Thread: Last of Us: A Story of Two Souls (BMD x EldritheWhisperwind)

Six days have passed since Mariah first came to live with the Guardians. For the first time in her life, since the infected spores spread, Mariah felt safe. She felt that things could somehow revert back to normal as if there were no infected in the world. Through the past couple of days she had learned some of the rules and regulations that everybody had to abide by 1- No killing of another human, 2- if you want to eat you work, nothing is free, 3- the more dangerous or important the job the more rewards, etc. Mariah had obviously skimmed over the rules and felt that she only needed to remember the ones that she felt was the most important. She also learned that they have a payment system that involves tickets instead of money. The tickets would be handed to the workers as payment and then you would take your tickets to a food or item vender and trade them in for goods, it seemed simple enough. Mariah was at the mechanic garage trying to install a new engine for a M1161 Growler that was found abandoned at an abandoned military station. Stupid machine! she yells while slamming the monkey wrench down on the ground. HEY! yells a man as he pulls himself out from underneath the Growler. Ya better stop throwing shit. Ya coulda hurt someone. Jesus, didnt yur parents teach ya any manners? Oh hush up Laurence, it didnt even go near you. Mariah snaps while she bends down to pick up the red coated wrench. Uh-huh, says the woman that threw it. Ya do know that the sound reverberated down here right? The loud noise hurt ma delicate eardrums. Laurence grins as he slowly lifts himself up off the floor and stretched while wiping a hand across his forehead to get rid of the sweat drops that were on the verge of sliding down his face and ruffles his short black hair. Mariah snorts in amusement. Why are ya laughen? Do I have something on ma face? Mariah folds her arms while still holding the monkey wrench, You have shit all over your face. Laurence looks appalled, Surely it isnt any worse than yurs. Good thing yur not goin on a date, yeah? He might get the impression that ya have been wrestelin pigs. he gives the widest of smiles to Mariah. Suddenly an alarm sounds inside the garage signaling that the workday is over for first shift. Finally, its time to get out of this hell hole. Wanna meet up later this evening for a bite to eat? he asks her. Sure, how does sunset sound at my place? Sunset sounds perfect. Ill see ya then. Says Laurence as he leaves. Mariah sets down the wrench and picks up a rag and tries her best to clean off the grime that she accumulated during the day, small grease smudges turn in big grease smudges. She gives up and runs to the bathroom and uses what little water they are allowed to clean herself up before doing her rounds. As Mariah leaves the garage she stops by the foremans office to pick up her tickets for the day. Here you go Miss. Crawford. Spend your tickets wisely. I will try my best sir. Retorts Mariah as she closes the broken door behind her. The sun felt particularly bright this afternoon and the warm breeze felt welcoming after being stuck inside a dank stuffy garage all day. Mariah decided that she wanted to go down to the food vending area and try and get some groceries as well as visit the clothing venders and buy herself some new trousers to replace her faded grease covered ones. As she made her way to the other side of the camp she couldnt help but look at the sky and admire how blue and clear it was. Everything was perfect, but she felt that something was missing. Once she was at the market she set about finding the items she needed. She starts to head toward a lopsided booth that looks to be made out of old rotted wood and chunks of discolored din. How much are your meats? Ten tickets for the snake and squirrel, fifteen for the rabbit, and thirty for the deer. Replies the meat vender. But, I cant afford that! Those prices are outrageous. No one can afford that unless your one of the Guardians that goes outside the city looking for a cure or one of the hunters. This is highway robbery! she says while clenching her hands together. Im sorry Miss. But meat and game are scarce at the moment. It took the hunters three weeks to catch what all I have on the table. Mariah snorts and continues to contemplate on if she wanted to fork over the tickets to get the meat or pass it up. She had fifteen tickets on her, but those tickets were supposed to last her the week. Im sorry, I cant afford it. She says while frowning. As she turns to leave she hears two guys shouting at each other over a piece of bread. The shouting quickly turns into physical violence. Those hooligans should be taught a lesson. The Guardians should kick them our for misbehaving like that. Retorts the meat vender as he takes out a knife and cleans his nails. Mariah looks back at him and rolls her eyes she returns her attention back to the fight. After a short handful of seconds, the fight is interrupted by a group of guys. You see that? They let the thief keep the bread at lease they reimbursed the man two tickets for the food that he worked and paid for. Us hard working folk will never catch a break. He lets out a sigh and continues cleaning out his nails. Who are those guys? asks Mariah. Who? Them? the vender points at the group of men, oh, those are the Guardians and that guy right there, the young one with the uniform, is the leader of this place. Whatever he says goes. Not even the Mayor would go against him. Hes not a bad guy by any means, but he is very well respected around here. Mariah looks at the group of men and gives a halfhearted smile, I wish I could be a Guardian and help find a cure. Its better than being a mechanic hell, I was out there by myself for fifteen years or so and nobody knows how to survive out there more than me. Anyway, I best be off. Thanks again. Mariah waves good bye to the vender and proceeds to visit the other food venders and purchases a couple of apples and cucumbers. She then heads over to the clothing merchants and purchases a pair of blue jeans that were worn out at the knees, a semi-white stained tank top and a homemade scrunchie to tie up her hair. These should do me for a while. They may not be perfect but they are a lot better than what I have on me now. She says to herself as she looks down at her dirt and greased covered jeans and ripped bloodstained shirt. She then shrugs and decides to head back home with her newly purchased belongings and get ready for her get-together with Laurence.