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[h2][center][color=ed145b]Ryder[/color] and [color=0076a3]Lauren[/color][/center][/h2]

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	Punishments varied within the walls of Toxo. It didn't stem from laziness on Ryder's part, because Ryder was rarely lazy, but from that unpredictability he was known for. He didn't want to be seen as consistent in some of his actions, because he didn't want anybody around him to be [i]too[/i] comfortable. When people got comfortable, they got lazy, or brave, which could be more dangerous than being lazy. He knew he wasn't the most liked guy on this ranch, but it was his ranch, and he would make sure everybody fucking knew it. He wasn't here for friends, after all. Yet, he had a soft spot for Lauren, something that was hard to admit to himself. He didn't get soft spots for anybody, but here he was. He hadn't missed the brief flash of shock on her face, even with the sun slightly in his eyes. He hummed when she mentioned the explosions, both eyebrows going up.

	"[color=ed145b]Some explosions, huh? Hm.[/color]" he said, an edge of amusement still in his voice. "[color=ed145b]I hadn't taken notice,[/color]" he couldn't quite drop his playfulness with Lauren. Something about the woman always brought it out. "[color=ed145b]Listen,[/color]" he continued, hearing the geniune apology, "[color=ed145b]why don't you come down here real quick, so we can talk easier?[/color]" Ryder didn't go to people when he had something to say to them; they came to him.

	Well, Lauren thought, at least he seemed to be having a good time.  Reciprocating the semi-lightheartedness of his tone, she called down to him. [color=0076a3]"Maybe we'll both get lucky and the ladder'll break."[/color] She joked, obeying his suggestion and making her way down the wooden ladder. A short climb ladder and she was down at his level. She had a hand on her bare waist when she came to a stop in front of her leader.

	[color=0076a3]"No luck, the ladder held."[/color] She deadpanned, using her free hand to thumb at it over her shoulder. While she was expecting some kind of punishment, mildly playful was Lauren's default state in most situations, and rarely slips out of it. A genuine apology was rare, but she would give one to anyone who deserved one. Not one to remain somber for long Lauren quickly slipped back into her old self, reassured by Ryder's amusement. Of course like anyone she wasn't looking forward to her reprimanding in whatever form it took, but it was important for a strong leader to maintain order, lest people start getting fun ideas. That was something the people of the Whispering Pines Ranch never learned.

	Lauren was one of the few people that could get Ryder to let out a geniune laugh on a daily basis. Her humor was something he fed off of, considering majority of the Toxo group was full of more serious faces. Not that he was complaining; he didn't want everybody to be downright miserable in here, yet he had to draw a line somewhere. Again, getting too comfortable and all that. Lauren was different, though, and it was probably noticeable. That worried him somewhat. He didn't want her to become a target because he let her comments and jokes slide, but it wasn't like he immediately jumped down anybody else's throat when they said a joke or two. Lauren may get away with a little more than others, though, that was for sure.

	He watched her come down, eyes being drawn to her exposed skin for a few seconds. Though, once she was facing him, he was looking her in the face. "[color=ed145b]Damn,[/color]" he sighed, shaking his head and shifting his weight. He swung his bat up onto his shoulder, it nearly clipping Lauren as he did so, causing her to flinch. "[color=ed145b]I must have loosened the bolts on the wrong fucking ladder. Guess we'll figure out which one it is when somebody breaks their neck,[/color]" he looked off in the distance for a moment, pursing his lips some, before shrugging and focusing back on Lauren. Ryder always enjoyed putting on a little show when interacting with people; sometimes, that little show could be really scary.

	"[color=ed145b]Look, you said sorry,[/color]" Ryder said, all the humor gone from his voice, stepping closer to her. He was practically towering over her now."[color=ed145b]But, y'know, you say sorry now, what happens when you do it again? Are you going to say sorry?[/color]" he smiled down at her, though it didn't reach his eyes. He swung his bat out in an arch beside them, before letting it rest gently against Lauren's exposed side. Of course, none of rusty nails were piercing her skin, but the threat was there. "[color=ed145b]I get [i]real[/i] tired of hearing the word sorry. So,[/color]" he lifted the bat a little, letting it slide across her skin. He had leaned down while he was talking, his breath fanning across her face. "[color=ed145b]don't fuck up again. I don't want a reason to cut that sharp tongue out of your pretty little mouth, okay?[/color]"

	Lauren listented silently. The bat was cold against her side, impossible to ignore. As Ryder went on, her heartrate began to rise, and she went shallow of breathe. Fear was a weakness, and Lauren knew this, but it didn't help. Still as a statue, she did nothing but cast her eyes downward as he leaned in. Her exaggerated but quiet breathing caused the bat to move with her rising and falling torso, a strange sensation that certainly didn't help. The woman wasn't afraid of much, but she was afraid of Ryder. Knowing the reasons behind the fear didn't help. Lauren had done the same thing to other people out in the wild, but of course Ryder was a master. His presence was overwhelming. This is why Ryder was in control, and someone like Lauren wasn't. Power plays like this were the reason he mantained control over the facility, and were necessary for the betterment of the group. Yet the rationality of the situation didn't dissuade the shivers down her spine as his threats hit home.

	[color=0076a3]"I won't fuck up again, sir."[/color] She said, her voice unintentionally low. 

	Ryder had a power in Toxo that would make a lesser man feel heady and believe he was invinicble. Ryder was not a lesser man. He realized that he did have a power over the people of Toxo, but it was one he had to wield carefully and catiously. He was not naive enough to think he was the only one who could have the position of power he does. He knew there were others out there that could rule with a heavy and steady hand like he did. If he let the power get to his head, or thought himself to be unbeatable, then he would be taken down. That was where a lot of leaders fucked up. Ryder wouldn't fuck up like that. He was nothing special; he just knew how to attach strings to people and use those puppets wisely.

	Lauren was fucking [i]terrified.[/i] Ryder was close enough that he could see the quicken fall of her chest, the way her eyes were downcasted, how her body shivered. It didn't make him feel good, but it didn't make him feel bad, either. It was just what had to be done to assure this place kept running smoothly, and to assure he stayed at the top. Striking fear into others, yet having their loyalty, was power to Ryder. "[color=ed145b]Now, that shit is what I like to hear,[/color]" Ryder never pushed his punishments further than they had to go. He wasn't some sick fuck who got off to that. So, he backed off, dropping the bat and stepping away. "[color=ed145b]Lauren, you were one of the guys who helped me take over this place,[/color]" he said, reaching out and giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "[color=ed145b]So, I fucking know you won't fuck up again. You're better than that shit.[/color]"

	She nodded, relieved the bat was away from her body. Looking back up at Ryder she nodded a little more rapidly more to reassure herself. At this point her back was as stiff as board, but the hand on her shoulder eased the tension a little bit. She trusted him more than anyone else here by a long shot. He let her off with a warning. Granted, it was an [i]excellent[/i] warning, probably some of his best work. He read the situation, and knew he got his point across. Still, he managed to instill the image of her tongue out of her mouth despite the fact that she knew he wouldn't do something like that. At the same time, in that moment, she believed he really would. The monsters outside constantly threatened her life, and would certainly deliver on their threats if they had the chance. They didn't scare her. Ryder did. Funny, that. 

	[color=0076a3]"Well, at least the shit helps the crops grow, right? I can't even..."[/color] She trailed off, looking back down at the dirt, which made Ryder raise an eyebrow. Damn, Lauren, she thought, could you cut it out? She mentally chided herself for being so shaken up by him. Would he lose respect for her for being so affected? She couldn't know. 

	[color=0076a3]"Would you like me to go back up to the tower, sir?"[/color] She asked, looking back up at him with a serious face and standing at some sort of an attention- though Lauren was no army woman. She hadn't realized that for the moment, the world around them had vanished. Now she thought about if anyone else had seen the encounter. She hoped, if anyone did see, it made them realize Ryder was strong rather than herself being weak. She didn't dare look around, though. Not with Ryder still here. 

Okay, perhaps Ryder felt [i]slightly[/i] bad for scaring Lauren so much, but that was because it was Lauren. If it was just some random group member he only knew the name of, he wouldn't give a shit. He didn't like caring, because those feelings get in the way, but he couldn't treat her any differently. She wouldn't want that, either. So, he stomped down the little peep of guilt, because this had to be done. If he went easy on the few people he liked, they would be targets of jealous people, and they would be his weaknesses. He refused to let anybody find out his weakness were two women within these walls. He eyed her as she collected herself. He had affected others like this, so it was nothing new. It was the people who weren't affected that made him weary. They were ones that he kept a close eye on, though he kept an eye on all the members. Nobody could be completely trusted in this world, after all.

	He didn't say anything to her question, at first. Instead, he tilted his head, eyes taking in her stance. His dark eyes lingered on her exposed skin briefly before they darted back to her face. He tried to not openly oogle at any of the women and men here - he didn't want anybody to try to use [i]that[/i] against him, because it would only piss him off - but Lauren was very easy on the eyes. "[color=ed145b]Finish out your shift, then come to the meeting. I want you there.[/color]" he replied, beginning to trun on his heel to leave. But, he snapped his fingers, saying, "[color=ed145b]Oh![/color]" and turning back to Lauren. "[color=ed145b]Before I go, at fucking ease, soldier.[/color]" he grinned at her, "[color=ed145b]It isn't [i]that[/i] serious, darling.[/color]" he playfully winked at her before turning to leave, walking with a confidence that only a powerful leader could get away with.

	Lauren broke out into a small laugh at that point. Smug bastard, she thought, jokingly. [color=0076a3] "Fuck,"[/color] she said in admiration to herself, watching him walk away. She grabbed the radio in her hand, burned the image of it into her mind, and began her climb back up the ladder to finish off her shift, and eventually rejoin Ryder and the others for his meeting.