Where: Colony House When: Halloween Night Whom: @horrorismx Erin

Adrien was chugging down some water when he'd stepped up next to the guy. Adrien's seen a lot of new faces, but even then, this guy looks even newer than himself.

"As far as I know," he replies. "Though, to be honest, I haven't really tried to leave."

He rubs the back of his neck. It's not that he wants to be trapped in town. It's more that even with the flesh eating monsters outside, he doesn't feel the urgent need to get out of town.

location: colony house

This was Gabriel's first full day in this town which happened to fall on Halloween. He had put bits and pieces together of where he was and it was no where close to New York City where he was trying to go. Someone also filled him in that it's impossible to try to leave so he was stuck. The house was having a big party to celebrate the holiday and even though he wasn't in the mood to dance yet, he stood by the side having a drink. ''Was the one who told me when I got here last night right..that there's really no way out of here? Not even a bus?

"I can tell," Lucas stage whispers back.

He finally turns around.

"Alright, don't get in trouble. Have a good day."

HER BROW ARCHES AT THE WORDS . she watches him perform the act with her hip leaned against the doorframe and her arms crossed over her chest before saying, " i'll let you in on a secret, luc ." she shakes her head even as she leans in to almost lightly stage whisper, " i was never a fuckin' scout ."

Adrien nods in agreement, having not planned his costume until El mentioned people could. Then he blinks in surprise.

"It's your birthday? Happy birthday! Damn that's crazy."

He taps their glasses together in a toast.

"Sorry, since we're all focused on the Halloween stuff today. They should've made a cake for you or something."

" THANKS, ADRIEN ." cherry replies with an amused nod, her lips curling up into a grin . despite herself cherry can admit to being almost mildly endeared . it's hard to put her finger on why, but hey, she'll take it . " i mean, honestly i wasn't gonna bother until i found out other people were doing it ." cherry shrugs . " i love a party as much as the next girl but being the only one dressed up would be kinda sad no matter how hot i looked ." cherry sighs then before shrugging and playfully adding, " but it is my birthday so i had to do somethin', you know ."

Adrien's eyes nearly pop out of his head in excitement.

"Oh good! At least there's some more gay solidarity."

He laughs.

"I mean, it depends on how old you mean by old. And I'm here at the colony house, yeah. Where do you live?"

CHERRY BRIGHTENS AS SHE TAPS HER GLASS TO HIS . she takes a sip of what's definitely not water in solidarity before she's brightening a bit as he goes on . " oh shit, you're gay ?" cherry's gasp is one of drunken excitement as she smacks him lightly on the arm . " fuck, me too !" cherry nods sagely for a moment before she's adding, " also i'm honoured you think i know shit . appreciate that ." she pauses a moment to hum thoughtfully as she tilts her head and adds, " the guys i know who're into dudes are older than you though ... " she squints . " you like old ?" there's a beat before she adds, " also, where're shacked up ? here ?"

Lucas watches as Ana just sort of droops. Like a flower in need of watering.

"I think about it all the time," he admits. "And it keeps me up at night."

He stands and pulls her into a tight hug.

"We can't give up," he whispers. "It's not just us here. We all had lives out there. There are kids here who deserve to see what they're missing out there."

He feels some tears escape his eyes and drop into her hair.

"We hold the line," he echoes. "Not because we'll go back to normal, but because who will if we don't?"

Anastasia's expression flickers—something between a smirk and exhaustion—but she doesn’t push Lucas the way she usually might. Not tonight. Her arms wrap loosely around herself, fingers drumming against her forearm, a small habit she’s never been able to shake.

“Yeah, well... that’s the thing about rules.” Her voice is soft, tinged with bitterness. “They don’t mean a damn thing when the monsters come.”

She leans her hip against the edge of the counter, mirroring his stance but with a subtle slump in her shoulders that wasn’t there before. Her sharpness—her usual armor—feels dulled tonight, like a blade used one too many times without being sharpened.

“You ever think about that?” she asks, glancing up at him, her gaze unusually heavy. “How we keep pretending we know what we’re doing—like if we just hold the line long enough, things will go back to normal. But what if they don’t, Lucas? What if... this is it?”

There’s no venom in her words, only an eerie quiet that settles between them like dust after a long fight. “I used to believe we’d get out of this,” she admits, more to herself than to him. “But now...” She trails off, rubbing a hand over her face, trying to push away the weight pressing on her chest.

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

where: colony house when: Halloween night whom: @hcartcorruptcd El

Adrien moves through the house, taking a break from dancing to find people he knows.

He's spotted and chatted with a few but there's one in particular...

There they are.

He grins and runs up to El. He throws his arms around them in a huge hug.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," he says excitedly.

Adrien gasps for air and drops to the floor since it's easier than standing at the moment. He weakly takes the water bottle and tries to slurp some water. It interrupts his breathing, so he stops soon after.

"Running with you was a mistake," he says between breaths. "I swear I thought I was in shape."

status: open to all. (0/3.) location: colony house.

the warmth of her forehead is slicked with sweat and decorated by strands of black hair that have fallen afoul of their usual tidiness. panting heavily, nic saunters through the colony house's front door and over to the closest available surface to sit on. limbs ache from overuse, making settling a slow process that's paired with a grunt of exertion. it's only once she's resting shaky legs that she finally looks up to make sure her workout partner has filed in behind her. in a surprising change from her regular stoic expression, nic lets her eyes soften and a smile grace her features. apparently, the way to her heart is through keeping up during a run.

"good goin'. how're you feelin'?" if she's tired, she reckons her companion's probably about ready to collapse. which is why she offers up the bottle of water she'd saved for this very moment. "here."

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