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

Started August 25, 2022 by @EtherealDreamer

tune

Devon, still asleep, kind of fell to the side, his head landing on Lucas' lap. He did not wake up from falling.

Lucas gave a startled gasp and panicked.
He didn't move Devon though and soon he began to relax again, looking up at the ceiling.

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.

(Are you setting up for Alastor to run into Celeste's characters? I think the mom was coming into the city soon. or does someone need to find Alastor+Zeus?)

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?"

"You didn't really say anything, Lucky. You just kind of stared. Really, it's nothing to worry about." Ariella patted his arm. "You ate welcome to come home with me, whatever waits for me there. And if you're still set on Europe I'll help you get home."

Lucas gave a startled gasp and panicked.
He didn't move Devon though and soon he began to relax again, looking up at the ceiling.

Devon sighed, visibly relaxing in his sleep. He wasn't aware that he was using Lucas as a pillow.

Ronni got some water, filling the water bottle she kept in her bag. She turned and saw half the group clustered around the poor couch, and shook her head.
Nope. Not for me.
She was going to try to extract Lucas from the mess again, but Devon flopped into his lap. The look on Lucas's face was hilarous, and Ronni smirked at him as she settled across the room.
He's stuck now…

(Are you setting up for Alastor to run into Celeste's characters? I think the mom was coming into the city soon. or does someone need to find Alastor+Zeus?)

(Yeah, I'm setting up Alastor to meet Celeste's characters)

"You didn't really say anything, Lucky. You just kind of stared. Really, it's nothing to worry about." Ariella patted his arm. "You are welcome to come home with me, whatever waits for me there. And if you're still set on Europe I'll help you get home."

Lucky nodded slowly. "I'm pretty sure I couldn't get to Europe now, even if I thought my family was ok." He glanced up as Lucas sat down next to Ariella. "But from what I heard on the radio, they're likely all dead…" He swallowed again, the lump rising in his throat, and was fighting tears, when Devon landed in Lucas's lap. The look on the taller boys face, and the whole situation, made him laugh instead of cry. A quiet laugh, but still better than tears.
He looked back at Ariella, surprised she hadn't bolted as soon as Lucas sat down.
"I think the whole group is heading west, so I was planning on going with them. I just came all this way from Wyoming, so going back shouldn't be too hard. And we'll see, maybe you and I can keep going."

Ariella tried to shift as far away from the other people on the couch but she really couldn't get very far. The four of them took up a lot of room on the couch.
She turned her focus to Lucky, though she wasn't doing to best job of concealing her discomfort. "I'm not even sure the group ad a whole knows exactly where they want to go. But you're always welcome with me. The beach is nice."

(Yeah, I'm setting up Alastor to meet Celeste's characters)

(Smart!)

Ariella turned her focus to Lucky, though she wasn't doing to best job of concealing her discomfort. "I'm not even sure the group ad a whole knows exactly where they want to go. But you're always welcome with me. The beach is nice."

Lucky stood, motioning back towards the kitchen, away from the group. "The group seems to be set on heading out West to someplace rural, which I think is smart."
He didn't want to discourage her, but California was probably about as safe as NYC right now… So not very safe at all, really.

(also my couch can fit four people on it— sometimes even five—)

(Yes but probably not people who are not comfortable with each other 🤣 it's just funny is all)

He didn't want to discourage her, but California was probably about as safe as NYC right now… So not very safe at all, really.

Ariella got up and followed him to the kitchen, relief evident on her face. She leaned back against a counter, looking up at Lucky. "I'd still like to make it home if possible. At least to see if any of them survived. I at least need closure."
Lucky had to understand that with his situation. If there was a way for her to know, she was going to find out.

(also my couch can fit four people on it— sometimes even five—)

(Yes but probably not people who are not comfortable with each other 🤣 it's just funny is all)

(true, me and my siblings usually fight when we all sit on the same couch.)

"Hm, well I didn't dream, but I slept, so that's that" She shrugged, "how was the poptart? Mine tastes like stale cardboard"

"Can you still call it a poptart if it tastes like it came from the tomb of some egyptian king?" He said as he stood up and threw the frostingless poptart away. "i wish we could go look for a cow or something. And chocolate." Liam added the last part as he sat back down.

Ariella got up and followed him to the kitchen, relief evident on her face. She leaned back against a counter, looking up at Lucky. "I'd still like to make it home if possible. At least to see if any of them survived. I at least need closure." Lucky had to understand that with his situation. If there was a way for her to know, she was going to find out.

Lucky leaned on the counter next to her. He got where she was, needing closure. "Just… if they are alive, or even if not, will you be careful about where you eventually settle?"

Lucky leaned on the counter next to her. He got where she was, needing closure. "Just… if they are alive, or even if not, will you be careful about where you eventually settle?"

"I'm not really sure what I'll do if my family isn't there. I'll figure it out then. But it'll likely take us months to get there if we're walking. Plenty if time." Ariella shifted closer to him so that her shoulder grazed his. Her hands were in the counter behind her, supporting her.

Lucky shrugged. "We've got a horse and at least 1 truck. No need to walk, at least part way out there. Only took me a little over 2 weeks on Sinjoro, and that was with resting and everything. But sure. You've got time to think, at least a little."
He noted her move closer as he was running the math in his head, and leaned into her gently. She'd comforted him before, and this conversation wasn't easy for her, so he made sure she was comfortable. He kept his hands in front of him, though, not wanting her to think he was doing anything unsavory.

"Gas will only last us long before it runs out. And Sinhoro can't carry everyone." Ariella looked down at her shoes. Everything had changed so quickly she had never really had anytime to adjust. She missed the way she used to be but she didn't think she would ever be that girl again. She leaned her head on Lucky's shoulder, sighing quietly.

Lucky very gently, slowly, and obviously put his arm around her shoulders, giving her time to tell him no.
"We'll figure out a way."

Ariella leaned into his arms, moving one of her own around his waist. "I hope so."
Part of her wanted to remain in this ignorant bliss of unknown. Because if she gets home and her family isn't there, or dead, she won't know what to do.

Lucky let her draw comfort from him. He wasn't sure what else to say.
On top of that, he was fighting a laugh, because Devon was still definitely attempting to cuddle Lucas in the couch, and Lucas seemed to have accepted it.
It was just kinda funny.