In the Air

[oversight]

Who: John Blake (oversight) + OPEN
Where: All around Wonderland
When: May 15th - May 30th
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Summary: Current event + surviving the last half of May
The Story:

May 15th - 17th

[ It isn't the first time his cold weather training has come in handy, but John has a hard time counting himself as fortunate. The last time he'd used it, winter notwithstanding, was an event not unlike this one, and there are no pleasant memories there. Too bad he has a hard time putting them out of his mind.

At first it's not so bad. He's amiable because he's able to recognize the people who mean something to him, but there's a sense of urgency that keeps him from settling in with a group of people. Instead, he says his piece and moves on like some sort of roaming dog.

Later days, he can be found around the facility with his arms folded tight to his chest, fidgeting his way between two locations — where he beds down and the door outside — no longer apt to wander. There's a sometimes wild eye to be spared for the world around him, which only gets worse by the day. He's mostly frustrated by the circumstances. This isn't the most comfortable place. It's eerie in a way hospitals in video games are, and he's bothered by these people, by the way they look at him, by the shadows constantly lurking.

If confronted toward the end of the 17th, he's apt to be snappish and not his typical, friendly self. ]


May 18th - outside the facility

[ Even with paranoia whispering harshly in his ear, it's hard for John not to be awed by the way that the fire spread throughout the station. He remembers helping people out — it's engrained in him to perform that role — but by the time he's dumped out into the cold himself, the adrenaline's worn off and he just wants to shake the people around him.

How long do they expect to live out here? How long before the cold and the ice start doing permanent damage? Who would be stupid enough to force them out into the cold en masse, and who among them was idiotic enough to believe they could survive without the facility?

At some point, when John's no longer interested in arguing with the huddling group of survivors, he'll toss up his arms and start off into the white abyss. Maybe he'll go five feet, maybe he'll keep walking until he can't walk anymore. Either way, he figures it has to be better than feeling like everyone's out to get him, friend or foe alike. ]


May 19th & beyond

[ Once Wonderland returns to normal, John will attempt to do the same. With the memory of the event heavy on his mind, he'll be available and seeking out certain residents, his intention to catch up, apologize, or maybe a little of both. He's not beyond admitting that there are times when he's powerless against Wonderland; as much as he'd like to be bulletproof to these sorts of things, he's never quite figured out a way to make it happen.

There are a few people he'll be missing — people who really mean something, people who he'll feel the loss of very strongly. And beyond that, there are plenty plans to be made, too. Blake might even find himself calling in favors, determined to get back on track for his plan to finally get a baseball game started in Wonderland. It's only been on his list for years...

He's getting settled once again. It feels like it has to happen every six months or so for whatever reason, but his life in this strange storybook-driven world has the same kind of ups and downs as life in Gotham. Funny how that works. ]

Comments

Early May 18th

[goesdown]

Crowley's been back in Wonderland a few days. At least, he thinks it's Wonderland. He can't help feeling like something's watching him and it must be an event, because this isn't Wonderland at all. He spends a few days avoiding any footsteps he hears and hoping to catch the sound of Blake's voice, but it's not until the final day of the event that he finally finds him.

"Blake!"

He sees him down the hall from behind and starts to walk quickly towards him.

[oversight]

Crowley's voice sounds familiar, even as the hallways are filled with sounds that Blake finds himself unsettled by. He whirls around and narrows his eyes in the low light, picking out the gait he's come to know well.

He steps forward a few steps, his posture tight and his attention fully focused on the approaching man. John stiffly reaches out a hand. "It's really you?" At this point he's having trouble trusting anything, what with the shadows always on his heels.

[goesdown]

Not much better for it, Crowley's caught between the uneasy feelings of this place and the uneasy feelings of his memories crashing together the last few days.

"It's really me. I went home again."

As he gets closer, he reaches out his own tentative hand for Blake's.

[oversight]

He's not so out of it that he doesn't realize it's a good thing to see Crowley, but the way things are going, it's a bit harder to decide whether or not the demon's presence is a product of Wonderland, or if he's actually here, returned from his world. John's been searching for days, knowing that Crowley was due back, and now that things are really starting to hit the fan, there's a welcoming hand stretched out at him? Almost seems suspicious, despite what Crowley says...

"Yeah, well, you were s'posed to be back days ago," Blake says, tone a little snappish. "What happened to that? I've been lookin' for you." Crowley doesn't deserve his ire, but Blake's going to offer it to him anyway. Honestly, if anyone can take it, it's Crowley, who's had plenty of practice with Mr. Crabbypants before now.

He tugs the demon a little closer and doesn't let go of his hand.

[goesdown]

"Please. You disappeared for almost a month last time you were gone." He pauses, stepping closer and fighting back the feeling that Blake's hand is trapping him like an iron cuff. After days of searching, he's found what he's been looking for, but Wonderland is rarely that kind and he hates how much he doubts that any of this is real.

"I've been back a few days. It was after this started." He gestures to the building around them. "I've been looking, too."

Days of unease as his memories of Blake and Wonderland have flooded back. He's wanted nothing more than their room where he can lick his wounds in peace and look after Blake, who's no doubt neglected his arm without Crowley's prodding.

[oversight]

Blake's hit his six week mark, so even if he has abused his arm during the healing process, what's done is done at this point. He's glad for it, too, because this event hasn't exactly been the kindest on anyone living with impediments.

"A few days? Christ..." Blake frowns. He expects more of himself, honestly, and the idea that he could have missed the signs of the demon's presence for days rubs him in a way he doesn't particularly appreciate at the moment. Frustrated more with himself than the demon, he concedes that he probably hasn't done his part as he should have and leans in to place a kiss on the other man's cheek.

"You leave me again, I'm gonna wreck your shit, okay?" He feels it's a fair warning considering.

[goesdown]

The honest truth is that Crowley doesn't want to leave him. He wants to take Blake with him or better yet, go with Blake to a place where his life isn't so complicated. He's built himself up from nothing again and again. What's one more time? Having Blake is worth the effort.

"I'll only break yours when I get back again." Not that he cares about most of what he has here. The closets can replace just about everything and Blake wouldn't hurt Perdita any more than Perdita would hurt Blake.

He turns his head, nose brushing Blake's jaw before he pulls back. "Do you smell burning?"

[oversight]

"I set your clothes on fire. For leavin' me this time," he says, and while it's entirely untrue and only meant as a morbid joke, Blake presents it as wryly as possible. He's not exactly angry or bitter or even all that upset, but each time he feels how much more desperate he is and something about that scares him.

Nevertheless, he can only punish the demon for so long (at this moment), so when the smell of smoke finally hits him, he does change his tone a little bit.

"Yeah, it's definitely fire," he agrees. "Guessin' it didn't come in after you. Must be in another one of these areas." He starts in what he feels is the most likely place, as purposeful as ever.

[goesdown]

Crowley smirks. Much as he likes looking nice, he doesn't much care about the clothes that he can easily replace. Blake, on the other hand, would probably throw a funeral for all of his. Of course, Crowley wouldn't destroy Blake's clothes unless he was really angry, but never say never.

"Because this place isn't ominous enough without a little arson, right?" He follows quick on Blake's heels. If there's trouble, he's not leaving Blake to throw himself at it. "How long was I gone?"

[oversight]

Blake wouldn't see fit to abuse clothing in such a heinous way, anyway, if we're being entirely honest. And so the thought passes on like it's mostly meaningless (because he's just being a shit), and soon enough he's that much more focused on the demon's words.

"A week," he supplies as he moves hastily down another vaguely familiar hallway. There's plenty of people lurking about, he imagines, but so far he hasn't encountered anyone but Crowley yet.

"If Wonderland doesn't return everything to the way it was, I'm gonna pitch a fit." The addition has no room in this serious scenario but John's inordinately irritable and all he can think about is how much of an inconvenience all of this is, especially now that Crowley's back.

[goesdown]

"Doesn't it always?" Well, usually. That last event had dragged over and that had been a little disconcerting.

He wants to remind Blake that he should have faith in Crowley, because Crowley will always come back for him, but Crowley can't really make that promise. He forgets this place every time he goes and loath as he is to admit it, it does seem that everyone goes home for good eventually. The idea of forgetting Blake and never returning leaves a sick feeling in Crowley's gut, as if it's so intrinsically wrong that he simply can't imagine a just world allowing it, but then Wonderland's never been too just. It's just like every other world in that regard.

Catching up, he falls into step next to Blake, nostrils flaring. "You think it's my clothes?"

[oversight]

It's weird how some parts of reality are undeniable and some are conveniently forgettable. For example, it's absolutely impossible to believe Blake is content and happy and whole because Crowley is in his life, but it's definitely possible that they'll end up together again after all of this, after Wonderland.

Maybe that's the effect Crowley's had — the one unseen, unexpected influence — but John's not content challenging the part of himself enough to give up hope or the demon.

Reaching out, he tugs at Crowley's sleeve to direct him around a corner. "See that flicker? Don't think it's your clothes yet, but if we're not careful, it might be," he warns, not that it stops him from heading forward.

[goesdown]

Crowley, of course, lets Blake lead him, as he always does. He's not afraid of fire, because he can control it, though he suspects this is going to be more fire than he can really control. Still, he's confident in his ability to get them both away from it safely, so why stop Blake from moving them towards it.

"Let's keep all of our clothes out of the reach of flames for now."

Hi steps are close to Blake's, nostrils flairing, and he's curious what they'll see as the smell gets stronger. There's an awful lot of strange equipment here. It could be anything.

[oversight]

The closer they get, the hotter the wall of heat. There's a breeze — a distinct movement of air that allows this fire to breath and move — and if they're not careful about their approach, it won't be surprising to be caught off guard by the flames.

"Yeah, no shit. Maybe we oughta split up. Get as many people to safety as possible? We can meet at the concourse," he suggests, fully aware that it'll split them up, but also fully aware they'll do more good apart than they could together. "I'll be okay," Blake adds, because he's got a feeling that's the only way he'll ever get Crowley to agree. And, of course, he doesn't know it now, but they won't meet in the concourse because the concourse is very much in flames. But Blake isn't thinking about that right now, only the people who might be trapped and need help getting out.

[goesdown]

Crowley looks at him, entirely unimpressed with that plan. "You're human and incredibly flammable and I'm an incredibly powerful demon who can control fire. We're not splitting up."

If Blake even thinks about it, Crowley will only follow him. He's not letting Blake wander into an inferno by himself and after Crowley's spent several days trying to find Blake again, he's not about to let the man out of his sight until they're safely back in their room with their slowly growing menagerie.

"We're stronger together... blah blah blah." He reaches for Blake's hand, squeezing it.

[oversight]

Blake tries his best not to let it get to him, but there's a gnawing that the sentiment provides and he's already feeling particularly terse as it is. He purses his lips a little and continues on, tugging Crowley along with him.

"You're flammable," he says petulantly as he glances over at the demon. If he could light Crowley on fire with a look, he would. "Why can't you trust me to take care of myself? Haven't we been over this a dozen times?"

[goesdown]

Crowley stops, holding Blake back like an anchor. "Why do you think it's about trust? Why can't it be because we're honestly better off working together?"

He wonders if there will ever be a time where him wanting to have Blake's back won't be something Blake turns into an accusation about trust. Crowley trusts Blake just fine and he knows that he's capable, but that doesn't mean that either of them are better on their own here, because they're not. Crowley's not noble enough to risk his life for these people and Blake's entirely too noble and together, they might actually help and get out safely.

"What do we accomplish by splitting up other than you feeling extra independent?"

[oversight]

"We accomplish probably helpin' more people if you do your part," he bites out, his arm pulling against Crowley's grip. He's not trying hard to get away, but the way he exerts himself probably sends a pretty clear message. He's not sure he'll ever be free of that part of him that always puts himself before anyone else, no matter how much Crowley justifies it.

"Just because I'm not fireproof doesn't mean I'm gonna go get myself lit on fire." That's his point. "I'll be fine, so stop wastin' time!"

[goesdown]

"I'm not wasting time! I'm talking sense." He lets go of Blake's hand, but he doesn't stop talking. "I can control fire. I can get us in and out of the area safely with whoever else. I'm not just trying to protect you. I want us to protect each other. Like a team. Like partners."

[oversight]

Blake pauses, doesn't pull away like he wants to. As paranoid and frustrated and pissed off as he feels, he can;t deny that Crowley's talking some sense, too.

"Yeah, fine. Okay, but—" He stops because he can't think of anything right now. "Fine." He'll just have to think of a comeback later. Or a reason to stay angry. But not right now, not when there are things to do and people to save.

"C'mon."