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

Lucas read it and nodded. "Ah," he said "it sounds like you've had some traumatizing experiences with big guys like me then." He smiled softly at her. "I can't say I blame you though, I guess all guys like me are a bit scary."

She nodded, before writing some more. I thought I'd mentioned men make me nervous, but. Yes, all of you are a tad nerve-wracking.
She glanced up at him, thinking, before writing some more. Dream vacation, before all of this?

Ariella dropped her hands to her front where she started picking at her nails and skin, a nervous habit. "I-I'm sorry if I made it sound like I don't trust you. I do." Not fully, but they had only just met. "You've given me your food and water. And you were ready to protect me against the others even though we had only just met. You haven't asked anything from me in return." She bit her bottom lip, looking down at her feet. Her face scrunched in a wince as she drew blood. "I don't do well in groups. Not anymore. And the others haven't offered me anything or proven they can be trusted." She really wasn't comfortable explaining her scar. "I was with, uh, friends right as this happened. We lost a couple in our group and one of my friends went crazy. He's, well, he contributed to the situation that got me this." She pointed to her cheek, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Lucky watched her, carefully. He wasn't sure they were on the same page.
"Hey, look. It's not that I feel like you don't trust me. I'm more confused why you do trust me, even a little. Because I gave you food? The rest have contributed food, it's all in there in the kitchen. Because I was ready to protect you? Sure, but nobody has attacked you. None of them have attacked you. So they all meet the same criteria I do, but you won't even talk to them, Ariella." He tripped over her name, but kept going. "And I can't figure out why I'm different. The only thing that comes to mind is that you pity me so much, you're not bothered." He hated that thought, that her friendship was a result of pity. It had been eating at him since it occurred to him.
"I'm sorry you went through something awful. I'm sorry it scarred your face and your mind. That's awful, and I can understand it makes things difficult. But nobody in our little group is without scars, and you're the only one being unreasonable…"
He knew she was making an effort to explain, and he wanted to give her credit there. He gently took one of her hands, trying to figure out how to navigate this. "I just want you to be able to function. This isn't healthy, and… at some point, in order to live, and not just survive, you have to let people in again… there will always be the potential for hurt, but… there's no other way to do life."

Ariella looked down at their hands, squeezing it tightly. She sniffled, trying to will away the tears in her eyes. "I just need time to adjust. I-I'll try to better. I don't even know what to say to them. The only person that's talked to me is Alastor and he used to be a policeman. I really don't trust the police. The dog is cute though." She shrugged her shoulders as she shuffled on her feet. God, she wasn't good at this.

Lucky squeezed back. "Try saying literally anything. So far you've been silent with everyone but me, and that's not helping you." He reached up with his free hand and wiped her tears. "Alastor is just a guy with a dog, trying to survive like you and me. Put away your prejudice and try to see him as a person."
He was sorry she was upset, but very glad she was willing to try.

(working on it XD )

Ariella nodded her head, still refusing to look at him. "Only if you're there with me. J-just in case." In case something went bad and she needed back up, verbal or physical. She need him to be her rock. Someone she could lean on for support.

Lucky nodded slowly. "I'll be there if something happens, but I'm not going to be present for every conversation you have with someone else. You're an adult, Ariella." He squeezed her hand once more, before turning and heading into the apartment. He had intended to grab Ronni and head right back out, but she looked busy, and besdies, stroke while the iron is hot, right?
Lucky glanced around and saw Devon on the couch by himself. He walked over and plopped down on the end, gently but firmly pulling Ariella with him, and sitting her down between them. Devon was down a the other end, and the couc was big, so she wasn't crammed, but here was a perfect chance to make good on her agreement to try.

Lucky nearly cracked up. He hadn't intended to force Ariella to make friends with a guy who was being forced to make friends, but the irony was too funny for him to ignore.
"Anti-social party, huh?"

Lucas smiled and looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "Uhhhh…" he said, looking back down at her "I think London, it's just so beautiful to me."

Ronni looked surprised. She wrote quickly.
London? The densely populated city of rain and smog?

Devon shrugged, "Looks like it, you can think my sister for that" He said sister like it was a horrid thing, partly as a joke.

Lucky smiled at him. "Well, I'm the nudger in this case, so I guess your sister isn't the worst." he nudged Ariella gently.

Lucas smiled and nodded."The very one." He said, chuckling lightly "what about you?"

She thought for a moment, before writing It used to be Italy, to visit where my family came from, but… I haven't thought about a vacation in years.