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Kurosaki Mafuyu / "Natsuo" / "Usa-chan Man" ([personal profile] formerbanchou) wrote in [community profile] backyardbbq2016-04-10 09:59 am

OH NO ZOMBIES (closed)

When the first cases had started showing up, nobody had panicked. There was a great deal of concern, but the media had done a good job of keeping everything under wraps, and in the first stage of infection the people still looked normal anyway. They had that it was a mutation of rabies, quarantined the bitten, and treated them with antiviral meds.

That hadn't worked. It wasn't a virus, it was a spore, and spores were not stopped by antiviral meds. Instead, within two days, the people bitten had turned into the same shambling freaks that had started the mess.

Of course, when the initial bite victims had been taken in for treatment, one had hidden their injury and not gone. So when they turned, they bit a bunch of people, who in turn hid their injuries. And that same pattern repeated until there were a hundred or so 'zombies' lurking about New York city, hidden away in locked apartments and such.

For a year after that, it was a struggle to try to contain the zombies and keep people from panicking. It was contained within the city itself, but most people had to learn the signs of infection and what numbers to call if they thought someone was infected. Still, it was considered an 'American' problem, and most of the world did little to help, beyond screening incoming Americans for bite marks.

Then, one day, it all changed. one of the infected made it to a rooftop, and they just sat down and died. Within a day, a horrendous mushroom-like growth sprouted out of their head, overtaking their scalp and dotting their body in smaller growths. One more day later, the growths burst, raining spores down on the unsuspecting people below.

It didn't take long after that. The bites were easy to contain, but millions of spores raining down on an unsuspecting public? Nobody stood a chance. Infection rates went through the roof, and suddenly the military couldn't keep up. Borders were closed, martial law was declared, and every effort was made to protect the remaining uninfected people.

Some years later, the United States was effectively a deadzone. Some settlements remained, with their high walls and residents full of the necessary gear to survive. But every trip beyond the safety of the walls was a risk, and those trips were necessary to find food, medicine, and so forth. Living in a small, sectioned-off area of a big city just wasn't sustainable in the long run.

That was why Mafuyu had decided that it was time to move on. Though she had pretty much grown up in the walls, having only been a small child when the first outbreak happened, she could see the signs of collapse. Food rations were getting smaller and smaller. Fights broke out daily. People disappeared without any sign of where they went. Zombies turned up just outside the walls, wearing pieces of gear that most definitely had come from within the walled area. This settlement didn't have much longer, and anyone who wanted to survive would have to move on.

But Mafuyu was careful about how she brought up the subject. 'hey, let's leave the safety of the walls on a rumor and a hope of a better life somewhere else' was not easy to say. Plus, Chris was older than her, and probably remembered the beginning of the outbreak better than she did. That risk might be too much for him. She still had to try, though, there was no way she would be able to make the journey alone.

So, one morning, she waited in their shared living room for him to wake up. Which was unusual, Mafuyu usually slept in late. With the curfew in place, there was no reason to get up too early. But there she was, sitting on a milk crate near the window, waiting for Chris to appear before she finally spoke. "Morning."

Okay, she was a bit scared. She decided that she might as well gauge his mood before bringing up her idea. Her bright and bubbly greeting might have given her away, though, it was the tone she usually saved for when she was trying to seem nonthreatening, or when she was about to ask Chris for something.

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-16 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Being in the BSAA had its perks, as Chris had been trained and prepared since the bombing of Racoon City to handle most situations during a viral outbreak, but being one of its few remaining founders and stranded in the States without any support was another problem in and of itself. While the BSAA was backed by the UN and had other branches abroad, with the state of the US as it were they took to heavily monitoring the borders instead of actively looking for a cure. Maybe the world was looking to see if the country would thrive or die and hopefully take the virus with it. Though for now, Chris was stuck with no choice but to survive.

The Burtons, his only extended family after losing his parents, were in Canada. His sister somewhere with them, and as for Jill—he was reluctant to leave the Midwest altogether due to wanting stay near her grave. The reason he'd stuck around with Mafuyu for this long was his partner had given up her life to make sure the two of them both made it out of New York City. Despite the number of years since then, he'd done his best to make sure Mafuyu had survived the initial outbreak. Now, Chris figured the BSAA had labeled both him and Jill dead at this point since most mail was confiscated on account of any lingering spores, telecommunications was either heavily monitored or gone altogether, and what was left was a precarious state of.. functioning anarchy between camps.

Still, they'd need to set out and hunt some just outside the barrier soon. After getting up early to fix some breakfast, Chris boils the last egg for Mafuyu. Along with finding a can of corn beef in and around the almost empty cupboards to cook and pan-frying some buttered toast to mask a bit of the staleness.

Just as he's about to call for her, Chris stops after catching sight of her in the living room. Shooting her a nod before parroting the words back at her. ]


Morning. [ Unused to seeing her up this early, Chris hovers some by the wall to check for any wounds or signs of sickness. ] Just finished making breakfast, so let's sit and eat.

( ooc: i'm back and rdy 2 tag yessm sorry about that )

uwa good to be back thank you!

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-17 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Though he doesn't question her bright and rather unusual tone from before, Chris can't help but smile when Mafuyu immediately jumps from the stack of crates to make her way over to the table. There's an afterthought of maybe borrowing an axe and some hardware supplies from the settlement in order to make some stools and a better table out of the trees just outside of camp, but he follows suit and heads back into the kitchenette instead of making any solid plans from it. Swiping himself some toast from the plate and leaning on the side of the counter that held the least amount of black grout and chipped tile, Chris takes a few bites before rubbing the butter from his fingers with a nearby cleaning rag. Or rather: one of Mafuyu's old and recycled shirts. ]

Not that hard to slip a finger or two in there. I'm clueless when it comes to picking locks, but thankfully most of his 'security measures' are a little outdated. [ Jill was usually his go-to when it came to lock picking, but them's the breaks for them both. His late partner's lockpick set was a little old itself as well, so they're both lucky he'd had some practice in the past. Plus, he'd seen Mafuyu wear her usual (and what he suspects to be her favorite) shirt looking a little big on her. And the last sort of situation they both need was for Mafuyu to be under the weather or malnourished.

His younger sister had let herself waste away like that when he was supporting her on his own as a kid. So, it's a scene he'd rather avoid for the sake of them both. Regardless, with how the way things were in their current settlement now, Chris thinks they'd be better off either searching for a smaller camp or spending a few months living off the land itself. Though he isn't sure if Mafuyu would be ready for that kind of experience yet. ]
But let's not make it a habit, all right?

[ There's a pause in between his words. Not wanting to really focus on the reality of the lack of supplies, much less stealing from their 'esteemed leader', Chris pushes himself off from the counter to take a seat across the table to finish off his piece of toast. ]

Mn, but look forward to some soup and egg next time, if I can manage it.

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-17 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Chris' smile lingers a bit long following the display. It's good to see Mafuyu in high spirits, even better when she seems to be a little less lethargic after letting her eat most of their breakfast. She'd needed more than him despite his size, since manual labor and wandering outside the grounds still kept him in shape for the most part. ]

You're not far off. Though I'll keep all of that in mind.

[ He thinks they could scavenge something similar to what Mafuyu wants and hopefully a little more healthier. If luck was on their side, he could snatch one of the maps of their state and look for any major cities. Check for service roads and hopefully find a warehouse or distribution center. No doubt most of the wares and food would be spoiled or taken, but it was worth a shot. Still, there was the issue of whether or not to bring Mafuyu along just in case the distance was too far. Anything could happen to them both given the state of things, but he pushes most of those thoughts aside to pick up the plates to wash. ]

And of course. [ There's an uncomfortable pause between his words this time. There was no need to be accusatory following Mafuyu's questions, but her mention of the mask and spores meant she had either asked around or followed someone close enough to the boundaries to get a look. There's a slight wrinkle between his brow as he gives her a small look with a slight tilt of his head. ] Why do you ask?

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-17 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a quiet sigh as his shoulders sag some before tensing up, arms crossing as he's back to leaning against the counter top again. Though Chris does fight the urge to rub at his temples when he sees Mafuyu searching his expression for an answer. Judging from the way her voice strains slightly as she tries to keep her tone even, he can tell she's expecting a 'no'. ]

I know. [ The wrinkle between his brow continues to crease at her mention of being an adult. Perhaps they were both fortunate that Mafuyu looked a few years younger than seventeen. Though the settlement didn't force their 'ideology' with the women who stayed behind most days, he still wasn't comfortable with what he saw. So he switches to her mother tongue. After finding out no one understood Japanese, he'd asked Jill and Mafuyu to teach him just enough to speak and understand the basics. His enunciation is still hard and stilted, but it had worked so far in keeping information between them through hold-ups and questioning. On top of that, she still had her cultural identity even if it did alienate or draw attention to them both at times. ] 'And we agreed on keeping these sort of talks between us.'

[ While he means about keeping her age between them, for her safety, he finally relents little by little. However, before he can give his approval or final say he'd like to sift through a few more of her answers. So the accent drops, as well as his arms before his hands grip at the edge of the counter. This time he carefully scrutinizes her as he continues to question. And hopefully Mafuyu'll convince them both that she's fit to do some training and some scavenging. ]

Is this something you want to do? You can't step outside of these walls feeling unsure or distracted, Mafuyu.

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-18 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Chris continues to watch Mafuyu as he listens to her reasoning. Expression softening some, but looking vaguely unreadable—perhaps slightly disappointed if she knew him well enough. More in himself as he doesn't want to pick apart her words and give her the reality of their situation. It's true resources were beginning to dry up in this settlement, same with the wildlife in and around the grounds, so leaving would be the best option given the circumstances.

However, with the mayor keeping close watch on his small populace, simply getting up and leaving would mean the camp's guns would be on them both. It wasn't impossible, on the contrary—Chris and Jill had planned this scenario out for years after the Mansion Incident—it was just making sure Mafuyu would even survive the trek at all was the issue. Other camps meant learning their circle of politics and how they functioned, while most of them could already be at full capacity or looking to take advantage of wandering survivors for their supplies. The Midwest was also unforgiving, and heading West meant they'd come up on the remains of Raccoon sooner or later. All in all, her words seemed like wishful thinking at best—or even a lie. It was as if she was telling him half-formed thoughts, rushed and hastily planned, but he remains quiet until she's finished. ]


All right.. So you'd like to stay East, or were you looking to go somewhere else after that?

[ When it gets down to it, Chris settles on drilling her for more solid answers. Albeit gently, he only wants to make sure she's ready to even start travelling a couple hundred or so miles to Upstate New York on foot. There was a difference in saying something and acting on 'em, but if Mafuyu were to be convincing enough then he'll get started on those plans immediately. ]

Be honest, Mafuyu. We can't leave this place until we're both on the same page.

sorry about that had some post-operation appointments i should be good now!

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-21 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ Chris barks out a short laugh at the words. Nothing too malicious, there was always something amusing about an out-of-towner (for foreigner in this case) talk about his hometown. She's right on some counts, at least, but he'll be teaching her what highways and service roads they'll be using, as well as a general layout of the country if she really wanted to head west that badly. ]

Well, I've lived and drifted through the Midwest enough to know about the weather, yeah. [ The smile he wears drops slightly, twists in some places as he recalls on better times. Life before the mansion incident or the bombing of Raccoon, leaving the Air Force, drifting between states before getting an offer to join S.T.A.R.S. through Barry. All of which involved Jill in some ways, and even then, the thought of Barry brought up the need to tell him the news. That sooner or later Chris would make it out of the States alone, with no Jill in tow. Thankfully, Mafuyu seems to be more focused on drawing up half-convincing ideas than paying attention to his emotions. Something he's honestly glad for sometimes—Sighing, he plays it off as if he's honestly conceded to her plans. ] If it were up to me, Canada would be a much better place, but we can settle down somewhere else in the meantime if that's what you'd like.

[ The smile comes back, however more strained. Now wasn't the time to count his losses, much less reminisce on a past he can no longer really appreciate or go back to. In the meantime, he switches gears and plans for their escape to Upstate New York before heading in any direction. ]

But we'll be going about this my way.

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-21 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Canada would only be possible if the two of them were to make it. Chris isn't sure what would happen if either of them turned. Maybe give Mafuyu maps of where he and Jill have put up their weapon caches and spare homes, but that'd mean he'd need to teach her how to get to and from on her own. From reading maps, to navigating highways, keeping full stock in her surroundings. There's a lot he'd need to teach her if they were to step one foot outside of camp. ]

Most of my connections have gone and moved there since the start of all this. [ There might still be a few 'friends' of his in and around the US, he thinks. Though his more trusted associates up north might pegged him and Jill dead, if not crazy from the amount of years they've all stayed locked up in the country. Still, they'd be half-right. Or maybe a quarter, if only he looked dead as he'd felt sometimes. ] I figure we make our way to the Burton's before looking for yours. Unless you'd like it the other way around?

[ There's a pause before continuing, all this time Chris only assumed Mafuyu's parents were well off and safe from the chaos. No doubt they'd probably be clinging to any piece of news concerning their daughter, but from the safety of their home abroad. Shifting uncomfortably at this spot by the counter, he finally pushes away from it a second time to lean against the rickety kitchen table to face Mafuyu. Head tilted as he keeps their sights locked. This was by far the most serious question he'd ask of her, considering how many years he'd thought otherwise. ]

Although I assumed you were a high school kid on a field trip here. Aren't your folks back in Japan?

no rush toots! i hope you had a good weekend uwu

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-26 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's quiet when Mafuyu talks. It's the first time he's heard of her parents and he can't help but feel responsible in a way. Ever since Jill had found Mafuyu in New York he'd pushed the latter into surviving rather than focus on anything else. Chris knows he'd bossed Mafuyu around some, maybe even numerous times, but he'd raised Claire the same way when growing up. With efficiency coming first while comfort almost fell by the wayside. ]

There's no harm in going to California, at least to check. [ Unsure of what to say—an apology perhaps, or a thanks for being honest—Chris keeps quiet instead. Opting to nod solemnly before shooting Mafuyu a thin smile. ] And while I can't guarantee it'll be our first stop, I've got no problems searching for your parents before we leave for Canada.

[ It's the best he can promise at the moment, as Chris is uncertain where they'll both be when (or if) they reach California, but if he were in Mafuyu's position sitting around idly would never cross his mind. Though the realization only serves to make the gap between them much larger—for now, Mafuyu was dependent on him to get her there. ]

Rest up. Starting tomorrow we'll walk around the camp a few times to get a lay of the land. [ Mostly for Mafuyu's benefit and to get her used to their general area. There were some infected around, but they either wandered in groups or were gunned down en masse by their camp or surrounding settlements. And with the current season, the only real danger at the moment was avoiding the spores if anything. Still, while there was no need to tell Mafuyu to keep their plans under wraps, he keeps his sights locked onto her's before continuing. ] Speak in Japanese if you can and pack your things when the lights are out. We'll leave the next time it rains.

[personal profile] endure 2016-04-28 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Chris can't help but huff out a laugh following her reaction. He shouldn't, but he appreciates how animated she'd become after the promise. And it's something he takes to heart. ]

Right. [ There's another nod on his end as he takes Mafuyu's plates up to wash. Judging from her reaction, he's glad to see Mafuyu back on her feet; literally and figuratively. Along with the way her expressions look a little less clouded after their talk. ] Don't be in a rush to pack, all right? You never know who could be watching.

[ After cleaning up, Chris moves back into the living room to suit up. Though he isn't in a rush as the most the two of them would need for the day is either lunch or dinner, water, and wood for the fireplace. All of which he could get by noon. Holstering his knife and pistol before checking the seals on his respirator and googles, Chris continues on with his reply from the living room. ]

As for the rain, well, there's hardly any people out around camp during then. [ Most settlers in and around camp used it as a day to go over their reserves thoroughly, same with their self-appointed 'mayor'. And with the infected being plant-based, they needed sun and watering to spread their spores, too. Ironic how both seemed to take breaks on rainy days. Regardless, most infected stood around in the fields during then and so long as the two of them kept out of the way then traveling to his old house shouldn't be much of a hassle. ] We don't have to wear our masks either, since most of the spores are taken care of when it's wet. Just try your best not to touch the ground.

[personal profile] endure 2016-05-12 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ True to his word, Chris knocks on Mafuyu's door when the rain was falling its hardest. While he would've liked a downpour, the rain is loud enough to where he has to call for Mafuyu over the wind pelting the windows and roof. It would die down soon enough, but they'd need to set out before then. Up until this point, Chris spent a good couple of weeks taking Mafuyu out on walks in the early morning and around dusk, if only to have her memorize their surroundings and the camp itself. Under the guise of teaching 'him' how to hunt, he'd taught Mafuyu the basics of survival.

Enough to where he'd swiped her a decent survival knife from their camp's 'security'. Full tang, small enough for her to comfortably hold when chopping wood or whittling down branches, and the holster was large enough to tie around her hips like a belt. It would have to do until they could reach his family house up north, but it was a weapon she could count on in the meantime.

While waiting, Chris surveys their flat one last time. For the past couple of weeks he stuck to wearing old and faded clothes before suggesting Mafuyu to do the same a few days ago. He'd washed and strung them up in the living room to dry and this day was no exception, but the point of it had been was to pack their sturdier gear and make the place looked lived in. They'd be leaving their ratty clothes behind, if only to buy them some time before anyone noticed they were long gone. He'd secured a mask for her along with replacement filters and electrical tape as a makeshift seal just in case of any tears.

Finally, the majority of their supplies were in his rucksack and duffel while Mafuyu would carry their gear and clothes. Chris had made sure she would only be carrying the lightest bags out of the two of them. Satisfied, he zips up in his old BSAA windbreaker. It was hooded and water-proof which makes him thankful as his organization had kept extreme weather in mind when designing their gear. ]


Mafuyu? Let's go.