Feb 21 08:27:42 107 PA - After The Bomb

From Chronicles

Sometimes, people with almost nothing have to make the best with what they have. This is an example of such a place. This open and weed covered lot is just off the main 'street' if you can call it that of Dregtown. It seems to have once been a parking lot for a huge building some kind that has long since been demolished and trucked away. What is left is a massive open area of broken ashphalt that is covered with dirt and grass in paces. Here, people have banded togeather for their own safety and to build what can barely be called a community.

Nobody here has a real 'home' -- there is not a single permenant structure. People live in their cars and trucks, tents, shacks and shanties. ATV's, trailers and vans are line up haphazardly and with no order whatsoever -- each claiming a portion of the lot for their own.

Many of the vehicles show signs of extreme age and are rusted and decayed. Most will never run again and have found their final resting places. Residents have built small picnic style tables and commom meeting areas around fire pits and clothes lines stretch from structure to structure. It is obvious that most the people here have simply accepted things for what is and have taken this as their home. Some people have even set up small gardens around their 'place of residence'. Firepits litter the area so people can cook and stay warm. Garbage is usually burning in big, 80 gallon oil drums to help stave off cold too.

Children run around playing in a make shift park, dogs bark and warn of intruders, and adults stand around talking. The north west corner of the lot seems to be designated as the trash area by the looks of the large pile of rubbish that seems ready to topple over. The lot is surrouned by a sturdy looking five foot rock wall that surrounds the lot on all sides except for the south entrance.

"Yeah. My boss." Sofiya is curled, lying as far down as she can, the adrenaline still flowing enough to keep her moving. Her cheeks are white though, beneath the dirt from the explosion and there is blood from somewhere. Not much, but brushes of it. "He let me go in there, knowing what I was carrying." Those words are a whisper, the horror of it all sinking in.

As the ATV pulls closer to the trailer park, Mikjel says, "You're cut." The statement is flat, noting a point of fact, rather than a concern. "Best to be washing it out at least. Don't look deep enough that it's a risk, but we won't see until the grime is cleaned off."

It's a truck, but a six wheeled one, which gives it some good terrain abilities. And it grumbles along as Zero peers back before they get too close to the trailer park. "I think no one followed us.. Don't want to lead them back here." He shakes his head and looks forward, pulling into the place. "You're not answering to that guy ever again. I'd think that's pretty obvious.. didn't even given you time to get out of the place." He looks to Sofiya.

Sofiya shakes her head, sitting up slowly and looking at her hands. "I can't feel it if I am. I think it might be Rich's..." She is shaking as she replies, staring blankly at the blood on her hands. "He...He knew. If you hadn't been running me, I would have only just got there, Zee." Her gaze stays on her hands, absolute fear on her face.

Zero pulls up and stops in the space between MIk and Sofi's two spaces and shakes his head. "It's done, Sofi." He looks towards her. "That pretty much shows you're not with that guy anymore. Maybe he'll think you're dead and we won't hear from him again. Or he'll just leave you alone in general." He sighs, relaxing some now, slouched in his seat. At least it is warm inside, the heat still cranked. He reaches out and turns it down a little to keep it from getting too hot with three bodies inside.

Sofiya nods slowly, her responses purely automatic. "Guess solo is happening afterall." Her voice is unsteady, and she shakes her head. "That guy with the bubble. He is nuts. Absolutely insane." She hesitates, before shaking her head again, trying to clear the ringing from her ears. "Washing hands and that. Mik is right." That said, she scrambles from the truck, heading towards her trailer.

As the truck pulls to a halt, Mikjel climbs out, heading for his ATV. "Feel free to use my fire to heat up water for washing."

Zero grins a little, a bit of his humor peeking out. "Yeah.. solo it is." The mention of Xander prompts a frown, but he seems content to not start saying things on that guy. His expression says it all. Once the others have popped out, he shuts the truck down and hops out himself. Closing it up tight before he nods to Mik. "Sure thing." He grins to the man, then follows Sofi's path towards her trailer to peek in.

Sofiya tosses a hand wave to Mikjel, sitting down heavily in front of her trailer, her face white, obviously shaken. "I just... He knew, Zee. He knew. And if I'd been running like normal, it'd gone off as I reached the office." She stares at Zee, and then at her hands, blankly. "I need to wash up. Get changed."

Zero keels down in front of Sofi, nodding his head to her as he reaches out to cover her hands with his. "I know it, Sofi. Its rough.. I can't even think how rough. Don't think I ever had no one set me up that cold before." He rubs her hands between his. "Wish I had a warm room and tub for you to just sit in and not think.. if you want, you can wash in the truck.. cold out here. Get some water and cloths in there. I'll make sure no one looks in."

Sofiya shakes her head slowly, lifting her gaze to Zero. "He did set me up." Her voice is slow, slightly higher pitch than normal, her eyes wide. "I'll scrub down in my trailer, got clothes there." She gets up, moving slowly to the fire to push a pot of water onto it. "I ....fucker never paid me for that run neither." The illogic of that statement doesn't seem to hit her, as the biggest of her complaints.

"Pretty clear why," Zero says, shaking his head slightly. "If you want to clean in there, alright." He smiles and will stand, following her to the water. "I'll stay with you tonight." As if there were any sort of question involved in that. "You'll need warming after getting wet in that trailer for sure."

Sofiya's hands are shaking as she deals with the water, the routine tasks helping slightly. "Zee. I want to go home." She turns, giving him a questioning look, her face showing how shaken she is. "I want to go home to my ma." Then the tears come and there are plenty of them, sobs in great big gasping breaths.

"But you don't want her to see you like this. Come on, Chipmunk," Zero replies, a hand extending to slip over her shoulders. "We'll get you clean, I'll get some of that stuff for your cuts. I think I can put that on. And we can go if you want." He nods his head. It might even be a good idea to not be here for a little while. "But we'll tell Mik first, of course. So he won't worry.

Sofiya nods slowly, calming down a little, and managing a faint trace of humour, "She'd blame you." She swipes at her eyes with her hand, leaving smudges in the dirt on her face. "Clean first." She nods, pulling away from him and reaching to grab the steaming pot, her sleeves pulled over her hands. "Wash first, then plan."

"It'll give you time to have some quiet, hopefully," Zero replies with a casual grin. He lets her go, but lingers as he says, "You sure you don't want to use the truck? Though I suppose if we keep making use of it for that sort of thing, I should have the windows tinted." Letting his playfulness come out again.

Sofiya shakes her head, the girl's humour failing to meet his at that moment. She vanishes into the trailer, not shutting the door behind her. Inside, her clothes are taken off, automated movements as she puts them all into the laundry pile. "I need a new coat." The comment is murmured as she begins to wash, seeking out all the little cuts and scrapes.

Zero slips in after her, quickly closing the door. He'll linger by the door, hunkering down. watching her of course, but keeping himself in check. Which isn't too hard right now. "We could use a lot of new things. Need a good pair of jobs for us too. Then we can score a lot of nice things."

"Jobs. Yeah." Sofiya's voice is quiet and she is methodical as she cleans the grime of the explosion off her. Then she reaches for a blanket, curling up into it, perching on the edge of her pile. "Only a couple of grazes. Zee, I want a drink. I want to go somewhere, and drink vodka until I cannot walk."

"As much fun as you might be drunk off your ass, I think maybe just a glass or two to buzz you," Zero replies with a little grin. He scoots closer and settles in front of her, his eyes fixed towards her own. "If you want to go somewhere, we can. I think, right now, I'm going to let you call the shots. But we should probably get outta the Dregs for a little while. Go somewhere with a lot of people."

Sofiya nods, lifting her gaze to his face, her cheeks still pale. "Yeah. Some place north end of town. No Alibi tonight." She moves then, finally reaching for clothes. A pair of jeans, the inevitable t-shirt and for once, she leaves her coat. "It's ruined, Zee. I can't wear it. It has bits of him on it."

"You still have your old coat? That'll work good for now, I bet." Zero glances towards her old coat. "What do you want to do with it? If we clean it up a bit, we could give it away. I understand you don't want to wear it anymore."

Sofiya just shakes her head, rummaging for the old coat, "Later. We'll think about it later." She turns, facing him. Apart from the pale cheeks and the few scratches, she looks respectable. "Where to drink?" The question is helpless, and she shakes her head. "I can't think straight, Zee."

"Well.." Zero considers. "Wanna go somewhere respectable? Heard there is a pretty nice place at the Inn. Nightclub or something. Might be a nice change.. and there should be guys with guns to keep out any bad sorts." He grins a little. "Maybe if we get a taste for the good life, might get us motivated to make it big.. some how."

"Zee, I'm skint. He didn't even pay me for that damned run." Sofiya is speaking flatly, chewing her lower lip. "Ah never mind. Tomorrow can take care of itself." She shrugs, reaching under the pile of blankets, pulling out a box and grabbing some credits from it before she secures it back into place. "Let's go."

"I've got cash, Chipmunk," Zero says, smiling. "You can pay me back later if you want. Or buy drinks the next time." He rises up and offers over his hand. "Lets go. We'll find a little booth and squeeze into the corner and watch all the fancy people." He keeps his smile, letting his natural positivity rise again as he leads the way out to the truck.

Sofiya doesn't have much positivity but bravado she has in spades and she follows him, shoving the credits into her back pocket. She pauses only to scribble a note for Mik, shoving it beneath his door, before she follows Zero to the truck. "Think they'll let us in?"

"We've got credits. And no guns. I don't think they'll try and keep us out. Maybe watch closer. But that means I'll just be able to show you off easier," Zero says with a sly little grin. He lets go of her when they get to the truck, opening it up so she can get in. "If not, maybe the Nut and Bolt. That's a good place too."

Sofiya's face relaxes a little, and she climbs into the truck. She curls up into his passenger seat, glancing down to where her bag is. A flicker of something emotional crosses her face and she lifts her chin, "Nut and Bolt. It's more our style." She sits there, sliding her hands under her thighs and staring out of the front windscreen.

"Your call, Sofi," Zero replies, smiling. "We can go to the other place later." He goes around to get in and start the truck up. Heat on again, of course. Making it a comfortable ride up to the bar.