Morning Coffee And Sweet Surprises (Closed to Poprockz)

[Drobabes]

Quint was repressing an urge to snort at Damien's pathetic attempt to conquer his noodles. Watching the creamy pasta slip and slide over his fork multiple times just to fall back onto the plate and leave him tight lipped was wholly satisfying. The only thing that would have been funnier to him, is if Damien hadn't had use of his hand at all and was forced to have the butler spoon feed.

"Your clothes are currently drying, but by the time our dinner is over, they'll likely be ready for you."

Taking another drink of his water to clear his mouth, Quint finally made eye contact with their host.

"I wish we could, but we're in a hurry unfortunately. We have some family that went ahead of us a few days ago and we're trying to catch up to them before danger gets there first."

Cora's eyes wandered to Damien's hand, internally worrying at how much difficulty he was having with his utensil. She needed to get him started on some physical therapy as soon as possible, but for the moment it just hurt to see him struggling so much. She wished there was something she could do; she had half a mind to cut up her own pasta and switch plates with him so that he could simply spoon it up, but that might embarrass him in front of their host.

She looked upward, hoping to catch his eye, but instead was intrigued with how Vin was eating his own pasta. Instead of twirling it like the rest of them, he was stabbing one end of the noodles and then pulling them back towards himself before stabbing them once again a bit further down. He did this multiple times until he had a few strands of noodles folded up into a bit of an accordion shape on his fork. Her eyes widened very slightly, and then she looked up at her partner until they locked eyes. Once she had his attention, Cora looked down at Delvin's plate and then back up to Damien, trying to urge him to watch. It probably wouldn't be perfect for his injured hand, but at least it would be better than trying to twirl the fork.

 

[Poprockz]

“Ah yes, that’s the case for most. Everyone is trying to get somewhere, whether that be family, safety, or even… away from things.” Her eyes drifted to Damien, observing the way in which he was now spearing his noodles. Though it was obvious that he was still struggling, she made no move to help him.


What followed was Angelique chatting about the resort, talking about how she had woken up from a bad migraine one day to find that she was completely changed, as were some of her guests and staff. Those that had turned into true zombies had been hunted down by herself and the half-turned, thus saving the majority of those who hadn’t been affected. They had gone hall-by-hall, easily clearing them off since the zombies paid them no mind. Since then, they had been accumulating travelers with no place to go, giving them a place to work and sleep. The pandemic had made her extra cautious, stocking up on food and supplies in the event that her supply chain would be cut off for a while. In addition, she had the good grace to utilize the internet while it was still up, printing out schematics, helpful information, and such. At the same time, she had several USB’s worth of information downloaded if need be.
All the while, Damien continued to stab the noodles, grateful to have another method of eating, even if it was a bit slow. He had felt Cora’s gaze earlier and looked up o see her indicating that he should look at Vin’s method. Part of him wondered whether Vin was doing that in the hopes that Damien would catch on, but he couldn’t be sure.
Once the meal was nearing its end, the mousy-looking zombie knocked lightly and came in the room with a sack. It was partially see-through, so one could see that it was their now-dry clothing.
Angelique nodded at her and gestured for her o put it at the end of the table. “Thank you, Charmaine. Now…” a napkin was brought to her mouth before being set down on the table again. “I unfortunately have something rather unpleasant to address. While I’m perfectly fine with the rest of you leaving, Damien will have to stay.”

Damien looked up sharply, his eyes narrowing at her, “I thought you were supposed to be the “gracious” and “magnanimous” host. Why in the world would you want to hold me here when I have no desire to stay?”

Her expression remained cool as a cucumber, her genial smile still on her lips as she replied, “whether I want to or not is irrelevant- I have a duty to the people of this colony to do so. You see, I’ve received word from the nearby military base that a man matching your name and description recently engaged in acts of terrorism. You’re a wanted man, though wanted differently nowadays than in the past.” She gestured at their bag of clothes and continued, “as I said, the rest of you are free to go and catch up with your relatives though. I won’t keep you here if it isn’t warranted.”

Sayori’s eyes were wide with shock but she couldn’t help but feel… excited. This was the perfect chance to get rid of Damien once and for all. To no longer have him in their group would be such a weight her shoulders. She looked over to Quint to see his reaction, hoping that he would agree.

The blonde bristled, setting his fork down and trying to figure out the best way to go about this. Margaret had been stronger than him, so she likely would too. In addition, their odds of winning a fight were lowered further by the strong butler and the attendant as well. Meek thought she looked, he hadn’t forgot about how Robert had essentially shut him down.

 

[Drobabes]

Cora found her 'heroic' tale grating to say the least. Perhaps there was some truth behind what Angelique said, certainly it would have been easy enough for them to clear out any fully turned zombies, but her details seemed easily exaggerated. Or maybe Cora was being just a bit biased towards the fully turned zombie. It was difficult not to be though, when her only experience of them thus far had been absolutely terror inducing, and the only other supposedly good fully turned zombies had been relayed only through word of mouth.

She kept her gaze carefully averted and polite throughout the conversation, only pausing briefly between bites to spare a polite glance or nod. The details of Angelique having saved several USBs worth of information was intriguing and certainly something that Quint was likely going to ask for her good graces, and receive a copy of that information for themselves. Her thoughts wondered to memories of her apartment, and the somewhat failed attempt at her and Damien's mission to grab their own maps and information before they had fled. Her eyes moved up to him unconsciously as she thought about it once more, but soon she busied herself with the noodles again, not wanting to go much further down that dark memory lane.

Vin was none the wiser to Damien having picked up on his method of forking the pasta. He was simply a big guy with a big appetite, and had learned techniques from a younger age to shovel down his food more quickly without looking like a complete slob. Before anyone else was even halfway finished with their own plates, Delvin had finished his pasta and was using his napkin to inconspicuously hide his belches. And seeing as he was the first one to finish his meal, he had the opportunity to sit back and finally try to relax a bit, his belly full and his body trying to recover from the recent trauma.

His eyes wondered the table for a moment, watching everyone make conversation (or avoid it) and only intermittently listening to what Angelique had to say. He did take notice of Quint attempting to be diplomatic and win favor with their host; smiling, politely laughing when appropriate, or throwing out a small joke here or there. He thought it was a bit of a pointless of a gesture seeing as they would be leaving before the night was up, until Angelique brought up the topic of the USBs and then the half zombies eyes seem to lit up a bit and suddenly Vin got it. Usually he was sharp as a tac himself, and he questioned his mental capabilities for a moment before suddenly shaking it off and chalking it up to being wrecked from their voyage thus far.

"Thank you, Charmaine. Now…I unfortunately have something rather unpleasant to address. While I’m perfectly fine with the rest of you leaving, Damien will have to stay.”

Cora's eyes widened a bit and she immediately turned her head to look at Angelique, her fork poised midway in the air.

"You see, I’ve received word from the nearby military base that a man matching your name and description recently engaged in acts of terrorism."

There was a moment of silence between all of them. Vin didn't know what to even think, and Quint remained completely stone faced as he simply stared. To say he was taken off guard wouldn't quite be right, but it was definitely an unexpected turn of events. Before he had a chance to open his mouth and speak, though, Cora was almost standing up out of her seat as her stressed voice broke the spell they were all under.

"There's no way Damien-"

Quint had reached under the table and grabbed her by the thigh, quickly pushing her back into her seat. She sat, but she continued her sentence despite the tight squeeze he was giving her flesh.

"No way that Damien could have done that, he's been with me since this whole pandemic, end of the world crap show started. We haven't had time to stop and rest, let alone him planning some bullshit terrorism scheme."

"Cora, you're being rude" Quint warned, his voice dropping to a commanding tone that would have put most adults on ice, but she didn't care.

"I'm not being rude, I'm stating facts-that's bullshit" she hissed, pointing an accusatory finger.

Seeing that the situation was about to turn south really fast if something wasn't done, and still very aware of the fact that it was extremely dangerous for any of them to be separated from each other right now while Kuznet was still hunting them down, Vin leaned forward and cleared his throat while he pointed his gaze directly into Cora's eyes.

"If you don't mind me asking," he started, then looked over to Angelique.

"Is there going to be a trial for him? I know the military has had to step in to keep the peace, but surely they haven't tossed basic societal rules out the window. If there is going to be one,"

His chocolate eyes moved over then, first to Damien, then Sabastian, and then Cora.

"I'm sure our family would understand us being a bit late; I think I speak for most of us when I say we would like to see that he has a fair trial."

Cora was shaking, but she forced herself to swallow and put her fork down. She wasn't leaving here without Damien, period.

 

[Poprockz]

As Cora had her outburst and Quint tried to calm her down, Angelique sucked on her pipe and blew misty air out the side of her mouth, not making a move to get up despite Cora's hostility. She didn't seem offended by Cora's harsh language, more having the look of a manager patiently waiting for a customer to calm down and accept the way things were. The zombie had complete control of the situation, and exuded that energy in her relaxed posture.

When Vin cleared his throat she turned her attention to him, another suck being taken from the pipe as he asked his question. Her expression was musing for a moment before she blew the smoke out again.

"I am unaware of whether a trial awaits him at the base, but you are more than welcome to stay here while we wait for the base's next visit in a week's time."

A week?! Sayori's fork was clutched in her hand, her other fist having balled up unconsciously. That was too long a time for them to wait- even a couple days put them at risk of Kuznet catching up with them. Once again, Damien was the bane of her existence, bringing suffering and danger right to her door. Did they really intend to put their lives on the line for this... predator?! It took her a few moments for her to wipe off the look of pure contempt she had on her face toward Damien in favor glowering at the pasta. She would have to bring this up later when they were all alone. Surely at least Quint would be on her side.

Angelique continued, "In the meantime, I will find you all suitable accommodations and Damien will stay under lock and key. I'm sorry, but I can't have any of you visiting him before he is in military custody. While I assume you are all lovely people, I'm sure you can understand why it would be a security risk to allow you access to him."

"You don't seriously believe th-Ah!" Damien hissed as his insured arm bumped agains the table on the way up out of his seat, his other injured hand numbly trying to grasp and stabilize it. The action helped a little and he was able to continue in his quietly angry manner. "You can't believe that I would do something like that, do you?" Though he seemed angry, it was more the fear that bubbled under the surface. What happened if a week passed and he was carted off to the base? It would only be a matter of time before Kuznet got ahold of him, and he had ample reason at this point to literally crucify the grey-eyed man.

Her eyes sized him up, her pipe tapping on her chin for a moment. "Maybe you're guilty. Maybe you're innocent. That's not for me to decide this time."

 

[Drobabes]

Pulling his hand back slowly, Quint sat back and observed the others as well, his eyes taking in each of their reactions as his mind raced with what to do. The fact that Cora was responding so strongly was no surprise, if irritating, but he had not expected Sabastian's partner to step in to the defense as well. He lingered on the mans haggard face for a few seconds before moving on to Sayori and catching the fire and fear in her expression. Reaching for his water, he quickly looked away so as not to catch her eye. No doubt she would want to talk with him later, to try and convince him to leave the bastard, but Quint had reasons for why he wouldn't and it had little to do with his sister for once.

His gaze ended up on Sabastian and there he lingered, hesitant to proceed in the conversation himself. He had an urge to try to reach out to the man before him and form that telepathic link but quickly dismissed it. They had barely touched upon using it back when they were trapped together, and from what Quint understood, he and Sabastian were only considered 'half' zombies, implying they did not have as much power as Angelique. It was much too dangerous to use a tool such as that when he didn't have a thorough understanding of how it worked yet.

"Maybe you're guilty. Maybe you're innocent. That's not for me to decide this time."

Quint's eyes shot over to their host and from his peripheral, he noticed that Cora's head turned as well, though she quickly hid the slip up. Still, it didn't stop him from turning to his sister, and as their eyes met, they both shared the same question in their gaze-this time?

"That's a generous offer mam" Delvin said as politely as he could, having frowned when Damien hit his arm and hissed in pain. It was another little detail that Quint had noticed, but Vin was a little more concerned with securing them some time to figure out what to do, rather than worry about the weird looks he kept getting from the guy.

"I'm sure we could all use at least a night of good rest before we make any solid decisions. Right?"

He turned to Sabastian as he asked, seeking his partners opinion on what to do. Of course he wanted to run, but he truly believed what he had told Cora that morning. They couldn't be separated.

 

[Poprockz]

Sabastian felt like he was being pulled in two different directions at once. He had his commitment to supporting Cora’s relationship, and a commitment to keep Vin safe. Sure, there was a bit of fondness deep down for Damien from their years in the same mansion, but the whole “predator” thing still bothered him. What would happen if they picked up Damien and found the rest of them? As far as he knew, the closest base was Kuznet’s, so he really didn’t want to stick around and find one of Kuznet’s lackies sniffing them out. Not only would that put everyone at risk, but it might also fuck things over for Francisco.

Goddamn rich people and their stupid fucking mind-games… The blonde rubbed his temple with one hand, trying to think of what the fuck to do, a tense look on his face. Was it too much to ask to find a place that wasn’t riddled with danger and intrigue? He let out a sigh before waving his hand slightly, “yeah, sure. Let’s sleep on it. Out of curiosity, who are they sending to pick him up?”

“Hmm…” Angelique lifted her glass with her other hand and swirled it, likely debating on whether she wanted to answer that question and give them additional details for a possible jailbreak. Still, it wasn’t her problem if one of the General’s officers was foolish enough to let a prisoner get away.

“I doubt you’re familiar with any of them, but I suppose it could be either Officer Francisco or Officer Niles for their scheduled supply delivery. Both are objectively handsome, but I have to admit that I’m hoping for Francis.” Her face became a bit lustful for a moment and she sighed. “That man is by far the more charming of the two… handsome, sexy, witty. Mm. A chest that would make any woman blush. But as much as I would like to have that Silver fox in my… resort, I fear that our upcoming date may be delayed due to a recent situation at the base. A little birdie told me that someone has been spying on them.”

The news that it would likely be the sadistic fuck with a hate-boner for the car-stealing group was overshadowed by the disgust of hearing about Francisco in a sexual context. Sayori took a bite of her chicken to hide her cringe, chewing and trying not to think about the Officer’s chest. Likewise, Sabastian felt similarly disgusted but did his best not to show it, hiding it with his stressed look. It wasn’t too difficult, seeing as he was indeed stressed with that news. Still… based on the fact that the visit had been scheduled previously, it was like that the bad wouldn’t know about Damien until they arrived.

Damien wasn’t entirely sure which Officer was which at this point, having met them only briefly, so he didn’t react other than sinking down into his seat. It wasn’t like he could run away or anything- the man being at the mercy of their host. A host who obviously meant to go through with carting him off on a false charge.

“I’ve always adored the charming ones,” Angelique winked at Quint before addressing the group. “How many rooms will you need?”

 

[Drobabes]

Cora didn't have the capacity to be disgusted like the others at the description of Angelique's desire. Honestly, even if she did, she was so used to sexual abuse and debauchery that it likely wouldn't have even phased her unless it was directed towards herself or someone being harmed by it. No, at the moment she was more occupied with hiding her shaking fingertips underneath the table.

They were in a very dangerous scenario here. Their host had said when the officers did their supply run, implying they wouldn't pick Damien up until then. However, that would quickly change if Ray got word from Angelique that he were here, at her resort. He would send someone out immediately to get them, likely even taking a helicopter himself just to make sure he got the pleasure of catching them and having them all back into his claws before they had time to escape. They needed to do something, tonight. There was no time to wait on this and plan.

"I’ve always adored the charming ones,"

Quint looked over to meet her gaze, and then genuinely smiled. And why wouldn't he? This was great news! Not the part about the fuckheads coming for their flanks, of course, but the fact that whether or not the officers were heading here for Damien, it sounded as if Fransisco would be coming here to meet with Angelique at some point for business purposes. Which meant that Quint now had a drop off point for their next information exchange and to let Fran know where they were heading. They were going to stay two steps ahead of Kuznet, whether the big bastard liked it or not.

"Uh..." he replied, looking at Sabastian and Vin, and then the girls beside him.

"What do you guys think, two? You and Delvin could have a room to yourself, and I can stay with my sister and Sayori? You okay with that Sayori?" he asked, looking towards her for consent. He doubted any of them wanted to be separated, but he couldn't read her mind. Maybe she wanted some privacy after everything...

 

[Poprockz]

Sayori replied, "yes, that would be fine with me." While having her own room would have been nice, she also didn't like the idea of being alone in this unfamiliar place. What if they had to run without warning? It was better to have most of them in the same place, as well as having a zombie in each room. Meanwhile, Sabastian silently inclined his head in agreement, pleased to have his own room with Vin. He suspected that with everything that happened, the only intimate activity they would be doing in bed would be cuddling. That was fine by him though- a long night in a soft bed with his partner was sorely needed.

A hand was waived at the zombie Charmaine, who in turn pulled out a notebook and flipped through it. "200 and 202 are both open, so we'll put them there if that’s amenable to you.”

"Excellent!” Angelique clapped her hands together, satisfied with this arrangement. The rooms were not next to each other, but rather parallels, each door facing the other.

"Charmaine would be happy to escort you to your rooms, before which you can say Goodnight to Damien in the hall.” A s their host spoke, Nathaniel walked around the table, helping (or attempting to help) Damien out of his chair. The proud man shrugged him off with a dark scowl. If Sayori were to recant the event, she would have described him as looking like an angsty teen being told to go to their room.

“However, while you do that I would very much like to have a private chat with... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Her eyes fixed on Quint expectantly. She simply had to know… was he the one who would have what she sought?

Damien’s eyes narrowed at Quint, wondering just what she could want with him. As far as he knew they didn’t know each other, the only thing linking them being that they were both Zombies. If that were the reason though, she would have asked Sabastian to stay as well. It didn’t sit right with him, but he had no choice but to start to be led out of the room, the butler’s hand on his shoulder.

The blonde didn’t like it either, but for different reasons. He knew that Quint would never betray the group, or even Damien for that matter. The fact was that if Quint wanted Damien dead, then he would be. Quint was skilled enough to make it look like an accident too, so there was no need for games. No, what he was worried about was the zombie trying to burrow into his mind and stumbling upon Francisco’s operation. Even if she was fond of the man, the knowledge would put countless at risk.

Sayori was just plain worried, not wanting him separated in case something happened to him. Her hand went to his knee under the table and squeezed it in concern.

 

[Drobabes]

Seeing as she knew she wasn't going to be eating anymore of her dinner, Cora was the first to push her seat back and stand when they were dismissed. Though she knew it would be foolish to attempt some kind of jailbreak right then and there, she knew that if she didn't do something then she was going to absolutely lose it.

Something touched her ankle, and when she looked down, she saw Bowie asking to be picked up. Gratefully she obliged, bending down and picking the bull snake up, and wrapping him up into a tight ball against her chest. He had grown a bit chunkier and lengthier so that it was difficult to cuddle him like she used to, but she made it work. Moving him around a bit, she put him head on her shoulder and let his tail wrap down on the side of her hip, and then she made her way out into the hallway, following closely behind the Nathanial and feeling the presence of Vin following her, though at a slower pace. He seemed not to want to be separated from the others, even if it was only for a brief talk.

Quint purposefully ignored that side eye glare he caught from Damien, giving all of his attention to Angelique. They were still playing politics, after all, and he knew when to move his chess pieces.

"Quinton, but I prefer Quint" he said courteously, offering his hand to her.

This was a gamble, but he was using deductive reasoning to place his bets and knew the rewards of the information that he could procure from Angelique were great enough to make it worth his time and effort. Their host already knew the officers, and therefore, Kuznet. There was an infinitesimal chance that she knew who Cora and himself actually were in relation to Ray, though he doubted the General would have let that information slip on his own accord. But, the chance was there, therefore there was no point in lying. There was also the fact that when they escaped she was going to give a description to him anyway, so they would simply need to focus all their energy on running and covering their tracks.

He was concerned about what she wanted to talk about and how their telepathy worked, but even here, Quint was confident in his abilities to handle extreme interrogation. He knew he could handle torture, knew he could handle investigative tactics, knew he had enough hours of training under his belt with FBI agents and truth serums to trust his ability to at least hide the most important pieces of information from certain lines of questioning that might lead him astray, and if she really started to dig into his brain and try to force the information from him with the use of her extra human abilities, he planned on blasting her full force with the fire-hose that was his personal dark closet full of trauma skeletons. There were stacks upon stacks of bones in that closet, some even he didn't remember collecting, but he was willing to dig them out and suffer the consequences of that if it meant keeping the truth from her. And, if all of that failed and somehow this witch managed to uncover the truth...well, he had ways of dealing with that too.

He always had a trump card somewhere up his sleeve, so with just the smallest of a swagger in his step, he gave Angelique an almost winning smile and began to walk away with her.

 

[Poprockz]

Sayori and Sabastian also reluctantly followed the party out of the room, Sayori taking a worried backward glance at Quint as the two zombies disappeared into another room. She hoped he would be okay...

----------------------

"Quint... A pleasure." Angelique purred, taking his hand and shaking it firmly.

She led him to a sitting room, two sofas situated on opposite sides of a table. There was art all over the walls, tasteful pieces that were painted with a loving and dedicated hand. No doubt the paintings were originals, likely worth quite a bit of money if the world as they had known it wasn't on the brink of collapse.

(OOC: Picture this but with more of a red theme)

Once there, she gestured for him to sit before sitting in the opposite sofa, reclining a bit and crossing her legs elegantly. Her arms draped over the back of the sofa as her violet eyes met his.

"So... It's nice to be able to put a face and name to the feeling of unbridled lust I felt in the General's office the other day. I wanted to say 'hello' then, but Ray seemed rather... off-put by my inquiry."

Though she put off the image of being completely relaxed and self-assured, Angelique watched him closely, curious as to what his response to everything would be. He would be a fool to deny what they both knew: that at one point the General had held him in his prison. He was special to the General, prized. Whether it was for his appetites or experimentation though, she was unsure.

 

[Drobabes]

He would have liked to have remained standing in order to walk around the room and use the art pieces as an excuse to give him a pause between his responses to Angelique. But he also would have liked to be back in his own house, laying in his king size bed and snacking on walnuts while he watched The 7th Voyage of Sinbad-sometimes things just didn't go your way.

"Ah, felt that did ya?" Quint chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair, coming off a bit boyish with an embarrassed grin. He wasn't surprised that she had been able to feel him considering their telepathic abilities, but it did put him in a pickle. Indeed, it would be not just foolish to deny he was of use to Kuznet, but outright dangerous. So then...how to play on what she had given him?

She was on a first name basis with the general but she wasn't working with the army. At least, as far as he knew. Quint had not heard of her through any of his own or Frans contacts, though, which meant she was being cocky on that regard. He doubted she was stupid though, otherwise she wouldn't have any relations with Ray. Indeed, the fact that she had obeyed his order or implications showed this. Still, she was toeing the line of danger which meant she was likely power hungry enough to try and take the crown should an opportunity ever present itself. That might be enough to give Quint an advantage that he might not otherwise have had, as long as he was careful with what information he exchanged back. Yes, exchanged, because he wasn't dealing with an empathetic person here.

"Well that doesn't really surprise me with those workaholic habits of his; we were in the middle of an experiment, after all. I don't imagine he would have been very pleased with you if you had redirected my focus" he said, giving her a little wink along with his smile. Before she could read too much into that, he shifted his gaze to some of the artwork.

"Beautiful pieces, by the way. Would you mind if I took a closer look?" he asked, making as if he wanted to stand but was waiting for her permission to do so first.

 

[Poprockz]

Ah, so he wanted to play it off as though he and Kuznet were equal partners, as though he had decided to simply leave, reunite with his family and friends, and travel elsewhere? What a laughable concept. As if Kuznet would have let him leave his post, especially as a zombie. Quint had been the only zombie in the compound that she could feel, and that made him extremely valuable to Kuznet, partner or pet.

She waved her hand as an invitation to look around, "what is art for, if not to be admired?"

Angelique watched him as he moved, making no move to get up and follow him yet.

"So it was an experiment, you say? Was he testing the sex-drive of the average zombie? Or perhaps he was interested in the military advantages he might gain from making use of the egg-heat, reducing entire armies to massive orgies of lust-crazed fools? I have to admit, I am intrigued. I am also interested to know how such a valued scientist such as yourself ended up all the way over here when he so clearly needs your expertise." The woman let out a light laugh, her words intended to let him know that she wasn't buying what he was selling but not calling him out directly on it either. She enjoyed a bit of cat and mouse, interested to see where the conversation would lead.

"But... I suppose that's proprietary information. I wouldn't want to put such a dedicated man in danger of violating a non-disclosure agreement," her tone was amused and playful with a well-mannered veneer. "Instead, I suppose I will ask something more personal: what sort of ability do you have as a zombie? I'm curious what those gorgeous eyes of yours mean for you."

 

[Drobabes]

He strode around the room casually, actually finding art pieces that held his interest so as he wouldn't simply be faking it. After all, who knew if she was anything like Ray, and had cameras planted at every angle to capture even the most minute of facial expressions.

"I am also interested to know how such a valued scientist such as yourself ended up all the way over here when he so clearly needs your expertise."

Her description of what they could possibly be testing for already had him smiling slightly, so he let that expression rest on his face as he turned his head to look over his shoulder and simply stare at her for a prolonged beat after her laugh, before turning back to the painting before him. Inwards he was cringing; chastising himself for not having a more convincing narrative. There was little room for error and he briefly wondered if he was more fatigued than he had originally estimated. Perhaps, even, his mourning Sarah was still affecting him in ways he hadn't predicted. He needed to get it together, he didn't have room errors.

"I wouldn't want to put such a dedicated man in danger of violating a non-disclosure agreement..."

Quint turned back to face her once more, and once more stared at her. This time though, he had strategically removed the smile from his face.

"I would hope not" he said, his voice more serious than before. And then those intriguing blue eyes of his panned over towards the door, seemingly staring at someone who might be standing outside of it. Perhaps...his sister?

"I'm sure you know as well as I do, how very...seriously, General Kuznet takes his contracts."

Quint met her gaze again before coming back to the table and sitting before her, his more relaxed smile finally returning as she inquired about his abilities.

"You know, I'm honestly still figuring that out myself. What this whole thing" he said, picking up his hands to gesture at his own body, before he placed them neatly back into his lap.

"Means. All these new changes... But! I do know a bit. Now whether or not that information is top secret is another matter" he laughed.

Sitting back in his chair, he ran his fingers through his hair to pull it back out of his face and gave Angelique a once over. Not overly flirty, but rather sizing her up in a way.

"It might be off with both of our heads. Unless you already know, and are just testing my loyalties?"

His lips curved up, a bit of a wry smile as Quint waited to see how she would play ball.

 

[Poprockz]

Ah, well this was intriguing. Either he was a very good actor, or he truly did work for Kuznet in some capacity. Though she wondered if he too had sold his soul to the devil for something he desired… or something he didn’t want to lose.

Contracts meant little these days though, as one couldn’t operate in the same way as one had before. The things that truly mattered in this desolate and desperate times was power, safety, and knowledge- and she had all of these things. Granted, so did he, but that didn’t mean that he would always stay in that seat. Based on what she had seen, Kuznet was going to face a challenge soon enough.

As far as his power went, he was still being slippery about it which only made her thirst for an answer more dire. There was no way he didn’t know, as the General would likely have performed every test under the sun to figure it out.

His look wasn’t lost on her, the zombie finding herself wondering how much of it was flattery and how much of it was genuine attraction. She shifted in her seat, leaning forward to emphasize herself, showing a classy bit of cleavage.

“To cut someone’s head off, you have to find them first,” she started slyly, “I had a zombie that came by once with healing powers, and I pleaded with him to stay within the safety of the resort. Sadly, he left and we never heard from him again.” This was all a lie, of course, but they both knew that. It was merely a way to see the sun without looking at it directly.

Taking the time to look both effortless and flirty, she stood up and started walking slowly around the table and around the back of Quint’s sofa. “It was such a shame though… that man would have been given anything he needed: safety, food, lavish presents… among other things,”

Her fingers lightly dragged along the arm and the back of it before sliding across the width of his shoulders, stopping when they reached the edge. They then started to rub his shoulder sensually, the pad of her thumb grazing the edge of his neck. “What do you think?”

 

[Drobabes]

"I had a zombie that came by once with healing powers, and I pleaded with him to stay within the safety of the resort."

That was a little too specific for their current cat and mouse, and she had dodged his implication of 'testing' his own 'loyalties'. But what that entailed was a bit hard to decipher. He could bite the bait and immediately be reeled in, locked up, and hand delivered to Ray... Except that, he knew that if he couldn't win her favor, make it worth her while to gamble against the King, than that was going to be the outcome anyway.

Her body language was promising on its own. Even if she planned to feed him to the wolf, he still hadn't missed those subtle, and not so subtle, cues. Was it the transformation that made it so difficult for them to control their sexual urges? Sure, it was a constant itch in the back of his mind now, but he wondered if that itch was more like a collar for her. A collar that would slowly strangle tighter around her neck, until the urge was fed.

"What do you think?"

Her touch was delicate and her body no doubt of the utmost appeal by what would have been modern day beauty standards, but it was nonetheless revolting to his skin and Quinton had to fight hard not shove her hand aside in annoyance and discomfort. Working with Kuznet was disgusting enough on its own, but he had already sniffed out the more narcissistic aspects of her personality long before they entered this room together. But that part of him, that part that made him Quinton Bluefield, a loving brother, and husband to a women who exuded nothing but kindness and light, and humor into a world too dark and so full of pain, needed to be sat aside for now. He needed to take the back seat and let his training, let all the machine that Francis had built within him come to the forefront, and fight this battle for him that he knew he could not win on his own.

"I think that that man was a fool," he said slowly, reaching up to thread his fingers through her own if she would let him, as his chin turned and their eyes met. He then stood from the couch and came nearer, letting their bodies almost touch as he stared at her lips before continuing.

"For wasting such an opportunity. It's a harsh world out there; can't imagine what he was thinking. Hm,"

Quint reached up and gave Angelique his own light touch-a single finger running silkily along her bottom lip and pulling it down just so, before moving away.

"It seems like a healing power would be quite the asset. Definitely something worth fighting over. I wonder," he said, looking up from her lips and into her eyes.

"How far someone would go to protect an asset like that...what someone would be willing to pay? Gifts are sweet as chocolate, but they would do little to set ones mind truly at ease I would think."

She didn't exactly stink to his nose. Actually, quite the opposite, as now that he was up close, that new animalistic part of his brain was suddenly craving it, craving the lust and need to breed, but it was all the same repelling. Like people who found the smell of gasoline to be pleasant. He knew it would make him sick if he took a taste. Perhaps he could dance the line today, and not have to actually gamble on it until tomorrow.

Time. He just needed a bit of time...

 

[Poprockz]

It seemed to her that he was all but confirming her suspicions, and that made her extremely excited. If he wasn't just bullshitting her to earn her favor, then she was going to do anything it took to keep him in her resort. Perhaps a little test later was in order, but for now she was extremely turned on by the combination of triumph and elation she felt. Based on his words, it even seemed as though he was considering what she could offer- a very good sign.

"I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I would do anything to keep someone like that around... within reason." Her violet eyes burned with predatory lust, the woman's breath having picked up a bit. It was obvious that she would have liked nothing more than to rip his clothes off and fuck him right then and there, and yet she restrained herself from even propositioning him just yet. That could wait until later, once she was a bit better acquainted with him. In her experience, most didn't find it all that amusing if she was being hot and heavy with them and they unexpectedly found a dick in their ass. Though a lot of women didn't seem to mind the surprise.

Angelique turned from him and walked to the door, deigning not to touch him lest she test herself more than necessary. All the while, she had an easy, flirty smile on her face as though the restraint of keeping herself in check was effortless; though, she imagined he could at least sense part of her desires. If that was one thing the wealthy did well, it was putting on masks.

Her hand on the ornate handle, she finished with, "tomorrow, we can talk more at length. For now... rest! Sleep in a warm bed! Enjoy the safety of this place." Her finger went up to her lips in a 'hush' motion. "Your visit can be our little secret. After all - everyone needs a vacation and I doubt the General lets you take time off often." She still didn't think he worked for him, but regardless she wanted him to know that his value was too high for her to risk it either way.

 

[Drobabes]

That burning desire from their altered state was enough to give him a semi chub within his underwear and he had to discreetly adjust himself in order to not be as obvious as he walked towards the door. It didn't help that he could also feel it coming from Angelique herself, their mental capabilities giving him just a little tickle to give in and come to the dark side. Give in to that animalistic lust and reach new sensations that he might have never felt before, and might never feel again... But that road was paved with good intentions.

"Your visit can be our little secret. After all - everyone needs a vacation and I doubt the General lets you take time off often."

She had walked away so casually that he had had to follow a bit quickly behind her, playing into that character of a man that was very much interested in not just her offer, but her body as well. He was only a few feet from her side as she gave him that little gesture with her hand and he smiled, laughing lightly at her joke.

"No, that does not happen very often. Well then, thank you" he said graciously, almost giving him a bit of a bow before turning to the door.

"I think I will enjoy your offer...to the fullest."

With their little meeting adjourned and feeling just a bit proud that he had got them all a little more time, he stepped through those doors as a happy man, a smile painting his lips as he joined the others.

 

[Poprockz]

They had all been standing there in the awkward silence of the hallway, waiting for Quint and Angelique to finish their talk. Though Damien knew that this was conceivably his last meeting with them, it didn't feel like the right time to say goodbye until they were all present. In truth, he believed that he was going to be able to pick his way out of any lock their host might have handy, reunite with the rest of them, and get the fuck out of there. It wasn't as though he was being ripped away from them on a desolate road by a gang of cannibals- he was being detained by resort staff. It hardly seemed like he had much need to worry about the security of his accommodations.

Quint was met with another narrowed gaze of suspicion from Damien when the two of them stepped through the doors. The man was prancing out of the room with a big smile and a saunter in his step? Perhaps he was playing it up for show, but he couldn't quite hide the slight bulge in his pants with a quick tuck. Damien knew how people could be forcibly aroused, though he doubted this was the case with Quint from the look of him. It certainly fit his image of being a brash, hot-headed man ruled by how he was feeling from one moment to the next.

Sabastian had been standing near Vin, simply waiting tiredly for things to proceed. He was full, relatively safe, and the last couple days were starting to catch up to him. All he really wanted to do was go to bed and figure things out in the morning. He thought he had felt a bit of arousal nearby, but it wasn't really confirmed until they came closer. Though he sensed that it was more Angelique that he was feeling, he could also make out some from Quint too. While the blonde absolutely expected Quint to try to play the woman as best he could, sticking one's dick in crazy was never a good idea. His eyebrows scrunched tiredly as a slight frown came to him. Though he wasn't totally judging... he was kind of judging.

When she saw them come out, Sayori had almost gone to take a step forward to greet him before cancelling that action. The two of them seemed to have hit it off with the way Angelique seemed to hover near his shoulder on the way out, both of them having a relaxed and almost playful air about them. It made her stomach feel like it was dropping slightly, and she knew in her gut that she didn't like it. What had they talked about in there? Why did she feel slightly angry and sour with a touch of insecurity?

"Thank you for waiting while Quint and I had our little chat," the tall woman rubbed Quint's shoulder for just a moment before walking to the side of Damien that wasn't occupied by the butler. "Now would be the time to say your goodbyes to Damien for the time being, as you likely will not be seeing him until he arrives at the base sometime next week."

 

[Drobabes]

Cora, unsurprisingly, stayed near Damien. She wished that she could hold his hand and whisper to him, come up with a loose game plan at least. But the butler insured that wasn't going to happen. She couldn't even really make eye contact with him and feel comfortable about it, agonizing that any slight thing given away in her expression might be picked up on. So instead, she crossed her arms and tried her best to be patient, choosing instead to occasionally look over and Vin and Sabastian.

Much like Damien, Vin didn't feel completely at the end of his rope about this. He was just as exhausted as the rest of the group but the shower and food had done him good and now he knew that if they could just get a few hours of sleep, they would figure this out. He was simply holding Sabastian to his chest when Cora happened to look over, and as their eyes caught, he tried to give her a reassuring smile and a little shrug of his shoulders. What could they do right in the moment? They needed rest; and besides, they had all made it out of some tough shit before. It was no less dangerous now, but he felt confident enough that they could face this challenge just like the others.

"Now would be the time to say your goodbyes to Damien for the time being, as you likely will not be seeing him until he arrives at the base sometime next week."

Quint sensed the tension in the group as soon as he stepped back into it, but made it his top priority to smile at their host instead of rudely smacking her hand off his shoulder, and that gesture alone set Cora at ease immediately.

He had a plan.

She didn't know what that plan was just yet, but she knew her brother. There was only one women he had ever loved and ever let touch him in such intimate manners, so to let a stranger such as herself touch him like that meant they were still in character. And sure, she might have had a little outburst earlier, but who wouldn't when they received the new that they're partner was being arrested for crimes that they believed were bogus charges? To have acted any less upset might have thrown out more red flags.

Turning to Damien, and doing her best to act as if the butler and Angelique were not there, she reached up and held his face between her hands. Standing up on her toes, she kissed his forehead and then looked into his eyes.

"I'll come to you tomorrow morning, okay? I love you, we're going to get through this."

 

[Poprockz]

Damien bent forward slightly to allow Cora access to his forehead, though at first he had thought she was going to go for a kiss on the lips. He found the tenderness of her soft gesture more comforting than anything else he could have asked for. He doubted that Angelique was going to let them even see him before he was shipped off, but he wasn't going to say it- he didn't want to sully the moment with that suggestion. Besides, their plan was probably to break out anyway, so even if it was a couple days down the road he could hold on and wait for the right time to present itself.

Angelique had been smiling politely as they said their goodbyes, but the butler gave the woman a bit of side-eye for a moment when Cora mentioned seeing him again. Of course that wouldn't be possible and they both knew it, though it seemed he was following his employer's lead and also not bringing it up. She could deal with that how she saw fit tomorrow- he was just the butler.

"I love you too," the grey-eyed man smiled at her lovingly, "I'll be counting down the minutes until I see you." With that, he pulled her into a one-armed hug, holding her tight and resting his face near her ear. "Don't worry about me- get some sleep." After a few seconds he let her go and pulled back, clearing his throat and nodding to the rest of them. Angelique stepped forward and put her hand on his shoulder, basically turning and guiding him away herself. It looked as though she personally was going to escort him to where he needed to be, the butler being given the task of taking them to their rooms.

"Goodnight, and sweet dreams! Do come and find me in the morning and I'll be happy to show you around if you wish." The tall woman waved over her shoulder gracefully, the two of them disappearing down the hall.

It was quiet for a moment before the butler gestured in the opposite direction. "Shall we?"

....

After another elevator ride, they came upon two rooms opposite each other in the hall, the butler holding up four pairs of keys, two for each room. "These are your rooms. Please be conscious of the other guests and refrain from making excessive noise in the hallways at night. We would also request that each of you be allowed fifteen minutes of shower time or one bath each in an effort to conserve water. If the rooms are not to your satisfaction or if you have an issue, then you may call us on the main phone and we will address your request at our earliest convenience." He smiled, though his eyes had a hint of boredom as though he was getting a bit tired of saying this line over and over.

Sabastian swiped their keys, pawing them over for a second before handing one to Vin. "Cool. I think we're good for now."

 

[Drobabes]

The group watched them leave, each having their own inner turmoil of thoughts but none of them deigning to voice them out loud. Once it was time, they all moved along with the butler.
...

Vin gave a small nod of agreement as he took his own key and headed into the room with Sabastian, intent on hitting the hay as soon as he was allowed.
________________

Quint took their own set of keys, handing one to Sayori and then giving their butler a polite smile.

"Sounds good."

After their little meeting was adjourned, the twins walked into the room, waiting until Sayori was inside before locking the door behind them. They both shared a look before each one went opposite directions of each other and began to, as casually as they could, inspect every aspect of the room looking for any kind hidden cameras or microphones. Not that they would react if they found anything of that nature, but rather, it would merely benefit them to know if they could speak freely in the room or not.

Once they were satisfied, they both went to the bed and sat down side by side and merely stared around for a moment. Eventually it became too much for Cora to handle, and with tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes, she turned and crawled under the blankets, covering her head and trying to breath as casually as she could. She had brought Bowie into the room with them but had sat the serpent down on the floor near the door when they had entered, as to allow him to freely roam. But hearing the distress in her clutched breathing, the snake quickly slithered across the room and sprang up onto the bed before finding an opening in the covers and slithering beneath to comfort his soft and gentle human.

Quint merely watched for a moment and then sighed before looking over to Sayori. He met her eyes, smiled awkwardly, and then patted the bed beside himself to invite her to sit down.

"How are you holding up?" he asked gently.

 

[Poprockz]

The rooms were quite large and luxurious. The trio's room was more grey themed:

While Sabastian and Vin's room was themed with more neutral tones:

Both rooms had large, king-sized beds, as well as balconies. If one were to take a look outside, they would see that they were currently on the sixth floor (of which there seemed to be twelve). The balconies between rooms was about eight feet or perhaps even ten depending, likely to discourage guests from trying to attempt to disturb another guest. There was a large television in front of each of the beds, though there would be no cable for obvious reasons. Instead, there was a case of neatly arranged DVD's one could pick from... including some nondescript cases that had titles on the inside of the cases of various porns.

Upon searching the room, whichever of the twins searched the closet might notice a pair of animal masks that were set to cover the upper half of one's face. One was a cheetah, the other of a skink, it's scales seeming to have a dull shimmer in the light. . There were also several silk robes and eye masks, as well as fuzzy slippers of different colors. No matter where they searched, they would find no cameras or audio-recording devices.

Sabastian bent over and flopped his torso onto the bed face-first with his arms out. It was a fabulous bed, and he knew that barring anything awful happening to them, he would sleep like a baby. Damien was tomorrow's problem. Tonight, he was going to sleep as much as he could and burn the feeling of that bed into his mind for when they had to leave. He was tempted to jump into bed clothes-and-all, but he knew it was probably better to change into pajamas if they had them. It sucked that he had to move though.

----------------------

After the lock was clicked behind them, Sayori simply stood and watched the two of them going about their little search. At first she wasn't sure what they were doing, but then she got the idea. It was smart, checking for things like that- she certainly wouldn't have thought of it with how tired she was. While a pang of sympathy went through her for Cora, she also felt a bit guilty that she was secretly hopeful that they might end up having to leave Damien behind. Cora would be heartbroken but she could move on from this, especially with her brother there, right?

The woman sat on the bed next to Quint and shrugged. "I don't know. I don't like that woman so far. She's a bit too... touchy." She gave Quint a sideways look, remembering how those red-nailed fingers had rubbed him that gross, sensual way. "It was all an act, right? You weren't actually attracted to her." Her heart beat a little quicker, waiting for the expected answer, the one that would quiet the part of her that currently seemed restless.

 

[Drobabes]

Delvin took a few glances around the room, almost unable to ignore the quality of their sleeping quarters despite the fatigue radiating from his bones. When he saw his partner flop down on the mattress, he smiled warmly and went to search the closet, not really expecting much but being pleasantly surprised to find some articles of clothing. If he had a choice, he would simply strip naked and crawl in beside Sabastian's cool little body but he still didn't quite feel that safe. Even if they were here long enough to get a full nights sleep, who knew what the morning would bring or when they would have to run again.

Choosing something simple, Vin brought two black silk robes over to the bed and laid one down by his partner. He then began to try and peel his shirt off, but upon reaching up over his head, to try and pull his shirt up off of his back like he usually did, he let out a rather loud grunt of pain and immediately clutched at his chest. He squinted his eyes shut hard and had to stop his breathing for a few seconds as intense pain radiated throughout his whole chest and made it impossible to do anything besides freeze in place. Eventually, but agonizingly slowly, he was finally able to squint his eyes open and take a few shallow breaths. He regretted that action almost immediately, as it sent him into a coughing fit that was so painful it almost brought him to his knees before he was able to quickly turn and sit on the edge of the bed until it receded and he was left breathing as shallowly as he could while wiping the tears from his eyes, one of his arms still wrapped tightly around his chest.
_________________________

Quint stared into her worried expression and something pulled in his chest and made him open his mouth and start answering before he really had all the words ready to go.

"No! Of course not, I-"

Shutting his mouth suddenly, he tensed his jaw a bit and then let out a little sigh, forcing himself to relax. It shouldn't have mattered-their opinions and concerns for how he did things, for what he had to do. But, it did. It mattered a whole fucking lot and he couldn't move forward into sleep without first fixing this.

"Sayori, listen..." he said more gently, looking down to find both of his hands and take them into his own as he turned his body towards her. Rubbing the backs of her hands with his thumb for a moment, he gathered himself before he finally had the courage to look into her eyes.

"Kuznet has been in our lives...since we were four years old" he said quietly, and then swallowed to wet his mouth and lips.

"Sometimes, I am going to do things that may not...make much sense in the moment. The things I might do, the things I have to do, might even seem cruel. But I..."

He looked down at her hands again and gave them a little squeeze as he finished.

"I can promise you, promise, that I will never lose myself no matter what it is that I have to do. I will never stop being me. No matter what mask I have to wear for a while, I will always take it off at the end, when I can. And it's fine if you need to question me, if you need to doubt what I'm doing or planning, but can you...can you just at least trust that no matter what happens, I will always come back to you as myself when it's over, and that I...and that I..."

Quint hesitated on the last words, his stormy eyes having to look up and meet hers so that he was forced to say it, forced not to hold back even a bit of the truth. Even if he couldn't paint the truth as eloquently as he wanted, and even if he didn't yet truly understand the real scope of what he was about to say, just yet.

"I love you. Very much. I, love you, and I am going to keep you safe no matter what it takes."

He let go of her hands then, some part of him feeling slightly embarrassed about the confession even though it should not have been anything to be ashamed about. Of course he loved her, how could he not? He loved his sister too, and Francisco, and Sabastian. Love was nothing to be embarrassed about, and yet...

"And you too Cora" he said after swallowing hard and looking over to the lump beneath the covers as a way to try to get away from his own feelings.

"I know you're listening."

She was. She had been burying her face against Bowie's neck, distracting herself from her own feelings by comparing the similarities between his own smooth scales and the shiny mask she had saw in the closet earlier. Cora hadn't been in the mood the take the mask down and really inspect it, but it was a beautiful piece of artwork and she wondered if the guests were expecting to have a party soon. But when Quint had started talking, she had pulled back a bit to listen, and when she emerged from her soft cave to stare at him with tears in her eyes, she couldn't speak in answer to him right away. A silence filled the gap between them, giving pause to the conversation as they each sat in their own thoughts for a moment. Quint simply looking resolute, while Cora looked...well. There was something in that gaze, but maybe her brother would be the only one who got it.

A memory was playing in her mind. A memory that often haunted her sleep and one in which she refused to try and bury because she needed to remember it. She needed to hold onto it, hold onto the memory and waking up on that cold table with Quint standing over her, absolute fear and terror in his eyes before he could shift his expression to rage. They were only about thirteen, maybe. It was difficult for her to keep track of the years on her best days, but it didn't really matter. It had been sometime before they escaped, but too late for her not to have lost hope.

The stain of the berries was still fresh on her lips, and soon she had a fresh trail of blood from her nose to add to the stains as her brother had reached down and pinched her nose so hard that it had sprung a leak, causing her to grab at her face and start to sob. And he had screamed in her face; screamed and yelled so loud, with such unchecked feeling, that it had shocked her into stopping her useless tears. He had first questioned, and then accused. How could she? How could she do it? And how dare she without him. Leave him alone at the gates of Hell so that she could skip off into the sunset, just like Mom and Dad had left him.

Ever since that day she had been trying and failing to fix that wound she had carved out in him. Was this a path she could take? She wanted to, desperately, so she came out of hiding and sat up beside him, but still hesitated to speak just yet. Her and Quint were siblings, and had their whole lives to mend the fights they had had in their past, but Sayori was new to their dynamic and Cora wanted to make a space for her in their lives. She wanted her to feel safe to speak, and not always feel as if they would simply talk over her just because they were siblings and shared a deep bond. Besides, there was a hole between them now. And though neither of the twins ever expected Sayori to fill it and replace someone who could never be replaced, they were both hurting and seeking out a mutual friendship that they could believe in and trust unconditionally. Trust, something that Sarah had taught them how to do.

 

[Poprockz]

The blonde had been zoning out a bit, almost falling asleep right then and there. However, the pained grunt he heard jostled him from his relaxation and hurtled him into panic mode. It seemed to come naturally, as though at this point he was always ready for something life-threatening to be happening. He flipped himself over, sprung out of bed, and stood next to Vin as he hacked.

"Are you okay?! Are you having a heart attack? Do you need CPR?!" Each question was fired off at Vin in rapid succession, Sabastian bent over slightly and hovering near him in case he needed to start. His tentacles had come out, two of them resting on the man's shoulders should he need to grab him and lay him down The beds were simply not suited for CPR and would like just end up with the two of them bouncing uselessly up and down.

---------------------

"And you too Cora... I know you're listening."

She hadn't realized how high she was until those words sent her crashing down. It felt like one of those times when your first name was called out at a raffle but the second name was that of someone else. It made her grateful that he had turned to look at Cora and thus likely kept both of the siblings eyes off of her- she wasn't sure what kind of face she was making. If she had to make a guess, it was probably somewhere between confusion, embarrassment, and pain. His words had been so sweet, as though spoken in a heartwarming movie. Her hands in his had calmed her heart, comfort being found in every rub of his thumbs. When he let her go and spoke those words though, it had felt as though he had released her over a bottomless pit.

How could she have misunderstood so egregiously? She could already feel her cheeks flushing in shame and her eyes starting to water, hating the fact that her first reaction was to cry. There had been enough crying lately for a lifetime and yet it seemed as though an ocean had settled inside her, waiting for the opportunity to escape one drop at a time.

What had she expected? That he would fall in love with her in less than a month? That was ridiculous! Who in their right mind would be able to develop such a significant bond with someone else in that short a time? He had a wife, for fucks sake! She might have passed away for all intents and purposes he was still married, as he still carried Sarah's torch in his heart. Sayori was being exceedingly narcissistic to think that she could be the object of his affection especially after what she had put him through. Why did it matter that his feelings weren't platonic? There had been many times in her life where she had been relieved that similar speeches had turned out as declarations of friendship. Yet this time... felt different.

All she knew was that she still felt raw, but that she had to keep it together lest he think she was somehow disappointed in his sincere speech. Sayori let her eyes remain watery since she couldn't control that as well, but made an effort to smile in a tired way.

"I'm touched- a true friend is hard to find." Her gaze turned to Cora and she paused before continuing, "and um... while we may not always see eye-to-eye, I'm glad you're here and I hope we can continue to get closer, Cora." Sayori bobbed her head in a few nods, feeling a bit more emotionally even with each breath.

Perhaps he had wanted her to say that she loved him back rather than verbally side-stepping him, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words at the moment.

Sayori had thought she had seen some robes in the closet while they were looking around so she got up and walked over to it, wanting at least a moment to collect herself while one of them responded.

 

[Drobabes]

It took him a moment more before he could respond, first waving his free hand a bit in the air, and then finally un-clenching his other arm and reaching out to give Sabastian's hand a little squeeze of reassurance.

"I'm okay" he said, being very careful to keep his breath shallow.

"I got knocked against the wall pretty bad" he started, opening his eyes and meeting Sabastian's.

"When Cora and Damien came down to get me. That...zombie rat..."

Vin had to stop once more for a few seconds to catch his breath, but after that he was able to sit up a bit straighter.

"Whipped me pretty good. I might have a cracked rib or something. Feels like it."

Rubbing his face a bit, he reached up to run his fingers through his hair again before quickly giving up and letting out a small breath of exhaustion.

"It's going to hurt really bad, but it will heal. I just need rest. Besides" he smiled, trying not to chuckle as he gently pulled Sabastian's hand over closer to him.

"You don't do CPR on someone who's heart is still beating. You can stop my heart anytime you want little man, but let's not do it like that."
________________________________________

Cora had started to smile at Sayori's kind words, hoping to say something soft in return, but she stopped herself when she saw the blush in her cheeks and the tears that were threatening to spill over at any moment. When she looked over at her brother, he seemed to be purposefully looking anywhere else but at the reaction on their friend's face, and for the first time, something clicked for the tough women. She doubted that either of them saw it but she was sure about it. Cora felt it in her gut in the same way that she had felt an almost magnetic pull to Damien despite every rational part of her brain screaming 'run'. And just as quickly as she realized it, she also realized that it would be very cruel of her to pull the curtains back on them, and shine the light on what it really was. She knew her brother, how loyal he was, and how he would instinctually try to deny it in order to honor his feelings over Sarah. Of course, Cora knew that his love for her would never die or change and this new development in his life was no threat to that, but he needed to realize that on his own. And Sayori was a true friend. A truly sweet, gentle, and kind soul who the last thing she would likely ever do would be choose to harm Quint. So, she too turned away.

"So the masks off right now" she said after a pause, getting Quint's attention.

"What's the plan, now? We don't have a lot of time."

"Right. We'll have to stay here tonight-"

"I just said we don't have a lot of time."

He glared at her in annoyance.

"And I just said we will stay here tonight."

Quint let the heaviness settle between them as they locked eyes, and then he continued.

"None of us are in any shape to do anything tonight. We're worn down and beat up. We need rest, period. Out of all of us, I think Bowie is the only one who could actually handle any kind of fighting, but even with him being much stronger now, he's only one snake against who knows how many zombie people she's got here. That's also besides the point, because it's not going to come to a fight. We're going to rest, get our bearings, and then sneak out."

"With Damien" she declared, more than asked.

"Yes" he said through gritted teeth.

"With your mutt. No use fishing if you leave your bait behind."

Cora scooted back a bit, picking Bowie up so she wouldn't have to meet her brothers eyes.

"I wish you wouldn't talk like that."

"Well I wish you hadn't decided to pal up with dangerous people."

She turned her head and stared at him for a moment in confusion.

"Dangerous people...Why are you still being an asshole? You know Sabastian."

"That's not who I'm talking about."

"What? You don't mean Delvin, do you?"

She was a bit taken aback, the comment having felt like it came out of nowhere. Infact, there was a lot that had been coming out of nowhere since they had gotten back together and it was putting a pit of nervousness in her stomach. She was already scared that she might be losing her brother due to her own choices, but this felt different...like...was this really her brother? She wanted to scream at herself that of course it was, they had literally been born together on the same night. But...he had kept so much secret from her for so long...

"Quinton, no. Delvin is a good man. He didn't know about what...what, Damien, did...and when he did find out he had a normal reaction. Well, maybe not normal, he tried to kill Damien, but I don't blame hi-"

"That's not what I'm talking about" he said, interrupting her with an intense stare that took her off guard and made her clamp her mouth shut.

"Never mind" he scoffed, and then turned to get off the bed.

"Just get some sleep Cora. I'm going to get some air, just leave me alone for a while."

And with that he left them, making his way out the door and to the balcony, making sure the door was shut behind him and leaving the two alone in the room together.