[Game Thread] Chapter 2 - Divide

[Samulus]

"Food? Well... I can't really complain if yer gonna feed me. Canned food ain't all that great, and ta be honest it'll be good ta have somethin' solid in my stomach besides canned beef." Eli rushed to grab the seat next to Edgar and beckoned Ohanzee to sit in it.

"Cmon guy, 'fore Frank comes back. Ya don't wanna sit close ta Frank, do ya? I mean, ya don't wanna be that close ta him. Know what I mean?" Eli quirked his eyebrow in an exaggerated motion then took a different seat, leaving the space open for the mutant.

[Thamewolf]

Ohanzee raises an eyebrow and shrugs, moving slowly towards the seat. His steps are purposeful, he is not rushing. He casually lowers himself into the seat, pulling his cloak about him more as he is aware that his otherwise near-nudity at the table might be perceived with animosity. When the hosts return, he speaks at a low respectful volume, "The food is indeed appreciated. Thank you."

[Ingo]

Edgar gave a grunt of acceptance, continuing to look about the room and otherwise ignoring Ohanzee and Eli.

[Slepter]

Results of Edgar's Spot check You look around the relatively small room and find it to be a rather plain one, the four drywalls painted a sterile, eggshell white. A large window on the far side of the room offers a bit of light, and is probably closed, but the typical, dark brown, Venetian blinds are drawn shut in front of it. An artificial chandelier overhead provides most of the dining room’s illumination, spreading light to the far corners of the room, and the only other person present besides yourselves: the girl. You assume that this is a daughter of Frank’s. You also estimate that she must not be feeling very well, but reason she isn’t sick, or else she wouldn’t be at the table. She looks like she carries a heavy burden on her shoulders, like she’s preoccupied thinking about something else. She barely noticed your group file in, and issues little more than a passing glance to any of you before returning her gaze down to the lacquered wood table you sit at. You briefly consider saying something to her, but you’re not certain it’s a good idea to ask her anything important within earshot of Frank. As your mind wanders to your new host, he steps into the room.

Both Frank and his wife, Laura, enter the room summarily with trays full of plates of food. Together, they set out hot, steaming plates of deliciousness, as well as utensils, for each person at the table, themselves included. Your plate bears a fresh, moist cut of steak, some mashed potatoes, and even a serving of steamed green beans. The meal both looks and smells like a small slice of heaven, but you can’t help but wonder whether a meal this good is expected to be the last.

As Frank and Laura each take their seats at the table, Frank asks everyone to bow their heads while he says grace. His own head bowed as well, he folds his hands underneath his forehead. “Lord, we thank You for giving us this good meal, and for giving us family to have it with. We thank You for Your mercy and Your kindness, and also Your anger and Your vengeance. We thank You for Your direction, for leading us through these dark and troubled times, and for showing us the way, the truth, and the life. We trust that through Your guidance, divine justice will be served, and the guilty will be punished. In Your name, Lord, we pray. Amen.” The last word is spoken in unison with Laura, Melissa, and David, though the girl seems to be occupying another place.

With the prayer finished, Frank looks up from his reverent gratitude, picks up a fork and knife, and begins calmly dissecting his meal. Laura and Melissa do the same, but David digs into his enthusiastically.

OOC I need to know where everyone is sitting. The table is pretty long and rectangular. Please pick an hour to designate your seat. The girl is sitting at the 1 o’clock position, and the 12 and 6 positions are seats at the short ends of the table. The 6 o’clock is closest to the door, the 12 o’clock is closest to the window.

[Samulus]

Eli nodded along, whispering his own little prayer to himself. He quickly wrapped it after Frank's family ended theirs and moved to dig into the food, managing a thank you as he tore through his first cooked meal in a long time. He made a rather noisy affair of the meal, but all the while Eli couldn't help but glance at Ohanzee to make sure the man was alright. It wouldn't do for him to reveal himself as a mutant in Frank's presence. It'd no doubt cause unneeded friction between them and the man they were trying to negotiate with.

 

Okay, Edgar's at the "short end of the table" or something so let's assume he's at the 12 position. I'd be at the 10 position to leave the 11 position open for Ohanzee. That good enough for everyone?

[Thamewolf]

Ohanzee bows his head reverently through the prayer. He has never known what to think of religion. Growing up there were many who tried to revive the old religion of his tribe, many who held to the beliefs of Christianity, and still more who wondered what god or spirit or any force could allow what happened to the world. In practice, many of the Christian ideals mesh with his own approach to the world, and so when he bows his head it is not completely an act. The vengeance part disturbed him, however. This was going to be difficult. "Thank you for your kindness, this is the best meal I have had in some time." he speaks quietly in his way, always polite yet never seeming quite personable.

[Ingo]

Edgar bows his head piously, muttering a prayer he learned in the military beseeching some god or the next for strength and perseverance. Hearing someone pray for vengeance was nothing new to him, either, many of his squad had done the same back in the day. After the prayer finished, Edgar barely lifts his head, eyes gazing unseeing towards the table, lost in memory for the briefest of moments.
After the revelry, he turns his attention to the food set before him and begins to eat quickly, as was his habit.
You never know when you're going to be able to eat next, or if you'll even be able to finish this meal.

The thought came to his mind unbidden, as it always did, and his methodical yet hasty way of devouring his meal while paying attention to everything else around him was less than gentlemanly.

Edgar was brought out of his thoughts for a moment at the sound of Ohanzee's voice,
"Yes, thank you, I haven't had dinner like this in quite some time.."
He adds, with what appears to be a genuine half-smile, though it lingers for but a second.

With that he gazes down at his food again, continuing his meal.

 

Yes that works great for me, Eli, thankee

[Slepter]

Seating positions Frank is seated in the 3 o'clock, Laura in the 2, Melissa in the 9, and David in the 8.

Frank gives a quiet, irascible glare in Eli's direction as he makes a bit of a scene at the table, but otherwise says nothing, his face a mask of restrained anger. He smiles politely through his wrath as Ohanzee and Edgar compliment the meal. "Thank you, I'm sure my wife appreciates the kind words. She worked very hard to prepare this meal, and we're fortunate she made enough for everyone." As he speaks the last words, he gently turns his gaze to Melissa, though the stalwart woman refuses to meet it, choosing to engage her plate instead.

"The food is delicious, Laura," Melissa simply replies, cutting another piece of meat from her portion. Laura nods and offers a quiet word of gratitude.

A few more moments of awkward silence follow, before Frank finally speaks up, an indignant tone in his voice. "So. Sis. When were you going to introduce me to your new friends?" He looks over at each of you skeptically, as if offering you a chance to introduce yourselves instead.

[Samulus]

"Well, the name's Eli, cause my name's Elijah but people like to call me Eli so I just say Eli. My parents call me Elijah though, and my little sis used ta call me E when she ain't really know her words. So I guess you could call me that, too. Though, I always imagined my name bein' somethin' like Damien or Dominic. Ya know, somethin' with the letter d. Eli is still a pretty cool name though. I dunno if I'd want ta change it. " Eli rambled even as he chewed his food. He gulped down another large mouthful of food, letting his utensils clatter loudly against his plate as it went down. He slouched over what was left of his food and locked eyes with Frank.

"Hey, so can I get some water?"

[Thamewolf]

After Eli, Ohanzee feels as though he should at least say something of himself, so he stops eating long enough for a quick introduction. "I am Ohanzee. I come from a local Sioux tribe... We are... no more." He steels his gaze and attempts to control any emotions that spring up, but a far-away look briefly crosses his eye as he averts his eyes and stares out the window a moment before continuing his meal.

[Slepter]

OOC Everyone make a Spot check, DC 15.

David seems weirded out, but amused by Eli's typical antics, while Frank tries hard to belie his irritation. Melissa seems unaffected, and Laura simply stunned.

Ohanzee's self-introduction seems to leave the entire table quiet, and at a loss for words. Even Frank seems to share some silent measure of empathy for the Indian's pain. David looks from one person to the next, his curious eyes bobbing about, looking for someone else to ask the obvious question. When no one else does, he responds, "What happened?"

"David!" Melissa instantly scolds him, then casts a withering glare in his direction. David shrinks in his seat, and looks down at the table.

[Samulus]

"Damn..."

The word seemed too weak to capture what Eli had meant. He, at the very least, had a family that probably still missed him. Ohanzee had... nothing. Nobody to go back to. No one praying for his safety. No one. Eli put his fork and knife down, his appetite considerably lessened. This time, when he looked up from his plate, he did not smile.

Eli figured this depression wouldn't last forever. His hunger would come back to him in a moment. For now, he would put his meal on pause to

Dice spot:

1d20+4

(6)+4

Total = 10

get a better look at Frank and his family.

[Thamewolf]

Ohanzee looks up as Melissa chastises David. "No, it is ok." He holds a hand up to Melissa then looks towards David. "It is a violent world with violent men everywhere. Many that roam the wastes do not leave survivors when they pass. You are fortunate to live in a town that holds together so strongly." He says this last very pointedly, looking at Frank and Melissa before giving a quick

Dice Roll:

1d20+8

(14)+8

Total = 22

scan of the room.

[Ingo]

Still eating, Edgar manages a

Dice Roll:

1d20+2

(13)+2

Total = 15

glanceglance about the room between bites.

[Slepter]

Frank seems like he might be about to object, but David chimes in first. "But... are you're the last one? Maybe someone else is still alive, too! You made it through alright, right?" The young teen looks pleadingly at Ohanzee, a gleam in his eye.