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Post by Clannibal on Oct 13, 2015 19:59:24 GMT -5
The hurricane was gone and everyone had felt pretty stir-crazy in the aftermath. Raion was included in that feeling, for sure. As soon as things seemed safe and the sun was up and bright in the clear sky, the go-getters gathered at the entrance of the cave and discussed what should be done from there on. Zach seemed determined to stay in the caves for good. It was the easiest coalition for the them. Safest, too. What if another hurricane came unexpectedly? It would just rip up all the work they had done, he reasoned. Raion agreed, but there was the other half of the argument. The one that made everyone just a bit uncomfortable. What if the rescuers passed them by because they were hidden in the caves? Wouldn't it be better to get established on the beachside, where someone could always keep an eye out on the horizon? Raion made his way through the jungle, currently taking part in a search for more foods that survived the storm. The jungle was pretty thick, so he was hopeful that most everything inside was relatively protected from the winds. It was a soggy mess, though, that was for sure. The ground had soaked up the water but everything still felt wet. As he wandered, he contemplated which side of that argument he was on. He saw both sides of it. Practically speaking, Zach was right. Proactively speaking, it would be best to stay in sight whenever possible. There was just no telling how long rescuers would keep searching. Right? Monkeys screeched above his head. He stopped and looked up to them, eyes squinting against the sunlight that managed to peek through the treetops. People had been chatting about how to trap or catch those monkeys. They'd make good meat. One could feed almost the entire group for a whole day. Raion liked to think he was creative, but this kind of thing just wasn't his forte. He sighed and made a face at a curious monkey who stared back at him. It barked curses at him and jumped to another branch nearby, keeping in sight. Would throwing rocks work? Should he even waste the energy? He made the mistake of taking steps forward without taking his eyes away from the monkey. Therefore, his toes caught under a large root and made him fall forward, landing hard on his frontside. It knocked the wind out of him and gave him an instant, uncomfortable headache. "Nicely done," he grunted sarcastically to himself, laying there for a brief moment. He imagined the monkeys were laughing.
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Post by Bear on Oct 14, 2015 14:28:10 GMT -5
all we do is think about the feelings that we hide #### @tag Cal was itching to get out of the caves by the time the storm had settled enough for it to be safe to wander. Too many people, too close of quarters. She was one ignorant comment away from throwing Zach into the wind. How she has managed to stay quietly tucked away in her crevice of the cave she may never really understand. Maybe it was an act of God, for which she would be eternally grateful. She thought carefully about the disagreement she had heard earlier about whether or not to stay in the caves. She felt as though it would be the equivalent of giving up on rescue. And she refused to give up on being rescued. She let her body stretch as she hiked down from the entrance of the cave, the ground wet and squishy under her bare feet.
When the storm hit everything seemed to scatter, time moved at 4,000 miles per minute and stood still, all at once. Her backpack had been left in the woods and Cal could only assume that it was lost for good, not that anything would ever dry out enough to be usable here even if it was recovered. She took a moment to stand in the sunshine, it was by no means refreshing. The humid air caused everything to feel sticky, she could physically feel the weight of oxygen as she breathed in and it settled into her lungs.
Cal entered the woods, allowing her fingers to trace over the nooks and crannies of the trees as she passed them by. Every now and then she would stop just in time to see a monkey swing over head. They were loud, but they seemed to be settling back in after the storm too. Cal wondered what they were eating. They didn't look as though they were going hungry, which meant they were eating something, Cal's stomach growled at the thought of eating something with more substance than the last banana she had scavenged. She wondered how the spear-fishing has ended up.
Cal didn't actually have a plan, she figured that she could scavenge together the needed materials to live out on the beach by herself, if another storm hit it would be easier to relocate by herself than it would be to move the whole population again. But she was going to be out there. WHEN the boats came in to rescue them, she would be there to greet them.
She heard another screech from overhead and looked up to see a monkey with it's young clinging to it as they both swung overhead, watching each careful step Cal took. It had been a few hours since Cal had any time to worry about Neenah. She couldn't help but wonder if Neenah's dad would remember that she was due for shots soon, what school he would enroll her in, what sports he would push her towards, how old she would be when she was allowed to date. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts, in her own stubborn wonder that she wouldn't have noticed the falling male figure ahead of her, had his words not pulled her back into reality.
She recognized the male as soon as her eyes found him, sunken in among the roots of the surrounding trees. He looked almost purposely placed, as though he was just spending the day thinking about the meaning of life. Cal placed a small smirk on her lips and tip-toed towards him, careful not to get herself twisted up and thus winding up in the same situation that he was in. Hey there, her vocals were soft as they escaped her. She lowered herself to the ground next to his side, moving so that she was on her back, her head turning to face him. I give you an 8 for formation and a solid 9 for the landing she smiled. She hadn't seen a familiar, friendly face in a while, let alone had a conversation with someone. She watched him for a reaction, all the while pretending that she didn't feel the wetness from the dirt soak into her shirt. would it really kill you if we kiss? [/quote]
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 14, 2015 16:37:14 GMT -5
He was close to the treeline separating the beach from the forests, so he could hear the waves crashing nearby as he gauged his situation with care. His ankle throbbed; he must've come close to really spraining it. The thought of that humbled him. One wrong move like that, a careless mistake, could cripple him and kill him in the off chance no one came out here looking for him. He was ready to start gathering himself up off the musty ground when a voice spoke just from behind. Something, or someone, interrupted his anxious thoughts and as he turned his head to look, a woman was crawling down to his level. His deep brown eyes watched with a hint of embarrassment as she flipped herself over to be on her back, facing him. It was a cute gesture. He appreciated the thought, as was his nature, but even better it was for him to see that he actually knew the face smiling at him. Cal jokingly graded his not-so-spectacular fall and he shook off any embarrassment he had. It was just one of those moments. Shifting his weight, he slid his arm around and used it as support, holding up his head with his palm on his cheek, which was covered in some sandy dirt. It wasn't comfortable, really. "I saw something interesting down here and came for a look," he explained with a smile. It was nice to smile, after the past several days of misery. He remember meeting Cal in a familiar circumstance before. She had snuck up on him and startled him without even trying. That had been embarrassing, too, since he jumped up with a little fright. It seemed they had a pattern going. He wasn't one to break up a good joke, so he stayed where he was, for now. It was actually nice to get some rest for a moment. He was hungry and he did tend to get a little nausea when his stomach was running on empty. Hopefully the party that went out fishing was going to do well today; everyone needed it. "How've you been? I haven't seen you in days, probably," he asked in typical Raion fashion. He cared about people and specifically those he had something of a relationship with. He knew it was a big reason he and Zach clicked enough to work together. Raion the peacemaker.
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Post by Bear on Oct 14, 2015 23:45:20 GMT -5
I Ain't Afraid To Love A Man
#### @tag Cal watched as Raion adjusted his body, his head propped up upon his hand, a smile at the ready on his lips. His comment actually made her laugh, she let one hand slip to her diaphragm to feel it tremble with the chuckle that escaped her mouth. It was as though she had to remind herself what laughter was; a feeling she had long ago dismissed as lost among the waves. If felt nice, though it did remind her of the bruising along her ribs. Before responding she rolled herself over onto her stomach, thick, damp clumps of red hair flung onto her back. She pointed with her index finger, her eyes wide in amusement.
Ah, yes. Cal joked, rubbing her other thumb and forefinger along her chin, her elbow planted into the squishy ground beneath her. Her voice was deep with a mock scholarly accent. The ever elusive jungle dirt. What a fascinating discovery! Most of the time Cal preferred to be alone, away from the group and all of the crazy shenanigans that came with it, but each encounter with Raion had been a pleasure, albeit their encounters were always short short, they were a pleasure, none the less. He was just so… human.
While everyone else had gone into a default zombie mode Raion had managed to maintain a bit of humanity. Cal could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, sense it in his witty comebacks. It was nice. Given different circumstances Raion may have been someone Cal wished to have as a friend. But this wasn't a place for friends. This was a place where you didn't dare make relationships with people because they could be broken at any moment. People could just vanish into thin air, and you would never see them again. No. Cal wasn't about to make friendships here that she was certain would never last. She couldn't, however, deny that this males company was nice.
She listened as he spoke of the time lapse between their visits and she bit into her lip. Yeah, I've been doing really well! That was a default response, saved from a time when people actually believed it. She cleared her throat a bit Or as well as one can be. She wasn't one to get into the emotional stuff, so she left it at that. Yeah, it's been a while, island time she smirked before folding her arms to create a pillow with which she placed her cheek, her eyes still turned towards Raion. And you? Cal asked, her eyes glazed with concern, genuinely curious about the mans well being. Glad to see you survived the storm! she offered, giving him a little nudge with her elbow.
The monkeys continued their screeches from above, swinging on the vines and branches, never removing their eyes from the pair on the ground. Do you think if we stay stuck here long enough eventually we will all be able to speak monkey? Maybe then we can ask where they get all of their God Damn food from! Cal would never give up on the fact that there was an entire population of monkeys thriving here while a small group of humans starved. They were supposed to be more advanced, better equipped, and there they were shacked up in a cave, arguing over the last bite of whatever nutritionally lacking food item was drug in. or at the very least, ask them to shut up?
But I Ain't Afraid To Shoot One Either
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 15, 2015 22:38:00 GMT -5
Being around Cal was a change of pace. Her laughter was heartwarming. It had been a while since he'd made someone laugh like that. He himself had always been one for using humor to lighten the atmosphere. He watched her sit up in a fluid motion as her red hair followed suit in a feminine display. He was still smiling. She seemed full of spirit as she continued on with the joke in such an animated manner. One could not help but enjoy the moment. With a warm laugh he spent just a few moments scraping some of the wet dirt off of his clothes. He was not able to find any of his old things, so right now he still wore the same red FOX shirt he had boarded the plane with. It was covered in filth by now. He tried to take it off whenever he had the chance and just make it last as long as it would. He'd only washed it once, in the ocean. Part of him was a little terrified at the possibility of being in nothing but torn rags soon. Someday, would he be shirtless forever? Must be even scarier for the girls. He wasn't sure what he saw in her expressions and the way she answered his question. She seemed to be in good spirits, but he reminded himself that she also hadn't been around the group very much. Most of the time she was out on her own. He wondered why that was, and the human part of him worried for her. It just wasn't safe. So much could happen out here, in this world where they suddenly didn't have emergency vehicles at their beck and call. His tripping just now was a wake up call to the dangers of carelessness. "Yeah, island time," he repeated with a chuckle and a nod. Good way to put it. "It's barely been over a week, I think. Time passes slowly now."He lifted himself off the ground and into a sitting position. She spoke of the storm and he thought back to the time spent in that lousy, stifled cave. Hopefully there wouldn't be many more of those storms any time soon. Everybody seemed to go mad with restless energy and hunger. "I survived. It was an interesting time," he told her, bringing an arm behind his back to scratch at a shoulder. The monkeys made their noises and Raion looked up at them again. How odd that he'd never seen monkeys in person before, and now here he was, wishing to eat them. The need for sustenance ruled everything. He would eat a handful of worms these days if someone handed them to him. In the wild you ate everything. He chuckled again and looked at Cal with sparkling eyes as she presented her qualms with the monkey race. "Actually, screw all of that, I want to eat them. Monkey and coconut stew. I tripped over these roots just dreaming about it. Or maybe, I slipped over my own drool."There had to be a way. They had been using spears to catch fish, so maybe they could spear down those unsuspecting critters in the trees? He imagined it would take a lot of practice and great strength to reach some of those heights. But he was a young man in his prime, as well as many of the rest of them; it could be done. He decided to voice all of this out loud, to Cal. She seemed to have a right sense about the world. She could tell him if he was losing his mind and it was actually a crazy idea. "Think we could gun em down with our spears? One fluid throw and we could get em."He closed one eye and made movements with his hand, pretending to ready, aim, and fire with an invisible wooden spear. "Mmm...Imagine...Monkey steak."
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Post by Bear on Oct 15, 2015 23:53:44 GMT -5
I Ain't Afraid To Love A Man
#### @tag Calloway was getting lightheaded from all of the laughter, or at lest thats what she told herself. It couldn't possibly be because of the dehydration, malnutrition, or exhaustion. Absolutely not. Because Cal was a young, beautiful woman in her 20's and it wasn't possible for her body to be in such rough shape.She noted that the other still had a smile plastered on his face, and as far as she could tell it was genuine. She wanted to take a picture of it, to keep it for forever. So when her daughter was old enough Cal could tell her about this wonderful human that she had met while trapped on a little island called Hell. How much fight did one have to have in them to continue smiling even under these circumstances?
She watched as he tried to clear some of the muck off of him. It was a hopeless task, really; but Cal appreciated that he tried. She herself had stripped down to her sports-bra and athletic shorts. Thankfully she had opted to dress comfortably for the flight. Her sweat pants were in her backpack - which was lost. Thank God they were in a tropical location, ey? It was a funny thought to thank God for much of anything right now. Cal supposed she could say a word of thanks for being alive, but she wasn't sure that was much of a gift these days.
When he spoke of his time in the cave Cal gave him an understanding frown. She too had been forced to seek shelter in the cave, it was the first time she had seen all of the survivors. For some, that may have sparked a light of compassion, the need to help. For Cal, it simply solidified her decision to stay separate. But, Raion's gentleness hadn't gone unnoticed. He seemed so ready to assist, to do whatever was needed of him. It was endearing. Cal saw in him all of the things she wished to posses but simply didn't know how.
Cal rolled again onto her back and propped herself on bent elbows. This was a bit more comfortable, but still, the ground was just a little too… moist. I stopped keeping track of time, right about when we hit the ground. Cal shuttered softly before hoisting herself up onto her tailbone, wrapping her arms around her knees. She sucked in air, filling her cheeks, before loudly breathing it out.
Cal listened intently as he talked about eating the monkeys, a smile again appearing broadly on her lips. Her facial muscles were starting to hurt from all of the use. well now, which is it? Did you see something interesting or did you slip on your own drool? Cal smirked I feel like I'm being lied to here Raion she raised her eyebrows but, before you answer allow me to remind you that one reason is much more respectable than the other.
She took a moment to imagine what he was saying about spearing a monkey, and then stopped imagining when he demonstrated for her. Cal wasn't sure any of them were in the physical condition required to hoist a spear up into the canopy, then again, she had been wrong before. As barbaric as is sounded Cal wouldn't be opposed to straining up a monkey or two and roasting them. Her mouth actually watered a bit at the thought. I wonder what they taste like? Chicken? Pork? she tossed the idea out playfully before pushing off the ground to stand. She took the required step to close the gap between where she had been and where Raion was sitting. But if we are going to try, we're going to need a spear. She reached her dainty hand down towards him.
[/font][/b][/div] But I Ain't Afraid To Shoot One Either
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 16, 2015 17:44:40 GMT -5
Something about the way Cal spoke to him added a flighty fear into his heart. It was a familiar feeling, but he wanted to ignore it and pretend that part of him did not exist. She wasn't flirting with him, anyway. They were just having fun.m he'd made a real friend and it felt nice. She probably thought the same. He did not skip any beats as the conversation continued and he answered her banter with a grin. "My lawyer advised me not to answer that question. But, I wil, say the evidence is all over me," he joked, his chin hitting his chest as he looked down at his shirt, arms in the air for the display. He dropped them back to his side and wondered self-consciously if he was funny, or too nervous to keep the flow going. It wasn't unusual for upbeat Raion to be socially awkward, of which he was often aware. As the conversation went towards the food, he too allowed himself to imagine the monkeys as something tasty. Surely they'd taste like pork. Full of fat and grease and perfect for barbecue. The thought almost made him angry. How frustrating that they were stuck eating fish and bananas most of the time. Still, it was stupid to consider complaining anyway. The fish had been a God-send. He corrected his attitude swiftly. Cal offered him her hand; he looked at it before taking it, and got himself off of the soggy ground. He still wasn't used to this dirty feeling. What did he look like? Sometimes he caught glimpses in the reflections at the lagoon. "Thanks!" he told Cal with a nod. Where to go from here? It was apparent that Cal...well, she was as Zach described Logan: not a team player. She made sure to stay away from the group, and he still felt uncomfortable with the fact. "Why don't you come back with me? The spears are probably being used for fishing right now, but we can run the idea by everybody. Maybe tomorrow we can give the monkey hunting a try."His eyes locked on to hers. The question was asked lightly, but his curiosity was swarming to know more about the reasons people had for sticking to themselves.
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Post by Bear on Oct 16, 2015 21:01:10 GMT -5
I Ain't Afraid To Love A Man
#### @tag Her toes dug into the moss that covered the particular patch of mud she was standing on as she absorbed his witty come back. She again chuckled, allowing her eyes to lock onto his. She felt confident; there was something liberating about being around this particular young man. Something that fed her spirit and told her to keep her chin up. Cal knew that it was a ridiculous thought to have about someone with which one has had two interactions; but she couldn't help but think that more time with him could only be good for her soul. Enough.
Get your shit together Cal. You only just met this man, and he's the only human on this whole damn island who doesn't hate your guts. Don't be weird. Don't mess this up for us.
You have heard what they say about lawyers… Cal mocked a look of concern as she felt Raion accept her hand and hoist himself up. Even in this warm environment she could feel the heat from his skin against hers. She broke eye contact and instead opted to look at the ground. Why human contact freaked her out so badly she might never figure out. Still looking at the ground she took both hands and swept them down her legs, knocking off the bits of dirt that clung to her shorts and skin.
She thought about where they were going to get a spear from. Perhaps they would be able to fashion a new one. After all that sorry excuse for a man, Logan, had managed to create one, so really, Cal reasoned, how hard could it be? There were plenty of stic- His question broke up her thoughts and she stood for a second absorbing the words. Come back with him? To the group? Cal's teeth dug into her bottom lip, scrapping against the soft flesh. But they were having so much fun. Suddenly Cal felt as though her heart sunk into her stomach.
The mere thought of having to face the group consumed her in fear and anxiety. There were people of the group who didn't even know she was alive. Cal crossed her arms over her chest and her fingers clung to her shoulders, scratching gentle circles into her skin. He was so sweet to ask. He couldn't know the stress that question would cause her. She talked herself down quickly; afraid of scaring him away. Raion Her voice was soft, almost pleading. I really don't think thats a great idea
She knew that he was one of them. He belonged with them, and his place was helping them. She however didn't fit that mold. As demonstrated by her only other interaction with the people on this island, cal wasn't cut out for group mentality. She was too prideful. Too stubborn. Too afraid. She wasn't able to make eye contact with him. She was torn. Torn between wanting to stay away from everyone else and wanting to stay with Raion. The human spirit required company. And somewhere deep inside of her, she craved someone to talk to. She just wasn't sure what lengths she was willing to go to in order to maintain her new found friendship.
I… Well… I - uh. Had a bit of a run in with the group leader. I'm not exactly sure that I would be welcome back. She pursed her lips together and anxiously wiggled them from side to side. Had he heard about that run in? Was it a selfish thought to think that despite everything people would be talking about her? Yes. The answer to that was yes. She knew that he was being rational. She admired that. She offered him a pathetic little smile and finally allowed her eyes to meet his.
But I Ain't Afraid To Shoot One Either
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 18, 2015 11:57:22 GMT -5
As it would seem, his questioning did have an effect on her attitude. Her visible enthusiasm for his company seemed to melt away immediately as she started mulling over his words. Since he wasn't one to purposely make others feel bad, he felt that familiar tension of secondhand anxiety. Even more so as she crossed her arms and seemed to flitter about internally. He chewed on the inside of his cheek and considered taking back what he said. Why did he have to ruin the good mood? But no, it had to be asked. Raion didn't beat around the bush with important things. So, he waited silently and patiently as she gathered her thoughts and then spoke them out loud. Her expression seemed to him, apologetic, desperate, even. Not a great idea?? He wondered what she could possibly be thinking. His overactive imagination imagined a scenario where she was some kind of escaped convict or something. The thought was not entirely impossible, but he pushed that kind of distracting thinking out the window as he waited for what Cal was going to say. By now, she kept avoiding his gaze, but it was obvious she was going to offer him more of an explanation. He stood in place and studied the state of her bright red hair. He'd never seen hair so vivid before. She mentioned she had contact with Zach, and Raion raised a brow. Seemed Zach had made everyone's business his own. The guy had met everyone by now. It was surprising news, as Zach didn't once talk about Cal. What could he have done to her, though, to make her set out on her own rather than blend into the group of survivors? As Cal met his eyes finally and smiled, he smiled, too. Actually, he even gave a bit of a shrug, trying to lighten the mood. "So what if you guys clashed? Zach is hard for me to read sometimes. But Zach is just Zach. He comes off as aggressive but it's almost like a hobby for him. And we needed that kind of personality, Cal. Especially in the beginning, when people were willing to do crazy crap to keep themselves alive."The beginning days had definitely been the most hellish. Everyone was full of terror and adrenaline, and it turned people into monsters. Some of them, at least. It was a miracle that no one had to be...put down, for the safety of others. Raion was still convinced it was Zach's apparent lack of fear as he charged headfirst into the wreckage and barked around orders. If you faked enough courage, it was contagious. "It really isn't a big deal either way, so don't look so terrified. Still, I think you have the wrong impression. This isn't some kind of dictatorship. We are a group of people that survived a plane crash. Nothing more or less. If you came back with me, I'd protect you. I'm really bad at making enemies, so everyone likes me."He smiled, genuinely, to offer some encouragement to her. He couldn't imagine what kind of things Zach had said to her to make her that scared of him. But it certainly wasn't a situation too unorthodox. Zach earned more fear than he deserved. You had to be a pretty selfish person to get Zach's attention... Raion's curious mind struggled to keep scrutiny out of this picture. No pretenses; he hated that. Give her a chance to see things from his perspective, or to expound upon her experience.
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Post by Bear on Oct 18, 2015 20:04:29 GMT -5
I Ain't Afraid To Love A Man
#### @tag Cal wished to be anywhere but here in this moment. Social anxiety was setting in as she searched for the words to tell Raion that she would not, in fact, be going anywhere with him should his plans include going back to the group; which, obviously, they did. She recognized that she was making him anxious as well and she attempted to change up her body language. Soften the facial muscles. Unclench your fists. Bend your knees a bit. Breathe. That's it. Just Breathe.
As silly as it was she was harboring a grudge against Zach. It wasn't normally in her nature, but she was making an excuse for this particular loud mouth human being. Cal realized that she was making it sound worse than it was. She was acting childish. But Calloway really, truly, 100% did not give a shit at this particular moment. She had wasted a granola bar on that jerk wad and what had he done? Screamed at her. Something about pissing in the bushes? As though he had any right.
In retrospect, in the back of her mind, she also realized that she had been selfish. She wasn't ready to face that reality yet.
She perked up a bit as words promising her protection came from his mouth. It was the sweetest sentence that she had heard in quiet a while. "If you came back with me, I'd protect you." Cal tucked those words into her memory - she knew a time would come when she would need to pull them back out again, and she didn't want to lose them. She let her eyes scan his face. He was so… convincing. The smile was back, it gave her a bit of peace.
She realized that her chances of making it were better in a group. It was human nature to want to be around other people - she was craving human interaction. And Raion was probably right; it really wasn't that big of a deal. Perhaps Zach had even forgotten about their conversation. For a moment she actually even considered following Raion to the group. She tried to imagine herself among the crowd. Helping to cook fish and fashion spears used to impale monkeys. It was almost… ni- NO. Absolutely not. No way Jose.
Cal was particularly wonderful at building walls around her heart and she felt a tiny version of herself clank away with bricks and cement within her. She had to put her foot down. There wasn't time to be wasted arguing the point. Raion had places to be. You need to go now. at first the words were soft. Her eyes locked onto his chest in an effort to not make eye contact. It would make it harder. You need to go and let the others know about the spear idea. They need you Raion. She held her breath for a moment they need you, and I don't By some stroke of luck she had managed to keep track of her hair-tie since the wreck and she reached back to wrap her locks in a messy bun onto of her head.
In all actuality she didn't mean to be hurtful. She didn't want to say goodbye. But goodbye was about all Calloway knew how to say. She had promised herself that she wouldn't get close to the people here, anyway. She began to turn in order to walk the way she had come; deeper into the jungle from which Raion had been escaping. If you find a Nike backpack with granola bars in it, its mine. Throw one at Zach's head and then keep the rest for yourself.
She was feeling a little emotional. Maybe it was a hormone thing. She wasn't eating well, or sleeping well, or drinking a sufficient amount of fluid and that was the obvious reason she was shaking and there was a thin film of liquid forming in her eyes. As much as she refused to admit it, she didn't actually need protection from Zach. What she needed, was protection from herself. She didn't look back Take care Raion
But I Ain't Afraid To Shoot One Either
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 18, 2015 20:47:55 GMT -5
It looked as though he may have struck a chord with her, as she seemed to show interest when he offered to protect her. It was an offer made in the moment, and part of him felt some kind of weird stab of guilt, as if he was betraying somebody 'back home.' Why had he offered to protect her? Because he cared about her, in the way he cared for everyone. So what was he guilty off? Raion tried not to worry about it. His sensitivity and energetic mind often made him stress over his own actions, sometimes for weeks after. New situations made him nervous and he often had to come to terms with them on his own time. If he was really being honest, he was still thinking of Kelly, and also wondering if he could 'protect' her as easily as he made it seem. He certainly wasn't the pivotal member of the peoples. But he still felt it was a necessary offer to make. Raion's smile faded after her momentary perk-up seemed to dissolve back into aloofness. He was disappointed to see that his words didn't quite get through to her. Even worse, her next batch of words spoken actually made him upset. It was not a response he wanted to hear, or even expected, and his mind raced with ideas once more. Brows furrowed, he looked at her eyes, which were locked square on his dirty red shirt. He opened his mouth to respond, but words wouldn't come to him. Not that it mattered, as Cal continued speaking of a backpack, and granola bars. None if it made sense to him, but it obviously had something to do with Cal's decision not to come back to the safety of numbers. As she turned to walk away, she said what was apparently a final farewell to him that made his blood run cold. He made a frustrated grunt as he tried to keep the patience that was his trademark. "Cal, wait. You don't have to say goodbye like we won't ever see each other again."He jogged after her as he spoke until he reached her side, brown eyes back to their normal gentle puppy-dog persona. He had made a decision that quickly, another spontaneous move on his part that he felt was justified. "I get that you have qualms with Zach. I'll try to understand. But I know you're having a hard time on your own. So at least let me check on you once in a while. Everyday, maybe. I'll bring food?"The words spilled out of his mouth and he knew there was no going back. Did he really just promise to see her everyday? With food? What was he thinking? Someone was definitely going to notice it eventually. Especially Zach's watchful eye. That guy valued justice above mercy, while Raion himself was the opposite. Perhaps he should get the whole story from Zach in casual conversation to try and truly predict Zach's reaction when he found out Raion had taken the loner Cal under his wing. In Zach's eyes, someone who chose to take care of themselves so..."selfishly" were bad people. Raion knew this was a special circumstance, though. Cal just had a bad taste of everything... He stared at her face and waited for her response, looking pleading and hopeful that she'd at least grant him that much.
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Post by Bear on Oct 18, 2015 21:45:08 GMT -5
I Ain't Afraid To Love A Man
#### @tag Blood was racing. It was odd. Why was she so awful at this relationship thing? Family bonds, friendships, romantic relationships… she was awful at all of them. A deep breath allowed her to collect the tears that threatened to spill over and she tried to regain control of her shaking hands. She nearly stumbled as she heard Raion approaching her. Why couldn't he just let her leave? It wasn't even like they were friends They were hardly acquaintances! She tried to let this thought ease her mind, it made being a dramatic wiener a little easier.
His eyes pulled a bit at her heartstrings. She tried to ignore it. But it was enough to stop her in her tracks. She listened as he proposed an arrangement that left her looking and feeling rather helpless. She thought about pushing him away. Making it very clear that she was NOT in need of any assistance. The low rumble in her stomach interrupted those thought rather quickly.
Why did he have to be so sweet? It simply wasn't something any human should be capable of. Every survivor on this island had been pushed past the limit of what was fair, and yet here was this man, pleading with her to help her. To see that she wasn't lot and forgotten about. It didn't make any sense, and she struggled for a few minutes to wrap her mind around it. Her teeth were again gnawing at her bottom lip.
She realized the position he was putting himself into - did he? Cal let out a sigh that drug out for a fraction of a second too long before speaking again You are just so damn stubborn she let the corner of her mouth twitch into a familiar smirk. Everyday? That was quiet the commitment. Cal wasn't sure if he actually meant it. The softness in his eyes made her want to trust him. The coldness of her heart was resistant.
I don't want you to get into trouble Raion. Not for me. she checked him for a reaction it wouldn't be worth it. Her arms were again wrapped around her chest, hugging herself. She found herself covered in goosebumps, despite the fact that it was hotter than hell here. She listened again to the echos of a couple of monkeys that swung over head.
But I guess I'll need somebody to tell me if spear hunting actually works….she trailed off with another gentle smile. He was trying to help and maybe it wouldn't hurt to have someone who cared if she was alive still of not. At least that way if she died before rescue someone could tell her fa- she had to stop thinking like that.
Don't let it be something that stresses you out. Every other day… or once a week even! She regained volume and enthusiasm to her voice as she spoke. It was an emotional roller coaster and she felt as though she had been strapped in without an option to get off. It was exhausting. She felt bad for dragging Raion along for the ride. And you have to promise she looked him dead in the eyes, her expression serious and stern Just you. Nobody else.
But I Ain't Afraid To Shoot One Either
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 18, 2015 22:16:52 GMT -5
He tried to be hyper-aware of what she was feeling, but it was just so hard for him to separate fiction from what was right in front of him. He studied her face, which seemed locked in her train of thought for something like eternity. The silence stretched on until she let out a sigh that sounded frustrated. It was as if he had backed her into a corner, but he really couldn't understand why she'd feel that way. Wouldn't anyone want a friend? He was pretty naive, though. He'd taken a liking to too many people, and it was the reason he was as messed up today as he was. He wanted to trust Cal, but he had to admit he wanted to take care of her more out of a sense of duty than anything else. That, and he felt like he sensed a true heart of gold inside her. Something in her he was attracted to. Cal seemed to pick up on the same emotions he was feeling. Had he put himself in a bad situation? He doubted it. He wasn't the best liar there was, but he was good at playing it casual. He shrugged when she mentioned him getting in trouble for her. "Like I said, this isn't some kind of government. I am my own man and I will do what I feel is right. It's just...me. And this feels right."He sighed in the same way she did. His eyes dropped to the ground. Couldn't help but chuckle as she mentioned the spear-hunting again. Hearing it in retrospect almost made it sound even sillier. But he was determined, and determined Raion had spunk. He would do whatever it took to eat those goddamned monkeys. "Me? Stress out? Never," he replied to her with good humor as she seemed to finally accept his proposal. He felt relieved by it. But still not completely satisfied. "Actually, the truth is, I'm stressed out all of the time. But in a way, it makes it easier for me to deal with it. I have experience."He sighed again, while his right hand reached behind his head to give his scalp a scratching. He'd already grown used to the life without a shower, but every once in a while, he wanted to cry over the lack of plumbing. "Let's meet...on the eastern beaches? And yeah, just me, if that's what you want," was his next response. In return he lifted a hand so they could shake on it. No going back. Raion was plain and simply a man of his word. He knew he'd have to work even harder to make sure someone else had food leftover. "I guess mornings would be better. I'll find you every morning and make sure you're okay. And maybe eventually I can convince you to come back with me, where's there's fire and laughter."
He was smiling wide as he loomed into her eyes, picturing the future, which, even surprisingly to himself, did not mention a rescue. Maybe he'd already come to terms with this new way of life. He had always been such an adaptable kind of guy.
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Post by Bear on Oct 18, 2015 23:20:48 GMT -5
If You're Walking Through Hell and High Water
#672 @raion Cal appreciated the reassurance, really, she did. But she still felt as though this could be cause for tension between Raion and the other survivors - the last thing Cal wanted to do was cause and animosity between other people. She was really good at separating herself from others without any guilt, but she wouldn't forgive herself if this were to backfire on him. The nice people were always the ones who got kicked in the ass in the end.
It was so nice to hear his laugh. Cal searched for the words she would need to thank him. Thank you for coming after me. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for being understanding. Thank you for being so kind and gentle and concerned. The words were all there, they just wouldn't leave her mouth, try as she might. Instead he filled the quietness again with his own thoughts on his stress levels, turning it into a joke. Cal wasn't quiet sure if it was for her benefit or his own, either way she raised her eyebrows; the humor was back and she was determined not to lose it again. I mean really - it's like we get to live in a sauna. All that's missing is the room service. She thought for a split second And you know... the beds, and plumbing, and food.
She debated making a comment regarding the lack of personal hygine with which they were living, but instead bit her tongue. Opting to, instead, plug the information regarding their secret meeting times into her head. She was asking an awful lot of him, but he had offered. Cal tried to convince herself that he wouldn't have taken no for and answer anyway. Really she was just saving them both energy by agreeing. Right? Never mind the fact that tomorrow morning Raion would be sneaking away to bring her food while she had absolutely nothing to offer him. Cal gently wrapped her own dirty fingers around his hand - such a formality in such a... rustic environment.
That's what I want. Just you. And if one day you decide that you can't do that anymore then just don't. I promise I wont be heartbroken. This whole exchange was feeling a little too intimate for Cal and she decided to break that up by tossing in a bit of indifference. She knew in the pit of her stomach that if, one morning, he didn't show up she would be heartbroken - but she swallowed that down and gave him her best "I don't really give a shit" expressions - it was a little pathetic, but Cal hoped it would suffice. Because you have to do what's best for you - and that won't always be meeting me on the Eastern beach in the morning. And I'll understand that. Sometimes you have to be selfish. Sometimes that's the way it works
She realized now that she was talking more to herself than to him - justifying her own selfishness by taking his time; accepting help and food from a group who owed her nothing; the energy she spent on herself instead of helping others. He was speaking of convincing her to come back with him in the future - she appreciated his determination and persistence - it was passionate. Cal couldn't even be upset about it and instead of shooting him down responded gently with Yeah, maybe someday you will. He was doing do much for her, it wouldn't really be fair to crush any hopes. He was, after all, just trying to take care of everybody.
Cal readied herself to continue her trek - where she was going she wasn't sure. Alright then, tomorrow morning? I'll be there She had plans. It felt like ages since she had made actual plans to do something. There was a set meeting - it was refreshing. Until then - she corrected herself from earlier - Take care of yourself.
Please Don't do it Alone
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Post by Clannibal on Oct 19, 2015 13:04:36 GMT -5
Funny, they both were talking with opposite outcomes in mind. Would this plan crash and burn, like Cal seemed convinced of? His confidence wavered between highs and lows each second. If he for some reason didn't show up one day, or two days, would he ruin the chances of her warming up to the group idea? He felt like he held the destiny of this girl in his hands now. Could be he was feeling a little over-dramatic, was all. At least he'd gotten her to smile and joke again instead of coming close to frightened tears. Raion understood there was a lot of anxiety brewing inside of her. He'd dealt with anxiety lots of times. More like, every second of every day. Just in different ways. "If I don't show up, I'm probably dying, in which case, I may be offended if you don't come looking for me. Heh. Just kidding."For the most part. The former was probably true enough. They stood there now, as the conversation seemed to wind down. Were they going to part ways already? Maybe that was for the best. Time to make sure the group had their day's food, and enough leftover for Cal tomorrow. He nodded and smiled when their plans were made concrete and she started making moves to indicate she was leaving. He shrugged. Hadn't meant to push her outta his company, but perhaps he had left her with a lot to think about. She obviously valued her alone time. She instructed him to take care of himself, and he nodded again, suddenly imagining himself in her shoes. Would he be able to survive like Cal had? Probably not. She had a special kind of strength to be out here alone. Raion was a people person. "Don't worry about me, I've got people behind my back. You take care," he said gently. The monkeys above them screeched and took off through the treetops while Raion stood in place to watch her go. He seemed a bit up satisfied with the way things went, hints of worry lines creasing his brow. His mind would be reeling tonight and he figured it may be a sleepless experience.
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