There was some kind of movement behind Bryan, though he couldn't identify properly what Wyatt was doing. Not stomping on him, which could only be an improvement. Probably.
The intent became clear a moment later when Wyatt's meaty arm locked around his shoulder, tugging him away and breaking the grip he had around Bret's back. Bret was moving too, up and clear, and Bryan had a snapshot to make a decision. The two of them were pulling in opposite directions and he wasn't strong enough to handle that much muscle power alone. Trying to cling to Bret probably wasn't going to work, so...
Bret was pulling on the rifle, so Bryan thrust it against him, stock to stomach, barrel to chest, aiming to catch him off guard by suddenly releasing his hold, but feeling an immediate pang of guilt for the aggressiveness of the action. He cast it away as best he could and rolled into the grasp on his left shoulder, twisting to get a foot on the ground and some semblance of purchase. With that, he pushed up, attempting to prise himself out of Wyatt's grapple with the effort from his legs.
Out of the very corner of his eye, he saw Morgan starting to crawl away, and relief surged through him.
Time to Play the Game
B002 Start
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
Bryan popped loose from Bret, but it was Bret that had the gun. They did it.
They boy tried to stand up. Wyatt stood up with him and threw his arms to one side in order to cast him away. This was what they wanted, right? This was exactly what Bret had told them to do, and they had gone and done it. Neither of them were shot in the process, despite Bryan being as reckless as he possibly could with that fucking thing. Seriously, the guy had it loaded this whole time!? Had it been loaded from the start, when he found it in his bag? The lucky bastard, not only getting a better weapon than somebody who would actually put it to good use, but he managed to not accidentally kill himself with it up to this point. Somehow.
It was important to remember the real score as well: Morgan's food. Probably a little squashed and beaten up, but calories were calories, and a little bit of pita bread was still better than nothing. Maybe it was better to make that shit compact. Maybe it was just what Wyatt told himself to get over the annoyance of having to eat squashed bread and cracker crumbs (unless that metal tin held up. A small miracle, but he'd take what he could get).
"Do we beat it?" Wyatt asked, his eyes following Bryan while his body braced for some retaliatory strike, like a wild charge or a grab at the rifle. Probably things that weren't going to happen. "Like somebody threw that fuckin' thing."
They boy tried to stand up. Wyatt stood up with him and threw his arms to one side in order to cast him away. This was what they wanted, right? This was exactly what Bret had told them to do, and they had gone and done it. Neither of them were shot in the process, despite Bryan being as reckless as he possibly could with that fucking thing. Seriously, the guy had it loaded this whole time!? Had it been loaded from the start, when he found it in his bag? The lucky bastard, not only getting a better weapon than somebody who would actually put it to good use, but he managed to not accidentally kill himself with it up to this point. Somehow.
It was important to remember the real score as well: Morgan's food. Probably a little squashed and beaten up, but calories were calories, and a little bit of pita bread was still better than nothing. Maybe it was better to make that shit compact. Maybe it was just what Wyatt told himself to get over the annoyance of having to eat squashed bread and cracker crumbs (unless that metal tin held up. A small miracle, but he'd take what he could get).
"Do we beat it?" Wyatt asked, his eyes following Bryan while his body braced for some retaliatory strike, like a wild charge or a grab at the rifle. Probably things that weren't going to happen. "Like somebody threw that fuckin' thing."
Then, unexpectedly, Bret had sole control of the gun.
He was also lying on the floor winded. But that was secondary, he scrambled, coughing—although he couldn't really hear it—to his feet. The rest of the situation didn't matter to him.
Wyatt was saying something but Bret couldn't hear him. If Bryan had ruined his hearing then there would be problems.
"Let's go." Bret said at an indeterminate volume. His eyes moved to Bryan. "Don't follow us."
Then he turned and began moving as fast as he could out of there.
((B046 - Bret Carter continued in Glass Shatters))
He was also lying on the floor winded. But that was secondary, he scrambled, coughing—although he couldn't really hear it—to his feet. The rest of the situation didn't matter to him.
Wyatt was saying something but Bret couldn't hear him. If Bryan had ruined his hearing then there would be problems.
"Let's go." Bret said at an indeterminate volume. His eyes moved to Bryan. "Don't follow us."
Then he turned and began moving as fast as he could out of there.
((B046 - Bret Carter continued in Glass Shatters))
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
"Because if you do, uh," Wyatt shuffled back, making sure the straps of his bags were secure, scooping up his sword... paddle... tooth thing and securing his grip on it.
"We'll kill ya, yeah?"
He winked at Bryan, and followed his brother away.
((Wyatt Carter continued elsewhere))
"We'll kill ya, yeah?"
He winked at Bryan, and followed his brother away.
((Wyatt Carter continued elsewhere))
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
Two chartreuse flat-covered feet slowly shuffled their way around the corner. One, two, three cautious steps were taken, bringing her closer. Closer now, just a little but enough for her to speak. Enough for her to see the large hulking figures move into the distance, and place her focus squarely on the guy laying in the garden.
"Hey, Bryan," she started, eyes a bit too wide considering the dirt on her clothing, the leaf in her hair. Voice too warm, too close to hallway conversation to truly seem casual.
"Want me to help you?"
If there was one thing Kelly was growing increasingly desperate for, after getting blood on her clothes, getting thrown off a boat, and getting into this whole mess of a situation, it was a win. A sign that yes, she was the one who could survive and make it off this place. That she was the one who could change, could adapt, could evolve into what she needed to be. A survivor. A fighter. A winner.
Bryan Merryweather, on the ground right in front of her, was just another sign of who she couldn't be like in order to do that. She had tried to compose herself as quickly as she could, once she heard the Carters' remarks, but still, she was shaking. Just a little, but enough. They were gone, though. So was the other boy. That made this next part easier.
The gun was gone too, but what it really meant was still lying right in front of her. A shield. Back at George Hunter, that meant Bryan stood up for the voiceless, was willing to step into conflicts and help the underdog, but here? All he could do were take bullets meant for other people.
Maybe, like her.
She bent down a bit lower now, so she was looking him right in the eyes.
"I just can't believe they'd do that..."
Oh, Kelly could. She definitely could.
"Hey, Bryan," she started, eyes a bit too wide considering the dirt on her clothing, the leaf in her hair. Voice too warm, too close to hallway conversation to truly seem casual.
"Want me to help you?"
If there was one thing Kelly was growing increasingly desperate for, after getting blood on her clothes, getting thrown off a boat, and getting into this whole mess of a situation, it was a win. A sign that yes, she was the one who could survive and make it off this place. That she was the one who could change, could adapt, could evolve into what she needed to be. A survivor. A fighter. A winner.
Bryan Merryweather, on the ground right in front of her, was just another sign of who she couldn't be like in order to do that. She had tried to compose herself as quickly as she could, once she heard the Carters' remarks, but still, she was shaking. Just a little, but enough. They were gone, though. So was the other boy. That made this next part easier.
The gun was gone too, but what it really meant was still lying right in front of her. A shield. Back at George Hunter, that meant Bryan stood up for the voiceless, was willing to step into conflicts and help the underdog, but here? All he could do were take bullets meant for other people.
Maybe, like her.
She bent down a bit lower now, so she was looking him right in the eyes.
"I just can't believe they'd do that..."
Oh, Kelly could. She definitely could.
There were a few seconds of stand off as Bryan faced the two of them, still most of the way on floor after extricating himself. Bret holding the gun, Wyatt standing poised, tense and ready. His ear was throbbing and his shoulder area wasn't faring too great, but Bryan did his best to block it out, stare them down. Tried not to let any fear show from the rifle that was in Bret's hands now. There had to be more than two bullets in that thing, and he already felt ashamed of himself for firing in the first place. How easily could he have hit Bret or Wyatt by mistake? What they were doing was wrong, but so was risking their lives.
He wasn't certain they'd have any such compunctions. If they were willing to rob, they could well be willing to kill. What did those eyes say? Nothing good. Morgan got away. That was what mattered. That was what he told himself as he willed his legs not to shake. Both of their mouths moved, then Bret tore off. Wyatt said something else, then followed his brother. Bryan couldn't hear any of what they said over the resonant ringing in his ears, but he could hazard a guess.
His shoulders sagged in relief, then just as quickly, he was hit by a wall of anxiety. He'd just equipped the two of them far better than they had been by ceding the gun. They'd been willing and capable of violence without a firearm, and however many shots remained in that weapon would be more than enough to kill people. He didn't want to believe that they would, but the balance of evidence was bad.
Someone's face appeared in his view and he jumped, startling badly. "Ah, jeez!" he thought he said, but couldn't be confident. Had the noise even come out? He'd only felt the vibrations of speech, not everything that normally came along. Oh this was bad. After a second of surprise, he was able to identify the upsidedown face as belonging to Kelly Nguyen, who he knew decently well even if they weren't close friends. He'd seen her around and about a few times, and if he didn't miss his guess he'd shown her some of his animal drawings in the past when he'd been in the park. She was a fellow animal lover.
He sat up.
"Kelly I'm ah--I'm real sorry about this but I can't hear nothing just now." He tapped his ear, the one he didn't think was probably bleeding. "Those gunshots messed me up real good."
Gunshots. Damn, damn, darn. They had the gun. He glanced away off after the Carters. He needed to do something about that. He couldn't let his lack of awareness lead to others getting hurt.
He wasn't certain they'd have any such compunctions. If they were willing to rob, they could well be willing to kill. What did those eyes say? Nothing good. Morgan got away. That was what mattered. That was what he told himself as he willed his legs not to shake. Both of their mouths moved, then Bret tore off. Wyatt said something else, then followed his brother. Bryan couldn't hear any of what they said over the resonant ringing in his ears, but he could hazard a guess.
His shoulders sagged in relief, then just as quickly, he was hit by a wall of anxiety. He'd just equipped the two of them far better than they had been by ceding the gun. They'd been willing and capable of violence without a firearm, and however many shots remained in that weapon would be more than enough to kill people. He didn't want to believe that they would, but the balance of evidence was bad.
Someone's face appeared in his view and he jumped, startling badly. "Ah, jeez!" he thought he said, but couldn't be confident. Had the noise even come out? He'd only felt the vibrations of speech, not everything that normally came along. Oh this was bad. After a second of surprise, he was able to identify the upsidedown face as belonging to Kelly Nguyen, who he knew decently well even if they weren't close friends. He'd seen her around and about a few times, and if he didn't miss his guess he'd shown her some of his animal drawings in the past when he'd been in the park. She was a fellow animal lover.
He sat up.
"Kelly I'm ah--I'm real sorry about this but I can't hear nothing just now." He tapped his ear, the one he didn't think was probably bleeding. "Those gunshots messed me up real good."
Gunshots. Damn, damn, darn. They had the gun. He glanced away off after the Carters. He needed to do something about that. He couldn't let his lack of awareness lead to others getting hurt.
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
As Bryan revealed his newfound hearing impediment, Kelly's face slowly shifted into a frown. Not for him, although it certainly couldn't have been pleasant to have had the gunshots happen so close to him, but for her own sake, because this meant that actually communicating with him was going to be an obstacle. Potential shield no more, and instead a potential liability. At least, that was how she tried to frame it. She had to stay smart, make the best choices, the right choices, and that meant considering everything, right? Right.
Still, there was his duffel, and still, there were the cameras, capturing the dart of her eyes from the bag to Bryan and back again, a maddening cycle. Crap. Couldn't stare. That was suspicious, make it look she couldn't be trusted. And she could, because she was Kelly, Kelly from volunteering, Kelly from the park, fellow animal lover, a friendly face, all of that. She was trustworthy. She was kind. She was deserving of being believed.
"Oh, that's awful! But we'll get through it okay." A smile again, soft, but reassuring, gentle.
Otherwise, this had all been for nothing, and that couldn't be the case.
It wasn't as if Bryan could hear her assuaging statements now, but she did it for her, did it for everyone watching, because wasn't this how it always was? To add a little sweet to the sour, to be the brightest presence in everyone else's day. Bitterness stewed inside her, of course, but it couldn't show, not to anyone except her friends, and certainly not on this island. Just had to make sure that people knew there was something beneath it, so she wasn't easy pickings, again, for a Juliette, or a Carter, or anyone like that, really.
A shiver ran down her spine, but that was fine. Bryan wasn't that kind of person. Not for now, at least. There was always change, of course, but now? It was okay. For now.
Still, staying here would make it much easier for that kind to find them. She pointed behind her, eyes locking once again with Bryan's, speaking each word slowly, so he could read her lips. At least, that's how it was meant to work. Probably.
"We have to go, okay?" A shake of the head. "It's not safe here."
Still, there was his duffel, and still, there were the cameras, capturing the dart of her eyes from the bag to Bryan and back again, a maddening cycle. Crap. Couldn't stare. That was suspicious, make it look she couldn't be trusted. And she could, because she was Kelly, Kelly from volunteering, Kelly from the park, fellow animal lover, a friendly face, all of that. She was trustworthy. She was kind. She was deserving of being believed.
"Oh, that's awful! But we'll get through it okay." A smile again, soft, but reassuring, gentle.
Otherwise, this had all been for nothing, and that couldn't be the case.
It wasn't as if Bryan could hear her assuaging statements now, but she did it for her, did it for everyone watching, because wasn't this how it always was? To add a little sweet to the sour, to be the brightest presence in everyone else's day. Bitterness stewed inside her, of course, but it couldn't show, not to anyone except her friends, and certainly not on this island. Just had to make sure that people knew there was something beneath it, so she wasn't easy pickings, again, for a Juliette, or a Carter, or anyone like that, really.
A shiver ran down her spine, but that was fine. Bryan wasn't that kind of person. Not for now, at least. There was always change, of course, but now? It was okay. For now.
Still, staying here would make it much easier for that kind to find them. She pointed behind her, eyes locking once again with Bryan's, speaking each word slowly, so he could read her lips. At least, that's how it was meant to work. Probably.
"We have to go, okay?" A shake of the head. "It's not safe here."
Bryan could see her mouth moving and that was it. He tried not to panic about that, but he had a truckload of things to worry about right now. He was beat up and partway deaf and the kicker was that things could have gone way worse. Luck...ily? Luckily, the Carters had decided to stop at robbery, but Bryan didn't know whether to believe that had been the plan all along. He wanted to, and that they'd left him alone maybe meant there was a little respectability and conscience in those two. Maybe, maybe.
Kelly moved around in front of him, trying, he thought, to communicate. He couldn't really get a great handle on what it was she was saying; each word seemed like it could be a few different things, and even though Kelly was taking her time, he wasn't able to figure out what was what before she said the next thing. Anyway, there wasn't time, not for asking for a repeat, not for a first go round. Those two had booked it fierce and would be getting further away by the second.
He shook his head, wincing as it sent a painful jolt through him.
"Kelly! Kelly. Look, I gotta go after those two." He pointed, in case his voice wasn't carrying the way it, well, didn't feel like it was. "I have some—there's some bullets here and I can't just drop them in their laps." He fumbled at the bag he'd been issued and opened it up, messily spilling out boxes of ammunition and some food. Bryan stuffed the crackers back in, rooted around, tossed more boxes out onto the floor. "Do me a huge favour and take care of these. Don't let them get into the wrong hands." He took a breath. "I'm real sorry about this."
He lurched unsteadily to his feet, caught his balance, and then raced after the pair of muggers.
((Bryan continued in Glass Shatters))
Kelly moved around in front of him, trying, he thought, to communicate. He couldn't really get a great handle on what it was she was saying; each word seemed like it could be a few different things, and even though Kelly was taking her time, he wasn't able to figure out what was what before she said the next thing. Anyway, there wasn't time, not for asking for a repeat, not for a first go round. Those two had booked it fierce and would be getting further away by the second.
He shook his head, wincing as it sent a painful jolt through him.
"Kelly! Kelly. Look, I gotta go after those two." He pointed, in case his voice wasn't carrying the way it, well, didn't feel like it was. "I have some—there's some bullets here and I can't just drop them in their laps." He fumbled at the bag he'd been issued and opened it up, messily spilling out boxes of ammunition and some food. Bryan stuffed the crackers back in, rooted around, tossed more boxes out onto the floor. "Do me a huge favour and take care of these. Don't let them get into the wrong hands." He took a breath. "I'm real sorry about this."
He lurched unsteadily to his feet, caught his balance, and then raced after the pair of muggers.
((Bryan continued in Glass Shatters))
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
A box.
Bryan had left her with a box.
Bryan had left her with a box full of fucking ammunition, and all Kelly wanted to do was scream. Scream, because he didn't care. Scream, because he didn't listen. Scream, because she had finally made up her mind about something, worked towards doing it, picked the right person, and all she got for it was this. Nothing. She didn't, though.
Didn't scream, didn't move her feet an inch. Waved a quick goodbye to Bryan, just enough for people to see that she cared, before her arms came back to resting position, gaze locked on the boxes splayed out like animal waste. She wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of watching her crumble, give her parents the horror of watching her, their daughter, their pride and joy, wilt. The easiest thing to do would've been to scream, to shout, to let it all out and deal with the consequences later, but that wasn't a Kelly thing to do. That wasn't the smart thing to do.
She bottled up her pride, put it in a ship and let it sail off, as her eyes, blank as unwritten paper, moved up to face one of the cameras. One nestled in the shrubbery, almost invisible except for when one looked at it. She looked at it, stared, directly into it's...eye, for lack of a better term. There was no real reason to do this, no grand scheme conjured up to aid her. There was only an urge to see it, bore into it as if her eyes were drills.
They were watching, but she would not let them see her falter.
After a few minutes of this, she bent down again, picked up one of the boxes. A token gesture, a placating one. With it in hand, she walked out of the garden, the opposite way of Bryan. One good samaritan, one person willing to give just a little bit up. That was all she needed. Just one.
Going home didn't matter if all you came home to was a bullet in the face, after all.
((Kelly Nguyen, continued in Left, Right, Left, We All Fall Down))
Bryan had left her with a box.
Bryan had left her with a box full of fucking ammunition, and all Kelly wanted to do was scream. Scream, because he didn't care. Scream, because he didn't listen. Scream, because she had finally made up her mind about something, worked towards doing it, picked the right person, and all she got for it was this. Nothing. She didn't, though.
Didn't scream, didn't move her feet an inch. Waved a quick goodbye to Bryan, just enough for people to see that she cared, before her arms came back to resting position, gaze locked on the boxes splayed out like animal waste. She wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of watching her crumble, give her parents the horror of watching her, their daughter, their pride and joy, wilt. The easiest thing to do would've been to scream, to shout, to let it all out and deal with the consequences later, but that wasn't a Kelly thing to do. That wasn't the smart thing to do.
She bottled up her pride, put it in a ship and let it sail off, as her eyes, blank as unwritten paper, moved up to face one of the cameras. One nestled in the shrubbery, almost invisible except for when one looked at it. She looked at it, stared, directly into it's...eye, for lack of a better term. There was no real reason to do this, no grand scheme conjured up to aid her. There was only an urge to see it, bore into it as if her eyes were drills.
They were watching, but she would not let them see her falter.
After a few minutes of this, she bent down again, picked up one of the boxes. A token gesture, a placating one. With it in hand, she walked out of the garden, the opposite way of Bryan. One good samaritan, one person willing to give just a little bit up. That was all she needed. Just one.
Going home didn't matter if all you came home to was a bullet in the face, after all.
((Kelly Nguyen, continued in Left, Right, Left, We All Fall Down))