Up near the mountains, just a dirt road away from the nearby freeway is a new gated community situated at the base of some cliffs and on the surface of another set that looks out to the west towards the city of El Parasio. This neighborhood was recently built to house a special group of individuals; the Empowered. This specific neighborhood is different from the others in the fact that is was made to house and keep all the more dangerous and volatile Emps away from normal society - far away.
The neighborhood is nice enough; single story houses meant for 2 to 4 residents each, a scenic view of the city below from houses on streets that wind up and down the mountainside in a serpentine manner with only occasional offshoots and cul-de-sacs that either had enough left over room to be built or were made that way by design to house certain special guests.
This neighborhood is visited weekly by the government to monitor, test and study the Emps who live here each once a month - except for a few special exceptions that have peaked their interest.
Thanks to the generous support and joint efforts of the military and government the residents of the neighborhood never have to worry about going hungry, not having cloths, a roof, and basic amenities like heating, cooling, water, gas and electricity. Sadly their hospitality and generosity stops here.
No resident is allowed to leave without special permission, each house is comes with the very basic living supplies and not much else. Want a better TV, a computer, a game system, different food, games, music, internet, a phone? You have to provide that yourself - and that takes money and special permission to go out and make such purchases.
But relax, enjoy the view and keep being the very best you that the government knows you can be.
The neighborhood is nice enough; single story houses meant for 2 to 4 residents each, a scenic view of the city below from houses on streets that wind up and down the mountainside in a serpentine manner with only occasional offshoots and cul-de-sacs that either had enough left over room to be built or were made that way by design to house certain special guests.
This neighborhood is visited weekly by the government to monitor, test and study the Emps who live here each once a month - except for a few special exceptions that have peaked their interest.
Thanks to the generous support and joint efforts of the military and government the residents of the neighborhood never have to worry about going hungry, not having cloths, a roof, and basic amenities like heating, cooling, water, gas and electricity. Sadly their hospitality and generosity stops here.
No resident is allowed to leave without special permission, each house is comes with the very basic living supplies and not much else. Want a better TV, a computer, a game system, different food, games, music, internet, a phone? You have to provide that yourself - and that takes money and special permission to go out and make such purchases.
But relax, enjoy the view and keep being the very best you that the government knows you can be.
For some reason, Dusty hadn't expected it to be so warm.
The light hurt his eyes when he stepped from the back of the government transport vehicle - or at least where they would have been behind the sleek black suit covering his body from head to toe. The last time he'd been outside was when he was taken from the temporary detention center he was staying and loaded into the back of the unmarked van. That was five states and eighteen hours ago, most of which he spent trying not to be jostled around or sleeping. It would have been nice to watch the scenery as it all went by, but the back of the van's windows were sealed and opaque.
A "precautionary measure for public good", they'd called it - wanting to spare people the 'shock' of seeing him, or perhaps as Dusty suspected, wanting to make sure he couldn't escape. He wasn't sure which was worse.
Seeing all the same-y houses in the fairly barren outskirts neighborhood made him wonder how he was going to find his way around, but it seemed the government suits were going to do him the favour of escorting him to his doorstep (and the not-so-favour of spending the whole time repeating all of the rules he'd heard before).
"You take care of yourselves too," He mumbled over his shoulder as they finally left him alone. The door was unlocked.
Dusty's first impression of the inside of the house was that it was as bland as the outside, but with the added smell of chemicals. He was half-tempted to run his hand along the wall and see if the paint was still wet.
"Hello?" He said, more just to hear his voice echo off the walls than to actually call out to anyone.
Was this really going to be his home?
The light hurt his eyes when he stepped from the back of the government transport vehicle - or at least where they would have been behind the sleek black suit covering his body from head to toe. The last time he'd been outside was when he was taken from the temporary detention center he was staying and loaded into the back of the unmarked van. That was five states and eighteen hours ago, most of which he spent trying not to be jostled around or sleeping. It would have been nice to watch the scenery as it all went by, but the back of the van's windows were sealed and opaque.
A "precautionary measure for public good", they'd called it - wanting to spare people the 'shock' of seeing him, or perhaps as Dusty suspected, wanting to make sure he couldn't escape. He wasn't sure which was worse.
Seeing all the same-y houses in the fairly barren outskirts neighborhood made him wonder how he was going to find his way around, but it seemed the government suits were going to do him the favour of escorting him to his doorstep (and the not-so-favour of spending the whole time repeating all of the rules he'd heard before).
"You take care of yourselves too," He mumbled over his shoulder as they finally left him alone. The door was unlocked.
Dusty's first impression of the inside of the house was that it was as bland as the outside, but with the added smell of chemicals. He was half-tempted to run his hand along the wall and see if the paint was still wet.
"Hello?" He said, more just to hear his voice echo off the walls than to actually call out to anyone.
Was this really going to be his home?
Walker had arrived earlier that day, it had been a quick trip down from Oregon. At least the house he would be staying at was in the mountains and far away from the general public - his powers were too dangerous and were a constant risk should he ever lose his cool. Walker had wheeled his single suitcase of luggage into the room he had picked out and went to work sorting everything out. Once finished an agent arrived and had told him that his roommate would be arriving in a few hours.
Walker took that time to explore around the neighborhood that he was sentenced to, all the houses save for a few here and there in prime locations were all the same. Front door, living room, dinning room/breakfast nook, kitchen off to the left, hallway off to the right and a sliding glass door out to the backyard patio. At either end of the hallway was a bedroom and personal bathroom. The laundry room was between the two bedrooms. All the rooms seemed to be stocked with their necessary items - but it was evident that the government had spent as little as possible on everything. At least everyone had the same amount of little to nothing.
Walker returned home and showered up, his new roommate would arrive soon. After cleaning up, dressing into some new clothes he had been allowed to pick out then modified to meet his needs Walker took that time to practice his powers by using them indoors with great restraint.
It was as he was practicing floortilting that he heard the door open. Walker looked down as a strange Empowered entered the house. Walker couldn't stop looking at him - he was just... Peculiar. But of course who was the one walking on the ground normally and who had decided to walk on the ceiling? Walker reached down to tap the guy on the shoulder, "Sup!" Walker replied as his bare hand brushed Dusty for a moment. Walker felt his hand begin to tingle slightly, but it slowly began to build up until it looked like his hand was inflamed.
"Ow, owowowowow! Yow-ouch!" Walker said as he lost control of his floortilt and began to fall towards the ground. He stopped just shy of the ground before picking himself up and glided quickly over to the kitchen sink. "Ooh... That really stings!" Walker said as the traces of substance on his hand were diluted and washed off. "Serves me right though..." Walker said as he reached into the medicine cabinet after wiping dry his hands. He applied a gauze to minimize contact with anything else.
Walker took that time to explore around the neighborhood that he was sentenced to, all the houses save for a few here and there in prime locations were all the same. Front door, living room, dinning room/breakfast nook, kitchen off to the left, hallway off to the right and a sliding glass door out to the backyard patio. At either end of the hallway was a bedroom and personal bathroom. The laundry room was between the two bedrooms. All the rooms seemed to be stocked with their necessary items - but it was evident that the government had spent as little as possible on everything. At least everyone had the same amount of little to nothing.
Walker returned home and showered up, his new roommate would arrive soon. After cleaning up, dressing into some new clothes he had been allowed to pick out then modified to meet his needs Walker took that time to practice his powers by using them indoors with great restraint.
It was as he was practicing floortilting that he heard the door open. Walker looked down as a strange Empowered entered the house. Walker couldn't stop looking at him - he was just... Peculiar. But of course who was the one walking on the ground normally and who had decided to walk on the ceiling? Walker reached down to tap the guy on the shoulder, "Sup!" Walker replied as his bare hand brushed Dusty for a moment. Walker felt his hand begin to tingle slightly, but it slowly began to build up until it looked like his hand was inflamed.
"Ow, owowowowow! Yow-ouch!" Walker said as he lost control of his floortilt and began to fall towards the ground. He stopped just shy of the ground before picking himself up and glided quickly over to the kitchen sink. "Ooh... That really stings!" Walker said as the traces of substance on his hand were diluted and washed off. "Serves me right though..." Walker said as he reached into the medicine cabinet after wiping dry his hands. He applied a gauze to minimize contact with anything else.
It was probably Dusty's own fault that he was too busy listening to the sound of his own voice echoing than to pay attention to his surroundings. When Walker tapped him and spoke up all at once, he nearly jumped out of his skin, the whole floor shaking for a split second at the force of his flinch. So surprised, he didn't notice Walker's distress for a couple of moments afterward.
"H-Hey, what gives?" The larger man said meekly. "You can't just suddenly touch..." He had meant to say it as a matter of common sense, but after a moment of observing Walker, he was reminded of another fairly good reason people should keep their hands off him. He went from startled to saddened as he watched Walker take all the proper precautions to avoid any acid burning he rightly suspected; he was obviously a lot smarter than the people Dusty had dealt with when this whole mess started, but just because someone could deal with his strange abilities didn't mean he liked having the reminder.
Plus it was awkward. He almost wondered if he should apologize for being startled.
"It's... it's fine," He finally said cautiously. "We both learned something." Hurriedly changing the subject, he continued: "...But when you aren't walking on the ceiling, do you, ah, live here? Is this your place?"
"H-Hey, what gives?" The larger man said meekly. "You can't just suddenly touch..." He had meant to say it as a matter of common sense, but after a moment of observing Walker, he was reminded of another fairly good reason people should keep their hands off him. He went from startled to saddened as he watched Walker take all the proper precautions to avoid any acid burning he rightly suspected; he was obviously a lot smarter than the people Dusty had dealt with when this whole mess started, but just because someone could deal with his strange abilities didn't mean he liked having the reminder.
Plus it was awkward. He almost wondered if he should apologize for being startled.
"It's... it's fine," He finally said cautiously. "We both learned something." Hurriedly changing the subject, he continued: "...But when you aren't walking on the ceiling, do you, ah, live here? Is this your place?"
"You got that right buddy..." Walker said as he winced some while he continued to wrap his hand up. He looked behind him before completely turning around to face and look up to Dusty. Walker looked him over at the proper angle as if sizing him up for something.
Walker was snapped out of it when asked about where he lived. "Our place, we live here. I guess those helpful Suits didn't tell you. We're going to be roommates for the foreseeable future. The name's Walker, just Walker. And you are... I wanna say Acid Man?" Walk explained before attempting to make a joke, albeit one he wouldn't immediately realize was in poor taste at this moment.
"And I don't always walk on the ceiling, I was just practicing my Empowerment control." Walker said as he motioned to how he was still currently floating a couple inches above the ground.
Walker was snapped out of it when asked about where he lived. "Our place, we live here. I guess those helpful Suits didn't tell you. We're going to be roommates for the foreseeable future. The name's Walker, just Walker. And you are... I wanna say Acid Man?" Walk explained before attempting to make a joke, albeit one he wouldn't immediately realize was in poor taste at this moment.
"And I don't always walk on the ceiling, I was just practicing my Empowerment control." Walker said as he motioned to how he was still currently floating a couple inches above the ground.
"The name's not Acid Man, that's for sure." The big guy's shoulders slumped a bit; "...Dusty. Just Dusty."
As far as being sized up went, Dusty's appearance was different, but overall not too complicated. His body was coated in a pitch black second skin with a sleekness to it; his head was smoothed to featurelessness with the exception of his mouth, with a brighter green circle spreading out from his temples.
"And if we're going to be roommates, there's one thing you ought to know..." He said, starting off sternly, but being unable to keep it up; "...I don't mean it. That is, anything getting burned by acid, or eating any holes in the fridge. Practicing my Empowerment would do me good, but I don't even know where to begin. I think the first thing I need to practice is getting through a day like a normal person."
As far as being sized up went, Dusty's appearance was different, but overall not too complicated. His body was coated in a pitch black second skin with a sleekness to it; his head was smoothed to featurelessness with the exception of his mouth, with a brighter green circle spreading out from his temples.
"And if we're going to be roommates, there's one thing you ought to know..." He said, starting off sternly, but being unable to keep it up; "...I don't mean it. That is, anything getting burned by acid, or eating any holes in the fridge. Practicing my Empowerment would do me good, but I don't even know where to begin. I think the first thing I need to practice is getting through a day like a normal person."
Walker's eyebrows raised incredulously, he wasn't very certain about Dusty - the guy seemed like he wanted to be tough but couldn't stick to it. If he had to guess this Emp used to be a scrawny kid at one point and didn't know how to stand up for himself. But now, even with his Empowerment, he still didn't know how to stand up for himself. Walker kinda felt bad about that.
"Nah, forget about it. It'll heal eventually, plus you kinda caught me off guard too." Walker said with a sheepish smile - it was after all mostly his own fault and he would own up to it.
Upon mention of training and self discipline Walker internally began to wonder if he would still be able to carry on with his methods even after being separated from his group. But before he would even consider the idea Dusty would need to prove himself.
"Well, here is as good a place as any... At least for that last part." Walker said as he began to float towards the living room to check out the TV. "Try going a few days without burning, melting or destroying stuff in general... That'd be a good start." Walker said nonchalantly, though internally this would be his first test for Dusty - one that he would unwittingly be taking.
"So, is that what you always look like?" Walker asked just as a general get to know you question. He was fiddling with the remote to turn on the bewb tube, the thing's keys all seemed stuck - and the old, beat up, blocky television set didn't look much better.
"Nah, forget about it. It'll heal eventually, plus you kinda caught me off guard too." Walker said with a sheepish smile - it was after all mostly his own fault and he would own up to it.
Upon mention of training and self discipline Walker internally began to wonder if he would still be able to carry on with his methods even after being separated from his group. But before he would even consider the idea Dusty would need to prove himself.
"Well, here is as good a place as any... At least for that last part." Walker said as he began to float towards the living room to check out the TV. "Try going a few days without burning, melting or destroying stuff in general... That'd be a good start." Walker said nonchalantly, though internally this would be his first test for Dusty - one that he would unwittingly be taking.
"So, is that what you always look like?" Walker asked just as a general get to know you question. He was fiddling with the remote to turn on the bewb tube, the thing's keys all seemed stuck - and the old, beat up, blocky television set didn't look much better.
"No," Dusty said hurriedly as Walker floated away from him for a moment -- even if only toward the TV. "...I mean, if I concentrate I can kind of look like myself. My old self. But, it's not really the same thing, since I'm still way bigger than before..." Walker's assumptions about Dusty's previous physique were on the money.
"...But yeah, not melting stuff would be good. I'm sure I can get the hang of it. Be better than before, and all that." Dusty may have sounded optimistic, but he was setting the bar kind of low for himself - previously, he'd been laying low in a motel room he'd all but trashed just trying to get the hang of his powers. "I can... stay on my half of the house or something while I figure it out, if you wanna draw a line or something."
Then he tried to weakly joke: "...I get the floor, you get the cieling?"
"...But yeah, not melting stuff would be good. I'm sure I can get the hang of it. Be better than before, and all that." Dusty may have sounded optimistic, but he was setting the bar kind of low for himself - previously, he'd been laying low in a motel room he'd all but trashed just trying to get the hang of his powers. "I can... stay on my half of the house or something while I figure it out, if you wanna draw a line or something."
Then he tried to weakly joke: "...I get the floor, you get the cieling?"
Walker had started to work at the remote by picking at each button to free them from beneath the plastic cover they had been forced under. "Ah, I see..." Walker commented, his suspicions had been right after all.
Walker thought about what Dusty said about dividing the room, he was about to make a joke about how they could put duct tape down the middle of every commonly room but stopped when he heard Dusty's suggestion.
Walker nearly bust a gut laughing, his levitation increased as he rose to the ceiling as he broke into hysterics over a joke that was meant to be weak. "Oh my, oh my god! That's freaking hilarious... Hahahahahahaa!!!" Walker guffawed as he did somersaults in the air just below the ceiling.
"Oh man, dude, you're a riot!" Walker said as he slowly returned to normal and sank back down to hovering cross-legged right above one side's couch cushion. Walker returned to working on the remote, occasionally itching at the area where his real legs met his prosthetic ones.
Walker thought about what Dusty said about dividing the room, he was about to make a joke about how they could put duct tape down the middle of every commonly room but stopped when he heard Dusty's suggestion.
Walker nearly bust a gut laughing, his levitation increased as he rose to the ceiling as he broke into hysterics over a joke that was meant to be weak. "Oh my, oh my god! That's freaking hilarious... Hahahahahahaa!!!" Walker guffawed as he did somersaults in the air just below the ceiling.
"Oh man, dude, you're a riot!" Walker said as he slowly returned to normal and sank back down to hovering cross-legged right above one side's couch cushion. Walker returned to working on the remote, occasionally itching at the area where his real legs met his prosthetic ones.
For a few moments, Dusty just stared as his roommate-to-be was so busy laughing that he floated right up to the ceiling.
He was glad he'd reached the target audience, even if he wasn't sure how sensitive the joke was himself. "Ah... yeah. Careful you don't float away..." He said, half sarcastic, half relieved they weren't outside, just in case. As Walker spun, Dusty eventually took to looking at his prosthetic legs, unlike any he'd ever seen before. The staring only got more obvious as Walker righted himself and Dusty had a better view of them.
"Do those, um..." He began. "Do those legs of yours have anything to do with your Empowerment?"
He was glad he'd reached the target audience, even if he wasn't sure how sensitive the joke was himself. "Ah... yeah. Careful you don't float away..." He said, half sarcastic, half relieved they weren't outside, just in case. As Walker spun, Dusty eventually took to looking at his prosthetic legs, unlike any he'd ever seen before. The staring only got more obvious as Walker righted himself and Dusty had a better view of them.
"Do those, um..." He began. "Do those legs of yours have anything to do with your Empowerment?"
"My legs...?" Walker said as he looked down slowly with slight panic suddenly plastered on his face. "AH! I remember them being red!" Walker said jokingly as he pretended to panic for the wrong reasons.
"Oh, you mean did my Empowerment take my legs from me? No, I woke up legless - seriously." Walker said as he shifted uncomfortably, he was dodging the real question. He didn't seem to want to talk about his legs - he didn't know Dusty well enough to share all his secrets just yet.
It was around this time that the remote seemed to be fixed and Walker tested it out by flipping on the TV, "Hey! Look at that! It works," Walker begins to say as the old TV slowly blinks on. And then blares a lot of static into the air, Walker turns down the volume and starts to channel surf around for a clear station. "-Kinda..."
"Oh, you mean did my Empowerment take my legs from me? No, I woke up legless - seriously." Walker said as he shifted uncomfortably, he was dodging the real question. He didn't seem to want to talk about his legs - he didn't know Dusty well enough to share all his secrets just yet.
It was around this time that the remote seemed to be fixed and Walker tested it out by flipping on the TV, "Hey! Look at that! It works," Walker begins to say as the old TV slowly blinks on. And then blares a lot of static into the air, Walker turns down the volume and starts to channel surf around for a clear station. "-Kinda..."
The wise cracking about the colour of Walker's legs wasn't quite something Dusty would get, leaving him to stare somewhat concerned at his roommate-to-be.
"Woke up legless... that had to have hurt," He said. "Most people just lose their memories... I mean, that's what happened to me. By all accounts there's more of me now than there was before so..."
He trailed off as Walker changed the subject toward the TV, frowning as he saw the quality of the signal - and the equipment. "I guess you can't build someone a second-hand house, but you can fill it up with second-hand furniture regardless..." He looked around the fairly sparse room; "Although it looks like there wasn't much to go around. Do you know if the kitchen works...?"
"Woke up legless... that had to have hurt," He said. "Most people just lose their memories... I mean, that's what happened to me. By all accounts there's more of me now than there was before so..."
He trailed off as Walker changed the subject toward the TV, frowning as he saw the quality of the signal - and the equipment. "I guess you can't build someone a second-hand house, but you can fill it up with second-hand furniture regardless..." He looked around the fairly sparse room; "Although it looks like there wasn't much to go around. Do you know if the kitchen works...?"
As much as Walker wanted to tell Dusty about his woes in this new stage of life he didn't feel 100% comfortable about it - after all, they had just met and some people would see that as being whiny.
"True that..." Walker agreed with Dusty's statement about the conditions they were living in. They weren't horrible but they were very far from ideal. Walker would flip around the channels some more until they came to a cartoon channel - better than nothing and Walker did remember the episode, let alone the show - so he kept it there.
"I'm not sure... Lemme check..." Walker said as he got up and levitated over to the kitchen area that was on the other side of the wall behind them. Walker turned on the induction stove, ran the dishwasher and the sink, checked the garbage disposal, tested the microwave and opened the fridge and freezer - all the while setting all the clocks on each appliance. "Everything seems to be working..." Walker began to say before letting out a disappointed groan.
"Aw man! There's nothing here but crappy food storage, MRE's and freeze-dried stuff in the house..." Walker bemoaned as he went from the barely stocked fridge to the pitiful pantry. "-And not a lot of it either." Walker said as he closed the double doored pantry.
"True that..." Walker agreed with Dusty's statement about the conditions they were living in. They weren't horrible but they were very far from ideal. Walker would flip around the channels some more until they came to a cartoon channel - better than nothing and Walker did remember the episode, let alone the show - so he kept it there.
"I'm not sure... Lemme check..." Walker said as he got up and levitated over to the kitchen area that was on the other side of the wall behind them. Walker turned on the induction stove, ran the dishwasher and the sink, checked the garbage disposal, tested the microwave and opened the fridge and freezer - all the while setting all the clocks on each appliance. "Everything seems to be working..." Walker began to say before letting out a disappointed groan.
"Aw man! There's nothing here but crappy food storage, MRE's and freeze-dried stuff in the house..." Walker bemoaned as he went from the barely stocked fridge to the pitiful pantry. "-And not a lot of it either." Walker said as he closed the double doored pantry.
Dusty tried to watch the TV to take his mind off his situation, but kept on getting distracted by the various sounds from Walker testing this and that in the kitchen. Not very handy himself, he only had the guy's disappointment to go on.
"I don't know what an MRE is... but you don't sound very happy about it." The talk of food shortage made Dusty a little nervous; his appetite had grown to match his new body, and if there wasn't enough food to go around there was likely to be trouble.
"Hey, they didn't happen to mention how we get food, did they? I mean, we're in the middle of nowhere..."
"I don't know what an MRE is... but you don't sound very happy about it." The talk of food shortage made Dusty a little nervous; his appetite had grown to match his new body, and if there wasn't enough food to go around there was likely to be trouble.
"Hey, they didn't happen to mention how we get food, did they? I mean, we're in the middle of nowhere..."
"I think there's a storehouse at the front of the neighborhood," Walker said after taking a moment or two to think about it. "-Why? We don't have a lot but we could probably make due on all this for a few days if we don't over eat anything. Not that I'd want to - this stuff is barely passable as food." Walker said as he pulled an MRE of "Asian Beef Strips" out of the pantry. It was basically food that for the most part just needed to be reconstituted with some water and the built in heating pad would cook the food within. But occasionally some of the food could be eaten as was straight from the packet with no adverse effects.
"Here, this one is probably going to be one of the tastier ones... But it still looks and tastes like cardboard and beef jerky had a baby." Walker said as he tossed the packet over to Dusty in case he was hungry for anything at that moment. He didn't yet know about Dusty's increased food consumption needs.
"Here, this one is probably going to be one of the tastier ones... But it still looks and tastes like cardboard and beef jerky had a baby." Walker said as he tossed the packet over to Dusty in case he was hungry for anything at that moment. He didn't yet know about Dusty's increased food consumption needs.
Dusty leaned forward to take a closer look at the bag. Maybe he was squinting; it was hard to tell.
"What the..." He mumbled. "And what the heck is a warfighter? Why don't they just say soldier?" He tried to lighten up his concern with a smile, "Or does everyone in the war just snack on these, even the guys flying a desk?"
Then he looked to Walker; "I'm just asking because I get hungry. ...I mean, really hungry. Ever since I changed. I mean, if you want to split what passes for food right down the middle, I understand. I'll figure something out." He didn't look forward to scrounging for scraps again, but if the food was as sparse as the rest of their accomodations, his hopes were slim...
"What the..." He mumbled. "And what the heck is a warfighter? Why don't they just say soldier?" He tried to lighten up his concern with a smile, "Or does everyone in the war just snack on these, even the guys flying a desk?"
Then he looked to Walker; "I'm just asking because I get hungry. ...I mean, really hungry. Ever since I changed. I mean, if you want to split what passes for food right down the middle, I understand. I'll figure something out." He didn't look forward to scrounging for scraps again, but if the food was as sparse as the rest of their accomodations, his hopes were slim...
Walker shrugged at the matter of wording, "Marketing ploy? I dunno." Walker said as he returned to his spot over the couch.
"Nah, I don't eat any more than the next person - but I am kinda picky about what I put into the tank, so I can kinda see where you might be coming from." Walker said in understanding. "Like I said, if there isn't enought and you think we'll run out we can always go to the store house - we could go there right now. They might even have some better food than this..." Walker offered before considering the prospect of having decent food to eat.
"Nah, I don't eat any more than the next person - but I am kinda picky about what I put into the tank, so I can kinda see where you might be coming from." Walker said in understanding. "Like I said, if there isn't enought and you think we'll run out we can always go to the store house - we could go there right now. They might even have some better food than this..." Walker offered before considering the prospect of having decent food to eat.
"Alright..." Dusty said hesitantly, moving back over to the couch.
"It's just..." Right as he spoke, he sat down - and the couch shook for a moment under his weight. Walker may have been fortunate he wasn't actually on it. "I can't afford to be picky because otherwise I don't know how I'd get everything I need. We could check out a storehouse, but do you think they'd have planned for me? And if they didn't and I helped myself, I don't know how long it'd be before they figured out it was me..."
Clearly, he'd been a worrier in his former life, but at least one that would try to do something about it. "What do you think I should do, uh, Walker...?"
"It's just..." Right as he spoke, he sat down - and the couch shook for a moment under his weight. Walker may have been fortunate he wasn't actually on it. "I can't afford to be picky because otherwise I don't know how I'd get everything I need. We could check out a storehouse, but do you think they'd have planned for me? And if they didn't and I helped myself, I don't know how long it'd be before they figured out it was me..."
Clearly, he'd been a worrier in his former life, but at least one that would try to do something about it. "What do you think I should do, uh, Walker...?"
"You know these government types; they stockpile everything there and in overabundance too. We should easily find enough for you, besides - it would be better for them to know now if they don't already how much more you'll need so that they can replace what you take sooner." Walker reasoned as he began to levitate the remote and made it spin in mid-air with a simple swipe of his hand.
"I say we go down there and get what you'll need to last for at least a week." Walker stated. "But this should really be your decision - you'll be the one who will go hungry sooner than I will." Walker added as he flicked the tip of the spinning remote causing it to spin on two axis's at the same time - it now resembled one of those spin machines that spun 3 different ways on a set of rings.
"I say we go down there and get what you'll need to last for at least a week." Walker stated. "But this should really be your decision - you'll be the one who will go hungry sooner than I will." Walker added as he flicked the tip of the spinning remote causing it to spin on two axis's at the same time - it now resembled one of those spin machines that spun 3 different ways on a set of rings.
Dusty had been about ready to go along with the plan when Walker made mention of that it was his decision. It certainly was true that owning up to the choice was the right idea. Could it be he needed to show some backbone?
Dusty paused, thoughtfully, then stood up.
He spoke: "Walker, I don't know about you, but the 'agreement' I signed with the government to live out here and submit to being tested like some kind of lab rat... that's really generous of me, and I'm not gonna just sit around and accept being hungry. They said they'd look after me, so it's up to them to figure out, not me."
In a moment, Dusty was at the door, but stopped to look back to his roommate. "...Where is it?"
Dusty paused, thoughtfully, then stood up.
He spoke: "Walker, I don't know about you, but the 'agreement' I signed with the government to live out here and submit to being tested like some kind of lab rat... that's really generous of me, and I'm not gonna just sit around and accept being hungry. They said they'd look after me, so it's up to them to figure out, not me."
In a moment, Dusty was at the door, but stopped to look back to his roommate. "...Where is it?"