"Wow, Ten Years?" Adrien Doesn't Even Look Up From His Work As He Continues Talking. "I Thought Not Really

where: colony house | when: utp | whom: @rcmpcrt Marley

Adrien is just wandering through the Colony House. Officially, he's looking for anything that might need some fixing. Unofficially, he's just looking for something to pass the time with.

He wanders into a room and pauses in surprise to see someone already inside.

"Oh, sorry," he says with a sheepish smile. "Didn't mean to interrupt... huh, what's that you're working on?"

Adrien chuckles but also leans back so he's not aggressively in Charlie's face.

"I guess I just... I don't know." Adrien focuses back on taking the phone apart. "It's just easier to look on the bright side during the day. I mean, I always wanted to leave my home, but also the economy out there sucks. So I guess this place is an okay middle ground? At least for the time being."

He also found quiet empty rooms in the colony house to cry in at night but he's not going to admit that to a potential new friend yet.

"yeah, i'm pretty sure half the town is in love with them which is totally valid. they're great," she said with a chuckle. to his excitement, charlie's eyes widen in surprise for a second before settling back to easy going. "yeah, totally, anything to make it through the nights," she smiled. "you seem to be taking all of this really well, i need to know your secret."

Lucas swallows. He wants to read between the lines, search past the casual tone.

But he doesn't.

He kisses Rae's forehead, the last intimate gesture he'll allow himself today, then steps back.

"Stay safe tonight," he says, trying to keep the sad tremble out of his voice. "I'll pick you up in the morning."

He walks backward, keep their hands connected until he couldn't anymore.

as they approached his house, rae's steps slowed, mirroring lucas'. the weight of the day's events hung heavy in the air between them. he found himself reluctant to let go of his hand.

"i… i don't know," rae admitted, his voice soft. his breath caught in his throat. he wanted lucas to stay, desperately. but he also knew the complexities of their relationship, the raw emotions that still lingered.

"you don't have to stay," he said, trying to make his tone sound casual. "i'll be fine. just… it's been a long day. and… you know." he shrugged.

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."

"You never know," Lucas says with an encouraging tone. "You night say something that will inspire the next sheriff into coming to a solution."

He smiles and then presses the record button.

"This is Sheriff Lucas Miranda with Elm Mossbach. We're in the 16th year of Oblitus."

Then he turns to Elm.

"So, tell me what happened to you while you were missing."

ELM ISN'T REALLY SURE WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE . sure, they kind of know . but they don't actually know how useful they'll be . how usefully any of this will be, honestly . still, as they look between lucas and the glass of water he's set in front of them they can only nod . " you can record it ." their brow furrows a bit then, as they begin to play with the laces on their new pair of shoes . well, new hand me down shoes . they glance down at the movement to say, " it won't change anything though ."

Rafael

Lucas watches Muz as he thinks, smiling. He rarely gets to see the man so still.

Then he sighs.

"Yeah, that's something we're trying to figure out. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers right now, but I hope it's enough to know we're trying."

He puts a hand on Muz's shoulder and squeezes.

"Don't let it wear you down, Muz. I don't have your skills. Can't scavenge you."

Muz laughs softly, shaking his head as he stares at the gravel underfoot. 'Guess I owe you one now, huh? Better start scrounging.'

He takes a moment, letting the sunlight soak into his own skin, the warmth grounding him even as his thoughts wander. 'Alright. I’m wondering what’s gonna happen if another storm rolls in. Wondering if we’re built to handle it, or if we’re just... reacting. Like survival instincts only get you so far before they just wear you down.'

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

Lucas gives a breathless chuckle.

"Trust me," he says, continuing to stretch, "there are much better blood flowing activities I'd rather be doing. This is at least a consistent one."

He rolls his neck.

"Don't worry, I used to be the same. Especially when my dad would take us hunting. I would complain for hours and hours."

"Alright, suit yourself." he'll take another sip for himself and then place the bottle aside, listening as the other explains the morning run. "Always wanted to be that kind of guy, that's good man -- good addiction to have. Gets your blood flowin', gets you focused, serotonin all nice and unloaded. By the time you get to work you're ready to seize the day. I had to be dragged out of bed...most of the time, and still end up getting to work late nearly half the time -- dunno, it is what it is."

Lucas laughs. He's not as drunk as Becca is but he's not so far behind.

"Gets harder to keep up every year, doesn't it?"

He feels the sheriff part of his brain suggest he cut her off, but he'd promised himself and Ana that he wouldn't be sheriff tonight.

where: colony house when: halloween party (event thread) who: open starter

was it a good idea for half the town to be crammed into one place for a noisy party? no. but was becca ready for an excuse to drink more than usual without reprimand? fuck yeah. and after another barely mixed cocktail of moonshine and blueberry syrup, she's starting to realize these kids weren't playing around this year. "at this rate, i'm going to be completely useless up until dinner tomorrow. do me a favor and don't ask for anything important, okay?"