Open to anyone under 30

[arsenicandoldlace]

Clutching a clipboard to her chest, Gert had managed to put flyers up half of the common room areas. Each one contained a list of important phone numbers for new arrivals, information about what was in the neighborhood and an invitation to a house meeting.

//Freedom... the smell of carbon based fuel, human food and small mammals// The Deinonychus stood perfectly still in the deep brush
of the Ramble and chirped contentedly to herself.

Gert dropped the clipboard and sank down on a thick leather sofa murmuring, "oh no, oh no. oh no....."

Comments

[mija_matona]

Molly had been giving herself a tour of the building, planning for her future as an Avenger. "What, what's wrong?" She asked, running into the room when she overheard her sister. "Alien invasion? Did Mom show up? Or crazy Tina Minoru?"

[arsenicandoldlace]

"Worse,". Gert practically howled at Molly, "Old Lace got out and I don't know where she is." Gert twisted her hands together and looked at her sister.

"Molly, she's somewhere where there is food, and small mammals and she can smell exhaust, which means she could be ANYWHERE".

[mija_matona]

“Ay chingados,” Molly breathed, then told herself to calm down. She needed to stay calm so Gert could stay calm.

“I mean it’s okay, we’ll figure it out.” She didn’t sound half as reassuring as she had hoped to. “Try to get her to focus on scenery, trail signs, something that will help us locate her. Then we can befriend the neighbors and put together a search party.”

[arsenicandoldlace]

"That's a good idea, Molls. I just promised Mr. Stark that she would be good and we haven't even been here a week and she's already escaped." Gert sighed and wished for a Xanex. She inhaled and slowly exhaled as she counted to four and repeated the process, letting her mind quiet.

//Hey Lacey girl// Show me what else is around. You're such a good girl, staying hidden in the trees.//.

"Molly, she can hear kids playing and she knows that there are bigger mammals within nose shot, but she won't go after them because they can't run away." Gert grinned, "Do you think she's developing a conscience?"

[mija_matona]

“I mean you spend a lot of time in her head Gert, it would be weirder if she didn’t ever consider ‘the ethical implications of her behavior.’” Molly smiled at her sister. “just keep doing the breathing thing. We’re gonna figure this out.”

She pulled out her phone trying to figure out what to even google. “Big animals that can’t run away, you think it’s maybe some kind of zoo?” She paused, typing. “There’s a zoo in Central Park!”

[arsenicandoldlace]

Counting off another four breaths, Gert paused "You're the best sister, ever." She closed her eyes and tried to see through Old Lace's. She inhaled sharply, as the world came into laser sharp focus. When Lace squinted, Gert could see through the thick tangle of branches to a huge expanse of lush verdant lawn. When the deinonychus cocked her head daintily to one side, the faint sound of music could be heard in the distance. Then Lace heard abruptly at the much closer and much more interesting sound of birds. Gert imagined her sternest voice //OLD LACE SIT. DON'T YOU DARE CHASE THOSE BIRDS//

She turned to Molly, "The good news is that I think you're right. She can hear a carousal and I think I recognize the grassy lawn she squinted at from one of the protests I went to a couple years ago." Gert grimaced, "The bad news is that she's hearing birds, and I'm not sure how long she's going to sit like I told her too."

[mija_matona]

"Come on, let's get Paloma, we can get there fast," Molly led her Gert to the parking garage, a little worried she might run into something, she was so focused on being in Lace's head. "Gimme the keys, you need to focus."

She got her sister in the van and set the GPS to get them to Central Park, before pulling out onto the street. She knew the park was huge, but was hoping Gert could direct her from there.

[arsenicandoldlace]

"Oh no, Molly what if we can't find parking?" Gert noted the wail in her voice and told herself sternly, Gertrude Yorkes, who is the adult here...That's right it's you.

"Okay, I think she's still in the area with the trees. She seems to be staying put for now."

//Lacey, you're such a good girl.//

The theropod cocked her head as if she was listening. She heard the skitter patter of claws and couldn't resist the urge to chase. She crashed through the underbrush before the strong scent of human hit her. Old Lace froze.

"Molly, she was good, but I don't know how much longer she can last.:

[mija_matona]

"I know we don't have a lot of time, but it sounds like she's hungry." Molly scanned the road looking for fast food. She pulled the van into the drive thru line at White Castle.

"I'll take a crave case. No, make that two," she said, "Oh, and a sack of fries..." She looked over at Gert. "You're gonna be hungry too, that's how the dino-connection works, right?"

She paid for their food, handing the boxes of sliders and the bag of fries to Gert in the passenger seat, and sped off, navigating the sharp turn onto the busy street like she was an experienced cab driver.

[arsenicandoldlace]

//Lacey, Molly bought you fries and sliders! Doesn't that sound awesome? If you can just stay right where you are, we are bringing you food.//

Gert pulled out her phone and started searching the map of Central Park, "Molly, how close do you think we can get to the Ramble? I bet she's somewhere in there."