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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Comments

[cuttypie]

[Luka can do nothing except watch helplessly as he falls to the ground, his hands clutching the kudzu-ridden soil. His face burns with even more shame, unable to do anything but grovel like this.]

I am--I am so, so incredibly grateful. You--your kindness is unmatched. I am forever in your debt. I am not worth it, not worth your kindness. Your generosity is beyond what anyone should have to give.

[He bows his head, too ashamed perhaps both in reality and in whoever is possessing him to look up.]

Your generosity won't be forgotten.

[setthetone]

[The smile widens. It's thin, but in its own way pleased. This is the way things are supposed to be.

He reaches out, resting his hand on Luka's head.]

I forgive you.

[cuttypie]

Thank you.

Thank you.

[He can't look up at him, he sniffs and he bows his head, just as low, Carter's touch somehow both comforting and humiliating at the same time. Like this is all he's worth, like this is all he is good for.

His voice trembles.]

I do not deserve this.

[setthetone]

Shhh. It's okay now.

[Carter runs his hand through his hair, circling him as he does so, every step very slow, very deliberate.]

See? You do know what is expected of you. You just need a little... reminder from time to time. I'm sure you'll work very hard these next days.

[He stops, playing with a strand of hair.]

I'm sure there won't be any more mistakes.

[cuttypie]

[It's okay now. He says it's okay now so it is, it simply is because he says so.

Luka leans into the touch, still trembling, maybe even more than before.]

Thank you for reminding m-me. I will work very hard for you, there won't be--there won't be any more mistakes.

[He dares to look up at him, just a little, his eyes flicking up before looking down again.]

I'm truly in your debt.

[setthetone]

Yes, you are.

[His fingers momentarily curl around the hair, giving it a sharp tug.]

You're mine. Is that understood?

[cuttypie]

[A small cry escapes him, a gasp of confusion and then pain, as he winces. The trembling, somehow, has gotten even worse than it was previously.]

I-I understand. I am--I am yours.

[He tries to keep the whimper out of his tone but he can't help it, mingling in his accent which grows sharper with fear.]

I am yours.

[setthetone]

Good.

[That seems to please him and he loosens his grip.]

I don't want you to forget that. You never forget that.

[He lets him tremble for another moment, then the touch becomes gentle again, almost loving.]

That's very important. I'm very glad to have you and I'd hate to lose you. You know that, right?

[cuttypie]

I won't forget. I promise.

[When his touch becomes more gentle he leans into it again, the trembling finally subsiding a little.

He keeps his eyes down to the ground, head ducked, his posture so contrite it looks like he might just crumble.]

I do...I know that. I don't want to go. I'm...I'm yours.