Cheyeah I know.

[bbblackcats]

[frackinfunghoul]

I swear it’s around here somewhere…” Ghoul said to himself as he rode across the on going desert scenes from route Guano. It had been a while since he had made his way out and about in the desert, the radiation deteriorating his health at a more rapid pace than he had hoped. Regardless, that was no excuse for just giving up and dying, there was still much more to do before the sands could claim him one final time. way too much more.  After what felt like hours Ghoul shut off his bike and looked around. Could he really be this lost out here, how far could he really be from The Gallows at this ‘point. He was hoping to have been spotted by now but maybe the time out here was catching up with everyone. “Fuck….” He mumbled to himself as he scratched his head looking both direction before pulling the handkerchief from his face. He felt completely lost now, thinking he should double back and see if he couldn’t find the Diner.

[bloodredecho]

At this point, Red was sure he was going insane. The thought made him want to laugh and scream at the same time, so irritated at himself for even letting the thought cross his mind that he couldn’t help but give himself a knock against the head for it. He was just so bored it felt like every vein in his body was trying to tear itself into pieces. Groaning out, he kicked his foot out, smacking his boot against the hard metal of the rafters he was perched upon as he lounged, chewing on his nails and trying to figure out what he could possibly do.

“Bossman,” his radio suddenly chirped up, and he was quick to grab it in one hand as he used the other to take hold of the bar he’d been balancing on and swing below it, clinging to it as he replied with a curious grunt. “Nail caught eye of somethin’ approachin’. Want us to take care of it?”

“I’ll do it,” he answered and dropped down, ignoring the resulting sting as he landed hard on the concrete floor. Immediately grabbing for his gun, he started off the long trudge out of the Gallows’ territory, taking his own bike from where it was waiting for him just outside of the building. It was a long time driving until he finally found what the Kids’ had sensed, and his face split into a wide grin as he slowed to a stop just feet from Fun Ghoul’s ride.

“Well, hello,” he purred with a grin, leaning against the handlebars of his bike. “Lookin’ for somethin’, babe?”

[frackinfunghoul]

It would have been difficult to find anyone out there, especially any of the drifters from the Gallows. They had a special way about them that eluded unwanted attention. Even if they were in plain sight, Ghoul would have to search extra cautiously if he wanted to catch them.  When he heard the bike in the distance, he reached for his gun, there was no more playing it safe or getting second chances. It was either him or the noise maker that followed. It wasn’t until he heard that soft rhaspy voice that he was able to let his guard down. “You know, you should be more cautious when you’re riding around out here, I could have been someone who ain’t so friendly. And your’e out here all alone? Come one Red” He grinned as he holstered his weapon and took a few steps closer to the other.  “I thought you knew better than that by now.” Ghoul stood his ground, crossing his arms as he raised an eyebrow at the other as if he were expecting some smart ass comment or old trick. “you gonna just sit up on that bike and gawk all day or you gonna give me a proper gallows hello?”

[frackinfunghoul]

I swear it’s around here somewhere...” Ghoul said to himself as he rode across the on going desert scenes from route Guano. It had been a while since he had made his way out and about in the desert, the radiation deteriorating his health at a more rapid pace than he had hoped. Regardless, that was no excuse for just giving up and dying, there was still much more to do before the sands could claim him one final time. way too much more.  After what felt like hours Ghoul shut off his bike and looked around. Could he really be this lost out here, how far could he really be from The Gallows at this ‘point. He was hoping to have been spotted by now but maybe the time out here was catching up with everyone. “Fuck....” He mumbled to himself as he scratched his head looking both direction before pulling the handkerchief from his face. He felt completely lost now, thinking he should double back and see if he couldn’t find the Diner.

[angelnanashi-blog]

frackinfunghoul:

Angel face? You got yourself a nice little frequency. Your voice to hear over these waves is one in a million. How are you Angelface?

I do indeed. Finally got my radio up and running again thanks to-… Well, thanks to someone. I’m still breathin’ at the very least. How are you, Ghoul?

[frackinfunghoul]

You ain't in any trouble, are ya Angelface? You know you got a whole nest of runners who are always gonna look out for yA, all we neeed is a name....well I guess you might not be looking to find too much violence. Me? Eh ya know, same old desert, new squad or dracs. This story has been on repeat for a good while now.

[frackinfunghoul]

Damn, I’m missing Angel Face. Where are you my sweet and dear friend?

[angelnanashi-blog]

You called, yer hiiiiiiiighness??~~~~~~~

[frackinfunghoul]

Angel face? You got yourself a nice little frequency. Your voice to hear over these waves is one in a million. How are you Angelface?

[frackinfunghoul]

Damn, I'm missing Angel Face. Where are you my sweet and dear friend?

[frackinfunghoul]

Ya ain’t lyin, Bad Omens but I have to admit I have seen a few practitioners that meddle with spiritual aspects. Oh sorry, by the way, I’m Ghoul, nice to, ya know, talk to ya.

[lucksrunout]

Not sayin’ some of us don’t meddle, but most of us ain’t temptin’ fate ‘f we c’n help it, either.

Know who ya are… We’ve spoke briefly ‘fore.. ‘sides, yer freq ain’t exactly unknown. One a th’ princes’a th’ desert ‘n’ all.

[frackinfunghoul]

That's right, my bad friend, my mind seems to be everywhere it shouldn't be as of late and as far as it goes, a Desert prince who can't seem to find a leg to stand on when it comes to these dracs who seem to be frequenting the dunes a lot more often now a days. *sigh* Guess it would be a better time more than ever to start believing in somethin again. Although I think Destroya has more bones to pick with the rest of the boys.

[frackinfunghoul]

Yikes man. Sorry. I ain’t the best conversationalist. Didn’t think a lot of people still believed in the mumbo… I mean myths. We good…. uhmmm … what’s your name?

[lucksrunout]

… ‘s still a pretty popular belief system, folks jus’ don’t feel th’ need t’ bring it up much these days……. ‘m Bad Omens.

[frackinfunghoul]

Ya ain't lyin, Bad Omens but I have to admit I have seen a few practitioners that meddle with spiritual aspects. Oh sorry, by the way, I'm Ghoul, nice to, ya know, talk to ya.

[frackinfunghoul]

Rippin an’ clawin your way into me. Stings so good. Yeah yeah yeah you’re entitled to whatever you think you’re hearin.

[lucksrunout]

[aggravated growl] Look, I jus’ got some bad fuckin’ news, so ‘m not lookin’ t’ argue m’ belief system, ‘specially not with ya makin’ cheap shots at tryin’ t’ debase it.

All ‘m sayin’ is, even ‘f ya don’t subscribe t’ it, fer this one month, maybe don’t go stampin’ all over th’ zone mythos like it don’t carry weight? ‘s a bad fuckin’ time fer everybody, ‘n’ nobody wants t’ deal with it on top’a everythin’ else stirrin’ up recently.

[frackinfunghoul]

Yikes man. Sorry. I ain't the best conversationalist. Didn't think a lot of people still believed in the mumbo... I mean myths. We good.... uhmmm ... what's your name?

[frackinfunghoul]

Ssssssss'bunch of superstitionnnnnb, baby.

[lucksrunout]

Fuck off. First off, ‘s a belief system, technically, thank you very much. Second, don‘t see anybody shittin’ all over Mama ‘r th’ Lady, ‘n’ you know th’ Lady’s shown herself t’ folks b’fore, so kindly step off.

[frackinfunghoul]

Rippin an' clawin your way into me. Stings so good. Yeah yeah yeah you're entitled to whatever you think you're hearin.

[lucksrunout]

Ya wanna do us all a favor ‘n’ maybe not say his name. Don’t need th’ bad luck he brings, thanks.

[frackinfunghoul]

Ssssssss'bunch of superstitionnnnnb, baby.

[frackinfunghoul]

Lot of you runners talkin about Destroya as if it's real. Mind you, kid wave heads are impressionable, so in the words of our dearly departed, Ghandi, change your fucking station.

[frackinfunghoul]

Take your time man, I’ll be here when you get back… ya know if ya wanna talk about it.

…be safe

[kobrakaikid]

Be back in like…  15, okay?  Just to the corner and back.  Y’won’t even know I was gone.

[frackinfunghoul]

Aright, get some air man and I'll make a night cap for when ya get back.

[frackinfunghoul]

Kobes?… you doing okay?

I won’t bother ya long, just want to make sure you’re alright.

[kobrakaikid]

Fuckin’ pissed off, is what.

Thought we were gonna be done w’that shit.

But I’m gonna be fine.  Just..  Fuck.  Gotta go for a walk.

[frackinfunghoul]

Take your time man, I'll be here when you get back... ya know if ya wanna talk about it.

...be safe

[frackinfunghoul]

Kobes?... you doing okay? I won't bother ya long, just want to make sure you're alright.

[littlestbrotherhalo]

frakinfunghoul:

“So that’s it then. This is how you handle situations like this one. You’re gonna leave them out here to be found. Hawk you’ve been out here long enough to know that they aren’t just gonna brush this off. They’re gonna come looking and they’re gonna find you.” Ghoul piled the body next to the car returning for another one as he began to drag it along the sand.

“You ever think of that? You ever think at all? It’d be different if it were just you, wouldn’t it. You wouldn’t care, Hell, you’d probably welcome the game but when you put your fucking brothers and sisters on the line that is when it gets way fucking bigger than you. That’s the point where you wish they’d just shoot your family in the head rather than snatch them from the sand!”

Ghoul’s anger was rising especially when Hawk brought up their van. He knew he couldn’t hide it but he also knew he couldn’t leave it out in the middle of the desert on the side of the road. He heaved the second body onto the pile and headed back for the third, shoving Hawk in the shoulder.

“I don’t care what the fuck your plan included, I don’t care about the fucking details. If you have someone coming to get you two than make sure their asses get here within the next twenty fucking minutes. You might as well head home if you’re gonna play kick the fucking sand…On second thought.”

Ghoul dropped the third body and headed for the company van, opening the driver’s side door he reached under the passenger air bag and ripped out the GPS tracker that had been mounted there. He opened it’s compartment and began pulling apart different wires before returning to the Trans and tossing it in the back seat.

“Hawk.. Take the van and take him home. I’m not bringing this up to Red, one if for some reason he doesn’t know, he’ll have a heart attack and two…” His voice softened for the last part as he went back for the third body and began dragging it to the others.

“You kept the both of you alive even when you were outnumbered, I trust ya won’t go looking for any more of these assholes today, and get yourselves cleaned up before anyone starts poking around.”

Ghoul dropped the body and looked back at Halo who was still standing not to far from the scene, he made how way back over to the younger joy and kneeled one more time.

“Ey, keep the hot head cool for me, yeah? I’ll be by to visit in a few days…” Ghoul pulled him in for another tight hug, the anger and frustration dripping away not that he knew both joys were safe.

“Please don’t do that again, I trust you and Hawk but if you see your group running, you run too, okay? We’ve lost too many people out here and we can’t afford to lose anymore if we can help it.”

swister-hawkins:

“No fuck you!” Anger pushed up through the lingering shock, and Hawk turned on his heel and strode over to Ghoul. “You think I don’t fucking care about my family?” He planted his hands on the older joy’s chest and shoved him away from Halo, sheathing his knife because he was self aware enough to know he really shouldn’t have it out right now. “This is on purpose, asshole, the whole fucking point is that we see their games, we see their tricks, and if they’re gonna fucking kill us with them, we’re gonna fight back. You don’t cover this up!” Another shove, and he clenched his hands at his sides, willing himself not to raise his fists. “Hiding this means saying we ain’t gonna talk back against the thirty-some runners they’ve ghosted the last two weeks, an’ if yer fine with that, you c’n go dig yerself back under the sand and rot!”

Still too much, still too much, still too much was happening. There was still blood. Hawk was still angry. Ghoul was getting angrier by the syllable. Halo was still scared. There was noise and motion, and there were actual bodies that were actually dead. The Trans Am. The Van. The blood. So many colors stained rust-red and tainted by clean blood. There was still too much happening, and when Ghoul shoved Hawk, it took everything inside of him to stay where he was, to not hit the ground again. Something bad was about to happen, and he was positive that he couldn’t take anymore.

But suddenly Ghoul was kneeling in front of him again, hugging him again, backing up again. But not of his own accord? Hawk was shoving Ghoul away, and Halo stumbled back a little, quivering in the sand underneath the two of them. Face-to-face, chest-to-chest. These last two strings of his sanity were unraveling when he needed them most. He shoved himself up and pushed himself between them. “Stop,” he squeaked, tears threatening to spill past his eyes, “please don’t do this.” His voice had dropped to little more than a whisper now, “I just wanna go home…”

At the thought of home, Halo turned and looked at Hawk fully in the face for the first time since they’d left the Gallows that day. He was back. Hawk was more himself now. He took just a tentative half-step forward, breath shaking out in throbs. He thought that he felt his cheeks wet with tears, but maybe he was imagining that too. What was real at this point? It was hard to tell. Maybe that, more than anything, was why he needed Hawk to be Hawk and why he needed them to be home.

“Please………..”

[frackinfunghoul]

That was it, it was Ghoul’s final straw, if he had to make an example of someone it was going to be Hawk. Sure the later consequences would come up to get him but he wasn’t concerned about it, no instead his fingers were inching towards the gun in his holster but before he could reach it, a smaller body shoved in between the two of them. In that instant Ghoul moved his hand away from his gun, almost as if a train from the opposite end of a track just came barreling into him. Ezekiel just wanted to go home and who was Ghoul to prevent that? He backed off looking from Halo back to Hawk. “Please, just take him home.” Was the last thing Ghoul said as he got up from the spot and headed towards the Trans Am. Opening the trunk he began piling the bodies in the back before shutting the top of it and heading back towards the driver’s side. Before getting in and without looking at them he spoke. “You ain’t gonna win this war alone, you need more then just your family. If ya keep pretending like you do, you’re gonna be surprised what other bodies are gonna be fit in here.” Ghoul got in the car, adjusting his sunglasses and letting the roar of the baby bellow out in the desert. He took off just as quickly as he got there, sifting through the thoughts of where he was gonna stash the bodies but that last line Hawk said to him, that sparked an idea. Only one demigod I can think of who probably deserves a little loving. Ghoul thought as he headed straight for the Shrine that few believers still frequent to pay tribute to the King of Dogs.

[littlestbrotherhalo]

frakinfunghoul:

Ghoul had whitnessed two vans heading towards the outer zones but only one remained in sight. His concern wasn’t the other vehicle, it was the joys covered in blood that stood before him. He looked around for any other joys that might be around, whether they were alive or dead. Just two. By pure luck and adrenaline they were both still alive.Ghoul looked from Hawk to Halo. his shocked face still trying to absorb the situation.

“Ezekiel, get your weapons and go wait by the car. Hawk you’re gonna shift the sand to hide the blood and then you’re gonna help load the corpses in the back. I don’t want any sign that you or these dracs were here.”

He said with a snarl, as the scenes began to play out. Poison was going to kill him for taking his baby out but he’d deal with that when it came down to it. He heard a noise come from Halo, he turned to face him, his eyes still cold.

“You’re hurt?, come here.”

Ghoul met him halfway getting down on one knee to examine the extensiveness of the damage. He was pretty banged up but he would be alright.

“I’m very disappointed, in both of you. You don’t ever go after dracs unless you have no other choice. I’m not giving out information for you to go looking for them, it’s too avoid them. What would have happened had they gotten either of you? You might never see your family again. It’s not like it was, they’re done testing on joys, it’s kill or be killed.” He got up to give Halo a little space before drawing him in for a hug, the thought of losing any of them was too much to think about.

“You’re not going to do anything like this again. Red doesn’t even know you’re out here, does he?”

Ghoul didn’t even let them answer that last question, he let go of Halo and turned to Hawk, he could see the adrenaline and fury still rising in the other. He made a few steps towards the other and grabbed both of his shoulders gently.

“It’s okay, breathe. Just breathe. We have to get rid of everything. That other van will be making it’s way back and if they find this they’ll send for more. You need to pull yourself together and start moving sand, Halo’s gonna help. Ghoul let go of Hawk and started for the first body that was lying motionless on the ground and began dragging it towards the trunk.

Halo looked up when he heard his name, his actual real name, his name that only one person ever used, was ever allowed to use, and this time it wasn’t comforting to hear it. His ears were still ringing, his head was still spinning, and still there was enough of something inside of him to flinch away from the angry and detached voice. He didn’t move, too shaken to take more than a few breaths at a time before he held his breath again.

It wasn’t until Ghoul got onto one knee that Halo registered exactly who was talking and as the recognition settled itself, Halo ran full steam ahead toward the oldest of the three viewing the bloodbath, throwing his arms around Ghoul and burying his face into Ghoul’s neck. He needed the comfort. He needed to remember where he was and what was happening. He needed to stop looking at it. He could hardly speak to answer that he wasn’t much hurt aside from some bruises and sandburn. At least he didn’t think he was. He hadn’t taken time to fully assess everything yet. It couldn’t be too bad, though, right? The sting of the dust on his neck told him he had been cut at least a little bit, but he would be okay if he could just hold on-

But Ghoul let Halo go to turn his frustration to Hawk. So many words. So many sounds. Words. Dust under boots. Halo imagined he could smell the blood rather just see it. It all made his head hurt so much. He wanted to pull Ghoul back, tell him not to leave him, beg him to take him back to the Diner, but he needed to go home so the other Kids would know-

Halo finally found his voice to pipe up, “We’re not alone.” Though the scene would have proven otherwise, he knew it was true. “We’re not,” he squeaked in a weak protest, “there were other Kids, but they all, all ran that way. Are they okay? Are they hurt?” This was good. This was a distraction. Focus on anyone else, anything else, anytime, anyplace else except this one until he could get away. That’s how he survived the City. That’s how he could survive this. But now Ghoul was touching Hawk and Halo cringed, covering his eyes, once again afraid of what Hawk might do.

[swister-hawkins]

“Fuck you,” Hawk muttered, less distracted now but still thoroughly shaken. He only caught half of what Ghoul was saying, but shrugged out from beneath the man’s hands and took a step back. When Ghoul took hold of the body Hawk frowned, making no move to help. Stupid.

“Don’t know why yer botherin’,” he muttered, spotting one of his knives in the sand and crossing to pick it up. He didn’t much like the feel of it in his hand any more, but blades were valuable out here and his set was a good one. “Fuckin’ whole point, isn’t it? Leave it. Want ‘em t’see. You gonna fit the van in yer trunk too?” The words were biting, though his voice wasn’t raised. Who was this asshole to show up late to the party they’d /told/ him about beforehand, only to act all high and mighty about it? They’d planned it, they’d timed it, they’d brought their whole crew. This bit was just bad luck. 

Speaking of the crew, though, Halo had a point. Hawk fumbled for his radio, closing his eyes and pressing a bloody fist against his forehead when Midnight responded. He could feel a splitting headache coming on. “All good,” he said aloud afterwards, though both of the others could certainly have heard the conversation itself. “A-ok, ratling.” He wanted to leave, now, immediately, but he waited for the kid to stand up first. Halo was still visibly upset - as opposed to Hawk, who liked to think he now had things under control, despite the weightless feeling that lingered - and though it pained him, Hawk didn’t move any closer.

[frackinfunghoul]

“So that’s it then. This is how you handle situations like this one. You’re gonna leave them out here to be found. Hawk you’ve been out here long enough to know that they aren’t just gonna brush this off. They’re gonna come looking and they’re gonna find you.” Ghoul piled the body next to the car returning for another one as he began to drag it along the sand. “You ever think of that? You ever think at all? It’d be different if it were just you, wouldn’t it. You wouldn’t care, Hell, you’d probably welcome the game but when you put your fucking brothers and sisters on the line that is when it gets way fucking bigger than you. That’s the point where you wish they’d just shoot your family in the head rather than snatch them from the sand!” Ghoul’s anger was rising especially when Hawk brought up their van. He knew he couldn’t hide it but he also knew he couldn’t leave it out in the middle of the desert on the side of the road. He heaved the second body onto the pile and headed back for the third, shoving Hawk in the shoulder. “I don’t care what the fuck your plan included, I don’t care about the fucking details. If you have someone coming to get you two than make sure their asses get here within the next twenty fucking minutes. You might as well head home if you’re gonna play kick the fucking sand...On second thought.” Ghoul dropped the third body and headed for the company van, opening the driver’s side door he reached under the passenger air bag and ripped out the GPS tracker that had been mounted there. He opened it’s compartment and began pulling apart different wires before returning to the Trans and tossing it in the back seat. “Hawk.. Take the van and take him home. I’m not bringing this up to Red, one if for some reason he doesn’t know, he’ll have a heart attack and two...” His voice softened for the last part as he went back for the third body and began dragging it to the others. “You kept the both of you alive even when you were outnumbered, I trust ya won’t go looking for any more of these assholes today, and get yourselves cleaned up before anyone starts poking around.” Ghoul dropped the body and looked back at Halo who was still standing not to far from the scene, he made how way back over to the younger joy and kneeled one more time. “Ey, keep the hot head cool for me, yeah? I’ll be by to visit in a few days...” Ghoul pulled him in for another tight hug, the anger and frustration dripping away not that he knew both joys were safe. “Please don’t do that again, I trust you and Hawk but if you see your group running, you run too, okay? We’ve lost too many people out here and we can’t afford to lose anymore if we can help it.”