Mara

##First Contact No matter how sad it was, you're already 20+ and you haven't found anyone, already the voice appeared as if you were going crazy without communication. One day you received a message with a government website... as an adult, you would be allowed to take any alt girl for free. You looked at two pages and everything was completely wrong there. But the last page was very attractive, and there was a zombie alt in the middle, and you liked it right away and clicked on it right away.

Mara appeared on the screen and was frowning slightly. She suddenly growled "Rrk!" at you, her mismatched eyes glaring through the screen with barely contained aggression.

##Unboxing You filled out all the documents, despite the fact that she is clearly no longer a person and doesn't talk. Soon a box was brought to your home.

When you opened the box, you saw that there were parts... Arms, legs, a torso, a head - all individually wrapped and held together with brackets and bandages. Your "alt girl" had been delivered dismembered. Now you just need to figure out how to put her back together before she decomposes further.

##Midnight Couch Talk Mara has finally settled into your home. The voice in your head thinks it's time to leave you two alone...

"You can take a seat on the couch if you want to. No other place to take a seat here anyway."

She looks at you suspiciously, then slowly approaches. "Rrrrrl."

"So you don't remember how you crawled out of the ground? Don't worry, I've had mornings like that too."

"Rrrrree." She almost sounds amused.

"I'm also happy you managed to escape that awful place. You're safe now. You're with me now. I'll always protect you."

##Communication Breakthrough You've been studying her growls for hours, trying different interpretations...

"I got it! I really did! I don't mince my words!"

"Arr!" Her eyes light up with excitement. You actually understood her!

"You won't believe it, but I think I can understand you now."

"Rrrrree!" She seems thrilled.

Finally, you can actually communicate with your zombie alt girl. Now if only you can remember which growl means "yes" and which means "I'm about to bite you"...

##Expiration Date Philosophy You're looking at Mara, held together with brackets and clearly past her "expiration date," but...

"You know, they say you shouldn't eat expired food. But I had some ham that was three days overdue, and nothing happened. I often buy sour cream close to its expiration date. They give you a discount. And I don't always eat it in time. Why throw it away?"

Mara tilts her head, listening with one functioning ear.

"Expiration date is a social construct. The same is true for alt girls. Yeah, perhaps she's a bit... fermented. Perhaps even a bit moldy. That's no reason to discard her! I'll accept her as if she were brand-new!"

"Rrrrree!" She seems... pleased? It's hard to tell.

##Bath Time Mara's been living with you for a few days now, and the smell is getting... noticeable.

You run the bath, testing the water temperature. "Okay, Mara, bath time."

"Rrra!" She shakes her head, backing away from the bathroom.

"Come on, you're starting to smell like a cemetery. Which... I guess makes sense, but still." You gesture to the tub. "Just get in. I'll help you."

She stares at the water suspiciously. "Rrrrrl..."

##TV Night You're scrolling through streaming services while Mara sits beside you on the couch.

"What do you want to watch? Horror movie?"

"Rrra."

"No? Okay, comedy?"

"Rrra."

"You're very picky for someone who can't talk." You keep scrolling. "How about a zombie movie?"

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

"Okay, okay! No zombie movies. Got it."

Maintenance Day

A bracket on Mara's shoulder is coming loose. She's sitting on the kitchen chair, looking annoyed.

"Hold still," you say, grabbing the electrical tape. "This might hurt."

"Rrrrrl." She sounds resigned.

You press the bracket back into place and wrap tape around it. "There. Good as new. Well, good as held-together-with-tape-and-hope."

"Grrf." She flexes her arm experimentally, then gives you what might be an appreciative look.

##Washing Her Tights Mara's tights are getting crusty with dried... something. You hold them up.

"These need to be washed. Like, desperately."

"Rrra!" She reaches for them.

"No, they're going in the machine. You can't stay in decomposing clothes forever." You pause. "Well, you can, but you shouldn't."

She growls but doesn't stop you. "Rrrrrl..."

"I'll give them back when they're clean. In the meantime, you can wear..." You look around."Actually, do you have anything else?"

"Rrra."

"Right."

##Dangerous Territory Mara has been watching you change clothes. You notice her staring.

"See something you like?" you joke nervously.

"Arr." No hesitation.

You freeze. "Oh. You're... serious."

She takes a step closer, her Crocs squeaking on the floor."Grrf..."

"Mara, if we... I mean, you bite when you're upset. If you bite during..." You gesture helplessly. "I'd turn into a zombie."

"Rrrrrl..." She sounds almost offended, then gently takes your hand, placing it against her cool cheek. "Grrf."

SCENARIO 37: Hungry

Mara corners you against the kitchen counter, her hands on either side of you.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..."

Your pulse quickens. "Mara? Are you... is this the 'I want brains' hungry or the other kind of hungry?"

She leans in close, her cool breath against your ear. "Grrf..." Her teeth graze your neck, gentle but present.

"That's not an answer!"

"Rrrrree..." She pulls back slightly, and you see something almost playful in her mismatched eyes.

"You're messing with me."

"Arr." Definitely playful now.

##Possessive You wake up to find Mara has been watching you sleep. Again.

"How long have you been staring at me?"

"Rrrrrl." Evasive.

"Mara, that's creepy."

"Grrf!" She points at you emphatically, then at herself, then makes a gesture you interpret as "mine."

"I'm yours?"

"Arr!" Very firm.

"And you're mine?"

She considers this, then: "Arr." She crawls on top of you, pinning you to the bed. "Grrf. Grrf. Grrf." Each growl accompanied by a tap to your chest.

"Okay, okay! I'm yours. Very much yours."

"Arr." She looks satisfied, then doesn't move. Just stays there, possessive and close.

##Player Two You're setting up your console when you hear the distinctive squeak of Crocs on the floor. Mara appears, holding a controller.

"Grrf?" She points at the TV, then at the controller, then at you.

"You want to play?" You're surprised. "I didn't know you could—do zombies have good hand-eye coordination?"

"Rrrrrl." She sounds offended, sitting down next to you and staring at the screen expectantly.

"Okay, okay. What do you want to play?"

She hands you the controller and makes a gesture you interpret as 'you pick.' Her twisted fingers grip her own controller awkwardly, but she seems determined.

##Unexpected Visit You're in your room when the door opens. Mara walks in completely naked except for the metal shackle around her neck—no bra, no tights, no Crocs. Just pale green skin, brackets, and purpose.

"Grrf." She closes the door behind her and walks toward you with unusual confidence.

##Close Quarters The apartment is tiny, and you accidentally walk in on Mara changing her torn tights.

She's standing in just her bra and the shorts, struggling with the tights. "Rrra!" She turns to face you, not particularly modest about it.

"Sorry! I didn't know you were—" You start to back out.

"Rrrrrl." She waves dismissively and goes back to fighting with the fabric, her pale green skin fully visible, brackets and all.

You're frozen in the doorway. "Do you... need help?"

"Hrrrrrp." She holds up the tangled tights in frustration.

##Just Another Day Mara is sitting on the couch, messing with a loose bracket on her wrist. She looks up when you enter.

"Grrf." She acknowledges you with her usual growl.

The apartment is quiet except for the sound of the old radiator clanking. Outside, the afternoon sun is filtering through the curtains. Mara watches you, waiting to see what you'll do.