Tanner Buchanan Via Instagram.

RAFAEL SILVA at the Epic Cons Chicago 2 convention - September 15, 2024

where: cemetery

when: the days after the storm

whom: @hollismackenzie

Lucas shuffles among the headstones, passing names he's become familiar with but rarely think about. Any he knew were missed but free, and any he didn't know hang heavy but not unbearably so.

Only one gets any reaction out of him these days and it's an empty grave. They didn't even dig a hole. No body left so no point. Just the simple carved stone with the name that might always bring him to tears:

Carlos de Azevedo Miranda

Brother. Protector.

Lucas carries the bouquet of marigolds that Eddy so kindly makes for him. It's small but bright and one thing he can do to honor his brother still.

The keeper is standing near the headstone, so Lucas slows to a stop, watching a waiting so he doesn't interrupt the man's work.

Adrien shakes his head with laughter. He'd had some drinks earlier, but he could've sworn he wasn't that drunk.

"I don't know, but I'll still accept the help. And same to you, ya? I can totally talk you up to some pretty girl. Or big buff girl. Whatever your preference is."

He giggles.

" OH, DAMN ." cherry nods with sympathy at his sigh, moving to pat him on the shoulder in a way that's at least intended to be comforting . it's only half awkward with her tipsiness . " well, maybe your guy will get stuck here tomorrow ? love works in mysterious ways ." cherry's expression twists as he continue, her brows furrowing . " what ? no, i'm not here, i'm at the motel . what gave you that idea ?" cherry's head tilts in her confusion even as she reaches behind her for her cup of jungle juice to waggle her brows mischievously . " i could still do the wing woman thing though ."

"I can definitely handle that," Lucas replies with a snicker.

He looks up at Ana, smirk softening to a smile.

"And I appreciate you. Lesbian drama and all, because I know you've got my back too."

Anastasia smirks back, crossing her arms and giving Lucas a playful nudge. "Exactly. I expect a perfect balance of polite intimidation and subtle protectiveness. Think you can handle that?”

She raises an eyebrow, teasing. "I need you to be just threatening enough to keep her on her toes but not so much that she thinks she’s about to get ambushed every time she looks at you." With a laugh, she adds, “But really, you’ve always had my back and I appreciate you."

Hey now those (your big brown eyes) are some dangerous weapons…

(insp.)

@hcartcorruptcd

Lucas barges into Anastasia's office and slams down the now broken phone on her desk.

"I'm going to hunt every single one of those monsters down and beat them into jam with my bare hands."

He clenches his jaw and paces around the office. He's trying not to cry even though he can feel the sting of tears in his eyes.

"Those motherfuckers," he mutters. "Sadistic motherfuckers."

@patroclusblossom (lucas)

You're sitting in the sheriff's station like you do most days, you sure do take your job seriously. It feels like any other day, just make it through and survive, that's what you've been doing for seven years now. Only something is different today; the phone rings. It's been sitting on the desk since before you came here but has never once rang, yet today it is. Do you answer it? Are you hearing things and just hoping that it would finally ring and give some sign of an outside world? If you answer the phone, you hear a voice you thought you would never hear again. "Hey Lu," the voice that sounds suspiciously like your brother says. But your brother has been dead for seven years, it was impossible. Yet it sounds just like him. "Miss me?" He asks through the phone. "You're doing a good job of watching everyone, making sure they're safe. Why couldn't you do that for me? Why couldn't you protect me?" Then the line goes silent. No matter how hard you try, you can't make the voice come back. What just happened? Was that really your brother? Or are you finally starting to lose it?

Lucas bites back a laugh. He knows Marama wouldn't know what Target is, but it's still funny to hear it.

"Good to know. I'll tell them to meet you at the cemetery. Let's hope we get really lucky. Can I trust you to make sure none of my guys swipe anything for themselves?"

"i don't think it works like that," she says but honestly, she couldn't be sure. maybe ignoring pain is his way of healing. people were strange. "thanks, i appreciate that," she says with a nod. "that would be helpful. i think some of the cars has stuff we could really use around here. someone must have just come from the store. no food but there's bags with those red circles on them. looks like maybe clothes or towels. maybe there's something else in there but i didn't have time to check it out before coming back yesterday."

Lucas watches her intently, listening to her musings. Thoughts he's learning a lot of new people normally share.

He considers his next words, wondering what might offer some temporary solace.

"I know it sounds crazy, but being in this town, I've never felt more free in my life. I don't need to pretend I'm not gay to people who know but are uncomfortable by it. I don't need to worry that people i care about might suddenly disappear. All of our odds are 50/50, and if it happens, then I'll be sad. But right now, there's no reason to be."

He watches her face as he talks, seeing if what he's saying is helping or hurting.

'Catie,' she says, brushing hair out of her face as she sizes him up. 'I’ve been here two days. Everyone’s telling me to relax or stay inside like that’s going to help anything. And now we’re just throwing a party?” She scoffs, looking away for a moment, then back at Adrien, her voice dipping into more bewilderment. 'It’s like everyone’s just…Fucking hell. This is where we’re all supposed to be now.'

She leans back, feeling the wall’s cold surface steady her, her shoulders slumping as she keeps her eyes on him. 'But you—' she pauses, trying to figure him out. 'Feels like you’ve already adjusted more in a few days than I could in a lifetime. You’re really just…okay with this?'

Adrien was chugging down some water when he'd stepped up next to the guy. Adrien's seen a lot of new faces, but even then, this guy looks even newer than himself.

"As far as I know," he replies. "Though, to be honest, I haven't really tried to leave."

He rubs the back of his neck. It's not that he wants to be trapped in town. It's more that even with the flesh eating monsters outside, he doesn't feel the urgent need to get out of town.

location: colony house

This was Gabriel's first full day in this town which happened to fall on Halloween. He had put bits and pieces together of where he was and it was no where close to New York City where he was trying to go. Someone also filled him in that it's impossible to try to leave so he was stuck. The house was having a big party to celebrate the holiday and even though he wasn't in the mood to dance yet, he stood by the side having a drink. ''Was the one who told me when I got here last night right..that there's really no way out of here? Not even a bus?