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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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. ]

[With a nod to the two of them, he jogs off. In some situations like this, Royce would be the better choice - he's freakishly good at blending in, after all. But his enhanced eyesight would work against them, here. They need to know if a regular human could see the car from the road, not a half-elf.

He's gone for longer than expected. Too long, in fact. It's over half an hour before he can be spotted pushing through the tall grass, heading back towards them.]

[ By five minutes, Mercy is squirming and asking if they can go after him. By ten, Royce is anxious himself. It shouldn't take this long, and Royce is getting out of the car and getting ready to go after him at around twenty-five minutes in.

He can't leave Mercy here, but he can't take her with him. Frustrated, he waits in front of the car, Mercy hiding in the backseat - and when Alfie finally pushes his way into view, Royce takes off, quietly ducking through the grass to meet him. ]

What took you so long? [ Royce hisses low, red alert practically shrieking in his head. ]

There's a car.

[Alfie is on red alert himself, his heart pounding in his ears.]

Not armored, but a Jeep. Driving back and forth along the road. Couldn't figure out what it was doing. I had to hide in the grass until it went by. Didn't want to get caught in the headlights.

[But there is some good news.]

You can't see us from the road. But they could spot the grass rustling, so--

[They need to jump back in their car as soon as possible, before it comes by again.]

[ So they need to move. Royce gets it, nodding sharply before ducking down. He drags Alfie down with him, not bothering to apologize, and makes his way back to the car, listening for the sound of anything coming near them.

They're not that far from their car. Still, he hears the tires before the lights come into range, and Royce hisses an angry, hushed curse before knocking Alfie down to get him out of view. He just barely manages to duck behind a tire, making himself small, and hopes that they don't have anybody with sensitive enough hearing to catch the tiny little gasp that comes from the backseat of the car. ]

[Alfie goes completely still, staring out at the road in the distance, watching as the headlights sweep by. It can't be more than a minute or two - they're driving slowly, but steadily - but it seems to take much longer. Finally, they're gone, the sound of the rolling tires fading. He has no doubt they'll be back, though, so he jumps up quickly and slips into the car, leaving the door open for Royce to follow. Once inside, he immediately wraps Mercy in a big bear hug, murmuring apologies into her ear.]

[ Mercy is very careful to be quiet, but she can't help the little upset noise she lets out when the door opens. To make up for it, she bites her lip again and throws her arms around Alfie's shoulders, hugging him tightly and hiding her face. Royce climbs into the car a second later, and after listening to the road for a couple of moments, shuts the door.

Mercy is safe, Alfie is safe, and that's all that Royce cares about. He sinks down into the backseat and rubs at his face, watching the two of them with a stressed, worried expression he's not aware he's wearing. ]

[Alfie rubs the girl's back soothingly. He needs to break himself out of making promises like I'll be back soon. Sometimes he won't be back soon. Maybe, someday, he won't be back at all.]

Anything?

[That's directed at Royce, and his eyes and ears.]

Not close. Down the road. They'll come back. [ Royce murmurs, tilting his head to listen, eyes closed. Mercy curls in Alfie's lap, unwilling to let him go, and Royce breathes in, and breathes out. ]

Can't move the rest of the night.

That's all right. We've got room to stretch out a bit back here.

[He says it mostly for Mercy's benefit, but there's worry in his eyes.]

[ Royce doesn't relax. He crawls into the front seat, staring out into the dark, letting his eyes adjust. Sure, he can't see enough to drive, but the combination of his heightened hearing and seeing will keep them safe. ]

The two of you sleep. [ Royce says, staring out the window. ] I'll keep watch.

[ Mercy doesn't say anything, afraid to, but she glances up at Alfie in the dark. ]

[It's an imperfect solution - but considering everything, it might be the best one. Royce staying up all night after he'd already been up all day is less than ideal, but if he and Alfie were to trade off watch shifts, the simple fact of the matter is that they'd be less protected during Alfie's. At least this way, if someone or something starts to approach them, they should have enough warning to drive off fast and get a head start. It still wouldn't be ideal, and all of their concerns about nighttime driving would still be in effect, but at least it would be better than death - or worse, capture.]

Wake me up if you really can't stay awake, mate. My eyes are better than nothing.

[Gently, he slides Mercy off of his lap and onto the seat next to him. He lowers the seat backs to make lying down more comfortable, and hands her a pillow and blanket before curling up close, lifting an arm to let her tuck under it again if she wants.]

It'll be all right, sweetheart; don't you worry.

Mm. Just make sure you can drive in the morning. [ Because Royce will be exhausted. But this isn't the first time he's had to do something like this, and he's willing. Has had practice enough to know how to keep himself awake. Pulling his cloak around him, Royce settles in for the night, staring out the window.

Mercy holds her pillow close as she waits for Alfie to settle, and the second he offers her a spot, she's there, curling into him. She's not all that scared, just... worried, maybe. Worried about Royce not getting any sleep.

But not scared, because she trusts them more than anything to keep her safe. She's confident when she replies, closing her eyes. ] I know. We'll all protect each other. I'm not scared.

[ Up in the front, Royce maybe smiles a little. ]

[Mercy is a blessing in this world - one bright spot in all the dark. Since things fell apart, all of Alfie's happy or relaxing moments had involved her in some way, and he knows it's the same for Royce. Whether it's finding her little gifts in abandoned stores, giving her a chance to run around and play in secluded areas, or lying with her in the backseat and picking out shapes in the clouds that roll by, making sure she's safe and happy keeps them focused. It's a driving goal. And it's certainly not fear for himself that has Alfie worried now.

He tucks the blanket more securely around her shoulders, closing his eyes as he cuddles her close. Royce is right. He needs to find a way to sleep despite the knot of anxiety in his stomach, because tomorrow's driving will all be on him.

And if something happens in the night, Royce will wake him up.]

[ Thankfully, nothing happens in the night. The car comes by again, slow and steady like the first, and Royce nearly wakes the two of them up. He can hear voices coming from the car, no words he can make out, but voices nonetheless. Arguing.

It's unsettling, but it passes. They drive down the road and further, and Royce doesn't see or hear them for the rest of the night. It's a relief, but a small one. They went in the direction that Royce, Alfie and Mercy had been planning on going, and Royce wouldn't be surprised if they crossed paths again.

The night passes. Mercy sleeps okay, but there are a few times that she squirms or makes little distressed noises as she sleeps - nightmares, like always. She quiets on her own, but it twists Royce up inside every time she does. He trusts Alfie to protect her, but it doesn't stop the ache of wishing he could do it himself. The ache of wishing he could be as good at handling her as he perceives Alfie to be.

When there's enough sunlight to see, Royce climbs out to the roof. He doesn't see any sign of danger, doesn't hear anything, and so he wakes Alfie up cautiously, reaching to touch Alfie's shoulder with his free hand defensively protecting his face. ]

Solomons. Morning. [ Royce says roughly. He looks and sounds exhausted, but it doesn't stop him. ]