'it was the beginning of the end' if they could see her now, what would the handful of AO3 users that had commented on her fanfics think with as cheesy an opener as that?
[She exhales and her body releases the remaining tension it had unconsciously been holding onto as she mentally fortified herself. Blindly, she reaches over to touch more of him and shuffle like he's a stuffed animal for her to draw comfort from in the night.]
That's no fun for you... Not fair. Shouldn't -- be tired.
[Her tone is a moody whine. Just because she pushed herself physically? Ridiculous! She should have been filled with energy from her amazing breakfast! Well, honestly that was probably why she'd been up for running around earlier, aches and all. But still, she sighs and murmurs a soft,] Safe together...
[What a spoiled girl, getting so accustomed to this (relatively) easy life.]
[She makes another noise that might be a protest, but it's obvious that she stops fighting it. Even as tired as she is, it takes longer than she'd like to make that switch from real world to dreamland...and before she knows it, she's awake again.
Ryder stretches out as much as possible, imagining herself as a jaguar that took those long steps and arched their back so satisfyingly. She'd look so rad with spots -- and damn, those claws and fangs. Unstoppable...! Unfortunately, as she goes lax again, she remembers that she's a human, and in this day, she's more prey than predator. But all the predators are caged up right now! And it's up to her and Teo to release them back into the wild!]
Mmmready...!
[Though her job is mostly to stay out of the way... She's determined to help! She can keep an eye out, as long as she's quiet about it, and if the survivors show up again, she can tell them to fuck off for their own good! Or something!
Back to making this a place where they can live their lives in as close to peace as you can get in the apocalypse.]
[He doesn't move until she wakes. He lets himself rest, but not sleep. He has seen all too often what happens when one assumes that the caged predators will stay in their cages. Hell, he's one too. He knows for a fact he died locked up, but he woke up in an open street.
Part of him marvels that she's going along with this plan. By all means, the smart thing to do would be to go down there and kill each and every last one of those undead. But, she sees him as more. And so, she's starting to see them as a little bit more too. He's grateful. He's grateful for so much with her.]
Guess it's... time then...
[He flashes a smile back at her and gets himself ready too, making sure his face is covered. It won't help much if he's caught walking the dead along, but it'll help him enough for each time he's got to wander back.]
I'm going to... open up... the doors down there... Be safe... Be ready... I will try to... finish up... fast as I can...
[He has more preparation to do than her, even if she does her due diligence to tighten laces, tuck away loose bits, keep less skin exposed, make sure she can move without issue... Backpack packed, doors checked, weapon ready. She gives him a thorough look over just to make sure, and quietly laments the fact that she didn't have binoculars or a bow of her own. She'd have to ask him to look for a sporting goods store or something... They should hit up a few different kinds of stores, actually. She wonders how much there is left behind after all this time, and how many undead still wandered...
Well. That's a future project. She has to focus on the task at hand, and she won't distract him by putting something else in the list.]
I won't have a lot of visibility from the window, but I don't want to risk the roof... [Too easy to get cornered. Ideally she'd be out there with him.] Anything I can get ready for you, if it goes sideways?
[He hums. She makes a good point. Even staying in this room like he'd originally imagined for her isn't actually the best for survival. Two exits if not more would be best. If anything came in through the door now, she'd have to beat back the lot or jump out the window. She might make the drop without dying, but she wouldn't manage it without breaking something and that meant an even slower, more painful death.
On the other hand, more exits meant more entrances too. That could be a problem. He lets out a rattling sigh.]
I'm not... an expert at... surviving... [Evidently.] But I will... be fine...so make sure... you're your first... priority... okay? If things go... sideways... you just... get yourself... safe... If you're... in danger... I'll take care... of it... If I... don't come back... follow... the standard... Short wait... Assume dead...
[The only who didn't leave someone behind at some point were the first ones to turn. He knew this.]
I might... leash them all... together... Make it... just one trip... But if I do... it'll be more obvious... something's off... with me...
[She could probably fashion something out of a sheet that could help with a window escape, but that's assuming she has time... Barricading the place would be easier, she thinks. Do her fire axe thing. The plan she really doesn't like is this "assume dead" junk, and it's more than evident on her face. Don't even talk like that? Awful man.]
Mmm...
[Yeah, that would definitely...be a problem... Plus she can't imagine a zombie chain being all that wieldy. Ryder chews at her lip, knowing that what she's about to say isn't something he'll like any more than she likes this "if I don't come back, leave me behind" shit.]
We could...bait them out -- instead. Scout a route, then lead them through using sound cues. You -- stay with them just in case, and I have different stations I can go to and -- throw something to get their attention in that general direction. [She rubs the back of her neck with her free hand, glancing away.] ...I m-mean...there's no point sticking around here if you -- aren't with me... We should do -- things together.
[He frowns right back at her, even though she can't see it. Those are apocalypse survival rules don't go judging him!
Or do, so he can go ahead and judge right back, his expression once again hidden and so his displeasure remains unclear until he speaks low and in disbelief.]
You want... to be... live bait...?
[That is a bad idea. That is an idea that goes wrong to worse. No matter how effective it would be to get the dead out.]
How do you... lose an entire... small hoard...? And then... not gain... any more stragglers... from outside...?
[She grimaces at him calling it what it is -- or what she'd be, maybe? That's probably more accurate. Thinking about this is definitely helping, and not at all just avoiding the problem.]
You say it like -- I'm planning on running five feet ahead of 'em all. [Even she's not that dumb! Admittedly, she didn't think about the part where she might attract the whole city. She's not used to attracting anything! Ba dum tshh, okay, no, focus. Ryder crosses her arms and sighs through her nose, trying to...make this sound sane.] I just meant -- stations? Um, when it's a race or hike, and -- points you stop at. Big mountain...climbing. They're set up that way. [Whatever those are!!] Go -- to a spot and -- I don't know, throw a baseball at a gong, so it makes -- noise. When they're over there, sneak to the next one. You keep them together in between... I've moved them around before using sounds, it's not -- stupid.
[She shifts her weight and kicks her toes at the floor, still closed off. It takes her a little bit to answer.]
No. I mean... I'm scared, too. It's not a -- good idea.
[But it's an idea, and a way for her to help. She wants to be able to have more days like this, where they can cook, play around, and nap whenever they feel like it. She got to laze around with him today, and it was fun. If they don't get the other hotel roomies out, they don't get to have that. If Teo runs into trouble, they don't have that. If Ryder gets caught, they don't have that.
She sighs and runs her hand through her bangs, pulling them down over her eyes. Ughh.]
Well... Um. [Hm!!] What -- about if you play the survivor? You know how far ahead you need to be, and what -- will get their attention... You don't have -- trouble walking through them, so when you stop, they'll -- just let you go... Right? You can go back to shepherding...
[Except her eyes lock to his sleeve, where she knows the bite to be. He'd had a scare already, and even if it wouldn't have killed him, it put him back to where he was when he died. That's not fair to him.]
I just -- don't know what I can do to keep you safe. Especially with what we have.
[He nods his head slow-- only to stop and get strangled on a laugh.]
Fireworks... would be great...
[Set them off somewhere far and then go right back here. The dead would rush to the sound. He could literally stand there and hold the door for them. But, unfortunately, they don't have those and he doesn't want to postpone this for too long.]
But... playing bait... myself... might work... Except that... I smell like--
[He stops, head lifting, gaze sliding back to Ryder. It's risky for a whole other reason but--]
I need to... smell like you... at least... from a distance... and you... [They didn't get around to laundry yet. He starts to pull off his jacket.] What do you have... that I can borrow...? Preferably... bloody or smelly... [His sweater follows, revealing the torn black tee beneath layered over the stripey shirt that's missing a chunk at his arm.]
[Ryder stares dumbly for a moment, looking as if he’s speaking in code to her, but when his very simple, direct words settle in just as they’re meant to, she thinks she might be spontaneously combusting. Clothes were — whatever. They hardly meant anything, as long as they suited the weather and were good to move in, and it was only since Teo had been taking care of her that she’d let herself indulge in style more. She had things available to indulge in! So: clothes. Not a big deal.]
Um… Th-the most…would be back at our apartment… [Since that’s where she’d discarded what she’d been living in for months and months. That’s fine, if inconvenient! But —] It’s, um. Um. [aaaaaa] The only thing I — couldn’t find in my size to — change into was, um, a — bra.
[She is going to Die.]
If that’s — enough, or I-I — can go get something and bleed on it, I don’t mind, if — if that’s easier.
[Well. That certainly makes him feel like an idiot.
He's quiet for a good long moment of embarrassment.]
I... guess I... could, uh... c-carry... it...
[He is going to Double Die.]
Well... at least... you can have... my clothes... to cover up... you... Keep you... a little safer... I wouldn't want... you to be out... and bleeding... and... [He clears his throat.] I'd have to... stay away... to be safe...
[Her internal screaming and running around comes to an abrupt stop at his last point, though it comes too late to save her nail and cuticle from her anxious teeth. She doesn't want him to stay away from her. Handing over her bra is -- still embarrassing as shit, like holy fuck, but she'll just have to deal with it!! Okay. Okay.]
Um. Ssso... [Just, uh. Man. Getting dressed in front of him while facing away had been way, way easier than thinking about undressing at all. Despite this, she doesn't think to duck away to the little bathroom attached or hop into the shitty, shallow closet space.] This shirt is -- probably, um. A little help, too. Running around. Um. I'm just gonna --
[Turn...around... The pants wouldn't work for him, at least, with him being so much taller. Jesus, she hadn't done anything like this since middle school, and the anxiety over this plan to send him out alone is really starting to mingle with the memories of never being sure or feeling like she could belong. Shutting her eyes in an attempt to shut out her uncertainty, Ryder forces a scoff of a laugh and a teasing mumble as she peels her shirt over her head and reaches back to fumble with the clasps of her bra.]
Just d-don't go -- bragging to them about getting under -- a girl's shirt, yeah?
[Glumly, a voice that had no business existing in that moment assures her that there's not that much under her shirt to brag about anyway. Shut up, voice.]
[He quickly turns as well, shielding his eyes. He feels like a dumb teenager except that if he was his face would be scorched red.]
Don't think... this crowd... would be... that impressed... if I did...
[Wrong kind of eating, a voice says in his head and he wants to grip the hoodie he's removed and drag it over his head.]
Im... sorry to have... asked this of you...
[He waits until his hoodie and jacket are both taken before he dares to turn back. The bra and shirt will be hastily tucked to hang out the pocket of his jeans.]
[Oh, he agrees. Miserable. Ryder peeks behind, covering herself until she can make the trade and get herself dressed. As she flips the hood up, she has to admit that it doesn't smell great. Smells pretty bad, actually, after the soap and shampoo they've been able to enjoy lately. Ah, life. Life stinks. This situation stinks.
...Comfortable, though, and even though she feels an astral projected version of herself strangling her whenever she looks over to his pocket, she has to admit -- quietly, only to herself -- that wearing the hoodie of a guy she likes is a fantasy she'd given up on a long time ago. It makes her stomach flutter with more than nausea. Gosh, she's such a freaky loser.]
Not -- how I imagined it. [Oh dear, she's gone red again, if she ever stopped. Don't admit to imagining him asking you to undress, stupid!] Um. S'fine. If it -- helps. That's what -- I wanted.
[If they'd gotten around to that laundry washing, maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but then, if they had, this plan wouldn't really work. He's not even sure it will work as is, but it can't hurt. Just, sort of, humiliate them a little, no big deal.
He doesn't expect what she says. He makes a strangled noise that might be a choked on laugh.]
Most girls... probably don't... imagine dead guys... [Way to be creepy. Way to make it real weird. Moving along.]
Hoping... it does help... So... you're sure about... running ahead...? Making noise...? You'll have to... stay at a... good distance... that they don't catch... your scent... under mine...
[Her exhale is shaky, a weak laugh that she doesn't entirely feel, even if she knows she's being ridiculous and should absolutely be mocked.]
I guess -- anyone else. Yeah.
[Anyone else wouldn't be thinking about incomplete, dead lips coldly brushing across their skin and feeling a thrill instead of a dread so strong it made your stomach turn. Stuck on her own failings, she doesn't think about how her words could so easily be misinterpreted to be meant about him.
Ryder clears her throat, already starting to fiddle with the edges of her newly acquired sleeves, then regretting it because she knows that if she tries to chew her nails now, he's not going to let her even though his logic is bad and paranoid, probably. Ugh.]
Mm. I'll be -- Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club. Do you rem-remember that one?
[Of course, that one was even older than The X-Files, so it's hard to say whether or not he knew it at all, if he can't.]
I'll try to use environmental -- sound more, for the -- stragglers in the city, you know? Are you, um. You think you could get one with an arrow if they -- got too close to me...? I know s'not for that, um... [The distance, the lack of safety for her, the fact that the target is moving and persistent... All things to add difficulty to an already difficult ask.] Just, uh -- last resort kinda thought.
[Of course he assumes she wouldn't want him like that. Who could? And if anyone did they would almost certainly be disappointed. She'd be hoping for anyone else. Her scully, perhaps.
And speaking of references, he's got to think hard, moving an arm up as he tunelessly rasps out the words of a song.]
Don't you... forget about... me...?
[What an ironic tune to come out of his mouth. He puts his arm down and nods along. His answer is firm.]
[He raises his fist and she frowns, puzzled because she was so sure he wouldn't get it that it doesn't click until he speaks. That makes her light up with joy. And hope. He remembered! She chews her lip to tamp down on the urge to hug him both for the reference and the promise. Maybe just to hug him. It's...dangerous. She doesn't like this, but it has to work, the amount of effort and brainpower they're putting into it.]
Okay! I'll head out first, then. When I see you get going, or if you call out, I'll start making noise unless I'm in a bad spot.
[She doesn't bother getting her bag. If she can't come back here, there's no point to any of it, she's pretty sure. Just gotta grab some tools to make noise with, some stuff she can throw -- that's harder -- and then she's good.]
[She's so excited, he can't bear to admit to her that the ending scene is the only thing he really remembers. Let her have her joy. She deserves it. And not the least because it just makes him happy to see it.
He nods, nervous as all hell but trying to manage it. She's going out. They're both going to play bait and zombie at the same time. It hasn't been that long since she roamed the streets on her own with him following behind, he shouldn't be getting so worked up.]
Stay safe... See you... soon...
[He can't help but wonder if he's said that before, back when he was alive.]
[It's hard to quell the urge to talk to him over her shoulder, which is completely ridiculous. How long has it been since she had someone around that she really enjoyed the company of? Even when living with her mom or calling her, Ryder was never the type to chatter. That was all for herself or her stuffed animals. She's not sure exactly what that says about Teo. Even if they didn't fully know what kind of person he was and he wasn't alive, he was still undeniably a person, not a plush she's meant to cuddle with. He's kind of the opposite, actually...she just wasn't good at following rules.
The nice thing about apocalypse rules is that they're highly variable. If you didn't adapt to the unique situation you find yourself in, you're not following the rules at all. It's meant to be chaotic, and Ryder's quick, wandering mind can flit from stimulus to stimulus and still be considered engaged in the task at hand. It's still not easy -- as upbeat as she was when she set out, she meant it when she said this idea of hers wasn't good. More than once she stalls out, holding her breath and trying to figure out how to throw something without making too much noise herself or making something cross her path trying to get to the sudden sound. Ryder tries to act as if she is doing this alone...but inside, her undeniably living heart pumps with confidence she wants to shush knowing that Teo is out there and willing to do whatever he can, too.
...Don't sing "I wanna be an Airborne Ranger", don't do it.]
[He waits until she's well and gone. He's opening up the doors for the dead and it's more than likely that their first reaction will be alertness and even frenzy. What he fails to remember is, thanks to the bra hanging out his pocket like a frat boy victory banner, their second reaction is to continue that frenzy.
The dead snarl and clamber after him and he's sent scrambling like he might have if he were still alive. And, for the moment, he half forgets he isn't. His mind goes on a chorus of oh shit, oh shit, while the dead chase after him.
His panic only barely dulls as he makes it out onto the street. Ryder is out there and she's going to help him. But also, he needs to be ready to help her. If the dead get close to him, they'll leave him be, but getting close enough to her will be a whole other story.
He races along, smacking car roofs as he passes to make noise, draw undead attention, and let her know where he is. He starts to reach back to ready his bow and arrow as he runs.]
[Even with her head start, Ryder soon finds Teo coming up on her at a distressing rate. There's still plenty of time, she reminds herself, willing her hands to stop shaking as she whacks out a response to his own slap-call, only by winging an empty can away from her so that it dinged, clattered, and rolled to entice anything that might be lurking in a place she can't see.
They always move faster than she thinks they should, even if plenty of games and movies have done their best to prepare her for any number of variants. Fast, slow, mutated into exaggerated shapes, able to explode or spit acid. Truly, Ryder should have known what to expect, even if that was that this could have gone in a way no one had ever seen before. Don't expect shit. A few undead rush to the can and she does her best to make her movements less obvious. When two of them bump together and getting into the even sadder zombie equivalent of a slapfight, attracting the confused third towards them, Ryder uses the opportunity to move to the next point she can consider cover.
Shit. She almost wants to laugh as her stress spikes again, and though she should be listening for any hint of rasping of growling around her, what she's straining to hear is the next sign that Teo is still coming. Still alright. At least she's not too stupid to look around for immediate dangers. No undead that had been just out of sight before to give her a jumpscare, but there's glass on the ground ahead. Avoid that. She can't use that. With the end of Teo's sleeve, she covers her mouth. It's a little placebo telling her that nothing can hear her, it's time. It still smells like bodies and garbage, but there's still a faint scent of being worn by someone clean recently. Maybe that's her, actually. ...She's going to choose to believe it's him. With her other hand, she carefully reaches for her next object -- some little knickknack. The next piece of cover. That's when she'll throw it, so that she can make better time and not attract too much attention.
Oh god. God, this was so stupid. Why did she want to do this so badly? Holy shit. Teo would have been fine! Now she's -- ugh. But he has her back. Next spot. Just one next spot to the next next spot, until they could get back to the spot they could call theirs. Keep moving. ...But like, not too much. Don't be suspicious, and so on.
The chipped porcelain bird she tosses shatters to pieces that maybe some future survivor will have to make note not to step on. For now, the noise it makes it exactly what she needs. Keep their attention away. Let them bumble around until they could be swept into the rest of the horde. Because Teo was on his way.]
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storywalks) wrote2021-11-17 08:42 pm
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That's no fun for you... Not fair. Shouldn't -- be tired.
[Her tone is a moody whine. Just because she pushed herself physically? Ridiculous! She should have been filled with energy from her amazing breakfast! Well, honestly that was probably why she'd been up for running around earlier, aches and all. But still, she sighs and murmurs a soft,] Safe together...
[What a spoiled girl, getting so accustomed to this (relatively) easy life.]
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He laughs softly.]
I'm okay... I have... quite a night ahead... Fine to rest...
[And being safe together with someone is such a novelty, even for him. Especially for him. He repeats;]
Rest...
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Ryder stretches out as much as possible, imagining herself as a jaguar that took those long steps and arched their back so satisfyingly. She'd look so rad with spots -- and damn, those claws and fangs. Unstoppable...! Unfortunately, as she goes lax again, she remembers that she's a human, and in this day, she's more prey than predator. But all the predators are caged up right now! And it's up to her and Teo to release them back into the wild!]
Mmmready...!
[Though her job is mostly to stay out of the way... She's determined to help! She can keep an eye out, as long as she's quiet about it, and if the survivors show up again, she can tell them to fuck off for their own good! Or something!
Back to making this a place where they can live their lives in as close to peace as you can get in the apocalypse.]
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Part of him marvels that she's going along with this plan. By all means, the smart thing to do would be to go down there and kill each and every last one of those undead. But, she sees him as more. And so, she's starting to see them as a little bit more too. He's grateful. He's grateful for so much with her.]
Guess it's... time then...
[He flashes a smile back at her and gets himself ready too, making sure his face is covered. It won't help much if he's caught walking the dead along, but it'll help him enough for each time he's got to wander back.]
I'm going to... open up... the doors down there... Be safe... Be ready... I will try to... finish up... fast as I can...
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Well. That's a future project. She has to focus on the task at hand, and she won't distract him by putting something else in the list.]
I won't have a lot of visibility from the window, but I don't want to risk the roof... [Too easy to get cornered. Ideally she'd be out there with him.] Anything I can get ready for you, if it goes sideways?
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On the other hand, more exits meant more entrances too. That could be a problem. He lets out a rattling sigh.]
I'm not... an expert at... surviving... [Evidently.] But I will... be fine...so make sure... you're your first... priority... okay? If things go... sideways... you just... get yourself... safe... If you're... in danger... I'll take care... of it... If I... don't come back... follow... the standard... Short wait... Assume dead...
[The only who didn't leave someone behind at some point were the first ones to turn. He knew this.]
I might... leash them all... together... Make it... just one trip... But if I do... it'll be more obvious... something's off... with me...
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Mmm...
[Yeah, that would definitely...be a problem... Plus she can't imagine a zombie chain being all that wieldy. Ryder chews at her lip, knowing that what she's about to say isn't something he'll like any more than she likes this "if I don't come back, leave me behind" shit.]
We could...bait them out -- instead. Scout a route, then lead them through using sound cues. You -- stay with them just in case, and I have different stations I can go to and -- throw something to get their attention in that general direction. [She rubs the back of her neck with her free hand, glancing away.] ...I m-mean...there's no point sticking around here if you -- aren't with me... We should do -- things together.
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Or do, so he can go ahead and judge right back, his expression once again hidden and so his displeasure remains unclear until he speaks low and in disbelief.]
You want... to be... live bait...?
[That is a bad idea. That is an idea that goes wrong to worse. No matter how effective it would be to get the dead out.]
How do you... lose an entire... small hoard...? And then... not gain... any more stragglers... from outside...?
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You say it like -- I'm planning on running five feet ahead of 'em all. [Even she's not that dumb! Admittedly, she didn't think about the part where she might attract the whole city. She's not used to attracting anything! Ba dum tshh, okay, no, focus. Ryder crosses her arms and sighs through her nose, trying to...make this sound sane.] I just meant -- stations? Um, when it's a race or hike, and -- points you stop at. Big mountain...climbing. They're set up that way. [Whatever those are!!] Go -- to a spot and -- I don't know, throw a baseball at a gong, so it makes -- noise. When they're over there, sneak to the next one. You keep them together in between... I've moved them around before using sounds, it's not -- stupid.
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I know you're... not stupid... [She wouldn't have gotten this far if she was.]
I'm just... [He folds his arms too, though more to hug himself than to make himself seem certain.] I'm scared... I don't want to... put you at risk...
[But she wants to do things together. A team. He doesn't know what to do.]
Are you... really sure... about this?
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No. I mean... I'm scared, too. It's not a -- good idea.
[But it's an idea, and a way for her to help. She wants to be able to have more days like this, where they can cook, play around, and nap whenever they feel like it. She got to laze around with him today, and it was fun. If they don't get the other hotel roomies out, they don't get to have that. If Teo runs into trouble, they don't have that. If Ryder gets caught, they don't have that.
She sighs and runs her hand through her bangs, pulling them down over her eyes. Ughh.]
Well... Um. [Hm!!] What -- about if you play the survivor? You know how far ahead you need to be, and what -- will get their attention... You don't have -- trouble walking through them, so when you stop, they'll -- just let you go... Right? You can go back to shepherding...
[Except her eyes lock to his sleeve, where she knows the bite to be. He'd had a scare already, and even if it wouldn't have killed him, it put him back to where he was when he died. That's not fair to him.]
I just -- don't know what I can do to keep you safe. Especially with what we have.
[...]
We need fireworks.
[She sounds miserable.]
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Fireworks... would be great...
[Set them off somewhere far and then go right back here. The dead would rush to the sound. He could literally stand there and hold the door for them. But, unfortunately, they don't have those and he doesn't want to postpone this for too long.]
But... playing bait... myself... might work... Except that... I smell like--
[He stops, head lifting, gaze sliding back to Ryder. It's risky for a whole other reason but--]
I need to... smell like you... at least... from a distance... and you... [They didn't get around to laundry yet. He starts to pull off his jacket.] What do you have... that I can borrow...? Preferably... bloody or smelly... [His sweater follows, revealing the torn black tee beneath layered over the stripey shirt that's missing a chunk at his arm.]
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Um… Th-the most…would be back at our apartment… [Since that’s where she’d discarded what she’d been living in for months and months. That’s fine, if inconvenient! But —] It’s, um. Um. [aaaaaa] The only thing I — couldn’t find in my size to — change into was, um, a — bra.
[She is going to Die.]
If that’s — enough, or I-I — can go get something and bleed on it, I don’t mind, if — if that’s easier.
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He's quiet for a good long moment of embarrassment.]
I... guess I... could, uh... c-carry... it...
[He is going to Double Die.]
Well... at least... you can have... my clothes... to cover up... you... Keep you... a little safer... I wouldn't want... you to be out... and bleeding... and... [He clears his throat.] I'd have to... stay away... to be safe...
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Um. Ssso... [Just, uh. Man. Getting dressed in front of him while facing away had been way, way easier than thinking about undressing at all. Despite this, she doesn't think to duck away to the little bathroom attached or hop into the shitty, shallow closet space.] This shirt is -- probably, um. A little help, too. Running around. Um. I'm just gonna --
[Turn...around... The pants wouldn't work for him, at least, with him being so much taller. Jesus, she hadn't done anything like this since middle school, and the anxiety over this plan to send him out alone is really starting to mingle with the memories of never being sure or feeling like she could belong. Shutting her eyes in an attempt to shut out her uncertainty, Ryder forces a scoff of a laugh and a teasing mumble as she peels her shirt over her head and reaches back to fumble with the clasps of her bra.]
Just d-don't go -- bragging to them about getting under -- a girl's shirt, yeah?
[Glumly, a voice that had no business existing in that moment assures her that there's not that much under her shirt to brag about anyway. Shut up, voice.]
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Don't think... this crowd... would be... that impressed... if I did...
[Wrong kind of eating, a voice says in his head and he wants to grip the hoodie he's removed and drag it over his head.]
Im... sorry to have... asked this of you...
[He waits until his hoodie and jacket are both taken before he dares to turn back. The bra and shirt will be hastily tucked to hang out the pocket of his jeans.]
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...Comfortable, though, and even though she feels an astral projected version of herself strangling her whenever she looks over to his pocket, she has to admit -- quietly, only to herself -- that wearing the hoodie of a guy she likes is a fantasy she'd given up on a long time ago. It makes her stomach flutter with more than nausea. Gosh, she's such a freaky loser.]
Not -- how I imagined it. [Oh dear, she's gone red again, if she ever stopped. Don't admit to imagining him asking you to undress, stupid!] Um. S'fine. If it -- helps. That's what -- I wanted.
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He doesn't expect what she says. He makes a strangled noise that might be a choked on laugh.]
Most girls... probably don't... imagine dead guys... [Way to be creepy. Way to make it real weird. Moving along.]
Hoping... it does help... So... you're sure about... running ahead...? Making noise...? You'll have to... stay at a... good distance... that they don't catch... your scent... under mine...
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I guess -- anyone else. Yeah.
[Anyone else wouldn't be thinking about incomplete, dead lips coldly brushing across their skin and feeling a thrill instead of a dread so strong it made your stomach turn. Stuck on her own failings, she doesn't think about how her words could so easily be misinterpreted to be meant about him.
Ryder clears her throat, already starting to fiddle with the edges of her newly acquired sleeves, then regretting it because she knows that if she tries to chew her nails now, he's not going to let her even though his logic is bad and paranoid, probably. Ugh.]
Mm. I'll be -- Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club. Do you rem-remember that one?
[Of course, that one was even older than The X-Files, so it's hard to say whether or not he knew it at all, if he can't.]
I'll try to use environmental -- sound more, for the -- stragglers in the city, you know? Are you, um. You think you could get one with an arrow if they -- got too close to me...? I know s'not for that, um... [The distance, the lack of safety for her, the fact that the target is moving and persistent... All things to add difficulty to an already difficult ask.] Just, uh -- last resort kinda thought.
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And speaking of references, he's got to think hard, moving an arm up as he tunelessly rasps out the words of a song.]
Don't you... forget about... me...?
[What an ironic tune to come out of his mouth. He puts his arm down and nods along. His answer is firm.]
I'll do it... Not letting you... get hurt...
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Okay! I'll head out first, then. When I see you get going, or if you call out, I'll start making noise unless I'm in a bad spot.
[She doesn't bother getting her bag. If she can't come back here, there's no point to any of it, she's pretty sure. Just gotta grab some tools to make noise with, some stuff she can throw -- that's harder -- and then she's good.]
See you back here?
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He nods, nervous as all hell but trying to manage it. She's going out. They're both going to play bait and zombie at the same time. It hasn't been that long since she roamed the streets on her own with him following behind, he shouldn't be getting so worked up.]
Stay safe... See you... soon...
[He can't help but wonder if he's said that before, back when he was alive.]
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The nice thing about apocalypse rules is that they're highly variable. If you didn't adapt to the unique situation you find yourself in, you're not following the rules at all. It's meant to be chaotic, and Ryder's quick, wandering mind can flit from stimulus to stimulus and still be considered engaged in the task at hand. It's still not easy -- as upbeat as she was when she set out, she meant it when she said this idea of hers wasn't good. More than once she stalls out, holding her breath and trying to figure out how to throw something without making too much noise herself or making something cross her path trying to get to the sudden sound. Ryder tries to act as if she is doing this alone...but inside, her undeniably living heart pumps with confidence she wants to shush knowing that Teo is out there and willing to do whatever he can, too.
...Don't sing "I wanna be an Airborne Ranger", don't do it.]
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The dead snarl and clamber after him and he's sent scrambling like he might have if he were still alive. And, for the moment, he half forgets he isn't. His mind goes on a chorus of oh shit, oh shit, while the dead chase after him.
His panic only barely dulls as he makes it out onto the street. Ryder is out there and she's going to help him. But also, he needs to be ready to help her. If the dead get close to him, they'll leave him be, but getting close enough to her will be a whole other story.
He races along, smacking car roofs as he passes to make noise, draw undead attention, and let her know where he is. He starts to reach back to ready his bow and arrow as he runs.]
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They always move faster than she thinks they should, even if plenty of games and movies have done their best to prepare her for any number of variants. Fast, slow, mutated into exaggerated shapes, able to explode or spit acid. Truly, Ryder should have known what to expect, even if that was that this could have gone in a way no one had ever seen before. Don't expect shit. A few undead rush to the can and she does her best to make her movements less obvious. When two of them bump together and getting into the even sadder zombie equivalent of a slapfight, attracting the confused third towards them, Ryder uses the opportunity to move to the next point she can consider cover.
Shit. She almost wants to laugh as her stress spikes again, and though she should be listening for any hint of rasping of growling around her, what she's straining to hear is the next sign that Teo is still coming. Still alright. At least she's not too stupid to look around for immediate dangers. No undead that had been just out of sight before to give her a jumpscare, but there's glass on the ground ahead. Avoid that. She can't use that. With the end of Teo's sleeve, she covers her mouth. It's a little placebo telling her that nothing can hear her, it's time. It still smells like bodies and garbage, but there's still a faint scent of being worn by someone clean recently. Maybe that's her, actually. ...She's going to choose to believe it's him. With her other hand, she carefully reaches for her next object -- some little knickknack. The next piece of cover. That's when she'll throw it, so that she can make better time and not attract too much attention.
Oh god. God, this was so stupid. Why did she want to do this so badly? Holy shit. Teo would have been fine! Now she's -- ugh. But he has her back. Next spot. Just one next spot to the next next spot, until they could get back to the spot they could call theirs. Keep moving. ...But like, not too much. Don't be suspicious, and so on.
The chipped porcelain bird she tosses shatters to pieces that maybe some future survivor will have to make note not to step on. For now, the noise it makes it exactly what she needs. Keep their attention away. Let them bumble around until they could be swept into the rest of the horde. Because Teo was on his way.]
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