Adrien Chuckles Weakly, Still Pushing.

This is going well. At least, Adrien thinks it is. She hasn't indicated she doesn't like him, so that's a start.

"Tea sounds great, thanks."

He sits across from her, wiping the nervous sweat from his hands on his jeans.

He'd never really had any tea before, but when in Rome or however that goes.

"No, I know. I figured we wouldn't be here at all if you could."

He wiggles in his seat, trying how to best explain what he's thinking.

"So I grew up in a small town with small-minded people. I guess I'm just hoping to learn new things. Even if they're unusual or other people don't like it."

"Straightforward works," she finally says, her voice soft but firm, carrying that smooth cadence that makes everything sound deliberate. "Better than playing games, anyway. I can work with honest."

She crosses her arms loosely, tilting her head as he talks about the rumors circulating around her—potions, tarot cards, and all the rest. The mention of fear doesn’t seem to surprise her, nor does the suggestion that others respect her. Raina knows how stories travel, how reputations morph in this strange town.

"Ah, the usual, then," she says lightly, with a shrug that makes it seem like she’s heard it all before. "People love to be afraid of what they don’t understand. And if that fear keeps them at a respectful distance..." She lets the thought hang, the smile curling just a little sharper. "Well, I won’t lose any sleep over it."

Her smile turns playful but knowing, as if she’s fully aware of how strange and intimidating this place must feel to him but finds some quiet humor in watching him navigate it. When she turns back to him, there’s an ease in her gaze—not an invitation exactly, but not a dismissal either.

"Tea?" she offers, as if that’s the most natural thing to ask after such a conversation bringing the kettle to her table with two mugs. Raina motions for him to take a seat, "What do you need a witch for? I can't wave my hands and you'll be free, if that's what you think."

@fromcamadams

Lucas barges into Cameron's office, breathing heavy like an enraged bull.

"You'll never believe what those motherfucking monsters just pulled on me," he says, voice quivering with rage that's he's trying to contain. He drops the remains of the rotary phone onto Cam's desk.

"They think they can get away with this shit any longer? Well, I'm this close to just barging into those woods, guns blazing."

He paces the room, not wanting his anger to be directed at her.

@patroclusblossom (lucas)

You're sitting in the sheriff's station like you do most days, you sure do take your job seriously. It feels like any other day, just make it through and survive, that's what you've been doing for seven years now. Only something is different today; the phone rings. It's been sitting on the desk since before you came here but has never once rang, yet today it is. Do you answer it? Are you hearing things and just hoping that it would finally ring and give some sign of an outside world? If you answer the phone, you hear a voice you thought you would never hear again. "Hey Lu," the voice that sounds suspiciously like your brother says. But your brother has been dead for seven years, it was impossible. Yet it sounds just like him. "Miss me?" He asks through the phone. "You're doing a good job of watching everyone, making sure they're safe. Why couldn't you do that for me? Why couldn't you protect me?" Then the line goes silent. No matter how hard you try, you can't make the voice come back. What just happened? Was that really your brother? Or are you finally starting to lose it?

RAFAEL SILVA — via Instagram (2024)

"Oh yeah. The tractors, the irrigation system, the heating, the A/C, the oven, the TV."

He straightens up, holding a metal panel. He examines it, wondering what it could be used for.

"I also worked at a T-Mobile store for a summer, so I learned a lot about cell phones, tablets, and smart watches."

He purses his lips, then shrugs and drops the panel back into the pile. He looks over at Muz and smiles again.

So the quote on quote joke didn't seem to land. Muz narrowly avoids disappointment, thinking he had been making good attempts at friendliness there. 'A farm?' he asks, tone a little more enthusiastic. He watches Adrien fiddle through that pile. 'You worked on the tractors and that there?'

Adrien tried for Jacob Elordi in Saltburn, but he used his skill to make a harness in the Chop Shop and then attach some branches on it for the wings.

Happy Halloween, Oblitus!

Don't open the doors.

Lucas looks to see Marama studying him curiously.

He chuckles. "A little yeah. This was the biggest sized shirt I could find to fit the costume. I think Ana's happy I'm showing off more than she is. Or she's jealous. I couldn't really tell."

He shrugs and sips his drink.

"You having fun tonight?"

closed event starter @patroclusblossom

marama didn't understand the concept of dressing up for halloween, maybe because she was only seven when she came here and has never been able to watch tv or movies like everyone else so she never understood the references, but it also just seemed odd to her. some people dressed up for these things, with outfits they make themselves. she never did. "why is your stomach showing?" she asks lucas with a confused look. "are you warm?"

Lucas feels a slight ache in his chest as they walk hand in hand. He didn't realize how much he missed this. Walking with Rae. Being with Rae.

"Hey," he says, soft but firm. "You are important."

They turn a corner, and they can see their houses. Only a couple of other residents between them. It had been a little awkward at first after the breakup, but then they eased into comfortable. Being close was comforting.

"I know you can. I just want to help like I used to. Moving bodies around. I saw how many you still had to do. That will definitely take forever on your own."

for most of the walk he couldn't stop looking down at his hands, constantly making sure the blood hadn't returned. that it was just a figment of his imagination. sometimes rae wondered if it was the town or his own sanity slipping.

it's ok. it wasn't, but having lucas' hand in his helped quiet the constant urge to check. he spent the rest of the walk relatively fine.

“luc, i don’t want to keep you from more important things,” he protested. "and don't say what i know you're going to say. i can handle it on my own, today was just...tough."

where: Chop Shop Mechanics when: the days after the storm open starter

Adrien opens the garage door for Chop Shop Mechanics. It's technically his first day, but he figured it's better to take some initiative. Especially after the storm.

He jumps when he sees someone standing on the other side of the now open garage door.

"Shit! Sorry. Wasn't expecting someone there."

He wipes his hands on his jeans, putting on a smile.

"Hi, I'm Adrien. New in town."

RAFAEL SILVA at the Epic Cons Chicago 2 convention - September 15, 2024