Fortune's Calamity

Uh… [He hesitates to answer. Lying was not the best skill he got. He always took pride on it, but it didn’t help much in situation like this.] I’m, um, from North— Chicago. I’m from Chicago. This is a warm day for me. [He ends up emitting a nervous laugh which dies down slowly.] I, uh, have some things to get checked— Jesus, you look really cold… Do you want. my cap or something? Nice to meet you too, and I figured that. [He chuckles wryly, pointing at the direction which was thought to be the way to hospital.] I… think the road is that way?

Even if I w-was from the North, I'd n-never get used to th-this.

Aye aye.

...Wait, seriously? Even so, doesn't mean it's the largest part of the body or the one that's gonna cause the most owies. And sharpshooting sounds like fun.

What can I say? I live to boost egos.

Awesome, you keep doing just that.

Well, you didn’t kill yourself and you hit the general vicinity of the target. Congratulations, you’re mediocre.

That's better than what people used to call me, so I'll take that as a compliment.

[He looks down at the man who seems to be shivering. When you turn into a half zombie it kind of makes your senses numb, so he doesn’t feel much coldness. But this poor guy does. Bernard gives him a sympathetic look.] I would but… I don’t think I should move— [He looks around, hoping he could find his handler. No such luck.] You know what? Maybe that’s better. You’re gonna at least need somewhere to take shelter… and I need to find hospital. I’m Bernard by the way.

[He could feel his jaw quivering, now thoroughly soaked to the bone.] Damn i-it...how a-are you not c-cold?

I can see that. [He comments quietly noticing the pensive look of the guy. That kind of look usually comes up after the first shooting at people.] Again, if we can we would. We just don’t have enough resources. And honestly, how many people would be willing to risk themselves for something that isn’t even sure? Do you think people here have that luxury? Would you throw away your life for some stranger who, you don’t even know if he or she is out there? [He didn’t mean to snap but it’s really hard not to when your usual tone was like Archer’s; flat and sharp. He pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh.] What I can tell you is, you’re wasting time by asking this matter to me. If you want to make an official request then go to the government. If you want a job, the recruitment office is down the hall. 

[He thought over the other man's questions. Would he do it? Well, if his family and friends were still alive, the answer would definitely be no. But they weren't. It was just him and the apocalypse and life that shouldn't be his. Without hesitation, he nodded.]

Welcome to the club, mate. Pretty sure you just described the entirety of the human race. [Giving the man a half-smile, he thinks for a moment.] Pretty simple, really. There’s rations, like you’d figure. If you can make yourself useful, you can get better things. Meat is a rare commodity. Check the government building and see if they can help with housing and work. It’s over there. Biggest building with the best walls. Go figure.

Great, awesome, woo, go us.

Then, Ed, I’m afraid I’m not your guidance counselor today. [Listening to the man’s explanation, Matt resists the urge to roll his eyes. He chuckles.] Well, you must have some skills. Or you wouldn’t have gotten here. Though, if your family was well-off, why is it just you here? [At the question, he looks around, spreading his arms wide.] This was my life before everything happened. Been a nurse for about ten years now. 

Alright, thanks anyways man. [He smiled and shook his head.] Nope, nothing. I...I got lucky. I pulled the trigger fast enough and as fate would have it, I'm a trick shot. Weird, right?

Good enough.

(He tends to see red sometimes. He guesses that is just one of the symptoms of being what he is now. But Wade never had predicted that he would dread a single color so much. As soon as his vision shades into that blood red, he immediately stops everything in order to reclaim that safe side of him; the human side. But sometimes, he’s left vulnerable while in that fevered state. For example – right now, flashes of red blinds the young man, causing him to freeze in the middle of oncoming traffic. Before he knows it, a car slams into him and Wade is sent rolling up the windshield before falling off and hitting the ground.) ‘M fine, ‘M fine. (Wade; the trooper. He waves off concerns as he gets back up onto his feet again with nothing but a small groan. – Not that there was much concern shown. There isn’t much love for mutations.) I’m okay, really. (He continues to wave someone away from him with one hand while the other is used to rub his eyes – hopefully to rub the red out.)

Holy crap! [He couldn't help but shout as he watched some kid get hit by a car. When said kid simply got up and started walking away, he was beyond baffled. What the hell was going on here? Without missing a beat, he runs and catches up to the younger man.]

[Shaking his hand out to alleviate the stinging, he looks at the man with a blank stare.] Unless you’re with that sack of piss driving out of the garage, I don’t have a problem with you. Name’s Parker. What do you need?

Nope, I'm not. I'm just a lost person trying to figure out what to do with the remainder of my somewhat-almost-cut-short life. [He offered a smile.] I'm Ed and...I guess directions? A run-down on how this place works would be helpful too. I don't really want to sit around and do nothing.

Good morning (he replies as the man greets them, then he gives his son a look and the kid speaks too by giving the man a ‘Hello’. He didn’t expect the stranger to go on talking, thinking the initial greeting had been merely common decency). No, it’s alright… (he begins, but trails off at the sight of the $50 bill the man was offering him) Oh whoa, that’s… That’s really kind, but I can’t accept your money. In times like these I’m pretty sure that money could do you good, better hold on to it. You never know when it’ll come in handy (he says with a light smile).

[He shakes his head. He doesn't need it, not now.] No, seriously man, you can have it. It's, um...just me here, and I've got more. Please, it'll make me feel better.

[Looking the man over, Matt raises an eyebrow.] Well, are you trained in the medical field? Any particular skill with dressing wounds? Can you sew like a champ? Unless the answer to those questions is yes, I don’t think you’re going to find your purpose here. [He smiles with a hint of sarcasm, extending a hand for the man.] Nice to meet you, Ed. I’m Matt. Or Nurse Grey. So, Ed, what were you before the world ended?

Sorry, I can't do any of that stuff. Well, I can sew. Not well, but enough to fix a hole or something...not a bullet hole though. Never had the stomach for the medical field.

Uh….. [Bernard freezes as someone asks him the way. He wasn’t sure he was allowed to talk to the people outside the lab or the hospital. He fidgets a bit, hoping the handler would come back soon. Either way he should say something… Jamming his hat even deeply, he murmurs.] I, uhm, sorry. I’m kinda lost here too, so… Sorry I can’t help.

[Archer raises a brow as some random guy asks a question.] You are, obviously. You’re not in the troops. [He loads the gun and puts it down on the desk, staring back at the man for a while before he turns away.] We let them in if they don’t have the fucking virus. We just don’t pick them up from the outside. Too much risk, scarce of manpower. Does this answer your question?

[He shuffles in his place, more uneasy than before.] N-No sir. I mean, I can fire a gun and aim and all that, but I'm no soldier. [Ed eyes the gun warily. He knows this man won't shoot him, but ever since he shot at his parents...well, he was getting over it any time soon.] Kind of...

Sure,