[open] Locked within a room of memory, locked up away with no light of day

[powerdealer]

Seth sits in his bed, back against the wall, facing the door.

This is not his current room. No trace of the sleek, clean style he favours. No decorations, no furniture at all except for the bed. The walls are brick and stone, the floor dirty cement, the air musty and heavy, with just a hint of smell from the sewers coming from the toilet in the corner. There's a constricting feeling of anxiety and dread, his attentions focused on the heavy, bolted door.

There used to be books and writing equipment at least, but they took that away before they returned him here. They even took away his nice blanket. It's funny the simple things you get attached to when there's nothing else.

Any moment now, he knows, one of the rebels will come through that door and discipline him. Tell him he'll do as they say, or else. He wonders what it is he did this time. There's been quite a few times over the more than three months they kept him here that he didn't want to do what they told him to.

He's had this dream before. He doesn't quite know it's a dream yet, but it'll soon come to him. And while it's not a nightmare that makes him wake with a start and a strangled scream, it's the sort that weighs heavily on him the entire following day, like a weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe, making any small room feel like a trap.

The door opens, and someone steps in, the door closing heavily behind them.

[This is a recurring dream for Seth, so he can have a different visitor on different nights. If you tag in, merely pick a date.]

Comments

[powerdealer]

"Not all the way out, but," he gestures towards the door ahead of them. He's just... not going to ask a lot of questions right now. The girl's behavior is enough to indicate she wants to get out of here unseen too, and doesn't seem too worried about property damage. If this is a trick, it's a very strange one.

[jennifer_strange]

She might have asked what he was in for, but given that she's only heard of the rebels through ROMAC's filter, it doesn't strike her as all that surprising that they'd keep someone in a cell for no good reason. Maybe Seth has an off-putting rift power, or maybe he just had the bad luck to get caught by them. At the moment, the specifics don't matter as much as the more immediate concern of escaping.

Jennifer pauses at the door and gives the Beast a questioning look. It lowers its head to sniff at the crack beneath the door, then looks up at her with large, mauve eyes and wags its tail. Taking that as confirmation that there's no one lurking outside, Jennifer tries the door. This one isn't locked, and she cautiously peeks through before stepping into the hallway beyond.

[powerdealer]

Seth follows quietly, keeping an eye out behind them, though there's really just too many places for someone to come out of here. They're now in a slightly larger hallway, with a lot of branching corridors just like the one they just came out of.

His fears are realised pretty quickly, when a rebel steps out a door on just a little away, but currently with his back facing them. Seth recognises him, though. He can open portals. If he sees them, he'll go straight to warn the entire base. Seth can't let that happen.

Seth strides right over and grabs him without warning, one hand on the man's throat, the other covering his mouth, and he takes his power. There's a blinding light for a few seconds, the man continuing to fight him even as the power surges out of him and into Seth.

[jennifer_strange]

Jennifer didn't have any concrete ideas as far as what to do if they actually encountered a rebel. Plan A had been 'hope they don't,' and plan B was 'hope the Beast scares them off' (which it likely would, given that its more alarming features are on full display instead of hidden beneath a silly outfit). But Seth had plans too, it seems, and she throws up a hand in surprise and alarm as he grapples with the stranger and puts out a hell of a light show.

"What are you doing?" she hisses as the Quarkbeast growls. Her antipathy for the rebels doesn't extend to wanting them dead, if that's even what's happening, here.

[powerdealer]

"Don't worry," he answers through clenched teeth, once he's stopped glowing and can actually focus on something else but the power surge. He's got his arm tightly against the man's throat now, cutting off his air supply and stopping him from calling out. "I'm not gonna kill him."

He keeps hold of the main, avoiding his flailing arms, until the body slumps (a lot faster than a person would pass out in real life), then drops him unceremoniously on the ground. "He's just unconscious," he adds, just to make sure Jennifer doesn't think he goes around murdering people (and doesn't deserve to be rescued). He's a little out of breath now, and looking even shakier than when she first found him.

[jennifer_strange]

She's just going to go ahead and make sure of that, crouching over the downed rebel to check for a pulse. She's slightly mollified when she finds one - and when she registers Seth's unsteadiness. Whatever he just did, it wasn't without consequence.

"What was that glow?" she asks as she straightens. 'Off-putting rift power' is starting to seem a likely explanation for why he was locked up. That doesn't necessarily justify throwing him in a cell - it's not as if he can help what the rift saddled him with - but she has her own safety (and that of the Beast) to consider, here.

[powerdealer]

"I got us a way out," he answers.

Never mind that the memory this dream is taken from is from before he knew he could use powers he took. Perhaps it's the sudden chance to escape that's altered it in his mind, but as far as he's concerned, he's just been waiting for the perfect power to get him out of here.

Now, how does this work.. He's only seen it done once. He turns to the wall, and presses his hands against the wall near the same place. And then his fingers seem to slip into the wall, and he braces himself, and tugs his hands apart. He seems to pull open a tear in -- not the wall, no, the wall remains unchanged. But perhaps in the fabric of space.

Through the crack, an empty alley can be seen. He holds it open, then looks back at Jennifer. "Come on. I can't hold it open long."

[jennifer_strange]

Familiarity with rift powers aside, she still can't quash the little jolt of surprise she feels. It's not the act itself that shocks her, because such things were once possible in her universe, too... it just smacks of more crackle than the world has to offer.

So of course it's difficult to maintain for any great length of time. She exchanges a glance with the Quarkbeast, and then they both duck through the tear and into the alleyway. It's a bizarre change of scenery, but a welcome one.

"So that's what you can do?" she asks, turning back to Seth. "Take someone else's powers?" That definitely explains why the rebels wanted him locked away.

[powerdealer]

Seth's relieved he doesn't have to convince or anything, and ducks through it right after her. The breach closes the moment they've all stepped through it.

He takes a shuddering breath then leans against the wall to steady himself. He feels more exhausted than he should - again, his memories mixing up. He had to use his powers far more when he actually escaped, he was completely drained afterwards.

He finally nods at her question. "I can't usually use them myself, just pass them on to someone else... I've been very useful to them," he answers bitterly.

[jennifer_strange]

Jennifer frowns, though it's not directed at Seth (who looks as if he might keel over at any moment). The picture he's painting is all too plausible, and she's glad she was able to help get him out of there. Given what he's been through, she's not sure if she'll be able to convince him to join up with Romac… but for the time being, it's more important to evade recapture. Once the rebels find out he's escaped, they won't be happy about it.

"Well, I'd say we should head somewhere more public, but…" she looks down at the Quarkbeast, devoid of any disguise and panting cheerfully, its numerous fangs on display. She doesn't even have a leash for it. "Normally I put silly little jackets on him so people assume he's a dog."

[powerdealer]

Seth shakes his head. "They have people whose powers could neutralise us even in a crowd, without anyone noticing. Plus, it's New York, people don't give a shit," he answers. He sighs, pushing himself up from the wall. "And they have eyes everywhere. I brought us all the way downtown, so we've got distance on them. What we need is someplace to hide." It should be fairly evident that he's been thinking about this for a while, all the possible methods of escape.

[jennifer_strange]

Jennifer chews her lip for a minute and gives Seth an assessing look. Could he pull that trick off again without collapsing? As the Quarkbeast finds a discarded soda can and cheerfully crunches it up, she says, "My flat's in the upper East side - Carnegie Hill. Could you get us there?"

[powerdealer]

As long as he doesn't collapse until after they've gone through, it should be fine, right? He was hoping Jennifer had someplace to offer. It's not like he has a flat (or possessions at all) anymore, and it's been too long to just implicitly trust anyone he used to know and go to them for help, especially once the rebels are looking for him. They'd watch anyone they thought he might contact.

Seth does answer, but turns his back on her, facing the wall. He presses his fingers against the wall. Now, not as much fueled by adrenalin and desperation, it's a lot harder, and he seems to just stand there for a few moments, pressing his fingers against the wall.

But then they do slip into the wall, and he pulls the tear apart, showing a similar alley through the hole. He jerks his head at Jennifer to indicate it's ready.

[jennifer_strange]

For a few moments, it doesn't look as if anything is happening, and she's tempted to call it off. She doesn't want him to have an aneurysm while trying to use a power that doesn't technically belong to him. But then the wall opens up, and she tosses a, "C'mon, boy," to the Quarkbeast before stepping through herself.

It's weird just stepping into her neighborhood from somewhere else entirely, and it takes her a few moments to get her bearings. Once she does, she realizes they're only two blocks from her flat - not bad. She turns back to Seth to check his status. "All right?"

[powerdealer]

After Seth follows through, he almost immediately stumbles and drops to his knees. "I'm okay..." he manages. He doesn't pass out, and it was probably partially intentional - he's just so drained. He's still not used to actually using powers - since he discovered it, he's only gotten brief times to try it out secretly, before having to pass the power on. And none of those were as demanding as this particular one. Then there's the fact he's hungry, tired, and probably starting to go through withdrawal. Overall a bad combination.

[jennifer_strange]

"… Uh huh." That's not what 'okay' looks like. Jennifer approaches Seth and drops into a crouch to put her a bit more on his level. "Can you stand? I'll help you," she offers, reaching out to take his arm. "My flat isn't far from here." And she imagines they'll both feel better once they're indoors.

[powerdealer]

Well, maybe not quite okay, but it was more of a reassurance that he wasn't unconscious yet. Or about to drop dead, or anything like that. At least, only figuratively speaking.

He gives a nod, and uses her for support to slowly get up again. His legs feel like jelly, but if he just keeps putting one in front of the other, he thinks he'll be fine, as long as it really isn't that far.

[jennifer_strange]

It isn't far, but it's slow going. Or it should be. The time it takes to get from the alleyway to her door seems to blur, but she doesn't really think about that; she's more focused on fishing her keys out of her pocket and getting the door open.

As she pushes open the door to let the Quarkbeast precede them inside, she says, "Avoid the bookshelf. My flatmate's a little shy. And just… little. In general."

[powerdealer]

"Alright..." Seth answers, albeit with a confused frown. He doesn't question it, however. At least they've finally reached the place. Or, it feels like 'finally', but it also feels a bit like no time at all. Must be his exhaustion. "Couch alright, then?" he asks.

[jennifer_strange]

"Sure." She leaves him next to the couch and heads for the little kitchen so she can pour him a glass of water. He probably needs more than water, but they can start slow. "Here," she says, offering Seth the glass. Then, she fetches what looks like a chrome muffler from the top of the fridge and sets it on the floor for the Beast. It settles down cheerfully enough, tail wagging as it plants one scaly paw on the muffler and commences licking it.

Beast taken care of, she leans against the counter and watches Seth. "Are you hungry?"

[powerdealer]

Seth sinks down onto the couch, letting his head drop back and his eyes fall closed. It feels like the first time in months he's letting his self breathe. He feels like he can trust Jennifer, so he'll be safe here for the present.

He opens his eyes and accepts the glass, drinking deeply and draining the glass. He shakes his head at her question. Perhaps he should be, but mostly he feels a little queasy.

"Why are you helping me?" The moment they'd gotten out of the base, she could've just run. Their are some other inconsistencies too. Why was she down there, avoiding the guards, when she has a flat. I didn't exactly seem like a rescue operation. But all these thoughts are still trying to form.

[jennifer_strange]

"Rifties should look out for each other," she replies simply. Being a rifty isn't quite on par with being a foundling (if only because everyone has to know what you are before they can stigmatize you properly), but she feels a similar sense of camaraderie with the rifty population as she did with other foundlings back home.

After a beat, she adds, "And I'm not very impressed by the rebels." Not that she had any firsthand experience with them before today… but what she's learned since meeting Seth isn't encouraging. It's one thing to allow someone's powers to inform what they do for you, which seems to be Romac's approach, and quite another to lock someone in a cell so you can exploit them to your heart's content.

[powerdealer]

Seth raises his eyebrows in a can't imagine why way at that, and nods. But he's impressed with her willingness to help out, and it feels sincere. Although...

"...You're not with Romac, are you?" he asks, suddenly worried. Maybe she's just stealing assets over to the other side. Not that it's likely given how things have gone done, but the thought is scary enough that it banishes rational thought for a few moments. That, and rational thought is having trouble manifesting in the first place given his exhaustion and, unbeknownst to him of course, the fact that he's dreaming.

[jennifer_strange]

Jennifer furrows her brow at him, and the Beast raises its head and gives it a quizzical tilt. "… Is that a problem?" she asks. It's a baffling question on several levels. What's so bad about Romac? How else does he think a teenage rifty managed to land her own flat in Manhattan? More to the point, though, she'd like to think she hasn't given him any reason to suspect that she's going to hurt him. If that was the plan, she would have sicced the Beast on him already, and an invitation to her flat definitely wouldn't have been in the cards.

[powerdealer]

Well, the safe feeling from before is now replaced with intense nervousness, and Seth sits up a little straighter. "Depends," he answers after a moment. "Are you going to tell them anything about me?" He does realise Jennifer is probably not out to hurt him right here and now. But he literally just got out of a long-term imprisonment, and he's got plenty of reason to distrust Romac as well.