week five

[biteys]

WEEK FIVE

!

run, run, run

As the party has been advised to rest for a few days before heading back out to their journey, on the third night of their undisturbed peace in the bunker, they may be beginning to feel that it really is safe down there. And for the most part, it is. Is everyone sleeping soundly? Or is someone awake when a faint tink followed by a hiss can be heard…?

Characters will awaken to the sight and smell of a canister of gas having been tossed into their bunker from the hidden opening above. Whoever's up there, they intend to force you out of your safe haven like a bunch of unwanted gophers from someone’s lawn.

The gas that leaks from the canister will spread throughout the bunker slowly but surely — characters will need to be swift about waking everyone up and escaping out of the bunker. Take what you can carry, and fast! The gas is an acidic, pungent substance that causes eyes to water and vision to blur; it also obstructs the air ways, if too much of it is inhaled — symptoms may linger for multiple days, in that case.

Once you’ve made it outside, you’ll be able to identify your attackers: some of the teenagers you encountered two weeks ago are among them, and this seems to be the rest of their camp, their parents, friends, and comrades. The survivors' party is vastly outnumbered, and the raiders that have come are actively hostile: the party will have to fight their way to an escape, and it’s not going to be a bloodless struggle on either side.

The good news is that while there are many enemies, they are regular humans armed with the same makeshift weapons you’ve all had to make do with. Fighting your way through them shouldn’t be impossible… if you’re willing to do what’s necessary.

It will soon become apparent that the entire mission will be at risk if you stick around trying to subdue every opponent — though simultaneously, it’s also impossible to regroup with the entire party. Looks like you’ll have to split up just to survive…

if you chose beach...

In the chaotic departure from the bunker, Shoko Ieiri, Leontuzzo Bellone, Vinsmoke Reiju, Henry Creel, Sigewinne, and Gojo Satoru make their escape towards a nearby shoreline, losing their pursuers in the coves and rocky structures that lead to the sea.

Supplies are likely scarce due to the hastened way everyone was forced to leave: securing food and water will be among the first necessary tasks. On this piece of shoreline, there are a number of small piers and abandoned nets, not to mention driftwood that can be sharpened into spears. That’s right, this team will have to play a 🔥FISHING MINIGAME🔥 to secure their food. There are also small tide pools where shellfish may be collected, but crabs are aggressive and may pinch any errant fingers.

Water, on the other hand, is harder to come by. There are no fresh water sources nearby, so either the endless salt water will need to be processed somehow, or… everyone will begin to feel the effects of dehydration. Delirium, lightheadedness, and worst of all, chapped lips.

Places to rest will be... rustic and wild, to say the least, but there are a number of pits that would be suitable for making campfires, if enough material is found to feed the flames.

Characters on the beach will also discover that there are a number of traps hidden in the sand, rusty and clearly human made. They seem to be intentionally hidden among the terrain, and judging by the blood rust on them, they’ve been in use for some time.

Sigewinne is caught in one of these traps, badly injuring one of their legs. The trap is fashioned to be similar to a bear trap, and will take collaboration to be freed from.

Nearby zombies have caught on to the fact that this is a hunting ground of sorts where humans occasionally get stuck in these traps — therefore, they’re prowling around further up the beach in scattered groups, distracted and listless until the sounds of traps going off draws them sprinting towards the party. Given the nature of the minefield of traps, one wrong step while running away could mean the end! It might be better to stand ground and fight….

Of this group, no one is infected.

if you chose forest...

In the chaotic departure from the bunker, Haru Okumura, Soujuurou Shizuki, Mark Grayson, Suzuha Amane, Ninety-Nine and Hella make their escape towards the denser part of the forest, losing their pursuers in the cover of tall trees and thick bushes.

Supplies are likely scarce due to the hastened way everyone was forced to leave: securing food and water will be among the first necessary tasks. In this section of forest, wildlife does seem to be teeming thanks to the time of year, with mule deer and small foxes scampering about. The game is quick and clever here, and much more difficult to approach and catch than the horses everyone encountered a while back. Without someone skilled in hunting or trapping, the party will likely begin to suffer from the effects of starvation. Sluggish movement, and increasing desperation to eat anything that might be edible.

As for forage-able plants, there aren’t many. Several berries and leaves in this area seem to be mildly poisonous, which will cause any particularly desperate campers an unpleasant surprise if they try their hand at tasting them.

The small mercy of this area is that there’s a small freshwater creek, which will provide some relief from dehydration — though it’s far too shallow to submerge oneself in any capacity.

Places to rest will be... rustic and wild, to say the least, but there are a number of pits that would be suitable for making campfires, if enough material is found to feed the flames.

Characters in the forest will also discover that not only is there normal wildlife here, but there is also infected wildlife. During one of the nights while camping, the group will be ambushed by an infected bear and a single cub. That’s right, this party will need to defeat a 🔥ZOMBIE BEAR BOSS FIGHT🔥 to stay alive.

During the ambush, Haru Okumura is mauled by a swipe of one of the bear’s paws, severely injuring them.

As with the other infected, it seems only the bites of these creatures cause a transmission of the virus, so characters will need to be very careful about not getting bit. The claws are fair game, with paws rated E for Everybody. Better time those dodge rolls!

Of this group, Soujuurou Shizuki is infected.

rendezvous

It won’t be easy to find each other again after getting separated so suddenly, especially not after both groups have likely sustained several injuries. Straying further than five miles from each other will still have the bracelets sending a potent burning sensation through your arm, so perhaps you ought to use the bracelets as a compass to get an estimation of what direction you ought not to go.

Due north of the shoreline and forest, though, there is a lighthouse overlooking a small touristy gift shop and gas station, who’s height might be useful as a landmark for the groups to travel to.

The inside of the lighthouse provides decent shelter, with ample room inside for the small ragtag team to each have a place to be alone, but the howl of the sea breeze, and the unending crashes of the waves against the cliffside may make sleep less than restful. In fact, being alone in here might be scarier than the outside. Worst of all, from the looks of the darkening gray sky, a storm might be coming soon.

Reuniting might still prove even more bittersweet than the first time the party split. Take what you can from the available gas station snacks and tourist shirts, and treat whatever wounds possible… because there’s unfortunately not the same amount of time to rest and recover as there was in the bunker, which is now a distant relic of the past. They're closing in on their destination, however they might feel about it.

code

Comments

[titlecard]

i. run, run, run cw: graphic violence

[ The good thing is that he's quick on his feet — or in the air, as circumstances may have it. Mark's lucky enough to be able to zoom through the rooms, shake anyone awake who might need it. He's able to grab a random backpack — whose it is or what it's filled with, he couldn't say — and instinctively bundle up some blankets in his arms. He's sick... it'll be cold out... they'll need these...

All of this forgotten when he catches sight of who it is attacking them. Recognizes some of the teenagers.

The instinct to keep warm is dropped, replaced by a white hot rage that's all too natural to slip into. ]

Why? [ It's a strangled shout — he had tried to protect them, to keep anyone else from being hurt. But this, fresh off of Kotoha's death... ] Why would you do this?

[ Fuck the blankets. They've been attacked, he doesn't know if everyone else is okay, and it's all too natural to leap into the fray. He can take a blade clipping his arm or a bat to the rib cage, sure — in the exact same way that with a couple of blows he's strong enough to physically punch through another human being, to rip off a key body part.

Fuck this, they've earned it.

Somebody please impress upon him the fact that they have to go, because Mark doesn't seem inclined to leave the fight. ]


ii. forest cw: potential for violence against animals

[ He's kind of stopped eating, for the most part. Not that he isn't hungry — fuck, is he hungry. But he can't think about that. Because the food he used to go for is no longer appetizing, but everyone else around him...

Not thinking about that.

So instead, Mark has spotted a deer. It hasn't seen him yet, and aside from a growling stomach, he isn't making any sounds.

It isn't even like he'd need to cook it. He could be on it within seconds, sinking his teeth in, ripping its throat out—

He doesn't move. He just stares, intent and focused. ]


iii. rendezvous

[ When Mark had first been bitten, after they'd completed their mission at the hospital, he'd sequestered himself away from everybody else.

Now, after having certainly killed people, after having to accept the reality of his new appetite, after becoming far too comfortable with blood in a way he never thought he would be, he is sequestering himself once again.

Because he can fly, because he wants to be left alone, he makes his way to the top room of the lighthouse and just. Sits there, staring at absolutely nothing, eyes narrowed and body tensed. He's so pissed off. Pissed at himself, pissed at what he's done, pissed that any of this is happening at all. Everything has gone to shit, and — ]

What?

[ — when he hears footsteps approaching he snaps around, growling out the word. What do you want. ]

iii

[venomnom]

[What does she want? . . . Who knows?

Reiju isn't sentimental by nature. She lacks a certain delicate touch, and for that reason she's largely kept her distance from those who've suffered irreversible bites. There are bigger compassionate souls among their number.

Consequently, she doesn't mean to happen upon Mark in the middle of her scouting the lighthouse's interior. Having said that, she doesn't turn on her heels to leave right away, nor does she cower at his tone.]

Are you occupying this room? . . . If you'd prefer to be alone, I can go and let the others know.

[titlecard]

[ Mark gets it, anyone who's avoided him. He's understood the entire time, tried to be respectful of it — for their sake, not his. Whatever their reasons are, even when he was convinced he would be fine, he knew he could be perceived as a ticking time bomb.

The ticks are just getting substantially louder now, which is why it's a surprise to see Reiju here — enough of one to make him deflate, go from snapping to sullen. ]

I... I don't know. [ Weird answer, but that's what emotional whiplash will do, when your justified anger suddenly no longer feels justified. ] I'm, um.

[ His voice softens as he looks right up at her from his position on the floor. Even if his words are bitchy, at the heart of it, he's just a scared kid. ]

... You can stay if you want. People can come up here if they want. [ A mutter: ] Not like I own the place.

[venomnom]

[She should go. There's nothing she can do for him. He's a stranger as much as the rest of them, and she isn't equipped to deal with complex emotions. Protecting is hard; harming is easier.

In spite of all the reasons swirling in her head, Reiju steps forward—deeper into the room with her arms folded as she glances around, like she's taking in the scenery, before her gaze lands on Mark again. It's true that anyone can come up here. Nobody in this group has ownership of the lighthouse. The opposite also holds true: There's no reason to stay, either.

"I'm, um." Maybe those words are what did it for her.]

What were you going to say earlier?

i

[parttimesoldier]

[It’s almost like she never left home.

At least that’s how it feels when finds herself getting roused from a light sleep because something is off. A minor commotion to start, noise penetrating the silence of the night when it’s not expected. And that hissing… that’s what’s got her eyes snapping open and her moving automatically with familiar motions—bag slung over her shoulder, weapon holstered, her old bandana hurriedly fished out of her jacket pocket to be held over her nose and mouth even as she’s shouting for everyone to get up and get moving.

The enemy that waits for them outside isn’t as organized and dangerous as what she’s used to (one minor blessing, if it can even been considered one), but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to fight their way to safety. The air is filled with a chorus of shouts from both sides, pained and angry and frightened, and the initial chaos flits by in a blur.

Eventually Suzuha pushes herself to her feet where she’s crouched over the now-still form of one of their attackers. There’s a hitch in her breathing from the sudden spark of pain radiating from her side where they’d gotten in a good hit with a bat as she’d taken them down (that was certainly going to be an ugly bruise), and in her hand a blood-soaked knife pilfered from the bunker’s kitchen as she’d fled. It’s only a momentary reprieve, but she glances around to get her bearings—and she realizes if they stand their ground here, they’re screwed. Too many of the raiders, not enough of their own. They’re too scattered now to safely pull back for a proper counter attack.

Even if some of their own are scary good at tearing through the enemy.

She can’t help but be kind of stunned at seeing Mark in action like this. Sure, she’s aware he’s supposed to be like, a super strong hero or something, but there’s something incredibly incongruous about seeing this angry force and realizing it’s the same friendly guy she’s gotten to know over the last few weeks. But she can’t allow herself to stand there and gawk; he’s going to get himself surrounded if he keeps it up.]

Mark! [Damn it, is he listening?] Mark! We have to go!

just keeping up the cw for graphic violence... i'm being true to canon

[titlecard]

[ His blood is rushing through his ears, and there's little beyond a red haze that makes sense, can command his attention. He's just thinking—

He isn't thinking. Someone comes swinging at him with a spiked bat, hitting him square in the side from where he's floating, tearing off bits of flesh with it. The recoil gets him, but it's more a growl of anger than a yell of pain upon impact before he is reaching out to grab the person who hit him in turn. One hand gets their hair, the other is balled into a fist and cocked back. One, two, three, and his fist explodes out the other side of their head; his other hand can let go, look around for the next target—

Suzuha's voice breaks through and he straightens up, that much more alert. ]

Suzuha? [ There's a frantic edge to his voice as he looks around, sees her standing over someone, her blood-soaked knife matching his fist. ] Suzuha! You get out of here — I'll handle them!

[ Because of course he will, it's his job, he'll protect everyone else, he's Invincible—

As someone else comes up from behind him, gets ahold of one of his ankles, and forcefully slams back him down to the ground, leaving him temporarily supine and winded. ]

[parttimesoldier]

[Get armed, assess the situation, fight or flee. Those are the only imperatives that have any meaning to Suzuha while in the thick of a situation like this. There’s no time to reconcile with the violence of it all, or how infuriating it might be for those kids to come around to attack them again with even more numbers. The main thing is to get out of there alive.

Mark’s insistence on staying to fight is making that harder than it needs to be. For a moment, she almost wants to believe him—believe that whatever alien DNA he’s got going on that lets him fend off the sickness for longer, and fly through the air, and completely reduce someone’s head to a bloody pulp might let him really pull this off.

But the thing is? He’s still sick. He can’t stay airborne forever. He can get beat as bad as whatever he dishes out if the enemy gets their hands on him.]

No! There’s too many to—

[Her protest is cut off in a clipped but frustrated groan when one of the enemies gets the drop on him. Instincts tell her to run in; the rational part of her brain tells her she’s not getting there in time with her leg still on the mend. The attacker’s now rearing back to try to deliver a kick to the stunned Mark, and Suzuha retaliates by whipping that kitchen knife through the air with a tightly controlled throw. It sinks into their shoulder and draws out a pained cry.

Suzuha hurries to pull the gun from its holster on her thigh, raising it to aim at the enemy as she limps a few steps closer.]

Back off! Now!

ii

[bicth]

[ The escape from the bunker had been chaotic, but not so chaotic that Hella hadn't caught glimpses of the rampage that Mark had gone on. Had things not unfolded the way they did in gore and blood, it would've been an opportune moment to say I told you so, but she's lost nearly all her good humor after roughing in the woods for a few days on an empty stomach. She's tired and afraid and exhausted, not to mention concerned, with how he seems to be spinning out.

Or, that's what she takes it as, when she catches him staring down a deer in a nearby bush, ready to pounce on it like an animal. The team does need food, so she won't sabotage his efforts immediately, but she does wonder if it's everyone's benefit that's driving that hungry look in his eyes... or if it's something far more primal.

Rather than say anything and potentially spook the dear, she reaches into her pocket and produces a berry from it, winding her arm back and throwing it squarely at the side of his head, wondering if his reaction might tell her how much of a grip he has, right now. If he swivels around snarling, she'll know it's a good thing she interfered — if not, well, maybe they can work together to catch this damn thing. If he looks over after she pelts him, she's just crouching in a bush making a 🤷‍♀️ gesture, as if asking what the hell he's doing. ]

[titlecard]

[ He is so single-mindedly focused on the deer that he doesn't notice Hella coming up beside him him at all. Doesn't notice any movements, just keeping his eyes trained on the animal, its back to them as it dips its head down, goes for some grass— and then a berry is knocking him in the head, and he whips his gaze around to glare at the intruder. ]

What the— [ his voice comes out in a hiss, but the anger behind it dies out as he sees who it is, and he deflates in real time. ] Oh... it's you.

[ Is he disappointed to see her? Upset? Resigned? Hell if Mark knows what to think about Hella's appearance, but. He's maybe not happy about having his staring session interrupted.

So, whispered, but with agitation in his voice: ] What do you want?

[ The deer, meanwhile, has frozen in place — but since they're both hidden behind foliage and not actually that loud, it can go back to its grassy lunch after a moment of waiting. ]

[bicth]

[ Her face pinches in annoyance as soon as he gives her attitude, leveling him with a glare that's far too unserious for what's likely prompting his shift in demeanor. The Sinner she's closest with after Ninety-Nine was like this too, before she was dragged here; she'd act like her friend up until she got too in her head about her powers and decided to give Hella the cold shoulder. If there's one thing she hates as one of the most naturally nosy people in the Bureau, it's being shut out. ]

Oh, it's you. [ She does an impression of his voice, still whispering. ] The fuck? I come to check on you and this is how you talk at me? Up yours, Mark.

[ Unimpressed, she chucks her next berry in the direction of the deer, which catches its attention, but doesn't quite scare it off, yet. The threat there is real, though: she can and will scare it away if she keeps getting the sense that letting Mark 1v1 it will only worsen his bloodlust. ]

I wanted to make sure you weren't going nuts over here.

[empression]

a. The Bearening (cw: graphic violence)

[ It hasn't been ideal, since the attack on the base. The lack of food beyond what they've been able to bring with them (not much) and what they've been able to hunt (not really her wheelhouse) has made her feel lethargic and sluggish and she's been able to identify a few of the berries they'd found as poisonous, so that's also a No Go.

At the very least, Haru still has her axe, which has been helpful in gathering material for their campfires, and it also means she has it nearby when the bears happen. If she'd maybe been a little less sluggish, she would have thought to call on her Persona immediately, but as it stands, she doesn't, and in the chaos, she's only able to slam the axe down on the bear's shoulder before it knocks her down, pins her with enough force that she hears her ribs crack before actually feeling it, and swipes viciously downwards.

In the moment, she thinks rather hazily that she shouldn't feel too guilty about screaming when those claws rip through her skin, having the presence of mind to twist despite the pain in her ribs so it catches her side and her hip more than her stomach, one arm when she lifts it to try and shelter her face from the next blow.

She might need a little help, whether that involves dealing with the bear or helping her out once said bear has been dealt with, because she's not going to be of much use beyond lying there crumpled on the ground and bleeding profusely.

Yay! ]


b. LIGHTHOUSE

[ Somehow (because I flipped a coin), Haru survives. But she's probably had to have been carried here and since then, she's been barely conscious. Which is likely for the best, because waking up to pain and More Pain isn't really anyone's idea of a good time and if anyone has to treat her, might as well not be aware of it. But she does wake up eventually, settled in some corner of the lighthouse and completely disoriented about it.

... Hi, person who is near her. ]

Where...?

[ Wait, that's not important, she's trying to sit up--and instantly doubling over, so maybe not a great idea, but-- ]

Is everyone okay?!

b

[parttimesoldier]

[It’s quiet, and it’s safe, and Suzuha just can’t seem to get herself to relax. She’d allowed herself that back at the bunker and it only came back to bite them in the ass. Not anymore. Not anymore. They can’t afford it after the split, after so many ending up wounded. (Frankly, they couldn’t really afford it even before that.)

The closest she gets to managing to settle down, letting some of the tension drop from her shoulders, is when she takes a shift keeping an eye on the blessedly unconscious Haru. There’s a fierce ache in her chest every time she looks over the girl and the swathe of impromptu bandages keeping her together—a feeling that only seems to double when Haru finally manages to cling to wakefulness a little more fully and tries to force herself up, asking over the others.]

Woah, hey, easy now—

[Suzuha scrambles over to offer her support with her one good arm, worry clear in the furrowing of her brow, the downturned cast of her lips.]

We’re back with the others… somewhere safe, for the moment.

[That doesn’t really answer the question and she knows it.]

[empression]

[ It really doesn't, and Haru exhales shakily, doing her best not to just instantly slump against Suzuha. That's at least one person safe and present, at the very least. And they've been reunited. ]

... They're all right?

[ Well, she'll try again. ]

[parttimesoldier]

[The last thing Suzuha wants to do is add to her worries when she’s in this state. At the same time, though… she knows if their positions were reversed, she’d be desperate to know too. She can’t leave her in the dark.]

They’re alive.

[Still only a half-answer, but she doesn’t leave it lingering like that for long. Suzuha does her best to keep Haru steady, trying to maintain a neutral expression. (It doesn’t fully work.)]

Sigewinne was injured while we were split up. And a few of us got scraped up by the bear too, but Soujuurou… it managed to bite him.

[She’ll leave the implications there to go unsaid.]

a!

[bicth]

[ Hella's alerted to the fact that there are bears in their camp more by Haru's scream than by anything else — she's been busy foraging for any plants that are edible by people who don't have mutated DNA. But soon as she hears the noise, she rushes towards the sound, and her face goes pale in horror at the sight before her, all blood and gore and bone. ]

Oh, fuck! Haru!

[ She gasps, under her breath, her pipe already in her hands. It's just a bear, she shouldn't be so scared of this, but she is. Maybe it's the fact that she has no idea how she can even attempt to help or salvage the situation that makes her feel at a loss, and maybe it's just the prospect of having to face such a huge, frightening beast. Hella's not untouchable; despite her powers, getting hurt actually scares her a lot, though she tries not to let that show through her boisterous and proud demeanor. It shows here though, in the widening of her eyes and the hesitation to help.

But, soon as she steels herself, she sprints right at the beast, tackling the bear in the side of the head at full speed to at least turn its attention away from Haru. She's little, so she can't exactly move the damn thing, but it delivers a noticeable enough blow that the paw that had been primed to come down on Haru misses its mark instead, slashing a deep crevice into the forest floor, instead. Hella stands between the bear and Haru with both hands on her pipe, visibly shaking, but refusing to let the bear get past her. It roars, and Hella backs up a step on instinct, too afraid to look back and actually assess the damage of Haru's wound. ]

Can you stand?!

[ She yells back at her, imagining the worst of Haru's fresh injury in her mind's eye. The bear charges again, but Hella takes a swing with her pipe right at its snout, hoping to knock it off course again. ]

[empression]

[ She would love to stand. Through the haze of nonetheless sharp and agonizing crimson staining her vision, she would love to get up! But it doesn't appear likely.

But Hella's facing the bear on her own, and she... she can't, can she? Can she drive it away without getting hurt? Can she--

Haru gasps for breath, trying to focus enough to get the words out. ]

R... run...

a.

[insinnerate]

[Ninety-Nine's massive appetite accompanies a massive metabolism. With most of their supplies abandoned during the evacuation from the bunker, she hasn't been able to feel full since... well, since the last time Haru cooked a meal for her.

She's running on fumes, and maybe that's what makes her sluggish and keeps her from beating the bears to the punch. By the time she was throwing the enormous infected creature against the trunk of a centuries-old tree and trying to hold its attention, plenty of carnage already spread across the forest floor. She was Parma's magnum opus, a killing machine, and now she's... what? What is her purpose here, really, a weapon that never succeeds in its task?

Her attention was on the adult bear for the duration of the fight, but in the aftermath, she is now in the best position to carry Haru forward, holding her and holding her together. It's slow-moving; their shattered group can only maintain so much speed and distance, and when they inevitably pause after traveling only a short distance, she drops to the forest floor with the injured girl cradled in her lap. Her hands can't detect fever easily, so she presses her forehead to Haru's the check her temperature and breathing. Is she awake? Better if she isn't, if the time blurs together, but they've been running for a while...]

Haru... here; can you drink? I have water.

[empression]

[ She's breathing, shallowly, forehead warmer than usual but not to the extent of any kind of raging fever. She's just having a Rough Time and she'd ordinarily apologize for making Ninety-Nine have to exert more energy to carry her along with them, but for the most part, she hasn't been awake enough to process it.

Slowly, her eyes crack open, just a sliver of brown as she struggles to see who's talking to her.

... Being awake isn't pleasant, she remembers, that pain from before flaring up from the aftermath of the bear attack. ]

Ninety-Nine... san?

[ Hi. ]

[parttimesoldier]

I. THE FOREST (PRE-BEAR)

[Maybe running for the woods hadn’t been such a great idea after all. The cover of the trees might have been their saving grace in getting away from their attackers, but now? With what meager supplies that could be grabbed in their escape and no idea how long it might be until they next find real shelter? The prospects are looking real dicey as the days draw on.

The need to keep pushing on, find the others, find badly needed resources—that’s ever-present in the back of Suzuha’s mind. They have to rest where they can though, so she’s trying not to let those thoughts weigh too heavy while they’re settling into a makeshift camp for the night. She returns from the nearby creek, plastic bottle freshly filled with water in hand. As she pulls up alongside you, she gives you a nudge and holds the bottle out to you. Drink up.]

Well, the food situation still looks real sketch, but at least we have this.

II. RENDEZVOUS

[At least they all managed to find each other again. Such a small blessing, but at this point they have to take what they can get.

As far as safe havens go, the lighthouse doesn’t come anywhere close to the bunker’s comforts and amenities, but it’s practically a fortress compared to the last few days they’ve all had on the run. Even still, it’s not worth lingering here for long when there remains a significant trek ahead of them and they’re lacking in supplies again as it is.

Especially when they can’t be so sure that their attackers would leave well enough alone this time.

So here Suzuha is in the early part of the evening, perched on the trunk of a rusting car sitting abandoned in the tiny parking lot in front of the gas station. It’s gray and dreary out with the threat of the approaching storm, but she pays that little mind. Her eyes are locked on the road leading away from the lighthouse, a couple of stale scavenged snacks from the station sitting mostly forgotten alongside her.

When she hears footsteps approach from the lighthouse’s direction, she doesn’t turn or seem to acknowledge it for a long moment. Eyes still glued to the lonely stretch of road before her, she instead asks:]

You think those people would be determined enough to follow us all the way out here?

III. WILDCARD
Just wanted to toss a couple quick prompts up. Feel free to wildcard me something during the bunker encounter, bear attack, or whatever else, or poke me on the discord if you want me to write up a starter for something.

rendezvous

[insinnerate]

[Like some of the others, she'd gotten caught up in the whirlwind of the attack, pushed once more to the brink of her power and stability before what remained of their group was able to break off and run away. Maybe that contributed to running toward the forest instead of the beach, exacerbated by the confusion and the rising fervor of violence and spraying bullets.

It's no secret to anyone by now—especially not people who ate with her at the bunker or who ran into the forest with her—that Ninety-Nine has an appetite that's never fully satisfied. This is cute when there's abundance, but less so when she's gone into a berserker state and has nothing to replenish her energy. She's been more sluggish ever since they hit the tree line. Still, she persists, sitting on top of the gas station sign for a while like a watchful gargoyle, letting the breeze comb through her hair before jumping down next to Suzuha with a hard slam against the asphalt.]

Would you be? [she asks, genuinely seeming to wonder. The other group of survivors isn't trying to save one of their own, and they have access to the bunker still reasonably stocked with supplies. If Suzuha was in their position, would she take what she'd gotten, or would she keep chasing her vengeance?] They got what they wanted unless they want us all dead. If they do, they'll never stop.

[parttimesoldier]

[Suzuha shakes her head, but she’s quiet for a moment afterward, as if really playing through the scenarios. Eventually she does lean back a little on her perch on the trunk, finally pulling her attention away from that lonely stretch of road to focus on Ninety-Nine instead.]

I don’t think I would. [Not unless there was something else to gain from it other than vengeance for vengeance’s sake. She’s had to be so selective and strategic about the fights she’s picked in the past, and she can’t shake that line of thinking even with as angry as this whole situation has made her.]

But that’s the thing—I can’t figure out what they wanted out of it. Whether it was revenge for hurting those kids in the first place or just to rob our corpses after blowing through us. [Honestly, it was probably both. She has to hope their attackers are happy enough with the prize of the bunker after all of that, because—] If they were trying to get back at us, then they’re only going to be more pissed after what happened.

[Their rag-tag group might have been on the losing end of that fight and forced to flee, but they’ve got some powerhouses on their side; more than a few bodies were left in their wake.]

LATE WEEK 5

[biteys]

HONEY, YOU'VE GOT A BIG STORM COMIN'

As the dark clouds had forebodingly predicted, during the last day or two of the week, a violent storm breaks out near the coast that the group is situated on. With giant waves and torrential rain pouring down, it'll be dangerous for anyone to even venture outside the lighthouse — and even that isn't completely safe.

A few particularly forceful waves, coupled with nonstop howling winds, cause a number of windows to break in the lighthouse. No longer will the party be shielded from the brunt of the cacophony of the storm, and some of the frigid air and sea will be making its way into the place they've taken shelter in.

Mercifully, while some water is getting in, the lighthouse isn't in any danger of flooding — but characters will need to hunt around for spots in the lighthouse that are least affected by the encroaching storm to seek refuge from the wind and rain. It might be time to huddle for warmth, or do anything you can think of to soothe the anxiety wrought on by the vicious tempest.

Small campfires can still be lit inside the place, if you find a room shielded from the wind or lacking a broken window — so long as enough tinder can be found in the way of old books and report logs around the lighthouse. Maybe it's story time? Or maybe someone snagged a bag of marshmallows from the gas station before the storm hit. But you'll likely need to do something to maintain morale, hope, and comfort throughout this dark night.

[insinnerate]

[Since most people came back from their separation filthier and covered in blood, the touristy clothing in the souvenir shop has been a lifesaver in terms of feeling just a little less caked in grime. As the windows buckle in, Ninety-Nine will do what she can to prep the safety of the lighthouse camp. She can be found stretching unused kitsch t-shirts over the holes in the windows to block some of the roaring wind or standing over a failing fire with an inscrutable book held in front of her face. It looks like it might have been an interesting read - maybe it's even an antique. Like a certified literacy hater, she rips it in half for kindling, and is primed to do the same to other books. If there's something you want to read, better stop her quickly!

With a tiny fire finally started in a lightly ventilated space, it's time for the exhausted vigilant explorers to bundle up. Ninety-Nine is like a little personal space heater even when her temperament is relaxed. Her blood doesn't need to be fully boiling for her to radiant a little extra warmth - though the place would heat up much faster if she were to fly into a rage if anyone feels like risking the most extreme solution to their problems. Anyone who can get over any uncertainties they have about being in close proximity to her can try to sneak close for a cuddle. She glances at the stack of remaining books.] What are they about? [Read her a story?

Later, when she finally does sleep under the loud clatter of the storm, it seems to be a restless one. Ninety-Nine is fitful, at times thrashing and at others looking distressed or angry. Maybe she's dreaming of something unpleasant? Unlucky nearby survivors might find themselves caught in a grip that will be difficult to escape unless they want to wake her up or soothe her.]

[irreversal]

[ This past week was not her beautiful beach episode... Absolutely nothing about their time on the shore was peaceful in the least, save perhaps for fishing. Shoko seems like she'd be good at fishing.

Storm or not, however, the lighthouse seems like a safe place for them to be for the time being. Not nearly as nice as that bunker, but, well... We all know how that worked out in the end. It's probably only a matter of time until zombies or other humans sniff them out of here, too, but for now... for now, the storm offers them protection just as much as it chills their bones and keeps them all awake with its howling winds and frigid rain.

Shoko has taken to using her Jujutsu High uniform jacket like a blanket, draping it around her shoulders to keep warm, and for the first time in what feels like a while, she's not smoking. Just huddling in on herself, fighting the siren call of slumber, and moving whenever the next spot gets drenched, rinse and repeat.

At other times, she'll check on the injured - a number that's growing by an alarming rate each week, it seems, and doing what little she can to ease their pain with her technique - if it even works - but it only gets clearer that Shoko is growing tired, that using her ability only drains her more for how weary she'd become just getting to this point. Maybe she'll even accidentally lean over just a little too much while trying to heal someone...

Otherwise, when she's not trying to pretend she's not contracted sleepy bitch disease, she's reading one of the random books lying around. Or trying to, at least. Her bleary-eyed, unfocused gaze makes it pretty clear she's simply leafing through and not actually reading. ]

[insinnerate]

[Here they are, both of them trying to not succumb to sleepy bitch disease while their tank refuel lights are blinking, wedged into a corner that isn't completely soaked through with rain.

It's almost too damp to sustain a fire at all; there's more smoke and coal than heat coming off the little pile of rapidly dwindling fabric, paper, and cardboard nested next to it. At least keeping close proximity to Ninety-Nine gives off a little heat for Shoko to soak up while she stares at the book in her hands

Ninety-Nine isn't reading along, either, but for a different reason. She can recognize bits and pieces, but nothing coherent comes from them.] What does it say? [Her chin dips down against her chest, then snaps back up, prolonging the inevitable doze.]