16TH ♫ | carbon my body a billion years of time

[torya]

THE POST-APOCALYPTIC MEME HOW TO PLAY - comment in the subject line with your character's name and canon. - state any preferences you might have. - choose a scenario or use the number generator. - have fun! SCENARIOS 1. Alien Invasion ▸ Aliens have taken over the earth. 2. Climate Change ▸ The climate of our planet has shifted suddenly. 3. Cybernetic Revolt ▸ Technology has turned against us. 4. Impact Event ▸ A meteor struck the Earth. 5. Nuclear Warfare ▸ They dropped the big one. Enjoy that fallout. 6. Pandemic ▸ A disease is threatening to wipe out human life on earth. 7. Resource Depletion ▸ There are no longer enough resources to support life. 8. Zombie Apocalypse ▸ A classic, zombies have invaded and destroyed everything. 9. Other ▸ Combine several scenarios or come up with your own! (x)

Comments

[serrata]

Yosuke-kun, then.

[ the familiarity comes as easily as anything -- maybe a little bit too easily. in the absence of anyone else, she knows it's easy to get attached quickly. maybe too attached, considering what's lurking outside. ]

Take what you can carry and tell me when you're done. I'll get us both back to the school safe -- I promise.

[garudynamic]

[it doesn't take long before he's packed down, the bag on one shoulder even though that has to hurt under all the weight- so he could easily dump it and run if he has to]

...alright, I'm in your care.

[He was going to have to follow her blindly, with no time to ask anything.]

[serrata]

[ She tightens the braided buns in her hair until they're almost painful and hitches her own bag up onto one shoulder. It's packed so full it's almost a wonder it doesn't burst at the seams, but with two people, she doesn't dare skimp on food.

With the shovel in one hand, she inches towards the closed door and peers out through the glass. ]

... it doesn't look like there's any in the street yet. When I open the door, we're going to make a break for it and go to the school gates as fast as we can.

From there we'll have to see what the activity in the school grounds is like. Are you a good sprinter, Yosuke-kun?

[ his name feels like honey on her tongue each time she says it. it's like a physical reminder that he's here. she isn't alone. ]

[garudynamic]

[He chuckles- the sound sounding strange to his ears- familiar, but like he's hearing a recording of himself. That can't be what he sounds like, right?]

Oh yeah, don't worry about me keeping up. I got this.

[serrata]

[ She smiles. Good. He's still got some morale in him.

Reaching across, Yuuri slowly eases the door open, fully prepared to slam it shut again at the first sign of trouble. Nothing rears its head and eventually she has the door open just wide enough for them both to slip out together. ]

On my count. [ she mutters, just loud enough for him to hear. ] One, two and three--

[ and she takes off sprinting, leading the way to the school gate. ]

[garudynamic]

[He dashes after her, head low and back bowed to keep his bag on his shoulder- he's unarmed (his last weapon ending up stuck in some corpses head or another) and has no idea where they are going. So instead he follows on Yuuri with pinpoint focus, not daring to even look around for enemies in case he lose sight of her. Instead listening for moans]

[serrata]

[ Every step leaves her expecting one of Them to appear out of nowhere and tear them both to shreds. She's made this run before but this time it seems twice as long, the school practically miles away. It can't really be any longer than about half a minute by the time but reach the gate, but it feels like an hour to Yuuri.

She shifts the weight of the shovel in her hands, ready to lash out as she peeks out at the school grounds and sees...

Well. Not nothing. There's always a few of them milling around. But it's late enough at the day that maybe... just maybe most of them have gone home.

She's speaking in a whisper now. ]

Yosuke-kun. Come and look. Can you see the entrance? Do you think you'll make that run while carrying the cans?

[ it's a long sprint -- maybe about thirty feet. it's a tough but not impossible run. for Yuuri, anyway -- she's still a little nervous of putting too much faith in getting him back unscathed. ]

[garudynamic]

I... I think. It's safe past the doors? If so I think I can make it at a straight run, yeah.

[He's run farther, but usually not encumbered.]

They'll hear the cans clacking though.

[serrata]

As safe as it can be outside the barricades. The door's boarded up, but there's still a gap we can get in and out from. If you make it to there and get inside, it should be easier going from there.

[ she starts slowly easing her bag off her shoulder. ]

Now... do you think you could make it with both? If I take the shovel and cover your back.

[garudynamic]

I'll be slower, but I think so.

[He's not a big guy- clearly all limbs and not much meat. But the run hadn't really winded him much so far- in decent shape, but no lifter.]

Can't afford to stumble even a little though.

[serrata]

[ with a grim smile: ] Isn't that always the case?

[ she hands her bag over to him, then hefts the shovel in her hands. ]

But you don't have to be afraid of them. Just keep your eyes on the door and keep running. I'll protect you -- I promise. They won't hurt a hair on your head.

Let me know when you're geared up for it, Yosuke-kun. I'll count us down.

[garudynamic]

...worry about yourself, too.

[Part of him wants to tell her to not worry about him- her words make him feel small, her tone make him think she's lost people this way before.]

Okay, ready.

[serrata]

[ Yuuri just nods. It’s hard to tell what it’s in response to, but she takes a quick breath in and holds it in an attempt to still her racing heart. ]

Okay. On my count again. Three, two—

[ the last word sticks in her throat and for a moment, she can’t get it out. She doesn’t want to make this run – she’s terrified that the instant Yosuke steps onto the school grounds he’ll be torn apart. She’s sick and tired of having to hope and bet on surviving when everyone else is long dead.

Yuuri makes herself take in another of those big shaky breaths and swallows hard. ]

One.

[ time to go. ]

[garudynamic]

[On the 'one' he bolts- and it's clear how he's managed to survive on his own for awhile- half starved, dehydrated and unarmed but even weighted down he's fast. He jukes and dodges around the lumbering dead who still haven't fully realized they're there. They could be fast once they got going- but they had these bare few moments before that happened to put space between them and the creatures]

[serrata]

[ Yuuri tails him, quick and light on her feet despite the heft of the shovel in her hands. She's made this run so many times but never while watching someone's back. She'd always been the one being protected, but now she's the protector. She doesn't know if she cares for it much.

One of Them lurches a little too close to Yosuke for comfort and she lunges forward, taking it out with a swing of the shovel. Blade meets head with a wet, thick crunch and it takes Yuuri a worrisome moment to dislodge it.

She can smell blood. She can feel it on her, hot and rancid. Her stomach turns and she has to swallow to chase the bile back down her throat. ]

G--get... get into the school and head to the barrier on the first floor.

[ she hisses this at his back as they run, not wanting her voice to attract any more attention than they already have -- there's heads from all directions turning their way. If she doesn't draw their attention, they might end up trying to follow them into the school. ]

I'll... have to use a different entrance in. I'll have to draw them away from you.

[garudynamic]

Wha- no!

[But it's too late- she's right, and his hesitation will just get her killed

(just like-)

and with a curse he ducks into the building, dashing towards where he hopes she meant- this school is so different from his own, after all]

[serrata]

[ She has no idea how she's going to climb the ladder that leads up into the building with the shovel but adrenaline keeps her running and pretending that it isn't a problem. She raps the shovel sharply against the ground every few steps to make sure she's the center of attention.

When she gets to the ladder, Yuuri throws herself at it and starts a mad, one-handed scramble up it. She nearly falls three times but eventually she manages to reach the window it's hanging from and collapses inside.

She has to take a moment to catch her breath. Her legs feel like jelly and she can't stand. When she struggles to her feet, it's by using the shovel as leverage and slowly making her way into the corridor and towards the staircase where the barrier of desks and wire stands. ]

... Yosuke-kun. Are you here?

[garudynamic]

Wakasa-san-!

[He peeks through the barrier, eyes wide and wet]

I'm fine, hurry up and get in here!

[serrata]

I'm coming, just -- stand back, okay? I don't want to catch you with the shovel.

[ she starts pulling herself up the wall of desks and wire, surprisingly nimble considering she's carrying the shovel in one hand. Once she reaches the top, she doesn't bother climbing down properly and just leaps, landing hard on the floor inside the barrier.

she staggers a bit and has to lean against the wall to keep herself upright. ]

S... sorry to keep you waiting...

[garudynamic]

[He runs over and grips her shoulder]

What the hell was that?! You coulda been killed!

[serrata]

[ When he touches her shoulder, she starts a bit. She's still not used to being touched at all by someone else and each instance of it is unexpected.

He's right and she still feels queasy with nerves and adrenaline but she makes herself shove all that out of her voice, boxing those feelings off to one side to unpack when she feels safe to examine them. ]

So could you. You were more at risk than me, carrying all that food. I had to protect you.

[garudynamic]

I... I mean.

...thanks. Still, don't do that again, okay? I-i mean, I don't want someone dying on me THAT fast, right?

[serrata]

[ Yuuri winces a bit. She knows he's trying to lighten the mood after all the panic but... after coming that close to a disaster, it's hard to find anything funny let along a joke like that.

She gives him a smile that's undeniably strained. ]

I can't promise we won't have to make a run like that again but trust me when I say I don't plan on dying soon.

not with any luck, anyway.

[ she finally straightens up with a long sigh. ]

... we should take all this food to the club room... I'll need to start making something to eat soon, too. You could take a shower while you wait, if you'd like.

[garudynamic]

A shower....

[He sounds like she just promised him his weight in gold]

God, you weren't lying, were you?

[serrata]

[ She gives a little laugh. It sounds a bit shaky, like she's not exactly used to doing it. ]

It's a little late to be clued into that. But you can go ahead and take one. I try to keep mine to five minutes just to save water... but just for tonight, you can take as long as you like.

[ she assumes you'll need it. ]

Dinner should be ready by then. It won't be anything fancy, but it'll be hot and fresh.