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ourearth) wrote in
saveourearth2019-01-20 05:30 pm
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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.
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.
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"I'm going to go swim down to the bottom of the river mouth." She tells him plainly, "It can't be coincidence that the centre of the barrier and the earthquake epicentre are the same place. All of the stuff from Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Christmas just keep swirling around my head. I think this might yield some answers."
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Then he moves to planning, “After classes are over, we should head there to scope the layout of the banks. That should give me a solid plan of how to set an anchor and line to keep you from being swept out of the river. I can put a basic one together in minutes once I have the correct supplies... What about a wetsuit and a diving mask for you? Do you think James would know someone your size you could borrow from?”
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"I've already asked James for his GoPro, didn't want to chance the Network, and he'll have a suit for me by tomorrow afternoon. The only thing I need then are goggles." Sadie lays out what she's already sorted so that Ben can adjust his plans accordingly, "I will bow to your expertise of course."
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That last remark regarding his expertise stirs clear surprise and a flustered blush at the edges of his facemask as he disagrees, “Expertise usually requires experience.” Nevertheless, he needs to come up with a plan. “A diving mask might stand up to the current better that goggles. Maybe add gloves and a swim cap to keep your hair out of your way and keep you a little warmer...” he muses before focusing on practicality, “All of which we can order and have in within a couple days if we cannot find them at the sporting shop.”
Benjiro fishes out a notebook from his bag to start making a short-hand list as he continues to talk, “The anchor system will be very basic but will require a harness. You will not be able to stay submerged long without risking hypothermia so we might consider periodic dives beginning with a first swim down the length of the area we think is most promising. After that, you can go back into certain spots. Ankle weights could reduce your effort to stay in place if you need to move or collect anything. Those should be easy to make from sand and cloth, so worst case scenario you can ditch them and they’ll degrade safely.” He jots those down then taps his pencil tip in thought only three times before he shifts, “We can use my bike to go there and back, but keeping you warm between dives will be the hardest. Dry clothes and gear should suffice at the end if we get you straight back home, but some pocket warmers wouldn’t hurt...”
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As Ben starts to outline thoughts and plans, Sadie rests her head on her hands. This was one of the things she loved about Ben, his meticulousness and attention to detail.
"I love you." She says with a sappy smile.
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No doubt he will have multiple plans already vaguely outlined should their survey of the river mouth demonstrate any unforeseen obstacles. Closing his notebook with one last scribbled word, he’ll put it away. Better not to linger so long they end up noticeably late to lunch.
Time skip now?
"I know...Come on, let's go and be sociable and provide the nosey hoards with some gossip to feed on."
YES - Feb 9th
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.
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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."
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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.”
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"I trust you."
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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.
Good time for Walter to jump in?
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."
But Sadie's the one doing the jumping! ;) /tease
"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.
Sneaky friendo
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.”
Walter was the real ninja all along
"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!"
Well, my choral&drama teachers in high school thought *I* could be a ninja...
"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?"
Similar story here. Invisible in crowds.
I am too dyspraxic to be stealthy XD
We can cover for you! Just say the word~ Or make the gesture, as case may be.
Or be your ninja operatives! >3
Attempt to complete tag No.3
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One can imagine 'Mad World' playing in the distance for this tag only.
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Moving right along...
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Sadie goes next, when Lottie is up!
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They're just guessing, alas, because these are PLOT Echoes! XD
/cackles
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Ben can come back next round!
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CW: Blood and Wound
Re: CW: Blood and Wound
CW: Blood and Wound
Sadie can go next, now. =P
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I'd say next tag round through, five minutes are up?
o7
Okay~
Might be a mod question in that - "Would the mud samples yield anything?"
Jumping ahead here; and if I knew what to test, then I would
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Breaking tag order just so Ben can have more time for the conversation...
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My notifs went stupid here sorry
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Feb 9th - A morning phone call to Mary Ann
As soon as she answers, he greets her politely before he has to ask, “Good morning, Mrs. Tilly. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time, but I was hoping you might be able to see me today.”
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"I should be - if you call the surgery directly, they should be able to give you an appointment still, and if not, you can come during my lunch break." Numbered and all, it's probably something that she can't send him on to someone else with. "What is it about?"
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“I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure if you were working today or not,” he offers first in way of explanation for bucking standard contact. He hesitates at the thought of occupying her lunch break, “Oh... I, uh, cut my leg walking in the river. It’s not bad, but it is a little deeper than I first thought.”
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Either way, that sounds like a risk of infection, if not treated properly, so it's definitely that he lets a medical professional look at it.
"I'll see you soon, then." And she will most definitely inquire how he ended up cutting his leg in the river at this time of the year.
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He waits until close to the appointment time to enter the building, and sits until he is called to see her. As he walks back, he tries not to favor his right leg too much, but it is noticeable.
“...thanks again for agreeing to see me.”
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I'm glad you came. Show me the injury?" She needs to assess it before she can really do something about it, after all.
CW Wound description
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"Please sit over there and put your legs up." She'll need to have a closer look at it, and also gather a few necessities before getting to it, which she'll do while he heads over there.
"How did it happen? Really, I mean. You said something about walking in the river?"
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