Lucas Miranda

"Rae-rae," Lucas says, exasperated, the old pet name slipping out. He follows Rae down the hall, ready to softly berate him about taking care of himself first and foremost.

It's hypocritical, he knows, but it's easier to want other people to be selfish than yourself.

But before he can make any challenge or tirades about Rae's well-being, he hears Rae's sob and curse.

Lucas immediately steps around and pulls Rae's body against his own. His arms hold him tight, trying to provide a physical anchor. Tears start spilling out of his own eyes, sharing Rae's pain, fear, heartbreak, despair.

"I know," he whispers. "You need actual rest. You can't force yourself to do this for hours."

cruel was putting it lightly, rae thought to himself; they were pure evil. he would never forget his first night, the sound of his parents tapping on the window, the glimpse he caught of their un-aged faces, and his mother's voice calling to him in their native tongue.

“i — ” he began, but the sound of his own voice felt foreign. he swallowed hard, forcing the memories back into the shadows where they belonged. “i'll take a break, but i can’t leave, lucas. there’s too much to do.” rae's fingers grip on the cart tightened, knuckles turning an alarming shade of white.

as they reached the door leading to the storage room, something inside him snapped. a sob broke free from his lips — a choked sound that echoed in the hallway. he stopped, his hands gripping the cart's edge tightly as if it could anchor him to reality. “fuck.” his voice was raw, a mixture of despair and anger as he buried his face in his hands. the calm facade he had fought so hard to maintain crumbled instantly.

Rafael Silva

Photography by Jake Weary

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."

where: raina's house when: midday whom: @hcartcorruptcd Raina

Adrien double checks the house number he'd written on his hand. That's the one. He thinks... it's kind of smudged, but he's sure it's right.

He squares his shoulders and marches up to the house. It's midday, so he has plenty of time to introduce himself before he has to hurry back to the colony house.

He takes a deep breath and then knocks on the door in what he hopes is a confident (though not threatening) type of way.

Soon, the door opens and he grins at the woman.

"Hi. I'm Adrien. I hear you're a witch."

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

Adrien looks at her and laughs.

"Close enough, I suppose," he says. "I'm going for that guy in Saltburn? But forest fairy might be sexier."

He snickers and shimmies to shake the wings.

"How about you?"

He looks her up and down, studying her outfit to see if he can put together what she is.

closed event starter @patroclusblossom

adrien seemed like he was having a good time, she's not sure she's ever seen someone so in the element since well- herself at parties back home. at first, she thought it was a little strange how happy he seemed, but now? maybe he has a point. fake it till you make it. he reminded her a lot of some of her friends back home. "i like the wings," she said over the music. "are you a forest fairy?"

"Trust me, Cher. There are much better things I'd rather do this morning."

They're still working on recovering from the storm. The only reason any of the sheriff's or deputies have gotten sleep is because the alternative is sleeping in their offices at night, and they all agree that that's almost as bad as facing one of the creatures in the middle of the night.

Lucas pulls out his note pad.

"Says here you stole some bottles from Lally's yesterday morning right before the town meeting."

He looks up and gives her an unimpressed expression.

STATUS : closed for @patroclusblossom ! LOCATION : the motel !

CHERRY BLINKS AT THE SIGHT OF HIM . once and then twice before her face scrunches in honest confusion . " the fuck did i do ?" cherry would say that the question was understandable all things considered . after all, she only ever really saw lucas for one reason and one reason only . but even know as cherry wracks her brain she can't imagine what he'd be bringing her in for . she tries to think back, trying to consider what she's done in the past few days that she might be getting caught out for now . she's coming up empty, but frankly, it's been a long couple of days . she can't be expected to remember all the shit she does . she's not a fuckin' computer . " i didn't do shit, luke ." a bewildered twist of her expression . " and haven't you got better things to do than hover over me ? aren't we in a crisis or whatever ?"

Lucas actually looks up to who he's talking to. He vaguely recognizes the face as someone semi-new. Seeing a child helps. Larry? Lauren?

Lucas stands. "Sorry. We just encourage people not to get too close to the woods. Sheriff Lucas Miranda."

He steps forward, offering his hand.

He glances over and smiles toward the kid playing.

Reaching out toward a plant, Lainn delicately brushed the tips of his fingers on his outstretched left hand against the stem, before moving it to glide along the leaves. Frowning a bit, he remembered what his classes told him about the type of tree in front of him. Before he plucks a leaf right off and moves to stand in on the quick succession of moves.

Glancing over, he could see his son, playing and brought the leaf up to his nose, sniffing it before absently twisting it between his fingers and turning to move away a bit, spotting someone a moment or so later. He quirked an eyebrow at the other's assumption that he was looking to hunt, taking note of it, he gave a nod of his head.

Lainn turned his head, keeping Tali in his view, who remained close to him still before saying, “Well, I don't really hunt.” Holding his hands out, he gives a lazy shrug at this, before continuing to toy with the leaf in his hands and going on, “Do you?” Lainn inquired before turning his head back away from the stranger, listening to Tali come closer as he explained the type of plant he was now holding. Lainn gave a nod of his head, commenting gently toward his son, “That's correct. It's a pretty cool find, Tali.”

As Tali grinned at Lainn's words, before he moved a little ways away once more, to look at more of the plants in the immediate area. Lainn looked toward the stranger again, then around the wooded area before them, “It's pretty, this place. This type of biome is great for all kinds of discovery. There's probably loads of strange bugs here.” Lainn commented offhandedly. He had always found swampland and the like to be almost mystical.

RAFAEL SILVA on the set of 911: LONE STAR Season 5

Adrien shakes his head.

"Ain't no way to look ridiculous. Trust me. And if you're worried about dancing alone," he offers an arm to her like a regency gentleman, "then I'll dance with you."

He doesn't want anyone here to feel left out or alienated, just because of insecurities for fears.

she glances toward the dancing, a flush creeping up her neck as she feels inexplicably singled out. yet, she knows they likely mean well. there's a quiet gratitude for the unspoken benevolence that seems to wrap itself around the party, transforming what once felt like an overwhelming atmosphere into something oddly welcoming, even comforting especially now. "the second option, actually," she admits with a sheepish grin, her words tinged with mild embarrassment as she sets a glass down. "i know i’m probably overthinking it, but i just... i don’t want to look ridiculous dancing alone, you know?"