Dylan Sowell wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:12 am
Dylan nods, "Good idea. If that's possible we should definitely do that. Did you see if there is a way for us to do so? You know, without getting our vehicles stuck or anything?"
“I got a quick glimpse, nothing seemed soft or difficult terrain, but I can do a more thorough check before we move the vehicles.”
Dylan Sowell wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:12 am"I think the plan is hunker down here for the night, and set out fresh in the morning. Lynn needs to get to Liberal, Kansas. I'm gonna end up somewhat close to Detroit. Remy is gonna stay with the group for numerical safety; smart fella. Fort Hood, Texas for you, but low priority. Brandon doesn't seem to have his head screwed on straight as I can't get a straight answer outta him. If we're not gonna just break-up and go our own ways at dawn, we'd better have a route planned." Dylan uses a pencil to trace a route on the road atlas from nearby Slidell to Fort Hood, to Lynn's spot in Liberal, and from there to Stony Island. He looks to Macher and stabs the map page. "This route avoids all major highways. If Fort Hood is important to you, I've got us charted to get there en route to Lynn's family spot. If making that stop will potentially save lives, then I'm down for making this happen, but if it ain't then let's not waste time. So what's the low-down? Important or no?"Gotta get these people thinking straight and talking straight. Too much wishy-washy shit'll just get us all killed.
“I am not trying to be difficult, but I have to get to Seattle. I can’t expect you guys to go that far. So I will go as far north as you guys go and once you guys get to where you need to be I will make my way there.”
Dylan Sowell wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 5:17 am
Dylan turns on Brandon. "No, you're not trying to be difficult, you simply are difficult. Look, I don't know how they taught dudes like you in the Cascades, but when serious people with guns ask you a fucking question, they don't want a bunch of mush in response. I heard the word Seattle escape your mouth, but if you 'need' something, you sure as fuck don't talk passively about it. You make it clear as a demand, not as a vague point of discussion. And you sure don't go running off solo in a sitch like this unless you want your head flown. You read me, man? You run up on someone like me, you might not get greased where you stand...if I don't wanna smoke you. You run up on damn near anyone else, surprise anyone else, and they're strapped? You gotta real good chance of getting holes punched in you, and they might not even mean to do it, but you'll still be dead as fuck." Dylan takes a deep breath and visibly tries to remain calm and dial himself down. "Untrained folks don't react well to surprises is what I'm saying, and you're showing that trait, so quit being your own worst enemy if you wanna make it to tomorrow night. Now then, what you got in Seattle that's worth risking your life?"
Dylan turns to Macher, "Same question for you, G.I. Joe. No mush response on this. What's at Fort Hood that's worth risking your life?"
As Dylan keeps talking Brandon’s face grows tighter and and redder until he stops talking, the Brandon squares up looking him in the face. “Who the fuck do you think you are. You don’t know me. Why the fuck should I listen to a man who hides behind guns as a source of authority? I don’t even want to know why you have so many fucking guns, I think it’s great you got them given the circumstances, but let me be clear the way you throw them around in conversation doesn’t bolster your claim to leadership. Because I haven’t seen anything since I have met you that indicates you have anything else to offer, because you only talk about those damn guns. So let me be clear, if a man with guns asks me any god damn questions I will answer them the same way that I would answer someone without them. Any fucking way I please. As for Seattle what I have there is everyone I fucking love. Chances are they are fucking dead or turned by the time I get there but I can’t contemplate a world I would want to live in where I didn’t at least try. And the whole god damn reason I said I would go by myself is because we all agree population centers are a bad place to be. I can’t ask anyone to potentially sacrifice themselves for a fight that isn’t theirs. So I hope we have a fucking understanding.” He turns to Lynn, “Ma’am I apologize for my language, if Elmer Fudd here doesn’t oust me from the group at gun point I swear I will help you find your husband.” He storms off behind the building and inspects the land to make sure it will hold the vehicles.
Action 1: Disarm
d20+2: [11]+2 = 13(Disarmed on highest roll)
Action 2: Body Flip/Throw
d20+8: [19]+8 = 27 | Damage -
d6+7: [5]+7 = 12(Loses initiative and one melee attack)
Pull Punch (11 or better on die, can do 1 point, quarter or half damage)
Action 3: Dodge:
d20+12: [9]+12 = 21
Action 4: Dodge:
d20+12: [10]+12 = 22:
Action 5: Dodge:
d20+12: [12]+12 = 24
Action 6: Dodge:
d20+12: [15]+12 = 27
[quote-Dylan] If Fort Hood is important to you, I've got us charted to get there en route to Lynn's family spot. If making that stop will potentially save lives, then I'm down for making this happen, but if it ain't then let's not waste time. So what's the low-down? Important or no?..... "Same question for you, G.I. Joe. No mush response on this. What's at Fort Hood that's worth risking your life?" [/quote]
Macher is about to answer when Brandon interrupts and begins to smile as he waits for the two of them to of them to work it out. No official chain of command. Good they are getting their dick measuring out of the way now. Might even be some fists thrown before this is over.
As Dylan begins to shift his aggression to him, Macher moves his rifle to being slug further behind his back, not at the ready position. Hopefully this will prevent a miss understanding, or at least decrease the temptation to pop his a$$.
When they have finished, Macher angles a bit towards Brandon. "Sorry if I was being bossy. I’m used to being in charge of people trained like I was in how to handle hostile environments. There are some rules, like buddy teams, that just stand firm. We’ll get this all worked out.”
Macher then changes his angle towards Dylan, taking a balanced stance with his hands in the ‘interview position’, away from weapons, but ready to react. "As for you Elmer, I appreciate your gear and your knowledge, but you are just as green to combat situations as Brandon is. At least he has competed in what he says he is good at. You have knowledge and skill, but lack experience. YouTube videos and time at the range is not the same as being in the fight with someone who fights back.”
Taking a breath, Macher waits a beat for Dylan’s reaction. ”I will give you the same 'mushy' answer I gave before. I have a house just outside of Ft Hood with gear, but don’t need to go there. I will stay to protect the team. We can get weapons, ammunition, and such on the road.”
Macher watches as Dylan storms off, careful to not make any threatening movements. I’ve seen guys like this before. Daddy issues, trying to live up to what they think is tough. Joined the Army because daddy did or because they think just being military makes them tough. Then a war zone and they think it validates them. Unfortunately, they do stupid stuff like take ears as souvenirs, kill innocents when they get spooked, or pose naked at the Victory Arch in Baghdad.
Once he is certain Dylan has no physically hostile intentions, he finds Brandon.
"So, Dylan is pissed that we questioned his leadership and told me you and I are on our own. He is leaving come morning and we are not welcome. Even locked up his stuff like we would steal it."
Macher wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 9:11 am"So, Dylan is pissed that we questioned his leadership and told me you and I are on our own. He is leaving come morning and we are not welcome. Even locked up his stuff like we would steal it."
"Thoughts?”
Brandon immediately turns red, looks at Macher and says “Come with me”. He goes to Remy and says, “Hey Remy we got a bit of a problem, do you mind walking with me real quick we got something to take care of.” Assuming they both follow, he walks up to Dylan, respecting his personal space, who was close to Lynn before. “Hey Lynn, Remy just an FYI Dylan here has kicked me and Macher out of the group. Why? Because he tried to throw his authority around with the backing of the fact he is ‘a man with a gun.’ I don’t like bullies so I called him out on it. Then Macher made reference to a comment I made in anger, arguably unfairly, that seems to have been a point of contention. So here is the deal. You guys are welcome to join Macher, the trained soldier and myself. We will make sure you are taken care of and we will get you where you need to go and won’t kick you out at the first sign of disagreement or over taking petty offense by something you say. Because none of that shit is worth taking a survival edge from anyone. We believe respect should be earned and not taken at gun point. So you are welcome to join us and know your safety is far more important than our sensibilities. And Dylan, if you can put your bullshit aside and understand that you don’t have divine fucking fiat because you have guns, you are welcome too. If you think you can only be a petulant child and threaten to take your toys every time we don’t do what you want, then by all means go on your own way, but if anyone thinks they are going to survive by only getting teammates that will put up with their bullshit and do whatever they say then you are going to have a small group and your survival odds are decimated. I guess everyone has a decision to make. Dylan needs to decide if he can be a civilized and compromising team member. Lynn and Remy, need to decide who they want to go with if Dylan can’t be a team player. In the morning we depart. We either leave in three cars going separate ways or parting ways. What the orientation of the passengers and vehicle groups is up to you. No rush, we got all night to decide. I will not speak of it again. Your decision will be made in the morning. Until then, we have time to reflect, eat and sleep. For anyone that wants to hide their car behind the building seems fine. Can’t vouch if we get a shit ton of rain, but none of the places can be vouched for in that regard. Come on Remy let’s finish what you need to do.” Brandon then walks back to where Remy was working, to help him finish up.
Macher holds back a bit. Far enough away that, if the stuff hits the fan he can react, but close enough to be part of the conversation. Well, I will give him this, boy has gumption. Glad he picked to stay with me given how short I was with him on the drive when stuff happened.
When Brandon completes his 'mike drop' and walks away Macher motions with his left thumb at Brandons retreating back, "What he said."
He then angles off, certain not to turn his back on Dylan as he moves away. When able, Macher begins loading the fuel cans and other gear he can find in the shed in his SUV.
Brandon Rodgers wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:17 am
Brandon smiles and laughs a little, "Not in the traditional sense, but in that I make a living at it? Yes. I think if I was being honest I would say I am nothing more than a fitness influencer. I do Parkour, and some like to say I am the best there is but I just won a genetic lottery and monetized it. We were in talks to create a professional Parkour League, even led the charge to have it in the next Olympics, but that was before this . . ."
"Parkour?" Remy echoes as he searches his mind's archives of YouTube videos that serves as a reservoir of his knowledge base. A moment later, his expression shifts as if a light-bulb has gone off in his head, "Like the World Chase Tag Championships?" His mouth falls open in obvious astonishment.
When zombie-shit hits the fan, guess he's going to be the likeliest to squirm out.
It seems as though Remy's awe has more to do with the sheer physical athleticism that he knows he is likely never to be able to accomplish himself, than the purported wealth Brandon was on the brink of becoming a beneficiary off. In his line of work, wealth was a common attribute, and not necessarily one of particular virtue.
After Macher agrees to help, Remy will carefully sort through what the MP manages to pull out of the shed. And so the PI is not in a prime position to intercede when the other three men get into a bit of chest-thumping.
Macher wrote: ↑Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:50 am"YouTube videos and time at the range is not the same as being in the fight with someone who fights back.”
Remy tentatively raises his hand and injects an attempt at humor to break the chill, "Reckon ah'm in for a rude awakening then. All my zombie-fightin' know-how is gonna be from the movies! Rule 18: Limber Up!" The pudgy man grabs the nearest stick or rake and begins to perform light calisthenics similar to those showcased in Zombieland.
Ultimately, his antics are for naught as the contest for dominance continues.
Brandon Rodgers wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 10:13 am“Hey Remy we got a bit of a problem, do you mind walking with me real quick we got something to take care of.” Assuming they both follow, he walks up to Dylan, respecting his personal space, who was close to Lynn before. “Hey Lynn, Remy just an FYI Dylan here has kicked me and Macher out of the group. Why? Because he tried to throw his authority around with the backing of the fact he is ‘a man with a gun.’ I don’t like bullies so I called him out on it. Then Macher made reference to a comment I made in anger, arguably unfairly, that seems to have been a point of contention. So here is the deal. You guys are welcome to join Macher, the trained soldier and myself. We will make sure you are taken care of and we will get you where you need to go and won’t kick you out at the first sign of disagreement or over taking petty offense by something you say. Because none of that shit is worth taking a survival edge from anyone. We believe respect should be earned and not taken at gun point. So you are welcome to join us and know your safety is far more important than our sensibilities. And Dylan, if you can put your bullshit aside and understand that you don’t have divine fucking fiat because you have guns, you are welcome too. If you think you can only be a petulant child and threaten to take your toys every time we don’t do what you want, then by all means go on your own way, but if anyone thinks they are going to survive by only getting teammates that will put up with their bullshit and do whatever they say then you are going to have a small group and your survival odds are decimated. I guess everyone has a decision to make. Dylan needs to decide if he can be a civilized and compromising team member. Lynn and Remy, need to decide who they want to go with if Dylan can’t be a team player. In the morning we depart. We either leave in three cars going separate ways or parting ways. What the orientation of the passengers and vehicle groups is up to you. No rush, we got all night to decide. I will not speak of it again. Your decision will be made in the morning. Until then, we have time to reflect, eat and sleep. For anyone that wants to hide their car behind the building seems fine. Can’t vouch if we get a shit ton of rain, but none of the places can be vouched for in that regard. Come on Remy let’s finish what you need to do.” Brandon then walks back to where Remy was working, to help him finish up.
Remy's gaze flits between the two seeming halves of the party.
Why is this happening? We finally get away from where all the danger is... and instead, we create our own conflict? What could... Then it dawns on him. Remy thinks about how he was finishing his delicious leisurely lunch when he was rudely pulled into the zombie apocalypse. And even for him, the edges of hunger pangs were beginning to gnaw at him. Someone who had skipped a meal, perhaps even two and are coming crashing down from running on pure adrenaline, might very well be in a grumpy mood!
"Low blood sugar!" Remy blurts out, seemingly incoherently. Pointing toward the interior of the building, he continues, explaining his logic, "Reckon if we all do some soul searching, maybe we're speaking out of belly-aching rather than genuine dislike. Let's go raid the snack and drink machines, satiate some hunger and dehydration... Secure the area, get some sleep and if'n we still feel miffed in the morning, we ken sort it out proper then!" Remy flashes an exaggerated smile with entirely too much teeth, clearly hoping that the group doesn't need to splinter so prematurely.
