[IC] Cataclysm: The Capital

[Wayne]

"That's right! Piss off you pricks! I don't need your fucking help anyways!"

Serge threw an empty glass bottle in the direction of the helicopters that just took off and were flying to the north. I don't need the government's help. They'd have their perfect excuse to lock me up anyways. I'm on my own now. Survival of the fittest. Just the way I like it.

Behind him stood the Washington Monument, battered by stray bombs and artillery fire. Flagpoles ringed around the great marble obelisk, some toppled, and some with the Stars and Stripes still flowing in the wind. Within the concrete circle around the Washington Monument, a number of FEMA tents and barricades were left behind by the government, who had just evacuated the area. About two dozen other survivors were stranded here too. Two dozen others who came too late to get the last easy ride out of DC. There were even a few children and seniors among the group too, too young or old to survive on their own. Others sustained moderate injuries, and one young man looked as though he was on the verge of death, with other survivors all around him trying to keep him alive.

Serge went over to the Monument and leaned against it, taking his lighter and a cigarette out, lighting the cigarette and having a smoke. During his smoke, Serge took the time to think of what to do next. The first thing that came to his mind is try and get a quick drink of water and maybe a snack to bring along too, and then haul ass out of here. The Mall was still mostly zombie-free, so perhaps going west towards the Lincoln Memorial would be his best bet. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Serge continued to have his smoke, wanting to finish his cigarette off. He just needed a bit of relaxation from all the shit that's been going on today.

[Kidd]

Her feet pounded against the ground as Vivian approached the famous monument as fast as her short legs would take her. "No, no--wait!' she gasped, slowing to a stop as she saw the helicopters raise into the air and fly off into the horizon. "No," she repeated with a whine, her breathing labored as she dropped to her hands her knees. God dammit, she thought angrily, hitting her fist to what remained of the grass. The young woman gave herself a moment to recover, panting as angry slurs bounced around in her head.

When she could breathe normally, she groaned and slowly pushed herself to her feet. "Bloody fuckin' hell," she muttered, brushing her hair out of her face to observe the depressed, broken environment. She approached the Washing Monument, looking it up and down before gazing around at the others--there weren't many. It'd be hard to get away with any stealing with such a small crowd, but that thought was quickly followed by the realization, V, you won't be using money much anymore, anyways. She sighed, debating who to to approach and what to do with them. She wasn't fond of being lonely.

Anyone with a kid was immediately off the list. She wasn't going to deal with some snotty brat and the parents would without a doubt be stingy for the kids' sake. Happy couples had her rolling her eyes, so that only left the loners--they didn't have much to live for anyway. Easy to mooch off of. Eventually her gaze settled on a man reclining against the monument, a cigarette in hand. Wonder if he'd be willing to share, she pondered, reshouldering her book bag as she hesitantly started walking in his general direction. Of course, she didn't want to be too obvious, so her eyes wandered anywhere else and her steps were lazy.

[Voltus_Ventus]

You didn't have to be so harsh ya bag of shit.

[Wayne]

Washington Monument
July 2nd, 2017
0806 hours

Serge eyed the woman approaching him. He didn't like how she was getting in his personal space, but he tried to ignore her and finish what was left of his cigarette. To provide distraction, he thought about how he was going to get over to the Lincoln Memorial. He took a quick glance to the east, where the Lincoln Memorial was about 1 mile from where Serge stood at the Washington Monument. Between the two monuments were the World War II Memorial and the Reflecting Pool. No zeds on the horizon, but Serge couldn't be too sure. They could be hiding behind trees for all he knew. Hell, maybe some looters and other ne'er-do-wells already found their way to the National Mall. Serge would need to maintain constant vigilance.

Once his cigarette was done, Serge turned his head over to the young woman.

"What do you want?" asked Serge with a tinge of annoyance at his personal space being invaded.

[Kidd]

Vivian slowed to a stop in front of the man, leaving less than an acceptable amount of space between them revealing that he wasn't too much taller than herself. Poor guy. Her eyes flickered up at the monument as he demanded what she wanted--quite the ray of sunshine, he was. "Why so hostile, mate?" she asked innocently enough, looking back to him with a pout on her painted lips as her eyebrows furrowed closer together. "The day's been stressful enough, don't you think? We both missed our flights, for one," she pointed out, her gaze taking to the northern sky again as she sighed. "For two, zombies. And it's not as fun as Shaun as the Dead, let me tell you. I was just hoping you'd have a smoke to spare. That'd be one less trying to kill you."

[Silver Fox]

One would call this another misfortune added along with the piled misfortune on the homeless street raised twins as they stared at the empty sky from the West of the Reflecting Pool. Two men it seemed to be just staring at the sky, the shorter of the two on his hands and knees with a look of disappointment on his slender slightly feminine face. While the taller of the two just stood straight and stared at the sky with cold expressionless blue eyes. His short black hair slightly shifting with the wind.

The brown haired boy disguised girl gave a deep sigh before giving off a masculine husky tone whine. "How could they just leave like that? Do they know how much blood and sweat we had to make just to get here? Agh this sucks! Even after we managed to steal some food from some of those looters..." the brown haired twin grumbled, having a habit of talking and sounding like a guy 24/7.

Despite his siblings words, the blue eyes tall man merely blinked in a slow uncaring manner with his arms crossed over his chest.

Glaring at the taller win, the smaller stood with a huff, shifting the pack on her back with a mild grumble. "Ya know Bro you coulda helped me carry this thing. Geesh. So, what are we going to do now that we are left behind? Any bright ideas?" Dog asked as her rusty brown eyes gazed up at her brother whom merely stared toward the monument.

"....As always, survive." Came the deep monotoned that rumbled in the taller man's throat.

A sigh came from the smaller twin before looking toward the monument. "Yeah yeah, guess things never change no matter how hard we try. Hey, what are you exactly looking at? If it's the sky, well I don't think they are coming back... If it's the weird dick of rock then I dunno why your looking at it." she laughed, her right hand reaching back and brushing the back of her brown hair.

"It is the Washington Monument. And I'm assessing the situation with the the survivors over there. Many aren't big enough to make a lasting meal, but they don't seem too much trouble to take down. The kids might do well as a mobile food source. Use their youth for our advantage, then use the meat when they finally drop. Unless a zombie gets them first." came the blunt reply from Cat.

Dog stood there, staring at her twin for a good long moment before groaning and face palming with both hands. "For the love of... We are not resorting to canibalism on the first day the world goes to shit and we get left in it. You know, this is why people sorta walk the other way when your around. Plus I rather not have to carry raw bloody body parts around. Plus they could be innocent people." she scolded lightly, crossing her arms.

"They are survivalists. The survivalist will fight with whatever is necessary for life." Cat said in a blunt matter of fact tone before glancing around at their surroundings. Surprisingly, there did not seem to be too many people here. Most are possibly dead, fighting, looting, or just plain given up.

Dog glared at him before sighing as she stretched her arms in the air, pondering if she should approach the two at the... Monument stick. On one hand they were fellow human beings and survivalists, on the other they could be just bad people and pick a fight or trick them out of all their supplies. Cat wouldn't like it if the twins approached on the intent to be friendly but that didn't mean they should go with his suggestion and act like monsters.

[Wayne]

Serge still kept his guard around this woman. He didn't like these kind of strangers, who act approachable at first only to try and mooch something off of him. That's already happened too many times for Serge's liking.

"I have..." Serge paused for a moment to think of how he could describe his introverted personality, "...people problems." Serge took a brief moment to finish his cigarette, and then spat out the used butt and stomped on it, smearing it all over the concrete with the sole of his shoe.

"I'm happy enough killing myself this way. Now mind your own fucking business," harshly replied Serge. Serge then started walking to the west, towards the World War II Memorial. He was sick of this camp and that British-sounding broad already. It was time for a change of scenery. Maybe if he was lucky, the military might not have blown the bridges across the Potomac into Arlington by now.

[Kidd]

To Vivian's dismay, the man remained cautious...and rude. And stingy. She blinked down at the cigarette butt, opening her mouth to point out he shouldn't be littering on a national landmark such as the Washington Monument--not that anyone would care anymore; however, he continued to tell her off. Then, he turned and started walking off toward the west. "Tch. You don't have to be such a prick about it," she grumbled at him before hesitantly stepping after the man.

Honestly, V found herself a bit fearful and unsure of what to do with herself now. The money she had was suddenly useless, and she was used to getting resources from other people. With the apocalypse upon them, she couldn't exactly pick pocket someone on the bus and then skip off to Ruby Tuesday's for a hot meal. "Wait, where are you going? I'm clearly not from around here," she wrinkled her nose in disgust as she paused on the word, "and could use a bit of direction since we're stranded. You seem to have a plan of action of some sort--any advice before you run off and get eaten?"

[Polyphemus]

Ken Stevenson was sweating heavily. DC in summer. The smooth wooden grip of the baseball bat felt slick in his palm. However, he made no attempt to remove his suit jacket, or even loosen his necktie. That would not do. He was not going to go around looking like a disheveled idiot. That would mean they had won.

He had felt a pang of dismay as he watched the last evacuation helicopters leaving, and kicked himself for deciding to shut himself in with Maddie for a weekend, mindlessly fucking, the television and phones turned off. Otherwise, Ken might have gotten to the rally point for Congressmen. He'd be safely out of the city by now, on his way to. . . somewhere. Ken didn't really know where, the orientation packets he had received on his first day in office had been a little vague on that point.

Still, he was a smart man. Ken knew that any halfway decent continuity of government scheme would give him a free pass into secure confines- any elected figure would be valuable in restoring order. The trick would just be reaching somewhere safe. Miranda was back in Louisville, Maddie had decided to take her chances in the city. He had come alone. But he was not alone. Looking over the group of disappointed would-be refugees, he picked out a few that actually looked physically fit enough to help in a fight, against looters or crazies or whatever those things he kept hearing about were.

"Alright, everybody listen up!" he said loudly. He did not yell. That would be undignified, put people on the defensive. He merely spoke very loudly. "Those helicopters are not coming back. We're going to have to find our own way. I'm heading south, to either Fort McNair or the Navy Yard. It's not far, only around two miles. Anybody who wants to accompany me is more than welcome. I serve in Congress, if anyone decides to come along I will see to it that the soldiers or sailors grant you shelter." Confident that he had their attention, he smiled reassuringly at the crowd, waiting to see if anyone would take him up on his offer.

[Silver Fox]

With another heavy sigh, Dog shrugged her shoulders, the straps of the backpack shifting slightly as she did. Steadily she walked closer to the campsite under the stone memorial. Lightly curious of the other survivors as she looked around at the defallen refugees. Her rusty brown eyes softened in sympathy for the distressed people around. Some inured, others disheartened, all left behind to die.

Cat however, merely silently followed his twin, only silently glancing around at the refugees. His cold blue eyes holding no emotion but mere boredom. Silently assessing the people of whom was worthwhile for whatever purpose he could identify was worth their pathetic life. All would die, it really did not matter how they died. It didn't matter if he killed them, the zombies, or even fellow rats like them. All would perish, all would suffer. The mere thought brought a slight crooked smile upon his lips though it quickly disappeared.

As a fancy dressed man called out for everyone, making promises both Cat and Dog doubted were true, Cat simply ignored him and just looked out toward the distance in the west. Dog sighed as she thought about the situation. She knew very well Cat didn't follow anybody since the time they worked in the gang. He also didn't care much for some fancy dressed man as a leader. Even if she asked her brother if they should travel in a group, she knew the answer. The two of them were very fit and born and bred for survival. They could could fight and scavenge pretty well and defend themselves. However most of these people probably never even went a day go by without food on their plate. As Cat would say...

They will die like the rats they are... These rats will either struggle with survival for a short time, be killed by their predators... Or eat each other... One way or another, they will die and are a waste of time. Better off alone.

It might be better with just the two of them, and she did appreciate her brother's company, yet she craved for some sort of companionship. A friend at least... Just one before she died. Still, she was happy that she wouldn't die alone... Because Cat would always be there. So even if this world crumbles, they will walk together and never feel alone.

Because unlike many here, they were lucky enough to at least be with their family in this time of turmoil.

Honestly, the twins had no real destination, they just traveled in whatever direction Cat decided to walk. Whatever obstacle they faced, they handled it with either brute force or wits.

The two being a little bit apart from the group a people, a desperate man walked cautiously toward them. His filthy body trembling, his disheveled brown hair sticky with sweat and his desperate gray eyes staring at them. Wearing dark blue jeans and a black ski jacket. His right hand shakily holding a revolver that was pointed toward them.

"G-Give me that bag.. Or I'll shoot..!" the man said in a stuttered quiet demand. Seeming not to want to attract attention attention.

Dog frowned at the sight of the desperate man, desperate enough to go after two seemingly bigger men who were physically built and had quite a few of their own weapons on hand. He was probably only scared after the helicopters left, and was desperate to fight for survival. However, he picked the wrong group to threaten.

Before the brown haired twin could utter a word, Cat held no hesitation as he charged with tremendous speed, swinging his body to kick his heel against the man's gun, causing him to yelp and stare in horror as his one defense skidded helplessly across the ground. However, before he could turn and flee, Cat brought a powerful fist against the man's gut. Knocking the wind out of him and causing blood to spit out of his chapped jaws. Falling flat on his back, their assaulter gasped desperately for air before crying out as Cat stepped firmly on the mans elbows and crouched down to stare down at him coldly.

Trembling with utter terror, the man stuttered a beg and plead to be let go, getting more desperate as the pain on his arms increased the longer they were trapped under the huge tall muscular man's weight. Cat however only stared with he same cold emotionless expression before giving a light sigh that was barely audible, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his pocked knife, causing the desperate man to struggle desperately, eyes wide in utter terror.

As more pleas were uttered, suddenly there was only the sound of choking gurgles like some was trying to scream desperately but was drowning.

Cat smirked ever so slightly as he held his bloody pocket knife in his right hand and a pink appendage in the left. A severed tongue. The bleeding man under him was choking on his own blood, unable to make desperate cries for help. Only staring in terror as the tall man slowly edged the knife down to the mans left eye. Before the taller twin could continue, Dog quickly grabbed his wrist.

"Bro, stop! Don't torture him! You didn't need to do that!" Dog hissed quietly as she tried pulling her twin away.

Cat's expression became a bored calm again as he stood and pulled away. Cleaning the knife off with the mans clothes before putting it in his pocket. Boredly rolling the severed tongue between his fingers as he looked down at the slowly dying man that was scrambling on the earth.

"...We go west." Cat merely stated calmly, as if nothing happened before walking through the campsite, uncaring by some uneasy states he received.

Dog frowned before kneeling beside the choking sobbing man, drawing her own pocket knife. "I'm so sorry... Please be safe wherever you next. Rest well." said the smaller twin, quickly slicing the mans throat and holding his hands with a gentle grasp. Cat usually did this now, since making noise caused more trouble he caught out his opponents tongues to shut them up before leaving them to suffer. Dog, feeling more merciful, tried ending their lives quicker and holding their hands as they died if she had time.

After all, she felt responsible for Cat's cruel actions. This man didn't deserve to suffer like this.

A final breath left the man and Dog stood and quickly followed her brother. Catching up with ease to his nonchalant pace.

"Did you really have to do that?" Dog murmured.

Cat merely kept walking, ignoring the Congressman and walking passed the memorial. "He was a fool. Gunfire draws attention, and his mouth squealed too much. If he was going to take something, pick a easier target. Foolish rat." he murmured bluntly as he walked along, his hands in his pockets.

Giving another sigh, Dog followed along and gingerly grabbed the back of her brothers sleeve as they walked. She had such a odd brother... Glancing around at the other people, she gave a friendly smile but kept on walking.