Noodle Pack 15: Holding it together. Sort of.

[derp_detective]

Action A| Around 1449 Mitchell Road | Back-dated to the 24th

[Despite the fun he had singing with the carolers last month, Gumshoe, deep down, knew it wasn't going to be long before Mayfield would remind him this isn't the most happy of places to be.

Back in a house full of drones, depressing as it is, isn't too bad, it just might mean his not!Family members got to go home, so there's that. But the recent turn of events have definitely put a dent in his smile. Old wounds returning or not healing anymore? He's heard what's happened to some people before, so he can easily imagine what terrible repercussions this may entail. And the occasional phone call has pretty much supported that.

He's been feeling pretty bad at not being able to help anyone, but he, himself, might have lucked out. Apparently, he hasn't received any major wounds. Or so he thought until he noticed the rather grey pallor of his skin one morning. Or the tell tale signs of rot he developed later that same die. Looks like that accident with zombies has come back to bite him in the ass.

Still, from a certain standpoint, this could be worse. He's not hungry for brains, so he won't be terrorizing anyone. And he's still able to move around, so Gumshoe has buried his complaints and just kept up walking to and from work every day. Well, more like shuffled. So feel free to say hello, not like you can't catch up to him.]

Action B | Downtown | Present

[Gumshoe is definitely looking worse for wear, patches of skin having rotted off in the last few days. Not to mention the smell, which has seemed to attract a few flies now. Of course, you might not notice this at first as he's desperately digging through a snowbank along the sidewalk, muttering to himself.]

Come on, come on! They gotta be around here, somewhere! I just had them!

[Seems like he's searching for something, feel like helping a poor zombie just trying to make it through the day?]

Comments

action b

[resuscitates]

[ Dan is making his way around the downtown area with a bag of groceries at hand. He notices a man not too far away from him by a snowbank. Something is kind of...off about him.

A lot of people were experiencing the personal hell of reliving their past injuries. Not too mention the weird case of sudden disappearances and suddenly coming back not too much as themselves. In any case, it made him worry. ]

H-Hey! Are you alright?

[derp_detective]

Eh? What's that?

[At the sudden voice, Gumshoe looks up to see who addressed him. If it wasn't obvious before, it is now that you can get a good look at his face. Gumshoe is pretty much a zombie again.]

Oh, um, yeah, I'm alright.

...Well, okay, maybe not in perfect health alright, but I mean, relatively, I'm alright. I'm just kinda panicked I lost some of my fingers. I just had them here a moment ago and I really need them. I can't do a lot of the work I do at my job without them....

[resuscitates]

[ You would think Dan would be used to seeing the undead at this point but nope. The site of man's rotting flesh leaves him agape. ]

Here-- [ He places his bag down then walks closer to the snowbank where the supposed missing fingers are. ] let me help you out.

[derp_detective]

Oh man, thanks pal. I've been trying so hard not bother anyone, but I could really use the help here...

[resuscitates]

Y-Yeah, don't worry about it. Everyone's got their day here.

[ He kneels over the snowbank. ]

They should be here, right?

[derp_detective]

Yeah, definitely. I just covered my face to sneeze a moment ago. And they were there, but when I glanced down at my hand afterwards, they were gone. So they have to be somewhere around here....

[resuscitates]

Uh huh, that'll do it. [ Sifting through the snow, following any possible huge blood-spots. ]

Can I-- How does your hand feel?

[derp_detective]

[Gumshoe is sifting too, slightly at random, but more slowly just be absolutely sure the snow he's going through is definitely empty.]

A little sore, but not too bad, thankfully. I guess what ever caused this kinda deadens the nerves. I think someone said it was a virus that's transmitted by biting back when it was first spreading through town.

I thought when I died from it the first time, I was just revived like I was before I got it. But I guess it was just the town keeping it bay, maybe? I don't know. At least I don't want to hurt anyone this time.

[resuscitates]

Progress in the making, at least. You're lucky to have your fingers in the snow. [ He stops. Wrong choice in words. ] I- I mean the freezing temperatures will keep them preserved. You'll need to have them put together as soon as possible.

[derp_detective]

Oh yeah, I totally didn't think about the freezing thing! I hope we find them soon though...

b

[omg_firetrucks]

[ Elsie had decided to go downtown in order to do some shopping seeing as everyone else in the house she was in seemed to be quite busy with that was happening. But she couldn't help but kinda over react a bit at seeing a zombie in the middle of the street. ]

U-um, I didn't know zombies were attacking again. I thought they learned their lesson last time...

[derp_detective]

[Gumshoe, engaged in looking in the snowbank, suddenly catch what Elsie said and immediately starts looking around his surrounds.]

Zombies attacking again?! Where?! Don't worry, pal, I'll help stop them!

...Except I can't really hold my gun at the moment.

[omg_firetrucks]

U-um, but you kinda look like a zombie...

[ Elsie is extremely confused, is it just one of the side effects people have due to whats going on? ]

[derp_detective]

Oh, you meant me? Sorry...

I guess that zombie virus thing was one of the things healed by the town when I got it before. Or at least the rotting flesh bit.

On the plus side, I definitely don't want to hurt anyone while I'm like this.

B

[busy_fists]

...You're not looking so good there, buddy. Need some help?

[derp_detective]

Well, if you're not too busy, that's be great.

And yeah, I guess with whatever it is that broke down, I can't be my normal healthy self, but I've been making do. Just it's been getting really hard lately...

[busy_fists]

Maybe you should just take it easy for a few days.

[derp_detective]

Probably going to have to if this keeps up...

To be honest, I'm not sure finding them would help, but I'm kinda hoping I can tape them back on or something to work a few more days at least. Keeping my fingers crossed.

...So to speak.

[busy_fists]

Tape what back on, exactly?

[derp_detective]

...Oh, sorry, I'm talking about my fingers.

[He holds up his right hand, two of the fingers are missing from the hand as he give a sheepish look.]

I've been asked to do a lot of copy work at the office and stuff and I can't really hold a pencil without them...

[busy_fists]

...Huh, yeah, I can see how that might make things a little hard.

[derp_detective]

Yeah, but I'm determined to tough it out, you know?

Folks are going through worse things than me right now...

[busy_fists]

Well, let me help you have a look, then.

I almost thought of having an eyeball fall out in this comment...

[derp_detective]

Oh thanks, pal, I'd really appreciate it. Four eyes are better than two, right?

[busy_fists]

And better than three. Might wanna watch that.

[Dad's only half-joking.]

[derp_detective]

Yeah, last thing I need is more things getting lost...

I thought about maybe doing something about this, but the only way I can think of is maybe dying, and that seems to come with a huge risk right now.

[busy_fists]

I don't think giving up is ever an acceptable way out of a problem.

[derp_detective]

Yeah, I know. I just meant the last time this zombie thing hit, I couldn't get rid of it without getting revived. I'm hoping that won't be the case this time...

[busy_fists]

If it's anything like everything else this town throws at us, it'll wear off on its own eventually.

[derp_detective]

Maybe. I hope so. If this keeps up, I won't be able to do my job or help out...

[busy_fists]

Found one.

[Dad points. He's not really interested in picking it up, though.]

[derp_detective]

Oh thank goodness! One more to go!

[He picks it up with his full-fingered hand and then pauses, as if unsure where to put it, then finally just tucks it into one of his trench-coat pockets.]

[busy_fists]

Looks like you've still got a problem there.

[derp_detective]

Oh, I'll figure some way to get it attached back home. I just want to make sure I find them before they get lost for good.

[busy_fists]

Maybe a visit to the hospital is in order. They say if you keep a severed finger on ice for long enough, they can usually re-attach it.

[derp_detective]

You think that will work? I mean, I'm kinda a special case at the moment, don't you think...

[busy_fists]

Couldn't hurt.

[derp_detective]

Yeah, I'm not really feeling much pain right now, so it sure wouldn't...

Now where'd did that other finger go?