((F06 Nastasia "Nastya" Zharkova: Start))
So, this was what it was all building towards?
Nastya Arkadyevna Zharkova, sitting in a house in some foreign country, looking out at the vast expanse with nothing but her wits, her charm, and a sniper rifle. Nastya hadn't devoted a lot of her time to thinking about the war or anything regarding the Great and Powerful American Empire. As she assumed, she'd just get through life bothered by the occasional air raid and live a long, peaceful life creating better computer programs than any American citizen could hope to have in their home. She was going to sell her programs and patents and live a rich, comfy life somewhere with a good music scene, and the chaos around the world would merely be window dressing to her life.
Clearly, that was not the case, and Nastya quickly accepted she had been a fool to think she could pass through this madness unscathed. Naturally, she was slightly intimidated by the American forces shooting her teachers and that one classmate, but she knew it would be better to try and remain calm and think things through. Apparently, she and some select members of her school were going to be forced to play some sick war game for the pleasure of the American government and to shit on the day of Parliament. It was quite dumb, but here she was.
Of course, being put in a war game was more fun in theory than in practice. Nastya knew that. Of course there was a chance the more opportunistic members of her class would follow the rules and start killing. Of course there was a chance that none of it would matter at all. Of course there was a chance some British forces would slip in despite that asshole's comments and they'd get to go home. Of course, of course, of course. Nastya could run all the permutations she wanted in her head. The program was running, and she had to make sure everything was in line.
Nastya awoke in what appeared to be the attic of house in a neighborhood. She was probably two or three stories up, with a small window looking out over the street. The powers that be deemed it fitting to assign her a gun with a manual that revealed she was carrying a sniper rifle. Clearly, whoever planted her here had some ideas for her to come to the realization of. "Sit here, and shoot your classmates from a distance." She could connect those dots.
She spent a few minutes looking over the manual and loading the gun. It was weird to think she had an actual instrument of death in her hands. She had heard stories from her parents about Russia's involvement in the wars and battles against America, of relatives and ancestors who died in combat or returned from war as new people. She had even heard of soldiers from past wars who were the stuff of legends. The one she liked the most was of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a female sniper in World War II who was one of the deadliest women to ever live. Naturally, Nastya thought Pavlichenko was metal as hell, and that she could look to Pavlichenko a badass Russian woman to aspire to be, just without going to war and killing people. Of course, Nastya knew she wasn't anything like Pavlichenko; she was skinny, out of shape, certainly didn't look like a soldier, and didn't have that soldier mentality. Her parents left Russia to get away from the fighting. This wasn't supposed to be the fate of one of their children.
Nastya opened the window and laid the rifle along the window ledge. She closed one eye and looked out through the scope. There wasn't anyone outside, but from her vantage point, she could see a quite a bit of open space. Nastya licked her lips and slowly traced the trigger with her index finger. If someone did come in her line of sight, all she had to do was squeeze and they'd be dead. She was ostensibly safe from this place. She could probably stay here the whole game. She could be Pavlichenko if she wanted to. She could win from here.
Nastya kept looking out over the street. She could do that, but did she want to?
She hummed to herself. She had time to think.
Perestroika
Open
Perestroika
G014: Mayumi Tendou
F02 RUE VON SCHROEDER: START
There was a stain.
Rue was wedged in the corner of the living room, between the rubbish bin and the wall, staring at the opposite wall. At the stain. Not quite at it anymore, her eyes were unfocused, but in its general direction. She had her knees drawn up to her chest, arms locked around them, face almost hidden behind them.
There was a stain on the wall she was staring at, dark reddish-brown, and near the bottom of it was a round hole. Right around the height of where her head would be, if she were leaning against that wall instead of this one.
They - they - had cleaned the house, somewhat, she supposed. But they'd left the stain. Too much effort? Or a message?
It didn't have to be blood. There were any number of things that were the same color. Hair dye, if you wanted to aim for Rue's color but end up just slightly off. And... sauce. Someone could have just had a hilarious mishap opening a jar of tomato sauce. With a gun.
Rue needed a drink.
She also needed air, suddenly and desperately, and she finally bolted up from her fetal position in the corner. She scrambled to the nearest window and yanked it open, hissing as she pulled a nail doing so but more occupied with breathing in the salty air outside as deeply as possible. She stood with her hands braced on the worn windowsill, gasping and beginning to shake.
There was a stain.
Rue was wedged in the corner of the living room, between the rubbish bin and the wall, staring at the opposite wall. At the stain. Not quite at it anymore, her eyes were unfocused, but in its general direction. She had her knees drawn up to her chest, arms locked around them, face almost hidden behind them.
There was a stain on the wall she was staring at, dark reddish-brown, and near the bottom of it was a round hole. Right around the height of where her head would be, if she were leaning against that wall instead of this one.
They - they - had cleaned the house, somewhat, she supposed. But they'd left the stain. Too much effort? Or a message?
It didn't have to be blood. There were any number of things that were the same color. Hair dye, if you wanted to aim for Rue's color but end up just slightly off. And... sauce. Someone could have just had a hilarious mishap opening a jar of tomato sauce. With a gun.
Rue needed a drink.
She also needed air, suddenly and desperately, and she finally bolted up from her fetal position in the corner. She scrambled to the nearest window and yanked it open, hissing as she pulled a nail doing so but more occupied with breathing in the salty air outside as deeply as possible. She stood with her hands braced on the worn windowsill, gasping and beginning to shake.
Nastya squinted a bit when she noticed some movement in the sight of the sniper scope. A window opened in one of the houses across the street, and suddenly Nastya could see red. It was a girl. Nastya tried to think about who it could be, but then realized it didn't matter. What mattered was that the girl, standing there in the open window, now lined up with the sight perfectly.
Nastya traced the trigger with her finger. It should be easy. Pull it, and the girl dies. It'd be quick, she wouldn't see it coming, and she probably wouldn't feel anything. One less person in her way to surviving this game. One person less so anyone could survive the game. One person less that the U.S. government would no longer be holding hostage in this desolate place.
Nastya then paused. That was true. They technically were all hostages, even if they weren't handcuffed in a basement with bags over their heads. One of them would win, but they'd still be a hostage. The Americans would probably use the winner as a bargaining chip to make some negotiation with the British government. Maybe a prisoner exchange of some kind. If Nastya was the last person standing, what would they do to her? Let her go? Probably not. She was potentially more valuable alive, if they could find the value. A Russian girl raised in the U.K. by middle class computer programmers from a small town. There had to be something to mine there. But then again, if she was a killer, would the government even want her back? Would they leave her behind
Execution seemed likely. Nastya thought back to those war movies her older brother liked. What did they do to POWs again? Blindfold them, give them a cigarette, and put them against a wall where a bunch of people would shoot them? She saw that happen in one movie. Was that what America did? Or maybe they preferred to hang them in a large public courtyard. Heck, she didn't know much about how America ran. Maybe they were back to Biblical tortures and would crucify her. All of these seemed so likely she figured she'd have to start deciding which one would be the most preferable if given the option.
These all seemed likely, and if they were going to happen to Nastya if she won, they'd probably do the same to Red across the way. Maybe shooting her would be a relief. A mercy to avoid whatever would come next.
Nastya settled her finger on the trigger. Just one squeeze, and Nastya would be furthering her survival in this game and sparing the other girl from whatever could come next. Could Nastya be that altruistic? Or, would it be selfish? Could she be both?
She wasn't sure. Either way, she kept staring at the girl through the scope, waiting to see how long the girl would be there.
Nastya traced the trigger with her finger. It should be easy. Pull it, and the girl dies. It'd be quick, she wouldn't see it coming, and she probably wouldn't feel anything. One less person in her way to surviving this game. One person less so anyone could survive the game. One person less that the U.S. government would no longer be holding hostage in this desolate place.
Nastya then paused. That was true. They technically were all hostages, even if they weren't handcuffed in a basement with bags over their heads. One of them would win, but they'd still be a hostage. The Americans would probably use the winner as a bargaining chip to make some negotiation with the British government. Maybe a prisoner exchange of some kind. If Nastya was the last person standing, what would they do to her? Let her go? Probably not. She was potentially more valuable alive, if they could find the value. A Russian girl raised in the U.K. by middle class computer programmers from a small town. There had to be something to mine there. But then again, if she was a killer, would the government even want her back? Would they leave her behind
Execution seemed likely. Nastya thought back to those war movies her older brother liked. What did they do to POWs again? Blindfold them, give them a cigarette, and put them against a wall where a bunch of people would shoot them? She saw that happen in one movie. Was that what America did? Or maybe they preferred to hang them in a large public courtyard. Heck, she didn't know much about how America ran. Maybe they were back to Biblical tortures and would crucify her. All of these seemed so likely she figured she'd have to start deciding which one would be the most preferable if given the option.
These all seemed likely, and if they were going to happen to Nastya if she won, they'd probably do the same to Red across the way. Maybe shooting her would be a relief. A mercy to avoid whatever would come next.
Nastya settled her finger on the trigger. Just one squeeze, and Nastya would be furthering her survival in this game and sparing the other girl from whatever could come next. Could Nastya be that altruistic? Or, would it be selfish? Could she be both?
She wasn't sure. Either way, she kept staring at the girl through the scope, waiting to see how long the girl would be there.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Deep breath. Deep breath. Were they near the seaside?
Funny as it seemed, Rue had never seen the ocean. Her family had always been homebodies, though they had the means to travel. Had the means. Not that it made any difference here and now whether she was rich or poor.
Rue stayed bent over the windowsill and closed her eyes. Her arms and legs both were trembling with the effort of holding her up, but she felt that if she collapsed, she'd never get up again. She'd felt that before. When drunk, it was at times pleasant, at times not. When she'd pushed herself too hard on a run, it was a relief. When her world had come crashing down a few years ago, she'd almost hoped-
Well. Here she was again, with her world in shambles around her.
Was Rian here?
That thought made Rue open her eyes again, as though she'd catch sight of him just by doing so. She strained her memory for who had been in their procession to the shelter, who had been in that room when she came to for the first time. She couldn't recall any redheaded boys. Did she hope he was here or not?
Well... no. Of course not. But at the same time, yes. He was the only person around whom she could be weak, and if there was ever a time and place to feel weak, it was surely here and now.
Rue thought about the stain on the wall behind her, and the person just about her age who must have died here, and why she was here to see it now. She thought about the American students who had avoided becoming stains, and she wondered, not for the first time, why her country had even bothered.
It wasn't as though they needed the PR. It wasn't as though there weren't enough people suffering back home. If the Americans wanted to cull their own numbers so badly, if they were so sick inside that they could cheer for it, why not let them? A little spark of anger and resentment lit in the pit of her chest, and Rue used it to convince herself to slowly stand up straight. Why even-
Flash.
A light, or the sunlight reflecting off of something in front of her. Just for an instant. She couldn't pinpoint where. Just a glare off a window? Or a- camera?
Rue stared out into the narrow street for a moment longer, and then wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back from the window. She felt hot and cold all over.
Funny as it seemed, Rue had never seen the ocean. Her family had always been homebodies, though they had the means to travel. Had the means. Not that it made any difference here and now whether she was rich or poor.
Rue stayed bent over the windowsill and closed her eyes. Her arms and legs both were trembling with the effort of holding her up, but she felt that if she collapsed, she'd never get up again. She'd felt that before. When drunk, it was at times pleasant, at times not. When she'd pushed herself too hard on a run, it was a relief. When her world had come crashing down a few years ago, she'd almost hoped-
Well. Here she was again, with her world in shambles around her.
Was Rian here?
That thought made Rue open her eyes again, as though she'd catch sight of him just by doing so. She strained her memory for who had been in their procession to the shelter, who had been in that room when she came to for the first time. She couldn't recall any redheaded boys. Did she hope he was here or not?
Well... no. Of course not. But at the same time, yes. He was the only person around whom she could be weak, and if there was ever a time and place to feel weak, it was surely here and now.
Rue thought about the stain on the wall behind her, and the person just about her age who must have died here, and why she was here to see it now. She thought about the American students who had avoided becoming stains, and she wondered, not for the first time, why her country had even bothered.
It wasn't as though they needed the PR. It wasn't as though there weren't enough people suffering back home. If the Americans wanted to cull their own numbers so badly, if they were so sick inside that they could cheer for it, why not let them? A little spark of anger and resentment lit in the pit of her chest, and Rue used it to convince herself to slowly stand up straight. Why even-
Flash.
A light, or the sunlight reflecting off of something in front of her. Just for an instant. She couldn't pinpoint where. Just a glare off a window? Or a- camera?
Rue stared out into the narrow street for a moment longer, and then wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back from the window. She felt hot and cold all over.
Before Nastya crosses the most dangerous threshold possible, the other girl moved back inside the house. Now Nastya couldn’t shoot her if she wanted to. Hell, even the girl moving inside wasn’t enough to startle Nastya enough to open fire. That was probably for the best. Nastya wanted to be cold as a Siberian night, but that didn’t mean her blood had to be cold either. Vodka could get cold but wouldn’t freeze. She needed to be vodka: strong, effective, and capable of making others relaxed. That sounded right to her.
“Probably for the best,” Nastya told herself as she brought the rifle back inside the house and laid it against the wall. “Shooting would just be what those Americunts would want anyways.”
Nastya smirked. That was true. The girl want her enemy. America was. All Nastya had to do was hold out for as long as possible and only shoot if she was truly in danger. She could be better than those Americans. She’d show them.
Nastya learned out the window a bit and made as loud a whistle as she could.
“Oi!” she shouted towards the house the girl was in. “You ‘round? Let’s chat!”
“Probably for the best,” Nastya told herself as she brought the rifle back inside the house and laid it against the wall. “Shooting would just be what those Americunts would want anyways.”
Nastya smirked. That was true. The girl want her enemy. America was. All Nastya had to do was hold out for as long as possible and only shoot if she was truly in danger. She could be better than those Americans. She’d show them.
Nastya learned out the window a bit and made as loud a whistle as she could.
“Oi!” she shouted towards the house the girl was in. “You ‘round? Let’s chat!”
G014: Mayumi Tendou
The whistle cut through the still air, and Rue jumped. The voice that followed was one she knew, of course. She'd hazard that there weren't many, if any, here that she wouldn't. She would have thought there was something of a point in that, if there was any point to this at all besides senseless violence to incite a nation towards... something. She never could wrap her head around what it might be.
Rue stopped hugging herself and stepped back towards the window. This time when she braced her hands on the sill, she noticed how the wood was worn and discolored, and how the street and houses outside all seemed to be in similar condition. Not the kind of neighborhood she'd visit of her own accord, for sure. Even the cramped little flats she'd looked at when considering university were better than this.
"Who's there?" She called out in response to the greeting. She didn't lean too far out, trying her best to scan the area with just her eyes; it didn't take long for another flash to catch her eye, this one bright pink. "Nastya, is that you?" It was a silly question; Rue couldn't think of anybody else at school who had hair like that. It was reflex, to ask obvious questions when everything else she had known was now out the window.
"It's Rue," she added, almost as an afterthought. She and Nastya weren't close, and in fact ran in rather different circles. They were both into computers and that was about as far as points of commonality went. Still, there was just one Nastya in class and just one Rue. They weren't unknowns to each other.
Why wasn't that thought as comforting as it should have been?
Rue stopped hugging herself and stepped back towards the window. This time when she braced her hands on the sill, she noticed how the wood was worn and discolored, and how the street and houses outside all seemed to be in similar condition. Not the kind of neighborhood she'd visit of her own accord, for sure. Even the cramped little flats she'd looked at when considering university were better than this.
"Who's there?" She called out in response to the greeting. She didn't lean too far out, trying her best to scan the area with just her eyes; it didn't take long for another flash to catch her eye, this one bright pink. "Nastya, is that you?" It was a silly question; Rue couldn't think of anybody else at school who had hair like that. It was reflex, to ask obvious questions when everything else she had known was now out the window.
"It's Rue," she added, almost as an afterthought. She and Nastya weren't close, and in fact ran in rather different circles. They were both into computers and that was about as far as points of commonality went. Still, there was just one Nastya in class and just one Rue. They weren't unknowns to each other.
Why wasn't that thought as comforting as it should have been?
"Ey, Rue," Nastya replied. "So we're up Shit Creek, huh?"
Nastya smiled a bit. She wasn't really sure why. Maybe it was the absurdity of having a conversation from across the street with someone. Maybe the absurdity of being abducted by a dictatorship was catching up to her. Either way, it was fun to chat with Rue from across the way. Although Nastya knew this would quickly get tiring.
"Actually, wait a minute. I'll be over in a sec."
Nastya closed the window shut and stepped back a bit. She hoisted the rifle by its strap and slung it over her shoulder, slinging her assigned bag over the other. Fuck it. America wanted her to shoot her peers from an attic like she was in an action movie version of a Jane Austen novel? Fat chance. Not like Nastya ever liked doing what authority would tell her to do.
Nastya made her way to the attic door and made her way down. She could just come over to Rue and chat like proper English Roses. Granted, Nastya was more like a weed, but it'd have to do.
She stepped out of the house onto the street. It did occur to her that this was potentially fatal, but whatever. It beat staying in that musty attic the whole time.
Nastya smiled a bit. She wasn't really sure why. Maybe it was the absurdity of having a conversation from across the street with someone. Maybe the absurdity of being abducted by a dictatorship was catching up to her. Either way, it was fun to chat with Rue from across the way. Although Nastya knew this would quickly get tiring.
"Actually, wait a minute. I'll be over in a sec."
Nastya closed the window shut and stepped back a bit. She hoisted the rifle by its strap and slung it over her shoulder, slinging her assigned bag over the other. Fuck it. America wanted her to shoot her peers from an attic like she was in an action movie version of a Jane Austen novel? Fat chance. Not like Nastya ever liked doing what authority would tell her to do.
Nastya made her way to the attic door and made her way down. She could just come over to Rue and chat like proper English Roses. Granted, Nastya was more like a weed, but it'd have to do.
She stepped out of the house onto the street. It did occur to her that this was potentially fatal, but whatever. It beat staying in that musty attic the whole time.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
"That's one way to put it," Rue muttered in response to Nastya's joke(?), though Nastya had already disappeared from the window and couldn't have heard her anyway.
...Where was the front door to this place? Rue realized that she had no idea where she should go to meet Nastya or even let her in if necessary. Sighing, she stepped away from the window once more and glanced around the room. Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, it hadn't changed into something better when she wasn't looking. Rue tore her eyes away from the stained wall once more.
There had been a bag next to her when she woke up on the floor beneath the stain. She'd dragged it over to the corner that she had wedged herself into and spent the first few minutes or hours or however long in. She hadn't looked inside it, but it had seemed reasonably heavy.
There would be a weapon in there, and Rue couldn't decide if she wanted it to be a gun.
In the end, she still didn't look as she picked it up and swung it over one shoulder. She glanced back at the stained room one last time, and then she stepped out into the rest of the dingy house to search for a door to the outside.
...Where was the front door to this place? Rue realized that she had no idea where she should go to meet Nastya or even let her in if necessary. Sighing, she stepped away from the window once more and glanced around the room. Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, it hadn't changed into something better when she wasn't looking. Rue tore her eyes away from the stained wall once more.
There had been a bag next to her when she woke up on the floor beneath the stain. She'd dragged it over to the corner that she had wedged herself into and spent the first few minutes or hours or however long in. She hadn't looked inside it, but it had seemed reasonably heavy.
There would be a weapon in there, and Rue couldn't decide if she wanted it to be a gun.
In the end, she still didn't look as she picked it up and swung it over one shoulder. She glanced back at the stained room one last time, and then she stepped out into the rest of the dingy house to search for a door to the outside.
Nastya walked up to the front door knocking on it three times.
"It's me," she cried out, then opened the door.
She wasn't entirely sure why she did that. She figured Rue had to know it would be her coming into the house, but hey, this was supposed to be one of those games where everyone is unpredictable and distrustful by design. She had already proven she would shout across a street to a potentially dangerous person, so Rue had to believe that Nastya was just that kind of unpredictable girl who would at least probably make decent company.
Nastya stepped into the main foyer of the house, keeping her hand on the rifle and her back to the door. She wasn't entirely stupid though. If she could keep Rue's guard down, she needed to be at least prepared in case the girl had other ideas in mind. Granted, Nastya had no idea how good sniper rifles were at close quarters (probably not at all), but all she had to do was hold it in a way to prove she was cautious, but not dangerous.
Now she just needed to see where Rue was and they could try to figure out what they were going to do.
"It's me," she cried out, then opened the door.
She wasn't entirely sure why she did that. She figured Rue had to know it would be her coming into the house, but hey, this was supposed to be one of those games where everyone is unpredictable and distrustful by design. She had already proven she would shout across a street to a potentially dangerous person, so Rue had to believe that Nastya was just that kind of unpredictable girl who would at least probably make decent company.
Nastya stepped into the main foyer of the house, keeping her hand on the rifle and her back to the door. She wasn't entirely stupid though. If she could keep Rue's guard down, she needed to be at least prepared in case the girl had other ideas in mind. Granted, Nastya had no idea how good sniper rifles were at close quarters (probably not at all), but all she had to do was hold it in a way to prove she was cautious, but not dangerous.
Now she just needed to see where Rue was and they could try to figure out what they were going to do.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Fortunately, it wasn't the sort of house that you could get lost in. Wherever they'd been dropped, it clearly wasn't the best part of town. Rue found the foyer handily enough, but she found herself hesitating to fully step out into it to preempt Nastya's arrival.
What did she have to fear from someone who had called out to her first, who extended the hand of friendship before Rue herself could? Well, quite a lot, considering. Rue didn't necessarily trust a lot of her classmates with basic tasks day to day; could she really rely on each and every one of them stuck with her here to be rational and discerning, to not buy in and place themselves over others?
Could she rely on herself to do that?
The people that Rue had trusted most in the world had let her down more than once before. Compared to her family, what were most of her peers?
Those thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, but she put a smile on her face as she leaned out of the hallway and into the foyer just a bit. "Hello."
What did she have to fear from someone who had called out to her first, who extended the hand of friendship before Rue herself could? Well, quite a lot, considering. Rue didn't necessarily trust a lot of her classmates with basic tasks day to day; could she really rely on each and every one of them stuck with her here to be rational and discerning, to not buy in and place themselves over others?
Could she rely on herself to do that?
The people that Rue had trusted most in the world had let her down more than once before. Compared to her family, what were most of her peers?
Those thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, but she put a smile on her face as she leaned out of the hallway and into the foyer just a bit. "Hello."
Nastya smiled as Rue entered the fray. The redhead was taller than Nastya, but she seemed pretty fine, being another computer programmer at Saint Editha. That wasn't enough to make her a bestie, but was enough at the moment to form a tentative alliance.
"Well, thank you for meeting with me," Nastya said. "Your home is..."
Nastya quickly looked around the foyer.
"...lovely."
The house wasn't anything to write home about, but maybe they weren't in the better part of town.
"So," Nastya said, adjusting her rifle strap so the barrel was now facing the ceiling. "Here we are. We're clearly in a shitty video game, but otherwise, we both seem to be doing well, all things considered. You doing fine?"
"Well, thank you for meeting with me," Nastya said. "Your home is..."
Nastya quickly looked around the foyer.
"...lovely."
The house wasn't anything to write home about, but maybe they weren't in the better part of town.
"So," Nastya said, adjusting her rifle strap so the barrel was now facing the ceiling. "Here we are. We're clearly in a shitty video game, but otherwise, we both seem to be doing well, all things considered. You doing fine?"
G014: Mayumi Tendou
"Oh, I've just cleaned up the front for company," Rue said, surprised at how easily she was able to make her voice casual to match Nastya's. "The rest is really a disaster. Promise you won't look and judge me for how I live."
She saw the gun. Of course she did. It would have been impossible not to. She just... didn't want to acknowledge it.
Flash. Stain.
Rue stepped out fully, because it would have been awkward to keep talking to Nastya just half leaning out into the open, but her hands were twisted tight around the strap of the bag. The gun was on Nastya's back and not in her hands. Rue still hadn't looked at her own weapon.
"I'm... fine, yes. Not hurt." Not yet. "I hope you can say the same?"
She saw the gun. Of course she did. It would have been impossible not to. She just... didn't want to acknowledge it.
Flash. Stain.
Rue stepped out fully, because it would have been awkward to keep talking to Nastya just half leaning out into the open, but her hands were twisted tight around the strap of the bag. The gun was on Nastya's back and not in her hands. Rue still hadn't looked at her own weapon.
"I'm... fine, yes. Not hurt." Not yet. "I hope you can say the same?"
Nastya had to smirk at Rue's comments. The redhead was willing to match Nastya's level of wit and sarcasm. As far as Nastya was concerned, that was a sign that they were both still relatively sane for this game. They weren't too far gone into morbid humor, so the signs of incoming psychopathy weren't there yet. For now, they were more Fawlty Towers and less The Thick of It.
"Well, yeah," Nastya said. "I'm as well as any political prisoner can be, all things considered."
Nastya cleared her throat.
"But yeah, I think I'm alright. Rather not be here, but that's not something I can change right away. For now, I think I just want to find a nice corner of this place to relax in and use this big scary rifle to ward off any tossers who want to disrupt that peace."
Nastya adjusted the rifle strap a bit.
"Would any of that be of interest to you?"
"Well, yeah," Nastya said. "I'm as well as any political prisoner can be, all things considered."
Nastya cleared her throat.
"But yeah, I think I'm alright. Rather not be here, but that's not something I can change right away. For now, I think I just want to find a nice corner of this place to relax in and use this big scary rifle to ward off any tossers who want to disrupt that peace."
Nastya adjusted the rifle strap a bit.
"Would any of that be of interest to you?"
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Rue's breath came out in a rush, leaving her chest empty, and when she breathed in again it felt a little better. "Yeah," she said. "I don't really feel up to running around at the moment. I wouldn't think-" That anyone else did? That anyone would come to disrupt them? Did she think that?
"...I wouldn't think this is the best place though. It really is pretty bad back there, and it's awfully..." Small? Dingy? Flimsy? Goodness, your rich girl is showing. Rue grinned sheepishly. "Well, it's not to my tastes, and I'd prefer somewhere a little more secure. Perhaps with something strong to drink."
The last part sounded like a joke, but it really, really wasn't.
But Nastya was friendly and had something resembling a plan, and if anyone came calling with bad intentions on their mind, they were going to focus on the gun. Not on Rue. She did want to leave, but that meant heading out into the open, and that also wasn't very appealing, but it was better than staying here. Rue thought she could feel all the stains in the house crawling along the walls, and it made her skin crawl too.
"...I wouldn't think this is the best place though. It really is pretty bad back there, and it's awfully..." Small? Dingy? Flimsy? Goodness, your rich girl is showing. Rue grinned sheepishly. "Well, it's not to my tastes, and I'd prefer somewhere a little more secure. Perhaps with something strong to drink."
The last part sounded like a joke, but it really, really wasn't.
But Nastya was friendly and had something resembling a plan, and if anyone came calling with bad intentions on their mind, they were going to focus on the gun. Not on Rue. She did want to leave, but that meant heading out into the open, and that also wasn't very appealing, but it was better than staying here. Rue thought she could feel all the stains in the house crawling along the walls, and it made her skin crawl too.
"Right. We can definitely upgrade."
Nastya pulled her bag over and began to rifle through it. She then found the map of the arena. Sure enough, they were on some peninsula with a foreign name. Definitely not anywhere in the UK.
"Well, it looks like there are some more places we could head for supplies and tools to hide out," Nastya told Rue. "Let's check them out before others get the idea."
Nastya folded the map in her hand and turned back to the door. This was a better start to the game, and definitely better than just blowing Rue's head open. It was still hard to accept that they were in such a place, but Nastya was sure they could figure this out or find ways to make it less scarier than the Americans intended.
Nastya opened the door to the house.
"Right then. Let's get going then."
((Nastya Zharkova continued in And All Because Of A Snail))
Nastya pulled her bag over and began to rifle through it. She then found the map of the arena. Sure enough, they were on some peninsula with a foreign name. Definitely not anywhere in the UK.
"Well, it looks like there are some more places we could head for supplies and tools to hide out," Nastya told Rue. "Let's check them out before others get the idea."
Nastya folded the map in her hand and turned back to the door. This was a better start to the game, and definitely better than just blowing Rue's head open. It was still hard to accept that they were in such a place, but Nastya was sure they could figure this out or find ways to make it less scarier than the Americans intended.
Nastya opened the door to the house.
"Right then. Let's get going then."
((Nastya Zharkova continued in And All Because Of A Snail))
G014: Mayumi Tendou