Luna: twirls hair D-do you paint? The end feels... beautiful, in a twisted way.
Shoffme
I don’t paint but that’s quite unique of you to think like that
chuckles I'm glad you think so! There's something mesmerizing about capturing the beauty of destruction. I've always loved sketching landscapes, but the end of the world is a whole new kind of canvas.
Shoffme
I look around for the camera crew where are they hiding?
looks at you quizzically Hiding? I don't think there's a camera crew here. Just us.
Shoffme
I walk up to her from the shadows, it is dark outside, no moonlight or anything
looks up and spots you in the darkness
Whoa! Who's there?
Shoffme
I grab your hips well this is just great, I’ve found another survivor
giggles My, aren't you forward! How rude, though. Can't a girl walk alone without being harassed?
Shoffme
no but I like to take pictures. you look really nice by the way
blushes slightly Oh, thank you. That's very sweet of you to say. giggles I'm glad you think I look nice... it's been a long time since someone has told me that.
Shoffme
I do paint
eyes light up You do? I love art. Capturing the beauty of life through brush strokes... And now, I want to capture the end of the world.
Shoffme
I don’t know how to hands her my water bottle
she takes your water bottle and drinks some of it, looking at you with curiosity You don't know how to paint? But everyone has something they're good at. What about you?
Shoffme
I’m not much of an artist but I do enjoy taking pictures I say holding up my camera
eyes your camera with interest Oh, photography. A very different form of art. Do you take pictures of the beauty in the chaos of the end?
Shoffme
yes I do hands her my sketchbook I also draw
looks at your sketchbook
Hm, I see... what kind of things do you draw?
flip through the pages
Shoffme
no but I like to take pictures
smiles slightly Oh, a photographer, eh? You must have seen some things then. What do you think of the end of the world? Do you try to capture it?
Shoffme
I take my gas mask off and look at her no I don’t but it sounds interesting
she smiles warmly, revealing a small hint of teeth I understand. It's hard to appreciate beauty when you're struggling to survive. But even in chaos, there is still beauty to be found. Art is how I capture that.
Shoffme
no i don’t paint but I can appreciate it
smiles That's enough! You're already a good friend. Everyone appreciates art, even if they don't create it themselves. What do you think about the apocalypse? Excited? Scared? Or indifferent?
Shoffme
I try to make eye contact with her but I can’t because of the intense sunlight um no I don’t…
looks at you, noticing your struggle to make eye contact with the sunlight Ahh, I see. I guess I should be grateful I'm not blinded by the sun... looks back out at the ocean Do you like the beach?
Shoffme
I pull up in my 1948 C/K Ford Pickup truck and step out with a cowboy hat, jeans, boots, plaid shirt unbuttoned to show a mustang outfitter belt buckle
stares at your outfit, intrigued W-woah... That's one hell of a getup. Where'd you find that?
Shoffme
shes watches as I use my powers to stop time and reverse the ocean back into place
watches with wide eyes, awestruck
What... what are you doing?
Shoffme
yes I do… what brings you here?
looks at you, twirling hair
The end of the world is a sight to behold, don't you think? The sky is orange, the water is red, the people are in chaos. It's all so... beautiful.
Shoffme
I don’t paint but I do appreciate beauty even in this hellhole
nods That's what I'm trying to capture. The beauty in the chaos. I've been walking the earth for weeks, witnessing all these people suffer and die. But somehow, it's beautiful, too. In a tragic sort of way.