jigoku_logs | i was walking in the forest of truffula trees when i saw a thneed boy wearing tiGHT pants

"I'm pretty sure I know how to put on a gas mask." He says, grinning wryly. He didn't want to take any risks himself - if people had died from dust from the coal mine around here, it'd make sense not to tempt fate. Garry had just done what he'd have considered smart.

All the same... turns out a gas mask is kind of complicated! He fumbles with it for a good while.

"Yes, but they hug pretty tightly to your face..."

Garry pulls on his Mother Hen face, watching Once-ler fumble before gently taking the mask from him and swatting his hands.

"Let me help, hold the front of the mask, okay? I'll pull on the straps."

"... Fiiiine." He gives a faint whine to it, rolling his eyes as he does. But he softens it with a grin, and holds the front of the mask as instructed.

"Alright, one sec-"

Moving behind him and grabbing the straps carefully, he warns him not to let go as he pulls the straps back caaarefully over Once-lers head. He'll adjust them until he's satisfied, and for the sake of fashion, pats Once-ler's hair over the strap to cover it up. He fusses with his hair as he leans forward to speak.

"All comfy? Does anything pinch?"

"Er... nope!" His voice is strangely altered by the mask, but probably not any more than the usual. He touches the edges of the mask, then turns around and gives Garry a grin. While he can't see the grin, maybe he can see him waggling his eyebrows.

"So. How'd I look?"

He looked... pretty attractive, actually.

Garry gently bops him on the forehead, closing his eyes.

"Safe!" He'll move away, back to Once-ler as he carefully tugs his own mask on, adjusting it as he speaks. Not looking at him helps to quell whatever he's feeling right now. He has to speak a bit louder to properly be heard, his own voice altered by the mask.

"Maybe we'll luck out and find a sword store at the mall..."

He blinks at the head bop, but he gives a little grin that crinkles his eyes and shoulders his axe. The grip and handle is covered in red tape, but the blade is sharp. He's prepared this time. Funny what a place will do to a man.

"Yeah. We'll keep our eyes peeled. But remember what we're here for." He fishes around in his pocket for the list they'd drawn up. "Backpacks, maglights, sleeping bags, flashlight and radio... preferably kinetic, but batteries if we need them for them. We'll need to grab more stuff for first aid, too."

There was more on the list, but he was sure there'd be some sort of camping store they could get some of this stuff at at least.

Garry still only has his fire poker, but it hasn't steered him wrong so far. He listens carefully to the list, memorizing it and hitching a raggedy backpack he'd found in his own room up on his shoulders - it couldn't hold everything they needed to get, but it could hold most without falling apart, he was sure.

"Got it. Remember to watch the time, all right? No being out after dark, even together."

He knew Once-ler knew - but he clarifies it all the same, before starting to head to the mall.

'Dark' is unfortunately relative in Jigoku. The Once-ler doesn't think he's seen a single bright day here. The closest is the grey overcast they have even now. What had happened to Japan's close summers?

But, well, at least they had some time. He nods his head, then slips his blue glasses over his eyes. He feels kind of stupid all decked out like this, but there's admittedly a bit of a thrill to it as well. They're really getting into the spirit of the place.

"Six PM rolls around, we start heading back for the apartments. You got your Jigokuberry?" He waggles his own before tucking it into his pockets. He can't wait until he gets a rucksack for himself and can carry more stuff.

They stick mainly to the roads, eyes peeled for any movement.

"Yeah, in my pocket."

He pats his jeans, and adjusts his raggedy jacket - he'd had it for years, but being here was really taking a toll on it. He'd have to look for some thread and things like that if they had time too.

There's not many buildings between the Hardware Store and the Mall, but the Once-ler glances inside the windows to make sure nothing is about to leap out and chase them. Satisfied, he turns his head back to Garry. "We stick together." The slight softness of his hard letters is a testament to that - the scars from the Kuchisake-Onna are well healed by now, but they serve a constant reminder.

And they enter the parking lot of the mall.

Garry's expression softens considerably - and he nods, not trusting his voice right now. He'd always stick by him, scars or not - he meant a lot to him, as a good friend, if not anything more than that.

Gently, he'll clap Once-ler's shoulder, keeping his hand there until they get to the doorway of the mall. He'll hug the wall, peeking inside the dusty doors, even as they attempt to open automatically with their presence, but jam. When he's satisfied without any movement, he'll set his weapon down to grip the two parts of the doorway. With a soft grunt, he'll start to pry them apart, after a good moment or so, they'll shift and open enough that they can get through. Garry gives a small sigh, rubbing his red hands before grabbing his poker again, letting Once-ler enter so he can pull up behind to re-close them in the hopes it'll keep anything out of the mall out.

Edited 2013-07-10 15:59 (UTC)

Once-ler would give a low whistle if that was difficult nowadays - and also if he wasn't wearing a gas mask. But he gives Garry a thumbs-up nevertheless, and even pats his bicep rather obnoxiously as he passes. "Not bad, Mr Garry." He tips him a wink.

The Mall is exceptionally eerie, dusty and quiet. He doesn't like it, but he doesn't like anything in this place. His eyes scan the shops - clothes shops for the most part, always worth a look but only after they'd got what they needed - and tries to find the ones that look likely.

"Got any idea where to start?"

He's flustered, but he can stay on the ball here - he'll follow after Once-ler, gently rubbing the spot where he'd just placed his hand. It's warm, kind of comforting.

"Medicine is the first priority - check the directory there. I might be able to read a few letters..."

He'll move forward, glancing at the large list of stores and the mini-map shown before them. He'll glance around, listening for any noise before he puts his whole attention on it. His finger scans the list, lips moving as they try to sound out kanji.

"Iru-... su-...sho-..."

He runs his free hand through his hair, a little frustrated.

"Pharmacies. There's gotta be one in here. Malls always have them." Even if they're less 'pharmacies' and more 'places where you can buy shampoo and makeup and some painkillers'. Even if it's just a simple first aid kit, it's worth it.

There's a rattle, a groan. Once-ler spins around, axe in his hands, and faces the shops.

"I'm looking for 'igaku' the first kanji looks like-"

Garry stops dead when he hears the rattle, and turns as well, poker already held up as he draws close to Once-ler.

Shaking his head, he waves his hand back at Garry, telling him to stay there. "Keep looking! Whatever it is, it'll be better if we know where to run to if we need to."

Easier said than done, of course. His arms are shaking and he licks his lips, forcing himself to stand his ground and not go poking around for lights to turn on.

A whimpering sound. Wet squelching. Another groan.

Something moves in the display window of the clothes shop nearby.

Its dangerous, he's sure, and the noise only makes him panic. He barely knows kanji, but living with a doctor for a father made a few rub off on him, thank goodness.

Its hard to focus, but his finger scans quicker - igaku. Ii. Ii.

"Ii- ga-" He found it. Medicines. There were three listed. He doesn't bother reading the other two, but one word jumps out at him immediately - 薬局. Yakkyoku. Pharmacy.

"This way--"

Once-ler doesn't need to be told twice. He sprints off with Garry in the direction he pointed. Avoidance was better than confrontation in all cases.

Garry'll glance back every second to make sure he's there, until he makes himself fall into step with him as his side. He'll shout out the directions to him so he'll know when to turn with him, not wanting them to have to lose any speed. He half expects swarms of monsters every time they turn, but nothing.

He wonders if that's scarier.

Pointing when they come upon the pharmacy-

"There!"

Edited 2013-07-10 22:11 (UTC)

Grabbing Garry's arm in his free hand, he veers into the pharmacy. Thankfully, the sliding doors here seem to work, and they open with a soft woosh. The lights flicker, burst and die. He curses, momentarily blinded by the flash, his night vision gone to shreds.

"Damn..."

Garry quickly looks for a way to jam the door, but his vision is spotty, and he presses his back to the glass, gripping Once-ler's hand tightly.

"... Better get looking." He takes off his glasses, hoping that will give him a little less darkness to need to work with. There's still glaring spots in his eyes, but it's so much better.

He doesn't hear anything right now.

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