voice; @hicks

[preseance]

( when he speaks his voice is soft an' easy, mild-mannered as all get-out, with an alabama accent that kicks like a mule to the head besides. he has the air of someone well-used to wieldin' some manner of authority, albeit in another fashion in a faraway place from this. )

For those of you I ain't met, name's Eugene Hicks, an' I'm one of the medics here in Beacon. If'n anybody finds themselves in want of food or company, Sundays me an' a few others are layin' out a spread at the Church. Anybody's welcome, all I ask is no fightin' under the Lord's roof. If'n you felt like bringin' a dish of your own to share, it'd be appreciated. ( he pauses, an' in a lighter tone obviously aimed to jest, ) First person to complain about my Ma's fried tomatoes or the lack of ice cream with the pie will be shown the door, no exceptions.

( it ain't a video post, but he ducks his head all the same. there's a slight jangle of his dog-tags. )

And, ah. Given that the El-Tee ( 'LT', short for lieutenant ) found a village across the river, Rastus seemed to think I ought to maybe work at buildin' a bridge so's we can all access whatever resources might be on the other side without any measure of difficulty. I can do carpentry all right, but if anyone can lend a hand it'd be appreciated. Apparently there's a creature in the river fixin' to drag folks under, so please mind yourselves if'n you're of a mind to get close.

That's all. Look after yourselves an' have a pleasant evenin'.

Comments

[preseance]

( that gets a laugh, somethin' low an' warm an' altogether pleasant. )

Lordy. Anyone ever tell you you're a good sport, Nathan?

[nonscriptum]

Might've heard that once or twice.

[ He's heard plenty worse, anyway, and that aside it's nice to hear Gene laugh. Breaks up the tension he feels is still roiling around them - not interpersonally, just in the air. ]

I'll help out. If an audience shows up, that's on you.

[preseance]

Gentleman an' a scholar.

( he still sounds so damn amused. )

Let's get somethin' started tomorrow mornin', huh?

( it ain't like there's a sense of night an' day here, but at least the clocks still work. )

Do I gotta strong-arm you into the potluck or is my charmin' company enough to secure your involvement?

[nonscriptum]

Bright and early.

[ Metaphorically-speaking. Nate doesn't sleep much anyway, runs on a few good hours and if he's dead tired - and lucky - he might manage the socially acceptable seven-to-eight. Nate chuckles over the line, sucking in a sharp breath between his teeth for exaggerated contemplation. ]

You drive a harder bargain than a used car salesman, Hicks, and I'd hate to disappoint.

[preseance]

Hell, I'll even bring breakfast. You a pancake man, Nate?

( supplies are runnin' a bit low at the general store, but he's a child of the depression. watch him make a five course meal with spam and a handful of apples. )

[nonscriptum]

That's a rhetorical question, right?

[ Any man who would turn down an offer of breakfast is not a man Nate wants to know. Spend enough mornings in your youth without the reliability of food on the table, and you learn to take what you can get when you can get it. Some habits are hard to break. ]

I'll take it, just don't let anyone know I'm this easy to bribe.

[preseance]

Oh, I won't tell a soul.

( he says that good-naturedly, half-teasin' besides. )

I'll see you in the mornin', then. Try to get a good night's sleep, huh? Wouldn't want you tuckerin' yourself out before you're done tomorrow.

[nonscriptum]

You got it, chief.