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

text ; un:lancer

[riastraid]

[ As unappealing as this quarantine business sounds, there's merit to examining the problems within the team itself. Like a zombie watchlist. ]

gonna pass on locking myself in with you guys, but if this is some sorta roll call———pretty sure I'm coming down with something. [ ... ] and sorry about your luck, kid.

text; un: redlion

[secondnature]

Why are you passing on it? Do you have something better?

[riastraid]

not really, no. [ no ideal alternatives to a problem like this. ] but if I'm gonna go nuts and kill somebody, I'd rather not be surrounded by the bunch of you. [ And the slowly and inevitably losing their minds part seems inevitable, presently. ]

[secondnature]

We're looking into ways to make it more secure for the more extreme cases.

But unless you're locked up somewhere else, you're likely gonna be surrounded by SOMEONE.

[Since a lot of the infected have taken to the streets for snacks.]

[riastraid]

yeah, probably. but it won't be you. [ A blanket 'you.' ALASTAIR, Audentes, the team, whatever you wanna call it. The other infected are unfortunate—but not his priority. ] pretty key difference.

[secondnature]

So you care more about us than the poor people infected by our enemies? Is that it?

[riastraid]

someone doesn't sound too convinced.

[secondnature]

That's because I'm NOT. We're supposed to be helping this world. That's our mission.

[riastraid]

[ Officially, their mission is to stop the virus, and they could go back and forth forever about the semantics of how to best accomplish it, the risks they have to take, how heartless they need to be, the good of Woodhurst citizens versus the good of the universe, et cetera. But there's been so much of that, and he's tired. So, ]

then what would you have me do, red

[secondnature]

Be with the rest of our team. ... Cuddle when you need to, I guess, and have barriers up when that isn't going to work anymore.

It's a better method than having innocent people on your conscience.

[riastraid]

see, there's my dilemma: is it better than having my innocent teammates on my conscience?

[ at least out on the streets, there's plenty of other infected to go through first, awful as that is. ]

[secondnature]

These people could just as easily be our teammates, and you know it.

[riastraid]

you're right, they could be. it's just that they aren't. [ Even then, after a few moments of radio silence: ] but I think I'll stop in. unless you're all outta fresh sheets, of course.

text ; un:xXx_trueblue_xXx

[competing]

[ it's not meant to be appealing, despite lance's efforts to try and make it as accommodating as possible. ]

yeah, thanks
sorry about yours too
are you sure youre gonna be okay on your own, though?

[riastraid]

[ zombie hostel, complete with pillows and fresh sheets ]

oh. no, I'm pretty tough. wouldn't worry. as long as I don't run into any of you, we'll be dandy. [ The upside to being superpowered is that the city zombos aren't too scary—the downside is being superpowered and murderous. ] are you guys gonna be okay keeping everyone in? I'd help, but, y'know.

[competing]

okay...
dont take this the wrong way, buddy
but uh
whos gonna watch you...?

[riastraid]

I'll take that as a compliment, pal.

if you've got any suggestions, I'm all ears.

[ Koltira'd be his usual go-to, but he's also the most likely to find the guy behind this and actually kill him, so. He'll leave him to that. ]

[competing]

[ omFG lancer you know youre a threat yet you dont even have any plans at all?! ]

dude what the heck you were just gonna plan on freeballing it???
just come here!! we have magical barriers!

[riastraid]

[ who needs plans when you've got nihilism ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]

woah, magical barriers. you don't say. how strong are they?

[competing]

strong enough to be way better than your non-plan!!

[riastraid]

hey now, it's worth asking———if I break all your barriers, don't you think that'll put everybody in a bind? I'm not too shabby at magic myself.

[competing]

you wouldnt be breaking them all because theyre on an individual level anyway
so if you DO break any, youll only be breaking yours
so this way is still better than just hanging around hoping for the best

[riastraid]

unless I'm trying to crack into someone else's room and gut em. [ The problem of being surrounded and sorta-kinda trapped with his own. ] but you're right——I'm running low on options here. is that a risk you're willing to invite?

[competing]

were a team
wed be a pretty crappy one if we didnt at least try and look out for our own

[ in other words: yes. ]

[riastraid]

you guys have a pretty bright view of this teamwork stuff.