[center][hr][h3][color=c4df9b]Martin Cromwell.[/color][/h3]
By the campfire.
[hider=Interactions.][@Atrophy] & [@Surtr Inc] & [@FernStone][/hider][hr]

Of course, his heart was pounding as he watched the girls interact. The adrenaline that coursed through his veins was nearly enough to cause him to raise to his feet. He didn't know what to [i]do.[/i] It was almost as if vertigo hit him, a sort of dizziness that he didn't know how to fight off. What in the hell was he supposed to [i]do[/i] if Claire started wailing on Rita? He didn't want to watch Claire beat his friend into a pulp but he also didn't think he could fight her or that he [i]wanted[/i] to fight her. 

He may have not known every minute detail about Claire but he knew enough that she was a pretty damn good fighter. Martin Cromwell was [i]not[/i] a pretty damn good fighter. In fact, he'd taken a few beat downs in his life and he didn't want one of them to be tonight. [i]God[/i], that would be embarrassing. If he tried to step in to help Rita and got the shit kicked out of him then he was pretty sure that would be open season on him again. The thought of his old bullies coming out of the woodwork was enough to make him nauseous, the thought of [i]new[/i] bullies coming out of the woodwork was enough to almost make him puke. 

Claire shot her insult off at him, and he raised his hands in sarcastic, mock, surrender. It may have been ill timed on his part but it was his immediate reaction, maybe panic was making him delirious. Her friend started to drag her off and he physically exhaled. His shoulders sunk from their defensive position as the universe decided for him that he'd have to do absolutely nothing. That was fine by him, doing nothing meant that he could talk to Rita and try to convince her that this wasn't as bad as it seemed. Well, maybe it [i]was[/i] as bad as it seemed but it was fixable. [i]Maybe. Probably.[/i]

He couldn't help but feel a little bad for her. He knew what it was like to have all eyes on him in a negative way and it wasn't a good feeling. She hadn't even had a chance to introduce herself, she was a nameless face in this crowd but now she was the nameless face that Claire had developed a bias towards. [i]Not a great start.[/i] He honestly didn't believe Rita had any intention of stirring up the shit pot with Claire but it had happened. It had happened and now she was suffering the consequences.

When the blond male piped up, he noticeably rolled his eyes in response. He hadn't ever met Hagan but he sure as hell had avoided him as much as physically possible. He burned with irritation that the boy would have the gall to be joking about this, though he wasn't surprised. He might have not known a lot about Hagan either but he knew Hagan wasn't known for his sensitive and caring nature.

"[color=c4df9b][i]Fucking sadist.[/i][/color]" he muttered, though not loud enough to surface a challenge, because challenging Hagan did [i]not[/i] seem like a good idea. He was pretty sure Hagan could literally [i]kill[/i] him.

He had just been about to inquire about Rita's state of being when Tuyen beat him to it. She asked gently about her wellbeing and confirmed that she believed that Rita wouldn't have purposely done anything to Claire. He nodded in agreement when she said it, "[color=c4df9b]Yeah, that was kind of. . . [i]bad. [/i] It's good to see you again, Tuyen. I'm fine, but, Rita, how about you?[/color]"

[hr][h3][color=8882be]Aliana Agüero.[/color][/h3]
By the docks.
[hider=Interactions][@Surtr Inc][/hider][hr]

The sound of Lynette's voice broke her from her thoughts and demanded her attention, it was hard not to be happy to see Lynette. She was a welcomed presence, especially when she was there to save Aliana from the clutter of her thoughts. She was always easy to talk to, though she was a more recent friend, she'd already made a good impression on her. She took the free spot to Aliana's other side, a notebook resting on her knees. Her company was comfortable, she was glad the girl had decided to join her.

Lynette was a New York native, they shared their obscurity from Montana. It was so very different from where they'd both come from, it was hard not to bond over that. Lynette was interesting in her estrangedness, there was something about her that provoked questions. That was part of why Aliana liked her so much, the girl had a goal but all be damned if she knew exactly what that goal was. 

"[color=8882be]Something like that, I'm not a huge fan of drinking and water helps me think. It reminds me of home.[/color]" she said, glancing to her companion and smiling. "[color=8882be]You looking to get away too or were you just bored with the mundane?[/color]"
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