Meme/Voicetesting - set in canon, just after the prison fell

[dum_spiro]

[She'd split up with Rick without much fuss, but no one and nothing is keeping Carol from her family, who she sacrificed everything to protect. Not with ground-shaking blasts coming unmistakeably from the direction of the prison -- a tank, she finds out too late, as she drives up and sees the prison overrun, yard littered with corpses both fresh and long-turned.]

[Her eyes dart across the scene, heart pounding even as she is perfectly, painfully still. No use panicking. Much better to focus, keep her knife ready, and do what she can. Try to identify that movement darting off into the brush as friend or foe -- ]

[Mika, Lizzie...?]

[Not allowing herself to continue hoping in specific names, Carol starts off into the Georgia woods. Each step careful and deliberate, as little sound as possible, senses stretching. Sooner or later she'll hear something, a rustle or a moan or, just maybe, the echo of a familiar voice. Whether she'll be a welcome sight, well. That depends on a lot.]

Comments

[dum_spiro]

They aren't better. [She's not terribly sorry if that bursts a bubble. There's no time for fantasies like that anymore.]

I'm looking for a new place to stay. The old one -- didn't last. [She knows better than to sound hopeful. The prison was their hope, and now all that's left of it is that faint burning smell on the air.]

[Carol shifts her weight, as if to resume walking. If he's going to make some move to kill her, they'd best be on with it. If not, he can join her or not until she sees a reason to the contrary.]

[defies_reason]

At least the weather might be preferable.

[He doesn't expect anything better, anywhere; the truth is he'd have liked to have gone home, to at least have had some familiarity about him, but the airports were among the first facilities to go and he doubts there's any way left in the world to make it to Kiev.]

I'm sorry to hear it. [But not surprised. He's seen any number of abandoned places in his travels; not only those left when the outbreak occurred, but the tiny camps survivors had made and defended and ultimately lost. He eyes her speculatively for a moment before seeming to come to a decision.] Well, as I've no reason to hurry-- would you care for some company, for a time?

[It's safer, not being alone, and she clearly knows the area better than he does.]

[dum_spiro]

[She almost asks it, the first of the questions they all decided on. But, no. There's no sanctuary to bring anyone back to anymore. It's just her and the dwindling-by-the-second hope that she can find someone from the prison... and that they won't agree with Rick.]

[Her chances are better with help. Simple as that.]

[Carol nods toward where she thinks she saw some survivors heading. It's as good a direction as any, really, and if they stand here it's a matter of time before walkers stumble upon them.]

Not much around, but there's some railroad tracks not too far off. I'm hoping my people stick close to them. [She starts off, aware of the stranger's proximity and keeping him in view if she can. Plenty of cushion between.]

[defies_reason]

A better line of sight as well, I expect.

[He nods, and falls into step beside her, content to leave as much distance between them as she needs. Funny; he'd never been in the habit of respecting personal space, before. But he's not looking to intimidate, now. Anything but.]

What's your name?

[dum_spiro]

Carol. [Her reply is as automatic as the way she glances to the left, where a distant walker is stumbling around. She ignores it. Not close enough to be a threat if they keep moving.]

I can't promise anything if I find my people. [Just so there's no expectations. On her part, either.] I guess I don't have to tell you that things haven't gone well, lately.

[defies_reason]

Isaak, [he answers, unprompted, because for all his failings he's still inclined to be polite.]

No offense taken. I hardly expect you to trust me, much less your friends, should we find them.

[He shrugs, shifting his pipe to lean it on his shoulder for easier carrying.]

The most I'd expect is to be let alone to go on my way. And failing that, well.

[Then politeness would cease to be in the question, of course.]

[dum_spiro]

[A nod. That's the world they're living in. Once, she might have been offended by the insinuation.]

I don't think that'll be a problem. No one's better off going it alone, they all know that. [Except maybe Rick. Although there's only so bitter Carol can really be about his decision, now that the Governor's assault on everything she holds dear has put things in perspective.]

[defies_reason]

[Isaak has been on his own since before all this; he'd lost the only thing that mattered before the world fell apart. He's a habitual survivor. He has no plans to lay down and let himself be eaten, but he is not very focused on building anything new. Really, his only plan has been to keep moving.]

Still. Those few of us left know not to expect open arms.

[Or to trust them if they find them.]

[dum_spiro]

[His words ring more than true. At least she can be relieved that Sophia never had to live this reality. She wouldn't have made it. With luck, Carol will have the chance to teach Lizzy and Mika how to survive. They've got to be out here somewhere.]

We don't have to trust each other to kill walkers.

[defies_reason]

Is that what you call them? I've just been calling them corpses.

[This is what small talk has become.]

[dum_spiro]

[She smiles a little at that, humorlessly.] I've heard them called biters, too. And geeks. [That one was Daryl's, so she gets it even if it might not be in classic good taste.]

[defies_reason]

I suppose some variety is to be expected, with no way to communicate across distances.

[He still carries his mobile, for all the good it does. Though he's under no illusion it will ever work again, it's his lone bit of sentimentality: somewhere there is the last message Viktor ever left him.]

Are you from nearby?