2019-06-21 - Call Anytime?

(TXT to Erin) Alexander: Miss Addington. This is Alexander Clayton. You gave me your number.

(TXT to Alexander) Erin: I did. Is there something I can help you with?

(TXT to Erin) Alexander: You have a car? And experience with chemical burns?

(TXT to Alexander) Erin: I've studied chemical burns already and I do have a car. Where can I meet you? Are you sure you're well enough to wait for me? Should I get you to the hospital?

(TXT to Erin) Alexander: No hospital. I'm fine. Just burnt on top of previous burns. And wet. And I hate this town. I think I'm about three streets over from Spruce. Had to crawl out of an overflow pipe. I'll wait for you.

There are so many things running through Erin's mind as she races over to Spruce from Bay. Mostly was how Alexander was actually faring during it. "Overflow pipe?" It's a question directed solely at herself and makes very little sense as pertaining to a chemical burn. Driving carefully after leaving the hospital and all of the questions there, she is uneasy and jumps at every lightning flash. Not exactly sure where she is going, her headlights somewhat illuminate the area as she drives slowly through, looking for the familiar figure. Her headlights catch the shirt first then she realizes and brakes slowly. Her door is flung open and she steps a booted foot out to stand. "Can you get in or do you need me to come help?"

"Thank you for coming, Miss Addington. I can walk," Alexander says, and proceeds to prove it as he slouches his way through the rain towards the car. It's probably a very nice car. Which is probably going to be problematic because when he reaches out to open the passenger side door, the SMELL floats over, even through the rain. It is a powerful and unpleasant sort of smell, with lots of sewery stench. And unless stopped, he's gonna get in the car and fill it with that stench. And whatever is smeared all over him is going to get on the upholstery.

It is a very nice car. A very nice over a hundred thousand dollar car. A Maserati to be exact. But Erin had already ducked inside when he assured her he could make it on his own, proud of herself for not ruining her boots. As the door opens she catches a whiff of the stench and stiffens. It's a powerful small that almost makes her vomit, but she fights it, not wanting to add to the mess in the car. Doesn't stop the dry heave though that she can't control. "Why?" The first thing that pops into her mind. "Why are you wearing feces?"A quick look around fails to net him a towel. "Should we go to your house so I can.. take care of that?"

"Something dragged us down into the sewers, and then slime monsters threw exploding, burning fecal matter at us." This is said quite calmly, as Alexander closes the door of the car, trapping them inside with the Smell. Which yes, does deserve the capital letter. He looks down at his chest, and sighs. "I would have called Easton, but he crashed his car. And he sucks at first aid. I'm sorry, Miss Addington." A pause. "My house would be fine. I'll...pay you back." A look at the inside of car and some quick mental calculations. "It will require an installment plan."

With both hands gripping the steering wheel Erin tries to wave it off without removing her hands. A quick shake of her head, "No, it's.. It will be fine. I'll take you to your place and take care of you there. The car can be cleaned." Her lips twist marginally. "And fumigated." Oh she's trying to make light of it. "I won't take your money, I've got it covered." Her brows pucker. "Easton wrecked his jeep? Was he hurt?"

Alexander turns his head to stare at her with flat, dark eyes. His hair is plastered to his head, but he doesn't reach up to scrape it out of the way, possibly because of the muck. Maybe even Alexander doesn't want to touch it any more than he has to. "You are kinder than I would have guessed." He says, at last, and turns back to study the dark road. "I believe so. But he is home from the hospital now. He has learned that shooting ghosts is not effective. Educational."

"Shooting ghosts? I can.. just imagine him doing that, actually." Erin drives at a safe speed and breathes through her mouth, careful to not breathe in the odors. For now she is maintaining. His house isn't too terribly far at all, but the lightning flashes with all of the power out seems to make everything look unfamiliar in the darkness. "Tell me where to turn in." The words are spoken softly and she's careful not to breathe in. "I feel like we're close."

Alexander points at a small house in the middle realm of Elm street - not /incredibly/ close to the trailer park, but not the nicer end of the street, either. It's impossible to make out any details in the flashes of lightning, but the house doesn't really look all that terrible. Neat and tidy, more than anything. "He has a lot of guns," Alexander agrees, quietly. There may be a little bit of worry there. "It's right here." When they park, he gets out of the car quickly. Oh god, there are stains - but at least the smell clears largely out when he does. He moves towards the door with his head bowed.

The house is dark. Of course it is, just like most every other house on the street, because the power is out. There may be a back up generator because Alexander seems the type that's prepared for anything but Isolde is likely the last person you want touching something like that. There is movement of a flashlight from the front window if it can be differentiated from the periodic flashes of lightening and the sheets of rain coming down.

When they enter the house, Isolde is sitting with the flashlight on the floor by Luigi's cage, speaking softly to him. The bird is likely still on high alert but no longer twittering endlessly. Unless there's a loud crack of thunder. In which case, both of them are usually startled. Isolde is up on her feet rather quickly when the front door opens, holding the flashlight almost defensively. "Alexander, are you home?" Her voice is a whisper though, not sure if she should trust who or what is coming into the house. Her nerves are well shot and the smell that Alexander carries with him into the house is not a pleasant one when it hits her. She gags but, manages to keep everything down for now.

"He is an ex-marine. I think sometimes his comfort and protection comes from guns. Even if they prove to be useless to what we're now finding to be our enemies." Erin looks over when he points out the house and she slows gradually so she doesn't slide in all of the rain, then pulls in. The car is super expensive, but she's holding her own with Alexanders condition. Parking, she opens the door and climbs out, not even looking at the seat. She'll follow him to the door then inside. It takes her a moment to gather her wits about her and she looks around in the darkness, unable to see much of anything. "Alexander is hurt and I've brought him home. I'm going to help him if I can. I'm Erin Addington." Uncertain who she is speaking to.

"Isolde Morrison," Alexander supplies the name of the voice in the dark. "It's me, Isolde. Sorry for not calling sooner." He frowns at the darkness inside, and reaches out for a lamp. Instead of turning it on, he unplugs it, holds the plug in his hand, and concentrates. It comes to flickering, uncertain light, but at least it's enough to see by for a moment. "Miss Addington, you may want to sit on the couch. I'll go...wash some of this off and get the first aid kit." He's got some acid-like burns on his chest and one arm. "It won't stay lit after I let go. Sorry."

The female voice startles her some, but there's worry when she hears Alexander is hurt. When Alexander turns the light on just my holding the cord, Isolde looks wide-eyed for a moment, but the fleeting awe goes right back to worry when she sees the state Alexander is in. "What happened?" To Alex, and then looking to Erin as she motioned to the couch encouraging her to sit too. "You can help him? Are you sure?" Her grip on the flashlight relaxes a little. "I have the flashlight. It's okay." When Alexander says the light will go off when he lets go. Then a very soft 'Thank you' is murmured to Erin.

"I think the sofa is the safest places. It's better than me wandering around in the dark in a new place." Erin is trying to be as informal as possible and she walks over, glancing down at her suede boots briefly. It's a lamenting look but it doesn't last before she's smiling again. "Isolde, if that's fine if I call you that. Please call me Erin. I think Alexander never will drop my last name." Settled down, she tries to look reassuring amid the storm outside. "I can help him, I'm sure I can. Just like he can light a lamp with his hand," she looks a little chagrined at that. "It's nice to meet you, Isolde."

Alexander sighs. "Got swept into the sewers. There were monsters. They flung toxic feces." There's a sudden, brief smile towards Isolde. "You really may want to reconsider staying in this damned town." And then he drops the cord and the room is plunged into darkness again. He makes his way across the floor towards the bathroom with the ease of someone who has lived in one place for years and NEVER changed the furniture. The water, thank god, is not out with the power, and there's the sound of a shower running. Over the next few minutes, the Smell decreases markedly, and breathing without the urge to gag becomes possible.

Isolde says, "You can call me that yes. Or Izzy, Erin. Nice to meet you." Isolde offered in return. Still looking concerned. Which increases with Alexander's story and only decreases a fraction of a fraction when he smiles and tells her to reconsider her stay. "Too late to change my mind." She tugged at her hair and then perched on the arm of the couch before the room was plunged into darkness again. Aside the dim light of the flashlight. Which she points towards Erin to see her some as they talk.

"You're a glittery person too." Isolde said, seeming the trace the flashlight over Erin's arm briefly and then refocus it back on the spot that allowed for looking at Erin's face without blinding her as well. "We were getting worried...is bad out there. I'm glad you brought him home." "

"Izzy. I like that. I can imagine our friend Alexander doesn't much go for the nicknames though." Erin laughs a little. She does watch his shadow going across the room. "I just want him to know if he needs a ride again that he will call. It always comes with free medical assistance. I figure there's those of us that are the same in some ways and we need to stick together against the ones who would want to harm us." She doesn't mind the flashlight, it chases the immediate shadows away. "It is bad out there. The power is out all over, I think."

The shower turns off, and there's the sound of someone moving /hastily/ from the bathroom to the single bedroom, the door closing behind him long enough for Alexander to pull on some pants, at least. He emerges soon enough, and makes his way to the living room again. Even in the dark, he doesn't seem to have any trouble knowing where the two are, and he makes his way around them to take a seat on the couch, putting the well-stocked first aid kit on the table. "It's a fucking mess. And the city needs to fix the sewers," he says, sourly. "Even without the monsters, it floods." A pause. "Thank you, again, Miss Addington. For coming. And sorry again, Isolde. For not calling. I didn't mean to worry you." The conure in the corner twitters. "Or you, Luigi."

"He does not." Isolde confirmed with a small smile. "You're a nice lady." She offered, relaxing a little more and nodding in agreement. "Can't let the bad things get us. Can't let them suffocate the good things either." Her attention flits up briefly as doors open and close.When Alexander came back, she adjusted the flashing so they could all kind of see what they were doing. "I am glad you are okay. Well...asides the burning and the bad things..." She says to him. Looking back to Erin, "Can I watch how you fix it?"

Waiting for him, Erin continues to speak with Isolde, but she can hear when the shower goes off. The wafting smell of the soaps is welcome and after a nod to her she reaches for the first aid kit. "Sure, I've been taking night classes in Seattle. I'm just not telling my family what I'm up to, but I've been training to be a nurse on top of the 'glittery stuff'." Calling it what Isolde had. "I'm glad you called me, Alexander and I'm to help all I can." Using sterile water, she gently douses it and catches it on his unburned skin instead of running the gauze on the burn and risking tearing the skin there. "Right now, all I want to do is clean it and bandage it. If the skin blisters or tears, you don't pop the blisters at all. If it tears, we'll add some antibiotic. Right now it's just red from the burn." So she cleans it then gently wraps it with loose, non-stick gauze. That's the medical part of it. Which is far, far below the power of the glimmer part. Her lips curve as she places a hand flat on his chest and the other on his arm, both touch very loosely. Lifting her eyes to his she doesn't have to do or say anything other than concentrate, and look at him.. and she can feel the difference before she lowers her hands. There's a bright smile. "It should feel better?"

For once, Alexander doesn't curse and whine like a baby when being treated by someone other than himself. His hands tighten on his knees as she reaches out to treat the wound, but aside from a hiss and the stiffening of his spine, he bears it with dignity. He's probably got some experience: aside from the larger healed burn on his chest that THIS burn landed on top of, there are a lot of various scars on his upper body. "Why?" he asks, when he can talk without cursing again. "You don't need the money. And there are easier ways to find diversions." It's not hostile, but it is...regrettably blunt. He takes a breath. "It feels much better."

Isolde watches quietly and curiously as Erin works. Adjusting the flashlight now and then to aid her and make sure she could see everything. There's a tiny look of fascination on her features. So simple...a laying of hands and it felt better. She looked down to her own hands for a moment but then shook her head and refocused on the pair. "Maybe she wants to just be known as Erin sometimes. No shadows of a last name."

Startled by the perception, Erin lifts her head and smiles at Isolde. "My grandmother, who is really not my grandmother at all, currently provides anything I ever want. I assume she will not live forever. If one of my uncles inherits then I'll be left to my own devices. I want a fall back. A failsafe. I need that." She sighs quietly, "And I need to help others. Healing is something I need to do, to be a part of. It's what I do that makes this glittery stuff make sense to me. I figure if I use it for good, maybe I'm leveling the field some, between us and the bad guys. There are so many reasons why." She looks back to Alexander, "Then I've done something right."

"Your grandmother." Alexander frowns, speaking slowly, thoughtfully. He looks to Isolde and her perceptive comment, then back to Erin. "I see. Practical. And idealistic." He glances down at his chest. "Thank you. For the aid." A long pause. "I have been looking into the history of the town. Did you know some of your relatives were burned at the stake as witches? And we still have some ice cream, don't we, Isolde? Would either of you want some? If it hasn't melted everywhere." On that happy note, he rises to his feet and makes his way back to the bedroom to pull on a shirt.

Isolde thinks on that for a moment and then nods again. "A backup plan is a good plan." She agrees. "There are lots of glittery people in this town. Not sure if that's good or bad still." Tapping her chin. She didn't look surprised by Alexander's comment, likely it had probably come up in a past conversation they had. "We do!" Confirming the ice cream. "No pie though. But definitely ice cream. What kind of ice cream do you like Erin?" Focusing back the Addington.

There's a solemn nod, "I heard rumors. I like the kind of rumors I hear when someone doesn't recognize me. Or doesn't care. Then I get the real truthful ones." Erin stands to her feet and gives Isolde a smile after Alexander had disappeared to the bedroom. "I really should be getting home and I definitely don't want to eat ice cream before getting back in my car until it's cleaned. I'm fairly certain I won't be able to hold anything down if I did." Another smile is offered in the darkness. "I should go though, just keep an eye on him during the night and if you need me, do call. If it's an emergency, call the ambulance." She won't linger, she'll find her way out after a few trips here and there.

Alexander emerges from the bedroom. Even in the dark, he doesn't have to be told that Erin is gone. He frowns towards the door, then makes his way towards the couch to sit down near Isolde. "I'll have to find some way to pay her back. Since she doesn't want ice cream, apparently." HARUMPH. Although he only sounds a little grumpy. "Are you okay, Isolde?"

Isolde looks just a little disappointed that Erin is leaving, but smiles again. "Maybe another time. Be safe in the rain. The bad things are in full force I think. I will watch him and call you if anything happens." She would provide some light from the flashlight to help Erin navigate out. Then she slides down to the couch properly.

Her attention turned back up to Alexander when he arrived. "You can bring her ice cream." She suggested,laying the flashlight carefully on the table. Allowing some kind of illumination. "I am okay. And Luigi is okay. We were scared a little though." And he may be able to pick up just a touch that something is different about Isolde. It's extremely subtle but, since he has just a high affinity for the Mental aspect, he can pick up that she might just be a little glittery now too.

"I didn't intend to leave you both for so long," Alexander says, running his hands through his wet hair. "I got lost." He considers her in the darkness, then picks up the flashlight to shine it on her. Not on her eyes! But around most of the rest of her. He frowns. "Did something happen? You seem...sharper."

"We're just glad that you're home now." Isolde assured him with a little smile. "That you're not lost anymore." Her head tilts when he shines the light on her. "I do?" Furrowing her brow a little. "I..don't think so." Looking around the darkened livingroom and then back towards him. "Just me and Luigi and I tried to talk to him to keep us both calm."

Alexander continues to stare at her. "Hm." A glance at Luigi in the darkness, then back at her. "Interesting. Would you do an experiment with me, Isolde?" He sits back, and considers her. "Close your eyes, and try to send me a picture. In my mind. Don't speak of what it is. Just construct it in your mind, and then...reach out to me." Because that makes sense.

Isolde looks at him curiously. "I guess so." Agreeing to the experiment. It's not like there was anything else pressing going on. She turned to face him a little better and closed her eyes as instructed. A snap of thunder did make her jump a bit but then she relaxed again. A picture of what? Hmm...Isolde thought about the apple pie and moose tracks ice cream that had been for breakfast. That seemed simple and safe. Then she tried to keep that picture in her head as she thought about Alexander. Not really sure what it was achieving still.

Alexander concentrates on just keeping his mind open and receptive, watching her with interest as she agrees and then closes her eyes. He closes his, as well. Then, he starts to laugh. "Isolde. The pie and ice cream was a lovely breakfast. But to still be thinking about it?" He pretends to shakes his head in mock sadness. Then smiles. "It looks like you've learned to focus a bit."

Isolde's eyes flew open in surprise. Clearly not expecting it to actually be a thing. Then she chuckled and looked downward for a moment. "It was a good thing." A little shrug and then back up at him with a smile. "And you put me on the spot." Her eyes widen some when he says she's learned to focus. "Really? That's a...that's a good thing right?"

"It was a good thing," Alexander agrees, quietly. "And yes, I think that's a good thing, too. You may start being able to feel other people - their feelings. When you want to, and not just..." he grimaces, "when the world decides to force you to. It's helpful. To know if people are going to try to hurt you, or if they are safe. It's not perfect. Trust your other instincts. But it's a tool."

"You were right then." Isolde studied him for a moment longer. "I am getting stronger here." Thinking on that. "I will have to practice! You'll help me?" There was another pause where her gaze drifted down towards his shirt and then back up to him, a quiet question following - "Are all those scars from getting lost?"

There's a long pause, Alexander looking startled by the request. Then troubled, even though he's damn near walked right into it. He thinks it over, then, slowly, nods his head. "I can try. Yes. If you promise me, Isolde. That you won't, if you get stronger...you won't change people's minds or twist them up unless it's the only way to save yourself." Her second question draws a shrug. "Not all. I got into fights when I was younger. Things like that. But most of them. Yes."

Isolde nodded emphatically. "I don't want to hurt people. I don't want to be a bad thing. Good things don't change and twist people." She said firmly. "Maybe sometime you can tell me about some. If you want to talk about them." She offered and then cleared her throat a little. "But you should sleep." Funny, normally he was the one telling her to get sleep. "And I'm going to make sure you don't get lost any more tonight."

"No," Alexander agrees, very softly. "Good things don't." He takes a deep breath and, in more conversational tones, says, "There's not much interesting to tell. I was a weird kid, people didn't like me, I didn't know when to shut up. Got punched, punched back." A shrug, then a smile. "I should sleep? Very well. But you don't have to stay up to watch me, Isolde. I want you to sleep, too." He stands. "You're a good thing, Isolde Morrison. Remember that." Then he shuffles off to his bedroom.