savetheearth

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[ latter part of the day of the earthquake. she's never really done audio before, but by the sounds of it she's too tired to bother writing it out like she normally does. she's finally got some time amidst the aftermath to sit down and take a short break from putting things into order. ]

The idiocy of some people astounds me. This is a library. Not a morgue. No you cannot use the empty shelves to put bodies on until they can be taken away.

[ there's a small pause as she reaches up to rub at her forehead. she sighs ]

Books have to go back there. The sprinkler systems went off, and a water main broke... the carpet's got to be pulled out and replaced... there was a shelving unit we knew the anchors needed fixing, but for some reason the director kept leaving it out of the budget...

We're down a reference librarian, by the way, so if you know of anyone, they can send their resumes in...

[ she sounds halfway between being extremely upset or close to laughter. ]

But you can't put bodies on the shelves. In the library. Near me. We're a communications centre in an emergency, not a... a. Well. Anyway. We're sorting books out in the parking lot right now. The books have to go back on the shelves eventually. In order. It's been almost impossible trying to convince people of that.

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Have you 'told' the public that the library can't be used as a temporary morgue?

Not just one or two people. But whoever is in charge of moving bodies from the quake site.

I've been telling whoever's been asking or trying. Our director's gone into shock, she's bloody useless. [ bitter? maybe. ]

Mostly just... some police, some firemen... emergency types. Not much of the public trying to move things around. Last thing I need.

Send the director home then? And stick a note on the door redirecting emergency services to wherever they're meant to be going.

Or you could lock up the building, I guess.

[Morgue - people are dying in her part of the city, the library's been destroyed - ]

Ma'am, er -- you weren't -- [Thick swallow.] -- You weren't - hurt -- ri... right - ...? [Voice thinned and dragged off towards the end.]

It would be good to send her home, but it's all... cordoned off and such at the moment. She's in the staff room sleeping off the shock.

Guess we'll be getting a nice reno out of this.

Ah... the ah, the emergency people are going through the library... tearing up the carpet... you can't leave that stuff for long, it's just a breeding ground, wet carpet...

Ah- oh, Anthony- no, no, I'm fine.

[ she sounds a little startled at his appearance and immediately puts her head in her hands, glad she just sounds overall jumpy right now ]

Building's a bit off... mostly books and some of the infrastructure gone wrong, Anthony, it'll be fine. Just the wrong place for an earthquake, really, not build for it... never been in one, honestly...

[ she shuts her mouth after that. she is in no position to be rambling at anthony. ]

I would not think that they would place such a thing there if there were other options.

[her voice is soft, pensive rather than demanding or offended. Kara was lucky enough where the quake was concerned, but she's sensitive - the deaths upset her, although she does her best to shake it off. they can't be helped if she's feeling sorry for herself]

Do you require help in the sorting of books?

People just think it's convenient, like that's all they're there for. That's not the function of a library. It's a quick fix and it's unsanitary and I cannot have dead bodies around me.

[ a little too intense there. she backs off with a deep breath ]

...what is your name?

I am Kara.

[it's an awfully forceful response for something that, while upsetting, was a necessary part of the cleanup process. it makes her feel as if there was something else causing the anxiety, so she drops the subject. it's not polite to pry.]

I am not trained to run libraries, but I spend a great deal of time in them and am not bothered by a building in such a state as you have described. [aka full of corpses, if she needs a breather from them]

If I can offer any sort of help, I would be happy to.

[ luckily it's not full of corpses, but that's mainly due to her efforts in turning people aside who thinks it's a good idea to stash bodies there.

she clears her throat a bit, staring at her phone without focusing on it a moment ]

I see. If you like... Kara. If you can get down here. Downtown is a little backed up right now.

Just ask for Ms. Bainbridge. They know I know some of the teenagers.

Better than nothing. And i'll have to take your word on the carpet bit.

Has anyone asked if you're okay yet? Because you sound like you could use a lie down yourself.

It should not be much trouble - I am used to the dodging and weaving.

[she flashes a small smile]

I will come by quite soon. Is there anything I ought to bring with me as well?

If you still need assistance with cleaning or the books, I would be glad to help. I'm Audrey Burne.

-- You said that there were bodies, it -- uh -- it doesn't sound fine -- ... [Still mostly thin and hoarse, just-above-muttered.]

I can help you move stuff around, if you need it.

[It's the least he could do after letting her and Lyall loose just to fight and not being able to properly apologize...]

[ there's a silence here and she sighs ]

I'm just- I was caught off guard. [ it's not like she can say that she wants to eat the bodies, that's just not something you mention even in a room full of freaks ] Having the work to do helps.

...thank you. For bringing it up.

Yes, not... not from the library, Anthony. They just think it's the most convenient place while everything's getting sorted. The one... the one was an accident. The rest are just... bumps and bruises.

Are you all right?

Bring yourself a water bottle. Water's not fit to drink until they get the piping fitted back together.

Mm. That might be some time from now, if it is anything like home.

[she'll probably end up bringing a case of water and snacks. just in case.]

I shall see you there, then! You will be able to recognize me quite easily, I think - my hair is very bright.

There isn't much in the way of cleaning we can do unfortunately. That's to be left to professionals. The books and the catalogues are about all we can do right now.

If you can make it down, then please just ask for Ms. Bainbridge.

[There are bodies or is at least a body within close enough proximity to the library to be kept there; this is not comforting.

Small, sharp nod, eyes drift.] -- I'm all right - I am, uhm. [Swallow again.] -- I'm just worried...

[Persistently keeping his eyes off to the sides - that he's glancing back at the paper's probably only evident with his head slightly turning along with them and back away.] ... -- I, erm. -- ...Haven't - actually -- felt an earthquake, before, e - either.

[Just an attempt to say something more, out of a more restless type of uneasiness.]

[ a little bit of a pause here while she considers it ]

Only if you can make it in. And it's mostly just... putting books into piles for now.

...but I wouldn't say no to the help.

[ she'd smile if she were the type to smile ]

All right.

...thank you. I appreciate your concern, Anthony. It was just... bad luck on our part. People just aren't using their heads. I don't know if the city has a very good emergency plan concerning earthquakes, if any at all.

[ a breath in, a breath out- all of it audible. ]

It's overwhelming, is all. I think I'd have handled it better without- without all these echoes.

If you say so. Just, for your sake, don't over do it on the work front. That never ends well.

No need to thank me for it.

I can make it, yeah. Even if the roads are torn up, I drive a motorcycle and I've been doing crazy stunts for years. It won't stop me.

I don't mind moving books into piles for now. If it's got to be done, it's got to be done.

I'll be sure to then.

[On the first he gives a faint understanding nod - tried by nature to change expression accordingly, but it's in a way barely perceptible at this point.

Perceptible shift does come as she takes a breath - brows come closer together - and then lift a tad, over blinked-wider eyes.

Voice keeps low and cautiously resting on top of a voiced whisper.] -- You had - some -- ? - Ma'am? ...During the -- earthquake...

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