are you lost ?

Sam is reminded that his brother cares about him. Although, he isn’t sure why Luke still does. He’s a lost cause, one that’s never going to agree with his brother on the shit he says. “And who says they’re gonna catch me?” Did Luke not have faith in him at this point? Stealing was one of his only talents. “Why are you doin’ this anyways?” This wasn’t just about the purse, it was beyond that. “Why are you wasting your talents away doin’ legit jobs when we have the opportunity to actually get back to work?” 

“You stealing the purse in the middle of the day from probably a crowded restaurant. The cops in this town might still be incompetent, but there are new players in the town and you can’t do shit like that.” Luke may seem unassuming, especially with how often he was overlooked  by those around him, but he wasn’t stupid. He could see that things were shifting within the powers at play, and weird shit kept cropping up around every corner.  “Do we?” Luke gestured to the brother he’d once imagined hung the fucking moon. There was a time in Luke’s life where he would hang on every single word Sam said, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his brother. He still loved Sam, and would do anything to protect him, but the wool had been pulled from his eyes for awhile. “Do we have a way of getting ‘back to work’? Because what I see in front of me is you stealing a woman’s purse like we used to do when we were goddamn teenagers.” He turned to gesture back over his shoulder where he’d seen Sam come from, “Now either return the purse or toss it and let’s get the hell out of here.”

Luke’s response only brought more confusion, so he cocked a brow at the younger man. “Kinda difficult going over the next town when you can’t leave Grimmbrook. You forgot about that man?” He was sure this event should be known for all townsfolk, what else would they have to talk about if not the disasters going around? The flowers were a joke, so he didn’t expect Luke to actually know about the meaning and pick some for him (nor that those actually existed to be honest). They would come in handy, if he planned to send them over a certain woman who were pushing all the wrong buttons. “Well, look at that, you’re all an expert,” he let out a soft chuckle as he pulled a twenty dollars bill from his wallet to hand the other. “Do you actually need to know that to work here or was just curiosity?”

“What the hell do you mean, can’t leave Grimmbrook?” Luke had no reason to drive anywhere, he didn’t have a car, and any deliveries Lena had were to locals. Thinking on it, he thought he might’ve heard someone mention not being able to leave, but hadn’t thought twice about it. “ Getting there.” Luke hadn’t thought he’d enjoy learning about the flowers as much as he had, but it was certainly something new that he could focus his attention on that wasn’t how broken his brain was. “Not a requirement. Just listened to the owner describe the flowers, and wanted to know more.” Maybe it wasn’t the most interesting information he could learn, especially with Luke’s past exploits, but he liked. “Easiest way to give someone a subtle ‘fuck you’, but honestly only works if they know what the flowers mean too.”

@lostmason

“Hey, Luke,” he said as Luke sat down next to him. The two were meeting at the Midnight Pub. He’d been having a rough go these past few days. It was fine, but it was certainly an inconvenience. Joseph had been staying at the White Stallion for the time being, but that wasn’t the most comfortable place. He didn’t exactly want to spend money on a hotel, but he needed to find a better place to stay while the mist was around. Tonight was more of a distraction than anything else, a reminder that some things were going his way. Somehow, Luke still agreed to hang out with him which was certainly a plus. “What’s new with you?”

Luke still couldn’t quite understand how Joseph had gone from nearly nonexistent to his life, as suddenly one of the people he had reach out to him for company. There was still a part of him that was angry, and probably would always be angry for what had happened to him and his family, but Luke understood. As much as he didn’t want to, he did. Sliding into the seat next to Joseph, he waved at the bartender for a drink, and pulled out a cigarette to rest between his lips. He didn’t necessarily need to smoke, but it had become a comfort thing. “Hey...not much, besides the town going fucking nuts. What about you?”

Daniel tried his hardest to be a nice person. He wanted to do good and that required him to be kind and respectful. Sometimes, he found it so hard. He couldn’t help but be rude or mistrustful. He saw the world in such a black and white view, and he categorized the people he knew accordingly. He couldn’t just change his opinion about someone with the snap of his fingers. It had to be a conscious and deliberate action, and he didn’t know Luke well enough to know if he deserved to be re-categorized. “I’d love to hear your thoughts about that sometime, but this might not be the best place.” His words were genuine. Daniel was aware of the problems with the prison system, but there were only so many problems he could tackle at one time. Plus, Luke had experienced, so he had valuable input. His eyes drifted to where Luke patted his pocket. He could make out the shape of a box. He wasn’t surprised in the least bit.

A rueful smile found it’s way to Daniel’s face as Luke held the door for him. He certainly hadn’t been expecting this kind of chivalrous behavior. “Thanks.” The words were only slightly sarcastic as he wondered exactly what Luke was playing at. He looked away at Luke’s question. The detective in him just had to try to solve the movie. His mind was always working at a million miles a minute. He was curious and wanted to know everything, including what was going to happen during the movie. “My lips are sealed.” He walked further into the room and up the stairs. He liked to sit in the last few rows. That was where it was easiest to see. Going to the second to last row, he walked sideways till they reached the middle. “I hope this is to your liking.” He sat down and put the box of m&ms in the cupholder.

“Be careful watch you wish for, Detective.” Luke sent Daniel a quick glance from the corner of his eye, lips quirking in the first sign of amusement he’d felt since seeing the detective in line with him. It wasn’t that Luke had a personal vendetta against all cops, but it was an ‘us-vs-them’ world he’d grown up in. No cop had ever helped when their family’s house had burned down, or they’d tried to take Dani away, or even given them support when they struggled to feed and clothe themselves. When the Masons had turned towards crime to survive, it only made sense that the cops would become the ‘bad guys’, and Luke had done what he could to avoid them. And yet, two years after being put into prison, he had spent the last few months sleeping on the Sheriff’s couch, and was currently going to see a movie with a detective. He just needed Archie to pop out of nowhere to offer his unwanted opinion, and Luke would be set.  

“Hi there,” Rachel smiled as she stepped into the shop. She had heard one too many thing about the flowers here with its great selection and fair cost. The García was in need of adding some accent pieces to her place and thought some new flowers and greenery would do. However, when she walked into the store the last thing she thought she would meet was this rugged looking man. Maybe he works for his grandmother or he himself was an unexpected horticulturist. “I’m looking to add some more arrangements in my home. Any suggestions or best sellers?” @lostmason

Today was an easy day. Luke had finished all of his deliveries earlier that morning, and helped Lena with the few extra arrangements that would be picked up later on. With nothing else needing to be done, Lena had gone off to do some errands and left Luke to watch the shop. He’d had his feet kicked up on the counter he sat behind, and was slowly working his way through a crime novel with the bell rung above the door. Letting his feet fall to the ground, he stayed seated as he watched the posh woman head his way, and raised a brow, “Afternoon.” He glanced over her shoulder towards some of the arrangements Lena had left on display as things that could be sold, or as examples for larger possibilities. “Guess it really depends on what you’re looking for. You got a color scheme in mind?” 

Luke had learned far more about flowers than he’d ever anticipated, but he enjoyed the simple complexity of them. Every flower had a meaning, and combinations could create beautiful arrangements, or underhanded comments. “Or you just looking for the biggest and the prettiest?”

“Sir, you certainly have that right…” As the man assured he was fine, Lily stood with her arms folded into her chest and exchanged a glance with the senior paramedic. Instances like these were near a daily occurrence. With a sigh, she pointed out. “But that size of that wound just begs you to call us again later tonight. I think all of us realize how much that would cost. You and I both know that needs stitches.”

Luke glared down at the slowly bleeding cut in his leg, and then back at the paramedic in front of him. “Isn’t that something that you all can do?” The last thing Luke wanted to do right then was go to a hospital and have to deal with having a possible panic attack on top of needing stitches. He knew if Gio saw him, he’d have a few words to say, but he wasn’t here, and Luke didn’t want to go. If he could get out of it, he could try stitching it up himself, or at least get Joseph to do it again. “It’ll be like two stitches. Three tops.”

“I don’t have to, no, but I think I might anyways.” She said easily. Afterwards was worse than during, sometimes. That’s when all the guilt always set in for her. For failing her best friend, for failing all the people she couldn’t save in the field and out of it. Weathering it alone always made it feel so vast. Sometimes she’d snuck into Alex’s room and made him share his bed like they were still little kids hiding from thunderstorms. If only this kind of fear went away as easily as childhood ones did.

“Yeah,” she chuckled. Why’d he find it so hard to believe was something she wondered. Isabel was sure it had something to do with his past. Maybe never feeling truly a part of something or being whispered lies and falsities in his youth. Either way, she wanted Luke to know he had something to contribute to society and he did working at the boutique, even if it may have felt like nothing special to him. As he agreed to coffee she nodded with a smile. “Sure. I’ll meet you there.” With that she dropped off the packages that needed to be shipped out to buyers across the country and headed to the coffee shop. 

_____

She had what felt like a million and one questions for him, but when he reached the table her mind instantly went blank. Taking a sip of her iced coffee she thought for a moment before speaking. “I guess…I maybe just want to know why you stole from me? Did I do something or say something to make you want to do that?” Isabel truly wanted to know, because the Luke that had worked for her showed no signs that he would have ever done something. “Was there some outside factor and you felt like you couldn’t just ask for help?” She was grasping for anything and hoping he would at least provide her with some clarity.” 

Luke only nodded at Isabel in agreement, and waited out the remained of their time in line in silence. When she’d left, and he grabbed his package, he almost considered turning around and heading back to Gio’s. He didn’t owe Isabel anything, as much fondness as Luke held for the woman, and her caring heart, he’d thought he burned that bridge nearly a year ago. He didn’t know what to do with this sudden change in the dynamic. Although, if Luke had ever taken the moment to think beyond the panic that fueled his actions...Isabel was certainly one of the kindest people he knew. If he’d gone to her the next day, with money in hand, he can think back on it now and imagine she would’ve forgiven him for it. Luke hadn’t really been in the best state of mind then, and still wasn’t fully all there, but he was certainly doing better now than he had in a long time.

Sliding into the seat across from her, he eyed her ice coffee, and sighing internally at not getting a drink of his own while he had the chance. He’d been so lost in his thoughts, and focused on his task, the best he’d been able to do was find the coffee shop, and Isabel’s table. His chance to get a drink was lost when she cut right to the chase, and asked the same question Luke had asked himself for months after it had happened. “Honestly?” Luke held his hands out in front of him in a shrug, “I don’t know.” Even now, Luke couldn’t really remember what he’d been thinking that day besides the intense desire to run, and his instincts had kicked in. Taking everything out of the till, and disappearing as quickly as possible without any note or message to explain what he’d done. “Just...you were always good to me, and you deserved better..” 

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Luke tried to figure out the best way to explain himself, “You gave me a chance when not many other people would, and I betrayed that trust, and for that...I’m sorry. It’s long overdue, but honestly I never expected to be sitting in a coffee shop with you after a run in at the post office.” It wasn’t really an explanation, but Luke didn’t know how to tell her about his many, many years of skewed morals, that culminated in the trauma he currently carried with him every day. “It wasn’t anything you did, and probably nothing you could’ve helped me with...”

The last thing Poppy had expected was for anyone to actually pay attention to her irritated muttering. Shopping was a very individual experience, strangers might occupy the same aisle or space, but there was rarely any shared camaraderie. 

If she had known, she might have kept her thoughts to herself because she knew it was an odd thought process. Who but a tech geek—which she hoped she didn’t look like—or someone with criminal knowledge—which she definitely had—would really stop to think so much about this?

She wasn’t sure and she was—essentially—out of that particular branch of criminal life, but the instincts never did die; being marked was never a good thing and she shied away from it… mostly. 

(Recklessness and life goals sometimes made her want after certain brands of attention.)

Still, even as she expected no response, the response she got was well educated, albeit marred by a demure she understood very well. The verbal step back from knowledge earned a flash of a smile meant to betray how she understood. 

“Sound advice,” she returned, glancing again at the shelf with its clear lack of options that fit the described ideal. “Inconvenient, all things considered, but I guess security and convenience don’t go hand in hand.” She knew they didn’t and that was something her grandfather and mother had taught her to look for, to count on. Opting for convenience meant it was likely easier to take. 

She sighed and rolled her eyes before musing, “Back to square one, I guess. Any advice on where to go to get it done right?” Was it good practice to ask someone who probably lived as far from the straight and narrow as she did? Maybe not, but hey, advice was only that. “Adulting’s not my strength,” she added with a chagrined smile.

Luke didn’t often let his mouth run away with his thoughts, but there he was, sharing secrets that really only occurred to those who were interested in cracking safes. The quick glance she sent him held more understanding than he was expecting, and the knee-jerk reaction of panic settled slowly into his chest into curiosity. “I think people focus more on the shiny buttons, thinking technology is synonymous with safety, forgetting that there are more hackers in the world than there are safe crackers.”

“Guess that depends on what exactly it is you’re wanting to keep safe.” Luke probably knew more about locks and how to break them than the average person, but he was trying his best to keep that life in the past. “If it’s a simple safe, than your best bet is the gun store. Their gun safes will be ten times more secure than anything you get here. And trust me, adulting isn’t really anyone’s strength. And anyone that says otherwise is lying.” Luke was nearly forty, and he still hadn’t figured out how to be any use to himself or to others. He had spent so much of his life dependent upon his twin for guidance, that when Sam stayed in prison, Luke had been set adrift, and floundering ever since.

This was just so unlike his brother to have a job and stick to it. What happened to the brother who helped him with all of the larceny shit? “At a flower shop? You got a green thumb now?” A flower shop was lame for sure, but he wasn’t going to say that right now. He’d probably make another job about it on a later date. “Okay hotshot, how ‘bout I count this money out and you can see if you got more?” He wasn’t going to take any money from his brother either way, but he hoped that Luke didn’t know that. “What’s with you and having morals? Are fuckin’ high?” 

“Yeah, I do, got a problem with that?” Luke didn’t need to prove anything to Sammy, so why did he still feel like he was a pimple-faced teenager letting his twin down. He wasn’t the one in the wrong right now, no matter how differently Sam and Dani seemed to take his choices these days. “Are you serious? Fine, pull it out, and count it.” And hopefully Luke really did have enough to cover it. He didn’t really know where Sam had gotten the purse, and if it was from the posher side of town, Luke might not be able to convince his brother to give it back. He couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes at the accusations, crossing his arms against his chest in an effort to portray his frustration. “No, that’s your gig, not mine.” Luke really didn’t have anything against drugs, but he’d never been interested in them, not like his siblings. “And it’s not having morals, it’s having common fucking sense. You just got out of prison. They catch you stealing a goddamn purse and they’ll throw you right back in without a second thought.” That was the same thought that had carried Luke through the last two years, the constant fear and pressure of one slip up meaning being locked back up in there. 

@gio-panicucci​.

It wasn’t his job, not technically, but Gio wasn’t sure if he wanted to say that. It was easier to say that he simply worked in technology, which most people presumed to mean tech support, rather than admit that he did quite a bit of hacking. It was especially easier to avoid that topic when the people he did hacking for weren’t exactly always the above board of types. “No, I didn’t charge her. She seemed to be in a lot of fret over the whole thing, enough to make spectacle of herself in the park. All I wanted was for her to stop fretting and stop practically glaring at her laptop. So, I fixed it.” Seemed a reasonable enough decision to him, though he imagined this man would find some reason why that had been a stupid thing to do, not that Gio particularly cared what Joseph thought about his actions.

He looked at Luke, a bit puzzled by the man’s question. “Why would I need her number? I’m sure if she had further issues with her laptop, there are other technicians who would be able to look at it.” Of course, they wouldn’t be able to handle it as quickly and easily as he had, but they could at least probably figure out the issue and right it. “Also, why would I want to remain in any sort of contact with her? She seemed very chaotic. I don’t like chaotic.” For a moment, Gio had forgotten they had company, the conversation towards Luke just a little too easy to focus on and believe it was just the two of them chatting.

Then he remembered they weren’t alone and fought back something of a groan. How unfortunate. “I do not make computers that complicated. I simply add things onto them that will improve your browsing life and security. It is not my fault if people do not know how to operate basic things.”

If Joseph was an emotional guy, he might start to cry. He wouldn’t, but he felt like he could. This whole situation was outrageous. He felt like an intruder in Luke and Gio’s friendship. He had just as much right to hang out with Luke as Gio did. He’d never understood what it was like to be a third wheel. He and Sam had been thick as thieves, and he never felt any insecurity there. Was this what Luke felt when he hung out with them? That was a scary thought. Maybe there was even more he had to apologize for than he originally thought. In other friendships, he’d never cared enough to be jealous. If they liked someone better, it didn’t really affect him one way or the other. This was a terrible feeling. He tried to will it away because he didn’t think he could take much longer of feeling like this. 

“You didn’t notice if she was hot or not?” If Gio got laid, he’d have less time to spend with Luke, giving Joseph time to swoop in. That seemed like a win-win situation. Nobody would lose and everybody would be happy. It was a nice compromise. That was a lot to get out of Joseph. He hated compromises. He wanted what he wanted or he’d take nothing. There was no point in getting only part of what he wanted. In this scenario, he’d still get what he wanted but Gio would get to be happy too. 

Luke was so nice. It didn’t escape Joseph’s attention that he went out of his way to make him feel included. He wouldn’t say it but Gio seemed nice too (just not to him). Objectively, he could see why they were friends. He shot Luke a small smile, grateful for his efforts to make him feel welcome here. “This sounds like a challenge. I want Gio to work on my computer now just to see if I could still work it or not.” 

Luke chuckled softly at the genuine confusion in Gio’s face about the phone number. Luke may not have had the most experiences with partners, but he at least knew enough that if you liked someone you asked for their number. Gio saw things differently and that’s perhaps why Luke liked him, he always came at problems or scenarios and saw a completely different solution that was no less brilliant than the one that came before. Hearing him describe the woman further, Luke could understand why Gio would rather her not be in his life. There was a reason Luke was trying to make his impact in Gio’s life currently far less noticeable and widespread than he did at Brandon’s. "Fair enough. Chaotic energy’s a bit much these days, so I get it. Hopefully she’ll find a tech shop, but if I know you that computer’s not gonna break down for at least a few years. A decade, if she’s lucky.”

Luke’s brows rose at the challenge Joseph threw out, unsure if the man was really trying to prove something, or simply having fun. It’d been a long time since they’d hung out like this, although rather than Gio sitting there it would’ve been Sam, and Luke off to the wayside. It’s not that they ever intentionally cut Luke out of things, but Joseph was Sam’s friend, and that’s simply how it went. That being said, he was enjoying the almost friendship that was growing between them, an understanding was there between them that hadn’t been there before. It still hurt to think that Joseph running was what caused Luke and his siblings to be caught, but--Luke understood why. Probably better than Dani or Sam ever would. “Not gonna lie, I’d love to see that. What method do you use when you type? The hunt and peck?” The words were teasing, especially since Luke himself wasn’t a master at computers, but he’d picked up a few things over the years. He didn’t like being dependent upon technology though, and learned to simply leave any of the super complicated things for Gio to handle.

“i mean maybe not to other people.. but i’ve always added a drop extra whenever i thought i needed good luck because i think that a dash of sweetness in your life is always good.” lena explains, blushing a little because it seemed like kind of a dumb tradition when she actually said it aloud. “i actually haven’t had one yet so i hope that they taste good.” she told him honestly looking down at the cakes she couldn’t help but stick her finger in to try the icing. removing the cake from the set she enjoyed the sweetness running over her tongue. “thank you for your yelp review, i’ll add it to the tag next time i take a batch down to the bake sale.” she told him, leaning into the hug for a moment. physical contact was always so nice when it was given so casually like that, these days she found herself over analysing every kindness that dolores had ever given her as a child. so it felt good to get affection from someone she didn’t have to worry about. “you’re probably right.. it just seems like everything is happening at once right now.”

“Hey, I like that. I’ll remember that for the next time I bring in pancakes.” Luke hadn’t really had a lot of ‘good luck’ in his life, not with the things that really couldn’t, but throwing a little more of that energy into the world couldn’t hurt. It had somehow lead him to Lena’s doorstep when he was at his lowest, and he felt like working at the florist shop had certainly done him some good. And hopefully he’d been a positive force in Lena’s life as well. She had so much life, and soul in her, that Luke wanted to do nothing more than to make sure that she thrived.  “What do you mean you haven’t tried it? You should’ve been the one to have the first taste!” Luke was happy to see her try the icing at least, but he made a mental note to make sure and sneak one away from her table later on, just in case she ended up selling them before she could have a bite. He eyed the one he’d snagged from the table, and shrugged before setting it back down, not wanting to take away from the little message of goodwill Lena was sharing. “You’re staying safe, though, right? I’m not gonna come into work one day and find out you’ve disappeared into the mist?” His words were playful, but it was a very real fear of Luke’s whenever he thought of the people he loved and cared about. Disappearing on him or becoming sick because of all of the weird things happening in town.

Winifred gave a wry smile, shrugging, “ninety percent, anyway.” She didn’t think she would’ve but had she not recognized his tall form, even in the shadows, she couldn’t say she wouldn’t have tried. “You don’t think I spend all my time practicing how to stab people do you?” It wasn’t exactly untrue but she didn’t add that she had Hunter training her daily. She walked beside him in silence for a moment, enjoying the breeze of early evening while the sun was still up in the early summer months. Why had she called him out here? There were a million things on her mind and yet they didn’t matter if she had no one to stand with her. To stand by her. She spoke after a beat, words even and thoughtful. Maybe she didn’t have a right to the answer but she asked the question anyway. “What was it like?” Being in prison.

“You don’t?” Luke’s look of incredulity was ruined by the amusement in his eyes. “Could’ve fooled me.” With the way she’d grown up, Luke wouldn’t be surprised if she knew a dozen different ways to protect herself these days. Especially if what some of the rumors he’d heard about her stepmother were to be believed, but Luke hadn’t been a part of the Snow organization when all of that went down. All he knew was what he saw with his own eyes, and a few whispers he would catch when people would forget he was there. 

As they walked along, he wondered what it was Winifred wanted. They hadn’t ended their friendship of the best of terms, Luke couldn’t really blame her for not wanting to be associated with him any longer but it had hurt. It still hurt to think about. She’d been one of his closest friends at one time. Not any longer, but that didn’t seem to have lessened Luke’s ability to read her, and hear what she was really asking. “It was horrible.” One of Luke’s worst memories had always been of the fire that consumed their family home, and the fear and pain that came with it, but his time in prison had almost surpassed it. “You think you know what it’s going to be like, because of movies and tv shows, but...” Luke shrugged, unable to encompass the pain, and terror that he’d gone through while he was in there. It may have been only six months for him, but it had felt like a lifetime. “It changes you, and definitely not for the better.”

“You’re a civilized man, Luke. I’m certain you remember my name.” The redhead clipped as she looked him over momentarily. Evidently, Danielle had gotten many of the best genes. At least the twins were tall in stature which could often make up for the words that spilled from their lips. When her eyes fell upon the gift, she looked at him without any expression. “I don’t believe that is any of your business.” It wasn’t spoken meanly, but simply stated as a fact. “Nor do I remember it being my question,” she paused then, echoing the words she’d asked mere seconds before. “Is your sister around and if not, do you know where I could find her?”

“You are correct, but doesn’t mean I have to use it if I don’t wish.” Luke didn’t have anything against Harriet specifically, but there was a way that she sometimes spoke to him that just grated against his nerves. Too many years of having people look down on him and his brother because of their lack of schooling, or lack of parents, or generally lack of any ‘higher status’. The Mason’s have never been rich, and never really wanted to be anything more than what they were--and there were still people in town who looked down on them because of it. He didn’t know what connection Harriet had to his sister, but that didn’t mean he had to be nice about it. “Anything that has to do with one of my siblings is my business. So you can tell me what it is you want with Dani, or I’ll head back on my merry way and you can have fun finding her yourself.”

“Goddamn,” Jesus exhaled hard. He wanted to ask if Luke knew that because he was part of those added two who nearly died, but it didn’t seem like the kind of question to spring on someone in the middle of the street. 

”Total Stephen King,” Jesus agreed. “My cousin and I talked about it. I swear to God, though, it’s not a gas leak. Gas leaks don’t move people in circles. And now there’s this toxic shit up and about, moving, but it’s not like we can leave town to escape it. Feels like we’re fish in a fucking barrel some days.”

Jesus ran a nervous hand over his short hair. He expected to see more obituaries in the coming days, as morbid as it was. And he was inexplicably terrified of accidentally sleepwalking straight into the toxic fog, nevermind that he was miles away from it right now.

“What the fuck.” Luke didn’t know how he’d missed some of the things happening in town, but it made sense. He spent most of his time lost in his own head, but the more he read in the article the more he felt like he’d simply been avoiding it because he didn’t want to know it was happening. It was bad enough to know that monsters lived underneath the town, it was a whole other for people not to be able to leave, and a mist spreading through town and making people sick. “Maybe it’s some sort of airborne bacteria?” Luke honestly had no idea, and thinking about it only made his heartrate triple as he realized that Dani and Sam were in the middle of the mist. He remembered the other man, and where he’d lived, and turned wide eyes onto him, “Wait--what about you? You live in Underland, don’t you? You feelin’ alright?”

This dude did not know how to smile, that was the first thing Kellan noticed. Most people thought he didn’t notice much which, he didn’t know why they thought that, but people seemed surprised if he was even the slightest bit observant. No idea why. But this dude – this guy seemed like he was about ready to tell Kellan to fuck the fuck off. Which was fair. But rude. At least he was explaining himself. Kellan gestured at his person, nodding, “receptions at the front. You know, where it usually is. Unless it’s not, ya know, that kind of delivery?” He raised a brow, waggling it a bit. He imagined that whatever big foot had wasn’t the type of delivery you left up front at reception.

Luke let out a long sigh at the stranger’s implication, and couldn’t stop the roll of his eyes, “Look, I’m not stupid, or here for a special delivery. I know where the front is, but I’d really rather avoid talking to as many people here as I possibly can. And since you’re the first person I’ve seen who work here, you get to be the lucky recipient of a bouquet of flowers.” Before the other man really had the change, Luke was moving closer and shoving the vase filled with flowers into his arms. “They’re already paid in full, so you’re good to go.” The faster Luke could get this delivery over with, the faster he could leave the casino and hopefully avoid seeing anyone he might know. And in the future, he’d make sure to take a better look at the delivery list, and see if Lena wouldn’t mind doing this one from now on. “Have a lovely day.”