wickedchouette | (no subject)

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[When the car radiator overheats for the third time in a week, Alfie takes it as a sign that it's finally time for more than just another quick tune-up.

They're in a deserted area, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, most of the dangerous gangs are still in urban areas, the way they had been before the world had gone to shit. Out here in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of fields with only the occasional small copse of trees, they're not likely to run into anyone at all, much less anyone dangerous. But on the other hand, if they do come across anyone, there won't be anywhere to run to or hide. Alfie, as always, has his pistol tucked into his coat pocket, and they have more weapons stashed away in the trunk. But they're a small group - no match for the bigger gangs with armored trucks and heavy artillery. If they meet one of those, they'll be slaughtered.

With his sleeves rolled up and the hood of the car open, he leans in with his tools, carefully tinkering away. He can't afford to make a mistake here - replacement parts are rare and precious. When he hears footsteps behind him, he doesn't dare look away from his work as he says sharply:]

Stay back. You don't want hot steam to the face.

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And someone could come by and shoot out our tires. [ This whole area is making Royce anxious. There aren't any shadows to duck into in the middle of nowhere like this. ] This is bad either way.

[If somebody would spend the bullets to shoot out their tires, they'd have a reason for it, and it wouldn't be a good one. But Alfie keeps those thoughts to himself - it's nothing Royce wouldn't already know. Still squinting down at the radiator, he shakes his head.]

Yeah. Look, mate, give me half an hour. We'll talk then.

[ Royce sighs, kneading at his forehead. Okay. Okay, let Alfie work. He can do that. This time, though, he climbs on top of the car, nimble and silent and without rocking it at all, sitting on the roof to get a better view of the surrounding area. He doesn't need to chatter to fill the silence, and he knows Alfie won't appreciate it, so he enjoys the quiet for what it is.

Mercy, on the other hand, does not like it. Which is why when she wakes up, she immediately crawls out of the car to make sure that Alfie is still there.

Maybe she runs around the car and skids to a stop when she sees him. Pauses with a quiet little oh, relief on her face, and then folds her arms, unintentionally mirroring her father. Her version is a little more vulnerable. ]

Edited 2016-06-23 03:04 (UTC)

Careful, it's dangerous.

[He switches one wrench out for another, smaller one, giving her a glance as he does so.]

Doing all right, Mercy? Sleep well?

[ She scoots a little closer, but she knows to follow directions, so she is careful. ] I slept okay. [ Sniff. ] Sorry, I thought you and Dad were gone.

Your dad's up on the roof. And I--

[He taps the wrench lightly against the radiator casing.]

-- am fixing up the car. Where would we go?

I don't know. Maybe you got kidnapped. [ Because she knows they wouldn't just leave her. ]

If I get kidnapped, I will yell out so you won't have to wonder where I went off to. That's fair, innit?

That's fair. [ And a relief. Mercy glances up to find Royce staring down at her. He smiles a little, softer, and she smiles back almost reluctantly, before peering at what Alfie is doing. ]

Could you teach me how to do that?

Back up. Don't get too close.

[You're making him a little nervous, Mercy.]

Yeah, I could. Not now, but when it's in better working order. You should know how to fix a car.

[It'll be a good skill to have, if she ever ends up on her own. His stomach twists at the thought, but it's always a possibility in this world.]

Mercy. [ Royce says sharply, and Mercy jumps about ten feet and scoots back away from where she was getting too close. She puts her hands behind her back guiltily. ]

Sorry. [ She says, frowning. ] But okay. You be careful too, you know, if it's that dangerous!

I'll be all right.

[He winks at her, gives the screw a few more twists to tighten it, and... done. Ish. It'll probably hold up until he can raid a store for replacement parts, anyway.

Wiping his greasy hands on his pants, he finally turns to Mercy.]

Let's all three of us have a talk about what to do next, eh?

[ Royce takes the chance to jump down, landing behind Mercy. He scoops her up, and covers her mouth when she shriek-giggles, anticipating the loud noise. She looks at him with a guilty grin, and Royce just raises his eyebrows at her.

A beat, and then she squirms so she can sit on his shoulders. The both of them are climbers, it's terrible. ]

Does it drive? [ Royce asks, letting Mercy settle. ]

Yeah. But look at the sky.

[It's starting to darken already.]

We're not gonna get far. Certainly not far enough to find better cover.

You could let me drive. [ It's half a joke, half not. He gestures at his eyes. ] I see much better in the dark than you.

[ Mercy pinches him. ] Don't be mean.

It's an option, innit. But when it gets too dark for even you to see, will you stop?

[Because that's what Alfie is worried about - Royce stubbornly pushing on, even when he shouldn't.]

I'd prefer not to ruin the only useful thing we have left, so yes, I'd stop. [ Annoyed, Royce shifts Mercy on his shoulders. ] Have any other options? I'm open to whatever plan that isn't going to end with us dead.

[ Mercy sinks down a little, frowning. ]

No better ones. What do you think, Mercy? Should we let your dad drive a bit?

[ Aw, Alfie, Mercy looks pleased at being included. She thinks about it, and then, resting her head on top of Royce's, answers: ] For a little bit. I can see just as well as he can, you know. I can tell you when it gets too dark, if you want.

[ Betrayed! By his own daughter! ]

I would appreciate the second lookout. Yes.

[He turns to shut the hood of the car.]

Off we go, then?

[ Mercy hums her assent, and Royce picks her up off his shoulders, trying not to smile at her giggling. He sets her on the ground and pushes her a little toward Alfie - Mercy grabs Alfie's hand, because she can.

Into the driver's seat Royce goes. He's perfectly fine to drive for a good hour, maybe two. The dark out in the middle of nowhere is hard for even Royce to see far distances, and he's already coming to a slow stop by the time Mercy tattles.

They're not far from shelter, but they'd still need to walk, Royce figures. He's not sure how willing he is to do that. ]

[Alfie gives Mercy's hand a squeeze, and climbs into the backseat with her, buckling in. He's silent during the drive, staring ahead at the road in front of them as they go, though of course he can't see a thing. When they slow and stop, he leans forward.]

Pull off the road, into the grass. I wanna see how hidden it is.

[Walking during the day is a little risky, but doable; not everyone has a car, after all, so plenty of people do it. But walking at night is worse. Night is when gangs and bandits are the most active.]

[ Royce does so, and once they've settled there, Royce shuts the car off. The less noise the better, especially at night. He climbs out of the car, back up onto the roof, trying to see. ]

We can't walk during the night. [ Royce says, hushed, looking down directly at Alfie. Alfie and Mercy aren't able to melt into the shadows like Royce knows he can, and he won't risk them. ] Think there are any other broken down cars ahead? Could try to disguise ours as broken for the night, lay low.

Good idea. I'm gonna head out down the road a ways, to see if it can be spotted from there.

[He gives Mercy's hand another squeeze, knowing she'll worry.]

Be back in a jiff.

[ Mercy is worried, and she opens her mouth to protest, but then stops herself, biting her lip instead. She whispers a tiny little be careful and squeezes his hand back.

Royce just nods. Trusts Alfie to handle himself. He slips down from the roof to take Mercy's other hand. ]

Don't go too far. [ Royce says, keeping Mercy close. ]