strangetrip | Check-In: Not-Mother Hen

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Check-In: Not-Mother Hen

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.]

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Thor closed his eyes for just a second as the reality of what had happened began to settle in. And when he opened them, he was somewhere else.

Whatever sorrow, whatever anger he felt at himself quickly transformed into vigilance. Thor's hands tightened around the grip of Stormbreaker as he turned around, eyes narrowing as he circled the patch of sandy earth beneath his feet.

He was sure of it. This was one of Thanos' illusions. He was using the Reality Stone. He hadn't really left; he waited until they had their guard down, then manipulated their perception of reality while they were still vulnerable.

Malekith had used it before. It'd been called the Aether then. He'd used it poorly. He knew Thanos would use it correctly. This?

Thor could feel the sun beating down on him. He could feel the breeze knock the sand against his legs. Everything about this place felt real.

This was using the Reality Stone to its full potential.

"You're a coward!" he shouts, though he sees no one. He's sure Thanos can hear him from wherever he is. "If you want to fight, let's fight. No illusions! No tricks!"

Sunny's spear training has progressed to the point that he's considering a mock battle for her and Molly, each at the helm of a different group. He's out marking terrain, spear at hand, when he hears the bellow of someone calling out an enemy.

Immediately, he's alert, ready, and trotting toward the voice of fury and frustration. He allows himself no conclusions about who, what, why--that will dull his ability to respond to the actual situation as it presents itself.

When he sees the fully armored not-quite-a-giant, looking around wildly, Kash let his spear arm relax enough that another warrior should see he's not offering threat but prepared to defend. "Oi! Who are you calling a coward, man? Most people need to meet me before they start hurling insults."

The last ten minutes of Bradley Baker's life was a whirlwind he wasn't sure he could ever explain to anyone. Getting Caleb out of the cabin had been the most important thing, but he had been so worried their dad would find him wandering outside. When he got the second floorboard up from the room they were trapped in, Brad knew they needed a distraction. Even after all that, their dad still managed to find them. If it hadn't been for Luc.

"Come on, Come on. Caleb, come on!" Brad shouted, pulling at his brother's arm. Dad's killing Luc. He killed the other guy. We need to get out of here

They ran and found the pick up truck. Luc and Richard's pick up truck.

"Where are the keys, Caleb?" He shouted as he climbed into the driver's side.

The car was covered in snow, but it didn't matter to Brad. They were getting out of there. Except the truck wouldn't start. And then their dad was there and Caleb was shouting and their dad broken the passenger window. Finally the engine caught and Brad punched the gas, but their dad hung on.
Where are you going?
We have to stay together. We have to stay together.
I'm your father.
Please don't leave me.
How can you leave me?
Please, it's only us now

"You're hurting him, let him go!" Bradley shouted, trying to keep his brother in the car as their dad tried to pull him out.

Then, just like that, Caleb managed to kick their dad free and they kept driving. Bradley couldn't breathe. Caleb was crying. Brad was trying not to cry too.

As the adrenaline started to wear off, the lingering affects of the hypothermia began to press upon Bradley. He need ot get them to safety.

Between one long blink and another as his eyes drooped, Brad went from the darkness of the forest at night to sudden sunshine and desert. His eyes widened and he slammed on the brakes. The pick up screeched to a halt.

"Caleb, are you okay?" He asked as he looked at the passenger's side to see his brother gone.

Panic set in. Brad put the truck in park and quickly got out.

"Caleb?!" He shouted, turning around in circle. Then he spotted a building. "Caleb?!"

He ran wearily into the building.

"Caleb?!" He shouted, looking frantic, asking anyone nearby. "Has anyone seen a 12 year-old kid?"

Liz was nervous. Maybe more than nervous, but she hadn't quite figured out what that adjective was yet. She felt as if everyone was aware Liz was 'working' today and they were all waiting to see if she messed up or not.

She sat in the lobby trying to study, but it was clear she was re-reading the same page over and over again - the information didn't seem to seep in for some reason. It felt almost like she were on stage or in the background as an extra of a movie and she needed to make sure she was 'performing' alright.

And then the boy ran in and Liz jumped to her feet immediately. She felt a wave of panic because the boy was panicking. She hadn't expected panic on her first time, though she probably should have.

Liz took a deep breath and tried not to hurry over there too obviously. "Hey, um. It's okay." She held up her hands as if to show she wasn't a threat - you did that to scared animals, right? "Your brother might be here, but he'd be safe if he is, I promise, but, you need to calm down, okay? I can explain everything." Sort of, anyways.

And then Liz got a good look at the teenage boy's face and her heart almost stopped. He and Peter could be brothers. There were obviously differences - the hair, for one - but their facial features.

Cue Liz standing there, blinking and staring at the new arrival who was freaking out.

Brad looked at Liz when she approached, but immediately wanted an adult. Even if she's a pretty girl, I need someone who can help me.

"I need to find my brother. He's 12 and he's going to be scared and..." Bradley trailed off.

A wave of exhaustion set in and he slowly blinked. His body swayed and looked like he was about to fall down.

Thor spins around and his eyes quickly focus on the man standing in front of him. Even after years of dealing with Loki's illusions, he isn't sure what to think here. Is this man Thanos in some other guise? Is this some illusion he's cobbled together to manipulate him? Thor isn't sure, and the vigilance he feels registers on every line of his face and in the crease of his brow.

"What kind of trickery is this?" he demands. He shifts his leg, but doesn't yet narrow the space between him and the other man. He's all too ready to move the second he senses danger.

When the guy trailed off, Liz thankfully snapped out of her stupor. She saw him start to sway and her eyes widened again before she reached out to steady him. It was hard because she wasn't exactly strong by any means.

"Are you okay?" She frowned. There was no way she was going to be able to hold him up so she looked around and tried to guide him toward one of the lobby couches. The boy looked like he might be sick. "Where did you just come from?"

Brad felt weak, but fine. Probably from everything with my dad...

He sat on the couch and let himself sink into the cushions. He frowned and looked worried.

"I need to find my brother." He repeated, but couldn't find the energy to sit up.

Liz frowned, sitting next to him. She didn't think Miguel or Mack were his brothers and those were the youngest boys here. Unless there was another new arrival... how did people do this all the time. She took in a deep breath.

"Wherever you came from... this is a different place. I don't just mean like, it's a different town or something. It's like... an alternate world. Like in a science-fiction movie. Only it's real, which I know sounds really crazy, but it's true." Liz looked not-Peter over. "You look like you came from somewhere cold. It's, um. It's summer here and the desert." He probably saw that if he had been outside. "As for your brother... I'm - I'm sorry, but... he's probably still back home." Her eyes widened and she brought up her hands as she quickly added. "But don't worry! He's fine -" hopefully " - it's, um. Some people think time is different here? So you're not actually gone for that long back in your world." There were other theories, but this was seemed the easiest to explain right now.

Brad listened with a furrowed brow and confused look. Is this girl nuts?

He thought of the sudden change in weather and the new place and difference in time. He inhaled deeply and looked at her without moving.

"Say I believe you," He said, "Which is a big if since it sounds crazy. How do I get home? I need to talk to my mom and make sure Caleb's okay."

This man is probably a new arrival and, therefore, more dangerous now than he would ordinarily be. Still, he's not immediately threatening Kash, so Kash remains at a relaxed alert.

"Wish I knew," he answered honestly. Although what he'd do with the information now was a lot different than what he'd have done with it when he first arrived. "But whatever you think it is, it's probably not."

She glanced over to where Kitty was, just briefly, and then back to the boy. She could do this, she could.

"As far as anyone knows... there is no way of leaving." She frowned again. "I'm sorry... But... I promise you think place isn't so bad." Except for the no mom and brother thing.

"My name is Liz. Did you, um. Did you want to talk about it?" Her eyes looked over him again. "Are you sure you're okay." He really did look sick.

Thor's body doesn't relax at the answer. He still doesn't entirely believe this isn't one of Thanos' tricks.

"What is it, then?"

"I'm fine." He snapped, then his voice relaxed. "I'm just tired, okay?"

You don't even know what I've just been through.

He closed his eyes and processed everything. Bradley knew this sounded entirely crazy, but it didn't feel like he was dreaming. He opened his eyes and side-eyed Liz. She does seem nice, though. And pretty. Like Melissa.

"I'm Brad." He replied. "And, uh. I just came from North of Sudbury. It's the middle of winter there."

He could see outside that it did not look like winter here.

"I don't really want to talk about it." He answered, looking down at his lap. "Let's just say I didn't have a good weekend with my dad."

Brad felt his eyes burning as they welled up. He held his breath and made a line with his lips. He held any potential tears at bay.

Liz had no idea where Sudbury was, but she figured it was somewhere cold since he was in a jacket and a beanie and boots. It never got colder than the need for a hoodie in Roswell. But before she could even say anything about that, he was talking about his dad and then... was he about to cry? Liz felt her chest seize up - did this happen with every new arrival? She floundered as she sat there. What should she say or do or look like? In a panic she did the thing she'd do if this were her friends back home or even here. Liz reached out and hugged him.

A hug from a practical stranger was enough to distract Bradley. The tears stopped threatening to appear.

"...thanks." He said awkwardly. What was with girls and hugging?

"All right, look."

Making an open show of the movement, Kash rests his spear upright. It's a clear statement of intention not to attack that a guy in this kind of armor is bound to recognize. Whether he trusts it or not is a different story. But Kash has magic if he doesn't. And it's not like Kash trusts him either. He's just a little more confident of the terrain.

"The truth is, I don't know what's going on here any more than you do. A year ago, I was in the same position you're in." Almost exactly. "Looking for the giants I just defeated and the dragon I hadn't yet and the woman I was doing that with. She showed up a few months ago, pregnant, with my kids, and I still haven't figured out how we got here."

She detached herself and scooted a little farther away, looking entirely sheepish. At least it looked like maybe it had worked? Though now he probably thought she was some over-emotional crazy person.

"I know this is all really...weird." Which was probably an understatement. He apparently was not used to weird and crazy like most of the people at the inn were. "But the inn is kind of nice? I mean, the people here aren't so bad." She felt lame saying that.

Liz paused and wet her lips. "I'm sorry your brother's not here. New people come to the inn all the time, though." So maybe, right? "And... there's a bunch of people here our age so it's not entirely lonely."

What was this?

This was starting to feel less like something Thanos would come up with. He might have been in it for the long game with the Infinity Stones, with wiping out half the galaxy, but he wouldn't toy with him this long, or in this way.

It wasn't his style.

"I don't know who you are or what you're talking about, but I am getting out of here right now."

Thor lifts Stormbreaker into the air and he's engulfed in a pillar of light --

-- which promptly vanishes and reappears a scant 10 feet away from where he stood. It dissipates, leaving Thor slightly further away from Kash and more confused than he was about fifteen seconds before.

Thor turns and looks at Stormbreaker, befuddled, then gives it a tap with the butt of his hand, the way someone might give a malfunctioning remote.

Edited (spacing issues holla) 2018-06-16 03:48 (UTC)

River was behind the bar in the Copper Cafe, because.. well she didn't have a reason other than she'd wanted a drink and she had two hands so she didn't need someone else to mix it.

Somehow a drink had turned into sangria, which was why she was currently standing behind the bar diligently cutting peaches into slices.

Thor takes a seat the bar, then settles Stormbreaker on the bar next to him. He's pretty sure it can transform into something more subtle just as Mjölnir did, but this isn't Earth and he's wearing armor anyway, so why really try to keep up the facade of normalcy?

"I need a drink," he says.

She looked up from the peaches, popping a piece in her mouth as she eyed the man. Somewhere in her head she could actually hear Amy whistle, but then Amy had always liked a man in armor that was why she and Rory had kept the Centurion costume.

"You look like you could use one," she agreed, realizing because she didn't recognize him that he was a new arrival. "Do you have a preference or should I just find the highest proof liquor we have and start pouring shots?"

Kash knows better than to get in the way of a big dude with a warhammer who thinks he's going somewhere. As long as this guy isn't trying to hit him or anyone else, he'll let him try.

So he watches when the guy lights up like a sacred flame, adding magic to his inventory of what he knows about the threats this guy can offer, and he's about to Send to Z about taking a flyover to see if they can find him, when he reappears, ten feet over.

Kash stifles a laugh. "Yeah. Should've warned you about that," he calls out. "You can travel four hours in any direction, but there's no 'out of here'."

"No," Thor says, and that word basically makes it law.

"I ventured to Nidavelli to have this hammer-axe crafted by the Dwarf King Eitri. It was forged from pure Uru melted down by the heat of a dying star."

He looks at it with the same look he gave Hulk when he announced that they were friends during the Contest of Champions and the Hulk thusly proceeded to shatter his shield and send him flying.

"I am leaving," he pronounces. "You will watch me leave. And you will be impressed."

Thor will not be here to witness the look of awe in this man's face when he witnesses Stormbreaker and him in all of his glory, but he briefly imagines it, then lifts Stormbreaker up into the sky. Once again, he's engulfed in a pillar of light --

-- only to resurface right next to Kashaw.

"Come on!" he yells at no one in particular.

"Highest proof," he says. "And don't bother with the glasses." Thor's seen a shot glass before. He has no idea how humans consume their alcohol in such wee little cups. Then again, humans seemed to lack the appropriate physiology to consume copious amounts of alcohol. Little cups were probably just right for them.

"You should take one for yourself, though," he says encouragingly.

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