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

[fraternal]

[ WHO ]: Garry and Once-ler
[ WHERE ]: at the maaaaaaaaaaall
[ WHEN ]: Daylight hours
[ OPEN/CLOSED? ]: Closed until further notice
[ RATING ]: PG maybe worse later
[ WARNINGS ]: sexy gasmasks

So Garry had taken that tv program seriously, and had went out and got himself a gas mask - Once-ler was being nice enough to indulge his worries by getting one for himself, too.

"Are you sure you can put it on without it hurting? Want me to help?"

Comments

[fraternal]

"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.

[triggeringbiggering]

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.

[fraternal]

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.

[triggeringbiggering]

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?"

[fraternal]

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.

[triggeringbiggering]

"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.

[fraternal]

"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.

[triggeringbiggering]

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.

[jigoku_onryo]

A whimpering sound. Wet squelching. Another groan.

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

[fraternal]

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--"

[triggeringbiggering]

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.

[fraternal]

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!"

[triggeringbiggering]

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..."

[fraternal]

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.

[triggeringbiggering]

"... 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.

[fraternal]

Garry closes his eyes, taking a few breaths before opening them again and letting go of Once-ler's hand.

"How bad is your vision? We shouldn't go in a eighty percent instead of a hundred..."

[triggeringbiggering]

"We shouldn't stay near the doors either..." A glance is thrown over his shoulder, but it's hard to make anything out. "Lose-lose right now, heh?" He shakes his head, then hefts up his axe.

"If we stick close, we should be okay."

[fraternal]

A nod - he'l stick close enough their arms brush on occasion, something that soothes Garry into knowing he's still there beside him without having to look at him.

The aisle in front of them is stocks with food - the medicine is probably to the right of it, judging by the pop containers to their left. He'll nudge Once-ler along that way, not bothering to try reading the signs above their heads, relying on medicinal bottles and such lining the shelves instead.

"First aid kits should be lowest to the ground, also look for brown bottles with white text - anything around that should be alcohol as well."

[triggeringbiggering]

"Do we even know what we're taking?" He sounds a little dubious. What'd sounded like a great idea on paper was getting a little worrying now that they were collecting. Medicine was a difficult thing after all. "And do you think they've got more powerful stuff behind the counter?" He hopes not... bad experiences with ghosts at counters, after all.

He grabs a bag from one of the self-service checkouts, shakes off the dust, and begins shoveling things into it anyway. He supposes Garry and maybe some of the native Japanese speakers can help them sort it out.

"Note to self: learn more than conversational business Japanese."

[fraternal]

"Rubbing alcohol, anything to dress wounds. Painkillers. Follow me behind the counter, I'll get them."

[triggeringbiggering]

He follows him, reaching out with his free hand again. When his fingertips brush Garry's back, he lowers it, content that he's close by, and follows after the shape of him.

[fraternal]

He'll lean back against the touch, understanding its meaning, before Once-ler's fingers move away, and he's content by hearing the sound of his footfalls behind his own. When they get to the compact pharmacy he'll start by locating the keys, and opening every little cabinet he can find.

"Take it all, we'll sort through it after."

The pill bottles are tiny, easy to carry, they can spare the backache for them.

[triggeringbiggering]

He doesn't need to be told twice. Stuffing it into the bag happens almost as soon as he looks at it. Having a good cache could save someone's life, along with the antiseptic wipes and bandages they have. Simple antibiotics could deal with infections... it was a good thing to think about.

But there is the sound of something beginning to pad around outside.

[fraternal]

Garry holds up a hand, taking the bag and resuming Once-ler's work as he has him get ready with the axe.

[triggeringbiggering]

He nods at him, showing he understands, and he sneaks out to the counter. Trying to repress memories of what happened last time, he keeps himself low and peeks over. There are still some spots in his eyes from the glare of the lights, but he's adjusted better and can mostly make it out.]