Welcome To Purgatory

[BynariDistress]

@MakutaOisli

“Do…do you want me to create some more distractions?”

Before anyone could answer, the device Cass tossed you begins to vibrate, pulsing in three quick burst; similar to a cellphone that was placed on silent behaves upon receiving a message. Upon closer inspection, you notice a small full color display flashing a message: “Unknown Signal Detected - Begin Trace? (YES) (NO)”

@Ghid

Oswin exited the building … The heat outside was utterly intolerable. Thirty degrees above what people were capable of handling, onlookers clung to every patch of shade they could, the asphalt burning hot enough to singe the skin if it happened to make contact.

The summer heat was unrelenting, already approaching dangerous levels of intensity this early in the morning. Once outside, you can see onlookers pressing against the side of the building, trying to avoid direct sunlight.

@Ghid

Once again the chief caught his attention.

Despite the heat, Chief Presley stood in the middle of the parking lot, shouting orders to his officers and to onlookers alike. “Get off the street!” He shouted as several students tried crossing in order to get a better look at the column of smoke rising into the air. The sounds of sirens pierced the air as several fire trucks roared around the corner, barreling toward the students. You watch as Chief Presley rushes into the street, pushing the students out of the way just before the first truck passes. Pain and anger apparent on his face, as he picks himself off the sidewalk. The students standing there, not offering help.

@ajtazt

He then proceeded to walk around and help up anyone else that had fallen. And do general checks for glass or potential injuries, offering to help clean up if anyone had a broom.

“Thank you Alt, I appreciate that.” Pat said, walking over to take the broom from him. “Are you okay?” She asked.

The sounds of sirens filled the air as the Fire Department drove past, narrowly missing a couple of university aged students and Chief Presley as they dove to avoid the large vehicles.

Several people gasped as they watched what had happened. Seeing the police chief get back up, Pat let out a sigh of relief.

“I hope he’s okay.” She said, before looking around at the rest of the Patrons, only to be interrupted by Amber. “Pat, the dispatcher said that is the gas main.” Concern evident in her voice.
Taking a moment to think, Pat turns to you once more. “Alt I hate to ask, but would you mind going around the back and shutting off the gas? I don’t want to risk losing the diner.”

[ajtazt]

Altier assured Pat that he’s fine in a grumbly way. When asked about the gas he said, “Right. Should be a jiffy.”

He heads out the diner’s front and went around the back to find the gas line with a fast walk. When he can find it, he’ll turn it off as requested and come back inside.

[Ghid]

@BynariDistress

The summer heat was unrelenting, already approaching dangerous levels of intensity this early in the morning. Once outside, you can see onlookers pressing against the side of the building, trying to avoid direct sunlight.

Oswin didn’t get it.

He had no way of knowing temperatures in Purgatory were that of Death Valley, that it was a miracle people weren’t dropping unconscious in the street or having the soles of their shoes melted off by the black asphalt. It definitely didn’t seem like a statewide emergency to him, with his mechanical frame barely changing in temperature internally.

If his insides were ever to increase, well, alarm bells would be going off all over. But it seemed perfectly natural to go about in his current attire, so his confused glances at all those dodging any ray of sun and guzzling water like camels continued undeterred.

@BynariDistress

Despite the heat, Chief Presley stood in the middle of the parking lot, shouting orders to his officers and to onlookers alike. “Get off the street!” He shouted as several students tried crossing in order to get a better look at the column of smoke rising into the air.

…Maybe it’s better than I don’t approach him right now.

Oswin continued playing with the collar of his sweater, awkwardly watching the police chief from across the road. I hope he wouldn’t mind speaking to me. He’s always seemed so far above talking to, what with his status and… and…

…Do I hear sirens?

@BynariDistress

The sounds of sirens pierced the air as several fire trucks roared around the corner, barreling toward the students. You watch as Chief Presley rushes into the street, pushing the students out of the way just before the first truck passes. Pain and anger apparent on his face, as he picks himself off the sidewalk. The students standing there, not offering help.

Oswin clapped his hands over his mouth and leaned away in horror as the inevitable collision seemed to happen right before his eyes, only for the chief to suddenly dive, shoving the kids out of the way and flattening himself in the road, millimeters from the oncoming vehicles.

He’s a hero.

Not bothering to wait for any sign of further traffic, Oswin broke into a full sprint, hoping to catch up to Chief Presley before he fully returned to his feet to offer a hand. “Are you all right, sir?”

[BynariDistress]

@Ghid

Not bothering to wait for any sign of further traffic, Oswin broke into a full sprint,

You run across the road, narrowly avoiding another fire truck as it swerved to avoid you. And angry horn protests as it drives past.

@Ghid

hoping to catch up to Chief Presley before he fully returned to his feet to offer a hand. “Are you all right, sir?”

Chief Presley, sits up trying to get to one knee. Seeing you make it to his side of the street, he turns his gaze to the fire truck as it barrels past. With a sigh, he looks back at you.
“Son, do you have a death wish?” He asks, wiping sweat from his brow.

The two students start walking away, but not before taking photos of the Police Chief and fire trucks as they pass by.

Looking over at them, Chief Presley mumbles to himself (but in a volume loud enough for you to head) “Idiots!”

Looking back to you he squints against the sunlight then rolls his neck with an audible crack.
“They already had to put you back together once; I’d hate to see you have to go through another ordeal like that again.” He says, finally recognizing you. Reaching out a hand, he continues. “We’ll, don’t just stand there sin, help me up.”

@ajtazt

He heads out the diner’s front and went around the back to find the gas line with a fast walk. When he can find it, he’ll turn it off as requested and come back inside.

Leaving the diner, you can see several onlookers huddling under the awning, most murmuring about the what had just transpired. You can hear the tires from a fire truck squeal as they protest the sudden direction change needed to avoid Oswin as he dashed across the street.

Making your way around the west side of the building, you head south along the alleyway toward the utilities to help Pat shutoff the gas. As you approach the gas meter, you notice movement out of the corner of your eye. Further south in the shadow of the next building you notice someone.

@BynariDistress

She is dressed in professional looking business attire … her piercing blue eyes meet your gaze, but only for a moment.

She has her phone held in front of her, clearly pointing it at you. After a moment she lowers it, giving you that same stare from before.
Before you can react to her presence, a third fire truck passes between you and her; but once it is gone from view, so is she.

@NOTaHFfan

This way, it would take her a quite a bit of time to get through all the pages, but she couldn’t risk even one of the pictures turning out bad. After all, she wasn’t planning on taking the original files with her.

Several minutes have passed since you’ve taken the files into the restroom; allowing you enough time to you take your final photo of the files.
You can hear the sounds of sirens coming from outside, their tone indicating that they are from the fire department.

[MakutaOisli]

@BynariDistress

Before anyone could answer, the device Cass tossed you begins to vibrate, pulsing in three quick burst; similar to a cellphone that was placed on silent behaves upon receiving a message. Upon closer inspection, you notice a small full color display flashing a message: “Unknown Signal Detected - Begin Trace? (YES) (NO)”

“Uhhhh…” She just held it in her hand, completely blanked about it as she stared at the scene out the window.

@BynariDistress

Despite the heat, Chief Presley stood in the middle of the parking lot, shouting orders to his officers and to onlookers alike. “Get off the street!” He shouted as several students tried crossing in order to get a better look at the column of smoke rising into the air. The sounds of sirens pierced the air as several fire trucks roared around the corner, barreling toward the students. You watch as Chief Presley rushes into the street, pushing the students out of the way just before the first truck passes. Pain and anger apparent on his face, as he picks himself off the sidewalk. The students standing there, not offering help.

Gracie had done things before. Small time stuff. Sure, demolishing a building? Pretty cool. But now, she was feeling kinda queasy about it. She hadn’t expected this to be the result.
A little chaos goes a looooong way, she had told herself before. Just some shenanigans.
This was OVERKILL. Her eyes widened, as she stared outside at firetrucks oncoming, and Presley shoving the students out of the way. And she grimaced at their lack of proactive engagement.

@BynariDistress

You run across the road, narrowly avoiding another fire truck as it swerved to avoid you. And angry horn protests as it drives past.

Gracie’s eyeballs bulged out of her head as she saw the kid SPRINT THROUGH TRAFFIC.
Who the heck is this guy?!
She started moving, and slightly panicking.
*Crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap!``

[Ghid]

@BynariDistress

You run across the road, narrowly avoiding another fire truck as it swerved to avoid you. And angry horn protests as it drives past.

Oswin flinched away from the vehicle long after it was appropriate for him to have done so, mostly dreading the presumably angry driver of the fire engine rather than the prospect of getting hit by a vehicle. Maybe it would benefit him and whoever made repairs on fire engines to pay more attention…

@BynariDistress

With a sigh, he looks back at you.
“Son, do you have a death wish?” He asks, wiping sweat from his brow.

“I- No, no sir.”

Oswin’s first reaction had been to make a smart aleck comment about having that wish fulfilled already, but decided that in the presence of someone who was so clearly a hero, it would be better not to push his luck. He deserves more reverence than that.

@BynariDistress

The two students start walking away, but not before taking photos of the Police Chief and fire trucks as they pass by.

Looking over at them, Chief Presley mumbles to himself (but in a volume loud enough for you to head) “Idiots!”

Oswin was close enough to undoubtedly end up in the photos, and the thought of his presence being made apparent across Purgatory entered his mind. I wonder what the dean will say about my getting involved like this. Almost getting hit by a fire engine, helping the chief of police… I hope he’ll be more proud of me than disappointed.

@BynariDistress

Looking back to you he squints against the sunlight then rolls his neck with an audible crack.
“They already had to put you back together once; I’d hate to see you have to go through another ordeal like that again.” He says, finally recognizing you. Reaching out a hand, he continues. “We’ll, don’t just stand there son, help me up.”

“Y-Yes sir.” Oswin hurriedly extended his hand to meet the chief’s. If the chief accepted it, he would find Oswin significantly more sturdy a support than he appeared.

Actually, I wonder…What would happen if I did get hit by a vehicle?

…

NOT THAT I’M EAGER TO FIND OUT, JUST CURIOUS IS ALL

[BynariDistress]

@Ghid

If the chief accepted it, he would find Oswin significantly more sturdy a support than he appeared.

Taking Oswin’s hand, the Chief pulled himself to his feet then dusted himself off. Looking around at the scene before him, he shook his head in disbelief.

“Unbelievable.” He said, mostly to himself. Rubbing the back of his neck for a couple of seconds, he looked over at Oswin once more.

“Thanks for the help son.” He said, rolling his shoulder once more.

A third Fire truck rounds the corner of the south side of Burgertory, before speeding off to join the others. The Chief’s gaze following it as it passes.

“You ever see anything like this?” He asks, not taking his eyes off the truck - watching it until it stops two blocks north of you; the fire crew jumping out and making short work of connecting their hoses to the hydrant.
“Reminds me of my time during the war.” He said, soundly slightly irritated by the memory.

“So …” he asks, his tone lacking the annoyance it just had, taking in a more inquisitive tone; “I noticed you hanging around Alt and Billie this morning. Gracie too.” His eyes ■■■■■ from the fire department back to the window where your booth could be seen. (Gracie quickly moving from the booth).

“Hope you’re staying out of trouble Oswin.” He says, looking back at you.

[ajtazt]

@BynariDistress

Before you can react to her presence, a third fire truck passes between you and her; but once it is gone from view, so is she.

And we’re already being trailed by spooks. Great. Altier thought as he turned off the gas.

There was a brief thought of running over and trying to find the lady, but why bother? That would confirm things for them, wouldn’t it? Why anyone was watching the back of the diner and it’s gas meter…Perhaps happenstance? Better to stay nearby and get those files as told.

He heads back inside and says, “Gas is off. Shouldn’t explode now.”

[BynariDistress]

@ajtazt

He heads back inside and says, “Gas is off. Shouldn’t explode now.”

Pat looks up from her spot behind the bar, looking frazzled. “Thanks Alt, I appreciate it more than you know.” She looks off into the distance, playing with her wedding ring as she mutters something silently under her breath. She is approached by one of the waitresses who thanks her before running past you and toward the door. “Don’t worry hun, we’ll say a prayer for you.”

Looking over to you, Pat shakes her head. “Bless her heart; she just heard that her son is missing.”

[Ghid]

@BynariDistress

“Unbelievable.” He said, mostly to himself. Rubbing the back of his neck for a couple of seconds, he looked over at Oswin once more.

“Thanks for the help son.” He said, rolling his shoulder once more.

Oswin didn’t respond, instead just looking up at the man as if he was some kind of greek god descended from the heavens to walk among mankind. He was still trying to reconcile the physical appearance of the Chief with the ideal he had created in his mind when he continued.

@BynariDistress

“You ever see anything like this?” He asks, not taking his eyes off the truck - watching it until it stops two blocks north of you; the fire crew jumping out and making short work of connecting their hoses to the hydrant.
“Reminds me of my time during the war.” He said, soundly slightly irritated by the memory.

“I…”

He wanted to say You should’ve seen the beer bong those chowderheads on campus put together after rigging an oil tanker on a lift and spending an unholy amount of money on the cheapest alcohol known to man only to spend the rest of the night throwing up and a third of them ended up getting expelled and the college had to hold a press conference for the incident, but he decided Chief Presley, being the confirmed war hero he was, had better things to talk about.

“I haven’t spent much time outside of the college, sir.”

@BynariDistress

“So …” he asks, his tone lacking the annoyance it just had, taking in a more inquisitive tone; “I noticed you hanging around Alt and Billie this morning. Gracie too.” His eyes shift from the fire department back to the window where your booth could be seen. (Gracie quickly moving from the booth).

“Hope you’re staying out of trouble Oswin.” He says, looking back at you.

Oswin never once considered the implications of what he was saying, nor did he at any point make the quite obvious connection that anyone could have picked up on.

“Who’s Gracie?” He looked up at the Chief with a confused expression. Was it the waitress?

[NOTaHFfan]

@BynariDistress

Several minutes have passed since you’ve taken the files into the restroom; allowing you enough time to you take your final photo of the files.
You can hear the sounds of sirens coming from outside, their tone indicating that they are from the fire department.

As Billie was nearing the last page of the files, she heard the approaching sound of sirens muffled by the wall of the building. It seemed like she’d have just barely enough time to complete her plan before the scene got too busy.

As soon as she snapped the last picture and made sure that it turned out okay, Billie stood up, put away her phone in the deepest of her pockets, just to be safe, and hid the documents back under the apron.

Quickly leaving the restroom, she headed straight for the table from which she had taken the documents a couple minutes before and, as she walked past it, snuck the documents from under her apron back onto the table in one swift motion. If she did everything right, the cops would have no idea that somebody even touched the documents, let alone took pictures of every single page. She was anxious that someone might have seen it, as the panic in the diner had reduced significantly while she was away, but she couldn’t afford to look around to verify that as it would look suspicious and only draw more attention to her, so she made herself look straight ahead as she approached the table her group had been sitting at earlier. Stopping next to it and finally sending glances in all directions to make sure that nobody was looking at her, at least as far as she could tell, Billie finally pulled off the apron and tossed it over the back of the nearest chair.

She allowed herself to let out a small sigh of relief. Now it was just a matter of finding the others and getting out of here.

@ajtazt

He heads back inside and says, “Gas is off. Shouldn’t explode now.”

Noticing Altier among the comparatively few leftover patrons of the diner, Billie quickly grabbed the paper bag with her burger and, much more importantly, the six pack of beer off the table and walked up to him. She stopped next to him, standing far enough for her comfort and looked out the window, nervously searching for the other two with her eyes. Without looking at Alt, she spoke just barely loudly enough for him to hear, but with a certain assertiveness in her voice: “We need to go. Now.”

She felt that the longer they stayed in the diner, the more trouble it would bring.

[BynariDistress]

@Ghid

“I haven’t spent much time outside of the college, sir.”

“So I’ve heard. Happy to see you out and hopefully on your own for once.” He said as he looked you over. “Looks like they’ve get you all set for a second chance at life. Not many of us get that chance son. Treat it as the blessing it is.” He said, glancing once more at the Fire Trucks up the road.

@Ghid

“Who’s Gracie?”

Chief Presley raised an eyebrow and looked back at you. His face barely registering any expression. “So she didn’t tell you her name?” He asked, a slight smirk appearing as he slowly started making his way across the street once more. “Shes the girl with the rabbit mask.” He said, “she’s a nice kid Oswin. But she makes some odd life choices.” He continued, “Just be careful out there.”

@NOTaHFfan

“We need to go. Now.”

No sooner do the words leave your mouth when the entire group suddenly receives another mental message. This time you each receive an image of the city’s map, with a pin to a location.

Green Country Tech.

The local computer repair shop along Main Street.

Along with the image, you notice five (5) icons in the image, somehow knowing each one represents the four of you that were at the diner; and then the fifth icon … it’s a quarter mile north of your positions, and is now moving toward the indicated location.

[Ghid]

@BynariDistress

“Looks like they’ve got you all set for a second chance at life. Not many of us get that chance son. Treat it as the blessing it is.” He said, glancing once more at the Fire Trucks up the road.

Oswin seriously had to stop playing with his collar or he would end up poking a hole in it before too long. A second chance at life… I hadn’t thought of it like that before.

@BynariDistress

Chief Presley raised an eyebrow and looked back at you. His face barely registering any expression. “So she didn’t tell you her name?” He asked, a slight smirk appearing as he slowly started making his way across the street once more. “Shes the girl with the rabbit mask.”

Oh.

Oswin’s expression betrayed the guilt he felt at the notion that, in spite of it being literally impossible, he was somehow supposed to know this information in advance.

@BynariDistress

“She’s a nice kid Oswin. But she makes some odd life choices.” He continued, “Just be careful out there.”

“y… yeah.”

The yeah was half in response to Chief Presley’s sage advice of not hanging around too many lunatics and half in response to the notion that Gracie made some odd life choices. How does someone wake up each day and choose to wear that kind of outfit?

Now the Chief had returned to his job, and seemed to be well preoccupied with trying to keep the raging fire under control. Those operating the fire engines had rushed to combat the blaze, and for a moment Oswin was alone, overwhelmed by the scene unfolding before him.

@BynariDistress

This time you each receive an image of the city’s map, with a pin to a location.

Green Country Tech.

The local computer repair shop along Main Street.

And then Oswin got flashbanged by a live map feed.

Four dots were visible - three inside the restaurant, moving at various speeds, and the fourth was not far away, across the neighboring street of the restaurant, at the street corner, doing absolutely nothing-

Oh.

The fifth was more concerning. Oswin couldn’t help but feel that that fifth dot, whoever it was meant to represent, was a problem. It was moving at a steady pace, nearing Main Street, and may have represented someone driving or walking… It wasn’t clear which.

Then the image disappeared, and Oswin got snapped back into reality with all the grace that he had taken getting flashbanged. Was… was he supposed to walk there, or run there? Or hitch a ride on the bus? Oswin had never been on a bus outside of a schoolbus. Were you supposed to hand the driver the money before or after you got on board?

…Do I even have any cash on me?

And so he stood, quietly staring into the ensuing inferno, unsure whether to walk, run, drive, or do anything other than stand there wasting his time while the clock was ticking.

[ajtazt]

@BynariDistress

Looking over to you, Pat shakes her head. “Bless her heart; she just heard that her son is missing.”

“Not another,” Altier snarled. “How many mor–forget it. Shouting about it won’t help.”

@NOTaHFfan

“We need to go. Now.”

“Yeah yeah,” Altier gave under his breath.

He collected any items he placed down earlier after the flash. Already working out in his mind what would be the best way to head to that store without getting in the way of emergency services. And also if it was anywhere near the spook’s direction.

“Sorry Pat, wish I could help more but if I’m late… Well, you know how he is.”

As Altier says this, he heads out the door and towards his truck. Much like his walk into the dinner, it was a faster power walk than anything. The truck would be a rice cooker now but still better to be out of direct sun and asphalt.

He took out his keys and clicked on the fob’s button to unlock the truck. It was really meant only for two people. Technically could seat five with half-doors in the back but they had little leg room. He opened up driver side’s main door and the second half door behind it.

Altier assumes he was followed and almost says instructions without checking. Almost. He turns to look and ensure at least one of them was there.

“Careful where you put stuff. This is expensive commercial junk and I don’t need your trash breaking it. Throw it in the bed or it sits on your lap. We’ll grab the kid…”

If Gracie isn’t with them he corrects himself, “the kids on the way out.”

[NOTaHFfan]

@BynariDistress

No sooner do the words leave your mouth when the entire group suddenly receives another mental message. This time you each receive an image of the city’s map, with a pin to a location.

Green Country Tech.

Billie shuddered in reaction to the appearance of the image. The notion that someone could just insert thoughts into her brain like that at any given time was not an easy one to accept and brought some more than unsettling implications. The fact that the image appeared immediately after she said that they needed to go didn’t help. She could only hope that the person sending all these things would not misuse their power.

She quickly studied the map. Was the next destination a drop off point for the files? And what was the fifth dot? The other person who joined the squad through very strange means?

@ajtazt

As Altier says this, he heads out the door and towards his truck. Much like his walk into the dinner, it was a faster power walk than anything. The truck would be a rice cooker now but still better to be out of direct sun and asphalt.

Before she could come up with answers for any of those questions, Altier started moving, forcing Billie to catch up. As soon as she ended up outside, she immediately regretted her choice and wished once again that she didn’t leave her apartment earlier in the morning. The temperature was simply unbearable and the fact that she had to switch to a light jog in order to keep up with the man didn’t help. Billie’s body did not wait at all with its response to these conditions and started losing water rapidly. By the time she reached Altier’s truck, she managed to get very thirsty. A cold beer never seemed more enticing.

@Ghid

And so he stood, quietly staring into the ensuing inferno, unsure whether to walk, run, drive, or do anything other than stand there wasting his time while the clock was ticking.

As Billie exited the diner and made her way through the parking lot, she caught a glimpse of Oswin standing on the sidewalk opposite of the establishment, looking extremely lost. She had no desire to point that out to Altier. She didn’t want to waste her energy and if the kid seemed completely unbothered by the hellish heat outside, he could probably afford to stand around in it for a little longer.

@ajtazt

“Careful where you put stuff. This is expensive commercial junk and I don’t need your trash breaking it. Throw it in the bed or it sits on your lap. We’ll grab the kid…”

Billie put the case of beer in the trunk, realizing that there was regrettably nowhere she could place it in order to keep it cool, but not before taking out one can and taking it with her along with the paper-wrapped burger.

Without giving it a second thought, she quickly sat in the passenger seat next to Altier, closed the door and fastened the seat belt. There wasn’t much space in the back, but it’s not like the other two would take up a lot of it. Only potential concern here would be the weight of the kid.

@ajtazt

If Gracie isn’t with them he corrects himself, “the kids on the way out.”

Finally, only after she positioned herself inside the car, Billie decided to reveal that she knew where the kid was. “He’s around the corner, on the sidewalk.” And where’s the other one? she nervously tapped her fingers on her knee as she waited for Altier to start the car.

[MakutaOisli]

@Ghid

y… yeah.”

The yeah was half in response to Chief Presley’s sage advice of not hanging around too many lunatics and half in response to the notion that Gracie made some odd life choices. How does someone wake up each day and choose to wear that kind of outfit?

Now the Chief had returned to his job, and seemed to be well preoccupied with trying to keep the raging fire under control. Those operating the fire engines had rushed to combat the blaze, and for a moment Oswin was alone, overwhelmed by the scene unfolding before him.

“PRESLEY WHATHAPPENEDOHGODIMSORRYJESUSI’MANIDIOTAREYOUOKAY?!?!”

Gracie burst out of the diner, rushing over to the two of them.

She was going see about Billie, and then heard her name, thought something happened, and rushed out of the diner, and thought she was in trouble.

[Ghid]

@MakutaOisli

AREYOUOKAY?!?!”

Chief Presley had long since returned to his duties, but Oswin was plenty available to receive an earful of Gracie which sent him three feet into the air and back down on the ground with perfect posture… And then falling over anyway.

“h-Hi.” Oswin’s voice shook for a moment as he reacted to Gracie’s presence. He quickly righted himself and dusted himself off. “Did, uh, did it work? Are we good to go?”

[ajtazt]

@NOTaHFfan

Finally, only after she positioned herself inside the car, Billie decided to reveal that she knew where the kid was. “He’s around the corner, on the sidewalk.”

Altier stared at Billie for almost a second seeing her in the passenger side. His lips pressed together but didn’t say anything. He closed the second door, got in, closed the other door and started the truck. He immediately turns the air conditioning back on and blasts its coolness as high as it can go.

“Right,” Altier said in response to Oswin’s location.

“This darn thing needs to run for a few minutes before it gets cool. And I mean run down the highway. If she idles then nothing is getting colder.”

He says this as navigates his way through the parking lot and towards Oswin. In turn, also seeing Gracie run in a panic over to the boy. They drive up next to the duo and he puts on the brakes, opening the driver’s door.

“Get in before the heat does,” he almost barked. Though with a quick reconsideration he added, “Boy, you might need to be in the bed. Up to you.”

[Ghid]

@ajtazt

They drive up next to the duo and he puts on the brakes, opening the driver’s door.

“Get in before the heat does,” he almost barked.

Huh?

“Huh?”

Is it hot outside? Oswin wondered. Oh wait, maybe he means the fire. Yeah, that would make sense, being next to the fire and all. Good thinking on his part; Gracie might get hurt being so close.

@ajtazt

Though with a quick reconsideration he added, “Boy, you might need to be in the bed. Up to you.”

Oswin had raised a hand to start his process of getting in the truck, but at the suggestion his expression turned crestfallen. “Right,” He sighed, blinking out of eye contact and slowly walking to the side of the vehicle. It noticeably moved as he hauled himself over the side, landing with a thud in the bed of the truck.

The first sight that greeted him was the bag of Billie’s beer, which brought revulsion to his features once more. Ugh. Beer. How can anybody stand drinking this stuff? Isn’t alcohol, like, really bad tasting? I’ve tried rubbing alcohol, that stuff made me throw up instantly.

[BynariDistress]

While at Altier’s truck, you all receive what sounds like muffled static across your earpieces.

Followed by a single reply from an unknown female voice.

“Yes.”