There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

[lucetimods]

Who: All remaining draftees
What: Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!
When: The 29th to 31st
Where: Vaskoth
Summary: Please read here for event information
Rating: B for BRRAAAIIIINSSSS

On the 29th, the Malnosso announce over the radios that the power cap will be lifted to a full 100%. Carol broadcasts a message.

On the 30th, the Malnosso declare Vaskoth completely lost. Those with radio access will discover that the enclosure is to be bombed.

On the 31st, survivors will have one last chance to evacuate or try to find the cure. 3PM is do or die.

Comments

[handing]

[It’s almost worse than false hope to Pepper.  It’s someone else trying to take a share of the guilt that doesn’t belong to them, trying to apologize to her for a sin they never committed.  And she understands what he’s trying to say, she does.  Billy isn’t doing nothing because he doesn’t care, or because he doesn’t want to save her. 
 
There’s just nothing he can do.]
 
This isn’t your fault.  [Pepper can feel frustration welling up in her, which means she has to be careful.  The infection makes her angry so easily, but Billy may not be able to understand that.  Not when he already feels so helpless.]

[selfhelp]

...I know. [He doesn't hesitate much, there, shaking his head. It's not like he bit her, or failed to protect her- really, the only blame he could give to himself is that he wasn't involved at all. And maybe that's the problem, but it doesn't make it his fault. He's not a fool.

He still hates it, though, that he can't do anything. Helplessness is the worst.

(After sickness, infection, injuries, dying- oh hell-)]

I'm still... sorry. This isn't right.

[handing]

[Sympathy is easier. Pepper's already seen too people she cares for suffering because of the situation she's in. The pain they feel for not protecting her or not being able to help her only layers on top of her own, makes her regret that much sharper.

And even if helplessness isn't the worst, it's still terrible.]

I know. [She also knows there's no good path for the conversation to take. The cure is her only hope at this point, and until then, they all have to wait. So Pepper looks over Billy for any sign of injury, and tries to change the subject.]

How are you and Teddy holding up?

[selfhelp]

[He's surprised at that- in her condition, and she's worrying about them? He's tempted to say as much, but... maybe she's just looking for a distraction, too. He'd probably do much the same thing if their roles were reversed.]

We're... okay. Teddy was flying when the power cap went live, so he got hurt when he fell, but it's nothing serious.

[handing]

[It's both, because Pepper still is herself, even with the way her body is deteriorating. So she's relieved to hear that okay, even if what follows makes her wince.]

At least it's not serious. But you both should be careful.

[selfhelp]

We're definitely trying... we're mostly just scrambling about what we can do to help. Without our powers, we're just a couple of regular kids, you know?

[They sit in the corner between "in the way" and "useless" in a crisis most of the time.]

[handing]

I’ve got an idea.  [Going from a place where a person could actually help the people around them to one of helplessness or worse:  Pepper definitely understands that, now more than ever.  Not only can she do absolutely nothing, but the bleak reality of her situation drags the people around her down too.  Tony especially, because he won’t leave the hospital, won’t ever stray too far from Pepper’s side even though there are still people to save.
 
Because Pepper asked him to stay.  Because Tony refuses to do anything else.]
 
I was helping transport supplies.  [Before she heard about Steve and decided to see him, but far too late.]  It’s not the same as rescuing people, but it’s still something they need.
 
[And maybe Billy and Teddy can find some sense of purpose in it, like Pepper had.]

[selfhelp]

[His eyes lower at that; he hadn't meant to discredit her contributions, and though she hadn't pointed any fingers, he knew he'd still done so, in a way. It's undeniably true- they need people with powers just as much as without.

Surely there's something he can still do around here.]

I guess... I'll ask around. See what's needed, and what we can do. Even if it's not much, every little bit...

[handing]

[She doesn’t understand why he looks away; Pepper hadn’t seen his words like that at all, and she frowns.]  What is it?
 
[In truth Pepper had been trying to offer him something to do that would let them help however they still could.  So when he says he’ll ask around, she’s quick to share what information she can with him.]  I can tell you who I was working with.  If they’re still here--[if they haven’t died, if they haven’t been infected too]--I’m sure they’d be glad to have you helping.  Both of you.

[selfhelp]

Mm... we'll give it a shot.

[He shrugs off her question, biting his lip.]

Sorry, I just... I didn't mean to make it sound like I think people without powers can't be useful. Everyone's working so hard...

[handing]

[She nods, giving him the names.

She's more concerned about what's bothering him though, especially when he apologizes.] What? You didn't. [Pepper sighs quietly, a sound that might have been a laugh except for everything that's happening.] I know what you meant. Losing the ability to do anything--it isn't easy.

[selfhelp]

I know, I just. [Yeah, he'll shut himself up before he says something extra-stupid. She has enough to worry about without fretting about him making assumptions.] Sorry, it's fine. My bad.