Dawn of the Dead - [Video]

[deadsmizing]

[Faint pop music plays from just off camera, and a young woman with pale skin and platinum blond hair lounges on a lawn chair somewhere with a copy of As I Lay Dying on her lap (har har), soaking up the sun and chewing on a piece of gum. With her complexion, the rays seem desperately needed but should leave her at quite the risk for sunburn if she's not careful! In any case, right now she's clearly not thinking about that, as she is quite busy adjusting the angle of the camera sitting next to her, even going so far as to lift her sunglasses onto the top of her head to get a better look and make sure everything is perfect.

Once she's satisfied, she smiles, nods, and blows a big, pink bubble that pops quite loudly.]

Pop quiz, everybody. Karen DeSonne here, your intrepid undead girl reporter.

Oh, wait. Reporters don't... give pop quizzes, do they? [She taps her chin thoughtfully.] Intrepid undead substitute teacher? Sure, let's go... with that.

I've heard a lot of talk about powers and heroes and nano-something-or-others since I got here, but other than how we're a problem... this world would be blessed to be rid of or something like that, not a lot about monsters. Creepies. Crawlies. Spooky, scary... skeletons. Can I get a head... count on how many of you out there are the things that go bump in the night? Maybe we can start a club. Also, those of you who'd rather kill a zombie than buy her a caffè Americano and a white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookie, you can chime in too. Then we'll both know exactly who to keep... our distance from, won't we?

[The sunglasses are slid back down over her eyes, and Karen leans back into prime sunning position. Then, almost as an afterthought:]

Bonus question, before class is dismissed. Any idea what this place needs our type around for? They say when there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth. So what does... that say about an... Earth that's desperate to have us?

Comments

[video]

[devoutish]

[Alfie just peers at the video for a few long moments before responding.]

Now, I've learned about zombies here. I've seen drawings, films, costumes. But you - you look like a girl, to me. Are you in disguise?

video

[deadsmizing]

[She smirks slowly.]

Do you believe everything you see on TV? Those films aren't very accurate. Kind... of offensive actually.

video

[devoutish]

But very consistent. What makes you a monster, then?

[deadsmizing]

Romero made a good film. Of course people would want to copy him. It doesn't make him right.

[She lifts the sunglasses again and looks dead into the camera, and this time it's clear that her hair and skin aren't the only things about her that are unnaturally pale. Other than a thin line of blue around the edges, the irises of her eyes are completely drained of color and look like they're filled with silver or some sort of clear, sparkling crystal.]

And him... being wrong doesn't make... me not dead. Is that not monster enough for you?

[devoutish]

... Huh. Would you look at that.

[He pulls his pince-nez glasses up onto his nose, leaning in again to get a better look.]

[deadsmizing]

[She raises an eyebrow and looks faintly amused.]

Oh? See something interesting?

[devoutish]

Did you start out a living human?

[deadsmizing]

Of course. I... prided myself on being exceptionally ordinary.

[That teasing glint is still there in her expression.]

[devoutish]

Curious. Very curious.

But why call yourself a monster? Surely you're prefer to say-- well, you already used undead, didn't you.

video

[faderbroderson]

There is a club, incidentally. I'm sure you'd be welcome to join.

[deadsmizing]

At least this way it's in the open instead of just whispered behind my back.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[He gets that, actually.]

Make it very fucking clear you know what they say about you, and see the shocked looks on their faces.

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[deadsmizing]

Oh, really? Do you have... pamphlets?

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[faderbroderson]

I've no idea. I've been invited, but have not yet had the pleasure of attending a meeting. I'm told they're scheduled loosely, about every two months.

[deadsmizing]

There are... definitely some trads who could use... a good shock every so often.

[deadsmizing]

Interesting.

[A thoughtful pause.]

Well, I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip.

[devoutish]

Trads for traditional?

[faderbroderson]

Not at all.

As for your other questions, there seem to be quite a few of us here who "go bump in the night," as you put it, or are simply not human but would not consider themselves monstrous. What that says about this world is anyone's guess. The Porter and its motivations are a mystery.

[deadsmizing]

That's the idea.

[deadsmizing]

That's too bad. I'd be very... interested to know what I'm doing here.

[devoutish]

I'd be hard-pressed to call anyone traditional here.

[faderbroderson]

As would I. I've inquired with some people who have been here for some time, but even they can only provide so much insight.

Has anyone bought you that caffè Americano yet?

[Video]

[pale_blue_arrow]

No creatures of the night where I'm from - or if there are, humans beat 'em to the punch when it came to evil - but while I despise caffè Americano, I'd be a lot more willing to buy you one than hit you unless you'd killed somebody first. Even then, last I checked murder wasn't the solution. Doesn't bring back the dead.

Anybody tries to bury you just for the crime of existing, tell me. I'll have words with 'em. [He's had too much of people dying for no good reason back home. The fact that she looks like his ex is just running up the score regarding his protective instincts.]

[deadsmizing]

Probably fair.

[She shrugs (with both shoulders at the same time even, which is actually quite impressive for a zombie where she comes from)!]

It wasn't really our word anyway. Someone somewhere decided we... were "differently biotic" and they were "traditionally biotic."

[devoutish]

If I were you, I'd prefer zombie to that.