[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]oh. the comment catches her off guard, slipping past any defenses she has and weaseling beneath her skin. it brings a soft pink to her cheeks, half hidden on one side beneath the straps of an eye patch. distracting her enough for to fumble over words, her throat clearing awkwardly in an attempt to brush off any lingering fluster.

she leaves the compliment alone, instead plucking apart his answer.

"congratulations," she murmurs. "are you busier now with the new title?" good, pleasantries are good. idle chit-chat feels normal, natural, as if they're merely catching up after a week or two of not crossing paths. it's been longer, she knows, but it's nice to talk to someone that's living and not hidden beneath a white sheet.

LANCE VOLLANS

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]close proximity allows her to glance at him here and there. what she's searching for, however, she doesn't quite know. an inkling into what happened, maybe? scars, wounds, anything to prove he had been in death's clutches as the report said. and beneath the surface, something irritates her, burrowing beneath her skin and festering.

his mere presence beside her uproots majority of her beliefs in life and death.

she meets his gaze briefly, flashing her version of a small smile. it looks awkward, out of place on her features. as if her facial structure isn't made for smiling, isn't made for pleasantries.

"it's the same," she retorts. is that amusement laced between her syllables? she can't tell, doesn't even bother to. "how's life for you?" it's hesitant, almost because is it really life or something in between? uncertainty makes her squirm. she despises it.

LANCE VOLLANS

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]his touch guides her, albeit paired with a warning dart of her eyes, out of the way of people and closer to the stores next to them. people continue to pass and her head tilts mildly to one side.

"right," she mutters. "teasing." there's a snark to her tone, as if he's forgotten how handy she can be with a scalpel. whatever possible homicide she's considering dies out when his voice lowers, when he ushers out what the reports had confirmed.

and then he's offering up coffee, reminiscent of their first meeting, and she's finding it hard to say no. blame it on curiosity, science, and not the strange relief of seeing him in one piece.

"fine," she relents and steps toward the direction he gestures, not bothering to wait for him. she does, however, call over her shoulder with something that could possibly be called a smile. "you're buying, though."

LANCE VOLLANS

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]even if he didn't just what the fuck her right back, her features still would have twisted into their signature scowl.

"again," comes in a huff, arms crossing over her chest. a small bag at her wrist sways with the movement. "what. the. fuck?" did "dying" or whatever the hell actually happened make him hard of hearing or just stupid?

cue the eye roll, a single blue eye almost piercing when it returns to his figure. almost tiredly, she begins to scan his body. head to toe, toe to head. it's analytical, cloaked in indifference.

"you're seriously worried about stalking? really?" she flashes teeth, openly aggressive. and then, her voice is dropping to a hushed tone, her body shifting closer. "what happened? i read the report, you know."

LANCE VOLLANS

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]shopping for supplies brings her to the streets of lilycove, expecting to get in and get out with little hassle. only, circumstances pile up until he's stepping into her view and she's sliding to a stop.

huh, you'd think in her line of work she'd be more comfortable with seeing a ghost...

she draws up to him with little hesitation, steps quick and purposeful. his back is to her, as if he doesn't expect anyone to approach. and perhaps that's why she pinches his elbow between her fingers and tugs. if it hurts him, she doesn't bother to consider it. instead, she's fixing him with a serious stare, all fire and disbelief.

"lance?" comes out, then, and she's really wondering if she's simply losing her marbles by this point. didn't she see the reports? didn't she glance over the autopsy? and then, in a hissed snarl, "what the fuck?"

LANCE VOLLANS

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]caught off guard is not an expression she likes to show, especially in front of him. it bleeds through with bewilderment, a single blue eye widening.

"why?"

it's quick, blurted out almost moments after.

the concept of someone liking her feels... odd.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]"you're as humble as i am athletic," which isn't much, if at all.

is that a thing they do nowadays, stream marathons? she always thought it was just video games and asmr... huh, the internet is an odd place.

"if you want?" she isn't sure how to respond, the evidence rising to her facial structure. there's an awkward unknown in the way her lips settle, as if she's not sure if she should be amused or embarrassed.

"why do you want me to go so badly?" her head tilts slightly, as if perplexed he'd really want to see her in the crowd.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]the concept has her fully showing teeth. aggressive, amused, she can't decide which.

"you, humble?"

she doesn't bother to focus on the run, not when her legs ache and lungs burn. the less she knows about the remaining distance the better.

"oh, absolutely," she lets out a laugh, soft and playful. "someone has to record it, right?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]she snorts at the thought.

"you need an audience for that?" an actual laugh escapes, then, as if it's the funniest concept she's heard today.

it isn't, really, but man, this guy's got jokes.

"are you saying you could lose?" she fixes him with an expectant stare, like that's what her decision hinges on.

"i'm not sure which one i'd like to see more."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]"is it?" huh, she thought it was simple advice. the more you know.

thank god, two miles shaved off is a blessing.

"everyone has a choice," she retorts. everything in life comes down to choices, circumstances, fate. contracts are paper, easily replaced or burned if necessary.

the question makes her pause, single eye darting to stare at him. he... wants her to watch?

"why?" comes flying out before she can stop it.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]she just might become the first dead person to occupy his work. that is, if this run is really about to be six miles. god, her legs burn.

"sounds like a good work week, then." not for her, realistically, but for him? definitely.

an eyebrow raises when he turns, when he looks to her for advice. and despite wanting to bite a little harder, her response is kinder than usual.

"if you're uncertain you want to, then you more than likely don't." there's a hint of a smile somewhere on her face if he looks carefully enough.

"trust your instincts."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]romantic could be a nice term for the scenery. you know, if one considered a painful run through trees romantic. she, unfortunately, is not that one. if they were strolling, that'd be one thing but god, this is torture.

"barely," she retorts. her lungs burn a little more now and there's a growing ache in her side. fuck, she's so out of shape. good lord.

his smile is met with barely maintained indifference. the mild beginnings of an aggressive smile bleed through despite her best attempts.

"full of dead people. you?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","drea"]

[attr="class","drea b"]

[attr="class","drea i"]"somehow," she huffs, trying to savor the slow pace as long as she can. if only he'd let her drag it out or stop all together. a girl could dream.

"i doubt that."

as if on cue, he picks up the pace and she's left behind. slow and steady wins the race, right? then what the fuck is this?

there's no other option besides jogging a little harder to catch up to him.

CIAN MAHER