caveofsapphires | smaller patch of fading sky [ open ]

WHO: EVERYONE. All PCs thus far will be in this log, through active tagging or implication.
WHAT: THRILLS. SPILLS. Hiking trip toward the Diamond City.
WHERE: The Overworld.
WHEN: Forward-dated to May 1st (Tuesday) through May 7th (Monday).
WARNINGS: May contain violence or other mentions of physical harm. This is not summer camp.
NOTES: More information can be found on the OOC post here. Please read it!

Gathered in the morning haze, Sleepers were brought to the mouth of the Cave with plenty of supplies and equipment. Compasses that would point them toward the City. Backpacks full of clothes and food, medical kits, tents and even weapons. Stun rifles and knives — to fight off any unwanted company, they said. ("Watch out for their bite," Ryan had commented. "Those fuckers are downright feral.") The straight and narrow path would get them there in six days if they kept a good clip. They were sent off just like that. Refusals to leave were met with a wall of guard force officers blocking the entrance back into the cave city. No way to go but forward, unless someone was particularly stalwart about remaining.

From the exterminator's station near the mouth, leaving the Cave was as simple as a short hike upward into the fresh air of the Overworld. Dust and an uncomfortable sort of heat pervaded the atmosphere, light winds stirring up the sand and teasing the meager bits of vegetation that had grown. No matter what direction you looked... it was all wasteland, cracked ground and desolate emptiness. Jutting up from scarred ground were boulders and small spires made entirely of glass and patches of stone; instead of reflecting the harsh sunlight, they seemed to absorb it and only add to the muted loneliness of the atmosphere. As far as the eye could see, there was no life to be found.

With no other option, the Sleepers eventually made their way onward.

Chivy did his best to help rather than hinder, extremely glad the shelter wasn't very far off. It was difficult enough as it was. When they had gotten inside, he dropped his arm so that he could pull down his shirt and cough, but didn't try shrugging off Liam entirely. "Sorry," he said, as soon as he caught his breath.

It didn't much matter, and Liam lurched forward and slouched to the ground almost as soon as they were in the clear. It wasn't perfect, but it was a hell of a lot better than being out there in the open as the winds only continued to get rougher. He stayed there, supported only by his arms and knees, for quite a while as he tried to expel the sand and calm his own breathing.

Which, you know, didn't work so well when his body kept insisting the breathlessness and chaos and all that was just like this incident back in '44... The fact that Ken was nowhere nearby only added to the distress. "I have to—have to get—fuck," he cursed into the coughs. Words were going to have to wait another few minutes.

Chivy looked out and then back at Liam and resisted the urge to ask what was probably another stupid question. It didn't look like the guy was up for any kind of extended Q&A right now anyway. He pulled his water bottle from his pack and took a drink, wincing as he swallowed sand. He'd rather swallow it than spit out the water, at the moment. He tried to wipe some of the dirt off of the top of the bottle with his shirt (possibly doing more harm than good) and then held it out to Liam. "Here. If it'll help."

What? Liam tilted his head, eyed the water, then shakily forced himself to lean back against the cliff wall behind him and reach for the water. He was shaking from adrenaline, but thankfully the water was already drained enough that it didn't splash out with all the jolting around. While trying to drink while coughing was not the best idea, he had no better ones and thus raised it to his lips to take a quick sip. It went down with difficulty, helping to soothe his throat and consequently lungs despite the trouble.

After a moment of simply sipping, pausing to breathe and then sipping again, he struggled to sit up properly and shoved the bottle back toward Chivy. "I have to go back out there," he said, turning to give the sandstorm outside a very tired, very determined and very frightened look.

Chivy took the water bottle and held up his hands, shifting so that he was in close enough range to grab Liam if he somehow started off in that direction. "What? Why?" he asked, trying to come up with some answer that wasn't completely insane. It was almost as if Liam had some kind of deathwish.

"My husband is out there," Liam answered tightly, already trying to shift his legs underneath him. It didn't make much sense, admittedly, when here he was still recovering from (and trying to ignore the remnants of) a panic attack, but that was probably exactly why it sounded like a feasible plan.

Chivy looked out again for a second, reminding himself that he hadn't seen anyone else before grabbing Liam and that he would remember if he had. "If he's any further out than we were, there's no way you'll get there and back here again." And there wasn't much likelihood that he would be able to help at all, assuming he did find his husband out in the storm.

Liam shook his head, clearly not ready to just give up. Hell no. There had to be something he could do, some way he could use this power and get Ken to safety. "He's injured. I don't care how far he is—that's a bloody sandstorm, in case you hadn't noticed!"

"I know it is, and that's why you shouldn't be going back out in it!" Chivy said, waving an arm in emphasis. It was hard coming up with arguments other than the obvious — Chivy knew that if it were someone he knew out in the storm, he'd have a hard time staying put himself, but Liam really didn't seem like he was in any kind of shape to be trying another round outside.

"You're suggesting I just leave him out there," Liam gritted out, eyes narrowing. Not only because he found the idea incredibly offensive, but because this was something he couldn't entirely deny. Logically, he knew going out there would be stupid and getting back would be nearly impossible. Logic held very little place in his mind when Liam thought about what must be happening with Ken right now, his own thoughts swirling and panicking and hoping to whatever deity or natural forces might be listening that Ken had made it to safety.

smaller patch of fading sky [ open ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject