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]

....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?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

He did...

[The back driver-side window shatters. At this point, Slugger doesn't even have both hands on the bat anymore.]

I hung up.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey just laughs at that, simply leaning against the bat for a moment as he plants it on ground, smirking.]

Think they're honestly starting to lose a lot of control by this point?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Every window is gone now except the windshield---he'll leave that for you, Pokey.]

Maybe.

Wonder what's in the dairy.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Dunno.

[Aw, Slugger, you're the best friend ever. Yeah, Pokey'll be bashing that shit in.]

Hopefully someone made it through to find out.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He stands by while the windshield is demolished and shakes his head doubtfully at Pokey's remark.]

With all those... jerks working for Grady? [He's adopted one of your favorite words, it sounds like.] Not likely.

[With one more swing left in him, Slugger crunches over the glass on the street as he approaches the front of the car.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey gives a small snort. Yeah, he didn't think so either. He just smirks for a minute though.]

Probably not. I couldn't even make it in, so what chance does anyone else have?

...Hey. The meeting we had at your house a few weeks ago. Did you actually know what that's about?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[If he had one or two of his key powers back, Slugger knows he could get inside, but only with good reason. The risk of being droned isn't something he takes lightly.

At the hood of the car, Slugger comes to a stop and peers down over its surface. It already has some dents in it but it doesn't look complete. Something is missing. Something BIG. He turns to address Pokey (and partly to make sure the little blue-faced dweeb is far enough away...) then shrugs.]

Boosting their egos...? [Especially the bald one. Did you see that guy?]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, he's safely out of the way, for now, but with Pokey's almost spastic behavior, who the hell knows some of the time. But right now he's just watching to see what finishing touch you're going to put on it.]

No, you giant tool.

[Although, yes, that was a big part of it, to be fair.]

We're starting an organized crime group to mess this town up.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger just smirks over his shoulder before turning toward the car. He knows what the Legion's purpose is, but you have to admit, the amount of ego in that room was approaching critical levels.

With his back to Pokey, he places both hands on the bat and stands before the car ready to strike. The bat raises... and when it comes down, there's a tremendous noise as the back tires leap up off the ground. In the car's hood is an enormous dent vaguely resembling a hot dog bun. As smoke begins to rise from under the mangled hood, Slugger steps away to admire his work.

NOW it looks complete. The bat hangs at his side.]


...You're going to help them?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey can't really argue that. And yeah, the bald-headed guy was friggin' hypnotizing with-

Holy shit you're that strong? Pokey knew you were strong, but he had no clue you were that powerful. So for a moment, Pokey just stares at the ruined car, dumbfounded, before he can manage a reply.]

Huh?

Oh, I...yeah. I'm better at doing crap I'm not supposed to then crap most people should.

You were there. You in?