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sixwordstories2013-09-07 07:34 pm
shambler) wrote in sixwordstories2013-09-07 07:34 pm
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[Groaning's what R does best] Ugh!
[ Cue an amused look from this one. ]
Something wrong, R?
Something wrong, R?
[ Shaun groans right back at R in an attempt to break the human to zombie language barrier. ] Grrrr. I hope I got that right! Do I need to roll the 'R' or let just flow off my tongue like... rrrr. [ The more he learns, the more he might be able to engage Ed in the more meaningful conversations. ]
[R pauses in shock, gaping at Shaun. He can't say he's met many - okay, make that any - humans who want to talk zombie. R's only too desperately happy to indulge. He peers at Shaun, listening to what, surprisingly, isn't too bad of a groan for a newbie]
Rr. [R points to himself. Name. He flops a hand at whatever. Not-name.] Rrrrrr.
...See? Do you...get?
Rr. [R points to himself. Name. He flops a hand at whatever. Not-name.] Rrrrrr.
...See? Do you...get?
[ Of course, Shaun would have never gave it any thought if his best mate didn't end up as a zombie. And even before Z-Day, Ed was more zombie than man. And the only way, to find away to communicate now would be to return to moaning, groaning, and other sounds that zombies made.
Now the look on R's face was something Shaun wasn't expecting, so Shaun is equally surprised. ] Rr. [ Shaun tries again. ] I think I might have, let me try it again. Rrrrr.
Now the look on R's face was something Shaun wasn't expecting, so Shaun is equally surprised. ] Rr. [ Shaun tries again. ] I think I might have, let me try it again. Rrrrr.
[R would find it himself to feel that "warm and fuzzy feeling", even without a heartbeat, if he knew about Ed. Even zombies can be saps when they're not busy shuffling and gunning after humans.
Leaning forward to better, uh, appreciate Shaun's attempts, R grunts. It sounds suspiciously like "huh!"]
More...from the...guh-guts. Here.
[He jabs a wobbly, grey finger at Shaun's stomach]
Leaning forward to better, uh, appreciate Shaun's attempts, R grunts. It sounds suspiciously like "huh!"]
More...from the...guh-guts. Here.
[He jabs a wobbly, grey finger at Shaun's stomach]
[ The thing is, she's starting to pick up on things - little reactions here and there, as subtle as they are. She can tell the difference between a blind stare and when he's looking at her. ]
My birthday? God, I haven't thought about my birthday in - forever. Guess there's really no point when people don't celebrate a lot anymore.
My birthday? God, I haven't thought about my birthday in - forever. Guess there's really no point when people don't celebrate a lot anymore.
[It's that eye to detail that R likes about Julie. She speaks to him as if he's 100% there and maybe sometimes he isn't, but he appreciates it all the same. It's easier to concentrate on the here and now when she tugs him back to the present. ]
Time to...start...? [R's onto something here.] We'll...celebrate.
[R's wheezes come to a stop there. He's hit the zombie equivalent of being winded with that speech. For Julie he'll bust out the big words]
Time to...start...? [R's onto something here.] We'll...celebrate.
[R's wheezes come to a stop there. He's hit the zombie equivalent of being winded with that speech. For Julie he'll bust out the big words]
[ Maybe it's because he hasn't been dead that long, but she truly believes there's some spark of life still left in him. It's weak, flickering in and out, but it hasn't gone away completely. She's reminded of that in little moments. ]
What do you think? There's not much around here to make a cake with.
[ She quirks her mouth in thought, considering. ]
But you don't need to take that as a personal challenge or anything.
What do you think? There's not much around here to make a cake with.
[ She quirks her mouth in thought, considering. ]
But you don't need to take that as a personal challenge or anything.
[R had to think about that. Cake? In theory he knew what a cake was - he also knew he couldn't make one. One of the key points in a relationship is trust, right? Right]
I...can't bake. Might...need help.
[He even manages to look embarrassed, in that dim zombie way of his. ]
I...can't bake. Might...need help.
[He even manages to look embarrassed, in that dim zombie way of his. ]
I don't even know what we have to make a cake with. It probably wouldn't taste very good.
[ Not that that's stopping her. She gives him a sidelong glance and laughs. Not a real laugh (she can't even remember the last time she did that) but a small chuckle. It counts. ]
[ Not that that's stopping her. She gives him a sidelong glance and laughs. Not a real laugh (she can't even remember the last time she did that) but a small chuckle. It counts. ]
[R heaves a shrug. He's probably the worst person to ask about taste here]
Muh-maybe...micro-wave....cake?
[That totally has to count. R sneaks a glance at Julie to see what she thinks and catches her looking at his. His mouth twitches into one of those almost-smiles when she chuckles]
Muh-maybe...micro-wave....cake?
[That totally has to count. R sneaks a glance at Julie to see what she thinks and catches her looking at his. His mouth twitches into one of those almost-smiles when she chuckles]
My favorite.
[ Now she's totally fantasizing about one of those cakes that sit in the window of a bakery shop, tall and towering and decorative. There was a time she thought she'd have a cake like that someday, maybe when she got married. That was before.
Now, she just smiles a little at him and tucks some hair behind her ear. ]
What do you think? Should we go for anything resembling an actual flavor or just mix up random things and see what happens?
[ Now she's totally fantasizing about one of those cakes that sit in the window of a bakery shop, tall and towering and decorative. There was a time she thought she'd have a cake like that someday, maybe when she got married. That was before.
Now, she just smiles a little at him and tucks some hair behind her ear. ]
What do you think? Should we go for anything resembling an actual flavor or just mix up random things and see what happens?
Uggghhhhhhhhhh....[It seems like a good time to stall, R dragging out his groan more than even he needs to. He can't tell if he's balking or Julie playing with her hair is doing it - it's casual, a smooth unconscious gesture on her part R catches because zombies don't do that. It's another part of the Julie package he's fond of.]
Mix...it up. Live...a little.
[R's mouth does that little twitch again and this time the ghost of a smile struggles its way across his stiff face. ]
Mix...it up. Live...a little.
[R's mouth does that little twitch again and this time the ghost of a smile struggles its way across his stiff face. ]
[ There are times like this one where she can't tell if he's genuinely thinking or if his brain has stalled. Considering that she's not entirely sure what kind of synapses are firing in there, she figures he's entitled to a few long pauses. ]
Yeah?
[ She watches that smile navigate in a slow, jerking movement across his features and she can recognize hints of what a handsome smile it probably was, once. ]
Alright, let's go see what we can rummage up.
Yeah?
[ She watches that smile navigate in a slow, jerking movement across his features and she can recognize hints of what a handsome smile it probably was, once. ]
Alright, let's go see what we can rummage up.
[R's hand comes out toward hers, a little shaky but getting there, his dead man's fingers grasping for Julie. Things are pretty good between them (he thinks). At the same time, though, he takes it nice and slow and makes sure not to make any sudden movements. No lurching out of the dark, no matter how jazzed he might be to see her]
Start with...there.
[R points at the first thing that comes to mind - a ruined mall. It used to have a nice roof, with dome that glowed gold (M thought it was tacky). Most of the roof's caved in but he's pretty sure the rubble must've settled by now
Start with...there.
[R points at the first thing that comes to mind - a ruined mall. It used to have a nice roof, with dome that glowed gold (M thought it was tacky). Most of the roof's caved in but he's pretty sure the rubble must've settled by now
[ She doesn't notice the movement until his fingers bump against hers, and then she looks down, her own hand curling around his. He's not cold and lifeless, more like - room temp. Sometimes she thinks he warms to her just from sheer body heat alone. ]
Good thinking.
[ She starts leading him in that direction, stepping around grass growing through cracked pavement and abandoned cars. ]
Good thinking.
[ She starts leading him in that direction, stepping around grass growing through cracked pavement and abandoned cars. ]
The gut? [ Shaun follows the finger as he is poked in the gut, and he goes to muster up all that he can. And with all of his groaning might he tries again. ] Rrrrrrr. No, no, no, that's not it. Is it? Did I put in enough of my gut out there, or do I need to really spill it out.
[ He's got to get this down right, Shaun misses those mindless conversations with Ed that, well were mindless.
Completely mindless is how most of his friends normally saw their relationship as, but a best mate is a best mate no matter how much he smells like rotting flesh. ]
[ He's got to get this down right, Shaun misses those mindless conversations with Ed that, well were mindless.
Completely mindless is how most of his friends normally saw their relationship as, but a best mate is a best mate no matter how much he smells like rotting flesh. ]
[R does that thing where he stops and sways and stares slightly too long. Some of the best groaners he knew had their guts spilling out, literally, and when they weren't tripping on their own intestines, they were really, really awesome groaners.
That might not be an option with Shaun, though. R suspects he wants to keep his guts right where they are. ]
More...guts. Like...this? Rrrrgghghhh!
Give...less soul.
[What needs to happen is they get together, the three of them, and try to work this out. Maybe R could translate for Ed (although half the time R's only guessing what the other corpses are grunting, so maybe not)]
That might not be an option with Shaun, though. R suspects he wants to keep his guts right where they are. ]
More...guts. Like...this? Rrrrgghghhh!
Give...less soul.
[What needs to happen is they get together, the three of them, and try to work this out. Maybe R could translate for Ed (although half the time R's only guessing what the other corpses are grunting, so maybe not)]
[ Shaun might question that one, the legless zombie that he came across on his way to work was absolutely stunning when it came to groaning! Of course Shaun wants to keep both his guts and legs right where they are until that time comes.
He places a hand to his chin with a hmm, a little less soul is it now; Shaun tries to dig back into his past. He tries to think of something that he has done or would like to do to bring his soul down a few notches.
...Punt the football that belongs to that obnoxious kid onto a roof. He crinkles up his nose, he gives a little sway, and he tilts his head up into the air to give it all he's got. ] Rrrrghrrrh! [ Of course he was sure Ed would enjoy more friends to hang out with. That is if Ed even has any emotions at all. ] You know, maybe you should start teaching the others to speak English instead.
He places a hand to his chin with a hmm, a little less soul is it now; Shaun tries to dig back into his past. He tries to think of something that he has done or would like to do to bring his soul down a few notches.
...Punt the football that belongs to that obnoxious kid onto a roof. He crinkles up his nose, he gives a little sway, and he tilts his head up into the air to give it all he's got. ] Rrrrghrrrh! [ Of course he was sure Ed would enjoy more friends to hang out with. That is if Ed even has any emotions at all. ] You know, maybe you should start teaching the others to speak English instead.
[R's getting dangerously close to glowing at all the compliments today. He stands up a little straighter, his shoulders hunch a little less as he towers over Julie.
It's a good day to go shopping - aside from some old skeletons that are too far gone to be Boneys, they're alone. Zombie-free, except for him. R shuffles forward with a little spring in his step and almost steps on Julie's birthday present.
It's struggling up through the weeds trying to choke it for space in the pavement. R stops, begins the awkward process of stooping over with rigor-mortis knees, and sways back to his feet with a creak, his grunt of the "mission accomplished" variety. ]
Here. [R holds out the flower shyly] Happy...Birthday.
It's a good day to go shopping - aside from some old skeletons that are too far gone to be Boneys, they're alone. Zombie-free, except for him. R shuffles forward with a little spring in his step and almost steps on Julie's birthday present.
It's struggling up through the weeds trying to choke it for space in the pavement. R stops, begins the awkward process of stooping over with rigor-mortis knees, and sways back to his feet with a creak, his grunt of the "mission accomplished" variety. ]
Here. [R holds out the flower shyly] Happy...Birthday.
[Hey, when you don't have to worry about the mechanics of shuffling from Point A to Point B, you probably get insanely good at groaning. Kills time. Keeps a corpse busy.
R sways there like a rotting talent show judge, his face a mix between the usual Dead confusion (how'd I die? Why am I so hungry? How'd I get here?) and amusement because actually, that wasn't half bad. Much better than Shaun's first groan attempt!]
Good! Almost...there. [R can't tell if he's surprised or flattered at Shaun's suggestion] Wish...I could. Not....not easy.
R sways there like a rotting talent show judge, his face a mix between the usual Dead confusion (how'd I die? Why am I so hungry? How'd I get here?) and amusement because actually, that wasn't half bad. Much better than Shaun's first groan attempt!]
Good! Almost...there. [R can't tell if he's surprised or flattered at Shaun's suggestion] Wish...I could. Not....not easy.
[ All things considered, he's pretty quiet as they move together. Maybe he's had to be, since it's better not to draw too much attention to yourself, but he doesn't really groan and grunt all that much - at least, less than she might have expected from him.
The two of them walking together, on a relatively nice day - she can almost close her eyes and pretend that things feel normal again. She feels him stop and sway beside her, realizing she's lost herself in a self-induced reverie, and opens her eyes again, glancing over just in time to see the flower being held under her nose.
She smiles then - a slow, charmed smile - and reaches out to take it from him, gently tucking the stem behind her ear. ]
There. How do I look?
The two of them walking together, on a relatively nice day - she can almost close her eyes and pretend that things feel normal again. She feels him stop and sway beside her, realizing she's lost herself in a self-induced reverie, and opens her eyes again, glancing over just in time to see the flower being held under her nose.
She smiles then - a slow, charmed smile - and reaches out to take it from him, gently tucking the stem behind her ear. ]
There. How do I look?
[Their fingers brush, R's flat grey eyes flickering down. When he looks up again, Julie's settling the flower behind her ear. It fits perfectly like it belongs there]
You look...pretty...
[Wait. Wait, no, he changes his mind. Pretty's not good enough. R knows this word; it's one of the first three-syllable words he groaned when it came back. ]
Beautiful.
[For once he's happy with his groans. He said exactly what he wanted to say, nothing lost in translation, no stutters. R's more than happy to bask in Julie's smile. He imagines it's what sunlight would feel like, if he had a pulse. It's nice to pretend.]
You look...pretty...
[Wait. Wait, no, he changes his mind. Pretty's not good enough. R knows this word; it's one of the first three-syllable words he groaned when it came back. ]
Beautiful.
[For once he's happy with his groans. He said exactly what he wanted to say, nothing lost in translation, no stutters. R's more than happy to bask in Julie's smile. He imagines it's what sunlight would feel like, if he had a pulse. It's nice to pretend.]
[ She ducks her head down to hide a smile - and maybe even a blush too, judging by the way her face heats up. Is she blushing? Is it even possible that somehow, R's managed to make her do something that she'd unconsciously longed for Perry to do, even towards the slow burning end of their relationship? She doesn't know what she's feeling or even if she should be feeling this way.
But she doesn't repress a shudder, doesn't recoil when his hand brushes hers, and when she rises up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, it's a gesture she means, completely and sincerely. ]
Thank you. [ She murmurs the words softly, knowing he'll hear. ]
But she doesn't repress a shudder, doesn't recoil when his hand brushes hers, and when she rises up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, it's a gesture she means, completely and sincerely. ]
Thank you. [ She murmurs the words softly, knowing he'll hear. ]
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