into his hand looking like something from a horror flick silently hunting a poor teenager.  

Storyteller

As the hatch is opened a ladder unfolds with it until the bottom end reaches the floor. It remains quiet, perhaps eerily so, once the sounds of the hatch opening have faded; The occasional creaking has stopped entirely and the only sounds, if any, seem to be coming from Marcus' own movements. The entryway into the attic seems mostly empty, with only some boxes visible from below.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus slowly crawled up the roof to stare into the hole before letting his body fall through so he hit the roof and was prepared. A single beam of light of breath or movement and he was killing whatever it was.  

Storyteller

Inside the attic it is much cleaner than anywhere else in the house. Boxes are scattered on the floor along the base of the walls and roof, with some being stacked upon the others in a few places to create piles of crates and cardboard boxes but none of it was trash at first glance and all of it seemed to lack the coating of dust one would expect. One of the piles looks newer than the others, more crates than cardboard and less like something you'd normally see in an attic. One of the larger crates in that pile is cracked open and seems to be filled with MRE rations. A few meals are missing from the large crate but it still has dozens or even possibly hundreds of meals left within.   At the back of the building, hiding behind one of the other piles of boxes that looks more like stuff an old suburban home would have stashed in the attic, was a young girl. She covers her mouth to hide her breathing as Marcus enters the room, though when he lands on the roof as if it were the floor it startles her a bit causing her to reflexively move back. She knocks over a small box as she recoils but fortunately for her the impact of it hitting the ground happens at the same time as Marcus hitting the roof, making it hard to notice the sound. Her heart starts to race from the thought of being noticed, but she's still out of his view and keeps herself silent otherwise while she panics internally. Oh god, oh god, oh shit, please tell me he didn't hear that, please tell me he didn't hear that.. Why did someone have to show up after all? Why can't I have a moment of peace for fuck's sake? I just wanted something to eat, now I'm gonna be eaten by the Creature from the Black Lagoon except he's a fucking gravity mage. Please just go away. Please just go away. Please just go away.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Oh god that hurt my knees. was the only thought that filled Marcus’s head as his knees slammed into the roof, He slowly looked around noticing everything but slowly hides the knife in the sleeve of his worn down hoodie. “Holy shit that’s alotta food.” He mumbled aloud to himself as he slowly crawled around the roof clearing the room. His route moving away from the girl before towards her slowly as he cleared it.  

Storyteller

Oh thank god, he didn't hear it. I'm fine. This is fine- Wait, He's not going away. Fuck, he's not going away. Why are you coming over here now..!? "I- I have a gun and I swear to god you touch me and I'll kill you!" the teenage voice calls out suddenly as Marcus almost gets close enough to see her from his higher angle. Based on the voice alone she was around 13 to 16 years old. The slight hesitation gives her away as not being as ready to act as she makes herself out to be, but she immediately afterwards commits to the statement in a way that sounds very confident nonetheless.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Great why did my parents come to America? Seriously everyone has a gone. Marcus let out a sigh as he stared his darkness tuned eyes glowing softly with the lack of light around. “I ain’t gonna touch ya. But if you threaten me again I will defend myself. Got it?” He sighed shaking his head as he pulled his hoodie back and rubbed some dark blue hair that matched some of his skin before he landed on the ground quickly sliding into cover.   Okay i don’t wanna kill a kid. That’d be a first let’s try and talk. “Alright kid, let’s try and talk this out. I ain’t gonna hurt ya. Hell I’m more likely to fuckin’ help you. What are ya fuckin’ like 14-15ish? I remember when I was that old…..but look. I know I look like some evil fucking sewer man shit or whatever but I can’t help that so put the gun down and let’s talk this out.”  

Storyteller

"Hey, excuuuse me for making it perfectly clear I'll defend myself when a damn Hylotl falls onto the inside of the roof and starts skulking towards me like something out of a bad horror game. You want some of that food you spotted? Go for it. Wanna search all the other piles of crap in here, be my fucking guest, Abe Sapien. This particular pile of crap on the other hand stays between us at all times, the only fancy thing of note over here anyway is the thing keeping you away and I'm certainly not putting it down any time soon. Got it?" She throws the last two words back at him with a mocking tone of emphasis. There is a sound of her shifting slightly behind the boxes as she speaks, attempting to get into a better position to make a run for it if she has to. Her vision wasn't supernatural or anything, but she had spent a lot of time in the dark and had trained her eyes to adjust far better than the average person, so she watches carefully from behind the boxes for any movement that might show him coming towards her again while also listening out for any sounds he would make while moving. This plan is so stupid, why is this the only plan I have? Please don't make me go through with this, fish boy..  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“What the fuck is a fucking Hylotl? It ain’t my fault when I usually do this people try to blow my fucking brains out. I want a place to stay the fuckin’ night.” He sighed still crouched behind some boxes with his knife out. Looking to the food.   “Y’know lost hobo’s with a gun woulda shot me by now, and you’re not cracked out on ice. So I’m thinking maybe you’re just lying. Scared of me, probably looking to that weird ladder thing to run yeah? Well if you’re gonna do it just do it. I’d slam as large a box over my opponents head as I could grab the food and sprint out…also you left the door unlocked.”  

Storyteller

"Would you have preferred I blew your brains out the moment you came close the first time, jackass? You think I want to kill a person? I'm not about to go nuclear just because you dropped in uninvited. And what, you got a PhD in homelessness or something? The door doesn't lock, and I'm not exactly in a position to be moving things to barricade it every night. Besides, people don't usually come over here because they think the house is haunted and I help them believe that. When people come in looking around they get scared and leave almost right away. Those who don't get scared see the place as abandoned and fuck off anyway or stay on the ground floor. You're the first person in the year I've been here to go sweeping the place like you're looking for fucking Easter Eggs. Well congratulations, you've won! Your prize is an edgy teenage girl hiding in the corner with an M9. Don't believe me? Then the question you gotta ask yourself is 'Do I feel lucky?' Well? Do ya, punk?"   Oh god, oh fuck, he's not gonna believe the bluff. He's never gonna believe this bluff. Don't make me resort to plan B.. You're not right about what it is but I hate that you're not far off.. I never should have trusted that weirdo, this has to be their doing somehow. Fuuuuck!  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Yes. I would have fuckin’ like that. I dunno what a fucking PhD is but I’ve been homeless long enough yeah I probably fucking got one.” He sighed and rubbed his head pulling out the map and standing up.   “I usually am, also burning a candle was a bad idea, and most people don’t get hunted by assholes Cus I look like a fish.Oh and sorry to break the news kid but you might wanna leave after tonight. Some weird dude in a mask gave me this map, marked where your staying as a good safe house for homeless, you’re compromised.”  

Storyteller

"Bruh" she blurts out in response to the first statement but lets him keep speaking, only speaking back up once he is finished. There was a lot she wanted to respond to but the last bit takes her off guard even more and suddenly nothing else matters. "Hold up.. What?" For the first time since the standoff began, she peeks out over the boxes to look directly at Marcus. Her blonde hair is somewhat easy to make out even in the darkness. "White mask? Crying blood like something a discount punk star would wear? That weirdo?" Shit, I knew it. I knew it and yet here we fuckin' are.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“That isn’t English.” He responded bluntly, a minor annoyance in his voice about all of the things she’s been referencing and saying. Then again the highest technology he had on him was a cassette tape player that was too many years old.   The green shine from behind his eyes locked onto her the moment she moved. A creepy glare that he couldn’t help given he looked like a monster. “Yep. Saw me under a fuckin’ bridge. I knew I shoulda just stayed in the sewers like I did the last city. Anyway gave me a map with a few places on it. Told me they’re helpful.” And gave me some cash. But you don’t need to know that. You don’t deserve it. You’re probably only here because mummy and daddy took away your fancy car or some shit.  

Storyteller

Surprisingly she holds the gaze without faltering, unlike what most teens would do when suddenly being stared down by glowing green eyes in the dark. "Is this some kind of recruitment tactic? Give me food and shelter with no strings attached, but send a Merman posing as a hobo with a death wish to make buddy buddy with me a year later? Let me tell you right now, it isn't working. I don't want to join your damn cult and I have no need for a replacement parental figure, so fuck off already."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Hey. He told me there would be good and a warm place outside of the rain. You really think I’m that smart……..wait a year?” He asked moving to his feet in a crouched position still staring her down intently with a blunt look in his eyes that conveyed no emotion only his voice hinted at what he was feeling. “Hey I told him the exact same thing. You got good instinct. Tried the cult situation once….you don’t wanna know how it ends.”  

Storyteller

"That's exactly what a genius mastermind manipulator would say, or tell you to say. And I already know how cults end because my parents were part of a cult, fucking dumbasses.." Her voice had remained antagonistic but otherwise free of emotion until now. She had done very well to hide her fear but the last two words she spoke carried with them hints of pain, a mix of anger and sadness.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“I’m an idiot kid…..” he sighed and rubbed his head looking over as she said that. Okay maybe she had a reason to be here……fuck you’re not helping someone again last time she said she’d stab you if she ever saw you again. Fuckkkkk I’m a useless cunt. “Mine weren’t great either, I ain’t saying we’re on the same trip or anythin’ but for this moment we’re in the same…boat or whatever it is. You been homeless what a year you said? You ain’t planning on going back?”  

Storyteller

"Two years.. only been in this house for a year. And no, I don't think I will go back to the idiots that got sacrificed to the Blood Gods or whatever because I ran away when they-" She cuts herself off, pausing for a moment as she retreats behind the boxes again before somewhat abandoning the topic. "Why am I even telling you any of this? This is all part of the plan isn't it? Loosen me up, make me think you care? They marinated me for years and they still failed, so you can't get me that easy, bud.. I've seen how easy people can make themselves into actors, play the part that gets them what they want.. Ever seen the Truman Show? I fucking lived that shit, just replace the movie theme with a cult. You honestly expect me to believe that masked 'hero' set me up with this place, specifically this place, and then a year later finds you and gives you a map that has this same location marked on it but doesn't tell you I'm here? If your not part of whatever scheme they're pulling then that only makes me more confused."   Her voice holds strong for the most part, but she drops her guard a bit and sits down, back to the boxes. Even trying to avoid it as much as she is the topic tears at her mentally, and the possible scenario she has fixated on because of it hasn't helped her in that regard either. What the fuck do I do? What the fuck do I do?  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Two years? Huh. Suprised you managed to stay in this shithole for one.” He commented bluntly still squatting. He scratched and dug under his nails a bit as he looked over. “Nope. I ain’t even been here a week. I’m sure if you google it you can find exactly what city I was last in too…..the fuck is the Truman show? I ain’t really up to date on my cultural identity. Haven’t been for…..ten maybe more years…..eh more like elven now.” He shrugged digging his dirty hands into his pack and pulling out a small amount of tobacco gum for people trying to quit and threw it onto his mouth before he began chewing even still talking with his mouth open.   “I don’t fucking know. I just happened to jump into the closest area, probably presumed you were gone. Most people in our situation are nomadic. Hell I used to live in fuckin’ Australia.” He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. “Yer real talkative mate y’know that? I mean let’s be honest you talk too much for a teen with a gun and I’d know.”  

Storyteller

"Met a lot of teens with guns, have you? You're a real expert in many fields, huh? And the movie is 20 years old and a hit classic.. Dude, you gotta stay at least somewhat relevant. How else are you supposed to connect with your recruitment targets?"  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Usually I’m the one with the gun.” Another tired blunt statement as he looked over and messed with his knife. This is getting annoying. I should just fucking threaten to stab her. Make her run out the house into the rain….UGHHHHHH “I don’t know what yer fucking on about. Oh I can stay fucking relevant after all I’m wanted in most states. Now will you shut up about what you think and give me a reason to let you stay outta the rain? I’m trying my best to be fucking decent.”  

Storyteller

What is it with this guy? Is he testing me for weakness now that the nice guy act failed? Ya know what? Plan C: Fuck running and fuck you! "Oh, am I hurting King Shark's feelings?" she asks in a fake tone of sadness. "I already told you my terms or do I need to repeat myself? If you come near me I'll fucking kill you." The words carried with them a cold weight that showed them to be more than an empty threat, especially this time around. Usually someone who has taken a life themselves can easily recognize the difference between a child saying something out of desperation and someone giving a genuine warning of intent, and in this case it was very clearly the latter. But she doesn't stop there, clenching her own small knife in one hand and the thing she claimed was an M9 in the other as she kept speaking. "You're the one that insists on continuing this bullshit with your teachings of hobo wisdom and somewhat personal questions. Equivalent exchange, buddy; You want me to shut up then try keeping your own mouth shut first, ever think of that? As far as I'm concerned this is my house and I've been pretty fucking cordial to what is essentially an intruder."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Fucking try me. I dare you.” Was all he said as he stealthily slinked behind a box. Peering from beside it. He knew she might attack and he had more advantages on his side. What was another.   “I ain’t working for no one but meself. Hell I was nice enough to let you know others might be fucking coming. I thought I’d give you a fucking hand. It’s a hard world out there but clearly you don’t even wanna bother learning. You wanna fight someone who can throw you across a room, shatter your neck with the force? This ain’t me talking up my shit. Sorry you’ve been through some shit I mean it. But it won’t stop me from defending myself” He quietly mumbled loud enough for her to hear but not where it was coming from as he crawled to another set of boxes out of her sight and slowly stepped onto a wall using his ability to push him onto it.   His tone when it came to talking about her past was understanding. Like someone who had been in a cult before, or had abusive parents that didn’t want to kill another victim. But with a sturidness to it that said he’ll never let anyone else make him a victim. No matter who it was  

Storyteller

"You keep saying 'defend yourself' as if you're not the one antagonizing me! I'm not blindly letting my guard down for you to trust me when you apparently have a whole map of options and could just fuck off at any time! But fine, don't say I didn't give you plenty of warning! This place is all I have left and I'll fucking die for it if I have to, I don't give two flying fucks what you think you are owed! And if your think your size will keep you safe, I'll have you know it didn't keep my brother safe.. he was also twice my size!" she yells, shifting back into a more aware and defensive stance once more. She was upset because of the whole situation, but not enough at this point to be the one to make the first move. Everything she says, while functioning as a continuous warning and building upon the bluff, is simply a response to what she hears and not given much thought. Her reactionary nature meant that with each sentence she gave away more of her backstory without meaning to, but it also meant that her words were deeply heartfelt. None of what she has said is a lie or deception, except her insisting on the overall bluff of having a gun.   At the same time another individual enters the house from below, a young man that had followed Marcus' movements from afar and began heading to the house from his vantage point once Marcus had entered the building. The door opens as the girl begins her latest response, and it's not done very quietly, but the argument helps to drown out the sound. He listens intently as he enters as quietly as he can, closing his eyes and holding his breath while he does. He places a hand on the M1911 he has holstered, slowly drawing it and keeping it ready for whatever purpose it may be needed. He can hear them in the attic, but he doesn't make his way up there yet and instead waits to hear how things play out further. Though he's ready with a plan to stop things if they devolve further.

[En. Senses (Granted): x1 Basic, x1 Normal, -3 EP (9/15)]

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Fuck. We’re yelling, cops might get called. Gotta calm her down or shut up the fuck up. What did I do with my ex? No that won’t work…..okay brother cult, dead parents…. “What was your brothers name?….did he mean a lot to you? Never had siblings so I wouldn’t know bout it.” A simple set of questions , probably enough to blindside her if she wasn’t focused on her own words. Could anger her more. “It’s raining. Reason I ain’t left is Cus I can’t risk getting sick. I’m more resistant to it but I can still die from the cold.” Another simple statement, he wants good at calming people down, usually his way of calming down was drinking whatever booze he had left and smoking in an alleyway.   He needed a smoke but ever cigarette was soaked through. “Look I know saying calm down never works, but I need you too. Unless you want a biker group or cops to appear. Both want me dead dunno what they’ll do to you.”  

Storyteller

The line of questioning about her brother takes her off guard so much so that she freezes, at the very least giving Marcus the time to keep talking. There's a pause after his words as she processes everything he said before a seemingly much calmer but shakier version of her voice speaks up ".. I'm sorry.. You're right.. Look, I-I just don't know what is real anymore, alright? Did my.. brother mean a lot to me? I think so, and yet I.. I fucking killed him because he was trying to take me back there.." Her words were just loud enough to be heard and were much less antagonistic now. "Can we just start over?" she asks suddenly. "If you're really just here for the shelter then there is plenty of food and space here for both of us, I don't really see why this has to end in a fight and.. I guess I didn't have to be such a jerk."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Huh that worked. Good good. “Well I’m real. I know I don’t look it but I am, it was probably because your instincts took over. Nothin’ to be ashamed of. Might have been an accident but it happened. Gotta accept that don’t mean you love ‘em any less or they you any less.” He stated sighing and nodding his head. “Just food and shelter, for the night. I’m willing to kill over it but I’d prefer to avoid it. N’ yeah we can. You kept talking ‘bout shit I don’t even understand…..how long you been in this situation?”  

Storyteller

She rubs her forehead with the bottom of her palm, the knife still in her hand. There was too much to unpack with the conversation about her family so she tries to avoid it somewhat. "References come naturally so that's what I tend to use the most, though it's probably best you didn't get most of them.. And like I said, I've been on my own for two years. Before that everything was normal, or seemed normal, I guess. That's probably why the pop culture jokes are easy for me, fake is all I've really known." She forced herself to keep the conversation going to try to deescalate now that they both had it on their mind that noise could bring trouble, but her thoughts were a mess and so it was a rough attempt at best.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Be careful with that thing. Gonna poke an eye out.” He let out in a quiet grunt of street kid wisdom. He didn’t say anything after that just listened slowly moving to sit on the wall but still ready to pounce. “I thought you said one year before…..last thing I remember seeing was….the one with the robot…..earth is a shit-hole…..fuck….. y’know evaaaaaa.” *He stated quoting wall-e with his deep worn voice. One that had a weird tone of half baked sarcasm mixed with an heir of depressing experience. “Right. Yeah…..cult stuff.”  

Storyteller

The first comment was unexpected to her, still being mostly behind the boxes and in the dark. That's right, he's an Evo. Seems like they can do basically anything.. she reminded herself. "Two years on my own, one year in this house. We've been over this.." she says halfheartedly. "You've been at this for over ten years, you said? I don't know if I can last that long. I still keep wishing I'll wake up and find this was all a fever dream, but I know that's probably not gonna happen.."   The man downstairs continues to listen in as he leans against a wall, though he lets himself breath again normally now that he's got an idea of the situation. He keeps track of both their positions using the sounds and smells in the house and keeps the pistol drawn in case it's still needed.

[En. Senses (Granted): x1 Minor, -1 EP (8/15)]

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“We haven’t really been over anything. Just at each other’s throats.” Another statement made simply. He shrugged and wiped his knife off on his pants before pressing it against his finger testing for sharpness. He’d worked with knives for most of his life now, they’re great weapons for self defence. Easy to hide, effective. Silent if you knew what you were doing.   “Eleven. Wasn’t even born in this stupid country. Here for one fucking week….doesn’t matter. You’ll live. Avoid orphanages though. Might get lucky or might become a slave for them.” He took a deep breath and sat still slowly fading into the darkness his eyes locked onto her he wasn’t sleeping tonight.  

Storyteller

She buries her face in her arms instead of responding as she struggles to deal with the thoughts of her situation. Don't think about it, don't think about it... Don't fucking think about it! Ugh... You know what? Fuck it, if he kills me, he kills me. At least then it's over.. She suddenly gets up after a bit, putting the knife down on a box and the other object into her pocket. She starts walking towards the large crate as if the two of them were not just in a standoff moments ago and, if not stopped, pulls two of the meals out of the crate as soon as she reaches it before tossing one of them towards Marcus.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“The worlds fucked.” was all he responded with at her motion slinking behind a box like an animal and brandishing his knife. He kept watching her ready to strike. don’t jump the gun. Just see what happens. Okay knife is down. Might have another. He watched as the meal landed close to him and it slowly fell over towards him. “Thanks. Y’know being nice ain’t gonna get you anywhere anymore right? I tried that at first. Didn’t work out.”  

Storyteller

"I'm not trying to get anywhere, whatever that means. Hold a grudge if you want, I don't care; You had your reasons and I had mine. Like you said, the world's fucked.. If we end up trying to kill each other we may as well do it with a full stomach." she says, walking back to her spot in the other corner.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Right.” He said with a Grunt the black eyes locking onto her as he sighed his long awkward work cracking as he stretched out. “If you want it I’ll help teach you. To y’know survive. Without turning into a fish.”  

Storyteller

She sits back down and opens her MRE, seemingly having given up on the confrontation entirely. "Lets at least get through the night first before we start thinking of the future." she says in a somewhat sarcastic tone. Though it wasn't an outright no, which was a major change from her first response to the topic only minutes prior.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

He slowly opened his own MRE reading the packet on how to heat it up with the special thingy. He admittedly didn’t care how it was magic to him. “You should be thinkin’ of the future. Ain’t easy to always plan ahead but it’s worth it.” He responded back rather dryly as he looked at the hatch he closed as he came up earlier. He didn’t know if anyone was down there. But he did want to be ready if anyone was down there. They made a racket before.  

Storyteller

Ugh, your scales must be thick as fuck she thinks in response to him missing her point but holds her tongue. They had fought enough so far and he had a point about drawing attention to themselves. She continues to prepare her own meal mostly in silence before she thinks to deflect the topic to something else they both had in common. "Why did you trust the weirdo in the mask enough to come here, anyway?"  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Luckily she didn’t speak up to him about that. He was rather thick scaled to use her wording and starts eating away quickly. “Well, let’s see. He didn’t stab me, try to shoot me, drown me or recruit me into a cult. So I guess I just came because of all the bells and whistles. Hoping there was an PlayStation two or if I was lucky that new one the three.” He joked with a thick layer of sarcasm. Though he seemed like he genuinely didn’t know they’d moved all the way up to four by this point. “Look I didn’t have much of a choice and y’know I’ve got the bonus of being an evo.”  

Storyteller

She narrowed her eyes a bit for a moment, the coincidence of the statement feeding into her suspicions. She didn't dwell on it long though, and suppressed the urge to bring it up in a hostile manner. "The PS5 came out last year, but I don't have anything that fancy. I do have one of those old portable PS1s that come with a built in screen though. Almost everything in this house is retro as fuck, but at least a lot of it still works."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“I’m sorry the PS5……oh god, I’ve been homeless so long I’m getting old….” Marcus rubbed his head a bit and sighed as more food was shoved down his throat.   “Oh the PSP? One of my friends had that. Back before y’know. I turned into a fish, and that old retro stuff was built to last and take a beating. Can be pretty helpful. I mean my bag is probably older then I am…..I’m only….seven….no…eighteen? One of those two……did you raid the liquor cabinet at least?”  

Sera Oswald

"No, not the PSP, it's.. well, it's probably easier to just show you. The battery is probably charged by now. And no I didn't 'raid the liquor cabinet', I'm fucking 14. I'm a street rat, not a hooligan.." she says as she gets up and moves over to one of the boxes in the pile next to her, quickly pulling out what looked like a classic PlayStation except a tiny bit smaller. She takes the device and sets it up on the floor in the middle of the attic, stringing the power cord back into the corner where an outlet that looked very out of place was sticking out of the wall. She plugged in the game console and then promptly returned to it. She lifted what looked like the cover only for it to show itself to be a small monitor that folds overtop the disc tray. "See? Retro as fuck. I've got Final Fantasy 5 through 9, the Spyro Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Though Disc 1 of Final Fantasy 8 is scratched to hell and doesn't load past the intro cutscene.." she says, turning back to Marcus. "The name's Sera, by the way. I guess we've talked long enough now that not introducing myself would be a bit rude.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“I was drinking at your age, me and all of my street rat friends used to!” He groaned out defensively, there was a hint of a sad overtone when he said ‘friends’ though she would only notice if she cared enough.   “Booze has many uses, helps numb if a friend is stabbed and vodka can be used to sterilise sh- I’m sorry you’ve got Spyro?….Man my mum’s friend got that for my fifth bday….” Of coirse it wasn’t bought brand new, hell. The Xbox 360 had already been out for a few years at this point but it was all his family had. If you could even call the pigs who failed to raise him that.   “Well, if we’re introducing ourselves, I guess I’m Marcus…..well….last police report I lied on was that my last name was Kmart…..so…..yeah…..”  

Sera Oswald

Fuck, I didn't mean to do that.. she thinks as she picks up on the sadness in his voice. With a stockpile of VCDs of various movies and shows to watch over the past year using her somewhat strange setup she had plenty of material to analyze the way people interact and express themselves, consciously or not. She had always been big on media but after what happened with her family it became something closer to an obsession, with a fun hobby turning into something done for a clear purpose. As a result she now finds herself taking that same analytical view towards her interactions with others, for better or for worse.   Spyro it is then she decides once he comments on it. She walks back to the box she got the console from and grabs the game case for 'Spyro the Dragon', the original 1998 release, and pops the disc into the tray. Once the game starts to load she picks up one of the two controllers and offers it to Marcus. "Do you want to play? I've beaten these like 5 times each at this point so I'd just be going through the motions like a speedrunner without a timer in the background. And if you care about last names mine is Oswald, a large branch of an even larger tree of crazy."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus slowly moved on all fours towards the nearest window and peered outside his steps light upon the creaky floor his bones creaking slightly as he clawed at it with his strong black painted nails worn down at it slightly, his fingers hadn’t deformed entirely yet into something besides webbed scaled hands that were rough and armoured around the knuckles.   “I’m a bit rusty, I’m not even sure my hands can use that thing properly anymore…..” His throat looking to his hand before his eyes peered back at her.   “Sera….Oswald…..Got it….Kmart isn’t my real last name…..but I think we’ve all got a little crazy in our blood…I’m a fish man, my ex could turn invisible, both had problems…..but uh whats a speed runner? Like someone who runs fast?”  

Sera Oswald

"Hey, my grandmother played games with only one arm, you never know how well you'll do until you try. Let me know if you change your mind, I guess." She starts a new save file and starts playing the game casually. Well, as casually as one can after the night this had turned out to be so far. "A speed runner is someone who plays the game to see how fast they can beat the entire thing, or reach some other goal, with people competing for the fastest time in different categories. It got really popular a few years ago, but people have been doing it for as long as the internet has allowed us to make leaderboards, possibly for even longer than that actually."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“She didn’t have webbed scaled fingers….” She probably wasn’t a monster either... wait no she’s old and probably white so that’s a monster. His deep broken voice croaked out slowly though he didn’t dare let his thoughts out. With a soft cracking and shifting on his body Marcus took cover from behind the crate and peered to watch her play. Memories rushing back into his head that he’d long pushed out, happy ones.   He remembered how his mother helped him learn the controls and would watch him play, all the love she had. Looking back on it now it left a sick aqueous aftertaste in his mouth. His mother was just pretending then. He wasn’t going to let a pretender get that close again.   “Right, so I’d be a speed runner for number of crimes done in a lifetime…..”  

Sera Oswald

She laughs at the finger comment, quickly following it up with "You didn't see the hand she had left. When I say my grandmother I mean my great grandmother. We thought she'd live forever and outlive us all, and it's a shame she didn't. She was the only truly sane person in my extended family." She played through the game rather easily before stopping at a seemingly random point, staring at a corner in a wall. "Speed running is about getting what you want as quickly as possible. So yeah, if you wanted to do that or it got you something.. Look, I'll do something I've never done before to make the point. I want to complete the game and do it as fast as possible right? So why play through this level I just started when I can just do this instead?" she says as she has Spyro jump at just the right angle into the corner she had been staring at to glitch through the wall and fall to the end of the level. "Stuff like this is why people have been able to beat this entire game in less than an hour. If committing a crime gets you what you want out of life faster, then fuck it, I'd call that speed running in real life. Feels like that's already what most people are trying to do, honestly."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus let out a low grunt while she talked about her great grandmother, not a dismissive one but just to let he know he was listening but didn’t have a smart Ass comment. “Right. So you manipulate the system like…..Wall Street? Except I steal Cus I need too, it’s survival out here “  

Sera Oswald

Survival... she repeated the word in her mind, something about the statement hitting her harder than she would have expected. She suddenly places down the controller and stands back up, facing Marcus as she does. "Are you not tired of settling for survival? Because I know I am. I want to live, not just survive; I want to do more than simply prolong my existence on this miserable rock. If you're already going to bend or break the rules of society to survive because you have no other choice, why not do it to improve your situation overall?" The last line is worded to be directed at him but she is also asking herself the same question, and she immediately follows the question with her own answer. "You know what? Fuck it. That's exactly what I'm gonna do.." Without giving him much time to respond she quickly turns away and starts walking towards the hatch so as to leave the room.  

Edward Walker

The man downstairs lets a slight smile form as he senses her movement and hears her words. It told him that she was leaving the attic and possibly the house, but more than that it told him that his mentor had been right. All according to plan, eh Conspiratus..? he thinks as he quickly but quietly shifts position to somewhere out of sight and waits to see what happens next.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“For someone who thought that I was planted by that masked weirdo you kinda sound like a plant.” He said looking and listening intently to hear if the rain was still pouring down outside. His pointed almost bat like ears twitching a small amount.   “It ain’t that easy. Look, Sera. I’ve tried that. You gotta be careful doing stupid shit like that, the cops are practically a military force that’d love to put someone who’s different under the ground.” He let out a deep sigh. He’d remebered when an almost similar moment happened with him, a few years ago someone had complained and he decided to cause as much chaos as possible.   “You still look normal, can start over. If I had that I’d take it. But if you really want to risk a normal life I’ll help. Nothing better to do besides try and die anyway.”  

Storyteller

The storm had eased at some point since Marcus had arrived but it refused to let up entirely, the small droplets still steadily falling upon the metallic roof.  

Sera Oswald

She stops after opening the hatch back up and turns to face him again. "A normal life? Don't make me laugh, that's not something I'll get without fabricating it myself.. this little conversation has helped me to realize that. Looks aren't everything, you know. And sure, maybe this is exactly what that crazy fucker was hoping for, but I don't really care anymore. I'm done hiding." She turns back around and starts heading down the ladder, speaking up again as she does. "If you wanna help, be my guest, but I've already made up my mind; I'm going to get myself a better life or I'll fucking die trying. That's as close to normal as I'm going to get."  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Already hurt another person. Might as well try and stop this ones fucking death. “You’re awkwardly stubborn y’know that?” He commented with a sigh grabbing his back and moving over to look down the hatch.   “You’d be better to wait for the rain to stop, you can get hypo….hypo….t-…..the fucking cold sickness. I can’t.” He stumbled out rather awkwardly, he always had trouble with some words but couldn’t really get them out.   “Well, either way, look for a liquor cabinet down there, bottles can be helpful.” He commented again confidently as if to try and hide the fact he didn’t know the word ‘hypothermia’ and crawled quickly and deftly back down a floor like some monster from the depths. Beginning a slow clearing of each floor.  

Edward Walker

When Marcus exits the attic and starts clearing the area again Edward picks up on it and realizes what he's doing. I was told he was cautious but I didn't expect him to be that cautious.. He slowly starts making his way from his hiding spot to the still open back door as to avoid being discovered, careful not to let the floor creak on his way out. He considers leaving entirely to ensure he isn't found since the two no longer seem to be fighting, but decides against it and once outside makes his way to a spot on the other side of the fence in case the two remain inside. There he waits, listening for another fight to possibly break out. Can't discount the possibility, these two are still pretty volatile.  

Sera Oswald

"Stubborn? Yes. Stupid? Not so much. I'm not about to storm outside in the middle of a rainy night to blindly run out into the world, I'm just done sitting in the attic biding my time." She walks into one of the rooms, what looked like some kind of study, and begins rummaging through desk drawers and file cabinets all filled with various paperwork and mail. "Liquor's in here, come raid it yourself if you want."  

Edward Walker

Marcus slowly crawls down each and every single area trying his best to clear and make sure no one was around, if he happened to find a rat, well he wouldn’t ignore the protein…   Hearing that the liquor was in there his ears perked up but focused on the clearing and searching of the house, looking for any new smells or sounds. Or maybe someone who had entered tracking in mud even clearing all of the floor to where he came in and peeking through the keyhole. His eyes already focused to the darkness. His nose cracked as his nostrils opened more more sensitive his ears cracking and painfully changing shape to let more noise in.

[Adaptation Normal x1 -3 9/15]

 

Storyteller

Edward was careful earlier to have not tracked in mud, but some rainwater could not be prevented from finding its way in with him. Though it would be hard to discern if it came from another person or if it was brought in with Marcus when he first arrived since most of it was at the back door where both had entered from. The sound of the last footstep Edward took before stopping in his chosen spot was the only thing Marcus managed to catch as his ears shifted into their new form. The sound could have easily been a number of other things though, with the rain and mud making the sound less distinct from other possibilities. No smells seemed to stick out to him either, and when he looks out the keyhole he sees only the old wooden fence.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

What was that? Marcus couldn’t see anything through the keyhole but he knew he heard something. Maybe he was just going crazy, but every time he thinks that cops or gangsters bust down the door and someone gets hurt. “We might have had a visitor.” Is all he whispered in a slightly raised voice so Sera could hear still whispering as he slowly cracks the door open and looks to the ground outside, he knew what his shoe marks looked like. He’d check the mud and the walkway from the door. His entire body ready to pounce or run if he saw anything off.  

Storyteller

There were some footprints in the muddy grass, hard to spot at first thanks to the nature of the shoe that left them, but there nonetheless. They seemed to be from a fancier shoe, the type a business man might wear. The tracks led from the same hole in the fence he had entered through and then back to that same spot.  

Sera Oswald

"What?" she asked reflexively, leaving the study and grabbing a baseball bat that was resting near the doorway to the room on her way out. She peeks around the corner of the hallway to look towards the door and gauge the situation. "I know another way out if we need to sneak away" she says quietly from the hallway.  

Edward Walker

Hearing the comment made by Marcus, Edward immediately turns around and starts to run. Looks like my cover is blown. He's nothing if not observant and careful.. Guess it's out of my hands now. The sound of the footsteps through the muddy grass ring out rather clearly this time as they are hurried steps, quickly turning into the sound of steps on concrete as he reaches the sidewalk and turns the corner out of the easement.

[En. Senses (Granted): x1 Minor, -1 EP (7/15)]

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Pigs running. Be back.” Fancy shoes, shouldn’t be able to get too far. Marcus’s body and instincts took over. His own boots slamming into the muddy ground as he took off his body was naturally closer to the ground from the way his form had adapted he slipped through the gap in the fence and tuned in his hearing to focus on the hurried steps as he gripped his knife.   There was a certain feeling that he couldn’t quite explain. The quick beating of his heart the rush of his body taking every single sound, sight, smell. His slid his knife so it would be pointing directly out. Edward could tell the teen was hot on his tail, not to mention from whatever research he did, that anything he held was a weapon once it his power was used.  

Edward Walker

Running at a rather impressive, though not unnatural, speed despite the shoes and the rain, Edward turns the first corner onto another street just in time for Marcus to barely be able to catch a glimpse of him. As soon as he turns the corner he raises the pistol in his hand into the air and fires a single shot to both warn his pursuer that he's armed and also give him something else to worry about with the sound possibly attracting others. Continuing to run as he fires the warning shot he tries to keep track of Marcus' distance behind him, stopping and turning around quickly as he thinks Marcus is about to turn the corner after him. He raises the pistol getting ready to fire as soon as he turns the corner if he isn't deterred by the warning, aiming for his leg. Please don't make me hurt you, Marcus. I'll do it if I have to but I'd rather not make things harder on you..  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Fuckin’ FED.”He let’s out in an angry roar each step getting him closer and closer as if he was some mangy mutt nipping on his heels.   BANG “FUCK!”   His ears started ringing more and more after the single shot his entire body discombobulated from the loud noise throwing off his balance, Edward could hear the squishy footsteps speed up and change into a loud sliding impact with the ground his dirty and once semi-clean clothes now mud-ridden as he slammed into the muddy ground and slid around the corner unable to stop his momentum his ears being clutched by his hands. Though somehow Marcus still looked scary despite what just happened.  

Sera Oswald

After a short pause following Marcus saying he'd 'be back' and sprinting away, she found herself running after him as well. Why am I doing this? Why should I care if he gets hurt or hurts someone else? This is stupid, this is so stupid.. Being smaller than the other two she found it easy to get through the hole in the fence quickly and she ran as fast as she thought she could, though once she heard the gunshot it made her heart skip a beat and somehow find a bit more strength to go just a little bit faster as her body fills with adrenaline.  

Edward Walker

"I'm not a fed, Marcus, let it go or the next shot might be one we both regret!" he says loudly enough for him to hear over the rain as he turns around to continue running, seeing the fall as an opportunity to put more distance between them.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“MY FUCKING HEAD.” Admittedly Marcus only heard his name. He was on the ground hand over ears groaning looking up and flicking his hood back his hands began to glow purple as well as his pupils as Edward suddenly felt his body practically magnitise to the ground with how his wait and the wait of his gun suddenly quadrupled. With a cough and a rubbing of his head he focused on Edward and slowly stood up his ears still ringing but able to hear.   “Drop the fucking gun. WHO SENT YOU.” He spoke that turned to yelling in the midnight air his hand still holding Edward and everything around him down as he slowly moved behind cover not wanting to be shot.

[Gravity generation x1 normal -3EP 12/15]

 

Edward Walker

Tripping under his own increased weight the second the power was activated, he quickly fell forward. Barely catching himself with his hands and knees, he was left inches from being forced fully flat against the ground. He couldn't really move from this position either as it took everything he had just to keep himself from falling further. Between the extreme conditions and his exertion to maintain some amount of control he finds himself suddenly vomiting as his vision narrows and begins to grey. In a last desperate attempt to get free from this attack he uses what strength he can spare to pull the trigger on the pistol. Just this simple act was almost impossible for him in this state, and so there was no way for him to aim the weapon or look up to make sure no bystanders would be in the way, it simply fired forwards. Two shots rang out in relatively quick succession, the hope being that the impact of the sound was enough to disrupt Marcus' focus and make the power loosen its grip on him. Wishful thinking at best, but it was all he had left to do.  

Sera Oswald

The young girl soon catches up with the other two and arrives as Marcus is getting up, just in time to see most of this unfold. The gunshots make her jump again but she doesn't back away. "Hey, if the guy is a cop wouldn't killing him only make it worse? Let's just get out of here.." she pleads. She didn't want to see someone die but she also meant what she said.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus didn’t react to the gunshots he suspected that someone would try and abuse it once they found out so he sunk his thumbs into his bat like ears to stop the noise from getting through as he watched Sera jump and tried his best to read her lips his eyes and hands glowing purple as he scrunched his face in focus, he couldn’t understand what she was saying? He could only really make out cop, killing and here.   “I was gonna ask a few questions first like how he knew my name but I can just try and kill him here. I just gotta stop him shooting.”  

Sera Oswald

She suddenly grabs his arm at the confirmation that he intended to kill the stranger, tugging at it as if to pull him away from the scene as she screams "STOP! I won't let you do this damnit, just let him fucking go!" Her cries surprise even her to a certain extent, an overwhelming emotion that she hadn't felt in two years. As if in response to her pleading demand another feeling welled up inside her as a connection was formed between her and Marcus at the point where her hand clutched onto his wrist, a connection that immediately made clear to him what her intent was and made the directions essentially impossible to resist.

[Pather - Mind Control (Awakening): x1 Strenuous, -15 EP (-5/10)]

 

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus wasn’t in good condition mentally already, his ears were ringing, he was exhausted, scared, his heart was practically beating out of his chest he’ll even when she gripped his wrist she could feel his pulse was faster then it should have been. Something mentally had just clicked when she said that, he wanted to speak up, ask if this was what she actually wanted, complain, groan, maybe vomit from the ringing of the gunshots. But he didn’t. His hands while still trying their best to cover his ears slowly let the purple glow stutter out of existence as it faded from his cold black eyes. The gravity well around Edward and the purple energy that had surrounded him suddenly disappearing. Though plenty of damage has been done. Marcus didn’t respond. He was still reeling from the gunshots he was admittedly impressed he could focus with his head wanting to explode like this.  

Edward Walker

As soon as gravity returned to normal around him he took in a deep breath and nearly vomited again but managed to hold it in. He couldn't, however, keep himself up anymore as he had barely hung on for that long as it was, and he quickly slumped over onto his side as he did everything he could just to retain his consciousness. It would take him at least thirty seconds to a minute to recover enough and stabilize himself, readjusting to normal gravity again. It would be even longer still before he started to rise back to his hands and knees and eventually try to stand. "Conspiratus just wanted me to make sure.. you didn't kill each other.." he says before erupting into a coughing fit as he struggles to rise to his feet. As soon as he manages to do so he starts continuing down the street, albeit rather slowly at first.  

Sera Oswald

"Thank you.." she says after seeing the purple glow fade. She then immediately pulls on his arm once more in an attempt to lead him away from the area. "Now come on, let's get out of here before anyone else shows up!" She says in a panicked tone, the words pulling him even more than her arms do physically. She can quickly feel herself getting tired but holds on for as long as she can, having a desperate need to get them away from this place. She doesn't care where or what direction they go so long as it is far away.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

Marcus’s ears slowly recovered though his head was still pounding and the adrenaline was dying down. He could hear what Edward was saying and even audibly stated. “That….masked…..idiot…” as he rubbed his head and stumbled after Sera quite literally being strung along by her words though his headache was probably not helping him think. “Back to the house. Grab your stuff…then sewers.”  

Sera Oswald

"Sure, we just need some of the food and what's in.. the safe behind.. the fl-" Both her words and her feet slow down until eventually she is no longer speaking or walking at all, quickly slumping forward and losing grip on his wrist as she begins to fall unconscious.  

Marcus ‘Kmart’

“Yeah, yeah. I know wait there’s a flo- No you don’t.” Marcus’s left hand instinctively reached out to her wrist his four fingers gripping around it and quickly throwing her arm over his shoulder. Luckily she didn’t weigh as much as some other people he’s had to carry so he lifts her up rather easily as he runs back towards the house. “If you puke aim away from me please.”  

Storyteller

Teetering on the brink, facing the abyss.. the newly awakened power had proven to be too much for her. By the time he tells her that last line she is already fully unconscious, making her become mostly dead weight as he picks her up. He is left to find what she spoke of essentially on his own as it wouldn't be until long after they had left for the sewers that she would finally wake back up again.