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]

"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."