01: Rules of Survival

[dirtyredneck]

[Broadcast to everyone]

Hope most of you got this thing figured out and I ain't just talking into the wind...

You wanna survive in this world, you best listen up and listen good. I ain't gonna repeat myself on this no more. Done enough of that already.

The dead are walking. We call 'em 'walkers'. Because they walk when they shouldn't be walking. There's only one way to stop 'em: you gotta take out the brain. They don't feel pain and cutting off limbs only slows them down. Destroy the brain.

If you get bit, and you're lucky enough to get bit on an ankle or thigh or your arm, cut that shit off you. It's your only chance of livin'. You still got a chance of dyin' from the blood loss, but you also got a chance to live. Take it.

[There's a short pause and his breath could be heard being sucked in and let out.]

If you ain't got yourself a group, get one. Cain't do nothing without people in this world. Get you some.

[There is silence. He's said his peace.]

Comments

[pinner]

We could take in the people who don't have a group yet. Just in case they need an emergency limb removal. They won't be able to do it on their own.

[dirtyredneck]

Already got enough mouths to try and feed with just our lot.

[It wasn't a direct 'no', but Daryl wasn't that trusting either. Even if he'd been eyeing a good half of the rest to invite to join them and pool talents and resources.]

[pinner]

[The sound she makes is somewhere between agreement and disagreement without enough energy to put up an argument. Instead she focuses on the important part of what he's said.]

Have you ever actually had to cut off someone's limb before?

[That's the part of his message she's really fixated on. It's the part that's making her the most anxious.]

[dirtyredneck]

Yeah. Couple times.

[He's quiet when he says that. Sounds tired almost.]

[pinner]

I don't want to have to lose any of mine.

[She doesn't want to know if her bones are metal or actual bone in this place. Everything is different for her here and the last thing she wants is for everyone to find out she was created differently and for them to turn her away. She tries not to let her fear show in her voice but fails miserably. Her normally calm and even voice has a hitch to it.]

But I do want to search the city for clothes that are more appropriate for survival here. Will you go with me?

[limped]

[ Have another young British voice. ]

I killed one by stabbin' it in the throat. It looked like it was choking on its own blood.

[ Which sounds morbid, but he means it more as to debate what the guy had to say about only being able to kill them by head injuries. ]

[dirtyredneck]

You shove it in good? Probably hit the bottom of the brainstem. That's where the activity is.

[Daryl's going to be hard to convince they can be killed any other way. Just going to make an assumption about what happened.]

[limped]

I guess, but it was still movin' around when I pulled it out. Most head shots kill cranks immediately from what I've seen.

[ Daryl isn't having any luck with the Gladers, is he? ]

It was buggin' disgusting, getting blood all over itself before it stopped.

[dirtyredneck]

Maybe it was just last minute twitches. Or maybe you're just unlucky.

[It did sound weird, though.]

Don't think they're cranks. There's another kid that talked about them. They might be similar, but... walkers ain't alive. Kid said 'cranks' were.

[limped]

Probably both.

[ There's a mirthless chuff of air that sounds like a bitter laugh. ]

Tommy? What else did he say? [ He's not going to waste his time explaining to this guy that they were having creative differences when it came to their memories of what their world was really like. He'd rather not bring any attention to them if he had any say in it, hopefully, Thomas agreed this time. ]

[shuckit]

[ ah yes. this asshole. but he's an asshole who seems to have an idea what's going on, and that's more important than thomas disliking him at the moment. ]

We need distance weapons. Spears or bows and arrows.

They only sent knives with us. That gets everyone too close, too much risk of getting bit.

[ a pause, and he's considering how daryl said the last bit. get a group, as in, there will be multiple groups. ]

You think we should split up?

[dirtyredneck]

Cain't split up what ain't together.

[The commentary on the weapons was left alone. Of course they needed ranged weapons, but close range were still perfectly fine. More reliable for most people. Especially in a crowd.]

[shuckit]

We all landed here together, we all came to the city together, we're all screwed here together.

[dirtyredneck]

Don't make us a group. Just makes us neighbors.

[officio]

... walkers.

[She's been calling them "the infected" in her head until now, but it's good to know the... official one, from someone really from this planet.]

Thank you for sharing the information. I agree with you, we can't survive here unless we all work together. [Not only on a day-to-day basis... but in general. Padmé frowns at the idea of groups, separate from one another -- what they need is unity, not separation.]

I'm only concerned your advice will be taken the wrong way. We don't need different groups fighting for supplies when all of us should help each other to survive.

[dirtyredneck]

Already told a couple people. I ain't gonna assume what anyone should or shouldn't be doing or they want to do. I know what I gotta do for me and my people.

[Which Padme could technically be since he did give her his jacket and all. Though he might never have said as much aloud.]

Gonna go out looking for clothes for the girl. I can try to find some better stuff for you, too. She's the priority. Harder to find clothes for a kid her age. But we should be able to find you things, too.

[officio]

I understand. I'm not saying you have to be responsible for everyone, you've done much already. Only that there's a danger of forgetting we're all in this together. I've seen it happen before.

[Her quiet, serious tone takes on a softer edge, like she's smiling when talking as she continues.] Athena? That's good. She's a lovely, smart girl... I'm glad to know you're looking after her, too. ["Too", because Padmé absolutely intends to make sure Athena is alright and cared for.]

If you come across something... I'd be grateful. The hospital gown isn't really meant to be worn outside like this. But I will look myself, too -- I can't make you do all the work. I want to help, as much as I can. [More every day, as it is.]

[dirtyredneck]

[Yeah, that ain't happening. Not until she had decent shoes at least.]

You ain't dressed for shopping. Stay put. You got any idea what shoe... uh... how long are your feet? You got inches or centimeters or anything like that?

Action - several hours later (feel free to continue the audio chat!)

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl got back from his shopping trip with Athena and went about finding Padme. He'd mentally flagged her as his even if he hadn't said anything about it. And as such, he'd made sure to find her some things.

A back pack full of clothes and a second bag with three differently sized shoes were dropped near her.]

Couldn't find a ruler, but uh... better to wear bigger than smaller. Stuff the toes with extra socks. And I didn't know if you were uh... well... if you need anything to keep from ruining the pants I found, let me know. I'll go looking.

[He did not like having to discuss the whole ladies thing. Usually left that to the women of the group to figure out who needed what and just went out and got it as needed.]

You can give the jacket back if one of those work for you.

[With that, he cleared his throat and walked off. Feeling hella awkward.

When she did decide to look through, she'd find a handful of undergarments in random sizes. Like he'd just grabbed a bunch and shoved them in the bag. Which he had. She could figure out what fit on her own. In addition to that, there were two belts, both leather. Several pairs of jeans and sturdier pants. Light t-shirts and a couple thicker jackets in the style of the time. So fairly form-fitting. Again, just random sizes. He hoped enough fit to give her something worth wearing.]

[officio]

[It's a surprise, certainly, and yet it probably shouldn't be -- she knew Daryl meant his offer, had no reason to not believe that he would truly go out there and search for something for her, too. She looks up from the bags he drops on the ground at her feet before looking up and smiling at him.]

This is far more than I expected. I had no idea... [That there even were so many clothing supplies out there, but then-- if all the people here died... who would have taken their things? No one, she supposes.]

I'm sure there's something that fits. I'll return the jacket to you later.

[His awkward allusion to lady things makes her lips quirk up and her smile turn amused, and yet she appreciates it; appreciates him making no mention of the way her belly is less noticeable than it was when they arrived, the way she looks almost... normal, now. No questions, nothing. Just how she likes it, about this particular subject. Awkward though he may feel, Padmé appreciates his silence on the subject.

As he's walking away, he'll hear her shouting after him:] Daryl? Thank you!

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl stilled, looked back over his shoulder, and gave her a quiet nod. Just to make sure she knew he'd heard her. And then he got back to walking.]

[hasitsthorns]

Man, I really don't wanna' have to go all SAW on someone [ or herself, really ] but better that than become an extra in Night of the Living Dead I suppose.

[ With a bit more seriousness- ]

So this is just... normal for you?

[dirtyredneck]

Nothing about it is normal.

[Or at least, it shouldn't be.]

...but it's life for us, yeah. Has been for a while.

[Guess it was the new normal.]

[hasitsthorns]

So it wasn't always like that.

[ Being born into a world only to have it fall apart or born into a world already destroyed... Rose isn't sure which one would be worse, truthfully. ]

You, uh, said 'us' though. Does that mean there are other people where you're from that made it here?

[dirtyredneck]

Look kid, I don't know what planet you're from, but I'm from this one. Making it here, wherever here is, don't change that. It's life for 'us' means it's life for all of us. Whether you're used to it or not. Whether you know anyone or not. It is what it is.