ts? idk when but... yes?

idk if we wanna go to addi healed, or start on the pathway we've outlined in the google docs. i think this rp is wrapping up, tho. might be like five-ten more pages but? getting there?

I think more than five, but it's definitely beginning the descent, I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

As for the ts, do you want to ts to everyone splitting off? So we can have the goodbyes and stuff.

sure! like theyve all healed up, mb like a month - ish later, and we can see them all setting off and hearing about their plans!!!!

Sounds good! Do you wanna start or should I?

please start

It had been a month since the fight, a month since Addilyn had almost lost her life in the arena, a month, yet now it seemed like years ago.

Over the past couple of weeks, Addilyn had been healing, very slowly that is. She'd refused Kaitlyn's offer to heal her body entirely, as well as Aloe's and Alex's, it hadn't seemed right, after all the suffering she'd caused, she deserved at least a little bit of pain. Granted the pain was hardly little, for the first week she couldn't walk at all, and her arm was practically paralyzed after being shattered. Any normal human would've probably needed to get the arm removed. Luckily for Addilyn, Kaitlyn was an amazing doctor and combined human techniques and magical ones in order to fix Addilyn's arm. Her impaled leg was coming along, and gradually got better.

Baby steps were definitely the way to go when it came to her leg, but by the end of the month, with the help of physical therapy, she could walk with limited pain. Though her once graceful steps had turned unstable and loud, there had been a time where Alex couldn't hear Addilyn coming, now anyone could hear her shuffling about, cursing softly under her breath.

Addilyn had help though, especially from her former gang members. At least, that's what they considered themselves now.

-------

Amika had no need to be in a gang anymore, a quick search and she'd discovered her name had been cleared from everything entirely, though the house fire her parents had died in was still available for anyone to find. She didn't quite mind though, Amika needed to be reminded where she came from, what her roots were.

Over the past month, she'd taken to caring for Destan since Addilyn really couldn't. He was an easy child to care for, and made jokes that could have Amika on the floor laughing for hours. He'd taken a liking to her as well, she could see it in the way he clung to her when they'd been given the news that Addilyn would make a full recovery, or how he only came to her when asking questions he felt he should already know the answer to. It was something Amika could relate to, as she wasn't exactly the smartest person since she hadn't gone to school for many, many years.

Despite his apparent lack of formal education, Destan proved himself to be smart in other ways. He could easily read people and their moods, and could make a mean omelet if given the chance. Amika cared for him with ease, she'd always loved children, and despite Destan's age, he still fell under that category. It helped that he didn't have magic, although Amika wasn't afraid of Aloe or Addilyn, the thought of the power they held made her shiver. At times, her dreams were filled with nightmares about a man with green eyes, and water bursting forth from dry, parched ground.

Jonas' presence was often the thing that kept Amika sane when she wasn't quite sure if she could hold on. All the magic and the breaking of her own mind had taken a toll on her in ways that she couldn't quite understand. Kaitlyn's healing potion things helped, but Jonas was the true cure. If she spoke to him before she slept, her nightmares would not come that night. Truthfully, she wasn't quite sure what she would do without him.

-------

Destan's sleep was also haunted by nightmares that he told no one about, as he was a silent sleeper, and no one could really help in the first place. Kit helped though, and often times, the only time he slept well was if the familiar was near.

-------

Brax was taking it all surprisingly well, though he often looked around for Zane and couldn't find him. He'd been close with Zane, or so he'd believed. It hadn't been enough though, not enough to get Zane to stay. Only Kaitlyn knew where he was, and he visited rarely. Every time he came, he seemed to have aged a little, and no longer seemed like the little boy they had all believed him to be.

It was a bit heartbreaking to see everyone slowly drift apart. Now that their lives weren't constantly in danger, there was no longer a real need to stick together. Of course the gang was still family, but Zane's sudden departure had really been the beginning of the end. Everyone had something that they wanted to do, places they wanted to see, and now, with their past mistakes forgiven, they could actually do the things they wanted to do, and see the places they wanted to see.

It wasn't like Brax didn't want his family to leave, but Amika... oh Amika. She'd always been his little sister, and he could always rely on her to make him smile. He knew that she didn't like the color yellow because it reminded her of the time a yellow ball hit her face in the first grade. He knew that her favorite color was sky blue because they reminded her of Iris' eyes and she'd loved her sister dearly. He knew that she'd fallen in love with Jonas, and that Destan's timid nature reminded her of herself. Brax knew all these things, and could not for the life of him let her go even though he knew he must.

Brax had taken to talking to Alex more often. He felt horrible about the death of her brother, and had made sure that while she was there with all of them, she was as comfortable as possible. Brax understood her loss in a way lots of other people couldn't, and that was the reason he spoke to her with such ease and comforted her as best he could.

They didn't just talk about her brother though, and Brax listened to anything Alex had to say. He liked talking to her, she was thoughtful and kind, something he was not used to from his time within the gang. Brax was happy to have someone like her around, the calm in the storm around them.

-------

Addilyn wasn't sure what to do anymore. Her life's motivation had always been to just survive one more day. Now that it was over, now that she didn't have to fight anymore, she was directionless. She watched as her gang, her family, began to slowly drift apart, and then there was the announcement that Amika and Jonas would be leaving soon, and she hadn't known what to say. Leaving was inevitable, she'd known that, but to actually experience it? That was another thing entirely.

-------

The day finally arrived, Amika and Jonas would be moving today, and Addilyn didn't quite know what she was going to do.

It was actually Alex who brought it up.

She had been the one to suggest that maybe, perhaps, Destan should live with Amika and Jonas. They were the oldest of all of them, and were the ones who would have the most stable life. Everyone - or at least Alex - could tell that Addilyn and Jason wouldn't be settling down in one place anytime soon. The two were both restless and young - hell, Addilyn was seventeen - and Destan needed stability, and a set home, and place to go to school.

...

If Alex was trying to give Destan the childhood Michael had tried to give her... well, then that wasn't anyone else's business.

...

So, instead of just Amika and Jonas leaving, they were bringing along a little boy too.

----

Jonas had it all planned out. When he had realized that sooner or later everyone would part ways, he realized that, well - he didn't want to leave Amika. He didn't want to be alone.

...
So, Jonas had asked her to move in with him.

Once she said yes, the planning was moved into high gear.

The two were going to Texas - Jonas had found a reasonably priced apartment, and then when they decided to adopt and take in Destan, he had found a new apartment in a better school district.

Both apartments had been in good and safe neighborhoods, though. Jonas was done with his old lifestyle.

...

Jonas had always wanted this sort of life: the normal family with a kid (or two? hopefully...) where they all loved one another, and went to their normal jobs, and lived their normal lives.
He had thought it was impossible, but now?

Now anything seemed possible.

In order to prepare, and to make sure Destan wouldn't grow up struggling for money like he did, Jonas also applied for a construction job nearby. He was strong and used to working long hours, so it was a good (but hopefully temporary) fit.

The name of "Ribs" was long gone, and Jonas would be forever thankful for that.

...
And, when he talked with Amika for late hours into the night, or after her nightmares, or just whenever she wanted company - or when he needed someone... Jonas knew what it felt like to completely give oneself to another.

This is what love felt like.

Amika held his heart, but Jonas wasn't afraid of that idea anymore.

----

Aloe hadn't known what to expect. Her parents were gone, along with any remaining family. This rag-tag group of ex-criminals and magic-people were her family now (and even then, Aloe didn't really know them that well).

The only person the girl was close to was Kaitlyn, who she even called "Mama."

Aloe didn't know much at her young age, but she did know that her Mama wouldn't leave her. She would be safe, and loved, and that was all the little girl really wanted.

---

Alex had many scars.

The most obvious of them were physical, where injuries she'd taken from others and placed onto herself marked her body and served as permanent reminders.

Or, perhaps, they were not so permanent after all.

Old scars faded, while new ones stood stark against her skin, and although Alex couldn't see them, their roughness in texture were reminders enough.

Some scars, though, could never fade. Those were the ones that were hidden from the world - the ones that scarred her heart and her soul.

The loss of her brother was something Alex could never get rid of - it had been completely unexpected, yet at the same time... Alex had felt like there was something coming. He had given up his life for some strangers - for her - and for a better world.

Although her brother hadn't lived by the cleanest means, he had died with honor.

...

Yet, Alex did not know what to do with this new chance. She hadn't ever had a criminal record, or any brushes with the law, but this still felt like a turning point. It hadn't been possible before, but with the sum of money Lance had given them all (although they did not get re-occurring payments like Addilyn and Jason - which made sense), Alex could do something she hadn't even dreamed of before.

Alex had dreamed of getting an education, but it had never been possible.

Now, though, it was.

Alex didn't plan on leaving yet - and until she did, she'd savor every conversation with Brax - but she wouldn't waste this new opportunity.

It was for Michael.

(Alex also found out her brother had a will - she was given everything, and had cried when she found out. ...Brax was the shoulder she had turned to.)

----

This was the first time in Jason's life where he felt like he had a choice. Everything before this had almost been thrust upon him. Sure, he's made smaller decisions, which have shaped his life, but this was a chance to change the course of his life.

...

He could travel without worrying about the cops.

He could pay for his own stuff, and not have to resort to darker means just to survive.

Jason could play his music, or carve, or....

or love. Love entirely, and fully, and know that throughout his entire life, this was a choice he had made, time and time again.

...

So, perhaps Jason had made big decisions before.

But he didn't know what to do now. He knew who to do it with, but the what was unsure.

Until it wasn't.

Jason woke up Addilyn one morning - the morning after Amika, Jonas, and Destan had left (it hurt to say goodbye to one of his best friends, and the boy who deserved so much more, and was finally getting it) - with a cup full of her favorite coffee, and a map.

On the map he had marked a few places already - Athens, Paris, Belgium, Rome, London - and some smaller places too. And as Addilyn looked at the map, Jason pulled out his phone and silently showed her the screen - a one way flight to some city in Greece - and asked, "Hey, Addi. Wanna see the world?"

Amika was absolutely delighted when Jonas had agreed to take Destan with them, and the boy was just as happy, though a little hesitant. Of course he was excited to finally start his life, but he'd just gotten used to this new family. To his new found sister. Addilyn's reassurances that she'd portal to him often definitely were the main reason why he agreed to go. He was a bit scared, mortal lives were foreign to him, but he was excited to see how it would go, and with his two new parents, he was pretty sure he could take on the whole world.

~~~~~~~~~

Kaitlyn took very good care of Aloe, refusing to let the girl out of her sight for anything loner than an hour. She'd never wanted to be a mother, but, in all honesty, she could definitely get used to having someone else around, and Aloe's sweet temperament was perfect. Plus, Kaitlyn had come to care for little Aloe, and couldn't imagine a life without her at this point.

Zane came and went as he pleased, mostly speaking to Kaitlyn and Aloe, rarely did he ever speak to Addilyn, and the feeling was definitely mutual. After she'd apologized for what she'd done to him, (which is a story for another time and ties in his random ass fear of dogs that doesn't make sense now that I know he's a witch lmao) the two had come to a mutual understanding. They wanted nothing to do with each other, they shared friends, so they'd see each other often, but talking was rather reserved and more polite than anything else.

Zane focused his time on Aloe and Kaitlyn, since he'd be moving in with the two once they got out of the hotel and he wanted to make a good impression on Aloe. Although he was a rather quite guy, he had his bright side, and enjoyed trying to make the younger girl smile.

~~~~~~~~~

The light of Addilyn's life was most definitely Jason. He seemed so happy to have finally gotten out of the cycle of crime and death, and seeing him smile automatically made Addilyn happier.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd smiled so much.

Addilyn had spent as much time as possible with Destan before he'd left with Amika and Jonas. She'd been sure to give them both stern instructions on what to do for Destan, and that if she heard a single negative thing from him she'd murder them.

It had been a joke but the threat was still there.

~~~
After the whole I'm actually able to sleep without being potentially getting murdered thought had truly hit Addilyn, she'd taken it to heart. Before she'd always been an early riser, prepping for the day and keeping watch for her sleeping friends, but with the constant threat gone for good, Addilyn took full advantage and slept in very, very often.

That was why, when Jason woke her up the morning after her little brother and best friend had left her, Addilyn was pretty startled. Jason normally let her sleep in, especially since she was still recovering and everything. The coffee definitely made up for it. The presence of the map had confused her at first, and she'd scanned it with a furrowed brow, ignoring the coffee as she looked up at Jason, questioning with her eyes.

His answer to her silent question took a moment to digest, and she'd went quiet for a long second, then, without any real warning, she'd reached up and pulled him into a long hug, and whispered into his ear. "As long as I'm with you, I'd go absolutely anywhere."

As the weeks passed by, the group became smaller and smaller. Zane, Kaitlyn, and Aloe had left not long after Jonas, Amika, and Destan had.

Aloe had quickly taken a liking to Zane once he started apearing more, calling him "Uncle 'Ane."

No one doubted that Aloe would be well-loved and safe.

~~~
Alex was the next one to leave. She was going to go to college, and wanted to move into the town she would be living in before the school year started. That was she could get an idea of the layout, and adjust to living in a new area on her own.

Well, almost on her own, as she still had her dog.

Alex double checked to be sure she had everyone's number in her phone, then triple checked that Brax's was there.
On the day that she was leaving - catching a taxi to the airport then getting on her flight - she gave Brax a tight hug goodbye, and fluttered a light kiss on his cheek, "I really hope we get to meet again."

....

(okay, so this is short reply, but i wanted to know: are we gonna talk about/RP addi and jason going to all (well, not ALL, cuz that would be way too much) the places, or we gonna do a large overview/timeline of how stuff is going on)

Er, we could do an overview of most areas but like do a deeper dive when in the specific places/events we talked about. I think we planned to do that anyways lol, is that still good with you?

(Not gonna lie, I've been pushing this off for awhile because I hate saying goodbye -_-)