forum 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. // 6/6 // CLOSED

Started August 25, 2022 by @EtherealDreamer

tune

"I bet that you're a very helpful person," Alastor said. "I mean, you've helped your sister a lot. Don't doubt your usefulness so much."
He gave Devon a parting smile before leaving him alone, noticing how he kept inching towards the room he was in before.

Devon's shoulders slumped when Alastor walked away. Not that he noticed. Devon sighed quietly and went into the room, flopping on the bed. He liked being around others, well he was more comfortable when he was around others, and Alastor seemed..nice…enough…he sighed and covered his face with his hands, muttering at himself. June would have told him to just ask Alastor to stay. But it's not like it's that simple.

June had stolen Dev's slushie from the fridge and was sitting on the kitchen counter, slurping it loudly.

Liam wandered until he accidentally opened a door and saw Devon sprawled out on a bed. "Oh, um sorry. I, um…" he lost his train of thought and looked around the room. "Are you ok?"

Alastor laid down on the couch next to Zeus, making the big dog open up his eyes before closing them again.
Exhaustion started to kick in and Alastor felt his eyes start to close as he rested his head on the dog's warm, soft fur.

Devon muttered from behind his hands. He didn't know why he was making things so much more complicated for himself. He should just pretend to sleep…then the others would just forget him. He gave the person at the door a thumbs up.

Liam looked at the man. "Ok, if you need something…" He looked back out the door to the crowded everywhere else, and slid down the wall so he was sitting in the other guy's line of sight on the floor. "…I'll, um I'll just be right here." Liam slid his backpack off his back and opened it, he dug through it for a bit until he pulled out a small bag of old fashioned candy. He popped one in his mouth and held another out to the guy laying on the bed. "My name's Liam by the way."

Just journaling what happened today. Lucas mouthed back and waved her over with a singular hand and hoped she'd take up his offer and come sit next to him.

Ronni hesitated.
You're going to be sleeping under the same roof as him tonight. Go sit by him, it's not more dangerous. Tanya nudged her.
Ronni swallowed hard and moved over next to him. She waved her hand over the notebook, shaking her head.
You don't have to show me, I was just curious.

lucas nodded and smiled.
"you can see it if you want, it's not like me proclaiming my endless love for someone in the group, it's just what happened today, in my point of view, so if you do read it, there's some random thoughts in there about other people, but nothing to critical or personal." He told her and put the cap back on his pen.

Ariella let him pull away but she didn't let go of him fully. She placed one hand on his cheek, stroking it. "It alright Lukas." And she said nothing else. She didn't want to cause him further embarrassment.
She let go of him only do she could twist and grab a cup of water off the dresser. "Drink. You need water." She held it out to him. She had no judgment in her eyes nor sympathy. She herself hated receiving sympathy and therefore didn't give any. Instead, they were warm and provided comfort.

Lucky accepted the water, still swiping at his face. He chugged he entire cup and set it back on the nightstand. Ariella's gentle expression was more than he could handle just then, with his emotions so raw, he only looked up once and flashed her the tiniest of smiles through the tears. He cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the shaking in his voice. "Thanks." He didn't pull away from her touch, drawing comfort from it, but he couldn't look at her or he was going to start crying again.

Lucas nodded and smiled.
"you can see it if you want, it's not like me proclaiming my endless love for someone in the group, it's just what happened today, in my point of view, so if you do read it, there's some random thoughts in there about other people, but nothing to critical or personal."

Ronni paused for a moment, before her curiosity got the better of her. She leaned a little closer to see what he'd written.
He had much nicer handwriting than she would have guessed, for a guy who looked like a jock.

(You gonna write it out? :D )

Devon sighed, sitting up, "Look…kid…I don't know what I could possibly need from you, not to be rude…but I am having…personal problems…So why don't you go bother someone else…or something…" He muttered most of it, rubbing his face with his hands. He looked exhausted.

Liam shrugged and up two of the candies on the edge of the bed and left, walking out to the living room where Ronni was 'talking' to Lucas, Al was sleeping on Zeus, and two other people who he had yet to meet, were having an emotional moment. not getting involved in that he thought to himself and walked into the kitchen.

June, who was sitting on the counter in the kitchen, slurping Devon's slushie, looked at Liam, "Hey kid" even though he was probably not younger than her by much. "want a slushie? its only half melted" she smiled softly.

Devon sighed again, and grabbed one of the candies, inspecting it before eating it.

"I'm good." Liam said sitting down next to her. "I already had one." He held out a candy. "Would you like a candy?" he returned the smile.

She hummed for a moment, "sure..is it chocolate?" June asked taking the candy and holding it to her face to look at it. "looks edible, if it is poisoned, you have to dispose of my body"

Lucas nodded and smiled.
"you can see it if you want, it's not like me proclaiming my endless love for someone in the group, it's just what happened today, in my point of view, so if you do read it, there's some random thoughts in there about other people, but nothing to critical or personal."

Ronni paused for a moment, before her curiosity got the better of her. She leaned a little closer to see what he'd written.
He had much nicer handwriting than she would have guessed, for a guy who looked like a jock.

(You gonna write it out? :D )

(yes :D)

He shifted and began re-reading his own handwriting himself.

Today is…I can't remember actually, I might write the date as a side note if anyone else tells me what it is :) but I know for sure that it's Tuesday, that much I do know.

I met a lot of people today journal, and If my loneliness hadn't made me accept them as quickly as I did, I might have been scared out of my wits, or what little wits I have left after the stress and energy of the starting of this whole ordeal.

I met Devon and June first, Devon is older and they're siblings. June is social and energetic and Devon is slightly colder and obviously antisocial, but honestly, who can blame him?

I met Lucky and Ariella second, Ariella seems bonded with Lucky farther than anyone else in our group, this might be because Lucky found her before anyone else…im not sure, but I get the whole 'sticking to one person more than everyone else' thing, its a tough world out there, way more tough than it used to be.

When we found camp in the apartment im in now, sitting and writing this, Lucky and I (and don't forget Sinjoro, Lucky's horse, he counts too) headed to the gas station near us, to raid it for supplies. On the way we met Alastor, his German Shepherd Zeus, Liam (who's the same age as my younger sister Gabbi, they're both 14), and Ronni.

Alastor seems nice, he's getting along quite well with Devon, which is the first time i've seen Devon talk to anyone unless June made him.

Zeus is friendly and reminds me of Clover, I hope nothing happened to Clover and she's with Gabbi.

Liam is a bit like June but more tuned and down to Earth.

Ronni doesn't talk, but she has a way with gestures that makes you automatically know what she's trying to say, I think she might be unable to speak, mute. She looks fairly young, but how old she is I don't exactly know. We bonded over slushies when we found the machine in the gas station was working, she seems very observant and untrusting, but again, who can blame her really?

Lucas shifted and began re-reading his own handwriting himself.
Today is…I can't remember actually, I might write the date as a side note if anyone else tells me what it is :) but I know for sure that it's Tuesday, that much I do know.
Ronni doesn't talk, but she has a way with gestures that makes you automatically know what she's trying to say, I think she might be unable to speak, mute. She looks fairly young, but how old she is I don't exactly know. We bonded over slushies when we found the machine in the gas station was working, she seems very observant and untrusting, but again, who can blame her really?

(nice! :) )

Ronni read the whole thing carefully, noting how kind he'd been in his assessment of everyone. She reached slowly for the pen, a question in her eyes. Permission to add something?
When he didn't object, she very carefully wrote August 14 next to the spot for a date.
She also very carefully and neatly underlined untrusting in his description of her, wrote 20 in the margin next to where he said he didn't know her age, and then neatly crossed out mute. She capped the pen and handed it back to him.
"Just don't like talking." she said quietly, her voice rasping a little from disuse.

She hummed for a moment, "sure..is it chocolate?" June asked taking the candy and holding it to her face to look at it. "looks edible, if it is poisoned, you have to dispose of my body"

"Not chocolat." Liam smiled. "And I promise It's not poisoned." He ate another one, this one being shaped like a turtle. "If i was going to kill you," he said "I would not poison you with candy. I would probably forget which one I poisoned and accidentally eat it."

(nice! :) )

Ronni read the whole thing carefully, noting how kind he'd been in his assessment of everyone. She reached slowly for the pen, a question in her eyes. Permission to add something?
When he didn't object, she very carefully wrote August 14 next to the spot for a date.
She also very carefully and neatly underlined untrusting in his description of her, wrote 20 in the margin next to where he said he didn't know her age, and then neatly crossed out mute. She capped the pen and handed it back to him.
"Just don't like talking." she said quietly, her voice rasping a little from disuse.

Lucas smiled as she wrote, and wore a face of shock when she spoke.
"Wow…" he said "you have a high voice, I didn't expect that from you, I thought it would be more deep like to match the way you act." He told her in awe. "but I like it." He said, smiling at her.

"I have a question…" he told her "you can answer with words or you can write it down…but you seem to dislike men typically, from what I've noticed…why is that?" He asked.

"You don't have to answer at all if you don't want to, I don't want you digging up some trauma and reliving it just for the sake of me, but I was just curious."

"sad, I love chocolate" She hummed, "and that is fair, have you met my brother?" she hummed. "hes a bit of a grump, Imma call him fricken gay hermit until he stops being one" she smiled, eating the candy.

"I met him. Hermit is quite an appropriate nickname." Liam said. "Do you have a favorite drink?" He stoped, "Wait, how old are you?"

"isn't it though" June grinned, "something sour is always a go to, and I am 16" she stuck her tongue out, which happened to be colored from the slushie.

Liam smiled. Only two years older "So I'm guessing you favorite drink is probably not alcoholic." He studied her for a second before he started to think out loud. "Hot chocolate maybe, but also something a little more fruity."

(nice! :) )

Ronni read the whole thing carefully, noting how kind he'd been in his assessment of everyone. She reached slowly for the pen, a question in her eyes. Permission to add something?
When he didn't object, she very carefully wrote August 14 next to the spot for a date.
She also very carefully and neatly underlined untrusting in his description of her, wrote 20 in the margin next to where he said he didn't know her age, and then neatly crossed out mute. She capped the pen and handed it back to him.
"Just don't like talking." she said quietly, her voice rasping a little from disuse.

(thanks @Davadio )
Lucas smiled as she wrote, and wore a face of shock when she spoke.
"Wow…" he said "you have a high voice, I didn't expect that from you, I thought it would be more deep like to match the way you act." He told her in awe. "but I like it." He said, smiling at her.

"I have a question…" he told her "you can answer with words or you can write it down…but you seem to dislike men typically, from what I've noticed…why is that?" He asked.

"You don't have to answer at all if you don't want to, I don't want you digging up some trauma and reliving it just for the sake of me, but I was just curious."

(she dislikes men? Dev dislikes women, I sense a pattern)

(Not sure if it's for the same reason tho 😬 )

(thanks @Davadio )
Lucas smiled as she wrote, and wore a face of shock when she spoke. "I have a question…" he told her "you can answer with words or you can write it down…but you seem to dislike men typically, from what I've noticed…why is that?" He asked. "You don't have to answer at all if you don't want to, I don't want you digging up some trauma and reliving it just for the sake of me, but I was just curious."

(You're very welcome!)

Ronni's eyes widened. Regardless of his good intent, the question triggered her.
Tanya immediately jumped to her feet in Ronni's head. Whoa, easy, he's just asking. Don't relive it, breathe, you're safe and he's not threatening you.
Ronni took a deep breath, blowing it out through her nose. She closed her eyes, centering herself where she was… and the moment of terror passed.
Ronni opened her eyes and looked around. She pointed to Alastor, asleep on the floor, to Liam sitting on the floor in the kitchen with June, and to Lucas on the couch next to her. She spread her hands sideways, then up and down. She pointed to herself, before putting her hands close together. Then she smacked her fist into her other hand, and held up her hands in a shrug.
All of you guys are bigger than me. I'm small, if someone attacked me, what could I do?
She didn't really want to dig through her trauma from…. the Incident to try to explain it to him, and she hoped Lucas would be satisfied with that answer.

Lucky accepted the water, still swiping at his face. He chugged he entire cup and set it back on the nightstand. Ariella's gentle expression was more than he could handle just then, with his emotions so raw, he only looked up once and flashed her the tiniest of smiles through the tears. He cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the shaking in his voice. "Thanks." He didn't pull away from her touch, drawing comfort from it, but he couldn't look at her or he was going to start crying again.

Ariella took a few sips of her own water before putting in back. She got to her feet and pulled Lucky up beside her.
"Come on. Get ready for bed and let's lie in bed. You need your rest." She kisses his cheek. She pulled away from him and took off her shoes, setting them by the bed. She took off her pants and folded them on the dresser. Her shirt fell just under her bottom. They were long enough to cover everything bit if she raised her arms she should be showing everything.
She peeled back the covers and say under them. She patted the spot next to her.

Ariella took a few sips of her own water before putting in back. She got to her feet and pulled Lucky up beside her. "Come on. Get ready for bed and let's lie in bed. You need your rest." She peeled back the covers and say under them. She patted the spot next to her.

Lucky had just sat back on the edge of the bed. He kicked his boots off slowly, and pulled the poncho off, hanging it on the edge of the bed. When she patted the spot, he turned and lay down on top of the covers, not really wanting to get under them with her. He didn't notice her state of clothing, but they'd only met a few hours prior, and no matter how much he needed the comfort just then, there were some lines he wasn't crossing.
He did lean his head into the crook of her neck, sniffling slightly. He kinda slept curled up anyway, so he wasn't bothered by this.

Ariella wrapped her arms around him as soon as he came to her one hand rubbed his back while the other massaged his scalp. She tucked his head under her chin. She gave him a chaste kiss on the forehead. "Do you need anything? More water? Food?"
She wasn't sure if he would respond. He sounded ready to cry at any moment. But she wanted to make sure he was taken care of before going to sleep. At least she hoped he would sleep. "Would you like me to tell you a story?'