"I'm gonna die five minutes in," a memoir by Robin Hood

[alionsheart]

Who: Robin Hood + Henry Mills + YOU (anyone interested in joining them, please do so on Days 4 or 5, let me know if you want a separate thread!)
Where: Random horrible spots along the trail
When: Sunday, August 31 - Thursday, September 4
Rating: Probably PG-13, will change if necessary
Summary: One man's desperate attempt to get himself and his companion(s) to a diner in Oregon
The Story:
Robin really can't believe this shit is happening. Robin wakes up on Sunday morning to something very absurd, with his clothing changed against his will, and talk of needing to make it to Oregon, evidently, by following this trail. He's aware by now that these things happen in Wonderland, and it would be a waste of time to insist that he should stay right here until everything sorts itself out.

The important thing is to simply make sure he has everything he needs to make it to Oregon safely, especially since he's looking after Henry during the journey. Once he's fairly certain he's gathered all of the necessary supplies at the trading post, and has everything loaded up, they get moving promptly.

The first two days aren't without their obstacles, but Henry and Robin work well together, and it's been filling a void in his heart, having Henry to look after when he's able to. He's not entirely sure what the end of their journey will ultimately bring, but they'll face it together, and he's confident they'll manage well together.

He's also more than happy to help others that might be in need; at least for the time being, they have enough supplies.

Comments

[widows_kiss]

Natasha comes to find him at the end of the day, when the sun's gone down and most of the wagons that are still travelling in sight of each other have pulled to a stop to set up camp for the night. There are campfires popping up at various lengths in the line of sight the mountains allow - a necessary indulgence, because the night air is already growing bitter cold with the sun setting and there's crisp snow underfoot.

She's curled up in a large blanket, dressed in a shirt and a pair of pants that are too big for her, but she's been making do with a rope for a belt and rolled-up pantlegs. It's still better than a skirt and a corset, in her opinion, even though it's still making a hell of a fashion statement.

She shows up to drop down beside Robin's campfire with a flask of whiskey she's been hoarding since she picked it up in the Outpost the day before. She holds it out to him with a rueful smile.

"Here. Thought you might need some of this after today. How's Henry?"

[alionsheart]

They've been blessed enough to find warm clothing, otherwise he would have been ill-equipped to handle this bitter cold, given how they'd started their journey. He's sufficiently bundled up, warmed by the fire, and suddenly quite pleased to see a dear friend in front of him. He wishes it were easy to find Henry's mothers, but everyone seems to be moving at different paces, and in a complete twist, he's actually admitting to himself that he wishes they had those communication devices right now.

With a tired, but grateful smile, Robin reaches for the flask.

"I need more of this than I'd ask you to spare, but thank you," he nods, taking a small sip. "He's...holding steady. I honestly hadn't thought he'd make it through the night, that was...terrifying, truthfully."

[widows_kiss]

"Sadly, no one figured out how to rig up a wagon as a bar before we all set out. Otherwise I suspect that's where we'd be finding everyone right now," she retorts as she settles comfortably next to him. She casts a glance towards the wagon where she assumes Henry's still resting and dips her head in a nod.

"Good. I'm glad. Some of ours weren't so lucky."

[alionsheart]

"I suppose our journeys wouldn't have been at all productive, had that been the case," he manages something approaching a joke, though from his perspective, it falls a bit flat. His heart's not quite in it right now, though more than anything, he just appreciates Natasha's company. She's truly one of his dearest friends, and it eases his mind a bit to have her with him for a while, and also to know she's managed alright so far.

"I'm terribly sorry," he murmurs sincerely, handing the flask back to her. "Are they...what's happened to them? I've seen ghosts wandering about, I assume they've suffered the same fate?"

[widows_kiss]

"Yes, we're getting a regular collection of specters in the Avengers wagons," she drawls, taking the flask back and taking a long draw from it. She matches him in approaching a joking tone, because how else are they supposed to deal with the insanity that is this event.

"Billy got eaten by a bear. Darcy got carried off by an eagle. Steve got sick. Someone else drowned in the river. I think they're trying to hit a cheklist of all the ways to die in this game."

[alionsheart]

For a moment, he's truly not certain whether to be horrified, or simply...laugh. He opts for a soft chuckle, shaking his head and looking down. The only reason he's not more concerned is he knows it's not permanent. Though, even that knowledge wasn't at all a comfort when he'd been sure Henry might die.

"I do hope they'll be alright when we're through this. Are you alright?" His eyes flicker back to her.

[widows_kiss]

"I'm still alive enough to hold a flask and drink, that's a sight better than the rest," she counters, her own voice sharing in that struggle of morbid humor. But she does give him a fond look when he glances over at her, hearing the real concern in his question.

"I'll be fine. The worst I've had to deal with so far is the ridiculous indignity of women's fashion from this time period. Which was easily solved by stealing clothes from all my male teammates."

[alionsheart]

"If we lost that ability, I'm not sure I'd want to carry on," he jokes, a bit flatly, but there's a slight upturn of his lips.

"I'm glad for it, I'd hate to think of anything happening to you." And he says this with all seriousness. This entire event has done some awful things to his mind and heart, and best to say it now, while he can. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. "And glad to hear you haven't lost your fire," he does smirk a bit at that.

[widows_kiss]

"Nah, you'd be fine. I suspect you're more of a survivor than you think," she countered with a rueful twist of her lips, handing the flask back to him so they can share it between them.

She returns his smirk with a fond look. "Look, there you go, being all overprotective again. I can still take care of myself. Even if I don't sprout teeth and claws anymore." Although she grins when he mentions her fire, because yeah, it will take worse than this to do that. This is inconvenient, but its temporary. She can endure it easier knowing that.

[alionsheart]

He appreciates the indulgence of spirits right now, and there's such a grateful look in his eyes when he takes the flask back from her, sipping at it slowly to savor the taste.

There's a half-smile on his lips, but it's fond as he looks at her. "I am good at it, though, you must admit." Being protective. It's one of the things he does best, in his opinion.

"I do sometimes miss not being able to turn into an animal, odd as that is to say."

[widows_kiss]

"Not going to bother denying that one," she chuckles as she stretches her legs out in front of her, comfortable and content in front of his fire. "Don't think even I could make that lie believable. I won't even try. And that's not so odd. It was rather fun, wasn't it? Not everyone thought so, but I enjoyed it. And the fur would certainly be handy right about now, I'd think."

[alionsheart]

Sometimes when he's with Natasha, when they have conversations like this and can almost seem to understand each other beneath the words being shared, he feels as though they were meant to be connected, or always have been, in some strange way. Family, pulled together by bizarre circumstances, crossing impossible boundaries far beyond reason. It doesn't need to make sense, he supposes. It just is. She's family, and he smiles at the thought, taking another sip and enjoying the way that slight burn lingers on his throat.

"It would be. Pity that we can't request it happen again in place of terrible events like this," he sighs, handing the flask back to her.

[widows_kiss]

"Pity we can't just request a bus," she laughs instead as she takes the flask back. "This trip wouldn't be so bad if we could do it in style."

[alionsheart]

Bus would be lost on him if it weren't for Henry, and so, rather than a blank stare being leveled at her, Robin smirks a bit and nods in agreement. "I suppose that's too much to hope for from this place."

[widows_kiss]

"Apparently," she agrees with a wry smirk, taking another drink. "Although I suppose it's pretty enough out here, at least. It doesn't look much like this anymore in my time."

[alionsheart]

He considers their surroundings for a moment, just taking it all in. Having been so busy just trying to keep Henry alive, he hasn't really stopped to appreciate some of the majesty around them.

"It is, actually. Oddly enough, it's more beautiful than Wonderland, yet it's...not where we're supposed to be. And...Wonderland's not where we're supposed to be..."