A Cat Stuck In A Tree

[Max Griffiths]

*I hear a tap shut off in the kitchen, and follow the sound. The killjoy's standing by the sink, and I cross the room, grab his shoulder, and push him back against the tiled wall* Tell me what happened.

*I know the force is a bit unnecessary, but after hearing him shout at Red I'm not feeling particularly lenient. I don't try to hide it with my tone of voice, either.*

[Funhouse Gear]

*I don't know how a man Max's size can move so quietly, but I don't hear him coming and don't get a chance to brace myself when he shoves me back. I swear when my head hits the wall - it wasn't hard, but with the lump already there it hurts like hell. He doesn't let go of my shoulder, and I feel more than a little cornered. Someone needs to remind me why we let him stay.*

Let up, will you? *He doesn't move, and I scowl* Fine. Red went looking for food like you thought she had, and ended up at the grocery you found us outside of. While she was inside a gang of killjoys showed up and apparently figured out she came from BLI. When I found them they had her on the floor, and I had to fight our way out.

[Max Griffiths]

*My hand tightens on his shoulder, and I ignore his exclamation.* On the floor? *If he means what I think he does, that would explain Red's behavior and her request that I leave. It would also necessitate a return trip to the grocery and a new set of batteries for my gun. Possibly a new knife, as well. Mine would be rather dull by the time I got back.*

[Funhouse Gear]

Ow! Shit, man - *I bite off my next line, one part of me wanting to punch him or something to get him off me, but a much larger part of me not wanting my head smashed into the tiles in retaliation.* They didn't, you know, /do/ anything to her, okay? Now will you please back off?

[redhavoc]

*With the jacket and blanket around me I feel a bit better. When it becomes obvious I'm not going to sleep anytime soon I reach for Arson's notebook, intending to draw a little. One of the killjoys suggested I try practicing drawing to pass the time and showed me how to draw a tree. I start one, but continue the line instead of stopping where I should. I swirl the pen round and round. Soon I find myself staring into a messy black hole, ink smearing on the side of my hand*

*I stare at it for a while before I turn to the next page and try again, the process calming me a little*

[Moonlight Revenge]

*after staying for too long under the sun, I get so tired and decide to go back to the theater and when I get there, I find Nack still there* Nack, is there anything new about... *I don't continue my question and get distracted by the noise coming from the kitchen, hoping that Gear and Max found Red and came back with her* I'll go see what's happening *I go to the kitchen to find Gear's back to the wall and Max grabbing his shoulder and it looks like Gear's in pain* Max... please calm down and let his shoulder go. *I say that in a low voice hoping Max doesn't try to do anything worse* just tell me if you found Red, sit down and let me try to help you clean your wounds but just let him go. We're in this together and you don't want to make it worse, do you?!

[Max Griffiths]

*I glance over when the girl appears in the doorway, then look back at the killjoy and let go. I have the information I wanted, anyway, and at this point I don't think I'll be going after the gang. It looked like the killjoy - Gear, I suppose I should call him - had handled them well enough that they wouldn't be coming back. It would take a while to track them down, and I don't want to leave Red for that long.*

*Ignoring what the girl said - I have no injuries and I'm most certainly /not/ "in it together" with the killjoys - I push my way past into the hallway, and return to the front of the theater to take up watch outside the front doors. I'll check back in a few hours, like I'd told Red.*

[Funhouse Gear]

*I straighten up when Max leaves, rubbing my shoulder.* Thanks, Moon. Yeah, we got Red back. This - *I gesture vaguely towards my face* - is from the killjoys I had to fight off to get her back. She's in her room right now.

*I go back over to the sink and start packing up the first aid kit, careful not to hit my raw knuckles on anything* I think I've got myself pretty well managed, at least until Jump gets back and can give me a once-over. I might just find somewhere to lie down, see if I can get rid of my headache.

[Moonlight Revenge]

I'm glad you got her back... *I get kind of confused when he said "killjoys" because killjoys must help each others not try to kill each others* take a rest as much as you want, I might go check on Red and then keep an eye on the area around and I hope those "killjoys" don't come back soon. *I get out of the kitchen and go search for Red until I find her* I'm so glad you're back, Red *I smile* now please try to take a rest, I know it has been a long time. I'll leave you alone now so you can relax. *I get out of the room and go to check if the area around is still safe*

[redhavoc]

*I make an effort to wave at Moon when she pokes her head in for a second. She's always been friendly to me. I wonder why she doesn't stay, but soon go back to drawing the black swirls*

[Funhouse Gear]

*I find a cot in one of the other rooms and drag it out to the back of the stage, wanting to be available if anything happens. I'm positive I wasn't followed back to the theater, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the gang looking for us. I don't know about the others, but Captain seemed like someone to hold a grudge.*

*Lying on my back, the cot just behind a side curtain, I try to relax and hope I'm not too sore when I wake up. My head's still pounding, but the dark and quiet help. And at least I won't be hungry while I'm asleep.*

[Max Griffiths]

*I lean against the wall of faded movie posters for some time, the street visible for several blocks in either direction. Movement off to one side prompts me to draw my gun, but it's just the female killjoy, walking the area. I walk the perimeter of the theater three times, half an hour between each, but my restlessness builds. I want to sit with Red, or go after the bastards who tried to hurt her, but neither is an option right now. The two-hour-mark comes around, but I stay where I am, staring across the street at an empty clothing store. There's a wooden manikin in one window, head missing and arms skewed.*

*I don't belong here.*

*I don't belong with the killjoys. I'm not one of them, and I never will be. Not anymore. But I can't go back to the city, either. Red's my only link - to anything, really. And even though if there's anyone in the world I'd trust it would be her, I can't make myself believe that nothing will change. Humans are inherently unreliable. I'm not quite drifting and it's an untenable position to hold; I don't know how long I can maintain it.*

[Moonlight Revenge]

*after making sure that the area around is safe, I get back to the theater to take a rest after this long day... I walk around inside until I find a place t rest and I run my fingers through my hair while taking a deep breathe* 'I hope nothing worse happens' *I lay down on my back and start staring at the ceiling until I actually fall asleep*

[Arson Anthem]

(From "All the Diamons You Ate", pg. 4)

*Soon enough the first buildings come into view, the town as deserted as ever. It's not far, and within a few minutes we round the corner onto the theater's block, parking in the alley to stay out of sight*

[petroleumblaster]

*I hop out and start loading cans back into the bags. They've been flung everywhere in the back and I wouldn't be surprised if we miss a few and find them in the van later. I'm just relieved the powdered milk didn't burst. That would have been a bummer. I also pack up my gear, including that extra gun, into my small backpack. No use misplacing that*