Derek Miller (throughthemill) wrote in the_colony, @ 2010-03-27 19:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | ^ week 06, alice munroe, jed bailey, ~ series: nv meetups |
Week Six - Sunday
Characters: Derek Miller, Jed Bailey, Alice Munroe
Location: Nevada State Museum
Summary: Desperate for water, Derek goes to the meeting for help
Rating: Strong PG-13 for Derek's dirty mouth
The sound of glass shattering woke Derek like a shot. The night was heavy and dark outside his window but he knew without having to look that it was a window on his car that had broken. No. Not had broken. Been broken. Someone broke it. And hell if he was going to let someone take the supplies he'd so stupidly left in the back of his SUV from him. Fuck that. Derek was on his feet and out the door of the tiny run-down apartment in a second, stopping only to grab his gun. Derek didn't know how many were outside and in the seconds that followed, there wasn't time to count.
The fight didn't take long. His gun was knocked away from him, so Derek used his fists, not caring where the punches landed or what damage they caused. When something on someone's face went crunch, they finally left. Derek found his gun in the street by the amber light of whatever streetlights still had working bulbs and went to check on his supplies. Half his food was gone and so was half his water. Fuck.
It was the water that brought him to the Nevada State Museum. He'd seen the signs when he arrived in Vegas a couple days ago but ignored them. Anyone stupid enough to draw attention to themselves like that was too stupid for him to bother with. But that was before he needed water. Bottled water was almost impossible to find and he wasn't desperate enough to risk the shits on tap water. He needed water.
"Goddamn desert. I hate the fucking desert," he swore to himself, pushing open the museum doors with one hand and keeping his gun tight in the palm of his other.
They weren't exactly the most comforting first words to hear from someone, and so Jed was on his feet with his rifle in hand in a second. Of course, someone wanting to cause trouble probably wouldn't be so loud about it, so he held off on raising the barrel just yet. Alice was also put on the defensive, though she was less open about it. It wasn't the first time she'd heard that complaint spoken aloud.
"Yo," she said aloud, giving a nod of greeting.
A big guy with a shot gun wasn't exactly relaxing and Derek made no move to put away his gun. He kept an eye for anyone else who wasn't sitting at these tables. "Yo?" he answered, raising his eyebrows. "Really?"
"Yeah. It's a greeting," Alice responded, bemused. "Considering you came in here cussin' like a trucker, you're lucky I didn't say turn the hell around and get out." She gave him a brittle smile. "Can we help you?"
"So's hola but you don't see me making assumptions." Derek wasn't going to stick around if she was going to try and be street with him. He'd drink from the lake in front of the Bellagio before he'd put up with that shit. "I need to know where to go to get water." He didn't like asking but he needed suggestions.
"Jesus fuckin' Christ, the world's exploded. You wanna drop the PC bullshit?" Jed said, cocking his head to the side. Still, he set the rifle back down on the table. "We got water, but you might wanna stop actin' like an asshole before you ask for some."
"Just what I need," Derek muttered half under his breath, half out loud, "another fucking redneck." At least Jim Bob there put down his rifle. Probably loaded with bird shot. "I have haven't had anything to drink in over twenty-four hours and I'm putting my gun away. Better?" He slipped his hand gun into the waist band of his jeans.
Jed's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to it. He'd tangled with many a drunk looking for a fight, until he learned he didn't have to be the one to throw the first punch. At least this guy was putting away his gun. "Y'know, 'please' never hurt nobody," he said, though he grabbed a water bottle off the table and tossed it to the man anyway. "And name-callin' ain't exactly fair. Alice ain't as cultured as we are, but that don't make her a redneck."
For a moment, Alice completely disregarded Derek, looking over at Jed with a half smile. "That's the nicest thing you've said to me all day," she teased. Jed shot a smile back, his face growing warmer.
Derek ignored the lovefest to open his water, sucking the whole thing down without stopping. He sputtered a little, coughing. "Where - where can I get more?"
Alice turned her eyes back to the man where he stood, looking at him critically. No apologies, no pleases or thank-yous; just anger and greed. She wasn't sure if they should extend their hospitality, but the fact that he might get heatstroke or worse was enough to make her get him another bottle. She walked the short distance between them, passing it to him once she took his empty one.
"You're welcome to stay here until it cools down a little," she said, her voice cool and aloof. She didn't, however, extend an offer for him to come back with them to the Siena.
Glancing at Alice, Jed added, "And take it easy. You chug that stuff fast enough, you'll juss throw it back up again."
Derek had wanted to know how to get water in the city, but this would do for now. Wordlessly, he sat down on the floor near the door and leaned against the wall. Silently, he spent several minutes sipping the water this time. "Either of you come out of evac?" he asked eventually.
Jed didn't bother pointing out that there were plenty of empty chairs. Couldn't blame someone for wanting to stay by the door. He sat back down, though. "Naw. I camped out in Texas, and Alice stuck around here. She's a native."
Derek didn't say much back, just nodding and going back his water for another long moment. "I'm looking for news of Tyra, Monique and Lisa Miller out of Columbus."
"Nobody's come through by any of those names," Alice said. She assumed that since all three were listed with the same surname that they were family members of his, and briefly felt a twinge of sympathy for him. "We'll be sure to ask our friends if they've heard of anyone by that name, though."
"Okay." That wasn't the first time he'd asked about his mother and sisters and it definitely wasn't the first time he'd been told no. Each time he heard it made him think that maybe it was time to stop asking because his family hadn't survived the virus. Frowning and quiet, he leaned his head back against the wall.
After a bit of silence, Jed just had to fill it. "You got any place to stay?" The way the guy looked coming in, he'd guess 'no.'
"Sure." The truth was no, not really. He'd had to relocate after his car was broken into and Derek was still trying to find someplace comfortable and isolated but still near enough to supplies. It would have been easier without having to worry about running errands in the heat - fucking desert. But Derek sure as hell wasn't about to tell that to a couple of strangers. Why yes. Here's where I live. Look for the come rob me sign.
Jed shrugged, though he was doubtful. "Well, you might wanna try boilin' your water then. Filters help, too, but the boilin' does a lot of the work."
"Most of the convenient stores should have them," Alice agreed, nodding. They'd already taken all of the ones available at the Costco as reserves, but there were other places that would still have filters and the like.
"Right." Derek wanted to leave it at that, but these people seemed like they wanted to chat. It was too hot to go outside and whatever was left of Derek's social sensibilities said that sitting here for the next however long would be awkward. Not that he cared what they had to say for the most part.
"I had bottled water but someone kindly liberated it from me."
Jed glanced at their own supply, his posture a little more wary. If this guy was out of water, he might be looking to stock up quick and easy. "Yeah, folks know the value of water these days."
Alice also got a little anxious, but for different reasons. If the guy had gotten jumped, it was possible he'd also been followed. She found herself flashing back to her own encounter and gave an involuntary, visible shudder, one arm circling up around herself as she looked off and away. Jed noticed the movement but couldn't fathom a reason. He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
Derek watched them, wondering if they were married or what. The thought made him scowl. He hadn't lost a wife or girlfriend like a lot of people - Derek hadn't cared to take the time to spend more than a night or two with a woman - but plenty of other people did and it seemed unfair that anyone should have anything when so many people didn't. He returned to sitting quietly, determined to wait out the heat and get out of here.
It seemed nearly impossible to go back to the card game that they were doing with someone else there watching them. Alice was exhausted. The baby being born had drained all the energy from her, and she couldn't help notice the dark circles under Jed's eyes as well. He'd suggested they just skip going that day, but she couldn't do it, and part of her was glad to see that she was justified. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but wish she was back in her room with the fan on full blast and asleep.
The man looked so sullen, as if he hadn't even wanted to be there. It was clear he was only there to escape potential heatstroke, but she wondered if he'd eaten. She knew Jed to be the type to get a little grumpy if he hadn't eaten in a while; maybe this man was as well? There is such a thing as being overly-courteous, Alice, she told herself. Especially when he doesn't even say 'thanks'.
It was going to be a long afternoon.