Lucas Nods, Then Stops The Tape Recorder.

where: town streets | when: midday | whom: open to all

Adrien groans as he slowly pushes the car down the street towards the Chop Shop.

He'd found this while doing a scavenging run with Muz yesterday, just to see what it's like. Everyone he'd talked to was busy today, so he'd worn his tank top, jeans, and sturdy boots today, got the car into neutral, and was slowly pushing it through town.

It had been fine for the first five minutes or so, but now he's mentally kicking himself for not just being patient and waiting for people to help him.

Adrien nods in understanding as he smiles at Muz.

"Well, if it's any consolation, you're not bringing me down."

He leans over to nudge Muz with his shoulder and a snicker.

"You'd have to be a major asshole to bring me down."

His head, this brain, this place. All things impossible to dodge. 'You're spot on, you know. Nowhere to dodge stuff here.’ He gives a wry smile. ‘Just-‘ he hesitates for a second then falls into a breath of a sigh as he looks out on the water, back at Adrien. ‘Crap. All kinds of crap.’ Muz makes a vague gesture to his head. ‘Don’t wanna bring anyone down. More than they are, anyway.’

Adrien listens as he works, El's voice very soothing in contrast to the familiar sounds of work.

"Yeah, Cameron's cool. She's lives at the colony house with me."

Then Adrien lifts his head to look toward El. Cherry? Complicated? "She's seems like good folk, though. Don't see what could be so complicated." He ends with a smirk on his face, teasing El a bit.

Then he turns back to the work as he talks.

"I'm trying. There's some really interesting people around. Like that, Muz guy. He seems cool."

Ellington’s hands paused over the engine, the faint grin on their face softening at Adrien’s words. The moment felt lighter, somehow, despite the heavy things they’d both touched on. They tilted their head, giving Adrien a sidelong glance.

“Solid people make all the difference,” El said, their voice low but warm. “Sounds like you’ve had a few of those in your corner. That’s not nothing.”

Adrien’s question brought a small chuckle out of El as they leaned back against the workbench, arms crossed loosely. “Friends? Well, I wouldn’t say I’m drowning in them, but I’ve got my people. Cameron’s one—she’s good at grounding me when I start thinking too much. Low-key but solid, like the kind of friend who can share a drink in silence and it still feels like a conversation.”

They glanced at Adrien with a knowing smile. “And there’s Cherry. She’s… complicated. Keeps me on my toes, though, which might be why I stick around. Or why she sticks around me—hard to say.”

El shrugged, their grin turning a little self-deprecating. “But I think you’re underestimating my loner tendencies. I have my people, I'm a friend to everyone, but I also spend a lot of time alone or... I used to. Seems like that might be changing nowadays,” in their minds-eye, Cherry's face appears and they can't help the little grin that appears on their lips.

They picked up a wrench, turning it idly in their hands. Their eyes flicked back to Adrien, their tone a little softer, more thoughtful. “So what about you? Got your people here yet?”

I think about this look daily. The hair. The shirt. Him. 🤭

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CARLOS REYES 9-1-1: LONE STAR (1.02)

Lucas raises an eyebrow. Ana had said the talk with Cam had gone... as well as can be expected for the two women.

"I can do that, but I'm still going to tell her what's going on. She'd skin me alive if I didn't."

He can see on Cam's face that she's in the same emotional boat as Ana; which is to say: an old dinghy that's got more leaks than boards in the middle of the ocean.

"Maybe I should just take this all to Santi," he tries, testing how Cameron will react. He reaches for the folders he'd just placed down.

cameron nodded, "yeah, i have a feeling that the next few days are going to have a lot of work in store for us." they've never seen a storm like this before, who knows what slipped through the cracks when they were all locked inside for twelve hours. there were bound to be things they missed and wont even know about until they do a full count of everything in town. more work. "no let's just keep focusing on keeping everyone calm. no need to scare anyone and have people panicking." she could only imagine how some people would react if they saw the deputies doing rounds and watching them. "but hey, um, if something big comes up, can you come to me or santiago first? ana...she's dealing with a lot right now, i don't want too much going on her plate." she thought back to the things she told her at the bar and how defeated she was about everything. she wasn't sure what was going on between them but she will always look out for her wife.

Adrien laughs and nods in agreement.

"Your ass definitely looks good and you're rocking it."

He even salutes her before bursting into giggles.

"Yeah, it seems like it's hard to cobble together even basic costumes. I'm honestly surprised they even bother with the dress up part."

THE DESCRIPTION HAS CHERRY STARING FOR A BEAT OR TWO . " wow . okay ." cherry has to shake her head as if to clear it, her hands on her hips as she squints at him in disbelief . " the fuck ?" but before they can get further into it cherry is waving a hand dismissively as she says, " you know what ? the bullshit hollywood is doin' doesn't matter, i am a fuckin' soldier, thank you for askin' ." cherry gestures to her camo shorts with a pleased nod . " mostly because it was quick and easy and my ass looks good in these shorts ." she shrugs before adding, " i wanted to be a hooters girl but i couldn't find a lotta orange to be honest ."

Lucas nods.

"We'll probably also put it up to the whole community, but we'll need to discuss things first."

He walks with Elm to the door, holding it open for them.

"I suppose I know what you'd say at that town meeting."

ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS' OFFER FOR A BEAT BEFORE THEY NOD . they straighten as they move towards the door with a low, " so you guys will vote ?"

Lucas sighs, though he does raise his hands like he wants to help.

When he sees the face, he clenches his jaw. They're familiar, but he can't remember their name. Why can't he remember their name?

He looks back at Rae — his friend — clearly hurting.

"They're cruel," Lucas says in agreement. "It seems like they know how to hurt us in the worst ways."

He follows Rae as he pushes the cart toward the body storage.

"Let's me take you home," he insists. "You need to rest."

"no," is all that rae uttered before stepping away. wordlessly he brought the cart to the side of the table and pulled the white sheet under the body towards him, revealing more of it. the face, still intact, a reminder of the horror that unfolded during the storm. rae's breath caught in his throat, his mind replacing the stranger's face with kina's for a split second. but he pushed on. he rolled up the sheet, covering the body once more and made the final tug. the cart creaked as it took on the weight.

"they always leave the face, don't they? to taunt us. to remind us of what we've lost."