stateofdecay | Event: Itinerant Horde

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Event: Itinerant Horde

Friday morning brings with it biting temperatures, a thick fog which dissipates not long after the sun rises, and many, many zombies. As the Horde shambles into the area, the survivors of the Quad area are setting finishing the last touches of their plan and getting into position for their operation to Split and Destroy the Itinerant Horde.

This post will be used for all miscellaneous scenes set during this plot line. There will be a second post going up for mission scenes which will count for plot success activity tomorrow morning. Characters who volunteer for missions all know the plan but will not receive their own assignments and partners until late this evening, at which point the Cascade Hills teams will be dispatched to their locations.

Meagher Valley teams will be positioned Saturday morning, Providence Ridge teams Sunday morning, and Trumbull Valley teams Monday morning. The Horde is impassable by car, so please be mindful to note which side of the Horde your character is on at any given time. Those on teams will be prepared to camp out for a few days at their final locations, and will have safe elevated spots scouted for them ahead of time, but are also welcome to shelter at any community once the Horde has cleared it (ie, if you are assigned to Loch + Keogh, you can return to Whitney Field after the Horde clears it on Saturday afternoon).

If you have any questions about logistics, please do not hesitate to ask me either here or in the #questions channel on the Discord server. I realize this is a little complicated but I'm happy to help figure out where your character will be and be able to get! I'll have team assigns for people at about 9pm PST tonight, and the post for mission scenes will go up tomorrow morning.

FRIDAY 10:45 AM

The Horde reaches Morgan's Crossing in Cascade Hills.

Beau Betancourt and Ares Makepeace are positioned here to make the first attempt at splitting the horde with Burton Wolfingbarger (Biker) and Vic (Deadhunter) [18].

FRIDAY 2:45 PM

The Horde crosses the Kelenqua River at the Bridge Fort in Cascade Hills.

FRIDAY 5:30 PM

The Horde passes the UU Church south of Lowl.

FRIDAY 9:30 PM

The Horde passes through Downtown Lowl.

Arlo Rattray and Mud are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Otto (Responder) and Keller (Responder) [12].

SATUR. 8:00 AM

The Horde passes Loch and Keogh Self-Storage in Cascade Hills.

John Hwang and Margarita Son are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Carly Vega (Scav) and Howie Standish (Lundegaard) [7].

SATUR. 1:45 PM

The Horde passes by Whitney Field Depot.

SUNDAY
12:30 AM

The Horde passes the Wind Farm in Meagher Valley.

Mara Kaufman and Gideon Ames are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with The Witch (Deadhunter) and Della Heydecker (Responder) [15].

SUNDAY 6:00 AM

Approximately halfway through its journey through the Quad area, the Horde passes Grace Lutheran Church in Meagher Valley.

Roswell and Billie Kaplan are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Nolan (Scav) and Bell (Network Agent) [6].

SUNDAY 4:45 PM

The Horde passes through the village of Sawyer's Crossing before passing Lundegaard Lumber.

MONDAY 6:15 AM

The Horde passes Camp Winchester on its way to Marshall.

Bunny Rabbit and Lola Bellison are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Brandson Gunn (Lundegaard) and Elwood Gunn (Lundegaard) [16].

MONDAY 11:40 AM

The Horde passes by the city of Marshall in Trumbull Valley.

Reggie Goodleaf and Angel are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Bug (Deadhunter) and Amy McBride (Scav) [20].

TUESDAY 4:00 AM

The Horde reaches the town of Spencer's Mill in Trumbull Valley.

Dutch and Edgar de Leon are positioned here to make the next attempt at splitting the horde with Foxy (Deadhunter) and Mickey Wilkerson (Network Agent) [6].

TUESDAY 5:00 PM

The Horde reaches the town of Fairfield, where the Quad teams intend to lure any remaining zombies to the Fairgrounds on the other side of town.

Carter Betancourt and Court Slaughter are positioned here to make the final attempt with Jonah Shaw (Responder) and Big Mike (Biker) [19].

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NOVEMBER 10, 2013 ▪ PFS KITCHEN ▪ 2:00 PM

It can be hard for Blythe to acknowledge the gravity of a situation sometimes, even when he's in the middle of it. But he's here in Prescott now as members of the half-baked mission roll in with varying degrees of injuries and traumas, and he can only help so much. Which is the worst part. Bring me this, take that over there, can someone please clean up this blood — he can do all that just fine, but then he's useless again. Just an artist in the apocalypse.

With a brief lull in the action, he makes himself scarce and out of the way, looking for some kind of break room where he can hide himself for at least a few minutes. He finds the kitchen, and starts to brew up the first instant coffee he can find. Because that's something he can do, and clearly what everyone needs right now is a stimulant.

Niko walks in, bleary-eyed and more than a little bit out of it. He tosses yet another pair of blood-smeared gloves into the trash, not even noticing Blythe until he's almost walked into him, muttering to himself all the while.

"Stupid fucking bullshit plan, fu—OH! Hey Blythe! What are you doing here?" He tries to force a smile, but his voice has gone hoarse.

Oh, it's time for concern, or maybe comfort. It's time to activate Morale Mode.

"Just, uh— just making coffee," he answers as the machine beeps to life behind him. "Want a cup? Take a seat, I'll make it."

"If I sit down, I might not be able to get back up," Niko jokes weakly, but he does as he's told anyway. He slumps into a chair and props his feet up on an overturned milk crate sitting on the floor.

"Thank you, you're a life-saver. I appreciate it," he says fondly, genuinely grateful for the offer.

Edited 2024-11-10 01:58 (UTC)

"We could wheel you around in a chair if it comes to that." Blythe watches the coffee drip into the pot, slow and unhurried, unaware that there's lives in risk right outside their walls. "You deserve the break, and I desperately need to be useful."

The dripping coffee slows to a halt and Blythe springs to like an experienced server. "How do ya take it?

"Just inject it directly into my veins," Niko says, another bad joke. He's too tired to make better ones.

"Just black is okay. Beggars can't be choosers. Thanks, Blythe." He feels guilty that Blythe even has to deal with any of this, and he isn't about to make his day worse by being too demanding. "Are you holding up all right? I know this is a lot."

Blythe snags a mug (hopefully the folks at Prescott ain't too particular about their drinkware, they seem like they could be the types) and fills it up with enough coffee to either explode Niko's heart or fix everything. It's a fine line.

"I'm learning a lot," Blythe answers as he delivers the mug, and sinks into a chair across from him. "Don't worry about me. I've got dozens of coping mechanisms and a lot less to do." He looks Niko up and down; he looks so tired and so wound up, and he wishes he could do something to just take that away for a second. "You don't even need to worry about talking right now if you don't wanna. You shouldn't feel like you gotta be on."

A heart-exploding volume of caffeine is exactly what Niko needs right now; he's run out of adrenaline, so other stimulants (like coffee and crushes) will just have to do.

He cradles the mug in his hands like the precious treasure it is and sips it hot. "Nah, I like talking to you. It's a nice break from barking orders at everyone and trying not to call people idiots. I think this might be the best coffee I've ever had?" He gives Blythe a smile and then sets the cup down to rub at his eyes, their dark circles even more prominent than usual.

In the presence of Blythe, despite his exhaustion, he can't help but to try to crack another joke. "Hey can you do me a favour?"

Blythe leans forward and just barely resists the urge to take Niko's hand in his own. He needs those. For drinking coffee and stuff. "A man who compliments my coffee can ask me for anything."

Niko leans in, as though he's going to impart his dying wishes, and whispers, "Please remember my hair when it looked cute, 'cause once I finally take this stupid little doctor hat off, it's gonna look so terrible. So terrible. You're gonna run away screaming."

"Oh noooo," Blythe gasps, hand to his mouth. "I'm already beginning to forget the bounce of your curls, the way they shine in the sun..." Smiling softly, he doesn't resist the urge this time, and reaches for Niko's nearest hand. "If only you had anything else going for you, I might be able to get over it."

Niko smiles and squeezes his hand in return. "I know it seems like I'm a one-trick pony. I'm sorry. We can't all be blessed with a million fun talents like you."

He leans over to give Blythe a gentle peck on the cheek. Then he pauses, debating whether he should, before adding: "Maybe if we all make it out of this alive, I'll show you a second, secret trick." He winks. It's hard to be subtle when you're this drowsy.

Blythe's heart is doing actual somersaults up and down his chest. His face is hot and his mouth insists on twisting into a smile, extremely in spite of their circumstances.

"That sounds like some of the best motivation so far." He runs his thumb along Niko's knuckles, absently and affectionately. "We'll get through it. We're gettin' through it."

Niko places his other hand on top of both of theirs reassuringly. "Well, if you believe we can, then I trust you. I believe in your belief. You're the light at the end of this tunnel. And—powered by your smile and this delicious coffee—I think I can do like, a hundred more rounds of this. Easily."

"Lord, I don't think y'all've got enough coffee for a hundred more rounds." Blythe is suddenly aware of how on edge he's been feeling these last couple days, and hearing Niko steadies him. If his belief is what's powering this whole operation, then he's gonna be believingest guy in town. "But I'll see what I can do on the other front." He places his other hand on top of the pile of hands. "If you ever get your hands back."

Niko can't help but to chuckle. Blythe is adorable, okay? And Niko is nothing if not cheesy.

"I think there are some silly straws in that drawer over there. I'll manage."

This is nice, he decides. He's going to stay like this a little while longer.

Blythe is not under the impression he's anything other than a massive dork, and when someone appreciates that... There's no sigh wistful enough for that.

"I do hear you like 'em silly." He leans forward and kisses the tip of Niko's nose.

Edited (i've had this written for like 12 hours and was too embarrassed to post) 2024-11-10 21:26 (UTC)

Niko lets out a delighted teeheehee.

"You're right about that. Nothing more endearing than earnest whimsy," he says, returning the kiss on the nose with one of his own.

The door to the kitchen bursts open and a wet-haired young woman with desperate eyes and no real plan here steps in to interrupt this touching scene. She can really never shower again. It's her One and Only Duty to make sure this relationship doesn't expand too far under trauma but they've been alone for half an hour max, and they're nose-kissing. That's egregious.

"Hi!" She grins like she's been invited and a welcome presence here, hopping on a counter. "Is that coffee? Can I have some?"

Edited (sorry guys) 2024-11-10 23:19 (UTC)

Blythe jumps like he's just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, his face tomato red.

"Oh! Hi!" he stammers, chest thudding away. "Yeah, the coffee is—it's all yours!" He glances back up at Niko, a sort of apology on his face as he squeezes his hands again. Sorry for the codependent theater kids that he's attached to.

One final squeeze and Niko's back on his feet, looking sheepish and apologetic.

"I should probably get back to work anyway. I'll see you later?"

He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his scrubs.

Charitably, Evening hops down and busies herself with coffee with her back turned so they can say goodbye in sort of private.

Blythe jumps to his feet already missing the feel of his hands or the warmth of his closeness.

"I'll be around," he says, a pathetically moony expression on his face. "Just gimme a call."

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Event: Itinerant Horde

SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe

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SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe (& Evening)

SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe (& Evening)

SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe (& Evening)

SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe (& Evening)

SCENES: SUNDAY: Niko & Blythe (& Evening)