#exravager

It's late, or early, depending on how you looked at it. His porch light was on. He'd been aware of movement, shifting in the dark. He was sitting in his plume of smoke, drinking his whiskey, blanket over his legs and dog sleeping at his feet, when she stirred. She didn't bark. She stood, walked to the edge of the light, wagged her tail.

Shooting stars. He'd been seeing them all night.

she’d done enough hiding. The doctors and nurses were scrambling to find her once they realized she left the bed. But Cherri knew how to hide , and the right time to come out , when the floor was quiet save for a few white coated people walking around , thankfully , she ran into a familiar face. She’d take it. It’s hard for her to stand — damn so much for this spot next time ….

I'M COMING OFF A CONSULTATION ON THE THIRD FLOOR WHEN I ALMOST WALK STRAIGHT INTO HER.

I stop just in time. She looks, for lack of a better word, terrible—way worse than the last time I caught her trying to leave, which is saying something. She's barely holding herself upright against the wall, not about to bolt anytime soon.

For a second, neither of us says anything. It's just the two of us in this quiet corridor that smells like floor cleaner and recycled air.

"Cherri."

Finally, I say just her name, nothing more. I'm doing what I always do: checking her overall condition. Nothing good to report, and I know she's been missing from her bed. That overhead page was hard to miss.

I take a slow step toward her, the way you'd approach something you don't want to startle.

"Okay. Okay, I've got you."

I carefully put an arm around her, taking some of the weight.

"We're going back to your room, and you will do as instructed."

It's not really a question, but I leave room for it to be one.

he's feeling restless. & when he's restless, he gets a little chatty. maybe it's a bad habit, but he spends so much time alone that sometimes he just has to talk, even if it's just to say hello. so when this poor woman unfortunately makes eye contact with him, it's automatic.

send  me  🍒  +  a  url  and  i  will  write  some  positivity  for  them. | accepting

I'm not gonna lie, I have a soft spot for Cherri. Her backstory adds so much weight to her actions, her choices and her personality, and I can tell you put so much love into her, she's both inspiring and important and I absolutely love her shenanigans with the team, her feisty attitude and her reluctant moments of vulnerability. I love how she's slowly been able to trust Mantis, how she asks her for comfort without verbally asking directly, and I very much enjoy their interactions. Our threads always make me feel immediately invested and emotionally engaged, and I love writing with you. Also Cherri is really fun, especially when she's in denial and Mantis sees right through her. Thank you for sharing her with us! 🫂

"You know--you're not supposed to be taking that."

hobie's been sitting at the giant windscreen at the front of the ship for what must be hours, every little flick & whirl of colour or dust or rock catching his eye. had it not been for the ever-moving galaxy directly in front of them, their boredom would have surely gnawed away at their occupied brain sooner rather than later. for now, he's just concerned about the stars.

❛❛ i've been to... so many universes, n' they all always mention people— like us— landin' on the moon or livin' on the stars, ❜❜ hobie murmurs, the creak of worn leather alerting him to cherri's presence. ❛❛ i always figured they was lyin'. i said if my universe didn't have people up there, then no-where else did.