open!

[nowthatsfunny]

Characters: Tess and YOU?
Date: End of December/first week of January.
Location: Various!
Situation: Various! I have written up three general starters, as Tess gets her feet under her and gets into the swing of life on the turtle. If there's something else you'd like to do with her to jump-start some CR, feel free to write up your own starter or PM/hit me up on plurk (frodabaggins)!
Warnings/Rating: Option 3 involves some bad memories of the violent, gory, zombie-related sort. Also, Tess can be a potty mouth and is prone to violence if she feels the need. Otherwise I'll update this as necessary.

Option 1: shopping?!

[Tess is still wearing the clothes she arrived in, though they are a little cleaner than they were when she made her first network post. Laundry is one of the things she particularly relishes about the turtle. But the idea of having more than one change of clothes at a time is frankly kind of baffling to her after all this time, even with the weather as cold as it is, the most she's done is find herself a warm coat.

Now, however, she's in a shop, perusing racks of clothing with a somewhat bewildered look on her face – as though she's overwhelmed, which she kind of is. What the hell do people do with all these clothes, anyway? She knows logically that she used to be like that – as a kid she had a closet and a dresser full of clothes, and in high school she cared about fashion. But that life is like a warm, happy dream, rather than any kind of reality, or has been for twenty years.

She might actually need some help. Or maybe someone to laugh at her and snap her out of it.]

Option 2: baby turtles?!

[The little oddities of turtle life are things Tess has noticed, of course, but mostly has decided not to comment on or deal with – even weird shit like magic is much, much preferable to what she left behind, so she can't bring herself to care much, no matter how freaky it is.

And okay, being on the back of a giant turtle, maybe she should've been prepared for a few more reptilian encounters, but the oversized baby currently nudging her down the street is still a bit of a surprise.]

Uh, anyone wanna come get their pet?

Option 3: at the bar (potential trigger warning for mentions of zombie horror/gore/violence/PTSD)

[She can't sleep. You'll never hear Tess complain about being here, about being alive, because it's great. It really, really is.

But it doesn't stop the nightmares. It doesn't stop the awful goddamn memories encroaching on what should be peaceful sleep. Late at night, when it's too goddamn quiet in her suite and she can't sleep because sleep means reliving terrible things over and over and over again, she instead makes the trek to the Brazen Turtle. Because drinking is better than remembering. Drinking makes the world a little number, dulls the phantom pain of the teeth at her collarbone, the sharp ache in her chest at the memory of Joel's face when he saw.

She drinks hard liquor, straight up, clearly an old hand at it, even for a woman of her petite frame.]

Comments

1

[soulstoker]

[Leia doesn't particularly need to get more clothes at the moment, but she likes shopping well enough that she's in the store anyways. Seeing Tess seem so... confused-looking at the clothes though, she can't help but think that the older woman might need a hand with these. She gives a friendly smile.]

Can't decide on what to wear?

[nowthatsfunny]

[It's strange, to see so many people dressed in ways that haven't been around in her world for twenty years. Necessity and a growing lack of resources has made sure that "fashion" is something only to be remembered by those who were around before the outbreak.

And yet, here she is, staring it in the face again. Somewhere deep down in her memory, Tess remembers caring about things like this - as a teenager.]

I guess - it's been a long time since I've had much choice. I'm not sure how to do it anymore.

[soulstoker]

Is there not much variety in fashion where you're from? [She says it like a joke, but little does she know really...] But for something like this, you just have to go with what you like! Do you like clothes that are fitting or loose, practical or fancy, simple or ornate—things like that.

[nowthatsfunny]

I don't... really know what I like, anymore. [Tess admits that almost reluctantly. She is nothing if not self-aware, for the most part, so realizing that she doesn't even know what her own preferences are anymore. She knows what they were when she was a kid, but she's almost 40 now.]

Fashion isn't a thing where I come from.

[soulstoker]

Wow, really? [It's honestly hard to imagine fashion not being a thing... While Leia wasn't knee-deep into it or anything, it just seemed like something that was always there.] Hmm... In that case, why not try on a bunch of different clothes and see what feels the most comfortable?

[nowthatsfunny]

I know what'll feel most comfortable. [Tess looks down at herself, at her cargo pants, her tattered button-down, the coat she picked up the other day with a voucher. It's all worn, practical, nothing ornamental about it. Fitted enough so that it's not easily grabbable, but loose enough so she can move fast and light. Almost nothing even matches.]

But things're different here. [She knows that logically, she knows there aren't any infected to grab her by the hair and bite her, knows there aren't any hunters looking to slit her throat for her shoes or whatever ration cards she might be carrying. Knows she can pick whatever absurd outfit she wants and wear it - but when faced with the options, she's just frozen.]

I like purple. [She finally says that, almost to herself, as though pulling the information from a distant, dusty memory.]

[soulstoker]

Purple! Purple's definitely a start at least, so let's see what we have here... [Leia starts rummaging through the racks, and before long she ends up pulling out a purple blouse.]

Here, how about this? It's not completely different from the shirt you're wearing right now.

[nowthatsfunny]

[It's certainly... frillier. It speaks to how ingrained her mindset is after all these years that Tess's first thought is that it would be so easy for someone to just grab her by that bow or collar and bring her face down to their knee or something equally horrible.

But she pushes that aside, reminding herself where she is, and giving the blouse a curious sort of frown as she considers it.]

It's... hm. It's something. It's a start.

[She needs to step out of her comfort zone if she wants to have a little fun.]

Hey, thanks. I'm Tess, by the way. [She holds out a hand for the younger girl to shake.]

[soulstoker]

Leia Rolando. It's nice to meet you, Tess! [She shakes the older woman's hand firmly, smiling wider.] But don't mention it, I'm just glad I could help. I like clothes, but fashion isn't completely my thing either.

2!

[mightythinice]

[Ellie manages to catch Tess-- completely by accident. She wasn't expecting this so soon after her last chat with her-- about Spock, and all. But she sees Tess staring at the new clothes, and then looks down at her own clothes that Julie had given her... They already looked a little rough around the edges from her hunting, and her activities throughout the city.

Oh well.

She'd never given shopping a serious thought before-- she always considered it so bizarre to think of, and had avoided it where possible. But there was Tess, and Tess would remember what things were like before the infection. Before everything went to shit, and mundane activities like shopping were out of the questions.

It's hard to imagine shopping as something you just did, though.]

Heeeyyyyy, Tess.

[nowthatsfunny]

[It's still a little weird to have Ellie here - well, weird is relative in this place, in Tess' life, but whatever. She glances over at the familiar voice, though, and gives the girl a nod.]

Hey, kid. What've you been up to? Keeping warm? [It is, after all, pretty goddamn cold outside. Part of why she's here, too. She needs more warm things. Maybe some better shoes. But there are so many options.]

[mightythinice]

Pssh. Keeping warm's the easy part. [she still hated winter, but she could bluster through any and all feelings she had associated with this particular season, especially after a couple of months getting used to Keeliai. Still, the invitation given, she moves closer to Tess, practically dancing on her feet.]

I went hunting a little bit ago, sold some of the stuff I caught to one of the stores. Then, I'm gonna get some hot cocoa, because that sounds really fucking good right now.

So, whatcha shopping for?

[nowthatsfunny]

You're a regular businesswoman.

[Tess is actually impressed - selling stuff to people, at her age? That's really smart, and a lot like what Tess has done in the past. GOOD JOB, ELLIE.]

I'm mostly just looking for... jackets, I guess. More gloves. I don't need to wear the same old thing every day anymore. Might as well take advantage of it.

[mightythinice]

I don't know if it's a business, but it gets me food, either way. [but she's grinning. Coming from Tess? Of the infamous shipping duo? That was a glowing review.]

Some of the clothes here are really weird. What about... that one?

[she points to what looks like a red sweater-- red was probably her favorite color, she was drawn to it for one reason or another. And she has no clue what to look for besides clothes basically fitting and not being too busted to wear.]

[nowthatsfunny]

When you don't just have to worry about keeping warm and lasting more than a few months, you can come up with some weird ideas.

[She actually smiles a little as she inspects the sweater - it's got an impractical collar and wider sleeves, too. Don't need to worry about assholes or infected grabbing the sleeves. Damn, she could wear a dress if she wanted to.]

I used to spend so much time on this shit.

[mightythinice]

Fucking seriously? [she looks at her, appraising] That's... really surreal to imagine. Hell, any of this.

So, what're you gonna do now?

[nowthatsfunny]

Yeah, I was just out of high school when the outbreak happened. [Revealing your age, Tess. Oh well. Still not as old as Joel.]

I guess I'll have to find work to do. Make contacts, find out what people need, or want. Find out how to get it.

3

[softlycall]

[ It's too early in negotiations for her to have found employment with the bar, but that's not something to stop her entering the Turtle as a customer. She's in need of a drink and an idea of what the place is like besides - though her general look-around is halted when she spots a familiar face at the bar. ]

Tess, wasn't it? [ She gets a better look at the drink in the woman's hand as she approaches, and frowns. ] That's a hard drink just for boredom.

[ Still, she orders the same, and another for Tess. ]

[nowthatsfunny]

Anne. [Tess always remembers names and faces. She's always been good at that, and she makes it a point to keep track, anyway. It's just good business sense.

Even when she's decided to get hammered.]

I like 'em strong. I don't really see the point, otherwise. This'll knock me out a lot faster than a fucking wine cooler. [She tips her glass at the other woman in thanks.]

[softlycall]

Fair enough. [ She grins back and sits, and if she sees anything wrong with claiming the seat beside Tess to begin her own night it doesn't show. Far as she's concerned, they're friends enough to share a drink or five into the small hours of the morning, drowning God knows what sorrows and frustrations. She takes a swallow of her own order and feels it hit the back of her throat in just the way she was looking for. ]

Jesus, that'll do for a start.

[nowthatsfunny]

[Tess smiles - okay maybe it's a bit less of a smile and a bit more of "baring her teeth" - she just gets that way when she's drinking. Just a little more aggressive. Joel could attest to it, if he were here.

Fucking Joel.]

Told you.

So, are you settling in okay? Find anyone from your world?

[softlycall]

Two from home I called captain, and friend, and never thought to see again. [ Damned lucky, really, but seeing as how that's one of the reasons she's in this room right now the question merits another gulp of liquor.

Tess is newly come to the world, from what she said before, so the same question seems in order. ]

And yourself? Find anybody ye know?

[nowthatsfunny]

[Tess gives a low whistle.]

That's some luck. There's a kid here - Ellie. She's from the same place as me. Haven't found my partner yet, though. Fucker. [She says it without any real animosity - it's almost affectionate, as a matter of fact.] He'd always be late if I didn't give him a kick in the ass every now and then.

[softlycall]

[ Who knows what she'll have to pay for that luck. Or maybe the Emperor is just that magnanimous, and she's a fine lady.

But that's a name she knows, and her eyebrows lift in surprise. When she's done lifting her glass in a silent toast to partners that need the occasional boot or bullet for encouragement, it's Ellie she asks after first. ]

The lass from Boston?

[nowthatsfunny]

[Tess nods, and knocks back the rest of her drink - the next one is already waiting for her.]

Somehow, I'm not surprised you've already spoken with her. [She's a curious kid who likes to ask questions, and Anne is a curious sort.] But yeah, that's her. I guess you could say I'm looking after her.