third ink ribbon ☢ video + action

[bowgunner]

[ after a moment, claire sits down in front of the journal's eye. she leaves a steaming mug sitting at her elbow, and has her hair tied back in a manner that can only ever be described as professional. although it cannot quite be seen on-screen, it's apparent from the bob of a pen cap that she must have some manner of notepad on the desk before her. and she's already taking notes.

after a moment: ] Good morning, Luceti. I have only been here for four months, but in this short time one thing has become chillingly obvious. Many of us come from places -- Earths, usually -- ravaged by plague-like diseases. Viruses and infections and all manner of scientific progress gone awry. For a lot of us, it seems these symptoms target the recently-dead or soon-to-be-dead. I've always hated the z-word, but I suppose there's no avoiding it today: quite a few of us have zombie problems.

And -- as I understand it -- this world is no different. At least two of the enclosures have suffered under viral outbreaks. A vaccine was manufactured, right? Are the people involved still around? I want to speak to them. And to anyone else facing this threat here or at home. It's not much, but swapping notes might be the least we can do.

[ she will stay at her post to discuss any necessary topics for a good chunk of the day before setting aside her career in the early evening. although she still doesn't let her hair down, it's in a more relaxed bun when she steps into good spirits. her journal is left at home and her cream-coloured blazer has been traded in for a reddish-pink vest layered over a black longsleeve. she's here for a beer or two and to mingle, eager enough to approach strangers and ask them about their day. ]

Comments

[bowgunner]

Logan...[ a soft pause. as if she understands that she needs to tread a little lighter with him. leftover guilt, she supposes, from the initial difficulty of their meeting. mutations. ] Would you mind if I asked about the extent to which the infection spread, in you, before you...got better?

[snikting]

[It's annoying that she seems to be treating him... gently. Yeesh.]

Completely. Fact is, I'd be dead if weren't the fact I was me.

[bowgunner]

Ah. Right. Your...uniqueness.

[ a beat. ] How long did the virus take to fully work itself through your system?

[snikting]

Pretty quick. Took about half the day before I lost control. Had some moments where I was myself. My team had to strap me down eventually. Never let me loose, after that. From what I was told, most folk started fallin' apart after a few days. Somethin' about being pushed to their limits. I held out longer. Least 'til the Mallies turned the power limit up all the way.

Either way, I wasn't exactly myself fer most of it. Couldn't exactly claim to be an expert on it.

[bowgunner]

And yet...I've never spoken to anyone who's come back from so deep into any sort of infection of this kind. [ a beat. ] Well, once. One man. But death might have been preferable.

[snikting]

There's plenty who went all the way and came back. They just did it by dyin' first.

[bowgunner]

And I'm sure they paid the price for it.

[snikting]

Yup. Ain't no way 'round that.

[bowgunner]

Not sure I would have it any other way. Death...

It seems like the sort of thing that ought to come with a price.

[snikting]

It does. Ya just don't get to choose what yer paying.

[bowgunner]

That also stands to reason. If people got to choose their prices...well, it would defeat the purpose of the price itself.

[snikting]

There ain't no call for gettin' all philosophical about it.

[bowgunner]

What's left but to be philosophical? It's not as though I can just go back to my work back home, instead.

[snikting]

There's always booze.

[bowgunner]

...That's not an invitation, is it?

[snikting]

Just an observation.

[bowgunner]

In that case, allow me to be the one doing the inviting. I'm headed down to the bar tonight, anyway.

[snikting]

Not much of an invitation. I'm already there.

[bowgunner]

...In that case, I look forward to serendipitously finding an empty seat next to yours.

[snikting]

... yer not asking me out, are ya?

[bowgunner]

It's...research, Logan. I want to hear more about that draft. Is it such a crime to also want to enjoy a cold beer?

[snikting]

... more about the draft, huh? I think I'd prefer the date.

[bowgunner]

Probably not. At least, not with me. Most of my dates manage to devolve into discussing communicable disease. And not in the fun baby tell me you're not contagious way. Usually.

[snikting]

Ya know, there's plenty of other ways to convince a guy that first dates don't automatically mean sex.

[bowgunner]

Guess you'll have to share those with me, sometime.