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Lucas nods.
"We'll probably also put it up to the whole community, but we'll need to discuss things first."
He walks with Elm to the door, holding it open for them.
"I suppose I know what you'd say at that town meeting."
ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS' OFFER FOR A BEAT BEFORE THEY NOD . they straighten as they move towards the door with a low, " so you guys will vote ?"
@fromcamadams
Lucas barges into Cameron's office, breathing heavy like an enraged bull.
"You'll never believe what those motherfucking monsters just pulled on me," he says, voice quivering with rage that's he's trying to contain. He drops the remains of the rotary phone onto Cam's desk.
"They think they can get away with this shit any longer? Well, I'm this close to just barging into those woods, guns blazing."
He paces the room, not wanting his anger to be directed at her.
@patroclusblossom (lucas)
You're sitting in the sheriff's station like you do most days, you sure do take your job seriously. It feels like any other day, just make it through and survive, that's what you've been doing for seven years now. Only something is different today; the phone rings. It's been sitting on the desk since before you came here but has never once rang, yet today it is. Do you answer it? Are you hearing things and just hoping that it would finally ring and give some sign of an outside world? If you answer the phone, you hear a voice you thought you would never hear again. "Hey Lu," the voice that sounds suspiciously like your brother says. But your brother has been dead for seven years, it was impossible. Yet it sounds just like him. "Miss me?" He asks through the phone. "You're doing a good job of watching everyone, making sure they're safe. Why couldn't you do that for me? Why couldn't you protect me?" Then the line goes silent. No matter how hard you try, you can't make the voice come back. What just happened? Was that really your brother? Or are you finally starting to lose it?
Lucas sighs and stands.
"Didn't mean any disrespect, Montana. Just had a lot of new people recently. Can't let them go off on their own."
He turns and nods in a greeting to her.
"It's my job to always be on edge," he says. "Trying to make it so you guys don't have to be. So what are you doing out here?"
"Oh, I see someone's not even bothering to look up anymore, huh Luc? -- Now what the hell would I be doin' all the way out there anyway?" she did it before, secretly, he didn't need to know that though. As far as everyone was concerned, she was just a poor shot and a squeamish lil repair gremlin. "Hey don't take this the wrong way man, but why you always so on edge?"
Lucas gives them a small smile.
"Neither do I. And I'd bet my stetson Stassi and Cam won't either. But it's still something to consider."
He cleans up the desk then looks back at them.
"Want me to walk you home?"
ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS FOR A LONG MOMENT THEN . their dark eyes bore into him until they're simply uttering an even, " ... i don't think that's a good idea ."
@hcartcorruptcd
Lucas barges into Anastasia's office and slams down the now broken phone on her desk.
"I'm going to hunt every single one of those monsters down and beat them into jam with my bare hands."
He clenches his jaw and paces around the office. He's trying not to cry even though he can feel the sting of tears in his eyes.
"Those motherfuckers," he mutters. "Sadistic motherfuckers."
@patroclusblossom (lucas)
You're sitting in the sheriff's station like you do most days, you sure do take your job seriously. It feels like any other day, just make it through and survive, that's what you've been doing for seven years now. Only something is different today; the phone rings. It's been sitting on the desk since before you came here but has never once rang, yet today it is. Do you answer it? Are you hearing things and just hoping that it would finally ring and give some sign of an outside world? If you answer the phone, you hear a voice you thought you would never hear again. "Hey Lu," the voice that sounds suspiciously like your brother says. But your brother has been dead for seven years, it was impossible. Yet it sounds just like him. "Miss me?" He asks through the phone. "You're doing a good job of watching everyone, making sure they're safe. Why couldn't you do that for me? Why couldn't you protect me?" Then the line goes silent. No matter how hard you try, you can't make the voice come back. What just happened? Was that really your brother? Or are you finally starting to lose it?
Lucas actually looks up to who he's talking to. He vaguely recognizes the face as someone semi-new. Seeing a child helps. Larry? Lauren?
Lucas stands. "Sorry. We just encourage people not to get too close to the woods. Sheriff Lucas Miranda."
He steps forward, offering his hand.
He glances over and smiles toward the kid playing.
Reaching out toward a plant, Lainn delicately brushed the tips of his fingers on his outstretched left hand against the stem, before moving it to glide along the leaves. Frowning a bit, he remembered what his classes told him about the type of tree in front of him. Before he plucks a leaf right off and moves to stand in on the quick succession of moves.
Glancing over, he could see his son, playing and brought the leaf up to his nose, sniffing it before absently twisting it between his fingers and turning to move away a bit, spotting someone a moment or so later. He quirked an eyebrow at the other's assumption that he was looking to hunt, taking note of it, he gave a nod of his head.
Lainn turned his head, keeping Tali in his view, who remained close to him still before saying, “Well, I don't really hunt.” Holding his hands out, he gives a lazy shrug at this, before continuing to toy with the leaf in his hands and going on, “Do you?” Lainn inquired before turning his head back away from the stranger, listening to Tali come closer as he explained the type of plant he was now holding. Lainn gave a nod of his head, commenting gently toward his son, “That's correct. It's a pretty cool find, Tali.”
As Tali grinned at Lainn's words, before he moved a little ways away once more, to look at more of the plants in the immediate area. Lainn looked toward the stranger again, then around the wooded area before them, “It's pretty, this place. This type of biome is great for all kinds of discovery. There's probably loads of strange bugs here.” Lainn commented offhandedly. He had always found swampland and the like to be almost mystical.
where: edge of the woods | when: day time | whom: open to all
Lucas crouches at the edge of the woods, examining what could be tracks. Or could be nothing. He hates how smart the creatures are. They could've left this behind just to toy with him.
He hears rustling from footsteps behind him, and he doesn't bother looking up.
"The hunting woods are six miles that way," he says, pointing his left hand. "Signs and caution tape everywhere. You can't miss them."
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 ?"
"It was," Lucas insists. "That was probably more information than we've ever gotten. I really do appreciate it."
Lucas nods in agreement.
"I know, but sometimes even the illusion of safety is enough to help."
" ... I KNOW IT WASN'T USEFUL ." elm replies simply even after the encouragement . they move to get up with a gentle, " if i remember new stuff i'll say ." they shake their head at lucas' offer, quick to say, " it's okay . bruna gives me food at the diner . and marama's with me a lot ." a pause before she shrugs . " she's not an escort, but she kind of is ." a beat of consideration . "besides, if they wanted to take me i don't think much could stop them ."
Lucas's smile softens to a concerned look.
"Do you want someone to talk to? Or to talk at? I'm a pretty good listener."
He flips open the counter and gestures to a chair next to his desk.
"I can try to answer questions. I know sheriffs out there are... not great, but here? We're here to help."
Catie narrows her eyes. 'You’re kidding,' she says, the disbelief in her voice impossible to miss. 'A sheriff. Deputies. What, have you got a judge and jury hiding somewhere back there?'
She doesn’t mean to sound so harsh, but the absurdity of it all—the structure, the formalities, the idea that any of this town could resemble real life—is too much. Her gaze flicks to the desk behind him, cluttered with papers and a coffee mug, as if this were any normal police station.
'Sorry,' she adds after a beat, though her tone is only slightly softer. 'I just... I don’t get it. I don’t get any of this.'
Hey now those (your big brown eyes) are some dangerous weapons…
(insp.)
Lucas nods, then stops the tape recorder.
"That was good," he says gently, patting the arm of her chair instead of her actual arm. "Thank you, really, Elm. I appreciate it."
He stands and cleans up his stuff.
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asks, now out of sheriff mode and in community mode. "Bring your meals to you? Give you escorts anywhere?"
ELM SHAKES THEIR HEAD THEN . " no ." there's a beat before they shift in their seat and shrug . the lace is wrapped tight around their finger again . " that's all i remember. when i woke up the tree was gone and i was laying in the forest ." their brows twitch together a bit . " it took me a while to get back ."
"I can tell," Lucas stage whispers back.
He finally turns around.
"Alright, don't get in trouble. Have a good day."
HER BROW ARCHES AT THE WORDS . she watches him perform the act with her hip leaned against the doorframe and her arms crossed over her chest before saying, " i'll let you in on a secret, luc ." she shakes her head even as she leans in to almost lightly stage whisper, " i was never a fuckin' scout ."
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 looks up and sees a girl standing at the front desk. She looks lost and scared.
"Hi," he greets, walking over and chuckling. "I am, and yes, we do. We even have a couple of deputies if you can believe it. But it's just me today. How can I help you?"
He stands with his hands behind him, polite and non-threatening, so he doesn't scare her.
nowhere county jail, lucas. @patroclusblossom
Catie steps in. The place feels wrong in ways she can't quite place, but it’s the sheriff’s office, she figures, and she has no idea what else to do. She’d been walking for what felt like hours, the streets of Oblitus starting to blur in her mind.
She’s about to turn around, maybe head back outside and try to wrap her head around any of this, when she sees Lucas.
He’s young, maybe a few years older than her, with dark hair that’s a little too messy for someone in law enforcement. Catie pauses, her thoughts scrambling to form a coherent sentence. 'You're the sheriff?' Her words come out a little sharper than she intends, and she realises she sounds like she’s questioning the whole damn idea. 'This place… actually has a sheriff?'
Lucas listens intently, making sure Elm knows he's really listening to her, giving her space to talk about anything.
He quirks an eye up. If she felt the need to mention it, then it must be something to consider important.
"What was notable about the tree?"
ELM TAKES A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT IT . " i was with bruna in the community kitchen ." elm shrugs . " we were doing chores together to keep busy during the storm ." a beat before elm admits, " i don't remember why i left . i don't remember leaving ... but i know they were there ." they wrap their fingers around their laces again and again, eyes on the motion before, " after that i woke up in the forest and walked back . my shoes were gone ." a pause before they tilt their head, meet lucas' eyes and add, " ... i remember a tree ."
Lucas chuckles and shakes his head.
"You know that's not the scout sign, right?"
He raises three fingers up to demonstrate the salute as he takes a couple of steps backwards.
"Think Hunger Games without the kiss."
CHERRY CAN ONLY SHRUG IN RESPONSE TO LUCAS' WORDS . she almost feels bad, but how can she ? this wasn't the kinda place where you could be for everybody . this was the kind of place where you quite literally might get eaten alive if you didn't watch your own neck . she glances down at the hand he offers her, and after a brief scrunch of her expression she reaches down to shake it . " s'fine ." cherry shrugs ultimately, even as she raises her brows at his words . she's truly got no intention of taking anything from anybody, but she finds herself shrugging all the same because it's not like lucas needs to know that . " yeah, sure . you'll be the first to know ." cherry crosses her heart with a finger . " scout's honour ."
Lucas watches Muz as he thinks, smiling. He rarely gets to see the man so still.
Then he sighs.
"Yeah, that's something we're trying to figure out. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers right now, but I hope it's enough to know we're trying."
He puts a hand on Muz's shoulder and squeezes.
"Don't let it wear you down, Muz. I don't have your skills. Can't scavenge you."
Muz laughs softly, shaking his head as he stares at the gravel underfoot. 'Guess I owe you one now, huh? Better start scrounging.'
He takes a moment, letting the sunlight soak into his own skin, the warmth grounding him even as his thoughts wander. 'Alright. I’m wondering what’s gonna happen if another storm rolls in. Wondering if we’re built to handle it, or if we’re just... reacting. Like survival instincts only get you so far before they just wear you down.'
Lucas scowls. He knows she is probably just lashing out from fear, but that doesn't make her words any less true. Or infuriating.
"You're right," he says, voice bitter and biting. "I've done a shit job. I couldn't protect my brother 7 years ago, and I couldn't protect Emerson this week. I'm sorry if I don't inspire much hope in you, ma'am, but I'm just as human as you are and the leaders who asked me to check in and make sure you didn't try anything that would hurt you or any others."
He shrugs and takes a step back, feeling a little lighter, and a mix of happy and disappointed in himself. He'd unloaded onto a stranger that's just trying to control their life in a situation none of them can control.
"I'm not going to ask again: you can do whatever you want, just don't endanger the people that are trying to survive."
— GREER cannot help but roll her eyes at his gesture and his words , throwing the butt of her cigarette to the ground and crushing it underneath her boot as she only half - listens . “ protection ? from monsters ? ” she laughs hollowly at this , her expression unimpressed . “ if that's what's going , if you're here to protect us from ‘ monsters ’ , ” she drags out the word with a mocking tone , the venom in her voice practically dripping , “ then you're not doing a very good job , are you ? considering someone's only just died , haven't they ? so forgive me , sheriff , if i have very little faith in your correctional department . ”
"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 .
