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There's an abandoned factory on West Glenwood Ave, just off the Trenton Line. It spans the whole of three blocks, hulking over the narrow street that curves around it, its windows boarded up or broken. With the clouds blocking the sliver of a moon, it's the perfect night to explore it, and Calamity's made themself (relatively) at home there, creeping through the work rooms and down the hallways without a sound.
Calamity is fairly certain they're alone. There didn't appear to be anyone else here--at first, at least. But as they explore deeper into the abandoned building they can't help but get the sensation of being watched. Then behind them a faint creaking of old floorboards from further down the hallway.
They freeze, plastering themself against the wall before sloooooowly turning around. Their eyes have gotten accustomed to the dark, but it's not like they'll be able to see very far.
The hallway is indeed dark. But as they squint it becomes clear there is something standing obscured by shadow at the other end of the hall. The mind easily plays tricks, making it look like some monstrous looming figure--until said figure takes a few steps forward, into a sliver of street light coming in through a gap in boards. Something about them is a little unnerving--but otherwise they look pretty nonthreatening. Wearing baggy dark clothes, hair hanging in a mop around their head. They watch him curiously. There is one oddity, however--the surgical mask covering the lower half of their face, which just... looks absurd against the otherwise dreary appearance.
"Who're you...?" Calamity speaks in a hoarse whisper, eyes flicking toward the windows. They're wearing dark clothing as well - greys and browns, their worn hooding a faded dark green, and they're tensed to run. They flick their curly hair out of their face with a small shake of their head, and shove their hands a little further into their hoodie pockets.
It's hard to gauge their expression with their mouth covered--they just sort of... stare awkwardly down the hallway at them. After a moment their hands sink into their coat pockets, shoulders hunched a little. "...Finley," they mumble softly, voice baring a notable lisp. "Sorry... if I... scared you..."
"Didn't scare me." Their voice has an edge now, and they take half a step toward Finley. "What're you doing here?" As if they have any right to ask a question like that, given that they're also trespassing.
Finley stays where they are, blinking slowly at them. Looking a little cautious as well now, brows creasing faintly. They give a slow look around, then spread their hands without removing them from their pockets. "Just... am. You?"
There's a pause, and then they nod and take another few steps forward. "Yeah same. This place's pretty cool. 'Ve you been here before...?"
They nod quickly, watching them approach. Their weight shifts between their feet, head dipping a little while their droopy eyes go back to looking around the factory. "It's... a nice place. Quiet."
"Yeah. 'N there's a lot of it, too, been here a few times 'n haven't looked at it all. Don't wanna see all its secrets in one go, you know?" They shrug. Now that they're closer, they're pretty non-threatening looking. Small, still maybe a teenager even, and they're curled inward a little, making them seem even smaller.
Their head tilts to peer back at them, staring awkwardly for a long moment. Some of the caution eases out of them though--but even so their posture isn't that great. "What is... your favorite spot... so far?"
"The top of the like, middle tower thing. 'S the first place I went. Mostly to prove that I could get up there." They grin. "I'm - Calamity."
This head tilts upwards to look at the ceiling through their long bangs. They appear impressed, perhaps? When they look back at Calamity their eyes are creased a little--maybe they're smiling behind the mask? "Finley."
"Yeah, you said." Their grin widens, but they don't seem to be teasing. "What's your favorite part of it?"
Finley grimaces with embarrassment, shoulders hunching a little. They consider the question a moment before murmuring, "The basement."
"Ooh. Haven't...been down there." They shift, a little uncomfortable. "'S no windows, don't like that."
They stare inquisitively at Calamity.
They stare right back. "...What?"
"Why?"
"Why...don't I like being where there's no windows? 'Cause I just don't." They shrug. "Why d'you like the basement?"
They flinch a little, looking down at the floor between them. Their hands sink deeper into their pockets, and they just shrug in reply.
"I didn't mean to -" Calamity frowns. "'Re you okay?”
Another shrug, this one lighter. "I like... the echo. Guess its... weird."
"What d'you mean?" They cock their head. "Like...does the basement echo more than up here?"
Finley nods.
"That's...cool I guess. Not more weird than us being here in the first place, right?" They offer Finley a small smile.
"I guess." Their hands slide from their pockets, one lifting to tuck hair behind their ear. "Do you... come to these sort of places a lot?"
"Yeah," They nod. "It's a lot easier to get into 'em than most people think, I think. And it's nice to have a place to go when I can't sleep."
Finley nods in agreement to their first statement, then starts walking--past them, in the direction they were walking. A glance back to make sure Calamity follows before continuing at a walk. "Can't sleep...?"
"Yeah." They fall into step next to Finley. "'S hard to sleep when everyone else does, I dunno why. I'll probably crash at like six or seven, 's when I usually do. 'N there's not a lotta shit to do where I'm staying so..." They gesture to the building. "Gotta make my own fun."
Another nod--quicker, a little more energetic. "Same. Night owl..." Their eyes crease into a probably-smile. "What is... fun? For you? Other than..." A gesture around.
"Besides this shit? Uh...I like comics? I'll stay up late reading stuff like that. And uh...this sounds kinda dumb but I...play with fire a lot." They get increasingly hesitant as they speak. "That's sometimes more comforting, than 'fun,' though. So I dunno if that counts. What about you?"
Finley's head tilts, considering them for a long moment. They don't appear to be judging, but--hard to tell with the mask. "...I study blood...? So... kind of weird too..."
"Like...like in a lab, kinda thing?" They frown, but it seems to be more in confusion than anything.
They nod. "Lab Technician."
"That's kinda cool. Kinda weird, but..." They nod, accepting it. "But mostly cool. D'you like...like to do that, or is it just a job...?"
Based on their quick nod, they are very enthusiastic about their job. Maybe creepily so... "It's fascinating. Chemistry. Biology. Mostly... boring tests... but fulfilling..."
Look, Calamity's obsessed with fire enough that they're not gonna think twice about anyone's weird hobbies. "You must be smart, to do that kinda work."
There's a proud little glint that shines in their eyes. They nod quickly again. "I have a doctorate." They certainly don't look that old.
"...Oh. Wow. That's cool." Their voice is kinda flat, and they give Finley a sideways look. "You gotta go to school for...a fucking long time for that, right?"
"Mm," a soft sound of confirmation. "Graduated... early."
Another flat "...oh," and they hunch their shoulders, sinking into themself a little more. "So like...you're really smart."
Calamity's reaction makes them pause, some of the energetic pride dimming into uncertainty. Their shoulders lift, letting the topic drift off into silence. Not too long after they push open a door and start heading up rickety stairs to go to the upper levels of the factory.
There's a few seconds of pretty awkward silence before Calamity takes a breath. "So...why do you hang out in places like this? Besides 'cause it's quiet?" They keep their voice low in the stairwell.
They don't answer right away, heading up the stairs to the top floor, then stepping off onto a walkway. They glance back at them. "Its... spooky. Like a... horror movie."
"...Okay that's kind of a weird thing to say." They grin. "But...yeah you're not wrong, I guess. I can get spooky."
"I like... spooky things?" they murmur shyly. "Ghost stories... Urban legends..."
"Ooh, like what kinds of urban legends?" They pull their phone out as they walk down the hall, and stop at one of the broken windows. Looks like they wanna take a picture of whatever bits of the city they can see. Instead, they grimace as they see the time. "Fuck, I...I actually gotta go." They shove their phone back in their pocket, picture taking forgotten. "...Could be kinda cool to do this again, sometime?"
Finley stops and turns back to look at them, eyes looking more droopy--maybe disappointed? "Oh... Kay." But then they perk up a little again, nodding. "Sure..."
...And they pull their phone out of their again. Maybe even eagerly. "Number?" They offer the phone to Finley.
Finley steps closer, accepting the phone to quickly taptaptap at with their thumbs, saving their number. The name saved is "Finley 😷🤙"
"Sweet. See ya." Calamity sends a text to the number - Calamity 💥 - before flashing them a grin and trotting down the stairs.
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