Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sasha sat hunched on the stone steps near the entrance of the Church, elbows on knees and a lit cigarette held forgotten between two thick fingers. The night air was still, and the smoke twined upward in an opaque ribbon...paper slowly turning to ash.

He'd been spared enough water to wash with, but not enough for a bath. Lank green hair was plastered against his skull, and a haze of scrubbed eyeliner still circled his gaze. His eyes were fixed rather steadily on the rocks between his boots.

Footsteps in the same gravel annouced the arrival of the patrol, but Sasha didn't bother to look up. The click and snap of a semi automatic weapon being cocked, however, did the trick.

A young soldier stood before him, aiming halfheartedly before he dropped the muzzle and motioned with the gun for Sasha to get up. "Back in the Church. No one out after dark."

Saw showed no signs of standing. He recognized this kid...he had been out in the graveyard earlier, throwing rocks at the scavenger birds. "Gimme a minute, ya? Need some air."

Jonathan, that was his name. The young private shook his head, and motioned again with the gun. "On your feet. I supposed to conserve ammo, but I'm sure they'll make an exception."

At that, Saw stood, drawing himself up to his full height...which was at least a head above the lad he now stared down at. Jonathan pondered this for a moment before allowing his bluff to be called. "Fine, one minute. Hey, you gonna smoke that?"

It might have been an odd question, but the cigarette still hanging between Saw's fingers held a full centimeter of ash...clearly, he hadn't done much with it since it had been lit. Shaking his head, he handed it over...taking a seat again as Jon slung his gun by its strap under one arm and accepted it.

"Thanks, man. What are you doin' with it if you're not gonna smoke it?"

Raising his eyes, obviously weary, Sasha contemplated the guard for several more seconds before responding. It was obvious the outgoing young lad was bent on shattering his peace. "Used to keep them for friend. The smell....reminds me." Rain and smoke...he could almost see Ann's smile when he caught a whiff of either.

Jon nodded, taking a long drag before sitting next to Sasha with a scrape of plastic and metal. "Yeah, I know what you mean. For me, you know, it's coffee. Mom would make a pot of coffee each and every damn morning...can't stand to drink it, but I love the smell."

Finally, Sasha smiled, and glanced sidelong at the kid. He couldn't have been much over 18...probably just enlisted when this whole mess started. Fishing out the crumpled pack from his pocket, Sasha lit another one and contemplated it. Only seven left.

"Makes you wonder what we are missing, hmm?" Taking a pull himself, the first in his life, Sasha held it for a moment before snorting it uncomfortably out his nose. Not quite a cough, but obviously not the kinda smoke you wanted to hold onto. It was a temporary vice, easy in and quick out. Just like Ann.

"Nah, not really. Coffee sucks unless its half sugar." Kind of missing the point, Jonathan took the last drag and dropped the butt...grinding it out with his heel as he stood. "Thanks man. But uh, I need you to head back in."

Sasha sighed, still staring at the new cigarette. After a moment, Jon sighed as well, and swung his weapon back into place. "I'll make another round. Expect the porch to be clear by then."

At that, Sasha nodded, and took another drag.