[OTA - MINGLE] Town Hall meeting

[markwatney]

WHO: Mark Watney
WHERE: Town Hall
WHEN: 10 Dec 2017, sundown
OPEN TO: All, mingle
WARNINGS: N/A

---

Since that tense standoff in front of the peach trees, Kira and I have been waiting to see whether the promises in the letter he'd received would come to fruition. I'd actually left the stolen papers out there longer than I'd intended, not wanting to disrupt the process further if I hadn't already ruined it by catching him in the act. Now that he's confirmed to me the arrival of what, for most people here, would probably be a collection of true treasures, I can't put off the inevitable. We need to let everyone know what's happened, and find out if we're alone in being targets.

Because this morning, I received a "mission" of my own, in the form of a box filled with 3 vacuum-packed, single servings of ground coffee. Speaking of treasure.

Before the breakfast rush, I made a note on the blackboard in the Inn's front room, the writing big and bold enough that nobody should miss it:

VILLAGE MEETING TONIGHT, TOWN HALL, SUNDOWN

Fortunately, there's little enough to entertain a person in this place that plenty of people show. Kira's in the front row with his "gifts," presumably ready to back me up despite not seeming to like me much yet. I guess I can't blame him, although I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the rapport I had with Old Him.

"Hey, everyone," I call out, waving to get the small crowd's attention. "I asked everybody here tonight because we've had a development that I think we all need to know about. Kira here—" I pause, pointing. "Not too long ago, he got a letter. It asked him to steal something of value from someone and take it to the peach trees over on the East Side. It said if he did that, he would be rewarded. When he tried to get rid of the letter, another copy would always turn up. So, he did it. And putting aside that dubiousness for a moment, the reward was delivered. He found some items from his home that couldn't have gotten here without intervention from our hosts. Today, I actually got a box of coffee with a note asking me to take a portion and pass it on. Like a game or a chain letter. The note I got was threatening — If I don't do as asked, it says there will be a punishment. So."

I pull in a deep breath and spread my hands. "I know there's only so much we can realistically do about all of this, but has anybody else gotten anything like this?"



[If you want to thread with Mark directly, please say so in your subject line and let me know. Otherwise, this is a MINGLE and folks can jump around at will. Have at!]

Comments

[cleptes]

Bela may have been at the back of the room but she overheard what Ravi said, laughing quietly to herself. Coffee seemed to be a precious commodity in this village so she didn't blame him for wanting to have some of it as well. Especially when Bela was a fan herself.

Now Ravi didn't know her from Adam, but she has decided to make an effort and branch out her social circle. This meeting was the perfect setting for that.

"I couldn't help overhearing your suggestion on what to do with the coffee." Bela said, coming up to him. "It was fairly amusing."

[zomboligist]

"Only fairly?" he echoes, mock-hurt by that only a little (because there's a part of him that's genuinely wondering if he's losing his touch because he's supposed to be damn clever and only fairly means that he needs to start getting punnier). "You could hurt a man's feelings with that qualification."

Now, he's back to joking. "I mean it, though," he admits, a bit more serious. "I've been here over a year now and I think it's actually broken my caffeine addiction, which is a terrible thing to lose."

[cleptes]

She raises a brow at his words, probably failing to hide her amusement. Truth be told she didn't mind someone else having a sense of humour, particularly when they were faced with unpleasant circumstances. "Oh, dear. How awful of me."

Bela falls silent after that, listening to him and waiting until he was finished.

"A terrible thing to lose when we don't have much to begin with here." Bela comments dryly, smiling a little in return. "Although, I haven't been in this village as long as you have. Not even two months yet."

[zomboligist]

"I envy you, it's all still new and horrifying in ways that you might think have an explanation," Ravi says, sounding as bitter as he feels, because no matter how many trials he runs with the rats and no matter how much work he does with the environment, it always comes back to the same non-answer.

He really does believe that this is all some sort of experimentation where they're the lab rats, but it's also difficult to accept that between all of them, they're not clever enough to come up with an escape. "How are you enjoying your forced captivity?"

[cleptes]

She has her own thoughts about what this place was, but if he had brought up the suggestion of experimentation, Bela would probably agree with him. Others may have differing opinions on where they were and what its purpose was, and she was open to hearing them.

"I've found little enjoyment in it." Bela admits, sounding bitter. "The feast we had a while ago wasn't terrible but I suspect that we'll probably pay for that later in some way." A shake of her head. "The only redeeming part are the people."

[zomboligist]

She's speaking to someone who enjoys video games, take-out food, not to mention the hopes that he'd be the first doctor in the world to discover a cure for zombieism. Instead, he's here, analyzing rats and occasionally doing an autopsy. It's not so much a step backwards as an avalanche has plunged Ravi into the dark ages.

"Well, everyone is still alive," he says, making a show of crossing both fingers. It may seem crass, but given that he'd done the autopsy of the woman who died at the last feast, he thinks he's allowed some gallows humour. "You're from London?" he asks, of the accent.

[cleptes]

"So I've noticed." His humour isn't lost on her and Bela finds it refreshing to say the least. That wasn't to say she was keen to die anytime soon, but maybe joking was a way to deal with things around here.

"I am from London. Well, more from the greater part of it." If he was looking for specifics. "A few years ago I moved to New York city but I've never lost the accent."

[zomboligist]

"I'm from Upton Park, myself," he shares, though he hasn't exactly called that home since he could bolt away from his parents and start learning medicine elsewhere. "Though, I went to Atlanta and then Seattle, so I'm officially an expat in the world's most deep-fried country." It's not that he minds it, and, after all, he's grown to truly appreciate some aspects of it.

And yet, there's still nothing like a proper tea. "I've never done the New York thing, though in my line of work, it would've kept me busy. Medical examiner," he says, with a gesture to himself. "New York is the city of crime, the gift that keeps on giving to a morgue."

[cleptes]

Bela would not have guessed his profession, but it's not a field that she'd pursue herself. It was a little too macabre for her tastes, even when she came from a world where supernatural creatures were rampant and crossing their path would almost inevitably lead to her doom.

"I can only imagine how busy you’d be in New York." She replies after a long moment. "Though if I am being honest, I wouldn't wish to do your job." A laugh. "I'm sure I’m not the first person to say that to you either. And I'm probably not the first person to ask you why you chose your profession either."

[zomboligist]

"Seattle isn't exactly quiet," Ravi admits, though the murders are at least not totally dominant of his time, seeing as there's just as many accidents and natural deaths that end up on his table, so he gets to retain some faith in humanity. And, as a bonus, some private time for hobbies! Can't say that for New York, keeping you busy.

"It wasn't a first choice," he confesses, wrinkling his nose. "What about you? Any job tales that can put me to shame?"

[cleptes]

If not his first choice, then where in line did it fall? But he was asking her a question now so Bela is going to answer him.

"Sadly, no. Unless you want to hear about antiquities and stuffy, disgruntled clients." She isn't going to tell him the truth about her job - he could have a white lie for the time being. Bela could just adjust the details a little.

[zomboligist]

Ravi narrows his eyes at her, giving a curious look, because he does sort of want to hear a little bit about antiquities. "Are they the sort of antiquities that end up in museums and then have movies made about their importance?" he asks, because that's clearly the most important note he's taking from all of this.

"Because if so, then I am wildly interested," he guarantees.

[cleptes]

Bela is thrown by his answer. She didn't think he was going to be interested, let alone 'wildly' so. But all right then. She will oblige him.

"The antiquities end up in a private collection rather than a museum. And I doubt that any movies have been made about them." It does make Bela smile though, him possibly thinking of her as an Indiana Jones type.

She holds the smile for a moment longer then continues. "My clients are disgruntled because they think my finder's fee is too high. As for the antiquities, they are rumoured to be 'cursed'."

[zomboligist]

Well, it's a touch disappointing that it's a private collection, though Ravi can definitely see how it might end up being an interesting heist movie in that case (and he really misses media, honestly, given that all he can think about is how good a film something would make).

"What's the finder's fee? Also, cursed," he says, eyes widening. "What are we talking? Egyptian mummies sort of curse, where they think mold and spores are deadly supernatural consequences?"

[cleptes]

"Ten percent of the overall payment. After I retrieve whatever the client wants, I get paid in full." She could really have fun with this and toy with him, build her life up into something it wasn't.

Perhaps it was bad enough that she was lying, but there was certain things about her life that Bela wished to protect.

"No. No Egyptian mummy kind of curses. More like if you lose the object, you're cursed with bad luck."

[zomboligist]

To Ravi, ten percent doesn't sound wildly mad at all, but then, if he thinks about ten percent of his salary suddenly going away, he can possibly see where things might get awkward and suddenly difficult. Then again, if they're talking ridiculously expensive antiquities, then the client can definitely afford to give it up, as far as Ravi's concerned.

"Bad luck," he echoes. "What sort of bad luck, because there's been months of my life where I feel like I've definitely been cursed, but it turns out I'm just really unlucky." That, or he tends to keep himself involved in complicated situations, but he doesn't elaborate on that.

[cleptes]

Some of the antiques in question were more expensive than others, but she did make an obscene amount of money in her line of work. Her job could be high risk on occasion and Bela felt the need to be well compensated for it.

"It starts off small. Things like spilling your coffee down your shirt. Breaking a glass. Banging your head off a low ceiling." Small annoyances that could bring down your day. "Unfortunately, the bad luck begins to escalate. A lot of bad things begin to happen to you and there doesn't seem to be a way out of it. Well. Until you end up dead."

[zomboligist]

"I was about to say. The first few things you mentioned are generally what happens to me in the morning before I've been caffeinated," is what he says, only mildly joking given that he doesn't actually feel like it's that much off the mark.

Of course, he never ends up dead because of that bad luck.

"How do you avoid the pesky consequences?" he asks, because that thought strikes him, suddenly. "Do you have a special 'no-cursing' policy?" he deadpans. "Some special gloves to avoid it?"

[cleptes]

"If there are special gloves, I've yet to find them." Bela quips, sounding amused. "If I'm handling a supposedly cursed object, I use tongs. Or something similar to hold onto the item." It's not the most ideal practice, she knows that. "But not everything I chase after for someone falls under the 'cursed' category."

This the first time she's had a conversation about the work she does back home. It's strange. Especially when Ravi was actually expressing an interest in it and asking questions. Not rolling his eyes out of boredom.

"You're really into this sort of thing, aren't you?"

[zomboligist]

"I use tongs too, but usually for things that people don't want to hear about in polite company, especially around the coffee," Ravi says, gesturing broadly to where all the coffee is sitting around him. "I am really into this," he admits, because it's the least he can do to rev up his life now that he's stuck here.

"My days here largely consist of minor medical procedures and research. Hearing about cursed objects and protective tongs is sadly the highlight of this," he admits. "Why, isn't it for you?"

[cleptes]

"At least I know who to come to in case of a minor medical emergency." Bela says. "Of course I am into it. Pays for my bills after all." A smile. "I've just never met anyone who wanted to learn about what I do. They'd consider it 'boring' or whatever. Most of the time they were more interested in anything but my brain."

She laughs then, not sounding too upset about it. Perhaps a little annoyed but she won't lose any sleep.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it though."

[zomboligist]

"Major medical emergencies are, unfortunately, mainly out of my domain," he does admit apologetically, seeing as once you go down the research and dead body route, you get to the point of sort of losing a lot of your med school learnings. Who needs to know how to do heart surgery when Mrs. Jensen's heart stopped beating ages back.

"I enjoyed my first job at the CDC better, but I got fired from that," he says, as bitter as ever given that he'd been right. "My line of thinking didn't mesh with theirs."

[cleptes]

"Then I'll be sure to be extra careful." Bela promises, hoping that she hasn't jinxed herself after saying that. The village seemed to have limited resources when it came to medical care so all the more reason for her to mind her step and not get seriously injured or deathly sick.

Noting that bitter tone, she decides to prod a little gently. "Sorry to hear that. Their loss."

Probably.

"Anyway. I forgot to introduce myself before. My name is Bela."

[zomboligist]

"Completely their loss," he agrees affably, smiling warmly and already liking Bela, because anyone who's willing to take his side when it comes to his former employers is all right by him. "Ravi Chakrabarti, at your service," he announces with a warm smile.

"Sadly, I don't know of any treasure or fancy items around here that you might be able to find, unless you're into that whole pretending thing." If she is, then he's sure that he could find the shiniest pinecone to do the trick.

we could wrap up soon and do something else if you like?

[cleptes]

Bela returns the smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Ravi. Thank you again for indulging me when it comes to talking about my career."

Even if was only partially true.

"It's fine. I didn't think there would be any trinkets to find in this place - believe me, I've had a good look around." Pretending had a certain appeal, but she would rather have the real thing. "Even if they did exist, I don't think it would matter much. We need more practical things like food, water, shelter and clothing."