RESTING, WANDERING, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING

[whatalovelyday]

CLOSED TO HILLINGDON HOUSE

[Lying outside by the waters, he rests his hands over his bare chest – fingers lightly scratching at the tattoo of an engine that he has etched into his skin. He had gone out earlier in search of answers, of whispers, of where the other War Boys are, but came up with nothing. Nux isn't sure how he fits in with the other hunters; they were not raised on the same beliefs as he was, but they were still human. They still wanted to make a world safe for humans and that is more than enough for nonbelievers.

It isn't that he's lounging. Though, he does like to give the impression that is what he is doing. It is honestly that he has quite winded. Nux does what he can to build his strength up enough to move about, but sometimes, it does get the better of him. At least, the war paint that he still coats his skin in covers up how pale that he is actually getting.]

All I need to do is find the others, or find the one who did it. That's all.

[An easy task, he tells himself. He will be given great treasures in the afterlife once he has completed either goal. He takes a breath in and slowly turns his head to look toward the house. Nothing like his kind. It'll be all right. He'll protect them. Keep 'em safe any hunter would.

Already, he thinks that he can hear the war drums.]

OPEN: WANDERING THE STREETS

[His pants make an almost jiggling noise as he walks. It'd probably be better if it was bells, but it is mostly due to spare chains and bullets that he keeps in his pockets. Nux has become aware in the two years that he has lived out in the world that people do not like how he looks. His saved head and painted white skin tends to make them back away from him. But that's the point, isn't it? Humans are safe and hunters hunt. They're supposed to be frightening like guard dogs.

Or so he thinks.

At the moment, it isn't as serious as that. He's looking for his brothers as always, but he can't do that on an empty stomach. Nux isn't sure how long he has been wandering the alleys, and streets, but night has already fallen. He runs his hands along the glass of where there is some baked goods. But the lights are off given the indication that it's closed.]

Maybe should pop over to some store? How long do they stay open, anyway? [He is asking no one but is already starting to try to walk to find the fabled open shop in the middle of the night.]

Comments

[emotioneater]

Let me see...

[He ticks them off one by one on his fingers, hoping that smile on the kid's face is a friendly one.]

Talking to yourself, becoming paranoid, hallucinating people 'n things that aren't really there, losing a grip on reality, and finally retreating into your own little world. Those are the big 'uns.

[He pauses and considers what he's just said.]

Shit. Maybe I've gone mad and never realized it.

[whatalovelyday]

Ya do all of that, do ya?

[He shakes his head to look back at the closed bakery.] Just do the talking. There's lots to talk about, to remember, to make sure that it ain't forgotten 'cause if it is, it'll all be for naught.

[emotioneater]

Nah. Just the talking 'n paranoia. But it's only paranoia if they really aren't out to get you.

[He blinks in surprise at Nux's words. They're deeper than what he'd expect to find from someone who looks like a ghoulish skinhead.]

Very philosophical of you. It's important to remember the past. Those who forget tend to make the same mistakes.

[whatalovelyday]

Can't make the same mistakes. Already too many lost.

[He lightly beat the side of his fist against the glass before turning toward the other teenager.]

Everyone's out to get someone. Just have to keep lookin' till you find the one you're after, though.

[emotioneater]

[Already too many lost. It sounds like something a soldier would say. Cooper feels a pang of sympathy for the kid. He's awful young to have experienced whatever it is he's gone through.]

Is that what you're doing out here in the middle of the night? Looking for someone?

[whatalovelyday]

Lookin' for lots of someones. They couldn't have all walked through the gates. But they might've. Might be waitin'. But I can't join them till I know what happened.

[The gates will call to him after that, he knows. He'll welcome the crossing, but until then, he has to remain.]

[emotioneater]

[Cooper isn't sure what to make of all that. It's a little too cryptic for his straightforward sensibilities. It does confirm his suspicion the kid is on his own out here.]

So the rest of them, they're all dead then?

[whatalovelyday]

Might be.

[His head gives a little tilt.] Or fightin'. Still fightin'. I have to go to war and not sure where the war is. Enough commotion, they might be there. Just have to arrive and join the hunt.

[emotioneater]

[The talk of fighting and hunting makes a piece of the puzzle click for Cooper. This kid might be a hunter, despite how atypical he looks and his strange way of talking. (Of course, what is a typical hunter supposed to look like?) Nothing shows on his face as he feigns ignorance.]

There's no war around here that I know of. But you'd do best t'stay out of it. Wars only end in one thing: death.

[whatalovelyday]

That's what's the best part of 'em.

[To die historic. To die in fire and glory and to be reunited with his fallen brothers, with fallen heroes. He lifts his head up as he feels a rush of joy on that one single thought because it is still very close.] Death and glory await those who are willing.

[emotioneater]

That's fool's talk.

[He'd lived long enough to see the pattern of the young men who thought they were immortal, going off to war, and never coming back. Always, they paid the ultimate price for someone else's follies.]

Can't hardly blame you. I was that way once.

[Such a long time ago it was now. He was older, if not necessarily wiser.]

[whatalovelyday]

Once.

[He breaks out in a laugh as he reaches his hand out to give the other a violent shake of the shoulder.] Still young and still capable of being part of the battle if you try. Well, probably not. That's meant for those who are born of the blood. Best to leave it to others, yes.

It calls to us all and the gates will soon be open.

[emotioneater]

You're a strange one, that's for certain.

[The enthusiasm behind his actions reminds Cooper of a puppy. Not a dopey one like a Labrador, rather, something with a little more bite to it like a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull.]

You may itch for battle 'n glory, but don't go countin' me out just yet. I've gone through quite a bit myself. [A rebellion that had killed him, a few wars here and there, and more hunters than he cared to remind himself of. To misquote Shakespeare, though he was but little, he was fierce.]

[whatalovelyday]

Gone through but gone soft after.

[Talking about not wanting to fight or look for war. He sniffs the air about him before breathing it out in a huff.]

War and battle should make a person hard. Not hesitant. [...] What's the point if seeing anything if you're not going to be willing to see more?

[emotioneater]

It's hard t'explain to someone full of blood 'n vinegar like you are. It's easy to fight and never think about what comes next.

[He runs a hand through his hair, a faraway look in his dark blue eyes.]

There comes a point when you just get tired of killin'. I looked around me 'n all I had t'my name was a lot of blood on my hands. It's not like I won't do it again if I have to, but I've stopped seeking it out.

[whatalovelyday]

'sk.

[He reaches out to grab the other's collar to take a step forward so that he could slam his forehead against the stranger's. It seems like this one needs to be reminded why battle needs to be sought out.]

[emotioneater]

[There's a moment when Nux is close, far too close, and his scent fills Cooper's nose. It makes him long for blood. Then comes the headbutt and blossoming pain.]

You crazy--!

[He takes a swipe at Nux, aiming for the side of his head. He can hit quite a bit harder than his scrawny frame would suggest.]

[whatalovelyday]

[His head jerks back and he actually feels the ringing in his ears. He starts to laugh, however, as he turns back to smile wide and enthusiastic.]

See! See! [Of course, his words are slurred as he is trying to talk after suffering a sudden hit to the head. But he's still standing -- or so he thinks, he actually is bent over with one hand against the ground and the other waving wildly at his side.]

This is what battle is! [Again, he thinks he's talking proper, but it would be safe to assume he may still be slurring his words as he spits out blood from when he bit the inside of his cheek.]

[emotioneater]

[Cooper gingerly rubs at the sore spot, hoping that there won't be a lump left by that headbutt. He's somewhere between being pissed off and exasperated by having deal with a legitimate crazy person. This is what he gets for walking around in the middle of the night. This would never happen at two in the afternoon when the sane people were out. Damn vampiric allergy to the sun.]

If you want a battle, I will give you a battle, you sonuva....

[Then Nux spits out blood and Cooper's mind goes blank. He wasn't expecting that. All he can focus on is the scent of fresh blood in the air. His first and strongest instinct is to go over and clamp down on the crazy kid's neck. It wouldn't be too hard, either. That bent-over position he's means he won't be able to fight back until it's too late. To the credit of the vampire's self-control, he barely restrains himself.

If he were smarter, he'd turn and walk away now. Instead, he finds himself rooted to the spot, hands clenched into fists as his mind is torn in two different directions. Life would be so much easier if he didn't have these pesky morals to deal with.]

[whatalovelyday]

[Nux doesn't wipe the blood from his mouth as he finally is able to return to a standing position. His body wobbling from side-to-side, but he still is standing. That's what is important, isn't it? The pain's fading in the back like it always does.

Plugging one nostril, he blows hard through the other as more snot and blood come rushing out. Yes, he is truly a specimen of disgusting when he actually decides to channel some of what he is as a War Boy.]

Didn't quite hear that. [Mostly because his ears are ringing still.]

[emotioneater]

[His eyes are focused on Nux's mouth. Even as the snot and more blood come rushing out, disgusting as it is, doesn't dissuade his instincts. It'd be so easy to drain him dry. Two steps forward and he'll have a meal for the night...

....No. He's made up of more than just the beast clawing at him from the inside. He can let it control him or vice-versa. Cooper backs up two steps in a move that feels like a monumental effort, grinding his teeth together in a conscious effort to keep himself together.]

It's nothing. Nothing at all.

[That's the biggest understatement of the week.]

[whatalovelyday]

Backin' off?

[He sways a few times before finally completely straightening his stance. Breathing out some of the pain, he smiles -- blood still staining his teeth a little red.] Guess that's how it is.

Fightin' is fightin'. It's in the blood. In the air. It's what makes war. It's what we should go for, yeah? [The great and glorious death that awaits them all.]

[emotioneater]

Maybe that's what you believe, but this battle is done. 'Sides, a fight between you 'n me would be far too one-sided t'really call a fight. More like a beatdown.

[He smiles and there's something a little sharp about the way his canines look in the glint of the streetlights. He keeps backing up until he's a fair distance away and then turns, walking off slowly. Cooper hadn't given into his hunger. He chalked that one up as a victory in and of itself.]