DRIVING ME INSANE.

there is very little left of me, and it's never coming back. cassandra romero. twenty-eight. soldier.

[cassromero]

⸻⸻ ✦ CHRISTIAN SERRATOS, CISFEMALE, SHE/HER ✦ CASSANDRA ROMERO the TWENTY-EIGHT year old has been in the QZ for EIGHTEEN YEARS. The SOLDIER is/are said to be INTELLEGENT and SECRETIVE but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. ( mel / 23 / est / they/them )

𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆: death, military experience, murder

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒.

Name: Cassandra Roselyn Romero Nicknames/Alias: Cass

Faceclaim: Christian Serratos

Age: Twenty-eight Gender: Cisfemale Sexuality: Pansexual Date/Place of Birth: January 20th / Dayton, OH Currently: Dallas QZ

Positive Traits: Intelligent, analytical, calculated Negative Traits: Secretive, abrasive, closed-off Astrological Sign: Capricorn Archetype: The Hardened

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘.

Fighting is part of one's life -- when one is the daughter of a well-respected military man. One thing she was certainly used to was moving -- having gone through elementary schools like one goes through tissues. Her mother was absent from the time she was four, leaving her "old life" behind. And so, Cass and her dad lived by one creed: they would always have each other. They would continue to do so as the outbreak engulfed the world. As expected, Cass and her father put their feet to the ground, grabbed what they could -- and they were off.

She was only eight and already, a survivalist in her own right.

The two years Cass spent with her dad on her own were spent learning everything she could from him. Weapons, combat -- everything. While it seemed expected to her at the time, that she needed to defend herself, her father who she always admired with rose-tinted glasses feared one thing and one thing only: this new world would take him, leaving her with nothing.

The pair were lucky to find the Dallas QZ within days before her tenth birthday, for the first time having a true place to call home. And while it was nothing like the life she had once lived before, a luxury in comparison, Cass found herself blossoming, allowing herself to be a child in the moments that she could.

The very moment she was eligible, Cass knew she was meant to fight for the QZ alongside her father. It was her destiny. Armed with everything he had taught her, no one in the quarantine zone would feel any pain -- for it would be she who took it all. And so, she joined rank. Followed orders. Became the soldier she had always been.

When she was twenty, her father would accompany a recruiter outside of the QZ. And while he had come back many a time before, the recruiter would return home alone -- her father's dog tags being the only remnant of him she had would ever have again.

She took the apologies, the sympathy with nothing more than a simple nod. However, in private -- her sadness and anger would rage deeper than any sea. A different person left her home the day after her father died, a simple shell left in the woman's place.

Cass now keeps his tags in a secure pocket wherever she goes, and they are what keep her grounded and treading on. In a way, she keeps him with her -- as if he is fighting along beside her as he always had before.

She has established a name for herself in Dallas, no longer just Emmett's daughter, but someone not to be messed with. While she cares for the people she protects, she has had to learn to lose one thing in her line of work -- mercy.

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒.

While as a child in the QZ she was able to make some friends, ever since her father's death she has remained rather distant. A couple people have been able to get through to her -- but having no friends means that there's less to lose. Less biases to keep. Only an allegiance to Dallas.

As for romantic relationships -- Cass tries to keep her distance. Not because she believes that theres something revolting about them (okay, may just a little) she believes she doesn't deserve them. That she doesn't deserve to be vunerable, and someone will get hurt if she is.

Adorned in mostly tattered clothes, keeping in mind that she needs to be practical. While comfort is always something she tries to think of -- it is sometimes a sacrifice that she is required to make and she knows it.

Rarely ever lets loose but when she does, she goes wild. It's why she often doesn't drink -- opting to be alert and ready for anything. There have been very few times when she has been convinced to let her guard down, and it often results in a night she'd rather forget.

Has a scar on her right cheek underneath her eye.

MORE TO COME.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

Best Friends - Even protectors need to have friends - even if Cass is skeptical about it. Either from her childhood or her later teens onward, she's allowed these people to hug her while she cried, to help her feel again. ( 0/2 ): OPEN

Friends - Cass shows friendship through respect. If she respects you, than she'll likely try her hardest to keep you in her circle. These people have made the cut. ( 0/any ): OPEN

Healthy Competition - Likely another soldier or fighter of some kind who sees Cass as their biggest competition to be the best. While she wouldn't say it out loud, Cass thinks the same thing. While they push each other (both physically and the other's respective buttons), they care for and respect the hell out of each other. ( 0/1 ): OPEN

The Big Ex - This relationship ended after her father passed, out of her fear of losing yet another person she loved. Where they stand is UTP, but Cass wants nothing more than for them to be happy -- even if she doesn't believe she deserves it herself. ( 0/1 ): OPEN

Hookup - Nothing more than someone to call upon when the night is too quiet, when her bed is too empty. A temporary experience to fill an even bigger void. ( 0/any, current or former ): Joshua Morgan, OPEN

Love Interest - Cass knows the feeling all too well - the very moment this person steps into her gaze, her breath hitches. Her palms start sweating, her hands start to shake. Symptoms of an illness, or at least, she believes it to be so. But then comes the gut-wrenching heartbreak at the thought of anything happening to them.... ( 0/1 ): OPEN

[alisonxmorgan]

Open: @dallasstart Where: somewhere outdoors One word you could use to describe Alison was flighty. Throughout her journeys she had picked up a multitude of interests, although all ended in much the same way; discarded and forgotten about. This week her interest seemed to lie in drawing, and although she wasn't particularly good at it, it passed the time alright. Her pencil scratched the paper roughly, making shapes that vaguely resembled the landscape around her. She eyed her work before flipping it over to show the nearest person, needing a second opinion. "What do you think?" She asked expectantly.

[cassromero]

VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE snuck their way into cass' heart -- but all three of the morgan siblings had somehow managed to tame her. the woman had initially found herself staring at what lay beyond the outskirts of the qz, cass' interest was certainly piqued. seated next to the youngest of the three of them, eyes scan over the page with a proud smile. " it's really lovely, alison. you have such a beautiful gift. "  around the morgans, she knew they didn't see a robot -- someone who simply acted on command. thus, her remark is punctuated by a gentle smile. " making the beautiful things in this world.. it's an amazing thing. "

[aselkaya]

Emira met Cass's gaze with a knowing smile. There was a familiarity in their exchanges, a shared understanding that transcended the barriers of their respective roles. "Dark has a way of playing tricks on us," Emira replied, her tone carrying a subtle empathy for the challenges that came with Cass' role within the QZ.

The discussion shifted to the night patrol, a duty Cass tolerated rather than enjoyed. Emira couldn't help but appreciate the trust Cass placed in herself to secure the outskirts. "Secure is good. The fewer surprises, the better," Emira remarked, a nod of acknowledgment for the diligence Cass brought to the role.

As Cass mentioned the soldiers filtering in and the prospect of heading home, Emira considered the weight of the night. "Home sounds tempting, but you know how it goes. The night's got its own agenda sometimes," she replied with a half-smile, mirroring Cass's blend of readiness and caution.

[cassromero]

EMIRA IS A COMFORTING presence for cass. while she hadn't initially been looking to be understood, the other woman had certainly helped her see just how nice it would truly feel. to be heard. " you've certainly got that right. " the woman shook her head, flashing the other an exhausted and yet genuine smile. " and yet, we trudge forward. " do the only thing they can do: survive.

someone had to do night patrol -- no matter if this said someone enjoyed it or not. and while cass prided herself on an otherwise impenetrable facade, she certainly couldn't ignore her fear, specifically of the unknown. " as long as all measures are properly taken.. " the woman begins, not wanting to bore the other with her logistical jargon.

while cass rarely ever finds herself not heading home after a long days work, she can still understand what the other woman means. one thing that the night can certainly hide in the darkness besides their enemies is one's inhibitions. " most certainly.. would joining me for a drink be an option? "

[esmexmaddox-deactivated20260811]

Josh grinned, a playful glint in his eyes as he followed Cass to the training grounds. There was a familiarity in their banter, a connection that went beyond the duty-bound soldier facade they wore. "Forever might be a stretch, Cass, but you know I've got a good memory," he teased, chuckling at her eye roll. "Also, hold it over your head?" He raised an eyebrow, "do you regret it that much that you see it as a punishment?"

Josh grinned, a playful glint in his eyes as he followed Cass to the training grounds. There was a familiarity in their banter, a connection that went beyond the duty-bound soldier facade they wore. "Forever might be a stretch, Cass, but you know I've got a good memory," he teased, chuckling at her eye roll.

As Cass effortlessly hit the bull's eye, Josh's competitive spirit kicked in. He unslung his bow from his shoulder, giving her a sideways glance. "You always did have a knack for hitting the mark, but I'm not about to let you forget that one night.. besides, I had fun." he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.

With a smooth motion, he notched an arrow and took aim. The arrow flew true, landing just a hair's breadth from Cass's. He raised an eyebrow, mirroring her smirk. "Nice try, Cass, my reflexes are something I won't be losing anytime soon." he replied, a competitive edge lacing his words.

[cassromero]

THE SOLDIERS CREED WAS one she had long since been familiar with -- it came with being the daughter of emmett romero. to fight means not fighting for one, but for all. when she began training she had initially found herself isolating herself, cutting herself off from the comrade of the other soldiers. however, the battles they fought were not ones that she was meant to carry alone -- but in their company. it was then he asked the important question: do you regret it that much that you see it as a punishment? and while the pause that hung in the air made it seem like she was trying to break it to him kindly -- the words that eventually came out were a complete contrast.

" if my words leave this place -- i'll deny it. " the woman rolls her eyes, removing another arrow from the parcel on her back as she prepares to fire off her next shot. she keeps her eyes trained on the target, allowing the words to slip off her tongue with nonchalance. " but no. i didn't regret it. i didn't regret it then and i don't regret it now. "

even if at first she had considered it a moment of weakness -- on her part that is, time allowed her to think differently. perhaps it was because she trusted josh, more so than she trusted the few people she allowed into her life. the morgans had all manage to force their way into her heart more so than she cared to admit, out of some internal form of self preservation.

she certainly wonders if he gets some kind of glee when it comes to getting under her skin -- the roll of her eyes coming just as naturally as the reflexes of her shot. " and so did i. is that what you wanted to hear? " she laughs, using her elbow to give him a sharp, playful nudge to the side. it's then that her eyes return to the target, admiring his own handiwork. not bad. the competition that they've always had is healthy, fun. it strives them both to keep going. at least, she certainly believes as much. it makes her want to get better.

her next shot lands within centimeters away from the other after a moment's silence, the chill of early winter's breeze being the only thing she hears. " i never expected you too, morgan. " she chuckles, crossing her arms over her chest wearing a smile laced with pride. " take your shot, and then we'll try from further away. you up for it? "

[starwarsblr]

Andor - S01E07 Announcement

[louisafms]

"not christ but i come fucking close." the woman had to fight not to laugh at her own wit. crossing her arms, orla rocked on her feet, like an uninterested child as her lips pursed. it was her job to act like she was unbothered by a lot of things but there were cracks and her most recent interaction with axel could attest to that. she'd treat herself like a machine, like the very weapons she handled - handling the death sentence from her nightmares everyday. it was meant to help, she'd tell herself. orla had extended very little empathy towards others, especially now, so she could expect the same back; she'd continue to keep her issues close to her.

then bringing her hands into her fleece pockets, she nodded with a slight smile on her face. "great, excellent." a respectable thing about cass was that she pulled her own weight, unlike many orla had seen with her own eyes causing scenes. this was like now and it was survival of the absolute fittest. it did cross her mind as to why she was so desperate to survive when she had no one to life for but thinking like that would only send her into a tailspin. "do you have to be up early tomorrow? i don't so..."

[cassromero]

THE REMARK ELICITS AN unfamiliar laugh out of cass, so unfamiliar that it's enough to startle her momentarily. even so, she soon settles into a state of comfort. " damn right. " the woman smirks, soon returning to her usual composure. she notices the same of orla. considering their respective natures that they showcased to the public, cass knew that she had no room to judge her. she knew that deep down -- she herself wore a mask that demanded respect. no matter how cold to some it may have seemed. unlike some, cass didn't have the luxury to get attached, at least without a deep, deep sense of trust.

" sleep tends to evade me these days, no matter how early i have to get up. " cass smirks, crossing her arms over her chest as she stands near the other. while the amission wasn't something she was exactly proud of, she certainly wasn't looking for an ounce of sympathy. " would you like to lead the way, or should i? "

[clint-bennet]

Open Starter

@dallasstart

Clint made his way through the town towards the eatery, a sloppily hand rolled cigarette hangs loosely from his lips, taking the walk as an opportunity to get a smoke in which ended up being a waste anyway. A fight from his last outing left his ribs bruised, making it difficult to get any good breath in. Still, beggars couldn't be choosers and a little smoke was better than none at all. Before he entered the cafeteria, he put his cigarette out, putting the remainder back in the carton and stepped through the threshold. Being midday, a few other residents were scattered around, some on their own, others in a small group. He grabbed himself a plate and found a seat wincing a bit as he settled.

[cassromero]

ONE OF THE FEW places where cass allows her shoulders to hang lower than normal was most certainly the cafeteria. it was perhaps a false sense of vulnerability for she was prepared to strike at moments notice, but none the less -- a state of being that some may have noticed when they were not too busy indulging and wallowing in themselves. even still, she was moving about the world on her own terms in that room, not being read a list of commandments or offering her mind, body and soul to the people of dallas and their safety.

it seemed like the entirety of the compound had the same idea, that now was the time to eat -- leaving her without a space to collect herself. at least, not alone. eyes fall on an empty spot nearby a vaguely familiar face.. but everyone is familiar to her considering her line of work.

" this seat taken? " cass asks, her natural gruffness coating her voice. even if it sounded like she approached the conversation maliciously, the calmness in her resting face told him otherwise.

[bob-belcher]

WEDNESDAY (2022- ) Season 1 | Episode 3

[axulrich]

"Somethin' in the wind, huh?" That was an understatement. Everyone was on edge, some more than others, but there was always a looming darkness, a constant threat. It's why people were quicker to a knife or a gun then they were words of understanding. Axel sees her posture ease slightly, hands resting at his lap and flexing out the creeping arthritis from holding his own knife all day, though not at people those vegetables didn't stand a chance. "You could say that."

Axel scratches blunt nails at his cheek, fingers rubbing against days old stubble and he shakes his head, "Yeah—yeah, I was." His walk home was a bit longer than he liked and the fresh air felt nice after a day in a hot, stuffy kitchen, "Just needed a minute, even if it's at the cost of my life." Axel jokes lightly, leaning into the levity once more.

"How's, uh...work?" Axel think it's an easier question to ask, given that she's still lingering around and he hated the awkward silence that tend to grow when things stalled out, "Can't assume it's gettin' any easier for you out there."

[cassromero]

THE MORE THAT SHE thought about such a statement, the more cass realized just how melodramatic it sounded. even then, was any fear of what lay outside melodramatic? " sounds like too much, yeah? " cass shakes her head, eyes turning to the ground before returning his gaze once more. some had said that of her before, but she never truly cared. she had a purpose, something that kept her moving forward. the opinions of others had no point in surrounding her. " but then again, we never expected the world to be overrun by infection. "

the woman rolls her eyes as his crack, but she is socially aware enough to understand that the comment was made in jest. the biting chill in the air was certainly rejuvenating enough for anyone after a day's work, breathing some life back into them. she follows her response to his sarcasm with a quiet nod, knowing her mind wouldn't allow in the direction of her own anytime soon.

" it's... going. " cass nods, finally taking the seat next to him. for a moment, the pair watch as others walk by, drunk folk heading home, other unsuspecting zone folk heading in the direction of the bar... it's then that she finally continues. " everything seems secure.. it's all we can hope for, right? how's the kitchen? "

[aselkaya]

Emira's gaze met Cass's as the footsteps approached, her stance relaxed yet alert. There was a subtle nod of acknowledgment for the unspoken camaraderie that came with the shared burden of safeguarding their community. Cass's commitment to protecting the town resonated with Emira, and she understood the weight carried in the pursuit of that semblance of normalcy.

A wry smile played on Emira's lips as she replied, "Well, Officer, I guess no one ever had the chance. But don't worry, I've got no intention of causing any trouble."

Leaning casually against a nearby post, Emira observed the weariness in Cass's eyes, recognizing the toll that the night patrol must have taken. "Long night, huh? Anything out there worth worrying about?" she asked, her tone a mix of genuine concern and a touch of curiosity, as if she could read the unspoken stories etched on Cass's expression.

[cassromero]

WHILE CASS MAY HAVE appeared relaxed, natural even, she was certainly everything but. every movement was a product of rehearsal, as if her emotions and movements were a choreographed dance. it made sense for a soldier, and while her father had never raised her as one, it was clear it was embedded in her dna. she was destined for it. while she had spoken to emira many a time, she found herself enjoying their discussions. she felt understood by her, something she couldn't say about many.

" shit. " cass releases what sounds as a laugh as she shakes her head, running her fingers through her hair as she turns to face the familiar individual. " i know, i know. the dark just tends to hide things the most. "

night patrol was never something she enjoyed. she found some amount of comfort in being able to secure the outskirts and further herself -- because there were very few others who she trusted to do it. however, they never really knew just how many enemies were out there. sure, the knew of clickers, of raiders. " everything looks secure out there. the rest of the soldiers should be filtering in soon. " after a moments pause, cass speaks once more. " headed home for the night, or is the night just getting started? "

[junexmoore]

As his eyes take time to register the face in front of him, he squints through the evening darkness. The moon starting to peek at them, as if it wanted to catch their conversation before starting its shift. "Cass, what's going on?" He makes an attempt to step closer to her, comfort is something that Reed has grown cold to. But still, there is a warmth that remains inside of him that he couldn't put out with all the anger in the world. His hand rests softly on the side of her arm before his gaze travels up to the sky, the twinkle of stars catching his eye as if he didn't notice them before she brought it to his attention. "You came out here all alone just to see some stars? I have a hard time buying that."

[cassromero]

GOD, WHY DID SHE EVER have to care? not that she truly believed the concept of having people mean something to you was a bad thing, subconsciously at least. more than anything, it allowed cass to be a soldier. move forward, into the days that had come to blur together. his touch to her shoulder causes a noticeable release in tension as her shoulders drop. " it's peaceful.. " she mutters, sniffing as her eyes trace over the ground with such focus, that she could commit every piece of dirt and every blade of grass to memory. " i don't remember the last time i've ever truly felt peace. " if she ever had, she most certainly couldn't recall. it was buried deep within the crevices of her childhood. " did i wake you? "

[rcttencore]

location — on the way back from the fields. with — @cassromero

no matter the size of the zone, there's really only a handful of places eda will ever be seen gravitating towards. when there's eyes to notice, anyway. but one of the places she doesn't mind being seen hiding out to is reed's. when people don't know to leave her the fuck alone, he does. the fields he's responsible for offers her a piece of the outside others dread, but she sickly misses. the sun rising over the qz brings a peaceful aura to eda that none will catch the moment the soft glow turns bright enough to stir awake most of the residents. and she knows not to linger after the first lights, leaving the farmer to his own duty fast enough.

the way back isn't usually irritating, but of course something has to sour the short respite in her temper. ❛ are you going to shoot me on sight if i don't have an hall - pass, private ? ❜ there's no effort to hide the disdain in her voice the second the figure she'd spotted afar is within earshot. there's a fake notion that's been circulating around the quarantine zone since she set foot here that it is safe. that their community look out for each other. she hasn't bought into it yet. and that security comes at a price of freedom. the patrols are too reminiscent of a past that's quite fresh, in the light of everything. maybe cassandra isn't what eda paints her out to be, but she doesn't care enough to be proven wrong or right. ❛ and it's too early to steal any carrots, before you get paranoid. ❜ she really doesn't have any business around the fields, responsibilities speaking.

[cassromero]

WHILE CASS HAS COME to learn every inch of the quarantine zone over her years here -- there were very few places that she felt sane. most of the small world they found themselves in saw her as a robot, nothing more than a machine. however, she always knew she had a safe place at reeds. it was perhaps what led her to the fields once more, after letting herself come undone for a mere moment a couple of nights before. she doesn't expect to see eda and yet, she does at the same time. there something amidst the brush -- a healing power that even she couldn't comprehend. perhaps because it felt the closest to the outside of the qz -- a normal outside, not overrun by the infected and barren of living beings.

while she doesn't quite understand the other woman's distain for her -- she barely interacts with the woman as it is, she knows two things. one, the woman cares for very few. secondly, reed seems to care about her. if reed cares, that's enough for cass. and so she remains cordial, holding back her fighting words. she vows to continue to, that is, unless eda crosses the line first.

and, just like fire to oil -- eda lights the match.

if she wants a fight, cass will give her a war.

" hall pass? we're not in high school, eda. surely i thought you knew that at your grown age. " cass rolls her eyes, arms crossed over her chest. some consider her inability to break eye contact unnerving when in reality, cass cares very little about intimidating the other, let alone intimidating anyone at all. eda, however, is simply not worth the effort. " but considering you speak in tweenage insults and have your head stuck so far up your own ass you can't distinct your right hand from your left, i don't expect anything less. " her face remains like stone, leaning against the familiar barn doors she had seen behind many times before.

despite the rage that flowed through her veins deep down she knew, they were two sides of the same tarnished coin.

[cassromero]

How are you sleeping at night? How do you close both your eyes? Living with all of those lives on your hands? Standing alone on that hill Using your fuel to kill We won't take it standing still

[junexmoore]

@dallasstart back fields of reeds farm

It had been a long day, a long week already. Reed loved the routine that he held here at the QZ, the amount of work that he could put into the job he held made it easy for him to ignore the problems he should be facing. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, gazing over the rows in his field. He was proud of his work, taking a minute to admire the serenity that came with working far away from others. Until the crunching of the ground behind him pulled him back into the reality that he couldn't always be on his own. "What?" He asked before even turning around, facing them now. "What are you doing out here?"

[cassromero]

AIR. SHE NEEDS AIR. no one was truly invincible, immune from the perils of the world outside these walls. there were horrors out there, reminding her more and more often why she needed to be the soldier everyone thought she was. a protector. however, as the days passed by, she couldn't help but ask herself -- what was she really fighting for? it was perhaps what kept her awake on another sleepless night, having made little effort to fix her sleep schedule a long, long time ago. she was inevitably bound for another mission anyway. " reed.. " cass murmured under her breath, making some attempt to wipe away the few tears that had somehow shed. while she hated crying ( she had done enough of that when her father had left this world, and she never wanted to feel that way again ) if she were to let herself go around anyone, it was him. " the stars are just the best from here.. "

[esmexmaddox-deactivated20260811]

One thing that kept Josh going was knowing that he was protecting the people of Dallas, he was protecting his family which was something he felt he had failed to do before getting to the QZ. That feeling of failure lingered for some time even though he knew back then he couldn't have done anything different, even if he did maybe the outcome could have been worse.. or better? Could it have been better? Could he have stopped it? It was a question that he asked constantly. Maybe he could have, maybe he could have saved them. Maybe if he had looked for a little longer he could have found his sister too.

Josh built his walls up so high to the point it felt impossible sometimes to letter others in. Let them know what he was thinking, feeling, let them know just exactly what he had been through and who he had lost on his journey to where he is now. The facade was covered in charm, jokes, eye rolls and attitude but deep down he was kind and caring, loving, he wanted to feel loved and love somebody but he always sabotaged when it felt too real.

When it came to being on the outside of the QZ he was always surrounded by the same people, people he had learned to trust and needed to trust. Cass was one of those. They had been outside the walls many times together, looked out for each other and been there when they needed each other. She could read him, his behaviour and body language from a mile away and in return he could do the same. It was all part and parcel of the job. They knew each other.

He couldn't exactly say he regretted the night they shared together. In his mind it was just that.. one night together. Something they hadn't done in the past and something he never thought would happen. Cass put up a front while at work, he understood why too.. the soldier's were majority men and she felt she needed to prove herself, he got it, he completely understood it. If she didn't want to talk about it then he wouldn't. If she didn't want people knowing then that was just it.. their little secret.

"Ha" he let out loud and obnoxiously as he looked down at the woman catching her smirk. Quickly listening to her words as she spoke, his eyebrow raising with a small grin peaking at the corner of his lips. "I agree" he nodded as he looked at her, "why crawl into bed with boys when there are men around here?" It may have been a small jab at her, playful banter that others who may be listening in wouldn't understand.

[cassromero]

CASS HAD NEVER HAD true family in this world, that is, except for her father. that is, until the universe had taken him away from her. perhaps this was why she wasn't quick to consider people important to her, as if whichever higher power existed was listening. if the universe knew she cared, that person would be gone with a simple snap. while she hadn't initially had a choice in staying in the quarantine zone -- being no more than ten years of age, each day allowed her to feel more human than she had ever thought possible, both a blessing and a curse.

it was perhaps the duties of soldierhood that allowed josh to be as important to cass as he was, even if she never spoke those words allowed. they were bound by the same code, to protect and serve the people of the quarantine zone. no matter the cost. while she would once have said that having people who meant something to her pulled her from her work -- adulthood had caused her to begin to need that connection, for a life of complete isolation was no life at all. then again, what would she really be fighting for? to simply exist in her own, isolated universe?

there were very few people she knew within the depths of her soul, the way they could exchange a single glance and have an entire conversation between them. cass put on a hard face around the other soldiers in her battalion -- fearing deeply that if she were to flash the wrong kind of smile, let her posture fall even an inch too low, than she would lose all respect. she had to fight for it, but pretend that she wasn't.

cass had always cared very little when it came to entanglements, trying to keep herself distanced from anything that could mean something. one night was a phrase that she was all too used to, as well as the secrets. and while it would be nothing more than that, it added an entire other level to their relationship. it was something that cass was certainly learning to acknowledge -- especially as they learned to move forward. be a good soldier. not a human being.

of course she realized the very moment that the words left her mouth, she had a feeling that she was going to receive some kind of joke on her behalf. and yet, the words still make her roll her eyes. " are you going to hold that over my head forever? " the one night. once again, she had a feeling that she knew the answer. her fingers curl around her hair as she ties it back, eyes setting course for the training grounds they were heading in. " cause if you try to, you may get a swift kick in the nuts. "

upon their arrival, cass removes the bow from her shoulders, another hand soon clasped around an arrow. with a swift motion, she soon shoots the arrow which lands on the bulls eye with a solid thunk. " if there's one thing i do know... " the woman smirks, raising her eyebrows as if to say: your move. " i'll always be the better shot. " the woman backs up, grabbing for another arrow. " what are you waiting for? or have you lost your reflexes since our last mission? "

[axulrich]

Axel laughs, eyes closed as he head hangs over the back of the bench, feeling the comfort of the most genuine interaction he's had all day. He's used to the polite necessity of getting along with everyone, keeping his problems tucked away. But, with Cass, it feels less forced. It could've been the lack of familiarity, witty jabs lingering on their tongues, always on guard with a retort to challenge the other.

"Hey," Axel holds his hands up in surrender as he chances a peak her way, the rigid line of her demeanor, her stoic stance, all the while showing that softness he suspected as she smirks accordingly, "I come in peace, Cass."

"Seriously though," Axel adds, "don't tempt me with a good time." He's joking, mostly—he blames his impulsivity for letting it slip, but he's never been one to leave an opportunity to be untried, even if he already expects the shut down on the other end.

[cassromero]

SHE HAS YET TO completely turn to him -- but the laugh initially causes her fingernails to dig into the flesh of her palm. even if cass knows he's well intentioned, as most are, the woman is not always skilled at hiding her annoyance. coupled with her exhaustion, it was a mix she was most certainly not fond of. despite the differences between axel and cass, she knows he doesn't deserve to be the subject of her rage. she has been surprised as of late that she can even say that at all, with the way the world has been. nails soon leave her grip, arms resting at her side as she finally turns to look him in the eye.

" i know. i know. " the woman repeats, not sure if she's reassuring him or herself. while she's never one to her her guard down completely, she certainly seems a lot calmer than she did during their initial encounter. " i don't know what it is... something in the wind. has me a little more.. alert, and that's sayin' something. " she needs to be ready, at all costs.

an eyebrow twitches at the reference, finding some amount of amusement in the idea that someone would want to get their ass kicked by her. " you sure about that? " cass teases, crossing her arms over her chest with a cocked eyebrow. " bigger men have said those words -- i think you can spell out the rest. " after a moment's pause, she steps a bit closer before speaking once more. " headin' home? "

[louisafms]

"couldn't fucking sleep, could i?" the woman was quick to come up with her defence as it came from truth. orla had been late catching onto what had happened all those years ago. it would be pointless thinking about her youth, all the wasted potential but was it actually wasted if nature and disease and brought all types of people down to the same level? it was what she'd done living like this that would haunt her. people said that she hadn't even flinched when doing it so she couldn't understand why she felt nothing but regret - like she was a danger to everyone else. survival instinct, that's what it had been dubbed but that was just a polite way of putting that she'd lost her humanity. that was exactly how orla martin would present to her community - someone who say black or white, life or death - she was so clear cut in her opinions, until she wasn't.

"was hardly sneaking up on you, kid. you just need to de-escalate a tad from duty and we'll be alright, yeah?" her speech seemed friendly but there was a glare that was given during her deliverance. "you want a nightcap?"

[cassromero]

" CHRIST, ORLA. " CASS MUTTERS, rubbing some of the bleariness from her eyes. while she'd never admit it openly, cass' recent sleep schedule has certainly been getting to her. or, per say -- lack thereof. the patrol schedules were brutal for any mere mortal, let alone to the woman who denied herself weakness. she felt a sense of comradre with orla, even when the two didn't see eye to eye ( evident in the way the woman bristled when she was referred to as a child, but stayed silent ). she had heard the stories about the other woman -- what she had done to survive. her coldness to the world, her coldness towards it all. she was no stranger to what people said about her, and she had come to tune it out.

while cass ordinarily refuses to let go of her own dispositions at times ( curse her stupid pride ), this one she knew orla spoke the truth about. she took in a sharp inhale before speaking once more. " i really should find out how to change my sleep schedule -- jesus. it's got me vigilant at the sound of a twig snapping. " or her non existent one. " that... would actually be perfect, thanks. " she was getting better about leaving her job behind when she could. it wasn't an abandonment of duty, but a necessity if she was going to stay grounded.