build me up, daffodil

[twicelost]

Who: Katrina and Malcolm
When: Early April
Where: Dogtown
Summary: Falling down a daffodil hole, witnessing a post-apocalyptic hellscape, and bonding :)
Warnings: Extinction-level event, probably references to genocide, possibly references to species-level xenophobia, a lot of death. Others to be added as they crop up

Comments

[twicelost]

"This... worse." So much worse.

But it's gone now. Which means--

Her upset cools into anger, tempered now by the months here, how they've taught her these things they all experience are real, but perhaps not imminent, and certainly not back in their home worlds.

Calmer now, voice and gaze still intense, she meets his gaze. "Entity. Entity making fear."

[abrightboy]

He nods. “They’re just trying to get in our…” he turns to continue down the corridor, then jolts backwards with a gasp as a teenager in a school uniform writhes on the ground, unable to breathe, reaching up towards them, wheezing.

Malcolm squeezes his eyes shut. “You’re not real. You’re not real.” He opens his eyes and Nicky is gone. He looks at Katrina. “They’re just trying to get in our heads,” he tells her, a little breathless now.

[twicelost]

His gasp makes her turn, and she sees the teenager too. He's gone in the blink of an eye.

"Malcolm." She says it in her calm, firm, leaderly voice. She's pulled herself together now. She's ready to be strong for them both. "Let's keep going. Exit must be near. Then we tell ADI."

[abrightboy]

He looks at her and nods. He reaches over and takes her hand for a second, squeezing it before letting it go. This, here, is all that's real, it says.

"Can you tell which way to go?" he asks as they reach two corridors spanning in opposite directions.

[twicelost]

Yes. Her hand grips his just as much, reassuring.

"Yes. Smell like fresher air this way."

And with any luck, the walk will be uneventful.

Nodding, a slow movement that's less agreement and more "let's go", she leads, following the scent as it grows stronger. They are very near an exit.

[abrightboy]

There's a ladder at the end of the corridor, and it leads up to a hatch. Malcolm looks at Katrina, then starts up the ladder, turning the wheel to unbolt the hatch when he gets there. It takes a couple of hard shoves to move it; it's a little seized up.

It's dim outside, but not dark. He frowns and climbs out, so Katrina can follow him up.

[twicelost]

Finally. Light, even if it's not bright daylight. How long were they down there?

"This is Dogtown."

It smells right. She's willing to believe her nose right now, if nothing else.

"We should tell about this to ADI. Warn others about flowers."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods, turning towards the city centre, where ADI is housed and... he stills, then looks at Katrina.

"The city, it's..." Plumes of smoke rise above wreckage. "Did... did that happen while we were down there?"

[twicelost]

The sight makes Katrina hiss.

"If bomb, we would feel it. Ground shaking."

Instinctively, she moves closer to Malcolm, scanning their surroundings for danger.

[abrightboy]

"We should see if anyone needs help," he suggests, starting purposefully towards the charred ruins. His hand is shaking. Neal. Gil. Ainsley. He clenches it into a fist and keeps walking.

[twicelost]

She watches him, taking note of his stance, the tension evident in all of him. She walks beside him, allowing him space while assuring him she is there.

"Remember to breathe. Keep mind clear. If not, easy to make mistake."

[abrightboy]

He nods but pauses and gestures to the city, then looks at her. "How are we supposed to..." His gaze returns to the city... and it's back to normal. He frowns. "...What?"

[twicelost]

The only thing she's certain of right now is that she hates this. Baring her teeth, she gives a short, sharp hiss.

"Entity." Her voice is heavy with anger. "We go to ADI now."

Good place to end?

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods, a little unsettled.

They go to ADI now.