((B036- Benjamin Ward continued from Interstice of Time))
It wasn't like those Western movies that Benjamin Ward used to watch with his father. Those hyper-masculine cowboy movies with the tavern, those epic horseback battles, and the ultimate climax, the one-on-one pistol duel. The real man's men, John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood would triumph over their villain with that queer twirly mustache . . .the leather riding-crop . . .and the all black leather chaps. On second thought, maybe it was better that way. The more Benjamin Ward thought about Westerns, the gayer they sounded.
But that was beside the point. In that ultimate climax of the film, the protagonist would always shoot that sucker dead. Anyone else was left to the gallows. The gallows. The dry, dusty air spun and twirled the hanging lingerers like a pendulum. Back and forth with that satisfying crick that the straw rope made when it shifted from its taut position.
The corpse of Yasmin Carrol made no such satisfying sound. She hanged in rigid stasis. No dusty Western air jostled her around in that small, arts and crafts closet. She just hanged there; static. She looked like a doll, not really dead, yet clearly not alive; the glazed over look in her eyes was a familiar one. He'd unknowingly spent the night of Day Three with the body, mere hours after she'd opted out.
After nearly getting shot into swiss cheese by that weird Kraut kid with the assault weapon, Ben was thankful for escaping with his life. What he didn't escape with, however, was his bag. Ben didn't have the luxury of racing out the back door with the distraction he bought, like Vartoogian, his fag hag, Afro Che Guevara, and Chris had. He'd engaged Jaq directly and then had to high tail it out of there before she ordered her little Jerry soldier after him. Without food, without water and without a goddamn map, Ben blindly followed paths through the woods, hoping to come across something eventually. What he found instead, was a breadcrumb trail from hell.
He found the body of Mark Little first. That was some fucking introduction to real death. Names on the announcements were scary and all, but seeing the face of that dude he used sit with at the jocks' table, was brutal. Ben didn't get all weepy eyed or anything, but he almost puked the remaining crumbs of stale energy bar from his stomach. Mark was pancaked like road kill on the ground. Scattered around him were the splintered remains of a cart. Some fucking way to go. Crashing down without even a fighting chance. Sucks, man.
Then somehow he'd ended up by some flowery overlook where the body of some girl he couldn't name, laid. Body numero dos. As with Mark's body, this chick had no bag on her, which sucked. That was a night that Ben went hungry. But then it got better. The next day he found Lauren, a softball chick, back at the Amusement Park. He hadn't found a single fucking item of use between them. Everything was ravaged.
Ben craned his head away from the hanging girl, shifting his gaze to the front of the classroom. She wasn't interesting anymore, but that bag she left on the teacher's desk sure was. Fuck yeah. Ben's back in.
Ben didn't think to thank the girl for her contribution to Ben's breakfast. Ben didn't think to thank the girl for offing herself and being one more easy kill for those psychos playing for better arms. As Ben turned to leave the elementary school, twin bags in tow, he closed the closet door on Yasmin Carol for good.
With a sense of satisfaction, Ben entered the adjacent high school. Maybe he'd find some more supplies while he sorted all this out. Maybe his luck was starting to turn around after all.
Handoff
FINISHED:Early Morning Day 4, Pre-Announcements
Handoff
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Shangela. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
Rebecca was gone. The last she saw of her she'd grabbed Janie's arm and said they were leaving, but Janie didn't come, at least she didn't try to right away. As Rebecca ran back to "their" room Janie went right past her to see where she was running from.
And that's when she saw the body of Yasmin Carrol, hanging from the ceiling. Unmoving. Immobile. An extreme wave of emotion swamped Janie as she choked out a sort of scream. Chill, shock, nausea, all hitting her at once. She'd stumbled backwards and crashed against the wall, eyes still glued to Yaz's body. For a few seconds that body was all she knew, but as she choked out another scream she ran. Ran back to where Rebecca was and grabbed her things. Even the game of Hungry Hungry Hippos, which she haphazardly shoved in her bag.
So much for nothing bad happening to them in that building.
It took Janie a while after she'd sprinted from the building to realize that she had no idea which direction Rebecca had gone. But the only thing Janie could see from the door she'd barged out of in her attempt at getting out of that building and away from Yaz's hanging body was a large spread of trees. Without even thinking, Janie had run into them and never looked back.
At least until morning.
((Janie Sinneave continues from Not Like Any Previous Sleepovers))
There was no way Janie wanted to come back here ever again.
But here she was.
Her face, bangs and clothes were covered in dirt. She was tired, hungry and literally had not seen another living person for almost two days. Her map had been lost somewhere in the mad dash exodus of the school, so she had been completely lost on top of that. Her night was spent curled up inside of a tiny hollow tree in an awful attempt to sleep. Not only was the ever present fear of someone coming along and finding her on the front of her mind, but it was dirty, smelly and she had insects crawling over her night and day. Janie loved animals but teeny tiny insects that were biting her as she tried to sleep were testing her bountiful patience.
So as the morning only a few hours prior got a little brighter she decided to keep going and found herself back where she started, back at the very school she'd fled from in the first place. This was the last place on earth she really wanted to be right now, but she honestly couldn't see any other choice other than meandering back into the woods for another day of horrific loneliness. She strode forward weakly and entered the building through the first door she could see.
It didn't look that different from the building she'd fled from yesterday. It did, however, feel slightly more menacing, that's for sure. Didn't really feel like anybody had been playing any Hungry Hungry Hippos in here. Janie didn't have much time to muse over architecture, however, as she heard another door somewhere else in the building open up. She took in a sharp inhale of breath and started slowly making her way towards the nearest door. If it were any other day she'd go see who it was but after a night of exhaustion, sleeping in the woods and her classmates taking each other's lives overnight, she wasn't in the most trusting mood right now. She didn't even know who it was.
Could it be Rebecca? Had she come back too, looking for Janie? These questions tried to stop her from entering the nearest classroom but Janie knew better and silently opened the classroom door, let herself in, and closed the door behind her. Her stealth tactics, however, were rendered moot when she started absentmindedly making her way backwards and, without warning, rammed into the nearest desk and sent it loudly toppling over.
Janie put both her hands up to her mouth to muffle a shout, and what came out instead was a light squeal of surprise.
And that's when she saw the body of Yasmin Carrol, hanging from the ceiling. Unmoving. Immobile. An extreme wave of emotion swamped Janie as she choked out a sort of scream. Chill, shock, nausea, all hitting her at once. She'd stumbled backwards and crashed against the wall, eyes still glued to Yaz's body. For a few seconds that body was all she knew, but as she choked out another scream she ran. Ran back to where Rebecca was and grabbed her things. Even the game of Hungry Hungry Hippos, which she haphazardly shoved in her bag.
So much for nothing bad happening to them in that building.
It took Janie a while after she'd sprinted from the building to realize that she had no idea which direction Rebecca had gone. But the only thing Janie could see from the door she'd barged out of in her attempt at getting out of that building and away from Yaz's hanging body was a large spread of trees. Without even thinking, Janie had run into them and never looked back.
At least until morning.
((Janie Sinneave continues from Not Like Any Previous Sleepovers))
There was no way Janie wanted to come back here ever again.
But here she was.
Her face, bangs and clothes were covered in dirt. She was tired, hungry and literally had not seen another living person for almost two days. Her map had been lost somewhere in the mad dash exodus of the school, so she had been completely lost on top of that. Her night was spent curled up inside of a tiny hollow tree in an awful attempt to sleep. Not only was the ever present fear of someone coming along and finding her on the front of her mind, but it was dirty, smelly and she had insects crawling over her night and day. Janie loved animals but teeny tiny insects that were biting her as she tried to sleep were testing her bountiful patience.
So as the morning only a few hours prior got a little brighter she decided to keep going and found herself back where she started, back at the very school she'd fled from in the first place. This was the last place on earth she really wanted to be right now, but she honestly couldn't see any other choice other than meandering back into the woods for another day of horrific loneliness. She strode forward weakly and entered the building through the first door she could see.
It didn't look that different from the building she'd fled from yesterday. It did, however, feel slightly more menacing, that's for sure. Didn't really feel like anybody had been playing any Hungry Hungry Hippos in here. Janie didn't have much time to muse over architecture, however, as she heard another door somewhere else in the building open up. She took in a sharp inhale of breath and started slowly making her way towards the nearest door. If it were any other day she'd go see who it was but after a night of exhaustion, sleeping in the woods and her classmates taking each other's lives overnight, she wasn't in the most trusting mood right now. She didn't even know who it was.
Could it be Rebecca? Had she come back too, looking for Janie? These questions tried to stop her from entering the nearest classroom but Janie knew better and silently opened the classroom door, let herself in, and closed the door behind her. Her stealth tactics, however, were rendered moot when she started absentmindedly making her way backwards and, without warning, rammed into the nearest desk and sent it loudly toppling over.
Janie put both her hands up to her mouth to muffle a shout, and what came out instead was a light squeal of surprise.
How damn ironic. The though briefly crossed Ben's mind as he crept around corners of the high school's unfamiliar hallway. It wasn't like Ben to wander around the high school corridors looking sheepishly around for the wolves in the wings. Hell, he was the wolf. He shouldn't be hoisting up his weight bar, feeling the bar twist in his shaking palms. He wasn't supposed to be scared in between these walls.
High school was where Ben really shone. He was in confidence personified. He was a beast to face on the football field, a shining pillar of excellence in the classroom, and lived in infamy amongst the student body. Girls wanted him, guys wanted to be him. He relished in going to school every day. But now? Now the high school he travelled down represented something else entirely.
Maybe it was karmic justice finally doing its long overdue role reversal. Ben was admittedly an asshole to those weaker than him. It was no wonder people like Vartoogian and Battaglia hated his guts on day one. But fuck them; it was for their own good. Without someone to look up to, those losers would chomp away on granola and feelings in college, and then come to a rude awakening in the real world. The world wasn't a place for compromise. Someone always had to win.
And that someone's gotta be me.
But what had Ben won recently? Jack shit. Something about this situation had to turn around soon. But how?
His thoughts were interrupted by the thundering sound of a collapsing desk. Someone had made their presence known to Ben, accidentally or otherwise.
Shit. It was becoming real. Someone was in the building Ben had thought to scavenge. What was he going to do? He was weighed down by two bags, and an equally cumbersome makeshift weapon, and he was recovering from his unintentional fasting from day three. It wasn't fucking fair at all. Ben had worked hard to be who he was all throughout high school. Some loser with a lucky hand was going to draw a gun and cap him? This game wasn't fair. There was no referee to ensure that everyone played through the merits of their own strength. However, just because the odds weren't fair, didn't mean that Ben wasn't going to still overcome their little handicaps.
"A-Alright asshole." Ben's voice was shaky at first. Goddamn it Ben, get it together. You're still Benjamin fucking Ward, and no "game" is going to change that. Ben crept towards the source of the noise. After setting his bags down, he could more easily swing the weight in a batting motion. A swift strike with this sucker would knock someone down, especially with this much muscle behind it.
"Come out wherever you are, and slowly. I'm not dicking around with this hide and seek."
That was much better.
High school was where Ben really shone. He was in confidence personified. He was a beast to face on the football field, a shining pillar of excellence in the classroom, and lived in infamy amongst the student body. Girls wanted him, guys wanted to be him. He relished in going to school every day. But now? Now the high school he travelled down represented something else entirely.
Maybe it was karmic justice finally doing its long overdue role reversal. Ben was admittedly an asshole to those weaker than him. It was no wonder people like Vartoogian and Battaglia hated his guts on day one. But fuck them; it was for their own good. Without someone to look up to, those losers would chomp away on granola and feelings in college, and then come to a rude awakening in the real world. The world wasn't a place for compromise. Someone always had to win.
And that someone's gotta be me.
But what had Ben won recently? Jack shit. Something about this situation had to turn around soon. But how?
His thoughts were interrupted by the thundering sound of a collapsing desk. Someone had made their presence known to Ben, accidentally or otherwise.
Shit. It was becoming real. Someone was in the building Ben had thought to scavenge. What was he going to do? He was weighed down by two bags, and an equally cumbersome makeshift weapon, and he was recovering from his unintentional fasting from day three. It wasn't fucking fair at all. Ben had worked hard to be who he was all throughout high school. Some loser with a lucky hand was going to draw a gun and cap him? This game wasn't fair. There was no referee to ensure that everyone played through the merits of their own strength. However, just because the odds weren't fair, didn't mean that Ben wasn't going to still overcome their little handicaps.
"A-Alright asshole." Ben's voice was shaky at first. Goddamn it Ben, get it together. You're still Benjamin fucking Ward, and no "game" is going to change that. Ben crept towards the source of the noise. After setting his bags down, he could more easily swing the weight in a batting motion. A swift strike with this sucker would knock someone down, especially with this much muscle behind it.
"Come out wherever you are, and slowly. I'm not dicking around with this hide and seek."
That was much better.
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Shangela. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
Alright, so there was no chance whoever was in that building with her didn't hear that. No matter how much Janie stood there and pretended like nothing happened, that didn't work for whoever was outside that door. She glanced around the room and it had to have been the least suitable room for anyone to hide in. No cupboards, no doors to other rooms, no nothing.
So what the heck do I do now?
Unfortunately she had that answered for her. There was a voice at the door and a demand to be satisfied. Part of Janie just wanted to backflip out the window and run away at this point because really that could be anybody at the door. She didn't really recognize the voice but that only meant it was an unknown, and that unknown could be anything from a deadly scavanger to a mass murderer. For the moment, however, Janie decided the friendly route was best because the benefit of doubt was right there in that room. She walked to the door and opened up.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming out..." Janie said as she opened the door.
She of course would have followed it up with more had she not been encountered with a gigantic football player holding a weight bar and about to swing it at her head.
Well, that's what you get for being friendly.
Her mouth was much less coherent than her mind, however. Janie let off a loud shriek and slammed the door shut in his face. She tried grabbing for the lock only to find that the only lock on that door needed a key. A key which Janie didn't have. So she settled for flooring herself against the door and praying the slim hope that he wasn't looking to come in, because she was tiny and tiny people don't hold football players back from doing anything, let alone going through open doors. Or footballers with weapons going through open doors.
Janie spent those precious moments waiting to see what the guy outside would do looking around the room for an escape.
So what the heck do I do now?
Unfortunately she had that answered for her. There was a voice at the door and a demand to be satisfied. Part of Janie just wanted to backflip out the window and run away at this point because really that could be anybody at the door. She didn't really recognize the voice but that only meant it was an unknown, and that unknown could be anything from a deadly scavanger to a mass murderer. For the moment, however, Janie decided the friendly route was best because the benefit of doubt was right there in that room. She walked to the door and opened up.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming out..." Janie said as she opened the door.
She of course would have followed it up with more had she not been encountered with a gigantic football player holding a weight bar and about to swing it at her head.
Well, that's what you get for being friendly.
Her mouth was much less coherent than her mind, however. Janie let off a loud shriek and slammed the door shut in his face. She tried grabbing for the lock only to find that the only lock on that door needed a key. A key which Janie didn't have. So she settled for flooring herself against the door and praying the slim hope that he wasn't looking to come in, because she was tiny and tiny people don't hold football players back from doing anything, let alone going through open doors. Or footballers with weapons going through open doors.
Janie spent those precious moments waiting to see what the guy outside would do looking around the room for an escape.
Ben noted the shifting, shuffling pace in the room. Initially, he'd been sure as sun smug that he'd commanded a complete stranger into obeying his order. However, the uneasier the pace became, the more Ben started to worry.
Shit. This prick could be one of those dorks with a grudge. Ben started to mull over the possible outcomes. Would the person behind door number one come out with an olive branch extended, or a fucking machine gun? Ben had no substantial defense to defend against a surprise assault. And if this little prick was thirsty for Ben's blood, there wasn't much of an assault Ben could feasibly launch against it.
Ben was about the bark out the repeated order, when a voice called out. A girl's voice. This prickette could very well have a grudge against him. Ben tried to think back about any girls that he might have bullied. None would immediately come to mind in the few brief seconds that he had to contemplate before the mystery girl popped out her head.
"Alright." Ben thought. "Now we're in busine---" The door slammed directly in his face.
Goddamn it.
Ben was getting frustrated. Nobody just up and rudely defied Ben like that. He demanded that she come out peacefully, and the girl had slammed the door right in his face; this was a clear affront to him. Ben readied his gait in position. He wasn't considered the best defender on the Aurora High football team for nothing. When it came down to it, he could easily ram down this door and force his way through the doorway and the hundred-two pound nothing on the other side.
But then; Ben held his position. On the four days that he'd been there, three girls had won the daily prize for being the biggest murderous bitch on the island. Summer Simms? Would have never pegged that fake ass campaign queen. That Katarina Konipaski chick? Who? The point was being driven home that Ben couldn't take someone as a non-threat, just because they were a scrawny, five-foot-zero nobody with a terrible green mop of hair.
"Alright, just fucking listen, okay? I don't want to hurt you." Ben tried to sound convincing. He wasn't exactly lying per say; he didn't really want to hurt her, but if she was going to pull a Jaquilyn Locke, Ben was fully prepared to take her out. "You saw my weapon. If you come out and leave your's in the classroom, I'll throw mine to the side and we can talk. We don't have to get retarded and fight over nothing, here."
Diplomacy was a strong suit of Ben. Or at least, he liked to think so. Maybe in reality, they only way Ben coerced people from dissenting was out of sheer fear. At least that fear was something he could always fall back on.
Shit. This prick could be one of those dorks with a grudge. Ben started to mull over the possible outcomes. Would the person behind door number one come out with an olive branch extended, or a fucking machine gun? Ben had no substantial defense to defend against a surprise assault. And if this little prick was thirsty for Ben's blood, there wasn't much of an assault Ben could feasibly launch against it.
Ben was about the bark out the repeated order, when a voice called out. A girl's voice. This prickette could very well have a grudge against him. Ben tried to think back about any girls that he might have bullied. None would immediately come to mind in the few brief seconds that he had to contemplate before the mystery girl popped out her head.
"Alright." Ben thought. "Now we're in busine---" The door slammed directly in his face.
Goddamn it.
Ben was getting frustrated. Nobody just up and rudely defied Ben like that. He demanded that she come out peacefully, and the girl had slammed the door right in his face; this was a clear affront to him. Ben readied his gait in position. He wasn't considered the best defender on the Aurora High football team for nothing. When it came down to it, he could easily ram down this door and force his way through the doorway and the hundred-two pound nothing on the other side.
But then; Ben held his position. On the four days that he'd been there, three girls had won the daily prize for being the biggest murderous bitch on the island. Summer Simms? Would have never pegged that fake ass campaign queen. That Katarina Konipaski chick? Who? The point was being driven home that Ben couldn't take someone as a non-threat, just because they were a scrawny, five-foot-zero nobody with a terrible green mop of hair.
"Alright, just fucking listen, okay? I don't want to hurt you." Ben tried to sound convincing. He wasn't exactly lying per say; he didn't really want to hurt her, but if she was going to pull a Jaquilyn Locke, Ben was fully prepared to take her out. "You saw my weapon. If you come out and leave your's in the classroom, I'll throw mine to the side and we can talk. We don't have to get retarded and fight over nothing, here."
Diplomacy was a strong suit of Ben. Or at least, he liked to think so. Maybe in reality, they only way Ben coerced people from dissenting was out of sheer fear. At least that fear was something he could always fall back on.
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Shangela. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
Janie was eying the nearest window when the boy made his plea through the door. She shouldn't have been around to hear it because in nine out of ten scenarios she was gone already. In those other nine scenarios she was with friends, she was with other people, she'd seen another friendly person in days, and she wasn't half out of it with insane loneliness. This was scenario number ten and none of those things applied.
She'd almost lost it out there. It's easy to keep things positive when you're in your stable environment but days spent 'camping' in the woods by yourself just looking for someone to come and break the isolation were kind of taking a toll on Janie. As long as he wasn't planning on bashing her head in she needed his company. She needed his company badly. Whoever he was.
I don't even know who he is and I'm planning our future together...well, hope he doesn't mind our kids growing up to be jockeys with bad haircuts, 'cause that's all I'm bringing to the table right now.
Janie grabbed onto the door handle and pulled herself up from the floor. She'd thought it over and over and over and over again and the worst case scenario was gone. If he'd been planning on killing her he had a great chance when she popped her head out. Her still being alive right now meant he wasn't looking for a notch on his belt, even if he turned out to be a killer.
But these were all questions and statements that could be pondered with him. She turned around and grabbed the handle, pulling the door open slowly...
...only to close it again. She'd forgotten to leave her bag in the room like he asked.
"Sorry, just one 'sec!"
She dropped her bag at the nearest upright chair, and then she opened up the door one more time, stepped out, and closed it behind her. Leaning against it facing her new friend acquaintance, she'd come to realize he wasn't exactly friendly looking, but then again Benjamin Ward, football player and bully of Aurora's students, never ever looked friendly. She remembered she was there that one time he punched a kid and gotten suspended for it. She knew people who'd gotten on his bad side and she didn't relish the thought of being in their position. But here she was, right in front of him not picking on anybody, and to be honest he was all she had right now.
"...Hi there."
Janie swallowed.
"I'm Janie, and...and, I, uh...sorry, it's just...you're just the first person I've seen in, like...forever."
She'd almost lost it out there. It's easy to keep things positive when you're in your stable environment but days spent 'camping' in the woods by yourself just looking for someone to come and break the isolation were kind of taking a toll on Janie. As long as he wasn't planning on bashing her head in she needed his company. She needed his company badly. Whoever he was.
I don't even know who he is and I'm planning our future together...well, hope he doesn't mind our kids growing up to be jockeys with bad haircuts, 'cause that's all I'm bringing to the table right now.
Janie grabbed onto the door handle and pulled herself up from the floor. She'd thought it over and over and over and over again and the worst case scenario was gone. If he'd been planning on killing her he had a great chance when she popped her head out. Her still being alive right now meant he wasn't looking for a notch on his belt, even if he turned out to be a killer.
But these were all questions and statements that could be pondered with him. She turned around and grabbed the handle, pulling the door open slowly...
...only to close it again. She'd forgotten to leave her bag in the room like he asked.
"Sorry, just one 'sec!"
She dropped her bag at the nearest upright chair, and then she opened up the door one more time, stepped out, and closed it behind her. Leaning against it facing her new friend acquaintance, she'd come to realize he wasn't exactly friendly looking, but then again Benjamin Ward, football player and bully of Aurora's students, never ever looked friendly. She remembered she was there that one time he punched a kid and gotten suspended for it. She knew people who'd gotten on his bad side and she didn't relish the thought of being in their position. But here she was, right in front of him not picking on anybody, and to be honest he was all she had right now.
"...Hi there."
Janie swallowed.
"I'm Janie, and...and, I, uh...sorry, it's just...you're just the first person I've seen in, like...forever."
(Oscar Trig continues from Steadier Footing)
Oscar was down to 5 cigarettes.
The longest he'd gone without a cigar before was one week. His family had gone on a trip to some place in Montana, and Oscar had completely forgotten to pack cigars. His body craves nicotine pretty badly, as it turns out. After two hours, he'd start feeling like he hadn't eaten in a week. Sleep, normally a mundane task, became very difficult, and he'd spend hours tossing and turning. After a few more days, there were headaches and he constantly had the urge to throw up in a bucket. All of this made him quite irritable and fidgety. Who wouldn't get cranky? Sure, his sense of smell and taste started becoming sharper after a few days, but that was it. He did not want to deal with that on the island.
He also needed to find a pencil and paper. Oscar didn't really have friends on this island, thankfully. They were probably mourning him back in Seattle. So, he wasn't sure if/how he'd get out, but one step at a time. He guessed there'd be a few convenience stores in the town or the mall, but the entire place looked like it had been abandoned for a while, and he wasn't sure if cigars had expiration dates or not.
So, he went to the high school to look for a pencil and paper. It was the most obvious option. The elementary school would probably have large crayons or dried paint, and Oscar didn't feel like he could capture the beauty of a sunset by fingerpainting. The stores might have art supplies, but that wasn't guaranteed, really. He had been alone for quite a few days, and the only people he had run into were long dead already or far into the distance. His guard was down and he was becoming reckless.
Oscar had gone into five classrooms already without finding a single working pen. There was plenty of paper, thankfully. He entered the sixth classroom and, yet again, couldn't find a single pencil. Wonderful. He slammed the door and then looked down the next hallway to find someone probably twice his size, standing menacingly outside a door with a metal rod.
He had gone four days without running into anyone dangerous. He didn't have a single wound, and all his supplies were complete (except for the things the terrorists had taken already). His stay on the island had been relatively uneventful and he was thankful for that. But now, it looked like his luck had run out.
Oscar was down to 5 cigarettes.
The longest he'd gone without a cigar before was one week. His family had gone on a trip to some place in Montana, and Oscar had completely forgotten to pack cigars. His body craves nicotine pretty badly, as it turns out. After two hours, he'd start feeling like he hadn't eaten in a week. Sleep, normally a mundane task, became very difficult, and he'd spend hours tossing and turning. After a few more days, there were headaches and he constantly had the urge to throw up in a bucket. All of this made him quite irritable and fidgety. Who wouldn't get cranky? Sure, his sense of smell and taste started becoming sharper after a few days, but that was it. He did not want to deal with that on the island.
He also needed to find a pencil and paper. Oscar didn't really have friends on this island, thankfully. They were probably mourning him back in Seattle. So, he wasn't sure if/how he'd get out, but one step at a time. He guessed there'd be a few convenience stores in the town or the mall, but the entire place looked like it had been abandoned for a while, and he wasn't sure if cigars had expiration dates or not.
So, he went to the high school to look for a pencil and paper. It was the most obvious option. The elementary school would probably have large crayons or dried paint, and Oscar didn't feel like he could capture the beauty of a sunset by fingerpainting. The stores might have art supplies, but that wasn't guaranteed, really. He had been alone for quite a few days, and the only people he had run into were long dead already or far into the distance. His guard was down and he was becoming reckless.
Oscar had gone into five classrooms already without finding a single working pen. There was plenty of paper, thankfully. He entered the sixth classroom and, yet again, couldn't find a single pencil. Wonderful. He slammed the door and then looked down the next hallway to find someone probably twice his size, standing menacingly outside a door with a metal rod.
He had gone four days without running into anyone dangerous. He didn't have a single wound, and all his supplies were complete (except for the things the terrorists had taken already). His stay on the island had been relatively uneventful and he was thankful for that. But now, it looked like his luck had run out.
((I am SO sorry for the delay. Consider this my one period of sluggishness for the entire RP. I'll be more frequent, pinkie promise.))
Janie opened the door, just as per Ben's command. She left her bag behind, as per Ben's command. She even stepped out and offered herself to Ben as commanded. She wasn't the United States Marines coming out whisk him back home to Seattle, but Ben learned to appreciate the small victories. After days of solitude, he'd found someone who was finally listening to him. Good girl.
Janie Sinneave was a frail, wiry girl who looked to be as useful a shit-flavored lollipop. Back home, girls like her weren't even considered close to being on Ben's level. Yet here she was, standing in front of him, searching for something on his face. What did she want? Compassion? Sympathy? Friendship? You'd be hard pressed to find that in Ben Ward.
"Janie, right?" Ben took a step towards her, gauging her movements carefully. Her bag was tucked away back in the room, but could Ben really be certain of what tricks she'd pull in this hallway? She could whip out a box cutter and slash him in the throat, or pull out a gun and cap him. This "game" wasn't fair. How come everyone else could potentially have a gun, or a knife, when all he had was a fucking Dungeons and Dragons manual?
"Have you been alone this whole time?" Ben spoke with equal parts concern for back up, and strangely something else. An equal part came out of sheer concern. The girl's voice was pathetic, trembling, even. He knew he was scary, but did she have to look so terrified? Then again, Ben was built with taught, thick musculature, and imposing face, and the mental acuity of a logistician. I guess it couldn't be helped that people feared him here.
And that's when he heard slight movement. Oscar Trig was just as wiry and frail as Janie. The only difference between the two, was that Oscar had had the element of surprise working for him. Key word being "had."
Ben launched back, stepping away from Janie as much as possible. In the process, he'd left the bag by her side, as well as the exercise weight bar. Shit. If they were going to gang up on him, he didn't have anything to defend himself. Still, it wasn't like Ben to just give up with the odds stacked against him.
"W-Who are you?" Ben's voice struggled to pick up that caustic aura of self confidence that he felt were equal parts impressive and intimidating. "Is this an ambush or something?"
Janie opened the door, just as per Ben's command. She left her bag behind, as per Ben's command. She even stepped out and offered herself to Ben as commanded. She wasn't the United States Marines coming out whisk him back home to Seattle, but Ben learned to appreciate the small victories. After days of solitude, he'd found someone who was finally listening to him. Good girl.
Janie Sinneave was a frail, wiry girl who looked to be as useful a shit-flavored lollipop. Back home, girls like her weren't even considered close to being on Ben's level. Yet here she was, standing in front of him, searching for something on his face. What did she want? Compassion? Sympathy? Friendship? You'd be hard pressed to find that in Ben Ward.
"Janie, right?" Ben took a step towards her, gauging her movements carefully. Her bag was tucked away back in the room, but could Ben really be certain of what tricks she'd pull in this hallway? She could whip out a box cutter and slash him in the throat, or pull out a gun and cap him. This "game" wasn't fair. How come everyone else could potentially have a gun, or a knife, when all he had was a fucking Dungeons and Dragons manual?
"Have you been alone this whole time?" Ben spoke with equal parts concern for back up, and strangely something else. An equal part came out of sheer concern. The girl's voice was pathetic, trembling, even. He knew he was scary, but did she have to look so terrified? Then again, Ben was built with taught, thick musculature, and imposing face, and the mental acuity of a logistician. I guess it couldn't be helped that people feared him here.
And that's when he heard slight movement. Oscar Trig was just as wiry and frail as Janie. The only difference between the two, was that Oscar had had the element of surprise working for him. Key word being "had."
Ben launched back, stepping away from Janie as much as possible. In the process, he'd left the bag by her side, as well as the exercise weight bar. Shit. If they were going to gang up on him, he didn't have anything to defend himself. Still, it wasn't like Ben to just give up with the odds stacked against him.
"W-Who are you?" Ben's voice struggled to pick up that caustic aura of self confidence that he felt were equal parts impressive and intimidating. "Is this an ambush or something?"
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At the back of Janie's mind, she had a clue that Benjamin wasn't always like he was at school. Funny how all it took for this to show was Survival of the Fittest. He wasn't trying to be intimidating, or "encouraging" or anything like he was at school. He was just as screwed up by this as Janie was.
Of course she wasn't vocalizing this. While Benjamin was asking her the standard questions she guessed were normal for whatever day this was, she was just trying to think of what to say. He'd asked the hard-hitting question, the one that would have her reveal that no, she wasn't always alone. For a day or so she had Rebecca, she had Katy, and she had Yaz...
...Yaz...
...until the honeymoon period was over and Yaz took the easy way out, and she'd fled, and Katy was gone and Rebecca was gone and she was left all alone with her thoughts. She'd spent so much time crying over this in the past few days while she tried to figure out what on earth compelled Yaz to do what she did. On top of this, Janie heard names over the announcements. Names of people who weren't killed by her classmates, but did it themselves. She couldn't wrap her head around this, no matter how much she tried. Life was such a precious thing to Janie and there was no part of her that understood why someone would just give it up like that. That state of mind had never graced her thoughts.
Do I really have to tell Ben all this?
But she kind of had to tell Ben all of this. That no, she wasn't alone all this time, but she had a friend who was now somewhere in these rooms hanging from the ceiling. And she was terrified of being alone any longer so for now she wanted to stay with anyone who wasn't going to hurt her. That was everything she wanted right now. Not to be alone.
Janie was going to tell Ben all this but suddenly a new person appeared. A person Janie was familiar with but couldn't put a name to at the moment. Ben seemed to be perturbed by this and rescinded himself against the wall. Not sure what to do, who was harmful and who wasn't, and whether or not she should still be here regardless of her instincts to not be alone, she decided to keep quiet and see who he was. Benjamin put forth the question. Janie raised her hand to her mouth and grasped her jaw, hoping nothing bad happened.
Of course she wasn't vocalizing this. While Benjamin was asking her the standard questions she guessed were normal for whatever day this was, she was just trying to think of what to say. He'd asked the hard-hitting question, the one that would have her reveal that no, she wasn't always alone. For a day or so she had Rebecca, she had Katy, and she had Yaz...
...Yaz...
...until the honeymoon period was over and Yaz took the easy way out, and she'd fled, and Katy was gone and Rebecca was gone and she was left all alone with her thoughts. She'd spent so much time crying over this in the past few days while she tried to figure out what on earth compelled Yaz to do what she did. On top of this, Janie heard names over the announcements. Names of people who weren't killed by her classmates, but did it themselves. She couldn't wrap her head around this, no matter how much she tried. Life was such a precious thing to Janie and there was no part of her that understood why someone would just give it up like that. That state of mind had never graced her thoughts.
Do I really have to tell Ben all this?
But she kind of had to tell Ben all of this. That no, she wasn't alone all this time, but she had a friend who was now somewhere in these rooms hanging from the ceiling. And she was terrified of being alone any longer so for now she wanted to stay with anyone who wasn't going to hurt her. That was everything she wanted right now. Not to be alone.
Janie was going to tell Ben all this but suddenly a new person appeared. A person Janie was familiar with but couldn't put a name to at the moment. Ben seemed to be perturbed by this and rescinded himself against the wall. Not sure what to do, who was harmful and who wasn't, and whether or not she should still be here regardless of her instincts to not be alone, she decided to keep quiet and see who he was. Benjamin put forth the question. Janie raised her hand to her mouth and grasped her jaw, hoping nothing bad happened.
Benjamin.
Out of all the people he could've run into, he ran into the school bully. Sure, his name wasn't on the announcements, as far as Oscar knew, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't change soon.
During the past previous days, Oscar had had time to think. It was all he had left to do. He was completely alone, and actually liked it that way since he didn't have to deal with being a leader. Besides, what good did he do as a leader? Within a couple of hours, his classmates either walked out or forgot about him. While alone, he'd thought up of three goals.
a.) Find cigarettes.
b.) Find a paper and pencil.
c.) Survive.
The first two were straightforward, and he'd probably accomplish those goals within a few days. How he planned to accomplish the last one, however, he didn't want to think about. For the first few days, he'd scavenge food and drinks, make sure to avoid people. But after that?
He wasn't sure how he'd make it out of this one. His mind was beginning to shut down already. He did not want to fail his last goal. Aside from the typical things like family and stuff, he also didn't want to die because he had barely lived it. His only legacy would be burnt filters and a few landscape paintings. What life had in store for him, he didn't know, but he wanted to find out.
But now was definitely not the time to dream about the future. Oscar was not known for his fighting skills. Sure, Ben left his weapon behind for whatever reason, but that wasn't much-
Ambush?
Benjamin was the scared one here? This island really did change people.
Oscar calmed down, somewhat, and took a few deep breaths. As long as he didn't screw up, he could make it through this. Just say the right words, not too much, but not too little, and he'll be fine.
"No, why would you think that? I'm just looking for some pen and paper here."
Out of all the people he could've run into, he ran into the school bully. Sure, his name wasn't on the announcements, as far as Oscar knew, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't change soon.
During the past previous days, Oscar had had time to think. It was all he had left to do. He was completely alone, and actually liked it that way since he didn't have to deal with being a leader. Besides, what good did he do as a leader? Within a couple of hours, his classmates either walked out or forgot about him. While alone, he'd thought up of three goals.
a.) Find cigarettes.
b.) Find a paper and pencil.
c.) Survive.
The first two were straightforward, and he'd probably accomplish those goals within a few days. How he planned to accomplish the last one, however, he didn't want to think about. For the first few days, he'd scavenge food and drinks, make sure to avoid people. But after that?
He wasn't sure how he'd make it out of this one. His mind was beginning to shut down already. He did not want to fail his last goal. Aside from the typical things like family and stuff, he also didn't want to die because he had barely lived it. His only legacy would be burnt filters and a few landscape paintings. What life had in store for him, he didn't know, but he wanted to find out.
But now was definitely not the time to dream about the future. Oscar was not known for his fighting skills. Sure, Ben left his weapon behind for whatever reason, but that wasn't much-
Ambush?
Benjamin was the scared one here? This island really did change people.
Oscar calmed down, somewhat, and took a few deep breaths. As long as he didn't screw up, he could make it through this. Just say the right words, not too much, but not too little, and he'll be fine.
"No, why would you think that? I'm just looking for some pen and paper here."
It was funny how quickly situations can evolve from under control to full panic in mere seconds. Not ha ha funny, mind you. More like "this shit is fucked up" kind of funny. Peculiar would be a better fit.
Seconds before, Ben had Janie right where he wanted her. She was obedient, complacent, and agreeable to what he had to say. Now there was a whole other hypotenuse to this fucked equation. Who was this new guy? What factors would he add into this situation? How much more complicated were things now that there was an A, a B, and a C? Benjamin Ward hated this kind of math.
"Why would I think that? Because you fucking popped up out of nowhere, dude. This isn't Aurora. You can't just jump out at people like that." Ben hissed out at Oscar for the startle. Whoever this kid was, he was way too fucking casual for Ben's liking. You don't just jump up on Ben Ward like that, regardless if they were in Seattle or wherever they were now.
"Also you forgot to answer me. Who are you?" Ben placed his typical acerbic accent on his repeated question. "And also, why do you need pen and paper? Do you plan on drawing us a way out of here?"
As it stood, Oscar wasn't a threat. He knew that whatever his initial fear was of this duo being another Jaquilyn and Joachim was unfounded. Janie looked just as surprised at Ben was by the sudden arrival. Likewise, Oscar seemed not to pay much attention to Janie, instead focusing his efforts on pissing off Ben.
Ben grumbled to himself about the intrusion, but then suddenly a thought came to mind. Ben could use him.
"Well, it looks like you came to the right place. We could look around and see what turns up. Though if it's anything more useful than a pen, it's mine. Got it?"
Seconds before, Ben had Janie right where he wanted her. She was obedient, complacent, and agreeable to what he had to say. Now there was a whole other hypotenuse to this fucked equation. Who was this new guy? What factors would he add into this situation? How much more complicated were things now that there was an A, a B, and a C? Benjamin Ward hated this kind of math.
"Why would I think that? Because you fucking popped up out of nowhere, dude. This isn't Aurora. You can't just jump out at people like that." Ben hissed out at Oscar for the startle. Whoever this kid was, he was way too fucking casual for Ben's liking. You don't just jump up on Ben Ward like that, regardless if they were in Seattle or wherever they were now.
"Also you forgot to answer me. Who are you?" Ben placed his typical acerbic accent on his repeated question. "And also, why do you need pen and paper? Do you plan on drawing us a way out of here?"
As it stood, Oscar wasn't a threat. He knew that whatever his initial fear was of this duo being another Jaquilyn and Joachim was unfounded. Janie looked just as surprised at Ben was by the sudden arrival. Likewise, Oscar seemed not to pay much attention to Janie, instead focusing his efforts on pissing off Ben.
Ben grumbled to himself about the intrusion, but then suddenly a thought came to mind. Ben could use him.
"Well, it looks like you came to the right place. We could look around and see what turns up. Though if it's anything more useful than a pen, it's mine. Got it?"
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Inside, Janie exhaled a sigh of relief. Things could have gone bad. Really bad. But instead, it simmered down a bit and it was quickly established that nobody was a danger and nobody was in any danger. Least of all Janie herself.
Once the cascade of "Who are you?" "No, who are you?" "What are you doing?" "No, what are you doing?" settled to a crawl and it was quickly established that the things they were doing were less than malicious, Benjamin calmed the hell down and established why he was here in the first place - he was raiding the classrooms looking for stuff. Oscar was raiding the classrooms looking for a pen and paper for some reason.
Janie didn't have that impressive a story to tell. And that was what made it outside. Benjamin asked, right?
"Hi, uh...I just came here 'cause I woke up here, and I was here until..."
Janie swallowed. She felt like she was repeating herself.
"...until one of the girls we were with killed herself. I...like I said, I haven't really seen anyone else for days."
It felt wrong just saying that Yaz killed herself so matter-of-factly. Was there something seriously wrong with her?
Once the cascade of "Who are you?" "No, who are you?" "What are you doing?" "No, what are you doing?" settled to a crawl and it was quickly established that the things they were doing were less than malicious, Benjamin calmed the hell down and established why he was here in the first place - he was raiding the classrooms looking for stuff. Oscar was raiding the classrooms looking for a pen and paper for some reason.
Janie didn't have that impressive a story to tell. And that was what made it outside. Benjamin asked, right?
"Hi, uh...I just came here 'cause I woke up here, and I was here until..."
Janie swallowed. She felt like she was repeating herself.
"...until one of the girls we were with killed herself. I...like I said, I haven't really seen anyone else for days."
It felt wrong just saying that Yaz killed herself so matter-of-factly. Was there something seriously wrong with her?
Oscar bit his tongue as Benjamin continued to speak. No, he wasn't going to draw their way out of there. He didn't even think they could get out by any way other than winning. Really, he wanted to get out so badly, and if escape was a viable option, he'd take it. But the thing was that they were high schoolers who were plunged into this situation after being gassed. They were terrorists who had four years to prepare. The odds weren't exactly great for them.
Also, yeah, it wasn't Aurora, and yeah, he may have been a bit too careless, but his sharp tongue wasn't helping too well either, now was it? And would he prefer everyone to be paranoid and trigger-happy? Oscar sure didn't.
There was so much more that Oscar wanted to say, but there was one problem. Benjamin was right, this wasn't Aurora. And if there was one thing Oscar was good at, besides painting and poisoning his lungs and, uh, walking, if that counted, it was keeping his mouth shut. Well, at least keeping it shut if you have nothing good to say. That rule worked well enough in Aurora, but Oscar had been stupid enough to discard it as soon as he arrived on the island. And where did it get him? He managed to drive Zoe away. In fact, he didn't even need to open his mouth sometimes to screw things up. Sometimes, they got screwed up on their own. The rest of his group left without a word. Why? He couldn't tell.
Oscar took another deep breath, choosing his words carefully, and opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly noticed a girl behind Ben. He wasn't too close to Janie Sinneave, but the hair by itself was enough to tell Oscar who she was. She didn't really say much, but what she did was enough to keep him quiet for a while.
He knew he should've said something, like 'I'm sorry' or even 'That sucks' but would it have mattered? He wasn't good with death in general, and the closest encounter he'd had before this trip was his great-aunt's funeral. It wasn't that he felt devastated or horrified when he saw her body in the casket. It was the exact opposite, actually. This was the first and last time he'd seen her, so he didn't feel anything. He was a bit creeped out since the makeup wasn't applied too well, but that was it. The entire affair was just painfully awkward since his parents were close with the deceased, and they seemed pretty shaken up.
Now, the factors were a bit different. It was a classmate he had to deal with this time. Silence worked last time, since he was able to play it off as him being shaken up or whatever, but now, it'd probably be regarded as indifference, which was not what he wanted to convey or what he felt. He genuinely felt sorry for Janie.
"Are you OK?"
That was good enough, maybe. Now, there was Benjamin he had to worry about.
"Yeah, I got it." Benjamin hadn't given off a good first impression, and Oscar hoped that they wouldn't have to stay together for a long time, but he needed a group. If the people he'd encountered had been players instead, then we all know what would have happened. "Also, I just want to have something to do while I'm here. None of my friends, at least the ones I'm close with, are here, and being alone has kinda sucked. At least having a pencil and paper would give me something to do. By the way, I'm Oscar. I'm pretty sure I know you. Benjamin, right?"
Also, yeah, it wasn't Aurora, and yeah, he may have been a bit too careless, but his sharp tongue wasn't helping too well either, now was it? And would he prefer everyone to be paranoid and trigger-happy? Oscar sure didn't.
There was so much more that Oscar wanted to say, but there was one problem. Benjamin was right, this wasn't Aurora. And if there was one thing Oscar was good at, besides painting and poisoning his lungs and, uh, walking, if that counted, it was keeping his mouth shut. Well, at least keeping it shut if you have nothing good to say. That rule worked well enough in Aurora, but Oscar had been stupid enough to discard it as soon as he arrived on the island. And where did it get him? He managed to drive Zoe away. In fact, he didn't even need to open his mouth sometimes to screw things up. Sometimes, they got screwed up on their own. The rest of his group left without a word. Why? He couldn't tell.
Oscar took another deep breath, choosing his words carefully, and opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly noticed a girl behind Ben. He wasn't too close to Janie Sinneave, but the hair by itself was enough to tell Oscar who she was. She didn't really say much, but what she did was enough to keep him quiet for a while.
He knew he should've said something, like 'I'm sorry' or even 'That sucks' but would it have mattered? He wasn't good with death in general, and the closest encounter he'd had before this trip was his great-aunt's funeral. It wasn't that he felt devastated or horrified when he saw her body in the casket. It was the exact opposite, actually. This was the first and last time he'd seen her, so he didn't feel anything. He was a bit creeped out since the makeup wasn't applied too well, but that was it. The entire affair was just painfully awkward since his parents were close with the deceased, and they seemed pretty shaken up.
Now, the factors were a bit different. It was a classmate he had to deal with this time. Silence worked last time, since he was able to play it off as him being shaken up or whatever, but now, it'd probably be regarded as indifference, which was not what he wanted to convey or what he felt. He genuinely felt sorry for Janie.
"Are you OK?"
That was good enough, maybe. Now, there was Benjamin he had to worry about.
"Yeah, I got it." Benjamin hadn't given off a good first impression, and Oscar hoped that they wouldn't have to stay together for a long time, but he needed a group. If the people he'd encountered had been players instead, then we all know what would have happened. "Also, I just want to have something to do while I'm here. None of my friends, at least the ones I'm close with, are here, and being alone has kinda sucked. At least having a pencil and paper would give me something to do. By the way, I'm Oscar. I'm pretty sure I know you. Benjamin, right?"
Jesus Christ. What Janie had been through already was pretty rough. Watching someone kill themselves is seriously fucked up. Everything was seriously fucked up here.
Looking down at his bag, he made the connection. This girl had been a friend of Janie's. Janie would rightfully be offended if she saw the G022 that was plastered onto the pilfered bag. With a well-placed step, Ben opened up the hallway while blocking his bag from direct view.
"Jesus. I'm sorry, Janie." Ben wasn't good at this whole consoling thing. It wasn't a man's place to coddle and baby, but even Ben could recognize when to step up and be a decent human being.
"She's probably in a much better place now than we are." He'd considered placing a hand on her shoulder as a means of comforting, but after days alone, the last thing she probably needed was big Ben placing his hands on her. The girl looked terrified.
Now back to Oscar.
It wasn't exactly surprising that this kid knew who he was. Everyone knew who Benjamin Ward was. He was Mr. Aurora High. He was a football extraordinaire. He was a leader. Or depending who you asked, a bully. In any case, Ben liked that he now had a name to call the scrawny little artist. He also liked that had a temporary common goal. Having a mission in mind was better than the alternative of having to focus on paranoia.
"So you've been alone for a while too, huh?" It was the running theme of the past few days. Loneliness, false hope, then back to loneliness again. It was a frustrating system of discord, but maybe that could change.
"I'm sure there's probably at least fifty other people you'd rather see than me, but I'm one of the last good ones out there. Since we're trying to all survive without getting shot at by our psychotic schoolmates, I say we work together."
Sure their presence meant that he'd have two extra weights to carry around. Sure it meant that he'd have to share whatever resources he could scavenge in the school. He was also sure that it beat the alternative of waiting around until someone with a lucky roll came up and shot him. As long as Ben had a group, maybe he'd have a chance.
Looking down at his bag, he made the connection. This girl had been a friend of Janie's. Janie would rightfully be offended if she saw the G022 that was plastered onto the pilfered bag. With a well-placed step, Ben opened up the hallway while blocking his bag from direct view.
"Jesus. I'm sorry, Janie." Ben wasn't good at this whole consoling thing. It wasn't a man's place to coddle and baby, but even Ben could recognize when to step up and be a decent human being.
"She's probably in a much better place now than we are." He'd considered placing a hand on her shoulder as a means of comforting, but after days alone, the last thing she probably needed was big Ben placing his hands on her. The girl looked terrified.
Now back to Oscar.
It wasn't exactly surprising that this kid knew who he was. Everyone knew who Benjamin Ward was. He was Mr. Aurora High. He was a football extraordinaire. He was a leader. Or depending who you asked, a bully. In any case, Ben liked that he now had a name to call the scrawny little artist. He also liked that had a temporary common goal. Having a mission in mind was better than the alternative of having to focus on paranoia.
"So you've been alone for a while too, huh?" It was the running theme of the past few days. Loneliness, false hope, then back to loneliness again. It was a frustrating system of discord, but maybe that could change.
"I'm sure there's probably at least fifty other people you'd rather see than me, but I'm one of the last good ones out there. Since we're trying to all survive without getting shot at by our psychotic schoolmates, I say we work together."
Sure their presence meant that he'd have two extra weights to carry around. Sure it meant that he'd have to share whatever resources he could scavenge in the school. He was also sure that it beat the alternative of waiting around until someone with a lucky roll came up and shot him. As long as Ben had a group, maybe he'd have a chance.
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Shangela. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
((GMing approved by both Inky and Maraoone, though subject to some edits if need be. Additional supplies pilfered by Janie and Oscar are of the discretion of their handlers.))
Oscar had agreed pretty readily. More readily that he really should have, Ben considered, but then again Ben recruited the two of them uncharacteristically as well. This situation called for things above stupid little concepts such as pride, personal opinion, and jealousies. Oscar probably hated Ben's guts deep down; the price to be paid for Ben's infamy was often this deep-seated dislike, but Oscar wasn't stupid. He knew Ben was his best bet for surviving. Ben knew he knew this. The only retort to Oscar's subordination was a confident, cocky sneer.
"So we agree. While we don't know jack shit about each other, we're the best option we've got. Great." Ben scanned the two of them one more time. Each one of them ran in different circles as far as Ben was concerned. Yet there they were. Joined by the common goal of not being dead.
It didn't take long for Ben to come up with a game plan. "Alright, clearly with how Oscar snuck up on me, this isn't a safe place in the long run. We need to find somewhere better. Somewhere we can defend and make a base." Jesse had a base, Ben recalled, though he only left some girl to defend it. Ben was going to make a better base. Better defense, better location. Simple as that.
The group raided the cafeteria first. Ben's stomach couldn't survive on these bars alone. He was a big guy with big muscles. They ached for protein. While they wouldn't find protein that survived the lack of refrigeration, they did find a few supplies.
----
In Janie's section, they'd picked up a few stray cans of sealed ingredients. The standard cans of beans, corn, Carnation condensed powdered milk, and a few scattered jars of passable quality peanut butter, were littered amongst the canned goods in the kitchen cabinets.
Meanwhile Oscar was resigned to crawl on his hands and knees and pull the packaged cardboard boxes kept under rows and rows of metal supply racks. His hands and knees coated in dust, and seemingly all for nothing. Everything he unpacked was just expired food, or useless plastic silverware. Almost ready to give up, Oscar heard a clattering as something metal fell to the floor. A box-cutter.
Before Oscar could examine his find, Ben wandered over. "Lemme see that." Ben's request read more as a demand. He didn't even wait for Oscar to respond before he took the box-cutter in his hand. Ben played around with the newfound weapon, rolling the blade up to the end and recoiling it back. So much better than that piece of shit weight bar. It wasn't a gun, but it was something.
The group had finished looking in the cafeteria when the familiar voice came upon the speakers.
Holy fucking shit. What do you mean no one had killed? Ben didn't condone murder in any circumstance, but for the brief moments that his collar beeped, he'd found more and more reasons to selfishly wish that at least one more additional classmate had died.
And then . . . nothing. It was a joke. A sick fucking joke.
"God dammnit. Fucking fuck." Ben's rage sweltered. He stood up and began to step away from the cafeteria table where they'd congregated for their makeshift breakfast of cold vegetables and questionable peanut butter. "I'm going for a walk around. You guys go find that pencil and paper or what the fuck ever, then meet me by the doorway. We're not sticking around here for a while."
And sure enough, they didn't.
((Benjamin Ward, Janie Sinneave and Oscar Trig continued in Fumble))
Oscar had agreed pretty readily. More readily that he really should have, Ben considered, but then again Ben recruited the two of them uncharacteristically as well. This situation called for things above stupid little concepts such as pride, personal opinion, and jealousies. Oscar probably hated Ben's guts deep down; the price to be paid for Ben's infamy was often this deep-seated dislike, but Oscar wasn't stupid. He knew Ben was his best bet for surviving. Ben knew he knew this. The only retort to Oscar's subordination was a confident, cocky sneer.
"So we agree. While we don't know jack shit about each other, we're the best option we've got. Great." Ben scanned the two of them one more time. Each one of them ran in different circles as far as Ben was concerned. Yet there they were. Joined by the common goal of not being dead.
It didn't take long for Ben to come up with a game plan. "Alright, clearly with how Oscar snuck up on me, this isn't a safe place in the long run. We need to find somewhere better. Somewhere we can defend and make a base." Jesse had a base, Ben recalled, though he only left some girl to defend it. Ben was going to make a better base. Better defense, better location. Simple as that.
The group raided the cafeteria first. Ben's stomach couldn't survive on these bars alone. He was a big guy with big muscles. They ached for protein. While they wouldn't find protein that survived the lack of refrigeration, they did find a few supplies.
----
In Janie's section, they'd picked up a few stray cans of sealed ingredients. The standard cans of beans, corn, Carnation condensed powdered milk, and a few scattered jars of passable quality peanut butter, were littered amongst the canned goods in the kitchen cabinets.
Meanwhile Oscar was resigned to crawl on his hands and knees and pull the packaged cardboard boxes kept under rows and rows of metal supply racks. His hands and knees coated in dust, and seemingly all for nothing. Everything he unpacked was just expired food, or useless plastic silverware. Almost ready to give up, Oscar heard a clattering as something metal fell to the floor. A box-cutter.
Before Oscar could examine his find, Ben wandered over. "Lemme see that." Ben's request read more as a demand. He didn't even wait for Oscar to respond before he took the box-cutter in his hand. Ben played around with the newfound weapon, rolling the blade up to the end and recoiling it back. So much better than that piece of shit weight bar. It wasn't a gun, but it was something.
The group had finished looking in the cafeteria when the familiar voice came upon the speakers.
Holy fucking shit. What do you mean no one had killed? Ben didn't condone murder in any circumstance, but for the brief moments that his collar beeped, he'd found more and more reasons to selfishly wish that at least one more additional classmate had died.
And then . . . nothing. It was a joke. A sick fucking joke.
"God dammnit. Fucking fuck." Ben's rage sweltered. He stood up and began to step away from the cafeteria table where they'd congregated for their makeshift breakfast of cold vegetables and questionable peanut butter. "I'm going for a walk around. You guys go find that pencil and paper or what the fuck ever, then meet me by the doorway. We're not sticking around here for a while."
And sure enough, they didn't.
((Benjamin Ward, Janie Sinneave and Oscar Trig continued in Fumble))
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