theairlock | Welcome to the Program

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Welcome to the Program

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

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[Well at least she... has a moment to be aware someone's entering the room or boy this, would go really badly. Badder than it's about to go, because when Miki turns around and sees... well.

...? She's not entirely sure what she's seeing. But the stitching is a stand out and the dull tone of the half of this person's skin is familiar enough that she instinctively freezes, and moves slowly and carefully to put the counter between herself and... whatever just entered the room.]

Oh hey there, you're... uh..

[She read the profiles like a few minutes ago, what were they again...? Zombina snaps her fingers on one hand as she remembers.]

Miki-chan right?

[Too forward? Shit maybe she should went with -san.]

Edited 2017-10-18 01:35 (UTC)

[Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnope. Still not getting anything out of her. In fact, Miki's just... moving further around the counter - slowly, like she's trying to avoid making any sudden or surprising movements. Her eyes keep darting back and forth, not dissimilar to a cornered animal - she's looking for an out, somewhere to run to. Or something to grab to defend herself with.

She's so deep in fight or flight mode that it takes her a moment or two to really, truly realise that the zombie is talking to her. Actually talking to her - not... disjointed noises, or groans. Words, actual words that ... make sense.

Her hand scrabbles a little and she grabs the nearest thing to her - a rolling pin, as it turns out - and brandishes it front of her like a warrior would a sword.]

H-How are you talking?

[It's... probably apparent this isn't the sort of a fear someone gets from watching too many horror films late at night. This is true, deep fear. Life or death kind of fear.]

Because talking is an thing that sentient species usually do?

[Oooookay then. Zombina knows by now that wow, different worlds, different states. Zombina frowns. The dislike of zombies on the profile and the girl's reaction to her....
could it be? Zombina holds her hands up to show she's not holding any weapons.]

I'm guessing that the zombies you're used to aren't like me, huh? More like the kind seen in movies and tv?

[On one had wow a legit zombie action survivor! On the other, shit it's an traumatized kiddo.]

They don't talk, you shouldn't be--

[Sentient. They were, sort of. One thing that had been apparent was how the zombies followed patterns - they went to school, work, the shops at the same times they'd always done. When she'd been alone in that mall, the survivors who hadn't perished in the fire and had ended up turning had roamed the corridors outside her safe room because it was what they knew. They knew to stay behind the barrier, but they'd turned and it wasn't safe anymore.

But they'd never talked. None of them, they didn't have the capacity for that. But they had awareness, slow and sluggish as it was. They knew sounds, movements, prey.]

-- You shouldn't be able to talk. [She's still holding the rolling pin front of her, but between the counter and the fact she hasn't been attacked... she's able to take some steadier, calming breaths and try to pull herself back under control. At least until she can make a run for it.]

I... It was nothing like a movie. [It was real.]

Well, I am, so there ain't really anything I can do ta change that, unless not talking would make ya more comfortable, buuuut I really don't like keeping quiet sooooooo, yeaaaah.

[NOooot the time Zombina!]

Ah. Oh. Well shit.

[WELP.]

Okay, I dunno if anyone's let ya know this yet, but all of if not most of us appear ta be from completely fucking different worlds. So uh, In my world, Zombies are just another liminal species. Or extra-species. Whatever ya wanna call 'em. I mean we're more of an condition than a species-

[Not the time for talking Zombina. Dealing with traumatized kid from zombie apocalypse probably.]

But aaaanyway! I assure ya that I am completely one hundred percent sane and not gonna bite ya anytime soon! So ya can put down the pin- or well, I guess feel free to keep it if it'd make ya feel safer. I wouldn't blame ya in this case.

Just... stop talking--[She screws her eyes shut and covers her ears, just for a moment. She can't let her guard down for a moment but she's looking at a creature that is too close to the undead back home, but it--she? she talks and thinks and... is trying to calm her down.

She needs a moment.]

Stop...

[Count to ten, count to ten. Deep breaths.

And when her breathing has settled and the panic isn't overwhelming her, she holds out the rolling pin again and glares at Zombina.]

You wouldn't get a chance to bite me. [SHE SOUNDS PRETTY FIRM ON THAT. But okay, let's take advantage of this, as much as she wants to run.]

Stay there. Don't c-come near me.

[Okay Miki. You can do this.]

What do you mean you don't bite people? It's instinct for you, isn't it?

[Zombina opens her mouth to reply and- Oh. Okay. She'll just close her mouth and keep quiet and still until she finishes.]

Nope. I mean, we zombies can bite people, but there's no urge ta do it like in movies.

[Thank frick.]

But even if we did, it wouldn't do shit unless you were already dying. Otherwise, the virus just doesn't work 'cause of the immune system.

[The more ya know!... Zombina... is not sure how well she is handling this. But..
just staying still and not making any sudden movement is probably smart.]

You bit everyone...!

[Not Well, is the answer. Despite attempts.]

I saw it, all of you just-- swarming people and when you'd had enough they'd changed. They--

[She takes a couple of steps back from the counter, further away. The hell it didn't infect people because of the immune system, she'd seen it happen and it was ruthless and merciless and never stopped. They were living in fear of just that - being bitten and turning.]

Not me. Hey uh-

[Zombina makes to take a step forward before remembering oh right traumatized kiddo, and moves back.]

Deep breathes kiddo. Deep breaths. Like I said, different worlds. Zombies from my place don't work like the zombies from yours.

Don't-- [Miki actually does take a step backwards, even when Zombina doesn't make that first step forwards.

She doesn't want to hear this. She doesn't need to hear this, it doesn't change anything she experienced or anything that happened to her friends and family back home. It doesn't change any of it.

Miki just sounds tired now.]

-- don't come near me. I can't... [She takes a deep breath - and it's shaky, and scared sounding.] I can't do this. I can't--

[And then she's backing up towards the exit out of the kitchen.]

[Zombina.... is starting to get the feeling that talking is not going to get her anywhere right now. She feels kinda shitty just leaving the kid like this though.]

Hey, uh.... I can leave if it'd like... make you feel better?

[She has nooooooo idea how to handle someone actually legitimately afraid of her.]

[Miki takes another couple of steps back and then... she's darting down the corridor leading away from the kitchen as fast as she can.

You tried Zombina but... this was never going to be an easy conversation.]

[Zombina just.... watches the kid go and sighs. She tried so hard, but in the end it ~~doesn't~~ didn't even matter.]

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