Video - Did someone say something about bacon?

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ He'd really wanted to make this a text message. But as he'd poured over the information he'd run down, Will had come to the sad conclusion that there was no way anyone would read through all he had to address.

At least he'd have never read through it all. So that left video.

While the device was turned on, camera aimed towards the man in question, Will was looking anywhere but at the camera. Hopefully that didn't come across as too strange. But it probably did.

Good news was he'd managed to replace his glasses! They had roamed slightly down his nose and he had yet to bother pushing them back up on his face. ]

Ah hello.

My name is Will Graham, fairly recent arrival through the portal so I don't know ... most of you. Which probably makes this request even more awkward than it should be.

[ Yep, just a charismatic public speaker, that's him! ]

Uhm anyway. My job currently is with the Perimeter Guard, Surveyor and I've been told they would have my assistance with advising on monsters after a bit. To that end I've discovered there was a recent expedition out to the northeast of the city with an eye towards expanding our agricultural opportunities. That expedition apparently identified an infestation of [ here he lifts a paper and reads off of it, as if he can't bring himself to use his own words for this ] 'giant alien-hogs.'

[ Lowering the paper, he reached up to tug his glasses off his face, rubbing at his eyes. ]

Long story short, I've picked up the request for a second survey of the area to see how we can best secure a safe expansion into it, and what options might be available for best dealing with the native species of alien-hogs and or other monsters in the area.

[ Back on go the glasses and he gives the camera a quick look and small, closed lip smile. ]

I'll cover the affinity for animals/monsters requirement for this little trip but I've been advised that, while the object is to avoid conflict with any monsters, the team should include some Perimeter guards, and or someone with combat or combat avoidance, experience.

As I am new to this place, I figured it would be best to inquire about help over this device. But if there is a corkboard people like to use to put these expeditions together, please feel free to direct me to it. Otherwise ... uhm, I guess ... contact me here.

[ Taking a moment to ensure that he covered everything (yeah, think so) Will gave an awkward little nod and reached to switch his device off transmission and back to receive mode. ]


[ OOC: The mission Will references is this follow-up on fertile ground mission. Right now I am open to any discussion/plotting/planning! Feel free to ICly respond to this post or if you want to talk OOC shoot me a PM this_ismydesign. Timeline wise, I'd like to kick something off by the 15th of June. :D ]

Comments

video.

[deceitful]

Peter Hale. [ He gives the camera a languid little wave. ] I think we might be roommates— I could have sworn I saw the back of your head leaving the floor earlier.

[ But Will looked like he was in a rush, and Peter hadn't been in a particularly chatty mood. ]

I have some experience with [ Here, he pauses for a split second. ] strange creatures, and combat experience as well. But I'd prefer not to get into a spat with alien hogs, if it's all the same to you. That aside, I'm willing to join your expedition.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Will blinked and then peered at the screen to try and see if he could place the face.

He really needed to start looking at the people he was sharing space with, or else encounters like this were going to be a regular embarrassment. Reaching up to brush his fingers through the tell tale hair, he gave a small nod. ]

Sorry, I'm not used to living with other people. It's about all I can do to remember to keep the wet towels off the floor. [ Among other bad, nocturnal habits.

Not important at the moment. ]

I'd appreciate another [ he paused to choose his words ] creature savvy expertise on this, and I agree about not getting into a spat with the local monsters. However, I can't promise they'll feel the same way.

Especially if we appear to be encroaching on their territory, or worse; stumble across their young.

[deceitful]

[ Peter's fresh to Riverview, just starting to settle in and get a feel for the surroundings. What better way than to kick that off with a survey of the nearby territory? (And if pressed, he'd admit he's curious to see what the hell alien-hogs look like.) It never hurt to be familiar with the less explored areas.

He shrugs. ] No harm done. I only just arrived, at any rate.

[ Will's the first of the lot he's shown his face to, but Peter isn't a fan of living with others. A move in the near future's a high possibility. For this specific instance, bringing it up seemed like a good springboard for a conversation with an otherwise stranger. ]

I understand the risk. Have you done a lot of observation on the monsters in the area?

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ To be fair, Will was already contemplating his own move to somewhere more quiet. Though so far the majority of his 'roommates' seemed to be keeping to themselves, which he appreciated.

Still. It was good to meet a few folks at least. ]

In the short time I've been here, I've observed what I could. [ He explained. ] I have something of a ... natural affinity for monsters.

When I was discussing my job options, there was discussion of becoming something of a monster advisor for the Guard and the police. Figure it could be worthwhile to develop an understanding of what's out there.

[deceitful]

A natural affinity for monsters.

[ Repeated back at Will with raised eyebrows, and no little amount of curiosity. Monsters of the fairy tale variety, or the human kind? Murderers and the like. What does having a natural affinity for either of those mean, anyway? An understanding of them? A sense of kinship?

Or maybe Will Graham's just good at wrangling them. Well, that's something left to explore later. ]

If the monsters are prone to hostility, I can see why that'd be a viable position. [ A thin smile. ] Monsters are interesting. You get all sorts.

Do you have any notes on the alien hogs? I'd like to know what to expect.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Had Peter asked any of those questions aloud, Will's answer would have been a resounding "yes".

As in 'yes' to all of it.

However, while the statement seemed to house questions in the way it was termed, Will decided that since there wasn't any one inquiry -and the subject was difficult to begin with- he was going to ignore the unspoken curiosity and just continue. ]

You do get all sorts. I've been investigating the library when and as I could, starting a bit of an inventory. That's part of why I would like to make the most of this opportunity if we can.

I have some notes from the original expedition team. I was thinking I'd share them when we have the team defined and come together for a briefing before we go out.

[deceitful]

[ There are some things that communication over a device rather than meeting face to face couldn't quite convey. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see what, exactly, Will Graham's affinity with monsters entailed on the expedition. ]

Seems reasonable to me. [ And much better than going in blind, which is exactly the opposite of what he wants. No further objections, just questions. ] Are you planning on leading, or relegating that to someone else?

[ The lack of eye contact (nerves? shyness? all around awkwardness?) coupled with the focus on the more academic side of things suggested Will would rather observe than marshal together a team. ] And one last question. How many people are you aiming for?

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Nerves, shyness ... all around awkwardness. Again, the answer was a resounding 'yes'.

Though he appreciated the open ended way in which Peter phrased his questions, nodding as they came up and then stepping in to share his current thinking. ]

I believes that as an expedition, with an eye towards keeping everybody safe and understanding what is to be done in the case of an emergency, it would be best if someone more skilled in such areas were the leader. My role is usually advisory.

At the moment, it appears we might be up to a party of five, though I am still speaking with a man who has identified himself as Perimeter guard, but I expect we accomplish this with four to five people. Probably best to keep the team small, able to move quickly and hopefully with a minimal disturbance to reduce the risk of appearing a threat.

[ But with the skills to handle themselves if things went to utter shit. ]

[deceitful]

[ He's satisfied, nodding along and throwing in a few agreeable noises. Will's approach is logical and organised, with the goal apparent and an emphasis on safety. Much better than the haphazard planning he's been subjected to before.

At the end of Will's words, he offers him a thin smile. ]

I'm not usually one for the front lines myself. Consulting is what I'm most comfortable with, but as I said earlier, in the event that things go wrong, I can keep myself alive.

Otherwise, I agree. No need to get all up in arms for a bit of scouting when mobility should take precedence. You can pass my name along to whoever decides they're qualified to lead, and hopefully we can get organised sooner rather than later.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Whoops.

Yeah, he probably should have gotten permission before sharing names. Sometimes Will did tend to go forward with an action without entirely vetting it through. Hopefully Hale wouldn't mind, in the long run.

And it was his turn to nod and make agreeable noises. ]

Despite one of our potential members being a teenager, I get the sense we're each capable, should things go pear shaped.

I'm going to start to prepare a thorough brief with the information we have from the initial expedition. When we've all made contact, I'll circle back with a time to run through the brief, before we head out.

All of this hopefully moving forward sooner, rather than later.