Survivalist Plot: Our Tools and Our Reasons

[meat_mooks]

End of Day Two

If there were any signs of life at all, it could be said that the town is now sleeping. After a blistering day in the sun, the cool of night may be a welcome relief - at least, in terms of temperature. The knowledge that the crews foes are out there, now hidden under the cover of darkness, will be decidedly less comforting.

On the south end of the city, a series of red signal flares goes up, signaling that at least one crewmember has found safety out there. Howard waits across the street with binoculars, ready to hail anyone he sees down.

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[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard leads Cedric outside, checking constantly over his shoulder to make sure the rest of the crew is either sleeping or apathetic. Once outside, its easy to feel vulnerable, especially with only a flashlight to protect them from the dark, but he's not going to chance being heard right now.

Once he's out there, he scooches close to Cedric - not for a hug or moral support, but so he can slip a box of apple juice and granola bar to Cedric as subtly as possible.

"That's all I can get without Diana noticing." That's a lie - Diana will notice even that. When it comes to food she's as anal-retentive as Howard himself is. That is, in fact, Howard's own ration of the two-person stash.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric watches the other side of the field before them, only aware of Howard on the very edges of his peripheral vision. They need to see something coming if it does.

He grips a railing, prepare to break it off if necessary---thus providing an opening. Cedric's fists are pulled away as if to stop him from making noise, leaving an opening of the objects to slip in.

Cedric is shocked, even more so when he realises what he's holding. The implications bother him---Diana's found food and liquid and not shared? He' never dream of doing such a thing if it was his stash. Howard's helping him, though, and that means a lot. For a while there, he was worried.

The grateful surprise fades when he feels the dehydration's effect on his throat once more. He huddles over the railing, looks left, looks right, and then takes a sip as quietly as possible.

"I'll search tomorrow." And repay you, he indicates with a pointing finger. He then rolls his fists and pumps them twice: he's trapped a monster before, he can do it again if he's careful.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard notes that Cedric's possibly even more tense than he is, quite the feat given than Howard's default state is a hair away from panic. It's hard to determine whether Cedric's overreacting or whether Howard's just gotten lax from having gotten away from that first monster.

The night air is cold and dry and terrifyingly silent. At least it's a yard where grass used to grow, mostly dried up now, and they've learned from experience that the creatures have difficulty moving over such terrain.

It occurs to Howard that the lawn may have a sprinkler system. If the houses aren't getting water odds are the sprinklers aren't, but it's a better shot than none.

"If we don't find something tomorrow, we will die. And it needs to be something drastic." Killing one of the monsters might work. It's made of meat, after all, and blood is better hydration than nothing at all. And so it's partially with honest curiosity and partially because he's planning ahead that he asks Cedric, "how did you get away?"

And he is glad Cedric got away. Truly. The half-smile that flits over his mouth should tell Cedric that much, along with an unspoken apology for cold-shouldering him earlier.

[theboywhodied]

"Then I'll do something drastic," Cedric promises. "Anything. This is the worst place to give up."

Honestly, it is. All the possible deaths, including the one he narrowly avoided earlier, are horrid. He has work to do.

The one comfort is the return of Howard. The boy he's tentatively smiling at is the friend Cedric's more familiar with. That had been weird and unsettling for a while back there.

"I ran, like I was avoiding another Bludger. I got spooked by a corpse up there---had to jump over it and out a window. After that, I climbed down the tree and looked for a weapon. I was buying you time."

He pauses to take another quick sip, then continues. He has to wrap this up quickly, before he needs to drain too much liquid. "Led him to weak floorboards. He fell, I trapped and whacked him."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard wants to agree, but a small part of him's already resigned himself to dying here. It would just figure, to get so far away from the FAYZ only to die in a place just like it. He can already feel the despair setting in, that unshakeable sense he's just buying himself a little time before he kicks the bucket. But he was wrong last time, wasn't he? Maybe he'll be wrong this time.

But hope is dangerous. He can't afford to hope.

"Thanks. For the time. It probably saved our lives." He glances back at the window, back to where Diana's sleeping.

"Look, don't take it personal, but Diana can't know that anything ever happened between us, so I'm going to keep my distance when she's around, alright?" Not that much happened. "She's from my world."

[theboywhodied]

"No problem," Cedric answers, honestly relieved. That's far more than he'd normally expect from Howard. Cedric's still worried about his mission tomorrow, but at least he doesn't have to die thinking one of his only friends in his life at the moment hates him.

"So that's it." He's been wondering about that. "Why? Does she think she...I don't know, owns you?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Wow, word choice, Ced. Don't nobody own me." He waves a hand. "But no, it's more that...this kind of thing could get me killed back home. If we ever go home."

Which seems like such a far-off fear now, because it rests on the idea that they'll be making it out of here alive, but somehow, holding on these future fears is easier than dealing with the harsh reality of their situation.

Howard looks like he's about to cry. He takes a deep breath and stares out into the darkness.

"Besides, she's a total bitch."

[theboywhodied]

The largest response Cedric can muster for that is a silent nod. Things are so different in Howard's life. This hunger, this desperation are everyday. Cedric is the naive outsider receiving a harsh lesson in survival here.

"Even now? Or...soon?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Yeah. I just can't risk it, man. Don't think it's a personal thing, just...if there's one person on the ship I have to hide from it's her."

It occurs to Howard that this would be a nice time to not be so shy about touch. Cedric could use someone to hold his hand, pat him on the back. And honestly Howard could use a hug.

He reaches over and hesitantly gives Cedric a pat on the shoulder.

[theboywhodied]

"Got it. I'll try to keep it up on my end." It'll be hard for Cedric, but he'd go pretty far to help a friend.

Given how hesitant Howard's been about everything else, it's a surprise that he breaks the touch barrier at all. Cedric looks left and right to ensure that no one's looking, then returns the gesture warmly.

"Take care until we get back."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

As much as he's able to reach over and touch Cedric, he doesn't appreciate the gesture in turn. He pulls away.

"Yeah, you too." A wry grin worms its way up the corners of his mouth. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? You're in my world now. Me and Diana's. Play by our rules and you won't die, alright?"

[theboywhodied]

"All right," Cedric nods, hiding the flicker of disappointment again. Maybe they'll get that far someday later. Not now.

He tries to cheer himself up, then reconsiders. Probably best to go in there sulking. He nods once, then feigns a distressed expression for heading back into the house.