video;

[keephersafe]

[Okay, R, just breathe. Well, don't breathe, but relax, because if you don't, you're going to stammer your way through this so badly that no one is going to get the right idea about what you're saying.

After Liv's post a few days ago, what R is about to do has been on his mind a great deal. He doesn't use the network often, and rarely to post something for himself, but this...

This is important.

There's no lighting or angle that really catches this guy's 'best side', because with the greyish pallor, pewter-coloured eyes and dark veins inching their way up the sides of his neck there is really no 'good side' to capture, but give him a break, he's doing his best.]

Um-- hi.

['Good start. Now carry on before you start to look like an idiot.']

There's s... something I have t-.. to say. I haven't... been trying to lie t-... to anyone. What Liv... what Liv said - I'm the same. Not... Not exactly the... same.

[That one's a given, probably, with the way there's no chance he's passing as Living, and the problematic speech impediment.]

I'm... I'm a z-.. zombie too. I don't want t... to hurt anyone. I just... don't want to be sh-.. shot at. [You know, if it's not too much trouble.]

Okay. Mm... thanks.

Comments

video;

[like247]

Wow. It's been totally kinda cool that people are talking about these things. Awesome. Weird but awesome.

I am totally human and I so wouldn't shoot you. Also, you so shouldn't admit what can kill you. I mean, there's lots of ways to kill zombies. Some by singing, but don't give them the method to off you. Protect yourself.

[keephersafe]

[Weird, but awesome, okay, he can go with that. Still not feeling too comfortable about actually using the video feature with everybody, though.

He knows how he looks.]

What's shooting... not going to kill.

[Just saying.]

[forwearemany]

Greetings.

Query: Are you from the same universe, or are there multiple universes in which zombies possess higher brain functions?

[keephersafe]

Uh. Different places.

[He figures. He wishes he was from the same place as Liv - maybe then, this kind of thing wouldn't be so difficult.]

video;

[letsemilythis]

Why would someone shoot you? You don't seem like a, a, you know. A zombie, zombie. Like, if you're not trying to eat somebody's brains, right? Has someone tried to shoot you?

I mean, I haven't known a lot of zombies, but I've met Liv, and she seems cool. Great cook, too. [ She trails off as a thought occurs to her. ] I hope I didn't eat somebody's brain that night...

[ OH GOD. ]

[keephersafe]

[Shrug...

People shoot at zombies. It's a thing. A couple of people have pulled guns on him here, but thankfully no one has actually tried to shoot him yet.]

People here are... better. Mostly... wait until I talk.

[And then don't shoot him. Which is great!]

Uh... she wouldn't... give you that on p-... purpose.

[passingthrough]

[Kitty already knew of course. Zombies really like to come out to her. It's a thing. Okay, it happened twice shortly before the mass reveals. Still seems like a thing when they are also the first two zombies she's ever known.]

If someone tries to shoot you. Call me.

[keephersafe]

I'll try.

[She probably wouldn't be the first, but he won't forget that she cares enough to want to help.]

Being... optimistic.

video;

[noreason]

Don't worry. If anyone shoots at you, I can take care of them.

[Naoki can't exactly be by R's side all the time to make sure it doesn't happen, but it's the sentiment that's important here.]

You okay?

[keephersafe]

[A nod.]

I'm f-... fine. [He's less concerned about himself than he was about Liv when she decided on letting the world (so to speak) know what she is.]

Better this way. I... hope.

[video]

[jivitadana]

If you're hurt, you can call me.

[Minato's not sure if healing spells work on zombies, but if they worked on Shadows, then why not? Not that he'd want to experiment, but if the time came for that sort of thing, he'd be there to help.]

[keephersafe]

For what..?

[It doesn't occur to him that injuries to himself could actually be healed, especially with magic. His own body can't heal them to begin with.

At least they don't hurt.]

video;

[choosetruth]

[Good. Not that you can tell from looking at her, but Georgia's proud, in her way. She may never like R, but actually coming out of the coffin goes a long way with her.]

Well? Have mobs started gathering pitchforks and torches?

[keephersafe]

[Yeah, he's not really all that fond of Georgia, either, and he's not as good as she is at hiding his actual feelings. He doesn't look thrilled at all to be talking to her.]

You... tell me.

Video

[naughty_nurse]

[WHAT THE FUCK HIM TOO IS EVERYONE HERE A GODDAMN ZOMBIE]

Whaaaat?! You too?! You're one too?!

[keephersafe]

Um... yeah.

[There was bound to be at least one who had this kind of reaction. R's a little saddened that it had to be her. He likes her.]

... Sorry.

video

[spiritofgoodness]

[ Snow reads and re-reads the message; she read Liv's too but she doesn't know her yet. She's at least conversed with R before. What she knows for sure is that he was pleasant and posed absolutely no threat. It takes her about ten seconds to come to the conclusion that she'd still like to meet him. ]

If you'd like the company, R, my offer still stands to meet you in person.

video

[keephersafe]

[Oh, hey, here's one of the last people he actually expected to hear from. Then again, he's hearing from a lot of people over this. It's more than he usually speaks in a week, let alone in a few hours.]

You sure? [He doesn't get offers like this a lot. Usually when he has company it's Liv, or an accident.] I'd... like that.

video, private

[livemoore]

Proud of you, buddy. I know that wasn't easy.

video, private

[keephersafe]

[Awkward smile.]

Not worried... for me.

[It's just you he's concerned about, Liv.]

[slapfight]

See? That wasn't so hard.

[She's supportive, I guess...]

[keephersafe]

S-speak for yourself.

[You're cool, Peridot, but you've got no idea how long it took him to work up to doing that.]

Done, now.

[angewiesen]

It looks like you've got plenty of support here, but I'll throw my hat in too. As long as you're not causing any trouble, I've got your back if anyone gives you guff.

[keephersafe]

Th... thanks. [He expected the support of some, but not everyone. Jean was one of the outliers, given certain circumstances of the other young man's own life.]

Try not to m-make any trouble.

[shslliar]

[That actually explains a whole lot. Kokichi is so amused that he turns on the video while he's chilling in his room to reply. Enjoy this rare view of scarf-less Kokichi.]

Huh. And here I thought you were just really sick or something.

... Do zombies eat brains?

[keephersafe]

Uh.

[Is dead a kind of sick?]

Y-yeah, but... don't have to. Anything... works.

[Brains are just the best part.]

[worldtamer]

A zombie? ... Like, in those scary movies?

[The ones that Mama doesn't let Niko watch usually--]

[keephersafe]

[His mind goes back to he and Julie sat across from one another on the floor of his aeroplane, when she'd held a DVD case up against his face and laughed about how he didn't look anything like the picture of the undead face on the cover.

But he knows, honestly, that it's not too far off.]

Guess so. [With one important difference.] They don't... talk, though.

private video }

[meanestgirl]

You okay?

[She doesn't really have a zombie bias and R has never done anything to hurt her, but she knows some people here do have a zombie bias, so she wants to make sure no one is being too terrible.]

private video }

[keephersafe]

[Huff.]

Yeah. I'm okay.

[He knows all about the people with the zombie bias. Some of them are worse than the ones who would just plain want to kill him.]

Nervous, I-I guess.

video

[255000255000255]

[ Monika gives a small smile. ]

If it makes you feel any better, you're the sweetest zombie I've met so far.

[ Well, also the only zombie, but that's not important. ]

video

[keephersafe]

[Given the volume of 'events' involving zombies lately, he's not going to take it for granted that he might be the first one she's come across.]

Thanks...

[Probably the zombie with the best musical taste, though.]

[boonie]

Whatever you are, it ain't no geek. Where I'm from, walkers are barely sentient, all gnashing teeth and no fine motor skills.

Sure as shit don't have mastery of the English language.

[keephersafe]

[... Okay, he only understood about half of that, give him a second.]

Uh.

[Mastery of the English language. Right. Sure.]

Don't think I'm f-... from where... you're from.

video;

[backpacking]

Hey. [ Well, good for him, right? Better to not take people by surprise, make it seem like you're keeping it a secret. ] Um... good for you.

[ She means it earnestly, but Ellie still can't help but feel a little nervous, considering what her own world is like. ]

If it makes you feel better? You look way better than most Infected.

video;

[keephersafe]

Uh, thanks. [He actually knows this, and it holds true for back in his own world as well. M used to be the same - oddly well-preserved - but R punching his entire cheekbone in had rather ruined the effect lately.

It's nice, though, that Ellie took the time to reply. He does his best not to look to odd while he talks to her.]

Try to... k-keep up app... earances.

video;

[spycurious]

[He's already spoken to Liv, so he feels a little less hesitant regarding this subject. This one looks a bit worse off though, apparently putting the 'dead' in 'living dead.'

Ben can respect the honesty, regardless.]

Thank you for telling us. It can't have been an easy decision to make.

video;

[keephersafe]

[It's getting easier the more he does it - this whole talking face-to-face with complete strangers thing.]

Wasn't. [Liv has the benefit of looking far more like a Living person. She walks and talks like them. There's nothing too terribly other about her that only adds to the alarm of being told what she is.

R? R looks dead, and there's really no getting around it.]

But it's... better, I hope.