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week 6
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.
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™.
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.
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.
no subject
I'm good with that.
[ They have a deal, then. He gives her hands one last little squeeze before withdrawing, turning to look back outside. Give her a little bump as he leans into her. ]
Did you want to stay here a little longer? Maybe we can fly back to the farmhouse when the sun starts to set.
[ Maybe he can still give her one last thing. ]
no subject
But also-- ]
Please don't push yourself, either. I know you still have a fever. [ Among other bodily problems, you sickie. ]
no subject
Alright, alright. We can stay here until I feel up to flying again.
[ Which will coincidentally be around when sunset is going to start—
That settled, though... Mark turns more solemn. ]
Um, I've got one more thing to ask of you, if that's okay. Just... don't tell anyone else, okay? Not all of them are going to understand. I don't want things to get any worse if I can help it.
[ No fights, no arguments, nothing potentially going awry. That'd been his plan as soon as he'd started coming up with one. He hadn't expected to tell Haru at all, but at least, in a way, he's glad this worked out as it did — he just doesn't necessarily think it'll go as well with some of the others, so better to keep it contained. ]
no subject
Uuugh. ]
Will you at least consider telling some of them?
no subject
(Doesn't want to face the consequences of his decision, maybe, and he won't if they don't manifest until after he's dead.)
Still... He wants to be selfish, but... ]
I will if it comes up. [ He folds his hands over one another, a nervous little tic. ] If it doesn't, then I don't want to... ruin anyone's day like that, I guess.
no subject
In the end, I... know it's your choice. And I will accept it.
[ Unhappily. ]
no subject
There's no getting around it, is there? People are going to be upset no matter what. I don't know... isn't it nicer to let them be happier for a little longer?
[ Even if they're only talking about a couple of days tops at this point. ]
no subject
[ Very gently. ]
no subject
I guess not. But since I'm the one going through it I guess that changed how I see it... [ There's nothing negative in his tone at all; absolutely nothing accusatory towards her. It still feels just far enough away to be a thought experiment, rather than something with extremely lasting consequences. ] I'm kind of afraid of things getting weepy and mopey? Not, ah— I don't mean that you have, or that this has been bad or anything, just—
[ is it a good thing that he's fumbling his way through this. probably? it'd be more weird if he was polished, maybe ]
I just... want things to be normal before I go. I can still say to the others what I need to say to them, right? They don't have to know it was for the last time, and I don't think there's anything I really need to know before I'm gone. I just want to leave them with something nice, that's all.
[ Exactly like what he was trying to do to you, Haru. Really just telling on himself here. ]
no subject
[ Haru closes her eyes briefly. She's taking a lot of deep breaths this conversation isn't she? ]
I can't deny I was... er. Weepy.
[ The tear tracks are still present. She would be more embarrassed about looking less put together except they've been through plenty of mess already. ]
But I think if you had stuck to that original plan with me, which I'm beginning to suspect you fully intended to, I would likely not have forgiven you. Of course, that's just me.
[ You know. The Sweet One who May or May Not actually hold grudges forever? ]
no subject
...
...
Through Mark's very, very lengthy pause there is a growing sense of anxiety, and shame over top of it. He just. Really, really, really had not been thinking this through at all. Had really been thinking only of himself, even as he purported to be doing this for others. (Two things can be true — he'd only been considering the physical consequences, not the emotional ones, because the former is what actually makes sense to him and the latter is a minefield he is thoroughly failing right now.) It is all consuming, overwhelming.
He swallows. ]
... I'm glad I told you, then. [ He doesn't have it in him to laugh weakly. Just... ouch. ] I'm... I promise that if it comes up with anyone else I'll tell them. Really. Like what I did here, with you. Then it's not like I'm springing anything on anyone. That's gotta work, right...?
[ He turns to Haru, eyes big and wet and sad. You know. 🥺 ]
Are... are we okay?
no subject
But she smiles, reaching out to clasp his hand. ]
We are. I didn't wish to upset you, but I thought I ought to be candid with my words, if this is to be one of the last times I speak with you.
no subject
Leave no stone unturned, right? [ There's the weak laugh he couldn't muster up before. ] As long as we're in a good place before I, uh.
[ ... ]
That's all I want... That part never changed.
no subject
I know. You're kind, Mark.
[ Even though this is what it is. ]
no subject
So're you, Haru. [ A beat, and with more conviction: ] If I can find a way to make this right, I will.
[ Not that there are probably any ways to do that in the time he has left, but at least the optimism hasn't totally left him yet. ]