[network] @ASolomons; audio, morning of 127 [open]

[devoutish]

[When the morning comes and Watson is gone, it's not really a surprise - Alfie had woken him up in the middle of the night for a "discussion" at scalpelpoint, after all. He figures that Watson had snuck out as soon as lockdown ended, purposefully not waking Alfie. That's fine. Alfie has warmer clothes now, and better shoes. He needs that far more than he needs company.]

Good morning. How's Kesara's tunnel coming along? 'Cause I'm headed in that direction today.

[And aren't you all just thrilled about that.]

Yeah, I should get there in four or five days. Big discovery like this, I'd guess there's a lot of people in the area, and I thought it'd be a good idea to talk a bit more with all of you - find out who's digging, and who's staying where. Because the thing I do not want, right, is to walk into a pileup - five, six, seven people trying to cram into one house for the night. I would like some confirmation of coordination.

[And he talks, he's heading for the door, giving the little room a quick once-over with the tablet light to make sure he's not leaving anything behind.]

I'm seeing on the map there's two houses very close by, and a few more that are only a bit further. Might I reserve myself a spot in--

[But he cuts himself off, because he's tried the door, and it's still locked. He double-checks the time. It's definitely after lockdown is supposed to be over.

There are a few explanations here. Two stand out to him as being the most likely.]

Right - bit of a problem here, yeah; I'm having a bit of an unexpected issue. Either lockdown has been extended and Dr. Watson has been spirited away in the night, or he's found a way to lock me in. So I ask you - are any of the rest of you experiencing this, or should I be considering it a punishment for my very naughty misdeeds?

Comments

[powersouls]

Nothing. We all woke up feeling like we'd just walked ten miles, and that was it. There wasn't an explanation, unless you count her telling us that there was an "issue with surveillance" as an explanation.

[devoutish]

Her, the Admin?

[powersouls]

Mhmm. The Admin. She never explains anything.

[devoutish]

Yeah, I'm getting that.

If it happens, maybe this time it'll land me closer to that tunnel.

[He's still salty that they'd been less than a day's walk away, before he'd died and been sent over to the hospital.]

[powersouls]

I don't think any of us are that lucky. I was headed downtown and I woke up on the north side of the residential area.

[devoutish]

You think it was designed to throw us off our courses?

[The anomaly had done that, too. Maybe something really, really doesn't want him to see that tunnel???]

[powersouls]

Um... I don't know. If something didn't want us near that tunnel, wouldn't it target everyone there?

[devoutish]

I don't know. Could be it doesn't want more.

I'm just guessing, yeah?

[powersouls]

Right. That's all we can do at this point.

Did John leave you those supplies?

[devoutish]

The clothes and the shoes; yeah, he did. The food went off with him, though.

[powersouls]

So you still don't have anything? [Ugh.] That's awful. I'm sorry. I hope the doors unlock soon.

[devoutish]

I've got stuff I can walk in.

[So he's better than he started off.]

[powersouls]

Well, that's something. Stay safe, okay? And if you need anything, let us know. Being locked in like this is making me nervous.

[devoutish]

Mm. Does Duster look like he's gonna maim the kid yet?

[powersouls]

Sort of. Things aren't as bad as I expected, but I'm trying to keep them apart anyway.

[devoutish]

What's he like, Nathan? We've only spoken the once.

[powersouls]

I like him. Sometimes he makes stupid jokes and says things without thinking, but once you get used to that, it's not a big deal.

[devoutish]

Is there anyone you don't like much, Tifa?

[powersouls]

Plenty of people. Here it's mostly House and Jack.

[devoutish]

The ones nobody seems to like, then.

What about the Joker?

[powersouls]

He seems crazy and I don't trust him, but he's easy to avoid.

[devoutish]

When he isn't causing bomb scares, yeah?

[powersouls]

Right. When he isn't doing that. There aren't a lot of people I have problems with, though.

[devoutish]

I'm not surprised.

[Depending on who he's talking to, he could mean something like that as a compliment or an insult. In this case, it's definitely the former.]

[powersouls]

[On the other side of the tablet, she smiles a little. A compliment? Maybe? She's still not really sure how to take a lot of the things Royce and Alfie say, so:]

That's... a good thing, right?