Rain Meme

[justformemes]

Caught in the rain

It started out quietly, and then, quite suddenly, you're caught in a storm. Time to find cover. Nothing much to do but to wait it out.

Scenarios listed below for those who want 'em.


i WHERE:
001 PLAYGROUND - Well, you can try to hide under the slide or maybe in the jungle gym... at least you're some place fun?
002 PARK - Always happens, caught outside trying to take advantage of the weather... and it ends up pulling a fast one on you.
003 STORE FRONT - Better hope they have an awning you can take advantage of.
004 THE BEACH - Not exactly the best place to be during a rainstorm, however it is possible to get caught in a sudden storm.
005 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it.


ii HOW:
001 TREE - Not the best cover, but it'll have to do, stay close to the roots and you won't get too wet.
002 UMBRELLA - Most conventional... Kinda boring. But it works.
003 NEWSPAPER - Not permanent, but it'll have to do. Good luck.
004 BAG - Well... y'gotta do what you gotta do.
005 NONE - You know what. You're a rebel. You don't need cover. Screw convention.
006 WILD CARD - that's the way you need it.


iii WHY:
001 REJECTED - Welp. Rejection sucks. And no one will see you crying in the rain.
002 WAITING - For the bus? For someone else? For some revelation? What are you waiting for.
003 MELANCHOLY - Sometimes the best place to feel a bit down is out in the rain.
004 HAPPINESS - Is everything going your way? Are you singing a refrain while walking down the lane? Just singing. Singin' in the rain.
005 ANGER - WELL YOU KNOW WHAT. SCREW YOU TOO, RAIN.
006 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it.



>> POST with your character
>> TAG others, use RNG if you need to, or just make up your own scenario if you want!
>> HAVE FUN.

Comments

[shoplifter]

[She tries to think of somewhere - anywhere, because even now, she has no clue where she's supposed to go. Kids go to orphanages if they have no parents, right? They are put up for adoption. But she's not a normal child, and it feels like it would only end in blood, sweat, and tears. Especially if the people who so often seek her out actually find her again.

He could be one of them, trying to play nice with her, get her guard down.

She remains uneasy, and her name stays behind her teeth.

Instead:]

I don't have anywhere to be. I run from bad people.

[thegoodbad]

[He can't blame the kid for not trusting him - in fact, it's fucking smart - but what kind of prick would Frank be to not try to help? She's soaked to the bone, alone, and probably scared. Whatever those drunk idiots were going to do wouldn't have been pretty. Maybe he should have popped a few of them off anyway. Later.

The rain is plastering Frank's hair to his head and almost in front of his eyes, his fingers are frozen, and his wet gear is sitting heavy on his shoulders. He nods slowly and holds his hands up, unarmed.]

Okay. [A pause, then, before -] When's the last time you ate something?

[shoplifter]

[She's been relatively good at getting by. A lot of it is petty theft from convenience stores or grocery outlets and kicking anyone who tries to physically stop her; hey, a girl's got to eat. But it has been a while, has skipped past lunch and into the worst hours of the night, and her stomach gurbles here and there as she ponders what he's offering.

Food.

And lord knows Laura will accept food.

She puts a hand on her stomach, considering still.

... It's not much of an answer, but it also is, if you get to know her.]

[thegoodbad]

[It's more than enough answer for Frank and he almost smiles from it, a simple quirk of his lips. He doesn't mean to scare her off but he isn't exactly the most trustworthy looking guy, despite his good intentions.]

Alright. Food it is. Hope you like greasy diner sh-... food.

[Because diners would be the only places open now, other than McDonald's.

Frank starts to take a step or two back where he came from, nodding toward a truck parked across the street.]

We'll drive. I promise if I do anything fishy you can stab me all you like.

[shoplifter]

[......... You're not so bad, maybe.

Her lips twitch, but she forces back her humor.]

What kind of food is it?

Greasy diner food?

[thegoodbad]

[So she does smile. That's good. The few words are better than none and Frank just takes that as a good sign. It's been a while since he's really interacted with any child.]

You know... burgers, fried chicken, all the bad things you shouldn't be eating. [But will, of course, like everyone else.] Or... you can have breakfast. Pancakes and waffles. Whatever you want.

[shoplifter]

[She's not really sure what fried chicken is — pancakes and waffles, either. She's kidnapped burgers off of people's tables at fast food places, when they step away. Only after she investigates the kid's play places, of course. She puts her hands out a little to let the rain start to wash the blood off her knuckles. Her blood. She's used to seeing it.

She considers the offer, and then nods.

All right. Greasy diner food. Pancakes. Whatever those are.]

[thegoodbad]

[Frank can't help but note the blood rolling off her hands and naturally is curious about what she can do and why, but this is most definitely not the time or place to ask. Hell, he may not see her again after tonight for all he knows, even if he'll try to help as much as he can.

He unlocks the doors of his car but before getting into the front, Frank opens up the trunk full of an organized mess of weapons and other hardware. He then removes his coat and vest to tuck away in favor of grabbing a regular, dark hoodie instead. He can't be the Punisher when he's out in public, obviously. But the girl has no idea who he is just as Frank has no idea where she came from.

He zips up before sitting in the driver's seat, soaked but uncaring as he drips all over the interior.] Alright, kiddo. Put on your seat belt.

[shoplifter]

[It's clear when she hops into the car, she doesn't particularly have a good grasp on manners or personal belongings; she's looking around the area for anything of interest, trying to pop open his dash console, look on the seats, around the back. Whatever might catch her attention, you know. But his comment leaves her giving skeptical pause.]

.....

[Laura raises an eyebrow at him. Sorry, did you say seatbelt?

No hablo seatbelt. Danger zone, that's me.]

[thegoodbad]

[Lookie here, Frank was a dad and he isn't moving this vehicle until you put on that seatbelt, missy.

Or something like that.

He gives her a look in response, eyebrows rising, before he just leans over to do it for her, if she'll allow.] It's important.

[shoplifter]

[She flinches back, her hand snapping forward to grab his wrist; despite her size, her strength is easily that of a grown man, it seems; her eyes shoot from his hand to his face — her eyes are dark and rounded, but she relaxes quickly when she realizes what he was actually moving to do. Alright. So he wasn't trying to hurt her. She files that away for now.

Instead she lets go of him, moving to pull the seatbelt on awkwardly, pulling her backpack into her lap.

... There. Are you happy?]

[thegoodbad]

[Definitely better. Though Frank makes a mental note to not reach toward her again, at least not without warning. he has to wonder what the hell she's been doing all this time to even be here right now.

Driving off, he keeps silent for a short while, glancing over occasionally to make sure the girl is okay. This is definitely not how Frank planned to spend his evening.]

So, do you have a name?

[shoplifter]

[She stares straight ahead, scanning the city scape and clutching her backpack in her arms — all she's got, really, and she'd punch anyone who'd ever try to take it from her. She glances up at him, looks back at the road, and is silent for a considerably long pause. It almost seems like she may not say anything at all. Like maybe her well of trust is so dry, even names are off limits.

But she relents, if only because she wants to eat, and the man has the means to get her food.]

Laura.

[thegoodbad]

[Hearing a name is a good enough sign for Frank, regardless of whether it's true or not. She may just be appeasing him for the sake of food but Frank's willing to play along if it means the kid's got a full belly tonight. Afterward, he isn't so sure what to do. All he knows is he can't just let her wander the streets alone.]

Laura. Nice to meet you.

[Fingers tap on the steering wheel as the rain is smeared across the windshield, the city quieter than usual outside. Up ahead, warm lights suggest some life, and lucky for them Frank isn't afraid to park right up in front of the diner. He doesn't leave the car just yet though, noting how many people are inside from the wide windows. A couple stragglers but no one that looks like a threat.]

Looks like a quiet crowd. C'mon. [And out they go, back into the rain, though not for long. The diner welcomes them with its florescent lighting and stale, greasy air, but at least it's dry.]

[shoplifter]

[She is not afraid, per se, but she's wary as all hell. To be expected with her at this point, maybe, but she does hover closer to Frank's side as they walk. She soaks in all the sights -- registers every sign, any menu, the set-up of the booths. The woman walks over to ask cheerily to seat them, but Laura already goes wandering to the nearest cleared booth to slide in.

... Kids, you know. She doesn't offer so much as a glance or word before she reaches for the grape jelly packets in the container on the table. Apparently she's hungrier than she'd let on.]

[thegoodbad]

[She wanders off and it’s Frank who is left to follow, chuckling under his breath and offering the waitress a polite apology as he sits across from her. The girl knows where she wants to sit. As they’re given menus Frank orders himself a coffee and some juice for Laura, eyeing the way she already starts to devour the closest edible thing.]

Do you like sweet stuff?” [Frank leans back in his seat, exhausted. It’s been a long night for him as well and thankfully he didn’t walk in here bloody or bruised up, leaving the pair as inconspicuous as a big guy and a kid can be in a diner past midnight.] Then you’ll definitely like pancakes, Kid.

[shoplifter]

Pancakes.

[She says it with a bit of certainty. Yes, pancakes, she'll have those. He'd mentioned them before and she imagines they have to be worth eating if he mentioned them. Right? She loses a bit of her confidence, but doesn't betray as much.]

What are -- pancakes?

[thegoodbad]

[How does one describe a pancake to someone who's never eaten one, let alone a kid? He wonders if he'll have to get her an extra stack. Not that it's a bother.]

They're like... flat cakes without the frosting, but you get to put whatever you want on top. [He grabs one of the mini menus displaying their most popular items from behind the stacks of jellies and other condiments, laying it flat between them. He points to one stack in particular covered in the works: whipped cream and fruit galore.] Somethin' like that.