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: Black and white picture of a man looking up and off to the right. (What Even Is This?)

Re: [Text]

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-01-22 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Once Walter's reoriented himself, his response is swift.]

I am now. Was not expecting that.

What about you? Where are you right now?
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[Text]

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-01-22 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Benjiro is texting multiple people at once, but he flips between the communications easily.]

I don’t think anyone was. This area isn’t supposed to be active tectonically speaking.

I remembered something, but otherwise fine. I’m used to earthquakes from living in Japan a couple years. Currenlty still at work. My shift ends at 1700.

Any signs of damage around you?
Edited 2019-01-22 12:07 (UTC)
iamnotgod: A man staring up and off to the right. (And He Asks Why.)

Re: [Text]

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-01-22 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
It triggered an Echo for you? Or just normal remembering?

[That part sticks out the most to him, though there's no distinguishable pause between that and his next questions:]

May be something worth looking into, if these aren't supposed to be happening.

No; I'm outside, away from buildings. You'll be all right?
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[Text] (*Currently; my typo not his)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-01-24 10:15 am (UTC)(link)
Echo. Not a bad one, so we can talk about it later.

I definitely will be looking into it to be certain.

Yes. We have some things to clean up at the warehouse, but no one was hurt.

Stay safe, okay? Earthquakes can shake things loose and it might not become apparent until later.
iamnotgod: Shade Over Face (What Did You Do To Me?)

Re: [Text] (*Currently; my typo not his)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-01-24 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Walter internally sighs in relief - it'd have been out loud, too, but there's no one immediately around to hear it, so nothing is lost by keeping it in his head.]

At the park? Flat will have to be looked over.

I shouldn't keep you from work, then.

Understood.


[It made sense; substances without obvious weakpoints could have them revealed by seismic events like these. And those with cracks could have them widened.]
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[Text]

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-01-31 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
Aftershocks are also possible.

Okay. I’ll text you after my shift ends.


[Mere minutes after his shift is over, Benjiro texts Walter as he walks out from the warehouse with hastened cadence.]

Off the clock. Should we meet at the usual place at the park?
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

[Text] Moving the thread down to Ben's toplevel!

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-01-31 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
That works.

[And when Ben checks in with him after work:]

Of course. See you there.

[Despite the upcoming discussion being about Echoes, this doesn't quite feel like an ice-cream kind of discussion.

That, and it's January.]