Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

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.]

Comments

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

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.

[stillstands]

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?

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

[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.]

[stillstands]

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.]

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

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.

[stillstands]

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.]

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

[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.]

[stillstands]

[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.]

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

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