We all live in a house on fire

--- As long as we know we're trapped,we still--------------- have a chance to escape. ---------------

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

brooke-monroe:

“Okay,” Brooke said, mirroring his frown as she felt like he was being a little condescending. She doubted that they would get shot on sight if caught out after curfew, after all, they weren’t teenagers. But she trusted his judgment and followed him towards his apartment building, thinking that he was lucky to live in town. 

Kai led the way back to his place, wondering how this had even happened. It seemed like such a bad idea, inviting his ex from high school to his place where she would most likely be trapped for the night unless she wanted to brave being out after curfew (something he would strongly advise her against).

“You want something to drink?” He asked as he led the way inside his apartment and pulled the door shut behind them.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

993775:

Why, sir?

“Cuz it’s stupid to volunteer for those things. Didn’t you hear about the cop that went missing?”

[verina-hypatia-blog]

Game That Can’t be Won || Verina & Kai

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

verina-bailey:

It was a slow night at Lake Ridge and Verina was just waiting for Kai to return so she could head home before the curfew. It had been a long grueling full day shift and she was anxious to go. As she waited, she glanced around the store, thinking that the last few weeks had really given her chance to prove to Kai that she could be a reliable employee. Cleaning the store up and trying to keep it in the best shape possible gave her a good sense of accomplishment and pride, despite the feeling of depression she got when she remembered she wasn’t even allowed to shop there. 

She stood up to walk towards the front of the store when she heard a noise. She quickened her pace, getting ready to tell the customer that they would have to wait for Kai to return to actually buy anything. When she made it to the front of the store she didn’t see anyone, which confused her since she should have seen them either there or on her way there. She was just turning around to take another look towards the back of the store when she was grabbed from behind, the attacker clamping their hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out. She started to struggle against them when they pressed a knife into her back. They clearly didn’t want to kill her as they barely broke the skin, but it was enough of a threat to keep her from fighting back. Soon they had her gagged and her hands bound behind her back. They shoved her against the wall hard, which caused her to fall on her side without any hands to brace herself. She squirmed around to see who she was dealing with, and saw two masked people filling sacks with supplies from the shelves. It wasn’t long before they had gathered all they could carry, and they left out the back of the store.

As soon as they were gone, Verina curled up so she could move her bound hands in front of her and kicked at the bonds with her feet until she got them loose. She yanked the gag off her mouth and stood up to run to the front door. She flung it open and started yelling into the night for help, hoping someone would hear her. 

Kai had left the store in Verina’s hands, planning on grabbing food and coming straight back to close up for the night. He had gotten to the point where he trusted Verina, his confidence in her growing every day. She had been a terribly employee before but it seemed like rehab had really worked out for her.

He was walking back with a bag of food, enough for him and Verina both to eat before heading home for the night. He dropped the bag as soon as he heard Verina yelling, breaking into a run back towards the store.

“What happened?” He asked breathlessly as he reached her at the door.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

993775:

I apologize for not being able to go out and get supplies for town. My owner did not go out on the supply run, so I am here for the time being.

“You’re better off staying home anyway.”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

brooke-monroe:

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Brooke replied automatically, thinking that it had been some time since she had been able to enjoy a conversation with someone she considered an actual mature adult. “You know any good places to go around here?” she asked, assuming that everything was pretty much closed since people weren’t supposed to be out this late at all. 

“Inside. There’s a curfew. Hasn’t anyone told you about this stuff?” Kai asked with a frown, thinking Brooke really wasn’t getting the urgency of the situation. “Come on. My place is just around the corner. We’ll be safe there.” He nodded for her to follow him, turning to walk towards his apartment building.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

farmer-gray:

It would be smart, but who’s to say they won’t start controlling everything that I do over there?

“Still better than being dead.”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

farmer-gray:

It’s not like anyone here wants to starve to death, Kai.

“As much as I hate to suggest it, maybe it would be good if the mayor beefed up armed guard patrols around the farms. Make it safer to work.”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

farmer-gray:

Well, glad pessimism has your vote.

“You can’t blame me for not wanting to starve to death.”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

brooke-monroe:

“I just got here really,” Brooke explained, wondering if the mayor really was worth joining. Apart from her encounter with the guard at the gate and this curfew business, she didn’t really have enough information to form an opinion yet. “Trying to get my feet under me before I start on anything else. How’ve you been?” she asked, wondering if they really needed to hurry in right away. 

Kai guessed that made sense. Word traveled fast in a little town like this- he probably would have heard if Brooke had been in town for very long. He hesitated as she asked how he’d been, really feeling the need to get inside before the curfew went into affect.

“If you want to talk we should get inside where it’s safe.” He said finally, leaving the decision in her hands.

[farmer-gray-blog]

I don’t know if it’s better that the Blight is destroying the farms or not. At least our farmers don’t have to be in unsafe conditions longer. But… we’re gonna be starving a lot more. Christ.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

“I’m gonna vote for it not being better.”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Brooke nodded decidedly before Kai had even finished his question. Despite the lack of freedom and general issues with Pleasant Town, she was actually glad to be inside some structured civilization and to not be looking over her shoulder constantly.

“It’s pretty rough. It doesn’t take long for survival instincts to kick in, which can be both a good and bad thing depending on who you run across.” she said, scowling at the memories she had of her trip to the town.

“I am really glad to see how many people are surviving here though. It’s great to see people like you making it - it’s weird to think that some of the people we used to know are gone.” she said, growing a little sadder.

Kai guessed that figured- Brooke would be a survivor. She was paranoid and a control freak so it made sense that she would be able to make it out there. He realized he needed to get going to avoid being out after curfew but it was just bizarre seeing her again like this and he couldn’t seem to make himself walk away just yet.

“Yeah, well I guess we’re lucky that any of us are still here. Like him or not, the mayor is at least keeping some semblance of order here.” He shrugged. “I’m surprised you haven’t joined up yet.” He admitted.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[brooke-monroe-blog]

“Yesterday.” Brooke replied, sticking her hands in her jacket pockets as she took in Kai with a quick glance. She had not seen him very frequently since they dated in high school, and she was a little taken aback by how different he looked as a grown man. He was far more attractive and she felt a little uncertain about what to say next, which was a feeling that she hated.

“How are you doing?” she asked, thinking that at least that question was a little less shallow since the outbreak, since it was actually a relevant question to answer about ones general life now.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Kai guessed it made sense why she was acting like this. He had broken up with her back in high school and they hadn’t exactly kept in touch since then. Kai just hadn’t been able to deal with all of Brooke’s insecurities and control-freak tendencies. He had let things escalate to where he was too fed up to care anymore, dumping her with a lack of maturity or gentleness.

“I’m okay. Still here- so not great. But okay.” He shrugged. He and Brooke had made great plans back in the day, both of them anxious to escape their hometown and make something of themselves. Of course, Kai had never really made it out and Brooke’s life outside of Pleasant Town hadn’t been that great from what Kai had heard through the grapevine.

“What’s it like out there? Is it as bad as people are saying?” He asked, meaning outside the walls. He was impressed that she had braved traveling to get here, assuming she had come back to be with family even though he was unaware that her fifteen year old son was in town.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

[brooke-monroe-blog]

Brooke peered down the dark street, trying to make out who the voice came from. It sounded vaguely familiar, but not one that she could match to a face right away. A few steps more and she recognized Kai.

“Yeah, I’m heading that way.” she replied, continuing to walk towards him. 

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Kai frowned a little as she responded, wondering if she even recognized him since her response didn’t indicate as much. He passed his place and kept walking towards her, unwilling to just let it go now as he’d find it pretty fucked up if she was either pretending that she didn’t recognize him or actually didn’t recognize him.

“When d’you get back in town?” He asked, stopping when he stood only a few feet from her on the sidewalk.

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

Fair Game || Brooke & Kai

Kai was locking up  the trading post for the night, anxious to get home before the curfew went into effect. He turned and started down the street, crossing to avoid one of the mayor’s employees that looked like he was heading out onto a patrol shift. He was nearly home when he caught sight of someone down the street, a ghost from his past that didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get off the streets.

“You know there’s a curfew that’s about to go into effect?” He called to her as he neared.

[delilahross-blog]

“Oh really? Any place where I can get both sky high heels and reliable hiking boots?”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

“The heels will be easier to find than the boots, but yeah- I can find both.”

[delilahross-blog]

“Probably, what do you suggest? Collecting postcards?”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

“Or shopping. I can suggest preferred retailers around here if that helps.”

[delilahross-blog]

“Cause I’m a glutton for punishment?”

[kai-woolley-pt-blog]

“Sounds like you need a new hobby.”