Futuristic 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 - A Nuclear Fallout Survival RP - OPEN

[Bellz]

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅
The Neighbors/Neighborhood​

• Characters
• Facility Locations
• Surface Locations

• 
  The Unwilling leader - Maxine Barlowe - Bellz - GM
  The Eager Second - Daniel Morgan - Misty Gray
  The Health Nut - ??? - ???
  The Science Guy - Jameson Walker - ShadowKind
  The Questionable Guns Guy - Javier Kuznetsov - sillybilly
  The Lucky Lotto Winner #1 - Dowd - AtTheEndOfEverything
  The Lucky Lotto Winner #2 - TBD - cyberzkull
  The Loose Cannon - Shiloh Rivers - MontanaKaidence
  The Moochers #1 - Marnie Woods - Blobs
  The Moochers #2 - ??? - ???
  
• 
  

  Cyrogenic Chambers: Bottom Level (6th Floor)

  This is where each cryogenic sleeping chamber is laid out for the 10 "neighbors". It is at the very bottom of the Neighborhood in order to protect them and keep the temperature regulated from the radiation at the surface. Each chamber is spaced out about 10 feet apart. It is the largest room in the entire facility and was designed specifically to house the chambers and keep the technology safe and regulated during the last 150 years.
  To the left of the chambers is where the personal belongings of neighbors are kept safe and sound.
  They were only allowed to bring a duffle bag full of things (though it wouldn't have been surprising if someone managed to sneak more in...for the right price...)
  Their own items of clothing are strictly prohibited (See The Fashion Tab for more information) but things that remind them of home are allowed within reason.
  -Weapons not approved by the government are NOT ALLOWED.
  -Glass containers of any kind are also NOT allowed.
  -Drugs beyond what was previously approved by the government before being put under are NOT ALLOWED. (though again...for the right price...)
  -Prescription drugs approved by a medical advisor before being put under ARE APPROVED.
  -Outside alcohol isn't allowed. (Some supplies were stowed in the chambers)

  Common Room/Sleeping Chambers (5th Floor)

  
  Designers knew that eventually the "neighbors" would wake up from their slumber and therefore would need their own regular sleeping chambers and common spaces that were as close to normal as possible. On the 4th floor, Neighbors will find the common room, which is set up much like a living room would be set up, minus a television. There is a sofa and seats, and a dining room table that has been covered well until it is ready to be used. There is a small kitchen area, though there is no electricity or gas for hot food, obviously. Just countertops for some sort of prepping if needed.
  There are 10 sleeping chambers that are 8'6" wide and 14' 1/4"depth, big enough to fit a full-sized bed, a small dresser and that's about it for furniture.
  
  Plenty of toilets in the common space, though you have to bring a bucket of water with you because there is no running water. When you're done, you have to dump some water down the toilet in order to get the plumbing to work and then obviously use some water from the bucket for your hands. Showering and bathing are much of the same. But there is plenty of water that was rationed ahead of time that is undrinkable for that purpose. And plenty of water that is drinkable at least until you go to the surface.

  Infirmary/Quarantine Area (4th Floor)

  
  This is where you will go for your daily health check-ups and obviously, if you are feeling under the weather or need further medical assistance this is always here. There is enough medical equipment in this area to power a small hospital wing, though some of the equipment might be a little dated. It's better than nothing. This is also where those who are severely sick are quarantined from the others and monitored for the betterment of the Neighborhood to make sure the rest don't get ill.

  Greenhouse/Rations Room (3rd floor)

  This is one of the most delicate parts of the facility. While there might not be any electricity. There are plenty of battery-powered lights within the green room to keep some of the plants that can be grown underground alive. That being said, it takes a certain type of green thumb to grow food without any sun or natural light. One wrong move and the entire greenhouse could die off. This is also the location of the rations room, where Neighbors are expected to diligently keep check of what is still left and what is being depleted. Certain rations are more valuable than others, and certain items need to be preserved more than others so it is important to continue to bookkeep and be as accurate as possible.

  Weapons Room/Equipment Room (2nd Floor)

  This is where all the weapons are held and where all of the equipment for self-defense is located as well as the equipment to head to the surface (such as the nuke suits etc.) Here you can practice sparing, practice your aim, or learn something new from the Questionable gun guy who may or may not be hanging around from time to time. It is also imperative that all weapons and equipment in this area are accounted for, through diligent bookkeeping.

  Surface Hatch (1st Floor)

  This is the closest you'll get to the surface and NO ONE IS ALLOWED IN THIS AREA WITHOUT A HAZMAT SUIT AKA Nuke Suit. While radiation numbers may have decreased in this area significantly, no one is willing to chance poisoning, death, or more. There is a latch that is locked from the inside, it is locked with a timer and it is counting down currently. It will not release until the timer is up. Until then, you are stuck below the surface.

  
  
• 
  TBD
  

Thick Lined Divider

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Rise and Shine​

 

[Bellz]

Chapter 1: Rise and Shine
Shelter Location: Formerly Seattle, Washington
Monday June 15th, 2150

Maxine "Max" Barlowe​

Max clumsily fell out of her pod, not that anyone had been able to see her as they were still all under. Her legs felt like jelly, her stomach was in knots and she felt like she was going to hurl. The room was spinning in the dimly lit room. Nothing felt right, nothing felt safe. But she could hardly move. Max had rolled over on her back on the concrete floor and allowed the room to come to a spinning halt when she heard the familiar hiss of another pod door opening. Max had forced herself into a standing position, shaky arms, pushing herself up onto all fours. Looking down, she saw she was hardly wearing anything like she had been before she was put under...what had those scientists said?

The fewer clothes the better. But the clothes she had now resembled something like a swimsuit, and fortunately for both herself and the scientists who had tested the material...none of it had bonded to her skin under the extreme sub-zero temperatures. Max stayed in her all fours position for a moment longer before she slowly got onto her knees, and then finally on her feet. Once the pod door was completely open, she carefully walked over, stumbling and fumbling closer to whoever it was that needed assistance, making sure they didn't fall as she had fallen out of it.

"Careful...don't get out too fast. You won't be able to stand yet. Nice and slow."

There were questions, so many questions that Max didn't know how to keep up with them. As if she knew more about what was going on compared to the rest. It was true, she had been the first to wake up from the cryogenic sleep but she'd only been awake for about 30 minutes give or take before the next person woke up.


That horrible silence that had filled the room before, when she was the only one awake was no more. The entire space was filled with voices, 9 of them to be exact. All of their names, Max had yet to get but there would be plenty of time for that. Just how much time? That had yet to be determined. But a few of them had come looking to her for answers on just how long they were trapped in this space and Max had no idea. She just happened to wake up before them. Just happened to get past the pod sickness before them. Just happened to help each one of them out of their pods because she'd just gone through it. It wasn't like her, to volunteer herself so openly to others, but what else could she do? If she was going to be stuck down here like she had been told she would be 150 years ago, she needed to make sure these people weren't going to kill her, and now...some of them were looking to her for direction. That wasn't part of the deal.

After they were all safely able to stand and navigate their way to their sleeping quarters, "Let's change... get our bearings and meet up after...one of the larger rooms." Max had offhandedly suggested. This way they could talk about what they needed to do in order to make this all work. Then she could make it clear that she was not in any position to take the lead on any of this. This wasn't part of the deal. There was a station on the way down where they could grab flashlights, and Max grabbed the first one. It turned on much to her surprise. Wandering into her room which had her name on it, she found a full-size bed and a small dresser. That was it. It was so tiny. No windows. The woman thought the room was only getting smaller and smaller as she set her flashlight upright on the desk, letting the light illuminate the room but tried to take a deep calming breath as she cleared her mind. After changing into one of the outfits given -- a long-sleeved tan shirt and pants with a pair of workboots-- Max didn't even bother to check the duffle bag that she'd packed so long ago sitting inside another bag that looked to be protecting it from the elements. There were a lot of...emotions, that she would feel if she went through that bag. But now wasn't the time for it.

Things were going to be difficult. Everyone in this place lost someone or at least lost something in their past life. Didn't matter what they had or didn't have. They all lost what they had in the war. Which was now over and done with thanks to the extreme ways of the governments involved. Why they were all chosen for this role, Max wasn't exactly sure. Even after she was told why. She had questioned her part in this over and over leading up to being put under and it seemed now that she was awake 150 years later, nothing changed.

Max wondered if anyone else felt the same way, but she was sure that some felt they were right where they were meant to be. She wasn't a mind reader and wouldn't pretend to be one. It wasn't her business and it wouldn't be her business any further. She'd make that clear in this meeting. Heading out the door of her little room, she grabbed her flashlight and wandered down the hall, just glancing around at the infrastructure. They were never able to get a look at this place. Only told about it before they were placed to sleep. Now that she was seeing it with her own eyes, it didn't feel real. Almost like she was in some sort of simulation and if she was able to just get up to the surface she'd find everyone was alive and well... Biting her bottom lip, Max knew that if she started thinking like that...it could lead her down a path that she couldn't come back from.

Her feet practically dragged into the common room, eyes fixed down on the floor, flashlight pointed ahead until she arrived at her destination. When she stopped at a coffee table in the living room area of the common room, her eyes glanced up to look around her. They managed to make this place look...normal. As far as she could see with the minimal lighting. Surely there had to be other lighting? Pointing her flashlight up, she could see some bigger lights. Maybe they had to turn them on somewhere. With that thought, her eyes turned to look around again, flashlight just scanning the area and Max couldn't help but let out a scoff at the ridiculousness of it all. They were holed up like gophers and yet here they were with a living room, small kitchen, and bedrooms. Great. Hearing footsteps, Max turned her head to look at whoever was walking down the hall she walked in from, "This is somethin', huh?" She asked, looking at the person with an unimpressed look in her eyes. "The glamorous life of gophers is what we are meant to be living now." Max managed to joke lightly before turning to sit on the sofa that sat directly behind the coffee table.
Interaction: Open
Active Cast: Misty Gray MontanaKaidence Blobs sillybilly ShadowKind AtTheEndOfEverything cyberzkull

 

[AtTheEndOfEverything]

View attachment 1115819



Chapter 1: Rise and Shine
Shelter Location: Formerly Seattle, Washington
Monday June 15th, 2150

Maxine "Max" Barlowe​

Max clumsily fell out of her pod, not that anyone had been able to see her as they were still all under. Her legs felt like jelly, her stomach was in knots and she felt like she was going to hurl. The room was spinning in the dimly lit room. Nothing felt right, nothing felt safe. But she could hardly move. Max had rolled over on her back on the concrete floor and allowed the room to come to a spinning halt when she heard the familiar hiss of another pod door opening. Max had forced herself into a standing position, shaky arms, pushing herself up onto all fours. Looking down, she saw she was hardly wearing anything like she had been before she was put under...what had those scientists said?

The fewer clothes the better. But the clothes she had now resembled something like a swimsuit, and fortunately for both herself and the scientists who had tested the material...none of it had bonded to her skin under the extreme sub-zero temperatures. Max stayed in her all fours position for a moment longer before she slowly got onto her knees, and then finally on her feet. Once the pod door was completely open, she carefully walked over, stumbling and fumbling closer to whoever it was that needed assistance, making sure they didn't fall as she had fallen out of it.

"Careful...don't get out too fast. You won't be able to stand yet. Nice and slow."

There were questions, so many questions that Max didn't know how to keep up with them. As if she knew more about what was going on compared to the rest. It was true, she had been the first to wake up from the cryogenic sleep but she'd only been awake for about 30 minutes give or take before the next person woke up.


That horrible silence that had filled the room before, when she was the only one awake was no more. The entire space was filled with voices, 9 of them to be exact. All of their names, Max had yet to get but there would be plenty of time for that. Just how much time? That had yet to be determined. But a few of them had come looking to her for answers on just how long they were trapped in this space and Max had no idea. She just happened to wake up before them. Just happened to get past the pod sickness before them. Just happened to help each one of them out of their pods because she'd just gone through it. It wasn't like her, to volunteer herself so openly to others, but what else could she do? If she was going to be stuck down here like she had been told she would be 150 years ago, she needed to make sure these people weren't going to kill her, and now...some of them were looking to her for direction. That wasn't part of the deal.

After they were all safely able to stand and navigate their way to their sleeping quarters, "Let's change... get our bearings and meet up after...one of the larger rooms." Max had offhandedly suggested. This way they could talk about what they needed to do in order to make this all work. Then she could make it clear that she was not in any position to take the lead on any of this. This wasn't part of the deal. There was a station on the way down where they could grab flashlights, and Max grabbed the first one. It turned on much to her surprise. Wandering into her room which had her name on it, she found a full-size bed and a small dresser. That was it. It was so tiny. No windows. The woman thought the room was only getting smaller and smaller as she set her flashlight upright on the desk, letting the light illuminate the room but tried to take a deep calming breath as she cleared her mind. After changing into one of the outfits given -- a long-sleeved tan shirt and pants with a pair of workboots-- Max didn't even bother to check the duffle bag that she'd packed so long ago sitting inside another bag that looked to be protecting it from the elements. There were a lot of...emotions, that she would feel if she went through that bag. But now wasn't the time for it.

Things were going to be difficult. Everyone in this place lost someone or at least lost something in their past life. Didn't matter what they had or didn't have. They all lost what they had in the war. Which was now over and done with thanks to the extreme ways of the governments involved. Why they were all chosen for this role, Max wasn't exactly sure. Even after she was told why. She had questioned her part in this over and over leading up to being put under and it seemed now that she was awake 150 years later, nothing changed.

Max wondered if anyone else felt the same way, but she was sure that some felt they were right where they were meant to be. She wasn't a mind reader and wouldn't pretend to be one. It wasn't her business and it wouldn't be her business any further. She'd make that clear in this meeting. Heading out the door of her little room, she grabbed her flashlight and wandered down the hall, just glancing around at the infrastructure. They were never able to get a look at this place. Only told about it before they were placed to sleep. Now that she was seeing it with her own eyes, it didn't feel real. Almost like she was in some sort of simulation and if she was able to just get up to the surface she'd find everyone was alive and well... Biting her bottom lip, Max knew that if she started thinking like that...it could lead her down a path that she couldn't come back from.

Her feet practically dragged into the common room, eyes fixed down on the floor, flashlight pointed ahead until she arrived at her destination. When she stopped at a coffee table in the living room area of the common room, her eyes glanced up to look around her. They managed to make this place look...normal. As far as she could see with the minimal lighting. Surely there had to be other lighting? Pointing her flashlight up, she could see some bigger lights. Maybe they had to turn them on somewhere. With that thought, her eyes turned to look around again, flashlight just scanning the area and Max couldn't help but let out a scoff at the ridiculousness of it all. They were holed up like gophers and yet here they were with a living room, small kitchen, and bedrooms. Great. Hearing footsteps, Max turned her head to look at whoever was walking down the hall she walked in from, "This is somethin', huh?" She asked, looking at the person with an unimpressed look in her eyes. "The glamorous life of gophers is what we are meant to be living now." Max managed to joke lightly before turning to sit on the sofa that sat directly behind the coffee table.
Interaction: Open
Active Cast: Misty Gray MontanaKaidence Blobs sillybilly ShadowKind AtTheEndOfEverything cyberzkull

After the Eve of the End, of the World as we know it - Dowd I

'There's emergency lights,' Dowd thought to himself.

The chaos of the return of the old world had come and gone. The sickness and weakness of awakening had fled soon thereafter. When the remnants finally summoned the will to leave the cryo-chambers and climb the stairs to their rooms, meager belongings in hand, Dowd couldn't help but think back to the room where they had returned to the world.

Dowd dressed himself in the limited wardrobe that was left for them. Gray on gray, short-sleeved henley and jeans. He took the liner out of one of the coats and filled its expansive pockets with what he left of his life.

Truth be told, he had overfilled the large duffle bag. Ultimately, after the agent had pulled out a pile of contraband, they had let him through with very little. In their rush to push him through, they had neglected to find much of what he had hidden in the bag. Though for now, all of that didn't nearly matter as much as what they knew about.

A small crowbar in the large pocket on the inside of the coat, a zippo lighter, and a handful of firecrackers. Dowd had been surprised that none of these were contraband. The end of the world changed what the government tolerated, perhaps.

A Lifetime ago, he had ordered his lockpick set from the back of a hobby magazine. It had wrenches and picks, hooks, saws, rakes, and snakes. Considering the rest of the magazine was hacking and security-themed, the lockpicks were probably the most practical thing he had from it all. They went into one of his front pockets.

Dowd walked back down to the chambers, showing less ambivalence than he truly felt. The chambers were chilly, too cold to be pleasant even with his coat. The red emergency lights, meant to illuminate their return, had dimmed.

Logically, the chambers had been allocated enough power to get them to this point and no more. What excess there was likely powered these lights to prevent any accidents on their exit and assist in adjusting to the sickness.

They had been going on long enough that the leftover juice was fading out. Soon, the chambers would be as dark as the rest of the bunker. It stands to reason that there must be a way to turn on the lights he had seen along the ceiling of every room he'd been in. Unfortunately, a dearth of briefings and information was given to himself and the remnants.

If there was a way to turn on the lights, none of them likely knew quite how.

Dowd kept his flashlight pointed skyward, trying to see any indication of how to turn the overhead lights on as he returned to their rooms and then onward to the common area.

The pit in his stomach hadn't left since he had awakened. He was sure it wasn't from the sickness but the voices in the back of his head. The life he had wasted, the lives that the war had wasted, and what the world was now. He couldn't let himself dwell on it. His life was hurtling towards something never before seen, and he couldn't think about how he couldn't stop. He had to steer.

Eventually, he came to a common area of sorts, startling in its normality. Having already arrived, the Yuppie-looking girl who had tried to wrangle them turned to look at him.

"This is somethin', huh?" her Boston accent evident even in her unanimated speech.

"The glamorous life of gophers is what we are meant to be living now." She tried to inject humor into her voice, even giving him an undisturbed expression. The circumstances and her eyes betrayed her own nerves. She was trying but couldn't quite bring the deadpan to bear.

Dowd gave her a placid face in return, neglecting to respond while he looked around the room. No switches for the lights, no breaker boxes, just a facsimile of the average American living room with an attached kitchen.

The woman had sat down on the sofa, seemingly intent on awaiting the arrival of their companions by apocalyptic circumstance. Dowd couldn't find fault in her action and decided to claim one of the seats while they were still open. He set his flashlight facing upward as he sat back to wait.

 

[ShadowKind]

View attachment 1115819



Chapter 1: Rise and Shine
Shelter Location: Formerly Seattle, Washington
Monday June 15th, 2150

Maxine "Max" Barlowe​

Max clumsily fell out of her pod, not that anyone had been able to see her as they were still all under. Her legs felt like jelly, her stomach was in knots and she felt like she was going to hurl. The room was spinning in the dimly lit room. Nothing felt right, nothing felt safe. But she could hardly move. Max had rolled over on her back on the concrete floor and allowed the room to come to a spinning halt when she heard the familiar hiss of another pod door opening. Max had forced herself into a standing position, shaky arms, pushing herself up onto all fours. Looking down, she saw she was hardly wearing anything like she had been before she was put under...what had those scientists said?

The fewer clothes the better. But the clothes she had now resembled something like a swimsuit, and fortunately for both herself and the scientists who had tested the material...none of it had bonded to her skin under the extreme sub-zero temperatures. Max stayed in her all fours position for a moment longer before she slowly got onto her knees, and then finally on her feet. Once the pod door was completely open, she carefully walked over, stumbling and fumbling closer to whoever it was that needed assistance, making sure they didn't fall as she had fallen out of it.

"Careful...don't get out too fast. You won't be able to stand yet. Nice and slow."

There were questions, so many questions that Max didn't know how to keep up with them. As if she knew more about what was going on compared to the rest. It was true, she had been the first to wake up from the cryogenic sleep but she'd only been awake for about 30 minutes give or take before the next person woke up.


That horrible silence that had filled the room before, when she was the only one awake was no more. The entire space was filled with voices, 9 of them to be exact. All of their names, Max had yet to get but there would be plenty of time for that. Just how much time? That had yet to be determined. But a few of them had come looking to her for answers on just how long they were trapped in this space and Max had no idea. She just happened to wake up before them. Just happened to get past the pod sickness before them. Just happened to help each one of them out of their pods because she'd just gone through it. It wasn't like her, to volunteer herself so openly to others, but what else could she do? If she was going to be stuck down here like she had been told she would be 150 years ago, she needed to make sure these people weren't going to kill her, and now...some of them were looking to her for direction. That wasn't part of the deal.

After they were all safely able to stand and navigate their way to their sleeping quarters, "Let's change... get our bearings and meet up after...one of the larger rooms." Max had offhandedly suggested. This way they could talk about what they needed to do in order to make this all work. Then she could make it clear that she was not in any position to take the lead on any of this. This wasn't part of the deal. There was a station on the way down where they could grab flashlights, and Max grabbed the first one. It turned on much to her surprise. Wandering into her room which had her name on it, she found a full-size bed and a small dresser. That was it. It was so tiny. No windows. The woman thought the room was only getting smaller and smaller as she set her flashlight upright on the desk, letting the light illuminate the room but tried to take a deep calming breath as she cleared her mind. After changing into one of the outfits given -- a long-sleeved tan shirt and pants with a pair of workboots-- Max didn't even bother to check the duffle bag that she'd packed so long ago sitting inside another bag that looked to be protecting it from the elements. There were a lot of...emotions, that she would feel if she went through that bag. But now wasn't the time for it.

Things were going to be difficult. Everyone in this place lost someone or at least lost something in their past life. Didn't matter what they had or didn't have. They all lost what they had in the war. Which was now over and done with thanks to the extreme ways of the governments involved. Why they were all chosen for this role, Max wasn't exactly sure. Even after she was told why. She had questioned her part in this over and over leading up to being put under and it seemed now that she was awake 150 years later, nothing changed.

Max wondered if anyone else felt the same way, but she was sure that some felt they were right where they were meant to be. She wasn't a mind reader and wouldn't pretend to be one. It wasn't her business and it wouldn't be her business any further. She'd make that clear in this meeting. Heading out the door of her little room, she grabbed her flashlight and wandered down the hall, just glancing around at the infrastructure. They were never able to get a look at this place. Only told about it before they were placed to sleep. Now that she was seeing it with her own eyes, it didn't feel real. Almost like she was in some sort of simulation and if she was able to just get up to the surface she'd find everyone was alive and well... Biting her bottom lip, Max knew that if she started thinking like that...it could lead her down a path that she couldn't come back from.

Her feet practically dragged into the common room, eyes fixed down on the floor, flashlight pointed ahead until she arrived at her destination. When she stopped at a coffee table in the living room area of the common room, her eyes glanced up to look around her. They managed to make this place look...normal. As far as she could see with the minimal lighting. Surely there had to be other lighting? Pointing her flashlight up, she could see some bigger lights. Maybe they had to turn them on somewhere. With that thought, her eyes turned to look around again, flashlight just scanning the area and Max couldn't help but let out a scoff at the ridiculousness of it all. They were holed up like gophers and yet here they were with a living room, small kitchen, and bedrooms. Great. Hearing footsteps, Max turned her head to look at whoever was walking down the hall she walked in from, "This is somethin', huh?" She asked, looking at the person with an unimpressed look in her eyes. "The glamorous life of gophers is what we are meant to be living now." Max managed to joke lightly before turning to sit on the sofa that sat directly behind the coffee table.
Interaction: Open
Active Cast: Misty Gray MontanaKaidence Blobs sillybilly ShadowKind AtTheEndOfEverything cyberzkull

Jameson "Xander" Walker
The Science Guy
​

Twenty minutes, if that at all. That was how long it took Xander to start mentally cataloging the effects of cryo-sleep. He had to, because the reality of when they were was crashing down on him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to face those truths just yet. He cataloged that as well.

Instead, he focused on where. He was second out of the cryogenic chamber. No, third. Yes, third. He wasn’t sure what the order of “awakening” meant. Was it purposeful. Like being born again and feeling some form of gratitude to the person who woke up before you for helping you through the process of feeling every cell in your body defrosting. Or, was it mechanical? Electrical? Were some chambers fairing better during the long sleep than others? Were the internal clocks not synced properly? No malfunctions, at least. Ten were put to slumber, and ten awoke. He felt he should have been first to wake. Not out of some desire to lead, but out of want to be in a right state of mind while the others awoke. All information was key.

He followed instructions because he felt incapable of doing much else. Xander didn’t even grab his things. Aside from a picture of his mother, he didn’t actually bring anything deeply personal. So he waltzed right into an empty room, fell on the bed, and processed. He thought about first steps. Food, water, air, power. If, somehow, they were it — they were all that humanity had left to offer — then he planned on giving humanity at least a few more decades, not weeks, before they went extinct. But they wouldn’t know that for another six months or so.

He felt nauseous, but not quite as horrible as before. When he was sure that his nausea was more a symptom of his mental fatigue than any physical malady, he sat up and went back down to grab his personal belongings and bring them back up to the room he claimed, for the time being. Xander changed into a set of clothing, opting for long sleeves. He still was shaky from the cold.

He’d been rushed down into the cryogenic chambers, 150 years and some odd minutes ago. Was there anyone… No. The chambers, he focused on those instead. The technology was remarkable. It wasn’t hard to freeze someone, of course. It was the unfreezing that posed the issues. Cell tissue breaking apart. Molecular structures turning to mush like microwaving a frozen pizza. Soggy and sad, yet they weren’t. Sad, perhaps. Almost certainly. But soggy? No, he felt tired, sore, but fine. Longterm effects still to be determined, the short term was looking promising.

Still, those chambers were a testament to one of the few virtues of mankind. The mind. They were genius feats of engineering and he had not one, but ten of them to look into. They weren’t going back in, anyway. He may as well fiddle with them, take them apart, study them. The parts alone were an incredible resource, but if he could figure out the science behind them, then Xander might just be able to build something equally as remarkable.

That was enough daydreaming. Jameson stood and trotted out of his room. Trotted, truly. There was a pep in his step at the prospect of researching those chambers, and knowing they would be a constant, and welcome distraction from the grim reality they were all facing. 6 months before those doors opened. Would they bring salvation or damnation?

When he walked into the common room, a living room that was oddly quaint, he looked upon the two currently gathered there and presumably waiting for the rest of them to settle in. They were both sat and Xander couldn’t really read either of them. He wasn’t good at that. So he opted instead to offer a rather tight smile and took a seat for himself, though he opted for sitting on the ground opposite Max and leaning his back against the wall. He was used to lab rooms were the hard floors were more comfortable than the poorly cushioned seats. Call it a creature comfort, but sitting on a plush seat in a quiet living room didn’t seem appropriate, circumstances withstanding.

“What was that about gophers?” He asked, having just missed the attempt at a joke. “Oh, us? That’s uh… ha, yeah, that’s funny. I guess we are.” He gave an attempt at a laugh, and it sounded more like a dry cough.

“Ventilation is top notch, isn’t it?” He nodded around at the flat surfaces in the room. “150 years we spent in the freezer isle, you’d think the place would be dustier. It’s good, though… Dust would have probably been polluted. Not as much now, but… better safe than sorry.”

 

[cyberzkull]

Chapter 1: Rise and Shine
Shelter Location: Formerly Seattle, Washington
Monday June 15th, 2150


Alphonse Bachelet
The Lucky Lotto Winner #2

​

Alphonse clutched the duffle bag as his jaw clenched with contempt. He already knew what was inside, and he could feel his heart sinking by the minute as his head clamored with a violent ring. Looking down at his clammy hands, he suddenly felt an urgent longing— one that he knew he would never be able to satisfy. Not now. Not here. Not anymore.

Then, as he slowly unzipped the bag, he held his breathe as the familar fragrance of his jasmine scented home emerged from the bag. It filled his mind, his veins, his senses— it was almost as if, even for a second, he could perfectly visualize him and his brothers sitting in the yard, playing under the sun as his mother painted their petunias and sunflowers. And, sure— the jasmine scent was riddled with a great load of the murky, dusty smell that lingered in the chambers and government facilities— but it was still home. How could he ever forget? Now, face determimed, he fought back tears as he courageously dug through his belongings, setting his earthy toned clothing aside, and then finally laying his hands upon his most prized possession of all.

A crude drawing of his family in smudged, cheap, grainy crayon.

The lined paper was frayed, yellowed, and most definetly worn out over time; even so, it was laminated in plastic to protect the little life it had left in it. Red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and brown pastels littered the childlike imaginings that decorated the page. And, although the picture was rendered by a child, the pictute perfectly highlighted his old home in Gringy, France. His cottage, his four younger brothers, his eldest brother, and his mom all held hands in a line from oldest to youngest. It made him smile, but it also tugged at his heart strings. Gringy was where his home was, but it felt nothing like one. Apart from the safe haven of his house— the streets were riddled with poverty and crime. Alphonse eyes softened the longer he stared down at the photo— it was a bittersweet reminisence.

Besides, he had always carried this drawing folded in his pocket like a lucky charm at the beginning of his modelling career, and the habit just stuck. His youngest brother, Francis, had drawn it with the shaky vigor of a passionate little artist; in other words, Alphonse adored this drawing with all of his heart and soul. No matter how hard it was to look back on his days living in Gringy, he would always honor his family's resilience. His fingers now softly traced the lining of the lamination as the harsh, flourescent lighting in the room bounced off of it, and he could feel a flutter travel through his chest. An embarrassing, familiar sensation that meant only one thing: Water works.

"Putain de merde", Alphonse swore under his breathe, shakily breathing as he clenched the drawing to his chest with a hug. He couldn't help it anymore, and tears began streaming down his tanned cheeks as thoughts of his family flooded back to him like laps of a tsunami rushing in over a helpless city. He drowned in this bittersweet sorrow with a silent sob, knowing that the only thing he could do now was to move forward.

Precisely, before being accepted into The Neighborhood— Alphonse swore to himself that he wouldn't cry over the past— but it's obvious now that he severely underestimated the pain of abrupt loss, sudden change, and being apart of humanity's last chance at survival all at once. The gray, cement walls cupped his existence in the trembling silence.

Alphonse finally wiped his tears before accepting that the depressing feelings most likely won't evade him for a while. Even then, he supposed he wasn't alone. There are nine other people who are in the same boat as him. He'll be fine, right?

Finally, he changed into a light gray long sleeve, graphite gray pants, socks, and work boots. His clothes seemed to fall comfortably on him, and the earthy, dull colored fabric draped his figure with slack. He then exited his room, swiftly shutting the door before making his way to the second floor.

Once Alphonse finally made his way to common room, he stood at the foot of the entrance, lingering awkwardly in the door frame. At this moment, it truly sunk in that he was trapped in a bunker with a group of complete strangers. Yet, he knew it was more than that— these were the last people on earth, alongside him.

"What if I get tired of them?", A thought suddenly emerged, floating to the surface from the depths of his mind before slinking its way onto his face— his brows furrowed and eyes squinted with doubt. Alphonse then waved the thought away before combing a hand through his hair. As he daftly walked over to a chair and plopped himself down, he met the gazes of the other Neighbors with a gregarious smile and gracious hello. The silence was broken by a dark skinned man who seemed to be eyeing the room with an inquisitive stance, hand perched on his chin as his gaze was fixed on something in the distance.

“Ventilation is top notch, isn’t it?”, He pointed out, nodding around at the flat surfaces in the room. “150 years we spent in the freezer aisle, you’d think the place would be dustier. It’s good, though… Dust would have probably been polluted. Not as much now, but… better safe than sorry.”

Alphonse laughed at the statement. He was pleasantly confused at whether he was amused by the man's focus on the ventilation of all things, or by the fact that the man's observations rang true. Alphonse, shaking his head, tried to see what the man was seeing, his hazel eyes glazing over the seemingly unremarkable structures.

"Freezer aisle, huh? Well, I was hoping we'd be served fresh. However— Je m'en fous," Alphonse lightly chuckled to himself, "Humanity will always find a way to survive. As the French say— 'Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid'. Progress must've been slow, but we succeeded nonetheless."

As Alphonse hopelessly stared at the walls, he suddenly clasped his hands, sighing with a timid fervor. His hearty smile waned like a moon in near eclipse. Now, the sinking feeling in his chest returned, and his cheeks burned as he softly spoke the first thought that came to his mind. In disbelief and solemn, his energetic tone slumped.

"Isn't it insane that we're all living time capsules at this point?"

 

[Misty Gray]

Daniel Morgan
The Eager Second​

As he sat on the edge of the bed in his sleeping quarters, Daniel rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a rare stiffness to it. Along with his neck discomfort, his back ached and his legs felt restless. It was clearly the affects of being in the pod for 150 years that was causing his body to ache now. Always a physically active man in the past, he never was good at having too much down time. The century and a half rest he'd just had was bound to affect him. After a various stretches and light bodyweight exercises to waken up his muscles, he set about putting on more clothing than just the tight fitting shorts he was wearing.

Once dressed in the standard issue clothing that had been left out for him, he sat back on the edge of the bed once again. His eyes landed on the duffle bag next to him. He shone the torch onto the bag for a short time before turning away. He remembered exactly what was in the bag considering as far as being conscious was concerned, it wasn't long at all since he'd packed it. He knew there were photographs of Kristen and Danny inside the bag, but as tempting as it was to take a look, he stopped himself from doing so. Although 150 years had passed and he knew his kids were long dead now, it hadn't been so many years in his own mind since he'd last seen their pictures. He wanted to save opening the bag until the time he felt most in need of seeing their faces. Hell, he'd had practice back when they were alive and his ex wife had dragged them off to live in England were she eventually made it so he lost contact with his children altogether.

By the time Daniel reached the common room, there were already four people there, including the woman who had been first to suggest they all got changed before they would regroup. As he approached the doorway, he overheard Xander point out how he expected the place would be dustier after so many years. Daniel entered the room but stayed silent as Alphonse laughed at the dust statement and then made his own comments about humanity surviving. With the question about it being insane living in the capsules so long, Daniel nodded in agreement as he stood with his back against the wall, figuring he'd rested for long enough to not need to sit down yet. "150 years., A whole lot of years, yet it doesn't feel like long at all, considering," he commented.