Me? I'm nobody.

[salamanca]

Who: Lalo Salamanca + YOU (and closed event starters!)
What Event and non-event catchall for May
When: Throughout May
Where: Two weeks in Milton, two weeks in Lakeside

Content Warnings tbd

See comments for all starters, including open starters!

Comments

OPEN: Milton outskirts

[salamanca]

[ POV: Everything is upside down!

Actually, no. That's not it. You're upside down. And swinging slightly from side to side. It's a little but chilly; it hasn't gotten fully dark yet, but the sky has taken on a vaguely pinky-purplish hue as the sun starts to slide down behind the horizon. This far north, it gets dark early.

You're outside of a cabin in the Milton outskirts, dangling by your ankle from a tree. How long have you been there? How did this happen? Who can say! Maybe you live nearby, maybe you're the type to go on patrol, maybe you were just taking a walk, maybe you were hunting. However it happened, now you're in a trap.

You hear the by now familiar crunch, crunch, crunch of footsteps in behind you. A man's voice speaks -- warm, just faintly touched by a Mexican accent, curious. ]

Hello there! Now what do I owe the pleasure?

[ You can hear, and feel, him moving closer until he's right behind you. ]

OPEN: Doe's Retreat Lakeside cabin - aka Lalo's free "restaurant!"

[salamanca]

[ After being "forced" (not really) out of the Hydrodam due to strife that he caused, Lalo has relocated to one of the cabins. It's a nice little vacation home; nothing like his casa back in Mexico, but it's quaint and welcoming. Lalo is very pleased.

Best of all, it has a dining room. This is great, because it means he can cook for people, which gives him a chance to show of! Lalo loves to have a project, and he loves to cook. He also loves people thinking he's not a complete menace to whatever small society they've formed here, but that's not the only reason he's doing this.

There's a FREE FOOD INSIDE sign hanging on the door, which Lalo has propped open. A few people sometimes wander in and out, chattering, and smoke and the smell of food waft out into the winter air when you get close enough. Enter through the door and there's food on the table waiting, or go through the home into the back patio and find Lalo outside, singing and humming nonsense while standing in front of a grill.

When he sees you, he'll stop, turn and break into a wide grin. ]

Hey! Welcome!

[ He's wearing an apron over his winter clothes and holding a pair of tongs, and he looks delighted to see you. ]

CLOSED | Milton Community Hall : For Levi and Sansa

[salamanca]

[ Going back and forth from Lakeside to Milton, combined with the assortment of minor injuries he's sustained, has left Lalo exhausted and worn down. He's gone to recover in the Community Hall, although he keeps a wary eye out for Rorschach, ready to leap up at a moments' notice if the masked menace himself should appear at random, as he is wont to do.

It's not Rorschach who enters, though, and draws Lalo's attention. It's Levi who enters, but his energy is off. Something is wrong. Lalo sits up, taking notice. He's uncertainly how to feel about Levi. That midget broke into his house and had the gall the talk down to him like a cop. But he's forced to reluctantly admit that Levi had been correct to do so, if only to himself; Levi had stopped him from doing something that Lalo can now recognize would have been insanely stupid.

There's something wrong, too. Levi doesn't look well. He's not acting well.

He's not alone. There's a girl with him. Young, too young for Lalo's taste, although he can't help but notice that she's beautiful -- almost like a character in a painting or a book, the kind of ethereal, supernatural beauty Lalo has only seen on a real person a handful of times before. She could be a painting, or a model. She's tall enough to be one, at any rate.

Lalo can feel the concern from her even from a distance, and although he doesn't know her personally, Lalo is getting a read on Levi's body language that signals a problem coming he's not sure a girl of such waifish stature is prepared to handle on her own.

It's not just the three of them, either. The Community Hall isn't crowded, but there are a few others. Lalo can sense a powder keg situation when he sees it. He inhales deeply, and rises, feeling a sudden obligation to Do Something. He wonders if it's related to that sparkly shit; he's been warning people not to go out in that but does anybody listen to him? Of course not! Dipshits.

He makes his way over to them, carefully and slowly, trying not to spook Levi. He addresses Levi first; addressing the girl first seems likely to provoke a protective response from Levi that might backfire. ]

Levi. It's good to see you again after the dam. Is everything okay?

[ Only then does he glance to Sansa, signaling the question -- "is everything okay?" -- is directed at her more than Levi, since right now, a brief look at Levi means he trusts the girl's judgment more even if he doesn't actually know her yet. She, at least, looks to be in her right mind. ]

[wingbound]

[ The extended stay at the Lakeside may not have been the best idea. Used to getting very little sleep if any at all, Levi doesn't notice the symptoms setting in and goes around his business as usual. Hunting, trying to spy on the mysterious cult people, accompanying the girl to explore the lake, looking for a potential place to stay, bringing game and some cache findings back to Milton. ]

[ The nosebleeds start on their way home, and while Levi still insists that nothing is wrong, he feels a tension, almost like the electricity in the air right before a titan attack. Something or someone is following them, he's sure of it, and so he doesn't even attempt to get any more sleep, in turn making his symptoms worse. He's getting more jumpy, seeing things move out of the corner of his eye; he may have tossed a knife or shot at nothing a few times by now, but luckily so far none of this had been directed at Sansa. ]

[ By now he looks even paler than usual and is running a fever, though unaware of it. He does notice that he feels weaker, but figures he's just overdue some rest. ]

[ He startles when Lalo addresses him; for a moment his eyes are wide and wild, hand flying into his jacket as if to grab a gun (or rather, his triggers, because even if the gear isn't working he's still wearing most of it). Then he slowly, almost forcefully lets it drop back down. ]

[ His nose feels wet again and he wipes it with his sleeve in irritation -- something he would never do normally, considering how concerned he was about germs and keeping things clean -- smearing red across his face. He stares down at it as if surprised to see it. ]

...Fine. Just tired. [ He wrestles his eyes away from the blood and glances back at Sansa, frowning lightly. ] Like I said, you worry too much.

[heckofashot]

[ Maybe he's all of the above; prone to walking around the outskirts under the guise of hunting and/or patrolling, just so he has something to do that makes him feel like he's being useful. Regardless, he's hanging here, he can tolerate the fact he had to let his backpack drop to the floor, less so that his rifle clattered along with it. A few red bottle caps are scattered in the snow too, clearly fallen out of one of his pockets.

He swings back and forth a bit, tries to reach up and untie the rope from around his ankle. The angle isn't particularly helping, nor is the way the blood has rushed to his head. By the time he hears a voice, he's all but given up. ]

Can you just get me down.

[ This is already embarrassing enough, the fact he hadn't seen the trap set up is sure to haunt him weeks from now. ]

CLOSED | 5 Bear's Bend : For Billy Gibson

[salamanca]

[ Lalo didn't trust that sparkly shit from the second it rolled in. The cold fog had been bad enough, and then the green fog on top of it... yeah, no thanks. There's a saying that bad things come in threes, right?

But then, throughout Milton, Interlopers began to fall ill. Most recovered, but some of them died, whether through the illness itself or because of stupid shit they did while in the throes of their hallucinations. It made Lalo remember that he hadn't seen Chloe in quite some time. Not since-- ah.

He trusts her to take care of herself. If she can get past his traps, she has to be smart and capable. But he knows how easy it is to go missing here. How someone could die, out in the wilderness, and their body could never be found, devoured by scavengers until only their bones remained or buried under layers of ice and snow where nobody could find it.

It irritates him that the thought of that happening to Chloe makes his heart twist up inside of his chest, but being irritated doesn't stop it. The good thing is that Chloe, luckily, isn't just anyone. She is somehow whose life and whereabouts have become important to Lalo Salamanca, and therefore, if she's anywhere in Milton or Lakeside to be found, she will be.

Forget about Batman; Lalo is the world's greatest detective. And he's not even a cop.

He starts by asking around until he homes in on someone who's seen her recently. The person he speaks to, a young woman, is easily charmed by him, something Lalo doesn't hold against her. He'd be charmed by himself, too. And she's not alone, the girl said. She describes a man with her. Very tall, with a beard. "One of those, you know, weird boat guys," she'd said, making a face, and Lalo had actually rewarded her with a genuine laugh. It doesn't take Lalo long to realize she's describing the person he'd seen tending to Hickey during the fight, and something clicks.

A good friend of Chloe's, apparently. The girl said she'd seen them together more than once. Lalo had eventually left her company with a warm thank you and a plan to find Hickey. If he'd found Hickey, he'd find Hickey's boyfriend. If he found Hickey's boyfriend, he'd probably find Chloe.

But it doesn't come to pass quite that way. It's actually better. It's Billy himself -- not that he knows the man's name -- that Lalo spots before he finds Hickey. Lalo sees him from a distance, but he couldn't miss him. He's so tall; he sticks out like a sore thumb.

It's an astoundingly clear night that Lalo sees Billy. No aurora, no fog, not even any clouds. The moon is full and bright, and the stars twinkle in the sky. It's about as easy to see as Lalo could hope for without any electric lights, and because it's nighttime, and he's approaching from behind, he hopes Billy doesn't see him. But if Billy does happen to notice, Lalo will simply give him a brief head nod and small smile, then stop long enough to let Billy get ahead of him until Billy isn't spooked.

But he keeps Billy in his sights.

From a safe distance, Lalo tails Billy, following him down the Milton main street, hoping Billy is going to Chloe and will take Lalo to her too. As long as he can know she's not dead, that's enough. Billy doesn't take him to Chloe, but he does take him to 5 Bear's Bend. Lalo watches him and waits for him to go inside before slowly approaching.

Soon after he goes into the house, maybe about five to ten minutes, Billy will hear a firm knock on the door. If he looks through the peephole, or opens the door, he'll see a cheery looking, middle-aged Latino man in fashionable clothes -- a black men's peacoat, a scarf, jeans, expensive boots.

Lalo will hum quietly and wait for the door to open until Billy opens it. When/if Billy does open it, Lalo will sway a little in place, hands jammed into his pockets, and look up at him slightly (it's not often that he needs to do with anybody), and Lalo's natural slight resting smile will turn into a warm grin. ]

Hello! I'm sorry to bother you so late at night. I'm Eduardo, but my friends call me "Lalo". You are...?

[ He'll extend a gloved hand for Billy to shake, although of course it's up to Billy if he takes it or not. If Billy accepts the handshake, he'll find Lalo's handshake firm, with a good pump, but not too hard of a squeeze. If he doesn't choose to accept it, Lalo will simply let his hand hang un-shook in the air for a few seconds before clearing his throat and sliding it back into his pocket. ]

I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but I think we have a friend in common who might be in danger. [ His smile shifts briefly to something that looks, genuinely, a bit worried. A flicker of his concern in his usually-dead eyes. He recalls Chloe's dumb smirk, the infuriating way she continuously made a fool of him, the way she looks from above with her hair matted to her forehead by sweat. He quickly, mentally reassures himself that it's okay, that she can survive anything and he can find anyone, but there's just the hint of weakness in his knees at the thought.

Lalo isn't in love with her, he's not sure he's ever even been capable of that and that's not going to suddenly change now at 44. But he's in something with her, and the thought of never seeing her again makes him sad. But even if he can't see her, at least knowing she's not dead would help.

It's okay. It's nothing. She can get through anything. Lalo's stomach clenches a little more. ]

I'd like to speak with you about her, if I may.... [ Just like that, the smile is back. ] Please, can I come in?

[ His tone suggests he is coming in, one way or the other, so Billy might as well just let him. But for now Lalo remains on the porch, waiting to see what Billy will do. ]

[aetherialshackles]

[To think Erichthonios was doing so well lately: he was able to spot most of the traps and animal tracks in time while foraging and avoiding danger wasn't so much an hassle- but no, he apparently triggered something and he was now hanging upside down from a tree, with his own long, black robe falling down and making it hard for him to see anything between the many layers.

At least his long jeans and the deer boots were covering his legs, but if anyone had to see him like that- by his people's standards this was indecent. And not exactly comfortable either. At least he's getting all worked up, so his body temperature is rising- his clothes will probably end with some burn marks, but-]

Oh? Oh shi-

[He almost jumped there. Where did that person even come from?]

Is this one of your traps?

[clothed]

You have a fever. I told you.

[ lady's following them a few paces back, the direwolf arching her back a little in clear alertness over the audible distress in sansa's voice.

she'd only noticed levi's strange condition on their way back to town, how he seems to reach for his holstered weapons even when sansa couldn't see or hear anything amiss. and perhaps it's just that she knows nothing about fighting or hunting or any of the tradeskills men learn at a young age, but other than the glimmering fog that would appear at a distance, she's not sensed anything else that would have put them in immediate danger.

the ragged breathing and wide-eyed look, though. the rising colour in levi's face, at first, that gave way to a cold pale sweat. signs of a fever, though she hasn't pressed her hand to his skin to check, and wouldn't think to ask so soon into their acquaintance.

sansa's looked after her younger siblings when they've gotten sick. she's watched her mother and her ladies tend to men and women of the castle when a rash of fevers would sweep through the damper, more humid months of the year. he needs to rest.

turning to the man that greets them at the door - tall, a pleasant demeanor, a good head of hair that belies a handsome face - and bows her head just so. ]

He won't take my help. We were exploring by the lake, at my request — I don't know when it started, but if you'll check his pulse I'm certain you'll find him too warm.

Please, [ she entreats both men this time. ] This is my fault for insisting we leave. Help us?

[notarat]

[ He spots the man on his way home, just a little too perceptive to not notice someone else out there, especially when the streets are so quiet around this time. And, let's be real-- Billy's everlasting paranoia really doesn't help in this case, immediately making him turn and look the moment he hears any other footsteps at all. The man he spots is one he recognizes, having seen him around town, but not someone he personally knows.

.. could just be a coincidence. Surely Billy isn't the only one who is using the quiet of night to be able to do certain things without being spotted by too many others. He doesn't exchange a word with the man, just staring at him until Lalo gives that little nod, and then Billy continues to walk.

He checks a few more times whether the other is still behind him on his way home. Because it could be a coincidence - but it also could not be, and Billy is not the sort of person who'd immediately rule out the latter, no matter how ridiculous. But he can't spot the man anywhere as he looks over his shoulder, eventually making his way back home. With Hickey already having retreated to bed early, Billy plans on making a cup of tea before following the other there.

The knock on the door happens before he even finishes making his tea. It puts him on edge, wary, especially after the encounter with Lalo out there. So when he opens the door and spots the man there, Billy immediately realises he was being trailed, even if he didn't notice it beyond that initial moment. It starts to set off a panic within him. He remembers the last person that came to their door in the middle of the night, remembers why that person was there, remembers how it ended. The only reason he can think of for this man to appear here in the middle of the night is that he could be here to threaten Hickey as well, and it makes Billy terrified and angry all at once, even as the other seems to be giving him such a friendly greeting.

After a moment of hesitation he does shake that hand, but Lalo might be able to notice that Billy's hands are definitely unnaturally warm. Being a Lightbringer himself, he must know what that means - Billy is suppressing some heavy emotion right now, trying to keep himself or anything else from igniting just yet. Regardless, he does give the other his name with a curt "William Gibson" before hearing the rest of what Lalo says, and..

.. oh.

Oh.

Relief sets in right away, something growing a little less rigid about Billy's lanky frame. It's not the worst case scenario at all. Lalo isn't here for Hickey. No, despite not naming her name, Billy instantly knows the friend he's talking about is Chloe. It has to be. There's no way this guy isn't the one she had been talking about to him.

Honestly, he kind of gets why she freaked out enough to run away if her situationship bothered to stalk him in the dead of night just to bother him about her. It seems like exactly the sort of thing that would make Chloe scream.

So Billy backs away from the door, allowing Lalo to go inside. (Really, the vibe that the other is going to get in one way or another is so strong, and Billy "beanpole" Gibson knows better than to fight against that particular kind of tide.) He gestures for the other to sit down on a chair at a nearby table, closing the door behind Lalo, and then returning to his tea. Because if he's - as he surely is - about to deal with yet more details of Chloe's situationship, then he better get some tea to go along with it, really. He's even polite enough to return to the table with two cups, also pouring Lalo a cup of tea. There's something very smooth about the way Billy does it. Something practiced, like he's done this countless times before. ]

Mr. Eduardo. [ He finally says as he moves to sit down, taking his own cup of tea into his hands. ] Is this about Miss Frazer? I am afraid I don't have any other female friends.

[ Of course it's about Chloe. Billy knows. But he also knows better than to put every single one of his cards onto the table right away. ]

[salamanca]

[ Lalo moves through the world, and directly into Billy's lovely home, with the supreme confidence of someone who is used to having the entire world bend to accommodate him, as if reality itself shifts to conform to his will. He steps with the lightness of someone whose conscience is unburdened but the purpose of someone whose really should be. He smiles brightly but stands up straight in a way that suggests he's used to being looked up to. He seems closer in height to Billy than he is from sheer force of personality making him seem bigger. He seems like someone used to power, used to wielding it, used to having it. Because he is.

Maybe that's why this situation with Chloe has him starting to come apart at the seams. Her control over him that night was total. It wasn't that he did what she said; it was how badly he wanted to do what she said. How he couldn't wait to please her, to bend to her every whim.

Lalo pulls off his coat as he comes inside, although he folds it over his arm until Billy gives him an indication -- verbal or not -- as to where he can place it. The warmth of Billy's hands, and what it means, is noted, and filed away as something Lalo can potentially use. So is the way Billy relaxes when it becomes obvious Lalo is talking about a woman.

He lets Billy guide him to the table, sitting when Billy tells him to sit. He crosses one ankle over his knee as he does so. He takes the tea with a soft smile and a grateful, genuinely happy to be included in someone else's hospitality ritual. This isn't how Lalo would greet a guest but he's at ease anyway, happy to chameleon into piggybacking off his host's manners. The mastery with which Billy pours the tea fascinates and delights Lalo. He watches how Billy takes his tea, and does the same.

Only to almost choke when Billy says the words "Miss Fraser". At least, the tea goes down the wrong way. Lalo sets the cup down genty, to avoid dropping and breaking it, and punches his chest a few times, before recovering like nothing happened. ]

Ah. Yeah. It's about her. Looks like she has that effect on you, too. [ Said almost sympathetically, certainly knowingly. She bewitched both of them. Maybe in different ways -- one as a lover, one as a friend -- but she did. Then Lalo looks down at his tea. But it's a thoughtful gesture, not a submissive one. ]

When was the last time you saw Chloe?

[salamanca]

[ Lalo steps into view, and picks up one of the bottlecaps and glances at it, turning it over and looking at it from either side. Curious. Trying to determine the significance to carrying a bottlecap.

But then he turns his attention to the man speaking, but he doesn't get Maccready down right away. ]

That depends. What were you doing wandering around outside my house? Hm?

[ Lalo gives Maccready a look, letting him dangle in the air for a little bit, waiting to get him down until he hears the answer. The kid looks harmless, but Lalo wants to make absolutely sure he's not going to regret getting him down first. With all these wannabe cops and officers patrolling, you can't be too careful. ]

[heckofashot]

What, you're gonna rob me blind, too?

[ Not that his money is of any use here, or like, literally anywhere other than the wastes, probably. Even so, he's stingy, can't quite let go of the fact that he needs every cap he can get his grimy hands on when they eventually make it off this island and back where they're supposed to be. It's the only reason he's keeping them on his person in the first place, along with his rifle; what if they get zapped back by another one of those Auroras? ]

Ugh— [ he rolls his eye at the question, wriggling further to try and get a better look at the man, it's proving to be kind of annoying giving how he keeps seeming to spin the opposite way. ] Half these cabins are empty, how was I supposed to know this one wasn't. Besides, I was just passing by, using buildings as shelter from the wind and stuff.

[ It is, for the most part, not a lie. He's also nosy, and might have poked around had it looked abandoned once he'd gotten closer; but just seeing that it wasn't — or at least had been used recently — served as enough of a deterrent. Breaking and entering in a small community like this? Yeah, he's not that stupid. ]

[salamanca]

It's not your fault.

[ That's directed at the girl. It's half-heartedly in his matter-of-factness almost, but not from lack of sincerity.

Levi's bleeding nose is a shock to Lalo, the vibrant red making Lalo's eyes go wide as he watches it stain Levi's sleeves.

At this point, Lalo decides that it's in Levi's best interest -- and probably everybody else's too -- if Levi lays down for a little while. Or a long while. Lalo keeps periodically catching the young woman's glances, trying to keep her in the loop without making Levi think they're conspiring against him. ]

Yeah, I don't think you're "fine" at all. [ He puts a firm, forceful hand on Levi's shoulder, ready to guide him off to go lay down. ] What do you say you go lay down, hm? You're scaring the girl right now.

[ Lalo doesn't know the girl's name yet, but there's time for that later. Right now, it's better to get his idiot to just go lie down before he hurts himself, or worse. A little bit more conciliatory: ] There's beds here. Nice place to sleep something off if you need to.

[ With that bloody nose, they'll probably need to get him checked out by a doctor, but one thing at a time... ]

[salamanca]

I don't know. What do you think?

[ There's sarcasm in Lalo's voice. At least it's the slightly playful kind more than the dangerous kind. His hand rests on Erichthonios's back, and gives him a gentle push, making the guy sway in place a little more quickly, trees looming large into view and then getting smaller as Erichthonios swings closer to them, and then away.

Then comes the question Lalo really wants answers to. ]

So what were you doing so close to my house? Hmmmm?

[wingbound]

Oi. You didn't force me to do anything.

[ Which is him agreeing that it indeed isn't Sansa's Lyanna's fault, possibly in unison with Lalo. It's probably nobody's fault, he either pushed himself too hard or caught some virus going around which would explain the fever. ]

[ With stiff, (for him) somewhat uncoordinated movements he fishes out a handkerchief and presses it to his face, trying to soak up the blood. At least the comment about him scaring the girl seems to get through to him; he startles a bit under the touch and glances back at her, but allows himself to be nudged toward the rest area. ]

...yeah. [ He didn't say he wouldn't get rest. That's why they were going back to Milton, anyway. He'd been feeling off for days by now. His steps are a little unsteady, as if he were drunk. ] Just had to -- had to make sure we make it back.

[ It's not like he could have slept it off on the way. What if something or someone attacked them? He'd agreed to take Lyanna to the lake and therefore he was responsible she would return safely. ]

[ Things seem to be looking up until they reach whatever room is being used for people to sleep in; upon seeing the cots (or blankets, or mattresses, or straw) on the floor, he suddenly seems to tense up and freeze in his tracks. He may not be as insanely strong as he were back home, but with the abruptness of it he probably still feels a bit like a rock that suddenly won't budge. ]

[aetherialshackles]

Well, aren't you a lovely man?

[He idn't bother hiding his irritation. Jeans and boots covering him, he felt exposed by his kin's standards, and being upside down wasn't exactly pleasant. Nor he enjoys being moved back and forth like some kind of humanoid pendulum. The man usually attempts to be as calm as possible, but right now it's quite difficult.]

Gee, I wonder, look at my basket full of mushroom, bark and stuff and you tell me. Foraging isn't illegal, you know?

[notarat]

[ For a moment he doesn't get the reference. Billy has no idea what effect the other is talking about. In fact, it's only when Lalo then proceeds to call her Chloe that Billy realises what the other must be talking about - it must have been his formal way of addressing her. It didn't stand out to Billy since he's utterly used to only referring to people by title and last name, sticking to Lalo's first since it's all he gave him. The politeness is normal in his sort of society, but that must mean with Lalo's assumption--

.. for god's sake.

Chloe, are you doing some sort of power play in the bedroom with your situationship? And you expect said situationship to not catch weird feelings over it?

Girl. Girl!!!

Honestly, Billy can only keep himself from pulling a face over that through the sheer experience of having to keep exasperation inside for years upon years now due to the nature of his job. He hopes she can feel the judgement somehow radiating across town.

He definitely knows better than to comment on it in front of Lalo though. Sure, let the other assume it's that effect. Billy is good at keeping quiet and letting others assume. ]

Just the other day. [ That answer, however, is entirely honest. He's not going to lie for Lalo for Chloe's sake. It'd be one thing if he was actively dangerous to her, but if he's dangerous to anything, it's Chloe's fear of commitment. ]

She told me that she left for Lakeside for a while, so suddenly that she did not inform anyone of her departure. [ .. a slight pause, and then curiously, like he doesn't already know exactly why: ] Did she not tell you though that she is back in town?

[salamanca]

[ "Did she not tell you though that she is back in town?"

Lalo almost chokes on his tea, but he doesn't. Outwardly, he's calm, only lowering the tea slowly to look Billy in the eye. Inwardly, his knees feel all weak and his stupid heart does little happy flips in his chest upon hearing at her return. Immediately, Lalo is disgusted with himself, for maybe the first time in his adult life. What a gross reaction.

...but he'd had so much fun. That night had been unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. He doesn't like admitting it even to himself but truthfully, he does want to experience something like that again.

But does Chloe? Is she bored of him now that she knows she can win so easily? Worse, is she disgusted? Is that why she didn't tell him she's back? The happy little flips of his heart turn instead to a mild but strange tightening in Lalo's chest.

It's not just about missing her, either. Wanting to experience something like that again??? ???? What kind of man IS he? Another reason to be grossed out by himself. If he was a normal man, Lalo thinks, he'd run out of here and not look back. What kind of pussy likes that? What kind of pussy wants to be treated like that? A million slurs for effeminate men dance through his head; they feel like self-inflicted arrows Lalo is launching directly into his own heart.

He feels like a freak.

Lalo keeps all those thoughts to himself, just hitting Billy with a small, polite smile. ]

Ah. No. No, she didn't mention that. Maybe she couldn't find me...

[ What? It's possible! It's not like either of them has Aurora call. Or maybe it's just what Lalo wants to believe.

Lalo privately agonizes over whether or not to try seeking her out. Asking Billy where she lives might come off desperate. Even more desperate than following Billy to his house to get information in the first place.

Lalo swallows and looks down briefly as he traces patterns on the tablecloth with his fingers before looking back up at Billy, holding his gaze. ]

But she seemed healthy? Not hurt? Or sick? [ At least if nothing else, he can know she's alive. Which is a weird thing for Lalo to want to know about someone who's been the bane of his existence for so long -- really, why should he ever care what happens to Chloe Fraser? -- but he does care, and if nothing else, is it a surprising relief to hear from Billy that she hasn't gotten herself killed or lost a leg to frostbite or some shit.

So he should just go, right? Anything he tells Billy could be compromised, if Billy and Chloe are really so close. On the other hand, if Chloe has this impact on Billy too, perhaps he might understand. Have advice, even. Know how to overcome it, maybe... the witch powers... the effect Chloe has on people, to turn them against themselves...

Lalo's ears turn slightly pink. He decides, then and there, that he and Chloe are not doing that again, no matter how badly he wants to. That he'd had fun doing it only serves to prove he shouldn't have been doing it in the first place, that he'd let himself be tempted into doing something he shouldn't be.

They're not doing that again, Lalo decides immediately, annoyed by the immediate sense of disappointment that resolution fills him with. Outwardly, to Billy, he's mostly calm, even if he's blushing for seemingly no reason. Inwardly, he's a tornado of conflicted feelings, wanting to do it again and hating himself for wanting it again. ]

[clothed]

[ the beds in the community hall are more comfortable than sansa would have expected for a place this small.

the lack of privacy is expected in the shared quarters, of course, and so sansa had taken for herself one of the empty beds closest to the farthest wall from the entryways. there are a couple of books marking her place in the room, and lady, who had been following in her and levi's steps since coming in, goes on ahead of them to jump up onto their claimed little spot.

the wolf looks on with wary interest as sansa picks up on the stranger's assumptions and plays into it. it's easy to add a tremble to her voice, to make it shiver with seeming worry. her concern is genuine, do not mistake her, but she's had years of dealing with men who pounce on the first sign of womanly fear; she knows better than to let on when she's shaken up, knows when to pretend otherwise too.

they're wrangling levi into one of the beds and sansa lets bleed into her expression the way she wishes he was not sick, not hurt in any way. true or not, they would not have been out to lakeside if not for her asking. ]

We're back, we're safe now. Is there anything that I can do for you? [ she turns to the other man, as well. ] I don't know the medicines here, many things are unfamiliar to me.

What can I help with?

[load_aim_shoot]

[Raju’s knife is in his pocket. His pocket is sewn into the blanket he’s been using as a coat, which wraps around him quite securely so long as he’s still getting along with gravity. When deciding how to wear the thing, he hadn’t counted on falling so far out of its favour. The knife is in the pocket, and the pocket is lost in folds and edges that aren’t hanging anywhere that they’re supposed to be.]

[He remembers William telling how he’d fought Rorschach off with a burst of that fire. Surely it’ll be easier for Raju to summon it himself in a moment, if it turns out he’s in real danger. Maybe he’ll even be able to summon it up now; he should have been more watchful and not been caught out this way, and there’s no dignity in hanging upside down like this, let alone by accident, and it’s nearly dark so it’s going to get even colder, when he’d been looking forward to being nearly warm in company at home. If Raju isn’t angry enough for any of that fire to spring up somewhere on its own, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to get there.]

[He might not need a knife or impossible flame to be dangerous, anyway, because whoever it is has sacrificed most of his advantage by coming close. For a moment Raju keeps holding himself still and then he shifts his weight all at once, twisting around and hoping that the quick movement of his one free leg might wrap itself around the back of the man’s neck, which might keep him here in arm’s reach, and hoping that his hand can catch some place low on the man’s arm and twist it up and around in some way that will give Raju leverage. The man had started out talking because he was confident Raju couldn’t do anything but the same but there’s no point in talking back, not until one or the other of them is all out of action to take, or until Raju is safe and free.]

[salamanca]

Relax.

[ Lalo slides the bottlecap into Maccready's jacket pocket, nestling it down in there so it doesn't fall out again. It's more of a symbolic gesture than anything. Interesting that bottlecaps are considered currency where this man comes from; that tells Lalo a lot about the likely state of his world. Interesting. He might be a good ally to have here, then, if things take a turn for the worse.

He listens to Maccready's explanation, before he starts to untie the kid, helping support him as he gets him down. ]

Okay, okay. I believe you. But there are thieves around here. I've been dealing with one for a while. Can't be too careful.

[ Thieves and possibly worse. Who knows what kinds of people get grabbed here and brought by the aurora! Lalo of all people is aware not everybody is what they seem.

Once Maccready is upright, steady and on the ground, Lalo will offer him a hand to lean on if he wants it, until he's got his bearings back. ]

What's your name, kid? Mine's Lalo. Lalo Salamanca.

[notarat]

[ Of course Billy has no idea of all the things going around in Lalo's head. Sure, given the information Billy has, he does realise that it's likely that Lalo is realising in this moment that he was definitely stood up by Chloe, but if that's enough to explain the other's momentary silence or that odd faint blush on the other's cheeks?

.. who knows. He can only guess. ]

Yes, she very much seemed like herself. [ Given the.. rather intimate contact Lalo has had with Chloe, Billy figures that the other knows what he means by that. That Chloe was pretty much just as energetic and kind of cheeky as ever, really. ] She just had some marks left on her face from what she described as a nasty incident with that fog we've had.

[ Though, as he's speaking of this.. He can't help but wonder if Lalo does care about Chloe's well-being. Is he asking this because he's genuinely interested, or is he just trying to seem better in front of Billy? Considering how often Billy has to consider his own reputation, he can't help but feel like other people do the same thing at all times.

So.. you know what? Maybe he will be a little bit more direct here. Who's stopping him, especially when it's a matter he's very much interested in? ]

.. Mr. Eduardo.

[ He puts his cup back down on the table. It's not empty yet. ]

If I may be so bold as to ask this.. What are your intentions in regards to Miss Frazer?

[ Sorry, Lalo!! He's just straight on hitting you with that one, pal!!!

It's so hard to read anything from Billy's facial expression too. It's so carefully neutral in every single way as he stares across the table at the other, leaving everything up to interpretation here. ]

[salamanca]

[ Oh. Oh. The fog! Watch Lalo turn even redder when Billy mentions that, and Lalo wonders how much she's told him, and about what. It's the first time he's turned this red in a very, very long time. He wasn't even this red in the face when he had to tell Crozier he thought aliens left the cairns.

Lalo starts to cough, and mercifully lets it distract him before he stops, too soon, and is forced to answer Billy's question. He sips his tea, to soothe his throat, and finds that it's starting to get cold. Then he stares up at the ceiling, and slides down in his seat. ]

My... intentions?

[ Somebody shoot him. He snorts, trying to seem tough. ]

Shit, man. Look, I'm not gonna marry the girl, if that's what you're asking. [ He pauses. ]

But I like her. She's a person I'm happy to know. It's nice to know she's safe. [ Even if she stood him up. Lalo fights a flurry of mixed feelings at that knowledge, and tries not to dwell on it. ]

[heckofashot]

[ Symbolic it may be, it does at least seem to pacify him somewhat. What goes further, of course, is the actual effort in getting him down. He's still kind of annoyed with himself for getting caught in the first place, not that he's going to admit to the fact he should have known better — he's picked his way through dark subways littered with bear traps and grenade bouquets, this is just embarrassing.

He wobbles a bit, steadying himself and eventually accepting the man's help — albeit reluctantly — it's a weird sensation being upright again after having spent so long with the blood rushing to his head. If it weren't for the snow, and the company, he might've saw fit to just lay down for five minutes. Rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand, he gets a proper look at the man; Lalo, as he'd introduced himself. Definitely older than him, which he supposes warrants being called kid, even if it's been a while. ]

RJ Maccready, [ stated simply, as he sets about brushing himself down, standing up straighter now that he doesn't feel as though his head is swimming. ] Do you really have a problem with thieves? Doesn't seem like it would be worth it…

[ Because again, so few people. Being discovered would be too high a risk. There's a beat, and he continues. ]

Not that I'm sure you don't have sh-stuff worth stealing, but like. It's not a highly populated city…

[notarat]

Then you should make that clear to her.

[ There you go, Lalo! Free relationship advice from a younger Victorian gay man. Who would've ever thought that this is where you would end up. It's even more ironic in the face of the kind of relationship Billy himself has, but of course he's not seeing the hypocrisy of him thinking he can give anyone else relationship advice even with that happening in the background at all.

Instead he sounds very calm about this between sips of his tea. Confident, even. Like there is no doubt in Billy's mind that this is the right path. ]

That you are not that serious about her, I mean. [ Not the last part. In fact, Billy kind of feels like Chloe might scream if Lalo would start with the last part, considering their.. other activities. ] If she is avoiding you, then that is likely due to her worrying that you might be too serious about her after all this. If you are open with her, that would solve the misunderstanding instantly.

[ See? That simple! ]

.. though I feel obliged to point out that following her friends home in the dead of night is not exactly the sort of behaviour one might classify as 'not being serious about it.' [ He's just saying. Your words and your behaviour don't fully match up, Lalo, and Billy isn't sure why. A part of him figures that maybe Lalo is at least a little serious about Chloe after all. Chloe seems like the sort of person who might have a good sense for that, and she sure was assuming it was the case. ]