twenty one | drones up, bros down

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger and Pokey, who've been droned for committing their first murder together, decide to do what bros do best and go on a camping trip. Backdated to the afternoon and evening directly following Black Mage's untimely death.

(A) 726 Anderson Lane
[Housemates are welcome to notice Slugger's unusually high spirits as he gathers up the necessary supplies for a camping trip: sleeping bag, lantern, marshmallows, food, etc. Closer inspection will reveal an ashy black substance on his pant leg and a lingering scent of smoke and burnt flesh that seems to follow him from place to place.]

(B) John Doe Park
[Two droned boys are setting up their tent and campfire in the park near the pond. Once enough sticks are gathered in a pile and the bonfire is started, there will be marshmallow roasting and bromance by the fire. Later on, possible ghost stories followed by a game of "what was that noise outside?" once they've retreated into their tent. (Possible posting order: you > Slugger > Pokey)]

(C) Park; early next morning
[While fast asleep in his sleeping bag, the droning begins to wear off. Soon, Slugger will awaken to find that his nightmare is actually a reality...]

Comments

A

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Just kind of... peering up from the evening paper like what is going on.]

Re: A

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Here comes a clue...]

Hey there, Pops.

[Big smile as he passes. Slugger disappears into the kitchen, gathering things like matches and marshmallows to put in his knapsack.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Oh. He's been droned. Wonderful. Sighing, Eddie folds the paper and sets it down before heading into the kitchen after Slugger.]

What are you doing with those matches?

[He doesn't trust Slugger with fire, droned or undroned.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[The book of matches are dropped into the knapsack. He then packs two of Pinkie's cupcakes in a paper bag.]

B

[birthclod.livejournal.com]

[Back at 502 Ricardo Street in the morning, Clod has also watched as Pokey gathered his share of the camping supplies. She hasn't said much to him during then, but merely observed exactly what he was doing.

Pokey didn't especially look like a boy who would voluntarily go camping or would especially enjoy the experience.

Through somewhat of a coincidence, a little later on outside during Clod's usual wandering around town, she came across the camping grounds in the park. What the hey, she needed something to do anyway. She edges closer to the camping grounds to see what's up.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Something rustles along the treeline and a kid she probably doesn't recognize steps out from the woods carrying a bundle of sticks under his arm. He doesn't appear to notice her yet as he piles the bundle upon a growing collection of firewood in front of a partially set-up tent.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey at the moment is just trying to set up the spokes keeping the tent up. And having quite a hard time with it, though he takes it with good humor. It would appear that his usual attitude doesn't just disappear along with the droning, but his technical skill as well.]

[birthclod.livejournal.com]

Friend of yours, I take it. [She says now addressing her "brother", Pokey. Clod approaches the camping site and the two boys and turns her head exclusively in the direction where Slugger stands.]

Hello there.

[The boy is droned, Clod believes, but there's a fair chance that the "boys" may be droned. It's best to play along. There's nothing she can really do for either of them.

Might as well have fun.]

B

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[Ai is walking by and ....wait what?


Now standing outside the tent...]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Voices are coming from inside, familiar voices. However, there's something off about the tone of the voices. Since when do either Slugger or Pokey sound so cheerful...?

Upon peeking inside the tent, she'll find Slugger holding up part of the tent to keep it from collapsing, presumably while Pokey fixes it. He has yet to realize someone is watching.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[And Pokey is just trying his damnedest but, eh, it is not going to well, truth be told. But his optimism is just boundless.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[Looking in the tent at them.]

C

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[And when you wake up and you know, realize how insane this all was. You can step outside to see Ai sitting nearby.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[By now the tent is (probably) in shambles. After emerging, Slugger comes to stand not far from where Ai is sitting. He doesn't say a word as he tries to recover from the afternoon and evening's previous humiliation.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[That might take a while. Ai will stand up after a moment though.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[The day's events following Black Mage's death are still catching up to him. Next time he does any killing, he'll be sure to do it indoors.

Finally, he speaks, though he refuses to meet Ai's gaze.] ...How long have you been here?

C

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Just turning and mumbling unintelligibly in his sleep. Looks like the "dream" hasn't quite ended for him yet.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[In the bag beside Pokey's, Slugger jerks in his sleep as if subconsciously trying to kick himself awake. However, it doesn't quite work as intended and he manages to kick Pokey instead.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Well, that jolts him up. Being struck, even lightly, is something he's primed himself to wake up from, and he looks this way and that. The fact that he isn't in his room doesn't help his small freak out he's moving towards.

Nor does the fact that he know slightly remembers what happened.

Like lightning (or as much like lightning that a fat kid can be), Pokey moves over to Slugger, shaking him to try and get him out of his sleep.]

Get up!

A

[deaths-heritor.livejournal.com]

...

Should I ask?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[In the process of rolling up a sleeping bag on the floor, he gives his "mother" the biggest smile imaginable which somehow still looks mischievous despite his obvious droned state.]

[deaths-heritor.livejournal.com]

No, I shouldn't.

...Remind me to have a talk with you whenever you get home from whatever it is you're doing. ...What are you doing?

B

[encored]

[well he was on his way to enjoy a walk, but it isn't often people decide to camp out in the park and it piques his curiosity. when he recognises one of the two people there he pauses for a moment, nearly saying something in greeting before noticing how off they seem.

...WOW irony at its finest. Charles is now officially convinced that Slugger and apparently everyone associated with him is a droning magnet.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

["Off" may be putting it too lightly. Horrendously-out-of-sorts is more suitable. Slugger is no longer his quietly smirking, introverted self as he sits beside Pokey with an elbow resting on his best friend's shoulder and face split by a numbingly cheerful smile. The two of them are roasting marshmallows on sticks over the bonfire.

Upon spotting Charles, the droned Slugger gives a wave.]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[Pokey meanwhile is blowing on his own marshmallow before biting into it, only really bothering to turn and look to see someone is there when Slugger bothers to point it out. He smacks his lips, finishing off the marshmallow before waving.]