Ronni blinked. She hadn't expected that response.
She thought for a moment, before gesturing to him, and holding up a single finger, before gesturing away from them.
Sooo⦠maybe just you and one other person go live off on your own.
It sounded good to her, although she'd have to find somebody she trusted that much first.
Lucas smiled.
"And who do you know that wants to live with one other person and not be out searching for as many people as possible?" He asked in a light tone.
Ariella kissed Lucky's cheek quickly before retreating back to her cocoon.
(Her cocoon like the room, or her cocoon like her walls are back up?)
Lucas smiled. "And who do you know that wants to live with one other person and not be out searching for as many people as possible?" He asked in a light tone.
Ronni immediately raised her hand. She proceeded to gesture to all the people back in the apartment, before curling in on herself.
Uh, me. Because this many people scares me.
(Back, what's characters up to?)
(we kinda paused while you were gone, so nothing much has changed. Lucky and Ariella are still in the front room talking, Devon is still on the couch, Liam is still talking to June also in the front room, Lucas and Ronni are out in the hallway talking, Alastor and Zeus are off taking a run, and Sinjoro hasn't moved)
Liam gave up standing outside of the door, and went to wander again. As he came back into the living room, he saw June eating poptarts. that would explain why she didn't answer the door he thought to himself as he walked over and sat down next to her. "May I join you?" he asked.
June nodded, "You want some semi stale poptarts?" she hummed, "I found them in the kitchen closet thingβ¦I forget what it's called." She held out the box to him. "I don't think anything got into them. So it should be safe to eatβ¦if not..then I am screwed" She grinned.
Devon had ended up falling asleep on the couch sitting up.
Ronni immediately raised her hand. She proceeded to gesture to all the people back in the apartment, before curling in on herself.
Uh, me. Because this many people scares me.
Lucas laughed, sending the sound bouncing off the walls. It was a pure laugh. wholesome and sweet sounding and he tried to tamper it into low laughs, which he managed to do after a moment.
"At least you're honest about it." He said through chuckles. "I would be happy to take you up on that offer, but I think these people want me with them."
He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled.
"So, are you going to branch off, or do me the honors of keeping me grounded around this many people?" He asked curiously.
Lucas laughed, sending the sound bouncing off the walls. It was a pure laugh. wholesome and sweet sounding and he tried to tamper it into low laughs, which he managed to do after a moment."At least you're honest about it." He said through chuckles. "I would be happy to take you up on that offer, but I think these people want me with them."
He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled. "So, are you going to branch off, or do me the honors of keeping me grounded around this many people?" He asked curiously.
Ronni's eyes widened as she realized what she'd said absolutely sounded like an offer.
Well. He didn't take you up on it, so don't freak out.
She looked down, thinking for a moment after he asked, before nodding slowly and looking up.
You're safer in a group anyway. Tanya said softly.
Says you!
Ronni nodded and gestured west, opposite where the sun was slowly climbing into the sky, and then spread her hands in a flat, open gesture.
As long as we're heading west, towards wide open spaces.
Ronni's eyes widened as she realized what she'd said absolutely sounded like an offer.
Well. He didn't take you up on it, so don't freak out.
She looked down, thinking for a moment after he asked, before nodding slowly and looking up.
You're safer in a group anyway. Tanya said softly.
Says you!
Ronni nodded and gestured west, opposite where the sun was slowly climbing into the sky, and then spread her hands in a flat, open gesture.
As long as we're heading west, towards wide open spaces.
Lucas nodded.
"That's where i'm going at least, the others joined me on my way." He told her.
He paused, turning to look at her, a sly smile on his lips and his eyes glinting madly.
"I think i'm going to make it my personal mission to make you like me, not romantically, but i'm going to make it my goal for me to be your favorite person in the whole group." He told her smiling and placing his fists on his hips.
Lucas nodded. "That's where i'm going at least, the others joined me on my way." He told her. He paused, turning to look at her, a sly smile on his lips and his eyes glinting madly. "I think i'm going to make it my personal mission to make you like me, not romantically, but i'm going to make it my goal for me to be your favorite person in the whole group." He told her smiling and placing his fists on his hips.
Ronni immediately stiffened. Up to this point, everything had been fine, she hadn't felt overtly threatened, just the normal level of anxiety that came around guys.
Now, suddenly, her adrenaline was up. He was singling her out for his attention, and the last time someone had looked at her like that, with that intention⦠it had not ended well.
Easy, he's not attacking you, it's alright⦠Tanya was on edge in her head as well, trying to calm the suddenly-panicking girl.
Lucas was between her and the door, so she couldn't go back in the apartment to be around others without having to move past him. She knew she was being irrational, he hadn't really said anything problematic, but she couldn't shake the rising anxiety in her chest, and sudden lump threatening to close her throat.
She just stared at him, not moving, trying to think how to react.
June nodded, "You want some semi stale poptarts?" she hummed, "I found them in the kitchen closet thingβ¦I forget what it's called." She held out the box to him. "I don't think anything got into them. So it should be safe to eatβ¦if not..then I am screwed" She grinned.
"Sure." Liam said and took a poptart. "How's your morning going?" he asked taking a bite of the poptart, and immediately, if not entirely, regretting it.
(Her cocoon like the room, or her cocoon like her walls are back up?)
(She's just curled back up on the couch)
(She's just curled back up on the couch)
Lucky smiled at her, before scooting over next to the couch. He stayed seated on the floor, not invading her space, but he leaned against the couch. "I, umβ¦ I want to apologize about last nightβ¦ I didn't mean to fall apart on youβ¦" His smile was gone, replaced by a blush and a frustrated expression.
"Sure." Liam said and took a poptart. "How's your morning going?" he asked taking a bite of the poptart, and immediately, if not entirely, regretting it.
"pretty well, Devon didn't wake up in a panic..not really..so that's a plus" She took a bite of the poptart, making a face at how gross it was. "yep, totally amazing"
Lucky smiled at her, before scooting over next to the couch. He stayed seated on the floor, not invading her space, but he leaned against the couch. "I, umβ¦ I want to apologize about last nightβ¦ I didn't mean to fall apart on youβ¦" His smile was gone, replaced by a blush and a frustrated expression.
Ariella gave him a gentle smile. "It's okay Lucky. Don't worry about it." Part of her wanted to scoot off the couch and hug him. But she didn't. She stayed on her spot on the couch. She didn't want to embarrass him nor show too much vulnerability around these new people.
Ronni immediately stiffened. Up to this point, everything had been fine, she hadn't felt overtly threatened, just the normal level of anxiety that came around guys.
Now, suddenly, her adrenaline was up. He was singling her out for his attention, and the last time someone had looked at her like that, with that intention⦠it had not ended well.
Easy, he's not attacking you, it's alright⦠Tanya was on edge in her head as well, trying to calm the suddenly-panicking girl.
Lucas was between her and the door, so she couldn't go back in the apartment to be around others without having to move past him. She knew she was being irrational, he hadn't really said anything problematic, but she couldn't shake the rising anxiety in her chest, and sudden lump threatening to close her throat.
She just stared at him, not moving, trying to think how to react.
Lucas saw Ronni's face change and watched her glance at the door.
He stood up so quickly, he almost fell over.
"Hey," he said in concern "I'm sorryβ I didn't mean tooβ"
his eyes watered and a few tears fell down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry." He said and walked up the stairs quickly, practically running away.
He burst out of the door to the roof and placed his hands on his knees, taking in gulps of air.
You messed everything up
Ariella gave him a gentle smile. "It's okay Lucky. Don't worry about it." She stayed on her spot on the couch.
Lucky swallowed hard. "I don't really remember what I told you last night, if I told you anything." He rested his arms on the couch cushion, and rested his chin on them, looking up at her. "What did I say?"
Lucas saw Ronni's face change and watched her glance at the door.He stood up so quickly, he almost fell over. "Hey," he said in concern "I'm sorryβ I didn't mean tooβ" He burst out of the door to the roof and placed his hands on his knees, taking in gulps of air.
Ronni blinked. Of all the things he could have said or done, that was not the thing she was expecting. She watched him go, not sure what to do, and wound up just sitting there, away from everyone, thinking quietly.
He's clearly not trying to make you feel uncomfortable⦠Tanya said slowly.
I guess not⦠But that's a weird thing to say, regardless. Ronni countered.
Just because he specifically said 'not in a romantic way' doesn't make it weird. Tanya admonished.
But why would he say that? And I don't like the attention. Ronni frowned. It made her anxious when men paid attention to her.
He's trying to be nice, give him a chance. Tanya said softly.
Ronni crossed her arms and didn't move from the hallway. β¦β¦..Fine.
Lucas made his way to the edge of the roof and sat down, his long legs dangling over.
For a second he thought of jumping and mentally scolded himself.
But you have so much to live for! His mind shouted automatically.
Do I?
Of course you do! Your sister, your dog, the people around you!
But I don't even know if Gabriella is alive, or Clover either and I think the people I'm with would be fine without me.
He then shook his head, as if banishing the thought and stared out at the sky, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
Such a child, honestly The faint voice in the back of his mind said softly.
Ronni sat there, thinking Lucas would have to pass her as he came down the stairs. She'd let him know it was ok then.
As long as he doesn't look at me like that. The expression had set her off without her really thinking about it.
She also had to wonder what had happened to Alastor and Zeus. They'd disappeared a while ago and she hadn't seen them. She couldn't imagine they'd just run and keep going, not with Liam still here. Alastor seemed to have bonded with the kid.
Well. Regardless, if Alastor is gone, I'll make sure Liam s taken care of.
After what felt like hours, but was really only ten minutes Lucas's eyes were dry and he stood up, making his way back down the stairs. He paused when he spotted Ronni and gave her his attempt at a small smile.
"pretty well, Devon didn't wake up in a panic..not really..so that's a plus" She took a bite of the poptart, making a face at how gross it was. "yep, totally amazing"
"Thats nice." Liam licked the frosting off the top. it was the only part that he was willing to eat without inhaling dust.
"Thats nice." Liam licked the frosting off the top. it was the only part that he was willing to eat without inhaling dust.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked, picking off the edges of the poptart she had been eating.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked, picking off the edges of the poptart she had been eating.
"I think so." Liam thought about it. "I guess so. If i don't remember than probably." he finished licking the frosting. "how 'bout you?"
Alastor finally came to a stop, his clothes drenched in sweat. Zeus flopped down on the ground beside him, panting rapidly.
"Sorry," he said to the dog, feeling guilty for making his companion run for so long.
How far did I go anyways? Alastor wondered, looking around and panicking slightly when he realized he didn't know where he was. He knew Zeus could probably retrace their steps, but the massive dog was exhausted and, there was no water in sight so it would take a long time for him to feel better.
"Shit," he muttered, hating himself for being so careless and stupid.
"I think so." Liam thought about it. "I guess so. If i don't remember than probably." he finished licking the frosting. "how 'bout you?"
"Hm, well I didn't dream, but I slept, so that's that" She shrugged, "how was the poptart? Mine tastes like stale cardboard"
After what felt like hours, but was really only ten minutes Lucas's eyes were dry and he stood up, making his way back down the stairs. He paused when he spotted Ronni and gave her his attempt at a small smile.
Ronni swallowed hard as he came down the stairs. Here goes nothingβ¦
She stood, and when he paused and smiled at her, she stepped up close to him, way closer than her personal comfort zone usually would've been ok with. Maybe closer than he would've liked.
She reached out and touched his arm.
"Please don't be upset, Lucas. Just⦠don't look at me like that." Her voice still had that rough sound, like she hadn't used it in a while, but it was gentle. She returned his smile, before turning and heading back into the apartment.
I'm thirsty, where's the water?
You're distracting yourselfβ¦
Shut up!
Lucas had developed a look of surprise at Ronni touching him and stood outside the apartment for a moment before walking in after her.
I won't, I promise He responded to Ronni, in his head.
He walked in and sat back down on the couch.
(who all is sitting on the couch, I mean, dev is asleep sitting there)
(it's a big couch lmao)
(I guess just Dev and Lucasβ)
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