Adrien Chuckles But Also Leans Back So He's Not Aggressively In Charlie's Face.

Lucas chuckles but does intentionally flex his stomach since he knows Rae is looking.

"It's one night i don't have to be sheriff," he says. "Might as well make the most of it. Show these kids we've still got it."

He leans against the wall, facing Rae and looking him up and down. He's not surprised to see the basic doctor get up, but he can't complain. Rae looks really good in it.

"So how have you been? I haven't been able to check up on you."

Being sheriff after a disaster really keeps him busy.

rae's costume, or his lack thereof, spoke volumes about his attitude towards the party. he stood there, his white lab coat hanging loosely over plain scrubs. the coat, usually a symbol of professionalism, carrying an air of nonchalance. it was clear that rae had taken the simplest route to participate.

his posture betrayed a certain weariness as he leaned against the wall, a weight that alcohol could temporarily lift. he glanced down at his cup, ruminating until he heard that familiar voice.

"hey," he greeted, perking up almost instantly. "you look… different," he observed, his gaze roaming over lucas' shirt, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "in a good way."

Lucas sighs.

"Yeah, I know. I just wish your team was part of the whole team too."

He offers a handshake as a formal apology.

"Sorry for wasting your time," he says. "If you hear anything about the missing stock, could you at least let me know who it was after you take it from them?"

CHERRY SIGHS JUST A LITTLE BIT . she gives lucas a look that's only half exasperated . " yeah, well ." the roll of cherry's eyes is halfhearted . " just cause i'm a trouble maker doesn't mean it's always me ." it just probably is, but somehow cherry doubts that now is the time to mention that . " and — i'm on a team ." the protest is accompanied by a lackluster shrug . " s'just ... mine ."

Lucas rubs his eyes.

"Good morning to you too, Muz. For your information, no. How about you?"

He nods to Muz's matching bags under his eyes. Then he sips his coffee.

open, town square

Muz squints up at the washed-out sky, the sun barely breaking through a layer of gray clouds, casting a pale light over the town square. The place looks almost normal in the daytime, like the night hadn’t clawed at it. He watches a few people drift while he leans against a bench, idly tracing a crack in the wood with his thumb, his gaze darting on occasion, wary glances.

A face crosses his line of sight, and Muz straightens, raising a hand in a lazy wave. ‘Hey,’ he calls out, his voice cutting through the quiet. ‘Get any sleep last night?’ He nods to the shadows under their eyes, a half-smile tugging at his mouth.

where: chop shop when: day time whom: @hcartcorruptcd El

Adrien is hunched over the engine of the truck, trying to gauge what all is salvageable and what could be modified to be salvageable.

They'd had a few cars brought in from the junk yard after the leaders and sheriff's department got everything useful for the community. Now they're stripping what they think can be useful.

"For a truck from the '80s," he calls out, "it's in pretty good condition. Almost a shame to tear it up."

He climbs out with some valves, carrying them over to the piles they'd started to keep things vaguely organized. Then he glances over to El.

Adrien nods. He was never too good at people's layers either. Too scared that they'd leave if he got too deep.

He perks up at the mention of the watch.

"Oh, do you still have it? Did you get it working? He promised to find me something to work on, too."

He smiles at El to show them he's hearing them.

"I wouldn't mind this becoming home. At least for a little bit."

Ellington pauses mid-motion, resting a hand on the side of the engine as they process Adrien’s words. They snort softly at his teasing, shaking their head.

"Yeah, Cherry is good folk. But good doesn’t always mean simple, you know?" They shoot Adrien a sidelong glance, their smirk faint but fond, as if already regretting how much they’re saying. "She’s... just got layers. And I’m not exactly an expert at peeling those back without making a mess."

They wipe their hands on a nearby rag and lean against the workbench, looking thoughtfully at Adrien. "Muz, huh? Yeah, he’s cool. He’s got good instincts. He brought me some busted-up watch to fix the other day—it was a cool project."

They tilt their head slightly, a touch of mischief in their smile, "stick around long enough, and this place’ll start feeling more like home... or at least something close to it."

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."

PLOT DROP 02.

The darkness creeps in the air, a sensation of impeding doom following the massacre that rolled in with the storm. There is a growing need now amongst the residents of Oblitus, a need for hope, for ease, for laughter. And what better way to aspire for all, than to attend the annual Halloween party at Colony House. And while the party will, no doubt, be different this year, with more new faces, louder atmosphere to drown out the screeches from the outside, it is sure to bring on some much needed relief. So take out your finest garments, your tastiest treats and head over to Colony House before the night rolls in. Oh and do make sure not to open the door for any trick-or-treaters....for you might just end up a treat.

OOC: Welcome to our second plot drop and the most fun party Oblitus can get!

Note to all: Halloween Party is an old tradition dating back for as long as the residents can remember. Every year, the whole town gathers at the Colony House to enjoy the night of music, games and laughter. It is a tradition reserved to mock the town and its many horrors, while also ensuring everyone is safe and sound and most importantly -- not alone. During this night, the monsters that usually roam the town are unable to assume their human form, so they are seen around in their real form, and their powers of allure and persuasion are at an all-time-high. This is why, in preparation for the party, the windows are blacked out entirely, and residents are forbidden from peaking through.

Our Halloween event will be taking place from Friday, November 1st (6pm EST) through to following Tuesday, November 5th.

We encourage everyone to put their current threads on pause during the event!

Please tag the starters 'starter.oblitus' and post them in a designated discord server.

Give this post a like so we know you have seen it <33 happy roleplaying !!

Lucas nods, then stops the tape recorder.

"That was good," he says gently, patting the arm of her chair instead of her actual arm. "Thank you, really, Elm. I appreciate it."

He stands and cleans up his stuff.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asks, now out of sheriff mode and in community mode. "Bring your meals to you? Give you escorts anywhere?"

ELM SHAKES THEIR HEAD THEN . " no ." there's a beat before they shift in their seat and shrug . the lace is wrapped tight around their finger again . " that's all i remember. when i woke up the tree was gone and i was laying in the forest ." their brows twitch together a bit . " it took me a while to get back ."

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."