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thebreathing2017-06-15 05:10 pm
TEST DRIVE MEME #1.
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YOUR FRIENDLY MODS. (therunning) wrote in thebreathing2017-06-15 05:10 pm
therunning) wrote in thebreathing2017-06-15 05:10 pmEntry tags:
He stayed quiet until the doc returned with a different pair of boots. A full size and a half up from what he'd been given before. Close, just not close enough for comfort.
The clothes he'd been wearing he offered to the doc with a murmured, "Need to be washed." Much as he wanted to burn them, other people could probably use them in a place like this. Wouldn't last long either way.
"Sewing kit of you got one," he added on, unsure if the doc had hear Paul's request to fix his coat. "Where you putting us up for night? Got rooms or we gotta make our own?"
The clothes he'd been wearing he offered to the doc with a murmured, "Need to be washed." Much as he wanted to burn them, other people could probably use them in a place like this. Wouldn't last long either way.
"Sewing kit of you got one," he added on, unsure if the doc had hear Paul's request to fix his coat. "Where you putting us up for night? Got rooms or we gotta make our own?"
Oleta is alone. She is alone and not being watched for the first time in so long that the foreign sense of it practically stops her breath all over again. There's so much that she doesn't remember - funny, isn't it? To remember old things and forget new ones. No, it's not funny at all. Oleta does not remember being strapped down, she does not remember being injected with things meant to fix her, she does not remember getting ill from the treatments.
She does not remember dying.
Oleta remembers Hester. Hester, whose hands on her had been loving even when doling out pain so white-hot she thought she was going to die. Hester, Hester, Hester. Oleta stands on shaking legs and closes her eyes, breathing. She feels her lungs expand and contract, listens to the sound of the oxygen keeping her alive (moist yellow cake it's not). She hears Hester's voice and does not believe it is real.
Nothing here is real.
Oleta moves slowly, carefully, jaw tight and set as she walks - she's stolen a sheet from a bed and turned it into a makeshift dress, sort of, kind of better than paper if you think about it - and picks her way around.
Hester's voice continues.
Hester's voice is real.
Hester is real.
Oleta breathes and sees with eyes focusing for the first time since she was a child. She is in the hallway. They are both in the hallway. They are here. "Hester."
She does not remember dying.
Oleta remembers Hester. Hester, whose hands on her had been loving even when doling out pain so white-hot she thought she was going to die. Hester, Hester, Hester. Oleta stands on shaking legs and closes her eyes, breathing. She feels her lungs expand and contract, listens to the sound of the oxygen keeping her alive (moist yellow cake it's not). She hears Hester's voice and does not believe it is real.
Nothing here is real.
Oleta moves slowly, carefully, jaw tight and set as she walks - she's stolen a sheet from a bed and turned it into a makeshift dress, sort of, kind of better than paper if you think about it - and picks her way around.
Hester's voice continues.
Hester's voice is real.
Hester is real.
Oleta breathes and sees with eyes focusing for the first time since she was a child. She is in the hallway. They are both in the hallway. They are here. "Hester."
Oleta's here. She's here, and moving, and not bleeding out on a cave floor or staring with the not-there look that comes after carpentry, and she sees Hester and knows her. Hester's eyes are no longer focused, because they're filled with tears, and her hands tremble as she fists the fabric of the makeshift dress Oleta's wrapped herself in.
It doesn't matter where they are, or why, it doesn't matter if it's better or worse than where they were before. All that matters is that Oleta is here, and whole, and sees her. The tears spill over and her knees nearly buckle with relief and shame. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't careful enough, I wasn't fast enough... I'm so sorry, Oleta, for all of it, please believe me!" Please forgive me, she doesn't say.
It doesn't matter where they are, or why, it doesn't matter if it's better or worse than where they were before. All that matters is that Oleta is here, and whole, and sees her. The tears spill over and her knees nearly buckle with relief and shame. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't careful enough, I wasn't fast enough... I'm so sorry, Oleta, for all of it, please believe me!" Please forgive me, she doesn't say.
Kei nods as he takes the offered clothes, not questioning why the change was needed as he sets them aside so that they can be added to the things that need to be washed later. He hands Paul a sewing kit too, apparently having indeed heard him. As for the query: "we have rooms set up for people. Studios, one bedrooms, small places in shops or cafes for people that want to be right in this area. Personally I'd prefer higher ground if I could, but I stay here."
Paul's nodded his thanks for the kit and pocketed it - he can do it later when they're alone. "A studio would work fine," he says without thought, assuming Daryl will agree because they need to be close together.
(He doesn't know how Rick and everyone slept when they first arrived in Alexandria.)
"We have a couple free just a half a block dow--"
"One's fine," Paul says, with finality. Practical. "We're from the same place, it doesn't matter."
Paul's nodded his thanks for the kit and pocketed it - he can do it later when they're alone. "A studio would work fine," he says without thought, assuming Daryl will agree because they need to be close together.
(He doesn't know how Rick and everyone slept when they first arrived in Alexandria.)
"We have a couple free just a half a block dow--"
"One's fine," Paul says, with finality. Practical. "We're from the same place, it doesn't matter."
For long moments, Oleta does not understand why Hester is begging her for forgiveness. But then it strikes her quickly, a sharp blow to the brain like the buzzing work of carpentry but this is making her eyes clear, not clouded.
"No," she says, but it is not in answer. The not-carpentry is still in her brain like angry bees. "No, it's not your fault." Oleta thinks it's strange that her voice is soft. Is it? She doesn't remember. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. It doesn't matter. "Hester, Hester, Hester." She breathes it out like a prayer, if she knew what a prayer was. "You saved me."
For a glorious few moments, they were free.
"No," she says, but it is not in answer. The not-carpentry is still in her brain like angry bees. "No, it's not your fault." Oleta thinks it's strange that her voice is soft. Is it? She doesn't remember. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. It doesn't matter. "Hester, Hester, Hester." She breathes it out like a prayer, if she knew what a prayer was. "You saved me."
For a glorious few moments, they were free.
"We gotta talk to someone about signin' a lease?" Daryl asked, going right along with Paul's declaration. It was half-joking, but also half-serious. Did the settlement have someone cataloging what spaces were being used and what weren't? He had to assume someone was with the more obvious material goods. But in Alexandria, and what he'd seen of the hilltop, policy was to know who was tucking in where so nothing was wasted.
He fiddled with the knife he still had, wiggling it between fingers and wishing he had a sheath to put it in before finally deciding he might as well give it back to Jesus. He rubbed at his nose as he held it out, looking ready to take off as soon as the answer about the lease was given.
He fiddled with the knife he still had, wiggling it between fingers and wishing he had a sheath to put it in before finally deciding he might as well give it back to Jesus. He rubbed at his nose as he held it out, looking ready to take off as soon as the answer about the lease was given.
The way Oleta says her name makes the sob that was lodged in her chest break free. She doesn't say that it was her fault Oleta needed saving in the first place. She doesn't say that her efforts to do so ultimately failed, that their few moments of freedom together were filled with pain and blood and terror. She releases her grip on the sheet, her glasses lifting as she rubs at her eyes to clear them, to compose herself. There's still their current situation to deal with, after all.
She takes several steadying breaths. She's had to implement many of the techniques she'd taught Oleta the past few weeks, during her own "treatments". Her shaking shoulders gradually still. "I don't know where we are now. I don't know what's happened."
She takes several steadying breaths. She's had to implement many of the techniques she'd taught Oleta the past few weeks, during her own "treatments". Her shaking shoulders gradually still. "I don't know where we are now. I don't know what's happened."
Kei laughs and it's more like a huff of air than anything as he shrugs. "More like just let us know what apartment you settle on so no one else decides to take the same space. People here are from... A lot of different places, so it's best everyone gets their space." He smiles. "The nearest place is out here and to the right, half a block like I said. After that, a couple buildings down. You'll be able to tell which buildings are open."
Right. Paul takes his knife back and slots it back into place easily, nodding. "Thanks for your help. We'll let you know when we settle in." Probably. Maybe.
He glances at Daryl before waving a goodbye to the doctor and escaping out the door.
Right. Paul takes his knife back and slots it back into place easily, nodding. "Thanks for your help. We'll let you know when we settle in." Probably. Maybe.
He glances at Daryl before waving a goodbye to the doctor and escaping out the door.
This much Oleta knows: that they were painful and terrifying moments and they ultimately failed but they were free and that is most important. Her arms come to rest around Hester's waist, holding her close in a clumsy form of comfort that she's unused to giving.
"Hester," she murmurs as the other woman tries to compose herself, "listen to my voice." With that Oleta presses their foreheads together and murmurs soft affections, nothings, breathes. In out in out. Listen to your breathing, Hester. Can you hear your heart beating?
Can you see all you've done for the woman you love?
"I don't know what's happened either. There's no one here. No cameras, no eyes, no people."
"Hester," she murmurs as the other woman tries to compose herself, "listen to my voice." With that Oleta presses their foreheads together and murmurs soft affections, nothings, breathes. In out in out. Listen to your breathing, Hester. Can you hear your heart beating?
Can you see all you've done for the woman you love?
"I don't know what's happened either. There's no one here. No cameras, no eyes, no people."
[He's just going to ignore being called out again and just focus on peering through the junk for anything potentially useful. Or worms. Either-or.]
I don't know. I figured there was no people-food and y'all have had to start eatin' worms, or somethin' like that. Leaves, maybe. Like I said: I don't fuckin' know. Do you really expect to find much?
[God, he really misses Tusk, which is awful, because Tusk is kind of awful itself, but at least he'd have an easier time of moving around with the Spin. As it is, he's mostly stationary.]
I'm gonna assume you got here in the same way I did, at least. Name's Johnny Joestar.
I don't know. I figured there was no people-food and y'all have had to start eatin' worms, or somethin' like that. Leaves, maybe. Like I said: I don't fuckin' know. Do you really expect to find much?
[God, he really misses Tusk, which is awful, because Tusk is kind of awful itself, but at least he'd have an easier time of moving around with the Spin. As it is, he's mostly stationary.]
I'm gonna assume you got here in the same way I did, at least. Name's Johnny Joestar.
I gotta at least l--
[And there it is. She makes a sound like: hurgleurgle. Tired. So tired. All of a sudden she just wants to nap right here on this pile of crap.]
You got a dumb name. [THAT'S NOT HOW YOU . . .] Jolyne. [can she nap yet]
[And there it is. She makes a sound like: hurgleurgle. Tired. So tired. All of a sudden she just wants to nap right here on this pile of crap.]
You got a dumb name. [THAT'S NOT HOW YOU . . .] Jolyne. [can she nap yet]
Daryl nodded to the doc and followed Jesus out, looking around at the buildings. Most of them were tall and dominated the landscape with lots of smaller shops at the base. Or in the lower floors of the buildings that got closer to the Library.
"Ain't got a lot of power. Probably no running water, neither," he said as they walked, following the directions. "Means a good half of these buildings are useless where there ain't no windows or sun lights. Anything they got going on is gonna be in the rooms along the outside walls and the rest is storage or whatever... And be damn hot, too. Sun's gonna make people bake around here."
Mostly idle commentary about obvious stuff, but since Jesus wasn't someone he'd known for going on two years, he didn't know for sure if their thoughts were heading the same direction. Had to talk it out with him in the way he didn't have to with Rick or Sasha, or any of the others.
"Think that Hilton's inside the walls? It looks close enough," Daryl asked, then added, "Bet all the penthouses are taken."
"Ain't got a lot of power. Probably no running water, neither," he said as they walked, following the directions. "Means a good half of these buildings are useless where there ain't no windows or sun lights. Anything they got going on is gonna be in the rooms along the outside walls and the rest is storage or whatever... And be damn hot, too. Sun's gonna make people bake around here."
Mostly idle commentary about obvious stuff, but since Jesus wasn't someone he'd known for going on two years, he didn't know for sure if their thoughts were heading the same direction. Had to talk it out with him in the way he didn't have to with Rick or Sasha, or any of the others.
"Think that Hilton's inside the walls? It looks close enough," Daryl asked, then added, "Bet all the penthouses are taken."
[Johnny raises his eyebrows at that Noise, because he really doesn't think it's that bad of a name. It's not Gyro Zeppeli, or Funny Valentine, or any other number of names he could mention but won't.]
Jolyne's stupid too.
[It's not, and he knows it's not, but he can't leave that hanging.]
Maybe you've heard of me? You sound American enough.
Jolyne's stupid too.
[It's not, and he knows it's not, but he can't leave that hanging.]
Maybe you've heard of me? You sound American enough.
"You'd think California of all places would all be on solar power, but what do I know?" Luckily, it seems like their thought processes are at least similar. "Though with the height of the buildings, it'd be hard to get right unless they rigged up panels across the south sides of the buildings themselves."
Paul sighs, squinting off toward the hotel before nodding. "Dry heat, too. Dehydration. Winters are bound to be mild. No snow to deal with, but no slowdown on the dead either."
A beat. "Taken or trashed early on by people that thought the apocalypse would last a week." He smiles faintly over at Daryl, thoughtful. "Worth a shot."
Paul sighs, squinting off toward the hotel before nodding. "Dry heat, too. Dehydration. Winters are bound to be mild. No snow to deal with, but no slowdown on the dead either."
A beat. "Taken or trashed early on by people that thought the apocalypse would last a week." He smiles faintly over at Daryl, thoughtful. "Worth a shot."
Hester leans into the comfort greedily, and the shift that is her being the one listening, the one being instructed, and Oleta's voice leading her through it, is almost too much. Those beautiful affections are almost too much.
No cameras always watching. No people hiding their watching behind sunglasses, or not being required to hide their watching at all. Another deep breath. They're safe, at least marginally. They're together, certainly. Hester matches her own breaths to Oleta's, fingers wrapping around her wrist, holding it gently, so she can feel the other woman's heartbeat. The pulse under her index finger steadies her. They're alive, they're here. "We need to figure out where we are, and what's going on. Proper clothes are in order too, I think."
No cameras always watching. No people hiding their watching behind sunglasses, or not being required to hide their watching at all. Another deep breath. They're safe, at least marginally. They're together, certainly. Hester matches her own breaths to Oleta's, fingers wrapping around her wrist, holding it gently, so she can feel the other woman's heartbeat. The pulse under her index finger steadies her. They're alive, they're here. "We need to figure out where we are, and what's going on. Proper clothes are in order too, I think."
Daryl shook his head and jerked it toward the apartment building they'd been directed to, "Doc said that was the place to look. If there were space in the fancy hotel, we'd probably been told. Can ask at the door, though. Or with whoever's taking the numbers."
He was glancing at the pamphlet again, "Might have to go to the Library to find the person doing that. Reading this, sounds like most of the activity goes on there. Ain't far either. Just a block in the other direction from where Doc's sending us."
The paper got closed and shoved in a pocket, "Lets see if we can find a room that ain't taken and easy to get in and out of. Then where they've set up the showers and toilets. Figure out how long it'll take to get there and back when nature calls."
Or do the medieval thing and shit in a bucket and dump it out the window later. Woe be it passersby.
He was glancing at the pamphlet again, "Might have to go to the Library to find the person doing that. Reading this, sounds like most of the activity goes on there. Ain't far either. Just a block in the other direction from where Doc's sending us."
The paper got closed and shoved in a pocket, "Lets see if we can find a room that ain't taken and easy to get in and out of. Then where they've set up the showers and toilets. Figure out how long it'll take to get there and back when nature calls."
Or do the medieval thing and shit in a bucket and dump it out the window later. Woe be it passersby.
"True. Could've assumed people would want real apartments, though. Doesn't matter to me," says he-of-the-trailer-life. "School for the kids' there, right? And they're using it as a makeshift City Hall."
A block's not bad. It's so strange to be enclosed but not know the surrounding area like the back of his hand, to not have wilderness to comb through. "It's been a long time since I've spent any time in a city. It feels claustrophobic now." Real, real cramped.
"Yeah," he agrees, "we'll have to spend tomorrow figuring the less pressing matters out. As for our place... High up as we can get, agreed?"
A block's not bad. It's so strange to be enclosed but not know the surrounding area like the back of his hand, to not have wilderness to comb through. "It's been a long time since I've spent any time in a city. It feels claustrophobic now." Real, real cramped.
"Yeah," he agrees, "we'll have to spend tomorrow figuring the less pressing matters out. As for our place... High up as we can get, agreed?"
Me too, but funnily enough, no one asked my opinion before sending me here. [No one asked her opinion before they killed her, either. None of this is what she would have chosen.] Home was better. May have been fucked up, but it was my fucked up.
Of course.
[ he looks down at the pamphlet and then out over at their new home. they've talked a lot about what they want to look for and made plans, so they should actually get to them. ]
Shall we... [ mine frowns. daigo had asked him not to be as polite. like they're just two civilians. two friends. he can do this. ] Let's go look around.
[ he heads out. come on, vamanos! everybody lets go! ]
[ he looks down at the pamphlet and then out over at their new home. they've talked a lot about what they want to look for and made plans, so they should actually get to them. ]
Shall we... [ mine frowns. daigo had asked him not to be as polite. like they're just two civilians. two friends. he can do this. ] Let's go look around.
[ he heads out. come on, vamanos! everybody lets go! ]
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