[IC] The Walking Dead - Hell on Earth

[datadogie]

Jasper - School Bus - Jessalyn

@Belle

Jasper took a moment to stare down at the can of honest-to-god spaghettios, feeling a lot more relieved now that it was obvious that this wasn't some kind of trick that was being pulled on him, he knew nobody could afford to waste food. The offer that the woman made was almost completely influenced by her. She had given Jasper a can of food, and even a spoon so that he wouldn't have to eat it with his hands, and there was more food in the bus so she definitely wasn't lying that she could feed him. The bus was a shelter, something that would protect him from the rain if it came. The decision was practically rigged from the beginning.

Nonetheless, he still didn't give an affirmative response straight away, because he was eating the spaghettios like he hadn't eaten in days (which was mostly the truth). It was about halfway through that he stopped eating, realising that he had to actually say something in order to accept her offer. He starts to nod his head even as he's swallowing the latest mouthful, before replying, "Yes. I'll do it. I don't want to be out there any more, at least, not out there alone." He took a few moments, before asking, "What's your name? You never told me," and then getting straight back to the task of eating his food.

---

Ashley - Mall Parking Lot - Scarlett

@wolverbells

Pretty young? I'm twenty-two, Ashley thought to herself, folding her arms over her chest. She supposed that maybe she was a little young compared to the woman in front of her, but she definitely wasn't a teenager. "I'm perfectly fine," she replies, letting herself listen to the woman, who identified herself as Scarlett, speak. The friendliness of Scarlett was something that worried Ashley a little, because she seemed too friendly. The only thing that Scarlett had going for her was the fact that she hadn't been some kind of stranded citizen that Ashley was lured to, and had been made to come to the mall through her own methods and apparently on her own. There was too much risk to make her do a massive loop around just to fool unsuspecting survivors.

The question about whether or not Ashley would like to accompany Scarlett to the mall was definitely something that shocked Ashley a little. Ashley needed to look somewhere for supplies, but was she really going to trust Scarlett enough to go to the mall together? It took a few moments, however Ashley nodded her head. It wasn't that she actually trusted Scarlett, but the matter of the fact was that if Scarlett really was looking to land Ashley in some kind of trap or trouble and Ashley walked away it was more than likely Scarlett or whoever she was with could just pursue her. It would be better to have a potential ally within the mall.

"Safety in numbers," Ashley says, perhaps a little monotone. It was true, to an extent. But numbers came with it's own disadvantages.

[Norschtalen]

Ayla - The Mall - Ethan@josephb

Ayla and Ethan moved through the clothing store. Not a lot of walkers, and not really too dangerous. Still Ayla wasn't going to let her guard down as she crept forward, letting Ethan take point while she watched their rear. She'd soon regret this as one of the walkers, or half of one at least, managed to catch him by surprise. While he wasn't hurt he had knocked over a mannequin which created a cacophony of noise that started to attract the horde. She quietly cursed herself and glared at Ethan as she loaded a firecracker into her Sling. Before too many of Walkers swarmed, she hurled the firecracker to the exit, outside of the shop, and to the shop opposite of the one they were in. The loud pop should give the two time to run while the walkers were distracted, but it won't be full proof. Ayla ran up the stairs, her machete out at the ready. Good thing too because a walker just fell down and would've hit her, but Ayla heard his groaning from above. She was able stop herself as the walker hit the stair, and she swiftly chopped at it's neck with her Machete. While it wasn't a full decapitation, it was still enough to sever the spine and hopefully keep it dead as she moved up. There were a few less walkers up here, but through the windows she could see more walking towards the shop on the second floor.

"Fuck."

Ayla ran through the shop, expertly jumping over any obstacle in her path. One of the walkers tried to grab her leg but it didn't break her stride; she's learn how to maintain her pace no matter what sort of thing might be smacking at her legs, where it's weeds and briers or walkers. More walkers were started to get up and get active, but she made sure to avoid walking close to them. She vaulted over a display case and managed to get outside. She could see at least twenty walkers approaching them from the right, but it was relatively clear if they just went left. It was a longer shot though. Ayla just sighed as she turned left and started moving, glancing back at Ethan to make sure he was keeping up.

[QT]

Grant Coleman - Golden Eagle Bar - Finn @Juniper and Nathalie @wolverbells

After the unfolding conflict, Coleman's crew and their new members took a half-hour drive back to their foxhole - a bar left over from the civil rights era called the the Golden Eagle. During a time where a blacks were unable to express themselves publicity, the Golden Eagle opened to give colored people that privilege. Famous artists from all over the world traveled through there, performing their music in hopes of fueling the movement that eventually gave the decent human rights. Now owned by a drug fueled kingpin, the Golden Eagle continued to house those trying to survive the oppression of the world. A paradox that Coleman loved to immerse himself into.

In any case, the sun was now rising from the abyss. Night had come as quickly as it went and a new day was just beginning. Finn and Nathalie would wake up to find themselves locked in an empty supply closet. They were put there the night before to ensure their ability to comply with commands. They did not want to find themselves at odds with Grant Coleman and his temperament. Either way, it was breakfast time and the crew ate together so the door to their confinement flew open - a well known African tone greeting them ever so gently.

"Wake up whities!" the call came when the door flung open and crashed against the wall. Abeni stood there with a plate of grits and greasy bacon. "Breakfast is ready," she added, nodding for them to follow her suit. Coming out of the closet one could see most of the bar tables filled with men and women of all ethnicities. Many of them - just like Finn and Nathalie - had been robbed from their previous life and instructed to follow under Coleman's command. All of them however enjoying the luxuries of working with a man so connected to the world around them.

Coleman was nowhere to be seen, Abeni guiding Finn and Nathalie to the kitchen to pick up their food. "This is Gregory, he was a chef before all of this craziness. He's still a chef," she said with a smile, a meaning behind her words the two newcomers may yet too understand. Gregory went ahead and fixed each of them a plate, handing it to them before they returned to the kitchen and were sat in their own booth, Abeni joining them momentarily. "We will be leaving soon for business, so eat fast."

With that, the woman stepped away with her plate in hand - heading into the back office where Coleman appeared to be. The members around eyed the newbies, whispering amongst themselves. One actually stood from his seat and headed over in their direction, sitting down before them in their booth. "New guys huh?" he asked rhetorically, making himself comfortable in their presence. "Heard you guys stole from Mr. Grant, that real?" he asked them, referencing the items they took from the mall which in reality were not Coleman's possessions. "What are your names? Mine's Jackson...It's a pleaser to meet you," he greeted, extending a hand and flashing a smirk.

[josephb]

Ethan - The mall - Ayla @Norschtalen

It didn't take them long to get out of the shop with Ayla in front leading the way with Ethan following a little further back. She doesn't fuck about, Ethan thought to himself as he watched her glide through the store. It was probably for the best anyway that she was in front because Ethan was lost and the main reason he came here was in hopes of finding any signs of a community close by. With the amount of walkers that had infested the mall, it was making Ethan less optimistic about the place. All he could hope for now was that it wasn't as completely ransacked as it looked, but he had a feeling there would be hardly anything left.

When they managed to get out of the shop Ayla went left and Ethan followed close behind. It was obvious they couldn't go right because of all the Walkers so they kept moving staying low and trying to be as quiet as possible. A few shops down Ethan had noticed a camping shop. "Ayla." Ethan whispered. "Ayla, in there." He gestured to the shop as he moved in. From the looks of the place a lot of the stuff had been robbed but not everything. Before he had a look to see if there was anything he could take, he wanted to make sure this place was actually empty, not wanting a repeat of the other shop. Ethan slowly moved further into the shop whilst trying to survey every part of the place for any potential walkers. When he got towards the back where the cash register was he noticed a door and the closer he got to it he could hear some ruffled noises coming from inside, too quiet to actually make out what it was. As he reached the door, he nodded to Ayla motioning that was going in. Grabbing the door handle, he started to twist it as quietly as he could whilst he maneuvered his other hand that was holding the hatchet so he could strike quicker. Ethan took a second before going in, he took a deep breath and crept inside.