003; Planetside and Catchall

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Who; Aaron and you!
Broadcast; Yes
Action; Various (Planetside and around)
When; All March

Broadcast-Audio | Fleetwide

[Aaron does clear his throat before speaking.]

So, this planet seems interesting. Does anyone want to go exploring? Maybe just get out into something a little more open than the ships? Personally, it's been way too long since I've smelled pine.


(OOC: If you'd like to do anything specific, like meet and greets or just hanging out, feel free to post a starter, or drop me a line on plurk (vikael) if you want to hash out details. Individual starters for things we're already discussed below!)

Comments

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[worn_wings]

u aint on the way yet?

get moving

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I never said I wasn't

because I am

now

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[worn_wings]

gotta keep up!

[ at this rate Daryl will be a mile out of town already and probably half-covered in space mud. you'll miss all the fun, aaron. ]

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Really, man?

You'd better wait

You know or else

[Or else what? He doesn't know. Threatening Daryl would never be done seriously.]

[worn_wings]

[ He doesn't take that 'or else' particularly seriously. Though he doesn't exactly wait, entirely, because being planetside with fresh air and open space is too good to resist.

But he doesn't stray too far, doesn't do much more than get his gear together and gather some supplies, and text some vague directions which will get Aaron to a spot maybe half a mile out of town, which seems like as good a place as any to go off the road. ]

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[He'd be lying if he said being on a planet with such great weather and such open air wasn't intoxicating, but he had a mission and, pack with supplies strapped to his back, he follows those directions Daryl texted him.

He made his way to the clearing Daryl mentioned, not far outside town, and it brought back memories. In fact, all that was missing was a hideous car and a motorcycle cobbled together from various parts in his garage.

It was a good memory.]

Thanks for waiting. Sorry I kept you.

[worn_wings]

[ He does kind of miss riding. Hasn't had much opportunity, not since that planet with all the racing. But this is pretty good-- lots of room, trees, fresh air. He could probably spend the whole time here camping and never have to go indoors if he wanted.

It's awesome. ]

's good. You ready?

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[He nods vigorously at the question, adjusting the straps of his pack across his shoulders.]

Definitely. Let's go find us a Bigfoot.

[Not that Aaron was really sure they'd find anything at all.]

So...you were pretty quick to jump on this. Are you that excited to be off your ship?

[worn_wings]

[ you gotta believe, Aaron. Otherwise bigfoot isn't gonna bother showing up.

He shrugs as they start walking, a leisurely stroll. But he's got his eyes open for anything. Tracks. Signs. Even of mundane things, it's never too early to think about catching your next meal. ]

Don't like feelin' stuck.

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[That's a lot of faith you're asking for there, Daryl.]

That makes two of us.

[But the other man knew that already.]

So, do you really think the locals are right? That there're creatures out here?

[worn_wings]

[ They've got restlessness in common. Though really, anyone from home is probably in the habit of casing rooms, marking exits. Sooner or later they always have to run. ]

Sure, [ he answers, mildly surprised at the question. ] why not?

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[Probably. It's not even seen as anything strange anymore.]

I mean, there were tons of stories like these back home, and only...a very small amount of people believed them. I camped a lot, we spent a lot of time in the wilderness and Eric and I never saw anything. It's fun to think about it, though.

[He pauses.]

Wait. Do you actually believe this?

[worn_wings]

[ Aaron is so much a part of Daryl's extended survivor family, now, it's almost surprising to remember he hasn't been with them the whole time. That he doesn't remember everyone giving him shit over the story. ]

Maybe,

[ he says, oddly wary. He's not used to worrying about people judging him, lately. ]

Saw some things. Long time ago.

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[Thankfully, Aaron is the last person on Earth or any other planet Daryl needs to worry about judging him.]

Really? What did you see?

[worn_wings]

[ it's just so weird, thinking about this now. ]

Saw a chupacabra once. I was out huntin'.

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You...saw a chupacabra? [Now he's going to have to really think on this one.] Isn't that the one that looks like a rabbit?

[worn_wings]

Kinda? Dunno. More like... Kinda a scaly dog.

[ The whole thing feels like a fever dream-- for obvious reasons-- but now even the memory of the last time he talked about it feels like another lifetime. Everyone at the quarry laughing over it... And most of them are gone, now. Merle, too, who never stopped giving him shit over that and basically everything.

In spite of himself, he huffs a laugh, a little uneasy. ]

Think so, anyway...

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A scaly dog? [He's not going to deny Daryl saw something. Aaron has too much faith in him to believe anything else.] As it...doing anything?

[worn_wings]

Startled it in some brush, it just kinda hissed and ran off.

[ he mulls it over. It's not that long ago, the farm and the quarry, but he's grown and changed enough not to be embarrassed by the story. ]

I dunno if it's real, [ he admits. ] Felt real. I was kinda high, though.

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It hissed and ran off into the undergrowth and you were slightly high?

[He frowns, thoughtful for a moment.]

...maybe it was a mangy cat?

[worn_wings]

Weren't a cat.

[ HE KNOWS WHAT HE SAW. Maybe. ]

My brother's friends, they used to do some hard shit. Never touched that. But this once they had some 'shrooms...

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Mushrooms? [He almost looks apologetic. You want to believe man, and he gets that.] The...hallucinogenic ones?

[worn_wings]

[ He shrugs. Of course, hallucinogenic. ]

Ain't like Merle was hangin' out with chefs.

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And...you're sure it was a cat. Not...something the mushrooms made you think was a cat?

[And after a beat.]

...who was Merle?

[He can only assume a 'was'. There was no 'Merle' with their group when Aaron had originally tracked them.]

[worn_wings]

[ He's never much liked talking about before, not with anyone. Talking about family was rough even before the world ended. ]

Merle's my brother.

[ Was is the right word, but he's not gonna correct himself for that. ]

Tough sonofabitch. Real asshole, sometimes.