Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/25/2021 7:15 PM
Name: Home, Sweet Home
Time: Afternoon of Day 1
Status: Closed
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/25/2021 7:21 PM
((Horace McGillicutty continued from "And so, it begins..."))
They'd spent some time trying to set up a tripwire system that could do much beyond serving as an early alarm system. Currently, Horace was attempting to set up one of those leg traps that seemed to show up everywhere, but seemed difficult to mechanically reverse engineer.
"Crap..." He muttered, undoing yet another botched knot. "Better luck on your end...?" He asked, turning to Alexis.
Standing up straight, he pondered another question.
"Actually, I was meaning to ask... do you have anybody you'd be looking for out here? Like a cousin, friend, boyfriend?"
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/25/2021 7:49 PM
((Alexis Williams continued from "And so, it begins..."))
Alexis was pouting a little at how she wasn't able to make her own little trap. This was like the fourth or fifth time now and it seemed like they needed a better person for this. Ugh. It wasn't as easy as the movies made it look.
"Hmm. Not yet." She glanced over at Horace and she looked at his own failed attempts. "We'll get it right at some point. I'm sure we will!"
She blinked at his question.
"Uh.... well, you do know Tad, right? My best friend? He should be here too. But, um.... He knows how to take care of himself. Me on the other hand, no. Also.... No boyfriend."
She cleared her throat as she talked about the boyfriend part and she glanced away from him, feeling a bit shy about it.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/25/2021 9:01 PM
"Yeah... I guess we will." Horace sighed, mulling over the what their next move should be, until parts of Alexis's next answer caught his attention.
"Oh okay, yeah. I think I remember a Tad. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for him then, let him in if he comes around, and all that." He nodded to her before continuing. "And, uh, it's cool. The boyfriend thing. I don't have a girlfriend or anything. No need to be nervous about it."
He shrugged, relaxing a bit when it was made clear that she wasn't too put off by the mention, too above it all.
"So... got any hobbies?" Small talk to fill the awkward space between them. He tried the knot again.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/26/2021 3:33 AM
"Having a trio protecting this place would be super neat honestly." Alexis said with a nod of her head and she wondered if she could use a bookshelf as a weapon. Have it fall on someone if it needed to. "Ah, so we're singles together. At least you're not saying "You should be dating now, Alexis. Wanna make out with me?" or "You're a hot babe. Wanna be my baby girl?" or some gross crap like that."
At least she didn't have to suffer with those assholes here. She remembered that those two guys had got themselves suspended after causing a big fight in the middle of gym class.
"Hobbies...." She paused as she glanced at Horace's shirt and then she looked back at his face again. "Well.... I actually do like wrestling so we at least have that in common."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/26/2021 4:41 AM
“Oh yeah, totally.” Horace gave a nervous laugh as Alexis explained her dating situation. Seemed like the girl had a bit of baggage when it came to being asked out. Best not to push too hard in that direction, then. He let out a sigh.
Horace finally decided that the leg trap was a bit of a lost cause and tried to think of something else. There might be a few loose nails around…
He was pulled from his pondering when Alexis elaborated on her hobbies, surprised by the answer she gave.
“Huh, that’s cool. I wouldn’t have guessed. I actually was going to the next AEW event, with them coming to New York and all. Had tickets and everything. But now…” He gave a shrug.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/26/2021 9:59 AM
"Whaaat? Seriously?! I had been too late to get tickets myself as they were sold out so fast." Alexis admitted honestly and she thought that Horace had so lucky to get his hands on them. Then she sadly thought of their current reality. "Aww, if only we weren't here."
She paused as she was looking at a bookshelf thoughtfully, making sure that she could work out how to set it up without it falling on her or something.
"Who's your all-time favourite?" She asked, glancing back at Horace with an excited grin on her face.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/26/2021 5:59 PM
"Hmm... that's a good question. I mean, if you're going based off of what I think about stuff going on now it's gotta be MJF. I mean..." He gestures towards his shirt for emphasis, before thinking it over. "When I was a kid I was pretty basic and loved John Cena of course." He elaborated, before returning attention to her other comment.
"I mean... let's say we aren't here. Just, like, on a hypothetical level. So like if we aren't here, would you maybe wanna go to something like that? Like, together or whatever. No pressure, just a hangout, if you'd like." It was a conversation he wanted to keep having, about a world where the two of them weren't here.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/26/2021 6:32 PM
"Yeah, I guessed your fave should have been obvious to me honestly. Hehe." Alexis chuckled softly as Horace made it obvious that MJF was his favourite and then she thought about it a little. "Gosh, John Cena was the same for me. And Randy Orton as well, to be fair with you."
Alexis glanced up at Horace in surprise and she thought about it. Tad had always been the only guy that she mainly hung out with and she had a few girlfriends that weren't into wrestling sadly. So she would normally just go with Tad (who didn't really care for it and he did it to make her happy) or she would go alone.
"Aww, that would be cool. Like a wrestling date or something?" She was joking to lighten up the mood and then she smiled at him more genuinely. "Hanging out with you more would be nice. Eh, at home. Here is nice too. Feels safe to be here with you."
For now. How long can you keep yourself in a delusion, Alexis?
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/26/2021 9:03 PM
"Yeah, that does sound pretty good. How about it? If we're ever back in New York again we go for a wrestling date or something?" He offered, relaxing a bit as he walked over towards a couch nearby, taking a seat while he took a break from the security detail.
"I feel safe here too, with you. Good to have a place like this." He smiled, not wanting to focus too hard on that question. Might be a bit too much pressure. "So, at least we got an alarm set up, even if we didn't manage the traps. Do you think there might be some food around here? Drinks?" He asked, curious what she'd think.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/26/2021 10:20 PM
"Sure! I would be up for it. Sounds like it would be a fun time." Alexis commented as she touched the bookshelf to make sure that it wasn't too wobbly or unsteady. "It would be totally awesome for real!"
Wishful thinking, Alexis.
"The alarm would be very useful. It's a shame that I don't have anything good to defend with tho." She glanced at her fork that she had put down on a table and then she shook her head a little. "Food and drinks.... Did you not look in your bag?"
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/27/2021 8:20 PM
“I mean, I did look in the bag, yeah. I was just thinking maybe there’s stuff that’s a bit better than water and protein bars, if you get me?” Horace tried to elaborate, standing up from the couch and offering to go explore a bit.
Nicer food would certainly help with the escapist aspects of their partnership. After all, what was a mansion if the food was shit. Plus, Horace couldn’t deny that it’d be pretty sweet if this place had a wine cellar or something hidden somewhere.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/28/2021 9:22 AM
Alexis wasn't sure if anything was left around. Maybe there was some canned food that they could use, but she wasn't sure if the terrorists would go that easy on them. There was a reason why they give them food and water right? She also noticed that it wasn't much. So she figured that they were supposed to steal from other people.... or kill people for their supplies.
She shivered at the thought of murder. She couldn't even imagine herself being so heartless and desperate like that. But then people have always reacted differently to survival situations. She had to keep in mind that everyone didn't think the same way as she did.
"Yeah, I could go for some pizza." She commented as she noticed that Horace had only sat down for about five seconds or so and he got back up again. She smiled slightly at that. What a dork. "Maybe we can find some canned food. Well, since I haven't seen everything here, the kitchen is the first place to go to anyway."
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/28/2021 7:59 PM
(( There was a violent banging sound, coming from somewhere within the house. ))
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/28/2021 9:02 PM
"Well, let's go looking for some canned stuff, yeah?" Horace smiled back at Alexis, though he wasn't exactly sure what she was smiling at to begin with. Eh, he just shrugged it off, starting back towards what he assumed to be the kitchen.
However, he jumped when he heard the banging sound. What the hell? Horace considered that someone had tripped the alarm that he'd set with a wire and some pans. Gripping the bat tightly, Horace gave a nod to Alexis before rushing off in the direction of the sound.
"Hey, who's there?" He called while keeping on the move
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/29/2021 4:04 AM
Alexis felt her breathing quicken for a few seconds when there was suddenly a lot of noise coming from somewhere and she needed to take a breath in and out to keep herself under control.
While Horace went off to see who it was, she guessed that someone had triggered Horace's trap without meaning to and now they needed to know if that person was a friend or foe. She hoped that it would be a friend more than someone trying to get in to attack them.
Alexis picked up her fork as it was better than nothing and she started to follow after Horace at a slower, jogging-like pace. Just to be safe and in case they were about to get involved in a fight or not.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/29/2021 8:47 AM
Whatever tripped the pans in the hallway was long gone at that point but deeper in the mansion came a rumbling of metal-on-metal coming from the kitchen area, as if someone was tearing the place apart.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/29/2021 1:16 PM
Horace found the pans scattered across the ground, his wire tripped, but there was no sign of the stranger. It seemed that they’d already made their way toward the kitchen area, making a hell of a lot of noise.
“Some sorta animal…?” He muttered to himself before rushing towards the kitchen instead.
“Hey! I asked who’s there!” He called, crossing the threshold into the kitchen area.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/29/2021 1:26 PM
Agh. Horace was definitely faster than her and she stopped at where the pans and the wire were on the ground. She felt on edge over whomever it was with them and she hoped that Horace wasn't about to fall into a trap himself.
She tucked the fork into her light blue jeans' light pocket and then she crouched down beside the mess of it all. She picked up one of the pans and she untangled it from the wire, getting back up quickly.
It was better than nothing.
She went to head over to where Horace had went. She needed to catch up with him quickly.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/29/2021 1:51 PM
In the kitchen was Abel, his hood drawn up, systemically rummaging through every drawer and cabinet in the kitchen before tossing each and every utensil and cookware he could find onto the floor. His bag was left unzipped on one of the counters near him.
He finally turned towards the threshold, pistol drawn and at the ready. He smirked when he saw who it was, lowering the gun slightly as he started to raid another cabinet.
"Don't mind me, Horse," his tone condescended, hand still tightly wrapped around the pistol, "just window shoppin'."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/29/2021 2:09 PM
Horace relaxed a bit when Abel finally lowered the gun and started to speak. It was good to know that there was no need to start some fight yet. In fact, this was the most familiar face Horace had encountered so far. However, Abel’s posture and tone seemed rather strange, concerning.
“Uh, hey man. Everything alright there? Looking for anything in particular?” He asked, taking a couple of steps towards the other boy before glancing back in order to reassure Alexis that he had this handled.
“I’m here with Alexis. Remember her?”
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/29/2021 2:17 PM
Alexis took a few breaths as she stopped jogging and she was now standing slightly behind Horace to the left side of him. She couldn't see the face of their intruder and it seemed like the new arrival was from their school.
"Uh, hi!" She piped in before letting Horace go back to handling it and she noticed the gun, making her grimace a little.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/29/2021 2:33 PM
Abel pointed the gun in their direction, his attention otherwise now on the next top cabinet. "Don't come closer."
There went the colanders.
"I'm just looking for food, medicine, that kinda shit, and then I'll be on my way."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/29/2021 2:37 PM
Horace put his hands up, still holding the bat.
"Woah, man, come on. We're not threatening you or nothing. What's wrong? Somebody after you?" Horace tried to piece out what the hell was up with Abel, what had messed him up so bad. Horace looked around the room anxiously.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/29/2021 2:49 PM
Alexis almost felt herself gasping when the guy pointed the gun at them once again and she was unsure of what they could do. It seemed like they couldn't get on this guy's bad side. Not that she wanted to, of course!
She stayed quiet and all she could do was to see what would happen. This situation would have been less scary if the guy didn't have the gun. She wasn't going to do anything stupid as it seemed like he would leave them alone afterwards and it would be a win-win for everyone there.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/29/2021 3:03 PM
Abel glanced over a few times, continuing the rampage as Horse and Alexis replied in their own ways.
And then, he slowed down. And stopped. The gun in his hand went lower, and lower, but not quite all the way down.
He chuckled one of those awkward disbelieving chuckles and glanced over, still with that smug grin. "Ty's dead."
He went back to the rampage, maybe with more haste, but perhaps less.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/30/2021 3:30 PM
Horace froze up for a moment, trying to think over Abel's words, not sure what to say, how to react. Ty was dead? How...? He swallowed and cleared his throat.
"Did... did you see him or something? Out there?" He asked, still trying to process the information. Who the hell would kill Ty?
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 09/30/2021 3:37 PM
Alexis felt her eyes widen a little at Abel's words and her mind was a bit of a blur on who Ty was. So people have started killing already and she felt herself grit her teeth a little. Unless....
"Did... Did you kill him?" She asked in a calm tone of voice and she was looking over at Abel with a more serious expression on her face. She just wanted to know. She didn't know if the guy who died had got shot by Abel or not.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 09/30/2021 4:36 PM
"The fuck you think!?" Abel snapped at Alexis. He stared her down and lunged a few steps at her until he stopped himself.
He walked back to his spot, placed the gun onto the metal countertop, and pounded the counter with his fist before leaning over it and burying his face into one of his palms. He grazed over the bandage and the bronzed bloodstains.
"...He's over by the river. Looks like someone fucked him up good with something sharp... Wasn't cold yet by the time I found 'im... Wasn't even cold..."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 09/30/2021 8:56 PM
When Abel lunged toward Alexis, Horace felt his body tense, moving the bat to hold it up in between Abel and the girl, but Abel stopped on his own before Horace completed the move. He then watched for a long moment as Abel seemed to break down, putting his face in his hand, bent over the counter.
"Look I-" Horace stopped himself, taking a moment, scratching his chin. "We're all out here, man. Same spot. You alright? Do you need anything? You know I'm good for it."
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/01/2021 2:43 PM
Alexis almost reacted by smashed the pan in Abel's face when he tried to come at her and she felt her heart quickening when he actually stopped. She almost felt like telling him off for acting like a lunatic, but then she saw how he was acting afterwards and then she felt bad for even asking this question.
"I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me to ask." She admitted, shifting on her feet awkwardly. "I'm sorry about your friend."
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 10/03/2021 1:06 PM
Abel didn't reply to either of them. He just stayed against the counter and kept mumbling half words to himself.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 3:13 PM
"I... uh...." Horace started to speak up after a moment, though he wasn't really sure what to say. He glanced back at Alexis before letting out a sigh and returning his gaze to Abel.
"Well, if you want to stick around, you're welcome to. We're just camping out here."
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 3:22 PM
Alexis was feeling unsure about letting Abel stay with them, but he was Horace's friend and she didn't want to make Horace upset about her wanting to not have Abel around. Or the gun. The gun was another issue that she had a problem with. But for now, she was going to try to make things more welcoming for Abel at the time-being.
She took a step forward and she gave Abel a friendly smile. "Yeah, it's a lot safer here than out there. We're making sure that we can survive all of this and to keep out anyone that is dangerous."
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 10/03/2021 4:08 PM
Abel snapped again, yelling another "Stay back!" at Alexis after she stepped forward. He snatched the pistol off the counter and held it tight in his left hand.
His whole body shook like he was a scared dog. "Can't... can't trust anyone..."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 4:10 PM
"Woah, woah! Hey man! What the hell?" Horace put his hands up quickly, trying to move closer.
"Abel, come on, man. Alexis isn't gonna do anything here. We've gotta just cool down, right?"
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 4:25 PM
Alexis' eyes widen and she raised her hands up on instinct, the pan was still in her right hand. God, this guy was really that paranoid?
"Well, I don't trust you. So I guess we're even." She said honestly with a frown on her face.
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 10/03/2021 4:53 PM
Abel stared down at Alexis, his brow furrowed as he snorted out breaths of hot air.
He gritted his teeth.
He fired the gun.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 4:59 PM
Alexis felt the bullet piercing into her stomach and the force of it make her half-slip, half-fall backwards. The pan flew out of her hand and it clattered towards Horace's feet.
She landed on her back and she gasped with a gasp breathe of pain.
He really shot her. Oh god, oh god, oh god...!
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 5:15 PM
The world seemed to slow down in a moment. He had almost reached Abel, to calm his friend down, only for the gun to go off. He jumped, a moment of shock.
Then Alexis fell to the ground and Horace panicked, acting on some mix between horror and rage.
Letting out some sort of shout, he swung the bat forward at Abel, gripping the base with both hands
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 10/03/2021 5:27 PM
Abel barely dodged out of the way as the bat slammed into the counter.
His feet shuffled among the pots and pans scattered on the floor as he rushed for his bag.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 5:30 PM
Horace stumbled for a moment when his bat connected with the counter, but he kept his balance, pivoting to keep his face to Abel, heart pounding in his chest.
"G-Get the fuck out!" He howled, rushing forward and swinging the bat again
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 5:37 PM
Alexis was writhing in pain and she touched her stomach, wincing in more agony and her hands were not sticky with her blood.
"H....Horace...?" She blinked in confusion. Were they.... fighting right now?
Abel Manning wrote:jillz [abel/harriet i guess idk] — 10/03/2021 5:41 PM
(( Abel didn't look back as he snatched his bag and left. ))
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 5:51 PM
Horace chased Abel a bit, but soon enough the boy was well and truly gone, vanishing into the forest. Then he heard Alexis's voice.
"A-Alexis!" He ran back to her, finding the girl on the ground, bleeding from Abel's shot. He quickly knelt down beside her grabbing his nearby bag, trying to find some sort of medkit.
"I'm... I'm gonna do something! W-We're gonna be fine!" He tried to reassure her while he rifled through the supplies they'd been given.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 5:59 PM
Alexis heard his panicking voice and her breathing was a bit of a struggle for her as she could taste a bit of metallic blood raising up in her throat. She was definitely dying and she guessed that Abel had hit her in a vital area.
I shouldn't have said that to Abel. God, how stupid of me to do that.
"H....Horace.... It's okay." She lied with a small smile on her face, her eyes were watering and she felt terrible for Horace having to witness her getting shot by a friend. "I.... shouldn't have said that to Abel...."
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 6:07 PM
"He shouldn't have fucking shot you. Fucking...." He trailed off, seeing Alexis's eyes, how she was starting to cry. Horace felt his hands shaking and he quickly took her bloody hand in his.
"Y-You... we're partners, right? We're supposed to be... I can't just let you..." He tried to think of something to say, something meaningful as he gripped her hand ever tighter, throat tightening, but nothing would seem to come to him.
Fuck, he was gonna start crying too.
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 6:18 PM
Alexis let her tears run down her face and she knew that she should be more mad at Abel for shooting her. But in a way, she couldn't blame him for how paranoid and distrustful everyone would be feeling here. Having only one person survive... That was something scary to think about.
She found herself squeezing Horace's own hand as if she wanted to comfort him more than herself and she closed her eyes a bit tightly. Letting out some wheezing breathes for a few seconds.
"I'm.... gonna have to tag out on you, H....Horace." She let out a pained, small chuckle as she attempted a wrestling joke for him. It was a terrible one, but better than nothing. "Can.... Can you find Tad for me and tell him that I'm sorry for leaving him all alone here? He.... He's... He's not going to-"
She coughed and blood dripped down her chin, making her groan softly.
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 6:24 PM
Horace winced a bit at the bad joke, making light of the idea that she'd be dying. He quickly shook his head.
"I- I'll tell him, but- Alexis, I won't have to tell him because you're going to-!" He started, only to see the blood dripping down her chin. He shivered.
"Alexis. Please..."
Alexis Williams wrote:Undead Sweetheart | Tad, Evan — 10/03/2021 6:30 PM
".....I'm sorry...." She whispered softly. "Horace. K-Keep yourself safe..."
I'm scared, I'm scared I'm scar-
Her bloody hand went into a limp state in Horace's hand as her breathing suddenly stopped.
((Alexis Williams - Deceased))
Horace McGillicutty wrote:Catche | Brody, Horace — 10/03/2021 6:59 PM
"I- Alexis I-" But she was gone already.
Horace released Alexis's hand as the life seemed to leave her, falling back onto his ass as he stared at her lifeless form. He felt like he sat there for a long while, unable to move as he stared at the dead girl before him, who he'd planned to fortify this mansion with, plans that seemed so foolish in retrospect.
Gritting his teeth, Horace slowly rose to his feet, picking up his bag along the day. Whatever else, he knew that he couldn't stay here any longer.
"I promise, Alexis. I-I promise I'll find Tad. And... and we'll find some way out."
((Horace McGilligutty continued elsewhere...))