105.5 - do not rely on this broadcast alone

[hard_talker]

[after your weekly dose of Leonard Cohen, Mark's voice drifts over the journals and the airwaves (of those with radios, of course). he sounds laid back, as usual, but there's something just underneath his tone - the sort of edge someone gets when they're building up to saying something important, but trying to stay cool about it]

So, looks like in the middle of losing a whole metric fuckton'a people, we've only got two newbies to tip our hats to this week: Ashley and Elend. Almost makes you wonder if this place is gearin' up for something ... anyone else ever notice how that happens?

Now, this week, I was gonna talk to you all about some of the stupidass shit I found in the gym the other day, and enlighten the general population as to how much the human race is willing to make itself look like a bunch of idiots in the pursuit of droppin' pounds. I was gonna. And then I thought maybe I could regale you with my Top Ten Things To Do When You're Alone. ... But my solemn duty as your resident DJ isn't just to burp into the mic and educate you on all the things you can call your party parts, no.

And I know we already had one journal PSA this week, but we need one more. Yeah, that's right, Hard Harry's gonna cut the crude and get serious. Over the last week, we lost a lotta people ... and some of them took on some pretty big responsibilities. The kind of shit that nobody notices, but it matters when the fit hits the shan. Some of it's bein' taken care of already by some people I know ... [he's referring to York and the other Freelancers helping fill in for Carolina's absence, of course] ... but I bet there's a whole bunch of people right now who don't even remember what Alan Bradley was in charge of before he got sent home.

There's this emergency program called Code Blair - I dunno why they call it that, it got started waaaay back in the day before yours truly was here, by some guy a friend of mine knew. But the basic idea is that it's run by a group of volunteers who keep an eye on all the kids in the castle, make sure they're safe if something dangerous happens - and that includes people who randomly turn into kids for a week or so, too.

This is important shit, you guys. The castle's pullin' em in younger and younger. Today I had - well, as close to a full conversation as you can have with a two-year-old gnawing on the couch. And seriously, earlier today I heard a kid cryin' for its mom. I'm no Kindergarten Cop or any of that shit, but I know there've got to at least be some of you who care whether or not these kids are safe. Let's get on that.

I don't know if anyone's willin' to step up and take Alan's torch, but in the meantime, I can at least get a list of interested parties, if any of you wanna drop me a line. I wouldn't mind an update from the home front from the folks who ran out to Lastlook, too, I hear you're back in one piece, yeah?

Those of you who could give less of a shit, well, we've still got some lovely parting gifts for you. Keep listenin', folks, and remember to talk hard. [he slowly turns up his audio feed until this week's playlist drifts over the airwaves, then cracks open his perennial can of cherry Pepsi and waits for people to start speaking up]

Comments

Mark Hunter

[kungfuwitch]

How about a little of both? I went out to Lastlook and I was part of Code Blair with Alan and Carolina.

Phoebe

[hard_talker]

HEY, welcome back!

... I think you're the last of the Responsible Adults Who Give A Shit. Well, York, but he's out staring at his shoes in the Dead Zone until he stops feeling like the bottom of a zookeeper's boot.

Mark Hunter forever

[kungfuwitch]

Ooooh don't say that. I'm sure there are more of us here. [she pauses] And if my teenage self heard you say that I think she would have laughed and asked you what you were smoking.

[She laughs for a moment before sighing.]

I honestly can't blame him. He and Carolina were very close from what I understand.

[another pause]

Is there really a two-year-old here? It wasn't someone on a loss?

Mark

[cyan_maid]

[How do you know everything about everything, Mark? Jane envies your contacts.]

I didn't know we had anything like that here. Could I volunteer?

Jane

[hard_talker]

[he talks to people, that is how. he talks and he reads and he LISTENS, which is probably more important than the talking]

Yeah, absolutely. I'll warn ya, though, some of the people might think you should be ON the monitoring list just 'cuz you aren't a card-carrying Adult. Feel free to tell 'em to go to hell, I sure did.

Mark

[courageous_wit]

If I recall correctly, Code Blair tried to have at least one member on every floor. If you don't know of any who are on the fifth floor, I would be willing to offer my help.

Hermione to end

[hard_talker]

Oh! Shit, yeah, I forgot about that part, thanks. Alan had the original list ... I wonder if it ended up with anyone?

Dairine was like, his best buddy. She might know.

[schrodingersghost]

If someone's running something like that, I'm definitely helping.

[hard_talker]

Sounds good. .... I know I talked to you a couple times before, man, but I'm blanking on your name.

[there's an audible wince tacked on to that. HE'S SORRY HE FORGOT]

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine is quiet for a moment. While she wasn't part of Code Blair proper, she had volunteered during some of the crisis. And she had known both of the leaders very well.]

I know why. [Why is got started, why it was named that]

Code Blair started in memory of a girl called Blair. During a monster's attack on the castle, she was kidnapped along with many other kids. But in her case, the journal picked up her cries for help. No one responded.

The Doctor created the Code Blair Project to ensure that no child would be overlooked again. But it's expanded beyond its original boundaries to include all civilians. No reason to leave anyone in danger after all. Its evacuation plan has been used many times, such as during the flood and the Sins Virus outbreak.

[hard_talker]

... A monster, huh? [he frowns. he thinks Eleven would've told him about that, but in any case, it doesn't matter who knew it first.]

You want in on the project, Dair?

Mark/ Dictated

[originalcopy]

A fuckin' two year old? God damn I hate this place. How the hell do you explain this place to a baby?

[deep sigh]

Anyway... I've been talking with a guy about getting some people together to make sure new arrivals actually get the basics about this place. I had to find out things piecemeal from whomever would answer my questions... it's kind of a shit way to have to figure things out.

Especially if you arrive during one of the Castle shit-storms like I did.

[double especially if something like wandering into the dead zone could potentially "kill" you. Stupid fuckin' no technology area.]

Since you keep up on castle shit maybe you know some people who would be interested in the job?

Church, to end

[hard_talker]

You mean like a welcome wagon kinda thing? Might not be a bad idea. I can put the word out... I do try to help out any newbies that speak up when I do the weekly roll call, but they don't ALL answer, so.

dictated;

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade doesn't have much experience with kids. Or - well, any, actually, she's never really even been around children. But, hey. ]

I can help! Or I'd like to try, at least, if that's alright. My name's Jade.

[hard_talker]

Oh! Yeah, I remember you! Well. You wouldn't remember me, 'cuz that's how Castle Wonderfuck rolls, but ... you're a friend of John and Dave and Rose's, right?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

It's something I do anyway. 'Course might be a problem with the other volunteers. It's hard to work with people when they can't see you.

[Still] I'm glad to hear this exists. I'm with it one hundred per cent.

[Also he will murder anyone who hurts the children. Straight up murder them. Best not...say those kind of things out loud though. It makes people skittish ]

[hard_talker]

Yeeeeeah, might. What floor are you on? It went by floors, so you might not even have to worry about it if the kids on your floor can see you.

[asseenontv]

I am not certain I am very good with children, but I'm happy to help protect people in the castle.

[hard_talker]

That's cool, thanks. I don't know who's running the general emergency evac plan now that C's gone, but I can find out for you, if that sounds more like your thing?

Mark

[valuedstrength]

Yeah that baby sure was something. [That's all he's going to say about Sunny until he icly exists backtagland.] I missed the kid though. Do you know what happened there?

Oh and you can count me in for Code Blair.

Steve, to end

[hard_talker]

Yeah. Her name's Sunny - I think she's got family here, maybe? Smart kid for her age, though. First time I talked to her, it was over the journal, and half the stuff she said transcribed as anagrams.

I'll put you down. So far, I've got a lotta people my age, not many adults. Just you and Phoebe.

Mark

[lord_wizard]

Actually, that second child you heard was Ashura. He's...on a loss...

[If that weren't obvious. He sounds rather exhausted at the moment, which isn't surprising, when on is rather suddenly saddled with a toddler that is also your lover. He actually would love to be drunk right now, but no...]

Felix

[hard_talker]

Well, shit. ... He goes on those a lot, doesn't he? Seems like he's always turning into stuff. [Mark frowns a little]

I'd offer to help, but I'm no good with kids.

[silentrunning]

[Chell's uneasy. She's been uneasy all week, this vague sense of unease, like something's building just inside her brain. So when Mark brings this little pSA to her attention, she's scampering for a pen faster than you can say radioactive ice-skates or electrocuted ostrich. So, have a familiar scribble in your journal, Mark.]

I would be interested in volunteering.

[And in smaller lettering]

I do not like this. So many people going home always makes me antsy. Who will be next?

[hard_talker]

You, too, huh? Yeah, I almost feel like I'm gonna be sick. I had that weird dream with the voices again.... The one I can never quite remember... You ever get that?