Lucas Feels A Slight Ache In His Chest As They Walk Hand In Hand. He Didn't Realize How Much He Missed

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

Lucas looks at the glass placed in front of him, seriously considering pushing it away. Then with a sigh, he crumples the paper and picks up the glass.

"Jim's not gonna be happy," he mutters as he taps his glass against Adam's then throws back the drink. Feeling the cheap alcohol run hot down his throat actually feels good in this moment.

He really needs to relax more often. Have a few drinks, get laid, talk about nothing and everything.

"You see those things out there? Running around like it's the middle of the fucking night?"

"You've been staring up and down that list boss, like anything's gonna prepare you for the mountain of shit we're gonna have to deal with tomorrow." there was no point in planning, not in a place like this, there was also no way to be prepared. So Adam walks over behind the bar, places two cups before the other and pours whatever piss-tasting-ale was confined within a glass bottle on the middle shelf. "Now come on, let's drink -- we did the best we could -- hell, we did better than that."

Lucas chuckles.

"So I should maintain my regular professionalism with the undertone of, 'You're not good enough for my best friend, but you're still good for her' level of amicability?"

He raises a questioning eyebrow with his smirk, continuing the light-hearted tone they've moved to.

Anastasia feels a swell of gratitude for Lucas; he’s been her steady anchor since they both took on the responsibility of leading this town. She manages a smile, nodding at his statement of hope. “You’re damn right we are.”

As she watches him idly sort through items on the table, she’s caught off guard when he brings up Cameron. She gives a casual shrug. “We’re alright. I just went over to check on her… you know I still care, even if we’re not together.” She knows he understands; they’ve spent more than a few nights drinking and hashing out the complexities of her and Cameron’s past.

With a bit of a wry smile, she adds, “I don’t think she’ll be coming to game night, though.” She tries to keep the tone light, hiding the small sting of disappointment behind a half-joke.

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?"

— Warsan Shire

Lucas gives him a small smile, then takes a step back, sensing the man prefers a little extra personal space.

"I've seen you around too," he replies, blinking away the rest of his tears. "You keep to yourself a lot."

He says it as matter-of-fact, making sure to keep any judgment out of his tone.

He looks down at the headstone, considering the question for a moment. He remembers similar conversations with his mother, especially around Dia de Finados.

"I think for me, it helps me keep the grief in a safe space. If I took it with me out there," he gestures toward the main hub of the town, "I wouldn't be able to help people how I need to. Even if there's no body, it's still a place dedicated to him that can help me carry my grief."

Hollis hesitates for a moment, glancing down at the offered hand before slowly taking it. His grip light, unused to the gesture. "Yeah, that's me." he replied, voice quiet, especially once he learn the other was a sheriff.

He took his hand back, casually rubbing his palm against his jeans, trying to rid himself of the lingering weight of the grieving. "I've seen you around, didn't realise it was for this plot."

His gaze went back to the grave again for a moment, brow knitting in thought. "Does it help? Coming here, I mean? People say it makes things easier, but...I don't know if I believe it."

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."

Lucas chuckles and walks around to the other side of the branch.

"Lucky for you, I'm a nice guy that loves to help."

He gets his hands into position.

"On three. One. Two. Three."

erin takes note of how it feels like she's just getting splinters in her fingers, and not making a lot of progress with moving this fallen tree branch out of the way. ears perked, still feeling the effects of the storm and how its put everyone on edge, she glances up and takes note of lucas walking towards her. "yeah," she says, pulling still on the heavy branch, "i don't think i'm doing much good alone with this one."

Lucas grimaces. He almost wishes Adam hadn't said that. Now he feels the urge to run out and help. Which would be a terrible idea. He knows.

"Why do they want to torture us so much? What did we ever do to them?"

Seven years, and Lucas still didn't know the answer. It pisses him off so much. It pisses James off. Pisses Rae off.

Fuck it! The whole town is pissed off.

"Don't tell me I'm the issue? I just thought he was severely constipated." maybe he misread the look of utter annoyance and discomfort other had for him, for simple digestive issues. Then again, Adam's ego never did allow him to see himself as the issue.

"We drink." he clicks his glass agains the others, savouring the moment that was not likely to come again soon. Drinking on the job. Quite an influence he was. "Oh no the screams are definitely real. Rain ain't as loud as those things torturing people long enough for the rest of us to hear it and feel like fucking powerless pieces of shit for not running out there to help them and die in the process. Diabolical."