One day at a time Characters: Dahlia and Aiden When: Monday - 1pm Location: Outside the Keep Warnings/Rating: Exploring Summary: Exploring the new surroundings Status: Narrative
Dahlia could still smell burning flesh. The clothes she’d worn that day were washed and put away; her shoes scrubbed and her hair lathered a handful of times and yet she could still smell it. The door to her cabin lay open and still it felt like the scent clung to the very walls. It wasn’t logical; she knew that. The scent was gone, the body was gone, the man was gone, but it haunted her. It wasn’t the death that plagued her thoughts, not truly. But the reality of it happening. She had been careless before now; venturing far out into the terrains when they changed to explore. She walked the late night hours. She played alone and far from the ears and eyes of others. She had thought the dome safe enough; mean perhaps but safe. Now she knew better. Like the world outside of the dome it had dangers and no one was going to save her if something happened. It was a sobering thought.
Still the others talked. People wondered about the man. They questioned how this had happened. Dahlia, too, had. At first it made no sense…not for what she knew about shows. There were rules, contracts, and by the reactions of those around her this was not supposed to be possible. It went against the laws. Dahlia had been upset to learn this. To understand that something happened that should not. As the week had worn on she had settled her thoughts in coming to terms that this was not normal. If it was a show it was one like no other anyone here had seen. If it was not a show and not what it seemed then she was still left with the only real options she’d been left with from the start. Stay or go. The death hadn’t changed those choices. It being lawful or not didn’t.
She could return home. She could leave this place and go back to what life she’d had. Maybe her father would allow her to stay in the house, maybe he wouldn’t. But she’d be out of here. She’d be back to her own self. Her own plans. She would be left with her own unnervingly silent head to keep her company. Or she could stay. She could keep having a roof over her head. She could continue to have people to talk to (even if she wasn’t sure any of them liked her overly much). She could continue to see the terrain changes and explore what the people behind the screen gave them. This was the most interaction, the most, in theory, travel and…adventure she’d ever really had. It held risks yes, and weirds, but life was full of risks and weirds.
It was a sad week but Dahlia remained and tears quickly washed away to a contemplative numb that came with having made her choice to remain. She would be more careful. She’d try to get others to explore with her. She’d be wary of some things the people behind the screen did and…simply watch out for herself more. She might still be alone here but it was an alone that could sometimes, briefly, be abated. Like her time with Jake on Sunday. Neither had spoken much no…but it was being near someone. It was having a…friend.
That didn’t mean the new week washed all things away to start again. That damnedable scent kept following her. A cloying thing that made her hope they didn’t have to burn anyone else. Plus it had been messy.
At least this week it was cold. Dahlia liked the cold. She liked the way it burned her lungs when she breathed in real deep. It was still bright though; so her glasses were a constant fixture during the day. She could make the outside dim a little around her but not enough to risk leaving the world darkening glasses behind. She didn’t want headaches…she wanted to be out. She wanted to move. She was tired of being in the cabin. Tired of walls.
She was glad Aiden had agreed to explore today. Maybe he’d be willing to go into the darker woods with her where her eyes would be more comfortable. Either way she was being a smart girl. She was bringing someone along. Even if it meant that she had to wait…which sometimes her impatience didn’t like. She could only sort her paints for so long and the little computer games were still a bit strange to her. By the time noon rolled around Dahlia’s cabin was near spotless except for the desk which was littered with all her painting supplies. She actually didn’t like leaving it behind but trying to lug it all in her bag didn’t work either. It reminded her that she was going to make a post about painting…but had forgot. She’d have to do it later. She didn’t want to be late to the Keep.
Plus she was sort of hungry.
Her steps were quick to bring her to the Keep, not yet trusting the new environment even though she hadn’t seen anything too dangerous yet. Once inside her missions were clear. Wave to anyone that she saw, grab up goodies for exploring (namely pop tarts, granola bars, water and soda to shove in her satchel), and….be utterly distracted by the box of art supplies. She didn’t really want to indulge the people behind the screen in an art project of their choosing (they were mean so she was going to be mean) but she did want to use the paints and crayons. She’d have to ask people if she could have them when they were all finished. She didn’t even care if she was supposed to take them or not.
She was distracted enough by the boxes (and searching for a note about last week that was not there…which she had sort of figured would be the case) that she nearly missed that it was almost one. “Oh…” Dahlia muttered; ducking away from the kitchen and back outside to wait for Aiden.