Episode: 7.18

--- Ozzy ---

“Alright, you go ahead and keep that thermos there, brother.” Johnny told him. “As new as you are you’ll probably need it if you want to get through the next week or so.”

He eyed the thermos before reluctantly accepting it as he remembered the fact that he was still staying with Trish and that he (couldn’t) risk frenzying again. “Thanks…”

The other Deadman smiled. “No problem, little brother.”

He bit back his frown at the other Deadman’s continued familiarity. Mostly because he knew the only reason it was bothering him was because he actually was someone’s little brother, and Johnny’s continued reminder of that was… something he could do without.

The other Deadman clapped his hands together. “Ooh, I just had a cool idea!”

(I have a feeling I’m not going to like this idea…)

“Since you’re so new to everything, how about I keep showing you the ropes, huh?”

(And I was right.)

While normally the idea of learning how to use his powers would be enough to send him into a frenzy, -literally, as his last power test showed- the idea of learning from an overly familiar stranger, did the opposite.

“Sure, that sounds cool.”

(Too bad I’m just desperate enough to accept…)

“Really?!” Johnny’s smile was wide and true. “In that case, how about I show you how to-”

“Actually,” He cut in. “Before I came here I was trying to take care of something.”

“Oh…” Johnny blinked his smile falling to disappointment.

Knowing it wouldn’t help him to end it there he continued. “But if it’s alright with you, I should be able to come by here tomorrow, around this time.”

Johnny was smiling once more. “Yes! That’d be awesome!”

(Huh…) He narrowed his eyes at the other Deadman. (He’s flickering a bit strongly to happy…) It wasn’t a real problem, but it wasn’t helping with whatever issue he had with his fellow Deadman.

Deciding it was better to cut his losses, he nodded and took a step towards the room exit. “Cool, in that case I’ll see you tomorrow?”

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“Yeah, tomorrow!” Johnny nodded excitedly.

“Heh, yeah…” He couldn’t help but frown as soon as he was out of sight, the creeping chill once more traveling up and down his spine. “That was… unpleasant…”

As he spoke he noticed a faint fog of cold mist escape him, the apparent evidence of his ‘frost core’ just barely visible amoungst the even thicker mists that covered the majority of Crimson Falls.

(Then again I guess it was pretty enlightening too…) He figured, feeling the weight of the thermos he’d hidden in his hoodie pocket.

The fact that he could survive without having to turn into a cannibal was a massive relief, even if the discovery left him on the verge of an existential crisis. That combined with the fact that he’d gotten a hint towards his powers and enough ectoplasm to hopefully last him a week, meant that he’d come out fairly ahead after his encounter with the other Deadman.

He looked around the empty street. If the map Trish had given him was accurate he still had a bit of distance before he reached the burger place, meaning he might have just enough time to try and…

(Alright, let’s see how to do this…)

He raised one of his hands palm up, being sure to try and draw out his ectoplasm as he started walking. Eventually he did manage to feel the sort of cool warmth pooling in his hand, before seeing the standard green glow that accompanied the majority of his power usage, though luckily he didn’t feel the same gnawing hunger he’d felt the last time he’d used his powers.

(Guess ‘eating’ really did help me out some…)

With the much more reassuring weight of the thermos in his pocket, he began trying to play around with his power while thinking ‘cool’ thoughts. And while he didn’t really do anything new, he did manage to make the cool mist his hands were giving off thicken to the point where he could see the difference between his mists and the town’s.

(Helps that mine are kind of pale blue green…)

With some level of progress made, he cut the feed to his power before shaking out his slightly numb hands. (Guess even if I can’t really feel it the cold still messes with my muscles a bit… That could be annoying.)

Shaking his head before he could send himself on another tangent, he once more looked around to try and orient himself as he pulled out Trish’s map.

As luck would have it, he was already fairly close to the burger place Trish had sent him to find. Meaning it was a fairly quick task for him to get the food and make his way back, especially since the mists were much more responsive in getting him to a location he’d already been to.

Unfortunately, despite this, between his getting sidetracked and finding his way there, it had still taken him long enough, that by the time he’d gotten back to the clinic Trish was waiting outside with worried look.

“Was starting to get worried you were gone so long.” She told him with a relieved grin as she finally noticed him walking up to her.

“Yeah… got a little turned around.” He lied, before holding up the burgers. “But I got the food at least.”

“Good,” Trish nodded as she turned back to the clinic. “Mags has been bugging me about lunch for the last hour and it’s starting to get on my nerves.”

He smiled. “That sounds about right.” From what little he knew about Trish’s friend.

As he followed Trish into the clinic he once more considered everything that had happened over the last week or so. He still thought leaving might be safer for her, given how close to frenzying he’d gotten near her, but at the very least he’d be safe around her for another week or two. And regardless of if Johnny was actually a threat or not, he could at least (protect) the woman that had looked after him until he was sure there were no nearby threats to her.

Taking a seat in the clinic’s breakroom he couldn’t help but smile as Trish and Maggie bickered about something the way his sisters used to.

(Yeah, it won’t hurt to stick around for a little longer…)