networkinthenight | [audio] @ORACLE; [open]

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[audio] @ORACLE; [open]

[ Elden's been fiddling with this tablet thing for awhile. Want to know how long? Because for the last ten minutes his tablet has been going on and off voice, you can catch little snippets of; ]

Damn it, work you piece of-

For the love of- why does there need to be so many buttons-UUGGGGH-

[Static.....
....

Finally, though he manages to stay on audio; ]

Right, so, hi everyone, my name's Elden. We've been here a few days now and I'm pretty sure everyone's already looking into whatever's going on here.

I mean, it's a big spooky, dark town, who wouldn't want to figure out what the hell was going on. So, there were a couple of things I wanted to bring up.

One is I think we need to start compiling all the info we've found out about this place so far. Even the stuff they told us when they got here. If we're ever going to figure out why this place is perpetual night that's probably what we should do. Maybe we could keep some kind of log book in the Inn to keep us up to date.

[ He pauses before bringing up his next point. ]

Second, if there's anyone willing to go into the forest with me? I'm not sure what's in there but it'd be dangerous to go in by yourself. Especially if there are undead lurking in that forest.

All right, well that's all for now. Thanks.

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I'm in.

[ That was going to be it but then she adds... ]

But can we not let inexperienced hikers tag along.

[ Those words sound like they should make a question but the way she says it? Yeah that's a lot more like an instruction. ]

Great!

[ Finally, another adult not automatically telling him no.

He hadn't even thought of the other two who had agreed to join. Were they even capable of handling a fight if something came up? ]

You're right. We should probably ask them if they're capable of defending themselves or what capabilities they have.

[ I mean. He could be 10 and if he could hold his own she wouldn't even blink. ]

Yep.

[ Her social skills. They're lacking. ]

Should find out what they've got in the way of tools or weapons while you're at it.

[ See how she just made this... your job, Elden? ]

...wait, do you not have weapons?

[ More over why does he have to do it? He supposes since he asked for people to join him he should look into it. ]

I mean....I have a mace....and a dagger.

[ He'd at least hear a low chuckle in reply to his question. ]

I have what I need. [ An arsenal, Elden. She has a damn arsenal. ] But we need people who can defend themselves. By having both the means and the capability.

[ She had...definitely a good point. ]

Right. We should probably take some time with this. Figure out what we can get to arm people and maybe have them show what they can do. Even if it's not heavily combat oriented there's other areas we may need covered.

The kind of people we want are the kind who came with weapons. We got to keep what we had with us. Anyone who arrived armed is more likely to be able to handle themselves.

The rest you should be able to tell just by watching them.

All right, that's another fair point. Okay, I'll try and get some weapon registry going.

Though we'll see how effective that is.

Good luck with that.

[ Her amused sarcasm doesn't really come through in text. LBR... she would never tell anyone how many weapons she has and what. She doubts others will. ]

Just keep it simple. Tell em they can come if they're armed and can handle themselves.

[ But he needs to know if you'll all stab each other or not. ]

All right, but, one last thing;

what's your name?

[ I mean... She wouldn't rule it out, let's be real. ]

Scarlett. Harker.

Let me know what you come up with.

I'm coming with you.

[ She might try and mask it but theres a very definite huff of air that can be heard and anyone around Scarlett would see her scowling at the device in her hands.

After a moment. ]

Yeah? How are your wilderness survival skills?

At least as good as yours.

[She sounds completely confident of that fact.]

Really? [ Not even trying to mask her amusement. ]

They take you on a lot of hikes at that fancy boarding school of yours?

[ It's still not a no because Scarlett knows better than to say that to a willful teenager but she has no qualms calling her out and making her justify that one. ]

Well, Mystic Falls is surrounded by a bunch of forest, but no.

[She expected Scarlett to not really believe her, but the roll of her eyes is still in her voice.]

I'm a Werewolf. Wilderness survival kind of comes with the territory.

Okay. [ Slow, thoughtful, considering. Notably a far cry from surprised.

When you're... whatever the hell she is? The existence of werewolves is not such a leap. ]

And do you plan on traipsing through the woods as a wolf?

I've still got some of the perks without doing that. I can't see in the dark as well as I normally can since there's something messed up about the darkness, but the rest still works.

[A beat.]

But yeah, I can if I need to. I'll have to taste metal while I do it and I'll need you to carry a change of clothes for me so I don't give anyone a show when I change back, but I can make it work.

Really? [ Her interest audibly piqued at that. ] Do you see in normal light fine but just not in the dark?

[ Asking for a friend... ]

Ohhh so now I'm your pack horse, am I? [ Slightly more amused than annoyed at least. ] And everyone else that I'll be going with. [ Yes she said I not we. ] You fine with them knowing what you are?

My senses are all better than a normal wolf's would be. If this darkness were typical nighttime, I could see just fine.

[There's amusement in her voice, though it's starting to become tinged with impatience.]

Like I said, they don't need to know. Sometimes I like to change. I'm just as capable like this. But no, I don't really care. This isn't a normal suburban town where I have to hide it.

[She pauses briefly before she just comes out and says what's on her mind.]

I wasn't asking for your permission, you know. You're not responsible for me.

No I'm responsible for me and I don't want anyone coming along who will be a liability.

[ It's blunt but also true. As much as she's taken a liking to Hope and would look out for her? She didn't survive on her own in an Apocalypse by looking out for others. ]

You wanna come? You can come. [ Fuck me. ] But you come armed, you come prepared and you come knowing there's a chance they could find out what you are and not respond well.

[ Not that Scarlett would allow a damn thing to happen to her if she could help it but she wasn't about to sugar coat shit for Hope. ]

That work for you?

I am not a liability.

[She sounds offended that it would even be suggested, but the quick flash of anger is her more animalistic instincts rising up the way they so stubbornly do sometimes.]

I'm all of those things all the time because I've had to be. So yeah, that works for me.

Don't tell me. Prove it.

[ And while she keeps things very matter of fact, what Hope can't see is the way Scarlett cringes at those words. At how much like her father she sounds and how desperately she hates it. ]

Good. Then this should be a walk in the park for you.

[ So fucking pressed that she's coming. So painfully aware that it would have been worse to stop her. ]

[And in that moment, Scarlett sounds so much like Alaric Saltzman in her head that she barely keeps a hold on her temper. He always tried to talk to her like this, like he was her father, but her father was dead.

He hadn't understood the things she'd been through, and neither did this woman who apparently felt the need to protect her. That meant that she cared, and that scared Hope more than anything else.]

I don't need to prove anything to anyone. Let me know when we're leaving.

[And then she ends the call. Y a y.]

[ She doesn't bother trying to get in the last word, any idiot can tell Hope's angry and while maybe Scarlett should feel bad about it? She figures if she's got it in her mind to prove she's not a liability? Maybe just maybe, she'll be careful out there. ]

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