averymorrisx

[averymorrisx]

"The world late at night and early morning just hit different," she replied to politely sidestep the question. Her innermost secrets weren't quite so easily spilled without the burn of alcohol coating her tongue. Fixing machines and walking around graveyards worked out the anger, frustration, and helplessness that plagued just about everyone. It lurked over everyone's shoulders, clawing at them all, until it finally whispered its true name.

Grief.

"If I get access to some things, yeah, it's a pretty easy fix," she assured with a small smile. Wouldn't that be a fun little vehicle to have around? Something to get from point A to point B?

"Well, thank you for your service in feeding all of us," she mused and quickly worked towards oiling the bike chain.

Ember tilted her head, quiet for a moment - she certainly understood what it was like to not be able to sleep. "I am usually up most nights, too, and still, I didn't really jump at the opportunity to go hang out with the dead every night. It feels like there is a step missing from there," she pointed out. Did it matter? Probably not, probably she shouldn't have been pushing, but the way Avery replied made Ember want to understand the difference in their own logic.

And then Avery jumped into some mumbo jumbo and Ember nodded and nodded and just kept on nodding, but the woman lost her quiet early on. "What I am hearing are a lot of technical terms, some I recognize, but in the whole do not quite understand what you're talking about, so to simplify it - does all of that mean you can fix it?" It sounded like it, she just needed a confirmation.

"Oh, I'm in the kitchen. It's what I did before all of this too, for the most part, so it's something comfortable. But I also did piercings - less open positions for that, which I am kind of bummed about, but it is the zombie apocalypse, beggars can't be chosers, right?"

[averymorrisx]

Avery's slender shoulders bounced in a shrug. "Eh, some noises. I just chalk it up to punk-ass teenagers who are looking for something to do in the middle of the night. Of course, as we get towards Halloween, that's subject to change," she responded. Sometimes she caught someone toting Ouija boards and candles. While she never minded watching over people while they visited loved ones, she drew the line at communicating with the great beyond.

Her golden-brown eyes scanned the mass of graves --too many for her personal liking-- and shifted back to him. "I like it. It's quiet. Not too much excitement. I have just enough to do without being constantly busy."

"Most? So you had some trouble?" Salem asked raising an eyebrow as he stepped into the hut and closed the door behind him. Though if there had been trouble, he hoped it hadn't been anyone trying to dig their way out of a grave. Salem shuddered at the thought. There was a reason he stayed inside Redwood most of the time - the fact that he didn't want to shoot anyone wearing the face of someone he liked being one of them. Some found it easier to detach themselves from the fact that the undead had once been human than others - Salem struggled with that. "We haven't caught up in a while. How have you been doing? In general, I mean. Still enjoy working here?" Salem considered whether he should maybe bring out some coffee out here, next time. He had a personal stash he was not afraid of sharing.

[averymorrisx]

"If you mistreat crows, they remember your face and they'll seek their vengeance on you for it. If you treat them nicely, they'll return the favor," she responded with a small smile. If she had crumbs left of her food, such as crackers or even a bit of granola, she tended to toss the scraps to the birds to enjoy. "I used to get those wildlife magazines before the outbreak. Also those Animal Planet shows."

She extended her hand to his and shook it. "I'm Avery. I usually kind of hang about."

Jake was fascinated, both by the story of the woman and the elephant and by how this was this woman’s reaction to his joke.

“You got any other interesting tales of animals getting their revenge on humanity?” He asked, genuinely interested in her answer. “Also how did you know about that initial story? Were you some kind of expert in such things or was it just something you picked up along the way? Also also, and I just realised this so forgive me for not asking sooner,  what’s your name?” He offered her his hand to shake. “My name’s Jake.”

[averymorrisx]

Adelaide Kane via Instagram stories, 08/13/2023.

[averymorrisx]

What does your muse usually carry in their pockets?

OOC: Avery always has her dad's broken watch in her pocket on her person.

[averymorrisx]

What is/was your favourite pet or one you always wanted?

"I've always wanted a Rottweiler. My old neighbor was a dog trainer and he was so diligent about giving working dogs jobs. If anyone was able to own a dog like that, he could. He helped me teach Beretta tricks and how to give her things to do because she's a Lab mixed with another working breed."

[averymorrisx]

HAPPY MUNDAY!!! (sorry it's a little late tonight)

Do you think you and your muse would be friends if you knew each other?

Also when writing out your muses actions, do you do anything that helps you describe those actions? For example making faces you're imagining your muse is making? Moving your body to help you imagine your muse making that movement in the scene? Or do you not do that at all? Is there a different process you use instead?

OOC: Absolutely not lol.

But yes, I do find myself practicing the facial expressions at times. Not necessarily body movement, but facial expressions. I find myself rewatching scenes on YouTube with my FCs in order to get the cadence of their voice right and formulate words.

[averymorrisx]

HAPPY MUNDAY!

Mun~ What got you into writing and what is your favorite part about writing your character?

OOC: late as BALLS, but who cares. I started writing when I was about 7 and I've been doing it ever since. My little passion is now everyone else's problem <3

My favorite part about writing Avery (so far) is just how closed-off she is. Her self-loathing also plays a role. She has a softer side, she'll eventually get there. Wanting to survive is the most basic human instinct there is.

[averymorrisx]

Formal Friday: let’s see your muse all spiffed up.

[averymorrisx]

"It really did. And no one could find an actual connection between the elephant and the woman," she confirmed. It was honestly one of the wildest stories she knew and while it wasn't the answer anyone would have wanted to a joke, it slipped out nonetheless. Useless animal facts were things she absorbed from back in the day, learning whatever she could from whoever could teach her.

Whatever response Jake was expecting to his joke, the response this woman gave him wasn’t it! He stood there for a moment, eyes wide, as he tried to process the information given about this case in India.

“You mean the elephant came back to knock her out of the coffin? As in the elephant was like: ‘I’m not done with you yet!’, that kinda thing? I have so many questions about this!” 

This woman had managed the near-impossible and thrown Jake off his usual track of cracking jokes. For the moment, he had forgotten all about the cheesy Dad jokes he loved so much and focused purely on this story of this elephant and its revenge fuelled dastardly deeds.

[averymorrisx]

"Remember those old signs that'd say stuff like 'gone fishing'?" Avery mused. Perhaps her hometown was the only one who actually utilized such things. Come to think of it, she couldn't remember the last time she felt at peace enough to fish. Her body remained rife with tension she couldn't seem to release, but she chalked it up to self-imposed punishment.

A barter system was how things were meant to be back in the old days, back when money was a last resort. There was something so oddly wholesome about it, a simple neighbors helping neighbors concept. Avery never minded helping out someone, even if she barely knew them.

The question made her pause and for a moment, the real answer was on the tip of her tongue. "I have insomnia and I'd rather do something instead of staring at the ceiling all night," she admitted instead. Avery loosened the wheels with a quick turn of the wrench in order to take a look at the brake pads, which were in surprisingly good shape. "This bike just needs some TLC, honestly. I think the wheels are just a little bent and it's making them rub up against these pads. The chain needs to be lubricated and tightened up and these tires could probably be inflated. They seem to be in pretty decent shape, it just looks a little ugly. What about you, though? What do you do?"

"If there is even a sign like that," Ember couldn't help but say. "I mean, this is a small community, they might not need a mechanic to be in the shop at all times, maybe they all just know how to reach them if it is something urgent and if not, they just wait or leave things here. It's not like there's much stealing around here, I'd assume."

There was no money as a concept, it was all very idillic system they could keep up, stealing wouldn't quite fit into it and it would be punished severely, Ember figured.

"If you were a machanic before, what made you go with the graveyard as a job here?" Ember couldn't help but ask, curious. She watched as Avery picked up a wrench now, detemined to do the work for herself, and Ember said, "I'd offer to help, but really, I wouldn't be able to do much. I can change a lightbulb and that's about it."

[averymorrisx]

What is something you don't miss from before the outbreak?

"Social media."

[averymorrisx]

today's horoscope: aries

"You won’t hold back in your opinions today and some people are unlikely to enjoy being on the sharp end of your views as to what they’ve been up to. That won’t worry you in the slightest, of course. You’ll call it as you see it."

[averymorrisx]

"I do, actually," she replied, patting the pocket of her vest to pull out the worn silver lighter. It was something she kept on her person at all times, despite the fact she never smoked. Lighters, like knives, were handy little tools and one never knew when it would come in handy. "Don't keep one much?"

Open: Outside the party

"You don't happen to have a light do'y?" Smoking had always been a vice of Diana. Whenever she could now she would try to scavenge some cigarettes. After all, what was the worst it could do nowadays in comparison to everything else? But cigarettes were easier to come by than lighters and matches. She didn't exactly want to go head first into the bonfire this early in the night. So instead Diana turned to ask the person standing nearby.

[averymorrisx]

The world was quiet in the middle of the night and it was one of the reasons Avery picked that particular shift. Not much needed to be done and there were times she could either read or look at the beautiful night sky. She had only just twisted the lens back on her flashlight when someone approach.

"Hey, Salem," she greeted through the door. By nature, Avery wasn't a particularly chatty person, but there were few people who could bring it out in her. She carefully set the flashlight torch-side down and opened the door to let him in. "It's been really quiet most of the night."

closed starter for: @averymorrisx location: graveyard Working for the council often enough meant that Salem was out late. He didn't really mind it. His sleeping schedule was a mess regardless and it wasn't like he wasn't used to being up at night. After raising his siblings, he couldn't even remember the last night he had truly slept through. And it hadn't gotten better when there was a zombie ready to nibble on you at the next convenience. And today was a day where he knew that he probably wouldn't be able to sleep, anyway. So, after having been late at a job site, why not make a small detour out of town? To be fair, they weren't really supposed to be out late, but being a council members had some benefits. And that was how he was now, in the dark, standing at the edge of the graveyard, overlooking the crosses lining the dark. It was an eerie picture. A sad one, too, but Salem never allowed to really dwell on that, how many they'd lost. It was no point in dwelling on it. Salem let out a soft sigh, before turning to his actual target. The small, makeshift hut that had been built for the graveyard keepers. He knew it was Avery's shift. Someone who, just like him, was sometimes unable to sleep. Well, the graveyard was probably an ideal place for people like that. Salem loved his job, but he couldn't deny the benefit of being constantly busy and not alone with his thoughts. So, he knocked on the door to the hut, calling out to make sure he was not going to be mistaken for an undead and shot: "Avery it's Salem. Mind if I come in? Just thought I'd swing by and have a little chat, catch up and all."

[averymorrisx]

The graveyard didn't often see a ton of action, especially at night. If it had been any other place, it was likely horny teenagers wanting to fulfill their Mary Shelley fantasy, even if it wasn't their mother's grave. Oftentimes, Avery's shifts were spent with a worn book or just getting in her steps by pacing the perimeter. It was an unexciting job, but it fulfilled her needs.

Someone crouched down and digging caught her attention and she beamed a flashlight in their direction. "Hey, can I help you?" she called.

closed starter for: @averymorrisx location: graveyard Unlike most of the people in the settlement, Orion was free to roam, especially when out on raids. They were not really supposed to be out at night, but the raiders had some privileges, and one of them was that they were mostly free to come and go. And from what Orion could gather about their head raider, Isaac did not really care all too much about where they went, as long as they came back. Coming back late at night wasn't unusual. And normally, Orion would head for the main gate to be let in. However, after having found the small body right at the edge of the settlement, he knew he couldn't head home right away. It was stupid, irrational, but something had made Orion pick up the cat's body and cradle it in his arms as he walked toward the graveyard. The cat didn't look injured, its body felt a little warm in his arms, so perhaps it had been old age. That anything would survive in this world to die of natural causes felt like a miracle. Orion reached the collection of crosses on the outskirts of town. He never really spent much time here, considering that everyone he had gotten to know in here was still alive. The graveyard was empty, no signs of anyone rising this night. Orion stayed at the outer skirts of it, setting down the cats body gently before he began digging. It wouldn't need to be a deep grave, so he didn't feel the need to use a shovel. The earth was soft and gave under his hands as he dug the tiny grave for the animal.

[averymorrisx]

Avery could feel a half-smile threatening to pull at her lips. "Yeah, but I'm pretty sure we're the only ones here and someone may have forgotten to put an out for lunch sign," she submitted. She gripped the bike and helped flip it upside down. "I'm Avery."

The chain sagged with the action and was rusted nearly beyond repair. Most of it seemed rusted.

"I'm actually really good with machines for the most part. I work in the graveyard at night, but before I came here, I was a mechanic. My microwave needs a part that I can't get by myself. The element's a bit busted," she explained. After glancing around a bit, she found a socket wrench tucked in a bag. While she knew it wasn't a self-serve place, why not at least help a little?

Ember looked over at the pretty woman who arrived at the same time she did, and raised an eyebrow at her in surprise. "You can take a look at-- aren't you a customer here?" she asked and then after a moments pause she shook her head. "Nevermind, yeah, sure, I'd love it if you could take a look."

She turned fully towards her, pulling the bike with her. "I've just found it so I'm not sure how it became like this, but if you could do anything to fix it, I'd be really grateful. I'm Ember by the way."

Ember watched as the woman moved closed and started inspecting the broken part of the bike. "So, are you a mechanic of some sort or just really good with bikes? Or do you work here and I completely misunderstood the you with the microwave situation? Also for the record, either way, I won't be able to take a look at your microwave. It's not my area of expertise at all."