President Crane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
revenantking) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
snowblindrpg2018-11-29 02:03 pm
revenantking) wrote in snowblindrpg2018-11-29 02:03 pm
[network] @crane; Day 424 after Lockdown; Video: Oval Office Address [open]
[In another life, Roland knew better than to apply his political principles to a survival situation; he'd learned that acting as though he were incapable of suffering only served to alienate himself from the others, and failed to keep panic from breaking out. Roland was not the leader the people looked to, here - the United States he'd led was an entirely different nuclear crater than the one they lived in, now. Here, he was just a man.
Unfortunately, the Roland who learned that lesson is now an Anomaly. This Roland hasn't come to terms with such things.
Roland withdraws from his companions and stamps down all of the hopelessness and despair of his situation before lighting up a confident expression and starting up a broadcast. Not a trace of his usual dry and sarcastic self remains, having long been eaten by illness and depression. It was far easier to act 'presidential' than it was to be himself. This was a finely practiced persona that required zero effort on his part. Now, someone had to be the bearer of bad news, and at home, the job usually fell to him. So, here goes, or whatever.]
I have to admit I'm not a big fan of "social media." I'd hoped to meet all of you in person, by now, but it seems that's going to be more difficult than I'd imagined.
So, to those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Roland Crane. In my homeworld, I served the people of this country as their President. But I don't address you as one now. I intend to get to know you as your friend. [Or so he'll have you believe.]
...I cannot speak to the experience of the people who have lived in Norfinbury much longer than my mere two months here, but I can say with certainty that these past two weeks have been particularly difficult on me. But each of my travelling companions has been an inspiration, keeping eachother motivated and alive, as all of you no doubt do for yours. I am grateful to have come here. I am truly blessed to have met America, England and Ginger. And I am grateful to have met all of you.
And now after such hardship, it seems all of us have yet another burden to endure. But we're going to get through whatever it is this symptom portends, same as everything else.
[In other words: yes, there seems to be big problem. And if Roland knows about the lack of food, he doesn't mention it, not wanting to incite a panic. Even through such a sinister lie, he smiles:]
I look forward to seeing this through with each and every one of you. Thank you, and may God bless you.
[That last part is spoken out of habit, and came across as disingenous even before he learned the truth of his universe. So yeah, everything is obviously fine. Clearly.]
Unfortunately, the Roland who learned that lesson is now an Anomaly. This Roland hasn't come to terms with such things.
Roland withdraws from his companions and stamps down all of the hopelessness and despair of his situation before lighting up a confident expression and starting up a broadcast. Not a trace of his usual dry and sarcastic self remains, having long been eaten by illness and depression. It was far easier to act 'presidential' than it was to be himself. This was a finely practiced persona that required zero effort on his part. Now, someone had to be the bearer of bad news, and at home, the job usually fell to him. So, here goes, or whatever.]
I have to admit I'm not a big fan of "social media." I'd hoped to meet all of you in person, by now, but it seems that's going to be more difficult than I'd imagined.
So, to those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Roland Crane. In my homeworld, I served the people of this country as their President. But I don't address you as one now. I intend to get to know you as your friend. [Or so he'll have you believe.]
...I cannot speak to the experience of the people who have lived in Norfinbury much longer than my mere two months here, but I can say with certainty that these past two weeks have been particularly difficult on me. But each of my travelling companions has been an inspiration, keeping eachother motivated and alive, as all of you no doubt do for yours. I am grateful to have come here. I am truly blessed to have met America, England and Ginger. And I am grateful to have met all of you.
And now after such hardship, it seems all of us have yet another burden to endure. But we're going to get through whatever it is this symptom portends, same as everything else.
[In other words: yes, there seems to be big problem. And if Roland knows about the lack of food, he doesn't mention it, not wanting to incite a panic. Even through such a sinister lie, he smiles:]
I look forward to seeing this through with each and every one of you. Thank you, and may God bless you.
[That last part is spoken out of habit, and came across as disingenous even before he learned the truth of his universe. So yeah, everything is obviously fine. Clearly.]
@Enoch; voice (possibly the next day in case of bunker overnighting)
[Enoch isn't so sure the town isn't shutting down again, though the taste in his throat isn't quite the same. But he acknowledges Roland's effort all the same. He's probably wrong, after all, because nothing has ever happened exactly the same way twice here.]
@crane; voice
It's the least I can do.
[As in, it's literally the bare minimum. He's used to having quite a bit more power than this to help his people, and it's frustrating.]
Until we figure out what's going on, anyway...
voice
[He doesn't like providing cause for alarm, but he likes sitting on the potential for understanding the situation even less. If they die because someone didn't have the nerve to tell them they might and that causes them to fail to do anything about it, it would be absolutely awful.]
no subject
[He's always felt handicapped by his lack of knowledge of past atrocities - and they weren't exactly morale-boosting conversations - so he's eager to learn.]
Tell me what happened.
@totheark; text; next morning
?
@crane, text
Hey, Brian. It's been awhile.
It didn't come up the last time we spoke, but, yes. That was my job, once.
[These days it was more shameful to admit that than it was a point of pride. What has he been doing to help his people in all the time he'd been here?]
text
howwould help
here
?
@hotstud_xxx; voice-to-text
[That eyeroll-worthy performance addressed, House looks to what he sees as the meat of this conversation.]
Describe your symptoms here. When did they start? Is everyone in your group experiencing the same thing?
no subject
[He falls uneasily silent. He had been caring for his injured companion then. He had only just healed enough to reliably move around under his own power for a bit. And then it seemed, when he could not travel and Enoch would die before abandoning him, that time had run out on them.]
That's when Winter donated some of her own power - it must have been a great deal - to preserve us. When she was able to contact us again, she said in spite of Eve's announcement, the town was shutting down. The sickness and taste of metal in my throat - though it isn't blood this time - reminds me of it.
@crane, text
All four of us woke up nauseous. Seems to wax and wane in severity. We can taste blood, but none of us seem to be bleeding...
no subject
The head of state in a republic, such as the United States. In other words, the leader of a country.
That's up for debate, I guess. Of everyone here, I must be one of the least experienced in the matter of surviving in Norfinbury. It's usually a requirement to have been born into - or at least to have been present at the inception of - the land you intend to lead to ensure you have the wisdom needed to guide it.
But I try to help, where I can.
[He's usually more driven than this, but his depression has taken the edge off of his drive.]
no subject
Guessing it's another prelude to a power loss and uptick in radiation sickness. Start hard copying phrases from car son is translation dictionary, if you can. The universal translator might break again soon.
no subject
I'm pleased to meet you too, I'm Alphonse. I know what it's like to be grateful to have the chance to meet the people that you have met here, seeing it as one of the blessings of this place, so-- I'm glad you have such good friends already. I'm sorry the last few weeks have been hard, though.
@clowncutie92; voice; next day
@crane, voice
[Unlike his address, this is sincere.]
It's been awhile. I know things were difficult for you around the time we spoke last...
[He's been worried, but he doesn't know her well enough to express that without coming off overly familiar.]
no subject
[And she means that. The opposite just isn't an option.]
no subject
?
ifyou want to
lead
u s
it willnot be
ea sy
no subject
We're just friends.
[He'd almost given up on being able to help anyone here, but even so, he's curious to know Brian's opinion.]
Why do you say that?
no subject
list en
donot wantto
work to get her
@hotstud_xxx
no subject
[Especially since the alternative means he's just one of the hundreds who have been brought here and succumbed to the elements or worse.]
I'll be fine. Seems like everyone here learns to cope, eventually.
no subject
There's something to look forward to...
Is not being able to communicate that big of a problem when this happens? I've met quite a few native English speakers.
no subject
That hasn't been my experience. Much of Norfinbury is helping out inside the bunker as we speak, aren't they?
But I haven't been here long, if you're alluding to something specific.
[He won't implicate Dr. House- who seemed fine to Roland- but the question is leading. He shouldn't make judgments one way or another until he has all of the information.]
no subject
but not
to geth er
*They're all trying to do things that are useful, but no one has coordinated it all together. So things are probably being retried over and over again.*
no subject
That is a problem, isn't it?
[Roland is surprised when he doesn't immediately feel like volunteering. Normally, he'd be happy to grasp an opportunity to lead. What's wrong with him, lately? He'll have to talk himself into it, later.]
Maybe it's because they're used to Anomalies gathering when they work together. I'd think that would discourage teamwork.
no subject
no
theyare just
dif fi cult
no subject
[It comes out more frank than he intends. These last two months have embittered him.]
But it's like you said: we have to keep going. If you've done that much, it's more than enough.
no subject
Seems reckless to be difficult in a place like this. Sounds like it's been enough of a problem to frustrate you.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Well, I don't intend on being difficult, if that's any consolation.
no subject
thatis good
whereare
?
no subject
My son, about a year ago.
[...Said just as frankly. He used to avoid bringing up the subject, but now he feels no different either way. No matter what, everything is too much to handle. Used to be that he moved on. Then, he ended up here.]
no subject
[Yeah, Roland doesn't like that for several reasons...]
Not good. Sounds like Winter won't be able to bail us out again...
Do you think there's some way we can prepare?
no subject
no subject
no subject
[And while he knows what it's called and has a general idea of what it does and has seen the footage of the attack? It's all he has. He didn't grow up in a time where he could witness any of humanity's awful exploration into its potential for destruction. There were no accompanying news articles, press statements, none of the background of its time that would make this picture more complete.]
no subject
Just trying to evaluate the scope of the problem.
Still, I'll take your advice. Any other fun changes I should expect?
no subject
Standard symptoms of radiation poisoning. Nausea, vomiting, burning sensation for your skin, hair-loss, diarrhea, anxiety and delirium.
no subject
Thank you. I... had a long time to come to terms with it, even before it happened.
[Not that it made things any easier, but:]
Here? One of us could be gone tomorrow. Somehow, that seems worse to me...
no subject
Hopefully whatever's comin' next is more of a stage slap. Any guesses so far?
no subject
[Can he practically hear the thumbs up in Al's voice? He should, because it's there.]