wasteland baby

It was no secret Gemma felt most at home near the water. For as long as she could remember, she’d beg to accompany any member of her family if they needed to go to the docks. So when she had the opportunity to finally take it over, she didn’t hesitate. Now, she and Darcy handled everything, each of them taking a different piece of the Port, but also working together. They were an incredibly efficient team, getting more things done than ever before. 

Gemma was working on new orders, Xav had requested some new things. It wasn’t difficult by any means, it just meant she needed to be thorough and careful not to raise any flags. Nothing that out of the ordinary. However, in this moment, she needed a smoke break. Stepping out of her office into the ‘fresh’ air (because really, the smell of fish isn’t exactly fresh), she was quick to notice a figure ahead. She needed to keep the Port safe, especially now. Furrowing her brow, she called out with a brief whistle to get their attention, “Hey,” a pause, “Can I help you?” 

After they had escaped the clutches of the maze, and were able to get everyone back to the manor. Oliver had settled himself down in the medical suite. He had stitched himself the best to his capability, and now he loomed over the surgical equipment. Their medic was injured during the attack, but that didn’t mean she was far from observing his work. He winched before he turned to the sound of steps descending into the med suite. Oliver spun to his responsibility, now that the children had also been picked up from the sitter, and were asleep unknowingly of the chaos their family experienced. He could feel the growing hole being burnt into his skull from Eva across the other room.

“Alright, tell me your injury, and we will go from there.”

Walking throughout the crowded room, jacob couldn’t supress the discomfort that he felt within himself, with his shirt collar feeling like vise around his throat, the only comfort he could gain was from the free drinks that flowed through the room, although it wasnt his prefered drink of choice, it was free drinks none the less and that was something not man of his upbringing could ever turn down. Finding himself to the side of the room observing those that mingled with others, it was being quickly clear the faction that stood within the room, although the illusion of fitted suits and sparkling gowns did a exception job to hide what lay below the illusion, passing glances and body language between the select few showed all to clearly that this was anything but a time of peace within the city and more of a temporary cease fire. “All but an illusion for the sake of appearances…” Jacob scoffed as he spoke to himself “What i would give for the days when knowing friend from foe were easy.”

They didn’t come here together and his sister’s probably mingling about so he’s left on his own devices for the time being. The fact that he’s under the same room as the other families doesn’t really deter the man, knowing that when it comes down to it, he’ll go and do his job. It’s basic instinct at this point. Of course it would be easier if he had something on him — irony hits the gun store owner not even packing — but there’s not much he could do there.

Tiny sips, people watching, and standing by the sidelines occupy the man’s time for now. He’s just counting down the minutes until he gets to go home when a voice to his side catches his attention. “That’s poetic as fuck, Shakespeare. You moping because you have the itch to do something?”

It’s easy to become an underaged barfly when you have a fake ID. It becomes trickier when you left yours at home. This is the predicament Daniel finds himself in this evening. Normally it wouldn’t be much of a problem, he’s a regular, they know his youthful face. Tonight, the new bouncer is working the door, and apparently he’s a stickler for the rules. Daniel tried to smooze, then beg his way in, but the guy didn’t budge. What a fucking narc. 

In ten months, this won’t ever be an issue again. But until then, he’ll enjoy the things he can legally purchase, like his dwindling pack of American Spirits. He’s planted himself on the curb before the bar. Thinking, planning, praying for a way to get in so he can enjoy his nightly IPA. Daniel’s about to give up, he practically has his arm stretched to throw in the towel, but hope arrives in the form of a familiar face. 

“Hey!” Daniel calls, dropping his cigarette butt on the ground. Standing up, he steps upon the butt to put it out. “You going into Wolves?” He doesn’t even allow a chance for them to answer before he adds, “The bouncer is new, he won’t let me in. Maybe, he’ll let me, if I go in with you?”

Xav figures the cool night air would loosen him up some more and so he makes his way outside, trying to keep his temper from showing when he’s pushed this way and that as he exits the establishment. Too many people out is a clear indication that he should find another place to go to, but it’s too early to go home and it’s too much of a hassle to find another spot. The voice has the man turning, his frown turning into a sneer at the familiar face. “What’s lesson number one, kid? You always gotta be prepared,” he snorts. “Besides, aren’t you like 12? Can’t have a preteen in there you know. Bad for the business.”

waking up today was like waking up on heavens ground. there was nothing that could ever possibly top this day — except for maybe their future family. she was marrying her best friend today, and she was sure there was nothing in the world that could ever take their happiness from her.  to most, it was nothing big. a civil wedding ⏤ his sister would be their witness. but it was all that they needed. it had been the three of them for so long ⏤ they were a family. the one thing dylan and sal had agreed to splurge on was what they’d wear. she’d only dreamed of this day since the very first day ⏤ the day she first realized she’d loved him. there were only two things that ever stood out in her mind when she thought of it ⏤ her in a beautiful white dress and sal in a sharp suit. just the two of them as happier as ever. so when they finally started to plan the day, that was the deal ⏤ it didn’t matter where they were, or who was there, as long as the two of them were.  it may have been a just a  civil wedding, but it felt like pure magic. she had his sister to thank for that. she’d convinced them to give the pair a longer slot so that she could play the music as dylan walked in, so that they could share their personal vows. so that this day, could be the special day they both deserved.  she was shaking, but it wasn’t nerves ⏤ she was excited and the adrenaline was coursing through her. she didn’t hold any flowers in her hands, though at this moment she’d wished she had only to hide the anxiety you could see as she fiddled with her hands. she bit down on her lower lip as the music started to play, she closed her eyes inhaling slowly through her nose and exhaling through her parted lips.  she pulled the double doors open, her eyes traveling from the floor beneath her to meeting sal’s. she wore a smile before she saw him, but it paled in comparison to the warmth that filled her now. look at him, she thought, the love of my life, look at how handsome he is. her smile met her eyes, and they glistened, but she wasn’t crying, yet. her feet carried her towards him, but really it felt as if she was floating. her hands reached for his, and the moment they held his, all the nerves melted away. ‘i love you.’ she mouthed, taking her place across from him. 

And so the most logical thing to do is get married. They’re young, but they’ve known each other practically all their lives, so that shouldn’t even matter at this point. While he couldn’t give her the big, fancy wedding she deserved, he managed to save up some money on their ensemble.

Somehow he managed to convince the judge to let Dylan walk down the “aisle” even if standard procedure makes them walk up from a bench. It’s not very romantic but he pulled some strings.

Uncomfortable in his suit, Sal makes himself stand still, waiting for Dylan. The music surprised him a little but a quick glance at his sister’s direction showed him just who was behind the whole thing. He rolls his eyes at her before looking down to see Dylan making her way towards him. Breath taking. Sal isn’t one for sentiments but he could feel his heart clench at the sight.

Fingers interlocking, he smiles down at her, mouthing back his own ‘I love you’ as the judge starts in. He sneaks in glances and tries to keep the stupid grin off his face. “You sure you still want to do this,” he asks, making sure to whisper when no one else is looking. “You still have a chance to back out, you know.”

it was like any other tuesday for miss harris. how did that drake song go? in the club going up on a tuesday. well, this wasn’t a club, but that was fine by her. she wasn’t really here for a party tonight, she just wanted to take the edge off, and alcohol did that. the edge she needed to cut was a pure result from the thread of texts between her and her brother. it wasn’t a bad conversation necessarily — he wanted to tell her about the new girl he’d been seeing. her eyes rolled at the thought. she knew nothing of the girl, other than the mere assumption that she wasn’t good enough for her brother. no one was. she figured it would be better for her to not express her dislike for a woman she didn’t even know. so instead she let him talk, while she drove herself back to sanity. she sat at the bar with a bourbon on the rocks, twirling the glass in a circular motion, trying to fill her mind with anything, anything at all, just not that. she took a sip from her bourbon, and offered a smile to whoever it was that decided to fill in the seat beside her. “careful, tonights mood might rub off on you — the alcohol hasn’t hit yet.”

Mistake. A huge one, apparently, as the response he was expecting differed greatly from the ones he got. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Xav tries to not fling his phone across the wall. It’d be a bitch to get a new one. Now while he could just let his sister blow off some steam, he also doesn’t want her to go around the city in this mood and so like any good brother, he goes and looks for her.

It’s no surprise that he finds her drinking in a bar. Throwing an angry glare at anyone who looks like they’d take advantage of her, he makes his way to the seat beside Cass. “God you’re so fucking dramatic,” he throws back, ordering a drink for himself because why not. “This isn’t high school or a prayer circle, Cass. This is me telling you that you’re taking all of this way out of proportion.”

archie’s dog was almost as big as him. walking around on all fours, the malamute stood at over two feet but when he liked to jump up on archie’s shoulders, the dog would meet his height. so when archie took wade out on walks, he tried to be mindful of people who thought wade’s size was terrifying after a few instances of children crying or grown men shitting themselves. but it wasn’t so easy to keep his dog contained when the park was so busy. 

picking the barest section of grass he can find, he lights a cigarette and picks up a stick from the floor, launching it over and over for wade to retrieve. after a few minutes of back and forth and the stick now thoroughly covered in dog saliva, arch throws the stick and just missed the shoulder or a passerby. “shit, sorry!” but wade runs to retrieve the stick regardless and instead of racing back to archie, he drops the stick in front of the stranger. arch runs over, grabbing wade by the collar to stop him jumping up. “ha, sorry, he just really likes strangers.”

So lost in his thoughts that he doesn’t notice the stick thrown his way until he narrowly dodges it. If Blair could see him now, so distracted that he can’t even fend off a stick, she’d probably make fun of him for it. He’s not so much of a pet person. Xav’s already got himself to worry about and he doesn’t need something that won’t even pay rent living in his home. Crouching down, he ignores the owner at first, weighing the stick down as if he’s actually contemplating at playing with this thing and ends up heaving it far across the park. “You should be careful where you throw things man,” he gruffs out, throwing a glare at the stranger.