for this too shall pass ,

let your heart hold fast for this too shall pass

[aris-hall]

“Yeah, I totally agree” Aris called out, wriggling along the floor to some place of solitude he could escape too. He was almost more a fan on the rabids then humans. “Yeah, I hear you on that” finally getting to a position, he could close the door.

[quinnhammond-blog]

Watching the boy curiously from where she was standing, Quinn felt her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “...Can I ask what the hell you’re doing?”

[redemptionarcelp]

“If you have all the answers, then what’s the meaning of life?” He couldn’t help but teasingly ask, desperate for some lightheartedness to break up the air of seriousness. It was difficult to talk for too long about something so deep as emotions and feelings when the both of them were resistant to it. Luc, however, seemed to be the more willing of the pair. His own forwardness took him by surprise, but in a world where every next moment or turn could be fatal, there was no sense in keeping his thoughts secretive in the event that they never get the opportunity to be shared.

“It’s really not the same anymore,” He gently commented, pausing to watch her gaze momentarily avert before explaining, “The things you would talk about with people before don’t matter now — not when we all live like this.” From one heavy conversation to another… He simply ended this one with a sigh, no longer dwelling on it as the topic was something he’d accepted long ago. Instead, he found a grin forming upon his face once more, a feeling filling his chest that he hadn’t experienced in so long. Long gone were the days of repaying favors as though it were their duty. Now, he acted without overthinking and finally initiated a proper kiss himself, ducking down in slight to press his lips to hers.

[quinnhammond-blog]

“A sense of fulfillment or contentment, mostly. Knowledge is usually tied to success,” Quinn remarked idly. “A lot of the meaning in my life was tied to success and knowledge. Therefore, me knowing the answers to everything was the meaning of life for me. I bet you weren’t expecting that.” Quick-fire responses were something so simple for her, and helped her alleviate the tension she felt. Spewing out facts or even nonsense was as easy as breathing, and helped her focus less on how awkward everything felt. “I wouldn’t have talked to anyone then either,” Quinn mumbled in response. That was the primary reasoning behind her failed marriage - he gave so much when she gave nothing in return. She took and took and offered nothing, and not much of that had changed. Emotionally stunted, it was easier to ignore things of the emotional realm than to acknowledge them and to rely on logic alone. The kiss caught her off guard, though after a half second of fumbling she reciprocated. Her fingers tightened slightly in the material of his short on his shoulders as she leaned closer, daring a little further than she had the last few times by allowing her teeth to playfully nip at his lower lip. This was easier than talking, and certainly much more fun; without a doubt, kissing was preferable to talking to trying to make sense of the situation.

[redemptionarcelp]

It was strange how such an unsure answer had the ability to make him feel more at ease, but he was able to find some consolation in knowing that they were both equally lost in this — whatever this was. “Actually,” He began, giving a single chuckle as his expression brightened to reflect Quinn’s small smile, “I think I’m happier without an answer.” Even in the world as it once was, this would still be too soon to know exactly what the feelings were between them. There were at least a few things he was sure of; He cared about her on some level, and pressing their lips together now and then just happened to make them feel better. Both of those things were good enough for him.

By now, he’d relaxed significantly from moments before and finally allowed himself to act out what he wanted, including resting his hands at her waist at first to support her as her crutches dropped, and then simply because he wanted to. “For spending most of my life around her, my sister and I don’t do much talking. I never thought I’d be saying this, but it’s nice to have someone else around… someone like you.” The more he spoke, the more he wished he would keep quiet before he could cause himself to feel too vulnerable. However, it was already too late for that… “I do care about you — You know that, right? None of this is me trying to repay a favor or feeling like I need to make it up to you.” 

[quinnhammond-blog]

“Good,” Quinn mumbled in response, his smile causing her own to grow. "I have all the answers to everything...except for things like this. This is out of my specialty.” Emotions. Talking. They were all things that, as a whole, she tried to avoid. She was relieved that he was happy to leave things at that, because it was nice to have someone around that she enjoyed the company of. That was a rarity lately, and she would certainly feel the loss if he decided to not return. “I don’t talk to anyone,” she mumbled almost absently, hands moving up to idly straighten his shirt as she carefully maintained her balance by avoiding putting weight on her injured leg. She felt somewhat cagey as he continued to speak, the conversation shifting down the uncomfortable route. She avoided meeting his eyes and slowly shifted her hands to grasp his shoulders as she swayed slightly on the spot, though finally exhaled a sigh and looked up. “I know,” she said finally, nodding. “And I think it’s pretty clear that’s mutual, considering I do not owe you right now.”

[landon-brewer]

“Usually not found with the living though” he shrugged best he could with the dead weight on his shoulder.  He was use to dead bodies, most people were these days. But all the ones he’d dealt with up to know were strangers. Landon shifted through the doorway, making his way towards the front door slowly, trying to keep busy while he could.

[quinnhammond-blog]

“..Well, no. We try to keep everyone alive best we can and handle the dead as quickly as possible.” Especially when it came to infected. Quinn was so nervous about them, even once they taken care of. She’d never seen one re-animate, but nothing would surprise her about this new reality. “But at least you found someone that won’t be gagging or freaking out over it, is more or less what I’d meant.”

[scndcrson]

willow raised her eyebrow slightly at quinn. it was clear to her that calling her dr did have some importance. willow didn’t get too upset over the other’s tone. she figured that she had a lot going on, and after all willow was a stranger so there would be no reason try. “aye…so do you believe that we are predetermined to be ourselves based on our genes, or that it is the environment? or perhaps a combo of the two?” she asked. 

“nah, it doesn’t sound pathetic at all, but then again, i’m clumsy so that sort of thing happens all the time. i once broke my wrist doing a submission hold wrong. i put too much weight on it, and well…i couldn’t use it for a while.”

[quinnhammond-blog]

“It’s a combination,” Quinn said, waving off the conversation. “I’m too tired to talk about genetics right now. I’m too tired to really even talk right now, I’m barely managing. Besides, scientific genetics has less to do with that and more to do with the actual coding...it’s complicated.. That is more psychology.”  Sipping from her mug, Quinn raised an eyebrow though didn’t say anything. “I’d never broken anything before. Then again, I never really tried to run like that before...Ah, well.”

[scndcrson]

she gave a nod. “i mean i get it, but i’d like it if i could call you quinn. i promise if it is a medical i’ll refer to you with the proper title,” she said with a soft smile. “so why did you pick neuroscience?” she asked interested in why quinn chose to study that. will had chosen to study agriculture because gardening was something she found peaceful, so she wanted to be better at it in general.

“aye, that is a good reason,” she said. she felt the conversation getting slightly awkward, and she slightly started to panic. “erhm, so how did it happen?” she asked. normally she would come up with her own wacky story, but she got the hint that it would only make the situation worse if she kept on being her normal silly self.

[quinnhammond-blog]

“That’s fine,” Quinn said, tone almost dismissive. “It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.” Back before all of this, she’d have insisted on being referred to her as proper title if that was how she’d chose to introduce herself. Most of her interaction had been confined to the medical field and events circulating through it, so it was something she’d come accustomed to. Another adjustment, she supposed. “It was interesting,” Quinn said after a moment, shrugging. “Neurology was always the most fascinating to me. I have a secondary degree in genetics because I’ve always been interested in the link, but...none of it matters as much now.” Quinn sighed, looking down at her knee. “I fell,” she said, laughing a little to herself a moment later. “Sounds pathetic, but it’s true. I was running downhill and I’ve...never really been an athlete.”

[redemptionarcelp]

In the grand scheme of things, he really shouldn’t have returned. It would have been smarter to distance himself instead. The longer they spent together, the more Luc was developing an odd sort of attachment regardless of how Quinn felt. Up until now, he’d allowed no one but his sister and a very select few to be close to him. Then along came Quinn, and everything seemed to be changing. It was terrifying.

The male was fully prepared to leave, unsure when or if he’d return again when he was abruptly captured in an unexpected kiss. “Quinn,” He tried to warn, trying to protest to the small sign of affection when in reality, what he truly wanted to do was the opposite. It was difficult to maintain the eye contact that left him feeling vulnerable to an uncomfortable degree, but he forced himself to hold her gaze nonetheless. “I don’t know what we’re doing here,” He admitted truthfully. There was something freeing about saying it aloud, even if it only let on to just how much he was lost. Even if he could be certain his feelings towards the woman were genuine, how would he proceed? There were no such thing as mundane relationships anymore, at least not ones that were functional. 

[quinnhammond-blog]

One hand rested on his shoulder and the other quickly followed as the crutch abruptly dropped to the floor and she was forced to use him for support. It seemed that would be a common theme between their meetings, and she sighed a little at the thought. One hand moved up to lightly cup his jaw, thumb lightly tracing his jaw line as she tried to find what to say in return. She had no idea, and bit lightly at her bottom lip. “I don’t either,”Quinn admitted after a moment of quiet, the smile that followed small and half-hearted. “But do you really need a definitive answer?” These sorts of things were always messy, and having an answer wasn’t necessarily in the cards. “I’m not good at...this kind of stuff,” she mumbled after a moment, feeling inarticulate and swearing under her breath. “But I mean, I like being around you. I haven’t been able to just...talk to anyone in a long time, and it’s nice. I don’t want to say it makes me feel normal because this isn’t normal for me at all, but I like it. And I think it’s pretty clear I like kissing you at this point, so..”

[ohlicitys]

More bruises from her than from deathstroke

requested by @iheartarrow​

[andmylastatnightfall-deactivate]

[scndcrson]

“phd or medical?” she asked with gun fingers. will took a turn about the room looking at all of things. “what’s this thing do?” she asked pointing to what she thought was decoration. she looked at the other and tilted her head, “oye, do you have a first name? or do i have to be all proper and what not?” she asked. “because then it is only fair that you call me ms. matthews. though, if i could be frank, that’s a little odd,” she laughed. 

will hated the whole i’m better because of whatever. she had a lot of that back home, and she didn’t feel that given the state of the world that things like that would really matter. her father hated people who were well off, and her grandmother the uneducated. “aye, why waste time being gloom and doomy, when you can be happy? unless y’know, you stub your toe. then it is alright to holler and whatnot,” she laughed. 

[quinnhammond-blog]

“Both,” Quinn replied automatically, eyebrows knitting together slightly. “I specialized in neuroscience. I was a neurosurgeon.” But specialties came after earning her doctorate and medical license. She sighed heavily as the other asked for her first name, leaning back against the counter more thoroughly. “It’s Quinn. I just like pretending that all those years in medical school counted for something so I try to use my formal title when I can.”  Sipping from her coffee mug again, Quinn looked at the woman from over the rim. “I think having a broken knee is a bit more extreme than stubbing a toe, so I’m going to take that gloom and doom attitude while I can.” She also just really wasn’t a people person, and she was too tired to deal with much at the moment. After the coffee kicked in she could struggle through interaction, but she had barely ingested any at this point.”

[xxixpng-blog]

“that’s because i’m usually running around the city. but i don’t really stay in one place. i mean i have a group i belong to technically, but that is more of a temporary thing. i used to live here in the sanctuary, but it was too stuffy. i’m not one for reporting in and doing all the stuff one has to do in here,” he said leaning against the wall. he half expected that answer. everyone thought that he was trying to pull one on them or they prefered to be alone. he let out a small sigh.

“ok, but that doesn’t mean that you should go on with little help. if you need something i’d be more than happy to help.”

[quinnhammond-blog]

Quinn didn’t really listen to his rambling, instead turning to the notebook on the counter beside her as he spoke. As much as she had wanted to take a break from working because her head was throbbing with exhaustion, that was almost preferable than having a conversation at that current moment. Especially a conversation that she had no interest in. “I’m fine,” she said after a moment, half-cutting him off. “Completely fine. it’s just a broken knee, I’ll get along just fine without help. Maybe go see if someone in the supply tent needs help, they seem to usually need it.”

[landon-brewer]

“Thanks” Landon said quietly, taking a pause for a moment to assess his best plan of transportation while she looked for the lighter. Catching it as it came his way, Landon gave a singular nod, before storing it in his pocket. “I appreciate that” he said before leaning down and using the mans arm to sling the body up on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you saw this”

[quinnhammond-blog]

“Dead bodies aren’t really anything new anymore,” Quinn said in response to his apology, shrugging the best she could while dependent on at least one crutch for balance. “And I’m a doctor. I worked in hospitals mostly, so you know...nothing new to me at all, really.” At least here there wasn’t families to talk to, to break news to when surgery goes awry. That was one part of her job back then that she had never quite managed to get used to.

[redemptionarcelp]

So amused by such a simple thing as a chair, his eyes widened with boyish excitement as he caught the lever beneath that allowed the seat to slowly sink down. Quite proud of himself, he all but beamed towards the woman and soon broke into a chuckle, shaking his head over his own antics. “We don’t have chairs like this out in the wild.”

Of course he expected his unrealistic offer to be immediately shot down, but… “It’s the thought that counts. I’d have great bedside manner,” He justified with a rather nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. Once his shoulders fell, they remained slumped from then on out, an odd sense of defeat expressed in his posture in contrast to the lightheartedness of their interaction up until this point. It was never his intention to take this so… personally. However, never knowing when or where he’d rest his head at night as of late was doing damage to his mood. Furthermore, he was making it his responsibility to try to care for too many people and it was wearing him thin. Being so easily dismissed now was just enough to make him react disproportionately. “So that’s how this is going to go?” The question was followed with a quiet, hollow laugh before it could even earn an answer. He couldn’t begin to pretend that he wasn’t the least bit hurt by Quinn’s words — He even had a hard time concealing it as his expression fell into an unreadable one and his tone grew quieter. “I should get going,” The words were abruptly rushed out, his voice trying to remain unwavering and calm, “Glad to see you’re still doing well.”

[quinnhammond-blog]

Quinn rolled her eyes, unable to hide her smile as she watched him. “You make it sound like you’re in the damn safari,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “Did you never sit in an office chair before all of this happened? That isn’t even a good one. Some of them recline and everything.” At the conversation shifted, she felt her stomach slowly turn sour. This wasn’t what she’d wanted, even if she’d somewhat expected it. She didn’t like to talk about these things, especially when there was the potential for messy emotions to get in the way. Truthfully, she didn’t know what she was feeling or how or why, and talking about it would only make matters worse. Words were so messy and she was never good at talking about these sorts of things, and she was partially kicking herself for acting on impulse that night. She said nothing for several moments, simply watching him with her expression remaining unreadable. What was she supposed to say? She didn’t even know. Mind racing and scrambling for an answer as he seemed to be collecting himself to go, she set the mug down on the counter. Using the one crutch for balance, the short distance between them was crossed somewhat clumsily as she reached up with her free hand to cup his jaw and kiss him abruptly “Stop,” she mumbled as she pulled back, eyes slowly catching his own. “I don’t really know what you want me to say, okay? So just...stop.”

[scndcrson]

will had been wondering around, just being a bit noisy to be honest. she wanted to see what the other people were up to. she had been eavesdropping here and there. she didn’t really know anyone on a deep level, well with the exception of cj. she knew that is she was left alone she would probably get that school girl crush again. though, their relationship was anything but school girl. 

so today willow had put making new friends at the top of her to do list. to do lists was something that kept will grounded, and sane. she had been observing the other person for a short time, but gathered that they could use some friendly help. “hiya,” she said in her signature accent. “would ya like some help? lemme grab a chair for ya,” she continued. willow made her way to the chair and brought it to the stranger. “i’m willow, but you can call me will.” 

[quinnhammond-blog]

The unexpected voice had her jumping slightly, coffee jostled and spilling over the edge of the mug. Quinn swore rapidly under her breath, sighing at the sight of the spill on the floor. She wasn’t cleaning that - she couldn’t bend that far considering she needed support. The unannounced visitor could be doing that. Now nearly twice as grouchy at the wasted caffeine, blue eyes turned up towards the new face. “...Dr. Hammond,” she offered in response to the introduction, eyeing the chair but not sitting in it yet. She reached for a washcloth behind her to blot at her shirt and dry off the mug in her hands, putting it down to dry off the liquid on her hands and arm as well. “Are you always this chipper this early...?”

[xxixpng-blog]

“hmm,” he said stepping into the room. “drinking coffee this early in the morning?” he said making himself at home. owen liked to visit those who he found out had gotten hurt. that way he could see if they needed anything. though owen liked to believe himself to be a heartless fellow who is a friendly liar, he honestly did worry about the people in the area. plus he supposed that if he helped keep them alive he wouldn’t have to try and talk someone out of killing them later. 

“do you want me to move the chair, or carry your coffee? or a piggy back ride?” he said. “i’m owen, i like to go around collecting things, and going on supply runs. i just popped on by to see if you needed anything,” he said cutting to the chase. 

[quinnhammond-blog]

Quinn frowned at the new face, not saying anything for a moment. He didn’t look familiar at all, and that was somewhat disconcerting. But at the same time, Lucian had made his way in and out of Sanctuary time and time again now... She shook her head, taking a drink from her mug as her tired mind tried to process this without caffeine. “No,” she said abruptly. “I’m fine.” As he introduced himself, she tilted her head. “...I’ve never even seen you before,” she mumbled, slowly easing the coffee mug back into the counter behind her. “But I’ll manage. I have been for about two weeks now and I’ve made it without ....too much assistance.”

[landon-brewer]

Landon nodded slightly, understanding where she was coming from with the whole shelter thing. He only wanted to get rid of the memory as soon as possible, but it appeared dragging the body out to light a fire was better. “Uh” he glanced down at the man, quickly looking away to keep himself together. “Could I use the lighter, outside?”

[quinnhammond-blog]

“Yep.” Quinn balanced her weight on one crutch to ease her backpack off one shoulder, fishing around for the lighter before tossing it to him. “If you can;t do...that part, I can,” she offered, after a moment of hesitance. She’d been enough dead bodies in her lifetime that it was almost routine, even if burning them was new. 

[cassidyowcn-blog]

“I never really watched Scooby Doo as a kid, though my mother did put me in a Daphne costume one year for Halloween. I spent the whole night telling people I had no idea who I was dressed up as. It was a hilariously confusing night, that’s for sure.” While the other wrote on her clipboard, Cassidy began taking the items out of the box and laying them on the table so they were more accessible during their check. “Everyone’s apprehensive and unsure about what they haven’t experienced, but they can’t exactly be faulted either. At least you know enough now to have an understanding of what pain is like for those who suffer from it. No one’s going to get mad at you for learning at a slower rate than them. Well, they shouldn’t anyway.”

[quinnhammond-blog]

“I’m not even so sure Scooby Doo was much of a thing anymore once this had all happened. I’ve made the reference a few times and just get stares from the younger crowd...makes me feel old. So does using the phrase ‘the younger crowd.’” She scrunched up her nose at herself, and sighed. “...I guess.” Quinn didn’t offer more of that, quickly scooting forward on her chair to look at the items being pulled out of the chair. “I just wish there were more supplies so I didn’t have to worry about what is or isn’t worth giving medication for. Hopefully we’ll get there soon.”