KEEP SURVIVING

          Once again, Willy finds himself staring. It’s become common occurrence since James’ arrival to the school, and no matter how many times he’s told by the others to quit it, he simply can’t help it. He doesn’t want to help it, as there’s no room for doubt in his overactive mind that the mysterious boy with the weird and wonderful walker-skin mask is the absolute coolest person he’s ever met.

          And so, he stares; an ever-burning curiosity burning within his big blue eyes, his own chores of the day long forgotten whenever he finds himself within close proximity of the other. No less than a million questions run through his mind at any given second, tingling on the tip of his tongue that all frustratingly become lost in the desire to impossibly ask them all at once.

          As soon as James happens to venture closer, there’s nothing Willy can do to stop himself from darting towards him. “Hi, James.” It’s blurted none-too gently, the young boy displaying about as much grace as an oncoming train. “Uh- what’s up?”

hell spawn @allsurvived​ liked for a starter from tripp!

          there’s only so much a man can take, and after a day like today, tripp is honestly surprised that he’s even still standing. thrown into the hellscape that is richmond, rejected by the woman he has feelings for, sold out by the woman he has feelings for, and left the pick up the pieces on his own.

          he’s not looking for company at the moment, so when he sees javi approaching, he immediately tries to nip any attempts at conversation in the bud.

          “ not now, javi, ” he warns, though his tone is more exasperated than annoyed. “ i’m not in the mood. ”

          Of course, now isn’t the time for friendly conversation. In fact, now isn’t the time for much of anything, given the circumstances of all they’ve faced in the cruel span of the last twenty-four hours. Yet with Javi’s certain tendency to try to make the best of things, even at the worst of times, he finds himself nearing the man whom he could have easily guessed wouldn’t appreciate his sympathetic optimism right about now.

@allsurvived liked for a small starter so he gets something we’ve talked about doing forever now!

          “ is – is this real life?? am i actually alive right now?? are we sure that i didn’t DIE and go to heaven or some shit??? ” louis doesn’t think he’s ever been so STARSTRUCK in his entire life, because, here, standing RIGHT BEFORE HIM, is none other than the one - the only–

          “ JAVIER GARCIA?! ” he’s flabbergasted to say the least. “ THE JAVIER GARCIA?! ” truly, he wishes that his mouth and words weren’t being so useless right now. “ DUDE! i– i can’t believe this! HOLY SHIT! do you– i mean– you just– MAN! i used to LOVE watching you play! my dad even bought me your jersey when i was little! i just– i love baseball! ”

          he knows that he’s talking a mile a minute but, truly, he couldn’t stop right now, even if he wanted to. “ and YOU know CLEM?? CLEM knows YOU?? how– how did you guys even meet?! ”

          It’s been a long time since he’s had someone so candidly fawning over him like this. Too long, and he simply can’t even try to deny just how good it feels. Like an old friend who’s finally come home, a past comfort he hadn’t even realized he’d been so desperately needing until it’s right here in front of him. It made him feel strangely at home, something he hasn’t felt in years. Even better, not only is he being recognized for his lost fame, it isn’t accompanied with the sour taste of regret and blame for his own foolish actions, a breath of fresh air to not be ridiculed as the fuck up he’s made himself to be.

          This kid’s attitude is nothing short of infectious. Even now, within only mere moments of meeting him, Javi can see so much of himself reflected within him. He reminds him of how he used to be, back when he was young and carefree, back before he ruined his own world and the rest came crashing down on itself. “Pleasure’s all mine, buddy,” he grins brightly, a truer statement than he can even say. “I gotta say, it’s good to know you still actually remember me. You couldn’t have been more than what...” He has to pause to do the math inside his head. “Six? Seven when this all went down?”

“Seriously. Fuckin’ Reginald?”