Fear and Trembling - Phone/Action - Forward Dated to Monday Morning

[ceasetoexist]

[Pokey didn’t have an alarm clock, because honestly he didn’t tend to care if he woke up on time or not. He usually woke up at the same time anyway, his body having hardwired it as the time to get up in general, and he followed.

Today, he woke up earlier because of the harsh burning sensation at his face and throat. He didn’t scream, but rather made a set of harsh, ragged breathing noises as he patted and scratched at his face. Yes. It was there. Yes. There was nothing on it. A dream then. That made the most sense. It had to have been a bad dream. He laughed, raggedly a bit, at his own delusion.

Because certainly, Miss Kyrie wouldn’t have done that. He knew, always knew, there were people willing to use him, cheat him, and hurt him. That was a fact of life. But he knew Miss Kyrie wasn’t one of them. He just…he laughs. It’s silly. It’s so stupid and silly and Pokey can’t believe he’d even consider she would. He’ll just go and get breakfast after he gets dressed and…

Pokey stopped, dead center, as he went to get his suit on. There, on the shirt, was pinned the four-leaf clover pin Kyrie had had. Had been going to pin to his suit, before she dropped it and-

Goddammit. God. Dammit. It was real. She did it. She killed him. She did it so calmly and she just reached over and killed him and Pokey keeps playing that over and over again so that he doesn’t realize his legs have given in and he’s kneeling on the floor, panting heavily, trying to gain control.

He stays there, on the floor, for quite awhile. Just trying to gain control, entirely unaware that he was practically hunched over his suit, hugging it, nearly bawling into it. All he heard was Kyrie’s voice, just so calm, and collected, as she killed him. But she wouldn’t….she couldn’t have wanted to hurt him, right? Right. She cared about him. She did. This…she just did it to protect him.

That’s it. There was something worse there, and she…she just had to kill him first, because the death he otherwise would’ve suffered would’ve been a lot worse. That made sense. He had walked into a lose/lose situation, that’s all. She still cared about him. Kyrie, in fact, had saved Pokey. That had to be it! That was the answer!

Now he just…just needed to get ready for his day. And then Pokey would be fine. And he should…should tell everyone to stay away from the highway. That was the lesson Kyrie had taught him, right?

He had to show her he was good learner.]



[Phone]

[There’s just a pause for a moment, and light breathing. Like Pokey had forgotten what to say. So, he said, the first thing that came to mind. It didn’t even really make sense. It was just what first came up.]

I hate this place.

[And then, louder, stronger.]

I hate this place and I hate you!

[Again. This time, his voice cracks. Entirely. Uncontrollably. The rage that was there earlier gives way and disappears. There’s no anger, just fear and despair.]

I HATE THIS PLACE AND I HATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!

[And then he just sobs, once, before shutting that shit up, breathing into the phone again. He didn’t even know why he said that. Right. Calm down. Say what you meant to say.]

…Don’t go on the highway. It isn’t worth it. We’re better off getting some kind of defense started in town if something comes this way.

[Filtered to Ushiromiya Kyrie]

[…He has no clue if you’re going to answer, Kyrie. In fact, he doesn’t know if you’re still angry with him. And in his mind, you have every right to be. Of course. Even when it’s a parental figure and not a real parent, he just fails. He has to make things right. Yes. Even if she’s angry, let her know he got the message.]

I understand.

I-

I-

I’m sorry….

[It’s so unnatural saying that, trying to say that. Only because he usually doesn’t say it. Not because you’re the one who killed him Kyrie.]

[After that, a very shaky, paranoid Pokey can be found doin a few things around town today.]

A. Beefing his Defenses Around his House

[It’s been awhile since he’s done this, but you’ll find a fat blue kid building what appears to be a Sentry, thanks in part to being taught by BLU Engie awhile back. Unlike his first failed attempts, he’s actually getting pretty good at making them.

Of course, the quality of this one could still be questionable, considering the frantic pace he’s trying to assemble them. Still somewhat focused, but he’s clearly working off fear.]

B. Walking Around Town

[Clear his head. Pokey needs to clear his head.

So have a very nervous, scared twelve year old kid just walking around. At times, he stops and looks around, like a small animal that knows it’s being stalked. And he practically jumps out of his skin when even an animal approaches him.

The idea of calming himself down with a walk clearly isn’t working.]

C. Last Resort

[If, for any reason, you happen to be in the Church today, you’ll find Pokey in one of the back pews, trying to hunch himself down. Both in trying to hide, and in prayer. And for someone trying to hide the fact he’s reduced himself to begging in a way he’d have insulted before? He isn’t doing a good job. If you go close to the boy, you’ll hear his pathetic little plea.]

Help me. Please. I know I don’t deserve it but something anything please. Not again. Just…not again please not again I can’t take it I hate it I’ll do anything. Please.

Comments

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Cool.

See you in the park in a few minutes?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Yeah...

[And though he may not sound very enthusiastic, he'll be there.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[So'll Pokey. Right now, the little asshole is just leaning against a tree, just...gazing in front of him. You're not close enough yet Slugger, but for some reason he has a four-leaf clover pin on the lapel of his suit.

...Josephine's no where to be seen, which is odd, especially considering just how little attention Pokey seems to be paying.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[It takes him a bit longer to get there but soon enough, the sound of rolling wheels on pavement approaches from behind. Spotting Pokey, he eases to a stop on his heel brake, letting the tip of his bat drag along the ground in doing so.

By now, you probably know him well enough to tell just by looking at him that something's off. There's a bit of a droop in his shoulders and he isn't wearing his usual smirk.

Without looking up, Slugger nods once in greeting.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey finally turns to face the other boy. He hopes it isn't obvious to Slugger that he's been crying, but it's kind of hard not to notice with how red his eyes are and, well...to a point he doesn't give a shit. Not right now. Not after all this crap.

Still he's calm right now. Or as calm as Pokey can be.]

Hey.

.....Just Susan? That died, I mean.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger has yet to notice as his eyes are still trained on the ground. He pauses halfway through a nod.]

Far as I know...

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey laughs a bit humorlessly. Yeah. There's been a shitload of people dying recently. ...Not that he really cares, or...you know...it doesn't matter and well shit he's glad you can't see his internal monologue Slugger.

He tries to speak once, then stops, because he was about to ask how you are. Fuck that. So he's just quiet a minute more before finally saying.]

....Aren't any animals over here to beat up like I thought there'd be. You wanna go smash up a drones' car, or something?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He glances up at you briefly, then looks elsewhere. Smashing up a car is what he'd had in mind, too. He's about to turn away in search of one when he realizes something.]

Where's Josephine?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[That takes him a moment to respond. She's at home, powered down for the moment. Because honestly? After having her used against him at the Dairy last night, he's now nursing a fear of her himself. But it's not like he can tell you that.]

She's at home. For repairs.

...Let's just go.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Fortunately, he appears to buy this excuse. It seems like the most logical explanation. A part of him wants to know what happened, but he also knows that if he gets anything out of you, you might ask what happened to him in return. So for the moment he doesn't ask...]

Got a bat?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

....Yeah.

[It's on the other side of him, but he picks it up rests it against his shoulder.

Yep. Same bat you murdered him with all those months ago.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Eying it, Slugger offers a fleeting and half-hearted smirk. He figured you might need it someday. Resting his own bat on his shoulder, he rolls away from the grass and waits for Pokey before starting to head out of the park.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[His frown isn't nearly as half-hearted, but honestly, he isn't aiming it at you Slugger. He's just so goddamned pissed at the moment at this stupid town. So he'll slowly follow behind.]

...Think anyone made it in? To the Dairy, I mean.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs his shoulders but doesn't turn around to respond.]

I haven't been there. [Yet.] What's happening?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey just lets his bat drop, dragging it across the ground as he walks.]

People fighting to get into the Dairy. Don't know if they ever did.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Some are fighting for Grady?

[He'd heard this somewhere, but honestly, he hasn't been paying much attention to anything after the incident with Susan. His mind just doesn't want to think anymore for a while...]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Yeah....

[He doesn't want to talk about it much either, considering the first way he died.

It isn't long before they find an empty car. Pokey just turns, slightly, towards Slugger.]

You first.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger skates around to the side of the car, pondering what part of it to break first before he settles on the side mirror. He grips his bat and hooks it slightly upward. The mirror shatters on impact and the bulk of it is sent hurdling a good ways down the street. Slugger feels some of the glass shards land on him but it's of no concern.

Lowering his bat, he steps away.]

...Did Grady ask you for assistance?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey, meanwhile, steps up to the front of the car, preparing to aim for one of the headlights.]

Yeah. I refused.

I don't know why he'd bother anyway.

[And he pulls the bat back before finally taking his swing, smashing the headlight in.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[At the other end of the car, Slugger bashes out both taillights in two consecutive swings.]

Why? Do you have anything left to gain? Move...

[He'll give you time to step away from the car before demolishing the back window.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[For once, Pokey actually moves without complaint or bitching at Slugger. Once Slugger's done he'll head around to the passenger-side back window to smash it in.]

Yeah, some. Josephine's still missing a few features.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He looks up.]

It wasn't worth your support?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Giving me back something that should've been mine in the first place, after nearly a year of torture?

Yeah. That isn't going to cut it.

[And smash goes a side-view mirror.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger approves of this. In fact he might even be a little proud. Grinning, he lowers his head and prepares to take out the driver-side window.]

Good.

[SMASH!]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey, meanwhile, will head to the hood of the car to put some dents into it.]

...He contact you at all? Or this the first you've heard of it?