Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

[lucetimods]

Who: All Draftees
What: This is your death. Followed by your time-traveling life and desperate bomb hunting.
When: From May 22 to May 20 to early May 23 (days 1-4)
Where: Zompania
Summary: Information post here
Rating: Varies on thread, please mark explicit material.

This post is for the draftee-only portion of the Zompania draft--the day 3 death, time travel to day 1, and then the events until the arrival of the reinforcements. Be sure to use the above info post for any plotting needs you might have. Enjoy!

Please note that there is a specific top-level comment thread for:

• The day 3 arrival of the draftees and the 6 hours that follow until the bomb is dropped
  
• Death--This thread can be treated as REFERENCE ONLY. Responding to it isn't necessary.
  
• Threads prior to departing for Zompania--post resurrection freak outs, arguments over how to proceed, etc.

All other threading, from day 1 until the reinforcements arrive, should be conducted as normal.

Be sure to tag this post appropriately: [canon] character name

Comments

Days 1-4

[selfhelp]

[Days 1 & 2]

[This is Billy at his peak; despite the trauma of the entire group's collective deaths, he's shoved all his fears to the sidelines for now in favour of making sure it never happens again. Instead of hiding out with the healers, Billy is throwing himself headlong into the battle, traveling with the others, scouting out the areas, making use of his arsenal of spells as best as he can despite his lack of practice: flight, invisibility, locating spells, whatever comes to mind that he thinks could be useful. The more he fights, the more comes back to him, and it's extra-helpful that the power cap has no effect on them out here.

He's not... perfect, and nowhere near as good as he used to, but he's done hiding. So if any allies are in a tight spot and a quick lightning bolt or forcefield would help them out, he's available. He might need someone to occasionally tell him to settle down and not exhaust himself, though. He isn't getting reckless yet, but he's also pushing hard to do better in a very short span of time. Knowing this, he might stick close to people he trusts at first more than anyone else before he makes himself branch out.]

[Day 3]

[Here's where it starts going to hell. Getting into the city had made everything worse, ghe situation sickening him beyond believe, and it's only through sheer stubborn willpower (and the threat of potentially sharing the deaths he's seeing right and left) that keeps him from curling up in some hidden corner and spelling himself invisible until it's over. He's pretty much stopped eating because he can't keep anything down. Thank god for the river. It's a shame there's no alternative to sleep, because he's not getting much of that, either.

At some point after the bomb is found and deactivated - and thank god for that - the enemies within the city get desperate, and Billy's lack of focus and sleep catches up with him at last. His magic keeps attracting groups of Shifters, seeking to disable his powers when his forcefields are down or he gets within range, and eventually they wear him down enough to knock him straight out of the air. Once grounded, he's running for his life.]

[Day 4]

[By now, he's a wreck. Desperate, covered in blood, heartsick from all the deaths he's seen and unintentionally been a part of, drained of the majority of his magic but unable to rest and restore it properly, Billy is reaching his limit. He'll be sticking close to the reserves and the healers again, shaken and terrified of going back into the front lines until the reinforcements arrive, at which point he'll have no choice but to rejoin the fighting. Until then... well, maybe he will just go ahead and find that corner to hide in. You can only handle so much before you break.]

Dayyyyyy 4

[frost_jewel]

[In theory, Mia knows Billy is around. She heard his voice, earlier, maybe he was talking to someone; now, though, when she seeks him out, he's near-impossible to find. Must have been her mind playing tricks, she decides, and she doesn't put a whole lot of time into looking because there are plenty of injured and tired to see to.

Unwelcome memories of Vaskoth surface, a little later, and Mia makes another circuit of their fortified post, this time really looking for Billy in more concealed areas. She caught sight of him one time the previous day and all that worry surfaces again, so much that she starts calling his name - quiet, insistent.]

Re: Dayyyyyy 4

[selfhelp]

[It's tempting, truly, honestly tempting, to just ignore her voice calling his name. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now, he doesn't want to be found. He knows that without a doubt because he'd accidentally spelled it, in his panic, and the whole reason she can't find him is that he's made it impossible to do so without help. Tucked away in the furthest corner of the darkest room and literally invisible, he could easily just fade away and hopefully be forgotten until he's ready to rejoin existence.

If he ever feels that way again, that is.

Don't think like that. If Teddy were here, he'd...

....

I wish Teddy was here.

....

I'm so glad Teddy isn't here...

Logic clashes with his own desires, though, and he reluctantly unburies his head from his arms, gazing wearily towards the doorway as she passes by. He can't just let her keep wandering around looking for him like that. Even if she's being quiet, it's still dangerous to make too much noise. And aside from that, it's... cruel. Just because he wants to be alone and hidden doesn't mean he has to take up her time when she could be resting or helping people who really need it.

God, he's such a coward. So finally he calls back from his corner, his voice quiet but loud enough to be heard in the hallway, even just barely.]

In here.

day 4

[frost_jewel]

[For the faintest moment there are voices from nowhere talking to her and she freezes in place. In here, she heard; placing the voice's owner at last, she backtracks to the room she just checked. It's dark, and things inside are hard to see, but-]

Billy? Did...are you in here?

[She's worried, tired, anxious, not willing to put any effort into calming her voice.]

day 4

[selfhelp]

[He's hesitant again, but... he's already committed. Better take it all the way before she leaves and he has to actually get up. He's not even sure he can do that yet.]

Ye... yeah, I'm... I'm in the corner.

[Sorry for the invisibleness.]

day 4

[frost_jewel]

[In the corner. She has an idea of which corner, after he speaks again, but when she looks at it, it's empty.

Well.

Mia approaches the proper corner slowly, uncertain, but unwilling to turn and go if Billy is there and something's wrong. He can do what he wants, and it makes a lot of sense all at once that perhaps he did not want to be found at all.]

Are you hurt? [As half-memories cut in line and remind her that she isn't sure he can heal himself.] If not, and you want me to go away, then I will go.

day 4

[selfhelp]

...No. No, I'm not... I just...

[He curls up tighter around himself, the motion almost protective, even though she can't see him. He feels gross and uncomfortable and pretty much the worst mess he's ever been, and he hates it. He doesn't want to be seen, he doesn't even want to look at himself, because it'll just remind him of every horrible thing that's happened since they got here.]

Day 3

[stopmjolnirtime]

[Three long days of battle with little rest- he couldn't bear it after what had happened to them on the first perceived day of fighting. They had not prevented the bomb's creation but they had prevented it's use and that? Is a bitter victory he might carry. Once the worst of that has been over and done he loops through the city in search of his comrades, clearing out Cultists wherever he finds them.

Tis the tail end of those hunting Billy he comes across first, the Shifters with their influence. He strikes at them from afar as he has long since learned that attempting to fight as he normally would only ends in an extended skirmish that he had not the heart for.

Thunder roars and lightening crackles, felling one in a blast of elemental power as he makes chase- whoever their target might be? It is one that is worth defending. When he's close enough to follow the pack and sees Billy upon the end of their attention? He rallies his focus and raises his hammer high, calling down a crackling surge that flows from the blinding cleft in the sky to his hammer, from his hammer to Cultist after cultist. From one to the other as swift as breathing the deafening roar echoes in the alleyways as they're lit up from without until they are nothing more than a string of sparking, smoldering flesh. It leaves Thor exhausted and still for a moment, breathing through the effort. He hears no more of their footsteps, sees none of them stir. A moment's respite.

It may not yet be the last of those that hunt them- but he makes his way to Billy all the same.]

Young William!

[Covered in blood- much of it not his own, and haggard for the efforts of the past few days, the knowledge of that which they have not been able to prevent, he extends a hand to Billy to bid him stand.]

Come- I will get you to safety.

Re: Day 3

[selfhelp]

[The explosions and lightning crackling around him makes Billy gasp and instinctively lift his arms to protect himself, though it proved ultimately useless and unnecessary; it was Thor, and the god of thunder had too many years of experience to be as clumsy with his power as Billy could be. He's used lightning plenty of times, especially during this draft, but he has yet to attack with it like that. When the noise clears and Thor approaches him, Billy lowers his arms, although he does keep one hand over his mouth and nose. The city smells bad enough as it is without the addition of burned flesh.]

Oh my god... I thought I was so dead. Thanks...

[He reaches out to take Thor's offered hand. With the shifters gone, his power is starting to return to him, although it isn't immediate. With Thor around now, though, he feels much safer even without it.]

Day 3

[stopmjolnirtime]

Are you injured?

[He must know that first- and even as he asks and pulls Billy close, Hammer already spinning in his hand for a hasty retreat he's looking him over for bruising, breaking, or bleeding. For all the trouble of the Shifters, it seems as though William is unharmed. It is fortunate he found them when he did- he would hate to think what a pack of such ravenous cultists might have done to Billy if he'd been but a moment too late.]

Tis no trouble at all. You are a friend of my brothers- and any friend of his? Is a friend of mine.

[Mjolnir's whirling intensifies as he adjusts his grip and holds his arm, nodding for Billy to step close. He would carry them somewhere safe. In his relief for having arrived in time and his haste to see them elsewhere he does not yet notice the scrape of clawed feet in one of the adjacent streets, nor the sound of snuffling, searching breathing. He does not yet note the presence of a Shift Hunter seeking out the lost shifters.]

Day 3

[selfhelp]

A few scrapes, nothing serious.

[Truth be told, he's gotten off ridiculously lucky so far when it comes to injuries. It's mostly due to his focus on casting forcefield spells, he's certain, but the scale of them has been thus far exhausting and they basically create a big glowing beacon to draw more enemies in. Stealth is not his forte at all.

It's hard not to get a little flustered when Thor pulls him in, though inwardly he's kicking himself for it' he can't help it, this is like, one of his biggest fantasies ever. Since he was a little kid reading Tales of Asgard comics on the windowsill during thunderstorms, or laying in bed listening to his father telling stories about Norse mythology, or watching the news as the Avengers defeated this villain or that monster. For years, he'd wondered what it would be like to be carried off into the sky by one of his greatest heroes. And yes, he can fly himself around now, and yes, he has Teddy who is his greatest hero now, but... well, it really doesn't negate years of dreaming. So he tucks himself in close and waits, biting his lip, and hopes it really is as amazing as Thor always made it look.

Except-]

Do you hear that?

Day 3

[stopmjolnirtime]

[Over the whirling of Mjolnir in his hand, preparing for a swift retreat, he did not quite hear anything other than Billy. But when he spoke he let it slow, let it still and stared out into the darkness. Aside from the remains of the shifters still popping and hissing behind him Thor could not discern anything out of place in these abandoned streets. Perhaps he has been in the field too long. He is weary and bloodied and it would be far better to see them gone than seek out whatever it is that Billy has noticed. Attention on their surroundings his hand is no less firm against Billy's side- the boy's safety is his first priority. Enough have died in this battle without adding any of their own forces to the pile.

All is still. All is silent save the thundering of their hearts and their breathing.

Then he hears the snuffling. The echos of dragged claws and the soft tread of a hunter on the prowl. His hand goes tight for a moment in Billy's shirt as he considers his options, already bringing Mjolnir back up to speed. Flee. Flee and rest, that is what they need do. There is no glory in a helpless battle.]

Hold tight-

[Mjolnir spins and it is with a twist of his arm and the force of his will that he does let it fly- pulling them both up and away and for one blissful, quiet moment he thinks they may be safe. That whatever it had been was far enough that they were in no danger.

For a moment they fly.

Teeth clamp with vicious intent around his foot and haul them down like a wayward kite. Pain lances through Thor's leg from ankle to knee as he is hurled against the bloody pavement, turning to take the brunt of the force on his side rather than land on Billy.]

Day 3

[selfhelp]

[It's an exhilarating, breathtaking moment, but Billy isn't prepared for how short-lived it's going to be. His smile vanishes as they abruptly shift directions from up to straight down, and he cries out at the impact, teeth clacking, body jostled painfully despite Thor's efforts to protect him. He'd be in much worse shape if Thor hadn't turned, though. One more thing he owes the man for.

Grimacing, he forces himself upright and turns to see what hit them... and his eyes widen in horror, staring down at the monstrously deformed creatures clinging to his legs or moving to surround them. Instinctively Billy draws back his own feet and kicks, trying to get the creatures away from them, but his soft-footed spandex bodysuit isn't going to do much damage. Useful when flying, not so great in hand-to-hand combat.]

Oh god- crap- shit, let him go!!

Day 1

[cajunspice]

[Remy offered a wave of his hand in thanks as Billy's powers got him out of a messy situation, having gotten himself cornered during a wrong turn into an enemy group. It saved him wasting a couple of decks of cards and maybe a few burns from close proximity explosions.]

Merci. Was wonderin' what 'bilities ya might be sharin' with ya mère.

Day 1

[selfhelp]

[It takes him a moment to self-translate that one- he sure as hell doesn't speak French, but there are a few little tidbits and words that he's heard here and there that most everyone would know anyway- and once it clicks, he stares.

Oh god, he knows too?]

Wh- how many people did Wanda tell about that!?

[Seriously, Mom?]

[cajunspice]

[Remy have Billy a long look, just stopping himself from shaking his head before he decided to go easy on the boy rather than question him. After all, they were in the middle of a battle.]

Considerin' the circumstances, I goin' to 'ssume ya mind be else where. Ya 'lready told me 'bout ya connection with her, durin' ya birthday. [You dope.]

now I feel like a dope because I forgot

[selfhelp]

[Erk.]

Right. Um. Sorry, I'm still not used to... you know, sharing it.

[The battlefield isn't doing his head any favours, either. Speaking of which- he abruptly ducks and tosses up a mini-forcefield when another cultist fires an arrow at his head.]

Whoa- um- priorities! Sorry!

Nah just flow with the whole 'OMG I MIGHT DIE' distraction

[cajunspice]

No need to worry, boy, understandable if ya kept it hidden for so long. [Talking of said cultist, a well thrown knife with an additional charge put it on quickly, and maybe a little messily, got rid of the immediate problem.]

Oui, don't let me distract ya.

sob

[selfhelp]

[Ugh... if he'd been quicker with his magic, maybe he'd have been able to put the cultist to sleep, instead. Grimacing, Billy presses and hand over his mouth and turns away. This war's been gruesome already, and he knows it's only going to get worse. Still... ugh.]

Y... yeah... thanks. Sorry about that...

Day 4

[ledbythewind]

[Richard isn't in much better shape than Billy is at this point. In a way, it's a blessing that his vision has gotten as bad as it has, because at least this way he can't actually see the faces of the multitude of cultists he's killed, and his reliance on his magic allowed him to keep his distance in a way that swordfighting wouldn't. Still, that doesn't erase the knowledge that he's killed people. Not monsters-- people, mad though they may be.

He's exhausted and he feels sick and somehow in the chaos he's gotten separated from Asbel, which only serves to lower his mood even further. He can't keep casting now, not as drained as he is. He needs to find someplace to hide and rest until he recovers even a fraction of his energy before he can go looking for his friend.

An empty building will do well enough for the moment; this area seems to be quiet and away from the fighting. Just for a little while...

At least, he'd thought it was empty, but when his shin collides with something that feels distinctly human and he goes sprawling to the floor with a help, his last thought is that he probably should have checked it more carefully...]

Day 4

[selfhelp]

[Billy's response at first is a quiet grunt of pain at being tripped over, knocked down right alongside Richard. He winces, pushing himself upright, and rubs at his arms where he'd been jostled, feeling small and extra pathetic for dragging someone else down, however unintentionally.]

Sorry... sorry. I guess I was in the way. Are you okay...?

Day 4

[ledbythewind]

[Richard is halfway into fumbling for the sword at his waist when whatever it is he'd just tripped over speaks... and the voice is familiar, even if he can't see the face that goes with it.]

... Billy? Is that you?

[He turns his head in the direction the voice came from more out of habit than anything else. At least that way Billy will be able to see his face and recognize who he is, even if he can't do the same to the other man. All he can hope is that this is real and that he didn't somehow wind up being trapped by a Dream Shifter.]

Day 4

[selfhelp]

[Billy looks up somewhat reluctantly; it's actually kind of worse, realizing it's someone he knows.]

Hey, Richard...

[Wait, why wouldn't he know that? Is it just too dark in here? He'd been huddled away in the corner, but light was still filtering in...]

Day 4

[ledbythewind]

[There's a visible relaxation to Richard's posture when Billy confirms that it is in fact him, the tension ebbing away to be replaced by the faintest shadow of a smile on his face.]

You aren't hurt, are you? I can try to heal you if you're at all injured.

[He reaches out, feeling around on the floor in front of him for a moment before ascertaining that he can move closer without bumping into Billy.]

Day 4

[selfhelp]

[Okay, that cinches it. Something's definitely up.]

Can't you see?

[It's kind of a dumb question, seeing Richard feel around for him (it's not that dark), but he needs to be sure before he assumes anything.]