Day 56: Callahan's Grocer (Noon)

[gamingsostfu]

 
Matt was leading the way to the grocery store; it was easy to tell what was what here, thankfully. A really simple town, so far as he could tell, and the best bet he had here from the looks of it was the grocery store.

If they didn't have his smokes, he was screwed.

Mello could follow as long as he wanted. It wasn't like Matt was going to just fall

Comments

[swornandbroken]

Oh yes, Mello was sticking close (not following, no, just making sure his friend remained in a state to be useful), all the more so since the revelation of what they'd done to Matt. His fault; he could admit it, and had done, and if Matt needed an apology in as many words, well. He didn't know Mello half as well as he ought.

The most blatant of the irritability probably had another cause, though, because obviously Mello's presence, in and of itself, wouldn't be annoying without extenuating circumstances.

"Right here, you tosser." This was his way of saying he didn't intend to treat Matt any differently, any more than Matt had done to him after hearing about his ordeal. "After we deal with your addiction, it's my turn."

[unmocked_lawr]

It didn't seem as if the town had changed considerably since their last visit, and it appeared their captors were happy to keep it that way. And now they had some spare change besides, though Javert wondered how a card could constitute money of any sort and doubted they'd be permitted to purchase anything of real value. Still, he entered the grocer's with a curious eye. If nothing, perhaps the promise of money might draw information from one of the residents.

What actually ended up catching his eye as he entered were the two young men by the door. A stroke of luck, it seemed--precisely whom he wanted to speak to. Perhaps today might turn out useful after all.

For now, he settled with a quick nod of acknowledgment as he dusted snow off his overcoat and shook it from his boots. Matt certainly didn't look much different, nervousness aside.

sorry this took so long!

[gamingsostfu]

Matt just shot Mello a short glare; hands still shoved into the pockets of the stupid jacket he was wearing for no other reason than to at least seem like he was doing something to fend off the cold he couldn't feel, he nodded in return to Javert, fully aware that a talk was inevitable. Javert, he knew, would want to know what had gone on in that room the night before, and he couldn't really blame him; someone needed to keep gathering information that could pose a potential use to newcomers and veterans of Landel's alike

[swornandbroken]

"Javert." Mello greeted him with a nod, and a warmer tone to his voice than almost anyone else would've rated. Maybe he'd be able to get details out of Matt that Mello hadn't got, so far. It would be just like Matt to spill the info in the name of science, while trying to keep it from his supposed best friend.

Yes, because you told him everything up front. It didn't take a fight or anything to make you admit to any sort of weakness.

He jerked his chin towards the door and headed that way, turning from the other two so they wouldn't see the scowl the bugs always inspired. Fine, he admitted inwardly; he did suppose Matt had a right to his shirtiness. This wasn't something he could do anything about, even if the doctor in town weren't a total loss. Assuming Matt got in to see him at all, which was next to impossible, what would the asshole do? Tell him it was in his head and send him on his way, that was what. They were all crazy, right

[unmocked_lawr]

Back into the cold again, it seemed. Javert had few objections; the institute provided so few options when it came to stretching his legs that a walk even in this weather was more than welcome.

He had watched the exchange Matt had made with some curiosity; was that how their allowances worked? A simple swipe and the transaction was complete? Evidently, though how running a small card through a box constituted payment of any sort eluded him.

Inclining his head in response to Mello's question, he followed the young men out the door. "Understandable, given the circumstances. We were unable to recover anyone, though that's hardly news by now."

He didn't follow up the response with a question of his own, much as he would have liked to; it was clear enough why he was there, and he was certain Matt would talk in his own time. He looked unharmed, which was the main thing, though Javert knew as well as any that looks were deceiving.

[gamingsostfu]

First thing was first. The pack Matt had just purchased was opened and a cigarette slid out between two fingers and lit before either of the other men could say anything - and before he even made it all the way out the door. Holding the filter between his lips, the brunet watched his two companions closely, already tired of their presence. He didn't need this right now, but he knew they did; it was like a kind of closure for themselves, but there'd be none for Matt. He already knew it wouldn't work like that.

As he took the first drag of acrid smoke and let it sit in his lungs for a few moments before exhaling it through his nostrils, Matt closed his eyes - and suddenly he was back in that room, strapped down to that operating table. He couldn't feel the cold but he could sense it, and it was almost as though he could smell the sterilization once again.

When his lungs were clear, he opened his eyes.

Better get this over with.Taking another drag, he held it a few more moments before letting his gaze fall on Javert, asking as he

[swornandbroken]

Mello had wondered before if there were something at work to keep the prisoners from making progress at night, something more subtle than outright diverting them from their intended destinations, as the Institute had done, and could presumably do again. Possibly, that was a tactic saved as a last resort. It had to require a non-trivial outlay of effort or energy. It seemed to Mello that getting anywhere at night had been difficult from the start of Aguilar's regime, unlike the first few nights he'd spent here, when he had accomplished enough to fully believe he'd escape