ourearth: Silly Mod icon, reads: MI5 | Current UK threat level: Cup of Tea (current threat level)
Save Our Earth Mods ([personal profile] ourearth) wrote in [community profile] saveourearth2019-01-20 05:30 pm

We shall rebuild [mingle]

Date: 2/1/19
Characters: Open


With the festive season well and truly over, and most wallets smarting from the festivities, Mossgate has, as usual, been extremely quiet through January. The last of the sales are still lingering in the stores, hoping to entice any shoppers who aren't desperately holding out for that first January pay day at the end of the month, and the seafront is empty of all but the hardiest dog walkers, wrapped up against the cold winter winds. At least the evenings are finally starting to ever so slowly get a little bit lighter, but that's small compensation for the otherwise grey and dull month.

It seems as though it will drag on this way all the way through to February, but on the afternoon of the 20th Mossgate is shaken awake. Literally. A 4.5 magnitude earthquake hits the town just after 3:15PM, with the epicentre located at the mouth of the Moss River. The shaking lasts for a couple of seconds, and sends a couple of chimney stacks flying, but there's very little real damage done around town. As earthquakes are extremely rare in the UK, most people are unsure what is happening, and most report it to the media as assuming that a bomb had gone off, or a lorry gone past, or something similar.

Almost immediately the internet lights up with the usual British response to such events, and it's headline news on the local papers and TV for the next few days. Initially they cover the event and the clean up, and then the social media response to it.

However, those who have numbers will not just be subjected to the initial scare and then the following ridicule. As the shaking fades, an unsettled feeling starts to rise; subtly at first, but increasing as the days go by. They are left feeling anxious and uneasy, but also curious and excited. In particular, they will find themselves drawn to the earthquake and the information about it, perhaps checking the news or social media about it more than they usually would, or easier to draw into conversations about it. Whatever they can find just doesn't seem to be enough, and they're drawn to discuss it and the other unusual events (such as the appearance of the poppies in November, or the strange gifts over Christmas) of late more, and to find out more about them. It can be ignored, but as any niggling annoyance it won't disappear if it is.
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

\o/

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-08 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Walter just plain makes a face at the mention of slaves. Some things seem to happen regardless of species...

"And which of those unlikely possibilities aligns with the one we're currently living in?" he says, slightly sarky, then shakes his head as if to clear it.

"There are cases of earthquakes happening in unlikely places, however - though we humans tend to be involved somewhere in that."

He's referring, naturally, to fracking in the US.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-08 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Snark or not, Benjiro is quick to reply with a quirk at the corner of his lip in a faint smile, “For one, the possibility of a new Numbered individual who has some ability that can trigger a tremor.” He had too much time to think about the earthquake during his remaining time at work at the warehouse.

“Yes, but I’m not aware of any local mining, extractions, or explosive testing...” he responds as he switches to a satellite view of the area of Mossgate to comb through visually. It isn’t as recent as he would like, but it should be sufficient to spot anything large in scale that could have a relationship near the river mouth.
Edited 2019-02-08 10:07 (UTC)
iamnotgod: A man staring slightly off-center, looking serious. (Let Me Explain You A Thing)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-08 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
For a moment, Walter considers whether the Earth itself is involved, then-
No. No no no no no no!

Shoves that thought away very quickly.

"It wouldn't have to be anything federally funded - like the man at the bomb site, it could be some individual with far too much curiosity and free time to hand. And explosives."

Cheery thoughts, those.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Nervous)

YES - Feb 9th

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
Quick to deposit his own things into his backpack, he’ll stand and open his arm to her so that they can walk out arm in arm with his hand finding hers to close the link. Her suggestion of providing their classmates with a seed of infectious conversation gets a brow raised and a curious smile, “I wonder what you have in mind.”

Lunch time eventually gives way to more class time, and during those classes Benjiro is multitasking in doing his classwork and formulating a primary plan along with solutions to a variety of potential factors that might alter the approach. A simple shorthand line scribbled intermittently into his personal notebook between taking notes during lecture is enough to construct a clear strategy and provisions for variables that may or may not come into play by the end of the day. Once class is over, he heads out with Sadie and he drives them out to the mouth of Moss River. A notable lack of officials, signage, or barriers makes it easy to venture along the river’s edge. Nothing stands out during a cursory walk together, so Benjiro sets about drawing a map of the area; marking out estimated distances, hashing areas of high or low terrain, marking symbols to note large trees, rocks, or other useful anchor points, and observing the river itself for shallow sections or areas of unusual flow. As much detail as he feels he needs to anticipate obstacles. Spending the last daylight hours there, he drives back to Sadie’s house after to review the plan in full.

Over the following week, Benjiro goes about shopping in his free moments, and puts together the equipment including fashioning a harness for Sadie with a detachable collection bag, sand-filled ankle weights, strap anchors with pulleys, an extensive length of rope, and a belt for himself to act as a final anchor point as necessary. Between them, they had managed to get a diving mask, gloves, a swim cap, and an emergency thermal blanket in addition to the GoPro and her borrowed wetsuit. Friday night, he stays over at the Moore household to minimize delays, and while he sleeps better at Sadie's side, he still wakes every so often to check on her. He simply cannot fully dismiss anxiety around the dangers of the situation, both rational and irrational. If he missed anything...

Supplies collected and stowed on the back rack of his motorcycle with some extras, he drives out with Sadie first thing a full week since the earthquake to return to the mouth of Moss River. While Sadie prepares herself for the expedition under the surface, he sets about securing the temporary anchor points and testing the line with his boosted strength. They had chosen the length to explore, and the system covers it all sufficiently, yet he stands at the edge of the river after the third test and stares at the water with tension in his jaw and his brow knit.
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-09 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Sadie snorts, "Unfortunately for us Ben, just walking into the room is enough to get people talking." She gives his hand a squeeze, "I'll admit it is funny to overhear some of the wildly inaccurate gossip."

School is school, nothing particularly taxing and, driven by anticipation, it feels like next to no time before Ben is driving to the river with Sadie clinging to his back like a very stubborn koala. The reccy at the river is mostly poking about and tossing ideas back and forth, pinpointing the dive area, and discussing where Sadie would feel safe diving when considering her swimming strength.

The rest of the week is definitely more relaxing for Sadie than it is for Ben, and so she places herself on Ben Stress Watch; cuddling, cooking, and just generally making sure that Ben takes appropriate breaks.

The successfulness of which appeared to be minimal from the way Ben was frowning at the river set-up. Sighing, Sadie wanders over and gently nudges him.

"Keep that up and the wind will change, then you'll be stuck like that forever. Honestly though Ben...I know you're worried, but we've planned, and you've tested it, and we both know I'm the best person to be doing this." She reaches up to cradle his cheek, "Walter will be here soon as well, so please, try and relax a little. You've made this as safe for me as is possible."
Edited 2019-02-09 14:17 (UTC)
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Nervous)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Yet were it not for Sadie, Benjiro would have slept and ate only when his body forced it. Every morsle and each respite are recognized with gratitude as they are given, and thanks to her aid, it was only last night that he lost much rest for his mind to the heightened anxiety and excitement. Otherwise, perhaps he would have reached a new record of time spent awake.

The nudge is enough to startle him out of the look and contemplation, and looking over to Sadie as she coaxes him towards a calmer mindset he turns to her rather than the river. At the touch to his cheek, he bows his head and finds her wrist to loosely grasp in turn as he sighs with a visible effort to tug at the tangle of thoughts and worry, “Reasonably safe. Safe as possible would have included diving chainmail.” The tinge of humor is too weak in his voice to have been something he is only now considering as a joke.

“I know you are the best choice, Sadie, and that we need to do this. It’s simply that we’ve already been dealing with so much that has no clear explanation, and I don’t have the foresight to anticipate anything that resembles magic.”
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-09 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm worried about the magic too," She admits even as her lips curl up in a smile, "But we can't prepare for something like that. The best we can do is plan and mitigate as much as possible... Which is what you've done. You know I wouldn't have proposed this if I didn't think we couldn't make this safe."

"I trust you."
warped_replica: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: Happy)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
His other hand lifts to brush his fingers against her cheek as he leans forward to touch his forehead to her own, voice murmuring a simple reply, “Yeah...” Benjiro understands he has given her a safety net. In case of emergency, in which she exceeds a set dive time or pulls the line with a bobber on the harness under the surface as a signal, he can reel her in to the shore within moments using the distantly anchored main support line and the secondary lateral line. Should something detain her, he can follow the lateral line in as a guide and aid her directly after locking his belt on one of several anchor points he has already identified as stable.

But this is Sadie. This is the hard part of loving someone.

Swallowing back his apprehension, he draws his forehead away only enough to place a feathery kiss at her lips, “...you can do this.” For her, he finds the start of a smile.
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

Good time for Walter to jump in?

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-09 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can...And you can too Ben." The kiss is warm and comforting, and Sadie's lips pull up into a far stronger smile under Ben's gentle touch.

She pulls back further, "Now, Walter should be here soon, so I'm going to start getting my top layers off. The sooner we can start, the sooner you can have me out of the river and in a nice, big towel hug."
iamnotgod: A man, smiling and holding a book. (When He Smiles.)

But Sadie's the one doing the jumping! ;) /tease

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-09 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter had pulled in quietly, parking and leaving only his bike away from the river, choosing to carry the pack of (probably not strictly needed, given Ben's own preparations) supplies.

"You needn't wait for me," he says, smiling wryly in place of a regular greeting.

"And there's no one in range to spot us from above ground level, not without some serious investment behind it; we're as prepared as we can be," he agrees with Sadie.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Surprised)

Sneaky friendo

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
In turn, that beautiful smile brings out a full smile in answer. He nods as he reluctantly lowers his hands away as she moves back. He would indeed bundle her up in the largest, heaviest bath towel he had managed to find at his great aunts’ house. It was bordering on identifying as a blanket. Yet he does not get the chance to confirm it out loud.

Optimism barely touched, he stiffens through his back at the sound of Walter announcing his presence at a position far nearer than his usual perception would have allowed him to come unnoticed. Yet, having been thoroughly distracted, he is left flushing visibly without his facemask in place. He turns away to cough then half glances back as he busies himself with retrieving the harness for Sadie to wear as he replies, “I disagree. If Sadie and I are overwhelmed, you are our best hope.” Not only would Walter be able to process the situation the fastest and respond accordingly the most efficiently (even to obtain emergency services), but he has the speed to escape danger himself.

“Thanks for checking the surroundings.”
warped_replica: Temporary sketch icon (Human: Huh?)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Benjiro looks up from his phone the instant Walter mentions the man at the bomb site, but he takes a breath and resumes his scan around the mouth of the river in the photos as he responds, “...we certainly don’t need someone else like that.” It only takes a couple moments to eliminate most potential relationships given where the river meets the ocean right out of Mossgate.

He does, however, spot one potential, “The Shivering Sands Army Fort...do you know much about it?”
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

Walter was the real ninja all along

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-09 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Sadie blushes alongside Ben as Walter manages to sneak up on them both, but she greats Walter with her usual smile and disengages with Ben to go and give Walter a big hug.

"Thank you Walter! It's a relief to know that things are safe to go, and your help will be invaluable for this!" She takes the harness from Ben, "Let's do this!"
iamnotgod: A man staring slightly off-center, looking serious. (Let Me Explain You A Thing)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-09 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter slowly shakes his head. He hasn't had many reasons to interact with the military- however...

"I know who to ask about it, though." Assuming Stewart Fairhurst still remembered him.

And how to find out more without anyone noticing it- But that thought, too, gets cut off.
iamnotgod: A man, sitting and possibly smiling. (Awkward Smile)

Well, my choral&drama teachers in high school thought *I* could be a ninja...

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-09 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Internally cursing himself for ruining the moment (why are these two teens so cute? No one could truly explain it, he thinks), Walter deposits the supplies by the rest of Ben's things after returning Sadie's hug.

"Never hurts to tackle these things as a team," he points out.

"Did you want two anchor points, or should I just stay on watch?"
warped_replica: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: It’s Me)

Similar story here. Invisible in crowds.

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-09 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Moments have their place, and it had been shared. Now is time for work to get closer to answers.

Harness taken to Sadie to give to her without the lines attached yet, he’ll wait for her to pull it on and cinch it snug along the sections. Similarly, he’ll step through the leg holes of his belt and tighten it firmly against his hips. Once set, he checks her then begins connecting the main line, the lateral line, and finally the bobber line alone at her shoulder while he speaks to answer Walter, “It is quite effective.”

“If you could mind the lateral line? You don’t need to anchor anything, just make certain it doesn’t snag or slide off into the water, especially in her first dive. Sadie will start at the point where we connect and float her way down river with me slowly walking up the bank so she can do an initial scan. Once she’s at the end, then you can pull to get her ashore so she can warm up and we can review the footage before she goes back to any specific site with the weights at her ankles.”
Edited 2019-02-09 22:05 (UTC)
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

I am too dyspraxic to be stealthy XD

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-10 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
The harness is easy to get on herself, although it felt odd over the thermal wetsuit, and when Ben checks only one of the straps needs a little extra tightening. The Go-Pro gets strapped on next and then Sadie is ready to attach herself and get in the water.

"Hopefully those two times will be all it takes, but we've allowed for a total of four dives today. If we don't get anything in those four then we'll have to try again at a later date."

She goes and stands next to the line, "I'm ready, let's do this!"
iamnotgod: Black and white picture of a man looking up and off to the right. (What Even Is This?)

We can cover for you! Just say the word~ Or make the gesture, as case may be.

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-10 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
Walter nods, eyeing the indicated line carefully.

"Considering it may not be anything easily obvious without, say, digging, a maximum of four trips is a fair plan."

He'll keep close monitoring on that line as Sadie gets ready to dive.
Edited 2019-02-10 02:38 (UTC)
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-10 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
No immediate information is expected, however, the possibility of a source beyond text is certainly positive. Despite this, Benjiro does switch over on his phone to a browser app to search for basic information about the location. Perhaps an odd fact will stick out somewhere. As he starts to scan the results, the teenager begins to shift his weight between his feet without settling.

"If you wouldn't mind? I don't see much reason it would be involved, but it could theoretically be used as a staging location," if approached carefully given the disrepair of the fort. He remembers that much from his initial tour at the bay.

Splitting his mind between the task on his phone and continuing to talk, he'll move on to other details, "I wonder if any aftershocks were recorded. Or foreshocks for that matter. They aren't always felt, especially around one that small."
warped_replica: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: It’s Me)

Or be your ninja operatives! >3

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-10 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
It may be unnecessary, but he makes the slight adjustment to her harness without delay when he spots it, then assists with the GoPro as needed to be certain it will not fail to record. Having linked her harness and his belt along with the other lines, Benjiro gives Sadie a final once over with his mental checklist. Swim cap, gloves, footwear, and diving mask accounted for, he looks to the simple set up at the end of the river mouth prepared to receive a wet Sadie and warm her. He had checked the reported water temperature before leaving her house, and roughly estimated safe limits for dive times with her help, relying on her perception of her tolerance for the cold to adjust. The initial sweep would be key and could not be rushed, but starting dry and warm allows this to be a longer dive, and his position acting as her counterweight will limit her fatigue.

A nod of agreement given to Sadie outlining the overall plan, Benjiro hopes it will not come down to blind searches under mud. There is a slight pause as Benjiro looks to Walter expectantly, but with nothing further to discuss, he follows Sadie's lead.

With a passing touch to her gloved hand, Benjiro separates from Sadie and Walter to walk to the end of the river while she positions up it and Walter remains between. Slack in the line already exists to allow for the movement out from this side of the shore before he has to contribute, however, Benjiro finds it hard not to brace with muscles in his legs twitching in anticipation. He calls up the distance, "Ready! Go for it, Sadie!"
Edited 2019-02-10 02:39 (UTC)
iamnotgod: A man, staring down and left, looking unimpressed and/or concentrating. (*Really?*)

... Time to be the first to use the NPC contact posts!

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-10 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
"They might have equipment for that at one of the local universities - though I suspect we'll have more than enough data publicized in the next few days corroborating the quake from stations worldwide to narrow things down. Given the nature of this quake, however..."

He nods this time.

"I'll go ahead and call Captain Fairhurst, then. Even if he doesn't think it's his priority, there should be someone still keeping track of it."
dragoonrouge: (Sadie)

Attempt to complete tag No.3

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-02-10 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Sadie is more than happy to let Ben take as long as he needs to check her harnesses, smiling at him as he adjusts the harness and the Go Pro. "I couldn't be in better hands." Her words quiet as he pulls away, just between the two of them as Walter positions himself.

Making her way to the start point, she braces herself, "Going in!" She calls down to him, and steps into the water, hissing loudly, "FUCK this is going to be chilly! In I go!" She steps out further and dives under, fighting back the instinctual need to hold her breath and forces herself to breathe like normal, grimacing at the chill.

Time to search.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Nervous)

At least it'll be good to have that info regardless, bonus of keeping up with the NPC

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-10 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
The next few days. It is realistic, and yet, unsatisfactory. Benjiro usually has the patience to wait for data collection, but his mind is unwilling to rest or redirect. As such, his lips thin into a line as he reluctantly nods in acknowledgement and takes a few steps in pacing only to return to the same spot and halt himself.

Search closed out on his phone, Benjiro tucks the device into a pocket and busies his hands with holding the straps of his backpack. Looking to Walter for direction, he asks, "Anything you think I could look into?"
iamnotgod: A man staring up and off to the right. (And He Asks Why.)

Assuming I'm giving Walter the right starting points, anyway. |D

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-02-10 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Walter couldn't agree more with the problem of time - but he has to keep reminding himself that, for other people, one-second-per-second can be overwhelming enough, and 'a couple days' doesn't normally feel that long in retrospect.

"We could tag-team on the social media comb, checking on the professional sites that are supposed to be focusing on earthquakes."

And for Walter it would feel like working with an equal, no question about that.

"Or we could split up, divide-and-conquer like we did in November, so one of us could focus on the historical record in case something's slipped through the cracks."
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

It's more than the rest of us!

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-02-10 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Benjiro nods faintly as the options are presented separately, and he considers out loud, "I won't be able to check social media as often as you, with school and work, but I can at least help identify the feeds to track and monitor them when you need a break. And I never mind a trip to the library. Which, we can also run together if you don't mind waiting for the opportunity."

Walter has a more flexible schedule, and he won't be disappointed if Walter wants to research sooner than he might be available.

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