"That's why, wherever we go after you graduate, it has to be different than this. Different than the old world." And that scares him so he holds her tighter.
Under his hold, she tenses up at the idea. She reaches, automatically but unable to stop herself, to smooth her hand over his back to make sure he's whole, he's here.
"Nothing's going to happen. It's not any more real than the walkers."
They could just stay here. All they have to do is stay here, where they have both stashed plenty of food, where they are relatively safe, where they could bunker down for several days if not weeks if they had to; they are both survivors. They have both planned for this.
But outside the door are people who have not, who are not. Who are in trouble. And eventually, that proves too much - in fact, maybe the fact that they're both such strong scouts, such strong scavengers, contributes to the decision to try. To stick together, but help others, to help whoever they hear screaming in the hallway.
Perhaps that's why the fog separates them almost immediately.
She just keeps moving after that, sometimes running into others, losing them almost as quickly; she catches onto the game early on even though she can't justify her conviction in it, she just knows. She searches for Jesus, searches for Astarion and Godric and Silver and anyone she can recognize from the Barge, knowing she won't get to keep them for long and taking comfort in the fact that wherever Jesus is, she can't feel him dead or dying through the rings they both wear.
The monsters here are so obvious, so exaggerated, so larger than life and literal that she doesn't realize she's in any danger when she tucks herself into the space under a stairwell, isolated and exhausted and wondering why she's bothering. There's a heartbeat next to hers, though, and she tries the communicator one more time:
no subject
What reassurance can he really offer?
"I don't know what happened to Morgan. But it's not what's happened to us. I think he just...couldn't deal with the reality of the new world."
no subject
She is. She could be. As terrible as it is, it made her so much stronger, and she understands it.
"But I don't know that I can come back to this one. I feel crazy here, too."
no subject
no subject
After she graduates.
She swallows, because she can't think about that right now. She needs to be here.
"Right now, we're okay."
no subject
"Ro, if anything happens to me, I just-" He shudders. "I keep feeling the knife in me."
no subject
"Nothing's going to happen. It's not any more real than the walkers."
no subject
He won't let anything happen to her.
no subject
But outside the door are people who have not, who are not. Who are in trouble. And eventually, that proves too much - in fact, maybe the fact that they're both such strong scouts, such strong scavengers, contributes to the decision to try. To stick together, but help others, to help whoever they hear screaming in the hallway.
Perhaps that's why the fog separates them almost immediately.
She just keeps moving after that, sometimes running into others, losing them almost as quickly; she catches onto the game early on even though she can't justify her conviction in it, she just knows. She searches for Jesus, searches for Astarion and Godric and Silver and anyone she can recognize from the Barge, knowing she won't get to keep them for long and taking comfort in the fact that wherever Jesus is, she can't feel him dead or dying through the rings they both wear.
The monsters here are so obvious, so exaggerated, so larger than life and literal that she doesn't realize she's in any danger when she tucks herself into the space under a stairwell, isolated and exhausted and wondering why she's bothering. There's a heartbeat next to hers, though, and she tries the communicator one more time:
Respond. Are you okay? Did you make it?
Please be okay.
no subject
Rosita is his priority right now but they have a job to do, too.
no subject
no subject
Which does nothing to show how her question terrifies him.
no subject
You'll be okay.
That's all that matters.
no subject
He's fighting his way back the way he came. He taps the walls, trying to signal to her. He's coming for her.
no subject
It's gotten very dark but she hasn't noticed. It smells like hot metal and rotting flesh and she barely notices that either.
It's okay. It's okay, as long as she doesn't drag anyone with her.
Yes you will.
Everyone will. It'll be better.
no subject
He wants to call her, to hear her voice, but doesn't dare.
Don't leave me. Don't do this to me. You're the only family I have.