maskormenacelogs | Do I wear you out?

Entry tags:

Do I wear you out?

WHO: Sarissa, Felix, Sarah (closed)
WHERE: miscellaneous swamp
WHEN: to be determined because I am disorganised hurrah
WHAT: a meeting, a rescue, alligators
WARNINGS: language, ridiculousness, possible dark themes in narrative so I'll update as necessary.

"Right, then."

She's sprawled on the roof of a car composed largely from rust that she bought for more money than it was probably worth, in retrospect. A glorified metal lunchbox of a car that once might have been blue, but the paint is so bubbled and chipped and lifted with orange rust that it's most succinctly described as 'hideous.'

The good news is that she contacted Sarah a while ago. The bad news is that burned out battery has escalated into car circled by alligators, and while she had at one point been parked in the shade, now she's slowly dehydrating. At probably has as much to do with living off salt (metaphorical and literal) and bourbon the past couple of weeks as it does with lying in the sun, but she enjoys the self-indulgence of wallowing. It's right up there with the self-indulgence of loathing. Classic Sarissa moves, ones she has down to an art.

At least she showered last night before returning to the swamp; that's a consolation. It's about the only one she's got, though, as she taps her phone against her jaw. Almost out of battery but not quite. Is it worth calling? Just to make sure Sarah is, in fact, on her way.

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[ Sarah, meanwhile, is swearing while navigating a rental car through what's getting to be increasingly swampy surroundings. She's got Felix in the passenger seat, her trusty sidekick, and a cooler with drinks and various food items in the back, because she might be a dick over text message, but she's not about to let Sarissa actually go without food. Her Mom Guilt would fire up way too much over that. Not that Sarissa wouldn't deserve it, after disappearing for three weeks and then pulling this shit. ]

Fuck, bloody hell! [ This newest batch of expletives is brought on by the car rolling over what feels like some kind of giant tree root, then splash down into muck. She should really turn on the, uh… hover feature, but she's never been all that comfortable with the idea of a flying car. Still. Desperate times, so she starts looking around on the dash for some sort of button or switch or… who knows what. ]

We should be there any minute, I hope. GPS still has a signal, right? [ This she directs to Felix, who she's making deal with the navigation. Because of course she is. ]

[Felix is gripping the seat, looking an unhappy combination of terrified and furious. He regrets agreeing to come along already. If he wasn't so sure he'd ruin his boots and likely be eaten by crocodiles outside of the vehicle he might have demanded Sarah pull over and let him out already. As it is, this seems to be the lesser evil.]

What?

[He hasn't exactly been listening given his concerns for his life, but once the words sink in he actually looks at the GPS. Which does still have signal, thank god.]

Yeah. Still got one.

[ It takes a bit longer than "any minute," but then the GPS is alerting them to the fact that they've reached their destination. The destination in this case being: the middle of a swamp, with alligators, in Florida. Sarah kills the engine and lowers her window, poking her head out and looking around for Sarissa. ]

I think that's her car up ahead. [ Well, unless it's some other unlucky traveler's. She's got visions of approaching it only to find a skeleton in the driver's seat and if that happens she's just turning around and leaving, sorry, Sarissa. Sisterhood only goes so far.

Instead of vacating the car, she just lays on the horn, hoping that it'll a) alert Sarissa to their arrival (as if the sound of them making their way through the swamp wasn't enough of an alert already) and b) scare off anything gross and/or deadly that might be lurking nearby. ]

( Ah, the dulcet sounds of Sarah. Sarissa's learning that pretty much anything that involves swearing, loud sounds, probably some crashing and maybe whatever "disaster" could be classed as sounding like fits in with Sarah pretty well. It's one of the things they have in common, the two of them.

Sarissa sits up from her spot on the car roof and waves, a gesture that could pass for an antagonistic salute to a superior you disrespect as much as it does a gesture of greeting.

Unfortunately, the beeping of the horn has one of the alligators turning to face Sarah and Felix's car extravaganza, tail lashing. Sarissa glances down, and hops from her spot on the roof onto the boot of the car, banging on the car roof with her hand to get the gator's attention. ) Hey, mate. This way. Come on, they're English or something, you don't want to pay any 'ttention to them.

( And a glance in the direction of Sarah's car before she calls out, ) What's the acceleration like in that thing?

[Well, great. Now not only are there bloody alligators, but one of them is looking at them. Probably with the intention of launching itself through Sarah's open window and eating both of them since she's insisting on drawing so much attention to them.

He grabs at her arm, yanking her hand roughly away from the horn as though the damage hasn't already been done. On the plus side Sarissa seems to be as good at making bad decisions as Sarah, and it soon has its attention back on her banging instead of the noise coming from their car.]

Are you mad? Get your head back in here. There are crocodiles.

[ Sarah's not going to argue with him. She turns and looks at her brother as if to say, What the hell do we do now? ]

Yeah, I can see that, thanks!

[ Then it's back to Sarissa, still with the same look, though now it's tinged with This is 100% not my fault, for once. Though somehow she doesn't think that will matter to Felix, since she did drag him along. She gives the gators a nervous look and calls, with her eyes still on them, ] If we're over top of them, hovering, think you can climb in the back window before they— [ She shrugs. "Drag you down to an untimely, swampy death"? Not the most tactful way to put it, but is there a tactful way? ]

Drive over them?

( Flatly. Incredulous and flat at the same time, somehow. The look she is giving Sarah, honestly. )

Fair dink-- No! You'll ( And that is an accusatory "you" ) probably hit one. We're not taking out native wildlife in their bloody habitat. What's wrong with you?

( ????? HOW VERY DARE )

Not drive over them. Hover. [ Gosh, there's a difference. Besides, Sarissa, what are your alternative options here? Sarah gives Felix another look, this one much more She's weird, right? She's weird, before turning back to Sarissa and rolling her eyes. ] And you drove up into their habitat before we did, you tit.

[ Okay, that was mean. Sarissa is clearly going Through Something. When Sarah speaks again, she sounds a bit gentler. ]

I'm a good driver, I swear.

I didn't know it was their habitat!

( Hissed out, as much as you can hiss something and project it loud enough for someone in a far a little way off can hear it. Petulantly she kicks the back window of her Piece of Crap car, not hard, more like a child being scolded before she stomps back higher on the roof. She feels stupid, which isn't a feeling she likes to address very often, even if it is present much of the time. It sits at sad odds with her egotism, and there was only so much self-mockery she could allow herself before it turned into something far more depressing.

She huffs out a breath, arms crossed, and looks up at the sky as she tries to weigh up her options and also not have a feeling, because gross, feelings are gross. Her chest scratches, and her throat tightens, and she turns away for a second as she coughs, a raw, hollow sounding thing, and she rolls her eyes at herself. Extra pathetic, yeah. )

Edited 2016-07-15 09:43 (UTC)

[ When she hears Sarissa start coughing, Sarah's mind is made up. Nope, this isn't gonna happen. They're not going to sit here arguing in the middle of a fucking swamp filled with alligators while Sarissa... while she... It's just not going to happen.

Sarah turns the ignition and waits for the car to lift off the ground. It takes longer than she'd like, but then they're up and moving, rolling over the gators with nothing but a blast of hot, oil-smelling air and stopping next to Sarissa's car. Sarah rolls down the back window. ]

Get in the bloody car.

[Felix is not happy with this plan. Not happy at all. He doesn't want Sarissa to get eaten by crocodiles, but he doesn't want to die a painful death either.]

Oh my god, Sarah. We're going to die.

[He's trying hard not to sound accusatory, but he probably is anyway. He really, really hopes Sarissa hurries up and gets her arse in the car before the car breaks down and they plummet back to the ground. Preferably without bringing one of her scaly friends with her.]

( Another cough, smothered against her shoulder as best she can manage it, and then she's rolling her eyes and--

it't not a petulant stomp, so much as like

okay, no, it's a petulant stomp. And then the car is closer, and Sarissa rolls her eyes before grabbing the frame of the window and swinging herself through with a practiced sort of ease. Her expression changes from uncertain and displeased to a ridiculous grin once she's in the car. )

Hey, it's Flawless Felix. Hi.

( She assumes it's Felix, anyway, because she's pretty sure it's not George and who else would Sarah be able to drag out for something like this. ) Drive on, Jeeves.

[Despite their impending doom Felix actually breaks out in a grin at that. He turns to give Sarah a smug look.]

Well, I'm glad someone appreciates me.

[If he's going to risk his life to save a stranger he's glad it's someone who knows how to give a compliment. Then his attention is turned back to Sarissa.]

You managed to keep all your limbs in tact then?

Edited 2016-07-18 12:44 (UTC)

In fairness, ( Sarissa starts, before holding up a hand in a just a sec gesture as she turns away to stifle a cough. Okay? Okay, body, thanks a lot. ) Uh, in fairness Sarah highlighted the Felix and flawlessness connection.

( Or something like that. She used the two words in the same sentence, at least. )

Yeah, just about. I could see if there's any takers, though. They might prefer their food on the move.

[ Sarah, meanwhile, is turning the car around and easing back the way they came in. Now it's time for a good few hours of driving before they reach civilization. She's stiff behind the wheel, her fingers curled up white, but it's not immediately obvious whether that's because of Sarissa's coughing or because of the alligator-filled swamp. ]

How long have you been coughing like that? [ Nope, it's totally because of the coughing. She tries, pretty hard actually, to sound casual when she asks this. It... kind of works. ]

Couple days, maybe.

( She's distracted, leaning over to rummage through the esky. Food, man. Food. Whatever Sarah's doing doesn't seem to have caught her attention - Sarah's pretty dramatic anyway, they've got a flying care, how bad could this go? )

Guess living off junk food for a couple weeks finally caught up with me.

[Unlike Sarissa Felix knows exactly why Sarah's worried. It's probably nothing, but it makes him a little nervous himself though he tries not to show it. Sarah has enough on her plate. They should probably get someone to run a few tests, but there's no point being too alarmed when for all they know it could still be a regular cough.]

See? She's fine. Probably all that swamp air.

[ Sarah is already envisioning a future where Sarissa gets as sick as Cosima is, and Alison will be, and she's forced to watch them as they get worse and worse until they finally die, and she's the only one left, and she's not okay. But she can't say any of that out loud, especially not around Sarissa who doesn't even know about the clone disease, so instead she just snaps, more angrily than she means to, ]

You should have called me sooner instead of bloody disappearing for almost a month. Christ.

( Sarissa, conveniently ducked low so she could rummage and emerging with something between her teeth and another something in her hand, looks at Sarah with furrowed brow and wrinkled nose and and an air of oi, what?

Given her lack of filter: )

Oi, what? I didn't disappear, I told you I was going. When, even. That's not disappearing, that's being considerate.

( WHERE IS HER AWARD, GOD. )

It's a cough. This isn't bloody Gone with the Wind or Hornblower or something. I'm not going to swoon with consumption, drama queen.

( And, with that? A dramatic bite into whatever it is she's got. )

You can't just—

[ "Run out and not tell anybody where you're going" is what she's about to say, but if she actually utters the words, the sheer hypocrisy might cause the universe to explode. So, catching herself, she cuts herself off with a sigh instead and concentrates on driving out of the swamp and not looking at either Sarissa or Felix while she does it. ]

[Felix exhales loudly, wishing he wasn't here. This is one instance where he can understand his sister being dramatic, but that doesn't mean he appreciates being stuck in the middle of this. He manages to resist the urge to bite out a "well, now you now how I feel", because this really isn't the time. There's too much tension in here already.]

I think consumption might be our biggest problem the way you're getting through that lot. Try to remember to breath, will you?

Ha.

( Mercifully, she laugh-says that after swallowing, and indicates Felix with her thumb while looking at Sarah. ) You didn't mention he punned. That's plus ten points, easy.

( Anyway, she'd really rather they don't do whatever it is Sarah seems to be doing, and Sarissa with food is a Sarissa that is happier than any other variety of Sarissa, even the elusive Craft Sarissa. Seriously, food you guys. She picks up another burger, and holds it out to Felix in offering. )

It's no worries, Sarah, promise. My voice'll sound like a cement mixer for a few days, I'll breathe like Darth Vader for a bit, then I'll be back to normal. Easy.

[ She knows they're probably right, and even if they're not, she can't do anything for Sarissa here. Or at all, really. The cure has never been her job, and that's what makes it so frustrating. She can't do anything but watch as her sisters get sick and die.

It takes her a few seconds to say anything, but when she does, she sounds much less upset and aggressive. If Sarah Manning is good at anything, it's lying. ]

Yeah, fine. Just don't cough on me or I'll kick you right out.

[ Then, as she maneuvers around some kind of weird, viney tree, ] And don't encourage him. It'll go to his head.

[Felix rolls his eyes at his sister's comments, taking the burger from Sarissa.]

Don't listen to her. With the stress you lot give me I deserve every ego boost I can get.

( Sarissa, helpfully, winds down the window in the back. It's the inevitable thing to happen as she discovers a pickle in her burger despite Sarah's instructions, which she knows were given because normally this burger would be drowning in them, not just have a sneaky one stuck to the burger lid. She leans out, the window a bit, and flings it at one of the gators as they exit the area.

Fuck pickles, seriously. )

Don't worry, Felix. You're a handsome and intelligent man with excellent fashion sense.

( Flatly said, as she continues to inspect the burger for any more stealth pickle invaders; she might as well have been commenting on the weather. ) Sarah, you hungry? Don't worry, you'll get compliments, too. I'm trying to make a good impression.

Edited (damn it, hands, hitting enter before i'm done) 2016-07-27 12:42 (UTC)

Yeah, I could eat something.

[ She's been too nervous about driving in unfamiliar territory to bother eating until now, anyway, and it's been a long day. If she doesn't eat soon she'll end up crashing. Metaphorically. ]

Don't worry about making a good impression. He's already got a favorite clone, and it's Alison.

[It's just as well for Sarah she's driving. Felix makes a face at her from around a mouthful of burger, hopefully when she's not too focused on where she's driving to notice. Handsome and intelligent indeed.]

Just because you don't stand a chance.

[Lies. Sarah is absolutely his favourite. He does swallow the burger before he turns back to address Sarissa. Not being his foster sister might mean she's never going to beat Sarah to the top spot, but it does at least mean he's going to going to subject her to the sight of his chewed food.]

Don't worry, Sarissa. You could still get there. You're making a much better impression now we're away from all those crocodiles.

( Excuse me.
Sarissa is partway to a comment about Alison being the favourite because she probably causes the least disasters out of all of them as she fishes out some food for Sarah, unwrapping part to make the driving and eating easier to coordinate, and she's leaning forward to offer it when Felix just says the worst thing imaginable.

What has she done to deserve this. )

Oi, this isn't a saltwater marsh, mate. ( She says, frankly bewildered. ) It's freshwater. And we're too far north, crocs are normally around Mexico and Peru and that.

( No, seriously, she's trying to point to one of them out a window. ) And when crocs close their mouths you can see all their teeth. You can't see any teeth. Not a crocodile, Jesus.

( Plus we're in Florida, she wants to add, but doesn't. Because she's not a dick. But she is so flummoxed oh my GOD Felix why are you this way

Sarah, back her up on this )

[ This is one of those moments where it's clear that, despite not being biologically related, Sarah and Felix are totally brother and sister. Because whatever kind of judgmental, baffled look Felix is giving Sarissa right now, Sarah is swiveling in her seat and giving her an identical one. Like... why is this even a discussion point. Why is Sarissa so annoyed about it. Why. ]

Who cares? They've got teeth, they're scaly, they were circling round to eat you.

[ Then she grabs the half-unwrapped sandwich and turns back to face the road, just in time to avoid driving directly into a tree. ] Ta, [ she adds, all casual again. ]

( what the fucking fuck

Sarissa just sits back in her seat, before quietly swearing as they almost hit a tree, and then to herself, )

Alligator mississippiensis probably care.

[Felix is giving her the most judgmental, baffled look. The effect is sort of ruined by the shriek he gives when he belatedly realises Sarah almost hit that tree. Right as they're driving by it, already in the clear. He glares at his sister before returning to the matter at hand.]

Alligator what? Look, it doesn't matter where they live. The issue is they have really nasty ways of killing people. Don't think I've never seen the documentaries.

[Just because he seems like he knows absolutely nothing about them that doesn't mean their attack methods haven't stuck with him.]

Yeah, that shit's not pretty, the way they drag you under the water and twist you around. Doesn't matter what they're called.

[ Sarah and Felix are suddenly nature documentary buffs, if only to prove Sarissa wrong. Sarah, at least, is grinning, though. Mostly because of Felix's scream. ]

Oh, for God's— they usually kill smaller stuff! And I was on top of a bleedin' car, you mongrels.

( D: D: D: )

I'll take the alligators, honestly. ( Over this combined rudeness )

Excuse me. We just risked our lives to save you. They were practically on top of you by the time we got there.

[Where's the gratitude?]

( she is just dramatically flopping sideways to lie down on the back seat

both of these jerks are terrible

terrible!!!

her life is hard

also her foot is hanging out the window )

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Do I wear you out?

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ahhh I'm sorry I totally lost the notif for this

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now with extra sadism

first of all, how dare you

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frantically googles reptiles and regrets life

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