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The third day, for Calamity. Probably. Who knows, when there's no way to keep track of the passage of time? Since they regained some sort of consciousness they've been curled up in the corner their cell, not sleeping, just...staring. Blankly, into a middle distance. Barely touching food or water, a dark green bandanna up around their face to try to block the worst of the smell. But today, they blink and flinch when food arrives, and makes to scramble over to it.
Scrambling turns to stumbling, but they manage to grab something to shove into their face. And take a second to look around - the first time they really have since they were brought in. Seeing the dozens of other people around the cages in the room.
The older woman the next cage over is watching Calamity as they finally move to eat, and nods to herself. She seems to be calm, not weeping like the man in the cage on their other side, or screaming like the newest victim across the way.
"You're back with us? Or just enough to keep yourself alive?" The tone of her voice is gentle enough, but there's something calculating in her gaze.
They flinch again at the voice, and look at her with wide, pale eyes. They've got dark smudges underneath - no wonder, given they haven't been sleeping, really - and their face has smudges of dirt and what looks like soot on. Their clothes are dirty, too - though how much of this is because of this place and how much was there before is hard to tell, given the faded and ratty state of their gray sweatshirt.
"Who the fuck're you?" Their gaze rakes her up and down, suspiciously. Appraising, even.
"My name's Dandelion. I've been here for...actually, can't be sure in days, but this is the third time they've fed me. They're keeping us alive, probably to sacrifice." She gestures toward the altar. "Which means there's a timer, for anyone trying to get us out. Our job is to stay alive, stay as well as possible, and to be here when they do come for us. Which they will, I have friends who'll be coming."
She stretches her arms out in front of herself. "Your name?"
It takes a few seconds for them to process that, and they eat the rest of the food in front of them while they do.
"...Calamity," they finally say. "Not gonna be a fuckin' sacrifice for some sick rat fuckers. How d'you know anyone knows where you are?"
"Oh, good, you know about the 'sick rat fuckers', that means if I say I have friends who do magic, I probably won't freak you out too much. That's very good." She moves to grab her own food, finally.
"...Won't freak me out, no..." They keep their voice low, and glance around the rest of the place, like they're worried about people listening. "Figure most people don't even know I'm gone, I ain't waitin' for any of 'em to come find me, at least." A shrug, like it doesn't bother them much. (feel free to empathy that)
She gives them a quiet Look. "My friends will get all of us out of here. That's the sort of people they are. And I doubt that there's no one coming for you. Don't do anything too stupid; the Beshilu--the 'sick rat fuckers' might take that as volunteering to be sacrificed next."
It was a calculated shrug, definitely, used as a shield against the terror of the realization that it's highly unlikely that anyone knows where they are. "I...think I tried to send a text at one point. On the way in. No fuckin' clue if it went through. Even if anyone does know I'm gone, it ain't like they know where I went. Prob'ly just think I got picked up an' in lockup." Another shrug. "Not gonna do any stupid shit, I know how to stay alive. What kinda magic d'your friends do?" There's a glimmer of curiosity there, cutting through the exhaustion and anger and fear.
"All kinds. And I have a few tricks of my own--if you see me meditating, it's in an attempt to project myself into the Astral, in order to reach out and contact some of them. To tell them where we are. They'll come ready for what they're going to face."
She's being very slow and deliberate about eating her meal, setting aside a piece of fruit for later. "At least, with regard to the rats, they will. And the cells, I'll need to make sure they know roughly how many people are down here, how many rats there are. This isn't my first time being kidnapped."
"...Huh. 'S cool shit, I can just kinda make shit catch fire. Not gonna do that here, feel like the whole place'd go up 'f someone lights a match..." They cock their head when she talks about being kidnapped before. "You count cops pickin' me up 'cause they didn't like the look of me, me neither." They flash her a grimace.
"I'm certain you've never done anything troublesome that would give them reason to be looking for you, ever." Her meal complete, she moves over to the water bucket in her cell and drinks. "Don't worry, whatever your history is, we're here together now. And that means we're allies, even if you decide to never speak with me, once we're out."
"Nope, never. Not even a little," Calamity says with a little bit of a smile, acknowledging the lie in the same way Dandy does. "You're gonna be a better ally than that poor fucker..." They gesture to screamer, who's slowly subsided into whimpers.
"It's his first time being kidnapped, I'm sure." She shakes her head. "So, priorities. Do keep eating, drink water--lots of it, it's hot down here. Dehydration is a huge risk. But also use some of your water to keep yourself as clean as possible. It'd be far too easy to get sick here. Get sleep when you can. Stretch your body regularly, don't just sit in one place all the time. They haven't chained us up, and this is to our advantage."
Calamity shoves the sleeves of their hoodie up - it's still half zipped, and even though there's the sheen of sweat on their face they don't seem to think about taking it off. They do move over to the water bucket though, and take a long drink, half-submerging their face in water.
"How many times've you geen kidnapped?" They ask once they've drunk their fill.
"I think this is my fourth or fifth. Because of my association with the magic folks, I'm something of a target. People or things get it in their head that threatening me is a point of leverage against them. Not the case this time, though--I'm just one of the victims, not a specific target, I think. Unless this is what they meant by 'You Are Not Safe' on the TV..."
"Hm. Sucks, but...makes sense to me." A nod. "...I saw that too, creepy as fuck. Wonder if anyone else here's got magic connections..." Calamity eyes the room again. "Or it we were just accidents."
"I find it truly doubtful that we're accidents. Not with how well-prepared they are. One psychic is chance, twice is coincidence. If there's another around here, I'm calling it conspiracy." She glances around the other cages.
"...Lotta psychics, if all'a them are too." Calamity looks...almost excited. "Spent most'a my like thinkin' I was kinda the only one, you know? Or that I was just crazy."
"I thought that, too, until I was in my twenties. I can introduce you to a few others. There's a medium in town, one who talks to ghosts, primarily. And..no, I'm not introducing you to Simon, he's awful, and I don't think he counts as a psychic, exactly."
"Uh. Simon who?" Look, how many Simons in town can be described as 'awful'? Surely not too many, right? "Don't know shit about ghosts, didn't even really know they existed until a couple months ago. So not my thing, you know?"
"If you know Simon, then he's certain to be very angry at me for letting that much slip out. And he's not the sort of man you want angry. So I should leave that at that." But there's a bit of a glance at Calamity for their reaction to that comment.
"Heard'a Simon Dubois. He's the only Simon I even kinda know - if he's psychic?" They hiss out the last word, their eyes wide with wonder and a little fear. "Holy shit..."
She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Not psychic, exactly."
"...Holyshit." A beat. "Not gonna rat on you for that. Just so's you know. Don't want him angry at me, either."
"A wise decision. He's dangerous. Not evil, but dangerous. How do you know him again?"
"Uh." Calamity swallows. "Mostly just heard'a him." Their eyes slide away from her and they cross their arms over their chest.
"Don't bullshit a bullshitter, dear." But she smiles as she says it, clearly not mad.
Calamity winces anyway. "All...all'a that trouble I ain't gettin' into. An' now he's gonna be mad at both of us."
"Oh, I know what Simon's about, at least in the vague sense; you're not revealing anything to me if you say the man's dirty as any cop in the city, but with more well-defined personal morals." She manages an actual laugh that sounds terribly out of place down here. "He's internally consistent. I like that."
"Dunno him that well. But he's kinda a big name, y'know? How d'you know him?" They cock their head. "Just 'cause of the psychic thing?"
"Not exactly psychic, as I've said. It hit him all at once, instead of being something he grew up with, and was something he literally could not handle alone. So I got him help, because my friends are used to strange situations."
"...Huh. Would'a been nice for some help when it hit me. Wasn't all at once, but...sure thought there was somethin' wrong with me."
“There is nothing wrong with you. And when we get out, you’ll get to talk to me and my medium friend. You won’t be alone.” She shakes her head. “Do you think your family is worried about you?”
Calamity snorts. "Parents haven't 'worried' 'bout me in years, 'less you count 'em bein' so worried about me being queer they threw me out." It's an old wound, but not one that's ever quite healed, judging by how cavalier they are about it.
“Oh, you poor dear....” She seems aghast at the very idea. “Anyone who would do that doesn’t deserve kids. Ever.”
"'S whatever. My brother pretty much hated me for it too, so." They've perfected that shrug, and leans back against the bars. "Better off without 'em."
“I’m sure you are. You seem like you’re very capable. I just hope you have people in your life who are accepting of you. Do you have a place to stay? A job?”
The nod. "Yep. 'S been a while since all that. Figured my own shit out. Got a couple guys who're pretty okay. Like how older brothers should be, y'know?"
“Good.” She nods quietly, and though it’s clear she has more to say, she...doesn’t.
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