R1 DEADLAND

[lockdownmods]

[it’s strange, for the people who were already dead, the shift in scenery is sudden and complete. For those who have just arrived? It’s like you’re back where you left?

How strange.

But if you ever need her, you can always reach out to the guardian of this place.]

LOCATIONS
Note: locations lag a week behind the living counterparts

Comments

[throwabookatit]

[ Hand-holding is fantastic, 10/10 ]

It's... I never imagined witnessing something like this.

[donotlick]

Yeah, me neither.

I mean, used to be I hated all this stuff -- androids, technology, artificial intelligence... Couldn't be farther from who I used to be if I tried.

[ Hank shrugs. ]

It ain't a bad change, I guess.

[throwabookatit]

Something else Connor's changed, huh?

[donotlick]

[ Hank really does smile at that. ]

I guess so.

[throwabookatit]

You seemed, uh...used to it? During the demonstration... Have you and Connor being practicing a lot in the...several days he's been here?

[donotlick]

Oh, uh... Yeah, good point.

[ Hank blushes. Mmmhmm, they've been practicing alright. ]

Yeah, Connor first showed me when he got here. It's a thing androids do back home, so I think it's a little easier for me to get the hang of it.

[throwabookatit]

[ she BETS you have :eyes: ]

I was wondering if that was the case. Does- is it, I mean... Is it hard, at first...?

[donotlick]

[ If he can't get with Connor romantically, at least he can do it emotionally :thumbsup: ]

More like it takes some getting used to. I mean, feeling someone else's feelings or seeing what they've seen is pretty, uh, startling. Usually.

[ Unless you're coming apart at the seams and it gives you a lifeline to hold onto, you know. ]

[throwabookatit]

...I...really don't even know where to start. [ She bites down on her lip. ] Everything that springs to mind is...well, something I wouldn't want others to see.

[ She's still a little fucked up, by both her memories and...All That Business. ]

[donotlick]

How about something of your buddy Ash's?

[ Hank holds out his hand for her. ]

Doesn't have to be a thing. It can be something nice, like a memory or something.

[throwabookatit]

Ashton?

[ She can't stop thinking about how Ash is dead, but--

But it doesn't invalidate the memories...does it? ]

...You... You have to promise not to laugh at me, alright? It's- I've got something, but it's...silly, honestly.

[donotlick]

[ Thatta girl, Becca. ]

I won't laugh. Silly stuff's good too.

[throwabookatit]

O- okay. Well...

[ She takes his hand, looking away slightly.

The memory is a strong one, that's for sure. From the eyes of a child, in a school hallway. Three girls in school uniform stand berating her, telling her to stop hanging out with someone. Ash. A crowd's formed. It seems this is a big confrontation?

"Listen here, Gales. Nobody here likes you. So do us all a favor and just disappear. I don't want to see you going near Ash and talking to him again, got it?"

With the memory comes a strong feeling of fear but also...defiance. When a small voice says "no", it's clearly a big moment. Even more of one, when she keeps on going, insisting she's not going to abandon anyone because the other girls told her to.

Whispering, hissing from all around. Childish gossip, kids counting her out. Murmuring teacher's pet. The lead girl of the trio, stepping forward with a raised hand to slap the defiant girl speaking, and...

And a hand intercepting it. An angry boy, with dark hair and a jacket that's definitely not school regulation. He stands in front of her, arms out defensively. To the whole crowd, he declares:

"Rebecca's my friend. Anyone who wants to hurt her would have to answer to me. As long as I'm here, I'll protect Rebecca."

The crowd of shocked students starts to dissipate, and more than anything, an intense, child-like admiration overwhelms the connection. Like...at the moment, there's nothing but stars in her eyes, concerning the one who defended her.

...Outside the memory, Rebecca's looking away, face flushed a strong red. He asked for a memory, and, well. Why not give one to explain a few things. ]

[donotlick]

[ Oh no that's so cute......... Hank smiles the whole way through, experiencing the memory as Rebecca remembers it, feeling every bit of that admiration and strength that she'd had and felt.

Well, Hank said he wouldn't laugh, so he won't. But he can't exactly hold back his smile. ]

You must've been one hell of a cute kid.

[throwabookatit]

[ Nooo... Nooooo... Still blushing and looking away. ]

Connor actually...received a picture of me, from around those days. You could ask him. This was... Well, it was the first time I really stood up for myself. And the first time I could say I had a friend.

[donotlick]

I might. But I like hearing it straight from the source.

[ Hank releases her hand to pat her hair. Sorry, Rebecca, this is your dadly fate now. ]

Yeah, I can tell it was a real important memory for you. Thanks for showing me.

[throwabookatit]

[ Nooooo- no really, she...kind of loves it. ]

The start of a childish crush...but- but more than that, of a lifelong friendship. He's always been like that. Dramatic, standing up for those who can't.

[donotlick]

[ You're just gonna have to deal with Dad every day now! ]

Sounds like he's a great guy.

[ He's heard enough about him to know as much, and well, they boy know how she feels about him, so there's a familiarness to the conversation. ]

Alright, you showed me something. I'll show you -- whatddyou wanna see?

[throwabookatit]

Uhh... I... I don't know, something... Something relaxing?

[ She's kind of stumped. ]

It could also be a memory.

[donotlick]

Alright, lessee...

[ Hank nods his head, thinking back... well, there are a few good memories he could share. Things from before. He's getting better at that. ]

Got one. [ He holds out his hand for her to take. ] I think you'll like this one.

[throwabookatit]

[ Feeling a little more confident, now that she doesn't have to sift through her own memories, she straightens her shoulders and takes his hand. ]

Lay it on me.

[donotlick]

[ Hank smiles. The memory is bright—things are happy. He's in a pretty nice looking pet store, puppies lined up around him. Hank is weak to dogs, always has been, but he's especially excited for this one.

Cole is gonna love this, he thinks to himself. Sure, Cole is just barely able to walk, but if he's lonely what could be better than a pet? Hank, who looks pretty different from how he does now, if you manage to catch his reflection, bends down and goes over each and every breed they have. Pomeranians, poodles, retrievers... he briefly considers a beagle until he spots the most adorable puppy he's seen in his while life: a Saint Bernard.

That one. That one for sure. What's his name? He asks the shop attendant, who shakes her head like the name is stupid. "Sumo," she says.

Sumo. Hank smiles. Cole is gonna flip. ]

[throwabookatit]

[ The first thing that passes through Rebecca's mind is that the memory is so warm. It's strange, but it's her first instinct, the first thought that pops into her head. All the barking, the feelings...

It doesn't feel like something Hank's described before, in a strange way. That, and the little mixes of it, Cole, it all spins together and she can place when this is- what this is before, even before the little puppy comes into play.

Still, it doesn't feel sad. That's the thing of it, even with the knowledge of what will be, it just feels warm, and happy, and...light. ]

...Ohh, he really...really was an adorable little thing at that size.

[donotlick]

[ Few things in Hank's life hadn't been tainted with regrets or sorrow, following Cole's death. Sumo was one of them. Hank is happy to get the opportunity to share it, and even the joy he'd felt thinking about Cole back then can't be hampered by the days that would follow, years later.

Sumo was just a tiny, fluffy baby with humongous paws and a big heart. Hank can't stop smiling when he thinks about him. ]

Yep. Told you, didn't I? He was a big ol' fluff ball.

[throwabookatit]

Seeing him makes me rethink...maybe a large dog would be good too.

[ Rebecca smiles softly, remembering their last conversation before his death. A dog... Yes, whatever type... If the others could somehow find a way to use these people's technology to save them.

A dog sounds wonderful, after all of this. ]

Thank you...for sharing him with me.