Journal Entry

[steadypulse]

Sender: 76
To: Everyone
Subject: Information

[This finds its way across the journals a few days after the dreamshift ends-]

Going to attempt to keep this short.

If you remember the journal wide post warning about the Story Eater? Here's more of that.

Most of what was fought in that dreamshift, if we're going to keep calling it that, were created or caused by the Story Eater tampering in it much like it would in stories. More than enough proof points to that, including stuff found at Baba Yaga's hut, and it was a small taste of what it's capable of for those among us that didn't take a detour to the Realm of Stories before ending up here. Those red-eyed things were Eraser influence, and it looks like Story Eater may have it's own new tricks as well.

Thing is? There are Erasers here as well, not just in dreamshifts. They're not the Noctaere and it's safer not to mistake one for the other; they're entirely different beasts from each other and pose their own dangers.

Noctaere are best not come into physical contact with, as from experience that can hurt you as much as any of their attacks; seems like only this dreamotion stuff is the best way to deal with them. Erasers you can physically wail on to an extent and get somewhere, but using other means can keep them down longer or put them down faster. Some are a lot stronger than others, depends on how much the Story Eater put in to them.

If you recall the quest on the board about the witches that were dumping paint on people before we suddenly found ourselves neck-deep in that Halloween dreamshift? Those were Erasers, likely based off The Wicked Witch from Wizard of OZ; one reason throwing water on them seemed to destroy them with what info that notice provided for anyone who went after them. From what I can guess, they were a test of some sort and your guess as to why is as good as mine.

Look for red eyes, and ink coming out of it. Likely based off of something in a story, possibly twisted in some way. Easiest way to identify an Eraser.

I'm not going to respond to any private messages about this. You want to talk privately? Come find me. Otherwise? Anything you've got to ask or say here is better off public access for others' sake.

[Might not answer everything either, but there it was. Written out as much as he was willing, strange as most words felt to write.

Was as much information as 76 had to share with what knowledge and details he had.]

Comments

[b_a_n_g]

[Well, fire wasn't great, but it was better than most chemical burns, so that was something. He knew there was a story to how those burns were acquired, and he tutted behind his mask.]

Why were you playing with fire? Oh wait, it's because you can't help yourself.

[He set the visor and guard aside but within easy reach for the time being. His hand returned to grasp 76's chin lightly, turning that face from one side to the other so that he could examine the full extent of those burns. It also gave him a much better opportunity to see how 76 had done with his beard trimming, since it was probably usually a mess knowing the man.

The facial hair looked good. Real good. The burns, not so much. He didn't have the kind of medication that would soothe and treat the burns, which was a shame. He did wish he had his medical kit from Deerington.]

You're a mess. You need a clean up. [And the whole corruption thing.] And you're throwing yourself in a process I doubt you understand. Such a reckless asshole.

[steadypulse]

Whatever.

[Reaper could have whatever story in his head he wanted, because 76 was not going to explain exactly how he'd gotten in this shape. No, that would just give him more information that the soldier was very hard pressed to hand over with how the asshole had already been picking and pressing for it.

Didn't doubt Reaper would figure it out, Reyes wasn't stupid despite the entire show he liked to put on.

The burns thankfully didn't go under facial hair anywhere, by some miracle or his tactical visor set-up did something to protect that part of his head and face well enough. Across his forehead there were some patches that were healing burns, not as bad as other places.

The beard was well trimmed, as if taken care of that morning. Likely done more with a knife than anything proper, but for that it wasn't too shabby. Done, more than likely, so he could wear his mask more comfortably than any real attempt to shape beyond that, but it still fit and looked good.

The fingers at his jaw still had 76 baring sharp teeth, more so when he gritted out any words.]

I've always been reckless. [He knew more than he'd let on, even if there was still a wide learning curve.]

[b_a_n_g]

[It was obviously a fight of some kind, but the details were not known to him yet. He would sniff out the details eventually, and if anything, it gave him some intrigue to consider in his future. How exciting would that be, hmm? The fact that 76 was so tight-lipped meant it was from someone worth protecting from where he was sitting.

He examined what he could of the wounds, but at this point, he had nothing he could do for them. He had assembled a small medical kit for himself, but it wasn't here and that meant that he was going to have to make due with what was around or what they could buy. Healing wasn't his top priority usually.]

This is true. You need a leash to keep you from getting in too deep, despite knowing you can just fight your way out.

[He tapped a finger against the arm holster that held the biotic emitters.]

Unless you're carrying burn kit, we might have to resort to another one of these.

[steadypulse]

[Eyes narrowed at the tapping, knowing exactly what Reaper would be getting at before he even spoke, and a hand lifted to grip that rest as firmly as 76 could muster at the moment. Even tired he still had a grip on him, but it was as much fight as he could put up with the creeping black still there at his vision; at least the white spotting was gone. Hurt to draw too much air in to his lungs, still breathing all the same-]

Those are for emergencies only.

[And this was no longer an emergency, despite it being so obvious that one was missing, which meant he'd had a reason to use one earlier.

The hell was Reaper so worried about anyway? There was no reason for it as far as 76 and him went now.]

Got something I keep on me. One of the pouches at the shoulders of my jacket.

[With one at least visible with how Reaper had rolled the jacket, so said pouch was right by 76's head. Pocket sized med kit, more something he'd put together than anything else.]

[b_a_n_g]

You are an emergency. Have you seen your ugly body right now?

[But he relented because he knew that one had been used in the first place. As annoying as 76 was on so, so many levels, the old soldier wasn't stupid either. When injuries were severe enough, corrections would be made. It wasn't like him who just shrugged at death and carried on because he literally hadn't found a way to die yet.

He reached out and pulled open the pouches one by one, mostly to be annoying as he investigated the contents of each even if he happened to find the small med kit before being finished.

He pulled out the med kit and rooted through it, and it didn't have everything that would be useful, but it still had enough. Of course, medical things required certain... degloving from him, which was never a comfortable experience.

Still, he tugged off his gloves and tucked them into his coat pocket. His fingers and parts of his hands were blackened and clawed, like he had been dead and something like frostbite or necrosis had set in. They looked similar but also different from 76's corrupted fingers.

Leaning over, he began to apply antibiotic salve carefully to the burns that were in the most exposed and mobile areas.]

My med kit would have had burn cream, but we'll make do with this.

[steadypulse]

Ain't had time to.

[A little pointedly, even if that was telling just how recently all of this had occurred. He'd been on his way somewhere to sit down and tend to himself, before running in to a giant completely dramatic pain in his ass.

Typical things were in those pouches- hell, there was even a makeshift sewing kit in there for quick hand repairs with a needle made for fabric and another for leather, even a curved-hook of a needle meant for sewing flesh had accidentally made it's way in there from repairing something else.

What looked like wrapped hard candies was also one of the random items, some foraged herbs and ginseng.

There was a different and clearly kept sterile curved-hook needle in that medical kit, too.]

I had a better one before, that is one I'm still working on.

[Didn't even blink at the appearance of Reaper's hands, his own settled by his sides. Resigned to this no matter how ridiculous it seemed-] Don't even know if this place has burn cream.

[b_a_n_g]

I bet not. You stopped taking care of yourself when the building fell on you.

[There was a lot that had gone wrong since Overwatch had fell on them both and so many other people. He didn't fault 76 for trying to make an escape and then consider tending, but it was easy to pick at anyway. So he would take the low hanging fruit.

He wasn't surprised by the item in the pouches, but none of it was particularly helpful for the injuries that 76 had actually sustained. These wounds would require a more long-term management.]

It's pathetic. You're dealing with burns and this is the best that you have.

[His fingers moved over the burns, trying to lock in the moisture being lost from the breach of skin with the salve. It wasn't best, but it was all that they had. So here they were. Burns around the goatee, across the cheek and down the neck where he had access.]

Where you are living? I'll at least see you back there. Last thing I need to is here you ended up face-down in a ditch.

[steadypulse]

Managed to stitch up my own face.

[But he did little else with how it had scarred, obviously. Still, the fact those marks on his face required stitching meant they were deep enough that they would have scarred no matter what. Couldn't see what he was doing for all of the blood, but he damn well managed straight lines.

Eyes did rolled, even if he was not looking up at Reaper. Rather more towards the only visible window from where he was, paranoid all the same and just watching for any movement even from shadows.]

It's anti-bacterial at least, got enough to put bandaging over most of it.

[76 kept tensed up, but kept track of where Reaper's hands were to the best of is ability.]

Wherever I can get in. [Like hell he'd hand over that information easily.]

[b_a_n_g]

Oh yes and what a fine job you did with that.

[Under normal circumstances or any other circumstances, a time like that would have the pair of them pulling together, stitching each other up to limit scarring. 76's very old handiwork was why the twin scars on his right cheek weren't worse back in the day. Facial and scalp wounds were the worst for how much they bled.

He was applying the salve down the side of 76's neck, though he knew it would wipe off sooner than later. He doubted that this asshole would stay put for any length of time, and he considered sitting on the guy to make him sleep. That would just be another fight and a close association like that might not be the best for either of them.]

No bandages for this area, though maybe you'd benefit from a tight bandage around your neck. [Choking you, asshole.

But Reaper was sitting back, putting the lid back on the tube and tucking it into the appropriate pouch.]

So you're a homeless feral snapping turtle. Of course you are. [Reaper didn't believe 76 for a second, but he'd still punish the guy.] Then I guess you're staying here and resting where I can keep an eye on you.

[steadypulse]

Considering I was half-blinded? Yeah, I fucking did a damn fine job.

[There was no bite to it, too damn tired to do much other than growl and grouse. He'd been alone, so incredibly alone, and delirious from shock; pain, hearing nothing but a high pitch ringing and vision half gone with so much blood in one eye. The wound had just barely missed taking the eye out completely.

Couldn't even remember just how he'd gotten anything to tend to himself. Had he broken in to some briefly unoccupied ambulance? A pharmacy? He honestly had no idea, just the need to run and hide. Lost it all. Lost Gabriel-]

I've got bandaging, may as well use it to try and keep as much from rubbing off as possible. [Snorted, he got the implication but screw it.

Could do the same for the rest of them.]

You going to make me, Reyes?

[b_a_n_g]

By fine job, you mean you kept your face on.

[He still scoffed at the idea that it couldn't have been better, that there was so much more that could have been done. If the situation had been different. If he wasn't dead. If Overwatch had literally exploded. If, if, if...

Reaper knew that thinking about it was never helpful, that it only bristled his temper and stoked the flames of revenge. This place had decided to deny that further, so if he was going to be angry at anything, it was this place now.

Instead, he growled out a sigh and moved to search the pouches for some bandaging, knowing where it was from a previous search. A small cotton pad was applied first to the burns on the neck and then he wrapped the gauze next.]

In the state you're in? Making you won't be difficult, you stubborn cabrón. Now stay still.

[steadypulse]

Better result than none.

[Wasn't as if 76 was going to move to stop him at this point, only now able to breathe in some sort of comfortable way without being sharply reminded about the state of his rib cage. Vision finally clearing up better as well.

Goddammit, Reaper.]

Someone's pissy.

[But maybe it said far more for the fact that 76 didn't move just to be irritating.]

[b_a_n_g]

[The scarring could have been worse, but it also could have been better. Both of their states of being had been profoundly altered from the fall of Overwatch. Nothing could or would go back to how it used to be.

He knew what he was doing when it came to wrapping 76's neck injury. As much as he had threatened to have a nice tight bandage, it was nothing more than snug enough so that it wouldn't slip with motion.]

There. Move your head up and down then side to side so I know it won't slip.

[If one was going to do a job, may as well make certain that it was done right in the first place.]

[steadypulse]

[There was a drawn out, over-played huff—

76 still did the head movements, leaning up and propped on elbows enough that he could do the full range of motion. Much as his joints and bones might be protesting after earlier, better to get it done.]

Feels secured to me.

[b_a_n_g]

[He reached out after the head motions were done and pressed on the bandage to check for slipping. It seemed secure and settled.

Only then did he rise to his feet from where he had been sitting on 76. He observed the younger man for a moment before he grudgingly offered out a hand to help 76 up from laying on the ground.]

Let's go.

[steadypulse]

[There was some brief moment -enough to hear how quiet this building was in its abandonment-that 76 just looked from Reaper's mask to the offered hand. Sizing up the sight, weighing if it—

76 took the offered hand with some low noise in his throat, using that help to pull himself back on to his feet. Hissing a little under his breath at the jolt of pain that ran through him, but it was ignored as he kept moving.

Had to pick up his jacket, his mask.]

Fine.

[b_a_n_g]

[There was equally a brief moment where he considered just leaving, dropping 76 to struggle up from the floor with broken ribs, burns and corruption. It would be so easy, and yet he resisted the urge.

Once 76 was up and standing, Reaper dropped his grip then bent to gather up the younger man's jacket and visor, offering them without comment.]

You actually have somewhere to go?

[steadypulse]

[An uneasy truce was still a truce, careful as it seemed the both of them were being.

The jacket was taken and just shrugged over shoulders without putting arms through the sleeves. Wearing it like that as the visor was put back in to place with a snap, right along with the face guard. 76 took a slow, steadying breath-]

Attic space, few buildings over.

[Just one of the places he took up in. Offered a good view from a window, secured enough that 76 had felt safe heading there to patch up what he could. Until he was intercepted at least.]

[b_a_n_g]

[He should just punch the younger man in the head to knock him out in order to limit complaining, but again, he refrained. A truce was a truce, slight though it may be.

He nodded, shifting his weight to get into motion.]

I'll take you there then you're on your own.

[It was more information than he had been given previously and by forcing them to go there would be indication enough if 76 was telling the truth.]

Keep up.

[steadypulse]

[All 76 gave was a grunt in reply but, well. He did fall in to step, knowing exactly where he needed to go to get in to the building described.

Was telling the truth, but time would tell if he was going to keep using the old attic space, or if he was going to ditch it because after this it would be compromised. Reaper would know exactly where it was. That 76 had secured it in ways no one would notice it being used.

A warm place, had a few supplies in boxes made to look like they were just old stored things.]

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper lead the way out of the building, keeping his pace slow enough that 76 shouldn't have trouble keeping up but fast enough to make it seem like he was being cautious rather than helpful. He paused as he pushed the door to the building open, peering around and listening before easing his way out.

Once they were out of the abandoned building, he began to take them to this 'attic', basing where it was on boltholes he would potentially used and the clues that 76 had given about where it might be. He expected 76 would stay there only a short period of time and then never use it again. That was smart.

He paused as in front of a particular building and gestured.]

This it? Or further?

[steadypulse]

[He had others, scattered about the town where people were only just returning, setting up shops. A few homes that weren't built in or on trees, and some that were. All where his passing wouldn't go noticed, slip in and out as needed.

Hell, he even slept in large tress or the forest floors in make-shifts lean-toos he could tear down and scatter as if he had never been there at all.

76 glanced up when Reaper paused, fingers curling before nodding, even if a bit reluctantly.]

Busted latch on a window, hidden by the side of the building next to it.

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper could see the reluctance, and he would have been much the same if their roles had been reversed. Hell, he might have just been completely stubborn and refused to give any location at all.

He noted the window in question.] Fine, it shouldn't be a problem.

[He moved in closer, doing what he could not give 76 the opportunity to squirm away or do more than snarl at him. No, he moved to get an arm around the younger man's waist quickly and securely.] Hold on.

[steadypulse]

[The hard part was going to be moving the supplies he had tucked away here, slowly building up his store. Some things he could just ditch if he had to, make it easier on himself and take only what was actually needed.

76 stiffened up when he was taken hold of again, a and immediately grasping on of Reaper's shoulders- but he didn't fight. Practically did what he was asked out of reflex.]

I can walk. [There was some suspicion in his voice, almost a What are you doing?]

[b_a_n_g]

Oh, I'm sure you can...

[At least 76 could still follow orders when they were given. That might have seemed like a miracle even hours before, but he wasn't going to look that gift horse in the mouth.

His hold tightened as he looked at the window in question, and he estimated the distance before he turned to smoke and teleported his way to the window, dragging 76 up with him. It was a skill he had developed in Deerington and put to use now. His hand snapped out to catch the edge, letting 76 open the actual window and climb inside.]