Statue. Before I knocked it over. [Wendy seems rather pleased with herself about that. A small thing like her manifesting that amount of strength? Super proud.
Hold on, she’s attempting to unroll the map without smacking them with it.]
Let’s see… [Is it upside down? Yeah. One second. She turns it over, then starts scrutinizing. He can take a peek if he wants - she’s holding it out far enough for the both of them to look at while they walk.]
Where are we right now…
[The sound of glass catches her attention too and she perks up, glancing around and looking worried. The map is hurriedly folded over. The uptick in his pace does not go unnoticed.]
Just - try anything. We can always lock the door or barricade it or something. Then figure out where we are with this.
[ he lets out an understanding hum while nodding his head. smartest way to go about the place, really, especially when he takes a glance at the map himself. so many rooms to visit, but which ones are available to lock and aren't infested with zombies? they'll find out and he'll return them to death a second time. permanently, unlike the mistake from the gallery. what caused it to rise up again... he destroyed the brain didn't he?
by the time they leave the L-shaped hallway, closing the door behind them, the muffled sounds of glass breaking and dogs barking are heard from the next room. ]
... Mmm. Good thing we left in a hurry.
[ not that he can't handle a few dogs, but it's less troubling now.
there is one door immediately in their sights and another as he walks forward. august checks the closer door — it's steel that echoes with the sound of rain blasting against it — but immediately stops as the growls of hunting dogs are heard. not a chance, just like how he doesn't give the next door a chance with the sound of undead groans and the thuds against the wooden door. occupied, clearly. he thinks about the layout of the area more before he checks the next room.
the next room is an all white room with only a door across it. with how strange this home is — who does it belong to? — august shuts the door. what an odd room to have in the first place.
the crashing of glass that's right behind them hurries the man to immediately go through the double doors at the end of the hall that leads to a narrow corridor with one more zombies. still carrying wendy, he sends a strong kick to the head, snapping it off before he turns right towards a blue door with what seems to be a bad handle. it takes two tries for him to open it. ]
Wait, wait - that one - does that go outside? August - [It’s difficult to point back. They’ve already passed it. Ah, but there were dogs all of a sudden? Where the fuck did those come from? Of course this can’t be easy.
He’s on a mission so it’s best to just keep the map folded for safekeeping and keep her mouth shut until they get somewhere not insane.
Steel door. Wood door. Dogs. More zombies. Clearly something’s gotten in (broken glass) and there’s only few doors between them. She’s trying to keep track of where they’ve been, figuring out directions and doors in her head, but she’s too frazzled and she refuses to pull the map out in case something happens to it while they’re on the run like this. Because they’ll really be sunk if it gets shredded to ribbons.
The white room is calm. Serene. Empty. She opens her mouth and nearly says they should stay here - just keep the doors shut for a few moments while they regroup. But whatever’s out there is gaining momentum and they need to keep going.
Screaming at the zombie jumpscare that occurs in the next room isn’t one of her finer moments, but Wendy can’t help it. She’s skittish, a total scaredy-cat, and a huge part of her never wants to wander outside of the technicians’ complex ever again. Not after this disaster. It isn’t classified as a total disaster in her mind - not yet, or potentially not at all - mostly because she’s here with him and he’s proving to be more than capable. It’s beyond impressive. The few things he’s told her about himself - they’re true. And it’s nice to know when someone is being truthful.
Her face is in his neck again, and her fingers are trembling as they grip onto his lapel. Nice and easy. He’s not going to let anything happen to you, Wendy Lin. Just keep repeating that in your head.]
Put me down and let me look. [A shaky little huff.] That’s what it says. Two seconds - I can handle it. I need to just sit and think.
[If he doesn’t listen to her, she’s just going to try and hop out of his arms herself. She’s stubborn, but she’s trying to do what she knows will help them out in the long run. Let her cook.]
[ before he's able to continue his sentence, the sound of the undead takes hold of his attention as he looks in front of the hallway. another one that has his hands raised as it takes slow steps towards them, to which — he holds wendy tight in his arms despite the struggle she initially gives — august sends in another kick and brings the zombie to the ground. they're becoming more of pests over threats. threats to him? hardly. threats to wendy? absolutely.
before he's able to stomp down on the creature's head, a splash from above forces him to take a step back. it sizzles against the skin of the undead — acid? but what causes it? this is the part where august finally lets wendy go not just to let her read the map but to investigate where on earth the green sludge from above comes from. need to make sure it doesn't hit either of them from the looks of it, the way it burns skin. at least it doesn't look like it would eat through their flesh and bones. ]
You check where we are, I'll check what else is there.
[ past the small hall is a set of stairs that heads up. ears catch more groans and staggered steps as his eyes notice a door beneath the staircase. a storage room most likely. the threat must be dealt with before they continue however, so he brings out his smart gun once he spots said threat heading towards the stairs as well. the same green sludge drools out of its mouth — disgusting along with the smell. three, two, one, and four bullets are sent flying towards its head. three bullets extra this time so that it stays dead and doesn't slobber over them anymore.
the door behind wendy begins to shake, banging of fists from the other side. ]
[Honestly more important things to worry about besides her ankle right now, August, and she nearly snaps that out loud (because she’s feeling testy, okay??) but -
Her struggling stops, and she tenses up, trying to flatten herself against him as much as possible, clinging to him once again as he attacks yet another one of these creeps before it gets the chance to get them. A big part of her really hates being helpless, but what exactly is she going to do here? And now she’s injured on top of everything else.
She’s surprised when August lets her go, mumbling her thanks to him along the way. She doesn’t notice the acid drool because she’s taking care not to put too much pressure on her bad foot and ankle. Unfolding the map, she hobbles a little but remains in place, leaning to one side. She shakes the document out a little and looks up - ]
Ah, shit. Don’t touch that! [He probably already knows that, given the sizzle. If only she could gather a sample for safekeeping… kind of impossible if it’s just going to burn through everything. A shame, really.]
Okay - okay. [Trying to focus here. She hobbles over to the nearest wall and smooths the map out so she can concentrate better.] We don’t have a lot of options here. This only covers the first floor - no idea where these stairs might take us. [She pins the map to the wall with one hand, her other gesturing to the aforementioned stairs.] Everything behind us… needs to stay there at this point. I think there’s a whole different wing we haven’t even looked at yet? Uh… maybe if we head upstairs and head back the way we came? [She points.] We can… circle back around and reach the front door that way? Maybe?
[The bullets interrupt her rambling, and she jumps from surprise, the map nearly fluttering to the floor as she squeaks. She scrambles to catch it, only to jump again and nearly fall over thanks to the sound of banging on the door coming from behind them.]
If this mansion has such a door, and I certainly hope it does.
[ august plans to climb up the stairs and see what else awaits them, but the sound of wood being slammed on — the way he hears it break in some parts as well — already warns him that more are coming. they must hurry out of the area already, or he should deal with them at the very least. it's the reason why he jumps over the rail and double checks the storage room beneath the stars: the door is unlocked, but lockable. there's food and water in some of the boxes as well as kerosene and a lighter. interesting stock this place has.
it does, however, give him an idea. one that he's sure wendy wouldn't agree too, which is why he walks over towards her and immediately scoops the woman up in his arms. ]
Come with me. [ as if he gives her a choice with how tight he holds her, his walk brisk towards the storage room. the door sounds weaker and weaker in such a short time alongside the footsteps growing. once he's inside the room, august places her down. ] Stay here and let me deal with the problem, all right?
[ a short pause, and then he brings out the whistler. from there he opens her hand and places it in hers alongside two magazines. ]
Just in case I somehow, though a delusional thought, miss one.
No no - it does. [Wendy points on the map, then taps the spot.] This should be it. It’s back there somewhere. [Committing the path to memory before folding the map up again - this time into a smaller square so she can tuck it away in her coat pocket. Rushed and distracted and not realizing he’s on his way over until he picks her up.]
Hey - wait! Augie! Put - me - down! [He’s scooped her up again and she’s a scowling, wriggling bundle in his arms. Eternally stubborn. He’s really got a grip on her this time.] What’re you—
[The glare she shoots him once she’s gently placed down in the store room is enough to put the fear of god into anyone. She’s mad. The quiet sort of mad that should be worrisome. She hops once, twice on her foot before getting comfortable. She’ll sit in a moment, or at the very least lean against some boxes.
He’s right - she’s not okay with this. At all. But she doesn’t make a fuss. It’s a moot point now. He’ll just go off anyway and she needs to accept that.
She huffs, blinking back stress tears when he tells her to stay put. Reluctantly, she nods a few times.]
You won’t miss. [His hand in hers, she closes her fingers around the gun. She leans in, her other hand going for his lapel. And she presses a soft kiss to his lips, one that lingers long enough for him to realize she’s trembling. Just a little. Angry at his stubbornness. Scared for him. But she’s faking a smile the best she can once she pulls away.]
Go. I’ll figure it out. Come back in one piece or I’ll kill you myself, okay?
[ it's the second time that a kiss from wendy lin surprises him, but this time he kisses her back upon realizing the warmth against his lips. that hint of vanilla that he can taste. to think they were talking about her line of work before all of this chaos... and they still will once everything's done and they can have a break from the undead. see where everything goes once he cleans up the trouble, though he takes what he enjoys, and what may be the last to have.
there's a small smirk on his lips as he straightens up his back. ]
I'll hold you to it.
[ as if he could be outmatched by her in combat, but he goes into battle with that hint of amusement as he slams his fists together by the time he walks through the doorway. the steel on his knuckles click and activate the autoloader which glows bright lights as it begins its process of creating an immense amount of bullets. august makes sure to lock the knob before he shuts the door.
the sound of wood and metal breaks alongside the undead, and more. there are growls and clothes tearing due to something sharp as well as digging into flesh. immediately nearly endless gunfire follows along with thuds against wood: the wall, the staircase, on top of the storage room. more glass shatters as thunder from the storm roars with high pitched squeals echoing the hall. several minutes pass and more concerning sounds of a fight escalate alongside more wood breaking.
one explosion brings out several inhumane screams. two explosions does the same. three is followed by nothing else but the rain that's muffled by the storage being closed for thirty seconds.
thud. thud. thud. the sounds of something descends the stairs. the source walks closer and closer towards the storage room entrance until it's right in front of the door.
three knocks are made on it. ]
Wendy? It's safe now.
[ should wendy open the door and look outside, she'll find several corpses on the ground as well as more amphibian-looking creatures with the sharpest of claws. some of the wallpaper burnt from an explosion as well as blood everywhere — how messy it makes his shoes and, unfortunately, parts of his clothes which are also visibly ruined. some of his skin is revealed through what seems to be cuts in his clothes and ruined armor, though no blood of his at least. his skills are better than the monsters that tried to kill them. ]
[Everything before seeking out shelter from the storm is a blur to her. There was a discussion? A serious one unrelated to the disgusting horrors they’ve been subjected to once setting foot inside this mansion? Finishing said discussion will be a walk in the park compared to well - this. Fighting to survive while being utterly lost and unable to find a way to escape. If they ever make it out of here alive.
The fact that August kisses her back - it brings warmth to her as well, that swelling feeling inside her chest for a few brief moments. She’s glad that he does, that the affection is returned so easily. Lingering is even easier for her then. She almost doesn’t want to let go, but he has work to do. And she needs to load this gun. Just in case it’s deemed necessary.
His smirk is met with one of her own as they part. See - she has jokes. She can bring levity. But she’s also deadly serious. He better come back. She knows he will but can’t ignore that tiny little voice of worry in the back of her head…
Wendy’s still curious about this tech from the future he was able to bring with him. And she leans to try and ogle as he disappears through the doorway. It’s closed behind him and she’s left alone and it’s only then does she practically collapse onto the nearest stack of boxes. Resting her ankle, hands shaking as she examines the gun he’s left her and loads it and tries not to focus on all the commotion going on right outside. The fact that the Entity just allowed this is baffling to her. Something she’ll never quote understand.
It’s loud and violent out there and she can only imagine how he’s tearing through them. Every now and then she jumps where she’s sitting. At one point she forces herself to stand and ends up pacing around the smallish space as best she can, hobbling along thanks to her bad foot.
She’s distracted by the boxes - she needs to do something to take her mind off the—
Wait are those explosions? She nearly screams when she hears the first one, hopping up and looking over towards the door. Then there’s two more soon after. She stays right where she is, actually raising the gun, slowly slowly…
The breath she’s been holding back is finally exhaled once she hears his voice through the door. And she nearly laughs at her foolishness. Of course it’s safe now! He’s here. Why wouldn’t it be? She would rush to the door to open it, but it’s a bit slower and clumsier than it would be otherwise. Regardless, the door is unlocked and flung open and she pays zero mind to anything else that’s out there for the moment. He’s the only one who matters. Her arms go right for his middle, and she’s hugging him so tight, leaning in close to take some weight off of her foot.
It isn’t until she realizes there’s blood on him and his clothes have battle damage that she lets go and backs off to give him his space. Her hand remains on his arm as she gives him a once over.]
Are you okay? You didn’t get bit right? Here - let me take a look at you.
[Straight into protective doting mode. She can’t help herself. There are still bandages in her pockets from earlier, in case she needs to use them on him.]
[ already august raises his hands. though parts of him covered in blood, he says: ]
I'm fine. No bites, no scratch marks. [ he says with a shake of his head. ] The blood isn't mine.
[ as if he would let mindless zombies and bloodthirsty amphibians get the better of him. august brinkman, the ballistic. it would be an embarrassment to be taken out by them when he's armed to the teeth by comparison to everyone else. two guns, now a knife, and an unlimited amount of bullets as always. he hasn't trained for decades just to be ruined by the undead in another world — as if he'd allow that in any situation.
blue eyes shift around and checks wendy to see if there are any damages to her. there shouldn't be when the door hasn't been broken into, but it doesn't hurt to check. not after the negligence he's committed in his youth... never again. once that's done he reaches out for her hand, his palm over the handle of the smart pistol. already august is glad that she didn't need to protect herself from hypothetical invaders breaking through the door. ]
Good - good. Just wanted to check. [Ignore the fact that she was just letting her panic show on the outside for a moment. And that her eyes are still roving for potential injuries. All the exposed skin (behave yourself, Wendy Elizabeth) isn’t the greatest for this situation, but - no bites or cuts she can see.
She sighs and nods and finally lets go of his arm. He says he’s okay, she can tell he’s okay. He’s okay. End of story.]
Better now. Actually. [Because he’s fine. She flashes him a smile.] Ankle’s still fucked but - I can manage it. See? [Have a little hobble. She thinks she’s got it but then she’s gritting her teeth and trying not to look uncomfortable. Still - smiling regardless.]
So what’s the plan? Circle back and hope for the best or try something else? [Her shoulders hunch just a little. Does he want this back or…? She doesn’t loosen her grip on the pistol.]
[ this is the part where august takes the pistol and unused magazines back within his coat where the holster for it is. she's safe and didn't need it, thankfully. he hasn't even taught her how to use this particular one and hoped she, an intellectual woman, would figure it out quickly just in case. it's one of the reasons why he'd motivated to kill off ever single enemy in the area.
a hum leaves his throat at her pained sound thanks to her ankle. if he let's her walk, she has plenty of corpses and blood to wadd through. ]
That, or find ourselves a pit stop of sorts. A safe place to rest, and hopefully warm.
[ he makes a motion with his head towards her injured foot. ]
And as long as you can manage. I can easily carry you around if not.
[He takes the gun back and her hand goes straight for her coat pocket. Map time.]
Augie, you don’t have to carry me around. [Grumble grumble. Even though she knows it’s the better option as far as her ankle’s concerned. She still doesn’t want to be a bother. Stubborn stubborn.]
We can stay here a minute. It’s either that or check out the unknown upstairs. [Unfolding the map, Wendy limps back towards the box she was using for a seat before. She looks at the front of the map, then turns it over - in case she missed something before. Sigh. Nothing useful. No upstairs noted on here. It is a mystery.]
How long do you think we have here before we need to move?
[There’s probably so much damage along the way out there - barricading anything would be a challenge. So it’s only a matter of time before more beasties come wandering.
She doesn’t have a pen on her to make any marks - she checked before - so she smoothes the map out on her lap and starts making Xs over rooms and halls with her pointer finger. Ensuring everything is committed to memory.]
All these are no good. [Hand curled into a loose fist, she lifts it to her mouth and starts chewing on her thumb cuticle as she racks her brain.] Hm. Looks like this could possibly lead to another building? [She points near where they currently are on the map. Near the top. There’s a… curved passageway? Path in general? Leading to another square.] Outside’s kinda risky but what else do we have?
[Besides staying put. Venturing upstairs. Dying. You know.]
[ another hum leaves his throat when she says no. so long as she can manage, and no hoarde again like moments ago. august believes the danger isn't over but this moment is at the very least. whatever's next we can handle. he must, least he puts wendy in danger should death meet him — again. what a terrible way to learn that one simply comes back after death, a meeting with the doctor. there's no taking such a chance again when another life is around. ]
The weather still changes here, that you confirmed. We wait until it stops raining and then leave this place. [ and then elsewhere entirely. any place is better than this mansion no matter how large or beautiful it is. danger lurks. ] We can always look for a good room first. See what's upstairs before we head outside.
[ this is the part where august opens the door and begins to walk out, which is littered with corpses and blood and bullets. time to head up where the map leads to wherever the hell it leads. hopefully they find another map. ]
[Sure she can manage. Until she can’t. And there’s really no way to tell how long until it happens. Wendy hasn’t died - at least she doesn’t think she has? Always keeping safe, remaining within bounds, playing by the rules (for the most part) and doing nothing reckless until she meets a stranger in a trial who captures her full attention. She doesn’t want to die, not when there isn’t a guarantee of revival. Not here, not like this. The potential threat is enough to keep her on edge. But despite the circumstances - she is keeping positive, harnessing as much optimism as she can.
Map still in her lap, she glances up at him. Nods a few times in agreement.]
Yeah - okay. I guess we can do that. [Her head tilts at the mention of a “good room” but she doesn’t say a word about it. A good room - safe room. To hide out. That’s all. Like this one but perhaps out of the line of fire. Being on the ground floor is too dangerous now.
She looks after him as he opens the door and begins heading out, waits a few moments before pushing herself to stand and starting to follow him. Doing her best to keep the weight off her bad leg along the way. Map still in hand just in case they need it.
She doesn’t like what she sees outside the storage room - all the carnage turns her stomach so quickly. There’s such a huge difference experiencing this sort of thing up close. Before it was through screens and monitors, now it’s usually from a safe enough distance on trial grounds.]
You did all this? [Her tone is somewhere between surprised and impressed. She’s slow and careful to step around the mess of gore as best she can. Ends up dragging her shoes through blood and viscera but there’s no possible way to avoid it. Bloody coat, bloody sweater, bloody shoes.]
[ august remembers telling wendy previously that he’s a fighter, though not the finder details of what it entails. he has weapons and the skill to defend himself and her should there be more to come, and he’s sure there will be. creatures of the undead tend to be as stubborn as he is after all, or at least from the ones he learns about in books and film.
where wendy’s shoes are tainted with blood, august is used to it throughout his years in the thunderdome and the apex games. nothing new beyond who and what he fights. at least the amateurs in the games put up a fight, though it would be a lie to say it was easy. the vicious amphibian that bursts through the window and its sharp claws reminds him of the prowlers back home. much smarter however when it tries to slice his head off.
in the end, however, it’s still an animal and august is the legendary ballistic that refuses to die to it. ]
Two doors… no, four. [ he mutters to himself by the time he reaches the end of the stairs. no map for them to see where else to head to. going towards the right side, he looks down the hall and is immediately greeted by the sound of dragging footsteps — more zombies. ] Other way.
[ because they need a break after his slaughter on the first floor. already he leads the way to the door within the hallway, and it opens without issue. inside reveals blue wallpaper and two doors. august picks the one to the right.
a bedroom. perfect. ]
Found a place where you can rest. We can stay here for a while.
[Ignore the fact that she almost slips and falls once or twice along the way. There’s just too much shit everywhere and the floor is slick. More blood on her boots. They’ve seen better days.
Wendy’s slow to follow him out of the area but it’s mostly due to her stopping and staring, observing the dead carcasses (or what’s left of them) from a reasonable distance and making mental notes for later. She’s never seen anything like them - the amphibian ones anyway. Not even back home. She doesn’t think so, but sometimes her memory is hazy. Mostly on purpose.
At least there’s a railing for her to lean against on the way up the stairs. That’s the most taxing part, taking the steps practically one at a time. But she isn’t complaining, just doing what she has to in order to keep up. The slow pace makes it easy for her to just change direction once she makes it to the top. Other way? She can do that.
And despite the stubbornness she keeps exhibiting, she is truly grateful for a place to sit by the time he finds one. The stairs were a lot to deal with. She’s caught up so much she nearly bumps into his back, not paying attention, just wanting to be close.
If only she had a pen. They don’t have a map, but she could keep track of things on the back of the one they have. Going to try committing the layout to memory. Maybe resting will help her brain out some.]
Okay. Thank you. [She hobbles past because sitting seems like the most amazing idea in the world right now, but makes sure to give his arm a gentle squeeze as she passes by.
The room is dark and cozy and she lets herself drop onto the edge of the bed, exhaling the loudest sigh of relief once all the pressure is off of her legs. After a few moments of just sitting, his coat is slipped from her shoulders and left in a pool around her.]
Trying not to lay down. Don’t want to fall asleep. [The softest snort.]
[ august watches how wendy walks the moment she enters the room. limping on one foot — not good. such injuries slow down their run from monsters and he isn’t even sure what other creatures roam the mansion. the strange amphibians are already one surprise as are the bloody zombies, so he’s sure there’s more somewhere in this world.
maybe they’ve hardly scratched the surface of the danger this mansion can offer. they need to escape this realm the moment the weather is clear.
there’s a chair beside the bed, which he already takes. moving it until it’s right beside the bed, he takes a seat with his legs spread. elbows rest on his knees as hands clasp together before he looks towards wendy. ]
And before you say anything else, I’ll be fine. I’m used to worse on a regular basis.
[ with that said, august offers her a playful wink. it's fine. he'll be okay. ]
[Why does he have to be like that? So accommodating. Such a gentleman. Even after everything he’s faced upon setting foot in this place, August doesn’t seem the least bit bristled.]
I’m not… saying anything else…
[Wendy’s response trails off into a mumble, and then a clearing of her throat. Her legs kick slightly. He’s situated close to the bed and that wink is critical, stopping her dead. Of course she was going to check in with him again, insist that he not worry about her and do what he has to instead… He puts a stop to that instantly, brings the faintest tint of red to her cheeks.]
What’s worse than this? [A genuine question for him, but also - she needs to change the subject or at the very least take her mind off the look he just gave her. Somehow.
And while she waits for an answer, she’s going to… let her body lean until it drops and she’s sprawled out on her side, her head comfortably on the pillow. Not closing her eyes though. Just going to lay here and watch him watch her. Rest without sleep.]
An actual threat to my life. [ he says as if it's nothing. ] As if dying permanently is an option here. Perhaps for some of us.
[ not that he'll confess he's died once already. the way a mad doctor's electric powers practically break his equipment from the autoloader to the technical implants in his body. far worse than what ms. paquette's fences can do despite knowing he has no doubt she can reach his potential eventually. fingers squeeze between each other as he recalls the encounter with dr. carter — he needs to give the man his "gift" eventually.
august's gaze shifts to wendy settling down on the bed. good. she must rest before they continue on. at least a few hours before they continue on, or when the weather finally stops so they can leave the realm again through the front door. the dogs he can handle with the whistler even while carrying her with it being a smart gun. ]
Do those in your work place return like the unlucky ones, or not?
[Wendy’s brows raise at his mention of “an actual threat” - like nothing in this mansion would be considered one? He truly is afraid of nothing. Or simply good at avoiding the more difficult conversations. Admirable.]
An actual threat? Like what? [She props herself up on an elbow, chin coming to rest in hand.] Be specific. [Is she kidding? Maybe. There are hints of a smile playing on her face. But really - she’s just curious. It’s her nature.]
Not sure how death works here outside of the trials. Really haven’t wanted to find out… I’m just going to assume it’s permanent? [Ignore the fact that her eyes are drooping a little while she talks. Maybe that’s why she decided to prop herself up. Less chance of falling asleep.]
People come and go. Sometimes they come back. Most of them don’t - at least the ones I know personally. It’s not exactly something I’ve wanted to collect data on. Would rather be safe.
[Here she leans in toward him, then whispers:] I’m a chicken shit. [She makes a face, her nose scrunching a little. But there’s also the softest snort of amusement. Bitterness? Take your pick.]
People that are almost [ because there's no one better than him, says his pride. ] as good as me. Yet I'm the one alive.
[ well, he certainly isn't dead. not while he's still here. only kidnapped by an eldritch being — as if that isn't a problem in itself. still, august is alive and breathing and still armed should anyone else appear while they rest. won't be a problem even if he miraculously runs out of bullets because he still has a knife on the side. not a problem and never should be when he is a legend in more ways than one.
a hum leaves his throat as he listens to wendy's words. so dying here might be permanent for her. more of a reason to keep her safe then if all she has is one. it's when she calls herself chicken shit that he raises a brow. ]
Then it's a good thing I'm here, right? I happen to not be.
[Someone’s ego is positively huge. Confidence - it’s so attractive to her. August knows he’s the best. The way he carries himself always reflects this. Even if it turns out he’s lying - about what? about anything - he has Wendy fooled and she’s okay with the fairy story. Not much matters in this place anyway, just whatever’s in the moment. The briefest little blips.
Him being a dashing action hero…
Just look at him. He took care of how many monsters all by his lonesome? And there’s barely a scratch on him. Plenty of blood and muck but zero scratches. They clawed at his clothes and she’s trying her damnedest not to just stare at his abdomen from where she lays. But it’s right there and oof. Action hero indeed. There has to be some truth to it.]
You’re the bravest person I know, actually. [Her tone is soft, even. There’s not a hint of flirtation here for a change. Her gaze lingers on his face, then his eyes for a few moments, then she’s moving her arm. No more propping. Her head is back down on the pillow, and she’s fluffing it up some to make it more comfortable.] So thank you - for being here. I’d be dead without you.
[ is he really brave if she knew the truth of his family's situation? already august doubts it. in battle he's the first out there, and sometimes the only one. when it comes to closer connections however... well, she doesn't know. he makes sure not to let her know even when, sometimes, it feels like he can almost say anything to her. almost, but he tightens his lips before it slips. being intimate with each other a numerous amount of times does not mean he lets anything slip by.
listening to her words, however, does bring a smile to his face as he crosses his arms and leans back on the chair. he has to shift his eyes away to finally stop looking at her. instead he picks up a nearby book that details about... fishing. ]
Of course. [ despite the initial talk they were — are going to have, august would never let wendy wander into any danger. ] Until you're back at your desk, rest assure that you're safe with me.
[ now, because it's obvious to him: ]
Go on and shut your eyes. I won't disappear when you wake up.
[Wendy doesn’t know a thing. Only whatever August tells and shows her. From there it’s nothing but inference, the woman doing her best to connect the dots without jumping to too many conclusions - an extraordinary feat in itself. He’s such a mystery, one she might be able to solve someday. But it’s still early. Much too soon. They have time - if they ever make it out of this cursed place.]
Thank you. [She repeats herself because she’s at a loss otherwise. She could thank him a million times, but she stops it at two.]
Hm? [He’s telling her to close her eyes, but she’s already beaten him to it. Her eyes are doing the longest blinks. They feel so heavy.] Oh. Mm. [The slightest nod.]
Don’t let me sleep too long, okay? [A little smile. A sleepy one. She can’t hide her exhaustion, especially now that she’s sprawled out and resting on a somewhat okay mattress. Of course he’ll be there when she wakes up. She was there for him.] I trust you.
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Hold on, she’s attempting to unroll the map without smacking them with it.]
Let’s see… [Is it upside down? Yeah. One second. She turns it over, then starts scrutinizing. He can take a peek if he wants - she’s holding it out far enough for the both of them to look at while they walk.]
Where are we right now…
[The sound of glass catches her attention too and she perks up, glancing around and looking worried. The map is hurriedly folded over. The uptick in his pace does not go unnoticed.]
Just - try anything. We can always lock the door or barricade it or something. Then figure out where we are with this.
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by the time they leave the L-shaped hallway, closing the door behind them, the muffled sounds of glass breaking and dogs barking are heard from the next room. ]
... Mmm. Good thing we left in a hurry.
[ not that he can't handle a few dogs, but it's less troubling now.
there is one door immediately in their sights and another as he walks forward. august checks the closer door — it's steel that echoes with the sound of rain blasting against it — but immediately stops as the growls of hunting dogs are heard. not a chance, just like how he doesn't give the next door a chance with the sound of undead groans and the thuds against the wooden door. occupied, clearly. he thinks about the layout of the area more before he checks the next room.
the next room is an all white room with only a door across it. with how strange this home is — who does it belong to? — august shuts the door. what an odd room to have in the first place.
the crashing of glass that's right behind them hurries the man to immediately go through the double doors at the end of the hall that leads to a narrow corridor with one more zombies. still carrying wendy, he sends a strong kick to the head, snapping it off before he turns right towards a blue door with what seems to be a bad handle. it takes two tries for him to open it. ]
What else does the map say?
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He’s on a mission so it’s best to just keep the map folded for safekeeping and keep her mouth shut until they get somewhere not insane.
Steel door. Wood door. Dogs. More zombies. Clearly something’s gotten in (broken glass) and there’s only few doors between them. She’s trying to keep track of where they’ve been, figuring out directions and doors in her head, but she’s too frazzled and she refuses to pull the map out in case something happens to it while they’re on the run like this. Because they’ll really be sunk if it gets shredded to ribbons.
The white room is calm. Serene. Empty. She opens her mouth and nearly says they should stay here - just keep the doors shut for a few moments while they regroup. But whatever’s out there is gaining momentum and they need to keep going.
Screaming at the zombie jumpscare that occurs in the next room isn’t one of her finer moments, but Wendy can’t help it. She’s skittish, a total scaredy-cat, and a huge part of her never wants to wander outside of the technicians’ complex ever again. Not after this disaster. It isn’t classified as a total disaster in her mind - not yet, or potentially not at all - mostly because she’s here with him and he’s proving to be more than capable. It’s beyond impressive. The few things he’s told her about himself - they’re true. And it’s nice to know when someone is being truthful.
Her face is in his neck again, and her fingers are trembling as they grip onto his lapel. Nice and easy. He’s not going to let anything happen to you, Wendy Lin. Just keep repeating that in your head.]
Put me down and let me look. [A shaky little huff.] That’s what it says. Two seconds - I can handle it. I need to just sit and think.
[If he doesn’t listen to her, she’s just going to try and hop out of his arms herself. She’s stubborn, but she’s trying to do what she knows will help them out in the long run. Let her cook.]
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[ before he's able to continue his sentence, the sound of the undead takes hold of his attention as he looks in front of the hallway. another one that has his hands raised as it takes slow steps towards them, to which — he holds wendy tight in his arms despite the struggle she initially gives — august sends in another kick and brings the zombie to the ground. they're becoming more of pests over threats. threats to him? hardly. threats to wendy? absolutely.
before he's able to stomp down on the creature's head, a splash from above forces him to take a step back. it sizzles against the skin of the undead — acid? but what causes it? this is the part where august finally lets wendy go not just to let her read the map but to investigate where on earth the green sludge from above comes from. need to make sure it doesn't hit either of them from the looks of it, the way it burns skin. at least it doesn't look like it would eat through their flesh and bones. ]
You check where we are, I'll check what else is there.
[ past the small hall is a set of stairs that heads up. ears catch more groans and staggered steps as his eyes notice a door beneath the staircase. a storage room most likely. the threat must be dealt with before they continue however, so he brings out his smart gun once he spots said threat heading towards the stairs as well. the same green sludge drools out of its mouth — disgusting along with the smell. three, two, one, and four bullets are sent flying towards its head. three bullets extra this time so that it stays dead and doesn't slobber over them anymore.
the door behind wendy begins to shake, banging of fists from the other side. ]
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Her struggling stops, and she tenses up, trying to flatten herself against him as much as possible, clinging to him once again as he attacks yet another one of these creeps before it gets the chance to get them. A big part of her really hates being helpless, but what exactly is she going to do here? And now she’s injured on top of everything else.
She’s surprised when August lets her go, mumbling her thanks to him along the way. She doesn’t notice the acid drool because she’s taking care not to put too much pressure on her bad foot and ankle. Unfolding the map, she hobbles a little but remains in place, leaning to one side. She shakes the document out a little and looks up - ]
Ah, shit. Don’t touch that! [He probably already knows that, given the sizzle. If only she could gather a sample for safekeeping… kind of impossible if it’s just going to burn through everything. A shame, really.]
Okay - okay. [Trying to focus here. She hobbles over to the nearest wall and smooths the map out so she can concentrate better.] We don’t have a lot of options here. This only covers the first floor - no idea where these stairs might take us. [She pins the map to the wall with one hand, her other gesturing to the aforementioned stairs.] Everything behind us… needs to stay there at this point. I think there’s a whole different wing we haven’t even looked at yet? Uh… maybe if we head upstairs and head back the way we came? [She points.] We can… circle back around and reach the front door that way? Maybe?
[The bullets interrupt her rambling, and she jumps from surprise, the map nearly fluttering to the floor as she squeaks. She scrambles to catch it, only to jump again and nearly fall over thanks to the sound of banging on the door coming from behind them.]
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[ august plans to climb up the stairs and see what else awaits them, but the sound of wood being slammed on — the way he hears it break in some parts as well — already warns him that more are coming. they must hurry out of the area already, or he should deal with them at the very least. it's the reason why he jumps over the rail and double checks the storage room beneath the stars: the door is unlocked, but lockable. there's food and water in some of the boxes as well as kerosene and a lighter. interesting stock this place has.
it does, however, give him an idea. one that he's sure wendy wouldn't agree too, which is why he walks over towards her and immediately scoops the woman up in his arms. ]
Come with me. [ as if he gives her a choice with how tight he holds her, his walk brisk towards the storage room. the door sounds weaker and weaker in such a short time alongside the footsteps growing. once he's inside the room, august places her down. ] Stay here and let me deal with the problem, all right?
[ a short pause, and then he brings out the whistler. from there he opens her hand and places it in hers alongside two magazines. ]
Just in case I somehow, though a delusional thought, miss one.
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Hey - wait! Augie! Put - me - down! [He’s scooped her up again and she’s a scowling, wriggling bundle in his arms. Eternally stubborn. He’s really got a grip on her this time.] What’re you—
[The glare she shoots him once she’s gently placed down in the store room is enough to put the fear of god into anyone. She’s mad. The quiet sort of mad that should be worrisome. She hops once, twice on her foot before getting comfortable. She’ll sit in a moment, or at the very least lean against some boxes.
He’s right - she’s not okay with this. At all. But she doesn’t make a fuss. It’s a moot point now. He’ll just go off anyway and she needs to accept that.
She huffs, blinking back stress tears when he tells her to stay put. Reluctantly, she nods a few times.]
You won’t miss. [His hand in hers, she closes her fingers around the gun. She leans in, her other hand going for his lapel. And she presses a soft kiss to his lips, one that lingers long enough for him to realize she’s trembling. Just a little. Angry at his stubbornness. Scared for him. But she’s faking a smile the best she can once she pulls away.]
Go. I’ll figure it out. Come back in one piece or I’ll kill you myself, okay?
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there's a small smirk on his lips as he straightens up his back. ]
I'll hold you to it.
[ as if he could be outmatched by her in combat, but he goes into battle with that hint of amusement as he slams his fists together by the time he walks through the doorway. the steel on his knuckles click and activate the autoloader which glows bright lights as it begins its process of creating an immense amount of bullets. august makes sure to lock the knob before he shuts the door.
the sound of wood and metal breaks alongside the undead, and more. there are growls and clothes tearing due to something sharp as well as digging into flesh. immediately nearly endless gunfire follows along with thuds against wood: the wall, the staircase, on top of the storage room. more glass shatters as thunder from the storm roars with high pitched squeals echoing the hall. several minutes pass and more concerning sounds of a fight escalate alongside more wood breaking.
one explosion brings out several inhumane screams. two explosions does the same. three is followed by nothing else but the rain that's muffled by the storage being closed for thirty seconds.
thud. thud. thud. the sounds of something descends the stairs. the source walks closer and closer towards the storage room entrance until it's right in front of the door.
three knocks are made on it. ]
Wendy? It's safe now.
[ should wendy open the door and look outside, she'll find several corpses on the ground as well as more amphibian-looking creatures with the sharpest of claws. some of the wallpaper burnt from an explosion as well as blood everywhere — how messy it makes his shoes and, unfortunately, parts of his clothes which are also visibly ruined. some of his skin is revealed through what seems to be cuts in his clothes and ruined armor, though no blood of his at least. his skills are better than the monsters that tried to kill them. ]
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The fact that August kisses her back - it brings warmth to her as well, that swelling feeling inside her chest for a few brief moments. She’s glad that he does, that the affection is returned so easily. Lingering is even easier for her then. She almost doesn’t want to let go, but he has work to do. And she needs to load this gun. Just in case it’s deemed necessary.
His smirk is met with one of her own as they part. See - she has jokes. She can bring levity. But she’s also deadly serious. He better come back. She knows he will but can’t ignore that tiny little voice of worry in the back of her head…
Wendy’s still curious about this tech from the future he was able to bring with him. And she leans to try and ogle as he disappears through the doorway. It’s closed behind him and she’s left alone and it’s only then does she practically collapse onto the nearest stack of boxes. Resting her ankle, hands shaking as she examines the gun he’s left her and loads it and tries not to focus on all the commotion going on right outside. The fact that the Entity just allowed this is baffling to her. Something she’ll never quote understand.
It’s loud and violent out there and she can only imagine how he’s tearing through them. Every now and then she jumps where she’s sitting. At one point she forces herself to stand and ends up pacing around the smallish space as best she can, hobbling along thanks to her bad foot.
She’s distracted by the boxes - she needs to do something to take her mind off the—
Wait are those explosions? She nearly screams when she hears the first one, hopping up and looking over towards the door. Then there’s two more soon after. She stays right where she is, actually raising the gun, slowly slowly…
The breath she’s been holding back is finally exhaled once she hears his voice through the door. And she nearly laughs at her foolishness. Of course it’s safe now! He’s here. Why wouldn’t it be? She would rush to the door to open it, but it’s a bit slower and clumsier than it would be otherwise. Regardless, the door is unlocked and flung open and she pays zero mind to anything else that’s out there for the moment. He’s the only one who matters. Her arms go right for his middle, and she’s hugging him so tight, leaning in close to take some weight off of her foot.
It isn’t until she realizes there’s blood on him and his clothes have battle damage that she lets go and backs off to give him his space. Her hand remains on his arm as she gives him a once over.]
Are you okay? You didn’t get bit right? Here - let me take a look at you.
[Straight into protective doting mode. She can’t help herself. There are still bandages in her pockets from earlier, in case she needs to use them on him.]
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I'm fine. No bites, no scratch marks. [ he says with a shake of his head. ] The blood isn't mine.
[ as if he would let mindless zombies and bloodthirsty amphibians get the better of him. august brinkman, the ballistic. it would be an embarrassment to be taken out by them when he's armed to the teeth by comparison to everyone else. two guns, now a knife, and an unlimited amount of bullets as always. he hasn't trained for decades just to be ruined by the undead in another world — as if he'd allow that in any situation.
blue eyes shift around and checks wendy to see if there are any damages to her. there shouldn't be when the door hasn't been broken into, but it doesn't hurt to check. not after the negligence he's committed in his youth... never again. once that's done he reaches out for her hand, his palm over the handle of the smart pistol. already august is glad that she didn't need to protect herself from hypothetical invaders breaking through the door. ]
How are you feeling?
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She sighs and nods and finally lets go of his arm. He says he’s okay, she can tell he’s okay. He’s okay. End of story.]
Better now. Actually. [Because he’s fine. She flashes him a smile.] Ankle’s still fucked but - I can manage it. See? [Have a little hobble. She thinks she’s got it but then she’s gritting her teeth and trying not to look uncomfortable. Still - smiling regardless.]
So what’s the plan? Circle back and hope for the best or try something else? [Her shoulders hunch just a little. Does he want this back or…? She doesn’t loosen her grip on the pistol.]
supposed to sleep now but
a hum leaves his throat at her pained sound thanks to her ankle. if he let's her walk, she has plenty of corpses and blood to wadd through. ]
That, or find ourselves a pit stop of sorts. A safe place to rest, and hopefully warm.
[ he makes a motion with his head towards her injured foot. ]
And as long as you can manage. I can easily carry you around if not.
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Augie, you don’t have to carry me around. [Grumble grumble. Even though she knows it’s the better option as far as her ankle’s concerned. She still doesn’t want to be a bother. Stubborn stubborn.]
We can stay here a minute. It’s either that or check out the unknown upstairs. [Unfolding the map, Wendy limps back towards the box she was using for a seat before. She looks at the front of the map, then turns it over - in case she missed something before. Sigh. Nothing useful. No upstairs noted on here. It is a mystery.]
How long do you think we have here before we need to move?
[There’s probably so much damage along the way out there - barricading anything would be a challenge. So it’s only a matter of time before more beasties come wandering.
She doesn’t have a pen on her to make any marks - she checked before - so she smoothes the map out on her lap and starts making Xs over rooms and halls with her pointer finger. Ensuring everything is committed to memory.]
All these are no good. [Hand curled into a loose fist, she lifts it to her mouth and starts chewing on her thumb cuticle as she racks her brain.] Hm. Looks like this could possibly lead to another building? [She points near where they currently are on the map. Near the top. There’s a… curved passageway? Path in general? Leading to another square.] Outside’s kinda risky but what else do we have?
[Besides staying put. Venturing upstairs. Dying. You know.]
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The weather still changes here, that you confirmed. We wait until it stops raining and then leave this place. [ and then elsewhere entirely. any place is better than this mansion no matter how large or beautiful it is. danger lurks. ] We can always look for a good room first. See what's upstairs before we head outside.
[ this is the part where august opens the door and begins to walk out, which is littered with corpses and blood and bullets. time to head up where the map leads to wherever the hell it leads. hopefully they find another map. ]
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Map still in her lap, she glances up at him. Nods a few times in agreement.]
Yeah - okay. I guess we can do that. [Her head tilts at the mention of a “good room” but she doesn’t say a word about it. A good room - safe room. To hide out. That’s all. Like this one but perhaps out of the line of fire. Being on the ground floor is too dangerous now.
She looks after him as he opens the door and begins heading out, waits a few moments before pushing herself to stand and starting to follow him. Doing her best to keep the weight off her bad leg along the way. Map still in hand just in case they need it.
She doesn’t like what she sees outside the storage room - all the carnage turns her stomach so quickly. There’s such a huge difference experiencing this sort of thing up close. Before it was through screens and monitors, now it’s usually from a safe enough distance on trial grounds.]
You did all this? [Her tone is somewhere between surprised and impressed. She’s slow and careful to step around the mess of gore as best she can. Ends up dragging her shoes through blood and viscera but there’s no possible way to avoid it. Bloody coat, bloody sweater, bloody shoes.]
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[ august remembers telling wendy previously that he’s a fighter, though not the finder details of what it entails. he has weapons and the skill to defend himself and her should there be more to come, and he’s sure there will be. creatures of the undead tend to be as stubborn as he is after all, or at least from the ones he learns about in books and film.
where wendy’s shoes are tainted with blood, august is used to it throughout his years in the thunderdome and the apex games. nothing new beyond who and what he fights. at least the amateurs in the games put up a fight, though it would be a lie to say it was easy. the vicious amphibian that bursts through the window and its sharp claws reminds him of the prowlers back home. much smarter however when it tries to slice his head off.
in the end, however, it’s still an animal and august is the legendary ballistic that refuses to die to it. ]
Two doors… no, four. [ he mutters to himself by the time he reaches the end of the stairs. no map for them to see where else to head to. going towards the right side, he looks down the hall and is immediately greeted by the sound of dragging footsteps — more zombies. ] Other way.
[ because they need a break after his slaughter on the first floor. already he leads the way to the door within the hallway, and it opens without issue. inside reveals blue wallpaper and two doors. august picks the one to the right.
a bedroom. perfect. ]
Found a place where you can rest. We can stay here for a while.
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[Ignore the fact that she almost slips and falls once or twice along the way. There’s just too much shit everywhere and the floor is slick. More blood on her boots. They’ve seen better days.
Wendy’s slow to follow him out of the area but it’s mostly due to her stopping and staring, observing the dead carcasses (or what’s left of them) from a reasonable distance and making mental notes for later. She’s never seen anything like them - the amphibian ones anyway. Not even back home. She doesn’t think so, but sometimes her memory is hazy. Mostly on purpose.
At least there’s a railing for her to lean against on the way up the stairs. That’s the most taxing part, taking the steps practically one at a time. But she isn’t complaining, just doing what she has to in order to keep up. The slow pace makes it easy for her to just change direction once she makes it to the top. Other way? She can do that.
And despite the stubbornness she keeps exhibiting, she is truly grateful for a place to sit by the time he finds one. The stairs were a lot to deal with. She’s caught up so much she nearly bumps into his back, not paying attention, just wanting to be close.
If only she had a pen. They don’t have a map, but she could keep track of things on the back of the one they have. Going to try committing the layout to memory. Maybe resting will help her brain out some.]
Okay. Thank you. [She hobbles past because sitting seems like the most amazing idea in the world right now, but makes sure to give his arm a gentle squeeze as she passes by.
The room is dark and cozy and she lets herself drop onto the edge of the bed, exhaling the loudest sigh of relief once all the pressure is off of her legs. After a few moments of just sitting, his coat is slipped from her shoulders and left in a pool around her.]
Trying not to lay down. Don’t want to fall asleep. [The softest snort.]
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[ august watches how wendy walks the moment she enters the room. limping on one foot — not good. such injuries slow down their run from monsters and he isn’t even sure what other creatures roam the mansion. the strange amphibians are already one surprise as are the bloody zombies, so he’s sure there’s more somewhere in this world.
maybe they’ve hardly scratched the surface of the danger this mansion can offer. they need to escape this realm the moment the weather is clear.
there’s a chair beside the bed, which he already takes. moving it until it’s right beside the bed, he takes a seat with his legs spread. elbows rest on his knees as hands clasp together before he looks towards wendy. ]
And before you say anything else, I’ll be fine. I’m used to worse on a regular basis.
[ with that said, august offers her a playful wink. it's fine. he'll be okay. ]
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I’m not… saying anything else…
[Wendy’s response trails off into a mumble, and then a clearing of her throat. Her legs kick slightly. He’s situated close to the bed and that wink is critical, stopping her dead. Of course she was going to check in with him again, insist that he not worry about her and do what he has to instead… He puts a stop to that instantly, brings the faintest tint of red to her cheeks.]
What’s worse than this? [A genuine question for him, but also - she needs to change the subject or at the very least take her mind off the look he just gave her. Somehow.
And while she waits for an answer, she’s going to… let her body lean until it drops and she’s sprawled out on her side, her head comfortably on the pillow. Not closing her eyes though. Just going to lay here and watch him watch her. Rest without sleep.]
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[ not that he'll confess he's died once already. the way a mad doctor's electric powers practically break his equipment from the autoloader to the technical implants in his body. far worse than what ms. paquette's fences can do despite knowing he has no doubt she can reach his potential eventually. fingers squeeze between each other as he recalls the encounter with dr. carter — he needs to give the man his "gift" eventually.
august's gaze shifts to wendy settling down on the bed. good. she must rest before they continue on. at least a few hours before they continue on, or when the weather finally stops so they can leave the realm again through the front door. the dogs he can handle with the whistler even while carrying her with it being a smart gun. ]
Do those in your work place return like the unlucky ones, or not?
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An actual threat? Like what? [She props herself up on an elbow, chin coming to rest in hand.] Be specific. [Is she kidding? Maybe. There are hints of a smile playing on her face. But really - she’s just curious. It’s her nature.]
Not sure how death works here outside of the trials. Really haven’t wanted to find out… I’m just going to assume it’s permanent? [Ignore the fact that her eyes are drooping a little while she talks. Maybe that’s why she decided to prop herself up. Less chance of falling asleep.]
People come and go. Sometimes they come back. Most of them don’t - at least the ones I know personally. It’s not exactly something I’ve wanted to collect data on. Would rather be safe.
[Here she leans in toward him, then whispers:] I’m a chicken shit. [She makes a face, her nose scrunching a little. But there’s also the softest snort of amusement. Bitterness? Take your pick.]
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[ well, he certainly isn't dead. not while he's still here. only kidnapped by an eldritch being — as if that isn't a problem in itself. still, august is alive and breathing and still armed should anyone else appear while they rest. won't be a problem even if he miraculously runs out of bullets because he still has a knife on the side. not a problem and never should be when he is a legend in more ways than one.
a hum leaves his throat as he listens to wendy's words. so dying here might be permanent for her. more of a reason to keep her safe then if all she has is one. it's when she calls herself chicken shit that he raises a brow. ]
Then it's a good thing I'm here, right? I happen to not be.
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Him being a dashing action hero…
Just look at him. He took care of how many monsters all by his lonesome? And there’s barely a scratch on him. Plenty of blood and muck but zero scratches. They clawed at his clothes and she’s trying her damnedest not to just stare at his abdomen from where she lays. But it’s right there and oof. Action hero indeed. There has to be some truth to it.]
You’re the bravest person I know, actually. [Her tone is soft, even. There’s not a hint of flirtation here for a change. Her gaze lingers on his face, then his eyes for a few moments, then she’s moving her arm. No more propping. Her head is back down on the pillow, and she’s fluffing it up some to make it more comfortable.] So thank you - for being here. I’d be dead without you.
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listening to her words, however, does bring a smile to his face as he crosses his arms and leans back on the chair. he has to shift his eyes away to finally stop looking at her. instead he picks up a nearby book that details about... fishing. ]
Of course. [ despite the initial talk they were — are going to have, august would never let wendy wander into any danger. ] Until you're back at your desk, rest assure that you're safe with me.
[ now, because it's obvious to him: ]
Go on and shut your eyes. I won't disappear when you wake up.
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Thank you. [She repeats herself because she’s at a loss otherwise. She could thank him a million times, but she stops it at two.]
Hm? [He’s telling her to close her eyes, but she’s already beaten him to it. Her eyes are doing the longest blinks. They feel so heavy.] Oh. Mm. [The slightest nod.]
Don’t let me sleep too long, okay? [A little smile. A sleepy one. She can’t hide her exhaustion, especially now that she’s sprawled out and resting on a somewhat okay mattress. Of course he’ll be there when she wakes up. She was there for him.] I trust you.
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