Sigil

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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A vaguely amused look passed briefly over Ash's face, which was about as much as he could muster in usual in circumstances. The reaction that Guy had to his suggestion that he was crushing on S.B. was diverting, to say the least. Not that he knew the woman very well himself; she just seemed like the person least compatible with Guy working in Medical. But thinking about it, why the hell not? There were differences between the two of them, yes, but Ash also had to consider his relationship with Alicia - He was still the dutiful soldier, straight laced and clean cut, dutifully functioning within the chain of command, whereas Alicia had a problem with authority, was something of a wild card, and prone to acts of violence. They did not match in the classical sense. Maybe a Goliath/Scary Bitch union wasn't too far fetched. The apocalypse makes for strange bedfellows. He'd seen it before.

What was starting to bother Ash was the fact that his oldest living friend was holding back because he was afraid of what might happen if he loved and lost. It struck him a little personally. But first, he had to address the awful attempt at subject change before talking to Guy with mostly serious, emotional honesty. "Officers' Housing is great. We have espresso machines and they figured out cable television." He looked at his friend with an expression that very plainly let him know that switching topics wasn't going to happen right that second. "Guy, there are a few times when holding back is good." He didn't ask for advice and Ash wasn't exactly an emotionally open person, but he was giving it anyway. "When you've got lives you're responsible for. Waiting for intel. When inaction develops an advantage. Hell, when you want to make someone nervous. It's even fun sometimes." Ash looked Guy dead in his eyes, letting the rest of the room filter away for a while. "There is no advantage to denying yourself a chance at being happy because you're afraid of what might happen. Lives aren't at stake. This is not an issue of security, nor of resources. You're talking about fear. I get it, fear keeps you alive. But goddamnit Guy, even if this was the world that used to be, there's no guarantees on anything. Every single thing that I went through, I would go through again." Then again, armed with a greater sense of introspective self awareness, that hypothetical second time would be a lot more stable than the first. He hoped.

Ash gathered back the freshly cut cards, looked at them for a moment, and slid them back into their box. He was talking more than usual again. If he kept it up, it might become a trend. If that trend continued, it might wind up being a full personality change, and Ash didn't know if he was ready for that sort of commitment. Going on a year-plus epic quest to find his girlfriend that he fell in love with after a very short span of time was a level of change he was willing to go through. Being more talkative? Not so much. Hopefully though, his newfound positivity might rub off on Guy. "I'm going to grab some lunch, Guy. I'd like it if you'd join me. It there's time after, maybe get you a date for the court martial. Or a walk on the beach. Whatever."

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Gymnasium (K7) -> C, Mess Hall Skills: N/A

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Thalia wasn't completely happy that bets were being placed concerning the outcome of the sparring match between she and Nigel. For that matter, she wasn't all that thrilled that it took place out in the open with people looking on, but these were the concessions one had to make when living around people, which she obviously did now. In truth, the whole thing felt a little uncomfortable. Things like this never used to bother her before. When she first learned boxing, it was in front of people. Matches when she was a kid, same deal. But time and circumstances had changed her in ways she hadn't noticed until it was done. Thalia glanced down at the metal analogue of her former hand and huffed out a sigh. That was a change she saw coming the minute the power saw got revved up and her friends held her down. The circumstances around this sparring session were ones to which she would have to grow accustomed. It was like the air conditioning. Things she didn't know she didn't want anymore, or that made her uncomfortable.

Still, her own sense of being a sideshow attraction aside, Thalia had to give credit where it was due. "Yah. Thanks, Hadrian. Good round." She hand out her steel hand to him for a fist bump, trying hard to avoid eye contact with anyone else in the room. When they got into weapons practice, unless it was a short blade, Thalia was pretty sure she'd be on the receiving end of a beatdown. Nigel might not have known that she was a damn good boxer prior to ...everything. Even damaged as she was now, her skills hadn't fully left her. Or maybe he did know, and stepped into the ring (metaphorically) anyway. Either way, he took his lumps (and gave a couple), remaining straightforward about it. Everyone else in the room could kiss her ass; Nigel earned a slice of respect from the lady. And the other guys a mote of annoyance for helping him off of the floor. To Thalia's mind, that was her responsibility. She put him there, she picked him back up. Like in a barfight - unless it was personal, if you knocked someone unconscious then you stuck around to make sure they were okay.

Thalia tilted her head to the side a little, pondering over that last thought. It was possible that she was raised under a warped sense of family ethic that somehow melded into the Boston drinking scene, which became as irretrievably scarred as herself by the circumstances of the last five or so years. Yeah, she was a mess. Moving on.

Without a word to anyone else, Thalia stalked back into the changing room and got back into her street clothes as quickly as she was able. She kept with the look she was sporting earlier, where she rolled up the sleeves of her button down shirt and tied it in the front like some post-apocalyptic sports bra. And thinking about it, Volts did have a good idea about grabbing lunch. So it was without giving notice to anyone else that Thalia slipped out of the gymnasium and made her way through the rain up a block and over another, across the street and into a building that had that fucking air conditioning making every drop of water that hit her a tiny dagger of ice across her skin.

Thalia didn't waste time getting all hot and bothered over the selection of food, merely content to grab a tray and find a corner to sit in while she stuffed whatever it was into her face with a minimum of ceremony. Or manners. Something was irritating her beyond that which was apparent, but for the life of her, Thalia could not figure out what it was.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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"Pair of fours," remarked Ash, showing his cards before dropping them face down on top of Guy's in the discard pile. "I asked for a crap hand, Guy. You did not disappoint." It was a apt summary of the game thusfar. Even though he technically won the exchange, it was a hollow victory at best. Stakes wouldn't have made it much better, either. But the technicalities of the situation did have him winning, so he felt it perfectly logical to begin gathering the cards up to deal. Two or three shuffles in, a thought trickled through Ash's brain as to the possible identity of Guy's mystery lady. Or more specifically, the only lady that he remembered working in Medical, though there had to be more than just one. "Hold on, it's not S.B., is it?" The look on Ash's face was dubious, even a little sarcastic, but the image of those two holding hands at a social event struck him as amusing.

"Look, I'm not an advice guy here, so grain of salt, huh?" He grew more serious, a little more like the version of Ash who came before the lighter, more relaxed one at present. "Don't be me. Talk to this lady. Life's too goddamn short, nothing holding you from a conversation. Is there?" It's not like concepts like "class divide" were still viable in any but the most abstract of philosophies. And Guy was a really stand-up, well, guy. Hard working, decent, loyal, and a fellow Esmont native. Those qualities alone should have gotten any number of women to turn their heads already. Ash shook his head, "Looking at the ratio here, I'd say something sooner rather than later."

Ash looked across the room to Wayne and little Jaime, his more serious expression cracking a bit. Maybe there was hope for the Human race after all. Then he got back to the cards. Another quick shuffle or two and he lay the deck in between the two of them, offering, "Cut?"

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Thalia & Nigel Location: Gymnasium (K7) Skills: Hard Martial Arts, Hand to Hand

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As soon as the open spot in the makeshift gymnasium was open, its last occupants having pummeled each other sufficiently to sate their need for sport, Thalia made her way over. She wasn't kidding that she had someplace to be. The exact location just wasn't known until moments ago. Still, lingering doubts of her own remained concerning her own ability to defend herself which might be acknowledged here and now. The loss of Thalia's forearm had wrecked more than her ability to open ketchup bottles. She had to relearn balance. Retrain feats of manual dexterity that were second nature beforehand. Her fighting style could no longer rely on her being the fastest and most accurate person in the room. But Thalia still had her stamina, which had seen her through many difficulties. So this was one hell of a litmus test for how she went forward.

The fight between Medic and Volt had been brief, but engaging. Nigel had payed close attention to it, trying to conjure up past knowledge in the art of hand-to-hand combat which he hadn't practiced for years. Fighting against raiding survivors and hungry animals had been one thing, but other survivors with actual expertice? No, compared to them, Nigel was rusty. So when he followed Thalia's lead into the spot and began the fight, he knew he'd have to be on the defence.

"You good?" Thalia asked of Nigel, raising her hands and adopting an almost textbook boxing stance.

"As ready as I can be. Arte et marte."

"Ahll right, let's do this."

As the fight commenced, Thalia wasted no time lunging forward. She was not tentative, nor cautious, persay, but it looked like she might have been at first. She threw a series of jabs intended to gauge responses, reaction time, overall technique in her opponent, but nothing landed accurately enough to be anything more than a warmup exercise. The first few punches from Thalia came with surprising speed, her lunging attacks almost catching Nigel off-guard. Good thing he was trained in defensive fighting, using his shield and sword to make the fight his own. He threw up his arms in a defensive pose, catching Thalia's blows. A hard hitter, but nothing he couldn't handle at the moment. Thalia half-stepped back, fearing a counter incoming, and smiled just a little from behind her fists like a mischievous child.

Nigel noted Thalia's step back, and went onto the pursute. He stepped forward with a couple of blows aimed at arms, intending to force her defensive stance to the side like a shield. His defensive posture made him too slow for those jabs however, like an Iberian skirmisher. Once again taking up a defensive position, Nigel beckoned Thalia to try once again. To his surprise, this was getting fun.

"So that's what you look like on the offensive." remarked Thalia, smirking. "Yeah, let's try that again."

"You know what they say; The best defence..."

Nigel's defensive approach had payed off, gaining the initative after his last jab at Thalia as he as in position to strike her again. His left hand swung with force at her defensive posture, pushing her arms away enough for his right hand to get a good punch at Thalia's ribcage.

"...is a good offense." Nigel quiped back, grinning. As long as fortune favoured him, this was going well.

"Nnn..." grunted Thalia, acknowledging the hit and involuntarily slipping into a more serious frame of mind. She dropped one hand to bring her elbow more in alignment with the opening that Nigel had opened around her ribs. It was all fun and games until a hit actually got through, and she had to hand it to her sparring partner, she was scored upon fairly. It reminded her of her own shortcomings as compared to the previous year, and galvanized her will to return the hit with a predatory instinct. A snarl on her face, Thalia pressed her attack. She moved inward, aiming to get inside of his reach where she could really put pressure on him. A flurry of short, quick blows exploded from her, designed to push him back and exploit openings where they formed. Nothing solid. Either this man had training that he hadn't spoken about, or he had the Devil's own luck. Still, she did not relent.

To be continued...

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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"Thanks, Guy," responded Ash a little more quietly that he had been speaking earlier. Thoughts always seemed to bubble up to the surface at inconvenient times. More often than not, they weren't warm and happy ones. Ash was no stranger to these. Like everyone else who was still alive, hardship was a part of life. Talk of Alicia and Caesar got him thinking, if only in a fleeting manner, of things which once were in a place that didn't exist anymore. Pulling himself back to the present, Ash blinked twice and looked across the table as his friend and fellow Hillfolk Virginian looking back at him with a goofy smile still across his face. Live in the now. It was pretty much all that they had.

As Guy brought up the colorful man known here as "Shakespeare", Ash had to give him a nod. "Yeah. Surprised me, too. Then I saw him on sentry duty for the memorial. He's one of them alright. Picks and chooses when people see it. Makes me wonder how many more of them are out there, though." Alicia hand mentioned that her mother might still be out there somewhere and that her last known location was in Texas. It was an interesting thought. Ash turned his attention back down to the cards in his hands. Again he gave a look of pessimism and fished out a couple of cards from his hand. He looked like he might go back for a third one, as a man who might be weighing the probability of a full house against the greater odds of getting back a sackful of nada, but in the end just shook his head and slapped the original pull on the table. "Two, please."

He was really just buying time to continue their developing conversation until boredom on one of their parts or other business pulled them away. Reconnecting was important. To that point of interest, Guy had done him a favor in revealing a more recent development about himself that just begged for a followup. "That pretty girl you're talking about - anyone I know?" He raised a quizzical eyebrow. A betting man might be setting Guy up for distraction amid cardplay. Ash's motives were significantly more benign.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Gymnasium (K7) Skills: N/A

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Of course it was another clue. Why the hell not? It wasn't like this whole, dumbassed mystery was going to suddenly reveal its innermost secrets somewhere from between a couple of bench plates, in front of these people. It was a really auspicious moment as she caught the corner of the message sticking out from between two heavy, iron plates, begging so hard to be snatched up that it deserved to be smacked with a rolled up newspaper. Thalia's lips moved as she read the paper, her voice rising to enunciate the words inscribed upon it. "I shave every day, but my beard stays the same. What am I?"

Thalia thought about her brother, Joaquin. He was always so impeccably coiffed and scaped, he must shave everyday. And owing to his only recently outed sexual proclivities, if such a thing can be referred to as a proclivity in the truest use of the word, he must have utilized a friendly female at one time or another to keep his secret safe. A "beard", as the term went. Ergo, this leads back to Shakespeare. But other factors made that less likely an explanation.

Perhaps a good knife or razor was the answer. A tool that does the actual shaving, rather than the one being shaved? But then, how the hell does a razor have a beard? Maybe it was a word describing part of the item, of which she had no knowledge because her training lay elsewhere. There was a guy in town who would know, or at least who she hoped would know. Shears. That was his trade.

Then it occurred to her. The Barber. This was the answer. Of course it was, and Thalia was a moron for having taken those other flights of deductive fancy. Internally annoyed at herself, she vowed to go find the guy and see what role he played in this ever-growing joke at her expense which she couldn't escape due to her own sense of curiosity. But first...

"Ahl right, let's get this ass beating over with. I suddenly gaht someplace to be." Whether it was her ass getting beaten or another's was up for debate. Thalia had lost a lot of herself that she aimed to get back. This was part of that aim. And a little humility might do her some good.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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The idea that Ash was feeling better due to Thana, referred to as "that Sparrow girl", gave Ash a flash of irritation that bordered on anger. Thankfully, it passed as quickly as it flared, fast enough that he was fairly sure that it didn't color his features. Ash assured himself that Guy meant nothing by it, and in fact that was how she was known here. Sparrow. A nickname that came with her from a lot longer ago than the time he'd known her. Then again, the concept that Ash was suddenly and miraculously better because of an incredibly unlikely chance meeting with Thana and the fact that they had a connection that blossomed was presumptuous, if understandable. It was a turning point of sorts for Ash. Not so much the next day, that being the destruction of all that Ash had worked so hard for over the course of years and much spent in the way of blood, but the change had started. New perspective from the old, that sort of thing. A reason beyond just seeing the next day.

Yet the fact that such an innocuous comment set him on edge, even for a fraction of a second, caught Ash with reflective amusement. He was a little protective of Thana. Yes, Ash knew that she was fully capable of taking care of herself. She still brought out that instinct within him, apparently. It was interesting to note how he had changed in that way. Quietly, he wondered what else about him had changed since Newnan. Ash allowed a little smile to return to his face, along with a nod that telegraphed the answer to Guy's question. "Yes. It's serious," he said, a little more deadpan than intended. Bringing up Alicia and her father, Caesar, was not expected. He rolled with it, having come to an understanding of his feelings and, God willing, peace with it. There was no small amount of help from Tatiana with that point, even down to the furrow cut into Ash's face with her wedding ring the day they came into Quarantine. Trying to soften his voice with marginal results, Ash explained, "Alicia," enunciating her name with the inflection of her Mexican heritage, "was and always will be important to me. When she passed, it brought a lot of feelings up that I suppressed, about a lot of things (related and not) that I didn't understand for a long while." Ash leaned forward a little, keeping his expression neutral but open. "I still miss her sometimes. Input on tactics, neutralizing a target on the horizon, or any time I got too serious, I could count on her. If I had five soldiers like her I could probably take over the world, as it sits today. But you're right, it wasn't love." Clearing his throat, he continued, "What I have now is. And yeah, it makes all the difference."

It looked like he needed to get that out. Ash exhaled a big huff of air, seemingly dispelling whatever demons were clouding up his forebrain. More relaxed of demeanor and cheerier of voice, Ash remarked, "Sparrow Girl's the real deal, Guy. Had to be a damn Apocalypse to find her, though. Go figure." Noting that Riley gave a glance and a shrug to their table, Ash gave her a nod and nudged a chair with his foot, as to offer. Seeing her divert elsewhere, Ash gave a shrug of his own and returned to his cards. If she wanted to join later, he had no problem with it. They hadn't really spoken since coming to CMB; it would be nice to have a talk since settling into the community a little better.

Ash picked up what cards he was dealt and made a face of pessimistic consideration. "Hmm," he said curtly. Shaking it off, he looked to Guy and hoped to continue the conversation in another direction, "Speaking of the Gonzalez family, though; the new girl with the metal hand? That's old man Caesar's niece. Small world. So, how about you? Seeing anyone special?" Change narrative, drop mild bombshell, redirect. It was like being in AIT again, except he got to catch up with an old friend in the interim.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Gymnasium (K7) Skills: N/A

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The gymnasium had the look of a hastily assembled spot, one birthed out of necessity and pragmatism rather than organic flowthrough. Thalia was just fine with that. Function over form was nothing to giggle at, especially in a world that lived and died by the hard and fast rules of basic survival - as with a finely crafted firearm, a chrome finish did absolutely nothing to help the hunk of iron push ammunition into the body of the person it was pointed at. Such was this place of physical betterment. In truth, Thalia was surprised as hell that she wasn't told that there was a gym in walking distance, given that she'd been working her ass off to maintain her physicality since arriving. A perfect example of this was, upon receiving her new prosthetic, Thalia immediately incorporated pushups into her workout routine. Partly this was to test out the range of flexibility and ease of use, but mostly it was to make her exercise regimen more complete. Pushing herself was part and parcel of being Thalia. now that there was gym at her disposal, well... she might be spending a lot more time here.

The suggestion that she should take up running instead of holding out for a treadmill was met with a note of derision, even if it wasn't expressed audibly. Thalia had been running as soon as she was free to do so, up one side of the settlement and back down the other, plus most points in between. This is what she did; it was who she was. Self reliance was always her thing. To her, a good part of that was keeping as fit as possible.

Thalia might have been the only person in the room that was thankful the air conditioning wasn't running. She still hadn't gotten used to it like most everyone else seemed to have. The added measure of being in clothes made heavier by precipitation would have made it even more uncomfortable for her. This was comparatively nice. Likewise was the news that there was a separate changing room for women. Being the only woman in their group, this meant that she'd have a little privacy while she changed into the gym clothes provided. Thalia wasn't really the shy type as it pertained to changing clothes. She'd seen people with even fewer shits to give than herself on the subject, but generally, her portion of thankfulness for having an changing room to herself was because of that last qualifier: herself. Solitude, not modesty, was the motivator.

On her way back, she gave a glance to Volt's back. That was a guy who had a story. Maybe one day when he felt like sharing, she might even know what that story was. Until then, Thalia didn't feel like it was any of her business, any more than her missing hand and forearm was his. She dismissed the thought and entered the room fully, intent on changing out and inspecting the weights, her primary reason for being here in the first place. It was a little tricky getting into and out of clothes with just the one fully functional hand. Luckily, she'd been getting a lot of practice in lately. Longer than she particularly liked, Thalia had changed and hung up her wet garments, then returned to the main area. If she managed to get into a scrapping session while she was there, great. But first, the Mestiza lady made her way over to the weights as initially intended and gave them a good look. Of course, it was going to be another clue/riddle/motivation for murder. But she had to see this through now. It was swiftly becoming personal.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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Strangely, for the first time in a long time, Ash wasn't putting a lot of his thought to what had come before. It would always mark him, as the rough and blighted past marked everyone who still lived, but this moment was reserved for the Ash's present and his hopes for the future. Perhaps it was healthier that way. What was done was done; he would worry about it another time. They were luckier than most. Ash looked across the table to Guy, giving him an almost studious going-over as the man gave a more personal greeting to him, be it flubbed just a bit by Guy's reflex to refer to him as "Boss". There was history between them that spanned far before Patient Zero started to eat Victim #1.

Guy was, once upon a time, an employee of the Holloway & Sons distillery, which explained why they spoke with an accent almost identical to Ash's. Time abroad had softened his a little, but Guy's was straight from the source in the mountains of Virginia. The proximity of the man speaking seemed to bring Ash's own drawl back to its original factory settings. Technically, Guy had worked for Ash's father, Lawson. Ash had returned to their home not very far after Atlanta fell and rallied the survivors into the Distillery complex as a fallback point, which held admirably under siege of the Dead until a couple of their number tried their luck with escaping, inadvertently letting the horde in. Guy survived and stuck with him as they turned from a temporary community into a nomadic caravan, and in time, as they made their way back down to Georgia. He was present when Ash relinquished command of his group to Lt. Colonel Leann McCormick, provided he stay on as Executive Officer as their groups merged. And Guy proved to be a valuable friend and ally while they established Newnan, on up to its fall. He was a hell of a sniper, right behind Alicia and James in skill with a long gun. Throughout all of this time, Guy called Ash "Boss" or "Bossman". Habits die hard.

Their history went back farther than even that, growing up in the same, very small town, where everyone knew each other and the school was a three room affair where several grades met simultaneously. Ash had known Guy since they were kids, but they never quite gave each other much attention until after the Outbreak. And here, after all of that, this man was sitting opposite Ash with a deck of cards, just over eight hundred miles from where they started. Some coincidences were truly surreal, making Ash pretty sure that there might be more to it than a random coming together of events. Still, Guy made an observation that he hadn't responded to yet, and he probably should. "Thanks. Feeling more personable lately." Ash shrugged, shaking his head a little. "Less of a dark place." It was true enough. He might even be in an even better place when he found his purpose to this community. But today, he was more than fine enough.

Ash did give a glance back to Medic following his quick and dirty appraisal of Guy's poker skills. He furrowed his brows a little as if to jokingly ask if that was necessary, then shrugged and said aloud, "Damn good seeing you, Medic." Be it that he hadn't known the guy as long as some, it was genuinely heartwarming seeing that someone else from Newnan made it out and to the relative safety of CMB. Ash returned his attention to the cards being shuffled, mentally taking note of what was shaping up with Volts and his forming adventuring party of the Rogue, Fighter, and Healer, along with the dialogue between he and their resident Artificer. Ash was about to make commentary to Guy about getting to their hand of cards when he likewise added to the overall exchange of information in the room. His acquisition of his nickname, specifically, which drew a short chuckle from Ash.

"So I've got to do something memorable or really stupid early on. Gotcha, Guy." He motioned at the cards, still in mid-shuffle. "Someone promised me a crap hand. Let's get to it." There might be plans to hobble over and see how little Jamie was doing, but plans for the immediate were cards and a little catching up with one of his oldest living friends.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Quarantine (W) -> Following Volts Skills: N/A

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While the scattered conversations going on in Quarantine were certainly quite entertaining, Thalia was done with them the moment they started. Words spoken and who they were spoken by were filed neatly away in her brain, as best she could given the splash of new information coming toward her. Maybe one day soon she would be broken of the habit of constant threat assessment while within the walls of Camp Mexico Beach, but today was not that day. Thalia was not at her best still, and would not be for quite some time. So in the unlikely event of a sudden, impromptu, "weakest link dies" scenario, Thalia mentally mapped out the route she might take to the most logical point of egress, and even began to weigh the pros and cons of using various persons in her immediate vicinity as a human shield. It was a passing thought, as usual. Though it did put her brain to the question of (in a hostage situation), does one take the easiest to physically dominate, or the one who she could most likely frighten into compliance? And then, what might be the exit strategy there? Render said human shield unconscious and make a break for it? Decisions, decisions. And the big guy, Wayne - they had a little history, getting ballet lessons in together. Might he be an ally in this fictional fighting withdrawal from Quarantine? If not, from what Thalia had seen, he'd have to be targeted first. It seemed a shame; she rather liked the guy.

Of course, back in reality, Thalia was perfectly aware that the whole of them were harmlessly talking shit to one another and no one was interested in entering into a blood-spattered brouhaha, nor were the Zeds about to explode on the scene and make everyone's life hazardous. It was a mental game that she played to keep herself sharp, to not ease too far into the comforts of what passed for civilized life nowadays. Also back in reality, Volts mentioned that she could not only continue her epic, clue-following quest, but there was space, time, and more than one person available with whom she might exchange fisticuffs. Okay, the day was looking up after all. Crisis averted, whether fake or not, Thalia gave a quick nod and fell in line behind Volts, eager to get on with it.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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While the intent to get a game of pool going was the first thing to cross his mind, it was just one possibility for him to see and be seen socially. For him to see Guy and Medic at a table playing poker was a welcome thing, pulling a warm smile from his face. Astute observers might have even caught a glimpse of ivory in his expression. Thinking back on it, Ash was surprised to see the two of them, both Newnan survivors, here in Mexico Beach. Ash hadn't spoken to them of his plans to come here. Not that he wouldn't have, he simply didn't have time to speak with anyone who wasn't already on scene when the plan was laid, and their radio quickly became useless thereafter. The plan was Zebulon, GA and decide what to do from that point. This plan never came to fruition, making their presence here near miraculous to Ash.

Taking an element of sarcasm to the front of his thoughts, he responded to the back-and-forth between Guy and Medic with faux consideration, "Shit hands, huh? How am I supposed to pass that up?" Ash gave a single, rare chuckle, and took took the seat vacated by Medic. There was a brief interruption to his intended conversation openers with his fellow poker players as another entered after him - the Gonzalez lady who wasn't a Gonzalez, or something like that, followed by the Romanesque fellow that came in at the same time as his group did. "Morning," he responded, his words (or word, as the case was) a little more terse, more Ash-like than his mannerisms with the men who up until very recently were playing cards. It wasn't birthed of intended discourtesy so much as a lack of familiarity with the man, causing a less relaxed, more disciplined version of himself to manifest. "Yes sir," he began, answering the assumption that he was killing time until the Court Martial. This application of sir, by his tone, was not one given to a superior officer more than it was simply the polite intonation of a Virginia boy addressing someone he didn't know very well in a respectful manner. "Getting my head right before we address the Court." Because poker would do that? Probably not. But doing something away from the lady that captivated his thoughts (much as he wasn't as big a fan of that part), reconnecting with old friends, engaging in an activity that had nothing to do with work or survival for a little while? That made more sense.

Ash turned back to the table, his attitude softening back just a bit. Speaking to Guy, "It's Goliath now? Not bad. My luck, they're going to saddle me with something awful." Callsigns, or the process of acquiring them here, was beyond him. Thinking back to some of the things he was called back in the Army or, God forbid, more recently in Newnan, he shuddered internally. There was a lot to work with. But cards! Playing a few hands was a good way to put his mind in the present and not worry about peripheral distractions, such as the metal-armed lady also in the room with them who was being addressed by both Nigel and Volts. Popular girl, despite what appeared to be her best efforts otherwise.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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Before getting to either of the persons speaking to her, Thalia gave a long look at the side of Ash's head while he had his own pieces of discourse with those in the Quarantine building. She wasn't sure yet whether she was going to like or despise the man. She let out a sigh and focused her attention elsewhere. At first, it was Nigel who spoke to her, and she gave his request some favorable consideration. Not having been allowed near training weapons outside of her "D Roster" exercises, that might make things a little difficult for getting a good practice duel in. There were other ways of passing the time with similar pursuits. Piercing hazel eyes locked with Nigel's as Thalia involuntarily flexed her left hand from fully extended to a hard fist and back a couple of times, giving him a look that was equal parts predatory and glee. Her eyes sparkled with the growing excitement of impending (if tamed) violence. It was such that she had quite forgotten the unpleasant effect of air conditioning on rain-spattered clothes.

"Yah, okay..." she started, nodding slowly. The buttons of her shirt parted as she slipped her thumb behind them, freeing the hem to be tied into what appeared to be a sports bra with rolled up long sleeves. It might have been a hell of a process for a one armed lady, but she had become quite adept at clutching the hem of the opposing side of her shirt with her metal hand and using her left to form a simple knot. Much as a swordsman might slide only one sleeve of a coat off and cinch up the midsection in preparation of a duel, Thalia was obviously doing this for similar purpose and not as a demonstration of promiscuity. "Pool cues? Or yah want to fistfight in the pouring rain?" That last option seemed to appeal to her more, bringing a little grin to her face.

Thalia's grin slipped to annoyance when Volts offered to show her the gymnasium. Yes, that was the reason she came here. And damnit, it felt like the worst time to advance her goal for the day. Giving a quiet, growling sigh, she turned to Volts and snapped to direct certainty of attitude. "Ahsome. Lead the way." She stepped to one side, as to allow Volts unfettered access to the building's egress, but looked to Nigel once more. "Rain check, Praetorian. We'ah doing this." Just not now. She had a chain of clues to track down.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Mess Hall (C) -> Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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Ash was never a huge fan of rain. That being said, he was fast becoming a fan of waking up next to Thana. The rain served as sleepy, background ambience. Less pleasant was the feeling of her leaving early for her duties. It didn't make it easier that he knew to expect this, either. He was obviously smitten. He was also obviously awake now. The feeling of proximal emptiness that came of Thana's absence was enough to keep him from getting back to restful slumber, so he might as well haul himself up. As not to throw off Thana's morning routine, he kept to the bed until she was ready to go.

Stepping out onto the balcony, Ash took in the sight of rain pattering down on the canal. Not for the first or last time, he gave silent thanks that he passed a night in relative certainty of safety; from the living as well as the dead thanks to those walls. He leaned against the railings, peering across the canal and to the walls themselves. It was a point of interest for him, among others. Mechanics was another, though mostly he pushed a broom and did busy work, keeping the place tidy. It was honest enough work. And of course, Distillation was something he thought toward every so often. It was part and parcel with his background that stretched back before he joined the Army. Hell, his name was on a liquor bottle that was once distributed to the public at large. But more than this now, Ash looked to the walls.

Newnan had decent walls, be it that they required constant upkeep. He heard from the Fairburn people (and later saw when they visited the abandoned community to salvage supplies) that their walls were essentially a series of vertical logs supported on the inside with traversable framework. They fell to disease, not besieged by the Dead nor attacked by the living. This place, however, from an Engineer's standpoint, had accomplished something interesting, putting up a complex barrier with little personnel while basically in hostile territory. Ash wanted to know more.

He figured it was unlikely that it would happen today. In truth, his thoughts would be better put toward the Court Martial. He knew that it was that day, bit didn't know if he needed to be there until he went to see the lists at breakfast. He might have attended anyway, just to see how they handled it. His name written on the board cemented his presence, turning that "might" into a glaring affirmative. He took some brightness with the fact that Thana was going to be in attendance as well even though she didn't have to. it was a shame that she was busy now, seeing as Ash wasn't expected to be at his detail today. He wasn't sure how to handle this unexpected free time. Come to think of it, this might be the first occasion in a while (quarantine notwithstanding) that he had free time. As a man generally accustomed to having something to do in a professional capacity, he was at a loss. The individuals from his group from Newnan were settling into their lives rather readily, from the look of things. His attention had been on Thana since her arrival. Maybe he might have taken some time to get to know the people around him better, or reconnect with his survival buddies now that they weren't fighting and hiding and scavenging in the hopes of seeing another dawn. Now that this wasn't an everyday factor, Ash simply had no idea what to do with himself.

In the end, after much consideration, Ash decided to try to lighten up. It was hard for him and he likely wouldn't be very good at it, but worth the attempt at the very least. As Quarantine was the place he started things in CMB and it was open to the general public now as a recreational area, he figured that it might be a good place to socialize for a little while, just to see what might transpire. It felt strange not having a plan. Hell, it felt strange not packing a sidearm and approving planned supply runs or drafting construction specs. It wasn't long before Ash found himself back in Quarantine, looking about to see if anyone was interested in a game or two of pool.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: General Housing (X) -> Quarantine (W) Skills: N/A

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The street pounded back up against Thalia's footfalls in a repeating pattern, each making a wet, punching sound that sounded somewhat angrier than it generally might if anyone else was running. It was still dark and she was out early, but the rain but notably up even earlier. Being on D roster meant that she was getting more physical exercise in and might eventually get herself some training in soldiery, which was he goal, though it lacked the comforting feeling of solitude that Thalia sometimes required. This morning, her desire to be alone and outside was helped along by a conversation she had with her brother just over a week ago. It stuck with her, enough so that she withdrew a little more than usual. No flash, no prose, just a short and sweet series of words that didn't go extremely far toward giving her comfort. It's not like she was actively seeking to get herself off of the emotional hook in the first place. Still, the reaction was unexpected.

She let herself think her thoughts and kept putting one foot in front of the other. It was good to process, and really, it was a decent enough excuse to go running in the weather. Thalia was oddly nostalgic about being out in the world. She hadn't even reacclimated to air conditioning yet. For that matter, the past couple of nights were spent sleeping out on the apartment's balcony because she lacked the personal comfort of roof access, or barring that, bushcraft accommodation. Sometimes, she felt like a fox that was taken in as a pet but still longed to run among the trees and pinestraw. Maybe throttle the occasional chicken for supper. More thoughts to flash through her brain. More steps to pound out. So many more before she was through.

This early in the day, Thalia thought that she saw Thana out in the street, but it was a block over from where she was and just the briefest of glances before her friend disappeared behind a building. The interruption to Thalia's run was enough to snap her out of the near-hypnotism she was under, courtesy of the white noise of the rain, her rhythmic running stride, and a swirl of thoughts that consumed her. She had been running longer and harder than intended and it all caught up to her at once. Thalia dropped to a knee, endeavoring to push and pull air from her lungs as precipitation streaked down from her hair in hot rivulets. After a minute or two, feet found their way under her again and she started back to her apartment.

After punching a street sign or two and change of clothes later, Thalia had a fast breakfast in a corner by herself, intentionally avoiding speaking to people. Her thoughts went to her Sunday therapy session during this time. She hadn't said much. She didn't have to. She was a woman who stood out, with the irony being that one of her strengths was not being noticed. It was hard to miss the new girl with the scarred face and painful-looking metal arm. So a brief introduction and a lot of sitting. Her eyes found Roy, likewise sitting and saying nothing. She noticed this but did not comment. From the looks of him, it was likely that she would be comfortable speaking to the group long before him.

Thalia shook off the thought. There was time to kill, yet, before she had to attend that Court Martial (though why the hell they wanted her input was beyond her) and needed to occupy her mind in the interim. Aside from the feeling of thankfulness for eggs and fresh tomatoes, which was significant despite her outward lack of social inclination.

Slowly, she reached into a pocket and retrieved a wrinkled scrap of paper. It was the clue from before. She had put it out of her mind for a while, trying to convince herself that it was foolishness and there were more important things to do with her time, which might have been accurate. Her curiosity was getting the better of her though, which manifested in a growing need to find the next piece of the puzzle. Rather then jump into someone's workspace while the place was gearing up for its next chunk of drama, into which she was being involuntarily thrust. So, Quarantine it was. Nice social place she was familiar with, maybe another round of Pac-Man if she was feeling it, and more importantly it would serve as a gathering place (that wasn't the Mess Hall) where she might ask a couple of subtle questions.

Walking into the common room of Quarantine, Thalia shoved subtlety to the side and just asked aloud, "Anyone know wheah I can find some weights, huh?" The simple approach. Expedient, but left her as an even bigger point of attention.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Beach (L11) N - Officer's Barracks (M5) Skills: N/A

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Ash's smile broadened. "Yes," he agreed, slowly nodding once. "I am exactly your 'mode', Thawna." She seemed to show a touch of favor when the accent of his upbringing colored her name. In turn, it gave him a jolt of satisfaction to see her happy. He took to a knee in the street with his back facing her, explaining over his shoulder, "Wouldn't dream of getting let out of it. Hop on." Apparently, piggy-back was in vogue this season. "Home, or do you have a waypoint between there and here?" Ash was more than happy to play the role of Human Taxi. If nothing else, it helped Thana out during the tail end of her recovery period and allowed her to be very close to him, out in public no less.

The way Ash said her name, drawing out the southern accent, for some odd reason made her melt inside a little. She didn't know why, she hadn't ever been a big fan of her name. It was an odd name and it meant Death but Ash made her enjoy it a bit more. As he knelt down she laced her arms over his shoulders and waited for him to start standing to tuck her knees against his ribs. Resting her chin on his shoulder she smiled slightly. "Naw, let's just go home Ash. A shower and a bed is all I want tonight, well as long as yer there," she said with surety as she waited for him to take them home.

As soon as Ash could feel Thana's weight fully rest upon him, he carefully rose and faced in the direction of the Officer's Barracks. A bed and a shower sounded amazing, he had to admit. Better than a swim in the Gulf with Thana, that was for sure. Before he took to putting one foot in front of the other, he made the observation, "Long as I'm there... we have to make sure not to waste water. Civic Duty." It would be easier to do so if they were both using the water simultaneously. Fringe benefit, too. He gave a smile and started on his way, giving only slight hesitance as he hadn't quite memorized the route yet. He remembered that, if one used the pier as a landmark, one could straight shot it to both Officers' and Enlisted housing. So that was exactly what he did. Ash gave thought to (among other, more present things) his and Thana's future here in CMB as he walked. He wanted to get involved in their military program, get into what the higher-ups were saying when they arrived. But not immediately. Ash had some quality catching-up time to spend with Thana, continuing on the immediate. He didn't even set her down until they were right in front of the building, and it was with a little reluctance.

Though Ash might not have set Thana down, she set herself down. Loosening her knees from against his ribs and sliding down. She needed to get the keys out to the building. It wasn't exactly one that was left open for anyone, especially at night. Sure Ash had a key now as well but she was quicker. Pulling the key out she unlocked the door and smiled over to him. "Come on, let's get home," she said as she headed in. She wasn't about to let him carry her up the stairs. She could walk that, plus it was safer. Once she reached the apartment door she unlocked it as well and stepped in, tossing her boots near the wall so they were out of the way before going and opening the rooms window to let in a fresh breeze, even with the air conditioning it felt a little stuffy in there.

Even though they had just come from the outside, the breeze felt good on Ash's skin. He stood there for a moment, letting the evening air gently brush across him, even so far as to close his eyes and take in a slow breath. His two of three seconds of tranquility refreshing him as much as it may, Ash followed Thana's example, removing his boots and setting them to the side. "Feels good, having a home with you," he shared, then turned to the bathroom. "Give me just a minute to set the shower and come join me, if you would, please," he said with a smile. It was the ending of the first official day of his citizenship in Camp Mexico Beach, and it had been eventful. Already, several possibilities revealed themselves to Ashton, many to the positive and a few which might bear as warning. But none of those had any hold on his attention in that moment. It was a shower and then bed for the two of them; Ash couldn't think of a better way they could wrap up the day.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: L7 (General Housing (X), Condo 17B) Skills: N/A

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Maybe stepping into the apartment that she had been assigned (a thought which made her involuntarily growl a little; being assigned her place to sleep) with a touch of aggravation wasn't the best thing in the world for Thalia right then. If she lived alone it wouldn't have mattered, but lodging with Joaquin had its own, very specific circumstances that made her angst counterproductive. Especially now that she had to have a talk with him. Maybe she didn't have to, speaking strictly, but she felt she owed him this.

Thalia fumbled the keys into the lock, making more noise than she would have liked. There was no practical reason for her to continue honing her stealthy ways, being that she was both welcome and expected here. Still, there was no way she was getting out of practice if she didn't have to. Her left hand wasn't up to par with her missing right, a thing which she was reminded of several times just today, once at the cost of some blood from the side of her face. Once the lock yielded to her intentions, Thalia slipped through and inside of her apartment.

Her perceptive eyes caught something out of place - not that anything in here was fully comfortable or committed to memory as of yet - though something wedged in the door to the room provided for her stood out. Ignoring most everything else in the area as unimportant or benign, Thalia beelined toward the object and snatched it from its perch. When she saw it, she gasped.

The sharp intake of breath was the prelude to a silent emotional reaction. Tears welled up in Thalia's eyes as she looked over the image of her youth. This picture was taken not too long after she was in Preparatoria₁ Catolica₂, and couldn't be older than 16 at the time. She had gotten into her first initiated, outnumbered knife fight not a year prior, coincidentally falling near to her highly eventful Quinceañera₃, a thing which was spoken of in shudders and hushed tones only. Even among her father's people. This photograph was a piece of her past that she had forgotten up until this very moment. It's continued existence at all was miraculous.

Emotion of a positive note quickly turned to guilt. Horrible, reaching guilt that threatened to drag her down with as much surety as the loss of her arm almost did many months ago. She needed to talk to Joaquin NOW. The picture still between her fingers, she stalked over to the man. Thalia's tears had spilled from her eyes, rolling hotly down her cheeks and stinging the still raw wound on her face. She paid it no mind. Still able to enunciate around her mounting stresses, Thalia forced her voice into something direct and addressed her brother. But first, the image of their youth found its way onto the nearest flat surface to them both. There was no way she wanted to damage it.

Thalia spoke to Joaquin, a man with whom she shared a father but only a little in the way of familial feature, and opened up to him. The words spilled out as plainly as she could make them, without giving excuse or softening the story. This was about Gavin Comfort, a man she met the day that he died, and unbeknownst to her, Joaquin's once-partner when they were Texas Rangers. Every so often her words came out in Spanish, befitting a fluctuating level of solidity on her part, and sometimes her Boston accent took her words to amazing reaches of diffused culture. Such was the nature of her mixed heritage and emotional state at the time. But she was open with her tale, regardless of what it might mean for her later. Joaquin deserved to know, and she needed to get it off of her chest to someone.

First, she spoke of the attack on Eden. Why they went and the plans they had. Her part in this. How she stepped into the role of an assassin masquerading as a soldier, under Thana's lead. The use of blade and bullet, stealth and fortitude, and the body count she racked up which easily surpassed anything she had done previously or since. She spoke of the feeling of cold righteousness as she took life after life, her own injuries serving only as fuel in her pursuit of ending them once and for all. Then she spoke to the meat of the discussion: Gavin. How he acted as a hero, preventing Thana from dying in a hail of gunfire by taking it himself. His body, still clinging to precious seconds of life and sucking in ragged, bloody breaths as he fell to his knees. And then, Thalia's biggest regret of the battle: When she used his dying, kneeling form as cover to maneuver into position, then as a human shield when she returned fire and took the Edenite defenders out.

The last thing Gavin experienced was a Mestiza chick he didn't know use him to gain a temporary advantage in a firefight; moreover propping him up in kneeling position with her boot to his back while she fired two 9mm pistols on either side of his head while he continued to take more bullets, himself. Thalia didn't know how long Gavin was alive during this piece of combat opportunism, only that he was gone before she was able to drag Thana out of the hallway after the bad guys had been put down. "The thing is, hermano, I know this is something I'd do again. Without hesitation. I did it without thinking or batting a fucking eyelash 'cause shit was going down hahd and heavy, I saw an opportunity to win, and I took it." Thalia learned a lot about herself in this battle, and not all of it was shiny and noble. Some parts of her were downright chilling. "It's just... I'm sorry, Joaquin. And I'm sorry about your friend, I guess is most of it. I know theah's something dahk in me. I didn't want you to think I was hiding something from you. This is who I am now. Prahbably always was. But... I thought you deserved to know." Thalia wasn't soulless, but she had a sense of brutal and unforgiving practicality as it came to the application of violence.

She hadn't even gotten to the part yet where she kicked a bucket of eyeballs, and hard, for use as a distraction before making the air in front of her perilous with spent ammunition. Thalia still remembered the mesmerizing way they flew about, bouncing off of walls and the floor, some still trailing bits of optic nerve like macabre streamers. Another time, maybe.

Shaking this off, she wrapped things up by saying, "I know it's a laht, bro. If you want me to find a different place to live, I'll put in for it first thing tomorrow. Anyways, thanks for showing me that picture. I'm going to try to get some rest now. Love you, man." It was a hell of a day. It might be a hell of a day tomorrow, too. But for now, sleep, if she even could now.

Translations

1 = Mexican equivalent to an American High School, grades 10 to 12.
2 = Catholic, in this case identifying a Catholic School
3 = A young lady's presentation party to the community as a marriageable woman on her 15th birthday. Usually a big deal. Google this or something. It's huge.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Beach (L11) Skills: N/A

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A little confused; perhaps a little crestfallen at first, Ash began to understand the picture that Thana had been painting with her words and admissions. Any disappointment that he might have felt, be it but momentary and minuscule, was obliterated in short order as she explained herself. Giving it a hair's breadth of consideration, Thana really didn't need to explain anything aside from her decision not to join him and it would suffice completely. The additional information just served to provide an insightful yet unnecessary why. That she was worn out and sore invoked a nod of understanding on Ash's part, along with a slightly drawn out, "Yeah..." This day was as much an end as it was a beginning; the end of things generally brings weariness upon the mind and body of those enduring it. From all that Ash had been told and witnessed personally, Thana had been through more than he had.

At the announcement that Thana was going home, Ash felt suddenly like he had inadvertently done something horribly misplaced. It was reinforced by the permission she gave him to swim, if he still felt like it. Seeing as the point was to spend some quality time with her, that put the desire to enter the water at a resounding minimum. Ash threw his shirt over his shoulder and picked up his boots from the sand next to him, eager to take a place by Thana's side. He too remained barefoot, giving it a moderate jog along the beach to catch up with her. When he did, Ash spoke one of the cheesier proclamations of his years, "Hey, I'm sorry. I'd rather swim in the blue of your eyes than the Gulf anyday, Thawna." Perhaps the layers of cheddar could be parted by someone astute enough to more accurately reveal his intentions, those being a desire to spend time with her and not divert himself with frivolity all by his lonesome. And a little embarrassment at the fact that he didn't pick up on her preference to relax rather than do something else active.

Thinking about it, Ash didn't mind that idea either. The day had been long for him, too. Longer than he had initially thought, but now the edges of weariness started to erode into his thoughts. And he didn't like the look of that limp on Thana, either. He was supposed to be her method of transportation, barring other methods, while she took it easy during her recovery. Thinking more to her needs, Ash suggested, "I'm right here if you want a shoulder to lean on," he said, following it up with, "Hell, I'll carry you, if you like." It wasn't like he hadn't before, and he didn't mind a bit. "Let's go home. I'll give you a shoulder rub. Or a foot rub. Or wherever else you're feeling tense." He was being sincere, even supportive; that much was evident.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: E7 (In front of Desalinization) -> L7 (General Housing adjacent) Skills: N/A

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The tiny hair of optimism that dared show itself in Thalia's features as she neared the One Way sign dried up, only to be replaced by a scowl of impatience and some measure of indignation. While she hadn't truly expected to catch the wild goose at the end of this chase, it might have been nice. Anything else might have been nice, too, other than a folded piece of paper to be dug out of the moorings of a traffic sign. "Dorah The Explorah bullshit," she muttered, reaching up to snatch out what she now presumed to be the next clue. But after that, what? Another clue? And another? Maybe it'll end with a simple note with "HA HA" scrawled in crayon, wrapped around a steaming pile of dogshit for her trouble. Someone had to be laughing at her behind a window somewhere too, she was about 60% convinced. Were they suicidal, these hypothetical people? Were they not briefed about her the second she showed up? Before? Thalia could easily, and indeed had, slit throats after breakfast and sleep completely untroubled throughout the following evening. If this was some game at her expense by the powers-that-be here, she was not amused.

Yet, Thalia was compelled to continue. If nothing else, this was giving her an okay lay of the land. And an excuse to poke around, familiarizing herself with the ins and outs of this settlement with a perfect cover story. She might as well take advantage of it while she could. Thalia looked around her, taking in detail as best she could while holding the paper before her. She looked at whatever people might be about and which directions they were headed. Likewise, she took in possible routes of escape with armed assailants in mind, followed by unarmed, followed yet again by Zeds. Stick to habits that kept her alive out there. And finally, options she might take if she didn't wish to be noticed. That last one especially. Her tabs checked off, Thalia gave herself permission to read the note:

"You will know where to begin when you solve this riddle: What heavy seven letter word can you take two away from and be left with eight?"

"Gahd fucking damnit," she growled through clenched teeth, though it rose to a highly annoyed rasp of, "Are you kidding me?" She tried to calm herself and just figure out the clue, move on to the next one, and get this done. The clue itself was pretty straightforward. It was a play on words, kind of. Or at least she thought. Eight had five letters, add two letters and that was seven, so it was a word that contained the letters E-I-G-H-T in order that contained two more letters which had association with something heavy. Weighty came to mind first, Weights came second. Third? Well, third, Thalia wanted to punch somebody really, really hard. It wasn't so much that she had anyone in mind, just that there was some aggression and frustration present in this clue-to-clue search, likely with something at the end of all this that would make her want to punch someone anyway, she figured, so this was just getting a jump on things to come.

Then a calmer, more Namaste-esque train of thought settled on her psyche, if only for a fraction of a second. Thalia was just tense. Too tense. Pent, even. This was like a level of Crash Bandicoot, where you knew that you weren't accomplishing anything but you just HAD to get to the end of the level anyway, regardless of whether or not the floating tiki was staring down at you. This had to be seen through to the bitter, screaming end, and damnit, Thalia was going to do it. So the one-winged Angel took in a deep breath, let it out, and stuffed the paper into a pocket. This was a clue she would sleep on, and not just go with her baser instincts. Bad day for it anyway. Thalia could have gone for a stiff drink and some sort of more personal attention, anyway. The thought went through her mind to come across the first person she didn't think was hideous and simply scream out, "Hey! Yeah, you! Give up the dick, NOW!", just to see how far she might get with that tactic. A sputtering laugh later at her foolishness and Thalia started back in the general direction of her and Joaquin's condo. She needed to speak with her brother anyway.

But just to keep up practice in the things that mattered, Thalia concentrated on moving unseen from her Point A to Point B. There was no sense getting too comfortable. That was how people got themselves killed. Maybe later she could find about weights or weighty things, or whatever the hell that clue was supposed to mean. She kept up her stealth until she was in sight of General Housing, looming before her in the night.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

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Ash Holloway Location: Beach (L11) Skills: N/A

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The moment was quiet. Serene, even. It was a tranquil span of time that brought out a long dormant sense of peace in Ash. That idea was almost foreign to him; peace. He'd been waging a prolonged war against forces that sought to kill him, those he cared about, and in a broader sense, those for whom he felt responsibility. Responsibility was a motivating factor in who he was and what he did, with his personal needs taking second place or lower in most things. It had been a long, long time since he had genuinely considered wanting anything for himself. In that hour on the beach with Thana, watching the water beat on the sand in the dying light of the day, he found that whatever buried want or need for himself was being fulfilled anyway. This was a perfect moment, which he committed to memory. Every detail, from the sand between his toes to the gradual and minor shift in temperature; the wind carrying the scent of the sea and the feel of Thana against him. The rhythm of the water sounded like a great intake of breath and sigh, reflecting the peaceful nature of his heart, again and again. This was an hour that had the potential to sustain him through whatever darkness lay ahead.

Was he content? Was this what that word meant? Ash was a learned man, having taken education from one of the premier military universities in the world (or the world-that-was, anyway), and so had ample knowledge in the textbook definition of "content", as it applied in this instance. But had he ever truly felt it? The worries of the future were not in his thoughts, likewise the problems of the past remained there, in the past. They didn't touch him, past or future both. Ash was fully in the moment, cognizant only of the evening unfolding before him. This made the last two years worth it. Newnan's collapse and what lay before it, the many months afterwards, the uncertainty, fear, longing, regret. These things of negativity had not deserted him, granted. They just did not have hold on his psyche at the present. Yes - content. This is what it meant.

With a grin growing on his face, Ash began to gently pull himself away from the embrace he had with Thana. It was not with any intent to put an end to their rendezvous, as one might be able to pick out from the warm expression for his beachside Aphrodite. He quickly discarded his shirt and held a hand out to Thana, inquiring with a bright, smiling eyes, "How about you and I get better acquainted with the water tonight?" It seemed like a fine time for a dip.

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Thalia Carmichael Location: Mess Hall (C) -> E7 (In front of Desalinization) Skills: N/A

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Everyone seemed to get that expression only halfway. Curiosity did indeed kill the cat, but the other half assured one that satisfaction brought it back. But giving that some thought, Thalia had no fucking clue what that was supposed to mean, either. This was just one random synapse firing in her brain that she shoved to the wayside, being that it held zero bearing on the moment nor what she was trying to accomplish. And the Russian lady was forthcoming that she didn't exactly agree with the saying, anyway. So it was pointless. As the Major seemed to eye-grope her, Thalia narrowed her own eyes slightly and tilt her head to one side, as if puzzling something of her own out. Oh, she had been stared through before, by people far scarier than Russian Major Lady. Admittedly, she has the privilege of being related to them (for the most part), which helped a lot. She could tell that this was not a woman to be taken lightly. But then, she already knew that. So the icy eyes of the Major did what they had to while Thalia awaited judgement.

When the axe finally descended, Thalia was pleased to hear that she was being put on D roster. This was what she needed. And it was easily the weirdest psych evaluation she'd ever been party to. But hey, she wasn't about to complain. Thalia gave the Major a raspy but well intended, "Thanks. I'll be theah." 2000 hours. What was that again? Yeah, 8:00 pm. She could do this. Like a workout, but at the end of the day instead of the beginning. Foot in the door.

Thalia suddenly remembered, sitting at that table, that she still had unfinished business from earlier. Oh, potentially ass-beating worthy business, too. So, with the grace of a walrus with advanced palsy, Thalia hurled what remained of her supper into her facehole at speeds that defied human description short of theoretical physics research documentation. She swept up everything that needed to be returned to the people working the Mess Hall and bused her tray. She marveled over the fact that she damn near chipped a tooth on that metal arm of hers, such was the ferocity of her chomping instincts, but shook it off and made for the door.

Step One was locating that map. It was an easy thing to do, seeing as she had referenced it earlier in the day. She had a specific target in mind for this, while there was still time. Another passing thought hit her on her way to the sign - she was moving out and about alone, with true night fast approaching, and she had nothing with which to defend herself. Not even a decent knife, or barring that, a pointed stick. So maybe her arm counted, it being a decent blunt object in place of her fist. But it still felt strange not to be armed. And she wasn't back at her best, either. Okay, moving on. Thalia read the map and located her object of search: Desalination. Where the road loops. The next clue, the final prize, whatever. This was happening tonight.

With what remained of her sense of propriety, that which hadn't been washed away her years of living like a feral wolf-dog, Thalia made it outside of the building before she took off at a run. It was a thing at which she excelled. Running of course, not propriety. She didn't continue at a dead sprint for any appreciable time, merely until she broke away from the crowds and put a little distance. Then she slowed to an observant jog, speeding or slowing as necessary, until she finally found the building she was looking for. Or more accurately, the street near to it. "One Way Sign... One Way Sign... One Fucking Way Si... HA!" She didn't know what might be there, but damnit, Thalia was going to find out.