Lucky stumbles out of the Hedge Gate, falling against a tree. "Ow," he mutters to no one in particular, the leap to the boat having done a bang-up job on his ribs even -before- the bull-lion-thing attacked and made the world go crazy. He looks around, trying to get his bearings, but very little in the way of bearings are to be had. He's in the middle of a treeline, not far from the banks of a river... with no sign of civilization in sight.
"Wellll," he sighs, sliding down to have a seat on the cool, solid, unmoving ground. After the constant tossing on the boat, it's a nice change of pace, even if it does seem oddly still. "Fuck. Me."
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, checking it over. Undamaged. And with a decent battery still. So, maybe things aren't quite looking so bad. Punching in Sid's number, he waits for the man to pick up, closing his eyes for a moment to still his swimming head.
Sid was dead asleep, passed out face down in yesterday's clothes. How he managed to lose one of his socks withthe shoe still on was a wonder. And where the other shoe was? Who knows. Sid had not the luck that Lucky had which might be how his phone started ringing to RIck Astley. He growled into his pillow "Awwww '"Bob Sagat" which...was as good an explecitive as any. Seeing it was Lucky though his opinion changed on teh call. He croaked into the phone "...'suuuuuup bubbeleh?"
His opinion on the call might not last long, of course. "Sid? Hey," Lucky says, voice sounding pained, and a bit tired. "I ... kind of need a favor. I need a ride." And almost as an afterthought. "Booze would also be nice. Painkillers would be very appreciated too." The man isn't his usual chipper self. He sounds a bit drained, frayed around the edges.
Sid rolled to his back and started to sober quickly. He was able to do mental math here. He sat up. Woah... too fast. But there it was, adreneline burning lethargy from his system. He grunted and asked groggily, "Sure. Where'm I meetin you?" Truth be told he was already off his ass in teh wayhouse and grabbing a bag, throwing whatever clothes were lying around in it and finding nother shoe. Pointy ear to the phone he said tiredly, "Food? Cash? Crowbar?" Hey best to ask the essentials right?
-> >> Lucky to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 1 Success
< 1 4 9 >
========================-> >> Intelligence + Computer No Flags << <-
"That's a goooood question," Lucky says into the phone, looking around to try and get at least some idea of where he is. The problem with rural Vermont is that anywhere in rural Vermont could be anywhere else in Rural Vermont. And when you come stumbling out of an unfamiliar Hedge Gate? Who the fuck knows where you are. Or if you're even in Vermont. About all he can be sure of is that he's sure as fuck not in Kansas anymore. He's at least been there.
"Hold on a sec, I think this thing has a..." He glances at the phone, the technology not exactly as daunting as it would be to the previous generation, but leaps and bounds were made while he was in Arcadia. Fiddling with a few buttons, he finally finds what he's looking for: Google Maps. With the option to send a location. And with a push of a button, Sid can now find exactly where he is, god bless advanced technology. He's a few towns over, but no more than a half hour drive. Out in what is essentially the middle of nowhere, along the backroads. "You have food, cash, and a crowbar in your trunk already," he reminds Sid. "In the bug-out bag." That Lucky put there. And may or may not have forgotten to mention.
The sound of a door closing and keys jingling, bore boots. Another door. The car was turning on. he didn't even look in teh trunk. He was tired as hell and got just tore up earlier. This'll teach him. Adreneline was on. Car was on. Phone was on speakerphone and got dropped into the cup holder. "I know. I just didn't know if you wanted a pop tart or not." Either he was very thoughtful or very unsafe to drive. "can you keep on the phone?"
"Yeah," Lucky tells him. "Battery is full. Think we maybe passed close to a school of sparkfish or something." Whatever the hell that means. Either way, the battery running out didn't seem to be much of an issue. Thouh this time, it's Lucky's turn to ask, "Are you okay to drive? You don't sound very sober." Which is a pretty good guess no matter what time of day it is, for either of them. "Don't wreck the jag. You'll never forgive me." Which probably isn't true, though in Lucky's head, it could be.
"Also, there are pop tarts under the passenger seat." That sneaky fucking bastard.
Sid was tired, and by Mr. Rogers he'd do anyhting for Lucky but still, that siad he commented tiredly, and drily, "Stop stashing food in this car. We do not crumb in the Jag." He was annoyed but he already knew he'd forgive Lucky and it'd work out. The car anyways. He sighed and said, "I'm good. Slept most of it off. Just feel like heck....really? reeeally??!" he was sighing at the proverbial FCC censoringhim from afar. Tiredly he said "No. I'd forgive you... me... yeah..."
-> >> Sid to Here << <-===============================================
Rolled 5 Successes for an exceptional success.
< 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 10 >
==================-> >> Dexterity + Drive - 2 8-Again and Rote << <-
"There are no cumbs in the Jag," Lucky tells him. "There is a box of unopened S'mores Pop-Tarts in the Jag, under the passenger seat, right next to two Monsters. For those times when we need to be sober, but very much aren't. Trust me. You'll thank me later." He chuckles a bit, then groans, because chuckling involves movement of the ribcage. "Ok, yeah, I had that coming. Instant karma." Leaning back against the tree, he says, "Just... be careful, yeah? You're about my only hope righ tnow, Obi-Wan Kebobi. Don't smash yourself on the way."
Sid chuckled tiredly and said I'm takin a shortcut." What short cut? Doc Brown would be so proud of him in that where we're going we don't need roads sort of way. "Yeah yeah. Look if you are approached by a dude in a long black robe just... keep en talkin til I get there." Somehow the Satyr just had all teh patience in the world. Were he irratebeing woken up, it was gone when it was Lucky on thee phone. Were he upset about food being in teh car... it faded fast as it came. The Dusk didn't sweat the shit he knew he was just going to forgive anyways. In accepting what he could not change he sort of found zen.
Somehow he clipped the drive down to a third of what it should be. The car door slammed, and the Dusk rolled in, sunglasses up like he owned the place. Did he have a weapon on him? Sort of, he was swining a mag flashlight idly at his side like a solid steel cudgel. "Luck?" He spoke into the phone with bag over shoulder, "Where you is, man?"
Lucky hears the car door slam, pushing himself to his feet as he starts to make his way in that direction. Now that Sid is here, it's safe to assess the damages a bit. Lucky pulls his shirt over his head, looking at the mottled black-and-purple stain that has become his entire left side. There's definitely a broken rib or three in there, from the looks of it. "They make this shit look so much easier in the movies," he jokes, even though he's probably in a good deal of pain right now. Definitely from the way he's walking, and the gritted-teeth expression on his face, it hurts like hell. But he's trying to make the best of it. "You made good time," he says. "New business idea: Pizza joint."
GAME: Sid spends 3 Glamour with reason: Because I'm part deer don't ask
GAME: Sid spends 1 Willpower with reason: professionalism
-> >> Sid to Here << <-===============================================
Rolled 3 Successes
< 1 1 1 4 5 5 6 7 8 8 9 >
========================-> >> Composure + Empathy + 6 No Flags << <-
Sid hug up the phone and dropped it into his pocket. Lukcy was in over his head, and inevitable where the State went the Church followed. He took a deep breath offing distraction for Lucky's ego at least, "Eh I think you make it look." If he stayed calm, Lucky would stay calm. Right? He met him half way and said "Yeah I'll change my name to Hiro Protagonist and you can be my crazy roommate Vitaliy Chernobyl...seems somehow appropriate." Holy shit, skater boy could read? Look who is gettin all literary. He walked back and paused, "It save to pop the headlights here? You spittin up blood at all?" He didn't know medicine, but he's been in enough accidents as a stuntman to have a firm handle on good signs s. bad signs.
Lucky shakes his head. "Nah," he tells him. "No lung punctures or anything. Just hurts like a son of a bitch," he tells him. "Was minding my own business when that big bastard decided it was hungry. You know," he tells Sid. "The one that looks like one of those, what do you call 'ems. Behemoth. From that game you play." Final Fantasy. "Angry bull-lion bastard. Anyway, managed to keep ahead of it. Saw a boat out on the water. Decided to make a jump for it, all Lara Croft like." So he knows Tomb Raider, but not Final Fantasy. "Got the rail. Turns out, inertia? Still a thing. Hit pretty hard. And then, more surprising? That big bastard can swim. So things got... interesting. Boat was owned by a Squire though. So at least it didn't go totally tits-up. Boat got tore up a little, though. Remind me to send that guy a few beers."
He walks up beside Sid, throwing an arm around the man's shoulder. He might be trying to make it look all casual-like, but it's clear that he needs a little help walking back. "The big motherfucker got eaten, I think. Turns out, swimming in Hedge rivers, not a good idea for anything."
Sid handed Lucky the monster and the good shit and, mercifully, the one hedge fruit he could get his hands on. Not being in the freehold had its drawbacks. Which meant he traded for that sucker and that's a story for another time. "So tbe big metal toaster got eaten by a bigger badder metal toaster?" He didn't even bother trying and trusted Lucky knew what he meant. Allge followed that up with was, "You're coming with me back to my place. You go back to yours and something else might try to snack on ya.... you sure you're alright and so help me if you lie to me I'm actually gonna be pretty pissed."
Lucky raises an eyebrow at Sid, laughing. And then wincing again. "I'll be alright." Which isn't to say that he -is- alright. Just that he -will- be. Sid knows enough to parse this by now. Lucky takes the fruit, eyeing it carefully, then hands it back. "Save it for now," he tells the other. Though he does add, quickly, "Thanks. But we might need it for bigger things. Still haven't found a good place to harvest. There are a lot of us here, and the wells are prety well dry in the obvious places." Because there are a -lot- of them here, and obvious places are obvious. "The Hedge here isn't exactly all quiet on the Western front, either."
-> >> Sid to Here << <-===============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 9 9 >
==================-> >> Presence + Persuasion 9-Again and Rote << <-
Sid arched an eyebrow. He was too tired to argue and any other day he could either challenge him to a battle of wills and POSSIBLY win, or he could guilt him into doing things as he was raised by the very best in teh business. Tonight? Tonight he shoved the thing that looked like a neon plum at the Elf. "I schleped this fruit all teh way out here and brokered a deal for being able to do so. You can make someone's life slightly more convenient or mine." It was half hearted and as there was nothing broken he siad "At least you ahve the energy to be frankenstein obstinate." He paused at that one and sighed. He walked over and opened the door and leaned against it waiting. Tiredly he wore the expression 'are we really gonna do this?' openly. He cared. He didn't get a choice in that and this was not an easy call to get. He was relieved it wasn't as bad as he imagined but they were, quite literally, not out of the woods yet.
Lucky holds the plum, looking between it and Sid as if he didn't actually consider what lengths the man might have gone to actually get it. Or what he might have promised in return. It takes him a few seconds, considering these things, before he finally just nods, holding on to it. It sees that Sid has won this round. "Thank you," he tells the Satyr, with none of his usual joking. Seems that Sid managed to get one serious moment out of him. Lucky moves toward teh door, but rather than getting in the car, he leans in and kisses the man, wrapping his good arm around Sid's waist to pull him in. It's not a playful thing; it's heartfelt, deep. The kind of kiss that says more than words alone can. Lucky leans in, resting his head on the man's shoulder, just taking a moment. They aren't out of the woods yet, no. But it's looking a lot more promising than it would have been otherwise.
Sid was tired, and a bit cranky which was... not unusual for a Dusk with a hangover, but he was stashing that shit fairly. Hands lifted to meet Lucky's face,. He took the kiss as he was going to take one anywyas. But then Lucky's head was on his shoulder and the weight of his fatigue evident. A hand wrapped the back of his neck, thumb brughsing his hairline. He was really easy going and would agree to anything, sure, but there was just some shit even he took very seriously. He kissed Lucky again on the temple, and then lips brushed his ear and very tenderly he chided, "Eat the god Dan fruit" And then kissed the top of one pointy ear. Yeah. Lucky wasn't ducking that one.
Lucky nods. "Ok, mom." Way to go and ruin a serious moment, elf. Still, Sid has clearly won this match. When one rides in like a Knight in Shining Jaguar, that tends to put the chips squarely on their side of the table. Lucky bites into the fig-thing, wincing a little as he places a juice-covered kiss on Sid's shoulder. "Takes like persimmon-flavored ass with a side of boogers" he tells the Satyr, ducking down to get into the car and try and get as comfortable as being in a car will allow him to be. Which is probably not very. Classic jags weren't exactly made for comfort, after all, but it's getting the job done. "Yum!" Still, even after one bite, the bruises are starting to recede a bit around the edges. It's doing what it's supposed to.
Sid grinned faintly at the description and gave him a hug for it. "Yeah I've been called worse." Smart ass. The car was tuned back to on; radio, lights, engine all. While the trip out didn't take that long the trip back would. One doesn't tear ass across a wrinkly state with injured persons in the car. Well not if you like them. He was quiet, focued and finally said, "Brought clothes and bunk all in the bag in case you need em. I thought you had been impaled on a green forsaken tree branch. Happened to a guy I know once. Creepiest schlock I ever saw."
"Hey," Lucky tells him, "I tend to have pretty -good- luck, remember? I managed to not get eaten by a thing that really wanted to eat me. Seems pretty lucky to me. Could be Behemoth-poop. So I wouldn't worry so much about me getting impaled on a tree. The other guy? Maybe. That seems like a legit thing that could happen." Lucky can, after all, steal the luck from others in a pinch. "Plenty of dicks out there that have it coming, anyway. I'll just make sure that everything stays pointed in the right direction." And then, "And I won't let you get impaled, either. I like you. Making you fret is the last thing I wanna do."
Sid cracked a grin, an honest one finally. Hell he even laughed, "Eh I may have noticed that. TO be perfectly clear though?" He glanced over and nodded his approval of both not putting plum fruit fingers on his ivory leather interior, and also eating the fruit as requested. It was for his own good! "I really do not want to be impaled by a tree. It was why I moved to SoCal in the first place; it's got fewer branches and it's not Phoenix." He was though not taking Lucky home. Not to Lucky's anyways. He was inbound for the Wayhouse and asked again, "This other guy withthe boat... he pissed? How we wanna handle that?"
"More pissed than I'd like. Not as pissed as he should be," Lucky tells him. "His boat did get pretty fucked up. Which is kind of unfortunate. Told him that I'd try and help him in the future. He says he's got a job in mind. Don't know what it is. I'm sure it'll be sufficiently humiliating. Seems like kind of a hardass, but a hardass with a well-developed sense of irony. So, I guess we'll see what he has in mind." Lucky does make a special effort not to get the syrupy juice stuff on Sid's leather. He's already in enough pain. Though the syrupy stuff is helping. Lucky doesn't even complain about the destination, either, just rolling with it. It's practically like home, anyway. Small rooms, paper thin walls, and neighbors that are possibly insane.
Definiately insane but non judgemental at least. Ther ewa that. THe Satyr sighed and said "I'm... not a bad carpenter. BAck...in my durance," which he's never yet brought up, "I was sort of a default jackrabbit-of-all-trades. Got to teach people how to do stuff. Sometimes correctly." Sure, Sid, sure. "We'll square our debt to him." The Elf was given a reassuraing nod. Not your, our. It was just how he was, once he finally consigned to being on a team he was a team player and was in it to win it. THat he lept in with no preamble when Lucky and Kseniya teased him about that might either he was insane, or just knew, and was likely both. "If it wasn't for the not...really deciding if I was staying put I'd half think to jsut find my own place... but I like being around people. I just don't enjoy sleeping in until reasonable hourse without being woken up four, five times."
Lucky laughs. "Well," he tells Sid. "Maybe, if this... whatever this is." Plumthing. "Does well enough, we can return the favor and wake some folks up four, five times before reasonable hours." Which, given the nature of that bruise, is pretty damn unlikely. Lucky's gonna be out of commission for a few days, at least, even with the help of fae magic. But he can still make less-than-appropriate jokes. Helps to dull the pain. It also helps him process some of what Sid says about his time with the Others. "Let it never be said that we didn't pick up any valuable skills along the way." Some more shady than others.
Sid chuckled shaking his head, and the grin eased up. Okay he was completely forgiven but it didn't mean he had to like forgiving the guy. The situation got reasonable handled as well as it could... for a situation Lucky created in teh first place. He looked over and said, "Yeah but if I break your stoms and set this back a bit you'll be miserable longer and the rest of us by proxy. How about youcome back with me and tomorrow I promise you thai food for lunch? yes I'll consent to spicy curry and all." He pulled up to teh way house and stopped the car. He gave Lucky that look and said simply, "Ya killin me, Smalls... but I like you anyways. Let's get you showered cause you smell like you fought a wildebeast the size of a back hoe in a river and then you can tell me and then tell me how Ultros kicked the Behemoth's tuchas." Yeah, alright, he was a little happy that he could nerd out.
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