entranceway | Action + Video - I'm off on this super fun adventure

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Action + Video - I'm off on this super fun adventure

[ARRIVAL; Action]

[It's been something of A Day for Louis. A roller coaster of some really awesome and some really horrifically terrible shit. One minute, he was standing over that absolute jackass, Abel, and the next he's stumbling out of the first floor storage room out into the corridor with some comedic arm flailing. He catches himself, then stills, glancing around the space that is definitely not Ericson's courtyard.]

Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.

[He lets out a soft laugh that's toeing a little too close to hysterical. Carefully, he slides what looks like (and turns out IS) a chair leg with nails rammed into the top from an inside pocket of his held-together-by-love-and-duct-tape trenchcoat. For the observant, there's a blood stain on the upper arm, dry, a few weeks old, but definitely there, and definitely around a recently duct-taped hole. He raises his makeshift mace as he edges to a window, peering out at the perfect, beautiful Walker-free grounds.]

Oooookay, Lou. You're having a little bit of a psychotic breakdown. That's okay, that's fine. It's been a weird day. You knew it would have probably happened eventually. It's all good. Someone'll snap you out of this any second now.

[If you're heading towards him or passing him by, congrats, you've got his attention, he'll wave at you with his free hand.]

Hi there, mental breakdown conjuration. How's it hanging? Good? Good. I'm great. Not freaking out at all.

[LATER; Video]

[Once he's been filled in on what's actually happening (but still not utterly convinced this isn't some kind of stress-induced hallucination) Louis picks himself a room. He has his first hot shower in literal years, and even trusts the (magic????) closets to give him a new set of clothes. Aside from the trenchcoat. That remains as filthy and duct-taped as always. He's not parting with that for anything.

He sets himself up in the kitchen, where he sets up his communicator with a few false starts. It's been a long-ass time since he got to play with actual electronics. He's got a veritable feast on the table around him- ranging from god-awful junk food to fancy-ass steaks. They never truly starved in the school, but when all you have to eat for nigh on eight years are variations of rabbit, fish or berries, you can't help but indulge. He'll regret it later, when his system freaks out from suddenly having too-rich nutrients again, but that is a risk he's absolutely willing to take. He grins, giving the camera a thumbs-up. He doesn't get what's happening at all, but he can't just sit still, this...this keeps him active.]

Hey there, fellow captives-slash-mental breakdown prisoners! The name's Louis and I'm brand new to this... whatever it is. AnyHOO, seen as it sounds like I'll be here for a while, I thought I'd get to know you a little better. [He raises a dirty, dog-eared pack of playing cards t the screen.] So! If any kids wanna come to the kitchen and share in my bountiful feast and have a good old game of War, you're totally welcome to. Highest card gets to ask a question to the other person, fun, right? Or, I guess, you can be boring and do it over the video instead. What'd you say?

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( Clementine smirks in amusement at the question, shaking her head in amusement. Three years ago, she was in Wonderland experiencing it so she probably experienced having so much free time to herself way sooner than he has. )

You're about to find out.

( Her smirk widens. )

No food to hunt for. No walkers or raiders to fight. No defenses to build. Just all this time, whole days even where you don't have to do anything at all.

Sounds like a dream come true.

[Like the world Before. But better- because Ericsson wouldn't be there, looming over them like the douchenozzle he was. No, this would be...something new. ]

So, what do you do, with all this free down time?

A lot. I like to fill up as much time as I can.

( Clementine's not one to sit still in general, and well, too much time leads to too much thinking about what she usually is too busy to consider. )

I train as much as I can. I'm an intern for the paper. I made a room with a friend called the Destruction Room. I put up a bulletin board before I left so people could get lessons in whatever they wanted. I'm getting Art and Reading lessons.

[He makes a mental note of all of these- remembering them, because these are things she clearly wants to do. Things that make her happy. ]

That's a good idea. The bulletin board. Might as well share what skills we got, right?

[He could lend a hand there, at least. He offers her a smile. He's reminded once again how lucky he had it- having a base for the entirety of the mess back home. He had a whole library to indulge in, and indulge he did. Clem had no such luxuries.]

Y'know, if you ever wanna do some reading, we can totally do that.

[He winks, because if he can turn something into a charm offensive, he absolutely will. Anyone who didn't know him would probably think it was some weird teenage pseudo-innuendo. But it's not. He genuinely wants to sit in a nice chair and read with her. Good thing she does know him, really.]

( Clementine nods. They won't remember skills learned here when they return home, but they will at least get to have them here. They'll get to share them, enrich their lives, fill up some of that empty space because it's kind of endless.

And she's not as creative as he is in thinking up fun things to do. With what he managed in their world, she can only imagine what he'd think up here where they have nearly unlimited resources. She smiles back at him, easily charmed by him despite herself. )

Yeah, I would really like that. I'm sure you'd put your own spin on reading together. Do you do character voices?

( And like so many other things, she's sure reading books with him will be unique and fun even just listening to him talk as they take turns reading. Would be nice. ) I think the last main things to tell you is... you get to have any room you want. It'll change to look like whatever you want it to, complete with running water and a bathroom.

[With near-unlimited resources and only the boundaries of his imagination, Wonderland is going to have a very interesting time with Louis around. He'll make it his sole mission to banish boredom forever. They have no idea what's gonna hit 'em.]

You better believe I do character voices. It makes it way more fun.

[Holy shit a bathroom.]

And that sounds the most magical thing ever. A genuine hot shower. What are those? Can we eat them?

( Clementine smiles again, ducking her head at his mention of doing character voices, making it more fun. Yeah, she's definitely inviting him over to her next reading session, because- because he's Louis and that's all-

That's all she really needs to invite him. )

I don't know if you want to eat them. Hot water doesn't taste so good.

( Though she knows what it's like to be so thirsty that even hot water was better than nothing. )

It'll feel good though. Wash the walker stench away.

[He flashes what he hopes is a charming gin.]

What? You mean Eau Du Walker isn't a great scent? Wow. And here's me thinking it'd make all the ladies swoon.

[He shakes his head in faux sorrow.]

All those poor walkers, no clue how awful they smell.

( Clementine smirks at him, nudging him gently with her fingers in amusement. )

Swoon's not exactly the word I'd use for the scent.

Passing out from grossness. Maybe. ( Her smirk widens, eyebrows raised at him. ) But swoon?

[He laughs, putting a hand to his chest, to show her just how much she has broken his poor little heart. ]

Oh, ouch, Clem. You got me right there. The pain is real.

[It is not at all.]

Uh huh. You look like you're really suffering.

( She smiles at him, lifting her eyebrows in response in amusement and fondness both. Clementine takes his hand again and gives it a lil yank so she can show him where the rooms are. ) Besides, I am sure you smell better than walkers do.

I am. My suffering is great.

[He follows her with a wide grin, so clearly his suffering isn't that great.]

That's a real touching thing for you to say. I'm touched by your kindness.

I had to build you back up after I made you suffer so deeply.

( She smiles up at him, walking backwards as she goes. She knows this place well enough to do so, and she's at the stairs now- at the bottom of them. )

What floor do you want for your room? It goes up to ten.

You're a good person, the best. So kind.

[He means that too, joking aside. He's also impressed with the backwards stair walking. Even back in Ericsson's he's pretty sure he'd break his neck if he tried to do that.

It's a good question, though. Back home, he'd just stayed in his designated dorm room. Saw no reason to move when he'd been living there for so long anyway. Here? Well.]

Hmm. Probably not too close to all the food and stuff. [Attacks come, that's where they'll hit and you'll be right in the line between them and what they want.] Somewhere with a good vantage point but not so high you're gonna get stuck up there when the shit hits the fan. Probably a quiet floor, not a lot of people.

[It's going to take a while for that survival instinct to quieten a bit. To allow himself to just live with people normally. This is a mansion full of strangers, bar one and those are not odds he's comfortable with at all.]

Which one are you on?

( OOC: the moment when I realize that I never assigned Clementine a room when she got her big one month canon update. /GOES TO DO THAT >>)

( Clementine smirks a little, ducking her head because she knows he means it somehow. After everything, he means it. He thinks she's good, the best, and she doesn't know how she managed to get so lucky to find someone like him in her life.

Her expression grows thoughtful as he speaks. There's understanding in her gaze, because all of what he listed out, it's the reason she chose the floor she did. Some part of them, they'll never be able to shake those survival instincts. Clementine never wants to. It's what keeps her alive. )

I'm on floor 7 if you want to join me there. It's got everything you're looking for. Quiet floor, not a lot of people.

( She knows it helps to have at least one person you trust nearby. So they can watch each other's backs, and given Events and dangers can happen at any moment, it'd help to have him near. )

((OOC: LOL oops!))

[It's smart thinking. Louis might not plan for the future, but he doesn't sit out in the open and let death come find him, either. He'll make it difficult if the fates want to wrench him from this world. ]

Sounds perfect, for all those things you've listed but mostly the fact you're there.

( Clementine can't actually keep the smile, which tugs across her face as she looks up at him while they step up the stairs to floor seven. )

Good... to know I'm such a selling point for the floor, and- ( There's a pause then as she lingers and then: ) I'm glad you're here. I'm in that room, and the room right there is free. If you're interested.

Major selling point. You're right up there.

[For lots of reasons, really. Because she's her- because she's goddamn dependable in a fight, because she's the one person here he actually trusts, because he genuinely likes being around her. Lots of reasons. He nods at the door next to hers.]

Well, from now on this is gonna be Casa Del Louis. [He pauses.] So I just...walk in and claim it? I don't have to like...fill in a form or bleed on the threshold or anything?

You have to do an elaborate dance number in front of the door and then say the secret password.

( Clementine's expression manages seriousness despite the fact she is one hundred percent joking. It's a moment later before she smirks slightly. )

Just walk in.

[He flashes her a shit-eating grin.]

You know, I could still do the dance number. I'd need about five ostrich feathers and that a bucket of water suspended above a chair.

[Please don't let him dance. Despite the half-threat, he opens the door anyway, stepping inside. ]

This place has the weirdest dibs system ever. But I like it.

( Clementine laughs a little. Her voice is warm, quiet but warm and fond too. She's still kind of amazed that he's actually here. )

I think I'd pay to see that.

( Not that money's a thing here. ...she watches as he steps inside, and she walks up to the doorway, leaning against it a bit. )

I'll let you get settled in, but if you need anything, you... know where to find me.

I'll remember that. Maybe I'll hold a show sometime. Charge for viewing.

[He turns to offer her a smile. Honestly, knowing she's here makes this whole experience...well, more than bearable. He offers up a salute.]

I sure do. I should probably get the not-swoon-inducing-at-all walker stink off of...everything. But I'll see you soon, okay?

( Clementine smiles wider as she meets his gaze, shaking her head in amusement. She walks further, closer to him, leaning up to give him a kiss. )

You'll see me soon, but... yeah, go take a damn shower.

( It's said teasingly before she walks away from him and then down the stairs. Still feeling that heat of a blush all over her face on her way. )

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Action + Video - I'm off on this super fun adventure

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