'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?
[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.]
[He thanks the damn universe every single day that he is neither capable of exploding nor spitting acid. Thank god, thank fucking god. Only, right now, he's too busy mentally cursing to thank anything.
Ryder. On second thought, hank Ryder. Because she's the one who's just shaved three undead off the pack on his tail.
He skirts away from where the sound came from, not wanting to get her stuck with too many in one place. He races down another side street and does a hop and slide over a car which helps to throw off at least one, but no more than that.
It's going well. A little bird (not his little goose) goes crashing onto pavement and a couple more tilt their heads and meander away. The pretty blue porcelain must've been someone's dear heirloom, too precious to leave behind, but too useless in this world to really make it farther until now.
He slaps another car roof and darts around the corner, past a side street to his right and--]
Shit...!
[The survivor looks up. A haggard man whose gun is ready in a moment. At this distance, the bite wound on his arm might go unnoticed and he could be mistaken for a survivor too. Or, the man might decide not to take any chances.
He bolts and he hears a gunshot behind him which he's not sure was meant for him or another undead. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Where's Ryder?]
[She was pulling comfort from the jarring, displaced noises behind her -- ones that shouldn't be happening, because they were stupid in this day and age. Ryder holds her breath and waits for the next one, rolling something between her fingers. When it comes, it strikes her like a punch to the gut -- or. The solar plexus? That's where you wanted to aim, right? No, fuck getting pulled into those stupid fucking thoughts, that was a gun. Who the fuck --]
Son of a bitch!
[She probably shouldn't be saying anything, even if the sound wasn't as enticing as the one she was running towards, too, now. At least she has the sense to be less noisy about it than when she'd stupidly burst out of their apartment to yell for him. Then again, not saying anything as she got closer wouldn't be good, either? Real easy to confuse her for being part of everyone else around her, even if she'd clearly come off as cognizant of the world around her, if someone took the time to pay attention. It wasn't really the time for that. She has to -- be smarter about this.]
Fuck, fuck, motherfuck... Ugh!
[It could come back around and literally bite her in the ass, but once Ryder can shoulder her way into a sideview mirror hard enough to knock it free, she climbs onto the top of the vehicle and comes to a stop. Any (normal) undead wouldn't stop, and certainly wouldn't chuck something at you to get your attention, so if this fucker shoots her, she is going to go full zombie and tear his arm off herself. Of course, he was dumb enough to go firing a gun in a zone obviously being cut through by a horde. Was this one of the guys from the other day? If he was, would he recognize her? Would that be good or bad? She waves her arms big, making sure he can track the throw back to her. With any luck, Teo would be in a spot he could see her, too... Either way, she points off back the way she'd just come. Maybe she could get this guy to shut the fuck up and hide out in one of the safer spots she'd ducked into during her scouting mission. Then it's time to empty out her pockets of the other noise-makers she'd gathered in the world's lamest attempt to pull focus away from the giant, moving thing of food. From both giant, moving things of food!
...Whether it would actually still be safe where she directed the man or not doesn't really matter to her in that moment. Even if all she does is distract him long enough that he gets overrun, that's -- that's fine. Just then, the biggest danger around as far as she's concerned is him. She needs to find a way back to Teo before this guy got anywhere close to him. She needs him to be gone so that Teo could have her back without putting himself at risk.]
[The dead falter in their chase, undecided between him and the gunshot, but inevitably, thankfully, horribly, they turn for the stronger scent of life. An old bra does not have anything on a pulse in the end. He's still running for dear life.
A couple of the dead have enough passing interest to grab for him. The ones that pass him by make it that much more obvious he's not appealing to them. He can't be seen. If that man sees him, he's done.]
Ryder...!
[He can't shout loud enough. He's being drowned out in growls and shrieks and part of him just wants to curl up and cover his ears, however stupid that would be. Afraid of the dead, afraid of the living. He needs to find Ryder. He just needs to focus on finding Ryder...]
[From Ryder's vantage point, she can see the armed man, swapping out one weapon for another, going from his gun to some kind of a long-armed hatchet. It's brutally effective but still not enough to take on a whole hoard.
He raises a hand. At first, it might seem as though he's waving and signalling to her, but then there's a muffled crack of a sound from one nearby building. Another from the other side. The dead start dropping.
And so does a sideview mirror?
Ryder gets what she wants. The man looks up and he looks baffled. The further noise making even gets the attention of some of the dead, long enough for him to smash the hatchet into the backs of them.]
[Good, she thinks for all of two seconds before her heart leaps into her throat. She imagines being a frog, neck bulging as it croaked. If she could jump the way a frog could right about now, that would be fantastic, just get right the fuck on out of there and go about her froggy business, thank you very much. Instead, she has at least three people with guns and a shipwreck full of worries to deal with.
The numbers starting to slowly tick into their favor gives her the confidence to speak again -- that's what she's going to tell herself, because that would be the smart thing. The stupid thing would be wanting to cry until someone could give her a fucking answer about where her emotional support zombie is. God. Please be okay.]
You better know what the hell you're shooting! [Her voice is harsher than normal, half a snarl. It needs to be, in order to push through her usual hesitation. Fucking idiots. Fucking asshole idiots, living the way survivors are supposed to and using tactics and shit. Fuck these guys.] My fucking partner's still out here! You're really fucking our shit, here.
[They had a plan! It was working!! Smash, smash, more throwing things. She chucks one of her heavier knickknacks at an undead's head, as they start to get overly curious about her. Go away! She's busy!
Okay. No. Use the brain you sometimes pretended to have, Ry. Being a dick isn't going to help her reunite with Teo.]
You -- get s'out of here? Me and him? We can get you shit. So don't fuck with the guy with goggles and a bow! Your buddies better not fucking -- shitdicking christ!
[Oops, time to do her own hacking away at the undead before she loses what little advantage she could claim by having the high ground. Sorry, Teo... Your coat's getting even more rotten blood on it.
Okay. Hopefully these jackasses were going to help her bitchy self, because here she goes...!]
TEO! FIND A CAR AND -- STAY IN THERE UNTIL I FIND YOU!
[She'd find him. As soon as she could, she'd find him or die trying. Might die before that, actually, but she's still going to find him!! God, she's going to lose her voice.]
[The man's head seems to tilt at her as he yanks the hatchet out of a zombie and swings it out to the side at another. He lifts his free hand again, making a quick series of gestures, though the meaning remains unclear with the way the shooting doesn't actually stop.
The dead keep dropping. There might very well be the sound of a car door being slammed but it's hard to tell. The man shifts his focus back to the dead, tearing down and through them, sparing only passing glances at Ryder. Checking if she's helping or hindering. He weighs something in his mind, then gives one more signal. A snarling corpse prepared to take a chomp at her suddenly drops with a crack of sound. It seems she's being covered now too.
The man makes his way to Ryder, bloodying himself and each step he takes on the pavement. As if they're not in the middle of battle, he lifts his chin and a brow.]
Your friend, [The man drawls.] looked like he was about to be chewed up and spat out before I showed up.
[He keeps swinging. The shots keep firing. The dead keep coming until, at some point or other, there are only stragglers left. He downs one last undead and speaks again.]
Have to wonder what it is you think you can get.
[He gives another vague signal. Then he eyes Ryder up and down.]
Some partner. Not out here taking care of things. Follow me.
[Oh, if looks could kill -- well, this guy wouldn't be dead, actually, because as much as she's keeping him in her view and struggling to puzzle out what the signals mean, she has to pay mind to the remaining zombies that would to eat her face if she let them get close enough, so she can't exactly focus on meanmugging him too much.]
Dunno -- jack shit 'bout him.
[They had a plan. They had a plan, and it would have avoided all of this. She hates him. She hates that this is the way things just are, and she wouldn't have hated him this fucking much before she knew about Teo and how he could make the world look to her. This guy and his friends are right, and they're doing this smartly.
She's wary of following him. What if he decides that they're leaving after all, shut up little girl, forget your useless companion? What if he tries to rob them blind? What if -- No. Okay. She had to make sure they didn't give up on her deal. Don't even imagine those worse scenarios until they had to be dealt with.]
Our city. [With a huff, Ryder finally hops down from her perch, her fingers still clenched tightly around the handle of her hatchet. She reluctantly moves closer to him.] He's not here 'cause you -- fucked us. He knows his shit. Wh-what do you want?
[He gives her an appraising look. Then, he simply makes a clipped sort of hum, not revealing whether his verdict is approval or dismissal. He looks away.]
You think it's your city? Last I checked it was theirs.
[He moves back to those buildings, from which the muffled gunfire had come. A side door opens from the right, and out steps a young woman wearing a gun with a silencer over her shoulder, a crowbar and hunting knife at her hip, and a look just as detached as the man's. Her blonde hair is drawn in a ponytail but still hangs long enough that it drapes down the back of her denim jacket.
To the left comes the sound of footsteps on metal, followed by a softer thud. With pink running shoes dangling between the rails of an escape stair, another girl has taken a seat, wearing the twin gun of the girl below, but also what appears to be a baseball done up in true apocalyptic fashion; nails hammered through it. Her short-cropped hair frames the smile on her face. The girl calls out, eyes fixed on Ryder.]
"It's a live one!"
[The man looks up.]
Cecilia, your mark was off by twelve inches on your third and fifth. You can't afford to be that sloppy, you hear me?
[The smile freezes on Cecilia's face twitching and twisting into a grimace. She speaks in a forced grumble.]
"Consider it heard."
[The other one speaks up, a similar drawl, though leaning more to a snobby Californian teenager than the true stocism she might be aiming for.]
West end's a bust. Cecily's side's the better vantage for now.
[The man's mouth presses, then he nods. This seems to cheer Cecily. She goes ahead and kicks down the latter, offering them an avenue up.]
Maddison, you're on watch.[With that dismissal, she climbs up to meet her sister and the man turns back to Ryder.] If you truly know this city, I'd appreciate information. You also claimed being able to get me and my daughters things. Was that true? Or should I write that off as lies said in desperation? And for that matter, what exactly is it are you supposing got messed up? If you can make it quick, I'll listen here and now, but if you can't, you best get your partner and head on up before more dead come crawling this way.
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storywalks) wrote2021-11-17 08:42 pm
no subject
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...?
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
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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Ryder. On second thought, hank Ryder. Because she's the one who's just shaved three undead off the pack on his tail.
He skirts away from where the sound came from, not wanting to get her stuck with too many in one place. He races down another side street and does a hop and slide over a car which helps to throw off at least one, but no more than that.
It's going well. A little bird (not his little goose) goes crashing onto pavement and a couple more tilt their heads and meander away. The pretty blue porcelain must've been someone's dear heirloom, too precious to leave behind, but too useless in this world to really make it farther until now.
He slaps another car roof and darts around the corner, past a side street to his right and--]
Shit...!
[The survivor looks up. A haggard man whose gun is ready in a moment. At this distance, the bite wound on his arm might go unnoticed and he could be mistaken for a survivor too. Or, the man might decide not to take any chances.
He bolts and he hears a gunshot behind him which he's not sure was meant for him or another undead. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Where's Ryder?]
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Son of a bitch!
[She probably shouldn't be saying anything, even if the sound wasn't as enticing as the one she was running towards, too, now. At least she has the sense to be less noisy about it than when she'd stupidly burst out of their apartment to yell for him. Then again, not saying anything as she got closer wouldn't be good, either? Real easy to confuse her for being part of everyone else around her, even if she'd clearly come off as cognizant of the world around her, if someone took the time to pay attention. It wasn't really the time for that. She has to -- be smarter about this.]
Fuck, fuck, motherfuck... Ugh!
[It could come back around and literally bite her in the ass, but once Ryder can shoulder her way into a sideview mirror hard enough to knock it free, she climbs onto the top of the vehicle and comes to a stop. Any (normal) undead wouldn't stop, and certainly wouldn't chuck something at you to get your attention, so if this fucker shoots her, she is going to go full zombie and tear his arm off herself. Of course, he was dumb enough to go firing a gun in a zone obviously being cut through by a horde. Was this one of the guys from the other day? If he was, would he recognize her? Would that be good or bad? She waves her arms big, making sure he can track the throw back to her. With any luck, Teo would be in a spot he could see her, too... Either way, she points off back the way she'd just come. Maybe she could get this guy to shut the fuck up and hide out in one of the safer spots she'd ducked into during her scouting mission. Then it's time to empty out her pockets of the other noise-makers she'd gathered in the world's lamest attempt to pull focus away from the giant, moving thing of food. From both giant, moving things of food!
...Whether it would actually still be safe where she directed the man or not doesn't really matter to her in that moment. Even if all she does is distract him long enough that he gets overrun, that's -- that's fine. Just then, the biggest danger around as far as she's concerned is him. She needs to find a way back to Teo before this guy got anywhere close to him. She needs him to be gone so that Teo could have her back without putting himself at risk.]
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A couple of the dead have enough passing interest to grab for him. The ones that pass him by make it that much more obvious he's not appealing to them. He can't be seen. If that man sees him, he's done.]
Ryder...!
[He can't shout loud enough. He's being drowned out in growls and shrieks and part of him just wants to curl up and cover his ears, however stupid that would be. Afraid of the dead, afraid of the living. He needs to find Ryder. He just needs to focus on finding Ryder...]
[From Ryder's vantage point, she can see the armed man, swapping out one weapon for another, going from his gun to some kind of a long-armed hatchet. It's brutally effective but still not enough to take on a whole hoard.
He raises a hand. At first, it might seem as though he's waving and signalling to her, but then there's a muffled crack of a sound from one nearby building. Another from the other side. The dead start dropping.
And so does a sideview mirror?
Ryder gets what she wants. The man looks up and he looks baffled. The further noise making even gets the attention of some of the dead, long enough for him to smash the hatchet into the backs of them.]
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The numbers starting to slowly tick into their favor gives her the confidence to speak again -- that's what she's going to tell herself, because that would be the smart thing. The stupid thing would be wanting to cry until someone could give her a fucking answer about where her emotional support zombie is. God. Please be okay.]
You better know what the hell you're shooting! [Her voice is harsher than normal, half a snarl. It needs to be, in order to push through her usual hesitation. Fucking idiots. Fucking asshole idiots, living the way survivors are supposed to and using tactics and shit. Fuck these guys.] My fucking partner's still out here! You're really fucking our shit, here.
[They had a plan! It was working!! Smash, smash, more throwing things. She chucks one of her heavier knickknacks at an undead's head, as they start to get overly curious about her. Go away! She's busy!
Okay. No. Use the brain you sometimes pretended to have, Ry. Being a dick isn't going to help her reunite with Teo.]
You -- get s'out of here? Me and him? We can get you shit. So don't fuck with the guy with goggles and a bow! Your buddies better not fucking -- shitdicking christ!
[Oops, time to do her own hacking away at the undead before she loses what little advantage she could claim by having the high ground. Sorry, Teo... Your coat's getting even more rotten blood on it.
Okay. Hopefully these jackasses were going to help her bitchy self, because here she goes...!]
TEO! FIND A CAR AND -- STAY IN THERE UNTIL I FIND YOU!
[She'd find him. As soon as she could, she'd find him or die trying. Might die before that, actually, but she's still going to find him!! God, she's going to lose her voice.]
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The dead keep dropping. There might very well be the sound of a car door being slammed but it's hard to tell. The man shifts his focus back to the dead, tearing down and through them, sparing only passing glances at Ryder. Checking if she's helping or hindering. He weighs something in his mind, then gives one more signal. A snarling corpse prepared to take a chomp at her suddenly drops with a crack of sound. It seems she's being covered now too.
The man makes his way to Ryder, bloodying himself and each step he takes on the pavement. As if they're not in the middle of battle, he lifts his chin and a brow.]
Your friend, [The man drawls.] looked like he was about to be chewed up and spat out before I showed up.
[He keeps swinging. The shots keep firing. The dead keep coming until, at some point or other, there are only stragglers left. He downs one last undead and speaks again.]
Have to wonder what it is you think you can get.
[He gives another vague signal. Then he eyes Ryder up and down.]
Some partner. Not out here taking care of things. Follow me.
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Dunno -- jack shit 'bout him.
[They had a plan. They had a plan, and it would have avoided all of this. She hates him. She hates that this is the way things just are, and she wouldn't have hated him this fucking much before she knew about Teo and how he could make the world look to her. This guy and his friends are right, and they're doing this smartly.
She's wary of following him. What if he decides that they're leaving after all, shut up little girl, forget your useless companion? What if he tries to rob them blind? What if -- No. Okay. She had to make sure they didn't give up on her deal. Don't even imagine those worse scenarios until they had to be dealt with.]
Our city. [With a huff, Ryder finally hops down from her perch, her fingers still clenched tightly around the handle of her hatchet. She reluctantly moves closer to him.] He's not here 'cause you -- fucked us. He knows his shit. Wh-what do you want?
[What will get them to leave?]
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You think it's your city? Last I checked it was theirs.
[He moves back to those buildings, from which the muffled gunfire had come. A side door opens from the right, and out steps a young woman wearing a gun with a silencer over her shoulder, a crowbar and hunting knife at her hip, and a look just as detached as the man's. Her blonde hair is drawn in a ponytail but still hangs long enough that it drapes down the back of her denim jacket.
To the left comes the sound of footsteps on metal, followed by a softer thud. With pink running shoes dangling between the rails of an escape stair, another girl has taken a seat, wearing the twin gun of the girl below, but also what appears to be a baseball done up in true apocalyptic fashion; nails hammered through it. Her short-cropped hair frames the smile on her face. The girl calls out, eyes fixed on Ryder.]
"It's a live one!"
[The man looks up.]
Cecilia, your mark was off by twelve inches on your third and fifth. You can't afford to be that sloppy, you hear me?
[The smile freezes on Cecilia's face twitching and twisting into a grimace. She speaks in a forced grumble.]
"Consider it heard."
[The other one speaks up, a similar drawl, though leaning more to a snobby Californian teenager than the true stocism she might be aiming for.]
West end's a bust. Cecily's side's the better vantage for now.
[The man's mouth presses, then he nods. This seems to cheer Cecily. She goes ahead and kicks down the latter, offering them an avenue up.]
Maddison, you're on watch.[With that dismissal, she climbs up to meet her sister and the man turns back to Ryder.] If you truly know this city, I'd appreciate information. You also claimed being able to get me and my daughters things. Was that true? Or should I write that off as lies said in desperation? And for that matter, what exactly is it are you supposing got messed up? If you can make it quick, I'll listen here and now, but if you can't, you best get your partner and head on up before more dead come crawling this way.
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