pineslog | ( mingle ) field day + camping trip!

FIELD DAY & SCHOOL TRIP

JUNE 8TH
FIELD DAY

With the current school semester coming to a close and summer vacation on the horizon, school administrators have elected to end the year on a high note with an invigorating Track and Field Day at the park, in order to better foster fitness and health in the children (outside of their government mandated physical education classes, anyway).

The event is, of course, open to the community at large, whether you have a current affiliation with the school or not. Because, well, everyone could stand to get up off their couches for an afternoon of running around in the sun. Or, in the case of residents with a particular sun allergy, under the shaded tarp canopies that dot the field here and there with healthy snacks, drinks, and some of the less expansive games available today (such as, oh, a nice sedate beanbag toss).

Wayward Pines thrives on the inclusion of all varieties of people, after all. Even those that aren't, strictly speaking, people at all.

All of the most recognizable games are available, of course: sack races, relay races, three-legged races, any sort of race you can think of, really; flag football and dodgeball with soft spongy balls to keep anyone from getting too competitive (the school nurse is on hand just in case though); a massive tug-of-war rope that spans nearly the entire field; and water balloon and blanket tosses. If you're not too sure what the latter is you can ask Linda at the makeshift juice bar and she'll be all too glad to explain for you.

Actually, on second thought, don't ask Linda anything. Don't give her the satisfaction.

JUNE 8TH - 9TH
HELLO MOTHER
HELLO FATHER

While most of the citizens of Wayward Pines disperse back to their homes or jobs as Field Day draws to a close, the students, teachers, and a small handful of volunteer chaperones simply relocate the festivities to the campground in northeastern forest for a two-night camping trip. The evening of the 8th and the first half of the 9th run smoothly enough; tents are set up, marshmallows are toasted on an open fire, sunblock and insect repellent liberally applied, a thin veil of nostalgia and bonhomie settles around the entire event and people are in generally good spirits, despite the... excitement of last month.

All in all, it's a pretty great day. Of course, something's got to give.

There's no warning, no steady build up or slow decline. On the afternoon of the 9th, between one breath and another, the power to the fence surrounding the town increases exponentially, and anyone more than 100 yards from town feels suddenly exhausted and de-powered. And unfortunately for the students and staff trying enjoy a weekend of nature and simplicity, the campground falls squarely outside of that 100 yard perimeter of safety.

The camping trip is called to an abrupt end, and most of the camping gear is left abandoned while everyone drags themselves slowly home, but perhaps even more troubling is the question that's on everyone's lips (whether they choose to risk actually saying it aloud or not): why did it happen?

And what does it mean for the future of Wayward Pines?

MOD NOTES

This is a catch-all for any and all threads pertaining to the field day or the school camping trip! This includes the point at which the camping trip is rudely interrupted by the Precautionary Measures event. You're welcome to make your own logs for the rest of the Precautionary Measures event, as there will not be a catch-all for this one. The next mod log will be going up on the 19th!

PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR TOP-LEVEL SUBJECT LINE: Character Name, date, location, and open or closed, to help keep things a bit more organized.

If you have any questions regarding this event, feel free to ask them here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[It says something that Jack doesn't notice her until the telltale click clack of a woman's long, purposeful stride. All he'd been thinking of had been getting away from that dead zone and off the street, out of sight of enemies. (Between friend or foe, the police certainly aren't the former.)

It's embarrassing for an Agito cadet to scamper around like a wounded dog, but what else is he supposed to do? He doesn't understand why any of this is happening. He doesn't--

The sound of heels on the floor approach him, not the door to the right of him as he'd expect of a customer on their way out. He turns, just in time for Aranea's wry (and fair) observation.]}

Oh, it's you.

_{[The no-bullshit lady who runs the lingerie shop is more friend than foe in Jack's mental compendium of faces, and he relaxes somewhat, letting the window blind fall back into place.]}

That... might have a little something to do with whatever I was drinking last night. _{[Kids are going to sneak liquor into a camping trip no matter what messed up world they're living in. Hate the players, not the game.]} And a little more to do with this morning. Uh. Weird question, but--anything off in town? More than usual.

_{[More than me, he means.]}

[ She smiles a little wryly at the first comment - hey, kids were kids back when she was a kid too, after all - but it slides right into something more interested when he continues.

Judging from when she first met him, he's been here more than long enough to have his memories back. Which means a brand spanking new layer of screwed up. Great. ]

No. What's up?

[ The no-bullshit continues. ]

_{[No? Hmm. Jack looks stymied, like he'd been expecting a different answer. That would go a long way to explaining the undisturbed sleepy streets--the only people running for cover seem to be the campers. The quiet before the storm? After all, he's hard pressed to believe such a thing like true quiet exists--not for people like him.]}

Well... I just got back from that camping trip the students went on...

_{[Slow, trailing. The sanctioned reprieve from the recording devices had been far too short, and his gaze flicks around the room where he knows there are cameras and microphones waiting to catch a subversive word or two.]}

It's kind of a long story, heh. Wanna walk and talk? I just came into, uh. _{[It's been a hectic morning; he hasn't made this week's list of pre-made excuses for shady behavior yet.]} Check the time.

_{[Yeah. Yeah.]}

[ That's about as clear a signal as it could be, and he's right. Aranea may have zoomed right past giving a shit what she's caught saying, but Jack's a kid. In an ideal world that'd give him more protection from the whoever's running this setup; in a place like this, it might just give him less. ]

If you're running late, I can drive you wherever you need to be. You don't much look like you're up to a crowd.

[ Or big-eared locals who might overhear things. ]

_{[She picks up the thread with a lot more grace than he planted it, and faint relief coils in his stomach. A ride--sure. He's still not sure about those tin cans on wheels, but they're more private than here, and he's even less sure of what he can say about this out in the open.]}

Heh, yeah... I was in a bit of a hurry to get back to civilization.

_{[Understatement of the year. He nods with uncharacteristic eagerness at the prospect of crawling into a motor vehicle.]}

Thanks! Would you? You must be the nicest lady in this entire town--I'm gonna tell Nyx he really missed out not marrying you.

[ It's obvious something's up, and that it's something that's really shaken him, but that's enough to earn a hoarse bark of genuine laughter out of her, and she pats his shoulder as she heads for the door. ]

You do that. Get a picture of his face, if you can.

[ The car's right outside, and Wayward Pines being what it is she hasn't bothered locking the doors. So once they're safe inside she starts the engine, eyes ahead, keeping it casual. ]

So what's the deal, kiddo?

I'll ask Prompto if I can borrow his camera!

_{[Despite everything that's happened--and everything he worries is happening--he has room to appreciate her amusement. It's easy to slip into banter, like slipping into a pair of socks; it's an anchoring comfort, and he feels steadier on his feet for it than when he first entered the shop.

But outside, he doesn't try to hide the fact he surveys the street, looking for... he doesn't know what yet. Something's up, though, something not even the class dunce of Class Zero can ignore. In the car he does the same, buckling up only to twist around like he expects to see the sheriff looming beyond the back window.]}

I'm wondering that myself.

You ever go for a walk and get lost in the deep woods? Like really deep in...? _{[Spoken casually, anecdotally, like he's gearing up for a story.]} And you think if you climb high enough you'll be able to get a good view and find your way home, but you just feel sick to your stomach like you can barely stand? Because you're so worried all the stores are going to close before you get home.

_{[The deep woods. A steep climb. The feelings of nausea and weakness as you go further. The crumbs are there, dropped in his rambling path. This'll be hard to explain if she hasn't been near the fence herself.]}

Sure.

[ It's not exactly an elegant explanation, and she's pretty sure the car itself isn't bugged, but whatever makes him comfortable. She likes the kid just fine, but she's not in the mood to do any coaxing. If playing along gets her answers, she's more than happy to roll with it. ]

One time I was so worried it was like my gear stopped working. And?

And-- _{[There's a false note of oblivious good humor, almost childlike, like something that would come out of the mouth of a much younger person.]} Funnily enough, the same thing just happened at the campground. Everyone looked like they were going to hurl yesterday's burnt marshmallows.

_{[That same swooping sensation in the stomach, the deadened heaviness in his chest, so far from the wall and so close to town. The rest of Jack may be too blithe, but in his eyes there's a firm awareness of the implication.]}

I only felt better when I stepped into town.

_{[Strange, right?]}

[ That's worse than strange. Especially coinciding with the camping trip - if it's targeted, intentional, then it's something targeted at their youngest and most vulnerable people, and that thought has her still for a moment, motionless but for the tightening of her hands on the steering wheel. Then she sighs, and starts the engine. ]

How many people are out there? Any of the younger kids?

They were probably the ones most excited to get bit by insects and stuff themselves on candy.

_{[Yes, even the young ones. And it doesn't please Jack one bit to know this is another shadow war with no rules of engagement--at least none that he can understand. It's the consortium all over again, putting weapons in the hands of kids barely old enough to be away from their parents and ordering them to be a good, loyal pawn in a conflict above their heads.

At least the trainees had known they'd be in danger some day. The same can't be said of here.]}

Everyone ran for it. Or... staggered. I think we all made it back okay, but a blanket effect this far in can't be good.

( mingle ) field day + camping trip!

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