It started with a whisper

Hollow glade

Hollow glade

Muted
Benefactor
Pronouns
They/them
@BrookeDi

Or so some sharp tongued idiots dared to say. Six years after the virus spread, killed half the population and then turned the remaining half of that half into brainless cannibals. Fucking hell. And what a time to have gone on holiday to a foreign country, right?. Indeed.

Blue was convinced real hell would be more interesting than an endless frozen tundra. A lot more than this queue. It was like an hour's wait to get through the sanitization procedures and security checks to get into most relevant settlements nowadays. At least they didn't have to deal with fees on top of it. Their coming and goings into and out of fortified settlements like this one, Albertina, were still recorded in each one of them. But Blue was a courier with little to hide, and there were back channels for that anyway. Everything had gone to shit, nobody had the time or personnel to actually plug every little hole. Infection tended to get in more often than anyone liked, and than any leader would recognise.

Just a few more questions now, and they'd be through. Blue left them their bag to check until they were satisfied.

Name? Blue Jay. The guard squinted at them and then snorted. Maybe because their ID actually said that, or because they also low-key looked like one. Or so they'd been told several times.

Age? 28.

Address? hardy-har har, the road.

Profession, courier, two years and running. Sometimes literally. Proof of that?, sure. They lifted their hand and took off their glove to show the tattoo right on the back of it. Basic. A small envelope, surrounded by two circles, the years they'd been at work. And a couple of notches for level two clearance. Proof of loyalty and that you weren't a nosy bitch opening people's mail, pretty much.

Duration of their stay? probably three or four days. A week at most. It was enough to deliver anything that needed delivering, rest a bit and stock up on supplies. Then pick up the next assignment and find the safest pre-planned route to get there.

They returned their bag a bit later, having confiscated a pack of jerky and one of cigarettes, because why be non corrupt assholes?. They should've smoked the whole pack outside or something. Tried to sell them individually at the gates. But they were so fucking tired, that all they wanted was to get in, head to their designated resting block or whatever it was this time, and catch some shut eye. Settlements at least meant you only needed to worry about being bitten if you invited someone over. Anyway, Blue was in!. They strolled through the inner gates with a little satisfied sigh and sat on a concrete block that could be either a table or a bench. They didn't know. Then they brought out their records notebook and instructions to see where they should head next.
 
Living in a commune that's suspicious about strangers and outsiders is nothing new to Festival (though certain people would object to her referring to this current community as a 'commune'--Call a spade a spade). In fact, it was about all she knew until about a year in the Before.

Then the world went to shit, and now she's almost right back where she started. Which is a little unfair to say, considering the rules here are much different than the ones she grew up with. So far, the strangest thing she's had to endure is medical testing to make sure she's not carrying anything.

It's safer this way, so they say.

But Festival misses people. She misses the year of freedom when she wandered the city, encountered new and interesting people everywhere she went. She missed sitting on a park bench and watching strangers interact and go about their lives in perfect normalcy.

Now the closest she can get to that feeling is watching the gates. Every now and then someone new comes through, someone interesting.

Festival watched as the latest newcomer showed off their tattoo. Though she couldn't see it, Festival was intrigued. Those things meant something, these days. Quietly, and from a few feet away, she watched the stranger settle onto a concrete bench.
 
There were people around. Settlements were often crowded. Albertina didn't have a huge problem with overpopulation... at least not yet. And it was likely to be a few years before it got there or close enough that their leaders would try to do anything about it. Most people at the gates were either working there, coming in or leaving. And the rest were just passing by on their way to somewhere else. There was a person who was watching them though, sooo, fuck it. Blue took their chance to approach them.

"Hey! do you know where the Sourbonne inn is? I don't come 'round here often." They asked... her? Could be a her. They were honest, too. This delivery route was new. And Blue got to test it out. Yay...
 
As the stranger approached, Festival took a half-step back. As much as she enjoyed watching people, interacting was always a bit of... a surprise. Growing up the way that she had, strangers had always come with a warning.

She tucked a bit of her shaggy brown hair behind her ear, eyes darting to where the tattoo sat underneath the stranger's gloves and then back up to the stranger's face. "Yeah, I can show you, and she turned to the left, leading the way without much preamble. "The innkeeper is going to try and gouge you," she said, matter-of-fact. "If you push back hard enough, he'll relent." Times being what they were, it was a shitty move to try and take what little most people had. "Rooms are good, though."

The makeshift 'streets' were fairly active, but Festival slipped through the other people easily enough, taking care that her companion could follow her. "How long are you staying?"
 
Had she not seen them coming from right in front of her? Why had she looked so surprised when they had spoken to her only to immediately help?. Suspicious...

"Gouge as in, with the rates? I have a pass from work for that inn. So I'll be fine." Said Blue, trying to keep up with the girl. She seemed almost fluid, dancing around and between the people out on the streets.

"But... Thanks anyway. Any other tips for a stranger? I'm only staying for a few days, until I'm done with work." They said, dodging the side of a wooden beam a couple of women who could probably break their arm with a high five were carrying.
 
It was less surprise and more hesitance!

She nodded her confirmation at the stranger's question, glancing sidelong at them at the mention of work. Now, that was interesting. She slowed to allow her companion a moment's breather while she considered the question. When at a standstill, Festival was all sharp edges and angles, standing ramrod straight, long, thin arms folded around her middle. "I'd stay away from the gamblin'," she said, eventually. "I don't know if that's your thing, and its not supposed to happen." But lots of things that aren't supposed to happen do, so that wasn't saying much.

"What kind of work do you do?"
 
"Hmm'kay"

Okay, fair warning. They had participated in a little bit of illegal gambling before. So if It was particularly nasty or not recommended to do so here, well, It was good to know. When she slowed down a little, Blue caught up with her and managed to follow her pace despite the growing amount of people out. Was it, growing? Maybe they were just feeling a big overwhelmed. The roads outside were mostly empty.

"I'm a courier. I carry mail, packages... Military communications, from one settlement to the next. Wherever they send me." They explained, with a little proud smile and straightening their posture for a moment.

"What do you do? Are you from here?" They asked next, once their moment had passed.
 
Festival, at least, seemed suitably impressed by Blue's work. "I live here," she answered vaguely. It wasn't her intention to be difficult, perse, but it was the easiest explanation without getting into her whole life story. "I work in the kitchens," she said, slowing as they neared their destination. "At the inn. Not today, though, but most days." It was important to have a day off, even post-apocalypse!

"I'm Festival, by the way." There was a really awkward moment as she considered her next move, but then she stuck her hand out for a shake. "In case you need anything."
 
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"Hmp, thanks!"

Oh! That was a surprise and quite the coincidence, wasn't it?. Or was it... Not one? It just seemed kinda suspicious. Blue chewed their bottom lip before accepting her handshake. They tried to appear more confident than they were, squeezing her hand a bit too hard for a second before they let go.

"I'm Blue. Yes, that's my real name." Said the courier to Festival. It sounded like a coded name? But maybe her parents were just oddly whimsical.

"So, you cook or clean in the kitchens?" They asked, genuinely curious.
 
Festival winced a little. Blue's grip was strong, whereas Festival's shake was more perfunctory than anything--it wasn't limp nor too firm, but it was certainly quick. It was hard to say if the fast removal of her hand from Festival's was because of the hard squeeze or something else.

In truth, touching anyone made her uncomfortable.

"Blue," she repeated. "I like it." Then again, her name wasn't exactly normal either. "I cook, mostly. But sometimes I'll clean the dining area or get put on dish duty." She said 'dish duty' like it was a punishment, nose wrinkling slightly as she spoke. "It's decent enough work." She stopped outside the building that made up the inn. "Here we are."

There were a couple of places to stay in this commune, but the Sourbonne inn was reminiscent of a tavern from the books Festival used to read under the covers when everyone else was asleep. It was two stories and hosted about fifteen rooms, with a decently sized common area for meals. The meal counter doubled as the check-in and check-out area, in an attempt to maximize space. The outside wasn't exactly impressive to look at. In fact, it was rather plain, but it did appear clean and well-kept--no rotting boards or foundation issues in sight. "It was nice to meet you, Blue." Her words were a bit clumsy, feeling awkward in her mouth. Socializing was not her greatest attribute, but she made a solid effort.
 
Shit, maybe they had overdone it with the squeeze. Festival looked a bit, not fragile or weak. But not exactly strong. Scrappy?. Anyway it was done now.

"That sounds handy, I haven't cooked in... Ever? Like with seasonings and stuff. Or mixing things. I can hunt and prepare meat and fish though. And they taught us to recognise edible plants outside in case we need it." They were rambling a bit, excited to have met someone with such an interesting job. "How many meals do you offer? I think I only have one ticket per day... Do you cook all meals or do you take turns with other workers?" They asked, keeping the distance they had for now but getting noticeably more excited. Other settlements had looked similar to Albertina, but the places they had stayed at were a looot shittier than this. Sorbonne looked quite luxurious in comparison. At least in the ages of a stranger.
 
Festival stared at Blue wide-eyed. She knew how to help a garden grow, and how to raise some animals: surviving in a commune, she knew how to do. Surviving in the wilderness was beyond the scope of her understanding. "Lunch and dinner," she said after a beat, answering Blue's list of questions with some enthusiasm. "I mostly cook dinner, but we do rotate a bit." Which was how she managed to have a day off.

"Are there really just edible plants hanging out in the wild?" She shook her head a little. Not that she didn't believe Blue, but it was hard to picture when their garden in the Before always took so much time and care. Meanwhile, food could just be found along the road. "That's wildly impressive."
 
Blue grinned, lowering their guard a little bit more around Festival. She seemed pretty nice. Normally people in settlement's did a lot of fake polite social manoeuvering that Blue both stuffer and didn't care for. Like a double-thinking concept they read about in a book for school once. Back in the Before. Anyway. Lunch and dinner but mostly dinner. Cool!.

"There are plants, but not as many as there are in less cold areas though. There's also a lot of animals, some people and... Some infected. It is how it is." Said Blue shrugging a little. They wouldn't change it for this though.

"I should probably do my check-in by the way, and then I'm probably going to sleep straight to tomorrow. Even if it's still early. But maybe you can show me around after you get off of work tomorrow?" They said, a little twinkle of interest and hopefulness in their eyes.
 
She wrinkled her nose at the mention of infected. Settlement life was not exactly her favorite, but she worried about what existed there. Those who could--and did--survive out in the wilderness with the infected were truly impressive in her mind. The skills necessary to survive out there were not a set that Festival possessed. She wished she did. Sometimes remaining in the settlement felt a little suffocating.

Festival pointed through the window at the counter. "Check-in straight through there. I hope you have a comfortable rest." She offered Blue a smile and took a moment to consider the question. It wasn't that she had anything better to do, but the hopefulness and earnestness from Blue was foreign to Festival. But she found Blue interesting and was relieved to have a reason to hang out so she could ask more questions about the world beyond her walls. "Yes." She nodded. "I can do that. I can meet you here?"
 
Sometimes when they tried to be social with settlement people, their schedule got in the way. Not because Blue didn't respect the varying turns or work hours. Or because the others didn't respect Blue's' work. But because... Settlement people, funnily enough, were unsettling. Often well rested, used to their daily programming and tasks. No bags under their eyes or lingering exhaustion in their tone. After a while it stuck to you, exhaustion. The same way dirt did, from travelling. And the stink of rotting meat, of the dead. Blue caught themself thinking about how the infected were sometimes less bizarre to them, than settlement people were.

Maybe that was why they had immediately taken a liking to Festival. She didn't look at them weird when they said they wanted to sleep for an entire day. She was wary of touch, a bit twitchy. All of it made her easier to relate to.

"See you here then! tomorrow!" Said Blue, waving goodbye at the young woman before they left her behind to check into the Sourbonne inn. It was time to get cozy with their favourite thing about settlements. BEDS. They showed their ticket, provided all the information the person at the counter needed... including some new questions about their diet that felt a bit out of place. Blue kind of ate what they could, when they could. But they dismissed it, and forgot about it as soon as they got to their room and flopped on the mattress. They didn't even change or take off their shoes. In moments, Blue was asleep, face down and with the lower half of their legs hanging from the side.
 
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Festival said her goodbyes and then returned the way she'd come. With a visitor willing to talk to her, watching the entry gates was slightly less attractive than normal. It didn't wholly lack in entertainment, however, and she whiled away her afternoon there, watching people come and go.

The next day was largely uneventful. There were some minor changes to the menu, but for the most part, her work day passed uneventfully, if slowly. She found herself excited to be meeting with Blue later. She had so many questions about the world beyond the wall, about their employment as a letter carrier, and just... their life in general.

When her shift was over, she made sure to clean her hands, run her fingers through her hair so it was less matted from the hair net she was forced to wear, and went to wait patiently at the doors of the inn, fingers tapping idly on her thigh as she waited.
 
Blue was lucky in that their plans went pretty much the way they expected them to. They got to the room, cleaned themself up a little before stripping to their underwear and getting in bed. It was so much better than the floor, and they'd even dare bet that it smelled kind of nice. They skipped dinner completely and woke up bright, early and hungry. Their stomach was growling and they ate as much as they could for breakfast. Used to having to ration their food and often hunt because what they were given wasn't enough, Blue was happy to eat their fill at a reasonable pace so they wouldn't get sick. In the morning, they had to go to the military post office to get a few processes started and re-confirm their arrival so they could pick up their new assignments the next day. It took hours, It was extremely boring... and It was worse because they were meeting Festival later and wanted to look nice, but they ended up with barely enough time to get back to Sourbonne Inn on time. As usual, the local personnel insisted they help out with a few in-town deliveries and Blue got lost twice. At least they gave them some compensation.

When they went back, they could see Festival was already there. Blue was kinda sweaty and a bit tired, but settlement deliveries had nothing on inter-urban travel. So they waved at her from a distance with a grin on their face.

"Hey!! I hope you haven't been waiting for long... they found some work for me after all." They said, a tiny bit sheepish.
 
She straightened up as Blue approached. "Not too long," she promised. Though, she likely would have said the same regardless. "They do like to keep people busy. I hope you were still able to get some rest?" Briefly, she wondered if Blue's work throughout the day had taken them on a tour of the settlement, and her services wouldn't be needed.

But she knew some places that were not so obvious.

Without preamble, Festival began moving toward the back end of the settlement. "Are you afraid of heights?"
 
At least she didn't seem to mind their messy, run down appearance. Though It was probably to be expected from an outsider, right? Good job at stereotyping yourself, Blue. They tried their best not to let their smile falter, though.

"I did!, slept all day yesterday just like I said I would. Beds are great!, I could probably sleep forever if they let me." They joked, though as relaxing as that sounded, it would end up getting boring. They followed Festival, letting her lead the way but staying closer to her side instead of walking behind her like the last time. The question made them quirk an eyebrow, interested.

"Nop, why? I mean I used to be, but heights can really save your ass outside, so I had to get over it." They answered, looking around after to see what high places were close. Or in the direction they were walking in.
 
"I think if I were to be on a road, my bed is what I'd miss the most." Something nice and luxurious about sliding onto a comfy surface at the end of a long day. "So, I don't blame you."

She brightened. "Good." But she didn't elaborate much further.

There was really only one thing that could be considered 'tall' on the settlement, aside from the watch towers around the perimeter, and that was the water tower. The closer they got to it, the more obvious that Festival's intent was to head there. Sure enough, they came up to the base of the tower, and Festival began to climb. "You can see everything from up here. The whole settlement, and a little bit beyond."

As far as heights went, it wasn't the tallest structure by any means, but she loved climbing it. There was always more wind, and she did like the bird's eye view from the top.

At the top, she sat, letting her legs dangle over the edge, waiting for Blue to get comfortable, before she pointed out the areas Blue would most likely already be familiar with: the inn, the entryway, what served as the closest thing they had to a government building, etc. From there, she pointed out a couple of other places like where to get items repaired and where to get travel supplies.

"I'll still show you around," she promised, interrupting her mini-tour, "but I thought it would be cool to see from up here, first." And get a moment of peace from all the people.
 
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