51 - A Boy and His Dog - Action/Phone (Post-Zombiefield)

[ceasetoexist]

A.On Patridge Street
[Hey Patridge Street. You might have noticed that, since Sunday, there's been something that looks just like a massive wreck firmly placed in the middle of the street. It's hard to tell what the hell it could have been at first, some kind of vehicle obviously, but otherwise indecipherable with how much the thing has been wrecked. Bits and pieces of metal and machine work have been flung all around the street, with one massive ball of twisted, burnt metal at the center of it.

Next to this metal is a young boy, about twelve, just squatting in front of it. Staring at it, emptily. Lost.

Occasionally, he puts a hand against the ruined metal hull of whatever it had been. But he never says a word.

Bug him?]

B. Phone

[There's a small sighing sound, like someone trying to gather their courage before speaking. And then.]

Hey.

I know I'm not, like, the best person in the world, or the most tolerable in this hole, but.....look, I just....

[Pokey stops again, taking a few breaths before quickly just getting it out.]

I need help.

Anyone been to Partridge Drive? You know that giant hunk of blasted scrap metal over there? Yeah. That scrap metal is mine. Thing is, I'm not strong enough to....you know. Move it over to my house so I can fix it. So I need people who can...help move it to my house.

And...I might need some help, with some of the finer mechanical parts for being who're scientifically inclined. I mean, I can do most of it, don't get me wrong, I can do it pretty much by myself but....not all of it.

[Agitated. Defeated. Drained. The boy's voice is pretty hollow after all that's happened this week, to be honest.]

...I don't have much to offer. I guess....all I can do is say I owe whoever helps me one and...pay them back someway that way. I mean...I've got a lot of talents so hey it shouldn't be too hard but....

I need help.

[And then one last breath before finally, he's able to manage out.]

Please.

Comments

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Pokey. Pokey Minch.

Been here a year.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

... One year in this place? [That is long.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Don't sound so surprised.

Some people are supposedly pushing two and a half, three. And that's among the longest that we know of.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

If it's always as chaotic as my first week here, I'd be shocked. How do you survive this kind of situation often?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

It isn't. Not always.

Usually, something happens once every month or every other month. Other times, it's quiet, except for what the other citizens do.

[This was actually caused by another citizen so uh there's that too. Too bad he doesn't know that.]

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

A rest period in between each disaster, huh? Almost comical, if you look at it with black humor.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Heh. Black humor is what this hole is all about.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

Great. Sounds like it's going to be such a blast. [Sigh.] Still need help?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. It's a real treat.

Naw. Not right now.

But thanks.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

No problem.

... Mind if I ask you some things?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

.....

Sure. Shoot.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

Nothing odd or anything. I just wanted to know more of things that happen in this place.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

That's....kind of hard to fully talk about.

Sometimes they're subtle, sometimes there overt. They're always violent, either physically, emotionally, or mentally. Sometimes they aren't lethal, at least not by initial design, but a lot of times they are.

One example was back in May, where people were told to kill one another or suffer the consequences for it. Most people participated.

...It's hard to describe. Really, you can only get an idea from being here.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

I've heard about the one in May, so I was thinking of more concrete examples... but I suppose considering how you described it, it'll be hard to just imagine it, wouldn't it?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

I....

Yeah. It is.

I don't really even know where to begin. The crap in May was just what came to mind at first.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

Don't force yourself. If the one in May and the past week are any indications, I'll just have to brace myself no matter what else comes along.

Thanks for that though.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Yeah. You're welcome.

People should know about the crap this place does.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

I'm certain most already do, and if they don't, someone's bound to tell them soon enough.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know that.

It's just some people don't realize how bad it is soon enough, I guess.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

In a place like this? I can hardly say I'm surprised. It's... rather unassuming.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

You're right. It's pretty good camouflage for the horror show it actually is deep down.

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

They at least know how to play the part of an evil villain, frustrating as it is.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. They've got it down to a science I haven't seen before.

[And he should know.]

[queentocratic.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't be too hard for them to do for me. I haven't seen a lot of the things they have here. A fan of science then?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Heh. Fan is putting it lightly.