Event - Appalachia: Into the Pines

[apocalypsehowmods]

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Appalachia: Into the Pines

Footage plays on the television as a new story comes on, showing a series of sweeping vistas, intercut with clips of wolves that have clearly been filmed at some local wildlife sanctuary. "As far as anyone knows it, the last wolf to ever freely roam the Allegheny Mountains was slain in West Virginia in 1897. Daniel Stoffer Hamrick saw to the beast's passing, and the woods in our part of the world have gone quieter ever since. Appalachia does not forget its history, though. It buries it beneath coal and flyash, debts and white powder and pills. And the blood of people taken before their time, by the mines, by the mountain, by things we don't have names for, just hurt. But Appalachia does not forget.

"This is Cindy Parsons with Channel 5, Wolf News." Footage cuts to a newscaster standing outside a gated apartment complex with FYRE's logo emblazoned on it. "As we know, our beloved Wolf Pen is home to one of the biggest FYRE worker housing complexes in Wyoming County. It is a monument to the history of our town, and this week, we'll be on the lookout for visitors from all over the country, coming to see the grand re-opening of the historic Bluestone Mine as a museum."

Footage cuts to a nondescript businessman, identified by the news footage as Carl Watts, CEO of FYRE. He's smiling blandly as he stands at a podium and gestures to the entrance of the mining tunnel behind him. "The Wolf Pen community has been a partner to us for decades now, and we knew it was finally time to give something back to all y’all. We'll have our soft opening on Monday with a full Rumble Down Under party in the old mines scheduled for June 15th. We'll have a live bluegrass concert and anticipate a huge influx of tourists to the area to help out our neighbors itching for a few more pocketbooks to tend to." A wink.

The footage returns to Cindy. "FYRE has stated that this new museum will provide an educational tool and tourist attraction for those wanting to learn about West Virginia, Wolf Pen, and the hard-working men and women who have made this beautiful part of our nation their home. Time will tell. Time is always telling when it comes to the promises of people who have used our land and our bodies to line their pocketbooks. They fill our blood and our lungs with black tar and-"

Cindy cuts out and is replaced by in-studio anchors. "Thank you, Cindy!" a blonde woman says, smile just a little strained. "I think we're all looking forward to seeing the big opening by FYRE on Sunday and that rocking good party next month. It should be a gneiss one! Now to Tim with the weather. Tim?"

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John Carter | ER

[setthetone]

i. and they were roommates (for Luka)

[He arrives early, glad to be off the train - especially after that awful blackout. He looks around if he spots Jon anywhere but can't see him so he makes his way over to his assigned room.

The shared room is... annoying, honestly, but after his time abroad and sleeping between rows and rows of cots he thinks he'll manage. Still would have preferred a single room but he's not too worried about it. Should be fine.

He unpacks, puts everything in the wardrobe and the drawers and claims a side of the bed, then sits down and takes out a journal. It's been way too long and too much has happened that he needs to get out of his system.

He's already been slipping on too many habits.]



ii. let's get medical (for Addie)

[The coughs are worrying him.

So are a lot of things in this town but the coughs and other ailments he can spot in the population feel like something he can do something about. Something he can fix. Work on. Distract himself with. Find a solution for. Plus, who knows. There's always something interesting to learn from patients. Maybe somebody saw something, heard something, will spill some gossip.

The idea to set up a mobile clinic for those in need comes to him quickly - that's been his job these past weeks after all. But he also knows he can't do it alone.

When he spots Addy in the lobby, he beelines for her. He's going to need all the help he can get. Plus that distraction might be just what she needs.]

Good morning, Dr. Montgomery. You wanna put in some extra hours you're not getting paid for, spending what little energy you have left on people who don't want you here and be cussed out along the way?

[He gives her a big smile. The charms of the job! It almost feels like home.]

'cause I got just the thing.



iii. Country Roads (ota)

[He's never been a hiking person but while he buries himself in work, it's also nice to get away from everything to clear his head. Carter doesn't take the difficult trails, however, he sticks to easy paths with rewarding scenery.

There's a lot on his mind and he cherishes the alone time. Still, he won't be unfriendly if he runs into someone along the way, giving them a small smile.]

Are you here for the view or for work?



iv. wildcard (ota)

[Hit me! Carter can be found outside a lot, trying to treat the population if they allow him to or reading by the pool for some downtime. He'll mostly stay away from bars but might linger to listen to some music.]

i. and they were roommates

[cuttypie]

[Luka suddenly bursts through the doors, nearly dropping his bag, looking like he was having quite a time trying to find his room, making a commotion as he stumbles in.

And his room already contains a John Carter.

Luka's face lights up.

This is going to be so much fun!]


Hi there, roomie!

[Yes, he is going to be this dumb and corny about it.]

[setthetone]

[Carter winces at the commotion and looks up when the door bursts open.

It's Luka. On the one hand he's relieved because he gets to share the room with someone he knows and has already spent time in the field with, both here and in their world. On the other hand, it's Luka.]

Hey! Didn't see you on the train, I wasn't sure if you were coming.

[cuttypie]

Yeah, I was just in the back and kinda fell asleep!

[He drags his bag in as he grins, trying to zip it open at the same time he's making his way across the room.

Once he's got it open, he hauls it on the bed and starts tossing clothes out a bit haphazardly.

Maybe more than a bit.]

This is great, huh? I'm glad I got you. Just like old times, a little, me and you together on an adventure.

[He can get cornier than this.]

[setthetone]

[That's so corny.]

An adventure? You're actually enjoying this?

[He puts the pen down and watches him dubiously as the clothes go... well. Pretty much everywhere.]

I already put everything away. You can have the free drawers on the left side.

[cuttypie]

Yeah, it's a chance to go out and see different things, make a difference...

[Less of a chance for ADI to snoop around in his plans, what have you...it's a cause for celebration, really!]

Drawers?

[There's a blank look. One, you already put everything away? And two--]

You actually use the drawers? I was just gonna keep my clothes here.

[setthetone]

You were...

[That's a double take. Carter gapes at him, at the clothes. Points at the drawers.]

They're right there.

[Use them.]

Your clothes were already folded in the suitcase.

[cuttypie]

Yeah?

[He blinks.]

I know, but it's just easier.

[He gestures at the bed.]

I can just grab them if they're here?

[setthetone]

Yeah but then I have to see them?

[Luka, this isn't hard. What are you, fourteen.]

Are you telling me you never put your clothes away?

[cuttypie]

But they're not hurting anything.

[There's a pause.]

I just--well I used to leave my clothes in the laundry hamper back home and then sometimes I would just send out for laundry service, you know...

[So this might be the first time in a long time he's actively doing his own laundry, so.]

[setthetone]

Mmmmh.

[Well. He grew up with maids so he can understand that? Somewhat? Still, Carter swings his legs down the side of the bed and gets to his feet.]

This room is gonna look a lot nicer without your laundry all over the place. Come on.

[He grabs the first stack, carrying it over to the wardrobe and placing it in one of the drawers.]

[cuttypie]

[He's a little surprised Carter is helping. He stares for a moment, caught between thinking it's charming versus annoying.]

It's not so bad, really.

[But he finally relents, taking another stack and putting it in the drawers.

Fine, you win, okay?]

ii. doctor doctor i have a terrible cough

[neonatal]

( the charms of the job. she'd been concerned about the illness in town, had spoken to john about it which is how she'd found out about his clinic.

and supported it. these people needed something, it was surprising the lack of healthcare available.

she'd attempted to find some coffee, had come along. and would hope that they'd be able to help them )

It's been a long time since I've just done basic care. ( kidding, basic care and health she did all the time with babies and mothers. but these were neither ) It'll be an interesting day.

[setthetone]

Eh, it's like riding a bike, really.

[A potentially awful bike of cranky townspeople and verbal abuse but, details.]

I'll be content if all the ailments are of a physical nature. That's all I want from this day.

[It's the little things.]

[neonatal]

Well, and this sounds like it'd go against what any surgeon would say, but if I don't have to cut anything today it'll be a good day.

( it really did depend on what people came in with, if there was anything more serious than these terrible coughs and if the cough had reasons stemming from anything surgical )

Though that does depend on if any of them will actually let us treat them.

[setthetone]

Ohhh, I started out in surgery. My supervisor would chew you out for that. A day without cutting was a day where you'd have to go find him a procedure.

[He grins and lines up the equipment, then waves at a bunch of staring townsfolk who glare in return and shuffle off.]

Guess they're feeling all right.

[neonatal]

Don't worry, I already hate that I said it.

( she's definitely gone hunting for surgeries before, taken on patients in the local hospital just so she could cut. surgeons always look to surgery, it's their solution and knowledge comfort )

Or don't want to admit it. What do we have to do, bribe them?

[setthetone]

They're not used to us. They don't trust us. But they're probably curious as well. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually, we get a bunch of takers.

[Carter shrugs, surprisingly cheerful. There's just something about taking matters into your own hands that pleases him. This isn't some strange ADI assignment, this is just them doing their jobs on their own terms, with their own skills. He likes the agency of it.]

I mean, if you want to be more proactive we could [shudder] be social and try to talk to them.

[neonatal]

( she laughs at that )

Fishing for patients? ( it's like when the interns wait by the er fishing for something tragic to come in for them to work on.

who hasn't done that? )

There's always stories to figure out. ( she looks amongst them, trying to pick one out of the crowd ) Him. 50's, slightly overweight, too clean to have been in the mines recently. Married?

[setthetone]

Ohh, been a while since I've done that.

[Carter cranes his neck to see who she's referring to and nods.]

Hump in his back, might be working sitting down a lot or hunched over some projects... You wanna go say hello?

[neonatal]

I want to find a connection.

( not to any one person, and maybe she's putting off some of the greetings and rejection, but what other than this town and a cough is connecting the people. or is she looking at a worst case scenario and assuming there's something else? )

We've got all ages in the miners but young or old they still have that same cough. You'd think most younger might have more time before developing that same symptom.

( if it was exposure over time )

iii.

[halfdecay]

[ A quiet hike up the sleepy Appalachia trails has always been at the bottom of Owen’s to-do list. A cute date idea for the sporty types who fancy a snog under the blistering sun, but nothing the lad is clawing at the bit to try. Yet it was far better than staring at the telly all day. He, too, is on a mission to clear his head.

And so it throws Owen slightly off to spot one of his co-workers, tossing a smile in his direction. It only makes him look a tad spaced out than usual. ]

A little bit of both, I suppose. Blending in with the rest of you Americans and your penchant for sweating up a storm in the dirt.

[setthetone]

You know, exercise and fresh air is good for you.

[Yeah, he's putting on his best annoying doctor's advice voice just for that.]

So what's the work part? You bring a camera for some monster hunting?

[It's flippant but then his brow creases somewhat and he glances over his shoulder at the woods surrounding them, like he's afraid to jinx it. Which he is.]

[halfdecay]

Well, there’s a Polaroid in my satchel…

[ There’s a mix of disappointment and sarcasm laced in those words. But he won’t let Carter’s fake enthusiasm go to waste.

He walks closer up to him and offers a hearty pat on the shoulder. ]

How’s about we go huntin’ for Big Foot, eh, partner?

[setthetone]

Great. I've always wanted to do that.

[He's never wanted to do that. Who wants that. Why is it a part of his life.]

Did they actually mention Bigfoot because at this point I've lost track what's fact and fiction.