Hyro

A Truly "Gifted" Life (Ignore post count)

Drake had heard the knock at the door, but he wasn’t concerned with it or the unfamiliar aura behind it. Besides, someone else was already addressing the situation. No, his attention was focused on the girl in front of him. "Brash" had been a mildly offending choice of words, but he would not comment any further on it. His eyes had narrowed, not in anger, but in cold distaste to the response he’d been given. It wasn’t hard to figure out there was something negative going on, a topic that was hard for people to talk about. He wanted to give her the time of day to explain what was happening, but the distressed aura upstairs screamed at him and he couldn’t simply dismiss it or delay it any longer.

He took a deep breath and exhaled before speaking in a calm, firm voice.
”Mina,” he started, pausing to choose his next words carefully, “I don’t know what happened while I was out, but the person upstairs is a very good friend of mine and he’s not having a good time from what I can tell. What you’re telling me is only confirming that further. So here’s the deal. I’m gonna go up there and I’m going to assess the situation and see if I can help. Once I do that, then you can clue me in to what the hell is going on.”

”I know I’ve been out for a while, so I would hope there’s a damn good explanation for whatever went down. That said, I want to go check on my friend, if that's alright. Not stand around here wasting any more time. So, please... I could use your assistance.”

Drake was as stubborn as always, and as such, it was clear he wasn’t going to change his mind any time soon. If Mina didn’t help him navigate his way upstairs, he would simply find the attic himself.

A Truly "Gifted" Life (Ignore post count)

Drake gave a small smile in return as Dawn approached him.

“Glad to be back,” he replied, though her next statement made his breath catch and eyes go wide.

”A few weeks!?” the boy repeated, shocked.
It didn’t take a mind-reader to hear the stress in his voice, and understandably so. Normally he would only be out for a few days, but this was by far the longest he’d been underwater and it was completely unprecedented. There was so much he’d missed, so much life that had gone on without him, and it was hard for the winged boy to swallow. ”Jesus...”

At that moment, Mina had come in and gave Drake a bit of a start. He half turned to let her through, but instead found himself being thoroughly looked over by the doctor which caught him by surprise. Her questions received a bit of hesitation as he took a moment to adjust to what was happening.

”Uhh, just a headache, Mina. I’m alright-” he managed to get a few words in before she located her pen, giving him instructions to follow the light. He obediently did so, not because he felt it was necessary, but because he wanted this little checkup to be over sooner than later.

His eyes responded normally to the light(or at least as normally as cat-like reptile eyes could, anyway), but toward the end Mina would notice a spark of cyan blue flicker across both of them, indicating the return of his powers. And with this return came a flurry of new information. Drake took a moment to blink the spots out of his eyes before they seemed to glaze over briefly. There were a few new auras around, one of which Dawn was heading toward in a hurry, sparking some well-deserved suspicion. His eyebrows furrowed, however, as something else in particular caught his attention. Or rather, someone. An old friend of his, someone who had no business being here, was upstairs and - by the looks of it - distressed.

Focusing back on Mina, he reached to take her hands, grasping them in a gentle but firm manner to stop her from whatever test she was about to administor next.

”Mina, I know you just want to help. So can you do me a favor, and help me find my way up to the attic? There’s something I need to check out.”

He released his grip, letting his expression stress the importance of this task. At this point, Mina would likely piece together why Drake’s eyes were filled with such intense, sudden concern. But Drake, on the other hand, had no idea what awful activity he was about to walk in on.

A Truly "Gifted" Life (Ignore post count)

When Drake finally awoke, it was certainly no walk in the park. His heartbeat started back up, and then his lungs sputtered to life along with a violent coughing fit. His silver eyes shot open as his body painfully kickstarted itself once more. This was nothing the boy wasn’t used to, and was honestly a relief compared to the pain of death itself. His power of self revival was still a mystery, but he was starting to piece together what he could only best describe as a nightmare that happened every time he died.

A vivid dream of darkness and excruciating pain - the feeling that every fiber of his being was tearing through the pores of his skin only to get crammed right back inside, over and over again. Each taste bud plucked from his tongue only to be seared right back on. This time the memory had been much longer than his prior experiences, which led Drake to believe it may have actually been the revival that caused this pain, not death itself.

Regardless, he was glad it was finally over. Now all he was left with was a lack of energy and a searing headache.

This much he could handle.

Slowly he took in his surroundings. He was in a bed in a room that looked untouched for at least a decade. Dust laced the ledges and shelves which were decrepit from age(something he had grown used to seeing out in the ashlands), but nothing about the room seemed familiar. The boy folded his large wings against his back and went to stand, clutching his head and gripping the bedpost when the room gave a small spin. With a bit of willpower, however, the feeling was gone almost as quickly as it had arrived and Drake was able to walk forward to the door. Placing a gloved hand on the door handle, he paused in hesitation.

The hardest part about waking up was not knowing the condition of his group. Or if his group was still alive, at that. Last he remembered, there had been a huge battle. He couldn’t recall how he had died or who had the honor of killing him, but from what he did remember of the fight, it hadn’t been pretty. His stomach sank at the possibilities of what lay beyond this door, but he swallowed hard and pushed forward.

The hallway was rather empty by means of people and decor, and many were still asleep from what he could tell as he peaked in each room. The old floorboards creaked with every step, making it all the more ominous. Eventually he came to the office where Dawn was, relieved to see she was awake and - furthermore - alive. Stepping inside the room, he spoke softly so as not to startle her.

“Dawn...?”

Silver gaze trailed over the maps she was observing curiously. It seemed the geography here was just as unfamiliar to the others as it was to him, which meant their arrival must have been recent. His eyes swept about the room, taking in the wooden floorboards and old-fashioned wallpaper that peeled away to reveal its rotting wood.

“How long was I out?” he asked, focusing back on her.

A Truly "Gifted" Life (Ignore post count)

Drake Coleman

Full Name:
Drake Levi Coleman

Nicknames/Aliases:
Drake

Age:
19

Gender:
Male

Gifts:
Energy Manipulation, Dragon-Themed Animal Traits(Wings, eyes, retractable claws, heat resistance, etc), Self-revival

Loyalty:
He's a wanderer, loyal to those he gets close to.


Description:
Drake is a tall and lank figure, ranging around 6ft. Most of his muscle resides on his upper back, right around his wings, making him an avid flier. The rest of the boy's lack of strength he makes up in being quick and evasive. His silver eyes resemble that of a reptile-cat crossbreed and are often referred to as looking most like "dragon eyes." His wings, while leathery in nature, have a thin coat of fur on them similar to that of a bat's. He also has sharp predatory canines for chewing through tough meat and is likely the source of why he is more carnivorous in nature.

Drake can regularly be seen wearing a white tank top and his signature sleeveless leather jacket. He never takes it off, as it has become a form of constant. Something that stays the same while everything around him is changing. Other parts of his apparel include black jeans, a pair of black and white sneaks, fingerless motor gloves, and a chain necklace. The necklace is adorned with a sentimental jewel at the bottom, shaped like a dragon tooth but made of some kind of crystal or stone.


Personality:
Drake does his best to stay under the radar. Having grown up in Erubesco, he knows just how much they don’t care for people in the wastelands. That being said, he typically keeps to himself to avoid dragging other people in. He may act cold toward strangers as a survival precaution, but there is still good in his heart. He wouldn’t be able to just sit and watch if someone were in dire need. The boy does have some unresolved anger management issues, so his cold temper will occasionally show its face if provoked, but for the most part he keeps it under control.

Ultimately, Drake just wants to keep the peace. He will try to break up fights and avoids violence like the plague. He does still know how to put up a fight when the moment calls for it and his loyalty and protectiveness over those he cares about knows no bounds.


Skills:
Drake has a number of skill sets, though none of them are ideal around the kind of people he's up against. Street smart is the best way to describe Drake. Without any real intimate education, the boy lacks any advantage on the intellectual spectrum. However, his potential for schooling is likely far above average. He's a great strategist when given the chance, as well as an excellent stealth asset. He is also very intuitive.

His energy powers give him the ability to sense those around him. He will usually know if someone unfamiliar is coming around the bend and can recognize previous auras. It is very hard to sneak up on him.

Drake has developed superb reflexes, making him an avid dodger. Granted, this is vital to his survival for reasons listed in his weaknesses below.


Weaknesses:
While the boy is immune to heat, he is extremely susceptible to water and cold. What would take an hour for one character to get frostbite may take the boy a mere five to ten minutes.

Being able to fly is great and all, but it does come with its downfall. The biggest one being Drake's hollowed bones, a feature he shares with many birds. The boy is thin for a reason, for this lack of weight allows him to fly with ease. His brittle bones make physical combat nearly impossible for him, so he'll typically keep to long distance attacks and will rely heavily on his evasive defenses. At least great reflexes are on his side, but all it takes is one hard hit and the boy is out for the count.

Loved ones are also an Achilles heel. He is very likely to sacrifice himself if it means saving someone he cares about. The same goes for children, especially those around the same age as Kyle. 5-9 year olds, typically.


Brief History:
Drake's mother, Charity Coleman, and father, Sebastian Coleman, were both two of the original chairmen in Erubesco. Both were highly regarded while they were alive. Sebastian, however, had a heavy drinking problem which developed early on. With Sebastian being an abusive drunk, Drake often got the short end of the stick. He stayed strong through it all, even focusing on keeping Kyle, his little brother, safe.

Kyle, fed up with all the fighting between factions, had joined the Youth Ambassador Initiative in an attempt to bring the two together. It didn't end well, and the younger brother was killed during a public speech by an explosion, which was blamed on each opposing faction. Charity committed suicide after discovering Kyle's death. Sebastian, however, decided to take it out on Drake first, before joining his wife in the afterlife.

After receiving this news in a less than pleasant demeanor, Drake set off on his own, making the decision to shy from both factions. Having discovered the corruption on both ends, he helped start a group called the Wanderers. As a tribute to his little brother, he vowed to end the war between the factions once and for all.

Other:

• Drake's favorite food is steak with Slim Jims and beef jerky being a close runner up.

• Drake is secretly really good with kids, but is usually too reserved to show it.
• Drake’s hair is actually fur similar to that of a border collie.
• Drake is incapable of sweating anywhere but through his mouth, if at all.

Realistic ref


Kyle and Drake art

Buddy Boy, the "Chancellor's Hound"

Full Name:
Buddy "Boy" Oaks Jr.

Nicknames/Aliases:
Buddy, Chip, Spider Puppet Man, Nightmare Fuel

Age:
25

Gender:
Male

Gifts:
Energetic Tethering and Voice Distortion

Loyalty:
Erubesco; Knight Status
Official Title: "Chancellor's Hound"


Description:
Buddy is something straight out of a horror film. Articulating wooden prosthetics have replaced all of his limbs, making him look something of a puppet. His teeth are completely wooden and crooked and his face is painted like that of a puppet as well, albeit a dark, clownish one. Black hair is smoothed back with only a single, curled cowlick hanging down his forehead. He adorns a crafty looking tailcoat with three large buttons down the middle and a polka dot bowtie. White gloves and black wooden clogs hide away his otherwise bony wooden fingers and toes, and a top hat pulls his entire puppet master look together.


Personality:
Unnerving and unnatural, Buddy is there to send shivers down the spines of everyone he talks to. There’s a lot to be scared of in a world of war and death, but Buddy’s aesthetic taps into the creepier side of things. The feeling of being watched, the uncertainty that festers like spiders crawling down the back of your neck, he incites it all. Vague words and obscure sentences along with an eerie smile make his intentions unclear. Is he going to have tea with you? Kill you? Caress your cheek? Slowly turn your body to wood and use you as his own personal puppet? Who knows! Whatever the outcome, his presence alone is enough to make most Erubescans stay in line.

On top of being physically terrifying, he's the last person you want to see asking you questions. If he's asking, you're doing something wrong.


Skills:
Contortionist - Buddy can bend and turn in ways most people didn’t think was possible. His positions look unnatural, uncomfortable, and will certainly have anyone grimacing at least a little bit.

Puppet Master - Buddy has the ability to create tethers using translucent energy in the form of strings. The more strings he can manage to attach to his enemies, the more control he has over their every move. This also allows him to climb walls and drop down from ceilings without harming himself. Tethering requires close contact.

Voice Distortion - Buddy can change the projection of his voice, making it sound higher or lower, louder or quieter, or even like he’s at the end of a tunnel.


Weaknesses:
Fire.
He’s half wooden, after all, though he also has some trauma from when he was younger.


Brief History:
Buddy Boy hadn’t always been the freak dummy he is today. He was a bit odd, granted, as he had a love for all things dark and horror. But most of all, Buddy loved the circus. His parents took him often to see it, and he adored every second of it. He was especially fond of the contortionists.

One day he sat in the audience with his parents, marveling over the acrobats as they danced across their tight ropes twirling sticks of fire, when some drunk from the opposite side of the bleachers yelled a nasty remark and threw a bottle at one of the actors. It struck the fire baton and knocked it from her hands before smashing onto the ground below. Fire landed on the spilled alcohol and it burst into flames, catching the tent on fire right by the entrance. The entire scene was chaos as people screamed and ran, trying desperately to find a way out. Support beams began to crumble and fall, dooming many of the people trapped inside. Buddy was trying to find his parents who had gotten separated from him in the frenzy when a large support beam came down and knocked him out cold, his body crushed under its weight.

When he finally woke up weeks later, a lot of things had changed. Due to severe burns and broken bones, Buddy’s arms and legs had been replaced with metal prosthetics which were personally crafted and donated by someone from the circus. He would later outgrow these prosthetics and replace them with wooden ones to better fit his aesthetic. The doctor explained what had happened. His appendages had to be amputated to compensate for paralysis, which was caused by permanent damage that not even healers could reverse. He also broke the bad news, that Buddy’s parents hadn’t made it. Buddy was mortified.

A woman sat patiently by his bed, a woman who Buddy recognized almost immediately as one of the contortionists from the show. Turns out she was the one who rescued him from the wreckage. She went on talking to him, telling him how she recognized him as one of the regulars who always came to see their shows. She also listened to him tell her all about his adoration for show business and his particular admiration for contortionist performers. In the end, she offered him a job working for the circus, which he was quick to accept.

For months he practiced and learned routines and skills, working day and night to get it down. Finally came his big debut, and he was eager to get out under the spotlight. He caked makeup on his face and prepped himself for his first appearance.

But Buddy hadn’t been the same since that fateful day. His personality had become… darker.

He premiered in the show during the contortionist act and was quick to catch the eyes of everyone in the audience. Unfortunately, he also sent their hearts racing and caused small children to cry. Buddy’s metal prosthetics and creepy appearance made him unsuitable for the younger audience, as many parents reported their dissatisfaction at the end of the night. His act was immediately cut from the show.

Out of sheer luck, Buddy was approached by a Viceroy of the Erubescan council who had been in the audience that night. Having overheard the boy's predicament and seeing potential in his overly creepy approach, Buddy was presented with an opportunity to work in the Internal Affairs department, so long as he dedicated himself to the necessary classes and training. Having no where else to go from here, Buddy accepted the man's offer and went off to later fill the role of keeping Erubescan employees in line, occasionally dabbling in interrogation.

From his dedication, he was given the official title of “Chancellor's Hound” and has been the eyes of the Citadel ever since.

Other:

• Buddy Boy finds pleasure in torment and will often visit Erubescan prisons when bored.

• Buddy Boy’s trauma mixed with his time as an actor has caused a devotion to his gimmick as a marionette/puppet master. Because of this, he’s gone out of his way to create the illusion of hardly human, even going as far as replacing all of his teeth with wooden counterparts. One could even say he believes he is merely a puppet.
• Buddy Boy has a habit of seemingly defying logic, making things appear or reappear seemingly out of thin air or showing up in rooms that were most certainly locked. As for as how he does this, he seems to have kept a good job of keeping it under lock and key, claiming a true showman never reveals his secrets.

A Truly "Gifted" Life (Ignore post count)

Heyo~
Just gonna drop this here while I have a minute.

Drake

Full Name:
Drake Levi Coleman

Nicknames/Aliases:
Drake

Age:
17

Gender:
Male

Gifts:
Energy Manipulation, Dragon-Themed Traits(Wings, retractable claws, heat resistance, etc), Self-revival

Loyalty:
He's a wanderer, loyal to those he gets close to.


Description:
Drake is a tall and lank figure, ranging around 6ft. Most of his muscle resides on his upper back, right around his wings, making him an avid flier. The rest of the boy's lack of strength he makes up in being quick and evasive. His silver eyes resemble that of a reptile-cat crossbreed and are often referred to as looking most like "dragon eyes." His wings, while leathery in nature, have a thin coat of fur on them similar to that of a bat's. He also has sharp predatory canines for chewing through tough meat and is likely the source of why he is more carnivorous in nature.

Drake can regularly be seen wearing a white tank top and his signature sleeveless leather jacket. He never takes it off, as it has become a form of constant. Something that stays the same while everything around him is changing. Other parts of his apparel include black jeans, a pair of black and white sneaks, fingerless motor gloves, and a chain necklace. The necklace is adorned with a sentimental jewel at the bottom, shaped like a dragon tooth but made of some kind of crystal or stone.


Personality:
Drake does his best to stay under the radar. Having grown up in Erubesco, he knows just how much they don’t care for people in the wastelands. That being said, he typically keeps to himself to avoid dragging other people in. He may act cold toward strangers as a survival precaution, but there is still good in his heart. He wouldn’t be able to just sit and watch if someone were in dire need. The boy does have some unresolved anger management issues, so his rage will occasionally show its face if provoked and mess things up. He does his best to stay calm, however, in whatever way he can.


Skills:
Drake has a number of skill sets, though none of them are ideal around the kind of people he's up against. Street smart is the best way to describe Drake. Without any real intimate education, the boy lacks any advantage on the intellectual spectrum. However, his potential for schooling is likely far above average. He's a great strategist when given the chance, as well as an excellent stealth asset. He is also very intuitive.

His energy powers give him the ability to sense those around him. He will usually know if someone unfamiliar is coming around the bend and can recognize previous auras. It is very hard to sneak up on him.


Weaknesses:
While the boy is immune to heat, he is extremely susceptible to water and cold. What would take an hour for one character to get frostbite may take the boy a mere five to ten minutes.

Loved ones are also an Achilles heel. He is very likely to sacrifice himself if it means saving someone he cares about. The same goes for children, especially those around the same age as Kyle. 5-9 year olds, typically.


Brief History:
Drake's mother, Charity Coleman, and father, Sebastian Coleman, were both two of the original chairmen in Erubesco. Both were highly regarded while they were alive. Sebastian, however, had a heavy drinking problem which developed early on. With Sebastian being an abusive drunk, Drake often got the short end of the stick. He stayed strong through it all, even focusing on keeping Kyle, his little brother, safe.

Kyle, fed up with all the fighting between factions, had joined Liberty in an attempt to bring the two together. It didn't end well, and the younger brother was killed during a public speech by an explosion, which was blamed on each opposing faction. Charity committed suicide after discovering Kyle's death. Sebastian, however, decided to take it out on Drake first, before joining his wife in the afterlife.

After receiving this news in a less than pleasant demeanor, Drake set off on his own, making the decision to shy from both factions. Having discovered the corruption on both ends, he helped start a group called the Wanderers. As a tribute to his little brother, he vowed to end the war between the factions once and for all.

Other:

• Drake's favorite food is steak with Slim Jims and beef jerky being a close runner up.

• Drake is secretly really good with kids, but is usually too reserved to show it.
• Drake’s hair is actually fur similar to that of a border collie.
• Drake is incapable of sweating anywhere but through his mouth, if at all.

Realistic ref


Kyle and Drake art

Dead Roleplay, Ignore

”Hm?” The winged boy gave Dawn a side glance before registering what she had said. Feel what? He raised his eyes and they glazed over briefly as he felt his way around the town. There were a lot of energy auras due to the congestion, so it was hard to figure out exactly who she was talking about. Perhaps she meant physically? Some sort of earthquake or breeze, or--

Wait.

Drake’s senses zeroed in on one man in particular, his read on him growing stronger as said man rapidly approached. And while he couldn’t sense people in the same way Dawn could, he knew exactly what she meant. This aura was wild and vibrant, resembling stress or fear. Perhaps even panic or desperation. None of which were a good sign out here in the wastes.

”Oh, that’s not good,” he replied, his volume matching Dawn's.

Not to mention, now that he was looking… Yes. There were definitely some auras further out. They were too far away for him to get a good read, but at the very least, Drake gathered they were most likely the threat this wayward man was running from. Vivid concern replaced his previously glazed expression as he took a timid step back.

”If it’s not too late, now might be a good time for us to leave,” he concluded, growing tense.

Dead Roleplay, Ignore

‘Curiosity killed the cat’ was what the winged boy wanted to say in response to Dawn’s rather reckless decision, but decided against it. Of course, Dawn would likely still hear this comment against his wishes, but at the very least he figured she had learned to appreciate when people decided to keep comments to themselves.

His silver gaze trailed over to Lucas and lingered for a moment, looking him up and down as if trying to gauge if he passed some imaginary checklist. There was a bit of hesitation, Drake’s undying caution remaining as persistent as ever. He did find Lucas’ emphasis of the word ‘friend’ a bit odd, but had decided not to comment.

“Drake,” he introduced finally, his tone carefully firm, “As I’m sure you’ve pieced together by now. Nice meeting you… Lucas.”

He wasn't exactly sure how trustworthy a "trading partner" was, but much like Dawn, Drake also had his own curious side. And seeing how he still had two more water bottles in his bag, he opted to stick around and find out what this new person had to offer.

Dead Roleplay, Ignore

Drake had taken a few shifts throughout the night, having been best fit for lookout seeing how he could both perch himself atop a building and sense out any nearby auras or threats. After being fed, it was the least he could do for the group and he didn’t mind taking longer shifts than the others. He did manage to get a couple hours of sleep, albeit not much due to his distrust and lingering paranoia. Even so, he was feeling a lot better in the morning after receiving a much needed meal. Certainly not in peak condition, granted, but better nonetheless.

As they arrived in town however, his nerves spiked and there was a dwindling regret in the back of his mind. Drake typically kept to himself in the wastelands, and so this kind of atmosphere was extremely new if not a bit intimidating. And Overreach's singing did little to calm his nerves. His gloved hands tightened around the draw straps of the small sack he carried on his back. He was always partial to keeping a smaller bag, as a backpack was often harder to manage due to his wings. That, and he preferred to travel light anyway.

It wasn’t long before the suggestion of splitting up was mentioned, putting Drake in a position he didn’t want to be in. Towns were a new concept for him - he had avoided them up until now. So needless to say, he was a little more than clueless as to how to traverse it. However, seeing how the group was splitting up, he felt he had very little choice in the matter.

He stood there for a moment, swallowing down the hard lump in his throat and focusing on the task at hand. Silver eyes looked about, observing the other citizens briefly to gain some intel on proper interaction and mannerisms before he set off to look for a specific stand. A food stand, of course. It didn’t take long to find one, and he approached carefully, shrugging his sack off and digging inside. From it he pulled two unopened water bottles. Fresh water in the wastes was something that always fetched a fair price, regardless of supply. Everyone needed water - well, everyone but him. Drake had a bit of a… medical problem, one could call it, when it came to digesting water. Or getting wet, for that matter. Needless to say, two bottles earned him a decent amount of food in return - several bags of jerky and a handful of canned beef soup. It was enough to rightly fill his bag, which he slung back over his shoulders, harboring one of the packets of jerky to snack on as he walked.

And rather aimlessly at this point.

While he was feeling rather confident in his venture thus far, he admittedly wasn’t sure where to go from here. At this point, he was practically sightseeing and people watching rather than doing anything practical. He was starting to consider taking off again when he heard some commotion a little ways down. Curious, the winged boy drew closer. It looked to be some sort of tavern and, low and behold, Dawn had also managed her way to this building from a different direction. She also knew someone inside, from the sound of it. Had she been involved in whatever had just gone down here?

Drake wasn’t particularly keen on being anywhere near a bar, his experience with alcoholics being less than savory, but after seeing a drunken man half sprawled on the ground, he felt it wrong to let the telepath tread forward on her own, even if she did know someone inside. Alcoholics were often known to be illogical and sometimes even dangerous.

“Dawn,” he recalled curtly as he approached, his eyes casting a brief glance toward the man on the ground before looking back to her. “Everything alright?”

The boy's gaze trailed to Lucas a bit uncertainly, as he seemed to be the most likely culprit for the dazed man lying on the street outside.

“A friend of yours, I’m assuming?”

Dead Roleplay, Ignore

Drake was still trying to get used to the idea of a telepath, so even though the detached voice in his head should have come as no surprise, he was caught off-guard nonetheless. Part of him felt it an intrusion, but he had stopped in his tracks despite this to listen to the soft voice in quiet consideration. It seemed she was offering him her assistance, and for a reasonable favor. The old “I’ll watch your back if you watch mine” cliche. A win-win for both parties involved.

He stood there for a moment, pondering this before deciding in the end that having an ally was enough motivation to stick around. That, and he was really hungry. Plus, she seemed generally concerned about his well-being which, admittedly, he appreciated. Dawn was quickly becoming more favorable to the boy.

/Deal./

As Overreach rolled in, Drake turned his body and attention toward him, letting Dawn speak first before interjecting. “We were actually about to head over there, but wanted to see if you would like to join us first.”

While Dawn had not expressed any direct desire to go with him, the boy was not willing to go alone. At least not after his first experiences with Aran and Eira. This request of his he was able to relay in the undertones of his response to Overreach. He only hoped Dawn would not try to refute it.

Dead Roleplay, Ignore

Well, that certainly wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. Eira seemed quick to verbally attack him, speaking about how she could ‘turn him to ash’ if she really wanted to, which did cause the edges of his mouth to lift slightly with amusement. As if anyone could burn him, let alone to a crisp.The humor was exceedingly brief and short-lived however under the oppressive air of distrust and judgement, and in the end Drake was feeling more anxious than anything.

Aran had done a great job to conceal his hatred both in his voice and mind, but alas, emotions displayed through a person’s energy aura were much harder to conceal. Aran’s hatred showed through his energy in ripples, which Drake’s powers allowed him to see, causing the boy’s uneasiness to spike even higher than before. He watched the two walk away and stood there nervously analyzing what just went down.

He had been offered food - That was a plus.
The food was free - That was, well… sketchy.
The girl was mad at him - Was it something he said?
Food was limited out here - So why would they offer theirs all willy nilly like that?
Eira seemed to have a few screws loose - An important fact to consider among everything else.
Eira had mentioned the food could possibly be diseased - Mostly irrelevant, unless one considers the context.

Everyone here was still a stranger, and he had come to them weak and vulnerable and desperate for food. With him in such a bad condition, it would be easy to poison the food and kill him off, just like that. Maybe even blame it on a diseased rat, and then raid him of what little he had. Surely his necklace was worth a pretty penny at a trading settlement, right? Perhaps not as much as it meant to him, but it wasn’t like people out here cared much for sentiment when it came to survival of the fittest. And even if he did make it through dinner time, who was to say one of them wouldn’t kill him in his sleep?

The odds were stacking up against him here, and he didn’t like it. Not to mention Eira’s assumptions about him had been rather rude and very hypocritical. Implying that only she was being cautious when, in fact, he was a giant ball of caution, unwilling to trust anyone he just met without some proof of good intention. That, and he just hated being told how to act by a complete stranger.

And now here he was, faced with a choice. Risk it with the food and bitter hospitality of strangers only to likely get himself killed, or hoof it now and hope he can find food in the next few days. One seemed far less reliant on other people and was therefore far more appealing to someone like Drake who had been alone for most of his travels. He gave a side-glance toward Dawn, the only one who had spoken to him kindly and did not show any differing feelings in her aura. Perhaps it would be best to speak to her and let her tell the others of his departure.

“I shouldn’t have bothered all of you, this was a terrible idea. I shouldn’t go mooching off your supplies. Honestly, I was only trying to find out more about this settlement you were all talking about.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit torn. “I should go.”

His polite retreat betrayed his thoughts which were relayed to Dawn regardless of his wishes.
/I don’t feel safe here. They might try to kill me and I’m not in the right shape to defend myself right now. Not by myself./

Drake was a bit of a survivalist in that sense, preferring to avoid conflict wherever possible. As he turned, a dizzying spell overtook the boy for a moment, causing him to pause and blink his eyes a few times to shoo it away. It was likely his lack of nutrition was starting to affect him physically at this point, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Or so he hoped.

“Dawn, right?” he spoke, hesitating, “Just… Be careful.”

Seeing how she was the only one who had stuck around and remained genuine and consistent, he felt it was only right to wish her well. Even if he did hate her mind-reading abilities. His silver eyes trailed back to the building where the other two had gone, reluctant to leave the offer of food behind. There was still a chance, of course, that they wouldn’t try to kill him, but… He just couldn’t risk it in the condition he was in. His odds certainly weren’t much better out in the ash, but they seemed to be the better alternative in his mind, at the very least.