#AJSHDGAHJSD

[ashton-ryder]

// int. media room - day. 25th march. @hannahxinterrupted

While the chaos was brewing over, Ash hasn't forgotten the sweet little list of special requests from a certain somebody just a day before things went south. While he wasn't allowed to leave anytime soon to do full runs, he might be able to ask for quick trips nearby, certain he can scavenge at least a portion of what June wanted. But if not and this has to wait, he might as well help plan and bulk up the list into something more substantial (not that he'd ever tell June hers so not substantial).

Ash poked his head around the floor until he found who he was looking for, "hey, Hannah?" Calling out from the door to the media room, Ash waited a beat for approval before coming inside, explaining himself, "June, and Birdie, had wanted a few things to see if we can find them during supply runs, and I thought it might be good to get your opinion as well, on what the kids need." He amusingly showed the adorable handwritten list from June, but after discussing with Zach, might as well check what else they might need, and who better to ask than one of the girls' mother?

[ashton-ryder]

@jeremiah-rose

911 Lone Star s1e10 "Austin, We Have a Problem"

[ashryder]

Dawn had cautiously sniffed the meat before glancing to Ashton for approval and accepting it with a light tug. Ash wouldn't usually let her take strange food from others but Dawn had a sniffer worth medals for, known to sniff out irradiated zones, explosives, drugs, poison, he trusted her judgement more than anything. And Kitty wouldn't do harm to Dawn, he's... almost sure of that. "Dogman..?" He muttered under his breath at the strange nickname. Of course he knows, his own mutation only happens inside his body. But he doesn't outright say it, who knows who else is listening in when he's still kept it mostly a secret.

He faced those bright blue eyes staring up at him, his own regular deep blues challenging back. If they didn't remind him of the pain he went through in Afterglow, he would've said the O'Briens' eyes were beautiful, thought now even more so the reminder being Kitty's as the person that caused those pains. She was shorter and had to really reach up for his face, but he simply sighed and let her pull him down, with a light roll of his eyes, "I think I would know if there was a penis in my throat." Despite the amusing innuendo to it, his words as deadpanned and unamused by her antics. Ashton was more patient with her solely on the fact that she was Finn's and Feary's little sister.

She finally let his face go and he rubs his cheek from the iron grip hold, looking up to his door pushing open without his key. "Kitty," Ashton frowned with an exasperated groan in a warning tone, he had changed his lock since she stopped invading his home. "Fine, I'll get better locks, thanks for checking I guess," he gave up and simply walked around her to get into his home, removing his shoes before heading to the kitchen, Dawn padding along behind him, "need a drink or something?" He asked, assuming Kitty would've followed in and make herself at home. He'd entertain her for awhile longer before sending her on her way. "You still haven't told me why you need my spit."

despite the rejection, kitty dusted herself off and pulled out a dried piece of meat to give to dawn. there was a tug, and for a moment, kitty decided not to let go. "mmm. you kinda have to. mutations happen inside the body too, dogman." she lets the jerky strip go before looking right at the man. yes, he's taller than her, but that's never stopped her before!

she reaches out to pat his cheek, humming, "do you sometimes feel like something's watching you? a little tingly on the back of your neck?" she steps closer, reaching out now to grab either side of his face, "a cold feeling in your spine? heightened heart rate? a grumbly tummy?! any of these things could be a sign your body grew around a mutation. extra parts don't always appear on the outside, dogman. what if you have an eye inside your chest? you really want to risk having your body grow around a little," she whispers conspiratorially — "penis— ," and back to normal again — "inside your throat?! bet you wouldn't even know it."

no, such things weren't possible, but science was all topsy-turvy, and she couldn't risk it at all! he was such a wonderful test subject; it'd be a shame to lose him. she steps back from him — and the dramatics — and reaches behind her to open the door. "besides, i picked the lock already." kitty o'brien grins like the devil, with the full knowledge that she'd not broken any technicalities. "didn't break in though! i didn't enter. you should really install better locks. these were way too easy."

[ashton-ryder]

The garden volunteers had sorted out a rotation of chores for the garden and today Ashton was on watering duty that morning. He had still been exhausted from the party that one full day recovering his social and emotional battery wasn't enough. But at least today he could have a silent time milling through the work, plants don't talk back or leave you or hurt your feelings, at least. While he thought he'd be alone he felt another presence join him on the roof, not unusual as the only place with sun and fresh air. He was about to give them their space when he heard the all too familiar call of a nickname from an all too familiar voice.

It's been so crazy he hadn't even had time to see Lane, considering they had been in quarantine during the party and he promised himself to check in once it was lifted, but perhaps she had beat him to it. Ashton turned to the call, eyes widening at the surprise before a grin grew, "Lane.." he set the watering can down, greeting her with the soft warmth in his words, this was a much better way to meet them again compared to the ice cream museum. He felt the arms immediately around him and he was quick to wrap them up in a tight, enveloping hug, so glad to see Lane okay, safe, alive. "I'm so sorry," he murmured into her shoulder as they held on with a squeeze, apologizing... for the sake of it, for not finding her this time, for the last supply run, for everything. Letting go once the comfort was satisfied, he chuckled as he stepped back, "yeah, I'm real, I'm no Pete to cheat at cards, but I'm real." He remembered their meeting back then, wondering how mannequin Pete was doing.

Ashton hadn't taken too much notice to what Lane was holding, until she brought it to attention, eyebrows raising at the sight of one of his latest drafts of his thesis, "wait- oh damn, how did you even get this?" He had been handwriting by memory though there were still gaps, having this would maybe reignite some motivation to continue working on this despite the end of the world. He carried the stack of papers carefully in awe, the last six months had him already past mourning his thesis, its significance growing less and less when survival was just so paramount but it was good to look at it and maybe even work on it again.

He let out a low whistle as he thumbed the pages and flipped just to see, but something starkly caught his gaze and he froze, a couple of things Lane said. He flipped back to a page that held a photo of him in uniform with his marine comrades, and another as a kid with his full family photo celebrating when his dad came back from deployment and another at his high school graduation with only his mom, and another with her again celebrating with him at one of his hockey matches, hands began to tremble flipping through the pages that photos where stuck in between. Ash stayed silent and in shock, landing longingly on the most recent one he had with his mom and Dawn when she visited for the last Thanksgiving with the Roses.

He hadn't realized the hot tears that welled and threatened to spill until they did. He was close to enough to gently drop his forehead to Lane's shoulder, choking on a sob as he hugged the papers and photos too tightly to his chest in case they slipped away, whispering, "..thank you, Lane. Thank you, I.. you don't know how much this means to me." He split the framed pictures he had between home and office, mom insisting for him to bring them so that he wouldn't get homesick. And he was so homesick right now. He only raised his head when he felt like he regained control of his emotions, not bothering drying his face to continue, looking down at the gift given to him still in disbelief, "you went into NYU..?"

@ashton-ryder

it was a strange, almost awkward feeling to have returned to the wexley with not only much needed supplies but several carefully considered gifts.

it was easy to think that the items were trivial—trinkets that added nothing to the group’s ongoing fight for survival. but that wasn’t the case; because for lane… it had been entirely about survival. thinking of the familiar faces she had left behind and the friends she had come to know provided a much needed sense of comfort. it was a reminder that when she was ready, there was something at the wexley worth returning for.

“soldier boy,” lane bounded towards the slightly taller figure with a noticeable bounce in her step. she smiled despite the breeze of cool air that brought a wave of gooseflesh on her dark skin. when ashton turned lane found herself overtaken by emotion and before they knew what they were doing lane threw their arms around the man who had gotten her back to the wexley safely the first time she was cut off from it.

lane held a stack of papers in their hands which were becoming crumbled from the hug. they pulled back and released ash with a awkward smile. “just checking you were real, yeah? seen too many ghosts the past few months.”

many of those months had been spent at the university. lane had eventually learned to navigate the stagnate undead that resided within the campus threatening to become animate at the slightest hint of prey. during their time at the university lane had come across a door with a familiar name emblazoned beside it. professor ryder.

“i found something of yours. a couple things actually..” lane handed ash the stack of papers which seemed to be a draft or copy of the thesis he’d been working on, but between the pages were photographs she’d freed from broken frames and kept safe with intention to return to him. from the resemblance she was certain that many of the pictures contained a woman who must’ve been his mum.

[ashton-ryder]

To think she'd be so excited to lose both of the first rounds and their red cards both face up to them, "slowly," he amusingly nagged at her before she continued to drink, they didn't need to take big chugs or an entire glass, they can make their own rules, and she still has an entire night to enjoy. Ash stared at his second card still faced down as if thinking long and hard on the probability of it being higher or lower 5. Shitty odds if you asked him.

"Okay, how is your rotation going tonight?" Ash mused with a quick glance up to her, considering there's not much work rotation left to gossip about and it's more interesting to learn of the people she's made acquaintance with since coming back. "Lower," he finally decided before flipping to see Jack of Clubs and he sighed loudly, "ah damn." A small sacrifice for the rest of the rounds, hopefully. He picked up his glass while he thought about her own question to catch up on things, "well.. we managed to get Ziggy back, y'know, Beau's partner, and you know Aggie," he brought the glass to his lips to take his punishment before continue, "weirdly.. some of my military friends made it here. You remember I mentioned my old mentor before, Lindsay? He's the one with the niece, the other girl, Maisie. And there's Oscar. Two other people I trusted my life with before." Something Ruth can bond over, he held the joke back in his head.

He motioned for Ruth to take her turn and he puts down his drink, "Hannah has been really nice too, and.. I don't trust the new twins yet," Ash lowered his voice to a mutter only for Ruth, aimlessly rotating his glass as he mulled over it.

she loves hearing him laugh, that she's able to pull it from any conversation as though everything is still okay. after all, under what other circumstances would there be the time to drink as though there was no danger to consider. she might have the whole rest of the building to think of with reckless decision making— but who among them could argue with making ash happy first?

"okay! okay!" his card goes face up, and she quickly follows it with her losing drink. it's not a game she's concerned about winning or losing, and she's quick to match him, "black." she's wrong, and taps the card, buying herself a little bit of time before she continues just drinking away what she's been poured. "this is usually where you ask how my rotation is going." but there's nothing new to add to that conversation. she's in the real world now, practice is more than just what she sees in the emergency room. "and i ask you if you've made any new friends for us."

[ashton-ryder]

"Heya," his smile peeked over the pillows to greet Ember, hesitation still subtle in his words, not really sure Ember's opinions on the blow up at the party, and the fucking stairwell accusations.. He was cautious to say the least, easier to assume people talked and people believed it. Perhaps it's that feeling of being alone again that made him compelled to come up with donations. "It's looking good," Ash commented taking a quick look around, certainly look like some store in a way. Definitely a different vibe from the inventory they had down below for food and supplies. It felt like.. there was agency again to browse, to choose, to have some control in your life again. Ash chuckled, feeling like he now understood Ember's reasoning for setting it up, "definitely looks like a store." It's a little bit overwhelming, but nothing that can't be worked on.

Ember lead them to place down the items before his hands and front view were free again to properly assess the space. Ash let her take his now empty hand and pull them through the loft and into the bedroom now turned mega closet of clothes. He let out a low whistle seeing things organized neatly in racks of type of clothing. "I won't lie, it's pretty impressive, pretty sure the Scouts HQ was just thrown together haphazardly," Zach and him over time had made it more into their own, remembering starting out with just a whiteboard, a table and the map of New York. Months later, its definitely felt a bit more lived in, both personal touches could be seen while they thought through useful ways to utilize the headquarters. "Perhaps just adding some written label signs for the sections, and if you're keep a stock take of everything, let us know when certain particular items run low, we can keep a lot out during runs," Ash commented on as he looked around, despite the suggestions for improvements there were genuine nods of approval before he paused his stroll around, "it's really nice to have these organized too, other than just food and essentials, thanks Ember, really."

Straightening out a pile of pillows on one of the tables by the apartment's kitchen island, Ember looked up as someone let themselves in, a bright smile splitting her face. "Ashton! Well, this is a pleasant surprise, what do you think?" Pushing her bangs back behind her ears simultaneously with both hands, she did a little bounce on her heels and a turn to motion at all the hard work she'd put in. "It really kinda looks like an actual store, doesn't it?" She'd been in enough of them to know, that was for sure.

"Oh!" Realizing that his arms were full, Ember did a little shuffle run on her stilettos over to help unload him, speaking as she moved to add the cushions with the bedding and the lamp in the dining room nook with the other table top things. "Sure did! I had a lot of help, I mean Ziggy and Beau are pretty handy with moving furniture, and Ria has been a huge help with the clothing store part. That's in the back." Excitedly coming over to take one of his hands in hers, she lead him through past the books and magazines, toiletries and towels, and around a small corner into the master bedroom space.

"Ta da!"

[ashton-ryder]

Her signal that said an unspoken yikes between them elicited a laughter from him, almost a nostalgia from a simpler time, "yeah, that one works." Pretty sure they'll soon be busy with their own activities ahead in the party, his outfit surely would be the least of their problems, though right now his aching shoulder would wine to protest. His compliment was genuine though Ruth could hardly ever look bad. And yet suddenly she made him try to back track his words, "well- wait no, I blend in, you, look good in pink and stand out in a good way." Guess it's too late to explain and instead eat his words, "Zach, for example, stands out in a questionable way." That would be his reason for wanting to blend in enough. But this simple moment of feeling normal again, even if everything in Ash did not want to be at a party, was worth everything to have some sense of normalcy again.

"As long as people use the right elevator, let's just hope it's a low to no caseload," Ash mimicked her knocking on the bar countertop, with the week Ruth's had, she deserved to quiet morning, "and not much clean up to do too." Cleaning up the bat goop must've been bad and he doubt anyone's interested in cleaning up the aftermath of a party either. Suddenly the unlimited drinks don't sound like such a good idea anymore.

Ash nodded, looking out to the atrium from the bar, Aggie's pink sweater amongst the crowd was hard to miss even from here, "yeah, it's really good to see her relax," considering the state she was in two weeks ago, trembling and holding onto Ruth and Jeremiah for dear life, it was like a completely different person, "and I'm sure she has you to thank." Knowing that Aggie had been pretty much hanging out in the clinic all day, occasionally crossing paths from the Scouts HQ directory opposite them, somehow always including a piece of bread passed to him. "Is that why you guys are in pink? It's a good choice." It's a sweet thought and Ruth always knew how to bring someone out of their shell, Ash should know.

He groaned at the mentioned of dancing, anticipating what she was trying to get at, they shared a knowing look, Ash's more of a look of warning than anything else, "no, I know what your thinking." Ash is not a dancer, despite his own agility and skills, moving them in the way people do to music is not something he can do, much less do well. It's embarrassing to say the least. "..no," he said again as she stared at him, but he can never last long in saying no to Ruth, "have mercy on the injured?"

"right, the old..." she paused, trying to consider a signal that would work. maybe a wink? she settled for pulling at her own necklace, as though the temperature in the room had gone up significantly. "that one." though she doubted she'd need to use it before ash took matters into his own hands. his position on the suit was already clear enough, but they didn't do these sorts of things to be comfortable. his question doesn't have a succinct answer that she can provide, they looked nice simply because.

"why thank you." she curtsied as though he hadn't watched her fasten the buckles of her shoes and waver between necklaces. "you think i blend in too?" she's teasing now, the smile that's found its way to his face is mirrored in hers. for whatever reasons he might not be thrilled to be here, she's always happy to mitigate, even if just for a conversation. "i was hoping to stand out."

her impressive-ness is less dramatically received, the compliment more in the vein of what she was used to hearing from him. "the same floor and a working elevator." even for the residents of the third floor, the less risk the better. "could be a very caseload in the morning!" but there was such thing as jinx, so she knocked hard on the bar top with a giggle.

"great of her, right?" though she knew the other woman would favor the atrium, it still made her heart warm to see the confidence. "i owe her like a million compliments for choosing our color." though they weren't alone in wearing pink, it was still fun having a perfect match for the evening. "i'm just getting started. you know the drinks are unlimited and the dancing hasn't even started yet."