&. steady

we might've kept the black at bay but all around it still remains lord only knows forevermore what horizons hold for us in store looks like there's no way around but i know i'll try somehow at least it's all gone quiet for now

[noahhollo]

blindxbuddhist‌:

At least twice a day (and sometimes three or four times), Naomi made the fifteen minute descend down the stairs to the CN tower, and twenty-five minute climb back to the top. Always at sunrise and sunset, to allow her guide dog, Sasha, to do her business. Often she would even walk around the area a little, and that’s what she had been doing this evening. The cool air felt remarkable on her skin, and it reminded her of working evenings on the farm, moving hay bails, and turning horses in and out.

The tower wasn’t ideal in some ways – there was limited space, and communal living meant things were always going to be moved around; and people had far better things to do than be careful where they sat their bag, or if they moved a piece of furniture over a few inches. The white king shepherd was only about five feet away, sniffing at some grass to do her business on, when Naomi tripped over something that definitely hadn’t been there that afternoon.

“That’s new..” She groaned to herself, as she lay there, taking inventory of herself. She chuckled softly when she felt a cold nose to her face, and reached up to give Sasha a small pat. “I think I’m alright, Sash.” However, her heart began to race when she heard the dog growl; Sasha only growled when there was a walker nearby. Listening closely, Naomi couldn’t hear grunts or shuffling of one, herself, which was somewhat of a relief, because it meant it wasn’t close enough for her to hear it. She did, however, hear footsteps of the living, and wrapping one hand around the pliable (leather loop handle, and not a hard metal one) grip on Sasha’s harness, her left hand reaching for the knife she kept on her – and she stood up slowly. “Hello?”

naomi’s comings and goings with sasha were nothing new. they were like clockwork, reliable, comforting even, that mundane routine could still be found in these times. normally, he’d let her go off without a second thought, knowing the lookouts would keep an eye on her, keep her safe — but there’d been more walkers than usual around lately, and he didn’t feel right about letting her go completely alone. after a few minutes hesitation by the door, he decided to go out there, just to keep an eye on things, make sure she didn’t get swarmed ( it was becoming far too common lately ). 

coming outside just in time to see her fall, his attention was immediately diverted by the stray walker, quickly taken out by one of their lookouts up top — before he even had to reach for a weapon. thank fuck they had good people here. he made his way over, careful not to startle her ( she was armed, after all ), but also careful not to be too loud, lest another walker be around. “just me, naomi,” was his greeting. “you alright? sorry, not to like parent you or anything, there’s just been a lot of activity lately.”

[noahhollo]

tinkertcx‌: 

tex let herself fall into a laugh, a nice change from the sullen mood this world seemed to be stuck in. though, any nice conversation was a blessing these days. tex had found herself stuck in an orbit of decay over the last few months, only really finding some solace when she walked into the elevated. “ stay close to home, huh ? “ she smiled, though, the idea was a good one. tex often delved deep into the woods, not truly paying attention to the area closest to them. 

“when i have to,” noah nodded. he didn’t mind staying put if it meant others were safe. even if it did lead to him going stir crazy. he hadn’t been much of an indoors guy, in his former life. he craved the sunshine, being outside. but he knew all too well what happened if he left people unprotected. “you know, it’s a damn shame this place doesn’t have a gym... apart from the stairs. i kinda miss working out.”

[noahhollo]

pcritystclen‌: 

her face lit up at the suggestion, it was probably going to be nerve wrecking for her to be up there but she needed to have – some kinda fun. “ is that what they did before ?? ” aj asked curiously when he mentioned the harness. “ as long as no one gets hurt, i’m trying to.. relax. not work. ” she joked.

“i think so,” noah laughed, shrugging. “i only came here once before, but i did it, so i probably should say yes instead of i think so.” he held his hand out for her to take, leading her in the direction of yet more stairs, to get to the platform viewing deck. “i promise i won’t be overcome with the urge to jump off, thus, you will have an easy morning.”

[noahhollo]

b1oodyfists‌: 

    —–  the  man  was  glad  the  group’s  were  allies ( enough for him to spend time on their doorstep , anyway ) . it  was  a  beautiful  day  out  ;  sure ,  it  was  hot  but  the  slight  cool  wind  made  it  bearable.  conrad  took  a  sip  of  the  water  from  his  mason  jar  &  stepped  towards  the  other.

“ nah … i know what you mean. ” he  agreed. the  trip  between  the  two  groups  wasn’t  too  far  of  a  walk :  just  long  enough  for  him  to  enjoy  the  weather  but  not  long  enough  that  he  was  in  danger  the  entire  time.  “ we could technically go out right now, ”  conrad  arched  an  eyebrow  at  the other . “ get some air and enjoy the sun… . to an extent. ”

conrad had a point — it wasn’t like noah was a prisoner here, and if he wanted, he could just skip out for a bit — more looking for supplies, less dancing around the maypole, but still, an out was an out. in some ways, it must be easier for the hunters. they probably didn’t go as stir crazy as the rest of them. though, there was the other thing... the near death experience each time you went out, thing. “you were just out,” he pointed out, a wry smile on his face. “though, if you were interested in company, you know, i’m happy to scavenge with you. fuck, what a world we’re in now, hey?”

[noahhollo]

driftingtess‌: 

The sound of the word our coming from Noah’s lips only confirmed that if anything happened to Tessa, Finley would be well taken care of. “I think she’s happy with what fresh air she gets from the roof. Not that she could really complain.” She knew the moment she walked into the Elevated group that they were more than a group. They had become a family. A family that welcomed Tessa from the start and once Finley was born it was if she was everyone’s baby. There were no words for how thankful Tessa was to have found the Elevated. “Yes, you. It’s probably why no one’s come to you about it. Or I’m just faster than them,” she joked. Tessa figured the guys were just getting all the details about the message and place before filling Noah or Trixie in on what’s going on. She was probably stepping on some toes right now. She couldn’t help it though. The idea that there could be supplies out there that could help them couldn’t go ignored. “In that case, if the recon pans out I want in on the run to get stuff. Please?” She asked as she tilted her head a little. Probably not the best time to ask with her daughter in her arms. Not many people like the idea of putting a mother at risk. “Things are good. Well other than this little one being overly clingy today. It’s a good thing I started dinner hours ago or we wouldn’t be eating tonight. No, thank you. We’re good. Other than a chance to check out this place if the rumor is true. What about you?”

noah managed a smile at that — it was unfair that this was the only world that children would know, there’d be some who would remember the time before, but from now on, this was it. this was life as they knew it. unless a miracle cure was found ( though he didn’t have high hopes for that ), then this was the world now. he wasn’t sure if he should be relieved that he never had the chance to raise his daughter. “probably just faster,” he joked back. “it’s all good, it doesn’t matter how we get the info, just that we get it.” at least, that was his opinion. “you want to go?” he raised an eyebrow, pointedly looking down at the child in her arms. not that he had an issue with tessa leaving if she wanted to help, but leaving finley here did open up some complications if the unthinkable happened ( tessa not returning ). “i’m ready to head out,” he admitted. “so yeah, i get why you want to go.” he was torn. on one hand, he was happy to stay behind to look after finley if tessa wanted to go, but on the other hand, he would much rather go so he could make sure tessa stayed safe. not that she couldn’t look after herself, but he wanted the peace of mind. “let me talk to trix and i’ll see what i can do. do you know who could look after finley?”

[noahhollo]

tinkertcx‌: 

“ oh you do, huh ? “ tex teased, a brow rising with slight suspicion. her lips curled in a subtle smile, her gaze casting back towards the stairwell. it seemed so eerie than the months before. maybe it was old age, maybe it was the lack of proper cleaning. if she was being honest, she felt better outside, deep into the woods, hidden within the trees. “ i could always use an extra hand out there. “ she agreed, her smile stretching as she rose her hand to clap on his shoulder. 

“a little... not in that way, you perve,” he threw back, letting out a chuckle. true though, he and trix had been through the wringer together — it was all part of leading a group of survivors. there were always going to be casualties along the way, unfortunately. “maybe, i wouldn’t want to be too far from here though, so i’d just stay within the downtown area. maybe we can stumble across things we haven’t found yet.” he wasn’t a toronto native, so he was certain there were places they’d missed in their scavenging.

[noahhollo]

sclitary‌:

though exaggerated it may have been, minnie laughed at his reaction. “thought you might say something like that. does it work that way too, if you skip arm day?” a genuine question— she’s never worked out in any way, shape, or form in her life. “honestly, it’s becoming easy to forget what’s really going on down there when you can barely see ‘em. i’m sure there’s lots down there that can’t quite say the same, though.” 

“hey, it’s the end of the world but not the end of noah holloway,” he shrugged in response. though it almost had been. “maybe, or you’d be a pinhead. i’m not sure.” he grinned, shaking his head. “either way, it’s all about balance, you know?” he wondered what it was like for the people who never left the tower — it was safer, yes, but he supposed it could get a little mind numbing. could go stir crazy. “guess you’re right. it is weird to think that there’s a whole world of people down there, or easy not to think about rather, now that they’re tiny. wonder if anyone’s even still working on a cure, if they were in the first place.”

[mcu]

#mood

[noahhollo]

tinkertcx‌:

tex shook a laugh from her lips, realizing she was doing it again— trying to scare others away from the outside. the world was still alive, even if it was coated with death. others needed the outside, just as much as she did. too long in a small space, most would go crazy. “ yeah… sometimes i do, too. you know, if you ever want to go on a hunt, all you have to do is ask and i could sneak you out, get you a breath of fresh air. “ she offered with a smile.

a gruff laugh fell from his lips, and he shook his head. “no need to sneak me out, i have an in with the boss,” he grinned. though, he never usually left unless trixie wanted him too — one of them had to stay here and make sure the others were safe. not since the early days, when it was the two of them and a handful of people, did they leave together. what was that rumour about the ceo’s of coke? they couldn’t travel together, lest the plane crash? “might have to go out on your next hunt though. itching for some fresh air and... pavement. i never thought i’d say that, but here we are.”

[noahhollo]

driftingtess‌: 

Tessa wasn’t sure where she was heading. Since Finley decided that the only thing wanted was to be walked while in her mom’s arms, Tessa let her feet carry where they wanted. She had just reached the radio room when static could be heard coming through the speakers. Seconds later a voice followed the static. The information or rumor however you wanted to see it stopped Tessa in her tracks.

The idea that they or another group could have missed a place was a bit surprising. She was sure every possible place near them that could be searched had been. Which meant if this was true someone was failing at their job or a trap was being set. Either way, it wasn’t something that could go ignored. She would need to find Noah.

Her search took her awhile. So long in fact that by the time she saw him near the stairs Finley was out cold. “The idea that I would take her outside is insane,” the mom responded as she adjusted Finley in her arms. “That it is but for now the roof is my friend. Actually, I came looking for you. Rumor has it that Loblaws on queen street has been skipped over. At least that’s what coming over the radio. It could be a trick. You know how some of those rogues are?

“well, of course not our little fin,” noah smiled, turning to see tessa as she approached. he’d taken to referring to the little girl as ours, not because he was her father, nor was he with tessa, but the residents of the tower had started feeling somewhat like a family. while the war raged on outside, he could sometimes pretend things weren’t terrible. and it was never easier than when he saw tessa and finley — though they were, at times, hurtful reminders of what his life could have been. should have been. “looking for me? what’s up?” his arms folded across his chest as he listened to her, and nodded. “that does seem suspicious. that we hadn’t raided it already, or that someone else hadn’t.” he paused, considering what to do. “i’ll let the boss know, and she can decide. might still be worth it to send some of the hunters out for recon, just to keep an eye out, see if it is a trap, or an untapped gold mine.” that was maybe the hardest part of the whole thing, that he was constantly questioning motives. “how’re things with you, tee? you and finley ok? need anything?” he hadn’t gotten a chance to be a father before, and maybe he never would, but that wouldn’t stop him from helping.

[noahhollo]

trixietam‌: 

“it’s not completely crazy,” she starts her hand moving to rest on his arm softly turning to send him a sad smile, “this place is our home, but it’s okay to want to leave…” trixie said with a shrug softly. she got it – there was no way she didn’t, after being stuck in the tower for twelve months only leaving for scavenging. 

“we could arrange a run, if you’d really like – but we’d need a game plan. there’s too much movement down there right now to just be us. we’d have to have the perfect game plan,” what she doesn’t say is that she refuses to lose anyone else – noah knows without the words. “i need to double check our provisions first though, go over the list. we always need something but it’ll be best to have the list of things when planning the trip.” 

it’s been eleven months, one week and three days since he met trixie. since he somehow stumbled through those doors, made the climb and found a new home. it hadn’t felt like home at first, how could it? but slowly, as trixie and he opened the doors to more and more survivors, he started feeling like he was in a team again, the way he had been with chelsie. it was like he and trixie had formed their own twisted version of the brady bunch. less singing. mostly.

“you really think you can keep up with me on a run, trix-are-for-kids?” noah grins. he’s teasing and he knows she’ll get it. he’s seen her, trained her when they couldn’t sleep. “i was a personal trainer, you know.” another shit-eating grin is shot her way. he’s not like this with everyone, but trixie... well, they’ve been through the wars. literally. “i heard over the radio that the loblaws on queen hasn’t been raided yet. somehow. can’t hurt to get a team together to check it out.”

[noahhollo]

sclitary‌:

“and at least we never skip leg day.” she contemplated his idea, but ultimately decided that she’s much more useful cooped up inside rather than out there. “don’t think i’d be much help with hunting. probably the opposite, i’m afraid… just miss the city, i guess. not the same from up here.” 

an over-dramatic gasp escaped his lips in jest as she mentioned skipping leg day. “a cardinal sin,” he smiled. “otherwise you look like a triangle.” he listened as she spoke — he understood wanting to get out, but also wanting to stay safe up here. it was safer, sure, but not always easier. “not with the zombies looking like harmless ants from up here,” he agreed. “still, we need your eyes, mins, and your steady hands.”

[noahhollo]

tinkertcx‌:

“ running might get you out of danger, but you could always end up running right into some more. it’s crazy out there. “ she sighed, brow’s perking. “ kind of reminds me of black friday back in detroit. absolute savages. “ tex glanced the others way. “ yeah, probably. you need me to find anything while i’m out there ? “

he looked at her for a moment, just thinking. he did that, took his time, considered his responses. “i do occasionally venture out of our ivory tower,” he reminds her with a slight smile. “sometimes i’d prefer the crazy out there to the crazy in here.” he shook his head. “trix is going to look over the supplies i think, and then we can assess what we need. but you know, the usual shit, food, meds... i’m not looking forward to when winter finally hits us.”

[noahhollo]

pcritystclen‌:

the younger girl shot him a glare for a brief moment at his words, although they were true. usually she wasn’t one to venture out, she was terrified anymore, terrified of living. but she knew she was in good hands and if she was going to die, might as well have some kind of fun. with a shrug of her shoulders she left out a soft huff “ sure, what are we doing ??” she asked curiously, looking up at him, nudging his arm slightly.

he couldn’t stop himself from chuckling at the glare he’d earned for calling her small, but the two of them had developed a back and forth sort of relationship. she was one of the few he’d let his guard down with, be the way he used to be. “we can head up to the observation deck if you want,” he shrugged. “even if we just sit in the doorway and get some sun for a few minutes. i promise i won’t harness you up and throw you over the side.”

[noahhollo]

sclitary‌: 

minnie hesitated, unsure if she was the one being spoken to— she hadn’t meant to disturb him, after all. she looked around, only speaking when she realized there was no one else around. she gave his comment a thought. surely it couldn’t be as bad down there? maybe the biters ran out of food, and started moving out of the city? “i think i’d want to try it, if it wasn’t for all those damn stairs…”

“the stairs keep us unbothered, so i can’t hate them too much,” noah responded. he glanced over at her and managed a smile. “could venture out with the next hunting party, if you’re feeling particularly brave.” people didn’t usually stray too far from what they’d been assigned to do, but he understood cabin fever all too well. 

[noahhollo]

tinkertcx‌:

wandering between hunts, tex found herself surveillancing the halls, wasting time as best she could. coming upon another, she had to stop for a second, pondering his question. 

“ not crazy… maybe unrealistic, but not crazy. those things out there, they’re no joke. “ she sighed, but she caught sight of the outside world once more. “ it does get pretty nice out there. y’know, take away the dead and it’s a green and brown wonderland. “

“not completely unrealistic,” noah pointed out, shrugging his shoulders. did he have a death wish? maybe, these days. “i run pretty fast.” still, he didn’t move from his spot, keeping his gaze on the door to the outside world. back home ( if it even still existed ), he wasn’t used to being so cooped up. but that had been a year ago now. a year didn’t seem quite enough for all that had happened. “you heading out again soon? i think supplies are getting low.”

[noahhollo]

pcritystclen‌:

a soft chuckle escaped her lips at the other’s words, it was something she longed for, going outside on days like this. she missed hikes, and beaches, skipping rocks, everything the world used to offer, but she was the last person who needed to be out there now.. she wasn’t made for this world now, but she was.. stuck here, nonetheless. “ i’ve never been a fan of small spaces.. to many people, its all.. so much but.. i’ll take feeling everyone breathing down my neck than being eaten alive. anyday. however, it just looks so.. gorgeous out. sometimes i wanna be brave and go out there.”

“never been a fan of small spaces?” noah’s lips quirked up in a teasing smile as he poked her cheek lightly. “but you’re small, you don’t need big spaces, bub.” he glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, considering. there was the deck — prior to the world going to hell, it had been a tourist attraction. he’d done it before, while chelsie had watched... but that was a lifetime ago, it seemed. he wondered if all the safety equipment was even still there. “you wanna do something kind of crazy?”