What do vegan zombies eat?

[faceguy]

WHO: Leo and YOU
WHERE: all around Temba
WHAT: zombie invasion
WHEN: zombie invasion
WARNINGS: zombie invasion (...likely some gore and violence)

A: Early Invasion

In a way, Leo is almost... relieved. Okay, so that's a weird thing to feel when there are literally undead monsters walking around, but the thing is, zombies are a simple problem. He doesn't have to worry about zombies betraying him, or debating him about innocent until proven guilty, or any other moral quandaries. Zombies want brains. Leo doesn't want his brain to get eaten. This math is simple.

And while it's more than a little disconcerting now to be suddenly cut off from his powers, it doesn't slow down Leo that much. Well, maybe in the literal sense, now that he can no longer teleport, but for actual fighting, Leo has always depended more on his swords and his martial arts than his magic. So cutting zombies down isn't really an issue for him, especially when they're the slow, shambling kind.

It is, however, pretty gross. Leo cringes as he brushes some rotting flesh bits off his arm.

He's here because he heard someone calling for help, or because he saw someone fighting the good fight. Either way, he's here to help!

(And also look for Donnie, because of course they got separated again. But hey, kill two birds with one stone!)

"Need a little help?" he calls out, approaching. "These guys are a little too awake, huh? Never heard that phrase about sleeping when your dead."

B: Late Invasion (cw: tied up zombie brother)

Leo shouldn't be out here. He should be sheltering in the mines, like everyone else.

But here he is, moving with ninja speed and stealth toward one of the abandoned houses. He has a rope slung over his shoulder, and casts furtive glances around to see if he's being followed.

He's pretty good at catching when he is being followed, but with all these zombies around, it's possible to avoid his detection and see what he's up to.

Which is, admittedly, pretty suspicious. What is he doing?

Comments

A

[deal_me_in]

In a way, Cayde's of the same opinion. There's a lot of things he knows he wasn't getting very far in figuring out, but if there's one thing he trusts, it's a gun in his hand and the ability to put a bullet in the head of his target.

And boy are there a lot of targets.

Of course the downside to using a gun is that it isn't very subtle, but while he suspects the sound's drawing him more attention than his bullet is thinning out the crowds, it doesn't stop him from doing what he does best. But bullets aren't limitless, so in between, he makes good use of his knife. Having to get up close and in person is kind of the downside of it, but he doesn't let range hold him back.

There's the sound of something heavy cutting through the air, right before the large blade embeds itself into another zombie with a sickening squelch, its body falling forward with a thud and a groan.

"Does that make them workaholics then?" Cayde asks, hopping over to retrieve his weapon, metal features pinching as he gives the knife a useless shake before wiping the blade off on the tattered clothes. "How you holding up, kid?"

[faceguy]

Cayde, at least, is one of the people here Leo doesn’t feel he needs to keep up his guard around. As a result, he actually grins over at the man, careful to keep track of any approaching zombies out of the corner of his eye.

“Me? I’m great. Better than these guys.” He brandishes his sword in their direction. “Lost contact with my bro, though…”

He’s totally not worried! It’s surely fine!

“How about you? Keepin’ up?”

[deal_me_in]

"Definitely a healthy shade of green there!" the Exo quips, finger-gunning at the turtle. "Ah, that's unfortunate. Being swarmed by zombie hordes does make it hard to keep track of people."

He decides against sheathing his knife just yet on the account that he might need it again soon, glowing gaze sweeping the area. "Oh yeah, just like back home. Well okay, not exactly like home. Don't usually get swarmed by dead guys wanting to chew on you! Just...semi-dead things that want to claw your face off. But hey! Be glad the ones here don't move nearly as fast! -or explode in glowing goo, that's always pretty gross."

Screebs are something he'll never miss.

"You just been running around slaying zombies? Great for stress relief, not gonna lie, I've missed being able to shoot things." As though to underline that point, Cayde snaps out his gun, squeezing off a shot as the figures start lurching closer.

[faceguy]

“Geez, what kind of place do you come from?”

Then again, he already knew it was pretty different from his Earth, given Cayde’s… well, everything. Learning that he regularly fights exploding semi-dead monsters isn’t really that much of a surprise.

He watches the gunshot with interest. It’s not that he’s never seen any kind of gunplay before, but it’s cool to see someone clearly experienced up close and personal.

“Yeah, it’s not bad!” He laughs. “Just seemed like the right thing to do, in case anyone’s stuck out here.”

[deal_me_in]

Cayde has to laugh at that. "Eh, the Hive usually stick to the moon, and Scorn on the outer edges of the Sol System- not that it keeps them from popping up around other places."

He grins at Leo, giving him a nod. "Same brain. Not everyone can fight around here, and what these storms dish out is unpredictable. Annoying too. Let's see if we can thin things out some for people, yeah? -ooh! Hey, hey, feel that?"

While he's not sure how Leo's ability with portals is connected to him, Cayde can only guess that it might be similar to how he feels when the Light's cut off. He glances up briefly, smirking. "A break in the storm. How 'bout we make the best of it and light things up?"

[faceguy]

Man, Cayde's had actual cool space adventures - Leo would looove to pick his brain more, sometime when they aren't in serious danger.

Though when he points it out, Leo can feel it; the connection to his powers, to his family. It's reassuring to have it come back, not least of all because he knows, when it connects, that Donnie is okay, even if they can't see each other.

He grins, his swords lighting up in time with his markings.

"Heck yeah! Show me what you got, old timer."

[deal_me_in]

"Wow, we're going there? -not that I can really argue the point but still!"

His tone's however bright as he gives his gun a spin. "Watch and learn, kid!" he says, rushing right on forward, shots picking off a few of the zombies further away while he jumps to apply a heavy boot into the face of a closer one, snapping its head to the side. Zombies make for poor leverage, but he still pulls off his first jump, and without touching anything, adds to his height with another in midair. Yet one more has him truly airborne as he flips and fires off the rest of his rounds, loading up again with practiced ease as he heads back down again.

B.

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth is patrolling, looking for anyone who came up out of the mines as well as trying to keep zombies away from the mines. He's tired, running on very little sleep, but when he sees someone who really should be in the mines, he flies down with a sigh to land in front of Leo.

"You're out late," he remarks.

Ninja speed and stealth didn't conceal Leo from an aerial search.

[faceguy]

Whoa! Leo jumps in surprise, not expecting this guy to just fly down in front of him like that.

It takes him a moment to get his composure back, but once he does he settles into looking annoyed, folding his arms.

"I don't have a curfew here."

So he can do whatever he wants!

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth gives a tired smirk. "There's not much point in curfews when the zombies are out day and night. But wandering around alone isn't safe any time these days."

[faceguy]

"Yeah, yeah, buddy system, got it." Leo waves a hand. "Look, I'm just going to get something and then I'll get back, so just let me be on my way and then I won't be out here anymore."

He looks pretty anxious to get moving again.

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth doesn't really want to keep him either. "May I accompany you?" he asks instead.

[faceguy]

Immediately, Leo's guard is up. "Why?" he asks.

A

[doubled_speed]

Oh he definitely needs help. In the worst way. Tommy's gotten separated from his boyfriend, he has no powers, he's physically more frail than he should be, and he's always emotionally overwrought when the storms come. And his own brother is, to Tommy's point of view at least, missing.

So yeah, having a ninja turtle show up to save him? Pretty fucking worth it.

"The ones on the beach were worse," Tommy promises. "Yeah, I need help. I need... Fuck, I need to get somewhere safe."

[faceguy]

Oooh boy. Leo has to admit, he didn't expect to find one of the other superheroes down... But he's guessing Tommy is one of the people here who relies on his powers the most... And apparently the beach zombies are worse? Huh.

"Guess the salty sea air is good for your health," he says, even as he tries to think of the best way to do this. "Can you walk at all? I think I can probably carry you."

Tommy's taller than him, but he's also skinny, so Leo thinks he can do it.

[doubled_speed]

Beach zombies are hella worse. And he's just so... fucking worse than merely mundane right now. He's broken. And so very fragile.

"It's the cave I think," Tommy says. "It supercharges your powers. Not shocked it does so for zombies too. But yeah, I need help getting somewhere safe. I'm not too hurt, I can keep going. I'm just not fast. Or durable. Or a lot of things."

[faceguy]

It's even superpowering the zombies with all the storms around? That's a bummer.

Leo nods at that info. "Stay away from the cave, got it."

Since Tommy sounds like he can walk, Leo offers him an arm and a shoulder to lean on. "Let's get moving. Just let me handle any zombies, okay?"

[doubled_speed]

Bummer may be an insane understatement, at least in Tommy's opinion.

The shoulder is something he's grateful for, and he does lean on Leo.

"Trust me, I'm going to. Soldier's teaching me hand to hand, but with the focus on not accidentally killing people with my punches. Which means I'm absolutely not suited to fighting actual zombies sans powers."

[faceguy]

"Well, maybe it's time to learn how to punch people and kill them on purpose," Leo suggests. Not that he actually means it. It's a joke. Mostly.

"But don't worry! I got my swords, and I was trained at first without my powers, so I've totally- oops."

Leo pulls up short, looking up ahead, where several zombies are coming.

"Speaking of... Looks like we need to head around."

b-ish? ao'ihgjn'af sorry it got so long;;;;;

[thepurpleone]

It's much too easy to lose track of everything when things have not seemed to improve in the least. Every venture out into the city alone continued to wear on rapidly fraying nerves, every sound made him jump, every shadow faced in preparation to attack. He'd neglected to check back at the university within the past... He's not even sure how long it's been now. The pocket watch he'd been using had been misplaced somewhere, probably smashed into smithereens by zombie feet and he can't even really guess at when that encounter might have been. Everything's just starting to bleed together, and after having one particular run-in with a familiar face, he hasn't quite recovered.

The word is they've been herded to the mines. Part of him is repulsed by the idea of returning there, the idea of being once again trapped underground for some indeterminate amount of time unappealing, more so for the number of secrets it held and yet refused to yield. If they have to go back down there, he's not going unprepared, and it's a thought he latches onto, if only to try distancing his thoughts from the images of a lurching, snarling old rat man.

He'd made it to the warehouse, heart heavy to find no sign of Leo- were they just missing each other? For the few times that the storm had cleared, Donnie at the very least knew his brother was somewhere alive and kicking, but beyond that, finding him had been near impossible.

"It's fine, he'll have heard about the mines," he tells himself as he starts to pack things into a bag, portable science equipment, that copy tablet, a first aid kit, his travel tool kit that he'd usually bring with him to Sh'ka, the small box of random vials and machine parts he'd found in the beach caves... He ran about the warehouse trying to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, pausing after he'd yanked on a hoodie to stoop at Scuttle's prone form, legs folded in where he sat on Leo's bed.

"We'll be back. I hope. Hold the fort down until then," Donnie said, giving the inert bot a pat on the head before he got up and gathered his things.

He starts to regret all that he'd packed not too long after. While he'd still think that this is all comparatively light, there hadn't been much thought to make sure things had been appropriately sound-proofed, each little clank and jingle doing nothing for his nerves as he makes his way through the foggy streets. Half wondering if he'd gotten himself turned around somehow, Donnie starts to hurry along, panic slipping from the tight ball he'd attempted to pack down. Is he being followed? Had that been footsteps?

There's a glimpse of movement, far too deliberate to be that of a walking dead. Just the hope of not being by himself out there is what spurs the turtle to investigate, but once he gets a good look at who he is, there is nothing stopping him from running after his brother.

never apologize, I love reading your words

[faceguy]

The feeling of someone watching him is unmistakable, but even with the storm dampening his powers, somehow Leo doesn't feel anything threatening in this presence when he notices it.

And then he hears footsteps approaching, and catches a glimpse of purple and green, and his heart slowly unclenches.

He hadn't worried about Donnie too much right at first; they'd gotten separated, but that was disturbingly common in emergencies like this. He'd assumed they'd run back into each other by sundown, or, when that didn't happen, by the next morning, but then they kept missing each other.

He knew, from the times when the storm lightened, that Donnie was alive, so he wasn't worried in that sense. But he was worried in other ways, because Donnie hadn't been okay lately, and leaving him alone for this long didn't feel right.

And... really, Leo didn't want to be alone. Not for so long, for sure.

When he'd found Mikey...

That's where he's headed now, to see Mikey, but Donnie's arrival pulls him up short. At least it seems like Donnie got away from the university alright; by the time Leo finally found the note Donnie had left him, the place was overrun.

"Donnie!?" he whisper-shouts, because there might be zombies nearby, and he'd rather not deal with them right this moment, if possible.

<3

[thepurpleone]

Hearing Leo call out to him gives Donnie that extra boost. He swallows, doubling his pace and not stopping until he nearly collides with his brother, throwing his arms around him like he'd lose him again if he didn't.

Shh, let him have at least five seconds to recharge. Finding Leo in itself lifts so much weight off his shoulders, along with some of the tension he's more or less been so consistent he may as well start charging rent.

"I know we're ninja but it is incredibly difficult to track a turtle down in all this..!" Donnie hisses once he (reluctantly) pulls back, giving Leo a shake for good measure, but his exasperation is offset by the wavering line of his brow as emotions try pulling it different directions.

[faceguy]

"Oof-"

Leo grunts without any heat when Donnie grabs onto him, grabbing him back. He feels bad for making Donnie worry this long, and he tries to reassure him by holding him tight.

He's okay, Donnie's okay, they're both okay.

He makes a noise that's almost a chuckle when Donnie pulls back, letting himself be rattled around.

"You weren't easy to find yourself," he says. "I found your note, but by the time I got over to the university it was covered over."

So needless to say, Leo's glad Donnie's not there anymore. He looks Donnie up and down, just to make sure he isn't hiding any injuries, or anything.

"That Cayde guy helped me out," he adds, so Donnie knows he's been okay. "What about you? No one... bothered you, did they?"

He knows the university is Tony's place, after all.

[thepurpleone]

Other than looking exhausted, which sadly isn't anything new, Donnie doesn't seem to be hurt, thankfully. He's been mostly avoiding encounters, the prospect of going needlessly solo against zombie hordes not at all something he'd ever put on a bucket list.

"Yeah, I... I saw," he frowns. "Glad you're not there anymore. I never stayed there long, mostly just to check in, see if you'd come by. And now everyone's being pointed to the mines..."

He's even more relieved to hear that Leo hadn't been out alone all this time. "Bothered..? No. Tony wanted me to stay where he was hoping would be safe, but I had to keep looking. Ran into Shaw too but otherwise I've mostly been keeping out of sight and out of reach when possible."

[faceguy]

Leo has a lot more fun going solo against zombie hoards, but admitting that now is probably not smart.

Tony had wanted him to stay... That's a surprising development, or maybe not that surprising. Whatever Tony's deal is, Leo isn't surprised that he still cares about Donnie to some extent. Even if he's stupid and probably not worth Donnie's time...

Now's not the time for that discussion, either.

"Okay... Cool. Glad you had some help and stayed out of trouble."

He grins, clapping Donnie on the shoulder. Good boy!

"The mines are alright. Gladio built a barricade to keep anything out. I've been going back and forth for supplies and to help people where I can." He sighs. "I guess we just kept missing each other..."