cape_kore | 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Assuming right. [ Allison quirks a half smile of her own, a little less 'bright and sunny disposition' and a little more of a genuine, if a little wry. She's grateful though, seriously. It's nice to have a helpful and not antagonistic response - looking at you Gabriel. ]

You think so? I never got around to learning how to make one - I know it's not rocket science, but the help would be appreciated. [ More than Jo probably realises and a lot more than Allison is willing to let on. She feels naked without a bow available to her here, and getting that back would be a huge step in making her feel more comfortable here. There are people she needs to be able to protect, after all. ]

You did? Competitive or more casually?

Don't see why not. The design would be a pretty simple one, but it'd be functional. Fletching arrows isn't too hard, either.

[That part, she has experience with. The original quiver of arrows hadn't lasted forever, after all. She'd had to find a way to replace them. Luckily, she's handy with a knife.]

Definitely not casual, though I didn't compete for medals or anything. Uh -- sport.

[She smiles wryly in reply, mirror Allison's expression for a brief moment.]

My dad always meant to take me hunting with him. Didn't want me relying on bullets.

[Okay, that may not have been his intention, but that's how she always saw it. He'd wanted her to know how to defend herself from an early age. If he'd still been around, she would have made him take her with him.]

Yeah, I've been meaning to look into it for a while now, but - [ she kind of keeps getting busy having to save some werewolves lives ] ...stuff crops up. Life, you know.

[ Her dad had taught her too, in the early days. It had been Chris who had stood out with her when she'd picked up the first bow, with gentle words of encouragement despite her mother's stern glare. She'd always hated how much he'd coddled Allison, but he never seemed to care.

Now, maybe she wishes he'd been a little harder too, because Mom's dead and Dad's a killer, and auntie's a psychopath and grandpa is a manipulative murderer, and Allison is starting to struggle to count how many family members she has left at all, let alone on her side. Now she wishes he'd been tougher on her, because it would make this a hell of a lot easier if she didn't love him so damn much. He's all she has left, but he's sacrificing innocent people, and now because she's stuck here - he's going to get away with it. ]

Mine taught me too. [ But she really doesn't want to touch on that topic too much, so she's just going to push to swiftly move onto something a little more light hearted. Something a little less caught in death and destruction. ] I used to compete, these days it's...more sport too.

[ good job avoiding complicated topics there bro. ]

Yeah, I know. It's always something, right?

[Feels like a serious understatement, but that doesn't make it any less true. She gets being busy. Even before she took to the road and started hunting, there was never enough time to get to everything she would have liked to. To be honest, she was okay with that. She liked being occupied.]

Yeah? You hunt?

[In the most mundane definition of the word, of course. Right? Right.]

[ So mundane. So very painfully mundane that...she really sucks at lying and immediately looks slightly awkward. There's a moment where she just clears her throat, and then just gives a little shrug, sheepish smile in full effect. ]

Something like that, yeah.

[ but moving swiftly onwards because heaven's forbid anyone here find out about her deep dark werewolf hunting secret, right? Right. ]

Figured I can help get food, offer some kind of shred of protection, whatever I can really.

Anything would be appreciated.

[She gives a tight smile. Things have been rough around here lately.]

Food's been hard to come by lately. Things are getting scarce. The more people we have hunting and foraging, the better.

Yeah, Lydia- my friend, she mentioned. [ and that worries her, it really worries her, but she's not about to start panicking now. it's not the time. so instead she just nods at the information, memorises it, stockpiles it but doesn't dwell just yet. the freaking out can come later, when she's alone in her room and can express it properly (i.e. without anyone hearing). ]

So is there...what have you organised so far? just some hunting, or anything else?

There's a community garden. People are growing what they can. People also hunt and fish pretty regularly, but humans need more than just meat to survive. I'm not sure the garden can grow fast enough to get everyone what they need.

[She frowns a little. It's definitely cause for concern.]

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