Destroying Soda: The Most Heinous Of Crimes

[ViolentMedic]

((Dylan Walker continued from Leprechaun Luck.))

“WHY. THE FUCK. WOULD YOU DO THAT?”

Dylan had been happy. She'd had a gun, which meant she wasn't a defenceless little weed any more, and she'd just gone for a walk and looked for... well, she didn't know. Not all her problems had been fixed because she had a gun. She was still, deep down, fairly certain someone was going to get her eventually. Because this game was all about the strong surviving over the weak. Survival of the fittest, and she was definitely not the fittest. The gun helped. But other kids had guns. She'd seen a few. Maxim, Clara, Louisa, that girl that'd nearly shot her the night before... she still no clue as to what that girl's name was, hadn't spent enough time looking at her face for it to leave an impression.

Still, the gun increased her confidence. Because now there was at least a chance. A tiny, tiny chance. A little ray of sunshine in the form of a Ruger Blackhawk.

So she'd been feeling good, until she'd reached the clearing. The clearing that Clara had jumped her and Louisa in. And found her old supplies – the remainder of them, lying in the clearing. Though the bag was now just a burnt-out husk. Clara had clearly lit them on fire.

“Why? Why would you do that?” Dylan yelled. “Why? If they were useless you should have left them, you fucking beaner!” Of course, Clara probably couldn't hear her right now. But Dylan was angry about this. Because that bitch had left the soda in there when she burnt it. Dylan gingerly poked her way through the burnt bits of... well, Dylan had no idea what, to look at the half-melted lumps that had once been soda cans. “Bitch! That was my fucking soda! Why would you burn it? Whyyyy?”

Dylan kicked the burnt-out bag before flopping down onto the grass in a huff. Well, there went her good mood, and over something as trivial as soda.

Still, it wasn't all bad. She had wheaties. Granted, wheaties tasted like crap without any milk to add to them, but whatever. Breakfast of champions. Maybe she'd spontaneously grow muscles and kick everyone's ass if she—no, that was spinach.

Dylan retrieved the box of wheaties, opened the top and plucked out a few bits of cereal, chewing on them. Breakfast of champions. She wasn't that now. But maybe she would be.

Maybe.

[Laurels]

((Louisa Bloom continued from Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind) ))

((Carlyle is going to come in once Pippin comes back from his Away, so all GMing of him approved))

The morning walk had been somewhat peaceful. Louisa had walked through the woods calmly, taking the time to munch on some bread and water. They still hadn't found anyone in their walk, she didn't feel too bad about it. She was in a group of four individuals, all of whom showed some kindness and willingness to work together. It was the best she could hope for in these circumstances.

Well, I guess it could be better if Maxim and Tori were here. I know we called ourselves the "Lost Children" but this is getting ridiculous.

After several hours of walking, Louisa realized that the trees were getting sparse, and there was more light coming through. Soon, she found herself standing in a large clearing, the same clearing she first awoke yesterday.

"Holy crap, I'm really back here," she muttered.

Louisa turned back to the group. She realized that she was looking only at Kyle and Amanda. Carlyle was no longer with them.

"Oh man, I think Carlyle fell behind," she said.

Louisa looked back in the woods behind them. She couldn't see him anywhere. She hoped he fell behind at some point and would be catching up soon. She didn't see him anywhere.

"Crap. Well, I guess we should stay put for a bit. He might be able to stumble around this area."

Louisa began to scan the clearing. Clara was able to surprise her and Dylan the other day because they stood too far into the open area. They probably should stay close to the forest edge in case any trouble came their way.

Suddenly, Louisa's eyes caught something in the distance. She could hear the figure shouting, cursing some "beaner" for burning her soda. Louisa's eyes widened.

Oh crap. There's only one person here who got soda.

Dylan Walker. Nuisance back home in Milwaukee. Almost-ally for Louisa. Killer of Brigid Paxton. Louisa gulped. It looked like Dylan was sitting down and eating something.

Great, we might have made a big mistake coming here. We just got to be careful now. We've got to handle this calmly and rationally.

[Bikriki*]

[Amanda White, continued from Ready to Go (Get Out of My Mind)]

Walking in the forest was rather peaceful, Amanda expected someone to surprise them. Instead, she had the opportunity to drink and eat some of her rations. They were slowly getting empty, so Amanda told herself to refrain from eating for a while. Goddamn that eating binge at the stream. Eventually, the woods became lighter, and the trees were getting sparse. They reached a clearing. Louisa's voice won her attention. She's back here? Well, good to have someone who is a little familiar with the area here. Then Louisa pointed out that Carlyle fell behind.

Amanda looked into the faces of Kyle and Louisa. A visible mix of surprisement and annoyance on her face. Indeed, no Carlyle.

"This is getting ridiculous."

So it is time to wait here and hope for the best. Amanda tried to be optimistic, but she was afraid they lost Carlyle completely. Then someone distant cursed.

Amanda remembered the voice. It belonged to Dylan Walker, a person with some self-image problems. Or bad tanning booths. Amanda didn't care much, 'till now. Normally, she would be scared deeply now, with a black girl that is nearby. Being in a group helped a little, but Carlyle's skill in killi- defending against minorities would be very useful here.

"Please tell me that one of you has a gun."

[Lord_Shadow]

((Kyle Williams continued from Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind))o

The walk through the trees was uneventful. Kyle took that as a sign that things were good. They had time to eat and be at peace without anyone or anything coming to surprise them. It was nice, all this peace they had enjoyed thus far. The trees were become sparser, and soon a clearing came into view. Louisa said something about being back here. That was good. She would have a better sense of direction here than the others would.

She then noticed and pointed out that Carlyle wasn't with them. "Perfect." Kyle muttered. Now was not the best time to get lost. He looked at Louisa, then at Amanda and shrugged. Kyle was inclined to agree with Louisa and stay put there until Carlyle caught up. And that was when they noticed someone in the distance. Kyle was beginning to hate. How unobservant he was becoming. The Program was getting to him.

Amanda asked if they had a gun. Kyle nodded. "Yeah, Louisa and Carly... well one out of two isn't terrible right?" Hopefully we won't have to use it. "I'll take point. Back me up if things get rough okay? So far I've found diplomacy works really well."

He then started walking towards the other person. He recognized her as Dylan Walker. "Yo, Dylan! What's up? Kyle Williams here, there anything I can help with?" He waved. Once more during this whole ordeal, the thought came to mind that he might end up getting shot. Seriously, screw the Program, he thought.

[ViolentMedic]

Dylan was too absorbed in her own thoughts about the potential of survival to notice that anyone was intruding on the clearing, until someone called out to her. She didn't even process it properly for a few moments.

A friendly shout? After a full day -- more than that, it couldn't be long until dark -- of Program, someone would stroll up -- stroll up to her, no less -- and greet her in a friendly manner?

Dylan called bullshit. But she didn't want to say it outloud. If he were carrying a gun and planned to kill her, he would have fired. If he didn't have a gun and was going to ambush her for her items when closer... well, she did have a gun. So she, for once, had the advantage.

She was fine. So she just grinned back at him. Though at the same time, she pulled her daypack onto her lap, wrapping her arms around it. Her gun was concealed inside. She could reach for it if he got rowdy. But no need to show her hand right now.

"Nothing's up besides, y'know, imminent death and all. Just the usual. Don't really need the help, though."

Dylan studied Kyle for a moment. She didn't know that much about him. But he wasn't a lunatic. (Well, he hadn't been before Program. Who could say.) She then looked past him. Now that she actually looked, she was sure there were others. Two, maybe, still hidden a bit in the bushes. She couldn't tell who one of them was, but she recognised the red hair of the other one.

"Oh. Hey, Minstrel. You're alive, then." Dylan popped a few more bits of cereal into her mouth, then held out the box. "Wheaties?"

Be casual. This might be the last group of people that don't try to beat your brain out.

[Laurels]

Louisa put her hand in her coat pocket after Amanda asked about the guns. She gripped the handle of the Beretta tightly and placed her thumb on the safety. Dylan had a kill to her name, and Louisa might finally have to be pragmatic. She began to control her breathing. She still hadn't shot anyone, but would she really be able to at this point?

Kyle then announced that he was going to go talk to Dylan, and asked if Louisa could cover him if anything went wrong. Louisa pulled the Beretta out of her coat pocket and nodded as he walked over to Dylan. He sounded friendly as he greeted her, and Dylan responded with the same kind of snark she carried back in Milwaukee. Louisa tightened her grip on the Beretta.

Just then, Dylan called out to her. Louisa cursed under her breath. She and Amanda probably should have tried to conceal themselves in case they needed to help Kyle. Still, there was no point hiding now. Dylan saw them, and she wasn't immediately leaping towards violence. Louisa decided to move closer to Dylan and Kyle, keeping the Beretta pointed to the ground.

"Hello, Dylan. I see you're still doing well despite the circumstances of the game," she said.

Louisa cracked a smile at Dylan before she was offered some cereal. That's when she realized something. Dylan lost all of her food yesterday when Maxim robbed her. Just where did she get the cereal?

Okay, just be cool. You don't need anything bad to happen now. Try to avoid the elephant in the room.

"I'm fine, thank you though," Louisa calmly responded.

Just stay cool. A man who lives in fear never truly lives.

[Bikriki*]

Kyle replied to her question that Louisa has a gun, and then just asked Louisa for cover and went over to Dylan, greeting her in a very casual manner. Amanda wanted to protest against his plan, but he was already loudly announcing himself before Amanda could say anything. She held her breath for a while, only to be surprised by Dylan being actually rather nice. Then Dylan called out someone with the title "minstrel", stating surprisement of said person being alive. Amanda was confused by this at first, but Louisa walking towards Dylan cleared the confusion.

Amanda wasn't sure if it was a good idea to move so close to a minority, but Louisa and Kyle did. Amanda sighed, but eventually she moved closed to Dylan, albeit in a slow pace. She assured herself, that if Dylan's trying to cause trouble, they could overwhelm her easily. Louisa had a gun, should be enough. Amanda tried to take a look at the weapon, but she quickly glanced aside once her eyes found it. For some reason, it irked her to have a gun so close, even if it belonged to an ally.

Still a few steps away from Dylan, more than Louisa and Kyle, she stopped walking. Amanda wasn't the person to actively avoid a minority, it would be unpolite to do so, but being in the Program, some caution seemed appropiate.

"Hi..." A single, faint, word escaped her.

[Lord_Shadow]

"Yeah, that tends to be the case here." Kyle said. "Well, I don't suppose you've seen a couple of people we're looking for by sny chance." Kyle rattled off the names as best he could. He was pretty sure he had gotten at least one wrong, but he couldn't be certain.

Regardless of whether Dylan had seen them or not, things had to progress somehow. He wasn't sure if Dlyan could be fully trusted yet. But so far, so good. "So, we kinda heard you yelling. Something about soda I think? I didn't know anyone got soda here. None of our rations had any."

It occured to Kyle that maybe he should have asked if she was carrying a weapon. Then again, that might prompt her to use it. He couldn't forget, after all, Dylan had been on the announcements. It was really important not to forget that.

[ViolentMedic]

"If by doing well you mean 'I haven't lost another body part,' then yes. Not for lack of trying, though," Dylan said, shrugging. She raised a hand to wave at the other girl, who she recognised as Amanda White now that they were closer. She was the only one acting cautious about approaching her, standing a few feet off. Smart girl.

Dylan continued to chomp on cereal as Kyle rattled off a bunch of names. People they were looking for. Oh, so that's why they weren't attacking her. Information about people is gotten easiest when they aren't talking to corpses. Plus, Louisa was with them, which probably meant they were a bleeding heart 'oh-let's-hold-hands-and-roll-around-in-the-flowers-because-that'll-end-well' sort of alliance. Cemented by the fact that they still seemed to be looking for friends.

The names... Dylan hadn't seen most of them. Maxim and Tori, that Luu girl, Jasmine, Aaron... oh, Ashley?

Dylan swallowed her mouthful of cereal before saying, "I saw Ashley once. She was by the stream at the time. That was... uh..." When had that been... right, the first announcement had happened during it. Dylan had been sure Ash would turn on her after that, but she hadn't. "First announcement. So she's probably not there any more. Ain't seen any of the others, though."

Dylan rifled around in the Wheaties box, trying to hide that she still feared they were going to attack, especially now that she'd told them all she knew. She wasn't quite sure she could reach for her Blackhawk in time if Louisa shot right now. But no. More questions.

Dylan just pointed at the nearby burnt-out daypack. "Soda was my weapon. Stars and Stripes Cola. But I had to leave my supplies earlier when that bitch, Clara, attacked. Louisa was there for that. ...Hell, I gave you a couple of cans, Minstrel, you didn't chug them already, didja?" Dylan looked down at the supplies she was clinging to her chest and, sensing that it kind of raised a question, added defensively, "I found these."

[Laurels]

Everything seemed to be fine so far. Dylan wasn't attacking, Kyle and Amanda were calm, and Louisa was starting to feel like she could rest a bit easier now. Kyle had taken the initiative to ask about the classmates they were looking for. Dylan had only seen Ashley since they last met, but it didn't sound like it would be easy to find her.

Well, it's not much, but at least she didn't see Maxim or Tori do anything horrible. I guess I should consider that a good thing.

Kyle then asked about the soda Dylan was ranting about. Apparently, Clara burned the bag Dylan left in the clearing when they were last here, so it seemed that Louisa had the two only cans of soda in the entire valley.

"No, I haven't had them yet," Louisa explained. "I sort of was holding out for a bit, probably until I felt I needed them."

At the same time, Dylan also quickly explained that she found the bag she was holding. Louisa raised an eyebrow at that notion.

Well, she got defensive really quickly. Wait...

[Bikriki*]

Amanda watched the conversation before her. Only now did she realize that there was something about Dylan's ear that was wrong, her hair didn't allowed a clear view, and she implied that she lost a body part. Amanda immediately realized that she lost her ear, and Amanda wondered who would do that. She was aware that people were killing, that people were killed, but it was weird to see someone who lost a body part, even if it was an ear only. She wanted to ask who it did, but Dylan said she saw Ashley, and that was more interesting. Sadly, she last saw her last evening, and Amanda seriously doubted she would still be there. Also not any good, they didn't know where she could have went.

Dylan said something about soda then, apparently how this was her assigned weapon and Clara destroyed it. Then she did something what made Amanda suspicious. Dylan found some supplies. Amanda immediately assumed she robbed someone. These guys from the Program don't just drop free supplies in the valley. Time for Amanda's questions to be answered.

"Er, Dylan... can I ask you where you found these?"

A gun and more people versus minority with soda as a weapon. This cannot go wrong for us.

[Lord_Shadow]

"Well so much for making this day productive. We seem to come across everyone but the people we're actually looking for. Figures." Kyle sighed and shook his head. Dylan asked Louisa if she had drank the soda that she had apparently given her. Louisa responded in the negative. And then she rather defensively asserted that she had 'found' the supplies she had.

Kyle realized at that point that her supplies were burned out at this location. And it was unlikely that anyone else just left theirs for the taking. He hoped she hadn't killed anyone else for the supplies and had just taken them off the first person she killed. Kyle winced at that thought. Somehow it didn't seem any better to hope she had looted them off a first kill then a second one.

And then Amanda asked what surely everyone was thinking. Where did Dylan get the supplies. Kyle shot Amanda a look that asked if she was trying to get them killed. Not a smart thing to trust minority students this far into the Program. But to intentionally piss them off was even more stupid. Amanda needed to learn how to keep her cool around the minorities and not agitate them. Survival was unlikely in that case.

"Listen. You have nothing to worry about. We're all cool here, all level-headed. No one's accusing you of anything. Just curious is all." He looked over at Amanda again. Hopefully she got what he was trying to accomplish. "How about we just sit together a bit? Maybe have that soda Louisa still has? Sounds good right?"

He seriously hoped that Dylan wouldn't be offended enough to start something. Can't trust a minority in a situation like this. They're not all bad, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Wasn't it?

[ViolentMedic]

Okay, being defensive about where she'd gotten the supplies had been dumb. They would know she was a killer, and the leap of logic from 'killed a girl' to 'found mysterious bag of supplies' was pretty damn obvious. It just felt wrong to be labelled as a thief. That's what other blacks did in the normal, non-Program world, and it stung to realise that she wasn't turning out very different.

But somehow they didn't get it. Well, Amanda didn't. Or if she did, she was rubbing it in Dylan's face that she was a killer and a thief and other... well... crappy things, but that's just how Program rolled, so it wasn't like it was her fault. The other two... Louisa had just made an 'oh really' face at the defensive comment, and the fact that Kyle had immediately gone on the defensive afterwards (if it wasn't an accusation, then what was it?) suggested they weren't... well... being idiots about it.

Jeez, One-Arm, I thought you were the smart one. Dylan stared at Amanda for a few moments, wearing a 'are-you-fucking-serious-you-moron' expression, before speaking. If the girl had blanked on the fact that Dylan was a murderer, well... whatever. Couldn't hurt Dylan.

"Where d'you think I found it? There's a dozen corpses in this valley," Dylan said dryly. "I found it next to one." Technically true, even if Dylan had needed to make the corpse first. "You'd be surprised at how many bags ain't nabbed." Her fingers tightened on her daypack, as she thought about the gun she'd found.

If I'd waited, I could have waited until a danger zone cleared and grabbed the supplies of that Dan moron. Or just kept the rest of Erin's ones. But no, I had to go for it so damn quick...

Dylan waved her hand at the grass around her. "Whatever. Sit. I'm not gonna try anything."

Not unless you give me a reason.

[Laurels]

The others had the same thought as Louisa: Dylan was being fishy about the bag. Amanda went ahead and asked where she got it, and Kyle already was leaping to defend her. Dylan, however, just admitted she found it next to a body. However, despite her bitter response, Dylan made it clear she didn't want to do anything to the three of them. Louisa closed her eyes and quietly sighed.

Good. Let's keep it that way. Dylan may have had her reasons to kill Brigid, but she's not an immediate threat. As long as we don't do anything to incite violence.

"Yes, let's all take the time to sit and relax," Louisa said. "We've been walking all morning, let's rest a bit."

Louisa put her Beretta inside her coat pocket and sat down on a stump, placing her bag on her lap.

"Honestly, I'm really tired, and it would be nice if we could have a moment where nobody is shooting at us or trying to slit our throats. Who's with me?"

Louisa opened her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. She began to unscrew the cap as she looked back at the three.

"Plus, it might be easier for Carlyle to catch up if we stay put anyways, so let's all relax for a bit."

Louisa removed the lid from the bottle and took a quick sip. The water was lukewarm, but she didn't care at all.

[Bikriki*]

The hostility that Amanda received was surprising for her, to say the least. Kyle immediately talked about being curious, and that nobody is accousing anybody. Of course Amanda was just curious, how likely was it that a minority equipped with soda could overpower someone? Dylan's gaze wasn't very comfortable to look at for Amanda, but Dylan eventually confirmed what Amanda was thinking. She stole the bag like a cowardly thief. From a corpse, but still, she stole it, somehow.

Dylan and Louisa then sat down and proposed that the rest of this little group would do the same. Amanda hestitated for a few seconds, before finally sitting down. She tried to find a comfortable position for her legs for a few seconds, and settled on just sitting on her butt, legs streched straight before her. She turned to Dylan.

"Right, just what I was thinking. I... only wanted to confirm what I thought."

Still, Amanda couldn't understand why Louisa and Kyle were so upset. They had all the possible advantages.