Rafa Via Instagram Stories (August 5, 2024)

Lucas rubs his face, wiping away tears that aren't even distinguishable from the rain still dripping off him.

"We don't know it'll clear, Jim. We don't know anything. We're all just flying by the seat of our pants."

He takes a deep breath. He knows on some level that James is right. but it doesn't make it any easier to handle a new situation like this.

"You're right," he says, trying to convince himself. "Like always."

where : town hall when : the storm open starter ( 0 / 3 )

⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ ▶ ❛ . . . listen — ❜ hand rests lightly on the other person ' s shoulder . an attempt to cam them down . truth be told : he is admittedly , not the best at comforting others . especially now , when he has no words . no explanations . he has been in this town for nearly twelve years , and not once has he seen what has transpired in the last couple of days . the storm , those . . . things out during the day . something is wrong . the rules are changing and something is turning . he does not know how to prepare for it . no one to ask . most everyone who came before him is gone . ❛ . . . the storm will clear out , it ' ll be okay . ❜ it is as much for himself as for the person he ' s attempting to bring some comfort to . ❛ it ' ll be fine --- we ' ll check for any damage come the morning and go from there . . . ❜

where: colony house when: Halloween night whom: @ludics Rae

Lucas makes his way through the Colony House, feeling like he can actually breathe for the first time in weeks. There's just so much joy and excitement in the house that it's almost impossible to be anxious tonight. And the drinks he's had help too.

He wipes sweat from the part of his stomach that's visible thanks to the tight (maybe too small) shirt he managed to find for the night. He's not sure what he's looking for now. Ana has disappeared and most of the other people he'd talk to are busy doing other things.

Then he spots Rae, and he can't help but smile at the sight of the man. Ever since he helped Rae in the morgue, he's felt the slightest shift of their friendship. He's not sure how to describe it or how it's affected. He just knows something feels different.

He walks up to the man.

"There you are," he says with a warm smile.

Lucas watches Muz as he thinks, smiling. He rarely gets to see the man so still.

Then he sighs.

"Yeah, that's something we're trying to figure out. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers right now, but I hope it's enough to know we're trying."

He puts a hand on Muz's shoulder and squeezes.

"Don't let it wear you down, Muz. I don't have your skills. Can't scavenge you."

Muz laughs softly, shaking his head as he stares at the gravel underfoot. 'Guess I owe you one now, huh? Better start scrounging.'

He takes a moment, letting the sunlight soak into his own skin, the warmth grounding him even as his thoughts wander. 'Alright. I’m wondering what’s gonna happen if another storm rolls in. Wondering if we’re built to handle it, or if we’re just... reacting. Like survival instincts only get you so far before they just wear you down.'

With his ankle now secure, he slowly moves to stand on it. It's just a sprain. It can't be that ba-

"Shit!"

He falls back onto his ass, relieving the pressure from his ankle. How is that only a sprain?

"Doesn't matter if they understand," he grits through the ebbing pain. "It's still my job."

He tries to stand again.

she rolls her eyes; sometimes the pain is more convincing. "alright, let's try it." becca stands and goes behind the bar, hoping for anything that could work. everything's a little messy, but she manages to pull out a couple of washcloths from behind a box. at least they smell clean.

"you won't be useful to anyone out there if you're limping along, too." with a handful of barspoons and folded towels, lucas' ankle is barely held in place as she finishes the knots. it won't do much if he's out running around. "jim will understand- everyone will."

Lucas looks up and sees a girl standing at the front desk. She looks lost and scared.

"Hi," he greets, walking over and chuckling. "I am, and yes, we do. We even have a couple of deputies if you can believe it. But it's just me today. How can I help you?"

He stands with his hands behind him, polite and non-threatening, so he doesn't scare her.

nowhere county jail, lucas. @patroclusblossom

Catie steps in. The place feels wrong in ways she can't quite place, but it’s the sheriff’s office, she figures, and she has no idea what else to do. She’d been walking for what felt like hours, the streets of Oblitus starting to blur in her mind.

She’s about to turn around, maybe head back outside and try to wrap her head around any of this, when she sees Lucas.

He’s young, maybe a few years older than her, with dark hair that’s a little too messy for someone in law enforcement. Catie pauses, her thoughts scrambling to form a coherent sentence. 'You're the sheriff?' Her words come out a little sharper than she intends, and she realises she sounds like she’s questioning the whole damn idea. 'This place… actually has a sheriff?'

Maybe not today, not tomorrow but I am gonna achieve it, cause I am a consistent hard-worker

Lucas gives a friendly chuckle at the jokes.

He checks the sky. If they hurry, he can get Lena back into her house, then himself to his own.

"Okay. I'll provide a police escort today."

He offers an arm to her, like he's a gentleman.

Right. Most people were still afraid of the dark here. Maybe she should have been too, if not given the circumstances. "I don't know, my goose hasn't been cooked in a real long time." She halfway laughs, her own joke- but still. "See any ducks around?" Her nose wrinkles in a smirk, but then she lets out a small sigh and a shrug of her shoulders. "I forgot what time it was, and I was already halfway there so- plus I don't wanna' miss anybody. Sometimes they try to sneak into the kitchen early, and get out before I get there." She'll point gently over her shoulder. "You can escort me, if you'd feel better?"

Lucas feels a slight ache in his chest as they walk hand in hand. He didn't realize how much he missed this. Walking with Rae. Being with Rae.

"Hey," he says, soft but firm. "You are important."

They turn a corner, and they can see their houses. Only a couple of other residents between them. It had been a little awkward at first after the breakup, but then they eased into comfortable. Being close was comforting.

"I know you can. I just want to help like I used to. Moving bodies around. I saw how many you still had to do. That will definitely take forever on your own."

for most of the walk he couldn't stop looking down at his hands, constantly making sure the blood hadn't returned. that it was just a figment of his imagination. sometimes rae wondered if it was the town or his own sanity slipping.

it's ok. it wasn't, but having lucas' hand in his helped quiet the constant urge to check. he spent the rest of the walk relatively fine.

“luc, i don’t want to keep you from more important things,” he protested. "and don't say what i know you're going to say. i can handle it on my own, today was just...tough."

Adrien kept working while El was quiet, thinking that the subject was basically done. Then he looks up at them to listen intently, noting how sure they seem in their words.

"Really? You wouldn't mind a roommate?"

He'd never had a roommate that wasn't family before. That's why he'd chosen the Colony House when he first arrived. Wanting a chance to meet new people.

But he's met new people now. Maybe, he's not cut out for a big house like that?

Ellington leans against the workbench, their hands loosely resting in their pockets as they watch Adrien work. They listen quietly, noting the way his words trail off and the subtle tension in his voice. Colony House clearly isn’t sitting right with him.

“I get that,” El says, their voice low but kind. “It’s not for everyone. Too many people in one place can mess with your head after a while.”

They glance toward the door for a moment, as if weighing their next words, then look back at Adrien. “I’ve got a place on the far side of town. Whole house to myself. Quiet, no one to bother you unless you want them to.” A small smile plays on their lips. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s solid. And it’s got space.”

They lean a little closer, their tone soft but sincere. “If you’re feeling like Colony House isn’t cutting it, you’re welcome to crash with me. No pressure—just figured I’d throw it out there. It might be nice having someone around who’s not... you know, always in each other’s business.”

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

Lucas stands to the side, watching as the party gets started. They've had an influx of young people, and it's so nice seeing them be happy and young.

He'd been around their ages when he came here. It's almost like he gets to feel young again through them.

He sighs and shakes his head. He's not old yet. He can still have fun.

He finds Ana and sidles up to her.

"Please tell me that we can fuck around and be dumb tonight," he says with a chuckle. "All these young people are making me feel older than I actually am."