The Aftermath Chronicles (1x1) [Full]

[SlenderrMan]

Well, that went better than expected, Shade thought to himself as he put his hands back down to his sides once she had told him to lead the way. He turned and walked out of the shattered home. He looked towards the sky and decided his sunglasses were no longer needed. Dusk was fast approaching. Damn. We better move.
This thought was only enforced by another howl from beyond his vision. He sighed and began walking through the desert, preferring to leave his questions buried. He did not have much to say, anyways. He was sure the time would come for that eventually. The only thing he said as he was walking was a "So Nexus sucks, huh?" as he walked on, squinting and seeing what he was looking for in the distance. A low rubble heap sandwiched between half of a large statue and a rusted playground. Night would fall soon, but he was sure theyd get there in time unless they were delayed.
"What the hell were you doing there anyways?" He decided he might as well have some sort of story to pass the time.

[Data]

Violet followed him without a word. Her eyes were trained around them. She knew the manor of creatures that went bump in the night in places like this, and those howls could be starving wolves or starving rabid mutant wolves. She shuddered to think about those. "Nexus isn't bad. It's quiet and boring, a nice semi safe place, but it's nothing special. I've seen a dozen colonies, and even a few cities. As for why I was there, as I said before we were attacked by Raiders. I'm a nomad, and never stayed in one place for more than a few weeks. Nexus was an inconvenient stop." Her voice stayed indifferent, but she stopped talking for a few moments. "Raiders killed everyone in my family, my group. Which is why I don't take likely to them, nor to people sneaking around and following me," her tone grew harder, and she gave him a scathing glance. "I don't want to talk about them though, so where are you leading me exactly? I'm still not so sure that I trust you."

[SlenderrMan]

Shade listened as this girl told him her story about the Raiders. He could not relate, as he had never been attacked by them. In fact, he had raided them so many times that he didn't see them as much of a challenge. However, he knew the same was not true for others, and he sympathized with her loss. He could tell she was getting somewhat flustered and hinted at his following of her. He couldn't help but laugh in his mind.

He pointed off towards where the lower half of what had once been a large statue was. "We're only going there." He paused and then added playfully, "Yeah. Well. Why didn't you just shoot me?"

The sun was setting now, they actually may not get there in time. He knew he would be able to out-run and out-smart near anything in the dark, but he was not so sure about her. If the sun did set, though, he would do his best to lead her to safety. And he was sure he could do so... As long as she did what he would have to tell her to do. He would not leave her behind, however. He had decided on this, at least.

[Data]

Violet slipped an arrow from her quiver as she noted the time. She mused that she must have been traveling for longer than she had thought to find that little abandoned ruin. She was also wondering why in the world was she following this stranger. She didn't know him and had no reason to trust him. She realized that being alone out here was affecting her more than she was willing to admit. Not used to ever traveling alone, Violet was still in shock and grieving the loss of her family. Grief was a luxury she didn't have though, and she would have to be careful with this stranger. "I didn't kill you because you're not armed, and I wouldn't be any better than a Raider if I kill you. Besides, after that lummox at the Tavern called you the oddball of Nexus, I figured you weren't harmless. He said it as an insult, not accusing you of any heinous crimes," she shrugged as she notched the arrow.

"And don't worry. I won't shot ya' now. I hear wolves, and I don't know if you've come face to face with those nasties before, but it's not fun. Especial since we'll be out number and barely armed." Violet was groaning mentally at even leaving that ruin. It would have been easier for her to defend herself there than here on the ground with this man to worry about too. She sighed, "If you're able to, we may want to consider picking up the pace to get to your statue. I'm not wanting to be wolf food tonight."

[SlenderrMan]

Shade turned slowly, so as not to startle the woman behind him and stared her down for a second. He examined her demeanor, her eyes, and lastly, her bow. He found this whole situation ridiculous. He had never even really talked to anyone before, and he had no idea who this woman was. He had to admit, though, he found her strangely attractive. He then decided to be a bit sarcastic and foolish. He spoke in a manly voice with a very serious face, saying, "I definitely don't need a weapon to take down a hostile."

He waited for a second, then smiled a huge, silly grin and exclaimed, "I see you're afraid of some little puppies." He chuckled at this, and walked a few steps backwards. "You want to get there quicker?" He shifted his foot to turn around, and then took off sprinting through the wasteland. He called over his shoulder, "Catch me if you can!"

He didn't know what compelled him to be himself here. He just felt a bit silly being in this whole situation.

Man, Shade, you better hope she doesn't decide to launch an arrow into your back.

[Data]

Violet snorted at his comment of being able to take hostiles unarmed. It's possibility since he was a mutant, but not likely, because even with their strengths they always had limitations. She also doubted that if he were that powerful that he would still be in a back water town like Nexus. There were bigger and better places where they would pay handsomely for that kind of power. "Puppies?" she exclaimed with a shake of her head. "You're mad!" she said, but she did manage a smile back at him. When he turn suddenly, she tensed for a moment, but she quickly threw her bow over her shoulder. With a laugh, she dashed after him. "Oh no you don't," she laughed and was not even sure why she went chasing off after him.

[SlenderrMan]

Shade was still laughing as he sprinted towards the statue base. He turned over his shoulder to see she was following him. Something about this was different. He had no one to run, laugh, or play with as a kid. Everyone just sort of avoided him. So he ran until he got within a few feet of the statue and then slowed down to a walk. "I'm glad to see you're not a slowpoke," he teased her. He looked towards the sky. It was getting much darker now, so he lifted his sunglasses back onto his head, his pupils retracting a bit from the new light level. He looked at Violet, his silver eyes shining bright like a glowing mercury. "Alright, so, if you don't want to stay out all night," he said, and paused as he walked around the statue to a pile of rubble. "You have to climb into here." He motioned to a small hole that looked like it had been made by accident, the rubble falling and just leaving a strange space. "I know it looks really weird, but it opens up into my little cave-y thing. I use this spot a lot. It's like my bedroom away from Nexus, because I fucking hate that place, so don't be surprised when you go in and it's somewhat cozy."

He stood by the hole, leaned on the rubble pile, and motioned towards it again. "Ladies first."