April catch-all

[solitarysoul]

Who: Levi and ???
What: Closed and Open starters
When: This month
Where: In and around Milton

Content Warnings: Levi carries the probable warnings for child soldiers, child abuse and mental illness (PTSD/Depression). Will note anything specific!

Cat(friendly) - Open
The original idea when he brought the kitten back to Milton was to just let her live wherever and follow him around or whatever cats did. The fog changed that, at least for awhile. The fog made it hard for him to function, he imagines it must be a million times worse for a tiny kitten. So not long after it starts Levi's corralled Mary into the community hall and is trying not to let her out. And since he's spending more time there as well, he'll try to keep up with her antics.

He's put a pillow under his cot, but also put some blankets in a corner (if no one has taken them) for her to sleep in. She's a cat, though, so she sleeps where she pleases. He doesn't really know much about how to take care of a cat, but he's managed to find a book and has set up a bowl of water near the fireplace. Through out the month, Levi can be found playing with her, trying to get her down from things, and sometimes trying to get her out of whatever tiny hole she's managed to climb into. Sometimes she calms down and just sleeps near or on him while he reads.

Mary is kind of a skittish kitten. She'll dart away from movement and will watch people for awhile before approaching any of them. The first few days she tries to keep out of sight but she'll warm up to those who hang around regularly soon enough. Even quicker if you have food to share.


Normal Fog - for Ruby
The fog made it hard to navigate. Levi wanted to head further out from town, just in case something was lurking out there but he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find his way back. So he stuck close to town, trying his best to remember which way the town was as he did. His senses were on hyper alert and his rifle was in his hands, because nothing was safe in or around Milton.

He wasn't going alone, though, so that was another line of security. He pauses for a moment, looking around before looking to his companion. "How far out do you think we can safely get back from?"


Green Fog - for Lt. Little (Content warnings for gassing and trench warfare/PTSD here!)
He hadn't buddied up for every trip into the fog, though perhaps he should have. He couldn't remember how far out from town he was when the fog had taken an odd green tone. He hated that color, but he hadn't treated it any differently than the rest of the fog.

He should have. Only his face wasn't covered, so he didn't notice the real danger until it was upon him. It burned his face but it burned his throat and lungs more. The green fog reminded him of the gas that was sometimes used during the war, and there was only one way to deal with that: get away. After the first breath his reflexes kick in and he raises a hand to cover his mouth and nose. It can't block it all, so he turns and runs. Staying in the gas fog was practically a death sentence, even if it didn't seem like it at first. He wasn't one to run away much, but you couldn't fight something like this.

Memories and barely contained panic clouds his head as the runs, so Levi has no idea which way he's going. The gift he was given by Enola allows him to out pace the green death, but it wears him out. Eventually his body starts to give out and he collapses, crawling to a nearby bush in hopes that it might block some of the gas fog if he catches up to him. His coughing makes him easy to find, though.

Comments

cat!

[heckofashot]

Maccready isn't aware that there's a cat living in the community hall, not until the door swings open as someone leaves while he's on the way there, and he catches sight of it darting out into the snow. "Hey, woah—" It's skittish, seems spooked by the fact it's ran out of the building.

He takes advantage of the confusion, scooping it up in one hand and shouldering the door open again, kitten wriggling in his grasp as he glances around. When his eyes find Levi, he's relieved — he spends a lot of his time here, so he must know something — he adjusts his grip on the cat, lifting it up slightly.

"Do you know who's this is?"

Re: cat!

[solitarysoul]

"Oh! Um, yeah, she's mine...sort of. Thanks for finding her, I don't really want her out when it's foggy." He frowns, the fog wore him out even when it wasn't green, so he figures there's likely something wrong with it.

[heckofashot]

"Sort of?" He doesn't know cats, they had dogs in Lamplight, and they're the animal he's most used to spending his time around. That doesn't mean he hasn't learned a few things about the feline creatures.

"So, what, did she just follow you or something, decided to stick around?" Carefully, he holds out the animal towards Levi to take off of his hands. "Not that I can blame her, it's miserable out there."

[solitarysoul]

"Yeah. I found her over by the lake and gave her some jerky and she started following me. I figured I might as well try to take care of her...but I didn't imagine I'd need to keep her inside for so long." The fog wasn't constant, like the snow storm, but it would probably last at least as long. If not longer.

He carefully takes the cat from Maccready. She licks at his hand a bit before climbing up his arm to sit on his shoulder.

[heckofashot]

That tracks with what little he does know about cats. In that respect, he supposes they're not all that different from dogs, they just want safety, food, somewhere warm to nap. Of course, if he thinks about it like that, then they're all kind of similar.

He watches as she climbs up Levi's arm, and he only winces a little at the thought of the claws. "Can't imagine a dog could do that…" it's said with a small laugh, though he's sure there are dogs that would like to try. "Honestly, I uh, I never saw a cat until a few years ago. Like, a real one, anyway."

[solitarysoul]

Thankfully the claws are mostly in his sleeves instead of his skin. He chuckles a bit, "Maybe a puppy. I'm not sure she'll be able to do it when she gets bigger."

He gives the kitten a few scrithches before looking back to Maccready. "Really? I've seen stray cats just about everywhere where I came from. And dogs."

Cat!

[salamanca]

Lalo isn't at The Community Hall all the time. He tries to keep some distance from the others most of the time, wary of what could happen if he gets too entwined with whatever these idiots are doing and it all goes to shit. But he does show up to help or bring food occasionally, and today, he's bringing smoked fish, along with a few small other things.

It's a sheer coincidence that he brought fish today, sure, but to Lalo, the presence of a cat when he's got fish with him is proof that the universe is on his side after all, recent setbacks or not. His eyes light up at the sight of the cat, and he crouches down, offering out a small piece of smoke fish and making whistling noises at Mary as he gestures to her.

"Psss, psss, pssss. Heeeere, kitty kitty. Here, kitty," he coos. He looks up at Levi with a grin when he notices him.

"Is she friendly?" he asks, still grinning, but in a tone meant more for humans than for cats.

[solitarysoul]

Mary is shy, but as soon as she notices the fish she gets over it and approaches Lalo with a small meow. Fish now please.

Levi nods, "She hasn't caused any trouble," well, real trouble, "and she's friendly. I found her by the lake.

[salamanca]

Lalo grins and offers her out a tiny little piece of fish balanced on his fingertip. He watches her for a few seconds, speaking to Levi without looking up at him.

"Did you?" he coos. Of course, some idiot brought in a wild animal. Hadn't Lalo been telling Bigby this would happen?

At least Levi has the excuse of being a kid, and feeling her rough sandpaper tongue against his skin, he has to admit: the kitty's pretty cute. Lalo finally looks up at Levi.

"What's her name?"

[solitarysoul]

The cat noms up the fish then licks Lalo's finger. It still tastes like fish!

"Yeah...I couldn't find her family and she kept following me so I decided to take care of her.

"Um. We named her 'Mary,' sort of after a, uh...someone from where I came from."

Sorry, this got lost in my inbox!

[salamanca]

Lalo smiles faintly as the cat licks at his fingers. "Hi, Mary," he says in a coo-ing voice. He reaches out to scratch an ear.

He eyes flicker with interest at Levi's admission. "Someone from home?" he says. "Your girlfriend?"

Cat

[aetherialshackles]

[Erich only passes by in the Community Hall to drop things he gather, lately, and occasionally spend the night in there when it's to cold to head outside and return to his home, since he picked a spot in the outskirts of Milton instead of choosing a house for himself there. He knows about bunnies, but felidae of any kind? So far he has seen nothing from that family that wasn't dangerous, but he has seen pictures of cats and kittens... he just didn't expect a kitten to be so small. He does spot the kitten climbing up using a curtain as her ladder and blinks twice looking at her before seeing the little one jump reach the top of one of the shelves.]

Oh, my... [He cover his lips with a hand, following with his gaze the little explorer.] It's a Felis Catus Linnaeus, isn't it? [It's his first time seeing an actual, normal cat. He has knkowledge about them, he read about their domestication and the reason they're so popular.] Are we training it to keep our food reserves safe?

[He asks, looking around and searching for whoever may be close enough to hear him. That and he moves to catch a jar that the little one decided to push off the shelf. He's keeping his distance, though, not wanting to scare her.]

[solitarysoul]

[Levi emerges from the kitchen shortly after Erich enters and starts talking. He gives the other man a smile and a wave before turning his attention to the kitten. Oh...he doesn't really want her up on top of the shelves. Especially not if she's going to drop things! He rushes over, but for now mostly watches and is ready to catch things.]

Um, I guess sort of. She started following me.

[The cat stops her attempt to push something off the ledge as Levi talks to blinks down at the pair.]

Mary...please get down. I don't want anything to break.

[Said cat just continues to stare. Because cats.]

[aetherialshackles]

[Ah, it's Levi. He turns and offers him a smile before turning his attention back to the kitten. Worry not, the researcher is ready to catch anything that may fall down. Probably. He should be quick enough. He tilted his head to the side, then, humming just slightly.]

I guess she likes you? And if she was on her own, she may be looking for structure too, most Felidae live in colonies after all. At least from what I've read.

[Books, is he right? Aaand Erich is already moving a hand under the jar that's nearer to the cat.]

Do you think it's possible to lure her down with some food, maybe?

[solitarysoul]

Do they? I thought cats were solitary.

[Well not that he's ever had one or interacted with any much, but that's what books and tv and stuff said.]

Oh! Yeah, food would probably work. One sec

[He heads over to his cot and his bag, getting a small piece of jerky out of it and returning. He holds it out to the cat.]

Here Mary. Come down and I'll let you have it.

[The kitten's attention is immediately on the meat but she's not sure about the 'come down' part yet.]

[aetherialshackles]

Some of them are, but smaller ones tend to move in colonies. I cannot be completely sure but from the little I learnt common cats- who wouldn't be so common back in my place- have colonies and support systems between them. Lions also have a matriachial system where they work together while only a single male is part of their group? But then you have tigers and they're solitary so... [A pause.] I guess it depends on the kin of cat? Domestic cats, though, are colony animals.

Unless books lied to me. We don't exactly have cats in my world. Not that I know about, at least.

[He blinked, looking up at the cat and then staring up at her. Mh... He raised one hand up to scratch his chin.]

Try to... wiggle it a bit? When I couldn't get the Hyppokampos to eat, I'd ask someone to animate the meal for it and the chase seemed to stimulate his appetite. It's a trick that works with some predators.

Green Fog

[fidior]

It's particularly dangerous to be outside these days. Edward certainly doesn't go looking for trouble, but he can't keep holed up as much as he likely should, the thought that others might be out there a constant concern. So he resumes his patrols most days, albeit carefully — sticking to memorised routes, using buildings to help him keep his way (counting how many he's passed, looking for their outlines in the fog), and taking brief refuge within them when he needs to.

It's as he's carefully making his way along the edge of town that he hears it, a sound that breaks through the eerie stillness — coughing. The man freezes, immediately alarmed, head turning that way. The fog makes sound travel strangely, and it's reminiscent of being back out on the shale, everything strange to the senses. It felt like existing in a nightmare.

There's no time to waste reflecting on that, however. Edward's instantly moving towards where he thinks the sound's coming from, searching quickly, but his progress slowed by the fog. Eventually he closes in, eyes widening when he manages to spot a figure there on the ground, recognisable—

"Mr. Jořdán?"

He's quickly dropping to kneel down beside the boy, gloved hands hovering but not yet touching.

[solitarysoul]

He looks up as his name is called, nodding but not saying anything as it takes a few moments for the coughing fit to subside.

"--should get inside. The fog...i-its gas. Bad."

[fidior]

Gently, he places one hand on the boy's shoulder to try and help steady him.

Gas? Like.... some sort of miasma? Edward blanches, heart pounding away as he looks quickly around, unable to see much through the thick haze surrounding them. But he knows which way he'd just come from — he can get Levi into a building quickly enough.

"Here— get on my back. I'll carry you." He turns, ready to help guide the boy to him.

[solitarysoul]

Part of him wants to resist being carried, say he can handle it and Little shouldn't bother...but most of him recognizes he's in no shape to get back to town on his own. He nods and climbs up on Edward's back. His general small frame make him lighter than one might assume, and aside from some coughing here and there he won't move around or cause any trouble.

[fidior]

It's easy enough to get the boy up and onto his back, coaxing his arms to drape around his neck, as Edward starts to quickly rush back towards town — though the fog has shifted a bit and he hesitates, heart pounding away as he tries to make sense of where he is. It's disorienting, and... reminiscent of being out on the ice. Sometimes storms would set in, and one's sense of direction would be completely lost.

Or after, when they were marching that endless trek across the shale. A fog creeping in — (a man's shrill laughter, and the creature came roaring, and everything became terror. He couldn't differentiate whose screams were whose. He couldn't see more than a few feet in front of himself. He could only stand there, stricken, mind a thick haze.)

Edward wrenches himself out of it when he hears Levi cough, swallows hard, pressing forwards. It doesn't take long before he's bumping close to a building, though he doesn't know which one this is. It hardly matters; it's shelter. Rushing up the porch, he pounds a gloved fist on the door, but no one answers. It must be abandoned.

"Hold on, Levi—!" A rare use of the boy's first name, and then he's kicking the door opened. It comes easily; these wooden homes are old. Edwards moves into a living room, finds a sofa and carefully deposits the boy there.

"Can you breathe? Do you need water?"

Fog! Sorry for the wait! This month has been weird.

[guidemyway]

Ruby wasn't about to turn anyone down when it came to going out on a patrol of the area. Plus, Levi seemed like good people so far. She liked hanging out with him.

She gives a little shrug at the question though. With the weirdness of the fog lately she had made extra attempts to make sure she was covered up well enough.

"Not sure. We'll head back at the first sign of trouble though. It's not like we can fight fog. Unless we had like a super big fan or something."

its cool, ive been scattered

[solitarysoul]

"Yeah...its not like any fog I've been in. Its...draining somehow. As if I'm inhaling more than just air."

He chuckles a bit, "A giant fan would be kind of cool, though."

[guidemyway]

"Of course we couldn't just have normal fog here." That would be asking for too much.

"I guess we'd need somewhere to plug it in. ...And no power means we're out of luck too."

[solitarysoul]

"Yeah...this place would never make it easy on us."

He grins, "There are those hand fans, but we'd need like half the town to use one big enough."