008 | Video | Day 107

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar appears on the screen with lines of static rippling across his upper chest. He looks in good enough health and spirits, at least, but serious.] Hello, Kore. I'll be quick to the point since the communicators are squirrelly these days.

One: I assume we're all avoiding the ocean inasmuch as possible. Are people still fishing, and if so, where? If not, how is that affecting food stores? Anyone in need?

[The image distorts and gets swallowed up in white noise for a moment, a few words cut off.] ---ouple pounds of purslane and dandelion greens and picked another crop of radishes; I'm happy to make trades. I've also caught something that looks like a rabbit with tusks. It's up for grabs, because the hell if I'm going to skin and gut it myself.

Two: Given the way conditions are deteriorating, I'm wondering if we ought to initiate some sort of buddy system. Pairs, trios, small groups to look out for one another?

Comments

Video

[undomesticated]

[Have a smiling Riley. She's looking much better than she had the last time he'd seen her and she was happy for that.]

Well isn't that mature and responsible of you?

[Her tone was teasing, but her smile was fond.]

I'm good for food and I don't know about anyone else, but I usually do my fishing at the stream. There's enough that go through there that I've been able to catch what I need.

I'm also all in favor of the buddy system. There's a few people here I'd like to keep an eye on and make sure that all's well with and maybe having something like that in place would be a good idea. At least maybe we'd know when someone goes missing more quickly.

video

[tryingitall]

Ssh, don't say that! You'll give people the idea I'm an adult. [He grins, pleased to see her recovering, but his image continues to flicker and twist oddly on the communicator screen.]

I'm glad the stream is good for it. Wasn't sure.

And yes. I'm worried people will vanish in the dark and not be missed for hours.

[undomesticated]

I'm pretty sure that anyone that knows you is well aware of the fallacy of that concept.

[She's come to the conclusion that she doesn't like the communicators. They are obviously more trouble than they're worth.]

If you come across anyone that needs fish or meat, you're always welcome to let me know and I can catch extra when I go out.

We could all wear bells. Big jingly, jangly bells. And be tied together with string.

[Now she was just being a dork.]

Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

What kind of things...

[The video cuts out for a moment, but resumes shortly thereafter.]

.... accept as trades?

Video

[tryingitall]

[Okay, he missed part of that message, but he's got the gist.]

Practical things, I suppose, although I'm not going to be all that picky. Other food and spare clothes or blankets mostly, but paper and writing instruments would be nice, as well.

Alcohol's on the list, of course. [He doesn't mention cigarettes, but he might take them, too, if only for Rat's sake.]

Re: Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I might be able to find some spare clothes to trade, if that interests you.

[He's not sure how they'll fit anyone else, but he knows he himself can't wear much of what he and Charlie had found in the house they were living in. Might as well do something practical with them.]

[Video]

[justrunsasaloon]

Any of those greens have ---

[It cuts out.]

--king wi --

[Video]

[tryingitall]

What? I didn--

[Static. His face vanishes for a moment, then returns looking annoyed.]

Bloody things. Perhaps I'll come to y--[Fzzztt! Crackle.] --ndelion flowers anyway. Five minutes.

Re: [Video]

[justrunsasaloon]

Oh f--

[It's just static after that. But she'll be waiting.]

[any1youwant]

[The image flickers and blurs, but clears for a moment and a blue skinned woman shows up.]

I'm hungry-----thing to trade. I'm no---- what I can give you in -----.

[tryingitall]

[Ah, a new face! He was peripherally aware of her arrival, but they haven't met.]

I'm sure we can arrange something. [That might sound ominous, but he means it innocently. For the moment.] The communicators are being obno--as hell today, so--

[He vanishes from the screen briefly, then reappears with an eyeroll.]

Where are you? Better to talk in person.

[any1youwant]

---fect. I'm ----- thirtee-. But ------eet you by the founta---.

[She obviously thinks she's shut off the feed.]

Stup----iece of shit. [The feed cuts off after she walks out the door of the house.

She makes her way to the fountain where she woke up, fairly sure of who she was looking for. The picture had been fuzzy and broken up, but she'd seen enough of the man's face to recognize him with ease. She paced around the fountain, her blue skin contrasted by her red hair and white, skintight clothing.]

video

[venatical]

[ The video is grainy, and it keeps shaking from side to side, but Dean's smug smile shines through all the interference. ]

Will you be my buddy?

video

[tryingitall]

[And here he called Balthazar a smug little dick before. Takes one to know one, maybe. The wry, irritated quirk of the angel's lips is visible even through the interference.]

Of course! We've had a few laughs. Wouldn't want you to go missing.

[He squints exaggeratedly, then shakes his head apologetically.] Oh, it's you, Dean. I'm sorry, I thought it was the other fellow with your face. I like him better; you're on your own.

[venatical]

[ No, Dean knows nothing of smugness. Balthazar didn't see anything; it's all an illusion.

Balthazar also seems to think he's funny. Har har har. ]

You like him better? He's totally weird!

[ video ]

[noblexcompanion]

[ Have people tried turning the communicators off and on again? That fixes everything. No? Oh well. Fuzzy video a go! ]

You wanna [ The video cuts out for a few seconds. ] ...buddy?

[ But really, the buddy system is a great plan and goes hand in hand with the list Donna and Fortescue are working on. ]

[ video ]

[tryingitall]

[There's no control-alt-delete on these things! Damn it, someone call tech support!

Even with the interruption in video, Balthazar catches her tone of voice. Funny how it's almost the same response Dean made, but it comes across much more endearing from Donna. He answers with a grin:]

You have to ask, love? Consider us BFFs.

[ video ]

[noblexcompanion]

[ The Winchesters should really take lessons from Donna on how to befriend angels without said angels wanting to murder them and/or maim them for entertainment. ]

You'll need to hold me hand...

[servingmichael]

[ Someone isn't avoiding the ocean, but he is being careful. He's the oldest, he does what he wants. ]

I'm using a net but I needed get close to the shore.

[tryingitall]

[That worries him a bit. The kraken shouldn't really be a match for Raphael, but still. What else might be in that water?]

Just be cautious. Is the fishing still good at all?

[servingmichael]

[ It's why he's staying away - and invisible. ]

I am. Perhaps confusing some of the gulls, but that cannot be helped.

It's not as well as it was, and taking the largest fish isn't a good idea, so the juveniles I always put back, along with a majority of the largest.

[ action ]

[monticora]

I vote we buddy up over some-- [ These busted communicators are really starting to piss Alec off. ]

Investigating that alcohol -- man. All hands on -- [ Alec thinks he's funnier than he actually is. ]

[tryingitall]

[Over some what...? Oh! Of course. Liquor is a good mutual interest.]

I'm sure that could be arranged. I still have a bit left, in fact. [He's been conservative with his drinking--which is hard!--since the supply is too limited for him to get drunk on anyway.]

[Video]

[lightgunhustler]

Skinning a rabbit isn't that bad.

[It's bloody, sure, but so are a lot of other things. There's white noise that causes her voice to cut in and out a bit, but the bulk of the message is still there -- audible if you strain.]

Maybe hunting just isn't -- calling? Sounds like you've been doing well with gardening or forag--, though. We need as many -- working on that as we can get.

[She pauses. Hm.]

You know, a buddy system is a good idea.

[Video]

[tryingitall]

[Animal guts smell, and he doesn't like them. Balthazar can afford to be picky, anyway, since he doesn't have to eat.] Hello, Jo. I'm not into blood sports, but the damn-[Static.]-- eating at the crops. Do you want it? It's a fair size; not quite ten pounds.

[He nods slightly.] Those of us with family here are lucky. We won't vanish unnoticed. But there are others here on their own.