[Mingle] One-Man-Show

[treadswater]

WHO: Annie Cresta
WHERE: The Inn, South and North Villages, and surrounds
WHEN: 25th January - ?
OPEN TO: All OMS opted-out characters
WARNINGS: Warnings in subject lines as needed
NOTES: Feel free to make your own OTAs or closed threads dealing with the plot here!

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While it seems as if most of the villagers have vanished off to the shrine, there are still those left behind. Not only the villagers, but also the animals - the pets, companions, farm animals, and animals starting to be tamed. They still need care and attention, no matter what shenanigans the Observers are up to. Not to mention, the other chores and duties. Not to mention, dealing with the sudden vanishing of so many people.

It takes at least three days for the first of the vanished villagers to return: there's a lot to do in the meantime.

Comments

[capturetheworld]

"Not that I was told, there are only five who live there currently. I haven't seen any." Leonardo likes the quiet of the North Village, so it is an excellent place to spend time. He is still pacing; feeling helpless is not really new to him, in terms of working with the Assassins and having no idea if they will succeed or die. But this is more alarming, for dying of starvation, thirst, or cold are far worse ways to go than a tragic but quick stabbing.

He tries to clear his head and focus on Mark, smiling faintly at him, his inner light diminished with worry but not gone. "I have a list so far," he taps his forehead, for he doesn't need paper, "and what they eat, where they are. Who needs a check up more than once a day." Mostly the dogs on that front, as cats and livestock are slightly more self-sufficient.

Finally he plops down in a seat. "Perhaps we can learn from this. Create stop points between here and other locations with small stashes of things, just in case."

[markwatney]

"That's a good idea," I concede with a nod. "For a long time, nobody bothered to live over there, but there's more of us now, and with this place, it never hurts to be as prepared as possible."

I glance down to my watch, scroll through some messages and then tap out a response. "I'll head over there later just to make 100% sure there aren't any animals," I absently add, and then look back up again, head tilted.

"You feel like helping me build a smoke signal?"

[capturetheworld]

"If this is not the first time people have found themselves that far, it is wise to prepare for the possibility it will happen again." Better prepared than not, in his opinion. Leonardo is a mixture of impulse and pragmatism, jumping from project to project in his mind, but remembering the basics at all times.

He sighs and glances to the side before returning his attention to Mark. His eyes light up. "Ah, yes, a very good idea. It would make it easier for them to spot. Somewhere a fair distance from where we live and breathe, of course, but easily reachable with firewood." Leonardo is already putting together a rudimentary design in his mind; it will take very little effort to create it, although the bigger the better.

"You are very well organized, my friend, the village is lucky to have you."

[markwatney]

"Apparently that also makes me creepy, but thank you," I reply with a faint smile. "I think some people are a little unsettled by my familiarity with this place, and I can't say I blame them. I've just been here a long time." Seen things that would definitely blow Leonardo da Vinci's mind about twelve times over, that's for sure.

"And I can't take credit for the idea, but it is a good one. The fields are clear and tilled under, we can do it there. There's nothing but dirt there, so the fire risk should be relatively low. Of course, we can't account for the change in the wind, so we might get some smoke in the village, but I think we'll live," I add as I push myself to my feet.

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo's eyebrows go up, confused. "Creepy ... I assume the word is not about stealth or quiet walking now?" It will be some time before popular speech makes any sense to him, but he doesn't let it be discouraging. "You were being very helpful and concerned, I do not know why that would be unsettling." But he is a very trusting and sincere soul. Questioning someone reaching out like that seemed rude. "If you hadn't, communication might not have been so quick."

He does like having a project to take his mind off things. Ezio is out there, but so are his new friends, and while he knows Ezio can take care of himself, he is not so certain about the others. "It should not be to dangerous levels, but if it goes to the worst end, we can warn people to stay in." There are not many of them left, after all. And there is always the north village. This is just in the possibility of the worst case scenario, it is not likely to be that.

He looks at Mark, intrigued. "How long?"

[markwatney]

"It's fine," I add of the creepiness, with a faint wave of my hand. He seems to get the context, and there is something really wrong about encouraging this particular man to keep going on about my usefulness.

I left my coat on a hook by the front door, and I step over to shoulder it on with a glance back his way. "Over two and a half years," I answer with a wry arch of my eyebrows. It's a double-edged sword for some people, learning how long some of us have been here. On the one hand, we've gotten pretty good at weathering the weirdness storm and can help others do the same. On the other, we're still here, with no better insight for it.

[capturetheworld]

If Mark says it is fine, it is fine. He would know his own mind and comfort after all. Leonardo obviously responded well to his attempt to check in with everyone. It informed him of what was happening, and gave him an idea of how to help others, which he is doing his best to fulfill.

Leo gets his coat as well. And his hat and his scarf. He overdresses for the weather outside, or it would be overdressing if he isn't actually cold, but he is. All of the time. He despairs of ever getting used to it. He does look wide eyed at Mark at that date. Two and a half years. That is slightly alarming, yes. While he doesn't hate the situation he's in, that seems so long to be gone from his projects, from his country.

"You must miss your home a great deal."

[markwatney]

"I miss the convenience," I allow, fingers quickly buttoning up the front of my coat and then reaching into the pockets for my gloves. "I moved around a lot before coming to this place, spent a lot of time in space, then on Mars. I wouldn't say I like this place, but I like the people, and at this point, it's become like a home to me."

And when I let myself consider it, I do have to acknowledge that I enjoy the challenge. I enjoyed the challenge on Mars, too, when I was able to shove down the primal fear of having been left there. Whether I appreciate the methods of putting and keeping me here is something else entirely, though, and that's always been the rub. Why it's hard to just say yeah, I'm settled, this is Home.

"I'd like to say things get less odd and alarming, but that wouldn't be the truth. But most of the time it isn't as bad as this."

[capturetheworld]

"You went to space! I cannot imagine such a thing. And you've been to Mars! We've only seen it in the sky and speculated for centuries about its secrets." It wouldn't be for many years before exact details about Mars would be further identified, but Leonardo took astronomy and the stars seriously. Like any good scientist, he gazed up at the night sky and wished he knew the answers to everything there was. The future was so exciting, and if he had any regrets, it was that he might have suited modern time better with his curiosity and knowledge. But alas, time constructs were what they were.

Leonardo nods, believing Mark without question. "From everyone's responses, it does seem like this is an unusual situation." He worries for Ezio, although he knows he need not, he is very dangerous and competent. But this is unlike anything they have dealt with. "I do not understand the purpose. Taking them and forcing what sounds like ... difficult memories? Surely the people who brought us here wouldn't want us dead?" What use were they then? He is very innocent, unfortunately, and it's hard to assume the worst.

[markwatney]

I motion Leonardo to follow me out the door, holding it open for him as the winter wind stirs the remaining coats hanging on the row of hooks. "You know, I personally don't think they want any of us dead," I agree as we crunch our way across the frost-covered lawn. "The whole time I've been here, three people have died. Every time, it felt like an accident. Something beyond their control, unaccounted for. Rogue animal attacks, lightning." Although it does make me wonder now whether Karen and Ren had really been real to begin with.

"We're not being pitted against each other, and they give us these little gifts, these parties like they're trying to improve morale. Like we're an investment. But I honestly have no idea why they'd force people to go through that, or why it was only some of us and not all of us. Is it supposed to harden us? Or is it just sadistic?"

Because we've been through similar situations before, people disappearing and ending up somewhere far-flung, having to work through the unique challenges presented by this place. But this feels like some next-level shit.

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo follows without question. It is so cold out, always, and he wonders when spring will come to this place. Its climate is so different from his own. "They could perhaps make it far easier to harm us if they wanted to," he agrees, although he looks terribly sad to hear any number of deaths happening. "I am very sorry to hear of those three, though. Did you know them well?"

He is new to this situation, so he doubts he is the most helpful on the speculation. Still ,he likes speculation. He has plenty of wonder within him. "Perhaps they intend to use us, or we are testing out the abilities they wish to give others, or use themselves. It is wise to test several times, seeing which result is best, which one is correct. I do not think this is the last of an occurrence similar to this." He thinks perhaps they are part of a larger picture. As a scientist, he often did trials and tribulations. he kept tinkering with each attempt.

"As for what is happening now ...." He frowns. "Perhaps there is a lesson being learned. As strange as that sounds, they appear to be forced to address things they might be avoiding."