Rystelle

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Black tea was what Olivia preferred, and card games and Monopoly were fun as she told Shawn in response to his questions. She thanked him for his invitation, but didn't explicitly state if she would come. There was still a bit of work to do on the fish and one way or the other she needed to get washed up when she was finished. As she continued to work Olivia watched Shawn out of the corner of her eye. She saw him go down the dock and climb aboard his boat only to hit his shin on the ladder halfway up. Olivia knew she shouldn't have but she could help but let out a small laugh for her ears only. Smiling and shaking her head at Shawn's clumsiness and even that goofy grin he always seemed to have while talking to her, Olivia returned her focus to her work.

After having taking care of the fish and packing it away in a small cooler with some clean looking snow, Olivia went to wash up. Her boat was small enough that it had no sleeping quarters or shower, but she was able to make do with water from the sink. She was really glad she had found that department store yesterday as she had managed to find some bath stuff, which allowed her to get properly washed up for the first time in a long time. The honeysuckle scented soap, shampoo, and conditioner smelled absolutely heavenly, and it reminded Olivia of days gone by.

As Olivia washed and groomed she considered Shawn's invitation. Again, she had neither confirmed or denied that she would go. She could simply not show up if she didn't want to. And if he asked why... Well, she didn't owe him any explanation. Yet still Olivia found herself staring at outfit that did not conform to the rest of her wardrobe.

Ever practical, Olivia almost always took only what she needed. Yesterday, however, there had been something that had caught her eye and she had taken it on a whim. It was a sweater dress. A really cute sweater dress. She had picked out some black tights to go with it since the dress only came halfway between her knees and thighs. Now she stared at the outfit and wondered if she should wear it. Would it look good on her? She didn't know because she hadn't tried it on yet. How should she style her hair if she wore it? Would Shawn even like it?

Suddenly Olivia caught herself and realized what she was thinking. It had been some time since she had last cared about her appearance, and then Shawn came along last night and all of a sudden she was worrying about her looks and was thinking of dressing up for him. For that matter, when had she even decided to go over to Shawn's? She asked herself aloud, "What the hell has gotten into me?" The question was rather needless as Olivia knew exactly what was wrong with her. She had a crush.

"God dammit," she sighed.

It took a while for Olivia to decide what to wear. For better or worse she wound up outside Shawn's door wearing the dress and tights, boots, and her hair brushed and let loose. She still had a knife strapped to her thigh, hidden under the dress, and another blade hidden in her boot. Olivia never went anywhere without a weapon. She knocked on the door, once more carrying a food offering. This time it was a package of lemon cookies.

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Olivia had been busy at work cleaning her fish. She had put her hair up in a messy bun, discarded her jacket and gloves inside, rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, and draped a towel over her lap. She was kind of cold, but she needed to keep her clothes as clean as possible.

Earlier in the day while out on the river she had found a small table and bucket and had washed them in preparation for her catch. Now she tossed the guts and other inedible parts of the fish into the bucket to use as chum next time. In total Olivia had caught four medium-sized fish. It was a rather poor catch for so many hours of work, but it was plenty enough for her alone and a decent amount if Shawn would like to share with her.

She heard him then, his boots hitting the dock with more force than was needed in order to alert her like he had last night. Olivia looked up and sure enough it was Shawn approaching. He was laden down with his day's finds. Seemed like he had a good haul.

"Evenin'," Olivia greeted with a smile of her own. She had been trying not to get worked up, but Olivia was actually excited that Shawn had come back. She had been worrying he might leave for the same reasons she had considered leaving and in the end had decided against. Besides, Olivia hadn't gone and seen the Statue of Liberty yet, and she was sure New York had more things to offer both in the way of sites and supplies.

Pushing some loose hair out of her face with the back of one hand she said, "I had a decent day. Got a couple of fish. How 'bout you? Seems like you had a productive day."

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

"It's no problem," Olivia reassured Shawn with a half smile. She had enjoyed her morning so far. Sitting down to breakfast and coffee with Shawn, conversing casually, it was nice. It felt normal, almost. Well, as normal as it could get with both of them taking their time and making sure to move in a way so as not to appear threatening to the other.

After quickly and silently debating what to tell Shawn, she decided the truth couldn't hurt. Olivia told him, "I thought I might try doing some fishing today if my boat works, or if another does. There might not be much out there with the cold, but maybe I'll get lucky and get something anyway."

After a bit more of silent argument, Olivia asked Shawn if he had a map of the area. He did. A rough draft he had sketched out. After studying his map for a bit and recalling pieces from her own, Olivia added some more to Shawn's map, marking the department store she had found the previous day. He seemed excited by the prospect, and that's when Olivia decided to excuse herself.

"Well," she started as she stood up slowly, her eyes on Shawn's face for more reasons then one. "I think it's time I get going, Shawn. Thank you for the coffee, and again for the conversation. Guess I might see you around." Olivia took her leave and headed back to her boat. All the while her head swum with what she should do next. Should she leave altogether? Should she stay? Shawn knew where she was camping out. What if his friendliness had all been a ruse to try to lull her into a false sense of security? What if he was really a nice guy? Olivia could potentially miss the chance to actually have a companion of sorts. Maybe even a friend. All this and more she debated as she fished, having gotten her boat working. Eventually Olivia made her decision.

Toward late evening Olivia returned to the dock with a couple of fish. After an initial bit of bumpiness, she managed to get the boat in place and tied it to the dock. Olivia sat on the deck cleaning the fish she had caught and wondered if Shawn was having any luck with his scavenging and if he had found the department store she had told him about. Having debated with herself for hours about what to do, Olivia had decided to stay at the docks and wondered if her 'neighbor' might do the same. She hoped Shawn might come back soon. Part of Olivia--the part of her that was still really girly--couldn't help but think that Shawn's handsom face was definitely a nice change of pace from the rotting Walkers, but even the conversation and pleasantries alone were far better than what she could have hoped for. Olivia continued to clean her fish, humming quietly to herself as she watched the dock.

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Olivia found that she enjoyed the conversation immensely. It had been so long since she had talked to anyone other than herself, inanimate objects, or animals that she had almost forgotten what a real conversation was like. When Shawn first approached, Olivia hadn't known what to expect. She thought their encounter might go far worse than this. But instead of a fight they wound up talking half the night. And now he was saying he'd like to keep on friendly terms and was inviting her over for coffee. Of course she'd still go armed, but then again Olivia never slept without a weapon at hand.

"I was always more of a tea person," Olivia revealed amicably, "but far be it from me to snub my nose at any food or drink now. You simply don't have the right to be picky anymore. Coffee sounds good, Shawn, thank you. And thank you for the conversation too. I'll be seeing you in the morning then. Good night."

After watching Shawn go off, Olivia decided to turn in for the night. Not to discredit Shawn's friendliness, but Olivia wasn't taking any chances in case someone else other than Shawn HAD seen her light or heard her singing, so she locked both the cabin door and window. She then took some strings of noisy items and strung them across the two surfaces, setting various things in front of them. If anyone tried to break in, the noise would immediately awake Olivia and she'd be ready for them.

A peaceful night passed morning came. Olivia was up before the sun, but she waited a bit before heading over to Shawn's boat. She didn't want to wake him if he was still asleep. Though she tried to will her heart to be still, Olivia was rather excited to be having coffee and breakfast with someone. (Especially someone as good looking as Shawn, if she was being honest.)

Given than she had found plenty of dried goods yesterday, Olivia felt as if she could spare a little so she decided to supply breakfast since Shawn was making coffee. She had managed to find some instant oatmeal (just needed hot water) and dried mixed berries the other day in the camping store and thought it might be a sign of goodwill and the hope to continue to have peace between them.

Heading down the dock, taking care not to slip on the ice, Olivia found Shawn's boat and climbed aboard. She knocked on the cabin door, making sure to take a few steps back after just in case.

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Olivia continued to watch Shawn closely, giving him plenty of space as he climbed onto the boat. She knew she was taking a risk by talking to him and letting him aboard, but it wasn't like she couldn't handle herself in a fight. Olivia had had to take on larger men than Shawn before. If she needed a quick escape though she could always jump into the water and swim to shore. She would possibly lose some of her supplies if he took them, but she knew where to get more now if she should need them. Mostly Olivia would be sad to lose the pictures of her mother and Mr. Byrd and the bow Mr. Byrd had given her.

However, it seemed like she didn't need to worry too much. Shawn took care not to make any sudden moves, telling Olivia that he was going to put his hands down and taking it slow when he climbed onto the boat. Overall he seemed friendly, and his smile seemed genuine.

Ah, Tennessee, Olivia thought to herself. That was why the accent had sounded familiar and still a little strange. One kid in her middle school had transferred from Tennessee. He had the same drawl most everyone in the South had, but his accent had been just a bit different. The mention of coffee piqued her interest, but she didn't ask about that since she didn't want to seem intrusive.

Holding out one gloved hand for a handshake, Olivia finally returned his smile with a brilliant one of her own and told him, "My name's Olivia Moretti. North Woolmarket, Mississippi is where I'm from. So, what's a guy from Tennessee doing up here in the big city?"

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Having thought herself the only person at the docks--maybe even the entire city--Olivia damn near jumped out of her skin when she heard the heavy thuds made by feet hitting the dock. At first she thought it was a Walker that hadn't frozen over, but the footsteps were too even and heavy with sureness. Walkers were slow and uneven, often dragging their feet and moving with no real purpose.

She quickly scrambled off the railing of the boat to stand on the main deck, not wanting to give whoever it was an easy chance to grab her if that was their intention. Instinctively her hand reached down toward her pistol holstered on her right leg. She didn't draw it quite yet, though. Instead she waited for the person to come into sight to see if they might pose a threat. Olivia had run into people before that had less than pleasant ideas regarding what to do with her. However, she had met nice people too during her travels. For instance, early on after the infection she had met a group in Georgia. She remembered the man called Daryl who had given her some good hunting tips. Rick, the group's leader, had invited her to stay with them. Olivia had kindly turned them down. Rick bad been a nice fellow, but there had been something about him that hadn't been quite right, so she had continued on her own once more.

The intruder on her otherwise lovely night turned out to be a man. From what Olivia could see he was young. Older than her, but still young. He stopped just outside her source of light and held his hands up to show that they were empty. But Olivia wasn't stupid enough to think he was completely unarmed. She also realized he had come from the far end of the dock, meaning he was staying on a boat too. Olivia was really glad she hadn't accidentally boarded whatever boat he occupied. That would have probably ended badly.

So he had heard her singing? Damn. Perhaps she shouldn't have acted so freely unless she had been one hundred percent sure she was alone, but the damage was already done. He--Shawn he said his name was--was right about the light too. If he was in New York, who knew how many other people there might be? Probably a few, and some likely a terrible might less friendly than this guy currently appeared to be. At the same time it could be a trap to distract her so he could act. But even without the lamp Olivia could easily see in the light of the moon and stars, so she cautiously turned off the light while keeping an eye on her 'neighbor'.

Suddenly a thought struck Olivia. How long had it been since she had talked to someone other than herself or even seen another human being? Half a year? A year? The point was, Olivia hadn't met anyone else in a long time. The sound of another human voice was both strange and comforting, and that accent was awfully familiar.

For once Olivia decided to forego her initial urge to run away. Instead she called out, "Hold on there, uh... Shawn, right? I didn't mean the singing as an invitation, but... Well if you want you're welcome to stay for a bit. By the way you talk I know you're from the South--just can't tell where. But from one Southerner to another, it'd be a shame if we couldn't keep our reputation for friendly hospitality and good manners alive even in a time like this."

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

((Double post.))

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

At the camping shop in the department store Olivia had managed to find an electric lamp and plenty of batteries that were still good. She put some in now and used the lantern to look around the ship's cabin. The thick layer of dust denoted that the boat had been abandoned for a long time. There was a mustiness in the air making it hard to breath, but the window leading out to the bow opened up and so Olivia slid it aside to air out the cabin. There was some cushioned benches she could sleep on. No blankets, though, but that wasn't a problem since she had her own. There were some old towels, however, and these Olivia used to dust off everything she could. She went around the cabin again with a towel wet with water from the river.

Once the cabin was clean enough for Olivia to be satisfied, she looked around for other things. There was a small bathroom with a mirror and a working sink and toilet--how long had it been since she had some sort of luxury! She was simply ecstatic about being able to clean herself of using the water from the sink. It was cold, but when she got dressed again she quickly warmed up and felt better than she had in a long time.

The sun had set and Olivia was not yet tired. Hungry, but not tired. So after digging through her backpack for the can of pineapple she had found earlier, Olivia took it and the lantern and left the cabin to go sit on the back of the boat. She had considered laying on the roof of the cabin but it was too dangerous to do at night. There was always a chance she'd slip off and into the icy cold water while trying to climb up and down the roof. No, the back of the boat was the safest place for her to sit out and watch the stars. Her bow stayed inside, but she kept her knife and her new fully loaded gun just in case. It was never bad to take precautions.

Sitting on the back of her boat and enjoying the sweet pineapple while gazing at the stars, Olivia felt a sense of peace and happiness. From time to time she still mourned for her mother, Mr. Byrd, and all the others lost, but she had long ago learned that you had to still find joy in life, no matter what was happening. And seeing a million stars and a brilliant full moon shining bright and clear in a sky no longer filled with light pollution gave Olivia immense joy. Being on a boat again reminded her of a song that Mr. Bryd had taught her, one from his Naval days. She began to sing:

"Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army Grey.

Get underway, Navy, Decks cleared for the fray,
We'll hoist true Navy Blue So Army down your Grey-y-y-y.
Full speed ahead, Navy; Army heave to,
Furl Black and Grey and Gold and hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue
Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.

Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done-n-n-ne,
By Severn shore we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true With honor over, honor over all."

What Is Left -- The Walking Dead

Olivia had spent the day scavenging, looking for any goods and weapons she could possibly use. With the Walkers all frozen through she had little to fear aside from other human beings--not that she came across any--so she had been able to roam the streets freely. She had explored and roamed, taking her time and really only hurrying when night was getting ready to fall. She had little want to sleep outside in the snow, though in spring, summer, and even the mild days of fall she tend to sleep in trees high out of reach of Walkers.

During the day's scavenge Olivia had found something miraculous. There was a department store that had managed to escape virtually untouched. There was clothes, camping supplies, dried food--some past its expiration date but still edible--and even weapons. Olivia was able to replenish her dwindling supply of arrows, get a new ax and knife, and she even found a semi-automatic pistol with plenty of ammo. When it came to clothes she had a complete new set of winter gear with at least two spares of everything excepting jacket and boots. After having gathered everything she needed and donning her new clothes, Olivia had ventured back out into the cold, not wanting to stay in the department store in case some other survivors should come through. She felt it best to stay elsewhere.

Toward evening, once Olivia was content with the day's finds, she began her tour of the big city. She saw the subways grown through with vines, visited crumbling Time Square, and finally made her way to Central Park.

While Central Park had been big in its heydays, it had still been small compared to the state parks of Mississippi, who had more square footage of forest than any other state. Now, however, Central Park was becoming a true forest in its own right. With no one to tend to it the plant life had grown wild. Trees had expanded out to the roads, causing the pavement to crack and crumble in order to make room for their roots. Climbing plants and crawling vines enveloped rotting park benches and lay strewn across the road. Until the snow cleared and spring came to make them green again the vines reminded Olivia of leather thongs all twisted and worn with age.

While human kind found little in this city but a snow covered wasteland strewn with frozen Walkers, the wildlife was thriving. There were no birds right now as they had all flown south for the winter, but there were still rivers yet frozen and filled with fish, deer and wild pigs that rooted through the expanding forest that had once been Central Park. Olivia could fish and hunt and have fresh meat. From the bridge where she had surveyed the land earlier she had noticed the boats on the Hudson River. She could stay there for the night, figuring it would be safer than staying on land where she could easily be snuck up on wherever she choose to make camp. If the boat Olivia boarded didn't work then maybe she could find a working one in the morning and take it further out to the bay to fish. If the boat had enough gas she could even go visit Lady Liberty on person.

With a plan in mind Olivia set her course. She made her way down to the docks where there were still plenty of boats tethered. Having grown up on the Gulf Coast, the sight of the boats and smell of the river air was like a welcome from an old friend.

Olivia hummed happily to herself as she picked a boat at random and hopped aboard. The best part was that the docks seemed to be completely Walker free. Any that found their way here tended to fall into the water since they ran on instincts alone and had no sense of self-preservation. As she forced open the door to a cabin and deposited her stuff she sighed contentedly, "Home sweet home."

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