snowblind style angst

[powersouls]

[They're in one of the nicer houses at the moment. Whoever lived here must have been rich, and while the place is looking a little worse for wear, it's still huge. That makes it a pain to search, but they're also more likely to find something useful.

Royce used to collect weapons almost obsessively, but Tifa doesn't think there's much point to that now. To be fair, weapons were never at the top of her list, but now there's no one to use them against. It's not like they do anything against the anomalies, after all. Personally, Tifa always holds out hope that she'll find something silly. It's fun to tease Royce, and she's secretly trying to find something even more hideous than that sweater that she can give him.

There's a big, ornate dresser pushed up against one wall that Tifa is rifling through. She's long since stopped wondering how it's possible that they can search a house and find something that they're certain wasn't there a few days ago. It's just another mystery of the town, like what keeps restocking the supply points or how the tablets stay charged. This drawer mostly seems to be a bunch of paperwork, full of bills and things she doesn't see any use in stopping to read. At the bottom, though, she finds a fake, glittery pink flower, slightly crushed but still intact. She snorts softly, pulling it out and then glances over at Royce.]

Hey, Royce.

[He should probably know by now from that tone that she's going to do something stupid.]

Comments

[bywolves]

[ Royce is definitely familiar with that tone. Hoo boy.

Today, though, he's in a decently good mood, which has him looking up from where he's digging through a wooden chest in the corner of the room. His expression is fondly exasperated, almost amused, as he pauses in his task. He can't help it, it's just been a nice couple of days. Adjusting his sweater absently (it's so big, he's practically swimming in it) Royce tilts his head just a little. ]

Hey, Tifa. [ He parrots back. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa wakes up in a body bag. Again.

It takes her a moment to fully register where she is. It's dark, and the heavy, black plastic over her face is suffocating. She nearly panics as she hears the compartment she's in unlock and the shelf slide out. She's done this twice before, but it's still terrifying, and she swallows hard as she forces herself to unzip the bag carefully instead of clawing her way out.

Tifa slides off the shelf to the tile floor and puts her head between her knees, sucking in deep, shaking breaths as she wills her heartbeat to slow. She's okay. She's alive. She shouldn't be. No one else has revived in months. But she's okay. What if Royce isn't?

She forces herself to sit up, not thinking too hard about the fact that her clothes are completely clean and free of holes. It doesn't make sense, and it makes her stomach turn. There's a weight in her pocket too, and when she reaches her hand in, she finds her tablet. It was in her pack, she knows it was, but whatever revived her made sure she had it. She shudders at the thought.

Neither of them have used the network in months. There's no point when there's no one else to contact, but now Tifa unlocks her tablet and opens Royce's inbox, closing her eyes for a moment as she tries to calm down. She's terrified that he did something stupid, something reckless but... Royce is all about survival. He wouldn't do that, would he?

Tifa swallows roughly again, determined to keep her voice steady as she sets the message to video and starts recording. It doesn't work, and the expression on her face is more than enough of a give away that she's not doing well anyway.]

Royce? I'm...

[Back? She doesn't know how she's back. Just her and no one else.]

Are you there? I'm okay, I'm... I-I came back.