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+---- Thread: Murphy's Law (/showthread.php?tid=8203)
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Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-02-2023
Bart's no fuckin' Yank, but maybe he should have realized that rats can swim, even if they are of unusual size. What had started as a dip in the lake to cool off from the summer sun had ended up with him right...about...here:
[say]"FUCK! GET OFFA ME!"[/say]
It's hard to kick something furry and wet with bare feet, but after a few good tries (and a few painful bites to his calf) his attacker makes a gross squeak-squeal and goes tumbling, knocking back a few of its friends. Bart takes the opening and abandons his clothes for some lucky future sonuvabitch, only snatching up his jacket as he goes sprinting off into the surrounding brush.
He doesn't know how far he makes it before things go a little topsy-turvy and he faceplants, sprawled in a bush that seems about as happy with the circumstances as Bart himself. He goes limp there, staring at the sky; soaked, down to just his boxers, leg bleeding, and leather jacket held in one loose hand. [say]"What the fuck is my life,"[/say] he groans.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-02-2023
[say]"I think only you are in a position to answer that question."[/say] For Bart, the voice will rumble from somewhere overhead, where a figure stands with his back to the sun, casting some blessed shade over the proceedings. Alright, so he sounds suave and dryly amused, but the truth is, at the sound of some colourful language from the direction of where he'd been tracking a pack of ROUS, Fox had broken into a run, and he's still trying to catch his breath about it.
Hazel eyes take in the other man's state of undress, the just-climbed-out-of-a-lake chic he's rocking, the slightly munched upon calf, and it isn't difficult to put two and two together. Stepping around the shrub Bart's using to get cosy, Fox holds out his hand to offer to help the stranger back to his feet. [say]"You alright?"[/say] he asks, shifting the bag on his shoulder with his free hand.
Longheat leaves him in a state of mostly undress, so at least Bart won't feel too left out. Then again, Fox is at least wearing pants and a sleeveless shirt, so maybe not.
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-02-2023
Squinting unattractively against the sun until the man's shadow is cast blessedly upon him, Bart thunks his head back into the dirt with a groan. [say]"Fuck, gotta be found with my pants down by a freakin' model too?"[/say] Nevertheless he gratefully takes the man's hand, and though standing is more of a shuffling, wincing affair as he extricates himself from the bush, at least he can look at his dubious savior eye-to-eye in the end.
[say]"Unless yer countin' my ego, just a few chunks shy of a full calf to my name."[/say] Swiping the blood away with one hand and then eyeing his bloody palm for a long moment, Bart wipes it off on his boxers with a grimace. [say]"Do those rat bastards around here hunt in packs normally, or is my luck just - that bad?"[/say] Biting back the word 'shit' because he's pretty foul-mouthed, but he can put on a nice face for the guy who saw fit to help him out.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-03-2023
[say]"A what?"[/say] Fox asks automatically, because even if he weren't living an eats-all-his-meals-alone kind of life, he'd have no idea what a model was unless it was for arts and crafts. But the other man is on his feet at least, and that's enough of a hint that there's no lasting damage - but there is damage, as he helpfully points out himself. [say]"They're in the water with the heat, huh,"[/say] he mutters, meaning the rats (which he hopes is obvious).
Shrugging the bag from his shoulder, Fox drops to one knee to rifle through it, pulling out a roll of bandages and a glass bottle of something clear. [say]"I'm no doctor,"[/say] he apologises, [say]"but at least you can clean up with this. Might sting a bit, though."[/say] Straightening up again, he offers out both to the dishevelled stranger.
[say]"They almost always hunt in packs, so you don't need to feel too bad,"[/say] he says, a smile kicking up the corner of his lips. [say]"Might want to stick to the Oasis for swimming, though."[/say]
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-03-2023
Right, lingo. It's the perfect out to save face, but Bart has ignored every open door in favor of running headfirst into their frames since childhood. He thinks that's why he lost his brain-to-mouth filter so young. That or he was dropped as an infant, because he goes for it shamelessly; [say]"Means yer hot, man."[/say] Grumbling and slicking his wet hair back, he shoots a weird look at the man for being so intrigued by the rats. [say]"You studyin' them or something?"[/say]
Taking the bottle, Bart looks at the clear liquid inside and finally manages a tiny smile. [say]"Well good thing I am."[/say] A nurse really, but semantics. As he stone-faces his way through applying the antiseptic, definitely not looking at the stranger's smile, he ignores the advice to plow straight into a question. [say]"This stuff work on you guys now? Or, fuck, on Ancients I guess."[/say] Can't assume he'd been Ascended prior. He hands back the bottle as he begins to bandage his leg, mulishly contemplative.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-03-2023
Very nearly does Fox respond with a masterful I'm what? before common sense reaches up and gives his hindbrain a yank. Granted, it means he says [say]"Oh,"[/say] instead, likely giving the impression of hot but not much upstairs to his new acquaintance. At least he can answer the question about the ROUS with more than a single word, though having an in depth discussion about rats isn't exactly the peak of conversational excellence.
[say]"Hunting them,"[/say] he clarifies, nodding over his shoulder back towards where, beyond the trees, one could spy a few farmhouses in the distance. [say]"Got a job back there to deal with a pack of ROUS. They've been hassling the farmhands."[/say] And you, clearly. [say]"How far away were they, do you remember?"[/say]
Already slinging his bag back over his shoulder, hazel eyes widen to hear that the man before him is more medic than Fox will ever be, and he scoffs out a laugh. [say]"Well, don't let me tell you how to do your job,"[/say] he says. [say]"And it does, yeah. For the record, it does work on me now."[/say] Because he did used to be an Ascended, for his sins. [say]"I'm Fox, by the way."[/say]
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-03-2023
Bart snorts, amused by the reaction but willing to let the man stew instead of poking. Not that it isn't tempting, but he does have some rat bites to wrap.
[say]"Oh. Cool, guess I didn't pin ya for a hunter."[/say] Though he hadn't considered career aspects for the stranger after the first assumption of modeling. [say]"They were right on the edge o' the lake. With all my damn clothes."[/say] Securing the bandage with an accompanying roll of his eyes, he straightens and habitually crosses his arms. Which makes it damn awkward to then immediately need to retrieve one to extend a hand in greeting. [say]"Bartholomew. Or Bart, nothin' else. Not my fault if y'can't handle a mouthful."[/say] Don't laugh, Bart. He's slow.
It's easier to focus on the humorous introductions than the sudden stab of grief that has become commonplace, wondering why Nate had not been allowed the same happy ending of transitioning. [say]"Clearly I'm shit at fighting, but I can walk ya back the way I came if ya have time to answer some questions for me? 'Bout going from Ascended to Ancient. Got too many holes in my journals for treatin' you guys."[/say] There aren't many of them, but Bart had been a staunch supporter of the Ascended and didn't plan on jumping ship any time soon just because they had new names and fancy horns.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-03-2023
[say]"No? I'm a really shit farmer, and there aren't too many careers to pick from in the Grounds,"[/say] Fox says by way of explanation, because that's easier than the shitfuckery that knits his history together until now. [say]"And lucky for you, while ROUS can get pretty big, I've never seen one big enough to fit into clothes."[/say] Meaning, of course, that with any luck Bart might get his pants back yet.
Reaching out a hand in return, it's with a firm and calloused grip that Fox exchanges pleasantries. [say]"Bart is just fine,"[/say] he assures him, at least remembering to smile this time. See, socialisation isn't that hard!
Without any of the deeper thoughts that plague his new companion, Fox is squinting off in the direction of right on the edge of the lake while Bart finishes triaging himself, and at his offer, he really doesn't have a reason not to take him up on it. It's true that he could have probably found the edge of a lake with the lower half of a man's clothes at the shore easily enough, but he's probably overdue a real conversation with someone.
[say]"Sure - fire away. And lead the way too, I guess,"[/say] he invites. It might surprise the Accepted to learn that Fox is not a staunch supporter of the Ascended and he hasn't been for a very long time. But hey, they can cover off that beauty of a topic later.
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-03-2023
[say]"Ya got me there,"[/say] he concedes, wondering if the Grounds had always been a shithole prior to Wessex taking over of if it was just more anti-Ascended garbage staining the view of the place. [say]"Nice to know I might get my clothes back. Though it sounds mighty close to you callin' me fat."[/say] Bart angles a smirk towards Fox, making it clear he's just being a brat.
Not enough of one to do the macho hand-squeeze at least, content to match the firmness found there. At least he doesn't have the odd perfect skin the Ascended had; it's weird for Bart to be the one with the smoother fingers for once.
Taking the lead with ill-concealed winces as his bare feet get real up close and comfortable with the sharp, prickly undergrowth the summer had sucked dry, he fishes for a few starter questions. [say]"So, Ascended needed fluid from The Voice to live. But I've seen ya guys eat and drink - so are yer organs and internals different now? Do you still have somethin' in particular ya gotta apply, eat, do?"[/say] Whatever it is he'll need to keep it in stock if he ever intends to open the Wren Clinic again - as far from Torchline as possible this time.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-03-2023
[say]"I've never seen a fat ROUS either if that helps you any,"[/say] Fox fires back with a lopsided smile, falling into step comfortably enough. And while he notices the other man's discomfort, he regrettably doesn't carry any spare shoes with him on a hunt, so he can't offer much more than his sympathy on that front. Still, he keeps his pace to match Bart's - it isn't like the rats are going to start a business and skip off to the Greatwood to make it big, after all.
The questions, when they come, are enough to switch him on properly, and it's with a furrowed brow that Fox is forced to remember life as an Ascended to compare it to now. [say]"...It's hard to say only because I don't have the same knowledge as before,"[/say] he begins, before trying to rephrase. [say]"As an Ascended we could scan ourselves, always be aware of our bodies and what was going on in them,"[/say] he clarifies. [say]"Now it's just..."[/say] He gestures between them, as if to say just like before.
As for the something in particular, though, it's with a scrunch of his nose that Fox nods. [say]"There's a separate sort of hunger,"[/say] he says. [say]"Dygra called it bloodlust. At times we need to kill and eat something ourselves."[/say] Or someone, but he doesn't mention that bit.
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-03-2023
He's painfully charming, and Bart tries to firm his jaw and ignore it because guys with faces like that are usually taken, straight, or crazy. Nate had fallen for a cute dirty blond and went and died, not everything had to be shared just because they were twins.
[say]"Still got the same bodily fluids and processes as non-Ancients?"[/say] Doctor mode means he's less inclined to word it crassly, but it's a near thing. He doesn't want to go opening up a dead Ancient to explore their organs - might label him badly.
Holding back a branch for the other man to pass through, he prides himself on not making a face at the idea of bloodlust. [say]"Hm. Is the killin' part of it, like energy transfer? Or do ya think stored or fresh blood could be used medicinally to keep it at bay?"[/say] Bart hasn't seen any donor system or blood storage in place in Caido, but maybe it should exist.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-03-2023
In this particular case, straight is Fox's sin, but given the sliding scale of sexuality, who can really be sure at any one time? Scoffing at the next question fired his way, Fox nods and opts for the higher road of bodily fluids and processes. [say]"Feeling hungry and tasting liquor has been a nice change,"[/say] he hazards, ducking around the branch Bart has kindly held back for him to step through.
Unlike the other man, Fox hasn't managed not to make a face at the new lows he's expected to reach to function normally, and he shakes his head somewhat sadly in response. [say]"It's the act itself,"[/say] he explains. [say]"Like an addict craving a hit, almost. I can tell when it's coming, at least. Raw food starts to taste better."[/say] It's not an easy admission, honestly, and he shoots an apologetic glance in Bart's direction. He had asked, though.
RE: Murphy's Law - Bartholomew - 05-03-2023
Throwing a roguish grin over his shoulder, Bart lets the branch flick back behind them and considers his own recent turn to alcoholism. Though, was two years too long to be considered 'recent'? [say]"Hated that part too, huh? s'why I never took the bait even though my twin brother did."[/say] That and the benefit of being an Accepted who could reach areas the Ascended had been forbidden from.
Waving away the apologetic look, far from the squeamish type, Bart uses his lifted hand to wring out some more water from his curls with a disgruntled noise. [say]"Ah, don't be 'shamed 'bout it. Better than drinkin' off a goddess, right?"[/say] Bart certainly would have found that part disagreeable. [say]"More importantly, does the size'a the thing matter? Like if one'a you came into a clinic and was wounded or needin' somethin' alive, would lab mice work? Or should I start lookin' into cattle?"[/say] Hopefully he won't be as piss-poor at farming as Fox considers himself to be if it comes down to that.
RE: Murphy's Law - Fox - 05-04-2023
[say]"Hated most of it, truth be told,"[/say] Fox admits with a lazy roll of his shoulders. It's true that he's never usually this candid with people upon first meeting them, but then again it's also true that he doesn't get out and meet people all that often to begin with. [say]"Regretted it almost as soon as I made the choice. Spent far too long on the wrong side of a pointless war, watching other people make the same mistakes and suffering for them."[/say]
But enough about his high horse and the piles of bodies he climbs to get on it.
[say]"Hope your brother found a little more joy in it,"[/say] he adds belatedly. He assumes, stupidly, that the other man's twin must be an Ancient now as well, though if that were the case, Fox, why would Bart need to ask him about being one? Foot, meet mouth.
Snorting his agreement about his (entirely valid) points - drinking off a goddess, indeed - Fox turns his attention back to the nature of being an Ancient. A more deliberately charming man might have said size matters, but the best he can come up with is, [say]"Anything will work in a pinch. I'd look into cattle, though."[/say]