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[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.

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Maybe didn't... want to.

[Shrug. It's not the kind of thing he would have expected someone not to notice, given... well, look at him. Mikan, though, had steadfastly failed to 'notice' the entire time they had been acquainted, and now the news appears to have come as a shock.]

I guess. [ But that'd have to be some dedicated denial. ] No offense, but I think it's pretty obvious. If they've seen you in person, I mean.

[ ... Is that offensive? It's hard to know how to talk to a zombie. ]

... Sorry.

[Shrug...]

None t.. aken.

[It's okay, Ellie, he knows that anyone with two eyes and half a brain could see there's something wrong with him. Most people have, even if they didn't know exactly what that wrong thing was right away.]

Not much... of a looker.

[ She cracks a grin, glad that he's not offended. ]

Hey, you look fine. You just - y'know, kinda look like a zombie.

[ "Kinda" meaning definitely, but, hey. ]

Like I said, you're the first I've met that can talk, though. So that's cool.

Few of us... can talk. Lots don't... try.

[Like his wife, and so many of the other Dead roaming the airport terminals. Sometimes it seemed like the children were trying, but the only other zombie he'd ever really had a conversation with was M.

Maybe that was most of the reason they were friends. M was clinging to the last threads of life as fiercely as he was. Not that R always appreciated the way that M went about that.]

Get rusty if I don't... for a while.

[ She wonders if he means that semi-literally - whether his mouth physically clenches up over time - or not. ]

Well, you can talk all you want here. There're a lotta people to talk to.

[ Thankfully for everyone, really. It's easier to connect when there are so many people around. She's still getting used to the concept all this time later. ]

Yeah.

[And now, maybe, he can try talking to more people instead of just existing and having people come up to him to ask what the hell he is, or what's wrong with him, or to flat out ask him if he's a zombie.

Might be nice.]

You mind... if I talk to you?

Sure. I mean - No, I don't mind. [ She laughs, wrinkling her nose. ] Long as you tell me if other people're giving you crap.

[Well, that's not something he actually expected to hear. He huffs out a soft noise, along with a smile.]

O-okay, I will. Thanks.