.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅crimson

( * ░ &&. –– ❝ i. when my blood spilled d o w n the temple steps, were you glad ? when my wedding robes dripped scarlet,, did you regret it, or did you smile ?

[b1dsp1atter]

# 𝔹 𝟙 𝔻 𝕊 ℙ 𝟙 𝔸 𝕋 𝕋 𝔼 ℝ is an exclusive viewing to the surviving community outlastedhq. penned by parker (they/he), twenty9, est.

⋆˚࿔ 𝕤𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟 "𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕙" 𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕥 | introduction. ✦ google doc. ✦ musings. ✦ visuals. ✦ pinterest. ✦ playlist.

[subs1st]

       #OPENSTARTER.       ⸺       (  4  / 5  ).               ⟢  LOCATION.       ventura county’s supermarket.                          with.             independent survivors & other scavengers.

       ◝     ⟢     ˖       it was a long shot to come all the way down to the abandoned supermarket to scavenge,  and it was particularly dangerous to do it alone.   but their brother had been asleep,  tired out of his poor mind after his own scavenging adventures the night prior,  and jack saw an opportunity they rarely had these days:  spend some time alone,  doing this at their rhythm,  on their terms.   so,  here they were now,  armed with their usual pocket knife,  an empty bag,  and a heart full of hope.   because you had to have hope to search a supermarket two months into an apocalyptic outbreak  —  it was,  easily,  the first place people raided,  the first place to run out of things,  and the first one to get swamped by infected.   however,  jack persevered,  and her determination  (  or stubbornness—you’re welcome to call it what you want  )  paid off when she entered the storage section and among several opened boxes, she found an unopened one. “  bingo,  bastards  …  ”     she murmured with a smirk,  her quiet steps taking her to her goal as she swiftly retrieved her pocket knife from her jeans.   she sighed in anticipation,  sliding the edge of the knife under one of the box’s borders,  and then—thud.   the noise froze jack’s blood in her veins,  turned her paler than she was,  and made her hold her breath until she got dizzy.   her fist closed tighter around her knife,  and her body moved on auto-pilot  —  defense mode,  attack position.     “  whoever you are—whatever you are,  get out and fight me,  bitch,  i don’t have all day.  ”

[b1dsp1atter]

being resourceful was required to make it through the day independently. there were moments where sebastian gave in, needing another living to make sure he was eaten as a meal during the night. or traveling a far distance, making it to california sure proved to be a mission not for the light hearted when the starting point was cross-country. bash, for one, was running on a short fuse. but, in all fairness, this was the case long before people started to have their flesh rot. it was difficult to walk past a building and not give it a little bit of exploration. who know what others could overlook?

stepping into the store, bash let his gaze settle onto the disheveled racks. he walked further into the store, peering under cabinets and attempting to find something. anything. without much luck, he continued to the storage unit. once the door peered open, gaze landed on the other lone survivor who seemed to successfully find a prized possession of -- something. thud. the door shut behind him and bash didn't even flinch upon the realization. brows rose at jack taking the defense, words leaving her mouth as attempted venom. " i'm not trying to fight , " sebastian clarified, choosing to take steps forward into the room. " seems like you got lucky , " bash mentioned, nodding towards the boxes that may only reveal disappointment.

[alexcmorgan]

location: on the border of the woods and the back of an abandoned store

open: all

Alex had been walking for days. He wasn't exactly sure how long it had been, but all he knew was that he was tired and he just wanted to find a place to lay his head that wasn't sounded by groaning walkers. Of course, he could've easily thinned the surrounding herd but for what point? He knew he was going to be dead soon. Everyone was. The sun starting setting and Alex couldn't help but to find a decent enough size log to sit on, just for a moment. Lost in thought, his mind flashed back to Caleb, to how he left him. Alone. Being so deep in thought he didn't even see anyone approaching. Was Alex about to meet the same fate as Caleb? He had no idea. And honestly..

He would deserve it.

[b1dsp1atter]

having a temper had sebastian getting into trouble more often than not. it was always a working progress to attempt to simmer down. lately though, there wasn't much motivation to keep a cool head. frustration only built and an easy thing to piss bash off would be when he spent too much dedicated time searching... and searching. prying doors open. breaking locked cabinents. the satisfaction of cracking a hinge open to reveal a small, cornered room with... cleaning spray and garbage bags. this janitor fucking sucked at keeping the closet stocked. there was no attempt to hold back the blood that felt as if it was boiling behind his skin. the cleaning bottle was taken, inspected in hopes to find any sort of use, before thrown across the abandoned store and crash against the wall. nothing much more than a frustrated huff left him before folding up the couple of plastic garbage bags and stuffing them into his backpack before rising back onto his feet.

the backpack slung across his shoulder before he exited the shit store and continued his walk. bash only stopped for a moment, steam still practically leaving his ears before another survivor came into view. he wasn't sure if it was worse to stumble upon the living or the dead nowadays. " did you find anything useful in there ? " sebastian asked, nodding towards the store he had left behind as he moved forward with approaching the other. bash's tone dwindled down to be even. calm.

[watchpost]

🛠  »  STATUS  …  CLOSED 🛠  »  LOCATION  …  THE MARINA (RESTAURANT) 🛠  »  SURVIVOR(S)  …  SEBASTIAN BARNETT  [ @b1dsp1atter ]

having personally searched the streets connected to the main supply route between the protected communities, miles decided to scavenge farther from his current shelter. the trip came with its risks, of course. however, sooner or later, he would be forced to move. he left the house he was staying in before afternoon, hoping to make it back while there was still daylight in case anything went wrong. and, as most eventually learned, plans rarely went as expected. it took a little longer to reach the marina than miles had originally planned. the route there wasn't one of the safest, forcing him to take a couple of detours along the way. once he arrived, one of the first buildings miles went for was an abandoned restaurant by the marina. two months into the apocalypse had rendered most places already looted, but if one knew where to look, supplies could still be found tucked away in places most wouldn't think to search. it was getting late, which meant miles would have to wait the night out somewhere nearby. after thoroughly checking the restaurant, he found little more than a single pack of crackers. it would have to do. he quietly slipped through the back door just as an infected stumbled through the front. pressing his back against the wall, miles paused for a long moment, waiting for the infected to occupy itself before he could move. he held his breath, listening intently for any sounds coming from inside the restaurant. however, he picked up on something else entirely.

tilting his head as he scanned the surroundings, miles spotted another figure nearby, his brows furrowing for a moment. truly a small world. or perhaps the other was following him. either way, neither of them had any business being outside at this hour. ❝ it's empty. ❞ miles mouthed to sebastian, nodding toward the building behind him. although not inherently friendly toward strangers, there was no reason for anyone to put their life in danger when miles could help it.

[b1dsp1atter]

the daylight was dwindling and sebastian was starting to question his decision on venturing out. exploring the area that split protected communities wasn't exactly how bash enjoyed to occupy any sort of free time. at least, certainly not a task he'd like to accomplish alone. there were too many factors. too many unknowns. it was miles that caught his eye -- a familiar face. he pondered for a while from the safety of his own, bunkered out and abandoned house. he even ventured onto the roof to keep track of miles' whereabouts until the figure was too far to catch. the mission, seeming to be, heading closer and closer to the nearby, but sectored area. color bash intrigued, since then, and started his own path from many feet behind.

there was safety in numbers, but it didn't always need to be known. especially if information was on the line. sebastian parted ways when miles decided to take a detour in the restaurant. he stayed on the outskirts, leaning against the walls of a nearby building before an infected caught his eye. the undead then rummaged through the same doors miles did. bash's jaw tensed at that knowledge and debated if it was best to head back. miles, if anything, was not one who would meet his death from a single infected. he could handle it. honey hues lifted up to the sun tucking further away by every minute. a drawn breath left sebastian and he grasped a knife from his waistband.

feet carried bash around the building and towards the back, certainly not going the same direction that the dead seemed to want to explore. to sebastian's surprise, miles already seemed to have exited and bash, well, no longer lurking from who knows how far away. " you mean besides the infected ? " bash retorted, voice low but not the soundless approach that the other had taken.

[rottblooms]

she  supposes  he  has  a  point.still,  that's  easy  for  him  to  say  when  he's  got  a  gun  of  his  own.  the  two  had  not  been  traveling  together  for  very  long,  but  because  they  had  run  into  one  another  so  frequently  and  managed  to  at  least  somewhat  get  along,  it  made  sense.  there  is  power  in  numbers,  after  all.

she  looks  to  the  new  infected  that  begins  to  pass  and  sighs.  maybe  this  isn't  worth  it  after  all.  she  looks  over  at  him  and  nods.  “yeah..  you're  probably  right,”  she  mumbles,  a  little  disappointed  in  herself  for  insisting  that  they  come  this  way  in  the  first  place.  “let's  go  back  the  way  we  came  then,  and  i'm  sure  we'll  stumble  on  something  better.”  with  that  said,  she  does  just  that  –  heading  back  the  way  they  had  come.

[b1dsp1atter]

teamwork had never been an environment sebastian worked well in. it was some sort of sick karma to have a post-apocalyptic environment that required as much for survival. the past couple months had been a whirlwind. he caught himself zeroed in on one mission: to find his sister and keep such goal close to the heart. still, eyes couldn't help but wonder upon the infected. checking for a familiar hair tie, or necklace, or shirt. in actuality -- she could easily be walking among them. undead. so could daena's father. would they ever get confirmation or aimless wander streets holding onto whatever grasp of hope was possible?

the other turned on her feet and bash stayed still for a moment, fixed on the two creeping closer. gaze went broader to the territory left unexplored. what if this was the one place that still had some scraps left behind? if this was the one location that a loved one had been seeking shelter?

the sound echoed loudly and bash wasn't phased by any recoil. he had gotten used to the way the glock felt in his grip. there were two shots, hitting point-blank in the forehead for the nearby undead -- now extra dead. " i changed my mind , " bash muttered out before moving forward to follow on the path daena had originally wanted to take a risk for. bash really wasn't one to be able to get past all the what ifs. the unknown. they had to check everywhere, didn't they?

[sprinkleofmuse]

The  accusation  earned  a  softer  smile  than  it  probably  deserved.  ❝Maybe.❞  She  tipped  her  head  slightly,  watching  him  finally  take  a  bite  as  some  of  the  tension  eased  from  her  shoulders.  That,  at  least,  felt  like  a  small  victory.  ❝I  just  don’t  think  someone  has  to  stop  being  a  stranger  before  I’m  allowed  to  care  whether  they  live  or  die.❞  There  were  already  enough  reasons  in  the  world  to  look  away  from  people  now.  Sara  didn’t  particularly  want  to  become  another  one  of  them. Her  gaze  followed  his  briefly  toward  the  broken  window  before  returning  to  him,  the  hint  of  amusement  still  lingering  when  he  refused  to  make  any  promises.  ❝I  wasn’t  asking  for  one.❞  She  shifted  her  weight  back  slightly,  giving  him  the  space  he  seemed  determined  to  keep  between  himself  and  everyone  else.  ❝Just  thought  a  sandwich  might  make  me  slightly  less  suspicious  than  I  was  the  last  time.❞  A  beat  passed  before  her  smile  warmed  again.  ❝And  if  it  doesn’t,  I  suppose  I’ll  have  to  come  up  with  a  better  peace  offering  next  time.❞

[b1dsp1atter]

fairness was something that was impossible to trace nowadays. it wasn't just to judge the one in front of him when she merely approaches with nutrition that could at least help subside some of the hunger. perhaps it was just in bash's nature, to assume the worst. " i guess not, but it's all risk and reward, isn't it? what happens if you get caught smuggling out shit meant for those within the community ? " the question was genuine, but bash was already pretty set on what possible consequences could mean. to him, the reward didn't outweigh having that sort of power over his head. he much rather liked his bets outside of protected walls more. for better or worse.

another bite was given and the tension in sebastian's muscles eased, if only ever so slightly. " do you plan on going right back? or are you scavenging? or do you ever just need a break from being watched all the time? " a brief pause. " . . . I sure would , " not that bash thought his company would bring any joy. honey hues took a lazy glance amongst the abandoned house. it wasn't too bad. he was beginning to get used to it. but it was far from anything called home. it could barely be considered a house.

[sprinkleofmuse]

A  small  crease  appeared  between  her  brows  at  that,  though  there  was  more  amusement  than  offense  behind  it.  ❝I’m  aware  you’re  not  a  stray  dog.❞  Her  gaze  dropped  briefly  to  the  sandwich  now  in  his  hands  before  returning  to  his  face.  ❝Stray  dogs  are  usually  a  little  more  trusting.❞  It  was  teasing,  barely,  and  softened  almost  immediately  by  the  faint  smile  that  followed.  He  was  right  about  one  thing,  though.  Everyone  was  hungry.  Including  her.  Sara  exhaled  quietly  through  her  nose,  conceding  the  point  without  actually  giving  him  the  satisfaction  of  saying  so.  ❝Fine.  Maybe  I  was  a  little  hungry.❞  A  beat.  ❝But  I  still  wanted  you  to  have  it.  Both  things  can  be  true.  I'm  not  sure  how  much  food  you've  been  finding  out  here.❞ At  his  warning,  her  eyes  flicked  instinctively  toward  the  windows,  attention  catching  on  the  quiet  street  beyond  them  before  settling  back  on  him.  ❝I  am  being  careful.❞  As  careful  as  someone  could  be  while  sneaking  sandwiches  beyond  the  safety  of  a  gated  community,  anyway.  ❝And  I  know  I  don’t  owe  you  anything.❞  Her  expression  softened  slightly  when  he  clarified  there  wouldn’t  be  a  trade.  ❝I’m  not  asking  you  for  a  trade,  just  for  you  to  stay  alive.❞  Sara  gave  a  small  shrug.  ❝It's  just  a  sandwich.  Maybe  call  it  a  peace  offering  or  something.❞

[b1dsp1atter]

gaze narrows on saranya as bash took an internal moment to debate the fact. trust was a finicky thing. something lost. something that can be taken, broken, shattered. once upon a time, all it was likely to cause as a bit of heartache and betrayal. nowadays, the loaded quality came with the risk of death. trusting the wrong person. the wrong group. well, it could kill you. that much, bash was certain of. still, he eases slightly at the confession. as if admitted to starvation was some form of vulnerability.

lips are pressed together as sara speaks, fumbling with the paper quietly between his fingertips as he weighs her words. " odd of you to care about a stranger's survival , " sebastian accused, certain that most wouldn't feel the same sentiment. tearing off the corner of the sandwich, he pops the bite into his mouth as a smirk tempts to curve the corners of his lips upwards. " peace offering ? " bash echoed, gaze flickering out the half shattered window. shoulders raise slightly in a nonchalant shrug before falling back down. " no promises , " he huffed out a sound that was a mix of a scoff and a laugh.

[rottblooms]

daena  looks  over  her  shoulder  at  him,  narrowing  her  eyes.  “i  only  have  a  knife,”  she  reminds  him.  “and  i'm  not  about  to  get  up  close  and  personal  with  one  of  those  things  if  i  don't  have  to.”  while  he  makes  a  good  point  about  likely  meeting  her  death  at  the  hands  of  something  else  should  she  wait,  she  is  still  nervous.

“if  you're  so  confident,  why  don't  you  go  after  it?”she  counters,  looking  over  at  him  for  another  moment  before  putting  her  eyes  back  on  the  infected.  there's  another  one  coming  up  the  street  now,  and  she  curses  under  her  breath.  she  just  wants  to  get  to  the  house  across  the  street,  hoping  it'll  have  some  kind  of  resources  left.  from  what  she'd  been  able  to  tell,  this  neighborhood  hasn't  been  picked  clean  just  yet.

[b1dsp1atter]

" guns are overrated. just can end up attracting more , " bash expressed comfortably while a glock was secured at his hip every waking moment. really, he's found the weapon more useful when in front of other survivors. it gave power, as long as you didn't cry wolf. and, well, the extra security on instant killing an infected when in a pinch helped provide a thin layer of safety as well. so, as if to prove a point, sebastian stays where his two feet are planted. it was necessary to be confident with the tools you had., no matter how little or much it was in reality.

the corner of his lips twitch minutely as another undead slumbers within the vicinity. he takes a glance over his own shoulder, measuring how much distance they've managed to make. was this area even worth scavenging? " maybe we should just head the opposite way , " sebastian suggested, though his tone wasn't all that convincing. he wasn't one to play it safe, but perhaps it was different when he only had himself to account for.

[sprinkleofmuse]

Saranya  glanced  down  at  the  sandwich  in  her  hand,  a  small  smile  tugging  at  the  corner  of  her  mouth.  ❝I  do  miss  McDonald’s  french  fries.❞  There  was  something  almost  ridiculous  about  how  badly  she  missed  them  sometimes.  Too  salty,  usually  cold  by  the  time  she  got  around  to  eating  them,  and  somehow  still  one  of  the  things  her  brain  had  decided  to  mourn.  Her  gaze  lifted  back  to  him.  ❝But  no.  I  wasn’t  very  hungry  today.❞ The  lie  came  easily  enough,  though  the  slight  tightening  of  her  fingers  around  the  paper  probably  did  little  to  help  sell  it.  Sara  had  gotten  used  to  ignoring  hunger  when  there  were  other  people  who  needed  something  more.  It  was  easier  that  way.  Easier  than  sitting  behind  Cedar  Grove’s  walls  wondering  whether  someone  she  knew  was  out  here  surviving  on  whatever  they  could  find. ❝I  figured  you’d  probably  get  more  use  out  of  the  other  half  of  my  lunch  ration  than  I  would.❞  She  stepped  just  close  enough  to  offer  it  toward  him,  careful  not  to  cross  the  threshold  uninvited.  Then,  after  a  beat,  her  brows  lifted  slightly.  ❝Unless  you’re  holding  out  for  the  fries.  In  which  case,  I’m  afraid  you’re  going  to  be  disappointed.❞

[b1dsp1atter]

kindness was often laced with poison. this was a train of thought that came long before the infected spread, but the end of the world certainly amplified the philosophy. everything came with a cost. choices were a mixed concoction of risk and reward. today's reward being presented in form of a sandwich, which weighed heavy on the scale of necessity. the con? well, for now, just sebastian's ego. " you're aware i'm not a stray dog, right ? " he retorted, voice even and pointed.

gaze fixed on the offer and he took a moment to let silence drip between the two. measure what other strings were tied together with the offer. surely, there was more than just the blow to his confidence on admitting who needed the food more. " everyone's hungry. you don't need to lie , " finally, bash gave in and accepted the wrapped prepared food. strange, what he decided to give up in replacement of not sacrificing every ounce of freedom he had. " y'know, some people would kill for this nowadays. you should be careful, venturing around out here just to give something you don't owe , "

the paper was being peeled back as he spoke, attempting to ignore the desperation his body felt to inhale the whole thing right here and right now. " i'm not trading anything , " bash clarified, brows rose as honey hues linked back to the other.

[sprinkleofmuse]

STATUS ⸻ CLOSED STARTER @b1dsp1atter LOCATION ⸻ ABANDONED HOUSE, OUTSKIRTS OF CEDAR GROVE.

Saranya  already  knew  this  was  a  bad  idea.  She  stood  just  outside  the  abandoned  house  with  one  hand  wrapped  around  a  paper-covered  sandwich,  glancing  back  toward  the  road  for  what  had  to  be  the  third  time  in  less  than  a  minute.  Cedar  Grove  wasn’t  far,  but  it  suddenly  felt  a  hell  of  a  lot  farther  with  nothing  but  empty  houses  and  overgrown  yards  between  her  and  the  gates.  Nothing  moved.  No  dragging  footsteps.  No  distant  groans. Still,  Sara  stepped  closer  to  the  door  and  knocked  softly  ⸻  barely  more  than  two  taps  of  her  knuckles  against  the  wood.  ❝Sebastian?❞  Her  voice  stayed  low.  Careful.  ❝I’m  sorry,  I  don’t  mean  to  bother  you.❞  She  glanced  over  her  shoulder  again  before  looking  back  at  the  door,  shifting  the  sandwich  in  her  hand.  ❝I  just  wanted  to  make  sure  you  got  something  to  eat.❞

[b1dsp1atter]

the layout of the house felt similar to one bash could recall from childhood. perhaps, that's why he was drawn to it. some sort of familiarity, even it to be as simple as placement of bedrooms echoing memories of the past. it was ironic how he devoted so much time into forgetting lingering ghosts from years ago to now: holding onto them as if it was the core to keeping any sort of humanity.

the knock startled him, even though he'd never admit as much. the second between a clank against the wooden structure and to a voice he barely knew felt like dreaded moments. who or what was it -- why were they there -- what did they have. the raw anxiety was replaced with a defensed styled of coping instead. bash stepped forward then, turning the corner that exited what once was probably a well stocked kitchen. not so much anymore. " something to eat? what, you stop at mcdonald's on your way over ? " there's a pause. a look. noting the item grasped in her hand. his nose crinkled in slight interested, brows knitting together.

[watchpost]

🛠  »  STATUS  …  OPEN (0/4) 🛠  »  LOCATION  …  APARTMENT BUILDING ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING THE SUPPLY ROUTE BETWEN PROTECTED COMMUNITIES

there was no knowing the precise schedule for military patrols nor supply convoys passing through. miles had spent a couple of weeks observing them from afar, tracking the movements of guards protecting the lives of those stationed somewhere nearby. there were rumors, guesses, of the protected locations, but they differed from person to person, which could either mean that no one knew where the communities were located or that someone was indeed correct, but there was no way of knowing which whisper was correct without risking putting oneself in danger. every step was risky now, every decision could be your last. with that in mind, miles was more than fine to observe some more until he gained enough intel to decide on the next step in his plan. relying on silence and keeping a low profile, miles preferred to observe from a distance or from a certain height that would buy him some time to escape in case something unexpected were to take place. right before sunset, miles swiftly entered an abandoned apartment building, climbing all the way to the rooftop for a better view of the surrounding streets. it had become some sort of a habit of his by now. scavenge for supplies, secure a spot for the night, and climb somewhere high to observe. this evening happened to be one of note. miles marked down the approximate time and location in his notebook before resuming his surveillance.

this time,  it was only a couple of military convoys.  most likely transferring supplies. given the inconsistent schedule,  there had to be a reason behind such timing.  running low on supplies,  perhaps?  miles' train of thought was interrupted by the sound of something or someone climbing up the ladder, causing him to reach for the knife attached to his right thigh. he quietly positioned himself facing the spot where the intruder would soon reveal themselves. miles held his breath for a long moment until he spotted another survivor climb up.  he had seen them around before,  but that was not enough for him to remove his hand from the knife.  ❝ this rooftop is occupied. ❞  miles stated without raising his voice,  fingers slowly wrapping around the hilt of his knife, eyes fixed on the stranger.

[b1dsp1atter]

not believing a threat could be the last move ever made. bash surveyed miles' tone. the words spoke. the weapon presented. while it got dicey not behind protected walls, bash liked to think that most survivors didn't thrive in a situation of taking the life of another. but, one would have to do what they find necessary. and assumptions? well, he's seen that get a person killed before.

hands stayed gripped on the ladder and he doesn't tense at the reaction. bash doesn't continue moving forward though, either. he keeps his body leaned against the ladder, propped over enough to lift himself up if needed, but an easy exit available all the same. " have you noticed anything ? " sebastian asked, attempting to dull out any true curiosity that piqued in his tone. " schedules ? what kind of supplies they have ? " the question was added onto as bash rose himself another step upwards on the metal frame.

[rottblooms]

where:  an  abandoned  neighborhood,  ventura  county when:  summer,  2  months  post-outbreak,  mid  day who:  open  to  independent  survivors  or  those  scavenging  in  the  community  !

daena  makes  her  way  cautiously  through  some  overgrown  shrubbery,  knife  gripped  tightly  in  her  hand.  she  has  yet  to  get  her  hands  on  a  gun…  though  even  then,  she  doesn't  exactly  know  how  to  use  one.  she  knows  there's  stuff  like  recoil  to  watch  out  for,  but  it'd  be  a  hell  of  a  lot  safer  to  have  a  gun  on  her  rather  than  just  a  knife.  it's  a  big  hunting  knife  but  still,  you  gotta  get  close  in  order  to  use  it.

she  spots  a  lone  infected  making  their  way  through  the  empty  street,  making  that  awful  noise  that  infected  make.  it  makes  her  stomach  turn,  even  still.

“c'mon…  get  outta  here  already…”  she  mumbles  under  her  breath.  still  not  confident  enough  to  just  jump  and  take  the  kill,  she  waits.

[b1dsp1atter]

everything was loud nowadays. maybe that was one quality bash learned to hate most about all of this. one crunch on a branch could lead to somebody something biting its decaying teeth into your shoulder. one wrong move and you could startle another survivor bad enough that they pull the trigger aiming at you. every moment had sebastian holding his breath, jaw clenched, and hand ready to pull his own weapon when or if it was needed.

this wasn't one of those times. while he lingered behind a few feet, honey hues watched the survivor, trailed to the infected, and focused back on daena. " you choose to slow down over one infected ? " bash finally speaks, not bothering to dwindle his voice to a whisper. it was calm. steady. normal, as if rotting flesh wasn't in the vicinity.

there's a click of his tongue and his arms fall from being previously crossed over his chest, lackadaisically motioning forward. patience was never a virtue he was blessed with. " death by something else coming this way sounds more likely than not being able to take down one of them , "

[b1dsp1atter]

✦ (DYLAN O’BRIEN, CIS-MALE, HE/HIM/HIS) ⸻ Is that SEBASTIAN “BASH” BARNETT? Before the outbreak, the 32-year-old worked as a FORENSIC SCIENTIST. Those who have crossed paths with them describe them as ASTUTE, though pressure often reveals their ABRASIVE nature. They are often associated with BRUISED KNUCKLES, BLACK COFFEE, HALF-WORKING STATIC RADIO. Sorting: Loner.

google doc. ✦ musings. ✦ visuals. ✦ pinterest. ✦ playlist.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: death, childhood neglect, drugs, addiction

TLDR;

bash is an all or nothing kind of guy. he would give anything and everything to the people he loved. whether it be to kill or sacrificially die, there's nothing he wouldn't do if he had genuine care for you. it is more likely that people fall onto the side of who he doesn't like. people seem to be the core of much chaos and sebastian looks through a lens that immediately assumes the worst in people. humans, they were selfish. he was no exception and he refuses to believe those that think otherwise. he had a hot-head, short temper, and enough muscle to cause a bite that would match his slick tongue. he, unfortunately, wasn't all talk. he's hard to get along with, not known as a team player and never was; however, the rules of the world has changed. he'd learned to try to bite his tongue in order to stick with a handful people to make it through the night.

PRE-OUTBREAK;

growing up, there wasn’t too much to complain about. there wasn’t a yearly, lavish vacation. no two-story home with expensive family dinners every night. but there was a roof of his head, two parents, and a sister. it was your typical family you could picture in southern california with normal fights and normal struggles. plenty of teasing and bickering to last a lifetime. 

school was an aspect that came rather easily to sebastian. A’s appeared on his record card and not much else would in its place. he had some behavioral issues, and was mischievous, had heart trouble stirred up by boredom if nothing else.  still, it didn’t impact his grades. a kid with far too much energy, attempted to be enrolled after school programs with sports: soccer, hockey, football. the thought was to let the kid run out of energy; however, it only increased the amount of fights he’d get into. 

bash learned young he didn’t quite fit in on a team, or with classmates. it was fight or get fought and he’d rather be ten steps ahead. hence, his nickname was birthed. 

when he was ten there was an accident that struck the barnett family that changed that household forever. a hit and run resulted in the death of father. that day, two people might as well have died as the grieving widow never quite figured out how to be a parent again. 

it was sebastian and amelia alone, then. and bash? he had figured out to be alone a bit ago. his temperament didn’t improve and he didn’t exactly mature with grace. he was a kid with a hot-head on his shoulders. instead of afterschool sports programs, it turned into how to get a little extra cash.

documented trouble would only cause issues if you were caught, so sebastian specially knew how to keep things under the radar and record clean. kids were easy to take advantage of, dealing drugs here and there allowed for food on the table. and, well, perhaps sebastian picked up a new vice or two.

bash was resourceful though and as he grew into a teenager, it was easier and easier to keep people at a distance. that’s not to say he never had a friend, or a close loved one, or even a first love, but he lurked with a bad crowd and tended to be the bad influence to begin with. being reckless, exploring drugs, sex, and whatever else came along the way. whatever kept him away from home and away from their mother.

college came around and scholarships were being offered left and right. bash, of course, accepted the one that would get him as far away as possible. NYU, here we come. there wasn’t much to look back on. if it was up to sebastian, he’d never step foot in california again. the only string that kept a linking string attacged was his sister, a determination to be there, even if thousands miles away. 

LA homestead traded for the NY city life was a decision sebastian felt confident on. college was much more his speed, he found himself getting in a lot less trouble. even learned how to bite his tongue back every so often.

POST-OUTBREAK;

the news, who had time for that? sebastian didn’t take the whispers seriously. what happened overseas surely wouldn’t make their way closer to home, right? then the lockdowns started to happen and fuck the government for trying to control and confine them. something was wrong, that was for certain, but who was the enemy? sebastian was stubborn in that way, not listening. thinking that he, of course, knew best.

and then he received a call from his sister with signal coming out staticy – but she was frantic. it was in that moment, he realized, something was a little more than wrong. for the first time ever, doubt on moving so far away being the right decision came into rear view.

the outbreak and how the government broke down escalated quickly. it became clear that sebastian had to figure out how to get to point a to point b, but who the fuck has a car in new york city?

it’s been a couple months now and sebastian crossed state borders to get closer and closer. hijacked a car or two to get as far as the machine would take them. getting kicked out from said vehicles at certain stop points. learning how to survive, how to exist, alone, was always a skill he had been attempting to perfect for decades now. in this font though, it was a bit different. 

sebastian trusts no one, though alone on roads requires taking a risk or two. who he met along the way under circumstances one can’t foresee changes a person. he made it back to california, but at what cost? is amelia even still alive?

I. BASIC INFORMATION

Full Name: sebastian jay barnett.

Nickname(s): bash, seb.

Date of Birth: (Month, Year) 12/01/94

Place of Birth: wilsher, ca

Age: thirty-two

Zodiac Sign: ☼ sagittarius ☾ scorpio ⇡virgo

Gender Identity: cis-male

Pronouns: he/him/his

Sexual Orientation: pansexual

Romantic Orientation: panromantic

Ethnicity: caucasian

Nationality: american

Living Arrangements: sorting: loner. previously: studio apartment in ny

Occupation: previously, forensic scientist occupation

Primary Source of Income: NYPD

Education Level: BS @ NYU

Religion: atheist

Social Class: lower-middle

II. PERSONALITY

Positive Traits: astute, adaptable, creative, loyal

Neutral Traits: dry, meticulous, observant, withdrawn

Negative Traits: abrasive, apathetic, coarse, impetuous

Primary Vice: wrath

Primary Virtue: fortitude

Greatest Fear: the unknown

Greatest Desire: unconditional love.

Motivations: survival

Core Values: loyalty

Sense of Humor: dark, dry

Quirks: scratching at beard when in thought, picking at cuticles when nervous or stressed, jaw muscle tensing, sucker for any sort of escapism

Pet Peeves: know-it-alls, cockiness, reflections of himself

MBTI Personality: INTP-T LOGICIAN.

Enneagram Type: TYPE 5  THE INVESTIGATOR.

Temperament: Melancholic

Moral Alignment: CHAOTIC NEUTRAL

III. RELATIONSHIPS

Mother: bonnie barnett (estranged)

Father: joseph barnett (deceased)

Siblings: amelia barnett

Children: n/a

Significant Other(s): n/a

Best Friend(s): tbd

Rival(s): tbd

Enemies: tbd

IV. BACKGROUND

CHILDHOOD

Place of Birth: wilsher

Hometown: wilsher

Socioeconomic Status: lower

Type of Childhood: grew up with not much, but not too much to complain about until his father was killed in a hit and run accident. mother decided to die that day too, even if just metaphorical. that day, two were lost. resentment built and bash headed down a rather reckless path.

TEENAGE YEARS

Key Relationships: close-knit with his sister, had a circle of friends, but mostly people to fuck around and cause juvenile ruckus.

Education Level: straight a's kind of kid, despite any emotional turbulence. school always came easy to him.

Significant Events: bash dove into bad influences quite early, anything to feel something rather than reality. escapism with sex, drugs, and who knows what else.

ADULTHOOD

Current Residence: bash couldn't leave his hometown quick enough. the first schools he applied to were across country and once scholarships were offered left and right, he jumped on the opportunity to get as far away as possible. nyu, here we come. after some schooling and internships, bash found himself working within the forensics department of the nypd.

V. INSPIRATION

TV Character(s): house, lip gallagher, steve hyde, butcher

Movie Character(s): loki, patrick stewart, han solo, wolverine

Book Character(s): haymitch

Song(s): no complaints, noah kahan. lonesome is a state of mind, djo. i bet on losing dogs, mitski.

[roleplay-musings]

Hey–

                                          –you want to survive, don’t you?

[daimiyamoto]

DYLAN O'BRIEN

TWINLESS (dir. James Sweeney, 2025)

[rylandgraces]

SEND HELP — 2026, dir. Sam Raimi