The Silence of the Storm

[shardofwinter]

Rations have been cut. Again. Everyone is on one bowl of watery soup a day. Sometimes with crackers, sometimes not. Most people are too tired and weak to do much more than sit around and talk, and nobody discourages them in the slightest. Work has to be rotated constantly as people weaken quickly, but the fires still need to burn, people still need to guard the cooks and rations, and the sick still need to be tended to. Soon the hardest job is keeping up morale while the big expedition comes back. All the gods and heavens of the multiverse help them if they don’t come back with supplies, and soon.

The boundaries have tightened to an almost suffocatingly small space. It doesn’t take much to imagine where they will be by the end of Winter, which at least makes planning a little easier. People are already relocating to deeper in the Plaza. Unfortunately it means that those who have enough energy to often end up fighting with their neighbours, as the close quarters tests everyone’s patience. There are a few spaces carved out for like minded people to shelter from the dreary situation. Mechanics and those like them have set up a nice little place close to the Crossroads Café, and a break area for those helping the sick is sheltered in a room behind the injured and ill. Zandros moves from groups to individuals, looking for help in creating some form of morale boosting display that will adhere to Isidor's instructions. People are surviving in whatever ways they can, but it's reaching breaking point.

((It's the Final Event Post, everyone! OOC Post is here! This is for those stuck at the hub while the Main Expedition is going on. There will be a second part to this post for the Return of the Expedition. In the meantime, have fun!))

Comments

[alittlehinky]

"Shit, really?" Cricket's so tired and his mind's so sluggish it takes him a moment to process that, and he's actually picturing Kinner wandering in the snow with a cow for a moment. "Even without monsters, it was a rough place, huh?"

'All right' is maybe on the optimistic side, given how pale Cricket looks, but he looks relieved to hear about Harley and Palmer. "I wanna see 'em."

[outpostcook]

"Well, I wouldn't recommend it for a vacation spot." Kinner smirks, the scar on his cheek twisting as he does. "It's a good thing I had my team. If I'd survived, you'd better believe me I wouldn't have gone there again."

"I reckon Palmer will be along soon. I'll wait for him with you." Kinner's relieved Cricket's okay. "I've got a spare can of food on me if you need feeding up. It was for if I got stranded out there."

[alittlehinky]

"I wanna go to the seashore again some time," he says, and it's clear he's running on fumes, given the way he's rambling, mind jumping from one topic to another lazily. "That's a vacation spot. Adia's world has a pretty ocean. I reckon they wouldn't want people there on vacation, but I bet there's others."

"I hope the sandglobe she gave me survived the storm. The water in it might've frozen..."

Cricket? Cricket. Stop babbling, honey. Maybe he better take Kinner up on that offer of food. He blinks at him dumbly and cracks a weak smile. "Ain't had nothin' but pine tea yet today. Yes, please."

[outpostcook]

"The first time I saw the ocean was in Antarctica," Kinner says, a little nostalgic. "Before then, I liked rivers. Easy to relax there, easy livin', and no shortage of fish to eat. I still owe you that fishing trip once the weather clears up."

But there are more serious issues at hand than vacations in the future. They have to survive first.

Kinner rummages in his knapsack, pulling out a can of food. He opens it before handing it to Cricket. He's noticeably concerned. He's noticed that the winter hasn't been kind to his younger friend. "Here. Technically, I'm not supposed to do this as a volunteer cook, but you gotta get your strength up."

[alittlehinky]

Cricket grins at his friend and nods. "I'll catch 'em and you cook 'em. That Daredevil fella' wants to come, too. He ain't ever been out of the city, can you imagine?"

Cricket's hands shake when he takes the can of food, and he nods. "I know. I wouldn't take it if you hadn't brought back stuff. Wouldn't be fair to not share, you know?"

He'll eat it now, though, and he doesn't even bother to check what it is, just drinks the liquid fast and then picks pieces of food out with his fingers to nibble.

[outpostcook]

"Daredevil? I reckon I worked with him when I joined the team to bring the two Spider-Men back home. It would be nice to see him again in better circumstances, huh?"

Kinner likes the idea of a fishing trip - he's caught and cooked fish before, and he has a feeling he and Cricket could make a great team when it came to fishing. It's been a long time since he went out to the water with someone else.

"Will anyone else be coming along? We'll be the terror of the Nexus's water life at this point."

[alittlehinky]

"He seems like an awful nice guy," Cricket tells Kinner, with his mouth full. "Smart. Wants to help people. Kinda fella' we need a lot of around here, I reckon, only they may need him more in the world he came from."

He shrugs. "I'unno. I'd kinda like to bring Loki. My Loki. If he wants to come. And it seems rude not to invite Harley, only I don't know if she'd like fishin'? We can play it by ear. Figure things out when the weather turns."

[outpostcook]

Kinner nods, thinking as he watches Cricket eat. He wants to make sure his friend gets proper nourishment - Kinner's older, physically stronger, and currently healthier. Cricket's health takes priority over Kinner's. The cook can take care of himself for the time being.

"I've met your Loki before, I reckon. Before the weather went sour. I've met Harley, but not for very long. She was friendly. Strange, but friendly. She offered to teach me how to fight."

[alittlehinky]

"Well, you was at his party," Cricket reminds him. "You brought shrimp, I think."

He's blushing, as if just now realizing he hasn't really talked to Kinner about the fact that he's courting a god who's the same sex as him, at least part of the time. That's something that's on the weird side for the time period they come from. But Kinner's a good man; Cricket doubts he'll think the less of him for it.

"He's real important. To me." He says sheepishly, clears his throat, and goes on eating, trying to slow down a little.

"Harley's always friendly. You can trust her. She's real different but she's got a heart of gold."

[outpostcook]

"I'm familiar with the kind of thing you're talking about," Kinner says, "and I ain't gonna judge you for it, don't worry. I lived in a research outpost with thirty-six men. It was an open secret. Commander Garry technically wasn't supposed to allow it, but he didn't go out of his way to stop it, either. Besides, we're both dead. I reckon our old world's rules don't apply anymore. "

"I've been suspecting you were in love with Loki for a while. I wish you two the best of luck." The little cook smiles. "You two make a cute couple. If you ever decide to tie the knot, I'll be happy to handle the food." He swallows, the Adam's apple in his skinny throat trembling. "I had feelings for someone on my old team, too. Never told him...you probably know these things weren't exactly talked about."

Just as well that the old social rules are gone, in Kinner's opinion. He likes the more relaxed, judgement-free world of the Nexus.

"I'd like to get to know Harley better," he says. "She's a brave fighter, so I imagine she'd have a lot to teach me."

[alittlehinky]

Cricket nods slowly, touched. "It...it ain't like it didn't happen in our time, is it? I mean, everyone knows someone who knows someone, and mostly people just keep it to themselves and get on with life. But it'd be nice to not have to be shy about it here."

He reaches over and hugs Kinner impulsively. "Crazy to think about getting hitched, even. Might be a little early to talk about that, but thank you. I'll remember."

"We oughtta rest, but sometime later after we're better, y'better tell me about the fella you were sweet on. I'd like to hear."