wickedchouette | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mercy.

[Alfie's voice is sharp - he's worried about her running off before they have a chance to scout the area.

He turns back to Royce.]

We need your eyes with that truck nearby. I don't want to drive us into a trap.

[ She ducks her head a little, but stays in the car. She knows better! She just got a little excited.

Royce sighs, and then waves his hand before pulling his hood up. ] Take Mercy and stretch your legs. I don't need long. [ He needs a while, as long as Alfie's willing to give him, but he won't specify. ]

Yeah.

[Alfie gets out of the car and goes to the trunk, pulling out an extra gun to hand to Royce. He makes sure his own pistol is still in his coat pocket - the way it always is, when he leaves the car - and climbs up on the roof to survey.

Everything looks deserted. Safe.]

What do you think, Mercy?

[ Royce takes the gun without a word, settling down to sleep.

Mercy scrambles on the roof immediately, grinning at the fact that she gets to be out in the open air. Taking a deep breath, she sets her hands on her hips and stares out into the space before them. She doesn't see anybody, or anything, or... any movement. Which is good. ]

It looks clear to me! Can - can we go explore? [ A pause, and she folds her arms instead, looking at Alfie with a half concerned, half determined sort of look. ] Only if your back doesn't hurt!

Yeah, but we can't go far. We've got to keep an eye on your dad.

[But look at her - she's surveying, looking for danger. His heart swells with pride.]

Okay. [ She agrees with that, nodding firmly. She squints out into the grass again. ] ... Maybe we can find some animals. Do you think Dad would let me have a pet raccoon?

[Royce would be more likely to want to eat the raccoon.]

I think the raccoon would take objection to that idea.

[He starts walking, swinging the cane in one hand and holding the other out to Mercy. He wants to let her run and play, but in an unscouted area like this, it's just too risky.]

Not if I was really nice to him and fed him lots of food! [ Mercy argues, taking Alfie's hand. She wants to run and play, but she knows it's dangerous out here. ] I think I'd name him Mr. Rings.

That's a good name. Very fitting.

[He glances over his shoulder at the car, judging that they're far enough away now.]

You heard us talking about your mother, eh?

[ Oh, that gets her looking a little eager. ] Yes! Yes, I did. I - well. Um. It's just that Dad doesn't like to talk about her a lot, so... so I was curious.

Well, he's right. Her blueberry pies were spectacular.

[And speaking of food - he pulls a somewhat stale energy bar out of his pocket, snapping it in half and handing a piece to Mercy. What a delicacy.]

You know I'll tell you anything you want to know, yeah?

[ Hold on, she's absolutely distracted by the energy bar. She squeaks happily and is very careful to eat it without dropping any of it.

But she does pause about halfway through her piece, glancing up at Alfie. ]

... I know you will. [ She sighs heavily, though, way too heavily for a girl her age. ] I just don't want to make you sad.

[He rubs a thumb along the back of her hand.]

Telling you about your mum makes me happy.

[ Her grip tightens on his hand. ] I don't remember her very well. I remember she was pretty, and... and she used to sing to me. After I had nightmares.

But that's kind of all. I wish I could remember more.

Do you remember that her hair looked just like yours?

No! [ She says, smiling a little. ] She had long, pretty hair. Mine is all short and gets in my face all the time. Does it really look that way?

It's the same color. That's more telling than length.

Ohhh.

... Was she an elf, too?

She wasn't. She was human.

Oh. Okay. [ She thinks about that. She really needs to ask Royce what elves are like, but he doesn't seem to like to talk about that, either. ] Was she nice? Dad loved her a lot, I know.

When I'd come home from a late night in the office, more often than not, she'd show up at my doorstep with a home-cooked meal. It didn't matter how late it was. She stayed up until one in the morning one night, waiting to bring me a plate of macaroni.

She did love your dad, and she loved you. Goodness, I remember the day you were born. She brought you home and couldn't take her eyes off of you.

[ Mercy is practically beaming. She does sound nice, and she's so glad. Mostly, she's glad because even if she can't remember, Royce and Alfie do. And Mercy thinks they deserve nice memories. ]

I love her, too. Even though she isn't here and I don't remember her very much, I do. [ Mercy pushes her hair out of her face. ] I'm glad she was nice.

[ A beat, and then, hesitantly: ] Do you think she's watching us?

[Honestly, he doesn't know. Talk of the afterlife has started to be a depressing thing for him. But he'll be damned if he lets Mercy get roped into that kind of thinking.]

You know when we sit in the back of the car and look at the shapes in the clouds?

I think she's forming them for us.

[ She likes the sound of that a lot. She'd almost been expecting a different sort of answer, just because Alfie and Royce are such practical people. ]

I like that. [ Mercy tells Alfie, smiling. She feels sad, a bit, but in a weird sort of good way. ] Cause it means she's still with us.

Maybe we could get Dad to watch the clouds with us sometime? Just so he can... you know, um. Say hello again, I guess.

[Alfie is looking a bit melancholy, though he's gamely trying to hide it. He knows it might not work - Mercy is perceptive, and she knows him well - but a lot of his feelings are too much to put on the shoulders of a seven-year-old.]

Yeah. You rope him in, and he'll go along with it.

no subject

no subject

SO CUTE WHY

(◡ ‿ ◡ ✿)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject