when I lived alone, is there a ghost in my house?

[mylawn]

WHO? 76 (mylawn) and YOU
WHAT? fabulous dream adventures
WHEN? dream time
ANYTHING ELSE? violence, the robot war, you know.

i. dad punches you in the face for the low, low price of free (this one is not a dream)

[76 knows, on some level, that something is wrong. He’s fairly certain he’s dozed off here and there, but he can’t remember exactly where or when or for how long—only that he was left with a strange, unsettling feeling each time. For someone as paranoid as he is, he knows it doesn’t bode well, but being unable to pinpoint the problem means there’s little for him to do.

As always, he hits the recreation area to take his mind off things. It seems wailing on a punching bag is one of few ways he knows how to blow off steam, and he’s easily found doing just that. He doesn’t seem to mind being interrupted, at least, knowing full well that he offered hand-to-hand pointers over the network. He certainly recognizes the cathartic value of beating the crap out of something or someone, even if it’s not the healthiest of coping mechanisms.

Perhaps that’s what you’re looking for. 76 isn’t going to judge.]

Need something?

[Or, you might find him asleep, slumped over in a chair, gloves and water bottle discarded nearby, like he only meant to take a short break. Probably you should wake him up???]

ii. the humans are dead (this one is a dream)

[Everything is on fire.

It’s difficult to tell just what, exactly, is burning, because the scene seems to shift between a few different locals that blur together and separate and merge again, cityscapes and building interiors and battlefields, but the overall effect is the same. Harsh red emergency lighting cuts through the dark and smoke, and there’s the very distinct feeling of being trapped. The shadows of mechanical soldiers close in, punctuated by the sounds of gunfire and explosions and collapsing rebar. As if that wasn’t threatening enough, metallic groans in the distance give the impression that the whole place (if one can even call it that) is about to come crashing down.

The one voice that cuts through it all might sound familiar, even if it’s coming from someone who you definitely haven’t seen before (unless you squint).]

—respond. Do you read me, Reyes?

[He keeps going, barking more names into what seems to be some kind of communicator, but there’s no response. Given the current state of things, it takes him a moment to realize he isn’t alone, but as soon as he notices the intrusion, he’s closing the distance, apparently to usher you away as quickly as possible, despite his own obvious distress.]

It’s not safe here, come on. [You’re a civilian! You shouldn’t be in the middle of a war zone!] You need to evacuate.

iii. sad ghost hoots then scoots (this one is also a dream)

[You’re interrupting a fight.

A fairly explosive one, if the surroundings are any indication. 76, in full tactical gear, is currently throwing down with a figure in a black robe, though it’s difficult to tell just what the figure is, exactly, especially when it only seems to have a form some of the time, dissolving and re-forming constantly as and 76 scrabble at each other. Sharp silver claws reach out of the black smog to try and strangle him, and the whole thing devolves into a visceral struggle.

There’s a gunshot, and another outburst of smoke as 76’s opponent loses shape entirely and rushes away as a formless miasma. 76 tries to right himself.]

Don’t just stand there—

[He barks it out, the tone that of someone used to giving orders under duress, but there’s something desperate in it too. When he stands, it’s easy to see why—there’s blood on the ground, but despite the sway in his stance, he’s making a concentrated effort to take off in pursuit, not particularly caring that you’re in the way. If you aren’t going to help, he’s just going to push his way past.

iv. wildcard

[I’ll do whatever you want. You write a thing. I’ll write a thing. Hit me up at whitticus.]

Comments

iii

[circumspector]

[ He doesn't look good. Which is maybe the second or third thing she registers after - this isn't Pandora and something isn't right here. She can't put her finger on it, or exactly what is happening, but something isn't right.

Doesn't really matter right now, as she looks from where he's hunched over a wound - had to be - the blood's all over the ground and it's definitely not hers. He can't go back out there just yet. He's got to jet that wound at the very least. She can't by him much time but - ]

Hey - ! [ It takes more courage than she thinks she really has to reach out and snatch his wrist. Tug at him with as much force as she has. ] You can't go back out there like that. You've - You've got to patch that up first.

[ Maybe it's that he looks like someone familiar ( Axton ) maybe it's that she doesn't want to be docile as to just let someone else walk into something that will get them hurt - but she's very sure she's not letting him walk out before that's seen too. ] Do that first. I'll... I'll cover for you.

[ That's what people said right? Right. Yeah, he's totally going to listen to it from a bundle of twigs wrapped up in good intentions but whatever. She pushes a little bit further, sticking herself firmly in the way. ]

[mylawn]

There's no time.

[Jack isn't quite sure why this is so important, beyond the fact that the swarming cloud of nanites and smoke is clearly hostile, but what he does know is that he can't let something this dangerous escape. He doesn't recognize the person trying to stop him, but he can only assume they're a civilian, somewhere they shouldn't be. He's immediately torn between going after his own goal, and making sure that someone innocent doesn't get caught in the crossfire.

That's one thing he's certain of. Whether he's injured or not is negligible, at least between Reaper's escape and this girl tugging at him. First things first.]

You shouldn't be here.

[circumspector]

Probably not.

[ It's braver than she feels, clearly so. Shaking in her hands to be out in a fight - a real fight. Even if this feels like its sliding in front of her eyes in a way she doesn't know - doesn't recognize. He's not a vault hunter.

He's not laughing insanely enough for that.

But he's definitely fighting something, something dangerous and not quite right. Her hands tense up, curling fingers inside her fist. ]

But you shouldn't be doing this alone. I can help. [ It's then that she lights up - still braver than she but that's the point really? ] Promise.

[mylawn]

[At least she agrees, though there isn't anything Jack can do about it right now. With each moment they stand here, they waste more time. The wraith is getting away, and some part of Jack already knows he's gone. The priority is the civilian who is now his responsibility.]

I don't want you getting hurt.

[He doesn't know her, but he isn't about to let a bystander get caught in the line of fire--that goes against everything he stands for.]

Let's get you somewhere safe.