surv1vor

[surv1vor]

"i can help you with a cannoli tomorrow." a lie and they both know it. the man is more likely to sit on one of the bar stool at the kitchen counter and chatter away with his wife than truly help ( sample what she's made ⸻ but assisting? the man can cook, just not desserts. he'd made the mistake of trying to help her with a batch of cupcakes early on and one disaster had been enough for the both of them ).

at her statement, his brow furrowed slightly ( were those worries caused by some distant echo of the blackouts she suffers or would these concerns have been there regardless? ). pushing himself up and out of his chair, the man crosses the space to wrap and arm around her middle and press a kiss to her hairline. "motel isn't far. if someone were to break in, we'd likely hear it and i could be down takin' care of it until the police showed up." he tried to reassure. "anything of real value is locked away in the office safe or up here in the house. i wouldn't let anything happen to you or our well being. " another kiss is offered, this time to her lips as she turns to face him ⸻ though its a brief peck of a thing. "now go get ready. we'll head into town once you're done."

A small smile appeared on her face. Since they moved to this small town, they hadn't been to a restaurant, spending weeks tearing out the ugly yellowish carpets from the rooms, perfecting the decor, and putting up their bright blue neon sign reading "Stark Motel." Everything demanded such precision and detail that they were so busy it never dawned on her to explore the local restaurants or discover what the town had to offer.

"I was going to make some cannoli, but..." she began, pretending to ponder. "A romantic dinner doesn't sound too bad" she continued, getting up from his lap and walking to the window. She opened the curtain a tiny bit to look down at the motel.

The Stark Motel lay just a few staircases away, a small, single-story building stretched out horizontally along the property. Its neon sign glowed brightly in the dusk, casting a blue hue over the parking lot. The building's long section featured a series of evenly spaced doors marking each room. At the base of the perpendicular wing was their mini office, doubling as the reception area, with a large window providing a clear view of the entire motel. It reminded her of something out of an old movie, quaint yet functional, with a charm that came from its simplicity. "I worry sometimes about stepping away from the motel. Even when I lock the reception, I still worry about theft or…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked out the window at their establishment. She sighed, smiling to herself. "I guess I should stop worrying so much, huh?" She told him as she turned to look at him.

[surv1vor]

tired is just an excuse ⸻ it's likely she's simply a mouthy thing who hasn't been required to hold her tongue in fear of consequence before. pushing out a sigh, the man raises a hand to wave away the words. the hour is late. as vengeful as he might have risen to be, should the woman have continued lying to him, continuing to hold such an attitude is foolish. he remains quiet as she speaks, his brow furrowing slightly. it seems the disconnect between family ( between siblings ) is a reoccurring problem regardless of class or rank ( for it's an affliction he is quite familiar with amongst his own siblings ⸻ each of them so starkly different that at times it seems the only thing keeping them together are their parents and respective duties to the court ). "your brother will not hear of what has occurred from me." he notes after a moment. no need to kick up trouble unnecessarily ⸻ not when charles himself would hate it were the roles reversed. "siblings can be... difficult, can't they?" he murmurs, a soft chuckles escaping him when she questions after the job. "you will have to return in the morning, when the household is awake. i'm afraid that while i might be capable of offering you a position, i will not know where you might be best suited until you can speak with the others. should you wish, have your brother escort you to my office after the family breaks our fast. i'll see to your placement, should you truly be interested."

she shouldn't have been surprised by the way his tone shifted. he had every right to be vigilant, to question her under his own roof. rhea on the other hand, never claimed to be wise. her brother had often told her she was much too reckless for her own good. "i apologize. i'm just tired, and..." it was her attempt to brush over the way she had just spoken to him. not that he had ever done anything to her specifically. but she did hold the slightest of not so quiet resentment for those of higher nobility. especially when they thrived while others suffered, so to speak. "you're right." as annoyed as she was to utter such words and stubborn as ever, she knew better than to push when things wouldn't end if her favor. "it was foolish, especially after you have shown me leniency for trespassing on your lands." and after he suggested she could apply for a position within the manor, no less. "perhaps i should learn to keep my intrusive thoughts and stubbornness at bay. at least, that's what my brother would say when he does—or well, if he finds out about this...incident." and she wondered if he now would. "he and i are just...very different people. the things we want out of life, they're different, and we both struggle with the fact that we'll likely never understand one another." a small pause, her gaze flitting between the floor and his face. "not that any of that matters, sorry." she was so clearly flustered again. an unfortunate side of affect of naivety. she had little control of her words, her actions, her feelings. "i'll remember to be more mindful of how i speak in the future. i'm sorry. i take it this means the offer to inquire about the job is no longer on the table?"

[surv1vor]

she wants to offer that, should they get lost, she will be happy to take the lead. but the mention of adventures with his sister in his youth has the womans head turning so she might look at him as they walked ( trusting that the hand upon her back would guide her around any obstacle that might fall within her path ). when was the last time she had ventured anywhere without purpose or a destination in mind? camila couldn't ever recall leaving the sanctuary of her court and not having a formal escort. it nearly brings a frown to tug at her lips ⸻ how sheltered of a life she's seemed to have lived. there are times where she will push the bounds allowed of her, but never anything that would truly test her fathers patience ( not as this little blooming dalliance might ).

"then we shall get lost and see were the fates wish to take us. it sounds like a rather grand adventure." the smile she throws him is bright but is quick to soften around the edges the further they walk. "would you tell me about them ⸻ these adventures you had with your sister in your youth? the places you went, things you did?"

it was rather interesting how she had managed to sneak beneath his skin and have him caring so deeply for her, after only knowing her for a short time. drystan was not the sort of man who wore his heart on his sleeve, but he was a man of loyalty. the kind that would defend the people he cared about and the places he cherished till his last dying breath. with her, the fae felt as if he could take on the entire world, and for a brief moment, the pair seemed untouchable.

his lips twitched into a smile, his fingers gently gliding against her back, and the warmth between them growing. he almost forgot all about his prior engagements that left him bruised and battered, until she mentioned him needing a break as well. "suppose i cannot argue with that." he hummed, giving in to her niceties. it wasn't often he did that, but the woman had a way of coaxing the best out of him. breathing out, he led them out of the tent like area, keeping himself close to her while making a swift exit away in the direction leading away from the tourney events. he knew his way around from the few visits to the dawn court, but even then, the man was eager to explore with her. "you'll have to bare with me if i get lost along the way. i'm not as familiar with your home as you." his voice was soft, his attention on the garden path before him, a slight squint forming and the sound of the ongoing affairs behind them began to fade as they ventured on. "though i will admit, when i was young, my sister and i always enjoyed our adventures best when we got lost." he shared, wanting to tell her more about who he was. his past, his feelings, his interests, anything.

[surv1vor]

⸻ ahhh sorry friends! i got so far behind on drafts on my main that i neglected these ones. i'm poking away at them tonight and will finish the rest tomorrow!

[surv1vor]

with her assistance, he puts up no further argument. perhaps the distraction ⸻ between training up a new employee and having a vacation to look forward to would do her some good. keep the blackouts at bay a bit ( or at least he could only hope ). "alright sweetheart. just let me know if you need my help with anything, otherwise i'll just keep puttering on until we're ready to head to the airport."

a pleased noise escapes him at the initial kiss she gives ⸻ the man greedy for more but not needing to ask, for she's already pressing forward for another. "or you could stay right here and we can go out to dinner later." did they have the sort of money to splurge on such a thing if they were planning an extravagant vacation? probably not, but maybe he'd take some odd job in town doing some repair work over the next few months to earn a little extra money.

"No, it's fine, I'll do it" she replied, running her hands through his hair as she gazed deeply into his eyes. The thought of tomorrow suddenly sounded much more exciting. What did she do to deserve him? His soft chuckle lit up the mood even more, gradually calming her anxiety within that dark inner world she knew so well and sometimes feared. It was like a box she could only open— one that only he could gently close.

The way he yearned for her closeness, even after all these years, still made butterflies flutter in her stomach. She smiled at him warmly before biting her lip, reveling in his constant desire to see her happy, no matter the cost. Cupping his face gently, she gave him a tender kiss on his lips. Pausing for a moment, she reluctantly pulled away, savoring the closeness as she met his gaze up close. Admiration filled her as she studied his eyes, a depth she could never tire of, before quickly glancing down at his lips again. One moment of connection never felt quite enough; tilting her head, she deepened their kiss, gripping his shirt tightly before letting go. "I should make dinner" She whispered after a moment.

[surv1vor]

in truth, silas had no idea he'd had half that stuff in his kitchen, but he typically had a staff member who did his shopping for him and the man would cook with whatever was on hand that week. when the spoon is offered up to him, a hand raises to hover beneath it as he leans forward to sample a bit of the sauce. it's surprisingly good and for a moment he wants to ask her if she's ever cooked human food before or if the recipe really was that simple to follow. "it's good," he confirms aloud before flashing her a much more genuine grin.

walking across the kitchen toward the pantry, silas looks through the few bottles of wine he has tucked away before selecting a bottle of pinot noir. "humans are exceptionally greedy creatures by nature." a fact he's certain she already knows. "we'd struck a deal and were meant to sign official contracts today but before we were capable of doing so, they came back demanding more money. it made things exceptionally difficult."

"I made a tomato based pasta, with the penne- it has spinach, zucchini, mushroom, garlic- minced, and burrata cheese ready to go on top when served," she recited the recipe before taking the wooden spoon and dipped it into the sauce before holding it out for him to taste. "try it," she said hoping he actually liked it, because if he didn't she failed and if he did than she was just one of the greatest creatures in the mythic verse since she could do one of the human's simplest functions. "why were people frustrating?

[surv1vor]

it would undoubtedly be a season of interest ⸻ he knew of several other gentlemen of worthy titles that would also be out that season looking for a spouse, which was sure to make the mama's frantic. "i refuse to settle for just anyone." benji admits after a moment. "i know that you do not have the luxury of waiting," a woman out for more than a season began to lose their appeal for one reason or another ⸻ while men were free to do as they pleased. "so perhaps it sounds a touch selfish of me. but i would like an agreeable match. a partner as well as a wife."

it made sense though, being a duke at such a young age meant being adjusted to his new duties and making a place for himself in society. "well what a season this will be, the ton certainly may be pleased," she said having heard rumors that a lot of eligible young lords were looking for wives this season. "well then let's just hope for our sake we find ourselves agreeable people to match with..."

[surv1vor]

before, that might have offered them some inkling of hope, but now months could pass like years. anything could have happened in that span of time ( and either the military was thriving, or they'd been crushed where they stood ). attempting to travel down to new orleans could be a death wish. releasing a sigh, aiyla nods her head. it's something they could discuss the possibility of later ⸻ once they were back safe at camp.

dark hues flicker over to natalia as his brow furrows. "what would you have us do then, nat?" he questions, "we either try to find another way out of here and pray we're sneaky enough to get around that thing and all its friends, or we wait it out and hope things look better in the morning." at least here, they could put their backs to a wall ⸻ face whatever was coming at them head on. out in the open, all bets were off and they have to rely on pure luck.

pushing a breath out, the man shakes his head, "it's fine." nothing about any of this was easy. there was so much that could go wrong ( and needing to look out for the welling being of two others only made it that much more difficult ). it's why roman's grateful for the distraction. nodding his head in agreement to natalia's plan, he crosses the space and carefully guides aiyla over to one of the couches and points for her to sit.

"no," the woman murmurs, frowning slightly when roman confirms he too hadn't found any disinfectant. not ideal, but they'd have to work with what they had. "nat can you see if there's a restroom down here? i doubt any of the taps work, but soap and water will have to do. i did find a little sowing kit that's tucked in the front pocket of my pack ⸻ won't be pretty but.." better than nothing. beginning to pull at the makeshift bandaging she'd slapped onto the wound earlier, the woman releases a soft hiss.

God? How funny. Natalia was sure not even He could help them now. If her mother was here, she would hit her with a wooden spoon. Slander of the divine was absolutely not allowed in her household growing up.

"I have no idea." Natalia breathed. A hunter? What did that mean? Did they mean the creature outside? Or something else? Natalia did not want to know. The woman turned to the other, slowly making her way to stand next to the nurse. "I don't know. I heard the military was doing rescue ops, but that was months ago." Her eyes danced over the lobby once more. The couches seemed comfortable enough, so did the chairs. The last of the sunlight peaked through the wooden planks, casting a golden glow within the lobby. "Roman, that fucking thing is out there. What if it's waiting for us, or it ambushes us?" The woman questioned, her tone somewhat harsh.

Natalia rolled her shoulders back. "Sorry...I'm just on edge."

Still, around them the groans of the dead penetrated the silence. "Let's take a break and take care of your arm, okay?" Natalia smiled down at the nurse, awaiting any instruction Aiyla had for her on how to begin. "I don't know about you two, but I couldn't find any disinfectant back there."

[surv1vor]

it is only because she watches him so closely that camila is able to catch the slight wince he releases as he moves to stand ( her brow furrowing slightly as the fingers of her free hand flex at her side ). perhaps, were she better trained or had a greater well of power, she would have been able to take away his hurt entirely. it causes an inkling of guilt to form in her gut ( one that worsens when he comments on enduring worse ⸻ though that she attributes to pure worry over his well being more than anything else ).

releasing a sigh, the furrow of her brow lessens and she flashes him a pleased look. "i believe we both deserve a reprieve after the day we've had," she teases gently ⸻ moving in the direction of the door at the gentle guide of his fingers ( each step, however, is slow ; enjoying the warmth that leeches from his touch ). camila likes the way he phrases it ⸻ the word us causing a comforting sort of feeling to settle into her chest. dark hues turn to him with a smile, "as long as you are with me, i would very much like to see it all."

it was unlike him to make such bold efforts, especially with someone of her status. life for the young fae had taken a rather simple, average, sometimes dull, path. he was the second son of what some would consider a nobody. the only real perk of how things were now was that he served as a warrior, which granted him an honorable position, or so he had been told. though, now he seemed to focus more on it giving him the opportunity to get closer to her. even if he felt he had little offer.

unable to let go of her hand, drystan kept his hold gentle, the warmth of her touch enough to send his senses reeling. his thumb continued to move, a ghosting brush against her skin, and his gaze never seemed to leave her own. "i feel fine now, my lady." he protested, willing himself to rise from his seat, even if the smallest of winces still appeared. "i've endured worse. you've tended to me and now," he paused, his head dipping for a moment, a nervous twitch he'd been unable to rid himself of. "you deserve a reprieve." a smirk formed, and before he could overthink his next movement, he stepped back, allowing his fingers to graze the small of her back, guiding her toward the doorway. "let us see what the rest of the world has to offer."

[surv1vor]

charles is vaguely familiar with the name ( one of the many guards that lingers about the manor and its surrounding lands ⸻ the high fae is capable of conjuring a face to mind but beyond that, he realizes he knows very little about the other man ). his father, he's certain, would know more about the velaris, and charles makes a mental note to begin learning more about all the staff that report to his family.

it is a rather bold question to be asking, given her current position, but it's one he allows all the same. in truth, he cannot imagine it ⸻ but only because he's been fortunate enough to be born into a life of such privilege. charles hasn't known what it was like to truly struggle as so many others had. "staff are welcome to approach with requests for additional time away from their posts," he points out after a moment. it wasn't as if his father was not generous with those who had proven their loyalties. "and their lack of time away is well compensated. though if your knowledge as a healer is genuine, there would be nothing stopping you from making a request to join our employ. it would require extensive training and travel, as our healers often venture throughout our territory and others, when we gain permission of other high lords, to gather necessary supplies." there is an end to his patience ( his lenience ) and it seems she has found it. the otherwise pleasant demeanor drops and the expression on his face grows icy. "choose your words wisely. my questions were necessary to ensure you did not deceive me and bring harm to those under the protection of my family. consider yourself lucky that i do not insist on awakening the household and dragging your brother before me to answer the question as to why you are aware of this entry into the manor."

"drystan... drystan velaris." guilt painted her face, eyes fluttering shut when she said his name. this was surely going to cause a rift between herself and her brother, and considering the pair were already on the rocks with one another, rhea couldn't help but feel that perhaps this would push him farther away from her than he had already seemed.

opening her eyes, rhea's gaze returned to him. his questions were much for her, and while her mind told her to keep her mouth shut and not reveal more information than necessary, rhea also didn't want to risk angering him. "forgive me for my brazen words, but would you consider once a week enough time for your loved ones?" their situation was a bit more fragile, however. even when drystan had time away, rhea didn't. their lives were never on the same schedule anymore. "he and i were close once, but we have taken on new lives because we had to and, and it's difficult." her arms wrapped around her waist, still feeling uneasy. "does my story hold enough truth now, or do you wish to ask more questions that seem rather unnecessary?" perhaps she was coming off to strong now, and the moment she realized, rhea bowed her head again.

[surv1vor]

arriving at their agreed upon meeting place, roman had insisted on properly patching up the cut on aiyla's arm while they waited ( but the task took little time at all with their freshly scavanged supplies from the pharmacy, which left the pair glancing out windows with furrowed brows when minutes began to tick into hours and there was no sign of jamie ). roman had attempted to argue that aiyla ought to return to camp alone ⸻ that he would do a quick sweep of the town, see if he could find any sign of the woman before returning, but she wouldn't hear any of it ( so eventually, they'd redistributed what they could between the packs and hidden one away in the house before beginning back in the direction of the town ).

this town was bigger than the ones they'd gone to before, which made the process of searching each house ( and avoiding the dead ) a slow one. when the light began to fade and night crept up on them, roman was half convinced they should bunker down somewhere for the night and try again in the morning ⸻ but it was a faint glow of light coming from one of the houses that gave him pause. dark hues moved toward aiyla before he puffed out a breath. "you do exactly what i say," he murmured.

creeping up onto the man patrolling outside, roman managed to clap a hand over his mouth and drag him back in the direction of the shadows. "take his weapon," he murmured toward aiyla, who jumped forward with little hesitation to wrangle the gun from the mans hand. "now i'm going to ask you a question, and you're only going to answer me. you scream or make any unnecessary noise, and i'm going to kill you. understand?" when the man nods his head in agreement, roman rattles off a description of jamie and questions whether or not they've seen her. the confirmation that she's inside ( and that somehow the three had wandered into territory that had supposedly been claimed ), causes roman's expression to go blank. "thank you for all the help." a hand clamps back over a mouth and the knife strapped to his own leg is freed in favor of killing their hostage. it's a move that clearly stuns aiyla ( whose eyes widen in wild surprise ).

bringing aiyla inside with him wasn't ideal ( not when she was, by far, the least experienced in these matters of their little trio ), but given what their hostage had blabbered, he'd require the back up. there were three more men within the house they encountered ( the first two going down with the quiet sort of ease the one outside had ), but the last turned last second and yelped in surprise, resulting in roman having to throw himself at the man and sending the pair rolling onto the floor with a deafening sort of thud. so much for their element of surprise, aiyla thinks as she watches roman dodge a fist flying his direction but taking the full impact of the second hit that goes his way.

Jamie woke to darkness, it was night now and she had no idea how long she'd been out for. Restrained on a chair, her nose felt stuffy with dried blood from the baseball bat that had hit her.

"Well look-y here, sleeping beauty wakes." A gruff man said grabbing her chin forcing her to look up at him. "Now we saw what you did, had to be a reason for it, right?" She didn't answer just glared. "Well, that's okay, see we know. You and your buddies hit our pharmacy. Our Pharmacy." He repeated, putting stress on our. "You are gonna tells us where your buddies are and we're gonna pay them a visit. They hand over our stuff, maybe we leave them alive, they don't? Well they're find out how creative we've become in getting what we want.".

"Fuck you." Came Jamie's reply before bracing herself as he back handed her.

[surv1vor]

"yeah?" he asks. someone looking for a summer job is probably ideal. hire her for a handful of months and then let her slip back into her studies in the fall. it'll be only the slightest of financial hits. manageable. he might even be able to offer a less than pleasing hourly rate with the promise of offering the girl a good reference letter. "sounds perfect sweetheart. let me know if you need a ride to go sit and chat with her. i can draw up some sort of contract and we can start her training in a few weeks if she's interested."

a soft chuckle escapes him. were they being crazy again? probably. but wasn't that how they'd done everything so far? spontaneity. that was how they'd ended up with the motel, and it seemed to be working relatively well for two people who'd been all but clueless about it before now. dropping his hands to her hips to drag her closer to him, asher can't help but grin, "probably," he notes, "but the good sorta crazy. tell me you don't wanna sprawl out on white sand beaches with that martini in hand, gettin' all nice and golden in the sun and i'll behave. tell you we should think logically." fingers flex gently into her flesh, "but if you want this? i'll find a way to ensure it happens. you deserve nothing but the best. and i'll make damned sure i can give it to you."

She caressed the back of his head as he planted a kiss on her shoulder, the smile still adorning her face. How had they ended up talking about this now? She loved how spontaneous they could be, yet sometimes wondered if their spontaneity was merely a way to sidestep the darkness that lingered underneath it all. Her blackouts and instability were frightening, yet perhaps she believed they could be harnessed and managed somehow—a reflection, perhaps, of her deep-seated anxiety about their new life together.

"I know someone," she told him, her hands cradling his face, fingers gently caressing his ears and cheeks. "She's a uni student; I heard she's looking for a summer job. I'll talk to her," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and assurance. How could he make her forget about all her worries, with just one promise: Hawaii. The deep fear in her gut was replaced by butterflies, and her eyes, which had nearly filled with tears, now sparkled with joy. But she didn't realize how this was a pattern with her, going from the dark to light in a matter of minutes.

"Are we being crazy again?" she asked suddenly, reflecting on all the spontaneous adventures they embarked on together. She adored that about him—he understood her like no one else could.

[surv1vor]

having already rattled off a handful of names the duo ought to be looking for once they got inside of the pharmacy proper, roman and aiyla had waited in relative silence for the car alarm to begin. the sound of sirens made the man release a soft chuckle before he'd instructed aiyla to cover her ears and shot the lock. it broke with one shot ⸻ the gate clunking open causing both to cringe before they slipped inside and began rummaging through what was available. if they lingered a touch beyond the fifteen minutes, it was only because both were reluctant to leave without jamie ( but as it crept closer to twenty minutes with nothing? roman insisted they follow through with their plan ).

exiting the pharmacy first, roman scowled in the direction of the car alarm ⸻ tempted to trail in that direction if only to see if he could spot the other woman. "come on. let's see if she's at the house and if not... we'll come up with a new plan." with a nod of agreement, aiyla trailed after him in the direction of their meeting spot.

"I know." She smiled before heading off.

The streets were quiet, but that didn't mean there wasn't danger lurking. She spotted the few biters out in the open, and with a quick stab to the skull, they crumpled to the ground easily. When she felt she was far enough out, she started trying car doors. Any open were would be difficult to set off, and the radio wouldn't be loud enough if they had any battery left. But that's when she saw the cop car. Yanking the door open, she saw the keys in the ignition, but the engine turned off. "Please have some juice left." She whispered. The engine turned over, and she started hitting switches. First, the lights started flashing and then the siren. That would definitely lure them in. She could quickly hear things coming alive, the shuffle and groans of biters turning towards the sound. Taking a corner quickly, she came face to face with a baseball bat, breaking her nose and downing her in one.

[surv1vor]

they both seem to be a bit helpless around one another ⸻ masks shed and filters disregarded entirely ( emotions and words seeming to spill forth that much easier ). it's why, when his words present themselves, her smile is just as easy to bloom. something about his willingly to assist her to view her court as something other than what she has ⸻ it warms her. "if you are the one to show it to me, than i would like that very much."

eyes sparkle at his agreement ⸻ it is a plan that will likely never need to be put into use, but camila finds herself endlessly pleased by this little secret they share between them. "i would," she confirms softly. everything about the man before her intrigues her ( and perhaps that is why she watches him so carefully ⸻ why she's so acute aware of the brush of his lips against her knuckles and how she has to resist the desire to inch closer to him as her cheeks color ). "no, he is far too wrapped up in his own scheming to notice." a touch of a lie ⸻ the man would surely notice, but he would not make a fuss over finding his youngest child ( he might not even think to mention it until later, in passing ). "i would much rather spend my time with you. it will certainly be the brightest part of my day. so i must insist that once you feel well enough, we depart."

"i can do that." it was almost uncontrollable, the way the words rushed from his mouth without his approval. yet he'd spoken truthfully, and his smirk faded quickly after, giving way to a smile. "i'd gladly be the one to assist in showing you just how much your court is worth, my lady. but more importantly, you." the last bit come out as a murmur, the intensity in his gaze enough to light the fire within her once more.

the further he thought of her and the possibility of becoming betrothed caused his jaw to clench, his stomach to twist. somehow, the pain his shoulder becoming more bearable than what was erupting inside of him. even with the assurance, the obvious distaste she had for him, he couldn't help but feel a pang of conflict within. he had no right to, and yet, the thought of her being with another man was enough to make him feel sick.

"you can count on it." he finally spoke again, the grip tightening ever so slightly. he knew that words were sparse for him, though she somehow brought out something in him, the desire to speak. and yet, there were so many things left unsaid. he feared opening his mouth would only push her away, but he'd sworn to himself he'd try, even if his attempts failed him. "you would?" he couldn't help but question, the doubt evident within his tone. "you honor me. truly." though worry consumed him his senses, his chapped, plush lips ghosted against her knuckles, the warmth of her skin near his lips sending a shudder through him. "do you think your father would notice if i stole you away now?" his gaze lingered on her features, a faint flush blooming across his cheeks. "i'd hate for your day to continue on such a sour note, or rather, i'd hate for you to suffer in silence. not when i can take you somewhere better."

[surv1vor]

roman waits to ensure he receives confirmation from both women that they're unharmed before he's flickering the flashlight away from them to take in the space with a slight frown. shoving himself away from the door and stepping further into the space ( weapon raised alongside the flashlight ), the man releases a soft grunt of agreement to the plan. "better to stay put. they're all bound to get distracted by something else by the time morning comes 'round. give us enough time to skitter out of here and back to camp." at least, that's what he hoped.

unlike the other two, aiyla leaned against the door a bit longer, her breath taking longer to get back under control. tongue peeking out to lick at her lips, blue hues drop to take in her arm with a frown ( curious if they grabbed what they needed to be able to deal with the wound here ). knowing their overall survival is currently more important, she trails after the pair slowly. the space is destroyed and they'll have to find comfort and heat in one another if they're set on staying. sweeping the room and catching sight of the words at the same time the other woman does, aiyla frowns.

attention drawn at the question, the flashlight lands squarely on the words and the man can't help but scowl. "what the fuck is a hunter?" nothing good, based on those words. they'll be staying as far as fucking possible from the square. "we go back exactly the way we came tomorrow." he murmurs.

carefully removing her pack and allowing it to rest on the floor, aiyla points at the second sentence. "can we talk about the second part for a second? rescue operation in new orleans? think it's legitimate?"

Natalia gave a quick nod. She patted herself down. No bites or scratches to be found. "Not sure, darlin. With that thing out there..." She trailed off. Natalia had taken to calling Aiyla by different nicknames, some more simple like 'darling' or 'honey', some were from her own heritage. Sólnyshka (Солнышко) in translation meant Sunshine, and it was her most commonly used nickname. For Roman, it was a mix of terms of endearment and borderline insults. Of course, Natalia never told them what it mean.

Natalia rose to her feet, slowly. There was no other flashlight in sight, so she relayed on her ally to light the way. She placed her shotgun over her shoulder, green eyes moving from side to side. Shadows moved with the leaving sun, and soon they would be in the cover of night. It would be darker than it already was. "I say we stay here for the night, hold up until morning and then run."

The overarching threat of the creature did not leave her mind. But they could not stay here, or they would slowly starve or be killed by the undead. Natalia's eyes shot to the staircase, and the desk at the very corner of the room. It was overturned, papers littered the floor. Natalia turned a corner, standing now in what seemed to be a huge lobby. Boards on the windows, everything destroyed. Whoever was in here was long gone. On one of the back walls, a large graffiti was sprayed on.

DO NOT GO INTO SQUARE! DEAD EVERYWHERE! HUNTER ON THE LOOSE!

IF ANY SURVIVORS READ THIS, THERE IS A RESCUE OPERATION IN NEW ORELEANS! GOD HELP YOU!

"What the fuck...?"

[surv1vor]

charles is grateful for her admission ( because had he been met with continued lies, the man wasn't certain how to handle the situation ⸻ such instances were often dealt with by his father, who sat as high lord ). pushing out a breath, the man carefully tucks his hands into his pockets as he silently listens to the truth behind her appearance within the manor. "and who is your brother?" he asks ⸻ out of genuine curiosity ( and a further desire to truly confirm her story holds true ). "i will not punish either of you. but i require a name to confirm the truth within your statement."

"and consider me curious, but what prevents you from seeing one another?" charles could not imagine not seeing his family on a regular basis, but their positions were clearly much different. "staff at the manor are given time away at least once a week, should they choose to take it. is that not enough, or are there other interfering forces?"

the way he points out the inconsistencies in her story is enough to have her blood running cold, her jaw clenching. she knew she should have made more of an effort to think ahead. it was so easy for him to catch onto the lie, and now, rhea wasn't sure she'd be able to talk herself out the hole she couldn't stop digging for herself. she swallows hard, her chest rising and falling repeatedly, the nerves in her stomach fluttering about.

rhea knew there was no point in arguing further, or trying to talk herself out of it. the truth was out. "forgive me, i..i didn't mean to lie." she began, glancing down at her feet as she wrung her hands together. "but if you'll allow me to explain, lord charles." her chin tilted upwards, dark brown eyes meeting his. "i have family who works here, at the manor. but," she frantically waved her hands up at him, regret seeping into her features. "they had nothing to do with this, i promise. it was my idea. we don't get to see each other much anymore and i just thought that maybe if i snuck in, it would be okay. but then we ran into each other and i was afraid they'd be punished for my poor choices." she bore her gaze into him, her voice dropping. "i swear, if you allow me to return and not say a word, i'll do whatever you ask. just please, spare my brother from a punishment that isn't his to bear."

[surv1vor]

cheeks flushed at the womans comment because of course she was right ( both jamie & roman were far better equipped to handle this world than she was ). "right, of course. sorry ⸻ i just worry," she excused, bending over to grab the remaining packs with the intent to carry them to roman. "just ⸻ be safe, alright?" with a last, long glance at her, aiyla dips her head into a nod, flashes a smile and ducks back inside to roman.

the pair exchange a brief greeting before the man is carefully slipping the second bag off aiyla's shoulder ( eyes flickering to her wound with a slight frown ). "now we just have to wait for that alarm to start. once it does, cover your ears and i'll shoot the lock. quick in and out," he instructs the woman.

"Of course he did, Aiyla, I was in dangerous situations long before the world went to hell. I'll be quick so don't worry." She assured the other woman. "Yeah, I'll move quicker without it, fill it up with what we need, but if trouble hits, leave it."

Heading down the street, body low, head down, she weaved between the cars, careful of what and who she was stepping on. Her focus on getting far enough away to give them time to run while also making sure anything nearby came stumbling this way.