((Ximena Rodriguez continued from Your Uber Has Arrived))
((no post order))
Ximena shuddered and shook her head, trying to shake off the fatigue. She settled back with her back against the seat and her hands holding Claudia's wound together. Her hands and Claudia’s wound shared a soft shimmer. She tried to keep the skin together so facilitate the mending.
She was sat in the back of the black sedan between Stephen and Crispin with Claudia laid across the three of them.
As soon as they were a safe distance from the arena Alan and Ximena agreed to trade positions so she could give Claudia a chance at life since they had no idea how long it would take to reach civilization or a hospital.
With the boost, which she had a pretty good handle on by now, she was accelerating the time on the gash in Claudia’s stomach. It might not have been healing right without the intervention of an actual doctor who knew what they were doing, but the flesh was mending back together gradually.
She pushed time forward as fast as she could -- the opposite of what she’d done trying to keep Raja alive in slowed time. Ximena had failed to save him.
I won't fail again. It can’t. My stupid body has to be good for something she told herself.
She closed her eyes and furrowed her brows in concentration.
Ximena had a little time to reflect now as they sped down the road, rain pattering against the roof of the car and the windshield wipers squeaking gently.
I kicked some dude out of this car and stole it.
What was even her plan at the time? No plan, genius. Her rat brain saw keys in the ignition and made a decision. The collars, the Animal Collective, she had no idea at the time what she was going to do about any of it when she got back. Not until she picked up Stephen did she realize from him that it was maybe going to be okay after all.
That was also when she learned Austin and Emily were dead.
She took a shuddering breath, but swallowed it quickly and hoped no one else heard. Ximena opened one eye and looked around the car just to assure herself that they were all here.
Ximena had the sudden feeling of warmth and gratitude, which she chalked up to dehydration and exhaustion.
Out Run
Moderator: SOTF Supers Staff
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Carrion Queen
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((Astrid Millar continued from also that thread))
Astrid remained sitting wedged precariously between Cecilia and the gear shift. Every now and again, the car went over a bump, and something audibly clinked together in her jacket pocket. She held a duffelbag in her lap, and was sitting slumped slightly forward, using the bag to prop herself up. Her neck was crooked back a bit, and her head faced up at the rearview mirror.
The right side of her mouth twitched down into a frown. The left side remained still. Then the right side of her mouth twitched up into a smile. The left side continued to remain still. The right side of her mouth returned down to an expressionless line. She repeated the process a few times, and then blinked slowly. She turned her head downwards, straightening out her neck.
Her eyes closed.
Astrid remained sitting wedged precariously between Cecilia and the gear shift. Every now and again, the car went over a bump, and something audibly clinked together in her jacket pocket. She held a duffelbag in her lap, and was sitting slumped slightly forward, using the bag to prop herself up. Her neck was crooked back a bit, and her head faced up at the rearview mirror.
The right side of her mouth twitched down into a frown. The left side remained still. Then the right side of her mouth twitched up into a smile. The left side continued to remain still. The right side of her mouth returned down to an expressionless line. She repeated the process a few times, and then blinked slowly. She turned her head downwards, straightening out her neck.
Her eyes closed.
((Cecilia Moreno continued from Your Uber Has Arrived))
Cecilia's head was pressed against the passenger side window, watching the desert rush by. The bag with the gun in it sat on her lap, carefully positioned with the barrel pointing towards the floor so that she wouldn't accidentally shoot herself in the stomach if it went off unexpectedly. She hoped she wouldn't have to use it, hoped that they were past the point where anything like that would be necessary. But she knew from bitter experience that things were never over just because they had ended. They clung on, not just in nightmares and flashbacks, not just all the ways you had to keep carrying those experiences with you, but in little ways. Tiny little things that'd remind you the terror and bring you right back to that place of fear and danger, and convince you that you'd never feel safe or happy again.
This wasn't over yet. And maybe it never would be. But at least this time she knew what kind of life she had to look forward to. So that was nice.
Cecilia's head was pressed against the passenger side window, watching the desert rush by. The bag with the gun in it sat on her lap, carefully positioned with the barrel pointing towards the floor so that she wouldn't accidentally shoot herself in the stomach if it went off unexpectedly. She hoped she wouldn't have to use it, hoped that they were past the point where anything like that would be necessary. But she knew from bitter experience that things were never over just because they had ended. They clung on, not just in nightmares and flashbacks, not just all the ways you had to keep carrying those experiences with you, but in little ways. Tiny little things that'd remind you the terror and bring you right back to that place of fear and danger, and convince you that you'd never feel safe or happy again.
This wasn't over yet. And maybe it never would be. But at least this time she knew what kind of life she had to look forward to. So that was nice.
Claudia laid in the backseat of the car, draped over the laps of three of her fellow escapees. One, Ximena, was in the process of saving her life by aging her wound long enough so that she wouldn’t bleed to death before she got to a hospital.
If Claudia was aware of her surroundings and was conscious, she would’ve thanked her. But she wasn’t. So she didn’t.
Instead, she laid entirely motionless in the backseat, with nothing giving away her status of being alive other than her deep but erratic breathing pattern.
If Claudia was aware of her surroundings and was conscious, she would’ve thanked her. But she wasn’t. So she didn’t.
Instead, she laid entirely motionless in the backseat, with nothing giving away her status of being alive other than her deep but erratic breathing pattern.
((Crispy continued from where everyone else did))
Crispy was curled up under his tail, resting against it like a pillow as he leaned on the window. Outside of an errant snore here and there, he was completely silent.
Crispy was passed tf out.
Crispy was curled up under his tail, resting against it like a pillow as he leaned on the window. Outside of an errant snore here and there, he was completely silent.
Crispy was passed tf out.
Catche thinks my squirrel is Fisk so here's my daily reminder that he is not.
Astrid's eyes opened. She brought a hand to the car's radio console, turned the volume down a bit, and then pressed a button. Static noise came out of the speakers. She fiddled around with a dial for a few moments, scrolling through frequencies. Eventually, a very grainy and distorted voice emerged from the static.
Her eyes widened. She turned the volume up and leaned closer.
"- but your actions do not bear witness. You set your dream on good things, but you have set your soul on foul things. You set your soul on whores in the street. You put a javelin through the heart of my command. You love the loveless, you have the love of the beast like a friend, the life of that loveless person is more holy to you than the love of God. You love the loveless; you have no eye for that great one who is dead. He says, Come and bow in the house of my friends. But you cast me out, you say I am corrupt and my sons are unclean. O brood of abominations, will your mother not be ashamed? Shall you be put to -"
She turned the radio off and then grunted out a slightly dour shrugging noise.
Her eyes widened. She turned the volume up and leaned closer.
"- but your actions do not bear witness. You set your dream on good things, but you have set your soul on foul things. You set your soul on whores in the street. You put a javelin through the heart of my command. You love the loveless, you have the love of the beast like a friend, the life of that loveless person is more holy to you than the love of God. You love the loveless; you have no eye for that great one who is dead. He says, Come and bow in the house of my friends. But you cast me out, you say I am corrupt and my sons are unclean. O brood of abominations, will your mother not be ashamed? Shall you be put to -"
She turned the radio off and then grunted out a slightly dour shrugging noise.
Cecilia understood even less of that than usual.
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Catche Jagger
- Posts: 741
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((Alan Melnyk continued from Your Uber Has Arrived))
Alan’s left hand kept a firm grip on the wheel as the car continued on its path to nowhere in particular. He did feel an anxious prickling at the back of his neck whenever he glanced into the mirror to see Claudia in the back. Though Ximena was trying to heal her, there was only so much a power like hers could do, and now Alan was the one responsible for getting them somewhere that could help.
He probably should’ve lied about being able to drive, so that he wouldn’t have to feel guilty and could just sleep through the ride like Crispin. Astrid going out of her way to switch on the radio so they needed to listen to a preacher spout some fucking nonsense really wasn’t helping his mood.
“I think we should probably stick to the CD.” Alan sighed, having to awkwardly maneuver his bandaged right hand to press the side of his right hand against the power button and the preacher’s babble resumed. Alan hissed as he felt a rush of pain up his pinkie and ring finger.
They were supposed to be out of the game, and the car had now long passed the outer fence of that fucked up arena, but Alan still didn’t feel free, not yet.
Taking another moment, Alan’s right hand gently pressed against the button to switch over to the CD and music returned to the speakers with a song Alan wasn’t familiar with.
♪ Get up, get up, put your body in motion ♪
Alan’s left hand kept a firm grip on the wheel as the car continued on its path to nowhere in particular. He did feel an anxious prickling at the back of his neck whenever he glanced into the mirror to see Claudia in the back. Though Ximena was trying to heal her, there was only so much a power like hers could do, and now Alan was the one responsible for getting them somewhere that could help.
He probably should’ve lied about being able to drive, so that he wouldn’t have to feel guilty and could just sleep through the ride like Crispin. Astrid going out of her way to switch on the radio so they needed to listen to a preacher spout some fucking nonsense really wasn’t helping his mood.
“I think we should probably stick to the CD.” Alan sighed, having to awkwardly maneuver his bandaged right hand to press the side of his right hand against the power button and the preacher’s babble resumed. Alan hissed as he felt a rush of pain up his pinkie and ring finger.
They were supposed to be out of the game, and the car had now long passed the outer fence of that fucked up arena, but Alan still didn’t feel free, not yet.
Taking another moment, Alan’s right hand gently pressed against the button to switch over to the CD and music returned to the speakers with a song Alan wasn’t familiar with.
♪ Get up, get up, put your body in motion ♪
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Carrion Queen
- Posts: 427
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 6:35 am
The crackling words of the radio preacher's sermon washed over Ximena while she continued her work. She blinked slowly with heavy eyelids and wondered if maybe he had some kind of Gift -- a compelling voice, perhaps. That would be a good Gift for that type of grifter.
"You love the loveless. And the life of that loveless person is more holy to you than God."
Ximena watched Alan turn the CD back on instead with his bandaged hand.
"Hmm," she mused hoarsely, finding some meaning in the rebuke.
She turned and saw Crispin sleeping. He used his tail as both pillow and security blanket. His hands, arm, chest, some of his face, were swaddled in bandages and gauze. Even the bloody wraps couldn't hide all the damage underneath though. Claudia's gash had connected just enough that Ximena's hands didn't have to act as the stitches holding her together. Her hands were covered in blood.
Her mouth set into a thin line. Her right hand clenched into a fist, then flattened, then a fist, before hesitantly flattening once more.
I have enough energy, I think.
Ximena deliberated a few more moments, then took a deep breath and exhaled sharply through her nose.
As discretely as she could, she put her right hand on her lap, then moved it until the tips of her fingers rested on Crispin's wrist -- probably not noticeable to anyone who wasn't looking closely.
She kept a close eye on Claudia, making sure that she was still accelerating her wound to the max. If she felt her efforts on Claudia falter, she'd immediately move back to her just her.
Ximena regulated her spread of influence on the wounds of the boy next to her. Once she had it at about the size she felt was right, she pushed time forward. She closed her eyes and bowed over Claudia again. Ximena frowned slightly, unsure of her decision.
The flesh began to heal.
"You love the loveless. And the life of that loveless person is more holy to you than God."
Ximena watched Alan turn the CD back on instead with his bandaged hand.
"Hmm," she mused hoarsely, finding some meaning in the rebuke.
She turned and saw Crispin sleeping. He used his tail as both pillow and security blanket. His hands, arm, chest, some of his face, were swaddled in bandages and gauze. Even the bloody wraps couldn't hide all the damage underneath though. Claudia's gash had connected just enough that Ximena's hands didn't have to act as the stitches holding her together. Her hands were covered in blood.
Her mouth set into a thin line. Her right hand clenched into a fist, then flattened, then a fist, before hesitantly flattening once more.
I have enough energy, I think.
Ximena deliberated a few more moments, then took a deep breath and exhaled sharply through her nose.
As discretely as she could, she put her right hand on her lap, then moved it until the tips of her fingers rested on Crispin's wrist -- probably not noticeable to anyone who wasn't looking closely.
She kept a close eye on Claudia, making sure that she was still accelerating her wound to the max. If she felt her efforts on Claudia falter, she'd immediately move back to her just her.
Ximena regulated her spread of influence on the wounds of the boy next to her. Once she had it at about the size she felt was right, she pushed time forward. She closed her eyes and bowed over Claudia again. Ximena frowned slightly, unsure of her decision.
The flesh began to heal.
Crispin twitched, and then-
“I amm is a lot faster than, I don…”
He resumed quietly snoring.
“I amm is a lot faster than, I don…”
He resumed quietly snoring.
Catche thinks my squirrel is Fisk so here's my daily reminder that he is not.
♪ Get up, get up, put your body in motion
Let's do it, just start the commotion ♪
Astrid's head started very subtly bopping along for a few seconds before stopping suddenly. She shifted the bag sitting on her lap slightly closer to her chest.
She sighed in through the side of her mouth.
The windshield wipers swished back and forth across the front window.
She briefly scratched at a dried stream of blood that trailed down from her ear and along the left side of her neck.
Let's do it, just start the commotion ♪
Astrid's head started very subtly bopping along for a few seconds before stopping suddenly. She shifted the bag sitting on her lap slightly closer to her chest.
She sighed in through the side of her mouth.
The windshield wipers swished back and forth across the front window.
She briefly scratched at a dried stream of blood that trailed down from her ear and along the left side of her neck.
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Applesintime
- Posts: 836
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- Team Affiliation: Ben's Crabs
((Stephen Sanders continued from Your Uber Has Arrived))
He’d been quiet for a while, staring down at Claudia. Every so often, he’d reach down to check her pulse, and then withdraw, satisfied. Stephen didn’t really know what else to do. He knew some basic first aid, but this was far beyond what he knew to do. Shit like the recovery position and how to tie a tourniquet, not closing a massive bleeding wound.
“…She’ll be OK, right?”
He’d been quiet for a while, staring down at Claudia. Every so often, he’d reach down to check her pulse, and then withdraw, satisfied. Stephen didn’t really know what else to do. He knew some basic first aid, but this was far beyond what he knew to do. Shit like the recovery position and how to tie a tourniquet, not closing a massive bleeding wound.
“…She’ll be OK, right?”
"Depends if we find anyone." Astrid quietly mumbled through half her mouth after a few moments, still facing forward. She shrugged with the shoulder that wasn't pressed against Cecilia.
Click clack, went the windshield wipers.
She was silent for a couple seconds.
"Is there a plan?"
Click clack, went the windshield wipers.
She was silent for a couple seconds.
"Is there a plan?"
From the backseat of the car, the half-dead Claudia shifted slightly. Her arms twitched. Her head moved slightly to left, towards the front seat. She felt the swishing and flowing of water over her wound, which was almost imperceptible through the numbness. Her eyelids fluttered open. They shut again.
Claudia mumbled something, nearly incomprehensible except for the two words “Astrid” and “boots”. She groaned slightly. Her head fell back. She opened her eyes again. She saw Steve’s face.
“Hey...” she rasped weakly, before shutting her eyes and letting one arm droop towards the floor.
Claudia mumbled something, nearly incomprehensible except for the two words “Astrid” and “boots”. She groaned slightly. Her head fell back. She opened her eyes again. She saw Steve’s face.
“Hey...” she rasped weakly, before shutting her eyes and letting one arm droop towards the floor.
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Carrion Queen
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Ximena lifted her head and opened her eyes halfway.
She turned just slightly to Stephen and then back to Claudia in their laps. Claudia returned for an instant as if to answer Stephen. Ximena reached over and placed the limp arm over Claudia’s chest. Her skin was colder than it should have been.
“Right,” she lied, with a whisper like a puff of smoke. She didn’t really know if Claudia would be okay or not, but there was nothing Stephen could do to make the situation better and worrying would put needless stress on him. There was nothing anyone could do for her besides for Ximena to concentrate and for Alan to drive.
“Heat?”
Now, Astrid. Ximena wasn’t sure how to respond and worse, she began to see the slight shimmer of time currents around them for the second time in her life. Ximena felt the pushing of the tide around the two pockets of unusual time she was controlling. She clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and continued to focus on Claudia and Crispin.
“Plan?”
She turned just slightly to Stephen and then back to Claudia in their laps. Claudia returned for an instant as if to answer Stephen. Ximena reached over and placed the limp arm over Claudia’s chest. Her skin was colder than it should have been.
“Right,” she lied, with a whisper like a puff of smoke. She didn’t really know if Claudia would be okay or not, but there was nothing Stephen could do to make the situation better and worrying would put needless stress on him. There was nothing anyone could do for her besides for Ximena to concentrate and for Alan to drive.
“Heat?”
Now, Astrid. Ximena wasn’t sure how to respond and worse, she began to see the slight shimmer of time currents around them for the second time in her life. Ximena felt the pushing of the tide around the two pockets of unusual time she was controlling. She clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and continued to focus on Claudia and Crispin.
“Plan?”