[IC] Teenage Wasteland

[MissCapnCrunch]

Watching carefully as the man unloaded his bags, Marion took inventory in her head of things they would need and things they wouldn't need. "Yes. no. yes. yes. yes. no." she thought to herself as he filled the counter with his items. Mari had been zoning out while the boy spoke, most customers if they weren't apart of the forgotten just rambled about how well their group was doing, or hadn't seen another person for weeks upon weeks so they used Marion as a crutch for a good conversation. However, when the boy said "Seems they had been killing all sorts of people, though." she felt a twinge of grief for the mass of lives they lost recently. "They are savages and not deserving of life, let alone freedom." Mari replied, giving the boy a stern look. He fiddled around with his bags some more, making mistakes that she took not much notice in, nor care. Turning her straight face into a small smile.

In the distance of the store front Drake and Abel made their way to the shop. "Here comes Drake, he will be able to help you better than I can. Even though, between you and I, I'm the best salesperson there is around these parts. Could have sold you your shoes that you're wearing if I tried." she teased as the man from before suddenly busted through the doors.

"How can I join The Forgotten?"

Marion stared with her mouth agape. It wasn't often that people asked to join their group, it just sort of happened over time. People that didn't belong anywhere else came, did favors, just stayed around. Some seasonal, some forever. "I-I uh." Mari started, a bit overwhelmed with how many things were going on at the time.

As if someone was punishing her, Kim came around the corner to join in on the party. Marion didn't know much about Kim, but what she did know scared the shit out of her. She heard the girl killed her entire family even before the virus happened. She heard that Kim once killed a 300lb man with just a ballpoint pen. She heard Kim would kick anyone's ass if you even looked at her funny. All of these were rumors of course, but all rumors have a bit of truth to em'.

Now more members had came around, surrounding the shop. Speaking with yet another new face. "What is it about new people today?" she thought to herself, wishing someone would give her a hand. Kim moved to the side letting yet ANOTHER person into the shop. "Is it getting hot in here, or just me?" Marion whispered to herself, with a nervous chuckle as she arranged the items they needed to the side and the others to the side. "Okay shorty, this is what I'll take. What are you looking to trade? We'll go from there." Looking towards the wandering priest, "You will have to talk to someone with some more power, I suggest you wait outside. I don't have any business here for you." and now to the one eyed girl she spoke, pointing a finger towards her, "I hope you see something you like here to trade with me, or we have no business for you either." Marion said with a smug look upon her face.

She thought she handled that relatively well.

[SgtEasy]

Alphonsé Akiyama

The Forgotten HQ

@MissCapnCrunch @Mivuli @LovelyAnastasia @Vocab

---

The tension was high on the shop and Rōnin did not like it one bit. People began flooding the shop and with more people, more potential hostiles. He gripped his gūnto tighter now, one hand on his revolver ready to gun everyone down. Years of loneliness didn't make him the most trusting of people and he's actually the direct opposite. Staring intently at the nervous girl with hollow eyes, he waited for his answer. Though the man looked incredibly calm in the outside, he was straining for control. Inner, with every whiff of dead body, gained strength to try and take him over.

'This would all be very simple if you let me out and slaughter all these people.' Alphonsé rolled his eyes before stomping on the little insect and kicking him into a cage. He felt calmer now but if this tension wasn't cut soon, parts of him would be tempted to let Inner do his thing. "You will have to talk to someone with some more power, I suggest you wait outside. I don't have any business here for you." He almost flipped table, slightly angered at the inefficiency of the Forgotten.

Rōnin placed his hands on the table, eyes staring intently at the girl, and rumbled in a deep voice "Well. I shall wait outside but I will not wait there for long." He smiled and turned to walk towards the door. He knew how intimidating his smile, the inner horrors that it hid and how it creeped the majority of people out. It was the smile of a crazy man living a crazy life. It was enough to make most people shudder or cry. He walked towards the entrance before pausing to look at the situation in front of him.

'It's even more fucking tense out here than it is there!' He watched as the man, presumably a part of the Forgotten, drew a gun and aimed it at the girl. Alphonsé wasn't called the "Wandering Priest" for no reason and was deeply religious and had a chivalry second to none. No matter how long he stayed in those damn gangs, no one can change his upbringing. He opened the door and stepped in between the gun and the girl.

"Boy." He said in a deep Japanese accent, looking down at the younger man with disappointed eyes. "You know what they do in the Yakuza when you don't treat a woman with respect?" He raised his left hand, showing him the famous four fingered hand. "You put that gun away and let the girl into the shop. I don't mean no harm but if you don't let this Lady in, I will find service elsewhere." He indicated to the door to let the redhead in.

[LovelyAnastasia]

The Cyclops

Not Just A Job, But Survival

@Mivuli@SgtEasy@Vocab

---

Cy was hesitant to move for a moment, but she supposed that the Willow Pixie was her best bet at survival next to Sharp Shot and Greenie. Boys... Honestly. Giving one last look up to the roof, she followed the expressionless pixie girl. Sure, the red head knew she wasn't the most trustworthy looking person around, but who was these days? It was people who looked too trustworthy that Cy never wanted to mess with. That was just asking for trouble. At least she was honest about having no real side but her own. Good thing the girl decided to risk Cy though. The lash marks on her back were starting to make her worry.

Slinker ended up coming outside and stepping in front of the gun pointed at her. Curious. Most people didn't like getting shot for other. How odd. She wasn't often surprised. But this rouge was surprising to her. Tilting her head back, she peered at him curiously, then gave him a nod of gratitude as she passed. Curiouser and curiouser... She'd have to to study him a bit later. Yea know, when she was bleeding through her shirt.

Trouble? Her? She had meant it when she had said that she would be less of a threat than the other strangers in the shop. Cy was starting to feel a bit light headed, but she refused to show weakness. Not with Greenie eyeing her like she eyed a nice rabbit in the brush. Hand signals were exchanged, and Cy followed the other girl into the building. It was a lot smaller than it looked, all cramped and claustrophobic. The kind of place she hated. But she was coming towards the end of her rope. It was still a good trek to the Earthkin territory, and the Forgotten were a better risk that the O.S., Scorps, or any other small gang who could be easy targets.

Rubbing a gloved hand over her brow, she removed some dust and cold sweat. Dammit, she was was getting weak now? Now when she had to watch her back? Great. A sun-kissed, badger-attitude girl was working the shop. Cy shifted her green eye to the ex-Cyote cautiously. She hadn't worked with either of this guy or the Slinker, but rumors were enough. Possible connections with either would be nice, but she was working a game plan right now. Speaking of which...

Badger Girl had turned her sharp tone right on Cy. Putting her map on the untouched side of the table, she slowly took off the shot gun and ammo straps, keeping them on her arm, just in case anyone decided to try and grab a bit of extra around here. Then, slowly, carefully, she shrugged off her jacket with a small hiss. Turn her back to the sharp-tongued girl, she jabbed a thumb at a her back. The shirt she wore stuck to her back with dark dingy red stick stains, slowly seeping out with more and more blood.
"Got anythin' fer this?" she grunted through her teeth, head held high, "It's sorta ruin' my shirt. Salve or bandages or anythin' would be nice."
Smug little badger girl... She just wanted to trade as quickly as possible. Maybe find some run down forgotten place where she could apply medicine and sleep for a bit. A nice easy night. For once. Geez, she hated feeling pathetic. Let's just get this over with.

[Temporary]

a new challenger approaches Erren thought, as the wondering priest stepped in between him and the Scotish one. When people stood in front of a shot normally, the bullet would just pass them through and then move onto the next. However, bullets were a lot less fun than playing with people and their ideals. Especially someone who both seemed religious, as well as gang material, or at least that's what he claimed.
"Well that's unlucky for you, because we aren't a Yakuza. Nor do we play by their rules." he said, flipping the revolver into his hand so he was holding the barrel, "You seem like a... Mostly, reasonable person. But don't cross me when I'm having fun, or it'll be your name on my bullet, not hers." he finished, motioning to the redhead who had now made her way into the shop. He had a right mind to shoot him where he stood just to get the thing over with, but for some reason that almost didn't feel right. It wasn't that morals stood in his way, but that there was a lot more this priest could do for the Forgotten alive than being worm food, and one such thing was not bloody prayers.
"I heard our shopkeeper wanted you to speak to a Drake. Now, I would love to help you in your predicament of joining the wounded field, but I have much better things to be doing that don't involve helping lost thugs make their own goddy way in life. Talk to Hans if he can be arsed, but don't expect much. They're either grieving or don't trust you as far as they could through you, which," he paused, quickly looking over the priests body and shape, "Would be about a couple centimetres, give or take whatever you land on." he said, throwing the pistol lightly into the air and then catching it by the handle. Then he stuffed it into has pocket and stepped around the priest, heading into the shop to see what kind of crap was going on inside.

[Jangel13]

@LovelyAnastasia@SgtEasy@MissCapnCrunch

Shiba noticed that this was going to be one of their busy days. Today they would be dealing with more customers then just one person could handle. Shiba sighed and he put his sniper rifle behind his back then he got his shotgun and started to load it with the bullets as well as putting on his bandoleer just in case. Shiba wasn't a good a salesperson as but at least he could make sure that everything was in order and things would happen accordingly. The one time Shiba let things go on the customers nearly took over the HQ thankfully Shiba was as good with a shotgun as he was with a sniper otherwise that would have gotten a lot worse. Once Shiba was loaded he threw over the rope end of the grappling hook he kept up their just in case for quick entrances into the shop. He then slid down the rope and cocked his shotgun.

Time to take charge. Alright people please remain in a orderly line behind the counter if you are not here to trade or join us then get out before I blow you out. All trades will be handled by mari today who is already seeing someone. If you are here to handout then again get out, the only exception to these being if you are pregnant or a small child. As long as you are here to do business then you have nothing to worry about if you start causing a ruckus and disrupt our business I will not hesitate to kick you out on your ass. Shiba said cocking his shotgun again so please cause some trouble so I can use this thing today he said making sure that everyone that was not part of the group heard him. This was standard protocol for all people who came to them but Shiba was able to speak them with more authority then the others could, one of the advantages of having a military officer for a father; you could project the authority you need to get your point across...

[Airalin]

Alice's eyes narrowed as Charon spoke his empty oath. The man had gone from rage to subservience so quickly... he was far from broken. No, he was only playing along to preserve his meaningless life. But, as long as he continued, Alice needed nothing more.

"Good boy," she said, a playful smile forming on her lips as she absently wrapped a strand of hair around one finger. "I will have Miss Katie take your little samples after you leave this room. But I wonder..."

She leaned forward in her chair, eyes widening as they approached the screen. She didn't really understand the medic, and others like him. Perhaps he could help her to.

"You don't believe in the Highest. Everyone you care about is already dead, right? So why do you even bother trying to find a cure? Do you really think you can do it in time to save yourself?"

Alice bit the inside of her lip as she realized the things she was saying about Charon applied equally to herself - she knew the Highest was a sham, and her family was long gone. Omnibus Scientia's mission to eradicate the virus was just an excuse she used to maintain a powerful group to protect herself - horrible things could happen to undefended children in this brutal world. But Alice didn't have any reason to live - there was nothing she hoped for. In time, she would grow, and she would cease to be the prodigy sent to save humanity in its time of need. What would happen to her then?

[AtomicNut]

Charon made an exercise of self-restraint and balled his fists tightly. The little girl had what she wanted, and in a characteristical display of smugness and a maturity befitting her, proceed to rub her token victory in his face. Just endure it. He bit his lip as she kept on her rant.

And then she stopped, and leaned towards the screen. She made a question. Or was it a taunt? Charon at this point didn't know nor cared to. And yet...So, the Oracle chosen by the Highest claims to don't understand how I work? He paused, deciding to taunt her back or not. In the end, he breathed deep. Well, I should share my experiences with those younger than me. It's what responsible adults do.

"Hum... It's a bit hard to explain if you haven't experienced it first hand." Charles mused, his sight lost in recalling his memories. "It's how would I put it...there's not a single morning I ask myself that question. Wether if it is worth it all or not... All the things I've to do and to endure, with no one else but me putting my life at stake. And yet."

He paused, his voice seemed to trail of before raising again, a deeper tone. "I find myself repeating that stupid poem day after day. It's funny, considering how I learned it." He stopped himself, before changing subject.

"I saw it, Humanity's last stand against the virus. I had a first row ticket to it all. And among all the death and misery, there was this one patient who had died with a beaming smile on his face. Imcomprehensible, right? I searched for the reason why there was such a thing, and his cold dead hand was clutching a book of poems. It was opened in a peculiar one." He cleared his throat and closed his eyes before continuing.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

His eyes reopened, and stared vividly into the camera. Through the camera towards the ten year old girl. "I understood then. Why the man was smiling. It was his last act of defiance. Humanity was full of these people. People who, beyond all reason and expectations, still stood up. Even if they had lost everything." He folded his arms and stretched himself.

"Death eventually comes for us all, girl. No matter age, sex or status. But If my death is certain, I can still choose how I want to go down. And I'll go down with everything I've got and with my boots on, because I won't yield to a fucking Virus, I got my human pride left."

[Kei]

@LovelyAnastasia@SgtEasy@MissCapnCrunch

A very faint, sly smile formed onto Foxes face upon hearing the girl with dreads reply to his comment about the Scorps. Personally, he didn't have much recollection of why he should hate them. He knew what they did and could understand why, but anything other that was just impressions he got from everyone he had met or ran into. None of it was good, in all truth. Not even from some Scorp members themselves. Not that he spent a lot of time chattering with any of them- there had been a few he had tortured before killing them a time or two. Ironically, all eight times (at least ones that he could remember) regarding having a fellow Coyote scavenger killed. Or when they had killed someone else he was interested in. They always seemed to know who to target and who to kill... it actually really pissed him off the more he thought about it.

The sly smile quickly vanished from his face as the 'Wandering Priest' stepped up and spoke, Fox himself remained quiet and watched in utter silence as everything unfolded. The girl who had been dealing with him and his stuff to be traded moved elsewhere, guns were pulled out, some shit was said- and Fox payed no attention to it. Instead, he merely turned and leaned against the counter, resting his head in his palm while lightly tapping his right hand against the bloodied bag that rested upon his right hip.

None of it really interested him greatly, it just barely caught his attention, if anything. The thought did cross his mind though that if Alphonsé ended up starting something, he might be inclined to join him in his escapades. But even then, he didn't make any motion to reach for wire or any throwing knives of the sort. He merely remained leaning against the counter while trying his best to not shift his weight any more than necessary, knowing well enough it was better to drag blood anywhere else if he could help it. Thankfully the bag the body parts were in was mostly leak-proof. Mostly. There were a few holes, but they just dripped on his pantleg.

Foxes mind began to wander a bit, but a small chill ran up his spine, forcing him to jerk his golden eyed gaze upwards and his free hand to instinctively reach for his front pocket. But he stopped short as his eyes caught his attention. A stranger he had completely over-looked- he caught her eye just for a moment before her attentions turned elsewhere. He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, letting out a small breath through his nose. Attempting to trade something for bandages...? The small breath he allowed to escape from his nose quickly turned into a relatively loud sigh.

While he wasn't entirely interested, he was at least a tiny bit curious about that map.

"Miss, with the map?" Fox started, pushing himself up from leaning on the counter, voice a bit louder than necessary. "I've got some bandages here and an ol' first-aid kit if you would like to have them, if you wouldn't mind giving me just a few moments of your time. But if you want it, you have to grab it yourself." He then lifted his right hand and wiggled the gloved fingers, starting to stick together through drying blood. After a moment though he carefully pointed to one of the bags that hung off of his belt. "Unless you'd like them already covered in blood. But that really isn't sanitary."

[LovelyAnastasia]

The Cyclops

A 'Shank' Is Something That Is Useless

@Mivuli@MissCapnCrunch@Kei@Jangel13

Theme Song

---

Cy could feel her senses heightening. Risky job she was trying to pull off and to save her own skin no less, but it would be worth it if she could just get out of here a alive. She could hear Greenie and Slinker talking outside, but didn't really pay attention to either of their words. Not with the Cyote standing so close. Out of all of them gathered, she was wary of him the most. And it wasn't just because a certain ex-lover who had stolen her eye had been part of the Cyote pack. Nah, it was more like anyone who was a former member of that gang had to be bad news, even for that pack of flea-bitten mutts. But then again who knew what other lovely party guests the Forgotten held in their ranks?

And if showing her weakness hadn't been enough for one day, another wonderfully friendly and inviting character decided to enter the already cramped pawnshop room. Her one green eye slid over to Sharp Shot and narrowed slightly. This guy irritated her more than most people usually did. Barking out orders like she was suppose to get all wide-eyed and fall at his feet like a trained pomeranian puff pup. Without moving, she scoffed at him, showing the boy just what she thought of his so called 'authority'. He was about as intimidating as the little pedigree pup he wanted to treat them all as.

"Shove it, shank," she grumbled at Sharp Shot's order. She was already hurt and the pain was just pissing her off. A shotgun in this tiny place wouldn't just hit her, but it'd hit anyone around her too. Like pretty little Badger girl, standing on the other side of the trading table. Sharp Shot wasn't too bright was he? "Badger Girl is doin' just fine without yer green tooth mouth flappin'," she gritted through her teeth with a very calm and level voice, "Both of yer customers got stuff on the table, don't they, or are ye blind?" Oh no, she was on a roll now. "Ye must be blind, cuz even a one-eye like me can see their ain't no friggin' room fer this 'line' thing yer talking 'bout," she sounded like her elder sister when she got into lecturing rants, "You see anyone doin' friggin' anything but what we're suppose be doin' to in this store? Quit chewin' on cat meat and eat some carrots, ye wee jack-o-nip bairn."

Cy had a sharp tongue, but she only used it when she was upset. Or angry. Or affectionate. Okay, maybe she wasn't the cute little flower fairy people painted girls as in old world ads, but she wasn't bad. In fact she had been a girly person once. But in the new world you had to be tough to keep yer heart pumping. Having throughly let Sharp Shot know what she thought of him and his 'jack-o-nip' (English suck-up) 'bairn' (baby) authority, turned her attention back to the business at hand. The sooner she traded, the soon she'd be out of this mad house. Little boys acting like lunatics and trigger happy two-year-olds... This is why girls should of ruled the world. Men was pretty but, God's Blood, they needed to keep their mouths shut.

Looking back to the Cyote, she raised a brow, though it was hardly noticeable from behind her nice large eye-patch fashion statement. He could sigh all he liked, but odds were something her spiderweb had captured had probably affected him in the past. Cy kept a lot of info on people from all the major gangs. Mostly for her own amusement, since watching people interact normally interested her more than the arena massacres her sister and the Gamers had been into. Every now and then, someone wanted revenge on someone else, and she'd show up like their bloody fairy godmother. Or maybe more like Rumplestiltskin. Hey, hard won info was never free. A bargain was always ripe for the picking as long as you kept your... eye out.

He talked all polite-like to her, making her just a bit curious as to what he wanted. And why he was being so loud about it. She was standing right there. Cy let out her own sigh, but it more in annoyance at the itchy ache in her back than anything else. Bandages and a first aid kit? Color her curious. Alright she'd bite.

"Before I go explorin' yer, er, person," her eye drifted down the length of him before landing on the satchel he had motioned to hanging off his belt. Cheeky guy. Good thing she wasn't a shy little schoolgirl...anymore. "What do ye want for 'em?" she mused, letting her green eye rise back to his golden Cyote gaze.

[Airalin]

Alice rolled her eyes and slumped back into her chair, arms folding. Charon's answer... it was just stupid! Why would anyone risk their lives over some silly poem? Even the most unhinged of her followers wasn't that insane!

"Standing up to death, as if it were a person... so dumb," she said harshly, "But I suppose I can't expect any more from you than the truth. So, whatever. Katie will take your samples from you when you leave - be a good boy and just hand them over without a fuss, 'kay?"

She waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes were already out of focus, her brow furrowed. This guy couldn't be a complete moron, could he? He was a doctor, after all... he was supposed to be at least sort of smart! So why did he put so much stock in some old poem? Was he afraid to admit that there was no point to his life? Alice had already all but accepted that was true of her own life. She lived because she wanted to, because she was afraid to die. Even if life sucked, she would cling to it rather than accept the alternative.

As Alice put a hand to her forehead to lightly massage it, she blinked. The light on her camera... it was still on! He was probably still watching, and if so, he had seen her moment of weakness!

"I said leave!" she yelled, cheeks burning. How could she be so careless?

[AtomicNut]

"D'aaw, you got a 10 year old pouty side after all." Charon said, tilting his head, smiling somewhat. Even after the whole ordeal, this flustering of the girl made him a bit at ease. And to think he was considering to kill her before. God, he was really gone off the deep end this time. "I's okay though, not many have seen the burning hellfire of madness that's beyond my usual mask of civility. You would rock Hollywood if it still existed."

He put a hand in his hip. "Determination and courage aren't something easily taught. As the distinction between that and foolishness isn't very clear. Some could say you either have it or not." He paused.

"Still, now that we're still here, alone... let me tell you something before I leave." He paused. "I could really use a plan B. What I know and I have experienced, despite not being able to cure the Virus, could save many people. That's why I wanted to recruit you. You're the only one around here who would have the highest amount of time to do so." He coughed.

"In a year or so, you'll begin to undergo changes. You'll become the youngest privileged mind of this wasteland. And without fear of being felled to the virus. If I manage to train you as a medic during that and you finish what others started." He continued.

"Instead of an Oracle chosen by the Highest, you would be the Saviour of Mankind." He smirked.

"And the reason why I am entrusting you this is because you've flustered like a tomato and showed me your doubts, and the fact you questioned me. You know your own weakness in the end." He motioned towards the door. "But as you said, this is dumb. I'll leave you, lest you change my mind about our deal." He added, picking up his things and heading towards the door, where Katie would be. "I'll repeat this offer as many times as you need, but I need you, in person to take the first step."

[Jangel13]

@LovelyAnastasia
When Shiba got to the ground floor he kept watch to make sure nobody would try anything stupid and after his little speech the one eyes girl started talking. Obviously to Shiba but....Shiba couldn't understand a damn thing she was saying so he was scratching his head looking at her as she talked Um okay I'll bite, what the hell are you saying? Shiba said honestly not able to understand her thick accent but he did notice she was in pain so maybe she was asking for help? Maybe she was just cussing out from all The pain? Shiba couldn't tell but he would just stand where he was near the entrance and simply act as bouncer in case others came by or the sales started to go down with Mari and they needed to leave. Such is the life of the forgotten sharp shooter...

[MissCapnCrunch]

When Shiba entered the store, Marion could have kissed him. She'd never admit to have needed a hand in store with the influx of strange characters coming through today, but she was at the least bit overwhelmed and under prepared. Not wanting to seem this way, Mari nodded her head, speaking confidently, "Everything is alright Shiba, I got this."

The girl with one eye and the other customer began chatting between one another into trading a map. Doe eyed, Mari would be floored if someone out traded her in her own shop. "Ahem." the girl cleared her throat obnoxiously, "If you'll want that map shorty, you'll have to trade it with me. I'll give you anything he'll give you and more." the girl stated albeit a bit foolishly. Giving a mischievous grin towards the boy, showing him that she wasn't one to let this type of actions come into play while she was in charge.

"Um okay I'll bite, what the hell are you saying?"

Shiba's voice resonated and Marion instantly retracted her earlier thought about kissing him. Did he want to start a fight? Perhaps he had been bored from the day's slow start and wanted some action. Marion placed her face into her hand, her finger tips rubbing against her closed eyelids. She wondered how any man made it this far since the virus exploded.

[Airalin]

Alice tasted a hint of iron as she chewed her lip. Charon wasn't taking her seriously at all! And she would only look worse if she threw a tantrum!

"Don't you dare talk to anyone else about this, or I will have you killed," she said, and pressed the button that ended her transmission before her guest - no, her servant - could respond. A long breath escaped her. Her fingers violently danced atop her keyboard as she sent Katie her instructions. Charon had called her pouty... how dare he? He ought to already be dead for that! So... why didn't she want to give her underlings the command? They would obey her, would dismiss the medic's tale as the babbling of a desperate man. So what was stopping her?

Charon's attempts to entice her to study under him were laughable. 'Savior of mankind?' Really? Alice was no hero. She didn't really care about finding a cure for the virus - her only goal was to stay alive, and make her short life as comfortable as it could be. And she was doing excellently. The hope Charon had spoken of, the one even Alice herself presented to others... it was a lie. The virus would never be cured, least of all by her. She was a genius, not a god. Ten or twelve years wasn't long enough to learn all the science she'd have to know to stand a chance.

There was no point in denying it. Oracle or not, in a decade or so, she would die.

***

Katie gestured for Charon to wait as he exited the room. A moment later, the girl had sent her message. Katie looked up, smirking at the visitor.

"She says I'm to take your samples. That's unfortunate." On the contrary; it was exactly what she needed. In the right hands, those samples might actually help develop a cure. No one man should hold them.

"Follow me," said Katie with a wave of her hand. Her office was not far. Once she had led Charon to it, she closed the door behind him and gestured toward the seat in front of her desk. Casually, she sat down opposite him.

"You may speak freely in here," she said simply. "I promise, this is no test of your loyalty. You have no reason to be loyal to... her. So tell me: having spoken to the Oracle one on one, what did you think?"

[AtomicNut]

"Really, now...you're not regretting it in the slightlest." Charon snapped back as he exited towards the female, fumbling around his backpack and producing a series of carefully wrapped test-tubes. "Here. I hope you have better luck with them than I did." He said, with his teeth clenched in barely contained disgust.

He sat down quietly, clasping his hands in front of his mouth as the nineteen year old questioned him. No test of loyalty, huh. He paused quietly. What to say... Well, for starters, he wanted to strangle the little girl until she ceased to be annoying. His eyebrow twitched slightly, his annoyance being patent. However, he couldn't display this to one who truly believed she had been granted the Oracle with the Highest grace.

"If you knew someone has untapped potential, and could be helpful towards helping this world, but misuses it, how would you feel?" Charon replied, taking off his glasses. They were not needed. Truth to be told, he was just wearing them because it made him look more intellectual... and less agressive. "Even if it's a ten year old girl." He added.

"She talks high and mighty about being an Oracle. A chosen of the Highest." He paused. "You know who else did that? Alexander the Great. However, unlike Alexander, she doesn't even believe in herself, despite being a rambunctious child who turns off an offer of becoming the last medical apprentice of this city."

He paused. "Your equipment in here is great. You do have even security cameras and informatic appliances up and running. Not to mention electrical power." Charon muttered.

And then, all of a sudden, his hand shot to a side, grabbing one of the precious test tubes. "So close, yet so far. I showed my intentions. I even tended an honest olive branch at her. I want to help a 10 year old girl with so much untapped potential learn how to live and love life in this wasteland, and perhaps, maybe perhaps, find a cure."

"But she won't listen to me. She's shut herself in, coddled by sycophants. But the dream won't hold for long. Soon, she'll crumble. Like everything keeps crumbling." The medic said, in a quiet raspy tone. "And that burns. It burns me from the inside out. To see what's left of this wonderful world that once was keep spiraling into madness, like I do. We'll be back to the bronze age at this rate."

"You who have been the longest with her. She'll listen to you. Engrave this in your mind." He popped the cap of the sample. "This is how Hope is brought." He then drank the contents of the sample. "Yeeuch, stale infected crow blood. I wanted to do this on a more controlled environment, and with additional safeguards..."

He then deposited the now empty tube, rolling it towards Katie. "If my theory is correct, I won't die. I've been building resistance to the illness for 3 years straight, by tossing myself headfirst in the pandemic. I should be able to retain it, even if I'm past the assumed safe age. I'm my most precious sample, in a sense, heh." He then raised himself from the table.

"Well then, I'm off to see my books. See ya."

[Mivuli]

Kim Marie

@LovelyAnastasia@MissCapnCrunch@Jangel13@Kei@Vocab

---

Kim's eyes flickered to life, as Shiba came sliding down a rope. From their corner, she spied Erren walking into the shop. The redheaded girl had revealed wounds that looked mortal, the sprawling scarlet stain an explanation for her grey pallor. She sucked her breath in between teeth, as Shiba began cocking his shotgun. Excessively, for Kim's taste. Before the outbreak, she had been stoutly against the Second Amendment - at least, she assumed so, from the faded wisps of memory she managed to cling to. Circumstance had ruled on the necessity of firearms, however, and they had become a presence in her life, as constant as her own shadow.

Still, it did not change the presumed affectedness in Shiba's tone. Leadership one tugged like a cloak unto his own back was not frequently received well, and - to be sure - the ginger appeared to like Shiba none for it. She ranted at him, a quick explosion that took Kim one step forward, shifting on a knife's edge as to whether or not to intervene before violence could ensue.

But the redhead retreated, turning to the golden-eyed boy to begin a coy exchange. And in a separate waltz, the observer's tango, Kim stepped back. Loosened her vice-grip on her pistol. Let out a lungful of air.

But then Shiba scratched at his head, and Kim noticed Marion bury her face in her palms. She knew little and less of the girl, only that she was a sly businessman, yet easy-going. They were both of the same mind, then, in their feelings for Shiba's current actions. Without missing a beat, Kim took a gaping stride forward, coiling wiry fingers around the boy's elbow, and tugged him back into her corner. "She appreciates your concern, but feels it inapplicable to her and the visitor at the counter," she translated loosely, adding far more dashes of courtesy than she had found in the redhead's words. Glancing between Marion, the redhead, and the golden-eyed boy, she flicked her eyes stonily to the map. If she values her life, best that it is not counterfeit, but genuine. Then, in a voice coloured with the bite of steel - when previously she had been flat and emotionless - she added lowly so as to avoid humiliation on Shiba's part, "Stand down, Shiba."

[Kei]

@Mivuli@MissCapnCrunch@Jangel13@LovelyAnastasia@Vocab

"Well." Fox started, falling silent for a few moments to allow the other guy that had descended from somewhere and started showing his guns off a bit too much. It almost made him cringe, almost. While not a huge fan of such weaponry, it sure did have its uses. It made hunting easier, be it human or animal. But they were loud and required ammo. You couldn't always find the correct shells, the gunpowder, and so on and so forth. And as far as he knew, no one really knew how to actually craft more bullets. So eventually they would be obsolete. Maybe not for another few years, maybe not for another twenty- but eventually. If anything, something that did not need to be reloaded was better anyway. Might not have a lot of range but at least you wouldn't be caught in the middle of reloading or in the middle of a fight when you run out of bullets.

If his hands were not covered in blood, there was a good possibility he would have been rubbing his face with his hands as the girl with dreads was doing. He gave a small bow of his head towards the other woman that had appeared and attempted to pull the gun-wielding manic away- if anything, she had just earned herself some serious points for that. If he ever had to actively seek out the people here to kill them, he would kill her first!

"Well, Dreads, you might be able to offer her more than what I've got for that map- but I never said I was interested in the map." He turned his head to face her, just enough so she could see the grin as it slid across his face with the bit of a twinkle in his eye. But it faded quickly as a more serious look appeared, one that made him appear much older than the kid many assumed him to be because of his height. "But I will run across them eventually and I can guarantee I would have less trouble with them than any one of you would, even with your guns." Fox sucked in a sharp breath, only to exhale very slowly. "But like I said, I am not interested in her map."

He once again turned his gaze to the one-eyed woman, the serious look remaining on his face. This time he took a small step forward, the nails that had been implanted in the bottom of his boots scratched on the floor with the forceful bit of weight he allowed with the movement towards her. In doing this, the bag still against his right him jostled a bit too much, causing a bit of blood to finally hit the floor. "I have seen you around a time or two, you know things I want to know." A very small pause as he narrowed his gaze slightly. "I'd be willing to offer you my delightful services of never glancing in your general direction when I go hunting anymore. Or maybe we could figure out some kind of other trade? I wouldn't mind cutting off a few heads in your name if you'd like."

[LovelyAnastasia]

The Cyclops

Pins and Needles Down the Spine

@Mivuli@MissCapnCrunch@Kei@Jangel13

Theme Song

---

Sharp Shot was as deaf as he was dumb and blind it seemed. So instead of bothering with him any more, she turned her back on him. He wasn't even worth the energy. She had said her piece. If he wanted to play moron, or perhaps he really was just plain stupid, it didn't bother her a bit. Though if he wanted to step outside and go for a round with bare fists, she'd gladly pop that air-filled head of his.

"Aye, alrighty then," Cy grinned slightly, liking Badger Girl's no nonsense attitude about her business handling. She could respect anyone who kept up their trade well. And it seemed like she had more sense in her than Sharp Shot. She could hear Willow Pixie whispering behind her, but paid it no attention. For some reason she trust the thin, wispy girl. It was probably because she reminded her of an old O.S. connection of hers. While Cy prided herself on having connections to all the major gangs, she didn't have many true friends. Slice, a thin and pale kid who was only in the O.S. for the books they looked after, had the same deadpan look alway on his face. Ever since the kid had lost his family to the Virus, he hadn't cared a lick about his own pulse.

Cy had beat the tar out of him for almost getting himself killed. Getting him out of his dead-eyed haze was an insurmountable task that she knew she'd never be able to win against. But giving him something to do, something to live for, had given her some peace of mind. He was dug deeper into the O.S. than a tick on a mutt. And feeding her info seemed to be the only thing he truly enjoyed doing. The kid was loyal to a fault and she could respect anyone like that. Even if it was nigh bit closer to ridiculous the way they tried to throw their lives away. But in cases like that, they had to be their own saviors. There wasn't much anyone could do for them till they actually wanted to be saved. Till they actually desired to taste life once again.

Her back ached. The redheaded girl growled softly, closing her eyes and clenching her teeth. Looking up at Badger Girl as the Cyote smirked and smattered on his charm, Cy let out a wavering sigh. "I donna care who is interested in what," she sighed, "Please can ye just trade me some bandages, a bottle of watter and a bit o' salve, so I can clean up an' be on my way? I'm no' exactly comfortable here."

Her one green eye shifted back to the Cyote. "Well, you 'n I can speak after we finish tradin'," she said calmly, though she felt like she was getting a bit light headed, "It's rude ta keep the nice girl waitin'." She tilted her head to Marion and groaned a bit as she stood up straight.

"Ye can tell me sweet nothin's about whatever ye like later, Cyote," she smirked through her pain at his serious looking face. So he knew her, did he? Well, well, seemed he had a keener eye than most. His thinly veiled threat made her smile. A full lipped, rosy cheeked, girlish smile. "Let's talk about yer delightful services after I get my back mended, aye?" It sounded like mischievous and flirtatious banter with that smile on her face. But she was anything but a simpering fangirl.

Sliding the map towards Marion, she gave the other girl a lesser smile. Ah, but she was tired of this goings on. "All I want is wha' is a bottle of water, bandages and salve. That's it," she grit her teeth again, "An' if ye could hurry, t'would be appreciated."
"Listen, Cyote," she let the nickname roll off her tongue without looking at him, "Let's talk elsewhere about wha' ye have an' haven't seen, aye? I got things, ye got things, and we're both mighty interested in seein' what each other got." She rubbed a gloved palm over her face, pushing her fingers under the broad eye patch across her face. "But I ain't usually one ta share wit' the class," she pulled the patch off, right along with her hat.

An ugly scar was puckered across the side of a face that had obviously been rather symmetrical and heart-shaped at one time. While it had mostly missed the straight pert freckled nose, it had healed in an in an upside down crescent moon shape. The skin had been peeled back from her face, like someone had not only torn out her eye, but had made her suffer further. It had knitted itself back together, but the result of self tending had left uneven valleys and mounds of flesh around pink puckered scar tissue. The scars threading outwards from her eye tapered over her eyebrow and cheekbone. It wasn't exactly the most appetizing sight in the whole world. Plenty of people had scar, but not many of them were as...excessive as her little prize winner. Pushing her red hair back, so her face was in clear view, it was quiet clear that the wound had been made on purpose. Absolute and unrefined torture.

Rubbing her face down with the back of her hand, she smiled as if the scar still hurt. And sometimes it did. Remembering the hand of a lover that had turned into the hand of her torturer had made a wound deeper than the pucker ugly one on her skin. Fitting her eye patch back on, along with her hat, she leaned over the trading counter with a grimace and looked up at the golden-eye boy for a good long minute. She then turned and looked back at Badger Girl.

"We got ourselves a trade, darlin'?" she smiled softly, her third genuine smile in one day, "I'm feelin' a wee bit drained, if ye know wut I mean."

[SgtEasy]

Alphonsé Akiyama

The Forgotten HQ

@Vocab @LovelyAnastasia @MissCapnCrunch @Mivuli @Kei

---

Rōnin's anger simmered, glaring dangerously at the back of the boy walking into the store. His hand gripped his revolver tightly, cocking the gun in a threatening manner. 'This boy has more balls than you, old man! You're fucking pathetic! It looks like your days moping around with that whore of yours didn't do you any good, made you soft! Come on, shoot him in the back and let me take over here, I'll kill the rest for you!' The Yakuza raised the one finger salute to the boy's back, spitting on where he stood. To cool down, he went around to the side of the group, leaning against the Forgotten HQ.

'You weak bastard.' Inner taunted, poking at the hidden anger contained within Alphonsé. But he had ways of calming down from a heated situation, to weaken Inner's strength. He looked at his shaking hands, jitters from an older time. He dug into his pocket, feeling around for his sanity keeper. The man felt the smooth surface of the pill and grabbed it, putting it straight into his mouth. He took a swig of water from his canteen to ease it downwards, the cool liquid refreshing his throat. The antipsychotic pills were useful but only temporary, calming his mania symptoms and bipolar disorder.

Rōnin knew that he was running out of antipsychotics, antidepressants and crucial anti-anxiety pills. The occasional thought of killing himself and giving up on life became common due to the absence of his daily dose of the pill. And he knew that there wasn't only one pill, there were dozens of pills labeled as "anti-anxiety" and most of them don't work for him. If he took the wrong one, it could worsen his disorder. The Yakuza knew his time would be up soon, stopping these pills abruptly meant one thing. Symptoms.

Weakness, fatigue, severe confusion of surroundings and seizures are all symptoms of stopping daily doses and Alphonsé knew he stopped taking anti-anxiety medicine for at least three days. Any of those could lead to death in the Wasteland. He knew that being in the Forgotten was not only an act of defiance but also a last resort, he needed that medicine. His thoughts were interrupted by the entering of the Forgotten guard. He carried himself with false bravado and threatened everyone to get in line. He scoffed at the boy, thinking he was so big and tough around people that were armed with their own guns.

As the situation unfolded before him, Rōnin was in the background. There was no point in interfering, with no obvious threat towards him. Waiting patiently outside, he knew he needed to trade. His medicine was hard to come by but the Forgotten were known merchants. 'Then again, how would they react to a member relying on antidepressants, anti-anxiety and antipsychotics pills?' The Yakuza concluded that they wouldn't react well and waited for the trades to be done before finding the person named "Drake".

[MissCapnCrunch]

"Well, Dreads, you might be able to offer her more than what I've got for that map- but I never said I was interested in the map." the boy that the one eyed girl had been referring to as "Cyote" spoke, and Marion nodded her head diligently. She understood what the boy was coming at, and Mari didn't feel the need to interfere much more than she did. "It's Marion by the way. Mari for short. If you're going to be doing business with me in the future, I prefer you use my name and not my hairstyle. Could get pretty nasty if we all started referring to one another with by how we look, huh?" a sly grin came across the young girl's face as she was was reminded by the presence of the other customer.

With a doe like gaze, Marion watched as the young woman adjusted various parts of herself in a slow and regulated matter. "We got ourselves a trade, darlin'?" the sly tongue of the woman spoke, and Mari nodded once again. "I'm feelin' a wee bit drained, if ye know wut I mean." Marion chuckled, it felt like the day had been going on for several days at once already. "You're telling me..." Mari started, before putting her two fingers up to her forehead and doing a small salute. "Deal. Give me a minute." In normal times she would have given a handshake but with the outbreak and bandits afoot, you never know what could be lingering on anyone's hands.

Ducking down behind the counter, Marion pressed a series of numbers on the key pad that was installed on their cabinets of goodies. In emergency it could be opened with the key that Marion kept in the left cup of her bra, but in most cases she just used the 6 number sequence. "Bottle of water, bandages and salve" Marion repeated to herself grabbing the bandages and salve from the cabinet and closing it back up tightly with the kick of her foot while she was standing up. "Bandages and salve." Marion said, moving some of the boy's laid out items to the side so that she could place them on the counter. Turning around she took an empty plastic water bottle from the pile and began using the water pump system they had in place for clean filtered water at all times. Twisting the cap back on, tightly- she placed it next to the two other items. "And, the water." The trade with the woman was now almost complete.

"As for you shortie, I'd like to get some of your items off my counter top, so let me know what you want for these things here." she motioned towards the items she had picked out from his pile that could be of use to them.