[roryheraclesjacobs]

jeanette-dorsey:

Jeanette slips out of her ratty fur coat just to get to the shirt, kneeling up close to the bike so she can use that fabric to soak up some of improper oil she’d already poured on her bike chain. It’s slow going but that’s okay, because Rory talks a lot, and there’s plenty of other things to focus on as she glances up at him and his cute little fussy dog. It’s nice that Rory thinks Harold likes her. That he uses that to compliment her and imply that she’s good. It makes her feel really happy, though she only shows it a bit in her face. Who knows how much dogs really knew. Maybe Rory was just trying to get on her good side. But it was still a nice thing to say.

“Thanks,” Jean murmurs. Then she bursts out with a small, goofy laugh that quickly dies away, lets her shirt fall away from the bike chain and sits down on her calves, opening the oil Rory had just given her instead. 

“I’ve been in the same place for a long time, too. But you’re wrong, there’s no rules.” She’s quick to pipe up and correct him, though she doesn’t do it sharply. “Everyone just does what they want. That’s why you have to be careful. Or maybe not you. You look strong.”

Jean listens to Rory explain how he keeps his dogs with him and to be honest, it sounds like a lot of work and worry. But that was good. He wasn’t taking the easy way out. He was willing to do it all for his pets’ little lives, which meant he had to be more good than bad. She didn’t say it but it meant a lot to her to know there were people like this out there. Even more happy that they might recognize her as one of them. When he asks her about places she’s seen, though, Jeanette frowns, not because he’s wrong, but for more complicated reasons.

“Yes, I’ve seen some but…not here. Back the way I came and you don’t want to go there. It’s dangerous. Maybe.”

Harold was magic, she was much more at ease now that she’d made friends with him. He could even catch her trying not to smile too hard or give away a laugh, trying to keep a wall up to protect herself. That pained him a little, the people out here like herself must all feel that way, protective of themselves. It was a necessity. The way of life now. How ugly that was to him, that peace was ripped from all of them like this.

Rory smiles ruefully at her observation, that he looked strong, she wasn’t wrong that was for sure. But he doubted she knew just how strong he was, it still surprised him a bit, despite it being more than a year since he’d gained his crazy strength. Months passed before he knew how to dial back properly and not break any cup he picked up. He’d been too frightened to touch either of his dogs for a good long while too, terrified of harming them when he simply wanted to pet them. He’d gotten good at being gentle though, more accustomed to it than using his strength really as he had more cause for the former on a regular basis.

But more interesting than that, she had seen what he needed, and that zeroed in his attentions quite a bit. His eyes looked off into the horizon not even sure if that was the direction she had come in. He considered for a second, and then decided. “Maybe. But I am strong.” He got up, the truck creaking back up, only to creak some more as Rory takes a single hand and uses it to lift the back of the truck a few inches. The tires hovering over the ground to make his point before he sets them back down as gently as he can so as not to disturb the plants. 

“And I only have three days left of vetmedin.” He took a deep breath and looked back at her. “I don’t suppose there’s any way I can convince you to guide me? Is there any way you can tell me landmarks? Street signs? Anything so I don’t go in blind?”

[roryheraclesjacobs]

what's your favorite scent?

“I like woodsy smells. Flowers. That kinda shit.”

[roryheraclesjacobs]

what is or was your dream?

“I was living it. I was youth counselor heading a program for the troubled or at risk kids, teaching them discipline in the ring. I wanted to make the program co-ed though. Didn’t get to do that before everything went to shit.”

“Now, I don’t know. Just trying not to die. Look after my pooches and help people where I can. Maybe... there’s a way to do what I was doin again, just in a different way. I heard California is real good bet so if there’s any big groups out there I’d love to set up a thing. All kids are at risk these days pretty much now right?”

[roryheraclesjacobs]

jeanette-dorsey:

Jeanette felt a bit accomplished when Rory said he would go, not because she delighted in bossing people around, but because she thought she had caught him in an attempt to do harm to her and forced him to abandon it, so as not to draw suspicion. She was feeling very proud of herself right up until the moment Rory shoved his dog into her arms, her eyes flying open wide and shoulders going stiff. She didn’t move until long after he walked away, heart beating quickly, more so at the quickness he had come into her space, though all of that she seemed to forget when she looked down at Harold.

If he wasn’t happy to be held at her, she didn’t notice. She blinked at him and…felt happy, felt a normal that had stopped becoming normal, reminded of trips to the pet store in the mall, where she and Abby passed mill dogs back and forth just to hold them this exact way. Jeanette relaxed, seemingly forgetting all about why this was happening at all, and just held Harold close to her rib in her elbow, free fingers stroking at the soft fur on his leg, following the grain.

By the time Rory returned, he had lessened as a threat in her mind and was simply Harold’s owner, eyes still wide as he shook the can that she had to labor to remember what was for. She just blinked, mentally stalled by the suggestion that Harold would gnaw off her fingers. She wondered if that was a deliberate remark, wiggling her gloved fingers, chopped pinky included, over Harold’s side. It’s not a sore wound anymore. It was less sore than most.

“He bites? He was okay,” Jean just says. She takes a few steps close to Rory to hand Harold back, still staring at the little, warm dog when she stepped back, almost absently taking the can he offered and glancing at the label. “Oh, I didn’t know…there were other kinds.” She tenses her cheek and looks back up at the much taller man. “Thanks.” Another glance down at Harold before she gets to her knees by the bike.

“I thought you were lying. And just wanted to get me by your car.” Then, effortlessly, she’s moving on to the much more pressing thought in her head. “I thought everyone would’ve gotten rid of their dogs ‘cause there’s no food.”

In the short time that Rory had been gone, Harold had seemed to accept his new handler, which probably had something to do with the gentle and pleasant way she pet him. He was certainly not adverse to the nice gentle caress of someone he’d already decided wasn’t a threat to him. Harold preferred a light hand and quiet sort of person, introverted and calm, and took to extroverted people much more slowly. If they even bothered to try to win him over. Rory, while extroverted, had known him for years, and was one of those who had  aforementioned bothered.

“He decides he likes people sometimes, more or less. Guess you’re one of those few. I’m of the mind pooches make very good judges of character.” He rubbed Harold on the head with two fingers lightly, aware of his preferences and of the fact that already the woman before him seems much more at ease. It was similar to the effect Logan had on the kids at his gym, he made his rounds around them and set them at ease. Soft furry animals offering warmth and kindness helped him in his job quite a bit. He’s happy to see Harold play a similar role, though it was unintentional.

He nods simply at her thanks, not really thinking of it as a loss, he certainly didn’t have much use for it. He’d picked it up with the thought that it would help with squeaky parts but the proper oil had been found and the lube did nothing but sit there uselessly. Her next suggestion however tenses him a bit, stops him in his tracks of careless ease. He actually hadn’t thought of that at all when he approached her. Accustomed to people seeing him as an ally and friend rather than as a threat, he hadn’t stopped to think that strangers would think he was potentially dangerous. There was something about that he really didn’t like.

“Shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t think of my approaching you being seen that way. Forgive me I’m used to being behind walls at a base. I was there for almost a year and not used to this traveling business. There's rules and crap out here I haven’t learned yet.” Rory makes excuses for himself, hoping it’s enough to convince her that he was just an idiot and not intentionally trying to seem sneaky. 

 He doesn’t dwell awkwardly on it though, and instead chooses to concentrate on her confusion about his pets. “Well...” He begins, parking his bum on a corner of the truck’s back foothold and leaning on it, causing the truck to lean under his considerable weight. “Like I said I have the benefit of having been at a base. So that helps. Also, hell is going to have to pry my dogs out of cold dead fists before I ever abandon them.” He said that very seriously, looking off into the horizon. “Good dog food is hard to come by anymore and mostly by now they’re all going to be expired. So I’m feeding them what I can, veggies when we manage to grow them.” He points with his thumb behind him to the various troughs and pots with green sprouts bursting forth. “Meat and some expired kibble just to make sure they get their nutrients. Harold over here needs heart meds and I figured if I stayed at that base I was never gonna find any more of it so I decided to go with everyone... you wouldn’t know of any veterinary hospitals or pharmacies around these parts would you?” Rory looked over at her, hoping she might have some sort of lead for him. Given she was using a bike, she probably didn’t travel too far from these parts.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

jeanette-dorsey:

Jeanette jumped a little at Rory’s voice, turning over her shoulder to look at him with surprise that quickly morphed into a subtle, defiant glare. Maybe she should have appeared more humble given that she was currently stealing, but Jeanette couldn’t help but be annoyed he’d gotten the drop on her, and while her own height often placed her above others, this man made her feel dwarfed even if she were to stand. But the second Jean registered the small dog in his hands, her expression lightened somewhat. It had been a long time since she’d seen anything that deserved the title of a ‘pet’. Something little and non-threatening and wholly different from the hellhounds and guard dogs that most frequently made an appearance.

For just a instant, Jean forgot where she was or what she was doing and the corners of her tips tugged apart in suggestion of a smile that didn’t actually appear, before she went back to hardening her eyes at Harold’s master.

“Why not?” She argued when Rory said it wouldn’t work. That was just a lie to keep her from taking, surely. She glanced in the direction of his finger as he pointed, but instantly crossed out the idea that she would actually go over there, someplace he’d already labelled as being under his terms. She wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t let anyone trap her again, dangling something she wanted in front of her nose. 

“I’m fine here. You can go, if you really have it.”

He’d be lying if he tried to convince himself that her clearly angry expression didn’t amuse him, but he tried to keep the cockiness from his grin. Self satisfaction at the expense of others didn’t often go over well, even if it was earned. So he tried, tried being the key word.

Rory followed her gaze to Harold and raised a brow, so she liked dogs, not too many people who didn’t, but it seemed to soften her up. Which brought him a different sort of satisfaction than startling her had, as if he had something on her now. A small harmless little thing. If you could call Harold harmless.

But his attention snapped right back as she shifted to her mean old look again, as mean as someone like her could look anyway. Why not she demanded, and he didn’t know the specifics but he shrugged, he’d heard about it not being good for bikes long term, but hadn’t asked or been explained to about the specifics of that. Nor had he every had the opportunity to test that theory, when he had a bike he’d never used anything other than the proper chain lube, it was much cheaper than oil anyhow. So he wasn’t about to try to lecture her on how it wasn’t the proper way to take care of a bike, especially not given the fact that who would give a damn any day could very well be all of their last day?

But oh the cheek, here she was demanding something of him when he’d caught her red handed sneaking something that clearly wasn’t hers. He wasn’t going to snitch, nor was he going to chastise her, but she didn’t know that. She didn’t even know his name much less his intentions. Something about the amount of confident lip she was giving him though definitely made him want to keep playing along. “Oh hooo?” He chuckled, “Well then your majesty, sure, why not. Here hold this.” If she was going to be cheeky he was going to be too, and handed her Harold too quickly for her to protest. 

If dogs could look indignant and offended Harold was certainly that dog, because although he didn’t snap or bite at the woman he was being handed too he certainly wasn’t expecting it. He stared at her with big eyes as though asking her what in the hell she was doing holding him. But his owner sauntered off, whistling happily while fetching what was promised.

Rory didn’t look back, perhaps trusting too much that this stranger wasn’t going to run off and eat his dog but he trusted that soft look in her eyes. Call him crazy but no one who looked at a dog that way was going to want to eat one. And thankfully when he came back Harold was in fact not eaten. “I can’t believe he hasn’t gnawed your fingers off yet.” Rory noted, “Have you two made friends?” He wiggled the can, there wasn’t much left in it, but handed it to her none the less. 

[roryheraclesjacobs]

jeanette-dorsey:

After seeing Alejandro, Jeanette turned her attention on the group he’d settled in front of. Whatever conclusions he’d drawn about whether they were safe or not, Jean preferred to see for herself, as she’d learned the hard way that monsters came in many different forms, and not all people could be trusted. It was so early, it seemed like most of them were still asleep. Her bicycle chain squeaked as she walked it up into the parking lot, her path and view of the building obstructed somewhat by their cars, and for a second she feared it’d squeak so loud it would wake them.

Jeanette tried to keep her eyes on all the people she could see as she led her bike between them, but she couldn’t help throwing nosy eyes inside their windows, looking for…something, maybe–evidence that she should leave Alejandro to the wolves and ride off to wait for his next relocation. But she stopped, distracted, as she approached the pickup with what looked like a garden in the back. Jean blinked. She hadn’t seen anything like that in a long time. 

It only held her attention for a little bit as she looked around at the vehicles more intensely. There were so many. And lots of different kinds. Trucks, vans, an ambulance, a SWAT. It looked like a kid’s hot wheels collection that he’d brag about having every set of. Jean fully intended on continuing on towards the actual building when she spotted a carton of engine oil sitting in the back of one of the trucks, and blinked at it for several minutes before glancing around, then reaching to open the back. She reached for the carton and slid it towards the edge, bending down to a knee next to her bike and uncapping the stuff, glancing around innocuously once more before she started to pour some of it in bursts around her squeaky bicycle chain.

They were stopped and frankly quite enthused by the surreal little cart of goods they had ridden up to today. Though Rory frankly couldn’t justify trading anything for what the cart had to offer he did enjoy looking around for a bit until he decided it was best to get out of everyone’s way.

Little Harold in one arm he decided to go around and check on the mobile greenhouse Violet and he had loaded up. It was genial and working quite well, green sprouts already popping up where previous there had been no signs of life. Colour him impressed, he felt that the garden idea was really taking off despite obvious obstacles such as mobility.

Rory didn’t consider himself the stealthy sort, given he was huge, but maybe the background noise hid his steps, and Harold wasn’t going off like an alarm either. So the small unrecognizable woman he caught using their oil didn’t notice him until he announced his presence. “Don’t really know if that will work, creative of you to try though.” He smiled disarmingly as he got her attention.

“Oil is oil is oil, but if it doesn’t work out I do have the stuff you’re supposed to use somewhere in my Jeep over there.” He pointed to his ride with his empty hand, which was within sight.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

prophet-alice:

Alice had never owned any pets. She’d barely been able to support herself, let alone another living animal under the same roof. She liked dogs, though. Liked them well enough that when she saw a couple as she was passing by, it caught her drunken attention enough to make her stop and reach out to try and pet one of them. It had come at a cost, and she was glad the thing didn’t bite her as it barked angrily, causing her to pull her hand back and stare at it, her nose wrinkling up as well. There was a building “asshole” on her lips that never got passed, because in the next moment, the dogs’ owner spoke. 

It was a big guy under the hood of the jeep and Alice watched him for a moment before reaching out to pet the other dog instead. “See what you’re missing?” she said to the dog that was still barking at her and she made an incredulous face at it as the bigger dog leaned into the pets. “Good rubs.” 

Rory closed the oil valve and did his best to wipe off his hands, coming around to see who it was. Someone he didn’t know but who smelled strongly of alcohol. Where was anyone getting alcohol? There had been some at the bonfire and that had been surprising enough. He wasn’t a big drinker himself but he appreciated a beer here and there.

Harold was still going nuts so Rory opened the door and swooped him up, “Be quiet already.” He cooed at the small mammal, annoyed, chihuahuas had to be the most amped up creatures he’d ever come across. Harold whined and conceded, setting in Rory’s massive grasp. He seemed to be contented now that he was held. “You’d think with his heart condition he’d try to be more calm but well...” Rory shrugged. 

“Names Rory, I think I’ve seen you around but I haven’t had the pleasure.” He nodded at her. “You came in with that big group right?” He confirmed.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

finedierum:

unamused. she always was when someone brought up how gangly she was. her mood didnt warrant such a reaction from one of the biggest people she’d ever seen in her life – but, if he was going to talk a big game, she wasn’t ever one to back down. 

she decompressed in her chest, her chin lowered, now the disgruntlement reaching out as far as she could make it without saying a single word. as far as she was concerned, she didn’t need to. thin arms crossed over her chest and her eyes narrowed at him in the darkness. 

“ who said a punch is what you have to worry about? ” it wasn’t a complete lie, she had a pocket knife on her, but that was it. raegan wouldn’t cause enough trouble to raise anything at him, obviously to her they were part of the same team but it was more of making a point that she was even commenting thus far. 

plus, he didn’t seem like a person she’d want to square off with – for once she was glad to have someone on her team. 

Her statement confuses him and he doesn’t register it as trying to act tough until he’s already spat out “Pretty sure you did.” in response. He doesn’t amend it though, because it doesn’t mean much to him either way. He wasn’t a threat and he couldn’t be threatened, especially not by what looked like a twig impersonating a girl. He did admire a spitfire though.

Logan gets curious however and walks right up to the talking girl, sniffing her legs and nudging her arms after he’s decided he approves of whatever he smells. “Hey, careful Logan you’ve got punches and who knows what else to look out for.” Rory snorts, highly amused with himself, fuck it was cold. “Okay I’m going back in, and I suggest you do too you don’t seem to have much insulation to keep from freezing. Hot coco warms you up better than that cig ever will.” Although it was said in a joking manner, he’s pretty serious, he knew thin people had trouble retaining their body heat. Way too many tiny skinny women ran around around this base and all of them were nearly freezing to death. It was a mercy that the ice was breaking. Logan follows after him as he re-enters the building, intent on making that hot coco he promised whether she wanted any or not.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

charliexhall:

The man answers with something like kindness and Charlie offers a small smile in appreciation for the advice. She was already planning on keeping the coat, but the uncertainty comes on how to pack it - the most efficient way possibly to take up the least amount of space. Mostly, it just seems like she’s going to be carrying it around until she locates a larger bag for the supplies and clothing she’s acquired. Traveling light…is a bitch.

“Yeah,” she agrees gently, folding the fabric in half and beginning to roll it as tightly as possible, “Need another bag, I think. Or like a whiny, whipped boyfriend to carry my purse.”

Charlie smirks to herself before turning a kinder smile on the stranger. And it isn’t as genuine as she’d hope, her grins never reaching her eyes these days now that she’s reunited with this group. “Thanks.”

Rory laughs aloud at her comment, amusingly enough he can picture himself as that whiny, whipped boyfriend. He had carried purses before, though admittedly it was usually the purse of a grandma and in church. He somehow ended up the one the grandma’s gravitated to, which he was fine with to be honest. “That... might not be as hard to come by as you think?” He jested, nodding and chuckling.

“Yeah no prob... miss?” He asks for her name, “I’m Rory, I ironically lift things around here mostly. Trying my hand at gardening. You been here long? Leaving so soon?” He notices her smile isn’t as wide as his, which was indicative of someone who’d not been at the base long. If she had he’d have met her by now, and maybe she’d be in better spirits. There was usually an adjustment period people went through when they got here, it took anywhere from weeks to months. When they felt safe they started to relax, to laugh again.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

wraithofthewasteland:

Her smile, which had nearly been imbued with confidence at the sight of the other two smiling, starts to flicker, hesitation gripping her when the man steps forward. The very large man, who is very much a stranger to her, and who looks at her with too much hardness in his eyes for her liking. She watches him carefully, throws a glance toward the woman. It wasn’t her place. She shouldn’t have said anything.

But the intensity breaks, the man switching gears in an instant to explain the truth of the matter, and there’s a brief flash of confusion across her face before understanding dawns. Just a joke. Well, that’s fine, then. A more tentative smile settles into place this time, a small part of her on edge now, worried that she’s still being tricked, that she might be tricked again. She does her best to push it to the background, though, shaking Masha’s hand carefully.

And though she’s never put much stock in the concept of luck – uncomfortable with the idea that there could be something so unpredictable, so impossible to understand, interfering with her life – she thinks… if there is such a thing, this would most definitely fall into that category.

She can’t wait to tell Samson.

And she feels nearly like an intruder, watching this playful moment between the two, but she can take it in stride well enough, shuffling back a smidge as if simply adjusting the way she’s resting her weight on her injured ankle. “I dunno about… expert, but-” A short, but intensive, handful of years learning from her mom when she was still there, and perhaps an inherited green thumb, provided her a solid foundation for such things. But it was the books her mom left behind, books she pored over for years after, that taught her more than she’s realized.

“Less water, more sun.” She steps gingerly toward the nearest pots, dearly tempted to poke into the soil. It’s easy enough to restrain herself. The issue of the sun is far more simple to fix, now that the monolith is toppling and spring is finding its way back, the sky clearer with each passing day. Her attention shifts to the nearby table, and the packets of seeds spread across the surface – and she steps over to it in an instant, unable to stop herself from perusing through them, gathering them up and sorting them as she talks.

“Most of these-” She sets a few packets to one side, tomatoes and cucumbers in one pile. “-are gonna want bigger pots than you’d think. Room to grow, and it’ll store water better.” Corn, carrots. Radishes. Peppers. Greens. Unbelievable. Perfect. “But what they’d really be picky about is the soil- you can make ‘em work with most anything, but there’s mixes out there for containers, they’re… lighter, I think, it-” She marvels briefly at a packet of snap pea seeds, before setting them aside with the tomatoes and cucumbers. “-it gets waterlogged real easy if you use normal soil, is all. I think. How’s the drainage? Did you get some gravel to put down?”

She’s being humble in Rory’s opinion. Compared with himself or the other blonde in the room she was an expert. “I told you less water.” He mumbled to Masha, giving her back the shoe he’d stolen as he watches violet peruse the pots.

Masha puts the shoe back on, distractedly because she too is watching Violet, as if her movements alone held the secrets to gardening.

She goes through the piles of seed packets they have out, the pile meaning much more to her than either of them, and they’re both just left there waiting for her analysis. 

Better soil, Rory thinks about where to get that because the soil outside sucked, is was the same as the soil in those pots, nothing fancy or special like you were supposed to have. The kind that vaguely smelled of cow poop, probably because there was cow poop in it now that he thought of that. Bigger pots, he could get those, they had those actually, they had just collectively decided to use smaller ones for... he doesn’t remember the reason but they had used them regardless. So that was an easy fix. Her next comments however might as well have been gibberish however.

Rory and Masha looked at each other in confusion, “Huh?” they almost said in unison.

“W-..what do you mean put down gravel and drainage?” He said, a moment later Masha patted his arm.

“I am going to leave this to you, I have to check on patients.” She smiled widely, quickly making her leave. “Bye it was so nice to meet you!” She said to Violet.

“Oh sure, check on patients sure you do!” Rory nodded ruefully, check on patients his ass she was leaving him because this all seemed much harder than either of them had anticipated. Ah well, she was a nurse after all, he supposed her job was important too. Couldn’t eat if you were dead. He folded his arms as she left. 

“We should demote her to junior gardener when she comes back.” He said jokingly, “Not that I’m not a junior gardener myself, O-KAY.” He picked up a pot, “So you said drainage and gravel and less water and better soil. How do we go about all that?” He started tipping the pot, letting some water drain out. “Should I make a run to that home depot a couple miles out?” he offered. “That’s where I got all this stuff.”

[roryheraclesjacobs]

Rory had his head buried under the hood of his jeep, whistling and working away. He’d seen many beat up vehicles in light of the turn of the world and in he viewed that as a grave mistake. Transportation was one of the most important things to have now in his opinion, he’d owned this jeep from the get-go and kept it in top working order both then and now. Now it was more difficult to replace anything that needed replacing but he managed, his jeep’s insides were damn near spotless - meticulously cared for in much the same way his dogs and living space were. He was a surprisingly orderly individual who believed in taking pride in maintaining what was yours, it was all about effort.

The tune he was whistling was interrupted by some angry barking coming from the front seat. “Whoops, sorry! He’s not always the friendliest, try the bigger one he likes getting pet.” Rory called, still working and not peaking around the hood to see who it was, assuming it was someone who didn’t know him or his dogs - since they were braving to pet Harold.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

finedierum:

another nightmare.

raegan shot up in bed, the sweat sticking her shirt to her back while she tried to regain her thoughts. there wasn’t a lot to be had right now, just the thick, heavy darkness of the room and the fading footsteps outside her door. being a light sleeper was always an issue – especially in places like boarding school – but sleep was already elusive these days and she tried to gather as much as she could when she could. 

but, tonight was not one of those nights. finger nails raked against her scalp and her knees pulled up into her chest. internally, she reminded herself to take deep breaths and that she was safe here.. even if her nightmares told her otherwise.

but, it was nothing a cigarette wouldn’t fix. she didn’t even bother with changing, but puled her hair up on top of her head and threw on her jacket before moving to the door and down the hallway where a voice behind her in the silence made her freeze in her tracks and spin on her heels.

“ didn’t your momma ever teach you its rude to sneak up on people? ” she asked, raising an eyebrow at them, trying to play it cool even though her heart pounded in her ears. “ it’s also a nice way to get yourself decked in the face. “

A whine woke him up, familiar and unwelcome, this was routine and Rory didn’t question it. Logan’s nightly potty break, he could probably be prevailed upon to wait till morning, but Rory reasoned that if he could get up in the middle of the night to whiz so could Logan. He always let Harold stay asleep, he’d just get pissed (no pun intended) if he had to wake the little old man up.

“Alright let’s go.” He groggily affirmed to the large dog who was being slightly antsy in what could probably be described as the doggy version of ‘the pee pee dance’.

“Shit.” Rory mumbled to himself as he shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling the rush of frigid cold night air keenly. He had forgotten his jacket. He could feel himself waking up more fully due to the cold, and once that happened it’d be a while before he could return to sleep. Which was a real pain in the ass. 

Logan wandered a bit too far out of sight while Rory grumbled to himself silently and moped about the cold, his huge body scrunched up to try to retain any heat her had left. “Hey, get over here.” He called demandingly, annoyed that Logan was taking advantage of the situation, it was too damn early and Logan knew full well that he wasn’t to wander out of his sight once the sun went down. A rule he had instilled into him even before demonic creatures threatened to eat them all.

His call had apparently startled someone however, a tall rail thin girl that came out to have a smoke. He hadn’t even noticed her come out, so if anything she was the one doing the sneaking. “Yeah I’m sure all ninety pounds of you will pack a real hefty punch.” His tired voice responded, saying it perhaps meaner than he had meant to. It was supposed to be a joke, but he was tired god damnit and it was cold out.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

wraithofthewasteland:

Violet is most decidedly on a mission.

And though she may still be limping, mildly so, all thoughts of sprains and stitches are rather low priority at the moment. It took only a passing mention of a garden, overheard in a conversation she hadn’t meant to listen to – and one she only eavesdropped on long enough for some clarity, long enough to pick up on the location. She’ll be sure to feel guilty for the nosiness later. For now, it’s all but forgotten as she tracks down the right building, and slips cautiously inside.

The energetic greeting has her hesitating for a moment, as she glances between the two inhabitants. It catches her off-guard still, even after all this time spent with the same people, often in close quarters. To be noticed at all, let alone greeted. But the achingly familiar smell of soil draws her away from those thoughts, and her attention is entirely monopolized by the pots throughout the room, expression nearly blooming then and there.

“Uh- hey,” she starts with a cautious smile, distracted in an instant. It’s an immediate dismantling of her walls that follows, an openness, an ease, to her expression that’s far from customary for her. Even less customary is the fact that she’s hardly aware of the sudden shift – rare, considering how careful she tends to be with her expressions, how… controlled, withdrawn, even in her better moods. “Are you- they don’t need all that water, actually, just-” Thinking out loud. Not one of her more common habits, but she can hardly help it.

“Really, you’re gonna wanna give ‘em more room to grow, if you’re- what do you have growing here, 'cause I heard there was-” And finally, she catches up with herself, blinking, shaking her head, pulling her attention away from the pots to face the man properly. Something close to surprise brightens her eyes. Maybe even excitement. Almost definitely excitement. “Hi! Sorry. Hi. I’m Violet, I can- I can help. If you need help.”

The hopeless would-be gardeners just sort of patiently smiled as Violet stumbled over a couple of thoughts, however both at varying intervals began to realize that she may be exactly what they needed. Someone who knew what the fuck they were doing. Slowly they turned to toothily grin at each-other and then back at her as she finally introduced herself. Violet, her name may as well have been Gaia.

Masha was about to exclaim something, most likely ‘yes please help us’, but Rory stopped her with a pat on the shoulder. “I’ve got this Mash...” He drew in a loud deep breath and scratched at his beard, looking Violet in the eye with a squint. 

“We’re a very exclusive club the gardening club, there’s basically only two members and initiation is tough... Oh my god I’m kidding please help us we don’t know what we’re doing her especially she keeps bossing me around it’s terrible I’m pretty sure we’re drowning the dirt but she keeps watering them and won’t stop-!” Rory had to cut his comedic but not entirely bullshit tirade short in order to dodge out of the way of Masha’s shoe, unsuccessfully, as it hit him in the shoulder. He barked a laugh as he picked the shoe up, not giving it back when she came over and held out her hand.

“I am Masha, this is Rory, no one wants to garden with us and we definitely need help.” Masha held out her other hand for Violet to shake. 

“I’m not giving your shoe back why would I give your shoe back?” Rory grinned, tucking the shoe under his arm. Masha looked at him incredulously, but he ignored her and turned to Violet.

“We got plenty of seeds, various stuff, that’s not a problem. We’ve been collecting for a year and only planting for about a month. If you’re some kind of expert we could really use one. Neither of us knows much... if that wasn’t evident.” Rory chuckled at the truth, man were they struggling. Almost struggling as hard as Masha was to reach the shoe that he held over her head so she couldn’t reach it. 

[roryheraclesjacobs]

headcanon001

Harold (chihuahua) + Logan (mutt)

Rory’s dogs are basically his kids and he’s very devoted to their safety and care. Harold is down one eye, several teeth, and has a heart condition he has to take meds for. Meds which Rory is always running out of and constantly worried about where he’s gonna find next. He also hates giving them people food but lately he’s had to come to terms with the fact that all the manufactured dog food has gone bad by now.

Harold is a feisty old chihuahua who is very particular about who he chooses to like, thankfully Rory is one of those people. He has many sweaters and does not like to wear any of them which is too bad for him because Rory doesn’t want him to freeze to death.

Logan is a quiet and clever dog that tends to remain alert and calm, preferring to observe most of the time rather than play. Though he does have his playful moments occasionally. While his housemate Harold is not really trained, Logan knows several commands and sometimes chooses to follow them.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

@wraithofthewasteland

In a building near the back of the compound, lines of plastic pots with sopping wet dirt were being fussed over by a small blonde woman and a comically oversized tough looking man. He poked a finger into a pot, the squelching noise making him grimace. “I think we might be overwatering them?” He suggested.

“Plants like the water right?! How can we give them too much?” Piped Masha, clearly frustrated. “We just need to add more seeds.” She suggested, holding one of the packets with a picture of a carrot on the front.

Roy shook his head, “I don’t think that’s going to help, the water’s freezing too, I don’t think we’re doing this right there isn’t any growth at all not even a lil green sprout. When we grew beans in the fifth grade we at least saw the lil green sprout.” Rory continued to poke the dirt, or mud, as it was probably better described. The hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle and he got a funny feeling as he looked over his shoulder from his crouched position. Yep, Masha was glaring at him. “Well don’t get mad at me! I didn’t make it cold! I wanted this to be a success! It was a good idea.” He spread his arms, referring to the would be garden they had worked so hard to set up. He’d enjoyed the planning and the gathering of materials, had hit the jackpot when out on patrol and finding a small garden shop. It’d been nice, to be useful in this way. They had planned on feeding everyone, of creating a sustainable source so they didn’t have to scrounge for food.

He watched as Masha tossed her seeds to the side and sat down, looking quite defeated, he had to bite back a chuckle, she looked like a kid. “I know you don’t wanna hear this, but… it’s probably for the best. I mean… we’re probably going to have to leave soon anyway, how are you supposed to garden on the move?” He wandered over and sat down next to her, “Maybe we can like, move all of these to…” He stopped as he both heard and saw a stranger wandering in, another little blonde. “Do you have a cousin you didn’t tell me about?” He poked Masha in the shoulder, who shoved him back. “Hey there! How can we help you.” He announced boisterously, waving. He hadn’t seen her around before, must be one of the new-ish cats.

[roryheraclesjacobs]

charliexhall:

These faces are like shadows of a dream - some agonizingly familiar it could bring her to tears, others blurry figures she might recall with all the clarity and confusion of deja vu, and a handful are complete strangers. Charlie keeps quiet, keeps to herself when the strange guilt knots stubbornly in her stomach that she abandoned these people. And late at night, when the world is much more quiet and she’s left entirely alone with her bitter thoughts, she recalls how foolish that sounds, how self-absorbed, as though she might’ve done something for any one of these individuals in the past.

They kept her alive. It wasn’t the other way around.

Charlie sits on the cold ground, repacking her backpack now that the heat is beginning to melt the snow. Spring has finally sprung and she prays it isn’t a fluke that grants them a weekend of sunshine before plunging the east coast back into the cruel grasps of Winter. The sound of foot steps catches her attention as she rolls up the heavy coat, too big to fit in her bag without taking up the majority of the space. “What would you do with this?” she asks, gesturing to the bundle that used to be her second skin against the chill.

Rory sauntered down the hallway of the building he took up residence in, unconcerned by much to be entirely honest - especially since there wasn’t a... a lich? Or fucking whatever it was called. Sure they still had things that wanted to eat them outside of the walls but nothing as major as that and for Rory in particular nothing whose head he couldn’t rip off with relative ease. Spring was blooming and it put a good mood on everyone, himself included, he whistled a tune as he went about his business, laundry basket balanced on his hip.

He catches something a woman says as he’s passing by her open door, and at first it doesn’t register,·“Hm?” He backs up to the doorway and peers in, piecing what she said together with the help of her pointing at the heavy coat.

“I’m not a hoarder or anything but I’d save it. Night’s still cold, winter will come back next year, who knows what we will and won’t be able to find when we need it?” He shrugged thoughtfully.·