SPECIAL - BALLARD CANNIBAL MISSION

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

With Alex,

Colqhoun-
"Do ghouls try to make other people like themselves? I recall something of this. I saw the pamphlet."

With the others,

The steepest part of the hill leveled out to a more gradual slope. The humans fared well here, but when they finally came upon zombies again, the pathetic beings were slipping and flailing uselessly. Davin took the small about of time required to end the things as they went. His axe sprayed icky chunks into the chilly grey air. Everyone's breath was fully visible, and large snowflakes were falling.

Davin-
"At the bottom of all this, we'll find Leary. Start payin' attention to the signs when the street's level."

[Dr. Jar]

Ashley-

Ashley nods to Davin, and starts watching street signs as he hacks at the zombies who skid down the hill while they travel.

"..hm..."

He studies all the signs surrounding him in the meantime.

[∆§Indea§∆]

Once Davin had finished off the zombie skittles, Micah drew him aside friendfully, keeping an eye on the hearing distance between them and the priest. The wind was working with him but you could never be fucking sure.

"So errm, what do you fucking think of señor Carhoon? Are we being fucking idiots or what?"

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

Patti happened to be near Davin taking out a zombie whose skittering body almost tripped him from behind. She totally heard Micah's comment. She chose to give her two cents.

"We're only being idiots if we don't see the trap coming. His cavalier attitude towards the ghosts was a screaming red flag for me. His facade is slipping. Also, you see how he has been talking to Alex almost the whole time? The boy's monsternip, because they think he's naive enough that they can manipulate him."

"At this point, I think we have to hope the group is as small as he said and isn't the entire congregation. They might have a god-damned cannibal kingdom set up over here for all we know. Just, y'know, stay paranoid."

[DKender]

Alex continued chatting to Colqhoun.

“Yeah, actually! It’s like they don’t realize that zombie meat looks and smells gross. Ugh. It's worse than kale. They’ll offer you the stuff like they’re being generous and then flip out if you say ‘No, thank you very much.’ Maybe it’s instinct. I don’t think ghouls are especially nice. Could be they want company, like you say. Make more ghouls. I should ask one sometime. So, you know what I think? They'd have more luck if they disguised the meat. Just cover the zombie chunks in bread crumbs and spices, or something. It's possible! Chefs like Micah can make SNAILS taste good. It's all about the preparation and presentation."

Alex was full of revolutionary ideas. Maybe he should have run for president after Seth stepped down.

[∆§Indea§∆]

Ears like a bat! Micah looked a little like a rabbit in a trap, he'd been trying to be covert or was it convert? He nodded to Patti with a slightly queasy smile.

"Paranoia's my middle name…if I had one. Hopefully he's just a little fucked up with shock or something.So what do you reckon Davin?"

[Dr. Jar]

Ashley-

Ashley leaned in to listen to their conversation. He liked Davin, and trusted his instincts.

He stole a worried look towards Alex. Was Alex going to be alright?

He realized that Alex was not actually terribly young but sometimes he acted like a boy and not a man. Maybe he shouldn't worry so much? Or maybe it was a reason to worry about him more.

He stopped jogging to stare at the Pastor and Alex with whatever passed for thoughtfulness from him (A slightly confused, mostly blank expression), before turning away from them and nodding at Patti and Micah's remarks.

It was a rare occasion that Ashley agreed with anything Micah had to say.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

With Alex,

Colqhoun-
"... I was thinking, it would be a very lonely life for a ghoul. They must try to change others. But then, you'd think they would disguise the food. Not very clever, they..."

With the others,

Davin-
To Patti, "That's my neighbor." To others, "I'd say keep him outside with someone guarding him, the rest of us go in. How many should stay with him and how many go in, that's the question. Also, if you tough guys have some tactical suggestions on entry, I'm open to suggestions."

[∆§Indea§∆]

"Well, I'm not a fucking 'tough guy' per se, but I say we play along a little and then go in the opposite way he tells us to... Unless that's what he fucking wants us to do? He doesn't seem that fucking menacing on his own, we'd be safe leaving him with one guy, I dunno. What do you think Ash? You've got the bloody real life experience with this shit."

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Davin-
To Ashley - "Were you with the group that met the first ghouls? I know Patti was..."

[Dr. Jar]

Ashley-

"I was not present for any of the ghouls, and as I recall, no one wanted to talk about them, which leaves me knowing close to nothing about the creatures. However; if they are as weak as they seem to be, we can split into two squads and have one group come in from the front and one from the back to surround them and cut off any exits they might have."

Ashley studies them for a moment, and then continues.

"Ahem, if we are still considering peace as any kind of possibility, that may not be the best approach, but you all seem to be sure that it is a trap, so that is my best line of action."

He looks at them all thoughtfully, and then finally stops at Alex.

"Perhaps he should guard the Pastor, since it sees natural enough right now. It still leaves me with concerns."

Alex was, gullible as always.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Davin-
"Yeah, I get the feeling Alex wouldn't be the best equipped to deal with seeing something as terrible as we might run into. For that matter, I'm sure not looking forward to it myself."

[DKender]

To Colqhoun!

"Lonely? Oh, sure. You know, maybe the key to ghoul rehabilitation is ..." The power of friendship. "... a healthy diet. Like. Force-feed them bread and cheese. Good stuff. Are you worried that your friends will all be ghouls by now? Gosh. Hope not."

He wondered what the others were discussing. It would be so easy to chuck a snowball at Micah while he was distracted. So easy. Sadly, this wasn't the time or the place.

But rest assured: revenge, however eventual, would be sweet.

[Dr. Jar]

Ashley-

"...What is your decision, Davin?"

He seems to mean for the approach, ultimately, but it was hard to say. Then again, for Ashley, the sooner they decided the faster he could plan what to do next.

[∆§Indea§∆]

"I'd just like to point out the guy has been to fucking hell. Well in his head, but still credit where credit's due. I reckon he's tougher than you think."