A new day

[Moridanu]

Wednesday walk
by Moridanu on Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:57 pm
( So good to finally have my boy back. For two people who haven't played together in a year to just jump back into it and do this in an HOUR is freaking awesome!! *grins*)

Many thanks to my amazing writing partner for a quick but productive RP session in the Tavern. With time zones conspiring against me, I don't often get a chance for live RP when I am actually in the mood to write so it was wonderful to dust off these two characters as we dive back into my favourite genre: zombiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

*The sun was just beginning its descent behind distant mountains as Leila stepped cautiously across the threshold. Pulling the door closed quietly behind her, she paused to lock it with the long key that hung around her neck before slipping the chain back safely beneath the black singlet she wore beneath a black bullet proof vest. Long legs encased in cargo pants of olive green crossed the small courtyard in front of the tall, nondescript building she had just left as keen green eyes scanned the area for any sign of movement. Although her black army issued boots were large and cumbersome, the woman made little sound as she weaved through a barricade of parked cars decorated with bodies in various stages of decay. Choosing a relatively fresh corpse, she dipped her finger in what was once its face, and scooped up some blood and other bits she didn’t care to study. Slathering a fair amount onto her bare arms, Leila swallowed the urge to vomit before adjusting her army green cap over her head and pulling her long, blonde ponytail out the hole at the back. Swarms of flies leapt to the sky as she slipped past the rotting carcasses before descending upon their grotesque meal with more frenzied buzzing than before. The air felt hot and sticky on the back of her neck, and she reached back to pull a large, sharpened hockey stick out of the back of her vest. Swinging it before her now, she made her way through the car barrier and quickly jumped onto the bonnet of a small red Fiat. From there, she jumped to a Jeep and then a bus before finally making her way over the small wall of debris and equipment that someone clever had made long before Leila had found this place. Climbing carefully down off the piled washing machines, garden furniture and sharp spikes; Leila avoided touching the hundreds of corpses that littered this part of the highway before turning left and heading into the woods that flanked this stretch of highway on both sides. A short 100 paces would find her at her precious garden. She had spent many hours planning, planting and cultivating the garden; sourced from various scavenging expeditions and a midnight raid at a local horticultural centre. Although she normally watered her crops much earlier than this she had found that she had spent most of the day sleeping which was unusual for someone so busy. Coughing deeply, Leila sniffled as she made her way through the thick undergrowth to the clearing. A minute before the familiar little twig fence came into view, Leila heard a twig snap somewhere to the left of her. Holding out her hockey stick in front of her, she peered into the encroaching darkness looking for the source of that sound.*


7:36 PM [Casey] *Time had been a confusing concept in a world like this, if Casey had to guess, it had been almost five years since he had been deployed into that hell of a city where him and a ragtag group of survivors managed to form up and get the hell out of Dodge. It seemed that as the clock ticked away faces fell away, either succumbed to the plague or just simply went their seperate ways. He could see all their faces, and especially hers...that was one that plagued him every moment of his life, the memory of a plan that had so suddenly, so violently gone wrong. Leila was gone and he was left to drift through the countryside avoiding anything that resembled a populated area. Surviving was a struggle, and lucky breaks had more than once saved him from a grim death from starvation or dehydration. There had been new faces however, and more than he ever would have thought to see. There was a loose attempt to use intelligence to rid people of the terror of their undead nightmares, trying to rebuild society around the common theme of survival and concealment. Today he was alone, travelling along the wilderness towards what he thought was a camp. A closer hill was his destination, stopping at the top and taking out a pair of binoculars to survey the area. It definitely was a camp, and it was active but not overly sized and with something that was a bit of rarity. A garden full of vegetables was looking healthy and it made his stomach grumble just at the thought of some fresh produce. It was amazing how much things like vegetables became a luxury, almost a treat when you could come across those staying long enough to grow such things. After a few moments of admiring the rows of green, he spotted the first person he could see in the camp. A few adjustments to the binoculars and he was much closer to the young woman tending the garden, and what he saw was something that his mind couldnt accept as real. The whole of it was surreal and for a moment he felt like he was blind, internally viewing the day that he was sure s
7:36 PM [Casey] internally viewing the day that he was sure she had been lost. What were the chances? Of her living? Of him finding her here? Casey couldnt be sure if this wasnt something brought on by grief and maybe he was sick. In the end it did not matter, he would pocket the binoculars and begin heading down the hill, fighting the urge to run to her as he did not want to frighten her. If it was her, she would not know it was him until he was close for it had been several days since he had last been in a habitable place and his face was almost hidden by dirt. All this plus the fact that it was dark was going to make this a little dicey. He wasnt sure when she would see him, and if it wasnt her if this woman would panic at the sight of him. But as he began to come closer the doubt began to lift and a knot formed in his throat, so that when he went to call out he couldnt at first. And finally standing at the edge of the garden, he would drop his bag as he watched her closely, one tear cutting a line through the grime on his cheek.*


*She hadn’t seen many of the undead in recent days, but she was loathe to fall complacent and had made sure she had spent a good hour each night sharpening the already razor sharp blade she had sharpened the end of her hockey stick into. The other end (the club) was held like a handle as she wielded the blade like a walking stick in front of her in the general area of the snapping twig. Whatever was coming towards her was making no attempt at masking their sound as it crashed through the trees in front of her. Once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she made out the sight of a rather large man in faded green overalls. Only one eyeball remained in a distorted and bloated face, yet he still managed to look upon Leila at the edge of the clearing. Waiting for him to approach her, Leila held her ground until he was within stabbing distance and with one quick motion, stabbed him through his remaining eye. Pulling the blade out, she winced as optic fluid and other bits splashed onto her face before the corpse fell to the ground, finally dead. Muttering to herself, she was wiping at her face with the bottom of her singlet when she heard a voice behind her say her name. Freezing in place at the sound, Leila forced her breathing to slow down as she felt her heart start to race. The compound had been empty when she had stumbled upon it a few months ago and before that, she had been alone for at least a year with nobody to say her name. Hearing it now, and in the voice of someone long dead was enough to send a fresh wave of gooseflesh to break out upon her now clammy skin. Clenching her fists, she squeezed her eyes shut for a second, muttered something to herself that sounded like ‘suck it up princess’ and forced herself to turn around. The sight before her was one that puzzled her, and she stood staring at it for a good five minutes before she spoke. The dirty face, matted hair, layers of grime and tattered clothes did nothing to take away from the striking features she had had imprinted on her eyeballs the second they had laid upon the handsome face of Casey Smith. ~It.. can’t…~ she swallowed repeatedly but still her mouth felt like it was full of cotton wool. ~It can’t be… you..~ Her vision began to blur as tears filled her eyes. ~You…. died! I saw!~ She tried to think back to that day she had tried to blot from her memory but the pain proved too great and she settled for glaring at him in confusion. ~ It… can’t be…. You?~ she whispered, her bottom lip trembling. *

8:12 PM [Casey] *It was hard to ignore the smell of death around them, the smell of death on her but it was something that pretty much everyone had come to know in their lives. The thought had never crossed his mind once that she was alive, he had been so sure that everyday he had carried a burden with him and for the longest time that had been the only thing that didnt allow him to quit. The only time he had felt relatively normal was them hiding in their building, plotting to get the hell out of that city and start a better life out beyond the streets. And well, besides for the decorations of carcasses everywhere, this was as close to that dream as either of them had come. At first he wasnt sure what he should do, there had been so few times in the past where he had got rest but he hadnt truly stopped to relax. Casey had continuous trudged on through, never stopping to think about the mind numbing, body weakening pace that he had been under. He could see the confusion on her face at his appearance and there was no reason that he could give that would explain what was happening here because if he said anything, it would only be a mimic of what she just asked him. And so for a few moments he could do nothing but look at her, trying to reason with himself on what to do. If she felt any guilt, he would understand but just like she would tell him it wasnt either of their fault. Casey finally would just close the gap and hold her against him, completely content to just clutch to her like something was trying to rip him away. The only thing that could seperate him from her would be of course, her pushing him away but he knew better than to think she would do such a thing.* "And...I thought I had lost you...I almost got taken down, but I found a corrugated pipe covered in rubble and climbed inside to get away. Stayed down there for a few days with a broken hand before I finally manage to slowly make my way out of the city. I have been wandering around the countryside ever since, just trying to see how the rest of humanity
8:12 PM [Casey] see how the rest of humanity is getting along." *His mind felt slow, and even to himself he felt like something more profound would have came out of his mouth. But he was too tired, too far gone in both body and mind to care about anything except for the warm, albeit rotten smelling, body in front of him. *
8:15 PM [Leila] (oi)
8:15 PM [Leila] ( I don't smell rotten... I would say... I smell nice... with a hint of death. )
8:16 PM [Casey] (Lmao)
User Casey has signed out.


... to be cont'd...

[Moridanu]

*Before she had time to fully process what was happening, she was in his arms. It was a surprisingly familiar yet alien sensation simultaneously, and the extreme polarity of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Shaking as he held her, she pulled back but only slightly so that she may study him better. Several moments passed before she finally reached up to wrap two exhausted arms around his strong, reassuring neck. Her head found the hollow of his chest where she had spent many a night being lulled to sleep by the sound of his steady heartbeat and she felt herself relax against him for the first time in forever. At the mention of a broken hand, her aquamarine eyes glanced down in concern to study both of his, before rising to seek his gaze. ~Are you healed okay? I have a first aid kit back at camp.. its not much.. but I can strap it for you at least?~ Stepping back from him now, she squinted up at the darkening sky. She had clearly been staring at him longer than expected and the sun was now almost completely gone. Although the beauty of the pink, gold and bronze streaked sky would normally be enough to hold her gaze, tonight she was anxious of what lurked in the shadows once that last trace of light was gone from above. ~We better get back.. there’s a few barriers to climb and its painful in the dark. .. ~she winked at him. ~Trust me…~ Turning away from him, she led the way back the way she had come careful to keep her back straight and her legs from buckling beneath her. Inside she was a shaking mess as she slowly began to register that not only was she not alone anymore, she was also back with Casey. These two life altering moments were enough to daze her in the best of circumstances but she knew that she needed her wits about her if she was to make it back to camp before darkness was fully upon them. ~Step lightly but quickly and try to stay right with me..~ she called over her shoulder as she began to artfully dodge the multitude of spikes, blades, cars and appliances that blocked the woods from the highway. Although most of the walking corpses they encountered ignored her due to her gore splattered arms, Casey proved too tempting for several of them and they had to stop more than once before finally arriving at the compound. Pulling the key out of her cleavage, she realised she was strangely shy to show Casey where she had been living. ~It’s an old Italian place..~ she said, opening the door and inviting him in. ~Down here was a restaurant area when I found it.. ~ The tables and chairs had mainly been pushed up against already barricaded windows and only a lone table and four chairs remained in the middle of the black and white linoleum floor. The door they had just come through was the only weak point in an otherwise heavily fortified room and Leila stopped to engage both the dead bolts and upper hook bolt before leading Casey through the kitchen. Metal cabinets and benches gathered dust in what was otherwise a pristine kitchen illuminated by a single green bulb above the kitchen door. ~There was actually quite a lot of canned food in here when I found it surprisingly.. ~she muttered as means of communication. ~I swear, I will never eat another can of Ravioli again…~ she walked confidently through the maze of benches and industrial appliances to the small staircase hidden in a back corner. The staircase was steep and narrow, just the way she liked it as it meant that it was easier to guard and she stepped lightly while telling him to do the same. The upper floor was her personal sanctuary and it was as “homey” as she could make it. A battered patchwork quilt that had clearly seen better days was draped over a rather comfortable looking bed in one corner of a large room that also housed an oversized arm chair, end table and a large bookcase covered in books. A small kitchenette was built into the side of the room and on the window sill of the kitchen window, there was a hint of the blue tarp that served as her rain collector. A large, healthy looking plant with suspicious looking leaves stood tall and proud in a pot in the corner near the refrigerator and a beat up radio player sat in the middle of the floor, surrounded by different albums. Walking over to the only large cabinet in the room, Leila pulled a small tin from the top shelf. ~Here’s the first aid kit if you need it..~ she held it out to him hesitantly before reaching up to unhook the latches of her bulletproof vest. *

[JamesNautice]

"AS CASEY SMITH"

*Casey couldnt find words after those first few, and much like her the moments got away from him just looking at her...a face he thought that he would never see again. Finally she suggested that they get back to where she had been staying and he found himself coming out of that fog with a nod, standing up to move with her. His hand had long healed, though some antibiotic for some recently stitched wounds with some bandages wouldnt be a bad thing. Casey moved in a very coordinated manner, his weapon was always at his shoulder though he wouldnt dare fire a shot here. That sound would be the death of them. Instead they had to maneuver around, knocking a few in the heads before they finally reached their destination a fair amount of time later. The building wasnt nearly as alien as the world they had been living in on the outside even with the barricades this felt like all the other settlements, one step closer to normal. He listened to her and studied the area, making sure to memorize the details before following her up the stairs to what had been her home for a while now from what he could tell. When they finally stopped, he had a chance to look around with a smile and a nod of approval.* "This is definitely you, and I like it. Had a harvest from that plant yet?" *Casey would motion towards it before setting down the tin on a ledge near him. He would place down his back, the myriad of sounds erupting from it as different metals and materials clanged together no longer in suspension. Casey felt his bones crack just from the release of that weight, the weapons harness wasnt light itself either and he almost lost grip of it when he unclipped it from around him. Setting it down next to the bag, Casey would finally unclip the kevlar and set it down with the rest of his gear. It had been 45 miles today and not all of it was easy, and with the amount of weight he had been carrying he almost felt like he was going to lift up from the floor. The black undershirt was actually in oddly immaculate condition, made of a strong yet very thin breathable fabric. This would be set down with the rest of his pile, his torso on full display was a roadmap of the time he had spent away. Two 9mm rounds to his right shoulder had been mere millimeters away from shattering and completely destroying his joint. During a time he had been running away after the city, he had fallen and was impaled on a jagged piece of wood. The fever almost took him in a settlement a week later. And the newest one was a gash neatly and professionally stitched reaching from right below his neck to just right of his left nipple down his chest. It wasnt too unhealthy but his flesh was beginning to turn bright red from the grime collected from the time on the road. The area was definitely more tender than he wanted to admit and he was almost ashamed to be in this state during this reunion...something he had never even thought would happen.*

[Moridanu]

*Intent on removing her own protective gear, Leila had her hockey stick and vest stacked neatly on the armchair before she realised he had taken off his shirt. Gasping and tutting at the sight of his various war wounds, she rushed towards him and snatched up the tin. ~Those stitches look okay but you’re in danger of infection…how old is the wound? Who stitched you up?.... that skin doesn’t look good.. there’s a cream…~ she popped open the tin and removed a small tube. ~There isn’t much left I’m afraid so use it sparingly, but you definitely need some around that wound…~ She paused before asking softly. ~Actually… I can help..?~ Stepping closer she unscrewed the lid and squeezed a long dollop onto her index finger. ~Stand still… this might sting..~ Her touch was soft as she gently applied the antibiotic cream. ~I don’t have any dressings, so you will just need to leave your shirt off until it soaks in.~ Blushing she turned away, eager for a distraction. Her eyes fell on her pot plant in the corner. ~Yes I just harvested yesterday! First decent batch I’ve got out of it .. but my other plant died a week ago so I’m not hopeful for the future. ~ Crossing to her bed, she dropped onto the edge and reached her hand down and under the quilt before pulling out a decorated wooden box. ~Would you like some?~ she asked, holding out the box. ~Heaven knows we both deserve one!~ Leila proceeded to do what she did best and quickly packed a pipe for Casey should he choose to accept it.*

[JamesNautice]

*That wasnt something he was used to anymore, no one had fretted over him since....well since she last had been with him in the city while they planned their escape. There was a great thing about the time on the outside though, but that would have to wait for later. Casey didnt argue with her wanting to apply it to him and while she did so he would speak to her questions.* "Dr. Fredrick from a settlment called Tulin about fifty or miles so away from here. The wound is fairly fresh, two days. Knife wielding bastard caught me in a down swing, shouldnt of had that sixth shot...would have been just a moment quicker. Casey would smile as she spoke to a recent harvest, and when she asked if he wanted some he would just cock his head as if saying; what do you think? He would laugh then and pull his bag carefully from under the pile of his gear, firstly he would tuck away the shirt agreeing that with how dirty it was, probably not a good idea to put it over the wound especially with no bandages. While she packed a bowl, Casey would dig around inside of bag full of mystery and produce first a couple of mason jars with completely clear liquid store inside of them, definitely not water. Then there was the familiar rustle of a wrapper and he produced something that had cost him one of his favorite handguns in exchange...and the .45 would definitely last longer. Two unopened candy bars, almost as if they had just come off the shelf. There were certain things that man could reproduce with ease, but making chocolate wasnt one of those things so it was literally worth its weight in gold to some people. Fuck, there wouldnt be a better moment than this to crack them open. Some house-made potato vodka, two candy bars, and a bowl of weed...paradise could be so simple in the world of the apocolypse* "Got these while I was there as well. Got a still where they are producing liquor at questionable rates, but I thought I might as well get some while I could. Tastes like shit but definitely takes the edge off."

[Moridanu]

*Somehow, she found that she wasn’t the least surprised when he revealed his hidden horde of booze and candy. The gesture was so reminiscent of their past times together that Leila could not deny or deflect the contented smile that crept its way across her lips. Casey had always made sure that they had enjoyed luxuries that were once taken for granted and it was his old pipe that she handed to him minutes later. The next few hours were a hazy but happy blur of decadent chocolate, drunken laughter and multiple moments of deep reflection and discussion of their past experiences since they had last seen each other. Although she was inebriated and no longer in full control of herself, Leila managed to stay seated on the edge of the bed and resisted the urge to climb onto Casey’s lap. It had been too long since they last saw each other to assume that either one of them were the peope they once were and she didn’t want to make any assumptions about him or who he had become. And even though she wanted nothing more than to sink into his strong embrace, she knew that it was best that she stay where she was. She was mentally congratulating herself for doing just that, when she heard a loud bang from downstairs. Golden brow knit together in concern, Leila shot Casey a look before hauling herself off the bed. ~That sounded like it was coming from the back door..~ Stopping to pick up her discarded sharpened hockey stick, Leila hoisted the weapon up over her shoulder and disappeared down the stairs. The noise came again, louder and longer and definitely coming from the back right corner of the building. A narrow hallway led to a small back door next to a large storage shelf. Approaching the dark hallway cautiously, Leila arched a slender brow in shock as she noticed the backdoor was slightly ajar. A wet black nose attached to a silver snout was pushing against the door which was kept firmly in place by the small, but surprisingly effective latch chain that allowed the door to be only opened enough to allow the owner of the silver nose to stick half of its head in the doorway. The movement had caused Leila’s make shift alarm of Ravioli cans and string to sing its warning song. ~ A puppy!~ Leila cried, sounding ten years younger than she actually was. Running to the back door, Leila checked through the crack for any unwanted visitors before pushing the puppy’s head out of the doorway. Closing the door, she quickly disengaged the latch chain before opening the door to allow the dog to enter. Now that she could see the whole animal, Leila was shocked to see the condition of what was actually a small wolf. It had clearly been a while since its last meal and the matted fur on its rump, combined with the slight limp of its back leg suggested it had seen better days. The wolf needed little encouragement to come inside, its nose quivering as it followed the scent of the Ravioli cans with its eyes. Slamming the door shut, Leila reengaged the latch bolt before locking the other three locks securely in place. The fact that the door had been opened was still a concern as Leila knew she never left those three locks undone, but it would need pondering later. For now, she had two new arrivals to entertain her and she turned around now to look for Casey. ~ Look what I found!~she called, looking back to the wolf who was trying to climb the nearby shelves to reach the empty Ravioli tins that hung above the door. ~Well… more like it found me!~*

[JamesNautice]

*There was no joy he had known like this, normally these things were never mixed together for one moment. The chocolate was just for something quick to eat and the alcohol was to help him get through the night out in the wastes. But for that time he was able to let go of some of the burden that he had hoisted on his shoulders, and get back to where he had been before that terrible day so long ago. Casey knew it wasnt the same now, in his mind there was the thought that she might be different as well even if she didnt know it, he wasnt that different either. Perhaps she had forgotten that he was a soldier, the sole survivor from that very first day when they found themselves at the gun shop with the others so long spread to the wind. They talked about them too, Casey had heard rumors that a couple were still alive and that was enough for a little joy for a little amount of time. Having a bowl out of his pipe was too nostalgic and so he didnt even register for a moment about the danger being so stoned and buzzed. But when his mind caught up a couple seconds later, his sidearm was pulled from beneath his pile of clothes and pointed towards the door. What happened in the next few moments found the gun on the floor and Casey looking almost stunned as he watched the pup try to reach the cans. Flashes from a time and he had almost forgotten, like this dark and dangerous world had been his life forever.* "Zeus..." *Casey hadnt thought about home and why he hadnt went there in his mind was probably because he had never switched off from his mission, sure there was no wife and no children but he had a dog and he had family. Casey thought a lot of time had passed by when he finally tuned back into the real world but only mere seconds had ticked away. Even with his wounds, his posture never changed approaching the pup before picking it up. Casey had a way with canines, when they looked at each other there was always some sort of agreement and this puppy reacted the same, licking at his face after a moment of stillness. A tear slipped from his eye as he looked over the pup's body, finding the source of his injury...a nicely torn out patch of skin from his leg..* "He must have been caught in something. No shortage of things like that around here. I think you should keep him, there is not one soul that would contest his loyalty to you if you raise him." *Casey would hand over the pup to her, and he would smile even through the pain of the memory. This wolf was almost like a symbol of new life for them.*

[Moridanu]

*Leila watched the wolf as it tried to negotiate its way up the cluttered shelves towards the Ravioli cans. Even if the poor mutt could reach them, it would hardly receive the giant feast it clearly thought was worthy of risking his life. ~They’re empty..~ she called over to the wolf who was somehow on the third shelf and currently trying to claw its way onto the fourth.
~I have real food you can have…~ she looked around. ~Not down here… but.. ~ she looked around for Casey who was already approaching the pup. While he picked it up, Leila disappeared into the kitchen and returned with half a fish mushed up on a chipped China plate. As Casey handed her the pup, Leila lowered the plate onto the ground before accepting the squirming ball of silver into her arms.

~I never had a dog…~ she huffed, as the pup rolled around in her grip before settling back with its forelegs pressed against her stomach. Gazing down at the myriad of greys and cream that decorated this wild beast, Leila watched as the wolf looked up at her with solemn eyes before licking her chin. ~Ew! She laughed, carefully placing the puppy back onto the floor. It immediately rushed over to the plate and consumed the fish before she had time to even blink. The plate was spotlessly clean within a second and those big eyes returned to her, this time begging her to repeat that trick.

Leila looked over to Casey. ~I don’t have much to feed it… I haven’t exactly got much of anything here. That was my dinner that I just gave it… I was planning on picking some vegetables to have with it when I found you…~ she trailed off, lost in thought. When she spoke again, she was mainly muttering to herself as she went through her inventory. ~… there’s only three cans of Ravioli left and then that’s it! Considering there were hundreds before… it freaks me out to think they will be gone. ….~

Those Ravioli cans had been stacked to the ceiling of the small store room when she had first discovered the restaurant. They had been her glimmer of hope that maybe she might just live to see another day. Having SOMETHING to eat had meant that she didn’t have to keep going out for raids in the hope of finding something else. Instead, she had been able to start planting and cultivating her garden and had just started to reap her harvest of small, but still fresh, healthy produce. She had taken note of a farm house a few miles back and although the house itself was no longer a suitable or safe haven, a search of the yard had located two laying hens. It had taken many months of back breaking work, but she had managed to transport both the hens and their pen back to her compound. The public toilet that was attached to the side of the restaurant was only designed to service one patron at a time, but it was more than enough room for the two hens. The girls usually produced one egg each every couple of days and those eggs became the omelette that she soon made part of her staple diet. Looking back at the wolf, she winced as it began to whine. ~I haven’t got anything…~ she sighed, looking back to Casey. ~I’ve only got eggs, a few carrots and three tins of Ravioli… I don’t suppose you have anything else in your bag of tricks?~*

[JamesNautice]

*Casey watched the wolf as it "wolfed" down the plate of food that was set down, this landslided into an issue of food. If this had been the beginning of the end then he would have been concerned, but seeing the world around him he knew that she had been too afraid or too settled to move beyond this compound too much. There were tons of others out there, living in isolated areas and continuing the world as if it was something straight out of Mad Max. When Leila finally turned to him and asked him if his magic sack contained anything else, he would chuckle alittle bit.* "The chocolate would make him sick. But I think I have something that will be right up his alley." *Casey really hadnt worried about food for awhile, the amount of zombies had ebbed and now it was going to be a long road to the end, but it seemed that with the right prompting they could all ride it out and survive. Rummaging through his bag, the pup would make his way over because the smells that were now coming into the room were his main concern. Casey would produce a large bag with brown-reddish chunks that would have been easily recognizable before but somewhat of a delicacy...jerky...This was dehydrated from a deer and seasoned in a way that may have been bland in the old days but at the current time it was better than sex....well not that he had the experience to compare it to for awhile. He took out some and tore it into chunks so the eager little guy wouldnt choke on it. He would sprinkle it on the plate and watch him devour the pile of protein. It wasnt the end of his magic bag but he hadnt considered what she had been without, he had sort of domesticated with the knowledge of these compounds and the skills to survive outside and between them. Casey would smile and offer her the bag next.* "Nothing after chocolate, alcohol, and some weed like sex...I mean venison jerky." *He couldnt help but laugh at that, not forgetting that this much protein was worth alot even if it would only last the three of them for about four days or so to meet their requirements. But in the coming days, Casey would explain to Leila about the places he had been and perhaps they would be able to secure some help to clear this area out and maybe..just maybe begin their own city in the wastes like the others had done before.*

[Leila Darkmoon]

*Once the wolf was fed, it spent the next ten minutes exploring its new surroundings before settling down near the back door. Curling up into a little silver ball, it buried its snout under its bushy tail and quickly fell asleep. Leila envied its ability to just drop off to sleep as it usually took her hours of tossing and turning before her exhausted body finally succumbed to sleep and the nightmares that haunted it. Snagging a piece of venison jerky off Casey before he could put it away, Leila chewed on it thoughtfully as her green gaze flickered back and forth between the two males who had suddenly changed everything about the world as she knew it. She had been alone for so long now, she worried that she didn’t know how to behave in a manner that would allow her to fit in with a group of strangers. She was set in her ways and had recently been lamenting about how silent her world had become with only the hens to talk to. Isolation, whilst drowning her in loneliness, had also served as her saviour as it allowed her the time to heal and get her head and heart into gear. Survival mode was effectively activated and she had silently enjoyed the lack of any emotional attachments. Still, Casey was only one man – not a group, and he definitely wasn’t a stranger. He was her friend, had in fact been a former lover and he of all people knew who Leila was. She knew deep down that she had nothing to be ashamed or fearful of, and that she should be relaxed and excited but every time his eyes met hers, she found herself blinking and looking away quickly.

Stepping closer to him as she finished the last of the jerky, Leila felt her eyes track down across his muscular chest and torso until they came to rest on his most recent injury and consequent stitches.

~You said a Doctor stitched you up? In a settlement? Why did you leave if you found somewhere safe? ~ Waiting for him to follow, she led the way back upstairs and returned to her seated position on the bed. As she waited for his response, she packed another pipe and settled back on the comfortable cushions.

~ Tell me all about it?~ she asked, her long legs crossed in front of her as she lay her head back and let her long blonde hair fan out over the pillow. *

[Azazel]

(POSTING AS CASEY SMITH)


"There is no where safe anymore Leila." Casey spoke while settling himself down beside his little pile of belongings. That statement wasnt all that necessary and it really wasnt as truthful as he wanted it to feel, he wanted to stay in so many of the places he had been. Instead he acted almost like a defense consultant, trading tips and training for food and various other services that he could acquire while on his way around. Perhaps he had become a little bitter in that time and as his eyes watched Leila, she might of been able to see that amount of weight in his eyes. It came as a shock then when she spoke of him telling her around it and he would look away for a moment, trying to formulate in his head how to tell what had happened.

"I escaped the city, battered and broken. Hungry and dehydrated, I thought I was going to die in the wildnerness and after I thought you died...Well I would have been happy with that." Casey would shift uncomfortably at the wound on his abdomen, finally finding a place where he could rest on his arms and take the pressure off of that particular muscle group, "I ended up blacking out beneath a tree and woke up in a dimly lit, dusty and musty smelling room. But I was patched up, there was an IV in my arm and I had been strapped down for my own safety. Those people helped me out and wanted me to stay, said that they hadnt met many soldiers after the incident. I considered it but I felt guilty for surviving and so I did what I could and started walking. There are so many places out there filled with survivors trying to do their best to get to some point of normalcy in a world straight out of a nightmare. And I guess when I thought you had died, the only thing that kept me going was knowing that there were things that I could teach those people along the way."

Casey took a break for a moment, reaching for the old pipe that he had gifted her their hands meeting for likely the first time in a few years. He felt that old warmth, a sense of comfort and that magnetism that broke through that machine like drive of his to do his duty until death. For a moment he considered leaning forward, to feel the sweet embrace of her lips and just for a few seconds escape from this terrible place but things werent the same now. Clearing his throat he would draw the pipe back and take a long hit, holding it in before letting out the cloud of fragrant smoke infront of him. Taking another deep breath to solidify that calming feeling in his mind, his eyes would begin to glaze alittle more and he would look at her again.

"Recently I was in a settlement called Davidson. I had just gone through a day of training some of the finer shots in their settlement to be more conservative with their ammo...aim for the head-one shot one kill. They made some of that vodka and it was part of the payment for what I had done for them. A few moments too long of attention from one of the men's women and I ended up slashed across where you see. The doctor there patched me up, they gave me the rest of the supplies owed for what I had done and ushered me to leave...The rest is just a long and dreary walk through the countryside where by the grace of God I found you here.."

[Leila Darkmoon]

*Nodding as he spoke of scattered settlements of survivors, Leila thought back to the handful of places she had found herself in. ~I know what you mean..~ she said, leaning forward to reclaim the pipe. ~After I left the city I wandered around until I found a place where a handful of people were trying to reclaim their lives back. They all seemed to share a common ideal and all appeared to agree on an action plan to achieve this goal. For a time, I thought I had found a home. Looking back, I should’ve seen it for what it really was but I was naïve..~ she shrugged as she finished packing a new bowl, her concentration focused on the rather difficult task of lighting her pipe. Taking a deep hit, she grinned around the tip of the pipe as her eyes found his.

~Truth is, I aint much of a joiner, ya know? Never have been really. I managed to make it through any group situation as most people ended up joining me after a while, but if it came to me initiating contact then …~ she shrugged again as she took another hit, inhaling deeply before she handed the pipe back over to Casey.

Settling back onto her pillow, she was acutely aware of the moment when he briefly considered kissing her. Her heart skipped a beat and she found that when her left hand reached up to brush a blonde strand away from her nose, her fingers were shaking. The moment was over before it begun however and she fought to get her racing heart under control as he finished talking.
A comfortable silence fell upon the duo and Leila felt her eyelids grow heavier as she allowed herself to relax. Yawning, she forced her eyes open and cast them in Casey’s direction. Meeting his gaze, she offered him a sleepy smile.

~I feel so much safer with you here… like I can finally relax. I found this place a while ago.. I don’t know why I ended up staying to be honest. But… it’s kept me safe and sound for a while now. If you think we should move on then we will… but I don’t want to leave my garden or the hens! ~ She yawned behind her hand. ~I worked damn hard to get them here….so if we have to leave, we have to take them with us.~
She rolled over on her side and propped her chin in the palm of her hand as her blonde hair fanned out behind her. Emerald eyes studied the man across the room who had once been her other half. Three years was a long time apart and as she knew that she had changed from the girl he once knew, she could not help but fear the changes that must have happened to the man she once loved. Yawning again, it suddenly dawned on her that she had nowhere else for Casey to sleep than in the bed beside her. Blushing bright pink, she quickly jumped out of bed and hurried over to the small sink in the equally small kitchenette. A tiny window hung over the sink, laden down with clear plastic that was sagging with collected rainwater. Expertly pouring this water into a nearby glass, Leila took a long drink before refilling the glass and walking over to Casey. Holding out the water to him, she chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully as she gazed upon him.

~Here…figured you might be thirsty… its going to rain again tonight, so feel free to help yourself to the water in the window. ~ Glancing back at the bed, she looked away quickly before offering Casey a nervous grin. ~Soooooooo…. Whatcha wanna do? I normally go to bed pretty early, save on candles ya know? But… I don’t normally have company… so…..?~ *

[JamesNautice]

"The first time that you did become a joiner for awhile though, its why we survived and its how we all got out in the first place. Our first separation and then we were by ourselves and with barely a word with the others. I think we got a purpose in this wasteland, and that prick up in heaven isn't going to cut us any slack with death anytime soon" Casey would chuckle at that and settle back down into his pose to take the pressure off of his abdomen. It had been awhile since he had let his adrenaline levels come down to where he could feel pain this plainly and even though he should have been bothered by it he welcomed it knowing that in the end that pain meant that he was going to heal.

Her words caught him almost by surprise, they had had their fun tonight but it had been aloof almost like two predators dancing about as they tried to decide whether they were about to attack. Her talk about whether or not they were going to leave made him warm, he choked up a little bit that she still trusted him enough to allow him back into this little fold.

"I don't think that you should move at all. But I think with some help from me and perhaps some paid workers from a near-by settlement, we may be able to fix this place up and get it cleared of zombies. That way you can tend to your gardens without having to smear yourself in ruined flesh." Casey barely could even smell it when he was around it, that dead smell was unfortunately engrained within his nostrils and probably would be for the rest of his natural life. He felt at ease now, and when she watched him he didn't have an issue to look back at her almost still in disbelief that she was right in front of him.

The rain water system was amazing, he had seen larger systems but she had done very well to do what needed to be done to catch that water. Casey would accept the glass from her with haste, trying not to seem too greedy when he took it from her. Water had become scarce, pools of water couldn't trusted because it could infect a person with the virus and so rainwater was all people had. That wasn't much to do what a human needed to do so drinking it was just amazing and so he savored every gulp even if he did finish it quickly. He almost looked astounded when she offered him more and he would work his way up to his feet before walking over to her little set up and copying what she did. When he turned around, she was grinning at him while he took a drink of water and he almost choked at her words. Coughing a little bit he would get a few laughs out.

"You have always been one for such Shakespearean subtlety Leila. If you don't have any protests to me warming you up in that bed tonight, I would have no issue staring into a wall for hours if it takes me that long to get there. Nothing has changed for me in that respect Leila, I still love you and I still would do anything to protect you. You know what? It might be in yourself interest that I sleep there." Casey would chuckle at his little joke and finish the glass setting it down and making his way over to his little pile of clothes and weaponry. Pulling out the 1911, he would make sure that a round was chambered before he placed it near where he could reach it from the bed. He was already dressed for bed since he needed to be cleaned up from his injury so he would simply slip down into bed making sure to be careful of where he had been stitched up. He was not shy to pull her into him however so that he could position himself correctly, it had been too many nights sleeping up in trees or in caves. This sensation was almost alien to him, something relatively soft underneath his tired body and the warmth of Leila right next to him...Oh god he must have died because this couldn't possibly be real.

[Moridanu]

*Grabs Josh and points excitedly* We need to do this again!!!!!

We can start off building a haven and then other players might rock up!! Lets do this again!!!!! I'm gonna work on a post now!! So excited

[Leila Darkmoon]

*Watching as he drank greedily from the glass she had just handed him, Leila felt a small sense of pride and satisfaction. Fresh drinking water was so rare that she would be charging a thousand dollars a bottle for it if anyone had the money to pay. Her rainwater system was simple, yet effective and she was proud she was able to offer Casey an abundance of something he had obviously been craving. The satisfied smile was soon replaced with an open mouthed gasp when he misinterpreted her bumbling attempt at negotiating sleeping arrangements for the night and suddenly decided to declare himself. Hearing him say that he still loved her and would do anything to protect her, Leila blinked and merely nodded as she processed his words. It was sweet of him to say, and yes he probably did still love Leila, but that person had died years ago. Her experiences since the day she lost him had had a profound impact on the woman who was now standing at the end of the bed, watching the man she used to love climbing into her previously unshared bed.
Realising that she should say something, but not knowing what words would sound right, she nodded and walked over to the door. Standing on the top step, she whistled down into the darkness. A slight whimper answered her before a silver head appeared out of the shadows on the third step. Coaxing the pup up the stairs proved surprisingly easy and soon he was sniffing around the corners of the room. Feeling Casey’s eyes on her, she turned and offered him a slight shrug. ~Didn’t feel right leaving him down there on his own..~
She spent the next few minutes fussing over the pup, checking on the plastic on the window to catch tonight’s predicted rain, cleaning up the small living area, moving Casey’s belongings to the rest on the armchair, rechecking the rain collector, extinguishing the few candles she had lit and coaxing the pup to jump up onto the bed. Finally there was nothing left to do but slip under the covers. Her cargo pants felt heavy as she unbuckled her belt and kicked her legs free. She normally slept naked, but considering the circumstances, she thought it best to keep her black singlet and panties on as she slipped under the covers, mindful of the warm body beside her.
Although the full moon was only halfway through its ascent, it already bathed the room in a soft, silvery glow. Only one candle still burned on the table beside the bed, next to a tattered copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Leila turned her back to Casey for a minute, revealing the harsh red scars barely visible beneath the thin material of her black singlet. The back of her right shoulder was marred with a jagged purple scar that ran towards her spine. It was joined by three other rough scars closer to her armpit. Although these three scars were only the tip of the iceberg that was the mangled mess of her back, the sight of them was a harsh indicator of the pain she had endured during the worst week of her life. Leila had forgotten about the scars as she revealed them unknowingly to Casey, leaning over to blow out the candle. Knocking her book over, she glanced down at it at and was momentarily taken to Hogworts just by the illustration on the front cover. The sight of the book reminded her of her days at the library and she smiled before blowing out the candle. The room was dark enough to sleep but still light enough to see with enough clarity the expectant look on Casey’s handsome face as she rolled on her side to face him. There was so much that she wanted to say to him, yet still the words refused to come. Her green eyes scanned his before she leaned her head forward and kissed him softly on his lips.

~Goodnight..~ she whispered, rolling over so that her back was facing him once more. Her scars sparkled like silver, whispery spider webs in the moonlight before she succumbed to Casey and allowed him to draw her close. Feeling his heartbeat against her back was more than she could stand and more than once she had to resist the urge to press up against him. The weed and vodka had done little to quell the horny beast within but Leila knew they couldn’t just pick up where they had left off. Just having him in the bed with her was enough for now and she settled against his warm chest, letting the sound of his breathing lull her to sleep. *