Things go Boom
Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 8:28 am(Log of play .. just for background/refresher)
06/02/2013 22:12:46 Archer Keating
He glanced at the tv then back at the others. "Does he have a favorite show or something? Could put that on when you aren't talking." It was just a suggestion on maybe another stimuli to give Mel a reason to wake up. He wasn't paying attention much to the TV himself. He helped himself to another bagel and was getting ready to take a bite when he noticed Chase look at the tv after the mumble. "What?" He glanced up and then got his ass dragged out of the room. "What the hell?" He didn't fight the crazy race out of the room, down the hall or down the stairs but he did want to know what Chase was all amp'd up about. "Chase!" He jumped into the truck without question and buckled up as the truck squealed out of the parking lot. He didn't like this quiet focused thing that Chase was in but before too long, he could see something on the horizon. He frowned a little. "What the hell?" As they got closer, his heart began to drop even before they actually arrived. That's when there was all the commotion going on. Fire trucks and ambulances and police cars were blocking the road and access to the building. He jumped out of the truck the minute it came to a stop. He looked up at his apartment building, eyes wide. A little less than half way up there was a hole and smoke was pouring out. People were milling all around, some talking to police officers and others talking to the news cameras. All Archer could think about was .. the turtle! "Chase ..."
06/02/2013 22:19:49 Chase Benjamin
Archer could take the bagel along for the crazy ride, for all he cared. He recognized the fucking place at first glance, be it curse or blessing and that had spurred the intense run for the truck. It took no time at all to get within distance; the smoke.. the swarm of squad cars, ambulances and firetrucks. Yeah, there was no actually getting in. Chase didn't bother killing the engine to the truck, and only jerked the e-brake before climbing out himself. He took a few steps forward and stopped, just to stare up at the hole in the building and the billowing smoke. The turtle. ..The boxes. He dug a hand up into his hair and just gripped there at the nape of his neck for a second, even as he heard Archer say his name over the commotion taking place in front of them. He shot a quick glance at him, then one to the crowding officials before lifting his head up a bit. Circling back to the truck, he snatched his jacket out of the back and threw it on. Then, without much warning, he took off. Fire or smoke be damned. Of course, before he even reached the main stairs, he had a tail ten cops deep trying to stop him from getting up them. Especially considering, you know, they had just finished evacuating the building. The turtle was in water, in the sink. .. Hey, if nothing else, he could save that. So, he fought his way through, even if it resulted in rolly-polly police men tumbling down the stairs.
06/02/2013 22:27:30 Archer Keating
When Chase raced for the building, well Archer wasn't going to be left behind. He was lithe and managed to squeeze by the police officers mostly because of the surprise factor. He managed to vault over the tumbling bodies, using the wall on either side to almost spider man his way over them without hurting them. Then he was on the landing and racing up after Chase. He wasn't going to let Chase go in there alone by god! Never had he gone up the stairs as fast as he did this time but even then Chase got to the tenth floor first. The fire alarms in the building had disabled all the security locks so Chase was able to get into the floor and head for the apartment. Archer burst out of the stairwell almost a minute after Chase did. He pulled up his t-shirt and put it over his mouth and nose, running down the hall for his apartment. He didn't think, he just reacted. Yes, the hole was in his apartment .. the wall with the window that sat opposite the couch was blown out. There was smoke everywhere and papers and the things that his mother had sent to him ... it was a mess. Water had come in from the ground below, the firemen had done their job to quench the initial fire after the explosion but Archer was left stunned, staring at the devestation. "Chase?!"
06/02/2013 22:35:24 Chase Benjamin
Quite a team that made them. He didn't care that the cops were tumbling due to the nudges he gave them, but he sure didn't expect Archer to come racing up, too. Chase reached the tenth floor, lost the cops in the process, and had already started down the hall to the apartment; he didn't bother pulling his own shirt up, but instead, just didn't breathe for a good few counts. He was already in the apartment, as soggy as it was, and everything strewn about due to the explosion and force behind the water hoses. His first stop was in the bathroom, of course, to pluck the turtle up out of the sink. Sorry little guy, your new home for the next few hours is in the mouth-rinsing cup. He dunked it into the sink to fill it up just enough, then dropped the turtle in before heading back out and into the hall. When he heard his name though, he squinted in attempt to see through all the smoke, even if he didn't say anything back. Even what was left of the boxes that had still been in the living room were nudged along as he went, and with his free hand, he grabbed Archer's shoulder just to - almost too roughly - push him right back out of the actual apartment. Back into the hallway. Then, he stooped down and picked up the now-sloppy boxes and when he stepped out, he pushed the cup of turtle into Archer's hands, then grabbed his elbow again just to head back to the stairs. There, he finally took a breath. "Fuckin' hell, man.." he said, a bit louder than his usual tone. "Y'weren't s'posed to follow me!" It was just the.. over-protectiveness showing through, and he all but hauled Archer down the stairs with him.
06/02/2013 22:41:28 Archer Keating
His eyes were burning, tear welling up in reaction to the bite of smoke. Archer coughed as he tried to grab anything but instead was grabbed and thrust back into the hall way. Archer accepted the cup and looked down, squinting through the smoke. It was all right! He looked back at Chase and, in between coughing, shot back, "Not letting you do something stupid by yourself!" Then he was caught again, water sloshing in the cup, as he was hauled down the stairs to where the air wasn't so thick with smoke. "My apartment..." The shock of it all was weighing in on him and near the bottom, his feet slipped on the stairs and he almost fumbled his way head first but managed to catch himself by a railing. The cops weren't happy and neither were the firefighters that met them to escort them out of the building again. Hopefully in the confusion they could sneak away but at the moment Archer was more confused than anything else, his stealth tactics might be compromised. But hey, his turtle friend was safe and sound. "That was my apartment!"
06/02/2013 22:48:59 Chase Benjamin
That answer just didn't.. sit well with him at the moment, so he kept his mouth shut and just focused on navigating the stairs. He already knew they would be met with an escort on the way back down, but he worked it into the plan. He let the firefighters think they were escorting them, and once he was sure Archer wasn't going to fall over from smoke inhalation, released him long enough to reach over and clap one of the firefighters on the shoulder. It looked friendly enough, from a distance, but it was his thumb that did the trick. He pressed a nerve and within a split second, the geared-out man dropped to his knees. "Hey! Think 'is tank is low, guys! Hurry up 'n get over here!" It was with enough conviction, too, that it drew the attention away from them, and Chase was quick to take Archer by the elbow again if only to finish hauling him back through the crowd. "Yeah, it was.." he trailed, but fought back the words that would've come next. The moment he stopped though, and reached up to rub at his face - in turn, leaving a smudge of black - one of the officers that had been tailing him up had caught up. "Sir, we have the building evacuated. You can't jus--" Chase tuned his attention to the cop steadily. "You forgot one." It was as simple as that. With a jerk of his head to the passenger's side of the truck, he gestured for Archer to get in. The boxes, if they could be called that anymore, were pushed down behind the seats before he climbed into the driver's seat again. Even if he didn't drop the brake and drive off-- no, he was staring up at the building still, thoughtfully clenching and unclenching his jaw.
06/02/2013 22:54:32 Archer Keating
He coughed all the way to the truck and let Chase deal with the rest of the distractions from the firefighter to the cops. All Archer wanted to do was get in the truck and he managed to do it because Chase was good at what he did. He leaned back, eyes closing. His fingers wrapped around the cup that held the little turtle in it. Somehow it hadn't gotten overheated and cooked and that made Archer happy. He leaned forward finally and peered up. "I wonder what happened." He really had no idea how or why his apartment could end up like that. Bad luck was all he could think about. Archer glanced at Chase and blinked a few times, stifling another cough. "You okay?" He put the cup on the floor board between his feet and reached a hand to squeeze fingers around Chase's bicep.
06/02/2013 22:59:12 Chase Benjamin
Somehow. At least the turtle wasn't boiled alive. It was probably the location of the bathroom, honestly, but it didn't mean he was any less relieved that the thing had still been swimming around when he'd been scooped up. ..Not that you'd hear him say so aloud. The question that came from Archer was only barely heard, kind of distantly, simply because he was thinking. It wasn't until the next question, and the hand that squeezed his bicep that he came out of it and turned his gaze over to him. "..Yeah. M'fine." Just another drill, boys. Only.. this one wasn't. Obviously. With a sound of exhasperation and annoyance, all at once, he dropped his head back against the headrest of the truck, and one palm shot forward just to slam the steering wheel. At least, it wasn't hard enough to break it. Okay, maybe he wasn't fine. He was chalking it up to another situation that was caused because of him. "Told you shit would get crazy, didn't I? Shit fuckin' follows me." That was his interpretation, anyway, but he had other stories to back it up with. It fit. It was too outlandish for it not to.
06/02/2013 23:06:50 Archer Keating
He looked at Chase with a mixture of confusion and concern when he slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "Huh?" The outburst wasn't expected at all. He rolled his eyes though when Chase seemed to think he was the one who caused this. "This? You? I don't think so." Archer had no real explaination of what happened but he was certain that Chase had nothing to do with it. Archer scratched his shoulder and sighed, "Can we get out of here? Let's go to the bar. I think we could both use a drink." He looked back up at the building and then at the activity of the fire departments, the ambulances and the cops. When he saw a couple of cops walking in their direction he urged, "How about now, can we go now?"
06/02/2013 23:13:34 Chase Benjamin
Funny, though. His brain was moving a mile a minute-- and even after Archer's refusal to think it was he that had caused it, he just shook his head. Archer's apartment was gone. Hell, half the other people's apartments were without a doubt ruined with smoke and water damage.. and Chase couldn't stop staring up at the mess, to hell with the people walking around in a daze, and the uncountable number of officials flooding the grounds. The prod to go only caused a squint of his eyes at first, until the more urging one came.. and he dropped his gaze briefly to the cops approaching. "Yeah. Yeah, we're goin'.." he said, shaking his head once before dropping the e-brake, and shoving the shifter into reverse. He spun it around, all while countering the wheel with one hand, and stomped the clutch just as he slammed the knob up into first gear and went through the motions almost robotically. Even if the cops scrambled back to their patrol cars in attempt to give chase - for no real reason, mind you - he was out of the area long before they would even know which way to turn. He only slowed down once they were on the street that lead to Murphy's. Nimbly, he pulled the truck around to the back and killed the engine. A drink. Yeah. He could use one, or five. .. Maybe more. With just a bewildered sort of shake of his head, he popped the door and climbed out, simultaneously shedding the ripped up, beat up, leather jacket that he may as well have trashed right then and there. "..You okay?" Yeah, don't think he'd missed the coughing, then the stifled cough. Not much got past him.
06/02/2013 23:22:54 Archer Keating
He held on when Chase finally agreed and got the truck moving. Maybe he'd been imagining the approach of the cops, maybe not. Either way, they were left behind and soon enough they were at the bar. He unbuckled his belt and got out, taking the turtle with him. screw the health codes, the turtle was going to live in the supply cabinet for a while. He closed the truck door and glanced at Chase. His eyes were stilling burning and his clothes smelled like smoke and he did have some smudges on him. He didn't admit to anything being wrong. Well, other than by saying, "My apartment's gone. I'm fine. Let's drink." He ran fingers through his blond hair as he headed for the bar. Archer paused only to turn and walk backwards for a few steps, eying up Chase. "You okay?" He wasn't sure about Chase right now. He seemed really affected by the whole thing. He reached the door and used his back to open it, turning as he did to roll into the bar. There were regulars around and the red headed Lucy was tending bar. She smiled then did a double take when she saw them. He lifted his chin and said, "Two bottles of the Ben." He didn't really stop at the bar except to pick up the two bottles she put out for him. Benrinnes, a mid-grade scotch that would suffice for the night. "We'll be in the loft." She didn't object because there wasn't a card game scheduled for the night. He glanced at Chase and gave a jerk of his head, leading the way to the private room that was often used for high stakes poker. It had its own bar, a large table and several couches. It was private and would let them relax with their scotch. Up the stairs he went to the landing and then down the hall to the red door. He opened it and stepped in assuming that Chase would follow.
06/02/2013 23:34:12 Chase Benjamin
Nah, the turtle wouldn't have to live in the supply cabinet. He just hadn't got that far yet; when it dawned on him, it'd be a bit more obvious. Archer's response only caused him to wince inwardly, but he followed along, nevertheless. Into the bar, and for the bar. The question that was bounced back at him again only got a one-sided shrug in reply. He was always okay, or at least, he made out to be. Even when his mind wouldn't shut up for any given amount of time. Chase all but ignored the patrons as Archer went about getting the two bottles, and after the jerk of the blonde's head, he was following up the stairs to the landing. He did indeed follow Archer through the door, and pushed it closed behind them. "Sorry.." It came before he even had a chance to stop it; whatever the real case may be, did it matter? He felt like shit, straight up, under any circumstance. Instead of standing by the door because, case and point, he'd had enough standing for the morning already.. he went and dropped onto the first couch he came to. Slouching down, he dropped his head back onto the back of the couch.
06/02/2013 23:39:56 Archer Keating
He handed a bottle to Chase and then sighed, leveling a look on him. "Stop apologizing." The turtle's cup got put on the bar then Archer went for one of the couches himself. He dropped into the one near Chase. He twisted off the lid and took a couple deep mouthfulls before capping the bottle again. A look lingered on Chase for a few very long seconds. Archer's tongue swept across his lips, thinking about what he should say because he sure as hell was trying not to think about the fact that his apartment, his life, was gone. Well, the mustang was still okay. So that was something. He shifted so he was on his side. "So why is this your fault?" Might just as well take the bull by the horns, right?
06/02/2013 23:46:55 Chase Benjamin
He took the bottle without thinking, and had it opened within the next second, despite the look leveled on him. Stop apologizing. Even the short and bitter-sounding huff of a laugh wasn't at all on key, and only made an awkward noise against the lip of the bottle before he tilted it up. Even if it wasn't his fault.. that didn't mean he wasn't going to be able to not feel bad about it. He knew what that kind of shit was like. His head tilted to either side just to pop the bones inside before he lifted his head just enough so he could take up the infamous scratching at the back of his neck. Amber eyes drifted over to Archer upon the question. Usually, he would've had a more harsh response. One full of venom and anything else you could have mixed up into the hurricane he was quite capable of being when he was frustrated or angry. "'Cause. Nowhere's safe when I'm involved." To the point. Maura's office at The Wire wasn't safe.. Mel wasn't safe.. the house he lived in, fuck, wasn't safe. Nowhere was safe. No one was safe. "Prob'ly a warnin'. I just gotta figure out from who--" And that went, even if it wasn't done on his behalf. Against him. He'd figure out who did it, at the very least, and go from there.
06/02/2013 23:52:37 Archer Keating
"It's an old building. It could have been an accident." He didn't like the way Chase looked when he was talking about how it was his fault and no place was safe. Archer didn't want to believe that. Where had this come from? Chase hadn't ever been that paranoid. Careful, yeah. He took a swig from the bottle and concentrated on the burn as it went down. Things from the file went through his mind. He gnawed on his lower lip, eyes still trained on Chase. "Okay, fine. It's your fault. Someone is gunning for you. I don't care. You need to figure it out. So figure it out but don't think you're going to leave me behind while you do it. You understand?"
06/02/2013 23:59:45 Chase Benjamin
"A big fuckin' hole in the side of your apartment, where I'd jus' recently started stayin' doesn't sound so accidental to me." It very well could have been him being paranoid. A lot had happened in the past month, along with regaining the memories of what had happened - personally - to him. He just had a shit ton of doubts that made it hard to believe anything else was, or could be, the cause for something like this to happen. But it was quite truthfully the way he felt. ..And just when he started feeling safe somewhere, the figurative carpet was ripped out from beneath him, and in doing so.. Archer loses everything. Way to play the game, right? He stared hard at the ground in thought between swigs from the bottle, still scratching absently at the back of his neck. When Archer spoke again, and followed it up with the two-worded question, amber eyes snapped over to him and he stared hard for a moment or two. At first, he really had no clue as to what to say. It was probably visible for all of a split second before he forced himself to glance down at the bottle. Leave Archer behind? .. No, that was sort of out of the equation now. "I'd never do that.." he said, trailing off. But what could he do? "I'll figure it out.." Later, of course, when his brain wasn't on the verge of going into hurricane mode.
06/03/2013 00:04:41 Archer Keating
He ignored the way Chase pointed out again that it was the side of the apartment that was gone. He'd seen the couch. It was in pieces. The wall that was between the living room and the bed room was splinters and the bed itself was a mess. He was glad they weren't there when it had happened. No telling what .. well, he had a good idea of what would have happened if they had been there. Someone would have ended up hurt or worse. He took another swig, staring at Chase until he got the affirmation he wanted to hear. "Good. I know you'll figure it out. I'll help you." He got off the couch and walked toward Chase. Archer looked down at him for a few seconds then dropped onto the couch next to Chase.
06/03/2013 00:12:10 Chase Benjamin
Oh, he knew damn well what would've happened if they had been there when it had happened. Kaboom. No more either of them. It'd crossed his mind the second he'd seen the hole in the building, which was why his mind was so stuck on it. The bottle was tipped back up again for a much larger swig before he settled it down on the ground, and rubbed his hands down the length of his jeans just to wipe the remnants of char-black off them. "I know.." he offered, though only spared a quick glance up once Archer had walked toward him. When he dropped onto the couch though, he shifted his position a bit and moved his arm around Archer's shoulders to pull him closer. Even if he held on just a bit tighter than the typical, playful, pull or push he would've given. By no means was it anywhere near tight enough to hurt, but still. It was almost funny, in a sense, the ideas that were pushing through his head just then; what to do, how to do it. But for the time? He was trying to just focus on the fact that they - but namely Archer - hadn't been in there. And the turtle was alive. That.. was a plus, right?
06/03/2013 00:18:31 Archer Keating
The turtle was happily swimming around in the cup happy as a turtle could be. Archer had thoughts dancing all over the place even if he was trying to focus on the burn of the liquor. They were alive and he was going to count that as a plus. He wanted to find out what the problem had been. The kitchen had been all but non-existent and the smell of gas had been present in retrospect. The arm around him wasn't fought. He slid his own around Chase and gave him a hug. His heart was racing and his pulse pounding in his ears. Words were hard to come by at the moment. He felt a tickle at the back of his throat and had to stifle a cough again.
06/03/2013 00:25:25 Chase Benjamin
It was probably something he should've realized, and perhaps would later.. the smell of gas. He'd just been hellbent on getting the turtle and whatever remained of those boxes, since they were still partially intact. He hadn't even been able to make anything else out. With Archer closer to him, it would have been impossible for him not to notice his heart racing.. and that alone was enough to have him shifting on the couch again, very much forgetting the bottle for the time being. Instead, he leaned back and pulled Archer with him, just so both arms could wrap around him even if that stifled cough didn't sneak past him. He didn't question it just yet though, just shook his head slightly before dropping it forward to rest on the top of Archer's own. It probably would have taken a crowbar to make him let go at that point, had anyone tried. ..Well, save for Archer. He wasn't gonna force him to stay like that if he didn't want to. "..If you're still coughin' tonight, you gotta go get looked at." It wasn't as commanding as it could've been, but, damn if he wasn't concerned.
06/03/2013 00:35:16 Archer Keating
Blue eyes closed as he drew in another breath. He never had a rush like this when they were kids and fooling around but then again, he never had an apartment blown out from underneath him before either. His arms tightened when Chase pulled him in closer and leaned back. For a few seconds he was lost. The idea that someone was after Chase and that they might have tried to blow up his apartment to do it was sobering and he tried to push it away. He cleared his throat before saying, "I'm fine. Just some smoke." He wasn't interested in going out in public at the moment and emergency rooms were a very public place. He kept his arms around Chase and added, "Just need to chill for a bit. I'll be fine. Really." Although, once the adrenaline rush wore off, he might just end up falling asleep like that because .. well .. there was a certain sense of safety being held like that. He didn't like to admit that though. Confused? Hell yeah.
06/03/2013 00:42:55 Chase Benjamin
It was just a little more than ironic; it wasn't just but a couple of days ago that he'd straight out, flat out, warned Archer that shit would get crazy if he stuck around-- then, not only did Mel get shot (even if that hadn't been his fault, for once-- only the association).. now, an apartment building was blown up. It was no use; his own mind would keep running in circles until he put something to it that made sense. For now, though, he was fine sitting there in the loft. Just some smoke. Chase sighed at the answer, but didn't push it. He nudged his own shoulder into the back of the couch and made himself pretty comfortable for the time being, even if one hand snuck up and into that blonde hair of Archer's. "A'right then.." he trailed, then and tilted his own head off to the side, mostly against the side of the couch. "Chill." And meanwhile, Chase was going to try to do the same, even if he was lightly sifting his fingers almost mindlessly through the blonde strands.
06/02/2013 22:12:46 Archer Keating
He glanced at the tv then back at the others. "Does he have a favorite show or something? Could put that on when you aren't talking." It was just a suggestion on maybe another stimuli to give Mel a reason to wake up. He wasn't paying attention much to the TV himself. He helped himself to another bagel and was getting ready to take a bite when he noticed Chase look at the tv after the mumble. "What?" He glanced up and then got his ass dragged out of the room. "What the hell?" He didn't fight the crazy race out of the room, down the hall or down the stairs but he did want to know what Chase was all amp'd up about. "Chase!" He jumped into the truck without question and buckled up as the truck squealed out of the parking lot. He didn't like this quiet focused thing that Chase was in but before too long, he could see something on the horizon. He frowned a little. "What the hell?" As they got closer, his heart began to drop even before they actually arrived. That's when there was all the commotion going on. Fire trucks and ambulances and police cars were blocking the road and access to the building. He jumped out of the truck the minute it came to a stop. He looked up at his apartment building, eyes wide. A little less than half way up there was a hole and smoke was pouring out. People were milling all around, some talking to police officers and others talking to the news cameras. All Archer could think about was .. the turtle! "Chase ..."
06/02/2013 22:19:49 Chase Benjamin
Archer could take the bagel along for the crazy ride, for all he cared. He recognized the fucking place at first glance, be it curse or blessing and that had spurred the intense run for the truck. It took no time at all to get within distance; the smoke.. the swarm of squad cars, ambulances and firetrucks. Yeah, there was no actually getting in. Chase didn't bother killing the engine to the truck, and only jerked the e-brake before climbing out himself. He took a few steps forward and stopped, just to stare up at the hole in the building and the billowing smoke. The turtle. ..The boxes. He dug a hand up into his hair and just gripped there at the nape of his neck for a second, even as he heard Archer say his name over the commotion taking place in front of them. He shot a quick glance at him, then one to the crowding officials before lifting his head up a bit. Circling back to the truck, he snatched his jacket out of the back and threw it on. Then, without much warning, he took off. Fire or smoke be damned. Of course, before he even reached the main stairs, he had a tail ten cops deep trying to stop him from getting up them. Especially considering, you know, they had just finished evacuating the building. The turtle was in water, in the sink. .. Hey, if nothing else, he could save that. So, he fought his way through, even if it resulted in rolly-polly police men tumbling down the stairs.
06/02/2013 22:27:30 Archer Keating
When Chase raced for the building, well Archer wasn't going to be left behind. He was lithe and managed to squeeze by the police officers mostly because of the surprise factor. He managed to vault over the tumbling bodies, using the wall on either side to almost spider man his way over them without hurting them. Then he was on the landing and racing up after Chase. He wasn't going to let Chase go in there alone by god! Never had he gone up the stairs as fast as he did this time but even then Chase got to the tenth floor first. The fire alarms in the building had disabled all the security locks so Chase was able to get into the floor and head for the apartment. Archer burst out of the stairwell almost a minute after Chase did. He pulled up his t-shirt and put it over his mouth and nose, running down the hall for his apartment. He didn't think, he just reacted. Yes, the hole was in his apartment .. the wall with the window that sat opposite the couch was blown out. There was smoke everywhere and papers and the things that his mother had sent to him ... it was a mess. Water had come in from the ground below, the firemen had done their job to quench the initial fire after the explosion but Archer was left stunned, staring at the devestation. "Chase?!"
06/02/2013 22:35:24 Chase Benjamin
Quite a team that made them. He didn't care that the cops were tumbling due to the nudges he gave them, but he sure didn't expect Archer to come racing up, too. Chase reached the tenth floor, lost the cops in the process, and had already started down the hall to the apartment; he didn't bother pulling his own shirt up, but instead, just didn't breathe for a good few counts. He was already in the apartment, as soggy as it was, and everything strewn about due to the explosion and force behind the water hoses. His first stop was in the bathroom, of course, to pluck the turtle up out of the sink. Sorry little guy, your new home for the next few hours is in the mouth-rinsing cup. He dunked it into the sink to fill it up just enough, then dropped the turtle in before heading back out and into the hall. When he heard his name though, he squinted in attempt to see through all the smoke, even if he didn't say anything back. Even what was left of the boxes that had still been in the living room were nudged along as he went, and with his free hand, he grabbed Archer's shoulder just to - almost too roughly - push him right back out of the actual apartment. Back into the hallway. Then, he stooped down and picked up the now-sloppy boxes and when he stepped out, he pushed the cup of turtle into Archer's hands, then grabbed his elbow again just to head back to the stairs. There, he finally took a breath. "Fuckin' hell, man.." he said, a bit louder than his usual tone. "Y'weren't s'posed to follow me!" It was just the.. over-protectiveness showing through, and he all but hauled Archer down the stairs with him.
06/02/2013 22:41:28 Archer Keating
His eyes were burning, tear welling up in reaction to the bite of smoke. Archer coughed as he tried to grab anything but instead was grabbed and thrust back into the hall way. Archer accepted the cup and looked down, squinting through the smoke. It was all right! He looked back at Chase and, in between coughing, shot back, "Not letting you do something stupid by yourself!" Then he was caught again, water sloshing in the cup, as he was hauled down the stairs to where the air wasn't so thick with smoke. "My apartment..." The shock of it all was weighing in on him and near the bottom, his feet slipped on the stairs and he almost fumbled his way head first but managed to catch himself by a railing. The cops weren't happy and neither were the firefighters that met them to escort them out of the building again. Hopefully in the confusion they could sneak away but at the moment Archer was more confused than anything else, his stealth tactics might be compromised. But hey, his turtle friend was safe and sound. "That was my apartment!"
06/02/2013 22:48:59 Chase Benjamin
That answer just didn't.. sit well with him at the moment, so he kept his mouth shut and just focused on navigating the stairs. He already knew they would be met with an escort on the way back down, but he worked it into the plan. He let the firefighters think they were escorting them, and once he was sure Archer wasn't going to fall over from smoke inhalation, released him long enough to reach over and clap one of the firefighters on the shoulder. It looked friendly enough, from a distance, but it was his thumb that did the trick. He pressed a nerve and within a split second, the geared-out man dropped to his knees. "Hey! Think 'is tank is low, guys! Hurry up 'n get over here!" It was with enough conviction, too, that it drew the attention away from them, and Chase was quick to take Archer by the elbow again if only to finish hauling him back through the crowd. "Yeah, it was.." he trailed, but fought back the words that would've come next. The moment he stopped though, and reached up to rub at his face - in turn, leaving a smudge of black - one of the officers that had been tailing him up had caught up. "Sir, we have the building evacuated. You can't jus--" Chase tuned his attention to the cop steadily. "You forgot one." It was as simple as that. With a jerk of his head to the passenger's side of the truck, he gestured for Archer to get in. The boxes, if they could be called that anymore, were pushed down behind the seats before he climbed into the driver's seat again. Even if he didn't drop the brake and drive off-- no, he was staring up at the building still, thoughtfully clenching and unclenching his jaw.
06/02/2013 22:54:32 Archer Keating
He coughed all the way to the truck and let Chase deal with the rest of the distractions from the firefighter to the cops. All Archer wanted to do was get in the truck and he managed to do it because Chase was good at what he did. He leaned back, eyes closing. His fingers wrapped around the cup that held the little turtle in it. Somehow it hadn't gotten overheated and cooked and that made Archer happy. He leaned forward finally and peered up. "I wonder what happened." He really had no idea how or why his apartment could end up like that. Bad luck was all he could think about. Archer glanced at Chase and blinked a few times, stifling another cough. "You okay?" He put the cup on the floor board between his feet and reached a hand to squeeze fingers around Chase's bicep.
06/02/2013 22:59:12 Chase Benjamin
Somehow. At least the turtle wasn't boiled alive. It was probably the location of the bathroom, honestly, but it didn't mean he was any less relieved that the thing had still been swimming around when he'd been scooped up. ..Not that you'd hear him say so aloud. The question that came from Archer was only barely heard, kind of distantly, simply because he was thinking. It wasn't until the next question, and the hand that squeezed his bicep that he came out of it and turned his gaze over to him. "..Yeah. M'fine." Just another drill, boys. Only.. this one wasn't. Obviously. With a sound of exhasperation and annoyance, all at once, he dropped his head back against the headrest of the truck, and one palm shot forward just to slam the steering wheel. At least, it wasn't hard enough to break it. Okay, maybe he wasn't fine. He was chalking it up to another situation that was caused because of him. "Told you shit would get crazy, didn't I? Shit fuckin' follows me." That was his interpretation, anyway, but he had other stories to back it up with. It fit. It was too outlandish for it not to.
06/02/2013 23:06:50 Archer Keating
He looked at Chase with a mixture of confusion and concern when he slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "Huh?" The outburst wasn't expected at all. He rolled his eyes though when Chase seemed to think he was the one who caused this. "This? You? I don't think so." Archer had no real explaination of what happened but he was certain that Chase had nothing to do with it. Archer scratched his shoulder and sighed, "Can we get out of here? Let's go to the bar. I think we could both use a drink." He looked back up at the building and then at the activity of the fire departments, the ambulances and the cops. When he saw a couple of cops walking in their direction he urged, "How about now, can we go now?"
06/02/2013 23:13:34 Chase Benjamin
Funny, though. His brain was moving a mile a minute-- and even after Archer's refusal to think it was he that had caused it, he just shook his head. Archer's apartment was gone. Hell, half the other people's apartments were without a doubt ruined with smoke and water damage.. and Chase couldn't stop staring up at the mess, to hell with the people walking around in a daze, and the uncountable number of officials flooding the grounds. The prod to go only caused a squint of his eyes at first, until the more urging one came.. and he dropped his gaze briefly to the cops approaching. "Yeah. Yeah, we're goin'.." he said, shaking his head once before dropping the e-brake, and shoving the shifter into reverse. He spun it around, all while countering the wheel with one hand, and stomped the clutch just as he slammed the knob up into first gear and went through the motions almost robotically. Even if the cops scrambled back to their patrol cars in attempt to give chase - for no real reason, mind you - he was out of the area long before they would even know which way to turn. He only slowed down once they were on the street that lead to Murphy's. Nimbly, he pulled the truck around to the back and killed the engine. A drink. Yeah. He could use one, or five. .. Maybe more. With just a bewildered sort of shake of his head, he popped the door and climbed out, simultaneously shedding the ripped up, beat up, leather jacket that he may as well have trashed right then and there. "..You okay?" Yeah, don't think he'd missed the coughing, then the stifled cough. Not much got past him.
06/02/2013 23:22:54 Archer Keating
He held on when Chase finally agreed and got the truck moving. Maybe he'd been imagining the approach of the cops, maybe not. Either way, they were left behind and soon enough they were at the bar. He unbuckled his belt and got out, taking the turtle with him. screw the health codes, the turtle was going to live in the supply cabinet for a while. He closed the truck door and glanced at Chase. His eyes were stilling burning and his clothes smelled like smoke and he did have some smudges on him. He didn't admit to anything being wrong. Well, other than by saying, "My apartment's gone. I'm fine. Let's drink." He ran fingers through his blond hair as he headed for the bar. Archer paused only to turn and walk backwards for a few steps, eying up Chase. "You okay?" He wasn't sure about Chase right now. He seemed really affected by the whole thing. He reached the door and used his back to open it, turning as he did to roll into the bar. There were regulars around and the red headed Lucy was tending bar. She smiled then did a double take when she saw them. He lifted his chin and said, "Two bottles of the Ben." He didn't really stop at the bar except to pick up the two bottles she put out for him. Benrinnes, a mid-grade scotch that would suffice for the night. "We'll be in the loft." She didn't object because there wasn't a card game scheduled for the night. He glanced at Chase and gave a jerk of his head, leading the way to the private room that was often used for high stakes poker. It had its own bar, a large table and several couches. It was private and would let them relax with their scotch. Up the stairs he went to the landing and then down the hall to the red door. He opened it and stepped in assuming that Chase would follow.
06/02/2013 23:34:12 Chase Benjamin
Nah, the turtle wouldn't have to live in the supply cabinet. He just hadn't got that far yet; when it dawned on him, it'd be a bit more obvious. Archer's response only caused him to wince inwardly, but he followed along, nevertheless. Into the bar, and for the bar. The question that was bounced back at him again only got a one-sided shrug in reply. He was always okay, or at least, he made out to be. Even when his mind wouldn't shut up for any given amount of time. Chase all but ignored the patrons as Archer went about getting the two bottles, and after the jerk of the blonde's head, he was following up the stairs to the landing. He did indeed follow Archer through the door, and pushed it closed behind them. "Sorry.." It came before he even had a chance to stop it; whatever the real case may be, did it matter? He felt like shit, straight up, under any circumstance. Instead of standing by the door because, case and point, he'd had enough standing for the morning already.. he went and dropped onto the first couch he came to. Slouching down, he dropped his head back onto the back of the couch.
06/02/2013 23:39:56 Archer Keating
He handed a bottle to Chase and then sighed, leveling a look on him. "Stop apologizing." The turtle's cup got put on the bar then Archer went for one of the couches himself. He dropped into the one near Chase. He twisted off the lid and took a couple deep mouthfulls before capping the bottle again. A look lingered on Chase for a few very long seconds. Archer's tongue swept across his lips, thinking about what he should say because he sure as hell was trying not to think about the fact that his apartment, his life, was gone. Well, the mustang was still okay. So that was something. He shifted so he was on his side. "So why is this your fault?" Might just as well take the bull by the horns, right?
06/02/2013 23:46:55 Chase Benjamin
He took the bottle without thinking, and had it opened within the next second, despite the look leveled on him. Stop apologizing. Even the short and bitter-sounding huff of a laugh wasn't at all on key, and only made an awkward noise against the lip of the bottle before he tilted it up. Even if it wasn't his fault.. that didn't mean he wasn't going to be able to not feel bad about it. He knew what that kind of shit was like. His head tilted to either side just to pop the bones inside before he lifted his head just enough so he could take up the infamous scratching at the back of his neck. Amber eyes drifted over to Archer upon the question. Usually, he would've had a more harsh response. One full of venom and anything else you could have mixed up into the hurricane he was quite capable of being when he was frustrated or angry. "'Cause. Nowhere's safe when I'm involved." To the point. Maura's office at The Wire wasn't safe.. Mel wasn't safe.. the house he lived in, fuck, wasn't safe. Nowhere was safe. No one was safe. "Prob'ly a warnin'. I just gotta figure out from who--" And that went, even if it wasn't done on his behalf. Against him. He'd figure out who did it, at the very least, and go from there.
06/02/2013 23:52:37 Archer Keating
"It's an old building. It could have been an accident." He didn't like the way Chase looked when he was talking about how it was his fault and no place was safe. Archer didn't want to believe that. Where had this come from? Chase hadn't ever been that paranoid. Careful, yeah. He took a swig from the bottle and concentrated on the burn as it went down. Things from the file went through his mind. He gnawed on his lower lip, eyes still trained on Chase. "Okay, fine. It's your fault. Someone is gunning for you. I don't care. You need to figure it out. So figure it out but don't think you're going to leave me behind while you do it. You understand?"
06/02/2013 23:59:45 Chase Benjamin
"A big fuckin' hole in the side of your apartment, where I'd jus' recently started stayin' doesn't sound so accidental to me." It very well could have been him being paranoid. A lot had happened in the past month, along with regaining the memories of what had happened - personally - to him. He just had a shit ton of doubts that made it hard to believe anything else was, or could be, the cause for something like this to happen. But it was quite truthfully the way he felt. ..And just when he started feeling safe somewhere, the figurative carpet was ripped out from beneath him, and in doing so.. Archer loses everything. Way to play the game, right? He stared hard at the ground in thought between swigs from the bottle, still scratching absently at the back of his neck. When Archer spoke again, and followed it up with the two-worded question, amber eyes snapped over to him and he stared hard for a moment or two. At first, he really had no clue as to what to say. It was probably visible for all of a split second before he forced himself to glance down at the bottle. Leave Archer behind? .. No, that was sort of out of the equation now. "I'd never do that.." he said, trailing off. But what could he do? "I'll figure it out.." Later, of course, when his brain wasn't on the verge of going into hurricane mode.
06/03/2013 00:04:41 Archer Keating
He ignored the way Chase pointed out again that it was the side of the apartment that was gone. He'd seen the couch. It was in pieces. The wall that was between the living room and the bed room was splinters and the bed itself was a mess. He was glad they weren't there when it had happened. No telling what .. well, he had a good idea of what would have happened if they had been there. Someone would have ended up hurt or worse. He took another swig, staring at Chase until he got the affirmation he wanted to hear. "Good. I know you'll figure it out. I'll help you." He got off the couch and walked toward Chase. Archer looked down at him for a few seconds then dropped onto the couch next to Chase.
06/03/2013 00:12:10 Chase Benjamin
Oh, he knew damn well what would've happened if they had been there when it had happened. Kaboom. No more either of them. It'd crossed his mind the second he'd seen the hole in the building, which was why his mind was so stuck on it. The bottle was tipped back up again for a much larger swig before he settled it down on the ground, and rubbed his hands down the length of his jeans just to wipe the remnants of char-black off them. "I know.." he offered, though only spared a quick glance up once Archer had walked toward him. When he dropped onto the couch though, he shifted his position a bit and moved his arm around Archer's shoulders to pull him closer. Even if he held on just a bit tighter than the typical, playful, pull or push he would've given. By no means was it anywhere near tight enough to hurt, but still. It was almost funny, in a sense, the ideas that were pushing through his head just then; what to do, how to do it. But for the time? He was trying to just focus on the fact that they - but namely Archer - hadn't been in there. And the turtle was alive. That.. was a plus, right?
06/03/2013 00:18:31 Archer Keating
The turtle was happily swimming around in the cup happy as a turtle could be. Archer had thoughts dancing all over the place even if he was trying to focus on the burn of the liquor. They were alive and he was going to count that as a plus. He wanted to find out what the problem had been. The kitchen had been all but non-existent and the smell of gas had been present in retrospect. The arm around him wasn't fought. He slid his own around Chase and gave him a hug. His heart was racing and his pulse pounding in his ears. Words were hard to come by at the moment. He felt a tickle at the back of his throat and had to stifle a cough again.
06/03/2013 00:25:25 Chase Benjamin
It was probably something he should've realized, and perhaps would later.. the smell of gas. He'd just been hellbent on getting the turtle and whatever remained of those boxes, since they were still partially intact. He hadn't even been able to make anything else out. With Archer closer to him, it would have been impossible for him not to notice his heart racing.. and that alone was enough to have him shifting on the couch again, very much forgetting the bottle for the time being. Instead, he leaned back and pulled Archer with him, just so both arms could wrap around him even if that stifled cough didn't sneak past him. He didn't question it just yet though, just shook his head slightly before dropping it forward to rest on the top of Archer's own. It probably would have taken a crowbar to make him let go at that point, had anyone tried. ..Well, save for Archer. He wasn't gonna force him to stay like that if he didn't want to. "..If you're still coughin' tonight, you gotta go get looked at." It wasn't as commanding as it could've been, but, damn if he wasn't concerned.
06/03/2013 00:35:16 Archer Keating
Blue eyes closed as he drew in another breath. He never had a rush like this when they were kids and fooling around but then again, he never had an apartment blown out from underneath him before either. His arms tightened when Chase pulled him in closer and leaned back. For a few seconds he was lost. The idea that someone was after Chase and that they might have tried to blow up his apartment to do it was sobering and he tried to push it away. He cleared his throat before saying, "I'm fine. Just some smoke." He wasn't interested in going out in public at the moment and emergency rooms were a very public place. He kept his arms around Chase and added, "Just need to chill for a bit. I'll be fine. Really." Although, once the adrenaline rush wore off, he might just end up falling asleep like that because .. well .. there was a certain sense of safety being held like that. He didn't like to admit that though. Confused? Hell yeah.
06/03/2013 00:42:55 Chase Benjamin
It was just a little more than ironic; it wasn't just but a couple of days ago that he'd straight out, flat out, warned Archer that shit would get crazy if he stuck around-- then, not only did Mel get shot (even if that hadn't been his fault, for once-- only the association).. now, an apartment building was blown up. It was no use; his own mind would keep running in circles until he put something to it that made sense. For now, though, he was fine sitting there in the loft. Just some smoke. Chase sighed at the answer, but didn't push it. He nudged his own shoulder into the back of the couch and made himself pretty comfortable for the time being, even if one hand snuck up and into that blonde hair of Archer's. "A'right then.." he trailed, then and tilted his own head off to the side, mostly against the side of the couch. "Chill." And meanwhile, Chase was going to try to do the same, even if he was lightly sifting his fingers almost mindlessly through the blonde strands.