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They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered.
F. Scott Fitzgerald / This Side of Paradise
Lucas chuckles but does intentionally flex his stomach since he knows Rae is looking.
"It's one night i don't have to be sheriff," he says. "Might as well make the most of it. Show these kids we've still got it."
He leans against the wall, facing Rae and looking him up and down. He's not surprised to see the basic doctor get up, but he can't complain. Rae looks really good in it.
"So how have you been? I haven't been able to check up on you."
Being sheriff after a disaster really keeps him busy.
rae's costume, or his lack thereof, spoke volumes about his attitude towards the party. he stood there, his white lab coat hanging loosely over plain scrubs. the coat, usually a symbol of professionalism, carrying an air of nonchalance. it was clear that rae had taken the simplest route to participate.
his posture betrayed a certain weariness as he leaned against the wall, a weight that alcohol could temporarily lift. he glanced down at his cup, ruminating until he heard that familiar voice.
"hey," he greeted, perking up almost instantly. "you look… different," he observed, his gaze roaming over lucas' shirt, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "in a good way."
where: colony house when: Halloween night whom: @ludics Rae
Lucas makes his way through the Colony House, feeling like he can actually breathe for the first time in weeks. There's just so much joy and excitement in the house that it's almost impossible to be anxious tonight. And the drinks he's had help too.
He wipes sweat from the part of his stomach that's visible thanks to the tight (maybe too small) shirt he managed to find for the night. He's not sure what he's looking for now. Ana has disappeared and most of the other people he'd talk to are busy doing other things.
Then he spots Rae, and he can't help but smile at the sight of the man. Ever since he helped Rae in the morgue, he's felt the slightest shift of their friendship. He's not sure how to describe it or how it's affected. He just knows something feels different.
He walks up to the man.
"There you are," he says with a warm smile.
where: colony house when: Halloween night whom: @hcartcorruptcd Anastasia
Lucas stands to the side, watching as the party gets started. They've had an influx of young people, and it's so nice seeing them be happy and young.
He'd been around their ages when he came here. It's almost like he gets to feel young again through them.
He sighs and shakes his head. He's not old yet. He can still have fun.
He finds Ana and sidles up to her.
"Please tell me that we can fuck around and be dumb tonight," he says with a chuckle. "All these young people are making me feel older than I actually am."
Simple but effective, Lucas spends Halloween as Ron Stoppable to Anastasia's Kim Possible.
Though he's probably showing more midriff than Ana is.
Happy Halloween, Oblitus!
Don't open the door.
@hcartcorruptcd
Lucas raises an eyebrow. Ana had said the talk with Cam had gone... as well as can be expected for the two women.
"I can do that, but I'm still going to tell her what's going on. She'd skin me alive if I didn't."
He can see on Cam's face that she's in the same emotional boat as Ana; which is to say: an old dinghy that's got more leaks than boards in the middle of the ocean.
"Maybe I should just take this all to Santi," he tries, testing how Cameron will react. He reaches for the folders he'd just placed down.
cameron nodded, "yeah, i have a feeling that the next few days are going to have a lot of work in store for us." they've never seen a storm like this before, who knows what slipped through the cracks when they were all locked inside for twelve hours. there were bound to be things they missed and wont even know about until they do a full count of everything in town. more work. "no let's just keep focusing on keeping everyone calm. no need to scare anyone and have people panicking." she could only imagine how some people would react if they saw the deputies doing rounds and watching them. "but hey, um, if something big comes up, can you come to me or santiago first? ana...she's dealing with a lot right now, i don't want too much going on her plate." she thought back to the things she told her at the bar and how defeated she was about everything. she wasn't sure what was going on between them but she will always look out for her wife.
Lucas bites back a laugh. He knows Marama wouldn't know what Target is, but it's still funny to hear it.
"Good to know. I'll tell them to meet you at the cemetery. Let's hope we get really lucky. Can I trust you to make sure none of my guys swipe anything for themselves?"
"i don't think it works like that," she says but honestly, she couldn't be sure. maybe ignoring pain is his way of healing. people were strange. "thanks, i appreciate that," she says with a nod. "that would be helpful. i think some of the cars has stuff we could really use around here. someone must have just come from the store. no food but there's bags with those red circles on them. looks like maybe clothes or towels. maybe there's something else in there but i didn't have time to check it out before coming back yesterday."
Lucas hums.
"How many thoughts does a penny get you. I've got a few but I don't know how much you earn."
He smirks, enjoying the teasing conversation more than he usually would.
He looks over to the man with his smirk still in place.
A soft laugh escapes him. 'Exactly. You need to stay sitting for a few hours or I'll be out of a job.' He enjoys scavenging, more than he thought he would at least. When he first arrived Muz opted for what he though of as the least trying job with the least of a social aspect. Between trash collecting and scouring the place the way he does, he's happy with his decision. 'Go on. Hurry up, penny for your thoughts - or I've got a killer game of eye spy for us.' He raises his eyebrows in mock enthusiasm. 'Riveting.'
"A good point," he says, dropping his arms into a relaxed casual stance. "I guess we just wanna be 100% certain, you know? Doesn’t hurt being cautious."
He smiles warmly at her, hoping that maybe he can get her to drop her guard enough to at least let him look around.
WELL, WHEN HE PHRASES IT LIKE THAT SHE CAN KINDA SEE WHY SHE'S FIRST ON THE LIST . she crosses her arms she moves to lean on the doorframe, easily replying, " well, i'm not gonna tattle ." she huffs a bit, gesturing with a hand . " how do they even know the booze is really missin' ?" she tries with an arch of her brows . " maybe it's just lost !"
Lucas gives a breathless chuckle.
"Trust me," he says, continuing to stretch, "there are much better blood flowing activities I'd rather be doing. This is at least a consistent one."
He rolls his neck.
"Don't worry, I used to be the same. Especially when my dad would take us hunting. I would complain for hours and hours."
"Alright, suit yourself." he'll take another sip for himself and then place the bottle aside, listening as the other explains the morning run. "Always wanted to be that kind of guy, that's good man -- good addiction to have. Gets your blood flowin', gets you focused, serotonin all nice and unloaded. By the time you get to work you're ready to seize the day. I had to be dragged out of bed...most of the time, and still end up getting to work late nearly half the time -- dunno, it is what it is."
Lucas raises his hands and takes a step back.
"Okay, fine. Is there anyone else you can think of that would take advantage of the storm to pilfer booze?"
He decides giving her the benefit of the doubt is better than strong arming his way in. Everyone is still on edge since the storm.
" LUC, YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND GOING THROUGH A LADY'S THINGS !" cherry replies brows raised as her jaw drops in what's mostly a show . " that's an invasion of privacy !" her brow arches as she points a finger his way . " and i'm pretty sure you read a warrant for that ."
Lucas takes a deep breath before he starts talking.
"I mean, I was running around town, seeing what needed repairs, checking that people were okay and not trapped anywhere. Not to mention wrangling the deputies to do their jobs."
Lucas smiles. A lot of people say they're glad he's here, but it feels a little different — a bit better — coming from Bruna.
"He was a better hunter than me," he says. "And he was way funnier. Got him more dates in high school than I did, though coming out of the closet did change my odds slightly."
He chuckles.
"And he may have been younger, but he showed me how to be a good son to our parents. He seemed to always know what to do and helped me when I didn't."
He wipes some tears away and looks back to Bruna.
"What about your sister. What was she like?"
"We did miss you at dinner, now that you mention it. Had your hands full today, huh?" she gets up on her feet, preparing to makeshift a sandwich. "Tell me about it. Your day. It's what normal people do, right? Out in the real world. I forget sometimes how simple things used to be -- how we took such things for granted. Or, well, I did anyway..." she was often uncomfortable with silence when in company, so questions came almost naturally, as did the thoughts and loud observations. "Rae and Ana will be alright...don't even let your head go there. We have just enough worry in us for things that are real to also venture into those that aren't." it's something she learnt the hard way, even if she did worry daily about all the things that could possibly go wrong. She tried not to voice them -- for the most part. "I lost my sister too. In here. I'm sorry that happened to you -- but, in a weird fucked up way, I'm glad you're here. We're all better off with you around." words of comfort came almost natural to her these days, it's like nothing regarding loss was even surprising anymore. "What was he like? Your brother?"
Lucas is tempted to take the bottle, but he has things he needs to do today. Things he needs to be sober for.
"Yeah, not this time."
He lifts a foot to stretch while he talks.
"It helps me focus on things I need to do," he replies. "So yeah, I do it a lot. Probably more than I really need to, but it is what it is."
He let's his gaze travel over Adam's relaxed state, lying out, acting (if not feeling) careless and free. He's jealous that even if it's not 100% real, it still clearly helps the man. Is that the source of his unease with Adam?
If anything could make a man feel like shit, it was seeing another man be more of a man than himself. And going for a healthy morning jog was the epitome of fitness and health in Adams books. He doubted he'd ever become that person. "Time is just a concept, at the end of the day. 'Sides, I think I deserve a treat -- you know, after all the shit that went down." shit he had to see. Bodies he had to bury. He processed in his own way. "Guessin' that's a no to my offer?" he puts the bottle aside for now, almost uncomfortable at the fact other was standing and not sitting down beside him. "Running? That something you do a lot?"
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?"
Lucas keeps holding her, knowing that once she's ready, she'll break the embrace.
He tries to think what to say that can help her. No flowery bullshit. Ana isn't like that.
"When my dad first got diagnosed, I refused to go to the hospital to visit him. I just couldn't handle it. There wasn't anything I could do to help. And it got worse when he got it again. The chemo just took this man I looked up to and whittled him down to a stranger."
He looks at the wall, running a hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
"There was a few months where I barely visited him at home even. Just felt pointless. I was scared that seeing him like that would ruin all the good memories I had of him."
More tears drop.
"But finally I went, and I realized that not going hurt me more than going ever would've."
He kisses the top of her head.
"I keep going because otherwise it is all pointless. Even if we never find a way out, we're still alive, and giving up means everything is pointless."
Anastasia tenses briefly in Lucas’s embrace—old reflexes, a habit of keeping people at arm's length. But then, something inside her lets go. Her shoulders sag as if she’s been carrying too much for far too long, and she leans into the hug, not for comfort exactly, but because standing upright suddenly feels too exhausting.
"I tried to hold the line, Luke," she murmurs, her voice brittle. "But it’s slipping through my hands. Every day, I wake up hoping today will feel different. That I’ll care, or find a reason to try... but mostly, I just feel numb. Like I’m already a ghost."
She stays still, not moving to pull away from him, but not clinging, either. Just resting, as if being in the same space with someone who understands makes things a little lighter, if only for a moment.
"How do you do it?" she asks, her voice quiet, almost desperate. "How do you keep going when it all feels... pointless?"
"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 tilts his head in acknowledgment. It is a lot of work to do. He's glad to hear people want to help, though. There's plenty of people out in the world who wouldn't even consider it.
"Nothing really yet," he answers. "We're still going through potential problems, though it's hard to see what were people taking advantage versus monsters that slipped through cracks."
And there's the other side. People who don't care about everyone else. No matter the circumstances. It pisses him off.
"Anything I need to have the deputies disperse? I'm sure you three are gonna be up to your ears in problem solving meetings."
cameron looks up from the lists she was working on when lucas walks in. a smile forms on her lips, only slightly forced. the storm really wiped them out and the repairs alone were going to take more resources than they had. after years of this place feeling almost normal, it seemed like they were leaving that behind them now. "all i hear is that means we have a lot of work to do," she tries to joke but the stress comes through in her voice. running a hand through her hair, she looks at the folders, flipping one of the covers open. "i have some people from colony house volunteering to help with repairs so i'll make sure they know what is the most important to work on." thank god some of them actually seem to care. "any problems on your end of things? i was worried that storm was going to have people acting out and end up in a cell."
Lucas is out for a morning run. It's one thing that he actually likes about this place: a decent running trail and scenery. And just after sunrise is the perfect time to start, and just let the day warm up with him.
He's going steady and managing not to gasp for air when he finds Adam lying by the lake. He pauses to take him in.
"Kinda early to be drinking, don't you think?" Hhe asks walking over to the deputy.
He doesn't know what to make of the man. He seems like a decent guy, but something in Lucas's gut tells him to be wary of the man. Which is a hard thing to feel in this town.
open to all location: near the lake
He's done his best, burying the bodies, checking in on people, making sure everyone new had settled in. And now, well, even in the real world cops got a day off, didn't they? So he woke up early, just as the dawn had cleared the night sky he walked down to the lake with nothing but a towel, a bottle of cheap wine he found in an abandoned new car, and a lollypop he looted of a very unfortunate priest he had to dig six feet for. It was a fair exchange for his efforts, he thought. As the sun got warmer and his shades painted the tall grass a nice golden colour, he began to somewhat relax -- alcohol calming his nerves as he tried to process everything that went down. It's then he noticed someone walking through the run down pathway. "The water's still cold." he points out. "I got somethin' to make it warmer though..." lifting up the bottle, it's the only invitation he could offer.
@fromcamadams
Lucas steps into Cameron's office with a stack of folders.
"Okay, I have the updated census, the current inventories from every council service, building damages organized by priority needs, and a rationing plan you, Ana, and Santi need to look over."
He places the folders down one at a time, making sure he's got the right ones. Then he steps back, hooking his thumbs on his belt as he waits for her next instructions.
Lucas laughs.
"Well, I'm glad I could keep that unique brain of yours from eating itself."
He nudges Muz with a shoulder.
"I don't know if I've got any good chat today. Too busy running around, making sure we don't fall apart here. Though I guess falling apart helps your job a bit, doesn't it?"
His tone isn't judgmental, more amused by the thought.
'Guess I’m growing roots. Whole five minutes of stillness. New record, I think.' He pauses, glancing at Lucas, the glint in his eyes settles into something quieter. 'Honestly? Got sick of my own company today. Felt like if I sat alone one more minute, my brain’d start eating itself.' He tilts his head, a grin breaking the seriousness before it can linger. 'And I know you've got good chat.'
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?"
Lucas gives him a small smile, then takes a step back, sensing the man prefers a little extra personal space.
"I've seen you around too," he replies, blinking away the rest of his tears. "You keep to yourself a lot."
He says it as matter-of-fact, making sure to keep any judgment out of his tone.
He looks down at the headstone, considering the question for a moment. He remembers similar conversations with his mother, especially around Dia de Finados.
"I think for me, it helps me keep the grief in a safe space. If I took it with me out there," he gestures toward the main hub of the town, "I wouldn't be able to help people how I need to. Even if there's no body, it's still a place dedicated to him that can help me carry my grief."
Hollis hesitates for a moment, glancing down at the offered hand before slowly taking it. His grip light, unused to the gesture. "Yeah, that's me." he replied, voice quiet, especially once he learn the other was a sheriff.
He took his hand back, casually rubbing his palm against his jeans, trying to rid himself of the lingering weight of the grieving. "I've seen you around, didn't realise it was for this plot."
His gaze went back to the grave again for a moment, brow knitting in thought. "Does it help? Coming here, I mean? People say it makes things easier, but...I don't know if I believe it."
Lucas quietly snorts.
"I'd prefer less existential conversation. I can save that until night time."
He puts his coffee cup down, then stretches out long from the bench, legs out, ass barely hanging on the edge, and head back with his hands laced behind it.
"Nothing like it," he echoes. "So what made you actually sit somewhere longer than five minutes?"
'Got your back, man. Ten minutes to sundown I'll give you a poke in the rib.' Muz leans back, crossing his arms and shoots Lucas a lazy grin. 'Just enough time to get into some deep, existential conversation going before the monsters come out, yeah?' There's a certain comfort in this—the quiet, Lucas’s half-asleep presence next to him, and understanding between them that they didn’t have to say too much, just something. 'Nothing like a power nap with a sunset alarm.'
Lucas watches as Ana just sort of droops. Like a flower in need of watering.
"I think about it all the time," he admits. "And it keeps me up at night."
He stands and pulls her into a tight hug.
"We can't give up," he whispers. "It's not just us here. We all had lives out there. There are kids here who deserve to see what they're missing out there."
He feels some tears escape his eyes and drop into her hair.
"We hold the line," he echoes. "Not because we'll go back to normal, but because who will if we don't?"
Anastasia's expression flickers—something between a smirk and exhaustion—but she doesn’t push Lucas the way she usually might. Not tonight. Her arms wrap loosely around herself, fingers drumming against her forearm, a small habit she’s never been able to shake.
“Yeah, well... that’s the thing about rules.” Her voice is soft, tinged with bitterness. “They don’t mean a damn thing when the monsters come.”
She leans her hip against the edge of the counter, mirroring his stance but with a subtle slump in her shoulders that wasn’t there before. Her sharpness—her usual armor—feels dulled tonight, like a blade used one too many times without being sharpened.
“You ever think about that?” she asks, glancing up at him, her gaze unusually heavy. “How we keep pretending we know what we’re doing—like if we just hold the line long enough, things will go back to normal. But what if they don’t, Lucas? What if... this is it?”
There’s no venom in her words, only an eerie quiet that settles between them like dust after a long fight. “I used to believe we’d get out of this,” she admits, more to herself than to him. “But now...” She trails off, rubbing a hand over her face, trying to push away the weight pressing on her chest.
Lucas sighs and rubs his face.
"Okay, how about this: you let me search your place real quick. If I find those bottles, then I take you down, and we sort out your restitution. If I don't, then I leave you alone for the rest of the day?"
CHERRY'S EXPRESSION SCRUNCHES . she tries desperately to think of anyone who might've actually saw her behind the desk that day or anyone who will vouch for her, time be damned . " i mean, whoever the fuck was in the lobby that morning ? i don't know everyone's name, luke ." cherry huffs a bit in exasperation, throwing a hand up before she adds, " i only know yours cause of, y'know ." a shrug as she shifts her weight, letting her hip rest against the doorframe . " continued exposure ."
