Nina Clarke: ᴍᴀʏᴏʀ, ᴀᴜsᴛɪɴ ᴛx & sʜʏ ʙʟᴏʙ (commonlaw) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-09-25 16:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | # 2019 [09] september, amanda van eeden, isaac callahan, joel kulseth, kāne van dale, nina clarke |
Who: Nina Clarke, Amanda van Eeden, Kāne Van Dale, Isaac Callahan, and Joel Kulseth
When: September 9, morning
Where: The Capitol
What: The cabinet meets about the ongoing crisis. There's absolutely nothing suspicious going on with interdepartmental relations or health, either.
It's the morning after the second day of terror in Austin, Texas. As the members of Nina's cabinet file into their meeting room, grief and stress entering along with them, Isaac Callahan's absence feels all too obvious. He'll be attending the meeting via video conference. NINA: [She studies the faces around the table: her government liaison, the chief of police, the US army colonel, and, on a small screen, her department of justice commissioner. Instead of beginning with the typical pleasantries, she dives right in:] How are we all holding up? ISAAC: [clears his throat and coughs slightly, a combination of his declining health and the fact that Nina’s boobs are practically hanging out.] What’s up with that shirt, Nina? Looks like something Amanda would wear. Or maybe I’ve actually seen that shirt on her. [coughs again.] NINA: [glances sideways at Amanda, frowning, before she refocuses her attention on Isaac.] Are you feeling well? ISAAC: Oh, the end is coming. [his tone was casual -- comical -- making light of the serious situation in true Callahan fashion] So we better get on with our meeting before I croak. KĀNE: Yes, please don't go into the light, it would really bring the mood down for the rest of the meeting. [rubs his hand over his face.] Anyway… AMANDA: Yes, anyway. [addressing Kāne] How are things looking out there this morning, Colonel? How are you and your men progressing with things? KĀNE: From the reports I’ve gotten back, today seems calm - or at least calmer than the past few have been. No new surges of activity. JOEL: My officers haven’t reported anything unusual today either. [he adds, grateful that the conversation has taken a turn towards more serious things] The effort to mitigate damages seems like it might have been successful in that respect at least. NINA: Good. And there hasn't been any indication of crime while the attention of law enforcement was directed elsewhere? JOEL: Not anything to be too concerned about. Just the usual calls - vandalism, domestics, that kind of thing. Nobody trying to start real trouble. ISAAC: Not sure I really have anything of value to add to this conversation since I haven’t seen anything but these four walls around me. [clears his throat and sniffles.] Anything DoJ related going on I should know about? Did Miller take lead of the department? NINA: Yes. He's doing all right so far. [she fixes her attention in Isaac's direction then, looking at him a bit more closely.] In all seriousness, are you sick? ISAAC: Doctor’s aren’t sure if it’s a cold or … you know. [shrugs.] NINA: Oh. [her lips purse, considering this.] AMANDA: [after a beat of silence.] Well, thank you for consenting to take part in this meeting today, despite feeling under the weather. This brings me to something I think we should address -- an investigation into the events of the past few days. It would be invaluable to have a good record of individual experiences, along with the official report. NINA: I agree. Who all was present at some point during the events of the 6th and 8th, in addition to Isaac? KĀNE: I was. Same place as Isaac. JOEL: I was out at Walker’s on the 8th. ISAAC: We were close to the quarantine center, actually. I’d just brought some stuff in for Demi and when we came out, the Colonel and another man were running towards the building from different directions saying trouble was headed our way. KĀNE: Nathan. [brings his hand up, rubbing at his jaw a moment.] He’s in quarantine, same as Isaac. NINA: [she frowns, unsure if it's the same Nathan as the one related to Savannah Posey, but continues on.] All right. In addition to the reports already received, we've also indicated these individuals may be good witnesses. [she passes around some papers.] Isaac, I've emailed this to you already. Between us and the council, I'm sure we can cover a good majority of them. Any questions? JOEL: [he takes a minute to look over the papers] Will these witnesses have the option to opt out of an interview? NINA: [she's almost offended by the question.] Certainly. JOEL: [he looks at Nina, realizing belatedly he should have considered his wording.] Just looking for the boundaries, Ms. Clarke. That’s all. ISAAC: Do I get to opt out in being an interviewer? [considering the fact that he's really not looking or sounding that great, he doubts people will want to recount their zombie run-ins with a man who looks like he might be on the verge of turning.] NINA: Yes, of course, unless you'd really like to do so. [she looks around the room at her colleagues] Any other questions before we introduce the concept to the council? ISAAC: Nah, I’m good. [and just to prove he’s feeling under the weather, he coughs a bit before sniffling.] Alright then, Callahan out. Take care everyone. [with a wave and the feeling of not knowing if he’ll ever see any of them again -- because he’s that convinced the end is near -- he clicks the ‘end call’ button.] JOEL: [he watches the screen go blank, wondering if it might be necessary soon to find a replacement for Callahan.] I think we’re all pretty clear on the plan. It’s going to be better to present it to the council sooner rather than later, get a jump on things before details start getting lost. [he pushes his chair back and stands.] You can let my office know when the council meeting’s been set. KĀNE: [he nods in agreement with Joel, standing up and stretching a little.] The sooner we can get all this done, the better. Let me know if you need anything from me or my men in the meantime. AMANDA: [she closes her notes with a nod but doesn’t rise with the others.] Excellent. We’ll let you know if anything changes. [turning her head, she glances at Nina. a small smile crosses her face.] Last words, Mayor Clarke? NINA: [she pauses, her attention drawn elsewhere for a moment, before she -- with effort -- looks back at the others in the room. She takes a deep breath as she studies her colleagues.] I suppose all I have to say is this: none of us asked for life to go this way, zombies and all. [she inclines her head towards Kāne.] Some of us knew what it was to lead before this, while others -- [her gaze moves to Joel before she continues] -- were thrust into this like I was, three months ago. The road ahead of us isn't easy, but no matter how we found ourselves in this city or where we may end up in the future, I have faith in this administration. I can think of no better people with whom to lead this city. [she, too, rises now, and chances a look in Amanda's direction.] Adjourned. |