Anger Showing
(Originally RP’d in discord, copypasting here for archiving!)
Featuring: @captaincamphammer
08/29/2022
[There's an eerie silence looming within the cabin. It's dark, and Noah fumbles for the light switch, but his hand makes contact with something wet and cold. He instinctively recoils from it immediately, instead opting to let his eyes adjust to the dark.]
[He calls out to anyone who might be in the room cabin.]
"Hey? Haven't seen anyone in a few hours- ya'll in here?"
[Not a word nor sound was heard in reply. Only the continuing uneasy dread that was now surrounding him.]
[The longer he lets his eyes adjust to the darkness, the more he is able to see ahead of him, around him. The more he's starting to regret even coming in here.]
[All at once, it felt as if a freight train ran clear over his senses. The gagging metallic smell, the smears and splatters of something dark and viscous, the literal forms of his fellow staff members strewn about....]
[Every fiber of his being wants him to RUN, to HIDE- hell he even wants to take down whatever it was that did this- just not Stay Here. But he just can't move. His legs won't budge, every muscle in his body is paralyzed from fear and dread and regret.]
[How could he have been completely unaware of this happening? Where had he been all night, this whole time?? He could've done something, been useful, interfered long enough for them to escape.....]
[He can't even utter a sound outside of a wheezing, panicked breath, much less a full word- he can only stare in disbelief, in horror as his mind swirls with the repeated remorse, trying desperately to stay afloat in the flood of thoughts.]
[He could've done something, he was strong enough, he could've done something, he was strong enough, he couldn't do something, he wasn't strong enough--]
[Noah jolts awake, sitting up in bed immediately and uncertain of his surroundings at first. His body is shaking with jittery anxious energy, a feeling he's long since discovered he hated. He lets out a staggered, slightly audible breath. In an attempt to get a hold of himself more quickly, he gives his head a firm shake or two and runs an unsteady hand through his hair.]
"......."
[He was just about to utter a slew of curse words to help himself chill out, but thought better of it- he wasn't alone in here, after all. There could be light sleepers around. It's bad enough someone might've heard him shifting restlessly in his sleep.]
[Instead, Noah runs a hand down his face...... The words from the bad dream were still floating through his mind, clear as day, as though he had legitimately thought them up just now.]
Handyman Nael:
[There is, indeed, light sleepers around.]
[Nael was always always a light sleeper. It was by design- as his father would say. A warrior's blood keeps the senses sharp. These past few months, he's found himself barely able to sleep at all, those words ringing in his head with the cold noose guilt and dread like a collar around his neck. A firm, authority, on the verge of strangulation. Who needs sleep, anyway. There was always too much else to keep the mind busy.]
[And yet, laying in his cot, listening to silence, watching dark, something catches his attention. Someone jolts awake nearby, with the ever-recognizable shudder of a nightmare. Or, a bad back-ache. Either way, it was a mood.]
[Silently, Nael waits for the rustle of sheets of someone easing back into sleep, and inwardly attempts to triangulate in the dark who was slept where. Maybe he can gather the social courage to ask them if they are doing ok, in the morning...]
Lifesaver Noah:
[He can't help but cast a glance to his nearest bunk neighbors, to actually confirm that he is NOT, in fact, alone, and they are, in fact, alive and breathing. While he couldn't exactly see anything very clearly, he could baaarely make out the sounds of breathing. Good. Sleeping. As they should be. Good......]
[The persistent tremors are still strong and refuse to leave him, similar to the nagging thoughts. He can't sit still anymore. He needs to get up and move, pace around, ANYTHING.]
[The shirt he wore that day was used once again, thrown on messily. Is it backwards? Inside out? Perhaps so. He just wants to be considerate of any other camp attendees afoot outside and not walk around shirtless.]
[Carefully and as quietly as he can manage in the dark, he stands from his bed and heads for the direction of the door. All the care in the world apparently couldn't prevent the floor from creaking two whole times, but it was out of his control at that point. He opens the door and sneaks right out.]
Handyman Nael:
[Oh, it was Noah. The lifeguard. Buff, handsome lad. Kind of rough disposition. Right. .... Was he leaving the cabin? At this hour? Well. That's just stupid.]
[Nael waits until he hears him creep slowly across the cabin- making mental note that those floor boards will need a look later- remaining motionless until he heard the soft wooden latch of the front door before he sits up himself. It couldn't hurt to keep watch. After all, if that brick house of a man accidentally put his foot through a wall in the pitch darkness, he'd be the one who would have to fix it.]
[... Or something like that. Sure. ]
[Silently, Nael slips on his binder, coveralls, and boots, creeping out after Noah into the night.]
Lifesaver Noah:
[Noah didn't venture out TOO far, at least. Just far enough that he could swear all he wants without worrying about waking anyone.]
[Nael had gone unnoticed, thanks to Noah's otherwise distracted mind. He's just trudging through the grass a little ways away from the staff cabin, nothing too dangerous. Each step seemingly carried the weight of his growing anger, however.]
[Under his breath is a whirlwind of curse words, both directed at himself and the nightmare. Hopefully no kiddos were out this late. Then again, that would be a whole other issue in itself.]
[His angry steps came to a slow stop. In front of him stood a lone tree, separated from the others nearby.]
[He walked right up to it after just a moment of pause, as if he had just made a decision in even doing so.]
[These trees were really. Really. Dumb looking. Was this what they looked like fully grown? No leaves? No branches? He's only ever seen them at this camp. Were they even real?? Did they provide oxygen like normal trees? Even the bark feels weird.]
[Unfortunately, this attempt at distracting himself was not helping quell his now boiling temper.]
Handyman Nael:
[One could really easily forget just how dark it gets out here in nature. Just how many stars can light up the sky, like the pinpricks in old plastic sheeting. It could really make one feel small. Like a bug under some cosmic magnifying glass, stared at by an unfathomable eye that only watches with passive disgust. Rude.]
[So Noah ran out here to look at the trees. A grounding action- literally, in this case. These were, after all, unlike any tree Nael had ever seen outside this valley. Tall and thin, like a white birch, yet with a gentle tuft in place of leaves or thorns. There was some significance in there, surely.]
[Surely, this guy wasn't planning on climbing the thing. Nael hangs back near the cabin, watching the figure a few yards off in either contemplation or an attempt to commune with nature. As for Nael, he simply did nae speak th language.]
Lifesaver Noah:
[Unfortunately, no such peaceful thoughts were coursing through his mind. While Nael was contemplating Noah's contemplation of the tree, something snapped. Unknown to the curious and possibly concerned onlooker, Noah had reached his boiling point just by standing there and observing this 'big dumb tree'.] [Without any warning or prior thought behind it, Noah reels back an arm.....]
[Not once, not twice, not even just three times- Noah pours every ounce of anger in him into each throw of his fists, releasing it in the form of HIT after hit, PUNCH after punch. At least this method is working....]
[It took a surprisingly short amount of time before tiny pieces of the poor tree start to flick away from the tree. Each hit is resulting in a bit more of a dent, a bit more bark removed, a bit more sap sticking to his knuckles.]
[By the time his fury dulls down enough for him to feel a sense of calm, there's a very clear chunk of the tree missing. Orrrr maybe it had just concaved in on itself after the repeated blows from rage-fueled fists. His hands are admittedly numb at this point, and he knows he'll be regretting this by morning. But at least his mind isn't bogged down by that bad dream anymore. For now, at least.]
Handyman Nael:
[Well, damn. Wasn't expecting that.]
[Nael catches his breath in his throat and simply watches, wide-eyed, as a man beats up a tree, nearly enough to splinter it to bits. It was... not a sight he had ever seen before, that was for certain.]
[Once Noah slows his fury, once Nael's feet are no longer concrete-sealed to the ground beneath him, he takes a slow breath and trudges closer- clearing his throat at several paces back as to not startle Noah- or earn any punches of his own]
"Auch. That'll shaw it who's boss. Smart-mouthing tree heich 'n' mighty wi' its stoatin poofy pink bunnet. Great big milk-smellin' toothpick. Tch."
[A little humor for brevity. He crosses his arms and looks up at the tufts of the tree, back down to the chipped bark, and then to Noah, frowning as always]
"... Saw you take off. You alright, then?"
Lifesaver Noah:
[Despite Nael's best efforts to not startle him, Noah still JUMPS at the sudden sound of his voice, breaking him from his near trance-like state. For that, he's actually really quite grateful to hear that familiar ol' accent. Always reminds him of his highschool wrestling coach's thick accent. It's likely the reason he's been able to understand what he and the other redhead says with more ease.]
[The fond moment of recollection is brief, as he suddenly comes to the realization that Nael, very clearly, had witnessed his little rampage against nature. But, he doesn't sound freaked out or scared..... He actually sounds pretty calm and collected, totally chill with the fact that Noah went full hulk on the dumb twig of a tree. Huh! That's a nice surprise.]
[As he finally turns around to face his newfound company, Noah can't help but sheepishly laugh at the humorous remarks. Turns out, he really needed that bit of humor.]
"Eheheh~ Yeaaah, I maaaay have gone a lil' overboard there..... But, it did help, gotta admit. Much better now."
[He raises a hand to push back some of his messy hair away from his face, and while doing so, winces. Maybe his hands weren't going to remain numb for as long as he originally thought- they're already starting to sting, and blood is forming where some cuts and scrapes occurred amid the punch fest. Nothing he was new to, but..... He tries to remain casual about it as he hides his hands in his pockets, in case Nael is spooked by blood. Another wince, but he's quick to put on a playful little smile to cover it.]
"You came all the way out 'ere to check on lil' ol' me?"
Handyman Nael:
[When Noah jolts, Nael does too, clenching his teeth and taking a single step back to give the man a bit more space. His gaze shifts from the absolutely pulverized tree, back to Noah's easygoing smile. Huh. What a gear shift.]
[Nael could relate, sure. His own anger was more of a constant stewing undercurrent, but there was really so much to be said about blowing off some steam. Even if it as on a random tree. Maybe it's the same story in the wrestling ring, for this guy.... At the question, he looks away, arms folded.]
"Making sure ye stay oot o' trouble. Tis ainlie ever trouble oot this late...."
[Noah's hand- particularly a trickle of blood, newly forming bruises in the dim light, catches Nael's eye and he scowls.]
“Take care o' those hauns, though. Ye wouldn’t waant us tae match.”
Lifesaver Noah:
[Well, now Noah's curious about what Nael had planned on doing if he DID get into some trouble. What if he decided to vandalize something? What if the tree fought back? Would Nael have gone out of his way to actually stop him or help him out? That would be mighty surprising if so, but certainly something Noah would be appreciative of, if the time ever came in the future.]
[And now, at the mention of Nael's hands, Noah's expression shifts somewhat. From his laidback smile, he now sports a look of slight concern. It would be rude to ask about Nael's hand situation, right? Seeing as how his own hand issue is seemingly out of the bag, he carefully holds both hands up to give them a proper look over in the dim light.]
"Hmm.....I dunno, man, you got a cool look goin' with yours~"
[He flexes his fingers out once, twice-- oop, that one hurt]
"But, yeahhh, better get one o' the dozens of first aid kits and fix 'em up, sooner the better.... How 'bout you? Did a tree look at you wrong, too? That was some professional level snark you were dishin' out."
[Smooth.]
Handyman Nael:
[Regretting being perceived- or simply embarrassed, Nael stuffs his own hands into his pockets and puffs a few loose strands of hair out of his face, lookign away. Yeesh. Why'd it have to be so warm out here?]
"Aye. And then I made maself a joab specifically tae skelp at thair corpses wi' hammers a' day. Revenge."
[A shrug and an eye-roll, but he can't help but half-smirk at his own joke, and then get embarrassed all over again for it.]
[Seems they were both skirting the elephant in the room. That worked just fine for Nael. He catches himself staring at Noah's hands, at the calluses on his knuckles, and redirects his gaze to his own boots, familiar scowl returning. He exhales slowly through his teeth.]
"Well. If ye aren't aff tae run intae th' woods arms akimbo or break ony windaes, ah suppose thir's nae a lot o' sense in keeping up wi' yer silly ass, then. Nae th' nightguard, after all......"
Lifesaver Noah:
[The little quip earns a small hardy "HA" from Noah! And even though he knew Nael was being a little jokester about it, the exaggerated description of his job was just as hardcore sounding as it was funny. Noah approves!] [Despite that, he does still notice Nael's brief stare and his attempt to quickly avert it, as well as that little smirk mere moments ago. Seems they might have a similar level of 'smooth'. His little mannerisms were really too charming to be considered fair, too.]
"Well, now, I dunno 'bout dat. When's the last time you've seen the nightguard 'round here? My silly ass might run into a window on the way to get fixed up."
[He couldn't resist the playful grin on his face at this point, his hands now situated on his hips. Had he ever heard Nael curse before this?? Noah isn't about to point it out, but he took note.]
[It's at this point that Noah suddenly realizes his shirt situation, when he finally feels the tag touching him after shifting his posture a bit. It is FAR too late to address this problem properly, to remove his shirt right then and there and adjust it. That would surely not be a welcoming thing for Nael, or anyone, really. So, he opts to simply tuck the tag under the shirt all casual like.]
"I mean, look at me- can't even put a damn shirt on right!"
Handyman Nael:
[Oh, that got a laugh. He exhales in a fleeting wave of amusement. So this guy was pretty easy to please, at least. A little more at ease, he sighs and tugs the brim of his hat, glancing briefly out onto the darkness for any sign of a trailing flashlight from those two night guards]
".... Nae. Only guard here is life."
[He chuffs, shrugging a shoulder]
"... In the water, at least."
[He notices the tag- and simply redirects his gaze somewhat obviously, frowning again and fumbling with the zipper of his jumpsuit.]
"Aye sure. This is all one piece. Avoids maist mishaps. Else I'd look pure daft. Nae time fer that."
Lifesaver Noah:
[Noah briefly follows Nael's gaze when looking around for the local nightguards, also finding them nowhere nearby. Shocking! But, at the little 'lifeguard' remark, he has a sensible little chuckle. Nael has no right to be making him laugh as often as he is. It was that deadpan delivery, it got him every time.]
"That's smart! You got that down to a science, sounds like."
[Now it was Noah's turn to catch himself staring- he hadn't noticed before just how intricate the bandages were on Nael's hands, particularly the one fidgeting with the zipper pull. Did he have to put new bandages on everyday? Was he making him nervous by staring? He shifts his gaze upward to focus on Nael's face instead, like a proper conversationalist.]
[He clasps his hands together, forgetting for a moment that they're still stinging like crazy, but keeps rolling with it with a small hiss of pain.]
"Aight, so, kept ya out here for long enough. And while ya don't gotta worry 'bout me scamperin' off into the woods, I wouldn't say no to you comin' along to find a first-aid kit with me.... If, y'know, you don't mind."
[His expression is a bit on the softer side this time. While he had been pretty affable since pummeling the tree, the images from the nightmare still linger in his head, the echo of the words still floating around, though much more tolerable now. Even so, he really doesn't want to be alone to wander the camp. A bit too soon for that.]
Handyman Nael:
[If wearing a jumpsuit is a science, he may as well call himself Dr. Steel- even though that sounded more like a name for a supervillain than a handyman. Partially, Nael has to wonder how the trajectory of his life would have changed, had at a young age he been handed a scalpel and stethoscope to pave over his free time, over a hammer and calipers. Maybe he'd have a different name entirely than Nael Steel. But, standing before him was a guy who kept laughing at his weird little jokes- and that was enough to no longer care too much about a 'what if' somewhere far away. Nael clears his throat awkwardly.]
"Aye, a've made fair uise o' th' first aid kit. Hae one in mah shed, in fact. Ah'll shaw ye whaur it's at..."
[Noah seemed social enough- unlike himself- but there was some tension hanging in his last words that Nael recognized. Ok. He'll hang around a little longer.]
Lifesaver Noah:
[A look of relief washes over him at Nael's words. Under any other circumstance, he doesn't mind being alone! But given the reason for him being outside in the first place, he's grateful for Nael being willing to put up with him a little longer. Maybe he could even confide in him about it a bit.....]
"You got it!"
[One hand slides right back into his pocket as they begin their stroll through the moonlit campgrounds. Nael may be on the quiet side, but even just being close by was more than enough for Noah.]
"Wanna place any bets on how long it takes for someone to notice the tree?"