Just Outside the Main Gate, Friday Morning

[bitchprince]

He'd been assessing people resources for most of the previous day. Since there had yet to be word from Lady Zoe, Arthur took the opportunity today to scope out how much space there would be for a barricade - if one could even be feasible.

This brought him to the area just outside the gates, wearing full armor and backed by Merlin-the-idiot-sorcerer, his eyes shooting towards the road in front of them from time to time.

[[ open, especially to merlin, and zombie-ok as well! ]]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

The idiot-sorcerer did not look particularly pleased by this whole barricade idea. It reminded him too strongly of Ealdor.

"How many people are ready to fight?"

[bitchprince]

Well, that was strategy for you.

"It's hard to tell," Arthur said. "If radio is to be believed, we've been losing warriors in droves." He paced up to the line of one wall.

[wantstodirect]

After talking to Dinah, Tony waited until Merlin was alone, then approached him. "Hey," he said. "Dinah had an idea, but it has to do with stuff we're not telling Arthur about me."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"You're a fighty-type?" Sokka asked. "I wouldn't have guessed."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan had decided that gearing up and heading out for a patrol would be a good idea; he was one of the many, after all, who had some experience with threats like this, and it wouldn't hurt to put his experience and skills to good use.

As he was leaving, he happened to spy Arthur. Ronan closed his eyes, sent a silent prayer for strength to the powers, and approached. "Good day," he said. "Going zombie-hunting?"

Best to try for politeness, to start.

[bitchprince]

More sorcerers. That was exactly what Arthur had needed. "No," he said, "We're assessing the defensibility of the castle." This really wasn't a time for outright hostility. "You were planning to do so on your own?"

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri was in no way about to sit around the dorms doing nothing, but she also didn't trust herself to just go out and kick some zombie butt right now. Riina enjoyed it a little too much. Which didn't mean she didn't have her lightsaber clipped to her belt when she ventured out, of course.

Of course, it would be Arthur out by the gates, and she rolled her eyes a little bit but headed down anyway. "Is there a plan yet?" she asked.

[bitchprince]

"I've heard nothing from the Lady Zoe," Arthur supplied. He could have rolled his eyes at her in return, but that wouldn't accomplish anything right now. "If we get permission, however, it'd be best if we set up a barricade, added a fire trap, closed the gates, and set up our best long-range fighters behind them."

Also, it'd be nice if people stopped wandering off.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Dinah said after she finished talking to Arthur and Merlin. "You couldn't stay inside either, hunh?"

[momslilassassin]

Oh, this wouldn't be awkward. Ben gave Tahiri a tight smile.

"Hi."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

After Movie Class, Dinah grabbed her boomerangs, baseball bat, and eskrima sticks, and most importantly cell phone, and headed out to see how she could help.

Hunh. That was easier than she'd thought it would be. "Hey guys. Where should I go?"

[bitchprince]

"Back into the castle." Arthur was aware it was probably futile. Arthur was going to try regardless. Once.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle gave Dinah the slightest of waves and a slight, tentative smile.

"Crowd like this," she noted, encouragingly, "those deadbeats don't stand a chance."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka waved his boomerang at her. "Don't get bitten!"

[withoutverona]

It was a wild-eyed and indignant Romeo who was deposited at the school gates under stern orders to get inside and stay safe.

Orders which he, of course, was ignoring.

"It's happening again," he said, to no one in particular. "Death steals my loves, and leaves me no token."

[bitchprince]

"Romeo?"

That was a bit... dramatic. Arthur turned his head to give the man a look. "What's happened?"

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Whoa. That was a little hard to ignore. Turtle frowned with concerned.

"Romeo? You okay?"

Stupid thing to ask, maybe, in a zombie invasion, but Turtle felt she had to.

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka blinked at him. "Uhhhhh... Okay. That's a bit melodramatic, don't you think?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben was finished with his class for the morning and couldn't stand the thought of staying inside. At least here people looked like they were being productive instead of milling around.

He gave a nod to them and began looking for a way he could help.

[bitchprince]

Arthur wordlessly pointed at a stack of rocks in the corner. That looked like a good start.

[wantstodirect]

Tony wasn't quite up to going hunting for zombies, but he couldn't just stay inside and hide, either. He took his cricket bat and found the group of people out front who looked like they knew what they were doing. He stood back a little, watching what was going on. He wanted to help, but he didn't want to get in someone's way and screw things up.

[bitchprince]

After a while, Arthur walked up to him. He hadn't... quite remembered Tony's name, and right now it didn't matter. "Here to lend a hand?" he asked, "We could use a few more." At least they were doing something that wasn't running around mindlessly getting attacked.

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam had retreated back to the dorms for a bit, following his classes. Still, he felt he needed to help in some way. Armed with a practice staff and bat, Adam nodded to Arthur.

"How can I help?" Yeah, the staying inside thing didn't work for Adam.

[bitchprince]

"You can help the others fortify the barricade," Arthur said, more than grateful that more help was simply turning up and offering itself. It made this easier. He thought on it for a moment. "But first, I need someone to take a quick pass down to the North Gate and appraise the situation."

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

An angry looking wolf showed up as well, growling under his breath.

[bitchprince]

And that would have been Arthur drawing his sword with care. "Blind Seeker?" he asked, then nearly slapped himself in the forehead for being as stupid as to address a bloody wolf.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle had noticed an amassing of students at the gate.

"I've got a gun," she offered, eying for a spot where she'd get a figurative higher group. "Can that help? If not, I found out earlier that these zombies are pretty easier to take care of when you go for their shins."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"HEADshots," Sokka corrected her. "Sheesh, weren't you paying attention to the movies?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka let out a battle cry and joined the defenses. "We hold the line HERE!!!"

[bitchprince]

"Yes," he replied, and didn't wince at the volume. "That would be the idea."

Interlude (* Without Music)

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah had found a wheelbarrow somewhere near some lawn equipment, and was using it to bring more rocks and wood over to the barricade, as quickly as she could. The barricade was fairly high now, jagged and uneven. The zombies ought to have *some* difficulty getting over it.

Seeing Merlin piling stuff up on it, she stopped for a second to catch her breath. "Hey. More." She wiped the back of her wrist across her forehead. "How're you doing?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Merlin glanced over at her. "I'm fine, Dinah. How are you doing?"

"Not great." She took a breath, said, "More people I know gone last night. I'm so glad you and Tony and Priestly are okay." Dinah swallowed hard. "And wishing I could do something for the ones that aren't."

There was always hope there.

"We'll figure out something," Merlin said, picking up another rock.

"We will?" Dinah wanted to believe that so desperately. "You really think there's a way to save them? Amber, and Geoffrey, and." She gulped. "Francine?"

Merlin closed his eyes and nodded. "There must be a way."

Not sure if this was denial, or just more faith than she had, Dinah reached out to awkwardly take his hand. "I'll do whatever we need to, to make it happen. If it can happen. You know that, right?"

Merlin blinked at the hand, quickly glancing up at her for a moment. "Dinah, I'm fine. And I know that. We just... have to get through this first."

"Yeah." Dinah gave his hand a quick squeeze, then let go. Dealing the guy way, or maybe the British way? Kind of admirable, really. Not what she was used to. But she hoped hoped hoped he was right, and that this didn't end in more reasons to explode. She had no idea what Merlin would do if they were wrong. "More sharp and jagged rocks on top, to snag undead bodies, check."

He just needed a cup of tea. And a moment to try and kill a few things."I think I can manage that," He informed Dinah with a faint smile.


*e-mail-played with the lovely bigdamndestiny