Lay me down on a bed of roses

[indirectcause]

Who: Ben and YOU!
What: Arriving in Paradisa
When: 28th
Where: Lobby
Rating: PG13 kid has a mouth. Here be your spoiler warning for the game.


[Ben had never really thought much about how fast it takes for a bullet to do its work. Not until he needed it to, anyway. He'd heard the shot, but after that, nothing. It went fast, really fast. There was a vague feeling of gratitude as Kenny pulled the trigger, giving him a mercy he knew he didn't deserve from the man. He'd surrendered to the blackness willingly, no longer a burden to the ever smaller mish-mash of humanity that was their group.

The blackness doesn't last, and that's when he appears on the floor of the lobby of Paradisa, his letterman jacket covered in blood. His blood. Walker's blood. It's a mix, really. He takes in a panicked gasp, scrabbling at the floor and looking around in sheer panic. The alleyway is gone. The walkers are gone. So are Kenny and Lee. ...The pain too.

He glances down at his stomach, the metal that had been sticking out there, a final, horrible promise that he wasn't getting out of that alley is missing. His hand automatically goes to his head, his hair matted with blood (definitely all his own this time) but no hole. Did Kenny miss? He couldn't have. He brings his hand back down to stare at the blood for a moment, before turning to glance around him again, looking for any signs of life.

He's definitely not in Georgia any more]

What the fuck is going on?

Comments

[bronwe]

[ Frodo walks slowly so he can follow, waiting after every turn. They get to the kitchen eventually, which is fortunately for the man, empty. He moves toward the pantry first, looking through whatever other residents have left there. ]

What about ham?

[indirectcause]

[Oh dear sweet god HAM. Ben starts to nod, but then something else crosses his face. Uncertainty, perhaps. No, best not until he knows for sure this place is safe]

Got anything without meat in it?

[bronwe]

Ploughman! Cheese and apples?

[indirectcause]

[That gets a weak smile]

Sounds great, thanks.

[bronwe]

[ And he gets to work, eying him surreptitiously. That seems like a lot of blood. ]

You can call me Frodo.

[indirectcause]

[Ben glances down and...yep that sure is a lot of blood]

I'm not hurt. Really.

[Because apparently horrible impaling wounds can vanish now]

I'm Ben.

[bronwe]

But you are hungry, which I reckon is worse. Much worse indeed.

[ It's a joke. He tried. But at least he's about done with making the sandwich. ]

[indirectcause]

[Sadly the joke sails over Ben's head in all its glorious splendour. Maybe next time, wee hobbit]

You get used to being hungry after a while.

[bronwe]

[ He smiles sadly at him as he brings the plate of sandwich over. That isn't right, not right at all. ]

Not here, I hope.

[indirectcause]

[It takes him a moment, just a touch more caution, before he picks the sandwich up. He hasn't eaten anything like a proper meal in so long, as much as he wants to play safe, he wants to eat MORE. So he'll just scarf down that sandwich as if breathing was less important to him. After he's inhaled about half of it, he pauses, a tad sheepish]

Thanks.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo takes the time to drag over a stool to sit on and watch him eat. It's pleasing to see someone enjoy something you've made. ]

Most welcome. That isn't enough, is it?

[indirectcause]

[Food is the best thing, you are clearly a magic tiny man]

Trust me, after as few a meals as I've had, this is a banquet.

[bronwe]

Then you must have more!

[ Hell is being hungry. He goes to hop off the stool and go back to the counter again. ]

[indirectcause]

[Ben looks a little surprised. After all, people outside of the group are rarely this friendly or helpful]

Uh...if you're sure. Thanks, man.

[bronwe]

[ He's already on it! ]

Why were you so hungry? Were you traveling?

[indirectcause]

[Best hobbit bro]

Yeah. That and food's pretty scarce right now. You can't always be sure you'll find it.

[bronwe]

[ He nods. ]

I was very hungry when I arrived here too. And thirsty. But someone made sure I was fed before I fainted from sheer relief.

[indirectcause]

Nice to know there are people who look out for others still.

[Who aren't psychopaths or cannibals]

[bronwe]

I could introduce you. She makes even better sandwiches.

[ Which means she must be a totally awesome person, obviously. ]

[indirectcause]

[Obviously. Ben's still a little unsure, because new people are still a possible threat, but he's stuck here and it can't hurt to know people around him]

...Sure. Thanks.

[bronwe]

[ He just chuckles and indicates her height, slightly taller than himself. Silly Ben to be scared of a little girl. ]

She is this small with a heart triple her stature.

[indirectcause]

[...Oh god wait. He squints]

She give you a name?

[bronwe]

Yes. Clementine.

[indirectcause]

[Well congrats, Frodo, you have earned Ben Friendship Points for caring about Clementine. He smiles]

I already know her, we're from the same world. The same group, even.

[That means she's here. She's not at home, in that hell. She's SAFE]

[bronwe]

You know her--? [ His eyes widen at him. That is, widen even more than physically possible. Yes. ]

She has told me of the Walkers. I am glad you are here, at least for the while.