ourearth: General Mod icon, shows Earth (Default)
Save Our Earth Mods ([personal profile] ourearth) wrote in [community profile] saveourearth2018-11-11 03:24 pm

Light the fires [Mingle]

Date: 2nd to 5th of November; backdated due to the Halloween mingle being too close by
Characters: Open!


2nd to 4th

Bonfire night approaches, and like every year, a large bonfire is set up on the Greens, as well as an impressive fireworks display, intended to happen on the 3rd. It's been advertised for a few weeks now, and many families, groups of teenagers, and just regular people are planning on going... And then it's abruptly cancelled at the evening of the 2nd. The official word on it is that some kind of safety regulations weren't met, and as this was discovered at the final security check, there is no time to fix them. Oddly enough, at the same time yellow signs go up near the Greens, reading:
Mossgate POLICE Working for a safer Mossgate
We are appealing for witnesses: Can you help us?
Police incident
An incident occurred in this area between 1pm on the 2/11 and 2pm on the 3/11.
In strictest confidence, plase phone
020787574
Did you see or hear anything?
Please call us
On the number above or at your local police station

...And the perceptive person might notice that there are a few oddities going on around town. For one, there is more police out in the streets than normal, constables nobody has seen before, too, and they are carrying guns. Why are they carrying guns? This is not the airport or central London! This is the first thing that really gets the rumour mill going.

The second thing is that the area that was fenced off so when fireworks and bonfire happened, only those who paid an entrance fee would be able to get close, is still fenced off despite the cancellation. And those who peer into the area will notice more police there.

And then, on the 4th of November, a few nondescript vans and a small nondescript lorry arrive at the parking lot at the bottom of the Greens, and some people get off. All of them wear civilian clothes. A few simply wander off into Mossgate, but the rest goes up onto the Greens. And some of those carry large suitcases that seem to be quite heavy. Too bad there's bushes and trees and it is impossible to see what they're doing at the place where the bonfire and fireworks were set to happen...

[ooc: There are a few dedicated open NPC toplevels below for people to investigate, as well as toplevels aimed at specific characters. If anyone has ideas for investigating that are not covered by the below toplevels and needs input, prod the mod contact thread on the last setting interactions post!]



5th

After the fireworks in Mossgate couldn't happen, it was decided to do them in one of the villages in Mossgate Council. Naturally, Folkton and Moss Manor both clamoured to get them. But after a few young men got into a fistfight about it and a nose was broken, Mayor Gary Russell arrived at the Salomonic decision of having the fireworks happen in Tarwich instead. They have a nice little park there, and the official reason for the decision is that it is closer to Mossgate town so it will be easier for people from there to attend. The real reason is of course to not take any sides in the village rivalry.

Tarwich, by contrast, is too young to truly have rivalries and there are no old families that could bring true patriotic pride into the mix. Nicely bland and harmless. An excellent middle ground.

So on the evening of the fifth, like every year, there are two massive bonfires in Mossgate council, one in Folkton and one in Moss Manor. Little fairgrounds have sprung up next to them - a children's carousel, a kiddie train, an ice cream van, one or two vendors that sell festival foods like candy floss (= cotton candy).

But unlike other years, there's a third event, and most unusually the location is the often-forgotten Tarwich: Carefully timed so that people can first go see the fireworks and then go to whichever bonfire they prefer, there is a very nice 30 minutes long firework taking place in Tarwich, just after nightfall. There are no carousels or ice cream vans here, but festival food is offered, too.
tobodlygo: (Default)

Re: [Text]

[personal profile] tobodlygo 2018-11-23 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[The short rumble of Jim's phone alerts him to the text, but it's not from any of his collagues, at least]

Oh nah, dude, these are just fireworks. It's all okay :) he texts back quickly
fairfeste: (Default)

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-23 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Aaaaagh. "Uh-- no. No I didn't." Ok. For real this time. "I've got the same Number thing you and Mum do now. So... we still have to keep kind of quiet about it, but. You can talk to me about it too now?"
iamnotgod: A man staring up and off to the right. (And He Asks Why.)

Re: [Text]

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-23 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Better than the alternative.

I can feel the headache coming on, though.


[This is not like the ones at their first meeting before the aurora, okay? It's all decentralized, which has the additional downside of too much stimulation and he can't get away from it as easily...]



Edited 2018-11-23 18:05 (UTC)
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-23 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
The possibility of another hug attack is duly noted for the future.

Her pout does not go unseen, and he intends to make certain she understands why he did not want to squeeze tighter to keep her closer. Walking with Sadie on his arm, Benjiro reaches to lay his other hand lightly on her forearm near her wrist, "Better for the most part. Soreness is almost gone, but..." There's a delay as he checks that they are far enough from other people to talk freely with his voice lowered with his tone guilt-ridden, "I keep breaking things when I'm not careful. A pen, two pencils, my alarm clock... I even had to fix a door handle I pushed too hard."
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-23 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll be taking the motorcycle in to be inspected this week, but considering I looked into all the safety guidelines to make certain it qualifies, it should be deemed street legal. If not, I'll make adjustments and try again," he has confidence in the machine after all the work he put into it, but he isn't about to assume anything when he developed a brand new balance assistance system for it.

"As for Halloween, I ended up getting a few Echoes nearly all together. A couple memories, and the third left me feeling really sore. I believe it's been altering my muscles somehow, but that symptom has improved greatly so I think it's nearly done." He'll pause, then turning a little more directly towards Mary Ann, he'll venture to ask, "About that day... In the morning after Sadie and I stopped by, did you notice anything?"
warped_replica: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: Happy)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-23 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The consideration is appreciated even as Benjiro smiles and shrugs his shoulders. He would not have complained lest Walter dragged him across town, and then only for the delay in arriving to a restaurant at all.

Following his friend to the right, he falls into step walking with him and allows silence to hang comfortably between them.
iamnotgod: A man, smiling and holding a book. (When He Smiles.)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-23 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter cherishes the moment; a silence where no one needs to say anything.

That, in and of itself, is a much-needed balm.

They're only walking for five minutes, tops, when Walter crosses the street (at a crosswalk!), tilts his head up at a particularly-neon-shade-of-green sign, and nods.

"Pad Thai?" he asks, once he's sure Ben's joined him across the street. The shop looks noisy enough that they probably could manage anonymity in the crowd.
catted: (listening)

[personal profile] catted 2018-11-23 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
She listens attentively and nods every once in a while, but ends up to not answering to anything but the last bit.

Because huh. "Noticed anything? Like what?"
warped_replica: Temporary sketch icon (Human: Curious)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-23 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
“Like if something was there that shouldn’t have been?”

He’ll wait to see if that is sufficient, but should Mary Ann not key in on anything, Benjiro relents to a more direct explanation. One hand reaching up, he rubs behind his neck as he speaks, “I ask because after you were sitting down in the chair to recover, it looked like you were petting something. But, Sadie and I couldn’t actually see anything on your lap...”
vernal_miss: (Hyacinth)

[personal profile] vernal_miss 2018-11-23 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
It was meant as an innocent guess, and she shrugs when the possibility is eliminated. Thankfully, Feste doesn’t delay further.

Nel slows in pace as she processes the revelation, her hand tightening in grip as she tries to sort conflicting feelings. On the one hand, she’s very excited that Feste will have magic too for the sheer possibilities and the chance to share the experience with them. Not having to keep it a secret from them is a selfish relief. Yet, on the other... Is Feste going to be stressed and worried by having a Number that could change them or mean they have to hide something? Will they worry about her like Mum and Grandpa?

Unable to settle, she asks, “When did you start thinking about your Number? Are you scared?” She heard that uncertainty and that has to be understood before she can know whether to allow herself to be happy or worried.
runs: (duh)

[personal profile] runs 2018-11-23 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Implying that they had a grasp on what was happening? "School, and there's this charity that sometimes takes us places. And one time a friend's family went and took me along, though that was to the movies."
fairfeste: (Default)

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-23 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
They knew what was happening when the conversation started! Sort of. "Oh. What kind of charity thing?"
fairfeste: (Default)

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-23 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Feste will wait. This is kind of why they wanted to have a grip on this first... it's a lot, and they're unhappy that she has to deal with it. And luckily, they did expect her to have questions.

"I guess about a month ago or something? But I only figured it out like. A few days ago." As for whether they're scared, well. That's not quite the right word. Unsettled and distressed by the the fact they know nothing. But that's not what she asked, and she doesn't need to know that. "No. Are you scared?"
catted: (uh huh)

[personal profile] catted 2018-11-23 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
She blinks, and tries to remember.

As far as she can remember, there was nothing out of the order, so... "I was probably petting a cat? I'd probably remember if it was something else..." She tries to think back to it. There was so much going on... "Oh, right. The black one that first wandered in a little while back. ....Around the time Nel and me found the network, I think?"
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2018-11-24 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
Sadie eyes widen and she quickly assesses Ben. "Are you alright? You haven't hurt yourself have you?" She asks, concern peaking her tone.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" This was clearly the result of an Echo and she hates to hear Ben sound guilty over something he has no control of. He's clearly worried about hurting her so Sadie pulls Ben down into a hug, purr kicking in in response to her want to comfort him.
vernal_miss: (Hawkweed)

[personal profile] vernal_miss 2018-11-24 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
A month. That's even before she and Mum got their Numbers a couple weeks ago. Granted Feste isn't always good with tracking time.

Question reflected back to her, Nel inhales to puff up her chest a little as she sets her jaw in determination, "Of course not! Everyone with a Number has been very nice and we're all going to help each other." Including her! So that means that everything is going to work out okay. And if Feste only figured it out a few days ago, then she definitely cannot let on that she does worry about others sometimes.

"I haven't had many Echoes, but one of them changed my hair when I was really little I guess. That's why it grows so fast," she relays. Perhaps Feste has identified an Echo of their own.
warped_replica: Temporary sketch icon (Human: Curious)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-24 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
"If you had an Echo at about the same time as finding the Network, that might be related," he suggests. Hand lowered from his neck he knows that the household has an ever changing population of felines, "Do you think you could find that black one again?"

If Echoes can bring about objects, there is no reason to assume they cannot summon animals or the vision of one.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Relief)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-24 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Brows raise at her swift rise in concern, and he lifts his hand from her arm to try to calm her as he smiles, but he doesn't have the chance before Sadie has wrapped her arms around to pull him downwards into a hug. Benjiro blinks in surprise after giving no resistance, then smiles as he sighs softly at the sound of her purring in his ear. Moving slowly, he wraps his arms around her with a light squeeze given in a ginger hug that holds for a few seconds, "Yes, I'm alright Sadie. I think my bones have adjusted to the new forces, so I haven't hurt myself."

"All I can ask is for you to be patient with me, and honest with me about what feels normal and what's too much when I hold your or squeeze your hand. I need to get used to the ratio of conscious effort to neuromuscular recruitment is all," as so far he's been making an effort to be delicate. Were he to accidentally injure Sadie, he isn't certain he would be capable of forgiving himself.
fairfeste: (Feste [Always watching])

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-24 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
"That's good. I haven't talked to a lot of people yet." The network was kind of the second discovery, and they wanted to talk to Nel before really doing anything with that. "I'm glad everyone's been nice to you. If anyone's mean or you can tell me or Mum, you know that right?"

Honestly it's kind of like giving her the rules for the internet all over again...

"When you were little?" They... hadn't gotten that part of the explanation yet. "Before you got the actual Number thing?"
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-24 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
The time gives Benjiro a chance to slow and reorganize his thoughts, and to appreciate the friendship he's made with Walter. It isn't often the teenager feels comfortable in silence in company.

At the cross walk, he veers after Walter and stops in front of the restaurant with the sign. Looking to Walter then, he nods once, "Sure. I'm always up for noodles." Together they head for the door and inside to get a seat at an empty booth.
vernal_miss: (Cloves)

[personal profile] vernal_miss 2018-11-24 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Jim, Walter, and Sadie explained everything to Mum and me," and Grandpa confirmed it all when they talked in person afterwards. Given how Jim apologized over using a curse word on the network where she could see it not even addressing her, she feels confident saying, "That shouldn't be a problem. Chad was even being nice to me! Buuuut if anyone is mean, I'll remember."

Starting to calm, she nods and seizes the opportunity to share some of what she learned, "Mmhmm! The Network started when the aurora happened in the summer, but before that, people that have Numbers were getting Echoes a long time ago. Mum said hers was from twenty years ago."
runs: (considering all that)

[personal profile] runs 2018-11-24 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh. She scratches her head. "...The name is something along the lines of Starting Kids Up...? I think.

They're okay. One of the older kids said that they took everyone to a football game into London once!"
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2018-11-24 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
She nods into Ben's shoulder and squeezes him once more before releasing him from the hug and relining there arms.

"Of course I will. Step by step, and slowly does it yeah?" She reassures him, lying or not saying something would never even cross her mind. "I guess that's what the Halloween incident has turned out to be then?" And speaking of Halloween... "Did it feel different to you that time? Not the normal hollow and heart pounding at least?"
fairfeste: (Default)

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-24 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Feste has no idea who anyone of those people but Walter are. They suppose they'll find out.

"...Wow." That's a really long time. Like, how-long-they've-been-alive long. "I hadn't heard about that part yet." Maybe that's good- make Nel feel like she can be helpful in all of this, too, and not just dragged along for the ride. Which is more how Feste feels.
fairfeste: (Feste [Don't peak])

[personal profile] fairfeste 2018-11-24 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wow. That's pretty cool." Feste's never heard of them before. "What sort of stuff have you done with them?"

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