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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 2, 2016 22:54:32 GMT -5
wait really quick where is Sinopa?]
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Post by Tals on Sept 2, 2016 23:17:26 GMT -5
Sinopa was moved to inside the teepee to recover and keep warm))
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 2, 2016 23:18:02 GMT -5
okay. ill get a response up]
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 2, 2016 23:33:39 GMT -5
Sure -- It was darker- to say the least that the sun was now setting on the horizon as it gently kissed the land. Borya had made a warm fire to keep bugs away, and to keep the teepee warm as he closed the flap from it getting any cooler. He was lying at the end of the bed, Sinopa having been moved so she was warm and comfortable inside the teepee. His evergreen eyes were staring into the fire as he laid in silence, still shirtless mind you, and giving a small yawn. Alyona was taking a sore nap beside Ezri, as the female herself was wounded. The large russian soon laid there on his back, yawning quietly as the warm amber light flicked soft shadows over them and its smoke flying out of the top. Borya was exhausted, and his large palms gently rubbed his eyes as he finally sighed to himself. Maybe taking care of Ezri would awaken his fatherly side again. He needed to use it more often SinopaThe first thing Sinopa noticed when she woke up was the warm of a fire. Her eyes opened and she noticed she was inside of something with fur and her daughter. Sitting up, her dark blue eyes took in the two who had helped them before, the girl asleep and Borya still awake. Ezri was still fast asleep which she was not surprised by since her daughter had a way of sleeping for long periods of time. Running her fingers through her hair, Sinopa looked at Ezri huddled up next to the woman who had taken care of her. Both were asleep and she held back the urge to touch her daughter out of fear of disturbing her. At the sound of a yawn, Sinopa glanced at Borya. "You seem to handle Ezri rather well," she whispered softly. She moved carefully into a more comfortably position, keeping an eye on Borya and on her daughter. "Ezri will need someone if I'm gone. I thought it would be her father but he's gone. I'm not strong enough to survive this world but I have for Ezri. She's the most important thing in the world for me and I want to see her survive this place."
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Post by Tals on Sept 3, 2016 11:05:49 GMT -5
Borya immediately turned his eyes over to Sinopa, shifting his body and now sitting properly upright. He gave a soft but kind hearted smile to her. "Thank you..." He murmured softly. Listening, he opted to blink slowly at the fire, giving a soft but sad frown. "I am... Sorry to hearing that. I would be... Honored to care for your child in his place," he stated kindly then, making a small glance to Alyona and Ezri as they slept and cuddled.
Turning, he picked up some food that was left for Sinopa, and offered it to her. "You needing strength. Ezri will need her mother more than i can offer. I am only father figure... I have raised my sister," he stated softly in explanation, his eyes turning from the offered piece to her then. He was serious, and he was dead set on letting this woman survive. Borya was still trying to get used to the fact that he might be acting like a father all over again. It was weird, and almost sudden like with his sister, but he managed then, so he will manage now.
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 3, 2016 22:34:16 GMT -5
Sinopa looked at Ezri and reached out to gently run her thumb over her forehead. The gesture was tender and full of love but inside Sinopa was at war with herself. She felt like this whole life was pointless now that Nikolai was gone and yet she wanted to keep going for Ezri. Her eyes flickered to Borya and listened to his words carefully. She didn't want Ezri growing up thinking a man who wasn't her father was but at the same time she needed a protector, something Sinopa wasn't strong enough to be.
Taking the food offered, Sinopa slowly ate in order to savor it. She felt bad eating their food but at the same time she was starving. Sinopa froze when he mentioned keeping her alive and her heart seemed to as well. Her face grew warm and she tore her gaze away to look at the fire. "I'm weak. She doesn't need me." Sinopa looked at her daughter sleeping peacefully as she mulled over her next words. "I got diagnosed with severe depression shortly before the bombs fell. I've been trying to keep it together but I just don't see the point in going on anymore. Back when Nikolai was still with us, he caught me hurting myself and he would always make me feel better. Now I have no one and at some point Ezri will notice the cuts on my arms and I don't want her to see-" Sinopa trailed off as she began to cry, trying to muffle the sobs with her jacket sleeve. Her hand removed itself from her daughter as she put both hands to her mouth to keep the volume down.
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Post by Tals on Sept 4, 2016 12:06:14 GMT -5
Borya watched her, a frown lengthening across his face as he listened. How untrue that was; she survived long in the wild with Ezri, even depression didnt hold her back from keeping her child safe. His long and strong arms enveloped her body, his arms holding her to his frame as his head lowered onto hers. His green orbs closed, lips pursing as he held her to his warm frame.
"My father thought the same," he told her softly as he gently rocked her. "He lost our mother when my Sister was born... My mother was his world... And when he lost her everything collapsed. He worked times that he wouldnt see me and my sister... He even avoided us on purpose when we didnt have school and he would have a day off," his eyes opened to stare into the fire. He swallowed a thick lump, his fingers gently petting her hair. "When i was older... A few months before he passed, i confronted him... He worked too hard to support us and yet i felt like a father to Alyona.." He blinked then, gently holding her at arm's length and smearing her tears away. "I found he was coping. He did- he was scared. Scared like you that he wasnt strong enough to face another day. But he was strong," he told her softly, giving a gentle smile.
"Like you are strong. We might not live in our old lives with school and work, but we have each other. And you telling me you are not strong enough to keeping Ezri safe? That... That is big lie," Borya told her softly as his calloused thumb pad brushed away another stray tear. "Devoss says he remembers you from hospital. He complimented you on your bravery and smarts. That... Is a big compliment."
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 4, 2016 14:31:33 GMT -5
When the strong arms wrapped around Sinopa, the raven haired woman wrapped her own slender arms around Borya and buried her face against him. Her tears flowed with more strength but not just because of what she had been crying about before but because it had been forever since she had been held like this. It was refreshing and saddening at the same time. When she was held, it was as if someone was holding her together as her broken self began to repair and put itself together again.
When Borya began his story, Sinopa felt herself begin to stop crying so she could listen better. The rocking helped as well but it was his soft voice that helped to calm her down. It was nice when someone who looked tough could be soft. His story seemed to hit home with her. Taking care of Ezri was her way of coping. It made things seem to stop when she only thought of her daughter but as soon as that stopped she remembered the things that pained her. Her arms reminded her of those memories with each red or white line that marred her pale skin.
When Borya mentioned the hospital, Sinopa couldn't help but be confused. Then she remembered the time she spent separated from Nikolai and how she was there to see a doctor with Ezri when everything happened. "I was just trying to survive to meet up with Nikolai again. It wasn't anything." She pushed away from him and looked at Ezri as she slept. Her sleeve shifted and she visibly winced at the feeling of it against fresh cuts. She wondered if Borya had seen, silently hoping he didn't.
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Post by Tals on Sept 5, 2016 21:30:48 GMT -5
Borya watched her when she pulled away. He had seen her scars and new cuts, and even his green eys narrowed when she had nervously pulled the jacket down. "You know you can die from that," he murmured as he turned his eyes back to the fire. "Its not worth dying over- the negative thoughts. Theres alot of beauty to ignore," he rumbled then. It seemed he had seen others do it- perhaps even himself.
"It showd the world you can't look past the one tiny strong of doubt and fear. And if you show your daughter that, then she begins to have doubt and fear herself," Borya explained. His hand instinctively rubbed his chin as he remembered what he did to himself- how he saw Alyona crying and misunderstanding the whole situation. "It might even make her believe shes not wanted or that you dont like her or want to care for her anymore."
His lips pursed, his large palm taking his own jacket and pulling it over his frame. The wool seemed to give his pale skin a cool and milky hue, while his hair turned more silver. His plaid shirt was wrapped around Sinopa's shoulders, and his jaw was clenched. "Its not something you want to see personally." He had spared a small glance in Alyona's direction, his dark gaze immediately turning away
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Post by paradox on Sept 6, 2016 0:22:27 GMT -5
{ insert convenient time skip here. A few weeks at most probably }
The drizzly weather persisted; periodic but fleeting bursts of light rain punctuating the day and occasionally, the night. It didn’t take long for a mugginess in the air to become sustained by damp grass and the earthy smell of freshly fallen rain now a common one. ‘It must be August…’ Arlo would think to himself, hopeful that he was more or less on the cusp of grasping ahold of where in the year they stood in. All the months and days seem to just blur into one another, an endless cycle of noble survival for others but begrudging endurance for him. There was a weight on his shoulders, straining his back and threatening to snap his spine. He had one foot firmly planted in sacrificing his own wishes and very being for the good of the group and the other on the side of sheer selfishness where Ghost was allowed to live. Two starkly opposing sides that couldn’t coexist and yet Arlo has yet to “pick a side” or at the very least, find a level ground between the differentiating circles. Until a decisive point could be reached, then Arlo was content to remain wedged between borders.
This wet season, he was alone in more ways than one. He felt alienated from the very group he sought to lead and protect (It felt eerily familiar but he had made it a pointed decision not to explore that feeling) but he remained steel-clad as ever, hiding away the fact that he was coming apart at the seams. Then, Rowan ceased seeking comfort in his presence, something Arlo wouldn’t have thought he’d miss because he never had the inkling that he would ever lose it. It started when the hunter stopped falling asleep beside him at night, which left Arlo with a strangely perturbed, hollow sensation in his gut. It felt like he traded out one new companion for an old one; Rowan Delgado for Gabriel Vaquero (Arlo couldn’t bring himself to keep adding his own last name to Gabe’s, even if Ghost did). Arlo told himself that Rowan would come around eventually, that this sudden separation was only temporary but he couldn’t deny that it was only wishful thinking but it was far more comforting than thinking of their future. Arlo was afraid of facing Riley, afraid of facing Agnes and everyone else he had used to confide in.
The repairs of the damage caused by that dreadful storm a handful of weeks ago was continuously postponed with a problem spouting every few days but Arlo had worked diligently on the upkeeps slowly but surely. It kept him busy, kept his mind from wandering to places he didn’t want it to go and the result was an effective one, which was a far more preferable and productive coping mechanism than wallowing in self-pity like he was so tempted to do. But once the rainy season has passed, the door will open to winter and he could already feel the tendrils of it creeping from under the floorboards. The air would become frosty during the night to the point where he could see his breath form in the air and his first immediate thought was the inevitably famine this winter could bring. Right now, it didn’t matter whether Rowan was harboring resentment to a man that he had once devoted his life to, there was still obligation to uphold their collective survival and he would need those hunting skills of his if they were to make ends meet.
“Think you can goad Rowan into fixing up a hunting trip?” Arlo asked Jamal once he had found the man. “Or at least, an attempt at one. I’m not sure how much non-mutated wildlife is still around. That is, if their instincts are intact enough to continue following hibernation or migration or whatever,” He shook his head, slightly at his own inexperience towards this sort of thing. Their livelihood could very well rely on this sort of intellect and here he was, alienated from one of the few who actually had experience in this field. “We aren’t…exactly on the best of terms, I guess you could say. But survival comes foremost and I need to ensure we’re set for winter.”
--
Ghost was an outsider amongst this group, a social status he was used to back in the old days which made the current days easier to handle. Most of the time, he kept where he could see Arlo, afraid that if he let the other man out of his sight that he’d might lose him to the world a second time. Any bitter resentment sent his way from everything and everyone else paled under the light that the simple presence Arlo brought. He could care less of the opinions thought of him because right now, he was content where he was if it meant existing in the same capacity as Arlo. But he’d be far happier if it were just the two of them. Whether he was wanted or not didn’t matter, Ghost was here and had no plans on leaving any time soon. But he didn’t plan on being idle either. He would play a part where he could, lend a helping hand where he saw fit but it was a matter of whether anyone would be willing to accept it. As of now, Ghost was taking an inventory of the stashed supplies in one of the barns that remained unscathed from the last storm.
A few boxes of food hadn’t been salvageable, which had created a rather sizeable dent in the food supply. He knew Arlo was planning on setting up a “hunting trip” of sorts but who knew how that will turn out. Ghost felt he had a pretty good grasp on the outcome, however and none if it was flawed by optimism. It was always best to prepare for the worst, better safe than sorry and all that. In one of the quieter, slower moments, he had been shown by Arlo where the nearest lake was. (“Be honest with me, Arlo. Did you ever miss me?” A long pause had ensued as the questioned man stared vacantly across the crystalline surface of the water. “I missed Gabriel. Still do.”) Fishing could be a viable option should it come to it, won’t it? Wildlife would reduce to a scarce rate over the winter but not an impossible feat. He had no doubt that the frost would strangle the crops, however. If worse comes to worst, a venture further past the nearest town could also prove fruitful. That town that was only a minutes’ way away wouldn’t provide supplies forever and it’ll soon be picked clean. Surely there should be another community relatively nearby, perhaps a day or so away but it should be worth the effort.
His train of thought was interrupted by the pitter patter of light rain on the barn’s roof overhead. At least, it would provide nourishment for the fields before the winter rolled in and killed the same crops. Ghost tried not to think about how days like these had once been spent lazing around bed with Arlo, having convinced him to take a break from an uninterrupted line of labor and boxing in favor of napping together in cocoons of quilts and heavy blankets. He could still see Arlo – the old Arlo, whose face was unmarred by grime and blood, eyes still feathery light and not paled or heavy from exhaustion and stress, looking like his actual age and not several years older as he did now. A sigh of annoyance escaping him, Ghost forced his mind back into gear and returned to looking over supplies and taking account on what was had and what wasn’t.
--
Monsoon season was a carefully cherished period of the year for Quiet, so much so that he would greet it with simultaneous childlike excitement and an almost reverent embrace. The world was replenishing itself, watering the flora and vegetation to fuel the greenery enough to grow across and around the city buildings and paved streets, retaking what had first belonged to mother nature. Quiet liked to view as rejuvenation for the living, as well, like a religious flood washing away the depravity to start anew, the rainy weather a gateway to a new beginning. He hoped that the world was forgiving enough to include someone as stained as he in cleansing but part of him felt like certain parts of his soul would always be marked.
Quiet kept his distance from the group, per request of their leader. Perhaps not a tangible, verbalized request but he had enough intuition to understand that the rest of them would sleep better at night knowing that the “silent sharpshooter” or “mute sniper” was at a safe distance. He didn’t mind, not a smidge, welcomed whatever circumstance set in place if it meant that he was more or less welcomed into the camp. After a minimal trust had been established (not the amount he would have preferred, but enough to satisfy his nerves and the nerves of others) Quiet had been permitted his sniper rifle back, the relief he had felt when placed back into his possession a nearly dizzying one. If words were allowed on his tongue, he would have sworn to only use it as a weapon of defense for the group and not one against them. But like everything else, he displayed this sentiment through action, namely by standing an unending post and snuffing out any danger or threat of danger as soon as it walked into his vision. Today, however, Quiet had finally broken his vigilant watch the moment a steady drizzle of rain settled over the camp. Call it a soft spot but his unwavering vigilance snapped within an instant as he relaxed his muscles and gazed up at the cloudy, gray toned sky with arms outstretched to welcome the rain.
It was only minutes into the drizzle before he had bounded off the roof of the farmhouse in the uneven ground where small trenches of rainwater had gathered. Sniper rifle dangling from the strap around his shoulders, Quiet held no shame in playing in the rain, splashing and kicking his boots into the water, jumping from puddle to puddle with pure, unadulterated bliss. It was easy to forget about the world around him this way, easy to put aside his usual guilt and misgivings to cherish this moment since he wasn’t sure whether anything like this would ever exist again. There’ll be more rain, certainly, but Quiet isn’t sure whether he’d have the time to appreciate it or if he’ll even survive long enough to witness it again. For now, he wanted to bask in this moment, no matter how short-lived it might be, playing in the rain like the world hadn’t ended.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 9:14:03 GMT -5
sorry for poof :V been pretty crazy busy w/ school! small timeskip can affect some people but if you want to continue a scene and make that the current present we can bend the rules of physics a lil lol ))
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 6, 2016 12:13:17 GMT -5
ah does this skip affect my post?]
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Post by Tals on Sept 6, 2016 20:18:05 GMT -5
I'm sure we could time skip after maybe Sinopa says anything? And then Sinopa and Ezri get better? That's probably a good idea instead of keeping them cooped up all the time
__
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 6, 2016 20:29:28 GMT -5
I'm not sure. want to just do the skip or wait for feedback on if the skip is happening or not?]
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Post by Tals on Sept 6, 2016 20:38:50 GMT -5
sorry for poof :V been pretty crazy busy w/ school! small timeskip can affect some people but if you want to continue a scene and make that the current present we can bend the rules of physics a lil lol )) well this is what the creator said Ghost; we could time skip; plus it would be best if we did so youre not stuck on sick characters
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 6, 2016 20:47:32 GMT -5
okay. I have no idea what to respond with so do you wanna just go ahead with the skip?]
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Post by Tals on Sept 6, 2016 21:14:58 GMT -5
yeah sure
---
Borya to say the least was already scavenging for extra clothing Ezri and Sinopa could wear. In fact he was dressing the small girl in a large coat and gently zippering it up as his green eyes were focused on trying to zipper it up. His large palms were rough and dirtied, as well as his skin, and his ears were brushing over the soft wool that kept his neck warm. Once finishing her jacket, he stood upright, and reached forward to gently grasp her tiny hand and out of the teepee. He blinked slowly, giving a quiet yawn to the world and catching a very faint glimpse of his breath. He didn't say anything, except make a face at it, and led her to find a way to entertain the small child. He opted to teaching her how to gather up some twigs, a week ago, and he felt it had gone well. So now he supposed she could help in carrying maybe some small items, like bullets and straps and other things.
He kicked at the grassy spot, plopping down and desiring himself to watch the barn and the farm. He did stick around, mostly for Ezri's sake, and opted to keeping a small distance from Ghost. However the man would sometimes go in to check if Arlo was okay before the man was off to his own way. Often times entertaining Ezri was Devoss while the Russian man would busy himself in making sure Sinopa was getting better. Which he could only hope it to be so. Giving a quiet sigh, Borya brushed Ezri's hair from her face and gave a small smile. "You fully wake now?" he asked curiously then as he gently brushed her hair from her face and chuckled lightly. "You still looking tired however." He mused then.
He was like a big and old dog, his eyes lazily blinking and head turning to watch as Alyona trudged her way through the rain that sprinkled down and towards any place she could really find herself to help with. The female was smiling, as though happy they were staying and even gave a happy little shout of greeting to someone. Borya let his chin rest on Ezri's shoulder in a way that wasn't gonna squish her, and his eyes closed as he opted to listen to her soft breathing.
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Post by Tals on Sept 6, 2016 21:25:36 GMT -5
Alyona
Alyona looked somewhat amused as she made her morning rounds from the teepee, to her spot where she opted to stare at the world around her, pluck at the grass, and then to the home. Her long hair had been cut from the mid-length it so proudly waved, as it had snagged on the wild a week ago while escaping from a mouse she had thought to be bigger than that of its mutated ancestor. It was more ear length, and held back by a small ribbon. Her fingers curled lightly into the strap she had, and even shifted her weapon slightly when the sight of Quiet enjoying himself in the rain grasped her attention.
Her eyes were wide and round, giving him a big smile as she watched and gave a soft, "Morning Quiet! Enjoying the rain I see?" she had mused then, head tilting and stray bangs gently framing her face in the process. Her stance was lax as it could be, and finding that she would attempt to talk to him was something she never really had done before. All she knew was that Quiet was well, quiet and that he never really spoke. So she opted to quietly step onto the porch and smile from the dry spot she was in and watched the splotches of mud fly through the air and pitter patter across the ground and make indents on the other patches of sinking ground. However, it seemed her short lived peace was quickly disrupted by the reckless man that glimmered with his sparkling mischievous grin and the way he often purposely chose to follow whatever directions.
Devoss stood beside Alyona, grinning at Quiet in a small amusement to him and seemed to agree with what the man had in mind. "Hey, don't just stand here- it'll be awhile before we even see a very early sun rise and late sun set. Its winter baby!" he cheered as he vaulted over the railing and splashed in his own puddle, purposely getting Alyona in the process. "Hey! That's not cool Devoss- I don't want to get sick!" the female squeaked out in surprise as she immediately reeled away from him and brought her hands up to hide the mud from her face. Laughter only answered, the female pouting then as she reached over and konked Devoss on the head and let him sprawl over the mud in a small look of satisfaction. Looking at Quiet, she gave a friendly but kind smile and said, "Enjoy yourself~ Its okay to relax once in awhile. You work hard."
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Post by нσωℓ on Sept 8, 2016 8:02:17 GMT -5
Hey I'm alive, I'll make a post later today! Paradox has permission to yell at me if I don't!))
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Post by нσωℓ on Sept 8, 2016 17:52:35 GMT -5
Riley pressed her lips together into a fine line, watching Arlo from a distance. Things had changed; he didn't speak to her as much anymore and Ghost always lingered around him. Ghost's very presence threatened her, for he was always inching closer to Arlo when she was nearby it seemed. Regardless Riley wasn't put off by it. She wanted Arlo to feel like he could talk to her. She missed his company, her favorite part of the day was when she got the chance to ask about his day. Of course, she rarely got the chance to anymore. Riley made up her mind she would bridge the gap between them, though as for how she referred to Shelley for help. Shelley had stuck around, having never found her husband but unable to move on without him. She was pretty good at giving advice, and had even helped Riley get a gift together for Arlo. For that, Riley was grateful. Carefully he approached him once he was seemingly free enough for a small moment. "Arlo." The pink haired woman's voice was meek and soft, but there was a certain pressure on it. "How are you doing? Are you getting enough sleep?" "I have something for you that might help with the stress. Here, take it." They pushed a package his way, a rather hastily wrapped one, but a package nonetheless. It was wrapped in old, faded newspapers she had managed to scrounge up and tie with a bit of string. Inside was a blank book, one Shelley had kept with the intent of using as a journal, but happily turned over to Riley in exchange for super glue to help fix her prosthetic. "It'll be good for you, when you feel like you can't talk to anyone or can't bring yourself to rely on anyone else." "Are you going out again? Should I pack a med kit for you? Maybe lunch? Whatever I can do for you, Schatz."
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Post by нσωℓ on Sept 11, 2016 9:18:48 GMT -5
Heaving panting breaths filled the air as punches were thrown between Viv and Rowan. Viv dodged rather nimbly, only getting hit by one throw out of every few. "You're getting faster, good." The praise trickled from Viv's lips as easily as molasses mixed with honey. It happened well enough. "Lead your punches with your eyes, visualize the impact before it hits, come on, do it faster." The sound of her hands catching his fists filled the air. A punch went over her shoulder and the turk snatched him by the arm. "Don't aim high! That gives them the opportunity to do this-!" She locked his arm and yanked him over her shoulders, but instead of throwing him on the ground she carefully set him down. "Use that same technique on people taller than you to flip them, try it on me, gravity does most of the work."
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Post by qυeeɴ oғ ɢнoѕтlιɴɢѕ on Sept 11, 2016 18:28:50 GMT -5
I didn't forget about this ] Ezri Ezri had enjoyed the time spent with the group. She liked playing with Borya and her mother had gotten better like her. She was Borya now actually, wearing a large coat he zipped up for her though she could have herself and her mother was sleeping still. Ezri let the man led her off and she half wanted to wake up her mother. The two had spent some time apart and it was making Ezri a bit sad which showed. The small girl giggled as she saw her breath and began to breath out more to see the puffs of air. "I'm a dragon," she proclaimed breathing out smoke. She was slightly tired but nor much. When they settled on the ground Ezri didn't say anything about her awakeness, only letting him believe what he wanted. She ripped a blade of grass from the ground and began to mess with it as she grew bored. She wanted to do something fun but there was nothing to do. She missed TV and her toys. She wanted to do something fun like a game.
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Post by Tals on Sept 11, 2016 19:40:23 GMT -5
haha
--
Borya
Borya found himself looking to Ezri, his head lifting as he gave a soft chuckle. "You really like pretending to be a dragon now don't you?" He eyes turned to stare at the teepee. His lips pursed for a moment. His jaw tightened, eyes turning to stare for a long time. "Would you like to wake up your mother? Maybe we could go and find something to do. Maybe walk a bit, perhaps find something to play with," he offered then. "Your mother could join in on the fun."
His hand ripped a clumpfull of grass and he gently sprinkled it into her hair like cheese on a taco, his lips curling into a lopsided grin and giving a cheesy chuckle. "There. Now you have grass sprinkles and the grass fairies will keep watch over the little dragon," he mused as he gently rubbed her cheeks with large palms and gave that handsome smile he rarely offered anymore.
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Post by paradox on Sept 13, 2016 15:20:44 GMT -5
It had been far too easy for Rowan to recede back into his old ways, purposefully alienating himself from the others as though they all had the same capacity to choose their supposed dead ex-lover over the greater good, like a certain former boxer turned survival leader. It felt as though he was only barely meeting these people for the first time again – a haze of vague distrust and consistent on-edge behavior, high strung nerves ready to burst at the slightest provocation, as though he was regressing back into his initial nature of a feral dog; the only difference this time around was that he didn’t have anyone to devote his time and energy to, not anymore. Before, when his cynicism towards outsiders had been unshakeable, there still had been Arlo whom he could trust without hesitation. It could be said, that he had been distrustful of other people because Arlo, because he had been afraid of someone hurting the man he had come to wrap his loyalty around. So, now that Arlo had so boldly proven that you couldn’t completely trust anyone, what did that leave Rowan with? His deep burrowed, thickly rooted fear had always been finding himself alone in the world and wouldn’t this amount to that very fear?
Rowan grew barbs around his demeanor, intentionally blocking out anyone that would get too close to avoid leaving himself vulnerable but that very same mechanism left him feeling isolated from others. He didn’t nearly have enough emotional capacity or experience to handle this on his own, didn’t have enough to see that he needed help, and not even close enough to see that Arlo wasn’t even close to the flawless, indissoluble idealized version he had thought the man to be. Unfortunately, Rowan had to learn this through the hardest way possible. Anyhow, he’s been gradually spending more time alone, wandering off without warning or explanation, lingering in isolated areas during the day and nowhere to be found during the night. Even through all his stubborn cold shoulder towards Arlo, Rowan couldn’t quite bring himself to throw away the mutant tooth he had extracted from the monstrous dog those months ago in the city when the current group was still slowly being formed. Nor could he quite stop himself from wondering whether Arlo still had the claw that he had been given as a mere trinket. Rowan had used to do the same with his older brothers, bringing them random “souvenirs” he would find on his “expeditions”. Ranger had been tolerant of it (never one to properly display emotions) while Raider had been far more vocal about his gratitude. Arlo reminded Rowan of Ranger in more ways than one and Rowan hated it, hated that he kept seeing his oldest brother in a man who screwed up and refused to fix his mistake even if the option was there for the taking. Arlo acted much like Ranger, who had been blatantly murdered by Ghost, who was the very reason why Rowan was upset with Arlo.
Rowan kept attempting to distract himself from delving too deep into his own mind, trying to keep himself busy with activities in order to avoid getting swallowed up by the confusing waves of emotions and thoughts. Sparring with Viv was one of these activities. Their fighting methods typically clashed; Viv was more “professionally” trained while Rowan had just picked up what he could from his older brothers, sometimes even his Tio and off the streets of Mexico. She had actual tact and he just relied on luck and instinct. A burst of wind was knocked from his lungs when Viv had yanked him up and over his shoulder, not offering up much of a struggle as she oh-so-graciously set him down gently. Rowan didn’t immediately get himself up from where he lay, however not seeming particularly exhausted. “What’s the point of this, anyway? I doubt there’s any mutants out there keen on fist fighting. And other people themselves seem more adamant on settling scores with guns. I’m not entirely certain whether anything these days is gonna give me the chance to toss ‘em over my shoulder.”
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A sudden stillness seemed to overtake Quiet as soon as a voice albeit soft and good-natured pierced through the curtains of the short-lived bliss. He might not have allowed such abrupt tension surpass his initial cheery demeanor if it had been Amelia or Timothee, having found comfortable solitude in the two and even if Alyona posed little to no threat, Quiet was adamant on being hesitant towards anyone who weren’t the select two. He found himself playing it extra careful around even sweetheart Riley as he was afraid that even the slightest wrong movement might set off the Turk or the leader. And while Quiet wasn’t particular afraid of Borya, he’d rather not make even the potential of enemies around this group if only to keep himself in their favor as much as virtually possible.
Quiet had ceased his childish games in the rain when Alyona had stepped up, shy self-consciousness infecting his demeanor now that he knew that he was no longer alone under the faint drizzle. A faint smile found its way to his mouth as the Russian sister made comment, more so out of politeness but he found that the very act of smiling was growing easier and easier to do by the day, the tired forcefulness of it dying away, slowly, but surely. He’d like to ask her how’s she’s been or if her brother was doing well, something that might follow the old social norms he had seen displayed by others. In the midst of wondering how he could possible pose the question without the use of words, it was then that Devoss had appeared. A curious glint shadowed over Quiet’s gaze as he watched the interaction between the pair, wondering of the relationship there if there was even any. It left him feeling like an outsider in more ways than one.
When Alyona gave her comment, Quiet couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes. It felt undeserved, unwarranted and meant for someone better than he. In order to keep from being left with nothing to do, he quickly busied himself with brushing away his now water-logged hair out of his eyes, pressing it backwards to keep out of his face. As his head tilted backwards, fingers carding through the chestnut colored hair now darkened by the rain, Quiet once again caught sight of the gray-toned skies with rain droplets still falling. It was difficult to feel his usual misgivings about himself in this weather when the promise of a new start was on the horizon. He might never completely get a chance to fix his past mistakes, no matter how much he might want to but he could still ensure that his future will be better. Lowering his gaze from the sky, Quiet managed to give Alyona a thankful smile, shyly brushing at the few strands of wet hair that still hung in his face but it held far more sincerity than his initial smile had.
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Post by нσωℓ on Sept 14, 2016 9:41:22 GMT -5
Viv didn't force Rowan off the ground like she would have anyone else. Instead she recognized the mental exhaustion plaguing him and seated herself next to him on the grass. "You think you'll never get into another fist fight again? I don't want to have to save your butt if you get into another fight with Ghost." A long pause as she stared down at him. "You don't have to train with me, and I'm not gonna fight your fights for you. I don't like Ghost either. Something's not right with him. I'm scared for Riley, but I can't exactly teach her to fight without her crying on me. I'm scared for Arlo, because Riley loves him, and up until now he's been a good leader. I'm scared for you, because I can see it wearing on you and I can't protect you. You're not like Riley, you can hold your own." Viv's instincts told her something bad was going to happen. She kept that to herself though, afraid to mention anything to Rowan for fear of being called paranoid. "I want you to look after Riley for me. I might go away for a while." She turned to look him in the eyes, rather seriously. "I won't say where I'm going, or why. I won't go far but I won't be close enough to take care of her myself. She won't go with me. Too worried about everyone else." Viv took a deep breath into her chest, jaw clenching in what looked like pain. Physical or mental, it could be either. "Keep her safe. Don't let her get hurt, especially not her heart. She's too caring, please protect her while I'm gone."
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Post by Tals on Sept 17, 2016 15:51:21 GMT -5
when I can finally log on after a long week
adhsbsh okay ill reply
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Post by Tals on Sept 17, 2016 16:20:18 GMT -5
Alyona watched him for a long moment, strands that hung a bit closer out to the rain that hit the protection of the porch becoming wet. Her eyes softened, and for a moment she found herself wandering in her mind to the few smiles Rowan had before he pushed them all away. Her head tilted, looking down at her hands as they braced against the railing and simply pulled them away as she stood closer to the house, Devoss blinking like the coy man he was. It seemed the little blonde simply brushed her short strands away and behind her ears before she could smile truly back to Quiet.
Her light gaze lifted to the sky eventually, almost as if mimicking his motions before she gave a smile. "My brother said that this would be one of the last rainstorms before it becomes so cold that the tiny hints of snow would come. He isn't too excited about the cold, but he's ready," she mused as she soon looked back to Quiet. Her hands eventually slid into the coat pockets, her shoulders shifting below her jacket and the little hints of a tiny mist escaping her nose when she breathed. It was occasional, but it was noticeable. The soft slushing of Devoss moving didn't really grasp her attention from taking a sweep across the area, and it simply reminded her that the short man would plop onto the ground and wipe out his combat boots before he shook his head to scatter the droplets.
"But then again, I think we can all agree that we aren't excited 'bout the cold? Well, aside from maybe cuddling with people," with that, she laughed, eyes alit with her natural and good-hearted amusement before she let her smile grow once again with the sight of his genuine smile. She was more so curious about his silence and the way he acted, but it might be natural curiosity and trying to open up and warm up to them. Her cheeks were already rosy from the way the cool air nipped lightly at the tip of her nose and her round cheeks. The soft wool of her jean jacket rose up as she scrunched up her shoulders, the light colors blending together and making it seem as if they were one.
Devoss- standing off to the side at this point- watched with steel blue eyes that immediately flickered between them all. He was well aware she was making due with what she could before Borya and Viv decided to head out. Borya had alerted the other female when Sinopa and Ezri came along, saying that those two needed to rest up for a bit before they would head out. In all, it seemed to give Viv favor to try and win Riley over but it seemed the Dutchman realized that the love bird wouldn't move out without Arlo. His eyes immediately rolled to the side, turning and to find his own trouble as he bounded towards his old spot beside the teepee. He often put to resting outside during the night, but more and more often he found himself sleeping beside Borya in the makeshift Indian house while the females stuck to the other side. It kept amazingly warm in there too- and he knew that Borya would eventually make another teepee should he manage to head out to hunt one last time. Alyona had gotten the second to last piece of the object. He smiled to himself- he really loved the Russians. He found them more as family surprisingly.
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