#cade&aiyla

[elpida]

"we need to find somewhere more long-term. with land to farm and fresh water, somewhere high up and isolated. somewhere we can survived and live until this mess is over." (cade & aiyla)

"farmin' land isn't the hard part, it's the fresh water. we need land that's got a well or somethin' 'coz as long as we can boil down the water, it'd be safe to drink, even if it's rain water you know? or a stream near the land, that'd do." he half grumbled his response but he knew that aiyla was right, they weren't going to survive like this. "hey, it's gonna work out, 'aight?"

cade flicked his map open wider, using the tip of a knife to point out where he was referencing. "we've been here, and we've been this way, so listen whilst it's more dangerous to get through, i think we go this way, through the woods, beyond that there's just open fields so surely we keep goin' and we're going to find a farm, how about that? i can clear the space, make sure it's safe." above all else he wanted aiyla to feel safe and if she'd have asked him to run a marathon then take on a hoard, he'd do it, just because she asked. he was protective in his nature, incredibly when it came to her. "high up s'gonna be more of a problem sweetheart."

[isolatednights]

"When did you get this?" reverse - cade&aiyla

@elpida

ever since they'd arrived the farm, they'd fallen into a routine of pairing together for whatever project required doing that day. most were necessities - repairs to the fence, hooking up solar panels, tending the gardens or going for supply runs off the property - but occasionally there were things that popped up that allowed them to live rather than just survive.

elias had approached the pair when it had been agreed additional raised beds would be built to expand their produce. the other man had wanted raspberries for rhea - a surprise, he'd claimed. cade had grumbled about the lack of necessity and only begrudgingly agreed after a silent exchange with aiyla.

the summer sun was high and hot - leaving the conversation between them restricted to the occasional comment or confirmation in hopes of reserving energy and getting done faster. when cade suggested a break for water, aiyla had stood - blue hues raising to look at him just as he's grabbed the edge of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow.

she'd moved before she'd even thought about it - fingers of one hand snatching the fabric and raising it back up while the others ghost over the spiderwebbing against his side. new - if the angry red color had anything to say about it. "when did you get this?" why didn't you tell me?

[isolatednights]

@elpida

You went out with Rachel before, did you? Did you sleep with her? I did. Once. Like… last year. But it wouldn’t be the kind of thing where, like… feelings would be involved.

NORMAL PEOPLE (2020) | EPISODE THREE

[elpida]

"Wait, who are you?" (aiyla & cade)

"darlin' you know who i am, you know me, cade- cade sabelle, thick and thin me and you, remember?" he pulled her into his harms, holding her like she was going to slip through his arms and disappear from his life, holding though as if she were smoke that'd disperse into nothing he could grab. one hand purposefully cradled the back of her head and the other ran up and down her back. "it's me darlin' n' i'm sorry, i'm so sorry, i'm here now yeah? i'm here n' i've got you." and it didn't matter either way because it was too late, damage was already done.

"aiyla, sweetheart, say you know me, you do don't you? we've been through so much shit together you can't just, there 'aint no way- you can't just forget all of that." he was fretting, fretting because what could be more cruel than this? still right there in person, but not his person.

[elpida]

"You know who I am, don't you?" (aiyla & cade)

"yeah, a woman." he grunted, his eyes looking her up and down quickly, as though she were just any old stranger he'd have passed in the streets. this wasn't cade, cade never looked at her like that, he looked at everyone else like that, he raised his eyebrows judgementally at everyone else, but now it was at her and he wasn't exactly speaking, wasn't a good sign for him.

he still looked beat, his face bruised, his upper cheek bone to the left was almost purple, a scratch across his jaw. he didn't look himself when he was different shades of purple and yellow, he'd taken a hell of a beating. "i help you with somethin' miss?" he didn't even know the depth of his question... cade was rude to everyone, she was his exception and even though he looked at her with no memory, he was polite.

[isolatednights]

"When did you get this?" - elias&rhea

it's the early morning sun that wakes her up - creeping through the barn boards. they ought to get up, prepare for a day of helping aiyla and cade - proving they're worthy of sticking around. yet she can't help but nuzzle into the warmth at her side - too comfortable to want to move just yet.

she's entirely unaware of their proximity until he shifts and fingers slide across his side. it's enough for doe-eyes to blink open and brows to furrow. sometime in the middle of the night, they'd curled together - though whether it was for warmth or comfort was debatable. fingers glide over the mark again, curious what the mark is from - and it's only when she feels elias stir once more that her head tilts to look at him.

"when did you get this?" it's quiet - a mere whisper. probably not a proper morning greeting, but they always have been a little... unconventional together.

[elpida]

"we picked a farm, it seemed liek a smart idea. farm or island but an island well, we weren't exactly spoiled for choice and this was the closest farm before nightfall so.. we just picked this one, i won't lie to you ma'am we didn't have much more of a plan after that, it was just come up with something and go from there and here we are." lying was going to get him nowhere, he knew that. either way he was making sure that rhea was a safe few feet back, this one hand hovering at his side as if to keep her there, where he knew she was safe. "i'd just like to be able to keep my wife safe from travelling in the dark hours."

"if? there isn't a chance in hell that they're gettin' near the house." see had anyone else brought it up, had any other person questioned him on letting them stay.. he'd have given a very firm and final answer but because he was aiyla he was pliable, he'd crumble for her so easily. if only she knew how easily.

with a slow exhale he turned his head to speak up. "what are you good at, what're your skills? you can lift, carry weight?" he had half a grumble in his voice when he asked. "you know anythin' bout farming? about repairing any of this? 'coz if you can be sueful then.." he flashed aiyla a look, he wasn't sure... but if they were in the barn away from them? they could take turns the first few nights, watching, waiting for some sort of overthrow, whether they'd stay there. "then you can stay in the barn, not in the house or anythin' but the barn is a roof.. it's clear, you can help me finish clearin' it out since there's an hour or so left of sunlight."

elias couldn't have been quicker to roll his sleeves up and open the gate. he was more than ready to put the work in. "point me in the direction, i'm happy to work." he did flash a smile to aiyla too. "rhea knows all about raspberries if that's a possibility for the farm!" sarcastic as ever.

with that cade held a hand up to pause them before they got too close. "i'll say this once and once only, for the sake of sayin' it. you hurt her, you cause any trouble, i'll break all of your limbs n' string you up for passerby's to see, makin' myself clear?"

elias wanted to retaliate, he really did... but he also knew that it was for now, better to keep the peace and not be turned away and cast out into the dark. "there wont be any trouble, not for either of you."

lips press together as he speaks - earlier teasing demeanor replaced by one of concern - entirely unconvinced that this is a good idea. it might appear to be one woman, but rhea has learned that looks can be deceiving these days and she refuses to trust anything at face value. wandering about once the sun sets however, isn't really an option, so almost reluctantly, she sighs. "i don't like it." any further protest is halted by the kiss pressed to the top of her head - doe eyes blinking after him in surprise. they've been affectionate, certainly but that was... different.

it isn't that she's unaware of her surroundings - her head remains on a swivel despite having settled into the farm some weeks earlier - but the glances she tosses up are sporadic. the dead are slow and they haven't seen another living soul since they'd claimed the farm as their own... so perhaps she's grown a bit complacent. thoroughly distracted by the raised garden bed they'd installed, aiyla nearly startles out of her skin at the abrupt greeting. taking half a step back from the garden, blue hues assess the man critically before flickering behind him to the woman whose several paces back. it isn't a decision she'll make alone, and while part of her wants to call for cade, aiyla doesn't want to place him into any unnecessary danger either. "how'd you stumble on our home?" it's the only thing she cares about.

rhea isn't surprised to see someone else appear given how unlikely it is the other woman is alone - but its the sheer speed of his approach - the way his face seems to soften for her before immediately telling them off. swallowing a lump in her throat, she steps forward to hover just behind elias ( fingers reaching blindly to clasp around the material of his sleeve once more ). "we've just been looking for a place to settle - just like everyone else these days. it's just us - elias is right. we're just looking for somewhere to stay for the night."

unconsciously, aiyla finds herself leaning back into cade's touch - grounding herself and attempting to shake some of the nerves that have appeared with the appearance of two strangers. "i'm fine - they haven't stepped beyond the gate since they showed up," she assured quietly. "we can't just turn them away, cade. they aren't wrong. it'll be dark well before they hit another farm - assuming they manage to keep the right direction. we could let them stay in the barn for the night if you don't want them in the house."

[elpida]

⚡️ + cade, if you and aiyla were still alone and she fell ill, what would you do?

"i'd be by her side." he answered it without any hesitation. "i started this journey with aiyla, i'd end it with her and if she was sick then i'm sick too. if i'm honest i don't want to keep on going if she isn't here.." it was a morbid thought when it came down to it, that he'd rather have his last days with her than go on without. "i know how that sounds but.. it's the truth and i wish she realized how much she means to me, thing is i wouldn't want to do this with anyone else." he paused, fingers knotting together the more he thought about it. "i'd do anything for her."

[elpida]

🎁 ( would me asking for each of our ships be too much? 🤭 if so - gimme whoever you want! )

omg this is going under a read more!

eden&asher -

i've touched on this one already, but she'd get him dog tags, she'd sit each time he goes out and do her best job of using what she has to hand to carve a message into the metal. one side would be her old address, the bakery, the precise address and the other side would read home. why? because she'd give him them and tell him that if they were ever separated, for any reason he lost her and couldn't find her, that is where she'd go and she'd wait for him there, however long it'd take.

eris&silas -

okay so eris is totally getting silas a knife but hear me on this, she wouldn't get him any old knife, she'd find a blade that is nice and little and she'd fix it up, sharpen, and shine, then she'd find something like a reclaimed piece of wood or antler and she'd carve it to fit to his palm nicely, definitely a flip blade so he can keep it even if they were to find somewhere, protection even around normal and sane people, a way of protecting him without doing it herself.

cade&aiyla -

cade i think is more what he'd do, like when that farm is running how they want it, he wouldn't get her something specific, but she would wake up to this stupid christmas breakfast and he'd feel like an idiot but he'd bring it in to her and hand it to her like it's the most normal thing, breakfast in bed, the little luxuries, but it's very clear he really tried that day, you know?

elias&rhea -

no, no you don't understand how fast i knew what he'dget her. this man is finding some discarded wood on the farm and he is making her that cheesy home sign they talked about, live laugh love, kennefick family bedroom, hawaii is a dream away, he'd go all out for it and he'd hang it up in their room, make it as strikingly obvious at he could. he'd sit there like what do you mean you don't love it?! worked SO HARD on that

sage&benji -

sage is going to go out on a little mission to find the oldest bookshop to can and find benji a rare copy of one of her favourite reads, alice in wonderland. why? because whilst rare and old books don't mean value anymore, she knows he'll appreciate the artwork and craftmanship of it just as much as she would, and she gets him her favourite so they can talk about it together.

eris&kastor -

no hear mmeeee, she isn't going to intentionally know that it's christmas day, let it just be ironic she gives him this on christmas day, but hear me out, she'd give him some demonic looking little pendant thing, tells him to keep it on him and that it's so if he needs her and she isn't around, if she's busy, he just has to hold it and call her name and she will show up, like a direct pull to take her to him instantly without having to summon her and i think it'd be the first piece of power she gives him, which would only extend and grow from that, she'd show him how to use that to channel power ect.

[elpida]

everything looked a shorter distance on a map, he thought they'd be here sooner, time to change plan if they needed but they were running out of time. it'd be dark soon, dark and fucking cold and he didn't want to sit there and watch her shivering thanks to his mishap. he should have picked a different farm, a different place. "rhea.." he used a calmer tone. "listen, listen to me. it'll be fine." he reassured. "it's not a group, see? one woman, i doubt she'd look at us and think oh yeah, let me fight them so how about this. yous tay back a bit, i go forward, i talk. we need somewhere to rest, we need a good nights sleep, something. maybe she needs help with the land, that's something we can offer in exchange." elias had to think with a clear head. "it's worth us trying. not everyone is bad, she might be just like us. we don't know that she didn't think exactly like us, a farm being a good idea."

with that elias turned to her and moved in quickly, just to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. he meant it to seem friendly, just a passing thing, decision made and he'd get the job done if it meant she'd be warm tonight but beneath that.. he wished he'd been brave enough to kiss her on the lips, properly. "i'm not putting you at risk travelling at night." he spoke before turning on his heels and walking right up to the front gate. "excuse me! ma'am? hi! hi, i don't mean you no harm." his hands were held up, his pack shoved to the ground already. "my name is elias, i was wondering if you might need anyone to help with the land or anything heavy needs moving, i'm good at fixing things, just me and my wife, we're looking for somewhere to lay our heads tonight and there isn't anywhere else for quite some miles.. everybody knows it isn't safe to travel at night."

cade heard an unfamiliar voice. he was out of the old barn and crossing the farm in a heartbeat. aiyla. if anything happened to her, if something bad happened. no, he couldn't bare the thought. he came rushing up behind her, his hand immediately going to rest on her back. "what's going on- the fuck is he? he hasn't hurt you no, you're okay?" he spoke lowly, his frown already settled, the judgement of the man at their gate and the woman off in the distance. all elias could do was curse under his breath. he could tell in an instant that whilst he might have managed to charm the woman, there was no charming cade. "tough." was all he stated, one word, firmly.

she can't help but laugh, knowing there is truth behind the words. "the cheesiest, i'm sure. that would've been cute though. RW + EK under where my band sat. maybe with the date. that way there would have been no mistaking that i was someones," twirling the ring that now sat on her left ring finger, rhea can't help the slight furrow of her brow, knowing this was just another thing that would have been lost with time.

"oh how the tables turn," she mused. "my apartment was colorful. plants, homemade quilts, art." now, she'd settle for somewhere that was at least safe. everything else would just be... extra.

"any animal will bite when cornered, sweetie." flashing him a grin, she skipped ahead a few steps from him, "only time will tell i suppose. though i like the thought of someone noticing that about it first. would make for a good story."

the rest of the walk to their chosen destination is spent exchanging quips, sidelong glances, and plenty of laughter. by the time the woods were clearing to give way to open fields, rhea was more than ready to bask in the open air and sunlight - but the sight of a figure near the house gave her pause. almost blindly, fingers reached out to snatch onto elias' sleeve - drawing them to a halt. it was difficult to tell at first, but the movements were clearly human - a woman, from the looks of it. "someone lives here," for some reason, that came as a surprise to rhea. when was the last time they'd seen anyone? glancing at elias, a brow rose. "maybe we ought to pick another farm nearby?" it was late afternoon, but the sun was bound to set within a handful hours, and traveling at night.... it just wasn't safe.

[elpida]

"that what you think i once was? farmer cade?" he laughed lowly. "before all this i was a security guard, for a while... in the old world i don't reckon you'd have liked me much, i was never very good at followin the rules society had laid down, i never fit into the nine to five job.. ended up in the wrong crowd, that kind of situation." he explained softly. "i would've liked a farmer, countryside life though.. my ma, she would've liked it. she was always one for the quiet life, how it is now... she'd have never made it, you know?"

once upon a time it was obvious enough that cade had been a mama's boy, it'd always been just him and his mom, so that might explain why he liked it being just him and aiyla so much. "fireplaces are always legit in these old farm houses, but i'll go up on the roof, check the chimney up top is all good before we light it up tonight."

he thought about it, happiness in someone elses misfortune. "...i think not everyone was cut out to live like this, so what harm is there in taking what would otherwise waste away? think if it was me, n' this had been mine... i like the idea that someone would continue to live and thrive in what was mine, than it rot. something like that old saying, you can make a house a home." he listened about the dust, the master bed. "i know there are plenty of rooms and all that.." he started, he just didn't look at her when he was being so direct, something about this idea that she'd cringe away wasn't something he enjoyed. "you know until we're in a routine here i don't much like the idea of you being far from me, maybe when we're more settled or whatever but for now, i think we do what we've always done, same space, protect each other. that good with you?"

it was odd. aiyla once would have considered herself a people person, wanting to be surrounded by others, but since everything had happened, that had changed and she couldn't help but agree with his statement. she'd have been happy if it was just the two of them - living out the rest of their days and growing gray in that house together, alone. but there was undoubtedly benefit of having others around. "let's just... work under the assumption that it's just us for now. if we happen to find others when we're out looking for supplies or god forbid they stumble upon us, we'll just deal with them on a case by case basis. evaluate the type of people they are, give them a trial period to ensure they pull their weight and would benefit from sticking around and if not..." it was something they'd have to figure out when

with the house empty of any others - dead or alive - aiyla immediately beelined for the kitchen. it was the sort of space she would have once dreamed of - big window over the sink, large island and plenty of natural light. releasing a laugh, amused eyes flicker toward cade before she's popping open a cabinet. "country girl, really? alright, what should i call you then, farmer cade?" plates greet her in the first cabinet - mugs and cups in the next. the third proves better and she releases a noise of content. "spices, sugar." it's murmured loud enough for him to hear. "if that fireplace works in the other room and the rest of the cabinets or that garden i saw has anything, we might be able to make a proper meal. soup, maybe?"

"is it bad of me to say i'm grateful that while it might not have benefitted them, it might us?" brow furrowing, aiyla can't help but pause her search to glance over her shoulder at him briefly. "the master bed looked comfortable. everything's a bit dusty - we'll have our work cut out for us, but we'll have somewhere decent to sleep regardless." perhaps its wrong of her to assume they'll stay together, now that they have such a large space, but it makes sense until they've fully secured the area, doesn't it? then... well, then if he wants his space, she'll find another room.

[elpida]

cade had grown to dislike her being out of sight... he liked her being near, near enough to see, near enough to reach out and pull with him if it all went sour in a city or small town. that's when he was most stoic and on edge. he wondered if when they got this place right.. whether she'd want space, a room away from him, whether she'd crave distance when they'd been glued to each other for so long now. would she pick space over being beside him given the choice? he wouldn't pout, anything, so long as she was happy really.

he'd been far worse at first, a grunt here, a nod there.. then after a bit of time it'd be the odd word, eventually though he started to talk to her. started to respond to questions asked and slowly the ice cold man, warmed.

"personally? i'm happy for it to be me and you against the rest of the world.. strategically? the more hands to help, the more crops, the more the land and the fences will be taken care of and with enough people, we get a night time patrol going, make the windmill a usable thing but also a watch tower, so i guess you could say i'm torn. part of me thinks we've done this well just me n' you for so long that.." he took a slow, deep breath. it was clear what he was saying. he didn't like people. cade was not a people person.

slowly he checked each and every room, meticulous as ever but when it was done his shoulders dropped in relief. "right, we're good, so, welcome to our new home, country girl. whoever had this place they had money, didn't save 'em shit in the end though."

a noise escapes her - and if it weren't for aiyla's lips rolling together to prevent the overly amused smile, she's certain it would have been a laugh. aiyla had never considered herself a picky individual before, but if she never had to eat another expired granola bar or can of cold beans again, it would be too soon. "i know, it's horribly difficult to imagine. but since you'll clearly be missing the taste that much, i'll be sure to find a way to grow beans and include them in every single one of your future meals." the woman shoots him a wink over her shoulder as she begins walking away.

"only if you promise the same!" she calls. it makes her nervous to be away from him. odd, given they'd been virtual strangers before all this, but the woman has come to rely on cade in more than one way - and the thought of being separated, even voluntarily, tends to make her skin crawl.

"it's one last thing to worry about at the very least." startling slightly when cade reached to bang on the door, fingers flexed around the hilt of her weapon. "i'd take a just-okay mattress at this point." lord knew even if they did settle there, anything would be better with ground, and they'd have so much work cut out for them that they'd likely fall into bed and pass out immediately each night for quite some time. "no point in waiting around, let's see what we're working with." with a resounding sort of silence coming from the inside of the house, aiyla cast cade a glance before popping the door open and slipping inside.

the question gives her pause - partially because her attention is split between carefully walking through each of the rooms and partially because she isn't sure how to answer him. "i - honestly, i haven't given it much thought. i mean, at some point, if we stick around and secure this place, it's going to be hard to try and hide in place sight. what do you think we do, or tell them?"

[elpida]

"solar panels are a great idea, they can't be too complicated and maybe then with an electrified fence, we're on to a winner. i'm sure this one here, had an old windmill. i'm sure of it, n' then not only do we have a fence we have height, can keep an eye out, safe haven if you're high 'coz none of those fuckers are going to stand a single chance as getting up to that height." he liked to theorize and plan by talking it out, she was the only person he'd ever really liked to talk to at all.

"re-evaluate in a few days." he'd be fair, he'd listen, he'd weigh up their concerns or any concerns she had and if it was in their interest, so be it, they were a team now and that's how cade saw it. that, and he wanted to protect her. once they'd agreed he started on making a move, he always reached and took the heaviest bag of their supplies and for the most part, he was quiet. he didn't want them to attract attention but he did offer his help whenever there was a ledge to climb or a drop, he'd look back, check on her, offer his water whenever he took a drink himself. he wasn't a brute of a man, he just looked like one.

it took two days on foot but the widest smile took over his face. "what did i saw, windmill. old, but it'll do just fine, don't you think? i think we're lucky, doesn't look like there's many dead floating about. how about i do a house sweep, you do a windmill check? once we've rest up a bit, eaten, we should check all the fence too, make sure there's no weak points or gaps, find the old power source." he slid his bag off, tossing it near one of the walls. it was peaceful out here, he liked the peace of it, it felt less creepy than the silence in the cities. "c'mon, take that bag off, your back must be killing you by now darlin'."

teeth worried away at her lower lip as he spoke about the potential of finding a farm. the fencing would be nice ⸻ even if it wasn't electrified, it would be a temporary safeguard they hadn't had in god knows how long ( and gave them the flexibility to come up with something more permanent ). "plenty of open land we couldn't use... maybe we could figure out solar panels to make them work again?" it would involve poking through nearby towns, which could put them under unnecessary risk... but the thought of electricity after the fact? of heat during the winters, or hot showers? tempting, even if there was a far amount of work involved.

and while an island and its consistent safety was a nice thought, aiyla knew the risk travel posed. if it wasn't the dead or their dwindling supplies, it as the possibility of running into the living ( so many had lost their humanity when the world had crumbled ⸻ trusting anyone but the man in front of her caused a slight shudder to trail her frame ). blue hues flickered across her companion before a soft huff of breath escaped her and her attention darted to their surroundings instead. even if she felt horribly unqualified to make this sort of decision, something in her still felt lighter at both the reassurance the man offered and the fact that he was even giving her opinion any weight. "let's try the farms first. see if any around are suitable for our needs. scavenge what we can. re-evaluate in a few days?"

[elpida]

"normally farmland has some sort of electric fence which, sure might not be any electric anymore but it was always barbed wire, which could be a good temporary, that's the thing with farmland, we will most likely find a lot of the tools we need hand on the land, makes it easier for finding solutions." he hummed in contemplation, barbed wire was no ideal, it'd pull and snap in time but it'd do until he found another fix, until they could build themselves walls... and they'd no doubt have- there. his knife circled on some forest that'd been marked out. "that'd be the wood to build out walls, logs would be sturdy, always replaceable, tall.."

he smirked. "an island? well, we'd have a long trip, but an island wouldn't be impossible.. best bet for an island is get to a coast, boat, and find somewhere off shore but close enough to be able to come back for supplies. what do you think, do we travel? it'll be a long journey... unless we can find a workin' vehicle with fuel to get us part the way, it's all dependent and we are running real low on supplies these days.." he turned to her and put on his best, lopsided grin. "it's gonna work out you know that right darlin'? whether we end up on a farm, an island, a skyscraper, we can make it work." maybe it was odd, that he'd teamed up with a woman so much younger but... he felt protective, he couldn't help it. cade had always been a provider and he wanted to provide, a safe haven and food, he wanted to be reliable for her like he never had before. "whatever you wanna do darlin', we'll do it so what's your call? island and travel or farm until we have the set up to make the journey?"

they could have it all, in an ideal world, but everything about their current circumstances was far from ideal. "shouldn't rely on rain water. it can go weeks without a proper storm and we'd still be stuck in our same predicament," she points out softly. trekking through the woods in search of water ( in search of anything ) if they've managed to find somewhere secure and safe? it's a terrifying prospect. blue hues flicker up to look at the man at her side ⸻ wanting to believe the gentle reassurance but knowing there's no longer a guarantee of anything. still, she offers him a small smile, if only to placate him.

peering over his shoulder so that she might take a better look at the map, the woman carefully slides around to stand closely at his side ⸻ eyes trailing the tip of the knife. the thought of crossing back that direction sends a nervous buzz through her veins, but if cade believes it best, she's not going to push forth too much of a protest. "i'm not gonna let you go off and clear anything on your own. we're a team, aren't we?" if something happened to him... it's a thought she pushes away swiftly. a dangerous path she refuses to let her thoughts travel down.

"isolated farmland with fresh water then," she settles, "we'll have to figure out building walls or some sorta defense." by no means is aiyla a country girl, but she's driven through it enough to visit friends lakeside cabins to know that the fencing that scatters around farmland isn't going to do anything to keep the living or the dead out. "almost think we'd be better off on an island."

[isolatednights]

rhea knew it had been her suggestion to go with the lie of being married, yet something about hearing elias refer to her as his wife - insisting she be safe made her want to squirm in pleasure. instead, dark hues flickered to meet the blue of the other woman - a look of understanding exchanged between them. as if both were familiar with posturing, over protective men.

glancing back at cade, aiyla's head dipped into a small nod. until these two proved themselves trustworthy, she would agree to them staying away from the house. it had become a little safe haven for the pair of them, and well it would be nice to have extra sets of hands to help make it into something more permanent, aiyla also wasn't entirely eager to pop the little bubble that had formed around them. "we'll give you some water and food as well. it's not much, but it'll fill you up." a rarity these days. a kindness not often offered by strangers, but aiyla hoped that would be enough to keep the other two from doing anything horribly rash.

"eli!" rhea hissed at the sarcasm, eyes narrowing to shoot him a look of warning before flickering back toward the other man and woman. "thank you - for the offer of the barn, food and water. we're willing to put in the work and learn whatever we don't already know." walking up to join elias - fingers squeeze at his arm, a gentle reassurance - ready to separate from him, at least for a brief period, only to pause at cade's warning. it ought to terrify her - ought to make her worry that one wrong move will place her and elias into a world of trouble - but instead, she can't help but softly chuckle. "we don't mean any harm to you or your wife," she agreed with elias. "just want somewhere safe like everyone else."

aiyla is aware how important they've become to one another - yet cade's warning causes her attention to move from the couple before them to look at him. it seems... extreme for just friends, and the others woman mistaking their relationship because of it just causes her to flush. "i'll be just within yelling distance and i'll keep my knife on me," she assures softly, offering him a small smile before stepping away from his side to properly introduce them to the others. "i'm aiyla, this is cade. rhea right? i've got some sheets hanging outback on a line to dry. should keep you both warm enough tonight. c'mon. i'll show you around while these to finish up, ya?"

"we picked a farm, it seemed liek a smart idea. farm or island but an island well, we weren't exactly spoiled for choice and this was the closest farm before nightfall so.. we just picked this one, i won't lie to you ma'am we didn't have much more of a plan after that, it was just come up with something and go from there and here we are." lying was going to get him nowhere, he knew that. either way he was making sure that rhea was a safe few feet back, this one hand hovering at his side as if to keep her there, where he knew she was safe. "i'd just like to be able to keep my wife safe from travelling in the dark hours."

"if? there isn't a chance in hell that they're gettin' near the house." see had anyone else brought it up, had any other person questioned him on letting them stay.. he'd have given a very firm and final answer but because he was aiyla he was pliable, he'd crumble for her so easily. if only she knew how easily.

with a slow exhale he turned his head to speak up. "what are you good at, what're your skills? you can lift, carry weight?" he had half a grumble in his voice when he asked. "you know anythin' bout farming? about repairing any of this? 'coz if you can be sueful then.." he flashed aiyla a look, he wasn't sure... but if they were in the barn away from them? they could take turns the first few nights, watching, waiting for some sort of overthrow, whether they'd stay there. "then you can stay in the barn, not in the house or anythin' but the barn is a roof.. it's clear, you can help me finish clearin' it out since there's an hour or so left of sunlight."

elias couldn't have been quicker to roll his sleeves up and open the gate. he was more than ready to put the work in. "point me in the direction, i'm happy to work." he did flash a smile to aiyla too. "rhea knows all about raspberries if that's a possibility for the farm!" sarcastic as ever.

with that cade held a hand up to pause them before they got too close. "i'll say this once and once only, for the sake of sayin' it. you hurt her, you cause any trouble, i'll break all of your limbs n' string you up for passerby's to see, makin' myself clear?"

elias wanted to retaliate, he really did... but he also knew that it was for now, better to keep the peace and not be turned away and cast out into the dark. "there wont be any trouble, not for either of you."

[isolatednights]

lips press together as he speaks - earlier teasing demeanor replaced by one of concern - entirely unconvinced that this is a good idea. it might appear to be one woman, but rhea has learned that looks can be deceiving these days and she refuses to trust anything at face value. wandering about once the sun sets however, isn't really an option, so almost reluctantly, she sighs. "i don't like it." any further protest is halted by the kiss pressed to the top of her head - doe eyes blinking after him in surprise. they've been affectionate, certainly but that was... different.

it isn't that she's unaware of her surroundings - her head remains on a swivel despite having settled into the farm some weeks earlier - but the glances she tosses up are sporadic. the dead are slow and they haven't seen another living soul since they'd claimed the farm as their own... so perhaps she's grown a bit complacent. thoroughly distracted by the raised garden bed they'd installed, aiyla nearly startles out of her skin at the abrupt greeting. taking half a step back from the garden, blue hues assess the man critically before flickering behind him to the woman whose several paces back. it isn't a decision she'll make alone, and while part of her wants to call for cade, aiyla doesn't want to place him into any unnecessary danger either. "how'd you stumble on our home?" it's the only thing she cares about.

rhea isn't surprised to see someone else appear given how unlikely it is the other woman is alone - but its the sheer speed of his approach - the way his face seems to soften for her before immediately telling them off. swallowing a lump in her throat, she steps forward to hover just behind elias ( fingers reaching blindly to clasp around the material of his sleeve once more ). "we've just been looking for a place to settle - just like everyone else these days. it's just us - elias is right. we're just looking for somewhere to stay for the night."

unconsciously, aiyla finds herself leaning back into cade's touch - grounding herself and attempting to shake some of the nerves that have appeared with the appearance of two strangers. "i'm fine - they haven't stepped beyond the gate since they showed up," she assured quietly. "we can't just turn them away, cade. they aren't wrong. it'll be dark well before they hit another farm - assuming they manage to keep the right direction. we could let them stay in the barn for the night if you don't want them in the house."

everything looked a shorter distance on a map, he thought they'd be here sooner, time to change plan if they needed but they were running out of time. it'd be dark soon, dark and fucking cold and he didn't want to sit there and watch her shivering thanks to his mishap. he should have picked a different farm, a different place. "rhea.." he used a calmer tone. "listen, listen to me. it'll be fine." he reassured. "it's not a group, see? one woman, i doubt she'd look at us and think oh yeah, let me fight them so how about this. yous tay back a bit, i go forward, i talk. we need somewhere to rest, we need a good nights sleep, something. maybe she needs help with the land, that's something we can offer in exchange." elias had to think with a clear head. "it's worth us trying. not everyone is bad, she might be just like us. we don't know that she didn't think exactly like us, a farm being a good idea."

with that elias turned to her and moved in quickly, just to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. he meant it to seem friendly, just a passing thing, decision made and he'd get the job done if it meant she'd be warm tonight but beneath that.. he wished he'd been brave enough to kiss her on the lips, properly. "i'm not putting you at risk travelling at night." he spoke before turning on his heels and walking right up to the front gate. "excuse me! ma'am? hi! hi, i don't mean you no harm." his hands were held up, his pack shoved to the ground already. "my name is elias, i was wondering if you might need anyone to help with the land or anything heavy needs moving, i'm good at fixing things, just me and my wife, we're looking for somewhere to lay our heads tonight and there isn't anywhere else for quite some miles.. everybody knows it isn't safe to travel at night."

cade heard an unfamiliar voice. he was out of the old barn and crossing the farm in a heartbeat. aiyla. if anything happened to her, if something bad happened. no, he couldn't bare the thought. he came rushing up behind her, his hand immediately going to rest on her back. "what's going on- the fuck is he? he hasn't hurt you no, you're okay?" he spoke lowly, his frown already settled, the judgement of the man at their gate and the woman off in the distance. all elias could do was curse under his breath. he could tell in an instant that whilst he might have managed to charm the woman, there was no charming cade. "tough." was all he stated, one word, firmly.