[hr][hr][center][h1][color=steelblue]Ashton Holloway[/color][/h1]
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[hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Mess Hall
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	Zoie's name was mentioned directly on the walkie. Apparently, someone she knew. Someone who may be potentially dangerous. Ash's instinct was to take up arms, especially after the word Eden was mentioned. Such a tangle in the day was not to be taken lightly. His desire to rain death upon the enemies of Newnan was strong, no doubt about it. But now, he had someone to assess the situation for him, someone to mount an initial defense, if necessary. Zoie got the nod from the former Security Lead, Caesar. Now dead, Miss Zoie had taken over his spot. Instead of rising to handle the situation directly, Ash merely turned down his walkie and addressed the two strangers before him. 

	Ash didn't particularly try to put up a false front of cheerfulness. Not his style. But he did keep his words polite and his manner neutral. Introductions were exchanged, in a manner of speaking. Jack and Tatiana. And speaking of speaking, Newnan was certainly gathering a motley group of accents. Now they could add Massachusetts and Russian to the buffet table of odd ways to alter the English language. 

	The traditional New Englander Bostonesque accent was easy to pick out, even for a man like Ash who'd never been there. It was certainly distinctive, perhaps even as distinctive as Tatiana's. The entrance interview would have to be taken slowly. If all three of them got worked up, the vast majority of the conversation would consist of "Excuse me?", "Come again?", and "Damnit, just once more, please?" All the same, he had to try. 

	The moment that he opened his mouth to begin his standard Meet & Greet, Doc Froggy made his appearance. Today was starting of to be an interesting day: Doc was happy. At least he seemed it. Happy and talkative. Ash was glad to see it, even if it didn't show. Moments of levity were fleeting these days. He nodded to Victor, then addressed the two new arrivals.

	[color=steelblue]"We've worked hard to build a relatively safe place. It wasn't easy, and I'm going to come right out and say it: People have given their lives for this town."[/color] His face darkened momentarily. [color=steelblue]"Loved ones. People want what we have, and that's not going to change. Folk like you two, come in the front gate, ask to be one of us? You can have what we've built here. Lot of people aren't like that. We took a hit, one month back. Just letting you know what you're getting into. Everyone contributes who's able, everyone fights who's able."[/color]

	Ash paused for a second. Maybe he was being too much of a fatalist. [color=steelblue]"Look, if I'm scaring you off, my apologies. Take a couple of days to relax, before we make promises to each other. You're free to leave at any time, and if you need we can spare a few supplies. If you decide to stay, we need to know each other better."

	"This settlement was originally built with military conduct in mind. It has relaxed from direct martial law since that time, but there is a clear chain of command here with myself at the lead. If you decide to stay, you'll be given jobs commensurate to your experience and proficiency. If you would prefer, we can teach a variety of useful skills. With this in mind, take a day or two to think it over. But first: Tell me about yourselves. What did you do, Before?"[/color]

	
[hr][hr][center][h1][color=firebrick]Black James![/color][/h1]
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[hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Newnan, Inner Wall - Smoker
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	A little herb, a little alcohol, a little time and fire - a little message on his walkie saying something might be going down this very instant, a touch of Zoie hauling ass past him, and just the tiniest bit of Black James chambering a round into his pistol and keeping his axe close at hand. Zoie knew her stuff. James knew his. No matter how wary he might be at this moment (and he was), but he had his own job to do. If they needed him to vent some aggression on more invaders, they'd sound the alarm proper. 

	James drove Jack and Tati's truck forward toward the Courthouse, turning into the parking lot nearby. He was near the Medical Garden, under the shade of a few trees they left standing, consequently also the present location of his beloved smoker. It did get around, that lovely piece of outdoor cooking appliance. He and that hunk of metal had been through a lot together. To his momentary happiness, they were about to go through a little bit more, just today. 

	The veteran of Redneck Cookery saw to the deer first. No point lighting a fire if the animal wasn't properly prepped beforehand. In short order, knives were produced and the poor dead beast was laying on a frame. Its entrails became its extrails, bucketed and ready to be turned into pig feed. With care, James removed the skin. There were a lot of uses for deer leather, this day and age, and now there was a lady in town that could turn this greasy skin into a sheet of tough, flexible material. 

	
	Meantime, the slow smoky goodness of venison was being prepared, as the infamous Blackneck started humming. He eventually broke into a quiet song as he worked, though it grew a little louder as time went on. [color=firebrick]"Mama's little baby loves short'nin' short'nin'... Mama's little baby love short'nin' bread..."[/color]


[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=orangered]Bridgette Vinters[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d5/b4/78/d5b478ac0063ce48f5bab3cb5648b0a1.jpg[/img][/center]
[hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Newnan Inner Wall, Infirmary
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	Astrid. Venting. Wow, who would have thunk it? Hell, Bridgette had said enough crap to her over the past couple of years. Some horrible, nasty things born of frustration and a distinct lack of important supplies like whiskey and Kit-Kats. Perhaps such things were more forgivable, as candy and booze were vital to human survival. Emotions can run high, even with someone as sophisticated and stable as Miss Bridgette Vinters. Still, the words coming out of Astrid's mouth weren't usual for the stoic anachronism. 

	[color=orangered]"Attagirl, Astrid. You let [i]all[/i] that shit out. Later on, we can get some sparring practice in, really vent some angry, huh?"[/color] Bridgette thought for a moment, [color=orangered]"Ya know, I [i]am[/i] checking in on Sophia later today. Maybe I can see what's up?"

	"Hey, I've got to get that work done, east side of the wall. Fuckin' funny, most of those buildings aren't being used for shit. Quiet that way. I'd prefer to go with someone, but if Bryn's not around... Hope the bitch is ok. ANYWAY, I'm going to take a quick ride around the inner wall, see if anyone's willing to hold my tools, at least. I'm out."[/color]

	Bridgette started back to the exit, but suddenly stopped, remembering something. With lowered voice, she spoke to her Battle-Sister, [color=orangered]"Don't tell anyone, but I've been showing Walldi ...fuck. ASH, some of my moves. [i]Boxing![/i] I've been showing him how to mix it up, lot better than that crap they showed him in the Army. He's been paying me with decent quality hooch. You wanna crack open a mason jar of The Good Shit around our firepit tonight? Talk stuff out? ...Alrght, I gotta go."

	"Ya know, he handles getting his ass kicked by a girl a lot better than I thought he would."[/color]

	With that, Bridgette found her way back to Cadence and mounted the noble beast. She nudged her horse to a trot, and began a circular route about the Inner Wall. Maybe she could spot someone to give her a hand before starting her day's labors.