realityshifted

[Eithan is all but beelining to somewhere that is not out in the open in this damned cold and snow. He's actually moving pretty fast, trying to book it to either his house or the bar, whichever ends up being closest. But of course, he's not moving too fast to miss a sight like that.

He's never seen her before, but it doesn't matter. He doesn't even stop or slow down, only changes directions and start toward her, making no secret about it as he braves unfolding his arms long enough to wave to her. And once's he's reached her, he kneels down - snow be damned - and immediately starts to look her over. That blood splatter is worrying, sure but he knows it's not hers. (He's seen too much death and bloodshed to mistake something like that.)]

Hey... deep breaths. Okay? [a pause, just in case.] C'mon. Let's get you somewhere warmer.

[Because crying person? Bad. Crying person who is probably too distraught to get herself out of the snow and the cold? Likely just a liiiittle bit worse.]

[she dimly hears him coming, with the part of her brain that is still aware of such things, so she isn't surprised when he speaks, but her expression is almost fearful when she looks up at him. she has no idea what to say, so she just nods, numbly, and pulls herself up, wiping at her face. the hot tears feel good against bare hands that are already stiff with cold after being in the snow. her voice thick, she manages to ask:] What's nearby?

[He'd almost expected an argument - the Plane does have a knack for bringing around proud, independent types, after all. She isn't fighting him, though, and he's grateful. As they stand, he pulls off his coat (don't worry, he's such a damn baby about the cold that he has another (though a little bit smaller, obvsly) coat on underneath that one, hurr) and holds it out to her.]

There's a house I brought here from my world. Doesn't have much furniture, but it's got a fireplace. I'll light it.

[He nods in the proper direction before he starts that way.]

[Linda can be independent at times, but especially compared to some of the others on the Plane, she is definitely more of a team player. and she's used to following someone else's lead. Duke's lead, in fact]

[though not anymore...]

[she accepts the coat, wrapping it around her, but her actions are still mostly automatic. she nods at Eithan's instructions, following him, sniffling a little as she fights to get her emotions back under control. after another long silence, it occurs to her that she should say something]

Thanks.

[He expected the silence, honestly. He's not one to intrude on someone's grief. He just wants to get her out of the gods-damned snow. But he does manage a faint twitch of a smile.]

Don't mention it.

[And he lets it stay quiet until they arrive. He didn't lie, there really is very little in the way of furniture - right now, just a few blue velvet parlor chairs - they'd be antique if they weren't actually brand new back in Meridia - and a slightly beat-up leather sofa that looks like it came previously well-loved from a somewhat more modern apartment - which isn't far from the truth (thanks, Tharian friends).

He guides her to the sofa - by the fireplace, of course - and lets her sit there and bundle up while he busies himself with arranging the wood and figuring out exactly where the pilot light is going to be when he actually lights the thing.

While he's working... he doesn't want to bother her, but he figures he should at least say something.]

I might be a stranger, but if you wanna talk, I can listen. Or if I can do anything else. You know. ... I'm Eithan, by the way.

[Linda appreciates the silence since she'd really come to the Plane in the first place hoping for a place to mourn alone. she follows him to the sofa, sitting huddled in his coat as he starts the fire, seizing this opportunity outside of Chester's Mill and the progressive escalation of the crisis to think about the past instead of the future--about Duke and everything he's been to her]

[but then Eithan makes his offer and shares his name, and she takes in a deep breath, trying to muster up the courage to face reality again] I'm Linda. [she pauses to take another breath, wondering when her throat got so tight] Duke... [the name hangs in the air for a minute as she struggles to form the rest of the sentence without her tears resuming] Our sheriff, Duke. He's dead. [another pause as she fights the lump in her throat] He was...like a father to me. I can't believe he's gone.

[He finds the lines, figures everything will go smoothly enough, and places one more log in the place - more than thankful he thought to bring some ahead last time he came here. He listens to her talk, and when she finishes, he hangs his head a little out of respect and sympathy. He can relate... he's lost a father figure, too. ~~Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.~~]

I'm sorry. [It's all he can say, and he hates it, but it's true. He can guess from the blood on her shirt that the situation is probably far from pretty.] How'd it happen? Or do you not wanna talk about it?

[He mutters a quick spell under his breath, sparks the fireplace to life with a snap of his fingers before he moves to sit on the other side of the couch.]

He... [but she stops herself, shaking her head] You'll think I'm crazy. [she gives a short, bitter laugh that's half-swallowed by a sob] Honestly, nothing going on in Chester's Mill right now makes any sense. I'm still kind of hoping it's a nightmare and I'll wake up, but...I know it's real.

[she doesn't notice the spell, huddled as she is on the couch still shivering from what could be cold or grief or, more likely, a mixture of the two]

[He can't even stop himself - he snorts at that and shakes his head.] Ma'am... I'm a runaway mage, hoppin' between two worlds and this place. Tryin' to put together a resistance, and help my sister keep her estate, and figure shit out here... and then somehow make it back home every night before my dog tears up the couch. Trust me, I don't think you're crazy.

[He flashes her a faint smile. At the very least, this'll change the subject for her, if she still doesn't want to try speaking about it. Best case scenario, he gets a little bit of a smile. Who knows?]

[she looks over at him at that. and, tentatively, she gives him a tearful smile back] I...guess I should probably pretend I know what all that means.

[but then she takes a deep, shaky breath. if anything, his wild story has at least helped her feel safe sharing her own. and so she tries to do just that] A...barrier appeared this morning. Around Chester's Mill. Literally, the whole town. You can't get over or under it, and you can't even hear through it. When you touch it, you get like this...electric shock. But Duke... [she pauses again, swallowing hard, her voice breaking as she continues] When he touched it, it was more than that. His pacemaker...it exploded right out of his chest. [she wipes at fresh tears as she finishes her explanation, shaking her head with the frustration and pain of it all that hasn't yet had a chance to diminish] There wasn't anything I could do.

[Hey, it sort of worked!

He listens, and though he has no idea what a pacemaker is, he's not about to ask her a stupid question like "What the hell's a pacemaker" when he can pretty much figure out for himself that it's something that was inside the guy, was probably electrical of some sort, and it exploded out of him.

Dear Goddesses Miina and Aliki alike... He wouldn't wish that on any good man, and explosions are kinda his thing.

He's got a handkerchief - a pretty nice one, actually - and he pulls it out of his pocket to offer to her for her tears.]

That's... ... damn. [He shakes his head.] 'm so sorry.

[she looks up to take the handkerchief and give him a nod of thanks before she turns her gaze back down, wiping at her face and nose with it] Thank you.

[not sure what else to say--or what she wants to say--she takes advantage of that opening for a subject change now] W-what about you? [her voice catches on a sob, but she tries to focus on the new topic. at least if she asks him something he should fill the silence while she tries to get her tears under control] What do you mean you're a mage?

[And he'll let her focus on that new topic, if that's what she needs.]

Ah, no mages in your world either? Man. I'm startin' to think this place just pulled me here to throw everyone off. [He shakes his head, smiling a bit.]

Yeah. A mage. High wizard, actually. I use fire magic, and my focus is explosions.

[He holds out one hand, palm up - closer to himself than to her, for the sake of her safety (and not startling her, obviously). He mutters a quick spell, and poof! He's practically holding a steady fire in the palm of his hand.]

[she shakes her head at his question, wondering if by "mage" he means what she thinks he means. but if he thought keeping the fire away from her would keep it from startling her, he's wrong. she quite visibly jumps, gaping at the flame on his hand] You're--you're doing that!?

[Hey, it's probably better than it would have been if he'd just lit it right in her face, or something. Right?

He smiles at her question, though.] Yeah. It's all me. [And with a quick flick of his fingers, it's gone again.] Been at it since I was little. 's just somethin' that happens in our world, it's weird to me thinkin' there are worlds that don't have this.

[it's definitely better. she's struggling with it enough as it is--but at least it's distracted her enough that she's stopped crying] That's... [she shakes her head, not sure what to say] ...incredible.

So...everybody can do that where you're from?

Heh, thanks. [He's pretty proud of it, after all~]

Not everyone, no. Lots of people can, though. And like anything else, some are better at it than others. My sister? She can't do any magic at all. But my friend, Mishen? I swear she's better than me! Does this weird shit with like... energy, or somethin' - I don't know, it's like glowy and purple Kinda like a black light. But she can make it into whatever shape she wants. [He shakes his head.] I have no idea what kinda element it is, but it looks pretty awesome.

You mean people can do things other than...make fire? [the words sound ridiculous to her even as they come out of her mouth, but then again, today has been a day full of ridiculous events, all the way to the point of being horrific. and having something to focus on that's more interesting than horrific isn't an opportunity she's about to pass up right now] What does that...energy do?

[Wash is out and about when he catches sight of Linda collapse to the ground.] Linda? [But then she sits up and he spots the blood on her shirt, his eyes widening.] Linda! [His feet thankfully don't slip on the snow as he jogs over. He's very glad he has his helmet on right now because he'd surely be smelling that blood by now and he doesn't want or need that kind of thing right now.]

Are you... [He kneels down next to her once he's near, and starts to search for a wound. Her tears tell him there's something else going on here. Something's definitely wrong.] What happened? Who's gone? [He hesitates to touch her, but he isn't sure if she'd like that or not. So, he keeps his hands to himself for the moment.]

Wash? [she looks up at his yelling in surprise, her face wet with tears and reddening from her crying and the cold combined, but she stops momentarily at the sight of him. even though she came here to be alone, it's a bit of a relief to see a familiar face--one that isn't from Chester's Mill and isn't both familiar and part of the crisis. she's tempted to reach for him herself, but she doesn't. instead, she chokes out:] Duke. Duke's...dead. [this renews her tears, however, and she lowers her head, trying to fight back further sobs now that she's no longer on her own]

[Admittedly, Wash isn't the best in these kind of situations. Granted, it's easier when someone's upset over a mission failure, but losing people... That never is easy.]

[Tentatively, he reaches out, resting a gloved hand on her shoulder.] I'm sorry he's gone. What...[he trails off mid-sentence for a second as he debates asking this]-what exactly happened...? There's blood all over.

[she reaches up to put one cold hand over his glove, grateful for that show of comfort. but at his question, she closes her eyes, her expression pained at the memory it invokes] He touched that...barrier thing. And his pacemaker just...exploded. [the word is half-engulfed by a sob] Right out of his chest. There was nothing I could do...

What?! [He just stares for a moment, stunned.] Is that what... Linda, I need to see if you were hurt because of that. [He can only imagine what kind of damage could have been done to others thanks to an exploding ancient pacemaker.]

[An awkward beat later.] I'm really sorry about your--[He hesitates, unsure what word to use for her relationship with Duke.]--friend. Something like that...that's never easy. I've seen friends killed in front of me, too.

[she shakes her head, staying where she is with her head still bowed as tears continue to fall] No, I'm all right. I just...couldn't help him.

[for a moment, she doesn't say anything to that. but then, finally, she adds the one fact that seems important right now:] He treated me like he was my father.

And he's--he was our sheriff, Wash. What are we gonna do?

[He frowns, but his own look over of her confirms it. He doesn't see any open wounds, which he's grateful for.] There's...not much you can do when something...[again, words are failing him]...like that happens. But it sounds like it happened quick; he wouldn't have felt any pain. [They can all hope to go out so swiftly.]

There's...going to be a lot you'll need to do. But I think for now, you should go somewhere warm and get cleaned up. It'll help you think a little clearer. [He holds a hand out to her to help her up.] There are showers in the mansion. I can find you something to wear in the ballroom, if you want.

[Linda's not so sure about that. quick, yes, but...it looked like it hurt. but she just shakes her head, unable to bring herself to talk about it]

[she looks up at Wash at his offer, though. and after a brief hesitation, she takes his hand. she can feel that her fingers are stiff with cold, and she knows his plan is the right idea; she's not going to accomplish anything by staying here out in the snow. and while she'll need to be wearing this when she goes back--after all, Freddy and Paul are on their way--that doesn't mean she can't get into something warm and dry for a little while at least. not to mention, if she goes to take a shower, that will give her a little time alone to mourn, too. and after that...maybe she'll be ready to face what comes next]

All right. Is it far from here?

[He puts an arm round her shoulder (more out of an attempt to keep her warm than anything) and starts forward.] Yeah, it's near the theatre. See that building? [He points to the one next to the one with the theatre marquee.] There's usually all different kinds of clothes there. They're...a bit weird, but they're better than this. And warmer.

If you want, I can...go get something to drink and eat while you change. Up to you.

[she nods when he points out the building, but at his offer, she shakes her head] No, we can stop there to find something and then go to the mansion, like you said. There's too much snow for you to be wandering all over. [she reaches up a hand to wipe her eyes and adds, quietly:] Thanks.

All right. [Hopefully there'll be food in the mansion. He knows some of his is, but...that won't be good for her.] Don't worry about me and the snow. I'm fine in my armor; it keeps my body temperature regulated. I'm more concerned about you in your work uniform. It doesn't look warm at all.

[Never mind the blood. That part he tries to pointedly ignore.]

[But he isn't sure what else he can say until they arrive at the ballroom. Duke clearly meant a lot to her, but what can he say in comfort that he hasn't already said? Especially with the way he died...

Soon enough, though, he pushes the door to the ballroom open, steam escaping into the cool air.] Everything should be in the backroom. I'll, uh, wait here. [Short beat.] But if you need me, shout...or something.

[she's shivering by this point, so she doesn't see a reason to reply--it would just emphasize that she is in no way prepared for the current cold. so she continues to the ballroom with him in silence, lost in her thoughts]

[but when they get there, she nods at his instructions] I will. But at least come in so you're not standing out in this. [she eyes him as pointedly as she can manage with tearful eyes] I'll be back soon.

[that said, she disappears inside. she's explored the building before--and a lot of the Plane, for that matter--so she knows where to find the clothing. and thankfully, having a task to concentrate on helps her to stay calm and keep her tears in check. the clothing is all a bit odd, but she manages to track down an unfortunately-bright green sweater, a coat, a scarf, and some gloves. once she's changed, she tucks her own shirt into a small cloth bag and brings it with her as she heads to the front to rejoin Wash--whom she hopes to find indoors]

[Instead of further insisting that he's not really cold in all this, he just nods and comes in.] All right. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere, Linda.

[And so, he waits. When she's out of sight, he takes off his helmet and breathes in deep. He can still smell the blood in the air. He'll...have to make sure to get some in the mansion while she's taking a shower or otherwise occupied. He makes a little noise, annoyed at himself, and slams his helmet back on. And proceeds to pace back and forth for a bit to put the smell behind him.]

[But then she's back, and he's glad there were things he could wear.] Hey. [A small beat and he adds, in an attempt to lighten things up:] Nice outfit.

Heh. [she gives him a weak smile at that] At least Rusty won't see me in it. [after all, in addition to the sweater's particularly terrible color, none of the clothing matches or fits well--with the possible exception of the almost fetching red scarf]

[not wanting to give herself the opportunity to stop and think--she's finally stopped crying for now, after all--she steps up to Wash and continues from there right to the door] Come on, let's get to the mansion.

[He steps through the door and continues walking towards the mansion.] Rusty? Is that...[He trails off, unsure of her relation to this "Rusty" person.]

I can make some coffee when we're there if you want.

My fiancé. [she walks with him, looking around to see how close they might be to the mansion]

[at his offer, she nods, smiling a little again] Sure. Coffee sounds good.

Ah, right. [He glances at her attire again.] Well, he might not find it all that bad. The scarf's nice, at least.

I make an okay cup of coffee. I'm not usually the one who makes it back home. The mess staff usually do and theirs... [A beat.] Well, let's put it this way: compared to theirs, mine's gourmet. Except there's one good chef who makes a brew that's next to heaven, but I rarely ever gets a cup of it. [He sounds a little sheepish.] I'm just not that lucky.

Yeah? Maybe I'll keep it for when...the barrier's gone. [her words falter a bit, but she quickly recovers, turning to him] Honestly, any coffee sounds good right now. When we get there, I'll take a shower while you do that.

[That makes him frown a bit behind his helmet visor. He wishes he knew what was keeping that barrier up. The longer that town stays trapped in there, the worse things are going to become.] Sounds good. There should be some shampoo and other shower things in each bathroom. There's never a shortage of towels either. [He isn't sure if the Plane resupplies them or someone actually washes them. (Spoilers: North does some laundry there, including any towels he sees lying around.)]

[Ahead, the mansion grows closer. He doesn't lead her to the front entrance though, instead choosing to bring her in through the patio entrance so she can see how to get to the kitchen and the bathrooms--and hopefully minimize chances of her getting lost.]

The upstairs bathrooms have tubs and showers. Just go out of the kitchen, take a left, then head up the spiral stairs. You'll have your choice of bathrooms on the right.

[she nods at his instructions] I'll meet you back in the kitchen.

[and with that, she heads off to find the showers. as it turns out, the building isn't hard to navigate. Linda takes her time with her shower, glad for the chance to be alone with her thoughts--and to cry a little. but once she's had this chance to mourn a bit more, she carefully composes herself. when she does return to the kitchen, she's still in her borrowed sweater, but she's much less disheveled and has pulled her hair back into a new, neater bun]

Wash? How'd your coffee turn out?

[He nods and heads off to start the coffee. Thankfully, he just has to brew it, and the ancient coffee makers are simpler to deal with. Once that's all set, he sets out a pair of mugs and waits. And waits.

Then he goes to the fridge to check on the state of his supply. Since he's here, he pulls some out, pours some into a mug, and puts the rest away. Idly, he sips his blood. He's not going anywhere, and he has a feeling she wants some alone time right now. It's the least he can do.

He's finishing up washing his mug by the time she comes back down, and she'll see his helmet on the counter by a seat he's pulled out from the counter. By now, the smell of coffee has definitely permeated everything.] I think it's okay! Haven't had any yet, though. How was the shower? [He overturns the clean mug in the sink to let it dry, wipes his hands off on a towel, and heads over to the pot to pour the coffee out for them.] Do you want any milk or sugar? [On the occasions he does have coffee, he usually just takes it black.]

[she frowns a little at the mug he's just rinsed when Wash mentions he hasn't tried the coffee, but she doesn't say anything about it] Good. It...was a good idea. [she's not quite sure what else to say--how to explain how much it helps to be clean and warm and to feel more like herself again. so instead, she just answers his next question] Milk and a little sugar, yeah. Thanks.

[He misses that look, and really, the only way he could explain it is if he passes it off as a previously dirty dish that needed to be washed.] Coming right up.

[He pops the milk open and sniffs to see how good it is. It still smells decent, thankfully, so he sets that on the counter, then hunts for the container of sugar he knows is around there somewhere...] Where the hell is it now--ah ha, there it is. [He sets a clear container down in front of her that's half-filled with sugar, then grabs their mugs.] Here you go.

[He sits next to her, blowing on his coffee for a moment before taking a sip. He isn't sure what to say, but he's going to try anyway.] I'm glad the shower helped. Something has to. It's...never easy to lose people you know.

[she adds a bit of the sugar and blows on her coffee as well. at his words, she glances at him] Yeah, it... [but she trails off, shaking her head] I just...need to figure out what to do now. [she sips her coffee, her eyes still sad and her expression troubled]

Put him to rest. [For him, that answer is simple. Take care of the body, then take care of everything else.] After that, as much as you can do to put his stuff in order. With that thing around your town, there might not be as much that you can do.

[He puts a hand out on her arm.] You'll get through it.

[at Wash's suggestion, she nods] I called Freddy and Paul already. They'll be there soon to help me--when I go back, I mean. And Reverend Coggins is inside the dome. But I don't know what else there is to put in order besides...[she hesitates]...besides not having a sheriff.

[she appreciates the gesture, though, and she nods again, trying to look calmer than she feels] Yeah...we will.

I don't think you have to worry about that either, Sheriff. [He looks at her meaningfully. After all, she was a deputy, so either her or one of the others should take his place. Why not her?]

[she gapes at him] No. [she shakes her head, her expression firm now] No, that's not how it works. The Town Council has to approve, for one. And I'm not the only deputy. Like I said, there's Freddy and Paul, too.

[which is a laughably small number of deputies, but other deputies nonetheless]

Field promotions happen. Do you really see a council convening when they have that barrier thing to think about? Are all the members even on the inside of it?

You'll find out soon enough. Just...don't be surprised. You have a good head on your shoulders, Linda. You could do it.

[her tone is insistent] Not all, but there is one member--Jim. He's in charge. So if it's anybody's decision, it's his.

[at that assessment, though, she does nod] Look, if Chester's Mill needs me, then I'll do whatever I have to. It's just not my call to make. For now, I'll do my job--we all will.

Hopefully, he chooses wisely.

[He'd point out that that sentiment is exactly why she'd be perfect to take the job, but he doesn't. By now, he doesn't think she'll entirely listen, but he isn't offended. Instead, he just nods and lightly pats her on the arm.] Yeah, exactly.

[And he reaches over to grab the pot to top her coffee off. All he can do now is just try to be as supportive as he can be.]

[002]

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