[PHONE - THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 24 (Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]
[Balin's already heard about this. It's a good thing he's been asking around, and that Quinn let him know what happened last year in Mayfield. And yet, that phone call from Jack Smith left him wondering. What were Mayfield's leaders up to now?]
[He decides to actually respond to Jack's
(
Read more... )
[Sure, focus on the cannibals. That left him to miss that someone has tracked his stupid ass down, most likely because it was better than watching everyone in the bunker slowly get sicker and sicker.
Caesar will be grabbing him by the arm and hauling him back, in a direction away from the dangerous group.]
Come on.
Reply
-Caesar, you crazy?
[Yes, he's asking this even though he was the one who's spent most of his time out in the open.]
You seen how'ese fuckers move-?!
Reply
[So no, he isn't the crazy one here.]
Have you seen how they move? Worse than us, now. They've gotten slower. [If they're only now beginning to feel sick, it's only worse for the ones who drove in from the direction of the bomb site.] Now move it. We have to go.
Reply
Bullshit it's already nuked! You know'ey're prolly gonna hit'a reset button once we're all dead an' dyin'! I'm a fuckin' Demolitionist, nukin' shit is what I do-
[Before he can continue, Caesar's observation does knock some sense into him, and he stops talking altogether. He also realizes that he's never told Caesar the full extent of his Logos Abilities ... and it wasn't really the best of times to break that sort of news.]
[With a glare, he glances back out toward the direction of the cannibals.]
Ahright. Okay. Fine. But if'ey catch up I'm not gonna keep runnin'.
[No longer resisting, Balin turns and follows Caesar away from the roaring hordes.]
Reply
And yelling at people who plan to tear you apart and eat you solves any of that how...?
[He'll let go of Balin's arm and take a few steps in the direction he means for them to run, though he does stop again to look back.]
...it's what you...?
[That isn't comforting, but now isn't the time for a discussion. When it looks like Balin is finally on board with running away, he'll take off again, leading the way through the streets. He must have already known which streets were clear beforehand, because they'll soon find themselves ducking out of sight and finding cover from the pursuing cannibals.]
Reply
Yeah, sorry.
[Sounding a little less mad as hell now, although there's that tremble in his voice like he'd love to tear somebody's throat out if he could.]
It's not'a same as'ese weapons. But it's'a same kind of thing. Remember'all'at stuff about Logos? I do it through'at. I can create small explosions. ... Small'in'is case would still level a city block prolly, but I control it.
Reply
[Someone doesn't sound convinced. This Logos thing is edging too close into the potentially dangerous rune territory, if it does things like this, even if only smaller.
Since they're out of immediate danger, he stops to slump against a somewhat intact wall and catch his breath. Balin might not be having trouble yet, but the same can't be said for the young strategist.]
Great. Think we can agree on you never using it to level any city blocks while you're here?
Reply
[Not that he'd expect Caesar to know who that is.]
You think I'm gonna waste a whole buncha innocent people with somethin' like'at-if I had it? Fuck that. They wouldn't be trainin' Demolistionists like me to use'at kinda power if it were'at indiscriminate. Okay?
[Maybe just a little more belligerent than normal ...]
Reply
[Oh no, he isn't falling for that trap again. You keep your damn otherworldly historical references to yourself, Wilbur.]
I don't know. Would you? Would you take out a bunch of innocent people? What if it meant you could get back at the town for real if you did? [Where Balin is belligerent, Caesar's fairly calm while asking questions like that. And why wouldn't he be? They're things he has to consider already.] Armies do desperate things to win. I don't think there are any that get a pass on that.
Reply
But at least with Logos we're keepin' it to'a bastards who deserve it.
Reply
[He pushes himself away from the wall again and checks their surroundings. Which way was Bunker from here?]
Well, yeah, at least until you finally run out of those that deserve it. [And need to find more, though he leaves that unsaid...]
Reply
Son of a bitch, man, you're treatin' me like I was'a one toppin'a charts in'at trophy room!
[Referring to the roller rink's "Accomplished Murders" trophy room, of course.]
Reply
[That could be a compliment. It isn't always a sure thing with Caesar.]
What you are is a good man with a grudge and an inevitable access to the same power that did this.
That's its own kind of danger.
Reply
[No, that's Utsuho's job.]
Reply
Reply
Yeah, well, we got all'a time in'a world.
[It's said entirely without sarcasm. Somewhat dejected, but it appears Balin fully believes that, as if the fallout and creeping radiation sickness aren't an issue.]
I don't know. Okay? Odds're good we might not even survive, where I'm from. Even with all'a powers'a Eloh's given us. An' even if we do? There's no fuckin' tellin' how long'a war could last, but I'm damn sure I won't live to see it end. One way or another.
Reply
Leave a comment