[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190811/ebac4f4c05aadbb66f658784df24295a.png[/img][/center][indent][sub][hr][/sub][color=lightsteelblue][sub][b]Location:[/b] [color=gray][i]Rushford, Ohio -- O'Neal Family Tavern[/i][/color][/sub][sup][right][b]Date:[/b] [color=gray][I]May 15th, 2019[/i][/color][/right][/sup][/color][sub][hr][/sub][/indent]
[indent][indent][color=gray]When Jennifer gave the word to, he stood up from the barstool to start looking around for... Well, basically anything. That writer guy - Dan? He thinks? - mentioned that the alcohol could be used to treat wounds, so that narrows his focus at least. Honestly, if he were to find some beer he'd probably just steal a big healthy swig of it to calm his nerves - maybe even stop the compulsions to check his phone for a reply from Laura or Ana. Hell, he'd take a reply from that Zach guy, or really [i]anyone[/i] that could tell him that [i]yes[/i], his daughter is safe. It didn't matter who, just that it was [i]said[/i] and was [i]truthful[/i] - because anyone could just say that she was safe, but- Well wait, then that doesn't really work, does it? Because then it would matter who says it. He'd have to have no reason to believe they'd lie. Laura and Zach have no reason to lie about that sort of thing, but anyone else? They [i]could[/i] lie, but that's sort of a pessimistic view to have. Why would someone lie about someone else's child's safety? He couldn't think of any reason, let alone a good one.

...What was he looking for again? Dammit. 

He quickly checked his phone, hoping to see a reply. Of course, there was nothing. Just his own frantic ramblings, his desperate begging - and, regretfully, his threats driven more by fearful anger than actual malice. God, if the police weren't otherwise [i]occupied[/i] these last few days, Laura could definitely go to court and make a case for him being an absolute monster, even if [i]he[/i] knew why he was saying the things he said. He was panicking, and though he had every right to panic he shouldn't be such a dick about it.

With that, he takes the few seconds to tap out an apology for the most [i]recent[/i] awful things he's said... And then apologizes for the rest of it too. It's.. It's sort of been a vicious cycle, actually. Overwhelming panic, begging for Laura to answer him turning into lashing out via text, and then apologizing for being such a douchebag. It's not like he can scream his frustrations out into the wind, or talk to [i]these[/i] people about how terrified he is. If he screamed, the zombies would get him, obviously, and everyone here had a life that likely got turned upside down just like his had. They wouldn't want to hear it, or they'd turn it into a competition of "who has it worse." They all have it bad. They don't need to soak in that. [i]He[/i] doesn't need to soak in that.

...But the quiet - aside from the rummaging around, anyway - was starting to get to him. Maybe they need not compare tragedies and all, but... Jenn mentioned going to Whispering Springs as a kid! That could be a good talking point, surely. Right? Yeah.

[color=lightsteelblue]"Sooo,"[/color] Percy started, [color=lightsteelblue]"Uh, what- er, how was- I mean- You said you-"[/color] Oh, he [i]loved[/i] stuttering like an absolute [i]dipshit[/i]. Nerves. It's just nerves. [color=lightsteelblue]"Fuck, sorry, I just- Frazzled. I'm frazzled. Words are hard. Sorry. Yeah, but- Whispering Springs. Jenn, you said you- you went there? As a kid. Uh.. what was that like? Was it.. Fun? Was it all the fliers cracked it up to be?"[/color]

A beat of silence fell before Percy quickly asked, [color=lightsteelblue]"Actually, uh- is it ok if I call you Jenn? Is that ok, or should I.. Not do that?"[/color]
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