had_not_lived | ♕ |[26]| ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man

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♕ |[26]| ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man

[The recording kicks off with some swift, shallow breaths, and a distant dry rumble-- the sound of dirt settling as it pours through a now-open door.]

I-I'm not sure where this goes. But I guess this is the only way out there is, so.

[Neil pauses. Given what he's heard-- what Cain said-- it's hard to be convinced that this pile of earth leads anywhere he wants to go. It's ironic; he's in the room where he died, facing what might be a grave, and though he ought to be dead he isn't. If he doesn't make it--

He takes a deep breath.]

I'll... try. I hope I see you all soon.

Okay.

[ooc; slow tags for a bit. Action for Todd, voice replies for others assumed to be after he gets hisself together <3]

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Neil--

[Just a few moments of panicked breathing before he concludes Neil has gone in for the crawl, and the device clicks off.]

[The first few reemergences that had shown up on the Network had given him enough information to know where to go. He isn't thrilled by the destination for a number of reasons, but he's managed to ignore that for the time being. There are certainly more important things for him to worry about. Still out when Neil's posts shows up, Todd had been doing little aside from helping to seal the holes in the barrier for the past few days (there was still blood in his hair, and on his clothes), so it doesn't take him too long to reach the graveyard.

It wasn't ever a pleasant sight, but at the moment... graves had been tossed open, mounds of disturbed earth marking those that had proven a point of reentry thus far. A number of individuals - disheveled, dirty, tired - are still sitting near a few of them. He frantically scans the macabre landscape, his eyes searching for a familiar figure. He takes a breath and then calls out, not even thinking about whether anyone else will hear him enough to decide he doesn't care.]

NEIL!

Edited 2009-12-09 05:22 (UTC)

[He can't answer right away; he's coughing. The more he dug at the door, the more earth cascaded into the room-- after a while all he could do was dive into it, clawing forward and praying for the best. Thick and cloying, dirt had found its way into his mouth, his eyes; he'd nearly choked on it, but the knowledge of what that would mean for Todd-- for both of them, but mainly for Todd-- had spurred him on to hold his breath until his lungs burned.

The end had come suddenly, one outstretched hand encountering nothing and scrambling for purchase on the ground. He hasn't pulled himself upright yet; loose dirt still covers his legs, it's matted in his hair. But he's all right. His heart is pounding the rhythm of someone else's life.]

H-here...

[His head snaps towards the voice as soon as he hears it; not as strong as usual, perhaps, but he'd recognize it anywhere. It's far enough away that Neil wasn't immediately visible, but not quite far enough that the speed he runs at seems necessary. Actually, it seems like it was a terrible idea when he comes to an unsteady and sudden halt before his friend.

As soon as he does stop, he falls to his knees, biting his lip as his brow knits with concern.]

Neil...

[He reaches a hand out, gently touching the other boy's shoulder.]

Are you okay?

Edited 2009-12-09 06:39 (UTC)

Mn..

[He pulls himself up a bit more, exhausted, but mustering a soil-stained smile for his friend nonetheless. He's here. He's alive and back in the City. That's all that really matters.

Rolling a little to free one arm, he clasps Todd's shoulder and uses the kneeling boy to draw himself off the ground, dirt pouring from the folds of his shirt. Too relieved to be shy, he pulls close, resting against Todd's shoulder, shivering slightly.]

[Todd lets out a deep sigh of relief, managing to ignore the dirt that shakes loose as Neil moves. What's important right now is that Neil is here, alive, with him, not how he got back here.

Wrapping an arm around Neil, he closes his eyes and leans his head against the other boy's. He can't bring himself to worry about whether anyone might see them.]

[Under the circumstances, it probably doesn't matter. He doesn't have the will to move or even worry about it, not right now; he's just going to stay still, leaning on Todd as his breathing slows.

It's hard to believe, somehow, that he's back; stuck in the study, even with the network at hand, the solitude was palpable. In spite of all the available distractions-- his father's books, the device-- he'd spent far too much time eying the wall, dwelling on where he might end up, if he couldn't make it back to the City.]

Oh god... For a while I thought I wouldn't... [He swallows hard, then laughs suddenly, relieved.] Thank god.

[His eyes open just slightly as Neil speaks, a small smile touching his face as Neil laughs. He lets out his own sharp, silent breath of a laugh as he tightens his grasp around the other boy. Reassuring himself that Neil is here; real, solid, and that if he just holds onto him he can't be taken away. When he speaks, his voice is a bit shaky, all the emotion that he's been trying to hold back for the past few days cracking through. He'd tried to keep himself together, brave, reassuring; he didn't feel like he had at all.]

I was terrified. I-- I thought you might be gone, and--

[He shakes his head slightly; he won't let himself finish that sentence. Unable to tighten his single-armed hold further, he pulls his second arm up and around Neil.]

I'm not.

[Obviously, and it's a stupid thing to say, but he doesn't care. He's at a bad angle to return the embrace, and simply settles into Todd's arms, turning his face out, cheek flat against Todd's shoulder. He's looking at the graveyard around them, only now really beginning to get his bearings. Scattered, dirty figures lay panting here and there, a few propped up against headstones, heavy shadows dominating the scene.

He grasps Todd's shirt, fingers folding into a fist, as though his grasp will keep them together from now on.]

I want to go home.

[Because home is here, now-- their apartment, not their world. He doesn't feel an explanation is necessary.]

I know.

[As Neil moves his head, Todd lifts his own gaze, surveying the scene himself. He'd been able to ignore their surroundings for a while, but now that it's got his attention... he shivers slightly, giving Neil a light squeeze in response to the hand grasping his shirt.]

... yeah. I think that's a good idea.

[Of course, immediately after saying so, a thought occurs to him. He sighs slightly; he'd like to get Neil out of here as quickly as possible; even if he hasn't been given the specifics regarding where Neil was, he doesn't think a graveyard is the best place for him to be right now. His tone isn't really annoyed-- it's more weary than anything.]

We should probably find Anne.

Yeah.

[There's a quiet little sigh with the word; only because he's tired and filthy and all he wants is to scrub himself clean and fall into bed for a day or three, in clean clothes and sheets, in a room that doesn't show his father's hand. Somewhere in there, eating is also a desire.

But he doesn't want to leave Anne alone here. And he needs to know she's made it out all right, because if she hasn't, somehow it'll all be his fault.

So he pulls back a little, reluctant and weary, but determined. Worried, too.]

[Todd lets out a small, discontent breath as Neil pulls away, but just nods slightly. A small part of him would really rather that Anne didn't come home with them; he wants to be right there in that same bed, still hanging on tight.

Of course, he feels terrible for even almost thinking that, considering what she's been through herself. They couldn't leave her here on her own, and even if she wasn't living with them at the moment, he'd still need to make sure she was okay.

He pulls back also, not quite letting go of Neil as he moves to rise.]

Neil! What are you doing?

[coughing a little]

'm okay...

Is anybody else there with you? Other people who were stuck? Are you still...

[You know, alive?]

Todd came for me. I'm fine. Really. Just dirty.

We'll look forward to having you back.

There isn't anywhere I'd rather be.

....Neil.

I'm all right. Really. I'm all right.

...good. If you need anything, let me know.

Neil.

Caspian.

Don't worry, I'm okay.

That is what everyone says.

[Well, okay, that's probably true. Maybe specifics would help reassure everyone?]

I'm bruised, and exhausted, and I could really use a bath.

[He pauses, considering. Other things don't really merit saying, both good and bad.]

I ate a lot of dirt, too.

I recommend hot cider or brandy. It will warm you and rid your mouth of the taste.

I was thinking of tea, I don't think we've got any cider. I'm not sure anything will get rid of the taste, though it'll help.

Trust me it goes away.

[There's no explanation for this because you know, he's not going to easily admit he's fallen face first into the dirt before.]

I'm sure it will, sooner or later.

[He sounds faintly amused, because the advice certainly conjures the image of Caspian having firsthand experience.]

It might-- [cough, and this is not a polite cough, this is a new-pocket-of-lung-dirt cough] --take a while, though.

[Fff whatev whatev.]

Do you need anything in the meantime?

I think I'm okay. Just... well, I'm so glad to be back I don't really care about anything.

I know I am glad to have you back.

Thanks.

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♕ |[26]| ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man

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☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

☞ death is an elephant, torch-eyed and horrible

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