ZRP-2: Brave New World

Abel looked at the woman for a moment then over to the west side of the sky. A small smile broke on his mouth.

"Yeah... I suppose it is."

He paused for a moment, and searched for the words to piece together.

"I can't remember the last time I even had the chance to so much as lay my eyes on one, since... Well, I'm sure you know."

"Yeah, I know what you mean.." She went quiet after speaking. "Sorry.. I havent' spoken to another human being like this since..." She thought about it. It had been so long she actually stopped to think about it. "Ever..." She sighed and looked down at the roof. "Sorry. I shouldn't bore you." She smiled at him and then looked back up at the sunset.

Abel knew that feeling all too well. He kept his head straight forward.

"No, you're not boring me. We all lost people, most of us were alone after the first week..."

"Or how about their whole lives?" She asked, looking over at him with sadness in her eyes.

That he didn't know as well.

"Uh... I'm sorry... I..."

He didn't quite know what to say.

She sighed. "I'm.. I'm bothering you aren't I?" She asked. "I should stop talking..." She said and then just stopped making any noise whatsoever.

I don't know what to do at this point... just do it, show you like her at least.

I reach over, kinda awkwardly, and kissed her. No, not on the cheek. As she had done.

Abel looked over to her.

"N... No, you're not bothering me at all. I'm just..."

He paused for another moment.

"We should keep talking, like you said; neither of us have had a good conversation in... A long time. It's probably a good thing to do every now and then... Don't you think?"

"Yes, I agree. My name's Brook by the way.. Just in case you wanted to know." She looked down at the roof below her and shrugged, not knowing what else to do.

Abel smiled again. He then held out his hand out for a shake.

"Abel... Pleased to meet you Brook."

Brook smiled over at him and nodded. "definitely a pleasure Abel. Nice name."

The kiss surprised me, but I enjoyed it. My face turns bright red and I smile.

"Oh umm... thanks Tyler.."

"Thanks."

He put his hand back to his side, on the shingled roof.

"Came from my great grandfather... What about you? Any significance to yours?"

I could feel the blood rush up to my face, no doubt making me blush too.

"I- I'm sorry."

"As far as i know.. No. Nothing. Just 'Brook'. Don't know my family tree other than my last name." She sighed and nodded her head slowly, embarrassed and sad. "What did you do before the apocalypse?"

"Heh... Can't say I was exactly popular. I just worked on my dad's farm, played video games... Not much else to say. I was a bit of a loser."

Abel looked down at the shingles to his right, and fiddled with one of the loose ones.

he chuckled. "It's nice to know I am not the only one. Though I'm sure you had some friends on your games? I mean, real people before?"

"No no! It's ok."

I step up closer and grab his hand.

"It was nice."

I smile shyly.

Abel thought a bit.

"Yeah... I suppose. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't too lonely before the infection hit. I had some friends, but I wasn't that social. I didn't tend to interact with people that much... I usually preferred to be alone. But now, I don't know..."

"Yeah. It makes you question what you like. What you don't like. What you've always wanted to try... When the world is fine you feel like you can do anything. Skydive, bungie jump, climb to the top of Everest... But now that you realize this is your ONE life.. It makes you question what it is we do with ourselves..."

I held her hand in mine tightly, but not too tightly.

"You know, I like your smile. I don't see a lot of that."

Abel pondered that for a moment. He considered going into the: What does it matter anyway? our lives are nothing, what's the point in living. But not even he fully believed that himself. Abel just looked to the falling sun.

"I guess we all just try and survive... And fit any happiness we can, into the horror."

I blush deeper, and look into his eyes.

"I haven't had a reason to smile... until.. I meet you."

She sighed and nodded. "Yeah.. I suppose that's all we can do isn't it?" Her voice was hurt, obviously she was afraid to die, but was ready for it.

I can feel just how hot my face has become from her last comment.

"That... just... made my day. I'm glad I'm able to bring out your smile."

I flash her another smile. But I just had an urge to kiss her again. So I do just that. I get closer to her and... well, kiss her.
I was still holding her hand. It's warm, soft... Really soft actually. Thank God I wasn't wearing my gloves though.
It would make this just that much more awkward. But if somebody were to see us like this... I don't know what would happen.

(James)
=I broke off the kiss, leaning away from her a little, hand leaving her jaw. There was a question on my mind that I wanted to ask. In all honesty I had planned to ask this question much later, and knowing about her pregnancy with.....our child, something pushed me to ask her now=
"Hibiki.....say we manage to beat the Shepherds. We eradicate them, but have only walkers left. What do we do then? What do you want?"


(Sam)
=As I sat there on the bed, watching the cat snuggled on the girls stomach, I felt a very curious feeling come over me, one that I was not expecting: jealousy. Despite my best efforts, a part of me wanted to be that cat, snuggled close to Eve=

Abel could hear the sorrow in her voice.

"But hey... this town, and probably more of them like this, are perfect examples that that we're starting civilization once again."

Although the fallout of the infection would cause all sorts of problems, for years upon years. This was just Abel looking on the bright side, if this threat known as the Shepards continued, then we won't even be able to start healing our wounds from the infection anytime soon. And that was the dark realization.

The kiss lasts longer than the first. I break it after a few seconds and stand there holding his hand.

"When are you leaving?"

Hibiki felt better after the kiss, smiling. Then she frowned ever so slightly
"I want to settle down and have this family. I want our child to grow up in peace. That's all I want."

The cat mewled slightly, her tail twitching. Eve was still fast asleep, her face calm and peaceful.

Miranda sighed. "Don't jump to conclusions..."

=I smile=

Sorry...bad habit of mine.

=I keep smiling+

Forgiven?

(James)
"Where do you want to settle? Somewhere like here, in this lockdown town? Or....did you have somewhere else in mind?"

"Tomorrow, in the morning."

It was only now did I start to get nervous. So I was scratching the back of my neck with my free hand again.

"So I have the rest of today."

"Somewhere safe. Somewhere with clear air and plenty of room for the kids...somewhere that we can be happy." Hibiki answered.

(James)
"I think that can be arranged."
=I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to me, and letting her head rest on my shoulder=

"So.....what does this make us then? I mean, I know we're a family at this point, but I guess, does this.."
=I rested my hand once more on her stomach=

"make us more?"

"It does." She answered. "You should have known." Hibiki added playfully. Hibiki rested her hand on James', closing her eyes. "Maybe...the St Louis place...will have the things needed...to...see how the baby is doing."

(James)
=A small smile playing on my lips, I leaned against her=
"Yeah, hopefully. So, I guess this makes us....married? So much for a wedding."

"Well wrex is still alseep, and looks like he will be for awhile longer. So it's just me and you."

"Well. I'm not sure what to do now. Do you?"

I feel great that... well. You know, I wasn't rejected. It just gave me some hope. Even if it was just a kiss...
Do I even know what I'm saying?

"Anything you want... before we you have to go.."

I smile sweetly.

Her smile makes smile instantly. It was just so. Cute.

"Well, does your leg feel better?"

"Yeah, a little. I may need a crutch or some thing to keep to much weight off of it."

"I have a rifle you can use until we get something better. It's a bit redneck I know, but it's all I got."

I grab the strap of the rifle and lift it over my head.

"Or I can just carry you if you like."

I smile yet again, but a bit more sheepishly.

Janitor wrote:

Abel could hear the sorrow in her voice.

"But hey... this town, and probably more of them like this, are perfect examples that that we're starting civilization once again."

Although the fallout of the infection would cause all sorts of problems, for years upon years. This was just Abel looking on the bright side, if this threat known as the Shepards continued, then we won't even be able to start healing our wounds from the infection anytime soon. And that was the dark realization.

"What about us? Humanity. We're so... ignorant and stupid we all can't work together in this dire time. No.. Instead we fight.. Maybe it's better to be dead then live in a world where nothing but war happens.."

I blush a little bit.

"I'll take the rifle, I wouldn't want to tire you out."

"Okay."

I hand her the rifle. It was weird for me too, offering a sniper rifle for a crutch. I mean, who offers that? Says that?

"Would you happen to be hungry? Or thirsty? I don't remember the last time I fed you."

My lips curve into a smirk. I really don't know why. I guess I'm just happy?

"Sure, I could use some food.."

I lean on the rifle, it actually helps and works pretty good.

"Is this thing loaded?"

Miranda kissed him. "Forgiven."

Hibiki laughed. "Worst. Proposal. Ever." She smiled. "Only if you propose...but...let's take ir on day at a time, ok? Just one day at a time. No...need a marriage yet...but...when the time comes, you will get a yes."

Thanks Mira.

=I take the kiss and embrace her=

Well...I still got it...

=I smile inwardly as I once again feel my anger fade away=

(James)
=Hearing her laugh just made me chuckle, and I reached up to run my fingers through her hair again=
"Guess I'll have to find a ring now....."

=I leaned a little so I was facing her again, and lightly brushed her lips with my own, not going for a deep kiss=

"I don't so. Here, let me check."

I walk over behind her and bend down, checking the back of the rifle. Turns out the mag is still in there.
So I try getting it out but it won't budge.

Wait... duh! It probably has a locking mechinism. Like my pistol.