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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (71,006 Views)
Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Emmett."

The name came out of Randall's mouth somewhere between a statement and a question. He had a lot of questions for Emmett, but he figured that he was about to get answers to them without even asking. It was obvious Emmett was waiting for him.

Glenda gave Emmett a slight nod, but otherwise slipped past him and into the house, leaving the two men alone.

"What's up?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“I wanted to take a look around,” Emmett started with the explanation he knew he owed him. “And I didn’t want a tour. I wanted to see for myself.”
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"I understand." Randall explained.

Emmett had every right to be suspicious of this place after what had happened at Old Fort Erie. And Randall's group did too. They just went about it in different ways. Admittedly, Randall found himself curious to hear what Emmett's report on the place. He had been gone for a while.

"What did you find?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett shook his head, though even he wasn’t sure why. Maybe he was just frustrated with himself, and the turmoil inside his head. The encounter with the skinheads in Sarnia hadn’t helped. Over the radio, they laughed and joked about murder and rape. The people at Old Fort Erie never went that far, but they had also selfishly stood guard at a border and resorted to thievery. And even if they hadn’t set out to kill people, their actions at the Peace Bridge might as well have been murder for all the harm they caused.

And then there was Randall and his crew. They seemed like good people – they stopped to help Chris and Brooke, after all, and had forgiven him for his own sins – but they were killers too. At least one of them had even killed in cold blood, and the person he killed was Emmett’s brother. If he was one of the good ones, Emmett had to wonder if he would be comfortable anywhere but alone.

“Nothing,” he admitted.

The admission didn’t make him feel better. Maybe there was something to find and he just hadn’t. Or maybe whatever dark secret this place was destined to have just hadn’t happened yet.

“Their people seem safe and satisfied,” he continued. “They don’t seem to be hiding anything. Or even guarding anything. They trust each other.”

He paused again. He hesitated to bring up this next part, but pushed on.

“The defenses are poor. I saw the same thing at Fort Erie. They will keep roamers out, for now, but not people.”
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Not hiding anything, huh?"

Randall found the idea hard to believe. But looking around, the community seemed rather... open. Sure, he had seen signs of disagreements between people, but there was always someone there to step in and help. At least, that is how it was now. With less than a hundred people, a pretty good system, and lots of room, the set up seemed to work pretty well. But Randall couldn't help but wonder what would happen if places were stressed. That is more people came in and they couldn't expand fast enough? Randall had seen a few signs of tension that could erupt into something greater if rubbed the wrong way. Emmett might have seen it too... assuming he was looking at the people more than the encampment itself.

"Seems too good to be true, huh?" Randall mused. "A place like this amidst everything else we've seen? I wonder if they really know how bad things have gotten out there. How bad people have gotten."

Randall thought back to Marcus and Candice. How he had found them that one night. Naked and unarmed. He suspected that the two of them were focused more on avoiding rotters than people. Like they had been after leaving Mount Kisco. It was an easy thing to not think about until it was too late. These walls were good. But not good enough.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett brushed a greasy tangle of hair away from his face. His eyelids were heavy and his bones ached for rest. Now that his mission was complete, he let himself pay attention to that aching.

“I don’t think they do,” Emmett responded honestly.

A brief silence followed, which Emmett was fine with. He didn’t have an agenda bringing this information to Randall. He didn’t know if there was something to be done with it, and if there was, he didn’t know whose place it was to do it. He just wanted it off his chest.

“How’s Willow?” Emmett asked.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Doing well, actually." Randall smiled ruefully. "She's been awake off and on through the day; talking and interacting. Smiling. But she's pretty pale; she lost a lot of blood and is all but bedridden for the time being."

Randall seemed glad to be able to deliver the good news. He was glad she was okay.

"I know it's probably pretty awkward for you here. I get that. But I want you to know I'm thankful for what you did. Back at the bridge I mean. You stepped up and you got us through that without a gunfight. At the very least, you helped us save Willow's life and possibly others. And we still owe you for Eli. As far as I am concerned, you've checked out in my book. You're with us as long as you want to be."
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“Okay,” Emmett said, looking at the ground as he said, unable to really process his feelings on the matter. “And good. Willow, I mean. That’s good.”

He felt a yawn coming on. He stood up from his seat on the stairs.

“I should get some sleep,” he said. The next part came out with a struggle. "Good... good night, Randall.”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"So tell me about your family. Do you have any brothrrs or sisters?"" Brandon asked, as he sat with Willow yet again.

They were both awake after a day of missing each other as they woke up and drifted off again, occassionally catching each other and talking a little before one nodded off again. He'd been with her almost all day, only leaving to get something to eat and to bring a more comfortable chair from the house as well as an extra pillow for Willow. The locals he'd encountered seemed friendly. They were intensely interested in the group. He gathered most people had arrived there very soon after the outbreak. The fact that they had come from New York was also of interest as most assumed just going outside was almost suicide let alone making a road trip. That accounted for the quasi rock star status the scavengers were afforded around the place.

Brandon brought a facewasher and a bowl of warm soapy watr for Willow so the she was able to at least clean her face, and enjoy some if the hot water everyone had had a chance to by then. If the doc gave the okay to remove the tube sticking out of her tomorrow he'd find a wheelchair and take take her for a turn around the place and show her what these people had accomplished. If she felt up to it of course. He hoped she did, he wanted to show her off.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Good night, Emmett."

Randall wished that Emmett was an easier man to read.

* * * * *

Willow shook her head at Brandon's question. She was still sitting up in her bed. She was feeling less light-headed than she had before, but still weak. But she was feeling better. She felt like, if she could get out now and start eating some proper food, she could at least be ambulatory. As long as she had a cane, because she knew her leg would remind her that it had been shot the second she tried to use it.

"No siblings. I was an only child." She told him freely. "My relationship with my parents was... spotty at best. I know I already told you some of this, but since I was the only child, they put all their expectations on me. I don't mean to brag, but I was a damn good student too, worked my ass off and aced everything through my junior year. But it was still never good enough for them; especially since I was smoking pot to help control my anxiety through all of high school. So, I stopped giving a shit in my senior year."

She tugged on a lock of her pink hair.

"I didn't always talk like a valley girl and dye my hair pink." She added with a rueful smirk. "Those are things I kind of adopted to piss them off. If I could never be good enough for them, then I would be everything they didn't want me to be; an illiterate pothead that dyed her hair and played video games all day."

She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly through her nose.

"I always thought it was wasted time, but I'd be willing to bet it's all those video games that made me good with a gun. Hand-eye coordination and all that. Funny how life works out, huh?"
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"Haha. I don't think that's how it works. No, I think you're just a natural. Some people are born with a knack for something and when they find out what it is, it's awesome to see." Brandon reflected, thinking back to the rec centre when he first saw her in action.

Brandon had positioned his chair and two other armless chairs from the waiting room into a kind of bed. He lay down with his feet dangling over the edge and his blanket up to his waist, and propped his head up with his arm.

"Mmm, I remember you telling me about your parents and how they were demanding. I mean, like, what about the other stuff, the good spots. I can't believe it was all bad. You're too good." he asked settling in for the night.

Willow was pretty tired, he could tell, he just wanted to listen to her talk really. Kill time until she fell asleep again, or he did.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"There were good things for sure, but..." Willow started to speak in a more somber tone. "I mean, they only wanted the best for me. Their expectations were high, but they weren't really impossible. I just... had some issues and I never really took the time to talk with them about it out of my own stubbornness. So they never really knew what I wanted to or what my issues were. I was hardworking, but I was kind of a handful; their patience was probably worn thin from the start. It isn't really fair to blame them for everything. Of course, it would take me being separated from them to figure that out."

Willow frowned. She wished she had a chance to make that part of her life right. Her parents were really rich, there was a chance that somewhere, they had escaped from all of this. But even if they had, there was no guarantee they would ever meet again and no guarantee Willow would ever be able to apologize for making their lives difficult.

"Hey, Brandon." Willow wanted to change the subject. "I'm kind of tired, but can I ask you a favor?"

She swallowed nervously.

Willow folded her hands in her lap and broke eye contact with Brandon, looking to the opposite wall. She had worked this speech out ahead of time. It dealt with her feeling for him and how she was confused and a little scared by the suddenness of them. And a number of other... personal topics. But the words she had prepared left her. She didn't feel like making the speech now. But she still wanted to get her final point from it across.

"Please don't leave me tonight."

* * * * *

Just as it had previously, the night passed uneventfully. With the worries of the previous night gone, Randall truly slept more peacefully than he had in a long time. Mount Kisco had walls, but the commodity of a warm house and soft bed was something that far surpassed all of that. It was the best sleep he'd had in over a month. In fact, he overslept. Since he finally allowed the exhaustion of the last week to melt off of him, it took the shining of the sun outside his window to finally shake him from his deep slumber. Even Kelsey was no longer in the bed beside him. The bed was cold; his daughter had left some time ago. But Randall wasn't worried about her. She was around here somewhere; possibly in the other room with Glenda, Jeff, or even Emmett. Eating breakfast perhaps.

He had to meet with Ethan this morning; Geraldine had informed him that Ethan was the man that was going to give him the rundown on how the expansion areas were sectioned off, secured, and then finally walled off to be added to the community. Apparently they had a procedure; and Randall was probably already late to start. He suspected that Ethan was not the kind of person who would be okay with that. The thought sent a small shiver down Randall's spine. He felt like he was going to show up late on the first day or work of a new job. Which was pretty much exactly what he was doing.

"Fuuuck..." Randall groaned at the thought.

It was like being a teenager all over again.

Randall rolled out of bed and slipped out of his pajamas. Then came the fun part; getting dressed with one hand. It was a skill he had yet to master. While it took him a while, he eventually managed to fumble his way through it. The problem wasn't the jeans, the t-shirt, or the heavy green sweater. It was actually the heavy work boots. Tying a shoe with one hand was... not exactly the easiest thing in the road. What he wouldn't give for Velcro.

* * * * *

Geraldine, with Spencer on her heels, walked up to Jimmy's door.

It was still early morning; about 8:45. The work day had not officially started yet, but it would be very quickly. Even though it was Jimmy's day off after his several day excursion outside the walls, Geraldine needed him for a special task this morning. Spencer was only there to keep the peace in case Jimmy became weird. Again.

She reached over and rang the doorbell. She could hear it ring from the outside.

DIIIIIING DOOOOOONG!
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“Good morning,” Annie said to Willow, summoning a friendly smile.

Both she and Ajay had arrived at the clinic early to check on their patient. They found her sitting up in bed. She looked grimy, but that was because she had been sweating and it had dried on her, stiffening her gown. Her face was more flush, though, the rise and fall of her chest more steady. She looked better, and Annie told her so.

Nearby, Brandon was also present. He looked as good as she’d seen him so far. He seemed to have spent another night in the clinic, but his mood had undeniably improved and he looked and smelled a lot cleaner than when she first met him. Yesterday, Ajay had even come by and treated his injuries – and it turned out there were many, including a gunshot wound and a head injury. The break he had gotten so far had helped. Both Ajay and Annie recommended some more, though Annie knew Geraldine and her advisors may very well have other plans.

Annie brought with her a bowl of cooked rice and mashed avocado, with a little cilantro and lime mixed in there. She had prepared it herself this morning. She wanted Willow to start with something soft, and work up to more solid foods. Plus she felt encouraged enough by her meeting with Randall yesterday afternoon that she wanted to do something nice.

She put the bowl on the table near Willow’s makeshift bed.

“And how are you feeling?” she asked.

* * *

Jimmy answered the door in his boxer-briefs and nothing else. He leaned against the door frame and yawned lazily into his forearm. When he was done, he blinked his tired eyes rapidly, and looked searchingly from Geraldine to Spencer and back. They usually let him sleep in the day after a run. His instincts told him bad news ahead.

“Well this is a lovely surprise,” he said, resting his forehead against his arm and scratching an itch on the back of his neck.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon had a full night's sleep for the first time in ovr a week. There was no waking up in the small hours for a shift on watch. No rotter anxiety. No nightmares. Willow was safe andonly a couple feet away. Despite not being in a real bed it was the most comfortable night he'd had in a while. Willow was already sitting awake. Hopefully she'd have that tube out today.

Today he'd pulled scavenging duty. They'd be leaving soon he imagined, to make the most of the light. The idea of leaving Willow even in the relative safety of the walls was uncomfortable. He remembered that he felt very safe at Mt Kisco. Chris and Brooke probably felt safe inside their church. He wasn't leaving her without some kind of weapon. His FNP would do.

Annie came by with Willow's breakfast and he decided to take the opportunity to run back ti the house to fetch Willow some things. Something to read, a selection of clothes for when she wss feeling better and of course a gun.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Willow looked down at the rice bowl that had been prepared for her. Her mouth slowly fell agape. Her eyes fixated on the bowl like a hawk that had spotted its prey and knew what it must do. The fresh mix of avocado, cilantro, and lime was something she hadn't seen or smelled in a long time. The very fact that they had at least a few fruit trees was enough of a reason already for Willow's mouth to start watering. The fact she hadn't eaten any actual food in almost 48 hours was another one; even if the rest of her body wasn't ready, her stomach certainly was.

Perhaps it was a little rude, but her stomach's desire for food overrode her brain's desire to be cordial and talk with Annie a little more; she grabbed the bowl and began to eat it -- while resisting the very strong urge to shovel it into her mouth like a barbarian. The creamy sweetness of the avocado, the sour bite of the lemon, the mild swirl of cilantro, glued together by the freshly made rice. It was a literal explosion of flavor that sent Willow reeling in joy. She wore a grin from ear to ear with every bite of the food. It was a taste she never thought she would get to experience again. Before she even knew it, the bowl was completely cleaned empty and Annie's answer was still unanswered.

"Hehehe..." Willow let out a very happy chuckle, wincing as she realized laughing still caused some pain.

"That was the best bowl of rice I've had in my entire life." She finally answered Annie with a wide grin. "I feel amazing now. I wish I could laugh a little harder, but it still kinda hurts when I do that."

* * * * *

"Am I late!?" Randall all but stumbled into the living room.

Glenda and Kelsey were playing the GameCube she had found on the TV. Images of brightly colored characters fighting each other on what looked like the back of a spaceship or something, Randall couldn't really tell. He couldn't follow video games like the kids could these days. Rather, he simply stood there and felt slightly awkward as they both craned their heads from the couch to look at him.

"No, you still have thirty minutes." Glenda told him casually. "You didn't look at your clock?"

"I... I uhh... kinda forgot I had a clock..." Randall admitted sheepishly.

Damn, Randall. Now you just look stupid.

* * * * *

"Alex's group hasn't come back yet." Geraldine decided to not waste time with pleasantries with him.

Not only did he probably not really care, but she didn't really want to see Jimmy in his underwear any longer than she had to.

"They are almost 24 hours late. As you know, I would normally wait the full 24 hours before sending out a search and rescue team, but..." Geraldine glanced to Spencer.

The lanky officer scratched his brown hair before meeting Jimmy's gaze; "Jen reported hearing what sounded like very faint gunshots while on guard duty last night. She told me it sounded like they were coming from the south."

"The direction of Alex's team." Geraldine confirmed. "Nobody else heard it, only Jen. But I think it is better to exercise caution, especially when it comes to the lives of our own."

She didn't need to say any more to him. He would either accept or he wouldn't at this point.
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