You've Got Red On You!

Truffula Flu au for @thespian-ler and @spect-ler.

[theater-camp]

Yes, well-- trust is hard to come by in days like this, you know. Granted, I’ve never really been one to blindly let someone else decide how my life is going to go, societal expectations be damned. Not that society exists anymore, but-- ah, I’m rambling. 

I don’t know that I can speak for the others. Payton remains understandably wary, while my P-- er, Craig, is rather.. well, I wouldn’t say uninvolved. I think he’s just doing what he can not to aggravate Mr. Spect. My counterpart, in his... “condition” is far too amiable for his own good. Which, I suppose, is why I’m here, but-- hrm. Mr. Spect doesn’t trust any of us as far as he could throw us. He’s-- well, mh... That’s not completely true, I suppose.

He’s taken quite a liking to Chet. They play a lot of card games together. He’s taken Chet and his brother on a few patrols, but as usual, doesn’t say much. I don’t know. Its the most I’ve seen him talk, aside from when he’s on the radio talking to his friends.

[theater-camp]

[sketchpocalypse]

theater-camp‌:

Claus: Ohhh its fine, its fine! Stay as long as you like! I–er, uh, oh. Uhm…. It… is fine, right, Mr. Spect?

Spect: “… … … . . “

Claus: ….Mr. Spect?

Spect: “…Fine. B-but they…. must lllist-listen to… my r-r-rules, j-just… as yyou do.”

Claus: Of course, of course! Yes, they will, a-and I’ll be responsible if they don’t, haha!

Spect: “…”

Claus: –er, I mean, there won’t be an ‘if they don’t’ but, ah– h-hm.

(Spect stares at the strangers a few seconds more. His expression is difficult to read, but there’s something hidden behind his gaze. He blinks and turns around, walking further into the forest.)

Claus: A-ah– Mr. Spect, I– oh, Seuss damnit. Well, ah, h-here, I’ll help you with your things, we’ll catch up to him, yes?

(Payton presses his lips into a thin line and gives a nod. It’s clear he wasn’t expecting the other to agree. Stiffly, he, along with the other two, begin grabbing their things.)

Craig: Score. Ha, ah, don’t worry about this stuff, I’ve got it. Noodle arms might need help with the radio though.

Payton: (Rolls eyes.) I’m good, thanks.

Craig: (Shrugs) Suit yourself. Annnywho, as I was saying…

(Craig continues to chatter on, and dives into a few stories. Most, if not all are either heavily exaggerated or completely made up. Payton glances towards Chet.)

Payton: …Hey, you doing alright?

Chet: Yeah, I’m okay. Just. Processing, I guess.

Payton: It’s only for one night. 

Chet: I know.

Payton: I’m serious. We’ll head home first thing tomorrow morning. The only reason I didn’t push it is because it is getting cold, and I just thought–

Chet: Payton, it’s fine, okay? I get it. Let’s just…

Payton: Right, right. Um… Yeah. (Rubs the back of his neck for a second, before shuffling off to get the radio. He and Chet follow the others in silence.)

[theater-camp]

sketchpocalypse‌:

(Payton and Chet share a glance.)

Payton: …It’s a… generous offer. But it is also his house, correct? If he’s not comfortable with us staying, then–

Craig: –We’d be DELIGHTED to join you!

Payton: …Pardon?

Craig: It’s like forty degrees outside, Sketch-ler. I’m not sleeping out here.

Payton: We have blankets.

Craig: Not if they’re taking them, we don’t.

Payton: (Stares Craig down for a moment before relenting and glancing away.) …Fine. Okay. One night. 

Chet: Payton, I don’t really–

Payton: (Holds up a hand in wait and looks towards Spect.) –As long as it’s okay with our host.

Claus: Ohhh its fine, its fine! Stay as long as you like! I--er, uh, oh. Uhm.... It... is fine, right, Mr. Spect?

Spect: “. . . . . . . . . . . “

Claus: ....Mr. Spect?

Spect: “...Fine. B-but they.... must lllist-listen to... my r-r-rules, j-just... as yyou do.”

Claus: Of course, of course! Yes, they will, a-and I’ll be responsible if they don’t, haha!

Spect: “...”

Claus: --er, I mean, there won’t be an ‘if they don’t’ but, ah-- h-hm.

(Spect stares at the strangers a few seconds more. His expression is difficult to read, but there’s something hidden behind his gaze. He blinks and turns around, walking further into the forest.)

Claus: A-ah-- Mr. Spect, I-- oh, Seuss damnit. Well, ah, h-here, I’ll help you with your things, we’ll catch up to him, yes?

[theater-camp]

sketchpocalypse‌:

(As the rifle is lowered, Payton grabs Chet by the sleeve of his coat and pulls him away from Spect. He watches the reunion, lips pressed into a thin line.)

Craig: Awwhaww, you always were such a huge sap. I’ll tell ya, it’s a great story. Full of death defying feats and tremendous acts of heroism. You would not believe the amount of times I’ve had to pull these two’s keisters out of a sticky situation. Once we hit the road–

Payton: –Not to interject, but where exactly are we “coming back” to?

Claus: Oh-- how silly of me, I never even--! 

(He composes himself, releasing Craig at last.)

Claus: My double and I have taken refuge at Mr. Spect’s house. He’s got a rather fortified cabin in the woods and we work together to gather supplies and hunt--in fact, it’s what we were doing until we stumbled into you--

(As Claus rambles, Spect walks over to the bag Claus was struggling with earlier. With ease, he picks it up.)

Claus: It’s really nothing to worry yourself over, its maybe half a mile back from here. It’s not the prettiest locale, mind you--a-and no offense, Mr. Spect--but it is shelter, there’s food, and you can always come out on runs to help find more, and--and I’d be happy to have you there!

(As Claus says this, Spect’s jaw clenches. He glares at the others, and shifts the rifle on his back. He doesn’t budge from his spot.)

Spect: “.....T-too many..... p-p-pe--people.”

Claus: ..Yyyes, I know you’re... not big on visitors, but they’re very good people, and they’ll help, as per our negotiations. They’re able-bodied and of sound mind, and I’m certain we can work something out. You all will help out, won’t you? Gathering supplies, taking patrol, the necessities of survival. That’s all! It’s a rather generous deal, if you ask my opinion.

[theater-camp]

sketchpocalypse‌:

Craig: Wh…

Payton: Wait, is that–?

Craig: –CLAUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig: –OHHHHMYGODDUDEITHOUGHTYOUHADDIEDISPENTSOLONGTRYINGTOFINDANYSIGNSOFYOUORCLARAORANYONEBUTTHEVALLEYWASQUARANTINEDOFFANDBYTHETIMEANYOFUSCOULDLEAVEWEHADFIGUREDITWASTOOLATEANDIMEANYOU’VESEENHOWITSPREADSDUDELIKEFUCKINFLOODWATERSIT’SAMIRACLEWEVELASTEDASLONGASWEDIDIWASSUREYOUWE’REGONEFORGOODBUTYOU’RENOTYOU’REHEREANDALIVEANDIHAVEN’TTAKENABREATHINAREALLYLONGTIMEAREYOUFEELINGLIGHTHEADEDBECAUSEI’MFEELIN’ALITTLELIGHTHEADEDBRO–

( Claus wheezes as Craig lifts him up into the air. He pats his friend’s back, and he can barely contain his joy. )

Claus: Pay-- Payton, my dear friend, I-- we looked for you! We went to your factory, and-- w-well, of course, it was just after it happened, and-- and-- Payton, you’re going to have to breathe-- Payton--

( Claus pulls him into another hug, and as he pulls away, he hiccups, removing his glasses. )

Claus: It’s-- hhahaha, it’s like a Christmas miracle. All these years I thought you were d-d-dead, a-and here you are b-before me, I-I-- great Seuss above, I’m so-- so glad you’re alright. All-- all of you.

( Spect clears his throat. He lowers his rifle from Chet’s head, swinging the gun over his back. )

Spect: “I... sss-sup-- suppose you’ll..... want-- want-- w-want them to..... c-come...... back.”

Claus: Hm? Oh! Oh, yes, yes, Mr. Spect, I can v-vouch-- I’m sorry-- ( He pulls up his kerchief and wipes his eyes, replacing his glasses. ) These are good people, Mr. Spect, and-- and I’m certain we can make provisions, the house is quite certainly big enough for three if we use the upst--

Spect: “No.”

Claus: --ahaha, of course, of course, we can all stay on the first floor, and-- oh, Payton, my dear, dear friend, I’m still in such-- such shock you’re alive. You’ll have to tell me where you’ve been, what you’ve done, I--we didn’t see you at your factory! Or, er, your double’s factory, and-- oh, I’m making such a-- a mess of myself--

[theater-camp]

sketchpocalypse‌:

(Craig halfheartedly pushes the party’s duffel bag over with his foot, and promptly shoves his hands in his pockets. Behind him, Payton gathers up what appears to be the remainder of the supplies.)

Craig: (Glances over Spect’s shoulder. Behind him, the silhouette of someone dragging something is just visible through the trees. He gives a snort.) ‘S that the body of the last sixteen year old you offed?

Chet: (Breath hitches slightly)

(Payton doesn’t say anything, but as he passes Craig, he makes sure to jab an elbow hard into the other’s ribs.)

Craig: Ggffggkk–

Payton: (Drops the packs onto the ground in front of Spect and looks at him.) There. That’s everything.

( Spect glares at Craig as he comments. His jaw tenses, and he makes stares them down in silence. His eyes dart down quickly to survey the supplies, and with the rifle still pointed at Chet, one hand still over the trigger, he reaches down to grab the bags, slinging one over his shoulder.)

(Claus, behind him, tugs once more on the deer to bring it closer. Its much more labor than his body is used to. He mutters as he speaks)

Claus: Great Seuss above, Mr. Spect, couldn’t I have just taken this back to the house? Now I’m going to have to drag this all the way back, and for what? You to interrogate a couple of kids?

Spect: “Quiet.”

Claus: Oh, yes, yes, I’m being rude while you’re oh so focused on--

Claus: ....focused on.....

Claus: P-- Payton??

[theater-camp]

sketchpocalypse‌:

Payton & Craig: Chet–!!

(In an instant, both Payton and Craig are on their feet, though they seem unsure of what to do next.)

Craig: What the fuck. What the fuck where did this guy even come from–??

Payton: I’m. Not sure that’s what we should be worrying about right now. Craig, put your gun down.

Craig: Like HELL I will what the FUCK did you even see him come in, this freak popped in out of no where like Casper the Trigger Happy Poltergeist–

Payton: Craig. 

Craig: –He has a fucking SHOTGUN and you want me to get rid of my one line’a–

Chet: Guys..?

Payton: CRAIG. He has CHET at GUNPOINT, put the gun down.

Craig: (Stops and stares at Payton for a moment before sliding the pistol over to Spect.)

Payton: (Unstraps the pistol from his leg and does the same)

Payton: Okay, there. Good. Are we good? You have our weapons. We aren’t– we’re not going to fight. I’ll even get the supplies. Whatever you want – anything. Just. Don’t hurt him, okay? 

(Spect watches silently as they speak. Their conversation seems to irk him--the grip on the gun tightens. As they hand over their weapons, his expression doesn’t change. He adjusts the rifle in his hands, keeping it pointed at the back of Chet’s head.)

“Okay. Sss--sup... supplies now. Move it. And q--quit-- quit-- q...q-quit.... talking.”

(There’s the sound of something shuffling behind him, and he glances back as Claus catches up, dragging the hunting bag with him. He’s muttering indistinctly.)

(Spect pulls his gaze from his hunting partner and looks back to the others.)

“I said. Supplies. G-get-- get.... st-st-started.”

[sketchpocalypse]

Payton: Uhh.. neck? Throat? N–

Craig: NECKLACE. It’s a necklace.

Chet: (nods)

Payton: Necklace… Necklace what? One syllable. Box?

Craig: Jail? Necklace jail?

Payton: OH. Neck– NICOLAS CAGE. Is that it? Is– but it’s not the full word. A movie, then?

Craig: National Treasure.

Payton: No, no, it’s… mosquitoes? You’re swatting…

Craig: Bugs. It’s bugs. Bees? BEES IT’S–

Payton: –THE 2006 WICKER MAN REMAKE STARRING NICOLAS CAGE–

Chet: That’s IT.

Craig: Oh COME ON I totally got that before you.

Payton: But I was the first one to say it.

[theater-camp]

[C-CLICK]

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“N-no one.... move. Hand ov-- ov-- over your.... wweapons. Supplies. At mm... my feet. Now.”

[theater-camp]

Don’t you guys have a radio?

“I.. wouldn’t say ‘we’. Mr. Spect has one, and he’s very hesitant on letting either of us use it. I’ve never seen him actually speak on it, but I get the feeling he’s talking on it when we aren’t around. I wish I could hear what they were saying, but even though he’s constantly listening to it, he keeps it turned down so low I don’t know who’s talking.”

[theater-camp]

This is for everyone! do you kill anything that you see? would you kill a non infected human?

“If they stand.... b-between me and-- and s-survival.. yes.”

I think all of us would kill off one of those things if it posed a threat. But--mn, if it came down to it, I... I s-suppose if there were no other choice, perhaps I’d shoot someone who wasn’t infected. D-depending on the situation of course. And the furthest I’d go would be to incapacitate. I wasn’t a killer before, and I’m certainly not now. 

“If they-- they are a.. r-raider... no hesitance.”

[theater-camp]

Claus. you seem to be handling this really well. I'm proud of you

I don’t really have any other options. Its either survive or don’t, I’ve learned that much from Mr. Spect. I don’t have time to mope around and contemplate my place in all of this, or dream about everyone I’ve lost and all that has changed. I have to do things that are useful. Plan runs, ration food, hunt for supplies, all those things that can contribute to our ultimate goal of--well, staying alive.

[theater-camp]

spect. psst. you only need claus. why not kill the delusional one hm? make it look like an accident~

“N-no... r-reas--reason to. He’s d-done-- done... n-nothing to me.

Besides. H-he most... l-likely does-- does not.. n-need my help, in that en--e-end-- endeav-vor.”

[theater-camp]

“................................................”

“.......d-don’t like.... to t--ta-- talk a-bout it.....”

[theater-camp]

“................”

“..............................”

“.......................................”

“..................................................”

“S-shh. You’ll sc-- scare....... scare it.”

[theater-camp]

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

(He looks towards the other, placing his hands gently around him. He’s always found it comforting. On tours, during the lonely nights on patrol, they’d press up against each other in the cold. Quiet, but together. He’s enjoyed this, always.)

“I get it. It’s scary, and.. shit, man, this whole situation is fucked. I miss our home, I miss being.. normal. The world being the way it should. Hell, it was a mess, but it was pretty great, still.”

(He sighs, and rubs his hand along the other’s forearm. Pressing him close, letting him know he’s here.)

“You open up to me, which is fine, but.. but these guys are all we’ve got. With the squad gone-- I mean, we’ve still got Julie, but--”

“James! Leave that man alone. If he wants to sulk over there, let him. I need help with this fire. The rabbit isn’t going to cook itself.”

(James laughs, and releases him to wave the other off.)

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, George, I’ll be over in a minute. Cool your jets.”

(James turns back to him, and smiles that charming smile. That smile that would make him do anything.)

“All I’m asking is for you to stop being such a creep sitting over here in the dark and have dinner with us. They should get to know you, man. The way I know you. Do you think you could do that?”

“....”

(He thinks for a moment. Quiet, staring at his hands clasped in front of him. James-- his husband, his beloved, dear James--who could smile as he faced the ends of eternity. And what of himself? Sitting in the shadows, isolated. He’s not alone at the end of the rifle, he’s here with the people he needs to help, people  he needs to keep alive.)

(James is asking him to dinner.)

“Okay. If you really want me to.”

[theater-camp]

this is for Mister Spect! What were you like when you first started surviving all this?

“...It was n-not...... a-- al-- always... l-like this.........”