001 | Dictated

[batteriesarehard]

You know, at first I thought this place was too good to be true. There's nice beds, I took the world's longest shower, the kitchen is filled with food, and everything is nicely protected by giant stone walls.

Apparently, it also has the world's hottest coffee.

[There's an annoyed sigh now, followed by the sound of ceramic clinking against ceramic.]

After the coffee I wished for in my room burned the fuck out of my mouth, I came down to the kitchen to make my own. Guess what?

Still hot as lava. So I try iced coffee, what the hell, it's hot outside anyway.

Burned again. I could see the god damn ice cubes, but no.

So I've decided. This is hell.

[Anyone who happens to come to the kitchen now will find Carley glaring at a counter with cups of coffee lined up, all of her attempts that have quite literally burned her.

Stupid coffee.]

Comments

dictated

[rightchoices]

[ He knows that voice. He knows that voice, and he is, for a moment, sure that the castle is just seriously fucking with him now. ]

Who is this?

[ Whoops. He hadn't meant for that to be so demanding. ]

dictated

[batteriesarehard]

[Similarly, she knows that voice too.]

... Lee?

dictated

[rightchoices]

[ Holy shit. ]

Carley? Jesus. When did you get here?

dictated

[batteriesarehard]

Earlier today. I... took some time to myself, to adjust a little.

[She's smiling already from just hearing his voice and doesn't even care that it's probably obvious from her tone.]

I'm in the kitchen if you feel like saying hello the right way.

dictated

[willrememberthat]

... Carley?

[She could be wrong, but this lady sounds familiar--and it's weird. Clem made her assumptions about the others, but she knew what happened to Carley for sure. There was no doubt.

It's scary.]

dictated

[batteriesarehard]

[It's not hard to guess who that is, she only knows one little girl. It's kind of bittersweet, to hear her voice now. She'd seen so much, but this? Strong as she is, this can't be easy for her.]

Yeah... Yeah, Clementine, it's me.

dictated

[willrememberthat]

[She remembers that night, the way Ben was so terrified of being left on the side of the road. Raised voices, all silenced by a single gunshot. Clem's seen a lot before and since then, but she'll never forget how heated things got that night.]

I...

[What's there to say?]

Where are you?

Dictated forever

[indirectcause]

[He recognises her voice instantly. How could he not? And for the first time, in a very long time, he feels a surge of joy in his heart. It's Carley. The person who made sure he was part of the group, when he had no one else to turn to, no questions asked. One of the people in their new, makeshift family who made him feel safe and wanted and loved.

The joy doesn't last long, though. The guilt that's been eating away at him since the incident at the roadside bubbles up to the surface, engulfing those happy thoughts as if they were nothing. She did everything for him, and he-

It was all his fault.

When he finally speaks, he's a little unsure, trying to keep his voice steady and finding himself unable to. This is like Kenny all over again. However much he can try to pretend everything is okay, it really isn't. He just hopes when the truth inevitably shows itself, things won't go quite as terrible as they did with their volatile Floridian. God, he doesn't know what he'd do if Carley pushed him away, as much as he deserves it]

...Carley? Is- that's you, right? [Of course it is, who else could it be?]

dictated FOR NOW

[batteriesarehard]

[Oh Ben. Hearing his voice so filled with worry is heartbreaking, but thanks to Lee and Clementine she's ready for this. When she answers him, her voice makes it clear she's nothing but happy to hear his.]

Ben! I was wondering when I'd hear from you. I've got a cup of this with your name on it, come down to the kitchen alright?

yes good

[indirectcause]

[Well, that confirms what he was already sure of. Carley's in the castle, and she sounds alive. He considers hiding away, but he's desperately missed her. He can't NOT go to see her]

Sure, I'll be right down.

[And he pretty much jogs there, only avoiding running for the sake of trying not to look too out of breath when he gets into the kitchen. He stands by the door for a moment, eyes wide. There she is]

I-...uh. Hi.

dictated

[hard_talker]

It ain't hell, it's probably just that you can't drink coffee. ... Though, I got a friend here who'd think that was pretty much the same thing, herself.

Welcome to Castle Wonderfuck.

dictated

[batteriesarehard]

[That gets a laugh.]

Cute name. Although it's kind of sad to know this place can't come up with individual tortures for each person, you'd think a magical castle would be more original.

[hard_talker]

Yanno, I never thought about it that way - I wonder how many people have similar things they've had taken from 'em. ... I got a friend who's fond of takin' surveys on stuff like that. Maybe I'll see if she'd be interested in askin' around.

As far as original? Heh, it still has its moments, trust me. ... I'm Mark. You doin' okay so far?

[anytime]

What's so great about coffee, anyway.

[batteriesarehard]

Ever try being up for days at a time without it? It sucks.

[anytime]

But can't you get the same kind of fix from a crate of Mountain Dew.

[silentrunning]

[Chell hears that dictation, and is just wandering into the kitchen. She waves at Carley in a friendly manner.]

Are you new around here? Seems you found your loss.

[batteriesarehard]

Yeah, I- [Wait a second!!] My loss?

[silentrunning]

[Give her a sec, Carley. She's eyeing those cups of coffee. She'd like one, but she's trying to think how to ask politely if she can have one. For now she drags a bar stool up to the counter and flops.]

When people come here, they lose something. The Castle takes something important to them away. It would seem yours is the ability to drink coffee, and god what a heinous loss that is. I'd never had coffee when I got here... But now I'm kinda addicted...

OH, also, my name's Chell. What's yours?

[Chell offers Carley her hand to shake if she wants. She has nooo clue that Carley knows her friend Ben. Or that she knows Lee.

[Dictated]

[threeweeksago]

What's the big deal about coffee? [She can still remember Joel sounding so upset back in Pittsburgh when he said he missed coffee...] Seems kind of weird that people can be obsessed with just a drink.

[Dictated]

[batteriesarehard]

Sometimes it's the little things you can't have anymore that really drive you nuts, I guess. Take away too many basic necessities and people start getting all antsy.

[Dictated]

[threeweeksago]

... Yeah, I think I can understand that.

[Thinking back to Pittsburgh, to Salt Lake City, to all the supposed "safe zones" that she and Joel had passed on their journey that turned out to be nothing but ruined cities brought down by the people protesting when the government stopped caring about them...]

But man, that still seems kind of an extreme thing to say just because of this one drink. You used to that kind of thing?

[Ellie's learned by now to not judge other people by her own world's standards, but even so. It's... pretty strange.]

Action

[lara_the_explorer]

[Lara spent most of her time outside again, so she's looking ragged again like she just wrestled a bear or something]

Whew...

[She sighed as she walks in the kitchen to get herself some tea. She could just wish for it, but making it herself makes the living experience in this dump an inch closer to home

Oh and she totally didn't pay attention to Carley there, thinking she's just another resident. Which she is...]

[batteriesarehard]

[Carley watches for a few moments, amused once the initial shock of oh my god what the hell happened to you wears off and it's clear Lara is fine, just a little grimy.]

Looks like someone had an interesting afternoon.

[lara_the_explorer]

[Lara smiled, deciding to just drink water. Tea can wait]

You could say that.