[callanwclker]

"Any bright ideas then?" Brad turned to look at Esmeray with a raised eyebrow. "Which one of your little friends decide to turn into a psycho killer and do this? Because it sure as shit isn't one of us clearly. This was going on way before we arrived and somehow you haven't figured it out yet?"

[obstinatemaiden]

the accusations were loud and proudly presented, something that should have been expected. she still hadn't calculated in this. " i can assure you, it isn't one of us. none of us would ever do anything in that nature. beside, haven't you seen the news? there is a lunatic on the loose. "

[albafortier]

who: open, cap 3/4 where: outside, in the back

the mood around lake howell is seriously lacking... and with good reason. but stewing in gloom has never been noelle's style. NO, her nature is to deflect and avoid with what she refers to as a healthy dose of distraction.

so, she starts hauling logs from beneath the deck towards the fire pit in the back; each one feeling heavier than the last. stopping to catch her breath, she spots someone approaching. "hey!" she calls out, her voice breathless, but laced with a playful lilt. "care to partake in some… manual labor with me?"

[obstinatemaiden]

while most has either gone through a depressive episode or made the best of the situation in the worst type of way, it seemed there was still one person trying to make the situation somehow bareable. they still haven't figured a way out and chance were slim to none that they would make it out alive. it was therefore with admirations that she watched the blonde carry her logs to a fireplace. " i could help indeed. it is not like we got much else to do." the least she could do was make light of the situation and enjoy atleast a bit of it.

[callanwclker]

@lakehowellstart

"The fuck am I supposed to do now?" Bradford rolled his eyes at the situation he was in. He came for a relaxing break away from everything and now found himself in the middle of a low budget horror movie.. unless this is big budget with it being the Howell's? "I was supposed to be on a plane to travel Europe after this and now I'm stuck in this place? I don't even want to sleep with anyone here how fuckin' boring."

[obstinatemaiden]

" got no advise to give here. but i think we all feel this way. " although esmeray has gotten used to big personalities, she didn't care much for getting in a discussion when the tension was high. " all we could do is either find a way out or make the best of it."

[obstinatemaiden]

" you and i both know that isn't the case. look at what my parents did. they shipped me off and got me married with the most awful man. i didn't quite have a say in it. " esmeray never had shared anything about here former husband. not even that she had hated his guts. it did feel right to share it. although chances were it was the alcohol that made her speak these truths. " and i love you miray. i feel like you are one of the few who truly understands me and cares for me. sometimes i even doubt my parents do anymore. " another harsh truth she has been facing the last few years.

[mirayaslan]

"okay but if you just forget about all of that... it's not so bad." she joked. "you're not in that situation anymore that's what matters. not that our current situation is great." that was the understatement of the century but miray had never been known to be the most comforting person. "of course, you're practically my sister i'll always care for you. you're my favourite human. ignore everyone else especially your parents."

[obstinatemaiden]

perhaps miray had a good point in this matter. the bad situation she had been in had resolved itself by the dead of her husband, therefore now was the moment and time to start living her life the way she wanted it, not the way her parents or anyone else desired it. " you do have a point there. i just ... don't know where or how to start that. what is it even i want ?? " her fingers wrapped around her glass tighter, tapping at it to calm her nerves. " oh miray, thank you. i do adore you more then anything.

[ardenrhodes]

"is that what you want? for more to come out of this?" she's never been shy about going for what she really wants and right now, it seemed like a perfect time to ask for it. "carefree or careless? because i'm so good at doing both." that was a bit surprising to her, she never thought that after this trip (if they even make it alive) anyone would even want to stay in touch, especially with her. "you could definitely come by, i took over my grandmother's estate so there's room for you there if you need a change."

[obstinatemaiden]

" at this very moment, i want to have it all. who knows what time we have left. we seize the moment while our hearts are still beating. " esmeray had always admired anyone and everyone who had made their decisions based on their passions and desires. she never had had the choice to make any of her own. after a failed marriage and loosing the love of her life, it didn't matter any longer what her parents or anyone's else for that matter might think. " please teach me how. i could use all the guidance. " esmeray had meant any and all of her words, giving the world and all the people she surrounded herself with the kindness they deserved. " honestly, i could use a change. i need to figure things out for myself and no one else. let for once my parents not influence my decisions. i am not their prized possession to do with as they see fit. i have done enough for them, even married a man i did not love ... in fact ... even hated. "

[sujidotexe]

             ❝  aw,  c'mon.  don't  say  that.  ❞    the  words  are  understandable,  and  for  someone  as  pessimistic  as  the  outcast,  they're  ones  that  she'd  say  herself.  she  doesn't  want  her  friend  thinking  them,  however.    ❝  i  mean,  yeah,  we  can't  deny  that  we've  been  put  into  a  shitty  situation,  but  you  know  how  much  power  words  have.  it's  not  ending.  not  for  us.  ❞    pleasant  people  are  hard  to  come  by,  especially  if  you're  danbi.  the  world  can't  do  without  esmeray.    ❝  anyway,  i  think  we've  talked  enough  about  all  that.  wanna  play  a  game?  ❞

[obstinatemaiden]

more often then not, esemeray had played the role of the confident positive friend to danbi. for once the roles were reversed and slowly but steadily esmeray started to view her friend in a new light. she loved this confident grown woman whom was taking on the world. " oh how our roles have changed. you are right though, we can make it out alive. " it was a truth she wanted to become reality and therefore she choose to make it happen. " sure, what type of game were you thinking of? "

[mirayaslan]

"my life isn't that much better than yours i just have more confidence. if something isn't going my way i make it go my way. i'm sure you can do the same." there was nothing miray wanted more than for her cousin to thrive and have the best life possible, if they made it out of their current situation of course. "first, i need to let you know i love you. you know that right? i can't do this without you so you better keep your ass safe okay?"

[obstinatemaiden]

" you and i both know that isn't the case. look at what my parents did. they shipped me off and got me married with the most awful man. i didn't quite have a say in it. " esmeray never had shared anything about here former husband. not even that she had hated his guts. it did feel right to share it. although chances were it was the alcohol that made her speak these truths. " and i love you miray. i feel like you are one of the few who truly understands me and cares for me. sometimes i even doubt my parents do anymore. " another harsh truth she has been facing the last few years.

[ardenrhodes]

"you know what, the way you just said that sound so fucking hot or maybe the alcohol has finally hit me," arden smirks as she pours herself another shot before taking it. "better than michigan has ever treated me that's for fucking sure but california moves fast, when i first got there, it felt like everyone had things to do. things never felt done because life just took you in direction."

[obstinatemaiden]

" if that is what the alcohol brings you, i need more of it asap. i could actually use some time being carefree. " the last few years has been nothing but a whirlwind and she honestly had no clue how she was going to rebuild her life from it. "that does sound like a dream. perhaps i should come by some time and experience it for myself. it sounds like everything i currently need."

[mirayaslan]

"i'm unfazed because i don't concern myself with those who don't matter, which is most people. look at me, what would somebody like me ever have to worry about?" she joked with a laugh. "if there's anything i ever teach you let it be that. now, enough talk about him let us get drunk."

[obstinatemaiden]

" it certainly is the best way to deal with this situation. you certainly have nothing to worry about, nor be concerned with. you got a beautiful life and i love that for you." her life however had many twists and turns and most them weren't for the better, actually for the worst. she is still trying to figure out what she wanted in life. " yes, please, i just want to forget. "

[sujidotexe]

             she  wrinkles  her  nose,  a  smile  teasing  her  lips.  life  for  the  group  sucks  right  now  (  which  is  an  understatement  ),  but  there's  a  simple  joy  to  be  found  between  them.  an  interaction  with  someone  she  cares  for  focusing  her  attention  as  their  reality  fades  to  the  background  for  even  only  a  brief  time.    ❝  i  love  you  too.  ❞    it's  not  a  sentiment  she  offers  much.  besides  to  her  mother,  she  can  count  the  times  she's  said  it  on  one  hand,  but  perhaps  it's  something  she  should  share  more  often?  at  least  while  she  has  the  chance.    ❝  regardless  of...  ❞    she  waves  a  hand  around,  not  wanting  to  dampen  their  conversation  by  verbalising―well,  everything,    ❝  i'm  glad  i  got  to  see  you.  it's  always  something  i  treasure.  ❞

[obstinatemaiden]

esmeray has said the words i love you in abundance to everyone she cared deeply about. even when those words weren't said back to her. danbi was one of those people whom she knew of that even though they never said those words out life, she still felt them as powerful as she did. it was one of the reasons she never said anything of it, she knew how much she could struggle with voicing her feelings. " i am glad we finally have had the time to properly meet up ... even when things are ending in such a sour note. " the grief suddenly striking her once more, more powerful then she had anticipating. the reality of these circumstances hadn't quite settled in.

[ardenrhodes]

"well, i do love it when people say i'm perfect so i have no choice to give in." she playfully rolled her eyes as if it was drag for her to do so. arden was more than capable of saying no but what would the fun be in that? "to be honest, that kind of makes sense but i'm coming from califorina where they literally still drink like they're back in high school but they just have money to spend on better alcohol.. so maybe i'm a little too used that."

[obstinatemaiden]

" our big california girl. how has that life been treating you ?? " michigan has always stayed her home, even when she had disappeared from the bottom of the earth to be arranged to marry someone she hated her guts of. somehow she never found her way out. " i can only imagine all the story's you have yet to tell me about."

[mirayaslan]

"it's not a gene you overly want don't worry. it gets boring." it's something she'd likely only ever admit to esmeray but there were a lot of things only her cousin knew about her. many a secret were only known by the two of them. "there's not much tension on my end. i guess it's slightly weird to be trapped in a house where everyone is dying and im surrounded by my exes but what can you do? if they don't like it that's their problem the only one i don't want to see is nate."

[obstinatemaiden]

" i believe it is always better then acting like a complete fool whenever you have a drink two too much." in her past she didn't have many nights in which she ever drank too much, yet in more recent years with all the tension building up. " how you are always unfazed by all these matter is still a secret i have yet to unravel. although nate is a very tricky one indeed. he always knew how to get the most drama."

[sujidotexe]

             with  a  shake  of  her  head,  she  gently  waves  away  the  offer.    ❝  nah,  you  go  'head  and  have  at  it.  ❞    while  she  trusts  esmeray  more  than  she  does  most  of  the  others,  axel  is  the  only  one  she  trusts  with  her  life.  it's  why  he's  the  only  one  she's  ever  been  comfortable  drinking  around,  even  if  only  a  sip.    ❝  i'll  make  sure  to  keep  ya  safe.  ❞    the  words  are  said  with  a  playful  lilt,  but  she  means  it.

[obstinatemaiden]

esmeray should have been more considerate of her actions when it came to danbi. she knew her like a sister and while more commonly she had joined her friend in a dry streak, the years had changed her. in this moment it seemed like her only solution to a frazzled mind. " i appreciate that. there aren't many who would do the same as you. perhaps that is why i love you this much. "

[ardenrhodes]

"trust me, i'm the last person you need to have a drinking partner with," arden said as she looks down at her glass. she was supposed to take it easy, the last couple days have been a blur but fuck it. she downs the rest of her drink, only to replace it with a shot. "if we're being honest, i'm surprise there's still something left to drink."

[obstinatemaiden]

" i believe it is the opposite, you are the perfect candidate for this predicament. " emotions were running high and therefore anyone who could relief her from this state of mind was her best friend for that moment. " i am glad you are here to join somehow. i was never quite the type to be too crazy, but perhaps age has shown me a different path."

[mirayaslan]

"someone's going to think i have a serious problem if i keep drinking. that's not a no by the way, pass me a bottle." miray laughs unable to leave her cousin to drink alone. it was the polite thing to do even if miray was rarely known as being polite. "there's way too many reasons to drink in this house and i'm going to need a shot for every single one."

[obstinatemaiden]

"i never could hold my liquor. you on the other hand, always knew how to party. i believe that gene skipped my part of the family." it was one of the many things esmeray admired about miray. she had always been the niece to look up to and somehow she always saved her ass in the end. " i thought only i was noticing the tension. but please tell me more. "

[cerenkocabas]

Ceren's heart leaped in sync with her sudden jump, a testament to the frazzled state of her nerves. Every little disturbance seemed to send her senses into overdrive. "I'm truly sorry," she murmured, offering a rueful smile tinged with apology. "I need to be more mindful, especially with everyone feeling so tense." As she considered the question, she allowed herself a moment of introspection. For once, she decided to let down her guard, if only slightly. "To be honest," she admitted, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability, "I've been better." Though she tried to downplay her emotions, there was an honesty in her admission that she couldn't quite mask.

[obstinatemaiden]

at the sight of ceren a sense of guilt and sorrow washed over her. esmeray could only imagine the pain ceren felt. nothing compared to her own and therefore more valuable. if only they had spend more time with their loved ones and made them more aware of how much they loved them, perhaps these events wouldn't have happened. " it isn't you ceren, it is just ... this horrible situation." esmeray took that moment to take her in, see every change that would happen by mentioning her state of mind. somehow she had predicted her reaction. the years had changed them all, made them still as on guard as they always had. " i can only imagine. please know that i am here for you, whenever you need me. i just cannot understand how or why and perhaps i never will. but you loved him like many of us never had and that must hurt even more. "

[artiists]

" pink !" camille's face lit up with the vision, brain now flicking through the opions that opened up to her : magenta, rose, bubblegum, peach, coral ? her mind ran away with her as though she actually had options . as though she weren't stuck out here on a lake with the one shade of pink she'd selected for the brief weekend getaway. " you always have the best taste, knew i could trust you, babe ." her eyes are shining with the sweet escape of her dreamland, and perhaps an undertone of denial . " out here all alone is the escape of it all ." a pause before she shifted to look up at esmeray, " don't you think it's lowkey insufferable in there ? i wasn't built to share a space with that many people . i'm too ' only child ' for that ..."

[obstinatemaiden]

esmeray had always wandered what it would be like having a creative brains. she could practically see the gears working behind her eyes. if only she could see what it would entail and grasp it to make it her own. the desire to make anything her own had grown stronger each year. it seemed her past only highlighted what she had been missing. " you are welcome, although i believe i am of little use here. after all, you are the artist here. "

in her she could see the freedom she had every desire of having. it did not seem like this cruel world affected her the way it did hers. and one day she would hope to achieve that state of mind. " i do feel like some matters have unfolded itself once again, sucking us right in into that old teenage drama i thought we would have gotten over with with time. some still don't know how to cope with their emotions or others. " it perhaps was too brutally honest for the setting, yet it was what she felt in her heart.