[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.
[ no words leave past august's mouth except a nod of acknowledgement that's accompanied by a nod. yes, he will wake her up once enough time has passed — maybe four hours, or until he hears the storm end. the sound of harsh raindrops give muffled echoes from the rooftop and through the ceiling. fortunately it doesn't wake up the eventual sleeping wendy however, and it doesn't distract his sharp ears from picking up any potential footsteps from beyond the walls.
august places his coat over wendy before taking his seat once more. it's cold, she isn't beneath the sheets — no getting sick under his watch.
sunglasses folded and kept aside for now, he allows himself a few cat naps during the four hour watch so that he, too, doesn't get exhausted by the time they leave. strength is still needed to leave the mansion property and, should it come to it, carrying wendy out if her ankle is still in pain. can't save either if he drops to his knees out of extreme fatigue. it just won't do, and august would embarrass himself if it happened. not after his long life and experience in battle.
during one of the times he awakens, he looks at wendy and has to curl his fingers until knuckles go white. her palm lays open.
instead of four hours, it takes five until the weather finally calms down to nothing. no rumble of harsh rain from the roof and ceiling, no thunder roaring, and no lightning cracks. it's gone. ]
Wendy. [ he says while opening his sunglasses once more. ] Wendy, the storm's gone.
[Nearly as soon as she closes her eyes again, Wendy’s fast asleep. It’s caught up to her - the long hours, the additional stress (both good and bad). She only sleeps because she truly needs it. Most times she goes without - another unspoken perk of being stuck in such a strange place for as long as she has.
It’s a dreamless sleep. For reasons unknown, she isn’t plagued by the horrors she’s experienced today on their little misadventure. Or the usual things her mind decides to give her nightmares about - horrible things she’s seen and experienced firsthand, horrible things she’s done.
She is quiet and she is still, save for the occasional snore (sorry if this is how he finds out that Wendy Lin does indeed snore) or slight shift in position. But there isn’t much. She remains on her side facing where August sits watch, his borrowed coat draped over her. The storm helps, the constant white noise of the rain keeping her lulled and complacent. As does the promise of him still being there once she awakens.]
[ so it takes more to wake her up. what did she do before they met? her work, he assumes. always so hardworking to the point he wonders how many breaks she takes, and if she uses those breaks to see him. they have plenty of fun together when they do meet. he gets a taste for vanilla more often these days because of said meets, though he hopes she takes time for herself as well. there's the assumption that she does of course — an independent woman who refuses to be belittled by her co-workers. at least from what he remembers her saying.
they do have to go however. ]
Wendy. [ he repeats while getting on his feet. if there were windows, if the sun was out, he would open them at this point. instead he hovers over her with both bare hands on her shoulders. gentle, careful. ] It's time to go.
[It does. At least in this instance. Works so hard despite hardly working. More often behind a desk than out in the field. He doesn’t need to know all her free time - whatever little she manages to scrape up - is thoroughly occupied by him. That would just make her look bad, wouldn’t it? Obsessive even.]
Mm? [It’s more of a question this time. There’s the slightest bit of stirring once his hands are on her shoulders and the touch registers with her. It’s a bit delayed, her everything a bit foggy from being in such a deep sleep.]
Is it? [The bleariest little blinks. Oh.] I’m sorry… [She stifles a yawn by way of the pillow.]
A few hours. I wondered about letting you rest longer, but I don't know how long we have until the storm decides to make its return.
[ he makes a wave towards the ceiling, showing her: silence. no thuds from the roof that echoes into the room. no thunder that snaps in the air after lightning strikes. a quieter night for her to sleep through, and he would let her had they been elsewhere. this is not a safe world for them to do anything other than survive. that he can do, but obviously to him she can't fight.
a good thing he's around then. on the other hand, if they've never met then she wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. if he was never brought into this world in the first place, he would have never met wendy lin.
Oh - no no. It’s alright! [A shake of her head and a smile as she starts scooting up into a sitting position.] I’m up, I’m up. We might as well make a go for it since the rain stopped.
[A few hours did her a whole lot of good. Maybe too much good? She’s a little slow, but alert enough. She starts slipping his coat back on - the better to prove to him that yes she’s ready.
The quiet outside seems strange, yet comforting in this instance. It’s one less thing for them to worry about anyway.]
I could sleep all day sometimes. Really - it’s fine. We should go. [Swinging her feet down to the floor, she pauses at the edge of the bed, places a hand on his arm before standing.] Did you rest at all? [She holds his gaze, trying not to look too concerned.]
I was able to have some shut eye, yes. [ he says with a nod before turning his arm into something she'll be able to hook hers around. hopefully she can walk better now than a while ago, least shge need to be carried again. ] You need not worry about me. I'm more concerned for your ankle.
[ do they need to run again? how many zombies or bloodthirsty amphibians do they need to run from until they're out of this realm and safe? august isn't certain yet, but he will be. he must to keep the both of them safe from harm. at least he knows where not to take her next time, or at least to clean house first before anything else happens. ]
[Standing is easy if she leans in towards him. Putting pressure on her bad leg - that’s more of an issue. Wendy is hesitant at first, gingerly pressing her foot down to see what happens. There’s minor wincing, the tightening of her grip on his arm. She swallows the hiss that threatens to pass her gritted teeth. Exchanges it for a better distraction - a joke, or at least something more lighthearted.]
A bit too late for that, I think. I’m pretty invested.
[She’s chuckling at her comment. Please take it as a joke. She’s too frazzled to have this sort of conversation with him now, especially since they haven’t even gotten through the heavy stuff yet. Don’t ask why she worries about him, why she finds herself smitten.]
I can manage. [She takes a few tentative steps, is a bit on the wobbly side, but hooking her arm through his for support is a great help.] I’m just - gonna be a little slow for a bit. I guess. [Not gonna sigh about it. She feels stupid for letting this happen.] It’s okay.
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no subject
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.]
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
u sneak
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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august places his coat over wendy before taking his seat once more. it's cold, she isn't beneath the sheets — no getting sick under his watch.
sunglasses folded and kept aside for now, he allows himself a few cat naps during the four hour watch so that he, too, doesn't get exhausted by the time they leave. strength is still needed to leave the mansion property and, should it come to it, carrying wendy out if her ankle is still in pain. can't save either if he drops to his knees out of extreme fatigue. it just won't do, and august would embarrass himself if it happened. not after his long life and experience in battle.
during one of the times he awakens, he looks at wendy and has to curl his fingers until knuckles go white. her palm lays open.
instead of four hours, it takes five until the weather finally calms down to nothing. no rumble of harsh rain from the roof and ceiling, no thunder roaring, and no lightning cracks. it's gone. ]
Wendy. [ he says while opening his sunglasses once more. ] Wendy, the storm's gone.
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It’s a dreamless sleep. For reasons unknown, she isn’t plagued by the horrors she’s experienced today on their little misadventure. Or the usual things her mind decides to give her nightmares about - horrible things she’s seen and experienced firsthand, horrible things she’s done.
She is quiet and she is still, save for the occasional snore (sorry if this is how he finds out that Wendy Lin does indeed snore) or slight shift in position. But there isn’t much. She remains on her side facing where August sits watch, his borrowed coat draped over her. The storm helps, the constant white noise of the rain keeping her lulled and complacent. As does the promise of him still being there once she awakens.]
Mm.
[That’s all he gets from Sleeping Beauty.]
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they do have to go however. ]
Wendy. [ he repeats while getting on his feet. if there were windows, if the sun was out, he would open them at this point. instead he hovers over her with both bare hands on her shoulders. gentle, careful. ] It's time to go.
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Mm? [It’s more of a question this time. There’s the slightest bit of stirring once his hands are on her shoulders and the touch registers with her. It’s a bit delayed, her everything a bit foggy from being in such a deep sleep.]
Is it? [The bleariest little blinks. Oh.] I’m sorry… [She stifles a yawn by way of the pillow.]
How long was I out for? I didn’t mean to do that.
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[ he makes a wave towards the ceiling, showing her: silence. no thuds from the roof that echoes into the room. no thunder that snaps in the air after lightning strikes. a quieter night for her to sleep through, and he would let her had they been elsewhere. this is not a safe world for them to do anything other than survive. that he can do, but obviously to him she can't fight.
a good thing he's around then. on the other hand, if they've never met then she wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. if he was never brought into this world in the first place, he would have never met wendy lin.
august decides to give her a playful smile. ]
Unless you'd rather sleep in more?
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[A few hours did her a whole lot of good. Maybe too much good? She’s a little slow, but alert enough. She starts slipping his coat back on - the better to prove to him that yes she’s ready.
The quiet outside seems strange, yet comforting in this instance. It’s one less thing for them to worry about anyway.]
I could sleep all day sometimes. Really - it’s fine. We should go. [Swinging her feet down to the floor, she pauses at the edge of the bed, places a hand on his arm before standing.] Did you rest at all? [She holds his gaze, trying not to look too concerned.]
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[ do they need to run again? how many zombies or bloodthirsty amphibians do they need to run from until they're out of this realm and safe? august isn't certain yet, but he will be. he must to keep the both of them safe from harm. at least he knows where not to take her next time, or at least to clean house first before anything else happens. ]
Can you walk?
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A bit too late for that, I think. I’m pretty invested.
[She’s chuckling at her comment. Please take it as a joke. She’s too frazzled to have this sort of conversation with him now, especially since they haven’t even gotten through the heavy stuff yet. Don’t ask why she worries about him, why she finds herself smitten.]
I can manage. [She takes a few tentative steps, is a bit on the wobbly side, but hooking her arm through his for support is a great help.] I’m just - gonna be a little slow for a bit. I guess. [Not gonna sigh about it. She feels stupid for letting this happen.] It’s okay.