[hr][hr][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/4de54099-7153-48c5-9b66-841ad2da0f68.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://robotmanmachine.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/jasonmshadow.jpg[/img][/center][hr][hr][center][color=sienna][b]Location:[/b][/color] Ville au Camp, Kitchen House [hr][/center] The smile on Gilbert's face broadened, turning from kindly to charmingly warm. He rose, allowing himself a really good, growling stretch before turning to a cabinet nearby. Luckily, the ancient but youthful warrior had decided to retain the use of his undergarments beneath the frilly and floral apron. After locating a tin of packed, black tea, he spooned a healthy amount into a steel mesh tea ball and turned back around to the table. Deftly placing the spherical steeping device into the tea cup, he filled it with rolling, steaming water from the kettle on the stove. [color=sienna]"Builder's tea usually comes with a bit of milk, as you well know. I think this hardly requires it, myself. I can fetch some from the icebox if you would like."[/color] His accent was mild. Very mild. Except for the occasional vowel or cluster of awkward consonants, one would believe that he was every bit the traditional American, if a hair darker skinned than the ruling class ideal of the nation. He heard the commotion going on outside, again turning his mirth toward Evelyn. [color=sienna]"I am envious of your ability to do that, Evie. Let me know if I need to step in, hmm?"[/color] he said, checking the oven briefly. Seemingly satisfied with the state of his pants inside, he removed them with a flourish, threw off his apron, and began sticking one leg in at a time. It wasn't a lack of shame with this man, more than it was a feeling of simple comfort in his own skin. When his belt was properly fastened, he hung the apron back up on a peg near the stoves and settled back into his chair, in front of his gargantuan breakfast. Happily, he noted that it was still quite warm. [color=sienna]"Yes, that sounds like a fine idea. Tour of the grounds, I mean. Hopefully after the last of your new Paradoxes gets settled. Some of them don't take the news as well as others sometimes."[/color] It was a good idea. And if it wasn't him doing it, it would have to be her, or the Cards, or the Watch. And frankly, between those two and their tendencies toward overt practcal jokes, it was probably best if it was him. At least until the newer people were used to them. [color=sienna]"So hey, do you know how many will be arriving yet?"[/color] [hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=ed145b]Alicia[/color] & [color=indianred]James[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/5ae38cd0-ae90-458b-9b48-75fbff9acde3.gif[/img][hr][b]Location:[/b] Oak Tree -> Main House (Room 206 -> 209)[/center][hr] The last thing James remembered, he was looking wistfully upon the faces of old friends and new acquaintances. Some of them were people he cared for a great deal, some he had just met, and one of them was a fresh young face with the familiar, fiery eyes of an honorable but dangerous family. He felt true and honest hope for a world that desperately needed it. Then the place that was his home collapsed into the ground. Then it exploded. And finally, the earth took him, too. It was a blessing that he cracked his head on a hard surface on the way down. It didn't quite put him away immediately, though. He got the barest hint of awareness that his body was being flung mercilessly upon hard, sharp rocks before his death. And that was it. Death. James was dead. So naturally, it came as a complete shock when he felt himself laying on soft grass under shade, comfortably cool air blowing past him as an inviting morning sun filtered down from above. He waited for his body to report pain - torn skin, broken bones, [i]something[/i], but it didn't. Everything seemed so slow and sleepy, a haze separating what had happened to him and what was happening now. An odd awareness began to fill his mind, like a thousand stories of lives he didn't live, starring himself, barely began to insist that they were present somewhere if he dared learn to remember. Even stranger, James heard laughter. Merciless, howling laughter. Boisterous, mirthfully uncaring laughter from a strong female voice that he swore he had heard before. He thought he recognized from where he had heard this last, but that wasn't possible. Just wasn't. She was dead. Fuck, she was dead. So was he. This complicated things. The same voice that laughed above suddenly took a header, accompanied by the boneless sound of a body hitting the ground next to him. But she kept on laughing. Whatever this was, it was funny to utter distraction. As soon as he could move, he was going to check his fly. Then she spoke. Something about [i]watermelon[/i] and [i]picking cotton[/i]. James's eyes shot wide open, taking in everything but searching furtively for the source of the voice. He rolled onto his side and prepared his best "Aw Hell Naw" speech for the moment, but instead it went something like this: [color=indianred]"Aw [i]Hell[/i] Naw y'all didn't just OH MY GOD GOD DAMN GIRL MUTHAFUCKIN' WHAT THE whoa a minute slow ya roll there... You dead, bitch!"[/color] Giving it a nanosecond's consideration, [color=indianred]"Wait, that means..."[/color] [color=ed145b]"You're dead bitch,"[/color] Alicia laughed as she looked over towards James, still holding her gut. She was starting to get a stitch in her side from laughing so hard. Taking a deep breath she sat up slowly and turned her body towards his. Even though she was able to curb the laughter to something that didn't sound like a hyena on steroids she couldn't stop completely. The outfit alone was nearly enough to send her flat on her back once again. James wasn't exactly sure what was going on. He did firmly believe that he was dead, I mean, he kind of felt himself go, and he most definitely saw Alicia die. It was a gnawing, tearing death, one he wouldn't wish on anybody. Well, almost anybody. Whatever this was, be it Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory, the Happy Hunting Grounds or Negro Valhalla, he was with Alicia. So sure, he was dead. But he was going to play along. [color=indianred]"Aw damn, o'course you gonna say "You dead, bitch", right after I said "You dead, bitch". Hells yes I'm dead, bitch! I'm just wantin' to know what a dead bitch finds so funny!"[/color] [color=ed145b]"Fact that your gringo ass showed up here in 1940's Bayou country looking like your about to go pick cotton. The rope belt is a nice touch amigo,"[/color] Alicia said, still laughing her ass off. The entire thing was just too funny to her. Slowly she started pointing around where they were, the kitchen house behind them and the large plantation house in front of them. James's face went slack for a moment. Even being dead, this made no appreciable sense to him. Slowly, he began to turn his eyes downward to himself, trying to see what his deceased friend was talking about. His response was less than flattering. [color=indianred]"Oh, well Good Googly Moogly!"[/color] he exclaimed sarcastically. [color=indianred]"I done died and went to [i]Song of the South[/i] with Br'er Rabbit an' the Tar Baby n'them!"[/color] His hands wet over the coarse fabric of his [url=http://www.trbimg.com/img-542042e2/turbine/la-et-st-boardwalk-empire-recap-chalkys-on-the-run-margarets-in-trouble-20140921]outfit[/url], stopping to tug lightly at the ingeniously crafted rope belt. But still, 1940s? Bayou Country? That could only mean southern Louisiana or Mississippi; places he'd been before (albeit well after the Civil Rights movement). [color=indianred]"Aw c'mon, chica! This wasn't a really great time for my people, an' someone got me dressed up like [i]Sambo[/i]. Please, tell me you got some 'splainin' to do. But first, you givin' me some love."[/color] He rose and stretched his arms out wide. [color=indianred]"Less you want me to start dancin'..."[/color] Alicia smirked over towards her el mejor amigo as she slowly started to stand up. [color=ed145b]"Well, it's in your blood boy,"[/color] she said with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes before she started clapping her hands and stomping her feet. As she did she made sure to place some distance between her and the black-neck before she started singing. [color=ed145b][i]"When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, the dark gather 'round and they all begin to shout,'Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud, it's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud. It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.'"[/i][/color] James's eyes grew wide, and he sputtered with mixed amusement, annoyance, and surprise. [color=indianred]"You, hmm, oh you mutha, I'm a' get... [i]BLACK RAGE[/i]!!!"[/color] His battle cry of Afro-American justice sounding across the trees and swamps of rural Louisiana, the indomitable blackneck charged after his troublemaking compatriot, intent on a full, solid tackle. [color=ed145b]"¡Ay, mierda!"[/color] Alicia exclaimed as she turned on her heel and went to dart off. It would have been great if she had been facing the main house or even the kitchen house. She wasn't. She ran smack into the large low lying limb that touched the ground. [color=ed145b]"¡Carajo!"[/color] was all the little Hispanic was able to get out as she effectively tackled herself over the tree limb and took in a mouth full of Louisiana turf. [color=indianred]"Aw, girl..."[/color] James started, slowing himself down to a concerned jog. He knelt by Alicia, giving her a once over and then looking around to see if anybody else was present. [color=indianred]"Chola down!"[/color] he called, [color=indianred]"We gots us a chola down here! Face fulla countryside an' mad as hell! Hep! Help in Spanish, muthafuckas! ...wait, we in Wheezy Anna... Parle vous help?"[/color] Sputtering and spatting bits and pieces of grass and gravel launched out of Alicias pie hole. Her eyes narrowed as she looked over towards James. It was a familiar look, one that her father had given back in his time. It meant someone was about to be introduced to what was most likely the most painful minutes of their lives. One at a time her hands found the ground and she righted herself, all the while her eyes never left the former hog hunter. Then the look faded and she realized just why Eve had placed her in charge of the welcoming committee. At that moment Alicia knew exactly what James was feeling beneath all the laughter and poking fun. [color=ed145b]"James, no one could have got off that shot. It's okay."[/color] And that stopped the train in its tracks. Her death. Alicia was pulled from the window of a truck by a horde of the living dead, each one of their gnarled hands or fetid teeth tearing another piece away from her body. James had his gun but could not get a clear shot, and in the end, he had to abandon her in order to save three other people - one of which he murdered just a few hours before his own death. The memory of both incidents were still fresh. Strangely hazy, but readily available for recollection. [color=indianred]"Somebody could've. Your man, Ash? He could've done it. He was better with a pistol than I was, and he wouldn't have hesitated. Not for a eyeblink."[/color] James looked forlorn at Alicia, saying, [color=indianred]"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, girl. I can't even imagine. Don't want to, neither."[/color] Dusting herself off, Alicia shook her head. [color=ed145b]"Shit man, you know I'm not gonna bullshit you. I couldn't have made that shot. It was a bitch. It's over and actually, that wasn't how I died. Long story but just know what you saw was very different than what happened to me personally,"[/color] she said. It would be hard to explain what she meant and about Justice. [color=ed145b]"Fuck man, I have a son, and papi is still kicking. So take a breath, give a girl a hug, and let me get you settled in. Then we can sits down and really talk."[/color] Holding out her arms she motioned for him to bring it in and give her a damn hug. The explanation made absolutely no sense to James, but he wasn't about to pass up a free hug from his old running partner. He extended his arms again and stepped forward into Alicia's grabbing range, then wrapped his arms around her. [color=indianred]"Damn good to see you, girl."[/color] he whispered, the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes. [color=indianred]"But now I gotta know what's goin' on here. I'd be obliged if'n you'd start by explainin' pretty much [i]everything[/i] you just said, 'cause that is a hot, sticky mess o' [i]what the ass did you just say[/i]?"[/color] Alicia smiled as she wrapped her arms around James and gave him a big hug. She knew this was going to be difficult to take in and all that but she had an idea of how to explain it. At least on a level where he might understand. Leaning back she motioned towards the main house. [color=ed145b]"Come on, you walk, I talk,"[/color] she said as she kept an arm around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder as they headed away from the Oak Tree. [color=ed145b]"Remember Back To The Future? Where when Biff screwed shit up they had that whole alternate time line thing? Well, that is basically what was going on when you saw me die. It is an alternate place. The main one, the one where things are at least a little better. Okay, not that much better but no face eaters."[/color] Taking a breath she gave him a small run down of her life before she died there in Justice. About giving birth to her son Liam, about Lorna and her being close friends, about her Papi and his fluffy bunny slippers kicking in a door and making her toss enchiladas into the ceiling. As they headed into the main house and up the stairs she decided to check out her room. Unlocking her door she showed James in and headed over to her nightstand and picked up the picture of Caesar holding Liam. Handing it over to James she smiled proudly. [color=ed145b]"That's my boy Liam."[/color] [color=indianred]"Well, ain't that a total mindfuck?"[/color] remarked James, unsure as to how to respond to the knowledge that everything he knew and used to be was a mistake, kicked off from the main line of actual events because somebody messed something up horribly enough to break [i]time[/i]. [color=indianred]"Oh, not your boy. He's just cute as the dickens. And the size of them hands? He's gonna grow up and kill somebody. Damn."[/color] James quickly got back on track, [color=indianred]"But look, I done seen enough episodes of "Quantum Leap" to know that Scott Bakula's got somethin' up his sleeve what can put stuff right, right? But before I get fitted for a snazzy white future suit, I gots me a question: Do we know each other, you know, in the other timeline? There another Black James what don't gotta split undead wigs to survive?"[/color] [color=ed145b]"Well we didn't know each other then. You'd have to ask one of the Emendators about that,"[/color] she said before setting the photo back down on her night stand. Shoving her hands into her pockets she shrugged a bit. [color=ed145b]"Listen, this place is complicated. You aren't alive but you aren't dead. This is kind of like a second chance. We don't go back to where we were and we stay away from any other place we could have been. You and I, we're called Paradoxes. The ones that run this place are called Emendators, they are fucking ancient... Like, this one guy here is the actual Gilgamesh! But he's cool, really likes hats."[/color] Heading out of her room she checked the board to see where James was assigned and got the number. [color=ed145b]"Come on. Let me show you your room. You can settle in. I have more people to go meet at the tree. Once I'm done though, we can kick back and talk some more."[/color] James nodded soberly. This was a lot to take in. He was really still dealing with the whole You Are Dead thing, and the rest of this? This wasn't something you just [i]got[/i] right from the start. He followed Alicia to his assigned room and paused before he entered for a final word with his friend. [color=indianred]"Yeah chica. I'd like that. Might need some time to work all this shit out, but you come find me when you can, yeah? I missed you, girl. Missed you a lot."[/color] Alicia handed over the key to the room to James and nodded a bit. [color=ed145b]"We will man. Listen, just get settled and then have a look around. Beware of our resident pranksters,"[/color] she said before explaining a small amount about Gio and Nancy. After that she let him know where the bathroom was, where the kitchen house was, and that he was good to walk around the ground. Stopping herself she quirked a brow. [color=ed145b]"You know a Sophia Harris?"[/color] she asked as she leaned against the door frame. A sort of odd recognition washed over James. He indeed knew a Sophia Harris, and though they were not particularly tight, any level of non-hostile acquaintance was as good as friendship given the fact that they both helped each other to survive. Their timeline was one of an apocalypse, with the corpses of the recently deceased rising with the sole purpose of consuming the living. And though the dead were a plague, the living could be so much worse. [color=indianred]"Yeah chica, I know me a Sophia Harris. One I'm thinkin' of lived with us in Newnan. Girl came in bit, Valkyries with her hadda take her hand offa her so's she'd make it."[/color] The thought just occurred to him, [color=indianred]"Wait, you went 'n died just before she came in. Shit, she here?"[/color] [color=ed145b]"Yeah, she got here just before you. She's in 107 downstairs, why don't you go say hi once your settled in,"[/color] Alicia suggested before giving James a quick hug and letting him know she had to get back to the tree because they were expecting others. With that, she left him to his thoughts and to look over his room a bit while she dashed back to the tree. [color=indianred]"...well, ain't that somethin'..."[/color] James mused to himself. While not particularly close, it was a touch of joy to hear that someone else from his Newnan that he knew to be dead was with them. He repeated the room number in his head a couple of times just to make sure that he got it, then promptly realized that he was standing alone in the corridor of a strange house after having spent an unknown amount of time, well, [i]dead[/i]. He did need to settle in. Take some alone time. Work some things out. Like Alicia said, he needed to settle in. Perusing his appointed room, James was just pleased as punch to see a pair of overalls folded neatly on his bed, a dark blue bandanna poking out of one of its pockets. [color=indianred]"Hot damn, jackpot!"[/color] he exclaimed, not even bothering to close the door before he had stripped off his hat, pants and tacky rope belt, replacing them with the overalls and bandanna, the latter tied around his head. If anyone happened by whilst he was "sans pants", they'd just have to live the rest of their life with that image of the sturdy, recently dead blackneck.