Please write scenes taking place inside the Big House when inside the building but not inside a specific thread space such as the Kitchen.

Any confusion? Please PM a GM.

Ricky warmed himself by the fire as the other man, Gary, went after Benson. *Apparently my question fell on deaf ears.* He pursed his lips and glanced around the now apparently empty building. He turned towards the empty kitchen and took a quick sniff of the air; nothing cooking. *I guess no breakfast today either. I wonder how low we're getting on food.* He could hear arguing coming from outside, definitely Benson and Gary going at it. He stared blankly at the fire. It was just one of those days.

"Sitting down, yet again, when you ought to be working. I thought people of your ethnicity built the railroads." Janice's familiar tone bounced off the dilapidated walls of the Big House interior as she stepped from one of the hollowed out rooms where she'd staked out her own sleeping territory. Surprising to her, no one wanted to share a room with her.

The nominally rotund woman had been reduced to mere plump by the lack of food, which, compared to the others, left her at a healthy weight. She narrowed her judgmental gaze towards Ricky as she walked forward to stand near the fire beside him, one of the lenses of her glasses were cracked. "Don't think I haven't been watching you and that troublemaker, Cass. I knew her types back in my day, and I know you as well. Make sure you two don't get too close, we don't need any babies around her to attract the biters."

Ricky tensed up as Janice's shrill voice filled the room with her normal holier-than-though routine. "The Chinese built the railroad Janice, I'm a mix of a few things but Chinese isn't one of them. As for work, if you got something in mind you need help with, just ask." *As if anything you would actually work on would be that tough.* He stretched once more as Janice approached the fire but he sank into his seat when she mentioned babies. He fumbled for a response. "Y-you've got it wrong! It's not like that! Not at all." A slight color rose to his cheeks. He'd never really thought of Cass in that way, at least he didn't think he did. "How exactly is she a troublemaker anyway? If you ask for my opinion, you're definitely worse as far as trouble is concerned."

Janice stood resolutely, hands on her hips as she heard Ricky's contrary sentiments. She had no substantive reply to Ricky's correction to her insult, moving on as she often did to any sign of weakness she could detect. Ricky becoming flush when Cass was mentioned drew the older woman's sinister ire and her mouth contorted into a quasi-grin. It was knocked away when Ricky commented that she was in some way personally deficient rather than Cass, a silly girl who had fallen into a hole in the ground.

"I've seen her giving those looks to you, don't lie to me boy, and then glaring at me, I know bitch-resting-face when I see it. She's gonna be the end of this group, thank the lord I am here." She fanned herself with one stout hand, giving her some relief from the heat of her temperament.
"And how dare you speak to your elder like that! Y'know, I kind of wish YOU were the one eaten by those.. those things, instead of Doug. At least that boy knew to keep his mouth closed!"

Normally, Ricky would have easily ignored Janice's snarls. Maybe it was the lack of food, maybe it really was just one of those days, but for some reason Ricky just couldn't let Janice's last comment go. "Don't you talk about him! You don't get that right!" He was on his feet in an instant and in Janice's face in another. "You stand there judging everyone; calling us lazy, good-for-nothing sinners yet I don't see you helping out much. You're not out there for the raids. You're not killing those things. You sit at camp, complain, eat, and complain some more. The only reason you've lived this long is because we've let you live like this. I was out there for months before I met the Caravan. Months! By myself. Do you really think you've got what it takes to live like that!? How long can your useless, fat ass make it out there!?" He took a step back to calm himself, his face conflicted with a mix of anger, some surprise, and a slight confusion. He never thought he had that in him. Whatever it was, it felt great to finally get that off his chest. He stared at the large woman he just insulted, waiting to see how she would respond.

Sarah has been with the group a few months. Long enough to know, or at least been in earshot of Janice. As she walked down the hall, Sarah could hear the yelling in the next room very clearly. Ricky was laying into Janice and while Sarah didn't hear the whole argument she caught the very end of it.

A mental cringe swept over her and if she were watched Sarah would have looked like a cat on her paws who just heard a loud bang. She was conflicted, unsure whether to intrude or not. For a moment there was silence, perhaps due to Ricky's surprising outburst. She didn't know Ricky to burst out like that, though to be honest she didn't know any of them super well. 2-3 months of walking around and talking isn't enough time to gauge a mans character.

Ok, maybe I can help Sarha thinks to herself and loudly strolls down the hallways as if to say "Someone is coming, chill out" at least that was her hope. She walked into the room nonchalantly or at least trying to act like she didn't hear what was going on.

"Hey guys, would one of you like to help me find a good place to plant some seeds?" Sarah said, hoping to split them up. She did need help deciding what and if she should even plant food with what seeds she had. She wasn't sure if or how long they were staying there. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to even start a garden here. But, it was a good excuse to help diffuse the situation. "Janice, you seem like you'd be a good eye for something like this. What do you say?"

A more sour look than usual crossed Lorenzo's face upon discovering much of the room was already occupied by several other members of the ragtag group of survivors. Joining the group in the winter, he was familiar with most of the people here but he often got the impression he hadn't gotten off to as great of a start as he could have. Yeah, he'd probably be dead if they hadn't taken him in. But he still didn't see why he should blubber at their feet and start kissing their shoes. He and his old crew? They would've eaten this gang for breakfast. Not literally, of course. With a penchant for violence, he hadn't appeared to have any issues with helping the crew in the nitty-gritty of undead defense and though he wouldn't admit, they were growing on him. Slightly. Of course, growing affections hadn't done much to spare anyone from Lorenzo's extremely short temper.

An almost habitual smoker he shook a cigarette absent-mindedly from its package, listening to the arguing from a distance but not processing much. His dark eyes seemed to be more intensely focused on searching for a free chair than the other people gathered there. Ricky, the big lady... With an exasperated sigh and a contradictory broad smile, Lorenzo sauntered into the doorway behind Sarah and leaned against the frame. He listened to Sarah's open offer to Janice before piping up.

"Seeds? That's the word in this fuckin' rat-trap today, ladies and gentlemen? Good shit, but I'm kinda concerned with the fact we been slurping down mystery-meat broth for who knows how long." he smirked, squinting at his companions in a way that was almost predatory. He had a slight Spanish accent and somehow always managed to speak with a cocky sort of grandeur, and today was no exception. He shifted against the doorframe, unlit cigarette bouncing up and down between his lips as he spoke. "Mind if I tag along with the plant thing? I'm bored out my skull. And besides, I'm a regular Johnny Appleseed, Sarah," he claimed, offhandedly offering his assistance. If there was a new bed needing to be dug he could do it, no problem, but he'd never really gotten the hang of gardening.

In reply to Lorenzo (msg # 8):

Sarah looked at Lorenzo and smiled, not expecting anyone else to be nearby he likely didn't know her real ploy was to simmer down the hostilities in this room "Oh course, you can help. Janice or Ricky would you like to help look for a good spot and dig as well? I don't have a lot of seeds. I am not sure if any of them will even give fruit to be honest." She says dissappointed "I only have half a packet of each, tomatoes, apples and sunflowers. I mean, if you guys think we will be here for months and months we should plant them..." Sarah is lost in thought "I mean if we end up leaving I suppose I could find a make shift pot around here to transport the plants for us..."

Janice backed away one step as Ricky stood up and quickly closed the distance to roar at her. She sputtered at first and then fell silent as Ricky listed off a variety of complains he had about her. The older woman stared unblinking at him, taken aback considering how Ricky usually responded, though this was no guarantee she was going to profit from the reprimand/lesson given her. Her lips quivered slightly, and she was silent briefly before her mouth began to twist into something akin to a snarl once she'd processed the tirade laid out against her.

Sarah's incoming footsteps gave her pause and a reason to further formulate some sort of response to the anger pouring off of Ricky, someone she'd believed was a layabout immigrant type. She crossed her arms over her ample chest as the other woman suggested she join in some seed work.
Eyes narrowing through the broken glasses on her face, she grimaced at Sarah, "A good eye for it? Is that supposed to be some sort of dig at me?" She steamed, self conscious and constantly inconvenienced about her one workable glasses lens.

When Lorenzo's working man form entered the room Janice was having none of it. It seemed like she couldn't go anywhere without being surrounded by people she didn't like, though no one escaped her ire, really.

"Why don't all three of you go tend the dirt where you belong? Just like when America was going downhill, here I am stuck with immigrants on all sides, laying around, asking their Betters to do all of the work while getting none of the credit." Janice chuffed scornfully, full of self pride, not the most tolerant person at the best of times even. "Maybe this apocalypse wouldn't have happened if y'all had followed the Lord's word to begin with, and stayed out of our country as well!"

Sarah & Janice



"Whatever you say, girly. You're the plant expert," Lorenzo replied breezily. "I don't mind makin' runs. Lemme know what you need and I can grab that shit when I'm out." He was bit amused at how flustered Sarah seemed as she rattled on about her seeds. It couldn't be that complicated right? Couldn't they just toss 'em in the ground? He was never one for things that required patience even before the end of the world, and Sarah's passion for gardening was a little lost on the brash man. He rolled his shoulders, and looked like he was about to say more. Hell, he was feeling a bit more cooperative than usual until Janice decided to open her trap.



As Janice spoke, Lorenzo maintained the same faint smirk he had worn moments ago when speaking with Sarah, but something shifted. His expression seemed to more closely related to an animal baring its teeth. His buttons were pretty easy to push and once Janice completed her tirade the violent reaction was instantaneous.

"Me cago en Dios y en la puta Virgen, maleta," Lorenzo snarled rapidly at the woman, hoping to further insult her by dropping the use of the Queen's English. He pushed himself off the door-frame, gesturing wildly as he spoke. The way he was glaring it her looked like he was trying to bore a hole through her skull. "You think you're funny, huh, you retarded bitch? 'Cause you ain't gonna be too funny when you're picking your teeth up offa the floor."

There was rarely a time where he and Janice could be together in a room without breaking into a spat, and this was looking to be no exception. He was not one for swallowing his pride, or shutting up for that matter. Oblivious to Sarah's intentions to defuse the tension when she entered the room, it now looked like Lorenzo would make good on his threat to Janice if no one intervened.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Fri 27 Mar 2015.

Listening to Janice turn a request or even a compliment inside out into an insult was no new thing to her. Sarah was all to used to Janice doing so, she had only hoped that maybe it would be different this time. "Janice, what is really your issue here? I wasn't making fun of you I was paying you a compliment. You said that you were a hard worker, I was going to work hard alongside you." Sarah sighed in a way that just showed she wanted to give up, but she tried to stay resolute "Look, if you want us to work. Fine. I was offering for you to join us in doing so, so that we can maybe bond as a team. If you haven't noticed, we aren't eating you alive right now. You can be a bigot towards the zombies out there, not us."

When she heard Lorenzo turn angry so quickly Sarah jumped back a bit in surprise. She never faced discrimination in her life, at least at a level that she couldn't shake off. It was clear Lorenzo was having none of it and perhaps that was a sign he had a history of people looking down on him. These thoughts all ran through her head while she thought of a way to still diffuse the situation. "H-Hey guys... guys" she stammered, but her being probably the smallest person the room, her words felt equally as small. Her failed attempts to simmer down the situation only made it worse, she felt.

"Okay, Janice. If you don't want to be around us. Then I suppose you can leave this room to be alone. Because at this point I can't see this situation getting very good for anyone involved. I would like to be here for you, because there aren't many humans left on this earth and I am trying to be nice. But you have to be kind back. That is the only way you can survive." Sarah says, being very flustered. It was obvious by her tone and expression on her face. Her brow pinched downward in her upset feeling that she couldn't fix the 'Us vs Them' mentality of the situation "And that wasn't a threat, that isn't some twisted way to insult you. I think its just better if you leave the room." she finished, never raising her voice but obviously strung out from the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Fri 27 Mar 2015.

Ricky seemed to relax a little as he noticed Sarah. He immediately recognized her attempt to diffuse the situation for what it was; it was comical to him, but completely unnecessary. The screaming was just screaming, venting frustration built up from poor conditions, low food, and a terribly mistimed ill-remark by Janice. He would have laughed at the whole situation if he hadn't noticed Lorenzo enter as well. It wasn't that he didn't get along with the man, it was simply the fact that everyone in the group knew of Lorenzo's hot temper by this point.

The talk of a possible garden piqued Ricky's interest since he had some experience with maintaining a backyard garden before Zombieland. Something about the planting, watering, and general care-taking of the plants gave him a strange sense of satisfaction; add to that the fact that they could really use the food and you have a great motivation for settling down for a few months. While these fleeting thoughts ran through his head, Janice did what Janice does best. The large woman was like an immovable object, there was no real getting through to her and she had the perfect knack for pissing everyone off, especially the people you don't want to piss off. And just like clockwork, Janice ran her mouth yet again and Ricky found himself having to protect the women he had just berated moments ago. In a second, Ricky placed himself between Lorenzo and Janice. Though not physically imposing, he found himself strong enough to at least hold back Lorenzo from lashing out at the woman.

"Okay, okay. C'mon, calm down. Let's just go outside and try to find a spot for the garden, yeah?" Ricky tried to calm Lorenzo over the man's screams. *Kinda wish I took Spanish in high school now instead of French.* He gave the man a moment to clear his head before speaking again, holding him back from hurting Janice the entire time. "You know how she is. Just don't worry about it. _{If it was up to me, we would have kicked her out months ago.} Let's just go outside and look for that spot. She's not worth that extra energy, man." Ricky tries to lead Lorenzo out to the Courtyard.

"Oh, yeah! I'll look for a spot alright!" Lorenzo proclaimed loudly, trying to maneuver around Ricky to throttle Janice. He was riled, but luckily for Ricky not in a blind rage and wasn't about to plow through the younger man yet. He settled for continuing to hurl threats, trying to poke his head around Ricky and narrowing his dark eyes at Janice. "I'm gonna find a spot for your grave, lady, and you best hope I don't got enough time dig somethin' so massive!" he continued to shout, his threats now bordering on non-nonsensical. "And on your gravestone- on it I'ma write: here lies Janice! A kooky ass white bitch who died doin' what she loved, not knowin' when to shut her dried up old mouth!" he hollered over his shoulder. "You really gonna keep taking that shit, man?" he asked Ricky. His volume was still loud, but he allowed Ricky to corral him into the Courtyard.

He was still fuming even as he exited the Big House. He'd had enough with self-inflated white folks way before the apocalypse had happened, and now that there was no law he didn't see why he still had to swallow his pride. At least if he had kept his mouth shut before, he'd get paid. Now what was the pay-off? He still couldn't believe the disrespect Janice had consistently doled out over these months, and he seemed to be the only one who would act on it. Back in his old crew, that shit didn't fly. You had beef with someone? You settled it mano a mano, you didn't slink around with your tail between your legs. He still fully didn't get why Ricky was being so passive when they could have finally given Janice the what for. As far as he saw it, it wasn't Janice having some sort of mental problem or her inability to cope with this new world turning her nasty. It was a matter of no one ever showing Janice her place before, and he wasn't going to tolerate it forever.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
---> Greenhouse

---

This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Sat 04 Apr 2015.

Janice took a small step back, tensing as Lorenzo lunged at her like a pitbull, her hand slipped inside of her pocket, ready to withdraw something, presumably a weapon, not much but pointy. She was taken aback but resolute in her position she felt she acquired in the group hierarchy. To her surprise Ricky intervened with Lorenzo, bringing the animal of a man to heel before he got too close. In response to the threats she glared, grimacing at the man as Ricky escorted himself and Lorenzo out of the room and then the building. It took all of her self restraint not to yell something at the man as he was beckoned away, perhaps secretly knowing that it might bring him back full force if she continued, or maybe she was saving her best material..

Sarah had been trying to settle down the situation the entire time, and Janice, like Lorenzo had largely ignored her endeavor. Janice didn't appreciate being scolded by the younger woman, "Excuse me? Last time I checked, I was one of the original people in this Caravan. I have seniority, not only in years but in time in this group, and y'all ought to answer to your elders if you wanna get through this mess of a world." Janice huffed, hand leaving her pocket now that Lorenzo was gone, with both her ample arms crossing over her front. She closed the distance between Sarah and herself, her girth brushing up against the other woman a bit as she invaded personal space, "Lets get this straight- the only people leaving around her are gonna be you and the other immigrants who are only here to work. Things like that don't change, not even after the biters took over this God-fearing country." She narrowed her gaze. "Temporary. Foreign. Workers. Bitch. And don't think I haven't seen you giving lovey-dovey eyes to the men, its disgusting!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Sun 29 Mar 2015.

In reply to Janice (msg # 15):

"I can't believe it. Every little thing I say to you doesn't work." Sarah throws her hands up shortly in a show of a white flag. She gave up on Janice. Rather she left towards and area to find a good spot to start planting. Sarah was going to get something done today. She wasn't going to try and change Janice's weak view points.

-> To the greenhouse
This message was last edited by the player at 04:23, Mon 30 Mar 2015.

----> Canal and Perimeter

Dom took his time with the walk back to the main part of the compound; there was no real rush to get going just yet and he still hadn't quite fully recovered from carrying the body away.
Upon arriving at the compound he made straight for his sleeping area in order to collect the handful of personal possessions he still owned namely his rucksack with the expanded first aid kit in it as practically everything else of value or use was already on him. If someone told me that I could live with only what I could carry in my pockets I would have laughed at them he thought as he shrugged the rucksack over his shoulders.
Locating an accelerant however proved to be a somewhat harder task and resulted in quite a bit of time searching the uninhabited part of the old factory until he finally came across a can of what he presumed had been paint stripper or something. It was kind of hard to tell under all of the rust and muck but the orange "Highly Flammable" sticker was there so he figured it should do the trick.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Sat 18 Apr 2015.

From: Canal and Perimeter -------->

Lizzie walks alongside Mortimer still holding his hand cheerfully smiling as they make their way inside and toward the main room. "Mortimer why can't we go on the run? They could use our help couldn't they? I mean seriously why...."

She pauses as they turn the corner and see the Janice bitch. They never met Janice face-to-face as they followed other peoples advice steered clear. But now there she was and there was no going back as Lizzie was sure they were spotted. She couldn't be that bad right?

"Umm... I don't think we've met. I'm Lizzie and this is Father Mortimer." She says this shyly, motioning to the priest holding her hand.

----->From Canal and Perimeter

Hank hadn't seen Tom on the walk back, then again last he knew the kid was on the other side of the compound. Any other time not having him in eye sight would sent Hank into a panic, but knowing he was with Joe helped a lot. Going to their room, the park's old mail room if the wording etched on the glass was anything to go by, he leaned against a wall. Stomach growling he wondered if it'd be worth it to try and fish. More stuff to look out for in town. Shaking his head he went behind the divide he had set up using a tarp and overturned table. It wasn't much but it gave them some extra privacy. Rummaging through his bag he found the extra backpack, salvaged from a body claimed by the cold. Opening a drawer he pulled out the can of rations he'd been saving and put the candy from earlier in. It'd taken some time but with his knife he'd been able to reinstall the drawer upside down, giving him a nice little hidey hole. Tossing the sunglasses in along with the can he replaced everything before heading back out. Passing the entrance to the main room he noticed Mortimer and Lizzie had run into Janice. He knew it was probably wrong but a part of him wanted to see how this played out. Nodding to the pair he stepped over to the fire, holding his damp sleeves up to let them dry.

With the can of hopefully highly flammable liquid quietly sloshing in his hand Dominic slowly made his way back to where he said he'd meet the others. However upon entering the room he couldn't help but grimace at the sight of Janice. They'd never gotten along and he was surprised that nobody had killed the bigoted old hag. Unfortunately it seemed that like Sam, Janice was a cockroach and completely un-killable.
With her back to him Janice thankfully shouldn't have seen the face he had pulled allowing him to walk past both her and Lizzie to stand by Hank "The one Euro coin in my pocket says an argument breaks out within thirty seconds of her opening her mouth" he whispers to Hank, the paramedic interested to see how things would pan out hey maybe they'll get on, he is a priest after all though something made him doubt they'd be that lucky "Have you worked out what you'll need for that plan of yours? Only we may be able to pick some of it up whilst looking for food" Dom asked; changing the subject away from Janice and the others but still keeping half an eye on the proceedings. After all without TV watching other people’s arguments had become the number one past time of the apocalypse.

Canal & Perimeter-->

Karen came in after Hank and Dominic, first having gone to collect her jacket from the canal, though, after the workout they'd just had, she didn't need it. She stopped by the wash basin to take some of the grime from that body off her hands, and wipe the sweat from her brow. She crossed the floor to where Dominic and Hank stood. "Why don't we invite Janice on the raid? Maybe something terrible will happen to her." Karen flashed an excited little smile at the thought of being rid of the wretched woman. She walked away giggling. She proceeded off into the back of the warehouse where her "bedroom" was situated. It was a few old crates and stacks of boxes forming one wall and a strung up blue tarp forming the other wall and the door. Karen tossed her APD jacket onto her bed, which was a few layers of flattened cardboard boxes and a scratchy blue moving blanket. Karen traded her black tank and olive cargos for a pair of jeans and warm shirt. The weather was getting nicer every day now. It was good. But Karen wondered if Kaidan was feeling the same weather. She dug an old photo of her boy out of her coat pocket and sat on her cardboard bed with her boot laces undone, staring at his face for a couple minutes. She wasn't sure she had tears left anymore.

Karen put away the photo and cinched tight her boot laces and strapped on her duty belt. The gun she still carried had no bullets, all of them having been used long ago, but sometimes you could find a bullet or two here and there, and it was good to have in an emergency. Sometimes you could scare off a guy just by showing him it. The other things in the belt were also handy and Karen couldn't convince herself to leave home without them. Flashlight, handcuffs, and of course the telescopic nightstick. All very handy out on the road.

Karen grabbed an empty back pack and returned to the common area to fill up a couple water bottles. "Dominic, who else is coming out with us?"

I'm hungry, not stupid. Hank mostly succeeded in keeping the smirk off his face at Dom's wager. Janice seemed to have a way of setting even the most relaxed people off without much effort. Raising an eyebrow at Karen's seemingly cheerful mood when she mentioned something happening to the other woman he looked to Dom, not sure what to make of it. Though didn't they say you didn't have to outrun whatever was chasing you, just the person next to you.

Well, it depends on what we can salvage from the truck and chopper. We'll need a lot of wire, an inverter if we can find one, maybe a toaster or two, a bike to start with... Hank rubbed his sleeves together, running through potential supply needs through his head as he stared at the flames. If we find a car that isn't rusted out that'd be a big plus. Looking back to Dom, You see Tom on your search for that? He nodded to the rusty can.

“Don’t tempt me” Dom replied with a quiet chuckle as Karen gleefully suggested taking Janice with them and arranging an “accident”.The idea wasn’t a new one and Dom had wiled away many an hour daydreaming about how he could rid himself of the horrid woman. However daydreaming was one thing, carrying it out was another thing entirely and it was something that still didn’t quite sit well with him.
As Karen disappeared towards her sleeping area, Hank listed out the items he needed for his plan most of which thankfully from what Dominic could gather would be easy enough for them to find “I’d forget about the chopper, it’s in a worse state than the truck” it still felt sacrilegious to Dom to have left his chopper to rust to death but after they’d pulled all the bodywork off of it to repair the buildings the winter hadn’t wasted any time in corroding the inner workings meaning that the chances of finding anything worth having was a long shot “...As for Tom... no, afraid not... though I was in the factory looking for this” he said nodding his head the direction of the uninhabited part of the building.
It was at this point that Karen returned to join them; asking if there were any more people joining them “As far as I know it’s just us three and the Cowboy, so unless there is anybody else you think we should bring along I say we get going” he replied looking between Hank and Karen to see if either of them had anything more to add. If not then he’d head for the door and get this show on the road

In reply to Lizzie Daniels (msg # 18):

Janice rolled her eyes as Dominic entered the big house with some of the other 'unlikeables' as she secretly referred to most everyone. She'd steered clear of the the troublesome immigrants she'd dealt with before, but only because she did her very best stewing alone. It was a wonder she was so effective, considering how often the multi-colored trash of the group interrupted her tranquility.

When the little girl Lizzie and the priest approached Janice was a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand she adored little one's for their innocence, while being simultaneously appalled that an urban gangster was dressed in the robes of a holy man. She wasn't Catholic either, which made his apparel even more dubious to her Evangelical sensibilities.

"I know who you are, Suzie. I hope you and I become fast friends.." Janice smiled, her rotund features tensing as she did so, making her eyes a little squinty through her glasses, one of which had a cracked lens. She was almost grandmotherly, and unaware she'd called the girl by a different name, which she often did with little girls; every one of them was Suzie to her.

"Mortimer." She straightened up to look at Mortimer then, purposefully omitting the 'Father' title. He had at least a couple things pertaining to his overall character she found repulsive to her standards, yet managed some passive-aggressive courtesy despite her tendency to go for the jugular. "Do keep a close watch on the little one, but not too close. After all men of the Pope's Church have a bad reputation when it comes to children."

<< From: The Greenhouse <<

Ricky was surprised to see most of the group hanging around the fire; the room had been near empty just moments ago. He noticed Janice was still around, no real surprise there, and made sure not to initiate eye contact as he walked to Dom. He arrived just as the man said "get going" and was a little relieved he had already planned a run to town. "Oh good, we were just about to ask about that." Ricky motioned to Lorenzo and Sarah, who he presumed were right behind him still. "We were hoping to find some more seeds and garden soil at one of those home improvement shops or something. If you don't mind us tagging along, of course."

In reply to Ricky Robes (msg # 25):

<< From: The Greenhouse <<

It seems Sarah came in at the right time, catching the group as they were about to all go out "Absolutely, we should all go. The more the merrier and hopefully safer." Sarah says mirroring Ricky's sentiment about wanting to get soil.

Mortimer watched as a group gathered in his line of sight probably the run group. Once Janice started to talk he found her an oddity at best but not as bad as he was expecting. Maybe the group was exagerating the woman's attitude. He wasn't offended by her comment either and Mortimer takes a kind and calm tone as he speaks, "Yes of course I will look after Lizzie. Nobody else did even before Zombieland."

Then he looks to the woman with compassion in his eyes as he contemplates something before speaking, "I can't always watch her though. Could you help me protect Lizzie? I mean really protect her. She'll need more than just me to keep her safe and I'm willing to trust you to do this with me."

Lizzie just about yells at Janice when she says the mean things to Mortimer but when he asks her to help him even after Janice said a mean thing she can't help but calm down and looks curiously at the woman to see her reaction. Lizzie realized that Mortimer was trying to give this woman a job and that was smart. Maybe it would even get Janice off the groups shit list.

She even gives Janice a big smile to soften the woman. "Mortimer is right. I'm sure a woman like you could help keep me safe. I need another woman to about girl stuff anyway."

With his hand automatically reaching for the gun at his hip, Dom jumps slightly at Ricky's unexpected arrival; his attention having been fixed on Karen and Hank rather than the doors "Seeds? Oh for the greenhouse! sure I've no problem with you guys tagging along" he said looking over at Karen and Hank to see if either of them had any objections to Ricky and the others tagging along "...though you'd better go grab your stuff as we're going in like...well...now. We'll meet you at the perimeter, just look for the smoke and you'll find us" he finished; smiling at the slightly macabre joke as he sloshed the can of whatever the hell it was "Come on guys we'd best go meet with the cowboy before he goes without us" Dom said signalling for the others to follow him as he made his way out the door, confident that the rest of the group would catch up with them before they left for the raid.

---> Canal & Perimeter

In reply to Dominic Dubreton (msg # 29):

"Excellent. I'll tag along and meet you there." Sarah replied to Dominic, she just has a sharp spade as a weapon and not much else. Maybe they could find something to haul extra soil with them during the trip. Sarah followed behind Dominic towards the perimeter.

It had been awhile since Sarah was out on a run. Partially she wanted to go so she didn't get soft in case she was ever disconnected from her group.

-> Canal & Perimeter

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
---> From Greenhouse

---

"Gotta grab my shit. I'll meet you there, girly," Lorenzo smirked, patting Sarah on the shoulder as she passed him to follow Dominic.

He maintained the same cocky grin as he regarded the rest of the gathering in the Big House, shark-like, as if he was sizing them up. Mortimer's pleasant reaction to Janice struck him as weird as Hell, and it wasn't a tactic he had ever used against the woman. The priest might be a bit of a push-over compared to the people Lorenzo was accustomed to, but anyone who took the time to care for some random girl was alright in his books. When he was that age he'd been having the shit kicked out of him by people he was supposed to trust, and it made him a lot less tense to see how gentle Mortimer was with the kid.

The self-assured smirk was faltering slightly observing the girl and her impromptu guardian trying to make peace with Janice, and- whatever, Lorenzo had things to do anyway. No time for mushy, nostalgic garbage. Bouncing exuberantly off the doorway he had been occupying, Lorenzo hurried off to the small room in the Big House he had staked his claim over to gather his possessions. In no time he collected a dirty looking backpack (empty, aside from a jacket), a long knife which he secured to his belt, and an SKS in a sling across his back. Not that it had enough ammo to be helpful, but it was good for scaring human enemies. Ready enough. He zipped excitedly back down the hallway to meet up with the rest of the group.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
--> To Canal and Perimeter

---

This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Fri 24 Apr 2015.

Hank fought back the urge to face palm at Janice's mention of clergy and kids. He almost turned to remind her it wasn't girls the church had trouble with, nor all priests. Mortimer's response, where one would expect anger, was the opposite. Quietly Hank kicked himself for not taking the bet earlier. Maybe Janice had finally met her match.

Turning at Ricky and the other's approach he just shrugged at Dom's questioning look. More people meant they would be able to carry more stuff back, and he'd seen enough to know Lorenzo was good to have around if things got hairy. Watching the others head to wait or grab gear he turned to Ricky before he went off also. Hey Ricky, you seen Tom? I want to let him know we're heading out for a bit.

In reply to Lizzie Daniels & Mortimer Henry:

Janice' small dark eyes almost seemed to peer into Mortimer's very soul as she surveyed his person for any sign of weakness that she could dig her claws into. It was tough work being the moral conscience of the group, yet she didn't let the weight of the responsibility get her down for too long. With so few moral upstanding Christians around she was going to have to pull the weight for her people, the true people of 'Merica.
She practically chuffed when Mortimer asked for her assistance in protecting Lizzie, giving her little to go off of, though if she had to she could find plenty. "Of course I can help, not that I need your permission anyway. This girl belongs with her own people, you know. What people will think seeing a man with your.. complexion, toting this poor sweetie around this crazy messed up world is something I can hardly bear to contemplate."
Janice' disposition softened a little when Lizzie addressed her in the adorable, wholesome way that little girls did to their motherly figures. Squatting down to the little one's eye level Janice smiled brightly, her face flush as it often was. "Well aren't you sweep as maple syrup? I think we will be best friends, Suzie." She replied, missing Lizzie's real name again but maintaining a friendly countenance. "Later you and I should spend some quality time. Maybe meet me in the Greenhouse and we can talk girl-to-girl." She giggled like a schoolgirl, a plump arm reaching out to give Lizzie's dimpled cheek a brief tug of affection before rising to stand once more.

"Mortimer.." The rotund woman's face turned bleak and disgruntled as she said what was to her a goodbye to a man like the good Father before turning and slowly walking out of the room. The air had gotten stale with all of her irritating group around.

-to Caravan Greenhouse
This message was last edited by the player at 03:50, Sat 25 Apr 2015.

"Sorry, haven't seen him around. He might be with Brady or Joe. Maybe the others know." Ricky replied briefly to Hank's question before running to the sleeping quarters to grab some things for the raid. "Hey Cass, I'm going on a run to town with Dom and the others." He called out, not sure if the girl was around or maybe still sleeping. He grabbed a medium sized hiking pack they found from a previous raid and stowed a water bottle, about ten feet of rope, a small foot-long crowbar, and a pair of bolt cutters inside. He secured a hatchet to his belt before strapping on the hiking pack and grabbing his baseball cap and bandana. "Be good while I'm gone." He called out again, playfully.

>> To: Canal and Perimeter >>

Cass had taken some time to recover both emotionally and physically from the events preceding and during the Fort Dixie episodes, but thankfully had had Ricky to stick close to for reassurance that not all people were bad, and that there was a life beyond what happened. The bandits under Colton Black-Rabbit had slaughtered and scalped her entire family and the rest of their group. She escaped only to fall into a pit dug by those.. monsters. She would have been devoured by biters or found by the very men who killed her people yet the Caravan had found her first, and rescued her. Ricky had spearheaded that effort, and she never forgot. It had been harder to warm to other members of the Caravan, and in truth she knew not that she belonged, but she knew how to pick friends, for true friends/allies were few and far between.

"Stay safe, Ricky." She answered him from the room where several Caravaneers shared accommodations, for both safety and warmth. Leaning against the doorway, the young lady who had seen too much stood watch over the departing group. When Ricky bade her goodbye, advising she be good while he was away, she couldn't help but smile, in her modest way, warm to her rescuer, but ever with an underlying doubt that such raids would end well. "It's not me you have to worry about.." Cass commented quietly to just herself really, after Ricky was already moving out the door. Her words had multiple meanings.

In reply to Ricky Robes (msg # 34):

Thanks. Hank replied, watching Ricky head off. He knew if there were anybody his brother would be with it would most likely be Joe, maybe NM if he stayed around after telling them of the floater. He didn't want to leave without giving Tom a head's up, but he also didn't know how soon Dom was planning on leaving.

With Janice's "complexion" remark Hank just dropped his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Waiting a second to give the woman a head start he turned to Mortimer. I'm going to see if I can find Tom, if I can't can you let him know I headed into town with the others? After hearing the priest's answer he headed back out, crowbar in hand.

--->To Canal and Perimeter
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Mon 27 Apr 2015.

Mortimer wasn't irritated with the remark Janice made but he wasn't pleased with the womans old-school behaviors. That stuff needed to die in this world but perhaps it was just instinct for her to act this way. Could be a trauma where she lost 'Suzie' affecting her psyche to blame. He couldn't help but smile as she treated Lizzie well and he waves good-bye as Janice departs and as Hank asks him to keep an eye he nods, "Will do Hank."

Mortimer looks around as the room emptied fast and he heard his stomach rumble. Mortimer hadn't eaten the past two days and knew he would eat today but clearly was anxious to have anything. He turns to Lizzie as she giggles at the rather loud growl. "I'm going to find Loa for my food. Why don't you go talk to Janice. You may not like her much but clearly she cares about you. We could use that to our advantage. I'll meet you over by Hector's lookout point when your done."

Hector was someone Mortimer respected and him and Lizzie made it a habit to talk to him every couple afternoons since the pair arrived and it had become a bit of a code word which sounded more official than rooftop. He then turns toward the Kitchen and wanders there hunger occupying his mind.

To Kitchen---->

Lizzie looked strangely at Janice as she reached to touch her cheek and it took effort for her not to push it away but she became relieved as she just pulled on it kindly and she made a funny face to emphasise the gesture. She was upset with her second comment about Mortimer though and mocked her departing words as she left, "Janice."

When she heard Mortimer's stomach she giggled but then felt guilty. She had taken part of his last ration due to hunger and he had just blew it off. She almost wished he got mad and hit her or yelled at her. She was thinking about that as he walked away and she forgot what had said but heard him mention Hector so she wandered to find him. Probably was on lookout duty and at his lookout point.

To Compound-------->

With Mortimer's question anwered he heads to his sleeping area and sits to contemplate biblical reasons this situation came upon them. Mortimer had always wondered if this was God's wrath or that the survivors were chosen to continue while others had fallen away from God. Mortimer figured Lizzie would still be talking to Janice so he continues his contemplations as he finds himself drifting off into an impromptu nap.

---> The Compound

Entering the big house as it was affectionately called; Dominic followed Mahmoud over to where Izzy was waiting for them within the old factory "Hey Izzy, did you miss me?" Dominic said with a mischievous smile before settling himself down on a nearby workbench; glad to be able to take the weight off of his feet after such a long walk "Well you'll be happy to hear, we all came back in one piece and managed to find some food and meds for our stores, so we won't be starving today at least" he continued with a slight chuckle, deciding to fill Izzy in on the raid's results before getting down to the business of Cookie, which he'd been dreading since leaving this morning. Bracing himself for the worst Dominic quietly begins talking "Izzy I...erm...don't know if Mahmoud has filled you in on the situation but...Cookie's gone and she may not be coming back" he said in anxiously, unsure as to how she would react to the news of Cookie's sudden and unexplained disappearance, after all other than Mahmoud she had known Cookie the longest out of the entire group and it was perhaps to be expected that the news would come as a shock to the system...Dominic just hoped she wouldn't start crying as he'd never been good with crying women.

In reply to Dominic Dubreton (msg # 40):


"Don't flatter yourself, Prince Charming." Isabelle replied to Dominic, a light smile playing out as she shifted from her position near the window, leaning against the adjacent wall. She'd been watching everyone file into the courtyard, and had seen the Doc and Mahmoud heading her way. She noted the stiff, tired way that the raider carried himself. She would have been out there with him, but she only had one leg to stand on anymore. Bionics weren't mainstream enough before Z-land struck, leaving her crippled like a war veteran, in her prime.

Hearing details of the raid, relief was visible on her face, and she didn't require any further information but that they had found supplies and no one was lost or wounded. Well, except for Joe, who'd she saw being carried into the building, wounded from the claws of a puma the slightly build NM dragged into camp.

News of Cookie earned no obvious signs of surprise from Isabelle. "Yes, he told me. We haven't told anyone else." Her left hand ran back through her long black hair, pulling it out from her face.

Behind Dominic, Mahmoud gave a sheepish, but unapologetic shrug, as Isabelle was one of the longest surviving members of the group and could be trusted. Isabelle had also taken to knowing what was going on in camp, using her ears and eyes in the service of the inner leadership circle instead of out on raids like before. She knew very quickly what was up. She hadn't seen Cookie leave, but she could read Mahmoud like a book, and could even tell her fellow survivor's shadows and footsteps from one another.

"This was never a comfortable arrangement for her. Saying goodbye was perhaps too difficult, but it will make things raw for one or two of the others. New Mexico won't take it well, for one." She crossed her arms over chest and glanced outside once more before setting her gaze back to Dominic. "Whether she comes back someday or not is not in our hands.. We need to make sure everyone knows who's in charge. We need to know it too." She let the thought hang, conspicuously not pointing out anyone in particular who would fill Cookie's boots. Her loyalty could be assured amongst those in the room, at least. "Maybe we have a vote?" She grinned, her tone mildly sarcastic.

"Sure...we could do that, and I am sure Sam would make and excellent leader for the group" Dominic replied, returning the sarcasm as he rolled his eyes at the idea of having Sam in charge "personally I was planning on skipping the whole democracy thing and just taking over...unless either of you have any objections to me being in charge?" he asked looking between the two in the room with him. Somehow he couldn't see there being any issues, after all it had been Mahmoud that had suggested he take over in the first place "If anyone asks, Cookie has left to follow up on a lead concerning The Colony and has the left the three of us in charge until she returns, and if anyone starts to question it too much you send them to me...ok?" Dom also didn't think there would be any questions or at least no serious questions. Everyone had heard the rumours of there being a Colony of survivors somewhere out there and Cookie was gung-ho enough to go out looking for it by herself. It wouldn't take much effort to paint her as the caring leader not wanting anyone getting hurt so that she could chase a rumour and it sounded a lot better than "she left and we don't know where she is".
He'd give those in the room time to point out any potential holes in the fiction concerning Cookie, and any other concerns they may have before then moving onto his next point "assuming that there are no major incidents, tomorrow I say we start looking for a new place to live...you know somewhere where the water isn't toxic"