Lainn Reached Up To Pull A Box Out, Setting It Off To One Side As Tali Was Talking And Trying To Help,

Reaching out toward a plant, Lainn delicately brushed the tips of his fingers on his outstretched left hand against the stem, before moving it to glide along the leaves. Frowning a bit, he remembered what his classes told him about the type of tree in front of him. Before he plucks a leaf right off and moves to stand in on the quick succession of moves.

Glancing over, he could see his son, playing and brought the leaf up to his nose, sniffing it before absently twisting it between his fingers and turning to move away a bit, spotting someone a moment or so later. He quirked an eyebrow at the other's assumption that he was looking to hunt, taking note of it, he gave a nod of his head.

Lainn turned his head, keeping Tali in his view, who remained close to him still before saying, “Well, I don't really hunt.” Holding his hands out, he gives a lazy shrug at this, before continuing to toy with the leaf in his hands and going on, “Do you?” Lainn inquired before turning his head back away from the stranger, listening to Tali come closer as he explained the type of plant he was now holding. Lainn gave a nod of his head, commenting gently toward his son, “That's correct. It's a pretty cool find, Tali.”

As Tali grinned at Lainn's words, before he moved a little ways away once more, to look at more of the plants in the immediate area. Lainn looked toward the stranger again, then around the wooded area before them, “It's pretty, this place. This type of biome is great for all kinds of discovery. There's probably loads of strange bugs here.” Lainn commented offhandedly. He had always found swampland and the like to be almost mystical.

where: edge of the woods | when: day time | whom: open to all

Lucas crouches at the edge of the woods, examining what could be tracks. Or could be nothing. He hates how smart the creatures are. They could've left this behind just to toy with him.

He hears rustling from footsteps behind him, and he doesn't bother looking up.

"The hunting woods are six miles that way," he says, pointing his left hand. "Signs and caution tape everywhere. You can't miss them."

We need books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like being banished into forests far from everyone. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us. That is my belief.

Franz Kafka

Looking up, he scrunched on side of his face a bit, shying away from the sunlight a bit before giving a nod at the question, “Yeah.” Lainn replied. He expected to be asked that a lot over the next few days. He hated being new to a place. But, it was also going to happen if he had arrived at his new destination, with new neighbors trying to figure out if he was some kind of psycho or something. Lainn put a box to one side, “I don't? Huh.” He paused to look around them, “Look's a lot like all the other small towns I grew up around-” Lainn stopped, taking in the sites a bit more, “With a bit more swamp. I'd say.” At their next comment, he looked back, giving a look that somewhat could be read as a mute 'you don't say?'. Letting out a breath, however, he looked toward his hands before dropping them away from himself a bit, “Yeah. Could say that.” Though, all things considered, he supposed it wasn't the worst way things could go. Being trapped in a town, by whatever means. With possible cultists. That was a concern, but, as long they didn't look delicious, he supposed he could find a way out before dinner.

Lainn lifted his head a bit, “Yeah?” At least the ones he had met so far all seemed to be really nice for the time being. Playing dumb, he turned his hands out again, “Well, wouldn't want that. Infection isn't good, I hear.” Lainn watched the stranger glance at the moving truck again. He was thinking he should try to move it closer to the house he and Tali were at, just to be safe. Lainn waited quietly for the woman to continue. Then nodded, listening when she had, “Course. Ain't nothing I haven't dealt with before. High school was a real bad time for me.” Lainn added. Of course, because he was weird and had no parents. Most of the 'normal' kid's hated that. Lifting his right hand up, he scratched it through his hair before looking at Tali and then toward the stranger.

“Yeah. Sure. Okay? Advice wouldn't be too bad. Not much of a coffee drink, though.” She probably had a lot more to elaborate than what he had already heard. Lainn decided it wasn't a bad idea to listen to anything anyone had to say around here. Quickly, he moved to pick up the box he moved and shoved it back into its perfectly sized space, before closing and locking the back of the truck again. Gesturing for the woman to lead the way.

mira stood across the street, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, eyes scanning the quiet morning. the town felt like it was still half asleep, and honestly, she wasn't sure how much longer she could stand the strange, unsettled feeling that clung to the air. she'd been in this place a few weeks now, but the unease was constant. it felt like something was always just out of reach — off, in a way she couldn’t quite place. she noticed the pair then, a man and a young boy walking toward a truck. she hadn’t seen them before. new faces, probably. there was something about them that caught her attention — maybe it was the way the man carried himself, stiff and like he was looking for something. or maybe it was the kid’s quiet steps, as though he wasn’t sure where he was supposed to be, either. mira pushed herself off the diner wall and started walking in their direction, eyes narrowed, not sure what she was expecting but feeling a pull to move closer. she slowed as she neared them, her gaze flicking from the man to the kid, then back to the truck. “you new around here?” she asked, her voice direct but not unkind. “you don’t look like you’re from this part of nowhere." she wondered what kind of trouble they were running from — or if they were like her, just stuck in this strange town, hoping for an escape that wasn’t coming. “looks like you’re having a rough start," she added, her eyes landing on his hand. "need help with that? first aid is in my skill set, i can keep that from getting worse." she glanced at the truck, then back to the man, studying him for a moment. there was something almost familiar about him, like she’d seen that guarded look somewhere before. but she didn’t know him. not yet, anyway. the boy, tall for his age but still looking young, was quiet, but there was a protective edge to his gaze as he looked up at the man. it made mira pause, wondering what their story was. “this place isn't exactly easy on newcomers," she said, shrugging slightly. "but if you want a hot coffee or some advice that doesn’t come with a price tag, i’m your girl. can’t promise much else." her tone was lighter now, like she was offering something small but real.

Following his son into the shop, he took a look around, letting Tali free roam for a bit. Crossing his arms under his chest Lainn started over toward an interesting side not sure what he would find anything of worth in the whole place.

Now that Lainn was getting a better look as he closed in on the items that had caught his interest, he was certain there was nothing of worth. Reaching out for one random item, he paused when a voice interrupted him. Glancing over at the stranger when they brought up fighting for a pair of pants. He glanced away, considering for a moment, how that would go.

Sizing them up, he grabbed the pants and ripped them away from the other's grasp, holding them up to look at them more properly, “Too slow.” As the other started to explain themself to him, he narrowed his eyes on them, tilting his head, “Okay?” Great, a pacifist who couldn't decide to be one or not. Just what Lainn figured he always needed in his life.

Lainn bites on his lips, before making a small popping noise and leaning in a little bit toward the other, “I'm also a pacifist. But sometimes, some people need punched right in the jaw. The human shut off button.” Pulling away a little, he holds the pants out for the other to try to grab if they'd wanted to, before pulling it out of reach again, “Okay. Maybe. I'm not a pacifist. I'm actually an escalator of conflict. Since we are exposing.” He turned away leafing through more of these drab clothes, muttering under his breath, “I don't think you are a pacifist, either.” Probably because he suspected that most of the town was in a violent cult.

where: second chance thrift to: open

—

being stuck in this town shaped prison put a limit on the amount of hobbies mason could half-heartedly start and stop when he got bored. but where there's a will there's a way, and he was in desperate need of some kind of distraction. ever since the storm there was a certain unease that had seeped into his skin, even more prevalent than it had been before. it was growing increasingly harder to sit still.

so he decided to go thrift shopping. there was a feeling of normalcy that came with sifting through racks of second hand clothing, even if the options were considerably slimmer than he was used to.

there was already a vague idea bouncing around in his head of how he'd DIY whatever he could salvage into something he wasn't embarrassed to be seen wearing in public. but the hunt was proving harder than he'd thought. cold and slightly shaky hands came up to rest on a hanger, his gaze raked over the item when he noticed the other person in his peripheral vision. " i'm willing to fight over these pants, " he was joking, mostly. " i'm usually a pacifist but desperate times and what not. "

Plant native plants, y’all!

With: Anyone Location: Near Fuel Stop Gas When: Early morning.

Opening the door to his house, he glanced around, taking stock of the area around the small little town. It wasn't too different from his own hometown. Smaller, sure. But, going by what he was told on the first day he arrived, despite his continued skepticism. He was sure if this were a normal town run by normal people, it would have been nice to spend on outdoor retreats. If you enjoyed a swampy environment. It was early. He couldn't really sleep in this strange place. Which was really interrupting his usual sleep routine. As Tali trailed behind him, he closed the door behind his son and began walking beside the other toward the more active part of the town.

Lifting his right hand up, he hissed under his breath, feeling the sting in his palm from his nails the night before. Tali looked over to Lainn and revealed what had happened, “Really? Wasn't too scary, was it?” Tali shook his head and said he had only been worried Lainn would hurt himself. Lainn turned toward the moving truck and opened up the back, “You think we packed the first aid kit near the front or the back?” Staring into the back of the truck, he frowned, not looking forward to going through items in it just to find anything like that. Not that it really mattered at all anyway, given their current situation. It couldn't all sit in there, anyway.

He did get told this before, in a way. Certainly, something was wrong with the town, Lainn narrowed his eyes. He couldn't really figure out what exactly this meant, in all. But, he was willing to play this little game for now. Having seen it, they looped back around to the town. In a way, he couldn't find it possible. But yet, had happened regardless, “Right. An infection would weaken the mind to, whatever, this is.” He waved his left hand, gesturing around them. Tali looked over at Lainn before looking back at the woman, grabbing onto the strips of his backpack, and turning his head to look around.

As Mira continued explaining the place, Lainn nodded, “Teeth aren't so bad, I'd guess.” He muttered in reply. Not sure that he was too scared of the place. Even with these 'things' that came out at night. There had to be something at the root of all of this. Being scared to find out what wasn't going to get them out of here. Whatever 'here' even was. Lainn continued, “What's the tea and juice situation like here?” Came the question, a quirk of an eyebrow momentarily along with it before he also looked around, as if he might see something to hint toward an answer to his question, also.

“I'll consider it.” He lied, not thinking he'd suddenly shift to drinking coffee. Now, if there was alcohol around, he wouldn't reject that. Lainn nodded as she had given her name, then asked for their own, “New guy, really? Do I not have any characteristic outside of that?” He asked with a sarcastic tone. Tali grinned at Mira for a moment, clearly amused, before his attention was off to the other's roaming about the town. Lainn went on, “You can call me Lainn, and my son is Tali. He's usually more talkative.” Though not around strangers, he supposed. Which he wasn't going to press about, of course. Lainn and Tali followed behind Mira toward the diner.

“It's nice of you, anyway,” Lainn commented as he moved to follow her inside, letting Tali go before him. Lainn took a moment to look around, then started, “So, what kind of first aid training do you have?”

mira tilted her head slightly as the man spoke, her dark eyes scanning his face. he looked tired — not just the kind that sleep could fix, but the kind that came from being stretched too thin for too long. she knew that look; she’d worn it herself too many times. his response, dry and a little guarded, made her smirk faintly. “yeah, infection’s a real buzzkill,” she said, nodding toward his hand. “especially in a place like this. trust me, you don’t want to give this town any more reasons to mess with you.” she shifted her weight, glancing at the boy. he was quiet, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, like he was taking in everything without saying much. she didn’t miss the way he hovered just enough to keep close to the man’s side, a quiet sort of loyalty that tugged at something in her chest. mira didn’t have anyone like that anymore, but seeing it in others always made her pause. “this place might look like a small town with a swampy makeover, but it’s got teeth,” she said, her voice quieter now, like she was letting him in on a secret. “you’ll figure that out soon enough.” his agreement to her offer surprised her a little. most people here seemed to keep their walls high, especially newcomers. understandably. she raised an eyebrow as he locked up the truck and gestured for her to lead the way. “all right, mr. not-a-coffee-drinker,” she said, her tone lighter now as she turned on her heel. “but if you change your mind, i make a mean cup of diner sludge. best in town — mostly because it’s the only coffee in town.” she walked a few paces ahead before glancing back to make sure they were following. “name’s mira, by the way. i’d say welcome, but..” she shoved her hands deeper into her jacket pockets, her gaze flicking between him and the kid. “what about you two? got names, or should i keep calling you ‘new guy’ and ‘quiet kid’?” she wasn’t sure why she felt the need to reach out, but something about them made her want to stick around a little longer. maybe it was the way the man’s shoulders seemed weighed down, or the boy’s silent strength. or maybe it was just that in this strange, unsettling place, she couldn’t help but want to offer what little comfort or help she could. “don’t worry,” she added as they neared the diner. “i’ll give you the crash course on surviving this place. and if nothing else, at least you’ll have a decent bandage job to show for it.”

Glancing over at the boxes as Charlie had, he wondered what the other might think upon learning what all he had in this truck. Lainn decided it was better not to say too much about it. How much could these strangers really do, anyway? As she spoke about making it through the night, he nodded, “Well, unless you know something I don't. I'm thinking I made it through the night.” He looked down at himself, bringing his hands to pat along his body, as if to make sure it was there, “All here.” He sighed, relieved, sarcastically. As she gave a name, he returned her smile, “Hey Charlie, nice to meet you, I'm Lainn.” Then he glanced back to the back of the truck, “Just looking for something-” Pausing, he wondered how much he could say here, given what the town looked to be like, and how they spoke the day before, he narrowed his eyes a bit. He had to approach this strange situation calmly and rationally. That was the best way to get through what he was experiencing, for now. Tali continued to help Lainn. Who had returned his attention to Charlie again, “Maybe you could help me understand this place a little more?” Lainn offered, not sure whether he wanted a stranger in the truck, which he was going to move closer to the house when he got the chance.

charlie glanced inside the truck, spotting all the boxes. if there was one good thing to come from this, at least these two would have all of their belongings. though, she had a feeling a lot of it might go into the communal stock. even outside of colony house, this place had a 'what's yours is mine' way of living since everything was so scares. she wondered how these two would take that once they learned the truth. but she wasn't going to be the one to tell them right now. "so you made it through the night, that's good," she says with a smile. "i'm charlie," she introduces herself. "do you need some help looking for something?" she didn't mind helping and this guy seemed nice enough. he wasn't yelling at her like most of the newcomers she's seen since it was her as the newcomer.

Trying to mind his own business, he was lost in his own thoughts, half listening to Tali talk to a toy dinosaur he had from a batch of his own toys from the back of the truck. Lainn yawned a bit, rubbing an eye as he tried waking up to deal with this…whatever, moment in his life. He suddenly blinked out of his state, realizing, he had no idea what he had even come in here for. Turning his head and he hears a voice speak up, outside, his Tali yapping off excitedly about dinosaurs. Finding the source of the notable accented voice, he locked his gaze on the person sitting in a corner, picking through a book just a couple of feet from them.

“I don't think even the most skilled coffee maker in this place could ever fix whatever is going on over there.” He gestured half-heartedly toward the coffee machine. Especially if the water may have been tampered with, which was his suspicion of what was going on with the people in this town. Again, he had to ask himself why on earth he had even come to wander in this place. He wasn't even looking for coffee. Lainn's gaze moved from the stranger's face to the book they had. Trying to see from where he was standing if he recognized it.

But the person continued and he listened. There was little else he had going on for him at that moment. But it really didn't culminate too much in the end, for him. Nodding his head, he wondered who was in charge of making moonshine around here. Or the coffee, even. Were they the same people? “What's wrong with it, anyway?” Lainn paused pointing toward their cup of coffee.

The late afternoon sun filtered through the grimy windows of the town diner, casting long streaks of light across the cracked vinyl booths. Sullivan sat at the corner table, a half-empty cup of lukewarm coffee in front of them, the faint trace of a smirk tugging at their lips. One hand lazily flipped through a tattered book they’d snagged from the community bookshelf, the other tapping a restless rhythm on the table. "Y’know," they said aloud to no one in particular, their Southern drawl dripping with amusement, "for a place so hellbent on keeping people alive, you’d think someone would’ve figured out how to make a decent cup of coffee by now." Their eyes flicked up, scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and mischief, as if waiting for someone to take the bait. Sullivan leaned back in the chair, balancing it precariously on two legs, the grin on their face daring anyone to join them—or argue with them. "Either way," they added with a shrug, "it’s still better than moonshine that tastes like it’s been filtered through an old boot. Guess you pick your poison."