Check-In: Not-Mother Hen

[st_alksthroughwalls]

Kitty sat at the bar with a cup of coffee and her notebook, watching the 'welcoming committee' make themselves busy. Liz was here, as she'd promised Kitty she would be and Kitty gave her a quick smile of encouragement.

One of the worst things about Check-In Days was that you never knew whether it'd be a whole long day of no one arriving, one spectacular fall from the ceiling and dropping dead after another, or anything in between. It made it hard to know what to do with yourself. After awhile, you got used to it and just kept on with whatever you'd do otherwise, and know that if you didn't step up for a new arrival, someone else would. But for someone not used to treating it like a responsibility to be here, especially someone with Liz's anxious need to be perfect at it, Check-In Day could be emotionally exhausting.

So Kitty made sure to have milk warmed for hot cocoa and her plans for the obstacle course handy in case Liz needed something to do with herself. Otherwise, she was working on a modification of Cerebro to see if she could start detecting new arrivals.


[ooc: Regular check-in day gathering post. If you want Kitty, ping me.]

Comments

OTA

[st_randedinwinter]

It was dinner time when Bradley Baker emerged from his room once more. He had showered and changed into a pair of denim jeans and a light pink t-shirt that said Madonna Inn on the front. He still wore his hoodie, but he had slept for see several hours and was feeling a lot better. The warm climate seemed to change his disposition.

He walked the grounds and Halls of the Inn with his hands in his pockets. Occasionally he would take out his iPhone and check to see if there was a signal. Every time where wasn't, he would look annoyed.

Brad & Sunny

[st_igmatized]

"You do eventually get used to the complete lack of signal," Sunny said as she passed near the boy on her way to the main building. He looked familiar, but she could tell pretty quickly he wasn't Peter. Unless Peter had gotten swapped out in the last twelve hours for another one who hadn't been here before.

She had an umbrella slung over one shoulder, even though there wasn't a drop of rain and barely any clouds to speak of. Even though she hadn't sunburned since she was initiated and found her magic, she still had no idea if that meant she could end up with melanoma or not. She preferred not to risk it. The sun meant business here in a way it didn't in London.

"Though it takes a while to get used to the idea that you can just leave it behind and not miss anything."

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_randedinwinter]

Brad looked up from his phone and took in the woman. He had never seen an albino before in real life, but his school was filled with enough diversity he knew not to stare.

"I keep wanting to tell my mom I'm okay." He said, "Even though I know it's useless."

He also didn't like being out of service. It made Bradley feel like he was back out in the wilderness with his dad.

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_igmatized]

Sunny's face softened in sympathy. "Yeah. I still want to do that."

She extended her free hand to him. "My name's Sunny," she said. "Welcome to the Madonna Inn."

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_randedinwinter]

He looked at her hand, then shook it tentatively.

"I'm Brad," He replied. "And, thank you, I guess. I'm... guessing you've been here a lot longer than me, huh?"

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_igmatized]

"A little over six months," Sunny confirmed with a nod, keeping the way that made her stomach knot up off her face. Six months without her coven, without her family, was an eternity. She had friends here, good friends, and that helped her bear it, though some days only just. "Long enough to leave my phone in my pocket, though not always in my room."

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_randedinwinter]

He glanced to his phone one more time and then slid it into his pocket.

"This place is like other of an old movie." He said. "I saw a computer and I'm pretty sure those were around when my mom was in high school."

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_igmatized]

Sunny laughed brightly at that. Sometimes she was almost used to things like the lack of internet, but every once in a while... "Yeah, we're stuck in a bit of a 90s timewarp for some reason. Boxy computers, boxy TVs, VHS tapes... and for some reason it's pretty much nobody's era of origin."

Re: Brad & Sunny

[st_randedinwinter]

Brad had not been born yet. He ran fingers through his mess of hair.

"Do you think this place really exists in California?" He asked, eyes looking around. "People actually choose to stay at this place?"

A beat.

"I know people say we can't leave.. have you tried?" He asked, looking at her now.

Hurley and Brad

[st_illkindalost]

Hurley is leaving his room when he catches sight of the little dude wandering the hall with his phone in hand.

"It's not gonna work," Hurley calls out from behind him, not unkindly. "Trust me. Everyone on the island spent days doing that until their phones all died."

Well, most of them, anyway.

"It's probably better for you to find something to focus on. You'll drive yourself crazy if you don't."

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

Bradley stopped when he heard the voice and turned to see him. This guy actually looks normal

He looked at his phone. Then he pocketed it.

"What should I do, then?" He asked.

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_illkindalost]

"I don't know," he says. "What do you like to do, man? We got like, a pool and library and stuff."

They weren't exactly swimming in fun things to do, but if there was anything Hurley knew from experience, you had to make your own fun.

"That probably doesn't seem like stuff you should do when you've just been separated from everybody, but there isn't much you can do about it. You might as well try to have a good time."

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

The feeling built up inside of him like a bubbling pot of water. His lips formed a thin line and his body tense.

"A good time?" He said, looking like he might tear up soon. "You don't know anything about me."

His hands balled into fists and his weight shifted. His eyes started to well up, but he was obviously fighting it.

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_illkindalost]

"Whoa, sorry, dude," Hurley says, because what do you say when a kid's about to start crying in front of you? Walt was basically the only kid on the plane and that kid was always hanging out with Locke and stuff. Until all that stuff with the Others happened. That was weird.

"You wanna play Connect Four?" he asks. Probably a weird thing to ask, but Hurley found that playing something repetitive helped with his anxiety. It was probably why he played it as much as he did when he was in the hospital.

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

I can't have a good time when Caleb...

He inhaled deeply and wiped his face with his sleeve. Brad looked like he felt bad as he glanced over to the side of the hallway. He nodded, but didn't answer in words.

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_illkindalost]

"Sorry things suck so much," Hurley says, opening the door to his room. "Gimme a second and I'll grab the game."

True to his word, Hurley re-emerges about 30 seconds later with a Connect Four box that look like it came straight out of the 70s or 80s.

"I think the only reason I didn't completely lose it when I first showed up here was because I was already trapped on an island where I came from. You wanna play in the lobby?"

Re: Hurley and Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

"You were trapped on an island?" He asked, focusing on that. "Uh, yeah... I guess so."

Bradley eyed the box. It looked old. He was pretty sure his and Caleb's version of the game when they were looked looked completely different.

Kitty & Brad

[st_alksthroughwalls]

"Hey," Kitty said quietly as she approached him. She moved quietly and she didn't want to startle him by just appearing at his elbow suddenly when his attention was elsewhere.

He looked warmer than he had before but she still had a cup of hot cocoa for him. It was a tradition she had with the younger new arrivals. "I thought you might want this. Heat and sugar are always good for easing the shock of showing up here. I'm Kitty, by the way."

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

He looked at her, then the cup, then reached out tentatively for the hot cocoa.

"Thanks..." He said as he held the warm cup with both his hands. "It's been a while since I've had anything to drink, actually. Especially hot, so."

Bradley took a careful sip. He felt the heat slide down his throat and coat his stomach. He had a hint of a smile on his lips.

"I'm Brad," He said finally.

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_alksthroughwalls]

"Hi Brad. If you haven't had anything, maybe we should get you some water, too," Kitty said, her smile kind and friendly. "Have you eaten?"

She knew that Liz had tried to be helpful but sometimes the first few hours were just too much for being practical.

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

"Not really." He replied. "I've been in a cabin in the middle of nowhere for almost three days."

He took another sip of the hot chocolate and enjoyed the comfort in it.

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_alksthroughwalls]

"Well, food's free and we've got plenty of it." Coupled with what Liz had said, Kitty had the impression he really needed someone to be kind to him. Someone he could rely on for a bit while he got his bearings. She'd do what she could. "What sounds good right now?"

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

Brad hesitated.

"Anything but pancakes," He answered. "Doesn't really matter what it is, really."

He pushed his hair out of his eyes with his hand.

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_alksthroughwalls]

No pancakes, check. She wondered what made him think of that right away, but she didn't press. He'd talk when he was ready. "Well, the chef only makes chicken, but I bet there's someone around who could make a cheeseburger and fries if you'd rather have that than a chicken sandwich or chicken tenders or a chicken Caesar." She smiled conspiratorially. "You get the picture."

Re: Kitty & Brad

[st_randedinwinter]

"Chicken fingers is fine, really," He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not picky. As long as it's hot."

Brad smiled politely.

"It's... still pretty weird to think I'm here." He continued. "I've never stayed at a hotel by myself before."