“dunno ‘bout that. i’d say i got pretty lucky, it being you.” the comment came offhanded, but he didn’t think he’d meant anything more in his life than that. especially considering some of the people he’d met since the world had come to an end. hell, even those he had met before couldn’t hold a candle to this guy so far. meant it even more once the food and water came into view. bottled water even. fuck. he wondered briefly if it was that pure shit, or just a reuse of the bottle. he didn’t care, either way.
it took a boat load of restraint to keep himself from digging in and downing the fish on sight. he had to pace himself, he knew. still, the first thing he did upon obtaining the package was to open it and help himself to a piece. held it in his mouth as he moved to shove the rest in his own pack. as he did so, he pulled the gummy vitamins out and offered them in return. he hated to see them go, but it was definitely worth the trade.
feet shuffled uncomfortably as he considered the question, eyes downcast and teeth working on another bite of the fish. not that he was trying to think of a convincing lie, just – no, he hadn’t really known it was that weird. chris knew as well as any that people tended to flock together, but – “i… dunno, ‘ve never really had anyone. s’just kinda… normal, now.” somehow managed to make that sound even less important than the statement before it as he did his best to return the smile. mostly genuine, if not a little sad. “n’not everyone you met nowadays is as nice s’you’ve been.”
words were met with little more than a roll of russet eyes . though eric may have been friendlier than most , there were still far better options as far as meeting strangers went . someone who was less willing to offer a smile but better equipped to offer assistance ? THEY would have been better . vitamins for fish couldn’t have been the trade he had in mind && UGH there it was ;
a slight grimace fell upon sharp features as eric watched the other man happily tear into chewy fish . it had been great , at first , anything would have been . but it hadn’t taken long before even the smell of one of those packets opening was enough to make him ill . soon enough it would be time to enjoy them again && venison would take its turn in the NO pile but until then ? eric was more than happy to dish out fish to those in need .
❝ you aren’t alone there … ironically . ❞ eric would admit . ❝ alone seems to be becoming more and more normal i could never do it , i royally SUCK at alone . ❞ becoming more common , but still , for the moment , a strange thing to come across , especially when paired with lockup orange .
less c o l o r f u l than he remembered , eric gave the vitamin bottle a once over before stowing it away . there were a handful of children who could use them , but he was fairly certain they’d go to the community’s newest member she was the youngest , had gone the longest without vitamin rich food , && to top it all off , her dramatic ass father probably wasn’t above killing for them . ❝ thanks for these , they’ll go a long way … maybe . probably not , actually , but they may do something worth while . help her grow a tooth or … something . ❞ nice . ❝ all the stuff you have , is it from here , or have you traveled far ? ❞
