[Beginning Thread] An Unusual Welcoming Committee

[2queerzombies]

Characters: Buxell and Zudd, newcomers.
Setting: Various Days; Afternoon; Abandoned Church
Summary: Arrival, friendly zombies, explanations, guidance, bad jokes.
Style: Prose and Action responses welcome.
Notes: OPEN. Arrive alone or in groups, threadjack as wanted, remember to add your character's tags for AC purposes!

Comments

[momsrtough]

Her first reaction is not the most refined she's had; screaming and jerking away was probably insulting, but Nora had never seen creatures like that before... Humans? Were they humans? They looked like they were halfway to becoming Cie'th, if there were such things as halfway.

She scrambles back until she hits a wall, eyes wide and arms trying to grasp for the gun she had with her prior to her fall.

Monsters-- she had fallen and, and-- was this who lived at the bottom of the Hanged Edge?

[2queerzombies]

The one with hazel eyes looks at blue-eyes-with-club-hand and shakes his head mournfully. "Now why'd you go an' do that, Zudd. You've scared th' bleedin' woman half ta' death. I tol' you we shoulda waited back further from 'er."

The other one shakes his head, looking cross. "Commander Leadswell said I could be in charge ta greet those that come through the cracks, Bux, an' I'd not like you ta forget it."

"You're bleedin' crazy, Zudd, that's what th' commander told me."

Squabbling with each other, the two monstrous, human-like creatures seem to have forgotten their guest.

[momsrtough]

Nora tried to stand, her legs shaky underneath her and hands out to feel the wall behind her. It was a wall, right? Not something else?

What was this place? It didn't-- it didn't look like anywhere on Cocoon. The building, the design of it, was all odd and dilapidated, unbefitting the materials that had been used on Cocoon.

Her memories were hazy at best, but... there had been the Purge. The fighting, and the gunshots...

She had fallen.

Was this... this couldn't be... she wasn't dead, was she?

Perhaps it was best for her to... attempt to slip away quietly.

[2queerzombies]

"Bux I'll tell ya what ya can do with yer bleedin' suggestions. You can shove 'em up yer-" Began Zudd before the other creature touched his arm and pointed at the woman.

"Zudd, yer an' idiot. We have ta help th' lady - it doesn't matter oo's in charge." Buxell shook his head and tried to smile gently at the frightened Nora. "Sorry miss, Zudd's a bloomin' great arsehole, but 'is 'eart's in the right place...what's left of it that is." The hazel-eyed creature sighed sadly.

"Sorry we're in such poor condition, miss. We're all that's left of a time long ago.. an' we haven't preserved very well, beggin' yer pardon."

[_devil_inside]

Even coming off a monster hangover (like the one from the night previous), Dante's reflexes were still sharper than the average bear, or so the saying went. Thus, as soon as he regained even a semblance of consciousness, both guns came whipping out of their holsters and aimed right between respective eyeballs, but the only thing which stayed his fingers on the triggers was the fact that the shambling fucks actually talked.

Blue eyes blinked, trying to focus, and Dante peered around the butt of the silver pistol, somewhat blearily spying the creature at the other end of the barrel.

"Whazis...shit?" he managed to mutter, tongue feeling like it'd been stepped on and about a gallon of sawdust poured down his throat. Not to mention the monster headache which decided to gleefully resume its romping.

[2queerzombies]

Neither individual looked particularly concerned about the guns pointed at their heads - their smiles unwavering. The blue-eyed creature chuckled at the hazel-eyed monstrosity, their laughter good-natured and kind.

"Bit of a tumble you've 'ad sir, right out of whatever universe you bleedin' came from." The one who named himself Zudd said with a bit of a chortle.

"Ya all right there, Sir? Zudd never remembers ta ask 'em if theys alright." Hazel-eyes glared at his partner, but the other being was apparently admiring Dante's weapons.

"Pretty guns ye has there, Sir." Zudd said appreciatively.

[_devil_inside]

Well, seems neither of 'em were interested on eating his intestines...for the moment, so Dante slowly lowered the pistols and shoved up to a more discernible sitting position, trying to remember just how in fuck's name he'd gotten out here.

He glanced about, licking his teeth a bit absently. Granted, waking up in strange places wasn't exactly unfamiliar, but he'd have sworn he'd passed out in his chair just a few hours ago.

"Yeah, thanks." The hunter glanced back to his audience, one eyebrow slowly lifting as he took in their overall appearance.

"Lemme guess," he drawled. "We ain't in Kansas no more, Dorothy."

[2queerzombies]

"Kansas? Wheressat?" The blue-eyed one named Zudd flailed his club-hand in a questioning manner.

Buxell shook his head in response, shrugging with a crackling popping noise that sounded like rotten flesh shifting. "No clue, Zudd...maybe State-side? Think I remember Paulie sayin' mentionin' it once."

Zudd glanced up at the newcomer again. "Yer in Britian now, mate."

[hile_gunslinger]

Roland's eyes aren't even all the way open before he is on his feet, gun in hand. If there was ever a time to be grateful for his quicker than lightning reflexes, this was it. These things remind him of the slow creatures he encountered with Jake underneath the mountains all those years ago.

...The slow creatures didn't talk like these did, though. And just how did he end up in this place? His makeshift camp was the last thing he remembered before dozing off.

"What is this place?" He's about to start shooting and his aim is deadly accurate. Better answer his question soon.

[2queerzombies]

"Itsa church!" The one with hazel eyes responds immediately, voice perking up as it echoes in the empty space. It doesn't seem concerned by the gun currently pointed in their direction.

"I don't think 'e bleedin' cares if it's a bleedin' bus stop or a strip club, Bux. I think 'e wants ta know the world an' city, like th' others, remember?" The one called Zudd hunches up, peering up at the newcomer.

"Don' know if you knows th' names or not, but yer on Earth, England, on th' borders of New Ashford. Though ta be honest, some of th' bleedin' Rotting slaves jes call it hell." The creature chuckles, as if it made a joke.

[hile_gunslinger]

Roland gazes past the two creatures and into the building that they claim is a church. He starts to wonders why they aren't too concerned about having a gun pointed at them, but after seeing their faces, that puts a stop to his wondering.

"England? I do not know of England." This doesn't surprise him, though, The world has moved on after all. "Is that a place of the Old People?"

He doesn't like this. It's not Todash and it doesn't seem to be a trick of his enemies. His hand tightens on the sandalwood grip of his revolver. He'll shoot his way out, if it comes to that.

[2queerzombies]

"Not surprisin', really - not everyone 'oo shows up 'ere is from Earth. In fact, quite a lot aren't" Buxell says ruefully. "An' we're the oldest ones around - you can tell by our pretty faces."

The hazel-eyed creature grunts as Zudd smacks him. "'Ey now, Bux. Some o' us are still a might protective of our girlish figures." He grins good-naturedly. "Oy...stranger. We're supposed ta give you this.." The louder of the two friendly undead hold out a cellphone to the man with the hat.

"It'll help ya get on the network. To talk ta people...ya understand me, mate?"

[gridknight]

Eyes first opening to a blur of lights, Tron doesn't think anything is out of sorts. Until he remembers what had happened before he... blacked out? Either way, he's blinking, trying to clear his vision when dark blobs hover in front of him, speaking.

He understands them, but not why they're here, or what they're talking about. Finally able to make them out a bit better, Tron will also realize that what he's looking at isn't any program he's ever seen.

"... where are you welcoming me to?" His voice is a bit rough, so he'll clear his throat, before realizing that he feels strange. His body is different, but now is not the time to be panicking. He'd only just regained his own mind, free of the control CLU had had over him. And this place, this place seemed nothing like the Grid. It was too... organic? It reminded him of pictures Flynn had showed him of his world before, just more downtrodden.

[gridboss]

Everything was a haze to CLU at the moment. His head was whirling, feeling heavy and everything seemed to be rather discombobulated. There was darkness, but things were starting to sharpen up for him now. There were two individuals above him speaking to him. What were they? Other programs? CLU blinked his eyes a few more times, but the sensation of just blinking alone felt completely different. CLU glanced away from the dark figures before him and looked at his outstretched hands. He stared intently at them, moving his digits experimentally. Each sensation now felt completely different, and he couldn't explain why. He moved his hand to his face, touching his cheek lightly before moving his eyes again to survey his surroundings

[2queerzombies]

The two gruesome melted looking figures looked to each other, before curious human eyes looked back to the newcomers sprawled on the floor. "We's got two of them, Bux." The blue-eyed one murmured to the hazel-eyed one.

"That don't happen too often, Zudd." The other replied, nodding.

"Welcomin' you to New Ashford." The same one continued to their 'guests'. "Mind ya don't stand up too fast now - yer probably a bit woozy and bungled bout th' head."

[gridknight]

Tron will sit up as best he can, leaning back against a convenient wall. At least his worries of keeping Flynn protected from CLU were alleviated. But if the sinking feeling in the program's stomach were right, since when could he feel that?, Tron wasn't so sure being here was any better.

CLU was a threat, no matter where he was now.

"New Ashford... is that a new settlement on the Grid?" He just had to make sure after all. Tron will however glance over to the other program, keeping an eye on him. He seemed in no better shape than himself at the moment. And as for feeling bungled, he really wasn't sure what that meant, but it could have something to do with not being able to get up quite yet. At least the strange looking programs were hospitable.

[teatimemagic]

Ow. Ow ow ow. His back hurt, as though he'd fallen on it. How long had he been unconscious? Green eyes slowly opened beneath bushy brows, and he took in the surroundings. It was dark, a bit cold. But the area felt familiar, as though England had been here before.

He felt heavy, which could possibly have been a side-effect of the injury. But at the same time, it felt as though something were pinning him on the ground. He barely registers the other voice. He brings one hand up to rub his face.

It was around that time he felt that there was something on top of him, something warm. Another body. And England quickly pushed himself up on his arms. He could not even believe who it was.

"P... Prussia? PRUSSIA!"

[awesome_mich]

His head hurt and he felt a tingling sensation not unlike a limb falling asleep due to a poor position. He could hear voices, but he wasn't making them out.

How long had he been unconscious? What was he laying on? Whatever it was, it moved.

He rolled onto his back and recognized the feeling of legs under him. It hurt to move and his headache turned into a full blown migraine, but he was too awesome to complain about it.

One of the voices finally registered. "Brit...annien?" he whispered sounding groggy as he finally opened his eyes. Red eyes focused and England came into view along with a ceiling. Were they inside? Or on a covered patio?

[2queerzombies]

Now this was an odd pair, and that was something two individuals who had once been men but were nothing more than living but rotting corpses could usually say. Blue eyes looked to hazel, hazel looked back, and the two beings watched the exchange with curiosity and amusement.

"These visitors is gettin' stranger an' stranger, Zudd."

"That they is, Buxell."

The club-handed creature cocked his head at Prussia's words, picking up on something the newcomer said. "Yeah, ow'd ya know? Yer in England, New Ashford, actually...not far from Canterbury. Ya from another Earth then? Sort of a home away from home here, for ya?"

[teatimemagic]

Those voices. Their familiar accent soothed England for the moment. They belonged to his people. He was not surprised when whoever it was said they were in England. At least, not until he remembered that he was supposed to be in Potsdam at the moment.

England moved his eyes from Prussia and finally focused on the two strangers. His eyes widened, jaw dropped. They looked like monsters. Not that he had anything against monsters. But there was something just a bit unsettling about these guys.

He moved away, pulling his legs out from underneath the other country as he tried to form words. "What's... going on here?"