A Stark Contrast/TWW (Tag: Sawyer)

[Geoff Alen]

So Ethan and who ever his roommate was had been on one side of the wall. Geoff had never tried knocking on the neighboring areas. He was contemplating opening the chest. The last time he hadn't noticed one right there in his room. Now, there was one sitting there. Would it be full of junk like the last one? Or would there actually be something useful in there. Geoff had pieces to a puzzle, but they didn't fit. He was here because Dorian's mother in law was bitter about losing her job and wanted to prove to the world that she was. But what exactly did killing solve? Her husband was alive. Maybe. Was it a complicated revenge tactic to show him off?

And what about Kim? How was she? Was she hurt? 

Geoff looked away from the chest. He'd open it later. He could chat with Ethan again, but now he wanted to hear from the other side. If his very loose calculations were right, the number of people were dwindling. There had been about thirty five people before. Now there was perhaps twenty five or more. He didn't like those odds. S, staring at the bare wall, he brought up his fist.

...---...(S.O.S.)

Jessica had her Morse Code calling card to initiate a conversation, and now Geoff had his. 

[Sawyer Brooks]

The second Sawyer woke up again, she knew she'd been put into a new room. Her head rang with that stupid grogginess that always signaled every roomswitch and her back hurt a little from the mattress she was on... But more than that (and unfortunately the hardest part for her) was the lack of warmth she'd gotten so used to sharing the past two weeks from her cuddling up with Ethan every night, leaving her body all cold and alone this time. It was like a massive loss in her heart not having his arms wrapped around her. And after hesitantly forcing herself to open her eyes, she let out a groan as her view was met with bare white walls and a broken cord hanging from the ceiling (illuminated only by the sunlight coming in from the unblocked window)―

As well as the obvious absence of a particular, expert-blanket-throwing ravenhaired.

Where are you now, Ethan, she whispered in her mind, her chest aching. Already she missed him... She missed him a lot. Especially after she'd been able to share that last week with Ethan all to themselves away from the cameras. Thinking about it had Sawyer blushing a little, while also making her heart ache too. Those moments with Ethan had been such a high point amid all the lows she'd been dealing with too... Not only had she been able to realize her feelings for him AND have them reciprocated, but she was also able to feel those emotions grow stronger the more she continued learning about him and spending intimate time with him just kissing and enjoying being together, no matter how brief it was.

Which honestly, staring at that empty space beside her on the bed, it definitely felt wayyyy too brief for her!

Rising to sit up―only to jump a little at how the bed creaked scarily under her weight, oh god!―Sawyer carefully slid out of the bed and scanned the rest of the depressing room, her stomach instantly sinking at how empty it felt. Do I not have a roommate? She shuddered at the possibility, the loneliness cementing itself a bit further, as well as her worry. She knew what the absence of a roommate meant, and it was pretty clear from the instant she woke up that there wasn't anyone in the bed with her. And after a quick check in the bathroom, it proved similar results.

"Hello?" she called out in the vain hopes of someone just randomly popping up out of nowhere like 'hey! are you blind? I was right here!'. However much to her worry and disappointment, no one responded except for her own quiet breaths echoing back at her―

That is until a sudden knock resounded from behind one of the walls.

"Shit!" Sawyer gasped as she jumped back in surprise. Staring at the wall where the sound came from, she started to make her way hesitantly towards it before another knock followed, and another, until it became a series of patterned knocking again―very similar to the kind she heard when she was roomed with David. And gradually her eyes widened. That must mean―!

"Jess?!" Sawyer called out suddenly as she rushed over to the source of the knocking, her hopes lifting. It had to be her! Right? Who else knocked like that after all. "Jess is that you?!"

[Geoff Alen]

Geoff's knock must have rattled someone on the other side. There was a thump, and female voice uttering 'Shit!' A tiny sparkle that Geoff could only call hope pulsed. That sounded like one of the young girls in here. One of Kim's friends. Maybe it was Freya, or Sawyer, or one of the other people.

He remembered Ethan telling him about the game. If it happened to be Sawyer, he'd move past her torment. She had been through far enough. What she needed was maybe some dirt on their kidnapper. It was the start to some good old fashioned revenge. Besides, Jess and Sawyer were best friends. She would join their takedown/give information group in a heartbeat. Who knew? Maybe she knew of others that wanted to get back at their tormentor?

"Jess? Jess is that you?" the girl on the other side asked.

"Close but not quite," Geoff said, badly hiding the laugh that came out. "It's Geoff."

[Sawyer Brooks]

"Close but not quite."

Sawyer stared comically at the wall, her expression a mixture of surprise and confusion at hearing a man's voice respond back to her. Okay, so definitely not Jess, she concluded to herself with an embarrassed sigh. Hearing a dude answer (and also laugh at the mistaken identity on her end) wasn't what she'd expected to hear, and she had to admit: she felt a little disappointed that it wasn't her gingerhaired friend that was on the other side... But at least it was a someone! After all she wasn't exactly a fan of being left alone.

However the next words that reached her ears made her pause for a second in hesitation.

"It's Geoff."

Oh... she thought, a slight awkwardness settling in. Tony Stark. The last time she'd seen the guy, he was untying her and the others after that terrifying moment of him training the gun on her friends. It was far from a happy experience, and in no way was she fine with what happened. Honestly she still wasn't entirely sure what to think about that; she had a lot of conflicted emotions from it. And having the guy talking to her now, it was a rather odd feeling...

But even so, she wasn't too uncomfortable to talk. Nor did she really feel angry this time like she usually did just from hearing Tony Stark's name. Maybe it was cause of her having experienced a somewhat similar situation during that Simon Says game herself that she had at least some level of understanding and sympathy there towards him now―enough at least to give him a chance to talk anyway. Or maybe it was just the overall exhaustion from everything going on too; it was hard to say, but she felt alright enough to listen to what he had to say―for now.

"Sorry, I uh... thought you were someone else. Clearly!" Sawyer replied with a quiet laugh as she waved her hand away in embarrassment. "Jess usually knocks like that. Anyway umm... I'm Sawyer Brooks? Don't know if you remember me, I'm the brunette from that shitty tunnel the first night here, the one who said she worked for the news station? You also untied me in the Russian Roulette thing..?" I also yelled and threatened to smack you, but that's one detail probably best left out, she added silently to herself.

[Geoff Alen]

"Sorry! I uh...thought you were someone else, clearly." The female voice apologized and gave a soft, quiet laugh.

Geoff heard himself echoing the sentiment, though he didn't know why. Was it fatigue? The fact he actually had something worth laughing at in this awful twisted time. It was hard to say.

"Jess usually knocks like that."

"Jess taught me how to knock like it. She said it was a good way of communicating big problems without...a certain someone listening in and figuring out what we're talking about. Well, okay she didn't teach me per se, but she did give me a Morse code cheat sheet and I've just been using it for practice in case something big does come up. We were neighbors before the room switch."

"Anyway, umm....I'm Sawyer Brooks? Don't know if you remember me, I'm the brunette from that shitty tunnel the first night here, the one who said she worked for the news station? You also untied me in the Russian Roulette thing..?"

Sawyer Brooks. The hiking girl that Kim was always telling him about back in Maidefield. Yes, and she was in the shitty sewer tunnel in that first night. AND she had been in the Russian roulette. She had been one of the super angry people. It had been long ago. Long enough for Geoff to let it go. Besides, he knew who he was really angry at. The matchmaker.

"Yeah, one of Kim's best friends. Whenever we were getting coffee before, and when we were roomed together, she loved talking about you. And a close friend of Ethan's? I was chatting with him before I came over to see who was in the other room. He was pretty protective of you, and, um....well...I know about that awful game she made you and the boys play."

[Sawyer Brooks]

Following Geoff's explanation for the knocking, Sawyer released an understanding breath. "Ahhh, that explains it! So it's Morse code," she stated while letting out another light laugh. "Here I thought it was just some kind of musical number she didn't tell me about."

It was an interesting idea, for sure! And just like Jess to think up something creative like that. Though there was one big hiccup: she didn't know any Morse code or have a 'cheat sheet' on her. So translating any codes or sending messages back wasn't gonna be possible for her at least... Guess I can memorize the one Geoff shared anyway, if I knew what it meant, she thought as she scrunched her nose up slightly. She just hoped the bitch behind that camera wouldn't start memorizing whatever knocks they had too; she was probably in a much better position to look them up (or worse, not even bother and just go into another psychotic rampage about her kidnappees suspiciously communicating code messages she can't understand out of simple paranoia) than any of them were. This is when I'd reaaaaally love to have my phone back!

On a positive note, however, the news that Geoff was neighbors with Jessica last roomswitch was a huge relief! Especially given the summary of deaths and games Sawyer now knew about. If he'd spoken to Jess, then it meant the redhead was still alive and alright, and that fact immediately brought a smile to the brunette's lips. So she's okay, thank God! she exclaimed inwardly as she leaned against the wall. Now if only I knew how Kim was...

As if paralleling her own thoughts, Geoff's voice spoke up again, seeming to have connected who Sawyer was. "Yeah, one of Kim's best friends," he answered back. "Whenever we were getting coffee before, and when we were roomed together, she loved talking about you."

Smiling widely at the latter part, Sawyer subconsciously let out a soft yet audible 'awww'. Leave it to her Kimmy to talk a lot about her and brighten her mood up! Even despite her worries for where she was now... "Have you heard anything about her lately?" she asked quickly, hoping maybe he heard of something. "She went missing a couple weeks back, and- um..." She couldn't really push further on that note; her emotions weren't going to let her, the tone in her voice betraying her open concern.

"And a close friend of Ethan's?"

The question Geoff asked her, however, caught her attention and distracted her thoughts for a moment, and a slight blush began to form on her cheeks. And that warmth only grew following his next confession about him having just talked to Ethan right before their conversation now, the realization causing her heart to reace even faster. "He's right next to you?" she asked for confirmation, her hopes rising. He was still okay then! Oh my god! And is so frustratingly close, she nearly groaned as she pressed her forehead against the cold wall. It wouldn't be nearly so bad if she wasn't currently alone in her room right now... But god, was she missing being able to hear his voice and talk to him again or hug him in person herself.

Fucking walls.

At least from listening to Tony Stark mention how protective Ethan seemed of her, Sawyer could feel her mood brightening a little more and her expression softening further, her heart instantly warming. It was a large comfort to know that Ethan was close enough and thinking about her too, the fact bringing a far-too-telling smile to her lips. "I'm really glad he's okay," she replied as she instinctively brushed a hand across her reddened face. "I got worried when I woke up a short while ago, apparently I'm alone in this room. Which doesn't exactly give me a very comforting feeling..." She trailed off, not really needing to say why exactly that was; the thought of another so-called 'game' going on wasn't something she wanted to think more about―

Especially when she'd already experienced one herself, her wallmate apparently knowing about it already. "News travels fast, huh?" she attempted to joke slightly in response, only for it to come out as a halfhearted sigh while her smile faltered a little at the memory. Ironically out of anyone she could have talked to, Tony Stark was probably one of the few who actually understood the truth of that all too well, and she couldn't help but wince slightly in sympathy. "It still gives me a lot of nightmares to be honest," she continued explaining quietly, her voice revealing her emotions towards what happened, "but I think I'm learning to deal with it better... I just hope nothing else happens to any of those guys."

She shuddered at the thought, shaking her head hard as if to clear it away from her mind. It was hard to know what was gonna happen, even more so when she wasn't really sure what exactly that bitch had planned. After all, she probably wasn't exactly happy at her and Ethan blocking that camera... And if that made the target on his or David's or her own back bigger― Shit!

"Have you- have you had anything else happen? With you and Hannah?" she asked as she turned towards the wall again, curious for what Geoff's answer was. Ethan and Noah had all tried to keep her up to date a little bit about the marriage stuff, and she remembered Uncle Greg mentioning Geoff was in the card game he was in. Clearly more 'games' weren't out of the question (something that made her scared for what might happen next for any of them) but maybe the actual guy had more knowledge to share about his experiences being 'matched' so far. Or at least some kind of advice, she wondered silently as her brows furrowed slightly. The more she could learn about what she might be getting into, maybe the more prepared she could be...

[Geoff Alen]

"Here I thought it was just some kind of musical number she didn't tell me about."

Geoff laughed weakly. Jess had the talents that he didn't have. Knowing stage musicals. Singing. Making incredibly outfits to show off at conventions.

"The only musical I know is Mamma Mia. I'd tell you about how I stole the show in Les Miserables by being in the audience, but, well, it was a long...eh fuck it, I need to tell peeps something so they have a positive thing to laugh at,"" And get the fire of being the first groom off his back. "My former fiancee took me to see the show. The music and whole thing...wasn't exactly my cup of tea, so I started nodding off. But I didn't realize I was nodding off literally and going in and out. The whole theatre was laughing, and not just at the comedy song going on."

It felt strange talking so casually about something he had only brought up to Noah. Heck, he hadn't even brought it up with Kim, the more he thought about it. Christina was someone in the past though. He thought he had forgotten about it. But the thing was, being tossed around like he was some prize, made him realize leaving Christina was the smartest move he had made.

"Have you heard anything about her lately?" Sawyer had asked She went missing a couple weeks back, and- um..."

"...No. I wish I did. But I'm just as worried as you are. And my roommate is gone, too, so I get exactly how you're feeling right now."

Sawyer's voice wavered when she mentioned the events. If the wall hadn't had been in the way, he would have patted her back as she lamented her woes to him. Not unlike when he had met Aoi, who had been suffering and sad from something going on in her head that bugged her throughout work. But this wasn't just a bad day. This was bad days upon bad days, making the ultimate shit sandwich.

"Have you- have you had anything else happen? With you and Hannah?"

Well, he might as well prepare her for her upcoming wedding with David. Whenever that would be. He didn't like it. Not at all. Not when it was obvious that Sawyer and Ethan liked each other. It was obvious just from how both of them spoke about one another. It wasn' just trauma bonding like he was seeing and trying to do with everyone else. This was a build-up that could have been going on before the kidnappings. Sawyer should be going through this with Ethan, not David. It was bullshit. Worse, the matchmaker probably knew it, too.

Geoff glared at the camera. Fucking bitch. Tearing away a couple that was making strides.

"After the ceremony and card game, Hannah and I were sent back to the honeymoon suite. The, uh, gold room. I guess you and David got thrown in there. We were given cards and forced to play...the only way to describe is strip poker and the newlywed game having a baby. We didn't get far, we only got to about our shoes. Both of us were terrified, because what if we said no? It's the same reason why I haven't taken off the ring. Because even though I have feelings for someone else, I don't want to get hurt. I don't want Hannah to get hurt either. She's a good person. She...makes me want to be a better person, if that makes sense."

It was like untangling wires and putting them in the proper binary plug. While he was in love in Kim, in a strange way, the matchmaker made a good choice. No wonder she was bitter about losing her job. The fact Geoff and Hannah were able to get along and try to build each other up. But he couldn't admit in front of a camera. Because if he said he was starting to fall in love with the woman he was literally forced to wed, the forcer would win.

[Sawyer Brooks]

Sawyer smiled at hearing Geoff's musical disaster story, her mood brightening a little at the image. Thank god I haven't done that at least! she thought as she laughed in response. The only musicals she'd attended were ones Jess was in, so sleeping during her performance? Talk about an epic bad-friend award!

"I can relate there," she replied as she instinctively shook her head, "musicals have never been my cup of tea either. Though I gotta admit, I might've actually paid to see that show! Least it makes for a memorable experience?" She grinned as she spoke, her tone lighthearted despite the obvious reference towards the poor guy's embarrassment.

Still it was interesting to hear Geoff talk about his life like this, embarrassing stories and former fiancées and all. She didn't know the guy before any of this happened of course, but for as cautious as Sawyer was around him, laughing along with him at the ridiculous memory made him seem a lot more... normal. Like a non-scary, regular guy who was as concerned for everyone and as starved for some kind of relief as she was. It was a stark contrast from their last interaction together... but not exactly an unwelcomed one either. Actually it was kind of strangely relieving for her in a way, and she felt her nerves ease up a little.

At least until he admitted to not having heard any information about Kim that is.

"Dammit," she muttered under her breath, the disappointment clear in her voice. Where the hell are you, Kim?

The further news that Tony Stark was also roomie-less definitely solidified her fear of another fucked up game or event going on, too. But at least on a positive note, it was nice to know she wasn't entirely alone either―both in her worries and in company.

And even more so, in the 'matched experiences' she was currently going through.

"After the ceremony and card game," Geoff went on to answer, the brunette listening intently from her side of the wall, "Hannah and I were sent back to the honeymoon suite. The, uh, gold room. I guess you and David got thrown in there."

"Yeah we did, two room switches ago," Sawyer explained as she bit her lip. 'Honeymoon suite' was a good name for that place... obviously given the roommate accommodations, that is. Though in terms of mood, it was anything but 'honeymoonish'. She wondered if it was the same for Geoff too...

Geoff seemed to read her mind as he continued detailing the 'game' him and Hannah were forced to play, and immediately the brunette's nose scrunched up in sympathy. "Strip poker, huh? How fucked up is that," she muttered before letting out a worried sigh. Her and David already covered the bases on that one! As awful of an experience that was... But it did worry her if more tasks would be expected of the two of them too―even after the damn wedding takes place. Whenever that is anyway.

"Both of us were terrified, because what if we said no?" she heard Geoff continue, the sound of his voice and his words vocalizing her own worries as well. "It's the same reason why I haven't taken off the ring. Because even though I have feelings for someone else, I don't want to get hurt. I don't want Hannah to get hurt either."

Letting out a strained chuckle, Sawyer nodded, a sympathetic expression crossing her face. "Boy do I understand that feeling," she muttered as she wiped at her face with her hand. She reaaaaally liked Ethan... But at the same time, it scared her a lot to think what that psycho bitch was gonna do with that information. She didn't want to regret any of the time she'd spent with him in their room after blocking that camera. But if him or David gets hurt... or worse―

She let out a sigh. "I feel like I'm just a giant target at this point..." she finished, feeling the pressure of that statement.

Thankfully Tony Stark was quick to divert her attention away―specifically with his cute description about Hannah―and as she listened to him continue, she couldn't help but smile a little in slight curiosity. "Sounds like you're a little sweet on her," she replied teasingly, her tone hinting a little at the soft expression on her lips. "But it makes total sense, no worries. She sounds like an amazing person."

She forced herself not to say much more; given Geoff's comment about liking someone else, she wasn't entirely sure what all was the story there or how he actually felt. Especially considering Hannah's his match, she went on the add to herself, her face scrunched in thought. She wondered how that fact alone probably made both of them feel about the slightest possibility of liking each other... if they did, of course! It made Sawyer hope Tony Stark didn't take offense to her earlier comment. But it didn't stop her interest from being piqued either.

[Geoff Alen]

"Sawyer, everyone is a target, It's not just you. And strange truth be told, after the wedding the target kind of...fades."

It was true. Ever since Geoff and Hannah humiliated themselves more than once, the annoyances and persistences seemed to fade away. In a sick way, Geoff preferred the silence. It gave him time to mull over all the pieces that he, Jessica, and Hannah had thought about. Maybe also to figure out what happened to Kim. Jessica said that she disappeared, not that she was killed or dead. There would have been a twisted gloat had she done that already. He put a hand to the wall. He didn't know were Sawyer was in conjunction, and he hoped it was in line with her shoulder or her back.

"Sorry I wasn't much help about Kim. If it helps, I don't think she's dead. She's smart about getting out of weird scenarios, even if something like this is over her head. Heck, it's over a lot of our heads."

Maybe a little too late for comfort. Besides, Ethan would probably be the better-suited man for cheering up Sawyer. He felt a little awkward, but at the same time, there was a sort of teenage sense of joy. He was helping two people that liked each other. Luckily both of them weren't dense about it like those silly movies that his sister made him watch.

"Anyways, huh, maybe we could...talk about something less doom and gloom?"[/b}

[Sawyer Brooks]

Hearing Geoff's reassurance that it wasn't just her being a target and that it'll eventually fade, Sawyer let out a quiet sigh. "I hope you're right," she said under her breath, her fingers playing with the scarf around her wrist while the cold temperature of the wall seeped through her sweater into her skin. She desperately hoped so... Not for herself really, but for the sake of Ethan and David.

"Sorry I wasn't much help about Kim," Tony Stark continued to apologize, causing Sawyer's head to turn towards his voice again. "If it helps, I don't think she's dead. She's smart about getting out of weird scenarios, even if something like this is over her head. Heck, it's over a lot of our heads."

Sawyer nodded automatically, knowing far too well how true that last statement was! At this point, I almost feel I'm going a bit insane, she inwardly attempted to joke. She was pretty sure it was the same―if not even worse―for a lot of them here. But also true was Geoff's points about Kim, and at his attempt to comfort her, she found her lips widening into a thankful smile. "Yeah, she is," the brunette agreed quietly as she attempted to calm her nerves down as well. Her gingerhaired best friend had always been crazy brave and one of the most dedicated friends she'd ever known. There wasn't anything Kim wouldn't do to protect her friends―

Though that was also part of what worried Sawyer as well. She believed Geoff was right: Kim had to be alive; she refused to think any differently. But it scared her, too, to wonder where she was then and if she was okay... She really hoped she wasn't in more danger right now.

"Kim'll be okay," she whispered quietly as if to will that statement into reality by saying it. "And thanks for saying so, Tony Stark." Her lips widened slightly at her given nickname for him, hoping he knew she appreciated his attempt to comfort her. It was nice hearing some reassurance about her friend right now... Maybe there really were some honest, caring points to this guy―those points probably being the same ones Kim knew him and liked him for. Even without knowing how deep the two's connection ran, she could tell Geoff honestly did care about Kim's well-being too, just like she did.

And that she could certainly appreciate him for.

"Anyways, huh, maybe we could...talk about something less doom and gloom?" she heard Geoff continue suggesting, and at his words, Sawyer let out a quiet breath, a relieved chuckle escaping her lips.

"Deal," she replied with an instinctive nod. Being alone in a room and talking about missing people and events wasn't exactly the kind of settling conversation topic she'd want to have either! Scrunching her nose for a second in thought, she paused before getting an idea of what to ask, turning her attention back towards the wall. "Hmm... So you said you were an engineer?" she started to ask, her tone curious. "What kind of stuff did you do? Like were you a nuclear engineer, a chemical engineer... Obviously not a train engineer." Her smile widened at that last part, referencing how he'd answered her back in the sewer room that first night here.

[Geoff Alen]

"Kim'll be okay. And thanks for saying so, Tony Stark."

Geoff had no idea what Sawyer meant. Tony Stark? Who the heck was Tony Stark? Well, she was saying it without a hint of sarcasm or any mean spirited intentionally. It felt weird receiving a compliment, especially with everything that he had done. But he would take as many nice things directed towards as he could. Better than being accused and insulted.

Sawyer seemed to appreciate talking about something besides death and forced marriages, and Geoff felt leagues better. Finally, a strange sense of relief

"Hmm... So you said you were an engineer? What kind of stuff did you do? Like were you a nuclear engineer, a chemical engineer... Obviously not a train engineer."

Geoff chuckled. She remembered that from what was probably months ago? She had a keen memory.

"Robotics engineer," he answered. "I look at how machines work. How things are wired, and how to fix things that need fixing like broken phones. There was an old phone jack in one of the rooms I was in. If the wires hadn't been fried and if I had my kit with me, I might have been...well, you get the idea."

As excited as he was to tell someone he could have helped people escape, he stopped himself out of fear that a certain someone would be listening. Besides, he even admitted the wires were toast. No amount of welding them would ever get them reconnected. Nowadays no one used wall phones.

[Sawyer Brooks]

"Robotics engineer," Geoff answered with a laugh.

Sawyer smiled as he began explaining what he did for a living, her eyebrow raised curiously. It was a bit of a surprise since robotics wasn't something she'd ever known someone (at least personally anyway) who was in that field or was studying it at her college. Course finding a robotics major in her communication classes? Probably not all that likely. But hey! While building robots, of course, wasn't exactly blowing-things-up cool, it still sounded pretty damn fun too.

Guess who's brilliant at pegging nicknames, she inwardly praised herself as a smirk formed on her lips. Dude really is a Tony Stark, huh.

"There was an old phone jack in one of the rooms I was in," she heard Geoff continued to explain from the other side of the wall. "If the wires hadn't been fried and if I had my kit with me, I might have been... well, you get the idea."

The mention of trying to fix the phone piqued her interest, and the brunette scrunched her nose in thought. If he was good with wires, that'd be another skill they'd have in their arsenal in case it came down to escaping. After all, she hadn't in the least bit forgotten her alliance she and Ethan were putting together! Course, a month or so ago, she woulda been shocked if someone had told her she was even slightly considering bringing in that same Tony Stark from the Russian Roulette instance to their said alliance. But things were obviously a LOT more desperate than they were a month ago, and a hell of a lot of things have happened to herself and everyone else... Maybe it was worth giving the guy a chance to prove he could be trusted―

Cautiously that is! It was a process of course - but for now, she was gradually warming up to him.

"I don't know if it was the same one, but there was a telephone in this super pink and black room," Sawyer added in a slightly hushed voice, her tone feeling a little more hopeful and energetic now. "Broken too, obviously - there wasn't any dialtone. But that has to mean there was at least some kind of landline or communication here at one time... right? Would there be a way to, you know―" She trailed off quietly as well, leaving the unspoken question up in the air. She didn't know how far-reaching it'd be to think they could make use of that information, such as tapping into it or something; after all, Tony Stark mentioned not having the correct tools to fix the wires anyway. And Sawyer was damn sure that bitch watching them right now probably had total control over any sort of communication outlets that were still here. Plus it wasn't like she knew how any of this phone stuff worked (beyond tapping the 'call' button on her cellphone - God, I seriously wish I had that right now!) - maybe it wasn't even logically possible.

But at least it was nice thinking about something even slightly more hopeful - as far-reaching as it might be.

[Geoff Alen]

"I don't know if it was the same one, but there was a telephone in this super pink and black room. Broken too, obviously - there wasn't any dialtone. But that has to mean there was at least some kind of landline or communication here at one time... right? Would there be a way to, you know―"

The hope in Sawyer's voice was reassuring to hear. Geoff shrugged solemnly. At least there was some hope. He didn't recall the super pink and black room. He hadn't been put in there. But the fact was there was a phone.

"If there was one with dialtone, then that means the connections here were deliberately cut." he said. Well no shit. The matchmaker didn't want to be found. Why would she? Except for maybe "There could also be a jammer somewhere in this place that's causing the interference. My guess is she has it. Or one of her lackeys. If we can find the jammer and turn it off, then the connections would be restored and we could call for help. Provided the police are looking for us, which they probably are."

Now there was always room for error here. Maybe the landlines were just too old to really intercept or receive any calls. But it was nice getting an idea of there being a line of reaching out to Maidefield.

[Sawyer Brooks]

Tony Stark seemed to be thinking along the same lines Sawyer was, and she listened to him add in further theories and possibilities with an ache in her chest. God, she really hoped they'd be able to reach out to the police... or any human being, to be honest. "With over thirty people missing? They'd have to be looking," she agreed with him as she leaned against the wall, her eyes glancing out of the window as she spoke. Course with all these damn trees around them, it was probably gonna be a harder task than any of them would like... And the months that've gone by seemed to prove that point.

But she knew her family wasn't gonna let that stop the police at least. And the chance that there might actually be a way to contact the outside world in this hellhole (should they somehow find a way to sneak past that bitch and her troupe, that is) filled her up with some much-needed energy.

"Well considering she has all these damn cameras and how old and in-the-middle-of-nowhere this place looks, I'm guessing our best bet for finding that jammer's probably wherever the other end of those cameras go," Sawyer mused quietly, her nose slightly wrinkled as usual when she was theorizing. "That AND my phone." Like Geoff mentioned, it was only logical to keep any source of communication close on hand and if there was one place where there was the most power and control going on (quite literally), it was most likely gonna be in that room. Besides, there had to be some kind of computer or monitor on the receiving end of those wires for their kidnappers to be keeping tabs on 30+ people 24/7 (or shocking them, in that bitch's case). Maybe if it's a computer system...

"Think they have Wi-Fi in hell?" she asked jokingly with a slight chuckle. Though despite her humor, the hope in her tone could still be read. Honestly having more than one way to contact someone on the outside was probably the best case scenario for all of them at this point. And even if it wasn't jammed like Geoff suggested and they really were stuck without any way of communicating? Well...

At least they knew where to go to find the people responsible for putting them here anyway.

[Geoff Alen]

"Well considering she has all these damn cameras and how old and in-the-middle-of-nowhere this place looks, I'm guessing our best bet for finding that jammer's probably wherever the other end of those cameras go. That AND my phone." [/i]

Geoff stole a look at his FitBit on his wrist. He had found it sitting in one of ghe rooms. Wy would something valuable be littered around? If that happened to his stuff, maybe...well, yes. Hannah said that she had found Dorian's expensive watch just sitting in a room. But were phones the same as watches? He pressed the button on the side. The battery had completely died, so he couldn't look at how many steps he had taken, or how his heart was beating, or what time/day it was. By the time it got to power, it'd be out of sync.

"I found my FitBit, which was taken from me, and Hannah found Dorian's watch. Maybe your phone is floating around in one of the rooms. But why it would just be thrown in a room as opposed to being under lock and key, I don't know"

It was strange to say the least. But then again, this lady was off her rocker. Driven by revenge to everyone who had wronged her, including everyone that was slightly connected. His roommate was probably being matched or being killed for making a wrong move.

"Think they have Wi-Fi in hell?" Sawyer joked.

"Wonder what the password is? 'H-E-Double hockey sticks' with numbers and symbols in place of letters and big words shortened? I mean it has potential to be a strong password. It's more mature than, oh, F Jesus or something edgy kids would make."