Lucas Sighs As Well.

Adrien senses something shift once he mentions El, but Cherry moves right on past it, so he does too.

He blushes at all the compliments, rubbing the back of his neck. Getting called smart and handsome with equal validity? A nice ego boost.

"Thanks."

Then he looks her over with some surprised.

"Wait, really? I wouldn't have guessed anything older than like 25."

" RIGHT ? RIGHT ?" cherry replies emphatically as she pulls back from the hug . she huffs a bit . " you get it, adrien . a birthday's a big deal! especially round here, like i coulda fuckin' died before this one !" cherry is in the process of shaking her head in exasperation when she registers adrien's words, blinking in surprise as her heart sinks heavy and quick at the mention of el . " oh, shit . didn't know that ." a dry swallow before she's moving to compose herself, attempting to hide the expression with a firm pat to adrien's arm . " look at you ! you're smart and shit, huh ?" cherry has to arch her brows at the reply . she studies adrien in new light . " huh . you kinda look younger ." a shrug . " s'good thing though . means you're gonna age good ." she nods decisively before she's pointing to herself and adding, " m'thirty one today ."

He's nursing a barely healed sprained ankle, his town is basically in shambles, his ex/friend is going through an emotional collapse and trying to hide it, his friends are struggling to lead this town of scared people, and all Lucas wants to do is curl up onto his bed and cry. So...

"As good as can be expected," he says, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible. "Lots of things to do and people to help. How about you? How's the non-dead side of the infirmary?"

"right," carrying out the syllables a little too long, erin sent lucas a grin and tightened her grip on the rather large branch. on three, she pulled and kept pulling until it was back out of the way where it needed to be. dropping it onto the rather large pile of branches and debris from the storm, she sighed and wiped her hands on her worn jeans. "how are you holding up?" she normally wasn't one to make conversation but it seemed right to ask him now that he had helped her.

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.

"With a lot of practice," Adrien says. Then adds, "Unfortunately."

He unconsciously matches her tapping fingers with his own on his knees.

"I know it sounds a little naive, but trust me, it's taken a lot of experience to think like that. Experience I wish I didn't have."

Catie stares at him. Free? She lets out a short, hard laugh, but it fades quickly as she considers the honesty behind what he’s saying. 'So, that’s it?' she asks. Her fingers drum against the plastic cup, her mind racing against a wall she’s only just realising might never come down.

She looks away, biting the inside of her cheek. The idea that everyone here had already gone through these thoughts, that they’d all made peace with something that to her felt like an endless cage—it’s unsettling. 'I don't know how you do that,' she mutters finally, almost to herself.

Task 002

Adrien lives in the colony house, so he doesn't have a set room or space necessarily. He roams around the house, enjoying the space as well as the company it allows him.

While he's impressed by what's already there, he does like to add his own touches here and there. Taking scraps from jobs at the Chop Shop that just weren't worth saving for practical use. Now, he brings them to the house to find new life as decoration or weird new purpose.

He also tends to just leave little things, particularly tools, behind as he works. Almost like a bread crumb trail of where he's been semi-recently. Sometimes, he'll even leave something behind because he'd set it down to pick up a different thing he'd left behind earlier.

He also tries to add some of his old farmhouse home to the areas of the house. He fixes or refurbishes things in the style he's familiar with, hoping it makes everything feel homey to everyone, not just him.

wanted connections

lucas:

Non-work friends: people he talks to regularly that he doesn't work with

Mutual annoyances: someone he see regularly because of his job and it bothers both him and them

Friends-with-benefits: a guy he can hook up with, no strings attached because they both just need that release sometimes

adrien:

Possible romantic interest: a guy who maybe sees Lucas and wants more with him. Could lead to a happily for now or could just end

Life debt: someone let Lucas into their house while his brother Carlos held back monsters. Lucas feels he owes this kind soul so much and will do anything for them, basically no questions asked.

Friends and roommates: people living at the colony house like him that can just hang out. Maybe eventually, they can all be a tight-knit group that will all help protect each other if the need arises

Mentor/parental figure: after losing his parents at a young age and not really imprinting on his aunt and uncle, Adrien is definitely looking for someone he can care about like that and could care about him back

Meet cute: a guy that Adrien might develop a crush on and could potentially lead to more

where: outside, wherever when: day after the storm open starter

Lucas walks down the street, taking note of all the damage from the storm. So much to fix. It's starting to feel like it would be better just to rebuild the whole town from scratch.

He turns a corner and has to put his list away.

"Hey!" he calls out to the person. "You need help over there?"

Lucas pauses. While he'd sworn to always tell the residents the truth, he'd also promised the leaders that they get information and plans first.

But telling the truth should come first.

"Yeah, most likely. Don't know when or how, but it's the first lead we've gotten of something different in the woods."

" ... OKAY ." ELM REPLIES WITH A NOD . " that's true , i guess ." there's a beat then as they study him before they add a curious, " are you going to try and find the tree ?"

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.

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."