>>28092117
>Other.
Go clean yourself.
Take a shower if the water is still running.

>>28092423
Writing.

You climb into the shower. The powers been out for the past few days, but you hope the water will still be on. The shower spurts to life when you turn the handle, but the water stays cold. You figure it’s good enough and climb in. The cool water feels good on your sore back.

You hear a soft knock on the door.
“Rodger? Are you up?” It’s Mariah. She sounds… confused? Surprised, maybe.
“Yeah.” You’re surprised by the hoarseness of your voice.
You shiver as you step out of the shower and try to dry off quickly. You change into some warm clothes.

>Talk to Mariah
>Check on Brandie
>Other

>>28092590
>Talk to Mariah

>>28092656
Writing

You walk out into the kitchen to find Mariah. You find her by the sink, already turned to face you.
“Hey. How are you feeling?” She asks.
You nod silently.
“Look, I wanted to-“ She starts, but you interrupt her.

>Thank her. She took care of you for two days.
>Ask about Brandie
>Ask how she is holding up

>>28092779
>Ask about Brandie

>>28092779
>>Thank her. She took care of you for two days.
Lets be a beacon of politeness in these rather impolite times.

I know it doesn't make sense.

File: 1383528477107.jpg-(84 KB, 400x400, m9piq.jpg)

84 KB JPG

>>28093068
>>28093057
Writing

Oh hey, haven't seen this in a while.

>>28093134
Yeah. Been busy. Been meaning to get on, but kept getting canceled.

“Thank you,” you interrupt.
“No problem,” she says after a moment.
“I’m sorry that I left you alone. I just needed to…” you trail off.
“I know. It’s okay. Really. You saved my life. A few times. The least I could do was bring you some food, ya know?” She smiles.
“I guess. Just…thanks.” You flash your own smile back. After a pause you work up the courage to ask: “How is she?”

Mariah seems to recoil from the question. She turns to face the sink.
“I tried to feed her, I swear. She’s just… she’s out of control. I couldn’t handle her. I tried to ungag her, so we could talk, ya know? She growled at me. She started kicking and flailing all over the place. I just locked the door back up. I’m sorry, Rodger.” She doesn’t make eye contact while she explains.

Reaction
>Angry. She hasn’t fed Brandie in two days
>Understanding. Brandie is not in her right mind

Then, Action
>Go see Brandie
>Ask Mariah something specific (if you have any questions)
>Other

>>28093234
>>Understanding. Brandie is not in her right mind
Kinda hard to feed a crazy demon possessed ex wife.

Crazy demon possessed ex wife might be a bit of an oxymoron.

>Go see Brandie

>>28093234
>Understanding. Brandie is not in her right mind
>Ask Mariah something specific (if you have any questions)
Did anything happen while we were incapacitated? Has it still been raining all this time? Is it flooding yet?

>>28093285
>>28093343
Understanding, ask Mariah for an update and then go see Brandie. Writing.

“It’s okay. I know she’s…not right right now,” you pause for a moment, “Is it still raining? Should we start on an ark?” Mariah laughs at that. It’s nice to hear a laugh after everything that’s happened.
“No, it stopped around noon yesterday. The skies cleared right up. I don’t know what all that was about,” she replies.
“Well, they say he works in mysterious ways.” That joke falls flat. You both stand around awkwardly for a moment, considering your newfound truths of the universe before you head to the pantry and grab a couple of granola bars. Mariah follows suit and grabs a glass to fill with water.
“Plastic,” you say.
“What?”
“Use a plastic one.”

You open the closet door to find Brandie huddled in the corner. Her wild eyes bounce between you and Mariah. Her hair looks wet, clumping into oily strands. The mark on her hand is scabbed over, but still bright red.

“I’m going to take your gag out so you can eat. Okay?” You speak softly.

You hear a low growl as her brow furrows.

React
>Forceful. Tell her she won’t eat if she keeps that up
>Reassuring. See if she responds to comfort

>>28093587
>>Reassuring. See if she responds to comfort
What the hell.

>>28093587
>Forceful. Tell her she won’t eat if she keeps that up

Rolled 7

>>28093587
Neither. Sit and look at her, make eye contact for at least ten minutes straight. Tell Mariah to leave the two of you alone, nicely.

>>28093653
Seconded.

>>28093653
>>28093636

Maybe stern eye contact followed stern wording?

>>28093691
>>28093653

Oh didn't see this before I posted. Writing for a staring contest.

You take the plastic up out of Mariah’s hand and place it on the floor by the granola bars. All the while you keep your eyes locked to Brandie’s. You hardly recognize the woman you’re looking at. Her eyes are full of hate; a seething, piercing hate. Sores have started to form around her mouth. You’re not sure if they’re from the gag or if they’re some kind of cold sore. Maybe this whole thing is some kind of virus. Maybe she can be cured.

“Mariah, can we have a moment?” you ask, eyes locked to Brandie’s.

You feel Mariah leave the room.

>Now what?

>>28093849
Carefully and swiftly remove the gag.

You shoot your hand out, hooking your finger into the cloth and yanking it out of her mouth. She thrashes her head around and glares silently at you.

>Now what?

>>28093967
Give her the food. She must be starving.

>>28093975
Seconded. But, place it in front of her, and jerk our hand away, as not to get bitten. It could be infectious.

>>28094009
>>28093975
Dangle it just within reach, so even if she tries to bite she won't be able to get our hand.

>>28094009
Could also be herpes. Who knows who that whore slept with.

You open the granola bars and carefully slide them over to her, as well as the cup of water. She keeps her eyes on you for a while before grasping the cup with bound hands and taking a long drink. Then, she takes a few small bites of the granola bar.

“Are you going to kill me?” Her voice is low, hoarse.

>>28094059
"I would prefer not to."

>>28094059
"Not if you behave."

>>28094059
Lets leave no doubt here and say no.

If we wanted to kill her, she would already be dead.

We want to help her.

Ask her about her savior.

“I’d prefer not to. I’m not letting you starve, am I?” you reply flatly. She grimaces at that and takes another bite.
“You should, you know. What’s one more body among the billions?” She starts a new bar.
“I want to know about your Savior,” you say, shaking off her assumed death toll.
“You knew everything you needed to know about him the night you refused him,” she replies.

>Respond

>>28094219
>“You knew everything you needed to know about him the night you refused him,” she replies.
So you sold your soul to Lucifer?

Rolled 8

>>28094219
Ask her what she thinks about Mariah, and if she is to be trusted.

>>28094296
Not sure I would take her advise about the trustworthiness of anyone.

>>28094366
The point isn't to take her seriously, it's to see her perspective on what she sees. A good way to familiarize yourself with someone hostile or unwilling to talk is sharing a common enemy, or at least pretending to.

“So you accepted him? Sold you soul to the devil?” You ask. Her face screws up in confusion.
“The devil? What are you fucking saying, Rodger? You are the one who caused this destruction. You are the one who denied the Lord and Savior. Things can’t go back to the way they were until you are all gone. YOU are the evil one, you idiot.” She throws down the granola bar and scratches at her neck.

“Brandie. Look at your hand. It’s the mark of the beast. It’s in the fucking bible. It’s carved into the back of your hand.” As you speak she shakes her head and speaks softly to herself.
“Don’t look at it. Stop it,” she says quietly.

>Push her on it
>Change the subject (new question)

>>28094476
>>Push her on it
Force her to look at it.

Make her look at the covenant she made with the morning star.

>>28094476
>Push her on it

>>28094545
>>28094575

"Ah, push it. Push it real good."

“Look at it, Brandie. Look at what you did,” you say with a forceful tone.
“Don’t look at it! Don’t look at me!” Her voice rises.
“Look at what you did, Brandie! Why did you do it?” You push harder.
“DON’T LOOK AT IT! DON’T LOOK AT IT! DON’T, DON’T, DON’T, DON’T!” She starts wailing and curls into the fetal position, hiding her hands from you. You hear her sobbing.

>Leave.
>Say something.

>>28094603
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcMXwkVdEUE

>>28094644
You can still be saved. Fight him for your soul.

>>28094644
>Say something.
It's never too late to turn back. Or some shit like that. I dunno man I'm bad at dialogue.

>>28094675
>>28094686
I get the gist.

“Hey… it’s never too late. We can still—“ You lean in a little closer before she cuts you off.
“Get the fuck away from me,” she says to the wall. With her back to you you can see a rash running down the back of her neck. The skin is peeling and cracked. she has a few similar patches on her face.
“Brandie…”
“GET OUT!” She screams.

>Leave
>Say something

>>28094790
>>other
Tie her so she can't hurt herself.

>>28094810
Her hands and feet are bound already

>>28094848
In that case, simply tell her that we believe in her strength.

>>28094867
I can accept this, don't put the gag back in unless she starts screaming.

>>28094867
>>28094881
Tis done. Writing

You stand and head for the door.
“I think you can do it,” you say before you close the door.
“Fuck off,” Brandie replies.

Mariah comes into the bedroom.
“What was all that about?” she asks.
“She didn’t want me to look at her mark, didn’t want to look at it herself either,” you answer.
“Do you think she’ll get better? Honestly?” She asks after a few moments of silence.

>Yeah, we don’t know anything about this yet.
>No, she’s a lost cause.

>>28094962
>>Yeah, we don’t know anything about this yet.

If others can be saved, it means there is still hope for humanity.

>>28094962
No, but I think there is at least a chance of it.

>>28094993
Seconded

>>28094984
>>28094993
>>28095000
Writeing

“I don’t know. I think there’s maybe a chance? There’s so much we don’t know now. Five days ago I knew that wasn’t a god and was that was life as I knew it. Now… I have no idea what’s possible anymore.” Mariah nods along and follows you back out to the kitchen.

“Well, we know that the marked want to get rid of us. We know that they, or at least she, blames us for the Rapture. And we know that they think we have to go if things are ever going to get better. She doesn’t seem to respond to any kind of reasoning… do you think it’s safe to have her here? I mean, she wants to kill us Rodger.” You feel her gaze on you.

>Yes. Keep her locked up we’ll be fine
>What else can we do with her?
>Other

>>28095107
>>What else can we do with her?

>>28095107
>>Yes. Keep her locked up we’ll be fine
She can't get out.

>>28095107
>What else can we do with her?
Besides kill her.

“What else are we going to do with her?” You ask, getting a sense of what she’s trying to suggest.
“You weren’t the only one that spent the few days thinking. If this is how things are now, with people trying to kill us, I don’t think we can take the chance of having one of them living with us.” She points back at the bedroom while she talks.

>I don’t think that’s necessary
> Out of the question, not up for discussion
>Other

>>28095329
>Other
Slap her for even suggesting such a thing.

>>28095329
"I can't exactly be expected to take my ex wife out back and shoot her. Regardless of what's happened I still loved her, once."

>>28095329
>>I don’t think that’s necessary
We need to know if they can be saved.

>>28095329
>>I don’t think that’s necessary

>>28095343
Bad idea.

"I can't exactly be expected to take my ex wife out back and shoot her. Regardless of what's happened I still loved her, once. Until we know for sure – she stays. Is that clear?" You finish shortly.
“Yeah. Sorry.” She turns away and fiddles with something in the kitchen.


What do you want to try and do today?

>Search the surrounding houses
>Go out for supplies
>Secure things at the house
>Other

>>28095482
>>Search the surrounding houses
Might as well look arround for supplies

>>28095482
>Search the surrounding houses

>>28095534
>>28095511
Writing. Getting tired. Damn time change.

“Anyway, I think we should check around at some of the other houses,” you say.
“Okay. I’ve been back over at mine. Picked up some clothes and stuff. Didn’t want to stay out for too long.”
“Good. That’s smart.” The awkwardness in the room is palpable. You leave and head into the bedroom. You check your weapons:

-9mm pistol with a full 7 round magazine
-.38 revolver, 3 bullets left
-12 gauge shotgun, holds 3 shells, you have 6.
-Locked .22 rifle with a box of 12 bullets.
-Dented aluminum baseball bat
-Hatchet
-Knife

>What weapons do you want to take, what do you offer to Mariah

And

>You’re confident that you could use the tools in the garage to get the lock off the .22 rifle, but it might take a little bit of time. Do you want to do that?

>>28095688
>Hatchet
>9mm pistol

Unlock the .22 when we get back.

>>28095688
>>You’re confident that you could use the tools in the garage to get the lock off the .22 rifle, but it might take a little bit of time. Do you want to do that?
lets do that first

Grab the following

-Knife

-9mm pistol with a full 7 round magazine

>>28095688
>Unlock the .22

>>28095703
>>28095717
>>28095747

Okay. Going to unlock the .22 and take the knife, hatchet ad pistol.

You grab the .22 and head out to the garage. You’ve got to use a flashlight to find your tools, it’s pitch black without the light on. You grab a flathead screw driver and a flat crowbar and after only a couple of minutes the lock pops right off. The magazine holds ten rounds.
You pocket the pistol and knife and put the hatchet in your backpack.

Mariah grabs the revolver, but doesn’t feel comfortable firing the shotgun. She also pockets her knife.

Ready?
>Yes, let’s go.
>No, change something.

>>28095912
>Yes, let’s go.

>>28095912
>>Yes, let’s go.

>>28095931
>>28095922
Going

You step out into the morning. Even though the rain stopped a day ago, things still seem wet. Your street has a little over a dozen houses and ends in a cul-de-sac. You begin the search.

You work your way towards Mariah’s house and then round the cul-de-sac. A few of the houses are untouched, their owners likely taken by the Rapture. You find a lot of food, batteries, toilet paper, and in one house, a gun locker. Unfortunately, you couldn’t find a key and it was bolted to the wall. You made a note to come back to it with tools later.

Some of the houses had bodies inside. You could tell as soon as you opened the door and the smell came flooding out. You and Mariah hurry through these homes, picking out the most obvious supplies while the homeowners’ bloated corpses watch you.

Two of the houses appear to have already been picked through. The pantries are mostly bare and clothes have been taken out of the dressers.

You approach a house with a fenced in backyard and see a dog greet you at the gate. His tail wags at the sight of you and Mariah. It looks like some kind of lab mix, acts friendly enough when Mariah pets it.

Take the dog with you?
>Yes
>No, leave it
>No, but let it out of the fence

>>28096108
Are there any obvious signs of disease on it? If it looks healthy and isn't otherwise mangy I say sure. If it does look mangy or diseased just let it out and move on.

>>28096108
>Yes

There's no one else to take care of him.

Hopefully he doesn't end up like Champ.

>>28096108
>Yes
A dog is always useful

>>28096108
>Yes

You open the gate and let the dog out. He’s got a collar on with a name tag that reads ‘Lucky.’ He lightly licks your hand while pet him.
“Guess you got lucky today,” you comment.
Inside, Mariah pours him some food and he devours it.
“Poor guy, he must not have eaten since all this started. He’s starving” She says.
“Looks like we’re gonna have plenty to share.”

You try to leave him at the house when you drop off the next car load of stuff, but he refuses to leave your side, so you let him tag along. Mariah seems to enjoy his company, anyway.

You swing all the way around the block to the house two doors down and across the street from yours. Things between you and Mariah have lightened up since your awkward moment earlier in the morning. The dog kind of lifted your spirits and got you two talking again.

You park the car on the street and head into the yard when you hear a voice call out from the house.

“Stop! Stop right there or I’ll fucking shoot you!”

>End of Chapter 5.

>>28096309

Someone sane? About fucking time.

>>28096309

Good run OP. See you next time, shame about the lack of players though.

>>28096338
Happens. Maybe if I stuck to a schedule it would help. I work freelance, so my shit is all over the place all the time. Hard to be consistent. Thanks to everyone who did play! I appreciate it.