𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. // 6/6 // CLOSED

Lucky gave Ariella a long look, before shaking his head slightly and responding to Alastor. "You're right, we've got plenty. We'll be fine for a while, as long as nobody pigs out or anything." He stood and moved over onto the floor by Alastor, lowering his voice.
"Remind me, which way were you guys headed?" He swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. "My travel plans have been permanently canceled, so I figured I'd just go with you."

Alastor hesitated. He really wanted to go to the city to try to find his parents, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to see what he'd find there.

"Probably to a more rural area, or wherever there's plenty of food, water, stuff like that," he finally replied, ignoring the ache of grief he felt as he said it. One of these days he was going to break down from the fear and despair he was holding back, but today was not it.
Zeus walked over to Alastor and laid his furry head on his companion's lap.

Lucky nodded as Alastor confirmed what he thought he'd overheard yesterday. That was a smart plan.
Something crossed Alastor's face as he said it. On any normal day, Lucky probably wouldn't have picked up on what it was. But today, with the loss of his family fresh on his mind and heart, the grief residing in Lucky's chest recognized the grief crossing Alastor's face.
Lucky's voice was even quieter as he asked "It's none of my business… but who are you leaving behind?"

"It is none of your business," Alastor agreed, schooling his features into neutrality. "And they're already dead, so it doesn't matter now, does it?" He got up, Zeus stepping aside and wagging his tail slightly in curiosity.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, knowing he sounded rude. "I'm just going to go on a walk, try to clear my head a bit." The massive dog next to him perked up at the word 'walk', already heading to the door.

(also I responded, just so you know :0 )

(I'm sorry, not trying to ignore you, just got a lot of repsonses to do and I'm also at work so sometimes it takes me a minute)

(it's fine! I get! Im just saying that in case you don't notice :0 )

Ronni ducked into the kitchen real quick and grabbed them a couple of those gas station sandwiches in the sealed plastic packages. They weren't fantastic, but they were food.
She went out and sat next to him in the hallway, handing him a sandwich.

"thanks." He said to her, patting the empty space next to him. "Sit down, stay a while." He said, remembering what his dad said to him anytime he caught Lucas lounging around the house with his shoes on.

"I won't hurt you." He told her honestly "I promise."

Lucky nodded, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "You're absolutely right, I'm sorry I pried." He wilted just slightly, but he hadn't meant to dig. He smiled at Zeus's excitement and watched them leave, feeling like an idiot.

Alastor walked out of the building, Zeus following closely at his heels. He felt like an idiot for leaving his gun and his belt back inside, but he didn't care enough to go back and get them.
"What are we going to do?" He whispered to his dog, gradually picking up the pace until he was sprinting, Zeus's pawsteps matching him stride for stride. Unlike his roleplayer, Alastor enjoyed being outside and exercising. It forced him to become focused on his breathing and the road ahead of him instead of lingering on memories and thoughts of the past. Everytime he has to deal with a particularly brutal homicide case, he always went on a run to keep him from snapping and being mentally unable to do his job. He just had to keep moving forward.

Ronni had plopped down next to him, and nodded at his words. She seemed relaxed, although she hadn't sat particularly close to him.
Alastor and Zeus walked out past them and went on their way, and Ronni watched them go, wondering if everything was ok.
She turned back to Lucas, and gestured around them, before scrunching her hands together, then pointing at him.
Are we all packed too close together for you?

Lucas shook his head.
"not necessarily." He said, thinking over how to respond. "I think it's more of people in general, especially this many, worries me, since anyone could get hurt or sick, and the worry mixed with the already present social anxiety isn't good."

( XD I'm at work, you can't make me laugh like this!)

(Lmao)

Ariella bumped Lucky's shoulder. "Looks like it's you and me again." She sighed and tucked her knees to her chest. "You're welcome to come with me to California. I don't know what waiting for me there but you're welcome to come with me."
She turned her head to look at him, a sad smile on her lips.

Ronni nodded. She understood that. The deluxe flu had just made her world more difficult. She hadn't spoken before it swept through, except to a few people.
Turning to face Lucas a little more, she slowly ran through a string of gestures and facial expressions, trying to communicate a longer thought.
You're not the only one, and nobody blames you for being freaked out by this and people and life. Don't be afraid to take time if you need it.
She hoped, somehow, that she was clear.
You know who you sound like? Tanya said smugly in her head.
Shut up.

Lucas smiled and took his sandwich out of the bag.
"I suppose, I'll have to get used to it." He said and bit into the sandwich, his other hand hovering over his mouth.

Ronni shook her head and gestured around them, at the empty apartments and quiet hall.
You wouldn't have to be around people if you didn't want to. The world is empty now.

Lucas swallowed before speaking.
"Yes, but…" he said, turning his gaze away from her and to the floor. "I'm lonely."

He sighed and hugged his legs to his chest.
"I think I would have to, even if it makes me uncomfortable because I guess I kind of crave human interaction." He admitted.

He registered her offer, and her smile, and reached over to touch her arm gently, acknowledging her kindness.

Ariella shrugged her shoulders though her cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment. "The last time I was kind to someone they gave me this." She pointed to the healing scar on her cheek.
She look pointedly at the ground. She bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. She winced slightly as she released her flesh.

Ariella stared down his hand. She smiled at him softly. "Thank you. But that doesn't mean I'll trust any of the others any time soon."
She kissed his cheek quickly before retreating back to her cocoon.