cape_kore | video/action ❆ day 203

[Suffice it to say, the Center has been a bit strange for the past few days. Maybe more. Meja's found it hard to categorize "strange" after being here for so long. But she has noticed the flow of newcomers, and so, to that end, she pulls out her phone.

She's in the hydroponics lab, trimming one of the larger plants. Surprise, surprise.]

Hei hei, Center. This is a... general message. I've noticed that we seem to have a few new people around here, and I know getting used to this place is rough. I trust that someone's explained the basics to you by now. If they haven't, feel free to ask me what you'd like; I'll try to explain as well as I can.

On another general note, we do have a library if you get bored, and many labs with equipment in them. Please don't mess around with something unless you feel confident in your ability to do so. We don't know what a lot of it does, yet. [She smiles wryly.] I'd like everyone to keep their limbs, if at all possible.

But, if something does happen, and you need medical assistance, you're free to call me. My name is Meja, for those who don't know me already. And if you start missing sunlight, you can come here, to the hydroponics lab.

[She tilts the phone slightly to show all of the plants that they've successfully tended to, here. It's a nice, leafy space, now. There's also Roland the rescued white lab rat, who pokes his nose at the phone before Meja gently removes it from his little paws.]

I'm always up for company.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A bribe to keep people from getting too outraged, huh?

[She's a cynic. Unfortunately, it's hard for her to recognize the occasional gift or perk in this place for what it is.]

I can't piece one together from what I remember, either. Not even schedule-wise -- hard to predict when things come, and as for the what, that's always up in the air. I'm lucky I perform well under pressure, but I'd like to be able to plan ahead.

That's hard, here.

[Putting it lightly, maybe.]

People have been stockpiling certain things in their rooms, but... aside from that, planning ahead might not be very possible. Always a good thing to strive for, I suppose. [She smiles wryly.] I'm just hoping what's coming next isn't violent. I can take the times we have to deal with things, but it's difficult to keep everyone safe here.

[Impossible, because everything is so spread out.]

If it is violent, at least you have one more gun at your disposal now.

[Or knife, or 2x4 -- really, whatever weapon she can get her hands on.]

I'll do what I can. Might not make much of a difference, but I like to pretend.

[Meja grins.]

I'm certain it will make much of a difference. Our population's dwindled down since the time you were here. We can use all the guns we can get.

[When the time comes for them. And it will come -- Meja's certain of that, too.]

Dwindled, huh?

[Good for anyone who might have found their way home. Not so good for folks here who often count on strength in numbers to survive.]

Any idea how many are left? Assuming people are keeping in touch enough for anyone to keep a loose count.

[She shakes her head slightly, mulling it over. But she doesn't have to think very long. It's an issue she's been thinking about, lately.]

I don't know for certain. Perhaps something around twenty? Given a few more, or less. A significant drop from our forty-odd, before.

[Things feel more stark and grim with a smaller number, even if, in reality, it should be easier to keep people safe. But the key word, there, is 'should'. In reality, it seems, smaller numbers mean it's harder to find people.]

Some days are very quiet. Too quiet, I would say.

Never a good thing. And course, now that you've said that, of course you've jinxed us.

[She offers the valkyrie half a smile. She's teasing, mostly.]

I'd say I'm sure they have something in store for us, but I'm not so sure who 'they' even are, anymore.

[A corner of Meja's mouth pulls up, wry.]

I'm certain we were jinxed to begin with. And the jinxing is, most definitely, done by the Machine. Did you see it when you were here, last time?

video/action ❆ day 203

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