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06| Location: Old Sanctuary| Always chocking from the stench and the fume
Kobra was still skeptical about this, but for some reason he wanted to trust James. Maybe because he reminded him a little of Jet Star. The entire calm and responsible and reasonable thing, maybe. After he had picked the lock Party and him had made a quick escape and Kobra had gotten his jacket back from the roof. He felt a little better just for wearing it. But he still couldn't sleep and everything seemed to press down on his chest. The smoke hadn't been too good for his already abused lungs.
He was restless and knowing that he couldn't escape was driving Kobra mad, like a tiger pacing in a cage. at least in the desert he knew that he could drive, drive until he reached the end of the world if he wanted to. He'd wandered around the city for a while until he felt ready to fall asleep in a doorway, which wouldn't really do him any good, so he got out the tablet and navigated to the place James had given him the coordinates for.
It looked....exceptionally weird and Kobra got even more apprehensive. Maybe coming here hadn't been a good idea, but if the guy had a piano...well. Kobra was easily bribed with those kinds of things in addition to his general disregard for his own safety. Squinting behind his sunglasses he looked up at the building and wrinkled his nose before shrugging and making for the front door, only feeling a tiny bit awkward as he knocked. He hadn't knocked on doors in ages, and this was more a vague memory from his time in the city than actual, ingrained manners. In the desert you got out your gun and kicked doors out of the way, that's how you entered a building. Kobra had a feeling that the citizens here wouldn't appreciate it and after Party's and his recent stunt they'd better lay low for a little while.
He was restless and knowing that he couldn't escape was driving Kobra mad, like a tiger pacing in a cage. at least in the desert he knew that he could drive, drive until he reached the end of the world if he wanted to. He'd wandered around the city for a while until he felt ready to fall asleep in a doorway, which wouldn't really do him any good, so he got out the tablet and navigated to the place James had given him the coordinates for.
It looked....exceptionally weird and Kobra got even more apprehensive. Maybe coming here hadn't been a good idea, but if the guy had a piano...well. Kobra was easily bribed with those kinds of things in addition to his general disregard for his own safety. Squinting behind his sunglasses he looked up at the building and wrinkled his nose before shrugging and making for the front door, only feeling a tiny bit awkward as he knocked. He hadn't knocked on doors in ages, and this was more a vague memory from his time in the city than actual, ingrained manners. In the desert you got out your gun and kicked doors out of the way, that's how you entered a building. Kobra had a feeling that the citizens here wouldn't appreciate it and after Party's and his recent stunt they'd better lay low for a little while.
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
So he had hatched himself a violin, the one portable instrument he could play, and gathered up a few things inside of an old fashioned doctor's bag that he had found. The Sanctuary was home to some odd things, and it truly was no surprise to him to have found it. And he had waited down near the door, for the knock that was inevitable. The doors were solid and all but impossible to kick down and there was no door bell.
With a careful sigh and his tablet tucked away in his bag, a violin case held in the same hand, he opened the door with his free one, flashing Kobra a brief smile as he stepped outside, his braces making his walking stiff. "Helen, has asked that I do not allow you inside, your, earlier actions have put you on her, black list so to say. So I will do what I can with what tools I have in my bag, but I will still play for you, if you do not mind the, change in location to being outdoors."
[OOC: Yeah basically Kerry said Helen wouldn't let him inside, so, tweaking of the original idea.]
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"You're awfully polite," he pointed out in his monotone, though it didn't sound like a bad thing and the corners of his lips even twitched into a tiny smile. "Can't blame her for that, doesn't seem like the kind of zonequeen used to claps," he shrugged. Not that Kobra cared an awful lot about other people's opinions. At least not the people he didn't consider friends or family.
"Milkshake, I prefer outdoors. Where do you wanna go?" he asked, looking around. It would be easier to get somewhere if he had his bike already. "You shiny or should I take some of that stuff?" he nodded at the things in James' hands.
[ooc: I wouldn't let him into my house either haha]
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"I do try to be, part of how I was raised," he replied in his own accented tones, not at all bothered by it. He did chuckle at that though, "I would not say that, if I am understanding you correctly, but she does tend to be, rather protective of her home. Which this is." If Kobra only knew of Helen's exploits...but James would share those another day so he just chuckled after that.
"I see that you do, and I truly do not care so long as you can sit while I do what I can, and I can sit when I play," he replied and looked around as well. He truly had no preference, and he shook his head at that, "I am good thank you though for the offer, they have nothing heavy in them."
[ooc:I wouldn't either lol But James tried which is what matters.]
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"How 'bout over there?" He nodded in the direction of some trees, something that looked like a small park even. Kobra would never get over the excitement of trees. Because...well. Trees. Real trees. And nature. Not just sand and radiation.
"I'm fine though, no need to trouble yourself with anything for me," he pointed out again, absently rubbing his arm. "How'd you get those?" Kobra nodded at the braces on James' legs. Other people might've hesitated to ask, but Kobra wasn't exactly socially skilled and his question held no ill intention, just curiosity.
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
When he pointed toward some trees he nodded, a small park would be fine, with a bench or something nearby. "Of course, if you would like." That and it was a soothing setting, hopefully things would go well.
"No trouble at all, and with being, new here, I much prefer something familiar," so it was no issue to him at all, and in fact put off on him having to get used to Taxon. He hated technology, well, not all of it but the majority? Yes. At the question to his braces he chuckled slightly, his eyes darkening some in memory, that was expected. "I needed these after I was shot, with a bullet," somethings did need to be explained and he wanted this clear, "and it did more damage to my leg then I realized." He had them on both legs as it was just easier and over time? It had become needed.
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"Costa Rica, musta been one hell of a clap," Kobra commented, glancing down at James' legs. They didn't have bullets in the zones anymore, not really with the rayguns, but Kobra had heard of them before and seen them at some of the trades out in the zones. "They hurt?" he questioned, hands in the pockets of his jeans and shoulders hunched. There were still grains of sand on his clothes, rubbed into his jeans and it made the entire setting more surreal. It was like he could still taste and smell the desert, yet he was here.
Nodding at a bench Kobra slowed his steps. "That good?" As much as he loved walked, right now he felt exhausted and just sitting and watching their surroundings sounded like the best idea ever. "You got a lot of trees in...London? It was London you said you're from, right?"
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"You haven't the faintest idea," well more like one bullet in one leg in the middle of saving the landing of an invasion force. But it had been hell, not just because of that, his suit was one very glaring weakness and one people used a lot. "Not any more no, but without the braces I know I could not walk, so they serve a purpose now." And reminded him of just how old he really was, along with his ramrod posture and just, air of self assurance, a product of his upbringing. He always had that, no matter where he went.
He nodded at the bench, "Perfect." As it was, and he smiled at him as he set the case and bag down on one end of it. "Near and around it more, otherwise it is similar to hear how often I see trees. And yes London is where I am from."
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"There's no trees where I come from," he said, not sure if he missed his home at the moment or not. He certainly missed the people, he missed the familiarity of knowing what he was doing. But he didn't miss the heat, the sand, the radiation.
"So how come I'm not in the reds with you and you're still far too nice?" Kobra asked, sitting down and taking off his sunglasses, knuckling at his eyes.
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
"I see that would explain your excitement," and he watched him curiously. It wasn't often he met someone who had never seen a tree before or who didn't h ave them near home.
"If I am understanding you correctly, then it is because you were kind enough to help me when I first arrived," James started as he dug out his stethoscope from his bag, his movements slow. "And, while I know you and your brother have an, unusual understanding of what is right and wrong from that conversation, everyone deserves help, and some understanding." In other words he wasn't happy with what he and Party had done but he figured Kobra deserved a second chance. He seemed nice enough after all.
[Location: Old City Sanctuary]
Kobra usually didn't like to show his excitement, but he was fine with James knowing. "They're fucking shiny," he said, even smiling as he tilted his head back, looking up. "It's nice to have shade outside too." Although the sun wasn't as scorching here as in the zones anyway.
"That's...unusual," Kobra replied slowly, watching James through half-lidded eyes. He wasn't used to people being this nice and reasonable. Jet Star would've loved James, he was sure. Thinking of the other Killjoy only made Kobra's stomach turn though, so he quickly chased the thought away. "Things are different here. Completely different, I dunno. Can't wrap my head around it. Not even sure if this is about right and wrong, you know? Guess those are different things to different people." Even though most people here seemed to have more culturally shared concepts than Party and Kobra. And they had nothing left to lose, now even more so than back at home because their small family wasn't here. It encouraged recklessness.
[Location: Park] < Forgot to change it /head desk
James was a good observer the best really, it was hard to miss such a thing. "I thought so," And then he chuckled at the shade thing and nodded, "It is nice. And they provide quite a bit of entertainment as well, if you are physically inclined."
"It may be, however it is how I feel." And James just carefully slid the stethoscope around his neck for the moment, content to just talk with Kobra. He could learn a lot just y that and he tilted his head at that before nodding. "I know what you are talking about yes, different worlds clashing and the rest of us, attempting to adapt to what others think. Different worlds, different people, different right and wrongs. It is not surprising, even over time such things change." He had been alive long enough to know that really, and he could also see where people like Party and Kobra who had no understanding of what the others considered right and wrong would have it difficult.
[Location: Park]
"Do they?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow and looking over at James. Kobra hadn't really thought about the possibilities, too amazed by everything. Trees, the beach. At least in the respect it was pretty damn awesome here. Maybe he could convince Party to move to the park or the beach or something. Anything that wasn't the city.
Nodding again he sighed, closing his eyes for a few seconds. "Yeah, exactly. And I'm not going to adapt to some fucking Hamsters rules, y'know?" The last bit was said with a little heat again, showing that he was prone to his temper flaring up. If there was one thing Party and Kobra would never give up it was their freedom. They'd been fighting all their lives for it and bore the marks, but they'd never given up.
"It's all...it reminds me of things that just...weren't good," he added, softer this time, information that he obviously didn't share with just anyone.
[Location: Park]
He nodded back and sat down next to him the talking was more interesting in a way then any sort of examination he could do on him right now. And he had a feeling Kobra needed someone to understand, and James was willing to give him that much. Even if he was slightly worried about his habits, blowing things up and such. But someone had to try at least, and it seemed it had to be him. "Yes I know what you mean, however there is such a thing as, working inside the rules given."
And when he heard that softness he nodded slowly, and he was polite enough not to push to much. "I imagine it does, and I take it then that was what caused you to, do what you and your brother did?"
[Location: Park]
At the mention of working inside rules given Kobra's expression hardened a little. That wasn't what they did, not since they'd abandoned the city. There were no rules in the desert. Or well, maybe. The rules they made and stuck to within their small community.
"Yeah," he shrugged and put his sunglasses back on because his eyes were starting to burn. It was too bright, even in the shade. "We're not gonna let them turn us into drones again. We won't." There was a ferocity in his voice that was maybe uncalled for but well, Kobra had a great many feelings about this. "I won't let anyone hurt my brother again." And suddenly breathing was difficult again. He didn't want to think about it, but it never really left his mind. Maybe saying some things out aloud would help? At least Jet Star always lectured him that he shouldn't bottle everything up until he exploded (which was frequently) but get things off his chest. Problem was, Kobra was really bad at that.
[Location: Park]
He did catch how he hardened though and sighed. There were ways to work within the rules without following them to the letter, bending them really.
"Light to bright for you?" He asked before sighing as he went on about things. He knew what it was like to have expectations of behavior but from what he was gathering about Kobra's world, well it was something that he could understand even more. Especially his feelings on it but right then was not the time to push his thoughts on the boy. "No, I do not think you will nor should you." But when his breathing got difficult again he slid over quickly on the bench sliding the ends of the stethoscope in his ears as he pressed the other to his chest, watching Kobra. "Would you like to talk about it? I have been told I am an excellent listener."
[Location: Park]
Exhaling sharply through his nose Kobra tried not to cough and leaned his head back, thinking about it for a few seconds. Maybe talking was good. And James seemed trustworthy, like he wouldn't use the information against Kobra.
"I..." Well, he would have to start in the beginning then. "They took Grace," he gritted it out more than he said it because it still made his blood boil and he tried his best not to think about what had happened after the aliens had brought him here. "She's...she's just a kid. Rats took her. So we went into the city, hit Scarecrow headquarters. And we got her. Were almost out too, until Korse and his fucking squad of drags show up. Got into a right clap with them." He exhaled shakily again, his voice strained and showing how much restraint it took him to continue. Saying it out loud made it all so real and he didn't want to go relieve those memories. At the same time it was terrible to have them lurk at the back of his mind. "We make for the door, but when I turn Korse's got my brother up against the wall and he..." Kobra shrugged. How to say this? "I see him pressing the gun to Party's neck and I try to get there, I do. But...but I didn't make it." He shuddered, hands balled into fists and body trembling slightly. "He fell to the ground like a bag of wet sand. And then...suddenly I'm here. And he's alive. It's so fucking messed up." Kobra shook his head. "It drives me batshit."
[Location: Park]
Use the information against Kobra? No far from it, James was willing to let it go, to just figure out the young man. It was important after all, and when he leaned his head back he sighed and more the stethoscope, not to thrilled with what he had heard, but he would keep it to himself. The boy had issues, and pushing treatment on him would not help at all.
As Kobra talked however James found himself trying to stay calm, he understood how that felt, to see someone you cared for taken or harmed. Trying to stop it. And when it was family? It was all the worse. So the entire tale, even as he fought to understand precisely what the boy was saying, was hitting close to home and he frowned at the end of it. This sounded like what had happened when he arrived to Helen, he could understand. "I can imagine it would, however this place, seems able to bring back the dead or remove them before they are dead. I myself am dead in my friends time, not that I have experienced it yet." But he was close, so close to it if he went back it was frightening to think about really. So he fiddled with the stethoscope in his hand and tried to look at peace with that, when he was anything but. "Though I am sorry to hear how it occurred for you, using a child as bait is, nothing to be proud of."
[Location: Park]
"Are you?" Kobra asked, frowning at James. This was batshit. "I just don't get it. He was still there, in my time, but he's been here longer than me. So is this just some parallel shit? Or...or not even real?" Kobra'd struggled with the thought of his brother being fake, just a rebuilt, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. He needed it to be his brother. "And...what...what happened in my time? What if all of them got dusted?" he swallowed hard, trying to suppress another coughing fit. "BL/nd are fucking pigs, they'd do anything." There was enough hate in his words that nothing more needed to be added about his stance.
"But I can't...what if..." he leaned forward, head in hands and trying to breathe but obviously struggling. "What if suddenly I'm back there and he's gone again? Or something...something else happens?" He couldn't, absolutely couldn't deal with it again and the nightmares of Party dying just wouldn't leave him. Glancing over at James he suddenly looked a little guilty. "Not what you wanna hear, huh? Sorry."
[Location: Park]
"Indeed I am." James replied before shrugging some at that. "I imagine this place has the, ability to pull us all from different points in our time line. So while your brother is alive here, he is not in your time." He says it slowly and reached up to rub at his beard now, attempting to give the younger man solace. "Do not mind if you can not understand it, time travel is complicated, but suffice to say what you know of what occurs to your brother, is his future." And then he sighed, "Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about that here, but to dwell."
"And what if you were to return and had no memory of this place? All you would know would be what was occurring right then." And he hoped that was true for the sake of everyone. That no memories followed them home, to avoid that. And then he shrugged, smoothing out his beard, "It is perfectly fine, something I do need to confront at some point."
[Location: Park]
Kobra sighed and leaned back. "Fucking complicated. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it all." And as much as he wanted to go home, maybe it was better to stay here, where Party was alive.
"Guess it's better not to think about it too much, huh?" Kobra smiled wryly. "The trees are nice, so that's a good thing about being here, I guess?"
[Location: Park]
James chuckled at that but he nodded as he sat back to look over at the trees. "It does, it is a very complicated matter." And it made even his head hurt, and yet his thoughts on being here were still muddled. It was better then being dead though.
"Well it is worthy of some thought, but over thinking, may not be for the best." James sighed before shrugging at that, "They are nice though. And once you are used to it, the cit is truly not too bad compared to where else we could have ended up yes?"
[Location: Park]
"Oh, also," Kobra rubbed the back of his neck, seeming unsure of himself for just a second. "Since you're a doc and all. I think my brother's getting a cold again. Anything I can do?"
[Location: Park]
And that unsure bit had James lock his eyes on Kobra, tilting his head curiously. Before of course he nodded at that, "Yes there is, make sure he rests but mostly have him drink lots of fluids. Water, juice, specifically orange juice, and keep him warm. All you can do truly." And knowing the boys disliked of pills that was all he could offer.
[Location: Park]
Nodding at what James said Kobra tried not to sigh. Orange juice was not an option, but he could force Party to stay warm and drink. "Thanks. I'll do that."
[Location: Park]
James chuckled slightly at that, he understood how some people were. "You're welcome, and if possible tea over coffee. It helps to soothe the throat better from the coughing and will hydrate him better as well."
[Location: Park]
"He loves coffee. But...it's not an option anyway, so," he shrugged again with a wry smile. They didn't drink or eat anything from the city.
[Location: Park]
"Do not trust the shops here?" He didn't either, at least with his tea. Coffee was disgusting to him really. "You could brew your own coffee, if you know how."
[Location: Park]
"Really?" His eyes widened at James' words. "How? Can you tell me?"
[Location: Park]
"Yes really," he started and then he shrugged slightly, "Coffee is not a specialty of mine, I prefer tea. But if you can find a camp fire coffee pot and coffee grounds then yes you can brew your own coffee." He dug out a piece of paper and a pen from his bag and started to write down how, taking it slow as he really wasn't that familiar with the art of coffee making.
[Location: Park]
"You really know a lot of stuff, huh?"
[Location: Park]
"At 160 years old one tends to know quite a bit. And I do enjoy reading, and learning."
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