Not So Bad [complete]

[LoLi]

Meat.

It isn’t exactly an uncommon delicacy, but it tends to bring the more pleasant side of people out. Well food in general has this effect, but meat is usually better somehow. Strapped to the end of her rifle, Oculi # 213 had a plump, healthy male fox was hanging with a clean bullet hole right though the throat. It basically bled itself out that way. This fox was scavenging on the remains of some of the fresher bodies around the city. The fox was having a nice nap out in the open after a hearty meal. She wondered if fox are supposed to eat fish for their diet, but then considered that all the water around here, or anywhere for that matter was so polluted, even if fish did live, it was not exactly the smartest thing to fish for chemically soaked organisms.

She was just arriving back at the Helix ruins. It’s been about two weeks or longer since she last visited. The longest she’s been away to the closest thing she nearly called home until reality ensued. The only reason she came back was because she thought it was more or less a waste if she couldn’t share this decent meal with anybody. It wasn’t worth lugging around such a big kill anyways.

She dropped down her kill next to the meager cooking fire, while trying to remember what cooked meat looked like so that she can decrease her chances of food poisoning. She thought about how she could really use a cup of yogurt right now. She thought maybe she shouldn’t have come back, even if it meant dragging around the fox with her. She thought about how the fox might have slowed her down, just enough to increase her chance of being spotted while travelling. She thought about so many things she subconsciously settled down against a leaning wall when she might have meant to leave just long enough to come back again to pick up her share of the meal. She thought that maybe the company was not so bad.

[=TRACKALACKA]

It was the delicious smell of meat that drew Harvey in like a jackal hunting some...

Ah, forget the similes.

Harvey didn't even know he had wandered back to the destroyed buildings he had spent his life in. He was at a loss of what to do after meeting... meeting that-that.... He shook his head. Stop thinking about her. The only person you will and should ever care is Hannah. And with that, his wide grin spread across his face and all was forgotten. For the time being, anyway.

That's when he smelt the food. His stomach snarled at the smell, a typical reaction, but it served as a painful reminder of his lack of food. Following his nose, he crept as quietly as he could to the source of the smell, and soon found a female figure cooking meat over a fire. Quickly, Harvey hid behind some near by rubble and watched. She was armed with weapons. Ah, so what. All that mattered was if she was nice enough to lend him some food! If she wasn't, he'd simply disarm her and take it. That, or get shot. Well, at least one of the outcomes was fruitful.

He purposely made his boots scrape against the gravelly ground to alert her, then carefully approached her, his lips broadening to a welcoming grin (he believes there is a difference). "Hello there, love. I'm very sorry to intrude, but I have had a severe lack in sustenance lately, and I must say that what you have there smells absolutely delectable. I was wondering, darling, if you would be as so kind as to lend me some of what you have there? Only a little bit will do."

[LoLi]

Skinned, gutted and skewered, the fox was well on its way to becoming a delicious meal over a re-ignited fire. It was enough to feed the handful of people that might come by. Perhaps more. The smell became intoxicating enough to cause # 213’s stomach to twist and wither in hunger pangs. She drew herself away from the fire, settling back against the leaning wall, (which used to be part of the ceiling, she observed) and was too distracted by the smell to think about what the chances might be of finding another fox like this one. Plump, lazy and swelling with fat.

Instead, seated against the rubble, she took her rifle in hand, keeping it close to her. She was so integrated with her rifle, that she had trouble imagining what it would have been like had she not gotten her hands on it before escaping the blazing inferno of Helix HQ. If she hadn’t gone after her rifle, she might not have been injured. She’d rather be where she is now than unscathed and without it. She needs to clean it tonight.

‘-absolutely delectable. I was wondering, daring, if you would be as so kind as to lend me some of what you have there? Only a little bit will do.’ The smell. A voice. The smoke in her eyes. She was dragged abruptly back into reality. A man was standing over her with a wide grin. Her eyes were drawn first to his hair, which she could only describe as 'wacky', then to his brown eyes. She could see the longing for food in his eyes, however well he was hiding it. She mulled over then chances of him being an Oculi hunter, and concluded that, as unlikely as it may have been, it didn’t matter.

‘Oh,’ was all she could make out. How long has it been since she’d last spoken? What time was it now? Pay attention, sweetie. It’s rude to ignore people. ‘Go ahead. I was going to leave it for whoever comes by later when I’m done anyways.’ At this point, it wasn’t hard to figure out that this was an opportunity. For the first time since liberation, here was someone next to her, not in her limited line of vision down the scope of her rifle. Not obscured by ruble, debris, or the flora that litters the landscape. Not muted by sheer distance. Here, next to her. Her grip loosened on her rifle. ‘I’m not sure it’s done though.’ She nearly giggled.

[=TRACKALACKA]

The girl's rifle was intimidating, but Harvey's rumbling stomach tied with the meat's smell kept him in place. To his luck the girl seemed to be friendly, and said she would share. Delighted, Harvey sat down across from her, but she said soon after that it probably wasn't done. He exhaled sharply and stared at the cooking meat impatiently. His stomach snarled painfully, in which he patted and softly told it that it was only a matter of time.

The only sound was the fire crackling, though Harvey would prefer silence. The snapping of the embers sounded vaguely like gunfire. Instead he turned his attention to the girl. She was tall and beautiful, so he assumed she was an Oculi. Though he didn't want to say anything in case she wasn't, since a lot of humans take offence to being called that. Instead he cleared his throat and tried to start a conversation. "So, darling, how has the war treated you? I'm sure you must have some interesting stories to tell. Though, perhaps you would choose not to share them. In that case, I would rather like it if you at least made some up. I'm in the mood for some story swapping." He laughed. "Oh, and of course, where are my manners? So sorry, m'dear. My name is Harvey."

[LoLi]

He was the chatty type. This was a good thing because she might not have been paying attention as well as she did if he was a man of short phrases. She was delighted to be lucky enough to meet someone so cheerful in such dreary times. He asked about how she was fairing during the war, and then quickly added that she didn’t have to say anything about her experience and that it he just wanted to swap stories. He was charming in his own silly way. She smiled when he smiled and laughed when he laughed. He introduced himself as Harvey.

‘Harvey.’ She said, tasting the name on her tounge, ‘It’s a pleasure.’ At this point, even Oculi know it would be courteous to introduce themselves after someone else has. She knew she couldn’t give out her Oculi number, as she was known by at Helix. Not only was it degrading, but also would give away her identity as an Oculi. Not always the smartest move these days. ‘Yogurt…’ she whispered. ‘Yogurt’s my nickname.’ A truth. ‘It’s what my friends,’ A lie. ‘called me, because I never liked my real name.’ Half-truth. A number can’t really be a name.

She put down her rifle. She stood it up against the leaning wall, ready to be snatched up and fired. Did she remember to load it? Never mind. ‘As for the war,’ another smile spread across her face. Attention was all on her. ‘I’d say I’m doing pretty well. I spend a lot of my time with this baby right here,’ gesturing to her sniper rifle, ‘hunting most of the time. Occasionally spying. Events tend to happen pretty quickly and violently. The fights regarding Oculi have been pretty rowdy lately. I’ve stayed pretty safe lately thanks to this.’ Again, gesturing to the rifle. “Safe” is a relative term. War doesn’t do anyone any favours. Yogurt’s just having a winning streak.

‘How ‘bout you?’ Yogurt nodded an invitation. ‘What’s your story?’

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey listened intently, but his eyes were still watching the meat as his stomach kept reminding him that he had to eat soon. He caught that the girl's name was Yogurt, which he found kind of odd, but she explained it to be a nickname. She went on to say her time in the war has been fine mostly due to her weapon. Harvey looked at his belt as if he expected there to be a just as trustworthy weapon, but of course there was nothing. His mind flashed back to Helix when it was in its prime, where he would do target practice every day at noon. His fingers twitched at the thought of pulling the trigger. Ah, those were the days, weren't they. Although he knew there was a war going on, it seemed like, inside the white walls of Helix, everything was fine. But he was a silly number then. He was just one of hundreds. And now he's Harvey--one of one. That was a lot better.

He laughed, and soon after Yogurt asked about his story. He made a thinking face and stroked his chin. "My story? Well, darling, let me see..." He chuckled. Should he tell the truth? Tell only partially the truth? Or a complete lie, which would not only keep him safe but also provide a marvellous story? Well, he seemed to have answered his own question. So, for that moment, he stepped into the guise of someone else.

"I grew up in the capital city, you see. Everything was fine and dandy before the war came upon us. A year before which I had met the most beautiful woman in my life; my love for her was so strong that I would easily lay down my life for her." Love, he thought as he said this, can Oculi even feel love? I have no idea what it's like... "Naturally we got engaged. She was so charming. We were to be married, but the war happened, and that had to be pushed back. Ah, it was terrible. I of course enrolled in the war, thinking it would done before Christmas. We were so very wrong." Am I getting the facts right? He thought. That happened during this war, right? "A-Anyway, to my dismay I learned that the capital had been bombed, and my dearest had died from the injuries. I was absolutely heartbroken, and I cried her name to the heavens in despair.

"But! There was a war! And I was a part of it! So I soon headed off to the battlefronts with a squadron of six other men. We became as close as brothers. Sadly, were were doomed to a sorry fate as we were captured by the enemy and tortured. Oh, it was a horrible time. I managed to escape, but they discovered my absence before I could save my brothers. They told me to carry on for them. I was so torn, but eventually I left. I still pray for them every night..." He shook his head. "Anywho, I was transferred here and voila! That brings me to the present." He smiled again, then his attention was directed to the meat. "Do you think it's ready yet?"

[LoLi]

Harvey took just a moment to get his story straight first. Then instantly, like he was waiting for her to ask, Harvey jumped into telling a tale about his dearly departed, his doomed platoon, and his return. Yogurt drew up her legs, wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on her arms, listening intently. So he was just a normal human. He told her that he prays for those men every night. He then inquired about the fox, still sizzling over the fire. Yogurt was so enthralled by her new companion, that she’d forgotten how hungry she was when she got here. It’s only gotten worse now.

‘Maybe,’ she moved so that she was squatting on her haunches and removed her gloves. Out of one of her many lab coat pockets, she pulled out a rather hefty switchblade. Slicing the meat where it was the thickest, more fat dripped and spurted on the hot ashes. ‘It’s not pink anymore. I’d say so.’ She cut off a hunk and passed it to Harvey, and another for herself.

She sat back down in her spot. There was a bit of silence between the two as they both chewed and tore at the fox meat. The crackling of the fire had died down by then. The meat was sweet and tender. The fox was really a lot lazier than she expected, otherwise it would have been much more stringy. Perhaps it was just good at hiding until now. Yogurt was pretty glad she had someone to enjoy it with. Instead of leaving it here for someone to raid what she left later.

She still had half of her handful left, but her stomach settled down enough to let Yogurt pause for a moment. ‘You said you pray for those six men every night. Does that mean you believe in God?’ It was the one question that's been bothering her. She gazed up at him, waiting patiently for his answer.

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey looked up from his devouring. God? Oh man. That was a subject he wasn't so keen on. God, of course, came up in the teachings at Helix, but it wasn't emphasized. He read about God a lot in the books, and how the people would pray for fallen soldiers, which was were he got that part of his 'past'. In reality, he had never been concerned with God. Maybe He existed, maybe not. Did it really matter? It seemed that God just let life go on without him, and he watched it like someone watching TV. Someone who'd lost the remote. Basically; God didn't affect life. Life affected life.

So Harvey swallowed the chunk of meat in his mouth and started at the rest in his hands. If he denied, then his story would be false. Well, it was false. In fact, he was surprised Yogurt bought it. But if he accepted, what if she quizzed him on more God-related things? He knew there was this "Bible" thing that God-believers lived by, and often quoted. He'd seen Bibles in the library at Helix, but only read the first part about how God created the Earth and stuff, which didn't make a whole lot of sense, so he put it away. Ah, but what's life without a little adventure? He smiled. "Yes," he replied finally. "I always have. He's a good source of comfort in my life." The corners of his mouth unintentionally crept up in a sneaky grin. He felt rather devious lying about this.

[LoLi]

Yogurt looked at him right in the eye when he answered. This was a topic that struck her as fascinating. Religion was something that could be traced back as far as human history could be traced back. Then there was Christianity, which seemed to revolutionize – for lack of a better term – the way people viewed religion. But there was something off putting about the way he claimed his belief in God was a source of comfort. Perhaps it was the way he said it, or maybe an unnatural twitch of a facial muscle that caught her eye. Whatever it was, it struck an odd note in Yogurt.

‘I don’t.’ She stated, unintentionally flatly. ‘I mean, it’s interesting to me, and all, but I don’t know a lot about Him yet. You know?’ Yogurt added quickly. Like she needed to explain herself so she doesn’t accidently offend him. She took another attack at her meal. Stuffing her face so she doesn’t have to say too much.

Then it occurred to her. What the flipping Hell was a normal doing at the ruins of Helix HQ anyways?? There’s no way a normal human would have waltzed in here knowing anyone they meet is likely an Oculi. The rising tension between the two groups has made it so that it would be better to just not take chances, at least in Yogurt's view. Was he really away that long? Did he really just return from the field of battle and didn’t know any better? Chances are probable. He never mentioned Oculi in his story.

‘We should get out of here.’ Wiping the grease of her mouth, she pulled out a sizable cloth from another pocket. She hacked off a chunk of meat and wrapped it in a cloth. It was just enough meat to last her a week, if she was careful. Two if she skipped days here and there. She’ll have to carry it in hand however. Troublesome. ‘Who knows what animal this might have attracted. I’d rather not stick around to find out.’ That was true, but not the primary concern. If other Oculi come by, they may or may not take the news of a normal human hanging around here too well. It was also probably better that he learned about Oculi from other humans, then learn from her and find out that she’s one. Even if he was an Oculi, which was pretty silly to consider at this point, she'd still want to get out of there pretty fast. Knowing what she's done, that she's killed--

Befriending another Oculi with that sort of secret to hide just wouldn't sit well with her.

She did feel pretty bad for planning to ditch Harvey though. ‘Take as much meat as you want. I gotta get back out there.’ Or at least lead Harvey out of here, and make her way too.

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey was surprised when Yogurt said she didn't believe in God. Of course, he never thought she could be a non-believer. Oh well; it didn't matter now. He just continued to munch on the meat until he heard movement from Yogurt as she stored some meat and said that they should go. Something had changed with her, but Harvey wasn't sure what, so he watched her as she got ready. She went on to say he could take any of the meat left and that she was off. It seemed like she was in a hurry or something.

Harvey remained where he was. "I understand, darling. Sometimes duty calls! Er... and I don't mean the other meaning!" He laughed then gulped down the last of the portion of meat Yogurt had given him. He sighed and got to his feet. "I suppose I should be going too. Places to go, people to see, and wars to fight, right doll?" He chuckled to himself. Once finished he glanced at the remainder of the meat and thought for a moment. He really had no means to carry it, or any means to preserve it. If he took any it would most likely go bad before he'd eat it. He decided to leave it for anyone else, as surely someone would come before it went rotten... hopefully. He looked back at Yogurt. "Well, love, it was a pleasure to meet you. And I do hope our paths can cross again!" He gave a friendly wave, and with that he turned, climbed over a hunk of rubble, and left.