A DARKNESS THAT BEATS IN YOU.

SAMUEL BRADFORD. 33. CLUB PROMOTER & DJ. DOWNTOWN, KISMET HARBOR.

[samxbradford]

THE INTRODUCTION.

NAME: Samuel Wade Bradford ALIAS/NICKNAME: Sam, Sammy (only by friends and family), Seven AGE: 33 RESIDENCE: The Willows, Cresthill Meadows, Kismet Harbor, OR TIME IN KISMET HARBOR: since 2020 OCCUPATION: Club Promoter and DJ at High Pulse, publishes self-produced songs on spotify FACECLAIM: Jannis Niewöhner

THE BASICS.

tw: abuse, physical assault, death, substance abuse (drugs/drug overdose, alcohol)

DATE OF BIRTH: APRIL 18th, 1992 HEIGHT: 6'1" HAIR COLOR: Brown EYE COLOR: Blue/Green TATTOOS: One on the left side of his neck, one on his back - more Info will be added later PIERCINGS: None PLACE OF BIRTH: Chicago, IL GENDER / PRONOUNS: Cis-Male (he/him) SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Heteroromantic RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single POSITIVE TRAITS: loyal, protective, creative, honest NEGATIVE TRAITS: abrasive, impulsive, disrespectful, tactless, loud-mouthed SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, Korean ALLERGIES: Bullshit ILLNESSES/IMPAIRMENTS: Asthma, sensory processing sensitivity (not officially diagnosed)

RELATIONSHIPS.

FATHER: Isaac Bradford (estranged) MOTHER: Bernadette Beauchamp † (estranged) SIBLINGS: Dae-Hyun 'Daniel' Kwon (older half-brother) PARTNER: None CHILDREN: None EXES: Annika Nyström † (2021-2023, dated again late 2025 until she died in March 2026) FLINGS: Aurora Jackson (late 2023 - early 2024) FRIENDS: Aurora Jackson, Archie Morgan, Orion Blakewood, Makayla Hoffmann FRENEMIES: TBA COWORKERS: Maddox Cage (boss) ANNOYANCES: TBA PETS: Goldfish named 'Trevor' † (2001 - 2010)

BIOGRAPHY.

Bernadette Beauchamp had never been good with handling loneliness. She hadn't asked for much in life. Just enough to have her life contently. A husband. A child. A white picket fence. Though fate had different plans for the young woman, who'd had her first son at the age of twenty, with a man who would not live long enough to see his son grow up. Living in Chicago, she raised her oldest son by herself, tried to offer her boy everything she could, though her loneliness still reigned her heart and made her search for love in all the wrong places. Stumbling from one relationship to the next, she settled for things she did not deserve. Mistreatment and toxic behavior were her life for the following years to come. This all seemed to change however, once she'd met Isaac Bradford. He seemed different than all the others. He was loving and attentive, caring and willing to provide for her and her son. Four years after meeting, they welcomed their first and only child together - Samuel.

Sam was a bright child, inquisitive and sweet and his world consisted of daydreams and adventures. He was especially close to his father, who taught him to appreciate music and art. So, the family of four lived in Chicago and Bernadette's dream seemed to come true, until Isaac, ten years after Sam was born, ended their relationship without much of a warning or an explanation. Moving not just into a different city but a different state entirely, Sam got to see his father every once in a while. Though as the years passed the letters and visits became less and less, until Isaac's efforts had come to an end completely.

Now only a family of three, Sam's brother stepped in, supported their mother and aided her in raising the young boy, who, ever since his dad had left, had gotten more fussy, more disobedient. His brother was the only one who could manage to talk sense into Sam, when he started lashing out, though as Sam had reached his teenage years, not even his brother could get through to him, most times. In the meanwhile, his mother had not learned from her mistakes, stumbling from relationship to relationship. Sam had forsaken any true endeavors to build any relationship with the men his mother had dated. Barely bothering to remember their names, as he knew they would not stay around for long. And still, it didn't keep him, as well as his brother, from needing to step in, when first signs of abuse in the relationships arose. And still, Sam was always the shoulder for his mother to cry on.

Sam had paid quite a few visits to the juvenile detention center during his adolescence, always for minor charges. This, as well as being expelled from two different schools for repeated misdemeanor, Sam only finished High School at age 20. Working various different jobs afterward, he moved out. Living in a small apartment, Sam spent his spare time partying. Drugs and alcohol flowed freely and although he was never truly addicted, these substances aided him in coping with everything. The hatred aimed toward his father. The hatred aimed toward the men his mother brought home. The helplessness, when seeing his mother so lost and torn.

It was a usual night, a usual party Sam, now in his mid-twenties, went to with a couple of his friend. The booze was flowing and substances were running high in their systems, though his best friend seemed to have overdone it. As Sam tried to aid him on his way home, his best friend collapsed. Trying his best to keep his best friend awake and alive, he called for an ambulance, though the medics could only determine his best friend's death. Sam refused to be taken to the hospital, chose to wander Chicago's streets instead, until the sun had already risen. It was mere hours after the incident, mere hours in which he hadn't managed to even begin processing what had happened, when he received a phone call by his mother. A rustle on her end of the line was subsequently followed by a loud thud and a scream. Instead of calling for police, Sam took care of the situation himself. His mother's black eye was nothing compared to the injuries he'd caused her current boyfriend. Injuries severe enough for him to be sentenced for four years in jail for aggravated assault. Four years, of which he'd served all.

Upon his release, Sam realized that the tides had shifted and life would never be the same again. His mother had grown distant, shocked to have witnessed what her youngest boy was capable of. Friends had turned their backs to him, for their lifestyles were no longer compatible with his. No longer compatible with the one of an ex convict. The only one who had Sam's back (as always) was his older brother, who suggested Sam leave Chicago. Move to a different place. A quieter place, so he might stay out of trouble. A new beginning.

Living in a Downtown apartment for three years, Sam began working as a mechanic at Extra Mile Mechanics, though has reduced his hours to a part-time position since being promoted to a club promoter and DJ at High Pulse. He still drowns his sorrow in substances and parties. In making music and working out. Trying to stay out of trouble proves to be difficult for Sam, as his abrasive and impulsive demeanor oftentimes get the better of him. Act and speak first, think second. To family and friends, Sam is fiercely loyal and would stop at nothing to ensure their happiness and safety, making others a priority. There are only few things Sam genuinely cares about, which reflects in his behavior. Love him or hate him - there are only few who fall in between.

TIMELINE

1992 - Sam was born 2001 - Dae moves to NYC for his internship 2002 - Isaac leaves the family 2003 - Dae returns to Chicago 2012 - Sam graduates High School 2013 - His niece Kim is born 2015 - His nephew Lee is born 2016 - Elliot dies 2016 - Sam gets arrested and sentenced to jail 2018 - His niece Song is born 2018 - His brother's family is in a car crash, of which only Dae makes it out alive 2018 - Has a mental break, believing his brother is dead, spent some time in solitary confinement and the prison's psychiatric wing 2020 - Gets released from jail 2020 - Dae takes him to South Korea 2020 - Sam moves to Kismet Harbor 2021 - Sam starts dating Annika 2023 - Sam and Annika break up 2023 - Bernadette gets sick and passes away 2023 - Dae moves to Kismet Harbor 2025 - Sam quits his part-time job at Extra Mile Mechanics and moves in with his brother 2025 - Sam and Annika start going out again 2026 - Annika dies

[ingridnystrom]

Looking at him, she took a breath and moved to help him pick up the groceries. "I'm sure I did." She knew how it must've look. She saw it with her brother, her mother, Dana, and various others around town since her hair went blonde. It was a spur of the moment decision and while she could go get it fixed, there was a part of her that didn't want to. "He is for the most part. He tends to when I'm not home." She leaves it out for home and she'll come back and it's gone. "He is begging me for treats, though." She told him, grabbing the coffee and handing it to Sam. @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

"Thanks." Tired eyes moved to her when she knelt down to aid him in his pathetic undertaking. Somewhere, on the tip of his tongue lay an apology, ready to be uttered aloud but all that followed was silence. He had apologized too often these past weeks and for what? The lump inside his throat grew and for a devastating moment, he could make himself believe that the woman in front of him was Annika. With a shake of his head, he pushed the nasty thought aside and then nodded, while his hands blindly dropped the scattered groceries into the bag that was partially torn open on one side. "That's good." He was sure the cat now ate better than he did. Sam took the coffee automatically from her, keeping it between his fingers like it was something sacred. "Sounds like him." A smile threatened to curl against his lips and he managed to tear his gaze from her for just long enough to store the coffee in the torn bag, too. Sam paused, and before he could stop himself, he spoke. "Happy birthday, by the way." It sounded miserable and he regretted his words instantaneously and he thought back on the flowers he'd put on Annika's grave on her birthday. Ingrid's birthday. "Belated." A mumble. "Belated birthday." @ingridnystrom

[orionxblakewood]

Orion never imagined his life would be like this, the male never even pictured or wondered what his future would be like. He had been surprise when he had been accepted to a university, Orion was not a bad student but he was not smart. Growing up the way he did, the male believed he would be forever trapped. Life had never been easy, the male had been through a lot, used by people for his kindness and body. Plus he had suffer enough and each time he had survived but this time, despite he had surprised it had left lasting scars on him. He could not sleep, he could not draw and the lights in eyes were flickering, almost going out. Orion found himself in the cold streets feeling alone and he thought it would be better than being in his room alone. Hands in his pocket as he walked slowly due to his leg which was almost completely healed. He noticed Sam, a friend he had not seem or spoken in awhile. Orion had not spoken to make people. They got closer and he tried to smile but it felt like poison on his lips.

"Ca---care to grab a---drink?" he asked, that was the only thing that could come out maybe because he saw that same sadness and pain in the other. Orion needed one, if not he would have turned to something so much stronger. @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

A small, macabre part of Sam wanted to keep on walking. Not stop to talk and sit and be around someone who looked equally as miserable as he felt in this instant. His thought was gone as quickly as it had crossed his mind and was instantly followed by a bad conscience. He noticed the limp too late, only when Orion had almost caught up with him and for a brief moment, Sam forgot about the scattered pieces of his small world and concern was all he knew. One moment. One emotion substituted for another and in hindsight, he knew it was the lesser of two evils. To be worried for a friend, rather than think of your own shortcomings in navigating the complexity of grief. Orion's smile barely passed as such and Sam could sympathize with shocking ease.

"Yeah," he murmured, falling in line with Orion's pace, wondering how long it had been since they had last seen each other. What had happened in all that time. "You're hiding from the world, too?" @orionxblakewood

[auroraxblake]

The warmth of the sun penetrated throughout the home shared by Rory and Brody by the lake. The natural sunlight filling every corner of the home through the windows that weren't covered by curtains. Now that it was getting warmer out, Rory started taking more walks with Eleanor, getting the much needed vitamin D for both mom and baby. And today, instead of being by Lake Eldred, Rory walked downtown, the bustling of Kismet Harbor filling her ears. Or well, as much as one could considered the bustling sounds since to Rory this was a far cry from the sounds of LA. But nonetheless, Rory wanted Eleanor to be able to experience many different sounds so over the course if her life, she'd get used to them. That she wouldn't need near silence to fall asleep each night or only the sounds of crickets and the occasional owl. Nellie was now three months old, wide eyed and alert and taking everything in while she could when not napping. Soothing herself on a pacifier as Rory pushed the stroller, the infant watched her mother from inside her little cocoon. Rory breathed in the warm air and walked along sidestepoing numerous children before watching two people almost collide. It took her a moment to recognize the other, but she went over as soon as she did. "Hey," she said softly and nodded, looking at her daughter before back up at Sam. "She is. Eleanor, but we call her Nellie." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

It was like another bolt of lightning had struck through his heart and took with it all Sam had wanted. There was it. The familiar ache and he rolled his shoulders, as if he could redirect the misery, simply shrug it off and be done with the grief. As Rory spoke, eyes of a hue somewhere between blue and green settled on her with a noticeable bout of reluctance. Sam swallowed down the bitterness and mustered a lackluster half-smile. "Nellie." He repeated quietly, as if saying her name for himself. As if he had to try how it sounded as the syllables tumbled from his lips. He moved, his morbid intrigue winning in this instant he knew might haunt him for the rest of today. "Are you keeping your mommy busy?" He aimed his words, his voice sitting at a slightly higher pitch, toward the baby. Big eyes. Pacifier. Completely unmoved and yet visibly curious about the world around her. Herr innocence was impeccable and for a moment, Sam could not help but wonder which of her parents the baby resembled more. "She's sweet." The smile he'd managed grew more quiet as he spoke and the hole inside his chest grew. @auroraxblake

[daehyunxkwon]

As his brother spoke, saying the things he dreaded hearing, he remained silent. He knew what it looked like when Sam gave up on fighting, had seen it happen once too many and knew that when his brother said those words, that he meant them. Yet it didn't deter Dae-Hyun, he wasn't going to shrug and accept the answer, roll over and admit defeat. "That's too damn bad." He told him, sitting back in his chair, hands held together in front of him. "Because I am far from resilient, Sammy. I'm selfish. Do you think I would've gotten through anything of the things I went through if I didn't have you? How I couldn't get to talk to my little brother when I was in that hospital, so I had to get better in order to see you again? I couldn't even hack it in Chicago on my own and I need you to get up and get better because I'm selfish. I need you. So you're not done fighting, you hear me?" @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

Silence kept his tongue hostage and his mind drew a blank. Sam didn't respond and there was a tightly wound-up coil slowly coming undone in the pit of his stomach and it was enough to deprive him of the air his lungs held. His brother's words unearthed unwelcome memories. Prison walls and the sterile ceilings. The pain at his brother's sudden absence and a terrifying conviction. Solitary confinement and a cut that sat inside his brow with a noticeable scar to this day. The relief when Danny had returned, battered and bruised but alive. Sam was uncertain when exactly he'd begun staring at his hands and there was a grave nothingness that filled the air once Dae-Hyun's voice had subsided. And the anger turned white as Sam realized that his brother had found the one thing he couldn't argue against. While his eyes stung and his vision blurred, the lump inside his throat scratched like a razor's blade. "She doesn't get another chance" he spoke quietly, without the bravery it needed to raise his gaze. He kept his eyes steady on the pattern carved into his palm. He shook his head, pressing his lips together to keep them from trembling, before commencing. "Neither does Mom. Neither do Elliot or Ji-Min." He paused, his eyes closed as his voice grew more quiet. "Neither do Kim or Lee or Song." A beat, and Sam's voice was reduced to nothing but a whisper. He paused, relenting to the absence of belief. It was still early on in the day but his mind began derailing. "I know that you need me, Danny. But I'm too tired for some convincing speech about me being strong enough to push through this right now." Wiping his eyes with his wrists, Sam looked up at his brother, shame and misery turning his features into an image of grotesque exhaustion and his next words were a pathetic plea. He had seen too many people vanish. "Can I go to bed now?" @daehyunxkwon

[ingridnystrom]

closed starter for @samxbradford

Ingrid's head was pounding. Given her brother's reaction to her hair, her birthday, and just grieving her sister, she had drank a lot the previous night and was now paying for it. As she scrambled from the bed, she found she was out of coffee and now she was irritated with herself. Getting dressed and avoiding herself in the mirror, she grabbed her bag and headed out so she could get something. As she opened the door to the building, she bumped into Sam and she looked at him. "Sorry." She told him before standing there looking at him. "You okay?"

[samxbradford]

It had been the first time since the funeral. With a bouquet of flowers, Sam had visited Annika's grave on her birthday and the heaviness sat deep inside his chest. He started trying to weasel his way back into life. He'd started working on new songs, had started showing up to work again. I need you. His brother's words circled around his mind. So you're not done fighting, you hear me? Slowly, a determination had begun to grow in the pit of his stomach, to try. If not for himself, then for is brother. Armed with a bag of groceries, Sam was too focused on the search for his keys to notice. Not in time. As he looked up, he tripped, catching his balance just in time before his body would collide with the ground. He was sure he'd just imagined it. That it was a magic trick, played on him by his morbid imagination. His heart was pounding, threatening to burst from his chest and his knees quivered. A can of diet coke, a bag of pasta, coffee and a bundle of basil had not survived his misstep and sat on the ground. But Sam's attention lay elsewhere. Slowly, with great caution he raised his gaze and his heart dropped at the sight of her. Annika. He managed to stop himself from speaking her name just in time and it took him longer than it should have to realize who the person in front of him was. "Yeah," he lied automatically. Kneeling down, Sam forced to peel his gaze from her to gather the groceries that lay strewn across the ground, with no success. Blue-green eyes remained glued to her. How often he'd wished for another glimpse of her. How badly he wished for this to be another bad dream. "You caught me off guard, that's all." Blindly reaching for the can of diet coke, he swallowed down the accusatory words that threatened to foam from his lips and it was numb anger that grew. Why would you do that? "How's Rick doing? Is he eating better now?" @ingridnystrom

[samxbradford]

Rick Grimes took his sweet time. His slow, hesitant steps were soundless as he neared and decreased the distance between him and Sam, who knelt down and offered some treats on his palm. With narrowed pupils, the feline studied the offered snack, sniffed and then rubbed its furry cheek against the tips of Sam's fingers with a soft pur. "Come on, Bud." Sam spoke, as if the cat could decipher the meaning of his words. "We can cuddle later, but first you gotta eat." For a moment, Sam forgot that Ingrid stood not too far from him. For a moment, he forgot about the small troll figurine on the shelf, who Annika had named Glinda for reasons that were beyond his comprehension, that stared at the odd scene taking place in the living room. For a moment, he forgot about his pain. "Come on." A soft nudge, his words encouraging and it was all it took for Rick to take the first bite of the offered treats. @ingridnystrom

[ingridnystrom]

Ingrid watched him for a moment and took a breath. Of course the cat would come out for Sam. She tried not to take it personally and she was at least glad the cat was coming out for someone. She watched as Rick came out and started eating the treats. A sigh of relief escaped her lips and she felt maybe now there was some hope that the cat would be okay. "Thank you." She spoke softly, scared she would scare Rick Grimes away. "Really. I appreciate this." @samxbradford

END

[ingridnystrom]

That damn cat getting used to her eventually was the hope. She knew there was no way that she would be able to get rid of him. She wasn't even sure if she would be able to get rid of anything in this damn apartment. She had thought about getting a new place where she could decorate it to her liking. Somewhere that didn't have 90s Troll dolls as decorations or food themed light fixtures. And yet, she couldn't begin to think about moving or packing any of this up. If she did, it'd be more real. And sometimes she just liked to believe that maybe, just maybe, Annika would open up that door. She snapped out of it as Sam called out for the cat and shook the cat treat bag. It took a moment, but finally the cat responded and came out from a spot behind the couch. "Well that's a hiding spot." She said and took a deep breath. @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

Rick Grimes took his sweet time. His slow, hesitant steps were soundless as he neared and decreased the distance between him and Sam, who knelt down and offered some treats on his palm. With narrowed pupils, the feline studied the offered snack, sniffed and then rubbed its furry cheek against the tips of Sam's fingers with a soft pur. "Come on, Bud." Sam spoke, as if the cat could decipher the meaning of his words. "We can cuddle later, but first you gotta eat." For a moment, Sam forgot that Ingrid stood not too far from him. For a moment, he forgot about the small troll figurine on the shelf, who Annika had named Glinda for reasons that were beyond his comprehension, that stared at the odd scene taking place in the living room. For a moment, he forgot about his pain. "Come on." A soft nudge, his words encouraging and it was all it took for Rick to take the first bite of the offered treats. @ingridnystrom

[samxbradford]

closed starter for: @cemrexdeniz location: outside of villa vitale

Daylight waned and faded into a deep shade of midnight blue as night unfurled and sunk its nasty teeth into their half of the globe. Darkness gathered gradually and Kismet Harbor's street lay drenched in shadows. And with it came a strange lightness, a deranged sense of ease. Sam had found himself venturing further into this part of town, ever since that fateful night, his eyes, drowsy and tired, fixed on the restaurant's entrance. It was hypnotic, almost too easy to get lost in spiraling thoughts. The building's wall in his back was no longer enough to ground him and he drifted farther and deeper. Some place far away, where he still felt a closeness to everyone who had left this realm. Elliot. His mother. His brother's family. Annika. Swallowing, he barely noticed the lump that had formed inside his throat when he turned his gaze and squinted against the flicker of a street light, recognizing the woman's silhouette a heartbeat too late. She was a stranger, her name as big of a mystery as the reason this had begun. A small routine on the verge of developing. Of them keeping each other company in the shelter of faux anonymity. He knew that if she wanted to, she could easily figure out his name and yet, there was a trust that she might refrain from such measures. "Hey", he spoke, his voice carrying the rasp of someone who had not spoken a single word the whole day.

[samxbradford]

closed starter for: @auroraxblake

The town sounded too loud today. The traffic moving on the street he walked next to, the conversations of strangers starting into an early morning. With his sweater's hood up, despite the warming weather, and a cigarette plucked between chapped lips, he kept his eyes on the pavement, damp with morning dew. He was supposed to return to work tonight, ran out of excuses to stay absent from a place he knew would pull him under in no time. Ran out of motives, though he felt as though people had stopped asking questions the moment he stopped answering his phone. Pulling his pack of cigarettes from his pocket, he counted the last two remaining, before stuffing it back. He had been smoking a lot more lately, but who could blame him, really? Just as his hand placed the pack in the depths of his pocket, he stumbled, avoiding a frontal collision with a passerby by a miracle. "Jesus," Sam exclaimed, his cigarette falling from his lips to the ground. He looked up and saw her. Blinking, as though trying to wash away her image, the image of a stroller she held onto, the image of someone as tired as they were blissful, Sam knew he could not do this today. For a second too long, he stood frozen in place, before reacting. "Hey." He spoke dryly, his voice weaker and flatter than he wanted it to be. "She's here already." It felt like yesterday, that they had bumped into each other and he felt sick.

[ingridnystrom]

She took a deep breath and was relieved that Sam would come over. If anything were to happen to that cat, she didn't now what she'd do. She just wanted Rick Grimes to eat. "Thank you." Ingrid said softly and led the way to the apartment. Even from outside, the smell of Annika was there. So when she opened the door, it was like a wave. She had gotten slightly used to it, but it still caught her off guard. That smell of strawberry shampoo and caramel body mist. "He's around here somewhere." She said and looked for the cat. "He's been hiding. And hissing at me." She swore the cat watched her carefully like she was something that just wore his mom's face, but was different in everything else. "I don't now what to do." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

Trailing every single one of her steps, Sam moved like the autopilot had been engaged. One lonely day had been chasing the other in the past weeks, that the world had moved on just like that, without her. Nothing had changed and yet, his whole life had shifted and crawled underneath a gloomy veil. There was no more blue skies and sunlight pouring in through half-shut blinds. Sam stopped when Ingrid opened the door and he realized too late that he was holding his breath. As the door swung open, instantaneous regret sidled up to him. He was expectant of Annika's silhouette in the apartment's warm interior and as he moved forward, almost hesitantly, he realized nothing had changed and something about that was deeply upsetting. Enough to almost piss him off, if he thought about it for longer than a second at best. It was one deep breath that filled his lungs with the scent he'd come to associate with her and it only grew the lump inside his throat. Turning to Ingrid as she spoke, he felt bad, bad, bad. How many times he had not understood how someone could spoil a cat quite as much as Annika had with Rick Grimes, while he now would do anything if it meant for the feline to be content. I don't know what to do. Ingrids words sat there as Sam moved further into the apartment, that felt empty and alive with her essence, all at the same time and it all weighed heavy on him. Well, shit. I don't know either. "He'll probably get used to you in time." Taking a bag of Rick Grimes' favorite treats, opposing to the cans stacked in the cabinet, Sam made a point to open it louder than necessary. "Rick," he called out, knowing than sometimes it had done the trick. "Come on, buddy." Rustling with the bag of treats, Sam ventured back into the living room, observing the spaces he knew were the common places for the feline to rest, before a loud mewl distorted the quiet in the apartment. @ingridnystrom

[ingridnystrom]

Ingrid stared as the man went silent and she waited for him to answer her. This led to her right eyebrow lifting curiously and the now twinless twin cross her arms. Finally, Sam spoke and she gave a short laugh. "Yeah, well, the words have lost their meaning, too." She had heard them enough since she got back into Kismet Harbor. She knew people meant well, but she was getting irritated hearing it. Licking her lips, she took a breath. "Thank you, though." She said, not wanting to be rude. She shuffled her feet a little before taking a breath when he thanked her for taking care of Annika's cat. "You're welcome." She said. She couldn't just leave the cat. She knew that her sister loved Rick Grimes almost more than anything else, so she wasn't about to leave him to fend for himself. "Do you... want to come see him?" She offered up. The cat was probably far more used to Sam than he was her and maybe it would be good for him. "He hasn't really been eating much. Maybe you can get him to eat." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

To linger would further the damage that her image carved into his chest. It was a gaping void that opened up, swallowing everything he was whole for a moment and he had to remember what it meant to be. Ingrid was not Annika and it were it not for the way her features mirrored those of her late twin, it would be hard to imagine they were related at all. Sam swallowed, nodding for he had run out of words. All syllables he could have uttered had been deprived of their meaning and they were just dead weight. Useless. And then Ingrid voiced the question that made him freeze. Slowly, he hoisted his worn gaze, tired and exhausted by nights that had fallen too short for too long now. Sam pushed himself further than he should have, all to catch a glimpse of her eyes and it was easy to imagine they were Annika's. Annika, who had treated that damned cat like royalty and Sam felt himself nodding. Saying 'no' had never been an option, even if it had crossed his mind for a split second. He knew this was a bad idea, that this would tear the wound open wider but he was too exhausted to care. His voice was dangerously quiet in this blank space of a hallway that began to make him feel claustrophobic. The familiarity. The heavy memories it caused to surface. He hasn't been eating much, she said. He's not the only one, Sam thought and again, he nodded. "Okay. I'll try." And it sounded like a promise. @ingridnystrom

[daehyunxkwon]

Well he ain't here, Sam. The words he usually would have said had the situation not been as dire and they were having just a normal argument. Instead he just inhaled, lips tightly pressed together to keep himself from saying anything. He knew that being confronted like this was intimidating, if anyone knew then it was Dae-Hyun. He barely had a chance to grasp the situation upon waking up in the hospital that day. Where had to be put in a wheelchair, barely any control over his body but having to make the decision to take his wife off of life support. Having to force himself to let her go while it had just seemed like the day before that they had been laughing together. It wasn't fair, if anyone understood, it was him. "You are." His voice was gentler now, but said in way that there was no denying it. "You don't eat, you barely sleep, you keep going and going and I'm afraid it will only end when you crash and when you will, because it's not a matter of if, but when. It won't be pretty, Sam. So please, please just.. Sit down, breathe for a moment. Slow down.. Please." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

His brother's intake of air was audible enough for Sam to hear and it was an irritating sound. It thinned the patience that was already only hanging by a thread. Irritation began to rise with each syllable his brother spoke. His eyes burned and his body felt as though it had been set ablaze with the words he knew were true. It's not a matter of it, but when. They had been there before and Sam remembered it all too well. Elliot. His mother. He swallowed, the urge to scream until his vocal folds caved and his voice would produce nothing more than a nasty rasping sound. Knowing the pain that Dae-Hyun had been forced to endure in this lifetime alone was nowhere close to what Sam had faced so far, was enough for him to halt and take a deep breath. Still facing the fridge's door, Sam felt dizzy and hoped this would be over soon. "Fine." It sounded too nonchalant, scarily composed. Sam turned, pulled once chair from the table and its legs scraped across the floor, louder than necessary. Letting himself fall into the seat opposite his brother, Sam lingered with lackluster posture. For the first time, he looked at his brother. "What do you want me to do, Danny? Breathe until I'm so calm and just fucking content I'm shitting rainbows?" He shook his head, looking his brother straight in the eye. "We both know I'm not as resilient as you." The words came out bitter, almost accusatory. "I'm done, Danny." Sam paused, his next words nothing but a whisper, bordering on exhaustion. "I'm done fighting." @daehyunxkwon

[danaxallenlopez]

There was a steady background hum of activity, but she still carried that empty feeling in her chest. His words hung in front of her, like it could tip the moment either way. From what she thought was controlled and measured turned into frantic speech in a matter of seconds. After his whisper, the silence stretched like it didn't know how to resolve itself. Dana stared at Sam, not right through him, as tears welled in her eyes. She knew the rims of her eyes were reddening with each passing second as the tears threatened to spill over onto her cheeks. "I - I'm sorry, Sam." Her voice came out like it had been worn down. "This - all of this," she twisted her neck to take in the funeral home around her, "I don't know any other way to grieve." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

Unable to comprehend, it was vertigo that caught up with Sam. Oftentimes, dizziness came once emotions whelmed and made it difficult to maneuver situations with any semblance of common sense. His walls heightened and had it been any different place or time, Sam might have not been blind for things beyond his understanding. To see that there was not one correct way to grieve. Nausea rose and he hardly heard Dana's voice over the ringing sound inside his head, drowning out everything else. The lump in his throat grew, heavier and heavier by the minute and he looked down before he could recognize the veil of tears glistening in Dana's eyes. Sam knew he would regret this later tonight. He only nodded, swallowed and wanted to bring himself to face Annika's best friend one more time, but cowardice was greater than the last shreds of strength that clung to him and he spoke his words in the same instant he turned to get away from this situation and her. "Anyway, thanks for ... for all of this." @danaxallenlopez

END.

[daehyunxkwon]

"We don't have to." Dae-Hyun said firmly. He knew better than to discuss the elephant in the room, for it would do more harm than any good. Dae-Hyun didn't know Annika very well, most of what he knew was from what Sam had told him, so nothing he could say was something Sam didn't already know. Or rather, it could be perceived the wrong ways because 'what did he know'. He felt that way whenever someone said something along the lines of 'Ji-Min wouldn't want you to mourn her like this' but how would they know when he knew her best? "I just want to talk about you Sam." Dae-Hyun wasn't even going to mention her name, or refer to her in any way, hadn't planned to. "Come on Sammy, I'm just.." Dae-Hyun lifted his free hand to rub his neck, feeling a small pop underneath his skin which was usual for him. His joints were stiff and sore ever since the accident, and he hadn't been in the mindset for his usual exercises. "I'm worried about you." He admitted, slowly making his way towards the dinner table where he set the chair backwards before walking over to the other side. An invitation for his brother to sit down. "You don't sleep. You barely eat." He continued, setting his mug down as he sat on the chair. "Am I supposed to pretend you just looked into a fridge that has nothing in there that you eat?" For he had to toss what his brother ate as it was spoiled. He'd hoped for a 'can you get this from the store' at least once, but nothing. "You can't just neglect yourself." @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

Where relief should have settled, tension now resided and Sam, for the first time in his whole life, was unsure whether he could let his guard down around the person he trusted most. For all his life, it had been Dae-Hyun who had always shown up for him with unconditional love and support. To perceive even his brother's presence as heavy and grave, even overwhelming to an extent, frightened Sam as much as he wanted to turn back time. I just want to talk about you Sam. "Jesus Christ." The words sounded quiet and pressed and Sam felt the cord around his throat tighten. Before his brother's words had fully been spoken aloud, Sam turned, closing his eyes in the same instant he let his forehead fall against the refrigerator's door with a thud, as soft as it was definite. Lids were shut tight so no light could reach him and it felt like a déjà-vu. Suddenly, he found himself back in the living room on that fateful night, that had been supposed to commence a new chapter. A better life. And he realized, as Dae-Hyun spoke, that he could not escape this situation. Not without fueling the concern his brother harbored. Not without punishing Danny for something inevitable, something beyond anyone's control. "I'm not neglecting myself." Sam barely missed a beat as he responded, knowing damn well that his brother was right. His own voice sounded muffled as he slowly peeled his eyes open and blinked rapidly. He was staring at the ground, observing the crew socks he wore. Only now he realized, he barely noticed the cold kitchen floor beneath his feet. He didn't want to be here and knew there was no point in trying to fool his brother into buying into his lies. Just like many times these past few weeks, Sam wished that things were different. @daehyunxkwon

[ingridnystrom]

She stood there and stared at the man her sister once loved. Hell, she still did love up until she passed. The last several phone calls with Annika had confirmed that as her twin talked about Sam and how they were getting closer and that this time was going to be different. The older Nyström twin felt it in her bones apparently. And Ingrid was happy for her. She wanted nothing more for her sister to be happy and now whatever feeling Annika had was gone and he was there to deal with the aftermath and so was Ingrid. She might not be the one that was in the relationship, but she was the one who looked identical to the woman who was and she knew that was hitting him hard. It was hitting everyone hard that dared to know Annika, including herself.

Nodding, she took a deep breath. It was good she was here helping her family. It was good she was making sure Erik had help and that she was able to check on her mom and dad. It was good she was there for Rick Grimes and making sure he was taken care of. And yet, if Ingrid allowed herself, she'd abandon it all with a snap of her fingers. She tried not to focus on that part of herself and kept repeating that Annika would've wanted her there and clinging to that for dear life. When Sam apologized, she blinked and looked at him. "For what?" @samxbradford

[samxbradford]

For what? Sam blinked, like he hadn't quite understood the words she'd spoken. Ingrid's question felt like a ruse, a snare. Something provocative and hurtful and for a moment he wondered if it was willful intent. His lungs were rendered incapable of taking oxygen and stilled in painful quiet. For a moment, he held his breath and swallowed. Then, quietly, he pulled the air into his chest and averted his gaze for the first time. Yeah, for what? He felt helpless and overwhelmed and feared Ingrid might think he was slow for falling silent. He'd never held the biggest sympathy's for Annika's twin sister. Not after all those times Ingrid had bailed on her and their family. But things had changed, they were different and now she stayed. Now, when everything had turned to shit and it was too late. Sam wondered if Ingrid was regretful of all the times she'd missed out on forming memories with her sister. On all the times she'd not shown up and for a moment, he hoped she did.

"Don't know," he mumbled, his voice quiet as he looked downward for two more seconds before gathering the courage to lift his bright gaze. "Isn't that what you're supposed to say when ..." His voice trailed off and he left the sentence unfinished. He was sorry for everything. For Annika. For Ingrid. For Erik and their parents. For Dana. And selfishly, for himself. "I've said that a lot recently and I feel like the words lost their meaning." Another apology sat on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it down, painfully past the lump inside his throat, alongside a bitter, bitter taste of this moment and knowing he would think back on this instance more often than was good for him. Sam had always been rather soft-spoken, but now his voice sounded foreign to him, quiet and more softer than it usually was. "Thanks for taking care of Rick Grimes." He said, still looking at Ingrid as he took a step back, hesitant to turn and leave. @ingridnystrom

[archiemorgan]

Archie didn't exactly have too many friends, or people that liked him or that he liked. He could count on both hands of those who he did that weren't related to him, and unfortunately with what had happened after Annika, that number dwindled. The man before him though was still one of those people, and between them the loss was felt much grater by the other. Aside from Hazal, he rarely hugged or touched anyone, but he felt that tug to give Sam one. A hug that meant more than words could ever begin to say, especially since Archie didn't have any. None that would be beneficial anyways. As they pulled away, Archie shook his head at his friend, "but it's not. Nothing is fine," he started to say, his words catching in his throat. "It's fucked up is what it is. And me? I don't know yet. And I don't even want to ask how you're doing because I there aren't any words." @samaraxcastro

[samxbradford]

How many people would he lose in this lifetime, still? Sam had always thought that not knowing was better and now, he knew for certain. There was a pain that slept inside him, a beast with claws and fangs that had waited for its time to rise and bite its way to the surface. The sudden loss of the woman he loved had given a monster the chance to rise and strip him of all passion, all energy. The music had stopped and Sam had not shown up for work for more than once in these past couple of weeks. He was about to cause his life to become even more chaotic, even more difficult. Give his brother another million reasons for concern and worry and yet, he could not help but obey the murmur that rumbled inside his chest. Sam looked at Archie and couldn't remember ever seeing his friend like this. Broken and ironically reasonable. It's fucked up. The words tumbled from his friend's lips and Sam closed his eyes and locked his jaw, wishing he could simply not hear. Not realizing that he shook his head until he opened his eyes again, once Archie's voice had faded and quiet finally reigned again, Sam let out a shaky, terribly uneven breath. A thousand words came to mind. A thousand words to describe the feeling he felt, the pain he was in and yet, they were all not enough to encapsulate the state he found himself in. "Right," Sam spoke instead, not daring to meet his friend's gaze another time. @archiemorgan