paradisa | ( first )

[Immediately after he woke up, he began to panic. This was the wrong place to be. He was alone and some piece of shit took his watch -- his watch, Jesus Christ, why? It was broken, it wasn't worth anything to anyone but him. He swears under his breath and envisions a slow death for the party responsible while he moves through the giant castle like an angry shadow.

Normally he knows how not to be seen, but with the confusing events clouding over his judgment he's moving a bit too fast. It's huge in here. He's nowhere near Tommy's camp anymore, that's for sure. What he needs to do is push forward and search every area for Ellie, just keep searching until he finds the little girl he's lost somewhere along the way. Again.

If you are unfortunate enough to bump into Joel first, he's got a backpack full of weapons and explosives and a hell of a lot of snap judgments to make about anyone he might run into. It might not look like the start of a friendly encounter.

But he has no idea to expect magic from anyone or anything. You're all normal, fallible civilians, right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[After a few months of living through a zombie apocalypse, you end up cluing in to the signs of people who have had everything taken away from them and had to claw their way back up. She sees it in Joel when she rounds a corner with just enough time to get a good look at him before he's nearly running her over.]

Hey, whoa, it's alright. This place is safe.

[In a pair of jeans and a purple button up shirt, Carley is kind of definition of a normal, fallible civilian.]

[By now it's safe to say Joel has accidentally threatened the lives of one too many fellow Paradisa residents who weren't looking to hurt him. He's cautious and paranoid, but he's not stupid; he's learning his lesson.

So when a woman who looks like the very definition of normal approaches him, no strange behavior, no weapons, nothing to tip him off, he forces himself to come down a notch. Joel keeps his distance and his default-not-so-friendly demeanor, but he doesn't look like he's gonna make any sudden moves without reason.]

Hard to believe, but seems that way.

[She leaves her hands where he can see them for now, not wanting to make herself seem like a threat when all she's really interested in is finding out what's the matter here, if she can help.]

I know what you mean. Strange place, all these people you don't know. I'm still settling in too, I only got here a few days ago.

... it's a real kick in the head. [Alright, he's slinging that drawl and relaxing a bit more. She gets it. Joel decides that it's not worth eyeing her like she's about to jump him with a shiv, like he shouldn't have decided to do to so many of the others.

You could never be too safe, but he's got enough evidence by now, didn't he?]

Sorry. [He groans and rubs at his forehead, posture switching to a casual one. First apology he's dealt out. As far as he's concerned it accounts for all the others.] The adjustment's rough.

[No, as long as he plays nice she will too. It's really quite hard to take it personally, she she just smiles and offers him her hand.]

Don't worry about it. I'm Carley.

[Not exactly smiling back yet, but he shakes her hand. Manners returning slowly.]

Joel. Nice to meet you, Carley, weird circumstances aside.

[It's a start, she'll take it.]

Hey, this place has hot water and clean clothes, I can deal with a little weird if that's the trade off.

Have you found your room yet, Joel?

[It might help, she thinks. Seeing somewhere that can be home, somewhere to hole up and regroup in private.]

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