Latest Posts by patroclusblossom - Page 6

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."

Lucas raises his hands and takes a step back.

"Okay, fine. Is there anyone else you can think of that would take advantage of the storm to pilfer booze?"

He decides giving her the benefit of the doubt is better than strong arming his way in. Everyone is still on edge since the storm.

" LUC, YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND GOING THROUGH A LADY'S THINGS !" cherry replies brows raised as her jaw drops in what's mostly a show . " that's an invasion of privacy !" her brow arches as she points a finger his way . " and i'm pretty sure you read a warrant for that ."

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?"

Lucas is tempted to take the bottle, but he has things he needs to do today. Things he needs to be sober for.

"Yeah, not this time."

He lifts a foot to stretch while he talks.

"It helps me focus on things I need to do," he replies. "So yeah, I do it a lot. Probably more than I really need to, but it is what it is."

He let's his gaze travel over Adam's relaxed state, lying out, acting (if not feeling) careless and free. He's jealous that even if it's not 100% real, it still clearly helps the man. Is that the source of his unease with Adam?

If anything could make a man feel like shit, it was seeing another man be more of a man than himself. And going for a healthy morning jog was the epitome of fitness and health in Adams books. He doubted he'd ever become that person. "Time is just a concept, at the end of the day. 'Sides, I think I deserve a treat -- you know, after all the shit that went down." shit he had to see. Bodies he had to bury. He processed in his own way. "Guessin' that's a no to my offer?" he puts the bottle aside for now, almost uncomfortable at the fact other was standing and not sitting down beside him. "Running? That something you do a lot?"

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 keeps holding her, knowing that once she's ready, she'll break the embrace.

He tries to think what to say that can help her. No flowery bullshit. Ana isn't like that.

"When my dad first got diagnosed, I refused to go to the hospital to visit him. I just couldn't handle it. There wasn't anything I could do to help. And it got worse when he got it again. The chemo just took this man I looked up to and whittled him down to a stranger."

He looks at the wall, running a hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.

"There was a few months where I barely visited him at home even. Just felt pointless. I was scared that seeing him like that would ruin all the good memories I had of him."

More tears drop.

"But finally I went, and I realized that not going hurt me more than going ever would've."

He kisses the top of her head.

"I keep going because otherwise it is all pointless. Even if we never find a way out, we're still alive, and giving up means everything is pointless."

Anastasia tenses briefly in Lucas’s embrace—old reflexes, a habit of keeping people at arm's length. But then, something inside her lets go. Her shoulders sag as if she’s been carrying too much for far too long, and she leans into the hug, not for comfort exactly, but because standing upright suddenly feels too exhausting.

"I tried to hold the line, Luke," she murmurs, her voice brittle. "But it’s slipping through my hands. Every day, I wake up hoping today will feel different. That I’ll care, or find a reason to try... but mostly, I just feel numb. Like I’m already a ghost."

She stays still, not moving to pull away from him, but not clinging, either. Just resting, as if being in the same space with someone who understands makes things a little lighter, if only for a moment.

"How do you do it?" she asks, her voice quiet, almost desperate. "How do you keep going when it all feels... pointless?"

RAFAEL SILVA — Instagram (2024)

"Yeah, well, helping put the town back together can't wait for me to heal."

Lucas nods.

"I'll get a couple of deputies to round up any keys they can and drop them off at your place. If you and Muz need any help moving them, let us know. I can think of a couple of guys that would wanna show off how big and strong they are."

He rolls his eyes. They think the "rules" from outside still apply. As if.

mara looks down at his ankle as he mentions it before looking back up at his face. "healing takes time," she says simply, as if it was new information, "can't push it to heal faster than it must." she knows that better than anyone.

she nodded, "i've been going through the new cars that came in before the storm, from a lot of the new comers. they're all spread out, mostly on the road that-" it doesn't really leaves town but it kind of does. "out at the edge," she finishes after a second of thought. "if we could get the keys and move them to the graveyard with the rest, it would make getting parts and supplies back to town before dark easier."

Lucas tilts his head in acknowledgment. It is a lot of work to do. He's glad to hear people want to help, though. There's plenty of people out in the world who wouldn't even consider it.

"Nothing really yet," he answers. "We're still going through potential problems, though it's hard to see what were people taking advantage versus monsters that slipped through cracks."

And there's the other side. People who don't care about everyone else. No matter the circumstances. It pisses him off.

"Anything I need to have the deputies disperse? I'm sure you three are gonna be up to your ears in problem solving meetings."

cameron looks up from the lists she was working on when lucas walks in. a smile forms on her lips, only slightly forced. the storm really wiped them out and the repairs alone were going to take more resources than they had. after years of this place feeling almost normal, it seemed like they were leaving that behind them now. "all i hear is that means we have a lot of work to do," she tries to joke but the stress comes through in her voice. running a hand through her hair, she looks at the folders, flipping one of the covers open. "i have some people from colony house volunteering to help with repairs so i'll make sure they know what is the most important to work on." thank god some of them actually seem to care. "any problems on your end of things? i was worried that storm was going to have people acting out and end up in a cell."

"El's really cool. They're teaching me shit I didn't even know about out there."

Adrien turns his focus back to his project, though he keeps up with the conversation easily.

"Just something, Muz or Mara found. Figured I'd see if I could make it work before we stripped it for parts."

He looks up. "Anything I can help with? This is just fun stuff I can do any time."

He places the pieces on the bandana he'd found and wraps them up.

"that's good, there are some cool people here, and you picked one of the better jobs. i'm sure el has you working hard," she says with a smile. "you seem to be taking things pretty well." she liked how adrien always seemed so positive about things. it was refreshing in a place like this. they needed more people like that. "i'm okay, got a long list of things i need to work on around here but wanted to check in with you. i know it can be a lot these first few weeks." cam looks down at the walkie talkie he was messing with. "what'cha doing with that? haven't seen one of those in awhile."

Lucas is out for a morning run. It's one thing that he actually likes about this place: a decent running trail and scenery. And just after sunrise is the perfect time to start, and just let the day warm up with him.

He's going steady and managing not to gasp for air when he finds Adam lying by the lake. He pauses to take him in.

"Kinda early to be drinking, don't you think?" Hhe asks walking over to the deputy.

He doesn't know what to make of the man. He seems like a decent guy, but something in Lucas's gut tells him to be wary of the man. Which is a hard thing to feel in this town.

open to all location: near the lake

He's done his best, burying the bodies, checking in on people, making sure everyone new had settled in. And now, well, even in the real world cops got a day off, didn't they? So he woke up early, just as the dawn had cleared the night sky he walked down to the lake with nothing but a towel, a bottle of cheap wine he found in an abandoned new car, and a lollypop he looted of a very unfortunate priest he had to dig six feet for. It was a fair exchange for his efforts, he thought. As the sun got warmer and his shades painted the tall grass a nice golden colour, he began to somewhat relax -- alcohol calming his nerves as he tried to process everything that went down. It's then he noticed someone walking through the run down pathway. "The water's still cold." he points out. "I got somethin' to make it warmer though..." lifting up the bottle, it's the only invitation he could offer.

Adrien's sitting in one of the communal rooms, messing with an old walkie-talkie he found in one of Muz's scavenger piles. It looks military grade. Well, from a couple of decades ago. He figured it could be a fun challenge. Though it's probably useless without another one.

He looks up and smiles up at Cameron.

"Hey! Yeah, I'm doing great. I started at the Chop Shop, met some pretty cool people, and I think I've got the lay of the town. How are you?"

closed starter @patroclusblossom where: in colony house

cameron liked to make it a habit to keep checking in with the new comers, just to make sure they were settling in okay and not totally freaking out. not that she would blame them. so when she sees adrien around the house, she decides to stop and see how he was doing. he always seemed so happy but she was sure that was just a front. "hey adrien, how's it going?" she asks with a smile. "settling in okay?"

@fromcamadams

Lucas steps into Cameron's office with a stack of folders.

"Okay, I have the updated census, the current inventories from every council service, building damages organized by priority needs, and a rationing plan you, Ana, and Santi need to look over."

He places the folders down one at a time, making sure he's got the right ones. Then he steps back, hooking his thumbs on his belt as he waits for her next instructions.

Lucas laughs.

"Well, I'm glad I could keep that unique brain of yours from eating itself."

He nudges Muz with a shoulder.

"I don't know if I've got any good chat today. Too busy running around, making sure we don't fall apart here. Though I guess falling apart helps your job a bit, doesn't it?"

His tone isn't judgmental, more amused by the thought.

'Guess I’m growing roots. Whole five minutes of stillness. New record, I think.' He pauses, glancing at Lucas, the glint in his eyes settles into something quieter. 'Honestly? Got sick of my own company today. Felt like if I sat alone one more minute, my brain’d start eating itself.' He tilts his head, a grin breaking the seriousness before it can linger. 'And I know you've got good chat.'

Lucas let's her talk, seeing what kind of mood or topic she'll settle on.

"I'm not really in the mood for a lot of company," he says. "Just company. Plus I'm hungry."

It is hard to deal with so much loss all the time. He knows theoretically that people die all the time. But seeing it on a daily basis is a different story.

He gives her an encouraging smile when she talks about Charlie and El.

"Yeah, I checked up on El earlier. They seem to be doing okay, but I get it. If Rae or Ana got hurt like that..."

He let's the silence finish the sentence for him.

"Anyway, uh, my first day was rough. Kind of like what these new people had to deal with, I guess. My brother and I rolled in before sunrise, and we were getting chased. He managed to hold them off from me while somebody let me inside their house."

He blinks away the tears threatening to spill. Thinking about Carlos always made him cry.

"Colony house has plenty of company, if that's your vibe. I don't know, it gets little loud there for me sometimes. Don't get me wrong I like...I like the noise it's just...after last night..." she lets her words trail off there, she was certain he'd know what that meant. "Uh, I got lost in work, lots of cooking and -- onions cover up for the crying. Lost a lot of good people last night, I just...it's hard isn't it? Having to deal with loss...all the fucking time..." lighting another cigarette she'll smile at the question, almost forcing herself in an attempt to feel better, to be better company. "New people are cool. There's this girl Charlie I think...I think she and I will be good friends. El got hurt though, which...it's kind of all I can think about." a small shrug passes her shoulder. "You? You never told me what your first time was like...arriving here?"

"Oh yeah. The tractors, the irrigation system, the heating, the A/C, the oven, the TV."

He straightens up, holding a metal panel. He examines it, wondering what it could be used for.

"I also worked at a T-Mobile store for a summer, so I learned a lot about cell phones, tablets, and smart watches."

He purses his lips, then shrugs and drops the panel back into the pile. He looks over at Muz and smiles again.

So the quote on quote joke didn't seem to land. Muz narrowly avoids disappointment, thinking he had been making good attempts at friendliness there. 'A farm?' he asks, tone a little more enthusiastic. He watches Adrien fiddle through that pile. 'You worked on the tractors and that there?'

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."

Lucas quietly snorts.

"I'd prefer less existential conversation. I can save that until night time."

He puts his coffee cup down, then stretches out long from the bench, legs out, ass barely hanging on the edge, and head back with his hands laced behind it.

"Nothing like it," he echoes. "So what made you actually sit somewhere longer than five minutes?"

'Got your back, man. Ten minutes to sundown I'll give you a poke in the rib.' Muz leans back, crossing his arms and shoots Lucas a lazy grin. 'Just enough time to get into some deep, existential conversation going before the monsters come out, yeah?' There's a certain comfort in this—the quiet, Lucas’s half-asleep presence next to him, and understanding between them that they didn’t have to say too much, just something. 'Nothing like a power nap with a sunset alarm.'

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.

This is going well. At least, Adrien thinks it is. She hasn't indicated she doesn't like him, so that's a start.

"Tea sounds great, thanks."

He sits across from her, wiping the nervous sweat from his hands on his jeans.

He'd never really had any tea before, but when in Rome or however that goes.

"No, I know. I figured we wouldn't be here at all if you could."

He wiggles in his seat, trying how to best explain what he's thinking.

"So I grew up in a small town with small-minded people. I guess I'm just hoping to learn new things. Even if they're unusual or other people don't like it."

"Straightforward works," she finally says, her voice soft but firm, carrying that smooth cadence that makes everything sound deliberate. "Better than playing games, anyway. I can work with honest."

She crosses her arms loosely, tilting her head as he talks about the rumors circulating around her—potions, tarot cards, and all the rest. The mention of fear doesn’t seem to surprise her, nor does the suggestion that others respect her. Raina knows how stories travel, how reputations morph in this strange town.

"Ah, the usual, then," she says lightly, with a shrug that makes it seem like she’s heard it all before. "People love to be afraid of what they don’t understand. And if that fear keeps them at a respectful distance..." She lets the thought hang, the smile curling just a little sharper. "Well, I won’t lose any sleep over it."

Her smile turns playful but knowing, as if she’s fully aware of how strange and intimidating this place must feel to him but finds some quiet humor in watching him navigate it. When she turns back to him, there’s an ease in her gaze—not an invitation exactly, but not a dismissal either.

"Tea?" she offers, as if that’s the most natural thing to ask after such a conversation bringing the kettle to her table with two mugs. Raina motions for him to take a seat, "What do you need a witch for? I can't wave my hands and you'll be free, if that's what you think."

"That's awesome. Glad to hear my new boss is also a good person."

He snickers. Then his head snaps up.

"Really? I'm there too! We totally need to hang out or something after dark."

"yeah, i guess when everything is so scares and random, gotta make use of everything," charlie said with a shrug as she looked around the shop. she was still trying to take everything in around here, it was interesting how everyone did their part and it all seemed to work, at least for the most part. "that sounds like them," she said with a smile. "they kinda saved me on my first night here and let me crash in their house." that night was still a blur but she was glad it was el that let them in. "you can say that again, this place is fucking crazy. still trying to wrap my head around it all." she's not sure if she ever will. "i'm up at colony house, what about you?"

Lucas sighs and rubs his face.

"Okay, how about this: you let me search your place real quick. If I find those bottles, then I take you down, and we sort out your restitution. If I don't, then I leave you alone for the rest of the day?"

CHERRY'S EXPRESSION SCRUNCHES . she tries desperately to think of anyone who might've actually saw her behind the desk that day or anyone who will vouch for her, time be damned . " i mean, whoever the fuck was in the lobby that morning ? i don't know everyone's name, luke ." cherry huffs a bit in exasperation, throwing a hand up before she adds, " i only know yours cause of, y'know ." a shrug as she shifts her weight, letting her hip rest against the doorframe . " continued exposure ."

CARLOS REYES 9-1-1: LONE STAR (1.02)

"Not stupid. Just an unfortunate honest answer."

He looks down at the ankle in question. It's still aching, though not terribly.

"It's fine. Becca wishes I'd stay off it for a bit longer, but I've got a job to do."

He nods in sympathy. After helping Rae on the morgue side, Lucas can only imagine how bad the infirmary is hurting.

"I know Ana is trying to figure out what we can do. Hopefully, we can keep the inventories steady for a bit."

"stupid question, hm?" she asked, a wry smile on her lips before glancing down at his foot. "how's the ankle?" she asks in turn before a long sigh makes it way from her lips, wincing just so at the reminder of how many they'd lost. "yeah, we're alright. took a few hits to the supplies from the storm but i think we'll manage."

Adrien chuckles.

"Trust me, I've seen messier. My cousin Mack threw a party in the barn when Aunt Kay and Uncle Don were out of town. Looked like a tornado of bulls went through it."

If it's El's, then it's probably best he doesn't touch it without talking to them first. Instead, he starts helping Noah clean.

"I mean besides the murderous monsters that come out at night, it's not so bad here," Adrien says. "I'm meeting some cool people I never would've back home."

Noah nodded slowly when Adrien said El had sent him to check on things. That made sense. “Cool! Yeah, things are… messy.” He gestured to the mess of the garage. He had tried to pick up the mess as best he could, anyway. “But it’s getting there.”

He turned to look at the car on the lift that caught Adrien’s attention. “I’m sure that’s El. I’m not sure, though. It’s not mine, that’s all I know.” He wasn’t the most detail oriented, unless it was something he was directly in charge of.

“How are you finding it here so far?”

Lucas huffs a humorless laugh.

"I was going out of my mind and trying to make a sprained ankle heal faster."

He looks down at said ankle, still aching, but more or less fine. He kicks some small rubble off the side of the road.

"Is there anything I can help you with? Leadership wants a list of repairs or supplies that people need."

"appreciate, yeah," she agrees with a nod. in this place, all she knew was to enjoy the day light. things came out at night and the day time was the only time they were safe, at least as safe as they could be here. she looked back at lucas, face blank as she takes in his question. "fine, it was just another night." only it wasn't, it lasted longer than any she's seen before but she wasn't one to talk about the things that go through her mind during the nights. "what about you?" she didn't particularly care, but she knows it's polite to return questions.

Lucas gives him a dubious look, not really believing him at his word but not really able to call him a liar either.

Then he eyes the bench, wary. If he sits, he's not sure he'll stand back up any time soon. But getting off his feet sounds so nice.

He sighs and settles down next to Muz.

"If I fall asleep, you better wake me up," he says with a relieved sigh.

'Lucas, baby, what d'ya mean, man? Full twelve hours, me. Sleep the whole night through.' Twelve hours total in the four months since landing in this town, a bit more likely. But he lets a smile slip. 'Need your beauty sleep, man. Come sit for a bit. Gimme company.'

"Wow, ten years?" Adrien doesn't even look up from his work as he continues talking. "I thought not really leaving my hometown for that long was bad. But this place?"

He let's out a stream of air in sympathy. He strips off the covering so he can get to more of the wiring.

"I mean, I've got the important bits: monsters that eat people, can't leave town, stay indoors once the sun sets. It's all very Twilight Zone. I guess I'm curious what all you guys do in the meantime? Gardening, scavenging, cooking, healing, that's all good, but that's survival, not living."

she'd forgotten how newcomers could be; so eager to learn and ask questions. its one of the reasons why she never took up a leadership position with the council; erin didn't think that she could keep herself impartial if she got too close to every newcomer. a lot of people didn't make it, she didn't want to sign up for the pain fest it would be when they inevitably died. she hoped that he wouldn't though, that he would somehow break the cycle. she stalls for time, looking around the shop and tinkering with things in the office here and there. "ten years," she replies easily enough, but if you were to know her then you'd notice strain in her voice as she says it. clearing her throat, she continues. "what do you want to know?" better to figure out what he already knows and then go from there.

Adrien worries he said something wrong. Do El and this Muz guy not like each other?

"They just said you'd be around the shop a lot. You, them, Noah, some other people I think?"

He shrugs but nods at Muz's descriptions.

"Trust me, I'm not a glamorous type of guy. Grew up on a farm. And nothing is really junk. It just takes the right equipment to make some stuff more useful."

He starts to pick through a nearby pile, just to see what's in it.

'El did? Chatty bastard, spreading my name round like that.' That's a joke. He's not sure how but it tumbles clumsily from his brain to tongue and twists into a hard tone he doesn't quite mean. To compensate, Muz punctuates with a loose smile. 'Tell them I want a word.' He scratches the back of his neck, letting out a dry laugh as he then considers the question. 'Scavenger?' he mutters, like he's trying out the word for the first time. 'S'Not glamorous, that’s for sure,' he says. 'More like… picking through what everyone's left behind. Sometimes you find something worth keeping. Most times, it’s just junk, like old bolts or busted pieces of metal that won’t do anyone any good. I uh, I drop a lot stuff in here, to be fair. I think we'll see each other a bit.'

Susan Sontag, from “Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963″