Lucas Snorts. "With You? I Don't Think He Ever Is."

Lucas gives a friendly chuckle at the jokes.

He checks the sky. If they hurry, he can get Lena back into her house, then himself to his own.

"Okay. I'll provide a police escort today."

He offers an arm to her, like he's a gentleman.

Right. Most people were still afraid of the dark here. Maybe she should have been too, if not given the circumstances. "I don't know, my goose hasn't been cooked in a real long time." She halfway laughs, her own joke- but still. "See any ducks around?" Her nose wrinkles in a smirk, but then she lets out a small sigh and a shrug of her shoulders. "I forgot what time it was, and I was already halfway there so- plus I don't wanna' miss anybody. Sometimes they try to sneak into the kitchen early, and get out before I get there." She'll point gently over her shoulder. "You can escort me, if you'd feel better?"

They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered.

F. Scott Fitzgerald / This Side of Paradise

Adrien's eyes nearly pop out of his head in excitement.

"Oh good! At least there's some more gay solidarity."

He laughs.

"I mean, it depends on how old you mean by old. And I'm here at the colony house, yeah. Where do you live?"

CHERRY BRIGHTENS AS SHE TAPS HER GLASS TO HIS . she takes a sip of what's definitely not water in solidarity before she's brightening a bit as he goes on . " oh shit, you're gay ?" cherry's gasp is one of drunken excitement as she smacks him lightly on the arm . " fuck, me too !" cherry nods sagely for a moment before she's adding, " also i'm honoured you think i know shit . appreciate that ." she pauses a moment to hum thoughtfully as she tilts her head and adds, " the guys i know who're into dudes are older than you though ... " she squints . " you like old ?" there's a beat before she adds, " also, where're shacked up ? here ?"

Adrien chuckles weakly, still pushing.

"No treehouse, and if someone does figure out a way out, I'll help them build it, but I'm not the one coming up with it."

He pauses for a moment to get the truck over a small hump in the road.

"Nah, more just trying to make life here suck less, I suppose. There aren't a lot of cars that work here. This is fully electric, so I figured I'd see if I can get it working. If not then I'll strip it for parts."

He chuckles again.

"Not fate. I'm just not as bothered as some people are."

mira chuckled under her breath, the sound dry but not unkind. "impatient and dumb? well, at least you're self-aware. that's a good start." she braced herself against the car, her boots digging into the asphalt as they worked together to push it forward. her muscles protested immediately, a reminder that she'd been running on adrenaline and not much else these past few weeks. "interrupt? please." she rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching up in a smirk. "you think i had something better to do in this place? trust me, you’re doing me a favor. beats pacing around colony house trying to avoid everyone's drama or sulking." her gaze flicked over to him, studying his profile for a moment as they trudged along. "so, adrien, right? what kind of 'projects' are we talking about here? you building a treehouse for the end of the world, or are you one of those people who actually think they can science their way out of this nightmare?" she huffed a little as they hit a slight incline, her smirk deepening. "or maybe you’re just hoarding random junk to keep busy. i’ve seen a few people try that trick. spoiler alert: it doesn’t work." she adjusted her grip on the car and added, her tone light but tinged with a hint of sincerity, "and for the record, you’re not annoying. yet. but if you start talking about how this is all fate or some crap like that, i might change my mind."

Adrien is so fucking confused. He's pretty sure he's never seen this town anywhere near the hiking trail.

Now it's pouring rain and... what the fuck are those in the trees?

He immediately runs when the guy calls, slipping into the house. Literally. Slipping onto his ass on the hardwood floor. It hurts but at least he's inside.

"Ow."

He looks up at the man.

"What's going on? Where am I? What are those things?"

Then he notices the small girl peaking out from a door frame.

"Oh hi," he says, putting on a smile and waving. "I hope I didn't scare you. Didn't mean to."

location: kang household open: 0/3

it all happened so quickly. one moment, daehyun and his daughter were simply enjoying time out on the porch before the rain began to pour. it wasn't unusual to get rain every so often, but this storm in particular was very unnerving. the dark clouds that had rolled in had daehyun rising to his feet--and then he saw t h e m in the tree line. with color drained from his face and the lunch he had eaten only a short while ago churning in his stomach, the teacher snatched three-year old bella up in his arms without a second thought. " get inside! " he yelled out, directed mostly at the person passing by on the worn sidewalk. " come on! " he called again as he carried the toddler inside, looking back out from the open door to ensure the other was close behind. if they didn't get up on the front porch in a few moments, daehyun already knew he'd be locking the door without them inside. thankfully, it was but a second or two later that he was able to shut the door securely behind the other, latching the lock and ensuring the amulet was securely attached to the wall beside the doorframe.

RAFAEL SILVA — via Instagram (2024)

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

Lucas sighs. He'd gotten held up at the station, but he can only blame himself.

"I know, I just... maybe some company isn't a bad idea?"

He pulls a chair up and slumps into it with a huff.

"How was your day? Liking any of the new people?"

open to all. community kitchen.

She staid behind after dinner, wrapping up the dishes, sorting the rations. The place was getting dark and it won't be long before sun set into another night. Another living nightmare. -- Bruna smoked her joint, not bothering to air out the small room in the back as she settled into a cozy chair made out of old leather car seat and cracked open a book. "No food, dinner was wrapped an hour ago -- you should get home it'll get dark soon." she doesn't look up, and her tone is as monotone as it can get. "You could stay here and keep me company if you want but, I am not in my 'fun' mood today so I'd advise against it."

Lucas let's out a small wet laugh.

"That's actually really comforting."

He wipes his face and stands up straight. He turns to face the man.

"I'm Lucas," he says, holding out a hand. "One of the sheriff's. You're Hollis right?"

The mention of the blood trail sends a chill down Hollis' spine, but he tries not to let it show. Instead, he steps a little closer, careful not to get too close, but enough to feel present. "I'm sorry," he murmurs.

"I don't think...you ever really get to say goodbye. Not in a way that feels right, anyway." His gaze drifts back to the grave. "But...maybe that means they're still here, with you. Somehow."

It wasn't exactly comforting, but, it was the only thing he could think to offer. The same uncertain, fragile connection that he clung to himself.

"Well then, I guess you need to catch up."

Lucas reaches over and grabs a bottle of vodka and a couple of shot glasses. He pours them both one and holds his up for a toast.

"To not being too old to party."

she groans because it's true, but becca waves him off for being too nice. "oh, come on- talking like you're someone's grandpa..." tonight wasn't supposed to be for complaining anyway. "or maybe everyone else is just sprinting ahead. i didn't make these drinks."