Action + Video - I'm off on this super fun adventure

[teamfun]

[ARRIVAL; Action]

[It's been something of A Day for Louis. A roller coaster of some really awesome and some really horrifically terrible shit. One minute, he was standing over that absolute jackass, Abel, and the next he's stumbling out of the first floor storage room out into the corridor with some comedic arm flailing. He catches himself, then stills, glancing around the space that is definitely not Ericson's courtyard.]

Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.

[He lets out a soft laugh that's toeing a little too close to hysterical. Carefully, he slides what looks like (and turns out IS) a chair leg with nails rammed into the top from an inside pocket of his held-together-by-love-and-duct-tape trenchcoat. For the observant, there's a blood stain on the upper arm, dry, a few weeks old, but definitely there, and definitely around a recently duct-taped hole. He raises his makeshift mace as he edges to a window, peering out at the perfect, beautiful Walker-free grounds.]

Oooookay, Lou. You're having a little bit of a psychotic breakdown. That's okay, that's fine. It's been a weird day. You knew it would have probably happened eventually. It's all good. Someone'll snap you out of this any second now.

[If you're heading towards him or passing him by, congrats, you've got his attention, he'll wave at you with his free hand.]

Hi there, mental breakdown conjuration. How's it hanging? Good? Good. I'm great. Not freaking out at all.

[LATER; Video]

[Once he's been filled in on what's actually happening (but still not utterly convinced this isn't some kind of stress-induced hallucination) Louis picks himself a room. He has his first hot shower in literal years, and even trusts the (magic????) closets to give him a new set of clothes. Aside from the trenchcoat. That remains as filthy and duct-taped as always. He's not parting with that for anything.

He sets himself up in the kitchen, where he sets up his communicator with a few false starts. It's been a long-ass time since he got to play with actual electronics. He's got a veritable feast on the table around him- ranging from god-awful junk food to fancy-ass steaks. They never truly starved in the school, but when all you have to eat for nigh on eight years are variations of rabbit, fish or berries, you can't help but indulge. He'll regret it later, when his system freaks out from suddenly having too-rich nutrients again, but that is a risk he's absolutely willing to take. He grins, giving the camera a thumbs-up. He doesn't get what's happening at all, but he can't just sit still, this...this keeps him active.]

Hey there, fellow captives-slash-mental breakdown prisoners! The name's Louis and I'm brand new to this... whatever it is. AnyHOO, seen as it sounds like I'll be here for a while, I thought I'd get to know you a little better. [He raises a dirty, dog-eared pack of playing cards t the screen.] So! If any kids wanna come to the kitchen and share in my bountiful feast and have a good old game of War, you're totally welcome to. Highest card gets to ask a question to the other person, fun, right? Or, I guess, you can be boring and do it over the video instead. What'd you say?

Comments

[teamfun]

Nice to hear some people have got their shit together while the world's gone to hell.

[Honestly, he is.At her next comment, he snorts in soft amusement. He glances, momentarily, to the patch of red still on his arm. ]

That's something we've got in common. People are way harder to deal with than the walkers. At least the dead are predictable, all they want from you is to eat you.

[choosetruth]

Yep. And one bullet to the head? [She mimes shooting a gun with her fingers.] Down they go. Unless you've got a pack, they're not hard to deal with.

[Still dangerous, of course. Forget that and you die stupidly. But easy enough to take out.]

Where it gets interesting is when people decide to try and weaponize zombies. Cause that can't possibly go wrong or get out of control.

[teamfun]

True, though our group only has one gun. [Which is, frankly, still a big bone of contention for them all.] Lots of the kids can use a bow and arrow, though. It's quieter. Draws less of them.

[He cants his head, because that...sure is a thing.]

Wait like... set them on people?

[Which is exactly what the weirdo Clem met in the woods was doing, but he was more The Walker Whisperer than someone looking to weaponize them.]

[choosetruth]

That and worse. I'm talking about needles filled with pure form lab quality Kellis-Amberlee.

[She adjusts her sunglasses, sitting back.]

That's what our virus is called, by the way. Kellis-Amberlee. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if it had just wiped us out like it does in the movies.

[teamfun]

Fuck. So they use those needles to stab people and make them turn right away?

[Because why not. It's as of having the undead swarming everywhere wasn't horrifying enough.]

Where I come from, we all have it...I don't think it's got a name? But I know that if any of us die without getting [he taps his temple] taken out, we turn regardless.

[choosetruth]

Yep. And while spontaneous amplification isn't common, it's also not unheard of. When there's an outbreak, people don't look too hard for a cause. Unless they happen to be a team of fearless, intrepid bloggers.

[She gives a barely there half-smirk, in case there's any doubt who she's talking about.]

Having a name for a disease kind of depends on there being people around to name it, and to do more than run and survive. But yeah, that's how it works for us too.

[teamfun]

[A smirk splits across his face.]

So that would be you, then? Sounds pretty awesome, digging through a bunch of deadheads. And finding the truth too. Obviously.

[He nods.]

Maybe people did name it, at the start? But whoever had any clue about how it all worked either holed up or died. We just had to work it all out by watching it happen.

[choosetruth]

Obviously.

[Oh no, does she have another Irwin on her hands?]

I'm all about the truth, but my brother gets paid to poke zombies with sticks on camera.

We were lucky. A lot of people did know what was going on, and though the government and mainstream press tried to keep it hidden and write it off as a prank, the bloggers came through. Then Dr. William Matras of the CDC came through on his daughter's blog and told the world the truth.

[teamfun]

I played walker pinata once. It got snagged on one of our snares, so we had some fun with it. Gotta let off steam somehow, right?

[She absolutely has another Irwin on her hands.]

Shit, they tried to cover it up? That's...just about the worst idea in the history of worst ideas. Secrets is how people wind up dead.

[That last one might be said with a touch more bitterness than necessary, but the smile remains.]

But hey, glad you guys are building something from it. Hanging on in there, having lives.

[choosetruth]

[Oh yeah, Shaun is going to love this kid.]

People did wind up dead. Lots of them. And they're still dying now.

[Georgia should know.]

There are two people here who also prefer the term walkers. Do you know Clementine or Michonne?

[teamfun]

[They will be BEST PALS.]

I'm sorry, that sounds like a whole heap of not fun.

[He brightens up considerably at those names, nodding excitedly.]

Yeah! Well...I don't know Michonne from home, but same world. I know Clem though, she's part of the same group as me. She's great.

[choosetruth]

[She nods.] I'm sure she'll be glad to have you here. Clementine's been working for me here. Smart kid.

[teamfun]

She's really smart. And about as fierce as anyone I've ever met.

[He genuinely thought at one point Clem was going to straight up bite Lilly's face off with her bare teeth.]

So she's a journalist, here?

[choosetruth]

Yep. Been interning just about as long as I've known her. I'd give her a raise if there was any economy here.

[Because yes, she is very smart. One of Georgia's favorite people.]

[teamfun]

Tat's really cool! I'm glad she's got stuff going on here.

[He wants her to be happy, even here. ]