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Who: Everyone
When: July 1 and onward. See this post for info.
Where: Kauto + Chioni + Ingress Complex
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label warn-worthy content in your subject headers.

There's a burst of light in the sky when the Ingress breaks, a final flare followed by a shuddering that only those in the facility can feel. A flurry of panicked activity in the complex follows, ushering new arrivals to where they need to go in a hurry, with little time to give them the needed information, much less answer questions. The lights remain on, but dimmer now, life functions still operating but little else. On Kauto and Chioni below, the sky fades into an early twilight, followed by night, and day does not come again.

nerds save the world

Before the end of the day, all TABs receive an emergency broadcast notification outlining the situation. The speaker, a lead Savriite Ingress technician, does not invite panic but nor does he mince words. The Ingress is broken; their best efforts have failed to restore it. The time has come to turn to anyone who can help: scientists, engineers, those who have worked with advanced technology on any world. Formal qualifications don't matter when it could be the end of everything.

"Help us. Before it is too late."

Those who come will have the run of the complex and full access to the Ingress, as well as whatever tools are available and as much coffee as they can drink. People are encouraged to work in groups and share ideas, and a small number of young and nervous technical assistants will be on hand.

the land below

As Thisavrou is denied light and warmth, the weather becomes brisk and descends into bitter cold. Chioni is evacuated due to the effects on the already-harsh weather cycles there, although a skeleton crew of scientists remain behind. On Kauto, the arboreal Region Three and pastoral Region Two suffer the most from the temperatures and the snow that eventually begins to fall. Many crops are frozen over, and refugee citizens are driven from their homes to the Regions One and Five, where stored energy will keep dwellings warm. Save for those who choose to leave the underwater facilities, Region Four remains largely unchanged, but there are unverified accounts of strange aquatic animal behavior near the surface.

Overcrowding, limited supplies and a pervasive fear presents the opportunity for both heroism and foul deeds. Many come together to share resources, supplies and fellowship in what could be the end of worlds, while others take what they can from the unwilling or exploit the desperate. Sentient evacuees are followed by fauna from Region Three and unsettled lands beyond, in search of warmth or food or merely confused by the change in habitat. Some are unthreatening herbivores, while tanglesnakes and clownbees are more troublesome. Others are poisonous hunters, while still others are small, but dangerous when faced as a pack.

Just when all seems lost, light returns to the sky. The Ingress begins to function once more.

the coming days

As the temperatures rise, many demand answers, but most turn to the rebuilding of their lives first. Damage has been done that isn't so easily fixed, and even in the least-affected areas, remnants of the crisis show in the lack of fresh food, in the increased signs of criminal activity. Those who can help others through their own efforts of by organizing assistance are needed, but those with impure intentions are more likely to go unnoticed.

Eavesdropping on the streets may reveal a desire for vengeance. "Those intruders from last week. They're responsible for this, aren't they? What's being done?" But don't listen too closely, or a suspicious eye may be turned on you. "Aren't you one of the refugees from the Midway Hub? You should return to where you came from! All the trouble began when your people showed up!"

Life goes on. But life does not go on unchanged.

[quick ooc note: the Region 4 search & retrieval mission/RNG fight will be posted in a separate log.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I understand. Alright.

[Red's quiet at first. She helps wrap up a few more bags until more people show up, and then she goes about handing out the food along with a little smile for each person. Once they're gone she heads back to the blond man and helps in organizing the bags. It's then that she starts humming softly to herself.

This doesn't last long though, she speaks up again in polite small-talk.]

I'm Red. What should I call you, Sir?

Miller is fine. [He rubs his hands together. Even with the leather gloves, there's still a bit of a chill. Though it's practically useless, given that one hand isn't real under there.]

[There's a double-edged reaction to the humming within him. One is of a little blond girl (a woman, secretly) looking at the lyrics to his song, at the notes and humming it to herself. The other is of Quiet, the sense of unease that he had when he always felt her around. Hard to decide what end of the spectrum his reaction should fall on.]

[He organizes a small stack of food.]

What song is that?

[Everyone needs to petition this weather, Red thinks with some cold humor. It doesn't matter how cold it gets, she wouldn't trade living here for Cloudbank any day.

She only wishes her Transistor were here. That's the real chill inside of her, not the freezing fingers or cheeks tinted pink from the low temperatures. Red gives the man a smile at the name given and nods, then moves around the pile of food which is slowly growing smaller.

Red moves the bags already labeled aside and this time when she looks up, her smile finally reaches her eyes.]

It's called Paper Boats, something from my world. Do you like it? Do you like music?

Yeah. Some. I haven't really heard much of what this planet has to offer.

[And really, he can't tell whether she's from here or not.]

[He closes his coat tightly around himself, the cold-bitten blush on his face visible behind his gold blond stubble, especially when he puffs out his cheeks in a heavy dragon breath exhale.]

I know a singer that was on the Moira with us.

We're in the same array then: I am newly here and haven't heard much of any music.

[He looks so cold! ...she is too but Red is masterfully sympathetic, and she feels badly for him and not so much for herself. Who knows how long he's been out here. She stands and steps closer to him, a kind smile to her lips.]

Mister Miller, would you share something hot to drink inside with me?

[The best way to shoot past a man's ego is by exposing your own as vulnerable, she muses.]

The others can hand these out for a few minutes.

[It's less ego and more just... not knowing. He's trying not to be biased, considering how much he hates when people turn on him. But he knows how to be a minority on both sides- one of the reasons he was initially drawn to that 'make the world one' idea.]

[The confirmation she's from the Ingress just earns a nod. No worries.]

Sure. I've got some frozen broth over there. We could warm that up.

[Because ramen broth is better than coffee or tea right at this instant. He heads back inside his diner with it. No heater on, so it's even cold in there, too.]

[Red is happy to follow him inside, and she's quiet while helping him get the broth heated up. It smells wonderful and she thinks to herself how much more vivid everything is here, even the food. It's only when they are seated together she speaks up again.]

I wrote Paper Boats a few years ago, and it's still one of my favorites.

[She sips at the warm broth and sighs with contentment at the taste. It's good.]

Even if it was never one of my most popular. It's about... what passes for fate in our lives, about finding those people who you are always meant to find, no matter what happens.

[He listens while he nurses his own, just breathing it in while it clears his sinuses of the cold. He actually grabs a napkin to wipe his nose.]

I wrote a song once. I wrote songs a few times actually, but only one of them was worth anything.

[Never got to perform it in front of people, not on stage anyway. He'd wanted that at the time.]

Is that right?

[Paper boats in a stream is right! Here he is a fellow musician. Red brightens up noticeably as she listens, then seems a bit surprised. Why would he seemingly give up after only a few songs, if he had music in him to share?]

Would you sing for me? [She automatically assumes he's a singer] The one you like? I'd love to hear it.

I'm ah...

I'm not a very good singer. [He hesitates to admit.] It was meant for someone else to sing.

I'm pretty good at guitar. Just not when it's so cold.

[Oops! her expression says it all, and she smiles demurely with some apology and embarrassment on her own behalf for making the assumption she had. Red takes another sip of the delicious broth.]

When things are warmer, will you play for me? [Not just warmer in temperature but also in climate.

She reaches out and if he allows it, she'll place one hand on his see-through one.]

And maybe some day let me hear the songs you didn't like as much?

Oh. Yeah.

[That part he sounds brighter on.] I'd love to. [Now that he has the ability back, and that there are people that want to hear him play, he's always glad for it.]

I don't know if you'd want to hear the ones that aren't all that good. Most of them I didn't put words to, anyway.

[Finally, he drinks, because it's cooled enough that he can take some in by a few strong swallows.]

Hmm~

[Red looks at him appraisingly, a soft bite to her bottom lip as she half closes her eyes while staring at him.]

In that case, maybe I can help? If we like each other's taste in music, it could be quite the partnership.

I'm curious though... [She trails off, still looking him over with that same curiosity and thoughtfulness. Red moves her hand back, and drums gold-painted fingernails once on the counter.]

You have such a lovely voice, Mister Miller. Perhaps you've not enough programming yet on how to use it for song? I think you could be rather good with some guidance.

Programmed? [He asks first, before turning his attention back to his drink. Another long swallow.]

Thanks, though. It helps for speeches, anyway.

[But he is a little sad that he can't sing. Just a little.] Are you a professional musician?

[She waves her hand dismissively and smirks softly a moment before sipping the broth.]

It's a figure of speech, never mind it. I simply mean, have you taken voice lessons? I helped advance the arts program at the school I went to and had been singing professionally for the past five years before—

[just a slight pause before she continues]

...Coming here.

[Red motions vaguely with one hand again.]

Sorry, too much information. The point I am trying to make is that, should you have interest, I would be very pleased to help guide you in some singing lessons. [She loves education and she loves music, it's the best of both.]

Um... No. No I didn't. [He's hesitant to admit.] Even the guitar is self-taught.

I mostly used to sing just to sing, I guess. I never thought about any need to get better at it. I'm good with my hands, I'm good with words, just uh...

Not singing.

[He downs the rest of the broth in a few warm gulps.]

[It's true, some people have a natural talent for singing just like everything else a person might have natural talent in, or be naturally quite terrible at. Most people have the capacity to grow though, should they wish to, and guidance only speeds up that process. Red watches him and listens carefully and wonders if he's embarrassed by his lack of skill.]

It's nothing to be shy about. And singing just to sing is the best singing there is! If you play guitar then you know how to match pitch and really, it's all technique from there, you've got the hard part down.

[She won't push though. If he's not interested it's no dataloss to her.]

Maybe process the idea, and if you're interested, well... I'm not going anywhere, am I? [Red gives him a friendly smirk]

No, I guess not.

[He refills his cup one more time, just to make sure he'll be filled up enough.]

I guess I'd have to hear what you can do first. ...When it's warmer. Not a great idea right now. The cold is hard on throats.

[Even if he's giving them something nice and warm for theirs, and he gives her a funny sort of toast gesture with his mug.]

[He has a good point, certainly. Red nods to him before gently blowing on the broth in her mug, then taking a sip.]

This all seems rather bleak at the moment. Are there better times on these worlds? Are there feasts and festivals, concerts, galas?

[Red is a musician at heart but she enjoys all forms of art, celebrations of life, reminders that they aren't just machines.]

I think so? I... usually work all the time now. I don't really do more than go to a bar every once in a while.

People seemed to have a good time, though. Before this started happening. The Savrii only recently started to hate us.

[He puts down his mug, and tucks his hands into his pockets. But makes no gesture to go out yet.] Maybe if the weather becomes normal again.

Hmm.

[The soft hum is thoughtful, considering the state of the city but also considering this man. Red watches him over the rim of her mug as she takes a slow drink from it, before she puts it down and leans both elbows on the counter. She props her chin up in her palms and continues staring at him sidelong. After a few seconds she smiles softly.]

What about on the world you're from? What made you smile?

[Red is working on a great suspicion that Miller has a glorious smile when it peaks out like the sun from even the darkest of clouds.]

What made me smile? [Oddly enough the question made him smile a little, but he couldn't help it because it was a strangely funny one.]

Everything used to make me smile.

[And then his sunshine was taken away.]

I'm just harder to impress now, I guess. You see the same trick too many times and... you know. You figure out it always ends the same.

—except when it doesn't.

[Red sees fit to finish the sentence for him.]

Life has a way of surprising us, of turning our world upside down. It's not always the most pleasant change but—

[And she suddenly hears Royce Bracket's voice in her head: when everything changes, nothing changes. Red gives a soft hum and looks apologetically over at her host.]

Sometimes it ends up being what's needed. Don't you find?

Maybe for other people. [He says simply, tucking his hands in his pockets and nodding towards the doors.] So how about we get back out there and go back to handing out the food.

[Unfortunately, the man she's talking to is a man thoroughly broken, one who constantly hears about his failings and sees them right in front of him.]

I guess you've been a little luckier than me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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nerds save the world

the land below

the coming days

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you can beat me with a wet noodle for my slowness ;o;

You just want me to wet your noodle and beat it.

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