eCuddle

[duelo]

Derek Hale

GENDER: Male
AGE: 27
SEEKING: Friends
EXTRA: Bookworm. Recluse. Apocalypse survivor.

In the market for new people to talk to, but not interested in anything beyond friendship. Already spoken for and very much in love.

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Comments

[designerebel]

The climate does seem rather nice, doesn't it?

I'm from Panem. And you?

[duelo]

Yeah, it's a nice change. I like the warmth, but I never liked the humidity in Georgia.

Panem? Where's that? I'm originally from California, but more recently, I was in in Georgia for the past couple of years. Both in hte US.

[designerebel]

Panem is, well some story tellers say that it's on a place called Earth. But much of our history was wiped out and destroyed in the wars. And what was left of it in the aftermath was taken from the people by the government. As many years have passed, most of what we know is by word of mouth. So, Panem is Panem. I'm from The Capitol of Panem.

California and Georgia, they both sound very exotic. Did you travel a lot?

[duelo]

I'm from Earth... I've never heard of Panem. I'm not saying I don't believe you; I'm terrible at geography.

They're in the United States. I'd say they sound more exotic than they are, especially the latter these days. There's no travel anymore. The world is falling apart. No airlines, no trains, no ships; no fuel for any of them and most of the people who would've controlled them are probably either dead or undead by now. Highways were so congested with abandoned cars all the way down the coast, I had to walk. Took days. So I guess if that counts then I've traveled a little?

[designerebel]

The more I speak with people, the more I'm understanding that we're from different worlds... even different versions of our worlds. Which seems a wondrous thing, doesn't it? The idea that there are worlds that are... better.

Better than yours or mine, from the sound of it. What does undead mean? What caused the collapse of your world? I hope you don't mind my curiosity.

[duelo]

That's weird to think about. But I mean, I've seen weird, all different flavors of fucked up, so that really shouldn't surprise me.

Undead means exactly what it sounds like it means. Dead people walking around trying to kill living people. There was a virus that started it all. Hard to have an economy when there's now dead people walking around than live ones. Like I said, all different flavors of fucked up. My girlfriend and I are going to try to stay here. Forever.

[designerebel]

You're saying that when a person dies, they don't actually die. They're still alive and violent? [ Forgive him. He just needs to make sure he read that right. It sounds... inconceivable. But at the same time he wants to understand, wants to know where Derek comes from. ] I'm trying too imagine such a thing.

So what you're saying is that people in your world cannot die.

[duelo]

Correct...except no, they really aren't alive. They're just...walking, hungry corpses that feed on live human flesh. Please don't try to imagine it, it's pretty horrible. You don't want that visual, trust me, man.

They can, you have to kill the brain. A headshot will do it. Anything that'll kill the brain will kill the person. So...when people you love are killed, you have the pleasure of killing their brains, in addition, so that they don't come back a monstrosity. It's literally the worst.

[designerebel]

[ Except he does want to imagine it. He wants to grasp the concept and know it. He's no wilting flower although he knows he might seem so to the naked eye. Cinna has seen plenty of horrific, awful things. He's lived them and experienced them himself. What Derek is describing almost sounds like a twist on something the Gamemakers might put in the arena for the Games, a Muttation of some sort. ]

I'm sorry you've had to live through so awful an experience. Is there no end in sight?

[duelo]

I don't think so, no. Even if we killed all the walkers — and we're hugely outnumbered, so that would be a feat in and of itself — we'd still have to cure the virus, or every time someone died in an accident, of old age; whatever, we'd be right back where we started.

I'd rather just stay here. I have Beth and she's all I had back home anyway.

[ His family has been dead since long before the outbreak, as it is. ]

I'm sure there are actually worse things somewhere out there, but I can only go by what I've experienced and it isn't pleasant at all.

[designerebel]

Then I too am very glad you and your Beth are here where you can be safe from the undead. Especially if the both of you have no other ties where you're from to concern yourself with.

Oh, everyone has their shoes that they walk in where not everything is as it might seem. It's useless to compare. I'm more interested in knowing a person, where they come from, where they are, where they're going, in every respect. You're a survivor of something horrific and you've miraculously retained your ability to love through that horror. That in itself says so much about you, Derek. I already like you very much.

[duelo]

I don't have any. Beth's sister and brother-in-law are still out there, though... Hopefully they'll get the invite we did sooner than later.

Well, thank you. I think it speaks more about Beth that she was able to help me get there. I've lived through less horrific and was shattered by it. I was a miserable asshole before I met Beth and I'm not exaggerating. So you can thank her for the fact that you like me. And for the record, I like you, too.

[designerebel]

Oh, yes. Under normal circumstances I might feel a bit odd about hoping someone is removed from their situation and brought here. But I think, given what you've told me, it's quite alright in this case.

Thank you, Derek. And I'll be sure to thank Beth as well. Although I think while her influence is good for you, some of what you are now has always been. Given certain circumstance we're all fluid in many ways. But some of us is always the same, unique to each person. Safe to say that I like you because of you.

[duelo]

Yeah, I wouldn't like wishing it on someone unless I knew they'd want to be here. I know Maggie and Glenn would want to be here. Anybody from the world Beth and I came from would, without question.

[ Well, he could think of a few people who seem to thrive in the hellhole that is their home. The Governor, for one. But Derek doesn't like to think about him or what happened to Hershel, if he can help it. ]

Once upon a time, yeah, I suppose that's true. It's just been a while. I haven't had anything good in my life, up until I met Beth, for a long, long time. I'm really glad I met her. I doubt I would've bothered trying to last as long as I did in that nightmare if I hadn't. But I appreciate that, thanks. The three of us should get together sometime. You, me, and Beth.

[designerebel]

I think I'd like that very much. You would be surprised at how good of a third wheel I can be, as long as the two of you don't mind having one now and then.

[duelo]

Not at all. For sure, we'll try to make sure you don't feel like a third wheel.

[designerebel]

I'm certain I'll just be so glad for the company that there won't be an opportunity to feel such a thing.

[duelo]

Ha, well that'll make it even easier still. I'll see you around for sure Cinna. It's been nice talking to you.