Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was up early and getting the cows in and going through his typical morning ritual, despite the lateness of the night before. Truthfully he could probably do what he was doing in his sleep he had done it so many times, so he was not really wide awake but he was up and about.

As he was finishing his breakfast his phone rang. Staring at it in surprise he almost failed to answer it before he hastily ran and picked it up. "Jason here. Oh hello Fae what's up? Oh he has. Last night you say. Nope I didn't see anything but I was off riding. Oh I was supposed to be in charge was I. Nice of him to tell me that. I thought that was the Sheriffs job along with all those deputies he posted out there. Oh well then my mistake. Yeah I know it's not your fault Fae, so what time does his highness expect me there this time. Eleven!!! Nope can't be done. I have chores to do and they won't wait. Tell him I will see him after lunch if he's lucky. Bye Fae."

God his father was such a pain. Well he had work to do and he was not just going to drop it because his Father thought he should have been watching over everyone for the council and this mess was his fault somehow. He had chores to do and his father could just bloody wait.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin woke up around dawn. He was sore from sleeping on the floor, and his face was sticky with tears. He got up and checked on April. She was still asleep and seemed alright. "I'm going to go out for a while. There's one last thing I need to do. I'll be back soon." He said gently squeezing April's hand before leaving the room. He went into Yuet and Aziz's room to inform Yuet that he was leaving before heading out of the house.

The walk to Sully's cabin was uneventful, but Austin could feel his hatred burn stronger with every step he took. When he went downstairs to the cellar he was almost disappointed to see that Sully had died. "Hope you're getting raped in Hell you bastard." Austin growled as he threw a bucket of animal grease and lamp oil onto the corpse. He took several more buckets of the mixture and doused the inside of the cabin in a trail leading outside. The cabin was surround be a relatively large clearing and Austin doubted that a forest fire would start. "But if it does I hope I burn this whole fucking planet down." Austin growled striking a match and throwing it on the porch. He smiled as the fire began to eagerly lap at his grease and oil mixture.

Austin waited until the cabin was totally aflame before heading home. Once he got back Yuet left him alone with April. "He's dead now. Him and every memory of him. I burnt that place to the ground." Austin said to April's sleeping form.

Austin watched April sleep for a moment before deciding he could use some more sleep too. He pulled the mattress down from his and April's old bed and set it on the floor next to April's bed, making sure it would not impede anyone from getting to April. He then settled down and fell asleep next to her.

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalia and Caleb went out to take care of the dome animals and retutned with Sally, finding Jocelyn and Kate working on a big breakfast for everyone, in the kitchen.

Yuet made a check on April, changed her bandages again, took care of her immediate needs, then reset thr monitor to alert her left arm if April's condition changed in any way. She and Aziz made their way downstairs after that and each of their turns in the shower. Aziz had house building in mind once he'd helped unload the medical equipment from the dome for Yuet and May to repair. Yuet reminded May about the ageing machine and showed May a copy of the machine's schematics at the dining table.

Jocelyn also informed the other two ultra newbies about Jason's offer of a place to stay until a second house was built. "I think it's a good idea. I'll go if either or both of you come along." Said Joce.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was out tending his animals when he saw the plume of smoke. Ah fuck now what had those idiots done. He had told them to keep things quiet and low key and not draw any attention to themselves and now they were sending up a signal that could be seen for miles. What the hell was he going to do about this?

He rushed to his barn and saddled up his fastest horse and rode directly to the source. Luckily as he rode he saw the smoke beginning to dissipate meaning whatever was burning was dying down, but he was sure it had been spotted by every local around and reported in by now. Damn now his father would have the information he needed to put two and two together. Every house and lodging was on a map in central and by a simple act of tracking the reports they would know who's house had been burnt and know his reputation.

He arrived to find several deputies there already and the house burnt to the ground. Only a charred mess was left. Luckily it had not spread to the surrounding woods. There were signs they had used shovels to extinguish a few spot fires with dirt but other than that they had not approached the house as it was still too hot.

"Anyone send for the Sheriff yet?"

"Ah no. We don't know which one to send for."

That was a good point. "Better send for both of them then We will do it by the book. You know the council is going to work out what has happened so we better cover our asses."

The deputies nodded and two of them rode off. The good thing was he could not see a body but he was really pissed off. Sure he could understand being angry at the guy, but this was just being downright stupid. It was going to get them all into a lot of trouble.

 

[slippedhalo]

Ooc: What's better here, skipping ahead to later that day or further?

 

[Othermoose]

OOC: I'm good with a skip

 

[slippedhalo]

Will brought a wagon to the new house, helped Aziz, David, Erik, and Jason got the medical equipment for Yuet and May to repair from storage in their dome, simultaneously delivering the message that Alec was pissed off and waiting for Jason and David in the Town Hall. "I'll take you to him whenever you're ready, guys." Will offered, indicating the wagon and waiting work horses.

Nurse Nick Krause came along as well to help Yuet where needed and to check on the new Council member's baby. He checked his file again, oh yes,the member's name was Kathryn McHugh. He wasn't sure a nineteen year old trained to be a medical doctor in just one day was good enough prenatal care and if he had to answer to this girl he first wanted to check that she knew her shit, so he'd do his own prenatal exams. He was met at the door by a pink and black haired, pierced boy who had drop dead gorgeous eyes lined with sparkling charcoal eyeliner, wearing a blue, sparkling, tulle skirt over skinny jeans with a black t shirt, bearing a blue and white sugar skull emblem. The boy smiled and introduced himself as Caleb. Nick could barely contain his fascination with this bravely unique individual. He wanted to know Caleb much better very soon.

Jocelyn realized her tattoo studio would have to wait until after April was better. Thankfully, every one of their directives from yesterday had been postponed until further notice, including all the ridiculously strict marriage and procreation rules as well. They were starting to realise these particular people had back stories and traumas they still needed to heal from or else moving forward the Council's way would go very badly. Jocelyn and Caleb had decided to move to Jason's during the transitional period. May was still undecided. But, by day, they were helping the group, sometimes at the main house, and now at the house they were building next. First, Yuet and Aziz would get house number two. Then, number three would be a home shared by Erik, Natalia and Austin & April. Jocelyn understood that, depending on availability of materials, it could be quite a while before she, Caleb, and May would have a place of their own. They'd be at Jason's, Kate & David's, or various places for months, most likely.

Natalia was helping Yuet and Kate bathe April, who was still acting wacky and dreamy, sometimes thinking she was back in the hospital where she'd died on Earth, sometimes fighting everyone around her, screaming and crying, close to hurting herself with the strain...So, she was sedated quite a bit to keep the edge off of her nerves. She could only be around Austin or the other guys under sedation. Even then, she still had fearful moments. Caleb led Nick upstairs just as the three ladies were dressing April and bringing her back to bed.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason looked at David. He had put off the meeting with his father citing various reasons, all valid of course. First he had to deal with the aftermath of the fire, then there had been the birth of Kate's daughter April and he had to make sure they were looked after and settled in right. After all they had not planned for a child so soon.

Next had been the matter of setting up Jocelyn and Caleb at his house. That was rather easy actually, but he had made it sound hard to his father. He had basically taken them home one day, led them upstairs and showed them the empty rooms and said 'Move in'. There was still room for May as well but she was not sure at the moment and he did not push the issue.

Then he had the other houses to organize quickly, and he had actually hired a few people to help out with them. They needed to go up too quickly for them to just wait for the crew to do it and they were just to damaged at the moment any way. Of course he still expected them to help, and he had to supervise that as well.

Then there was his own farm to run as well, and he couldn't neglect that or he would go broke, after all that was how he made his living. Still he was running out of excuses now as everything was running smoothly.

"Damn looks like we better visit the old man before he looses his cool and orders us thrown in jail or something," he smiled at David. "You ready for this?"

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May wiped the sweat from her forehead. She sighed. Heaven knows how long she'd been working on the machine, she spent all day yesterday looking for parts and she finally got them late evening yesterday. She started working on it when she got back and hadn't slept since. She was outside in the backyard. She was running off coffee and continuesly worked. The aging machine wasn't going to build itself.

 

[slippedhalo]

Jason looked at David. He had put off the meeting with his father citing various reasons, all valid of course. First he had to deal with the aftermath of the fire, then there had been the birth of Kate's daughter April and he had to make sure they were looked after and settled in right. After all they had not planned for a child so soon.

Next had been the matter of setting up Jocelyn and Caleb at his house. That was rather easy actually, but he had made it sound hard to his father. He had basically taken them home one day, led them upstairs and showed them the empty rooms and said 'Move in'. There was still room for May as well but she was not sure at the moment and he did not push the issue.

Then he had the other houses to organize quickly, and he had actually hired a few people to help out with them. They needed to go up too quickly for them to just wait for the crew to do it and they were just to damaged at the moment any way. Of course he still expected them to help, and he had to supervise that as well.

Then there was his own farm to run as well, and he couldn't neglect that or he would go broke, after all that was how he made his living. Still he was running out of excuses now as everything was running smoothly.

"Damn looks like we better visit the old man before he looses his cool and orders us thrown in jail or something," he smiled at David. "You ready for this?"

OOC: I fast forwarded hours, not months. Kate isn't having the baby yet and it's going to be a boy. But, women who are pregnant are supposed to have prenatal care, check ups, regularly. No baby yet, guys.

 

[slippedhalo]

Ooc: To be less confusing we're fast forwarded 2 days. We'll go from there. I reiterate, though, the baby is still in the womb.

 

[slippedhalo]

Caleb was excited and nervous. Two days ago he'd met nurse Nick and they'd had such fun talking together Nick had invited him over to his place for lunch and had asked to see their library. Caleb had a date!

As he got ready, trying on various mixes of his and his sister's clothes, Jocelyn just smiled wistfully. She kissed her brother on the cheek and said, "I'm heading out to the main house after feeding the animals with Natalia. I'll be there when you return, have fun.

Caleb grinned.

She walked her way toward the new village, past the building sites and the lake. She was lost in thought. The past couple of days had been crazy! The house was too quiet when she'd let herself inside. David was away again, all the guys were in town. He, Aziz, Erik and Austin had been called in for questioning about the fire and Brian Sullivan having gone missing. Joce entered a tense atmosphere. She could hear April shouting upstairs, "No! I hate shortbread No bloody shortbreads!!!!"

She decided to head up and see if she could help. Kate and Natalia were trying to calm April down.

Kate explained, "I just called Yuet. She and May have been working on the ager, it's nearly working but..."

Jocelyn nodded, "Anything I can do?" She asked.

"Just let me go! I'm not your wife!" April sobbed.

Kate patted April on the back, "No, April, you're not. You're safe now. We're here. It's alright, it's over."

Yuet charged into the room, sedative in hand. She injected the agitated April and as the young woman slumped into her arms and all four women carried her to her bed.

Jocelyn sighed, standing up, she made eye contact with Natalia who nodded, "We've got to go take care of the animals now." Nat announced.

Kate and Yuet thanked them before they headed out into the fresh air. Kate, however, stayed behind to take care of April who now slept while Yuet and May returned to the medical equipment they were repairing.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin left the police station as quickly as possible. Every day he'd been interrogated by the cops, and every day he denied everything he knew about Sully and his burnt cabin. Austin hated leaving April, but at the same time it was a relief. In the past few days she had shown no signs of improvements. Austin knew it was too soon to expect anything, but he still wanted something. Some little sign that his April was still buried in the husk she had been turned into. Austin growled in frustration at the situation. He hated it. He hated the planet, he hated the people, he hated the man who raped April, but most of all he hated being the strong one. He had grown so accustomed to April being the driving force behind their relationship, that their roles switching was causing him serious stress on top of everything else. April had quickly become his anchor and closest confidant, and now she was almost helpless. "Quit being a bitch. She needs you so grow a pair and do your fucking job." A voice growled in the back of Austin's head. "My conscious. When did that come back?" Austin wondered as he quickly made his way back to the house so he could assist in taking care of April.

 

[Othermoose]

David sighed as the letters swam before his eyes. It seemed like his life had become nothing but paperwork after he'd been sworn in as the new sheriff. He checked the time and decided an early lunch would be a very welcome distraction. "Erik I'm heading home for lunch. Care to join me?" David asked as he left his office. "That sounds wonderful! I'm famished." Erik said getting up from his desk. David smiled at the other man as the left the station. Erik seemed a little bit more responsible since he'd joined the force. David was sure Erik didn't notice, in fact the blonde man was no doubt very distracted by Natalia's infatuation with the his new police uniform, but David suspected that Erik was beginning to reach the stage of settling down.

"So are they still grilling you over Sully?" Erik asked breaking David out of his thoughts. "They are, but they've slowed down. If no one says anything I'm pretty sure we can convince them the fire was a tragic accident that killed Sully, instead of murder." David said. "I hope so. Will's extra evidence hasn't hurt any either, I imagine." Erik said. "No. He's been very helpful. I don't know where we'd be without him." David said as the pair entered the woods.

After a few minutes of silence Erik spoke. "Do you regret it? What we did?" David thought for a moment. "No." He finally replied. "What we did was right. Mostly. Austin took it too far, but I can't blame him for it. Until now I wasn't sure that he loved April, but now I'm sure he does. Even if it is in his own odd way." David said. "Do you think she'll get better?" Erik asked. "I don't know. I hope she does. But we have to give her time." David said as he and Erik approached the house. They walked inside to find Kate quietly humming as she worked on lunch. Erik was disappointed to hear that Natalia was away, and he went upstairs to wash up.

"How's April doing?" David asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate sighed and shrugged, putting lunch on the table and sitting to join David there. "She's livelier today...but she still thinks everyone is either some nurse named Wanda or...him..." Pausing to collect her thoughts, Kate sipped her glass of milk. She then, added, "I prefer the Wanda treatment. At least then she's calm and compliant. I think there's moments she's with us, though. This morning she made a comment about Alec and Jason...That was as current and with it as it comes. Oh, and talking about children dying in hospital beds, slow deaths full of agony and fear...She mentioned Hilde too. It was still out of place, though. I think it will take a while for her to unscramble whatever her mind had mixed up to protect itself."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

OOC: Sorry got mixed up with the talk of baby and April. I would say disregard that bit from my last response and all the rest should still be okay.

IC:

Jason was working on the second house with a couple of people he had hired. At the moment it was hard to get much help from the new arrivals as they were busy taking care of April. Of course Erik and David had already started working and Austin and Aziz were often in town answering the councils questions about the fire. He hoped they would give up soon so they could help him out. At the moment it was just Caleb and Jocelyn helping out and occasionally Natalia, Kate and Yuet although they were most often looking after April. May was working on a special medical project and was almost working herself to exhaustion. Every time he saw her she looked more and more exhausted but she refused to stop whatever she was doing.

He decided he needed to get this house done as soon as possible so that there would be more space for everyone. Hopefully with the help he had and the special tools he had been granted he would be able to get this one and the next one up within the next month. It might even be sooner if he got a little more help, however around here most people were in the same boat as he was. They needed to work on their own farms to keep their own livelihoods going.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May panted. Her arms felt like they were gonna fall off and she'd only come in to go to the bathroom and get water. She forgot that she hasn't eaten since she started. Other then a apple here and there. She still hasn't slept and her mind was a bit unclear. But coffee usually did it. She quickly went inside and poured herself a cup. "To busy, can't talk." She murmured to herself, but meaning to tell it to anybody near the kitchen. Going back out, she took a look at the machine. It was somewhat coming together.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin emerged from the woods and walked towards the house. He noticed May working on her age machine. She'd been working non stop for days with almost no sleep or food. "Hey." Austin said approaching May. "Get some sleep, or you're going to fuck up the machine and fry April." Austin said doing his best to help May without looking like he was trying to help.

Austin left May alone and walked into the kitchen to see Kate and David talking at the table. He went passed them and walked up the stairs to his and April's room. There he found April asleep in her bed with Yuet watching over her. "Hey. How is she?" Austin asked sitting next to April's bed.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet stood, stretching. "She's waking up and speaking more. Still some of the Wanda stuff and...things she might've said to...him...But, also new stuff. About plague and dying people. Really scary stuff going on in her head." Yuet looked at the time. "You stay a while? I get lunch and check on May's progress." She said, patting Austin on the back as April began mumbling again.

April ranted again until her voice rose to a high pitched shriek, "Austin! Where are you?!"

 

[Othermoose]

Austin was at April's side instantly. He grabbed her hands in his and gently squeezed them. "I'm right here with you April. I'm right here. What is it? Tell me how to help you." Austin said trying desperately to calm his frantic girlfriend, and hoping that she was coming out of her disturbed state.

 

[slippedhalo]

Austin was at April's side instantly. He grabbed her hands in his and gently squeezed them. "I'm right here with you April. I'm right here. What is it? Tell me how to help you." Austin said trying desperately to calm his frantic girlfriend, and hoping that she was coming out of her disturbed state.

In her mind, she was still in the woods, lost, and panicked after Austin had run off. "I don't want anyone to feel what it felt like, Austin...being so sick, so scared....slow, painful death...I can't watch Kate die, or her baby die slowly like that, or you...no...no plague, no plague...Why can't you have some understanding of...why don't you care? Austin, she's old, it couldn't have been easy for her to ask for help. All that responsibility on just her...She's old! I wish it had been me with the gift. I'd love to help save lives, especially if it keeps our family safe...I wish you could see...the deaths...so many children suffering..." April sobbed, finally drawing breath. "...Austin, don't give up, please. I love you...I would break my heart to watch them die...I don't want to get sick again. I just started living...I don't want to watch you die...Don't...go...don't go...don't leave me that way! Don't give up!"

 

[slippedhalo]

OOC: Sorry got mixed up with the talk of baby and April. I would say disregard that bit from my last response and all the rest should still be okay.

IC:

Jason was working on the second house with a couple of people he had hired. At the moment it was hard to get much help from the new arrivals as they were busy taking care of April. Of course Erik and David had already started working and Austin and Aziz were often in town answering the councils questions about the fire. He hoped they would give up soon so they could help him out. At the moment it was just Caleb and Jocelyn helping out and occasionally Natalia, Kate and Yuet although they were most often looking after April. May was working on a special medical project and was almost working herself to exhaustion. Every time he saw her she looked more and more exhausted but she refused to stop whatever she was doing.

He decided he needed to get this house done as soon as possible so that there would be more space for everyone. Hopefully with the help he had and the special tools he had been granted he would be able to get this one and the next one up within the next month. It might even be sooner if he got a little more help, however around here most people were in the same boat as he was. They needed to work on their own farms to keep their own livelihoods going.

Natalia and Erik were busy going back and forth between helping on the farms and helping on the construction sites. House two was coming along quickly. It was needed. But, the couple were exhausted. During breaks they barely talked, just ate, drank, napped, and went back to work.

Jocelyn was filling in wherever needed and found herself iften in the company of Jason, a thing she didn't mind except when he would act bossy, then they'd argue. At one point, she was sent like some errand girl into town to fetch Alec. It would be her first time spending any time at all alone with the man. She was surprised to find him personable without an audience to impress. House two was nearing completion of the outside and Alec had wanted a chance to have a look at it before they'd finished the inside. Jocelyn was a little confused to see Jason acting oddlt jealous of her and Alec's getting along and flirting with one another. She wondered what was going on with these two guys. Up until this very moment she'd had no idea either of them were attracted to her at all.

Caleb and Nick were usually with each other when not each doing their respective jobs. Nick still wasn't sure how to tell Caleb his secret, though.

Kate did what she could but was mostly designated to caring for April whenever Yuet was away. Yuet and May were still working to repair the ager.

Joce glared, first at Jason, then at Alec. Her annoyance was palpable. "What?!" She asked, annoyed that both guys she was somewhat enjoying getting acquainted with were so openly sour toward each other.

Ooc: Please, somebody sometimes write Alec.

 

[Othermoose]

In her mind, she was still in the woods, lost, and panicked after Austin had run off. "I don't want anyone to feel what it felt like, Austin...being so sick, so scared....slow, painful death...I can't watch Kate die, or her baby die slowly like that, or you...no...no plague, no plague...Why can't you have some understanding of...why don't you care? Austin, she's old, it couldn't have been easy for her to ask for help. All that responsibility on just her...She's old! I wish it had been me with the gift. I'd love to help save lives, especially if it keeps our family safe...I wish you could see...the deaths...so many children suffering..." April sobbed, finally drawing breath. "...Austin, don't give up, please. I love you...I would break my heart to watch them die...I don't want to get sick again. I just started living...I don't want to watch you die...Don't...go...don't go...don't leave me that way! Don't give up!"

Austin wanted to slam his face into a wall. How could he be so stupid!? She had been sick for so long, and now he had the opportunity to prevent a plague. Of course she'd want him to cooperate. "I'll do it April. I'll work with her, even if she's an old bitch. I'll be the ambassador, but you've got to do something for me. I need you to get better. You need to come back to me. I can't function without you." Austin said with tears forming in his eyes. "I'll keep the bird guys happy, I'll stop everyone from getting sick, but I can't do it alone April. I can't do this without you. I need you so much. I would've killed myself until they couldn't bring me back if not for you. I love you April. Just come back." Austin said hugging April. "Please just come back. I killed that monster for you. I burnt him to nothing. He can't hurt you. I'm here now. I'll be good. I'll help people. I'll do anything you want me to, just come back to me." Austin begged as he clung to April hoping she wouldn't recede back into the place in her mind she'd been hiding.

 

[slippedhalo]

"Please,Austin..." April sobbed again. She cried herself to sleep in the arms of her boyfriend. For one shining moment, reality and perception matched up.

 

[slippedhalo]

Ooc: If I have to carry the story myself I'll start putting your characters where they need to be to move it along, folks. Inner musings are great but also put the characters in situations where they can actually interact with other writer's people or you basically leave active writers just playing around with their own people, in essence, talking to themselves. We get more to happen by interacting and making things happen. Use npc's if you must. Address my people if you must. You all have potential interesting situations to work with right now. Please, use them. I don't want to have to kill off unnecessary characters to lighten the load when we can still manage them.