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

[titlecard]

i. bed rest

[ After a week of fighting, and killing, and starving, and just wanting to be alone, and not wanting to be alone, and considering his ongoing fever, and this new one on top of it (that almost feels kind of good in a way, because at least it's normal), and his impending mortality,

the first thing Mark does when they find a farmhouse is collapse on a couch, and then he's out, exhausted. When was the last time he got decent rest? Doesn't matter, that time is right now.

At least until he hears someone else entering the room, and he groans as he rolls over on his side. Curls in on himself a little before blinking his sleep-addled eyes open, looking up at you like a teenager who just woke up from a nap because, well... he's a teenager who just woke up from a nap. ]

Mmph... What's up? What's going on?


ii. peaches

[ Okay! He feels a little better now! At least better enough to be awake, and maybe even kind of chipper. Pleasantly refreshed, despite the stray cough or sniffle or lingering brain fog. And he's keeping his hands clean, which is important, because there are fresh peaches out here.

Not that he can eat them at this point. Not that he even wants to. But the others would probably enjoy them, and flying is as natural to Mark as walking, so he can bypass all the mud and mess to fill up a basket he's found.

Wave down at anyone he sees approaching with one hand as he picks a fresh peach with the other. ]

Hey! Want one?


iii. wildcard

[ or whatever! just keep in mind that Mark is dying somewhere home on the range, it's premeditated on his part, and he'll likely be keeping quiet about that particular plan. but who knows~ ]

suzuha —

[titlecard]

[ ... Last week was bad.

Well, most of the weeks have been bad, actually, but last week was a particularly strenuous sort of bad. The simultaneous best and worst parts were when he could feel his grip on his mind slipping — worst because he knew what was coming; best because feeling it meant he was still him.

But it's just going to keep getting worse, isn't it. And with that acceptance comes a calm washing over him, numbing and cool and peaceful all at once.

So, Mark goes to find Suzuha. And when he does — a soft knock on the wall outside the room she's in to signal his presence, looking in through the open door — he smiles at her, soft and at ease. ]

Hey. [ Cough. Damn flu, but that's a good sign, too. Proves he's still vulnerable. ] Wanna go for a walk?

[parttimesoldier]

[On the flipside of Mark’s calm, Suzuha has almost exclusively been a bundle of coiled up tension the entire time they’ve been here. Just tense, tense, tense in the wake of everything since their forced departure from the bunker, which was plain enough to see previously in her unfalteringly determined expression and the stiff set of her shoulders, but the latest quirk of the bracelets spells it out as clear as can be.

Their supposed deadline is ticking ever closer. Any wiggle room they had for mistakes is now gone, so she has to be prepared for anything. Failing in this mission just isn’t an option.

But that’s all disrupted by a brief flicker of surprise that warms into something that melts away a little of that tension when Mark comes knocking. She glances up at him from where she’d parked herself on the floor to stretch and work out some of the soreness from that still-healing leg of hers.]

Hey. [The greeting is returned with a smile in kind, and she pushes herself to stand.] Guess some fresh air couldn’t hurt, huh?

[Probably better than staying cooped up in this dusty farmhouse when he’s wrestling with sickness again, right?]

[titlecard]

[ Oh, that warmth that bleeds over her tension... That's bad. It's also good, because a part of Mark responds in kind, soft and warm and wanting to stay with this feeling. Not that he'd ever doubted the closeness they'd formed over the weeks, but being confident in it is different from actually feeling it for himself. ]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. [ Please ignore the twisting sensation in his gut. That his being here just made her feel better, but the actual purpose for this walk... Deep breath. It's just a lingering feeling from the flu, obviously. ] It's actually kinda nice out too.

[ The sun is shining, it's pleasantly warm... He could still back out of this, actually. They could just go out for a walk and have it be nothing more.

That knowledge makes it easier for him to check in with her, ] Have you got your gun with you? You know, just in case.

[parttimesoldier]

[She knows better than to let a feeling like this go unappreciated, particularly when it’s returned in kind. (Which is weird to think about, let alone to be able to feel.) Getting sentimental when there’s a mission to focus on is dangerous, she knows this from experience, but still… It’s something nice to lean on too.

So she focuses on that, doesn’t linger on whatever that blip of unease might be as she steps over to the old wooden bureau nearby where she’d set her gun down.]

Yep. [She picks it up, gives it a little wave and smiles a half-smile before she tucks it back into the holster strapped to her thigh.] Definitely don’t plan on going anywhere without it.

[No such thing as too much caution in these places, they’ve learned that much over the weeks. The ammo reserves have dwindled considerably, so she’s hoping it can be more of something like a last resort; all the more reason she’s eager to try to work some more mobility into her leg.

Which it seems she’s had some success in, as when she moves to join him there in the doorway, her stride seems like it might be a little bit smoother than it has been lately.]

Lead the way? Let’s get a nice dose of sunshine.

[titlecard]

[ She has her gun. Okay. That's good. She's smart, and capable, and he's at war with himself — part of him thankful that she's as strong as she is, the rest of him feeling sick at himself for what he's going to ask of her. It comes out muddled somewhere in between, a genuine appreciate for her along with a vague feeling of illness, but it's not like the latter is anything actually new for him these days.

Well. Emotionally, it is, but. Not relevant. It has to be irrelevant, so he smiles back at her, and it doesn't reach his eyes — except for when it does seconds later, when she shows how much her leg has already healed, and that's something to be genuinely glad for.

So if it could stop feeling like his heart is in his throat, that would be great. ]

Sure thing. [ Leading the way doesn't make that feeling go away, though he still make his way towards the front door with ease. Opens it, steps outside, holds it open for her.

Stand on the front porch for a moment longer, face tilted up towards the sky, eyes slipping shut, breathing in deep. ] God, that feels good.

[ He appreciates her. He appreciates the weather. That's kind of about it right now, but hey, it's still nice to have a couple of things going for him. ]

[parttimesoldier]

[This will be good. A moment to stop, a moment to breathe. Just take things as they are while everything is quiet around them. Especially with as sick as he’s been (and seems to be?), it’ll be just what the doctor ordered. Yeah.

That doesn’t stop her from taking that initial moment as they step out onto the porch to scan the horizon for anything out of the ordinary. Yet all she finds is just the hills dotted with scattered farm buildings, the orchard out in the distance—all seeming to be calm and quiet and at peace. Something that’s been in short supply for them over the weeks. (She thought they had that too, back at the bunker. The sheer refusal she has to let that happen again means that tension can’t fully go away.)

But she smiles again, brief and fleeting, as Mark speaks up and she glances back his way. She’s glad he’s a bit like himself again. After last week, she’d been a little worried, but—flu aside—he’s gotta be doing better. How else could he have that look of ease there on his face?]

Glad we’re getting a break after that storm. It would’ve been a shame if we got stuck indoors at a beautiful place like this.

[A few springy steps take her down from the porch and onto the start of the dirt path leading up to it, and she turns with a much more subdued flourish than she would have liked (thank you, healing leg) to face him again. Another smile, a little fuller this time.]

It feels so disconnected from… well, all of that.

ii

[empression]

[ Haru is moving gingerly--Shoko had been a huge help in assisting with her injuries, but she's in no mood to slip and fall in the mud and aggravate what's still healing.

She'd seen him out there, and of course, she can't just leave him alone, still not entirely certain he's back to full health. As healthy as one can be while dealing with a zombie bite that threatens to rip him from them with an increasing likelihood by the week.

... Truth be told, she doesn't remember much about last week. She'd spent so long of it unconscious and as he calls out to her now, Haru smiles tiredly. ]

If you haven't found a taker for it...?

[titlecard]

[ ... This is one of the reasons why he's feeling better. More at peace, accepting. Because he'd been too busy dealing with his own bullshit to be much of any help regarding a zombie bear attack, of all things, and it's another sign that his time is just about up.

So he can make the best of it right now. Smile back at her, genuine, even with fatigue lining his own features. ]

Nope. Plus there's plenty out here, so...

[ So he's floating back on down to meet her. Touches back down on the ground in front of her. Holds out the peach for her. ]

Here. It's yours.

[empression]

... Thank you.

[ Haru accepts the peach as solemnly as though it were something much more precious and difficult to obtain (though it sure feels like it, in this economy or lack thereof). But she can see that fatigue well enough, so-- ]

Shall we find somewhere less muddy to sit? I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, but I haven't been able to move around at my usual pace yet.

[titlecard]

[ There is something kind of solemn about the peach — although to Mark, it's more in the air of giving someone a final gift. It feels a little bad, but maybe he can attribute that to his lingering flu. And still-present fever from all those weeks ago.

As if on cue he shivers a little, but he can put that behind him. He's trying to put everything behind him, so what's a little bit of chills on top of that. ]

Yeah, sure. I'm, uh... I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier. You know. During the... [ glances away ] all that.

[ But also, nope, he is not turning this gloomy, so Mark forces himself to perk back up. There's a bit of desperation in the moment, like he really, really needs it to be a good one, and maybe by wanting it he can make it so. ]

Did you want a lift? We could fly a little looking for somewhere if you're up for it.

[empression]

[ The look Haru gives him is pensive, as though she can tell he's struggling--but maybe it's not that hard to tell, given the strange sensation of feeling his emotions layering and meshing with hers. She has to hope he can feel it too, despite the concern, the growing sense of unease at inevitability: a genuine appreciation for him. His presence. That he's still with her.

... Followed by surprise and a little bit of anticipation, even though Haru does her best to be polite about it. ]

I'm not going to be too heavy? I'd rather you not push yourself, especially if you aren't feeling well.

[titlecard]

[ Oh. He doesn't know what to do with Haru's feelings — that he knows what she's feeling, that he feels them on top of his. There's a bit of a sinking feeling that he can't effectively fake his way through this (at least if it weren't for this empathic connection, he could pretend that he was), but the appreciation for him...

It's melancholic. There's a tightness in his chest, a heartache that he's just going to have to outwardly power through.

At least her surprise breaks it up, makes it easier to lighten up some. His smile turns less desperate, more relaxed. ]

Nope. When my best friend found out I had powers, he wanted me to take him flying. I've been carrying people for a while now.

[ A beat. ]

I'll let you know if it gets to be too much for me, though. Promise.

i

[irreversal]

[ And here is Shoko, looking down like him like... well, less like a teenager waking a Fellow Teen up from a nap, and more like a concerned medic can just tell he's running on fumes, with one infection on top of another.

Something like the flu, at least, Shoko knows she can do something about. Which is why she's spent quite some time rummaging through the farmhouse for anything that might help. ]

Nothing's going on. I found some more cold packs, though.

[ She doesn't quite give him a say as to whether to take it; instead, she just squeezes the pack to activate its cooling effect and squats down beside the couch so she can place it gently over Mark's forehead, if he'll let her. ]

Doctor's orders~.

[titlecard]

[ He does, indeed, let her. Partially because he's still a little too sleepy to resist in any meaningful way; mostly because she's Shoko, and he trusts her. She's been doing so much to try to have him feeling better, and for the most part, it's been working. Recent weeks and developments aside... it's been working, and he'll always cling to that.

And her efforts will definitely work against something as pedestrian as the flu, he's decided. How could they not? ]

Aye aye, doctor. [ is that what you say to doctors... Mark lazily moves a hand up to keep the cold pack in place, shuts his eyes for a second because oh, that feels great. As great as taking a nap, but he's awake now. Blinks his eyes open to look back at her, pleasantly awake and thankful. ]

This is like magic... It's like you always know exactly what to do.

[irreversal]

[ Aye aye, doctor. That's a new one, and even in spite of everything, Shoko can't help but crack a smile at that. ]

I am a sorcerer, after all.

[ Even if her particular brand of magic doesn't seem to be very effective here. ]

Well, I should let you get back to your nap.

[ says someone in dire need of one, herself - as the dark below her eyes attests - but probably won't do anything about it. ]

[titlecard]

Ah... wait.

[ Because Mark is now just awake enough to see that Shoko is tired, too. And sure, her giving him a cold pack doesn't exactly expend energy, but doesn't the whole sorcerer thing in general do that?

So he's pulling his legs up to his chest, leaving the other half of the couch open for her. ]

You sure you don't want to take a second to sit down? It's... I mean, I thought it was comfy.

[irreversal]

[ She's just about ready to turn on her heel and walk off when he asks her to wait, and she glances over at him once more, an eyebrow quirked, then— ah. She could find somewhere else to sit; it's better for him to get rest.

But instead of saying no outright, knowing that Mark would all-too-easily acquiesce to whatever she says and that would be that, she folds her arms and cants her head to one side. ]

Mark. Are you offering because it's the nice thing to do? Or because you want to sit together?

[ Be direct!!! And to be fair, it could be both, but he should say as much! ]

i.

[killboss]

[ maybe a bit like how he'd been fussing over leontuzzo's sickly ass, puppy comes to visit mark. scared, young, powerful mark. there's nothing he can do, and unfortunately, the simmering connection between his mind and others thanks to the bracelet — the obvious is true: puppy doesn't have much to him but ruthless pragmatism. he feels bad that mark's not doing well, that they've lost people and will lose more, but his focus is on the end goal. getting someone there, even if it's just one last person.

regardless of that tight, empty focus, his actions speak of something more to him.

the way he comes to mark's bedside without fear, and presses the cooled metal of his arm to his shoulder, as if to tell him not to get up. the way he looks for a creaking chair that might barely hold his weight, and draws it up to the teen's bedside. the fact that puppy will move on, but he still feels some sort of something for mark. ]

— █ SCARED?

[ asked as brutally sharp as he had the first time, as he rubs that palm over mark's shoulder. ]

— █ NOT ALONE

[titlecard]

[ Mark had been in the action of at least propping himself up on his elbows, but as Puppy places a hand on his shoulder he relents, flopping back down on the couch. The coolness of the metal feels kind of nice, at least, but he isn't exactly looking to resist in the moment anyway. He just watches through half-open eyes as Puppy finds a chair, comes up to join him proper. ]

Mm. [ Mark shakes his head against the pillow propped up against one of the couch's arm rests, no. ] I was, but I don't think I'm scared anymore.

[ He sighs. ]

Think I know what I have to do now... it's okay.

peaches

[mediator]

Sure.

[ what's better than one infected man eating a peach? two infected men sharing peaches together! but well, he's not going to say that. it's impressive to watch mark fly even in his deteriorating condition. it makes soujuurou smile despite the grim atmosphere lurking behind an otherwise soft evening twilight. ]

[titlecard]

[ Mark's smile for Soujuurou is easy in turn as he floats on down to him, handing him the peach he's just picked. Nice, and fresh, and probably amazing if you're into that sort of thing, which Mark isn't anymore.

It's okay, though. He's just happy to provide for others, and can only interpret Soujuurou wanting a peach as a good sign, so. Things are still good, relatively speaking. ]

Here you go. How're you holding up?

[mediator]

[ he takes the peach in his hands and examines it, curious if there are any signs of decay. peaches don't last very long compared to apples for instance. they're soft and need to be savored in the fleeting moment. this one has no rot at all though. ]

It's so fresh. [ he remarks quietly, fairly impressed given everything going on. seeing something so alive is nice. ] I'm doing ok. I... well, I can feel some parts of me beginning to take a turn for the worse, but I'm still healthy enough to contribute.

[ but for how long? he's been pondering a lot what his next steps should be. ]

[titlecard]

[ He beams that he found a fresh one, because it's not like Mark is well-versed in how peaches work. He's still capable of helping, even if it's just the little things. The really, really little things.

Said beaming quickly turns into a frown as Soujuurou discloses how well he's actually doing, although Mark is probably the only person who he can actually talk to about it now, so. ]

Do you want to talk about it? I'm... Well, I guess I've been there for a while now.

[mediator]

[ Yeah that's true, but... ]

Hm... you're going to think there's something wrong with me. [ a fair warning- ] I'm actually a little relieved.