( @Davadio @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
Ronni nodded and put one bar back. She kept the other one held out to Liam. She looked back at Alastor and touched her ear, before circling her hand in the air.
Have you heard any news recently? Anything new?
Alastor's mind took a moment to process what she was asking, but when he finally figured it out then he answered. "Unfortunately no, sorry," He said apologetically. "I saw a few other survivors around a couple of days ago, but they were suffering from so much shock that I wasn't able to get any information out of them."
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
Alastor's mind took a moment to process what she was asking, but when he finally figured it out then he answered. "Unfortunately no, sorry," He said apologetically. "I saw a few other survivors around a couple of days ago, but they were suffering from so much shock that I wasn't able to get any information out of them."
Ronni nodded and dug around in her bag again. She walked over and set the CLIF bar at Liam's feet, before holding up a small contraption and walking over to Alastor. It looked like a speaker with a crank. She pulled out a long retractable antenna and began cranking the handle. The speaker kicked on and radio stations could be heard, crackly and fuzzy, but broadcasting.
I found this. It works.
She kept cranking it and held out the side with the knobs towards him. She clearly wasn't sure what station to look for.
( @Davadio @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
Ronni nodded and dug around in her bag again. She walked over and set the CLIF bar at Liam's feet, before holding up a small contraption and walking over to Alastor. It looked like a speaker with a crank. She pulled out a long retractable antenna and began cranking the handle. The speaker kicked on and radio stations could be heard, crackly and fuzzy, but broadcasting.
I found this. It works.
She kept cranking it and held out the side with the knobs towards him. She clearly wasn't sure what station to look for.
"I didn't even realize technology still worked," Alastor murmured, deeply regretting going to the airport and taking a trip to see his family when the apocalypse started. If he stayed at the station he worked at, he could've had all the supplies, radios, and weapons he needed. Now he didn't have that or his family.
"I haven't ever seen a radio like this before, so I'm not sure how it works," he said to Ronni, struggling to understand what the different stations were saying. The connection was full of so much static it took him a minute to even comprehend that there were barely audible voices coming out of the small device.
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)>
"I didn't even realize technology still worked," Alastor murmured.
"I haven't ever seen a radio like this before, so I'm not sure how it works," he said to Ronni, struggling to understand what the different stations were saying. The connection was full of so much static it took him a minute to even comprehend that there were barely audible voices coming out of the small device.
She nodded and dug around in her pack, pulling out a flashlight and flicking it on.
No reason batteries or anything with a generator wouldn't work.
She then looked up towards the top of the building, and held up the radio.
Maybe some altitude will help us hear better?
( @Davadio @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot)
She nodded and dug around in her pack, pulling out a flashlight and flicking it on.
No reason batteries or anything with a generator wouldn't work.
She then looked up towards the top of the building, and held up the radio.
Maybe some altitude will help us hear better?
"Being higher up might help us," Alastor begrudgingly agreed. He tried not to do anything involving being over 10 feet off the ground if he could help it. He glanced at Liam, wondering if the teen would be willing to try.
@Davadio @EtherealDreamer @yellowqueen
June hummed and looked up at the sky, "yeah, we can share stories and plans while inside, and keep moving tomorrow." She smiled, going back to the car and pulling two bags from the seat, she handed them both to Dev, who was still glaring at the horse.
Lucas smiled at both Lucky and Ariella.
"Nice to meet you both." He said earnestly.
"Nothing specific is out west for me." He admitted and blushed lightly "i'm" just being a wanderer I guess."
Lucky nodded. "Hey, not a bad idea. Any family you're trying to get to?"
He was glad Ariella had introduced herself. He let her keep ahold of his hand; the last couple of weeks had left scars of all kinds on everyone. She had the obvious one, but like Lucky, she clearly had been through some garbage.
Lucas nodded grimly. "My sister Gabriella, she told me parents were sick the day before yesterday and that they weren't going to get better." He said honestly. He wanted to tell these people the truth, because to him it was nothing to hide.
"She told me that she wasn't sick, but I think she's alive because the last few people who were susceptible got it like a couple days ago and died recently."
@CaseyJ @EtherealDreamer @yellowqueen
Lucas nodded grimly. "My sister Gabriella, she told me parents were sick the day before yesterday and that they weren't going to get better."
Lucky looked at him curiously as they moved off the road. "How did you talk to her?" As far as he could tell, most of the power plants across the country were down, so none of the cell towers had power.
"And where is she? Cuz if we stay in a group, it's easier to move."
(I am so sorry I haven't been on, I'll have a reply up in a sec)
"I could take it up there and see." Liam said taking the radio, then looked to Alistor "That is only if you think I won't kill myself." He added sarcastically.
@CaseyJ @EtherealDreamer @yellowqueen
Lucas nodded grimly. "My sister Gabriella, she told me parents were sick the day before yesterday and that they weren't going to get better."
Lucky looked at him curiously as they moved off the road. "How did you talk to her?" As far as he could tell, most of the power plants across the country were down, so none of the cell towers had power.
"And where is she? Cuz if we stay in a group, it's easier to move."
( @yellowqueen @CaseyJ @Davadio )
Lucas pressed his mouth into a thin line.
"I last spoke to her on the phone, literally right before the lines went down." He informed Lukas, sliding his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants.
"I just want to see if she's okay and everythingβ¦" He whispered, looking down at the ground.
( @Davadio @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot )
"I could take it up there and see." Liam said taking the radio, then looked to Alistor "That is only if you think I won't kill myself." He added sarcastically.
Alastor rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Just get the damn radio to work," he sighed, closing his eyes to try to get rid of the headache he felt coming on.
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot )
Alastor rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Just get the damn radio to work," he sighed, closing his eyes to try to get rid of the headache he felt coming on.
Ronni stayed right behind Liam, determined to go with him. I'm staying with the radio. Don't wanna lose it. If she wasn't running, she's be fine.
@CaseyJ @EtherealDreamer @yellowqueen
Lucas pressed his mouth into a thin line.
"I just want to see if she's okay and everythingβ¦" He whispered, looking down at the ground.
Lucky touched his shoulder. "That makes sense. I've been trying to figure out a way to do the same thing, but my sister is in Germany. I've been looking for some way to contact her, but the towers out west went down a while ago. That, or my service provider died." He shrugged. "Either way, I couldn't get ahold of her or my mom. I hope they're ok, but if the flu spreads out of the Statesβ¦"
He shook his head and changed the subject. "Y'all wanna try to find a living space without bodies in it, or just sleep in a warehouse or business or something?" He had a tent in his pack, but it wouldn't fit more than 2 people.
Lucas looked up, thinking, then quickly looked back down.
"I'd say we try to find a house with no dead people in it, preferably." He responded "but you can;t always have everything you want."
(im going to not @ people because it's kind for confusing for meβ)
(im going to not @ people because it's kind for confusing for meβ)
(that's fair. whatever helps you keep things straight in your head)
@EtherealDreamer @CaseyJ @yellowqueen
Lucky nodded and surveyed the area of the city they were waking into. It was mostly apartment buildings, and he figured they could scavenge a bit while they were here. He looked over his shoulder at Ariella, giving her hand another squeeze to reassure her, and pointed at the first apartment building off the interstate.
"You guys ok if we try there?" He glanced over at Devon and June.
@EtherealDreamer @Davadio @CaseyJ
Ariella didn't let go of Lucky's hand through the whole exchange, but she kept quiet. She wasn't interested in talking more than she had too. Instead, she watched the others, looking for any hostility or any sign they would draw their weapons. She wasn't sure how she'd come to begin to trust Lucky. Perhaps it's because this was the most affection she'd had in weeks, even before the apocalypse started.
Ariella turned her head towards the apartment building he was pointing at. Plenty of places to try. They should be able to find one without bodies in it, dead or alive. And there was a chance of running water.
She came to stand beside Lucky, nodding her head at the apartment building. She didn't see herself letting go of his hand anytime soon, despite her hand getting sweaty and clammy. She couldn't help the heat. But she didn't want to let go.
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot )
Ronni stayed right behind Liam, determined to go with him. I'm staying with the radio. Don't wanna lose it. If she wasn't running, she's be fine.
Liam walked over to the bottom ladder and looked back at Ronnie. "Are you sure you can clime? I'm not going to steal it. you can trust me, but it's your call."
( @phantomflame @ProbablyOkThoghMaybeNot )
Liam walked over to the bottom ladder and looked back at Ronnie. "Are you sure you can clime? I'm not going to steal it. you can trust me, but it's your call."
She glanced down at her ankle. The wrap was holding just perfectly. She gave a small nod in Alastor's direction, a thank you, and then walked to the ladder with Liam.
I'll be fine.
She gestured at the ladder, looking at him.
After you.
Liam shrugged and climbed the ladder. At the top, he messed with some dials but was only met with more stadic. He looked back at Ronnie, smiled, climbed some more, and wiggled some dials.
Ronni stayed with him. When they got closer to the top, something came through very clear.
"β¦reports of the flu having left the US and travelling to other places. Europe in particular has been affected, with some thinking a genetic component has added to their vulnerability. The 90% statistic in the US is made up of largely European-descended individuals, with many from other backgrounds having more success beating the disease. The nations of Europe have closed their borders, as the death tolls rise quickly. Folks, the world will not be coming to our aid. I'll keep broadcasting as long as I can, as much as I have news. My name is Eric Gonzalez, with WCBK news. Stay tuned to WCBK 103.7."
Ronni's eyes widened. They must have caught the tail end of a report, andβ¦ That's not goodβ¦
Alastor waited on the ground with Zeus, hoping that Ronni and Liam got the radio to work. Zeus nuzzled his hand with his wet snout, sensing his companion's worry.
Ronni motioned back down to the ground, before snagging the radio from Liam and stowing it back in her bag. The look on her face was neutral, but her brain was racing with the implications of what they'd heard.
Alastor saw Ronni start to come down and went to the base of the ladder to greet her.
"What did you hear?" He asked eagerly, not realizing how desperate he was to hear about the extent of the flu until now.
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