Information

[Jolie Delassixe]

Estella was ok. She'd been watching her closely for the past couple of days, and she really did seem to be all right. There had so far been no instances of the poodle even sneezing, so maybe they were through the worst of it. But regardless, Jolie kept the dog (and herself) largely indoors as much as possible.

The last generator had blown the night before with a fairly substantial pop, and the complete darkness was a total shock for a native New Yorker. She was not going out into that at all, and she wasn't about to venture out even in daylight with the potential to get beat up, raped, killed, or worse. Not if she could help it. She had a feeling that the sharp tongue, upon which she'd relied for years was not likely to cut it in this new world. Maybe for a little while, but it wouldn't likely be long until people realized that there wasn't much behind her bluster.

Estella whimpered and Jolie sighed. They had run out of dog food this morning and she'd been putting off going out to find some for several hours. But she couldn't let her starve either. She stood resolutely and found her purse, then picked up the small poodle, letting herself out into the frightening darkness of the hall. She should find a flashlight, she was bound to bump into someone or something in the hallway.

[Eric Denai]

Eric moved slowly through the now darkened hallway of the motel. He'd left Brandon, his little borther, alone in the room to find food. Neither had eaten in almost two days. Eric didn't care about himself. He just wanted to find foor for his little brother. Well, he wasn't reall 'little.' The boy had just turned nineteen a few months past. But he would always remain Eric's little brother. Eric sighed as he turned sharply into the next hallway, running into someone.

"Oomph!" He uttered, eyes wide, trying to see in the dim light. He was barely able to make out the shape of another human being. Either it was a very feminine man or a female with what smelled to be a dog. A small dog. "Oh, excuse me. I didn't see yo uthere." He mutters, not sure how the woman would take his presence. Most people he'd run into weren't too please by his being near them. Well, most people meant all two of the live ones he'd met in the last three weeks. So he holed himself up here, in the last motel that had a generator. Until the night before.

Eric stands back, wondering what the woman might do as much as checking to see if she was alright. He was somewhat shocked to see the dog. He was so tiny. (She? Whatever ...) He hadn't see nanything so tiny live. His mind wanders off towards his other baby brother. His mother had given birth t oanother child rather late in life. One of those accidents that happens just before menopause takes everything away. (Andrew) He thought sadly. His eyes welled. He hoped that the woman couldn't see.

[Jolie Delassixe]

Jolie gasped, a tiny squeaking noise escaping her as she ran into someone. At least that someone was vertical, was all she could think. She'd run across so many bodies in the light, she was beginning to actually get used to it, but she didn't know what she'd do if she ran into one in the dark. "Who's there?" she asked into the darkness.

[Eric Denai]

Eric reaches out for the girl in the darkness and his hand makes contact wit hthe poodle. A puzzled look crosses his face until the hand finds Jolie's arm. "My name is Eric ... "He starts slowly. He was so not used to finding anyone who didn't run or shout a him. He fiddles in his pocket for his butane lighter and flicks it to find a more than attractive woman standing before him. "Hi ... " He says with a shy smile.

[Jolie Delassixe]

Jolie recoiled very slightly, not used to being touched after the last few weeks in this town. When he lit the lighter, she blinked a time or two until her eyes got used to the light. Then she glanced up at the man who held it. She sucked her lower lip inside her mouth, then smiled at him, meeting his (wow, gorgeous) eyes. "Hi," she replied, her smile growing.

[Eric Denai]

Eric looks back into Jolie's eyes. (Okay, so we've said hi ... Now what?) It had been so long since Eric had talked to another human being other than his littler brother ... His little brother! (Sure, that's just great. Meet a girl and forget about Brandon. Way to go, Eric.) He shook his head at his thoughts, laughing a little. "Um ... "He begins slowly, not sure where to go from there. "I'm sorry, I didn't scare you, did I?" He asked, then remembered her small 'eep' when they bumped into each other. "Is your dog ok? Eric immediately regrets the question. (Smooth ... )

[Jolie Delassixe]

"I'm ok," she answered, smiling slightly. "And so's she, she's just hungry. This is Estella, and I'm Jolie." She'd always been a sucker for a pretty face, especially when that face was attached to a gorgeous body too. "I was going for some food, but I don't really know where to go. Would you like to come with us?"

[Eric Denai]

(Oh, thank god.) Was all he could think. He sighed an internal sigh of relief. "Hello there, Estella." He greeted the small dog. For some odd reason, he loved poodles. He was the only guy he'd ever met that actually liked poodles. Or any kind of small dog, for that matter. He reached out and scratched her little head with his index finger.

"I was actually just heading out to get some food, myself, for me and my little brother." He informed her. "I'd love to show you around." He added with a bit of a sly grin. "I take it you're not from around here?" He asked, noting her clothing and mannerisms. Not exactly what you would normally see in this city.

[Jolie Delassixe]

Jolie smiled, watching him greet her dog. She certainly had a soft spot for anyone who liked Estella. So if she hadn't already thought he was attractive, his talking to her dog would cement that. The poodle licked his hand enthusiastically, wagging her pom pon of a tail. "We're not, no," she affirmed. "We came from New York a couple of weeks ago."

[Eric Denai]

Eric grinned as Estella accepted him. Chances were always good that if the girl's dog liked you, you had a better chance. "New York, I used to live there." He told her, offering his free arm for her to loop hers into. He keeps the lighter lit until they get to the exit. "I used to live a lot of places ... "He says, trailing off.

[Jolie Delassixe]

"Where in New York?" she asked, smiling coquettishly and taking the proffered arm. "I'm from Brooklyn. Fort Greene, specifically."

[Eric Denai]

Eric begins to lead the woman down the hall towards the exit as he thinks back, holding the lighter in front of them so they could carefully avoid t bodies. (Someone should really do something about them ... They're going to start smelling awful soon ... Well, moreso than they do already.) As he thinks this, he steps over the body of what looked like a rather old business man. He wore a suit and tie, had a brief case; brown leathe, and wore shiny black shoes. "No kidding!" He exclaimed, glad to have a distraction from the hideousness of the current world they lived in. "I lived on Cumberland just down the road from there!" Eric shook his head. "When were you there?" He asked, leading her into the front lobby of the motel. He looks over at the fireplace and wonders if it were a real fireplace or just one of those fake gas ones.

[Jolie Delassixe]

"Lived there my whole life," Jolie answered, following him out and pointedly ignoring any and all bodies. "Up until a couple of weeks ago, that is."

[Eric Denai]

Eric leaves go of Jolie's arm only for a moment to hold the door open for her like a gentleman. "Odd we never ran into each other." He observes. "Though it's a large place ... " He hadn't really involved himself much in the city. He was always looking out for his little brother.

[Jolie Delassixe]

Jolie nodded her head slightly at Eric, taking his holding the door for her simply as her due. Though born in the North, she was a Southerner at heart. "City of eleven million people, can't think why we never ran into each other 'til now," she answered, a flirting note to her voice. Except . . . now the population was substantially less, wasn't it?