Nobody's Empire Events

With so many things that go on in Fall City, there is only one place to keep track of them all.

[isaackrane]

NBE COLLAPSE : THE FALL OF FALL CITY

❝ — a constellation of tears on your lashes. burn everything you love, then burn the ashes.

[bethskarsgard-archive]

[isaackrane]

I know this sounds insane. But this is an insane world.

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Residents, Xavier Maverick and his team of survivors What: Takeback Event, Invasion of Xavier’s camp Where: Xavier’s Camp, dispersed between camp and Fall City, Fall City When: ~7-10am || Held November 1st, 2015

The attack and defense teams parted from home base at 0700, the attack team keeping a slight lead in front of the defense. They moved together as a unit for some time until Xavier's base grew closer, the defense team dispersing outward through the trees, the rubble -- shadows of approaching dawn. The sun however would not shine today. Clouds had bounded together, a storm overhead. It had begun to drizzle. A breeze had picked up, slightly, chilly, nothing out of the ordinary. The darkness worked in their favor, for their chances of being seen were lessened and the chances of anyone being up were too lessened. Elijah raised a walkie talkie to his lips, radioing over to both the defense team and home base. "Approaching enemy territory. All is well so far. Over." The message came across clear on all lines, Charlotte, Jesse, and Dahlia relaying the words to those closest to them, everyone at home base hearing over the main radio. Citizens left at home base are gathered around it, waiting for any signs of trouble.

Graham This was familiar, everything about it. There was one exception, the homemade bombs that he spent the better part of the morning setting up and getting ready. Ripley had his black vest on, the one that meant business, and he had swapped his compound bow for a longbow. Faster reloading capability, plus, half of being an archer was the feeling of the arrow, it was all touch. The nasty broadhead he made, capable of piercing plate, let along whatever bullshit armor they had--he was ready, stroking the feathers on his arrow and glancing to Lyra. There was not a word between the trio, and pad-footed friend who was alert beyond the rest of them.

Cole "All is well he says," Cole responded, trudging amidst the group. "Is that because he managed to get that embarrassing rash cleared up?"

Kathryn Flickering her gaze around, she walked slow and glanced aside to Cole. His snarky remark was something to admire in the tension. A smirk drew on her lips as she walked, but she didn't say much else.

Savannah She ended up going. Any chance to get out of the gates was, no matter what was the reason, a good idea. Savannah hated the town. It was more of a love/hate story. Nonetheless, keeping up with her small group, she remains quiet, wearing some big jacket and her snippet riffle. She never separates from it. And there she is, watching her back. Just hers. Whoever put her on a group to protect people, they didn't think about it twice. She's seen him go in front of her, pretty much disturbed by her presence. And he should be. Whenever she's got a chance for shooting him right in the head, she's taking that one too.

Charlotte "Good. Keep moving forward." Charlotte talked through the radio. Her fingertips were laced around the gun, something she wasn't really used to grasping anymore. Eyes cast forward, she merely waited in those few moments of silence. She was located on the high ground. There was no way she would be able to settle until the advances went forward.

Terra It was back to battle. If it weren't for Lori, Juliet and Dexter standing next to her, she would be excited. She had missed that kind of adrenaline. But she was only worried: worried for them, worried for the city. Glancing to Lori, she nudged her hand, "Ready?"

Isaac Isaac sunk into Axel's side as the defence crept away into the trees, shoulders hunched against the rain that hit him squarely and dripped down his nose and back of his neck, rending a shudder that prefaced everything that was about to come.

Grayson "You okay, kid?" Grayson asked, his gaze drawing towards Savannah. She seemed nervous, but calm all in the same. He didn't know why he asked. His attention should have been focused forward. But alas, there was just silence between their thoughts.

Diana She kept the gun clasped in her hands, as if the tighter the grasp, the more strength she'd have to use it. It was dark among the wooded area and her mind was on what would happen, especially to the two people she cared the most about in Fall city. They were ahead of her, in the attack team. Of course they would be and of course they would willingly do it. She exhaled a breath, kept her eyes focused for any movement at all that wasn't warranted.

Hunter Hunter took point, Lori with him as they left the rest of the attack group for the front gates. Their orders were clear, take out the guards without a sound or an alert to be risen as they skulked through the shadows and moved ever closer. His bow drawn, arrow notched, Hunter moved at a consistent pace until they hit a clearing that made their targets visible. "You want the one on the left or the right first?" There were more than enough to keep the both of them busy and working hard to ensure that their part of the plan went smoothly.

Robert He glanced to Cristine and leaned against the gate beside her. He felt a sick feeling climbing into his gut and settling there, and he bumped into Cris half for her to give him a sour look that would make him smile for even a moment.

Gwen She wasn't entirely certain when the switch within the dark recesses of her mind managed to flicker into the off position, perhaps the first moments they stepped within the boundaries of her home territory -- the trees, but it had long since forced a coldness within her bones. Emotion beyond her instinctive desire for survival seeped from everything that she was, awakening an animalistic nature long buried. Slender yet capable fingers clutched around the handle of a new machete, lighter than her old one yet sharper still. She could behead a man with it should the opportunity arise... And it would. Intuition trickled down the length of her spine and kept green hues flickering between the tree trunks in search of the predators she'd come to conquer.

Savannah Savannah tilted her head before her eyes towards the man. She didn't even try to smile. " Yeah. Lower your voice. "

Matt Matt stood and paced slowly, the boy was too nervous to sit. As the voice came in from the other side of the radio it was Elijah. He sounded sure but he knew there was no way he was that calm about all this. Matt moved to the radio, and heard Charlotte's voice too. He looked to Aiden and Liam before holding down the button to ensure the radio signal would be broadcast. "Um... homebase here, everything is coming through loud and clear over here. Try and do your best to stay within signal range though. We'll do our best to keep you all covered on our end. Over."

Grayson Grayson merely rolled his eyes in response. His boots crunching against the cracked cement. They were approaching the camp though his thoughts were laced around what would happen. Lori. She was on the front lines. He just hoped that she wouldn't be stupid enough to get herself hurt like the others.

Logan Logan managed the barest hint of a chuckle at Corvo's taunt, but kept his gaze level ahead of them. Any one of these people in his company, ahead in the attack group, or home safe and sound, could be the person who murdered Sloan in cold blood. He didn't trust a single one as far as he could throw them, they were capable of leaving him for dead just as his doe eyed friend had been abandoned weeks before.

Lori Despite the chill, there was sweat beading at her forehead. Her hands were wrapped around her compact bow, holding it against her chest, breath ragged-- she wasn't sure if she was ready for this. She glanced over at Hunter, his own bow nocked with an arrow and raised. They were ahead of the group with the goal of taking out the guards manning the main gates. When the guards became visible through shrubbery and fog, Lori inhaled sharply. Another glance over her shoulder. The rest of the Attack Team-- the Defence, they were all behind them, a fair distance away. All the people she cared about. Within half a second, she had an arrow nocked on her bowstring, aimed, took another breath. "I've got the right. You get the left." She gave him a nod, indicating she was ready to attack.

Aiden Matt had done work on the little closet she had turned into a radio room. Solar panels, the receiver knobs, it was something straight out a World War 2 photograph. Her eyes ghosted to Matt who took the walkie, fine by her. Carefully, she adjusted the range, a fun game of hide and seek to find the strongest setting.

Kathryn Kathryn moved forward, eyes flickering around the gates. They were waiting on the few to take out the guards. Then, they could approach. She had a vague idea where the supplies were. Part of her wondered if there was anything worth grabbing that could benefit her own. Medication, something at least that would mull her over. Shaking her head, the blonde closed her eyes before turning forward. She couldn't think of this. They needed weapons. They needed food. This was no time to be selfish, despite how much of a selfish person she was.

Lyra Walking alongside her partner, Lyra tightened her grip on her rifle before exchanging a glance and a nod with the man. They weren't acquainted but she was willing to trust him because it was the only choice she had. Eyes focused on the attack team moving ahead of them, she swallowed her concern and turned towards her partner, expression rigid with tension before she nodded towards him, exchanging anxiety for familiar practicality. "You ready?"

Axel It had been a silent tramp out into the dreary morning, launching an attack at a similar hour to when Xavier's men had forced their way into Fall City. He hoped they'd give a similar surprise with guns blazing, no mercy to be returned. Elijah's voice played over the walkie talkie in his pocket issuing back words to Fall City and the others of their advances, though he thought little of it. They were approaching fast and it was up to Hunter and Lori to lay down the first blows of the morning. His eyes were trained on the pair at the front of the pack before shifting towards Isaac as the younger boy slid up against his side. "Ok?" he remarked in a hushed breath, flashing the youth a small smile.

Liam Liam was pissed. Months of wandering around by himself -- convinced his brother was dead -- and as soon as they'd been reunited Jesse had been dragged into what felt a little too much like a suicide mission. That was a thought he kept to himself, though, knowing better than to voice it to the people around him. For now it was all he could do to wait in tense silence and be thankful for the momentary relief that came from the words Jesse and the others relayed back. He nodded back to Matt, as the other responded and leaned closer to listen as Aiden adjusted the range. "So far so good," he muttered grimly; he wasn't expecting things to stay that way, not for long.

Ivy Holloway Ivy didn't have a nice morning. However, she was holding her gun in front of the gates. Augustine, Hannah, Shane, Alice and her, they were all just doing what they had been asked for. Though she didnt enjoy it, at least she had had a chance to go see Ada that morning and tell her everything was going to be alright. She also gave Matt a stupid bracelet she found downstairs. She thought about family and prayed for them as she held her finger away from the trigger.

Hunter He couldn't think about anyone else, not even himself or the one with him, not with what they had on the line if they stumbled now. Diana was back, out of the front lines but that didn't meant that his thoughts wouldn't drift towards her if he let them, clearing his head as he kept his bow raised and aimed at the first two guards that were closest to where they hid. One miss, one noise, and it would be over long before it'd even begun as he nodded with a ghost of a smirk, one painted with the shadows of all the times he'd done just this before. Kill or be killed, right? That's what he'd been taught to remember when he picked up the bow, loosening an arrow that lodged directly into the chest of the guard on the left. They fell silently. "That's one."

Dexter His muscles were tense but in an oddly relaxing manner, all this preparations and the requirement of a certain skill set, this was what he knew how to handle. Going into war. Familiarity in a sense, it comforted him. "Stay sharp on your toes." The man said softly to whomever was nearest, habits really, ones developed by years of guiding a group of people into such situations.

Graham "Born ready." Graham replied easily, and handed her something small and solid. "Pull and throw. Just don't hit my dog and the rest doesn't matter." His smile was wry, but the truth was the dog knew better than most of the people mounting this attack. He was battle tested, well versed in this sort of thing, much like Graham was.

Elijah His mind was composed of a myriad of thoughts. The first being if this would succeed, the second being if they would all make it out alive. He kept his gun raised, in case of anything appeared from the compound they were so close to invading. The guards were the beginning of the plan -- a silent take out. He knew the council had chosen a good team to handle the task, but silence was key. Silence meant an easy entrance.

Rico He didn't want to be here, who the fuck were these people to recruit them into their sick revenge game, but hell, at least he would be able to get out of the fucking city for half a moment. Even if it was to go off and march through another group of living people. Rico didn't believe he should have been dragged into this, then again he did look forward to seeing exactly these so called 'leaders' would do. "Pretty sure this is like a suicide mission, bunch'a morons." He half grumbled, shaking his head in an annoyed state, but the statement was not at all to himself.

Cole The tension between everyone could be quite easily sliced with a knife, yet such a circumstance never did phase Cole and his thrill for danger. "Why the fuck is there a dog in the group? Did none of you bastards watch I Am Legend?"

Savannah The girl was watching. Barely getting into all of it. She was supposed to be defense with Grayson and that would be all. She thought about breaking the rules and break away from everything just to go back to Piper, wherever she was.

Matt Green hues shifted up towards the blonde woman as he set the walkie back down. He avoided her eyes by looking over to Liam as he spoke. The two seemed to share an interest for all things technological which made this all the more easy. Matt nodded and turned back to Aiden. "I did my best to ensure maximum range on their walkies but who knows what kind gear they have at Xavier's camp. I hate waiting but--" he cut himself off, for the most part their role was done all they could do was wait. He moved over to a nearby window looking out over the gate. "It's all we can do right now."

Aiden Fingers reached out and touched Liam, half to steady him and half to steady herself. She was nervous. Nervous because her friends were out there, people she loved and cared about, people that were her family. At least, at the very least Liam was in here and Jesse wouldn't have to be worried about that. "It'll be fine." She nodded and moved back to the silent talkies, the sound static her remedy in a time like this.

Kathryn "You sure don't know when to shut up, do ya?" Kathryn drew her gaze to the side, raising a brow towards Cole. Logan sat beside him, smirking away towards his antics. At least he was there in eyes view. She knew that he would be safe within their ranks. Rob, however, that was something she was unsure of. He was back home, safe at least from everything else.

Lori One guard down. Arrow straight through the heart. Lori raised her eyebrows, smirking at her partner. It wasn't... It wasn't something to smile about, but-- he was keeping count. "Go for the head next time." She teased, directing her line of sight to the last guard remaining. He turned, watching as his friends fell in a heap on the ground. It was time. She drew back, released. An arrow spliced through the air, made a sickening sound as it lodged into the man's head. He, too, fell to the ground, toppling over the other guard. Lori exhaled. "One for me, one for you." She glanced back at the Attack Team. It was time to strike. "All clear."

Gwen Gwen ignored the other voices, eyes narrowing ahead at how their low timbres cut through the air despite the effort to remain "quiet". Scouting on ahead, she dipped beneath branches and maneuvered through shrubbery with the greatest of ease. This was her kingdom, the place where she thrived and excelled. A huntress shrouded by the mystery of the forest and able to move at a nearly silent pace. It also provided her the escape of a solo venture, such as this, where she could gain her own ground.

Isaac Isaac shifted on his feet, grip twisting around his ice axe where he held it at his side. "Yeah." He mumbled, careful not to speak too loudly and break the spell that everyone seemed to be under. Even though the answer was a resounding no; the real answer which pounded in his stomach, his ears and his chest like they were trying to do what he was dying to do. Escape.

Cristine This was what she was trained for, being the one rushing to be a mend to some horrible bleeding mess. Car crashes, house fires, bizarre accidents every day in the ER; that she could do, she was a powerhouse. But ask her to watch people go out into a war zone in order to be a protector, that was not something she could do. But there she was doing her best to hold it together. The nudge to her frame snapped her out of her daze and she glanced at Robert. For him, she was very thankful of, for many reasons but having him there made it easier. Still she shot him a look before letting the corner of her lips twitch up briefly. "Watch it Doc."

Hannibal The man cracked his neck, a sign that he was about to let loose; to show the strangers of Fall City why it is they keep him around and more importantly, on their side of this fight. He noticed the blonde woman moving ahead of the group, gwen he thought her name was. He trailed behind her silently, gradually closing the distance until he could place a large hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't run off alone." He wasn't going to force her to listen, but figured he should offer the advice just in case.

Cole "I came without the mute button installation," he replied to the Kathryn. "Or would you rather I joined the rest of these and started sobbing into my shirt? Hang on, I practiced this." With a single pause, the male coughed for a beat. "Woe is me and my blatant inability to be anything other than extremely morbid. Death is near, Xavier is terrifying and you guys are alright if I squint hard enough. Is that better, Princess?"

Terra Lori was gone, off to the enemy's base with Hunter. Two people she cared about in some form or another already on the front lines. Terra was with the rest of the attack team, proceeding slowly. But her assignment was another: she was to help out where help was needed. This allowed her to keep her eyes on everyone. One hand gripped her weapon, the other the walkie-talkie she was given. It had been quiet so far. Staying with the rest of the attack team, she watched Lori and Hunter from a distance, wondering when it was time to catch up, to help out. She glanced at Juliet and then at Dexter. She nodded at him, a sort of 'good luck'.

Lyra "Is this some kinda slingshot?" Lyra asked with a raised eyebrow, eyeing the object curiously before glancing at his dog. She smiled slightly as she took in the dog moving ahead of them, sniffing the ground with occasional waggles of its long tail. Looking back at Graham, she nodded firmly before she began rolling the object he handed her in her hands. "So, what's the plan, exactly? How the hell are we gonna provide a distraction for the enemy and watch the attack team's asses at the same time?"

Robert He held in a smile and bumped against her once again. "The waiting is the worst part." His father's pistol was burning a mark against his back, the place that he kept it making him feel like the thug. Given their past experiences with the gate, and the Infected, he knew he was going to need it. Hopefully the ruckus at the other base would draw them there, but one was never too certain in times like this. Only one thing was certain. Anything that could go wrong would go wrong.

Hunter At her comment, Hunter shrugged before lowering his bow but not before pulling another arrow from his sheath on his back and notching it. His job wasn't finished yet, not by a long shot, as they stole back away from where they'd hidden away, the smirk turned cold as the rest of him when he glanced back at the bodies that they're put down. "The heart always kills someone faster than their mind." He swallowed down the taste of bile on the back of his throat as he head back to the rest of the part of the team he was meant to secure the main weapons shed with. "Next time, we'll see who gets more than the other."

Kathryn "No. Any attempt of crying, you look like a deformed baby. Probably one of the ones popping outta those girls back on base." Kate stared towards Cole for a while. Amused, but mostly confused in his ways.

Liam The fingers tapping anxiously against Liam's leg stilled at Aiden's touch, and Liam looked over at her in surprise. Had she not been close with the people he cared about he might have shaken her off, but as it was he just nodded at her reassurance, even though he didn't believe it. "Right." It was easier to stay focused on the technical, on things they could actually do right now -- which wasn't much, according to Matt, and Liam had to agree. "They've got to have something, at least. You don't think we could find a way of tapping into their communications, do ya?"

Logan Logan had to cover a laugh with a blatant cough into the fabric of his shirt, enjoying the fact that someone else was feeling equally as cynical about their current grouping. "The attack team is going to take out all the fun," he responded in a low voice. "Ruin the excitement for us. Don't know why all of you are acting like we're about to walk into a death trap."

Jesse Jesse watched from a distance as their first step was completed, guards posted at their position falling one by one as arrows sliced silently through the air. He didn't like this plan, didn't like that they had to stoop no lower than Xavier himself in order to keep what was theirs - but sitting idly was no better, either. They couldn't wait around for the next shoe to fall, they had to be ahead of it. He ignored the slight drizzle that had taken over the morning, lifting the walkie talkie up, "Alright, defense to your posts, attack move in," he instructed, "Let's get this show on the road. Good luck." With that he glanced towards those nearest with a nod before disappearing into the trees to take up his post.

Grayson Grayson grasped his hand around the dark haired woman's shoulders. He made her think of a sister - though he was sure that was just her age. "Silence won't get us anywhere. We're alone for now, kid. Just make sure you're weapon is drawn and you're not screaming to the fuckin' birds and I think we'll be just fine."

Ivy Holloway Ivy's anxiety had anxiety that had anxiety itself. Holding herself together in front of the gates, she bit her lower lip.

Graham "It's a homemade grenade. We're going to a wait a half second longer, for them to get the hell out of the way before we blow them sky high." He pointed across the way a bit, and said. "I have things there, and there. Kaboom." His smile hitched into a funny shape, the joke on his features sinister and much like a kid with fireworks.

Savannah Savannah almost murdered Grayson. If she hadn't been cautious about it, about taking a second to think, Grayson would have been bleeding on the floor the moment he touched her. But he didn't. Savannah enjoyed that man. A good weird man. Raising a brow, holding her gun, she rolled her eyes. " I've killed people before. I've done this before. 'Got it all covered. Don't worry, Grayson. " She even forced herself to talk back to him.

Lori "Can't have them turnin' into clickers, though." Lori replied, notching her own bow in anticipation for what would happen next. It was funny; the sickness still swirled around in her stomach, but she didn't feel bad for what she'd just done. Her and Hunter just killed people-- they were murderers. No. They were /survivors/. This was... This was okay. Now, it was time they went their separate ways. "Good luck out there, Hunt," she said, head tilted. The adrenalin was starting to wear off, replaced with terror. No matter which way this went, someone was going to die today. "Be safe, 'kay?" She waved him off.

Cristine "Yeah, just the waiting." Sarcasm, used to mask just how terrified she really was about this whole thing. There were so many things that could and most likely go wrong but Cris was there to clean up the mess that would fall back from this attack. Dark eyes found the layout on the other side of the gate and sighed, she was on the verge of sickness because of worry but was fighting it just as much as she was every other emotion that dared to take over her senses. Cris knew how to turn them off, you couldn't be a nurse and not be able to do such a thing.

Terra All clear. It was all Terra needed to hear to move forward, following Jesse's lead, weapon drawn, ready to strike. Terra caught up with Lori and Hunter, nodding. So far so good. But this was far from over. Keeping an eye out for anyone that did not belong to their party, she was ready to hit. "Someone has to know we are here," she said quietly to whoever was around to hear her. "We have to move fast."

Gwen The brilliance of having lived amongst the trees for so long was that even when predators attempted to approach the blonde from behind, Gwen could instinctively feel their presence. Call it a sixth sense if you will, she felt the man before he even dared to lay a hand on her shoulder. Perhaps he was attempting to comfort, to create camaraderie, or slow her down from heading into the camp alone, but this was not the moment to pet a wild animal. A snarl ripped from her throat before the slapped his palm away, teeth bared up at him. "Don't," she managed a warning before bolting off into the trees towards the gate. Her feral nature needed to be directed on the enemy, but if her own teammates continued their attempts at controlling her, she could not promise their safety either.

Charlotte Charlotte craned her head against her post. There was nothing for her to do now. Not until the Attack Team pushed on. She tried to keep her attention on the now, but all that consumed her thoughts was just this - the danger of it all. She was too cynical to believe that they would all make it out alright. She was too troubled to believe it all. Her mind was whirling towards the others. Part of her regretted recommending Lori for the attack team. Gwen - Dexter - Savannah - Just...There was an endless list and she stood there waiting for their attack to move.

Matt Matt was never the one to just sit around and do absolutely nothing. Especially not in a life or death situation. Before all his antics with computers and radios were just for fun but now? This could save lives. Matt began chewing on his thumb nail, a tick he didn't much appreciate but it seemed to calm his nerves. As Liam spoke once more his eyes widened. The other boy had a point and an even better idea. "You're right. I think I have an idea." He took to the pile of rubble which seemed to be nothing but old computer parts and whatever they could find that they hadn't already used. Screw drivers and nuts and bolts scattered the floor as the teen pulled out what seemed to be half a radio they'd found in a police car. "At least by taping into their communications we can see what they're up too." Matt looked back to Liam and Aiden. "Liam, you think you could get this radio up and running for me whilst I work on this transmitter over here? I mean, it's at least worth a shot right?"

Grayson "I doubt anyone hasn't killed someone by now." Grayson glanced down towards her, removing his hand to pluck up the gun once more. He was glad they were able to find a decent one handed weapon in the shed. It was something, at least. "You have anyone on the front lines you're worried about?"

Robert Without a pause, he wrapped an arm around her and gave a gentle squeeze. "It'll be fine. We'll be fine." His mind separated itself from the fact that his sister was out there, and how much that fucking terrified him. The burning in his chest that if something should happen. No--there were in their places for a reason. She was equipped for what she was doing.

Hunter He shook off the unsettling feeling in his gut, the one that wouldn't go away even after this night wore off and became nothing more than another nightmare to add to his collection at the thought of the men that'd fallen by his arrow. He couldn't think like that now, not when he was still needed, and there was at least one person counting on him. And on her, there were many more. He nodded to Lori, watching her move off as Terra came into view, ready to keep them all moving forward. "It won't be long now before someone finds the bodies." His gaze drifted to those in the attack team that were preparing for the next move.

Ada Useless. She was complete useless. Blue hues watched as everyone ventured off to their assigned duties, wishing she somehow could be of help. Deep within her mind, she was reminded of the words Max spoke to her, about who would they rather keep - someone useless or someone with skills. And skills for war she didn’t have, she was weak and it was clear that she was. Ada was forced to sit around and just wait for news. She just hoped everything would go down smoothly, though she had a really bad feeling about it all.

Lyra "Kaboom," She smirked, raising her eyebrows at him and nodding slowly. "I like your thinking. You made this yourself?" She asked, half out of curiosity and half out of a deep desire to distract herself from the dread gnawing at her from the inside. She didn't expect to take a liking to Graham after so few interactions between them but upon being partnered for the task of setting a distraction, they had managed small chit-chats here and there and somehow, his presence eased her anxiety. She was more than thankful for that. Stealing a quick glance at the familiar faces in the Attack Team, Lyra forced anothet obnoxious smirk on her lips. "Can't wait to blow shit up."

Lori "Terra," she breathed, ready for the signal to move off toward the secondary weapons shed. Without a thought, she pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Be safe, 'kay? Don't worry about me. I love you."

Savannah Savannah shook her head. No one. With a small smile, she shrugged. " Pros of not being too social. " A small silence. " You? " Mere courtesy.

Aiden Eyes went to Matt and she nodded. This was his realm, and while she knew a decent amount, enough to be dangerous, he was the expert in this room. "What do you need? I can help you get a satellite on the roof and point it that way." Redirect some electricity from the batteries into here to power something else, to give the range enough focus.

Axel Axel took the words relayed over the radio as instruction to lead the siege, pulling Isaac along to where Hunter resided. Their instructions were clear, head to the left side of the camp after entering and take over the weapons shed - ideally before anyone was alarmed to their presence. "C'mon," he spoke to the pair of them, eyes swiveling to beckon Dexter forward as well. With that he gave a sweeping glance to those who remained of attack and shoved a shoulder to the gates, parting them easily now that they weren't being defended. "Now or never, mates," he prompted, getting a grip on his gun once more and leading the way in.

Elijah With the guards taken out, it was time to enter the camp -- guns blazing. He didn't know where Xavier and his men would be -- hopefully asleep and in the one isolated location he was able to get information on. He moved through the crowd, making his way to the front of the attack team. These were his people and he had to lead them forward. His grip tightened on the gun and he inhaled a chilly breath within his lungs. Axel swung the gates open and all was quiet, but that didn't mean they were out of the water yet. He was beside Axel as he entered, his eyes quickly shifting from side to side. In comparison to Fall City, everything was old, rickety -- thrown together out of desperation as opposed to long term survival. But he didn't expect anything else given Xavier as leader.

Grayson "One. She'll be fine." Grayson spoke softly, growing silent after that mere thought. His eyes went towards the horizon. It seemed the Attack Team was moving forward. His hand drew up, keeping his weapon held up as a found pounding seconds of silence followed them through. He heard something. He knew he did. A sudden spray of shots fell forward. His body lurched back, keeping his ground despite it. He dropped his hand to thrust Savannah back behind him. There was a sudden spiraling pain in his shoulder. They knew they were there. It must have been a higher group on the grounds - keeping the fortress of theirs safe.

Isaac Isaac tensed before quickly falling into place beside and just slightly behind Axel. He focused on the split between the gates, grounding himself and digging his heels into the floor to feel the pressure of it before taking off after his running partner.

Terra Don't worry about me, Lori said. Terra was high enough on adrenaline to laugh, but this quickly died down as she realized there was nothing to laugh about. Lori might die. Dexter might die. Anyone might die. And what could Terra do to prevent it? Easy: she had to be quick to step in front of them. "I won't let you out of my sight," she told her and gave her shoulder a squeeze. As the rest of the attack team moved forward to the weapons shed, she followed close behind. Now or never was right.

Cristine The act was meant to be comforting and it was but Cristine didn't let it take her nerves completely. Her mind was all over the place but she took a deep breath to steady herself and focus in on the task at hand. "Yeah we will---" She said before nudging Robert a little returning his squeeze in that manner.

Graham "I want to wait until they're in a tight spot." He nodded in answer to her question. Standing on the top of a rock, Ripley looked around, eyes moving back to them. Fishing something out of his pocket he handed it to her. "This is another remote. To the ones I've set up toward the back. Something should happen, I need a fail safe." He pointed out where the other five bombs were, something he had spent the day before hiding and setting up.

Rivka Rivka loaded her rifle, checked her knives, and made sure her handgun was in its holster. This was it. She was going back to war. She was Lt. Shafir once more. Rivka fell in beside Elijah, making sure she had his back as they infiltrated the Central Hub. People were going to die, but a whole lot more would die if they didn't do this. "It's all clear," Rivka told Elijah as she moved ahead of him slightly.

Graham He waited, just like he said, and using the homemade received he pressed the button. There were several sets of explosives. Scattered about, in different places, to provide obstacles and further complications. The first one went off in a flaming mass that skyrocketed earth and rocks into the sky, setting the brush around it on fire. He smiled once again, the feeling of finally being free, despite the ear.

Hunter /Mates/. That was a thought. One of many that slipped out before he pushed it aside for the ones that would be helpful in this situation, rather than ones that were best served staying back. Instead he focused on the task at hand, keeping in pace with Axel and Isaac, keeping to their heels and watching their back with his bow held low but firmly in place. They head to the left, keeping out of sight despite the lack of guards on the gates but he knew that it wouldn't be long before someone else would be out there to either check on them, or find them gone. "After you," he muttered, eyes flashing as he took in his surroundings and kept moving forward.

Logan "And so it begins," he shrugged with a nod forward towards the attack team entering the camp. Eyes remained on Isaac's frame until he disappeared behind the gate, then he followed a flit of blonde as her agile figure slipped in behind almost too quick to catch, and the rest followed suit to branch off in their separate directions.

Liam Matt produced an old, beat-up radio from a pile of spare parts and Liam could have hugged him. The main radio couldn't have been forfeited to try to tap into the others' communications, but this? This Liam could work with. "Dude, that's perfect!" He took the radio in his hands and turned it over, inspecting it and trying to figure out the best way to put it to use. "A satellite's a good start," He told Aiden with a nod. "If you can do that, I'll break this open and start messing with the tuner, but it won't do any good if their signals too far away to reach." Without waiting for agreement, he rummaged through the pile of parts for a screwdriver and started taking the cover off the old radio, praying it would be in workable condition.

Hannibal With that, Hann had did all he could for that woman. He understood that it was a part of her nature to be this way, reclusive, solo. If she wanted to march into a camp alone, he wouldn't stop her. He also wouldn't be the one to weep over her corpse. It was time to get things going, he could only hope people were ready. That they could keep up. He twirled his axe once and slung it atop his shoulder before standing straight up and walking to this town's makeshift barricade. Fuck the gate, Hann would make his on way in and out of this town; Hands gripping his weapons tightly he began swinging ferociously at the barricades, demolishing them with complete disregard to the noise. "Wake up Xavier, We're here."

Savannah She watched him do, slightly confused by his gestures. She shook her head. " Sorry but I won't be so hopeful "

Matt He placed the half-a-radio which would just have to do over to Liam and gave the other boy an excited smile. If this hadn't been so serious they totally would be geeking out over this. Matt then looked over to Aiden. Truth was she intimidated her but the fact that she was still letting him lead made him happy. Matt nodded immediately toward her. "Satellite," the boy murmured moving around the room finding a few old TV antenna's. "Ah, they're better than nothing." He turned back to Aiden swiftly and held them out to her. "On the roof, there's already a cable TV satellite from before. Take these up there and plug them in. Everything is connected to each other that satellite is the reason we are able to talk to the other bases. This should enable the signal to get strong enough for us to get a hold of Xavier's camp's communications. At least long enough to distract them or put them off somehow, or even warn the other group of whatever they're up too. I need to work on getting the connection up and running."

Cole "Well, now that's out of the way, who's game for naked Twister?" He spoke in response to Logan, following his line of focus in the direction of those involved in the action. He would refuse to be concerned over Gwen's welfare, knowing well enough how the female could handle herself, but considering she was the only person within this entire city he actually considered a companion, (best of luck to those he was supposedly meant to protect), it would be difficult to avoid the oncoming wave.

Lori She doubled back to find Owen. "Hey," she said quietly, almost a whisper. She plucked a fallen branch out of his hair, before jumping at the sound of complete chaos. Was that a bomb? Graham's work, she realised. "C'mon, we gotta go." She leaned up on her tip toes to brush her lips against his forehead. When she caught sight of Lexie and Max, she raised her bow high and made her way through the gates.

Savannah The girl took no shame in holding her rifle up and using his friend's body as a shield for a few seconds to watch around them, searching for the shooter. However, she didn't find it so, quickly, with her small body and strong limbs, she helped him move. " Told you."

Taeil The sun had not even showed any sign of leaving its bed when Taeil woke up this morning, something he didn’t really do anymore after his obligation to prepare for school was stripped off. It was too hard to sleep when your mind was constantly disrupted by worry and anxiety about the event that was about to come. By the time he made it to his living room for a clear sight of what was happening outside through his front window, everybody was already moving. Now that the sun was getting higher, with the company of his old pocket knife and the crowbar he had borrowed from the armory since a few days before, Taeil was left with no other option but to patiently join the waiting game.

Kathryn Kathryn moved forward. She didn't speak to anyone. She didn't feel the need to. Trudging forward, her boots crushed against the soil. She moved quickly, gun drawn forward as she shifted into the gates. The sudden scream of explosives from their end was a bigger awakening than she expected. Rise and shine, mother fuckers

Axel It was clear they weren't alone as soon as they entered the camp. They may have had the element of surprise on their side, but a smattering of voices rose as the swarm of them entered, bullets slicing through the air. He saw movement out of the corner of his eyes as men fell back towards one of the buildings - one that he assumed was their ultimate target. He fired off a few shots in the general direction of those who were attacking but continued to lead towards the weapons unit - hopefully. He wanted to avoid letting the rest of them arm up if it was possible.

Graham His head moved to Lyra, and nodded to her to press the next button. His fingers pressed the next button, the next bomb going off in an even more unimaginable cloud of debris. "Almost as good as C4, who would have thought," he muttered and started to laugh. There was something about firepower, something about this whole thing that brought him back to being a kid, stuck in the sticks making fireworks. The fire spread down the field and toward the camp. Oh, this should be good.

Matt The boy took back to the pile finding an old iPad which was like winning the lottery. "Jackpot." He whispered before turning back to Aiden. "Good luck, when you get back we'll work on power supply. There's an old car battery in this pile somewhere, cells are still alive -- you can work on getting that running too." Getting the iPad open meant finding a power supply. He hooked it up to a few solar panels bringing everything closer to the window. The iPad booted up and he could only hope an organisation like the NSA was still running. "It sounds pretty fucking crazy but I'm going to see if government signals are still running. If yes, that means we can hack using a geolocating system, all we need are coordinates for his camp and boom, we're in."

Grayson Grayson shot a glare towards her, leaning up in his stance. His hand drew up the gun, thankful at least that the bullet landed in his shoulder of all things. He took a few steps back, gazing on the horizon. There was nothing. "Head towards the woods." The man titled his head towards the few spray of trees that masked over the horizon. It was the only cover in the area, watching as the remainder of the team began to move forward.

Gwen Gwen maneuvered around the central hub, silent as the grave with carefully placed footsteps and the alert eyes of a hawk. Until her features snapped over in the direction of someone putting all of their stealth driven plotting to shame as the large male from minutes earlier came bursting through the defenses like the damn Koolaid character. She didn't have time to narrow her eyes and offer him a displeased glare before commotion rang out among the enemy camp, forcing her to pursue the mission rather than focus on the idiocy of her teammates.

Isaac Isaac used his right hand to raise the glock and returned fire to those amongst the first stirrings of Xavier's group. He wasn't sure if any of the bullets stuck but he felt the need to be doing [i]something[/i] while they ran to their expected target. He, Axel, Dexter and Hunter would be amassing the small building and he couldn't help but hope that they would not find anyone inside.

Aiden Taking the pieces and the wires she scrambled up the roof. A mouse wasn't a lion, but a mouse could climb, and a mouse could dart up the roof. On the roof she did what she was assigned, and yelled down to Matt. "We're good. Tell me if I need to readjust."

Dexter Adrenaline surged him forward and also focused his movements. Bringing up the rear in the group as he placed trained eyes on every section that could be an enemy. They weren't to pause and even when they were under fire. There was a mission at hand and Dex would be damned if he wouldn't keep his teammates safe. "I've got the cover." He expressed, a remark that he hoped would relay that he would cover them if they were in need of cover. Marking Dexter as the one who would serve as a barrier between the others and gunfire. But then again, maybe that was just in his own mind how he had labelled himself.

Lyra Taking the remote from Graham, Lyra nodded firmly before settling down next to him on top of the rock, bodies pressed close and bent forward to conceal their presence before the first set of explosives went off in a bang that had rocks and dirt exploding outwards in outrage. Eyes widening as her head tilted back, Lyra couldn't help but admire the intensity of it and all the effort it must have took him to construct such mechanisms. Adrenaline providing her with a giddy rush of excitement, she leaned towards her partner with an impressed smile, eyes not leaving the site of the explosion, and whispered, "That was Phase One. What's next on the agenda, partner?"

Charlotte Charlotte drew forward, keeping herself on high ground. She stared down, making sure the entire scene welled before her eyes. "Attack Team has entered. They know we're here. So far, the plan is still in motion." Speaking information through the radio. Was that the only way she could help?

Matt For the moment Matt was tasked with booting up technology that hadn't been used in months. It was a slow process but as soon as Aiden gave a yell the static on the walkies got louder and he looked over to Liam. The two shared a respective nod and Matt yelled back. "All good! It can be adjusted again later if need be. We need you at this car battery, you think you can start it?!"

Savannah Her lips pressed, she followed his order. Straight back to the haunting woods she belonged in. Carrying him with her, knowing that he was good and just shot on the shoulder, she separated herself from him. If they were outside, that meant they would be going to the camp, probably. She knew that by the direction of the shot. So the game was starting. " Cover it. Press it. "

Terra Shots were fired. Terra aimed, fired back, hit maybe one or two men but she couldn't be sure. Following closely behind Axel and the rest to the weapons shed, she watched their backs in any way she could, firing into where shots were fired from, moving herself into the line of fire so they could proceed.

Aiden Dropping a cord to the solar panel, and the batteries that were on the roof but of ill repair due to her own neglect, she nearly hit Matt in the face with them. "Oops, try that." Sliding off the roof and landing on her feet like a cat, she waited in the doorway, staring at the gate, and the people flocked there to protect it.

Liam Once Liam had his mind on a project, that was where his focus remained -- so he was glad to hear Matt taking the lead. Getting the radio open was easy enough, given its current state, and Liam let out a sigh of relief when he saw the important parts were all there. Immediately he set to work separating the tuner's wire from its original location, fiddling with the makeshift dial until it was ready. He nodded to Matt when Aiden shouted back down to them -- perfect timing. "We're all good with the radio -- won't be able to do anything until we get power, but it'll work. Especially if we can tap into the geolocating system." It was a genius idea, something Liam would have been geeking out over any other time. "

Kathryn Kathryn ducked behind a wall, shocked by the sudden spray of bullets. Her gaze ripped towards Logan and Cole. Her hands laced around the shotgun. Clicking it, the blonde drew forward and peeked around the corner. Firing off a shot, she made her way down the wall and towards what they were told was the supply area.

Hannibal They knew they were here now, he didn't have to stay quiet any longer. A cluster of men rushed him, small knives for weapons. Hann laughed maniacally as he unleashed a flury of blows that would leave the entire group in pieces on the ground. The blood of his enemies, a tasted that was not so foreign to the man. He gripped one of the men by the throat and hoisted him into the air, easily preventing the other male's feet from touching the ground, Hann drew the blade of his axe against the man's jugular; forcing a gush of warm red to saturate Hann's facial features. It was time, to let loose and watch this whole place burn. It was time to take back what Xavier had robbed these people of, to instill the same fear into his people as he had to the denizens of Fall City. The moment was short lived, More targets closed in on Hann He snickered as he engaged them, they slashed and stabbed and were just as quickly silenced by a single swing of Hann's sledgehammer.

Rivka Rivka glanced back for a split second as the bombs went off. With the distraction made, the ideal plan was to get in, show the enemy what they were made of, and finish them off. Rivka took point and kept her rifle up as she walked forward. When she saw a man, she fired, taking him out with only a couple of bullets. "Keep moving," she told her team.

Lori The next battle had begun. Lori ducked, dodging bullets and trying to keep herself alert, while also making sure her friends, her family, were safe. "Get to the shed, I'll meet you there," she yelled to Owen over gunfire. Axel and Isaac and Hunter were making their way to the main weapons shed. Terra was following at their heels. Good. Lori found cover, released an arrow, notched another one. Repeat. She tried to keep count of the bodies that fell, for Hunter's sake, but when her sheath started to empty, she pulled a handgun from the waistband of her jeans.

Lyra Catching Graham's signal, Lyra bit her bottom lip then pressed on the designated button; sending another blast wave across the earth in a shower of rocks and dust. Graham started laughing and she couldn't help but chuckle along. Although there was nothing funny about chaos and destruction, the anxiety mixed with the anticipation of the battle left her almost delirious. "Shit. That was awesome, man."

Grayson Grayson moved forward, pressing his back against the tree. He lowered his weapon and pressed his hand against the wound. Rolling down his sleeve, he ripped through the fabric with his teeth. Eyes on Savannah. She was safe. That was all that mattered in the moment. He kept his ears peeled, the rustle of leaves being the only sign of an approaching enemy. "I'm good. You need to move forward. Try to see if there are any teams moving towards the city.

Logan The sound of gunfire echoed through the early morning air and with it came Logan's attention as he pressed forward with a slightly faster pace until he too was within the boundaries of the unfamiliar camp. His gun trained forward on the unfamiliar figures, only firing if they directed a bullet in his direction first. He still struggled with the idea of slaying another human being, it was why he always managed to keep himself out of this sort of action in prior experiences.

Hunter Axel led and the rest followed in his stead, moving swiftly but not as lucky as they'd been moments before when bullets started to fly in their general direction. The cover of darkness was their friend this night, helping to hide their motives as he turned his bow towards the closest person and let loose his arrow, taking down one body and then another one as bullets fired in both directions. The shed was within range as he shouldered the bow and made a grab for the door, finding it unlocked, and none too surprisingly guarded on the other side as another crack of a gun hit the air and Hunter felt something pierce his side, knocking the wind from his lungs as he fell to his knees while pain blossomed out.

Ivy Holloway Ivy sat in her spot, holding her gun close. Was, at this point, everyone still safe?

Kathryn Kathryn paused in front of the doors, lowering her weapon only for a moment to check if they were unlocked. Hands fumbling through it, she flickered her gaze around to see if any of her teammates had made it there just yet. Pushing on the door, the blonde cracked it open before moving in. Her feet ceasing her pace as she stood in front of it all. There were cases of it. Supplies - some looked even stolen from the city itself.

Matt Eyes widened as Aiden dropped various cords and batteries right where his head rested. The boy moved once more to avoid a collision. "Jesus," he muttered under his breath. For a moment thinking about how his mother would have smacked him harder than those batteries hit him for using the lords name in vain. But that was another lifetime now. Matt looked back to Aiden. "What Liam said." Slowly but surely the iPad was working, signal was there. "You know, the one time you need the government to be working and it is. What a world we live in. Matt was able to use his hacker abilities to get into the NSA system. "We're really gonna need that power supply now guys. I need that battery up and running and connected to these solar panels."

Savannah Savannah nodded. With Piper on her mind, going back to the town was far easier than what she thought. But then once more, the man. What about his murder? What about taking everything from him? She didn't think about what to say much. " Get yourself some help. Go to Atkins, that girl's got the radio."

Cole With only the hope of coming across target practice, a resurrecting Sarah Masters being perfect as of now, Cole proceeded alongside Logan and Kathryn. "First person to fire a bullet into the limb of one of Xavier's men gets.... Absolutely fuck all. The price of a polished ego is enough for now."

Charlotte Charlotte kept her weapon pointed towards the ground, watching stray groups peel from their own. "Homebase. There are some members moving your way. Not sure if enemy or friend. Keep your eyes out and prepare. Over."

NBEadmin The drizzling that had begun that morning slowly intensified, becoming a steady sheet of rain. Clouds encompassed the sky -- dark, menacing. The ground below grew muddy and their line of sight became hindered by the changing conditions of the weather.

Gwen Always the silent killer, Gwen appeared behind several men like an apparition before carving a second smile across their necks and leaving them to choke on their own crimson fluid. Who was honestly covering who at this point? It felt as though she were ensuring her teammates survival rather than carrying out their orders.

Isaac Isaac saw Hunter drop from the corner of his eye, and immediately stilled. The truth of the moment and the minutes following punching him solidly in the throat. "No, no, no, no." He dropped, knees hitting the storage building's floor with a none-too-pleasant crack and one hand hovering and trembling over Hunter's shoulder where the other was curled on the ground.

Aiden "It's like jumping a car, right?" She shrugged and snapped the jumpers from the main cell to the smaller batteries and after waiting a second nodded. "Try it now." If not, We can wire it directly into the main, but let's not play with that cell just yet."

Terra Hunter was hit. This was all Terra saw and knew. She rushed to his side, hands pressing into the wound, a string of profanities leaving her lips. "You're okay," she promised. The rain was beginning to fall harder, worsening their chances of winning this battle, worsening Hunter's chances of winning at all.

Rico "This is fucking lunacy... Se io muoio cazzo fare questo toro merda." He grumbled as he continued to move along with the unit of people he was assigned with, didn't fucking help Rico liked zero of them. Well that was a lie, he really didn't know anyone that well yet. But then again if death found him... well, that was what he'd been searching for all these months."

Grayson Grayson stared at her for a while. He wasn't keen on running away from the battle. Alas, with his arm and shoulder - he was useless. It was just a thought he tried to keep away from himself. The sudden trickle of rain was felt on his cheek. Eyes casting towards her, he kept his jaw tight. "I'm not heading back yet. You move forward. I got your back."

Taeil After a moment of doing nothing but sitting around, Taeil decided to go outside, making sure that everything went well for everyone that stayed behind. At first, he just walked around the blocks, avoiding the front gate as much as possible. But eventually, his curiosity couldn't be contained any longer and before he knew it, he was already there. "Yo, Guys. Everything okay? I'll be patrolling inside for the time being, if there is I can do or get for you, just let me know."

Liam "Holy shit!" Liam jumped sideways as the cords and batteries nearly missed Matt's head, but as soon as he saw the other was okay he moved to help Aiden with jumping the battery. "I think this'll do it." He didn't wait for a go ahead before he connected it to the solar panels, and then the radio, waiting to see if it would take the the power source and glancing over to Matt with a raised brow. "You in the system yet?"

Elijah If the men hadn't seen them, there wouldn't be a need to fire. Now the gun shots would alert the remainder of the camp. And the rain, the fucking rain had intensified, drenching Elijah's clothes and making what he saw around him a blurry haze. He squinted, hoping to hit one of Xavier's men. There was a grunt and thump against the ground. He had succeeded, but there was more and chaos was already emerging in the camp.

Matt Matt was listening to Aiden, and waited for Liam to connect the radio. Static. "Yes! It worked okay good make sure that stays connected. Suddenly, the boy was distracted by looming clouds. The sky was getting dark -- meaning getting full use of the solar panels would be harder and harder. "No, no, no! That's not good." Matt moved over to the walkies, noticing a shift in the static. He held down the button and called out to all the other bases. "Guys? I need an update, it's homebase here -- is the connection still good? Those clouds aren't doing any one any favours. Over."

Lori Hunter was down. "Fuck," she yelled, ducking back behind her cover. Bullets were darting in her direction, but she trained her eyes on his fallen figure from a distance. Isaac and Terra hovered over him. "No, no, no-- we had a count, for fuck sakes!" Her breath caught in her throat. The rain was plummeting down now, making her hair stick to her face. Her feet cased in mud. She peered around, trying to find someone. Anybody. Where was Owen?

Savannah Savannah's grimace said it all. " So do you really want us to go back, or do you want to track these motherfuckers down? "

Grayson "Track them down. You already knew the answer, princess." Grayson spoke slowly, leaning off of the tree.

Graham The chemical fire that had started would not be put out so easily, but that did mean the other explosives would be hard to set off. "Right, we need to move. They'll need to be... reconfigured. I expected a drizzle, not a damn monsoon." He was being dramatic, but he was now pissed that his handy work was being destroyed. He had his child moments, and this was one of them. Taking two fingers, he directed the dog, making him too sweeping circles around them to alert should anything attempt to sneak up on them. "We cannot leave that amount of firepower down there. Unless. How good are you at that rifle?"

Matt Matt let the walkie drop and went back to the iPad. Hacking was his thing. It didn't take long to be right where he needed to be. He remembered there weren't exact locations for Xaviers camp but it had been marked roughly on the map in the room so he took chances and punched in numbers close enough. "Liam, I need to you turn the dial and see if you get an signal. It might take a few tries but we've got to do something."

Savannah With a small smile, Savannah nodded and then started tracking them. It wasn't an easy game, finding them in the woods. But they didn't count on something: she was pretty small and beautiful. She was all dressed in black, her hair now wet. She could have been a kid if it wasn't because she was holding a gun. She put an eye on him as well, checking. By the way, being called princess was fun.

Charlotte The voice on the other end of the radio was falling. Her gaze flickered towards it, a lump growing in her throat. They lost their only way of contact. Charlotte stared towards the camp and back at Tristan. Raising the radio to her lips, she spoke. "Testing connection. Over." If there was no reply, there was no longer any point of her staying this high. They would need someone down there rather than idly rubbing her hands together.

Aiden Hitting the receiver, she made the receiver jump back to life. "Matt, it's affecting the main."

Liam Liam grinned widely at the sound of static, but the moment of triumph was short lived. Following Matt's gaze upwards, his eyes locked onto the clouds and his expression grew grim. Not good. "Shit." He cursed under his breath, but there was nothing they could do if nature rebelled against them. Staying focused on their task, that was their best option right now -- and working fast, lest they start to lose connection with everyone. "On it." Moving back to the makeshift radio, Liam started to fiddle with the dial, holding an ear to the device as he listened for -- anything.

Ivy Holloway Ivy frowned. Rain. "God damn it, this isn't a Marvel movie! We don't need no wet hot boys out there. "

Grayson Grayson smirked playfully towards her. Though it was kind of hard to ignore the blinding fucking wound in his shoulder. Gladly, not his first. He knew how to handle himself. Rising up, he kept his eyes peeled towards the horizon. There was a faint flicker of shots that rang through the distance. They were trying to draw them out in panic. He kept his gun at his side, slowly moving to the side - towards the fire.

Elijah A voice came through on Elijah's walkie talkie. He ducked behind a building to answer. "Can hear you. A bit messed up though. Char. I need you to send in some of the defense team. Pretty sure Xavier will be notified of our presence shortly. We need all the attack force we can get and begin entering the camp before we get a full assault. Do you copy? Over."

Lyra Something stung her nose. Face scrunching in a frown, Lyra looked up at the gathering clouds and falling rain then groaned quietly. Apparently, Mother Nature wasn't taking any sides as the abrupt change in weather was likely to slow down and cripple both their teams and the enemy's. Gunshots sounded, loud and abrasive and she glanced at the Attack Team to find its members deeply engaged in battle. Shit, and she was hiding behind a fucking rock? She needed to do something but...she couldn't break team. It could fuck everything up. Mouth twisting in conflict, she turned towards Graham as he spoke, brushing her wet bangs off her forehead. She glanced down at her rifle then back at the man. "I'm pretty good!" She shouted over the loud rain. "What's your plan?"

Owen As if the noise wasn't enough. Guns going off, people slipping around, something like an explosion a little farther away -- and now there was rain, so much he had to reach up to wipe it out of his eyes. His hands weren't steady. He could feel his heart in his throat. Where the fuck were Max and Lexie? Was he even -- was he even going the right way? He leaned forward to squint at the building ahead of him (that was the main one, right? the big one?), took a breath, and forced himself to move faster.

Hunter Black mixed with his vision as he blinked back the pain as well as the rain that was blurring what was left of his ability to see as it poured down on his shoulders, pushing him deeper into the mud and mixing blood with the ground beneath him. Hunter's head rolled on his shoulders, falling forward if not for the pressure on his side and the ringing in his head from the voices that called out to him. His arm didn't work, neither did his legs as he attempted to push himself back up again while the pain only radiated out further throughout his body, causing him to shiver and fall back down again in the mud. "Should have seen that one coming, huh?" A stupid smirk on his lips before his head rolled forward with the rest of his body into the mud.

Matt Matt gritted his teeth thinking of any way they could increate the power supply. The only thing that came to mind was the generator. But he didn't want to pull any rash moves until he'd heard back from anyone. There was shaky voice, Charlotte's voice came from the other side of the walkie and Matt gave a sigh of relief. He pushed back over to the walkie, feeling as though he was doing a million things at once. Then Elijah's came through. Definitely not loud and clear but he could fix that. Matt brought the walkie to his lips. "Working on the connection now, we'll get it back to it's regularly scheduled level of static in no time. You guys just work on the enemy. We're working on getting into their communication systems ourselves. Over."

Savannah As she watched Grayson this time, another movement followed. It wasn't exactly fair, though, how the girl pushed his mate to the floor to shoot the man right in the face. We could say her heartbeat ran faster for a second. Then she offered a hand. " Sorry about pushing you. People don't like it, usually. I apologize"

Charlotte The brunette spoke through the walkie talkie. Her brows furrowed as the rain began to pour down on them. "I'll send them over now. Over." She dropped her weapon, plucking up a flare gun. She fired it off, signalling the remainder of the defense the move forward.

Terra Terra ignored Hunter's stupid remark, angry at him for smirking in the face of what had just happened. "Shut up," she told him, hands pressing harder onto the wound. Blood spilled through her fingers but she was not going to give up on him. Pulling out the walkie-talkie with her free hand, she hit the right button and called, "Man down. Repeat, man down. Second weapons unit. Over." Whoever heard, she prayed they would send help quickly.

Liam Liam looked up from what he was doing at Aiden's words. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. That wasn't good -- but then Elijah's voice came through on the main. For now, they were okay. They had communications, and as Liam turned back to his radio he was struck by another thought, and he looked back to his teammates. "Wait - so long as we still have communication - we might be able to interrupt theirs. Let out a signal that will block them. Might be a better use of our time, if the clouds are just going to get worse. At least we can knock out their comms before we lose any of ours."

Aiden "Let's tap into the cell." Her boots scuffed the floorboards as she looked at the two boys. She'd likely spark something up, but she'd do it. "I'll do it. This way only one of us will fry, yeah?"

Hannibal Hann felt the weather growing more restless, as if it was reflecting the movements of the man himself. If that was the case, they would all be lucky not to witness a goddamned hurricane. He thought he saw the makings of the Center complex and headed towards it it wasn't until he got within arm's reach of the door that he noticed it, he wasn't with his team anymore.. In fact the mammoth of a man had managed to completely lose track of any of his friendlies. He couldn't worry about it for very long, he heard a stream of footsteps coming from inside the main complex. He prepared for another fight, gritting his teeth as the door swung open and his axe burrowed its way into a man's chest. Not one of his. Good. Hann was determined now, to hold the entrance of the main complex by himself, at least until someone he knew came to clear the building out. He wasn't sure if he would be able to hold his position very long especially not alone, but he had made a promise and intended to keep it. Regardless of the cost.

Elijah He brought the walkie talkie to his lips once more, hearing Matt. "Thank you. I hope you can figure it out. Guess we didn't anticipate the storm. Do what you can. Over." Then Char's voice came in. "Tell them to be prepared. Over." Tucking the item back into his pocket, he hurried out onto the battle field again.

Isaac Isaac let out a weak kind of sound as Hunter slumped, his own feet slipped and slid in the quickly liquifying ground and he struggled to roll the other face up. He glanced to Terra before looping his hands under Hunter's shoulders and tugging him, with Terra following, further into the relative safety and cover of the shed.

Graham "Set them off with the rifle." He stepped closer to her and explained what they looked like, for once not worried that he was yelling. He gestured and explained then it was solid. Or at least he hoped. "Either that or we can move them and then use them like... fucking huge grenades. But I'm already deaf in one ear and would not recommend." The flare lit up the night and he looked toward Lyra. "Better idea?"

Matt Matt looked over to Liam and handed him the iPad. "Use the map, any co-ordinates that you think could be close to the location marked use them until you get the signal. Once you're in you'll be able to use transmitter connected to the radio," Matt pointed to the small handheld radio mic that was connected to the radio. "To actually communicate with them. If you want to just scramble the fuck out of it just use the code I've put up on the iPad." Matt pointed to the extra tab found in the terminal of the iPad. "But I've got this feeling you know what to do." Matt stood up again, "Aiden I'm going out to get the generator from the community centre. I need you to just to make sure communications are stable till I get back."

Grayson The sudden movement caused the man to crash into the mud. It caked his face, knowing that the woman was only returning the favor with a sound shot in the distance. "It's fine." He coughed roughly, grasping her hand to stand. They needed to take down the others. But how?

Matt Matt shook his head, "Aiden you do what you have to do to keep those communications up. If that means potentially setting fire to the radio base you do that. Keep it under control. I'll be back."

Charlotte Charlotte heard the static through, grasping the walkie talkie. Was this Terra? She knew the voice was familiar. "Take them out of the battle. Try to get them back to the clinic. If not, keep them in cover and away from the remainder of battle. Over."

Lori Through the fog, the rain pelting down, feet slipping through the mud, she found him. "Owen," she called over gunfire and rain, notching an arrow, letting it fly through the air to take down an approaching target. "We gotta get inside." She said, her feet slipping, a handful of his shirt in her hand to keep herself steady. She tried to remember the blueprints, the outline of the camp. It was near impossible to see anything through the rain, the splash of mud, the gunfire and bloodshed. Lori's hands reached for a doorknob, twisted it, and pulled him into the building.

Gwen The rain began pouring down in sheets, obstructing everyone's view and making the judgment of who belonged on your team and who was the enemy almost indiscernible. Gwen would not try her luck at potentially becoming a victim of friendly fire, survival instinct taking over as she forcibly jerked open a back door to the central hub and barricaded herself inside. Machete in hand, she began a cautious stalk down the corridor.

Diana The flare gun fired, Diana's head snapping to attention. She knew what that meant. They had to go in. Whatever their plan had been, it wasn't going like it should have. Expected. She hurried forward, oddly not as scared as she should be. She'd fire if she had to, she told herself. She'd fire the bloody gun. She moved in unison with other members of the defense team, hearing bullets whizzing as she entered the gates. Xavier's crew was alert and they were nasty blokes even amidst the rain, she could see the look of evil on their faces, their eagerness. It made her sick. But in the process, she saw a body lying on the ground and a woman hovered over the figure. She recognized him instantaneously and Diana didn't hesitate. She ran towards him, her feet slopping up rain and mud. She didn't care. She didn't freakin' care. She slid to a halt, lowering down to Hunter, glancing from Terra to his injury. "What happened? What fucking happened?"

Savannah She didn't even check the body. Right in the man's nose. It was gross to see. Helping Grayson to stand up, the girl nodded. " They need our help more than ever. This thing is fucked up. We shouldn't have come. May we have fun at least, okay?"

Matt Matt took off out of the radio room, he saw the gate, he saw Ivy and his gut lurched as he wanted to go over and see her -- make sure she was okay and tell her stupid things like how pretty she was. But this wasn't the time. Matt took off, seeing Taeil and knowing he'd come in handy. "Hey! Taeil right? C'mon, I need your help with something."

Terra How in the /world/ would they get Hunter back to the city? He would bleed out before they were even halfway there. Terra shook her head, glancing up at Isaac helplessly. She was a damn soldier not a medic. She knew how to press down on a wound but she couldn't be doing this until this raid was over. Shaking her head she nodded at Isaac. "Tell them we can't move him!"

Aiden Her eyes stayed on the dials, keeping everything stable, the rain pissing her off more than it should. It was bad enough without being soaking wet like a drowned rat.

Grayson "It's what the fucking city thought was best." Grayson spoke, staring down at the man. He ran his sleeve past his face, wiping of the mud. He stood, blinking harshly to regain his vision. He was still losing blood, but alas - was alright. "Let's find any other strays."

Rivka Rivka walked with Gwen who was alone down the corridor. Elijah was with the others. Hannibal, Rico, and Lexi. "What's your plan?" she asked the blonde as they went down the hall. Rivka went ahead of Gwen by a few steps to be on point. She had a gun to fire at enemies, while Gwen had to be in close range. "What's your plan, Gwen?" she asked in an urgent tone.

Isaac Isaac slid precariously back out into the half-light of the driving rain, quickly becoming drenched and covered in mud up to his knees from getting a grip on Hunter's motionless body. He lined the glock up and caught one of Xavier's men in the shoulder, a breath punching out of him at the mere act of doing something vaguely helpful. The man had been focused on the streaming of others in through the front gate. He glanced down as he retreated back into the weapons shed to see a dark stain that couldn't be anything other than Hunter's blood on his sweatshirt. He suppressed a gag at the sight, moving back toward Hunter and an irate looking dark haired girl who shouted questions into Terra's face.

Liam Liam took the ipad, nodding his understanding to Matt's instructions. "No worries, dude, I got this." And he did. Before he started, though, he glanced over at Aiden. "Let me know if you need me." At this point, keeping their own communications up and running was more important than messing with the enemy's. With that, he began turning the dial of the radio he'd doctored up, testing sets of coordinates and praying for something, anything to come through the other side.

Taeil Seeing Matt took off from his post, Taeil wasted no time to check on him immediately. "Sure! What's wrong? If you can tell me what happens, you should just go back to your post, I'll handle it."

Savannah She shrugged and nodded again. As she checked her bullets, she stopped a second to offer him her red scarf, showing her scar for a few seconds. She wrapped it around the wound and nodded once more before moving away, right back into the hunt.

Terra What did she think happened? "He got hit," she told Diana quickly, no time to explain anything else. "Take over," she ordered the girl, hoping to give her something to do other than shouting at her. "Press down hard and don't let him move."

Kathryn Kathryn dug through the supplies. Boxes were ripped open, supplies scattered around the floor. They were safe from the gun fire. At least for now. Her hand sudden laced around a box of weapons, her hands trembling madly. She slid what she could in her jeans, the other - into the bag that hung from her side.

Axel Axel saw the drop of the body behind him only out of the corner of his eye as he took out shooter after shooter. Was it Isaac? Fear lanced through his chest at the thought, he'd intended to keep the other boy close - out of harms way. He'd already failed him once, he couldn't think what would happen if he'd failed him again. He spun when the coast was fairly clear - at least it seemed Graham's distraction had set in well -finding Hunter slumped in the mud with Isaac and Terra tending to him. A part of him was relieved to see that it wasn't Isaac, but losing Hunter wasn't any more reassuring. "Just get him inside!" Axel called through the rain, "We'll keep him safe here and keep all others out, that's the task anyway right?" He scowled as Diana rushed over, watching her kneel beside Hunter before his attention redirected back to the battle.

Diana "Christ, are you both mad?" It was blood, a lot of blood, but Diana had been here before. His house, an infection, the puss exposed from his skin, his fever running high. This would be just like that. He'd be fine. "We're going to need to get the bullet out," she told the dark haired woman. "For now," she pressed her lips together in thought as she applied more pressure to the wound. They needed to get him out of here. Because if they didn't, chances wouldn't be good for him.

Cole Cole shoved multitudinous amounts of Twinkies into his pockets.

Ivy Holloway Ivy wanted to know something about what was going on. Fuck. She would have preferred to be there already. Rain was falling more now. She sneezed and cursed right after it, watching blood on her hands. " God damn it. "

Matt Matt was glad to see Taeil waste no time in getting over to him. "No, this is a two person job and I've got Aiden and Liam under control. We're going to go get the generator from community center and bring it to the radio room." He took a breath, practically jogging to get over to the community centre. "It's the only way to keep communications up and running with all this rain and clouds. Because no sun means solar panels don't work. The two of them came up on the community centre, Matt moved to open the doors, running off into the control room. "This is gonna be heavy." Matt unplugged the generator and shifted it so the both could get a good enough grip. "You ready?"

Dexter His face was red, the rhythmic sound of his weapon going off was the only thing that really kept him focused. Chaos was something Dexter was used to handling, so he did it with every fiber in his being, returning the gunfire that befell them before growling lowly, ducking back behind his barricade he'd designated as his means of cover. Blue eyes found his team and lack therefore. "Shit--" Man down.

Grayson "Thank you." Grayson stared towards her, grateful in the gesture. There was a wicked scar that drew across her neck. He didn't question her. They all had their own demons. They all had something to hide. He kept their feet moving. They moved through the mudded areas, hoping that the rain would let up. His figure sagged as they began to move. It was obvious to see that he was trained. Everything else melted away from the situation except their goal. He kept the weapon drawn, firing off shots towards any figure that passed them. Whether they were friend or foe, they would find that out later.

Lyra "I ain't got shit so, we'll go with your plan!" She shouted, blinking rain drops out of her eyelashes as she aimed at the grenades. Damn it. Of all times, her brain chose that particular moment to fucking malfunction. She couldn't think, couldn't hear, couldn't breathe, but she could aim. Her training sessions with Terra had turned her into a near professional when it came to handling guns and rifles. But the fucking rain was making it hard to see her target, and even harder to keep the rifle steady in her hands. Taking a deep breath, she blinked more water out of her eyes, unblinking eyes focused on the buried grenades. There was no room for failure. Not this time. Not when something as deterimental as this depended on her. Breathing deeply through her nose, she willed the tremble away from her fingers, closed one eye then focused on her target. Heart beating so fast, she felt it would burst out of her chest, she pulled the trigger, took the shot, and..sent the damn grenades into a vigorous set of explosions

Terra Get the bullet out? Here? Now? Was she serious? "Can't this wait?" Terra yelled over the rain. This had to wait. This wasn't the place to conduct a surgery of any kind. But if there was no other option she would letthe girl have her way. "You do what you have to do," Terra said and finally took her blood soaked hands from Hunter's wounds.

Owen Was that -- did he just see someone split someone open? With an axe? This was bad. This was bad. This was /bad/, and he flinched when Lori touched him, spinning around with wild eyes. "Yeah," he breathed, with a light nod. He needed to get his shit together. Any minute now, he was gonna kick it into gear. For now, he let her steer him into the shed, a /thank you/ on his tongue; the door had hardly shut behind them when someone stood up across the room. Without natural light, the guy was just an outline. It could be Max, right? Or Lexie? "Hey!" he shouted. His voice was still quiet against the outside din.

Isaac "I can carry him. Axel. I can carry him back to the gate if Terra can cover me." He cast a glance to Diana and the pain in her face, she didn't look like she could hold a weapon while she was trying to tend to Hunter's wounds. The plan was terrible, awful, but he couldn't just wait while the girl dug her fingers into that tiny wound and felt around for a piece of metal that was tearing Hunter apart. Isaac trembled, crowded over the prone form and dragged a hand back through his hair covered in a mixture of blood and mud.

Gwen An unfamiliar voice appeared at Gwen's side, her footsteps having given her away moments prior. "Kill or be killed," she responded sharply, never one to do well with a partner. Still, this unfamiliar brunette carried a long range weapon that could benefit the blonde if she required cover. "Stay behind and don't get in my way." With that, she marched on ahead and around a corner where the sensation of another's presence had her machete swinging into the male's carotid artery, effectively silencing him before she lowered his limp frame quietly to the ground.

Savannah Savannah was not the one to ask so, anytime she'd see a figure, she would just shoot them, just as his partner did. It was nice thinking about how good they leant on each other for team work. Especially because she wasn't that good at team work. After what happened with the blue eyed reflex of herself on the red district, that skill was slowly growing stronger.

Taeil Taeil swallowed a lump at how intense what was once an unnerving-yet-still-calm morning for him turned out to be. It didn't take long until the two of them arrived at the community center and prepared to move the huge generator. "Yeah it looks like it's gonna be heavy," Taeil breathed out a sigh as he got ready to take the machine with his new friend. "Alright, let's do this."

Graham The rain hissed as it hit the fire, hot from chemicals and loading a quarrel into the bow strings, he stopped for a half a second, breathing and releasing the arrow, watching it spiral and hit an enemy in the neck. It was all about feel, the weight of the arrow. A compound bow was harder to load and aim quickly, longbows had been the superior weapon through basically a whole century overseas. They weren't a match against the bullet, but bullets ran out. Trees were never short on branches for arrows. His eyes went back to Lyra, who he needed to keep tabs on. Not that she wasn't capable, but she was important--she was his partner.

Liam "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...." Liam muttered under his breath, as if his prodding might actually help him find a signal more quickly. Over and over again he fiddled with the dial, desperately hoping for any kind of signal. Each second that passed felt like an hour and then finally - "Holy shit!" He could hear -- something. It was fuzzy, crackling, but it definitely wasn't the same things there were coming through the main radio. So now the only question was -- to scramble their comms, or try to say something that would throw them off.

Hannibal Hann was now thoroughly drenched in blood, not totally sure if it was mostly his or his enemies. He decided he couldn't just hold the door any longer. He kicked down the front door of the main complex and was immediately met by several snaps, the bullets met Hann's right shoulder. He grabbed his assailant by the skull, gouging his thumbs deep into the man's eyesockets. Once the body stopped twitching he dropped it to the floor, like discarded rags. "WHO'S NEXT, FACE ME YOU COWARDS! MEET DEATH WITH OPEN ARMS!" His rage began to boil over and he could feel the fibers of his muscles constrict. This was bad, for everyone. If he blacked out now, there would be no stopping the man from tearing through his own just like he had been shredding through Xavier's

Diana There wasn't time to wait, but they also didn't have the resources. She would have to risk infection in order to save him, or at least get him somewhere where she could work on the injury without being shot at. "If you can carry him, even a small distance out of here, I can save him."

Grayson They moved swiftly. It was almost - as if it was before all the chaos. Back to back. He began to count them up. Though the more they trudged towards the woods, the less there seemed to be of them. Grayson slowed his movements, turning his head back. "We should head back to the camp. Check out the middle grounds to make sure they aren't sending multiple teams."

Terra "I'll cover!" Terra nodded, addressing both Isaac, Hunter and Axel. She would do everything necessary to get Hunter back to the clinic alive. "At least halfway, , out of shooting range, the rest you will have to run alone." As much as she cared for Hunter's well being, there was no way she would let the team fight Xavier alone. "All right, let's go!"

Rivka "That's not a plan," Rivka said in an equally sharp tone. "You go in without any sort of plan, you will die." She glanced at the blonde, realizing now wasn't the time to snap at or fight with the other woman. She watched the woman swing a machete. As another man came around, she fired. He went down like a stone along with the man who came behind him.

Matt The dark haired boy nodded at the other, it was lucky it had wheels too but there were steps and gravel to go over they had to carry it some of the way. Matt lifted one end as Taeil lifted the other over the thresh hold of the control room and then they rolled through the middle of the centre till they hit steps. "Okay, ready? One... Two... Three." The pair lifted the generator over and down the steps, keeping the generator in their grasp as they moved over the city trying to run to keep out of the rain but trying not to trip. "Almost there!"

Savannah The black haired girl stopped herself touching one of them with her boots. " You should go back to the camp. " She proposed. " I can take the war. You're wounded."

NBEadmin A rumble of thunder was heard overhead. The sky was growing angrier. No lightning. Not at first and then it crackled above. One strike, then another. Being able to hear the attack and the defense team grew challenging, then impossible. A muffled stream of voices. Loud, blaring static. Another bolt flew through the air, striking an abandoned house. It caught fire immediately, smoke rising, catching the attention of those who remained at homebase.

Grayson "I'm definitely not leaving you alone here." Grayson stared towards her for a long while. He was conflicted. It was needed to warn home base of the other teams arrival, but he also felt some strict conviction to keep her safe. At least, be there to make sure nothing went wrong.

Lori As soon as the door was shut behind them, leaving them dry and covered in darkness, a figure stood from a chair across the room. Was it someone from their team? She didn't have the time to think about it, pushing Owen down by the shoulders to take cover as bullets started flying in their direction. She cursed, hiding behind a shelf -- fully stocked with weapons. Luckily, she only needed one. "Are you-- Are you ready?"

Aiden "Fuck!" Her palm slammed into the machine. It hurt, but no more than her rage. Eyes went back to the roof, the lightning. She would fry. "Liam. I'm going on the roof. I'm going to see if I can get the dish to amplify our radio. Through this shit."

Matt Matt and Taeil had the generator in hand when the thunder cracked through, the both of them stopped in their tracks. Then, the lightning came. "This is so not good." Matt took a moment before keeping up as the two went back to running back to the radio room. "If that lightning hits our satellite set up we're fucked."

Charlotte Charlotte stared towards her radio, brows furrowing as she began to realize that they may have completely lost contact. "I can't see anything. Update. Over."

Savannah The girl looked at him and approached him to take him by his shirt and approach his fae to hers. " Go back to camp. Tell people to hide. Lead some of them. Save Piper. Who should I save for you? " It wasn't a conversation. It was an order. An exchange

Ada Ada couldn’t take it anymore. The waiting game was unbearable. Not knowing her friends were okay was a torture all on itself. She’d ventured out to walk, Fall City was a ghost city, no one around and it was truly haunting. A few people gathered in the distance, those who were supposed to work on defending the fence and the gate. There was an urge to join them, as reckless as it sounded. She knew Ivy was there, small steps were taken towards it when rain poured over her. Rain wasn’t a good sign, it never was. It could change everything, all the plans the other teams had. But regardless of rain, she made her way towards the nearest fence and just started walking, all to find her friend. “Ivy?” She wasn’t certain where she was exactly, but she only wanted to make sure she was fine. Lightning hit in the distance and Ada stopped short. Maybe this had been a bad idea after all.

Gwen Gwen pivoted on her heel to hiss in the woman's direction. "I'm not asking you to follow my plan. I'm not asking you to follow me at all." If a larger grouping rounded in their direction, both women would essentially be cornered by a firing squad. For being hand chosen members of the attack team, several of them seemed to lack the necessary finesse that came with quietly removing a threat. As the sound of deep voices called down the corridor, she knew their position had been uncovered. "Incredible."

Liam Liam pulled his attention from the radio and whirled around to face Aiden, shock written clearly across his face. "Are you shitting me? You'll get struck by lightning, it's not worth it. Won't do enough to make a difference, not with this lightning."

Taeil Being the clumsy person that he was, it was just a matter of time until Taeil tripped. The blame wasn't on any of the gravel nor the uneven terrain of the street; it was fully on him. Maybe it was the upcoming storm and the anxiety in Matt's voice, but eventually finding it too hard to keep up with Matt's fast pace, one of Taeil's foot just happened to step on the other, causing the Asian boy's face to hit the asphalt in a second. "Dammit!"

Grayson "Alright." Grayson stared towards her, tightening his jaw. "Make sure Lori is safe. She's in deep with the attack group. Just make sure you're safe here. I ain't ready to see you in one of those graves here." With that, the man turned from her and headed back towards the camp. His boots crushed against the mud to be the messenger.

Rico "Gesù Cristo!" They were most certainly going to die, this whole operation was lead by a bunch of morons and Rico was gonna fucking die over their dumbasses. The storm outside wasn't helping either, this was just all going wrong and Rico didn't want to be there. Pop! Pop! Two fires from his weapon as he continued to follow the group he was with. Dark eyes grew darker as all his fleeting thoughts of selfish reasons left his mind, at least until he had time to think again. "Fucking--- Fuckers."

Ivy Holloway It wasn't raining cats and dogs. It was raining a motherfucking Noah's ship. However, Ivy stood her ground, trying to see through the rain. She heard her name and turned around. She recognized her voice. /Ada/ She wanted to reply but the lightning stroke and her only answer was to hit the fence with her hand and try to hear something from her. " Ada! Are you alright? " She turned her back on the outside lands.

Kathryn Kathryn stared towards Cole. "Is that all you're bringing?" Dumbfounded.

Matt Half the generator collapsed under Matt and the green eyed boy turned to see Taeil had tripped. Matt wasn't mad, in fact he was surprised it hadn't happened to him. "C'mon!" Matt yelled through the noises of the storm. He put the rest of the generator down and moved to help Taeil up. "We gotta go c'mon." As soon as the other boy was up, Matt nodded at him as if to ask if he was okay to keep going. He lifted his side of the generator and waited for the other to do so.

Rivka "You might not be asking it, but I am following you," Rivka snapped. She was a soldier and soldiers followed orders. As an agent, she followed orders. She was always following someone else's orders. On her own, she could make her own contingency plan. "Keep moving," she said in a firm voice. As another man came down the hall, Rivka fired a shot before he could reach Gwen.

Axel Axel watched the scene unfold, eyes flickering between Diana and Hunter before turning back towards the fight that was sure to be brewing outside. They didn't have time to waste to try and get Hunter all the way back to Fall City, not when their people needed him here, needed them here. He hesitated, not wanting to leave Isaac behind, and not wanting to let Isaac go without him. Or Diana - or really any of this. "Alright, get him to the gates and get him out of here, I'll stand guard until you guys get back."

Savannah /Stay safe/. Just as she whispered to Piper before going to sleep. Just as he's walked away she smiles. " I want my fucking scarf back!" She says before running back into Xavier's camp. Fuck those motherfuckers. She's not afraid to die.

Grayson Grayson made it to the city gates after a span of time, panting and his body slumped. His hands drew towards the first person there. He had to be the one to deliver. He didn't care for medical help, but really - to warn them. To let hem know before it was too late.

Cole "Just snacks for on the go," he responded nonchalantly, as if somewhat perplexed she'd even asked such a question. "I'm not a fuckin' babysitter."

Kathryn "Then leave." Kate stared towards him, tilting her head to the side towards him. If he was so compelled to hate the place, why join the fight?

Diana Diana nodded at Axel's instructions, glancing at him with determination and an undercurrent of fear in her eyes. "You, becareful. Ya' hear me. Be fucking careful." Because Hunter was already down. There was a greater chance Axel could be too and she didn't want to think about that. She couldn't think about that.

Isaac Isaac huffed a second, beginning the holstering of his weapons before offering his hand gun to Diana to take, hesitantly. The adrenaline coursing through him was suddenly overwhelming everything else and he heaved the prone form of Hunter onto his back. They were going to be a huge target, ridiculous really. He felt something settle as he realised how likely he was to die for this man who he had never before spoken to and a tiny, ridiculous laugh spurted from his lips before he turned to Diana and Terra. Braced against the slippery earth under his feet. "Ready?" He questioned, before darting out into the sheets of grey rain.

Ada And then it hit again. A gulp was taken but Ada managed to hear her friend through the fence. Her heart fluttered against her chest, in relief to hear her gentle voice. “Y-yeah, I’m fine. I just - .. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.” By the look of things, fine wasn’t an option anymore. These people were all out and about, and the rain and all it brought could be deadly. Even she was taking a chance by being out in the open. But this was better than being locked inside and worrying over her friends. “Ivy.. I have a bad feeling about this..”

Taeil As soon as Matt reached out for him, Taeil grabbed his hand and pulled himself together. It wasn't like he sprained his ankle or anything, but he could feel a bleeding scratched on his left knee. His already slow pace became even slower with the injury, but he had to suck it up. "I'm okay, just need a band aid. We can do that later, let's just keep going." The radio room was only a few meters away and already in their line of sight. "There, we made it."

Terra Terra would have their back until they were a safe distance away from Xavier's camp. "Go," she nodded and urged them out of the weapons shed and towards home. "Quickly." Usually full of patience this was the time Terra had absolutely none. She walked sideways, her weapon aimed, her eyes focused.

Owen All his thoughts were short. Simple. They were being shot at, and Owen thought /we're being shot at/, and then he was on the floor behind a shelf as the bullets hit the door they'd come in through. He had to get in her face to hear her. Are you ready. Any minute now, he'd said -- except there wasn't time to wait, and Lori's eyes were large, and he swallowed to center himself. Nodded. Thinned his mouth. Nodded again. He flexed his palm around the grip of the gun, wet from the rain. When he shot, he did it blindly, around the side of the shelf. The noise rang in his ears.

Cole "It might surprise you, considering the only thing you do in your spare time is struggle with your apparent drug addiction and I still don't judge you for your choices," he commented, not being the only one to notice the side effects straining her features. "I'm 'ere for target practice, I happen to enjoy the thrill."

Aiden Boots that scraped on the surface distracted her and she moved to help the boys. "Comms are down. Fucking rain." That needs to be the first things we do

Liam Panic bubbled up in the pit of his stomach as the static on their comm system seemed to carry on longer and longer, and he was rethinking telling Aiden her idea was stupid. Jesse was in a tree, and -- a glance outside a window told him something was burning. He went for the mic on the main radio. "This is the main -- does anybody read me? Anybody?"

Diana Diana took the handgun. It was another something she could fire, another thing that could shake in her hands. But these people were counting on her just as she was counting on them to get Hunter to the gates, out of this hell hole. She ignored the blood staining her hands, how it ran in between the crevices of her skin, seeped under her nails. She raised her weapon and Isaac's prepared to aim at anyone who tried to stop them, anyone who tried to hurt these people who didn't have to save Hunter. "Ready," she nodded firmly. "And I- thank you."

Lyra Shooting down yet another one of Maverick's bitches, Lyra had no time to revel in the victory before an angry bolt of lightning shot through the sky, illuminating it in an ominous flash of blinding light which was shocking enough to have her stagger back a few paces. Shit. The weather was getting worse and worse and there seemed to be no end to their battle. Running towards Graham after they had split apart, Lyra gave him a quick once-over then exhaled as she witnessed no injuries. As for her, her limp was throbbing but it was tolerable. It didn't matter. Reaching forward to grab Graham's shoulder, Lyra shouted, "We need to find shelter before--" Another bolt of lightning flashed. "--before this lightning turns into fried meals for the lurkers!"

Ivy Holloway Ivy smiled and leant her front on the fences. Her voice behind them was so calming! After being out there for a bit, Ivy started feeling like she had been alone for ages. Her voice, right there, was everything. " It's raining, babe. " She said, trying to speak loud so she could hear her. " A little rain can hardly hurt me. " She cleant her hands on her jeans. A small sight. Yeah, she wasn't exactly feeling good about it. " Ada, promise me this. Okay? Promise me we'll stay together, a'right? "

Kathryn "Fucking blaze up then." Kate stared forward, eyes narrowing in his direction. It was true. He never really spoke to her about it. Alas, it simply wasn't something she needed. "I'm fine and definitely don't need you baby sitting."

Matt Matt was glad no major damage had been inflicted on Taeil by the fall. All that mattered now was making sure they got back to the radio room on time. They had to keep going, soldier on. Step after step, breath after breath. Eventually the two made it. "Finally!" Matt shouted at Taeil as they made it back to the house with all their supplies and radios. They pulled the generator up and over steps in two big heavs. "You got it?" Matt made sure Taeil was fine and after they got inside Matt fell to the floor, taking at least a second to recover.

Isaac Isaac's feet felt unbearably heavy as they sank into the pools of mud that threatened to stick him. He had always been fast, the fastest but his extra weight was taxing and the quick sprint he had been aiming for quickly began to dwindle. He kept a good, even pace though, facing straight toward the opening he needed to reach. Trying, desperately, to trust in the two guns that were trained on his assailants.

Matt However there was work to be done. He needed to connect the generator to the radio's and so much more. Matt pushed himself up inspecting Liam, he'd gotten the radio connected, he smirked feeling pride in both himself and Liam. Matt took the power cord and connected the radio connection to the generator. "Taeil! I need you to kick start the generator, you got that? Pull on that cord, it takes about three times!"

Cole "That I will, Princess," he retorted with a wide Cheshire-cat grin, ripping a packet open with his own teeth, following shortly with a single bite.

Terra If shots were fired, Terra couldn't tell if they were fired at them or someone else. Whatever, she fired once, twice, and then turned to look at Isaac, Diana and Hunter to make sure they were okay. They were, running towards home base. Terra prayed they would make it in time. "How's he holding up?" She shouted through the rain.

Graham "Probability that it will hit a human on the ground before all these buildings is low." He said and let another arrow loose and did not wait to confirm that it hit its mark. He knew that it did. He wasn't the best-- but he was pretty good. Good enough, not as good as Tate, but decent. Making a gesture, the dog moved carefully, but he nodded to Lyra saying that she was right. "We need to help the attack team get anyone who is injured out." They moved together toward the side, taking cover and slowly moving toward their own people.

Hannibal Hann had dispatched several more men before picking up one that he had nearly beaten unconcious, "WHERE IS HE?!?" he backhanded the man "WHERE IS XAVIER?!?" Hann continued to beat the man until he lost it, Hann snapped, all cohesive thought fled his mind all that remained inside of the man was hate and an insatiable need for vengeance. He now growled into what was left of the main complex. He felt the sting of another round burrowing into his side, he reacted swiftly before another shot could be fire, he threw his axe with all of his might, decapitating his assailant, he retrieved his axe and followed the sound of men calling "Down here, we've got two of them." Two of them he thought? Two of who. He followed the group of men to their destination, that's when he saw them. the blonde he met earlier and another. Before the group of men could raise weapons Hann rushed them, tackling all six of the men to the ground with one rush. He was outnumbered, but wasn't going to watch them attack the girls.

Matt For the moment Matt was way too focused on what was happening between the three boys. He looked back to Liam and moved away from the generator as he did so he noticed Aiden was gone. He searched slightly before addressing Liam. "Where's Aiden? Where did she go?"

Dexter He hadn't protected them like he had been meaning to and because of that one of his comrades, a kid no less, was injured. With a grunt Dexter bit down on his tongue to steady himself, he had to focus, there were still those he had to protect. Slamming another clip into his gun Dex grunted taking a few steadying breaths of air.

Savannah Savannah entered chaos as a home. She was looking for a blonde, trying to save her to win Grayson's approval on their treat. However, if she didn't find her, she'll just say they were late about it. Firsts things first, Savannah recognised the clues on this place and the shadows they casted were far too long. Only one man could do such thing. The man who knew the story about her scar and the man who trained her to fight. Nonetheless, if she were to fight him, it was not like she cared anymore. She leant on walls and made it inside, hiding.

Kathryn A grin shifted on her lips towards the man. Ridiculously as hell, but at least knew how to make a presence. She turned her head, extending a hand out. "Hand me your bag then. I'll take more supplies."

Lori Owen shot first. Another weapon was still firing. Lori watched him, eyes wide, wiping mud onto the back of her jeans, before she darted around the corner of the shelf and squeezed the trigger. Ducked again. She didn't have time to think, didn't have time to remember the way Terra had taught her how to stand. Terra. And then Hunter-- he'd been down. Isaac. What about Charlie? And Lyra? Where... Where were they all? Were they okay? She swallowed around her fears, swivelled around the corner again, fired another shot. A body fell to the ground. Lori breathed, moved back towards Owen, fingers clutching at his shirt, clinging to his stomach from the rain outside. "'Kay, I think we're clear." She moved out from the cover, started pulling weapons into her backpack. The door clicked open.

Taeil Trying to catch his breath from both tiredness and coldness of his wet body, Taeil couldn't word out any answer but several quick nods. As his breath stabilized, he stood up and got ready to pull the cord Matt asked him to. First try, second try, and he finally made it in the third try, despite his weak muscles. Taking out a band aid he always kept in his jeans pocket, he took his time mending his injury while watching Matt moving away. He couldn't see his friend's expression very clear, but it was definitely not indicating great news. "What now, Matt?"

Ada Ivy sounded so confident, but Ada knew the girl was probably as worried as her. Blue hues glanced at the skies, they only seemed to get darker as time passed. Ada was starting to get fidgety, overly stressed. It wasn’t good. All she wanted was for everyone to be safe, she wanted to hug her friend and tell her how much she meant for her. Ivy was like her sister at this point. “I-I promise..” Promises weren’t made to be broken.

Liam The longer Liam went without a response, the more panicked he grew. He wasn't losing his brother, not again. They were going to make this work. As soon as Matt returned with the generator, an unfamiliar face in tow, Liam rushed toward him, passing off the makeshift radio he'd been working on. "Here, I'll help him with the generator." But the other guy seemed to have it under control, the machine up and running when Liam got there. Except -- it spluttered out a second later. "Shit," Liam cursed under his breath. "Lemme take a look at it."

Diana In and out - the rhythm of her breaths. Her eyes couldn't help and drift to Hunter, to the blood pooling on his clothes, the lifelessness of his body. He would be okay. She had saved him once and she'd do it again. "He could be better, much better. He's breathing however. And that's all we can ask for right now," she called back to Terra, ducking as a bullet whizzed past her head. She looked for the source of the shot, swallowed her pride, her fear, and pulled the trigger. She didn't check to see if she had hit the target. She just kept moving. She had to keep moving.

Xavier So two could play at this game, it seemed. Fall City thought they were going to come back and take his camp from him without a few casualties in the mix? When the information of the invasion had been first brought to him he could only laugh about how silly it had sounded. They would have to pry it from his dead, bloodied hands if they wanted it, and he sure hoped they didn't think it would be easy. A shot gun resided in his hand as the doors were beaten down to his complex, observing a bit lazily as a brutish man stood growling in the front lobby and took out a sizable amount of his men. Well that simply wouldn't do. "Ye lookin' for me?" He remarked simply, the Irish accent rolling off his tongue before his weapon was lifted and a volley of bullets rained down on Hannibal.

Grayson Walking back from the gate, the man shot off a round - damaging the lock. He trudged forward, trying to force his way towards the clinic. He shoved open the door before laying eyes on Robert and Cris. Neither of which he knew. "They're heading this way. The radio is out, right?"

Ivy Holloway Slowly turning around, knowing she shouldn't have ketp the eyes away from the forests, Ivy took a deep breath. Unfortunately, promises weren't made to be broken but broke gracefully everytime. Promises made Ivy feel lighter these days. " You know that scarf we knitted? It could be handy. I'm cold. " She said.

Taeil While he excelled at engineering himself, there were things beyond Taeil's knowledge. Unfortunately, fixing a spluttered out generator was one of them. "Be careful, though. We're all wet and prone to becoming human electrical cord," he warned Liam as he watched the guy working with the generator.

Terra Terra moved fast and faster, away from the camp. She did not wait for very long once they were in relatively safe waters. She glanced at Dianal and nodded at her, "Do your best," she said, her gut wrenching at having failed her running-partner not even ten minutes into the raid. She squeezed Isaac's shoulder and forced a smile. "Go on," she told him encouragingly before Terra turned to head back to Xavier's camp.

Gwen Gwen stared momentarily as the hulking man attacked several individuals with his body before skirting around the mess to run down an adjacent hall. She didn't owe these people anything, certainly not her life and with the survival instinct taking over, she wouldn't alter her nature for any of them. Until the familiar voice rang out and stopped her dead, forcing the woman to halt in her escape as she turned to spot a face which only graced Fall City's darkest nightmares.

Liam Liam surveyed the generator carefully, brows furrowed together as he tried to figure out why it had died. But it didn't take long before he got his answer. It was wet, and it was lucky the other guy hadn't electrocuted himself. For all Liam knew the water made the thing unusable, and he nodded at Taeil's words. "I know what I'm doing," he assured the other as he grabbed a nearby screwdriver and started to work at the wires around the ripcord. If he could find a way to dry the thing off, maybe he could get it running again. It was worth a try.

Isaac Isaac felt the burst of gunfire from his side in response to the hail of bullets in his direction and he struggled with the urge to drop back and keep his body in the way of Diana's. He had put himself on the line more than enough today, he decided and focused on the searing fire in his muscles as the gate came into view. Fucking stupid, stupid. Cole had told him he was smarter than this and here he was endangering himself pointlessly. He felt a burn on the back of his thigh, a bullet grazing the skin there, the tiny flare of pain almost inconsequential. The gate was only a few more metres now and he put on a burst of speed despite the burden he held on his back.

Matt Aiden returned from the roof, and Matt let out a sigh of relief. He didn't want her getting struck by lightning. It all happened so fast, Taeil got the generator running then seconds later it sputtered out. Matt took the iPad and radio back before Liam took back to the generator. "Good, work on that, get it running. We fucking NEED it. Taeil this is Liam, Liam Taeil. Liam fix that generator. I gotta work on this." Matt inspected all Liam had done with the iPad and radio. "Taeil I need your help over here," he took the mic connected to the old cop car radio and held down the button to connect himself with Xavier's camp's communications. "Does anybody copy? Over." For the most part there was radio silence. No point in wasting the connection. Besides there wasn't much they could do on their end. "Liam I need that generator up to scramble their communications!

Robert "It's out." Robert said and pulled the pistol from the band of his jeans. It seemed that his father's insight to force him into hunting would once more come into handy. He puked when he killed his first man, it wasn't something he liked to think about. The killing or the reaction to it. He stood. "News?"

Diana Terra turned back, leaving Diana and Isaac on their own. She knew the other was struggling, his muscles tense and his body buckling. He shouldn't have to be doing this. But once they were past the gate, Diana could work on him. "You're almost there, then you can let him go. I can take it from there. Okay?" She shot him a glance, hopefully seen in the midst of running and the pouring rain. She heard the speeding by of the bullets, of screams and shouts. How the fuck was this happening? Why was this happening?

Lyra "Alright," She breathed, taking a moment to gather her strength before they started carefully treading the muddied earth. She was barely able to keep her balance but knowing that she wasn't alone kept her steady and solid. "Tell your dog to sniff around for any traces of familiar smell so we could find the Attack Team." Raising a hand above her eyes, Lyra squinted through the haze of the rain and failed to recognize anyone. A pang of anxiety and she glanced at Graham with a nod. "Let's try to re-group with anyone first and from there we'll know what to do next."

Grayson "Savannah and I were plucking out the remainder of them." Grayson drew his hand back. His breaths came out heavy, her red scarf covering his wound. "They were heading this way. In small steam of groups. Not sure on anything on the inside. Just came here to warn ya and get the people who can't fight under cover."

Savannah Savannah hid her best as Xavier came out. The girl took a deep breath hearing all the bullets in the air. She closed her eyes and kept moving forward until she could find Lori. Or whoever needed help. Fuck this, she thought, Imma help this useless bunch of people. And as the girl crossed paths with Lyra, she smirked. The dog looked towards her for a second. She threw a rock at both her and her company.

Hannibal Hann finished with the men he Had tackled and turned to face the man. A growl resounded, filling the air with the pure hatred Hann had of this man. He thought of all of the pain he caused the people he cared for, the people he loved. He would end it. Here and now, with his bare hands he would strip the man of his life. "Typical, you're as much of coward as they say. Bringing a gun to fight a man, Do I scare you that much little man?" Hann stood now and walked towards Xavier, unnarmed, Hands clenched into fist. "You better hope that you bring me down with one shot bitch, Or i'll be wearing your throat like a necklace." Hann didn't care if he died, If it ended now he would only be brought back to the loving embrace of his family, but if he was going to die. He would be escorting this prick to hell personally.

Rivka Rivka followed Gwen into the hall. Sweat dripped down her face as she started running. She stopped, noticing a man being fired at. Rivka's eyes went to the man who had the gun. She narrowed her eyes and raised her own weapon. Without hesitating, she fired at the Irish man. He was the target. "Get back!" Rivka shouted at the larger man. Hannibal. That was his name. She stepped forward as she continued firing at Xavier.

Axel There was a growing pit in his stomach as he watched Diana, Isaac and Terra take off, covering them as best he could while also keeping an eye on the weapons shed. He couldn't let Xavier's men get a hand on the weapons but he also couldn't stand the thought of Isaac and Diana being so prone to gunfire protecting Hunter.

Isaac Isaac felt the gates rush past him a moment later and they were outside, safe. Quickly he glanced to the girl and let himself gently lay Hunter down against a tree, a pitiful cover that he hoped would help at least in some way. Isaac tilted his head to her and ignoring the scream of every fibre of his body he charged back into the compound.

Graham He chuckled, Rip did not operate like that. He was trained to smell bombs, not track humans. There was a difference. While intelligent, and well trained-- Rip's head jerked toward the female and Graham smiled at her. "Sight for sore eyes. We've gotten ourselves into a hornet's nest, haven't we?" There was a silent question of where they were needed, what was going on.

Ada A small smile grazed over Ada’s lips, remembering the scarf very well. It was so silly to think of it now. She almost cursed herself for not bringing it over or anything to keep Ivy from being cold. But the rain had been so sudden, she hadn’t had the change to think about it, all up until she reached the fence. “I- I didn’t bring it. I’m sorry.” Ada felt guilty, again deemed useless.

Taeil Even though Taeil had no doubt that the newly-introduced guy had everything it took to fix the generator, a part of him was worried. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he just couldn't brush off the bad feeling. However, as Matt asked for his help once again, Taeil had no other choice but to trust Liam and responded to the request. "Alright, what now?"

Ivy Holloway "Oh, it's alright" She smiled. The storm was going stronger and stronger. " Wait. " Silence. Rain falling. Silence. No steps. " Okay sorry, I got scared. Nothing out here. "

Liam "I'm working on it," Liam muttered under his breath, his panic building. It wasn't just Jesse's life on his shoulders -- it was more than that. And even though Liam thought he didn't care about anyone here, he didn't want to be responsible for any more deaths. Pulling a piece off of the generator, Liam saw the problem. A stray wire, and even though it was wet, he was too frazzled to stop and think things through. He reached inside, a spark flying from the wire as he moved it back into place. Probably not a good sign, but there was no time to be concerned over that. Instead, he grabbed at the wires connected to the ripcord and gave them a sharp tug. And then he cried out as a powerful electric current shot through his body, running up and down his arms, down his spine. He felt like he was being boiled alive as his vision went red, his body shooting backwards and landing on the ground with a loud thud.

Terra Terra burst through the barricades of Xavier's camp and immediately searched out her people. Unsure of what has happened since she left to help Hunter back to Fall City, she scrambled over debris and one or another pile of cloth she did not want to look at too closely. She proceeded slowly, her weapon drawn, her back close to the wall. She saw someone aim from the top of the building, not at her but someone else. She was quick to pull the trigger but missed her shot through rain and wind. They saw her and they fired. Better at aiming than she, Terra tumbled to the ground. She didn't know where she was hit or if she was hit at all. But soon blood came pouring from her thigh. A clean shot. The bullet stuck in the wall behind her. The pain didn't register. Nothing registered but the fact that her weapon slipped from her bloody hands and she slid into the mud.

Gwen Gwen immediately rounded on Rivka, forcing her into an adjoining boiler room before slamming the other woman's shoulder into the wall. "Are you done?! You are seconds away from getting one of those bullets in your own fucking skull, do you understand me?" Her tolerance and generally composed demeanor in heated situations had reached an exceptional low as she growled into the other woman's face. "You're going to get us both killed if you don't think first, shoot later. I get it, you're trigger happy and you think you know how to handle this, but you weren't here when he attacked us so why don't you let someone who actually knows what they're doing figure it out yeah?" With one final shove, Gwen pushed away from the other female and carefully reentered the hallway, blood boiling with the rage that came from not having the people she needed at her six.

Matt Matt looked over at Taeil as he approached him. "The sooner I get these communications scrambled the better, but I need a big enough power supply to get this done. Unfortunately we don't know how long it's gong to take for that generator to work. Though I do have the utmost faith in Liam I need you to to connect that car battery to the radio, just like the generator is. Though I'd be careful with the jump cables. We don't want you getting fried. Here--" The boy removed a vest he'd been wearing and chucked it over to the boy. "Use that to hold the battery and the jump cables. If this works we can get the communications of the enemy scrambles. Unfortunately for the moment we'll lose the the communications with the other bases until we get that generator running. It's kind of a lose lose situation but we've got to try."

Diana Hunter lay slumped against a nearby tree. The gunfire was loud as was the chaos, but Diana blocked it out. She knew she should be helping the others, except she couldn't allow Hunter to die. There was way too much blood. Despite the cold and the rain, Diana removed her sweater, pressing it to the wound that had soaked through Hunter's own clothing. "Hey. Hey. I need ya' to stay awake. Ya' here me. Look at me." A hand cupped the side of Hunter's face, forcing his head up. "Hunter. Focus on me."

Lyra "Tell me about it." She chuckled, smiling back before she shook her head, glancing at the undoubtedly intelligent dog out of the corner of her eye. However she had imagined the battle to go down, she certainly didn't expect to end up fucking around and joking in the middle of it. Maybe it was simply the influence of Graham's company. Before she could consider it further, the pair came across a familiar face; Savannah. With a weary sigh, Lyra glanced at her partner then nodded towards her before turning towards the woman. "So, you're still alive," She joked. "Why am I not surprised?"

Isaac Isaac darted his way back to the assigned location, a horrendously warm wet patch on his shoulder and down his back almost distracted him before a man intent on reloading a few metres away caught his eye. The coldness seeped back into him and he swung wildly with his ice axe, catching the man in the cheek. Oblivious to the man's scream of pain, he tore it out viciously and hauled himself back to where Axel and Dexter were waiting quicker than he could hope. The horrid sensory overload of battle left him off-kilter as he tripped forward into the shed, skinning his forearms against the floor as he fell.

Charlotte Charlotte glanced at her radio, strapping it to her belt as she climbed down from her post. There was no point of being there any long. Not with the rain, not with the lighting. She needed to help. With her weapon drawn, the brunette moved forward. Her boots scraped against the mud as she slipped into the gates. Bullets fired past everything, but she moved. She moved because there was no other choice to. Her hands grasped around Elijah. He was safe. At least for now. Panting, she drew out a quick breath. "The radio is out. I - What's going on here? Have you got any news?"

Xavier Was this man literally a grizzly bear more than a human? That growl emanated from it's lips once more and Xavier hooked an eyebrow upwards, watching the hulking creature with a skeptical look. "Ye are a large man," Xavier commented vaguely before firing a handful of shots in his direction, bullets piercing flesh as Hannibal made his approach. He would have continued raining down gunfire for the sheer joy of it if the volley hadn't been returned, a bullet piercing his shoulder just beneath the collarbone. His eyes narrowed before he turned his weapon on Rivka and fired.

Aiden Jesse was going to /kill/ her. She had one damn job. Keep the kid alive. Her fingers ghosted to his neck and it was there, a pulse. "He's alive. A little in shock, but alive," her voice came out in a hiss. "We need to get him to the clinic."

Savannah Savannah nodded at whatever the man meant and moved swiftly towards them. With a now kind and gentle smile, without her scarf and her scar showing now, she shrugged. " We could say I got lucky. We're fucked. How many bullets do we have? "

Matt As Liam yelled out Matt's head snapped up to see the cause of his yelp. "Fuck!" He yelled over the storm. Somehow he knew this would happen. Matt left the iPad on the flood and Taeil to his job. Jumping over all the gear to get Liam, Aiden following suit. "Shit, you got him, Aiden? We gotta stay here. I need to get this generator running now. Trust me I won't be as stupid as him but, you good?"

Elijah Hands grapsed Elijah's own and he whipped around to find Charlotte. He took a moment just to stare at her, to take in the fact she was alive. "It's not good," he told her, having realized the communication system had been down since the storm intensified. "Xavier's men have come out of hiding. They're firing. Everyone has split up and it's a free for all. We need to kill Xavier and get everybody out and we need to do it now."

Rivka Rivka felt herself being slammed against the wall. She pushed back and tilted her head. Her eyes were cold and determined. This woman here didn't know what she was talking about. Had no idea. "I know exactly what I am doing. You are not fighting with a clear head. One of our men was out there being attacked. I know how to handle hostile situations as I was trained for years. I might not have been there, but I know what it is like to be attacked by an outsider and I know how to stand back and not let my emotions effect my judgement." Rivka knocked Gwen away as she reclaimed her weapon from the ground. She kept her cover behind the wall. "If you go now, I will cover you in case any men come."

Aiden "I got him." She, all five foot four of her, shoved herself under Liam's frames and all but dragged him out the door. He had his brother's stout frame, that was for damn sure. "You better not die, I swear to God, I will meet you in heaven and strangle you after your brother kills me himself." Mutter a string of curses in different languages she dragged Liam to the clinic.

Ada Ada’s heart stopped the moment Ivy told her to ‘wait’. What was that supposed to mean? She didn’t like the fact that her friend was out there, anything could happen out there. It wasn’t remotely safe. But stress ate her alive. A hand grasped her belly as she tried to calm herself, frowning as she waited for an answer. And then Ivy finally replied, a sigh left her lips. “I don’t like this..”

Graham "I have about 13 arrows. I intend on retrieving a few others. Wounded?" That was his directive. From the sight of gunfire in the main area, there was a show worthy of the O.K. Corral going on down there. He had no desire to be there. "That's what I am concerned about.

Charlotte "Alright." Charlotte nodded, knowing the intensity in her voice. They made a mistake, bringing everyone here. Part of hew knew this, but was too scared to speak of it now. Her hands grasped her weapon, turning around suddenly at the sudden fire. Firing back, the brunette kept her gaze towards her friend. Her body moving forward to keep him safe. "We should move forward. Start keeping everyone on the supply runs to evacuate and head back to the city. The remainder of the attack should be in the main building, correct?"

Axel He could hear the screams from inside - and he couldn't for the life of him tell if it was Xavier's men or theirs. His eyes swiveled from the now relatively silent weapons shed to the central building and back again, nerves etched into his features as rain dripped down his face. He couldn't stand by without doing anything. He couldn't stand by and watch. The instant Isaac returned to his side he cleared his throat and grabbed the youth's upper arm, "C'mon, lets go help," he spoke, pointing his gun towards the building, "We can't just leave them."

Hannibal Hann felt the sting of Xavier's shotgun, luckily it was buckshot. If it had been a 12 gauge round, his torso would've been torn in two. The moment Xavier turned to fire on Rivka Hann was on him, he Yanked the shotgun barrel upwards and threw the hardest punch he could muster flat into the other man's ribcage. Slow him down, make it so he can't shoot that damned gun again. Hann coughed up some blood, but didn't yield. he continued his assault on the man. Another punch, he felt the man's ribs start to give. One more and he would shatter his ribcage. The man would never breathe the same way again. He drove home the punch and felt the crack. He gave the gun another good yank, removing it from Xavier's grip and throwing it across the corridor. The pain of the buckshot began to seep in. Another cough of blood, Hann faltered for a moment and fell to a knee.

Matt Matt nodded at Aiden as she took the limp body of his new friend off to the clinic. He turned his attention toward the generator and Taeil. "You still have to work on that. You get the battery connected, I'll walk you through crashing the enemy communications." For now it was his job to work on the generator, he wasn't going to be as stupid as Liam so he actually equipped himself with rubber gloves and dove into the system of the generator. Wires were shot and exposed but he could fix it, he had to fix it. It would just take time. "What's the go Taeil?"

Terra The blood was pouring, and still she hadn't seen anyone. Shots were being fired in the distance and Terra prayed her friends were safe. Having enough calm of mind she pulled the belt from her jeans and fastened it tightly around her upper thigh. She winced but willed herself to her feet. She was not going to let this scratch stop her from saving her people. Remembering that she was still in possession of the walkie talkie, she dialed, "Where is everyone? This is Terra. Over." Obviously she said nothing about her injury.

Ivy Holloway " I don't like it either. " The girl confessed. " I hope you have an umbrella tehre, otherwise I'm going to get your ass kicked, Ada. " Lighter conversations were more comfortable. And better in this mood. " Do you like rain? I used to love it. I find it annoying, right now."

Elijah He knew there were going to be casualties. He knew this was dangerous, but what other choice did they have? It was them or Xavier and he wasn't going to let the man win. Fuck him. Fuck his whole crew. "Correct," Elijah hummed, drawing his gun and preparing to fire. This wasn't going to be in vain. They were going to help their people. "Whoever has been raiding supplies we get them out. Then we're moving to the main building. We kill as many as we need to. Do you understand?"

Hunter He wasn't dead yet. Just tell that to the rest of his body that screamed in protest as his vision swam and his head pounded, every part of him wanting to slip back into the black that'd all but consumed him as pain coursed through his veins. The pressure on his side brought him back to the present, feeling it burn wildly as he couldn't feel the rest of his body, only that. And his tongue as it stuck to the back of his throat when he managed to see a blurred vision of the lone person he'd sought to protect. "Hey," he croaked out, a bubble of air caught in the back of his throat as he coughed and choked in a pale attempt to breathe.

Liam Liam felt like his whole body was on fire, like his fingers had been singed completely off. Maybe they had been. Maybe it would be better that way, so the searing pain rippling across his body would go away. His head felt like it had exploded, his ears ringing as he tried to open his eyes. But it was all he could do to breath in short, shallow breaths as he felt himself being maneuvered, heard a vaguely familiar voice in his ear. He wanted to answer, wanted to assure he that he was okay, but all he managed was a slight moan before his head lolled backwards and he lost consciousness completely.

Isaac Isaac coughed as his cheek scraped the floor quickly taking off the recently regrown layers of skin with an accompanying groan. He felt the tug on his arm and the words ran straight through him, he heaved himself upright panting so heavily he felt the world tilt dangerously on it's axis in protest. He rolled on his heels a moment letting the oxygen flow back into his muscles. "Let's go." He breathed, eyes alight.

Owen It wasn't supposed to just be them. There should've been more people with them, helping, in case shit like this happened -- in case there were men waiting for them, so they weren't riding on his timid trigger-finger, so Lori didn't have to cover him by shooting that guy down. Owen's breath came out of him all at once. He peeled her hands off his shirt, careful so they didn't shake. "Good job," he said, as lightly as he could. He was helping her with weapons (there were so many weapons) and she was fast, the way she shoveled them into her bag: guns, boxes of ammunition, arrows bundled up on a shelf. From here, they were almost trapped when the door opened; he threw an arm out like a dad at a crosswalk, to keep her behind him so she wouldn't get hit. As if an arm made a difference. As if they couldn't just shoot her through him. At least it was easier to aim, this close to a target -- it was point and shoot (and wince, as a bullet grazed his ear).

Taeil Wrapping the battery and the jump cables with the vest Matt gave him, Taeil didn't even get the chance to nod a yes when Liam's cry broke the silence. "Holy cow!" The South Korean had to fight the strong urge to check on the collapsed guy, but seeing as Matt already played his role, he knew he had to finish what was assigned to him whatever it took. As panic started to take over, what should have been a piece of cake suddenly felt like an untangled knit that took forever to fix. Taeil's hands kept shaking, his body wouldn't stop shivering, he was almost even crying. When Matt checked on him to see how things went, Taeil was almost out of word. "It's... I can do this, I can do this...," he tried his best to control the tremor and kept doing what he was doing.

Charlotte "Don't need to tell me fucking twice." Charlotte stared towards him, moving herself forward. Taking lead when in strange aspect, Elijah should have. They moved towards the supplies first, noticing the dead bodies that lingered the outside. She didn't have enough heart to look too closely to see if it was one of their own. She wiped around the corner, noticing Cole and Kathryn standing in a shed. "Move out. It's time to head out with everything." She turned her head, making sure he was still with her. This was the first time she actually found herself engaging in this all. Her feet moving quickly against the ground as they made their next move.

Diana "Hey yourself," Diana murmured. Her voice shook, but she was trying to hide it. She imagined the worst, not just for Hunter, but for Axel. In an instant, he had probably gone down. The same could happen for Axel who was far more of a risk taker. She swallowed the thought. She had to. "I need to get the bullet out and then I need to get you back to the city. To do that, I need you to stay awake. Whatever energy you have, please..."

Axel Truthfully if he could have his way he'd send the boy home to Fall City, let him rest. Isaac deserved that. But if he was going to stay around and fight he needed the other close at hand. "Ok?" He repeated, the simple word a question to ensure that Isaac was indeed alright, was good to fight. He needed to know that Isaac was okay. He looked him over one final time, ignoring the scrapes that marred his skin for now, before leading the way towards the main building with gun raised, taking one the few of Xavier's men that still lingered at the front.

Kathryn Kathryn nodded, not even hesitating on moving out. She spent enough time there. Her feet brushed against the cement before carrying the supplies out. Her weapon was still drawn, but it seemed most were wiped out in his area. She moved forward - getting out of the gates with little to no aggression.

Robert Leaving Cristine to tend to Grayson he bolted out the door to the kid that was bleeding, clinging to another girl. Tucking the pistol away, he snapped gloves on and grabbed a hold of the youth. Hunter, was that his name. He thought so. Guiding the man to the table, he slid the scissors up his shirt and sucked a breath in at the wound. This was his calling. "Cris. GSW."

Elijah Elijah didn't follow behind Charlotte, he stood next to her. They became a unit in this moment, armed with the same goals, the same desires, and the same mistakes. They were responsible for bringing their people here and they were responsible for getting them out. As they rounded the shack, Elijah saw those in it, nodding in tandem with Charlotte's instructions. "We move around, first the perimeter, then we pursue the main building. Most of our people are here."

Matt He knew he couldn't push Taeil much, the other boy was smart but this was too much for anyone. Life or death. He felt as if he'd been thrown into a real life video game. "You do, you got this." He replied to Taeil with words of encouragement. Matt took off another panel of the generator to reveal more wires and bolts missing he used whatever he could that was spare from their parts they hadn't used and did his best. "Red and blue, yellow. Okay, almost there." He said almost but he meant the opposite. There was too much to do and too little time. "We're counting on you Taeil, you got this."

Savannah The girl shook her head. "Never. " Watching Lyra carefully, she watched the dog. Raised a brow and smiled. " I like this partner. So, let's get into business, right? " Savannah seemed excited for a fight. Twisted

Terra Keeping a tight grip on the walkie-talkie, Terra staggered out of the shelter. Still, she saw no one. Leaving a trail of blood behind her as she moved, one step at a time, wincing painfully with every left step, she slowly made her way to the second weapon's shed where Hunter had previously been shot. She hoped he was better off now that he was safe. With both gun and walkie-talkie in her hands and an increasingly blurry vision, she bit down into her lip to stay focused. It was just a scratch, she told herself as she continued.

Hunter He coughed again, hoping that it was rain he felt dribble down his chin and not blood but judging by what he could see of her face, it didn't seem likely. Either way he tried his best to move his body but every breath he took set his chest on fire with pain that caused his vision to swim in darkness that made it difficult follow her instructions. "Please don't waste it on talking your ear off," he wheezed out, a grimace on his lips that was meant to be a smile but fell flat. "Got it, Doc."

Isaac Isaac and Axel fell into such a familiar rhythm that it almost choked him with how easy it felt despite the ringing in his ears. The pounding of their feet was only different by the splashing of mud behind their heels as they kicked it up, everyone was fighting so desperately. To save one another. To save themselves. The innards of the place were like viscera to him, like guts spilling out over the landscape and filling him with dread. This was where he had nearly been broken. The strength it gave him nearly died as he locked eyes with Xavier who sagged to his periphery. He was caught by one of the men and he jerked his elbow back into the man's jaw, jamming his foot into the instep and watching the man fall.

Jesse "Coming to you, Terra," Jesse spoke into the walkie as she called for help, having spotted her fall only moments before from his point of view. It took a moment or two for him to catch up to where she'd managed to get herself hulled up at the weapons shed, sliding up beside her. "What happened?" He demanded, looking her over quickly and pressing a hand over where the blood seemed to be flowing freely.

Gwen Robot soldiers. Clearly only good for following their training and not thinking on their feet, assessing a situation with common sense rather than the strict guidelines given in their days of having a commanding officer. No longer did they have guidelines or clear ways of navigating, each decision had to be concocted in the moment and entirely their own. Which was why Gwen chose to leave the two of them behind if necessary. Returning to Ivy in one piece was her real mission, Xavier be damned. And now their absurdly large human meat shield was floundering, his body riddled with wounds and clearly struggling to even keep his torso upright.

Charlotte Charlotte nodded, carefully taking in his instructions. She was never one for on the spot action. She needed to plan. This was all out of plan. She didn't know what to do other than to blindly follow. They moved around perimeter soundly, eyes peeled towards every interaction. If a figure moved that was not apart of their own, she shot. She fired without even a sense of remorse on her cheeks. She felt no pity for the men that lived here. Once they made it around the main building, she slipped into one of the doors, gun held high against her chest. She opened the door at first, allowing Elijah to move in before her. The guard that was supposed to be watching the door was there, head cast against the wall with blood leaking from his lips. It was safe to assume he was dead.

Aiden The weight of Liam once more almost took her off her feet, and another, louder string of curses as she attempted to drag him across what seemed like the whole damn town. Her feet dug into the mud, causing trails and a hard set to her chin as she shifted her weight and after what seemed like a lifetime made it to the clinic. All but shoving the boy into a chair, she saw the blood of a boy, and felt a little faint. She hated blood. "He was electrocuted. We like to play with fire in the radio room."

Lori He had broad shoulders, a lot of muscle-- it was easy for him to push her behind him. A human shield. She tried to push back against him, but the door was already open-- and another one of Xavier's men was shooting-- and then there was blood, and Lori was screaming, squeezing the trigger until the clip was empty. Xavier's man fell, but then, so did Owen. "No, nope--" she fell with him, shoes still slick with mud. Blood was spilling from his ear. "Owen--" the door opened again. But this time-- it was--it was Terra. Belt wrapped around her leg. "No-- this can't be fuckin' happenin'!" Lori ushered her inside the shed, let the door slam shut. She was out of ammo. Notched another arrow onto her bow before clamping her fingers down on Owen's ear, the wound. "Ter-- What happened? Are you--?"

Rivka Rivka took note of Hannibal charging after Xavier. As she turned to head for the next thing for cover, she felt a bullet rip through her shoulder. The velocity of the small piece of metal was enough to knock her off balance. Where the hell did that come from? Immediately, her fingers went to the bloodied area. Just her shoulder. But she was too dazed to know whether the bullet hit an artery or not. There wasn't any pain. Getting hit was too much of a shock to her system to register. Despite this, you only needed one hand attached to one good arm to fire a handgun. Rivka pulled her rifled over and slung it over her back. There was no way she'd lose that. She pulled her handgun from her holster and did her best to sit up against the wall. She could still shoot and she would. It was her left shoulder. She was right handed.

Elijah There was a switch flipped in Elijah's mind. Whoever he saw not belonging to his people were enemies and they were going to die. He fired mercilessly. Headshots, in the cavity of the chest. And Char shared the same views as him. Anyone they saw near the edges of camp, they told to leave. If they cared about their lives, they would listen.

Taeil He could feel his own breath trying to keep his shaking hands warm. With his friend's encouragement, whether they would make it or not was now all up to him. Taeil wanted to ask if Liam was okay, but knowing it wouldn't do any good for the two of them if the answer was either "I don't know." or just "No.", he decided to keep silent. Red and blue, then yellow. Done. Now he moved to some other colorless cords. Done. Wrapping the cables with what little duck tape they had there to isolate the electricity. Done. "It should be good now...," he spoke almost too softly.

Terra What had happened anyway? Terra could picture the scene but the words would not come to explain it to Jesse. She shook her head, a hand now gripping at her thigh. "'Twas shooting at our people.. got his attention, he got me." The walkie-talkie fell from her hand but she kept a stubborn hold on her gun. She looked up to Jesse, "What happened here?"

Tobias For the most part Tobias and Rebecca had been keeping to themselves since the beginning of the battle - waiting it out to tend to their injured men and women when they returned. Neither could aid in the communications problems - they were better off keeping out of the way. But when Liam was electrocuted - that was when his expertise would come in hand. "What happened?" he demanded as Aiden tended to the boy, his fingers prodding for a pulse despite the fact that he was sure Aiden had already assessed him for it.

Isaac Isaac twirled away and fired a merciless shot into the Man's skull, a messy thing that made his eye bloody and empty. Despite Xavier's obvious wounding he seemed to be dragging himself away while simultaneously realigning himself for a shot at any of the various people of Fall City in his line of fire. Despite the fear that clawed at him mercilessly, he felt the coldness fill him full finally. There was only so much blood that one man could take, could spill and dance in, only so much life he could steal. Isaac let out a snarl that was nothing other than feral and he streaked away from the protected place at Axel's side, throwing off anyone in his way that he could. There was a shock of recognition in the pitiful excuse for a man's eyes as Isaac loomed over him, kicking him with all his weight in the wound that was pitifully squirting blood from his shoulder. There was some witty one liner that he should say, some kind of parting shot. He only wished he could draw it out longer, make him hurt.

Ada Silence reigned for a second, feeling slightly guilty. No umbrella to keep her company, she was drenched from head to toes; the shirt she wore tight against her belly. It was like Ivy to make light talk, she would always do it to distract her but it was difficult to keep her distracted with the lightning around them. Yet another one struck and Ada felt like it was no longer safe for Ivy or for her. “I just hope everyone is fine..” Ada trailed off, looking down at the mud by her feet.

Matt Matt did his best to watch both what Taeil was doing and his own actions. He decided it would be best to focus on his own so not to end up like Liam. If that happened everyone was fucked in terms of communications. "Good," Matt replied back to the other teen as he'd done the job. He glanced over to make sure the connection was solid. It was fine. Matt took back to the wires of his own project, however he needed to walk Taeil through this next bit. "Okay, now go to the iPad, okay? You're on a hacking program for Mac called terminal00x1. You should see up the top there are multiple tabs, you see that?"

Charlotte Charlotte moved into the main building, gun raised as they leaked in. There were a few men stranding on the outskirts of it. She wasn't sure who was in there. If it was the people they planned, she was sure that they were safe. Though the numbers inside of the building were greater than she expected. Her gun raised, firing off two shots. How much did she have left? Blinking harshly, she watched as one man fell. The other, however, she missed. She clicked the gun once more, attempting to fire - but alas - she was out of bullets. Her hands clenched, trying to move forward. Her hands lacing around the weapon - using it as a bat rather than what it was really meant for. The man leaned forward, slamming the brunette against the wall. A crack fell in the distance, the brunette gasping out in pain from the act. Stupid. Stupid. She wasn't thinking this through. He kept the gun pressed against her temple for a moment, confirming her answer.

Lyra Exchanging a glance with Graham, Lyra adjusted the strap of her rifle, adrenaline fading until all that remained was a phantom of her former excitement. All she felt in that moment was bone-deep exhaustion and a dreadful weight pressing against her chest; concern for the people she cared about who were most likely still caught up in the chaos. And she was standing there, joking around? "We've been trying to locate any members of the Attack Team but so far, all we've come across was Defense Team members. Got any idea where anyone is in this pit of hell?"

Terra Lori's voice pierced the sound of blood rushing (or not rushing?) through her ears and Terra blinked upwards. She couldn't get the words out this time. She only shook her head as an answer. It was perhaps not the most reassuring gesture, but it was all Terra had in her at the moment. She breathed out, the syllable "Fine," just barely audible.

Diana "Ya' lucky you are injured," Diana hissed, but Hunter's remark meant he was still there. If he didn't speak at all, she would fear the worst. She exhaled a breath and removed her sweater that was pressed up against the wound. She had to get the bullet out and her only option was her hands. Once they got back to fall city, she would have to douse his wound in alcohol. She lifted up Hunter's shirt, caught sight of the aggravated hole in his side. She stuck her index finger in the wound, felt for the bullet, grazing the tip of it. It wasn't deep which meant a handful of his inner tissues would be preserved. Weaving in a second finger, as carefully as she could, she forced her tendons around the bullet. It was slippery and the rain clouded her vision. Biting down on her lower lip, she pulled the bullet out, slowly, carefully and once it was free, she tossed it to the ground.

Aiden "Water, exposed wires, bit of a 110V shock. If you can save him Tobias, I swear I will kiss you right now." Her fingers picked at themselves, the nerves like hot wires under her skin.

Isaac Isaac raised both of his arms above his head and savagely cleaved his ice axe into the top of Xavier's skull, blood spattering him as the man's cranium split underneath his weapon. He used his food to pull it out and in a frenzy stabbed again and again, the rain no consequence as he finally ended it. Ended it.

Ivy Holloway Ivy watched outside and bit her lower lip. She turned around a bit, thinking of what a strange place Fall City seemed now. " I hope so. They made a promise, didn't they? "

Robert What a fucking mess. He was once more reminded why he never wanted to be a trauma doctor like his father wanted. The flesh was ripped apart, and Robert set to cleaning the wound. There it was, the slug. "Cris I need blood for this guy. He's lost a lot. Hang in there, buddy. No morphine, it'll lower his heart too much."

Gwen And then Rivka went down as well, propping herself up against a wall with a handgun in her grasp as she kept Xavier within her line of fire. "Save your strength," Gwen commented as she stepped over the woman's legs, head cocked in Xavier's direction as Isaac loomed over him, now present on the scene. In one foul swoop, he eliminated the threat with a silence she appreciated over the sound of rambling gunfire. "It's done."

Savannah Savannah had seen the place. Attack team. Dexter was Attack team. She nodded. With or without her companions, Savannah moved again, right into the battlefield. Holding a corpse she had assured to break its skull, having them as a shield, the girl joined the tracking of Xavier's mans. The firing guns wasn't as perpetual as the storm. Tired of her shield, she let the corpse hit the floor and turned around to face Graham, the dog and Lyra. She nodded again, slightly amused. " Everyone went their way but they were supposed to come this way. "

Owen "I'm fine." She hadn't asked, but he said it, anyway, 'cause she brought her hand to his ear and his head lit up with pain. "Leave it." He shrugged away from her, and the blood on her fingers, and the worry that had her eyebrows too low on her eyes -- everyone got hurt, okay? He was fine. He was going to be fine. The woman who'd just shown up, Terra -- she was way worse for wear. "Jesus," he said. "Don't stand on that. Sit--sit down, or something. That looks bad."

Cristine Chaos had reached their doors and Cristine had to shut her brain off to function properly. Her sleeves were yanked up and she was into action. Bringing Robert what he needed before her eyes assessed the damage, swallowing down her fear.

Taeil Now moving on to the iPad. This was his first time doing anything with what had once been considered the jewel of gadgets. All he had ever touched in the past was the older versions of it, so without proper guidance, he wouldn't be able to make it through. Besides, hacking was a personalized thing. Every hacker had their own method to code their way through. "Okay... Okay. You can start now."

Elijah The main building came into view and both of them descended into darkness. The storm had blocked out most of the light, mixed in with the sound of footsteps and gun shots. Elijah immediately went into attack mode, hitting whoever he could. But as him and Charlotte separated to take down a few targets, there was a crack followed by a gasp. Elijah turned to find Charlotte pinned up against the wall and a gun against her temple. He charged forward without thinking, grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt and yanking him off of her. There was a thrill laced in his blood, a grim smile on his lips as he slammed the butt of his shot gun against his back. The man grunted, tipped forward, but Elijah wasted no time for him to orient himself. He brought the butt against his head, hearing the splitting of bone, seeing the blood emerge and splatter on his face. He didn't stop, not until there was a large hole in the man's head and he slumped to the ground.

Matt He wasn't very good at multitasking but he had to suck it up for the good of Fall City. "Okay, so go to that tab and copy every little bit of writing on that tab. Then go back to the original tab you were on and paste it in there. That is how you cut all their communications." He knew by doing that, taking that much power would cut Fall City's communications for the moment but if he could... just... get the generator working.

Rivka Rivka looked up at Gwen, but wasn't quite ready to holster her weapon. Xavier might be dead, but not all of his men were. She had seen men react without a proper leader. "What about the other men?" she asked, her gun still aimed at anyone who threatened their people.

Lori Fine, they both said. Lori was shaking her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Owen in her lap, fingers pinching the wound on his ear. She motioned Terra over, tossed her compact bow on the ground, tried to wrap her hand around the wound on her thigh. "D'you still have your radio? We-- We need to tell someone. You both-- you both aren't fuckin' fine. You both need help. Now." She said, tears sliding down her cheeks.

Isaac Isaac's chest heaved, spread to his full height and looking deranged. Eyes rolling, and knuckles white. Where he wasn't covered in thick mud he was streaked violently scarlet, staring down at the broken body of the man who had almost ripped the last of his sanity from him, in the long month that he had been back at Fall City. A tight rope walk that he had not been qualified to take. He turned on the spot to the other men that had attempted to cluster around their leader, using the back of his hands and knuckles to wipe blood from his lips.

Hannibal Hann saw a great spectacle. Little Isaac, manning up to finish what he started. Hann laughed a bit through spouts of blood. He had played his part and now, maybe now the gods would let him see his family again. He fell to his side with a smile on his face. "I still... Want my necklace..." He felt the loving embrace of unconciousness closing in. He welcomed it at this point, memories of his family flooded his mind. And then he slipped, into a somber state. "I only hope... that they don't forget me."

Rebecca Becca had stuck close to Toby since the battle started, but as the injured began to be taken in she slipped quietly back to the main building. Unlike her brother, she couldn't handle the sight of blood. But she'd only made it part of the way there when her gaze landed on the building that was on fire -- and something that looked like a figure lingering too close to it. She wanted to call out to them to leave -- but her voice would not cooperate, and she ran forward, waving her arms to no avail. It was only when she was close enough to tell that what she'd seen was nothing more than a shadow that she heard the sound of wood crackling and breaking into pieces. And then -- it was toppling foward, flames moving toward her more quickly than she'd have thought possible. Instantly a loud shriek left her lips as she fell backwards, trying to scuttle away from the building before he could fall on top of her.

Taeil Lucky for Taeil, it wasn't a very complicated task. Matt seemed to prepare everything already and all he had to do was copying stuff; hopefully, he wouldn't do anything stupid to mess things up. "Alright, done. How do you check if things work as they should?"

Charlotte Charlotte stared, wincing in pain. Her eyes widened as the blood flecked across both her and Elijah. He had just saved her ass. She didn't move, directing her attention on the remainder of the hall. She didn't even have the chance to thank him. That would occur later. Now, her attention was directed on the rest. They needed to finish what they stared, regardless of her injury. She leaned against the wall. "Fuck." She cursed, clutching her leg. "Check the perimeter, sweetheart. I'll be fine."

Gwen "Isaac," Gwen addressed him, approaching the male with calculated footsteps. "Look at me." She stepped around the wounded male to view a face more familiar, freckles hidden by dirt and crimson. "Isaac."

Robert After it was done, he washed the wound, his fingers working faster than they ever had before, checking the damage. Who ever took the slug out before them, he might throttle them. They caused a right mess. The sutures were neat, despite the rush and Cris returned with the blood. "I got this, you move on, yeah?" He said and inserted the IV effortlessly, moving man to the back to recover so the flood could move more into the clinic

Matt Matt nodded as Taeil completed the task he'd given him. "Okay good, you see that old cop car radio connected to the iPad? Take the mic transmitter and hold down the button on the side. If it's static, we got it. If we can hear the enemy team, no dice."

Axel It had all happened so fast. One minute they were rushing to protect those fighting Xavier's men - and apparently, Xavier himself - and the next Isaac had savagely attacked, axe carving the man's head open. It was a pity, Axel had hoped to get to him first and make him pay for the mess he had made of things, but in the end it didn't matter - didn't matter who had done the killing. Because it was done. He stepped forward now as Isaac stood over the man, hands falling on either of the youth's arms as Gwen came forward to address him. "It's okay, mate. It's done - it's okay," he spoke in a soft tone, worry now creasing his brow as his eyes flickered up towards Gwen for support.

Terra They needed help all right. But there were more important things to worry about. Was Xavier dead? Was Hunter okay? What about Owen? Did anyone else get hurt? Terra would be fine. The pain was starting to fade, or perhaps it was all that she noticed. With a bloody hand she pushed the radio over to Lori, unsure as to what she wanted to do with it. Terra swallowed hard, her hand falling to her side as the other just lazily covered the entrance wound at her thigh.

Elijah Elijah came back to reality -- focusing on Charlotte. A part of him had got lost in the act of killing and he wasn't proud. But he wasn't going to lose Charlotte. He could only imagine the casualties he'd have once they evacuated properly. "You're outta your mind," Elijah shook his head, slipping his hands under the back of Charlotte's legs and neck, hoisting her up. "Just hold on. I'm not leaving you here to get shot at."

Hunter That smack would come later, if he survived the wound in his side, but the look of determination on her face told him that he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, not if she had anything to say about it but his body told another story as his head rolled over onto his shoulder. He blinked in and out of consciousness until he found himself no longer underneath a tree with stabbing pain in his side but on a table with more unfamiliar faces leering down at him. Hunter wanted to move and yell, call for Diana or act like he didn't feel anything at that point but his body was numb, and his consciousness continued to slip away despite Diana's words. She wanted him to stick around, something he'd tried to do every time that he got lost in his head, but nothing was listening as blood pounded in his ears drowning out anything they could have been saying before he slipped off again, this time easily fading into black rather than fighting it as he'd been doing earlier.

Isaac Isaac flinched violently, one foot stepping back to get better footing to strike as he whirled on the new threat. He couldn't think, couldn't tell. The mind he had once trusted playing tricks on him as he struggled to tell whether the voice was coming from within his own mind. Gwen approached him, a war-torn valkyrie that he had seen ravaging so many that opposed them. She looked softer than he had ever seen her but also the most deadly as she managed to divide the two. He blinked at her, dazed. Sound muffling to white noise.

Lori She didn't know-- she didn't know who's wound to let go of. Terra handed her the radio, and she grabbed it with both hands, coated in blood, trembling. "Elijah? Charlie? It's-- It's Lori-- I need help. Terra and-- and Owen, they've both been hit. Are you both-- are you both okay? Over."

Rivka Rivka watched as everything started to calm down. She could hear the rain outside, the soothing sound of thunder. She could see the flashes of light. If she wasn't in the middle of gory battlefield, dying in the rain wouldn't be so bad. Rivka looked at the time on her watch. She remembered the words her father gave her when he gave her the watch. But today wasn't going to be that day. Rivka started to feel the pain in her shoulder. She winced as she put her gun back in its holster and moved slightly to assess the damage. She gritted her teeth, unable to tell if it was a through and through or if the bullet was still lodged in her shoulder. She couldn't quite tell if the bullet knicked anything, but her shoulder hurt like hell and the blood was flowing quickly.

Charlotte Charlotte allowed a smirk to touch her features, feeling herself being lifted by him. "Look at you, picking me up all Prince Charming like." The brunette teased, but she wasn't sure what was even wrong with her leg just yet. Had it broken? What else occured? The radio by her hip still released nothing but static. Her gaze drew forward, carefully making sure that they were heading in the right direction. "Do you think - Do you think they got him?"

Diana Unconscious. She saw him droop, every ounce of energy fading from his being. The only way to get him back to Fall city was to carry him and Diana knew she wouldn't be able to. Dragging him -- it was too far. She'd have to flag someone down or find another means of transportation. "Hunter. You're going to be okay. I promise, you're going to be okay." But she didn't know that. She didn't know how anybody was, how this was going to turn out.

Savannah Savannah growled at their back safety. " You stay here. " Thrill seeker, the girl held her gun and made it to both Isaac and Gwen, recognizing them. She pushed them. "Go, go -- This isn't over yet. "

Taeil It was a crucial moment. All the series of unfortunate events, every bit of it, were all for the sake of this moment. This had to work. This would better work. Doing exactly as Matt told, Taeil could feel his heart throbbing inside his chest when for a few seconds, nothing came out of the radio, then suddenly... Static.

Robert (Diana) Robert nabbed the girl and placed him by the bedside of Hunter. "He needs you. I have blood in him, but you need to stay with him, and keep an eye on his pulse. You call me if something happens, understand?" He moved the touch the boy with a hand before moving on.

Ada “I hope they do..” Promises, promises, promises. Why did they even bothered with it. Hands shook as stress crept through her body, it was a good thing Ivy wasn’t able to see her. Ada took a deep breath and just tried to put on her most bravest face. “We’re going to be okay and they are too.” But her voice cracked as she said it, betraying her cool.

Elijah "It's what I do," he teased, surprised even he could muster a sense of humor in this. He heard a buzzing of static on his radio and shook his head. Whatever someone was trying to tell him had failed. At Charlotte's question, he pressed his lips together into a thin line. "I hope so. If not, I'm going to kill the bastard myself. "

Terra Terra's senses started to dull. What Lori yelled into the radio was only a droning sound in her head. But she had made a promise. To Lori. To Dexter. And she would be damned if she broke that promise. So every time her eyes dropped, she forced them open again. But she could not keep up that kind of strength for very much longer. Her eyes closed for a longer period of time.

Tobias Tobias nodded a bit, glancing up at Aiden briefly before down at the boy. "He still had a pulse, he's still breathing - both are good signs. Right now there may not be much more we can do for him until he wakes --" his voice cut off short, quick, at the sound that pierced his ears - one too familiar and yet oh so horrifying. "Becca?!" He called, spinning on a heel to look in the direction the voice had come. The scene unfolded before him in slow motion - the building seeming to crumble before their eyes and fall in towards the little girl - the only family he had left. He was supposed to keep an eye on her - how had he let her stray from his side? In an instant he left Liam's side for Aiden's care and dove forward without thought, tackling the girl to the ground and enveloping his body around her's as the flaming debris crashed down around them.

Matt Matt had been holding his breath, waiting for the other to hold down the button to see if their plan had been successful. He let out a sigh of relief, Matt wanted to scream with joy but their mission was not over yet. They still had to keep communications up. "They won't be able to get their radios back up, if they want to do that they'll have to start again. You did good! you did really good." Matt wasted no time in making sure all the right wires were in their rightful spot. He even used the vest he'd given Taeil for the battery to dry up some of the water. Luckily the generator had a full tank. "Okay, generator should be good to go, I'm gonna try this now." Matt stood up to pull the cord, once... twice... three times. The generator rumbled, they waited a few moments and no sputter or back fire. "Good. communications will remain stable."

Ivy Holloway Biting her lower lip, the kid separated a few steps from the gates, looking forward to see if something was coming. Nothing. Lightnings were dangerous in forests. " I'd say we're fucked but Elijah told me not to curse."

Dexter With a grunt Dexter refocused his attention and finally reached his destination having provided cover for a bit longer. Slamming into the place with a bit more forcefully than he probably should have. At least he had made it. When his eyes found the scene that met him obviously it had been far too late. "What the fuck happened?"

Charlotte Her hands gripped on his shoulder, trying to keep herself still as they walked. "Let's check. The main hall was near the entrance, correct?" She spoke, watching as the silence drew upon them. Did the gunfire stop? Or was this just her finally realizing it all?

Gwen Gwen knew this struggle, having attempted to avoid her own battle against insanity with every new dawn that graced her features. "Come back," she spoke only to him, green irises trained on every visible feature of his expression. "Look at me. Come back to us. It's over, Isaac. It's over." As though she were addressing a wounded animal, the blonde gingerly brought a hand up to wipe some of the grime from his face. "We're going home."

Lori No response. Radio silence. "ELIJAH? CHARLOTTE? DO YOU COPY?" She screamed into the walkie, as if her volume would make them hear her. Terra's eyes were fluttering shut. Owen's face was paling. "Both of you-- just-- you can't-- stay awake!" She leaned over, pulled Terra's body closer, before smacking her sharply across the face. "Don't close your eyes, Terra, do you hear me?" She grabbed the radio again. "DOES ANYBODY COPY? WE NEED HELP-- WE'RE IN THE SECONDARY SHED. CHARLIE?"

Owen She was gonna die, the way she was bleeding out. He opened his mouth to cut Lori off -- this was /nothing/, he was /fine/ -- but Terra caught his attention with the sound her breathing made. He reached over to touch the tourniquet she'd made, watching her eyes for permission as he tugged it tighter on her leg. He didn't have any medical supplies. He didn't know how to fix something like this.

Elijah "Yes, let's check." Elijah kept hold of Charlotte, waiting to see anybody emerge -- friend or foe. But it had gone awfully quiet. Something was wrong or something was very right. He wasn't sure as he headed in the direction of the main hall. "How are you holding up?" He asked.

Cristine Cristine nodded and cleared her throat, moving on to the next person who was in need of medical attention, Grayson. "You still with me?" She questioned, snapping her fingers in front of the man to get his attention before she proceeded to gauge the damage.

Ivy Holloway Savannah watched Gwen talking to Isaac and understood. So she put herself as a shield. And protected them. Fuck, she wasn't meant to. Lord knows she wasn't meant to protect them at first but... " Gwen, we gotta go. "

Jesse "Stay with me, Terra," Jesse instructed, slipping out of his jacket and pulling off his teeshirt, using the fabric as a makeshift bandage to wrap around the wound and cut off the blood flow. The man beside him needed medical attention, too - Owen, Lori had said his name was. "Lori, talk to me," Jesse instructed as he tended to Terra, "What happened to him?"

Savannah Savannah watched Gwen talking to Isaac and understood. So she put herself as a shield. And protected them. Fuck, she wasn't meant to. Lord knows she wasn't meant to protect them at first but... " Gwen, we gotta go. " ****

Charlotte "I'm alright." Charlotte nodded, blinking slowly to keep herself from really feeling it. The pain that coursed through her leg. It trailed all the way through her, but she knew that she wasn't the worst one. There were others. She just hoped to God that their plan didn't cost a life. She didn't know what she would do with that weight on her. "You?" She asked, more so in the area if he was holding up well.

Terra The slam of the door startled her. The slap startled her. Terra coughed and found a comfortable place for her head. Her eyes fell shut again, Lori's shouts only a sound in the far distance, Dexter's voice a lullaby to sleep. She couldn't even make out the words. Her other hand finally fell from her thigh but was soon replaced by those of someone else. She had seen his face before. Terra remembered fixing the fence, but his name had slipped her mind. She forced her eyelids open again and stared at the ceiling. Her vision blurred with tears but she was too stubborn, even now, to cry.

Grayson Grayson gritted his teeth, forcing his eyes to open towards Cristine. The bullet was still lodged inside of him, but it wasn't a concern of his really. Not immediate. "Yeah." He blinked slowly, staring towards the beautiful woman before him.

Rebecca It was all Becca could do to scamper backwards as quickly as her small arms would carry her -- but it wasn't fast enough. She could tell even as she moved back. The clinic was in sight, but it was too far. No one would hear her -- no one ever heard her. Except then -- Toby's voice emerged over the sound of the flames, and Becca glanced back just in time to see her brother running toward her. Instantly relief flood her system, until she realized too late what he was doing. Another scream left her lips as flaming debris fell all around them, Toby taking the brunt of it. "TOBY!" His name tore past her lips in a moment of necessity, of panic, and she struggled to wriggle out from under him so they could move, so they could get out of there, because Toby was surely okay. Toby was invincible.

Isaac Isaac let his eyelids flicker as her hand swam into his field of vision, closer, reaching out toward him. He rocked backward on his feet as though debating fleeing, yet her fingers didn't hurt they merely smoothed over the grime caked onto him and he barely managed not to start at the touch. Nausea gripped him and he struggled tenuously to ignore the fresh brain matter clinging to his clothes. "Gwen." He said, as though learning a new word and tasting it on his tongue for the first time. He snapped abruptly back, a rush of sight and sound and touch gripping him and strangling the last vestiges of bravery out of him. Shoulders slumped as he moved away, staring off into the building where he had been tied up like an animal. It was over. For real. "I'm fine." He muttered, shaking his head and clenching his teeth.

Owen "I'm fine." There was ringing in his ear, and he could feel the blood starting to dry on his skin -- but all things considered, this could've been a lot worse. And he didn't want Lori answering for him. "She's lost a lot of blood," he said, instead, tilting his head at Terra. Felt like he was watching a tv show, with all the help he was giving. Useless. "I don't know if we -- we should carry her, I don't know where we'd take her."

Isaac "Thank you." Isaac breathed like it hurt him to the weapon with blonde hair standing beside him. "Close one." He tried to add jokingly, but it fell flat from the voidness of tone.

Lori That councilmen was there. She didn't know his name. But then so was Dex, and she let the walkie talkie drop from shaky fingers. Blood was drying under her fingernails. Terra's resolve was slipping. "They were both-- they were both shot--" a sob ripped through her chest. "Get them-- get them out of here. Dex, you--" with a shaky finger she pointed to Jesse. "Get them, /go/. Take them back to the clinic-- please-- take them. Terra. Terra. Wake up." Another hit. Hands shaking against her cheek. She glanced back at Owen, stroking a hand through his hair. "Stop it. You're not... You're not carryin' anybody anywhere." Her lips were shaking as she pressed a kiss to his forehead, then moved to kiss Terra, too. "Wake up, Terra, please." She was shaking her head, and it was hard to see Terra's eyes closed with the tears blurring her vision.

Cristine With firm yet gentle hands Cris helped lean Grayson forward and bit to see if there was an exit hole. "Glad to hear it pal." There was none. Damn, she'd only ever seen a Doctor manage such an operation but it was what she had to do. "The bullet is still in your shoulder, I'm gonna have to get it out." She commented, easing him back once again before trying to keep his gaze.

Taeil "Woohoo!" Everything worked out. Everything actually worked out. High-fiving Matt in celebration of their success, the once gloomy Taeil had turned ecstatic once again. "Alright, I'll report this to Aiden, 'kay? So she could go back in charge and I'll be the one keeping eyes on Liam, instead." As soon as he gained Matt's approval, the South Korean went straight to the clinic where Aiden had taken Liam to. "The communication has gone back up and running. You should go back to your post, I'll watch Liam."

Elijah "Okay, I could be better," Elijah said softly, eying Charlotte, making sure her wounds weren't bad. She was in a far better state than others, he had feeling. Suddenly, the static on his radio cleared, an array of voices coming through at once. Elijah brought it to his lips, his voice strong and powerful. "Attention everyone of Fall City. You are to leave the camp immediately. I repeat, you are to leave the camp immediately. We've done what we needed to do. Do you copy? Over."

Grayson "Fucking great." Grayson spat out, his body trembled against her grasp. It was shock most likely. His back finally rest against the sheet before glancing up at her. "Do what you need to do, sweetheart."

Gwen Savannah was right, they needed to move out of the compound and eliminate the remainder of the threat on the way, but she refused to budge until Isaac had returned to this plane of reality. "Just stay with me, alright? That's all I ask. Don't crack until we're back home, then you can be as insane as I am." For now, he was a necessity in their escape. Gwen nodded at Savannah and Axel, indicating the pair were ready to flee towards safety at the mark. "Those two," she nodded towards the injured Hannibal and Rivka. "How are you planning to get them out?"

Graham Graham appeared from the corner and looked to the door. "Strap Hannibal to the door. We'll drag him out. Get another door and put Rivka on it." He looked toward the blonde (Gwen) and nodded the question.

NBEadmin With Xavier dead and their group outnumbered, the few that survived the infiltration on Xavier's behalf began to retreat. If they weren't attacked by those of Fall City, they slipped through the gates, keeping their lives and the few belongings they had on them. Despite the injuries and the chaos, Fall City had won.

Dexter Lori was a mess and Terra was shot, fuck. With a quick step Dex moved over to Lori and cupped her face to be calming to the young woman. Then he dropped down to Terra and breathed in a deep breath. "Hold in there Soldier, I'm gonna get you back to safety." He told Terra, leaning down some to brush a hand over her head calmly. "Lori, I'm gonna need you to breath, you're going to help me alright?"

Terra Terra wanted to sleep. She imagined this was the exhaustion of months of patrol catching up on her. Besides, if she slept she couldn't cry which was also what she wanted to do. But not here. Not in front of Lori. Not in front of Jesse and Dexter, two men she admired and respected. Squeezing her eyes shut, she let out a shaky breath to calm her weakening heart. She felt a brush of lips at her head, familiar arms around her, a comforting whisper and she slipped into darkness.

Savannah The girl looked towards the corpses on the floor and then stared at all of them. Let bygones be bygones. She shrugged.

Cole Cole returns back to Fall City with more Twinkies than one man should be able to carry.

Kathryn Kathryn made her way to the clinic, dropping off what little medical supplies she did bring.

Hannibal Hann had come to terms with all that had occured, was ready for death and then he thought of her. With rigid movements he managed to sit. He moved again, working to his feet. He stumbled towards the doors and exited the building. He clutched his stomach with a sad look. "I...I just want to go home..." He didn't know what it was, but he was cursed it wasn't his time yet. He would have to live without them for longer now... He started back towards Fall City, stumbling. "Mona... I miss you." He walked alone, so that none of the others could see his tears. For in that brief moment where his life teetered on the edge, he saw her... His wife and that was more pain, than any bullet could ever cause.

Lori Dexter had her face in his hands, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Elijah's voice rung over the radio. It was done. It was time to go back. She glanced back over to Dex, wiping the tears away with blood-smeared hands. "I can't-- I can't leave him." She nodded her head down to Owen. She tried to even out her breathing, she really did-- "just-- take her. Take her. Now. Run, Dex-- I need you... Take her to the clinic." She glanced at Jesse then, "help me with him, would you?"

Robert The heart he didn't know was in his throat returned to his chest when he saw his sister, standing, among the chaos of the clinic, in what seemed to mostly fine. His hands, above the wrist, had blood on them, and down his shirt from the inflow of patients, mostly Hunter's. Trying to wash himself off quickly, he dried and snagged a new pair of gloves. On his way past his sister, he carefully pressed his lips to her hair and let actions speak what words could not manage.

Rivka As Rivka was pulled onto the door, she winced in pain. She shifted a little, removing her watch. She couldn't tell how bad the injury was. She didn't think she'd die, but just in case. Rivka grabbed Graham's arm as he passed. She handed him her watch. "If I die, I want you to smash the face of the watch to mark my time of death. Then, if you can, I want you to find my family...at least one member and tell them what happened. My last name is Shafir. My parents are Nessa and Ilan Shafir. My brothers are Levi and Arik. Please do this for me if my injuries are much worse than they seem."

Savannah Letting Gwen and Isaac and Axel do their thing, whatever it was, Savannah made it to find Lori in the end. She recognized the blonde locks and stuffled her nose. Right in Dexter's arms. With some sort of rivaldry, she shot at the floor. " Do you guys need help? "

Dexter A nod, solid and affirmative as his blue eyes met Lori's gaze. "Alright, you be safe-- Lori." He paused and sighed. "I'll find you after this, alright?" He was more so confirming that he would indeed see Lori when this was over but right now Terra needed him more. She was bleeding out and he'd be fucking damned if he'd let her die. Slipping his arms under her neck and underneath her legs Dexter gently lifted Terra into his arms. "You're gonna be okay Terra, I fucking swear it."

[nobodysempirerpg]

The council has decreed the enemy shall not be ignored any longer.

Everyone remembers the attack Xavier waged on Fall City, taking the lives of many, destroying parts of the town, wounding our people both physically and emotionally. This cannot be the impression we leave on Xavier. He thinks we are weak and we are going to propose otherwise. Before he strikes again, we are going to take our opportunity. We are going to strike first and we are going to strike hard.

We have divided the city up into three groups, each responsible in a different way to help us succeed in our victory. We will show outsiders that Fall City is not to be messed with even in a world like this.

Attack Team

Your main responsibility is to infiltrate the enemy base. Stand your guard, prepare to fight and advance as far as one can possibly go. You were picked for your knowledge in weaponry, strategy, and skills demonstrated or known throughout the city. 

Gwen, Dex, Max, Owen, Hannibal, Lexi, Hunter, Isaac, Axel, Lexie, Elijah, Lori, Rico, Terra, Rivka, Juliet, Chuck

Defense Team

Your main responsibility is to support the attack team. Be alert and take down any impending threats before they have a chance to harm your people. You were picked for your dedication to your city and your willingness to support those around you.

Kathryn, Charlotte, Dahlia, Savannah, Jesse, Andy, Tatum, Tasya, Natalya, Tristan, Logan, Diana, Grayson, Cole, Rosalie, Lyra, Graham

Home Team

Your main responsibility is to stay guard at Fall City and maintain communication via radio/walkies-talkies with those at the enemy base. Make sure nothing odd happens and prepare for injuries or retorts. You were chosen for your variety of intellect in skills other than weaponry.

Oliver, Augustine, Cristine, Tobias, Aiden, Ivy, Piper, Hannah, Liam, Lana, Matt, Rob, Ada, Shane, Rebecca, Alice, Jamie, Lissa, Taeil

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Residents What: Remembrance Vigil Where: Outskirts of Fall City When: Dusk || Held September 17th, 2015 

In respect for their fallen members the council decided that a vigil would be held in their honor. When their captives were finally returned to them it didn’t seem as if there were a better time to hold it than now. It is dusk, the air cool with the bite of winter, but still, calm. Five freshly dug graves lay side by side at the outskirts of the city, each mound marked with a different, specific grave marker to represent each of their fallen survivors. The survivors are gathering to pay their respects and remember.

Charlotte Charlotte remained silent throughout the endeavor for she only knew one of the fallen. Frankie, a fellow councilwoman, a friend, and someone that she never expected to meet the fate. The others were people that seemed more of memories than actual people. Luca, a man she only met in the darkness of night cloaked under the influence of alcohol and grieve. Mark, a co-worker and someone that she had to place the bullet through his chest herself. She didn't speak of it, knowing that it would only cause hatred despite the good intentions. So, she remained on the side of the event, fingertips laced through the cool touch of cement. She stared ahead, watching the flickering lights of candles float in the winter air. It was a peaceful sight.

. Juliet Juliet hadn't planned on going to the memorial, they made everything more final. She knew closure was something she needed, but she didn't want the pain of admitting her loss, but watching the people go together, as a unit, had made her go against her original thoughts, and she left her home, moving towards the crowd, trying to keep her emotions in check as she looked over all the graves.

Terra Terra stayed in the far back, away from almost everybody. She kept a close eye on Cole, but other than him hoped to leave everyone to their grief. She did not feel particularly involved and she did not want to be. /Feelings/ were not her thing. Besides, she felt partially responsible for what had happened to these five. Terra was the patrol and had sworn to protect the people, and although she did not know them very well, they were /her/ people. She sighed, sadly, and said nothing as she watched the people pay their respects.

Corvo With the stench of inebriation lingering from his injured figure, Cole stumbled into the surroundings, waving a bottle of gin within his grasp. "If y'ask m--me," he declared, parading his tone loud enough for the entire place to hear. He had only been close to Lucy, and even that was enough of a sting to merely fuel his purpose to remain intoxicated. He could hear it now, insulting his decision and forcing a laugh to vibrate against his vocal chords. Oh, how he'd miss the verbal sparring conversations and the belief that she truly did care for him despite blatant hesitation. "These bastards got a lucky escape. Especially that one," he pointed to mound of where he assumed Luca's corpse resided. "He'd have drank himself into it anyway." Hypocrite, really.

Lyra Clouds gathered in thick tufts, shrouding the sun and its emanated light. It seemed fitting somehow; that the skies seemed to be feeling as dull and empty as everyone was. Hands buried in the pockets of her jacket, Lyra stood in the back rows of the gathering survivors, eyes cast upwards as she observed the morbid air that cloaked them. It was almost suffocating. She exhaled quietly through her mouth, feeling as out of place as she ever did. On one hand, she was selfishly comforted by the fact that no one she cared about had been ripped away from her but on the other hand, she still felt like something was missing. Even though she didn't know anyone who had passed away other than a few whom she had merely interacted with. Did someone selfish like her even deserve to be in such a place? With a sigh, she reached inside her pocket and took out a cigarette, lighting it as she drifted even further away from the gathering crowds. Taking a deep exhale, she leaned against a lamppost and settled for quiet observation.

Logan Logan remained silent on the outskirts of the memorial service, eyes blurred and unfocused from something other than alcohol for once. He figured Mark would want him to at least be sober for this event, for the last goodbyes he would mutter to the man he once called family. A narrowed gaze came at the sudden intrusion, for once not finding any solace or humor in his close friend's ill-timed jest.

Andy Andy's head snapped around at the sound of his friends drunken words, and he shook his head. "Bro, come on, that's not right." He spoke quietly, trying to be respectful while trying to stop Cole's rudeness

. Ivy Ivy had never been in any type of these acts so she had no reference of how they used to be other than movies and maybe some tragic scene in a videogame. She just made it from patrols to the memorial, wearing her brown jacket, jeans and red converses. It was weird because no one had clothes enough to wear all black. Still carrying her gun, Ivy found a place next to Juliet. She wondered at everyone's intentions. Of course, Fall City's professional asshole was feeling funny today. She held Juliet's hand just in case. She imagined Gwen wouldn't show up. " Ignore him. "

Terra Terra could not believe it. She liked Cole all right, but as he stumbled into the scene with a volume that could very well waken the dead she highly doubted her appreciation for him. Then she remembered that maybe he had lost someone too. People turned for him already and Terra, not being too keen on this thing anyway, took a few steps to the side. "Cole," she hushed him. The scent of gin made her stomach turn. "You are drunk." Obviously.

Grayson Grayson moved in the subtle outskirts of the town. He didn't know anyone there. In all honesty, his mind was wrapped around why his roommate had left the area so quickly. His gaze noted on Lyra, not sure how she managed such freedom. He leaned against the pole, eyes cast toward the cigarette between her fingertips. "Got another to share?" He asked, knowing that the light buzz of nicotine would somewhat make the touch of his arm more manageable. It always hurt worse in the cold.

Sloan Her hands remained stuffed into her pockets, hood crowning her skull and hiding her away from the plethora of people around. She didn't come here for them, she wasn't hear to listen to their words, nor confess the very heartache she possessed. Instead, as hazel eyes shifted from one grave to the next, all she could do was wish Mark was there. She needed his support, his guidance, that stupid smile which would haunt her until her final days. Sloan couldn't even bring herself to contemplate Luca, the pain for all before her resided deep within her chest, begging for release and demanding her emptiness recoil at the notion. "You left me," she muttered, tone barely audible. "This wasn't supposed to go like this."

Alina Alina had been in town a lot longer than the dead, and yet she didn't recognise any of them. She stood on the outskirts of the townspeople formed around the mounds, the graves of the people lost. This scene was not unfamiliar to her. She'd been around this entire life -- she'd cosseted, she'd massaged away the the numbness and decay of the corpses. It was an oddity that she hadn't arranged any of it. The council took the reigns on this one. She felt bitter about that, like her skills weren't being valued or used. But now wasn't the time for that. She bowed her head out of respect for the dead. "Blessed be." She said quietly, eyes tracing over the five freshly laid mounds of dirt -- the new homes for the dead,

Corvo He heard the scolding, as if he ever gave a shit what anyone had to say. "Half of you bastards didn't even know 'em. So don't give me that bullshit."

Lyra Dark-ringed eyes darted towards the man who had spoken to her. It was the only reaction Lyra gave. It was Grayson. A man she had seen around before but had never interacted with until that moment. Taking a deep drag, she handed the cigarette to him with a lazy flick of her wrist, silently implying that it was the only one she had.

Savannah The girl showed up. Not because she had an exact reason --- she was running away from that man. Apparently, it wasn't going to be a quiet moment. Corvo, the cocky sarcasm king she had met a few hous ago, was talking. She frowned and stared at the event.

Logan "And some of us knew them better than we knew ourselves," Logan finally voiced, tone stern and unwavering as his gaze flickered from Mark's grave to the dark haired man nearby. "So if you could shut the fuck up for just tonight, that'd be excellent."

Juliet Juliet felt a hand wrap around her own and looked to her side, to see Ivy, someone who understood. Squeezing the smaller hand, she closed her eyes as the familiar voice of Corvo drifted over. "Does he get that this isn't the time or is he just an asshole?" She whispered, clenching her free fist to calm herself before she moved to hit the man.

Charlotte Her gaze looked upon the brunette that stood by her door. She wasn't sure what to think of her grievances, but did she dare approach? No. This wasn't the time for it. She pushed herself through the crowd, the guilt of her loss falling past her shoulders. The idea that Cole returned to the funeral drunk made her chest tighten. Did she really expect any more of him? No. It was his own way of grievances. An alcoholic wishing his own death. He was right. She barely knew most of them. There was no certainty to guide her. She merely gave him a warranted gaze before turning her attention towards Sloan. Walking along her side, she pressed her fingertips on the fabric of her back. A small comfort that was welcomed to brush away. She glanced behind, knowing that Lyra stood on the outskirts of the event. She shifted a small smile in her direction, almost as if to say 'Hello.'

Jesse Jesse had taken to the shadows of the memorial, back brushed up against the outer wall of the city, near the five little graves lined up one next to the other. They focused on two of them specifically, resting side by side. At least they were finally at rest, no longer suffering through the cruelties the world had to offer. He chewed on his lower lip, eyes flickering up towards the commotion already being created even before the sun fell beneath the horizon. Naturally they couldn't have one night to remember the dead without Corvo making a mess of things. "And those of us who did deserve more respect. /They/ deserve more respect."

Grayson Grayson nodded in her direction, appreciating the gesture. He breathed in the smoke, watching it as it cascaded from his lips. "Did ya know any of 'em?" He asked, the drawl of his accent leaking from his lips more than the smoke did. He handed off the cigarette back to her.

Isaac Isaac scowled at the back of Corvo's head, determined to keep his battered face hidden with his hood. He clasped his recently found hunting knife, a lifeline that he had refused to be parted with since getting back to the city. He bowed his head, willing tears that just weren't coming. He wanted to cry, to let everything wash over him but there was only so much he could give. Flashes of dark hair twisted in melting snow sent him cringing and he struggled to make himself as small as possible, away from the bodies.

Corvo "Eat shit, Logan. You're not my fuckin' mother," he responded, squaring his jaw. Before he even had time to register the moment, drunken feet stumbling over one another, the familiar voice of another male caught his attention. "Respect? What kind of fuckin' respect? Yeah, I'm really fuckin' sorry most of the bastards 'ere are as thick as pig shit and got 'em killed. Talk about security measures."

Ivy H. " His asshole levels must be offsetting his dick's size " Ivy whispered back, with a big sigh. " Other than that, I can't even begin to understand why he's such a wanker. " Her voice took a bit of strenght. " He's drunk again. "

Terra Terra hadn't known them all very well. Cole was right. But it did not matter. Some people cared for them and surely they wanted this peaceful moment to say goodbye. She swallowed hard and tried to keep herself from anything drastic, unsure of how Cole would react to any quick movement. "Wanna share that?" Terra nodded to the gin. She hated gin.

Juliet This was becoming too much for the blonde and she pulled her hand free from Ivy's beginning to walk towards the dark haired man. "I know you cared for Lucy. So stop being an absolute cunt and show some fucking respect, Corvo. Please..." Her voice started strong, but it fell at the end after speaking the name that haunted her days. "Please stop."

Alina There was a commotion. The town's notorious bastard stumbled into the scene, the stench of alcohol strong a mile away. It wouldn't be Fall City without some sort of disruption, right? "Corvo," Alina walked over to him, placed a hand on his back to steady him. "Just relax, okay? You're not helping anybody. Certainly not yourself." She said in a trained tone. This wasn't the first time she'd experienced such a thing.

Savannah Savannah blinked twice, watching at the man, the blonde who was about to rip his throat, the prince charming that seemed to be pretty affected by the recent deaths and everything. She was definitely not joining any fight but being there was enough. The kid tried to follow the blonde once she let go. " Hey ---" She thought that might have been Ivy. " Easy on him."

Lyra Taking the offered cigarette, Lyra raised it towards Charlotte in silent greeting, an almost imperceptible smile curving the edge of her mouth upwards, offering the woman to join her if she felt like it. She glanced back at Grayson, taking another deep drag and holding her breath as the calming nicotine washed through her lungs in relaxing waves. She sighed, exhaling the smoke through her nose before she handed him the cigarette. "Nope. Talked to a few of 'em but I can't say I /knew/ any of them," She tilted her slightly towards him. "You?"

Logan Logan pushed his way past a few bodies, easily within confronting range of the other male when a hand gripped his upper arm, holding him back from pursuing his rage induced grief. "Let me go," he responded to the hand without turning to it. "I'm gonna knock his fucking lights out I swear to the bitch that birthed him."

Jesse Jesse straightened up as Corvo's eyes found him, the drunken fool hardly able to keep upright on his feet. "If you don't care about these people then none of us want you here - so go take your drunken ass elsewhere." He stepped forward now, standing before the man, "Just fucking get the hell out of here, Corvo."

Corvo "Knock yourself out," he responded, offering the bottle in Terra's direction. Juliet's voice was heard nearby, to which he turned and pivoted his line of focus. "She shouldn't be 'ere. This wasn't /her/ time." As if he would ever know what such phrase meant. It wasn't as if life was merely a race, stumbling at a single hurdle.

Grayson "I just arrived here not less than a week ago. Can't say I know 'em or really care for 'em. Seemed like a lot of others did." Grayson spoke, eyes skimming along the crowd. A fight was breaking out. He wasn't sure what caused it other than the strong stench of alcohol. Oh, what a sweet friend. The air between them was awkward, but a silent agreement. They weren't apart of the grievances. They were outsiders in that aspect.

Corvo The unfamiliar voice, belonging to that of Alina, clawed at his attention. "Don't y'think it's a little late to be helping anybody?" Before he could continue, Jesse's voice was heard once more, to which he turned on his heel, flipping the bird with both hands.

Juliet So there was something inside the man. A snippet of emotion. "I know, she didn't deserve this, and it's my fault, but we can't change it. But can you stop being so harsh, it's insulting to her memory okay."

Ivy H. The girl turned around to see those who were trying to say goodbye to the ones who were lost. She bit her lower lip. She never buried her mother. She would never know what exactly happened to Brax. And now, she would never get to bury her father either. Whatever was happening with Corvo, she no longer had space to fight him back. " CAN'T WE JUST BURY THEM? " She raised her voice.

Alina Corvo was a lost cause. He was cornered at all sides. //This wasn't her fight.// One male attempted to lunge at him, and Alina clenched his forearm, holding him back. "Let it go. Don't let him ruin this for you." She said to Logan. This, too, had happened to her before. Death did that to people.

Axel Axel was seated upon a few rocks in the corner, hood pulled up over his head to block the winter cold and hands tugged into sleeves nervously. This wasn't his scene, not a place he felt comfortable - but he wanted to pay his respects. He owed Frankie that much, didn't he? Still he watched silently as the argument unfolded, disgusted that it was unfolding at such an event but keeping his head down and out of it. It didn't matter. He wasn't here for any of these people.

Corvo "I don't know actually," he responded to blonde. "Pretty damn sure she'd be thriving off this very moment, gives her a chance to punch me in the dick."

Juliet A small smile broke across Juliet's features as Corvo mentioned Lucy probably punching him in the dick. It sounded like something the brunette would have done had she been angry enough. "Well if you don't get your shit together I'll do it for her."

Savannah " Don't. " Savannah was stronger than her looks. " Just, don't." She tried to make sure he wouldn't do his way to Corvo and then moved her gaze to the graves. " Who's your friend? "

Charlotte Charlotte glanced over to Lyra, noting her little gesture. Come hither, she said. She wasn't sure if she was ready for that just yet. So, she nodded - waited - and gently slipped away from the grieving brunette. She was in her own world, afterall. Words didn't want to jump to Cole. She knew that no words would cease what was already set in mind. She couldn't change him. Scolding him in the walls of their home would be a better option than trying to reason with him now. The man was a storm, nothing more. She slipped away from the crowded space of the crowd, eyes cast down as she pushed her way out. Tears welled in her gaze despite it all. She didn't have the right to grieve and yet she was. Her boots dragged her to her friend, trying to get away from the fighting as quickly as she could.

Terra Terra took the bottle and that was all she wanted. She wanted the poison and she was sure as hell not going to give it back to him. If he wanted more, he would have to get it elsewhere. Someone was trying to calm him. She did not know her but she hoped she would get through to him. It seemed like it wasn't working and a part of her wondered if perhaps he basked in all the attention. The best idea was to remove him from this memorial. But how? To lure him away with the gin? To infuriate him further until he stormed off in anger? She said nothing as she continued to keep the bottle from him and listened to what was being said.

Corvo "Is that a promise?" He hit back at Juliet, a flirtatious smirk, laced in inebriation, tugging at his features.

Lyra "Yeah. Lucky you," She responded with a faint smirk which almost immediately faltered. "It may suck but they just gotta suck it up and accept it. This is what the world is like now. Loss is something they should have learned to adapt to by now." She shrugged, ignoring how hypocritical her words sounded. She was talking as if she would have been doing any better or holding on any longer than the gathering survivors if anything had happened to the people she /did/ care about.

Juliet+Andy Flirting. Was he really flirting with her beside the grave of the woman she loved? "You're disgusting. I just want to mourn Lucy okay, just. Go away. If you're not going to take this seriously you need to leave." Her voice was harsh, it was the only way to keep her tears away, but she was sure this was right. "Just leave, please."

Grayson "Damn, you're a cold bitch." The man drew his gaze to the woman beside him, noting how off put she seemed in the situation. He rubbed the back of his neck with his arm, not quite sure what to do here. "Though I agree with ya. No point of getting close to anyone here. If ya do, well you kinda get fucked. I'm gonna head off. No point in sticking around for the dead." Tucking his pockets, the man turned away from her and walked off from the event itself.

Ivy H. The teen approached Axel in order to leave the mess Corvo always had to make. She was unsure about approaching Sloan, anyway. She sat on the floor, next to him. " She once threatened with cutting my throat, was that usual or I just caught her in a bad mood? "

Logan He glanced in the stranger's direction and squared his jaw, knowing she was right while simultaneously being unwilling to admit such a thing. "Everything's already been ruined for me," he spoke through clenched teeth, voice raising. "That's my brother laying in the ground. Don't fucking tell me that everything isn't destroyed right now, because it is." The emotion was overpowering his usually cold demeanor, the loss of Mark cutting a gaping hole in his life that he had never been prepared to mend.

Corvo "As if I'd do a thing you said," he spat, dismissing the notion with a flick of his wrist, before lighting up a cigarette and pursuing closer towards the graves.

Lyra Lyra raised an eyebrow at his insult but didn't even bother respond to it. She had no fucks to give about what Grayson thought of her. With a sigh, she brought the cigarette back to her lips and continued to smoke silently.

Charlotte Charlotte approached the brunette's company. Eyes cast towards the man that walked away from her. He seemed calm, not even bothered by the events that occurred around them.

Charlotte "How are you holding up?" She asked, eyes flickering towards her with a certain kind of concern that she didn't have for much of anyone.

Alina His anger wasn't unusual. "And do you think that your brother would want you to keep going like this, huh? He'd want you to live. I didn't know him, but that I know for sure." Alina placed a soft hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort. They taught them communication skills in mortuary school. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Axel Axel's head lifted as Ivy approached, watching a moment as she dropped down beside him before refocusing his gaze on the flame of the candles that danced with each slight movement. When she spoke his eyes shifted in her direction once more, unsure whom she was talking about. "Who?... Frankie?"

Dexter Hands shoved in his pockets and scarf wrapped up around his mouth Dexter loitered, away from the others for the most part but in sight of the graves. The people there had meant something to the others here, but Dexter was used to loss, something that had just recently been changed for the man. Blue eyes flicked up to search for the familiar face, first at the distance from the ground he normally would have seen his sister but then at the next level as Dexter spotted her. It was still strange seeing her as if she were a fucking ghost, this memorial, it reminded him of her but now the man had what he had lost. Unfortunate to those who really had lost people here, the only reason Dexter was at the memorial was to honor his fallen brother, a Marine, and the rest.

Sloan The argument which had continued around her, luring her from her subconscious, merely reignited the very sensation she attempted to bury. Her legs gave way, snapping like twigs underneath the weight, forcing her figure to hit the earth with a thud. "It's still there," she vocalised, as if the corpse buried nearby would respond. She hadn't taken down that pillow fort, even despite her new roommate's confusion, she would never allow herself to remove the last remaining aspects of her relationship with Mark. "It's still there and I can't do it anymore."

Juliet Watching Corvo walk away seemed to sap away the last bits of her strength, her anger that kept her going, and she dropped to her knees, tears starting to fall from her eyes once more. Why did everyone she loved die on her? "I'm so sorry..." She whispered, and the words weren't only aimed at Lucy, they were aimed at all of the fallen. They didn't deserve this.

Ivy H. She nodded. " Yeah -- Frankie did. " A small grinn followed. She never got to meet her in deep. Just a few chats, greetings and all. She was Elijah's friend, though. " It was after the bonfire night. I'm still scared " She looked at him with a small smile on her lips. " I bet my ass she was great. "

Lyra The statement caused a faint yet genuine smile to lace her lips. It was almost sad. As she looked up at Charlotte's approaching form, Lyra couldn't help but imagine how she would have reacted if anything had happened to her friend. Fuck, she couldn't even imagine it. She did know it would have broken her, though. And that thought almost had her walking away from the older brunette and the bond that tethered them to each other. Instead, she held the cigarette between her thumb and forefinger as she removed it from her mouth, exhaling quietly into the cold air. "You're seriously asking /me/ if I'm fine, Char? I thought you'd be more concerned about everyone else," She gestured lazily at the mourning crowds. She sighed at how insensitive her words must have sounded. She evaded her friend's question. "You okay?"

Jesse Jesse's eyes rolled as Corvo flipped him off, choosing to bite his tongue rather than exacerbate the situation. Still he watched him in his peripheral vision but his attention turned back to the graves instead, mind to that of Frankie and Luca. They deserved a better send off than this - both of them...But this was the best he could do for them now.

Logan Logan released a bitter laugh. "I'm not thinking about dying, but thanks for the useless pep talk." In all honesty, Mark probably would have called him a pussy and said to stop wallowing in the loneliness that came with losing someone you love. He might have insisted that the man pick himself up the very same way that he did when Mark's world fell apart at the death of his wife. "We're all sorry for something." Sorry they weren't at someone's side, sorry they never said words left unspoken, sorry for the lack of goodbyes. "Sloan..." He began slowly and redirected his attention to the brunette fallen to her knees at Mark's grave, always deciding it easier to manage another's grief rather than his own. "Come on, kid."

Terra There was simply too much going on. This peaceful event had been disturbed and was looking more and more like a disaster, a second invasion of some kind. She sighed and shook her head; stubborn. Still carrying the (by her) untouched bottle Terra eased away from the center of the scene. Nearby she spotted Dexter. Still relieved to see him, she approached. "Nothing is sacred anymore, it seems," she mused silently.

Charlotte "I'm close to murdering my roommate when we get home. I just..." The brunette cast her gaze from the crowd and leaned her body against Lyra. She was an anchor. A comfort in the unshakable sea. She laced her fingertips with the others, tilting her head down. "I'll be alright. There's nothing to..Times a wonder. I'm just glad to have you back."

Savannah So far, everything seemed to be a mess around Corvo. The tall brunette girl was staring at the graves, the kid had found someone to meet and the rest tried to even pray or whatever. When she sensed a gaze on her neck, Savannah turned her face to spot the Ghost. Shivers, that's what he caused. She wondered where Lyra was. Did Piper ever get here? Braxton? Why, out of everyone she remembered, it had to be him now? Be careful with what you wish for, everyone says.

Axel A bit of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, fingers curling a little deeper into the sleeves of his sweatshirt before he folded his arms around his knees. "She wasn't a fan that you were there," Axel hummed, recalling how Frankie had scowled at the thought of a child being in the midst of battle with the rest of them, "Didn't think a kid should be fighting this kind of battle. She was just looking out for you...in a Frankie way..." His eyes lingered on Ivy a moment longer before returning to the grave site where Frankie lie at rest. "Yeah...yeah. She was pretty great."

Alina The man walked away from her. Sloan had collapsed onto the ground -- she was talking to one of the mounds of dirt. Alina watched from afar, head tipped to the side, examining the situation. In some way, she felt out of place. She didn't really know any of the people that had passed over. But then again, the service felt like a comfort. A reminder of her life back in Seattle with Aunt Lottie's funeral home. This used to be the life she lived every single day. Grief was not an unknown feeling. People processed death in so many different ways; Alina had seen it all. She allowed them to do so: it was their right, after all. They all had to move on somehow. She stood then, with her head bent again, speaking a silent prayer.

Dexter His blue eyes turned to his comrade, Terra, as she approached and nodded at her words, gaze flicking over the group that had gathered. Respect of the dead was a foreign policy to many but often enough in the face of disaster it was never recognized, this was no different. "Or the respect of the dead have evaded some people." He replied back, tone calm and emotionless for the most part as he took a few steps forward to meet Terra as she approached him.

Lyra "Feel free to do it. I certainly won't stop you." Lyra shrugged at Charlotte's mention of Corvell. It was only natural that the guy was causing mayhem even during an event as sensitive as the one they were currently participating in. Lyra couldn't but frown slightly at Charlotte's statement. Her throat had suddenly grown tight and she swallowed to will it away. Squeezing her friend's fingers, she sighed as the grounding weight of Charlotte's body pressed against hers. She nudged her shoulder softly with hers. "Cheer up. I'm still here, aren't I?"

Sloan She didn't expect to hear the voice, to be pulled out of her devastation, doe-eyes looking upwards at the tall male. "He should be here," she responded, her words cracking against her throat, forcing back every desire to sob. "Logan, he... I don't know what to... We didn't even get to say goodbye. What kind of friends are we? He's gone and he doesn't even know." How much she cared about him, how every single day she'd been here had been that little bit more bearable because he'd been here, and now she was always going to be unable to let him know how his existence gave her purpose.

Ivy H. Seeing Axel's smirk in that moment was a gift. Thinking about Frankie in that way, followin his words, was sad. She tried not to sob, though her eyes watered at his words. She didn't see Sloan falling apart, lost in Axel's expression. " I'm ... " She tried hard to find some words. " I'm really sorry, Axel " But that was all she could find. " If I just had been paying more attention maybe Xavier wouldn't have passed us over that day and knocked us out. Maybe she was right and kids are not supposed to be on patrols. "

Parker He'd debated about whether or not to attend, almost feeling like it would be inappropriate since he didn't really know the fallen, except for Mark of course and they weren't really on the best of terms. Parker strolled up keeping silent and stayed on the outskirts not wanting to impose. He thought about the last conversation he'd had with Mark and regretted that while he never really liked the guy they had ended things on a sour note. There was really no way around it though and in the end it only benefitted him. Derek wasn't there and neither were the majority of people he had actually met so he just remained silent trying to seem like part of the group without giving himself any attention.

Charlotte She smiled to her friend, wiping her watery gaze with a sniff. "Yeah, that's on the plus side. Definitely." She rest her head in the crook of her shoulder, allowing her dark locks to sweet over her arm. "How are your wounds holding up?"

Logan "He knows," he replied softly, green eyes lingering on the mound of dirt that once held his only lifeline to sanity. Mark had rescued him so many times from venturing down a worse path in life, kept him on track and above water when he himself lost the ability to tread. "Trust me, he knows. He never actually said it, but you could always tell in how he looked at you or talked to other people on your behalf.”

Terra She was glad to see him and nodded along his words before she came to a stop a few feet in front of him. "Could not have said it better myself." Terra briefly scanned the area before her eyes fell back upon Dexter. She wondered if he had known any of the dead and if he mourned them on a personal level, or like her, as a fellow soldier. Perhaps both?

Savannah Savannah tucked in her red scarf, uncomfortable with the event. It was madness. A single tear falling over her cheek. "Wh-?" She recalled all the lost people and missed a helping hand. However, the girl just looked over everyone and tried not to be around the man who abandoned her.

Vesper The punk really didn't want to attend, but something deep inside her yearned her to do so. It was perhaps the fact that she hadn't been able to mourn her own fallen group mates. The ones that she had stayed with for six months, the ones she had gotten close to and even considered a family. She didn't even want to think about Talia as she walked up to the group, lurking behind them. Vesper had no place near them, but she kept close, saying her own goodbye in silence.

Lyra Lyra chuckled as Charlotte leaned against her. It was quite endearing. At least she could do that much for her best friend. Offer support and assurances even if she was currently doing a shitty job at it. She shrugged at Charlotte's question. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it." She said airily, exhaling long palls of smoke. It was a lie and she resisted the almost instinctive urge to twine an arm around her ribs. She shrugged again.

Axel Axel nodded a little, appreciating her sympathy even though it didn't make him feel all that much better. When she went on he shook his head rapidly, looking at her - "Nah, no. It's not your fault, Ivy. I don't think anything could've stopped Xavier, even if we were ready for it." Breathing in a slow breath he let his legs slowly uncurl, shifting his position to make it more comfortable as a hand shifted to press against his ribs.

Sloan She never imagined those words to leave his mouth, she never expected to ever see herself as an importance in someone else's life. Yet, here she was, dropping her gaze from Logan, tracing her features with a single palm until she broke. Every inch of pain, building up within her, seeped out and claimed, what once felt so empty, to be bound by painful sobs and the inability to regain her control. She would try to breathe, force herself to calm down every quivering limb, but she hated what this world had become - and who she had lost alongside it.

Ivy H. She let go of all the air in her lungs, watching then at Sloan and Logan. Biting her lower lip, Ivy thought about how difficult everything seemed to be. Nothing around was easy. " There's only one thing that's going to stop him. " She confessed. " Death. "

Charlotte Charlotte glanced around the area, noticing the people that were there to pay respects along with the ones that weren't. The bubbly blonde was gone, but Charlotte didn't mention it. They hadn't spoke since their last interaction of her immunity. "Liar." She snorted towards Lyra, knowing that she was most likely hiding any sort of pain she was in. Stubborn mule, she was. "Hey...? You're not allowed to end up in one of those without me, alright?"

Dexter Dexter cleared his throat and took a deep breath, trying to keep his gaze from his sister, even though it was constantly wanting to be drawn to her, as it always had been. A protective eye, always and forever over the younger Fitzgerald. "Did you know any of them? I mean-- as a friend?" He questioned, glancing at Terra as he spoke. He was there simply out of respect, he had a limited relationship with each of the deceased, but nothing that had hurt him as it had others. "I only knew them in passing, really."

Lyra "Me? Never!" Lyra exclaimed with a quiet chuckle before her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Corvo With the attempt to move within the crowd, circling the various graves and gaining any sense of his surroundings, the male slipped over his own feet, colliding with the dirt and forcing the sky above him to claim his vision. Whatever grave he had collapsed nearby, he was hoping they were getting a good laugh out of this. "99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of," pause, a short cough. "beer. Take one down and pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall."

Axel At Ivy's words Axel nodded just the slightest bit, though the thought of killing another was disturbing at best. As much as he wanted to kill Xavier personally he didn't want to think about that right now. He wanted to think about Frankie - he wanted to have Frankie there with him. But he couldn't have everything, could he?

Charlotte "It means take care of yourself." The brunette nudged her playfully. It was a lightful motion, but there was a sense of grieve behind it. The atmosphere of this place had her thinking that this wouldn't be the last one they would have. Not with Xavier's whereabouts still unknown.

Logan Arms wrapped around the woman's slender frame as she trembled from the weight of her own suffering, attempting to hold together the woman who had captured his friend's adoration and made him inclined to remain in this damn city. "You know he'd be pissed at us right now. Crying like a pair of idiots over him, but fuck him for leaving us like he did." It wasn't Mark's fault of course, no one could have prepared his brother for the consequences that came with a hoard of infected biting at his flesh. "You were his favorite..." Logan's voice reached a softer timbre now, comforting almost. "He's probably rolling in his grave and flipping me the bird for telling you that, but he's a bastard and it's the truth."

. Parker Shit. Did he pick the drunk guy up or let someone else? Well considering he'd only said a few words to him and wasn't emotionally compromised he thought he'd go for it. "Uh... here lemme give you a hand," he offered reaching down to pick Corvo up hoping he hadn't upset a bunch of people and that he wasn't doing something wrong.

Ivy H. She took a deep breath and stared at him. " Do you think someone knows how to grow rose bushes anymore? "

Lyra "Would you stop with the motherhenning?" Lyra rolled her eyes as she took another drag of her cigarette, exhaling the smoke away from Charlotte. "I can take of myself just fine. Proof is that I'm standing here with you right now." She said with one eyebrow raised before her eyes started tracing the crowds again, lingering on the people she recognized.

Lyra take care*

Juliet She was surprised that she still had the energy in her to cry, that she had any tears left, but there she was, sobs still wracking her body as she looked over the graves. She hadn't spoken to some of them, and she didn't know Frankie all that well, but Frankie was someone she admired and she'd been ripped away too early. Forcing herself into an upright position, she started to walk away from the crowd, searching for somewhere to get away, to be alone before she completely lost control.

Savannah Nervous, the girl decided to part. Lyra was alive and fine after being on the clinic. She hadn't seen Piper. Maybe she could make it back to the forest. Still hiding her gun, Savannah knew how to make it out. Something stopped her though. What if ...? Doctors. Lyra was alive because someone healed her. Even though the small Fitzgerald left the event, she didn't quit the city.

Charlotte "Your fault really." The brunette crossed her arms, as if that was some gesture of reliance. She wanted to speak those three words that meant so much, but she felt it was inappropriate. Not with the grief that elevated around them. /I love you/ She thought quietly as she leaned against her friend. Proof it was that she was somehow back in her arms. Back home. The sobs that fell from the crowd cause her gaze to falter. Almost as if she couldn't take it all. It was a silent feeling, the way sadness tore through your soul.

Axel Axel cleared his throat, digging his fingers into the dirt beside him and considering Ivy's words. "I imagine someone knows, but I think you need seeds and stuff for that, yeah?"

Vesper She lingered behind the group, going off a few feet away to light a stale cigarette. It tasted like utter shit and it burned like no other. She had found it in the depths of her backpack and was grateful for the find. Vesper could hear the cries of the one's who had lost loved ones and she didn't know how to react, so she kept smoking her cigarette, enjoying it as much as possible.

Sloan A short laugh departed from her trembling lips, welcoming his arms as she supported her weight against his own. "Someone once told me crying's good for the soul. I'd like to see them now," she mused, sniffing back her onslaught of emotions. "Well, he's probably gonna flip the bird at me when I tell you that I worked tooth and nail for that damn pillow fort. At least I know my efforts of trying to win him over worked." She matched his sense of humour by the beat, forcing a smile across her pallid features. She'd always regret not professing how she felt, but if there was ever any belief in the afterlife, she would hope he would hear her now. "Logan... Thank you. I know you're not good at this, and I promise not to remind you of this in future, but I... Thanks. It's appreciated. Especially because he meant so much to you."

Lyra "Are you implying that I can't take care of myself? Please, Char. I already have Dex on my ass about that so, there's no need for you to join in." Lyra could sense the hint of concern in her friend's voice but she refused to acknowledge it, opting instead to keep their conversation within the safe zone of light humor.

Ivy H. The girl stood up and stared at him. " I'll try to do it myself so we can bring them flowers. " Impossible, though. Nothing Ivy knew less than plans. She was weary and way too done emotionally with death. " I'm sorry I can't stay much longer. I have patrols later and I need to sleep and keep an eye on Hannah. "

Charlotte "Dexter has a good head on his shoulders, but remember - you live literally two seconds away from me. I will have my mother hen senses going off whenever you're exerting yourself." The brunette glanced aside. It was true, however. She did the same for Dexter when he was healing. He still was, but at least now it was manageable. She didn't need to worry so much.

. Corvo An outstretched hand caught his attention at first, to which he shortly responded: "Who the f---" he paused, narrowing his dark eyes at the other male. "Chicken boy." Cole accepted the offer after contemplating, grasping his hand and heaving himself up from the spot.

Axel Axel shrugged, "I think you need seeds and warm dirt and stuff, but you're all a go if you want to try," he smirked a little, watching the girl rise up to her feet. "It's alright, kid."

Dexter His eyes caught the shift of brunette hair, bobbing away from the event and automatically he shifted with her, gaze following as she went away. With a quick scan of the group Dexter assessed that they did not need him, so he followed after his sister, keeping his distance just to see what she was going to do first before he'd make any move to stop her or otherwise.

Logan "I'm offended," he gave her a half-smile in return, though it never met his eyes. "And here I thought I was doing a damn decent job." Slowly, without intention to startle the brunette, he began helping her up into a standing position. "How about we get the hell out of this place, find some booze, and talk about how much of a wanker he was. I don't normally do the conversation thing with people, but I can make an exception for you tonight."

Ivy H. She rubbed her hands at her jeans, awkward. " Yeah -- I. Imma just go to sleep. " She hesitated but before leaving, she turned around and hugged Axel. Even though she didn' know him that much and all ... Maybe it was because she needed it too. " B-bye, yeah. " She ran away the swiftest. In her way, she stopped right next to Drunk King and the aparent Chicken boy. " Hey Cole, I found a Phill Collins CD."

Lyra "So you're on his side? How atrocious!" She allowed the cigarette to dangle from the edge of her mouth before she patted her heart. "I'm wounded." She sobered up, however, when Charlotte broke the eye contact. "God, you guys act like I need protection. I don't. I fuckin' made it out of Maverick's torture camp /on my own/. Don't forget that." She exhaled hotly through her nose, willing the sudden rush of anger to calm as she took one last long drag before she threw the butt of her cigarette sharply on the ground. Man, she needed to get a grip. She had always had a short fuse but never this way before.

Parker He couldn't help but laugh at the guy's response even if laughing wasn't exactly appropriate. "I might have to start calling you drunkie, unless you have some to share of course." It was a terrible comeback and he knew it but he hoped it would possibly lead to the other sharing the wealth. Parker lead him away from the graves and off to the side hoping to avoid a scene.

= Savannah The raven-haired girl walked away from the event with a sole idea in her hair: finding out what was happening. Not only they had been attacked: some of them had been abducted. Some of them dead. Was there a possibility that one of them had been bitten and survived? She stopped walking when she knew they were alone, turned around and faced him.

Charlotte She didn't believe that they had made it out on their own. That was what the problem was. The brunette turned her gaze down, not replying to Lyra in that moment. Silence was her only answer. She patted her shoulder with a grip, eyes fluttering towards her. "I'm gonna head out, alright? Knock when you're home, love." She spoke soft, turning her gaze towards her roommate.

. Sloan She rolled her eyes briefly, although the gesture was done with jest, before accepting his assistance and easing herself up from the earth. "Don't I feel special?" She teased, gesturing towards the direction of the city. "Lead the way."

Lyra Lyra sighed. She hadn't meant to push Charlotte away with her outburst but the honest words were out and she wouldn't take them back. "Yeah. Alright." She forced a smile, nodding. "Sure you don't need anything?"

Parker Being confronted with a clearly upset Ivy took him aback and the thought of being forced to listen to Phil Collins of all the music in the world made him cringe. "Uh... don't we have any better selections? I haven't heard music in forever and you're giving me Phil Collins?" He teased.

Dexter Of course she caught on, she always did, but when she turned back around Dexter fully expected to be yelled at again. But she didn't even speak and that was even worse. So he moved closer to his sister, swallowing the lump in his throat before he inspected the path before her then returned his gaze to her as if asking where she was going and what she was doing silently.

Charlotte "I'll be alright." She glanced aside, cupping her hands to call out her roommate. "Hey, fuckface. I'm heading home. Are you joining or did someone beat you in?"

Savannah She tightened her jaw. " None of your business, whatever your name is. "

Corvo "That chick... What's her-- Terra, she 'ad it." He couldn't see her, so he merely assumed she'd escaped the vicinity, but he was unable to comment further at the sound of a small child. "Where the fuck did you find that? Off a Phil Collins tree?" As his question left his lips, the complaint from Parker about the music taste caused a gasp to follow shortly. "Better selections? Are you out of your fuckin' mind? Mate, go find your fuckin' Cotton-Eyed Joe bullshit this conversation is over." With both hands, he grasped the waist of the young girl, throwing her over his shoulder in the attempt of a fireman's lift. "Yeah, we're comin'," he called, carrying Ivy towards his roommate whilst attempting to not stumble over his own feet in the process.

Logan He draped an arm around Sloan's shoulders rather than pulling her close to claim her as he would with Scarlett, meandering their way out of the crowd until they reached a familiar figure leaning against a fence with arms crossed. "You wanna join us for a spell, Miss America?" The blonde nodded, pushing away from the metal enclosure and trailing along behind the pair in silence before eventually speaking up. "I'm sorry, Logan." He nodded without turning back to her, a softening expression on his features. "Thanks, Gwen."

Lyra Chuckling at Charlotte's crude statement, Lyra was then assured that her friend would be alright. She leaned her head back against the wall with a heavy sigh and continued to watch the mourning crowds, some of the heaviness she had been feeling in her chest having lifted slightly after her conversation with Charlotte.

Elliott Elliott didn't know any of the residents who died. He didn't think he did, at least. And the man wasn't keen on funerals or vigils. He walked by the perimeter and paused. During his escape he'd fought off an attacker and that quick, mindless instinct of indiscriminately taking a life had been stuffed so far down that he didn't want the thought of death to disturb it. He moved on to the community center in hopes of stealing a bit of electricity to play his guitar.

Dexter The man sighed through his nose, jaw flexing before he looked her over. "You are my business, always have been." He said simply, trying to ignore the pain in his gut and chest from her not speaking his name. "/Dexter/. Your brother." Dex said again, tone calm and collected but not free of all the emotions he was trying to withhold.

Ivy H. Ivy's smirk followed Corvo's words. Of course, Parker didn't know about Phill Collins. She was still surprised about it. Of course, it wasn't a Phill Collins tree. It was on the library and she wasn't going to tell him where, just to piss him off. "WAIT WHAT?!" Ivy screamed at the drunk man's gesture. She hold on tight to him. She rolled her eyes. Maybe this way she would leave this people grieve in peace.

Parker He had no idea who Terra was and he'd clearly offended Corvo, he should have known better really. He wanted to say something back but didn't want to start a fight and he definitely didn't feel welcome following along. Perhaps he shouldn't have come after all. People seemed to be heading off anyway and he didn't want to be left standing there so he just took his own leave and headed back to his house. So much for being a part of the group. He didn't know why he'd really tried anyway the place obviously wasn't safe, he should just leave, but the human in him desperately wanted to stay.

Savannah "If you were my brother, /Dexter/, you wouldn't have left me on the forest" Her voice was filled with rage, yet it was simple and musical.

Ivy H. Ivy waved goodbye at Parker.

Parker He was surprised when the girl waved back but returned the gesture with a forced smile.

Vesper Vesper was through mourning and noticed that Parker was leaving, without saying a word. She followed him back home.

Dexter A burning sensation went through his body but Dexter took a deep breath to steady himself. "I didn't leave you. Stephanie... I would never do that."

. Savannah " Stephanie is not my name!! " She yelled again. It was so confusing. So much. She had wanted to find him so bad yet now all she wanted to do was destroy him as much as the thought of him abandoning her had destroyed her in nightmares. " You left me there to die!! You knew I was bitten! " She whispered that last sentence.

Parker He hadn't noticed the woman following behind him at first, but he stopped and turned around waiting for her. "Vesper right? So we're roommates now I guess. My last one ditched out when all this went down."

Vesper She stumbled to a stop, almost bumping into him. A few steps back and she finally glanced up at him, "Yeah, got assigned this morning." What was she supposed to say about the latter? "Sorry." Was all she could muster.

Dexter The minute the word 'bitten' left her lips Dexter froze, someone had actually left her out in a forest when she had been bitten. "/What/?" He breathed, stepping closer half a step before his brow creased with anger, not at her, never at her, but at this person who had left her-- "Don't say that out loud---" He hushed her, glancing around as if there was anyone else there to hear them. "I was not this person who left you, /I/ would never do that-- you must be confused... just... let me help you, please. We can do this, I'll help you get better, I'll help you remember Ste-- I'll just help you remember."

Parker "It's all right," he shrugged. "I didn't know the guy. I haven't been here long myself. Just a week or so. It's just the way of things now I guess. So you lookin' to stay or what?"

Vesper Well that was a relief, for him at least. Vesper didn't answer his question right away. It took her a few seconds to finally come up with something, a shrug. "You?"

Savannah She pushed him again. No. No more lies. The whole story was cracking, teared at the seams already. Piper was not here and she was not doing so well with the idea of this place being another circle of hell. " What if I don't want to remember how you left me, huh? What if I am not something to protect? I am not your Stephanie. My name's Savannah."

Parker He nodded in response. It's about how he felt about the situation too. "Maybe," he shrugged again. "We'll see. I don't really know anyone, but you know safety in numbers or whatever. Kinda sucks being on your own ya know?"

Vesper He was speaking to the choir there, she had been somewhat alone in her journey to Fall City. She had always been alone, except for her brief moment of happiness with Talia. "Used to it."

Parker "Me too, but it's not really like it used to be." Being alone before wasn't really a choice either, it just happened, now it was just stupid to go it alone if you didn't have to.

Dexter "I /didn't/ leave you! This world /TOOK/ me from you--- You were /my/ world and I would never leave you in some forest, hurt, and scared..." He wanted to match her anger, he wanted to be just as upset but he couldn't. She had forgotten him and that might have been a good thing, could have done her good, but she wasn't the only one who had lost. Dexter had lost his sister and she hadn't really returned to him, that girl was gone and now, as she corrected him, Dexter knew just how much it had changed her-- the world. "You're my sister, you're Stephanie, that will never change for me. And I will always protect you, whether you want me to or not." He was tearing up, showing emotions, showing how much he cared.

Vesper "It's worse." She said simply, when humans were low in numbers and sometimes downright ugly, it was sometimes better to go at it alone. Vesper had learned that that was a big mistake and knew better that you needed people to survive.

Savannah He was crying. Surprised, the girl thought about how she had been always looking for a simillar helping hand, always missing some tucking in at night, stupid jokes and someone to come back from an awful place. Those sensations were the good ones about his face. Then it was the forest nightmares. It was him kicking her out of the van. Him matching her anger only make her shut up. She stared at his eyes with a blatant strenght and licked her lips just before turning around in order to walk away.

Parker "Well yeah," he said with a chuckle. "Now we've got dead things coming after us. The people here aren't that bad, most of 'em anyway, but you know there's always your share of dicks anywhere you go. The world seems to have collected them though."

Vesper "Ain't that a bitch?" She chuckled, smoothing her bangs toward her forehead. "I've heard about dicks in Fall City, haven't met them yet. Which is probably a good thing. So where did your roommate go?"

Parker "No idea, didn't bother to leave a note. Took the guy next door with him though. My friend lost his roomie too." Although he didn't really know if he'd call Derek a friend. He wasn't sure what else he would call him though. Friend just seemed like the best term given the circumstance. Guy I messed around with and hid out the attack with didn't seem like a viable option.

Dexter He should let her go, let her try and remember, try and /become/ herself again but a part of Dexter knew that would never happen. His sister had changed and he had to let that go, but she had already died once-- to him, she had died and Dexter didn't want to let her go-- never again, he'd hold onto her as much as he fucking could. "Where are you going?" Dex couldn't help asking, it was different now with her walking.

Savannah She walked without hesitation or help. She could run and jump and do everything. She was definitely different from the kid he knew once upon a december. She raised her hand and the indicated middle finger in her way out of his sight. " Leave me alone "

Vesper "Well, I'll make sure to leave a note if I ever leave." Vesper bit her lip, not sure of what to say now, he didn't seem as affected by the entire thing like everyone else was. "Do you have booze?" Didn't hurt to ask.

Parker "That would be nice," he said with a smile surprised at her response. He doubted she'd do it anyway he more than likely wouldn't, especially for someone he didn't know. "I wish man. I asked drunkie but he said he got it off of someone I didn't know and it didn't seem right for the guy who doesn't know anyone to go around asking ya know?"

Vesper "Could always steal it off someone, one of the dicks you mentioned..." She trailed off, thinking that the joke was probably in poor taste, but now she was curious as to who had the booze supply. Vesper now thought about a nice glass of whiskey paired off with a stale cigarette.

Dexter An exasperated sigh left Dexter's lips before he eased back, not following her but not moving away either. He just watched, watched as she moved out of his sight. Debating whether he should follow or not, after a moment or two he opted not to. If she didn't return, well then, he'd follow, go after her. Dexter would be there when she needed him, when she truly needed him. For now she needed her space and he was going to give it to her.

Parker "I could, hell, if I knew where I could get it I probably would," he said with a slight chuckle. "As long as it wasn't Logan's." He probably shouldn't have said that out loud, but the damage was done now. "We could always go look, but you know we're probably two of the only people who aren't crying or already drunk."

Vesper "Then it's perfect. We can steal it off the people who are already drunk..." She was now entertaining the idea, surprising desperate for a few hours of numbness. "I've already cried, now all I need is the drunk part. Then I'll be set."

Lyra Walking with heavy steps towards the residential area of the city, Lyra's steps suddenly halted to a stop as she saw Dexter's familiar form. She frowned, silently wondering why he was standing all alone in the middle of the street. She approached him carefully before she patted him on the shoulder. She sent him a small smile. "Hey, you geezer, why standing all on your own like a kicked puppy?"

Parker "If Corvo had some I probably would have tried to knick it off him," he explained then he felt like he was dick not realizing she had been upset. "Oh... did you um know them? One of the people?"

Vesper Her eyes widened, shaking her head, biting her lip once again. "No, I didn't know anybody. Just thinking about my old group and girlfriend. Only reason I came out here."

Parker "Oh...I'm sorry. I didn't really know anyone before, I mean friends I guess, but I was alone when it all happened. Guess not much has changed," he said with a shrug. "I just thought I'd pay my respects, try and be a part of."

Vesper "I didn't know anyone either. I was a complete owner and then it just happened. Then I met her and things just... they were beautiful." She paused there, never admitting that personal information to anyone.

Parker "I'm really sorry to hear that." And he truly was. He couldn't imagine finding happiness in this chaos and then having to lose it. Honestly nothing sounded worse to him. It was part of why he was scared to stay and become a part of a group, get to know people, but for now he felt that it beat the alternative. "So you wanna go look for some or are we headed in?"

Vesper "Let's look for some. Now I really need it." She glanced down at her boots and tapped the heel against the asphalt. "One of the reasons I'm still here, is because I'm tiny and can crawl through small places." She mentioned, really unsure if that would help sell him on the idea of stealing somebody's booze.

Dexter Dexter flinched a bit when he heard the familiar voice of Lyra, blinking a few times he stared at her, trying to process the information he had just went through before he offered a very obvious fake smile. "I'm fine. Just--- thinking." Of course she would know he was not okay, by this point they knew each other well enough to tell when the other was upset. "How are you doing?" He wanted to do what he could to get the topic focus off of himself.

Parker "Yeah, it's sounds like it," he said with a small smile feeling back for bringing it up. "Well if you know where to look I'm all for being your lookout," he teased but there was certainly a truth behind his words.

Vesper "I actually don't know where we could find it. Who was saddest?" Vesper couldn't believe herself, she was actually willing to steal someone's booze. No, this wasn't like her. "They'd probably kick me out if I got caught." She wouldn't group him in, after all she was the one who insisted.

Lyra Her smile immediately flattened into a thin line as concern prompted her eyebrows to furrow. He seemed like the opposite of fine. It was the way he flinched at the sound of her voice that caused her throat to grow tight. She swallowed before lowering her hand almost self-consciously before she moved to stand before him. She glanced behind her and noticed that a figure was retreating. He must have been talking to someone. "Don't lie to me, you asshole," She responded quietly, taking a step away from him almost as if the action would help him breathe better and get over the tension that seemed to have taken over him. "I won't push it but...you know you can talk to me. Okay?" She turned so she was walking next to him. She shrugged, brushing the topic aside. "I'm fine."

Parker He was sure the shock on his face was evident and he wasn't going to dignify the question with a response. "Yeah... I mean I doubt they'd have any in storage or anything I don't have any idea who would have any, we should probably just head home." The idea sounded great in theory, but he wasn't about to start trouble just for the possibility of a drink.

Vesper "I'll probably dream of booze. How fucked up is that." She shook her head and began heading toward their place. It was strange, but she found comfort in knowing she wouldn't be alone, even if he was a stranger.

Parker "Nah... I think we've all been there," he countered knowing full well he had. He was just glad they hadn't done something stupid even if heading off to their "home" sober didn't sound appealing in the slightest.

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Residents, Xavier Maverick and his team of survivors What: Rebirth Event, Invasion Where: Fall City Center When: ~7-10am || Held September 9th, 2015

Since the snowstorm that had blown through a week prior the weather in Fall City had calmed significantly. Clouds gave breaks for sunlight to filter through, warming the city and blanketing the melting snow in early morning sunshine. Everything was calm and silent, save for one man that strolled leisurely down the main road to the front gates, the crunch of snow the only noise breaking the silence.

The dark haired male overturned a blade in his hand, back and forth. He had lifted the blade off of the supply shack moments ago, the body of the guard laying in the snow out front, knocked out cold. A machine gun was strapped down the middle of his back as he approaches the gates.

NBEAdmin_ There at the fence lay the three guards on duty; Ivy, Alexia, and Dexter – all knocked out cold and bound with rope. It was simple, really. He’d earned the trust of these people, enough to get in close. The rest wasn’t hard at all – slam of an elbow into the soft spot on the temple and it was lights out – for more than enough time than he needed.

Next the figure made quick effort of parting the gates and allowing entry to several survivors heavily armed, bombs and rockets firing off immediately upon entry.

NBEAdmin_ is now known as Xavier . Xavier Xavier simply laughed, turning his attention to the square as bleary eyed Fall City survivors began slowly pouring out onto the streets to determine what the commotion was all about. “Attention Fall City survivors. My name is Xavier Maverick, and this city is going to be mine.”

juliet Juliet stumbled out of her house, bleary eyed and yawning at the sound of commotion, immediately waking u as she took in the sight ahead of her. Who the fuck was Xavier Maverick and what was his problem? She didn't want to interact first, she knew it could only end badly, so she hung back, waiting for someone else to make their move.

Corvo Out of mere curiosity, rather than caring about those who wandered aimlessly into the onslaught, dark eyes caught sight of another male. "Xavier who? What next? Batman's gonna pop out from the shadows?" A laugh bubbled against his throat, before he turned to the person next to him. "What a fuckin' wanker."

andy Outside, there was something going on, and as usual he was hungover, and he stumbled from his home. "bruh, i'm trying to sleep."

Hannah A commotion outside in the square drew the redhead teen's attention away from her research in one of the abandoned classrooms in the school having arrived in the room early to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city. Her cerulean blue gaze glanced out the window and saw a single man standing there, machine gun strapped to his back and a knife held firmly in place at his side. Not knowing what was the guy's problem, the porcelain-skinned teenager hesitantly made her way out of the security of the classroom and to the front doors of the school to witness what was going on.

Bat Bat didn't run, but it was a close call. He joined the general masses of confused and concerned people. "Well, I did complain that things weren't interesting here. Guess I should've seen that coming." He remarked to nobody in particular.

Cris She didn't feel good and there was something going on outside, go figure, at last her fever had gone down but now Cristine wasn't in a good mood so as she slung her coat on and grumbled to head out and curse at whoever had woken her Cristine eased out the front door only for her anger to be replaced with confusion. "What the fuck---?" She glanced around to see if anyone else knew what was going on as she brought her coat closer around her.

Dahlia It had started as a quiet night for Dahlia, a book in the comfort of the home she shared, a break from the business of the life she lived within the walls of the city. Of course, making plans was unwise in the world they lived in. The harsh sound outside, the....explosion? The blonde nearly threw the paperback to the ground, abandoning the pages, eyes and body alert. She bolted from the chair, rushing out of the house, scanning the streets, taking note of the other survivors. At length, she saw him. Xavier Maverick. She was on the council. As soon as she stepped outside it became her duty to solve the problem. She ran her tongue along her bottom lip, prepared to speak, to mediate. Surely it was still possible. She kept her hands low, palms telling others to keep calm as she began toward the gate, hoping desperately for the backup she needed, "Just stay calm, let's just keep a level head. Let's talk."

Axel It had only been a handful of hours since Axel had gotten off patrol and tucked into bed, so the commotion had him stumbling out of bed a little uneasy, half asleep as he grabbed for his gun and moved out into the city center. A fist rubbed quickly at his eyes as he looked over towards where the noise had originated – the gates. That snapped his attention wide awake, eyes narrowing at the exclamation spoken from the male at the doors. “No fucking way –“

jucy As sad as it was, Lucy headed straight to where she saw a familiar blonde, standing just behind her, as if Juliet could protect her some how, as she watched Xavier warily. She'd never interacted with him, but he seemed nice enough, so the fact that he was carrying weapons and threatening them was a shock.

Elijah Elijah didn't get much sleep, but it would take someone being suffocated by an elephant to not hear the sounds that echoed through Fall City. He switched immediately into alert -- the haze and sleep shedding away. He rose, the shotgun that he kept beside him most of the day being taken hold of and tossed around his shoulder. As he exited his house, he caught sight of a man with a gun and a knife and the words that left his lips. Of course. Of fucking course. The bad feeling he had gotten from Xavier earlier was proving itself and as he saw Dahlia move towards him, there was an immediate sharp intake of breath that didn't get released. "What the actual fuck is going on here?"

jucy "Why are you doing this?" She whispered to no one in particular, she couldn't comprehend how it could be this different to how she thought.

Luca Really he hadn't been asleep, nightmares did that to a person sometimes, but as soon as he heard the noise outside Luca was on his feet, this gave him an opportunity to move instead of loitering in his room. Glancing out the window the Ex-Marine assessed the commotion first and instantly a switch flipped in his head. Muttering to himself Luca got clothes on, he had to find Jesse first, that was his goal, this didn't look like the normally scheduled programing.

Terra Terra cursed. She did not usually curse, and so it stood as a token of how bad things were. She had been on the other side of the town, looking eastward, when the commotion started. Now she pushed through people and by-standers to get to the front, to see what was going on. She came up behind Dahlia and listened. Then, “I am not sure this one is very chatty,” she whispered.

Ada Commotion woke her up. Usually mornings were calm and silent, only the chirp of distant birds could be heard but not this morning. Almost immediately, Ada got out of bed, peeking into the nearest window curious of what was up. Nothing good. A coat was placed, but she only made it far enough to the threshold of the housing, quickly noticing that the guy in the middle of the street was armed. Something wasn’t right.

Jax The commotion caught his attention, pulled him from the safety of four walls, brows knitted together over his eyes as they moved along the street. More survivors were pouring out into the streets, causing his confusion to grow as he pushed through them, jaw clenching as Jax went in search of what had caused this, and the answers that would hopefully follow.

Trix Early morning run. It was a good way to start the day and Trix did it religiously. She'd been going her normal route when the noise of a kerfuffle snapped her mind from it's original course. She changed her direction, going back on herself at a speed. When she came to it a fair few had gathered there already. Trix spotted Elijah and made her way through, following the crowd's gaze to Xavier armed.

Sloan Boredom was a constant in Fall City, which was the very reason as to why Sloan had spent her time ambling around, until commotion clawed at her attention and lured her into the mass of survivors. "Is this some kind of sick joke? Is it anyone's birthday? Maybe he's the stripper."

Alexia Darkness clung to the ex-convict's gaze like a blanket, obscuring her senses from everything that was going on around her. Gradually the light faded back into her gaze and some semblance of noise filtered back into her ears and she heard the proclamation that came from the man. As her eyes fully opened once more and the bleary outlines of the wall filtered into her vision, the mocha-skinned woman could stop the anger from burning through her veins as a primal scream tore from herthroat. "Xavier you fuckin' cunt-faced horse breathed wankstain! I swear to fuckin' god when I get the fuck outta this you're fuckin' /dead/!"

Gwen /me stepped cautiously out of her doorway, poised against the stairs as she took in the scene before her eyes. Calculated, careful steps were taken as she lingered on the outskirts of the crowd. Ever observant, ever silent.

Roxy Roxy disregarded the man at the gates, searching the crowd desperately to find the people she cared about. Spotting Elliott, she breathed a sigh of relief and, checking her gun was ever present, made a beeline towards him. She tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, you okay?" She asked.

Elliott Elliott had yet to drift off. Sleep always entailed a dedicated ritual that completely fell apart if one piece of the puzzle didn't fit just so. Too wired to give a horizontal position in bed a go, he decided to step out on the street. A crowd had formed, muttered words passed between people. For once he remained silent, brows knitted together surveying the scene.

Bat Bat glanced at Sloan. "He's not pretty enough to be a stripper. He's got a rather devious glint to his eyes, wouldn't you say? Sort of... maniacal."

Xavier Xavier immediately let his eyes fall on the two who had spoken outright to him, taking the forefront of the survivors. Elijah and Dahlia - two of Fall City's dear council members. "You see, I have men who have been out in the open lookin' for a nice place to set up camp. This seems like a fuckin' nice place ta stay, and I want it. I'll take it from ya if need be, but this doesn't have ta go awry." At Alexia's blubbering behind him he just smirked, casting a glance in her direction.

Logan Logan's immediate chortle could practically be heard into the next city. "Such a pleasant conquistador. Very diplomatic, I'll give him that."

Lori Lori's fingers were digging through the garden, pulling weeds, when the gates opened. She brushed her hands on the back of her jeans, eyes squinting through the sunlight that poured down on the town. She cautiously lifted her head up before a commotion broke out in the town square. She jogged over and hid her figure in an empty alleyway, eying the man that declared himself as Xavier Maverick. She swept the area, noticing the townspeople that entered the vicinity. People she now considered friends. She spotted Elijah and Dahlia across the way, speaking directly to the man strapped with a machine gun over his shoulder. Her lips parted, panic surging through her body. "No. No. This can't be happening."

Lyra Lyra had been wandering the streets, having her nightly meditative smoking session when all of a sudden, the once quiet city began pulsing with what sounded like gunshots. There was smoke in the distance near the gates. Immediately alert, Lyra started running towards the source of the commotion. Her heart lurched in her chest and the air froze in her lungs as took in the heavily-armed strangers standing in front of the gates. The one in the middle seemed to be talking, with a smug smile lacing his lips, and Lyra was instantly on her guard, stance shifting and eyes narrowing. Survivors were gathering and she could spot a few familiar faces in the crowds. Quietly approaching the scene, she hung at the back of the gathered crowds, opting to hang back and assess the situation.

Corvo With a leisurely stroll, Cole stepped forward to join Logan, a smirk tugging at his features. "Seein' as this guy thinks his city is his, wonder if we can get him to put us in charge of the booze."

Dex A groan, soft and disoriented brushed past Dexter's lips before he shifted. The last thing he remembered was being knocked out and that made his body hot, something was wrong and Dexter had been knocked the fuck out. He was cursing in his head, blue eyes opening barely as he assessed the situation just as a group of people walked through the gates. It all made sense now and Dex had to do something about it, urgently. Taking a deep breath the man tried to move, noticing that there were others knocked out as well. Ahh, yes, they could help. He was already going through a mental plan when Alexia came to next to him. "Psst!" Dex made a noise at her before shifting up into a sitting position. "Do you have a knife on you?" He asked urgently.

Hannah From her position at the entrance of the school, Hannah watched as the other members of the city blearily made their way out of their homes and into the square. Seeing Lyra arrive from her own home, the redhead cautiously moved from the safety of the school and towards the back of the crowds, making her way to the woman who'd intrigued her at their first meeting. "Any idea what's going on here?"

Robert The time blurred and waned as he usually spent more time in the clinic than he did at his designated home. The clinic offered peace and answers and simple solutions in a world that no longer had that. He had been on his way home, sweater pulled tight around ribs, the scarf that Ada had knitted for him around his neck. Stopping in the alley, he was reminded of something. Had the footage he was seeing been grainy and black and white, he would have sworn he was watching the the footage from a school shooting. His head cocked, eyes drinking in the sight. His eyes ghosted to Elijah, across the street, and watched the other man, and his body language.

Logan Crossing his arms, he shot a smirk in Corvo's direction at such an idea. "He looks all business and no pleasure, which makes Jack a dull boy. I don't want to waste booze getting him to loosen up."

Dahlia The blonde turned, grateful to have Terra at her back, "Well, he's going to /have/ to be," she commented, crossing her arms. She exhaled heavily, noting the crowd that was forming, the survivors piling out. She didn't want anyone to get hurt. Lexi's words cut through the calm she was trying to create as the man spoke once more, "I'm sorry, you can't have it. We can help you, though," she offered, turning back to find Elijah and any other council member. Surely they could reason, surely they could barter. Perhaps if they offered him help, to find his own safe place, it'd work. Of course, that was foolish thinking and even Dahlia, who tried to mask her fear knew that.

Elliott It took a moment to register the tap and Roxy's voice. Elliott didn't take his eyes off the man making his insane proclamation as he replied to her. ''Go to your house, or any house.. don't open the door, stay there until I find you.''

Jesse Jesse had woken early, having planned to get a few things done for the city before everyone else was awake and moving about. What he wasn't expecting was the interruption to the calm morning, the light just barely coming in over the city walls. What he saw when he stepped outside wasn't all together pleasant, but they had to be smart about this. Immediately his head swung back towards the home, searching for Frankie, Luca - whomever. They had to approach this...civilly.

Corvo "By the looks of things," he responded. "He's gotta be at least a little entertainin'. I mean, he knocked that witch out," he addressed in Alexia's direction.

Roxy Roxy was alarmed, but she stiffened at Elliott's take-control attitude. "I'm not going anywhere alone. And I'm not leaving you out here when they've got guns, and you have a knife."

Gwen Meandering her way around the scattered edges of Fall City's meager population, she eventually spotted the back of a familiar head and wrapped a protective arm around Ivy's torso, effectively putting herself between the girl and whatever threats this man could spew. "Don't fight me on this. Not right now."

andy andy was already fed up with the situation, there were too many people around, he couldn't see anyone he cared about, apart from Roxy, but she was with his roommate, so he approached carefully, he didn't know how the other would react to him. Leaning close to Roxy's ear, he realised he'd have to be careful. "you alright, goldilocks?" he asked quietly, trying to be caring but not be too obvious

Elijah Elijah wasn't going to negotiate with someone who willingly brought trouble into the city. Guns or not: he was still just a man and any attempt to try and take Fall City would be met with resistance. Xavier was cold and the chill had run down Elijah's spine the first time they conversed. He may have showed him around, but he withheld details that mattered, details that may have given to others with eyes that hungered for less. "You can't have Fall City. Make a ruckus all you want. The answer is no."

Trix Trix's eyes shot to Lexi and lingered there a moment. As her jaw flexed and she felt heat pricking at the back of her neck, Trix darted her harsh gaze back to Xavier. Her fingers found the gun at the back of her belt that she drew for security reasons of course - if he was armed so would she be. "An you think we're jus' goin' to let that happen do you, honey," she all but spat in his direction.

Luca It was only a matter of minutes before Luca came all but bounding out of the house, eyes searching a little bit frantically for either his sister or Jesse. Luca just had to get to them, there was no thinking, he just moved and eventually he spotted the figure of his friend and immediately moved in his direction, muttering to himself a bit while keeping a watchful eye on the person who had addressed the entire city as his own.

Alexia Hearing Dexter's hissed words next to her caused the irate ex-convict's gaze to turn onto him. She hated the man - despised him - but right now that hatred would have to be put on hold, Xavier fucking Maverick was the bigger issue right then. A brief nod escaped the cocoa-skinned woman as her gaze bore down into the other man's. She could feel most of her weapons had been taken from her but the ones that she kept in her boot remained. "In my fuckin' boot - don't be thinkin' I fuckin' like you jus' 'cos you're tryin' to fuckin' help me out. Soon as this is over I ain't holdin' back the hate that's tryin' to make me slit your throat right now," she said, her words easily showing the other man just how much she despised him.

Xavier As sleepy-eyed survivors fell out onto the streets to determine the source of the commotion a brunette separated herself from the pack, running up towards Xavier with a handgun raised in his direction. “Not my fuckin’ city, jackass!” She called, firing off one shot before the weapon jammed. The bullet made contact with Xavier’s upper arm, enough to make him pause just a moment, before laughing and firing off two shots in return to take Frankie down.

A moment later he picked her fallen body up from the dirt to deter anyone firing back at him, the young woman wounded but still alive. “Are we going to strike a deal, or am I going to have to take out yer pretty little spokesperson?”

Terra Terra nodded at Dahlia. Never mind the doubts she had about /talking/, she trusted that the blonde knew what she was doing. After all it was her on the council, not Terra. She would have her back whatever happened.“If this does not work out,” Terra said then, her voice only audible for Dahlia and those that stood very close by, “We will have to end this quickly, before blood is spilled.” At that she glanced up and down Xavier.

Logan "Very true," Logan admitted, albeit having no real experience with the woman in question. He still heard stories, though ninety percent of the time they weren't meant for him. As some random chick made a ridiculous charge at the intruder and found herself with two new holes in her skin, he stiffened. "He's not playing."

Scarlett Whiskey in her bloodstream and hit flask kissing her crimson lips, the blonde perched catlike on the roof of an abandonned Jeep, overlooking the gathering scene by the gates. Cerulean eyes narrowed as she felt rather than heard a gravelled voice, another hot shot trying his luck in the big city, she presumed. She knew the type, pressed shirt with the tags still on to return the next day. The kind of men who wore sunglasses inside, their clinical smiles like sterile slits in their photoshop faces. She'd met the men motivated by power, all so dull and unsurprising. "That's cute," the vixen purred, taking another swing. "I'm quaking in my boots, old man."

andy "damn, that's a hot piece of ass gone..."

Lori A crowd was starting to form in the town square. Across the way, Lori spotted Lyra on the outskirts. She tried to be stealthy and quiet as she made her way over to her. "Hey," she whispered, touching her forearm lightly to notify her of her presence. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes stayed fixed on Elijah and Dahlia interacting with the man. A moment later and another council member Lori had seen around retaliated. The end result wasn't good. Lori squeezed her eyes shut as the bullets fired. Without even realising it, she gripped onto Lyra's arm, tighter and tighter. "No. No, this can't be happening." She repeated.

Roxy Roxy spun around and slapped Andy across the face. "That's not funny!" She snarled, jabbing her finger into his chest.

Dex "Shut the fuck up-- there are more pressing matters." Dex hissed once again brow creased in an urgent and slightly irritated manner as he shifted closer to Alexia. "Give me your foot I'll get the knife out, we have to be strategic about this." Blue eyes landed on one of her feet as he spoke, his head nodding to try and aid in getting her to be more compliant with him. It didn't matter she wanted to slit his throat, this city was in danger and Dexter would be damned if he let anything happen on his watch-- it already had and he was bubbling with rage.

Elliott Elliott was too far removed from the day Andy got under his skin, hyper-focused on the breakdown occurring in front of him. ''Will both of you just fucking go? Do you need me to draw a fucking map? Spell it out in semaphore, use sign language..'' He trails off, the situation too tense to even bother to joke with the two-year olds in front of him.

Elijah The scene happened instantaneously -- a flash of brown hair and a body that collided with the ground. The white snow, though melted, was becoming a mixture of water and scarlet. Elijah's jaw clenched, and then he swallowed the shock. In order to keep going, there was no reacting. There was no emotions. There was nothing other than a target and the end of the barrel of the gun, or knuckles colliding with flesh. "Is that what you think you're gonna do?" Elijah asked. His voice was empty as he stared at Frankie in Xavier's arms, at the blood that continued to fall. "Shoot us all so you can get what you want?"

andy "I wasn't trying to be funny, I'm just speaking truth." Andy hissed, stepping away from Roxy slightly. What was it with the women and hitting him? "Shh."

Corvo The sound of bullets, a common noise for the man, caught his attention, before his line of focus fell on a familiar face from his past and the sight of her flesh being penetrated by such weapon. He paused, spine rigid, before departing the vicinity and leaving Logan behind. He'd spotted the blonde instantly, intertwining throughout the crowd before, through fixed jaw and blackened eyes, he grasped the blonde by the arm. "What the fuck are you doin' 'ere?" He growled, spitting the words at Gwen as if she wouldn't retaliate.

Axel Axel's mind was running a mile a minute. They would need to contain this quickly, but the numbers didn't match up quite right. Xavier had his men lined up behind him and they had theirs - tired, still sleepy eyed, confused. It wasn't an even match. But maybe if they took out the front runner they could calm the fire before anything...serious happened. He ducked back in the corner, raising his gun and lining up a shot -- before Frankie interrupted. "No - NO!" He shouted, stepping a few strides forward and about to take the shot once more before Xavier picked up Frankie like a rag doll and used her as a human shield. "Let her go you fucker!"

Dahlia Dahlia began to surge forward as Xavier grabbed Frankie's wounded body, using it as a shield, her emotions taking over, the desire to help her best friend stronger than any reason. She stopped, though, anchored on the pavement, "Let her go!" it came out gravelly, a command seeping with emotion, "Nobody has to get, let's just talk, you don't have to shoot anyone, you don't have to kill anyone."

Bat Bat tensed as the shots rang out. He made his way through the crowd, laying hands on shoulders. "If you're not armed, retreat, take cover." He demanded. "This will be a bloodbath if you mill around like sheep."

Ada The stairs of her housing seemed like the safest place to be, no intent of going towards the crowd was done. The tension going on, worried her deeply. The firing of the gun startled her, a person had been wounded. It was all clear. Ada’s hands trembled as she watched the scene before her.

andy Juliet froze at the sound of gunshots, her eyes immediately darting through the crowd to make sure the important ones were safe before looking at who was injured. Frankie. "Oh, no..."

Scarlett At the sound of gunshots, Scarlett immediately leaped from the roof of the scar, dropping to a crouch by the tire. Through the crowd she could see Frankie, her dear, faithful Frankie -- one of the only friends she had ever known -- weilded by a manman, coaxed away from her family, her home. Her fingers became claws as she battled her way closer, stopping short only midway through the crowd at the expression on Frankie's face. She had to act, but she knew the brunette would not forgive her if she killed herself trying to save another.

Luca "Shit, shit---" Luca ducked down and immediately moved quicker. "Jesse!" He called out, hoping his friend would hear him before he reached the man, blue eyes finding the main area of commotion and where there had been gun fire. "/Jesse!/" He called out once more.

Gwen Gwen immediately tensed at the sound of gunfire, teeth baring at the implications while she firmly shielded the girl she considered almost close enough to be her own child from the threat. An audible hiss escaped her lips as an unseen figure grasped her upper arm and forced the blonde to face him, anger lining his features. "I'm not going to leave Ivy alone," she replied through clenched teeth. "Let go of me."

Trix Unless they took out Xavier first Frankie was all but dead. Trix could see that by the determination in this guy's stature. Dahlia could be good with words, almost convincing at times, but this guy didn't seem like the type to be talked down from it. From the brief chat they'd had, this Xavier was a tough cookie and no words of peace would be heard by him. Trix would be the same if she wanted something that much. She raised her gun up, lining it for a shot but of course Frankie's body was in the way. She held her aim, waiting and hoping an opportunity would open.

Jax The gun shots drew his attention, urging his feet forward as his mind started to take on just what was happening to the city; a takeover. Something that he had participated in several times before, something he was fairly common with. The sight of a man holding the limp form of a woman caused Jax's feet to halt, his gaze sweeping both sides, spotting several familiar faces already taking in what was happening. Hands clenched at his sides, silently wishing he had access to his gun, access to any type of weapon.

Robert This was Game Theory in action, which given the circumstance was a little morbid to think about. However, the theory would hold. There was also a threat-value here. The two parties could only strike an agreement should they bout end up mutually better off. Human nature. Robert edged closer to the front of the crowd, his jaw set in a tight fashion as the blood dripped from the girl. "So, you kill her? Then what? You kill the next person who stands in your way, then the next, and the next. So on. That leaves the skilled laborers you need, dead. That makes this city worthless." Eyes were calm, posture collected. He was curious, this wasn't a standard logical pattern, the working brain of a madman. He wanted power here, not really the city.

Terra He was not fighting fairy, but what could you expect of a man such as Xavier. The sight of Frankie sickened her and she wanted, much like Dahlia, to surge forward and end this before someone else got hurt. But she knew this would be foolish. Terra bit deep into her lip as she strained her head for any solution. Dahlia might be good at talking, but Terra only knew strategy. They had to do something. "Talking is not going to get us anywhere," she breathed and moved forward; not far, just to stand beside Dahlia again. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Trix with her weapon and was glad to have her there. If things got worse, she trusted the former prison-guard would take the shot. Meanwhile, Terra looked for any way to help them out of this mess.

Roxy Roxy turned her back on Andy with a hissed, "you have no tact you ass." She made a strained noise as shots were fired, but stood her ground. "If you're not going, I'm not. I have bullets, you idiot." She shot at Elliott.

Lyra Lyra was already rushing through the crowds in hastened steps by the time the bastard shot Frankie. Her blood was boiling and she wanted nothing more than to walk up to the smug fucker and punch him into oblivion but she knew she couldn't do something so stupid. It was a precarious situation and the man clearly had the upper hand. He also didn't seem like the hesitant type considering he shot Frankie without a second look. She blinked the shock from her eyes; she still couldn't believe how abruptly things had escalated. Taking a deep breath, she rushed onwards until she was at the front row of the crowd. She /knew/ this would fucking happen. Her eyes spotted Dexter, tied up but thankfully conscious and uninjured. "Nice master plan, asshole. You've been plotting this for a while, haven't you?"

Xavier "I WILL, if I have to," Xavier cooed back to both Elijah and Dahlia, eyes clear that he meant business. He would not sit by and watch this city thrive if his men could not be a part of it and after this - he doubted they could coexist peacefully. He saw the weapons trained on him out of the corners of his eyes, but he was protected with the girl they all seemed to love. Good pick on his part, wasn't it? "I have my own men, I don't need yers unless you want ta be on me own terms."

Corvo "Then take her with you," he shot back, a plea laced with his vexed tone. Dark eyes fell on Ivy, merely tensing his jaw further, before they bore into the irises of the blonde. "As much as I'm damn sure you'd gladly claw his eyes out, you can't be 'ere."

Cris There was gunfire and Cristine was not at all equipped for this sort of thing, ducking down instinctively her hazel brown eyes inspected the center of the town then quickly moved to see if anyone she knew was close. She had no idea what to do and quite honestly she was terrified, it didn't help that she was sick, but she was also unarmed AND sick. "Fucking Fuck, fucker--- dicks." She cursed, moving down the steps to move away from where everything was happening, call her a coward but there wasn't much she could do anyways, first she needed some kind of weapon if she was going to be of any help.

Jesse Jesse had seen her, just a flash of brown hair as she blew past him locked and loaded. "Frankie -" He called her name, watched the scene unfold in slow motion before him. His eyes shifted towards the sound of his name, Luca approaching him from down the street. He hadn't seen Frankie yet - he hadn't seen what happened... Jesse caught Luca by the upper arms as the man approached, pushing him up against the nearest wall. "It's alright, it's alright Luca -" he reassured, as if it would make a difference. "Dahlia and Elijah will take care of it..."

Alexia "Oh fuckin' believe me, I'm aware there's more pressin' matters," Lexi hissed back at him as she attempted to navigate her tied up form closer to the man that she'd made a temporary truce with, attempting to stretch one of her bound feet out towards him. "When we're fuckin' outta these ropes we're headin' straight for the fuckin' supply shed. She," Alexia glanced at the teenager who was still knocked out, "ain't gonna be in no danger if she's stayin' knocked out so ain't no use bein' worried 'bout her."

Xavier This was not working; his desire would never be met at this rate. So if his bargaining chip wasn’t going to earn him and his men what they needed then they would have to take things into their own hands. A knife was produced from his pocket, lifted to Frankie’s throat – and in one simple swipe it had sliced through flesh, spilled blood, and she had dropped in a heap at his feet like a sack of garbage.

“Now,” Xavier barked, waving hands in the air to alert his men to open fire. His own weapon was lifted and the siege began – no desire to leave a single Fall City member standing. This City was going to be his, even if it meant he had to rip it out of these people’s dying hands.

Dahlia Dahlia's molars dug into her inner cheek, her blues trained on Frankie's bloodied body as Terra whispered something off to her side. She swallowed thickly, aware of the truth in the other's words. She could talk, and she could convince, but he'd already harmed one of their own, "We have to try, Terra," she replied, "What else did you have in mind? We don't know how many men he's got......how many......we can't let our people get hurt. Look at how many are out here." The blonde, unsure where exactly her bravely - or stupidity- came from, addressed the man again, "You will not. It's not yours to take."

Gwen Adrenaline pumping, the urge for survival seeping into her veins, Ivy's well being at stake... And all she could think about was dark eyes intensely connected to her own. "I'm not leaving you, either." And then it began, rapid gunfire that pierced the crowd.

Lori Lyra was at the forefront of it all now, her arm slipping from Lori's grasp. She looked around, trying to find someone, anyone. Dex was bound by rope close to the gates along with other people from the patrol. A sigh breezed through her lips. And then, the girl in Xavier's arms, the council member, with bullet holes in her skin, had her throat slashed. Her body fell limp to the floor. Lori felt her knees go weak. "No, no. Fuck." She cursed, running her hands through her hair. She fell to the floor, ducking, as a wall of gun fire began. She didn't have anything, save for her pocket knife -- and even then, she questioned how useful she'd be. She started to crawl on her hands and knees in the direction of the weapons shed. If anything, she had to try. She wasn't going to die like this.

lucy Lucy watched as a knife was pulled across the brunettes throat and the woman dropped, a small scream falling from her lips as she darted forward and hid completely behind Juliet, too scared to keep looking

Hannah As the sound of the psychopath who desired power echoed through the air, the redhead's azure gaze was turned to him just in time to see the woman he'd taken be killed, her throat slit clean through and blood spurted fromn teh wound. If she could get to the body then maybe- no. Now wasn't the time to be considering experiment on a recent corpse. She needed to get out, get to safety. Slowly making her way to the nearest house the redhead rushed inside, hearing the sound of heavy gunfire open almost instantly once she'd gotten inside. Taking in a deep breath of relief, the porcelain-skinned teenager's gaze rested on Ada's, the other inhabitant in the house.

Dahlia A body hit the ground in a sickening thump and Dahlia's matched that moments later, her legs faltering at the sight of Frankie's body. Her dead body. She couldn't even hear the scream that passed her own lips, as the knife met her best friend's flesh. It was white noise, the background to a sight she had never wished to see.

Elijah Another one gone. Just like that. The blade slicing Frankie's throat, the blood spilling from the flesh. He had seen it before. He had seen a lot of blood in his life time, but he knew what this meant. It meant that the majority of his people had gotten a knife into their heart -- especially members of the council who had worked with Frankie and grown to love her too. Elijah and Frankie had never gotten along but that didn't mean he was heartless. It didn't mean that her death did not affect him. As Xavier called out to his men to fire, Elijah turned, relying purely on instinct. His eyes swept over the survivors. "ALL OF YOU. RUN. GET SHELTER NOW."

Trix Fingers flexed about the handle of the gun, her palms cool in sweat from her run and from the adrenaline that coursed through her veins. Trix was angry, that much was clear in her posture but her expression was filled with concentration as she kept her aim trained on him. Frankie. Trix had grown to like her, and was edging on caring for her but she couldn't think of that now - not when a blade was pulled across her throat to spill her at his feet. As Frankie, no, the body fell, Trix unleashed her fire on Xavier, her jaw tight with intent.

Bat Bat lost control the moment the knife cut a human life out of existence. "IF YOU'RE UNARMED, TAKE COVER." He roared, hoping his sheer volume, coupled with the real threat of a dead woman before them, would urge people to move.

Logan At the sound of gunfire, Logan sprinted through the thrashing, panicked crowd in search of blonde hair and a particular set of eyes. He had to find her. "Scarlett!" Fuck, he'd never sounded more terrified in his life. "Scarlett where the fuck are you?!"

Luca He didn't have time to do much as he reached Jesse for his friend all but slammed him into the nearest wall and he grunted, brow furrowed as his gaze shifted from Jesse to where he assumed Dahlia and Elijah were making a deal of some sort, of course he didn't think that would work, of course not. "Shit, have you seen Frankie?" Luca asked, eyes scanning the gathering civilians before he heard more noise and it clicked in his brain. Of course she'd be at the center of the whole thing, /of course/. "Wait... Is she up there? Jesse, she's gonna be an idiot, we have to get her, let me go." He was trying not to panic but he couldn't help it until he had his sister in his gaze.

Terra Terra had seen people die before, had seen blood, had done what Xavier did. But this was by no means justifiable. When the fire opened, Terra did not think. Her brain switched to auto-pilot. "Talking is out of question /now/," she said and touched Dahlia's arm. "We have to get the people out of here," and with that Terra was off, no longer at Dahlia's side but moving through the crowd. A small scream from /somewhere/ caught her attention and she quickly found its source. "Juliet," she said and ran up to her. "Get down, hide, damn it!"

Axel Crimson. Crimson flowed so suddenly from the gash that split the flesh of Frankie's throat and Axel watched with an out of body sort of experience, as if this couldn't really be happening. This couldn't.../really/ be happening. It couldn't be happening, it wasn't happening -- He swallowed firmly past the lump in his throat, eyes shifting from the body that lay on the ground before raising back towards the man who had done this. "No -" He spoke the word slowly before lifting his gun and opening fire on the fucking bastard who took her away, his feet carrying him forward with each firing of the weapon as all noise around him stopped existing, blurred out in fuzz.

Jucy She felt two bodies touch her, one of them Lucy, which drew a sigh from her lips, the other Terra, begging her to take cover. "You know I can't Terra. I'm not leting this thundercunt wreck my fucking home." She snapped, shrugging off the hands on her shoulder. Turning to Lucy she glared at the brunette. "Get your shit together or go the fuck home. I can't protect everyone if you're latched on to me."

Roxy Roxy let out a sob at the lifeless corpse. She grabbed Elliott's arm as people reacted around them, and looked at Andy with wild eyes. "Are you armed?

Roxy She asked urgently

Ada Hands were brought up to her lips the moment she witnessed the massacre before her. Several steps back were taken. Fire gun started and not once she doubted taking cover inside her housing. She saw a figure get in and it wasn’t until the door was closed that she realized who it was. But no words came out of dry lips. Ada was pale, horrified by what she just witnessed. The girl crawled towards a window-less room, before she finally remained silent; tears falling down her porcelain cheeks. It was the game of the mouse and the cat all over again.

Lyra Someone had been holding on to her but she couldn't even register the sensation before all hell broke loose. With a sharp in take of breath, she started pushing and nudging through the panicked crowd, her eyes on Dexter the whole time. A flash of blond hair and Lyra caught sight of Lori unsurprisingly panicking as she crawled her way through. Another glance at Dexter and Lyra started walking towards the blonde. She grabbed her and pulled her up sharply before she ushered her to run towards a nearby building. Taking out her dagger, Lyra leaned down to whisper in Lori's ear, "Take cover and don't do anything I wouldn't do, okay?"

Corvo "Makes a change," he responded, a huff of amusement departing from his lips. "Look, this isn't the time for this." As he spoke, he pulled out a half-drank bottle of alcohol which draped in the pockets of his jacket, before passing it to Ivy. "Punch me in the dick, I don't give a shit, but if you get in trouble, try and use your fuckin' brain and smash this over someone's head. Consider it goin' out in style if it comes down to it." With a pause, he stepped away. "Don't make fuckin' stupid decisions. Look after yourselves, alright?" As his surroundings became a blur of screams, Cole knew well enough that he wasn't here to discuss where either of them stood.

Jesse Jesse felt sick. He could only see what was happening out of the corner of his eye, but as soon as gunfire opened he could only assume what the results were. He didn't let it phase him, the more important thing right now was to make sure Luca was safe, was not aware of what had happened. He couldn't lose both of them, not both of them. He needed Luca now just as much as Luca needed him. "Don't - It's - " He couldn't find the words to fill the parted lips, his hand hooking firmly around his friend's neck, "It'll be okay, alright? Brothers in arms. We're in this together, alright?"

Terra At any other time Terra might accept Juliet's stubbornness, even enjoy it. Not today. "I do not care what you can or cannot do," she pressed while moving herself in the line of fire should a bullet come their way. "Get. Down," she said in a voice that left absolutely no room for discussion. "Juliet please," this time her tone was pleading. Nothing could happen to Juliet.

Dex In a swift movement Dexter did his best to get closer and finally managed to get the knife out of Alexia's boot, quickly cutting his bindings and then hers. "Deal, we should go through the back way, go unseen, this isn't going to end well, so let's hurry." He said, blue eyes shifting from Alexia to the man who had 'taken claim' of the city before he was on his feet. "Run and don't stop 'til we get there." He said with an instructive tone before he took off, darting to the alley that would take them around towards the supply shed, hopefully it wasn't already cleaned out.

Andy Armed? Was he armed? What? "No, I don't know how to use anything, I'm more of a hider than a fighter..." He whispered back, looking around, fear blatant in his eyes

Juliet "Terra, I'm not getting down unless you're with me, okay? I'm not going to lose you. I can't fucking lose you." Juliet snapped, pulling a pair of knives from her belt. "Now stop bitching at me and do something."

Xavier As soon as his men opened fire on the crowd it was returned from those survivors who possessed weapons - which Xavier expected. Swiftly he jumped back from his perch and behind one of the nearest buildings as gunfire rained down on him, another making contact with his calf from Trix's or Axel's guns.

Dahlia Gunfire sounded around the blonde, tear-stained eyes trained on Frankie. Somehow, maybe because the fragile woman on the ground was not seen as a particularly big threat, she'd not been caught by a bullet. Still, the crawled slowly, surely, toward the body of her friend. She /couldn't/ leave Frankie there, absolutely not. It was slow going, but, at last she made it. Blue hues looked down at the bloodied body and, with her own, Dahlia covered the brunette, "I am so sorry."

Luca No, no--- he had to be there for Frankie, she'd be a moron and do something to get herself hurt or worse. "Jesse, I have to get Frankie--" He said softly, eyes searching for his sister but Jesse seemed very intent on not letting him see anything and that alone made his stomach twist. Everything had been going so well, he'd been clean for weeks, had been helping out around the city even made a couple friends but now this, /now fucking this/. Luca refocused and swallowed the mass that was in his throat, looking at Jesse with determination. "Brothers 'til the end." He said with a nod, hand coming up to pat Jesse on the cheek in a reassuring manner. "What do we do?"

Terra Terra could not deny that she was impressed. She wanted to argue with Juliet, but she knew there was no point. She looked down at the knives her friend pulled from her belt and, inappropriately, smiled. "Fine," she gave in. "If you die, I am going to kill you." With that final warning she nodded back towards the crowd. "Let's go."

Lori Someone pulled her up. Lyra. Relief filled her eyes. "You're okay." She stated, as if it needed to be said out loud. They were both okay. For now, anyway. "Okay." She agreed. She would follow any of the brunette's directions, especially in a time like this. She quickly glanced over at Elijah, still in the middle of it all, calling out for people to run and get shelter. "Please don't be a hero." She said, her gaze locked on Elijah, before she turned her gaze to Lyra. She meant it for the both of them. She didn't know what would happen if she were to lose one or both of them.

Roxy Roxy spun, drawing her gun as bullets flew, and she gave Andy a hard shove. "Take cover!" She demanded, voice urgent and panicked. "Go!" She grabbed Elliott, "Move!"

Alexia "Though I'm actually hatin' to say it, the fact they gone opened fire on the city ain't no bad thing, it's jus' gonna mean they ain't gonna be focussin' on us an' will be tryin' to fight back," Alexia said, flexing her wrists once her bindings were released as she pulled herself up to her feet and took off after the larger man, following him down the alley and towards the supply shed. Out of the corner of her eye the ex-convict noticed a small, almost child-sized hole in the fence towards the school. "There's a hole in the fence over behind the school, we get the fuckin' weapons then we get out through there. We ain't escapin' an' they ain't gonna be expectin' nothin' to be comin' from behind them to fight back." The words came out through gritted teeth as the woman kept powering forwards, yanking open the door of the supply shed as soon as she reached it.

Elijah When he turned back around, to get cover of his own, he saw Dahlia on the ground. She was covering Frankie's body, her knees kneeling in the blood of the deceased woman. The sight hit him hard, his heart plumetting to his stomach, but the roaring of the gunfire overhead drove him forward. He crouched down, reaching Dahlia as fast as he could. His arms slipped under hers and he tugged her up, whispering as many apologies as he could into her ear. "You can't stay here. Dahlia, you can't. If it was any other way -- please." Using whatever force he had, he tugged Dahlia into the nearest alley.

Elliott The situation had gone from tense to very real in an instant. His pulse already loud enough he was sure Roxy and Andy could hear only ratcheted up several notches. But at least his pointing finger was steady picking them both out. ''He's not armed, you are - and if you keep standing here I'll take your gun and turn it on you both to make you-'' New shots ringing out caused him to duck for a moment, giving Andy a similarly firm shove before catching Roxy's wrist. ''You move. We're going.''

Scarlett A scream broke free of Scarlett's throat the moment sunlight glinted against a blade, a flash of crimson spilled across her honeyed skin. Frankie. Not Frankie. Anyone but Frankie, the one person, other than Trix, whom she had ever been able to call a friend. Her stomach lurched, retching to no avail, no substance to be chucked up from her body as her hands clawed at the mud. Another howl passed her lips, but no tears were to fall from those cerulean eyes, her mind disconnected from the lifeless corpse in front of her, unable to accept the truth. How could someone so full of life become so cold, so empty, a hollow shell of a girl, staring up at her from glassed eyes that once held zeal and laughter. "No!" Broke another howl, her chest tightening with grief. "No! You can't leave me! You promised. You promised!"

Juliet Juliet didn't hide the wicked grin on her face as she left Lucy behind, deciding instead to risk her life to make sure everyone else was safe, her eyes still searching the crowd for the most important person in the city, a small worry filling her as she couldn't spot Lyra, but she didn't dwell there was shit to do.

Gwen He was right, of course, and Gwen wouldn't argue with it. As Corvo pulled away, she nearly reached out to force him back, but instead focused on wrapping her arms protectively around Ivy. "You're leaving?!" She all but shouted at the man, bewildered as to where he could possibly be going in such a chaotic mess of terror and bloodshed. Though, wasn't this exactly where he thrived? "Corvo..." Something had to be said, she might never see him again. A bullet whizzed by at impeccably close range and her instincts took over, relaying that there was no more time for talking. "Don't you dare get yourself killed." With that, she shoved Ivy in the direction of an alley and the pair disappeared within its confines.

Axel He saw her as he approached, following Xavier's movements back with his own forward - Dahlia, crawling up towards where...where -- He shook off the thought, forcing himself to move forward and block Dahlia and Elijah as the other man approached. "Get her out of here, Elijah, NOW -" Axel demanded, his voice hard, covering the emotion that wanted to come out behind it. He covered them as Elijah dragged her off towards the nearest alley, his eyes still trained on where Xavier had disappeared to as he fired off shot after shot.

Hannah The redhead allowed her eyes to close as she took in a few rapid breaths, trying to blank out the sound of the gunfire coming from behind her. How did this happen? The city was hailed a safe haven from the infected, a place where almost normal life could resume once more. Apparently that was all a lie. Allowing a sigh to pass by her pink lips, she once more opened her eyes and saw Ada crawling away towards another room and followed her. "Ada, it's fine. It'll be fine. We'll stay out of it and they won't get us and you and the baby will be safe."

Dex He only slipped a few times, the pain in his side telling him to stop moving so much, to stop straining himself, but Dexter didn't fucking care. He had a mission and there would be heads rolling. The gunfire was only fuel to his speed. "Attack from behind." Dex breathed, nodding as he slid towards the back of the supply shed and almost slammed into it. Checking to see if there was anyone coming Dex moved around the front and kicked in the door with one hard blow, the feeble door broke at the lock and slammed open and he moved inside. Grabbing hold of an automatic and a machine gun, slinging one over his shoulder before sliding two handguns into his holsters since they had taken his guns. These men, these /people/ who had threatened this city were going to burn and Dexter was going to burn them with the help of Alexia. "Strap up and let's move out."

Andy He was shoved twice, and he wanted to retaliate, but they were already gone, so, for once, Andy did as he was told and hit the deck, spotting Lori doing the same and crawling away, causing him to follow her, wanting to stick with someone he knew and got along with. "Lori, are you okay?" He called out as he followed, fear chilling him from the inside out.

Jesse He wouldn't let Luca see this, wouldn't let this be his last memory of his sister. He deserved so much better than this, both of the Rose's did. "We need to get you a weapon, take care of this mess, yeah? C'mon, supply shack, we won't get anywhere with you unarmed." There was a final nod before he twisted around and led the way towards the shed, tugging Luca along behind him and out of the way of the bullets that rained down.

Ivy H. Ivy stared at him --- the lone wolf walking away. Part of her believed the lies she told herself one night: "he's lying, he's always lying. You used to know how to see wrong from right in him but you don't anymore". The other part wanted to punch him in his dick with an soft and caring grenade. Other than that, Ivy took the bottle and bit her lower lip, snuggling close to Gwen. She was definitely scared. She could take all the monsters, all the mutilateds, all the infecteds but if there was something she could not bear that thing was war. She let Gwen take her to somewhere safe, wrapping her hands around her jacket like childs do when you take them in your arms. She was shaking. War was not survival --- it was murder. " Gwen " The girl whispered. " Gwen, you need to go with him " Her voice was like a whisper. " We need to go back. " And it came out in between a lot of sobs. She was crying. ---- Fall City was no longer a safe place to stay. And such as her mother's disease, she had knew it all along. >>>>>>

Terra Terra found her way to the front again. She had a gun but it was the knife she preferred. And so she took to everyone she did not recognize as a part of their city. At the same time she looked for the people few people she very much cared about in hopes that they were okay: Lyra, Lori, Elijah, Dahlia - where the hell was Dexter? In this moment someone took a swing at her but she avoided them and continued, hoping to get to Xavier and end this.

Ivy H. "We need to stick together."

Corvo "No promises," he mused, his tone merely full of jest. As he meandered throughout the crowd, he passed a simple stranger, whirling bullets in various directions. "Fuckin' idiot," he declared, before grasping the weapon and shoving the other person out of his way. "Go do somethin' you might actually be good at, like vanishing'." With his signature smirk, he pursued further into the crowd, arching his weapon towards the roar of fire, only to catch a short glimpse at the dead body of a woman from his past.

Dahlia Strong arms were around her, and, though she was trapped, numb to the chaos that was waging itself around her, unable to cope, she knew who had grabbed her. Elijah. She was covered in the blood of her confidante as she was lifted up and her eyes caught Axel, who had said something, but all she could hear were her own protests, "No, Elijah, NO I can't leave her! Don't make me leave her! She didn't have to die! She didn't deserve to die!" the blonde sobbed as the man dragged her into the safety of the alley.

Trix To say the least this was not what she'd had planned for her day. As the man backed under cover Trix did the same, kind of. She sprinted to take cover in a similar direction to Xavier. Gun shots rang around her and the voices of the people of Fall City all became a white buzz in her ears.

Lyra "I'm fine." She responded before she looked back to where the patrol members had been tied up. They were gone. A quiet sigh of relief escaped her lips before she noticed Dahlia crouching unprotected over someone's body. She couldn't make out who it was from where she stood. "Be careful, okay?" She shouted as she started walking up to where Dahlia was crouched over Frankie's body. Frankie's /dead/ body. Unwilling to risk standing in the open for too long, she crouched next to Dahlia and gripped her shoulder firmly. "Dahlia...we need to go. There's nothing more you can do for her." She whispered, voice laced with empathy and urgency.

Alexia The words which came from Dexter were pretty much pointless as the mocha-skinned woman was already in action, making her way towards the back of the supply shed where she knew her tomahawk was as she sheathed it across her back before she moved to grab a couple of pistols to tuck them away into her belt. With that done the ex-convict moved to grab the nearest shotgun as she moved out of the shack presuming Dexter would follow her to the hole in the fence that she'd seen. When she got there she tanked the flimsy metal backwards and glanced at him. "It ain't gonna be no pleasant squeeze an' the infected are gonna be another issue to be dealin' with but ain't no other way to be doin' this," she said as she gestured for him to leave the confines of the city before her.

NBEAdmin With the gates propped open and the noise of explosions and gunfire emanating from the center of the city, Infected began pouring in to add to the chaos within the city walls.

Luca Luca moved without protest, following after Jesse as he had his entire life, he knew in this moment that he wouldn't have been able to do this without Jesse, his brother. He wouldn't let anything happen to Jesse just as Jesse wouldn't let anything happen to him. It was a partnership, they were a team and they moved together like a well oiled machine, heading for the supply shack where they could get weapons and protect this city. Fight side by side once again. They could do this, Jesse and Luca, brothers fighting to protect this city. "What's the game plan? Are we going to flank them? Get people to cover?"

Lori Lyra disappeared then, back into the heat of it all. Lori crouched on the brick wall, eyes sweeping, bullets flying everywhere. She didn't want to be alone. Not now. Andy crawled up beside her, and without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm okay, I'm okay." She told him, her breath heavy. "Are you okay?" She asked when she pulled back, examining him for bullet holes or wounds.

Elijah Her cries were raw, scraped from the bottom of her throat. And Elijah heard every one of them. Even if he shut himself off to the point of being mechanical, to the point of aiming his gun and firing, he would still hear her. For they were pleas drenched in an agony he had felt and an agony he never wanted to feel again. But they weren't lucky. None of them were in this world. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Dahlia." He forced himself to hold her weight despite her struggling. And once they were in the alley, he spun her around, his arms wrapping tightly around her. "You got to breathe." He murmured. "You've got to make it -- for Frankie."

NBEAdmin The sounds of gunshots and yelling had pulled her from her home, as reluctant as she was to enter the crisp winter air. And she was almost regretful that she had done, the scene outside scaring even her, someone who didn't scare all too easily. She didn't remember all too much after that point, other than the screams of panic as a group of strangers opened fire on her friends, her comrades, her fellow survivors.

While she never was one to care about others, she couldn't bare to watch these innocent people get gunned down for no reason other than selfishness - which was her own downfall most of the time. But that was besides the point. Letting out a loud cry of anger, she began to run, ignoring the pain that shot through her bare feet, and prepared to fight. Only faltering at the sharp pain blooming in her abdomen as she noticed a red stain growing on the front of her nighty.

Oh.

Another pain higher up her torso this time. Closer to her heart. She knew that, and she knew she was going to die soon. Almost immediately, but the main thing on her mind was that if she was going down, she was taking someone with her. But she had no weapon except for those around her, such as rocks and other pieces of junk. Useless. Just like her. And so she fell, not even bothering to try anymore, the pain she felt just growing worse by every moment that passed. As she lay, crumpled on the floor, she could make out the shapes of people fighting, but she couldn't tell who was who anymore.

A deep breath, a cough, and her eyes closed for the last time. Sarah Masters was nothing more than another casualty in a war that shouldn't have started anyway.

Corvo He shook his head clear of the image, avoiding the images of the very first moments he'd met Frankie, before he was barely capable of possessing a heart. At the sight of the infected, he lifted his weapon. "'bout fuckin' time." With that, several shots penetrated their skulls, knocking him back a step.

Scarlett The moment the infected began to pour in, it was as if the life began to drain from Scarlett's body. Her eyes remained locked on Frankie, fingernails buried in the dirt, frozen on the spot as she glanced between the feral bodies, and the corpse of Francesca Rose. In that moment, Scarlett realised she no longer cared - she didn't have the strength to move on, to run from the beasts that haunted her. "Go on then! Fucking infect me! I'm dead anyway!" Finally, as she pushed herself to her feet, stumbling away from the infected and from dead Frankie Rose, the tears began to fall.

Bat Bat watched the chaos unfold before him with a sense of detached curiosity. Because really, he too was a detached curiosity. He had nobody here. He knew few faces, fewer names, and he held no obligations to anyone in the city. He could surrender right here and now, and maybe they'd arm him and let him join them. He did enjoy living on the edge, after all. A grunt interrupted his reverie as he jerked in pain, staggering back. Gazing down in surprise, he noted a small red stain spreading from his thigh. An explosion and commotion drew his attention away from his own blood as he looked in front of him. A grin spread across his face as blood spread across his leg. Interesting didn't compute. Now was the time to /live/. He pivoted, making a mad dash, looking for anything worth it's salt as a weapon. The game was on.

Corvo Cole caught sight of Sarah Masters, how she plummeted to the floor and all he could do was sigh with relief. "Well, at least they've got good aim."

Dex "Hopefully someone gets the fucking gates closed so they don't swarm in like last time." Dexter huffed, throwing one more machine gun over his shoulder and grabbing a machete to put in his sheath as well. "Ready?" He questioned as he backed out of the shed, not really waiting for her to answer before he went out of the shed, they had to move quickly.

Logan The wail, the anguish, it pierced his eardrum far more than any other scream in the horrified throngs of people and violence. "Like fuck they will," he finally shouted at the blonde he'd been searching out, one arm swinging underneath her trembling frame to pick the woman up into his arms. "And you said I wasn't capable of romance." Logan maneuvered them through the chaos, his long legs hurrying the pair to the front door of what used to be an old shop.

Ada Safe. That wasn’t a possibility anymore. The cat, he would always find her no matter how bright her hiding place had been. Gun shots fired, making her cover her ears as if that alone would keep her, the baby and Hannah safe. The door was closed and locked, but how safe could they truly be inside a home. The trembling wouldn’t stop, it only seemed to get worse. But then there it was, the screams coming from outside. The warning of infected. Everything was collapsing before their very eyes.

Axel Axel made sure to watch as Elijah, Dahlia, and Lyra made off towards cover, had to make sure there wasn't another casualty. He couldn't watch Dahlia go alongside Frankie, he just couldn't. His eyes avoided the body at his feet, reverting his attention towards the man who had disappeared behind the nearest building. Then he saw Trix moving out of the corner of his eye. "Trix," he spoke in a harsh whisper, pointing his gun in the direction of where Xavier had disappeared. Two was better than one. His head tipped to the side, indicating he'd take left and she right, before he advanced towards the alleyway.

Andy Arms wrapped around Andy's shoulders and he shifted, returning the gesture. "Stop it, I'm fine. you're not hurt are you, Lori?" He demanded, worried about his friends wellbeing, scared that she was injured, or worse. "Please tell me you're okay."

Gwen "Someone has to stay with you," Gwen retorted, although she partially agreed with the girl. They needed her out there, they needed someone else with the capacity to fight and actually make a difference. She could hear them now, the screams and groans of something less than human yet far more deadly. "Where's your gun?" She turned to the girl anxiously. "They're coming and you need to be ready. Please for the love of god tell me they gave you that because you know how to shoot."

Jesse Jesse hadn't been too focused on any specific thing that had been going on around them, but he was rather certain a number of the others had been waved off towards safety, those unarmed or those who shouldn't be armed, at least. "We'll flank them, keep an eye out for those who need help," He quickly grabbed one of the guns from the supply shack, tossing it to Luca. "Ready?"

Dahlia Lyra's voice sounded, far off and the blonde wasn't sure if it was real or not. Then a hand, real human flesh, was on her shoulder, urging her to go. There was, though. Something she could have done, "I could have......If I leave her.... I can't just leave her like this."

Lori His arms wrapped around her waist and she sighed in relief. "I'm okay. I'm not hurt. I'm fine, I swear." She assured him, her eyes softening as she looked at his face. "Do you have a weapon? We need to get to the weapons shed--" before she could finish her proposition, the moaning starting. The shuffling of feet against the pavement. Groans and gunfire. "Oh, fuckin'--" Lori sharply inhaled, eyes sweeping the entrance to the city, where the infected were starting to spill inside. "We need to go. Right now."

Terra There was too much going on and Terra was out of practice. But she willed herself to press on. Not for the dead, but for everyone who was still left alive. In the distance she heard Dahlia cry. She could not see her, but she knew Frankie was dead. This awakened a whole new anger in her and with the adrenaline it was easier to fight the infected and the bandits. She took a few good punches and for a few moments was knocked breathless, but Terra didn't care. She kept moving, making as much noise as possible as she did so, hoping to attract the infected before they took to someone else.

Scarlett Hands beat feebly against Logan's chest, the tears stinging at her eyes, painting her face with pain. Her chest hurt to even breathe, lungs forcing themselves to gasp for air despite her heart's pleads to give in. "Fuck you, Logan Woods," came the sound of her voice, cracking with emotion as her hands balled into his chest, pulling herself closer, needing the feeling of someone warm and alive and the opposite of Frankie's corpse against her chilling bones. "She's dead, Lo. He fucking... She's dead! I can't do it. I can't. I don't want to live like this!"

Alexia As they both escaped through the gap in their defences - which was something they'd probably have to report once all this was over - Alexia contemplated the mans words. They could only hope that the infected didn't swarm in to join the fun, a band of survivors was enough to face alone, especially when their force was seemingly just as large as the one in Fall City. As they came back around to the gates of the city and up behind their invaders, a frustrated sigh left the ex-convict's lips when she saw the streams of infected staggering into the falling city. "Ain't nothin' lucky for us today. Everythin's fuckin' up an' ain't it jus' fuckin' /perfect/ that the infected gone come out to play too?"

Dahlia Dahlia breathed heavily, hitched breath as she buried herself into the familiarity of Elijah's chest. Her arms were tight around him, as she sobbed deeply into him for a few moments, "I c- I can't breathe, I -" a scream echoed off the walls that which had offered false safety for them, tearing Dahlia out of the agony-filled trance she had set herself in. Then, something caught her eye. The infected, "Elijah!" she gasped.

Trix Through the buzz the hiss of a familiar voice cut through. It was Axel. Her eyes flicked to him a moment and she nodded acknowledgement to his signals, feeling instantly more confident know she had someone at her side to watch her back and her to watch his. He went first and she fell in just behind him, taking the right that they'd planned her to. Her gun held at her front it was like it guided her the way.

Ivy H. Ivy was shaking. She drove her hand right to her gun and hold it. Her gun! How could she ...? Nevermind, she remembered now. Guns and groans and dust and cold; winter was taking over the world. " I can take care of myself. " She nodded. Or she would try. Corvo walking away was one of her worst nightmares but the idea of Gwen loosing someone she might have cared about was even worse than the whole situation. Where was Elijah? Where was Ada? Were they safe? " Yeah - I have it. You can keep it. You're going to need it Gwen, I know where there are more. I can try to sneak in and do something and ... " Groans and guns and guns and groans. Ivy was terrified but she looked at Gwen and found all the hope she lost in a corpse the forest had already eaten.

Luca Soon they were at their destination and Luca was soon equipped with with a gun, inspecting it quickly he turned off the safety and looked at Jesse before smirking slightly and nodding. "Roger that, Sergeant." He said lightly, it wasn't the time to joke but this felt too much like old times, so much like old times.

Elijah If there was time, he would have let her cry. If there was time, he would have taken her grief and pocketed it with his own, so she could breathe. So she could survive. But that wasn't an option. Elijah's head whipped around at Dahlia's plea and saw infected swarming through the city as rampart as the men Xavier had brought in. He released her from his grasp, his hand taking hold of her wrist. "We have to go. We have to go now!"

Bat Bat rifled through a clutter of discarded and broken boards, trying to find one that wouldn't result in splinters. He had several thin coils of wire in his pockets, because if he was good at anything, it was jury-rigging weapons. That was his sport. That was his FUN. Finding a few solid pieces, he yanked them to the top of the pile, digging through his pockets and pulling out his hunting knife, with the wire gripped between his teeth. Glancing around, he worked quickly, wrapping the blade tightly to the board. "Pretty boy, you gonna run around scared or you gonna play ball?" He demanded, tossing the younger man a slightly warped board. "Got a knife?"

Xavier Xavier had been lying in wait, knowing that some idiot or two would follow him down the comparatively quiet alleyway sooner or later. He had simply had to wait, wait it out until another solider died at his hands. As the footsteps crept forward he raised his weapon from his hiding place, firing it as soon as a man came into view at the end of the alley.

Hannah The girl was terrified, it was obvious. Hannah wasn't much better but at least she'd had to suffer with killing the infected in confined spaces before, if anything happened she was sure she'd be able to defend the other teenager. With that thought in her mind, the redheaded teen took out the pair of forceps tucked into the belt and one of the scalpels that was kept there. She'd do anything possible to protect this girl and her child, if only because it was paramount that the child growing in her womb be kept safe. "Ada, Ada we'll be fine. I'll make sure of it and nothing will get to us."

Lyra Infected were swarming in. "Shit." She whispered, cursing herself for letting her emotions take over at the most inappropriate of times. So fucking stupid. Why did she believe she would be able to help Dahlia? The woman already had Elijah by her side. She should have given a shit. Did something go wrong in her head? "Fuck." Swallowing thickly, Lyra made to stand up before Dahlia spoke, her voice mere aching whisper. Lyra could feel her heart clench in her chest; she knew how the blonde felt. Gripping her shoulder more firmly, Lyra pressed against her side against Dahlia's, supporting her and for the first time, abandoning intellect even though she knew it was a stupid move. "I know...I know. But she wouldn't want you to risk your life the way you're doing now, would she?" She started gently nudging Dahlia to stand. "You have to keep going. For Frankie. You know it's what she would have wanted," She nudged her more urgently as she noticed the Infected swarming in. "C'mon, I'm with you. We need to move."

Lori To get to the weapons shed, they had to cross straight through the middle of the town square; where most of the action was happening. "Okay, I'll go first-- you follow, 'kay?" Lori said, getting low as she made her way out into the open. She had her pocket knife grasped in the palm of her hand, high and at the ready. "Andy?" She turned, then, to see if he was following behind her. He was still shielded by the shadows in the alleyway. She tilted her head, gesturing for him to promptly follow her. She spun around to face a clicker. She slammed her knife into its skull, kicking it away from her with a loud grunt. But then there were more of them. They surrounded her. Her breath caught in her throat. The adrenalin was pumping through her blood as she spun around in all directions, wondering which way to lunge first. She wished Lyra was still with her: she knew she couldn't do this by herself. With a quick glance, she saw as Lyra and Elijah lead Dahlia into an alleyway, away from the gunfire.

Logan "Stop it," he commanded in a stern voice while his gesture of lowering the blonde to the floor with him occurred in a far more gentle demeanor. "Look at me, Scarlett. Look at me." Logan held her chin between his fingers, eyes intense as he studied her face, glass breaking nearby as a stray bullet shattered the store front. "You're knives and steel. You're a goddamn hurricane wrapped up in track marks and a bitter tongue. Someone dying doesn't mean your life is over, too. Don't you ever fucking forget who you are. You're still the badass woman I fell in love with and have the capacity to be the badass one who's going to stand by me and stick up for herself, and her right to live, like I know she can. Understood?" So maybe something slipped out that shouldn't have, but this was a life or death situation and he didn't have time to contemplate his decision making right now.

Lyra "Elijah, I've got Dahlia. You go and help the others," Lyra shouted, urgently pushing Dahlia, moving her grip to the blonde's waist as she ushered Elijah away with a nod. "I've got her! Go!"

. Elliott In a matter of seconds not only had Andy disappeared but Roxy's wrist had slipped out of his grasp as they hit a bottleneck of survivors. At least she had an efficient weapon on her. Ducking into a gutted structure off the street, Elliott snapped a glance over his shoulder at the sound of a voice. ''I don't really have all day to sit here and whittle on the front porch with you, old man.'' Who in the fuck - oh. That guy. But as he looked around there were other implements that could stand better to use than wood. On a work bench Elliott lifted a large wrench and smacked the palm of his hand with it. ''Look around for gasoline. Some old rags. Useful shit.''

Lori Lori went to lunge one way, take out a clicker that skirted a little too close for her liking, before she felt herself on the ground, the wind knocked out of her. "No!" She shouted, trying to roll away from the infected that surrounded her. Bullets flew past her as she tried to make her way back on her feet. That's when she felt it: the sting. The pain. Teeth clamped against her shoulder blade, ripping away the flesh. Her screams were piercing as she took the infected out with her pocket knife, before it clattered to the ground. "No, no, no, no--" This was it, wasn't it? She knew that her death was inevitable. But she just didn't think it would happen like this-- or so quickly. She'd been bitten.

Axel Axel moved carefully towards the alley, weapon held firm as he swept the darkened corners, eyes trained for any sign of movement. He caught sight of it just at the last second as the muzzle flare lit, a searing pain burning through his ribs a second later. He returned fire, missed, before sliding across the wall around the corner so that he was out of view from Xavier. A groan stifled in his throat as he pressed a hand against his side, swallowing hard. He didn't have time to assess the injury, didn't know what the man's next move would be - and Trix was near, he had to be sure Trix was safe. "Fuc-f-fuck," he stammered, pressing his hand a little more firmly to stem the blood flow.

Andy Andy couldn't process what was happening until it was to late, Lori, someone eho he cared immenselt for had been surrounded by infected.

Roxy Roxy ran. She wasn't proud of it, but she was terrified. She'd known, known that she shouldn't trust the town to be safe. She barely hesitated as she raised her gun and fired a shot, dropping an infected in it's tracks as she barreled past. She skidded to a stop in front of a house, dashing up the steps and barging through the door. "Elliott! In here!" It wasn't until that moment that she realized he wasn't behind her, and an icy wave of dread crashed over her. She couldn't go back for him. "Forgive me." She whispered, slamming the door shut as her eyes swam, and every fiber of her being screamed to find safety.

Andy A bitter scream left his lips as he realised what this would mean. He didn't want to lose her, but there was nothing he could do other than try. Picking up a relatively sharp rock he started hitting at the infected, trying to get them away. "No, no no no, please, go, no."

Gwen Gwen was incredibly torn by the predicament, whether to leave Ivy to fend for herself amongst the intruders and the infected or join the fight by becoming an useful member of this society she'd integrated herself into. "You're so brave," she commented, hands holding the girl's face between them. "I'm proud of you. And I'll be even prouder when you get to the shed and find us more weapons. Be quiet. Be safe. Don't make any sudden moves." Lifting the gun from Ivy's fingers, she placed a lingering kiss on the other's forehead before taking off out of the alley. Her machete was tucked in the confines of her coat as usual, but practicality meant she didn't need to bring a knife to a gun fight.

Jax Gun fire was the only sound he could hear, pricking at the edges of his mind as he stood behind a building, his gaze sweeping over what he could see. And that's when he spotted Axel, gun raised as he moved towards an alleyway with another. An uneasy feeling entered the pit of his stomach, jaw clenching as he moved, keeping low to the ground as he followed after the pair. Bullets whistled through the air, a noise he was all too familiar with as he didn't halt his steps, drawing himself closer to the alleyway. Without a second hesitation, nor caring that he didn't have a weapon of his own, Jax moved down the alley, just in time to hear the sound of the gun firing, "Axel." The name slipped firmly from his lips, feet propelling him forward, drawing himself closer to the man.

Dex They moved swiftly and Dexter was appreciative the he didn't have to instruct Alexia too much, his side was killing him already but adrenaline was helping to numb that out. Of course there would be infected, that was just their fucking luck. "/Fuck/." Dexter hissed, gripping his gun close before he glanced over at the woman with him. "I'm going to close the gates, once we're inside you can do whatever the fuck you want but I need you to cover me until then. Do you understand?" It wasn't a bargain and he really wouldn't be taking any shit at this point, she could hate him as much as she wanted but this was important.

Elijah Elijah reluctantly met Lyra's eyes. He knew that he should be out there, to aide as many people as possible to take down as many infected and invaders as possible. But he was afraid of leaving Dahlia alone and perhaps that said what it needed to. He couldn't linger on it however. There were screams, the growls of the infected. He had a round of ammunition in his shotgun and more in his pocket. Whatever else, he'd find. With a heavy breath, he said, "You take care of her. You hear me? If anything happens to her, I swear --"

Lyra Shit, shit, shit. People were falling left and right like defenseless dominos. She observed the scene before Elijah's voice grabbed her attention. "I'll take care of je

Lyra "I'll take care of her," She responded, tone firm and eyes determined. "Now go. I've got her."

Corvo As he moved within the crowd, bumping into the occasional idiot who was far too intent on fleeing, he caught sight of Lori, teeth marks tearing at her skin. He edged closer, raising his weapon and firing at the multiple infected that surrounded her. "It was nice knowin' you," he stated, grabbing the arm of the woman and using himself as a barricade. Who knew Cole could be nice? Even he was a little confused.

Bat The board clattered to the ground, ignored, as the young man moved to other means. "Suit yourself." He muttered, giving a few solid tugs to the cord before swinging his makeshift glaive around his waist. He glanced at Elliott as he gave him orders. "I'll look, sure." He glanced around. "Looks like wood and tools, sorry. No gas." He placed the butt of his makeshift weapon on the ground. "I'm going to level with you, son. I'm going to go back out there, and I'm gonna wade into those infected like I'm coming home. Population control is one thing, this is a massacre. I'm gonna have fun."

Elijah "Stay safe," Elijah nodded and with a final glance at the women, he moved towards the edge of the alleyway. There were so many things that he needed to avoid and very little time to do so. He turned back briefly to Lyra and Dahlia, a thought striking him. "I'll clear you a path. Then get out of here." He raised his shot gun, leveling it and firing at an infected that turned into the space between the houses. One pull of the trigger and its brains littered the ground.

Ada Hannah’s words were blurred by the clear sound of an opening door. Someone was in. Teary eyes looked over towards Hannah in complete horror. Frozen in place, Ada could only hear steps making their way around the housing. If it happened to be one of the armed intruders, that would be their farewell. Almost nauseated at the thought, she scooted close to Hannah, her heart beating forcefully against her chest. They were dead.

Ivy H. The girl bit her lower lip and stared at Gwen's eyes directly. Being brave was painful. It meant risks. She wished to be the one to die that night, not Gwen or anyone. But somehow, she was condemned: she would make do everytime. /I'm so proud of you/ and another sob followed. She nodded and took a deep breath. " See you later, /Gwen/" Ivy hesitated but she knew she had to move. She couldn't stand the idea of watching her step into a war. She walked backwards. " Tell Corvo " she raised the bottle " he's still an asshole, okay? " Making herself braver, Ivy was the one to walk away. She knew the town like the back of her hand and she knew all the ways to get to the shed. Just like her name, she would make her way and break the strongest rocks.

Dahlia His hand was around her wrist, and she put her trust in him to lead her. With her free hand, she felt around her belt for her knife. A flash played in her mind, and, immediately, she went for the sidearm she reluctantly carried at her hip. She looked from Elijah to Lyra then to the infected that had begun to swarm within their walls. Then, he was leaving, with words for Lyra to take care of her. Dahlia called after the man, "Elijah! You be safe too, okay?". Then, her attention was on Lyra, the blonde swallowed thickly. She had to cope, for her people, she had to cope. Shaking hands were gripping the gun in her hand, prepared to fire as Elijah cleared them a path, "We have to....we have to see who's alive, Lyra. We have to get them to safety. I....we need to get everyone to safety."

Gwen One dropped, then another. The infected fell like flies as she fired round after round into them just as Axel taught her many moons ago. She saw a flash of blonde hair amongst them and then a familiar darkness that rested in irises she'd remember until the day she died. A spark of recognition turned her movements from nonchalant into a frenzy. Some of the slower ones turned from the others, coming straight for Gwen as she attempted to distract their interest with something a little louder. "Lori, go!" Former dislike and whatever tarnished their past no longer mattered when life hung in the balance. The woman also appeared to be unarmed, which made her just about useless."Get out of here!" As fungal skinned creatures advanced, she bared teeth at them and turned it off, no longer lacking the motivation to become an animal.

Trix Trix was making her way down the alley, hating that she'd had to separate from Axel but knowing it was the only way. She stalked down, one silent footfall after another when a man ahead turned the corner to face her. He held a gun too. She didn't recognise them but that didn't mean anything. Her finger tight on the trigger as she trailed her gun at him it was only when the man shot that she did too, diving to the side. A hole carved it's way through the man's skull, but she didn't have a second to watch his body hit the ground as a shot rang out behind her. It was closer than the others. It was from the direction Axel had gone in. Trix didn't hesitate. Heart in mouth she turned and sprinted back to him to see another man doing much the same.

Jesse A bit of a smile pulled the corner of Jesse's lips at Luca's words, nodding his head leading the way into the fray. It was like old times - old times where reality was war and survival and death and destruction loomed around every corner. They worked together well in this atmosphere, even if he hated the thought of it.

Hannah The sound of a door slamming caused Hannah's blood to run cold and it felt like her heart had stopped in her chest. Sure, she'd said she'd be able to protect Ada but she hadn't actually expected to have to do it and with merely medical supplies at that. If she had her bow it'd be fine but that was locked away in the supply shack and there was no hope of her getting it now. "Ada- Ada wait here. I'll go and investigate and- and if things go wrong out there then just- just hide somewhere, okay? Just hide and don't come out until it gets quiet," the redhead said before taking in a deep, shaky breath as she moved out of the door and back into the hallway only to come face to face with an unknown woman (Roxy) with a gun. Not knowing what else to do, Hannah threw herself forwards, the forceps and scalpel raised with the intention of bringing them down against the woman's head.

Corvo "Apparently someone missed me more than she'd like to let on," he stated, a smirk gracing his features. How, in the last of his imagination, he would have guessed the pair would be pairing up to slaughter a dozen of the infected. "On your six," he stated, taking out a few of the infected in front of him, as several others groaned their way towards the pair.

Lori Figures, ones filled with life, surrounded her now. Fighting off the infected. The fabric of her shirt was torn, along with the flesh off her shoulder. Bite marks lingered on the outside of the wound. Her head was thumping, her vision blurred as she saw them. Andy. Cole. Gwen. Someone picked her up, dragged her away from the town square and back into the alley. Her whole figure was shaking in the person's arms. "I'm gonna die." A humourless laugh escaped her throat. The pain was unbearable, searing through her body. Her bones were starting to ache. "I'm... I'm so--sorry." Lori said, eyes glazed over as she looked up at Andy's face

Lucy These were not the type of situation Lucy could deal with, so she watched silently from a door way until she couldn't do so much longer. Watching the runner heading straight for the blonde she cared so much for, it scared her. Terrified her. Juliet was the only woman she had allowed herself to feel for, and the thought of her dying so young was unnaceptable. The only logical decision was to scream and shove Juliet out of the way, wincing as she fewlt the teeth of the infected latch onto her shoulder. But she didnh’t care. Juliet was safe. She could be happy with the woman who held her heart now, and Lucy could fade away into the darkness that had always lurked in the corner of her life. She could give in to the savagery that stayed there, until she was no more, she was no longer a person, until she herself had to be put down like the infected that had taken away her life.

Roxy Roxy cried out as a body flew at her, only barely able to raise her gun as a reflex before a woman slammed into her, throwing them both backwards against the door. Roxy twisted, raising an arm to block the blow of whatever weapons the other woman wielded at her. "Stop!" She cried. When that failed to pull her back, Roxy closed her eyes and squeezed the trigger, and a gunshot rang out in the small room of the house.

Elliott The man speaks as if Elliott is a child to be placated - he didn't bother to look. However, what he described sounded beautifully reckless. Elliott had become a live wire of anxiety and tension. What better way to quell the feeling than with a little aggression. And stupidity. With the heavy wrench grasped in his hand Elliott kept his gaze on Bat while cracking the door. ''Sounds reasonable to me.'' The door is swung wider and a wave of sound washes over him - snarls, gurgled blood, gnashing of teeth and dull thuds as those in human form but in the melee undecipherable drop to the ground. Elliott wasted no time in swinging the wrench.

Axel A part of him heard the nearby gunfire, prayed that it was Trix on the victorious end of the firefight. How could it not be? She was swift, she knew how to handle herself. Peeking out around the corner he saw Xavier dip back behind the building, disappearing into the shadows once more as Axel aimed another shot at him that glanced off bricks. A scowl pressed on his lips before he heard his name called, scooting a knee up towards his chest and pressing his back a little more firmly against the building behind him. Jax - what the fuck was Jax doing here? Trix was around the corner a minute later, unharmed at first glance. "I'm alright - I'm al'ight," He waved off both of their concerned expressions, fingers tightening a little more firmly on the fabric of his shirt that was quickly coating in crimson.

Alexia Hearing the commands coming from the other man caused a sharp nod to come from the ex-convict. She wanted to go to town on the intruders, to feed the burning rage flooding her system, but she knew that closing the gates should be their main priority if they actually wanted a chance in hell of surviving this fucking massacre. "Got it," the mocha-skinned woman said before heading away from him towards one of the lone attackers. Pulling the two knives from their sheathes in her boots, Alexia came up behind the man and glanced back to Dexter, nodding once more as she crossed the knives across the man's throat and yanked them backwards, a fountain of blood erupting from the wound as he fell as dead weight at her feet. Sheathing the now-bloody knives back into her boot Alexia bent down and retrieved the shotgun the man had been using before she started firing into the crowd of enemies and infected, uncaring of the fact that some of the attention was being drawn back onto her.

Luca He moved with accuracy and determination, aim, fire, aim, fire, two targets down. There was infected that had joined the party but he was moving with precision. Aim, fire, aim, fire. Two more down, undead and a living. "I got your six, Jesse." Luca said over the noise and commotion. They were moving together and closer at a slow pace, progressing forward towards the enemy.

Andy How could this have happened? He watched, his eyes filling with tears as he watched the infection take hold of one of the only women he cared about more than them being tits and ass, his emotions a complete mess as she watched her drift away. "No.. Lori... Lori, come on, no... You can't leave me here, don't you leave me! Please, Lori..." He didn't bother hiding the agony in his voice as he wept over his friend, an ache in his chest that had started to be less prominent becoming worse than ever before as he lost hee.

Lyra "You too." Lyra responded after she had already turned around. She waited until Elijah cleared a path for them before she tightened her grip on Dahlia's waist and started supporting the broken woman as chaos unravelled around them. She stabbed an Infected through an eye, instantly killing it, before kicking another one and stomping its head. Its skull cracked audibly; blood and brain matter painting her boot in gory hues. She continued her pace towards the alley leading to the residential area before she caught sight of Lori crumbled on the ground with /Corvo/ shielding her. Concern tickled the edge of her mind but she refused to acknowledge it as she kept moving forward, occasionally glancing at Dahlia to check on her. "Just keep holding on, Dahlia."

Ivy H. Maybe she had been like Rapunzel, locked out of reality. Maybe she was just delusional but she never thought something like this would happen. Trying to walk as silently as she could, using the houses she knew were still open, gardens and streets not many people knew, Ivy made her way into war. She was less than a shadow, a kid in a men land. How many shots? How many bullets? She tried to focus. She turned around when she thought he was there -- a blond boy, smiling, counting to ten. Of course, he wasn't there. She wasn't aware of who was a friend or who was an enemy now. She was quiet, walking safe. The infected hadn't yet reached that part of the city. Holding the bottle, she heard a sound of someone walking nearby. She hid. Took a deep breath. Oh, little people see how little people grow.

Xavier With one Fall City Council member down, only five remained in his way before Fall City would rightfully transfer hands to him. Xavier’s eyes swept the battle raging on before him before spotting one of the council members himself among the crowd, rifle in hand and attention on one of Xavier’s men. Perfect – just the opportune time to knock another out of the rankings. The aim was marked for square on Jesse’s chest and the trigger was pulled.

Gwen "On the contrary," she replied in a bemused tone, an almost sickeningly victorious grin tugging at the corners of her mouth as her bullet landed in an infected's forehead. "I figured I'd take a page out of your book and ignore good judgment." The blood of a clicker running full speed splattered across pale skin, its torso gaping from a wide hole. "We need to take shelter, it's stupid being out in the open like this. They're going to keep coming from all sides until we move."

Bat Bat uttered a terse laugh of delight as the man so eagerly agreed with his lack of a plan and beat him to the punch, as it were. He glanced down at his bloodied leg and shrugged. At least he'd make good bait. He followed Elliott as quickly as he could manage, tsking and shaking his hand at the younger man's cumbersome tool. With a swift swing of sharp blade, he hacked at the infected that eagerly began to surround them, before doing a smooth arcing swing to drive them back. "Swing a little faster, boy." He said, laughing with delight as bodies fell.

Trix "Fuck, Axel. I can't leave you two seconds," she said humourlessly. Her voice was tight and her eyes filled with a fear of concern that even she couldn't hide. She gave a sweep of the alley he'd been down - empty - and fixed her gaze back to her friend. He didn't look alright. His shirt was changing colour and he didn't suit red. Stop with the dark humour, Trix, it didn't make it better. "Honey..." she didn't say anything else because she was lost for words. Her left hand found his shoulder and she glanced down the alley way again but swiftly back to him. If she didn't see Xavier dead soon he was going to wish he had been killed by her and Axel's first shots.

Robert Everything had taken a new sort of glow in the chaos. Standing, feet rooted to the ground, knees locked, Rob was brought right back to a class room. Years ago, he could here his philosophy professor moving the needle of the old record player which had a symphony playing on it, to a silence. "Some people just want to watch the world burn," he had said. How cliche, Rob had thought, the air of aristocrats nearly suffocating him. Now though, he understood, and now he could hear the record playing in the background, the clicks and wanes of music that was too old. A time skip. His mind worked like that, and suddenly he was somewhere else. A back alley, debating on what to do. His eyes made for the supply shack. He could.

Dex Camaraderie was not something Dexter would not expect from the woman who so obviously hated him but they had come together to make this place safe, after this Dexter wouldn't even care if she killed him, just knowing people were safe would be good for him. As soon as she took out the first target and started firing Dexter moved in quickly, side aching tremendously before he fired off a few rounds as he approached the gates. Kicking the items that were blocking them and keeping them open, Dex shoved on the doors of the gates, pushing with all his might as he fired off a few more rounds. Finally managing to slam them shut and secure the city. Now the fight was inside, now it was condensed, now they had a chance.

Ada “No-no..” Ada plead for Hannah to stay, frail fingers getting hold on her hand as the girl proceeded to make her decision. But it was too late, in a second she left her grasp and was already making her way out of the room. Silence reigned for a split second before chaos broke loose. The gunshot in the next room made her jump back and seek immediate shelter; a place to hide. Her friend was probably dead by now and she would be next. Almost frantically, Ada searched for a place to take cover in. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she crawled under the bed. Curled up like a child, she cupped her stomach; body trembling as she awaited her certain death.

Jax The sight of blood caused his movements to halt, a frown gracing his lips as he looked down at Axel, not bothering to take in the woman that came around the corner moments after he had, "That sure as shit doesn't look alright." He spoke, his tone light as his body dropped down, resting on the heels of his feet as he balanced on his toes, "Let me fucking see it." His gaze lifted to Axel's face, intending to use the knowledge that he had gained during his time served to attempt to help the man before him.

Lori Tears, ones that weren't hers, trailed down her cheeks. "This was meant to happen." Lori said, her voice broken as she writhed against his hold. A dizziness was clouding her vision. "I'm weak." She wheezed, though whether she meant mentally or physically was unknown, her body slumping against him.

Scarlett Scarlett had never understood the notion that a mere arrangement of words could make a person stop and reconsider everything they believed to be true. In nihilism and the inevitably of her own destruction she had placed complete and utter trust, and everything else that occurred was merely a matter of tactic and self-preservation. Love, in Scarlett's eyes at least, had always been a fable, populated by Halmark to fund the beast of capitalism. But spoken from Logan's lips, it was as if it suddenly had an entirely different meaning. Was that was this was? The loathing she felt whenever they locked eyes, the constant bickering, the feel of his lips pressed against her hair at three in the morning when she couldn't sleep, the way their bodies mirrored each others subconsciously as they slept, the tug of envy that pulled at her mind whenever he talked of other women. Was it love to believe that should he leave her side, she would not have the strength to carry on? That without him in it, her world would no longer

Corvo A laugh erupted from his throat, until it was soon cut short by a single bullet taking down another infected. "You kiddin'? Hide out and miss the action? In this case, stupid's my middle name." He paused, narrowing his sights on the bumbling infected. "Unless, your idea of shelter is a little different. I'm all for bein' kinky, but fuckin' whilst several people die isn't really my idea of a turn on." As sarcasm drifted from his lips, he clocked another with his weapon, until the clicking sound of no bullets caught his attention. "Bastard," he muttered, using the blunt end of his weapon to smash into a skull.

Elijah The city was in chaos. Between the men of Xavier's gang and the infected -- everything was crumbling to bits. And Elijah's blood was boiling. His hands clutched the gun he held so tight that the metal bore into his hands, left marks in the flesh. One of the men that belonged to Xavier came charging at him, careless, amusement guiding his actions as opposed to skill. The gangmember through a punch which Elijah easily deflected -- grabbing the arm and twisting it behind the man's back. Before the man could even react, Elijah had withdrew a knife he kept attached to his belt and jabbed it upward, implanting it in his throat. The man gurgled, blood began to pull, and Elijah tugged it out. He became just another body. An enemy. Humans fighting against each other -- the saddest kind. He didn't bother to wipe the scarlet from the blade. Instead he used it to slice through an infected.

Scarlett ...spin on it's axis, the winter would not fade, nor the birds tweet, but merely coldness would exist in his wake? Perhaps not, but it was the closest she would get to the self-perpetuated ideology of love. Her lips were on his before she could speak a word in response, needy against his own, her hands tangling in his mop of hair as she tugged herself up onto her toes, the tender press of her kiss telling him everything that words could not. When her lips at last left his, she was breathless, the tears that fell for Frankie still staining her eyes as she hardened her gaze, brows furrowing into a line. "Don't you ever dare used that word again, or I will wash your mouth out with soap."

Luca Luca was right beside Jesse, aiming at a man near the 'leader' of this attack force before he spotted the shift in the man. It was towards Jesse and Luca reacted within seconds of the man firing off a round. "Jesse!" He barked and with a determined shove Luca pushed his friend out of the way from the bullet that was meant for him, moving half in front of Jesse before taking the blow full in his chest. Heat laced his entire body and pierced his chest before he went falling back from the wound, a grunt left his lips as he hit the ground and immediately his vision was blurred. He turned his gaze to where Jesse stood to see if he was alright but he could barely see, the pain in his chest was great and he coughed. "Fuck--" He barely breathed, hand still gripping the weapon as he slumped it over to fire off another round, killing an infected that was near the two men.

jucandy "No, this wasn't supposed to happen..." Andy whispered, unaware of everything other than the shaking of Lori's body and the tears that streamed down his cheeks. "You're not weak... Please don't leave me..." He hadn't cried this much since he was 15 years old and lost his brother, but now felt worse, somehow. Lord had shown him that it was okay to have fun whist still mourning and now he was losing her too. It wasn't fair. "Please..."

Elliott Sweat and fluids and spray from the fluid slice of Bat's hand illuminated all senses. The adrenaline coursed like a dam breaking. slivers of glass through his veins stripping his insides down to a primal urge. He missed it. He missed destroying with no regret on the other side of the walls, it was transformative, causing Elliott to vibrate on another level he insisted didn't exist within him. But he didn't need Bat's words of encouragement. Elliott grasped the back of the man's collar side stepping a clawing hand of an infective reaching out to them both, pressing his lips near the older man's while walking them briskly back a few paces. ''They can smell your blood, you know.''

Hannah The sound of a gunshot ringing through her ears registered before the feeling of pain did. The sound echoed through her head before she could feel the blood pooling from a wound at her ribs - the bullet seemingly hadn't hit her heart but that didn't matter. The woman was an enemy and she'd merely taken out one more member of Fall City to make it easier for them to take over. Hannah's breaths came in quicker as the wound continued sending sparks of pain through her body. She was going to die. /Ada/ was going to die if she didn't do anything. She couldn't let that happen. With that thought crossing her mind, the redheaded teen willed all her strength into her arms as she once again tried to bring the forceps down against the other woman, tears streaming down her face as pained yelps erupted from the porcelain-skinned teenager. She had to save the child. If she saved the child then Charlotte could carry on the work. If she saved the child then a cure could be found and her death wouldn't be worthless.

Bat Bat bared his teeth in a grin as Elliott pulled him out of reach and he quickly dealt the offending infect a slash that removed the arm. Words spoken hot against his ear triggered a chuckle. "Yeah, I'm counting on it. The more that come to me, the less that go at them." He nodded his head in a quick jerk at the scattered survivors, seemingly dwindling before their very eyes. With a quick slash, he opened a clicker up from groin to throat before turning. "Less chat, more swing. Keep up, or I'm going to start keeping count."

Axel "Shut up," Axel scowled at Trix, a flicker of a smile on his lips for just a minute as he glanced up at the woman - though the expression on her face wasn't much of a comfort at all. He must look like real shit if she wore that expression. "It's alright," he insisted once again, eyes finding Jax's now and jaw locking firmly as the other man knelt before him. His heel pressed into the dirt, sliding his leg out of the way a moment later and letting his hand fall away so that Jax may have better access to the injury.

Ivy H. Ivy took a deep breath. She was smart, wasn't she? She was logical. She knew how to arm a computer. She knew how to be nice and sweet. Well, it was time to use her knowledge for war this time. She needed the guns. Maybe she would have to kill someone tonight - not a monster, someone real. She gazed at the alley and was able to see the shed. Good. Good, she was close. Not that far. She had made all the way without any altercation. It's incredible how chaos claims for chaos and it's simple to sneak out if you're someone like Ivy. Her fingers wrapped around the bottle, Ivy walked alone towards the shed. Not running. She just walked, making sure no one could see it. Maybe Corvo was a wolf but Ivy had become a fox.

Gwen "Not what I meant!" She shouted back over the groans and screams that never seemed to falter. "We can't--" It seemed to happen in slow motion then, the bullet almost hovered in the air as she watched it take direction straight for her sternum. A gasp. That was all she could manage at the impact before falling back onto the pavement, eyes closed and completely still.

Roxy "STOP!" Roxy shrieked as the woman renewed her efforts. She shoved, hard, and a wetted hand was her result. She broke free of the injured woman and leveled her gun at her head. "I swear to god, I will kill you. I don't want to, I didn't want to shoot you, just stop! I'll help you, I'll wrap the wound. I'll try to fix this, I'm sorry!" She choked on a sob she refused to voice, but kept her gun trained on the other woman. "I'm not your enemy, I live here, just like you. Please, please don't die. We're losing so many people."

Lori The one time she didn't cry was at the end of it all. Andy did that for her. The tears trailing down her skin. She was shaking violently at this point, eyelashes brushing against her cheekbones as she squeezed her eyes shut. "How... How bad is it? The bite?" As if there was a small sliver of a chance that she could survive this. The pain was unbearable. "Do it." She whispered, searching blindly to touch his face with her fingertips. "Kill me. Please."

Elijah He couldn't stop fighting for these were his people and they were being taken advantage of. One of them had been killed and it would be foolish of Elijah to say Frankie was the only death they'd have on their hands. He was angry and he was hurt and his emotions were fueling him from beneath the bars that he had clamped over them. Every stab of his knife, every pull of the trigger. As his shotgun emptied his round, he hurried to take cover in an alley, refilled the cartridge and clicking it into place.

Jesse There was always a moment where time seemed to freeze in the middle of a gunfight, where you saw everything and nothing all at the same time. As Luca's scream of his name broke the air he knew instantly what was wrong - and knew in that very moment what the idiot was going to do about it. "LUCA -" He called the man's name in return, even as he felt hands shove into his shoulder, push him aside. Nothing touched him - no blooming familiar heat, no sparks of pain - just a numbness that flowed through his entire system as he watched, useless and in horror, as his best friend - his brother, took the bullet for him. His arms reached out automatically to soften the blow as Luca collapsed, folding around the other tight as if just maybe he could make all of this go away if he thought hard enough on it. "Lu-Luca no - " he breathed, voice cracking as a hand pressed over the wound blooming in his chest, tried to stop what was happening, take the bullet out of the man's chest and pretend everything was okay. "No-"

. Alexia It didn't matter right then that a burning rage simmered below the surface whenever she thought of the man she was currently working with. It didn't matter because there was a greater enemy - an enemy that was threatening the people she loved within the city. She'd not seen Trix or Axel since the start of this hell and she had no idea what was going on on their part. She didn't know if they were alive, she didn't know if they'd been shot but she /couldn't lose them/. They were all she had left, if they'd been taken out then Alexia may as well up and leave the city and let herself be devoured whole by the hoards of infected. A single tear dripped from the mocha-skinned woman's eyes when she thought of having to try and live without Trix. It was impossible, it /wouldn't happen/. Almost instantly the ex-convicts motivation to survive became more intense, her movements both had more purpose and were more frantic. She dodged behind walls and cars to defend against the bullets before raining down hell on those who

Andy He couldn't handle this. Lori begging to be killed, it wasn't something he could do. "I can't... Please don't ask me to do this Lori, I can't do it..." His words were broken up by sobs as he slowly sat on the ground, cradling Lori's shaking body. He couldn't kill her, but he could stay til the end. "I'm not going to kill you, but I'm not gonna leave you, I can't..."

Elijah That was when teeth sunk into his arm. He felt a burning sensation as the skin parted and blood began to flow. There was a moment of pause in which Elijah realized what had happened. Until the anger with him surged and drove his opposing fist into the side of the clicker's face. The creature stumbled back, a garbled squeak rising from its throat. Elijah drove forward again, throwing punch after punch after punch, until his knuckles throbbed, until his knuckles were covered in scarlet. The creature's face was broken. It wasn't dead, stumbling and distorted, but not dead. The gun that hung from Elijah's shoulder was lifted. Fingers looped around the trigger. There was a bang as the bullet flew between the clicker's eyes and exited, taking the tissues of the brain with it. None of that mattered, Elijah then knew as he stared at the corpse. For the marks the creature had left behind had altered his fate. He would no longer be human. And that, he could not allow.

Dahlia As Dahlia and Lyra slowly made their way through the chaos, the blonde's eyes caught the damage around them. The street was painted red with their fallen, the infected that had trickled in. She wanted desperately to break away from Lyra, to aid those she could. Her heart hurt, aching to help, it ached from the loss she was feeling. No. She couldn't think about that. She had to be strong for her people, she knew how to be strong for her people. She hadn't forgotten. She flipped the switch. She quickened her pace, they had to regroup in the residential area, head to the supply shack and get weapons. And they had to do it quickly. The blonde pushed passed Lyra, rounding the corner of one of the worn homes, her eyes passing to the ground for a brief moment, "Okay, we have to ge -". It was then that she heard several shots. They were incredibly loud, deafening and the blonde's ears rang. The pain she felt in her stomach was enough to make the blonde fall to her knees.

Lyra As she reached the edge of the alley, Lyra sighed in relief, wiping sweat off her forehead with her armed hand before she checked on Dahlia. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lori again, slumped against a wall and...bleeding. She was bleeding profusely from a wound in her shoulder. And a man Lyra couldn't recognize was slumped over her. Lyra stared, her brain putting the pieces together. She was already shaking her head in denial. There was no way Lori was in critical danger. It just wasn't possible. Glancing at Dahlia, Lyra knew she couldn't leave her but she needed to check on Lori. She needed to know the blonde loudmouth was safe and healthy. "Stay with me, okay?" She muttered to Dahlia before she started walking towards where Lori was slumped. It was a secluded back alley so they were temporarily off the range of the gunshots. Standing over Lori, Lyra frowned at the unnatural paleness apparent on the blonde's face. Lyra refused to believe what it implied. "What...what happened, Lori?"

Trix Trix didn't feel like she'd be so stuck to the spot, her feet glued beside Axel and the other man while her mind raced ten fold. She couldn't lose him. So she refused it, she wouldn't let it happen. Her mind thought about Lexi and Scarlett and how their safety was unaccounted for but her eyes had become fixed to the bloody wound he'd revealed to the man. Her heart hit her throat and she felt like she couldn't breath for a moment. Swallowing it back down was an effort but she managed it. Dropping her hand from his shoulder, Trix couldn't think of words that she could wield.

. Sloan The entire place was in uproar, infected, and the blurred faces of survivors and those they fought, surrounded her, causing all of those damn nerves to sink their teeth into her pounding chest. As if white noise had claimed her panicked state, the sound of a bullet and familiar shouting clawed at her attention, forcing her to push through every person to find the one person she hoped the voice didn't belong to. Oh, how she was wrong. Falling to her knees, skin scraping across the dirt, the female tilted his jaw with slender fingers. "Lu-- Luca?" She asked, lips quivering to form words. "I can help, please. Please don't do this." She wouldn't cry. She refused to cry. "Jesse... I can-- I can try," she begged, as if her slender arms had the capability to be of use. "Please, don't do this to me." As she crouched down, watered eyes fixated on the man with a smile she had seen every morning since her first steps into Fall City, the one who calmed her nerves and the very reason her heart would tear into pieces.

Logan Logan gripped her face between his palms, lips hovering just above Scarlett's before he pulled her body fully against his chest. Well... Guess there was no taking it back now. "Noted," he murmured into her blonde locks. "Now get the fuck down onto the floor with me so we don't get shot like all of those idiots outside."

Ivy H. The girl got into the shed. Guns. Arms. Knives. She armed herself. But why was she crying still? /STOP FUCKING CRYIN/. Corvo walked away. Gwen walked away. Blood in the street. Clickers. Maybe she could just shoot herself. That would end everything. Kill the brain and end the rain.

Ada The voice coming from the contiguous room was familiar. Steps didn’t seem to come her way, the chaos had settled down in the housing but screams and gun shots could still be heard from outside. Ada was hesitant to leave her hiding place, find out what had happened. Find out if Hannah had died. But judging by the voice, she was still very much alive. Curiousness led her to take a peak by the door, noticing a redhead but definitely not Hannah. Her friend laid on the floor, clearly wounded. Had the woman hurt her friend on purpose, perhaps it was better to not know. But glass falling by her side gave away her location, blue hues turning wide as she realized her mistake.

. Luca He was so hot, so fucking hot, all the horrors that he had been in the things that Luca had done meant nothing now and it was ironic how that happened. Here he had been haunted since his times in the Marines and now, as he bled out, they meant absolutely fucking nothing. Luca felt arms around him and knew they belonged to Jesse, there was pressure on his chest and he instinctively put his free hand on top of Jesse's hands. But Jesse wasn't the only person there, it was vague and disoriented but Luca saw the sweet angelic face of Sloan, his roommate, there were many things she had done for him during his stay in the city. Both these people had made him a better person and he was thankful for that. But the life was slowly seeping from him in a crimson form. "Tell-- Frankie... I love her and.... I'm sorry for /everything/." A cough left his lips before he groaned and shook his head. "Jesse--- I-- I'm sorry, I... wasn't better.. f-f-for you... I..." His words were cut off as the air seemed to leave his lungs c.

Lori Then Lyra was there, her face a blur as she hovered over her. "Ly," she whispered, eyes fluttering open. "You... You saved me for nothin'." Another hollow bout of laughter. Sweat begin to form on her forehead. The fever was starting. Her body was shaking uncontrollably.

Lyra Only a second after Lyra spoke, Dahlia fell to her knees. "Dahlia!" Lyra grabbed her before she cradled her head and placed it on her lap. Eyeing the red, widening spot of blood on her stomach, Lyra barely stifled the nausea that suddenly creeped up on her. "I told you to stay next to me!" She shouted, panicked, before she grabbed Dahlia's shoulders with shaking hands and started dragging her deeper into the alley. Lyra was sure Lori was alright. Dahlia was the priority. She was /not/ dying on Lyra'a watch. Laying the blonde's head gently on the ground, Lyra cut off a large piece of cloth from the hem of her shirt before she pressed it against Dahlia's wounds and pressed firmly. "Don't you die on me, you hear?!" She panted, heart lurching in her chest as she tried to stifle her emotions. "Please...please..."

Elijah The effects of the bite were already creeping into his system. The area he had been bitten was beginning to swell, an ache that started off dull and was slowly intensifying. He clamped his eyes shut and forced himself to be steady. He wasn't going to die like this. Not like a coward. Not without taking a few more of these bastards out. So he stepped into the middle of the battleground and fired until his balance started to sway, until what he saw before him grew pinched and blurred. With shaking and heavy limbs, he dragged his legs towards the nearest house, a hand reaching out to steady himself. His palm hit the wood with a heavy thud and he realized, as the coldness of the material meshed with his skin that he was burning. He was already burning.

Luca c. involuntarily. "I'm just sorry--- You-- take care of yourself, Jesse." His strength was faltering and it took everything left in him to turn to Sloan and put a weak and shaking hand on her cheek. "It'll be okay Sloan, it'll--" He made a noise before coughing, hand falling to her shoulder before he made one last noise and gasped for his last breath, his head slowly lulling to the side.

jucandy Andy was only vaguely aware of someone arriving at his side, too wrapped up in his hurt to even pay attention to who it was. What was the point of trying these days, caring? It only caused more hurt. "Lori please don't die..." He was still crying, not even bothering trying to stop as he tried to comfort the blond in his arms as she started to give in to the infection. "Please, please..."

Elliott He dropped the wrench and slipped the knife from his pocket - small and illogical, dulled by countless uses. The blade sank into matted hair and open, festering tissue where facial features should be. Hitting bone, creating disorder in a way that he'd never known could be produced on the human form. His mind steeped in the darkness, the lack of familiar color and vivid shades of ones he didn't realize existed. The analytical side embraced such impotent power in maiming the already weakened, and the musical ear heard nothing at all.

Corvo The gunshot rang in her eardrums, followed by the silence which engulfed his entirety. He didn't notice at first, but as if the continuous ringing was the only thing to resurface his attention, the stumbling of footsteps and the roar of bullets ceased to exist. He turned on his heel, blonde on her back and the very gunshot having fired in her direction. "Gwen?" He asked, using his bare hands to push away any survivors which nearly stumbled over them. "I hate to break it to you, but, unfortunately for you, you're not allowed to do this. For the love of God," he stammered, how terrible at words he was. "You are /not/ allowed to do this. Not before me."

Ivy H. She put the gun on her temple. It was cold and heavy. Did it matter anyway? /Stop crying, freak/ Ivy bit her lip. Maybe she could be strong enough. It was just a click. And she pulled the trigger. --- Ivy Holloway could have chosen to die that night. She had the right to do it. She didn't want anyone to choose for her anymore. Life is a choice she took and she would maybe regret it now she was walking down the alley, armed with a riffle and wearing a bag full of guns and ammo, but she wouldn't take it back. She survived herself and therefore, she would try to survive anything else that would come. Of course, the young fox had her own tricks. When she heard the guns too close, she made it to the rooftops. /Hey, Elijah!! Wait / she remembered running behind him. It was summer. He taught her all the things she was using that night. It was so innocent the first time Ivy made it to the rooftops: watching the stars. /Okay, check that one/ He said, smiling. /Take care, it looks easy now but it's harder on winter/.

Jax There was a quick glance to the woman standing on the other side of Axel before his gaze was dropping back down, connecting with the other man's yet again. As he started to move, shifting to allow Jax a better view of the wound that he had suffered, hand falling away to reveal the bloodstained shirt. Knees found the dirt below them, hands shooting out to lift the ruined shirt from his side, jaw clenching as he took in the sight of the wound. It was hard to tell where the bullet had ended up, but based on the amount of blood, and his poor knowledge of first aid, he was guessing no major organ had been hit. Or at least he was hoping not. Hands leaving the other, he reached up to rip the material of his sleeve from his shirt, folding it into a makeshift cover before firmly placing it over the wound, "Hold that there." He commanded gently, reaching to the bottom of his shirt as he tore a long strip of fabric to wrap around Axel's torso.

Sloan "No, no, please. Luca," and with that, she broke, porcelain skin cracking with the stains of her tears. She refused to let the hand drop to the floor, refused to let the last remnants of his survival fall away from her. "Please, Jesse..." As she spoke, a single hand grasped at Jesse's arm. "Please, we can't... He can't. /Please/." She would beg, beg for any possible chance for him to turn around and say something, as if his heart was still beating and hers was still a single piece.

Bat Bat glanced over his shoulder at the squelching sound. "Damn." He said, somewhat in admiration. "Honestly if you're just using the blade that's what the board was for." He hip-checked Elliott out of the way for a crazy half-swing, severing a few spines as he went. "Easy does it, killer. We've got a lot more to go. Come on!" Cackling, he dove further into the fray, calling out insults to deaf ears, uncaring minds, who would attack him regardless of what he said. So he bellowed happily, "Your mother was a hamster! Your father smelt of elderberries!"

Hannah None of the words were really processing in Hannah's mind as she tried for revenge. She needed to save Ada, she needed the other teenager alive so there was still /hope/ somewhere in the world. It was only when the other redhead threatened to kill her that the paler-than-usual teenager stopped and her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as a constant steam of liquid dripped down her cheeks. "You need to save Ada, you need to protect her, she's hiding in the back, she probably thinks you're one of them. I'll be fine, I'll be fine-" the 'I hope' remained unspoken. As far as she knew she could be saved if action was taken soon enough. "Just save her and it'll be fine." The redhead was lying on the floor when she heard the sound of smashing glass and her azure eyes fell onto the dark haired teen. "Ada- Ada she's, she's not an enemy."

Jesse "N-no," Jesse repeated, a hand still pressed firmly against Luca's chest even as Luca's hand curled on top of it. He only partly registered Sloan's approach and words, his head filling with noise and emotion and nothing made sense anymore. His best friend - his fucking best friend was dying in his arms. Dying - and he couldn't do anything about it. He wasn't stupid. He knew that nothing could be done. Nothing at all. Still he pressed on. "D-don't talk like that, man," he begged, tears forming in his eyes that he freely let drop down the rounds of his cheeks, "Don't - Luca please..." he begged once more, sniffling as the other man's head rolled, as it was finalized. It was official. There was no turning back. Luca Rose was...dead. His eyes flickered to Sloan for a brief moment, tears staining his cheeks as his head shook the slightest bit.

Dahlia Dahlia inhaled sharply, sweat pooling on her forehead, fighting the pain on the side of her stomach. One bullet, out of how many, had actually hit her. Though, perhaps the one that had made contact with the muscle surrounding her abdomen was merely the worst. Maybe whoever had fired the gun had blown her right hand off. She wasn't lucky, though. Her organs hadn't been touched, but she was bleeding heavily and she knew the risk of infection from any wound. Her lids were heavy as she nearly passed out, "I.....Lyra, I'm...what happened? You need to.. you need to go help the others."

Mark The attack had surprised him, of course it had, but it didn’t stop him trying to do all he could to help out, to do what he was good at. Unfortunately, it was easier said than done when you were avoiding bullets as well as infected.He was doing well, rushing around the med bay, trying to fix up as many injuries as he could with shaking hands. The people who wanted his help wanted to be in and out, protecting the city their main focus. He understood. Turning his back for a few moments, trying to ignore the sounds of war going on outside, he focused himself, only taking notice as he realised the latest sound wasn’t a moan of pain. This one was distinctively different. Infected. The last thing he felt was the clamp of jaws around his arms, yells echoing through the clinic.

Mark saw blood bloom across his skin as he battled against the infected, teeth ripping skin as hands and feet kicked for dear life.

Ivy H. The girl died that night. She leant on a chimney and stared at what war seemed like. Using her rifle, Ivy tried to help some people she knew.

Gwen It had been shock mostly that knocked the blonde back, the force of the bullet piercing her jacket that left her motionless on the ground. Head having hit the frozen adversary of concrete when she made contact with the earth. No response came to the man's words, light breaths hidden beneath the thick cover of her coat and the particularly bent piece of metal within it that held a lodged bullet mere centimeters from her skin.

Dex Once the gates were secured, safe, everyone was safe except for the few infected inside the city, Dexter was on the move. Aiming and firing as swiftly as he could, coming up next to Alexia before offering her a nod as if to indicate that the gates and their mission was done and they could move freely. And that was exactly what he did. Moving with accuracy and a veracious rage that many never saw. One clip gone and a mass of bodies followed in his wake, soon his primary gun was empty and without a reload be tossed it aside and went to the next. That routine repeated until he was left with the machete he had grabbed and it found a home in a skull and Dexter continued, moving with swiftness, eliminating every enemy in his way, everyone that dared to threaten this place. They were hacked down by the Marine, hacked down with a rage so red and hot it almost blinded him.

Elijah After several deep breaths, and a few missed tries of his hand, he managed to enter the house. It was empty, quiet. No one would bother someone who was already dead. No one would bother hiding when the world was being destroyed just outside the door. He moved with slow, teetering steps. He had worked for a city that was being crumbled at his feet. And he couldn't save them. He couldn't save any of them. He was supposed to be better and instead he was ending up like his family, like Davy, like the neighbors he killed because they had begged for a better life. And he gave it to them. He hated himself everyday for it, but now he understood. For his vision was whirring, and his body felt like it had been encompassed by the flicker of a match. Soon he wouldn't think. Soon he wouldn't remember himself. Soon, he would try to kill those he cared for. Not if however, he prevented it. The shot gun that hung from his shoulder -- his closest acquaintance. His savior. A deep breath. Another.

Lucy She hadn't intended on dying that day, but if there was anyone Lucy was happy to die for it was Juliet, and as she looked at the blonde through teary eyes she smiled. "Stop being a prick and admit your feelings. Don't let her get away." Her words were quiet, but she knew Juliet heard them from the nod she was given. After a shaking breath she nodded herself. "Do it, please." And then Lucy Kayne was no more.

Lyra "Fuck...that, I'm not...leaving you!" Lyra panted, frustrated with herself for not protecting Dahlia properly. It was supposed to be her who got shot, not Dahlia. Fuck, she had /promised/ Elijah that she would take care of the blonde no matter what. Self-hatred in all its bitterness flared in her veins, causing her actions to get slightly aggressive as she pressed harder against the wound in Dahlia's abdomen. The grey fabric of her shirt was already coated crimson, the stain widening and spreading. Lyra's throat closes up, her eyes stinging as she noticed the sheen of sweat on Dahlia's forehead and the way the blonde's eyelids were fluttering. "Please...d-don't...no..." She whispered, her voice husky with emotions as she adjusted the cloth and continued to press against Dahlia's wound. Shit. She would have to get the bullet out. "F-Fuck...fuck..."

Elijah He raised the weapon and allowed the end to part his lips. The metal was all too cool in his mouth. A tease of life. A taunt. He shut his eyes. It would take one pull of the trigger and ti would be over. There would be no pain. There would be no time for him to fear what was waiting on the other side -- if there was an other side. \

Roxy If the words hadn't already left Hannah's mouth, Roxy would have spun, pulling the trigger as she went. She hoped that Ada would never know how close she'd come to dying by the hands of a friend, and Roxy sank to her knees. "She'll be okay, alright? Nobody's an enemy here." She wiped beaded sweat from the girl's forehead. She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm sorry." she said, knowing nothing more to say. "Can you, I need you to be strong. Can you help me get her up? We've got to stop the bleeding, but she can't stay here. They'll-" Her eyes darted to the door and she swallowed hard. "They'll smell the blood if we don't move her, and I don't have a lot of bullets."

. Corvo Rushed palms fell to the curves of her cheeks, fingertips trailing her jawbones to check for a pulse. "I didn't come back just for you to do this to me," he stated, his tone forced with frustration. "I came back for you and you decide to go and get yourself shot. Fuckin' hell, you win, alright? Chapter number 1 - if you're a well versed asshole, try avoid the company of a particular blonde before she teaches you a goddamn lesson."

Ivy H. The fox continued her way. She needed to provide weapons to those faces she knew. To the survivors, to her people. She needed to make it back. Now a woman, Ivy used her way through the houses again. Then, after entering through a window, she heard a weird sound and hid in the kitchen. " Friend or enemy? " She could recognise almost every voice in this town, after everything she was the one in charge of radios. She held the gun.

Elijah But then, the strangest thing happened. The world around him was no longer spinning. His breathing grew less labored, full. It couldn't be. Elijah withdrew the gun from his mouth and immediately stared at the wound in his skin. It was swollen still, though the redness had receded. He would have examined this more except a voice interrupted him. A voice he recognized. A voice he had called home. He pulled down his shirt sleeve. "Ivy?"

Ivy H. The girl blinked. Elijah. She lowered the gun and went out of her shelter in the kitchen. Friend, definitely friend. "Elijah!" The girl's face was full of hope once again. Her faith wouldn't let her see reality once more. She walked towards him, happy, a children walking home this time. " You're here! " She felt so happy. There was something weird in the fact that Elijah was indoors and not outdoors but she didn't question it in that moment, she just wanted to find him and hug him.

elliott He didn't hear Bat either. Elliott was flying on autopilot gliding through the clouds, mindless yet purposeful in intention all at once. Trees blurred, the infected and Bat alike moved in slow motion, with Elliott himself shuffling along the bottom of a sea bed through murky water. Mouths open and lunge towards him but his hand seems to strike with such a graceful and easy slide he was amazed these creatures could be taken down in such a lackadaisical fashion. He pauses, wipes his chin on the cuff of his sleeve, rakes a hand through his hair, and then continues to follow Bat.

Lori Lyra had disappeared from her peripheral vision, blurred. She turned her attention back to Andy. "Do it. Please... Do it for me." The pain was searing. Her hands shook as she touched his face. "Kill me. Please." Her eyes, only half open, were pleading, and finally filled with tears.

Dahlia "You...have to," Dahlia urged, "Help the others, /please/." Her eyes passed down to the red that bathed her shirt, "I can manage." A lie, for sure, but there were others, ones who needed Lyra's help more desperately than she. Perhaps she would bleed out, pass out from the pain and be left unprotected, unable to defend herself against the intruders. Already she could feel herself falling into darkness, one which came with the inability to deal with so much pain, "Just....leave me with....." gathering her strength, she stretched her arm out, grabbing her gun that had fallen, "this. I'll be fine, I promise."

Axel Axel drew in a slow breath, pain lancing across his side as he attempted to fill his lungs with air. A cough, another breath, and he let Jax go to work. He trusted him, had faith being in his care. His eyes never left Jax's face as the other revealed the wound, made a makeshift bandage. His hand closed around the material as instructed before he lulled his head back against the brick, lifted his eyes towards Trix once again. "I'm not dying, love. Stop lookin' like that."

Elijah He didn't feel okay, but he was definitely better. Ivy's voice was a light in the dark and he followed it. He followed it because he needed something that could tie him back to this world, the world that he would get to see for another day. "Fucking -- Ivy." He pulled the girl, woman, into his arms, hugging her as tightly as he could. He would not tell her what he was about to do. He would not tell her that he could still taste the metal of the gun on his tongue.

jucandy "No! I can't, please stop asking me, Lori... I can't do that..." He could barely speak, his voice thick with emotion as he tried to keep from breaking completely. "I won't let you die..."

Gwen A cough. Her lungs attempting their try at inhalation once more after the significant bruising that came moments before. A low groan of pain. Fingers came up to grasp at where the bullet pierced her clothing. Green eyes blinking open into the daylight, into the face of someone she never thought would be this close again. "Ow."

Alexia When Dexter came to her to confirm the gates were closed Alexia nodded and almost instantly her face hardened and her eyes darkened. These bastards wouldn't be getting away with it. Not only had they threatened the lives of the only people she liked - Trix and Axel - but they'd caused tears to leak from her eyes and that was almost more unforgivable. She'd not cried since she'd first been left on the streets - not even when she'd been locked up had she cried, not even when she'd gotten her scars had she cried. It was almost as if a sense of calm had washed over her and nothing mattered but slaughtering the enemy. The gun in her hand was dropped to the floor as she reached over her shoulders to retrieve the tomahawk resting against her back. With that firmly in hand the ex-convict stepped from her cover behind the destroyed car and emerged once more into the middle of a battleground as she calmly walked towards the closest enemy and brought her weapon down against the woman's head. It didn't matter who it was,

Alexia all of them would die by her hand before she let herself be taken down. She'd destroy every one of them for what they'd done to her and she'd cherish the moment that their blood was soaking into the solid mud floor below their feet. She'd find Trix and Axel and she'd fight side by side with the duo as she was meant to do. And that was what she did - she made her way through the enemies, hacking and slashing away with her weapon, dipping and diving away from bullets and the blows they tried to throw at her. This was /her/ domain - up close and personal. When she was up against people with guns they had no chance against the ex-convict.

Ivy H. " You are alive! " Her voice hid in his neck when she buried her face in there. Trying to hold herself together, Ivy hugged her brother with all her strenght. She drowned in it. She was no longer a child, she couldn't be one. There was no room for children out there but Elijah's arms said otherwise. She wanted to ask him what was going on, what would happen to them now. She wanted answers but she knew he didn't have them either. She controlled her breath and felt her shoulders relax. Home, yes. But not yet. There were people dying out there. And he trained her as a fighter, didn't he. " I've got more guns " She looked at the bag she had, at her riffle. " I made it to the shed and brought some. How are we doing? Are you hurt? "

Corvo Well, at least that was the only response she gave to his idiotic rambling. "You son of a bitch," he muttered, shaking his head, a sense of relief washing over him which he would refuse to parade. "If you wanted my sympathy so bad, you could have gone for stubbin' your toe."

Lori "Please... please..." Her voice drifted off as the darkness tugged at her body. The pain dulled. She didn't feel anything anymore.

Andy He heard the familiar voice fall silent, felt the body still and he knew it was over. "No... No Lori..." He sobbed, another strangled scream falling from his lips as he moved slowly, gently placing a kiss on the girls forehead before moving her head from his lap and standing up, walking away with tears streaming down his cheeks, his chest heaving.

Ada It hadn’t been intentional, it seemed. But still, the trembling wouldn’t stop. Her friend could die at any given moment, if they didn’t hurry enough but where to? Outside, death awaited. But the older redhead was right, infected would come one way or the other. A pale Ada assessed the damage and only nodded at her words. By now, her train of thought was null, almost lifeless as she prepared to help the woman. Nausea took over her as she witnessed the blood oozing out of Hannah, but it wasn’t the right time to be weak. She could not be weak. Not now.

Bat Elliott was a machine, and there was something about his demeanor that struck recognition and made him insatiably curious about the younger man. There was something going on there mentally, but it was a rage that he'd not seen the like of. But curiosity must wait, alas, for there was slaughter at hand. His eyes never rested on any given location for more time than it took to direct himself, let them smell him, let them be attracted to the blood that still leaked from his untended leg wound. He cackled as he slashed, cutting them down, making noise, attracting attention. He lunged through a mob of them to clear a path to a cornered and shrieking woman, only to dart away again when the coast was clear. "Come on, little man! I've got a hundred to your forty three!"

Elijah He wanted to say in this moment. He wanted the world to melt away and be with Ivy like they were together as children. It couldn't happen. The gunfire outside reminded him of that. The clickers. This had to be quick and it had to be the push to keep going. He pulled away, reluctantly, and glanced at the bag Ivy had with a nod of approval. "Give me whatever you got. I'm okay. How about you?" The bite would stay his secret. The slight wooziness and trickle of a fever would also stay behind sealed lips. There was a fight outside and he was determined to win.

Lyra "I said I'm not leaving you!" Lyra yelled, eyes frantic and uncharacteristically expressive as she glared at Dahlia stubbornly. "You're not going to die." She said firmly before she took off her jacket, balled it up and placed it under Dahlia's head, levitating it before brushing damp strands off Dahlia's sweat-slick forehead. Expression closing off, lips tightening and eyes narrowing, Lyra lifted the sleeves of her shirt before she allowed her hands to hover above Dahlia's wound. She had not done anything like this before. "This is gonna suck." She muttered and without giving Dahlia a chance to object, Lyra tentatively dipped two fingertips into Dahlia's wound before crooking them ever so gently in search for the godforsaken bullet.

Gwen While he cursed, Gwen unzipped her jacket and slowly began to remove her old friend, its blade curved at an awkward angle and housing the remnants of a bullet against its once mirror like surface. Her machete had saved her life for the final time. Turning her attention back to the male and refusing to voice the fact that she had indeed heard the words he spoke moments prior, she nodded at him. "Are you going to keep staring at me like I'm Snow White or can we get out of this shit fest? Something tells me that was a once in a lifetime stroke of luck, I don't want to try my hand at it again."

Ivy H. Elijah was sweating. It was a miracle to think she did not give a care about it. A year ago she would have been all /ew/ and /ugh/ over the mere idea. Nonetheless, Ivy showed him the bag, full of the guns she had been able to carry along all the way with her and her own rifle. " I've shot some of them from the roofs. Seems easier and safer. I'm not good at being out there " She confessed, before looking at him. "I don't know how many of ours are ... " She swallowed dry. " But this is our town. "

Trix Trix shook her head to gain her bearings and jolt coherent words back into her skull. "You're a jammier fucker than that," Trix confirmed to him, the blood staining his shirt still dauntingly bright in the morning light. It practically shimmered. She ripped her gaze from it to dart between the other guy and him. "You got this, honey?" she asked addressing the guy tending to Axel's wound. "I've got to find, Lex." It was a statement that she handed Axel, nothing more and nothing less. Her fingers itched on her gun and she needed to know Lexi was unharmed or at least still kicking and screaming.

Xavier Xavier's eyes swept the battle ground, finding that his men that lay sprawled out on the ground was far greater than the people of Fall City's. They held their own better than he expected. A scoff rolled off his tongue, eyes swinging to find others of his own nearby - and Alexia not far off. His gun raised to fire a shot at her before he lunged forward, wrapping a hand around her and pressing a chloroformed rag across her mouth. "Fall OUT," He called and in an instant each of his men grabbed the nearest survivor, chloroform pressed to mouths, before the men made way for the gates to disappear in scattered directions.

Elijah Elijah shuffled through the bag, taking whatever he could carry, mostly small handguns that he could hold in combination with his shotgun. He glanced at Ivy, shaking his head. "You've made it this far and I couldn't be anymore proud. Now, we're going to get our town back. You stay behind me. You do exactly what I say. Am I clear?" For a second, a wave of dizziness struck him, but it wasn't anywhere near the first wave after the bite. He could survive this. He would.

Robert In the end, he did. The could feeling of his father's handgun once more in his palms. The magazines he knew had once belonged to him, loaded, ready to go. Thirty two, thirty-two rounds. The simple sound of gunfire as he moved through the streets. He wasn't a soldier, but he knew how to shoot, part of being Southern. Part of a having a father who hated the government. He flinched at the first round he squeezed off, the infected both chaotic and patterned, if that was possible. The air smelled of gun powder and blood, a melody to the air if he had ever heard. Rolling his shoulder into a doorway, it gave all too easily. He needed to make it to the clinic, but that was going to be slow going. This house first.

Hannah Heaving yet shaky breaths left the porcelain-skinned teenager as the blood continued to ooze from the wound and drip down her abdomen, staining her once white shirt a stark crimson in response to the liquid. Even as she lay, so close to death, with these two women, she could hear the sounds of fighting outside seemingly beginning to ebb away. No longer was there a constant loud stream of the infected streaming into the city and closing in on them. It sounded as if they may actually pull through this and survive. "It's fine- it's, it's quieter out there now than it was. I can wait- I can wait until this is over and we can go to the clinic then. Just leave me here, you two, you two should go and save yourself in case the infected come though."

Ivy H. A small smile. People seemed to be proud of her today. The girl nodded, she always did what Elijah said. It was like an instinct by now. Ivy furrowed at his last gesture. " You're clear. " She stared at him, surprised. Her heart was beating loud as drums.

elliott So outside his body was Elliott that he felt like a shadow walking beside himself. He didn't understand how his heart kept hammering away in his ribcage when otherwise there was nothing but calm cushioning the rest of him. There wasn't a point in answering Bat but he blindly followed through a tunnel of vision growing grayer around the edges by the minute.

Roxy "No, shut up." Roxy said firmly. "I'm not leaving you here to die, it's bad enough I shot you." She looked over her shoulder at Ada. "Go back in the room, shut the door. Stay away from the window, stay low. You're safe in here."

Dahlia Dahlia could no longer object. Lyra was resolute and she had not the strength to continue tell the other to move on. Instead, she allowed the woman to place the balled up fabric beneath her head. Of course, even in such a state, her brain could process what was to come. The other's fingers within her wound though was a type of pain she could not have prepared for. The blonde clamped at hand over her mouth, an attempt to muffled a scream. Despite the fact that Lyra was gentle, Dahlia could feel a darkness taking over. Then, she was out.

Alexia She was making decent progress through the swarms of enemies, cutting through the infected and bringing her tomahawk down against the skulls of those who lived. She was closing in on where she hoped she'd eventually find Trix and Axel, she needed to meet them - she needed to know they were still going. At least they /were/ her goal until she saw the bastard who had knocked her out. Xavier was standing there as if he were a king in his domain and Lexi would stop at nothing to split the smug grin from his face with her tomahawk even if it got her killed. Before she could even react, a bullet was shot in her direction and disabled her left leg, shattering her knee as the bullet impacted. The next thing she knew the bastard himself had come up to her and grabbed her, shoving chloroform in her mouth that once more faded her vision to darkness as her limp body was dragged beyond the gates, the only thing left behind of the woman was her blood covered tomahawk where she'd been knocked out.

Jax The cough sounded strained, sending a chill over him as he focused on the wound presented to him. There wasn't anything he could do, other than bandage it up, while sitting in an alleyway. Edges of his lips twitched at the words spoken by Axel, before his gaze was lifting to the woman once again, "Yeah, I got this." He said in a reassuring manner, head nodding to confirm his own words. Turning his attention back to Axel, he reached forward, wrapping the fabric in his hands around his torso, securing it over the makeshift bandage to attempt to halt the bleeding. Tying the strip of fabric tightly, he lifted his gaze to Axel once again, "We need to get you to the clinic. Pretty sure the bullet's still in there, and we need to get it out quickly."

Elijah "Good, then let's go." Elijah took a second to refocus, to remember that he had been given a second chance. He used this as strength to step outside, to face the chaos once more. "They're retreating. No. No they're not." And he aimed for the back of a gang members head.

Ivy H. Ivy leant her back on the wall of the hall, watching Elijah walk it out. She took a deep breath and followed. She aimed for them: people who were alive. And she wasn't afraid to shoot anymore, not this time. " I need to find Ada. " She said. " She's pregnant. "

Lyra "Fuck." Lyra cursed as she stole a glance at Dahlia who had her fist pushed into her mouth a second before she lost consciousness. It was the blood loss. It was simple. Lyra could handle it simply because she had to. Carefully maintaining the pressure of her fingers, Lyra raised her unoccupied hand and , without hesitation, slapped Dahlia hard enough that a faint shade of pink spread across the abuse

Corvo "Snow white? Much as I could get used to this, I'd rather you didn't end up six feet under," he commented, refusing to falter in his jest. As he stepped away, allowing the blonde to stand up, his dark eyes slipped across her features, as if double checking she was okay. He hated this side of him, the very foreign sensation that only the blonde could form. As he went to move away, he paused briefly. "Ladies first," he paraded, allowing the female to cross his path. "I'm kinda enjoyin' the view from behind anyway." With that, Gwen moved ahead of him, allowing him to focus on the sight of dozens of men dispersing, how the destruction they left behind was a state he would have once relished. The several seconds which ticked by, unassuming of how far away the blonde had wandered, dark eyes turned to shift his vision, attempting to scavenge her out from the crowd. However, as he did so, a single hand tore his weight down, legs giving way as he attempted to struggle. He was knocked out cold. Wolf falling prey.

Lori The sweat still clung to her forehead. When she came to, she was alone. Andy was nowhere to be seen. Either was Lyra. The gunfire had stopped. The moans had ceased. Blood pooled around her head from her wound – from the bite. Slowly, she sat up, craning her neck to get a good look at it. It was still there, it hadn’t been a dream – the bite was still there. But her fever was almost broken, the remnants of the sickness flowing down her face. She was /okay/. Someway, somehow, she wasn’t a zombie. She wasn’t dead. That’s when it happened: the tears. Big waves streaking down her cheeks, mingled with the sweat, as the sobs wracked her body. She’d never been so happy to be alive.

Ada Silence reigned. But the thought of leaving the two behind was unbearable. What were the chances of her friends making it out alive if she wasn’t there to help? Perhaps, they could, she would only slow them down after all. “Are you sure?” Worried eyes looked over at both redheads, her heart still beating wildly against her chest. She was good at hiding games, maybe she would make it. Maybe they all would.

Lyra *The abused cheek. Lyra's focus shifted to the wound. The smell of blood was palpable in the air, making her slightly nauseous. The sickly wet sensation of the warm cavern of Dahlia's wound where she had her fingers inside it definitely wasn't helping. As carefully as she could, she dipped her fingers deeper then twirled them in a small circle before her nails collided with something solid. Swallowing thickly, face contorted with conflict, she stole a glance at Dahlia, almost as if she was asking for her consent, before she parted her fingers and scissored them until the bullet was in her grasp. Wiping sweat off her forehead, she placed it very carefully between her fingertips before firming her grip and slowly raising the bullet from its location and outside of Dahlia's body.

Trix Those four words from the other guy was enough for Trix and she was off back the way they had come towards the main street. To distract her mind from the imminent stress that thudded there she counted how many rounds she'd shot off and how many she had left in her hand gun before she'd need to reload. It brought her into her calculated way of thinking as she moved back into the open.

Dex They were retreating and Dexter didn't stop taking them out as best he could, now turning to what remaining infected there were with his machete in hand. Finally opting for the handguns he had at his waist. He was too blind to know what was going on, Dexter was too busy getting rid of the threat, unaware that people were falling victim, soon himself to become one as well. Falling one last infected Dexter paused, blue eyes inspecting the battle ground, his breaths coming in hard and rapid the pain at his side seeping in through the adrenaline before his vision blurred for a moment as he inspected the remaining ranks. Causalities were obvious but that did not prepare him for the stumble back he took, hand going to his side to feel heat and wetness. His wound had reopened, of course, but that was the least of his worries at the moment, however it took over as he dropped to his knees, fatigue catching up to him. "Oh--" The man muttered, brow furrowed as he looked down at his side, the crimson staining his coat be

Dex before* he fell forward, bracing himself with one hand as to not further hurt himself, simply losing too much blood in his fighting. Slumping to his side Dexter pulled up, gun in one hand and the other to his side, still fighting until his head found the pillow of the ground beneath him.

Ivy H. Ivy looked at him. He knew Ada was important, not only because of her caring about the woman but also because many of them knew Ada meant somehow, hope. Or at least it did for her. That's exactly why Ivy and Elijah kept shooting. It was a thrilling experience but as she got to shoot and shoot, she got better at aiming. It was hard to find them but the girl knew she had to be there. When they stepped into the house, silence reigned. " Ada? " She broke its throne.

Hannah "It'll be fine- just, just barricade the doors and we can stay here and try and sort everything out," Hannah said, wheezing breaths accompanying her words as she tried to ignore the pain that constantly flooded her frame before she tried to remove herself from the constricting fabric of her shirt. If she could get out of it then the bullet could be removed and her wound bandaged with the fabric until it could be done properly in the clinic. "Just pull the bullet out- get it out before it moves and does any internal damage."

Gwen There was a moment of hesitant silence between them at his words before her hand came up to cup his jawline appreciatively, only dropping when he pulled back so that she could stand on her own two feet. "Don't strain yourself with the gentlemanly gesture," she gave him a half-smile before chuckling lowly at his next words. "Now that sounds more like you." Mere minutes passed as they angled their way through the thinning crowd of people, stepping over bodies of the once living and the infected, blood pooling around their corpses and making them all blend together in many ways. "So are we--" The blonde paused mid pivot on her heel, realizing that the man she had been speaking to was nowhere to be found. "You have got to be kidding me."

Trix (didn't mean to post---- ) As she ran out her eyes scanned through the people gathered looking for a certain familiar face - /needing/ to find it okay. Another step and the toe of her clumpy prison guard boots knocked something metal on the floor. A Tomahawk. /Lexi's Tomahawk./ Trix picked it up with dread in her stilling heart. She knew Lexi. Lexi wouldn't just leave it there. She couldn't decide if she was distraught or angry, horrified or numb. Part of her wanted to sink to her knees and collapse on the ground but the part of her that was enraged locked her knees and kept her body livid with rage. Her heart beat like she had twice as much blood in her body to pump but her lungs hardly contracted to draw in air. Without Alexia she didn't know what to do. Lost and angry she stared at the bloody weapon clutched in her hand, glinting mockingly in the morning light.

elliott And with the fading of his vision the last he saw was an incoming hand as the air was stolen from his lungs - and darkness.

Axel He could play games, talk it up like everything was okay, that was easy. It was actually handling the situation that was harder, actually accepting that for all he knew, this could be it. He cleared his throat, swallowing past the lump forming there and nodding once to Trix in an effort to be reassuring. It seemed to work well enough for Trix took off moments later after Jax confirmed, and he bit his tongue as his eyes found the other once more. Each breath hurt more than the last, a hand reaching out to steady himself against Jax's shoulder as the fabric was tightened around his ribs. "I don't think the clinic's the best bet right now, mate," he spoke, his tone just a little breathless. He grimaced as the fabric was tied off, the pressure enough to stop the blood flow but also worked to aggravate the injury.

Dahlia Broken out in a cold sweat, Dahlia's eyes opened. Her lids were heavy, the vision of Lyra hovering over her disappearing as they closed continuously. Still, she fought to keep them open, to stay awake, to let the other know that she was OK. Alive. Then it hit her. Lyra was removing the bullet and the blonde's body writhed as the pain settled inside her. She tried to contain screams, as to not draw anyone to them, biting her fist, her teeth indenting in her knuckles.

Ada The door opened, revealing her housemate. Ivy - she was alive. She had made it. In almost a second, Ada clung onto her friend, sobbing. The uncertainty on whether she’d been alive or not had been killing her. “We’re okay..” For now, that was. Eyes looked over her shoulder at Roxy and the wounded Hannah. “She’s hurt.”

Ivy H. Ivy blinked, surprised. She lowered the gun and held Ada close. There was shattered glass all over the place and ... Roxy and " Hannah " were there, all covered in blood. The ginger stared at her before watching Elijah approach both of them. He had the council look on his face. Ivy brushed her friend's hair with her dirty hands. " Hush now, dear. Are /you/ okay? Hannah will be okay."

Roxy Roxy stripped her shirt and wadded it, giving Hannah a shakey smile. "I'm sorry, and this will hurt, but we're going to take care of you, okay? You're gonna be fine." She offered quiet reassurances to Hannah before pressing the shirt tightly to her injury.

Lyra Lyra threw the goddamn bullet aside before expelling all her withheld breath in one weary exhale. Her body sagged forward, head tipping and eyes closing as she made a mental countdown to reign in her anxiety. Her eyes quickly snapped open as she acknowledged the fact that blood was still flowing out of Dahlia's wound in a fucking stream. She balanced the back of Dahlia's head on her palm before removing her jacket and placing it against the wound after unfolding it. With shaking hands, she pulled loose strands of Dahlia's hair away from her slick forehead. "It's over." She whispered , a sudden exhaustion taking over her. She didn't give in to it, putting all of her remaining strength into the task of moving Dahlia as she sat against the wall and placed the blonde's head on her thigh. Wiping sweat off her forehead again, Lyra leaned her head against the wall tiredly before she placed her hand atop her jacket and continued pressing it against Dahlia's wound.

Hannah "Just do it. The sooner the bullet's gone the sooner I'll be able to get back to normal and- and at least try and go back to researching," Hannah said, her gaze focussed entirely on Roxy. She was ignoring the others who entered the room for now - they weren't important right now. She could deal with Ivy, she could deal with /Elijah/, later once she was recovering. For now the bullet needed to be removed and, no matter how painful it would be for her, she knew it'd be for the better to remove it now.

[nobodysempirerpg]

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Residents

What: Christmas Celebration

Where: Fall City Community Center

When: Evening || Held August 24th, 2015

It was Christmas time in Washington, but the lights and cheer of the holiday were far and few between. With a fluttering snowfall that was rapidly transforming into a blustery blizzard, the council of Fall City had taken it upon them to decorate the community center to the best of their ability. Scrapped string lights hung around the room, colored décor bringing the hall to life a little more than usual. A makeshift Christmas tree stood in the corner, still snow kissed and lightly decorated. They had put together a few of the rations for the small celebration; just enough to make the whole thing appear almost like a normal Christmas celebration. Food and drink were laid out in a bit of a haphazard fashion across a table in the corner. It was lacking a lot; family, friends, gifts and giving – but if it was enough to bring a smile to the survivors’ faces, even for a brief moment, then it was good enough in their book; a bit of normalcy among all the bleakness.

Andy

He didn't quite see the point of gathering everyone inside the community centre, he heard that people almost died last time that happened, but at the same time, he was always a slut for a bit of christmas cheer and couldn't help himself going to have a look inside, unashamedly gasping at the look of it. Somewhat shoddy, but a good effort to feel seasonal. He loved it. "Merry Christmas assholes!"

Hannah Christmas had been one of her favourite holidays for as long as the redheaded teen could remember. She remembered the joy that'd always flow through her veins when she was woken up by her brother in the morning before they'd sneak into their parents room and wake them up by hurling socks at them. They were memories that she'd never allow herself to forget, some of the only positive memories she still had of a better time. It was different now - the world was ravaged by the undead and Christmas just didn't feel the same as it had done in the past. At least the Council were trying to make it feel normal though. They were gathering the citizens together for a small celebration - the celebration that the teen now found herself entering. As she walked inside the community centre her eyes were drawn to the shoddy decorations and a mixed pang of joy and sadness washed over her at the sight. They'd tried and that was all she could ask for.

Cristine Was it Christmas time already? It seemed impossible for anyone to actually guess the proper date or anything of the like but the sentiment was welcomed more or less. Really it wasn't the same without her family, this would definitely be a first without them and Cris wasn't sure how to deal with that. Still, she slipped into the decorated community center if only to shake the cold from her frame, dark eyes scanning the area before she let out a small chuckle. The efforts to make this festive was cute at least and she loitered over to take a seat all in an effort to sit. "Please tell me someone is going to try and dress up as Santa. That would make my day." She commented to no one in particular, a breath of humor on her tongue.

Alexia Christmas. She hated it. To the ex-convict there was nothing worse than kids being gifted for being brats. She'd never celebrated as a child and even when she was with Trix she tried to avoid celebrating the holiday if she could help it. So when she heard the announcement that a gathering would be happening to honour the holiday Alexia's first reaction was to refuse, was to get as far away from the community centre as she possibly could. Alas, that wouldn't be able to happen as Trix - the bitch that she was - refused to allow her to be a downer at the holiday. Her friend had demanded that she come to the celebration and so she had done, entering the room and instantly moving towards one of the corners. The woman's eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance when she heard a man call out over the crowds. "Fuck off," she shouted back at him. The Christmas spirit was definitely not with this one.

Andy a voice, yelling back to him, a frown growing over his face as he navigated the crowd to find the speaker, only to falter as he caught sight of her. The woman was beautiful, and being the dickhead he was, obviously he mentioned it. "Hey gorgeous, what's made you such a grinch? Got too much coal in your stockings this year?"

Trix It was /that/ time of the year again and Trix felt physically sick to her stomach at the christmas cheer on some people's faces. She had hated the holiday since her late teens and since then it hadn't changed. The songs were irritating, the decorations ridiculous, the smells made her sneeze and the people, don't get her started on the people. Trix sat on a table, her feet resting on the chair she should have been sat on instead. She hadn't liked the idea of celebrating the event when it had been proposed and even more so in the light of the last public gathering. Someone dressing up as santa? Please no. Trix shook her head, her narrowed eyes willing death over the people as she kept an eye out for trouble.

Jesse Jesse couldn't remember when the idea of setting up a Christmas celebration had first come up, but in contrast to their last attempt at celebration he was hoping this one turned out a little more - cheerful. The Council had made every attempt to make things exciting for the members of Fall City, to liven up the holiday that used to bring majority of them excitement in the past. Though of course, their efforts probably paled in comparison to to what they all knew with their families in the past. He brushed the snow out of his hair as he walked back into the community center, people already having begun to show up. Hearing Cristine's comment he smiled a bit, "We'll take volunteers," he offered with a laugh.

Victoria Christmas had arrived, and with time going on so fast, it wasn't hard to distinguish the cold breeze outside and the while crystallized ice falling from the sky. If she really thought back, she'd think of her father--but that only spurred on memories that she'd keep locked away. Interesting would be the word to describe this little event in the community center. It was almost down right fucking ridiculous. This wasn't what she had planned, frankly this wasn't her scene. Still inside was better than being outside, even if she could survive out there, stay alive in here was the only option. Walking towards one of the empty seats, she heard one of the females make a comment about Santa "Imagine the gifts, or maybe he'd fall right through the roof on his arrival." she commented.

Luca When was the last time Luca had actually celebrated Christmas and it meant something to him? Long ago and really after getting back from the Marine's it had simply been an excuse to down a few bottles of whatever alcohol he could get his hands on. With hands in his pockets and blue eyes cast down for a brief moment upon entering Luca snapped his brain back from his haunted memories only to pause in order to check out the decorations. A small smile tugged at his lips as he shrugged off the snow covered coat her had on. "Not bad." He breathed, his gaze now moving from the decorations to see if he caught anyone's gaze or perhaps saw someone he knew.

Cristine "Volunteers huh? I don't know if I have the chuckle down or I'd offer my incredible Santa skills." Cristine replied, brown eyes snapping over to Jesse at his familiar tone as he replied. The snow was melting in her hair and on her coat, to which she had kept on out of habit, but she leaned back in her seat to look at him better; smiling warmly at the man, her eyes now sizing him up briefly. "I think maybe you could pull it off--" She added, chuckling softly at her own suggestion.

Axel The idea of a celebration seemed like a good excuse as any to Axel to brush off all the seriousness of survival and goof off - hell, he found practically any excuse for that. Still he could already tell they'd have a few grinches among them. As soon as he'd walked in he already spotted the scowl transfixed on Trix's expression. He hopped up on the table beside her, sliding across the edge a bit until he bumped her shoulder with his own. "You're lookin' especially cheerful this evening, love."

Alexia The sight of the disgusting brute who'd spoken up at first coming over to her caused a darker scowl to fall into place on the ex-convicts face as her nose wrinkled slightly in disgust. /What/ did this guy thing he was doing? She'd responded to hopefully shut him up, not invite him over to initiate a conversation. Alexia's scowl darkened and she gritted her teeth upon hearing him refer to her as 'gorgeous'. "Who the /fuck/ do you think you are?" Lexi asked, her voice as cold as the snow falling just outside. "I ain't givin' no shit 'bout gettin' fuckin 'coal in my stockin's' as you're goin' an' claimin' I did."

. Jax Christmas was not something easily celebrated in the Kelley household, as half his family lived in Australia while the other half lived scattered across the Americas. Even when he chose a family to celebrate the holiday with, it had never been one of his favorites, nor one he particularly cared for. It meant nothing more than another day to spend with his family, and of course, drink the night away. Stepping into the community center, the sight was met with a roll of his eyes, a deep chuckle as he navigated around others, "Isn't this a fucking sight."

Jesse Jesse's hands tucked into his pockets, thinking about the classic jovial chuckle that was often associated with Santa Claus. "I'm sure you could pull it off," he assessed, lips pursing thoughtfully. When she gave him a look up and down and then stated he could probably pull it off his nose scrunched up a bit. "I'm not sure if I should take that offensively or not..."

. Trix The glare of death written across Trix's normally relatively stoic features did not alter as her friend sat down and bumped her shoulder. Axel looked pretty jolly. Good for him, really, he deserved it, but Trix couldn't find it in herself to understand why or try and join him in that. "Ho fuckin' ho," she replied with a roll of her eyes and a gagging impression on the final 'ho'. "Why're you so happy? I don't get it."

Victoria Glancing around as everyone's conversations seemed to be going on, she could hear Alexia's and Jesse's starting to heat up. In the midst of that she noticed Luca that was just admiring the decorations. Walking towards the wall, "For Christmas they managed this pretty well."

Andy He couldn't stop the laughter that fell from his lips as the girl reacted negatively to his comments. What was it with all the girls in this town and being prudish? "Whatever babe, you just need to embrace the christmas spirit, okay, drink some fucking eggnog and let it go!" He commented, grinning.

Luca "I have to agree, with the limited resources anyways. It's not like many people are celebrating Christmas these days." Luca replied to the comment he assumed was towards him before his gaze found the brunette who had spoken them. A small smile still pressing at his lips. "I wonder what else they have planned."

Hannah It hadn't been long since the young redhead had turned up and already the room was quickly filling with its fair share of celebrators and grinches. The latter didn't really surprise the teen - she'd expected as much. The world had fallen into chaos and there was little time for people to truly celebrate anything anymore. This was something that couldn't happen often for the survivors of the city and so when it did it was either embraced as a happy thing or scorned as a waste of time. She was absentmindedly wandering the room when she heard a man's comment commenting on the room. Turning around to face him (Jax) with a grin on her face, Hannah spoke up. "It's great, it's almost like we can forget about what's happened with the world and just live like normal again."

Cristine Cris couldn't help but cough back a more prominent laugh before she shook her head. "Definitely not meant to be offensive. You just have that /jolly/ thing going, or at least, I believe you do." Cristine replied before she cleared her throat. "I don't know about the laugh though, it's normally a deep tone, but joyful none the less." Tapping her fist to her chest just below her throat Cris squared her shoulders and gave it a try. "Ho, ho, ho." It was an almost mocking tone due to its deepness but it made her smile big and shake her head anyways. "Nope-- not doing that again."

Axel Axel's shoulder bumped against Trix's once again, more intentionally this time, as Trix's features remained sharp and didn't alter their death glare even as her eyes shifted in his direction. "That was great. That was a real ace impression. Really. Are you sure you're not Santa in disguise? It's uncanny." He stifled a laugh between closed lips, shrugging as he pushed the hood of his sweatshirt down from his head and ruffled fingers through his hair. "Because it's Christmas? I dunno, supposed to be fun and shit, right?"

Victoria She almost had to question herself on that, Christmas in her household held a different type of meaning, her father was either out and she didn't have a mother. These were emotional ties she was not familiar with. "Not many want to celebrate." her voice came out a bit blank, as if there was no emotion behind it. It was purposely, just at times how she spoke. "Who knows, guess that's the mystery then." she looked at the decorations before looking back at Luca.

Alexia In that moment Lexi wanted nothing more than to punch the bastard in the face. How the fuck had he not gotten the message that he wasn't wanted near her and that he should just leave - walk out into the coldness outside, catch hypothermia and die cold and alone. "Call me that again an' I swear I ain't gonna be hesitatin' 'bout breakin' your fuckin' nose."

Cole With the bravado he often possessed, the male entered the room with a casual stroll, singing a few notes of Jingle Bells - despite the difference in lyrics; /Oh what fun, to go for a run, if we open the gates again, hey!/ The community centre looked as miserable as he suspected, the majority of people forcing a sense of enjoyment to how lacking in Christmas the whole scenario appeared to be. Without much hesitation, his smirk broke away for several seconds, to declare another remark: "I'd watch out for that one," he spoke, pointing towards Alexia. "She'll opt for strangling you with tinsel if you breathe too loudly. Or, maybe she'll surprise me. What will it be, Princess? Shove someone's head up a turkey's ass?"

Lyra Late as ever, Lyra walked into the community center with eyes hooded with boredom and steps lazy and careful. The first thing that grabbed her attention was the makeshift Christmas tree in the corner. She raised an eyebrow at it, almost chuckling in amusement at the effort people had put into the whole thing. Her eyes then darted around the room, taking in the different decorations and the distinct interactions taking place. With a weary sigh, Lyra combed her fingers through her hair before walking towards the table where the food and drinks were laid out. Mouth twisting in distaste, she grabbed a glass of water before turning around and leaning against the table, sipping her water slowly as she observed her surroundings.

Jesse "I have that jolly thing, do I?" He chuckled, considering that statement thoughtfully a moment before shrugging his shoulders, "I'll take the compliment, then. Though I'm not convinced I can mimic the jolly man's laugh, either. We may have to find another candidate." He didn't expect her to actually go on and attempt the laugh so when she did he tried not to laugh right out - even if the chuckle sounded more like a mocked attempt then are real one. "Nah, that wasn't...so bad," he smiled, still fighting back a laugh, "Practice makes perfect?"

Luca "Hmm-- You're not wrong there-- Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time and without those who made it such..." Luca just finished that statement with a nod, blue eyes scanning the crowd before landing back on Victoria, offering a small yet sympathetic and understanding smile; meant to reassure that he too wasn't particularly fond of Christmas, now more than ever. "We shall see then, maybe there will be board games, who knows."

Isaac Isaac pressed his hands further into his pockets as he stepped into the community center, all his talk of Christmas and celebration fell apart when he thought of the oddness of being inside with so many people at once. It felt like years since they'd congregated over anything less than an emergency or tragedy. He slipped down the side toward a familiar head of brown hair standing conveniently close to the refreshment table, he sidled up to Lyra and pasted on a crooked grin "You're looking festive. Merry Christmas."

Trix "You callin' me fat?" Trix said tilting her head to the side. Her expression still held the glare and her tone was flat, but her words were intended as a mild jest. She trusted Axel of all people to pick up on that. "You know I don't take kindly to bein' called fat, darlin'." As Axel spoke, she shifted her gaze around the room again to keep an eye on things. It was hard work to cover the smirk that fought to break out at the sight of Alexia already having found herself in an argument. "It is? That's news to me, hon. I thought it were all about bein' tacky an' pointless."

Sarah The community center was packed full as was to be expected, Sarah had heard of the celebrations planned for these holidays but had hoped until the last minute that something, anything would get in the way. She had no heart for celebration now when that she was without her family but still she had come, hoping there might be alcohol somewhere. Her hair was washed and braided neatly for once but she had kept her coat on, the knife she had found back in Washington hidden in the inseam. She walked in, looking around curiously only to be greeted by a loud wailing. Well that answered her worry about beverages, then.

Jax The enthusiastic pulled his gaze from the decorations that littered the center, a brow raising sharply as eyes landed on the redhead currently speaking to him. His mind mulled over the words for several seconds before an unceremonious snort left him, a shake of his head following, "What's the point? It'll all go back to the way it was tomorrow." It was entirely obvious that Jax was not a Christmas spirit kind of guy, and he was perfectly fine with showing that.

Andy "You don't like pet names, do you sweetie?" He questioned, stepping closer to the woman, though she was practically oozing anger. But a beautiful, angry, woman always seemed to be a weakness of his. But he knew he'd regret his decision to speak his next sentence. But for now, he didn't care all that much. "Just wait till I find some mistletoe, babe."

Lyra Recognizing the familiar timbre of Isaac's voice, Lyra's eyes darted towards him as she took in the young man standing in front of her with an endearing grin plastered on his face. The sight brought a soft smile to her lips but she quickly stretched it into a smirk before winking at Isaac. "You know me, as festive as a brick wall," She raised her glass of water towards him in a salute, chuckling. "Merry Christmas, kid."

Victoria Victoria could calculate anything, she can observe how many were in the room, who was on the far right side, and who was by the doors. All those things she can do and take note on. However when it came to such things as decipher an emotion that one tried to keep from showing or displaying, it was like foreign. Looking up at his face features, there was something that she saw flicker in his blue hues. It was--a warm smile that graced his lips, it made Victoria want to shift in her stance, but she stood tall, not letting anything effect her. "Board games, really?" she asked curiously, it's been ages since she's settled down to particularly play games or celebrate. She was always on the road.

Hannah If it was at all possible Lexi's glare darkened at the next words that came spewing from the man's disgusting little mouth. Before she could speak up, however, another voice that she despised spoke up over the crowd and she turned to face Cole. "Would you just cunt off for once in your miserable fuckin' life? You'd have thought you'd gone an realised when you ain't-" Before she could finish speaking the gorilla next to her spoke up again and Alexia span back around to face him. "Fuckin' /try/ it an' see where that goes an' fuckin' gets you."

Isaac Isaac rolled his eyes and he gently nudged her, "Come on, where's the cheer?" He wrinkled his nose, "Kid? You can't have even five years on me, surely."

Alexia If it was at all possible Lexi's glare darkened at the next words that came spewing from the man's disgusting little mouth. Before she could speak up, however, another voice that she despised spoke up over the crowd and she turned to face Cole. "Would you just cunt off for once in your miserable fuckin' life? You'd have thought you'd gone an realised when you ain't-" Before she could finish speaking the gorilla next to her spoke up again and Alexia span back around to face him. "Fuckin' /try/ it an' see where that goes an' fuckin' gets you." (SHIT IGNORE THAT I POSTED THIS ON HANNAH FIRST PLS)

Cristine She laughed this time, seeing how Jesse was trying /not/ to laugh, basically giving him permission to do so. "Yes, you do have that jolly thing." She confirmed, nodding to aid the statement before her eyes scanned the room. "Hmm, now I'll have to try not to picture everyone in a Santa suit." Cris hummed, grin growing as she did just that. "Practice does make perfect but by the time that happened Christmas would be over."

Lyra "I am feeling the cheer, can't you see it? It's glaringly obvious on my face," She said as she gestured towards her deadpan expression but then snorted fondly at his following statement. "For your information, I

Lyra "I'm twenty-five years old, /kid./"

Axel "Yes, exactly," Axel rolled his eyes to Trix's jest, fully aware that she was joking but still - he wasn't one not to play things up. A poke of a finger was pressed into her belly teasingly. "You really should work out more often, love." He caught Trix's eyes traveling around the room, the slightest of smirks rolling on her lips. He followed her gaze to find Lexi and his head shook the slightest bit. "Yes, it is. I see you and Lexi are on the same anti-cheer point of view, though. Pity, really." He wasn't about to break that shit up, though, not unless he had to, so he let his gaze roam around the room further to observe the rest of those in attendance.

Hannah It was clear that this man was one of those not feeling the Christmas spirit from his words and a small frown turned down her brows. "But at least we get a night off from everything. A night where we can at least try and forget about what's happened and try to remember the better times. Don't you at least want that?" Hannah asked curiously. She couldn't understand how people didn't even want a single day off from fighting for their survival to just sit back and relax.

Luca A shrug pulled at his shoulders, rolling them before his head kind of lulled to the side a bit, an inspecting gaze leading his eyes to her features, studying her. "Why not? If we're here to have fun then board games or just games in general are good contenders." It had been a long while since he had done anything of the sort, actually taking the time to level himself down from his almost constant tormented state to actually have fun and function as a normal person.

Victoria There was never room for fun, in the game of survival, it's never over. No matter how much these people wanted to fool themselves into believing so. Victoria still kept her guard up, it wasn't that she was against Christmas, it was that if people wanted to let their guard down, it was of their own choice. "Depends on which board games they offer." she might as well go with it. Victoria was on the constant state of alert, knowing her exits and ready for anything--should anything happen.

Andy "Honestly darlin, you need to get in the spirit, or no ones ever gonna wanna hang with you..." Andy commented, rolling his eyes, another pet name falling from his lips without thought. He didn't care all that much if he angered the woman, in his opinion it just made him more attracted to her. "I don't care, I'm just gonna smooch ya." He added, winking.

Jesse "I bet..." He hummed, eyes scanning the room as well now when Cristine mentioned imagining everyone else in a Santa suit. "We have quite a few that could maybe fit the bill, but all of the above would probably be a terribly unhappy Santa. But to be honest if I dressed up as Santa I'm pretty sure I'd have at least one person beat me up about it. The decorations is as far as I'll go to get people in the cheer, beyond that..." Fortunately they didn't have much of anything to be used for a Santa suit, anyway.

Jax A night off - he very well couldn't argue with her there. In the last however long, Jax couldn't remember when he actually had a night off from anything. Being a Marine, being in the outbreak, he was always on high alert, always ready for the next move to be made. That night, it was all pushed to the back of his mind as he allowed himself to finally enjoy what the town had to offer. "Fuck, alright; you have a fucking point." A smile broke out on his lips regardless of the language that fell from them, "So you /really/ into all this shit?" He questioned as a hand gestured to the Christmas decorations.

Luca "Mmm, I was always partial to Monopoly, mainly because it took so long and I could make everyone pissed because I'd buy the good properties." Luca commented, shifting his stance a bit to be a little more comfortable. Hands moving out of his pockets only for him to fold his arms over his chest loosely. Board games and cards, those were the bonding tools for game night in the Rose house on game nights. At least they were for a while.

Alexia "An' I ain't seein' nothin' bad with no one wantin' to 'hang with me' as you gone said. It's what I was fuckin' /wantin'/ before you dragged your saggy fuckin' ass over 'ere an' ruined that for me," she said, her voice as sharp as the icicles which hung from the rooftops outside. The next comment which came from the ape's mouth was one step too far - up until then she'd been /trying/ to hold in the anger that had been threatening to boil over since she'd arrived in the community centre. Without hesitating, the ex-convict took a short step forwards before quickly bringing her knee upwards into the beast's groin. "Fuckin' /try/ it an' see where that gets you."

Trix The finger that was pressed teasingly into her belly was batted away, but she couldn't scowl because of the one already set in. "Watch yourself, McKinnon. I don't play well with others," she warned, filtering her grumpy christmas mood into her dry banter with her friend. "Can you really imagine Lexi sittin' by the fire singin' carols in a Christmas jumper? 'Course she's not into the mindless cheer like me." Trix's gaze moved from Axel back over to Alexia. That encounter could rapidly escalate, Trix knew that. She also realised that she was likely going to have to be the one to pull Lexi off the sleezy looking guy.

Hannah A small grin spread across Hannah's face at the sound of the man conceding that a night off would be decent. As she heard the next words to come from his mouth, the redheaded teen shrugged slightly as she considered how to answer. "I used to be, I guess. Before everything happened I used to spend the day with my little brother, just pranking our dad and being kids. It's not the same here as it was then but at least it makes me remember everything, you know?"

Axel "I can't, not really," Axel admitted, though he was laughing at the thought, "though it's a fuckin' hilarious picture that you just painted for me. I appreciate that." He imagined Alexia dressed up like that for a moment, up until she nailed the poor bloke right where it hurt with a knee between the legs. "Merry Christmas?" He murmured, fidgeting a little uncomfortably at the idea of the guy's discomfort before shifting his gaze towards Trix. "So...should we do something about that....before she like, goes on to kill the bloke?"

Victoria Monopoly, she had to chuckled, that indeed was a long game. "Ever played Clue?" she stated with a smile. The mystery kind of games, she found fun. Though in her world, they could never really find the killer, not even the weapon, mostly because she was good in being stealthy when she hit her targets. No one had to know that at least. "If we do play Monopoly prepare to lose." she smirked.

Roxy Bat paid no mind to the fact that he was buck naked. In fact, he reveled in the freedom, the air flowing coolly past his body, all parts of his body, as he sauntered through the crowd with a glass of...something in his fist. He idly hummed the tune of jingle bells, snickering every so often as he twisted the lyrics in fairly immature fashion. For his balls did dangle, and dangle balls had the same amount of syllables as jingle bells. "Oh what fun to ride and sing the laying song tonight. Oh, dangle balls, dangle balls, dangle all damn day..."

Cole Cole turned on his heel to face the naked man, ding dong riding in the breeze. "Why are you drinkin' your own piss? We might be survivors, but we ain't extras in Lost."

Andy As the woman told him off, he just raised a hand and made a "blah blah blah" motion, not paying all that much attention to what was being said, all that he knew was that he was really grinding her gears, and he was proud of that fact until the woman stepped forward and hit him straight in the balls, a high pitched squeal leaving his lips. "Motherfucker!"

Bat1 Bat chuckled. "Well, what doesn't kill you somehow doesn't kill you. Cheers, cutie." And without correcting the man, he raised the glass and chugged the lot, staring the dark-eyed younger man down.

Cole As if called by an alarm, Cole lifted his head in the direction of the curse word. "Wait, who's fuckin' mothers? There's MILFs in here?"

Cristine "The Grinch pulled it off and no one beat him up, he even /stole/ Christmas." Cristine hummed, gaze returning to look at Jesse with a soft smile pressing at her lips. "The decorations are nice-- I like them."

Trix "Quite welcome, sweetie." Trix was sat watching Alexia with an an eagle eye. Sometimes it felt like she was that woman's minder. She couldn't be with these social gatherings - Trix really should have learnt that by now. At the sight of Lexi kneeing the guy in the balls, Trix's initial thought was 'nice shot' and her second was amusement at the fact it was christmas. A forced sigh in response to Axel as she jumped off the table. "Bah humbug. The guy probably deserves it," she said yet she headed in that direction anyway, motioning for Axel to follow. she could handle Lexi on her own but it was nicer to have him there as back-up just for ease's sake even though she'd never tell him that. "Alexia..." she said in an bored voice as she approached.

Jesse "Yeah, maybe so - " Jesse started, clearing his throat thoughtfully, clicking his tongue, "But the Grinch was also among a lot of peaceful Whos, not killer survivalists." His eyes skimmed over the decorations as Cristine mentioned them, nodding a little, "Yeah, thanks. We pulled together what we could and...well. This is the result."

Roxy Roxy had only just set foot in the community centre and somehow already witnessed an entirely nude man and someone getting kneed in the groin. Clearing her throat, she leaned closer to the person she was standing beside. "So... Merry Christmas?"

Andy By this time, Andy was already on the ground, close to tears, and he looked up at his friend when he spoke. "Shut the fuck up and help me man, bitch can hurt!"

Alexia An obviously forced, sarcastic smile was Lexi's response to his curse before she rolled her eyes and stepped forwards again, wrapping one of her small hands around the bloke's fat neck whilst he cowering on the ground and began squeezing slightly. "I tried tellin' you that you weren't wanted no where near me, ain't it jus' such a pity that you ain't gone an' listened?" She was about to continue laying into the bastard when she heard Trix's voice. Not releasing the buffoon, Alexia turned her glare to her friend. "What?" The word was spat out. She was the cobra and the word her venom.

Cole /me

Bat1 Bat chortled with delight at the man on the ground. Leaning toward Cole, he muttered, "Doesn't look like he'll be fucking anyone, let alone a MILF, for a while yet."

Lyra Stepping away from the table she had been leaning against, Lyra cast a smile of farewell at Isaac. Deciding that attending the 'party' had been a waste of time and energy, she turned towards the exit, pointedly ignoring the naked man that had just walked in. She paused as someone spoke near her and she turned to see that it was Roxy. "Roxy," Lyra nodded in her direction lazily. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Right back at ya."

Cole "He has fingers and a mouth, it's all good practice," he responded, before wandering over to the idiot. "I'm not rubbin' your dick better, mate. Besides, I did give everyone a warnin'. Apparently she didn't need to shove your head up a turkey's ass."

Jax Hands slid easily into the pockets of his pants, his attention only faltering from the young woman slightly as he took in the scene before them. She did have a point; this new world was much different than what it was before. Of course, there were far too many similarities, regardless of the wasteland that they now lived in. Gaze moving back to the redhead beside him, Jax found himself nodding his head, "Not sure anything here is the same as back then." He commented absently, though some aspects he might be able to link to his life before.

Axel Axel sighed a bit as Trix hopped off the table, half hoping she would just things proceed and he wouldn't feel required to join in breaking up the fight. But she waved him along and he followed suit. "He /probably/ did...but..." He sighed lightly once more before following along. As Lexi spat her words at them and sent a glare in their direction Axel only hesitated a bit before stepping forward, hoping to put space between Alexia and Andy. "Alright ah, you had your fun, yeah? How about ya let 'em go?"

Andy "I don't want you to touch my fucking wang, just help me off this damn floor." He snapped, glaring up at his friend, before pausing momentarily. "Or I will literally reach up and punch you in the dick."

Cristine "That is true, but for what it's worth, I wouldn't beat you up." Cris replied, nodding in approval of the decorations or what was to be taken as them. Really she hadn't expected such an effort to celebrate the holiday, let alone for anyone to even know when it would occur, it probably wasn't even the actual date but survivors would hang on to whatever hope they could find. She was no different but over the past month or more she had found the hopelessness inside her becoming more and more ravenous of her soul. "It's a good effort, I say."

Andy "And you," he continued, turning his attention back to the woman "are a generally shitty person. You're supposed to be nice at Christmas!" He whined, glaring at her

Luca "Yes, I have played Clue, a second favorite. Basically anything that can take hours of time and drive people crazy is something I enjoy. Kind of cruel of me huh?" Luca replied, chuckling softly at himself before glancing down at Victoria. Brows arched at the challenge and Luca nodded. "Oh, I'll be prepared, but not to lose. According to my sister I'm a cheat, but that's only because she doesn't like losing."

Hannah The man definitely had a point with his comment. Nothing in the new world was the same as back then - if only because the people who had survived for this long had gotten darker. They'd all had to adapt to live in this new crazy world, they'd all had to do some things that they may not have wanted to do otherwise to continue surviving. "That's true. Nothing here's the same but that's why trying to remember what we had in the past is so important. It reminds us of who we are even if the world tries to rip that away from us," Hannah said, shrugging slightly before she glanced around the room, only then taking note of the chaos that was happening in one of the corners.

Trix Trix met Lexi's glare with an icy one of her own. She wasn't afraid of the woman. She never had been and maybe she was one of the few people that could say that. As Axel moved to place himself between Alexia and the guy, Trix took a step forward as well. Her body language was surprisingly soft despite the harsh expression she wore to mask her inner amusement. "I think he gets you don't like him, sweetie. You can elaborate some other time." Maybe others wouldn't have chosen to promise Alexia Hunter that, but Trix wasn't others and the guy really probably did deserve it.

Victoria "No, not at all." she smiled along with him, matter of fact, she knows how to take hours of time, and drive people past their breaking point. Interrogation or simple torture. Her mind was wandering off to the terrible aspects rather than the present. Shaking her head slightly. "Cheaters get caught. I'm going to win. I'm that confident." she chuckled.

Ivy H. Ivy loved Christmas. She had only had sixteen christmas holidays in her life - and she barely remember ten from them. Her mother used to decorate the house with lights and things. After showing them to Gwen, Ivy put them back in a box and stared at them. What happened in the mean time between that and joining the strange reunion was now past. Holding the box, Ivy knocked on the door. " I found this. " She said. " It's fucking stupid but - can we use them?"

Lori Christmas had always been one of the worst times of her childhood. The extra celebration and Christmas cheer always equated to her mother drinking that extra bottle of alcohol -- the only gifts she received were the bruises that marred her skin. Her Daddy tried his best, of course, put cookies and milk out for santa, wrapped the pine tree in tinsel, but her gifts were never materialistic. This time, Lori had arrived seemingly on time to the town celebration. She'd watched as an older man strutted through the community centre stark naked and as some sort of physical alteration occurred. It was Fall City, after all. She nursed a glass of Whiskey, head bobbing as she hummed a familiar Christmas carol. She spotted Lyra across the room under a string of tinsel -- neatly set up by the council -- and downed the rest of her drink. She strode across the room and tapped her on the shoulder, abandoning her now empty glass. "Merry Christmas, Lyra."

Luca "Wow, you're /that/ confident huh? Damn, now I'm really hoping they do have board games because I am going to crush you in this game of monopoly." Luca grunted in a challenged tone, gaze moving to search the entire room for anything that resembled boxed games. "Cheaters do get caught, good thing I win with pure talent."

Lyra Sensing a tapping on her shoulder, Lyra turned around, an irritated scowl on her face before it faded as she saw that it was Lori who had tapped her on the shoulder. Nodding at her, Lyra sighed. She had no idea what to do with her hands so she settled for crossing them against her chest after a moment of awkward hesitation. "Right back at ya."

Alexia At the sound of the bloke's petty comments, Lexi graced him with a sarcastic expression as she squeezed her hand slightly tighter around his throat. She would've carried on too had Axel not stepped forwards at that point to try and separate the duo. Though she didn't want to, Lexi released the man's neck, harshly pushing his head down towards the floor as she did so and took a step back before turning to fully face the two who had come over to 'control' her. "I ain't gone an' had enough 'fun' yet, you're jus' lucky you ain't been comin' over alone, Axel. Wouldn't have stopped for nothin' if you had done," she said, her voice easily reflecting the rage burning within her at being forced to stop in the middle of taking the bastard out. "If this fuckin' cunt hadn' gone tryin' to fuckin' rape me then I wouldn't have had to fuckin' do that," Lexi said, casting her glare back down to the cowering mess on the floor at her feet. Sure, that may have been slightly exaggerated but she didn't care - if she could manage t

Alexia get Trix involved in this too then it'd just make the situation even /more/ fun for her.

Jesse "I appreciate the sentiment. If I ever did dress up as Santa at least I'll know to stick around you and not anyone that might be offended." An eyebrow rose as he took in the scene taking place with Alexia and a few others. "Like...I'd want to stay away from the whole lot of them, probably." He smiles, surveying the decorations one final time before nodding to Cristine. "Well thank you, I appreciate that. Merry Christmas, Cristine."

Andy As his throat was released, Andy coughed a few times, before standing up shakily. "Excuse you, I may be a shitty person, but I'd never try and fucking /rape/ someone!" He spat, turning and sashaying away from the toxicity that was Alexia.

Lori An awkwardness settled over them. In their current environment, surrounded by a celebration that didn't have a means to exist anymore, it was understandable. She resorted to leaning against the wall, brushing her shoulder against Lyra's. "It wouldn't be a holiday if Alexia wasn't kickin' someone's ass, aye?" She commented, watching the scene before them unfold with a flick of humour. "/This/ is a pretty cool gift."

Jax The philosophical talk of remembering one's self in an otherwise destructive world caused him to wrinkle his nose, as it had been much of the same talk he had received before being shipped overseas. Being new to the Marines, he hadn't been prepared for what he was going to see, and he had been told to hold onto what he was leaving behind. This new world was no different than that. A shrug of his shoulders brought him back to the female beside him, "Hanging onto the past isn't always a good thing, darling. Might matters worse in a time like this." He spoke before his gaze was drawn to where she was looking, a brow easily lifting as he took in the commotion, "What the fuck is that about?"

Axel If they hadn't stepped in when they did Axel was rather certain Lexi would've continued to choke the life out of the idiot who had decided to step on her toes. Fortunately he saved the bloke's life, just in time to get mixed up in the middle of it. He stepped between the two, forcing Lexi to released the other before putting distance between them and standing face to face with Alexia. "I appreciate it," Axel scowled at her words, blocking her from advancing on Andy as the fool decided to cut in. "Beat the shit out of him if ya want, ya can't just go around tryin' to kill people, Lexi. Fuckin' calm down."

Victoria "Of course." she stated like it wasn't a problem. She was good at her job, and she was good at playing games. Board or real life, she would put her best efforts. Hearing his tone of voice changed, caused the brunette to grin. "Oh is that so?" she liked that he was confident as well. More surprised her attitude didn't make him turn the other way.

Lyra A short laugh escaped Lyra's lips unbidden and for a moment she remained silent; almost surprised at the sound she inadvertently emitted. Little by little, the tension in her shoulders faded and she relaxed her perch against the wall, glancing at her blonde companion in acknowledgement. She focused on the scene in front of them, having not been being attention to Alexia and her 'festive' antics until Lori addressed the woman. She had some serious balls, Lyra had to give her that. Begrudging respect or whatever. "Yeah. That Alexia is somethin' else."

Cristine Cristine chuckled fondly, pushing hair out of her face before she finally began to tug off her coat and set it next to her. "Merry Christmas to you, Jesse." She replied, the smile she offered pushed her lips up far enough to expose teeth and her head nodded, destroying whatever effort she had made in getting her hair out of her face in the beginning.

Lori The quiet atmosphere almost disappeared as Lyra laughed, examining the situation in front of them. "I've never talked to her before. Not really sure I want to." Lori commented, before running a hand through her hair and turning her attention to her companion -- her friend. "Did you like Christmas? I fuckin' hated it."

Trix A flicker of anger merged in with her scowl at Lexi's words. The anger wasn't directed at the woman, it was directed at the heaped man on the floor behind Axel. "You can shut the fuck up," Trix said over the man's words (Andy) as she didn't care what he had to say. Her attention lexi him breifly and darted between Lexi and Axel. "He's right, honey. This ain't the place," she said, her focus shifting almost instantly back to the man on the floor.

Luca "Definitely. Shall I search out and try to find a monopoly game then?" Luca questioned, gaze finding her again with his brow still raised, it had been a while since he'd felt good enough in himself to be confident or even feel challenged by anything that wasn't life threatening. It almost felt like he could be himself.... /almost/.

Hannah Hannah shrugged in response to the guy. She knew it wasn't always a good thing - hell, she'd already accepted that clinging too much to the past could be a bad thing - but at times it was needed if people were to keep a hold of their sanity in this new world they'd been thrust into. "I know that but sometimes it's needed, it helps to keep you stable - at least it helps me out," Hannah said, a small smile spreading across her face. The commotion going on in the corner had seemingly quietened down significantly after the two newcomers went over to help deal with it and she turned her attention back towards the man. "Not sure, I only just noticed it happening."

Andy "honestly fuck all y'all bitches..." Andy muttered, walking off to sit in the corner with a bottle of drink, moping about being hit and rejected at the same time. "Bitch clearly can't handle so much man..." He added, dropping to the floor with a huff.

Victoria "Let's see if that's one of the gifts." she said looking around the room, as everyone was chatting, some arguing and others almost fighting. One game wouldn't do much damage, even if it was for a while.

Alexia As the words came spilling out of the fallen gorilla's lips, Lexi snarled at him and would've lunged back at him had Axel not been standing between them to stop her. When she heard Axel's comment, a bitter laugh passed the ex-convict's lips. "Axel, you're fuckin' talkin' like you ain't knowin' 'bout what I gone did before findin' this city," she said, her eyes rolling before her frosty gaze returned to her oldest friend, hoping that if anyone was going to take her side of the matter it'd be Trix. Alas that didn't happen. With the thought of her friend's /betrayal/ in mind, Alexia let out an annoyed huff as she stormed passed them and towards the table holding all the food up. If they wouldn't let her take her anger out on the bastard then she'd find her own way to do it. Arriving at the table, the ex-convict put her forearms beneath and lifted, flipping the table and the food atop it upside down and onto the floor.

Juliet Walking in, Juliet grinned at the Christmas decor before spotting the two people she wanted to avoid. Lexi and Lyra. Ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach she moved towards the drinks, only picking up a non alcoholic beverage as to not get in another fight

Juliet at the sound of crashing, she looked to the side, only to watch Lexi flip the entire food table. Amazing. So smart. It's not like it was an apocalypse or anything. "Good lord." She muttered, shaking her head, before moving away from the drama and sitting in a chair at the side.

Luca "If that's your plan then let's do it, if it isn't there then I'm sure we could look in a closet or something." Luca pointed out, glancing up a hallway that he only assumed lead further into the building and could possibly house a stack of board games.

Victoria A closet? she had to chuckle. "Off we go" she smiled indicating for them to start their search, anything from being away from a crowded room.

Hannah The sound of crashes coming from the direction that the woman who'd been involved in the fight instantly attracted Hannah's attention and the young redhead span around in order to look at the source of the sound. /Why/ had the idiotic woman decided to flip the food table? Did she not realise how important food was now that they were stuck in the middle of an apocalypse? Did she not realise that food didn't come easily anymore? Was she really that shallow minded that she'd spite the entire city just to fuel her rage? The teenager shook her head slightly before walking to a blonde woman (Juliet yaaaaaaaa) who was sat away from the commotion, seemingly just as done with the woman as Hannah felt. "What's her problem?" the teen asked, nodding her head in the direction of the cocoa skinned woman.

Trix As soon as Lexi stormed passed them in the direction of the food Trix knew what was going to happen. "Lexi, don't do it," Trix warned across the room, glancing sideways at Axel despite knowing he could do nothing either. "She's goin' to cuntin' do it," she said to him with disbelief lacking from her voice. Part of her wasn't surprised at all. Once that woman got in moods like this it was like trying to calm down a raging bull. Trix followed her across the room just waiting to hear the clatter as the table was either kicked or flipped. There it was. "Fuckin' hell, Lexi! Seriously? An' has that made you feel better now, sweet cheeks? Now you're probably goin' to have to work harder on you're runs next week?" Trix moved so she was right next to the other woman, looking her right in the eye. "Take a moment an' /think/, baby girl," she said quieter, so just Lexi could hear her.

Juliet Juliet looked up at the sound of a voice, smiling slightly. "That's Alexia. She's got hella anger issues and she likes to tell us about it in the most dramatic ways." She explained, rolling her eyes. "She smashed a bottle over my face once, so do with that what you will." She commented, shrugging and just watching Lexi from her spot in the corner

Luca Luca nodded, gaze slipping briefly to where there was commotion, he should have known something nice could not have been kept for long, not with this brood of fuck ups. He scoffed softly, clicking his tongue against his cheek, good thing he wasn't hungry. "Right." He commented, returning his attentions to Victoria, offering a small smile before he moved forward, thankful for being able to get away from the group but considering that he knew so little about this woman it may not have been a good idea. Still, if she did have any ill intent towards him, the Ex-Marine liked to think he had a fighting chance, then again he liked to think the best of people before they proved him wrong. Most likely a deadly mistake with the way things had changed.

Victoria Following his lead, they managed to get away from the crowd, and down the corridors of the hallway. Would board games really be stored in one of these rooms, who really knows. Good thing she knew how to protect herself. Even if he seemed like a nice guy, she still kept her guard up. Though she did like that there was a fight, nothing like a good physical altercation to lighten the mood. It made things here somewhat entertaining. Looking around, she could see it snowing outside, and a thought crossed her mind, how far she's come, for survival. Turning her attention back at Luca "If you were board game, where would you be?"

Cristine "What the fuck?" Her words were muttered as brown eyes were instantly snapped over to where a loud clatter had drawn her out of her thoughts. The food, fucking hell the god damn /food/. "Are you fucking serious?!" Cris called out, more upset about the wasted food than any outburst or fight that might have been happening.

Alexia The anger was still pulsing under the surface when Trix arrived and Lexi's nostrils flared up in response of it. "You was tellin' me I couldn't jus' go killin' people so I didn't. Did the next best thing instead - if I ain't able to have fun 'ere then ain't jus' gonna let no one else have it neither," Lexi said, a shrug accompanying her words as if they were the most obvious words that could be spoken. "I've been thinkin' all night, Trix."

Juliet Letting out a sigh, Juliet just gave up trying to interact with anyone in any way, and stood up, saying a quick goodbye to Hannah and then slowly walking towards the doors, intending to just go home, or to just fuck about in the snow some how. Make snow angels or something, though as she moved to push the door open, a panicked scream left her lips. "Why the fuck won't the door open?! Why do I always get trapped in this shitty fucking building?!" She shouted, spinning back around nod marching back into the main room. "We're SNOWED IN AND SOMEONE FLIPPED THE FUCKING FOOD!"

[nobodysempireevents]

Over the course of the celebration the snow had continued to fall, transitioning from a light flurry to a blizzard over a matter of hours. it piled up to one foot, then two, three - and continued as the wind blew in with icy air. Drifts piled up upon the doors and windows of the community center to block all means of exiting while the storm continued.

As the storm continues, the survivors of Fall City are trapped within the Community Center until the storm blows through.

                                                               SNOWED IN.

This is a DASH EVENT that will take place for ONE WEEK  starting from NOW, August 24th, beginning directly after the Christmas event,  to next week, August 31st.

All new starters should be within the snowed in event, but you are welcome to continue old threads as you please. All members are snowed in at the community center. Tag all event starters with #nbesnowedin

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Council: Charlotte Cain, Dahlia Emerson, Elijah Santos, Trix Maddox, Jesse Hart

What: Council Meeting

Where: Fall City School, Room 204

When: Nightfall || Held July 27th, 2015

Jesse A week had transpired since the last council meeting in which clean-up of the bonfire disaster had taken place, tempers had cooled, and the culprit had been discovered; Jeremiah Rook, one of the patrol men as they had suspected and a recently newcomer to the city. While the last conversation had left the group at odds on how to deal with him, Jesse wasn’t under any delusions given how Frankie and Trix had decided on handling everything. Even before the entire council had come to meet he had set his gaze on Trix. “Am I to assume the situation has been dealt with?”

Trix Gloved hands curled around the wooden chair Trix stood behind, it bearing her weight as she leant on the back of it. She didn't want to sit down, not yet. She needed to scope out the people in the meeting first. Although she worked with Jesse and Elijah they weren't open books and she hardly knew Charlotte. Without Frankie there the last weeks goings on regarding Rook were pointed to her and her alone and she didn't trust these people. Her eyes flitted about the room and the people it contained but when Jesse spoke directly to her, he focus landed on him. "I don't think he'll be harmin' Fall City again. The council got their message across clearly," she replied in a levelled manner, not specifying what had happened. She wasn't stupid. She wasn't going to get done for murder when nothing pointed to her specifically and there wasn't even a body.

Elijah: had been informed of the culprit and despite what many would assume, he didn't exactly feel sympathy for what he believed to have happened. It was a decision purposely done that jeopardized all they had worked for to protect. The words didn't have to be said outright to know that Trix and Frankie had taken care of it. He wasn't necessarily comfortable with killing someone who wasn't an infected, but it was us or them. He rolled his shoulders back against the chair in which he sat, waiting for Jesse's response to Trix.

Charlotte Charlotte wasn't entirely sure what to think, to consider. Though she was briefly informed of the events that unfolded at the bonfire, the result of the terrorist in their midsts still left her a bit unsetlled. Surely they were more than just pawns in surivial. It was instinct driven, but it honestly was the only logical approach. "Was there anyone in town that was close to him at all?" She asked, not out of concern for any loved ones, but rather anyone that would notice.

Jesse let his eyes flit over Trix's form as she leaned on the back of her chair, not taking her seat at the table with the rest of them. Jesse hadn't taken his seat just yet, either, palms pressed firmly into the table before him as he leaned across the table towards where Trix stood. Her response didn't come as a surprise - which was maybe a little unsettling. But the man had left the gates open on purpose and maybe this punishment was the only one that made sense in the end. There was a pause, a silence that passed between them, before Charlotte spoke up and Jesse's eyes darted in her direction. He cleared his throat before settling into his chair. "No, not from what we've heard. He was a loner. Kept to himself."

Elijah: folded his hand together briefly, mulling over the situation in his head. The Council, or at least members of the council, had murdered someone. If it was ever shared with the community, they'd have a problem. "That's good. It means no one will be looking for an explanation. I think the majority of those here are keen on not having to worry about whether the gate will properly closed."

Trix it was interesting how no one directly confronted what she had said. They didn't test her conviction or even challenge her and Frankie's actions. But then, Dahlia wasn't there yet and all could change if she did show. Trix flexed her fingers around the chair back, still not yet ready to take a seat and unsure as to whether she would be at all that meeting. "Not many even knew he existed," Trix added to what Jesse said in Charlotte's general direction.

Charlotte nodded in response, allowing the words sink into her skin. "Good. That means there's no way of this leaking out. The council itself isn't high in public opinion already. This would -

Charlotte compromise our standing." Her gaze flickered over towards Trix. She didn't know the woman. She was perhaps one of the few people she hadn't dug into. There was no way to know if she could be trusted, but with Frankie aiding her - it was probably the only thing they could do.

Dahlia: Fumbling hands met the doorknob of the school room, turning it, as the blonde made her entry into the meeting room. She breezed to the chair, red flushing across her features, as she tried to catch up with the conversation. She assumed that her cohorts were speaking of the culprit, the man who had opened the gate, and the blonde nodded as she took a seat, "Sorry," she mumbled, tossing her papers on the table, "There hasn't been a decision made yet, has there?"

Jesse didn't like the idea of having to kill someone off, a survivor just like the rest of them, but was done was done, there was no point harping on the topic. Still when Dahlia entered the room in a flurry of papers and flushed red from her hurry he felt a pang of guilt at the idea once more. He hesitated, brushing a thumb across his jaw before shaking his head a bit. "It's been handled," He said finally, "There's no point in discussing."

Trix released the chair and turned on her heel at the sound of the door clicking open. At seeing Dahlia there, red faced and rushing in, Trix's lip curled in contempt. Wonderful. Miss Righteous had entered the building. Trix didn't say anything - there was no need to. Instead she simply turned back to the table, her hands finding the back of her chair again. She pushed her tongue against the back of the her teeth when Jesse replied to the blonde to smother any smirk that may have wanted to work its way onto her features. Her composure remained stoic and calm.

Dahlia: held up her hand, eyes flashing around the table, "No wait, are you saying that I think you're saying? It's someone's life, no matter how little value you make think it has, there's always a point in discussing it. We're not just executioners."

Charlotte glanced aside for a moment. She wasn't sure if the emotional appeal to someone who tried to endanger the city was the best way to approach the situation. Then again, Dahlia was honestly too kind of a person to let this go. "I respect that you care for this, but there's not much we could do."She glanced aside. "What could you think of that would be the more logical way of dealing with this? Without having the chance of this happening again?"

Elijah: 's lips pressed into a thin line as Dahlia emerged. They weren't killers, well, they shouldn't so easily be ready to dispose of those considered threats. "The problem is, it's already done. What we do know is opening the gate was on purpose. However, I do believe there should have been some discussion before action was actually taken."

Trix Oh now that /was/ interesting. So Charlotte wasn't completely against it? Obviously the woman hadn't been there for the previous meeting so Trix had no way of gauging it but then, Trix really didn't know her at all no claim to. "We ain't talkin' 'bout execution, Dahlia," Trix replied bluntly to the woman. The way she saw it there was no need to label what it was. They shouldn't even worry their little heads on it. Trix tilted her head to the side at Elijah's words, raising an eyebrow at him. If he wanted to comment on the action maybe he should be less passive aggressive if he wanted any form of response from her.

Dahlia: could feel the color drain from her face at Elijah's words, upon the realization that struck her - hard. It was no longer a matter of 'what are we going to do', but a matter of, 'what's done is done'. She was too late. They could have talked about it, weighed their options carefully, "That was someone's /life/," she swallowed thickly. She didn't ask to be apart of it, to have an unwilling role in the murder of another human being. She didn't want anyone else to die, "We could have talked about it, we could have done things differently!" her voice rose, "What about what we talked about? Exiling him?" the blonde turned to Trix, "No, we are, because that's what it was. It was an execution that had no business being done."

Jesse pressed his fingertips against his temple, narrowing his eyes at Trix's far too /pleased/ expression that flashed across her face for only a second before it was masked beneath an emotionless demeanor. They had already all shared their opinions at the last meeting. Maybe it was simply because Jesse knew Frankie too well to know that her decision had already been made then, but he wasn't surprised by this turn of events. While he could agree with Dahlia's desire to handle things differently, what was done was done. More discussion would not have made any difference in the end of it all. Besides, there was plenty of other things that should be discussed in this time - that they could actually do something about. "Dahlia," he breathed, "Discussing it would have led to a similar result, regardless. I understand what you're saying...but it's done."

Trix As Dahlia raised her voice at her, Trix's same stoic calm remained. She was too calm, unmoved by the way she was targeted. Trix was actually glad Frankie wasn't there. It meant that Trix took the whole hit and Frankie could remain in all of their good graces and that was more useful than them both falling. "Honey, we ain't talkin' 'bout no execution 'cause I didn't do anythin'. That guy were proven guilty, maybe he jus' up an' left out of fear," she replied with a smile at the end, releasing the chair as she did so to fold her arms across her chest. She turned her attention to Jesse, her dark gase fixing on him seeing as he seemed to be the main one to want to move on. "Now, Rook can't 'ave jus' opened that gate for no reason. Everyone has an angle an' I want to know what his was."

Elijah: exhaled a breath as Dahlia reacted. He expected that she wouldn't be pleased. He could tell that Jesse wasn't either. But talking about it wouldn't have gotten them anywhere. It would end up like the last meeting - switching topics because there was too much tension laced in one decision, opinions formulated that people didn't want to share. If they discovered the culprit and waited to talk, would it have changed the outcome? He couldn't say. For Frankie and Trix had made up their minds and that had become the end of the matter. It didn't make for a unified council. "I don't believe we would have had a unanimous vote if we spoke about it today, spoke about it two weeks or two months from now. I don't appreciate how it was handled, but the culprit is gone. The bottom line is someone purposely opened the gates. Someone purposely wanted to hurt us. We have to remember that."

Charlotte ran a hand through her hair, allowing a soft sign to escape her lips. This meeting was not what she desired it to be. Despite everything, she understood Dahlia's outlook on it. She was right. There was no denying that, but fretting over it made it all the more real. There was no hiding from it, but they could have at least ignored it. Brushing it under the carpet like it never happened. If needed again, she wouldn't doubt this would happen again. "Next time, we can make an example of it. But I think we should look at this closer - maybe start to monitor who comes in the city. Though how - I have no idea." She glanced towards the rest of the council. "Let's move on."

Jesse "We could've asked him," Jesse murmured in response to Trix's question, casting her a snide expression before moving on from it, "We know that it was intentionally left open which draws the conclusion that he intended to bring in the Infected. What we don't know is what his ultimate goal was. Maybe he didn't expect us to be as prepared as we were, maybe he just wanted to see what would happen. Maybe he had plans to wipe us out. We can't really say for sure." At Charlotte's words he shrugs, "Making an example of it may not be the best - it all depends on the situation. We want the members of the city to look to us for guidance, not fear us. But the idea of monitoring who comes into the city, somehow, seems like our best bet at ensuring this doesn't happen again." But everyone was unpredictable as ever in an apocalypse.

Trix "An' you doubt my interrogation abilities, do you, Jesse?" she replied sharply. She'd interrogated the fuck out of that man and she had come up empty handed. There had been no budging him and it was men like that who especially needed to be taken care of in Trix's eyes. If she couldn't break them then she wanted them gone; it made them dangerous to be alive. If she'd killed the man as they all rightly thought she had then they should surely know she was capable of convincing interrogation. "I don't see how we can manage who comes in without bein' selective an' turnin' people away. I'm sure you don't want to be those people who turn innocents away," Trix commented with a flash of her gaze to Dahlia as she practically quoted the other woman from the previous meeting.

Charlotte furrowed her brows at that. There was no clear way to monitor who came in and out of the city like this. It was a fear placed in the council early on to be selective with who comes in the city as well. Though the fear was that the supplies would be too low rather than someone threatening the safety of their haven. With a shake of her head, the brunette turned her gaze to Elijah, wondering if he was holding back his thoughts as he stirred in silence. Her words came out a bit brash each time she spoke. Maybe it was just because she didn't know how to morally make anything just. The more they tried to solve the problems at hand, the more corrupt it sounded. "I honestly don't know what to do to prevent this from happening again." Concern laced her features as she leaned onto the table. "I just don't want people thinking that they're not safe. I don't want them to not feel safe with the survivors they're with. I don't think it's right to turn others away, but it's hard to think of how to prevent another event like this."

Dahlia: wouldn't move passed it, the decision to so easily take another's life. It didn't matter to her that he had had malice intentions, it wasn't their job to pass such judgement, to execute someone. Another sound decision could have come to pass, they could have handled it differently, they could have shown him some mercy. Still, she swallowed her feelings, or, at least, she tried to. It would make for an unproductive meeting, "I had a few ideas. One is a system we could put in place outside the gates - it'll stagger the infected should the gates ever be opened again. We can try and take preventative measures, but I think it's important to have safety plans in place too."

Jesse raised an eyebrow as if to convey his challenge to Trix's methods but didn't speak any further on the topic. Weeding out the survivors that made it to their door didn't seem like the smartest idea; it would only make more enemies on the outside, ones they couldn't as easily deal with as the infected. Besides, who were they to make the judgement call on who was good and bad upon initial arrival? He tapped his fingertips against the tabletop as he considered what was said. "Preventative measures, like what?" He spoke on Dahlia's point, "More patrol at the gate? More...obstacles beyond it?" The infected weren't intelligent minds, obstacles would make it difficult for the walkers to approach while survivors may easily pass the traps.

Elijah: "Interrogation won't work," Elijah chimed in, a hand running briefly through his hair. "We can't decide who's good and who's bad, what intentions people have at the gate. Plus, if we misjudge, consequences could wind up like the bonfire." He turned in his seat to face Dahlia, a brow raising, urging her to continue. "What have you thought of ?"

Dahlia: "I was thinking more obstacles - it couldn't hurt, right? Maybe some cars, whatever we can find to make it harder for them to just walk up to the gate," she noted, her eyes passing from each face.

Charlotte blinked softly, nodding in a slight fondness for Dahlia's idea. "I like that. We could set up a line of sharpened wood along the outside of the gate. Make only enough room for one person to fit in on the sides. Maybe you could get the supplies from the more torn down houses that aren't being occupied."

Trix frowned slightly at Dahlia's idea. As much as she may dislike the other woman she wasn't blinkered enough to to see someone's worth or use or intelligence - she wasn't Alexia. That woman would mark someone negatively and they wouldn't be able to be anything but that. "So, go old school? Maybe a trench of some sort?"

Jesse considered Dahlia and Charlotte's contributions, nodding his head. "We have to make sure it's still easy enough for the runners to get in and out, but I think that's a good start. It'll make the city as a whole safer from a similar attack at the very least." Keeping the infected out was their first priority, dealing with bad intentions from other survivors? That was another story.

Elijah: "The runners should be informed of the changes we make and be given time to get used to it. Overall, I agree. I think this could work."

Dahlia: "Maybe a combination of a few things, but nothing too cluttered that'll be too hard for the runners, just something that'll trip up the infected. I agree. Our runners should definitely be told about it, though. We want it to help, not create an issue for them."

Charlotte nodded softly, leaning back in her seat. "Maybe the ditch would work best. Provide board walks for the runners to go across."

Jesse nodded, "Alright, so we're in agreement. We'll start setting it up as soon as the runners are informed of the changes. I think maybe a little of everything will be good as long as it's well enough separated to keep the runners safe from getting tripped up on it." They had a smart team of runners and patrol - he figured the obstacles couldn't cause them too much trouble. "Was there anything else we needed to speak on tonight?"

Trix This was promising and the topic of conversation had moved on nicely. "That's what I were thinkin', Charlotte," Trix said, her gaze flitting to the brunette. "Might be worth askin' the runners rather than jus' informin' though. Ain't no good if they stop wantin' to run."

Elijah: was glad the topic of conversation had moved on. He didn't want to linger on what had been done, what each of them now stood for even if their hands hadn't been covered in blood. "We can gather them all tonight or tomorrow morning? Let them weigh in?"

Charlotte rose her brows ever so slightly. "How about we hold a meeting this Friday between the runners to see the overall opinion?"

[nobodysempireevents]

REMINDER TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: The next Fall City Council meeting will be taking place on Monday, July 27th at 4 PM EST (9PM GMT)

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Council: Frankie Rose, Dahlia Emerson, Elijah Santos, Trix Maddox, Jesse Hart

What: Bi-Weekly Council Meeting

Where: Fall City School, Room 204

When: Nightfall, the day after the bonfire || Held July 14th, 2015

Frankie sat at the table, her eyes darting this way and that. There was going to be a lot of shouting, wasn't there? If there wasn't then she would be very, very surprised. So she sat next to Dahlia because if there was anyone who was going to calm the shouting down, it would be her. "So...how is everyone?"

Elijah The idea of remaining calm seemed foolish to Elijah. His blood had been boiling since last night, his lips constantly locking together in order to control it. But now he sat with his fellow peers, having to discuss exactly what had been nagging at him. Fantastic. "Would be better if I knew who opened the gate."

Dahlia: "I'm alright," she told her friend, then teeth wore into the blonde’s lower lip as she flipped through her papers; safety proposals - not quite finished -, a list of things they needed, her supply count charts, and, lastly, a diagram she had stayed up working on. The fiasco at the bonfire had prompted it, a late night effort to keep the residents safe. Drawn from a whittled down pencil, a map much akin to one a three year old would produce had been made. Though, how neat it was, wasn’t exactly the point. The point was that Dahlia had an idea. On the page was the wall and gate into their city (neatly labeled, of course). Below Dahlia had written FALL CITY in large letters. Above she had drawn a maze. The words ‘car’, ‘trench’, ‘a divider’ scribbled, arrows drawn. Human error had caused roamers to flood in at an alarming rate. Weapons would be forgotten, supplies miscounted, they weren’t perfect, but they could prevent such an influx of roamers from passing the gates again. Dahlia cleared her throat, an effort to get the attention of her cohorts, “That's something we need to discuss. After the other night,” she began, setting the paper down so all could see, “I came up with something that I think could help. It’ll be a lot of work, but worth it.”

Frankie Looking down at the paper, Frankie rubbed her eyes, wincing when she did it with her broken hand. Glancing from Dahlia to Elijah, she waited for them to suggest the obvious. They were going to have to punish someone because of this, weren't they? People were going to get angry if they let this sort of thing happen again. Some sort of violent action needed to be taken to reassure the people that they had things under control and weren't simply sitting on their thumbs. "I think the first thing we need to do is get the fucker who let this happen and punish 'em."

Trix: Sitting with her back straight and her shoulders square, Trix had her forearms resting on the table between the council members. She studied each of them individually. Her eyes scanned them steadily as she did the sweeps. She had nothing to take notes on because she didn't need it. She'd remember it all and write it down in her private logs later. Trix had no idea how this was going to go and she felt like she was one of the calmer ones in the room. She was angry or upset, she was merely calculated. "What would be better, Elijah, is knowin' how to stop it happenin' again," she commented, her eyes fixing on him. Really her opinion was get rid of the idiot responsible - not just banishment but kill them on the quiet but she wasn't about to voice that in a council meeting. She knew how these games worked.

Elijah recalled Dahlia speaking to him about her plans and it was no surprise she came to this meeting prepared. If anything could draw them out faster, it was last night. The chaos and the blood still burned behind his eyes. "I agree with you, Frankie. We need to find out who did it and draw a line between fun and stupidity. As far as preventing this," he shifted his gaze to Trix. "I also agree. It's not just about consequence. But if we allow the person responsible to continue on scot free, if we wait too long, we lose respect. We lose to a lot of fear that has sparked in this camp because of the invasion."

Dahlia: the blonde leaned back, the words of the others sinking in. She had not been there, she did not necessarily have a place to speak about what had happened, "We could spread word that we know who did it?" she suggested at length, "It could draw them out, make them nervous?"

Frankie crossed her arms a slight scowl on her features. "Who has the list of patrol members? It was one of them and we have to fuckin' punish them in front of everyone. I don't think we should hold back on this, Elijah is fuckin' right. If we let this go, we lose respect and then what? People start gettin' it in their heads that they should take over and we have a shitload of fuckery to deal with."

Trix: Trix smothered a smirk as Frankie - who she suspected would want to punish someone - and Elijah - who she hadn't so much - both sounded passionate about that notion. Still she wouldn't voice her own opinion if it wasn't needed. Measuring Dahlia's suggestion, Trix shook her head slightly and her eyes fixed to the blonde. "We be more direct than that. We know who should of been on patrol, we got the schedule. We set straight to questionin'. Ain't no need to do this public if he can jus' go straight in for the bullseye." She raised an eyebrow as if to question people's thoughts.

Elijah "How do we know it was patrol?" Elijah ran a hand along the back of his neck. "Sure, they were at the gate, but that didn't mean they opened it. There was alcohol last night. Someone could have drank too much and got carried away. Perhaps we can fault the patrols for not doing their job even during an event, but that doesn't necessarily frame them." He mulled over Trix's suggestion. "I say we do find out what they know, like Trix said. If they saw anything, have any leads."

Jesse observed the discussion, quiet for the beginning as everyone stated their views. Leaning forward to fold his arms across the table he nodded towards Frankie's idea of starting with the patrol members - the most likely to have been responsible. Another nod was in issued in agreement to Trix's notion. "The patrol man or woman that were supposed to be posted at the gate at the time of the bonfire should be held responsible. If it's a switch shift then both parties should be questioned." At Elijah's mention Jesse shrugged, "If that's the case then the patrol should've been there to stop that from happening, regardless."

Trix: Pushing her lips together Trix's mind worked fast. She could practically hear the cogs whizzing around inside her skull. "Don't get me wrong, I'm all for makin' someone pay. But we're a /council/. Soon as we start throwin' our weight 'round people gon' start to wonder how safe they are. Soon as we punish one person too severely they start wonderin' if they next, what wrong step they could take. Soon as we're feared we lose their respect." Trix looked at Frankie as she spoke, wondering how she would react.

Elijah "Fair," Elijah nodded in response to Trix. Too much authority led to an uproar. Too little led to chaos like last night. They needed to find a balance when they discovered the culprit, one that would provoke both positivity from the majority and an understanding that what happened could not repeat. "It all comes down then, to finding out who did it, and the circumstances in which they did it. I doubt anyone was in favor of the danger we had last night."

Frankie frowned a bit, her lips forming into a slight pout. She knew that Trix was right, but at the same time wouldn't they look like they'd gotten soft? Punish too severely you lose respect. Punish too harshly you lose respect. It wasn't a win/win situation at all. Looking up at Trix, she nodded, but countered, "If they don't fear us we lose their respect too. 'Specially since we lost a civilian." There was a pause as she listened to Elijah with a nod. "Are we gonna talk 'bout how a fuckin' kid was out there?"

Dahlia: Dahlia weighed everyone's words, carefully, thoughtfully. Whoever had risked the safety of those, they did need to be punished - perhaps not in front of everyone, but, either way, they needed a consequence. Did they even have those set in place? What could they do to the guilty party? A trial? The blonde remained silent, listening to words volley back and forth, "Fear doesn't always mean respect. We can't just 'rule' with an iron fist. If they fear us, that's not healthy for this place. We've got to stay approachable," she commented, "I can see them resenting us real fast that way."

Elijah "So once again, it comes down to finding out who did it and how to punish them. I feel that once we find out who did it, what consequences they face will also follow. Because right now we're staring at a blank face with our immediate reactions." At Frankie's comment, the mention of a kid, Elijah released a scoff. "I don't even want to get started on that -- a kid in the middle of everything..."

Jesse ran a thumb across his jawline, thoughtful as to how they would punish the guilty parties - assuming they were even able to find who was responsible at all. They had all raised good points; it couldn't be something too severe that they lost respect and the citizens began to fear them, but if they approached it too lightly others may think they could get away with things, and they didn't want Fall City falling apart around them. "What sort of punishment is everyone thinking. Maybe we can find a happy medium among different proposed ideas."

Trix: Maybe no one was in favour of it, maybe they were, to Trix it didn't matter. Either way someone was incompetent and a liability and they needed to be dealt with regardless. Naivety was just as dangerous and to Trix there was only one solution to that but she knew she couldn't bring that up with these people. These people were very law abiding when it came to running this community and Trix couldn't afford to put a spotlight on herself. Trix actually agreed with everything Frankie was saying more so than the others. She'd always ruled through fear but here it wouldn't work the same. "Which is why we need to measure this out properly," she replied to Frankie, her eyes flashing to Dahlia as she spoke. "An' how do you suppose that?" Hearing Jesse's words Trix tied her tongue for a moment, preferring to gauge her answer by how severe the others were thinking.

Dahlia: "Some type of probation? A strikes system?" Dahlia threw some ideas out, her eyes flickering from one member to the next.

Elijah "If we were to enact a probation system, then it shouldn't be for just this case. It should be for everything that could endanger our people. Stealing, attacking, leaving the gate open. And leaving the gate open is high up on things that shouldn't be done here, especially if it was intentional." If it were the latter, Elijah would have no sympathy for the culprit.

Jesse let his eyes shift between Dahlia and Elijah as they spoke their minds before picking up on the latter's words. "If it was /intentional/ then we're dealing with a whole different thing entirely. Punishment for mistakes is one thing. Punishment for an intentional act against the city is completely different. So the punishment must fit the crime."

Dahlia: "If you're here and you're trying to tear down what we have, I'd say it's an immediate dismissal," she hated the words that fell from her lips, but if it had been some intentional act of malice, one that had put those she cared for in danger, they could not have such a person within the walls of the city.

Elijah Elijah met Dahlia's eyes for a brief second, not imagining his own thoughts to leave her lips. But he nodded slowly. "I agree. If it was intentional, they have no place here."

Trix: "Sorry, darlin's, but a probation system sounds so socially constructed. People broke the law before, they'll fuckin' break the law now even if it puts a little black dot next to their name. An' what happens at three strikes? We kick 'em out? Okay so then we got people outside our walls knowin' exactly how we function, where we keep our weapons an' when our patrols change." Trix tilted her head, her eyes darting between Dahlia and Elijah only breaking her gaze to nod at Jesse in an almost distracted manner. she didn't wholly agree with him but she could understand how that worked in a community. Her opinion was based on bossing drug dealers around and dominating contacts.

Frankie "So what you're suggesting is exile?" she ventured, leaning forward a bit. It actually wasn't that bad of an idea, but what if the person came back with a vengeance? Wouldn't it be better to just kill them and not risk an act of defiance?

Dahlia: "It's exactly what I'm suggesting," she nodded at Frankie, "Elijah said it - they've got no place here if all they're here for is to cause discord, to harm these people."

Elijah "Scratch the probation system, then." Elijah could see all of Trix's points. If they kicked a bunch of people out, it would be a mutiny from beyond the gate and Elijah was not about to fight two wars. "We handle it case by case. This case being who opened the gate and why they did it."

Jesse nodded his head slowly to their words, a punishment for an intentional offender, but as much as kicking them out of the city to fend for themselves seemed like a good idea it also had it's downfalls. Trix seemed to pick up on them as well. He doubted someone kicked out of the city would just disappear and no longer be their problem - especially one that had intentionally tried to bring them down from within. Who knew what they could do from the outside if they were determined enough. "Maybe it's best we determine first who is responsible and why before coming up with the punishment."

Trix: Trix flicked her hair off her shoulder and shifted down her seat towards the edge so that she leant into the meeting. Fuck it, this was going no where. There was no way no one else was thinking it, surely. "Thing is, Jesse, what does it matter who it was an' why? Outcome were the same. I think if we want to deal with this we only got one choice. We find who did it an' in the eyes of the public they get punished with community service. We put 'em on manual labour, cleanin' dishes, whatever the fuck you want. But then we get rid of 'em, out of public. We can't have liable people inside these walls, accident or not." Trix pressed her lips together, looking at all of them, her eyes lingering on Frankie slightly longer thinking she might be the one who truly understood what she was hinting at.

Elijah pressed his lips into a thin line across his face as Trix spoke. Getting rid of held one connotation and he wasn't sure if he wanted to lean towards it unless the culprit had intentionally opened the gate for a hoot. But who would admit that unless they were sick in the goddamned head or rattled with guilt? "Are your proposing what I think you're proposing?"

Frankie eye's fixated on Trix's before giving a slight, barely noticeable, nod. Yeah, she got it. "Trix is right," the young brunette piped up, leaning back in her seat. Her eyes flickered to Elijah's briefly. "S'not a bad idea."

Dahlia: They. Were. Not. Killing. Someone. They weren't some mob, they weren't going to allow the guilty party to 'go for a little swim', a cement block chained around their ankle, "We're not those people."

Trix: She noted Frankie's nod, expecting no one else to have picked it up if they weren't looking for it. "I don't know, what do you think I'm proposin', Elijah?" Trix tilted her head to the side, her brow slightly furrowed.

Elijah "We kill them." Elijah said flatly, taking any opinion he had on the matter away from the tone of his voice. Rather, he wanted the words to hover in the air, for people to really understand what that would mean. One of them would be pulling the trigger and taking someone's life away, someone's life who they had protected all this time. But was it justified if the other person had risked all of theirs? "Is that what you're proposing, Trix?"

Jesse cupped his hands around his head, fingers knitting through hair as the words were spoken straight out. Kill them. Flat out. No questions asked. If the guilty party had done it intentionally then Jesse could be more on board with such a proposal, but what if it had just been some foolish mistake in light of a party? "And what if it had just been a mistake? An accident? They should die for that?"

Trix: Trix didn't reply to Elijah, she merely lifted an eyebrow and sat back in her seat. Dahlia's opinion on the matter wasn't a surprise at all. She could have betted on it.

Frankie "They're going to die if we exile them anyway," she muttered under her breath, a slight shrug following Jesse's words. Even if it had been a mistake or accident, it wasn't like they could afford that anymore. Someone had died because of a fucking mistake.

Elijah So it was true. Trix didn't have to speak in order to confirm it. He brought a hand up to the dogtag hanging from his neck and spun it between his fingers. "In order to decide anything, we need to find out who it is. Or else we're going to be throwing around what ifs all night."

Dahlia: Dahlia stood up, her blues on Jesse, who had spoke some reason, "It's not happening," she said, her eyes scanning the faces at the table, "You want to hang your hats on an execution? We are /not/ those people. We exile them, they're on their own. Cut off from our resources, our help. We drive them far away enough, not throw them out on the doorstep."

Jesse lifted his eyes to Dahlia as she stood, dropping his hands back to the table and nodding to her words. "If we blindfold them, drive 'em out far enough, they'll never know how to get back. Then it's up to them and the elements what happens next." He didn't need any more blood on his hands, didn't want it. "We can rule with an iron first with out being killers."

Elijah 's eyes darted from Dahlia to Jesse, letting the reason wipe away the idea suggested by Trix and backed by Frankie. He didn't want more blood. Especially when this person was not an infected. That meant they had agreed to support murder of someone who had a chance. "That sounds reasonable. If they don't know where they are, it'd be a miracle if they showed up. And if they managed to, we make sure to enforce they are not allowed back in no matter what their condition is."

Frankie pinched the bridge of her nose, a loud sigh escaping her. She just wanted to move on from this topic. "How about this: we go to the people and tell them that there will be a punishment administered as soon as we find out who the fuck did it, okay? I think killin' them would be a good idea 'cause we're doin' it either by exile or execution." There was a huge chance that the person would end up dead in their sleep anyway. Her eyes flickered to Trix briefly - it would be decided later. "In the mean time can we please talk about what to do about the patrol as a whole? Someone should have been on watch and slacked off. Also: I want to build a greenhouse on the school and the clinic." Timing was seriously key with Frankie.

Elijah was grateful to be moving on from the topic. It was become cyclic, strong holed opinions clashing with just as strong opinions. They would get no where this way. "Who we have as patrol needs to be reevaluated and we should check the schedule like Trix mentioned at the beginning of the meeting. We should too address Dahlia's plans for prevention..." He shifted his gaze to meet hers momentarily before returning his attention to Frankie. "... A greenhouse? Do we have the resources for that?"

Frankie Glancing at Elijah, she gave a wide grin, practically beaming with pride. "I've been collectin' them myself, thank you very much." The grin faltered a bit. "But I kill every plant I touch so I need people who are good with that type of shit."

Trix: Actually /Dahlia/ was not those people. The blonde may be able to speak for the others but she couldn't speak for Trix. Trix was born /that/ person. Trix let her gaze lend heavily on the standing woman, finally seeing just what Alexia had been meaning about the other woman. She was 'good' to the core and righteously so. "An accident can be repeated, so can a malicious act," Trix replied simply to Jesse's earlier comment. "What Frankie said." It was to the point and she didn't need to say any more on the matter. There was no doubt her and Frankie might hold a conversation separate to this one at some point down the line. "A greenhouse for food, medicinal or both?"

Dahlia: "Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to appoint a patrol master of some sort?" she suggested, lowering herself back down, "Someone who makes sure everyone is there when they're supposed to be?" Dahlia's gaze turned to the woman next to her, a taut smile playing upon her features, "I like that. Grow our own food. It would certainly worry people a lot less to know that we've got our own way of producing food and such."

Frankie patted Dahlia's hand subtly, trying to calm her friend down when she noticed how tense she was. "I like the idea of a patrol master..." Her eyes lingered on Trix and she offered a slight quirk of her brow. They would plan things out later, but for the moment they needed to make nice-nice. "Both medicinal and food purposes. Food purposes would be the school green house and the clinic one will provide herbs and what-not. I'm tired of havin' to send the runners so far for food -- we have practically every place within the vicinity cleared out now."

Elijah "Well, in that case," Elijah began, giving Frankie a playful roll of his eyes. "Then I wouldn't be opposed to a greenhouse. Another source of food and less reliance on what's beyond the gate. We're moving closer and closer to the Red District being our option." He didn't want to admit it, but Elijah wasn't the type to lie about such matters.

Jesse wasn't fond of leaving the conversation where it had been for he had no doubt Frankie's shift had been a finalization more than anything. As soon as the responsible party was found they would die for their crime, one way or another, mistake or not. His eyes shifted between Frankie, Trix, Elijah, before dropping to the table thoughtfully. His knee bounced with an unseen nervous tension, but otherwise was the picture of perfect composure. Besides, he already heard of Frankie's greenhouse idea - what with the papers scattered across their entire living quarters. "Both patrol master and greenhouse seem like good ideas. We'd need to fight responsible parties to cover both positions."

Dahlia: had already given much of herself to the city - why not more? "Until we find one, I can handle patrol master," she volunteered, "They can check in with me at the gate and I'll keep an eye on everyone - at least for the first week," she shrugged, it wasn't putting her out.

Frankie Dahlia would be a brilliant patrol master. She was so organized - unlike Frankie. "Now who's goin' to be the clean-up crew and handle all the shit that's gonna get thrown our way?"

Trix: "Patrol master?" That notion sparked a new idea of her own and she sat up, her jaw clenching as she quickly thought it through. "What if that person is one of a few that can open the gate? We find a way to have it locked so that only council and those we trust can open it. We let the runners out an' in when they're scheduled to an' in an emergency they get someone who has a key. Lock it down."

Dahlia: "Then I'll do it permanently - unless I opened the gate," she looked at Trix, challenging. At Frankie's words, she felt tempted to raise her hand. She handled things like it was her job - it was her job. She looked at Frankie, her eyes answering, an 'I can do that'.

Frankie stared at Dahlia once she noticed her eyes. Nope, she wasn't letting her Twinkie Guardian do that.

Trix: "Well then, honey, if you opened it you know where we stand from our discussion," she retorted with an all too pleasant smile.

Elijah "How about we don't point fingers at any of the people we know who are innocent?" Elijah chimed in, breaking up whatever further words were going to be exchanged between Dahlia and Trix. "As for the clean-up crew, I could help out."

Frankie maneuvered herself to stand in between Trix and Dahlia so that they would stop LOOKING at each other that way. When Elijah volunteered she nodded. "I would help but I'm shit at handlin' people."

Dahlia: pressed her lips together, her gaze passing to Elijah briefly, then she focused once more on Frankie, "You know I can do that."

Frankie A sigh broke past her lips as she heard Dahlia volunteer. It was like when she would have to do those stupid group projects in high school and one person kept on taking on all the responsibilities. But she couldn't deny that Dahlia was great at that stuff. "Maybe. Jesse how about you?"

Trix: Her pleasant smile turned into a curling smirk as Elijah and Frankie both sought to break up the exchange between her and Dahlia. She moved her gaze between the two before responding, "I could do it but I'm better behind the scenes. Elijah an' blondie here are much friendlier naturally." She said her words as a sort of jest but they rang some truth. She could be friendly. It was forced, a facade, but she could do it when it was needed. Alternatively she could be a cold hearted bitch.

Jesse leaned back in his chair as Dahlia put herself up for both the role of leading patrol as well as handling all the shit that was sure to be thrown in their direction soon enough. It didn't exactly seem fair for one of them to take on all the responsibility, and Frankie seemed to mirror his thoughts when she questioned him. "Yeah, I could handle that."

Elijah "Alright, so we've sorted that problem. Jesse, Dahlia, and I will handle whatever shit we get. We can begin work on the greenhouse once we've assembled a team and someone as leader, whom we trust, to oversee it's operation and proper use of resources Frankie has assembled. Is that fair?"

Frankie "Blondie has a name, Trix," she responded, raising her brow at the woman. "S'Dahlia." Crossing her arms with a slight shake of her head, the brunette leaned against the table, brow furrowed in thought. "We need someone to keep an ear to the ground for the fuckhead that ruined our bonfire."

Trix: The council was good. They were organised and down to earth, Trix had to give them that, herself included. "Your right, she does," Trix replied to Frankie. She knew that Frankie was Dahlia's friend and she respected that. Trix didn't /want/ a fued with Dahlia but the woman had probed her not the other way around. "I can do some diggin'." Finding out things like that, that was Trix's deal. She knew how that worked and she knew how to get information.

Jesse nodded in agreement to Elijah's terms, tapping knuckles lightly against the tabletop, "So lets check the patrol list, see who was supposed to be at the gate, and start from there. If anything that'll give us a start with someone who may have seen something."

Dahlia: "I think that's fair," she gave an affirmative nod in Elijah's direction, "Though we've got to find someone good with plants," she faced Trix, her features much softer, less challenging than they had been before, "Perfect. Hopefully something will come of it."

Frankie rubbing her hands together, the brunette sat on the table and looked around expectantly. "Great, so now that's all cleared up and everythin'; when do we get our shirts and what're we gonna eat?"

[nobodysempireevents]

Fall City Council members, please click the image or the link here.

[nobodysempireevents]

Who: Fall City Residents

What: Survivor Bonfire Celebration Event

Where: Fall City Square and surrounding areas

When: Dusk || Event on 7/13/2015

Frankie

Stepping up next to the bonfire, Frankie cleared her throat, staring at the multitude of people that had gathered. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say to a group of people that were beginning to let loose for the first time after having survived a number of trials. Congratulations for making it this far? Sorry your lost loved ones couldn’t be here? They didn’t really feel like appropriate things, so she just decided to ignore that sort of discomfort. Grabbing an empty bottle and smashing it to the ground to get everyone’s attention, she shouted, “Welcome, everyone, to our first bonfire. After everything, we all deserve a bit of fun and relaxation. Get to know someone you haven’t and remember: these are the people you’re fightin’ next to. So make nice or else I’m throwin’ you to the groaners outside.” Yup. That seemed a good a way as any to start off a wonderful celebration.

Ivy

Ivy's found it. The most important thing of today. Her mother is barely awake, sitting next to the bonfire, with the doctors. They let her come. But the thing is that Ivy has spent the day searching around the houses, knowing someone had to had one: an old camera. She appears right after Frankie smashes the bottle and lets everyone know what it is about. Smiles. You know, she's young. Ivy wonders for how long. So she aims and shots a picture of the girl everyone is looking at. The flash makes people turn around to see her: "I've actually found them around. There are four or five. I think they are important so, - Uh. Yeah. We'll be shooting tonight a different kind of things"

Diana

These sort of gatherings had been one of Diana's favorite things to do when she was in Australia. Beach bonfires were the best, especially when she could look up at the stars and just enjoy the roar of the crowd in the background. But this was different. There was a slight hum that suggested they were not only thankful to have this opportunity to enjoy themselves, they were just happy to be a l i v e. As much as she wanted to partake in that excitement, she didn't really know that many people. So she hovered until she noticed a flash of light. Turning about, she stared at the young girl. "They still have those things around?"

Axel

Fortunate enough to have discovered a stash of liquor on his latest run just in time for the soon to be rather consistent Fall City bonfire, Axel was ready for a night of entertainment and relaxation. So after Frankie's impromptu introduction he grabbed the neck of one of the bottles and held it up in a bit of a toast before taking a swig of the liquor within. The first opportunity in a long while to sit back and enjoy himself and he was going to make the most of it.

Max

Hadn't planned to go to the bonfire, the whole idea of it was stupid to him but when he overheard that there would be liquor there - how was he to say no? He walked his way through the streets, following the smell of burning wood until he found where everyone was gathered. A small sigh left his lips, he knew he should have expected people to be there but that didn't mean he had to be happy about it. Max's eyes quickly found the bench where the liquor was placed and he was about to make his way over when he heard the smashing of glass. A familiar voice filled the air and he raised an eyebrow when he saw Frankie standing in the middle of the crowd, making an announcement to the large group of people. He laughed at her words about making nice, before shaking his head and make a b-line towards the bench. He ignored the flash of a camera as he walked by; his only hope that who ever had taken a picture didn't capture one of him. Stopping at the bench, he surveyed the bottles until he found whiskey and picked it up.

Dexter

Loitering, that's all Dexter really had in mind for the moment. Someone had to still be on their guard, might as well have been him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been to a bonfire, but just the idea of one sounded kind of silly to the man. But he understood that it was necessary, in some sense, there had been a time while on his tour in Iraq his squadron had a bonfire. It was nice and brought the group together, maybe that would happen here tonight. Still, he was in the back, hands shoved in his pockets as he inspected and watched everyone else. That was, just for now.

Ivy

Ivy slightly smiled at Diana and nodded. "They're really ... They don't need power. I've been working on that. And the pictures would be taken in the film so no need of computers to see them later on" She handles her the camera, just in case she wants to see it. "Want me to take a picture of you?"

Frankie

The droning of people beginning to talk was reassurance that for now, people were going to play nice. But then she noticed that a lot of those people were beginning to head to the alcohol - and she certainly wasn't about to miss out. Brushing past a number of people, she quickly grabbed a bottle for herself, then turned around to see Axel. Tilting her head, she held up her bottle. "Cheers," she murmured.

Lyra

Shuffling around awkwardly, Lyra raised an eyebrow as Frankie was done talking. She looked around, resisting the urge to run her fingers through her hair. Having spent most of her life being anti-social, it was her the first time she had ever participated in a bonfire. Well, that was if you defined participation as sitting like a brick and eyeing everyone awkwardly. She didn't drink so she remained seated where she was, not knowing what to do with herself. Lyra glanced up and noticed Dexter. Exhaling soundly in relief, Lyra stood up, grabbed a glass of whatever drinks were being served, wanting to have something to do with her hands before she approached Dexter. She felt relaxed around him and while she approached him timidly, she felt her tense muscles loosening slightly. Standing near him, Lyra smirked softly at him in greeting before gesturing towards the paper cup she was holding. "Why aren't you drinking, Dex?"

Diana

"No, no!" Diana exclaimed, hiding her face a bit in her hoodie. "It's just been a long time since I've seen one. Strange to think that people wouldn't want to preserve stuff like this." Taking the camera from the young girl, she turned it over in her hands before whirling around and taking a candid of the couple behind her. They had been talking with smiles on their faces, so why not capture the moment? "You have to develop the film and stuff, right?"

Luca

He'd ignore the alcohol, stay away from it as much as possible, try and mingle with people. Yeah, that was a good plan, Luca could do that much, right? If everything else failed he'd just let himself get hypnotized by the fire. Which already seemed to be the case as Luca stood a few feet away from it, staring, as if it were going to get up and walk away. He was lost in thought actually, and they were actually semi pleasant thoughts as well.

Rory

Rory sat on a nearby log, the flickering flames illuminating his pixie-like features. The warmth lit up the teenage lad's otherwise grey eyes as they darted about the faces of Fall City - the fallen angels. He new the faces of some but could only count them on one hand. He didn't mind that though, he'd only bump paths with those he was meant to and he was okay with that. Lifting the bottle he gripped in his fingers he took a long glug from it, letting rip a huge belch after as the bubbles tickled as his throat. "Bitter on the way down, gasy on way up. That's when ya know ya got a good bottle o' beer," Rory commented to no one in particular.

Axel

A smile played on his lips when Frankie appeared and grabbed a bottle for herself, nodding in agreement to her cheers, raised his bottle once more to clink the side of it with hers, and took another drink of the warming liquid. "Nice speech," He teased, "I don't think you're following your own advice."

Alexia

There were way too many people around for Lexi's tastes. She didn't know why she'd actually turned up to this event when she'd much rather be out on the other side of the wall killing the things that'd left her living with these people in the first place. Of course she had come because Trix had forced her to. 'It'll be fun' she'd said. Sure. Fun. Though she had no intention to actually drink drink anything, the woman headed towards the bench with the alcohol and grabbed a couple of bottles before retreating towards the back of the crowd. On her way back, Lexi was snapped from her grump as the flash of a camera lit up the sky and the scowl on her face only intensified. Great, not only did she not want to be there but now someone had found a fucking camera to make things so much better. Having made her way to the back of the crowd, Lexi stood leaning against a house as she glowered at all those reveling in the 'pleasantries' and forgetting about the shit going on outside the walls.

Ivy

Ivy watched Diana as she took the camera, thinking there was no way to understand why Diana - who was fairly beautiful - wouldn't want a picture. But she also understood that sometimes seeing yourself in the mirror was hard enough every morning. That's why she didn't complain, even thought she would have loved to take a picture of everyone. Building memories is hard enough. Smiling at the idea of the picture she took, Ivy then nodded and said: "Yeah, but it's not difficult. I took that one from the old photography studio. Fall City had three, so it will be easy" Then she realised that even thought she knew her name, maybe the girl didn't know her and tried to be nice and introduced herself: "I am Ivy, by the way." Hearing a voice in her back, Ivy turned around and saw a tall boy and smiled. Nah, he wasn't talking to her. "Tonight I might become the camera girl"

Juliet

"Charming as ever, Ror..." Juliet commented, shaking her head at her friend. She loved bonfires, they always relaxed her, reminded her of better times with family, which made her realise she was with a family now. Taking a swig of her beer she frowned. "This beer is shite though..."

Dexter

Dark brows arched as he was approached, relief flooded him as he realized it was Lyra. A small smile pulled at his lips as she stood next to him. "Mmmm, consider me the designated driver." Dex hummed in reply, eyeing the cup and its contents, trying to figure out what exactly it was.

Frankie

"Mhmm," she hummed in agreement, her eyes shifting away from his to linger on the back of her brother's figure. Fuck, this was not a good environment for him to be in. Setting the bottle down, she bit her lip uncertainly, glancing from Axel to her brother. "Hopefully no one gets carried away tonight. The last thing we need are people gettin' shitfaced 'cause they get too excited."

Lyra

Lyra snorted in response, shaking her head before noticing that Dexter was focused on the cup she was holding. She held it up with a raised eyebrow. "You know, I don't drink but I feel like doing so just to find out what the fuck this is."

Trix

The heat of the bonfire contrasted the the cool bottle in Trix's finger tips. She turned it in her digits, gently swirling the alcohol inside while listening to Frankie effectively cut the ribbon. It felt almost surreal to be doing this but part of her didn't mind. It was a distraction. Some might call it a celebration or even a wake but at the end of the day what did those things matter any more. To her it was a chance not to think too much and to swig on a bottle until she met its end. She was well acquainted with the bottom of bottles and this one would be no different. She lifted the bottle to her lips and trickled some back, warming her insides as she did so.

Jesse

Standing by the warmth that bloomed from the fire was more comforting than any warmth that the tattered sheets could provide; which was good given the impending weather - probably just the medicine they all needed. The people that surrounded him were mostly strangers still, those who he had seen milling about here and there but hadn't actually spoken to before. One, for example, was the young woman who had marched pass, grabbed a few bottles of liquor, and retreated from the crowd surrounding the fire to recline against one of the nearby buildings. Jesse watched her a moment before following to lean beside Alexia. "I believe it's supposed to be a celebration, right?" She wasn't looking too fond of the event.

Dexter

"By all means, go for it, I'll be sure to hold your hair back when you're over the toilet later." Dexter teased, grin pulling back to expose his teeth, a genuine smile which was followed by a playful wink at Lyra.

Cristine

"Smores would be awesome right now." Cristine mused, tongue flicking over her lips to wet them as she spoke. "I can't remember the last time I went to a bonfire party, shit."

Diana

Nodding as she listened to the young girl explain things, Diana glanced around. There certainly were a lot of people to meet. Maybe the fact that the young girl, named Ivy, was taking pictures helped her to greet others. That would certainly be an ice breaker. "Diana," she introduced, holding her hand out. Then she saw that Max was sitting alone and steeled herself to go and talk to him. "Have you met Max yet? He's...I kinda want to talk to the bloke, but he scares me."

Ada

The gentle heat that the bonfire provided brought a sense of calm and relaxation. A soft sigh left Ada’s lips as she sat down in the nearest log, completely immersed in her own little world as she knit a winter scarf. Something about the atmosphere brought a smile to her lips. It reminded her of the way her mother used to knit, sitting in front of the fireplace back at home. Gentle fingers worked their way into creating the scarf, they would definitely be needed over the cold days. The chatter of the multitude was like music, and for a moment there was normalcy in Fall City once again. No horrors to worry about.

Axel

"We're all big, bad, responsible survivors," Axel hummed, though he could see in her eye that she was speaking of something more specific than just a general concern. She worried her lower lip as she watched someone from afar and Axel looked over his shoulder to catch sight of the other man across the room. "You worried about him?" He asked, gesturing with his bottle in that direction, "Who's that?"

Lyra

"Oh my god," Lyra said, shaking her head with a comical expression of shock. She looked up, mouth tightening against a smile as she stared at Dexter incredulously. "You're actually teasing me. Like, seriously teasing me. Damn it, Dex, will the shocks ever stop?" Lyra wondered, before looking up, unable to resist as an obnoxiously loud laugh escaped her as Dexter winked at her.

Rory

"I'm a charmin' fellow, Jules, ya must know that by now. If I weren't ya wouldn't like me so much," he replied with a wry smile and a wiggle of an eyebrow as he took another swig. "But it's beer 'n' ya don't get tha' too often nowadays."

Ivy

Ivy held her hand back and smiled gently. Following her eyes, she spotted Max - who she had seen before in an empty building. "Well, he's not one of my faves but - Why don't we go and you get to talk to him?"

Juliet

Though the alcohol she was ingesting was rather disgusting, she could still feel it's warmth beginning to circle around her body, making her feel looser than normal, as she rolled her eyes at the boy sitting closest to her. "The reason I like you so much is because you're a cheeky little shit who makes me laugh, you should know that by now?" She teased, a small, yet loud, laugh falling from her lips.

Alexia

As a guy headed over to her Lexi's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Why the hell would anyone want to talk to her if they didn't already know her? It wasn't like she was presenting herself as massively approachable. Not only that but Jesse then started talking to her as if she'd actually respond. Letting out an annoyed sigh, she actually responded to him. "An' what's your point. It ain't like I was choosin' to be 'ere tonight."

Trix

Trix looked up at a woman as she spoke (Cris) and her brow knitted together slightly. "I never went to a bonfire before. Were a city girl all my life."

Dexter

"Uh oh, was I not supposed to tease? I'm sorry--" Dexter was still grinning, but he pulled his hands out of his pockets to put them up as if he were surrendering to Lyra. A small chuckle brushing past his lips as Lyra laughed. "Oh no, do I have to cut you off already?"

Frankie

A slight smirk played at her lips at his words, not even bothering to dignify them with a response. Then her eyes fluttered back to her brother and she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "That's my brother," she murmured, glancing down at her shoes and back up again with a smile on her face that seemed more akin to a cringe.

Jesse

It wasn't difficult to note that she wasn't fond of company, though now he felt it'd be even more awkward to just up and leave now that he'd initiated a conversation with her. "I don't think...anyone made you come out tonight?" He offered a little awkwardly, raising an eyebrow.

Diana

"Uh - " she flubbered for a moment, indecisiveness and a bit of fear making her hesitate. "Not quite sure that I want to, not quite sure at all, mate." Then her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "How come he isn't one of your...faves?"

Lyra

"Yes, you're supposed to always support me, not tease me. That was a cruel betrayal," Lyra pointed an accusing finger, face contorting in slightly as she resisted the urge to laugh fondly at the glint in Dexter's eyes. "Ha, you can't cut me off even if you wanted to." Lyra scoffed, looking away with a smile as she lifted the cup and took a sniff, her nose scrunching slightly at the smell.

Luca

Socializing, he should probably do some of that, make an effort to actually function in the group somehow instead of getting lost in the flames and his thoughts. Right, there were people, he should definitely do some talking. Clearing his throat Luca shifted, taking a couple steps back from the fire, eyes glancing around to catch anyone's gaze in order to try and offer the expression that he wouldn't mind conversation.

Ivy

Taking a deep breath, the girl shrugs and looks Diana straight in the eye "Bad temper young guys, they better stay out of my line" She confesses. "But watching him there alone ..."

Axel

He liked the smile that appeared on her face even as she refused to give his teases the dignity of a response. Clicking his tongue as he looked over Luca, the man she claimed to be her brother, Axel raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. "Your brother, eh?" He replied, "How come I haven't met the bloke?" He paused, tipping his head at her, "You should call him over. He looks looooonley. And I'd love to meet him."

Diana

Bad temper? She didn't need any of that. Shaking her head quickly, she stepped back, closer towards the fire. "No, I think I would rather talk to someone who won't bite my head off," then her eyes went around the room. "Maybe...maybe that guy that looks closer to your age? He's talking to the blonde woman. Juliet, I believe, is her name?" There was a pause as she looked at Ivy with a slight smile on her lips. "How old are you anyway?"

Alexia

"Ain't been forced but I was manipulated into comin' an' the fuckin' shit ain't even givin' me the time of day." Lexi's words were bitter as she spoke, her eyes narrowing at Trix's form across the bonfire. Fine. If she was going to ignore her all night then why should Lexi hold back? After all, it'd be Trix who'd inevitably end up looking after her if she got too bad. With that in mind, Alexia raised the neck of a bottle to her lips, glare still in place, as she drank a mouthful. Instantly as she felt the alcohol burn its way down her throat the ex-convicts face scrunched up in disgust at the taste. She'd never been a fan of beer and this was worse than normal.

Cole

With hands stuffed into the fabric of his pockets, Cole proceeded towards the supposed celebration of life, stopping metres before the roaring fire to survey the scenario as it was: vapid. “So, what witch are we torchin’ first? Lexi? Or are we sprucin’ it up a little and goin’ for the quiet ones? Bambi, over there’ll do,” he voiced, dark hues slipping towards Ada.

Rory

Beer wasn't Rory's usual tipple but he'd figured he'd use the opportunity to remember his father - he'd always loved a good brew. By the fire, beer in hand, there wasn't a better way to do it. He could feel the alcohol putting a jacket on him that forced a slight rose to his cheekily grinning cheeks. "Aye 'n' I like you 'cause ya put up wit' me shit. Say, did ya go to many bonfires before the dead started walkin'?"

Dexter

"But-- isn't teasing a form of support? I mean, I wouldn't tease you unless I had your back." Dexter mused, being a little more sentimental then he might had normally been, especially in a large group like this. Still, that grin didn't falter as he gazed down on Lyra. "Oh I can't? Is that a challenge?"

Frankie

Frankie didn't hesitate for a single moment. "LUCA!" She shouted, calling him over while taking the bottle from Axel's hand and placing it behind them. Now wasn't the time to explain why she didn't want any alcohol by her brother. As she waited for him to come over, she spoke quickly under her breath, "You haven't met him because I believed he was dead for who knows how long. Behave yourself."

Ivy

Ivy follows Diana's lead and then realises what she means. Oh, no. "Sixteen." She says, with a big sight. " And yeah, that's Juliet. She was sick so I hope she's better now. Wanna go?" She tries to stay away from the idea she's made in her head. You know? There are not too many teenager boys around so it's enough with mom asking if not even the apocalypse would make her bring a boy home that's not Elijah.

Juliet

"If I don't put up with your shit who will?" Juliet questioned, nudging her friend on the shoulder. "I went to a few, though they were a bit more trashy than this, too much vodka and not enough clothing... Did you?

Jesse

Jesse's eyebrows rose as Alexia went on to explain her situation, shifting his eyes in the direction of her gaze to find the glare sent in the direction of another unfamiliar woman hunched over by the fire. He shifted his gaze back and forth between the two women slowly before nodding his head once. "Well, if you're gunna be here you might as well have some fun," He offered as Alexia swallowed down a rather large mouthful of the beer in her hand.

Lyra

Lyra frowned slightly, looking up with an expression of confusion on her face. She had planned a sarcastic retort but instead settled for a small smile, shrugging. "Whatever. I mean I'm teasing you pretty much twenty-four hours a day so, now we're even." Lyra raised her eyebrows, mouth widening before she settled for a smirk. "I'm not offering a challenge, I'm stating a fact. You're stuck with me and you love it."

Luca

Leave it up to Frankie to yell his name from across the ways, Luca's gaze flicked over to where she was then rolled over the person she was standing near. He assumed this was him being summoned so with a final glance around him to check and see if anyone would strike him up in conversation before he moved over to his sister. A small grin pulling at his lips as he reached the two. "Keep it down kid, you'll give away my identity." A nod directed to the young man Frankie was standing near, it was a greeting but he would wait for introductions if they were to be given.

Axel

A light chuckle fell from his lips as Frankie turned to call Luca over without any hesitation. However when the drink was snatched from his hand he scowled, "Heeeey!" He complained, about to reach for it again when the look she sent him said otherwise. "Fine, /fine./ No promises and you owe me a drink."

Rory

"It's true, it's like I 'ave no choice but to like ya," he replied with a tease, the look in his eye that he flashed to Juliet showing that of course he was only joking. "Sounds like a great type o' bonfire to me. Well, Hackney weren't too fond o' bonfires unless it were burnin' someones car bought 'n' paid fo' but back in me circus days we had fires all the time. Like, not bonfires fo' Guy Fawkes bless his soul, but jus' to sit at, y'know?"

Diana

Diana gave her young companion a brilliant smile, shaking her head at the misunderstanding. "I don't want to set you up with anyone, Ivy, don't worry. I just think it's always good to meet people your own age." Shrugging, her rubbed the tip of her nose which was going numb from the cold. "If I were your age I think I'd go bonkers or something." Then there was a voice going on about burning witches. It was that man who she had seen once before (Cole). "Excuse you, but that's a bit rude." She threw the words over her shoulder, looking at him with concern.

Alexia

The sight of a familiar - and massively irritating - face arriving at the bonfire caused the scowl on her face to deepen. The words that he spoke only caused her scowl to deepen in annoyance. Who the fuck did Corvo think he was? Turning her gaze to Jesse as he spoke to her, Lexi spoke up. "We'll be seein' jus' how much fun I have 'ere."

Frankie

Frankie gave a quick peck on his cheek in thanks, promising herself that she would make it up to him later. As long as the alcohol was away from her brother /now/ that was really all that mattered. A smile lit her features as Luca came to join them. "Luca, Axel." She stated, gesturing one towards the other. "Axel, Luca."

Juliet

"Shut up you fuckin love me!" Juliet retorted, her voice louder than expected, though she didn't really care. "Nah, these bonfires were in essex, what a shithole, and there was always some dickhead who wanted to get in on the action..." She spoke of how annoying it was, but thee was a layer of wistfulness in her tone, reminiscent of days gone by.

Dexter

Dexter nodded in agreement, Lyra's statement was true and he would not fight her on that. "This is true, you have been teasing me a lot lately." Amazing how he was able to relax, even in a big crowd like this. Normally Dex wouldn't have stayed probably would have just went back to the house in order to try and get some sleep or perhaps go to the gate in order to patrol. But he had a feeling Lyra would have kicked his ass if he had. "I dunno about love but I don't hate it." In other words she was correct, Dexter did enjoy being around Lyra.

Ada

Blue hues stared up momentarily at the mention of burning witches. Goosebumps ran over her skin as she saw a man staring up at her, it made her uncomfortable to say the least. But she hadn’t come up to the bonfire to worry, so she simply ignored him; keeping her eyes on her knitting. She did not need this right now.

Ivy

She was thinking about it. Yeah, better not to set her up with anyone. At all. Never. Then something took her away from her thoughts and no other could have been than him. "Corvo" She giggled, passing her hand through her face, holding the camera. She slightly waved at the rest of them. "May I take a picture of you, guys?"

Luca

His eyes scanned over Frankie as she introduced him to Axel, pulling his hand out from being crossed over his chest he offered it to the other man. "A pleasure, Axel." Old habits died hard, at least he was still polite, not that it mattered entirely, but Luca did it anyways.

Cole

At the sweet sound of distaste, the male turned in the direction of voice, the recognisable figure belonging to none other than Diana; fantastic. “Would you rather I came with a censor? Beep out my words so you don’t get offended? It’s not a fuckin’ children’s show, Princess, but I'm sure if your fantasies surround Barney the dinosaur, I'd suggesting visiting that therapist... Wherever the fuck he is. ”

Jesse

Of course the presence of Cole at the party would only increase his new acquaintance's annoyance - and his own, as well. He hadn't spoken to the man since their last encounter and he wan't exactly planning on changing that any time soon. Fortunately he seemed distracted by another - or perhaps, unfortunate for her. "Well I wish you the best, then."

Axel

Axel rolled his eyes but nodded once more as Frankie's lips pressed to his cheek to confirm her promise. Then a moment later Luca had joined them and Frankie had given quick introductions. "Nah, mate. Pleasure's all mine," he answered with a far too bright grin, clasping Luca's hand for a firm shake.

Diana

Instead of saying anything, she merely hung her head and averted her gaze. Why did Ivy seem to like the guy when he was so clearly a disgusting pig? But she didn't want to start anything, especially when it was a night of celebration. So she tucked a lock of hair behind her ears and changed the subject. "I didn't think you were the type to come to a thing like this."

Lyra

"You love it when I tease you. Although, I gotta admit the tortured expression you always wear when I do states otherwise, but I know the truth," Lyra grinned devilishly, gaze straying away momentarily when Lyra heard Juliet's voice. The woman was sitting next to Rory against the fire, swaying and laughing. Lyra's never seen her so relaxed. Warmth filled Lyra as her gaze lingered on the blond for a moment, forcing herself to not smile. If Dexter noticed her heart eyes, all hell would break loose, so she glanced away casually, focusing back on Dexter. Plastering a shit-eating grin on her face, she shrugged again. "I know you also love being stuck with me. You just have too much marine-pride to admit it. It's cool, I get it."

Ivy

Yup. Adults fighting. Rolling her eyes, Ivy walks a few step behind and stares at them, holding the camera. "Yeah - I should really find someone my age" She tells herself.

Frankie

Why was his smile so cheery? Raising her eyebrow at him, she shook her head at Luca as he offered his hand to shake. People still did that in the middle of an apocalypse? Weren't they kinda past the point of formalities? "Axel helped me out when I first got here," there was a pause as she gave her brother a slight nudge. "And..well...Luca is my brother, like I said before."

Cristine

She had circled around the fire before she caught the last few words that came out of Cole's mouth, a scoff brushing past her own as her dark hues flicked to inspect the man. "Hey now, Barney is a great show. You better check yourself before you wreck yourself, son." Cristine nodded at Cole, brows arching in an expectant way, almost daring the man to act out of turn.

Rory

"Ah ya got me," he replied with a waft of his hand and a chuckle. Looking from his ex-fitness trainer and into the flames, Rory shifted on the bench they perched on and tapped his foot aimlessly on the trodden ground. "'Ere's to the shitty ol' days tha' we wouldn't change even if we could." Rory lifted his bottle as he spoke, intending her to tap hers with his in a sort of toast.

Juliet

Juliet shook her head fondly at the words, raising her own glass in the toast. "To the good ol days!"

Cole

“And what is the type?” He questioned, forearms knotting across his chest in a guarded manner. The curiosity glazed over his features was soon clawed away from Diana, the familiar voice of Cristine catching his attention. “Check myself before I wreck myself? I don’t know if you’re used to the kind of company that shits themselves, but luckily for you, I can control my insides.”

Alexia

Taking another gulp from the bottle - who said that she was good with alcohol? - Lexi turned her attention entirely back to the guy, wanting to forget about both Trix and Cole if she could help it. Already she could feel the buzz of the disgusting liquid beginning to flow through her system. "So I don't think I never seen you 'round before?"

Ivy

Ivy smiled and took a picture of Juliet and Rory in the moment they raised their drinks. Lowering the camera, she felt suddenly bad. Looking for her mom, she found out she had already left. Cole was surrounded by all the offended girls and Ivy doubted he was ever going to get any of those in his bed - with or without limp.

Diana

When a new voice came in, a swelling of relief rushed through Diana. Okay, so it wasn't only her that thought he was making a rather large ass of himself. She unconsciously scooted a bit closer to the fiery brunette. "I dunno, maybe the 'corner booth of a strip club' type." The words were merely an observation, nothing intentionally insulting.

Luca

Briefly his attention went back to Frankie as she explained a little more into who Axel was as Luca shook the mans hand. Nodding in acknowledgement before swaying slightly from the nudge he received. "Guilty as charged." Now came the part where a question should be asked but Luca was going to see if Axel could come up with something. He was a little rusty on his communication skills.

Jesse

"Me? Really?" He paused, a slight shrug lifting his shoulders. "I've been around, here and there, but I guess we haven't met yet. I'm Jesse Hart - Er, Jesse," He offered, outstretching a hand for a shake. "How long have you been in the city?"

Dexter

Of /course/ he caught that gaze that was cast towards Juliet but he didn't question it, not until he had more evidence of what the look meant. "I didn't pick the Marine life, Lyra, it picked me. It's a life blood." He was teasing but in many ways it was true. "Alright, so if I were to be stuck with anyone else it would probably be a pain. I guess you're the most tolerable out of the bunch." Dex hummed, nudging Lyra slightly, not enough to move her but for several reasons, one that went unsaid.

Cole

He pondered briefly, the thin line of his lips tugging into a subtle smile. "Let me know when Fall City starts a strip club, there's nothin' wrong with enjoyin' the sight of naked flesh."

Axel

Nodded his head, rocking from heel to toe and tucking his hands into his pockets once it was released from the shake. So formal, and he could guess alcoholic given the fact that Frankie had stolen his drink away. His best behavior, right, his best behavior...he didn't even really know what that was. He hadn't had a good score card in the 'meeting the family' department. "Right, so uh...Welcome to Fall City, eh? Surprised to see ya both had it all the way out here, honestly. Some luck?"

Alexia

Lexi nodded at the guy's words when he questioned if she was meaning him - of course she was, who else would she have been talking to? "Alexia. Jus' Alexia." Seeing the guy hold his hand out for a shake, the ex-convict merely looked at him, lips slightly pursed with a raised eyebrow. "Been 'ere a while now. Must have been 'bout a month if I was to guess but I ain't never been no good with keepin' time."

Cristine

"Oh yeah, check yourself before you wreck yourself--" Cristine repeated more enthusiastically, eyes flicking to the other woman who seemed to inch closer to her, she didn't mind and even offered a small smile to the woman before she returned her attention back to Corvo. "No, nothing wrong with naked flesh, but I think there are more important things to be handle than a /strip club/." Once again she gave an expectant look at the male, keeping her expression friendly for the most part. "Also I think that is a bit R rated for Barney."

Luca

"Well, I guess you can say it runs in the family." Luca commented in reply, offering a warm smile all in the efforts of being friendly, eyes moving over his sister once again to inspect her reactions to this man. "How long have you been in the city, if you don't mind my asking?"

Diana

Diana returned the smile, even laughing a bit when the woman said that it was a bit rated R for Barney. Well, she wasn't wrong. How long had it even been since she'd gone to a strip club? Her 21st birthday? "Agreed," she murmured, her eyes flickering back to the man.

Cole

Despite the current rush of comments slipping from the lips of two women, Cole caught sight of the only person who appeared welcoming of his arrival: Ivy. With a warm smile, nothing over-exaggerated, he nodded his head for a single beat in the direction of the younger girl. It wasn't until the action ceased, Cristine was yet again repeating the very phrase which caused his dark hues to roll. "You're tellin' me, that you'd rather shake in your fuckin' boots over what's outside the wall, than appreciate a multitude of naked men and women? You're a liar."

Lyra

"Yeah, I know. You tell me about it, like, how many times? Oh yeah, many times," Lyra said, emphasizing the word 'many'. She pretended to be annoyed by it but she was actually more than happy about it. It made her feel special somehow whenever Dexter opened up about his past life and his passion for his former occupation. It made her feel trusted. That was mostly the reason why she sometimes opened up in return, not because she felt like she owed it to Dex but simply because she wanted to. His eyes never held judgement or criticism, just subtle warmth and Lyra didn't realize how much she needed to be looked at that way until she met Dexter. "Me? Most tolerable? That is such a blatant lie. But thanks, anyway," Lyra glanced down, almost shyly before cringing as she pretended to be in pain and clutching her side. "Hey, careful with your marine strength, dude."

Jesse

Alright then...Jesse awkwardly dropped his hand back to his side when she refused to shake it, tucking a thumb in one pocket and licking his lower lip thoughtfully. Alexia - well, she seemed nice enough, certainly, but she didn't really seem much for company. "Well it's good to meet you," He offered, giving a bit of a smile, "Enjoy your uh, stale beer?" He offered, hoping to escape the awkwardness of the

Ivy

Ivy smiled right back at Corvo's nod, holding her camera. She shook her head a little amused by his sittuation. Corvo was great.

Ada

In an attempt to drown unwanted voices, Ada started humming to herself; taking in the positive light to the bonfire and not people who just sought to create conflicts. She was a considerate distance from all of them, but still little glimpses of what they said could be heard. Seeing everyone together in one place made her feel somewhat safe. It just seemed to be normal again, somewhat normal at least.

Frankie

This was so weird - having Axel greet her brother was one of the strangest things. She had thought her brother was dead and now he was meeting one of the people she'd grown closest to over the time of his absence. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced around before returning her attention back to the two men in front of her. "He's been here as long as I have," she answered for Axel before realizing that was probably rude. But hey, he wasn't answering fast enough. "My memory isn't fucked, so don't argue with me on it."

Trix

Trix's gaze worked lazily through the gathering of people, logging which faces had turned up. Those were the ones that were deeper into this community, or so she thought anyway. She should probably have known more of the names to the people there, being on the council, but if they didn't stand out to her as useful then the underdogs slipped under that radar. Of course she was aware that they were there, she just didn't care to waste her time with some of them. Her gaze found Alexia but she scanned straight past her as she noticed she was actually talking to someone and didn't seem to be arguing. Trix took another swig from her bottle and looked into the flames as though she was detached from what was going on around her - in reality she was just listening in on various conversations within earshot instead.

Dexter

A scoff of feigned offence found its way past Dexters lips as he leaned back with the action. "I do /not/, I may have mentioned it once or twice, you are seriously taking this out of context." Dex replied, shaking his head in denial of the statement. "And I'm the most tolerable person? Ha, you're really funny, you should take up being a comedian." Dex said, nodding in approval of his suggestion before making a face that could only be descried as a 'really' face. "I'm sorry, I'll try to remember my own strength next time."

Axel

He nodded a little, shifting his gaze between Luca and Frankie and back again. He opened his mouth to answer Luca's question but Frankie beat him to the punch and he simply nodded along, jerking a thumb in her direction, "Yeah, as long as she has," He hummed simply, folding his arms across his chest. And he 'helped her' when she first got her. What a good fucking guy he was, wasn't he? "How long have you been here, then? Can't be that long." He knew almost everyone in the city at this point and Luca had managed to slip through the cracks. He couldn't have been around long.

Alexia

"You too..." The words trailed off as Lexi attempted to force a smile onto her face. She figured she'd actually take Jesse's advice and /try/ to enjoy her time there - as unlikely as that was without some form of fight but hey, the night was early - and took another long swig from the bottle in her hand, grimacing once again at the taste. "Not likely. I ain't been no fan of beer before all this shit started, that ain't 'bout to be changin' jus' 'cos the world's started endin'."

Cristine

This time Cristine scoffed, an expression of denial gracing her features. "I don't /shake in my boots/, and all I'm saying is that there are more pressing issues than admiring naked men and woman, that's all. Priorities, kid. You gotta get some." She replied, gaze flicking to the girl who had held Corvo's attention for a brief moment and she offered her a smile as well. "Sorry--" She paused, looking at the woman who had moved a little closer to her and then the girl as well. "I don't believe I know you two, I'm Cristine, but call me Cris."

Rory

"Bottoms up!" And with that Rory tipped the remains of the beer into his mouth, swilling it around before swallowing. He dropped the drained bottle to the ground by his feet with a clink and picked up the next one he had lined up. "Granny used to put different powders into base o' the fires and it would change the colour o' the flames. She called it our blaze o' light. She were an odd one when I think 'bout it," he recalled as he raised the bottle to his mouth and flicked the lid off with a precise bite of his teeth.

Luca

"Mmm, well then thank you for helping her, I know she can be a pain in the ass, a lot of the time." It was a teasing comment and he knew that Frankie wouldn't take it seriously, hell she /could/ be a pain in the ass. He offered his sister a small grin, flashing teeth before he glanced back at Axel. "Oh, uh. A couple weeks maybe? Since that-- illness or whatever. Towards the end of that, actually."

Diana

"Diana," the dark-eyed woman greeted, holding out her hand to the other. It was always nice to greet someone who wasn't about to jump down her throat for no apparent reason. So far the welcome committee hadn't been that great, save for Gwen, Jesse, and Juliet. Now she could add Cristine to that list.

Cole

A rough palm grazed his scalp for a brief moment, entangling strands of dark hair between the curves of his fingers, only to allow his features to retreat limp against his side once more. “You gonna tell me about the priorities I should have? Or is it a game of “Guess Who”? I'm more of a Hangman kinda guy.”

Ivy

She wanders around for a bit, walks around the fire and takes some pictures. It starts to feel like a community, for real. She realises the whole lot of people they are, how the warmth of the fire makes her be even colder when she walks a bit away from it and somehow, she feels some kind of out. Out of everything. People talk with each other, fight, play, smile, drink. She could try to go to talk with the younger ones, such as Diana has said but she doesn't feel like. That's why she finds two beers and walks in her way to find him. She climbs a rock and covers his eyes. "Who am I? Say it, out loud" She imitates Edward Cullen's voice, giggling right after it. Corvo's still fightin but when she handles him the beer, her eyes ask for a pause.

Juliet

Juliet laughed at the idea of brightly coloured flames, thinking about how aesthetically pleasing it must have been. She follows suit quite quickly, finishing her beer, an unpleasant look on her face at the taste, before picking up a bottle of /something/ from the pile near her.

Lyra

"Yeah, sure, keep lyin' to yourself," Lyra rolled her eyes and moved her hand sharply, forgetting she was still holding a cup of beer and splashed a few drops of the liquid on herself. Glaring for a moment, she straightened up and looked at Dexter. "Well, this was embarrassing," She deadpanned before placing the cup on the ground next to her feet and wiping at her jeans. She continued to stare blankly at him, half-assed seriousness in her voice when she spoke. "Uh, yeah, you are. You're awesome and by far my favorite person here," She continued to stare blankly, thankful that she kept her smile at bay. Laughter bubbling in her throat, Lyra chuckled before exploding into laughter. She seriously couldn't stop, even bent forward slightly in an attempt to catch her breath. "That...face of yours...oh my god, priceless!"

Cristine

"A pleasure Diana." Cristine returned, smiling and accepting the offered hand and shaking it firmly. "Have you been here long?"

Diana

"Not really, no," she answered, shaking her head with a smile. "I've only been here for a couple of days. The United States? Only for a couple of months. I'm from Australia, came to Colorado to visit a friend, but the virus broke out so I ended up here." Noting the firm grip, she grinned, adding, "My dad always appreciated a strong handshake. So do I."

Cole

Had he continued to defend his interests, boredom would have consumed him; thus, when the opportunity arose, the younger female was a considered blessing. "You're an idiot," he mused, his tone flitted with nothing other than apparent jest. With a single palm, he took the can in possession, waving it in the air as a sign of thanks. "Are we sure this is alcohol and someone hasn't just pissed in the can?" He questioned, allowing the liquid to lace itself against his tongue. "Yeah-- definitely the latter."

Rory

The lanky lad thrust his legs out in front of him and rolled his ankles in the warmth the bonfire emitted, briefly grimacing as his left one clicked from seizing up from just sitting and resting. "What this party needs is a bit o' kumbaya 'n' bad guitar playin'."

Jesse

Jesse chuckles a bit at Alexia's assessment of the beer, though it may be a little late for her to reconsider her drink option. After all, by this point she'd already seemed to have downed at least half the beverage. Guess it was good enough for her to keep drinking it... He had been about to offer another statement, maybe a switch of conversation topics, when his eyes lifted and the words died in his throat. Instead of finding his eyes landing on another survivor approaching the party he was faced with a moaning, fungi faced infected. His eyes widened the slightest bit - at first thinking maybe it was a trick in his head, before he withdrew a knife from where it resided on the inside of his jacket and dropped the walker with the blade through the eye. When his head lifted once more to find the alleyway leading towards the gate filled with bumbling Infecteds he cursed under his breath, twisting around to search for any of the other council members --- "FRANKIE! We've got a fucking problem!"

Juliet

Juliet's head lifted at the sound of shouting and spotted the issue, her eyes widening. "What the fuck?!"

Frankie

Frankie's head snapped up, grabbing the knife from her hip and walking towards the chaos instead of away from it. "TRIX!" She screamed, her eyes searching wildly for her partner. "We need to get them out of here and into the buildings." She snapped at Luca, shoving him away from her and doing the same to Axel. Grabbing a gun from a patrol member who had set it down, she started taking calculated shots, dropping to one knee and aiming, taking one down then another.

Ivy

Ivy laughs at most of the things Corvo says. To be honest, he's an ass most of the time but it makes her laugh. A lot. That's why she placed herself by his and smiled at all the people around, opening her can with a curious look. "May I be honest? I've tried Vodka with Hayden before beer. Is it any better?" She asks him, creashing her nose. While the warm of the bonfire night made everyone approach the fire, the light was attracting different moths. Ivy frounded and turned around. "What's going on?"

Cole

"A fucking problem? Well, I hope they're aware the lack of condoms is a travesty." Through all of his dazed ignorance, he eventually lifted his head from the younger girl, the sight of the infected bumbling towards them. Who said your final words had to be dramatic? Apparently, not Cole.

Luca

One second everything was fine and Luca actually thought he was going to be alright with this socializing thing but then the next moment Jesse called out for Frankie and it was as if the blood was drained from his entire body. He couldn't help the reaction he had, defensive, protective, even when Frankie shoved him away. Weapon, weapon, he needed a weapon. "Frankie---" Her name came out of his lips before he even realized what he was doing.

Juliet

juliet pulled a knife from its place on her belt and approached the gang taking down infected and joined the ranks, flinging it at one getting too close for comfort, glad she wasn't as drunk as she'd been planning to be.

Alexia

"Now /this/ is what I call a party." The words were out before Lexi could stop them but she didn't care. Making her way towards Trix, the ex-convict figured she'd get a chance to fight side by side with the woman. Alas, that wasn't meant to be as one of the other council women called for her friend first. Unfortunately for Lexi, that left her standing just behind cole. Not giving up an opportunity, she continued walking and purposely shoved into him. Turning to face him, an obviously forced smile on her face, Lexi spoke up. "Oops. Accident."

Ada

The normalcy broke out once she heard a scream, eyes looked up to see what had happened. Her heart stammered against her chest as she saw the source of sudden chaos. She was quick to stand up, the knitting she had done over the past few hours lost as it dropped to the ground. Panic took over, not knowing what to do.

Ivy

Ivy freezes. She follows Corvo when turning and gets to keep the can in her hand but she's not feeling her fingers anymore. There's a lot of sound. People start screaming at the sight of them. Them. They're walking and making that sound. She knows she needs a weapong but she can't move. She's right next to him and something tells her: this is your chance. Do something, Ivy. "Let's find some weapons." She moves, it's a fast movement. "You can't walk rightly. Start taking people away from here. NOW!" She kind of pushes him. Because there's one thing in her mind: Elijah. Where's the boy? Where's mom?

Axel

Frankie was jumping into action only a half a second after her name had been called, a hand slamming against his chest to shove him away. Like hell, he wasn't about to leave this, this was exactly the kind of mess he thrived in. But Frankie had a point - the unarmed, women and children needed to be cleared out of the square before all hell broke loose. He pulled his gun from his waistband, glancing towards the converging infected before turning towards the others at the fire. "Get inside the buildings! Get out of here." he called, pointing towards those like Ivy, Rory, even Lyra, Cristine and Diana. He wanted them all out of harms way, less they all end up dead, even if they had the ability to stand up and fight. "Diana, please! Get everyone out of here!"

Trix

Trix was on her feet in seconds. The bottle in her hand dropped to the floor its contents staining the ground as she drew her hand knife and a throwing knife. She jumped onto the bench and spotting Frankie in her peripheral vision she called back, "I got the left flank!" by means of explaining what she was doing. As she finished her last word one of her throwing knives lodged itself into the skull of one of the infected. Who the fuck was meant to be watching the gate?

Cristine

It didn't take long for things to set in, the sound of an alert to danger was all it took for Cristine to start moving, taking it upon herself to usher the people closest to her. Words weren't expressed but she was moving and trying to aid others to do the same.

Cole

The fixated attention given to the upcoming sight, was soon knocked from existence - physically. The woman who was the pure epitome of irritation, decided it was best to use this time to resurface the running feud. "Oops. Accident," he mimicked, using the freshly opened can of beer to soak the woman before him. Without hesitation, Corvo furrows his brows at Ivy, a wash of concern flitting over his features before he lodges such notion to the back of his mind. "And leave all the fun to these fuckin' idiots? Fat chance." His words fell from his lips as he proceeded through the crowd, granted the limp was considerably annoying, but he paid little mind to it.

Dexter

At the first sign of commotion Dexter's demeanor completely changed and his machete was out before anything even registered, his free arm went to Lyra in a guarding manner before be started to move towards the infected. Designated driver was short lived but a whole other person came out in that moment. Gun in the other hand and already picking off a couple of the infected.

Juliet

Even though she was focused on killing infected, her eyes searched the crowd for her partner, wanting so desperately to be fighting by her side, or keeping her safe, but unable to catch a clear view, she sighed, turning her attention back to the approaching biters.

Diana

The moment the insanity broke out, people were screaming and shoving. But thankfully, she stood out like a lighthouse so people went around her. Eyes found Axel's as he shouted at her and she nodded, setting her jaw in determination despite being scared as hell. "I've got it," she shouted back already shoving people who were unarmed away from the anarchy. "Just be safe, okay?" And with that she turned and started to get people away by whatever means possible.

Jesse

Jesse's mind was running a mile a minute, picking through what could possibly have caused this chaos. They had patrol that were on duty at this hour, or they were supposed to, anyway. Either they somehow managed to get overwhelmed by the infected or they had left their post at the gate - right now it didn't much matter. "I've got the right flank!" Jesse called out in a stern voice in response to Trix's words as Frankie fell in between them, taking down the approaching infected with bullets and knives. Fortunately it seemed like a winning battle - their fighters outnumbered the stumbling biters.

Ivy

Axel asks her to go. So she should: take those she knows they need a safe place and lock up the warriors outside until they've won. But she doesn't want to be a child anymore. Just how it happened when she met Corvo, she doesn't feel any more of a child than the rest. That's why she smiles and follows, leaving the camera hidden behind a rock.

Rory

At the first sign of trouble Rory was up like a flash. Literally, he got on his feet and pegged it for the nearest building and climbed it to the first floor like a rat up a drain pipe. He wasn't a coward, actually he was far from it, but self preservation meant a lot to him and he couldn't fire his sling shot or blow gun from ground level. Perched up on a ledge, Rory began picking the nippers off one by one. "Head shot," he muttered to himself, wishing Jack was there to count points with him.

Frankie

Thank God she had Trix and Jesse right now or else she would be so fucked. It was hard to block out the screaming of the damned when she was trying to aim. There were too many that had been piling up on the gate and now there was an overflow of bodies that were heading right towards them. Looking at her ammo, she glanced at Jesse and Trix, trying to gauge if they had any more. "FUCK, guys, I need more ammo. Where are the fucking PATROL with their shit?" With her attention half on the swarm and half on the people behind her, she kept on missing every other one, wasting just one more bullet. "Aw, fuck," she grumbled.

Ada

In all the chaos, Ada took several steps back before she darted out of the square. Running was her only salvation. Not even the knife she carried could be of use, she was completely useless.

Alexia

Despite the chaos going on around her, Lexi was more focussed on the bastard in front of her. As /if/ he'd just emptied a beer over her. Who the /fuck/ did he think he was? It was only the fact that the man was proudly strutting off like the peacock he was that snapper her out of her frustration. Reaching down into her boot, Alexia removed one of the knives hidden there and headed off to kill the infected. Fortunately for her she caught up with Corvo in no time and stuck her leg in front of his, causing him to fall down to the ground in a flail. "Ain't no time to be clumsy right now," she said to him as she continued on passed his body, going up to meet with the infected before jamming her knife into the first one's skull.

Lyra

Lyra took a deep breath, calming herself. She started surveying the surroundings, her hand reaching automatically towards her knife. She lifted it, held it firmly, although her movements faltered as Dexter stretched an arm, pushing her behind him. Was he seriously expecting her back out? As Axel gestured towards them, telling Diana to take them inside, anger flared in Lyra's nerves and she found herself pushing against Dexter's stretched arm, heart beating wildly as she raised her knife-holding hand in determination. "I'm not going anywhere!" She yelled, glaring at Axel before she turned her gaze towards Dexter, the intensity in her eyes seizing. She eyed him with determination and stubbornness, pushing against the hold he had on her and taking advantage of the fact that he was preoccupied with shooting the dead. "Dexter, let me go! I'm not running away, I have to help!" She yelled, glancing at Juliet minutely, hating the fact that people were forcing her to abandon her partner. To abandon everyone.

Juliet

Catching sight of her partner in the corner of her eye, Juliet let out a quiet sigh of relief, glad she was okay, before picking up a discarded bottle and throwing it at an infected. She had to make do with the lack of knives she currently had. "Someone needs to slip into the supply shack, now!" She shouted, hoping someone would hear her and do so, to get them all more ammo.

Dexter

Blue eyes shot a stern look at Lyra, before he shifted back, firing one more round off before finally speaking to her. "Fall /back/ Lyra, you can help get the others to safety. /Please/." His tone was more pleading then he would have admitted but if anything happened to Lyra, there would have been one devastated man.

Cole

The sight of the ground came as a sudden surprise, his only support being trounced by gravity and the grunt which grated against his vexed vocal chords. "Is this your way of gettin' me down on one knee?" He seethed, words spitting against his lips as he called after the female. "I ain't fuckin' proposin' to someone who uses their weapon like they're beatin' a piñata blindfolded." As his words came to a halt, the male heaved himself from the heap he was recently in, pulling his weapon from the inside of his tattered jacket and double-checking Ivy was merely inches behind.

Axel

Axel nodded briefly to Diana's concern before taking off in the direction Frankie had gone, dropping to his knee beside her and digging through his pockets. "Here - here I've got, I should have..." he paused, raising his own gun to take out a few of the approaching walkers before tossing a clip of the patrol rifle bullets in Frankie's direction, "Watch your back, will you?" He jested, one hand falling against her shoulder, just briefly, before he was back on his feet and taking off once more in the direction of the supply shack. They'd all need supplies soon if the Infected kept coming in. Even more so - they needed to get the fucking gates closed.

Ivy

Ivy screamed when Corvo fell and stopped right there to pick him up. She then checked Alexia and took a deep breath: "It ain't time for this shit, damn" The infected were walking towards them. Ivy started feeling another panick attack coming but she stayed her ground. Not right now. Not right now. Nope. "What are we doing?" She saw Ada running. She heard Lyra. She was unarmed. Juliet's voice floated in the air towards her. Maybe that was it. She was fast. Ivy saw Corvo pulling out his weapon. "I GO!" She said. Patted Corvo's shoulder. "I trust you" Then she started running.

Lyra

The anger in her veins faltered slightly at the pleading tone of Dexter's voice, only to replaced by confusion. Why was Dexter doing this? Did he not think she was capable to defending the city with everyone else? Was he underestimating her like everyone else was? Lyra swallowed, blinking quickly as her grip on her knife loosened slightly. Eventually, her grip tightened again and she looked up with a glare, her voice clipped in a way to conceal the hurt behind her words. "What, you don't think I can defend this place? You want me to just run away? I can help!" She shouted, frustration coupled with hurt sharpened the anger in her voice. She struggled against his grip again. "Just fucking let me go! I'm not /useless/."

Frankie

A bright smile played at her lips despite the chaos that was happening around them, grabbing the clip from the air deftly. "Shut the fuck up and just /go/," she instructed, smirking at him over her shoulder. Then her eyes focused on the problem. If they left the gate open, then more and more would just be swarming in. Someone needed to close the gates, but it wasn't like her, Trix, or Jesse could move. "GUYS," she shouted over the din, "SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET THAT FUCKIN' SHIT LOCKED UP."

Luca

The /gates/ of course. Luca was moving before Frankie had even finished her statement, swooping down to snatch up a log from the fire, sturdy enough for him the Marine bolted forward without even a word. Feet propelling him towards his destination, his in the moment weapon slamming into an infected so that he could pass. Fast, he had to be fucking fast.

Juliet

Juliet looked at the swarm spilling in from the gates and sighed pulling back. "I'm on it. She muttered, moving towards them, her head snapping up as she moved. "Lyra, if you here I need you as my back up!" She shouted, falling into a sprint towards the gates.

Alexia

"As if I'd ever be wantin' /that/. Ain't nothin' to worry about though. I'd be crushin' your dreams by sayin' no to you," Lexi shouted back at the current bane of her existence. It was only when he insulted her abilities that she actually reacted to him. After stabbing the infected in front of her in the head, the ex-convict searched around in her jacket for one of her throwing knives. Turning slightly from where the infected were coming from so that she could see both sides, she hurled the knife in Corvo's direction. Lexi watched as the knife flew through the air, barely skirting passed the man's neck leaving a shallow wound there. "Next time I ain't gonna be so fuckin' kind!" she shouted back at him before turning back around and facing the more troubling issue at that minute.

Axel

Axel ducked into the supply shack, skidding to a rapid stop before it and throwing the doors open. He heard the footfalls of another just behind him and turned to find Ivy, of all people, trailing on his heels. "You're not supposed to be here, kid," he scoffed, tossing a few clips and guns in her direction. If she wasn't going to heed his instruction he was going to make her useful at least, "Take this back to them. Now, go." The demand was final, a hand waving her off back towards where the fighting was occurring, before he was turning tail and heading off towards the gates. He took out walkers as he passed them, weaving through the others. The gates, close the fucking gates and they could take care of the rest. "Luca!" He scowled when he saw the other Rose's back ahead of him. "I got the left, you take the right!"

Dexter

Lyra's words registered but Dexter was busy supplying cover for the two who rushed forward in order to close the gates. "God /damnit/." He huffed, slightly irritated before looking at Lyra. "I know you're not useless, I just can't have you get hurt. Please, Lyra." His blue eyes were even more pleading and there was a hint of pain behind them. He couldn't lose her too.

Elijah

Angry was an understatement. Elijah could feel his blood boiling. He had been there when the bonfire started, a treat he believed, and left in order to sort a few orders of business while everyone was occupied . And then the gate had been left open. The. Gate. Had. Been. Left. Open. He didn't understand how someone could be unaware of their biggest goddamned threat. It didn't matter though. He had to handle it and worry about the consequences later. So he moved towards the source of weapons being fired, noting Frankie, Trix, and Jesse. "Hey!" He called out to the three of them. "Heads up!" And with the machine gun he had grabbed upon knowing the danger, he pulled the trigger.

Cole

"You son of a---" Before he could react, his free palm was rubbing the small laceration against his neck, and yet no expression other than sadistic amusement graced his features. "I fuckin' knew you were into all of that Nightingale shit. This just further proves it, Sunshine." He paused momentarily, actions succumbing to an oncoming infected, a clean shot between him and the weapon in hand. As it fell to the floor, Cole lifted his fixated gaze to the woman. "How about you pay attention to the direction you're throwing your weapons? Besides, I get a better view from behind."

Trix

It felt wrong not to be fighting back to back with Alexia. They were like two weapons held by a pair of arms. They watched each others backs and used each other to propel the other forward. Not having that was like having a part missing as she twisted and turned to take down the next infected but at least the had Frankie and Jesse there to take the other sections of the horde. Launching another knife into the eye socket, blood spurting from the cavern, Trix pulled her handgun from her belt and flicked off the safety. She normally tried to avoid using the bad boy but the knives weren't fast enough. As she drew it to eye level she caught aim of an infected making a beeline for Frankie and she took it out with one shot, her aim quickly shifting to the next one in her area. She chose not to respond verbally as she saw others running for the gate, instead she focused on her calculated killing.

Lyra

Hearing Juliet's shout, Lyra's attention moved to her struggling partner. Her heart was in her throat as she took in the huge number of Infected going against Juliet. She needed to help her. She /had/ to. Her heart broke at the sight of desperation on Dexter's face. It hit her so deep, she felt the backs of her eyes stinging. She blinked the sting away, shaking her head; speechless.Impulsively, Lyra planted a quick kiss on Dexter's cheek, knowing the unpredictable action would distract him long enough for her to slip out of his grip. It was also apologetic in a way; as she knew Dexter would /not/ be happy with what she had in mind. Lyra ducked beneath his arm before breaking off into a sprint, joining Juliet's side in a minute before using her familiar technique. Twisting a leg beneath an Infected's, the action caused the fucker to stumble on its stomach. Taking advantage of the chance, Lyra stabbed her knife into its skull before pushing up and slamming into another one's skull as it came creeping behind her

Ivy

She had never felt like that before. It felt like death singing a lullaby. The wolf pack was fighting. She didn't even notice the ones running to the fences, to the gates. She didn't notice the boy in the roofs. She had wanted to talk to him, tho, minutes before. They could've been friends. Her feet hurt and her heart was out of her chest already. When she faced Axel, she just had a weird creepy smile on her face because he handed her a chance to help. Taking all the ammo he gave her - she was a bit clumsy but it was enough - Ivy nodded. She kept a gun for herself and ran back to the fight. She knew little of weapons, probably not as much as them, only the theory - but physics is enough. Aimed a gun and shot one of them. She stopped to see the dead fall. Schrieking, she took a step back. It was still moving. "FUCK" But she did not stop. That's it. She took a chance and jumped on its face and broke his skull "Ugh. GUYS, THE WEAPONS"

Jesse

Red was the only thing Jesse was seeing anymore. His movements were calculated and repetitive, knife through the skull of each infected that got near enough. He didn't like how close it required the walkers to get to him, launching the knife towards one of the walkers and ripping it free a moment later to stab it through a temple of another. After a moment he pulled a handgun from his pocket and fired it through the head of another, blood spattered in every which direction. There was a point where he was rather sure they would be overwhelmed, especially if the gates remained parted - but he spotted Luca and Axel take off in that direction. Any time now, any time. Then Elijah was barking out an order and he shifted out of the way of fire, instead focusing his attention on the stragglers that made their way for the other survivors - Dexter, Lyra, Trix, and Frankie.

Cole

As he meandered throughout the crowd, the use of his weapon his main priority, dark eyes lingered towards the several people who ran towards the gate, a given order from someone who paid little attention to. "Are you all attempting to close the gate, or are you just comparin' heights?"

Juliet

"It took you long enough asshole." Juliet snapped, noticing the walkers go down in a familiar fashion before she even saw her partner, finally feeling more capable as she fought back to back with the one she trusted most, though she didn't linger too long, moving forward to Luca and Axel, to help them shut the gates.

Dexter

/Fuck/. The kiss to his cheek /had/ taken him off guard and it allowed Lyra to get past his arm. "Lyra!" He called out, tone low before he growled, moving forward and focusing. So she ran off, he could still protect her, he /had/ to protect her. He'd be her cover and automatically started picking off the infected that were coming. Dex would probably give her a lecture later after he held her for a while, because Lyra was /going/ to survive.

Frankie

As she heard the machine gun sound, Frankie felt herself breath a little easier. "Just don't hit the ones that /aren't/ walking corpses with fleshy mushrooms growing out of their face." Frankie instructed Elijah mock-patiently, slowly and methodically taking out the ones that Trix couldn't keep an eye on. "I got you!" She shouted, just to assure the woman that was putting on quite a display of badassery. Then she heard a voice behind her scream and it sounded like a fucking child's. Her eyes turned away for a couple of seconds and she saw a CHILD. Out. In the middle of all of this. "What the fuck is this CHILD doing here?" She shouted, her blood boiling as she took out one infected after the other. Someone was going to get hung tonight.

Elijah

There were more of the infected than Elijah wanted to see . He had just bee n thinking that if something else went wrong it would be harder to keep a hold on Fall City. And here his fear was, alive and well. But he wasn't dare going to contemplate that now. He was focused on shooting down the clickers. A shot to as many heads as he could see. Blood splattered, guts tlo, but Elijah remained focused , his hands steady.

Logan

"You gotta be fucking kidding me," Logan mumbled under his breath, maneuvering between the fighting to reach a frightened youth in the middle of all the mayhem. "Let's go." He picked the kid up and immediately ran them both to safety at a nearby building. He didn't know where its parent was or if it even had one, but at least now he didn't have to worry about the ankle biter anymore.

Luca

The adrenaline had already kicked in and Lucas was moving faster than he had in a long time. There was a brief moment when he heard his name but he was too busy slamming his branch into another infected. He was almost there to the gates and as he neared them he picked up speed as if that were even possible. Almost losing his footing before he slammed into the first door, full force in order to shove it shut, stick coming down to impale the neck of an infected as he shoved against the gate door, /praying/ that someone with a gun would watch his fucking back.

Charlie

Charlie was late --- as usual. She'd contemplated long and hard about the bond fire and had decided that the promise of alcohol was a decent enough compromise for a little socializing. Venturing towards the lit fire, she heard the screams before she had been able to take in the chaos. "What the fuck," she muttered beneath her breath as she ran towards the shadows that zipped past the fire, quickly forced to a sprint with the echoing sound of gunfire. "How the fuck did this happen?" She spat out loud, more so to herself than the rush figures that brushed elbows with her as they passed by. "Someone needs to get me a gun. I need a fucking gun now!" Her eyes darted around, hoping to find a weapon she could use as opposed to the knife she had tucked away in her boot. The last thing she wanted was to place herself any closer than need be to the infected.

Lyra

Lyra ignored Juliet, moves growing automatic as she stabbed at the Infected that just fucking kept coming. They were so many that she kept twisting and moving, ducking and dodging as they came at her. Her limp was beginning to throb, she could feel it but it was bearable. She pushed through the pain but almost paused her movements at the sound of Dexter shouting her name. Clenching her eyes shut and swallowing against the lip in her throat, Lyra knew he was probably going to kill her but she /had/ to help Juliet. A crawling walker managed to grab a hold of her ankle. "Fuck!" Lyra shouted, stabbing it in the skull before stabbing her elbow in the face of another walker who had snuck up behind her, moving to stab the fucker as it stumbled back. Lyra took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down as she continued fighting them off.

Alexia

Ignoring the bastard's words, Alexia continued working on the infected in front of them. A wild sadistic tooth baring smile adorned the woman's face as she stabbed and slashed away at the infected. The only thing that could really make this moment better would be fighting side to side with Trix but she knew that there'd be no chance for her to reach the other woman's side before infected swarmed her. So she was stuck fighting alone. Well, alone with bloody /Corvo/ snarking behind her. "Get your fuckin' brain outta your dick or I swear to god I ain't gonna be sorry when I cut the fucker off."

Ivy

Her breathing was madness. The fire was roaring right behind them. Ivy couldn't stay still and she held the guns with her. That's when someone took her away "No, no!" She had barely seen Elijah out there. "I'm not a child and they need weapons." She fights back. She hears (Charlie) someone screaming they need a gun andshe tries to hand it. "HERE!" But the screamings alert others.

Juliet

Juliet watched her partner falter, a cry falling from her lips as she saw walkers getting closer to finishing them. "SHUT THE FUCKING GATES!" She shouted, her mind going into overdrive as she attacked all the infected she could get to, her vision stained red with anger. How could someone be stupid enough to not shut the gates?!

Gwen

Gwen jumped down from a tree, a cautious observer during the bonfire as she lurked from above, to enter the mayhem. Landing on the back of an infected and immediately severing its head from the torso with one experienced slice of her favorite tool. An unfamiliar voice shouted something and that was when she noticed the efforts being made to close the gate. It was open. /Open/. Something that would normally have made her insides scream with delight instead caused her blood to run cold as ice. Crossing around the perimeter, she cut open the chest cavity of another walker before making it to the door where a stranger was attempting to close it. "I've got you," she told him. "Just focus on closing the damn thing."

Cole

A laugh erupted from his vocal chords, the sound drowning out from the current battle of survivors and the infected. "Is that so you can keep it as prized memorabilia?" His tone raised above the hoard, his eyes scanning the scenario for the woman who expressed her bitter distaste. "I'm flattered, truly."

Axel

He struck down infected left and right, firing at the monsters though he had to be sure to avoid hitting Luca - or any of the other survivors, for that matter. He reached the gates only a second after Luca did, throwing his weight against the opposite door to shove it shut, knocking walkers back in the process. He clasped onto the chain which brought the locks down, slamming a heel into the nearest infected in the process. Their problem wasn't over as soon as the gates were closed, though. He shoved an elbow into the face of another walker before turning back towards the bonfire. "The gates are CLOSED just clear the walkers!"

Ada

Ada stopped abruptly once she reached the nearest building. Out of breath, she collapsed down on the floor once she made it in in, just hoping for her dear life that the building was safe to be in. She felt the need to just break down and cry. If one thing was clear, was that she was not fit to live in this hellhole. She couldn’t. Hiding up in a corner was all she could do.

Hezekiah

Hezekiah hadn't originally planned to attend the little celebration, mostly because he didn't see their situation as reason to celebrate. Stuck in a singular place, without any means of conversation with his family. He was /alone/. But a part of him wanted to change that, perhaps get to know a few of these people. After all, they had to deal with tough shit, just like him. But when he reached the location of the bonfire, with a faint limp, he was immediately thrown into the chaos of infected everywhere, being fought off by Fall City residents. "Holy shit," he muttered, reaching down to pull his hunting knife from his boot's sheath, flickering his head back and forth to help the person nearest to him who was in potential danger.

Juliet

A slightly hysterical laugh left her as she was informed about the shut gates, a small amount of relief filtering through her blood, but they weren't out of the woods just yet. "On it!" She responded, stabbing the closest infected in the face, ignoring the satisfaction the action gave her.

Logan

Okay, so he didn't have much to fucking work with here. Basically just an old pipe in one hand and a shaky resolve about whether or not these things still counted as humans. "Shit, shit, shit." He muttered to himself, scanning the chaos as he tried to pick out which of the blondes might have been... Nope. Not the time. "Shit is a bad word," the kid he had literally just rescued gave him a lecture in a smug know-it-all voice. Pinching the back of the child's neck, Logan shoved him inside with the rest of the non-fighters who were taking shelter. "And that's why I wear condoms."

Frankie

Now that the gates were closed, they could move in on the infected. At this point, it didn't even matter who was with them, she would kill whoever allowed a child to stay later. "JUST MOVE IN AND DON'T LET ANY SLIP FURTHER INTO HOMEBASE." She shouted, her fire growing more rapid as she edged closer and closer to the swarm, trying to coral them. Hopefully Elijah, Trix, and Jesse would get the message and just lead by example.

Alexia

At the sound of the man's words, a scoff instantly escaped Lexi's features and, seeing as the space directly in front of her was free for the time being, she glanced across at him and noticed the walker coming up behind him. Reaching back into her coat, she retrieved yet another throwing knife and threw it in his direction, smirking as it hit its target and impaled itself into the walker's head. "Keep your fuckin' head on the target you bloody fuckball!" The words were yelled with an anger surging beneath the surface before she actually took a chance to focus on the words he'd said to her. "I'd rather /burn/ the fuckin' thing or feed it to some stray fuckin' dog than keep it. I ain't wantin' no small shrivelled thing hangin' on my walls."

Luca

His heart was catching up with him but it was ringing in his ears, he didn't have time to think about the pain in his body from slamming into the gate door as hard as he had. Gripping tight what was left of the stick he held in his hand, brandishing it like a knife Luca was ready to take down any other infected that crossed him His breathing came in somewhat steady gulps, he knew he needed a better weapon than his stick. "Fuck! I need a weapon!" He called out, eyes finding the closest person next to him which was Axel. Inspecting the other man to see if he had anything to spare.

Elijah

The gates were closed which meant the majority of the problem was solved. But there were still a handful of clickers roaming around the city and that wasn't permissible. Them or us. That was Elijahs mentality. And he would obviously choose preserving himself and those around him. He heard Frankies words and started in even harder on the clickers. His machine gun had emptied , and he quickly removed the round and inserted another. Like clockwork.

Ivy

The gates were closed. Trying to reach Elijah around, Ivy was put inside, still holding the guns. "YOU'RE AN ASS, MY BROTHER'S OUT THERE AND WE HAVE THE GUNS!" She shouted. She was having it rough, yeah, but she wanted to help. She took a deep breath and gave him the guns. "Get out of here and give them this if you want to be able to wear condoms tomorrow. NOW" Well, she was moody, yeah. Still, she kept her gun. There were a lot of clickers everywhere.

Savannah

Interacting with other people was really not Savannah's thing. She'd only attended the bonfire for the purpose of evaluating the other inhabitants and had stayed on the fringes of the groups. But killing infected--now /that/ was something she was good at. She swung the fire axe from over her shoulder, raised it, and brought it down on the head of the nearest infected.

Cole

Although he was somewhat appreciative of the action, he refused to voice such case and continued to relish in the insults thrown in his direction; especially at the mention of his "shriveled" body part."Then I'm guessin' you don't own a mirror?" The hand which grasped onto the weapon he'd kept lodged in his pocket, doused in a crimson shade, was now impaling yet another, a sense of pride shrouding his features with a sadistic grin.

Trix

The undead were falling like flies or at least it felt like it. Between her, Frankie, Jesse and Elijah, not to mention the others that had taken up arms, they were whittling away at them nicely. This wasn't going to do their ammo resources well but that was something they'd have to consider later. Right now survival was all that mattered. "Thanks," Trix replied to Frankie as the other woman proved she had her back. A smirk pulled onto her features as she let off another ringing shot, brains exploding like a bomb had been planted there. If the infected were good for nothing else it was the satisfaction of their splatter. Even so the sound of Axel's words was a relief - at least no more would get in. "I'll take the left again!" Trix replied to Frankie, informing the others too as she jumped solidly off the bench and began to move in, unleashing shot after shot as the dead dropped before them.

Dexter

One clip was out of bullets and Dexter didn't hesitate to move towards the closest infected, machete slamming down into their skull with a great force. He should fan out, catch any stragglers. Thank /God/ he never slept and had most of the place mapped out, so with a grunt he moved out, expert eyes checking every corner for movement of an unwanted guest. "Moving out to catch the stragglers!" He called to anyone who was paying attention, hopefully someone heard him over the chaos, his eyes found Lyra one more time before he moved out, machete at the ready.

Gwen

Gwen bared her teeth at the infected as they came forward again, seemingly in never ending waves. She would hack at one and just as quickly another took its place. How many had gotten in? How long had the gate been open? Questions she had no time to ask as her machete tore straight through the vocal cords of one as another crept up from behind. A quick duck from its grasp and she removed the legs, making sure to keep herself off the fence. She couldn't risk getting cornered like prey.

Lyra

"Ah," Lyra groaned in pain, the throbbing in her ankle shooting waves and waves of pain through her left leg. She started limping. Glancing at Juliet, she noticed that her partner had managed to shut the gates. Good. Now, they needed to wipe out the remaining Infected whose numbers were, thankfully, growing smaller and smaller. Panting, Lyra scowled at the irritating sensation of sweat trailing down her temples and getting her hair stuck to her face. Shouting in frustration, she nailed another crawler, shouting again when another flare of pain shot up her leg. She hadn't fought that fiercely for /so/ long, she had almost forgotten the sense of exhaustion that followed the usual battles against the dead. A dead bastard caught hold of her jacket, pulling her towards its rotting body. Lyra panicked slightly, her limp not helping her as she struggled to gain balance and keep away from the thing's biting teeth and scratching nails. "Just...fuck...off!"

Jesse

As soon as word of the gates being closed was issued he nodded in agreement to Frankie's words, striding forward on the thinning crowd of infected. They were obviously attracted to the noise and light in the mist of the darkened night, having been pouring into the opened gates. Now that they were closed they could finally get a handle on this crowd. "Trix left, I've got the right. Elijah and Frankie watch our backs!" He instructed, the words falling easily from his lips with a familiarity of his days in the Marines. He ran out of ammo reloading the clip and taking another out with a knife in the meantime.

Juliet

Juliet could see her partner struggling and panicking, and it sent a sliver of ice into her heart. She couldn't lose Lyra. Putting the biter who was attacking Lyra down she placed a gentle hand on the other's shoulder. "Fall back. I got this."

Alexia

Hearing that the gates had actually been shut caused a strange sadness to wash over the ex-convict. She was /enjoying/ finally having the freedom to finally kill as many of these fuckers as she wanted and to find out it was ending. Well, it was a shame, really. The only benefit of it would be that she'd /finally/ get to meet up with Trix when they were gone. "An I'm guessin' you ain't got no doors big enough to be lettin' your ego through," she shouted back at him, both enjoying the banter and despising it all at once.

Savannah

Savannah braced one boot against the ground, another on the windpipe, and pulled her axe from the split head of the infected that she'd just downed. She wished for her knives, but they were long gone, somewhere back in the wilderness. And she couldn't risk using her revolver, not until she really needed it. Instead, she spun her axe again, lodging it in the throat of one of the remaining infected.

Elijah

The process was second nature for Elijah knew he had to keep as many people as he could safe. "On it!" He called out at Jesse's instruction, moving behind the other man. "Frankie, cover Trix." His eyes were wide and alert, making sure that no clicker got too close or was missed, especially as Jesse reloaded .

Axel

Axel nodded to Gwen as she came in to support them, thankful for the backup as he and Luca worked to shut the gates. A moment later the man was requesting a weapon and Axel freed the rifle from where he'd hooked it around his shoulder at the supply shack, tossing it in the other man's direction. "No friendly fire!" He shouted as a bullets whizzed through the air, pressing his back against one of the nearby buildings as bullets chipped into the brick. He reloaded his gun before taking out a couple of the straggling, confused zombies nearby, swallowing hard as one got a little too close for comfort.

Frankie

"Of course," Frankie confirmed with a nod, taking careful aim at each clicker before killing it with a head shot. She just hoped that the ones that managed to slip through would be killed off by one of the armed people behind them. They couldn't afford to lose a civilian. The swarm was thinning out quicker than expected, but now they were going to have to wade through the piles of bodies.

Dexter

He was moving into the thinning horde of walkers and using his machete to chop them down, muscles straining to tear the weapon out of their skull. Then it got stuck, an aggressive and very deep growl emitted from the dark haired man as Dex kicked the infected to yank the blade from its skull. Throwing his weight around to come up on another one just in front of him.

Cole

At the sight of the gates clothing, the amused expression altered to one of disappointment. "Looks like the fun's over," his arms were limp against his side, dismay etching against his features, until a grumbling groan of an infected neared his proximity, to which an unenthusiastic hand impaled the figure. The only source of entertainment was now found in the dark haired woman who appeared to return the favour, insults riddled into their tongues. "That's why butter was invented, to squeeze me through."

Luca

Relief and familiarity flooded Lucas and within moments of receiving the rifle he was on the move, flanking to the side as to avoid hitting anyone that was actually /living/. Briefly shooting Axel an appreciative glance before he did so. This was a war zone and in his mind there was more than just the undead invading the camp, it was a like being thrown back when he was on tour. But right now was not the time to let his mind get lost in those demonic memories, however hard they plagued his brain. The sound of his rifle going off comforted Luca if only a little as he closed in on his targets. One down, then another-- how many were left?

Ivy

Ivy was left inside. She hoped the guns got to them and tried to make her heart stop beating so loud. She took a look at her feet. It was full of blood and revolting. Did she just step on a monster's skull with the strenght enough to break it? It felt powerful but also too bitter. The little lumb closed her eyes at the sound of guns. The music of the night was ending. Slowly, as in a Tchaikovsky piece slipping into Chopin's. Ivy took a deep breath and scaped the man.

Gwen

And just like that, the rag tag team of Fall City civilians were lowering the walker's numbers significantly. Things started to feel a bit more manageable now as the waves shrank down to ripples and then to drops. It was only when Gwen heard a startled cry from a block away that she realized there were no happy endings in the apocalypse. A woman, unfamiliar in features and voice, had stepped out of a building to check the situation and was immediately swarmed by a couple of stragglers. "Axel," she called the man's attention and bolted forward down the street, slicing through the pair of infected with emotionless ease. As the bodies dropped, the blonde glanced down at the frightened woman with calculative eyes. She was bitten, the mark on her shoulder clear as day.

Alexia

Lexi wasn't sure how she felt about the fact that the man who she despised so much felt the same way as she did about the gates closing. She didn't /want/ to agree with him on anything yet it seemed like they were more similar than she'd ever allow herself to admit. Her attention was focussed on the last small herd of infected coming her way as she danced amongst them, stabbing her knife in one's skull before twisting around and repeating the procedure with another. "That's explainin' away the spots then but it don't do nothin' for-" Alexia's words were cut off as she felt a bullet ripping through her leg, causing her to fall down to the floor on her hands and knees. Growling in frustration - in part because her legs had only just gotten strong enough to fully support her again and in part because the infected were closing in on her - she forced herself back to her feet, uncaring of the injury right now. She'd worry about that after the biters were in pieces on the floor.

Lyra

Lyra growled in frustration, falling forwards and heaving before she twisted sharply at the feel of a hand on her shoulder. Sighing upon seeing Juliet, Lyra allowed herself a few minutes to catch her breath before looking up and looking at Juliet with stubborn determination in her eyes. She twisted the knife in her hand, observing the few remaining Infected. Fuck, just a few more. "No, I'm fine," Lyra said, tone blank with concealed shame at the way Juliet had come to her rescue. How pathetic. "C'mon, I'll help you out with the rest."

Frankie

There was one more walker left standing. Just one more. Frankie set down her gun and stared at it, then looked around. "Okay, who's gonna take it? Walk, paper, scissors?" She suggested, running her fingers through her hair and looking around; someone had to kill it. "Trix?" She offered the woman, nodding towards the clicker.

Savannah

The influx of infected had died down considerably since the gates closed. Savannah had picked off stragglers, swinging her axe left and right, and now there were barely any left. She stepped on the skull of one for emphasis.

Jesse

One moment the alleyway was swarmed with walkers, the next there was just one standing between them and a hellish looking battle ground. His eyes shifted from the walker to Frankie as she spoke of rock, paper, scissors before looking towards Trix with a shrug and a nod. It didn't matter who took it out at this point. All that mattered was they they had survived without any casualties to his knowledge - and hopefully few to no injuries. "Have at it," Jesse murmured, clearly his throat and wiping down the blood from his knife before tucking it away.

Ivy

Ivy wanted to find Elijah. She knew her mom was okay because she was with the doctors and she had left a lot before everything happened. Holding her gun, she walked fast but as silent as she could. She didn't recognise many people, until she saw her, kneeling, right in front of a girl. Two corpses on the floor. She approached fast and then slowed down. "Mom?"

Luca

There was one more left and that registered in Lucas' brain but it was overwhelmed, just a bit, and the movement of an infected that had already been shot down but was holding onto the last strings of whatever movement it had. /Conserve the ammo/. Lucas thought before he slammed his boot down on the things skull as hard as he could. Oh but that wasn't enough, another stomp and them another and soon he was crushing nothing but mush for brains. Then he dropped down, using the butt of the rifle to continue the job a grunt of effort emitting from his dry throat. "Fucking /die/!"

Gwen

"Stay back," Gwen warned the girl approaching from behind, fingers tightening slightly on her machete as she weighed the obvious options here. Every part of her instincts were screaming to end it right now, but the humanity that had awoken since being in the city limits warned that it wasn't something she could do in front of the woman's daughter.

Cole

Cole was considerably contempt with batting back multiple insults, as if the source of entertainment could only be found verbally instead of through the actions of survival. However, much to his dismay, the familiar voice which laced throughout the crowd appeared to falter, his searching eyes catching sight of the very figure slumping to the ground. He'd heard the gunshot, how it pierced the air in such violence and pure stupidity. "Who the /fuck/?" His voice bubbled against his throat, a mixture of disdain and indignation lacing throughout. He weaved throughout the others, finding his footing near the woman who was now pulling herself from the ground triumphantly. "I'm not helpin' you because you deserve it, I'm helpin' you because I get a sense of satisfaction hearin' you discuss my dick." As if forming a dysfunctional tag-team, Cole mirrored her movements, implanting his weapon in the decreasing size of the infected.

Ivy

The tears started in the exact moment she saw the bit. "No." Her words jumped as waterfalls. "No, mom. Not now. Not like this, ¡n-!" She covered her mouth. She couldn't scream. She wasn't allowed to scream there, right? There were clickers and people helping other people. Screaming will only make the scene visible to others. Screaming would attract more of them. Screaming was dangerous. She stood back, of course. But she tried to find the women's eyes, crying as a child. Yet her mother did too, she looked tired and knowing she was going to die. "It's going to be faster than I thought" She said, kneeling. Ivy shook her head. "Mom?" Yet the woman let her shoulders fall, crying, closing her eyes. Not a goodbye, nothing. Ivy had been living a goodbye for ages. "I'll do it." She volunteered, taking a step towards them.

Trix

"I'll take it." Tris replied simply to Frankie, letting her gun relax at her side as she stalked forwards, her knife clutched in her fist. Her fingers flexed about the hilt of it as she planned out her trajectory in her head. The walker took one more step and so did she but instead of forwards she took it to the side. She flanked it and lodged the knife up into the base of its skull, twisting it and ripping it through brittle bone. The splintering of its skull shuddered down her arm and another smirk pulled onto her features. The satisfaction she got filled her senses and she kicked the torso, her knife pulling free with a spurt following the blade out. The body hit the floor at her feet with a thud and Trix watched it crumple before her eyes ran over the other countless bodies. "This is gon' be a bitch to clean up."

Axel

The alley was cleared, the war was won - up until he heard his name called and spun around to find Gwen kneeling before a woman with her shoulder ripped open. There was no doubt about the sinewy muscle, the bloodied injury, the bone nearly apparent beneath. On the shoulder no less, not an extremity that could be removed. There was no use leaving her there to die, there was no saving her. His eyes shifted from Gwen and back again before he raised the handgun, an apology on his lips as he pressed it against the woman's forehead. "I'm sor-" And he was about to pull the trigger when another voice chimed in. /Mom?/ He looked at the little girl and then back at Gwen, then back again. "No, Ivy. Say your goodbyes and get out of here. You're not doing this."

Elijah

"We've got to burn them," Elijah said simply , the effects of Trixs kill not so much as startling him. He was used to death. He was used to killing. The world had changed all of them since the infected began to surface . "And we should also do a a sweep . Make sure we got all of them . Because I am not going to have one of those attack when we all settle.”

Frankie

Frankie offered the woman an appreciative fist bump, her mouth opening to respond when she heard the shouting of her brother. Whipping around, she spotted Luca and - oh god, she hadn't seen him this enraged in months. Steeling her jaw, she approached him calmly, gently hushing him while trying to take the gun from his hands. "Luca, s'alright, s'alright," she murmured quietly, her fingers wrapping around the weapon slowly.

Gwen

Gwen nodded in agreement with Axel, hating the thought of killing someone's mother, but loathing any notion of the girl doing it herself even more. "He's right. Trust me, it's not something you'll want to see." She spoke from experience, having been the one to find her own mother at the end. "We'll make it quick," she turned back to the bleeding woman. "I promise."

Savannah

Savannah cleared her throat. "Was anyone bitten?"

Alexia

"Ain't it jus' adorable how much you care for me that you done came runnin' over to try savin' me. Ain't like I needed it or nothin'," Lexi said as the last zombie around them was cut down. Her attention focussed on Trix when she saw her friend moving forwards to take out the last one of the fuckers. Turning her attention back to Corvo when the last one was killed, a smirk crossed her features. "Oh you like hearin' me talkin' bout mutilatin' your dick? You like hearin' me talkin' bout makin' you completely useless when the only thing you're actually believin' you're good at is cut from your miserable fuckin' life?"

Jesse

Trix stepped forward to take out the walker and then a moment later Luca's voice came out of nowhere. His head lifted to see the other bashing in the brains of one of the creatures with blow after blow. "Luca-" He interjected, stepping forward awkwardly as the man wailed on the walker. "Lu-Luca, stop --" and he followed in Frankie's footfalls, a hand touching Luca's shoulder to calm him.

Ivy

Ivy was trying to hold back the tears. She knew her mother was sick but she had never really thought she was dying until the world crashed. No medical supplies were found for her as easy as she thought. Elijah did his best. Das was not there, he was back in the city. Ivy had been singing her to death every night. The pain was growing stronger. Something, still, told her it was her fault. Maybe if she had been inside with her, maybe if she didn't have stayed outside with the rest of them, the woman wouldn't have gone out. Because her mother wouldn't make such an effort for any other. Axel made his point but Ivy couldn't move. She didn't want a goodbye. Not yet. Her hands were trembling and even though she was crying no sound came out of her mouth. She nodded and took a place in front of her mother. Her arms around her, Ivy knew she was cold already. The blood of her shoulder stained her. "I'll be okay." Ivy said. She was trying really hard to be strong enough. Strong enough to stay with all of them. She then looked at Gwen and Axel and nodded, sobbing.

Gwen

In one swift move, Gwen ran through the heart of Ivy's mom with her blade and swallowed as she pulled it out, fingers trembling the slightest bit as she stood. "I'm sorry." Quick, painless, like she used to kill deer. But this... This was so much different.

Luca

Focused, he was /destroying/ the thing that was beyond dead now. One moment he was slamming the butt of the rifle down on mush that was left of the infected's head. Then his gun was being pulled from his hands he reacted by yanking it back into his possession, aiming before he heard his name and then his sisters voice broke through, followed by Jesse's and a sob left his lips. Eyes falling on what was left of his target on the ground. /Everything was alright/. "They're all dead?" He muttered, now realizing he had tears in his eyes and then it was like his brain just collapsed, muscles allowing him to ease back. Clinging to the rifle as if it were his fucking life. "Fuck... /Fuck/." He had been seeing a face of an enemy long since destroyed and he choked back another sob. "T-Take the gun." He muttered but making no efforts to release it. Then his eyes found Frankie again and his face wrinkled in a shade of anguish. This time releasing the weapon as he made a motion to stand but was unstable. "I'm sorry---"

Cole

Cole's apathy increased as the other woman spoke, noting how her focused lingered towards a particular woman in the crowd; he followed her gaze, eyes narrowing under the weight of his eyelids as he searched among the majority. "Wipe your fuckin' drool from your mouth, Thelma, Louise ain't comin' to save your injured ass." Pausing for a beat, as if the corners of his mouth were being tugged with nothing other than string, a smile altered his expression. "In fact, she seems pretty content."

Alexia

The words that came from the bastards mouth instantly reignited a rage that had somewhat dimmed in the process of fighting the infected but it came back in full force. Uncaring of the hole in her leg and the blood pouring from the wound she turned to the man, knife still held firmly in hand. "What the /fuck/ did you jus' say?" The words were hissed out as the ex-convict's eye started twitching slightly in reaction to her rage, her lips pulled back into a menacing snarl.

Ivy

There was no difference. You're usually told when you love someone and they die you can feel it in your bones when they're gone. Ivy felt nothing. She closed her eyes while looking away, once she had distanced from her mom. It was horrifying but it somehow felt like relief too. No more suffering. And it made her feel so guilty, unworthy of having a mother. How can a child desire her mother's death? Even in that situation, she must had hold her harder, said something. Her heart was locked up inside a jail of bone and flesh while her mom's was wrecked from a swift stab Gwen injured in her body. There'd be no funeral, they'd have to burn her with the others. In one night, another unholy night, everything Ivy held, was taken from her. Her mother meant a link to the world before this. She had seen the monster's faces, walked among them and felt like one. She wanted to sit on the floor, lay there for the rest of her life. She was missing all the points. Elijah, she wanted to find Elijah. She felt the blood warm in her cheeks

Jesse

"They're all dead," Jesse assured him, looping his arm around Luca's shoulders loosely to restrain him in case he reacted violently to Frankie's attempts at disarming him. And he did for the weapon rose to aim at the younger girl, and in an instant Jesse had moved, grasping the end of the gun and twisting the aim towards the ground even as a sharp sob left Luca's lips. "It's over," he spoke curtly, holding the weapon down between them as he stood between Frankie and Luca, "It's all over Luca, it's all over," He reassured the man even as Luca held the weapon as if it was his last lifeline. "Let go." And as soon as the gun was released from Luca's hands Jesse held it back behind him for Frankie to take, his hand still firm on Luca's chest before cupping around the side of his head, "It's alright, everything's alright."

Trix

Trix was about to return the fist bump to Frankie when someone having a moment drew her and Jesse away. She turned her attention to the other council member and nodded to him, clipping her gun back onto her belt as she did so. "Good idea, Elijah. We can get the patrol to do a security check of the walls as well. Ain't no good if we got more breaches." Trix turned her knife in her hand, watching the blood glint in the moonlight for a moment before she bent down and wiped it on the trousers of a walker, smearing it in the fabric. As she stood back up straight she scanned about her, looking for Lexi to at least see she was alright.

[nobodysempireevents]

Fall City has prospered since it was first built up as a safe haven for survivors. Newcomers from far and wide have come for safety, shelter, food, and water. They have made it through thick and thin, through war, through disease, through infection and had come out the other end as survivors.

Today is a day for celebration of survival, of life, of Fall City.

Wood has been gathered for the winter that is on their doorsteps and their first city bonfire is in the works. The council and runners have set up a large pile of wood in the center of the city square and all members of the city are invited to join the celebration.

As the sun drifts below the horizon the city members have gathered. A collection of different alcoholic beverages that had been brought in from past and recent runs are set up on a rusted bench with a random assortment of cups and glasses alongside them to accompany the survivor’s celebrations.

The link to the chat is here. The event will begin in approximately 15-30 minutes while everyone joins and gets settled.

[nobodysempirerpg]

JUNE 15th to June 29th – 00:00 – ISOLATION

It started out as coughing. There was nothing really alerted the others to the sickness, they assumed that it was a simple fever that was going to pass. He was able to work and interact with others without a problem, was able to do things as well as he could. But then things got worse once he had trouble breathing. Then he began to cough up blood, then he began to cry it. Tears of blood started to streak down his face, but he didn’t want the others to know. So he would wipe them away before anyone could see. For some reason he still hoped that things would pass. He ate, laughed, and drank with his friends.

                                 But then, while carrying supplies, he collapsed and as                                    everyone gathered around him, they screamed. 

                                                   He was d e a d.

Soon after the council realized what had happened, they called for an immediate quarantine and three unforunate groups became ISOLATED.

Keep reading

[nobodysempirerpg]

THE EVENT HAS BEEN UPDATED