This Is Going Well. At Least, Adrien Thinks It Is. She Hasn't Indicated She Doesn't Like Him, So That's

Adrien is so fucking confused. He's pretty sure he's never seen this town anywhere near the hiking trail.

Now it's pouring rain and... what the fuck are those in the trees?

He immediately runs when the guy calls, slipping into the house. Literally. Slipping onto his ass on the hardwood floor. It hurts but at least he's inside.

"Ow."

He looks up at the man.

"What's going on? Where am I? What are those things?"

Then he notices the small girl peaking out from a door frame.

"Oh hi," he says, putting on a smile and waving. "I hope I didn't scare you. Didn't mean to."

location: kang household open: 0/3

it all happened so quickly. one moment, daehyun and his daughter were simply enjoying time out on the porch before the rain began to pour. it wasn't unusual to get rain every so often, but this storm in particular was very unnerving. the dark clouds that had rolled in had daehyun rising to his feet--and then he saw t h e m in the tree line. with color drained from his face and the lunch he had eaten only a short while ago churning in his stomach, the teacher snatched three-year old bella up in his arms without a second thought. " get inside! " he yelled out, directed mostly at the person passing by on the worn sidewalk. " come on! " he called again as he carried the toddler inside, looking back out from the open door to ensure the other was close behind. if they didn't get up on the front porch in a few moments, daehyun already knew he'd be locking the door without them inside. thankfully, it was but a second or two later that he was able to shut the door securely behind the other, latching the lock and ensuring the amulet was securely attached to the wall beside the doorframe.

Adrien giggles.

"Okay. That's not too old. I guess i wouldn't mind that."

And then he sighs. "You'd think, but I haven't found anyone. It's so disappointing."

He looks at her with wide eyes. "Well, if you live here, you have to help me out. Be my wing-girl."

" OH NO, YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT ALONE ." cherry's face scrunches up at that thought as she shakes her head . " every two steps you can probably find someone less than straight around here . it's real nice . would kinda be really fun if it weren't for, you know . the motherfuckers trying to eat us ." cherry shrugs before she's brightening, tilting her head with a hum to say, " like, mid thirties, kinda ?" cherry's brows furrow before she's moving to give adrien a playful smack in the side . " what're ya talkin' about then ? colony house is like, the hub for free love ! you should be able to find some cute guy here for sure ." cherry blinks and remembers the question, quickly adds, " oh, and i'm at colony ."

Adrien gives her a warm smile and even gives her a slight bow in return.

"Well you look great, Miss Maude. Taking a break or trying to psych yourself up to join the fray."

He tilts his head towards the dancing.

waiting for one of her two anchors to return, maude had not been seen at the party without her closest friends. perhaps she should have attended as an unobtrusive observer, a fly on the wall since her behavior certainly suggested as much. a natural observer, she hung back shyly, avoiding eye contact and keeping to herself rather than immersing in the festivities. it wasn’t that she lacked friendliness; rather, her anxiety was palpable in the presence of so many people gathered in one place—an inevitable hazard for the town.

“adrien?” she echoed, tentatively extending her hand for a gentle shake. “i’m maude, the scarecrow—” she said, gesturing to her costume. “i’ve been around for a little while, just six months,” she added as an explanation. “i’m the socially awkward one of the trio.” with an awkward, scarecrow-like curtsy, she inquired, “are you enjoying yourself?”

"So fucked," Lucas agrees, some heat behind his words. "And all we can do is react. We don't have any way of actually taking action. We're so fucked here."

He grabs the bottle from Adam and pours himself another glass that he downs in two gulps.

"And even leadership can't do anything because they know fuck all like the rest of us."

"I don't think it's about revenge. They probably feed on fear or torture or some shit, it's like water to them I...I don't know. I just wish we knew how they really functioned, wish we knew there were some genuine rules to this. What if tomorrow they start running? What if the talismans stop working? What if all of this is just them pretending...letting us feel 'safe' until our guard is low enough. for them to 'strike'? We need to be prepared....but we weren't even prepared for this....for today. It's fucked."

Tanner Buchanan | Behind The Blinds (2021)

"Right. I'm sorry. Really, I am."

He crosses his arms and leans against the wall opposite the door.

"We're all stressed out, and you're one of my regular trouble makers. I just needed to know that you're being a team player. At least a little bit."

He gives her a firm but hopeful look.

" ASK YOUR BUDDY !" cherry makes a vague gesture in addition to the words, her brow arching as she moves to lean her back against the door frame instead . " officer adam . he was here with me ." she shrugs and thoughtfully adds, " santi too for a bit ." an arch of her brows before she adds, " y'all have basically been swarmin' me ."

where: chop shop when: day time whom: @hcartcorruptcd El

Adrien is hunched over the engine of the truck, trying to gauge what all is salvageable and what could be modified to be salvageable.

They'd had a few cars brought in from the junk yard after the leaders and sheriff's department got everything useful for the community. Now they're stripping what they think can be useful.

"For a truck from the '80s," he calls out, "it's in pretty good condition. Almost a shame to tear it up."

He climbs out with some valves, carrying them over to the piles they'd started to keep things vaguely organized. Then he glances over to El.

Lucas sighs.

"Yeah, I know. I just wish your team was part of the whole team too."

He offers a handshake as a formal apology.

"Sorry for wasting your time," he says. "If you hear anything about the missing stock, could you at least let me know who it was after you take it from them?"

CHERRY SIGHS JUST A LITTLE BIT . she gives lucas a look that's only half exasperated . " yeah, well ." the roll of cherry's eyes is halfhearted . " just cause i'm a trouble maker doesn't mean it's always me ." it just probably is, but somehow cherry doubts that now is the time to mention that . " and — i'm on a team ." the protest is accompanied by a lackluster shrug . " s'just ... mine ."

Lucas considers this. He's been in a lot of the woods around town but hasn't come across a tree like that. Of course, that's not at all surprising. Still, it has him thinking.

"Okay," he says, focusing back on Elm. "That's good. Was there anything else?"

He gives her a small smile.

ELM CONSIDERS THE QUESTION FOR A MOMENT BEFORE SHRUGGING . " it's the only thing i remember ." elm wonders if that's enough to make it notable . there's another beat of thought where their head tilts before they're adding a, " there was a moon over it ." their brows furrow a bit . " it was full and ..." a thoughtful pause before elm is making a round gesture with their hands . " the tree was by itself . in a circle, like this ."

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?"