TEST DRIVE MEME #1.

[therunning]

OPTIONS: WAKING UP You wake up in a studio in an apartment building that's got windows all boarded up. You remember being sick, you remember dying, and you probably can't believe this is the afterlife. If you head out into the hall you'll see that others are heading out too, looking just as confused as you are. All of you died, most of you of the same thing. If you head down to the front office, you'll meet a native resident who will explain in brief that you're in Aqora, a settlement living among the undead and that people like you show up every so often. You'll be given an informational pamphlet, a shitty cell phone, and a walkie. Then you'll be expected to figure it out. No one has time to hold your hand. EXPLORING Miscellaneous things here: shops and restaurants turned into places to live, apartments full of people living day to day, the main focus (the library) being the hub where people come to learn and children go to school. Because school never ends, even in the apocalypse. Feel free to buddy up with other newcomers to figure out what the hell is going on. OR, say you've been here a while. It's time to figure out how to get more supplies! Let's go on a supply run. You'll just be heading out past the barricades to start, and you'll have to dig through buildings to try and find things. If you're lucky, maybe you'll hit a cache. If you're unlucky, you'll find too many undead to fight. No one goes out alone though, so hopefully your partner can help. "NETWORK" Someone has set up a rudimentary network using the nearest cell towers. You can communicate with others in the area but only via voice and text. Anything further out is voice only via walkies. You can have a username or leave it blank. Have fun, campers.

Comments

[thecost]

[ kei has a good poker face too but he visibly rolls his eyes at that judgemental expression, as brief as it is. kei is not the worst, ftr, and is glad orphans get to go to school, what the fuck dude!!!

he's that guy that would run a hospital as a tax shelter but it would be a real hospital instead of a fake hospital because he likes helping people.

at first he just nods with a little understanding 'mm' noise, tapping some ash to the pavement before crossing his arms over his chest. ] Los Angeles is right. Was right. I've been here since the beginning and I still don't know who named this little place what it is now. [ he takes a drag - where does he get cigarettes, who knows, being the doc has its perks - and hums idly. ] We do okay generally. Akiyama Kei, I'm the doctor around here. [ he grins and it's a little wolfish. ] If you have any questions, I'm most likely to hang around to answer.

[ :) :) :) ]

[hakuho]

Are there supplies inside with them?

[ mine no ]

[hakuho]

Then this settlement is lucky to have someone like you, Akiyama-san.

[ judgment aside, doctors are important and doctors who are shady are like 5 times extra important so he's marking kei down in his books as an important person to keep around. ]

Are there others who assist you?

[armsenal]

I'll run a damn class if I have to. I'm all for guns, but we need stealthier options. Lot easier to figure out how to make arrows than bullets, too, though I'd be willing to bet there's still plenty to scavenge from sporting good stores.

Sure thing doc.

[Yeah he's not gonna go to him for medical stuff unless he's literally dying....]

[thecost]

nothing worth dying over. or at least, not enough.

[ MINE NO ]

[thecost]

we've cleared the closest ones but i've mapped out some a little further out for the next runs.

i know what "sure thing" means, you know.

[thecost]

I do my best. General practice isn't my specialty but none of this is very usual.

[ he's... a brain surgeon... look i don't make the rules here anyway he's probably not as shady as mine is assuming but he actually is kind of shady so it's fine.

he's also a damn good doctor. ]

I'm training a couple people in case something happens to me. Can't have only one of anything these days. When I kick the bucket one day someone should know how to take care of people once I'm put down.

[ when. not if. look, it's inevitable. ]

[thecost]

"don't bother responding."

even if they can't identify things you could use someone for backup when you look.

[thecost]

[ it really sucks that they don't, but at least everyone can magically understand each other for some reason because while a ton of people already know english some don't? it might be an issue. . .

anyway daigo you're cute. ]

oh man i'd say it's great to know there's another person from close to home around but it'd be better for you to be back in tokyo.

the way i see it you're still from tokyo, right? just misplaced. i wish i could tell you how or why.

[ballroombro]

[ Gaju loosened one of the cans from its housing, brandishing it up in the air before smooshing it up next to his face. ]

Peaches, man! They're good for your skin.

[ Or that's what his mom had told him, anyway. Who knew if it was true? ]

And...they're barely even expired.

[eochair]

i'm pretty sure that's up to me to decide

me not wanting to embrace everyone with open arms does not make me an asshole
and if people take offense to it, then that's their problem isn't it?

i'm simply stating what type of people i'm looking for. it's called having a criteria. if you want to give every single person a chance when you need a supply run done, then that's your choice. doesn't have to be mine

i'm crying this is a blessing

[thecost]

[ peaches.......good for your skin... gaju's enthusiasm is infectious though and he lets out a faint laugh, shaking his head. ] As long as the cans aren't puffed out and there's no mold when we open the cans, they're safe to eat and use.

Maybe a little mushy, but safe.

[ after that, he jerks his head back toward his personal supply cache. ] You need anything in return? How'd your run go?

[thecost]

it's the way you say it honestly. flies, honey, vinegar, and don't say you don't want flies because you know what i mean.

anyway you're going for a lot, what's the new project?

look these are some quality peaches

[ballroombro]

[ Gaju gave it a moment's thought before shrugging. ]

Nah, not right now. You can think of it like payment up front. I mean, when I'm bleedin' out my ears, it's not like I'll be able to lug one of these things around in the first place.

[ Besides, if Gaju kept it around, he'd have to worry about some jerk nicking it off him. ]

Things went pretty good, 'cept the dude I was with almost fell through the floor. Ever have that happen to you?

it's true

[thecost]

I'll keep that in mind, but you know I'd patch you up anyway, right?

[ with a raised eyebrow. look, they need everyone they have. gaju is a productive member of the community, of course he's going to save him if something happens to him.

as for the floor thing: ] Not personally, but a couple people have fallen through floors on runs before. I'm not convinced it wouldn't have happened before all of this, though. [ he clicks his tongue. ] Some of these places were about as run-down as they are now.

[ballroombro]

Oh. Yeah, I guess.

[ Truth was, sixteen-year-olds didn't typically give much thought as to how Action A could directly result in Horrific Injury B -- the only reason Gaju did was because an injury in his sport was a real concern. And if that should happen, he just didn't want to be the guy with the full tab. ]

You're right, though. 'Specially those older places where they didn't take care of it.

I ain't worried, though. I can feel out a soft floor from a mile away!

[ Well, now he was just boasting, chest puffed out like a strutting rooster. Sure, he wasn't an ace lockpick or an engineer, but no one could say that he was useless on a run. Right? Right. ]

[eochair]

that's just how i say things???

[ that's honestly how he usually talks. he's always been blunt (and, okay, maybe slightly borderline rude). the concept of sugarcoating his words for the sake of other people's delicate sensibilities is completely beyond him. ]

it's not for a new project. same one. we're entering the first phase of the testing next month, so we're trying to get all of the final preparations done.

[thecost]

man you know i'm just busting your balls even if your bedside manner [ ha ha ] could use some work.

let me know how it's going? if you need me for testing, too.

[hakuho]

Will the zombies eventually die a second death if they're left in captivity?

[hakuho]

[ mine nods. it begs the question of what happens after you die, if this is where he ended up after dying but... he figures that's not a question kei can answer for him. ]

I imagine supplies are not simple to come by.

[thecost]

no. they'll keep decaying though and be easier to take out.

[thecost]

[ your body becomes a zombie but naturally no one knows nani the fuck happens to your consciousness. maybe it just goes away. who knows. ]

No. Food's the easiest, surprisingly. Mostly vegetarian because we've had to start farming and that takes up a lot of our water, [ because los angeles is DRY AS HELL ] but we manage. It's medical supplies, ammunition, anything that we can't grow.

[thecost]

Just keep being careful. Your partner should have been too, I'm glad it was only almost.

[ kei takes the boasting in stride even if he does gently remind him to be careful. gaju's still young after all, and young + prideful is a mix that can get people in trouble.

still, he's definitely not useless on a run. ]

When's the next pair heading out? I have a list made up.

[volumeone]

Attitude like that and I feel safer already

[volumeone]

Awesome, where did you want to meet up for the shooting lessons?

Yeah, wasn't sure. Thought it was worth a shot.