April 1st - Arrival

[cartesio]

Arrival

It feels more like waking up from a very restful night, instead of the jarring feeling of waking up in an unknown bed. That feeling may not last long, though, because you're definitely not looking up at any ceiling you're familiar with.

It's some kind of motel room -- maybe cleaner than you'd expect from such a place. There's a comfortable bed, a trunk with a military uniforn and a gas mask and enough space to stash whatever you get during the next two months, a closet with a familiar outfit or two...no other belongings in this room, and certainly no answers as to why you're here.

There's one thing that may bring more questions than answers: a calendar. Today's date is marked there: April 1st. Happy April Fools day? The entirety of April and most of May is empty, but the week from May 21st to May 25th is filled with one word:

END

The moment you step out of your room with AC you're hit by the warm, sticky air of Cartesio. Today is a rather dry day. You're not the only one who seems to be lost -- other people come out of their rooms. At some point, once you get to the lobby, you find a few things of interest: a guestbook, a rack of maps, and a note pinned to the wood of the counter:

"Meet me at the Lodge in two hours -- The Sergeant"
You now have a place to go to in two hours. In the meanwhile, how about you get accustomed to the motel and the town?

Links

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Locations

Comments

Motel

[streetwolf]

[His plan was head out to the hunting shop and grab a gun. But that's a familiar person. So he stops and-]

Uh...

[How does he say it nicely. He normally wouldn't bother but.]

Whoever made it doesn't like the things you like to cook. They're just being an ass about it.

1/2

[doublelammy]

[Millium grumbles angrily.]

You're damn right they are...

[And then she looks up and actually sees who she's talking to.]

2/2

[doublelammy]

[And she immediately brightens up, hurling herself at Wayne to throw her arms around his waist in a half-tackle, half-hug.]

Yaaay! You're still here, too!

[streetwolf]

Uff- [Enjoy your funny grunt as Wayne stumbles. His ribs... She gets an awkward shoulder pat too. He's not really sure what to do with the tiny attached to his waist. ]

Sure am. Not sure how they got the others up without waking us though, or moving me to another room...

[doublelammy]

[Hey, he remained standing! +1 respect points. And, well, she's used to way more awkward than this, so shoulder pat happily accepted.

She'll detach for now, though.]

Yeah, me either. I mean... I guess I'm glad he at least sent some of 'em home, 'know? [A pause.] ...Or, at least, I sure hope he did.

[There's a certain smile that etches itself in her mind for a moment before she shakes her head quickly. No, he has to be home. That's all there is to that. She won't dwell on it.]

I just wanna know why I'm still here. I have work to do... Gramps is gonna be real mad if I keep being gone, and this town is way too nice to sic an angry Gramps on.

[Sigh!]

But! Since we're both stuck here.

Keep yourself safe, 'kay? 'Cause it'd suck if something happened to you.

[streetwolf]

Only thing we can do is hope he did. Got no way of checking.

[He shrugs as nonchalantly as he can. Though most the people he liked are still here or dead. RIP ponytail buddy.]

I think they might deserve that. Or some of them do. I don't know your gramps but he sounds like one tough bastard. Like old boots.

[But he pauses at the next bit. Blinking.]

Ain't I supposed to be saying that to you? You don't got anything to worry about with me. I've been stuck in worse and scrapped by.

[doublelammy]

Yeah, you got that right. About checking and Gramps...

[She sighs.]

Yeah, Sarge deserves Gramps. But the rest of the town isn't really hurtin' us, y'know? So it'd suck to see what he'd do to the place if he had to.

...Then again, I guess it's not gonna matter too much. [Her eyes dart to the side.] They've got Al, so I guess the other Ironbloods won't really be out too much if I'm gone. Definitely not enough to raze a town or anything.

[She shakes her head, dismissing the thought. There are more important things to focus on, like Wayne!]

Ehehe. Well, that makes you n' me both, buster! You better live up to those expectations. [Pause.] ...n' just live. That part too.

[streetwolf]

[It gets a small bark of laughter.]

Do I really look that hopeless? I know Stella and Meryl say shit sometimes but I'm not that bad right?

[doublelammy]

Youuuu definitely look like the kinda guy that'd get yourself in trouble if no one were watchin' you, yeah.

[But that's said fondly. That's the truth, but Wayne wouldn't be nearly as fun if he were more cautious.]

[streetwolf]

Thanks for the vote of confidence...

[Oh no, even the tinyies are saying it. If he was a sentimental old guy like Cyrus he'd be pretending to cry right now. But no, he's Wayne so he just stares, his head drooping slightly. ]

[doublelammy]

You're welcome!

[As brightly and cheerily as ever. The sarcasm has either gone over her head, or she simply doesn't care.]

It's okay, though. I'm sure everyone else here looks at me and thinks the same thing.

[streetwolf]

... [Why is life so hard?]

You think? I hope so. Or not, I'm not sure which is better in our situation. [On one hand ignore the dopes, on the other they're easy targets.]

[doublelammy]

Hmm... [Her smile drops a bit.] Maybe neither.

I don't think there is a good thing to be, here. Let people think you're smart, you're dangerous. Stupid, easy target. Somewhere in the middle? Disposable.

You really can't win.

[All said as if it's just a matter of fact.]

[streetwolf]

Same wherever you go. Just gotta roll with the punches and get back up. [It's a simple thing to say. And he shrugs.]

Just hope you don't upset anyone enough for them to try something...

[doublelammy]

...Just hope I don't upset anyone?

[POUT.]

I am a bundle of innocence and joy, I'll have you know!

[streetwolf]

[pfftt]

I'm pretty sure that's gonna annoy some miserable bastard.

[doublelammy]

Yeah, well. If that's the case, then they totally deserve it, don't they?

[streetwolf]

True. You just gotta make sure you have backup so they can't try anything.

[doublelammy]

Hehe. That's what I got you for, right?

[RIGHT...]

[streetwolf]

Heh. You got something planned?

[doublelammy]

Not yet! But I'm sure I'll think of somethin'.

This place is gonna get so boring if I don't, y'know?

[streetwolf]

Yeah, I hear you. Gotta go big.

[Make it as obnoxious as you can!!]