Ash Holloway
Location: Building 1 (Infirmary) -> Building 2 (Mess Hall)
A tiny Russian girl just hugged the stuffing out of him. If she had been an knife-wielding maniac intent on murdering him where he stood, Ash would be a dead man. Just that fast. But that wasn't Ash's problem. Tatiana had just given him the first piece of meaningful, human contact that anyone had in a very long time. He had made it a point to avoid exactly this. But more, she actually used the words "
Thank you". It hurt him just as solidly as a punch to his gut. Ash didn't deserve hugs. He didn't deserve thanks. And this was making him very uncomfortable.
The barest of tremors began as his psyche rebelled against the notion of warmth and kindness visited upon him. Worse yet, the tiny flicker of himself that still longed for it flared for a half second before his own guilt and anger beat it back down, reminding him that he shouldn't have that feeling. It was just enough time for one arm to raise reflexively and start to move around Tatiana - a question of inches - and he froze in place until she was finished showing him undeserved gratitude.
Jack's presence, and the resulting diversion of Tatiana's attention, was a relief.
He addressed Froggy as if they had finished their exchange, despite the fact that hadn't answered Ash's question yet, let alone said anything at all to the man since he entered the Infirmary.
"Good. Tomorrow, then." It was simple, stuffy, and got him the hell out of there. He exited the building quickly and took a moment to compose himself fully before moving to his next, hopefully last, task for the day.
Just across the street, he needed to interview some incoming personnel. Well,
maybe incoming personnel, that's what the interviews were for. He noted with some neutrality the scene unfolding with Kris and Niesha. It was one that he had seen many, many times. Most of the people that were still alive had witnessed this multiple times, as well. They would understand and sympathize, just as he did. But Ash could not offer words of support nor encouragement. He just didn't have it in him right then. The best gift he could give was his distance, which he did for his benefit as much as hers. The tiniest concession he gave was a nod in Kris's direction, before entering the Mess Hall.
Finding out who was new here was simple enough - look for the table with three people who looked nervous and/or out of place. The only remaining unfamiliar faces in the room. But that wasn't completely accurate; he had come in with two of them. But one was ushered in by James. It was she that Ash intended to begin his casual interrogation session. Before this, he called Sally to his side to make a request.
"Please have someone get me a list of our casualties. Quickly, if you would." His voice was granite, reflecting the heaviness of his heart as he addressed the newcomers.
"My name is Ashton Holloway, Captain, United States Army. Well, when we had an army. Or a United States. Obviously, things are different or I wouldn't be introducing myself in a church while you're eating smoked deer and wondering how the hell air conditioning was still possible." His accent had a twinge of cultured Virginian, evident in his speech now that the day had worn down on him.
"Look, today was not a great day. I'm going to have to bore you with the abridged version of our "Welcome Speech". It's simple. If you're just passing through and want to do some trading, great. If you're passing through and need someplace safe to spend the night, that's fine too. You have a full belly and a bunk for the night. You may pick your weapons up on your way out in the morning." "But if you stay, the rules are simple: Everyone who's able works, everyone who's able fights. We take care of our own and we build this place up. You will be given work assignments, primary and secondary, based upon our needs and your skill sets. Listen to your Leads. You report to them, they report to me. If you feel that you do not have a skill we can use, we will teach you one. We can always use more people tending crops, raising livestock, and working domestic chores. Every job is important." "We have a system of discipline in place that largely mirrors my military experience. Punishments for infractions run as slight as unfavorable assignments and as high as execution." Ash paused for a second to gauge the faces of the new people present before continuing,
"Thankfully, I have not had to do that yet." Yet. Operative word was "yet". But he came close once or twice. And while it wasn't exactly an execution, he had repelled invaders with machete, gun, and knife.
"Now, ah... Tiffany? I was just in the infirmary. Both of them are alive and in better condition than they were an hour ago."
"Now, any questions before we begin?"
Black James(!)
Location: The Hordebuster, Building 4 Parking Lot
James paced around the furnishings outside of the Hordebuster's loading ramp. Although he had just done this not a half hour ago, James had no earthly idea how he was going to move it back in by himself. Observers to the scene would find a shirtless Mr. Mandingo Grady take off his impressive cowboy hat to try and flag down anyone passing by, anxious to borrow an extra pair of hands for a few minutes worth of loading detail.
It was actually quite comical.
