expiationlogs | monsters & men

[Although Vincent isn't consciously making an effort to really conceal himself, when he walks it is suspiciously quiet despite the fact that he's in the woods with unusual boots on that should be causing some kind of noise. Though if anything, at least the red cloak he wears should be obvious to spot. Probably. Either way, he is on track to a specific destination.

The bunker.

Honestly, he doesn't think he'll find much of value to everyone's present situation. There's unlikely to be anything of note that's left, but for him, it's... personal. More than he's expressed to anyone, anyway. The closest he'd gotten was when Toph had asked, but even then Vincent keeps it all close to his heart. There's no sense in dragging anyone into his own matters, after all.

Eventually, the bunker comes into view and Vincent pauses as he looks at the entrance. It's properly foreboding, unwelcoming, but he is keen to cross over anyway.]

[The inside is about what he expects.

Concrete floors, empty cages, broken equipment -- all echoes of what could have transpired here, and for what purpose exactly? Perhaps nothing but the ill infectious idea of scientific curiosity when it is obsession. Desiring knowledge is no sin, but how it is done through the pain of others is another matter entirely. The claws of the gauntler Vincent wears twitch briefly, then he kneels down to look at one of the cages.

It won't reveal anything to him. Not about the bunker, or his own tortured existence. Vincent traces his fingertips over one of the bars, wondering what manner of creature was inside. Where they could be now, if they are free or not. It isn't typical to have sympathy for beasts, but Vincent could hardly feel any other way. He isn't so far removed from being one of them, anyway.

He purses his lips, standing up and pondering as he gazes at the leftovers of what once held pain and misery.]

[The bunker still bothered Levi. It was so much like what he'd seen just prior to arriving here he could never get it fully out of his head. So he returned to it semi-regularly, mostly checking if anyone had returned. This is the first time he's seen anyone in it.

He's being sort of stealthy but not putting his full effort into not being noticed. Vincent may or may not hear him coming, but the boy with the rifle stops 10-15' away from Vincent and aims said rifle at him.]

Who are you.

[Despite being consumed by his own thoughts, Vincent tilts his head as he hears footsteps -- and more importantly, a rifle being aimed at him. Slowly, he turns around to gaze at the young man.

Thin, almost frail looking, yet there's no mistaking the fact that he's holding the rifle with confidence. He knows how to handle it. Albeit Vincent doesn't have any particular fear of being shot, he would really prefer to not be.]

Vincent Valentine.

I expect you to state your name as well.

[Vincent Valentine...he's seen that name on the network before. So not someone connected with this place. He lowers his gun.]

I'm Levi. Sorry...I was afraid you were with, uh, whoever ran this place.

[Levi. He recalls that name that commented on his post requesting a coffin, something he still hasn't resolved yet. That's all right, though.]

Not an unreasonable conclusion.

[That is to say, Vincent takes no offense.]

Are you familiar with this place, then?

Ah...y-yeah. I found it when I first arrived. It was closed, but once we could get in everything was gone.

[While he seemed confident and sure of himself when he was pointing the gun at Vincent, Levi seems much meeker now.]

D-did you just wander in?

[So, no one really knows anything about it. To be expected, but there's still a sliver of disappointment.

Vincent turns around to look over the remains of the experiments that had been carried out here.]

Someone told me about the bunker. Wanted to see it for myself.

[All it holds are brutal reminders, it seems.]

There were no documents or anything else that could be found?

Oh.

[Why anyone would bring up this place is beyond him, but people talk about weird things.]

There were papers here when it opened. I still have some but not with me. They were doing...I-i'm not sure. Trying to make something big, using both living things and machines.

[He frowns, that still rubbed him the wrong way. Was it possible they succeeded, like the yellow king and the others in Prehevil had?]

[That earns a tilt of Vincent's head, his red eyes staring down at Levi as he contemplates the information.]

Would you be willing to show me those papers?

Yeah. I can't really make any sense of them anyway. I can bring them to you somewhere.

[There's a faint inclination of his head, something like a nod but not really committing. Vincent c'mon man.]

Is now acceptable?

Um.

[Does he want to let this guy know where he lives? He doesn't know him, and Levi had really only just gotten his own space.]

I don't have them with me so I'd have to go get them. I can bring them back here, I guess, or we could meet up somewhere.

[Cautious. Knows how to hold a rifle. Doesn't plan to reveal where he's staying. Good, Vincent thinks. This one is a survivor.]

Then I will wait here.

[He nods.]

Alright. I'll be right back. Or, uh, as soon as I can be at least.

[He turns and heads back to the city. He doesn't run, but he doesn't idle or delay either, so he's back soon enough with his satchel. Once he finds Vincent he pulls out a few papers and holds them out.]

I don't really understand any of that, but I came across something like it back where I came from. They were trying to make a god...among other things.

[It is a bit of a wait, but that's all right. The fact that the young man is going to the lengths to show him the information is appreciated, and if nothing else Vincent is very good at being patient. So he spends his time thoroughly investigating the rest of the bunker before returning to where he and Levi were just speaking.

The papers are taken, his eyes reading over what little could be interpreted through awful handwriting and faded ink. There's a slow, displeased hum from Vincent, then he scowls.]

People playing with things they should not... [A tale as old as time. It's regrettable, not shocking.]

Do you suppose they were trying to do the same here?

I don't know about a god, but there were a lot of weird animals around when this place was found. So they had to be combining them somehow.

[Though some might still have just been from worlds he didn't know.]

I see.

[There's a brief flare of anger and frustration. Mostly, Vincent is able to internalize it, but there's a flash of a scowl on his face before he lowers to his collar.

He hates this. That much he can admit to himself.]

Can you describe these animals to me?

Like they'd combined two or more animals together. They weren't any more aggressive than those animals normally would be, but they were definitely not right.

I just got here, though, so I wasn't sure if it was normal for this place...it isn't.

I don't think I've seen them again.

[You better believe he was keeping an eye out, though.]

[It isn't shocking to hear. Just uncomfortable. It makes him think too much of being on a table and under a madman's knife. That, along with his many sins, are things he cannot forget.

The creatures are not here. Maybe they're gone forever now, or maybe they simply have moved on.

To Levi, Vincent gives a stiff nod.]

Thank you.

[The page is held out. He has memorized what is legible, and that's all that he can do for the time being.]

You have been informative.

It's nothing.

[He looks down at the papers.]

If you can make any sense of that it might be better if you hold onto it.

[Well. Vincent doesn't argue; he folds up the paper and puts it away for now. Though this bunker has only earned more questions and cruel reminders, it has been educating nonetheless.]

You know your way around a firearm, Levi.

[It's an observation, and noted with some curiosity. He saw how Levi held that rifle; it wasn't a bluff. He knows how to hold it.]

I do. I was in the army back, uh, back where I came from.

[He doesn't really look old enough for it, though.]

You seem like you know how to handle yourself, too.

[There's a faint tilt of his head along with a thoughtful frown. Again, it isn't horribly shocking, just regretful. Child soldiers are nothing new, and those in power will find ways to exploit those that cannot fight them easily.]

I've worked in security detail for sometime.

[That's more or less the truth.]

...Put on a bit more weight if you intend to continue to point a gun around. I knew you were serious, but not everyone may have that impression.

[Vincent doesn't add anything else. Not even a farewell. He's just going to start making his exit, and if Levi wants to follow that's his business.]

Wha--

[He scoffs and shakes his head as Vincent leaves. Its not his fault he's small.

He doesn't bother to follow.]

[At one of the benches is one Vincent Valentine, who is sitting completely upright with his arms folded and... wait, are his eyes closed? Well, he seems to be breathing at least, slowly but surely.

And then you hear it. The faintest sound of a snore.

Oh yeah. He's definitely snoozing sitting up. Out in the open, in broad daylight. Though should you approach him, one red eye opens to stare silently at you, as if to ask the heck do you want?]

monsters & men

BUNKER

A

B

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Cw: kids being sent to war

no subject

no subject

TOWN SQUARE