{ text } forward dated to April 30th and the event

[frostedplum]

[ Seeing how Mei lives on Chioni with all of four other people, when her dreams have her running to her balcony to be sick over the edge, she doesn't organize a block party afterwards to discuss it. Instead, she goes back inside and creates a cocoon out of the blankets on her bed. She tries to read, but there's a listlessness to her now. A gnawing in her stomach and an odd feeling that feels very... isolating. She shivers and opens up her TAB. There are different kinds of isolation, but the kind that reminds Mei of a cryogenic tube and being the last left alive is the kind that frightens her. She needs to know she isn't alone. ]

Is anyone else awake? Would you like to keep each other company? I woke up not feeling very well and I don't think I could fall asleep right now.

Comments

[warandpeace]

Still trying to work out the mechanics of the rescue business I'd proposed. But two of the people that offered to help out aren't around. Charles Xavier offered to do some training, and Lucio was going to lend a hand with publicity.

So I've gotta start from scratch if I want to make it work on some level. [He really wants it to. Not so much for his sake, but for the people he cares about that he wants to have a chance to do well.]

There's only so much progress I can make with that on my own right now. But give me time, I'll figure it out. It's not the first business I've built. Have you ever done anything like that?

[frostedplum]

Oh, that's too bad! Lucio was really fun. And a celebrity back home, so he would have done well with that sort of thing.

[ She shakes her head before realizing that this isn't video. Boy, she's really out of it right now. Rearranging her blankets, she lies back down on the bed and rests her hand near her head so she can still talk clearly into her TAB. ]

No, never. I did most of my work in small groups, or more recently, alone. But I could write up some survival tips for cold climates if you think it might help?

[warandpeace]

You don't have to. I would be grateful if you did, though.

I was just wondering because being able to juggle expenses helps out a lot with research and development. It sounds boring but once you get into reading product reviews and reading use instructions, it can get pretty inspiring. You read about simplified tools that are cheaper or make your life considerably easier. Make you more capable of productivity and more accurate results.

Thought that it might help out in your line of work, since you have to deal with so many precise measurements and preserved specimens.

[He's going to put her to sleep talking about finances. This is the best plan that he doesn't know he's coming up with.]

[frostedplum]

I don't doubt it! Back with Overwatch, we had people who handled the budgets; we just sent them what we wanted and they would find the best price. But more recently before I arrived, I had just been building things myself. I'll mess with the settings on something and then take it on a test run in the wild.

[ She makes a pleased sound. ]

Luckily I'm working with a big group of researchers here instead of on my own again.

[warandpeace]

I always liked having entire groups to work with. Makes for a lot of productivity and results. Though given that I've mostly been involved in drill instruction and command, I have to support others.

Military history doesn't involve much work. Mostly requires a lot of reading of other people's research. Unfortunate because years know more than books.

[And then finally he explains something he abandoned earlier.]

Oh and uh... burning the midnight oil is just an old saying. For people that didn't sleep much and did a lot of work at night.

[frostedplum]

Then I really hope you can get people to replace those who have gone! The search and rescue thing sounds like a great idea, and of course I'm happy to help in any way I can.

[ She's never too busy to help those in need. ]

Ohhhh, so like oil lamps? That makes sense! I do hope you get enough sleep, though, whenever that might be.

[warandpeace]

I'll get enough.

[Theoretically it's enough.]

Did I at least help clear your head a little bit?

[frostedplum]

You did. Thank you.

[ Hopefully when she falls asleep this time, she won't return to that nightmare. Maybe she'll dream of hamburgers instead. ]

It was good of you to keep me company. And you and your dogs will come visit me soon, won't you?

[warandpeace]

I hope to. I think the outing would be good for the girls.

[He's reached the point where he's actually calling them "the girls", which has taken him well over a year, give or take one spent in a mantis infested sexhole.]

[frostedplum]

Sure! What are their names?

[warandpeace]

Mama and Joy.

...I didn't name them.

[Mama was named Mama only because she was pregnant when she showed up, and Joy once belonged to Big Boss before he died.]

[frostedplum]

You make it sound like you don't like their names. I think they're nice!

[warandpeace]

They're not bad, no. I'm just not very good at naming things. I usually name them after songs. Or singers that I like.

[frostedplum]

Oh, songs! That sounds very pretty. I like poems and songs. But I suppose they respond best to the names they have, and it would be confusing to switch them now.