"I Mean, You Haven't Been Dragged Off By The Sheriff's, So I'd Say You're Killing It."

Lucas gives a breathless chuckle.

"Trust me," he says, continuing to stretch, "there are much better blood flowing activities I'd rather be doing. This is at least a consistent one."

He rolls his neck.

"Don't worry, I used to be the same. Especially when my dad would take us hunting. I would complain for hours and hours."

"Alright, suit yourself." he'll take another sip for himself and then place the bottle aside, listening as the other explains the morning run. "Always wanted to be that kind of guy, that's good man -- good addiction to have. Gets your blood flowin', gets you focused, serotonin all nice and unloaded. By the time you get to work you're ready to seize the day. I had to be dragged out of bed...most of the time, and still end up getting to work late nearly half the time -- dunno, it is what it is."

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

Adrien keeps his distance from the cow, eyeing it warily.

"You sure? I haven't had much personal luck with cows in my life."

His cousins and uncle were in charge of animal care back home. Adrien was never interested in that side of farm life anyway. Not to mention that first week after he moved in with them where the cow literally did bite him. He only got a massive bruise, but it still mentally scarred him for life.

Seems Maude is comfortable, though.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍 was where she spent the majority of her days, diligently ensuring that the animals were well cared for, nurtured, and as healthy as circumstances would allow. Though she had grown accustomed to the pungent odors that permeated the air, she couldn’t shake the anxiety that others might begin to associate her with that unsettling aroma. “You work too much,” they would often say, but for her, it was the only way to distract herself from the fear that threatened to seep into her very psyche.

With a stethoscope pressed firmly against the animal’s fur, she focused intently, striving to discern whether everything sounded normal. “So far, so good, I’d say,” she murmured, though she struggled to pinpoint the root of the issue—the newfound behaviors and erratic mood swings that troubled her. She frowned, glancing up at the observer. “Would you like to pet her? I assure you, she won’t bite.” / ( 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐋𝐋 )

Adrien hums, listening to her. Seems like she's still spiraling after arriving in town recently. He moves to sit against the wall across from her, their shoes inches apart.

"Sorta? I came in a few days ago with the huge storm. But I'm guessing you're even more recent than that? And to be honest? If having a party is delusional, I'd rather be that than dead."

He shrugs. He knows he's an outlier amongst the people of Oblitus, but he's used to that feeling. And he's happy to share it with others when he can.

"I didn't catch your name," he adds with a friendly smile.

Catie’s eyes narrow as Adrien slides to a stop in front of her, his enthusiasm jarring compared to everything she’s felt since arriving. She folds her arms, glancing around with disbelief.

'Company?' she echoes, almost laughing despite herself. 'Yeah. Sure. Not like I was having a ton of fun hanging out on the floor. By myself. In this creep fucking house.' She shakes her head, almost hesitating but not quite catching herself. 'Just, are we seriously doing this? Having a party while there's all that actual shit out there?' She glances at Adrien, her tone sharper than she intended but held back by a thread. 'I can’t decide if everyone here’s delusional or if I’m just the only one who thinks this whole thing is completely insane.' Her voice drops, anger simmering just below the surface as she forces a smile. "But you—you look like you’re actually having fun. Guess you’re not new here?"

where: infirmary

when: after kina's autopsy

whom: @ludics Rae

Lucas takes a deep breath as he walks toward the morgue. It's been a long day, and he'd honestly love nothing more than to just head home, take a shower, and go to bed. As much as he wants to make sure everyone is safe, secure, and taken care of, he definitely needs time to himself.

Except there's one more person he needs to check up on. One he needs to handle personally.

He pauses outside the door, bracing himself for anything he might see, then knocks on the door.

"Rae?" he calls through. "It's Luc."

He waits, letting Rae set the pace though he's not taking "go away" as an answer that's for damn sure.

Lucas watches them for a quiet moment then nods.

"Okay, makes sense. Do you remember anything right before? Or right after? Where you were, what you were doing, any notable things in your surroundings?"

He tries to be slow and patient, but Elm is the first person he's gotten to interview that got taken and came back alive.

"IF THEY WANTED ME TO REMEMBER THEN I WOULD ." there's no hesitation in elm's answer . they toy with their laces . " just like if they wanted to kill me then they would have ." they glance up at him before shrugging, " ... but they don't want me to remember so i don't . and they didn't want to kill me so they didn't ."

One day you’ll laugh so much that you’ll forget you have scars. Benjamín Griss

Lucas takes a deep breath before he starts talking.

"I mean, I was running around town, seeing what needed repairs, checking that people were okay and not trapped anywhere. Not to mention wrangling the deputies to do their jobs."

Lucas smiles. A lot of people say they're glad he's here, but it feels a little different — a bit better — coming from Bruna.

"He was a better hunter than me," he says. "And he was way funnier. Got him more dates in high school than I did, though coming out of the closet did change my odds slightly."

He chuckles.

"And he may have been younger, but he showed me how to be a good son to our parents. He seemed to always know what to do and helped me when I didn't."

He wipes some tears away and looks back to Bruna.

"What about your sister. What was she like?"

"We did miss you at dinner, now that you mention it. Had your hands full today, huh?" she gets up on her feet, preparing to makeshift a sandwich. "Tell me about it. Your day. It's what normal people do, right? Out in the real world. I forget sometimes how simple things used to be -- how we took such things for granted. Or, well, I did anyway..." she was often uncomfortable with silence when in company, so questions came almost naturally, as did the thoughts and loud observations. "Rae and Ana will be alright...don't even let your head go there. We have just enough worry in us for things that are real to also venture into those that aren't." it's something she learnt the hard way, even if she did worry daily about all the things that could possibly go wrong. She tried not to voice them -- for the most part. "I lost my sister too. In here. I'm sorry that happened to you -- but, in a weird fucked up way, I'm glad you're here. We're all better off with you around." words of comfort came almost natural to her these days, it's like nothing regarding loss was even surprising anymore. "What was he like? Your brother?"

where: cemetery

when: the days after the storm

whom: @hollismackenzie

Lucas shuffles among the headstones, passing names he's become familiar with but rarely think about. Any he knew were missed but free, and any he didn't know hang heavy but not unbearably so.

Only one gets any reaction out of him these days and it's an empty grave. They didn't even dig a hole. No body left so no point. Just the simple carved stone with the name that might always bring him to tears:

Carlos de Azevedo Miranda

Brother. Protector.

Lucas carries the bouquet of marigolds that Eddy so kindly makes for him. It's small but bright and one thing he can do to honor his brother still.

The keeper is standing near the headstone, so Lucas slows to a stop, watching a waiting so he doesn't interrupt the man's work.

Lucas gives them a small smile.

"Neither do I. And I'd bet my stetson Stassi and Cam won't either. But it's still something to consider."

He cleans up the desk then looks back at them.

"Want me to walk you home?"

ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS FOR A LONG MOMENT THEN . their dark eyes bore into him until they're simply uttering an even, " ... i don't think that's a good idea ."