((Kelly Nguyen, continued from Time to Play The Game))
It was aimless to wander, she knew that. It was pointless, almost, a girl with no map, no supplies, and at least externally, no clue traipsing across the island as if she were on some expedition rather than a death game, but she still did it anyways, box in hand as she continued to walk. There was to be no following Bryan, because that was almost certainly a death wish, but she had still picked up some of the bullets, fulfilled some of his wishes. That had to count for something.
What that something was, Kelly wasn't exactly sure of, but there was a definite something. A moment they would remember, guilt transferred from her shoulders on to theirs, eyes watching the screen through illegal streams to spot some semblance of humanity. Give them something to grasp, something to hold.
She could do that, at least.
That was, of course, at the very least. The best thing would be to find some supplies, find some way of not starving here, because Kelly's throat was continuing to get as dried up as the Sahara as she walked, as the sun continued to set and the guns continued to go off in the distance. There had to be someone, she knew, someone who would take pity on her, someone who would share. Nona, maybe, although she sadly didn't see very good things happening to her in the future. Kyle, Dante, any number of bleeding hearts who would see her, see Kelly, see that constant smile, and do something other than attempt to murder her.
For now, though, all she was looking for was a place to rest. In the dark, the dilapidated structure of the building had become even more apparent, but she still had persevered, opened the door with a shaking hand to find nothing except an empty house, mildew, moss, and Mother Nature beginning to claim what her rightful territory. It was calming, in a way that made her bones tingle just a bit, to know that something had come before. It was the same feeling she had on the yacht, looking into the vast unknown.
The feeling she had before she had gotten pushed off, and had ended up in this whole predicament. Kelly breathed in, to ward off the thoughts, those ones, tinged with red and blood and revenge, before she continued, as lightly as she could, into the bedroom. She closed the door behind her with a light shove. Just a touch, a little one, enough to force the door closed but not enough to arouse unwanted attention. Balance, always. Centered.
The bedroom almost stunk with the stench of stale air. A paradise for the nose, it was not, but it was blissfully quiet, and in this moment, that was all that Kelly needed. She plopped onto the bed, mattress lightly springing up, before sitting back up and staring at the wall.
Time wasn't on her side, not now, but she could make it so. Just had to start small.
Left, Right, Left, We All Fall Down
Like Toy Soldiers (Day 1, Night - PM for Entry, after Lore and TheLordOfAwesome arrive)
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Somersault
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“Oh.” She pointed where they left Faith. “She’s gone.”
((Willow continued her story.))
Her plea for rest finally came to an end when they reached their location. They already had been there, but they chose to comeback simply because they knew there were real houses that could provide shelter. Willow kinda wanted to explore other places of the island, especially the lighthouse. Also, she was disappointed there were no bodies in sight yet. If nobody killed each other, they would all blow up. It was probably a bluff, but it was a gamble she couldn’t risk.
Technically, she could. Did she want to? No, she liked safety, but for the long run, killing Sierra would just end up biting her in the ass. Willow needed Sierra to teach her how to shoot with a gun before she could bite a bullet or four, after that her use would be gone. Willow could discard her whenever the girl ran out of things to do.
Willow did start to like her. Something about the way she followed up with her plans, it was fun. They synergized pretty well: Willow was cutthroat and Sierra has the brawn. Perhaps Willow will wait until someone else do the decision for her, it was a guiltless way to get rid of someone who needed to die.
Willow wished she knew this before the island. Going on walks really zaps up your brain to get good ideas, she should do that more, or at least, try.
“Dibs on second sleeping shift.” She wanted to follow up with because I want to see you asleep. But she didn’t, and she wasn’t sure why. Willow rested one arm against a brick wall. She raised her leg and then massaged it. “Also, I didn’t ask earlier because we were busy but we should make a list of people we are not robbing.”
((Willow continued her story.))
Her plea for rest finally came to an end when they reached their location. They already had been there, but they chose to comeback simply because they knew there were real houses that could provide shelter. Willow kinda wanted to explore other places of the island, especially the lighthouse. Also, she was disappointed there were no bodies in sight yet. If nobody killed each other, they would all blow up. It was probably a bluff, but it was a gamble she couldn’t risk.
Technically, she could. Did she want to? No, she liked safety, but for the long run, killing Sierra would just end up biting her in the ass. Willow needed Sierra to teach her how to shoot with a gun before she could bite a bullet or four, after that her use would be gone. Willow could discard her whenever the girl ran out of things to do.
Willow did start to like her. Something about the way she followed up with her plans, it was fun. They synergized pretty well: Willow was cutthroat and Sierra has the brawn. Perhaps Willow will wait until someone else do the decision for her, it was a guiltless way to get rid of someone who needed to die.
Willow wished she knew this before the island. Going on walks really zaps up your brain to get good ideas, she should do that more, or at least, try.
“Dibs on second sleeping shift.” She wanted to follow up with because I want to see you asleep. But she didn’t, and she wasn’t sure why. Willow rested one arm against a brick wall. She raised her leg and then massaged it. “Also, I didn’t ask earlier because we were busy but we should make a list of people we are not robbing.”
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TheLordOfAwesome
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- Location: Washington
((Sierra Cook continued from See You Down The Road, Skag!))
Sierra loathed to double back to a place she had already been to, but as the sunlight began to dim the need to find a place to take shelter for the night took priority. So they returned to the village, walking back the same path they took to get to the cliff side. Thing hadn't really change since their last visit, sans the now missing Faith. It was something of a relief for Sierra to not see her still here, but she wasn't sure why. Perhaps some bit of her conscience just being glad she didn't inadvertently caused someone's death? it was odd to feel any sort of concern or relief regarding Faith of all people, but perhaps it was because this place hadn't broke her yet? It was hard to say.
The two continued walking and entered one of the aging, nature covered houses of the east side of the village. It was hardly the Ritz but given the present situation it would have to do. Sierra was hardly going to trek all the way to the western side in the dead of night. She wondered how her friends were holding up? Did they find some safe place to stay? Nick, Juliette, Dante, Tristan, Axel, Kelly, Julien, Beryl... They were all out there somewhere, in similar positions as her. Would she be able to find them? Would they even still be alive? Such a thought sent a chill down her spine.
They had to be okay. They had to.
Sierra sighed as she looked around the old house. She had to rest for now, she could worry later. She dropped the two bags she had been lugging around to the ground with a thud. Her shoulder figuratively breathed a sigh of relief as it no longer had to carrying the weight of two bags.
Sierra looked to Willow as she rolled her shoulder with a somewhat weary expression as she called "dibs" on watch duty. They had been together practically the whole time since they woke up on the island and Sierra couldn't help but still feel cautious regarding her companion. Willow hadn't done anything to her yet, but Sierra had been expecting it ever since they robbed Faith. Could she trust her not to fuck her over while she slept? It would be the perfect opportunity for Willow. But maybe for Willow it was convenient to keep Sierra around. She wasn't sure of Willow's intention, so should she be grateful of Willow willing to stay up while she slept?
"Well, there are some people I could name that we leave alone," Sierra said as she leaned her new gun against a nearby wall. "But I think we shouldn't rob too many people. We've already got enough supplies to last us a few days. If we stay mobile or hold up in a good spot, we could probably wait out this whole mess."
Sierra tapped the spare bag she grabbed from when they robbed Marco and Arjen with her boot. "By the way, since we're in a... relatively safe place now, we probably should divide up this bag among ourselves. Care to look through it?"
Sierra loathed to double back to a place she had already been to, but as the sunlight began to dim the need to find a place to take shelter for the night took priority. So they returned to the village, walking back the same path they took to get to the cliff side. Thing hadn't really change since their last visit, sans the now missing Faith. It was something of a relief for Sierra to not see her still here, but she wasn't sure why. Perhaps some bit of her conscience just being glad she didn't inadvertently caused someone's death? it was odd to feel any sort of concern or relief regarding Faith of all people, but perhaps it was because this place hadn't broke her yet? It was hard to say.
The two continued walking and entered one of the aging, nature covered houses of the east side of the village. It was hardly the Ritz but given the present situation it would have to do. Sierra was hardly going to trek all the way to the western side in the dead of night. She wondered how her friends were holding up? Did they find some safe place to stay? Nick, Juliette, Dante, Tristan, Axel, Kelly, Julien, Beryl... They were all out there somewhere, in similar positions as her. Would she be able to find them? Would they even still be alive? Such a thought sent a chill down her spine.
They had to be okay. They had to.
Sierra sighed as she looked around the old house. She had to rest for now, she could worry later. She dropped the two bags she had been lugging around to the ground with a thud. Her shoulder figuratively breathed a sigh of relief as it no longer had to carrying the weight of two bags.
Sierra looked to Willow as she rolled her shoulder with a somewhat weary expression as she called "dibs" on watch duty. They had been together practically the whole time since they woke up on the island and Sierra couldn't help but still feel cautious regarding her companion. Willow hadn't done anything to her yet, but Sierra had been expecting it ever since they robbed Faith. Could she trust her not to fuck her over while she slept? It would be the perfect opportunity for Willow. But maybe for Willow it was convenient to keep Sierra around. She wasn't sure of Willow's intention, so should she be grateful of Willow willing to stay up while she slept?
"Well, there are some people I could name that we leave alone," Sierra said as she leaned her new gun against a nearby wall. "But I think we shouldn't rob too many people. We've already got enough supplies to last us a few days. If we stay mobile or hold up in a good spot, we could probably wait out this whole mess."
Sierra tapped the spare bag she grabbed from when they robbed Marco and Arjen with her boot. "By the way, since we're in a... relatively safe place now, we probably should divide up this bag among ourselves. Care to look through it?"
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Somersault
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Kelly stewed in her own silence, just for a little bit. Just for enough time to refocus, camera lens slowly whirling to and fro before finally returning to this entire situation. Caution was needed, a lack of it tantamount to death, but such a stranglehold couldn’t be maintained constantly. Guards had to always be let down, gates left open, and so her sinuses opened too, a great big intake of air expelled in the same fashion as it appeared. Certainly, this place wasn’t ideal, but she was still here, still breathing, and most importantly, still hadn’t done anything untoward or unjustified. A small victory, to be sure, but a victory nonetheless.
She was to remain herself here, a version of her that could survive this, but being her was an arduous undertaking as any, and so she cherished this moment. Wasn’t anything close to her bedroom at home, pencils arranged on the desk like so, scrapbooks kept in the cabinet just like that, everything with its place and position, a rigorously organized whirl of color and, well, cat photos.
But, it was a room with a bed, and here, Kelly was willing to settle for that.
The faint sounds of the front door did something to disrupt her present state, and so she stood up, but did nothing more than to cup her ear against the door. A sudden intrusion into this place wasn’t pleasant, and honestly, didn’t exactly have the probability of ending well if the new entries’ intentions were anything other than friendly, so she leaned into the door, hoping her ears could pick up more of the voices just beyond the grain. They were speaking. She listened. She listened, and smiled.
Obviously, in a way that couldn’t exactly or at least hopefully wouldn’t be spotted by the camera on the ceiling, but still, an energy buzzed through her, an uplifting hum, for she knew the source of the voices. Fairly well, in fact.
Never in a million years would Kelly have pictured Willow and Sierra working together, but such was the way of the island. She wouldn’t have pegged Juliette to try killing her, either, but anyways, she was well acquainted with both members of the pair just around the corner. For two far different reasons, for Sierra, Kelly the archery teammate and “subordinate”, Willow, Kelly the roommate, but both were relatively agreeable in their own ways. Quick to action too, as their discussion seemed to confirm, and that made her just a bit more nervous, a part of her saying this was a bad idea, that this was wrong, that she would get killed, but she willed it away.
She had to do this. Had to try.
Slowly, seemingly hesitantly, she twisted the knob of the door, giving enough space for her head and neck to peek through. Kelly first looked in the opposite direction of the other two girls, before settling on them, expression weary but still with a smile.
Long sigh, exhale. Just the usual. “I’ll be totally honest, I’ve never been so glad to see other people in my life.”
If the cameras looked closely enough, they’d see the glint in her eyes wasn’t entirely feigned.
She was to remain herself here, a version of her that could survive this, but being her was an arduous undertaking as any, and so she cherished this moment. Wasn’t anything close to her bedroom at home, pencils arranged on the desk like so, scrapbooks kept in the cabinet just like that, everything with its place and position, a rigorously organized whirl of color and, well, cat photos.
But, it was a room with a bed, and here, Kelly was willing to settle for that.
The faint sounds of the front door did something to disrupt her present state, and so she stood up, but did nothing more than to cup her ear against the door. A sudden intrusion into this place wasn’t pleasant, and honestly, didn’t exactly have the probability of ending well if the new entries’ intentions were anything other than friendly, so she leaned into the door, hoping her ears could pick up more of the voices just beyond the grain. They were speaking. She listened. She listened, and smiled.
Obviously, in a way that couldn’t exactly or at least hopefully wouldn’t be spotted by the camera on the ceiling, but still, an energy buzzed through her, an uplifting hum, for she knew the source of the voices. Fairly well, in fact.
Never in a million years would Kelly have pictured Willow and Sierra working together, but such was the way of the island. She wouldn’t have pegged Juliette to try killing her, either, but anyways, she was well acquainted with both members of the pair just around the corner. For two far different reasons, for Sierra, Kelly the archery teammate and “subordinate”, Willow, Kelly the roommate, but both were relatively agreeable in their own ways. Quick to action too, as their discussion seemed to confirm, and that made her just a bit more nervous, a part of her saying this was a bad idea, that this was wrong, that she would get killed, but she willed it away.
She had to do this. Had to try.
Slowly, seemingly hesitantly, she twisted the knob of the door, giving enough space for her head and neck to peek through. Kelly first looked in the opposite direction of the other two girls, before settling on them, expression weary but still with a smile.
Long sigh, exhale. Just the usual. “I’ll be totally honest, I’ve never been so glad to see other people in my life.”
If the cameras looked closely enough, they’d see the glint in her eyes wasn’t entirely feigned.
"Yeah, yeah." Willow still wanted to make a list. It would be a personal one. Two Willow's were created as she bent down and started to rummage through the bag. It was a girl's bad. She knew it from the clothes and the smell. It was oddly similar. While the physical Willow dig through the supplies with Sierra keeping a watchful eye around, the tiny Willow who hid inside her head came out. She started to work. Multitasking wasn't hard, it just meant the narrative would be broken up. It was fine, Willow was used to it.
Willow couldn't stay on autopilot.
A piece of her brain reminded her of the situation. Something was odd about the bag. It was too familiar. She raised a shirt to her nose and took a whiff out of it. It smelled like Kelly. Strangely, a heartstring was plucked. The octobass' string suddenly flew toward Willow's hands. The cuts were deep and it was a strange sorrow that filled up Willow's hands. They were numb. So Kelly was dead? Willow wasn't quite sure yet. She had to smell it again.
It was true. She was handling Kelly's belongings. Kelly wasn't around, Kelly was actually nowhere to be found, and her stuff was with a bunch of guys who happened to have weapons on them. Was Kelly dead? Possibly. Likely, even. Footsteps came to be, and a hum came to life. Willow thought she was hallucinating because she took too many whiffs of the shirt. The toxins they put in detergent powders were quite sickening, and for a second, Willow thought she was getting fucked up on that. However, she only had a headache, and a figure she knew came from the darkness. Kelly was as fake as ever. Willow loved it.
"Oh my God," she was beaming like a cat that lost its own litter. "I totally thought you were dead!" She looked at Sierra and the gears started to grind. She would need to update the list.
Spoiler!
Willow couldn't stay on autopilot.
A piece of her brain reminded her of the situation. Something was odd about the bag. It was too familiar. She raised a shirt to her nose and took a whiff out of it. It smelled like Kelly. Strangely, a heartstring was plucked. The octobass' string suddenly flew toward Willow's hands. The cuts were deep and it was a strange sorrow that filled up Willow's hands. They were numb. So Kelly was dead? Willow wasn't quite sure yet. She had to smell it again.
It was true. She was handling Kelly's belongings. Kelly wasn't around, Kelly was actually nowhere to be found, and her stuff was with a bunch of guys who happened to have weapons on them. Was Kelly dead? Possibly. Likely, even. Footsteps came to be, and a hum came to life. Willow thought she was hallucinating because she took too many whiffs of the shirt. The toxins they put in detergent powders were quite sickening, and for a second, Willow thought she was getting fucked up on that. However, she only had a headache, and a figure she knew came from the darkness. Kelly was as fake as ever. Willow loved it.
"Oh my God," she was beaming like a cat that lost its own litter. "I totally thought you were dead!" She looked at Sierra and the gears started to grind. She would need to update the list.
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TheLordOfAwesome
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- Location: Washington
Sierra opted to keep lookout as Willow rummaged through the bag, it was the least she could do after all. She folded her arms and scanned the environment, looking towards doors and windows for any sight of someone looking in on them. Her attention was draw to one door as she heard the faint sound of a door knob turning, her head snapping in the direction of the sound just as the door began to open. Her body began to tense, ready to lunge for her gun at the first sign of trouble. However, she began to relax somewhat as she saw who was looking at them through the door.
"Kelly." Sierra said, a smile creeping on her face.
It was nice that after all the crazy things that had happen to day — robbing people, traveling with a sociopath — that Sierra manage to discover a friend at the end of the day. Sure, Kelly and her weren't particularly close friends but Sierra considered themselves friends none the less. Most of their interactions were during archery club but on the few occasions when they hanged out outside of the club it was always a pleasant time. Sierra held a good amount of respect for Kelly's talent in archery, even if she wasn't nearly as good as Sierra herself. Still, that was one less person whose safety she didn't have to worry about.
It also seemed like Willow was also in the same boat as her if her reactions to seeing Kelly was anything to go by.
"Kelly, I'm so glad you're okay!" Sierra smiled genuinely as she began to let her guard down. "We've walked across what feels like half of this damn island and you are the first bit of good news I've seen all day!"
"Kelly." Sierra said, a smile creeping on her face.
It was nice that after all the crazy things that had happen to day — robbing people, traveling with a sociopath — that Sierra manage to discover a friend at the end of the day. Sure, Kelly and her weren't particularly close friends but Sierra considered themselves friends none the less. Most of their interactions were during archery club but on the few occasions when they hanged out outside of the club it was always a pleasant time. Sierra held a good amount of respect for Kelly's talent in archery, even if she wasn't nearly as good as Sierra herself. Still, that was one less person whose safety she didn't have to worry about.
It also seemed like Willow was also in the same boat as her if her reactions to seeing Kelly was anything to go by.
"Kelly, I'm so glad you're okay!" Sierra smiled genuinely as she began to let her guard down. "We've walked across what feels like half of this damn island and you are the first bit of good news I've seen all day!"
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
She smiled at them, and they had smiled back. That was good. Great, even. Of course, there was a great big chance that they too were snakes, smiling until they got close enough to use their fangs, but Kelly was prepared, now. Sure, both Sierra and Willow looked friendly enough, she knew them well enough back in Tennessee, but she was all too increasingly aware of the decreasing value of what enough meant here.
Kelly stepped out from behind the door, each step measured. Wasn’t about to let them show what she knew, the tension she was sure released from their voices once they recognized who was there.
“I’m so glad to see you too!” Crumbled, just a little bit, at the end of that. A frown for good measure. “...My day really hasn’t been great, either.”
Had to leave them something to guess at, just for a moment, open space for their minds to fill in the blanks. Why she had no supplies, why she was still somewhat damp, why she still seemed so goddamn cheery. An open space, just to let them wander, just like the bedroom door left unclosed.
Her eyes moved from Sierra, then, to Willow. Out of the two of them, she had to admit that Sierra was certainly the more known quantity to her, dependable if a bit temperamental, and her initial judgments of Willow had perhaps been a bit presumptuous before they had ended up rooming together, but the fact that the girl now seemed to be engrossed in her own clothes was not exactly a detail that counted in her favor.
Still, acting on edge or anything of the sort seemed to be the kind of thing that would get a sharp edge sent through here, so she just dusted her hands off, composed her thoughts into something more presentable. Casual still, calm, a seemingly glacially paced re-composing of the self.
“Any interesting things happen to you?”
No trace of judgment, no trace of anything approximating suspicion. Sure, her guards were up, and the camera’d understand why, but Kelly had to be honest in her estimation that she wasn’t sure that the two other girls would’ve felt the same way. They knew her. They’d know better.
Kelly stepped out from behind the door, each step measured. Wasn’t about to let them show what she knew, the tension she was sure released from their voices once they recognized who was there.
“I’m so glad to see you too!” Crumbled, just a little bit, at the end of that. A frown for good measure. “...My day really hasn’t been great, either.”
Had to leave them something to guess at, just for a moment, open space for their minds to fill in the blanks. Why she had no supplies, why she was still somewhat damp, why she still seemed so goddamn cheery. An open space, just to let them wander, just like the bedroom door left unclosed.
Her eyes moved from Sierra, then, to Willow. Out of the two of them, she had to admit that Sierra was certainly the more known quantity to her, dependable if a bit temperamental, and her initial judgments of Willow had perhaps been a bit presumptuous before they had ended up rooming together, but the fact that the girl now seemed to be engrossed in her own clothes was not exactly a detail that counted in her favor.
Still, acting on edge or anything of the sort seemed to be the kind of thing that would get a sharp edge sent through here, so she just dusted her hands off, composed her thoughts into something more presentable. Casual still, calm, a seemingly glacially paced re-composing of the self.
“Any interesting things happen to you?”
No trace of judgment, no trace of anything approximating suspicion. Sure, her guards were up, and the camera’d understand why, but Kelly had to be honest in her estimation that she wasn’t sure that the two other girls would’ve felt the same way. They knew her. They’d know better.
"Mhm, tough question."
It wasn't a tough question. It was rather simple one, actually. Willow just didn't want to answer it, there wasn't anything that forced her to tell the truth to Kelly. Willow didn't want to hurt Kelly. If Kelly suddenly knew about their endeavours, she might end up being a threat, and then Willow would need to take Kelly out of the game. Yeah, it wasn't a tough question. It was just a tough answer.
"I figured it was you, haha," she said, avoiding the topic, "because it looked like your stuff and it smelled like you."
She didn’t say that she smelled good, that was perfect. Trying to make it less awkward, Willow patted down the shirt and she put it back down inside the bag. She squinted and scanned Kelly’s body. Interestingly enough, she appeared to be soaked in water, or at least was. Some of it were on different levels of dryness, but some of it was still oozing out. That was, perhaps, how she lost her bag to the boys.
“Yeah,” she looked at Sierra then back at Kelly, “you should get totally get changed, haha.”
Ha.
Willow kept her eyes on her hand.
It's okay, she reminded herself, they will both die anyways. Nothing they said or thought about Willow mattered either in the long term. She started scratching the nail polish off her fingers. It was okay. She had more in her bag. Willow would just need to apply it again. In the long term, this meant nothing. Yeah, it meant nothing. Nothing at all, just something that was going disappear and be buried under the waves.
She sighed. This little exercise in nihilism made her feel better, she stopped looking at her hands. "So, are we having a sleepover, or..?"
It wasn't a tough question. It was rather simple one, actually. Willow just didn't want to answer it, there wasn't anything that forced her to tell the truth to Kelly. Willow didn't want to hurt Kelly. If Kelly suddenly knew about their endeavours, she might end up being a threat, and then Willow would need to take Kelly out of the game. Yeah, it wasn't a tough question. It was just a tough answer.
"I figured it was you, haha," she said, avoiding the topic, "because it looked like your stuff and it smelled like you."
She didn’t say that she smelled good, that was perfect. Trying to make it less awkward, Willow patted down the shirt and she put it back down inside the bag. She squinted and scanned Kelly’s body. Interestingly enough, she appeared to be soaked in water, or at least was. Some of it were on different levels of dryness, but some of it was still oozing out. That was, perhaps, how she lost her bag to the boys.
“Yeah,” she looked at Sierra then back at Kelly, “you should get totally get changed, haha.”
Ha.
Willow kept her eyes on her hand.
It's okay, she reminded herself, they will both die anyways. Nothing they said or thought about Willow mattered either in the long term. She started scratching the nail polish off her fingers. It was okay. She had more in her bag. Willow would just need to apply it again. In the long term, this meant nothing. Yeah, it meant nothing. Nothing at all, just something that was going disappear and be buried under the waves.
She sighed. This little exercise in nihilism made her feel better, she stopped looking at her hands. "So, are we having a sleepover, or..?"
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TheLordOfAwesome
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:37 pm
- Location: Washington
Sierra placed her hands on her hips and shrugged to Kelly's question. How was she suppose to explain that she robbed people to Kelly? There was no scenario where she could give a definite answer and not expect something bad to happen. Kelly was a friend but it wasn't like she could expect her not to turn on them here if they were to give her a reason. It seemed like Willow was on the same page with her at least given she was avoiding to answer the question as well.
She also caught that fact that Willow was able to identify that the bag apparently belonged to Kelly by its smell. Which Sierra found just a little creepy that Willow knew Kelly by scent.
"I didn't know the bag was your's when we picked it up," she said, edging away from Willow. "So, ya know, feel free to take it back. It is one hell of a coincidence that we managed to find each other while we had your bag after you lost it."
Sierra felt that God had an interesting way of yanking her around. She wasn't sure if destiny could really be a thing, but finding Kelly's stuff, followed by finding Kelly herself was something one could point to as proof of destiny she supposed. Assuming someone believes in that sort of thing. After all, God would have to be a real asshole to show her this little sign after putting her on fucking Survival of the Fittest. Was he expecting her to be grateful if he was up there moving them around like pawns on a chess board? If so, then he was barking up the wrong tree.
Sierra never like the concept of destiny. It meant that life wasn't in her control, that every action she took was not her own but rather someone pulling the strings. Her life a story written down on a sheet of paper, unchanging and in accordance to the will of some unseen writer sitting at a desk. If the sun moves because God wills it, how could she possibly not also be a puppet of God? If she had no free will then that means it is not her hand holding her weapons, robbing Faith and Marco, and that can't be allowed.
So it was a small comfort to think of this chance encounter with Kelly as nothing more than a coincidence.
Sierra looked to Willow, giving her partner a wry smile. "So, what? Feeling up for an impromptu slumber party in a decaying, plant overgrown house on a death island? 'Cause that's always been a dream of mine."
She also caught that fact that Willow was able to identify that the bag apparently belonged to Kelly by its smell. Which Sierra found just a little creepy that Willow knew Kelly by scent.
"I didn't know the bag was your's when we picked it up," she said, edging away from Willow. "So, ya know, feel free to take it back. It is one hell of a coincidence that we managed to find each other while we had your bag after you lost it."
Sierra felt that God had an interesting way of yanking her around. She wasn't sure if destiny could really be a thing, but finding Kelly's stuff, followed by finding Kelly herself was something one could point to as proof of destiny she supposed. Assuming someone believes in that sort of thing. After all, God would have to be a real asshole to show her this little sign after putting her on fucking Survival of the Fittest. Was he expecting her to be grateful if he was up there moving them around like pawns on a chess board? If so, then he was barking up the wrong tree.
Sierra never like the concept of destiny. It meant that life wasn't in her control, that every action she took was not her own but rather someone pulling the strings. Her life a story written down on a sheet of paper, unchanging and in accordance to the will of some unseen writer sitting at a desk. If the sun moves because God wills it, how could she possibly not also be a puppet of God? If she had no free will then that means it is not her hand holding her weapons, robbing Faith and Marco, and that can't be allowed.
So it was a small comfort to think of this chance encounter with Kelly as nothing more than a coincidence.
Sierra looked to Willow, giving her partner a wry smile. "So, what? Feeling up for an impromptu slumber party in a decaying, plant overgrown house on a death island? 'Cause that's always been a dream of mine."
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
In all honesty, their non-answers provided all the answers that Kelly needed. Coincidence this, coincidence that, but no one ended up with an extra bag due to coincidence. Obviously, something had happened in order for them to have the bag, and she was fairly sure that it was Sierra and Willow who made that something happen to someone else. This wasn’t a foregone conclusion, no, but it seemed like the most plausible theory, and continuing to bet on people’s better natures didn’t seem like a good strategy here.
Of course, appeals to them were still to be made, but they weren’t anything more than garnish anymore. Still, the two probable thieves or murderers were the ones with her bag, while she was empty handed, and so something had to be done about that.
Kelly gave a wry grin at their replies, but offered nothing more in that conversational front. For all intents and purposes, she was an innocent, gullible bystander, and she’d rather kept it that way. Suspicion didn’t play well, especially not in front of people who were, by all accounts, deserving of that suspicion.
“A slumber party sounds fun,” she replied to Willow and Sierra’s offers, as she made her way to the bag. Her bag. The one that meant she could survive here on more than other people’s kindness. “We could all use a touch of lightness, I think.”
Everything conversational still, as if she was just discussing shooting form with Sierra or watching Willow paint nails. Just had to pretend this was another old conversation, listening to hear them speak, offering platitudes, no more. Return to that rhythm, that cadence, that steadiness, even if there was no place for that rhythm to return to after. A means to an end.
Kelly gripped her bag by both straps, and made her way back to the bedroom, all too aware of the gazes she felt at her back.
“Just give me some time to freshen up, you know?” Just a little laugh, because full on laughter was annoying, crazy, strange. Just a light acknowledgement of the situation, all it was. Just enough to give her some time to get the window open and make her way out.
They were the killers, right? The cameras knew that, recorded their acts, and so what she was doing now was just right. Just karmic, because she deserved her things, she didn’t kill anyone for them, and so it was best to take it back. She was worthy.
With a light bang, the door closed behind her.
Of course, appeals to them were still to be made, but they weren’t anything more than garnish anymore. Still, the two probable thieves or murderers were the ones with her bag, while she was empty handed, and so something had to be done about that.
Kelly gave a wry grin at their replies, but offered nothing more in that conversational front. For all intents and purposes, she was an innocent, gullible bystander, and she’d rather kept it that way. Suspicion didn’t play well, especially not in front of people who were, by all accounts, deserving of that suspicion.
“A slumber party sounds fun,” she replied to Willow and Sierra’s offers, as she made her way to the bag. Her bag. The one that meant she could survive here on more than other people’s kindness. “We could all use a touch of lightness, I think.”
Everything conversational still, as if she was just discussing shooting form with Sierra or watching Willow paint nails. Just had to pretend this was another old conversation, listening to hear them speak, offering platitudes, no more. Return to that rhythm, that cadence, that steadiness, even if there was no place for that rhythm to return to after. A means to an end.
Kelly gripped her bag by both straps, and made her way back to the bedroom, all too aware of the gazes she felt at her back.
“Just give me some time to freshen up, you know?” Just a little laugh, because full on laughter was annoying, crazy, strange. Just a light acknowledgement of the situation, all it was. Just enough to give her some time to get the window open and make her way out.
They were the killers, right? The cameras knew that, recorded their acts, and so what she was doing now was just right. Just karmic, because she deserved her things, she didn’t kill anyone for them, and so it was best to take it back. She was worthy.
With a light bang, the door closed behind her.
Sierra's smile made Willow giggle. It was odd to see Sierra smile like that. It was the first time on the island that Sierra put teeth in her smile which made Willow feel odd. This was as if nothing had happened: no murders, no violences, no robbings, nothing atypical of their daily life. She knew this impression wouldn't last.
As she handed the bag to Kelly, Willow had a genuine smile on her face. It was nice to see her again, safe and in one piece. Perhaps 'one piece' wasn't the quite descriptor, maybe her dignity took a swim alongside of her but it decided to swim back to America. Kelly was like a princess from the Tudor era: she had to wear a mask.
The mask was something Willow could relate to. It was something to put the crowd at a distance. A cage to a bird that wanted to be locked up as a way to avoid people that were hurting and hurted.
Simply said, Kelly was broken. Her smiley face mask was stapled loosely on the edge, it was bound to fall. That was okay, but Willow's was bolted in. At 18, she had already two. Years and years of guilt created a thick layer, and there wasn't much that could go through it. Her inner turmoil was her greatest fear, and greatest enjoyment, since she didn't know when she'd be at war with herself. The game of chess she was playing with herself wasn't particularly interesting lately, it was rather a boring and tedious task if anything. She'd take anything to spice it up.
Her smile faded as she turned her head toward Sierra. Her voice was soft. There weren't any emotions in her words. It was just like when she stepped on Marco.
"Can I have the taser now?"
As she handed the bag to Kelly, Willow had a genuine smile on her face. It was nice to see her again, safe and in one piece. Perhaps 'one piece' wasn't the quite descriptor, maybe her dignity took a swim alongside of her but it decided to swim back to America. Kelly was like a princess from the Tudor era: she had to wear a mask.
The mask was something Willow could relate to. It was something to put the crowd at a distance. A cage to a bird that wanted to be locked up as a way to avoid people that were hurting and hurted.
Simply said, Kelly was broken. Her smiley face mask was stapled loosely on the edge, it was bound to fall. That was okay, but Willow's was bolted in. At 18, she had already two. Years and years of guilt created a thick layer, and there wasn't much that could go through it. Her inner turmoil was her greatest fear, and greatest enjoyment, since she didn't know when she'd be at war with herself. The game of chess she was playing with herself wasn't particularly interesting lately, it was rather a boring and tedious task if anything. She'd take anything to spice it up.
Her smile faded as she turned her head toward Sierra. Her voice was soft. There weren't any emotions in her words. It was just like when she stepped on Marco.
"Can I have the taser now?"
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TheLordOfAwesome
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:37 pm
- Location: Washington
The moment the door closed Sierra's smile faltered. She suspected Kelly knew that something was up with them given they both neglected to answer her question. Perhaps they could play it off as the two of them just being tired after everything that has happened but she wasn't quite sure how well that would go over with Kelly. Sierra hummed in thought as she folded her arms, tapping her boot on the floor. Her gaze turned over to Willow as she asked if she could have her stun gun, which reminded Sierra of something. What exactly did Kelly get as her weapon? She hadn't dug through her bag so she wasn't sure. Was it something useful or something that was ultimately useless?
"Stun gun," she corrected her companion. "And maybe. Hold that thought."
She walked over to the door Kelly went through. She leaned against the wall next to the door, her knuckles knocking against the door three times. "Kelly?" Sierra called. "What weapon did they give you? I have a stun gun and... an actual gun now. Depending on what they gave you I'm willing to lend you the stun gun while we work together."
People were unpredictable, especially in stressful situations. What would Kelly do? Would she try to cut and run? The house had windows and it would be easy for her to leave through one while she was in there. Hopefully she wouldn't. Kelly was the first friendly face she had seen in a while and they needed to work together if they want to make it through this.
"Stun gun," she corrected her companion. "And maybe. Hold that thought."
She walked over to the door Kelly went through. She leaned against the wall next to the door, her knuckles knocking against the door three times. "Kelly?" Sierra called. "What weapon did they give you? I have a stun gun and... an actual gun now. Depending on what they gave you I'm willing to lend you the stun gun while we work together."
People were unpredictable, especially in stressful situations. What would Kelly do? Would she try to cut and run? The house had windows and it would be easy for her to leave through one while she was in there. Hopefully she wouldn't. Kelly was the first friendly face she had seen in a while and they needed to work together if they want to make it through this.
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
If there was just one thing Kelly was taking increasing umbrage against, it was the fact that nearly every single person she’d met here seemed to think she was an easy target, or at the very least, not worth bothering to spend time with. Juliette, Bryan, and now, if what she was hearing through the door was correct, Willow.
Perhaps it was just a bit paranoid of her to assume that the other girl’s request for the taser was anything but altruistic, but Kelly was beginning to grow tired of giving people the benefit of the doubt, especially when she felt she had gained all she could out of this encounter. The stun gun was tempting, sure, but it also meant opening the door. Grandma had always told her that opening the doors would let in the spirits in, both good and bad, but here, opening the door meant robbing herself of this one opportunity to go run. Maybe now, it was time to do something for herself.
She walked over, as lightly as she could, and moved to open the window, before the knocks on the door caught her attention.
“Oh, just a rubber chicken,” Kelly replied, light as a balloon full of nothing but hot air. Another giggle. Sierra, at least, seemed to be more cordial, and although her judgment had proven to be somewhat off recently, Kelly was fairly confident that the other girl was being honest in her words. Was part of why she liked talking to her during archery practice, really. No pretense needed, just knowledge of the game and an ambition for earnest improvement.
In just a few moments, Kelly would allow herself to miss her. Maybe even Willow too, as long as she didn’t have the pleasure of encountering her later on. Sacrificing their trust now seemed like a small price to pay for being able to have her supplies, and retain external trust. The fact that they had her bag in the first place still weighed on her mind, still was a key factor here. No sense in staying with presumed robbers or murderers, being labeled a potential accomplice. The vulture had taken it’s fill, after all. No need to tussle with a lion.
What she was doing now, she told herself as she slowly began to lift the window, was only poetic in nature. What came around went back around, hitting them right in the face. This was the best thing to do, the wisest thing to do.
Those were the thoughts that ran through her mind as she daintily stepped over the window, and began running into the night. Her clothes were still cold, but she could change them later. She had already changed something now, anyways.
((Kelly Nguyen, continued in Son of Robot))
Perhaps it was just a bit paranoid of her to assume that the other girl’s request for the taser was anything but altruistic, but Kelly was beginning to grow tired of giving people the benefit of the doubt, especially when she felt she had gained all she could out of this encounter. The stun gun was tempting, sure, but it also meant opening the door. Grandma had always told her that opening the doors would let in the spirits in, both good and bad, but here, opening the door meant robbing herself of this one opportunity to go run. Maybe now, it was time to do something for herself.
She walked over, as lightly as she could, and moved to open the window, before the knocks on the door caught her attention.
“Oh, just a rubber chicken,” Kelly replied, light as a balloon full of nothing but hot air. Another giggle. Sierra, at least, seemed to be more cordial, and although her judgment had proven to be somewhat off recently, Kelly was fairly confident that the other girl was being honest in her words. Was part of why she liked talking to her during archery practice, really. No pretense needed, just knowledge of the game and an ambition for earnest improvement.
In just a few moments, Kelly would allow herself to miss her. Maybe even Willow too, as long as she didn’t have the pleasure of encountering her later on. Sacrificing their trust now seemed like a small price to pay for being able to have her supplies, and retain external trust. The fact that they had her bag in the first place still weighed on her mind, still was a key factor here. No sense in staying with presumed robbers or murderers, being labeled a potential accomplice. The vulture had taken it’s fill, after all. No need to tussle with a lion.
What she was doing now, she told herself as she slowly began to lift the window, was only poetic in nature. What came around went back around, hitting them right in the face. This was the best thing to do, the wisest thing to do.
Those were the thoughts that ran through her mind as she daintily stepped over the window, and began running into the night. Her clothes were still cold, but she could change them later. She had already changed something now, anyways.
((Kelly Nguyen, continued in Son of Robot))
Willow crossed her arms. It was stupid. The stun gun wasn't a gun at all. It was electricity on a stick, there were no guns involved in this. This little detail deeply annoyed Willow, she swore to herself she wouldn't call it a stun gun simply out of spite. Nobody could force, especially not Sierra. It was going to be a taser or an electricity stick or thundara, but she would never call it a stun gun. However, for the sake of getting it, she had to call it the right name.
"Yeah, haha." She said. Wait, Sierra was asking Kelly her weapon so that she could get it? That’s so rude, Willow asked first and she never did anything wrong to Sierra. The only answer that came out of Kelly’s mouth was that she had a rubber chicken. Now, Willow wanted it. Simply out of spite and out of curiosity, because a rubber chicken wasn’t something she saw everyday in her life.
“So... are you going to answer?” Willow looked at the door. She heard Kelly move just now, but she wasn’t answering. Willow looked at Sierra with inquisitive eyes. Willow put her hand against the doorknob and twisted it. The door opened, revealing an empty room with a wide opened window. At first, she didn’t quite understand what it meant. Perhaps Kelly was in the closet, maybe she was under the bed licking dust, but then she realized, that she wasn’t here anymore. She had left them. Willow’s kindness was for nothing.
“Mhm, guess I’ll have to...” She nibbled the inside of cheek softly. Not strong enough to break the skin, but just enough to stop her from talking. Willow couldn’t end this sentence. The words weren’t allowed to come out just yet. She had to wait patiently. Willow had all the time in the world as she watched the animals fight each other. She just needed to wait until Sierra realized she was one of them.
“What a cunt.”
"Yeah, haha." She said. Wait, Sierra was asking Kelly her weapon so that she could get it? That’s so rude, Willow asked first and she never did anything wrong to Sierra. The only answer that came out of Kelly’s mouth was that she had a rubber chicken. Now, Willow wanted it. Simply out of spite and out of curiosity, because a rubber chicken wasn’t something she saw everyday in her life.
“So... are you going to answer?” Willow looked at the door. She heard Kelly move just now, but she wasn’t answering. Willow looked at Sierra with inquisitive eyes. Willow put her hand against the doorknob and twisted it. The door opened, revealing an empty room with a wide opened window. At first, she didn’t quite understand what it meant. Perhaps Kelly was in the closet, maybe she was under the bed licking dust, but then she realized, that she wasn’t here anymore. She had left them. Willow’s kindness was for nothing.
“Mhm, guess I’ll have to...” She nibbled the inside of cheek softly. Not strong enough to break the skin, but just enough to stop her from talking. Willow couldn’t end this sentence. The words weren’t allowed to come out just yet. She had to wait patiently. Willow had all the time in the world as she watched the animals fight each other. She just needed to wait until Sierra realized she was one of them.
“What a cunt.”
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TheLordOfAwesome
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:37 pm
- Location: Washington
A rubber chicken? Talk about shit luck to get that as your designated weapon. Sierra supposed that the freaks running this fucked up reality show just had a sick sense of humor to arm some people with guns and give others junk. She wasn't much of a science kid but that modus operandi didn't really seem to mesh with what the scientific phrase of "survival of the fittest" was suppose to mean. She of course doubted anyone who thought up this glorified snuff film scenario particularly cared about that. All they probably wanted was to throw some kids onto an island, stack the deck against them, sit back and laugh.
There was a moment of silence left in the air after Kelly replied and Sierra just waited patiently for her to get done so she could hand her the damn thing. But time went by and the silence was heavy, Willow eventually decided she would open the door and... the room was empty.
Kelly had bolted.
Sierra grimaced but was unsurprised by that. They had acted pretty suspiciously and Kelly wasn't an idiot, so she no doubt picked up on that. It was also bothersome as Sierra was genuinely happy to have found Kelly and was hoping they could work together. If she had to choose between Kelly and Willow on who to travel with, Sierra would pick Kelly without hesitation. With Kelly she knew she could place some trust in her, with Willow it was more an alliance of convenience and in the end she didn't know how far she could actually trust her.
"Don't call her that." Sierra scolded Willow as she walked back to grab her gun, then turned back around to walk into the bedroom. "We don't know what she's been through today. I mean, we found two other people with her stuff. How and why they had it I don't know, but if I were to hazard a guess I'd say it is part of the reason why her clothes looked a little on the damp side."
Sierra closed the window Kelly left from, briefly peering into the darkness of the outside to see if she could spot her friend and teammate before turning back to the rest of the room. She moved over to the bed and placed her things next to it. She wouldn't want to sleep on the damn thing, but it beats sleeping on the hard floor.
"Since you want to take first watch I'll go to sleep," She said as she sat on the bed, kicking off her boots. "Wake me up in a few hours and in the morning I'll let you have the stun gun. Okay?"
She waved Willow off and laid down onto the bed. She shifted around to get comfortable, and after a few minutes she managed to relax enough to drift off to sleep.
((Sierra Cook continued in Freedom is a fleeting dream, an ephemeral hope, a transient wish in the wind.))
There was a moment of silence left in the air after Kelly replied and Sierra just waited patiently for her to get done so she could hand her the damn thing. But time went by and the silence was heavy, Willow eventually decided she would open the door and... the room was empty.
Kelly had bolted.
Sierra grimaced but was unsurprised by that. They had acted pretty suspiciously and Kelly wasn't an idiot, so she no doubt picked up on that. It was also bothersome as Sierra was genuinely happy to have found Kelly and was hoping they could work together. If she had to choose between Kelly and Willow on who to travel with, Sierra would pick Kelly without hesitation. With Kelly she knew she could place some trust in her, with Willow it was more an alliance of convenience and in the end she didn't know how far she could actually trust her.
"Don't call her that." Sierra scolded Willow as she walked back to grab her gun, then turned back around to walk into the bedroom. "We don't know what she's been through today. I mean, we found two other people with her stuff. How and why they had it I don't know, but if I were to hazard a guess I'd say it is part of the reason why her clothes looked a little on the damp side."
Sierra closed the window Kelly left from, briefly peering into the darkness of the outside to see if she could spot her friend and teammate before turning back to the rest of the room. She moved over to the bed and placed her things next to it. She wouldn't want to sleep on the damn thing, but it beats sleeping on the hard floor.
"Since you want to take first watch I'll go to sleep," She said as she sat on the bed, kicking off her boots. "Wake me up in a few hours and in the morning I'll let you have the stun gun. Okay?"
She waved Willow off and laid down onto the bed. She shifted around to get comfortable, and after a few minutes she managed to relax enough to drift off to sleep.
((Sierra Cook continued in Freedom is a fleeting dream, an ephemeral hope, a transient wish in the wind.))