I'm Not Here to Make Friends

[Aster]

Tucker listened intently as he followed Regina around wordlessly. She was going on about statistics and reminded him that everyone here would be dead within a week. Not exactly a fact he relished, but something they all had to face at some point. Regina rattling off about statistics reminded him of their time at the party, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of homesickness. Oh how much he pined to go home and watch the show again, from the safety of his bedroom and a screen separating the violence from him. Maybe if his school wasn't chosen, he would've joined fellow fans in the wake of initial hype. Surely things were just beginning to broadcast by now.

Wistful thinking was stopped as he returned to reality. If he wanted a chance of seeing home again, he'd have to survive. Maybe he'd find the rest of his team, and they'd cruise their way to Endgame in a blaze of glory. Tucker wasn't sure if he could look at SOTF the same way again, though nonetheless he wished his teammates good blessings. For now, though, he had to stick with Regina.

They were now making their way down what appeared to be an 'employees only' sort of zone; it wasn't as flashy as the entrance and was hardly what Tucker expected an Ice Palace to look like inside. But backstage there could be some valuable supplies, and something useful had to be lying around.

"Yeah, it might be," Tucker replied, now walking in stride with Regina rather than following her. The kitchen was a definite boon, full of food and potential weapons. Tucker doubted that they needed the latter, as they were well-armed and had no need to stoop down to knives and frying pans. But the food was a good thing, and maybe he'd be able to gain back all the food he'd lost. Regain his footing in the game, reestablish his chances of survival.

They walked along a little further, and sure enough the kitchen was in their sights. Tucker almost skipped the rest of the way there as he and Regina entered the area. Nothing too out of the ordinary; it looked like your typical restaurant kitchen, with rows of metal tables and various kitchen utensils scattered about. His eyes darted around, taking in the room. "Jackpot." He turned to Regina.

"We gotta search for food," His arm swept towards one half of the room. "You search that half, I'll take the other. Kay?"

[ChainmailleAddict*]

The two people he didn’t recognize wandered off after bidding James goodbye. His eyes remained on them for a few seconds as they left the cafe to search for things, apparently. He could only recall seeing one bag among the both of them, so perhaps they had misplaced it?

Erik asked him if something had happened. James could only assume he was referring to his situation as of late. “No.” he said, giving momentary pause because he was looking for something to say that wouldn’t get him misinterpreted. “I mean, so far, I’m okay. And it looks like everyone here is okay, too. That’s good. I’m not sure if it was loud enough for you to hear, but... uh, I guess I call her a mentor... just said that one of my teammates made the first kill.” he continued, occasionally glancing at his FABARM though not trying to make this obvious. He was kind of scared.

Of course, he supposed anyone would be scared at this point. It was one thing to watch something from a screen, but now that he was getting first-hand experience of the action it was reality. He felt guilty about how he’d watched the show so nonchalantly before. For one, he didn’t expect to be taken from an SOTF-funded school.

Erik. Focus on Erik.

What could he say, exactly? Talk about what teams they were on? What weapons they had received? His bandana was Tan; Cricket bat likewise. That put him shit out of luck for a permanent teaming-up. Chances were that at least one of them would be dead in a week’s time. Small talk skirting around impending doom was not something he wanted to get involved in.

Erik.

He looked at Erik, forehead sweating and having little idea of what to say. “What’s happened with you so far, Erik?” James said with a positive intent. He figured this would result in a decent enough answer, perhaps that he spoke with a few people or something, he didn't know. That was all he would need to hear for things to be okay again. On day one, basically nothing bad happened. Erik seemed pretty composed. The worst thing he could imagine happening to Erik so far was probably the jump scare of seeing him with his FABARM, and he made it clear to him that he wasn’t going to use it. James just hoped that he knew his as well.

[Imehal*]

[My sincerest apologies for the lateness, and length, of this post. Let's get this thing actually moving, shall we? (No more edits, I swear!)]

A few choice phrases nearly escaped at Tucker’s suggestion. A quip maybe, accompanied by a slight smile – that judgemental admonishment that she had greeted him with back at the Daycare Centre. A gesture of reassurance – of a teammate. Nothing about her in that moment seemed appropriate. They were a temporary alliance, and there were a damn sight more than two people down the corridor who would threaten its fragility. He had made a good call regarding not leaving, and Regina was still – as she made to begin exploring her side of the industrially-sized kitchen for the supplies that were so desperately needed.

It was right then that Regina realised that talking about the strategy of the game earlier had been a mistake. All of that should have been internalised; kept quiet. Not because she thought it a mistake to help Tucker inadvertently with advice. If she had thought that way she would have left him without a word when they had met up. No, speaking aloud meant admitting that soon those statistics would apply to familiar faces. It forced her mind to think for the briefest of moments about the people who had given her that intense, now vital, education on Survival of the Fittest. It meant wondering whether countless friends had managed to survive the first day, or whether she was going to have to hear their names read out as deceased.

There were sweet ones that she knew for a fact would be broken. Douglas, Marcus – two names that immediately sprung to the forefront when she thought of innocence. Halfway between cupboards she paused to allow herself, in this quiet moment, a chance to name everyone. To be the girl that had held them at arm’s length, but considered them friends.

Ashley, Douglas, Marcus, Pia, Vahka. Countless others beside, but those were the ones that mattered. Those were the ones that despite everything Regina had done since losing Christian she felt something for. Each one different, but equally powerful. Tucker too, and she let herself glance across the room at him as he rose from another unsuccessful rummage through a cupboard.  Once they found Paisley she would part ways with him with a smile, and that would be that.

One kindness each. Just one – in remembrance of all they had been before. Then she would let them go, one by one. Somehow, she would find a way to become what she needed to be.

The next cupboard proved decidedly more fruitful than the last few that they had both checked. “Hey Tucker,” she called out immediately, a smile that did not reach her eyes stretching her lips. It should have made her happy to find the supplies they had been trying to locate, but instead she realised there was an emptiness as she heard the footsteps come up behind her. “I think I got something.”

~*~*~*~*~

In the end they had chosen the staff coffee room – just a few doors down from the kitchen that they discovered linked through to the cafe via a long corridor – for their accommodation for the evening. It was not the worst place they could have chosen, given the couches and comfortable chairs but the fact that she knew that there were two people within five minutes meant that Regina had not been able to settle at first. They had efficiently sorted out a rota for sleeping.  Three hour alternating watches until they both felt reasonably rested. She had insisted on taking first watch, and envied Tucker’s ability to fall asleep relatively quickly despite the fact that they were on different teams.

Their talks had remained friendly and helpful as they loaded as many tins as Regina could bear into the rucksack, making it point two in their restock plan to find Tucker a backpack a top priority for the next day. Not only was it practical, but damn was this thing heavy. He had almost asked if she wanted him to take it, she had seen it in his eyes, but instead all she had done was pass him across the Nulla Nulla without a word.

Since then, and right until that moment, a question had burned at the back of her mind: If you were willing to give him your weapon over supplies, why the heck can’t you abide by the idea of sleeping whilst he keeps watch? There was camaraderie, there was lingering friendship but there was no trust in him not to stab her whilst she slept, not when lucid. It was, however, wondrous what exhaustion would do to a girl’s logic and intelligence though, not to mention the thoughts that circled predatorily in on her weakened state.

Most notable, other than strategies and plans for events that she could foresee, was the game-breaking hope that her father had seen the little scrap of paper that she had left behind for him. The last act of a woman that she could no longer be – no longer remember, even. By the time it came around to rouse Tucker to take his first shift, Regina was more than glad to take her turn to retreat into exhaustion to get away from herself. “Don’t kill me whilst I sleep,” Regina had murmured jokingly, a reassurance to herself as much a reminder to him that , at least for now, they were a team. The half-chuckle she had received in response had only gone so far to reassure her before unconsciousness had stolen away her ability to focus on winning, as well as all her fears and anxieties about trust in Survival of the Fittest.

~*~*~*~*~

It was with the clattering of a chair that brought Regina to full lucidity and able to realise that she had been woken by the first announcement of Season Sixty-Six. Whilst each name, killer and victim alike, was read out Regina stood and righted the chair. Busied herself with drinking some water, and passing the bottle across to Tucker. Something to do; to distract her as the last piece fell into place – as their reality finally became unquestionable.

Regina told herself it was the cold and lack of sleep that made her reluctant to move, but she knew better and was glad that Tucker probably did not. But that could have been vain hope.  Regina knew she was not going to sleep much more tonight, and after a while convinced Tucker that she was fine to continue watching – that they could talk in the morning. She had no idea how long she had been asleep prior to the announcement, but she knew that trying to lie down and relax was now impossible. Did she suggest to her companion that they continue exploring in the hopes that the search would quieten a mind that wanted to unravel each person that she knew that had killed or been killed; to treat them as the adversaries they were to be?

Instead – two birds, one stone. “We should go to the Sunshine Tower tomorrow. It’s the only place they named, and there’s a chance we can pick up Taylor’s backpack to replace yours, even if Vahka,” and whoever he is with, “have taken what’s inside.” To her credit, she barely reacted when she named Vahka. It was practical. It was the only place that had been named – the only place they knew where a corpse was – where there might be a body to rob. If Regina had known quite how pale-faced she was at that very moment, let alone how tight her grip was on the bottle of water, she might have felt less proud about the decision she had just made aloud.  She toyed with suggesting that they go now under the cover of dark, but there were so many reasons that could be argued against it that she held her tongue on that particular idea. At least for the time being.

[Aster]

(Approaching inactivity)

It took a long time for Tucker to speak again.

After Regina had fallen asleep, he was left alone with his thoughts and some weapons. He couldn't exactly talk to his friend's sleeping form, and speaking to himself was entirely out of the equation. So in the mean time, Tucker sat there silently and spent the short hours of loneliness as patiently as possible. He sat on the couch, on the edge of the cushions and both elbows propped up on each knee. The Nulla Nulla was set against the couch between his legs, and the Smatchet was in his lap. Tucker lazily eyed the only door in the room, and he wondered how much time had passed.

Almost in reply, Ritzy Dagger's exuberant tones exploded from the speakers, snapping Tucker out of his lull and sending Regina toppling out of her chair. He listened intently as Regina collected herself and handed him a bottle of water. He took a swig and passed it back.

As Tucker listened, all he could say was that it wasn't like last season. Thankfully most of the dead kids were from the other school, with only one familiar name among the deceased. Tucker knew that there was an Eden Zahn at Whittree, though he couldn't connect the name with a face.

Normally Tucker enjoyed the announcements; at home he anticipated these parts greatly, unable to wait for Leo's snide delivery and the contestant's varying reactions. However, while Ritzy might've been as equally amusing from an audience's standpoint, the names she read off were hauntingly recognizable and ruined the entire experience.

His mind drifted to his far-off memories of high school, of the party and Vahka and his closeness to Marcus. The other three girls were faces in the crowd, though nonetheless he knew them well. It was one thing to listen to the announcements say that all your friends are dead, but it's worse to hear them as established killers.

There were two danger zones, one of which was the place he had woken up in. Thankfully, neither were the Ice Palace, and that left the two of them in relative peace until the morning came. He sat in darkness as Ritzy closed with a song, and Tucker hummed the last few lines before it faded into silence. It was almost immediately broken as Regina spoke.

Tucker looked at her, noting her pale face as she proposed grave robbing; taking the bag of a dead boy killed by one of their own friends. He remembered the party, so long ago, and the more recent announcements. The last thing he needed to see was a dead body, but it was probably for the best.

"Sounds like a plan," He croaked back, trying to smile in encouragement. Tucker almost asked her to take next shift, though he doubted that neither would be able to go back to sleep tonight.

[jimmydalad]

"Nothing much. Just been trying to survive." Erik replied, not intending to give the other kid too much information. If his teammates were killing, that did not bode well for how the rest of the game was going to go. To be honest, he was already wary about the thought of aligning with anyone. The combination of his weapon alongside the more recent information of his teammates being killers basically sealed the deal that he wasn't going to actively search out an alliance with him.

To be perfectly frank, he just wanted to be left alone.

"I'm fine with you staying here if you want to. Just don't do anything suspicious. I would rather not fight." Erik informed James as he took a few steps away from him. He made his intentions known. While he did realize that the other kid had a gun with him, he doubted that he had any plans in using it. James didn't seem like the type to do something like that. Then again, this was Survival of the Fittest. He could surprise him.

He would rather not.

- - - -

Nothing much happened after that. Erik didn't know when he fell asleep, but he did get woken up by the sound of the announcements. He listened only for names and danger zones, ignoring the obnoxious music. Some names he didn't recognize, others he knew were fellow students. Then again, they were all students. He made a mental note of the name of killers though.

He had to be strong. He couldn't get attached to the fact that his classmates were dying. They were just people and numbers. In the end, that was a few less people Erik had to deal with. That was a good. Look at the positives and ignore the negatives.

Deciding to explore a little more, Erik continued to wander around the Ice Palace. He didn't explore the place fully before, owing to the arrival of Regina and that other kid as well as James. Now probably was a good time to go out searching.

What did puzzle him was the sound of voices. Erik moved silently towards the door that the sounds were coming from. The reason why he became interested in the sounds was because they were all too familiar.

Those two had lied.

Hiding behind the door frame, Erik listened to the conversation. While it didn't seem like they were planning to kill them, Erik still did not like the fact that he was deceived. It made him feel even more uncomfortable knowing that the two of them had been here this entire time.

He still had the cricket bat in his hands.

Maybe he could scare them off when they tried to leave the room?

He waited patiently behind the door, looking for the moment where it seemed best to act. He didn't want to be too hasty.

[ChainmailleAddict*]

James looked at Erik intently. Nothing much, just been trying to survive. This was good. He breathed a sigh of relief. After all, that experience was typical, right? He’d seen the show before - things gradually got hectic, but never on the first day. And it had been maybe a year since Season 60. Perhaps he could breathe easy for today, just knowing this. He just had to look at things one day at a time and it wouldn’t be so bad.

James fell, albeit uneasily, into a sleep.

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

James had woken up, possibly once or twice during the night. He’d elected to sleep behind the counter, possibly because it made him feel safe and more likely due to that there weren't many places to do so in a cafe. The announcements were already under way, and he rose as attentively as he could afford to listen. Which wasn't very much. He didn't hear much before they had ended. Whether it was due to his late awakening or his lack of ability to listen at the moment was up in the air. What he did recognize, however, was the song that found it’s way into James’s ears.

He couldn't believe it. It was motherfucking Queen. Inappropriate as it may have been, James couldn't help but develop a shitfaced grin. He didn't care if Erik thought he was lame for this or even that the song was something his dad listened to at his age; Freddie’s beautiful voice was the best way to wake up. By the time the song ended, he was sitting up on one of the many chairs, humming along. He slowly moved his way through the cafe, shotgun in- shit, might want to remember that- shotgun in hand, one seat at a time as he made his way to the front.

James wondered where Erik was, now that he thought of it. A cursory glance of the cafe revealed that he wasn't there. He contented himself with just sitting down, eating a few slices of bread - it was a cafe, after all - and trying not to worry too much about this.

[Imehal*]

[Any interactions regarding Tucker are subject to be edited at leAloha's discretion, and I am posting to avoid inactivity and stalling of the thread.]

His agreement meant that they had a plan for tomorrow; something to focus on other than-

Alice Young.  Self-defence, most likely.

A grimace, and then Regina forced herself to nod at Tucker’s weak agreement as she consciously thought about-

Marcus and Eden. Killer and victim. Marcus wouldn’t have killed prior to the game. Something must have gone wrong – they don’t like explaining the full story in announcements. They don’t like helping us, but acknowledge that whatever happened that he might now be a threat. Not to be approached lightly.

It took Regina precisely ten seconds to realise that she was staring off into space, lost in planning and theory. There was conscious effort in resisting it, but a deep, slow breath – in and out – and everything was a little easier. Clearer. For a moment it became almost natural to analyse the actions of the names she knew well enough clinically, and memorise the names of the killers from the other school. Then there was brief agitation at the fact that there was still no way of finding out whether any of these names were on the same teams. There would probably be at least another half a dozen deaths by the time dawn came on day two, and still she would be no wiser to team structures at present.

That was not good enough. By now others would have seen more people, and been better informed as to the situation across the resort. “I’m not going to sleep any more tonight, so I think I’ll do a quick scout of a few more rooms nearby.” It was an announcement; a declaration of action. Regina retrieved her Nulla Nulla from its place near Tucker in a quick motion, and headed for the door.

Part of her already knew that he would not be able to sleep either, but Regina, for reasons she would not have been able to vocalise if asked, needed out of that room right that second. Without Tucker. It was not until the door was halfway open that she realised someone was on the other side, and with all the strength she possessed tried to close it again so that they had a few seconds of spare time to think before the situation escalated beyond their control.

[jimmydalad]

((Ditto with above. Subject to leAloha edits and whatnot))

Erik could feel rage slowly start to bubble over him. Mostly it was due to a mixture of adrenaline and betrayal. How much did they know? Why were they still here? Could they possibly be a threat? These questions circulated around him and were expanding in his mind as the thoughts of taking action against them was slowly starting to get to him.

He didn't want to be caught off guard or be left defenseless. He needed to have control over the situation. Things needed to fall into place for him and he needed to be sure he wasn't going to do something stupid or careless. He wanted answers and he wanted them out. Who knows what they could be planning on doing?

When he saw Regina opening the door, he jumped into action quickly. She must've noticed him, but she wasn't going to let her get the advantage in this situation. He quickly shoved the bat right in between the door to prevent it from closing fully. She wasn't going to get away from him that easily.

"Why the hell are you still here?" Erik called out flatly to Regina, his eyes not straying from either of them as he kept the bat in between the door. He wanted answers and he wanted them out, even if he had to get aggressive.

[Aster]

For a moment there was only silence, as Regina seemed to space out as Tucker fiddled with his knife. It should've worried him how quickly he had gotten used to the thing; before SOTF happened Tucker couldn't even hold a steak knife without feeling nervous. But it was all part of the game, wasn't it? This weapon was the only thing standing between him and death, or at least if he used it properly.

He hoped his teammates were okay. Ritzy didn't go into too much detail about them, and didn't name names either. The rest of the Brown Bears or whatever were wandering the island too, if they weren't dead already. For all he knew all his teammates had just been listed off to him; bunch of the other kids, probably, names he wouldn't have given a second thought about. Names he didn't give a second thought about. Tucker didn't want his team to become this season's Black Team, that's for sure. Speaking of teams, his mentor hasn't said a word to him since he'd woken up. Was that normal?

“I’m not going to sleep any more tonight, so I think I’ll do a quick scout of a few more rooms nearby." His ally declared, snatching her Nulla Nulla and heading out the door. Tucker quietly replied with a halfhearted "Bye," as he went back to fiddling with the knife. He examined the handle, the almost comically large blade. Tucker remembered how he'd slashed the other boy, too. Wonder what he was up to-

There was a bang (thankfully not a gunshot) and Tucker jumped. His knife clattered as it hit the ground, head snapping towards the source of the sound. It was Regina, along with the kid they'd met earlier; the one without the big gun. This one had a cricket bat, and was using it to block either from leaving. He asked a simple question, no-nonsense and getting straight to the point.

"Why the hell are you still here?"

Tucker hastily picked up the knife and held it defensively, not pointing it at the other boy but holding it close to his chest. God, this was his first fight, wasn't it? Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Grace period over.

He spoke first. "We mean no harm, man," He stammered, eyes constantly shifting between the boy and the cricket bat. "W-we just stayed the night, alright?" Tucker didn't want this to happen. It had already happened when he woke up, and he wasn't too sure he could handle this situation that well. Tucker thought of the viewers back home, watching the action unfold. There were three kids, reasonably well-armed and confronting the reality of the situation.

There was definitely going to be a fight.

[ChainmailleAddict*]

James Houlihan enjoyed his bread. It was… carbohydratey. He’d eaten maybe half the loaf before hearing something outside. It sounded like Erik, and while he couldn’t quite discern the words he could tell that they were angry. This can’t be good…

He hastily gathered his belongings (making sure to bring along his FABARM) and left the cafe in an attempt to figure out just what was going on. He followed the voices - It didn’t take long to find the room where the commotion was set.

Seeing through the window, he saw two things: That both of the people from yesterday were in there and that Erik was wedging his cricket bat in between the door. James wasn’t quite sure how to react to this. “Wo-woah…” was all he could manage, he himself not sure if it was in response to the former or latter observation. What he WAS sure of, however, was that there was going to be a fight. If he didn’t do something about it, that was. Crap, crap, crap...

The eyes were on him, and James hesitated.

With a fraction of a thought, he drew his shotgun at no one in particular.

“Nobody here needs to fight,” he said with a mounting nervousness. “It won't…”

He paused.

James couldn't speak. It didn’t matter; he’d just let his gun do the talking. He’d kept it unloaded -  preventing a potential disaster. Still, this was a situation he could prevent and it wouldn’t feel right to leave Erik and the other two to kill each other. He tried not to think of the potential disasters he may have just created anyway.

[Un-Persona*]

A voice quietly whispers from James' collar.

"Ooh, the peacemaker with the shotgun? You know, it became quite a cliche what happens to those guys. They die, because they end up not going through with what they say. Put a new spin on an old idea, and actually use the thing."

[jimmydalad]

((Skipping to avoid inactivity))

Erik saw the knife in the boy's hands, but he wasn't intimidated. The adrenaline pumping in him just spurred him on to take action. To fight back against the two of them. He didn't want them here. He didn't want them to pose a threat to him. They were technically his enemies, so it was probably a good idea to at least injure one of them.

The stuttering at excuses did little to sway his mindset. Did they think lying now was a good idea? He kept his eyes glared at the two of them, not letting them feel calm or think that they could get away with more lies. He didn't trust them one bit and very much believed that if he didn't do something about them, it could hurt him in the long run.

Of course James came along with his shotgun. That bloody shotgun. Judging from what he said, he was ready to use the gun if necessary. Indeed, when looking out of the corner of his eye, he saw that he had his gun raised. That was enough to kick his adrenaline even higher as his mind rushed at how to approach this situation.

"These two lied to us James. They lied and assumed that I would believe they were only here to stay the night, after declaring that they were going to leave. I believe that's bullshit." He called out to James, still keeping his eyes on the other two in the room. He couldn't back down now, the gauntlet had been thrown.

"If you want to use that gun, use it on them. Not me." He then said, gesturing to the two people in the other room.

[Aster]

((Ditto.))

Tucker's face paled as the other boy arrived, toting his shotgun and investigating the commotion they were making. The inevitable fight was already looking brutal, but with a gun entered into the equation someone was going to end up dead for sure. Tucker opened his mouth to speak, to try and pacify the armed boy, but before he could say anything the other boy threw him and Regina under the proverbial bus.

He paused before simply glaring at the other boy with a mixed expression of fear and anger. If the armed boy believed him, Tucker had at least a few seconds before he was pumped full of lead. He felt the adrenaline begin to course through him, and his feet shuffled as his brain yelled at him to do something. He looked apprehensively at Regina, tilting his head slightly as if asking What do I do?

[Imehal*]

[There are not enough words in the English language to express how sorry I am. Back to regular programming now though!]

Deep breaths, disguised as exertion as Regina kept her weight, slight as she was, against the door and angled so that the protruding baseball bat would not hit her in the face if he decided to push into the room. Calm outside, even if there lay a storm barely millimetres beneath its surface. Fury – at being denied her moments to collect her thoughts, that she had been absent-minded enough to allow not one, but two, of their opponents get the advantage. And it had nearly undone the cool, collected exterior that hid all her plans, intricacies and flaws both, so strong was the urge to viciously rip apart the hypocrisy that the other boy was preaching.

And so, until now Regina had steadfastly avoided Erik’s gaze throughout his refusal to let them leave when he had already professed a strong desire for them to do that very thing. Instead she had resisted temptation to try and find out where James stood, and looked to Tucker. Unbeknownst to all but him, control wavering as she smiled - then acted.

“Hey James,” she called out as she stepped back from the staff room door, creating distance between her and the very first threat she had encountered since the game had begun, “shoot me if you want.”

There was nothing in her posture that suggested Regina was relaxing, both hands wrapped tightly around the handle of the Nulla Nulla, but her voice was steady, and her stream of thought more coherent than barely minutes before. The chances of James having even attempted to practise with the shotgun were abysmally low. The shot probably would not kill her, but it could cripple her – and she was not willing to lay down her life to protect Tucker or deal with Erik. The first was a stepping stone in her objectives and the second the first real obstacle.

“But remember that you’ll be the one living with the guilt, not him. He’ll be the one making off with our stuff as you try and process what you’ve done, or worse, we’ll fight each other and someone will die from something you started.” Regina finally met Erik’s glare for the first time, eyebrows raised. “I’m not saying don’t use that gun, because hell you got a shotgun and it’ll make you a target to many. But if you’re going to pull the trigger, make sure it is because you have a reason to, not this asshole – or anyone else.”

Next, Tucker. Regina’s gaze fell to the bag near him meaningfully, reluctance masked under a confident smile and adrenaline firing through her as inwardly she prepared to have to fight for her and Tucker’s lives. For whilst she was not willing to die for him, that did not mean that she was not willing to threaten and harm – to survive together and keep the alliance strong. “It’s freezing out there and we wanted a place that wasn’t icy to rest, but if we’re not welcome we’ll leave peacefully. But only if you,” a stern, pointed look in Erik’s direction, “back off. Deal?”

[ChainmailleAddict*]

There he stood, shotgun in hand, in the middle of a situation which could very well end in violence. There would be no reprimand if someone died, and this was in fact encouraged by an audience he used to be a part of. That was definitely ironic.

James was… panicked, to say the least. Why had he chosen to raise his shotgun, exactly? Stupid, stupid, stupid. He probably just made the situation worse, if anything. It wasn’t like Erik was going to kill the two of them for “tresspassing” anyway, right? No. That was a dumb thing to do and raising the gun just added to the fire. He’d have time to think about it later, though. James took a few breaths before considering his options.

    What were his options, exactly? For one, he could lower the gun. A meek “sorry” came out of his mouth; an unsuitable response to the girl's statement, probably. He could run, as well. Or back away. They probably saw him as the most threatening person there anyway, right? Perhaps with him gone they would be more relieved and less likely to fight. Everyone seemed pretty occupied, anyway. The two of them were being trapped inside the building by Erik, who was in turn busy doing so. He had the strongest weapon amongst them and thus no reason he couldn’t just run away.

He thought about running. Or backing away, or fleeing. Any synonym or close synonym. "I, uh... you're right!" he yelled. "I didn't want to  be any trouble... I'll, uh, just go, now, if that's okay."