entrancelogs

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Who: Carl Grimes [

theworldwillruinyou] & ANYONE; Of interest to Wirt [

singloversing], Dipper [

krmvgivv] and Harry [

cupboards]
Where: The Teen Boy Club's Room & The hot springs
When: May 3, 2015 at approximately 2:00 AM
Rating: PG at the worst
Summary: Carl has trouble sleeping these days and is out and about patrolling and such. The mun has heard rumors that others might be up and about at the wee hours of the morning as well. This is the log for those people.
The Story:

I. The Teen Boy Club's Room

[Carl's new roommates might have noticed that he was the last to go to sleep, just sitting in a corner, watching everyone else until they had all fell asleep. When he does sleep, it's obviously not peaceful or restful. He thrashes his head lightly and mumbles - not enough of a commotion to wake anyone, but if someone were awake, it would be noticeable. It's not until about 1:45 AM that he wakes up - soaking in his own sweat and breathing heavily. He has his hand at his hip, reaching for a weapon that isn't there and scanning the room. It takes him a moment to come back to himself and realize there's no immediate threat.

But he's not getting back to sleep any time soon. He slips on his slippers and quietly sneaks out the door to wander the halls.]

II. The Hot Springs

[There's not much to say about Carl wandering the halls at 2:00 in the morning. He's on edge, but not for any kind of immediate threat - he seems more distracted than ready to fight. When he finds himself at the entrance to the hot springs, he looks around to see if anyone else is there. If there was a time for him to let his guard down, this would be it. He's so, so tired of the nightmares and...just a few minutes in the hot water couldn't hurt. It'd be just like taking a bath after a bad day at school, if he were back home.

He cracks the door open to see if anyone is inside at this hour. Can't be too careful.]

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[Henry's decided to stay with his dad, Robin, and Hook at night. Mostly because of Zelena and her having Regina's heart. But he's used to being up at two in the morning playing video games or reading comics, so really all he's doing is tossing and turning. He's also used to being able to get up whenever he wants, but he hasn't forgotten how to sneak out, either. Quietly, Henry puts on his shoes, then grabs his backpack (which is always filled with an emergency supply of snacks and cookies), and makes is way out of his room. If Zelena is awake, he knows the one place she definitely won't be - The Hot Springs.

So, that's where he heads and rather than get all the way into the water, he sits at the edge with his feet in, eating some chocolate chip cookies (back home they'd be of the Chips Ahoy variety) and reading a Hulk comic. He has his watch on, knowing that Robin and Hook are probably the type to be getting up right at dawn so he should be home by four or something. Early enough to be in bed before they figure out he's gone.

When the door opens in front of him, Henry looks up, only a little surprised to see someone else his age, and it's someone he's never seen before.]

Hey...I'm just reading in here. I can sit up in one of the chairs if you want the springs all to yourself.

[Carl might have noticed that Dipper stays up way too late too, mostly thumbing through an old red journal with a six fingered hand embossed in gold on the cover. He's got a book light and a pen that he... clicks obsessively. It's pretty annoying, honestly. Why did anyone want to room with him?

This is only partially because he's an extreme nerd. He also... isn't entirely happy with the sleeping arrangements. He isn't a very trusting person and while he's used to sharing a room with his sister, it's weird with anyone else. It's also weird with Mabel not across the room from him. The solution he seems to have come up with is just to barely sleep at all.

It's a good solution, if not great in the longterm since Dipper minus sleep is weird, but he's not going to catch ghosts during the day. Which means he's already setting up shop when Carl comes into the hot springs. Dipper is absorbed enough in his work that he gives an embarrassingly high pitched yelp--not too loud, at least, but still not the sort of response a bold hunter of the paranormal should have to surprise, before whirling around.

Oh, it's just his roommate, not something that wants to kill him. That's nice.]

Are you looking for ghosts too?

[Wirt jerks awake at about two in the morning. His plan had been to stay up for most of the night so he could attempt to get to the hot springs at an odd hour when no one else would be around. This wound up being more difficult than he expected though. He hasn't been able to find a book yet that wasn't written in Japanese, and after a certain hour there isn't a lot left to do other than soak in the hot spring or try to sleep. He was able to keep himself entertained for a little while by sitting up and leaning against the wall, and looking out the window. He watched the scenery outside and tried to remember poetry from memory, and once everyone else fell asleep, he quietly whispered his own verses under his breath.

Unfortunately, even with the moonlight shining on him, he still managed to nod off against the wall and he wakes up with a soft gasp. He didn't want to fall asleep but...it has to be the middle of the night now, right? It doesn't really register that the reason no one is up and about is because half of the room is up and wandering around. He just sleepily assumes that they're all asleep and calls it a victory for the overly paranoid. He slips on his slippers and reties his yukata so it's tight and secure (however, it is wrapped backwards with the right side over left because he keeps mixing it up) and heads down to the hot spring.

He's cautious as he can be when he slides the door open and passes through the wash area to see if there's -- oh my gosh there's someone there at two in the morning. Wirt doesn't even really look to see who it is; he just scrambles to hide behind a nearby dividing wall. Maybe...maybe no one saw him?]

[Rather than answering Henry right away, Carl gives the rest of the room a look over before looking back to Henry. It isn't until he's satisfied that there isn't anyone else in the room that he finally answers.]

I didn't think anyone else would be in here at this time...

[If Dipper was looking to catch Carl off guard with that question, congratulations, because he totally did. He shakes his head slightly and narrows his eyes at Dipper and it takes him just a moment to decide whether to even dignify that with an answer.]

No. Because there aren't any ghosts.

[It says it like it's obvious and Dipper is just off his rocker. Which Carl has already decided he is anyway. Even after personally witnessing and living through a zombie apocalypse, the concept of ghosts is just silly to him.]

[Dipper has heard that tone enough that it gets him to stop and turn towards Carl, excited expression fading a little.

Just a little. He's also used to ignoring naysayers. Dipper knows ghosts are real. He's seen them.]

It's possible. But there are enough rumors that I'm betting there's something.

[He turns back to fussing with the bucket he has, filling it with water.] There's an incantation here I can use to make this water anointed and then I can rig a trap: any ghost that comes through that door is gonna get a very unpleasant surprise.

[So will any human. But it's 2AM. What human is gonna come through that door?]

Yeah...if my dad knew he'd probably...not be that happy. I didn't exactly ask to come down here.

[Henry shrugs a little though.]

I didn't think anyone would come down here either in the middle of the night. I'm Henry, by the way. Are you new? I know there are a couple people here my age, I just don't think I've met everyone.

[No, Carl definitely saw you, Wirt. Without that silly red gnome hat, though, he doesn't know that it's Wirt right away and automatically assumes that it's someone dangerous.]

I know you're there. Come out.

[He kinda stops paying attention when Henry mentions his name. His dad mentioned him when Carl first showed up in Wonderland.]

Henry...? Your dad's looking for you. I mean he was. I don't know if he found you or not.

[The entire time that Dipper is talking about it, Carl gets more and more dumbfounded by how ridiculous this all sounds. By the time he's done, there's not really much to say, except:]

That's stupid. There's actual threats out there and you're wasting your time with this?

Wait, what? When?

[Henry's eyebrows knit together a little bit. He's talked to his dad recently, so maybe that was before.]

I was just with him. I mean, before I figured out a way to sneak out.

[Well, now he feels a little guilty.]

[It's not stupid. The supernatural is real and everyone who's ever doubted Dipper is wrong. He grits his teeth a little. He doesn't need Carl's help. He doesn't even need Carl to believe him. The people who matter know he's right... even Grunkle Stan, it turns out, and he'll show everyone when he catches that damn ghost.]

Yeah, sorry, guess I should be wasting my time by taking a bath. That's way more useful. [He rolls his eyes.] What real threats do you want me to go after, exactly? Everyone warned me about events, but so far all I've gotten is a war with raccoons and a bathhouse that would be totally boring if not for the slight possibility that it's haunted. So if you don't mind, I'm gonna keep searching for the ghost and you can take on the very real threat of bubbles.

[...okay, it's possible people saying his interests are stupid still hurts. He turns away and busies himself with his ghost seeking equipment. Dumb kid. He'd show everyone one day.]

[Uh-oh. Uh-oh someone spotted him.

Wirt stands up really abruptly. His face is bright red, but he takes care to cover his eyes with his whole hand. He doesn't know if whoever's there is naked already, and honestly doesn't want to know, but he's clearly the one who invaded their privacy in the first place. He uses his free hand to hold his yukata shut even tighter and just generally looks like a nervous mess.]

I'm so sorry! I-I-I didn't think anyone would be here this late so, I thought I...I'd. I-I'm just. I should just go. I'm sorry.

[Of course, since he has his eyes covered he's not even looking to see who he's talking to. He is equally sorry no matter who it is.]

[She was still wet.]

[Not from the Springs, as it turned out, but from a certain early run-in. Which would explain why the long, white robes she had managed to bury her petite frame in were drenched as well. Fingers still weaving their way through her tangled mess of hair, the sound of an opening door drew her attention up and behind her.]

Hello?

When I first showed up here - about a week ago. I told him I'd keep my eye out for you.

Don't you get it? This isn't a game. You're setting up traps for ghosts, but did you ever think this is a trap?!

[Wow, so maybe he hadn't meant to yell quite like that. He's pretty angry and why wouldn't he be? Someone's messing with all of them and this kid is messing around.]

This is how people die. By not taking things seriously. Not being prepared.

[Carl is immediately relaxed - as much as he ever is anyway - when he realizes who it is.]

Oh...it's just you.

...what are you doing?

[Referring to Wirt covering his eyes, of course.]

Edited 2015-05-13 16:14 (UTC)

[Carl holds up his hands in front of him as an instinctive sign that he doesn't mean any harm as he comes into the room. He's not sure what he was expecting but this was not it.]

It's just me. Hazel, right?

[This is only the second time they've ever talked and the first time in person. That doesn't really occur to him as much as the fact that she's standing there in a soaked robe. He almost starts taking off his own, but decides against that.]]

What happened to you?

Oh, okay, yeah. There's always kind of something...going on with my family. They like to make sure I'm okay.

[Henry just shrugs a little, because when isn't something trying to destroy someone in his family, honestly.]

No one is more prepared or serious than me! [Dipper throws his hands in the air, pacing away.] Ugh, you don't even know me. I actually know what I'm doing, and I'm really good at it! Is that so hard to believe?

[Once she realized it was a familiar face--Carl, her mind registered after a few seconds' thought--she visibly relaxed. Sinking into a nearby chair.]

That's right. [She nodded in confirmation of her name, actually a bit pleased he remembered.] There's a boy running around trying to catch ghosts. He caught me instead.

Yeah...tell me about it.

[Seriously. If there's not someone being killed or kidnapped in his family, they're getting separated or else they're getting eaten by the living dead.]

No. It's just hard to believe that there are actually ghosts here. Because there aren't. There's no such thing as ghosts.

[He's beyond exasperated with Dipper by this point. His tone makes it very clear that he doesn't know how much simpler he can say what he's saying.]

[Carl's already had his run in with Dipper, actually, and it didn't go very well. He sighs in exasperation.]

You, too? He was trying to get me to help him.

[She could tell from his sigh alone; the corners of her lips twitched upward.]

It could've been worse.

You could've ended up getting a surprise cold shower. I didn't think there was any cold water left in this place.

Oh, you're soaked. Here--

[He thought he was going to offer his robe and even reaches to take it off, but stops when he remembers that he's not exactly clothed underneath. The gaffe makes him blush and flounder just a little.]

Uh...

[It took a second for Hazel to realize what he was trying to do. And why he abruptly stopped. When it finally clicked in her mind, her eyes went wide before looking away. A hand reached to clasp her robes, regardless of how wet they were, closer to her frame as she turned in hopes of hiding her blush.]

D-don't worry about it. I've dealt with way worse. Besides, it's...warm out. Yeah. That.

[Awkward silence followed.]

Umm...why were you out here, anyway? Most everyone else has already gone to bed.

[Ghost hunters and soaking wet teenaged demigods aside.]

Just needed some air.

[Oh God, it got so awkward. He's looking anywhere but at Hazel.]

Besides, I don't really sleep a lot anyway.

Why not?

[Her eyes had settled for a particularly lovely angle of the tree just outside the far window. Or, rather, the shadow of a tree. Very fascinating.]

Do you have anyone from home here?

[He doesn't want it to be a sore spot if not, so he'll gladly switch topics if it seems like it is.]

[Wait. He knows that voice. Wirt peeks between his fingers and when his suspicions are confirmed he removes his hand entirely.]

Oh! Carl. ...Hey.

[Now it's awkward in a different way though, and he looks downward.]

S-Sorry, I...I thought I walked in on someone who was already, you know... [He gestures with his free hand, trying and failing to make the right word come to him.] I-I didn't want to be rude, or anything like that.

You do realize that we are actively living in a children's book right now? Are ghosts really that much harder to grasp than Wonderland?

Yeah, I do.

[He's a bit hesitant to mention who exactly is with him. That's the sort of thing he's used to strategically concealing. He's not being hostile or anything, just withdrawn.]

[Okay, Carl's 31 flavors of done with this conversation now. He turns around to leave.]

I'm leaving.

Oh...okay.

[Even with how little Carl knows Wirt, it makes sense that he'd be worried about that. He seems to worry about a lot of things.]

You couldn't sleep either?

[If it wasn't awkward before it is now. He falls silent for a good moment. He doesn't completely check out, but he pauses before quickly coming up with an answer.]

That's what I have to do, you know...where I'm from. That's the way the world is.

[Henry doesn't bother to push for more details, just smiles and nods.]

That's good. It's better with people here, I think. With some of the stuff this place can do, I don't think I'd really want to be here by myself.

[Strangely enough, she...didn't sound so surprised. Nor did she seem to pity him or demonstrate anything other than pure empathy.]

[Granted, they did manage to sleep back home. Sometimes. Probably. Definitely before their Quest had officially begun, sleeping had been a thing that happened. On a fairly regular basis. Without random monsters or gods or whoever else attacking their flying warship in the middle of the night.]

Some worlds. Not all of them.

Not here.

Good. [This would probably make their living situation awkward if Dipper wasn't already so uncomfortable sharing a room with people who aren't Mabel and thus avoiding sleeping in the room ever.] I need to concentrate.

[That is a very accurate and concise assessment of Wirt. He even hesitates when asked that question, because the truth is he probably could have just rolled over and gone back to sleep, but suddenly he's self-conscious. His perfect plan to avoid running into anyone in the hot springs not only failed, but now it seems a little...excessive.]

Uh. ...N-No, not really. You too?

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Hot Springs!

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