@cjk [ audio ]

[signifies]

Hello everyone. My name is Clark. I'll try and keep this brief.

Firstly, I've drawn up a blank list and placed one on the bulletin board on each housing floor. If those with medical expertise feel comfortable, they can put their name, residence here, and — if they have one — specialisation, in case of an emergency. We have several residents who aren't from the same point in time, so if you'd like to volunteer to update someone's medical knowledge, please mark your name with an asterisk.

Secondly, ah-- [ a bit of a laugh. ] I'm from Kansas, which some of you might recognise as being host to some pretty bad weather. Now, I'm not going to say I'm paranoid, but-- I like to think ahead. So, I've made up some kits with some of the usual survival paraphernalia back home and distributed them between floors. Feel free to help yourselves if you need them.

[ No one has to use them, but he’d rather everyone knows they're available. ]

Thank you for your time.

( all replies in audio unless otherwise stated )

Comments

[pundemic]

Is that why you're so cool with all of this?

[Unspoken: with me?]

Because of that whole... war correspondent thing?

[signifies]

[ Clark's brow furrows. ]

Ellie, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like you, unless they wanted to hurt you.

[ It's a little sidestep of what she's asking. Clark hasn't felt enough kinship to be able to name what it is. He just knows he likes her and understands her. ]

[pundemic]

[She laughs. It's sort of a bleak sound, like she's forgotten how to do it and mean it but is still giving it a shot anyway. You and I have met very different people. She can't bring herself to say it outloud, it sounds too much like self-pity.]

I mean, I am pretty likable. If you go for that kinda thing. Smartass sarcasm, you know?

[signifies]

[ She doesn't believe him.

That's okay. He's patient. ]

You're smart, caring, and I bet if I took you to a carnival you'd win me a lot of stuffed bears at the shooting gallery.

[pundemic]

[They used to have something like a carnival. The adults were the nostalgic ones, they missed their youth and they tried to recreate it for the next generation. Ellie always thought it was kind of pointless. You can't miss what you've never had. Things like ice cream, chocolate, a full night's sleep-- you grow up that way, it's just your normal.

But once in a while, maybe after somebody raided an old toy store or something, they'd have little contests like that. Shoot at rat corpses with a bb gun, or maybe if they found balloons that weren't rotted they could blow those up and shoot them instead. She knows what he's talking about.]

Oh, is that all I am to you? Someone who can win you trophies? Well, I've got news for you, Mr. Kent, if anyone's taking home a stuffed bear here it's definitely me.

[signifies]

[ He grins down at her. ]

That sounds like a challenge, Supreme Battle Commander Williams. Are you sure you want to face me, champion of my people, in that arena of combat?

[pundemic]

[She can't smack him in the shoulder with her hands full, but she deliberately careens into him.]

Yeah, because you're so scary.

[signifies]

[ And Clark laughs. ]

[pundemic]

[Normal people are so much more fun to be around than the ones she's met, okay. So much laughter.]

See what I mean?

[Oh, but there is their building nearby. Ellie makes a beeline for it.]

C'mon, big guy, I promised to let you read those comics of mine.