[Open] As nightfall comes and shadows creep...
CHARACTERS: distinctive_guy and stabswithforks AND ANYONE ELSE
DATE: July 20th (Day Two, early night)
RATING: Violence/Swearing in galore
SUMMARY: Surviving the second night, moving from the Mall → East Dorms
( Monsters stalk in darkness deep )
DATE: July 20th (Day Two, early night)
RATING: Violence/Swearing in galore
SUMMARY: Surviving the second night, moving from the Mall → East Dorms
( Monsters stalk in darkness deep )
Eliot relaxed a bit when the boy claimed there weren't any more trapped kids, although he didn't dare to take that as a fact just yet. Just because the boy didn't know didn't mean there weren't any around, Eliot will have to discover that himself. Or wait until Parker told him more.
"My name's Eliot," he answered truthfully, seeing no reason to keep his name from Alan. "Parker is..." Turning in her direction revealed that the thief had already disappeared, leaving their communication solely to their earbud comm. "She's someone who can help," he said instead and trusted Parker to take care of herself within the building.
His attention focused back on Alan and his riot gear. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Alan. That's some nice gear ye've got on." His gaze lingered a bit longer on the black helm that covered the child's face. That was a quality suit the young boy wore, professionally made at law enforcement grade. Eliot recognized the flexi design as something used almost exclusively by American agencies.
An approaching screech warned him they were running out of time. "Let's get out of here and find somewhere safer."
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"Yes, it came in handy," Near answered almost with an eye roll. It was not exactly time for small talk. He didn't bother to consider in depth whether or not this man, Eliot it was, had given his armor much thought beyond "some nice gear." Though the mere fact that he had commented on it meant that it had gotten his attention, to what extent was another matter. However, he'll just have to deal with that later. None of that was important right now.
He nodded at the suggestion to relocate, indicating that he was ready to move whenever Eliot was.
His gaze shifted to Eliot's burnt arm. "Better pick up another weapon along the way too."
If worst came to worst, Near was willing to give up his suit and helmet as makeshift weapons, but he'd rather it not come to that.
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"We'll keep an eye out for one," he agreed, motioning for Alan to follow him back down the stairs.
Or rather, that was the intention until he found there was another one of those creatures heading up the stairs. A glance up showed that leaving Alan on the platform wasn't an option either.
"Where're they all comin' from?" Growling under his breath, Eliot shifted the pole so he held it at its very end. No more close encounters. "Follow after me, but not too closely."
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That last question was probably intended to be rhetorical, but Near answered anyway.
"If you were referring to the building, the ones in my room" (Indignant tone is obvious. Hmph. It was Near's room. What made those abominations think they could claim it?) "came in through the fireplace. As for where they originated, I'm likewise uncertain." But he intended to find out.
Near kept and eye on both Eliot and the creature, preparing himself in case anything out of the ordinary happened.
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Eliot wasn't expecting a response, but he did give the kid an appraising look when he got one. Well, that was something. The boy was observant as well as the ability to keep a calm head when things went south.
"Useful to know," he murmured while giving Alan an approving glance. The look didn't last long though for they were upon the creature, and Eliot turned his focus on that.
The creature started its approach by reaching out with its tentacle, a move Eliot noticed seemed to be the norm for these things. Since he was anticipating it, batting it aside became just as easy. He used the pole to knock the reaching appendage away and as it sizzled, Eliot moved into the creature's immediate space. His left hand jabbed out in two rapid blows to its chest that sent it sprawling backward down the stairs. The monster howled all the way until it snapped its neck on the bottom step.
Eliot turned back and motioned for Alan to follow with a jerk of his head. "There might be a safe place somewhere. If they're only comin' through the fireplace, then they might stay out if ye can get one lit."
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"If possible, try only using the tip of the pole to deflect the tentacle." Near wasn't sure when they would see another weapon, but he wanted to preserve the one they had now for as long as it would last. Normally, Near would take the time to explain the how's and why's of his suggestions (usually so he could avoid the useless questioning afterwards), but he had a good idea of Eliot's capacity for understanding and forethought by now to know that explanations would not be necessary.
"Sounds good." He followed suit without another word.
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"First find a safe place, then work on securin' the building." The hitter kept his pace quick but strides measured to adjust for Alan's ability to keep up. "The bathrooms," he said, thinking on his feet, "There's only one door for entrance and exit, no windows..."
As they came down the stairs, Eliot put two fingers up to his right ear and seemed to listen to something. Shortly after, he turned to Alan. Although they were not near them yet, Eliot announced with certainty, "Downstairs bath areas are both empty. You can be safe inside."
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He chose not to ask who it was Eliot was talking to either. Parker, perhaps, but he couldn't be sure. He'll definitely file that information away for future interrogation however
"Let's go then."
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The mentioned rooms were at the far end of the hall. The area between appeared to be empty of any other creatures except for the bodies of the five Eliot took out, two when coming in and three more on the stairs. Still, Eliot remained on alert when they passed the stairs. Alan had warned him that these creatures could come down the fireplace, so there was potentially some in every room.
So when one of the room doors suddenly opened and a white fleshed monster stood behind it, Eliot was ready to boot it in the solar plexus. "Go, go, go," he told Alan, motioning for the boy to keep going and don't stop.
He followed the monster into the room and spent a few seconds with successive blows to make sure it wouldn't be rising again. Finding matches to light up the fireplace took longer but was successful, and as he left, he paused by the neatly made fire. He looked over the battered pole in his hand, grinned, and replaced it with the sturdy fire iron. When he he left, he closed the door behind him and picked up the rear behind Alan.
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At Eliot's urging, Near continued running. He reached the bathroom door, catching his breath for a bit. He stepped inside, carefully investigating every stall. There had been a monster hiding inside the restroom in his own hallway, after all. He didn't want to take another chance. After making sure it was clear, he heard Eliot's footsteps coming up behind him. Right on time. He turned to look at the man. Apparently he found something to make fire with. Well done.
"This should be okay. It's clear in here."
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"Alright." Getting down on one knee so he was at Alan's eye level, Eliot looked the young boy through the riot gear into the dark eyes within. So far, he hadn't seen Alan's face once, but that didn't matter when it came to saving a child, did it?
"Alan, I'm goin' to ask ye to stay here until it's safe outside. Don't leave this room no matter what you hear outside, okay? Push somethin' against the door after I leave and nothin' can get in. I'll come back when the place is clear."
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"I understand."
Of course, the man wanted to play hero, securing the rest of the building from those cretins first before coming back to get him. That was understandable. However, Near did not want to be left completely unattended.
"However, I'd like to remain in contact with you should some emergency arise. Mr. Eliot, would you happen to have the earpiece or phone on your person? ... or any other means of communication."
Near was aware that this man had other means of communication. He had seen it in action when Eliot held his hand over his ear earlier. There had been no visible device on his ear, however, so Near couldn't exactly be sure whether this form of communication was technological or supernatural in nature. This was probably not a good time for an interrogation session either.
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"Sure," he answered, putting it over his other ear opposite from where his own earbud was nestled. "Let's see... how'd I connect this thing?" He took out his phone as well, checking through it briefly to see if it ran the same as his own. Unfortunately, his earbud didn't require phone connections, and he had no idea how to get this one to work.
Where was Hardison when he needed him? Eliot was not a technology person.
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"Allow me."
Instead of reaching for Eliot's device, Near took off a glove, within which he had hidden his own phone. He removed phone and immediately began setting up a private line for the earpiece's second channel. It didn't take long.
That done, he finally removed his helmet. Earlier, when Near had checked to bathroom for signs of the creatures, he had also checked for cameras as well. Certain that it was safe, he saw no more reason to keep the mask on. The earpiece was already sitting on Near's right ear as he removed the helmet. He flipped a switch behind it.
"The switch behind the earpiece turns on the device. Flip it downward to enable private chatting. You will be prompted for a password on your phone. Enter qs8xn-23 to access the line I've just established. This will ensure that we keep in touch for the remainder of the night. If you would like to mute the conversation on your end, simply mute the phone." (he makes a motion demonstrating how to do so) "That will ensure your privacy but still allow to my voice to reach you should any emergency arise."
Long-winded directions were long-winded, but not without reason. In part, Near wanted to see just how much information this man could retain at one time.
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Retaining information wasn't something Eliot had trouble with, including the passwords. "Q S eight X N dash two three," he repeated, memorizing the alphanumeric code even as he tested it by entering it into his phone. "There any capitals in that?" Yet the second he said that, the phone logged him in. "I'm in," he announced, putting the hand-held away.
"You're pretty handy with this sorta thing," Eliot noted through the communicator with another appraising look to the pale boy. The lad's instructions were clear and precise, reminding the hitter of someone who was used to giving them... like Nate. The hitter shook his head, the kid was what, 10 years old?
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"Yes." Near proceeded to take a seat on the ground. He drew his right knee up to his chin and latched one hand around it. He raised his other hand to his hair and began twirling a strand. "You are likewise skilled in what you do, Mr. Eliot."
His head now hung towards the ground, as Near was not particularly used to nor comfortable with actually looking at people when he spoke to them, especially not now with his helmet off. Behind the hair that now hung across his face, the boy grinned.
"Since our differing skill sets mutually benefit one another, perhaps we can work out a partnership in the future. Of course, that will wait until after the building is secured. I will keep an eye on the feeds in the meantime and announce to you any important information I might happen to find."
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