Howard Bassem (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iselldrugstothecommunity) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trans_92011-07-31 10:01 am
iselldrugstothecommunity) wrote in trans_92011-07-31 10:01 am
If I Have to Lie, Steal, Cheat or Kill [Semi-Open]
Howard hasn't gotten a full night of sleep since a little before they landed on Galilee. The events of that particular mission certainly haven't helped. Recently he's taken up to squinting to combat the way his eyes feel as if they're covered in dustbunnies and sand, and his usual skittishness has turned into an unconscious twitch and tremble.
After spending at least a few hours of the night pacing the Warehouse, now otherwise devoid of life except for him and Emergency Rations the Cat, he finally sinks to his anxious instincts and pulls open the hidden closet to reveal the cans and cans of non-perishable food. Then he closes the door again, places back the wall panel. That's for emergencies. That's for starvation.
He checks Albert's room again to see if his business partner has magically appeared back in his bed, but the immaculate, orderly room remains empty. It's not even as if he liked Albert. If pressed, he might even admit to hating him. But Howard doesn't like that someone in his life has vanished without warning. He's had bad experiences with that.
Emergency Rations follows him to the front door. She brushes up against his legs while he puts his shoes on, and for a moment on the floor he pulls her to his chest and breathes into her fur. Then he fills her bowl up with more kibble, taking a handful for himself, and locks her inside the house while he heads to Hydroponics.
He passes the beer tree, passes the carnivorous plants, and finds a quiet little nook with exactly what he's looking for - fruit trees.
The fresh, strange fruits within arm's reach don't last him all that long - partially due to his relatively small stature and their slick, unclimbable bark. But there are some on the ground, if rotten. He's not picky. He gathers them from around the surface roots of the trees and sets them in one sloppy, oozing pile.
He sits with his back against one of the trees, resting his head on a loose knot and swallowing pieces of overripe fruit while barely chewing. It's a temporary comfort. Just because people disappear on Stacy doesn't mean she's about to put them in some death trap. Stacy's always been like this, taking people when it makes sense to her. It's just never been someone close to Howard.
Thinking about how he's the only person from the FAYZ still awake here sends a shiver down his back, but the sweet juice in his mouth does well to remind him that he's not back home, not in the FAYZ, not buying time from death, not going to go hungry again.
[OOC: Due to the tone of this post I'd like to keep this limited to a few threads; hit me up in PM or AIM if you want to tag here. I'll be having a less wangsty open post for Howard up in a few days for those interested in getting CR with him under different circumstances.]
After spending at least a few hours of the night pacing the Warehouse, now otherwise devoid of life except for him and Emergency Rations the Cat, he finally sinks to his anxious instincts and pulls open the hidden closet to reveal the cans and cans of non-perishable food. Then he closes the door again, places back the wall panel. That's for emergencies. That's for starvation.
He checks Albert's room again to see if his business partner has magically appeared back in his bed, but the immaculate, orderly room remains empty. It's not even as if he liked Albert. If pressed, he might even admit to hating him. But Howard doesn't like that someone in his life has vanished without warning. He's had bad experiences with that.
Emergency Rations follows him to the front door. She brushes up against his legs while he puts his shoes on, and for a moment on the floor he pulls her to his chest and breathes into her fur. Then he fills her bowl up with more kibble, taking a handful for himself, and locks her inside the house while he heads to Hydroponics.
He passes the beer tree, passes the carnivorous plants, and finds a quiet little nook with exactly what he's looking for - fruit trees.
The fresh, strange fruits within arm's reach don't last him all that long - partially due to his relatively small stature and their slick, unclimbable bark. But there are some on the ground, if rotten. He's not picky. He gathers them from around the surface roots of the trees and sets them in one sloppy, oozing pile.
He sits with his back against one of the trees, resting his head on a loose knot and swallowing pieces of overripe fruit while barely chewing. It's a temporary comfort. Just because people disappear on Stacy doesn't mean she's about to put them in some death trap. Stacy's always been like this, taking people when it makes sense to her. It's just never been someone close to Howard.
Thinking about how he's the only person from the FAYZ still awake here sends a shiver down his back, but the sweet juice in his mouth does well to remind him that he's not back home, not in the FAYZ, not buying time from death, not going to go hungry again.
[OOC: Due to the tone of this post I'd like to keep this limited to a few threads; hit me up in PM or AIM if you want to tag here. I'll be having a less wangsty open post for Howard up in a few days for those interested in getting CR with him under different circumstances.]
no subject
Because some people don't wear their freaking body armor 24/7, Zou, you monochromatic weirdo.
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Hey, he took off his armor sometimes! Like when he was at home. Taking a bath. Or something that also required taking off his armor.
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"Thanks for letting me stay, by the way."
At least knowing Zouichi's still there for him is one less thing on his mind. The rest still needs to be sorted. He'd probably have just stayed in Hydroponics until he was sick or wandered around his house like a particularly corporeal ghost before showing up completely zombified to his next Med Bay shift if Zouichi hadn't found him.
There's still no guarantee he'll be able to sleep tonight.
no subject
He blinked at the unexpected thanks; letting Howard stay over wasn't really something he felt was out of the ordinary, especially for a friend. "No problem. You can even pick out your blankets. I recommend the big, fluffy kind."
Zouichi would probably end up asking whether Howard wanted him to stick around until he went to sleep.
no subject
"Yep, those exactly. If we hadn't gotten yoinked by the stupid CLF, I'd have stolen the mini-fridge. And the shower curtains, too. I liked their swirly pattern. And I liked the bedside lamp." He gives Zouichi a look to say 'oh come on, it's Galilee, we all hate Galilee, besides you practically blew up a hospital wing'.
"Tell me you've got those blankets with the feathers in them. Those are the best kind. Almost as awesome as water beds."
And Howard will probably end up sheepishly saying yes, because it's hard to ask for that but he's glad Zouichi can tell he needs it.
no subject
"Down blankets? Oh, yeah, we have some of those. No water beds, though, sorry. Although if you really want one, maybe you can buy one on shore leave or something. I'm wondering if I could get a piano somewhere."
Maybe Howard can even get some sleep!
no subject
"I think I saw a piano in one of the buildings I scavenged. Didn't try to move it, though." He may be daring enough to haul a fridge across town, but a grand piano was huge. "We can probably go there tomorrow, see if you can lift it. You know, if you ever need me to find something, I'm not going to stop collecting stuff just because Albert's taking a dirtnap."
no subject
"Really?" Zouichi looked rather enthusiastic about the idea. "I can lift one of those without any problem."
In fact, he could do it one-handed. "I didn't think anyone would leave one of those just lying around, though. Thanks for the offer."
no subject
"Awesome. I can show you once we're done...doing whatever it is we're doing. Sleeping. That." What? Was that a break in the lineface? Howard's glad he could perk Zou up a little, at least. "People leave all sorts of random stuff lying around. I think it's someone's house, actually."
Just, you know. In case Zou isn't down with stealing from his podded crewmates.
no subject
Believe it or not, Zouichi was rather fond of playing. He'd just never considered the idea there might be an actual piano lying around. Hopefully, Alan wouldn't mind.
"Well, as long as it's not an occupied house, it should be okay, I think. And yes, I think it would be a good idea if you could get some sleep. I'll stick around in the room with you until you can nod off, at least."
/wrap? Then I can tag your parrots thread!
"I think that'll help, yeah. Thanks." He's embarrassed about this whole thing, but that seems to be the theme for the last few days. At least needing some help coping with irrational fears is a tiny step above bursting into tears when a little girl pokes at your abusive friendship. "I'll need someone to protect me from ghosts."
yep!