[align=center] [div style="borderwidth; width: 400px; padding: 1px; text-align: justify; color: #4B3E2D; line-height: 14px; font-size: 11pt; font-family:timesnewroman"] "speech" 'thought' text
tw: mentions alcohol, blood, profanity, themes of violence
Lucio Filipe Urbina-Espinoza, that was his name, it seemed silly to use the whole thing though, only a few choice people actually knew that he had such a long name, and he usually didn't care to enlighten people. He was bundled up best he could in an old blanket (more hole than blanket honestly), his face was covered by a scruffy beard keeping it warmer than it would have been without.
He had the blanket wrapped around his shoulders and head, clutched tightly in both hands as he struggled through the snow. He wasn't sure where he was going, why he was going there. He'd heard of a peaceful place, somewhere that a person could start over, it seemed like a good place for him to go. Though, in all honesty he wasn't entirely sure where the hell this supposed place was.
For all he knew he was in an entirely different mountain range, yep, that meant he was going to die slowly, freezing to death. He'd never frozen to death before, he supposed it'd be an interesting process. The man shivered his toes curling in his ratty old boots. His socks had holes in them as well as the boots, and his feet were numb by this point. He exhaled, the air from his mouth cloudy against the cold contrasting air.
His teeth chattered as he continued on, snowflakes drifting down around him. "Voy a morir."[sup]1[/sup] He whispered gritting his teeth against the rattling. He wasn't certain if what he saw in front of him was all in his mind, or if it was truly the place he was searching for, raising a cold hand to his forehead, he shaded his vision against the endless seeming white.
"¿Hola?"[sup]2[/sup] He called out, his teeth still clicking together as he continued on, god, he hoped that someone would come by soon, before he died... or perhaps this was just an abandoned area, void of people, maybe he'd just freeze to death out here, it seemed as likely an outcome as any. "Que alguien me ayude."[sup]3[/sup].
He paused, furrowing his brows. The probability that anyone spoke his native tongue here was probably relatively low. He was a long way from the south pacific. A long way from his old life, though, he supposed it was a good thing. The people he had considered to be his family had ended up marooning him in the middle of the ocean. Set adrift on a raft with nothing but a gun with a single shot, a small amount of bread, and a little water.
He should be dead. He shouldn't have made it... but he had somehow. The fact that he'd survived the ocean, only to be defeated by this great white nothingness was depressing, but there wasn't much he could do about it. His body shivered and he felt his knees giving way. How long had he been traveling now? He wasn't sure, but he knew that he was so, so cold.
"H-hello?" His voice wavered, he was weak, and though he usually had a strong, long carrying voice (from his years on the ocean) the snow seemed to mute everything, his heavy breathing, his convulsive shivers, and the words he was trying to shout out. "I-is s-somebody out there?" His voice was accented, making it obvious that he had not originated from the area.
Lucio's body shook, his teeth rattled in his head (the sound somehow louder than the deafening silence surrounding him). He was going to die, it was a very high probability. The man shuddered at the though, his body damp and cold, so, so cold.
[sup]1. I'm going to die.
2. Hello?
3. Someone help me.[/sup]
[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 1.5;"]･ﾟ✧  Elinor wasn't supposed to be outside. In fact, it was probably for the best if she were to remain indoors, especially because of the glacial weather conditions that would sting her pale face the moment she'd set foot outdoors. But, she had to busy herself. Sure, reading in the library was calming on the mind and soul, but the passive action wouldn't stop her mind racing from one thought to the next. Sometimes, all she needed was to step outside and feel something else apart from apprehension.
Coated in the warmest jacket she owned, she pulled her gloves and beanie on, silently exiting the Lodge and beginning to make the perilous trek downhill towards the Village. Her cheeks and nose were flushed from the bitter cold breeze nipping at her face, squinting her eyes slightly and folding her arms tightly across her chest as she powered on down the hilltop. She had a job to do - the animals could not tend to themselves and Ellie thought it would be helpful to clean the greenhouses up a little bit for the upcoming year.
But, she was unaware that she had another job to do. She wasn't supposed to be outside, but she was. If she'd chosen to stay inside, this man she was about to meet would quite possibly have died. She stilled as she heard a weak cry for help. A voice she did not recognize. Had she been imagining things? She could've sworn she heard a voice. Silently, she listened to the sound of nothingness that only a winter storm could provide. Solitude. Tranquility. "I-is s-somebody out there?"
Elinor's lips parted with surprise, flitting her gaze about before she began to walk again, this time with dedication in her stride; she had a good heart, she couldn't leave the man out in this cold to die. One of Ellie's greatest strengths was also her greatest downfall. She was too altruistic, too caring towards others. It was a beautiful quality in her that would get her killed some day.
In the flurry of snowflakes, Ellie could just spot a silhouette within the snow storm, the blonde picking up her pace before calling out, "Hello?" She began to trot down the hill cautiously, careful not to slip in the snow as she approached the man. And then, she saw the state of him. She gasped, "Oh God. We need to get you inside, you'll die out here otherwise." She hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping closer and gently taking his wrist. "You're freezing. I promise, there's a warm lodge up there. The fire's going and we have food and drink to warm you up." And with that, she carefully insisted he follow, tugging gently at his wrist before turning and beginning to walk back up towards the Lodge. "I'm Ellie. This is Flintlock Lodge."
[align=center] I'M BURNING BRIDGES, I DESTROY THE MIRAGE
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 2.6px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]ALL VISIONS OF COLLISIONS, FUCKING BON VOYAGE — truce.#1303
《 WRITING &. PINTEREST &. SPOTIFY 》
[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: calibri; font-size: 8pt; color: #484848; line-height: 22px;"]exactly what hayley was doing out in the cold wasn't all that clear, even to her. she was sort of patrolling the border, sort of getting a break from hope, and sort of trying to escape jackson. patrolling was a duty that needed to be done, and as much as hayley loved her daughter, she lived in a world without tylenol and needed some escape from the crying of an infant with a cold. and jackson was... well, jackson was a lot of complications, too many memories of a too good time in her life, and too dangerous. not in the literal knife-to-your-throat dangerous way, but more so in a look at those eyes dangerous way. the kind of danger that reminded her how hope ended up with them in the first place.
of course, her brain had lingered on the face of the charming man with the dark hair and the jawline that could cut diamonds right up until she ran into ellie and another one. eyes tracing his features for a heartbeat, she fought the urge to sigh and groan, because it really, really seemed like the universe just wanted to knock her the fuck up again.
but, of course, hayley was only a thirteen year old girl for a moment before she was grounded back in reality, remembering that she was pretty much the go-to paramedic these days, and that she was also the leader. it was her job to make sure no one went dropping dead on the mountainside, and with that notion, she immediately shrugged off her outermost coat. it would be a bit snug on him, but it was large on the brunette, large enough to layer. she was always mindful to wear an extra coat going out, not only for the warmth but to have something to offer strangers on the border. for some reason, everyone and their mother wanted to hike a snowy, subzero mountain without a proper coat.
❝holy shit, put this on.❞ she said as she wrapped the clothing around his shoulders, the article already warm from her own output of body heat. ❝put those hands in the pockets, there's handwarmers in there.❞ another lesson learned from a life taking care of herself was rice handwarmers, little five-by-five square packs sewn shut with rice within them, warmed by hours near the fire. one of these days, she'd need to make more, start forcing everyone to carry them out. ❝do you have a name?❞ she inquired, concern visible in hazel eyes as she searched his features, taking up a position beside him. after a second's consideration, she'd unzip her coat as well, leaving her in a few layered sweaters and pressing her side against his as they walked. ❝body heat, it'll help until we get up there.❞ she explained, not wanting to seem like some mountain woman who just rubbed up against strange men without reason.
[align=center] [div style="borderwidth; width: 400px; padding: 1px; text-align: justify; color: #4B3E2D; line-height: 14px; font-size: 11pt; font-family:timesnewroman"] "speech" 'thought' text
tw: mentions alcohol, blood, profanity, themes of violence
Half dead and frozen as he was, he was alive enough to recognize the sound of a woman's voice, it was closer to him than he had first thought... or perhaps the woman had been walking. Lucio wasn't entirely certain, and didn't care to plague his brain with pesky questions such as those at that moment. His body was icy, his lips turning a cold shade of blue as his teeth chattered. "Are you an angel?" He asked, his voice wavering as he looked at the hazy lighted up figure of the woman above him.
A mixture of delirium and exhaustion filtered his vision, and as he looked upon the face of Elinor, he was convinced that he was in the presence of one, though why that should be he did not know. He was damned to hell, his soul couldn't be saved no matter how hard he tried... or could it, had it? He shivered violently and began to numbly pull himself to his feet (wherever they were, he had lost feeling in them a short while ago). The blanket slipped from his shoulders exposing his neck to a chilly blast of icy wind, and he let out a cry of pain.
Beneath the blanket he had a long sleeved shirt, though it was long since past it's prime. There were rips, tears, slashes. It was evident that he'd been attacked by at least one animal recently, fresh blood stained the jaggedly torn arm of his sleeve, and if one looked closer they'd see a nasty looking bite, though the cold air had probably kept Lucio from becoming infected. He stumbled forwards with the help of the woman, his ankle twisting in the snow, driving him to his knees again.
As he began to struggle upwards again, he heard another woman's voice and his head jerked up to look at the concerned face, "I must be in heaven..." He whispered, looking up at the sky half in awe, half in despair. There had been so much more he had wished to accomplish. "And you are angels." His voice was raspy, throat probably sore from his prolonged exposure to the ice and cold.
The woman's reaction, however, was not what he would expect from an angel, she tugged off her coat and thrust it towards him, dazedly he obeyed her command to put it on and slipped his fingers in the pockets, an unfamiliar warmth greeting his frozen digits. "D-don't angels wear robes?" He stammered teeth still chattering. Her next question was slightly perplexing, for a moment he could not remember who he was, why he was here... what he was doing... and then, like a cloud drifting from covering the sun, the truth cleared.
He coughed, hacking delightfully for a minute or less before the urge to cough subsided. "Lucio Filipe Urbina-Espinoza." It was a mouthful of a name to splutter out, but he managed to get through it with his half frozen lips. He shivered again and was surprised when Hayley squeezed beside him, the warmth of her body radiating towards his own. It was a surprise, he wasn't used to anyone being so kind to him, though he was certain, if he was not dead, and should he survive, this would not be a common occurrence.
His fingers were beginning to warm, slowly, and painfully. He had never had to deal with warming up after being extremely cold. The coldest thing he'd ever been subjected to was a swim in the ocean... and that hadn't been too bad, well, except for the dorsal fins in the water. That part hadn't been all that great.
[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: calibri; font-size: 8pt; color: #484848; line-height: 22px;"]angels. he was quick to throw the accusation at ellie, and truth be told, from what hayley had seen of the woman, she'd be inclined to agree. the pretty blonde was exactly who you might expect to score a ticket into heaven, and she was exactly who you'd want to take part in the welcoming committee. hayley didn't really believe in a heaven or a god, she couldn't believe anyone so could would allow a world to fall to shit like this one had, but on the off chance all that mumbo-jumbo was real, ellie would certainly be on the right side.
❝you're definitely not in heaven,❞ she mumbled as they moved, ❝she might be an angel, but rest assured, the only way they'd let me into heaven is if i stowed away in someones luggage.❞ she joked, with a bittersweet bit of laughter, glancing ahead of them.
as if on cue, jackson seemed to materialize out of thin air, approaching slowly at first but speeding up. ❝holy shit, is he-❞ he started, a look of concern in his eyes, but hayley quickly cut him off.
❝he's hurt, badly.❞ she told him immediately, nodded to the lodge in the distance. ❝i need you to get the medical supplies out for me, and make sure it's clean.❞ jackson, obedient as ever, nodded quickly and turned around, booking it towards the building. her eyes shifting from him to lucio's face once more, offering him a half smile. ❝that one's probably an angel too. but i doubt heaven's this cold. probably more of a paradise, with cold drinks on a sunny beach.❞ she mused, less so because she wanted to fantasize about heaven, and more so because she wanted to try to keep him awake. she wasn't entirely sure if he had a concussion, but she'd witnessed first hand the dangers of falling asleep with one. poor rudy. ❝that's my kinda heaven, at least.❞
[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 1.5;"]･ﾟ✧ — Surprise riddled across Ellie's features at the suggestion; though the man appeared to be delirious, Ellie would silently take that as a compliment. An angel. Smiling a coy, closed-lip smile, she lowered her gaze shyly for just a moment before peering back up to the freezing man. "Not quite." She uttered softly, knitting her eyebrows together with concern as she began to usher him to walk up the hill with her. He was bound to collapse and die in this sort of hypothermic condition if he couldn't get help soon. Eyes flitted down to his clothing for just a moment, quietly noting the expanse of his injuries and her heart sinking at the abysmal condition that he was in.
She gasped as he collapsed onto his knees, immediately fearing the very worse. What if he couldn't get up after this? What if he was about to die? "Oh, lets get you up." She insisted worriedly, quickly crouching down as she attempted to help him back onto his feet. "You're not far away from the Lodge now. It's warm. We can help you there." And, as she began to help him back to his feet, relief was sent rushing through her body at the sound of a familiar voice. Glancing over her shoulder, she was met with the sight of Hayley briskly approaching and assisting. Thank goodness - the blonde wasn't sure if she could help this man all on her own.
Huffing a short breath of laughter at Hayley's comment, Ellie wasn't quite sure if she could be seen as an angel. She wasn't worthy enough for such a virtuous title, regardless of her undying innocence. Turning her head, her gaze next landed on another familiar face, Jackson, showing his face and, very quickly darting off to grab the medical supplies. Maybe they could save this man. Oh, Ellie hoped so. "Lucio." She repeated under her breath as he introduced himself, holding onto his forearm as she bunched up against him just as Hayley was doing so on the other side, in hope that together they could keep him somewhat warm; or, at least a little less freezing than he was now.
"Mm... Tropical fruit juice whilst tanning on a sun lounger. That sounds like paradise." She agreed, trying to brighten up the dark situation whilst attempting to help the injured man up the stairs and into the Lodge. "You should - uh - sit there, maybe?" She suggested, gesturing towards the seat closest to the burning fire before glancing at Hayley for confirmation. She then paced across the room, eyes flitting about for Jackson. "Jackson?" She called out through the Lodge. "We've put him in the front room."
[align=center] I'M BURNING BRIDGES, I DESTROY THE MIRAGE
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 2.6px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]ALL VISIONS OF COLLISIONS, FUCKING BON VOYAGE — truce.#1303
《 WRITING &. PINTEREST &. SPOTIFY 》
[align=center] [div style="borderwidth; width: 400px; padding: 1px; text-align: justify; color: #4B3E2D; line-height: 14px; font-size: 11pt; font-family:timesnewroman"] "speech" 'thought' text
tw: mentions blood, profanity, themes of violence, injuries
He was too tired to hear Hayley's next words, all he could tell was that she was speaking to him, but that was about it, her words were incoherent to Lucio's exhausted brain. Supported by the two women on either side, a more proud man, or a man who was less injured might have been ashamed, but all Lucio could feel was gratitude. Without these two angels on each arm, he would not be alive... or was he alive? He still was not certain whether he was in heaven or not. Could heaven be this cold? His body convulsed in a shiver, eyes darting from the white surrounding him to a new face that appeared.
The new voice that spoke for only a second sounded... different, the man also looked different than these two women who supported him, though he glowed with the same divinity. His voice lasted for a moment before Hayley interjected, yet, what they were talking of was completely unknown to Lucio who had retreated into his exhausted head, barely able to keep awake.
His feet dragged in the snow, and if he did not have the support on either side he would have certainly stumbled face first into the cold powder, never to get up again. His fingers were beginning to feel again from the hand warmers in the pockets of the jacket which Hayley had given him. His torso was less chilled, though still cold. He could feel his heart beating inside of his chest, thumping loudly enough for anyone to hear if they were near him. And, two people were.
He mumbled ascension at Hayley's words, though he still was unsure what she was saying, her tone sounded agreeable, and he didn't want her to feel like he wasn't listening. He was concentrating nearly all of his energy into staying upright and not dying. A smart choice, not dying was usually good. Then again, he had never died, just almost died, so he wasn't the best judge of that.
Ellie was speaking too, though her words, like Hayley's seemed distant and far away. As if yelled across a great distance, and still muffled by the snow around. His eyes closed briefly, feeling the soft, drifting snow on his face. When his eyes opened again he was inside of a building, the harsh contrast between the muted white of everything, and the exposed wood of the lodge was strange, that mixed with the sudden warmth that seemed to hug his body.
He allowed himself to be steered towards a chair, only the flicker of firelight in front of him deterring his willingness to seat himself. Eyes widening he strained feebly against the women. Not fire, not again. His mind raced as he thought of a way, any way to escape this, though it meant going back out into the frozen wasteland outside the walls of the lodge. "D-d-don't hurt me." He whimpered softly, his accented words wrenched from his chest, and sounding painful to expel.
He couldn't fight against the superior strength of these two women compared to his feeble self, and he was soon sitting in the chair shivering, partly out of fear, partly out of cold. The fire warmed his skin, it cast long shadows around the room, intimidating shadows, memories of a time that was altogether too close to him. He wanted nothing more than to bolt, run back into the icy storm and perish. At least he would not be exposed to the cruel fire once more.
His leg tingled as if reminding him of the ugly situation that gave him such fear of the flickering flames before him, taunting him almost. He swallowed cowering away from the fire, "P-por favor..."[sup]1[/sup] He whispered, eyes wide.
[ [sup]1. please[/sup] ]
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