Realistic or Modern Versipolis: Roleplay Thread

Zach
Interactions: Zer0
Mentions: FireFlare CrimsonEclipse

A bold statement to make indeed, considering that Mara herself was far from being the leader. Though, her counsel was always a welcome thing to Zach. Of course, her thinly-veiled threat was less than kind. "She stays, until we know what she's up to," Zach said with a tone of frustration, "then again, I should be asking you about your intentions. You were on guard, and then you ran off. Maybe it's you I should be questioning. Or maybe it's fucking Tyson who did the same. No, Audrey's just on the top of the fucking list right now. And you goddamn well know that. Hell, the only person doing anything right today is Foster fucking Dickens!" His frustration clearly getting the better of himself, Zach was doing next to nothing to seemingly help the situation. Especially since, for emphasis, he kicked an old can into the wall loudly and obnoxiously, though not as obnoxious as the way his facts were all wrong.

He took a deep breath, and looked around the barn. Before him were people his age, or older even, but all he seemed to see were rookies, rookies that were going to get themselves killed. He so easily forgot what they endured to get where they were, what they lost or were attempting to gain. He sometimes hoped for an end to their struggles, as he had no idea much more they would survive like this. "She's just stupid as can fucking be, alright? Julia's out there right now, and if anybody's suspect, it'd be the grouch who sleeps on the loft." He'd have to talk this over with Julia, soon, and in private. It was a bad decision, yes, but it did not warrant exile. It warranted chastising, and a loss of trust. Audrey was a human after all, and she knew just as well as any of us that the world works against us all.

***

His fellow shifter took note of his disguise, and surely intrigue into their plot. "They are weak, those ones. I can smell it on them," the shifter said with conviction, his mouth salivating at the thought of his next meal. "I... I'll tell you what. Lie in wait, let me convince them that I am one of them, and we both feed upon them. You don't look the part." The other shifter, though, did not have any plans to share. Once he got them where he wanted them, they would be far too weak, far too outmatched. But then again, a partner would nearly guarantee for success. "I change my mind. I will give a signal when they are vulnerable, and then, we may feast upon them together. Sound like a plan?" Of course, this lycan had said nothing of the other female near them. No doubt he knew she was there, but that was by design. She was wounded, having been struck by a bullet. She was weak, worthless, not worth the effort. For the female to have given up so easily on the group is rather foolish.

If only it were so simple to call this nameless mutt by a name, but he had none, no not that he could remember. He had no recollection of who or what he was. It didn't matter, so why bother? What he knew was that he was in pursuit of his prey, an elusive, and ever-rare breed that travelled in packs, and were simply delightful. He did not want to share his kills, nonetheless, but if it meant prosperity, then he would allow this disturbing intrusion on his meal, and resist what urges there may be to defend his claim.

A look of highly affronted disbelief overcame Mara's features. "I went with Audrey to protect her, because I didn't want her to be alone. I scared that dogman away." she said, indignantly, angrier than before. "And you suspect me?" she laid a mechanical hand on her chest.

She tch and looked away, hands on her hips, and glaring at the wall; Coraline peeked out from the hole in the ceiling warily, and flinched when Zach kicked the can away; while Tiramisu seemed to have decided to go back to sleep.

Mara didn't speak for a while.

"Audrey isn't stupid." she said finally, calmer now. "I know what I saw and heard, the way she was evading my questions. She didn't go outside all weaponless to pee, Zach, that dogman just stood there. looking at her. This close." she emphasized with her hand. "Have you ever even heard of such a thing? Audrey didn't even scream, she just stood there in front of it. If that doesn't ring alarm bells, and you think it was just a stupid decision on her part ---" she threw her arms up sarcastically and didn't finish her sentence, but her look was plain enough to understand that she was seriously doubting his judgement.

"Just remember that choosing who can stay with our group isn't about who's real in front of our faces, but who's real behind our backs, Zach." she left it at that. And after giving him a long look, went over to the opposite end of the barn with her bow and arrows to guard their rear, while eating some rat jerky moodily.

Now that she had something more filling to eat, apart from Audrey, Cain was crazy today. He was right when he said there was a dogman outside. Did he say that to get them to come in, or did he really know it was there too? . . . If he actually knew, then . . . that was suspicious. Maybe Mara chose the wrong group to travel with to the North after all . . .

JokerValentine

Zach Ferren
Chastising: Zer0

This bullshit again. From what Mara was insinuating, it seemed as if those rumors about those dogmen that disguised themselves as humans were true, and not some exaggerated story. Mara really was going off the deep edge now, wasn't she? It didn't even make sense regardless, it couldn't possibly, as then they'd all have been long dead. What a funny thought indeed. Maybe Mara was one of them and had been trying to tear the group all along? Maybe she was the only one that was right, and much like the fair maiden of Greek legend, she could forecast the downfall of the group, and nobody would believe her. But what Mara had to say about what she saw, about Audrey simply doing nothing, it was unusual. Alas, it could not make sense, as how could Mara even be so certain what she saw was real? Maybe she was just groggy from sleep, or wired and paranoid, or just plain losing it.

"So you're the hero we need and deserve then?" he said, boiling furthermore with anger, "I asked you to man the door, and you instead left one person on guard instead. That left us vulnerable to an attack! You could have asked someone else to cover, maybe send someone else, but no. No wonder you los-" He so badly wanted to utter those words to her, that on account of her idiocy and hers alone she lost her hand, but she was protected by her map. If she walks away from the group, their hope of finding the famed Northwest passage fades into obscurity, and they will wander endlessly, hopelessly searching for salvation. "If what you say is at all true, dumb as it may seem, then the truth will come out. But to pin Audrey on some stupid ghost story some drunks told to scare their fellow survivors is... is fucking ridiculous Mara."

But regardless, Mara's actions might have saved Audrey's life, or cost one of their own. But now, who really was the one who was truthful, honest, and open? Mara knew the map in detail, but only her and nobody else. Mara seemed to think there was more to this apocalypse than anyone thought. Mara was blind to her own secrecy. It's a shame Zach himself never caught on to it. He was far too pissed at the fact that she demanded the exile of a group member based off of a myth. Nothing else was said to her as she walked to her corner of the barn. Zach had far too much to say, but had to do more than words to keep this group from falling apart in a single night.

Funny, how mused the Muse of Cade. This lie, the lie of the shifters existing, so true was it that it spread like a cancer. The evil tendrils of the thought had crossed through the ether so far, it now obscured the visage of reality. Cade was more astute to the plotting of Cain, the one who had seemingly stirred within them the fear of this reality. To honest Mara, it was what she saw out of Audrey. The cohesion of the group was started to crumble, as indeed it was that black cancer of a thought prying them apart at the very seams. The group had turned upon itself, Mara on Audrey, Cain on Audrey, Audrey on Cade, and Zach on his responsibility to prevent it all. What sort of leader could have led this turmoil to cause? Surely the same one who continued to let it develop. Mara's remarks still causing him to seethe, the male found it tough to restrain himself. Yet, were not those the only ones that dared defy his wishes.

Tyson had fallen silent, much like the many nameless faces of the group. The loyal Devin, unknown to Zach, had started to turn his back to the leader, just as Mara had done. If not to aggravate the situation further, the ever deceptive Audrey had now shown her true colors. Such colors were the ones found in a journal of sorts, and quickly she presents it to him. Eager to see what lies inside, the survivor turned open a page, and read a few of the words to himself. He looked at the drawings, the notes, pausing for a moment to think of what he was now reading. Was this a ploy? Was this a form of his mutiny, for the group to rile him up in conspiracies? No, that can't be right, that's too organized. And Judging by Cade's surprise, it surely was not expected of the woman to pull such a stunt either.

Were Zach a brilliant genius, a true sense of a leader, he perhaps would have taken greater precaution. The shifters, unknown to him, had torn apart groups in their deceit, mimicking a member, gaining their trust only to become a meal. And now, he was supposed to believe that Audrey was one of them? "I..." the words wouldn't come out for Zach. Whatever words he had to say, they were stuck in his throat. Was he supposed to believe in a drawing? Some stupid bored kid writing fantasy stories about how she was some sort of werewolf beast, some sentient and conscious monster. He was supposed to believe that? Then he recounted what brave Mara had to say. "it isn't about who's real in front of our faces, but who's real behind our backs." Audrey was being real to him up front after she had allegedly deceived Mara. Somehow, it didn't make sense.

Being out on the road for so long wore the truest of souls weary. Surviving day after day, putting one's life into the hands of others. Through so many trials, so many obstacles, so many deaths, and it all came down to this moment. Where members of the group had threatened to depart in selfishness. But if it was by Fate to send the weary aimless into the remains, destined to walk among No Man's Land for the rest of one lives, chased by the hounds of hell, so too did Fate have other plans. For nobody knew it, though the dark clouds had passed, darker ones loomed. How the group, what remains at least, would weep for the ones to meet a dismal death so soon.

The journal still clutched in his hands, Zach read it again. Some the words he didn't know, or couldn't read. He didn't understand what "cerebral" or "regression" meant exactly, but the more he read, the more weight he felt. What was Audrey's play on this? Was she a prideful artist that wanted to show her creative spirit had not broken? Or did she seek to admit she was a creature of fable. So much had happened since the outbreak, to see the nature of humanity become feral, r their very own group to break down, that maybe a wolf that could masquerade as humans wasn't so far off.

Zach turned to Julia, her sympathetic gaze never wavering. He looked to Cade, his prying eyes searching desperately for what lied in the notebook. He looked to solitary Mara, her confidence in Zach oh so wavering. Faced with the safety of the group, he had no choice. He had to give in to what Audrey wanted out of him. "Foster, Cade, take Audrey and lock her in a stall. She tries to flee, you know what to do. Everyone else, pack your shit up. We're leaving as soon as we can." The fix was temporary, but he still had to decide what to do with this threat. Cain had admitted it first before anyone had, though Zach did not know. Mara saw it, and Audrey confessed it. Whether she came to her senses and let loose this charade, or he took her out to the pasture one last time, let her look upon the flowers before freeing her from the group (of her mortal coil) would be for him to decide. If only he had the time to think.

Mentions: Malice Queen StoneWolf18 Zer0 FireFlare CrimsonEclipse Cheshire Grin Raku

Mara watched Audrey come back in the barn with guarded eyes. Her brows furrowed when she presented Zach a notebook she hadn't noticed before, but it was her next words that made Mara's jaw drop. Her heart pounded and in one smooth practiced motion she had an arrow knocked and aimed at Audrey.

But she didn't shoot. Oh, this lady. Those were the eyes of someone anxiously confessing with the intent of peace.

What the bloody barnacles she was friends with them all along? Her eyes looked between Audrey and Zach, saw him try to speak but seem to be loss for words --- Mara couldn't take it. "Don't move, Audrey." she said calmly, and slowly came as close as she dared to look at the journal over Zach's shoulder; above Coraline worriedly whimpered, "Auntie."

If it was possible, Mara's jaw dropped even lower, and she now looked at Audrey with fear, which instantly turned into that same I'm-going-to-kill-you-before-you-kill-me steely look she gave that other dogman. But then Zach's words --- his merciful words, actually, caught her by surprise.

Okay, Audrey's been a friend until today happened, Mara didn't know what she was doing with that dogman in the rain. Even if she asked Audrey what was that all about, there was just . . . she just couldn't trust her. This could be just a distraction, yet if she shot Audrey this instant she could get shot by the others who might think she lost it. So she gritted her teeth and clamped her mouth shut.

Springing away from Audrey quickly, Mara whistled for Tiramisu and told Coraline they were leaving, and ran out of the barn like someone avoiding a live grenade. "Crazy, crazy." she muttered to herself, as she mounted her horse. Ropes won't hold a dogman. And to tell two people to approach her, Zach's just . . . he's too much of a nice guy. Mara knows, I mean, she couldn't shoot her too because they were friends once. No, this softness is going to get them killed.

Tiramisu galloped out into the new dawn, circling to the side of the barn where Coraline climbed down the drainage pipe and Mara hoisted her up behind her. "Audrey's a dogman." she said in a voice only her niece could hear.

"W-what?!" said Coraline, looking back at the barn in shock.

"We're leaving this crazy group, Coraline. We're going to the north by ourselves."

"You're going to abandon them?"

A pang of guilt. "They have guns. They are many. They can take care of themselves." said Mara firmly.

"But . . ." Coraline's shoulder slumped. This was happening so fast. She wanted to say goodbye. She liked Julia, and Zach, and Audrey, and the others.