week 6

[biteys]

WEEK 6

!

home, home on the range

Last week’s events have understandably driven the group off the intended course — so this week will be about righting your little forest-beach-detour.

However, it seems the rain that began at the tail end of last week hasn’t quite let up yet. Mercifully(?), the worst of the storm looks to be over, which means the party will only have to be mildly soggy instead of fighting for their lives against daunting sheets of rain.

Perhaps due to a combination of poor weather, overexertion, and lingering germs in any of the places everyone’s been traveling through, Leontuzzo Bellone and Mark Grayson come down with the flu.

Covering a wide area of land between the lighthouse and the next marked place on the map are a series of abandoned farms and vineyards. Fruit trees and grapevines have all been left to grow (and overgrow) naturally, and with the party passing through at the height of summer, there are plenty of fresh peaches and grapes to be plucked from the foliage on the way. The rain has made the ground muddy and sticky, which may lead to some unfortunate falls…but maybe it’s worth it for a tasty treat.

Also in the abandoned farms are, of course, farmhouses and barns. There are stray farm animals here and there who have happened to survive through sheer luck, though there are no human inhabitants. No living ones, anyway: there are only skeletons, telling the tale that people died here long ago, perhaps of natural causes. One can only hope they did not succumb to the virus as so many others have. There are medicine cabinets inside the houses that have standard things like painkillers, cough syrup, and things of that nature, so it might be a good time to stock up.

As characters linger in the farms, they’ll also notice another side effect of their bracelets: throughout the entire week, they’ll be empathically linked to the other survivors, being able to feel their emotions as strongly as they would feel their own.

city escape

Once the group passes through farm country, you’ve finally made it to the outskirts of your destination, San Francisco. The map seems to suggest that you should travel along the east outskirts of the town along the bay, rather than directly through it — similar to how the party had stayed to the edges of Los Angeles.

Hordes here are similar to the ones in LA, though with the added difficulty that San Francisco is very hilly. Groups of zombies will chase the survivors uphill and downhill: they seem to have limitless stamina, so running up the hills and hoping for the best isn’t the best strategy. Conversely, they run full speed down the steep declines of San Francisco roads, which can lead to them completely wiping and possibly knocking you down with them.

Several zombies are also special: of the zombies that attack downhill, a handful have retained enough intelligence to simply stand or sit on abandoned skateboards and bikes, which increases their speed greatly. Of the zombies that prefer to attack uphill, they’ve learned that throwing anything they can find at their prey may slow them down — pieces of glass, bricks, and even shoes might be thrown at the survivors.

Henry Townshend attracts the attention of zombies in these hilly zones, forcing the need for a City Escape™.

fisherman's wharf + pier 39

Towards the end of the week, as characters continue taking the long way around San Francisco, they’ll eventually end up at the northeastern section of the city. More specifically, Pier 39, and the harbors it borders.

Here, after all the rain and gloom, the weather is a bit clearer, allowing characters to look out into the bay and see some marine wildlife that has kept away from the virus; there are hundreds of sea lions and seagulls here, though because they stay down on the rocks below the pier, the sounds of waves crashing drown out their incessant barking.

There are a number of abandoned shops here, and similar to the mall the group traversed weeks ago, many of the stores seem to be looted, but there are still goodies to be found here and there. With the wide variety of goods, from music boxes to candy to jewelry, there’s sure to be something that tugs on the heartstrings you’re all sharing this week.

Take a look around, find a souvenir, and maybe pick what store you’re going to be camping out in for the night?

This week, Ninety-Nine is infected.

code

Comments

[bicth]

I. home, home on the range

[ Hella's no doctor.... nor can she even read what most of these medication boxes and bottles say. That doesn't stop her from going through the different farm houses like a tornado, hoarding all that she can fit into her pockets. Food, she's confident she can forage on the way. Medicine, though? This is a rare and valuable find, and is way more worth clearing up space in her pockets for.

There's important reasons behind it, too. ]

Maybe some of this can mitigate the symptoms... that could be how these people died all normally!

[ Gesture to a random skeleton nearby said medicine cabinet, which looks cozily posted up in a chair — all while she looks at you expectantly. This makes sense, right?! Tell her that makes sense, because she's trying to be hopeful about their rapidly declining groupmates. ]

II. city escape, cw: injury

Watch out!

[ That's the only thing you'll hear before you're getting shoved hard into the cover found behind an abandoned car, by something small and surprisingly strong. The source of the shove is Hella, who happened to spot that the zombies farther down on the hill have gotten into their baseball era just before the first bricks and bottles started flying.

While she'd hoped to get behind the car with you, too, the bottle that had been thrown collides right with the side of her face, shattering on impact with a loud crash. Shards are left embedded in her skin in several places in its wake — above her eye, her lip, through her cheek. Blood runs hot down her face, but she seems focused on pushily shoving you farther behind the car. ]

Fuck, can you move any slower!?

III. pier 39

[ Hella disappears into the labyrinth of shops as soon as they arrive, desperate to find a place to sequester herself off to. She needs to keep foraging, yes, but also... she doesn't want to be seen by others while she's feeling upset. Some members of their party might have seen some of the intense experiments she went through a few years ago, but she hasn't uttered a word of how deeply it all affected her ability to show vulnerability.

Back then, seeing men and women in coats get excited when she'd cry or scream, she'd vowed she'd never show that she's hurting again. Or, at least, she'd try not to.

But, she's reaching her limit of what she can hold back in front of the others. She wanders far into the wharf to the Build-a-Bear, very unusual behavior for Hella who seems to know inherently what are the best things to spend time on collecting for survival. Stuffed animals certainly isn't among them. Still, she can be seen sifting through the abandoned barrels of bears, dogs, cats, and bunnies. A brown kitten, a beaver, a black dog are among the ones she pulls out, tucking them under her arm — each one, in her own mind, is reminiscent of someone the party has lost. When disturb, she uncharacteristically jolts in what first feels like fear, which slowly melts back down into sorrow. Despite the empathic connection between the two of you, she still tries to be mischievous, even if her grin is forced and half-baked. ]

What'cha looking for? Something to cuddle with?

III

[venomnom]

[Hella does this often, doesn't she? Disappearing on her own for one reason or another. Although Reiju notes her absence, she makes no move to track her down in favor of foraging. As risky as it is to go off alone, Hella isn't stupid and can take care of herself.

Eventually, their paths collide. Reiju has no idea what it means to build a bear, but steps inside the store for the sake of being thorough. There, she comes upon Hella with a collection of stuffed animals in her possession.

The familiar dread is met with an unassuming wave of solicitude and the grin, a small smile. Reiju glances at the stuffed animals tucked under Hella's arm, then at the nearest barrel.]

Nothing in particular. Since I'm here, though . . . what do you suggest?

[bicth]

[ Oh, it's just Reiju. There's a palpable relief that runs through their connection, though she wishes it hadn't — Hella can be a bit bashful when it comes to showing genuine affection for others that aren't Ninety-Nine. Her lips purse, and she turns away back to the barrel, digging through it and tossing a few unstuffed animals over her shoulder and to the floor. ]

They're all pretty much the same once they're stuffed, right? As a pillow...

[ that's what she assumes someone practical like Reiju might see as these animals' use. ]

I guess if I had to choose, you should have something pink.

[venomnom]

[Curiosity trickles through the bracelets as Reiju eyes the fallen toys. She supposes they'd make fine pillows, compared to how they've been making do in recent weeks.]

That, or purple.

[She crouches down to pick up something very clearly neither—a technicolored creature of some kind. It would make a most colorful pillow if someone were to stuff it.]

Is that what you're collecting them for?

[bicth]

[ Hella's silent for a considerable pause, as if at war with herself whether she should actually answer Reiju's question, or just tell her to buzz off. She fidgets, turning slightly away and scuffing her shoe on one of the barrels, reaching up and pulling her beanie lower down on her head. ]

....Don't laugh. [ She doesn't think Reiju will, but the warning seems serious, anyway. ] I was looking for ones that remind me of... you know. Kotoha, Mark, and Soujuurou.

[ Mumble mumble. It's not because she wants to cry and cuddle them or anything like that, it just feels awful everytime she thinks about the way they were forced to leave each of them behind. They couldn't even send them off properly, or carry any of their things with them. ]

I don't want to just keep moving and pretend they were never here.

[venomnom]

[Hella is normally so outspoken. This shyness is unlike her . . . or maybe not.

Reiju's eyes soften at the admission. No, she didn't know; she knows now, though, and there's fondness over an undercurrent of guilt and melancholy from her end. She sets the unstuffed toy on the display stand next to her, then takes one step closer to Hella, who is truly good at heart.]

What have you found so far?

[bicth]

Well, there's this one... Kotoha was kind of cat-like. Clever and kind of playful?

[ She says it like a question, like she's looking for approval from Reiju without even realizing it. Hella sets the brown kitten down first, setting it neatly on what used to be the check-out counter. Before she moves on, she smooths out some of the fur on the top of its head, surprisingly gentle. ]

Then this one, Mark was kind of puppy-like, before he got all pissy and weird...

[ It's just Hella's way to talk about people bluntly like this — she sighs, forlorn, but also feels she should try to keep her feelings towards each individual the same as she'd had them before they were lost. Mark was her friend, if not a frustrating one at times, so, her commentary reflects that. Likewise, Kotoha had been someone she had wanted to get closer to, explaining the longing, lingering touch she'd afforded the other toy.

Finally, after setting the black dog plush next to the kitten, she holds the beaver in both hands, moving it away from herself a bit to look at it from afar. ]

I'm not sure about the beaver for Soujuurou. I don't know if he reminds me of anything.

[ He's simply Just a Guy, but beavers are forest creatures and have short, bristly fur, not super unlike his cropped haircut. Her eyes move up to meet Reiju's, wondering what her opinions are on all of this — the animals, and more importantly, the companions themselves. It's not like she ever paid much attention to how everyone was getting along, after all. ]

[venomnom]

[She didn't know any of them well, which was purposeful. Being the way she is, there was no comfort she could have given them. It's a wonder if what she said to Mark at the lighthouse helped at all, or if her presence alone soothed his lonely soul. Having said that, there's a tinge of loss in her bosom at the mention of each person taken by the virus.

"Pissy and weird." Was it grief or the loss of humanity that turned him so dark? Reiju can't say, though she notices the differences—the unbridled honesty—in Hella's attitude toward each name. It shows how much Hella looks at a person, which lends importance to her words.

She eyes the cat, the dog, and then finally the beaver. It does sort of look like the man in question.]

Beavers are peaceable creatures. Does that sound like him?

iii

[empression]

I think it certainly couldn't hurt. [ Haru, who is not moving anywhere near speedily, but is moving, speaks sincerely. The nostalgia emanating from her bracelet speaks to that. But also there's concern.

Because she doesn't like the idea of any of them going off alone, after everything. Their numbers are dwindling far more than she would have liked (she would have liked if they hadn't lost anyone). ]

Would you recommend any of these, Hella-chan?

[bicth]

[ There's a bolt of worry that plucks the string of the connection between them when she takes in Haru's form — she can't help herself. While she knows logically that Haru can handle herself and knows better than she does how she's feeling, she can't help but feel a little protective out in the open like this, it's just her way. ]

Recommend? They're all pretty soft, if a bit dusty...

[ She rustles around one of the bins, looking for something in Haru's likeness, since her mind's already in that mode. Eventually, she produces a dog with extra curly fur, still poofy despite having been buried under other toys. ]

Something like this, maybe — heh, it looks like you.

[empression]

Oh, how cute!

[ Let's just gloss right over the worry, Hella! She's fine! She's not about to keel over and die now so it's fine! ]

I see what you mean, though... we both have curls.

[ Haru, truly a poodle. ]

Is that what you've been looking for? Ones that resemble us? [ Because if so, that's... really incredibly sweet of her. ]

[bicth]

[ She lifts the poodle up and forward for Haru to take, expression falling a bit when Haru asks her questions. ]

I guess I was just thinking about... how we all didn't even get to take pictures together. Before, you know.

[ Is she going to one day forget what Kotoha, Mark, and Soujuurou looked like? Maybe finding a toy in their likeness is the only thing she can do to cling on to what she remembers in this very moment. ]

...This one's Kotoha, she had that kind of cat-like smirk. [ Hella picks up the brown kitten by the scruff of its neck from where its resting in her arms, dangling it a little in front of Haru. ] Right? Do you see it?

[empression]

Mm, I do. [ With a smile, taking in the smirk. There's a prickle of regret, because Hella's right. They should have taken pictures together, when they'd all been intact and healthy and hopeful, not when everything had gone horribly wrong the first time they split up.

Truly, things had changed far too much already. ]

It's a shame we haven't been able to find a camera, going forward... but I think this is a good idea. And I think as long as we keep discussing everyone, keep making what memories we can... that should help, at least a little.

[bicth]

[ Her expression softens a bit as Haru agrees with her, tucking the kitten back into her collection. Then, she sighs. ]

Or maybe, when we get to where we're going, there might be files on us with pictures... something we could take and make copies of.

[ They didn't even get to give most of their group members who have passed on a proper burial or anything like that. But she wants there to be some way to honor them as they keep moving forward. ]

Since I dunno if we can really carry these. [ They're like, fighting for their lives just carrying the things they have now. ] It's just too sad, if no one's thinking about them.

[empression]

... Why don't we do this? [ As her fingers idly bury themselves in the dog's fur. ]

We all have different memories with them, I'm sure of it. Perhaps when we were split up, or during the moments where we could regroup and relax. So, provided they aren't anything too personal, I don't think it would hurt to do something like a memory exchange. We could share stories of the memories we've made with everyone and that could tide us over? Until we have access to photographs.

But also, Hella-chan, if you want to take any of these with you, I certainly don't mind assisting. At least one could fit in a hoodie pocket.

ii

[irreversal]

[ Shoko is the recipient of this incessant shoving, but in her defense, she's not dallying because the sight of Hella with broken glass embedded all over the side of her face is particularly gnarly or anything, but because she's rummaging through her backpack— ]

Hey, hey, stop pushing me! Damn!

[ —before she pulls out one of the molotov cocktails they'd put together a few weeks ago. Yes, she's been keeping it in her inventory... ]

Think this'll slow them down some?

[bicth]

Obviously!

[ She eggs her on with some humor, ducking fully behind the car before another bottle hits her — though not without first peeking around the car to see the layout of the horde. ]

If you throw it at their feet, a bunch of 'em might catch. They're standing really close — [ She raises a gloved hand to her cheek, wincing as talking moves the glass around. ] Ow. Just don't tell me you have shitty aim...

[irreversal]

[ First of all, ]

Hey, don't touch your face like that.

[ For obvious reasons, but she just needs to point that out, because she's a future doctor!! But, with that said, Shoko gives a wide grin, fishing her lighter out of her pocket so she can set the cloth stuffed into the bottle's neck ablaze. ]

Ehh, only one way to find out!

[ YEET.

And to be fair, Shoko's a little stronger than she looks. Despite her tendency to play hooky, she does still have to train like a sorcerer sometimes... she's got a decent throw! ]

[bicth]

[ She gives her a Look before obeying, looking like a kid who got caught taking something out of the cookie jar. Right as she puts her hand down, her regeneration pushes out a chunk of the glass with a tink as it clatters to the asphalt, just as Shoko sends the bottle flying.

Aaaaand for once, something good happens, and there's a cacophony of moans from the zombies as they begin to catch fire. Hella pumps her fist in the air — but only as high as their cover will allow. Whooping, she cheers while they have the cover of the chaos down below to muffle it: ]

Go go go!

[ This is awesome. Taking out enemies in style!! For a second, she almost forgets they're fighting for their lives. ]

You got another one?

[irreversal]

[ Shoko seems pleased with herself as the makeshift bomb properly ignites, feeling a sense of accomplishment for the fact that for once, she's not just being sequestered into the sidelines. That she can make a real impact, instead of waiting around until someone comes to her with injuries.

And so she pulls another bottled out of her bag... ]

Just one more. Wanna do the honors?

[ No doubt Hella would make it count, but there's also a bit of a spark in Shoko's eyes that says she wants to be the one to throw it... ]

[bicth]

Hmm... how about this?

[ Hella can se the little twinkle in her eye... and also, she remembers what Shoko had been saying about wanting to do something for the group. With the zombies already on fire, she guesses there isn't much of a risk in letting them be target practice.

And besides... though she never shows anyone, she knows what it is to want to be the one doing the protecting. Serendipitously, being brought to a world so similar to her own has it's perks, and she knows just what to do that'll make everyone happy. Her chin tilts up, her grin turning wicked. ]

I'll teach you the proper way a Syndican tells someone to fuck off. [ Instead of taking the bottle herself, she lets her head peek above the car briefly to scope out the terrain, burrowing back down once she's gotten a good look — though not for long. She's quick to pull at the sleeve of Shoko's clothes, pointing further down the hill. ] See that car with the broken windows?

[ Yes, this is going where she likely thinks it's going at this point. One gets the sense blowing up cars is a Syndicate state sport with the eagerness with which Hella suggests they do it. ]

Try and hit it, and it'll go boom! They won't know what hit 'em!

1/2

[irreversal]

[ Oh, she does so like getting people to fuck off. Usually it's just Geto and Gojo who get that kind of treatment from her, buuuuuut the opportunity to tell a whole gaggle of zombies to fuck off is pretty irresistible. So Shoko listens dutifully, giving Hella her full attention, and quickly catches on. ]

Eh? You want me to blow up a car?

[ Couldn't that possibly attract even more zombies from elsewhere, with the commotion it'd stir? Besides, blowing shit up tends to be more Gojo's thing, it's way too flashy for her, but... ]

i.

[mediator]

...It couldn't hurt to try.

[ He doesn't sound especially sure, freshly bitten as of less than a week ago, but he gets it. Nothing could hurt. ]

Maybe we can ask Ieiri and Sigewinne to take a closer look at anything we collect.

[bicth]

Yeah, they might know which of these is the best to keep around. 'Cuz I have no fucking clue...

[ Not only can she not read these damn things... she also definitely never got to take medicine growing up, so she doesn't even know that there's ones for different symptoms like coughs and runny noses and what not. ]

Do they have these, in your world?

[ She shakes a random bottle filled with orange liquid — it's D*yquil, but it looks like any old potion to her. ]

[mediator]

Yeah, that's cough syrup. It's useful for treating head colds, fever, coughing... when you drink it there's a quality to it that soothes a sore throat as well.

[ He only learned about the wonders of modern medicine (1980s style) after moving to Misaki. It's been great to take something so effective even compared to natural remedies. ]