when we suffer, we survive.

   infatuation — he hates that word. how BELITTLING it can seem. because sidney? he feels so much, he loves so hard : even if it’s gone in an hour. ❝ s’pose i am a great actor, ❞ he shrugs, thumb swiping against his bottom lip. ❝ should’a gotten into that before, i guess, huh? ❞

Lost children were who Vanessa gravitated towards the most. They needed to be saved in her mind, she was only doing God’s work by playing her part in helping them find something. Lost children weren’t necessarily missing their parents, they could have been missing their vocation or the best parts of themselves. Vanessa just liked to offer some clarity to those who had been led astray, too surrounded by the mist of uncertainty to see any path at all. She had been comforting a nine year old, a young girl who’d been separated from her mother. A terrible thin, but there was no found in Vanessa’ heart that if it was at all possible then hey would be reunited. Viktoryia’s calls led her to hunker down and direct the little darling towards a carer who would feed her. She stood herself back up and turned towards the woman, someone she’d grown to rely upon within the camp. Though Vanessa tried to hold her tongue a lot of the time, she did every now and again remind Viktoryia that she was a treasure and a pillar of their little community. There wasn’t a woman like her in all of the world, let alone their slice of Cheyenne, and those who wished to say otherwise would have to contend with Vanessa’s steely belief. “I’m here, honey!” The older woman said before scooting by a couple of other travellers they were housing. “I’m really ready for some good news if you’ve any to share.”

        she moved her way through the masses  ( it seemed )  of bodies that were around - clamouring for news or help or a soothing touch.  stopping to pick up a crying child as she moved closer to vanessa.   “good, i was hoping you’d be inside,” she handed over the crying young child - “there were two outside at the doors, but they’re no longer a threat.   it might be worthwhile to put up some spikes outside the doors - so if the dead ones come closer they’ll be skewered and unable to move - unable to put pressure on the doors.”

 the  sound  of  the  siren  rang  in  his  ears  not  once  but  twice  —  while  the  INTENSE  sound  infected  his  ears  and  nearly  caused  a  MEMORY  to  trigger  he  suppressed  it,  this  wasn’t  the  time  —-  well,  what  time  was  SUITABLE  for  it  ??  he  shook  his  head  and  knelt  down  to  his  canine  companion,  howling  and  WHINING  at  the  siren.  he  provided  as  much  comfort  as  he  could  and  as  the  sign  of  walkers  drew  near  he  counted  on  viktoryia  to  aid  him.  help  —  an  odd  thing  for  someone  like  jonathan  to  ADMIT  but  after  witnessing  how  VALUABLE  the  woman  could  be  to  him  he  did  instill  a  certain  level  of  trust.  he  looked  up  at  viktoryia,  his  palm  resting  atop  tulip’s  head.  ❝  we  have  to   move  as  far  as  we  can  from  that  fucking  siren.  ❞  he  suggested  grimly  —   ❝  finding  the  source  of  it  would  be  a  suicide  mission  but  i’m  WILLING  to  hear  whatever  plan  you’ve  got.  ❞

PLOT DROP STARTER CALL + VIKTORYIA MARTINOVICH  ‹ @warringviktoryia › STATUS ↷  SLOW REPLY / CURRENTLY ACCEPTING !!

“Yeah, it took me a while to warm up to my ex again afterwards because of the whole her getting full custody thing, but I didn’t let Olivia know it. She thinks the world of Elena, I didn’t want that to change.”  He shrugged his shoulder. “But yes, lets.”

He laughed quietly, smile remaining on his face as she spoke. “Well, for someone who apparently had no prior training on making men blush, you’re real good at it. I’m sure you’re more used to men gasping in awe at your badassery.”

 Carter nodded his head, brow furrowing in agreement. “Yeah, I happened to notice that as well. Most people just seem to be in it for themselves nowadays.” He supposed it was a necessary result of the world falling to shit. It’s not like resources were in abundance anymore and people couldn’t trust other people to have their backs when the risk was getting eaten alive. Nevertheless, Carter tried his best not to fall down that dark rabbit hole. “Takes someone tough to do a job like that, and I get the feeling hat you did it real well.” She had a sort of vibe about her that made him think that she took her job seriously and did it with pride. “Who else in your family was in the military? Must’ve been nice to be able to share it with your family.”

       “men tend to be rather offended by my, uh... ‘badassery’ as of late,” she chuckled, “but if that is your offhanded way of giving me a compliment - i’ll take it.”   she hadn’t been at ease in a conversation in a very long time - nor had she felt so flattered? if that was the right word. it might not have been, but it felt like it fit.

           “i think it was in my blood to serve my country, honestly,” she said with a laugh, “but my father was in the service originally before he and my mother married. my eldest brother was two when my father was called back from the reserves, and he came back two years later and part of his leg was amputated but my second brother was born while he was away so he used to joke that he lost a part of his leg but was rewarded with another son. i think my brother wanted to honor him after that - he enlisted as soon as he was old enough. his name was vanko, and avel my other brother postponed to go to medical school,” she explained - knowing that she was talking TOO MUCH - but she hadn’t spoken of her family in far too long; she was unable to hold back the melancholy smile. “but avel enlisted as a combat medic when he was qualified and after graduating medical school.”

“No need, you couldn’t have known.” He simply shrugged his shoulders. “I couldn’t really hold a grudge when we had a daughter to raise, and I still got to see Olivia as often as I could.” Elena just was a better lawyer and he had a dangerous job. “Of course. She’s my kid, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just gave up on her.” It came as second nature to protect people, but protecting Olivia was on a whole other level. It was in his bones, she was a part of him that he didn’t ever want to be without. “You need to stop saying nice things like that, you’re gonna make a man blush.” He pointed his finger at her, a light smile dancing across his lips.

He laughed at her words, nodding his head. “Seriously, the only people I’ve met around here have either been nice to me, ignored me, or just straight up told me to fuck off.” He shook his head, laughing. He was used to it by that. “Really, a patrol guard?” Guess I’m finally starting to meet the right people.” He crossed his arms, a light smile on his face. “A national guard of Ukraine? I bet you would have a lot of stories then, that’d be an interesting job.” He could respect those that chose a life of service and protection, and his respect for Viktoryia became suddenly heightened in that moment.

       “i wish there were more men like you, i used to see far too many broken marriages where a father no longer cared for their former spouse and by extension, their children,” viktoryia said with a small shrug, “but lets talk of more pleasant things, shall we?”

          a rare smile and light laugh came from her slightly chapped lips as a pinkness rose in her cheeks; “making men blush was not one of the prerequisites in the nation guard, but it’ll be a badge i’m happy to wear.”

           she stares. not out of irritation, or in a condescending manner. elena doesn’t intend to come off as rude, or ungrateful. it’s just how she is - and she grimaces slightly at viktoryia’s obviously offended tone. “ sorry, “ she mutters reluctantly, because apologising for anything had never been her forte and she, usually, avoided it as much as possible. 

                                              her teeth grind slightly as her jaw crooks and she nods, lips pursing and eyes drifting so at least she doesn’t have to look the other in the eye. “ - i don’t HAVE a lot, i don’t have anything actually… “ nothing she’s willing to part with just to secure a door. “ it’s fine, whatever – you… patrol. “ there’s a furrow to her brow at the other’s job, understanding the necessity for a group so large but that doesn’t stop the discomfort at the idea. elena likes control, and she doesn’t like the idea of someone other than her watching her back while she sleeps. 

               the lack of supplies wasn’t a GOOD thing - but easily fixed, “what do you have then?   anything you’d wish to trade with?    we have supplies here that i could use, most of if is surplus - ”  she mentally scrolls through what she has, “if you’re willing to put in the hard work, i know where we can get some nails and some boards to reinforce your door.”

            “i used to be a COP.”             “i belonged to the UKRAINIAN NATIONAL GUARD.”

                                    “i’m working down at the country club as a PATROL GUARD.”                                   “i’m stationed at the v.a. medical center as a PATROL GUARD.”

           “my heroes are those who risk their lives;              every day to protect our world and make              it a better place - police, firefighters and              members of our armed forces.”                                                                      -  sidney sheldon

                  ft. @matrmvdita   /   mama.

       TWO WALKERS.   two undead... scraping at the door leading into the medical center - the crying of children in the background.    she would not allow this.      the guns kick back in her hands - silenced (luckily) as the two dead things DROP and she kicks them out of the way before she enters and shuts the door again behind her - shouting over the sound of the chaos and siren for the other guards to keep a tight lock on the door.

”Ex-wife.” He emphasized with a tilt of his head. “But you’re not wrong, she is very beautiful.” Carter crossed his arms, shaking his head at her questions. “No unfortunately not. We were divorced for a while before the outbreak and she had full custody of Olivia. I couldn’t get into contact with them after zombies started invading New York.”

He hadn’t heard a truer statement in years. “You are kind of already one of the nicest people I’ve met around here, so.” He laughed quietly, smiling at her. “I’m working down at the Country Club as a patrol guard. Seemed like an obvious choice. I used to be a cop.”

                    “oh, my apologies,” she said with a small smile - “but i am glad you are still able to speak with kindness towards her.”   as he spoke about the outbreak and their literal & legal separation, her heart felt heavy.      “and yet you keep looking,” viktoryia said with a touch of reverence - and then tasted the bitter STING of jealousy - she’d never be able to get back home; not to ukraine - to her brothers and her twin and her parents...   but, like carter tate, she’d never stop hoping until she could prove it was futile.    “your daughter is lucky... to have a father like you.”

“No need to apologize, it’s not your fault.” He shook his head, small smile on his face as he took a last glance at Olivia’s picture before placing it carefully back into his wallet. It was the only thing he had left of her, and he’d be damned before he let the picture be ruined. “I hope so. She definitely took after her mother, she looks just like her.” Carter has always hoped that wherever she was, she at least still had Elena to take care of her and keep her safe. He hoped they’d kept each other safe. 

He didn’t hesitate to put his wallet back in his pocket and take her hand, shaking it. “Nice to meet you, Viktoryia. I’m Carter Tate. And if that was what you consider rude, I’d kill to see what you think being nice looks like.” He joked with her, smile on his face. “Thanks, I’d really appreciate it.”

        “she is beautiful,” viktoryia agreed, “so your wife must also be beautiful.”  she smiled, her blue eyes dancing in the light, “did you three travel together before coming to cheyenne?” of course it would make sense to viktoryia that the three would have come together, perhaps having been split up on the boarder.

                “ right, vik - whatever. “ elena is perfectly capable of defending herself, of building up walls both physical, and emotional. her crossed arms tighten around her chest as she glares at the other, though she shifts on her feet, uncomfortable. “ i don’t need you to, jesus - okay, i can board up a window on my own ; i’m not completely useless. “ with a roll of her eyes, her lips purse as she considers whether or not to bother with an introduction. reluctantly, she murmurs her name but makes no move to extend her own hand in turn. “              elena… and i just need to know how to stop a door from opening without, uh – locking it or blocking it… there’s walkers in my building and the doors are flimsy as fuck. “  seriously. too much pressure on one would probably crack it in half. and elena doesn’t want to wake up with some asshole chewing on her arm because the construction crew fucked up.

           viktoryia internally bristled, but her training had trained her expression to remain passive despite her annoyance   -- —  “board up whatever you see fit, Пані - it was you who came asking for my help, however little or not you may need it.”

His mouth quirked into a sort of smile when she spoke in a language entirely foreign to him. Russian, maybe? Bulgarian? He wouldn’t have a clue, the only other language he knew was French after taking it in high school and having a French uncle that he liked. It was actually the only subject in school that he’d paid attention to.

His face fell in disappointment at the fact that this woman hadn’t heard of her. “Well, she definitely wouldn’t be old enough to have gotten married and changed her name, so I don’t think that’s her.” He joked, trying to push down the disappointment that he really should be used to by now. “I took this photo about a month before the outbreak. She’d be thirteen now.” 

          “i am sorry, sir,” she handed the photo back with a sympathetic smile, “there are very few children in cheyenne, and i haven’t crossed one outside of the town since i left the airports last year.”       viktoryia smiled at his jest; though the pain was evident on his face.   his dark brows and worry lines fracturing the handsome structure; “but she is beautiful, i think she would be very happy to know that her тато kept that picture so close to him despite the world being what it is. don’t you think?”

It still feels strange. He’s been in this town for little under a week and it was still odd seeing people walking around, acting like a real little town. He hasn’t seen anything like this in all the years he’s been travelling around the country. Sure, he’d find groups here and there, but never any as large as this. Being around people had always made Carter feel more alive, and for the first time in years, he was starting to feel somewhat normal again. But there was no way that his life could feel truly normal again without his daughter in it, without the knowledge of what had happened to her. So with her in mind, he tucked his battered old wallet into his back pocket and headed out of the country club, no real destination in mind. He doesn’t know the area very well yet, but he’s always had an exploratory nature. 

Spotting someone not too far away, Carter approached them slowly. He may not have been around long, but he knows that there are people around here that don’t trust easily. “Excuse me,” he called out, tone soft as he reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and retrieved the photo of his daughter. “Have you seen this girl? Her name’s Olivia.”

             viktoryia turned at the sound of an unfamiliar, male voice  - -— her hand had moved to her kukri - one   ( or both )  of the twin blades always at her side, but did not draw as she was within her safety zone.       “Чи можу я допомогти вам?” she shook her head, cleared her throat, “I mean - can I help you with something?”