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itcliia:

her body was crouched behind the SHELF of the music store, her ears picking up a commotion at the entrance. she’d stopped on her way back to the airport to look for a pick for her ‘friend’. it was her birthday in a few days      && she didn’t know when she’d get the chance again. the footsteps grew closer, && her hand tightened around the hilt of her gun. it wasn’t until she saw the shadow of a figure that she popped out of her hiding spot, bullet in the chamber, barrel pointed at the intruder. “store’s closed.”

If there was one thing that Luz missed more than family, more than a future and family dinners, more than vero mango lollipops and fresh new sneakers--it was MUSIC. The gym she and Ada had opened was great and it felt good, in the wake of losing Sherman AGAIN to train again. Burning muscles were more healing than burning hearts. But there was nothing like a pair of oversized headphones blasting DMX ( she’d never admit it, but he was her go to music to pump up before exams ), Tupac, Immortal Technique, or some good old fashioned A Tribe Called Quest. Even CDs made her wistful for making mixes and burning discs to annoy her moms with on roadtrips to Mexico.

As she slid her hands along the CD racks, humming the tune of Acid Raindrops offkey, missing the People Under the Stairs like MAD. Certainly there wasn't much to be found in this kind of place, but she’d seen weirder camps abandoned in Game Stops, a Ross Dress for Less, and even a mostly burnt down Starbucks. The tread on her sneakers kept her from sliding along the cool tile store floor to the beat as much as she’d like, but she made do, bobbing her head along and interrupting her own hums with occasional lyrics.

“When the stress burns my brain just like acid rain dr--” She recalled rhythmically before the sudden movement interrupted her peaceful self-serenade, raising her own gun in tenuous greeting with the girl’s. “Shit, dude.” Without meaning to be a dick, she couldn’t help but let out a relieved, but nervous chuckle when she saw the girl didn’t appear to be a raider. “Man, how long you been working on that line--like, that’s a good one,” Gun still raised, Luz made her face friendly, raising her free hand passively. “I’m not trying to step on your territory, girl. I’m just taking a look around for my camp. So if you’re chill, I can leave. No hay problema.”

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🎶 luz

{ send 🎶 and I’ll create a mini playlist for our muses’ relationship } : OPEN.

→ i live to let you SHINE ; ( ft. @rebcund )

“ CLOTHESLINE ” – fellow hollow | close your eyes, you’re not alone – you’re not alone as long as someone’s home.

“ SOMEONE TO STAY ” – vancouver sleep clinic | at the end of the day we’re helpless. can you keep me close? can you love me most?

“ HEARTBEAT ” – matthew mayfield | i come out of the blue and tell you i don’t know you but i can feel your heart beat.

“ SILK ” – dustin tebbutt | you’re one breath from my body; a satellite with stormy eyes, a heart that feels like running – but it’s all right.

“ FAUX ” – novo amor & ed tullett | caught hold of your flood lung. harbour your ‘someone’.

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fxithless

teeth nawed down on the already RAW flesh of her lower lip as she walked around cheyenne, the scar between her ribs flaring with a pain she didn’t really know. gabrielle hadn’t been back here for months and she wanted to keep it that way but when her heart called to this place, she stupidly answered the phone. part of her wanted to run back the arms of the man who saved her but she knew she had to grow up and be a big girl now. ❝ do you think god hates us? i mean what other sick reason would be for all of this? ❞ she questioned, fingers playing nervously with the frayed sting of beads that used to be her mothers. 

“God doesn’t hate us.” Luz spoke with conviction, leaving out her own agnostic worries ( as if so many people hadn’t asked her how she could believe in a God that would put her in this world--but God had saved her family, that she could not deny ). If God was there, if he’d ever been or always been, Luz didn’t know if hate was something he daned worthy of his time and energy. Luz tried to live by that example. “God wants us to be strong.” Shapely brows knitted together in empathy, pining for old conversations she’d had with her mother--their own version of catholicism differed so much from that of the church ( a place that would never recognize her happy family of two mothers ). “We’re not gonna learn, like, God’s WHOLE PLAN while looking at one piece in a bigger picture, my friend.” Sighing, she brushed a few stray hairs from her face. “The way I think of it, we won’t know til we die. So there’s not like any benefit to worrying about it, right? I mean, all we can do is try to be the best people we can be. Do right. That’s all we can ever do, you know?”

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cartertate

The sound was awful, shriller than any alarm clock that he’d slammed his hand on the snooze button of at 6am when he’d only had very little sleep. He wished he had something, anything, to plug his ears and block out the sound. Instead, all he got was a headache he wished would piss off. But his headache was truly the last of his worries when he was actually a bit lost. He’s barely been in this town a week and it wasn’t exactly like Cheyenne was a tiny little town. He wasn’t even bad with directions, he’s just still getting used to this place and familiarizing himself with his surroundings. So instead of making his way back to the country club like he intended, he found himself wandering while looking looking for his new home. 

He didn’t hear the woman’s shouts to him over the loud siren, but he certainly felt the hand on his shoulder. His mind automatically jumped to the worst concluding, and assuming it was a walker, he jumped back and pulled his knife out of his belt to brand in front of him. When he realized it wasn’t a walker, he let out a sigh of relief and dropped his arm.  “Shit, sorry, thought you were dead.” He yelled it to her over the alarm that still had not managed to quiet down. He gave her a once over as he tucked his knife back into his belt, coming to the realization that he had seen this girl in town before, but had never actually spoken to her, nor did he know her name. He only hoped that maybe she’d point him in the right direction home.

As she described her brother, he shook his head and he felt a pain in his chest thinking about the fact that she couldn’t find her brother. He knew exactly what that felt like, worrying about someone and being unable to help, especially someone so close. “No, I’m sorry, I haven’t seen him. But I’m guessing he looks similar to me from behind if you mistook me for him.” He yelled back to her, a half smile appearing on his face. While he most wanted to just head back to his camp and make sure his friends were safe, he had never been able to turn down someone that needed his help. Carter certainly couldn’t just look the other way and ignore the fact that there was a deaf boy somewhere around that would have no clue of the danger coming his way 

“I’ll help you find him so you can warn him about the alarm. He definitely can’t be walking around with no idea.” The fact that he had to yell over the siren was definitely going to do nothing good for his vocal cords by this time tomorrow. “I’m Carter, by the way. Is there somewhere your brother would normally be this time of the day or anywhere he goes during his down time? Or any chance that he’s just headed back to where he’s set up camp?”

Estupida, Luz thought to herself. She knew better than to approach someone from behind like that. Even if it HAD been Sherman instead of this man, it was still stupid. As much as she was touted for her intellect, she still had that one weakness--the berserk button--that made her throw reason out the window every pinche time: her brother. She hadn’t been lucky like he had, to get to see their mothers one last time, his grandparents, her abuelos. All she had left of her family was Sherman and there was no Luz without family--no Luz without her big brother. Despite his journey and newfound INDEPENDENCE she still worried about him every time he left the capitol; it took great self control not to be paternalizing to him ( how could she not want to keep him safe? ). It was the same for Aiden, Adalene--anyone who meant something to her no matter their capabilities.

“You wouldn’t believe how much I get that.” Luz quipped, hands open in front of her, an uneasy smile pressing her cheeks high. “Not dead though. Not a raider and not dead.” Shifting her weight over each foot, bending at the knees only slightly in an athletic stances, she continued. “Super friendly thought and, like, not a threat.” The frown broke through her tentative smile. “I was--I thought you were...someone else.”

“Uhh, not really.” Luz laughed, letting herself relax a little, hands falling naturally to her sides. “No, just like--from behind, you know? Same build, white dude, darkish hair. He’s got bigger eyebrows and a, uh--” Different face? “He’s kind and smart and he used to be a modern dancer, you know? So he moves like one, right? All graceful and shit. And he’s sort of shy.” Luz’s face scrunched up briefly as the insinuation dawned on her. “Not that you move like--like a bull in a china shop or something. You probably move around just fine, but he’s just like turbo graceful.” 

For someone who was used to speaking a lot, though she had seemed to be taking a sabbatical from chattiness since Sherman had come and gone, Luz could already feel the hoarseness rasping at the back of her throat--fatigued from the competition with the siren. “Dude, I am OVER the--” and in prediction of the invocation of its name, the siren stopped. “Wow.” The corners of her lips turned downward, the line between them making an upside down ‘u’ as she gazed around them. “That’s freaky.” As the din of the siren began to leave her ringing ears, Luz looked back at the man with concern. “I’m Luz.” She offered, holding out a hand. “And yeah, I don’t know. He wasn’t at camp, you know? So he’s probably scavenging, but like--I don’t know where. I mean, I hope the offer still stands even though--” Brows still knitted tightly together, the crease between them deepened as she gestured around them. “--you know, like, the fire drill is over.” 

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milcsdei

     ❝  Con—?  ❞  His brows creasing together, the weapon in his hands flattered slightly, ever so slightly, as he TRIED to understand what she was saying. The girl was speaking rapid fire, much too fast for the slow ears of Jerusalem, and it took him a long moment to pick apart each sentence in his mind to fully understand them. Medieval, she thought his crossbow was medieval? It was actually quite NEW, only a few years old, and not originally his–STEALING, add that to his long list of sins–the original crossbow that previously sat in his hands was much older. This one, the one in his hands, had… things on it, a scope and other little features that his bare bones bow growing up never had. These little features and gadgets were extraneous, as his father would say, these things were VAIN… or something, Jerusalem learned to eventually tune out his father’s sermons. ( You can tune them out, but never forget them. )  ❝  I–I do not know the area well, ma’am. But I can try if you would like.  ❞

“Wow, uh, ma’am, huh?” Luz’s brows rose high on her forehead. “Were you like an extra on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman or something or are you for real with the whole bashful boy Katniss thing?” Realizing, to her embarassment that her assessment might’ve been right on the money, Luz held her hands up in apology. “I just mean that you’re like–the most polite dude I have met since the world ended. Don’t call me ‘ma’am’ though please, I’m not married, so…not a senora yet. Plus, like, I’m not even OLD; I used to get carded for rolling papers before this, you know?” The discomfort between them was unsettling and only served as fuel for Luz’s rapid machinations of speech. “Anyway, maybe we can help each other or something? Presuming you’re not like some polite, vaguely cult-y serial killer guy who’s gonna take me back to his house and then murder me while dressed up as his mother.“ A breath, a break. Luz scanned the horizon for walkers, letting herself breath and still trying to figure him out. “But, uh…you’re not very Hitchcockian, more Orgasmo, you know?" 

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James D. Doss

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( @cartertate )

Being on a run without her brother wasn’t always unsettling. It was a job she’d done long before he’d left for Mexico and returned, bearing the best of news as well as a renewed sense of independence. On the usual days, she was happy to go with him or ride solo--exploring the entirety of Cheyenne each time, only to find something new despite her constant exploration. Perhaps the best thing about scavenging the city, was that it had become such a large trading place that ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHEYENNE--or so it seemed. A building that was empty last week could easily be occupied the next and abandoned with a small cache of food or ammo the week after that. Tedious as it might be, overturning the same rock yielded different results.

When the siren went off, Luz knew what it meant. Just like the medical center collapsing. Just like the large explosion that happened near enough to shake the ground, but far enough to remain a mystery--except perhaps in myth. Large noises meant hordes. And that was the concern--Luz’s brother Sherman could not hear. There was no warning for him unless, on the off chance, is cochlear implant had done him the kindness of glitching ON for once. Without knowing where he was, Luz was determined to find him.

The sound itself was piercing. She hated it as surely as she’d hated the shrill screams of fire drills or referee whistles at basketball games. It made the hairs on her neck and forearms stand up--STATIC in the cool, humid sunny Cheyenne summer. As the noise seemed to drown out her senses, leaving her tense and nauseated, she wished she’d found some ear plugs or--hell--even some fucking beats by dre. Considering the thought and grieving her luck, the figure of someone broad shouldered piqued her interest and she ran for them--certainly he had to be Sherman, right? “Sher!” She called, knowing full well that if the implant was still on the fritz, he wouldn’t hear her ( and even if it wasn’t, would her hear her over the siren? ). 

“Hey--” She called again, putting a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder before realizing that it wasn’t him. Jumping back, she exclaimed. “Oh, my god, man. Wow, I’m so sorry! I’m looking for my brother. Have you seen a big guy, dark hair, slender build? He’s deaf, so...” Her chin wrinkled at the thought, voice already growing hoarse from raising it above the siren alarm. “He doesn’t know about the siren and I’m worried about him.”

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( @milcsdei )

“Hey, con permiso, but you shouldn’t SNEAK UP on people like that. I mean, maybe you didn’t,..” Her voice trailed off, recognizing that the DEAFENING din was certainly masking the sound of anything else. “because, you know, the horrible, ear bleed-y siren thing--but like--” Luz’s gaze fell to the weapon in the man’s hands once she’d captured his attention. “--Holy shit! Is that a crossbow? Wow, dude, that’s old school. Like...medieval dark ages old school.” It was a moment before she remembered her train of thought, eyes set on the weapon in his hands. “Anyway, I was looking for a way back to my camp that wasn’t thick with walkers and hopefully also less ear splitting--do you know a good route?”

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kirycku

Even small in size, Adalene hated to admit defeat. And unfortunately, right now, it was looking like defeat. Being skilled in sword fighting, Adalene didn’t always lose. She had good form and was always able to out think her opponent. The only reason why she was losing was because he had snuck up on her and he was far too large to get out from under his grasp. She could feel herself wiggling from under his hands, kicking and swatting as furiously as her body would allow her. She could feel her nails digging into skin, feeling it break under her fingertips.

Suddenly, she could feel his hands wrapping around her throat, cutting off her airway. –God, was this it? Was this the ending of her life? She had honestly thought about her final day before but like this? A fucking raider; if she wasn’t so terrified, she would have been angry. 

There was a new bounce in the way Luz walked. The cushioned nike frees she’d picked up ( virtually untouched ! ) had perked up her mood and the increase in momentum bounced her ponytail from side to side as she rushed up the stairs, skipping a step at a time. Her pack was full of water bottles and the vibrant purple and blue nikes--a perfect match to her own, that were a weave of black, white, and gray--that she’d found in Ada’s size in the same gym locker she’d found the others. 

It wasn’t until she got to the top of the gym stairs that she realized the commotion wasn’t the regular rhythm of Ada’s gloves deftly hitting the speedbag they’d refurbished. Heels skid on the gym floor as she ran, dropping her pack, towards the scene. “Hey!” Not her best work, but the intensity of the anger was PALPABLE in the air. Luz ran straight into the raider, tackling him to the ground, but in the process landing under him--the air leaving her lungs as the man’s own ribcage crushed hers against the rubber floor beneath them.  

The man recovered before she did, springing to his feet as Luz rolled onto her side to cough her lungs back into breathing again. He wasted no time and by the time she smelled the sick scent of socks that hadn’t been changed in MONTHS, blood was spilling from her nose. “Pinche pendejo.” Luz muttered, pulling herself to her knees before wiping the blood from her nose with the back of her sleeve. 

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❛ you burned in the fire that you started. ❜ luz ( future eye patch Luz au ! Or whatever you feel )

    SILENT HILL  |  @rebcund.

     he has no secrets; he’s killed many men in his life – the only reason SANTIAGO is memorable is because the woman who accompanied him won’t let it go. it was years ago, wasn’t it? that he slit the man’s throat and took her eye. regret colors the memory, he should have killed her back then. it’s people like her that keep him distant from his family  (   not oona shutting him out, not the blood on his hands  ). she catches up with him, and instead of ending it, she preaches? tries to tell him who he was and who he became? he laughs, his body shakes and he doesn’t care that her blade against his throat moves in perilous ways when it does. it’s a joke that anyone demands him to be anything. burnt –  ? he’s a hero. every single debt of his, paid. his life devoted to a woman purer than he is. a child, his own, fed by his hand. 

      so what if long nights apart from them were spent with a STRUNG UP stranger in the next room? so what if he beat them black & blue & unrecognizable. if he only took the blindfold off so they could see their family slaughter? SO FUCKING WHAT.  means to an end, means to happiness. none of them deserved to live, none of them were kind enough to share their wealth. impure, unworthy, monsters. luz is trying to make him feel like one of them. he’s not; it’s her. he observes her tight features, her knuckles turning white around the handle of her blade.  f e r a l, comes to mind. untamed, out of control, ready to bare down on his family further if his blood doesn’t spill here & now. he promised safety, comfort, survival. 

     A GODDAMNED HERO; feet firmly planted, shoulders squared.

                                                                                               ❝  YOU, TOO.  ❞

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📝 luz

MEMES // SEND ME 📝  AND MY MUSE WILL REVEAL THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

Their first impression: It was probably a little heated when they first met but that didn’t last long. Having found them in the gym, guns raised just to be certain, the tension dissipated rather quickly. Luz and Sherman were so clearly in this together and that sort of comradery was something that Aiden appreciated. Anyone can turn on anyone in this world, even family. This world made people ugly. But no matter what, Aiden could sense the loyalty and being leader of a camp, he wanted Luz and Sherman to join them, knowing they’d help make a greater team. They had only been together a few weeks before the camps fell but Sherman and Luz were so helpful and such team players that when it was time to move, Aiden wanted them to follow him to their next setup. He was glad to see they already had that idea in mind and Aiden no doubt feels he works best with them both. Luz ‘s physical and emotional strength far surpassed her years. Aiden always felt that Luz was older than she was – a wise & old soul – and it’s easy to go to her for problems he’s facing.Their current impression: Aiden is just so impressed with Luz, to be honest. Each day that passes she surprises him more and more with her strength. She is a leader in the Capitol and it’s no surprise that Aiden has made her his second-in-command. If something ever happened to Aiden, he’d want Luz to help keep the camp afloat. He knows he puts a lot of responsibility on her shoulders but he knows she’s more than capable of handling it. What they like most about your muse: Her strength but also her compassion?? I can see Aiden getting agitated and a little nutty and I can see Luz being the one to be able to calm him and help him make more rational decisions. She has the ability to make tough calls but bring forth a kindness to make sure it’s the RIGHT decision and the best for everyone involved. She isn’t a selfish person in the slightest and putting someone in a leadership role and still maintaining that is something that Aiden can struggle with but also appreciates from her. I genuinely think Luz brings out the best in Aiden and that makes me cry a little.What they dislike most about your muse: Nothing. I think he might worry sometimes for her just because she’s the closest person he has in his life. Seeing her lose Sherman made him worry that she’d lose herself and that it would change her personality, not that he would blame her. He has changed tremendously since losing his family but he doesn’t want that same path for her. He’s (like a dad) afraid she’ll follow the same path he did when he lost them. What your muse is for them: His friend and that’s saying something. A friend isn’t a term he uses widely but Luz is his closest friend. She’s his right-hand and someone he looks to in order to help him calm down. A general opinion of their relationship: They are so great!!!! It’s not a romantic relationship but it’s such a wonderful m/f dynamic that is super complex and just so different than so many relationships we see. It’s a mutual respect and Aiden being sort of a dick??? that’s hard to come by. If applicable, something they wish to reveal: Nothing really? He actually revealed his biggest secret to her so that’S BIG! 

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📝 luz

MEMES // SEND ME 📝  AND MY MUSE WILL REVEAL THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

Their first impression: In school and especially getting to know each when joining the basketball team, there was no denying how much Ada looked up to Luz both literally and emotionally. Luz was the epitome of cool, even when they were kids, and Adalene really wanted to get to know her from the very start. After they were introduced, it was game over. They naturally became friends through all of their shared interests and Luz was as cool up close as she seemed from far away. Their current impression: Their friendship has only developed so much further. Honestly, Adalene never would have figured they would be as close as they are. It’s one thing to be friends but it’s rare when you meet your best friend with which you have such a deep connection that you don’t know how you’d be able to live life without them. Luz is so incredibly brave and smart and kind but Ada appreciates that she doesn’t let anyone walk all over her and take advantage of her kindness. They are both tough girls but don’t ever compete with each other; that’s a rarity in the girl world. GIRL EMPOWERMENT FUCK YEA. Ada loves Luz so much and she thinks the world of her best friend.What they like most about your muse: Like earlier, Luz has such a great balance between being compassionate but doesn’t take any shit. There’s no rudeness or abrasiveness but everyone can tell not to mess with Luz and to be able to come across that way so effortlessly, it’s a hard skill. Adalene likes everything about Luz, to be honest, but just loves how supportive they are of one another. Nobody could mess with Luz and nobody could mess with Ada; the other would kill them if they tried.What they dislike most about your muse: NOTHING. Like Bea said, the only annoyance is that they don’t live in the same camp as each other. Otherwise, nothing at all. Ada has always thought that Luz is the coolest and most wonderful person she knows aka why she’s her best friend.What your muse is for them: Her best friend, her light and her rock to lean on. Adalene really wouldn’t know what to do without Luz. Luz was always bigger and taller than Adalene and while nobody had to fight Ada’s battles, it was nice having someone to lean on when she needed. No matter what they were going through, they would do anything for each other. If Luz got stranded hours away, Adalene would get up no matter the time and drive to get her. If Adalene needed to cry, Luz was there to be the shoulder she needed. Luz is her lifeline.  A general opinion of their relationship: I mean, come on. ADA LOVES LUZZZ. She would literally shout it from the rooftop. There is no relationship that Ada values higher than theirs and she would literally do anything for Luz. If it even meant keeping Luz safe, I absolutely believe Ada would die for her. If anyone messes with Luz, they are messing with her. If applicable, something they wish to reveal: I think Ada would be shocked if Luz ever admitted to liking her but I think Adalene would not stop thinking about it either. I imagine they have kissed before and maybe even gotten drunk and gotten carried away but Ada would never think Luz would be capable of liking her???  But it’s something I seriously consider because honestly, I don’t know how Ada would react!!! And with the outbreak, I can see their relationship has only gotten stronger and has probably changed since they were teens in high school??!! ITS SO INTERESTING TO ME. 

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rcluctance

“You don’t think this whole get up is a bit… much?” Juanita inquired as she tried to cool herself off, a futile attempt in the makeshift post-apocalyptic armor. “I think I would have preferred the faux pas of a jean jacket, jean shirt, and jeans armor to this — ‘cause at least I’d have jeans.” She complained to offset the fear and distract. She didn’t want to think about WHY they had to wear armor to venture even a little bit away from the safety of walls and doors.

“I actually can’t hear you with the helmet on. We should come up hand signals. This means ‘you look good in your armor,’” she lifted up a gloved have and flashed them the bird with a huge grin on her face

Pulling off the helmet, Luz laughed at the description. The patched together riot gear was a good idea, but fit terribly. It chafed in places it sucked to have chafing. It dug in the soft spots it aimed to protect. Maybe it fit the boys better--most things were built with their frames in mind ( she could think of every piece of gym equipment she’d ever used, for example ). “Mannn--” She drug the word out, adding a separate syllable before continuing. “I’m much more of a joggers and tank top kind of girl, but I feel you.” 

Dark hair stuck to her forehead, sectioned into wild tendrils from the sticky heat beneath the helmet. “I think Aiden’s always on the hunt for safer ways to scavenge supplies, but jesucristo I don’t know if I can do it.” After having been with the man since the old camp, she’d become an informal right hand woman. A toothy smirk widened at the middle finger, and she threw back her head to laugh. “Okay, but if you see me mouth--” Luz cupped her gloved hands over her lips and mouthed ‘fuck you’ in an overexaggerated grin. “--then that means you look good too.” It was nice to get that banter going with someone again--someone who didn’t know the baggage she’d carried when her brother went missing and didn’t want to pester her with her feelings since his return. It was good to get the mind off things and down to work.