(Untitled)

[cheng_hu]

Daniel is looking at a map of the Great Lakes area, from Michigan to Minnesota, with Chicago smack in the middle. His eyes are narrowed in what appears to be deep thought, but could be just a mild astigmatism. It's constant excitement, here in post-apocalyptic Chicago.

His hands are chapped from the cold, and he has dirt under his fingernails.

Comments

[bass_line_blues]

"It's probably kind of out of date by now," Preston remarks, and rests his bass case carefully on the floor before taking a seat next to Daniel.

[cheng_hu]

"Probably. But I'm not looking for the best burger stand in the area. I'm looking at the highways." He glances over at Preston and gives him a brief smile.

"How's it going?"

[bass_line_blues]

Preston assimilates this, still looking down at the map.

"Highway to?"

"- not bad," he remembers to add, a second later.

[cheng_hu]

"I'm not sure, yet. What do you think would be better, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis?" His tone is light, so far. It doesn't show yet that he's pretty serious about going on a trip.

[bass_line_blues]

"Depends," Preston says; his own voice is calm and considered, and doesn't give much indication of whether he is or isn't taking this seriously. "What's the end-goal?"

[sky_from_sea]

"For finding a new sports team to replace the ones Chicago doesn't have anymore?"

Anna's voice is deliberately light, one hand resting on the back of Daniel's chair.

"Or is that not the kind of goal you were talking about?"

[cheng_hu]

Anna?

Anna.

Crap.

"Anna. Have a seat."

[bass_line_blues]

"Hey, Anna," Preston says, unbothered.

Hey, it's not Preston's ass on the line here.

[sky_from_sea]

"Thank you," Anna says, mock solemnly.

Then she sweeps out her skirt and takes a seat.

"This looks like rather a long drive for a picnic, doesn't it?"

She taps the map lightly with one finger.

"Longer since most of it will involve walking. You only have one horse, Daniel."

[cheng_hu]

He raises an eyebrow at her. "I hadn't solidified any plans, yet. This is conjecture."

Suuuure it is, Daniel.

"However, it should be thought about. We haven't really had the time to reach out and find out what's going on outside Chicago's suburbs."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston's eyebrows go up as well.

Is this good policy, Daniel, or is this wanderlust?

What he says, however, is: "Discovering other postapocalyptic civilizations, boldly going where no Chicagoan has gone before?"

[sky_from_sea]

"Well, I know I haven't been out there. Not on the map you've got, anyway."

Daniel's not getting off easy on this one.

"You're thinking about trying for Michigan?"

[cheng_hu]

...maybe some of both, Preston. It's hard to say! Daniel is in the practice of examining his own motives, but he hasn't gotten that far with this, yet.

"I was leaning toward Milwaukee, actually."

[bass_line_blues]

"Lot of population centers between here and Milwaukee?"

It's probably better if the answer is 'no' than 'yes'. Less chance of massive zombie attacks.

[sky_from_sea]

Anna just looks at Daniel expectantly.

He's not big on going off half-cocked.

There's usually a plan.

[cheng_hu]

"Some. It's mostly a stretch of suburbs from here to there. Nothing central.
And probably nothing very populated. Considering our population density is pretty low."

Okay, so there might sort of be a plan.