Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream

[the_freak]

DAY 1
The lights flicker and Eddie tenses, breath catching in his throat. He closes his eyes, shaking his head, fists gripped tight as he wills the electricity to have sorted itself by the time he opens them again. It’s fine. Everything is fine. It can’t happen again.

He makes himself open his eyes and curses under his breath to find himself in the dark. He tries smacking the comms again, but he can’t get anything out of it, not even a light source.

“…it’s just a power outage, man,” he assures himself, listening to the wind howl outside, “There’s gotta be a breaker box somewhere or something.” At least looking for it would give his mind something to focus on. That or give a bunch of hell spawn even more places to jump out at him, but he doesn’t have a lot of options here.

---

Eddie’s poking about unsuccessfully, more bored than scared now that he’s had some time to sit with it. So naturally when he turns his head, he suddenly finds Chrissy. Just…standing there. He screams in shock and jumps back, tripping over himself in his attempt to scramble away. It’s not the first time he’s seen her like this- his mind pulls her image up all the time- but it’s never looked so real before now.

“…Chrissy?” he prompts, looking anxiously for someone else, anyone to tell him what to do, but he’s all alone.

She stares at him, eerily silent, and it takes all of Eddie’s nerve to force himself back to his feet. His damn hand is shaking as he reaches out to try and touch her shoulder, and when it passes through her he flinches back in alarm.

“I don’t like this,” he pleads through grit teeth, about to full on lose himself again, fists balled up at the top of his head, and he turns away from her to curse and kick at some equipment which crashes and clatters noisily.

“This isn’t happening-“ he insists, turning to half sprint from the room when Chrissy’s voice turns his feet to lead.

“Are you running away from me again, Eddie?” she asks softly, “You’re just going to leave me here?” He swears he can hear tears in her voice, and he tries to find the words to explain himself. “I di- I was-“
“You didn’t stop it, Eddie. You didn’t even tell anyone. You just left me on the floor…”


DAY 2

Eddie’s done the isolation bit before, but it doesn’t make it any less grating. He’s wandered most of the halls by now, examined the tubes, poked through drawers and cupboards indiscriminately… He hasn’t come across anyone yet, and being alone with his thoughts is…wearing on him.
He passes the time like he had in the boat house, trying focus that anxious energy on whatever he can- tossing bits of scrap into a cup, tapping out the beat to his favourite songs, even belting out some lyrics just to have SOME kind of noise in this place beside the wind and…and her.

Chrissy…just keeps coming back. Eddie feels sick that some part of him is glad to see her each time, even if it hurts. How fucked up is that?? But for a moment she’s there, and not….broken. Even her taunts…she sounds so fucking sweet as she reminds him what he’s done. As if he needs reminding.

DAY 3

Eddie feels particularly bad that morning.
He’d wanted to shut out the world last night. Just enough to forget for a minute. But he’s not fucking with weird alien medication, and he doesn’t recognize half of what’s in here to feel good about taking anything he finds in the cupboards. But one bottle- after a good sniff- he can say with near certainty is some kind of alcohol. Not the type you’re supposed to drink, but beggars can’t be choosers or whatever, so Eddie indulged. Not in more than a shot’s worth, but it was not one of his better choices.

It had the desired effect at first. Far too quick, but familiar. But soon enough his body was violently rejecting the offering, and with next to no food in his stomach he was utterly wrecked from the experience.

He makes himself suck on some of the snow he’s collected, attempting to rehydrate himself and feel like he’s got something in his belly.



DAY 4

Network: Video

[Eddie looks better than he did the day of his arrival, for those who saw him covered in blood, but he’s not a whole lot better now, covered in bandages, with some nasty looking bruises around his throat, and his wrists if you look closely. But he’s finally eaten, and that has given him enough physical energy to unleash his desperate need to socialize. ]

Hey- uh-….so…anyone alive out there? ‘Cause I am in some serious need….for some light stupid shit, I don’t know about the rest of you. I gotta exercise my voice. Someone give me something- truth or dare, 20 questions, any of that bullshit people do at camps or sleep overs or whatever. I’ve never been, I’m just kind of making shit up. And also, I would like to give a biiig- [Eddie gives a very pointed double middle finger to the sky] – to whoever gave me my damn guitaaar, and no fucking amp.

Comments

Day 4

[crystalmaster]

[Radley answers looking frazzled, but relieved to see Eddie.]

Hey! Are you okay there? I tried to get to you before the storm hit, but I didn't make it in time.

[the_freak]

[Eddie definitely looks a little taken aback by that concern, but then decides to accept it with a cocky grace, grinning and shrugging a shoulder.]

Great, man. Just great. Time of my life.

Tell me you were smart enough to land your ass somewhere that actually had food.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley rather doubts it after the network message, but he won't press.]

I've been at the hotel, where I've been living. I keep some supplies here just in case of trouble. Do you have anything there at all?! I'm going to start trying to dig my way out of here. I'll bring some stuff by if I can get out.

[the_freak]

Do not doubt the power of a starving senior.
[Which is to say, his magic doctor kid showed up somehow and delivered him a meal. He wasn't asking questions.]

M'good now. But, uh...you should all really invest in a cafeteria or something in the hospital.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is confused, but assumes maybe there was food in a fridge or something. But then he starts.]

There's no cafeteria?!

[He had no idea. He never hangs around exploring the hospital.]

You can bet I'll do something about that!

[the_freak]

Well I didn't find it if there was. Needs some better way finding if there is one tucked away some where.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, no kidding. There probably really isn't one. I'll have to talk to the people who run the place. Are you really there all alone?!

[the_freak]

Well, Kid Doctor was just here. But he uh...poofed? Which...you know, was weird, but I guess...things are just going to keep being weird. I should really stop being surprised.

[crystalmaster]

... Kid Doctor? Who's that?

[Radley had thought he knew of everyone here. A kid doctor? What was this, Doogie Howser?]

[the_freak]

Magic kid? Dark hair? Super awkward?

[crystalmaster]

... Is he from your world? I haven't seen anyone like that....

[the_freak]

Nah, man. Not from my world.

Uh, Billy? I think that was his name?

[crystalmaster]

... Oh! Billy! I didn't know they called him that.

[the_freak]

Personal nickname, no idea what the rest of the people around here might call him. Don't stress, man.

[crystalmaster]

Ah. Got it.

I'm glad he was able to get to you!

[the_freak]

Me too, man. I was nooot looking forward to digging outta here.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, no kidding. It looks like it’s gonna be a big job here. I wonder if anybody has any tech to make this easier.

[the_freak]

I'm sure in a town full of heroes someone'll manage.

[crystalmaster]

... I guess there are several superheroes, if that's what you mean.

[And then there's people like him, just ordinary folk. He often feels like he's not enough, but he tries hard.]

[the_freak]

I mean, isn't that what they called us? In the weird glowy 'welcome-to-being fucking-kidnapped-by-aliens' ball? Their heroes?

[crystalmaster]

Sure, if you wanna get technical. I'm no hero, though.

[A bit of bitterness slipped into Radley's voice.]

[the_freak]

Well, yeah man, me neither.

[crystalmaster]

I wonder why we were picked. Or maybe it was just completely random, no point to it.

[the_freak]

Roll of the dice.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, that's about our kind of luck, isn't it?

[It frustrates Radley. At least he had thought maybe he was picked for some of his specific skills. If there was instead no meaning to it at all, he feels very bitter and like it was all pointless.]

Day 4 // text

[in_extremis]

How about a scavenger hunt?
To pickup the volume, you have to go Deep.

text

[the_freak]

A quest? Perfect. Never a better time to go looking for shit than the day after a blizzard.

[in_extremis]

Gives you time to strategize, narrow down your options, gather your resources.

Day 4 | Text

[quark_assassin]

[On the one hand: This is stupid and Dustin doesn't even want to engage.]

[On the other hand: The guy who made a giant snow sculpture of a middle finger pointed at the sky can sympathize with Eddie's feelings here, and also, he's looking for a distraction himself. Just, a different kind.]

What kind of guitar is it?

Text

[the_freak]

My baby's a B.C. Rich Warlock NJ Series

[quark_assassin]

That
doesn't mean anything to me
Brand names don't carry across universes.
Specs?

[the_freak]

[And then Eddie spouted off a number of specs that he, knowing guitars, knew were super cool and impressive, at least for his time period. Ones which may or may not match these, as his player does NOT know guitars as well as him, and would not know how to pick out specs, nor know which ones are period accurate. :)]

[quark_assassin]

[Same hat!! Dustin definitely appreciates the level of detail that Eddie provides and recognizes his expertise; his measure of the guy rises appropriately.]

Ok
I should be able to make something for that.

[the_freak]

What you're going to make one? Tell me I haven't attracted another child genius? You're all going to give me a complex.

[quark_assassin]

[...Another one? Dustin's heart momentarily skips a beat before he schools himself. "Child genius" is a common turn of phrase - it doesn't have to mean that Eddie knows someone with powers like his. Probably just knows someone that's very smart, like Stark.]

That sounds like a you problem.
Do you want an amp or not?

[the_freak]

You sound like a you problem.
And obviously. Depends what you want for it, though?

[quark_assassin]

[What does that even--nope, not taking the bait, job is more important than being petty.]

What are you offering?

[the_freak]

I could consider parting with one of my replicator uses?

[quark_assassin]

Done.
I'll send you the schematics for what I want from the replicator with the amp.
Should be a couple of weeks.