Rodney went quiet. That likely wasn't a good sign. Did Bishop say something wrong? Did he strike a cord he hadn't meant to? Rodney seemed really nice, so he didn't want to offend or hurt the big guy. So the fact that he appeared to be having difficulty responding to Bishop likely wasn't a good sign.
"H-hey" Bishop said, trying to get Rodney's attention. "I-it's okay, you don't n-need to answer if you a-aren't comfortable."
He was hoping that would be enough, but who even knew at this point? The both of them were obviously pretty awkward in general so this was going to be difficult regardless. Thinking he should just quickly change the subject at this point, Bishop finally popped the big question.
"A-anyway uh... I was w-wondering if y-you'd be cool w-with t-traveling together." He asked, half expecting Rodney to say no. "Y-you seem like a n-nice guy and all, and well... S-safety in numbers a-and all?"
América rompió mi corazón
Phase 1 (0-12 Hours), Open
Rodney perked up when Bishop began to apologize. Rodney shook his head.
"Hey, um, no, it's not that," Rodney said. "Sorry, just trying to think of people..."
Rodney looked around, noticing his bag on the table, the basket he knocked on the ground, then back at Bishop. He hoped this wasn't too awkward by highlighting the fact that he wasn't close to anyone in his class, which was absolutely moronic now that he was in The Program.
Fortunately, it looked like Bishop was still pleased to be around him and was offering to at least go through the game with him. Rodney felt somewhat relieved from that. Maybe, through his awkwardness and weirdness, he had somehow found an ally who could be a friend.
"Y-yeah...safety in numbers sounds good..." Rodney said.
"Um..."
Rodney glanced around. He then half-bent his arm, pulled back, and then extended it, holding his hand out to shake Bishop's.
"Let's get through this somehow..."
"Hey, um, no, it's not that," Rodney said. "Sorry, just trying to think of people..."
Rodney looked around, noticing his bag on the table, the basket he knocked on the ground, then back at Bishop. He hoped this wasn't too awkward by highlighting the fact that he wasn't close to anyone in his class, which was absolutely moronic now that he was in The Program.
Fortunately, it looked like Bishop was still pleased to be around him and was offering to at least go through the game with him. Rodney felt somewhat relieved from that. Maybe, through his awkwardness and weirdness, he had somehow found an ally who could be a friend.
"Y-yeah...safety in numbers sounds good..." Rodney said.
"Um..."
Rodney glanced around. He then half-bent his arm, pulled back, and then extended it, holding his hand out to shake Bishop's.
"Let's get through this somehow..."
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Holy crap he actually said yes. Bishop had half expected Rodney to wanna go it alone or something. Either because he was scared of people or because Bishop was too much of an awkward mess to be around for any prolonged period of time, Bishop was ready for Rodney to just say no and to walk off or something. But... Somehow, he actually said yes!
Bishop's face lit up with excitement once Rodney agreed to work with him. Maybe they had a chance after all, maybe together the two of them could actually make it through this! It might of been foolish for Bishop to think that, but he couldn't help but to hope that maybe they could make it through this. That maybe, just maybe, everything wouldn't turn to shit in an instant for them.
So, with a newly formed smile plastered on his face, he grabbed Rodney's hand in his once again.
"Y-yeah!" He said, excitement clearly present in his voice. "L-let's do t-this together!"
Bishop's face lit up with excitement once Rodney agreed to work with him. Maybe they had a chance after all, maybe together the two of them could actually make it through this! It might of been foolish for Bishop to think that, but he couldn't help but to hope that maybe they could make it through this. That maybe, just maybe, everything wouldn't turn to shit in an instant for them.
So, with a newly formed smile plastered on his face, he grabbed Rodney's hand in his once again.
"Y-yeah!" He said, excitement clearly present in his voice. "L-let's do t-this together!"
((Danielle Baumgartner continued from Star-Splattered Banner))
There were two figures on the road.
She couldn’t distinguish much at this distance; all she knew was that one of them was really tall. Danielle had ducked behind a stall roughly fifty yards down the road, peeking over the wooden counter to watch them. They were the first people she’d encountered since Jacqueline’s death, and now that she wasn’t the one being caught off guard, she got to decide how to engage them.
Her first decision was not to approach them. Sure, the duo were just casually chatting and seemed to be unarmed, but that was being optimistic. Even though they weren’t hostile to each other, they could be in cahoots, deciding to watch each other's’ backs and kill the first person that came along. One of them could whip a machine gun from their bag and gun her down, or the big one could come charging at her. If a conflict erupted, it could potentially be two against one, and Danielle didn’t like those odds. Sure, they could just be friendly people, but a healthy dose of suspicion brought one a long way in a situation like the Program. Letting your guard down was lethal.
A dull pain ached in Danielle’s chest as she reminded herself of what had happened to Jacqueline.
The decision then was if she should leave, or if she should engage from a distance. She was armed, she reminded herself, feeling the cold metal in her hands. Their duty was to kill until only one was left standing, and it never hurt to knock out competition. Besides, maybe having multiple kills to her name in the first announcement would be a boon; it’d give herself an edge against everyone else, a sense of infamy that would make people wary and hopefully keep her alive. If she was going to kill anyway, doing it like this was much more preferable than before. Danielle’s free hand subconsciously went up to her cheek, where Jacqueline had scratched her. Hand-to-hand combat wasn’t her forte.
Sure, her aim wasn’t terrific either, but it was passable. The one time she’d handled a gun was at a firing range down in Colorado Springs years ago, as part of a father-daughter bonding thing. While her step-father had sugarcoated his comments, Danielle knew her aim was middling at best; Buddy joked that she only needed to worry about bombs and missiles if she was going into the air force. However, she did manage to shoot one of the black silhouettes a couple times in the head, much to both her and her step-father’s delight. It was the best thing her fourteen year old self had ever accomplished. That target was still hanging on the inside of her closet door, a comforting reminder that she’d probably do just fine in the military.
Danielle took a deep breath as she raised the pistol, aiming it in the figures’ direction. She hoped it meant she’d do just fine here, too.
Three gunshots rang out. It should’ve been enough to down at least one of them.
There were two figures on the road.
She couldn’t distinguish much at this distance; all she knew was that one of them was really tall. Danielle had ducked behind a stall roughly fifty yards down the road, peeking over the wooden counter to watch them. They were the first people she’d encountered since Jacqueline’s death, and now that she wasn’t the one being caught off guard, she got to decide how to engage them.
Her first decision was not to approach them. Sure, the duo were just casually chatting and seemed to be unarmed, but that was being optimistic. Even though they weren’t hostile to each other, they could be in cahoots, deciding to watch each other's’ backs and kill the first person that came along. One of them could whip a machine gun from their bag and gun her down, or the big one could come charging at her. If a conflict erupted, it could potentially be two against one, and Danielle didn’t like those odds. Sure, they could just be friendly people, but a healthy dose of suspicion brought one a long way in a situation like the Program. Letting your guard down was lethal.
A dull pain ached in Danielle’s chest as she reminded herself of what had happened to Jacqueline.
The decision then was if she should leave, or if she should engage from a distance. She was armed, she reminded herself, feeling the cold metal in her hands. Their duty was to kill until only one was left standing, and it never hurt to knock out competition. Besides, maybe having multiple kills to her name in the first announcement would be a boon; it’d give herself an edge against everyone else, a sense of infamy that would make people wary and hopefully keep her alive. If she was going to kill anyway, doing it like this was much more preferable than before. Danielle’s free hand subconsciously went up to her cheek, where Jacqueline had scratched her. Hand-to-hand combat wasn’t her forte.
Sure, her aim wasn’t terrific either, but it was passable. The one time she’d handled a gun was at a firing range down in Colorado Springs years ago, as part of a father-daughter bonding thing. While her step-father had sugarcoated his comments, Danielle knew her aim was middling at best; Buddy joked that she only needed to worry about bombs and missiles if she was going into the air force. However, she did manage to shoot one of the black silhouettes a couple times in the head, much to both her and her step-father’s delight. It was the best thing her fourteen year old self had ever accomplished. That target was still hanging on the inside of her closet door, a comforting reminder that she’d probably do just fine in the military.
Danielle took a deep breath as she raised the pistol, aiming it in the figures’ direction. She hoped it meant she’d do just fine here, too.
Three gunshots rang out. It should’ve been enough to down at least one of them.
Rodney could feel a smile start to creep on his face as he shook hands with Bishop. That was it. That was all it took to make a friend. Granted, it was hard to say if anyone could make a friend in something like The Program, but this could be the start of something special. His father said he made some of the best friends of his life in the military and through dangerous situations. Maybe it would be the same here. Maybe this was the experience that would make Rodney his first real friend.
Rodney broke the handshake.
"Um, okay," he said. "Why don't we-"
But, as Rodney heard the first gunshot, and saw the wall to his side suddenly gain a bullet-sized hole in it, Rodney knew this was the time to see if he and Bishop could really become friends. The Program was trying to kill them now, and they had to act. Rodney quickly crouched low.
"Run!" Rodney shouted to Bishop.
Rodney broke the handshake.
"Um, okay," he said. "Why don't we-"
But, as Rodney heard the first gunshot, and saw the wall to his side suddenly gain a bullet-sized hole in it, Rodney knew this was the time to see if he and Bishop could really become friends. The Program was trying to kill them now, and they had to act. Rodney quickly crouched low.
"Run!" Rodney shouted to Bishop.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Just as Bishop had begun to feel hopeful about his nearly impossible situation, he could hear gun shots from behind him. Diving straight to the ground, Bishop couldn't help but to let out a scream of terror as the bullets zipped right on by. Thankfully it looked as though none of the shots hit himself nor Rodney, however but that wouldn't last long. They were out in the open, and easy targets for anybody with even halfway decent aim. Like Rodney said, they needed to run.
Bishop considered his options for about half a second before panic set in. He looked to his right, saw the town near by, and figured that was the best chance they were getting.
"This way!" Bishop yelled out to Rodney as he got off the ground and booked it for the town, not willing to wait for another burst of bullets to come from their mystery assailant, hoping he and Rodney would make it out of this mess alive.
(Bishop Smith Continued in Mind the Music and The Step)
Bishop considered his options for about half a second before panic set in. He looked to his right, saw the town near by, and figured that was the best chance they were getting.
"This way!" Bishop yelled out to Rodney as he got off the ground and booked it for the town, not willing to wait for another burst of bullets to come from their mystery assailant, hoping he and Rodney would make it out of this mess alive.
(Bishop Smith Continued in Mind the Music and The Step)
She'd come close, but wasn't actually sure if she'd hit either of them. The taller one fell to the ground, though she couldn't tell if they were struck or ducking. The scream hinted at the former. Danielle pursed her lips as the smaller one ran off, unharmed. The words they shouted, or at least the ones she thought she heard, insinuated that the pair were allies, but it looked like the small one was a smidgen more concerned about their own well-being.
A small part of her commended their sense of self-preservation. It'd bring them a long way.
With a sharp inhale, Danielle's aim shifted. She contemplated whether or not to shoot, to finish the job. A split second later, she decided she had to be sure. It was essential to her own survival. She fired again.
A small part of her commended their sense of self-preservation. It'd bring them a long way.
With a sharp inhale, Danielle's aim shifted. She contemplated whether or not to shoot, to finish the job. A split second later, she decided she had to be sure. It was essential to her own survival. She fired again.
Rodney watched as Bishop took off running. He clutched the orgel close to his chest and was prepared to run off. Rodney should be able to run. He may be a large target, but he jogged twice a day back home, so he was sure he could run off and avoid any more gunfire from the unknown assailant. Sure, he was a bit heavy, but he had nothing weighing him down.
Before he could take off running, the lack of weight made him realize something: his bag. Bishop still had his bag, but Rodney's was still on the table. It may not have had a weapon, but there was still everything Rodney would need for the next few days. He couldn't leave it behind, and surely he could still catch up to Bishop.
Rodney quickly ran back to the table. Right when he clutched his hand around the strap of the bag, he felt something whiz by him and tear another hole in the wall of the stand. Without thinking, Rodney ran the other way. He should have gone back to where Bishop was, but it was clear the assailant was going to keep shooting.
Rodney let out a pained moan in frustration as he hurried away from the horchata stand. He couldn't get back to Bishop as long as the fighting was going on. The shooter could come back, or worse, come after him. Actually, what was worse was if the shooter went after Bishop.
Rodney grit his teeth as he hurried away from the area. Of course, even in The Program, he wasn't allowed to have a friend by his side. It wasn't like that that was something he always wanted and hoped to enjoy at least once before he died. Rodney could feel his eyes start to water as he hurried away.
It just wasn't fair.
((Rodney Vasicek continued elsewhere))
Before he could take off running, the lack of weight made him realize something: his bag. Bishop still had his bag, but Rodney's was still on the table. It may not have had a weapon, but there was still everything Rodney would need for the next few days. He couldn't leave it behind, and surely he could still catch up to Bishop.
Rodney quickly ran back to the table. Right when he clutched his hand around the strap of the bag, he felt something whiz by him and tear another hole in the wall of the stand. Without thinking, Rodney ran the other way. He should have gone back to where Bishop was, but it was clear the assailant was going to keep shooting.
Rodney let out a pained moan in frustration as he hurried away from the horchata stand. He couldn't get back to Bishop as long as the fighting was going on. The shooter could come back, or worse, come after him. Actually, what was worse was if the shooter went after Bishop.
Rodney grit his teeth as he hurried away from the area. Of course, even in The Program, he wasn't allowed to have a friend by his side. It wasn't like that that was something he always wanted and hoped to enjoy at least once before he died. Rodney could feel his eyes start to water as he hurried away.
It just wasn't fair.
((Rodney Vasicek continued elsewhere))
G014: Mayumi Tendou
An intense, hot feeling rose in Danielle's chest as the tall one rose to their feet. None of her shots had connected at all. She grit her death and fired a couple more shots in frustration as the figure bolted in the other direction.
When they disappeared from view, Danielle stood up and groaned. She kicked the stand, and let out a quick yelp when the old wood unexpectedly splintered under her foot.
Sighing, her gaze shifted to the now-empty stands down the road. She was down six bullets with no kills to show for them, but at least she wasn’t hurt herself. Danielle frowned as she glanced down at the gun. She had to be more mindful about shooting, she reminded herself. No need to waste what her country had given her.
Danielle picked up her bag and looked around the flat expanse of grassland. She briefly contemplated going after either of them, but ultimately decided against it. Both were long gone, and even if she pursued them, there was a chance the other one would come back for their ally. That was two enemies she had to worry about, and she wasn’t going to like those odds. She set off, in the other direction. Next time, she reminded herself, she’d ensure a one-on-one fight.
Next time, she'd be closer.
((Danielle Baumgartner continued in Tomb of the Forgotten))
When they disappeared from view, Danielle stood up and groaned. She kicked the stand, and let out a quick yelp when the old wood unexpectedly splintered under her foot.
Sighing, her gaze shifted to the now-empty stands down the road. She was down six bullets with no kills to show for them, but at least she wasn’t hurt herself. Danielle frowned as she glanced down at the gun. She had to be more mindful about shooting, she reminded herself. No need to waste what her country had given her.
Danielle picked up her bag and looked around the flat expanse of grassland. She briefly contemplated going after either of them, but ultimately decided against it. Both were long gone, and even if she pursued them, there was a chance the other one would come back for their ally. That was two enemies she had to worry about, and she wasn’t going to like those odds. She set off, in the other direction. Next time, she reminded herself, she’d ensure a one-on-one fight.
Next time, she'd be closer.
((Danielle Baumgartner continued in Tomb of the Forgotten))