quietplacelogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

the dark tower: jake chambers

(no subject)

Featuring: Max Mayfield + Open
What's Happening? Meeting people, exploring things, etc.
When: Feb. 19 - ?
Content Warnings: None so far.

[House 11 Spam]

[Staying in a house that is mostly completely silent around the clock is strange in a lot of ways. The silence itself is eerie and takes her a few days to get used to, considering she's used to living with Billy and Neil who are anything but quiet unless they're unconscious or not at home. She keeps expecting to wake up from a dead sleep to the sound of screaming down the hall, or something getting broken. Instead she lies awake at night, staring at the ceiling, hoping that no monster hears one of them breathing and Godzilla's the house and eats all of them.

The other thing that's strange is staying in a house full of boys and...a centaur. She feels an odd sense of belonging among them that's both a relief and also troubling. One thing that life's taught her over and over is not to get too attached to anyone. She doesn't want to get attached to anyone and yet she also wants the easy camaraderie that she sees with Bill and Eddie and Richie. The same kind she'd witnessed back in Hawkins with Lucas, Dustin, Will and Mike. She so desperately craves it, but she doesn't know how to make it happen, either.

After a mostly restless night of sleep, Max makes her way quietly through the house toward the kitchen, her stomach twisting with hunger. If any of the others are there, she'll lift a hand to wave at them.

She also sends the following message to everyone else who lives there, via the device:]

I think we should start soundproofing the house.

[Out and About]

[Max finishes her full time quiet maintenance work for the day and decides to check out the rest of the town. She carefully makes her way over the sandpaths, barefoot, and when she closes her eyes for a moment she can almost pretend she's at the beach. Almost. But not quiet.

She'll trek to as many places as possible, including the hospital, outside Town Hall, and finally to sit beside the fountain, wishing she had a pen and a notebook to write in.

Later she'll end up going through abandoned houses, looking for anything that might be useful to have at the house. Like a hairbrush since her hair is a mess, and while she's not a fussy person when it comes to her looks, it's driving her crazy.

She's also on a mission to find the library. The whole time she's out, she's keeping her eyes and ears peeled for monsters or people who look sketchy.]

[Open to People in House 9]

[Her last stop of the day is to swing by the house where Will and Mike live. She's there to see Will, so she shoots him a quick message (I'm outside on the porch of your house) but remains on said porch because she's not about to barge into someone else's house without an invite, and it's not like she can knock.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I hope so! Back at home, I've heard about a lot of people sound-proofing with this really thick foam [sup, youtubers] so I thought some of the foam padding from the beds might work? But I'm not sure!
Only one way to find out, though! :)

Oh. I hadn't really thought about the mattresses, but that might work. [In theory it should at least help muffle quiet sounds.]

[it's a definite maybe at least, and as they make their way to the hospital, Kara regrets not having brought a bag. again. she doesn't exactly want to dig up another body bag around Max.]

Watch your step. There's some places here that have been totally trashed.

[the ER is the most obvious entrance; though, Kara does want to find where in-patient care would have been. but, tvs can wait. she wants to shadow Max and make sure she doesn't get into any trouble first.]

[As long as there wasn't a body in it, she wouldn't protest!]

Do you think those things caused all of this?

[She can't help but ask as she maneuvers around the debris all over the floor and what she's pretty sure is the ER waiting room. She looks around at the decimated chairs and the thick layer of dust, expression wary.]

Or do you think something else happened too?

[Kara glances around, sweeps the floor they're on and the one above them to see if she can see anyone tucked away. so far, no one's picking up. then again, she has no idea if the Sound Eaters would show up when she x-rays a building or not. what if they don't? is that power just useless here?

she doesn't voice any of that out loud, reading Max's messages and biting her lip, giving her a half-shrug.]

I think a lot of bad things happened. Maybe first the Sound Eaters and then people trying to survive. [she points to the chairs that are nothing more than frames, empty of cushions.] I figured the natives probably took those to help make beds, and the light coverings for solar panels maybe.
A lot of time and a lot of scavenging probably caused all this.

[Max is pretty sure they're not going to find anything helpful in the ER waiting area. It's in shambles and definitely already picked over.]

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Do you think all of the floors are like this?

[Because she really hopes not. There's gotta be something in this place they can make use of, right?]

[Kara takes a moment to look closer, x-raying through the second, trying to get a good picture of the third floor.]

Looks like the third floor's barely been touched.

[Max watches as Kara looks upwards, and a grin spreads across her face involuntarily. X-ray vision ignite. Awesome.]

To the stairs, then?

[Kara looks over at Max, at the huge grin on her face, and can't help smiling back. It's infectious. she nods, then with a wink, texts-]

Up, up, and away?

[sure, it's just climbing stairs, but she couldn't resist.]

[She has to cover her mouth with one hand to keep herself from laughing as she nods.

This may be her new best day ever.]

[with that, they head up two flights of stairs, to the third floor, which is... almost immaculate. almost. There's been some light picking around, but all the furniture is still in place, which is... awesome. If they could just create an easy system for Kara to float some of this stuff down and back to the city........ She looks around, tapping her chin. They're in a lobby, of sorts, for one of the specialist clinics. There's two waiting rooms to their right, elevators that Kara wouldn't dare try to work in front of them, and a hallway to their left that branches off into a few different paths, depending on which problem a patient had, she guesses.

Further down, she can see some in-patient rooms, and she makes a silent O with her mouth. Televisions. Heck yes.

But first, she turns to Max, gesturing around them.]

Wow! This could be promising!

[There are a lot of possibilities, Max agrees silently as she looks up and down the hallway, then back at Kara.]

Should we split up and see what we can find and meet back here in a little while?

[Kara rakes her teeth over her bottom lip, a nervous gesture. It's a good idea in theory, and there's no one here to hurt them - in theory. Unless she can't pick up on Sound Eaters with x-ray. Unless Max finds a weak spot on the floor and falls two stories and breaks something. And then dies from the noise.

But, it's a huge hospital, and they'll never leave if they don't split up. Kara sucks in a big, worried breath.]

Sounds like a plan. But be CAREFUL and if you think you need me for any reason AT ALL, message me. Okay?

[She can read the hero's uncertainty, the worry. She's good at being able to read people's emotions, even when it's not very obvious. It's what she relies on to steer clear of her family when things are going sideways at her house.

It's just weird to have someone worried about her, let alone trying to watch after her. Sure, Billy watches out for her. But it isn't because he cares or because he's worried about her. And it isn't in a kind sort of way.]

I will. I'll be okay. I'll be careful. You too, though.

cw: dead bodies.

[Kara reads the message, the corner of her mouth ticking up in a smile at it, and she gives Max a nod and a thumbs up. She turns then, headed towards the in-patient because some small part of her is giddy at the idea of ripping a tv off a hospital wall and taking it home.

uh, quietly ripping it.

it's slow going, though. There's no sand on the third floor, so Kara resorts to floating across the floor, keeping an ear focused on Max, making sure her footfalls are light enough that if Kara can't pick it up, she's hoping a Sound Eater can't either. She also turns every now and again to x-ray behind her, check on Max, a sigh of relief escaping her the first few times when nothing bad immediately happens.

Soon, she's to the in-patient hallway. The first two rooms are a strike out - the tvs are both smashed, the screens jagged and broken and sharp. but the third room, on the left, has Kara pumping her fist in the air. Score!

The tv is a flat screen, sleek and black and covered with a thick layer of dust. At least it's not red. She puts both hands on it, jiggles it a little on the stand, but it's mounted securely. She doesn't want to make any noise, so she takes to unscrewing each screw carefully with her fingers, turning them quietly, and then she slides the television off its mount and hoists it under one arm. It's not the biggest thing in the world, but it'll definitely suit her purposes!

She turns to dig up the remote then, and that's when she sees the body, lying in the bed, decomposed. Mostly bone, with tattered cloth lying haphazardly on top of it. There's oxygen tubes lying across the skull, positioned just under the nose, and Kara's breath catches in her throat. She can't stop staring, and that's probably impolite. It's definitely impolite, disrespectful.

She tears her gaze away, her eyes stinging as she thinks about how scared this person must have been. Had they made sound? Or had the hospital just sunk into chaos around them. Had they been old, unable to call out for help? It was obvious they had died alone...

Kara has to leave. She snags the remote off the nightstand in a hurry, holding it in a grip so strong that the plastic creaks, in danger of breaking. She has to calm down; she has to leave. She can't tell Max about this.

Once she's out of the room, the tv and remote on the floor next to her feet, she leans against the wall and focuses on her breathing, mouths a prayer to Rao for the person in the room and for her own strength, to put this aside, to pocket it for later, along with everything else. The back of her neck is damp with sweat, and she leans over some, one hand on a knee while the other lifts her curtain of hair up off her neck as she continues to breathe.

Just stay calm, Kara.]

[Max smiles at her and heads down the hallway the opposite way, beginning to search rooms, and grabbing a pillow from one of the beds, pocketing a couple of safety pins she comes across and then wandering toward the next room.

The third room she comes across is a little more interesting. She finds a set of clothes in the closet - a t-shirt, a pair of jeans that are way too big for her, and a pair of socks. She finds an almost full bottle of shampoo in the bathroom and she's so happy she almost cries. She grabs it, making sure the cap is secure and heading out into the hallway, checking to see if Kara is around yet. When she doesn't see her, she carefully sets the pillow down and the rest of her findings on top of it so they don't make any noise.

Then she keeps on, perusing the next couple of rooms but not coming across much that she thinks will be overly useful. But the good news is there are plenty of mattresses that she thinks they'll be able to use for helping soundproof.

This time when she makes her way out to the hallway she spots Kara down the hall, leaning against the wall and looking a little upset. She scoops up her collection from the floor and heads toward her, typing in a quick message.]

Are you okay?

[To Max's credit, she is absurdly light on her feet, and Kara is too busy trying not to panic that she doesn't even hear Max walk up. She should've. She should focus. She's here to keep them both safe, for Rao's sake.

She glances up at Max, gives her a shaky smile, and straightens, nodding. It's not subtle, but she reaches behind her, grabs the doorknob to the half-open door she'd just walked out of, and quietly pulls it shut.]

I'm fine. :) [she nods to Max's haul.] Get anything good?

Edited 2018-03-03 19:46 (UTC)

[The movement wasn't subtle at all and her gaze shifts past Kara to the now-closed door. If Kara had been anyone else, she'd be asking questions. Frankly, she'd probably just go inside and see whatever it is that the older girl is obviously hiding.

Instead, she just raises her eyebrows a little and sends back a message.]

A few things. There's a lot of mattresses in good shape if you want to use them for soundproofing.

[Kara breathes a relieved sigh, thankful that Max trusts her enough to go with it. She must be super impressive in these comic books Max has read.]

Oh, awesome! I need to figure out a way to carry a few at a time. Maybe tie them together with some rope or something...

[she gestures to the tv.]

I lucked out! It looks like it's in pretty good condition too!

[She definitely is.

She looks at the tv that Kara's managed to get off the wall and smiles a little, giving her the thumbs up.]

That's great! And you even got the remote. Cool.

[Kara grins, nodding.] For maximum laziness! ;)

[she picks up her television then like it weighs nothing, tucking it under her arm and pocketing the remote next to her device. they need to find something to carry stuff in... and not a body bag. Kara refuses to bring one of those out around Max, geez louise.

she makes her way back to the third floor entrance, setting her stuff down, and goes behind the counter of the reception area. on one shelf, at the bottom, is a number of purses, all designed differently and lined up together. those that are unzipped are filled with dust. It's... it's not perfect, still sad, but it's a heck of a lot better than a body bag.

Kara picks them up, pumping a fist when behind them is someone's gym duffel. There they go! She sets the purses aside, tucking them onto another shelf so that Max won't have to see the reminders that people were here, people were killed by monsters. Instead, she grabs the gym duffel, pulling the zipper open slowly, so slowly, each little almost-silent click of it making sweat bead on her forehead.

once it's open, she takes out the towel, the round, gray gym key, and the yellowed paper list of workouts. Must have been a crossfitter. The list is labeled "WODs." She pops up from behind the counter and holds the bag up for Max to see, a triumphant grin on her face.]

[She grins at that comment, watching Kara pick up the TV easily and her smile widens. So cool. She follows her down the hall, but holds onto her small haul of items while she watches Kara head behind the reception desk.

She wonders what she's looking for, but when Kara stands up and holds up the gym bag she'd found, her expression brightens.]

Awesome!

[Kara brings it around and drops the remote inside before handing it over to Max.]

We should definitely tell people about the mattresses up here. When I get back, I'm going to find some rope or something to tie a bunch together and fly them home. You wanna get out of here for now?

[She takes the bag and carefully, quietly, stuffs the things she's gathered inside of it.]

Yeah I guess I've done enough exploring for the day.

[with a nod, Kara holds up one finger for Max to wait there. then she goes to the window to their left of the small waiting room upstairs. the windows are huge, floor to ceiling, showing off an empty parking lot and the other rubbled remains of buildings. Could there be a way...

yes! Kara flips the latch toward the bottom and carefully, slowly pushes the window up until cool breeze is brushing her cheek. then, she comes back over to Max with a cheeky grin on her face.]

Wanna take a shortcut? ;)