video;

[redwinekindofgirl]

Sooooo everyone noticed the fucking strip mall starting up outside, yeah?

[Julie is standing near one of the outside windows. The 'HOT' part of the 'HOT TOPIC' sign is visible over her left shoulder. Her right shoulder is occupied by a small, cat-like creature that's staring into the camera while Julie speaks.

She jerks her thumb over her shoulder, both eyebrows raised.]

Are we not talking about the strip mall? Is it like the first rule?

[There's a pause, then she tosses her head slightly and grins.]

I'm going to Hot Topic, in like... ten minutes, if anyone else wants to come.

Comments

video; @apocalypseArisen

[livingdeadgirl]

[ Ami fumbles frantically with the camera for a second in her excitement. ]

There's a Hot Topic out there now?!

[redwinekindofgirl]

[And Julie grins.]

Uh, yeah. [She steps a little to the side to show the full sign.]

Looks like it has an airlock or something, so we can even try shit on if it's habitable inside. Are you coming?

[livingdeadgirl]

[ Ami jumps to her feet with fiery determination. ] Are you kidding? Hell yes I'm coming!

[ ... Buuuut halfway out the door, her common sense finally kicks in, and she adds nervously - ] Um. I've never actually been out there, though. Is that okay? I can sort of fight!

[redwinekindofgirl]

Uh... yeah, I mean, I don't see anything out there right now.

[She moves close to the glass, pressing her nose against it slightly to peer outside.]

Should be fine if we're quick.

[livingdeadgirl]

[ Ami nods. ] Okay, then. I'll be right there. [ and video off. ]

[ There's at least one elevator that can take her to the very top. The ride feels longer than it is. She takes deep breaths, trying not to let the mixed excitement and fear get to her. It's okay. She can do this. She won't be alone out there. It's dangerous, but she's done dangerous things before. None of those things were "taking a walk to the mall through an irradiated alien hellscape," but, hey! There's a first time for everything.

It's all going to be okay.

She makes it to the door within ten minutes or so, and greets Julie with a bright smile. ]

Hey there! Ready to go?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Born ready.

[At least she isn't surprised by the way Ami looks. Julie is carrying a slightly dented baseball bat, but hasn't suited up to head outside yet. It's a lot easier to get those suits on when you have someone to help you.]

Don't know about you, but I've been dying for some decent clothes forever.

[livingdeadgirl]

[ As usual, the way Ami looks is "like a teenager who shops at Hot Topic" - or more accurately, "who would shop at Hot Topic if she didn't live lightyears away from one." She's been experimenting with DIY looks out of necessity, stubbornly clinging to her fashion choices despite their total lack of meaning or relevance in a tiny village where there's literally nothing to rebel against or set herself apart from. Today's outfit involves one of her more successful experiments: a black shirt with the sleeves cut off and then reattached with safety pins. ]

Oh my god I know. How is everything here so futuristic and yet incredibly dated at the same time? It's like it was all made for Star Trek.

[audio | @hot.damn]

[circumitus]

What's with the kitty? Can we talk about the kitty? Are there just cats all over this place now?

[And none that look as fucked up as Tripod, apparently???]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Oh, er, sure? It was one of those weird glowy ball things, and now it looks like this.

[And it talks, but only she can hear it, and she isn't going to mention that.]

It's kind of cool. I've always wanted pets.

[circumitus]

One of those?

[Rey's got one, but it's been hanging out in her pocket ever since a fox tried to mess with it. Probably safer in there, anyway.]

Is yours talking to you, too? [Julie might not want to mention it, but Rey definitely will.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

He--

[She hesitates, glancing towards the small cat as it shoots her a sidelong look.

'You might as well tell her, you know'.]

Er... yeah. Yeah, he talks.

[circumitus]

Got one of those too, except... it's not nearly as fluffy and cute as that.

And it also shoots blood out of its eyes.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Er... wow.

[Julie has heard of something like that, but never too much into the detail.]

Like... all the time, or just when it gets freaked out?

[audio | @SCARAMOUCHE]

[numerouno]

Oh Jujubug, baby, you can do better than that.

[He knows it and so should she.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Really? 'Cause like... fucking point me at Ralph Lauren or Louis Vuitton and I'll go there instead. We're not really swimming in options, here.

[numerouno]

You make do with what you got; I'm just sayin' you got a lot.

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Pft...]

I'm making do with what I've got. What I've got is Hot Topic.

[numerouno]

Tell you what, babe: when something high-end shows up, we'll both go.

[redwinekindofgirl]

[She snickers softly.]

What you into? Gucci? A bit of Dolce & Gabbana?

[circumspector]

What's a strip mall?

[redwinekindofgirl]

It's...

[Guess who's never been asked to define a phrase she uses all the time. She makes a gesture to the small row of stores outside.]

Like this. Stores outside with buildings all in a row.

[circumspector]

It has a name?

[huh. Learn some new thing every day. ]

Is there a gun shop there too? I really want to see what they have in the way for upgrades...

[redwinekindofgirl]

Uh... not yet, I don't think, but who the hell knows what's gonna be there in a few weeks.

[Come to think of it, Julie wouldn't object to a gun store either.]

Keep an eye out, one might show up.

[circumspector]

I hope so. I want to build more but it's so hard to find anything good that probably isn't half soaked in radiation.

[ Sigh. ]

Sure thing. If you see any tools, as well, let me know? I need gear to keep my own weapons working well.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Tell me about it...

[She's so used to scavenging, but there's so much here that can't be touched. At least, not yet.]

I mean, it might sound really weird, but I always kinda feel better if I have a gun in easy reach.