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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 13, 2023 18:13:41 GMT
Lorenzo had been waiting all day for Dillon. He almost felt bad for Irene, dealing with his antsy behavior, the way he peeked out of the blinds every few moments. Ever since he received the text he had felt a thrumming under his skin of excitement. He went through and cleaned the room he and Irene were hiding out in, he fixed a rather nice meal for the three of them to share once Dillon got there.
He knew things were bad at the Pantheon and with that meeting coming up, but he'd missed Dillon since he'd left. Jason had been very kind during his visit, but Enzo had a closer bond to Dillon.
He was restless as the time approached, and when he heard the knock on the door, he tripped a bit in his haste to get to the door. Bouncing on his toes before the door, he brushed his hair back with his hand, breathing out evenly before flinging the door open with a bright smile.
"Hi!" He squeaked out, "come here often?"
Wait. No. That's not what he wanted to say! Damn romantic comedies he'd been watching! His cheeks reddened slightly after that, looking at the ground and tapping his foot for a few moments before screwing his eyebrows into a determined set and turning tail.
"Welcome into our humble abode!" He said, smiling once more as he gestured to the place. It was plainly decorated but had a few charms and such giving it a temporary personality. "I made lunch so you could eat with us...if you wanted?"
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Post by pallas on Nov 13, 2023 19:46:19 GMT
Dillon smiled when Enzo opened the door, chuckling at the other boy’s goofy joke.
”Once or twice.” Dillon joked in response. To reciprocate the boy’s attempts at levity and also because he sensed Enzo was a bit self-conscious about the joke.
Then the other boy was inviting him in, saying he could join them to eat if he wanted to. Of course he would; he didn’t want to waste the food Enzo had made and he needed to talk anyway.
”I can’t stay too long but that would be really nice, thank you.” Dillon replied gratefully, entering when Enzo admitted him.
Once inside, Dillon placed the bag he’d brought down.
”I brought some supplies for you guys.” Dillon explained, ”I figured you might be starting to run low and I didn’t want you to be forgotten in all of this mess.”
So much was happening but he didn’t want Irene and Enzo to be left behind. With everyone’s minds elsewhere he worried that if would become far too easy to accidentally neglect the Venice group and leave them to fend for themselves. They needed a bit of help.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, turning to Enzo. A silence grew between them, seeming to expand in the room until it pushed oppressively against the walls and took away all the air. He’d referenced the elephant in the room, the meeting, but now they had to actually talk about it.
”I’m going to the meeting.” Dillon said with a heavy breath. ”Tomorrow.”
He was scared, he wouldn’t be afraid to admit. But he was resolved to go and it was the best thing to do anyway. That didn’t mean it didn’t feel hard to tell Enzo that he was planning to go into that situation.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 13, 2023 21:13:28 GMT
Enzo didn't know where Irene or Jason were at the moment, Irene may be in her room, and Lorenzo wanted to call her out, but decided against it. Instead, he pulled out a seat for Dillon and set the entree on the table. It was Creamy Butternut Squash Soup, and he set two bowls down as well as Dillon spoke.
He was saddened to hear that Dillon wasn't staying for long, but kept quiet about it. He'd felt closer to Dillon during this trip, the two of them and Irene hiding out. But now that bubble was broken, and Dillon had much more important things to do then hang out with them. To be with Lorenzo.
He kept a smile on his face, though it fell when Dillon said he was going to the meeting. As he was in the process of pouring soup into the bowls via a ladle too. He jolted a bit at the words, some of the soup spilling over and onto the table. Still he turned and looked at Dillon with wide eyes after yelping something in Italian.
"Che cosa!? Perché?" He gestured wildly at Dillon for a moment, "Pavone... Dillon, why? Can't Cleo handle it?"
He almost felt bad for expecting Cleo to deal with it, almost.
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Post by pallas on Nov 14, 2023 10:28:06 GMT
Dillon swore under his breath when Enzo spilled the soup onto the table after being told that Dillon intended to go to the meeting the next day. The Hera champion immediately rushed to get a paper towel to help mop up the mess, approaching Enzo and the table and beginning to clean up the spilled liquid.
He sighed, unsure how to say when he needed to say. After a moment of thought he gathered himself, pausing in his task of cleaning up the soup to continue speaking to Lorenzo.
”Cleo is going too, but they’ve had enough on their shoulders.” Dillon said, recalling the state Cleo had been in when he’d initially returned from Venice. They had been drowning in the weight of everything, the stress of the situation and their own mistakes. ”I’m a leader too, it wouldn’t be fair to put everything on them.”
Besides, he knew Enzo knew that. He knew the other boy knew how unfair it would be to expect Cleo to carry this burden on their own. Not to mention the fact that Cleo wasn’t known for their compassion or their ability to see other points of view. They needed a balance.
”I won’t be the leader who makes decisions that hurt people and doesn’t stick their neck out for their team.” Dillon said as he continued to clean. He’d been part of the decision that broke up Laurie and River. What he then wasn’t going to do was stay in the safety of the pantheon and let other people put themselves in danger for him.
”I have to go. I want to go.” Dillon said gently, expression soft as he looked at Enzo. ”I just wanted you - and…and Irene-” added quickly upon realising that of course he had to mention Irene too here, ”to know. Just in case.”
He didn’t need to elaborate on what the ‘just in case’ meant, because it meant everything. Just in case they worried about him or couldn’t reach him. Just in case they needed anything. Just in case something went wrong or anything were to happen.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 17, 2023 19:55:33 GMT
Enzo stared at the mess rather than at Lorenzo, biting his cheek as they boy halted in his cleaning to explain why he was going. Lorenzo understood, but that didn't mean he liked it.
He remained quiet for a few moments, before sighing softly, "just...be careful, yeah?" He said softly, smiling softly and attempting for a teasing comment that came out much more concerned, "don't do anything stupid, okay? Just because you're a leader doesn't mean you have to be the hero."
Enzo knew Dillon stupidly blamed himself for what all has happened, as if he alone could have changed it. He didn't like the just in case, but Dillon had his mind set on this.
Looking at the soup, he tapped his foot a bit anxiously, before seeming to brighten up slightly, "how 'bout after we eat, we hang out a bit?" he said, smiling at his friend, "we didn't really get to look around much with everything that happened, and well, it is Venice. I'm sure Cleo could spare you a bit for that? It'll help take your mind off of everything too," he suggested, bright-eyed and hopeful.
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Post by pallas on Nov 17, 2023 21:10:41 GMT
Dillon finished up cleaning up the mess, listening as Enzo told him to be careful. Not to do anything stupid, not to be the hero. The hero he most certainly was not, not by any standard he could think of.
”I won’t do anything stupid,” Dillon promised the other boy, ”though my track record for decisions is not the best.” They all knew if. He’d make better choices now but the last major decision he had made had not ended well.
He was just putting the paper towels he had used into the bin when Enzo suggested that they go and see the city after eating. He brightened at that prospect. He couldn’t be away for long, that was certain, but he had a moment to spare for this. He wasn’t needed anywhere until later.
”Okay,” the boy smiled. ”I’m not expected for a planning session for the meeting for a while yet and I told Cleo to call me if they needed me back.” He could reason that it was okay to spend a little bit of time out there without feeling guilty for shirking his duties. He was on call if he was needed and everybody in the pantheon was trying to relax at that moment to take their minds off the meeting anyway.
”Besides,” the boy continued, ”it’d be nice to explore your hometown with you if you want to show me.”
Only if Enzo wanted to show him. Dillon was aware that this could be a place that was very important to Lorenzo, but also somewhere that could have a lot of painful memories associated with it too. He didn’t know and he didn’t want to assume the other boy’s relationship with his hometown.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Dec 21, 2023 23:42:09 GMT
Laurie didn’t know what was possessing him to sneak around the exiled base this way. It wouldn’t end well for him if he were caught, and he knew that. Ripley wasn’t watching him because he was busy with something or other with the other exiled leaders, but it didn’t mean word wouldn’t get to him if any of the other exiled caught him in this area of the base. He didn’t think he’d be too happy about it.
But after finding out that he’d been lied to about River’s death, he couldn’t help but wonder what else Ripley had lied to him about. What else he hadn’t told him. And the moment he started to think about that, he knew he could no longer stand being separated from the other prisoners. He had to know that they were okay.
His footsteps were light as he moved through this unfamiliar area of the base. He knew this was where they kept them; he’d seen exiled heading into this area when they were on guard.
He could hear nothing but the thud of his heart beating against his chest, his pulse in his ears. This was the biggest risk he had taken since his kidnapping, even worse than the risks he’d taken in the meeting with the ascendants he was fairly sure. But he has to know.
The boy moved down a shadowy corridor. He could not see anyone on guard, but he knew there had to be. Fenrir would stop anyone escaping even if they got past the guard but he knew someone had to be there. They could emerge from around the corner at any moment. He moved faster at the thought, as quickly as he dared without making noise.
If he did this quickly nobody would ever know he had snuck away.
He’d managed to lay hands on a set of the keys the exiled had for the prisoners’ rooms. There were four sets in total; one for each of the leaders, and one for whomever was on guard. Getting hold of a set hadn’t been easy, given how much the exiled tried to keep Laurie from seeing the other prisoners by ensuring he knew as little as possible about details like where they kept the guard set of keys.
He came to the door he guessed had to be connected to the space, fumbling for the keys in the dark while praying he didn’t drop them. Eventually he got the right key in the lock, twisting it until it clicked. At that point he pulled open the door just enough to peek inside. He saw shadowy figures he had to assume were the other prisoners but couldn’t see any sign of anyone on guard inside. He felt emboldened enough to open the door fully as quickly and quietly as he was able before closing it behind him once he was inside.
The room revealed to him was a huge space, echoey and industrial in a way that reminded him uncomfortably of the warehouse where he and the others had been kidnapped. Huge shutter doors certainly big enough to fit Fenrir. Cold, draughty. Not a pleasant space by any stretch of the imagination.
As his eyes adjusted to the space, he quickly noted with horror that the prisoners were tied in different areas of the room to keep them separated. There was a smaller shape he identified with a pang as Echo, and a larger shape he had to guess must be Daniel. Both seemed to be asleep.
He’d been incredibly worried about Echo especially, given her youth and her sweet nature. Seeing she was at least alive was a relief but did little to help his concern for her. He felt Haleema’s absence palpably. Fenrir, Ripley had said. An accident he couldn’t prevent. Laurie didn’t know how much he believed that after what he’d witnessed with Esme.
Once he laid eyes on the figure closest to him, who appeared to be awake, Laurie held a finger to his mouth as a signal to be quiet and not betray his presence. He then stepped further into the room and pulled the door closed again behind him. With any luck it wouldn’t arouse immediate suspicion from whoever was supposed to be on guard.
”Theo,” Laurie began, unsure whether to feel glad to see his friend or terrified for him, ”Theo, I don’t have long. They’re in a meeting and if they finish and I’m not where I’m supposed to be they’ll be suspicious.”
He spoke in little above a whisper, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder as if the exiled could somehow sense him in here through all these doors. But then he looked to the other boy, expression one of concern and care for his friend.
”I had to know if you and the others were okay,” he said, ”are you alright?”
He knew he probably had so much explaining to do. Explaining for the meeting, explaining for everything really. But first he had to know Theo was alright.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 1:07:37 GMT
When Theo’d agreed to step into the exiled base in Pascal’s stead, he really wished he’d had a more thought out idea about what he’d be doing during his time. The second he’d arrived, he’d been shuffled to the prison area and promptly forgot about. At least, that's what it felt like. He hadn’t been there long and was reasonably impatient.
Though, not impatient enough to try his luck at leaving the room he was given. The giant garage doors painted a very specific image that he didn’t like; that a certain wolf had the space to get in.
What a great way to start off his weekend, arm tied to a wall and trying to not think about the growling he heard earlier.
The sound of a clicking lock caught Theo’s attention, and his head swiveled to see who it was. In the dark it was hard to make out who it was, but as the figure drew closer, his mouth hung wide open.
“Laur-” he began, but clamped his mouth shut when the other man gestured for him to be quiet. Soon he was asking how he was doing, and Theo let out a quiet laugh in disbelief.
“I should be asking you that,” he replied quietly, “after the mission and the texts, everyone was worried about you guys. So much shit has happened while you were gone.”
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Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 8:54:27 GMT
Laurie shook his head when Theo expressed concern about him, eyes flicking with concern to Theo’s arm, which was tied to the wall. He didn’t like this at all, seeing how the others were treated. He approached the other boy, kneeling a short distance in front of him so they could talk more easily.
”I’m not here to talk about myself,” Laurie replied softly, ”you shouldn’t waste your energy worrying about me. That’s what I was trying to tell Cleo in the meeting.”
He felt guilty about the fact that despite Theo’s own situation, he was worried about Laurie. Despite Laurie’s every attempt to get people to drop their concern for him, to accept he was with the exiled and there was nothing else to it.
”I’m here for you, to see how you’re doing.” the boy said.
He came here to see for himself how the others were doing and how they were kept. That was his priority. And so far he wasn’t particularly liking what he was seeing.
”You were brave, volunteering yourself to take Pascal’s place like that.” Laurie continued. Theo’s bravery, though, had only landed him here. He deserved so much better.
But still, Laurie was not here by choice. He couldn’t imagine the bravery required to volunteer oneself for this.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 13:47:17 GMT
Theo’s eyes narrowed at Laurie’s insistence of asking how he was. He didn’t let himself get taken by the Exiled and held out hope for talking to Laurie just to be told the boy didn’t want to talk about himself. How selfish. And what was all this talk about wasted energy?
“Well that makes two of us,” the champion huffed, albeit playfully. Even in such a gloomy situation, he wanted to show his friend some levity. “How about a compromise? I talk, you talk, we both get what we want.”
It seemed like the best course of action for the both of them given how neither wanted to budge.
Though, at Laurie’s comment about bravery, Theo shifted awkwardly. “I wouldn’t call it bravery, but thanks.” Stupidity was probably a better word for what he’d done, and a selfish desire to not allow the topic to be discussed. He had friends on the list, and didn’t want to potentially lose any of them.
“But what about you, then?” he finally asked, “I uh, heard you got a boyfriend. That's something.”
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Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 14:06:30 GMT
Laurie sighed but nodded at Theo’s suggestion of a compromise. He would share what he could, or what he was willing to anyway. There were some things he would not talk about. But he could guess there were things Theo wouldn’t want to talk about either, so that was fair.
The other boy insisted what he’d done wasn’t bravery. Laurie didn’t agree, but he wouldn’t argue with him. ”Regardless, caring about your friends that much is really something. Hold onto that.”
Theo seemed to be taking advantage of Laurie’s agreement for a compromise, because he went straight to a very difficult topic. The comment about Ripley made him stiffen a little.
”I don’t expect any of you to understand why we’re together.” Laurie responded, ”All I can tell you is just what I said at the meeting. I’m fine.”
He didn’t want to talk about how Ripley had lied to him about River; he hadn’t spoken about it to Ripley and Laurie was still processing it himself. He also didn’t want to talk about how things had felt more and more off over time with Ripley. How more and more he was feeling afraid and controlled.
”I know you must have questions, especially after the meeting. I’ll answer what I can.” Laurie continued.
But it had to be his turn to ask a question now. How are you holding up here? Have they hurt you?” That was what he most urgently wanted to know.
He had other questions, especially since Theo had said a lot had happened since Laurie had been gone. But he wanted to deal with the important questions first.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 14:55:34 GMT
The champion didn’t exactly like the way Laurie phrased his comment, how Theo should hold onto the care he had for his friends. It sounded sad, like a goodbye. Not far off from his final words to his friends. That feeling didn’t go away when the Frenchman addressed his comment.
Or rather, avoided it all together by being as vague as possible.
“Of course I don’t understand,” Theo hurriedly spoke, “because you haven’t tried to make me understand. Or anyone. That’s why I’m worried about you man.”
The lack of explaining and avoidance rang uncomfortably close. It seemed clear to him that something else was going on, and Laurie was either unwilling or unable to speak more about it. Neither option was good.
He supposed he’d have to be patient then if he didn’t want to talk about it.
Theo sighed, but nodded, “alright, fine, but don’t feel like you need to keep things from me for my own sake if that’s what the problem is. I can take it.” A statement with dubious veracity based on his track record, but one he made nonetheless.
Laurie soon asked if they hurt him, and the boy shook his head in response. “No, not me anyway. It's an improvement I’d say.” Improvement from almost getting killed on multiple occasions. However, his expression seemed to lower as he looked across the room to where the other prisoners lay.
“I’m more worried about them,” he replied solemnly, “they look bad.”
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Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 15:51:40 GMT
Theo seemed more than a little dissatisfied by Laurie’s answer. That was understandable, because Laurie was deliberately saying as little as possible. Sticking by his line that he was fine. After all, even talking to Theo wasn’t safe. Things could reach exiled ears at any time and it was already risky enough just talking to him. Besides, he didn’t even know how to explain his situation even if he wanted to.
”Is there really an answer I could give that would satisfy you?” Laurie questioned. He doubted there would be. There was no way to explain his relationship with Ripley in a way that the ascendants would be happy with. Then he moved on to ask another question, hoping to curb Theo’s worry once and for all. ”What could I say that would convince you I’m okay?”
Theo was saying that if Laurie was keeping things from him to protect him, that he could take it. He had no idea. There were so many reasons Laurie could not or would not tell him certain things. The boy said nothing in response to the blond’s words.
He was glad to hear that Theo was okay, but he followed the other male’s gaze to the other two prisoners. Laurie swallowed, nodded. ”I’m worried about them too. This is the first time I’ve managed to come down here. I-” his mouth felt dry, ”I had to see.”
He had to see this for himself, and having done so his fear was only greater than it had been before. Fear for the welfare of the prisoners. He was as much a prisoner as they in so many ways, but he’d had no clue what it was like for them while he lived in another part of the building.
”You said a lot happened while I’ve been gone?” Laurie asked, returning his gaze to Theo.
He genuinely wanted to know, though he also knew that asking gave him some deniability if he got caught. He could claim he had been trying to get information out of Theo.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 16:49:10 GMT
“There are a lot of things you could say that would make me satisfied, like the truth,” Theo responded firmly. His frustration at the other man’s avoidance was evident, but he still seemed to try and keep himself composed. The last thing he wanted was to make Laurie retreat further.
“Look, what I’m getting at is,” he started up again, with less force than his previous statement, “I’m not an idiot, Laurie. All you’ve ever said about this situation is that you’re fine. Meanwhile the exiled are saying you’re on their side, but I can’t exactly trust the word of people who killed one of their own for lying about something as stupid as their guide’s identity.”
Theo lowered his head slightly, “not once have the words “I’ve joined the exiled” come out of your mouth.” There were a few conclusions he could draw from that information, and none of them painted a safe picture for Laurie.
Eventually, Laurie asked what all happened, and Theo let out a stressed sigh, “a lot would be an understatement. Apparently Irene lost her guide while they were in Venice, so she and a couple others have been stuck there. Lucien and Luka got into trouble with Cleo and River for…. Reasons. River has been doing the worst I’ve ever seen. Lane fucking dipped and now no one knows where she is. We tried to get information about the base but-”
Theo paused, wincing at the memory, “It ended badly. Really badly. Chiara and Ariella were badly hurt, and Luka almost died.”
“We thought it couldn’t get any worse, but then we got these texts from your guys’ phones, with pictures of Haleema-” he almost couldn’t get the words out, the image was so horrible, “dying. Then we got the call from Ripley to do the meeting or else more people would die. Luka got really upset, but he threatened to kill you if she said anything. I don’t need to get into what happened at the meeting since you were there.”
By the end of his explanation, Theo could feel his throat swelling up from the emotions of everything. It was just so much. At least he didn’t start crying. He’d cried enough.
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Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 17:33:42 GMT
Laurie listened carefully as Theo explained everything that had happened since the kidnapping. He hadn’t lied when he’d said there were a lot.
Laurie felt that familiar pit in his stomach when Theo said that River was doing the worst he’d ever seen, only confirming what Ares had said, and had to break eye contact with the other boy for a moment just to try and manage his reaction. He was horrified to hear about the pictures Ripley had sent, the threats. He couldn’t say he was surprised. Though his blood did run cold when Theo told him that Ripley had threatened Laurie’s life to keep Luka quiet. It was another important view of just how Ripley saw him.
Not to mention, his suspicion that Ripley was lying about exactly how little he’d had to do with Haleema dying seemed to have been further confirmed by the information about the pictures. Had he really had no opportunity to stop it?
He could tell Theo was getting emotional, though, so Laurie reached out to put a hand on the other boy’s knee in a calming and encouraging gesture. He was well aware this might be the last kind interaction Theo might have during his time with the exiled, after all.
”It’s okay, Theo, thank you. You did great.” Laurie reassured him. He wanted to let the other boy know that he didn’t have to go on if he didn’t want to.
But everything that Theo had said before he caught Laurie up on what had happened still stood, and Laurie did have to address it.
”I wouldn’t believe the ascendant leaders either.” Laurie pointed out, ”They might not have killed anyone but they have no problem causing the people they are responsible for protecting pain. I trusted them, Theo, and they made a decision about my happiness behind my back without me getting any say in it. Even River wasn’t completely honest with me. However you feel about the exiled you can’t deny that.”
He was angry about the revelation Cleo had thrown at him at the end of the meeting, apparently out of nothing but spite.
”I’m not saying the exiled are right.” Laurie continued. ”Far from it. I hate that you and the others are here and I hate what happened to Haleema and Esme. I don’t want anyone else to be hurt. What I’m saying is the ascendants aren’t to be trusted either.”
But he still had the real question to answer. Was he with the exiled?
”If you want me to say I’m with them because I agree with their entire philosophy, I can’t.” Laurie answered. ”But they weren’t lying when they said I was with them. If I weren’t don’t you think I’d be in here with you and the others?”
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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