Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin & GnothiSeauton)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: GnothiSeauton on 01-07-2010, 01:58:24</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 01:58:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She could remember when the grass was green.&nbsp; Back then, the trees were so colorful with the bright colors of summer.&nbsp; Birds chirped merrily, filling the outdoors with the beautiful, serine sounds.&nbsp; Life was so beautiful, so full of life, so fucking wonderful to experience.<br><br>But that was then.<br><br>Now it was all gone.&nbsp; There was no green grass, only the yellow, dead grass, and even that was a rare sight in the wasteland that the world had become.&nbsp; It was a desert.&nbsp; Dirt was everywhere.&nbsp; Buildings in cities and towns lay in ruins throughout the world.&nbsp; What little life that survived had to fight it out amongst themselves for shelter and safety.&nbsp; Between the ever present Zombies that roamed the land in search of any kind of food, and the various packs of wild, zombified animals, it became a living nightmare for anyone trying to survive.<br><br>The world was a different place since the war destroyed everything.&nbsp; Not many people alive know what happened.&nbsp; It all started with the bombs.&nbsp; Once they fell, it was all over.&nbsp; Communications, satellites, television, phones, it was all gone.&nbsp; The military bases were the first to be hit, then the government, and then there was nothing.&nbsp; As the world settled into the new world, filled with uncertainty and death, one thing was certain:&nbsp; the bombs changed everything.&nbsp; <br><br>Between the wild, brain dead zombies that roamed the earth in search of food and the various gangs of renegade humans that sought only their own personal pleasures in life, it was tough to live and survive.<br><br>On a fateful December morning, however, Delilah Thompson could only pray she was going to live another day.<br><br>Through the streets of the abandoned little town she ran, and ran like hell.&nbsp; With her long white hair flowing behind her head, her chest ached with the sharp pain of exhaustion.&nbsp; Her whole body seemed to be giving up with sore, weak legs and joints.&nbsp; Sounds of the infected zombies behind her, carrying the mutated radiation in their mouths and blood, only drove her on even more.<br><br>Five of the infected chased after her, their primal instincts for food dominant in their mushy minds.&nbsp; Food.&nbsp; Food.&nbsp; Food.&nbsp; Delilah could only hope and pray for a miracle.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 02:37:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nothing but the wind and the cracking of the dust and dirt beneath his boots greeted him as he first entered the city.&nbsp; He looked like one of the old Baudoins of ancient Arabia, wrapped from head to toe in robes and fabric.&nbsp; Thick, worn steel-reinforced leathers gloves covered his hands and the brown-black color of his boots were one of the three things that gave him away as something other than a pile of robes.&nbsp; His goggles, shiny and black, stood out, ironically making his eyes seem to shine when the sun it it just right.&nbsp; But not an inch of skin was showing, not an inch of anything soft that someone could try to rip and tear.<br><br>He'd had enough damn well of that a long time ago.&nbsp; <br><br>He'd tagged his first zombie almost before he found water.&nbsp; It was strange - they wandered but didn't get aggressive until they saw something... well, non-zombie.&nbsp; They rarely attacked each other and only then after a long period of time without anything else.&nbsp; It had rushed him, one of the fast ones - those were scary the first encounter - but its head went bouncing along the ground as his blade sliced through it effortlessly.&nbsp; His covered thumb flicked off the power core, the almost impossible-to-see vibrations stopping.&nbsp; Sliding it back onto his back, the hilt began to shine as the small solar panel there began to recharge.&nbsp; Someone had told him it wasn't the most elegant of solutions.&nbsp; That moron was probably dead when he ran out of things to trade for power cells.<br><br>The next zombie was as he was crossing over what looked to be an old park.&nbsp; The sign was so faded and worn it was impossible to read for sure, but the dead trees were a giveaway.&nbsp; It nearly got the drop on him, but he managed to kick it with his boot, knocking it to the ground, then pierced its eye with the blades hidden in the toe of his boots, watching the diseased blood flow out like a putrid flood.&nbsp; He crushed the skull beneath the heavy boot, continued to walk through the city, hoping to find something useful.<br><br>Then he heard the scream.&nbsp; At first he thought it was the wind - few people bothered living in the cities anymore and then behind massive walls.&nbsp; But that's what it was, he knew, when he heard it again.&nbsp; It eched down the ruined canyons of the city, disorting its source.&nbsp; The woman was lucky, though, that she turned the right corner.&nbsp; He was a little amazed... three zombies after one girl?&nbsp; She must have cut herself or... oh shit, this wasn't good.&nbsp; He quickly dropped to a knee and pulled one of the rifles from his back.&nbsp; Loading the chamber, he took aim and fired, the round exploding as it his the zombies hit, setting it afire and leaving it without its lower torso.&nbsp; A good stomping would finish it off if the fire didn't.<br><br>He looked at the next round and frowned.&nbsp; Not incendiary... must have messed up last night.&nbsp; Still, he took aim at its head and fired, blowing a hole the size of his head.&nbsp; He laughed softly.&nbsp; They had used to call those cop-killers.&nbsp; Beautiful rounds, effective and knocks them dead.&nbsp; He saw&nbsp; the girl still running to him, but bitched when she got in his line of fire.&nbsp; He nearly put a hole in her torso, but the moment she stumbled, he gently squeezed the trigger.<br><br>What happened next could only be described as a thing of morbid beauty.&nbsp; The round sliced through the air, fragmenting as it did.&nbsp; For a moment he was worried it would strafe her, but he watched as it shot passed her, the small pellets digging into its flesh and ripping it apart.&nbsp; Again, not elegant, but effective.&nbsp; It was a dangerous shot, but he smiled as he stood, holding the rifle over his shoulder as he walked to her.&nbsp; He turned his head as he passed, walking to the creatures and stomping their heads in for good measure, turning back to her and waiting for some sort of response.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 04:59:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The deserted and ruined streets were filled with the echos of Delilah's cries and screams for help.&nbsp; Her tired legs continued to mercilessly push her and push her, determined to escape, even if it seemed as if that would require a miracle.&nbsp; The 'Speed Demons' as she called them were relentless behind her, their cries and animal-like growls of hunger chilling her to the bone.<br><br><em>Gotta get away...&nbsp; Gotta find a way out of here...</em><br><br>As she turned a sharp corner, her body stopped out of sheer fear and shock.&nbsp; The figure of the man, standing so firmly and rigid in front of her shocked her.&nbsp; Seeing the inanimate, obscured figure of the man wrapped in the heavy fabric and material like a suit of armor was more than enough to cause the blonde to lose her footing.&nbsp; She fell and skidded down to the rubble strewn, demolished street, ducking and crouching in fear as the sounds of gunshots and screaming of dying zombies filled her ears.<br><br>It was only once the sounds of death and last groans of the dying zombies faded into silence, she slowly turned her attention to the man that seemingly waited for some kind of response from her.&nbsp; Slowly Delilah rose from the ground.&nbsp; In her leather boots, jeans, and leather jacket to accompany her back pack of supplies and possessions, she could only tremble a little from the shock of it all.&nbsp; Gun fighting always frightened her, especially when so close to her.&nbsp; <br><br>"Th-thanks." She said quietly in her naturally soft voice.&nbsp; "I didn't think I was going to make it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 14:49:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He walked slowly, scanning the other buildings for any other of the mutated freaks, silent as death.&nbsp; His head turned to face her as he continued to examine the zombies for anything useful, but then it turned back down without a word.&nbsp; His gloves made quick work on their remaining clothing, although he did leave them decent.&nbsp; Pulling out a rather vicious looking dagger, he slowly began to cut into their stomachs, rolling them over to see if each had eaten anything useful.&nbsp; He'd once found an old-world engagement ring and that had been enough to make him always check.&nbsp; For a minute he looked and said nothing, but once his search was over, he stood and looked back at her.<br><br>It was impossible to really see any movement of his eyes, but head movements were a bit easier, only because the fabric wrapped around him would shift.&nbsp; It was obvious he was examining her, evaluating her along with who knows what else.&nbsp; He slipped the blade back into the folds of his clothing, taking a few rough steps toward her.&nbsp; "You probably shouldn't have," he finally answered roughly, walking over to her.&nbsp; He towered over her - standing easily six-seven - and his downcast gaze wasn't the most comforting either.&nbsp; "But you do continue to survive.&nbsp; Count your small blessings and move on."&nbsp; <br><br>Upon closer inspection, the some of the lower layers of fabric weren't exactly what it appeared.&nbsp; It was dust covered and dirty, but it wasn't cotton or linen or silk.&nbsp; It looked almost as if it had a dull metallic hue, but it didn't look like metal.&nbsp; When the sun hit it right, it almost seemed to look blue and slick, almost like metal so finely woven into each other to make a fabric.&nbsp; He was wearing a backpack, but it wasn't the napsack that most now used, it looked like the old backpacking style that boy scouts used to carry, swaddled in dusty linen fabric, that much was obvious.&nbsp; It was strange, he looked like a single, fat entity, almost as if he stood still against the backdrop of the wastelands, he'd be invisible.&nbsp; <br><br>He walked around her and started down the street, as if the entire encounter had been an annoyance and he was getting back to his routine and travels.&nbsp; He was walking slowly, easily slow enough for her to catch up with him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 21:01:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Partial shock and surprise continued to take over her limbs and body.&nbsp; It was the first time in a long time that she had seen anyone, even if he seemed like a wrapped up person of fabrics and other materials.&nbsp; Months ago she had seen someone else, and that was as they were screaming and pleading for help as the Zombies ripped him to pieces.&nbsp; She shuddered as the memory came into her mind, giving her an opportunity to move on instinct alone.<br><br>"Wait up!" She called out, running with some pain in her leg as she caught up to him.&nbsp; <br><br>Whomever this was, there was just an unexplainable feeling of needing to be with him.&nbsp; Perhaps it was the loneliness of being alone in the wild, apocalyptic world, or perhaps it was the overwhelming curiosity she had with this odd and curious man that had saved her.<br><br>"Take me with you, please."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 00:30:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He stopped suddenly when she called out to him, turning his head slowly to look back at her.&nbsp; Even without the ability to see facial expressions, body movements or the reaction of his muscles, it was obvious he was contemplating.&nbsp; Running the possible consequences through his mind of what this might cause.&nbsp; As she came up to him, but before she could reach him, he turned and continued to walk again, not speaking again.<br><br>Unlike many others he'd encountered, he walked slowly and purposeful.&nbsp; Each step was like the last, never a sign of fatigue, steps just as quick over broken ground as flat, up and down hills and mountains, almost as if he were an untiring sentinel that simply was doomed to walk the world forever.&nbsp; He knew where he was going, even if it would take him another year or two to get there.&nbsp; West and south, down from his old home, following rumors and speculation.<br><br><em>Should I allow her to come with me?</em> he thought silently, turning back once again to look at her.&nbsp; He frowned.&nbsp; She was young.&nbsp; She seemed... energetic.&nbsp; That two tended to be problems.&nbsp; It'd be a while since he'd seen a wanderer like her that young - most youth tended to stay in the enclaves, using walls to keep themselves safe from the zombies and worse.&nbsp; There were things much, much worse than zombies.&nbsp; He turned his head back forward slowly, a slight shrug to the covered form as he had decided.&nbsp; Dead pan, almost as if it pained him, he spoke.<br><br>"I won't stop you from walking beside me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 01:36:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Thanks." She said genuinely as she kept pace beside him.&nbsp; Like never before Delilah was thankful to have at least something to walk with and keep her company.&nbsp; In a world like this, it was good to have someone to stick to and keep entertained while keeping safe.&nbsp; Clearly this man knew what he was doing with a gun and knife, something Delilah didn't have any idea about.&nbsp; <br><br>"There's an old convenience store on the other side of town.&nbsp; No one really knows about it.&nbsp; The place is stocked with bottled water and snack foods.&nbsp; I was on my way back when I met those three." Delilah said, hoping she could make herself of atleast a little bit of use to him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 17:20:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For a long moment he paused, slowly turning and look back behind him, as if he could look through the ruined buildings to this convenience store, slowly scanning around himself in a circle before finally looking in her direction.&nbsp; His rags rose and fell for a moment as he took in a deep breath, turning his head slightly away.&nbsp; "Where is this?&nbsp; How far would I need to double back?"&nbsp; He turned his head back to hers as he spoke, the tone of his voice as if he was truly debating just going on without it, but a bit of sanity winning out in even considering it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 18:26:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Delilah turned around and pointed down the street.&nbsp; Just visible in the approaching darkness was the faint sight of what seemed to be an old gas station.&nbsp; The large overhang over the gas dispensers had collapsed, providing a little entrance into the main part of the convenience store.&nbsp; "There's tons of stuff in there.&nbsp; It looks like no one's been there before." She explained.&nbsp; "Water.&nbsp; Soda.&nbsp; Food.&nbsp; It's a gold mine."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 19:34:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He looked for a long while, breathing softly before taking a step towards it, resuming his lumbering pace.&nbsp; He didn't speak for a few dozen steps, but then turned and looked at her, "If this ends up being a trap..." he warned harshly, that doubt in his mind.&nbsp; Looking at the place, it was perfect.&nbsp; One way in and out, unless he decided to go through a window, and supposed filled with 'goodies' that would entice most people.<br><br>The fact that she was running from zombies made him wonder if the bait attracted the wrong type of fish, but it wouldn't be the first him he'd seen that.&nbsp; A few months back he was crossing an old overpass and saw a classic bait and hook style trap below - a lone woman sitting in the middle of the worn road, head turned toward two women who were approaching, asking for their help.&nbsp; It was obvious from his vantage point that she had four of her partners hidden with weapons to kill the two men and take their things, but oh what a wonderful reversal.&nbsp; Those four were killed, bodies looted and left for the buzzards.&nbsp; The two men drug the woman off and he didn't need much imagination to know what they did with her.&nbsp; He heard her screams that night.<br><br>Still, he paused near the entrance, scanning the area for any unfriendlies, then looked at her.&nbsp; "You first."&nbsp; He gestured with his hand, the fabric tatters hanging down as if he were some homeless person from the Before.&nbsp; Not that her going first would really change the springing of a trap, but it would give him a few more seconds to react.&nbsp; Sometimes that was enough.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 20:19:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Softly she laughed as she led the way down the street.&nbsp; "The first person I see in months thinks I'm trying to kill them.&nbsp; Great." She thought out loud, not really thinking of what she was saying.&nbsp; After being on her own for so long, cut off from any contact with anyone or anything, she had developed the habit of thinking out loud without much thought about it.<br><br>As they arrived at the run down and abandoned convenience store, she could only laugh when he said to go in first.&nbsp; "Whatever." she said, shaking her head in slight amusement as she entered the dark and dirty, dusty building.&nbsp; There was no one here.&nbsp; She knew that the first time she came in and found the thick layer of dust onto the floor.&nbsp; One way in, one way out.<br><br>Pulling out her flash light from the side pocket upon her bag, she flashed it at the old broken coolers, containing bottles upon bottles upon bottles of water.&nbsp; Shelves were filled with bags of potato chips, twinkies, and every other kind of snack food. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 20:31:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"How do I know you're not lying?" he answered after a pause.&nbsp; Everything about him seemed to be a bit slow, but he rarely spoke something that he hadn't thought of.&nbsp; "How do you know that I'm not the one pulling the trick on you?" he continued, grinning beneath his mask as he followed her in.&nbsp; He scanned the place and blinked beneath his goggles.&nbsp; "You weren't kidding," he said, walking over to the old counter and placing his backpack on it.&nbsp; He walked over to the water and began to ferry them over next to his backpack, all while keeping an eye on the woman.&nbsp; "This is a good find, than you."&nbsp; But he still seemed cautious.&nbsp; He was alive because he was cautious.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 20:39:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"If you were the one pulling the trick on me, you would of when you gunned down those Mush Heads." She said, raising an eye brow at him.&nbsp; Delilah wasn't as stupid as some of the other survivors.&nbsp; While others lived their lives behind the thick walls of forts and in convoys, she was on her own, fending for herself with a survival instinct and knowledge she had cultivated in the world of death.<br><br>Delilah herself began going back through the store, looking to see if she could find something she had missed before.&nbsp; Her bag upon her back was filled with supplies of water, soda, and snacks, yet as she looked around at the abundance of everything, she felt like another few things couldn't hurt.&nbsp; Finding a back pack on a near by for sale rack, she began filling another bag of food and water and batteries.&nbsp; There was no telling when she would come across such a find like this, and she wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to have more food and supplies.<br><br>"It's going to be dark soon." She said, looking out of the window at the darkening sky.&nbsp; "So what's your name?&nbsp; I'm Delilah."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 21:26:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He didn't bother with anything but water, but he managed to get most of the entire case out of the dead cooler and onto the table.&nbsp; He twisted open the lid to his water bag - one of those old camel-back things with a rubber straw that led straight to his mouth, and began to slowly pour the water into, getting ten or twelves before he took a long drink enough to fill another bottle.&nbsp; There were still easily another ten or twelves, but he'd just leave them.&nbsp; Too much weight would mean death out there.<br><br>He turned his head when she asked his name.&nbsp; He didn't reply for about ten seconds, the sound of him slurping the water from the camelback the only noise coming from his direction.&nbsp; But finally he breathed in and answered, "People used to call me Raz."&nbsp; He didn't bother with anything else, no explanation whether that was his name, a nickname, what he meant by "used to" or who those people were.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 22:02:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Again she laughed softly.&nbsp; "I didn't ask what people used to call you." She said with a soft, playful smirk as she hopped up onto the checkout counter.&nbsp; With a Slim Jim in hand, she idly began to rear into the wrapper, hungry for something that didn't involve living off of wild plants and what she could find.&nbsp; "So.&nbsp; What's your name?&nbsp; Sorry if I just seem too rude...&nbsp; You're just, the first person I've seen in a while up close that wasn't getting their body gnawed at by Mush Heads."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>03-07-2010, 14:51:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His head turned quickly at her joke, obviously not taking it well, "Most of them are dead and I don't talk to many people anymore.&nbsp; So just call me Raz as well."&nbsp; He stuffed a few shrink-wrappped donuts into his back and slipped the backpack onto his form, throwing some of the fabric over it again as if it were reattaching to his body itself.&nbsp; &nbsp; He took a few steps to the entrance, but paused, looking at the place and then the sun sinking through the window.&nbsp; "Either we leave now and try to get out of the city by nightfall or we fortify here.&nbsp; Your choice, Slim," he said, the last bit a curl of humor.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>03-07-2010, 19:23:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She looked around at the quiet and dark interior of the building.&nbsp; There was no need for her to debate about what she wanted to do.&nbsp; It was either risk their lives trying to flee the little town they were in, or hold up in a place well stocked until morning.&nbsp; The choice was clear for Delilah.&nbsp; "I say stay here.&nbsp; Food.&nbsp; Shelter.&nbsp; Water.&nbsp; If you ask me, this is the Ritz Carlton of places to hide out." She said clearly, slowly unzipping her jacket to reveal her white tank top and swelling breasts that seemed ready to burst through the tight material.&nbsp; Laying it out onto the counter, she stood ready and expectantly waiting for instructions.&nbsp; "What can I do to help?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>08-07-2010, 16:09:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Most mean would have reacted to the sight of her body.&nbsp; Maybe he did, but not a soul on the planet would have been able to find out.&nbsp; His head hadn't moved, although his eyes could have.&nbsp; His head slowly glanced toward the door and then back at her.&nbsp; For a moment, he wondered if this was some sort of long con, trying to get his trust and get him to sleep before offing him.&nbsp; He debated that for another long moment before he finally took a deep breath, "Get some of the rubble and set in the opening.&nbsp; Close it some.&nbsp; If anything tries to get it, they'll have to move that and your mush heads aren't exactly the brightest," he began to unwrap the cloth fabric from his body.<br><br>There were four pieces to be exact, the first pieces to unwrap was triangular, almost like a cape, but longer that it could wrap around his body twice, giving him that appearance like an old Arab.&nbsp; The rest were tunics of all things, the lower two with arm holes cut out so that he could wear them off center.&nbsp; But the most intriguing thing was the metal fabric that encircled his neck and head.&nbsp; Cool to the touch and blue, it shimmered in the dim lightly.&nbsp; "Its a titanium and carbon-fiber weave.&nbsp; Makes this," he said, tapping the flak jacket on his chest, "Look like paper."&nbsp; He slipped the latter off, finally standing there, looking human.<br><br>He had short brown hair that he kept cropped, although it was obvious from the mismatched length of his hair that he did it himself.&nbsp; He wore just a normal undershirt as his main shirt and raggy jeans.&nbsp; His arms were covered with what looked like bites and burns, long since scarred over, but making his large, muscular form seem even more intimidating.&nbsp; He pulled the goggles off of his eyes and rested them on his forehead, his green eyes looking at her.&nbsp; "I'll start on dinner."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>12-07-2010, 18:03:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Delilah didn't waste any time at all before setting off on her duty.&nbsp; Although she was a lithe young woman, she had some strength to move rubble and debris to the opened doorway.&nbsp; Thick rocks and tangled metal racks were thrown together in the open doorway, going up to about five and a half feet.&nbsp; It was piled thick and tall, creating a barrier between the outside world and the inside, creating at least a little bit of a safe haven.<br><br>With a gleam of sweat over her forehead and body, she turned around just in time to see the unwrapped man.&nbsp; Instantly her eyes went over his face and body, taking mental notes of his facial features and whatever else she could with only a glance.&nbsp; He looked cute to say the least.&nbsp; From the look in his face and arms, it was clear what the Apocalypse had done to him.&nbsp; He seemed cold, dark, not saying much at all.<br><br>Grabbing a bottle of Gatorade, she quietly walked over and sat herself upon the counter, relaxing her sore muscles as she studied him.<br><br>"So what's for dinner?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>12-07-2010, 18:09:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well, the only meat I have right now is some salted cat I caught a few days back.&nbsp; How a Persian survived this long... and damn they have a lot of fur," he laughed, digging through his backpack until he produced what looked like a terribly worn brown paper bag, crusted over with salt and water stains, "I was hoping to bag a deer on my way south," he unwrapped it and it was just what he said.&nbsp; He'd flayed it, leaving the ribs, torso and head back, but it was a thin mat of flesh and four legs - which looked like drumsticks and thighs like one might find at an old KFC.<br><br>"You've got some muscle in that body of yours," he said as he looked over her work, taking a mental note of that.&nbsp; He smiled and looked back at the store.&nbsp; "We need to be careful building a fire in here, but you remember Mac and Cheese?"&nbsp; He grinned, walking over and grabbing a pack of what looked to be something that someone from Before would never have thought of.&nbsp; "It'll hide some of the salt of the meat."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>12-07-2010, 23:30:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A grimace came across her face at the sight of the cat being pulled out and laid out upon the table.&nbsp; Even though she lived in a world where things weren't cute and cuddly, she couldn't look at the cat.&nbsp; It reminded her too much of her old cat, from before all of this went to shit.&nbsp; "I think I'll just stick with the canned fruit and mac and cheese, thanks."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>13-07-2010, 15:15:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Still haven't been able to disassociate from the past?" he replied, gathering a few things that were burnable and starting to work on the fire.&nbsp; He glanced up at her and shook his head, "You do need to eat meat.&nbsp; If this has proven anything, its that vegetarianism doesn't work in humanity," he laughed, striking flint and steel together to make a spark.&nbsp; He looked back at her - she was in too good of form to not be eating correctly and she did have a good amount of meat on her bones.&nbsp; The shirt sure showed some of that off.<br><br>"So where are you heading and what's your story?"&nbsp; Might as well be social.&nbsp; Learn a bit about her before the wastelands tried to claim both of them.&nbsp; It was his way to preserving humanity - learn as much about those who survived and maybe, just maybe, be able to pass it on.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>13-07-2010, 23:22:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sorry if when I still look at a cat, I get reminded of one of my cats from before..." She mumbled under her breath.&nbsp; Insulting and angering him was the last thing she wanted to do.&nbsp; It was clear who was the stronger of the two, not to mention the more powerful and intimidating.&nbsp; The last thing Delilah wanted was to make him run away from her, leaving the poor girl all alone again after being on her own for some time.&nbsp; It was nice having someone else around her, someone that didn't look at her and think about dinner.&nbsp; "Thanks, but I'll stick to the beef-jerky and junk food."<br><br>When the man asked about her past and her "story", Delilah paused for a minute, not really sure what to say to this stranger.&nbsp; "I'm headed out to the Pacific." She said, idly swinging her legs forward and backwards like some innocent child would.&nbsp; "I was at school in Pennsylvania when the world went to shit.&nbsp; My family and everything was back out west.&nbsp; I figured that, if I'm going to die, I want to die back home, where I was born."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>14-07-2010, 02:50:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He raised an eyebrow, but frowned, "I can tell you with fairly good certainty that if you're from LA, its all gone.&nbsp; I was a researcher for the federal government before the war.&nbsp; I had relatives in one of the suburbs..." he said, leaving the details sparse, "But I do know that Dallas, of all places, was spared a direct hit.&nbsp; I've heard rumors that what's left of the Republic is based out of the old Cowboys stadium.&nbsp; That's where I'm headed."&nbsp; He grimaced for a moment, realizing he'd shared a bit more than he had meant.&nbsp; "Then again, it could all be rumors."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>14-07-2010, 06:27:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yeah.&nbsp; I know about L.A...." Delilah said, shifting her eyes down to her feet.&nbsp; "I've heard it all before about the wasteland it is, but that's my home.&nbsp; That's where I'm from, that's where my family is." She continued, knowing full well that any life at all that was there before the Event was long gone to ashes.&nbsp; "I want to die next to them.&nbsp; With the musheads, the cannibal rape gangs, and the mutants running around, I would rather die with my family around me instead of with some strangers, or by myself for that matter."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>15-07-2010, 14:43:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Now if that isn't one the more noble things I've heard in a long time," he quipped, pouring the macaroni into a small pot and placing it on the fire to boil, "Usually its something like 'I want to find a place to live' or 'I'm running from the rape gangs,' or something like that."&nbsp; He sat back and pulled his shirt from his chest, pumping it a few times to get some air onto his skin.<br><br>"What route are you thinking?&nbsp; Either you cross the Rocky's and freeze or the desert and burn..." he recounted, remembering a bit of geography, "Although that does mean we could both be heading the same direction."&nbsp; He laughed a short chuckle, then turned his attention back to the fire.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>17-07-2010, 06:51:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yeah, well, I've had a few encounters with them too." She quietly said in reference to the Rape gangs.&nbsp; Still fresh in her mind was the night she almost lost her life to them.&nbsp; At night it still haunted her as the memories of laying face down in a filthy, trash ridden ditch while the screams and cries of her companions could be heard from their campsite only yards away.<br><br>Quietly she shrugged the lingering shivers from the thoughts away from her, trying to focus her attention on the question at hand.&nbsp; "I haven't decided yet." Delilah said truthfully.&nbsp; "I think I'd rather take my chances in the mountains.&nbsp; Always liked the cold better than the damn heat."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>17-07-2010, 13:51:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Once we get out past the cities, they usually drop off.&nbsp; Not many try to cross the wilderness anymore, not on foot and not with just two people," he replied, stirring the pot of semi-boiling water, "How people can turn so fast always amazes me..." he added as his voice trailed off.<br><br>He just looked at her for a long minute, obviously trying to figure her out.&nbsp; Not many would take the cold over the heat.&nbsp; Not to mention the thinner air, the hard climb... that meant she was determined, willing to take risks to get what she wanted.&nbsp; After that minute, he made his decision, one that she'd learn about soon enough.&nbsp; "Well, over the mountains it is.&nbsp; I wonder if Denver's around anymore..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>18-07-2010, 06:15:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Delilah kept quiet as he spoke and continued to talk.&nbsp; Still fresh in her mind was the memories of that fateful night.&nbsp; As soft tears ran down her face, she still could hear the faded, distant screams of her companions.&nbsp; It was only on pure fate that she had stuck around in the rear, deciding to take a little extra time in the run down library before finally going to catch up with her friends.&nbsp; Seeing them off in the distance, cornered by a pack of motorcycle-riding Rape Gang members, she could only run and hide in a near by ditch as they raped and killed all of them, feasting upon their dead bodies like the cannibals they are.&nbsp; Throughout the night and into the next day she did not leave the cold, dirty ditch, fearful of being seen and captured by them.&nbsp; The nightmares still haunted her, and she doubted very much if they would ever leave her or not.<br><br>She shook her head as he brought back the attention to Denver and her determined trip through the mountains.&nbsp; "I have it figured out.&nbsp; There's a rail road that cuts through the mountains.&nbsp; It's better than sticking to the roads and waiting for lingering Rape Gangs or Mush Heads to pick us off." She said before reaching into her bag and pulling out a map.&nbsp; Her finger traced over a route marked by a rail road track that cut clear through the mountains and highlands, all the way to the cascades and the Pacific.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>18-07-2010, 14:31:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Us?" he caught quickly, pulling the macaroni off of the fire and pouring out the water in the old cash register, using the top as a strainer, "I'm headed to Dallas, not LA.&nbsp; If you want to travel with me, we're heading there first."&nbsp; The way it said it was sure to get on her nerves.&nbsp; It was like he was <em>allowing</em> her to travel with him, as if he were a fucking first class ticket on an old airlines or something, "But," he said, looking at the map.&nbsp; She would angle up through what was northwestern Arkansas to get to her rail line, which meant that they had some of the route in common, "It looks like we can take Old I-81 to I-40... its not out of the way for either of us.&nbsp; At least until Little Rock."&nbsp; He shrugged, pouring the cheese mix into the noodles and mixing in a bit of water.&nbsp; Milk would be great, but good luck finding that.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>23-07-2010, 06:08:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Delilah openly rolled her eyes at his adamant stance of going to Dallas.<br><br>"What the hell do you want to do in Dallas?&nbsp; Try to rebuild civilization?" She asked, a little frustration clear in her voice.&nbsp; In Delilah's mind, there was no good that came to going to Dallas.&nbsp; From what she had heard, there was nothing there but people and their bullshit, arguing over who was in charge and what was going to happen.&nbsp; Of course, she could have been wrong.&nbsp; There was no telling what was truth and what was rumor in this world.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>23-07-2010, 15:04:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He threw her a cruel look when she seemed to mock him, "I have my own reasons to head to Dallas.&nbsp; Once I get there and get done what I need, I don't plan on staying..." he said rather cryptically, "At least I'm not traveling to die."&nbsp; He slid the pot of mac and cheese over the rubbled floor to her, "Eat up and sleep.&nbsp; We leave with the sun."<br><br>He ripped a piece of his salted meat and started to chew on it, looking at her as she served herself, "You travel light considering how far you want to go," he finally commented, looking at her things and then his, "Getting down from Penn is a feat, but do you know what its going to be like once we get out of the old Megapolis of the East Coast?&nbsp; There are miles of empty space - bouncing from town to town will get harder."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>23-07-2010, 19:15:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She laughed at his pointed remark about her on a journey to die.&nbsp; "You know what?&nbsp; In this world, you can't know what's right, or what's wrong.&nbsp; There's no certainty out here, but one certainty, and that's death.&nbsp; We all gotta die sometime, and if I'm going to die, I might as well give myself one last ounce of happiness instead of roaming around this god-forsaken planet trying to survive." Delilah said, picking up a plastic spoon from a package of plastic cutlery before digging into her macaroni and cheese.&nbsp; "Don't worry about me.&nbsp; I'll be fine on my own.&nbsp; I survived Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C., nothing but wastelands filled with mush heads and the fucking mutant bastards.&nbsp; I think I'll survive a walk through wide open territory where I can see whatever is coming my way."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>27-07-2010, 15:14:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He shook his head in disappointment at the girl.&nbsp; Didn't she just ask to come with him and now suddenly she didn't need him?&nbsp; Wide open areas, even without her mush-heads, were far, far more dangerous than cities.&nbsp; He'd crossed a few... "Seeing them coming is half the problem.&nbsp; Where do you think the Army of Ten gets its slaves?&nbsp; Raiding a city here or there is tough work, but if they get lucky and catch someone out in the open while traveling... they're easy prey."&nbsp; He'd tangled with the damn "crusaders" a few times, barely escaped each times.<br><br>If there was any group he hated especially, it was those bastards.&nbsp; Took the end of the world as a sign that God wanted humanity to go back to its routes.&nbsp; They even tried to go back to the sacrifices in the Old Testament.&nbsp; Except finding unblemished animals was difficult.&nbsp; He knew damn well they'd done human sacrifices a few times.&nbsp; He shivered.&nbsp; "Trust me, going alone is tough.&nbsp; If you'll go with me to Dallas, I'll find a group that wants to go to California for you to go with.&nbsp; Don't go it alone."&nbsp; He knew the Army of Ten didn't have its tendrils that far out - or at least he hoped - but there were crazies all over the place.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>28-07-2010, 23:45:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For the longest time, Delilah had became silent.&nbsp; Her mind was filled with thoughts and questions as to what she should do at that point.&nbsp; Of course, she wanted to go with him.&nbsp; He was just the kind of strong and dominating presence she could follow for protection and security to say the least, not to mention he wasn't all that bad to look at either.&nbsp; Still, deep down inside, she could only feel that going to Dallas was a mistake, a long ways away and a long detour to something she had no intention of being apart of.&nbsp; <br><br>Softly she sighed, eating the last bit of her macaroni and cheese before throwing the container away in a nearby dusty trash bin.&nbsp; "I'll think about it. " She said honestly.&nbsp; "I just think Dallas is a waste of my time...&nbsp; Besides, I was never a fan of the Cowboys."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>29-07-2010, 14:15:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He scoffed at her playfully, tearing at another piece of meat, "I lived in Fort Worth for a while as a child, so I've never not been a fan.&nbsp; Although damn if it does get hot down there."&nbsp; He sighed and smiled, chomping on the meat, "Its always interesting to run into other people, especially those who knew the Before.&nbsp; There are two camps... well, three.&nbsp; Those who stay put and form the towns, those who wander like us, and those who die."&nbsp; He couldn't imagine settling down anywhere.&nbsp; He'd do what he needed and then leave.&nbsp; Maybe he'd go to the West Coast... and then turn around and come back East.&nbsp; "What was your sport?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>01-08-2010, 00:03:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It felt admittedly a little different to Delilah to be talking about this.&nbsp; To be talking about sports and life before the bombs was something that was totally different to her.&nbsp; For so long, she was used to talking about nothing at all by herself, or about rumors of settlements with the few sporadic survivors she encountered on her trip.&nbsp; She knew exactly what he was talking about.&nbsp; "Didn't have a sport, really, but if I had one, I guess it was football." Delilah said.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>02-08-2010, 16:05:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He smiled and looked at her hard for a moment, "Chose your next words carefully... because otherwise I'll leave you.&nbsp; You weren't an Eagles fan, were you?&nbsp; I could handle Redskins... but Eagless... I'd have to leave you alone.&nbsp; As much as I loved the Cowboys, I hated the Eagles more..." he teased, although maybe only half-joking.&nbsp; He felt a bit lighter, talking about things that weren't filled with ash and death.&nbsp; He missed the Sunday afternoons watching football.&nbsp; Although his life now had far, far more meaning than it did before.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>02-08-2010, 17:24:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She didn't say anything at all in response to his question.&nbsp; Instead, Delilah allowed her actions to speak for her.&nbsp; <br><br>Getting up from her spot on the counter, the young woman went straight over to her large back pack and began to rummage through it, pushing the mementos of her life away before finally pulling out what she had been looking for.&nbsp; A lone marine-green skull cap with the emblem of an eagle on it.&nbsp; With a devious grin she pulled it over her head to show her new companion just what team she rooted for.<br><br>For a brief, barely noticable moment to Delilah, everything seemed different.&nbsp; In that brief, fleeting moment, it was as if everything were normal again, that nothing had happened, and this was just playful teasing and joking around with out the lingering fear that came with survival.<br><br>"Like my hat?" She asked with a devious grin before climbing back up onto the counter top.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>03-08-2010, 14:21:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He harrumphed as she put on the damned green cap, shaking his head, "Now I've got to question your decision making ability... anyone who would like the Eagles..." he teased, taking a final bite of the jerky before standing to put it back in his bag, "Then again, you did live in Philly, so I guess I can cut you some slack for bowing to peer pressure..." he added, smiling as he leaned back, the same smile serving as a mask to hide what he was really thinking.&nbsp; Add that decision to one of the reasons he was planning what he was.<br><br>"We ought to get some sleep.&nbsp; Rise with the sun and I'd like to get out of town before too late in the day."&nbsp; It was more of a reading of his plans, almost command-like, although it was more of a "if you want to come with me..." sort of unspoken prefix.&nbsp; He stood and dusted off his pants before grabbing his sleeping bag, stretching it across relatively flat ground.&nbsp; He stripped off his shirt, revealing a toned and fit body, even if covered with more scars and bites.&nbsp; The bites stood out fairly well... there were so many, especially given that he was still human.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>03-08-2010, 23:32:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Almost immediately her eyes locked onto the various scars and cuts upon his body.&nbsp; Although they were healed for the most part, they still looked gruesome enough and painful.&nbsp; She shuddered to imagine just what it felt like to be attacked by one.&nbsp; Luckily for her, the young woman hadn't been bitten or clawed at yet.&nbsp; Still, her curiosity was something that just could not be contained, especially now that she had finally found someone that seemed interested in talking.<br><br>"Did it hurt?&nbsp; Your scars, I mean." She curiously asked from her perch atop the checkout counter.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>03-08-2010, 23:35:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Fuck yes they hurt," he replied without delay, taking a deep breath, "Luckily, I just had to worry about the physical damage.&nbsp; I'm one of the lucky fucks that has natural immunity to the viru..." he paused, debating whether he should continue.&nbsp; "We quickly learned that the nuclear detonations triggered mutations in several things.&nbsp; Bacteria and microbes mutated the fastest due to their short life cycles.&nbsp; One of them..." he continued, pointing at a bite mark, "Is contagious and creates your mush heads.&nbsp; About one-half of one percent of the population is naturally immune.&nbsp; My job was to isolate that and create a vaccine.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the second round of bombs stopped before we could test the vaccine."&nbsp; He laid back, keeping his head up with his arms, "That's half of the reason I'm going to Dallas.&nbsp; Our main R&amp;D was down there and I was hoping that maybe something survived..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>05-08-2010, 03:38:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her eye brows raised curiously at his remarks.<br><br>"So you're some sort of scientist on a mission?" Delilah asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.&nbsp; After being on her own for so long, she had lost a little bit of restraint and manners when it came to finally talking to someone that wasn't about rumors or where things were.&nbsp; "I definitely wouldn't have pegged you as a scientist.&nbsp; Soldier maybe, from your outfit outside and physique, but not a scientist that sits in a lab."<br><br>Although it was getting darker by the minute outside, Delilah was in no mood to sleep.&nbsp; It had been a long while since she had gotten sleep of any sort of extended time.&nbsp; There was no time to sleep.&nbsp; Constantly she had to be on the look out, her eyes wide open for any one or any thing that could be lurking around the corner.&nbsp; Her tiredness was evident by the bags under her eyes, the tired look on her face.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>05-08-2010, 03:56:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He turned his head and answered as cold as ice, "When the world collapses around you, you tend to learn fast.&nbsp; Also helped that some of the finest Marines in the country were stationed to guard us.&nbsp; With such highly motivated people teaching you... you learn fast."&nbsp; He flung a smile her way, glancing down at his arms, "Not to mention being bitten.&nbsp; Fuckers hurt.&nbsp; I might not get infected and turn, but it sure as hell still burns."&nbsp; He reached into his bag and fumbled at the bottom for a minute, finally pulling out a small electric latern.&nbsp; He wound it a few dozen times and it lit up, giving them more light.&nbsp; "Yeah, I can see how people would see me as a soldier now.&nbsp; An egghead with a gun.&nbsp; People ought to run, ya know."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>05-08-2010, 06:49:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"People ought to run, especially when you go around dressed up like a robot from some science fiction movie." She teased, slowly moving her body up onto the counter before resting against a pillar that ran through the counter to support the ceiling.&nbsp; It was as comfortable as she was going to get, it seemed.&nbsp; Sleep was just another thing she could live with out, as was usual out here in this harsh deathland.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>06-08-2010, 16:13:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He laughed - a good, relieving laugh - when she mentioned he looked like a robot.&nbsp; "Most people usually do.&nbsp; Or they simply don't see me.&nbsp; I move slowly to keep cool and the extra clothing helps too.&nbsp; But I dress like that... well, I guess to intimidate anyone who would want to mess with me.&nbsp; Even if I deter only one person on this trip, that's one less confrontation and that could mean the difference between me making it to Dallas and not."&nbsp; He chuckled as he thought further, "Might not hurt to cover you up some.&nbsp; The sun seems harsher than Before... and there are a lot of sex-deprived men out here."&nbsp; It was a logical warning, cold and calculated.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>06-08-2010, 23:33:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				To Delilah, his last comment was a joke.&nbsp; Openly she laughed and shook her head as if he had said something amusing rather than just talking and offering advice.&nbsp; "Yeah right." She remarked, shaking her head with amusement.&nbsp; "The day I go out wearing that kind of trash is the day I kill myself.&nbsp; I'm what, one hundred twenty pounds?&nbsp; I wear shit like that, and you'd have to push me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>10-08-2010, 14:39:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Lets hope you never have to find out.&nbsp; One twenty?&nbsp; I would have thought a bit lighter.&nbsp; Then again, I never was one of those who was good at guessing people's weight."&nbsp; He answered and kept with the light, jovial tone, but darkened a bit, "Maybe you don't have to go crazy like I did, but you probably ought to look for something a bit more protective.&nbsp; Then again, in ten years it might not be an issue - we're going to run out of bullets eventually."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>10-08-2010, 18:28:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"That's what I weighed the last time I checked before everything went to shit." She said with a soft smile upon her face.&nbsp; "It's funny what you remember, you know?&nbsp; I remember how much I weighed, and I can tell you exactly what I had for breakfast that morning all those years ago.&nbsp; Breakfast at Denny's.&nbsp; Eggs, sausage, bacon and corned beef hash with white bread toast and butter...&nbsp; What I wouldn't give for a big plate of that right now..."<br><br>Slowly she reached into her bag that sat beside her, not having to rummage around very much for a small pill bottle that she shook before him.&nbsp; From the sound of it, there were still a few pills inside.&nbsp; "If we run out of ammunition, I'm not going to wait around to see how long we survive without a gun."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>11-08-2010, 15:00:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He could feel his own mouth watering at the idea of a real, good breakfast.&nbsp; His last real meal had been baked chicken with asparagus... he'd kill for asparagus.&nbsp; He didn't even know where he could find the seeds.&nbsp; He'd been stupid enough once to go into a Home Depot, trying to find some seeds.&nbsp; That had been a mistake.&nbsp; "One day, maybe.&nbsp; If there is an sanity in this world, we'll develop bacon again very soon..." he laughed.&nbsp; He loved bacon.<br><br>He turned and looked at the two guns of his sitting on the counter, mentally counting his ammunition.&nbsp; He had a few extra magazines tucked away in his backpack, so that put him at a couple hundred rounds.&nbsp; He didn't have a clue if that would be enough, but it'd have to do.&nbsp; "The good news if we do, your mush-heads don't have range, so my vibroblade is still more than effective.&nbsp; I just wonder where they are getting their nutrients from... I would have thought they'd run out of meat months ago... unless their eating each other."&nbsp; The mind of a scientist... it rambled.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>16-08-2010, 04:24:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Delilah softly nodded her head at his words and rambling.&nbsp; In her silent reflection, the young woman couldn't help but to think that before all of this, when things were normal and sane, she had always been against guns of any sort.&nbsp; Now, however, the more the merrier in her mind.&nbsp; It was just another example of how things change when you feel like a rat in a maze:&nbsp; trapped, lost, and confused.&nbsp; <br><br>Slowly she climbed off of the counter and entered behind it.&nbsp; The narrow aisle where the store clerk or manager would stand would become her bed for the night.&nbsp; Although to some it may seem cramped and small, it was exactly the reason Delilah wanted the small space.&nbsp; Narrow and enclosed spaces always made her feel safer, tucked out of the way and out of sight for anyone or anything that may be coming around her way.&nbsp; She pushed away some of the debris of fallen ceiling panes and dusty papers, and soon laid out her sleeping bag before rolling her jacket up into a makeshift pillow.<br><br>Although there were a number of things that changed when the bombs dropped and the dust settled, for Delilah there was one thing that didn't change.&nbsp; Deep within the depths of her bag, she pulled out a worn out and old teddy-bear stuffed animal.&nbsp; Ever since she was a small child, she kept it around her, her rock and security blanket.&nbsp; Gently she placed it down onto the sleeping bag, making sure it was comfortable before standing up and leaning over the counter.<br><br>"So how are we going to do this, tonight?" She asked curiously.&nbsp; "We going to do night watch shifts, or just sleep and pray nothing comes to pay us a 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' visit?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Staerin</strong> on <strong>18-08-2010, 14:43:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He couldn't help but grin when he saw the teddy bear.&nbsp; Somewhere inside the mostly emotionally-dead man, he felt a bit of happiness.&nbsp; Even with all the gloom and dirt, there was a bit of softness still left in the world.&nbsp; Survival didn't give much in the way of luxury, but she kept at least a little bit with her.&nbsp; His mind would have looked at that and said it was wasted space, space that could be used for ammo, water... anything else.&nbsp; But he knew at some point a person needed luxury...<br><br>"I'm a light sleeper and there's only one way in.&nbsp; If you want to stay up and take a shift, you can; but I'd as much just tell you to sleep as much as you can."&nbsp; He glanced over at her and flashed a smile, pulling himself his sleeping bag in an aisle.&nbsp; It was one of the old backpacking bags - good to some ungodly cold temperature, easily compressed.&nbsp; Fit him and the rest of his gear perfectly; almost as if he had been planning to survive for a lot longer than anyone else.&nbsp; Either that or he was a Boy Scout or something.&nbsp; "Always thought of getting a dog for this reason, though..." he laughed, laying back and using the pile of rags as a pillow, "Except the whole problem of feeding them."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Life After The World Went Away (TuxThePenguin &amp; GnothiSeauton)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>GnothiSeauton</strong> on <strong>19-08-2010, 04:25:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yeah.&nbsp; Good luck finding a dog that's not infected with the virus or rabies." She idly remarked before turning back to her little hidden corner behind the counter.&nbsp; After taking off her boots and laying them aside, Delilah dropped back down onto the floor and settled herself into the old but comfortable sleeping bag.&nbsp; Holding onto her stuffed bear, the young woman settled in with her head resting upon the makeshift pillow. <br><br>"Goodnight." She said aloud before finally attempting to go to sleep.&nbsp; "Try not to stay up late."
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>