Dead of Winter (CA - Robin, Uno, & Bob)
Quote from Adriana on November 5, 2023, 3:29 pm"It is for the best, at this point in your life, that you don't recall the events that happened last month. You can see well enough with your eyes some ghost of a picture. But more than what you can see on the surface, other things have changed."
As she finished with this sentence, Bob came in the front door, in a warm down coat. He did not interrupt but stood in the warmth of the room, nodding to Eleanor.
"You know this. Noises are louder, scents are stronger, you read a room differently than you did before. You may feel the cotton on your skin differently, or notice things you enjoyed the taste of before have become bland, that you want for different meals." she continued... what she was implying was clear, but she did not say it outright.
"It is for the best, at this point in your life, that you don't recall the events that happened last month. You can see well enough with your eyes some ghost of a picture. But more than what you can see on the surface, other things have changed."
As she finished with this sentence, Bob came in the front door, in a warm down coat. He did not interrupt but stood in the warmth of the room, nodding to Eleanor.
"You know this. Noises are louder, scents are stronger, you read a room differently than you did before. You may feel the cotton on your skin differently, or notice things you enjoyed the taste of before have become bland, that you want for different meals." she continued... what she was implying was clear, but she did not say it outright.
Quote from Indy on November 5, 2023, 3:37 pmThe implication was not lost on him. He had noticed many things while in the care of Eleanor. He had noticed herself, the doctor, and the officers were werewolves. The instinct to observe as Steele had taught him was still ingrained, even when partially delirious. It had explained, perhaps, his own resistance to look at his own appearance. To see it standing in front of him was different than contemplating an abstract theory many hunters might at some point in their career: what would they do if they became the thing they hunted?
Yet now Eleanor was forcing it in front of his face, with nowhere left to avoid it. Suddenly he felt his breath catch in his throat and his heart thrum. Though the changes in his body would have been noticed as soon as they occurred by his audience, his next actions came rapidly. The cup of tea he held was dropped. The mug shattered to the floor. The sound of the ceramic mug shattering reverberated in the room, drowning his thoughts and logic. It overwhelmed him with nowhere to escape. He stood to move away from it, but the table was in his way so he pushed it aside. The force had come stronger than he intended it and it flipped, depositing its contents in an even noisier sound on the floor. To him, it sounded as though a jackhammer had been set off.
His pulse quickened and his breath came out faster. He recoiled instantly and rushed out of the room. The air assaulted him in a flurry of information so he pinched at the bridge of his nose. He found the spare supply closet and through himself inside. It was dark. He pressed his back against the door so it would not be easily opened.
The implication was not lost on him. He had noticed many things while in the care of Eleanor. He had noticed herself, the doctor, and the officers were werewolves. The instinct to observe as Steele had taught him was still ingrained, even when partially delirious. It had explained, perhaps, his own resistance to look at his own appearance. To see it standing in front of him was different than contemplating an abstract theory many hunters might at some point in their career: what would they do if they became the thing they hunted?
Yet now Eleanor was forcing it in front of his face, with nowhere left to avoid it. Suddenly he felt his breath catch in his throat and his heart thrum. Though the changes in his body would have been noticed as soon as they occurred by his audience, his next actions came rapidly. The cup of tea he held was dropped. The mug shattered to the floor. The sound of the ceramic mug shattering reverberated in the room, drowning his thoughts and logic. It overwhelmed him with nowhere to escape. He stood to move away from it, but the table was in his way so he pushed it aside. The force had come stronger than he intended it and it flipped, depositing its contents in an even noisier sound on the floor. To him, it sounded as though a jackhammer had been set off.
His pulse quickened and his breath came out faster. He recoiled instantly and rushed out of the room. The air assaulted him in a flurry of information so he pinched at the bridge of his nose. He found the spare supply closet and through himself inside. It was dark. He pressed his back against the door so it would not be easily opened.
Quote from Adriana on November 5, 2023, 3:51 pmThe reaction was surprising, but not unexpected. Robin moved to help cleanup. Chapman and Eleanor were on it and insisted she stay seated, or go to Val. She got up and went to the closet door where Val sat against, and sat down on the opposite side. She let him sit in silence for a while.
"They have a cabin in the country." she said, "Said we could wait out the first few months there... get away from the city, while you... adjust."
The reaction was surprising, but not unexpected. Robin moved to help cleanup. Chapman and Eleanor were on it and insisted she stay seated, or go to Val. She got up and went to the closet door where Val sat against, and sat down on the opposite side. She let him sit in silence for a while.
"They have a cabin in the country." she said, "Said we could wait out the first few months there... get away from the city, while you... adjust."
Quote from Indy on November 5, 2023, 3:56 pm"Shut up, Robin," were the first words out of his mouth. It was an instinct, and it lacked any force.
He curled small, pressing his knees to his chest and feeling his side quiver. It was something like a strangled sob without the tears. It brought no comfort.
"I'm not going to be some dog like you and howl at the moon," he shook his head, like it was something that had a choice.
A pause. A short huff.
"Where's Steele?"
"Shut up, Robin," were the first words out of his mouth. It was an instinct, and it lacked any force.
He curled small, pressing his knees to his chest and feeling his side quiver. It was something like a strangled sob without the tears. It brought no comfort.
"I'm not going to be some dog like you and howl at the moon," he shook his head, like it was something that had a choice.
A pause. A short huff.
"Where's Steele?"
Quote from Adriana on November 5, 2023, 4:05 pm"No," Robin responded, firm but gentle, "No, I'm not going to endure your words. I love you, and I would do it again for you ten times over, but I'm drawing a line there." she said, and stood.
"You can come talk to me when you're ready." she said, and went to her room.
She wanted to be near him in his fear, and in his pain. If not for him, she wouldn't be here - and yet, coming from him, the words stung. They weren't his own words. They never had been. Every time he talked about werewolves, it was Steele's words coming out of his mouth. He never said them with quite the same conviction.
And Robin wasn't angry at Val for them. His anger came from a place of deep hurt. Yet she knew she did not have to subject herself to it with open arms.
"No," Robin responded, firm but gentle, "No, I'm not going to endure your words. I love you, and I would do it again for you ten times over, but I'm drawing a line there." she said, and stood.
"You can come talk to me when you're ready." she said, and went to her room.
She wanted to be near him in his fear, and in his pain. If not for him, she wouldn't be here - and yet, coming from him, the words stung. They weren't his own words. They never had been. Every time he talked about werewolves, it was Steele's words coming out of his mouth. He never said them with quite the same conviction.
And Robin wasn't angry at Val for them. His anger came from a place of deep hurt. Yet she knew she did not have to subject herself to it with open arms.
Quote from Indy on November 5, 2023, 4:21 pmHe felt ten times worse once Robin left. There was nothing like sitting alone in the dark to settle more deeply into a bad mood. There was an addictive quality to it, a luscious promise to feel one's own misery and wallow within it. He was certain Robin was wrong. The nurse and the officer were wrong. It had all been a mistake somehow. A really weird cold. A really weird dream.
If he could just find Steele... Steele would know what to do. What was wrong. But he didn't know where he was. Robin hadn't answered. Did that mean something bad? He could imagine any number of terrible things that had occurred in those last few months that meant Steele hadn't come home...
No. Steele was alive. There had been mistake. Or he was fixing this, somehow. If he could just find him. If he could just find out where this house was... He'd need a car. So he'd have to steal the keys and-
Face the assault of the outdoors... so he'd wear a bandana, and sunglasses, steal the keys, go to the last safehouse. And if Steele wasn't there, he'd check the next and the next until he found him.
The plan settled his concerns. He crawled out of the closet. The sitting room was calm. He said nothing as he passed and made his way back to the sanctuary of the bedroom.
He felt ten times worse once Robin left. There was nothing like sitting alone in the dark to settle more deeply into a bad mood. There was an addictive quality to it, a luscious promise to feel one's own misery and wallow within it. He was certain Robin was wrong. The nurse and the officer were wrong. It had all been a mistake somehow. A really weird cold. A really weird dream.
If he could just find Steele... Steele would know what to do. What was wrong. But he didn't know where he was. Robin hadn't answered. Did that mean something bad? He could imagine any number of terrible things that had occurred in those last few months that meant Steele hadn't come home...
No. Steele was alive. There had been mistake. Or he was fixing this, somehow. If he could just find him. If he could just find out where this house was... He'd need a car. So he'd have to steal the keys and-
Face the assault of the outdoors... so he'd wear a bandana, and sunglasses, steal the keys, go to the last safehouse. And if Steele wasn't there, he'd check the next and the next until he found him.
The plan settled his concerns. He crawled out of the closet. The sitting room was calm. He said nothing as he passed and made his way back to the sanctuary of the bedroom.
Quote from Adriana on November 5, 2023, 4:38 pmHis and Robin's rooms were next to one another. Robin's door was closed. But one could not ignore the racking sobs that came from behind the four walls.
"I don't know what to do,"
"My daughter will be there to help you through it."
The two voices of the women could be heard behind the walls. Just then, Chapman came up behind Val.
"Get dressed, let's go for a walk."
His and Robin's rooms were next to one another. Robin's door was closed. But one could not ignore the racking sobs that came from behind the four walls.
"I don't know what to do,"
"My daughter will be there to help you through it."
The two voices of the women could be heard behind the walls. Just then, Chapman came up behind Val.
"Get dressed, let's go for a walk."
Quote from Indy on November 5, 2023, 11:40 pmValentine could not ignore the sound of Robin's sobs. It surrounded him in a way he couldn't escape. His head dipped down. Just as he turned, he felt Chapman's presence before he saw him. It unnerved him. He turned, feeling the pressure of the man's force, gooseflesh rising at his arms in a gut reaction.
The idea of walking outside alone with him felt incomprehensible. His heart thrummed and his face flushed. Her heard Robin sob again. He was on his own. But the request made to him was not one that could be easily refused; nor, was it seemed, something he wanted to voice.
He did as the man requested and quickly dressed into a pair of grey sweatpants and the soft cotton T shirt. He caught the ghost of his face in the mirror by the night table. Something not quite human, was the thought that came to mind, even neglecting the injuries. His eye color caught the light differently. He realized for the first time that week he was not wearing glasses, nor seemed to require them. If he had studied his appearance longer, he would have seen all the telltale signs that had been taught to him, starring back at him with his own face.
He ignored it, finding the police officer outside. His expression was sulky. Internally, he was shaky and propped up on nothing more than toothpicks. Nonetheless he laced into a pair of sneakers and made a sarcastic motion to the door as though to say after you.
Valentine could not ignore the sound of Robin's sobs. It surrounded him in a way he couldn't escape. His head dipped down. Just as he turned, he felt Chapman's presence before he saw him. It unnerved him. He turned, feeling the pressure of the man's force, gooseflesh rising at his arms in a gut reaction.
The idea of walking outside alone with him felt incomprehensible. His heart thrummed and his face flushed. Her heard Robin sob again. He was on his own. But the request made to him was not one that could be easily refused; nor, was it seemed, something he wanted to voice.
He did as the man requested and quickly dressed into a pair of grey sweatpants and the soft cotton T shirt. He caught the ghost of his face in the mirror by the night table. Something not quite human, was the thought that came to mind, even neglecting the injuries. His eye color caught the light differently. He realized for the first time that week he was not wearing glasses, nor seemed to require them. If he had studied his appearance longer, he would have seen all the telltale signs that had been taught to him, starring back at him with his own face.
He ignored it, finding the police officer outside. His expression was sulky. Internally, he was shaky and propped up on nothing more than toothpicks. Nonetheless he laced into a pair of sneakers and made a sarcastic motion to the door as though to say after you.
Quote from Adriana on November 5, 2023, 11:52 pmChapman looked Val over carefully. Attentively. He didn’t question his wife’s work. She had mended his own flesh before, and even without numbing agents, her touch and work had seemed imperceptible. Val would be left with scars, but they would be faint. He was looking for something else.
Then, Chapman removed his down coat and put it around Val’s shoulders, before he stepped outside and went a ways, into a copse of nearby trees. His boots made footprints in the snow as he walked, and the presence of the white blanket dampened the noise. Out here, they could not hear the sobs or what was said.
He waited for Val with his back against a tree.
Chapman looked Val over carefully. Attentively. He didn’t question his wife’s work. She had mended his own flesh before, and even without numbing agents, her touch and work had seemed imperceptible. Val would be left with scars, but they would be faint. He was looking for something else.
Then, Chapman removed his down coat and put it around Val’s shoulders, before he stepped outside and went a ways, into a copse of nearby trees. His boots made footprints in the snow as he walked, and the presence of the white blanket dampened the noise. Out here, they could not hear the sobs or what was said.
He waited for Val with his back against a tree.
Quote from Indy on November 6, 2023, 12:04 amHe wanted to remove the man's jacket as it was offered. It had the man's scent. It smelled like them. It smelled too much like him. But the cold of the air was biting. So he held onto it, slipping his hands into the sleeves gratefully. He paused at the threshold of the door. The assault of the sunlight and birds did not seem as terrible as it had initially to him. It felt far more natural than the harsh chemical odor of medications. However, it was still a considerable degree of information to take in at once.
The cold, ice, snow, and mud dampened what might have otherwise been an assault. The man's boots crunched in the snow. He took a breath and stepped out into it himself, shutting the door behind him. He kept his face down, watching his feet, and grounding himself only in their sound. Though he had recovered some strength, he was still weak. He could feel it in the way he walked. It was reassuring, besides, to pay attention where his feet walked.
He came to where the man was. Again, the reaction was that of gooseflesh at his arms. The man's presence was unnerving. But why? He could not answer it.
He wanted to remove the man's jacket as it was offered. It had the man's scent. It smelled like them. It smelled too much like him. But the cold of the air was biting. So he held onto it, slipping his hands into the sleeves gratefully. He paused at the threshold of the door. The assault of the sunlight and birds did not seem as terrible as it had initially to him. It felt far more natural than the harsh chemical odor of medications. However, it was still a considerable degree of information to take in at once.
The cold, ice, snow, and mud dampened what might have otherwise been an assault. The man's boots crunched in the snow. He took a breath and stepped out into it himself, shutting the door behind him. He kept his face down, watching his feet, and grounding himself only in their sound. Though he had recovered some strength, he was still weak. He could feel it in the way he walked. It was reassuring, besides, to pay attention where his feet walked.
He came to where the man was. Again, the reaction was that of gooseflesh at his arms. The man's presence was unnerving. But why? He could not answer it.
