The birds have flown their summer skies to the south;

[markwatney]

WHO: Mark Watney
WHERE: 6I Inn
WHEN: 19 Oct 2017
OPEN TO: ALL Closed to new threads

---

I think most people have an unspoken list of things they intend to do when they have the time and inclination. Mine I usually actually write down, even in a place like this where paper and writing implements are scarce — Days with much downtime don't happen often, and my list is embarrassingly long. It helps to have a note so I can look everything over and figure out what's most pressing. I managed to get off of Mars this way, so I figure it's not a bad system.

Today, though, my choice was made for me. I woke up to two things: A box with my name on it, and a sky full of snow. Fortunately, all of the harvesting had been done on the less cold-hardy plants already, and unless this cold snap dragged on into something long-term, it would be good for what we picked later in the season. Sweetens the berries.

I've got plenty of ways I could fill a free day, but the snow and that mystery box left little question what needed to be top of the list: Taking a census before winter fully moved in. As far as I could tell, while various people in various places took notes about events and connections, we'd never had one central, definitive list of everyone in the community, where they were living and how long they'd been around. With a second village in the mix now, this information was more important than ever. A proper census would give us the tools to start to prepare for winter in earnest — Not just in predicting how much food and firewood would be needed, but what roads needed to be cleared, medical preparations and more.

The box I mentioned before, it helped with this. It was full of items that were a huge help in getting organized: Pencils, binders, blessed paper. And chalk. There was only one place to use that.

After carefully copying the information that had been collected on the blackboard at the Inn, I wash down both sides and jump right in: At the top of the outfacing side, I make three headings:

Name - Residence - Apx. Arrival

Beneath this, I start with my own info:

M. Watney - W. outskirts, blue - 1yr, 4 mo

"Why haven't we named the damn streets yet?" I mutter, and then began writing in what information I know on the rest of the villagers, leaving blank spaces for others to fill in next time they're at the Inn. But seriously, though, one more thing added to my to-do list: Street names and house numbers.

Comments

[theluckygirl]

Claire's eyes drift back up to the top of the list before smiling again. She understands the game of names and doesn't particularly care either way either, though it is rather nice to have someone know. Even if they haven't met before that day.

"I am. New York, actually, and I get the whole name thing. I'm a nurse." she chuckled again. "Or, was. I've since gone into private care."

Her lingering smile says there's a joke behind that.

"What about you? Where you from?"

[markwatney]

"Houston," I answer. And as much as it's still a point of contact, some small acknowledgment shared, it's beginning to feel strange to think of Houston as home. My memories of the place are tangible enough, but like Mars, it's starting to feel more like a dream.

"Nursing is definitely a coveted skill around here," I add. "It's a little better now, but we went awhile without anybody with real medical expertise. Fortunately, we've mostly been lucky in terms of illness and injury."

[theluckygirl]

"Not as much as a botanist, I bet." Claire points out with a friendly lift of her brows. Sure, she could say she was there to help with the physical health of most in the village but he was there to apply his skills to feed them all.

Well, during the right season that is.

"I'm sure the clinic would be dealing with a lot of gastrointestinal issues from people eating the wrong things out in the forest if you weren't here." Couldn't really argue with her there. She could share some interesting stories.

[markwatney]

"That is probably true," I say with a laugh; I've given more than my share of lessons on what not to eat since we've been here, it's true. "But a botanist isn't much help when you're trying to not bleed out, so I think our respective values to society are probably relative."

In a perfect world, we'd never need Claire's expertise, but you find out pretty quickly that this place is far from perfect.

"Have you been down to the infirmary? Or clinic. Whatever it is we're calling it these days."

[theluckygirl]

"You're right, something for everyone." she agrees, knowing there is a good number of people in and around the village with skills in a number of different areas, which was good. It gave people something to do and a way to contribute.

A nod follows her words and Claire's expression shifts into one of mild exasperation.

"You're being a whole lot nicer than me. I've been calling it a closet and that may or may not be because I have more medical supplies on hand at my apartment than what this place has."But I guess given what everyone started off with it's better than nothing."

A pause.

"You mentioned the list was to get a better idea as to how far the food stores would go. Is that a concern being the one handling that?"

[markwatney]

"Not in the sense that I'm worried we won't have enough," I reply with a slight shake of my head. "We were actually pretty lucky this year. We had one really bad month where we lost some plants, but we drastically expanded our capacity this season, too. Generally speaking, it's just a good idea for us to plan for the lean months, but particularly because our population can flux and there's no real way to predict how much."

I look down to the chalk in my hand, then make a vague gesture in the general direction of the storehouse. "I don't know if you've met Gaius, our resident Roman. He's been organizing our stores, and apparently he's got experience in feeding a whole army, so I think we'll be just fine."

[theluckygirl]

Claire is a self professed nerd when it comes to learning new things and though she's not too thrilled with being there and not back in New York, there's still that need to know what is going on in her community. So when she listens to Mark she's taking it in.

Her eyes drop down to the chalk in his hands, too. "No, I haven't." Claire's eyes narrow in curiosity. "Wait, are you talking ancient times Roman or modern Italian because with a name like Gaius I'm thinking you mean the former."

Excuse her, she's heard of people coming in from different years but this? Hearing there's someone that far back will definitely be a first.

[markwatney]

I can't help but laugh at that, with a little dip of my head. "You know," I begin, grinning as I shake my head in dismay. "It's got to say something about how long I've been here that things like knowing people from literal ancient Rome is something to just casually toss out there. I'm sorry. But yeah, he is. And yes, it's insane." I shrug, but then point to her.

"But, the man is really good at being organized, and hey, if we ever need an aqueduct, we know who to ask."

[theluckygirl]

His laugh and smile brings hers back and she nods to show that makes perfect sense. She can relate on a certain level. Maybe not where it comes to actual people that are from periods of history she studied in school, but with people who have abilities. That's the stuff kids read about in books and dream about being.

Ah, to be young again.

"Yeah, it is. Mostly because I'm still trying to get used to the whole idea of different universes existing beyond my own. I never really thought about it."

Claire pauses, looking at the names on the board again.

"Too busy putting superheroes back together." Claire adds, smiling softly as she thought of Matt. "Anyway, I'll make a point of stopping by the storehouse because now I just want to say I actually met a Roman." she says, laughing softly.