[text] ((backdated to the late night of the 23rd))

[bossyboiler]

Who: Kate Cordello
Username: cupkate
Warnings: None at this time!

I thought I could be brave and go to Dogtown. It was a mistake. I didn't make it to the entrance when I heard Adam calling my name. I thought I saw him too after crossing the barrier. He sounded so scared and I wanted to help. But there was this creature and I couldn't do anything. I saw it before it could see me and I ran and I ran.

What if he's out there and in distress? What if he needs me? What if I'm too much of a goddamn chicken to do anything about it? This isn't fair!

Comments

[failedpromise]

I thought I heard the Chief-a friend from home-earlier. But it wasn't him.

I think an entity is playing tricks on us again.

[bossyboiler]

If it's a trick, it's a cruel one.

[failedpromise]

Aren't they always?

[bossyboiler]

Yes.

[ She feels horrible Cortana. ]

[failedpromise]

You feeling like company or is this more of a sulking alone in your room kind of misery?

I can bring booze if you want.

[bossyboiler]

Thank you Cortana but Winter said he would come over. I'm not sure that I want to be around that many people. Wouldn't want to infect them with my misery, you know?

[failedpromise]

You wouldn't, but I get it.

If you need anything else...

[bossyboiler]

Thank you Cortana. You're a real friend. I'll let you know if I need anything.

text UN Soldier

[worthallthis]

you are not a chicken you are smart to not go into dogtown

it is not your person it is a fake to fool you

i will come to you stay where you are

[bossyboiler]

[ Everyone else is brave and goes? Why can't she have a moment of dumb too? ]

It felt very real, Winter.

I'm in the apartment.

[worthallthis]

[Oh thank god she's not actually in Dogtown right now.]

it always does

ill be there in about ten minutes

[bossyboiler]

What if it was real?

Okay.

[ She's going to leave the door unlocked for him. When he enters, he's going to find her sitting in the living room, looking like a sad sack with a bottle of wine on the coffee table. Who needs glasses anyway? ]

[worthallthis]

[His comfort drink of choice is hot cocoa, and he has a thermos of that in hand when he knocks on and then opens the door. ... it feels weird to knock on what used to be his own front door.]

Kate?

[bossyboiler]

I'm in here.

[ She's sitting on the sofa with her with her back pressed to the corner of it. Her eyes, nose, and mouth are a little redder than normal. ]

Thank you for coming.

[ She wants a hug but she's not going to put Winter in a position of being uncomfortable. ]

[worthallthis]

[It's okay, he wouldn't have come visiting if he wasn't expecting hugs, and he's getting better about them, finally. He comes to crouch by the couch and offers one arm, to start with, for her to come lean against his chest if she doesn't want to move otherwise.]

[bossyboiler]

[ A hug! She leans into it. She wraps her arms around him and lays her forehead on her shoulder. She is no longer crying but she does sniff a bit. ]

I was so stupid.

[worthallthis]

[This is okay. He can do this for a little while, he thinks, especially if it helps her.]

You weren't stupid. These things are magic. They trick even smart people. Besides, you didn't go in. You're still okay.

[bossyboiler]

[ She hugs him for a few more moments before pulling back. She does need it and it is making her feel better. However, she's not going to overburden Winter with touch. That's what Yelena will be for. ]

I feel stupid though. I shouldn't have even gone near the place but everyone keeps saying that the answers we need are there.

[worthallthis]

[He's not even feeling itchy and unhappy by then. Good job, Winter. He remains crouched at her level, though, expression serious.]

I don't know if they are or not. There might not even be answers. And if there are, ADI is as likely to have them as Dogtown. But you don't need to put yourself in danger just because "everyone keeps saying" something. That ain't your job.

[Unless she wants it to be, he supposes, but that'd be a change from where she's at now.]

un: Aberration

[dangerousmind]

He's not there. How many times have we run across this exact same trick? It's just the same mind trick as the junkyard and the circus and the dreams.

Besides, I slaughtered a few dozen of those things and I didn't see anyone.

[bossyboiler]

I know. Hindsight and all that. But it FELT real.

Did it feel good killing them? I think it would. I'd like to give something payback for all of this trauma.

cw for gore against monsters

[dangerousmind]

Pretty good. Monsters scream just as much as their victims when their skin blisters and pops and finally melts.

I'm not sure you'd have the same experience though. You're a bit nicer than me.

[bossyboiler]

You used your abilities to kill them?

No. That's not how I'd want to kill them. I'd rather just shoot them.

[dangerousmind]

Seems needlessly difficult. They were pretty hard to kill even as they were burning to death.

[bossyboiler]

Well. However you did it, I'm glad there are less of them.

[dangerousmind]

As ever, I am happy to be of service.

[musicdied]

You brought him back from Buffalo, didn't you? You could check on him, just to reassure yourself he's still where he was left.

[There is something profoundly awful about "your boyfriend is probably still a lab weasel" being the good option.]

[bossyboiler]

[ She's calmed down a little. Hindsight and all that junk. ]

I did. I know NOW he's still a weasel but at the time it felt real.

[musicdied]

It's a trick this place is annoyingly fond of.

For me, it's usually my sister. She's never been here, and she's dead, where and when I'm from. But the possibility that it might be her...

[Even knowing it's a lure, it's hard not to react - because what if this time is the one time it's not an illusion.]

I would offer to bring you a monster to beat to death, but I don't think that's really your thing. But if you want a distraction, we've got the TV working, and there's popcorn and alcohol for a movie night.

[bossyboiler]

It is. I should have been better at realizing it. Adam is still a weasel. There's no coming back from that for him.

[ She simply cannot get over how real it had all sounded. How she thought she had seen him. It's too much for her to deal with. That's why she has wine and a lot of it. ]

Winter is coming over. I may come back with him.

[musicdied]

You should. Come back with him, I mean.

It isn't your fault that the things that live to manipulate people and make them miserable got inside your head.

[bossyboiler]

I will. Movie night sounds fun.

[ She could certainly use the distraction of more booze and popcorn. ]

Maybe it's not my fault but I feel as though it was. It was very dumb of me to think that for an instant or two, Adam was out there. But he's not out there. He's a weasel.