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

[ex_adept136]

I could handle that. My day-job is with the local PD, but I'm free at night.

[And he's been prowling the town to watch out for anything suspicious anyhow. Why not use the time in another manner?]

[secondnature]

We might need help securing supplies to our teammates. Among other things.

How much rest do you need? [If Haise is offering this, then it means that their initial conversation about his relative immunity holds. That's good. They can work with that.]

[ex_adept136]

A few hours would be good. I've gotten by on just that much pretty routinely back home.

[So long as he's got coffee, he's pretty well-set]

That strip mall near City Hall may be a good prospect. Like I said to Lance, there's a good chance some products have been abandoned altogether and couldn't be sold due to damage from the riots. Waste not, want not, right?

[secondnature]

You're right. I can go check it out. [And if it's damaged, odds are that he doesn't need to worry about being caught stealing it.]

I might look around to see if there are any other people hiding. I'll make sure that no one wants to come out.

But I don't think prioritizing our own is so bad. Especially given what some people here can do.

[ex_adept136]

We're no help to anyone else if we can't take care of ourselves.

[Anyone who knew him well enough would recognize the supreme irony of him saying something like this, but fortunately, very few know he's that kind of hypocrite.

He's definitely in better shape than some, right about now]

Let me know if you need a hand. Despite my size, I can carry plenty well over my own weight.

[secondnature]

Heh, don't worry. I know just how strong you are. [There's a lightness to his voice here. It comes easily with those he's spoken to for longer, and he definitely respects Haise's fighting prowess. He can't help it.] Do you have some kind of car you've been driving as an officer?

[ex_adept136]

I can get a hold of a squad car. Officer Smith's been giving me pointers.

[Lucky for them, he's always been strangely good at anything tactile, once he's introduced to the principles of it]

Probably not the most inconspicuous of transportation though.

[secondnature]

Does it really matter right now? [Everything is both inconspicuous and not.]

If you can't drive, I can manage it.

[ex_adept136]

It might for appearances' sake... Thought we may be better off getting a hold of one of those moving trucks places will rent out.

[He's pretty sure that's a thing that exists even in this time...hopefully]

[secondnature]

Huh, that's not a bad idea. So long as we just make it clear that we're bringing supplies to people. They might not rent to us if they think we're headed out of town.

[Right now, this is an actual concern.]

text | un: Princess threadjacks again gomen

[assent]

I have a convertible car that is not in use at present. You both may use it if it is needed. However, it is pink if that would be a problem?

[ Look, better than no car............ ]

[secondnature]

[Pink? Eh. They have bigger things to worry about right now, like this:]

Convertibles tend not to be very ... big.

[assent]

[ Well-- ]

It has five seats and if you use cloth to cover items to keep them in place you could tower it up higher. You may consider it as an alternative should anything else be unavailable. That is all.

[secondnature]

If we need it, that'll be our option.

Or maybe we can use a truck and the convertible.

[assent]

I can give Haise the keys later, then you are free to do whatever you wish.

[ Medical supplies and food should be fine in it anyway. It isn't like she'll be using it soon enough. ]

[ex_adept136]

Being in a position of some authority ought to lend credence to that.

[At last his time has come]

[secondnature]

Sonia offered her car, but I think it might be too small.

We'll probably need your authority.

[ex_adept136]

Maybe we can get her help transporting people, rather than supplies.

For the supplies, we'll use my job then. I made the rounds and got to know people as soon as we got here, so I've got a decent rapport with the locals.

[secondnature]

There are enough locals ... who aren't sick where that matters, right?

[ex_adept136]

There are enough of us who aren't, so it stands to reason.

I haven't personally checked on everyone, but I know several proprietors who are fine, just scared.

[secondnature]

[Maybe it's a perspective thing, but from where Keith's standing, it feels like nearly everyone he knows is sick.]

I might know some of them, too. From delivering ... things.

[ex_adept136]

[There's certainly too many infected, no matter how they slice it]

That'll work in our favor. Can't underestimate the value of having that rapport.

[secondnature]

Yeah—so let's agree to meet up and get everything in order soon.

[It's one thing to make plans.]

[ex_adept136]

Sounds like a plan. Any evenings this week work for you?

[Best they get proactive after all]

[secondnature]

Work's slowed down a bit since ... uh, well, since everything. [It's hard to order deliveries when half the stuff is going out of stock.] So, I should be free whenever you are.