Realistic or Modern Lasting Light

[Crono]

Kurt Blackwood

Hospital Council Member | Location: Church Parking Lot - Church Upper Floor | Tags: Amara uwupolice , Tyler A Sparkling Zombie , Cox Bullyboy Squad boy, Jordan (NPC) | Mentions: Sandra (NPC)

Kurt glanced over his shoulder as another body joined them in the room. The teenager who was still the fresh meat of the scavengers, he'd joined up shortly after Kurt had talked to the younger generation on finding their place in the community. Not that he'd wanted to be the one to give that speech, however the other council members made sure he did. Giving speeches wasn't his thing, but each of them had to do something of that sort at some point. Pay their dues and all that. Surprisingly there'd been an effect, even if a small one in Tyler. Much to his father's dismay, might he add.

The man was drawn from his thoughts as Amara pointed them in the right direction. "You heard the lady." Kurt said with a light smirk as he nodded towards the food, and once Tyler started loading the bin Kurt crouched down and joined in. They'd filled it nearly halfway when Howie's voice called out his name from below, an exasperated sigh escaping Kurt in reply. By the tone it was clear the large man was still angry, if not angrier. Howie was a number of things but Kurt hadn't expected the man to return with a vengeance, usually he managed to cool off. Before he could tell the two others in the room to ignore it there came a second call which only pushed Kurt back into frustration. The man glanced apologetically at Tyler then Amara before straightening his legs to stand and head for the stairs. While he wasn't sure how this would go, he questioned if Howie was looking to go to blows with him or simply yell. Either way Kurt planned to try his best to deescalate.

At the bottom of the steps he glanced about the open back room of the church to see a lack of Howie. Two steps towards the nearby open door to the main area and he'd found the man. The sight of the three strangers around Howie as well as the gun had the councilman halting in his step just inside the doorway as well as tensing up. One minute everything was going smoothly and now they had a problem. "So, what's going on here?" He asked cautiously, a lack of information making it difficult to know how to react. His mind raced with questions on whether they were the stashes owners, was Sandra okay, were there more of them? Most importantly was what the strangers wanted and what they knew of what this little crew was currently doing.​

coded by natasha.

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Tyler Bennett

Role: Hospital Scavenger
Location: Church Upper Floor -> ground level
Tags: Amara ( uwupolice ), Kurt ( Crono ) | Mentions: N/A

"Sweet talking me won't make me speed up!"

Suddenly, for that moment, they weren't in the middle of a zombie-torn wasteland. They were back at the hospital, behind walls guarded by their people, where the darkness and stress weighed a little less on his heart. Tyler stuck his tongue out right back at her. An open-mouthed, toothy smile shone on his face after. "My bad. Here I thought I was doing something nice. Do you want me to crack the whip instead?" But then he started thinking about how he wasn't thinking about doom and gloom, and that brought him back to thinking about doom and gloom. And Amara had a point. They needed to focus on their task. His smile faded a bit before he asked his question. But even still Amara's eyes twinkled. It was nice to see in such a desolate place.

She pointed out the last of the perishables.

"You heard the lady."

"Aye, aye." Tyler didn't quite know how he felt about Kurt. Ambivalent, he guessed, like with most of the council members. Somehow, the leadership and the politics felt more like Dustin's thing, like an old man's interest. Tyler cared about the decisions they made, sure, probably like everyone else who were in their hands. He supposed mainly he was appreciative that they led, period, because he'd probably sooner pull out his own hair than make even one of the calls that they had to.

He glanced from the man to Amara as he knelt down. His hands deftly scooped cans and packages and set them in the cardboard box. "Must be what working at a Goodwill was like." Sure. Because someone donated these supplies, whether they wanted to or not. Probably a good idea to keep that part quiet. He scooted when Kurt joined in. For the bit that he did, anyway.

Because suddenly, Howie shouted from downstairs. Tyler cringed. It was his default reaction to any loud noise--well, that or a start--especially while outside their shelter. He gave an awkward, sideways glance at Kurt. Howie yelled again. "Oh my god, Howie." The frustrated murmur slipped. The look in his eyes mirrored Kurt's when they met. He couldn't deny being thankful that the councilman decided to see what the fuss was about. It couldn't have been anything good. Tyler waited until the light creaks on the stairs sounded far enough way before looking at Amara. "Howie's being a pain. He and Kurt got into it outside, something about him spilling the gas earlier. He probably can't let it go." He huffed. He worked more quickly, more haphazardly. "Hopefully the loudmouth didn't attract any attention." For a moment, he bit the corner of his mouth and then glanced at the window. He almost asked Amara to check, but she didn't need the distraction, and he didn't want to afford it himself either. He tossed the last few food items into the box. No need to worry about closing it. Getting it into the van would be good enough for now. "At least we're making progress," he said while standing, the box in his hands. "How much more, do you think?"

He started for the stairs while he listened for a response. In these past few seconds, things had seemed quiet on the first floor. Maybe Kurt had managed to get Howie to keep his voice down, but he didn't know how much he believed that possibility. "Kurt? Howie?" he tried as he neared the foot of the stairs.

 

[rxbrevenge]

Hiro Wright

“Hey, are you listening?” asked an increasingly preoccupied Hiro.

“Do I need to spell it out in Chinese? Take means take.”

The medic paid little mind to Harry's insensitive question, he was used to being on the receiving end of such comments—rooted in ignorance—and he believed that, in Cox's case, it went no further than exactly that— ignorance. While Cox made his stance on the matter clear, Hiro still made one last ditch effort to convince him, “I'm just saying... there's ways to take things without taking them. I mean, who knows, they could be friendly! We could negotiate something or make a deal or, or...” That is, until his voice faltered in response to the brawny man's angry facial expression. “... you know what, forget it.” They were going in.

As the three of them sprang into action, Hiro and Jordan could only look at eachother in fright and distress— their scavenging group's leader had gone completely mad. The pair watched helplessly as he hit a lone man in the head, pointed his gun at him and forced him to lure out his leader. Jordan expressed his concerns to Hiro through mutters, which the young doctor shared. What they were doing was not only morally incorrect but also extremely risky, in his eyes. There were about a thousand ways that Cox's plan could blow up in their faces... and literally, in some of those ways.

Unfortunately, neither Hiro nor Jordan had the guts to confront Harry again, despite everything in them telling them that things wouldn't end well for them if they went through with what they were doing. When the other group's leader showed up— “Kurt”, as the man called him, Hiro, unable to speak up and stop things right then and there, simply looked at the blue-eyed man and mouthed an “I'm sorry.” Before returning to silence and letting Cox handle the talking. He was, however, ready to whip out the medical equipment if any sort of violence broke out... and knowing Cox, it probably would.

Tags: Bullyboy Squad | Crono

coded by reveriee.

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Dominic Cruz

Role: Loner
Location: Diner -> church parking lot
Tags: x

Dom saw it too. He saw it all: the argument between the scruffy, handsome men; the mamita and the twink with the enticing packages; and the others, the three who charged the church like SWAT--kinda. The one who had been in the lead seemed to have more conviction. Something was about to go down. He couldn't see the back of the van from this angle, but his guess was that mamita was none the wiser to what had just transpired.

A cafe across the street gave him front row seats to it all. No, really, he sat in a booth, his head poking just above the sill, not so much peeking anymore, not like he was before that one man was peering around, but he kept low just in case. The sound of the motor had surprised him. It had been a minute since he had seen a working car, and to think he had been just a street away from supplies he could have squirreled away for himself. He had been debating his part in the scene. Being alone was getting, well, lonely, but they might kill him if he just walked up to them.

He still didn't know what he should do. Did he want company or did he want those supplies?

Either way, across the street wasn't where he wanted to be when the chaos erupted. Dom grabbed his bag and readied himself at the open door. When he was sure no one at the church was watching, he darted for the parking lot. He kept low, ducking behind cars as he advanced. It didn't occur to him that SWAT would have others watching from afar. He just moved, and he made it all the way to the front of the van where he lied on the asphalt, palms planted on either side of him and elbows bent skyward, like he was about to begin doing push-ups.

Sneaker-clad feet stood at the other end. They started to turn. They started strolling toward the church's entrance.

Dom smirked to himself. He'd wait her out. Maybe he'd get an opportunity to get into the back of the van.

 

[VisiblyInvisible]

"Sometimes I can't tell if I'm living,
really living, or if I'm just going
through the motions."

Matthew A. Turner

MOOD

very panicked, quite scared.

OUTFIT

nurse's scrubs

LOCATION

hallway outside of the medical supply room.

INTERACTIONS

Dustin, Miyu, Carson

TAGS

A Sparkling Zombie

When Dustin spun around, revolver aimed squarely at Matthew, his hands flew up and he let out an embarrassing, albeit justified, sound. He wasn’t sure how he’d even describe it when he inevitably told Amara about his near-death experience later. A squeak? A gasp? Something in between? Almost like a hamster full of air being stepped on by a big shoe. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting. What else would Dustin do when he caught a glimpse of a flailing knife in his peripheral? Nevertheless, it was a terrifying moment. Matthew was just glad Dustin wasn’t as trigger-happy as some of the others wandering through the halls of the hospital

As Dustin spoke to the intruder, Matthew couldn’t help but be impressed by his level-headedness. In a strange way, the man’s calm, yet stern tone was soothing. It quelled many of his nerves, and for a brief moment Matthew felt safe and even relieved. He was sure that Dustin could handle the situation himself.

Then the stranger spoke. His voice was deep and booming. It seemed to echo up and down the hallway, almost like something out of a movie. Whatever semblance of security and certainty Matthew had a moment ago cracked and crumbled.

Dustin waved his hand at Matthew, but didn’t give much direction. Unsure of what was being asked of him, Matthew took a step back and shuffled to the closest door.

When the intruder demanded that all weapons be put away, Matthew glanced at Dustin before sliding his knife into its sheathe, then attempted to move it from his side to his back in an effort to hide it from the armed trespasser. For a split second, Matthew considered hiding. He certainly wasn’t a fighter. Whoever this guy was, he didn’t know what he was walking into. He didn’t know how many people were in this hallway, and Matthew thought they could use that to their advantage. Then again, Matthew didn’t know how murderous this man was, either.

He wasn’t able to make a decision.

A man in dark clothes stepped out, Miyu held in front of him at gun point with her back to Matthew and Dustin.

Before the end of the world, Matthew had briefly been the caretaker of Miyu while she was in her MIC. It didn’t last long, maybe only a month or so, but he had gotten familiar with her condition. So, after she awoke in the beginning of the apocalypse, he tried his best to get her to visit him at least once a week. Recently, though, his persistence began to dwindle. It had only been about a year, but her condition seemed to be improving enough. Matt figured he would check up on her every once in a while or she would come to him if something was wrong.

When Miyu glanced back at him and Dustin, Matthew was quick to notice the expression she wore. Confused and scared. She was clearly in distress, not that the man would care. Matthew’s instinct was to rush to her aid, to find what was wrong, and it took every fiber of his being to refrain from doing just that.

From where he was, Matthew couldn’t tell a whole lot about what was happening with Miyu, but he concluded she was having some kind of episode. Whether it was caused by stress or her head trauma, he didn’t know.

Matthew waited for Dustin to make the first move, hoping with all his heart that this wouldn’t end violently.

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Dustin Levitt

Role: Hospital Member
Location: Hospital
Tags: Carson ( Bullyboy Squad ), Miyu ( Miaow ), Matthew ( VisiblyInvisible )

"We'll step out."

The deep voice spilled out of the hall. It might as well have been a mallet to a gong. Dustin expected an answer, but to have the intruder respond to him, it made the situation more real. "Just come on out and we'll chat."

The seconds stretched on like gum stuck between the sidewalk and the sole of a shoe. The male was murmuring. What, Dustin couldn't make out. He wanted to glance over his shoulder, to check Matthew's position, to see if he listened, but he wouldn't dare tear his attention from the doorway. The intruder would appear any moment, and Dustin wouldn't be caught with his pants down. Come to think of it, he thought he heard a sound from somewhere behind him. Maybe Matthew listened to the intruder's demand. It didn't tell him much. It might have been from a different location; he wasn't sure. He would take it on faith that Matthew saw his gesture and obeyed.

If only he had known the intruder would announce his exiting the room. Oh well. There were no redos in life. His heart thundered. "Sure thing."

At first, it was just a sliver. More and more, almost as gradual as the sun's rise, the pair became visible. The sight of the gun pressed in the girl's waist nearly had Dustin's blood running cold. But that was okay. The hooded man's head poked above Miyu's, and Dustin had his own gun trained on it the moment he showed his face. It also told him something: the intruder probably didn't want to kill her. There were better places to hold his firearm if he wanted to be more threatening, and the intruder seemed to have a brain. There was a reason he made Miyu keep her back to them. Dustin exhaled through his nostrils. It trembled lightly, but it took with it some of the pressure.

He smiled. He tried to make it as charming as he knew he could be. "It looks like you and I need to work on our trust." His muscles eased ever so slightly. Though he kept his gun aimed, he adjusted his stance to something more casual, his feet no longer squared with his shoulders. All the while, he watched the intruder's eyes, not only to gauge his state of mind, but if Matthew was visible somewhere behind him, the man might give him a clue.

That was the intent. The turn of Miyu's head distracted him. He tried to catch her eyes, to assure her with a look, until he noticed her expressions. His attention flitted back to the intruder. For a moment, desperation, a plea, disrupted his collected gaze. He licked his lips and recomposed himself. It didn't stop him from feeling the urgency of his own words: "Why don't you let her go? She's innocent in all of this. You can put your gun on me. Nobody's going to harm you while you and I are in a standoff. You and I can walk out of here. We can go as far as you need, and then you can go."

 

[Safton]

Xander's heart pounded as he half-staggered, half-ran down the school's hallways toward the door where the two women supposedly sought entry. Echoes of his heavy breaths and boots pounding against the tiled floors were all he could hear... save for that steady thrump thrump of his heart in his ears. He could only hope that someone else was already at the entryway and seeing to their visitors. He took the last corner rapidly, nearly toppling over.

No such luck.

Xander was alone, the door and its chains visible -- rocking slightly as someone pressed against it from the outside. Their little colony would typically have guards posted at the primary entrances almost around the clock, but with many of their members currently on a scavenging run their safety was entrusted largely to the rooftop sentries and the barricades. He had insisted that no one open the door by themselves, but now he saw no alternative. He wasn't about to abandon two helpless people to the horror outside if he could help it. He muttered a terse aside into the radio, "I'm opening the door and bringing them in. Maintain overwatch."

Font lumbered forward without hesitation, grunting as he lifted the wooden crossbar that rested over the doors. He then grasped the small keychain attached to his belt, unlocking the heavy-duty padlock and shifting the chains before the door itself with practiced speed. Xander drew his pistol from the holster on his hip, taking a deep breath before throwing the door open and stepping backward for safety. He was relieved to see two young women, one indeed holding onto the other. The younger one was clearly worse for wear… though the elder of the two looked exhausted in her own right.

"C'mon, inside!" Xander hissed, waving the young woman forward while sidestepping to make room in the threshold. He raised his weapon to cautiously watch the approach of the horde, only a few dozen yards away. Once the newcomer stepped through, Xander slammed the door shut, hastily holstering his pistol before locking the door and returning the chains and crossbar back to their rightful place. He hadn't even finished before he felt the thud of fists and heard the muffled moans of groans of ghoulish throats from the outside.

Miaow
Bullyboy Squad ​

 

[Bullyboy Squad]

Carson Pierce

They slowly shuffled out of the room and into the draft of the hallway. Carson half expected an ambush. Thanking God the men outside were not unwise or uncaring enough to risk innocent life just to catch a thief. Though, not like they could be certain that was his role either way... The young man could feel his palm getting clammy against the pistol grip. Cold sweat sipping to the back of the hoodie and forming over his forehead.

His features were obscured by the shade of the hood but his pointed gaze fixed on the two strangers. He noted Matthew with a glance, not surprised there was another man. Were there more? Hiding behind his back? The opened door was covering him for now but his body remained knotted with tension. He did his best to devoid his voice of nervousness at the sight of the gun aimed at his head.

"Trust has little to do with this situation." His prominent Adams's apple bobbed. "It's just weighing risks and counting the odds." His vision lowered to the muzzle before riding back up to Dustin's eyes. The man made his decision, of not putting away that gun as the boy asked. It told Pierce a bit about him. He had to be insecure about his ability to control the situation as he would back in the day. When men of authority would lower their pistols to ease the opponent's mind. To lull them, buy some short-lived trust. But this new world was running on a different set of rules.

Carson wouldn't seriously consider the offering but something changed about his temporary prisoner. The girl seemed...for lack of a better word, absent. Her being deaf was already asking for an accident and... Not wanting the situation to escalate he gauged the options with scrutiny pinching his brow. Looking directly at Dustin he spoke up in all seriousness. "Take off your clothes."

Dustin stammers. "I'm not taking my clothes off."

Seemingly calm, Carson remarks. "You want something from me. I tell you the price. You can leave your underwear and socks on. Then you can trade places with her."

"Be reasonable. I don't think you realize what kind of hostage you got. It's for everybody's safety."

"My hostage is a young female, probably a patient. She's deaf and distressed, possibly traumatized, but I can control her and overpower her without a problem. You on the other hand look like 180 pounds of a trained professional. If you want to be my hostage, it's on my terms. Strip, help me get outside, then I'm gone and you're short on just a few minor supplies. It can be that easy."

"Minor? What are you calling minor?"

"Half a bottle of two types of antibiotics, pack of antiseptics."

"Why?"

Sounding impatient. "Because I need them. Now quit stalling. How is it going to be?" He demands.

Slowly, Dustin sighs. "Matthew, come here."

TEMPLATE © BOKEH
Miaow A Sparkling Zombie VisiblyInvisible ​

 

[Miaow]

you won't wait
for me when
you're sober

NAGASE MIYU

MOOD

confused

OUTFIT

big jumper

LOCATION

hospital corridor

INTERACTIONS

Carson, Matthew, Dustin

TAGS

A Sparkling Zombie , Bullyboy Squad , VisiblyInvisible

Matthew said to take deep breaths, so I just have to stop breathing funny...
Miyu thought to herself, fidgeting with her hands. She just had to distract herself, then she could feel normal again. She tried to remember those dumb things people who didn't have anxiety told her to do... just calm down, name 5 things she can see, 4 things she can hear... but she couldn't hear anything, and all she could see was a gun. Was she crying? Her skin felt numb, she couldn't really tell.
Just breathe normally, you idiot, why can't you even do that right?
She swallowed, looking down at her feet.
My shoes... my sweater... my hands...
She mentally listed the things she could see, fidgeting with her sweater. It was soft. It felt nice. God, she wished she could focus on one thing at once. Focusing was hard.

She looked up at the man, trying to read his lips. Something about... antiseptic? That's what she had seen him stealing, lots of bottles of pills and some of those wipes that stung. He said he needed them. She then followed his line of sight to the two men behind her. She squinted at Dustin, trying to read what he was saying. He wanted Matthew to come over.
"D-Don't send Matthew, he's n-nervous," She told him, simultaneously signing, though her hands were clumsy and shakey. That little bit of speech therapy she had done had come in handy, though her voice had a strange accent and she had little to no volume control. Even in her altered state, she could tell Matthew was a little nervous. The situation was definitely scary. She was nervous, too. Maybe Matthew wouldn't appreciate her telling everyone he was nervous, but she thought she was helping.
"Are y-you hurt?" She asked the stranger, stumbling over her words, "We can help, s-so you don't steal."
This was a hospital, after all. They had doctors, they had beds, they had antibiotics and antiseptics... She didn't understand the others wanted this man out. She just wanted him to put his gun away.

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[Miaow]

you won't wait
for me when
you're sober

MINNIE AND HAEWON

MOOD

exhausted

OUTFIT

Haewon and Minnie

LOCATION

inside the highschool

INTERACTIONS

Xander

TAGS

Safton

Haewon knew that making noise would simply draw them closer but, though the horde was small, she couldn't run any further. She had no choice but to scream and hope somebody was around to help. Her chest hurt, her legs ached, and she wished her sister could stand so she didn't feel so weak. Her fists pounded against the door, continuously glancing over her shoulder to see how close the zombies were behind her.

She felt relief wash over her as the door swung open.
"C'mon, inside!" The man yelled, and Haewon wasn't exactly going to say no. She rushed inside, spinning around as soon as she was at a safe distance to make sure the door was shut behind them. She clumsily set her sister down so she was propped up against the wall before her own legs gave out beneath her, collapsing to the floor. She sat on the linoleum floor, her thighs aching and throbbing.
"Thank you," She told the stranger breathlessly, trying her best to catch her breath. She felt pathetic. She never asked for help, she was proud to be self-reliant, and now she was a heap on the floor at the mercy of strangers.

Her sister looked out of it, her fringe matted to her forehead with sweat. She could barely keep her eyes open, her breathing laboured. One leg of her dungarees was stained with blood, her calf wrapped in a dirty bandage. Haewon had run out of clean ones, that's why she was here, after all. She swallowed, looking up at Xander.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't carry her any further..." She muttered, glancing over to her sister. She felt as if she was intruding. This was their new home, after all, and she'd arrived, pounding on their door and begging to be saved. She pushed herself to her feet, holding herself up against the wall. The sound of the horde clawing at the door reminded her of rain hitting the windows during a storm, it was so familiar she didn't think much of it anymore. She watched the door shake against their weight.

Now Haewon was stood still and the adrenaline began to wear off, her own injuries began to ache, too, beginning to hold her side.
"Do you have medical supplies..? My sister, she's hurt," She asked, though it was clear she was a little worse for wear, too.
"We-- We ran into another group a couple days back, a small one," She explained, "All armed, though... They took our stuff and left,"
"Assholes..." She muttered under her breath.
"We'll leave as soon as she's better, I swear," She added quickly. She would be lucky if they helped at all, she definitely didn't want to overstep any boundaries.

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[Bullyboy Squad]

Harry Cox

He could feel him tremble. Big, fat body shaking from exertion of bending to the will of another man. The thought fed Harry's degraded sense of worth. Boosting his confidence in the crazy plan. Plan. Was there one, though? He was no strategist but he was usually better than this. Preparing a course of action, ways out if things went awry. This? This was no plan. This was fucking madness.

Yet, he couldn't help but revel in the shifting expression of the leader who came down the stairs to the unexpected sight of strangers with guns. That heartbeat of a moment when realization gripped him, reflecting in his pale eyes. Good, feel it. Own it. You're not the one in control.

"What does it look like to you?" Flat tone and a glare. Stupid question begged for a stupid answer. He could almost hear Buster's ridiculous comments. But the bastard wasn't there now, was he. "You're surrounded." The lie came as easily as the ones Harry was telling his clients about selling the best mattresses North of the Ohio River.

The bearded man let the information sink in. His hard stare lifted, noticing the shadow wavering at the top of the stairs. Hearing another person. Good. Come on down. "Call all of your men, I want them gathered here."

Were his intentions clear? Just to make sure, he blatantly added. "This stuff belongs to me now."

TEMPLATE © BOKEH

Crono , A Sparkling Zombie , rxbrevenge​

 

[Safton]

Xander turned back from the door to see the more lucid stranger setting the woman she'd been carrying down along the wall, collapsing down next to her moments later. She was in a sorry state: clammy, coated in a sheen of sweat, and clearly exhausted. His eyes went instinctively to the makeshift bandage wrapped around her leg. He wondered how old it was as it was clearly in need of replacing, having been soaked through with blood. The part of his mind that had a bad habit of assuming the worst wondered if this woman had been bitten -- maybe both of them had -- and he'd only succeeded in keeping the horde out by inviting two future members of the undead directly into their home.

Font snapped out of his reverie as the woman began speaking, thanking him before apologizing and explaining her situation. He clenched his jaw, glancing instinctively back at the door and the direction of the outside world -- not because of the sound of dozens of rotting fists pounding against it, but because of the mention of a well-armed hostile group roaming somewhere within walking distance of their colony set him on edge. Even more so now with their people out there, away from home vulnerable to ambush... and unable to assist the homestead should it fall under attack in their absence. But that was neither here nor there. He had more pressing issues to attend to. The woman had inquired after medical supplies.

Xander looked back at the newcomer, offering her what he hoped was a reassuring -- if somewhat tense -- smile. "I can do you one better. We have a doctor," he said softly. He approached slowly, not wanting to alarm the woman given her last experience with other survivors (assuming she was telling the truth). "My name is Xander. Xander Font. If it's all right, I'll carry your friend to our infirmary. You can follow and just focus on getting yourself there," he said with a meaningful glance toward her bandaged leg.

Miaow ​

 

[NanLia]

Nari Mochizuki​

Nari set aside the now empty tin can and plastic fork, leaving it for later to clean and return to the cafeteria of the school. She spent the next few minutes sorting through the milk crates of ‘trash’ the last scavenging crew had brought back. She hadn't had the opportunity, even if it had been some time, to do this because she’d been waylaid by urgent repairs for other systems around the school. First the water filtration system had become clogged - charcoal, cloth and sand served its purpose but it had become bogged down and simply not fast enough for their ever growing needs. She had to reroute most of the water to a secondary filter and set up a timing system that split the load evenly, allowing each of the filters a ‘rest’ period.

It was only temporary and she’d have to add further collection bins to the roof for the rainfall and more filters and timers but it would work for now.

She stood back, wiping her hands on her overalls, having separated the items into potential uses for future projects.

Nari was about to drag out her ‘to do’ project file (a stack of drawings on various mediums as ideas popped into her head) when she heard a banging sound in the distance. She frowned, tilting her head to the side as she focused on the noise. Was someone working on something? She knew there were no set projects for today, given how many people were away from the camp. She frowned but it quickly dawned on her.

She hadn’t heard this noise in months, the haphazard clattering on metal. The pounding of fists on a metal door as it rattled in the frame, the chinese clattering. Nari didn’t stop to think, turning to burst from the auto shop at a full run towards the noise. She skidded around the corner, surprised to see Xander standing above two young women, both gasping for breath. The noise came from the door beside him. “How?”
Safton Miaow

code by ditto ​

 

[Miaow]

you won't wait
for me when
you're sober

MINNIE AND HAEWON

MOOD

exhausted

OUTFIT

Haewon and Minnie

LOCATION

inside the highschool

INTERACTIONS

Xander and Nari

TAGS

tags

Haewon's eyes lit up at the mention of a doctor. They might actually have a chance of survival... but she was hesitant. These guys were very welcoming, would they want something in return? Would they be in debt to these people if they used their facilities?
"Oh-- Please, go ahead," She replied as he offered to carry her sister. She wasn't sure she'd be able to take her any further, her legs still felt like jelly, she couldn't wait to sit and rest.

"Ah-- I'm Haewon, that's Minnie," She introduced herself before gesturing to her companion, "My little sister."
"Just be careful," She added, watching anxiously. Minnie was pretty beat up, a bandage wrapped around her knee and another around her chest beneath her shirt. Her overalls were dirty and ripped, exposing the bloody bandage around her knee to the elements. Haewon was in slightly better condition, though her shirt was stained from a wound on her abdomen and her upper thigh was bandaged. The two had certainly been in the wars.

She held her side as she began to head down the corridor, though stopped in her tracks as a stranger sprinted towards them. Her heart was pounding, she had scared the life out of her. What was she thinking, running around in the middle of an apocalypse? Haewon would have shot her... if she had a gun, that was.
She frowned at her question. She felt a little bad for bringing the horde with them, but these guys had reinforcements, surely they could handle a little horde like that.
"I-- I'm sorry about them," Haewon told her, gesturing over her shoulder at the door. She knew bringing deadly creatures to someone's safe haven was a... pretty big deal, but she felt like she had no choice.
"I can help you get rid of them, if you want," She added, though hoped she could at least have a lie down first. Lending a hand seemed like the least she could do...

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Dustin Levitt

Role: Hospital Member
Location: Hospital
Tags: Miyu ( Miaow ), Carson ( Bullyboy Squad )

Hatred.

Dustin had the wits to mind his expressions, but the sentiment burned on coals in his gut as the ridiculousness of this conversation played out. He despised this boy for breaking into their home. He loathed Miyu for being foolish enough to become a hostage. A voice whispered from the back of his mind: take the shot. Forget about the girl. Take the shot. She was handicapped. She was frail and her scattered memory would continue to pose a risk to their survival for as long as she continued to live. Pragmatically, the medical supplies were more valuable than she could ever be.

But he couldn't. He knew that.

"Because I need them," the criminal said. "Now quit stalling. How is it going to be?"

Slowly, Dustin sighed. His blood simmered a little less. "Matthew, come here."

Miyu interjected. Dustin kept his stare fixed on the invader. "Matthew isn't leaving the hospital. I just need him to come here."

She pleaded with her captor. "She has a point," Dustin added. "It's not too late to turn this around. We're a reasonable people. We can talk to the council and work something out. We have shelter and resources." Well, it wasn't a lie. He didn't specify how many resources they had.

The intruder's dark eyes shifted between Dustin's face and the muzzle. "I like reasonable," he admitted, a pinch of hesitancy drawing more lines across his forehead. For a moment, Dustin's doubt lifted, that maybe this would work after all, but when the young man's gaze locked on Dustin's, he informed with reticence: "I am leaving soon. Either with you or with her. I'm done wasting time."

"Matthew, come here." Dustin's voice had more edge, to hopefully get the medic to snap out of whatever stupor Dustin assumed him to be in. Finally, although gingerly, the man stepped beside him. "You're safe, everything's fine. I need you to take this gun and leave with Miyu." Matthew looked uncertain as Dustin held out the gun. Dustin placed a hand on the male's shoulder and kept his voice gentle with his next words. They themselves and his eyes communicated the order. "Take it. Take it and go."

Matthew looked uncertainly between the intruder and Miyu, but finally asked Miyu to come with him.

Dustin tore off his shirt, his jeans. He fought with those the most to get them over his shoes. Even if Miyu protested, he went through the motions. He wasted no time. The more he prolonged, the worst it would be. Somehow, the cool air against his flesh felt twenty degrees colder. His stare remained locked on the young man all the while, a silent communication that the decision had been made and he was complying. At last, he pulled his feet from his shoes. He picked them up, one in each hand. He held them upside down, shook them, and then held them so the young man could peer inside. "I have nothing inside them. You'll have to drag me a ways from here before you're safe. I can walk faster with shoes on. How about it? You already stripped me of my dignity. At least let me help you get this over sooner."

 

[Safton]

​

Xander was relieved when the newcomer granted him her permission to carry the still incapacitated girl -- apparently her younger sister -- with them to the infirmary. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement in response after she shared their names and instructed him to be careful. She was clearly worried about the numerous injuries marring her sister's body... and rightfully so. The girl was covered in bandages, ripped clothes, and blood stains. Xander couldn't help but wonder if he'd made a mistake in admitting one or possibly even two infected refugees into the heart of their colony.

Font discarded the idea for now -- he'd know for sure soon enough. He leaned down to gently scoop Minnie into his arms, tucking her against his chest before standing up -- ignoring the protest of his knee. He spun around just in time to see Nari of all people turn the corner, meeting her eyes as she looked between him, their new "visitors" and the door with obvious confusion before making a simple, one-word query.

Xander pursed his lips before inclining his head toward the girl in his arms ever so slightly. Before he could answer audibly, however, Haewon spoke up offering her assistance with the horde outside. "Don't worry about that for now. What's important is getting you and your sis to the infirmary," he replied, his tone soft-spoken but firm and assertive -- the same one he had once reserved for the same teenagers that had once roamed these halls when they got out of line. "Let's go." He turned back toward Nari, his tone softening ever so slightly. "Can you help her?"

He didn't wait for an answer, already heading down the hall toward the direction of the former nurse's office with Minnie in tow.

NanLia
Miaow ​

 

[Crono]

Kurt Blackwood

Hospital Council Member | Location: Church Parking Lot - Church Upper Floor | Tags: Amara uwupolice , Tyler A Sparkling Zombie , Cox Bullyboy Squad boy, Jordan (NPC) | Mentions: Sandra (NPC)

It wasn't difficult to tell that the man holding his gun to Howie's head was serious in his intent. Though the two others seemed less enthused about the situation. Kurt could hear Tyler behind him at the same time his questions were answered by the armed stranger, and he raised his hands up to show that he was at the very least not an immediate threat. The last thing he wanted was bullets to start flying and the kid behind him getting hurt, or worse. Whether what was said about them being surrounded was true or not, and he had his doubts based on a lack of Sandra as well as a lack of manpower in the building. Kurt wanted to let them at least think they had control of this situation. His thoughts lingered on the gun he had slipped into the back waistband of his pants that was mostly hidden by his loose hanging shirt, but pulled away from them as he started to speak.

"You've got them." Kurt stated, curving his index finger to point at Howie then himself without moving his hand. "The rest are women and kids, no reason to drag them all out here." There was a small sincerity to what he said, but at the same time there was the motive of trying to keep a sort of upper hand of not having everyone together and disarmed. "Look, we can make some sort of agreement. You want the supplies? You can have it, but we keep the food." It wasn't like he was in any position to negotiate, but you never know if a stranger is worth reasoning with or not.​

coded by natasha.

 

[NanLia]

Nari Mochizuki​

Nari blinked at the girl - as she has come to realize she and her sibling were little more than children - as she offered to help clear out the dead at the door. Already Nari could hear the modified air soft rifles riveting shards a metal at them, ending their crusade to enter the building. She didn't need to comfort the girl as Xander declared they had the means to do it themselves, in fact Nari was surprised the dead had made it as far as they did.

It didn't ease her nerves in the least hearing the last moans of the dead as they hammered lifelessly against the steel doors, the metal ringing echoing through the halls of the school. Xander quickly pulled her attention away, asking - telling - her to help Hawon to the infirmary. It would do them both good to get away from the doors as quickly as possible. She leaned down, lifting the girls arm over her shoulder and wrapping her own behind her back.

"This way," She started slowly behind Xander down the hall, hoping their doctor was nearby to attend to them. Neither looked to be in great shape and she'd like to know sooner, rather than later, if they had to worry about more than how to care for two new dependents.
Safton macheath . Miaow

 

[Miaow]

you won't wait
for me when
you're sober

MINNIE AND HAEWON

MOOD

exhausted

OUTFIT

Haewon and Minnie

LOCATION

inside the highschool

INTERACTIONS

Xander and Nari

TAGS

NanLia Safton

Minnie seemed to whimper as Xander scooped her up, wincing at the unexpected movement. She rested her head against the stranger's chest. Despite her predicament, Xander was much more comfortable than the floor of the corridor. He was warm, too. Luckily for Xander, she was relatively small for a girl her age. It was difficult to eat well while the world was ending, her growth stifled by a lack of nutrition.

Haewon watched with bated breath, trying her best not to look concerned. She couldn't help but imagine him dropping her or something, her mind racing. As the woman took her by the arm, wrapping it around her shoulders, Haewon suppressed her instincts to tell her off. In any other situation, she would tell her she was fine, she didn't need help walking, and she shouldn't just grab someone without permission... but she needed these people to like her. Her teachers had always called her difficult...

"Thanks," She told the stranger. She liked to tell herself she didn't need her help but in truth, her legs ached a little less now she had someone to hold onto. She didn't have to think about steering anymore, she just had to focus on staying on her feet as she walked behind Xander. What did you even say in a situation like this? Did she make small talk? What did post-apocalyptic small talk sound like?
"So, uh... how long have you guys been living here for? We didn't realize anyone was here," She asked, holding onto her side as she walked.
"Minnie had loads of those... tourist pamphlets from when we first moved here, with the maps inside. I guess they came in handy, huh?"

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[Bullyboy Squad]

Carson Pierce

Carson didn't look at Miyu when she tried to reason and plea. He knew she was a good girl, a good person. He sensed it even if she could also easily become a liability. As the stranger picked where she left off Carson studied his expression throughout his little speech. The light illuminating Dustin's face at an angle meant it was way past midday. Time was running out. But it wasn't losing time that Carson was truly worried about.


The young man inhaled heartily, his patience running thin. But, there it was, compliance. The moment that gun was no longer aimed at him he glanced at the girl, still holding his up even though his arm was getting strained and his palm uncomfortably wet against the grip. "I'm not hurt." He finally admitted. "And no one will get hurt if you all just do as I say." His lip twitched at the corner of his mouth in a softest attempt for a smile. "You'll be okay."


Then he refocused on the man. His gaze dragged up and down with silent admiration. Pierce knew it wasn't easy to maintain such a physique in the times like these but the man didn't look like he was walking around hungry. "Socks can stay. Now turn around and walk backwards towards me. Slowly." He waited for the stranger to follow the command and let go of the girl only when he was close enough. "Go." He prompted her. "Go to Matthew."


Naked back bumped to Carson's open palm, a signal for the man to stop. Gun aimed lower now, still pointing uncomfortably close to man's spine. "Matthew, take the girl and get inside this room. Don't leave it until you count to five hundred. If I hear the door opening before that I will hurt your friend. Is that clear?" He didn't expect an answer, just glanced to the room he was previously in before giving Matthew a pointed look. His hand gripping on the crook of Dustin's neck, fingers pressing his pulse point.


Once the other two got inside Carson pulled on the man's neck as if he wished there was a collar he could hold. "Let's go." He rushed them both towards the spot he used to enter the building. "Try anything and I'll stop being nice." He warned in that low, deep tone even though his own heart fluttered from nervousness. Just a few more minutes and he'd be out. Just a few more minutes and he'd be able to run. Sweat trickled down his face. Just a few more minutes, Danny.

TEMPLATE © BOKEH
Miaow A Sparkling Zombie ​

 

[Miaow]

you won't wait
for me when
you're sober

NAGASE MIYU

MOOD

confused

OUTFIT

big jumper

LOCATION

hospital corridor

INTERACTIONS

Carson, Matthew, Dustin

TAGS

A Sparkling Zombie , Bullyboy Squad ,

Miyu didn't like his smile. She knew he was trying to be reassuring, but there was nothing reassuring about that smile. It was simply unsettling... The only reason she wouldn't be okay is if this stranger decided to hurt her. She swallowed, deciding to keep her mouth shut.

She watched quietly as Dustin approached, slowly walking back towards them both. She fidgeted anxiously, hoping he would comply... She wasn't exactly a role model for compliance, but she knew this guy was bad news. She felt a wave of relief come across her as he finally let go of her, rushing over to Matthew and hiding behind him. As much as she was worried about Matthew being scared, she was scared, too, and at least Matthew could hear.

She frowned as Matthew was given more instructions... Hey, she wasn't just 'the girl'! She had a name, but it certainly wasn't time to argue that now. She felt Matthew grab onto her arm, ushering her into the room and shutting the door behind her.

Miyu sat down, her head down as she whispered under her breath.
"One, two, three..." She softly counted, trying her hardest not to lose count. She hesitantly lifted her head. Matthew wasn't counting... They were meant to count to 500! She tried to ignore him, continuing to quietly count to herself.

By the time she had gotten to 500, Matthew had already left... She must have gotten distracted with her counting, she hadn't even noticed him leave. However, the counting itself had had a grounding effect... She was feeling a lot better than before. Her hands weren't shaking anymore, she could focus again. She slowly got to her feet, cautiously opening the door. Dustin and the stranger were long gone... Ah, Dustin! She ran back to her room, almost slipping on Dustin's clothes. She scooped them up and took them with her. crawling onto her bed and using it as a lookout point to get a better view out of her window. She hoped to spot him on his way back... and to return his clothes to him once he returned.

code by ditto (head empty go bonk)​

 

[Safton]

​

Xander tensed slightly as Minnie seemed to wince in pain the moment he touched her. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the girl he was supposed to be helping. However, she seemed to settle in his arms after a moment, allowing both of them to relax -- especially once he saw Nari leading Haewon down the hall a few steps behind him. His mind was already racing -- considering how they were going to deal with the remainder of the horde outside, wondering if Haewon & Minnie had been bitten (and how they would handle that if they had), how they would handle two more mouths to feed who were currently in no shape to contribute to the colony and pull their weight -- when the elder of the two sisters suddenly spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.

Xander turned, glancing over his shoulder at her. He decided to keep the answer vague. "Most of us have been here for a couple of weeks." His eyes darted toward Nari briefly before turning to look back down the hallway, his eyes falling across the familiar rows of lockers as they passed the JROTC classroom he had once taught out of. "...some of us have been here longer," he remarked impassively.

They turned a corner before reaching the nurse's office, where Font called out for Satō as he stepped inside. "Doctor? These girls could use some help."

NanLia
Miaow
macheath . ​

 

[Bullyboy Squad]

Harry Cox

Cox stared in silence, giving the other a few seconds to wonder if his little plan of keeping others away would work. Only to crush those hopes by jerking Howie's hair and painfully planting the muzzle into his cheek. Having the man squirm when the metal forced flesh in between his clenching jaws. But Harry didn't pay much attention to his hostage, his gaze dedicated to the man in charge. "Your friends will join us here." Voice flat, stripped from hate, even if something akin to it sparked in man's eyes.

"You wouldn't want some of them to wander off and get shot by accident." His next words sounded firm. "Call them." Ringing of that nononsense, 'don't make me repeat myself' attitude. There was an undeniable tension in the room and the beads of sweat rolling down Harry's temple suggested he wasn't immune to the stress of the situation either.

Howie grunted and angled his face to spit. Red splattered against the wall of the altar, the sight that successfully peeled Harry's gaze off Kurt. Clear anger boiled down the big man's gut as he sent his knee to Howie's kidney, seething. "Show some respect, you peasant."

TEMPLATE © BOKEH

Crono , A Sparkling Zombie , rxbrevenge
uwupolice​

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Tyler Bennett

Role: Hospital Scavenger
Location: Church Parking Lot -> Church Upper Floor
Tags: Kurt ( Crono ), Amara ( uwupolice ), Harry ( Bullyboy Squad ), Hiro ( rxbrevenge ) | Mentions: N/A

"Call all of your men, I want them gathered here."

What.

That wasn't Kurt. That wasn't Howie. That voice didn't belong to any of them.

"This stuff belongs to me now."

Oh no.

No no no.

Tyler teetered on the step. His mind spun and his jaw slackened and he looked around as if the solution to the situation would be etched on one of the walls. He knew something would go wrong. For just a second he had let down his guard and thought everything was fine and now they had at least one bad guy, one bandit, one other, and he was trapped between a hostage situation and his friend--a medic--behind him who didn't yet know any better. He knew he was up here. The bandit knew. Had to have, because Tyler's big mouth was too loud and the command was too coincidental.

"Kurt? W-what's going on?" The alarm was palpable in his tone, and his volume skyrocketed with every word until his voice cracked like it never had before since puberty. He let it. "Who's there?" That should more than clue Amara in. It would terrify her, but hopefully she could push through her anxiety and do something, something besides get caught like him and Kurt and probably Howie and probably Sandra.

He didn't take another step. Not yet. His feet had sprouted cement blocks and he lost the strength to lift them. If he finished his descent on the stairs, he'd be wide open for whatever. But he grabbed his gun. Yanked it from his waistband and disengaged the safety and held it like Dustin had shown him. It lightly trembled in his grip. He could use it with confidence when faced with a zombie, but not when it came to another human. Another person. He had hoped it wouldn't ever come to that. It was dumb, but it was true.

He waited. He was always a great procrastinator, and this was an inevitability he would do anything to avoid.

 

[A Sparkling Zombie]

Dominic Cruz

Role: Loner
Location: Church parking lot -> van
Tags: Kurt, Amara, Harry, Hiro

From underneath the van, Dom watched. Those sneaker-clad feet crossed the threshold of the church. They paused for two heartbeats, and then they hastened.

That was as good of a cue as any. He darted for the back of the van and hopped inside, quietly closing the doors and being sure to keep his head ducked below the windows. The cover was better than nothing.

Dom moved like water, from unzipping his backpack to tearing open one of the boxes to transferring whatever he could grab. He shouldn't hang in here long. Gunshots would ring out any second, and he wanted to dip as soon as they did. Until then, he'd see how much he could fill his bag. His hands lightly trembled as they worked, but a grin strained his cheeks all the while, like a kid on Christmas morning.

---

The moment she set foot in the church, Sandra heard Tyler's alarm, and the voice of an unfamiliar man. It told her enough. She withdrew her gun and crossed to the other end of the vestibule where she crouched behind the wall and peeked around the entryway. She saw the three strangers. Howie's head poked above the shoulder of the biggest man, but more importantly, there stood Kurt before them all. They could make eye contact from their two positions if he would just notice her. Amara and Tyler must still be upstairs.

Quietly, she took aim at the biggest man, but she watched Kurt, waiting for a signal. She had the keys. She could drive off with the supplies they managed to snag. It would kill her to leave the four of them stranded or worse, but she would if the councilman wanted her to.