jumpscares | ( OPEN ) GAME START.

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( OPEN ) GAME START.

▶ WHO: Everyone.
▶ DATE: July 9th, 2015 (Day 1)
▶ WARNINGS: Blood, violence, general zombie horror.
▶ SUMMARY: You've met with a bad... however that line goes. Welcome to Earth.

GOOD MORNING!

Please try and ignore whatever it is that you just heard. It should only last for up to a minute... maybe.

It... it is morning, right?

There are no windows.

There's a light, but it's barely considered one. The compound runs on a solar generator, but that doesn't mean it has a lot of power. The light seems to be hanging from the ceiling, swinging precariously. That's when you might actually start to wake up, sit up, find the things that are familiar to you... and then some of the things that aren't. It'd be wise to explore the small room you're in before leaving through the steel door, but there's nobody around to tell you that.

Outside is a tightly knit compound, just as dark and metallic as the room. The hallway you're in houses dozens more doors identical to yours, and if you're unlucky there may be more people poking their heads out through them, just like you. There's a dull glowing sign that reads MEDICAL BAY but not all of you remember being hurt. Some of you may be just fine, apart from the memory of the sound you heard when waking up.

The Medical Bay is stocked with enough medicine to last a couple of months. There's almost everything that can be found in a hospital. Somebody was thinking ahead.

Outside of the Medical Bay are more doors, some are even locked—many aren't. There are living quarters, a food storage, a kitchen, some laboratories; even a room full of computers and nothing else, all with a screen asking for a password. There's only two doors out of the compound, a vehicle bay with what appear to be a few military jeeps and trucks, and the front doors. It's on the inside of the front doors that something is painted in bright red, flecked with what smell like blood:

DO NOT GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT A GUN AND WATER.
GUNSHOTS ATTRACT THEM.
HOLLOWS IS 1.3 MILES NORTH OF HERE.
GOOD LUCK.

And on the outside of the doors, if you choose to open them:

THE WORLD ENDED JULY 3RD, 2015.

Now... how long ago was that? And where is this place? Luckily for you, Hollows is a small town that can be raided. It hasn't been too long since the apocalypse—surely you'll be able to find something there. Batteries, food, weapons, maybe some people—and what you're guaranteed to find. Them, whatever that means.

Outside of the compound there's a fence with a single gate. Nothing can get past this unless you let them in for tea, so be careful. There's a shooting range and a large shed full of weapons and ammo, enough to last two months if you're careful. Guns, knives, anything that would be used by the military and police is hidden away in the shed. There are even a few hunting bows with arrows.

If you climb up the ladder to the top of the wall, there's enough room to walk along the top. There's definitely something moving in the distance, something you should definitely be worrying about. Maybe it's time to get a good look with a sniper rifle...?

Oh.

It's gone.

Maybe it was just a trick of the light. Regardless, it's impossible for everyone to stay in the compound forever. There are nefarious things at work! The choices are to go to Hollows, stick around, or go somewhere else. Really, the world is almost a blank slate. Maybe more of a used slate, but still yours to explore.

When the night comes, you should be hiding. The screamers, the ragers, whatever the hell they are, are running full tilt through the streets and across the landscape, running through anything in their way, ripping apart anything alive. If you don't make any noise, they won't notice you. Especially since they're stuck listening to each other. But if you get noticed by one, it won't be long until a horde forms... you might be able to outrun one for awhile, but they don't seem to let up on their breakneck pace. Maybe someone should have told you how to kill them.

OOC NOTES.

There will be zombies in Hollows. Whether you meet them on the way there is up to you. Apart from the undead and the animals (maybe somebody should let those poor creatures out of their houses) the town is completely deserted. In fact, the closest thing you can find to a human are the bodies of those who died without being bitten, and there's even few of those. You can find anything you'd find in a normal town here, and are free to loot and raid the houses and stores—the cops won't be coming, after all. The power is OFF apart from what you can find that is solar powered or still has a charge. If you're lucky and find another town while exploring the first few weeks, you might find an area that still has power—thank hydroelectricity.

Just keep in mind travel time... and travel expenses.

You have creative freedom over everything else. The world is open. The only stationary places are landmarks and cities—if you want to go to Texas and talk to the poor astronauts stranded up in space, it's there. (Might be a long trip, though...)

If your character can figure it out by geography before getting to Hollows, the compound is located a few hours from the west coast, in California.

The way to kill a zombie is blunt force to the head. The head doesn't need to be removed, but significant damage needs to be done to it. This does not include the throat—it needs to be a headshot.

There's also a glaring hint. The computers in the compound, asking for a password. It is impossible to hack at this time. There will be more on this later!

Finally, if your character is exploring outside of the compound (or extensively inside of it) there's a comment here for linking me the thread. You can also PM me! I'll be ducking in with what your character may or may not have found, via a response to the actual RP thread.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS please direct them here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This could be very stupid. It's absolutely going to put both of them in harm's way. His focus is on the horizon, not really watching it, not looking at her. Running possibilities and not coming up with any outcomes that aren't in some way bad.

Deep breath. Exhale. ]

Maybe I should do it alone. [ He does look at her now. ] You know, right? Who - what I am?

You're not doing it alone.

[ Firm. Also not an answer, but they both know it by now, and Natasha isn't in the business of being obvious unless there's a point to it. She meets his eyes and doesn't look the least bit like she cares in making that sound reassuring. ]

I can check the weapons shed. See if there's anything with long range capability.

[ She's not a Howling Commando and she's not Bucky Barnes. She also doesn't want to get sick.

Watching his back doesn't have to be right next to him, even if sniping is a little outside her favored realm of expertise. ]

[ Tightness in his shoulders eases away and he exhales a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Even stranger, the realization that he's started to count on people. That he's started to want help from those who aren't Bucky Barnes.

He didn't think he'd like it. He thought wanting help - needing it - would make him feel weak. ]

Good idea. I'll check the med bay and meet you at the vehicles?

Mmhm.

[ There's a moment there, between one blink and the next, that suggests she wants to say something. But she doesn't, the cut of her mouth quirking up into a little smile — friendly and outwardly so, rather than just some sort of mild amusement or another non-answer — and she jumps the ladder's distance rather than climb down, off to the shed.

Of course, when she comes back, it's with another man in tow. ]

[The man in tow is a still fairly confused and very disheveled Winter Soldier, decked out in black tactical gear and carrying five weapons... at least, there's five weapons visible on his person, one of which happens to be the very nice sniper rifle he managed to find with the rest of the weapons.

He's still not entirely sure why he's following... Natasha. She said her name was Natasha. Maybe it's that she's the first familiar face he's seen, maybe it's because she gave him the first orders he's heard since HYDRA fell. But he follows, his hands close to his weapons and his eyes scanning the area.]

[ It takes him a few seconds to recognize the man with Natasha. When he does, he almost drops his shield again.

His throat closes up. A dozen questions occur to him at once - what happened to your Peggy said you were when was the last time you got a haircut? He can't voice any of them, and the last is so ridiculous he almost laughs.

He tries to read Natasha's expression, then looks for recognition in his friend's face. How many times is the world going to shift around him today? How many times will he be able to move with it? ]

...Bucky?

Edited 2015-07-12 06:48 (UTC)

[ Natasha positions herself carefully as they walk up and come to a halt. She's not in front of the Soldier but it's close, half her body turned outward from him. ]

Steve.

[ Firm, to catch his attention. Her expression can't help — there's a caution in it but little else, no hint whether she's afraid or this is supposed to be some sort of welcome reunion. ]

He's going to help us. [ A beat. She glances sidelong to the Winter Soldier. ] Right?

[The moment he sights Steve, his body tenses, his hands rest more firmly on his guns, and he shifts into an attack stance. He recognizes him, of course he does. He almost killed him on the carrier, then minutes later he fished him out of the Potomac.

Best friends since childhood. The words from the exhibit echo through his mind again, but he's still not sure what it all means, who his is, who this man is to him.

Natasha looks at him, and he catches the not-so-subtle hints of the order and shifts back out of the attack stance, though he doesn't relax.

He's not sure what to say, what he should say or what he might want to say, so instead he just nods.

Yes, he'll help. Though he doesn't know what's going on, and he's not sure how far he can trust these people.]

[ New questions. Why is Bucky looking at him like that? Why hasn't Bucky said anything? Why does he look more like he belongs wherever Natasha came from than --

Something snaps, or crumbles. He feels his back against the car and realizes, again not for the first time today, that he's backed up without meaning to.]

Bucky. Talk to me.

[ Natasha doesn't approach. She's glad, in some way, that this situation is manageable — cruelty doesn't run deep in her veins but she has two scars burning fear into her skin because of the Soldier. Autonomy is just as important as self preservation. ]

Steve.

[ She repeats. ]

HYDRA conditioning is strong. Right now, what he needs is neutrality and order, or you're going to make the splitting worse. [ She doesn't do James the disservice of stepping away, pretending like he doesn't exist and speaking in hushed tones. He does know; he just doesn't remember. Natasha, she's just intimately familiar with the way this all works. ] We'll do a scout outside. Both of you need air.

[There's something wrong. The man's acting... surprised? Shocked?

He blinks, steps back a little, his hands closing into fists and opening again. He's agitated. He doesn't understand what's going on.

He looks back to Natasha.]

He doesn't remember?

What don't I remember?

[ He immediately clamps down on his temper and his worry, forcing himself to think about what Natasha just said. HYDRA conditioning. HYDRA.

Hate so pure it feels surreal burns through every other emotion. He's going to get out of here, he's going to find every base Schmidt has ever even thought about building. He'll burn down that monster's legacy and salt every footstep Schmidt's ever taken.

Breathe. Breathe. Think.

His fists are knotted tight enough to make his hands ache. His voice at least sounds calm, even if the calm is a lie. ]

I'm all right. Don't worry about me. Sorry, Buck.

« There's a lot he doesn't know. »

[ Russian, quick and quiet. It's not supposed to be isolating; Natasha, if one looks closely, might be trying for reassuring over authoritative. ]

He's from before the ice. [ She keeps her body between them, lets her head turn from the Soldier to Steve, nodding. ] You wake up again, in our time. We're all at different points in history— I'm further along than both of you.

[ Cool place to totally rock your world, right. ]

We're going to go outside now.

[ She says it firmly, because her suggestions can be more subtle, have been, but she's not interested in expending valuable energy with social engineering right now. Right now, she wants to go outside and check on the signs of— something. Life? ]

[The Russian surprises him, but he nods, both at the Russian and the English explanations.

Time shit. Sure, why not. Might as well add that to all the other confusing shit going on.

He looks at Steve with a bit of a concerned expression, because it's clear that despite his assurance, things are NOT fine or okay. But he doesn't know how to handle it, and Natasha seems to, so he looks back to her and gets ready to move out.]

[ If not for Bucky's presence, Steve would be running hard in the opposite direction. Figuratively speaking.

Nothing Natasha says makes sense, except for her being farther ahead. Before the ice, waking up. He has the odd sense of impending disaster, of something bearing down on him from a distance, and he doesn't even know the shape of it to determine if it can be stopped.

He needs to talk to Peggy again. Bucky can't help - Bucky needs help - and Steve needs perspective that he can't find in himself.

He also, very abruptly, doesn't trust Natasha.

Steve loads his chosen supplies into the Jeep's tiny storage space and climbs in back, trying several times to think of something to say and each time coming up empty.]

[ Natasha watches them both. She's been shepherding this conversation but is the last to move, eyes scanning over the supplies, the set of the Soldier's shoulders, Steve's look on his face. The one he gets when he's— Well, she's seen it before.

It's been a few years, though. Natasha shoulders her medical bag off and into the back, along with a rifle that's actually a tranq gun. She doesn't touch Steve, but she does catch his eye, staring pointedly.

Yeah, they're definitely going to talk later.

Looks like she's driving.

Now would be the time for a radio station. No dice. The compound is pretty large, surrounded by walls and a thick, front gate that needs to be raised. At least that doesn't look easily breachable from the outside. Small blessings. ]

[He hesitates before he gets in the vehicle. No one's actually told him what's going on, and while that's often true for HYDRA, it's usually only when it comes to big picture things. He's usually well informed of mission parameters.]

What are we doing?

We saw people out there. We want to see if we can talk to them - if I can. [ He addresses Bucky, keeping his face carefully averted from Natasha. The gun he'll have at his back.

Stupid thought. Shake it off. ]

Looked like something was wrong with them.

Strict recon. They might be clustered north.

[ Natasha muses. Around Hollows, she means. Not that she, as a whole, trusts vague instructions and/or directions. It doesn't seem entirely by chance that the not-so-helpful door scribble corresponds to the first signs of life(?) that they've seen outside.

But there's a lot of that going around.

Once they reach the gate for the compound that leads out, Natasha vaults over the door of the driver's side quickly without bothering to open it. The gate requires a little shouldering, but it opens.

And out into the grand unknown. ]

See anything?

[He nods and takes a standing position in the back of the Jeep, pulling the rifle from his back and setting it against one of the supports. When Natasha asks, he looks through the scope at the horizon ahead.

This... This is good. This is purpose, purpose and direction, things he sorely needs.]

They're a mile off.

[Almost as far as Hollows, whatever that is, but not quite.]

[He opens his mouth and then closes it again before he can issue an order not to shoot without provocation.

No orders. No demands.]

We don't have to hurt anyone unless they attack.

[ Natasha doesn't comment. A mile off. It's not until there are some shapes that come out clearer than the rest, huddled over something, making— Natasha's not sure she's ever heard noises like that.

The closer they get, the more her neck prickles. She glances sidelong at Steve. Whatever remark or joke blooms on her tongue is for a friend, and she doesn't have him here.

The jeep stills. She wrenches the handbrake in place; the way she's come to a stop means they're not head-on to whatever they are, but parallel.

Quietly (in a way that's— surprised, or confused): ]

What are they doing?

[He watches. He could shoot, it's true, but the notes said they're attracted to gunshots, and he's had no orders to kill, so he keeps his finger off the trigger, using the rifle for its scope more than anything else.

The sounds make him twitch, and he shifts, agitated, as he watches them closely.]

They're... eating...

[Steve stands up very slowly. To get a better vantage point. To avoid attracting the attention of-

Something tears. A piece falls and a stray diner looks up, a berry-red ring around its mouth.

Steve draws in a long breath and says, quietly:] Natasha, get us out of here.

Hold on.

[ The jeep roars. There is no way to get out of there like this, the sound loud and the terrain this side of uneven, but it's not far. The gate, she thinks, might be more trouble than it's worth, but they just need to get inside—

From the masses is a scream, high pitched and full of treble, unholy, like the last scream of a burning man. ]

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