THAT'S THE MISSION.

“i’m not—”   she is, of course, because that’s just the sort of thing she does, but she bristles at the accusation anyway as she settles back into the shade of the treeline.   she bites her tongue against the urge to argue further, a hard-learned habit when instinct drives her to pick at whatever frayed edge of an argument she can find.   it only takes a couple deep breaths to rein herself back in and when she speaks again it’s a calmer, more level appeal.

“all i’m saying is if we take the longer way around the back we’ll likely have more time inside.”

𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥,  decades under his belt  -  not only of age but experience.  his former occupation was to plan.   to plot perfect action amidst imperfect situations.   “ and what if we get caught out goin’ that way ? ”   a brow arches, testing her.   

[  J. PRICE  /  05:02  ]    i don’t do  ‘good morning’  texts [  J. PRICE  /  05:05  ]  better if you don’t. [  J. PRICE  /  05:06  ]  but you’ll call me if something on it comes up.

ellie eases her shotgun into its holster on her pack, frowning down at the–what are these things called? she’s never encountered nor heard about this stage of infected. she has the impression price is at as much of a loss as she is, which is far from comforting. ellie moves closer to the corpse without fear of the spores bobbing drowsily in the air. ❛ i’m not ripped into tiny pieces, so i’ll count that as a win, ❜ she says, and crouches down. the beam of her flashlight casts the warped planes of flesh and rot into stark relief. ❛ p’ft. at least you didn’t bust my nose like last time. ❜

the rapid fire of her pulse softening into a flutter permits ellie to start thinking straighter. they shouldn’t dawdle–fuck knows what else is skulking around in the gloom. reigning in her curiosity about the monstrosity that will surely invite itself into tonight’s round of nightmares, she drags herself up tentatively onto her feet. the cartilage of her right knee whines from the strain. ❛ we’ll be outta here soon enough, ❜ although which of them–price of herself–she’s reassuring is open for interpretation. ellie mops the sweat off her brow with her wrist. ❛ hey, how’s your mask holding up? i saw one of its arm, uh… things clock you pretty good. ❜

PRICE LINGERS AS SHE CROUCHES,  peering over her shoulder to get a better glimpse of the creature.   “ don’t get too close, ”   he warns.   “ no idea how these things work.  might not be fuckin’ dead for all we know. ”   infected varied vastly.   in size, sound and abilities.  some took more bullets than others, and some ravenously seek you out despite having lost half their body.    ellie’s immunity means little to him  -  when she’s just as vulnerable as anyone else when it comes to other infections and diseases.   he’ll have her thoroughly check herself over once they’re back in the light and the easing of adrenaline reveals all.

RESIDENT EVIL 3  /  SENTENCE STARTERS  /  ACCEPTING.

@beforewecrash​ asked : “ there's no other way. ”

A BLANK STARE.   his fingers grow more numb with every passing second.   price has been stood like this for a few minutes now, undisclosed thoughts racing through his mind  -  ellie’s endless search, intentional or not, for further self-destruction exasperates him.   “ fingers weren’t enough f’ you, eh ? ”   his disapproving scowl doesn’t falter.   “ now you wanna risk ruining your entire fuckin’ ‘and ? ”   he gives a firm shake of his head, despite the uncertainty that looms over his shoulders.   

          “ no.   no  -  there must be another way. ”   price approaches her, carefully reaching out for her marked hand, pausing to check with her first before taking it gently into his own to scrutinize the bite.   his stomach jerks.    how strange, to spend your time with someone who should be dead.   that’s twice now.   does she think she has nine fucking lives ?   concentration dents his forehead.   ironic, coming from the man who’s also avoided death countless times in his own ways.   “ maybe one'a farah’s medics can do somethin’ about it.  a surgeon ... maybe ... make it look like a dog bite ... ”