[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=dc143c]Thalia Carmichael[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e5a2acd6-4a43-4fdf-81a0-ae19c80e184c.jpg[/img][hr][b][color=crimson]Location:[/color][/b] Quarantine (Conference Room)
[b][color=dc143c]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A [hr][hr][/center]

	Talk, talk, talk. A lot of talking in this room. Some of it was posturing but a little was common sense. This was what it was like to be around more than a few people at once. She was taken in by the lure of a decent meal, no doubt, but the behavior of the people in quarantine brought her guard slamming back up. She kept her stance, partially obscuring Alexander from the people in front of them, but did turn when her peripheral vision caught the blurred form of Beatrice wordlessly obliterate whatever points that kid had left on his Man Card. Thalia smirked, trying to suppress a chuckle but not succeeding fully; it was always her nature to handle things as directly as possible whenever she could and [i]that[/i] fit the bill precisely. Yeah, the guy put up a good front and answered Beatrice as best he was physically able. Thalia knew from experience that it was hard to sound like a badass when you're faceplanted and pinned to the ground. 

	The whole incident reminded her of how she used to be, years and years ago. So much misplaced anger. So much sadness. All of that rage and no actual ability to back it up. Her father's people fixed that attitude, and fast. Okay, maybe not [i]fixed[/i], but most certainly redirected and taught respect. After that lesson was learned, sometimes with painful examples, she was ready to truly accept their instruction. Maybe that was the lesson that he needed to learn: Respect. Or maybe he just needed to be put down. That was a concept of which Thalia was very familiar. 

	Thalia was becoming uncomfortable with their surroundings. Not as much as Alexander, apparently. She quickly grabbed up her cup of coffee and hooked her other elbow under Alex's arm and around his back. Being minus that hand, it was half symbolic support. [color=dc143c]"It's alright, man. Don't worry about what you said. Nothing too bad."[/color] Her words were quiet but direct as she led Alexander back to his chair. When they arrived, Thalia eased him back into the seat and pressed her cup into his hands. [color=dc143c]"You forgot your coffee theah, Mugs."[/color] He probably needed something warming to drink more than she did. 

	As soon as Alexander was seated, Thalia gave a glance back to Beatrice. She allowed herself an actual smile, looking at the efficiency with which she handled herself. It was a good thing that they weren't out in the world. Good for the younger soldier, anyway. The customs of Thalia's people were significantly more final. She imagined that Beatrice entertained a similar philosophy; if not Before then certainly in more recent years. There was just something about watching the girl manhandle Hunter that gave her a sense of personal pride. [color=dc143c]"Sorry I called you an angry cunt beforah, Bea. You'ah carved out of cold, solid [i]marble[/i], girl."[/color] 

	Others had much to say. Especially the older guy who kept swatting around himself. He gave a fair amount of three second assessments to everyone, but she wasn't listening past anything more casual. The guy was talking, drawing attention to himself. It gave her an opportunity to look over everyone else. Just observe. Ash's change of heart. Jack's defensive response. Tatiana's scolding of her husband. Manny's unwillingness to engage (and she really couldn't blame him). The Sinead Twins sticking quietly to each other. The guards who weren't really there to guard them. This day was was a goddamned roller coaster, and part of Thalia wished that she was back outside of the walls - maybe up a tree chewing on a squirrel she had recently taken out with a pointed stick.  


[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=deb887]Hank Wright[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/dc4b11f8-7b28-49db-bc00-de00026ad91e.gif[/img][hr][b][color=burlywood]Location:[/color][/b] Quarantine (Conference Room)
[b][color=deb887]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A [hr][hr][/center]

	Hank had his back turned when Tatiana began to change. He didn't catch the whole show of horror and abuse until the very last second, but that second was enough to understand a couple of things about the woman. He did get a good, solid eyeful of that slip of a girl with the bright blue-grey eyes single-handedly bring the concept of professional wrestling back to the Florida panhandle. Oh yes, Hank accepted the bathrobe, belt, and gown from his hetero lifemate when it was offered - so far as he was aware, it was either take it or let the guy commit murder in front of an armed presence. Hank was pretty sure that would provoke a response that he wasn't keen on seeing. Hank would be a liar if he ever said that he didn't exhale a relieved sigh when Wayne monologued his own personal critique of ...everybody, apparently. The assessment of Hank's character was fair enough, it earned the man a quick and quiet thumbs-up. Nothing out loud, mind you, as he didn't want to interrupt the man while he was on a roll. Hank did give a regarding brow furrow and nod in agreement as the man mentioned the woman called "Daytona", though he suspected that it wasn't her real name. Aside from that, he just gave a more relaxed smile and listened to the parade of roasts as they came up, one by one. 

	Then out of nowhere, the abrupt smack of flesh colliding with flesh sounded to his side. [color=deb887]"Holy shit, sister,"[/color] he exclaimed, fully turning around to get a better view of the scuffle now that it was on the floor. Maybe this would suffice to keep the monster that was Wayne at bay; Lord only knew that if that man got his hands on the kid, there wouldn't be the same kind of cool restraint that was being shown by the lady who now held the kid down. Ladies first and all, and lady or not, she looked to have called dibs. As Hank walked past, eager to get back to his own recliner, he did give a piece of encouragement to the guy pressed against the floor: 

	[color=deb887]"Way to void the warranty on those testicles there, buddy."[/color] Admittedly, it could have been more supportive. At least he meant well. Kinda. Or not really, so long as it didn't interfere with naptime later. [color=deb887]"Don't you worry, Mary Beth. First day's the hardest. Allllll downhill from here, but if I were you, I'd find a friend."[/color] Hopefully, he'd remember and take the advice after he regained a more vertical stance. 

	The next minute of his life was spent rolling the A/V stand back into position, queuing up "Lazy Town", though with a respectful lowering of volume, and settling his posterior back into the recliner from whence he came. 


[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=4682b4]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/54f902c5-aef8-429b-833d-a643fe7aa7e6.png[/img][/center][hr][center][color=steelblue][b]Location:[/b][/color] Quarantine (Conference Room)
[color=4682b4][b]Skills:[/b][/color] N/A [/center][hr][hr]

	[color=4682b4]"Thank you,"[/color] breathed Ash, speaking to Tatiana. He had waited until she was done speaking to her husband, partly out of respect but also partly because there was no way in Hell that Ash was getting in the middle of a marital conversation about how to raise their baby. He had likewise not responded directly to Jack's rebuttal of his earlier statement, and fully intended not to. There was no profit to be had in continuing to poke the bear, as it were. He was on edge. They all were. But luckily, there was a complete stranger on standby to discuss exactly what everyone's personal idiosyncrasy was. To Ash's surprise, he was pretty damned accurate. At least as far as he could tell from the long-term observations of the people he knew in the room. 

	Ash again waited until the speech was over to give remark. When he did, it was directed to his own extended family more than to the man himself. [color=4682b4]"Yeah, man's right. I got issues. We've [i]all[/i] got issues. Every one of us has had to do some of the worst crap of our lives to survive. I'd like to think it was for each other, and we're damn lucky to have [i]that[/i]. We've all made promises. I know that every one of us has had to kill at some point just to keep going. The last year and a half we've lost more people than I care to say anymore, and it weighs on me like a goddamn stone around my neck."[/color] 

	He sighed and shook his head. [color=4682b4]"Knowing now that I lost Thana..."[/color] His voice cracked a little yet again. He was saying it out loud as a means of battling back any remaining denial, and it might have been obvious. [color=4682b4]"[i]Knowing[/i]. I needed that. And it's goddamn eating me, to be honest."[/color] Tears were in his eyes now, spilling quietly even as his face remained mostly still. [color=4682b4]"If I didn't have my family - all of you: Jack, Tatiana, little Jamie,"[/color] He turned to look at the other two women in their party, [color=4682b4]"Amelia, and you, Superstar,"[/color] Ash cleared his throat, then appeared to switch gears. [color=4682b4]"You're why I keep going."[/color] Even the people in the Eden Team might fit in that category, despite the fact that he only knew one of them at this point. Estranged by time, distance, and death, his opinion was that they should probably try to acquaint themselves with each other. They had paid a heavy price to make sure his team had a fair chance to survive. 

	It was no secret that Ash had difficulties expressing his feelings. Even to his ears, his words seemed blocky and awkward. They were sincere, though he couldn't help but figure that the impact was somewhat lessened by the fact that, not too far away from their position, Beatrice still had that young soldier pinned to the ground. His eyes drifted to the scene and focused on it, head tilting slightly to the side like a confused dog. Yeah, that was still happening. Some lessons had to be taught in decisive ways. It wasn't his method to utilize first, but he wasn't going to speak out against it. Ash had given him warning, explained why. What the others did, up to a logical point, was their own business.

	Already he could feel the distraction tightening his emotions back up, though it did feel good to let a little out. There was still the business of getting approval from the people in charge for their continued presence, and even afterward, feeling out the settlement. Past that? He still needed to sort himself. For now, they had a week. He might as well rest. Talk. Get to know people again. It had been a long year.