day by day by day we're falling down [OPEN]

[goldtoxicity]

WHO: Josh Foley and YOU!
WHERE: All around the city
WHEN: Early to mid-event
WHAT: A week in the life of Josh Foley. Everything from healing fellow metas to assassination plots.
WARNINGS: Mild body horror, torture, terrorism, mental illness, violence, blood

safehouse.

[ it's not often that he's here. but if the porters are active again, that means it's time to act. right? right. time to recruit, or in the very least, make sure that everyone who turned up here is in fighting shape. because they will need to fight.

he's all smiles as he approaches new folks, reaching out to take hands. ] I'm a healer, [ he says, and his hands begin to glow. ] don't worry, it's gonna be okay. Did you just get here?

[ and to the oldbies, he flashes a lopsided grin that doesn't quite meet his eyes. ] Never thought I'd see this again. Did you?

healing.

[ anyone who knows of elixir most likely knows three things at this point. the first, and perhaps the most important, is that he's wanted for a damn good reason. the faction of the resistance he runs with doesn't really have a name, but the brotherhood of evil metas is bandied about in hushed whispers. they're extremists. assassins.

the second is that he's a healer and a powerful one at that. you want that incredibly obvious scar removed? he's got you covered. broken bones mended? easy. a limb regrown? sure. it comes at a cost to him, sometimes. but a cost to you. money, loyalty, or information. his hands might itch to touch the wound to fix it when it's presented, but he'll stay back unless you're a friend or willing to owe a favor to his team.

( but he's never great at sticking to it. some parts of the old kid remain. he was never meant to be this. )

the third, and the most important, is that there is something fundamentally wrong with joshua foley. there wasn't always. he used to be a pretty good kid, the kind of kid that'd rush up to strangers to heal them. but that golden skin of his isn't quite so golden now, blotched and spattered with black spots that induce illness when touched. sometimes, while healing, he can't handle whatever it is he's trying to do. sometimes he loses the thread, sometimes you get hurt before you get better. he's always apologetic, always quick to fix it, but it's a game of russian roulette.

but still, he's here. operating out of an abandoned storefront for the time being. there's a cot set up behind the counter. if you need him, you only need to ring the bell to draw him from the back room. ]

harming.

[ this side of his powers comes easier now. the gold washes away, leaving shiny ink black in it's place.

this guy is small potatoes. metas are coming back in a big way, if the porter being active again is any indication, and right now people's focus is on containing the newly activated porter. resources are split, information is easier to get a hold of, and that leads him to here and now. walking down the street in the middle of the night wearing all black, hood pulled over his shock of white hair as he follows a few yards behind a man.

the guy's not really all that important in the grand scheme of things. has some fun ideas on metahuman imprisonment. used to be opposed but now he's been bought out, because every human has a price that can be paid for their mortality, and as far as josh's fucking concerned he deserves to suffer.

maybe you do too. or maybe you don't. maybe you're sick of extremists making it hard to go about things the proper way and you're keen to intervene. ]

running.

[ and of course, you can't be one of the most wanted metas alive without complications. something goes wrong, somewhere somehow, and josh is bolting through the streets, running as fast as he can to evade pursuers. there's a price on his head - enough for someone to live very comfortably for the rest of their days - and the promise of immunity if they come forward.

he springs over a fence. shoves a pile of boxes over in his way. weaving in and out of traffic, alleyways, doing whatever he can to ditch the eyes on him so he can disappear into the shadows.

maybe you're keen to cash in. maybe you believe in his cause. but he's running your way and you've got one shot at a choice. ]

hurt.

[ the thing about his dark side? it doesn't heal.

anything. all processes dedicated to fixing grind to a halt and reverse, even the ones that should be fixing the damage to himself. the higher his bloodlust, the harder it is to switch back. trading compassion for power only leads to misery and bullet holes.

he's dripping blood. the streets are mostly deserted and the chaos that was following him has finally died down, but he's a long way from any safehouse. breathing hard and pressing an arm to the bullet wound in his gut that's warning him he doesn't have a ton of time to be fucking around. he came back from the dead once, but there's really no telling whether that was a fluke or not. he isn't keen to test it.

but he's not moving very fast either. he looks like hell. his head hits the back of the dumpster he's hiding behind, teeth grit as he tries to force himself to his feet. ]

wildcard.

[ choose your own adventure! hit me up at minimoffs

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

When you call me that, you sound like you want the D. Which we've agreed shouldn't happen again.

[But he moves to go grab a blanket off the couch now that his hands are clean. And of course he holds it out toward Josh.]

You take people sometimes, right? To get info from them? Take the time, play with the powers. Explore them.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he's going to put a pin in the second part of the conversation, taking the blanket and wrapping himself up. blood loss sucks, he's cold all over. ]

I was making a lot of mistakes back then.

[helpdesk_hero]

[How far has David fallen, to so casually suggest torture as a way to sharpen one's skills?]

We were young. Shit like that happened. You've learned and grown up.

[goldtoxicity]

[ unfortunately josh has already been there, done that. there isn't much he hasn't warped in a person by now. ]

Young, dumb, desperate and lonely. Worst combination.

[helpdesk_hero]

[The kids are not okay. They really aren't.]

Also sounds like what gets you in bed with strange people?

[goldtoxicity]

I don't do that anymore.

[ he tucks in on himself, frowning. ]

And if I did, Laurie would literally kill me. I guarantee it.

[helpdesk_hero]

[David does. Quite a bit. Because the sex is REALLY good and he doesn't have to get attached.]

I'd say your loss, but I definitely don't mind the reduced competition. I can't stand up to gold boy.

[goldtoxicity]

Uh, people'd pick you over me any day, dude.

[helpdesk_hero]

Josh, you shine. And when you smile you just about glow.

[What? They've slept together. He can absolutely compliment Josh like this.]

You're good on the eyes and you look like an experience. Whereas I am an experience.

[goldtoxicity]

I'm a novelty.

[ he gestures towards david. ]

You're a treasure.

[helpdesk_hero]

The golden man is a treasure, Josh.

[Look at them, complimenting each other.]

I'm a treasure only in how much the government will pay so they can have me and brainwash me.

[goldtoxicity]

Uh, no, your info is worth millions.

[ he scratches the side of his face, trying to flake the blood off. ]

I think the reward for info about me is only at 50k.

[helpdesk_hero]

No one sleeps with me for my information, Josh.

[Or for the money. They sleep with him because he's got the experience of SO MANY people.]

And that doesn't matter. You have a woman who loves you at home.

[goldtoxicity]

That's 'cause you don't give it up.

[ he laughs a little. a touch wearily. ]

I wish we had a home.

[helpdesk_hero]

I make my money the way I make it.

[He reaches out, glove back on, to stroke Josh's hair.]

Give up on this fight. Find a home. Leave the states. It's possible.

[goldtoxicity]

[ the real reason he probably can't heal is how infrequent moments like this are now. with anyone. he isolates himself. ]

We're in too deep.

[helpdesk_hero]

You're never in too deep, Josh. Don't make me send Laurie a letter that says I will donate twenty thousand to the resistance for her to use, but she can only have it if she takes you guys to Florida or something for a week.

[goldtoxicity]

Dude.

[ it's a fantasy. ]

Look at me. I can't walk around in public anymore. That's delusional.

[helpdesk_hero]

Then take a week off and treat yourself. I've got a really nice safehouse.

[The main one, where he really lives. The a jacuzzi tub and a view of the city and so many luxuries.]

[goldtoxicity]

No. I'm good.

[ he pushes himself up to stand, wincing when he tries to move that leg. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh no, you're not leaving until your leg can support your weight. Don't make me tranq you. I've got some elephant level ones.

[What? He will try it. For Josh's sake.]

[goldtoxicity]

Okay, firstly, don't be creepy. Secondly, you bring this up after you spent the last half hour rooting around my chest?

[helpdesk_hero]

You were full lead. Your brain chemistry shifts enough that most drugs don't touch you. You forget, Josh, I've seen the best drugs Beast had to offer not work on you when you were like that.

[He's deal with all of this before. Or stood by and watched.]

[goldtoxicity]

I do forget, because I don't remember it.

[ he was, you know, a catatonic screaming and traumatized mess. god. he'd come back so broken. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

Huh. I would have figured the memories were there somewhere. But I guess not.

[He shrugs and puts a hand on Josh's shoulder.]

Go. The fuck. To sleep. I'll call Laurie to let her know you're okay.