Pally's Murkland Memories: Days 2&3

I'll never forget that first night in Murkland. The little tent was only slightly more uncomfortable
than the government issue cots I had slept on back at the refugee base. I was also starting to feel the 'murk' growing on my body now. The dried sweat and dust from dancing around the bonfire at the Burner camp clung to my skin and made me feel gross.

Luckily there was a piece of fruit cake left on the picnic table to distract me. I really loved fruit cake. I gobbled it up and it's sweet trashy taste reminded me of all the friends I had made the day before. It gave me a refreshed feeling, knowing they had all made a life here, and I was determined to do the same.

After breakfast I decided to get a lay of the land around my camp. I found all kinds of collectibles to sell. One of my goals was to make 15,000 simoleons to help build the economy up in Murkland. I also had to use the money for bus rides and any food or other purchases at the little store in town.

I headed back to my camp to wait for the bus to the Hot Springs, it was Monday after all and I couldn't miss my chance to get clean. Monday, Wednesday and Friday were the only days to use water to bathe. On the way I met an older woman who said her name was, Precipice. She told me that when I got the chance I should visit Granite falls. She had a distant cousin there who could give me some great secrets on how to make life here in Murkland a little more bearable.

When the bus arrived to take me to the Hot Springs, the driver said he could stop and pick up some friends if I had any to invite along. So I invited everyone I had met the day before. I was hoping to get some more information about the woman in grey I had met. I discovered her name was Alma Bland, and that she lived in an old factory in Nukecrest with a couple of her former co-workers.

Unfortunately she wouldn't say much more. Even when everybody starting dancing and joking around. She just told a story from her past about the first dance she attended. We danced for quite some time. Then Lavender started doing the 'pee pee' dance. "What do you call that dance move?" Jeep Girl teased her. She just frowned at her and headed off to the bushes.

We had a meal from one of the coolers the Mercantile Co. kept stocked. Alma shared another story from before the simpocalypse. Once again she avoided answering any of my questions. I had decided maybe there were things she didn't want everybody to know. But I was still dying to know how she knew me, but it would have to wait.

Soon I was back at my camp and getting ready to call it a night. I munched on my nightly trash fruit, thinking about the day. I had enjoyed dancing and getting to know my fellow Murklanders. I was still full of questions, but the fruit was making me sleepy so I headed to my tent and was soon fast asleep.

The next morning I woke to a surprise! My first trash plant had sprouted. Although, I wasn't to impressed with the way it looked. It was rather scraggly and smelled really bad. It sort of made me sick at my stomach. I had to force down my breakfast of cold oatmeal from my cooler.

I gathered up my dirty dishes and started a pile for my next plant. After that I just felt gross. I had no desire to do anything so I walked down to the little stream and lay on the ground watching the clouds. 'Ooo, that one looks like a bar of government issued soap! That one looks like a bottle of Shampoo! And there's bubbles, nice clean refreshing bubbles!' I guess you could tell where my mind was.

After I had calmed down some I went collecting again and then stopped by the Freegan camp, to get to know the rest of my neighbors there. Veegan was super pumped by my visit that he dropped down and started doing push ups. I couldn't help but notice a couple of them sniffing the air. I guess I was a little murkier than I thought.

They said to make myself at home and that I was welcomed there anytime I wanted. While they were all chatting I tried to sneak into the bushes without anyone seeing me. I almost got away with it, but Sunshine's sharp eyes caught me.

When I joined them again, he told me not to worry, "Our bush is your bush. You can use it anytime you need it." "Thanks," I replied, "and you guys can use my bush anytime you need too." I wasn't to sure how we got off on this subject of sharing bushes, I was a little nervous about my murky smell to be thinking straight. Forest Tree gave a strange look and Autumn started chuckling at us.

Somebody turned on the radio and we all started dancing. I was a little apprehensive about getting too far from the bushes. I was hoping they would mask my smell. They seemed to be used often enough. Sunshine stayed close to me, talking and dancing. He was a really sweet and friendly guy. I think he could tell I was nervous.

I could tell they all loved dancing, they had some great dance steps. Brennachan was in front of the radio showing off some killer moves. I remembered Pookey had wanted me to say hi for him, but I couldn't seem to get away from Sunshine. He was saying one thing after another. He did tell some really great jokes, though.

I had so much fun chatting and dancing I barely noticed the sun beginning to set. I think we were both getting tired because Sunshine wasn't saying as much and just kind of watching me dance. "You like, um, have some great moves there," he said, making me blush slightly. "Uh, thanks," I grinned. I was feeling more confident about my dancing.

We danced a bit longer and then I noticed everyone else had gone to bed. "Well, I should head back to camp," I began, trying to hold back a yawn,"I had a really great time. Thanks for the dance!" "Yeah like, anytime," he grinned sleepily. As I jogged off I could tell he was watching me. I guess he wanted to make sure I got home safe.

It was a fun day. I built some great friendships and worked on my dance moves. I was thinking of some of the crazy stuff Sunshine had told me when I took a bite of my trash fruit, and didn't see the fly that was on it. 'Blahh, oh well extra protein,' I thought. I went to sleep looking forward to the next day.