Hey Now Those (your Big Brown Eyes) Are Some Dangerous Weapons…

"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.

where: cemetery

when: the days after the storm

whom: @hollismackenzie

Lucas shuffles among the headstones, passing names he's become familiar with but rarely think about. Any he knew were missed but free, and any he didn't know hang heavy but not unbearably so.

Only one gets any reaction out of him these days and it's an empty grave. They didn't even dig a hole. No body left so no point. Just the simple carved stone with the name that might always bring him to tears:

Carlos de Azevedo Miranda

Brother. Protector.

Lucas carries the bouquet of marigolds that Eddy so kindly makes for him. It's small but bright and one thing he can do to honor his brother still.

The keeper is standing near the headstone, so Lucas slows to a stop, watching a waiting so he doesn't interrupt the man's work.

LORD HAVE MERCY

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?"

Mary Oliver, from a poem titled "Six Recognitions of the Lord," featured in Devotions: Poems

Adrien sees the frayed cord and immediately jumps up excited.

"Oh, that's easy. Give me like twenty minutes. Take a seat."

He takes the fan from her, setting it on the desk, and then immediately begins to rummage for the tools he needs. He hums quietly until he has everything in his hands. Settling in at the desk, he starts to work.

"So how long you been here? What can you tell me about it?"

His gaze stays focused on the wires as he asks the questions.

a nostalgic sort of smile curls her lips up and she's reminded of something that she'd rather not be - the innocence of her son - before she shoves the thoughts away with a fierce push. "i have a fan that won't work anymore." she explains, holding the tiny electrical fan up. "it plugs into the wall but the chord recently has frayed..." she shows him the end that is obviously frayed. "sucker has been with me the entirety of my ten years here and i need it to last a few more, especially because i use it in the summer at the infirmary for people with heat sickness." looking hopeful, she sets the fan down in front of him. "think you can work some magic?"

Adrien hugs back, happily squeezing the girl. Then Adrien's smile drops slightly when he takes in her words.

"What? That's not right. It's your birthday. You should be hearing that all night."

Adrien giggles and shakes his hair after the ruffling.

"Thanks, and same to you, okay? You need anything, let me know. I'm gonna be working at the Chop Shop with El, so I'm good at that kind of stuff."

Adrien shrugs and chugs some more water.

"I'm 22. You?"

CHERRY HAS TO BLINK AT THE WORDS, ALMOST CAUGHT OFF GUARD . it only takes a beat for her to soften, probably a mix of the alcohol and the whole night that makes her pull the guy who's practically a stranger into a tight hug . " aww, adrien . thank you ." her heart contracts a little as she gives him a little squeeze, pulling back to pat him on the head . " y'know you're the only one to say that all night ?" she can't help but shake her head with a sniff . she ruffles his hair . " you're a good kid . you needa favour from me, you got it, okay ?" a pause for a second as she blinks and looks at him up and down in new light . " wait, how old are you actually ?"

Adrien stops pushing and looks up to see someone talking to him from a working car. One of the few in town. He recognizes him but can't remember his name.

"I mean if you're not busy," Adrien replies. "I'm just taking it to the Chop Shop to see what I can do with it."

Adrien smiles then takes a second to roll his shoulders, giving his body a short break.

Gabriel was driving to his shift at the diner when he spotted someone literally pushing their car down the road, obviously broken down. He didn't want to be late but then again he was a nice guy if someone needed help. He pulled over and rolled down the passenger window. ''Hey man, want some help? There must be something better than that.''

Adrien glances at the crowd, then back to Muz.

"Okay. So we don't dance with them."

He steps away from the crowd and closer to Muz.

"And I don't need a partner to dance. Just thought you might wanna join the fun."

He starts swaying his hips and stepping in a personal circle. He tilts his head back and closes his eyes, feeling the music.

"What's your favorite kind of music," he asks without looking.

Muz stumbles a bit as Adrien pulls him into a spin, feeling a mix of surprise and something very close to enjoyment. He can’t remember the last time someone dragged him so effortlessly into their orbit, and it’s funny how he almost goes along with it before his instinct kicks in. He gently pulls back, just slightly, taking a step as he raises both hands in mock surrender. 'Alright,—you got your spin,' he says, giving Adrien a playful side-eye. 'If you’re looking for a full-on dance partner, I’m the wrong guy. Besides,” he adds, nodding toward the swirl of people, 'I’ll probably end up trampling someone.'

"Well, unfortunately, I'm the sheriff, so yeah, I'm a cop."

He lowers his hands and gestures around his waist, where it's very clear he doesn't even have a holster. Hopefully, that lets her trust him more.

"I don't like carrying a gun around town unless I have to."

He steps closer, even stuffing his hand in his pockets to seem more casual.

"I understand that you need to be in control of yourself, and me dragging you away would do the opposite of that. So I'm just going to say this: if you want to risk your life against those monsters, we can't stop you. We can't protect people who don't want our protection. I just hope you decide that our protection is good enough for you as the others have."

— A scoff escapes her lips before she can stop it , her scowl only furthering at the words of the other . “ what're you , a cop ? ” she asks with a scrunch of her nose , tapping some ash from her smoke while disdain drips from her every word . “ being cautious is one thing , threatening people with physical restraint so they conform to your so - called safety standards , that's another thing entirely . very authoritarian of you all , i must say . ” there is something comforting , almost nostalgic , about being a smartass with authority ; a sense of warm familiarity , in a town that is entirely unknown to her .