x002

[allwehad]

[A] Action: Dairy]

[Margot has definitely been tipped off that something is up during the early hours of the morning when the tv had gone on the fritz, waking her up from a booze induced coma on the couch.

It’s only amplified when, later, she tries to go out the backdoor to have a pre-breakfast cigarette and manages to pass through the door. She plays with this for a moment (in-out-in-out) before it becomes solid again, ramming her face rather painfully into the wood and feeling like a fool.

It gives her an idea, though.

For most of the morning, she listens in to the phone network, confirming that other strange things are happening (and, really, all she has to do is look outside at the drones to know). Before noon, after she’s taken a trip to the floor through one of the kitchen chairs, she works up the nerve to head out and towards the dairy, willing to try something.

It’s Dist’s words that urge her on -- things are falling apart. Time to act. She feels good about this, pumped. She can do it.

The dairy door is in sight, she keeps striding purposefully forward, almost there and...

BAM!

She bounces unceremoniously off the door and lands flat on her ass, rubbing her forehead.

Okay. It only worked part of the time with the door at home and then randomly with the chair, maybe it just needs a bit? She gives it a few more minutes and then tries again, but this time more cautiously.

Same thing. Solid as a rock.

She can be found at this for the next several hours with absolutely no success whatsoever. Gold stars for trying?]

[B] Phone]

Has anyone else tried going through the walls of the dairy or city hall or the post office? It seems like things are -- are flickering. Like something is wrong with the illusion?

I tried myself, but had no luck. Maybe someone else will get it.

[And yes, someone does sound bitter about this.]

Comments

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas subtly scoots around upwind. He'd forgotten that she liked the smoky things.]

I'm not sure how much that will matter if it's really falling apart...

[allwehad]

Tch. Yeah, I guess.

[Margot doesn't notice puffpuffpuff.]

Whatever happens, I'm not going down without a fight. That's all I have to say about that.

[But she doesn't sound so convinced about that today, speaking with a flat tone.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas, being preternaturally endowed as he is with the mystic ability to sense emotion, glances up in surprise at that. ...Actually no he's just surprised that Margot isn't storming off to city hall to start trying to walk through its wall.]

Yeah. If everyone's lives depend on it... we don't have any choice but to keep on fighting.

[A pause.]

...It must be hard for you to be back here after spending so long at home.

1/2

[allwehad]

[For just a moment, her face crumples like she might cry when she opens her mouth to say something.]

[allwehad]

[And then it's gone, a stony, dull mask again with one deep breath. She won't inflict that on Lucas. Instead, she drops the cigarette to the ground, grinds it with the heel of her boot.]

I have a lot of stuff to do. I'm just tired of being jerked around from this place to home.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Preternaturally endowed or not, Lucas is pretty keen about these things. He will note the expression she makes and for a brief moment, subconsciously mirror its pain in his own. He does not wonder if he had been imagining things, because this sort of thing had happened far too many times for him to think that anymore.]

...Miss M -- ...Margot...

It's alright if you don't want to be so tough all the time. Trying to keep that up... it makes it harder, in the end. Especially here.

[allwehad]

I'm dealing with it.

[Because drinking yourself to sleep most nights and being even more reckless counts as dealing with it, at least in her head.

She fidgets, shoving hands into the pockets of her jacket.]

It's complicated. Just really, really complicated and I hate this place, Lucas, I hate it.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas shakes his head slightly.]

I know.

...But you shouldn't have to deal with it alone.

[allwehad]

...Yeah, I know.

[She turns from the building abruptly, offering her hand.]

C'mon. Experiment failed. We probably shouldn't hang around here much longer anyway.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas nods and takes her hand gently.]

It's been a while since we've seen the milkman around... but we probably still shouldn't chance it.

Should we go walk into the doors of city hall?

[That is probably a joke.]

[allwehad]

[She doesn't take it as one and is all serious face.]

I was thinking the post office, but city hall may be a lot less dangerous if we can make it in.

As far as I know, city hall isn't in the organ harvesting business.

[Smile?]

[a_gentle_boy]

[He ponders on this for a moment.]

...I like the Postman more than the Mayor. He's... fair, at least.

[allwehad]

Alright. A break and then the post office?

[In all honesty, she's done for the day and is looking for an excuse not to go, at least not yet.]

I think I could use a nap or something at this point.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas seizes on this.]

Yeah. You must be really exhausted. ...You should go home and get some rest, Miss Margot. You don't want to wear yourself out before the real bad stuff starts.

[allwehad]

[At the mention of that, she suddenly looks tired and worn.]

Yeah, it'd really suck not to be fully rested for that, wouldn't it?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Tug tug tug. Lucas will gently pull her in the direction of her house.]

C'mon, Miss Margot. Let's get you home.

[allwehad]

[This makes her smile a little. She says teasingly:]

Alright, dad, geez. I'm coming, I'm coming.

[a_gentle_boy]

You'll get sick if you don't get enough sleep.

[Lucas puts on the sternest face he can manage.]

And have you had any vegetables today or is it all junk food?

[allwehad]

[That face just makes her burst out laughing, feeling better than she has all day.]

No! I made myself eggs and toast, so I promise an extra helping of veggies tonight with dinner.

[a_gentle_boy]

And an early bedtime, too.

[Lucas nods in satisfaction.]

I can make you an omelet for dinner if you want! I can just grab some onions and tomatoes and peppers from home.

[allwehad]

You know how to cook?

[Because even if his last baking attempt was a couple of years ago, it's not a distant memory.]

[a_gentle_boy]

...

[Lucas huffs a little.]

You said you liked the cookies.

[allwehad]

[Shit.]

I did -- I do! I just didn't know you knew how to make other stuff since I left...

[a_gentle_boy]

[He laughs good-naturedly at that.]

Eheh... I'm just kidding. I know they were awful. I fed some to a squirrel and it started choking.

...No, cooking is a little different. I can do that OK now. And I've been making omelets for a long time now.

[allwehad]

Oh, thank the Weaver, because those were terrible, but you seemed so happy...

But sure, I'll take you up on the offer. It would be lovely, thank you.