soft hearts, electric souls

for a t h o u s a n d nights, i’ve been a restless soul, just wasting 【 t i m e 】digging up fool’s gold.

[teodcr-blog]

mcmillxn:

“… Oh. I assumed you were– Well, I must look like quite the ass. It’s been a short few days. My friend and I had a fight now I’m quite directionless.” Which was a boldfaced LIE, but he said it with a huff like he was truly off put by the predicament. 

        TEO TOOK A DEEP BREATH, glancing around for a moment. “ i’ve gotten my bearings a bit over the past few weeks. were you two going to meet up somewhere? i might know where it is. ” he was never one to turn away someone in need, even for something as simple as directions.

[teodcr-blog]

samuelbxnavich:

          Sitting in a dusty room, hiding from monsters that wanted nothing more then to kill him wasn’t exactly what he’d pictured him doing once he got home from hiding in the sand, hoping to go unnoticed from the people that wanted nothing more then to kill him. That’s really how messed up this entire thing is because he went home to catch a break from the war, not to walk straight into a new one. But here he was and so was the stranger who was offering him fruit. He knew he may be foolish but he knows the enemies and a living, breathing human being isn’t the enemy so he offered him a smile in the return. “I won’t be able to give you much in return, other then maybe a  bottle of water?”

        THIS LIFE WAS SO FAR REMOVED from the way teo had been living. for the past decade, he had become used to sleek armani suits and the flashing bulbs of a photoshoot. now, he was dressing to blend in with his surroundings and constantly looking over his shoulder for whatever danger might be lurking there. it was jarring, to say the least, but it made him appreciate quieter moments like this all the more. taking a moment to breathe was a luxury nowadays. “ sounds fair to me. seems like we might be in here for a little while, might as well share, ” he replied, holding the fruit out so the other man could take it. “ i’m teo, by the way. ” 

[teodcr-blog]

mcmillxn:

“Excuse me– HEY! You! I need directions, and unless you want me to keep yelling, and I’m sure we both don’t want that, then…” 

        “ I’M NOT FROM AROUND HERE, but i’m happy to help as much as i can if you stop shouting. ” his accent hinted at the fact that he wasn’t even from the country, but, well -- he’d do anything to shut the man up. 

[teodcr-blog]

scvoy:

“i’m not going to thank you for doing something by your own command - by your own will. i never asked for help our your SERVICES so there’s no point in showing any faked gratitude.” the words left him quickly - rapidly and stressed, and he was keen to blame the stumbling and stuttering purely on speed. but it was as clear as the rays illuminating every flaw and bruise on alec’s skin, that the reason was based in something completely different. yet, even for someone as reclusive as alessandro, speaking seemed to be the only option. he did look like some sad cliche with eyes flickering around and his constant fidgeting, but at least he didn’t leave himself to drown in the silence and the crushing waves that seemed to reside in the stranger’s eyes.  to be fair, alec did not know this man - still, he deemed himself surprised once the other surrender so easily. he didn’t seem like the type. not that alec cared about the type which the unlikely savior fell in. and then, once again, alec was shoved and shaken out of his normally statue by not only the words leaving the other male but by the simple look on his face. almost choking on nothing but air, alec’s eyes portrayed nothing other than FEAR in that moment. he normally held his composure tightly to his chest; now, he found himself clutching his chest just to make sure that there was still something beating in there. “you would still be be able to look at my face, even with it being separated from my body.. no need to waste a perfectly good bullet.”

        “ ARE YOU ALWAYS THIS STUBBORN? ” teo’s eyebrows furrowed, and he honestly just wanted to see the other man’s reaction. it was quickly becoming very clear that he was not the type to have the patience to deal with any kind of bullshit. not that teo was the type to bullshit ( he much preferred honesty ), but in this case, his honesty was probably something that this stranger would disapprove of. teo had a feeling he would disapprove of a lot of things teo did. that just made the prospect of this conversation all the more fun.

        tilting his head slightly in interest at the dark-haired male’s reaction, teo wondered to himself what his response meant. he didn’t seem the type to be easily affected by the people around him, but... to be fair, teo didn’t know anything about him. he had no room to make judgements quite yet. teo scoffed, shaking his head at the idea. really? did he really think teo would find a dead body attractive? “ i’m not so much into the whole necrophilia thing, so... keeping you alive is the better option. you’re worth at least one bullet, i’d say -- even a perfectly good one. maybe two, if we’re pushing it. ” teo’s eyes were light with humor, thoroughly enjoying the ability to tease someone who was just not having it. 

[teodcr-blog]

avramisms:

“She has my eternal gratitude.” Ethan’s own Gertrude’s would have likely had something to say about the ease he sat with the other with. Surely, some very strong words. “Well, sure, but… If you started looking at everyone like a threat, then how would you be able to make friends? I’d rather die with a knife in my back than live a life with my back up against the wall, you know?” Taking another bite of the fruit, Ethan listened to Teo talk. So. Another group, huh? “No way, I’m out here to meet some people from my group. I was probably gonna give you the recruiting spiel if you said you were just wandering.” 

        “ SEND IT UP THERE. ” teo pointed heavenward ( even if she would’ve slapped him upside the head for that ). “ i completely agree. i don’t have it in me to be as distrusting as some people are now. it just seems like a lot of energy to waste on constantly being unhappy and scared. ” for all he knew, he could be dead tomorrow -- no sense in unnecessary stress. “ no kidding? ” teo shook his head slightly, processing this information. “ honestly, i probably would’ve done the same to you. you seem like a nice guy. ”

[agirlnamedally]

[teodcr-blog]

fcknxethan:

         Ethan gazed at the fruits he was carrying, with his eyes wide open in surprise. Where was he able to find fruits in a world where everything is so filthy and poisonous. But he didn’t question him any further, he simply nodded because he wanted to trust him. He really did but his entire life, even before this mess he’d learned that trust gets you no where but early in your grave. “I’d really like that, no offence. But I don’t have anything to give you in return?”

        IF HE HADN’T BEEN TAUGHT that the purple things protruding from the cacti were actually edible, teo would’ve completely steered clear of them. even now, he was still incredibly paranoid that he was going to get stuck with one of the spines and die some horrible death. “ don’t worry about it, ” he said, dusting off the fruit slightly with his sleeve. he took a bite out of it as requested, chewing and swallowing before holding out the rest to the other man. “ like i said, i have plenty. you could tell me your name, though. ”

[teodcr-blog]

damienrcse:

Damien took a long moment to stare at him, considering his words. He remembered when “nice” used to be in his dictionary, before he had to start to literally fight for his life. He let out a soft chuckle. “Well–thanks for not being an asshole,” he said before taking another bite. “Are you actually always this positive or is it because I’m too hot for you to kill?” he asked, teasing with a smirk on his face.

        “ IT’S THE LEAST I CAN DO, ” he replied. until it proved absolutely necessary to act otherwise, he would remain what was probably far too trusting for a post-apocalyptic world. teo tilted his head, giving the brunette a long, thoughtful look. “ i’ve spent the last ten years surrounded by models. if you want to stand out, you have to be more than just pretty. ”

[teodcr-blog]

arosesxsweet:

“Alright well, I suppose I can offer some of my services in that area. I’ve got a pretty sharp tongue,” Her eyebrows quirked upwards, a hint of mirth easily visible in the mint irises. “Gertrude? Her name was Gertrude?” A fit of giggles overtook the red head, and she didn’t bother to conceal a smile at the imagery presented. “I’ve actually heard of people who did that - seriously, how’s it even possible? Why would the gun be aimed at your foot anyway?” Her smile didn’t dissipate completely, but it softened, the light captured in her eyes fading. “No, not at all. It’s already easy for people in highly populated areas like that to be incited towards violence. With a real catalyst like this, it’s probably filled to the brim with undead,” Shrugging her shoulders, Piper savored another bite of her fruit. “Human nature at it’s finest,” There was never a shortage of beloved memories housed for a rainy day or two. The world would always present challenges and trials that such a store came in handy, on more than one occasion. Although many of the terms he used were completely foreign to her ears, the fondness behind them warmed her heart. “Love seriously is through the stomach,” A pointed snort was delivered at that, hair obscuring part of her profile from view. “Trust me, I’m about as lost when it comes to all of this as the average Joe - or, not so average Macedonian model,” she amended, pausing a moment to swallow down the last bit of fruit, “Sure do. I can identify over one-hundred types of mosses, tell you which mushrooms taste great in omelets or will kill you in under a minute… but I’ll tell you what, if I’m letting you borrow some Americanized, more than likely crude at times humor,” she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, locking her gaze onto his in semi-seriousness, “I’d kill for some street smarts right about now. I can get by with food and some medical knowledge but, everything else? I’m kind of useless,”

        “ I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. ” teo tried to maintain his composure, but even he couldn’t resist letting out a burst of laughter at poor gertrude’s name. “ if she could hear me laughing, she would’ve smacked me by now, you know. don’t incur her wrath, ” he jokingly warned her. even though she was long gone by now, teo associated her memory with a fondness that had come over the few weeks he’d known her. plus, there was no way he could forget the verbal lashing he’d received when he’d accidentally pointed the gun she’d given him somewhere remotely in her direction. “ i have no idea, but i’m sure i would’ve managed it somehow. ” chuckling a bit and shaking his head, teo sobered slightly. “ we’re lucky scottsdale didn’t go in a similar direction, ” he said, his mind imagining the possibilities even though he really didn’t want to see them. he’d barely made it on his own at first ( until getting help from an old lady, of all people ) -- if he’d somehow made it to new york before the outbreak, teo knew he definitely would be dead by now, and that thought was disturbing enough on its own. it was good, though, to feel more secure in his ability to survive. he still had so much to learn, but so did everyone else. it wasn’t as if most people had had much experience with zombies, after all. “ alright. how about this: you tell me what plants i should or should not pick up -- and why -- and i’ll pass on all of gertrude’s infinite wisdom. sound fair? ”

[teodcr-blog]

avramisms:

Ethen offered up a smile, wide and unassuming at the other’s introduction and agreement. “Cool name. Nice to meet you too, Teo. Really nice, I didn’t think fruit that wasn’t out of a can was gonna be on the menu.” He took another bite of the fruit. “Me too. It’s.. really disconcerting. I mean it’s understandable, but also… sad. Personally, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. What’re you gathering so many of these for, by the way?” he asked, waving the hand with the prickly pear fruit in it a bit. 

        “ ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO the dear old lady who taught me everything i know. gertrude is a goddess. ” without her no-nonsense crash course in survival, teo probably would’ve been dead ten times over by now. “  it’s probably going to get me killed at some point, but i can’t really bring myself to think that everyone around here is out to get me. i feel like most people, at least, are just trying to survive. ” shrugging, teo sliced off another piece of fruit. “ scavenging, ” he answered, waving a hand vaguely. “ for my group. ”

[dope-fashion-style-deactivated2]

Underestimate me so I can embarrass you.

(via dope-fashion-style)

[teodcr-blog]

scvoy:

IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN, it really shouldn’t - not with his training and experience. he had battled armies, had fought against trained soldiers and assassins, and he had sworn to never let anything other than the mission grab his attention. maybe that had been easy then; but the enemy forces had never looked quite like THIS. alessandro had not even realized that a gun had been raised ( his old platoon would have ridiculed him to no end if they had lived to hear the tale ) until the shot teared through the air.  what was even more pathetic - was how not even that was enough to have alec return and settle back into his bones. 

the gun fired again; something fell to the ground a few feets behind him, and his eyes were still fully seated upon the stranger’s expertly drawn and carved lines. not until the other male himself spoke did alessandro remember how to blink - how to make his ribcage expand at the same rate his heart did. a shuddering breath, and then another. “i had it covered.” thankfully, the soldier’s voice sounded a lot harsher than he felt on the inside. oh, it had suddenly dawned upon him that he still had an inside. fingers changing their grip against his own metal, his eyes flickered around briefly before returning with more confidence - or more coldness, he wasn’t quite sure. the effect was the same nonetheless. “i never asked for someone to get in the way.”

        SHOCK RAN COLD THROUGH HIM at the other’s words -- even though he seemed the type to normally not need any help, most people would at least offer some sign of gratitude for saving their life. clearly, this man was not most people. teo somehow had the mental faculties to look offended, although it was hard to maintain a glare in the face of features that looked like they were carved from marble. “ sure, it looked like you had it handled. ” even though his words voiced his supposed agreement, the mocking in his tone said otherwise. “ you’re welcome, ” he added forcefully, raising an eyebrow as though he still expected words of gratitude from the brunette. 

        he didn’t know what was making him act this way ( yes, he did, but he wasn’t going to say it ), but something about the other man made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin. shaking his head slightly and taking a deep breath, teo finally came to his senses. “ i’m sorry. i’m being incredibly rude. ” meeting the other’s eyes, teo offered a small smile. “ i’m sure you can take care of yourself. i was simply... concerned. it would be such a shame if you were to die. you’re far too nice to look at. ” here his smile took on a bit of a sharper edge -- he couldn’t help himself. life was too short ( especially now ) to waste time dancing around the fact that he found someone attractive.

[teodcr-blog]

avramisms:

“Learn something new everyday,” Ethan said as he made his way over to sit next to the other man. Still, he held the fruit in his hand– he’d seen how the other had sliced it, but was curious as to if he could just… Bite it. Since there was nothing really stopping him, he tried. Thankfully it went well. “– Hey, these aren’t so bad.” Because of the fruit in his dominant hand, Ethan extended his left to shake. “Name’s Ethan. You’re the first person who I’ve run into who’s NOT from my area that hasn’t immediately threatened me. I’m liking the change.” 

        TEO NODDED ONCE, PLEASED THAT the brunette had deemed the fruit acceptable. he met the other’s left hand with his own, giving it a firm shake before returning to his own fruit. “ nice to meet you, ethan. i’m teo. ” he huffed out a laugh at ethan’s statement, emphatically nodding his agreement. “ most people think i’m on some grand mission to kill them, so trust me, your response is pretty refreshing too. ”

[teodcr-blog]

fcknxethan:

       Ethan wasn’t one that could easily trust people. Especially not a stranger that was offering him a fruit. It was simply too good to be true so of course the first thing he considered was how he could have poisoned it. How it was a trick to get rid of him without having to get his hands dirty. But he also remembered someone telling him long time a go how he should learn how to trust. Which was the reason why he accepted the possibly poisoned fruit. “Thank you? But why? Why didn’t you just eat it yourself?”

        TEO LIFTED UP THE EDGE of his pack slightly, revealing a sizable pile of fruit inside. “ i’ve got more than i know what to do with, trust me. i’d rather share than let it all go bad. ” while teo was always quick to trust others, he understood that not everyone was the same -- especially not now. it could be difficult, even for him, to simply accept that someone was being kind out of the goodness of their heart. “ if you really don’t trust me, i can take a bite first. ”

[teodcr-blog]

arosesxsweet:

“It’s a… hypothesis in the works of testing, so, technically yes since my research seems to be validated,” She gestured to Teo as an example, nose crinkling up in mock annoyance. “Copy cat. Get your own quips!” The lightness in her tone, mingled in with laughter equally as airy felt surreal in such a setting. Air normally stagnant and ripe with the heady stench of decay almost felt breathable again, if even for a moment. “Riiight, modeling capitols and all too, yeah? Wonder what it looks like now - if everywhere else is just as ravaged,” There was a heavier curiosity than dismal quality to her tone, tongue running across the pulp lining her upper lip. “Well, you’re still here. That’s gotta say something about your adaption skills– though, you did have kick-ass grandma’s help, so,” A brief smile was given before his question, eyes squinting against the sunlight and a thoughtful hum rose from her throat. “ ’S kinda hard to pick a favorite place. But, I loved the parks. There are a few with trails that are kinda hidden, more for people with a keen eye and less populated. Sometimes my family would park it by the lake and we’d have lunch,” Her eyes flickered shut for a moment, silencing the world around them for a change of scenery, “Red picnic blanket, fresh fruit - I was never big on chicken salad, but the way my mom made it, with almonds and cranberries tossed in? I’d always stuff my face until I could barely hike back home. I’d end up falling asleep, even if it was for a couple of minutes. I always felt safest there, in our little secret patch of nature. Like everything moved, breathed, co-existed the way it was supposed to. You know, even now, I feel… content in a way. Yeah a large part of the world has ended but, life is still going on. It doesn’t just stop because the food chain’s added another link. But, then again, that’s just the ramblings of a Scottsdalian loner/former-botanist. What do I know about the dead walking and all that, right?”

        THE WAY SHE SPOKE, THE terms she used and the confident tone with which they rolled off her tongue -- it was clear she had some experience in some sort of scientific field. that was as far as his guess went, and he hummed a small sound of agreement. “ english isn’t my first language. i’ll take whatever help i can get, ” he teased back, savoring the joviality of their conversation in a time when so many words spoken were uttered with an air of defeat. “ exactly. and trust me, if it weren’t for gertrude, i probably would’ve shot off my own foot by now. ” he paused, reflecting on the fate of the cities he’d grown familiar with over the years. “ i don’t imagine things have gone well, ” he said, slowly, as though it were sacrilegious to think badly of what had been some of the USA’s brightest stars. “ so many people in one place... ” teo’s lips thinned into a grimace at the image, shaking his head and looking down at his feet. his gaze rose again as she moved on to happier memories, the idyllic scene of a picnic by a lake bringing a ghost of a smile back to his face. “ that sounds lovely, ” he murmured, mouth watering a little at her description of the food. “ my мајка would pack me lunches every time i would head off for a shoot or a show -- i’d be waiting in the airport eating kompir mandza out of a thermos and stuffing my face with as many vanilici as possible before my flight. she used to say it was so i’d miss her cooking and always come home when i was done. ” he looked back down at his hands, a sharp pang in his chest at the thought of his mother. teo admired the woman’s hopeful words, as he himself always tried to find the best in things, especially now. “ no, i understand, ” he assured her, squinting slightly in the sun. “ and i’m sure you comprehend much more about this whole thing than i do. scientifically, at least. i learn fast when it comes to practical skills, but book smarts... ” he makes a face. “ i’ve never been great. i barely graduated high school -- though, to be fair, i missed a lot of it for work. but i’m sure you’ve got higher education coming out of your ears. a phD, perhaps? ”

[teodcr-blog]

@scvoy.

        HE HAD A ROUTINE -- enter, do a sweep, search methodically for anything that could possibly be of use, and get the hell out. teo had gotten far too used to this procedure even in such a short time, boots silent on the floor of the warehouse as his palms clutched the gun in his hands tighter than they probably should’ve. everything was quiet, but teo felt uneasy -- like someone was there, even if he couldn’t hear or see them. his suspicions were confirmed as he turned a corner and was faced with a literal example of tall, dark and handsome, but before teo could say so much as HELLO, a not-so-friendly addition to the party made its presence known. 

        “ behind you! ” teo barked, raising his gun and waiting the split second for the dark haired man in front of him to turn at the sound of his voice. as soon as he did teo fired twice in rapid succession, watching the walker sway slightly for a moment before thumping to the floor. he lowered the weapon and let out a shaky breath, the air catching in his throat when the man finally looked at him. it certainly wasn’t easy ( breathing, that is ) with eyes like that looking at him from underneath a shock of ink-dark hair that teo would’ve loved to sink his fingers into. shaking his head slightly as if it would clear such thoughts from his mind, teo swallowed dryly and gestured to the now-dead undead. “ a thank you wouldn’t be out of order. ” right. because acting the arrogant ass was the way to go about this. 

[teodcr-blog]

arosesxsweet:

“Trust me, it’ll increase your longevity more than you’d think. Grannies and undead have the highest rate of causing someone’s demise, after all,” Piper hummed uncertainly, tilting her head right and left as if assessing the statement. “She was a lil’ jumpy - nearly whacked my head off one night - but yeah, besides that she was pretty put together. In a not-at-all together way,” Her family always had a touch of chaos, more than those of her long-standing friends or other associates. “Bore me? Not possible, but alright,” Snorting with an emphatic nod, Piper grabbed another fruit and bit into the flesh, chewing around her words, “That’s some bad luck if I ever heard it. Macedonia, though, that’s no hop over the lake. You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself in a new place,” She cast her gaze forward, examining the expanse of land before them, “I grew up here. There are still a few places I’d know my way around if I were blindfolded, but it’s been more than a couple years since I’ve visited. Kind of feels like coming for the first time now that everything’s gone to shit," 

        “ IS THAT SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN? ” he joked, chuckling a little at the thought that he was equally likely to die by the hands of a grandma or one of the undead. “ served you right, if you startled her, ” he quipped, quoting the redhead’s own words from a few minutes prior. teo shrugged, as if to say what can you do, unintentionally matching her movements as he took his own bite of fruit. “ scottsdale is different -- i’m used to LA and new york city, mostly, where my agency had offices -- but i’m surviving. being in the desert has been... an adjustment. ” he tilted his head in interest as she spoke, almost imagining a younger version of the redhead without the worry lining her features, living in a place where the hot sun shined brightly on gleaming sidewalks instead of rotting flesh. “ what was your favorite place here? before... well, ” he trailed off, gesturing vaguely with a hand to imply all of this.