ONL

Gumshoe and Femme Fatale - A tale of silver-screen intruige and pulp-action

Richard Barker

Name: Richard Barker

Age: 33

Gender: Male

Occupation Private Detective

Apperance: The quintessence of the Private Detective, the "'Dick" and Professional Snoop, Richard Barker looks like a man who's got knocked down quite a few times but always gotten back on his feet. Mostly. Richard stand at an average height with an average build, with combed back black hair and brown eyes. What's most striking about the private detective isn't his dress or skill as a snoop, but the big scare on his nose. Few people know really what happened, but Richard sure won't tell just anyone.

Personality Richard Barker does his business the best he can - as a professional. Richard's the kind of person to notice small details often overlooked by others, and persistently ready to pull the answers out of those he asks the hard questions. Whether or not you would call giving someone a good fist to the face "professional" is up to you, but hey it gets results. Around his clients and subjects of investigation, he's like a fish in water.

It's outside of that professional zone that Richard loses his competence. Rumour has it that he was once happily married and working as a good cop in the force, but something changed. Richard hasn't been quite the same afterwards, and getting close to the detective isn't an easy feat. That's for sure. To them he may seem distant or rude, pushing them away as if he wasn't want company or is afraid of it. The same traits that make him a good detective doesn't always make him a good people-person.

Gumshoe and Femme Fatale - A tale of silver-screen intruige and pulp-action

New York.
1925, autumn
A rainy day

A museum Director murdered.
A police reluctant to solve the murder.
A city darkened in shadowy secrets.
A mystery connected across the world.
A daughter hellbent on finding answers.
A private detective on a case bigger than anything he's had before.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Near Dance Floor)
Skills: N/A

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Alexander looked down at the seated Martins, focusing on Aeron of course as he was the one speaking back to him, giving the military family a smile. He hadn't had any intention of intruding upon their territory tonight as they clearly had been focused on Thana displaying some fine vocal skills, and Alexander showed an initial reluctance once Aeron gestured for him to sit. "Oh thanks, but I was only…" The old veteran attempted to explain, but as he turned around to nod in the direction of his fellow Baby Boomer he decided to stay. Manny had gone off to sit with the younger folks at the bar, probably getting to know them better.

"On second thought, I'll stay for a little while." Alexander finally answered Aeron's invitation, sitting down in the chair Macsen had occupied earlier. Manny had gone on without him, and while it could have been sad feeling left out this was for the best really. It was the very same reasoning Alexander had when he looked for Shears earlier. Sitting down beside Aeron - The General of many names - Mugsy looked over to him and Gunny at his side. "I can't really speak for the two other groups, but Thalia and Manny would have gotten a several medals if they were way back in our days. I have no doubt we all will do our part, but I guess you've already heard that before?"

Leaning back in his chair and looking forward for a moment, he took his time to enjoy the life around him. So much life around him after so long in a world devoid of the touch of humanity around. Except for the little scene with the young soldier and Nikki, tonight was lively but calm. Alexander took in a deep breath of fresh, sea air, lowering his shoulders and dropping the smile for a moment. Though he was still happy, happier than he had been for years. "Don't mind an old dog barking at closed doors, but that photo…the one with Shawn Mason and I, do you have more? Some of those guys I have trouble remembering their faces and…I guess they're not the ones I want to forget, if you know what I mean?" Alexander asked Aeron, his face calm and collected as his mind was racing through memories of his friends, their faces smudged like old photographs worn and torn over the years. Like he said they were the ones he wanted to remember, everything else not so much.

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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Worst case scenario of the anticipated confrontation between Nigel and Hunter, the sword-fighting teacher would have to get in a fistfight with the drunk soldier who looked more and more like the lonely kid in the back of the classroom. Best case scenario, Nigel would have an easy time getting Hunter in bed and perhaps a good talk in the morning. From what Nigel had experienced from Hunter so far, either of those two looked viable. Still with his arm stretched out towards the Drunk Dog Boy, Nigel noted the grin from the Lisa-girl from the bar. Yeah, someone was more fun with this than others. Nigel wasn't one of them.

When Hunter started talking about throwing tits - a brand new phrase Nigel had never heard in his time around teenagers, alongside "fuck nuggets"- Nigel took it as a sign that his presence was at least partially noted. At first the possiblity that Nigel would have to give him a good Greek wrestle in order to get the glass, but clearly the boy forfeited the battle and handed over the glass. "Yeah yeah, good kid." Nigel thanked Hunter after getting hold of the glass, giving it a smell and feeling his nose tickle after the first smell of booze in many years. His mind was settled, no booze for him tonight.

Nigel crouched down beside the prone and still (somehow) conscious Hunter, listening to most of what he was saying. Who he was trying to tell this specifically would become one of the great questions philosophers throughout time would spend their lives contemplating, but Nigel listened and nodded along. Poor kid. Nigel looked up for a moment at Cook and Goat, nodding to the pair. "You've have to deal with this more than me, so I let you the experts decide. But thanks, Hunter too in the morning." He told them, looking back down at Hunter and sitting down fully with him.

"What, no! They won't do that, neither to you or Izibell, don't be so dramatic. Look Hunter, it's not that bad…" he began, trying to think back to his teaching-days of comforting kids who acted just like this. How could he put this the least awkwardly? "They won't kill you or anything like that, but her…Nikki right? I don't know what you said, but if she thinks you think she's lying you really should apologize to her. No, not now, Hunter. When you're awake and sober tomorrow, she deserves on hell of an apology from you. I'm sure you didn't mean that, but alcohol is bad for clarity, I know that myself…" Did he mean to say that? Not really, but the saying was true; In vino veritas. "Things will get better, or they will blow over."

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Kettles -> Near Dance Floor)
Skills: N/A

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It had truly been a pretty sight to see Thana up on that stage. Not specifically Alexander enjoy watching a good looking woman sing one of his favourite songs, though he surely didn't mind. No, it was something else about it that had put that smile on Alexander's face and kept it there throughout her whole performance. For a moment he couldn't put a word to it, but as he stood there and finished his plate of seafood, it came to him.

Wholesome. That was it, that word he hadn't heard nor used for many years.

Alexander did his best to give Thana a well-deserved round of applause once she had finished that excellent performance, shuffling the plate under his arm somehow awkwardly. He didn't need to say anything, his face spoke for him if anyone would take the time to look at an old veteran. Alexander kept his eyes on Thana, catching her giving him and Manny a wave and waving back at her. He could tell her how much he had enjoyed the show later, tonight Navy Blue was busy with her Army man. Now that was something he wouldn't have thought possible if he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes, the Army and Navy together. Oh how the world changed when, well, the world ended.

With his plate empty and the stage free of Thana, Alexander's attention was no longer drawn to the two highlights of tonight's festivities. There weren't a lot that Alexander needed to that night, in fact there wasn't any pressing matters to attend to. Looking over at Manny for a moment he felt on that familiar, yet strange feeling. There wasn't anything he had to do, only things he wanted to. What that was, however, he didn't know. "We've been so caught up in surviving, and now I don't know what I want do with all that time. You know, Manny?" Alexander asked Manny, turning around over towards where he thought he saw another familiar face.

Okay, perhaps there was something he wanted to do. "Just a minute, old friend. I'll be right back." Alexander told Manny, excusing himself and making his way over towards where the General was sitting. On the way he had no way of ignoring the verbal assualt coming from Nikki. Oh it wasn't any of his business to mind, but whatever it was, it didnt sound good. What had the young soldier, Hunter, gone and done to himself this time? Alexander eventually made it over to the General, giving him a smile and nearly saluting him out of habit. "Maj…Aeron, sorry." Alexander began, reverting back to an old title from a war long ago, before correcting himself. "I have to say, and thank you again, this place really is something. The food, the people, the show…I don't know what to say, really, except…I guess I look forward to giving my service back for this."

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Stage -> Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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Nigel's plate of food was slowly and carefully eaten up over the course of the song, the neo-Roman soldier aiming for restraint knowing what could and probably would happen if he ate too fast. Being malnourished out on the road for as long as he and the others had, his body was still adapting slowly to this new and relatively luxurious civilisation. He no longer suffered as badly as he had done the first couple of days in Quarantine, but with the beer now going to his head instead of his stomach, he attempted to remain somewhat temperate.

It was difficult not to notice the brewing storm between Hunter and Nikki, however much Nigel wanted not to take part in it. Details were blurry, but it was enough for Nigel to raise his brows in suspense at the exchange of dagger, eating his food ever slower as his curiosity grew more powerful the more he wanted to avoid it. "Awkward" couldn't begin to describe what the Ancient Greeks would have written a long and elaborate play on, including a moment of catharsis where our hero would learn the error of his ways. If it would have been a comedy or a tragedy, Nigel couldn't tell, but he was sure he would have felt awkward throughout the whole play.

Nigel finished his plate eventually, watching Nikki storm off to the bar absolutely fuming like a burning pig of war. Standing for a moment, unsure of what to do, Nigel swallowed down a growing lump in his throat and made his way over to Hunter. Nigel approached him slowly and passively, giving Hunter an awkward look as he returned the plate to Cook as an excuse to get to him. "Thank you for the supper, ma'am." Nigel thanked her, before turning to Hunter for real. "Hey kid, so…" Nigel began only to find himself short of words. Really, he had witnessed his fair share of teenager drama in highschool, but they were never any easier. It looked like the end of the world certainly didn't change that. "Perhaps you should lay off the booze for now, get something to eat instead? Cook?" Nigel asked Hunter, slowly reaching for his glass of whiskey which really had been a bad idea. No seriously, that had been a worse idea than making your horse a Consul.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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Alexander has a smile on his face as he stood beside Manny, the two of them reassuring each other that their past actions hadn't been all in vain. They were alive and well all things considered, even if some of them had lost parts of themselves along the way, both mentally and physically. With the shrimp slowly being digested by the old veteran who hadn't eaten a good shrimp for year, Alexander simply gave Manny another of his knowing looks as he enjoyed the show. Many people there, but no one were bothering either Manny or Alexander as the two old men ate.

Then he heard Thana talking into the microphone after having been refused her evac from the stage, being a bit slow to realize it was Ash she referred to. Alexander gave a good laugh at that, one of the few laughs he hadn't forced in a long while. She wasn't done though, and ol' Mugsy let his jaw drop for a moment as he heard what Thana then said. Before the lovely Navy Blue began to sing a cover of his favourite band, Alexander managed to slip out a meager question to Manny. "Did…did I just hear that?"

Alexander didn't have words for what he felt as he listened with every fiber of his body to Thana's rendition of "Paint it Black". It was both nothing like the version he had been so accustomed to hearing, but simultaneously incapsulated everything Alexander associated with the song. As he continued to listen to lyrics describing the depressive darkness that overcome oneself, Alexander bobbed his head to the rythm of the music and quietly singing with Thana's voice. He was by no means a great singer, never had been and probably never would, but he didn't care. Sometime he leaned over to Manny and explained something to him. "1966, opening track of Aftermath, first record I ever bought. I remember it as clear as day, and tonight I'll remember for the rest of my life as well."

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Kettles -> Stage)
Skills: N/A

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Nigel couldn't help but give Cook a smile when she spoke just like a Greek philosopher would have done in times of need. It sounded familiar to many a proverb he read and somehow managed to remember throughout his life in both the old and the new world. Nigel nodded in agreement to what Cook said, giving her a grin as he accepted the plate of seafood. "It truly looks like it. Good people who hope can do amazing things, as they say; Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man. Thank you again." Nigel said to Cook, slowly getting the feeling that his mouth simply wouldn't keep shut no matter how hard he tried. Feeling that it was best to take the food and let others come forth, Nigel gave a sheepish smile and stepped aside.

As Nigel stepped aside, he gave Thalia another nod in acknowledging her presence before he moved on. There was something about her, something he couldn't put his finger on but told him that she had not been as normal a person before the Undead arose as other may have been. Then again, was he? After all he was the person who thought to himself Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses. as he walked away and began to eat the seafood off his plate. No, he wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to back down from some good sparring practice if she wanted to. Would Erica still want to spar with him? Oh now the beer was slowly kicking in. Good on him.

The food was nothing to complain about. Really it was better than anything he'd eaten in a long while, fresh yet not prepared like a barbaric Thracian would have eaten it. This was good. The night was good, if a little lonely amongst the crowd. Nigel did however enjoy the music, having to be content with few other knowing how to play anything that sounded like Roman music. After all one couldn't ask for everything. Nigel did however notice Hunter wander over to that girl he was getting social with, though was he…was he drunk? Nigel couldn't tell for sure, but something told him the kid couldn't stand his drink much better than Nigel himself. He would give them their space, and instead Nigel made his way further forward towards the stage to listen to the music dedicated to a "Mugsy", whoever that was. Odd name, wasn't it?

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach -> Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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Alexander slowly made his way over to kettles where the food was being the served - one of the two centers of attention for tonight's festivities, though he made sure to not stray far from Manny as he was still speaking. It wasn't normal for Alexander to hear the type of conversation the two old men were having, but then again he had never been open about his feelings like he had now. Manny's words struck a chord in Alexander's mind; It felt unfair that they got this far and the others didn't, but that they'd want for them to managed it. Alexander nodded his head slowly, hearing the same sentiment in Judith's voice before was…gone. He had to keep moving, even if it hurt.

The old veteran placed a warm hand on Manny's shoulder then, squizing it gently and giving him a hopeful smile at their exchange. Perhaps Manny understood him, if only just a little? Alexander tried to say something but his tongue failed to bring something meaningful to tell his friend, so he just gave him another nod as they were fast approaching the kettles and their long-awaited meal.

"Thank you." Alexander said in appriciation as he recieved a plate of finely prepared sea-food, much to his delight. It had been far too long since he'd had a good meal from the sea, and even longer since he'd had anything as tasty as this. "Oh that smell. I might have stayed here just for the food." Alexander said to Manny, giving him a cheeky grin as he placed a shrimp in his mouth. Oh God, this was Heaven. It was about then that Thana took her place on the stage. Then she began to sing. Alexander munched the shrimp as he stood in awe of the performance. The night. Everything. "Those tapes from Quarantine weren't lying, she's real good…Looks like our 'keep on moving' payed off finally, my good friend."

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Bar -> Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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The last pieces of conversation he'd been served by the two ladies at the bar echoed in Nigel's mind as he went to stand in cue at the kettles. First was Adelaide's quite wise words about wine and truth, which put a pleasently surprised smile on Nigel's face that he was not alone with such knowledge. Could it have been meant as a verbal jab at him though? Nigel hoped not, he liked to have that smile even without Erica around him, and so he had smiled back at Adelaide. Perhaps one day he'd have the honour of actually getting a good glass of wine?

The second piece was Thalia's answer on whether she'd taken part of some reenacting before. For some reason - which to Nigel was quite obvious - her answers kept on making Nigel disturbed. From the sound of it Thalia practiced ranged stabbing at a more or less regular basis way back, though the lack of context made Nigel hope she was referring to AFTER the world end. To that Nigel nodded slowly to Thalia and continued his march towards tonights feast of the sea, telling her "Yeah, that's…intersting. Maybe you tell me more when we get our sparring done? I'll be right back." As he got further away from the bar, he gave one last look at Hunter and answered back to him just before he got out of hearing-distance. "Hope it will be only temporary then. Let's hope."

Soon Nigel had made his way to the kettles and found himself once again standing with the one-armed Amazon known as Thalia. Food, it looked like the food was the center of this whole gathering. That and the scarred lady singing on stage right then. Not unlike the video they watched in Quarantine she was a decent singer, and Nigel fond himself enjoy it. He almost forgot to ask for a plate when he once again noticed Thalia holding out her hand to Cook. "Vinum et musica laetificant cor. Music, drinks and food, your people is doing better than beyond my wildest imagination."

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach)
Skills: N/A

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Alexander's eyes rose up to take in the Moon in all its glory, basked in a white glow before a dark canvas of black fabric and glowing stars. It was a familiar sight for him, though the setting in which he could stand and watch changed everything. It was no longer just ambience in which to listen carefully for Walkers, but something - Something Alexander couldn't quite explain. When he was a young boy home in Chicago, probably about three of four, his father told him something his own father had told him; "You see those stars up there, shining and blinking up in the sky? Those are holes. God is walking on the other side of that darkness, somewhere down a bright beach up in Heaven. He's carrying a staff, and every time he put the staff down, another hole he made. That's what we're seeing, those stars. Signs of God."

Tonight those words gave comfort to the old veteran. A comfort told from his grandfather to his father, and then onto him. God was everywhere, one just had to look. Were William, Maria and Judith looking down at him from up there?

Alexander Turned over to Manny as his friend came up to him, asking him how he was holding up. It was a simple enough question, though Alexander knew that Manny really meant it. He gave Manny a nod and a smile, before looking out at sea again. "I'm holding up, just been a long week couped up inside. The sea is real beautiful to look at, don't you think?" Alexander said to Manny, sighing as he looked out into the distance. "Thinking a lot these days, haven't had time for that for long now. Thinking about all those not with us here, you know? Beatrice, couple of people we lost at Eden…my wife."

He felt a lump begin forcing itself up his throat, but he swallowed it down as hard as he could. It was not often he spoke about these things, even with Manny who he trusted with his life. It was a slow process, but perhaps this place would help him open up, if only just a smidge? Alexander looked again at Manny at his side as a single tear forced itself out and down his cheek, giving him a heavy smile. "Got to keep moving on though, don't we? Come on, looks like food's being served."

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Bar -> Kettles)
Skills: N/A

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It was a nice change of pace to see Hunter up about the way he was, not looking over his shoulder every passing second like a frightened Roman in the middle of Visigoth territory. Clearly the safety of sturdy walls, armed guards and the presence of Nikki was having a desired effect upon the young soldier, at least some of them were. It probably helped that he had gotten to see his canine companion once again. "Good to hear that, she probably misses you. Can you keep her out in the open, or does she have to stay indoors?" Nigel asked him, taking another swig of his beer that he was slow to learn how to enjoy. Hunter continued to ask him how he was doing, to which he began his reply with a brief hiccup clearly caused by him drinking a tad too quickly on a half-empty stomach. "Sorry about that, long time since my last beer…but yeah, things are not too bad. Nothing crazy, just that Erica went to get some rest…" Nigel answered with a sense of sadness, feeling relatively alone with that beer in his hand and without his only close friend.

Nigel turned over to Adelaide explaining how they got hold of the wine, nodding in agreement as to why they didn't produce it themselves. "Makes sense, I can see why. People around here get their rations of alcohol in easier made liquids. Too bad there aren't any Roman wine traders here, though. Did you know that the Romans reveered wine so much that they celebrated it not just once, but twice a year?" Nigel began to explain back to Adelaide, falling into his role of the enthusiastic teacher who was perhaps a tiny bit too into his subject? Nigel smiled and lit up as he recalled the importance of wine in Roman society, though he dimmed down once he thought people probably - as most people in this world - wasn't overly interested.

It helped that Thalia was keeping up with their conversation about sword and sparring, though something about her words made Nigel raise his brows in thought. It was one thing to hear of her expertise in various blades and spears, but another thing to know that it was her "formal" training. Nigel raised his beer to take another swig of it, giving Thalia a brief look in silence before breaking what could have become an awkward silence with "That's…good to know, got quite enough experience then. You didn't happen to do some reenacting, from the sound of it?" He asked her, paying attention to her story of her losing her arm. Cut off with a power saw? Nigel had to give it to her people, they had been through some deep shit. Though he wouldn't ask about it himself, getting up from his seat and making his way over to where the food was served. He hoped he wouldn't have to eat all by himself.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach)
Skills: N/A

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It wasn't hard to take notice of the kids flocking around Tesla with the sound of their excitement for some simple sparklers. It was another sound that for some reason brought back a sense of normality to ol' Alexander, who let his gaze leave Shears and Manny for a moment to follow them. Alexander watched them as Telsa led them down the beach and they had the time of their lives with those sparklers. A smile formed on the old man's lips, feeling something gently pull the back of his brain. A memory, or many?

Clearly Shears had taken notice of the kids as well after giving Alexander a less-than elaborative answer, only telling him to try it out himself. "Funny? I'll see what happens, perhaps sometime later." Alexander said back to Shears, watching him waddle away as the pulling continued. Something about those kids running around, laughing, and the music being played on-stage…Something was luring ol' Mugsy back to the past. Which past it was Alexander couldn't tell, only that it took over his vision…

Alexander, not a Simple Man anymore

Hider

South Vietnam
Sometime early 1970's

They had been out on patrol for a good solid couple of hours already that morning, and nothing had happened. The only thing they had heard all day was the sound of marching army boots, the occational banter back and forth the line, and the jungle; it told them it was very much alive, butnot out to get them. Not that day at least. Somewhere in the back of the line, Specialist Polawski was casually chatting with the guy in front of him. Mason, their medic and resident L.A. surfer boy. They were talking about they were doing back home before they ended up in 'Nam.

"Hold up a sec. So you're telling me that you've never seen the ocean? What, don't you have those huge lakes up north in Chicago?" Mason asked Polawski in disbelief, resting the M60 'Pig' in his arms while giving their radio man an amused look. Alexander Polawski shook his head back at Mason as he understood that his ignorance was not understood up front. "The Great Lakes, and no I haven't. I'm a simple man, never really left the area. So what's it like?"

"First of all, fucking cold even when the sun is out. Second, amazing to surf in. When we get home from this shithole, I'll take you surfing with my buddies and girl." Mason continued as the squad marched down a dirt road in the middle of rice paddies. In front of them lay their next destination for their patrol - a small village that had reported Viet Cong activity earlier that week. While sergeant Jackson got someone to translate for him to the village elder, Alexander and Mason took their positions. Again the whole squad got the feeling that today was not going to be one of Those days, so the tension was quite low.

Alexander had continued asking Mason about L.A., California and the West Coast in general, when a crowd of kids appeared from around a building. At first both the kids and the two G.I.'s were reluctant to accknowledge each other, but slowly Alexander left his M16 rest in his left hand. Meanwhile his left hand reached down into one of his many pockets and pulled out a small pack. Gum. Alexander held it out for the kids to take, but only one dared approach the surely menacing-looking white men in full combat gear. When the pack of gum had been given and distributed amongst the Vietamese kids, the kids looked as happy as a bunch of American kids running around with sparklers. Even as the squad was ordered to move out in search of the Viet Cong in the area, Alexander had a smile plastered on his face after the little meeting of humanity. It was nice, a good change of pace. A simple act of kidness was enough to make the kids' day, and Alexander too.

It was only the following week that Alexander learned that the village had been raided by the Viet Cong as retribution for their cooperation with them, the American enemy.

Why was life never as simple as a pack of gum?

Alexander came back to his senses standing at the beach, staring out at the black emptiness in front of him. The ocean. He had no idea how much time had passed and what he had done in the meantime, but clearly he had wandered towards the smell of the sea. He was torn between two very different emotions at that moment; was he supposed to feel afraid that he had blacked out again and just walked away, or embrace the comfort of the big passion he standing in front of?

The weather was still fine, a comfortable 70 degrees or something still keeping the humid air warm. Before the outbreak this would have been as comfortable as old Alexander could get. No, he would try. He had to try. Alexander turned his head to see the kids still playing with the sparklers, while the rest of the adults were doing their own things. He let out a long and heavy sigh, reeling in his sense of the present and trying to remain in the real world. His world, the new world with a fresh start.

He would try to once again become a simple man. Like he had used to be. Like Judith wished him to be.

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Bar)
Skills: N/A

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Nigel "Hadrian" had not expected the bar to be as busy as it was, something he really shouldn't have been surprised over. There was a party tonight, a massive one that out-classed anything in all of Florida quite possibly. In quick succession there was a steady stream of known and unknown faces through the bar; the aforementioned Hunter and Nikki or Checkbook, followed by the barber who'd taken all of Nigel's hair earlier that week. Right, he had nearly forgotten about that whole event with him turning bald as a Greek statue. As he joined the legion of drinkers, Nigel raised his beer at him as a greeting. "Shears. Thansk for the haircut again, Tonsor." Nigel "Hadrian" attempted at conversation with the man he'd barely spoken with, before he waddled away to do what only the gods could know.

What caught Nigel's attention more than anything else, besides him feeling like a fish out of water in the present company, was the verbal skirmishing between Adelaide and Nikki. He'd seen this type of jabbering before, all to common in high schools he thought, though he couldn't pinpoint who was the the insticating force of the two. Sarcasm and pointed insults put aside, Nigel was more surprised that Adelaide actually handed her a beer. The woman called Lisa put it quite fittingly; "Bundle of energy indeed, not the type to sit patiently in class." He commented on the ordeal, before looking up at Adelaide answering his plea for wine. "Oh, really? I mean I don't want to make a big deal out of it or anything, but that would be…great, next time. Not sure a communion is right for me now. But thanks."

Before Nigel "Hadrian" could question Adelaide about the origins of these mystical wine of Greek legends, he was talked to again. This time it was the one-armed Amazon of Thalia, speaking at first in what he could only presume was Spanish. He raised his brows at her following observation in English. Nigel "Hadrian" nodded, he was indeed a man proficient in the ways of fighting with a sword and shield, something few people could those days. "Sparring? Yeah sure, why not? If they'll allow me to hammer out some practice swords or something, I'm game, Cum gladiis et fustibus." Nigel replied to Thalia, raising his beer to her and drinking a good sip of it. It went down, though not without a good cough from him. The taste and bubbles was something he hadn't tasted for years, so it was more a surprise than unpleasent. Eventually he drank another sip and put the bottle on the counter, adressing Thalia first "Any experience with a sword before?" and then Adelaide "How come you've got wine here? Stored up after all these years?"

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach)
Skills: N/A

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Alexander could see this thing working out between them. Him, Manny and Shears playing cards and dominos before in their common room before it was time to hit the hay - Moralez he still didn't know about, but time would surely tell. Perhaps it was the sense of calm and normality that made the old veteran think like a retiree? Maybe he was just too old and tired for this shit? Yeah, probably that last one. After fighting for your very life every step you've taken, anything could seem like an attractive option.

Ol' Mugsy couldn't help but turn his head slowly towards Manny as he suggested a new shade of pink for Alexander. Smiling smugly at him, Alexander threw a clearly well-meant "Fuck you, Manny. Don't rat me out just now." Alexander gave a good laugh afterwards, allowing Manny and Shears to continue their conversation while he gave the two girls a parting nod. They had talked about dancing.

Dancing, that sounded nice.

As they walked away, Alexander got lost in the memory of dancing. Him and Judith, dancing to her favourite tunes that felt worlds away both back then and now. It was she that taught Alexander to dance, suffering many a stepped on toe, but eventually he made it. They both did. That was many years ago, before all of this happened. What he wouldn't have given to have one last dance with her…

Alexander snapped back to it when Shears talked back to him. Psychologist? Oh right, barber chairs, that made sense. Alexander nodded knowingly to the Camp's resident hairdresser, following what he told him about the other activities that had in Camp Mexico Beach. He liked the sound of most of them, but one made him raise a brow as Manny took over the latter part of the conversation. It took a little while before Alexander looked back up at Shears with a puzzled look. "Dungeon dragons? Wait, isn't that some sort of devil-worshipping or huge nerd thing? Or am I missing something here?"

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Bar)
Skills: N/A

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Nigel looked at Thalia for a moment as she accepted his apology, or what he thought would have been one instead of her matter-of-factly statement about the fire. She wasn't listening to him, but to the fire? He blinked a few times taking in what she had just said, trying to decode some form of deeper meaning or hidden ancient wisdom she was throwing at him. At first the thought occured to him that she was commenting on his Roman-esque nature, wondering what on Earth she could be referring to. It took him perhaps a moment too long to realize she was just telling the truth; she was busy with the fire.

"Oh…Good, glad I didn't get in the way of you and the fire…" Nigel said back to Thalia, feeling an awkward silence fall over him aftwards. Erica's arrival would have alleviated the tension, except when she said that she was turning in for the night. Nigel gave a slight smile and a wave back to her as she left, watching her leave while Adelaide handed him his beer almost unnoticed. He didn't see her wink at him, fumbling for the beer while he mumbled to himself. "Second one…sure." For a brief, but intense moment, Nigel felt something he hadn't done for a very long time - Lonely.

It took Nikki, the girl who had seemingly grown attached to Hunter over the past few days, and Hunter arriving at the bar to make Nigel pay attention again. The small crowd around the bar were in a good mood, including Hunter which was a nice change. Turning around to lean his elbows on the counter, he nodded to Adelaide. "If I can swap out that second beer for a glass of wine, I'd kneel and pray to Dionysus, though what Hunter's taking is good too." He asked of her, turning to the newcomers and nodded to them as well as to introduce himself in silence. Lastly he looked up at Hunter, his unexpected fellow pool-player. "Hey kid, how's your dog? She okay?"

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Alexander Polawski

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach)
Skills: N/A

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The change of music in the background brought back memories to the old veteran as he stood there, just having entered into conversation. While he never had been a huge fan of Elvis "The King", many of the girls he knew simply couldn't get enough of the man with the shaking hips. Alexander himself had to laugh at them and their immature obsession with him, way back when he had still not joined the Army and gone to war. It was a different time. Back then the biggest cause for trouble were his strained relationship with his father, and the ongoing battle between the listeners of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It was a different time, Alexander found himself thinking as he remembered the good ol' days. Kansas was one hell of a band too, don't get him wrong, but by 1976 he was a different man.

Alexander tried not to think about it, instead enjoying the background music as Shears extended out his hand.

"Dominos? Now this is really beginning to feel like a retirement home, not in a bad way either." Alexander answered with a smile as he reached out and shook Shears' hand, firmly shaking it. While Manny talked with Shears, Alexander shot a smile at the two young girls as they talked back to him. "That's right, dear. Call me Alex if you want." He answered Amelia, the fact that she seemed more nervous that a cat locked in a dry-cleaner not going past him. He didn't judge, he knew all about it.

Manny had asked him about shaving, which Shears - rather fittingly - said he did as well. Napping too, forcing Alexander to hold back a snorting laugh. It didn't help that Daytona added another spicy comment into the flame. Yeah, Alexander could like it here. "As long as you don't reserve that pink for my hair, we can get along with cards and dominos. Never coloured my hair, and I don't intend on starting now. So anyway, what else do you do here, Shears? Only cutting and shaving?" Alexander continued the conversation, once again feeling the odd sense of normality returning to his troubled mind and soul. Was this how it felt being…normal? Not afraid? With Manny by his side Alexander felt calmer than usual, prompting him to laugh for himself for just a moment, before mentally returning to Shears. "No point in standing here, is it? Should probably stay at the beach with the others. I take it you don't have these kinds of events often?"

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Nigel "Hadrian" Cooper

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Location: Camp Mexico Beach: L11 (Beach, Fire Pits -> Bar)
Skills: N/A

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While Nigel waited for Erica to answer him, he sat down in front of the firepit and simply did nothing. Nothing at all, only breathing in and out calmly as he stared into the fires in front of him. With the temperature slowly decreasing to something tolerable, the heat of the fire helped to give Nigel a different kind of warmth, mental as well as physical. There was something about an open flame that fascinated him. He could easily understand how pre-historic man felt in the presence of such miracle, and why the Romes worshipped it as Vulcan, the Forge God. Really, for a good few minutes all Nigel could do was to stare into the fire as the embers flew up alongside the licking flames and smoke.

It took him another couple of minutes to realise that Erica had been quiet ever since he sat down. Oddly quiet. Nigel turned to face her, watching her stare emptily into it like he had. "Hey, are you okay?" Nigel asked her, promting her to give him a slow yet determined nod. Nigel nodded back to her, giving her a soft pat and a rub at her shoulder as if to show her that he was there, before returning to silence. Perhaps she was remembering something that troubled her, saddened her, or perhaps she was simply tired. Nigel wasn't sure, but he felt that this was a good time to give her some space. "I…I'll go get us something to drink, okay? Be right back." Nigel assured Erica, standing up and making his way over to where the bar was standing. He was pretty sure it was the bar, it sure looked a whole lot like the frat' bars at university way back when.

Nigel recognized a few faces sitting or standing around the bar, the one sticking most out to him being the one-armed girl with a fancy prosthethic now. Thalia? Yeah, Thalia was her name he thought. Nigel gave her another as he too tried to order something from the barkeep….bartender, whatever one called her. "Hey, could I get two beers, please? Bringing one for my friend over at the fire." Nigel asked Adelaide, before looking over his shoulder to where Erica was. He really hoped she was okay. Looking over at Thalia, Nigel gave her a perhaps sheepish look before trying to make conversation. "So…Thalia, was it? Sorry, hope me and Erica didn't bother you talking around the fire earlier."