Gilbert Summers, "The Hat"
Location: Ville au Camp (The Mill -> Gate)
Skills: N/A
The Hat was aware of the sound of truck engines, same as Andromeda. But more than this, he felt something from this new source of noise. He paused for just a moment, attempting to ascertain what this could mean. This was an event that was outside of the general schedule of the Loop. New things happened because of a chain of cause and events - while that could be said to be true everywhere, within the Loop every day started exactly the same, differences occurring because of new choices of those within it each day. Gilbert seriously doubted that one of the Emendators or Paradoxes did something to draw down a convoy this early in the day. Maybe even Evie had something to do with it. The strange but familiar drawing feeling might be indicative of just that, but it felt different somehow. Like a close but imperfect copy of the essence of himself. A cousin of questionable parentage. It was unsettling. Suffice it to say, he was concerned.
His voice remained cool. "No, Andromeda. We are not." He eyed the pale Paradox for a second or two. This was not an expected thing. It could be nothing. On the other hand, it could definitely be something bad. Andromeda was trained well by the elder Emendator, and this was home ground. It was supposed to be safe. If for whatever reason it was not, they would have to stand ready to defend it. "Fortune favors the prepared", as the saying went, though he wasn't sure whether he invented the saying a few hundred years ago or if he just heard it someplace. Either way, it was accurate. "The field trip is postponed. Please come with me."
Gilbert closed the back door, covering the portal set up to take them to New York in the 1980s. It could wait, or be reestablished later. Turning on his heels, he strode quickly down the rows of weaponry on his way to the front door. There wasn't time to be picky in selections; he didn't mean to take time to find just the right piece to suit his fancy that morning. Passing by the pistols of the era, he snatched up a Colt M1911 pistol and, operating purely out of muscle memory, inserted a magazine and passed it plus an extra mag, back to Andromeda. "Borrow whatever you are comfortable with, from this year and back. If this is not an emergency, we can always say we were hunting." Yes, Emendators lied. Sometimes Gilbert lied just to get by in the world.
Without breaking stride, he snatched up two lever-action Winchester rifles. He checked both to make sure they were fully loaded, then slid one into a leather rifle scabbard that he acquired from the endcap display. "I always had mixed emotions about the American West." he mused, finally reaching the front doors. Gilbert half expected to see some kind of armed group making their way toward their little Armory, but was pleased to see nothing particularly out of order. Looking back to (hopefully) make sure that Andromeda was still with him, Gilbert chambered a round in one rifle and slid the occupied scabbard over his shoulder. He then got low, making his way toward the Gate. As he neared, he straightened up and held his weapon in a safe resting position, sauntering up behind Giosue while he was in the middle of being polite.
This wasn't quite what he was expecting. "So, what did I miss?"
James Grady
Location: Ville au Camp (Study -> In Front of Main House)
Skills: N/A
To begin, the seeming apathy to a boisterous man running about the main house screaming about needing help wasn't lost on him. In fact, it was beginning to lead to actual, honest emotions verging on varieties of incredulity and outright anger. Where the hell had everyone gotten off to? And why was something which could conceivably be an attack upon one of their own being largely ignored? Oh, there was plenty for James to be upset about, not the least of which was one simple observation:
If Alicia was gone, truly gone from whatever life this was, it would be the second time that she expired right in front of him, while he was helpless to do anything about it.
Or was he truly helpless? Could he have done something, this new him that turned into a boar and spoke to squirrels? Even if he could, he didn't know how. It was maddening. Alicia was a very good friend of his, once upon a time. Very good friend. This new Alicia was different, but he could tell that there was a chance of getting some of that back with her. It was something he would have been willing to put actual time into. They were the troublemakers. They had fun. They did their jobs, but it was somehow less like work when they were allowed to be themselves doing it. And yet, she was gone again. It wasn't fair. This had better be some new Paradox power manifesting, or a call from an Emendator, or something. James didn't want to lose her again.
Perhaps this was why the questions put to him when he reached the Study, courtesy of Alexandra and Bart, set him a bit on edge. "Ain't you listenin'? I said I needs me an adult, damnit! An' what ain't clear 'bout me sayin' that Taco Belle done pulled a David Lo Pan an' now she gone? Bitch ain't here no more, gone. As in, girly girl was here, and BLAM - gone! Ain't here. Opposite of here! Let's do some math onnit: You got one Alicia, right? Then y'all take one away, see? That's how many Alicias y'all got left!"
James shook his head, trying to remember which Emendators were left in Ville au Camp and where they said they might be. "Need an adult. Imma go hunt for The Watch or The Hat or The One Fuckin' Ring if'n it can gimmie a hand with this now..." A firmer grasp on his emotions, James walked from the Study and out onto the grass in front of the main house. At least bitching in the general direction of his fellow Paradoxes allowed him to get his head on straighter. Something was going on. He needed to know what.
1x Laugh
