.never forget.

mason carter son twentyfour alone

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CHARLIE

Before she can get the heavy item into the bed of the pickup, someone else intervenes, swooping in to save the day, which the muscles in her arms will be grateful for tomorrow. There isn’t a single desire to fight it, accepting the help when it’s offered instead of swearing she can do it. There isn’t much to store away for the trip on her end. She’s merely just trying her best to help without being in the way.

The face belongs to a stranger, one she isn’t familiar with and she thinks he must’ve merged into this group after her sudden disappearance, fueled by a desperate need to find her family intact - safe. It isn’t what was awaiting her. These days hope flickers in her chest, each breeze against the flame the thought she’s foolish for believing her father and brother are still alive and that she’ll see them again. One day, the fire will die.

“Thanks,” Charlie states quickly, lips curving into a swift, polite smile as she steps back to allow him room to shift the container into the truck. And maybe she’d laugh if his comment came during a different time, when she didn’t feel like more of a shell of a human being than an actual person, but she still attempts a small grin to keep things friendly.

With a shake of her head, she places her hands on her hips and confesses, “Didn’t pack it. Don’t know what’s in it. Cans maybe? Bricks? The skulls of our enemies? Whatever it is, it’s heavy.”

the amount of frail people around the base was slightly overwhelming. they seemed to think they could manage. he was sure they could in their own way, but trying to lift up crates that were bigger than they were didn’t seem like the wisest choice; especially when there was more than enough capable meat around to do the heavy lifting. 

“ probably the skulls knowin’ the people ‘round here, “ he flashed her a grin, sliding it further into the bed of the truck. he used the space to hop into the back, adjusting it flush against the cab with ease. he adjusted himself to look down at Charlie for a brief second before taking an easy jump back down to the ground beside her. 

“ what’s a girl like you doin’ out here liftin’ crates bigger than her? “ she asked, raising a brow and looking back at the others that had been piled up beside it.

she didn’t need to ask, though. Mason put himself to work, but decided to keep her engaged as not to steal her thunder. 

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CHARLIE

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It’s time to move on and it’s a feeling Charlie’s forgotten. The only familiar notion is the question of where - because there isn’t a particular destination for her anymore. Her childhood home had been the goal, convinced she would find signs of life inside. But when she finally got there, she didn’t find her family waiting for her, surviving boarded up in their house. Her father was missing. There wasn’t a sign of her brother, Michael. And the first thing she noticed was Shane lying motionless on the carpet of the living room. The next was her mother’s bloodied mouth gnawing at his stomach.

The caravan feels odd to her, unaccustomed these days to traveling in packs and it makes her feel exposed. Because if there’s safety in numbers, the parade of cars makes her feel like a bullseye is painted on her back - far from invisible. Paranoia might be the sole cause but she’s witnessed enough while scouting out the trail back to her hometown to know not every group is like this one. Most don’t seem as kind, alerting the world with war cries and rallying calls, of strange promises of safety for things she wasn’t willing to give up.

Charlie stares at the pick up truck she’ll be riding in, grateful at least that she wouldn’t have to walk to their next destination and curious if she’ll ever find a vehicle of her own to cart around in. But the solitude of that sounds overbearing and she’ll gladly ride in cars with strangers to give her muscles a break. With a heavy sigh to prepare herself for the weight of the large container, the redhead mumbles a frustration under her breath before reaching for it, ready to be away from the base as quickly as they can.

the base had been his home for months now, it was the closest thing to a home that he’d had since he lost his abby. nothing really felt like home, though, despite what others seemed to want to say. there was always a piece of his heart missing that ached with every breath he took. his heart beat was nothing more than a reminder of all of those back at the compound who had fallen in his absence -- the fact that he’d risked his life to save theirs only to lose them all. nothing was left for him.

but, these people were his family now. if they moved, he moved. he wasn’t going to let something as petty as a building with a roof be his anchor. he knew that the community of them was going to be a saving grace. 

so, he went to take a peak under the hood of the truck he’d be riding in for who knew how long going who knew where. he may not have been the best mechanic but he could at least check the tire tread and the oil. it wasn’t that he didn’t trust the others to check, it was that he trusted himself more.

when his eyes laid on the shiny red hair that eyed over a rather large tote, mason was more than happy to swoop in and lift in into the bed of the truck.

“ i got it, ” he said, only with the slightest bit of strain to his voice. he would be lying if he said it wasn’t heavy, but by looking at her, it was going to be more than that in her hands. “ what all did you pack? ” he asked, sliding it comfortably into the bed. 

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guilt. they had gone into battle without him. he was aware of the circumstances but he still couldn’t bring himself to be okay with being left behind. so many things could’ve gone wrong, the thoughts just kept replaying in his mind, triggering memories of bloody hands that he didn’t wish to relive. yet, moments flickered the terrible bloodied scene he’d stumbled across that day and he couldn’t shake it out of his head in a worse state than usual. but, he’d survive, he had no other choice now. 

perhaps the beads of sweat the fell from his forehead tasted like vodka, but he wasn’t going to test it. instead, he harbored himself alone in one of the workout rooms and took his self-aggression out on the poor punching bag. 

though, a glimpse of shiny hair caught his attention in the dull sunlight. it caused him to stop, she didn’t need to see him like this -- nobody did. digging his shoulder into the bag, he sighed, realizing that it was one of his own shortly after. the ring of bruises still fresh around her neck only pounded a nail deeper into his back.

“afternoon, shia,” he said, forcing himself to be more bright eyed than he was actually feeling, “how’re you feeling?” //: @memoriesoftomorrow 

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ELLIE

She keeps her visual on him, eyes narrowing slightly as though she is trying to weigh him up. It’s not anything personal, it’s just Ellie has found the new group less than welcoming and those who are civil, still don’t seem like they would defend her group if shit hit the fan.

“I don’t tend to forget a name…though more so a face…always remember a face.”

Which has shocked people in the past, especially anyone who has given her shit. Further down the line, she’d met up with some guy who had been an utter bastard in the past and he genuinely thought she wouldn’t realise it was him–but how wrong was he.

“You don’t look the sorta guy who gets into trouble…I mean, excluding with the fuckin’ monsters out there.”

She shrugs and goes against what she had just said about herself.

“I was kidding…I am always in shit one way or another.”

he isn’t very good at talking to people. he knows how he comes across, he’s talked about it with kane -- how they couldn’t let people see them chatting due to their aesthetic. but, things were changing. 

“ you don’t look like you get into too much trouble, ma’am, ” mason said, nodding his head while his lips pressed into a thin, worn line. a thick, callused hand came up to brush at his chin, filling the void of silence with a glance down and adjust his stubble. 

his hand dropped, trying his best to not have her lose interest in him, “ i try my best not to forget a face, i’d imagine most people don’t even use names these days, ” he tried lamely to lighten the mood.

instantly regretted his choice to be witty after realizing how stupid he sounded.

“ i mean, i’ll sure remember yours, ” he nodded, quickly trying to cover his tracks, “ ellie is a pretty name. ”

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KANE

Kane’s unscrewing the flask lid already, although he does wait for the answer before he’s putting in a generous splash of the liquor.

“You look like shit,” a common joke from Kane, skipping past the gentler ‘are you tired?’ or the near-useless ‘how are you?’s. It was always implied, after all, that the person looked terrible if those were the first questions out.

no sooner did kane place the cap back onto the flask did mason have it risen to his lips. the familiar burn in his throat seemed to calm him, but only in respected company. 

“ no worse than usual, ” he muttered, leaning forward to cradle the cup in his hands. well, those were hopeful words on his behalf. “ glad to see that one of us is in a good mood. ” he took another sip and a warm, short sigh after.

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ELLIE

She puffs her cheeks up before letting out a sigh.

“Hey, knock it off with that look, okay?..I mean, most around here don’t look too fond of having more people added to the base…so it’s hardly any fuckin’ wonder I would see you any differently.”

Ellie studies him for a moment and tilts her head casually to one side.

“I’m sure some will find rest here…”

Her expression softens slightly as she tries to not come off as a total bitch.

“The names, Ellie….you probably ain’t heard of me, I like to avoid trouble if I can help it.”

He probably hasn’t heard of her, but it’s highly unlikely because she stays out of trouble, she usually finds it.

his jaw tightened, unaware of this look that she claims he wore. the only thing he wished to do was stay quiet and look out for those who remained. they were all his people now, the good, the bad and the ugly. everyone ha a story. 

“ i’m not so good with names anyway, ” he said, tightening his jaw while his mind rolled through the dozens of names that had rolled through their home in past months. he couldn’t recall many of them -- most of them had left anyway. 

even though he was never one much for conversation, he managed to find some sort of footing, “ wish i could stay outta trouble these days. ”

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ELLIE

Ellie just slowly nods for a moment before letting a curious question leave her lips.

“So….protectin’ your own…is that like…your group?….or does protectin’ your own extend to everyone in the base against those fuckers outside the walls?”

his brows furrowed, pulling lines across is forehead -- almost insulted that she’d insinuate he’d let any of them die.

“ miss, if you’re here, you’re my people, ” she nodded cordially. “ we’re all just tryin’ to stay alive, i just hope your people find good rest here.”

he paused, speaking again against the silence, “ name’s mason. ”

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ELLIE

The initial burst of annoyance is quickly extinguished when Ellie watches him make a hasty retreat. A smirk emerges on her face and she listens to him speak through the door.

“Come back in….anyway…just doing your job?”

mason made his way back into the room, only after taking a step or two in succession to his exit. he was invited -- and after such a flub of invading her space, 

“ yes ma’am, ” he said, bowing his head slightly, “ after hearin’ noises you get sorta paranoid about things.. just protectin’ my own. ”

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ELOISE

“How about fuckin’ knockin’ when the doors closed?…it ain’t like I ain’t had this room for the past two weeks.”

turning around and shutting the door quickly, Mason fumbled over his thoughts for a moment, snapping obscenities at himself. “ sorry, Ma’am, I can’t keep up with all of you anymore, just tryin’ to do my job, ” he muttered through the door.

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KANE

It felt like rubbing it in Mason’s face, turning up in a decent mood, still riding the high of no longer being completely alone thanks to Bryce’s appearance.  They’d found familiar ground between them: two miserable fucks, quietly playing the role of a Stoic Man whilst going about menial work on the base.

Still it felt worse to avoid Mason, so instead, Kane walks over, maybe tries to let some of his good mood filters over to the younger man. He walks past him, slips the cup of coffee from its place and takes a good chug.

“Evenin’,” he says with some put on chipperness before he’s settling into a chair next to him, slipping a flash out of his pocket, “Want me to spice up your drink?”

mason cocked a brow. though his jaw was naturally tight, the look of solemn bore heavy on his young features which made him appear older than he was. regardless of his existence, no matter how passive, his only company had grown quite pleasant in recent days and the change didn’t go unnoticed. it was good for him, though; everyone deserved some sort of happiness.

“ you know I can’t say no to that, ” he said, shifting in his seat to lean his weight forward slightly. drinking was something to keep him warm these days, to keep him steady and relaxed. he was off duty for the night, all he could hope for was that it’d help him get some sleep.

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a heaviness bore over his broad shoulders -- no matter how many monsters or human’s he’d take down he’d never be strong enough to carry the weight of guilt. it had been far too long to still be living in a cloud of gloom but not long enough, time couldn’t ease this burden from him, nor could the the spill of blood, but still he tried to find some escape. however, that search for peace.

insomnia was a plague that seemed to be more infectious than the unwavering dread around them. 

mason found himself sat in his frequently visited chair in a common area, his feet propped up on a chair in front of him. footsteps would sound behind him, though, nobody questioned his presence anymore. he’d been here far too long for that and kept too close to himself and his cup of coffee. 

@kane-e