Let's be war buddies...

[initiates]

Date & Time: 18th, beginning at 2100 hours, through to the 20th.
Location: All around Exsilium.
Characters: Everyone!
Summary: The United Earth decides Exsilium had obviously not learned its lesson back in October, and does another round of humble-making bombing for those impertinent exiles. OOC info can be found here.
Warnings: Violence, death, general gloom and doom.

The warning had gone out approximately two hours before the bombing began, broadcast to any available receptor on the island: UE aggressions incoming, bombs expected; please proceed to Catacombs immediately. It repeats over and over, right up until the first bomb, aimed at the Hold itself, silences the signal.

The air is thick with smoke and worse. Every one to two hours another bomb shakes the island. Buildings crumble and shatter, but the focus is on the Hold and the native hospital. Initiative employees, some sick as anyone else, are steadfast in their escorting natives and transports alike into the underground catacombs. For two days the bombs continue ceaselessly, dropped by their cloaked and invisible carriers overhead.

The United Earth is nothing if not thorough.

Comments

[oncearanger]

[Billy bites his lip for a moment, then draws very close and uses his lowest whisper yet.]

Your...uh, involuntary physical response.

1/2

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan thinks for a moment and then grins and whispers back.]

So the outline I've seen in your shorts is what I think it is. That's good to know.

2/2

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan shrugs.]

No big deal. It happens.

[oncearanger]

[Billy looks even redder. He's still whispering.]

Yes, it would appear we're anatomically similar.

And I know. It happens to me too. I just...didn't intend to cause discomfort between us, especially given the environment we're in.

[He 's awkwardly sitting up now, some distance away, rubbing his arm.]

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan waves him off.]

I wasn't uncomfortable, but if you were no biggie. Just get back over here so we can both be warm and we can talk about something else.

[oncearanger]

All right. If that's okay with you.

[Billy's expression fades into a smile as he pulls back, and then he tentatively scoots back into place. He tucks his jacket around himself again.]

All right...topic of conversation definitely not related to his...hmm. What were your goals in life?

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan shakes his head and snickers.]

Survival, fun, sex whenever I could get it. I was with a group of people where I knew I'd never get the relationship I wanted. Because I knew everyone in my generation and well, all of them likes girls.

[Oops... that wasn't exactly as unrelated as Billy thought?]

[oncearanger]

Once you've secured survival, many people want those other things.

[Billy's still comfortable, but he's very consciously trying not to brush too much against Aidan and cause another problem.]

In a place like this, people are from all kinds of worlds. There are plenty of guys who might be interested in you here.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan nods.]

I know. I haven't figured out my goals here just yet. I'm still working on the whole survival thing.

[He lightly nudges one of the lamps with his feet.]

These aren't ideal after all. Not that I'm not grateful.

[oncearanger]

I know. I want to help build a more appropriate suit for you, that'll take care of the warmth and light problems at once.

[Billy shakes his head with a sad sigh]

It'll just take longer than expected, given that I no longer have a lab or most of my supplies. But if we last long enough to rebuild...there will be so many chances to build great things.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan nods.]

I'm still alive. Your still alive. All the transports survived didn't we?

All things considered, that's pretty amazing.

[oncearanger]

Yeah, it is. There's still hope.

[Billy rests his hands on either side of Aidan's legs to hold himself up. He's tipping a little.]

As for me? What I want most is to invent something truly original and amazing---well, I liked my flying car, but something that really helps people would be even better.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan laughs.]

That's a pretty big dream.

[oncearanger]

It's still possible.

[He looks up dreamily at the ceiling, but winces when it vibrates with the sound of another impact.]

I don't know how pleasant our dreams will be tonight, though.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan nods, also looking up as the ceiling.]

Probably better than the reality.

[oncearanger]

I don't know. Have you ever had a really twisted nightmare?

And some realities can be worse than this.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan nods.]

Everyone has. But that' really rare. As for worse realities, no reason to think about that right now.

[oncearanger]

Yeah. Between 'alive' and 'not alive'...I've been on both sides, and I know what I choose.

[Billy slumps, lifting a hand to stifle a yawn.]

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan smirks.]

Sleepy?

[oncearanger]

I don't stop working out there until I can't take anymore. So...yeah. I've been winding down.

[He tips his head up and smiles a little awkwardly.]

But if you're staying up a while, I'll move.

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan yawns.]

Naw, I'm pretty beat myself. And I should probably sleep since the light here is worse than normal.

[He then gives Billy a stern look.]

You get all the food and water. I won't take no for an answer.

[oncearanger]

Understood.

[Billy nods, awkwardly trying to get comfortable. He figures he's probably staying.]

May I borrow you as a pillow, or...?

[cowardwithoutfear]

[Aidan nods.]

That was the plan. Besides, you're a way better blanket than nothing.

[He then bunches up his cloak and scarf into a makeshift pillow and lays down. It actually looks pretty comfortable all things considered. It's pretty clear this is not the first time he's done that.]

[oncearanger]

[Billy waits for Aidan to settle and then climbs up, folding his arms over Aidan's chest and using that for a pillow with his jacket loosely thrown over them. It's not the most comfortable way to sleep, but at least it's warm.]

Good night. Sweet dreams, I hope.