(Untitled)

[cheng_hu]

To the north of the wasteland, there's a large stone building. It has a good size yard and parking area, surrounded by brick and metal wallsClucking to Crabapple, Daniel leads them towards the metal gate. "Stables are here. She can fit through the front door, but she doesn't like it

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[sky_from_sea]

"Horses would seem to be remarkably stubborn that way."

Anna's voice is mild.

"Though you do have a nice setup for yourself, at least from outside."

[cheng_hu]

"It's good," is his immediate and initial reply. He stops to open a rusty combination lock on the gate, then pulls the door open with a squeal of tortured hinges.

"But there's still a lot to do."

[sky_from_sea]

"Doubtless there will be for some time yet."

Anna winces faintly as the hinges squeal.

Ow. Ears.

[cheng_hu]

"There's so much I want to do, and only so much time and energy I have to spare." He waves Anna inside and shuts the door behind Crabapple with a clang.

"I really appreciate your help, too. People at the Wasteland seem nice, but I'm not entirely sure who I want to know where I'm sleeping."

[sky_from_sea]

Anna smiles slightly.

"I have a similar--difficulty. Though you might be surprised at the number of people that have offered a space."

[cheng_hu]

"You mean I'm not your only fair...man in distress?" His tone is filled with mock horror as he leads their little group towards the stables.

[sky_from_sea]

Anna's smile broadens, going a little wry at the edges.

"So far. But no doubt you'll be the fairest, even after I've gathered a harem."

[cheng_hu]

The stables are good sized, room for at least a dozen horses and a tack room besides. There are two ladders leading up to a hay filled loft. Only one stall is outfitted with hay and a bucket of water, and Crabapple heads towards it right away, wickerng in Daniel's ear.

He shoves her head away fondly and shuts her in the stall.

"Feel like getting the full tour, or do you just want to smash things?"

[sky_from_sea]

Anna looks down at her arm.

"Sad to say, but I'm not green. Which means the tour would be lovely, if you don't mind."

[cheng_hu]

"Right this way."

The door from the stables leads into a long hallway, with a door to the immediate left. Daniel points down the hall.

"That leads to the theater. Seats three hundred people, the pamphlets I've found say." The door leads into what seems to be the 'employees only' area.

"Kitchen's in here. Couple of store rooms. What used to be the staff lounge. There's also a basement, and an area above the stage area, for the lighting booth. You can get to the courtyard from the main entrance hall as well."

[sky_from_sea]

"Lots of hiding places and exits. Not bad."

Anna sounds a little impressed.

"Planning on doing anything with the theater?"

[cheng_hu]

"A very big closet," Daniel says with a shrug. "I have no idea if the equipment in there works still, and I wouldn't know how to use it even if I had power."

It's dim inside, with the impression that it would get very dark at night. Stone isn't much for letting in sunlight, though there are several windows in the entrance hall, where Daniel leads them. Also two suits of armor.

"I have water sometimes, I think I'm close to a main that someone has control over."

[sky_from_sea]

"Storage space isn't bad, really."

She shrugs, lips quirking in a faint smile.

"Sometimes? That, too, isn't bad. I might almost be envious."

Water = clean.

[cheng_hu]

"The horse gets most of it," he says with a little grin. "I couldn't stay here otherwise. There aren't very many natural springs in downtown Chicago, and I can't go to the river every day."

[sky_from_sea]

"This is the trouble with cities, I suppose."

She laughs quietly again.

"It's still hard to imagine how people managed before the modern era. Which is oddly surprising and yet not."

[cheng_hu]

"I think it would be easier." Daniel sighs.

"If this happened then- well. It wouldn't have, first of all. But if it did, we wouldn't be relying on electricity, and everyone would know how to store their own food. That worries me the most. I spent the first winter mostly unconscious, and the second pretty far south."

He runs a hand through his hair and frowns around the hall.