text | username: xXx_trueblue_xXx & redlion

[competing]

[With all the information coming out, it's apparent to Keith and Lance that one big elephant in the room has been ignored: the infection among the recruits themselves. Keith is tired and on edge, as he needs nothing to do with the infection to be cranky. Lance is jittery, too. But they have to talk about that elephant before it gets too late.

And for some of them, it might be. That's what Keith is really afraid of right now.]

Hey. It's Keith.

and ya boy, lance! [Because things are already pretty doom and gloom as it stands, and maybe things could use a little lightening up? Or something...

It’s a little more difficult to differentiate between people in a group message like this, but it’s a better idea to get something down on text in case they need to refer to it later, and anyone who knows either of the boys can probably tell them apart pretty easily through diction alone.]

we know your mind-phones have been pretty busy lately, but theres something keith and i wanted to talk to you guys about.

Before we get a move on in attacking Zymandis' agent, we need to look at our own numbers. A lot of us are sick. Maybe less than I thought. Or maybe more. Either way, we have to know who's sick and make a plan to help our own. And I'm serious about HELPING. Not putting someone out of their misery or any of the other stupid stuff I've heard from some of this team. We need to stop this disease. We need to help our own. Once everyone's BETTER, we'll make a plan for what to do next as a team.

[It's harsher than necessary but likely less harsh than how it might be normally, given Keith's frequently frustrated tone of voice. Text mitigates some of it, even if his frustration definitely does become CAPITAL LETTERS.

Lance, meanwhile, is quite eager to gloss over that sharp reprimand because seriously guys — kumbaya.]

yeeeeeah, so — helping! getting a head count is definitely ideal. we cant afford to be silent on this and we definitely CANT be alone right now, cuz every one of us affected and on our own can be a huge risk to everyone here. so we were thinking… since the city shut it down, we can use the middle school. those of us infected can stay there while we wait for our people to find that cure. like a quarantine safe house.. i know its not ideal, but its something. especially for those who dont have any other contingency plans.

[A pause. Well. May as well get the ball rolling, right?]

ill be there.

( ooc; p.s. there is an information plotting post for the quarantine space! )

Comments

video; un: redlion

[secondnature]

I'd say it's not meant for anyone to experience. Not just the living.

[Leave it to Keith to simplify matters in such a simple way.]

[respired]

Perhaps. But I have dealt with it every day for years, and my unholy body is more suited to withstand the pain. I am loathe to watch the rest of you feel even a shred of such hunger.

[secondnature]

I think the only way we could've avoided it is by not coming here.

[respired]

[ Which was, of course, not an option. No point belaboring it, he supposes. ]

If I can assist in some way, you need only ask.

[secondnature]

All I need from you is to look for Percy with Loki. But ... beyond that, if you can't get sick and you have some downtime, being willing to be on call to bring in anyone who's on our team attacking others would help.

I doubt you want anyone on our team to be in the same position you were a couple months ago.

[It's not something he brings up to force Koltira into helping, but to appeal to reason. Keith could (and still) understands the fear of accidentally harming others. He's terrified of getting sick for that reason, among others.]

[respired]

I do not.

[ A pause. ]

Several people have already asked me to -- handle them.

[secondnature]

Yeah? Well, it's because you're pretty strong.

[Keith, a shounen protag at heart, can't help but admire that!]

[respired]

[ Koltira truly does not often give much thought to his strength or his powers; to him, they are unnatural, and a burden. He's effective, undeniably so, but he'd trade it all in an instant if it meant having his old self back again. ]

I suppose that is partly why. But they also know I can bear the weight.

[ His heart's so heavy with guilt as it stands; what's a little more? ]

[secondnature]

Is it that hard? I guess if I was sick, I'd want the strongest person to be able to stop me. I wish I was strong enough to help others.

[respired]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Keith ... they've asked me to kill them.

[secondnature]

I know what they asked, but I also know that you aren't going to do that.

[It's as simple as that.]

[respired]

Such confidence.

[ Though he's not wrong. Koltira wants to avoid it, if he can. ]

[secondnature]

You care about this team. After all, that's why you want justice for what's happened.

[Plus, if they're working on a cure ... it'd be stupid to kill someone when that could come into fruition.]

[respired]

You seem to know me better than I know myself.

[ But Keith's not wrong. ]

My first loyalty is to the Ebon Blade. But ... in their absence, I have found this cause worthy, also.

[secondnature]

I just pay attention to what you have to say.

[For Keith, it's as simple as that.]