Vantage Points [semi-open]

[shiftingurbulls]

Who| Ellis and the Walking Dead group or anyone who passes by
What| Meeting fellow zombie-apocalypse survivors
Where| Around the caves and glaciers
When| Week 3 before the Guido Suit massacre
Warnings/Notes| Language, talk of Gore...usual business

Ellis had to admit, the sponsors were kind to him to get him all warmed up and armed. Granted it wasn't a rifle like Nick and it was terribly lonely to wait for him to come back from whatever he was doing. He'd told the man to rest for a day in their cave, there wasn't that much need to hunt or defend themselves. Nick, this isn't Georgia, we don't have medkits lying around for us to find. Lay down an' recover, okay? But like hell Suits listened to him. He barely did back home!

Beth implied there were more survivors out there from his home state (halleluyah!) and Ellis knew that as soon as Lt. Raine gained a weapon, he'd be more than fine on his own. So the mechanic grabbed the nearest rock and scratched on the wall a message for Nick to find if the gambler came back before he did:

"LEFT FOR SUPPLIES, BE BACK SOON."

With that, bundled up and the small pocket knife on tow, Ellis set out to explore the Arena again now that the cats were gone.


A. Cave Story

The caves around this land had proven to be a challenge for the ever-curious man to explore and forage in. There was evidence of other people living in there, more experienced Tributes in the art of putting the best and bloodiest show the Capitol could see. All El could get out of these were scraps he could either consume or build trinkets to beat the boredom. Every time the mechanic ran into a campsite, he'd slow down his paces, avoid making unnecessary sounds as to not cause a fight. For all his boisterous acting, survival usually trumped his itch to say hello to anyone he met. Not everyone was as friendly as he was, Nick reminded him so many times back home.

"Hello?" Ellis called out inside, making sure he was close enough to the exit to make a quick getaway. Anyone returning his greeting would see him raise his weapon first before he relaxed.


B. Self-Imposed Challenge

"Okay, tha's impressive," El whispered under his breath as he admired the glacial majesty before him. He felt so tiny and insignificant against the massive structure. Naturally, he said to himself, "I'm gonna climb it." How he survived the Green Flu outbreak is sometimes a mystery. The thing about glaciers is the sheer difficulty that comes with trying to get footing without the proper shoe wear as the mechanic soon found out after a few unsuccessful tries at crossing the river to get to it. "Fuckin' hell," he hissed under his breath before giving up, "Coulda made for a good vantage point."

So the next best thing were the trees, something he had more experience in. It was how he kept whatever meager supplies he could find safe from any slippery hands. He was young and flexible enough to make his way up the branches. Anyone looking up will see a grinning idiot ready to say hello or pounce and get their supplies then disappear into the wilderness if they proved to be untrustworthy. Though Ellis had a fatal flaw in his plan: he wouldn't kill the target. These were thinking people, and he refused to commit murder.

Comments

[weaintashes]

As was his wont, Daryl let Rick end the eye contact without comment or any particular change in his expression. He trusted that whatever the concern might be, it didn't have anything to do with their guest; where others would find an unreadable mask, all the finer nuances of emotion that might cross Rick's face were usually as blatant as spoken words to Daryl, and that hadn't been a look of warning.

Ellis had said he and his companion with the saber-tooth tiger wounds were on their own, which could only mean the first-aid supplies they'd handed over would be used for Nick. It did help putting a face to their mystery beneficiary, especially when it turned out to be someone Daryl didn't resent helping. Good first impressions could go a long way.

"Sounds like I just caught 'im at a good moment," he replied, and his uncertain caution practically echoed Rick's question to Ellis. It was only to be expected that he and Rick would find themselves on the exact same page, wondering what it was Nick had been getting up to that might warrant Ellis's overly apologetic reaction on his behalf. At the same time, he couldn't help but be reminded of how he'd defended Merle on occasion — as a younger sibling preemptively trying to smooth things over because it was inevitable that his older brother would royally fuck up, and usually sooner rather than later.

This wasn't exactly a point in Nick's favour. If he was anything like Merle, trouble was goddamn guaranteed, and Daryl didn't want his family or himself anywhere near it when it happened.

[shiftingurbulls]

"He's a drifter sorta guy, mouthy an' tends to bitch more than he thanks," Ellis described Nick as best he could without giving away that he was a conman before all this. No self-respecting man walks around the zombie apocalypse in a suit and calls himself a legitimate businessman. "He was a poker player." Close enough, "Usually a loner, you know?"

He had no idea what Nick would do in the future, "He does wha' he needs to survive...I don't necessarily agree with bein' so reckless. He does it...to keep me an' my group safe."

[rictator]

It always seemed to come full circle, falling back into the same familiar theme; there was nothing reassuring about a man with something to lose. If Nick was serious about protecting his people, about protecting Ellis, then 'reckless' was a mild way of putting it. Rick had been on both ends of that particular equation, and a singular encounter with Nick - particularly at the beginning of the arena, before conditions had worsened - wasn't likely to be a completely accurate gauge of character. Desperation changed a man.

The muscle in his jaw worked as he clenched his teeth, casting a downward glance back at the supplies that Daryl had prepared. They'd agreed to help, and he wasn't about to renege on that offer just yet - but that didn't stop him from considering his options. Sending him on his way with nothing was a sure way to end any potential alliance they may have had - and was just as much a risk now. If nothing else, following through with their original plan might have at least bought his silence.

"Best you keep this between us, then," he concluded, his expression daring the other to say otherwise. This was a onetime deal - There was no reason for him to go running his mouth, telling Nick where the stuff had come from. Rick wasn't looking for gratitude.

He offered a brief tip of the chin to Daryl, his own affirmation that he intended to follow through. They'd been lingering too long for his liking, and it was better that they get this wrapped up - preferably before Beth's return. Her presence was just going to add another layer to an already complicated situation, one which he would much rather avoid.

[weaintashes]

The picture that was being painted of Nick made him sound downright hot-headed under normal circumstances, the one willing to get his hands dirty for the sake of the others in their group — and quite possibly enjoyed doing so. First impressions really could be misleading, sometimes, a thought which had Daryl openly subjecting Ellis to a look of narrow-eyed scrutiny for several seconds.

This did lend some credibility to previous claims of Nick having been injured by the tigers, at least. He was pretty sure that tale was true, but mostly because Ellis struck him as a poor liar.

"Hopin' we don't run into each other again here. Arenas ain't really the place for gettin' to know people," he said lightly, his friendliness not entirely contrived at this point. Ellis seemed like a lost puppy one of the good guys, and if this gesture of good will didn't come back to bite them on the ass later, it would be a pretty solid foundation for future alliance-building. At Rick's acquiescence, he pushed the bundle of supplies into Ellis's hands. "Reckon we'll see you 'round afterward, maybe hit the Training Center bar together. They got some good shit. Good luck out there."

They would all have to live with each other after the arena was over, and depending on Ellis's intentions toward them, it could serve as either an amiable reminder or a subtle threat. Preferably they would all share a round or three at some point.

[shiftingurbulls]

Ellis nodded at these offering and grinned at the thought of sharing a beer with them, even honored as he grabbed the supplies. He gave the two a salute and stepped away. "Thank ya an' here's hopin' we get to the finish line!"

If only the young survivor know the fates would turn out but he feels...okay with getting these supplies to Nick. Even as he knows the man will end up killing a few Tributes, he doesn't realize just how screwed up the count will be. And how close one of those bullets will hit Rick and Daryl's camp.

[rictator]

With Daryl handing over the supplies, Rick made one final sweep of the tree line, keeping an eye out for any signs of movement. He was willing to accept Ellis' story about his friend by this point, but the transaction had taken longer than he would have liked; the last thing they needed was for anyone else to stumble across them. Their location was secure, but it wasn't unreachable - This meeting alone had proved that much.

He had to restrain himself against shaking his head at the second salute, the ghost of a smile creeping across his lips as the other man took off, finally making the move to sheath his weapon.

The 'finish line' was a grisly thought, all things considered. Out of the three of them, the odds were that none of them were going to see the end of the arena; even if one of them did manage to step out on top, the other two would have been casualties of that win. There was no real victory to be had here - It only served to mark the end of one game, and start the wait until the next.

But... Rick understood the sentiment behind it.

With Ellis disappearing into the forest, his eyes were back on his partner, offering him a brief nod along with his own silent gratitude; had it not been for Daryl's subtle guidance, he might have let him walk... or worse. Helping him, even if it had taken Rick time to warm to the idea, had been the right move. It still wasn't a kindness he'd have extended to most, but Ellis didn't strike him as a bad guy; while he hoped not to see him again within the confines of the arena, crossing paths back in the Capitol wouldn't have been terrible.

As he headed back toward the cave, he brushed his hand against the other man's shoulder, the contact fleeting, but enough. Beth should have been back soon - Best they get things organized before then.