johnny_truant: (Default)
Johnny Truant ([personal profile] johnny_truant) wrote in [community profile] bigapplesauce2015-03-19 05:47 pm

an unexpected failure to journey [closed]

Usually he wakes up from disorientation in the woods, not to it. But today he's stirred by wind on his cheek, rustling leaves and branches, birds sounding much more present than they would from beyond a hotel window. He feels suspended somehow, no solid support beneath his back. He's upright, but he's not on the ground either. What...?

Full consciousness comes abruptly and painfully when he jerks and flails, or tries to flail, quickly stymied by the thorny tendrils that are tangled all around his limbs and torso, pinning him to the unruly underbrush growing around the trees. The brambles aren't very extensive, but he is definitely in their midst, held him fairly fast a few inches off the ground.

Okay then.

Ordinarily he'd think he was dreaming but he's gotten a little too good at knowing the difference. He's definitely awake. He doesn't remember leaving the hotel, doesn't remember anything happening that could possibly explain this. Even with that he doesn't quite panic. This might as well happen. Rift life is already so goddamn weird. Every day is a gambit of refreshing normalcy and staggering weirdness.

He's not tightly restrained and the branches aren't that thick - he's pretty sure he could escape if he could just...

"Ow!" he snaps as the thorns snag at his clothing and prick him all up and down his arms. God dammit. He lets out a frustrated sigh. "Cool. All right."

He pulls his hands into fists and tries to move his legs. His jeans protect him little, but he really can't get good enough leverage to tear himself free. He tries again, a few different ways, and finds it becoming almost increasingly difficult, every time making the minor pains a little worse. He can't even reach his hand to his pocket, though he can feel his phone in there. Finally he just releases his tension, hangs there, defeated.

So what is he supposed to do, just wait for someone to stumble upon him? Maybe if he can get some animal's attention he could ask it to find Daine? He looks around for squirrels or birds but none are close enough, and if a person does happen along he'd really rather not be entangled in brambles and yelling at random birds.

This is the Ramble, right? It has to be. The TARDIS must be somewhere around here, not close enough that he can feel her, but. Maybe she can see him, send someone to help.

Or he could just pray.

No. Not like this. If they're going to talk again it's not going to be for something like this. It's going to be because Johnny goes back on his own.

Which leaves him with nothing to do but wait.

He settles in as well as he can and definitely does not sulk.
andhiswife: (listening - not okay)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-22 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thank goodness she thought to memorize her friends' numbers. Granted, it's not a tall order when you don't have that many friends, but that's beside the point. Greta takes the phone and fires off a text to the Balladeer, smiling in relief when he responds. "I'm sure he'll help us," she says, transferring the smile to Johnny as she waits for the next text.

And then she frowns. Wait... what? "He's..." she says, looking at the phone as if it's personally offended her. "He's not coming." Another text comes in, and her expression darkens further. She's not even dignifying that with a response. What a... well, 'disappointment' doesn't even begin to cover it.

Greta sighs heavily, then passes the phone back to Johnny. "I'm sorry. Maybe one of your friends would be a... a safer bet."
andhiswife: (baroo)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-22 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, dear, is Johnny texting him, now? She should probably tell him not to bother, but it's strangely gratifying to watch him tap out angry little missives on her behalf, if not at her behest.

"I don't know," she says with a dismissive flap of her hand before pinching the bridge of her nose. The Balladeer has never struck her as cruel. Perhaps someone took his phone. Or she misremembered the number, and it was just some random person being unkind. Or maybe he does have a nasty streak she'd just never been privy to until now.

What an awful day this is turning out to be.

"Well," she says, attempting to lighten the mood a little, "I don't suppose you'd like a muffin." Goodness knows how long he's been out here, but she's guessing they've both missed breakfast, and it's getting on towards lunch.
andhiswife: (smile - tiny)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-22 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
That earns him a little smile. "I think I can manage that." Given how many things she hasn't been able to manage today, it will be nice to accomplish something - even something as small as feeding Johnny a muffin.

She pulls out one of the muffins and tears off a little scrap. "I met her in a dream, actually," she explains as she reaches through the sizable gap she's made near his face and tips the muffin scrap into his mouth. It's a bit awkward. Her own son was far too young for solid foods when she'd left him. Better not to think about it.

"And then she came and found me when we were awake," she continues as she tears off more scraps of muffin and feeds them to Johnny, piece by piece. It will be less weird for both of them if she can keep up a stream of chatter, so she goes into more detail than she might be inclined towards, otherwise. "I was horribly ill at the time, from all the vaccinations they'd given me. She made me soup and taught me how the phones worked. She was very kind."

She draws her hand back, then tears off a scrap of muffin for herself. "How do you know her?" she asks curiously. She's never seen Johnny around the base.
andhiswife: (listening - confused)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-22 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah," Greta says with a little nod. It makes as much sense as anything else. Actually, it makes more sense than 'we met in a dream,' but given that's how she and Johnny met as well, it doesn't seem so strange.

But now he looks miserable, out of nowhere. She pulls back the latest muffin scrap, a faint line appearing between her brows. "Is something wrong?" she asks. "Besides the, er, obvious?" His expression isn't pained, so she doesn't think it's the thorns, and she's certain the muffin isn't the problem. Is he sweet on Iman, as Gabriel seemed to be? She couldn't blame the poor lad if he was - Iman is kind and clever and very pretty - but someone with magic makes for rather stiff competition, she supposes.
andhiswife: (neutral)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-23 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
As Johnny gets increasingly upset, Greta leaves off feeding him muffin scraps in favor of just watching him with growing concern. She doesn't interrupt, but she can't help wincing a little when he refers to himself as a mess, and her eyebrows climb practically to her hairline when he speaks of loving him, breaking his heart. Two men, is that--is that a thing? But that's beside the point. The point is that Johnny is in all kinds of pain, and she has to do something. Something better than gawping at him and questioning his choice in pronouns.

"Oh. Oh dear. Hang on." She sets the muffins aside on a fallen branch - they're in paper cups, they'll be fine - then shakes the crumbs off her handkerchief. "Here we are," she murmurs, her tone deliberately brisk, as if he's done nothing more humiliating than accidentally knocking over a glass of water. This is embarrassing enough for him already; he doesn't need her pity. But her hand is gentle when she pokes the handkerchief through the gap in the thorns and wipes his tears away.

"Now, then." Now what? What can she tell him? If she's broken any hearts, she hasn't been allowed to witness the aftermath, or been given the opportunity to atone. What her husband must think of her disappearance - what he must think about the Prince, if he knows, and she so hopes he doesn't - she has no idea, and there is nothing she can do regardless. All she knows is what she would have done, if the Rift hadn't taken her.

Maybe Johnny could do the same.

"Listen," she says firmly, ducking her head a little so she can look him in the eyes. "Sometimes we don't know what we have until we lose it. But that doesn't mean you can't go and get it back." She gives his cheek one last little scrub with the handkerchief, then pulls it back. "What's his name, this... this fellow of yours?"
andhiswife: (peering sidelong)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-23 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh!" Greta hoots, startled. "I think I might know him - well, not know him, but I've met a Gabriel. He was, er, about this tall," she holds her hand an inch over her own head, "brown hair..." she probably shouldn't say 'charming,' "... erm." She probably shouldn't say 'flirtatious' either. "He liked jokes," she offers at last, a bit sheepishly. "Oh! And he had magic - the healing sort. Does that sound like him?"

At Johnny's wary nod, she rocks back on her heels, her gaze going momentarily distant. Oh, dear. She'll have to tell Iman, won't she?

Well, she'll worry about that later. For now, she fixes Johnny with a stern look. Gabriel's feelings about the boy aside, she's can't say she approves of Johnny's lowly view of himself. "So, you're allowed to love him because he's so wonderful, but he's not allowed to love you because you're just awful, is that what you're saying?"
andhiswife: (serious)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-24 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmph." By that logic, Cinderella wasn't worth the Prince's attention. Neither was she, for that matter - but the Prince didn't love her, and if he loved Cinderella, it wasn't enough to keep him from straying. Probably not the best example, then.

She remembers Gabriel's healing kiss. Charming. She wonders if she really ought to be encouraging Johnny at all. This isn't her business.

Well. Johnny's made it her business. She can't vouch for Gabriel's intentions, but she's not letting the lad think he doesn't deserve to be loved. That's just too terrible a sentiment coming from someone so young.

"Where Gabriel spends his love is up to him," she says at last. "It doesn't matter if you think you're worth it or not; if he thinks you are, then..." she flaps a hand, "there you have it."

His eyes are still firmly downcast, so she reaches back through the brambles and tips up his chin until she can look at him properly - until he can see her, and see that she's serious. "Do you want him?" she asks bluntly.
andhiswife: (smile - tiny)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-24 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Greta knows about wanting - things she shouldn't, and things she should. Where Gabriel falls on Johnny's map is beyond her, but maybe it's better to get the lad moving than to make sure he's on the right path. So she smiles at his answer, wry and understanding. "Then find him," she orders, brushing away the new tears with her thumb, "and get him." A beat. "Well, once you're out of this mess."

The thanks is a pleasant surprise, and her smile broadens. She cups his cheek for a moment, warm and fond, then withdraws her hand. "Would you like the rest of that muffin?"
singthesong: (Travel)

[personal profile] singthesong 2015-03-24 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Greta!"

Meanwhile, the Balladeer is making absolutely no effort to be quiet as he tromps through the Ramble. He doesn't have an instrument on him for once; he's just wandering the woods alone. For lack of any other clues, he's basically just picked a random direction off the path and stuck to it. He'll know how to get back, he thinks, if he ever happens to find Greta.

And that's a big if. He's kept his phone out, and keeps checking it every now and then, but there's still no new messages. Probably for the best, considering how that conversation went, but...it'd be nice to hear something.

The sound of voices stops him short, and he pauses, listening for a moment before heading in that direction. "Greta?"
andhiswife: (alert)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-24 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's unexpected. Greta whirls about until she's facing the direction she thinks the first call came from, correcting herself a little when she hears the second. Is... is that the Balladeer? "Hello?" she calls back, incredulous. "We're over here!" She takes a single step away from Johnny, then stops; she's not about to risk getting separated from him when she can't count on herself to find her way anywhere.
singthesong: (Tracks)

[personal profile] singthesong 2015-03-24 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Greta!"

The Balladeer calls out again, much more cheerfully, before striding in the direction of her voice. With long legs like his, it isn't long before he's there, pushing his way through some underbrush to walk into their little clearing. "Damn!" he says, greeting Greta with a smile. "I was not looking for you at all, I'm completely lost - oh, wow."

This last is directed towards Johnny, as he finally realizes the true extent of what Greta meant by 'stuck'.
andhiswife: (profile - well then)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-24 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
For a few moments, all she can do is gape at the Balladeer until Johnny's voice jars her out of her little stupor. He'd said he wasn't coming - or had that not been him? But if it hadn't been him, then how on earth had he known where to look for them? And he looks pleased to have found them, despite his insistence that he wasn't even looking.

"Wh-" she starts before shutting her mouth and favoring the Balladeer with a deeply confused frown. She tries again. "You... you said you weren't...?" She trails off, flummoxed.
singthesong: (Poppies)

[personal profile] singthesong 2015-03-24 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
"I wasn't," the Balladeer continues to insist. He barely spares Johnny (angry Johnny) a glance, holding Greta's gaze earnestly. "And none of us are cursed! I mean, that's normal."

He nods towards Johnny, suspended in the brambles, and flashes him a rather less honest smile. "Great to see you again." Did that sound sarcastic? Good, he actually meant it for once. Because while their previous encounter was at least partially his own fault...yeah, no, there's a few hard feelings.

"Also..." He turns back to Greta, reaching for a few more truths to twist. "We've never met, my shirt is black, aaaand we are not in the woods right now. See, I'm fine, this is great." Judging from his tone and the strain evident in his face even as he smiles, he feels anything but fine.
andhiswife: (I fucked up)

[personal profile] andhiswife 2015-03-24 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh!" Greta's hands fly to her face as the truth of the matter finally strikes her, then drop as it subsequently sinks in. "Oh." He can't say what he really means, more like the opposite. Why didn't she catch on right away, instead of being short with him? Of course he's not normally like this - he's normally kind, which means he's probably been infuriating people all day, the poor man. "I'm... I'm so sorry!"

So, if she's understanding things correctly, he's not fine, and everything is terrible. Yes, that seems like a far more accurate assessment of the situation than what he actually said. She lays a comforting hand on the Balladeer's arm, then looks back at the mass of greenery that is Johnny. "I think his curse is that he's saying the opposite of what he really means. Is that right?" She turns back to the Balladeer, expecting a 'no' if she's correct.
singthesong: (Default)

[personal profile] singthesong 2015-03-24 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Bless your heart," the Balladeer tells Johnny cheerfully, without missing a beat. He's not really got a lot of patience left for this today either.

Greta's understanding buoys him up, at least. It was her opinion he'd really been concerned about; Johnny and he aren't exactly the best of friends anyway. "Nope!" he replies, patting the hand on his arm warmly. It's not exactly correct - he could probably say what he meant if he intended to lie about something - but it amounts to the same thing. He doesn't go around lying on a daily basis. "All the rifties are just fine. You should feel bad."

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-25 02:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-25 03:54 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-26 18:41 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-29 20:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-29 22:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-30 04:14 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-30 13:45 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-30 17:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-30 17:46 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-30 18:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-30 19:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-30 20:45 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-30 21:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-03-31 21:39 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-03-31 22:03 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-01 02:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-01 02:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-01 04:05 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-01 04:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-01 17:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-01 18:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-01 20:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-01 23:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-02 15:28 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-02 23:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-03 03:07 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-04 02:03 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-04 21:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-05 23:27 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-06 02:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-08 00:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-09 00:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-09 01:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-09 03:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-10 20:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-13 15:52 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-14 03:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-19 02:41 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-19 03:09 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-19 23:15 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] andhiswife - 2015-04-20 00:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] singthesong - 2015-04-21 15:17 (UTC) - Expand