Wellspring Arms & Meditation Center, Wednesday

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

They were in ancient Egypt. Cable hadn't taken any chances: he'd gone off-island yesterday, not to play tourist, but to make absolutely sure this wasn't his universe's ancient Egypt. He had good reasons for it.

He just wasn't going into them.

He'd left Jan upstairs just in case before opening up the shop, HELP WANTED sign joining the little one that read Open. Sat down, stared out the window, not that he could see much of Alexandria from here.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

After class, Columbus headed over to the Wellspring Arms. Granted there was no zombies on the island (Not counting the ones at Caritas. Columbus hadn't been there yet.) but Columbus felt it was time to stock up just in case.

Plus he needed to send another "care package" back home.

"Hi," he said cheerfully as he approached the counter. "Exactly how many pump action shotguns do you have in stock?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"A few," Cable said, giving the new guy a look to determine his mettle. "We don't sell firearms to students."

Columbus looked like he could barely lift one.

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

In truth he looked rather awkward whenever he did carry one.

"I'm not a student," Columbus said with shrug that said it was a common misconception. "I teach a survival class up at the school. Thought it might be wise to stock up if I have to return home."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable... continued to look mostly inscrutable about it all, though if you were looking really carefully, you might be able to find like a quarter inch of amusement. Somewhere. "We tend to avoid selling firearms unless there's an emergency," he said, dryly. "'Stocking up' doesn't fall under our parameters..."

He hadn't said no yet, which was... mostly an invitation to share your story or get out.

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Well the guns come in pretty handy back home," Columbus explained, catching the gist of what Cable was looking for. "Though I'm not sure exactly when or if I'll be heading back. Several months ago a virus hit the United States. A mutated version of the mad cow disease. Except instead of mad cows it turned almost everyone into mad zombies. Since then it's been pretty much a survival of the fittest."

Though looking at Columbus, you wouldn't think of him as being able to survive anything.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Though looks could be deceiving.

"Zombies," Cable repeated. "And you're thinking about going back there at all...?"

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"I have-"

Columbus fumbled for a moment trying to think of the best way to describe Tallahasse, Witchita and Little Rock.

"Family. Of a sort," he said feeling uncomfortable with the term. "I know it's safe here but I feel... obligated to go back. If that's possible."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"It usually is," Cable said, "But sometimes you have to sit out your stint... hm." He glanced over his shoulder towards the shotguns. "And you want to buy to resupply?"

Columbus didn't seem to be lying, but...

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," Columbus said with a solemn nod. "Along with any ammunition. I highly doubt I'll use any of the inventory on the island as it seems rather safe. I may be back for additional supplies when my line of credit allows."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable looked at him again for a long few seconds.

"If I find you using these on-island outside of an invasion or a shooting range," he said, conversationally, "They're coming right back here." Beat. "And I'll need to see your license."

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Oh! Sure!" Columbus said with a few blinks as he reached for his wallet. "That shouldn't be a problem. I mean the island seems pretty safe and-"

Wait. Did he say invasion?

"Did you say invasion?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Zombies were two years ago... so I don't think we'll be seeing those for a while..."

Mighty reassuring, Nate.

"We have a little trouble every few months."

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Oh!"

The was a couple of quick blinks as that Columbus let that fact sink in. Then he shrugged and pulled out his driver's license.

"Okay, then. Will this suffice for ID?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable picked it up and gave it a once-over. "Alternate Earth?" he checked, snagging a form and a pen.

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"I guess. Everyone else seems to be zombie free," he said with a shrug and then gestured at the license. "By the way, that's not what I go by anymore. You can just call me Columbus."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Alternate Earth, he jotted down. "Like the explorer?"

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Like the city," he replied. "Back home we just sort of... stopped using our old identities. What we were doesn't matter much so we adopted where we were from as who we are."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Columbus Ohio?" Cable said, but he was already jotting it down. "Sounds like there aren't too many of you left."

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"Right," Columbus said with a nod. "So far I've only ran across four other survivors."

A frown. Oh, right. Bill.

"Three others really."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"No rumors about safe havens, no safe spots in the mountains...?" Cable scribbled a few more things onto the form. "Year of exit?"

Fandom paperwork was special paperwork.

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"There's rumors about a zombie free zone," Columbus said as he leaned against the counter. "Some say it was on the West coast. Others say the East. Honestly? I think they migh have been talking about this place."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable hummed something in acknowledgement. "Multiversal nexus," he said, "So it's doubtful. Year of exit?"

[shotbillmurray.livejournal.com]

"2011," Columbus replied running his hand over his hair. "Not really sure of the month but we seem to be in the same season."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"All right." He jotted down 2011. "Point of exit?"

Beat.

"Welcome to Fandom. You'll have to get used to the paperwork."

[heromaniac]

Momoko headed into the Wellspring Arms for the first time in a loooooooong time and sighed, setting a box on the counter. "Hello Again!! I have a totally weird situation and I was hoping you could help?"