Thanks, Ben [Mingle]

[saveournpcs]

Date: 4th of January 20, 3 hours after everyone came out of the cavesCharacters: OPEN

---

Three hours after everyone came out of the caves, an earthquake of the magnitude 5.7 shakes the echo boundary.

Up on the ruins, a single block from one of the lower walls gets dislocated and falls.

Down in the city and villages, things go a bit worse. A couple of sheds collapse, things fall over and off things, and some houses are left with cracks in their walls and might end up condemned. A number of telegraph poles fall over and a few on cars. There's three injured and no fatalities over all, and a few related car accidents because people got distracted that again go without fatalities.

...And, of course, the Media are back. The next day, the Sun titles "IS THERE A NEW CRACK IN THE EARTH'S CRUST??? Another earthquake strikes Mossgate 4 houses condemned, 10 admitted to hospital, powerlines down", but newspapers with more journalistic integrity send reporters as well.

Someone else is back, too - Numbered will see Mr Neutral, Mr Evil and Mr Helpful wander the streets.

Comments

[iamnotgod]

"I've found layers work best, when it comes to it," Walter replies, voice softer than his grip.

Letting some of the stress out of his shoulders, he answers, "It piles up faster, because I keep track of more than most people would expect, but I've found it's also become easier to piece it apart again, and tackle things one at a time."

Just at a faster speed than most humans handled it.

My apologies for losing track of this one

[warped_replica]

He nods a little more absently, “I can let you know tomorrow.” He will not impose so much as to have Walter make a second trip all the way out from Mossgate to lend him a blanket. Especially when he cannot bring himself to go into town after being the cause of so much damage.

Benjiro scrutinizes Walter’s visible body language. He has some difficulty telling when Walter is consciously acting to provide a specific external projection. His friend can think and act so much faster, and he wonders how well his body keeps up with his mind.

“I can always turn off the wifi if you want a break while you’re here,” he offers.

No problem. ^^

[iamnotgod]

He has a feeling Ben's aunts will have their own opinion on the matter.

But guilt is a powerful motivator, in its own way.

Walter shakes his head. "I'm afraid it's gotten quite the other way, after all this time getting used to it."

Chuckling wryly, he adds, "Which doesn't mean you shouldn't turn the wifi off; probably healthier that way."

[warped_replica]

Which is all the more reason Benjiro is relieved to be talking about anything but himself.

Securing his current progress, he sets the tools down, “We can give it a try then. I will turn it off, and if you start feeling too bored, I’ll turn it back on. And while I’m inside I can get a couple drinks for us.”

Taking a request from Walter for his preference of a drink, he will head into the house briefly to gather the drinks, and shut down the wifi on his way back out.

Since this is now post-discussion with Mr. Neutral...

[iamnotgod]

It's not as if Walter can't occupy himself in his own head, these days...

After all, he has a lot to think about, especially now.

He looks worried again by the time Ben returns, but seems to shake it off as they get back to work.

"Thanks," he says, accepting the drink and taking a sip first.

[warped_replica]

He notices that look from his friend and asks after handing him his drink, “That dull already? Or is it something else?” Benjiro keeps attention on Walter as he sits on his stool and removes his face mask to drink from his cup.

[iamnotgod]

"No, but I found Mr. Neutral yesterday," Walter begins to explain, staring down at the drink distantly.

"During the conversation, I had another Echo. Two memories, one a set of them."

There's a very pregnant pause.

"Remember when I said that there was a memory of Webmind urging someone to take their own life? There's more where that came from. A lot more."