#coffinshared

[sanctusinhope]

Starter for @coffinshared

It's been a while since Grace had last contacted Cindy. And she never thought that she'd see the older woman here at her doorstep for a visit. But now that she was here right in front of her, the heavy weight of guilt came to her stomach.

So much had happened since she last saw the woman who took care of her after Alyssa died; one she affectionately called an aunt her entire childhood. Where could she pinpoint a starting line for catching up with one another? If at all?

A tense feeling in her throat came as Grace struggled to say something. Anything! She can't just keep standing there in shock; choosing to move to the side to allow Cindy inside.

"I...I-I'm really...really sorry, for n-not calling you." Grace stammered out as what tears she had been trying to fight off just started streaming down her face. "For being so focused on work that I-I pushed you away, a-and now there's just so much more that I was never prepared for...!"

[coffinshared]

EMOTIONSECHO —> COFFINSHARED.

[ghrahm]

"... Hi."

While she couldn't recall her number, she did remember Manuela's address. How do you pick up a conversation from years back? Before the whirlwind struck, before enrolling, a text received and a text never replied to. The excuse is she was busy, so much going on with her Father's campaign, learning how to navigate life from behind blinds, something syrupy plastered into every conversation whether or not she felt like it. Then it was college, juggling application after application, and that's without...

Ashley's grateful she never moved, and slightly worried she hadn't. Memories in the firmament? Some unseen chain linking her here, because if she were to go, all else would collapse. She's judging, she knows; thinks it to be of care rather than malice, because no one can feel malice toward someone like Manuela Hidalgo. It can't compute.

"I didn't bring anything more, sorry. I didn't want to seem like I'm buying your forgiveness, but I also didn't want to show up empty-handed with just -- me, so."

Ashley couldn't think of a worse welcome back? - it's not really a welcome back gift, what would you call this?, just her on the porch, puppy dog look on her face but not sincerely. Not due to her not feeling like a douchebag, but she hasn't earned a sincere puppy dog look, she's not the one who should be sad here.

She does feel a lethal degree of awful, though.

Holding out her tribute, Ashley doesn't allow herself in, doesn't make any excuses. If she slammed the door in her face, Ashley wouldn't begrudge her for it. Might thank her, even. Fully embody that guilt of hers, deserved punishment. But Manuela wouldn't do such a thing, and... Ashley's grateful, and slightly worried about that. Ashley balances on the balls of her feet, puffs her lips out in a way not photographable whatsoever, but just enough to make a friend laugh.

That's what she deserves; laughter in spades.

@coffinshared!

[kozach]

"Enough." comes the chiding voice. "Don't harass the man."

The class, in contrast to how they had behaved when chastised by other teachers, almost immediately quiets down. Out of some corner he'd been hiding in wheels Mr. Alexander, the longest-running teacher at this school, and looking every bit as tired as that title would imply. However, he is smiling.

"I hope they do not bother you too much. Always so fascinated with anything new. You would think they are five and not fifteen." @coffinshared for professor Kwame!

[ofhope]

"Like someone I've seen before. Or maybe I haven't, and you just have one of those celebrity faces. How does your makeup still hold up?"

Ashley hasn't, precisely, gotten access to a mirror as of late, but if she had to guess, she would be down a layer of foundation or two. Blush runny, highlighter replaced with sweat. It's the least of her worries, she knows — but she's got to get her recommendation for setting spray.

"I -- yeah. Very different, um... you got here by boat?"

Okay, good. She's the only captive present. Good for her, not for Ashley, but an overall good in comparison to all the bad surrounding them. The word infected jostles her from their makeshift hiding place, realization sharpening her gaze. So she's the only one kidnapped, but there's multiple people infected, and multiple sources in the know. While not sent for Ashley's aid, the addition of a presence - any, really - lessens the weight she's had wedged in her throat since the moment she awoke. And she's - she's a person.

They're people too, says uncertainty. She dabs uselessly at blotch of red, dark, too dark at the edge of her cuff, teeth worrying her lip. All of this is out of place, all of this is something from a movie, but they've been thrust to centerstage. She gets why she was targeted -- comes with the territory, she sat through private seminars on it. Innocent people? Or... He's an ex, so maybe not entirely innocent.

Clearing her unheard judgement with a cough, Ashley lightens at her proposal.

"No, no, yeah totally, I'll - I'll be right behind you. Sorry, I lost my phone awhile back. Got nothing for light, uhm... unless one of those guys drops something, which - which can happen, probably," Ashley only hopes it's not angled at one of them. "I've been through here some. Or well, it's my second time, I've - here. Instead of behind you, I'll..."

Ashley nudges passed, murmuring an apology.

"We'll head this way, and hope there's no barred entrances. Did you get any info on where your ex is staying?"

She's the first display of coherent life Ashley's witnessed. If he lingered around any of the buildings...

No. She doesn't have to hear that.

"Which, by the way. You're stronger than me. I'm not sure if I'd go this far for an ex."

@coffinshared!

[aymixium]

@coffinshared asked: [ TXT ] : is it bad i threw up in a bush (Booker to Copley)

Text: I suppose that depends...

Text: but typically yes as the vomit is the body's way of expelling some sort of toxins... Care to elaborate? Do you need medical attention?

[abirkin]

@coffinshared from x

She resists the urge to grimace. "I must admit, I didn't think you would be happy to see me, but that... Was a bit cold." She sighs. "I came looking for you. I've been on the mend for a while now, and I wanted to see you. That's all. If you want, I'll leave."

It's presented simply. She wanted to know that Sherry was alive, that all was well... She knows her own shortcomings. She won't try to force feelings that may not be there. After all, she hadn't been close with her own mother, though that was for wildly different reasons.... But she wanted her daughter to know she was alive, and that she had looked for her. And having accomplished what she set out to do, the ball was in Sherry's court now.

[rvdfieldsx]

CLOSED STARTER | chris x sheva (@coffinshared)

"i've been off sick, so what." chris shrugged, eyes fixated on the computer screen in front of him. he never took a sick day, ever. the only time i never worked was when he got dismissed from the military when he was in his 20's. chris had come back from a mission recently and he came across a pack of werewolves in a rural village in europe. they cleared them out but one of the pack had attacked chris and slashed his chest. "i feel your eyes burning into the back of my head." he grumbled.

he scratched his chest over his shirt and tact gear, the scratch underneath under a big gauze plaster. he kept ignoring it, but it had gotten worse since he'd been home, but he never told anyone. "so, what did i miss." he said, eyes not shifting off his screen. eyes scanned information on a tab he'd opened about the myths of that town he was in.