No I don't know where I'm going

[silberfuchs]

Who| Albert and OPEN; then later Albert and Jet
What| Waking up after the arena. Wait, wasn't he dead...? Panicked flinging open of doors ensues. Then a dramatic reunion.
Where| Training center. All over it but starting on Level 3 (especially looking for District-mate CR); then a bar
When| Beginning Week 6
Warnings/Notes| Sex in the champagne room closed thread, just fyi. Gettin' hot and heavy up in there.


One// OPEN

Searing pain.

That's all that Albert remembers as his mind snaps to consciousness. It takes him a moment to realize he's not still in it, that he's not so much charred meat on the walls of a museum gift shop.

It takes him a moment to realize he's alive. Why is he alive?

He breathes raggedly, trying to piece everything together, trying to calm his shocked system and scrambled nerves, trying to focus on something, anything, else.

With a pop of stiff joints, Albert forces himself to sit and take stock. He’s alive after setting off an explosion at point blank. He’s certain he died there in the middle of the gift shop, so then they still have the cloning technology? Or is this an actual revival of his physical body? Worse, does this mean they’ll be reviving him indefinitely? And what does that mean for Jet and the others? He’d seen them only briefly, separating from Pyunma and Joe, finding Chaud and Jet...

Jet.

If he's alive then is it too much to hope that Chaud and Jet are as well? He means to find out.

Throwing off the covers - uncomfortably posh, not only the bed but the entire room done up in a modern sleek design with smooth curves and sharp angles, silk and smooth metal the predominant textures - Albert makes for the door, then the next door he can find. And the next. He winds his way around the building searching blindly, throwing open doors and uncaring to his general dishevelment and gruffly demanding to know what in the hell is going on.



Two// CLOSED

Hours later, after he'd finally calmed down and the poor harassed assistant caught up with him to give him some effects (phone, credit card, etc), Albert finds himself in a bar. It's the only lead he'd gotten in his tearing through the training center and since he has no other earthly idea of where to look in a city so large, it'll have to do. If anything, he can drown himself in a bottle and not have to think about any of it for at least awhile. How they've been brought here to murder each other time and again for entertainment? He can't decide if this is an improvement from Jaden or not.

His heart leaps in his throat when he sees the familiar shock of blond hair bent over the bar, a small collection of shots scattering the area around him. Then there's relief. He's alive. Three times now, three times Jet's died and three times he's returned and Albert has to wonder if his partner is protected by some lucky star.

Or is it unlucky? He's died and come back himself twice now, and it's as unpleasant as it is confusing... And now they, this government in this new place, has full control over their lives. What relief had washed over Albert ebbs a bit at the realization.

Taking a soft breath and exhaling through his nose, Albert slips onto the stool next to Jet at the bar, tapping his credit card to get the keeper's attention and flicking it towards what looks to be the most expensive drink on the wall. If he's going to live and die for their entertainment, he may as well make them pay for it.

As the barman busies himself, Albert silently reaches over and places his hand on Jet's, barely even looking as he does. He says nothing, the drone of the Games on large screens all around permeating the air and making it difficult to think let alone be heard well over the din.

He lets his grip speak for him, tight as a vice but solid and whole and, if he has his way, ever-present.

Comments

[metalicarus]

He'd only ordered three drinks this time and he intended to stop after the one in his hand was empty. He wasn't on the quest he'd been on earlier in the week, he was just drinking because it seemed like a good idea and because this place always had the Games on.

Although now he was just watching for Joe and Pyunma. Albert was already gone.

Despite all that, he'd stopped paying attention to the screens and the room at large a while ago, his own wildly turning thoughts overwhelming him in his relative solitude. He could feel the warmth of the person who'd sat next to him and he heard them tap their card, but his brain didn't fully recognize who it was until that hand had covered his tightly.

The thoughts fled as though in fear of the man who could so easily make them unimportant just by being there and the blond turned his hand to entwine their fingers silently.

He wanted to smile and hug the German about as much as he wanted to hug him and never let him go, but his mind was static and he simply sipped from his drink instead. "Took you long enough." His voice was a little rough and quiet, but loud enough for only Albert to hear. They were only for his partner anyway.

[silberfuchs]

"I had to take care of something," rather, someone. He's not sure how he feels now about how he'd taken vengeance for Jet's death. He'd thought it was permanent for all of them at the time and that's enough to make him feel guilty on some level. They were fighting to survive, after all, can he really fault him for that?

Logically he has no answer but his heart gives a petulant thump at Jet's fingers sliding between his and he's able to put any confusion about what that may mean for his morality aside, at least for now.

He leaves his hand there when the bartender brings his drink. Something beautifully deep amber that even smells like it has bite. He takes a swallow, lips pulling back from his teeth in a grimace as the unfamiliar but definitely potent whisky burns on the way down. "Were you watching?"

[metalicarus]

He took a bigger drink from his glass than before, finishing the whole thing off before responding. "Yeah. Quite the fireworks show."

He'd watched the whole thing, from Albert finding the guy who'd killed him and Chaud to when the explosive he had went off and painted the walls with what was left of his partner. His grip tightened, his fingers curling in around the German's hand.

There was a part of him that had actually found it a little touching to see Albert seeking vengeance on his behalf, it was no different than what Jet would have done in the reverse, but that was him. There was another part of him--a larger part--that had been so incredibly furious to see Albert throwing his life away like that, especially when he knew his partner thought it would be permanent, but there was yet another part that fought against that anger; he'd seen Albert try and live through losing someone he cared about and Jet didn't think he could actually ask Albert to do that all over again. Not if the older man didn't want to.

[silberfuchs]

Maybe it's his own subconscious putting it there, but Albert thinks he detects some note of rebuke. As you'd expect, Jet is staunchly against suicide, especially when it comes to those he cares for. Albert, on the other hand...

Well. Everyone has their demons.

"I thought I'd lost you. For good, this time." He takes the rest of his drink in the next swallow.

[metalicarus]

"...me too." He'd honestly thought that was it for him, that his last moments would be spent in Albert's arms on some cold museum floor. He was glad he was wrong, but there had been a part of him that was happy Albert had been there.

Of course, now that he knew better, he wished Albert had never found him. Maybe his partner would have tried to live if he thought he still needed to find Jet.

Memories he'd been working on burying flashed in his mind--thoughts of his supposed last moments and the feelings that had caused those tears to spring to his eyes at the time--and they threatened to overwhelm him again now that he had Albert's hand in his. Likely the alcohol was to blame.

He turned in his chair and reached with his free hand, fisting it in the fabric of Albert's shirt to pull the shorter man to face him. He was angry, but it was laced with sadness and the feeling of wanting to yell at his partner for his actions and the feeling of wanting to kiss him senseless warred for a moment.

He got right up in Albert's face, his voice hoarse and quiet but with a biting edge in it. "You're an idiot, you know that?" But then his lips were on Albert's and he was pressing into it like he needed Albert to live.

And maybe, at this point, he did.

[silberfuchs]

That's not what Albert expected. He'd expected to get yelled at or even punched. Instead Jet's pressing into him and he's pressing back without thinking, arms crushing the blond's leaner build against his own despite the turn of gawking attention from the Games broadcast to their sudden display of affection. For once, at least for this moment, Albert doesn't care. They'd already seen him wreck vengeance in the arena, let them see why. What's worth fighting for, dying over.

Though that sentiment gets diluted a bit when he can hear the tell-tale click of a camera and the flash plays over them light a lightning strike.

The German pulls away breathlessly, flushed and uncomfortable but eyes bright. "We should get out of here."

[metalicarus]

He uses his anger and the fear that had come over him, fear that he'd never see the stupid German bastard again, as fuel for the heat he drenches the kiss in.

But then there's a click and a flash and he becomes aware of hushed mutters and it occurs to him they're still there at the bar and they probably ought to not do this here.

"Yeah...come on." He stood and tugged Albert along with him, his grip still incredibly tight. He didn't know what District Albert had been assigned to, but his room was just two floors above them and that's where he intended to take them.

[silberfuchs]

Districts be hanged; as far as Albert's concerned, he's staying with Jet and that's final. If anyone from his floor has something to say about it, they can take it up with him later. He has no loyalty to any of them.

The night air is chilly on his bare arms as he's lead towards the training center. He'd left in something of a hurry and not thought to change, the plain shirt and slacks serving as well as anything else. He jogs a bit to walk beside Jet instead of being dragged along behind.

It's almost surreal, practically sprinting through this glittering city to a purpose more suited to horny teenagers than old men, but it's finally got Albert thinking of something other than murder and suicide so he's not about to question it if he can help it.

"It should be just around the corner."

[metalicarus]

Jet knew where the center was by now, he'd spent enough time wandering the area to at least know where 'base' was, but he didn't say anything about it. It didn't matter, not when he had Albert's hand in his, skin tingling at the contact as anticipation and excitement thrummed through him.

Years together and that sensation had never changed, perhaps it was a little ridiculous for men as old as they were, but Jet found he didn't really care. He wouldn't change it for anything.

He was relatively quiet in a peaceful way all the way to the center and up to the second floor, finally stopping once he'd led his partner through his door. As soon as the door was closed, he was pulling Albert close for another heated kiss, this time safely behind closed doors and away from the public eye.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard's jumpy enough without people throwing open doors. He's finally emerged from his bedroom to try and see if he can hold some coffee and a piece of plain bread down when the District One door all but flies open, and he nearly leaps out of his own skin. Coffee goes spilling across the counter and his heart feels like it triples its pace in his chest. He tries to mop up the coffee with a napkin but his hands are shaking so hard he just drops it on the floor.

"Jesus!" He twists around, and getting a look at Albert's weird, pupil-less gaze doesn't really hearten him at all. Howard shrinks into himself a little, into the baggy clothing that only somewhat hides how tiny and skinny his frame is. "What the hell? Do you even live here?"

yay new cr!

[silberfuchs]

The sudden clatter of the mug on the counter seems to startle the man in the doorway as much as it does the man who dropped it, Albert freezing for a moment and staring at it with a far away look that makes him appear all the more addled than just his unkempt hair and slept in clothes would suggest. But it passes and a more natural look of sheepishness falls over his expression.

"Ich habe das nicht gewollt. I'm sorry, I'm just looking for my friends... here, let me help to clean that up," he takes a step inside, meaning to go for a kitchen towel if not stopped.

Re: yay new cr!

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I don't fucking speak German!" Howard shrieks, somehow ratcheting up his distress despite Albert's gentle demeanor. He practically throws a towel at the guy and backs up to the back of the kitchen, looking for half a second like he wants to crawl into and hide in the sink.

Failing that, he hunches up his shoulders and shrinks inside his clothing, hands in pockets, neck disappearing into his sweater.

[silberfuchs]

With just that one foot inside, Albert flinches, not stepping any further and simply holding the caught towel in one hand as he raises both of his in a gesture of surrender. He speaks low and soft and in English, lightly accented but easily understandable. "I'm sorry, it's a habit when I'm nervous."

He swallows, not wanting to frighten the edgy man further, especially since Albert's the intruder here. Permission is better than him just striding in; even if he knows his own intentions are benign, it doesn't mean this man knows that and it's the last thing Albert can blame him for after the arena. "Is it alright if I come inside to clean the spill?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard takes a few moments to pause and consider that. It's difficult, weighing down the urge to jump at shadows with the logic that says that this person won't hurt him. At least, not here. "Yeah, it's alright."

He slaps a button on the coffeemaker, trying to get it to start again, but without a fresh cup of water to filter it just makes a spitting sound at him.

"Most people just sweat when they're nervous, not start talking German. You an immigrant?"

[silberfuchs]

"No, I'm German," he tries very hard not to give a scathing look for that one. He has no issue with people from other countries as a rule - they're all people, cultural differences aside - but Americans have this tendency to assume that everyone else is some Americanized hybrid like they are.

Keeping as wide a berth from the other man as he can so as not to panic him again, Albert steps in and starts to clean up the spill he'd inadvertently caused. "I think the coffee machine needs more water."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Not anymore. Now you live here." So much for a warm welcome.

"Maybe it's just spitting mad at me. Get it, because it sounds like it's spitting..." Howard says the second half of that sentence into his collarbone, rather than to Albert.

[silberfuchs]

"Where you live doesn't dictate your heritage, that's where you're from. As I am from Germany, that still makes me German." He shouldn't be arguing, he knows, but he's already had his identity shaken up simply by being stuck here, he's not about to relinquish his nationality along with it.

He glances over at the joke, a little garbled as it wasn't spoken loudly. The guy is nervous, understandably so, and Albert's aware he's the main cause. He should at least try to fix things. He adopts an amused smile, letting the ire from the discussion of his origins fade completely as he finishes mopping up the coffee and moves to the sink to rinse the towel. "I get it. Clever."

[loadchaud]

Today, Chaud was actually bothering to spend more than a few minutes in his living quarters...if only because he was wanting to down a quick cup of coffee before he continued to explore this disturbing place. Real food would come later, probably; he just needed the caffeine right now more than anything. With that taken care of, he was just about to head back out when the door suddenly flew open in his face, causing the teen to jump back a step or two out of surprise. What in the--

...wait.

"A-Albert?" Chaud stared at him for a moment, almost unable to believe it was really him before his feelings turned into an uncomfortable mixture of relief and unhappiness. He was alive, but...he was here. How was he supposed to feel about that?

[silberfuchs]

"Chaud?"

That's not who he expected, not after searching for so long with no success, but the relief on Albert's face is obvious, even if there's an undercurrent of pain behind it. "Gott sei Dank, I thought I would never find you."

He thought they hadn't been brought back... "Is Jet with you still?"

[loadchaud]

"No... I don't know where he is right now." The last time he'd run into Jet was at the bar down in the commons area; Chaud somehow doubted that the blond would go straight back there. (Or at least, he hoped Jet wouldn't.)

He opened his mouth to ask the obvious 'are you okay?' or some other related question, but he stopped himself short and ended up staring at Albert uncertainly instead. As with Jet, he was pretty sure that the answer he'd receive for asking such questions would be either an obvious lie or an answer that he already knew was coming, so why bother with asking? But unlike with Jet, he wasn't sure what to say instead. It didn't help that this was his first time seeing Albert since they were on Valhalla...

He didn't want to just stand here quietly, though, so after a pause, he (painfully obviously) forced some words out. "...Did you...just get here?"

[silberfuchs]

"No, I..." How does he explain? His interactions with Chaud have been strained at best since their argument on the bridge. They hadn't really talked after that, and then Albert had come upon what he had in the arena...

Perhaps its best to be honest and forthright. After everything they've been through, Chaud is not a child any longer. Albert can't think of him that way. "I was in the arena. I found you after you'd been killed."

There's a lengthy pause, awkward and uncomfortable and Albert shuffles his feet just to have something to do before asking a question lamely. "Do you want to talk?"

[loadchaud]

...Ah.

Being reminded of what had happened in the arena made Chaud's stomach instantly tighten, while his brain did whatever it could to ignore those memories...and the temptation to reach up and touch his neck. Instead, it focused on the fact that Albert had been in the arena, too, and what that meant for him now that he was here. He didn't really want to talk about either of their arena experiences, though...previous conversation topics, however badly they'd gone in the past, would honestly be preferable at this point.

But he knew their current situation was more important to deal with first.

"...Not here." Chaud gave the door a glance, hinting at his original plans for the day. Plus, maybe if they were walking it would be a little less awkward for both of them. Albert's uncomfortable behavior hadn't gone unnoticed.

[silberfuchs]

With a nod Albert steps aside to let Chaud through. If they keep their voices low and keep moving, perhaps they'll get some illusion of privacy at least. He still needs to find Jet, but Chaud here, alive, and willing to actually talk to some extent makes him slow down and put his attention where its needed for the moment.

"Let's get something to eat and maybe some coffee. I haven't had either since waking up."

[loadchaud]

"Sure..." Chaud agreed even though he'd just had some coffee barely five minutes ago. Another cup wouldn't kill him, and food was also a plus...it wasn't like he'd been eating well since any of this happened, anyway. (Not that Albert needed to know that.)

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, the teen went ahead and moved on through the door to head to the elevators, expecting Albert to follow; preferably, he wanted them to leave this building entirely, but if they were going to eat, then the restaurants on the first level would be a good place for that, right? Although even though they had a plan in mind now, he wasn't quite sure how to start their 'talk'...so he opted for walking quietly, even though he knew he was being unhelpfully awkward. Just because he recognized conversation was necessary didn't mean it would automatically make it easy for him to do it.

Silently, he hoped his older companion would have something to say instead. If he didn't, then Chaud was going to have to think of something quick, to escape painfully long awkward silence if nothing else...

Sorry for the short, but dialogue

[silberfuchs]

Luckily for Chaud, awkward as it is, Albert does have some things to say.

"Joe and Pyunma are here as well. We split up in the museum. I'm not entirely certain what happened after..." He also has no idea they were filmed as of yet.