first shot → video → day 103
[ It's fairly early when Allison poses her question to the network. Not obnoxiously so, just a little earlier than most would expect a teenager to be up of her own accord. She's already been for a run and there's a little evidence to show as much. She's just a little puffed, breathing returning to it's normal rate, and the clothes she's scavenged from the house aren't an ideal fit, but they're still closer to gym gear than the dress she'd arrived in (thanks scientists). Her hair is piled up in a loose bun on the top of her head, cheeks still just a little flushed, and she's only just at the door. She really should go inside and get herself sorted first, but network etiquette 101 is escaping her right now - and besides, the question is important.
There's a friendly smile at least, and for a moment she just eyes the feed a little, unsure of how to start. Finally it comes with a light clear of her throat and a sheepish look at the device on her wrist. ]
So I really hope this thing is working, or I'm going to look like an idiot. [ She laughs, a little awkward, and moves to sit down on the porch. The video jerks in response to the movement, but settles again once she does. ] I just have a quick question, nothing too taxing I promise.
[ She glances away for a second, a little stuck for how to pose the question without sounding like she's up to something, but finally just decides to bite the bullet. Everyone needs to defend themselves, right? That sea monster sure proved that. ]
I'm looking for a bow. Mine got...left behind, I guess, and I'd just- I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I had one. If anyone knows where there might be something like that around town or...God, even if you know how to make one, I'd really appreciate the pointers.
[ She pauses again, all awkward awkward Allison, and she's about to add something else.
Unfortunately at that point, the feed cuts out. Or perhaps fortunately, for the people listening. At that rate, they were going to be there all day. ]
There's a friendly smile at least, and for a moment she just eyes the feed a little, unsure of how to start. Finally it comes with a light clear of her throat and a sheepish look at the device on her wrist. ]
So I really hope this thing is working, or I'm going to look like an idiot. [ She laughs, a little awkward, and moves to sit down on the porch. The video jerks in response to the movement, but settles again once she does. ] I just have a quick question, nothing too taxing I promise.
[ She glances away for a second, a little stuck for how to pose the question without sounding like she's up to something, but finally just decides to bite the bullet. Everyone needs to defend themselves, right? That sea monster sure proved that. ]
I'm looking for a bow. Mine got...left behind, I guess, and I'd just- I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I had one. If anyone knows where there might be something like that around town or...God, even if you know how to make one, I'd really appreciate the pointers.
[ She pauses again, all awkward awkward Allison, and she's about to add something else.
Unfortunately at that point, the feed cuts out. Or perhaps fortunately, for the people listening. At that rate, they were going to be there all day. ]
[Action] (If that's okay!)
You're up bright and early. Everything okay?
[Action] of course!
Sorry, did I wake you? [ The time isn't anything unusual for Allison, she's been running at this time for quite a while now, but it hadn't actually occurred to her that it might be a problem for someone else living with her. She gives Anita a quick apologetic smile, rubbing a hand over the back of her neck. ] Just thought I'd make use of this thing, ask a couple of questions.
[Action]
You're fine. I was starting to wake up, anyway. It's just a process. Used to working all night until the sun comes up. Makes it hard to adjust.
[To put it mildly.]
Learn anything interesting?
[Action]
That everyone is very good at overusing a Robin Hood joke, mostly. [ Her fingers flex at her sides slightly, almost an unconscious movement, and she drops her gaze to look at her hand for a moment before flashing Anita a slightly strained smile. ] I miss my bows.
[ She misses all of her weapons, save the chinese ringdagger tucked into the back of her waistband. She won't go anywhere without it yet, still on high alert, and after a moment dwelling on that she just shrugs. ] There are worse problems here, though.
[Action]
[She was used to functioning on little to no sleep, really, but that didn't mean she liked it, or that getting started in the mornings was easy.]
I'm used to working through the night. Odd hours and all. It means sometimes I get to bed just before dawn and then woken up three hours later. You get used to it. Make due with what you can.
[She gives her a sympathetic smile in reply. She knows what it's like, missing your weapons.]
I know what you mean. I was lucky enough to get to bring my guns, but my ammo is limited. That's not sitting too well with me.
{Having them, though, was a huge step in the right direction. She slept with the Browning, after all.]
Yeah? Fill me in. Come on, I'm going to see if I can find anything that passes for decent coffee in the kitchen.
[action]
So far I've gotten a whole lot of nothing [ gabriel ] and some people determined to drive me nuts [ gabriel ] but there's been some good stuff. Apparently strange stuff happens here a lot. Inexplicable stuff.
[ And that shouldn't really be a comfort, but it is. She knows strange. She deals with strange quite well. She'd prefer a little break, sure, but she never was that good at retiring. ]
Oh- and apparently there's a pyromaniac. Because Heaven's forbid anything about this place makes any kind of sense. ]
[action]
[She smiles grimly as they head into the kitchen, beginning to rummage through the cupboards for anything that might suit their purposes but finding them mostly bare. Great.]
Is he just a normal pyromaniac?
[Because she's dealt with a pyro vampire, and that was pretty crazy. The regular sort, she can probably deal with.]
Or, you know -- is he monstery?
[action]
[ God, if only she knew just how well Anita could relate to her ideas of that. She's so convinced that she's alone, that she can't tell anyone. Sure, there's got to be other hunting families out there, but none like hers. None so prolific as hers, and besides, she's never met any of them anyway. She's used to a very select handful of people being aware of this, and that's that. No talking about it, no hinting, no nothing. ]
They didn't actually specify. This guy wasn't so helpful with the details, to be honest. Actually kind of the opposite.
[ But seriously Anita, tell her more about this monster mention you just dropped there, because Allison certainly looks more interested in a little subject change than anything else right now. ]
...Monstery?
[action]
You know. Like some kind of psychic or maybe a vampire or something that inherited a really weird gift from its line.
[There are all kinds of whacked-out vampire powers out there, but she has to admit, as dangerous as pyromancy is, she'd rather deal with another pyro-vamp than the kind that can rot themselves at will.
God. She didn't eat for two days after seeing that little sideshow.]