as old as your omens

my name is michael.

[harmony-or-melody]

[Harmony is fully prepared to be asked to leave, and she’s surprised when that doesn’t happen. But it feels rude to end the conversation if he doesn’t want to, and while she isn’t entirely sure how all interactions are supposed to work she has enough of Melody’s memories that she isn’t overly bothered by it. At any rate, his question is simple enough to answer.] Just a couple of weeks. I found you all at the mall. I’d been looking for quite a while. And you?

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael listens, curious that she'd joined in the same area as him. Had it been before or after, and how long? He does not ask, though, because timelines are scattered in his mind. If she knows, she will say.] I found them at the mall as well. I was let in by a woman with the same marks and I. It was a comfortable beginning, and I continue to feel a degree of safeness in the group's company.

[harmony-or-melody]

[Harmony nods when he tells her his name, filing it away where Melody will be able to find it later. She’s the one who will really need to know this sort of thing, but Harmony’s glad she’s been able to help out a little bit.] It’s very nice to meet you again, Michael. [She replies, unaware that there’s anything odd about the exchange.] I’m sorry that I interrupted your thoughts. I can leave you be, if you like.

[michaelalbinus-blog]

And you. [He says, glad the conversation hasn't taken an awkward turn. Michael's never considered himself an expert at socializing, finding that not a lot of people click with him well, but he tries anyway.] It's quite alright. This is a better train of thought. [He tilts his head, curious about her.] If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been with this group?

[harmony-or-melody]

[It’s sad, Harmony thinks, that this man was separated from his children. Parents should never outlive their children, a thought that Melody provides faintly, and while Harmony cannot pretend to understand the man’s emotions, Melody’s memories give her a small amount of insight and she thinks it must be a truly terrible kind of pain. But he does not linger on the topic, and if the small smile he gives her is slightly surprising she does not comment, just keeps the one of her face directed toward him.] It’s nice to meet you, too. But I still do not know your name.

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael's eyebrows raise, a few seconds before the realization that he'd forgotten to provide his own name. It's odd, he normally doesn't miss those things, but there's so much on his mind, it's not surprising.] Oh, my apologies. I am Michael. [He nods, that small smile crossing his face again. It's a gesture of politeness, he finds that genuine smiles put people at ease.] Nice to meet you.. er, again.

[melrose-vincent]

[Felicia was still getting a feel for the new location. It was obvious finding a nice place wasn’t in the cards, but a safe place started to seem like a pipe dream as well. The Devil started to walk around, dealing with slight restlessness as well as her thoughts of trying to piece together what fragments left in her life. She had to admit, maybe it was a good idea not to remember, but the more information the started to fall out, the more she began to get curious]

[She needed some air and there was plenty of it in the new location. Felicia stopped in her tracks noticing someone pacing and wasn’t sure if she should just walk on by or find a different path. Before she could make a decision, Felicia overheard his words. ] I’d say that’s the best way to look at thing’s [Felicia admitted. She didn’t have anyone, let alone remembered if she did, but she knew being dead was better than being lost in many ways.]

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael looks up, not having expected a response. The woman is not one he believes he's spoken to before, but he has seen her around. He looks up to glance at her, but looks away after a few seconds. He's never been excellent with eye contact.] I like to think so. I find it's a good way to make peace with things. [He says, and it's true. He's honestly dealing with the death of his family easier after the blackout, because the worse the world gets, the easier it is to be able to be at peace with their deaths.]

[harmony-or-melody]

You had children? [The question is more out of curiosity than anything else, but she can sense something in Melody, a more heightened awareness of the conversation and a pang of sadness over a loss of her own. But then he’s looking up at her, changing the subject, and Harmony offers him a kind smile. Perhaps the subject should upset her more, but aside from sympathy for the man’s loss she’s unaffected, and Melody is still too far away to provide any empathy.] That’s quite alright. Sometimes it’s good to talk about these things. [That’s what Melody’s mother had said, at any rate.] My name is… [She pauses. The few times she’d introduced herself to others previously, Melody had been more present, even just as a passive observer than she is now, and it feels odd to give the young woman’s name when she may not even remember this conversation - though of course Harmony can always remind her of it, and that’s what makes up her mind. She’s not here to take over more than she already has.] Melody. 

[michaelalbinus-blog]

A daughter and a son. [Michael answers, choosing not to disclose their names. It has nothing to do with the woman, it's simply that he refuses to do so in general. He quiets and listens to the woman speak, something about her drawing him in, something connecting him to this woman despite barely knowing her. He can't quite place his finger on the sensation, so he decides to ignore it for now. She pauses before giving her name, but Michael does not comment on the habit. He instead offers her a small, gentle smile, showing that he is not affected by the subject matter, and is generally friendly.] It's nice to meet you.

[harmony-or-melody]

[Harmony isn’t surprised to hear him say he misses them; that’s what’s normal, what’s to be expected. It only serves to confuse her, though, until he provides further explanation.] Oh. [That’s not a train of logic that has been presented to her before, that someone would prefer to have their loved ones away from them, and she regards him with as much interest as she has ever been able to muster about things to do with people.] That is very selfless of you. I’m sure they are at peace. [She adds, more for his sake than anything else. It feels like the proper thing to say.]

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael lightly nods, lowering his head so he can look at the floor. He chooses to speak to the ground when he discusses his family, finding that when he looks into people's eyes at these times, he can see the lost souls. Perhaps it's an unnatural thing to think, this entire mindset of preferring his family gone, but it is true.] I came to peace with their passing long ago. I no longer wish them close as I did before the blackout... they would not go peacefully in this world, and in worlds like this, that's all a father can hope for.

[After a moment of silence, he finally looks up at the woman. She is not a familiar face.] My apologies. This kind of subject matter is never a desired topic for conversation, and hardly a way to introduce myself.

[harmony-or-melody]

[Harmony has been in control since the group arrived at their new location, and while she thinks Melody should be interacting with her people, accepting the world the way it is, she also knows the girl is fragile. So close to breaking, to losing her grasp on reality entirely or maybe just disappearing, and Harmony doesn’t want to push her so hard that that happens. As it is, she is only just more distant than Melody has become, though in a different way. Melody can’t connect to the world as it is, and Harmony can’t connect to the people. It works well, she thinks. Harmoniously, perhaps, and the private joke has a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. That quickly disappears, however, when she hears the man who’d been pacing nearby being to speak. Harmony looks over at him, mildly surprised because her understanding was that people missed their families, wished to have them by their sides, and her curiosity gets the better of her, causing her to speak up softly.] Why is that? Do you not miss them?

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[The spirit inside of Michael is not calm, but it's letting Michael have control for now, mostly because the man is isolating himself enough to stay out of danger. The two were on a similar enough wavelength. Thankfully, it did not speak up for Michael when a voice arose next to him. He had been unaware of the woman close, but she doesn't seem to pose a threat at the current moment, so he looks at her, pressing his lips together before speaking.] I miss them every moment of every hour... but they're better off where ever they are, as opposed to this world.

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Unaware of what was brewing within the group, Michael had made a note of keeping to himself for a while. As the group had moved into their new settlement, he'd looked carefully at the bodies, but thankfully he did not spot anyone he'd been in association with - neither before nor after the world ended. However, that didn't remove the sorrow he felt radiating off the bodies of the dead. A building, however sturdy and closed, didn't remove any of the feelings he'd been feeling.

He's scared, and he's worried. He hadn't formed meaningful relationships with anyone in the group as of yet, but he knew others had, therefore it concerned him. The location of the group, accompanied with the shift in the voices from the fog, were enough to keep him alert and on his feet at all times. They'd been in the building a few days now, but he still has the bad feeling. Nothing feels okay about their situation.

He'd taken a small snack from the supplies, having felt overly hungry and slightly weak from the stress of the situation. As he eats and begins to pace, he speaks out loud, but mostly to himself. His voice is low, but audible.] I am beginning to be grateful that my family does not have to live through this as I do. [Perhaps that is wrong of him, but he's sure his children would not survive, and his wife would not survive that. Although they did not exactly die peacefully, their fate in the new world would be much more grim, he's sure of that.]

[jack-isaacs]

Oh. [Jack answers softly, finally pulling his gaze from the fog to glance over at the man beside him.] I’m sorry. [He adds when the man looks away, unsure of what else to say because he knows how it feels to lose people and that’s why it’s easier not to let them too close in the first place. He’s quiet for a moment, looking back out at the parking lot before he offers a small shrug.] But you’re not alone anymore.

[michaelalbinus-blog]

Yes. [Michael says. He hasn't thought of the group as anything more than support that'll help him get back on his feet, but perhaps he can make friends here. He finds it difficult to do so, not enjoying being emotionally attached to anyone, but he still continues to do so, finding that when people are kind to one another, it makes this world seem like a little bit better of a place.] It will be good for me, not being alone. Safer, as well.

[jack-isaacs]

[Jack listens to the man, his eyes on the distant fog even though there isn’t much to see. It makes it easier to imagine maybe there are more normal things out there, maybe somewhere the monsters stop, but then the screams cut through and remind him that will never be true. He nods when the man mentions how difficult it was out there.] Yeah. It’s easier to survive with people. [It’s something he admits only grudgingly, but it’s another good reminder.] Have you been alone the whole time?

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael breaks his gaze, looking at the boy. The screams are something he's so used to, they don't even register anymore. The first night he'd slept in the mall and hadn't heard the screams as well as he had when he was in the fog for most of the time, his ears had been ringing, and the silence had been unsettling.] Indeed it is. No, I started with a group of men, but we ended up parting ways. After a few months, I found a younger girl and we became partners. It was only recently that we lost each other. [He looks away, feeling a pang of sadness.] I have been alone since.

[rabbits-dont-get-caught]

Soo? [Rabbit finishes his orange as the man speaks before prompting him to elaborate.] You can fight or heal? [Not that someone who could heal couldn’t fight but he knew there was a difference between what they could do.]

[michaelalbinus-blog]

I am primarily a healer. [Michael says, not honestly thinking himself as much of a fighter, therefore his abilities suit him. He'll fight if he must, but he's more of a lover than a fighter.]

[rabbits-dont-get-caught]

[He isn’t sure what he’s supposed to say to that. Rabbit’s not sure if the man’s saying they got separated and she’s probably dead or just lost track of each other. He doesn’t ask though, simply nodding.] Oh, sorry ‘bout that. [He’s not sorry in the slightest but it seems like the right thing to say. The non-asshole thing to say. Rabbit looks around them at the mention of the damage, though he’s not sure the man’s talking about the damage to the mall. It looks like it’s been through hell though, and it pretty much has. Though the zombie guts and bodies were gone, there were still broken everything everywhere.] Yeah, you didn’t really miss much. Just your average shit-show I’m afraid. [He tilts his head at Michael.] So what marks you got?

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael tilts his head, listening to the man. He doesn't talk as much as Michael, but he finds that nobody really does. He tends to share quite a bit, but he finds that the stillness and calmness of his voice prevents it from being annoying or overbearing. However, there is not much to say about this particular topic except for a response, so he doesn't say much.] I have white marks. 

[rabbits-dont-get-caught]

[Rabbit isn’t expecting him to go in so much detail but he doesn’t have anything better to do so he listens. At the mention of the others he’s tempted to ask what happened but doesn’t, if only because he doesn’t really care and the man would probably volunteer that information if he wanted.] You come across other groups then? Or just that one and this? [He nods at the mention of arriving a few days ago before asking another question that he’s just thought of.] So you missed the commotion then? [He’s talking about the attack two Fridays ago, not sure if the man was there for it or not. He’d been too preoccupied to notice.]

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael had seen groups before, but he'd never spoken to one until this one, and it was out of desperation. Most groups that he'd seen from a distance were ruthless groups, some he'd watched for days and never been found. It wasn't until now that he found a group that seemed to have some form of strong leadership. His mouth turns up into a half-smile as he remembers the one other person who hadn't been like that.] I didn't run into other groups, exactly, but I did run into another survivor. She was a younger girl, sadly we got separated a few weeks ago. [He nods when the attack is mentioned. He'd heard about it.] Yes. I've heard of it and seen the damage, though.

[destielscaps]

[jack-isaacs]

[The man offers his own name in return even though Jack didn’t ask, and he just tilts his head, almost nodding. He keeps his gaze on the fog and doesn’t say anything else to break the silence, but already the need to take off is fading away and it reminds him of a conversation he had with Samson nearly a year ago, after he’d taken off the first time. Take some time. Cool down. And it had worked, and there’s a part of him that’s begrudgingly grateful the man had interrupted him before he could do something he’d regret. He doesn’t turn to look at him when he finally speaks up.] When’d you get here?

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[Michael notices that the boy seems calmer now, and when he initiates a conversation, Michael finds it safe to assume that he isn't going to run. The fog is distracting, so he looks beyond it, getting lost in a blank vision as he answers Jack's question.] A few days ago. I was finding it difficult to survive on my own, it was lucky that I found the group when I did. I feel as though I owe a debt to you. [He was using "you" as a general term, but he didn't elaborate.] It has been nice. Safe. [Perhaps not completely safe, but it definitely feels safer than being on his own. He enjoys having support behind him, it's one of the reasons he prefers having a group to being on his own.]

[jack-isaacs]

[Jack is more or less content to sulk in silence for the time being, but he finds himself looking up into the foggy sky in spite of himself at the man’s comment. He says nothing, though, until the man speaks up again, asking for his name.] Jack. [He replies curtly, after a few seconds’ pause, and after another he glances over at the man again as if he might say something, but he doesn’t, instead turning his gaze back out to the parking lot.]

[michaelalbinus-blog]

[He does not seem like anything other than a nice boy, and it makes Michael wonder if and how the world has hardened him. Now able to put a name to his face, Michael responds in the same fashion with his own. Perhaps if he has a name to his watcher, it will make it less likely for him to leave. Michael knew it isn't safe out here on one's own.] Michael. [He says, glancing at the boy then turning back to the fog.]

[rabbits-dont-get-caught]

[It’s not exactly a question he expected to be answered and not in so much detail but Rabbit listens anyway. He has to agree that this group is very different, certainly from the last one he was in.] Where’d you start off at? [Rabbit nods at his name, echoing the sentiment.] Yeah, likewise. I’m guessing you joined when we were already here, right? 

[michaelalbinus-blog]

Pennsylvania. [Michael says, not feeling the need to go into further detail about his location.] When I awoke, I was among the only survivor, along with some men who became my group for many months. [He remembers them, they were harsh people, not hesitating to sacrifice in order to survive. Although he was happy to part with him, he found surviving difficult, even though he did manage. He had been with them since the beginning.. he didn't know how to survive on his own.] Yes. Only a few days ago, actually. It was a relief, I would not have survived if I hadn't. I was incredibly low on supplies and finding it difficult to find more.