Wanted Connections

"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 grunts, hating that he knows she's right.

"I can't just sit around, Becca. I've got a job to do. People are in danger out there."

He nods at the suggestion of a brace. At least then the pain will be contained.

"Just do it. Jim is probably wondering where I am."

He'd lost his radio somewhere out there which really was the cherry on top of this shithole cake of a day.

based on what he could tolerate, it was definitely a bad twist. even as she was testing his ankle, she could feel where it was starting to swell and get stiff. "that depends, lucas; how far can you get around on it? do you want to try to stand, or wait?"

becca could only guess at this point. her expertise was mostly in the aftermath of lingering injuries, not diagnosing or treating new ones. "i'll try to make a brace either way, but you know it won't heal right without rest."

Adrien perks up even more. There's a little shop here? His fingers already twitch, wanting to get work done inside.

"So when it comes to these talismans I've heard about, they only work if there's like an unbroken 'barrier?' So no open windows or doors?"

He's noticed some temporary solutions already up, but he's also noticed a lot of residents give those wary looks. As if they're expecting something to jump through them.

"hey, that's better than a lot of these kids around here," cam said with a laugh before opening the front door of colony house. "come on, i'll show you my little make-shift shop." really it was just a shed on the side of the house where she keeps her personal stash of tools so that no one in the house can steal them. god know everything else in this house goes missing and stashed away.

Lucas snorts. "With you? I don't think he ever is."

He let's Adam pour him another drink, listening to the nihilistic but strangely comforting speech.

"We drink," Lucas echoes, watching him struggle to light the cigarette.

"I just can't stop imagining that I hear screams coming from out there. Which is crazy because the rain is so loud I wouldn't hear anything anyway."

"When's Jim ever happy?" up until now Adam didn't even consider the real consequences this day would have on everyone who stays alive. He was more concerned with the amount of digging he'll be forced to do first thing in the morning. Not to mention seeing dead bodies, all fucked up, did not get easier with time. In many ways, he was hoping this would never end. "New day, new rules -- this place is letting us know who's really in control. Ain't nothin' we can do about that. Except drink, so....we drink..." he pours him another, and then another one for himself and lights the poorly dried cigarette. "Day will come, 'til then we're better off in here than we would be out there..."

Adrien is immediately interested in the little she'd said. He walks further into the room.

"You know, I was thinking we could probably make some decent windmills to generate power," he says, looking down at the book she was reading. "It's pretty windy here, and it'd be more reliable than solar power."

"It's cool," she said looking at the source from inside the notebook from where she was sitting on the floor. "I'm just trying to figure out new power source, but with limited- " she said before glancing up to see who was speaking to her before closing the book. "Do you need something?"

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

RAFAEL SILVA

Lucas approaches cautiously, trying not to spook her like she's a deer that could leap into action at any second. His hands up to show he means no ill will.

"You can't really blame us for being cautious now, can you? We don't want you to get hurt. Or worse."

He winces at the memories of bodies. Especially those of newcomers who didn't know better or tried to deny the reality before them.

where : the edge of the forest / town with : open

— RAYS from the afternoon sun shine through the trees , melting away the remaining frost on the yellowing leaves and warming greer's near windburnt cheeks . though a chilly autumn was no irregularity for the detroit native , there was something sinister in the air , something she tries desperately to ignore , that makes the cold air seem to seep into her weary bones , inescapable no matter how many layers she may wear . despite this , her glove - less right hand remains outside of her coat pocket , a nearly finished cigarette held tightly between two pinkened fingers , orange lighter clutched in the palm of her hand . the unease only worsens the longer she stares into the woods , the shadows among the trees looking all the more ominous . she takes a deep inhale , the harshness of the cold air stinging her nose and throat as she does so , refreshing and punishing at the same time . as she exhales , she closes her eyes , cutting herself off from staring into the forest , and the dark , irrational thoughts that seem to cluster in her mind whenever she was near it . footsteps approach , the sound of gravel crunching taking away from the otherwise eerie silence , and successfully pulling the young woman from her reverie . greer's eyes remain closed for a moment longer , this time to contain an eye roll . “ i'm not running off again , you guys don't have to keep threatening to ‘ restrain me ’ . ” forever assuming rather than asking , disinterest and annoyance cloud greer's voice . her eyes open only to fall into a scowl as she turns to look at the one who interrupts her moping . “ what do you want ? ”

"I mean, you haven't been dragged off by the sheriff's, so I'd say you're killing it."

He snickers, then his face turns to a determined grin.

"Oh, you're so on."

He walks over and prepares his side. He's only done this once or twice, and he's pretty sure he lost. Though the amount he and his opponents threw up, maybe they all lost.

"So is it like this every year?"

El barely has time to process the flash of movement before Adrien’s arms are wrapped around them in a warm, enthusiastic hug. They blink, momentarily surprised, but then a broad smile takes over their face as they settle into the embrace, giving Adrien a firm squeeze in return.

“Oh yeah?” El chuckles, a playful glint in their eyes as they pull back slightly, taking in Adrien's costume with a look of approval. “Guess I made it hard to track down the towns newest cowboy, huh?” They give their cowboy hat a small tilt, a grin tugging at the corner of their lips. “Good to see you too, Adrien.”

El slaps Adrien lightly on the back, nodding toward the game of beer pong. “Whoever loses has to repair what people break tonight” Ellington challenges him with a grin.

Adrien laughs and pats Cherry back.

"Sounds fair. And thanks. So what's your type anyway?"

CHERRY'S EXPRESSION SCRUNCHES THE LONGER ADRIEN GOES ON . she tries to nod as she makes a mental list, but she has to blink as adrien groans . " what ? no !" cherry moves to put a hand on adrien's shoulder then, giving it a squeeze as she says, " you like what you like, okay ? nothin' cringe about that ." cherry nods decisively . " and if you want a nice, patient guy who looks like he gives good hugs i can look around for that for you ." a beat before she pats his shoulder to add a light, " m'not cuddling any of them to test that out though ." her grin is cheeky . " that's gonna be all you, okay ?"