[Event 2] Escape from the city [Alfred]

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Take my lead; I'll set you free.

It was one of those nights.. Those nights where Berwald knew he had to sleep. His energy level was going below zero, he had almost gone too long without it right now.

Ever since he had gotten back from Tino, his whole demeanor had changed since that day as well. Berwald had started to refuse the food he even needed every third day or so, giving it to the cellmate he might share or the lucky one that might be in the cell next to him on that time as well.

It wasn't like he thought it was fun that way, but that one slight taste of freedom, how it was like to move around without anything stopping you, to choose whenever you wanted to go left and right, when you wanted to sleep, where you would sleep, and even where you wanted to be at that one time.. It had been good, almost too good for the mutant. A part of him wished that it had never happened, while the other part of him wished that it had never ended.

And then there was Tino.

The small, yet kind man that had taken him in, showing that not all humans where bad and wanted the mutants harm. That despite flaws, you could still yet be so.. Absolutely good in other ways, and flaws where just another way to tell yourself apart from others.

Did Berwald miss those times?

Too much.

Just laying in bed, staring into the wall, but he was interrupted in confusion when there was suddenly.. Was that waster? That was surely an odd thing, it wasn't "showering time" yet, and even then it wasn't this much water into the cells as they all had drains, but this time, the water-level just seemed to get higher and higher with time, and that was alarming.

Sitting up, as he walked over the water to the door, and what surprised him the most when he pushed a bit at it, was that the door gave out immediately, without any force at all, and it wasn't even broken, so the locks where unlocked. 

The Swede looked around, and saw a few mutants as well looking around. He met some of their eyes, they where all confused, just like he was as well. Who could blame them? The water-level was rising dangerously fast for being down there, and they where on a underground level, meaning that you couldn't just open a window or a door to let the water out, some could drown if something wasn't done soon enough.

Not thinking twice on what could happen to himself, the giant was too kind for his own good sometimes, as he helped some other mutants who's doors where jammed to tear them off the hinges to get them all out of there, not caring if it was someone he liked or disliked, they all just needed to get the hell out of this place before it over-flooded and they all drowned.

After he made sure that they all where out, that's when he could finally see the faces he recognised, but not in the good way. Not deciding to stick around to find out the reason why there was so much water in the cells suddenly, the giant was glad over his strength and his length as well in this, as he could plow through the water with ease, while the guards where having quite the hard time to get through said dirty water, and that was Berwald so relieved over.

The way out had been made already, door wide-open, mutants where all over the city, confused, lost, trying to find a way to escape. Berwald wasn't hesitant at all, he didn't exactly know where to go, just that his aim was towards the forest, and that was quick before the word was spread and people began to look after them, and tried to capture them once again, back to hell... Who would want to go back there when he could go back to what he had once had with the kind human that had bought him? Even if they had finished the house for him and all, would the human accept him? Would Tino even want him there?

Yet that was a later matter, now he had to run there, and ask those questions later.

Berwald was tired, exhausted, he felt.. Like a normal human for once. He was already out of breath, it felt like he got nowhere when he was trying to run. Slightly bashing himself for not eating and sleeping like he should, then he might have gone further than what he was doing now, he was a shame for his own powers, and he shouldn't even be proud that he had them as well.

But he got somewhere, staying in the shadows, following alleys, away from the main streets where it was easy to spot him. He was a giant, tall and muscular, he couldn't blend in well, especially not with his looks either that scared people. So why was he born like this again? The alleys didn't go all the way to the outskirt of the city, and he sometimes had to hurry over the bigger roads to get to the other side of the alleys to get somewhere, which was a dangerous task.

Not having a clue on how he had made it, but somewhat, he found himself on the outskirt of the City. Buildings behind him, and the forest just in front of him. How would he find Tino? He had no clue, but going into the forest was his best shot at finding him and staying clear of guards as well. Even if he might get lost, like no one would miss him, he would die as a free man, that he had longed to do. But he kept his hope up, he had to, because it was not going to end like this!

A noise made him stop, blood freezing in his veins. It was a human.. Turning around to slowly meet the human that had found him, while a million things went through his head at that moment, how to get rid of that human so he could get away, or what he even should do with it?

SPOILER: Click to show

Alfred F. Jones here it is! Sorry if it's crap and took time;;. Tell me if there's any ?? and so on, and have fun, be gentle with him~

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 1146

Tags: Berwald

Notes: THIS IS LATE. SO LATE. ;;

A mutant breakout.

It wasn't as brilliant of news as Alfred had always believed it to be, as he was quickly realizing. It was in the papers every day. It meant curfews and random arrests on the street, it meant heightened tension in Archadia. This was not a planned event by the Freedom Fighters. That made it all the worse.

Alfred had always thought a breakout would be symbolic of a revolution. Maybe it was how Alfred was raised, maybe it was his Americanness coming through, but he thought that great change always came through revolution. Grigory disagreed with him. The older man always said that peace was the best option. And of course, that was true. But Alfred didn't see Archadia changing without something big happening.

He always thought a breakout would be the first step towards that. And perhaps it was. It meant that the mutants had taken the chance to escape.

The problem though, was that things weren't quite that simple. Alfred underestimated the complexity of these situations. When he'd read about the American Revolution in history class, it had been glorious. Battles led and won by George Washington, a glorious fervor of patriotism sweeping the thirteen colonies. Except...well, that was how history viewed it. Maybe that was how people viewed it afterwards as well. It wasn't so simple when you were right in it.

Alfred believed in it, of course. Believed in revolution and rebellion and cheating the system. But there were consequences as well, consequences that he hadn't considered, had never even crossed his mind until now.

Everyone was suspicious, everyone everywhere, and that set Alfred on a heightened sense of paranoia. He had had nothing to do with the breakout, nor the Freedom Fighters, but he wouldn't be surprised if, at the end of the day, they were blamed for it. People still thought that mutants were killers. Certainly, some were dangerous. But it was the humans that were killing them, slaughtering a threat before it had truly begun. Some would call it preemptive thinking. Realistically speaking, it was closer to genocide.

And now people were scared. Scared that they would be attacked on the streets. Alfred wanted to tear his hair out. This would set them back miles.

The problem in Archadia, in the whole world really, was changing the mindset that people had grown accustomed to. And perhaps revolution wasn't the path to go. No. Revolution at this point? That was a death sentence. The Freedom Fighters were ill equipped. Not enough resources. Not enough people. They needed to get the word out, find more people to join the cause. But people were scared. Hell, most of the Freedom Fighters were scared, and for good reason. People disappeared all the time after all.

If this was America...but perhaps not even there. Freedom of speech? As much as Alfred hated to admit it, sometimes that felt like a lie too.

On the bright side...if what the newspapers reported was true, that meant that since there was already a proven cause, no one was about to come knocking on Alfred's door. They'd be too busy, preoccupied with other concerns.

It was a delicate time, but it was also a time for action. No sitting at home musing over what to do. Alfred hadn't been in contact with Grigory at all, which was probably a good thing. The man would tell him that what they needed now was people calming the public, telling them that the mutants weren't to be feared, that they weren't out here to hurt them. They really needed someone in the press, someone who could speak out in the government. Grigory would tell Alfred to stay put, if anything, to hack into news sources and get the real information out there to the public.

But that seemed fruitless to Alfred and he'd be damned if he sat in the apartment all day. The situation was delicate, sure, but it was also an opportunity.

That is, if they handled it correctly.

And...well...

...Matthew...

Alfred was out searching for mutants to see if he could bring them in and keep them safe from the police, yes, but if he was honest, he had other priorities and Matthew was at the very top of that list. They had released fairly limited reports on the escaped mutants, only listing "dangerous" mutants but continuing to ask the public to report any suspicious behavior. Made sense, perhaps. There were around fifty that had escaped. Narrowing down the search to just a few would make them easier to find.

Matthew wasn't on that list, which meant Alfred didn't know if they'd simply neglected to include him or if he hadn't made it out. He hoped Matthew had...though how the hell was Alfred going to find him in this city?

Matthew was smart. He'd head away from people, into the forest perhaps or try to blend in. Undoubtedly, the police were patrolling borders. The forest wasn't the most welcoming place though, so maybe...

Alfred thought he saw something move from the corner of his eye and his heart leaped. Even though the chances were slimmer than ever, even though it was so unbelievably unlikely, he couldn't help but hope. Could he be this lucky? Alfred followed the movement as quietly as he could, staying out of sight.

A few steps and the person came into view. Alfred's heart sank. No, it wasn't Matthew. This person was too tall, the blond hair just a tad too light.

Another person being in these woods wasn't a good thing for Alfred. If Matthew was here...

...Wait, no. Alfred allowed his gaze to focus on the man. His clothes were worn and old and didn't fit properly.

A mutant.

Not one that Alfred had met or seen before, but he was almost completely certain that he was one. There wasn't all that much evidence for it, but Alfred's gut instincts told him that.

In that case...

Alfred stepped forwards and out from behind the tree, a twig snapping beneath his shoes. The man froze and slowly, he turned around.

Face to face, Alfred noted the man's height, at least a couple inches taller than Alfred. He had a stern sort of face, no smile, but at the same time, he didn't run. There was a determination in those green eyes, and fear as well Alfred supposed, but if he was truly afraid of Alfred, he was doing a good job of hiding it. There was a tension in his shoulders that Alfred could sense, but other than that...

"Hey, easy." Alfred held up his hands, a universal signal that he was unarmed. Not true; he had his gun in his jacket as always. But it was a good start. "I'm not here to hurt you. But I think I might be able to help."

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Take my lead; I'll set you free.

At the same time his eyes were on the new human that had appeared in the forest, his brain was wildly trying to think of at least then different ways of escaping. He didn't have any fancy powers like Hamish so he could threaten him from a distance and be safe. Well, he could probably pick up a tree and use it as a giant swipe stick and get him out of the way.. But that could possibly also mean that he could hurt the human, who had yet to actually hurt him. So instead, he stood there like a deer caught in headlights, feeling how all of his already tired muscles were tense, too tense. In that moment, he too felt that he had been hurt during the escape. But that he didn't paid a lot of mind to, it would heal in a matter of day, or maybe two if it was deep enough, it wasn't a matter he needed to be worried about.

He glared at him, eyes getting harder and more narrow than before, at least he had his intimidating state, tall, muscular and a face that people feared before they even got to know him, before they even saw his body, which just added up to the frightening feeling about him.

If he dared to move, Berwald took a step backwards, not daring to be close to him, at all. He might have his hands up, showing that he held nothing that could harm him, but what inside his clothes? The mutant had never seen the human before, but that didn't mean that he could rule him out as a guard either. He knew it was more of them down there than he had met, not a lot of them dared to go close to his cells, rumours was funny in one way just like that.

"What, and how, can you possible help someone like me?" A part of him hurt to be so hostile and passive against him, but it was a matter of survival or not, if he had to be pulled back down there before he even got a chance to see Tino again, it would have all been for nothing.. Well, maybe not all of it, he might have helped some mutants to get away from there, maybe he had given them a better life than the one they might have gotten if they stayed there?

He soothed his own mind with those thoughts.

Instead of being like a mouse, he remembered the words Kylan once told him back when he had gotten to this place, to stop acting like a mouse in his body, it looked wrong.. And this human didn't know of his powers. So instead of looking surprised and frighten, he straighten his back, gaining his full posture, broad shoulders, chest out stomach in, and his chin up high, towering over this poor human that didn't have the height and muscles to match his own. Screw being tired, if he didn't show it, despite the pain on his thigh, he knew he had a big advantage.

"If you want me to even start consider letting you close to 'help' me, I suggest you drop your weapons, I know you probably have at least one. I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." His voice, the one that had the heavy Swedish accent and was almost too deep to be properly heard held more confidence this time.

All of this was of course just an act, even if he did feel stronger when he looked like this, but he wasn't, still deadly afraid of being brought back again, and would do anything in his might to not be.

Body prepared to fight, he might be able to take bullet to his body, but as any normal human, a bullet to a vital organ, he would be just as dead as anyone else. A fist-fight was his ultimatum and he knew that almost way too well.

Eyes still scanning the area from the corner of his eyes, even if they were mainly on the man. A lot of trees to take, a bigger rock more to his left, an escape route behind that rock.. He had his chances, as long he didn't shoot or used a taser on him until he got unconscious.

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 649

Tags:

Notes: I FINALLY REPLIED

The mutant didn't trust him, that was perfectly clear to Alfred. For a moment, he seemed startled and out of place, but that changed quickly. The man took a step backwards, eyes narrowed and hardening against him.

He was intimidating and tall, his ragged clothing doing little to hide his muscular frame. Alfred was fairly tall and decently strong, but probably no match against someone who had been fighting their entire adult life. Slip up and Alfred could find himself in a fairly terrible situation...and it wasn't like Alfred could really afford to get caught up with the police.

"What, and how, can you possible help someone like me? If you want me to even start consider letting you close to 'help' me, I suggest you drop your weapons, I know you probably have at least one. I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." The man's voice was harsh, his voice deep and almost commanding. There was a very heavy accent to it and it took Alfred a moment to completely understand.

Alfred stayed in place and kept his hands up while he talked slowly. Not a threat, just a friend, not a threat, just a friend. "Look. You're not in a good place. No offense, but your clothes and actions are going to give you away before you get even a mile from here. This place is crawling with police and guards as well as people who are just out for the money. I don't know what sort of ability you have, but whatever it is, you're not gonna get very far. We're at the forest, nice place to hide yourself, but you think it's gonna last long? Do you know how to make shelter, find food, keep warm at night? You'd be an idiot to think that they don't have people on the boundaries of the city and looking in this forest."

Deep breath. "I can help you. Backstreets, alleyways...I know my way around. You don't. I'm not going to turn you in and you can have a safe place to stay until we can get you out of the city or wherever you want to go, okay?"

Alfred didn't exactly expect the man to trust him right away. It'd be an idiotic move, almost suspicious. Alfred could be anyone. A guard, a policeman in disguise...anyone. But all Alfred had were words and this short space of time to convince him...

The weapon...Alfred did have his gun on him but...no. There was no way he was giving up that. If something happened, if he had to run...Alfred needed his gun.

He had a knife...yes. That should work.

Alfred kept one hand raised as he slowly reached for the knife at his waistband. He took it out before leaning down, eyes on the man in front of him the entire time, and putting it gently on the ground. He straightened, eyes still on the mutant. "Look, I'm trying to help you. You can run now and leave. I won't try to stop you...but it's not going to be easy and I can help keep you out of sight for a while until things start to simmer down. You don't exactly have a great reason to trust me, I know, but I'm probably the best shot you'll have."

Alfred took a step towards the mutant, hands still raised, firmly holding eye contact. "I have resources. I know people who are sympathetic towards mutants. You don't. How far do you think you can get all by yourself? Do you know where you're going? I just want to help. You don't have to stay long, but I can give you anything you need to get where you need to go safely. It's not safe out here. I don't want to hurt you, but there are people who do. Being by yourself isn't going to help you in the slightest."

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Take my lead; I'll set you free.

He wasn't offended; if it had been anyone else, the assumption of the other male would have driven a prideful creature into rage. But Berwald knew how to take things with a pinch of salt. He had never seen this human down in the underground, and therefore he guessed that he didn't know him, nor did Berwald know this stranger either. He would have preferred to just kick him down and run, but he made a fair point. "Those survival skills does little. Some of us prefer to die in a forest, or by the hands of a human, while being free, than being locked down again to face your humiliation yet again." And even if he didn't know the basics of survival in a forest, he had learned a little back in school, did he still remember? His hyper endurance would make him survive for days in a forest like this, and by that time, he was sure to have found something else by then.

Strongly on his guard when he saw that the human reached for something, and he got into a position that warned the human that if he did anything funny, he would fully body tackle him if he so got the chance, no matter how many times he might shoot him. But he was surprised when he took up a knife, and was even more prepared. But a raised eyebrow when he put it down. Berwald was fairly sure that he had more than just a knife on him, but of course, a human could never trust a mutant fully. So instead, he was still on his guard, letting said human speak as he wished, even if one could clearly tell that he did not trust, nor believe in his words he spoke. A slight boredom over his features, and he wasn't even looking at him anymore, rather on the spot where the knife was.

"I know where I want to go." He grunted, and finally looked back up at the stranger, taking a step back when he took one forward, don't trust human, just.. Don't. Tino was another thing, his kind human who had done nothing but put trust in him, and he was as close as Berwald could come to a real faith and trust in a human. "It's foolish to walk up to a mutant, despite having weapons on you, and not knowing what powers they have." He warned, but didn't move, hands down and his glare kept on him instead. He had to give him some credit for being stupid enough, maybe a bit brave, but mostly just plain stupid.

He didn't relax, he had no reason to, but instead he scratched the back of his head ans sighed. "I'm not trusting you." He started, always weak at heart, that had always been his one true weakness. He trusted too easily, and he gave people more chances, and beginning of chances, more than he really should. "But.." He began, still holding his gaze, even more firm, to see if he would yield, if he showed any weakness. Moving his gaze away from him when he was being like this, he knew those was not to trust, as they would easily give into if being beaten for information. "If you can prove yourself and that you are true to your words." As he took a step to the side, to come more around him, trying to lure him away from the knife so he didn't hastily get it. Knife wounds was more annoying than bullet wounds. A bullet you could easily get out from a leg or an arm, but if you cut deep and long enough, not even Berwald could stop that bleeding, and his endurance body could not live through a bloodloss.

"Whom are you?" He began, wanting his name, his true name, and he made sure to not give him any room for lies. "If you can be honest to your words, and help me, I will give you what you want in return, if you can prove yourself, that will say." He continued, fist clenched, body tense, prepared to fight back if he so needed it.

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 702

Tags: Berwald Oxenstierna

Notes: Whoo finally replied!

How exactly could Alfred convince this mutant that he was here to help? Alfred just had words. If this mutant ran, Alfred wouldn't follow. Too risky, too suspicious, both for the mutant and any mutant enforcement that was certain to come by.

He'd already tossed down his knife and there was no way that Alfred was giving up his gun. Yet the mutant still looked at him with undeniable distrust. Not that Alfred would have trusted himself much either. As far as this mutant was concerned, Alfred was the enemy.

Your humiliation. Those words made Alfred wince a little. He had been part of that for a while, hadn't he? Maybe he still was in some ways. Just by living in Archadia, he was probably supporting the system in some way. Then again, Alfred was hardly an ordinary citizen...

No. No excuses. Alfred had to own up to things.

Alfred watched the mutant carefully when he put down his knife. The taller blond raised an eyebrow at him, clearly questioning his actions. He looked at Alfred, then at where the knife was, his gaze lingering longer on the latter. He moved backwards as Alfred moved forwards, clearly still wary.

It seemed to be an eternity before the mutant spoke up with a grunt. He glared at Alfred. A smarter man might have stepped down and looked away, perhaps even left, but Alfred stared right back, holding his gaze evenly. If this was a battle of wills, Alfred wasn't about to lose.

"If you're so sure of where to go, why are you still wandering around?" Alfred questioned. "You're not going to get very far if you're just searching. The police and guards will get to you first."

Alfred gave the mutant a brief smile. "I've never been very smart, so that's alright. You don't have to trust me much. Just a little. Just enough to let me help you."

Alfred observed the mutant carefully. His posture was still rigid, though ever so slightly more relaxed than before. That meant Alfred was making progress. Still...how exactly was Alfred supposed to make him trust Alfred? There wasn't a ton that Alfred had going for him. Just words. Alfred could talk, certainly, but that didn't prove much of anything.

As for his real name...Alfred hesitated. After all, he didn't know that this mutant wouldn't give it out. It definitely seemed like he wanted to stay away from the police. Alfred would peg him as the defiant sort, but that didn't prove anything.

Still...if he could help...if this gave him that chance...Alfred couldn't just pass that up, could he? He needed to take a chance, a risk. If things got bad, Alfred could just...no, that wasn't an option anymore. He couldn't leave anymore. But this gave Alfred a chance. And that was all he needed.

"Alfred," Alfred said finally. "That's my name. I can't prove much to you if you don't let me help you, and I can't force you to come with me. But..."

Alfred cut himself off. His eyes narrowed and he turned backwards to look at the edge of the forest. Were the police coming through now? Shit. He should've hacked into their comms, figured out what their search patterns were. They were exposed right now, and Alfred didn't doubt that the police wouldn't just automatically take them into custody and assume the worst.

He glanced around. They needed to run, and now. If they did, they might be able to make it out of the forest before the police fully settled in. Else, they'd have to hide. Any movement could be a death sentence.

Alfred raised a finger to his lips in case his sudden silence hadn't been an obvious enough indicator for the mutant. He jerked his thumb towards the left. It was a dangerous gambit, but Alfred figured that if they went fast enough, it was their best chance of escape.

Without waiting for the mutant to respond, Alfred scooped up the knife he'd dropped and began taking off in the direction he'd pointed out. He had to trust the mutant to follow—if Alfred hadn't convinced him that Alfred was the man's best option by now, it was too late.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Take my lead; I'll set you free.

This would either be the mutants downfall, or his chance for an escape. To trust the human that stood in front of him, a stranger even more so. He had just met him, or rather, they stumbled upon each other. He could be a policeman, a guard from the more 'quiet' section of the cells.. If there even was a part like that.. Berwald would never be let in another cell rather than his own, very tight-secured one. He could also be one of those mutant haters, who would lead him wrong and try to kill him with another weapon behind a tree. In best, and most unlikely case, he was a friendly human who really wanted to help him.. Whom was he kidding, like anyone liked mutants.

But Tino...

Shaking his head, trying to get rid of the thought of the only man who had ever shown him how the real world was, and tried to concentrate on now, on the man in front of him. Why was he even trying so hard to get Berwald to understand him, even if he didn't know the giant, but he was surely recognising his clothes.. Maybe he should've just been running around naked, pretending he was high on medication from a hospital.

Damn, the human was right. "I know the forest.. I just... Don't know the right path." He mumbled, maybe a bit embarrassed that he was a bit lost, despite his good sense of direction.. And yet he had just been outside here once before, and the first time he hadn't really taken notice of the surroundings, just the smaller male he had next to himself, and maybe a bit frightened of the surroundings..

A little bit.. But was it enough to help, but maybe it's was just the bit it would take to throw him in again.

And yet.. Berwald did straighten his back and looked down, carefully, on the human when he spoke his name. Alfred. He was good at reading faces, liar or not, and he studied him carefully. It shocked him, it actually did, that he human had indeed spoken the truth, and he was hiding his surprise, even if it was showing just a bit in his eyes. So the human.. Might want to help him after all? A human that was there to ruin it for him wouldn't tell him it's true name, because if the mutant would get out again, everyone knew whom his next victim would be.

Startled, like a cat caught in action, he jumped just slightly, still nervous, and especially when he heard more voices than one. So he once again looked at Alfred, not knowing what to do, his first plan was to knock them all out. It would help, unless they had tasers, or other things that was long-range, or dangerous.

Not even Berwald wasted time when he saw Alfred dive for the knife, at first he was prepared for Alfred to turn his back on him, and when he didn't.. Then he knew he could somewhat trust him, and he decided to follow after him. Holding the same pace as Alfred, making sure to look around, using his height to an advantage as they were running, trying to help Alfred spot over the trees and stones if someone else was coming.

Quickly, he grabbed one hand on Alfred's waist, and the other over the other's mouth, to silence him in case he did some noise when he suddenly tugged the shorter male quickly from where they were running, towards bushes, and forced them both to lower themselves behind them. Holding his breath, and eased the hold over Alfred's mouth and nose to let him breathe. and the one he had been holding around his waist disappeared, as he did the same motion Alfred had done against him a few moments ago, a finger over his lips to make him go silent.

Voices was heard just about the other side of the bush, two men that had been very silent before, and their voices still hushed. "I think I saw someone here, they can't have gone too far. They said it was two voices, so apparently two mutants. We need to find them before they escape... Let's go look over there." One of them finished, and, very lucky for the both of them, the footsteps were disappearing, but whenever it was good or not, if they were faking it, he didn't know, so instead he let his hand go, whole body oh so tense after that, because he was terrified of moving, in case they were faking it. He didn't even dare to look either, the fear of going back there again was too big for him to jeopardise it, and he'd never ever want to miss this opportunity he had.. So instead, he looked at Alfred, as if he was actually trusting the man to know what they should do, hands trembling a bit. From the sudden trouble they ran into, his quick actions, and to the fact that they might get caught..