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[redwinekindofgirl]

Sooooo, guys, girls, others. What's the grossest thing you've ever eaten?

[Don't mistake this for her not being concerned about Caedra, and not being concerned about generally everything, but a recent conversation and a recent find has piqued her curiosity enough to ask the question.

For her own answer, she holds up a small, white, chalky-looking cube.]

This one's mine. It's called 'carbtien', and it's basically what we live on back home, because we can't grow enough food for everyone. It's military rations, and I don't know what they put in it, but it doesn't taste of anything and when you try to swallow it, it's like your brain forgets how swallowing works.

[Julie snorts softly and drops the cube down out of sight.]

I found a big bag of them just lying around a couple of weeks ago. Weird, right? I guess I'll keep it safe for if we ever end up starving or something. You might not thank me, though.

Comments

[puzzlingly]

Where are you from?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Am..erica? Where I'm from isn't the point. We have a zombie problem.

[puzzlingly]

「... oh. Don't ask like if in the movies, don't ask like if in then movies!」

... what are they like?

「Like in the movies?」

[redwinekindofgirl]

Like dead people walking around with the faces of our friends and families only they want to chew out our throats. Mostly.

[Deadpan.]

[puzzlingly]

「Just waking? Or can they outrun you? Fine he will not ask. Tho might be important to know.」

What happened?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Don't know. I was a little kid when it started.

[Sure, she has theories, but they aren't fully formed and she doesn't share them with strangers.]

They've been around as long as I can remember, it just kept getting worse.

[puzzlingly]

「What does he say to that? There is no way a sorry can begin cover it.」

Any hopes for it to stop?

[redwinekindofgirl]

... Don't know. Maybe. Something was happening when I left, but I don't know how it's going to turn out.

[That was honestly the worst part of ducking out when she did. She could drive herself mad thinking about it.]

[puzzlingly]

I know it may not bring you any consolation but, never lose hope.

「That's all anyone can do.」

[redwinekindofgirl]

[She lets out a little noise, a soft 'heh' somewhat devoid of humour.]

We don't have much room for hope where I'm from. Not anymore.

[puzzlingly]

What is what keeps you going, then?

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Julie sniffs slightly, then shrugs.]

Better than the alternative.