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Post by Clannibal on Nov 23, 2015 19:45:03 GMT -5
Raion didn't get angry often. It took a lot to get under the guy's skin. So why was he angry now? He had just ditched the caves and made his way to a quieter place, kicking up sand as he trudged along and continuously clenched his fists as he went. His mind raced with annoyed thought, jumping from one idea to the next. He was angry at Zach. The guy had not been around the group much lately. Not like before. Raion kept looking for him everyday. There was a day that he did not appear at all, and though people went on with their lives, some certainly noticed his absence. Before, he had been a pillar of justice for a group of shattered survivors. He'd brought them together and forged a strong will to survive even in the hearts of those that had lost loved ones and simply wanted to die. In all truth, Raion admired the man, and maybe that's why his sudden behavior left a bit of a sting on him personally. When he did come around, he was somehow always hung over. Raion couldn't figure it out. Where was he going everyday? How did he manage to find enough alcohol to maintain such a bedraggled and trashed appearance? Raion was observant, and could see disaster before it struck. He was getting antsy. The group was generally self-sufficient now, but they still needed something to keep them steady. Someone to keep them in line. Someone who wasn't afraid to take justice into their own hands when a person did something crazy. Well, nothing had happened yet. He tried to remind himself of that. And Zach was a human being, too. He had weaknesses, too. A flash of lightning in the distance caught his attention. Looked like a thunderstorm was on its way. The ocean waves ripped and curled against the neat shoreline. Raion stood, wearing his shaggy red t-shirt and dark jeans that had been with him since day one. He really wanted a shower and fresh clothes. He wanted a warm bed. He wanted his old life back and somehow that was that worst thing in the world to him, because his old life was what he had almost willingly taken from himself. Raion needed a hug right about now.
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Post by sammikay on Nov 24, 2015 0:14:20 GMT -5
Leonardo Brannon
Now that he was mobile, Leo was unstoppable. He had been up and about every morning, very early and was planning on developing some type of bathroom system. He was tired of trying to squat around with bad knees, so he could only imagine the kind of luxury it would be to have a seat to sit on every once in a while. But, as for now, Leo was simply enjoying the ability to get out of the caves into the open air. He had begun looking at different ways to build such a device as a toilet, and for now, he was stumped, just like his leg.
He hobbled over, relying heavily on the crutch that he and the nurse had made. So far, he just needed to change his bandage every day by soaking it in the salt water to clean it and then wrapping tightly. The wound was disgusting, but at least he was moving now. He gazed up at the sky at the strike of lightning, and then noticed the young man standing out by the sea. His eyes weren't the best, so he had a hard time seeing from this distance who he was, but Leo did not care in this moment. No one truly wanted to be alone on this island.
The old man quietly made his way to the boy, immediately recognizing him but not sure if he had actually spoken to him before. "Son, you look troubled," he said quietly, standing as tall as his curved back would allow. His voice was scratchy and worn, wise with age, but filled with kindness. He turned his dark eyes on the man, looking him up and down for a moment. "What's got you eaten up? Can't be any worse than them 'skeeters biting us all the time. Back where I'm from, they only come out at night. Not sure where we landed, but these 'skeeters are smart," he said with a toothy grin, turning to face Raion. "I'm Leo," he said, the smile continuing from his lips all the way to his sparkling eyes as he held out his cracked, wrinkly, and calloused hand.
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Post by Clannibal on Nov 25, 2015 20:33:49 GMT -5
When would this miserable existence end? For weeks, he'd gone back and forth with the idea that he should be grateful to have survived the crash. Now, though, he just felt miserable and full of useless self-pity. Raion knew it wasn't going to help him or anyone else right now, yet he could not shake his angry "woe is me" attitude. At least until he had unexpected company. Someone close by spoke to him, and Raion abandoned his view of the great ocean to seek out the voice's owner. He found the older man, Leo, standing on his awkward and hunched gait, leaning on the homemade crutch that enabled him to walk. Raion knew of Leo. He knew he had lost his leg in the crash, and that he'd only recently gained back his ability to walk. Raion liked everybody, but he especially liked Leo. Perhaps it was a predisposition due to Leo's circumstances. Raion certainly had a soft spot for the weak and for the elderly. Was Leo elderly? By societal standards, probably. But the guy was moving around a sandy beach with a leg missing and a makeshift crutch and he obviously had life and fight left in him. Raion couldn't help but smile at the way he say "skeeters." His mother used to say that when she was alive. The memory of her wasn't exactly conforming in this moment, though. The smile disappeared pretty quick. "Trouble is our life now," he said with a dismissive shrug. As Leo gave a proper introduction, he held out his hand. Raion quickly took it to give a firm and professional shake, like he'd been taught back in school. "I'm Raion. I know about you, Leo. I've seen you at your worst. Now you're looking awesomely mobile. How's it feel?"
He wondered if he was being bold, or if he'd just adapted to the harsh life of the island. There was no need to beat around the bush here. They'd all been through hell and back.. Right now, Raion just hoped he wouldnt have to betray his friend, Zach, by explaining why he was smoldeting out herr on the western oart of the island.
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Post by sammikay on Nov 28, 2015 12:04:56 GMT -5
Leonardo Brannon
Leo smiled, and nodded, pushing his one free hand into the pocket of his pants. He stood there quietly for a moment, milling over what it was that Raion had said. He understood that this situation was terrible. They had all seen people die and suffer, he had lost his leg, and people were now getting terribly sick. This whole situation was only worsening, and it was true, this was an awful situation. But, Leo reflected on everything he had been through in his long life. Losing his wife, watching his children go through the suffering of life, and seeing so many abhorrent situations happen. This was only another in his long list of experiences.
"Son, you're young, so I don't expect you to understand," he began, removing his hand from his pocket and setting it on Raion's slumped shoulder. "But, this life can throw so much more at you than this island. Everything happens for a reason, and we just need to be strong and trust that everything will happen how it's 'spose to," he advised, giving the boy's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before dropping his hand back to his side. Leo was not afraid of touch. He was one of the men that gave hugs, kissed cheeks, and gave reassuring claps on shoulders, just like his father had taught him.
He chuckled when Raion had said he'd seen him at his worst. He doubted that it was his worst, considering the months after his wife had passed had been a time where he had lost his faith, something that Leo utilized as his foundation. That had been the darkest of his days, yet this island time was a very close second. "I was gettin' awful bored laying in those caves all day. I'd say it feels great to move 'round now, but my legs are a bit stiff. I'm not as young and nimble as y'all," he said with a hearty chuckle and another toothy grin. He turned his head to look up and down the beach, noticing that really no one else was around. Another strike of lightning lit up the far sky and Leo made a soft 'tsk' sound between his teeth as he watched. "Lookin' like a real stirred pot over there," he said quietly, shifting his foot and leaning against his crutch as he attempted to get a bit more comfortable.
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Post by Clannibal on Dec 2, 2015 18:30:14 GMT -5
Raion didn't really expect to understand, either. He was already a naturally depressed person, and trying to stay 'above water' in this situation was exhausting and, he felt, a losing battle. Still, he perked up to hear what Leo had to say to him. Raion felt he hadn't really said anything the way he wanted to and that was just the usual for him. Hopefully Leo didn't mind what he'd said about seeing him "at his worst," as he had just put it. The hand on his shoulder certainly said otherwise. He chuckled. "Yeah, that's true. I've been thrown into a lot more than just this island, even though I'm young."The adventure started with his father, years and years ago. But he didn't see any good reasons why any of these things would have happened to him and his family, and all the people on this island. He did not voice this out loud and just nodded. Hearing Leo talk now about how it felt to be legless and bored made Raion smile sympathetically. It was amazing Leo had survived through that without medical care. "What's your reason for being here, then, I wonder? Probably to make someone like me feel better."Raion suddenly remembered Kelly and how he felt about her, how he had decided she was the reason he was still alive here. Maybe he was along with Leo's thoughts after all. "My reason is for someone, I think."And then, of course, there was Cal, of which Raion was the only link for her and the group. He also turned to look at the lightning as it happened. It did look ugly out there. It was scary to think that it may even be another hurricane on the way - but wasn't it out of season now? "I don't suppose we will get hurricanes again anytime soon? That was seriously boring."
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Post by sammikay on Dec 2, 2015 23:58:34 GMT -5
#Leo |
Leo stood silently, his presence the exact opposite of the crashing waves and crazy winds that were beginning to pick up. He hated these storms. It meant that they were all back to the caves for a while. He had spent so long in the caves, so long in fact that he had been scratching tick marks into the walls to count the days. It was his own kind of calendar, and he honestly would like to be able to give it up. He would praise god each and every day, multiple times a day if he could develop a way to live and exist out of the caves. He believed that God would keep them here as long as He liked, and that meant they needed to build a more lasting shelter, especially since his old bones couldn't handle the cave floor.
Leo turned and smiled at Raion. He liked this kid. He was sweet, gentle, and so kind. He deserved the world, especially after helping so many people around him. He was a quiet leader, much how Leo was, and he enjoyed his company. But, what was he here for? Was he here to give others comfort? Did people find his disposition comforting? Lately, he had felt more like a burden to these young people. But this old man had ideas. He had plans. And, he had God on his side. "I'm here to make sure we don't just sit on our backsides all day. I'll keep everyone busy. I got some real good ideas about our space here," he said while turning to the side. He grinned when Raion said he was here for someone. He wished his someone was here with him. He missed Gertie so much, and not having a space for her here for him to pray with made his heart ache. Every day at 4pm he had gone to her grave to pray with her, and here he was, unable to look at "Loving wife, beautiful mother" when he cried as he talked with her. Instead, he had looked at the cave walls with exactly 46 tick marks on them as he talked with his loving wife.
Pulled from his respite, Leo just shook his head. "No, I don't suppose no more hurricanes will come this way. They ain't like that. They wait couple weeks before striking again," he informed the young man. Having grown up in New Orleans, he knew his hurricanes. They had many storms, but only hurricanes a few times. He was used to this kind of ritual, although he betted that the hurricanes were about up. The cold and hot air fronts would be finished up soon, having contently mixed into the pot, as he would say. "Why don't we head back to camp. I'm getting tired from standing so much, and you can tell me about this someone you're here for," he said with a grin, patting Raion on the shoulder once more before turning and wobbling his way back towards the jungle.
In Him we shall trust |
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