apocalypsehowcomm | Event - Appalachia: Into the Pines

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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My grandfather used to say the same thing. Part of my family used to make money with diamonds and he'd complain they just love to make you the villain. "You'd think we're cackling madmen in some badly lit backrooms in a cheap afternoon show".

[He'll just skip the part where he sort of, kind of agrees with that.]

You expecting any trouble?

[That gets a broader and sympathetic smile from Greg.]

Your grandpappy sounds like a smart man. Don't know if there'll be any trouble. Really hoping not. Wolf Pen needs this museum opening and that party to go well. If certain people really want work for folk that ain't shoveling coal, you'd think they'd do more to support the jobs that're coming.

Well, who are you worried about? Maybe I could snoop around a little. Listen to their bleeding hearts stories.

[His brow rises just a little at that.]

Well, I appreciate your offer, stranger, but ain't you here to enjoy your vacation? Don't seem right, putting you to work.

I mean, I guess, but...

[He shrugs thoughtfully, turning the glass in his hand.]

I know this place isn't inner city Chicago but I've had full trauma rooms after protests turned violent once too often. I'd hate to see that happen here.

[He smiles wryly.]

Be better for my vacation, too.

[Greg huffs a laugh.]

You got some big city notions about how much trouble we're expecting. You wanna nose around, you're welcome to, but don't worry too much if you don't find nothing. Mostly I'm worried about folks like Ms. Cindy Parsons over at the local news. She's got a lot of notions in her head and our sheriff has to keep pulling her away from the mines when she goes creeping up there. It ain't safe for her, no matter what she thinks she's figuring out. Ain't too thrilled with the folks camping out in Plessy's Holler, either. Keep telling Ron to go and see they pack up and get into an actual home. We got folks here in town who'd be willing to help them out, but one of 'em... she's a stubborn old goat. Just worried about the little boy they're keeping out there with vagrants rolling in and out up there. It's unsanitary and unsafe. And while I don't think they'll cause too many problems directly, think they might be a problem for the tourism side of things.

I guess I do.

[Carter smiles a bit ruefully and shrugs.]

Happy to be proven wrong. Wouldn't mind some peace and quite, work's been... stressful.

[He listens on, takes notice of that - Plessy's Holler, vagrants, homeless people? - and frowns when he mentions a boy out there, unsanitary conditions. Gathering intel and snooping around is one thing, but this connects with him on a more genuine level.]

They got children out there? Do you think they might need medical attention?

Oh, I don't doubt it. Not sure little Noah's had any of his vaccinations. And his Mama barely come into town for check-ups at the pharmacy when she was pregnant. At least they got themselves to the midwife in town when he was being born. Didn't get pushed out in some tent or on the ground.

I don't want to call CPS on them. Ruth's a good girl, even if she's as stubborn as her Mama, Robin. If we could just get Robin to come back into town... it'd be better for everyone. Think she's gone just a little senile in her old age. It's a damn shame what's happening.

Event - Appalachia: Into the Pines

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cw: transphobia/misgendering

cw: transphobia/misgendering

cw: mention of pregnancy/birth