When in Rome; (Open)

[James T. Wilder]

'Looks like rain...'

The sun was hidden behind a wall of dark clouds, casting the town in a dreary shadow. The place was already depressing and now the absence of the sun just added to the atmosphere. James shook his head and took his eyes from the clouds. That wasn’t what he was here for; if anything, it was a distraction that would cause him to miss his meal for the next few days. His green eyes settled back on the scope of his rifle nestled against his shoulder, his chest rising and falling steadily as he stared across the landscape just outside of the farm. Trees and dirt filled his vision. Nothing had moved outside for a few hours while he stayed nice and hidden inside of this ruined house.

It was a hunting day. His supply of food had finally dwindled to the one week limit, just far enough for him to get up and start scavenging and hunting. The world may have ended but the wildlife didn't. There were still enough animals prancing around for him to find and kill, especially around here. This hadn’t been the first time he'd used this location as a hunting checkpoint. His boots had walked the dirt around here plenty and this was no different. It always ended with him choosing a barn or something similar on the edge of a field and finding a suitable firing position from inside. This time he'd chosen a ranch, a nice small place that had enough walls still standing to keep him hidden in shadow. Any animal unfortunate enough to cross his path wouldn't know what had happened until it was too late.

James lifted his gaze from his rifle scope for the moment and lifted up his canteen next to him. Popping the top off, he downed some of the cool water before he went back to his stake out. His vision moved the familiar view of the scope once more and the landscape flew closer in an instant. A few hours had already ticked by. The sun had been showing when he'd first arrived, warming him. Yet all too slowly dark clouds had crept in from the east. He'd have to find a different place to crash tonight clearly - something with a roof maybe - otherwise he'd be sleeping drenched.

Suddenly, there was movement out ahead of him. James slowed his breathing and moved the scope to what he saw. A soft pelt met his eyes, one he recognized immediately. 'Deer', more than he was hoping for on this trip. His lips curled into a satisfied smile while he made quick adjustments to his scope, his finger curling over the trigger. James' breathing slowed dramatically as he tracked the animal with his cross-hair. Then numbers started to tick down in his head as he prepared to fire.

'5... 4... 3... 2... 1'

James pulled the trigger. The makeshift suppressor on the front of the weapon absorbed the loud report of the weapon, making it nothing but an angry hissing puff. His eye stayed glued to the sights as he saw what he wanted. The deer jerked when the bullet hit in the right area, just where the heart was. A moment later it dropped, falling to the ground. His lips pulled back in a grin as he saw his meal for the coming weeks hit the dirt. He had to move quickly though. That thing had to be cleaned before night fell. Once the moon and stars start claiming the sky, he had to be on his guard.

James flicked the safety on his rifle and lowered it gently to the ground. Standing from his seat, he picked up his belt and latched it around his waist. The pistol and bowie knife strapped to it wiggled slightly at the movements. Then pulling his black hoody on, he pulled the hood of it over his head and slipped out of the house window. Giving a few quick glances around, James' eyes narrowed before he started walking to his kill. [/size]


TAG: OPEN
WORDS: 678

[Jalen Steele]

Jalen's Outfit

Jalen had gotten pissed at Maka and told him in so many words to Fuck off and not to follow her. She left. She had every intention of going back to Maka. Who wanted to be alone forever. Hell they were the last people on earth. Just sometimes he was so mean and every time she tried to get close to him it was like a brick wall. She was tired of his vague, flippant responses to her questions of his childhood. So she was going to for a long ass walk. Without him. Alone. Proving she was capable to take care of herself.

5 hours later she would not admit she was lost. Who gets lost walking? Well walking then running from the rioters souped up on drugs, she refused to acknowledge this zombie crap. So now she had no clue where she was or how to get back and it was all Maka's fault. Stupid men. Stupid World. Dear God if she messed up her clothes she was going to get pissed. And it was getting cold and if it started raining she was gonna be so angry at everyone.

Jalen's dress was made by Zuhair Murad. The dress looked like it was impossible to keep up by the shoulder straps were transparent. It also clung to where it was supposed to just over her breasts and at her waist and bum, but the dress had the appearance of falling off her body. She was wearing thigh high black boots to complete the look and other than that nothing else. No weapon anything. Hence the run from her life approach to the scaries. Her boots were only 2 inches so she was able to run in them that and adrenaline. Buuuuuut all that was null and void if she couldn't get out of this freaking weather.

"Ooooooooh," Jalen stopped seeing a deer up ahead. For some insane reason she wanted to touch it. To see something so beautiful and elegant. Something alive. Jalen continued walking towards it feeling like Snow White. She even started to hum to herself feeling magical. She was Snow White. She was enchanting. She had just cross the hill when the animal dropped. Jalen blinked slowly and came upon it staring at it's dead carcass. "I am magical?!"

Jalen twirled in a circle over the dead carcass her head tilted up towards the sky. A boom of thunder! A strike of lightening! Then the heaven's opened up and rain came pouring down upon her. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jalen screamed and ran towards the closest building with a door and a roof. The house or the barn? Jalen chose the house, twisting the handle, and was only slightly surprise it turned. She stepped in and flipped the switch. Nothing happened. Great no power. Jalen decided to explore the house, but first she needed a weapon. She headed to the kitchen, but all the knives were gone. This house was looted before. Except ... there were double doors that obviously lead to the garage with an axe that was wedged between the two doors keeping it close. Her heart rate started beating fast. Her hands trembled. She slowly walked towards the doors her hands reaching out. Obviously whoever had closed the door had kept them close for a reason. Which mean the rioters were in there. She could reason with them. Hopefully.

"Hello, rioters. I think you been in here for a long time and I'm going to let you out, okay? I hope you don't have any drugs and aren't high anymore. So if you want to get out I'm going to do just that. Let you out. Free and clear, okay?" Jalen slowly reached forward her hands trembling as she pulled out the axe just as she heard something behind her. She started to turn her head to see who was there when the garage doors opened and all she saw was a huge hole in the garage and nothing else. It was empty. That should have relieved her, but she was still nervous. The hair on the back of her neck was standing on end. She heard another creak behind her, she turned, lifting the axe and was about to stop whomever was about to attack her by bringing the axe down onto them.