#;mask threads

more digging deep with @nxmbervii continued from here

"Why should I?" Adrian muttered underneath his breath at the man currently draped across his lap. "You'll get off on it, and I don't think I want that either." He scoffed and tried to push his ex off, but found himself being accosted by the offensive mug.

"I'm not calling you that either." Glaring eyes now widened with just a little bit of a shock. Not for the first time did Adrian wonder if Alex had indeed died back then in that cult collapse. This Ji Ho was just about as unhinged as any man pumped full of alcohol (and drugs) were. If Adrian didn't know any better, he would think Ji Ho liked it that way.

Sighing a deep, audible sigh, Adrian made a show of pushing back the mug and Ji Ho off his lap. He only agreed to show up for this dinner because it was a free meal. And running around doing errands for the rebellion wasn't exactly a five-star vacation. He was always hungry. He had half expected Ji Ho to just dumpster dive and feed him whatever, but halfway through this meal, Adrian was starting to think he would have preferred that. That way he had a reason to leave early.

Fat chance of that happening now, as piles and piles of plates of food appeared and more wine was poured. He didn't touch alcohol if he could help it, made his senses dull and made it difficult to maintain any of his shifts...but the food...

a reunion of sorta exes with @msqarabxlla

In a way, living in a private community (aka a cult) was not so different from living in a rebellion. Adrian thought this to himself as he trudged behind the "friendly" guide that was giving them a tour around the facilities. It seemed so surreal too, like he signed up for a walking tour at a zoo, the way the peppy rebel was going on and on about how their service would help secure freedom etc. etc. to other enhanced beings. Down with the government and all that propaganda, Adrian mused to himself, hands shoved at the pockets of his hoodie. The only reason he was even here was because he knew Alex had decided the rebellion was his chosen roost for the time moment. And like a flighty pigeon he might fly off again to god-knows-where. Adrian liked to be prepared in the case that happened, and that meant knowing every inch of the place.

He was glad they didn't do anything at the introductions beyond their names. He was not sure how comfortable he would be telling others what powers he had. Beyond meeting with the Big Cheese, he looked like a rebel sympathizer with no powers. Exactly the kind of role he played back at his father's private community (aka cult). Except there were differences.

At least he was contemplating the differences to himself, and so busy was he trailing after the guide that he didn't immediately see the tiny woman headed his way who looked oddly familiar until she was right in front of him.