Fandom Life in a Quarantine Zone { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb looked at Asher and nodded with a laugh at that comment. “Oh I’m sure. That’s why I put my foot down last night with Carlos. I was not going to let him carry me.” Kaleb said as they finally came to the top of the stairs. “There’s a lot in that to take in.” Kaleb finally spoke when Asher finished talking. “So you were a good enough hunter to have a protégé and then said protégé didn’t like that you hadn’t actually killed Jordan and she wanted to.. torture him? Well. I can see how you saved Jordan.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher knew that they were the reasonable ones. Of course, they were also the former officer and hunter. He shrugged. “I was an excellent hunter who trained many. She was my finest, because her heart was as full of rage as mine. She really enjoyed it. Not just the hunting and the killing but the suffering. So, yes, she was upset. She was upset when I told her that I killed him and took away her chance to make him squirm for getting away from their initial traps.” He thought about the lie. He trained her so well that she knew it was a lie. That was why he ran. That was the real reason he left. Jordan hadn’t completely won him over yet. He selfishly knew that he couldn’t stay. “But I couldn’t leave him there. Not knowing what they were going to do to him. Not when he was so… charming.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb’s eyes widened as he heard him. He knew that the hunters of Pittsburgh were ruthless, but he knew Asher. And he didn’t see that part of him. Even when he said he was FEDRA, he didn’t see the ruthless hunter that he used to be. “I see. So you were a top level hunter and trained several, but.. then you met someone so charming that you lied about his death and got him out?” Kaleb said, turning to face Asher. He lifted a hand to his chest, over Asher’s heart. “Is your heart still full of rage? Or is there more in there now?”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Despite everything he had been through, everything he learned being with Jordan and everything he accepted as he got to know Kaleb, this line of questioning surprised him. He looked down at the hand on his chest. Was his heart still full of rage? His lips parted slightly, but the words ran from him, and he didn’t say anything. Not yet. What was he supposed to say to that? “I didn’t just lie about his death.” He might have been stalling. “I staged it. I created a whole scene so there would be no doubt as to what happened.” If that wasn’t an answer to that question, then what was? He couldn’t lie to himself. “I guess maybe even then it wasn’t quite as full of rage as Darling. Which was why she got the group and not me. She was the better hunter.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb’s eyes widened as he listened. A whole scene was staged just to fake Jordan’s death? To get him out of that city? He was learning more about his traveling companion than he thought. “So you staged his death. Making a scene and everything because you didn’t want him hurt by her hand.” He paused, looking between Asher’s face and the hand over his heart. “No. She wasn’t a better hunter. She was a killer. A.. monster. You were better than her. You stopped. You got him and yourself out. I feel your heart is not filled with rage at least not anymore. You have someone who tames it, quells it. Someone who loves you. And I’m personally thankful you saved each other because.. then I got to meet you. Meet him.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

People like Kaleb and Jordan were the reason Asher questioned so many things. He used to think that he understood the world. He thought he knew why everything was the way that it was. But he didn’t. He just knew the hate that grew out of their bad situation. “You are too good a person. I think I’ve told you that already. Both of you. Carlos too. Good people who focus on all of that good.” He placed his own hand over Kaleb’s. “I am trying. But I couldn’t do that without Jordan. A fight between me and darling was inevitable. I didn’t expect a knife to the gut, but it would have happened. And I probably would have won if it were on my turf like that. If she waited for when I was angry and not..” he could still hear the laughter as they raced through buildings. “And I think I would still be there. I may have questioned a lot before Jordan, but that fight would have cemented it for me.” He sighed and pointed ahead. “Now that I’ve brought the whole mood down, maybe we should focus on exploration?” He smiled, hiding away the pain he still had from himself.
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb tilted his head slightly as he listened and he smiled. “Someone has to see the good inside others.” He simply said, feeling the hand over his own. Kaleb listened and his curiosity only grew as he learned more about the man in front of him. “If you hadn’t been absolutely charmed by a handsome stranger?” He said with a small grin before he nodded. “Well. I’m glad you’re here. And I don’t think you’ve brought the mood down, but sure. Let’s see just what’s up here.” He said, blue eyes watching Asher. He sensed more but he knew better than to press. It was not fair. Everyone had skeletons in their closets of some nature. Ones that might not ever see light and that is okay.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Occasionally, Asher could not believe that his life was like this. He was now absolutely surrounded by people he not only liked but made life better. Jordan showed him joy and love for the first time in a very long time. Kaleb showed him unexpected kindness despite his background. Despite Asher’s. Carlos showed him trust that Asher felt he didn’t deserve. But maybe he did? Maybe he did now. He took the hand from his chest and brought it to their sides, lacing his fingers together. He smiled at Kaleb, letting the hardness melt in the calming presence. After a moment, a long one he couldn’t explain, he turned away from the stairs. “Alright, where to first? Looks like we can go both ways. I wonder how much is up here.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb looked at Asher with a smile on his face, tilted his head slightly as he felt their hands leave his chest. Their fingers laced together and Kaleb couldn't help it as the smile on his face grew wider and wider. A long moment passed and Kaleb listened to him. "Let's go to the right first, it looks like it has three doors." Kaleb said as he turned them towards the right side of the stairs.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Right it is.” Asher steered them to the right as moved at a moderate pace down the way. With a house this small, it had an amazing number of rooms. He was impressed with its architect. He pushed open the first door to find a bathroom. It was a moderately sized one with the shower tub and all. “For all of our washing needs,” he mused at the decent sized sink that they could not work. He pulled open the cabinet to find a couple of old rags left behind. Those were his now.
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb moved with Asher, matching his pace for now. He looked into the bathroom and snorted a laugh. “Too bad we don’t have running water.” Kaleb said as he shook his head. “I’d love a good bath.” He added, knowing he could certainly use one. He waited for Asher before moving onto the next room, a bedroom with a small bed and a dresser, its walls were pink and it looked lost in time. A dress still laid out on the top of the dresser now faded and worn with age. He wondered about the family that had lived here when things went bad.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Wouldn’t we all?” Asher asked as they moved out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. A nice bath was a luxury they all wished that they could have. Sadly, it was not something that came with traveling so much. The room was cute and little. He wondered how old the little girl was who used to sleep in here. He was so bad at ages. He had been too far removed from a time before the outbreak that he was not sure that he could even guess. “So we could have been a princess if we’d come up here last night. Good to know.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Baths among other things were a luxury that had been taken away. Traveling a countryside ravaged by infected, reclaimed by nature did not often give one a chance to bathe. The room made Kaleb frown, thinking about what could’ve happened. “I want to see you in a dress. You are a queen after all.” Kaleb teased with a smile on his face. “Though.. you know what would be even funnier? Carlos or Jordan in a dress.” He said with a laugh.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher laughed. “As entertaining as me in a dress sounds, I am not certain that this one would fit me.” He slipped away from Kaleb to lift up the garment and hold it to himself. “It would pinch in so many places. But I think you’re right. The two of them in dresses would be even better. And I bet they could pull them off.” He shook his head as he replaced the dress back on the dresser as neatly as he could. “Those two are of a different breed.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb smiled as he heard Asher laugh, standing up on his own as the other man walked over to the dresser. “Yeah. It probably wouldn’t fit so well I guess.” Kaleb replied before he chuckled and nodded. “Oh absolutely. They could pull it off. And yeah. But we still love them for some unknown reasons.” Kaleb said with a smile and a chuckle. “Come on, we’ve got more rooms to search. Maybe we’ll find a bigger dress for you.” He said with a grin.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Because they are disarmingly charming and ridiculously handsome,” Asher answered as he put himself back into place at Kaleb’s side. That was the only explanation that could accurately describe any reason that they were so drawn to these men who dd not pay attention to the rotting wood around them, because they were too busy flirting with people who weren’t their partners. It wouldn’t be so bad except for the falling into the floor part. He stepped across the hall to the door adjacent to this one to find another bedroom. The walls were a faded blue that almost looked gray now. The room had a similar setup to the pink one like the family bought the same furniture twice, likely for their two kids. The small bed had the print of a racecar on the blanket. On the back of the door was a basketball hoop. The room was cluttered with toys and knickknacks.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Yeah.. that sounds about right. Handsome is and charming absolutely are keywords there.” Kaleb agreed as he moved with Asher to the next room. He still couldn’t believe how close he’d come to losing Carlos and he knew that his partner had his entire heart in his hands. As they made it to the next room, Kaleb looked around at the faded blue almost grey walls. “It’s kind of sad isn’t? Seeing these rooms lost to time and wondering what happened to the little ones who lived here.” Kaleb said softly, looking around.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher walked to the middle of the room and then slowly around the perimeter. He touched the racecar blanket, running his fingertips on the edge as he moved past the bed and to the nightstand. A little lamp in the shape of a robot sat full of dust. “Sometimes, I try to guess their stories. The people who used to live in these rooms. I try to figure out who they were based on what they left behind. It’s hard when the world does not preserve them, though this room was not so bad.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb stayed near the door, but he watched Asher walk to the middle of the room. Walk the perimeter of the bed. “Perhaps I’ll start doing that. I admit, I’ve only been traveling for a week I think? I’ve not seen many abandoned rooms so well preserved.” Kaleb said, his voice quiet as he watched Asher. “I think this little boy loved cars and the little girl was into princesses and fairies. What do you think?”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Only been traveling for a week. It was strange to think that Kaleb was all new to this. Asher grinned at the thoughts about the kids. “I think this little boy was similar to many little boys. With the toys and the robot light. He was your stereotypical happy little kid. And the girl was pampered like the princess that she was. She probably demanded attention that she got. When the outbreak happened, they left quickly. Nothing is disturbed. The whole family just got up and left.” He made his way back to Kaleb’s side. “Left to find safety.” And safety was probably FEDRA, so who knows what happened to them after that.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb saw the grin to his comment about the kids and thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I could see how he was a happy little kid, and she probably did get her way." He agreed, looking around the place. "They just up and left.. It's crazy." He said, not knowing how the world was back when things went bad. He never had to deal with having to leave home suddenly just to go somewhere safe.. or somewhere FEDRA deemed safe. "It's still sad to think about. That they just had to leave their homes, their lives so suddenly."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher found himself nodding to those statements. “Yeah, I guess it is. Especially being so young.” He knew what that was like. He was so young when his world got ripped from him, torn asunder, and shunted somewhere he would never be able to find it again. Don’t dwell in the past, he told himself. That was good for no one, especially those around him. He learned that the hard way. He retreated back to the entrance and put out a hand as an offering. “When the world fell apart, we didn’t have any other choice. But maybe, if they had to go somewhere like the FEDRA Zones, they had an officer like you to take care of them.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb did not know how it had been, when the world changed. He knew what he’d grown up in, and he wondered sometimes how the world was before. But there was no practicality in wondering, they couldn’t bring back the world they once knew. Kaleb took the offered hand and smiled, then he blushed. Those words made him smile wider. “I hope so.” He replied. “Shall we move on?”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

With Kaleb’s hand in his, Asher started walking away from the room and to the next down the hall. “If I’d had an officer like you, I might not have rebelled so hard. Or at least I probably wouldn’t have wanted to be so… violently against everyone.” It was because they had officers who did not care about them and treated them like slaves or cattle that Asher felt so strongly against them all. Kaleb wasn’t like that. It was hard to imagine someone being more like him. “Alright, one more room, right?”
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