[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=4682b4]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1][img]https://i.ibb.co/Wnnd0Wm/Ash-FC-5.jpg[/img][/center][hr][center][color=steelblue][b]Location:[/b][/color] M12 (Beach)
[color=4682b4][b]Skills:[/b][/color] N/A [/center][hr][hr]

	Ash loosely curled one arm around Thana's waist again and held her closer to himself, even as she curled against him. It was like he was compelled to be as close to her as possible and if that meant he only had one hand to enjoy his seafood boil with, then he would make due. It felt good to be close to someone else in this way, and it felt better that it was Thana. The founders of CMB couldn't have come up with better timing for this soiree, either, or rather the time seemed to fall into place with their exit from Quarantine and Thana's return. He might have wished for a tiny change in the way that rumors of her demise were squashed before they had time to fester, but if everything in this new place was perfect, Ash would probably suspect something. It was all in the past, anyway, be it the very recent past. New chapter on his life; page had been turned, and suchlike. 

	Now, what did manage to snap him out of the fuzzy and nostalgic bent that his brain had gone on for the last several seconds were the insinuations that Thana herself was putting across to him. Ash definitely raised an eyebrow at the idea that she wouldn't need her strength for what was to follow their romantic time on the beach with fresh seafood, the stars, and each others' company. Though she was likely just kidding with him, Ash was amazed to find out that it did give a fraction of a second of genuine worry. However, the follow-up that he would most assuredly need [i]his[/i] strength, and insisted that he eat up for that reason, smoothed that over rather readily. It even sounded like an order. He smiled. As a career Army man before the world fell apart, he was accustomed to receiving and following orders from a superior officer. And be they of different branches, Thana held the higher pay grade. Ash raised his hand into a proper military salute and responded with a subdued yet cheerfully acquiescent, [color=4682b4]"Yes, Ma'am,"[/color] and saw to his meal with all of the decorum of a man who was set to do his proper duty. As many times, point of fact, as necessary until the task was completed to his superior's complete satisfaction. Digging deep, putting his back into it, setting his nose to the grindstone, and otherwise throwing himself wholeheartedly into the blissful labors thereof; so long as Thana was happy, so was Ash.

	Leaning over, he kissed the side of Thana's neck and said, [color=4682b4]"We have all the time we need. All the time in the world. An' I'm happy I get to spend it with you."[/color] The general feeling in the air, at least for Ash, was that they were at the precipice of something big, and something new. For now, he could simply sit back and enjoy the salt air, the clear, night sky, and he couldn't ask for better company. It was a very nice night.  



[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=dc143c]Thalia Carmichael[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://i.ibb.co/XfPtqqX/Thalia-Image3.jpg[/img][hr][b][color=crimson]Location:[/color][/b] L11 (Bar) -> M7 (Condo, 17B)
[b][color=dc143c]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A [hr][hr][/center]

	The lack of response about a skin artist in town settled that question for the time being. It was probably for the best anyway, seeing as a simple infection could claim lives nowadays unless someone in town knew how to make penicillin. But that really wouldn't have surprised Thalia, either. So to hell with it. Ask again later, different people, try to have something to trade for the service. As she was thinking this, her eyes couldn't move from the graceless acts of an over-intoxicated Hunter. It was not flattering in the least, and it seemed to strike Thalia a little more personally than she thought it might have. This was a person who apparently had a survival strategy not unlike her own, and that colored the rather antisocial nature of the both of them. She had made different decisions, though. And she always had a goal to work toward. Those two points counted for a lot. A mild change of perspective and the guy might not get himself banished via catapult, which was a funny concept in theory. But that would mean that he would be more like [i]her[/i]... Nah, maybe it was better this way. 

	The off-and-on conversation around the bar continued with Adelaide describing Chase. While Thalia wasn't sure exactly what the stereotypical "Weather Girl" might be useful for, subsequent explanation had that making a lot of sense. Blonde, cute, 30s, loner, chased tornadoes back in the day. Hence the name. Monitored equipment, presumably related to her former profession. [color=dc143c]"Yah, thanks. Haven't met her,"[/color] was all she would say about it. Not much of a discussion without a common frame of reference, but if she felt like continuing her mid-coital exploits with the home team here, she knew one that was single. File that away for a maybe. 

	The announcement that alcohol was shut down didn't overly bother Thalia. She had consumed one beer and switched away from it altogether. The tea tasted better to her anyway, and thought on the subject had her taking another sip. Yeah, good stuff. On the upside though, the idea of starting a Guild and getting shirts was being received well. Not much of a joiner, persay, there might be something to it anyway. It did make her think of a friend of hers from a while back, though, who would have jumped at this kind of opportunity. She was a loud and obnoxious bitch, and Thalia missed her greatly. But back to the present. The laughter of the local lady at the bar turned her head around at first, but it was the further discussion from Ada that inclined her to speak again. [color=dc143c]"I thought Yondar Sex Rock was a band. Or am I thinking of something else..?"[/color] she mused, before her brain registered something else from two seconds earlier. Less, maybe. [color=dc143c]"You guys gaht a D&D group here? I played in college. Hell, some of the lessons from it kept my ass alive when the Zeds came, y'know?"[/color] Like humanity started over as Level 1 characters and those who kept surviving got to level up. Thalia made a mental note to speak on that philosophy a little later on. It was good stuff. Another mental note - find the D&D group. Again, later. 

	It seemed that she had her own quest to fulfill, and it didn't involve dungeon crawling nor abnormally sized lizards with flaming halitosis. Thalia downed the rest of her tea with a series of gulps, wiped her mouth with the back of her ...no, she already hit herself with a steel arm once today, try again... (ahem) pulled the paper out of her back pocket and read it again. To the women with whom she had been talking, she said, [color=dc143c]"Pahty's winding down. I'm going to wind down with it. Hunt fucks with you anotheh time, alright? G'night then."[/color] It was probably as polite as she could scrape up right then, even to the point of surprising herself a little. Thalia found the appropriate spot for her glass, then took her leave. 

	Joaquin had some explaining to do.