cape_kore | video; day 46; 003

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video; day 46; 003

[ So here's someone who will be familiar to anyone paying attention to the networks recently - except at least this time there's no screaming. Instead she switches on the video after composing herself, and she's maybe not as calm as she'd like, but it's close enough. ]

The people we found, is anyone- [ she hesitates a moment, she's not good at public speaking at the best of times, let alone with the topic at hand. She presses on though, after a moment to suck in a sharp breath of air. ] Is anyone arranging a funeral for them? I just...wanted to know, that's all.

[ Another hesitation. She looks tired, and in the moment that she sweeps the stray hair out of her face it's kind of obvious that she's not looking a hundred per cent. ]

I'll do it, if there isn't something already.

[ And...that'll do apparently, because with that she cuts the feed. ]

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[ There's a rap at Laura's door after a few moments, something soft and almost timid. He's not really sure where they stand anymore, at this point, so he doesn't open it; just calls through the door. ]

Ya need help?

[ She hesitates a moment before answering, and there's a little part of her that kind of doesn't want to answer. She gets up off the bed eventually, goes to the door and opens it enough to look through as she leans against the door frame. ]

I, uh. Yeah, if you're offering. I guess I could use a hand.

[ Which he's obviously supposed to translate as 'I'm kind of over my head and really need that help' of course. ]

[ Jesse was leaning up against the door frame as well, biting at a thumbnail and really half-expecting her to just not open the door. When it does, he jumps a little, rounds himself so he can see her instead. Definitely, definitely understands the in over her head notion - just unlike when he's seen it on himself, he's here to offer help. ]

Waddya need? [ Anything. ] Ya need graves, right?

[ Which is surprisingly nonchalant, even as he worriedly rubs a hand over one of his eyes. It's not his first rodeo. ]

Graves, hadn't even thought about that.

[ She laughs, rubbing a hand over her face lightly before nodding. She stays by the door for another moment or two, quietly watching him the whole time, then nudges her door open with her foot. She gestures inside, tries to smile a little, and steps back from the door. ] You uh, can come in if you want.

[ But back to graves, because as little as she wants to talk about it she knows she has to sort something out. Arranging funerals is hard. Arranging funerals in a day with minimal resources is almost impossible. ] You'd help me dig graves?

[ Being let into her room; that's a good sign, right? She gives him a bit of a smile and Jesse doesn't reciprocate, but he does go back to biting on his thumbnail, nods as he accepts the invitation and takes a few wary steps in. ]

[ He feels like he's trespassing but it's better than out, it's a whole step process thing. ]

You'd fall in if ya had to dig a grave. [ He pokes fun, snorts a little as his other arm folds across his chest. ] I'm offerin' to dig 'em if ya want. [ A whole new world he hasn't breached yet, but there's a first time for everything. ] Why not? I'm figgering we gotta get this shit done afore the bodies go all ripe, right?

[ There's the smallest wince when he says so, true or not. ]

[ She hovers near the door a little longer as Jesse walks in, then pushes it half-closed as she heads back to the bed. She's not going to close it this time, if anyone wants to make a quick escape it's there for the taking. Shame it took this long for the personal space thing to click. She's going to just go sit on the bed heavily, elbows on knees and chin propped in her hand as she looked at him. ]

Hey, you know I grew up on a farm right? I'm not afraid of some heavy lifting. [ Never mind the fact that these days moving anything is a challenge. It's a good sign though, the light joking. That's got to be a good sign. And yeah, she notices the wince but she's not going to point it out, just like she'd hope he wouldn't for her. ] Yeah, the good doctor mentioned that. We're...doing it tomorrow.

[ It's awkward, for sure, but awkward's at the very least a whole lot better than not speaking. Jesse can handle awkward, but he really can't so often handle the feat of someone being angry with him, for whatever reason. It's good they're talking, and it certainly makes him feel better. ]

Ain't afraid'a heavy lifting but it sure as shit ain't friends with you. [ He observes, eyebrows raising in jest. There's half a lopsided piece of a smile on his face, even as they talk about burying bodies. ] Yo, tomorrow? We gotta dig two graves by tomorrow? Do we even got shovels around this joint?

I'll manage, don't worry. There's not exactly a whole load of free time floating around. I'll do my part.

[ There's no point in arguing that point - Laura's determined to assist even if she probably isn't in the best shape for it. But this is good, this is encouraging. Sure it might be digging graves they're talking about, but at least they're talking and not shouting. It's a marked improvement, and she'll take it regardless of the conversation topic. ]

There's gotta be some around here. There's a store, been pretty ransacked but that's the food. I was gonna go down and take a look... [ She shrugs, rubs her hands over her face and heaves a quiet sigh before standing. Folding her arms over her chest, she glances at the door a moment before tipping her head towards it and raising an eyebrow. ] You can, I mean if you want to come along. That's cool. Company and stuff, y'know?

[ So. Eloquent. ]

[ Jesse almost rolls his eyes at the invitation, grateful for it but a little put out that she feels the need to even extend that invitation in the first place. Whatever, they're getting over it. They're working past it or something. Never mind that he's probably going to find himself feeling the need to take a little something to take the edge off before he's burying more fucking bodies. He wasn't built for this shit. ]

[ He looks a little strung out, a little tired when he rubs his hand over his head and nods his agreement. ]

Way I figure it, there might be some in the lighthouse or somethin' too, ya know? Like groundskeeping stuff. Like, they gotta have groundskeeping stuff 'round here somewhere. I'll definitely pitch in, alright?

[ She's just trying to figure out where they're at now, testing the waters to see what's okay and what's not. He's agreeing though, and that's a bit of a relief. It's not like she'd have been all that surprised if he'd said no, after everything. Its more steps in the right direction though, leaps even, and she just smiles a little before turning to grab a pretty frumpy cardigan for warmth - hey, at least it's not the Christmas one.. ]

Oh, yeah the lighthouse. I totally forgot about that, I bet there's stuff there. [ And then she hesitates a moment, tugging on the clothes as she keeps her eyes on the floor. After the pause though, she turns to Jesse and there's a little more awkward hovering before she just steps in, touches his wrist lightly and looks up at him. ]

Look. Thank you. For helping, and just...all of it. Thanks.

[ There's some immediate confusion starting to settle into Jesse's expression with that, and he's not sure why. She just sounds so sincere and so earnest about the thank you, a something he wasn't exactly expecting to get so soon after their latest debacle. It wasn't long ago they were screaming each other hoarse in his room, the stink of meth in the air and lectures galore to be had. He wasn't sure he was coming back from that so quickly, was all. ]

[ And beyond that? Jesse doesn't get himself thanked very often. ]

Yeah. [ He says slowly, carefully at first before he gives a big lackadaisical shrug of the shoulders. The least he can do. ] No problem. Ain't like I'm lettin' ya throw together a couple'a funerals in a whole day all by yourself.

[ For a moment she keeps still, keeps that loose grip on his arm and keeps her eyes fixed on his. There's so much more she could say here - stuff she really needs to say, needs to get out and needs him to hear more than anything. She almost says it, some of it anyway, but the words catch in her throat. She's never been very good at talking when it comes to important stuff.

Instead she just gives a slightly wry smile, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly upwards as she laughs under her breath, and then she lets him go. Her arms go back to folding over her chest, and she gestures to the door with a nudge of her elbow in its direction. Enough of that. ]

Well, like you said, gotta do it in a day so we should get moving. [ Rubbing the back of her neck lightly, her shoulders hunch a little as she heads out of the room. She glances back quickly though, just to make sure he's following her out. ]

[ She looks like she's about to say something, and for a moment he thinks about it too, maybe throwing out an apology or two - not that he thinks he owes her one, not really, maybe a little - but nothing comes up either, just a moment of silence as his fingers twitch antsily in she hand she's holding. ]

[ God, this is all awkward, it is. His lips quirk into a smile back, just as wry; maybe more of a grimace than anything. ]

Store first or lighthouse? [ Yep, he's following suit, hands shoved deep into his pants pockets as he trudges after her. ]

[ She'll say it at some point, probably. God knows she needs to, but for now she just wants to tackle one thing at a time. The funerals already sapping the life out of her, she can't have another exhausting fight with Jesse if things turn sour. Not right now.

It's easier to just brush it off, to smile a little and nod and talk and tackle that issue when she's not planning on how best to dig graves. The fact that he's here at all says maybe he gets that, at least a little bit. ]

The store's on the way, may as well stick our head in there first and take a look, right?

[ Oh, does he get it. ]

[ There was something about dealing with the dead that made all your other problems seem a bit smaller, falling by the wayside for a while, for really very obvious reasons. Digging some graves, that's all he was focused on, digging graves. He didn't give a shit about what Laura had said to him, didn't even rub at the bruise on his jaw. He just nods his approval and picks his jacket off the coat rack when they cross by it. ]

Can't hurt. What else you need done before today's over anyway?

[ They can deal with their own issues another day. It's not like Laura even knows what she would say to him at the moment, so it's better just to leave it. There's more time sensitive matters at hand, and they're not the easiest things to handle either. Surely it's better for everyone involved if they just focus right now? It's certainly easier to deal with the guilt framing it that way, anyway. ]

Someone else is going to give us a hand with the- the digging. [ Something about the word graves is a little too blunt right now. ] And then I guess I need to find out who their friends were, see who will speak. I was like, thinking maybe of doing something in that building, the town hall thing? Just grabbing some booze and stuff, nothing big but like...that's what people do right? After funerals and stuff?

[ He's somewhat grateful for the fact that the shit isn't being dredged up as is right now. It's not that he doesn't necessarily want to address it - he does, and definitely will in future - but there's enough shit circling the drain right now as is. The funerals, the digging, the planning. He guesses he never really appreciated how much work went into something like this. ]

All right, cool. We could use all hands on deck that we can get. [ He pauses a moment, running his fingers lightly over his chin as he thinks, follows her around like a lost dog. ] Like the wake, yeah. I ain't no expert; I only been ta one of these things before, but, uh. There was plenty'a booze around. Good for people minglin'. Good for bein' sad too, I figger.

[ There's always a moment when she leaves the house where she turns to lock the door before she remembers there are no keys, the door was busted down. Today's no different, she still stops and turns, pauses and then just tugs the door shut. Routines though, routines are important. Laura just needs to find one that doesn't involve reminding herself of how far from normal their lives are every time she walks out and in. ]

Yeah, it uh, a guy called Wallie. You know him? He's legit like, seven feet tall, it's crazy. Probably a bit more useful with manual labour than me. [ She's pretty sure the store is in this direction, so she's just going to...start walking. ] Wake, yeah, that's what I mean. Everyone wants booze around when they're sad. We've not really got food around, but the bar's nearby and I can just cart some in there, that'll be okay, right?

[ The pause gives Jesse pause in turn, a beat where he watches Laura and raises his eyebrow curiously. Without an explanation, he just dives right back into talking. ]

Haven't met 'im. [ But his eyes do bug out a bit, impressed. ] Like, literally? Seven feet. [ He follows right after her, hands starting to remove from his pockets as he trudges by her side towards the way he remembers the store being, sniffs and rubs at the underside of his nose. ] Sounds like a plan. Bar's still pretty stocked, ain't it? Should be more'n enough for everyone who's comin'.

Totally seven feet. Saw it with my own eyes and everything. Swear I got neck problems from hanging out with that guy. [ She gives him a weak grin, balling her hands up in the sleeves of her jumper and folding her arms over her chest. Laura probably won't ever get used to the cold, but she's going to grit her teeth and bear it, save a little face where she can. ]

Pretty sure, I mean I don't exactly frequent it or anything but people mention it enough, it's got to have a decent amount in there, right? [ Glancing over quickly, Laura gives a half shrug as she keeps walking, picking the pace up a little. She wants to get this over with, honestly. ] People won't go nuts over taking some for this or anything, right? Like, it's for a good reason and stuff.

Not that you ain't used to that. [ The neck craning. Ha ha, he pokes that little bit of fun, immediately looking a bit nervous afterward like he's not allowed to be doing so. His hand rakes across the back of his neck. ]

[ She's not the only one not used to the cold. Everything that comes out of Jesse's mouth is starting to be through clenched teeth, an effort to keep them from chattering that's really not working so well. Then again, a leather jacket isn't really very much for cutting the wind. He was starting to miss his sweatshirts from back home. A lot. ]

Yo, it won't even be a problem. [ Jesse matches her pace for pace, easily enough. ] Anybody that raises a stink about ya takin' some booze for a fuckin' funeral? Is an asshole. And they're prob'ly gonna get themselves trashed anyway.

You're so funny! [ She's got a dry look and an amused eye roll for him, sure, but she stops just short of the shove or nudge that would usually come with gestures like that. The boundaries feel different now, and that part is completely and utterly on her. So she just drops her arm back to her side quickly before it makes contact, shove her hands in her pockets and keep walking. ]

Yeah, okay. Yeah that's a good point. Like, no one is that much of a jerk here, right? [ Not that she'd know, but that's beside the point. She's had a lot of luck in falling in with the right people here - yes, Jesse, that includes you - and hasn't yet encountered anyone who would even give her cause to believe that they'd cause a fuss about something like that. Good for her overall belief in the human race, but bad for a bordering on naively optimistic view of the world.

At any rate, she's taken them in the right direction it seems, because she sees the store and walks a little faster. Inside is warm, and inside means they're a step closer to being done with the grim job she's given herself. ] Here, look. There's got to be a gardening section of some kind, all stores have one. Even the tiny shops, cause old people do that stuff and they go to tiny shops more than anyone and they've got to keep them happy and stuff-

[ She's nervous rambling and she knows it, so she just shuts her mouth very abruptly before shaking her head. Once that's over with, she continues much more abruptly. ]

You take one side, I'll do the other. Shouldn't take long.

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video; day 46; 003

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