Evan Buckley (thisisitforme) wrote in evaluation, @ 2020-02-06 22:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | !the compound: 1: day 3, 9-1-1: evan buckley, original characters: lucas king |
Buck had meant what he’d said on the network, getting his phone back was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand he got to look through photographs and watch videos of the people he’d been pulled away from which helped filled a void but then on the other he felt really fucking alone which was stupid considering the place was filled with people. He’d volunteered for whatever because he needed to do something and maybe just maybe if he kept close to the action he might have a better idea of what the hell was going on. Bobby always said it was important to get all the facts and understand just how deep you actually were before making any rash decisions. Not really Buck’s strong point but he was trying. Still the less he thought about things the better he’d feel. Buck needed a drink though and he immediately gravitated to the bar and asked for a beer, blowing out a breath and scrubbing his fingers through his shortly cropped hair as he tried to shrug things off. It hadn’t taken Luke long to realise that he definitely needed to try harder to make more friends while he was here. There was no easy sort of way to meet people here and people had already fallen into and formed their own groups that, even after two rooms, Luke still didn’t know how to get into or be a part of. Even with Roman here, he still felt wildly alone. Of course, Constantine and Ronan talked to him, and Ronan had even gone so far as to fix his processors so that they worked again after the tsunami, or floodwaters or whatever, had ruined them. He hadn’t seen that offer being extended to everyone but then who knew what happened in private conversations? He shivered and connected the fixed processors behind his ears and the world roared to life. It was enough to make him flinch almost violently until he turned them right down. Okay, that was a bit better. He glanced up, seeing someone sitting at the bar who he had seen at the resort, too. They hadn’t talked, then, but he’d remembered seeing the guy posting something about being reminded of a traumatic incident. It was kind to check in, right? He took a seat one stool down and glanced over, hesitating before he said, “You’re Evan, right? I’ve seen you on the network but we haven’t had a chance to speak yet. I’m Luke.” He held his hand out. Buck turned his head as somebody greeted him and held a hand out. Somebody called Luke. Buck wasn’t about to turn his nose up at a friendly greeting especially as he could definitely do with making some friends as he was all alone here after all. “Nice to meet you,” he said warmly as he enclosed the other man’s hand in his own slightly more calloused one. “But call me Buck, everybody else does. Evan is what my sister calls me when I’m in trouble or being stupid, neither of which are entirely separate.” He gestured towards the bar. “Can I get you a drink?” Evan had really warm hands, which was definitely not the first thing Luke noticed but it was one of them. He had a nice smile, too. And he hadn’t immediately told Luke to piss off because he already had friends which was a huge bonus. His eyes were on Evan’s mouth as he spoke, as even with the processor it was hard to hear sometimes, especially when there were other people around and the television had screaming people on it and a random man yelling something about some sport that Luke paid no attention to. Sport wasn’t really his thing. “Uh- soda?” He wasn’t much of an alcohol person, either, “thank you, Buck.” Nicknames he could work with; he didn’t have any of his own other than ‘Luke’ and that was just because Lucas is a pain to say. Or something. Or maybe his parents realised after they called him Lucas that ‘Luke’ was a better name. Eh. He cleared his throat. “That last place was a ride, huh? And not in the good way.” “One soda for Luke here,” Buck said to the person behind the bar, the request accompanied with a further smile meant it was pretty quick on the delivery. Never hurt to be nice to people if you could. He snorted quietly at the remark about the previous place. “Yeah, I coulda done without the whole water flood situation. Kinda over that sorta thing as y’know tsunami and all. Guess the only bright side was that I didn’t have my best friend’s kid with me.” Buck did always try to look on the bright side of things if he could, not real big on the doom and gloom save for that brief period where he thought his career was over. Still, he’d bounced back, in no small part thanks to Eddie and Christopher. Aw, man, now he missed them all over again. Ugh. “So, how long have you been riding this merry-go-round?” “Jesus,” Luke said with a shake of his head, “that woulda been scary even without someone else’s kid to look out for.” He grimaced a little, trying to imagine what he would do in that kind of scenario. Thankfully, where he had come from had barriers that protected against most of these things that were reinforced by dozens of magic users, not just him which is probably why the one that he made had failed and- He shook his head again to dislodge the thoughts. “Yeah, so that storm must have brought up some unpleasant stuff for you. You handling it okay?” He thanked the server for his drink and took a sip before he placed the glass back down on the table. “Uh, I missed the fun place in Canada. So, I was here for the Haunted House, and then I went home, and then I ended up back here in sort of a fucked up Soviet hell-hole, then the resort and now here. So… a while. Not as long as the others, though. It’s been like a month or something? But it feels like forever” Buck didn’t necessarily handle things well especially when said things happened to be personal trauma and unpleasant memories. He’d tried therapy and had ended up sleeping with his shrink so go figure. “I’m getting there,” he said as a means of getting around that particular hurdle. “Just really glad Christopher, my friend’s kid, isn’t her to get caught up in all of this.” He pulled a face at the mention of the Soviet hell-hole and shook his head. “That was so fucked up in so many ways. I mean, what kind of sick mind thinks that situation is the sort of situation that people should have to deal with?” Of course when Luke said he’d gone home the young firefighter turned to rest a bright blue gaze on the other man. “Wait, wait, you got to go home?” Luke smiled, “Getting there’s better than not,” he said with a nod. He understood a bit about trauma, couldn’t live the life he had without, but not something to that extent. “Recovering from something like that’s slow going.” He let out a breath, “Yeah, like, there are a couple of kids here and it’s messed up that they’ve been pulled in and expected to take part. I’m relieved your friend’s kid isn’t here too.” He shrugged and rolled the glass between his palms, glancing up when he heard Buck speaking again, eyes tracking the other man’s mouth as he did. “This whole situation’s fucked up, dude, like, we’ve been kidnapped and if this isn’t some kind of Truman show thing I’d be surprised.” Luke paused and nodded, “I- uh- yeah, I got to go home. Not for long, mind, but yeah, I got to leave for a bit. There’s normally another door when you leave that you can take to go home, I think.” “A-fucking-men to that,” Buck murmured with a mock toast. Hopefully Christopher was safe and sound with nothing to concern him aside from what he was doing that day or what his dad was up to. “Truman got a better deal, he really did. None of this crazy ass Russian dictator bullshit and batshit crazy weather outta nowhere.” He’d heard about the door before but knew from a couple people that there had been no door this time around. Buck had noticed the other guy watching his mouth as he spoke and Buck being Buck couldn’t help himself. “Do I have something in my teeth?” “Truman also got to escape,” Luke pointed out, “I’m not sure we’re really gonna be free until we reach the end of whatever this is and solve whatever mystery we’re meant to be solving.” He sipped his drink and wrinkled his nose. “Which is shit ‘cause I hate puzzles and that kinda crap, I’m not good at it.” When he was called out for watching Buck’s mouth, Luke’s cheeks flushed a little. Most people never said anything, just assuming he hated eye contact or something, or they’d already clocked the external parts of his implants. “Oh- sorry,” he managed, looking a little flustered. He turned his head first to the left, then to the right, allowing Buck to see the external parts that were hooked over his ears and attached magnetically to his scalp - though it was partially obscured by his hair. “No, you’re fine. I’m deaf. It’s loud in here, even with these on, it’s hard to follow conversation sometimes.” Ooooh, fuck. Buck felt like a total ass, like the worst kind, and it was evident from the apologetic expression that flashed across his face just how bad he felt. “Oh man I am such a dick, I’m sorry. I totally didn’t think.” Story of his life, really. Ugh. “It’s okay,” Luke said, quickly trying to reassure Buck that he hadn’t taken any offence. If anything, he was worried that Buck had an issue because of Luke watching his mouth. He lifted his hand in the universal ‘it’s cool’ sign and shook his head. “Seriously, man, it’s fine. It’s kinda cool that they weren’t the first thing you noticed. Most people clock them right away and talk real slow ‘cause of it.” Buck arched his eyebrows in response to that admission. “Really? Wow that really fucking sucks.” He was pretty sure if anybody treated Christopher like that just because he wasn’t what people expected then he’d be the first in line to deck somebody. “But yeah like you said, I’m also not the greatest at puzzles and shit. Put me in a life or death situation and I can solutionise like a beast but other than that? Nah, I’m useless.” Luke shrugged, “I’ve been deaf my whole life. You deal with it. Not much else I can do.” He wasn’t largely sunny about it, there was a slight bitterness whenever he thought about it since his deafness wasn’t his fault, or even his parents, but it was a good reminder that there were consequences for everything. Power had a price, and it wasn’t always the Caster that paid it. “See, that’s a really good skill,” he said with a nod. “Like, keeping a cool head when the world’s all on fire and crap? That’s amazing. I am not good in a crisis.” “Helps in my job back home,” Buck admitted with a soft boyish smile before he took a further from the bottle he’d been rolling between his hands. “My folks,” from what he could remember, “they sucked so I guess me and my sister got really good at it.” She’d become an ER nurse then a 911 dispatcher and he had wanted to be a Navy Seal but his emotions were too much of a risk. “But we’ve all got our own strengths.” Well, most people did. Luke was still trying to work out what his was. Other than self-deprecation and avoiding conflict like a champion. He nodded and then sighed. “Sorry to hear about your parents. Looks like that’s going around. We should start a club.” He tipped his head. “What’s your job back home? Just outta curiosity?” Buck snorted quietly. “Yeah, I hear that.” He shifted on his stool and glanced briefly at the television but honestly he wasn’t paying it much mind. He liked sports for sure but got kind of bored when watching, he’d much rather be playing. “I’m a firefighter,” he answered, obviously proud of the fact. “Also a trained EMT, but I’m a firefighter primarily. I leave all of that to Chimney and Hen.” “Really?” Luke’s eyes widened a little, “No wonder you’re all calm under pressure and shit, that’s so cool. I know we’re from different worlds and all but that’s a really important job so thanks for putting your life on the line and stuff.” Buck felt the telltale flush of heat in his cheeks when Luke thanked him for putting his life on the line and rubbed at the back of his neck. “No need to thank me. I love my job so really-” He trailed off and shrugged his shoulders. “So, uh, what is it you do back wherever it is you come from?” Luke wrinkled his nose. “I-uh, I’m actually kind of in hiding. So I reinforce a barrier around the island I live on that keeps the dead out, avoid taking part in my family business as much as possible and spend a lot of time trying not to get dead.” Buck just blinked at Luke because literally everything that he’d said had gone right over his head and it was evident in the blank expression written all over his face. “Huh?” was what he finally settled on, looking stupidly clueless and adorable while doing it. Luke tipped his head. “Which part of that do you need me to repeat?” he asked with a little smile, not unkind. The guy looked adorable when he was confused. “There’s a lot that goes on in my home world.” “Like all of it,” Buck admitted sheepishly. “I literally understood none of what you just said to me.” He was never afraid to admit when he didn’t know or understand something. “Uh- my family are... “ Luke waved his hand, “my family are complicated. The island I live on has a barrier and my part of protecting the island is reinforcing the barrier that keeps the dead out.” He tipped his head again, “Does that- does that make sense so far?” Buck nodded along until Luke said something about dead people. “Wait, wait, dead people? Also, why does the island need to be protected?” “The island’s protected so that humans can’t find us, ‘cause there’s hunters and stuff that wanna either kill or use some of the people that live on the island.” Luke explained. “And yeah, dead people. Ghosts, more than zombies. Zombies don’t tend to be an issue since they can be relatively easily put down.” More nodding, more listening, and it was clear that Buck was processing everything that Luke was telling him. “So, you’re not human? Or are you human but the other people who live on the island are not?” Yes, these were the questions he was asking, just trying to understand. “Uh, I’m a witch, so mostly human but enough that I’m lumped into the category of people-it’s-socially-acceptable-to-hate. “Fuck,” Buck muttered softly and with disbelief plastered all over his face. “That’s so messed up. I mean, who the hell gives them the right to hate like that?” Though he stopped, blinked again, and tipped his head in the same way a dog did when it was trying to work out what you were saying. “Necronomicon cult thing?” Luke bit the inside of his lip to stop himself from smiling at Buck’s confusion. He was so cute it was unreal. “Do you live in a paradise where no one hates anything different?” he asked, but he wet his lower lip and shrugged. “Uh- there’s a cult of people who wanna use my blood to open an ancient magical tome and unleash an Elder God. I, like, don’t have any other blood relatives, just people that have kind of adopted me, so I’m the only one of my family left.” “I wish,” Buck said with a shake of his head. “We got all sorts of shitheads where I come from. Racists, homophobes, fascists, you name it we got it, but I happen to be of the opinion that people should be allowed to do what they wanna do when they wanna do it and nobody has the right to judge you.” He shrugged. “I’m lucky I guess, I have a really good set of friends around me who all feel the same way and are really diverse so I guess I also have the benefit of knowing what they’ve struggled with.” Buck was well aware that as a cis white man he had a lot of privileges that others didn’t which meant he felt like when he saw something go down that was not okay in any way that he speak up and do something about it. He grimaced at the information Luke had shared about the cult. “Bet you’re glad you’re here than there where you know people are out for blood, literally.” “Yeah, I mean it’s good to be here where people aren’t out to kill me but I also don’t have any friends and only one person speaks ASL so when my batteries run low I’m just stuck.” Luke gave a sad smile, “this is the third room I’ve been in and I really haven’t- y’know, made any friends.” He glanced at Buck. “It’s good that you’ve got a bunch of great friends too, though I saw that you miss them and stuff and that sucks. Would you go home if you got the chance?” Luke grimaced at his own stupidity. “I- uh, that’s dumb. The answer’s obviously yes.” Buck chuckled and took a sip of his beer. “Without a moment’s hesitation.” He missed his friends and he missed Maddie as well as Christopher. So much. Still, he was here, they were back home and Buck believed in making the best of a bad situation. “This might be your third room but I can tell you one thing for sure, Luke, and that is you’ve made a friend.” ASL? Huh? Buck made a mental note, maybe he could find a book or something on that. Luke’s cheeks caught a little and he ducked his head, trying - and failing - to hide his smile. He nodded, fingers flexing around the glass as he said, quietly, “Thanks, Buck, I- I’ll try to remember that.” |