Ticking like a time bomb.

Will you take your shirt off?

Only if you take off yours.

"I usually prefer that others address me as Miss Gray. But perhaps we can strike a deal. You may call me V, if I can call you J. And whose this brother of yours?"

"You've got yourself a deal, V." Jonah smiled. "He goes by Julian. Julian Callaghan. Supposed leader of this place."

Julian would be lying if he said the things his brother were saying weren’t getting to him, because they were. They were boring holes into him, burning him like the hottest part of a flame and the taste it left in his mouth was bitter like acid, every single bit of it a tangible truth he wished he could swallow down and destroy. Or change. But he couldn’t. And it seemed like he and Jonah were well past getting along, well past forgiveness. Saddened, he dropped his brown eyes to the ground, unable to look into the blue ones Jonah had shared with their father. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to you. I know mother could be a real bitch sometimes… but I had no idea.” He looked up again, so very sorry and every single bit of regret he had was visible on his face. Julian had never really given a thought to what had happened to his brother when he left. He was selfish, self-important and insensitive. He was an asshole. He was a narcissist. He was a piece of shit and he knew it now more than ever. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and that I let you down… and I know I don’t deserve you… but, if you’ll have me, I’m here. I’m your family. I’m what you’ve got left.”

"I don't want your apologies or brotherhood." Jonah's voice had lowered, taken on a thick rasp of defeat. "I'm giving you exactly what you gave me. Nothing." The younger man sneered, lip curling up. Jonah laughed, shaking his head sorrowfully. "Feels pretty shitty, huh?" The blue eyed man stood, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'd like to go now, get settled...If your majesty doesn't mind?" Jonah knew he was being unfair, but he didn't know any other way to interact with his older brother. There was an air of stiffness, one that only strangers shared. "I'm sorry too, sorry I didn't turn out the way you expected me to."

Becca couldn’t only tilt her head attempting to capture the meaning of his words. She was worried after hearing his emotional displacement over the feeling of love. The hopelessness he conveyed tugged at her heart. She considered saying something, but felt she had already said too much, leading him to share the sad observation. Meeting his eyes she gazed up at him she, and smiled at his compliment. Taking the shift in conversation happily.”No, you’re fine. Despite just meeting you I feel like I know you, and if being a cheeky flirt makes you smile. I’m a willing victim.”

"Willing and able?" Jonah teased with another playful smile. "I only play, Julian would be furious if I took such a lovely girl away from him." Looking around he put his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. "Old souls in new bodies, we may have met before on another plane."

You’re flattering me with all your lovely compliments. Yes..Luke Rose. I’m not surprised you’ve heard about me before. 

Please those who could do you harm, stay on their good side and not the bad. I was introduced to your sister, we talked about our older brothers. Your name came up.

"Jonah… I like that." Grace answered with a broad, toothy grin. "Yep. Proud owner. I’m not a very neat young lady." Grace responded as if she didn’t care to leave a poor impression on the other Callaghan. "I see… well, lucky for you… but he survived, too, so he must have gotten some of those genes." She crinkled her nose and pursed her lips in thought. "Why should I tell you?"

"Obviously, then again they say the messiest people are the smartest." Jonah said, voice serious. "You should have seen Julian's room when he was sixteen, god it was like the beginnings of a hoarder."  He shrugged his shoulders. "Lucky me." Jonah muttered. "Well, I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. Julian is expecting us to get along."

Really? I never really thought I was that great, I just think people should feel welcome. We went through hell to get here, too, and I just know how nice it was to have someone nice welcome us. 

You shouldn't be so nice, people will take advantage of that. Trust me, I know first hand experience what it's like to put complete trust into someone and then be ripped off.

That’s how most people are when they get here, don’t worries. That’s why I got you more and more water. I guess it’s also why I sort of naturally became the welcome wagon. Everyone is half starved if not worse when they come in. Of course, it’s my pleasure.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one. That would've been embarrassing. You're one hell of a welcome wagon, I wish all the other places I dropped into had been so...polite.

I never would have guessed.

Any chance you could show me to the nearest bottle of alcohol?

Becca smiled up at him, wishing he wasn’t so cynical it’s always hard to get out from underneath that darkened cloud. Doing her best she retorted. “He loves you…I could hear a waiver in his voice when he spoke of you. The world is different now. Old obstacles are no longer there…or they don’t have to be unless you two decide to let them be.” Shaking her head she couldn’t help, but laugh at his intentional slip over Julian’s personality. “You would be surprised with what he puts up with here. You’ll see this camp is full of all types of spices of life.”

"Love. Such a foreign concept to me. I loved my brother, once, but you're right...Things have changed, people are different." Jonah looked down at the blonde haired woman. "I have no doubt this place is teeming with different personalities, though I wish they were all as friendly and beautiful as you." He winked, smiling. "You let me know if I'm coming on too strong, I'll wrangle back the horses."

Attempting to lace her fingers with his she pondered for a moment. “We’ll its not like we can see a movie, or play a video game. I’m mean there always wood that needs to be chopped, or chores needed to be completed in the kitchen.” Looking up at him she smile sweetly. “That’s all I have. I’m out of ideas. Do you have any?”

"Chores do not sound fun, although I did imagine myself chopping wood...shirtless and sweaty, entertaining you." Jonah gave a toothy grin. "Why don't we grab a few snacks from the cabin and go sit out by the lake?"

"Thank you, I take that as a compliment. I feel like I’ve helped to mold them into who they have become. Gracie is a vivacious young woman… though I’m worried for her. I think she’s sneaking around. I digress." He tilted his head toward his brother, raising his brows. "I think you seriously misinterpreted what mother wanted. She may not have been the best at showing affections, but I don’t think that she went so far as to compare you to me like that? You had issues, Jonah… issues that were difficult to work past. I was a gifted child, you were dealt… a different hand." He blinked dismissively. He’d never heard too much of what Jonah had — the constant praises of his character, it usually happened when Julian was away and he refused to believe it if he didn’t have to. He had a guilty enough conscious. "She blamed you for something like that? She must have been getting senile." He sighed and looked down at his hands, a new wave of guilt washing over him. "I was out, being successful and living my own life, Jonah." He looked back at his brother again. "I did what I had to do to get out. You can hardly blame me for that."

"Why don't you take all that successful life living and shove it up your tight, insensitive, asshole What good is it now, huh?" Jonah snarled, slamming the flat of his palm against the table he had been seated at. "You're a gifted fucking douche, Julian." He ground out his brother's name through clenched teeth, a muscle in his jaw fluttering. "I was nine. Everywhere I went I was reminded that you had left. You left me, Julian." Jonah wiped furiously at his face to catch the tear that slipped from the corner of his eye. "Nothing that you did, published, or read about matters anymore! It's all gone, with the rest of civilization and society as we knew it." Looking away he shook his head, giving a shrug. "All anybody has left is family. And I never had a family to begin with." Jonah whispered brokenly.

Yeah. I’d be really worried for you if I got pissed, yeah? Nice to meet you, Jonah. I’m Luke. 

You could probably fold me more than half a dozen times into a cat toy. Luke? As in Luke Rose?

"Well, I suppose that would be a valid argument, provided anyone else seemed to recognize you," she replied, studying him. "I’m Vivien," she said, tilting her head and mimicking the gestures of a small courtesy with a smile.

"My brother would recognize me...I think." Jonah shrugged. "Vivien? Would it be far out of place to call you V instead?" The man gave a crooked smile, lifting a brow.

Like I haven’t heard that before..or something like it. 

At least I got a smile out of you. The name's Jonah.

Then walk around me.

Jesus Christ, I didn't realize I'd be living with the Hulk. My apologies, I'm a huge fan of how you turn into a big green monster.

Charlie loved hearing praise for her cooking, but loved it even more when she got to watch people enjoying what she made, when her food made them smile. When he was done, she took his plate and then returned with a little more. Just eat more slowly this time, if you’re starving, you’re just going to make yourself, sick. Here I brought this as well. In her free hand she held a bottle of water.