Greater Analyze

[solitarysoul]

Who: Levi and Open
What: Stuff. Maybe some things
When: Throughout February
Where: In Milton and in the woods close to town

Content Warnings: Levi's general content warning post, for reference. One prompt contains the possibility of a lot of those coming up. More specifics at the prompt

Marksmanship
A few days after putting up his note, Levi has set up a little row of bottles and cans on a fence near the gas station. He's got a shotgun, a handgun (his back up gun) and a rifle (not his) so any prospective students can try them out. None are currently loaded, since ammo is limited and he's decided to go over form/basics before shooting.

If anyone shown interest in his lessons he'll be around adjusting things or gathering trash from around the gas station for people to shoot at. He's brought his bow and arrows, so occasionally he can be found doing his own target practice with that.


Bob and Weave
Earlier Rorschach had managed to find and set up a boxing bag in a garage. He even gave Levi some pointers, but now Levi's back on his own. He has his oversized coat off and his rifle and satchel resting against one of the walls and Levi is alternating between practicing his form vs the air and punching the bag. Aside from the lesson Rorschach gave him, he got a few boxing tips during those last few days in Prehevil, but he's still pretty new at it. Why not come by and chat? He may be able to pass on a few pointers even at this early a stage in his education.


Undergrowth Awareness
CW: PTSD, Child soldiers, trench warfare, death and gore, body horror, ??? (will add to subject lines if others come up)

Levi's not really sure what possessed him to eat that mushroom. Finding a lot of them seemed good, he started picking them so he could bring them back into town for easier access. But they all looked so good, he just had to have one.
He really wishes Olivia was here, though, she could have told him which ones not to eat. Under normal conditions, at least. Because as it turned out the one he picked as a snack was a horrible choice.

He doesn't notice anything at first, then it was just small things he could try to avoid looking at. (Because if something was wrong with him, he needed to not be in the woods.) He almost gets back to town before it all becomes too much. Before the sights and sounds and smells of the front line trenches and Prehevil intrude too much for him to continue.

The mushrooms have been forgotten, dropped on the ground in a little trail that will lead to Levi himself. He's huddled under a tree and clutching his rifle like the security blanket it is.


Wildcard?
((feel free to make up some way to run into him and/or plot with me on discord @ nvrknwsbst or ConnectiveTrick

Comments

[solitarysoul]

Levi vaguely tracks Chole's movements as she approaches him but startles when she speaks. He starts to raise the rifle but stops himself. "C-chole? W-what are you doing here?"

He doesn't not sound okay, clearly having some sort of panic attack.

[desperate_times_right]

Levi looks a little spooked, which is weird. She didn't know he did that.

“Out hunting. Same as you, I'd wager. What's going on?”

[solitarysoul]

"Hunting?" He furrows his brow and looks around. The landscape resolves itself into a forest, but he takes it as a separate one. "I-its not safe here. Y-you should g-go...uh..."

No, if they were by Prehevil town wasn't safe. Were they in Prehevil? He doesn't remember getting there, but he didn't remember getting to Milton and he's pretty sure he was in the trenches a few moments ago. He can still hear the artillery fire, but he can sometimes still hear that in quiet times normally.

[desperate_times_right]

“Yeah. Like, for food?” It kind of feels like they're having two different conversations here. “Do you need help to get home?”

[solitarysoul]

He stands up, still maintaining a death grip on his rifle like he may need to use it at any time. He keeps it pointed at the ground, though.

"I don't have a--you mean Milton? Um. I-i not sure the way from here."

He may not be seeing the same trees as she is.

[desperate_times_right]

“Yeah, Milton. Why, you going somewhere else?” He seems really confused. “Are you hurt or anything?”

[solitarysoul]

"N-no! I'm fine, I'm fit. Everything is fine. Really." He looks around for a moment then back to Chole. "We can move."

[desperate_times_right]

“Are you sure? You must be freezing, sitting out here.” Maybe she should try and get a warm drink in him.

[solitarysoul]

Freezing? Right, Milton was full of snow. He was probably cold. Did he feel cold? He's not really sure what he feels.

"We can go. I'll follow you." He looks and sounds better, sort of. He's slipping into soldier-mode so showing weakness is a no-no.

[desperate_times_right]

He does look a little better, but still isn't his fun, sarcastic little self.

“Okay. I'll take you to the hall.” At the very least she can get him in front of the fire.

[solitarysoul]

He follows her in silence for awhile. But it doesn't take long for the mushroom's effects and his memories to cook up something.

"Get down!" Levi shouts, before pushing her to the ground with him.

[desperate_times_right]

Chloe grunts when she hits the ground unexpectedly. She's doing a lot better recently but it's only been a few months since Asav had kicked her shit in all those times and she's definitely still feeling it. Christ, she's getting old.

“Why, what's happening?”

[solitarysoul]

Levi's silent for a moment before slowly, carefully raising to a crouch with his gun at the ready. He scans the area before looking back to her, clearly confused. "What do you mean, didn't you feel it?"

[desperate_times_right]

“I felt you knocking the wind out of me, yeah.” She’s starting to suspect there's nothing there. “Are you sure you're good?”

[solitarysoul]

"No, no, not that. The shelling!"

[desperate_times_right]

Oh, okay, this is something that Chloe recognizes well enough. She hadn't heard whatever had set it off, but maybe that's not so surprising.

“Nah, there's no shelling. Don't think there are enough people out here to do that kind of thing to us. We’re okay, come on.”

She gets back to her feet and reaches out for his hand.

[solitarysoul]

"What?" He looks at Chole, furrowing his brow. Something was wrong here...after a moment he takes her hand and stands up.

"I...I could have sworn..."

[desperate_times_right]

“Yeah, that happens sometimes. It's okay.” Chloe starts walking, then looks back to make sure he's following. “Thanks for looking out for me, anyway.”

[solitarysoul]

Levi follows, somewhat shakily. Milton, they were in Milton. Right? But he could have sworn he was back on the front lines. But now that he looks he was clearly in a forest.
Prehevil had a forest.

He follows silently for about a minute before curses and brings his gun back up. He doesn't fire, but he seems to be tracking something...something Chloe can't see.

[desperate_times_right]

Chloe hears the curse and whips around to look. She doesn't want to get killed assuming a wolf or something is a flashback.

“What? What is it?”

[solitarysoul]

He points to a tree. "There. Did you see it?"

There is nothing there. Whatever he thinks it is has really shaken him up.

[desperate_times_right]

“Not unless that tree’s got something going on that I don't know about.”

Now she's really starting to worry about him.

“Did you eat or drink anything weird today?”

[solitarysoul]

He doesn't put his gun down but he turns part of his attention to Chole. "No, I...uh, well, there was the mushroom."

[desperate_times_right]

Oh, great. “You ate a mushroom?”

[solitarysoul]

"Yeah...I found a lot of them. I was going to bring them back to town, but they looked really good. So I ate one." And...he's pretty sure he dropped the others. Should he go back for them?