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[R's about two seconds from joining her on the blushing front, his dried veins seizing up like they want to force that old black blood through them again. That spot where Julie kissed him is warm, fading, but still warm, R's head lolling to look at her.]

You're...welcome. [Right now, standing in front of a dead mall and Julie standing there, R's almost glad he's dead. He wouldn't be right here and now. He wouldn't have ever met Julie if he hadn't made whatever crappy choices he did way back when. If he remembers that kiss, will that phantom warmth spread?

R's hand sneaks out to take hers in his as he leads the way over the rubble, wobbling his way through. It's not graceful but it works.] We should...get...more flowers?

[ She lets his hand slip into hers as they walk, her warmth seeming to seep into his skin and reverberate back into her fingers as he leads the way. He's more familiar with the burned-out shells of these places than she is, and he knows how to navigate with relatively surprising ease and memory. ]

More flowers? Why?

[ She has a sneaking suspicion she knows what his motivation is - especially if her response to receiving a single one had been any indication.

With his back turned to her, she fights back a grin. ]

[R even remembers to turn and offer his hand to help Julie up some rubble...even if she might manage it better than he did, considering she's not saddled up with a bad case of rigor mortis. He'd probably hold the door open for her if they weren't already shattered open]

Bouquet. You...like them?

[R's groan is almost shy, sounding more lovestruck boy than lovestruck dead boy. At least he hasn't tripped over anything yet - there's something to be sad about muscle memory. He might've helped clean this place out. Not the most romantic thing ever. R keeps that one to himself]

[ And they say chivalry is dead. Technically, it might be considering who's lending her a hand, but sometimes Julie looks at R and she's not totally convinced he's completely dead. It's just an instinct she has. ]

I - don't think I've ever gotten one.

[ It wasn't exactly the first thing on her mind when she started dating someone during the end of the world, and now - good luck finding one. ]

[It's one of those things that keeps pushing R to try new things and actually stick with it. The next thing on the list (he actually has a list - how cool is that?) is a bouquet)]

Time...for...firsts, huh?

[It's settled then. He needs to secure a bouquet. That's a bunch of flowers, right? Weeds don't count? There's weeds all over the place, R frowning at some of them clogging the mall's sliding doors, frozen open and gaping to the world, glass shattered into powder at their feet. No, that doesn't sound right...]

[ She smiles, shaking her head slowly, but she can tell he's already decided on it and she's not going to be the one to crush his dreams. Instead, she's trying to push one of the mall's sliding doors open wide enough for them to get through. It's hard - they're slightly rusted, but she manages to get a space cleared. ]

Come on.

[ She reaches out for his hand to pull him along, but she keeps her eyes and ears open. ]

[R's more than happy to tag along. He slouches after her, shouldering his way through the gap without worrying about things like rusted metal jutting out or the fact he's really too tall to squeeze in here. His hand closes around Julie's hand, squeezing.

He wants to be funny. R thinks he used to be witty. There's jokes that flit in and out, punchlines that fall apart halfway through. Oh well. Can't hurt to try, R opening his mouth to groan again]

Shopping...spree? No lines.

[R finally pops out the other side, straightening as much as his slump will allow. He still towers head and shoulders over Julie as he glances around. It's probably been months since any Dead have been in here]

[ It doesn't look like they'll have company, but it's always good to be on her guard. Julie's never been much of a girly-girl, but even she can't resist the siren song of a chance to try on some new clothes. She's tired of wearing the same old stuff.

Hey, R, maybe you'll get the chance to see her in a dress.

She flashes a grin in his direction and then heads for the first store she sees, its gate open. Half the displays have probably been ransacked, but she can check it out and see if there are any potential options for her to take back with her. It's kind of a selfish trip, but everyone deserves to be a little selfish once in a while, right?

Immediately, she starts combing through the racks, pulling out a few blouses before handing them to R to hold. A dress might make its way into the pile, and then she caps it off by putting a baseball hat on his head. She looks at him for a second before immediately taking it off again. ]

Nah. You're not a hat guy.

[ Shaun thinks it might have to do with having plenty of their guts hanging out as they drag themselves about on their bellies. Of course, one can never discredit the shuffle.

He was even sure R got practice living life as one of the hoodies that inhabit the perfect zombie once he croaks. ]

[ Shaun groans. ] Bullocks. I guess it has to be some sort of special thing you got going for you. Sorry, don't take that the wrong way. [ Shaun wants to keep his brains inside that head of his just a little bit longer! ]

[Of course. There's always the classics.]

Muh-maybe. None...taken? [Okay, maybe just a little bit taken. Sometimes when he gets into moods, annoyed or depressed he's rotting like yesterday and who knows how long, he really doubts he has anything going for him. R tries to be positive as he moans right back] Maybe...a good...sign?

[Does Shaun have any Dead buddies? R's starting to wonder, between the groaning lessons and personal interest here]

[ It is a very good sign, and there maybe some hope that he might have a chance to hear Ed impersonate an orangutan again, or even to have someone to sing whitelines with.

With a slump of his shoulders, Shaun cants his head to the side for a moment. ] Yeah, it's a great sign. I got a mate that can use some cheering up, so you just give me a bit of hope that maybe he can start talkin' again.

[R thinks about it, that creepy stare of his fixed on Shaun and (accidentally) drifting up to his forehead. He idly catches himself wondering what Shaun's brains would taste. Oops.]

Hope...so too. Maybe...just....needs time?

[He aims for encouraging. His groan comes out like a groan]

[He's seen it before with Perry's memories but doing it in person is another thing entirely: R's starting to get that slow, starstruck expression he gets once it dawns what's happening. The zombie shuffles his way through fallen mannequins and racks, sending them squealing across the tile as he plods after Julie. This store happens to be light on the old corpses. Lucky them.

He stands there listing to the side, watching Julie. It's captivating the way she finds something to be excited about, even clothes gathering dust. R's more than happy to stop and stare and wonder why she picks some blouses and skips over those tank-tops.

(It's a relief, in a way, to realize he doesn't know everything about her from Perry).]

No...good? [R doesn't complain or make faces about holding her growing pile of blouses. It's nice to have something to do with his hands that isn't slouching or grabbing. ]

Why...not?

[ She pauses in her browsing and glances back to him, a faint expression of amusement drifting over her face in the twitching at her mouth and the brief spark in her gaze. He's just standing there, completely willing to be with her, to even do something as mundane as hold clothes for her. She's pretty sure Perry would have started complaining by now - come on, jules, do you really need this many? - even in jest.

It's something she still can't quite wrap her head around: the simple fact that he seems to enjoy her company, without any stipulations or additional requirements.

She lifts her hand off the rack in front of her and moves closer to stand in front of him again, gently taking the pile from his arms. ]

Because. Your hair looks too nice to cover it up.

[R gives one of those long pauses of surprise. Really? R's always thought of it as just, you know, hair, relieved he at least died with some and it hasn't started falling out in patches like the other zombies. But it's brittle, dry as straw, and if you ask him, it doesn't look anywhere as nice as Julie's hair. ]

Think...so? [With his hands free now he can lift one up and grope awkwardly at his hair. Thanks to Julie, it's now sticking up in every direction] Thank...you.

[On a whim, R turns with a pleased grunt, shuffles off to a corner, and comes back with something in his hands. It's a robin's egg blue hairband, a little dusty on the edges but (thankfully) gore-free. He holds it out shyly to Julie]

[ Sure, it could probably use a really good shampoo and conditioning, but Julie's not lying when she says that she doesn't want it to be covered up. She's also pretty sure she noticed him trying to push it to one side once, and now it's even more amusing to watch him lift his hand and adjust it again, to no avail. There's probably no point in taming it, R, but she appreciates the effort.

She watches him amble off with a bemused smile, only to return with the hairband. Grinning, she plucks it from his fingertips. ]

I'll just have to go try this on with everything else.

[ She spins on one heel and heads back for the fitting rooms, keeping an eye and ear out for any shuffling or groaning - apart from R, that is. ]

[He's done it again. She's smiling, R feeling the shriveled meat in his chest swelling (he hopes it's not maggots). The zombie watches Julie with a small upturn of his mouth, something behind his flat eyes stirring. These days it seems he's looking more and more at her instead of through. His face is a little less slack-jawed.

He pauses while Julie heads to a set of smaller doors, something about them seeming almost familiar despite the fact he hasn't wandered in this area before. Is he supposed to find more clothes?

Maybe he better get closer. There isn't any promise there aren't a few stragglers who might've made this mall their hive, especially with all these dark corners ripe for a good lurk or two. Suddenly worried for Julie, R shuffles over to stand guard to the door he thinks she went into. After awhile he decides to chime up]

...Alive...in there?

[Valid question these days. ]

[ She's managed to find at least one fitting room that doesn't have something scary growing inside of it, or isn't blocked off in any way, and she hangs up the clothes she's intent on trying on, choosing to shed her own clothes rather silently.

She doesn't blame him for wanting to know there's some sign of life on her side of the door, and when she finally reappears in the dress she'd picked out, the headband in her hair, she holds her arms out to her sides, modeling impromptu. ]

Well? What do you think?

[ Shaun's memories aren't exactly worthy of note, and one might say, they would be very boring or entertaining depending on ones point of view!

Memories of Liz, his mum, and getting his ass beaten by Peter might not be top quality memories. Of course, then there's Ed, his first record, his shit job, and all that comes with making Shaun -- Shaun.

Just be glad Shaun doesn't notice those eyes focusing on his forehead! ]

Time. I hope he's got enough time to hang in there, blimey; I hope this whole undead thing doesn't come with an expiration stamp.

[Good thing R's a pro at waiting...and waiting. No bitching from his end. He turns at her voice, stops, and stares. He's never seen Julie look like that, not even in Perry's memories. Survivors just don't wear stuff like that. It's almost cliche that everything's drab and heavy to resist bites. Julie's dress is light, nice brighter colors that makes R gape at them]

You...look...

[R pauses, swallows, and continues]

Alive.

[Wow, R, that was the most creative thing you ever said. Accurate, but...he should've been able to do better. R searches for a better word, still staring, stunned]

Edited 2013-09-26 09:03 (UTC)

[Boring, maybe, but R's convinced they have to be better than his: groaning and bumping into things and staring around like a lost patrol.

Okay. Maybe not totally different.]

Don't...think so. Unless...starve.

[That's probably a killer there. How Shaun keeps his friend fed is something R doesn't think he wants to know]

I don't think my mate's going to be starving anytime soon. [ Shaun reaches hand back to rub the back of his neck with a look on his face. ]

How are you managing? No! I don't think I want to know! Okay, but now I'm still a bit curious. [ In the case of Ed, he got rid of the diet that consists of people and went for an all beef diet instead. ]

[ Good thing she's not inclined to make a guy wait all that long. She never really did it to Perry when they were dating - then again, she doesn't think he would've waited for her outside of a dressing room when they were dating, even if the world had been normal after all.

She glances down at herself and then back up to him, trying to read his expression. It's not easy, considering she's sort of gotten used to the staring, but it feels like there's something different about it now. It almost feels like he's trying to find the words because he doesn't know what else to say, not because he can't physically get them out. ]

Maybe that's the idea.

[ She grins and spins on her heel, the skirt flaring out slightly as she disappears again to try on something else.

Maybe she'll keep the dress. ]

R...really? [R looks actually surprised. Wow! Talk about friendship right there.

The look turns guilty and uncomfortable once the question's turned back on him, R shrugging. It translates to I'm not managing, sorry]

Rrghg....

[R looks down at his feet, embarrassed]

We don't feed'im people if that's what your thinkin! I was just headed to the butcher to pick up a week's supply of meat. [ Shaun isn't sure what R meant, and he goes to look down blankly at the bag where a box of Cornetto ice cream cones that are starting to melt.

Those are not for Ed.

He quickly lifts his head up quickly, quirking an eyebrow Shaun ums. < /small> ] You alright there, eh, I don't believe I got your name.