Lucas Watches As Ana Just Sort Of Droops. Like A Flower In Need Of Watering.

Lucas looks up and sees a girl standing at the front desk. She looks lost and scared.

"Hi," he greets, walking over and chuckling. "I am, and yes, we do. We even have a couple of deputies if you can believe it. But it's just me today. How can I help you?"

He stands with his hands behind him, polite and non-threatening, so he doesn't scare her.

nowhere county jail, lucas. @patroclusblossom

Catie steps in. The place feels wrong in ways she can't quite place, but it’s the sheriff’s office, she figures, and she has no idea what else to do. She’d been walking for what felt like hours, the streets of Oblitus starting to blur in her mind.

She’s about to turn around, maybe head back outside and try to wrap her head around any of this, when she sees Lucas.

He’s young, maybe a few years older than her, with dark hair that’s a little too messy for someone in law enforcement. Catie pauses, her thoughts scrambling to form a coherent sentence. 'You're the sheriff?' Her words come out a little sharper than she intends, and she realises she sounds like she’s questioning the whole damn idea. 'This place… actually has a sheriff?'

Lucas grunts, hating that he knows she's right.

"I can't just sit around, Becca. I've got a job to do. People are in danger out there."

He nods at the suggestion of a brace. At least then the pain will be contained.

"Just do it. Jim is probably wondering where I am."

He'd lost his radio somewhere out there which really was the cherry on top of this shithole cake of a day.

based on what he could tolerate, it was definitely a bad twist. even as she was testing his ankle, she could feel where it was starting to swell and get stiff. "that depends, lucas; how far can you get around on it? do you want to try to stand, or wait?"

becca could only guess at this point. her expertise was mostly in the aftermath of lingering injuries, not diagnosing or treating new ones. "i'll try to make a brace either way, but you know it won't heal right without rest."

Adrien instinctually checks his pockets, though he knows he doesn't have matches or a lighter. He does have his mini-tool kit, though.

"Uh, hold on, actually." He pulls out the kit and grabs a couple of things from it. Then, he picks up a streamer that had fallen to the ground and rips a piece off. With some creativity, he manages to light the piece and then holds it up to the joint to light for the guy.

"There we go," he says proudly. "Mind if I take a hit too?"

He'd smoked at a couple of parties. It wasn't something he needed, but he likes the experience sometimes.

to: open event starter! (0/4)

“Got a light?” The words came out rougher than intended, the night pressing its familiar weight on him. Events like these typically followed the same routine: dress up, show up, drift through the crowd with vague nods to faces he was sure he’d seen before, toss back a healthy amount of shots, and then dive into conversations that inevitably twisted into something painfully awkward. This was a loop he coped with by fading into the background and finding some dark corner to lose himself in, if only to spare others from the cloud of smoke he’d bring along.

Tonight, though, he felt the strangeness more acutely. Maybe it was the ridiculous outfit his friends had convinced him to wear. Icarus—because apparently, that’s who he was. Light D’Angelo, the fallen star, tumbling back to earth after drifting too close to fame’s burning heat. A halo of golden twigs sat precariously on his head, while makeshift wings drooped from his shoulders, and golden leaves circled his bicep like some half-hearted tribute to mythology. The costume was more a collection of scavenged scraps than an actual outfit—an oversized white shirt knotted around his waist to resemble a toga, doing little to keep out the night chill. Still, the alcohol coursing through his veins dulled the cold.

He twirled the small blunt between his fingers, lingering against the doorframe as he finally turned to the stranger nearby. The words came out low, almost conspiratorial as he raised the blunt.

“We’ll keep it our little secret for the night.”

Lucas enters, seeing Rae covering a body. The brief look Lucas gets tells him it's not Kina. Which probably means Rae already did her.

"Hope I didn't interrupt," Lucas says gently, shutting the door behind him. "I just had to check in on you."

He steps closer, placing a hand on Rae's back between his shoulder blades. A touch he hasn't done often since they broke it off years ago. It's too intimate for friends after what they tried to be.

But this moment? This moment requires intimacy.

"How are you?"

he should’ve been working, another victim waited for him on the table. instead he sat on the stool & stared blankly at the autopsy notes before him. the knock at the door caught him off guard, the voice less so.

he contemplated telling luc to leave him alone, but knew well enough that he wouldn’t listen. “come in,” rae emotionlessly called back as he got up to cover the occupant of the table — a stranger this time.

"Wow, ten years?" Adrien doesn't even look up from his work as he continues talking. "I thought not really leaving my hometown for that long was bad. But this place?"

He let's out a stream of air in sympathy. He strips off the covering so he can get to more of the wiring.

"I mean, I've got the important bits: monsters that eat people, can't leave town, stay indoors once the sun sets. It's all very Twilight Zone. I guess I'm curious what all you guys do in the meantime? Gardening, scavenging, cooking, healing, that's all good, but that's survival, not living."

she'd forgotten how newcomers could be; so eager to learn and ask questions. its one of the reasons why she never took up a leadership position with the council; erin didn't think that she could keep herself impartial if she got too close to every newcomer. a lot of people didn't make it, she didn't want to sign up for the pain fest it would be when they inevitably died. she hoped that he wouldn't though, that he would somehow break the cycle. she stalls for time, looking around the shop and tinkering with things in the office here and there. "ten years," she replies easily enough, but if you were to know her then you'd notice strain in her voice as she says it. clearing her throat, she continues. "what do you want to know?" better to figure out what he already knows and then go from there.

RAFAEL SILVA as CARLOS REYES 9-1-1: LONE STAR (2020-)

Adrien Ritchie

| Tanner Buchanan & he/him | Welcome to the crossroads, ADRIEN RITCHIE. Another lost soul that stumbled across a fallen tree in their path. They appear to be 22 years old, but it’s hard to tell. The town bares no resemblance to KANAB, UT, are you sure we can trust them? Seeing as they ended up here because, HE GOT LOST ON A CAMPING/HIKING TRIP. They definitely weren’t looking to end up here. Now they’ll have to rely on being UPBEAT AND HELPFUL to survive. Hopefully their AIRHEAD TENDANCIES doesn’t get in the way of that. I guess if we’re going to pass the time tonight, might as well request MEET ME IN AMSTERDAM by RINI. Oh, and one more thing, your new role here will be LEVEL 1 MECHANIC. We’ll be sending out welcoming party over to the COLONY HOUSE. Welcome to Oblitus, the only thing you have to remember, when the sun sets– don’t open the door. (caye, 27, he/him, PST) – no triggers

- how did they find the tree that led them here? what were they doing?

Adrien had been on a camping trip with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, something he really didn't like doing. He'd fallen behind a lot so he didn't see anyone he was with.

He came on the tree and was confused because he'd been on this trail a dozen times before and never came across this. Even a cursory glance showed him that this tree had been like that for years.

Then he saw the murder of crows and tried to get away following a different trail.

- describe your character’s first day/night in town? 

At first, Adrien was just relieved to be among people. Maybe they would shelter him until he could get in contact with his uncle. But then the people explain where he is and a strange mix of fear and excitement settles over him. It's not that he hated living with his uncle and cousins. He just felt there wasn't room for him.

He was led to the Township Hall. Everyone seemed caring and Adrien was eager to stay safe. A place he could step away from family and still lead a simple life? Sounds more like paradise than purgatory.

He gets set up in the colony house and offers to do mechanical work since that's one set of skills he'd thank his family for.

He spent the rest of the day meeting as many people as he could and went to bed, maybe not happily, but better than he had in a long time. He slept through the night, unaware of the danger that lurked outside which (who knows?) might be even more dangerous.

Basic Information

NAME: Adrien Ritchie

BIRTHDAY: July 23

AGE: 22

HOMETOWN: Kanab, Utah

BIRTHPLACE: Boise, Idaho

ORIENTATION: gay

Appearance

HEIGHT: 5' 10"

EYES: Brown

HAIR: Brunette

BUILD: average muscular

RACE/ETHNICITY: white

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: calloused hands, random scars from farm work

Personality & Behavior

HOBBIES: Party dancing (not very good at it), mechanics and engineering, soccer

LIKES: pop, classical, and country music, classic trucks

DISLIKES: metal music, rude people, camping

QUIRKS: likes to learn how machines work, will hum various parts of songs not always the melody, stares into space and dissociates if not actively conversing or working

STRENGTHS: mechanical work, making friends, cleaning room

WEAKNESSES: taking criticism (constructive or otherwise), reading a room, watching movies

Biography

(cw: parental death)

Adrien was born in Boise, ID and is an only child. When he was 10 his parents died in an accident and he was sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and 3 cousins in Kanab, UT. While they took him in with love, there was never a real strong connection between him and them. He did his chores in the house and on the farm, went to school, participated in family gatherings. He was a happy child and on the surface, it seemed like everything was great, and while he made many friends, he rarely made significant relationships, scared that they'll be taken away without warning just like his parents.

The one meaningful connecting he made with his uncle is honing his mechanical skills. Adrien's dad had started teaching him having noticed he liked taking things apart to figure them out. His uncle helped him continue to learn those skills. His uncle though was never good with talking so that connection could only go so far.

Scared to lose the tenuous relationships he had, after he graduated, he stayed there, continuing his life. He didn't do a lot of things for himself except in his room: listening to music, taking apart broken machines to see if he could fix them. He'd go out with friends if they were in town and invited him but his social life wasn't full or fulfilling.

The camping trip that brought him to Oblitus was an unwanted family activity, but he did it because the alternative was hurt his relationship with said family. They did the same hike and camping trip every year so Adrien was very familiar with the trail and wasn't scared when he fell behind. He'd don't that before and his family wouldn't worry.

But then he came upon the fallen and was pulled out of his wandering thoughts and put on edge. This was wrong.

After he settles in town he finds that many people's stories of how they came to Oblitus are similar to his: the tree, the crows, the trail.

For the first time in his life, he feels like he might have a chance to make genuine strong connections. If he does his part and help everyone around him, he can lessen the chance of ever losing the people around him. Right?

"I don't believe in 'not belonging,'" Adrien shouts over the music. "And I couldn't give two shits about protecting these. I've been losing leaves all night."

He grabs Muz's hand and makes him spin. Adrien grins watching him.

Muz stands back, leaning against the wall, watching the crowd surge with every beat, his eyes catching on the way everyone seems to lose themselves to the night. Adrien’s enthusiasm is infectious, like he’s riding the energy rather than standing outside it.

Muz considers it for a moment, glancing at the thick crowd. His instinct is to keep his distance, hang back where the air is clearer. That, and he's never enjoyed a crowd. The noise makes it hard on him to keep track of anything. But Adrien’s out there, on the edge too, and Muz figures what’s one more foot closer to the action? He pushes off the wall, making his way through the edges until he’s within earshot. 'You really think I belong in the middle of this circus?' he asks, raising an eyebrow but warming to the moment. 'Or you just need someone to guard those wings?' There’s a flicker of a grin, something easy, as if he’s in on the joke now instead of standing outside it.

Lucas gives them a small smile.

"Neither do I. And I'd bet my stetson Stassi and Cam won't either. But it's still something to consider."

He cleans up the desk then looks back at them.

"Want me to walk you home?"

ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS FOR A LONG MOMENT THEN . their dark eyes bore into him until they're simply uttering an even, " ... i don't think that's a good idea ."

"I mean, you haven't been dragged off by the sheriff's, so I'd say you're killing it."

He snickers, then his face turns to a determined grin.

"Oh, you're so on."

He walks over and prepares his side. He's only done this once or twice, and he's pretty sure he lost. Though the amount he and his opponents threw up, maybe they all lost.

"So is it like this every year?"

El barely has time to process the flash of movement before Adrien’s arms are wrapped around them in a warm, enthusiastic hug. They blink, momentarily surprised, but then a broad smile takes over their face as they settle into the embrace, giving Adrien a firm squeeze in return.

“Oh yeah?” El chuckles, a playful glint in their eyes as they pull back slightly, taking in Adrien's costume with a look of approval. “Guess I made it hard to track down the towns newest cowboy, huh?” They give their cowboy hat a small tilt, a grin tugging at the corner of their lips. “Good to see you too, Adrien.”

El slaps Adrien lightly on the back, nodding toward the game of beer pong. “Whoever loses has to repair what people break tonight” Ellington challenges him with a grin.