#hubstarts

[tcooper-thehub-blog]

Crash & Burn || OPEN

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

The sun was hot, and beads of sweat pooled in the dip of his clavicle. His hair was brushed out of his fair, sticking up from his forehead in a wet mess. Everyone else was covered in a thin film of perspiration under those long sleeves and pants of his.

Breathe in.

Thomas performed another set burpees. His legs felt like jello. This was a common practice of his, with little to do on his time off from running he spent the remainder keeping his body fine-tuned when he wasn't busy eating or sleeping. He wasn’t broad and solid like Pierce, more lean and agile looking like Jackson. Thomas pushed himself each time, but today was one of his off days. It was far too hot, his clothes stuck to his body [haha Hope would be cleaning this outfit later], and his chest felt heavy.

Breathe out.

As he finished his repetition he practically collapsed to the ground. Knees first, and then he reached out with his arm to catch his weight before splaying out on his back with his knees bent and arms out spread-eagle. His chest heaved, his mouth felt drier than a bag of sand, and he swore he could hear his heart beating in his own ears. Despite all of this he felt pretty good. Tired, but good.

His eyes were shut, reveling in the sudden stillness of his body but he still noticed the dark cast of a shadow over him with them closed. His brows furrowed, and Thomas lifted one hand to shade his eyes as he peeked one open. He was slightly out of breath from the mix of heavy heat and exercise as he rushed out, "Whattayawant?"

[theraqueltorres-blog]

Check and Double Check || OPEN

Raquel ran her eyes over the south wall and marked it off on her list as reviewed, every new shift was required to give the wall a good once over. She had this wall memorized, every last screw and bolt was ingrained in her head, continuing on her walk around the wall she passed a few civilians going about there day and avoided eye contact, preferring to keep her head down and on her notes than give someone a chance to start throwing demands around. She still needed to get over and see what was brought in by runners.

Every so often she’d write a note in the margins for her people, things she wanted to improve on and have them know parts she was interested in changing, areas she wanted to see if Pierce would throw a guard on every so often, the young kids messing with her wall had left the place they’d been grabbing on and Raquel was happy to know they’d stopped messing with things, and the wall was already looking better than it was before. Her knew changes were being implemented and at least for her the wall was running smoothly.

She was going over the next section of her wall when she heard footsteps approaching behind her, her back tensed as she sent a mental prayer that it wasn’t some civilian interested in asking for something they knew she wouldn’t be able to get for them, runners needed to get important things and she wasn’t about to give Pierce a list of useless crap they didn’t really need. When she turned and spotted who was coming her shoulder’s relaxed and she gave the new arrival a nod. “Something I can do for you?”

[theraqueltorres-blog]

A Bit of Calm || Raquel & Dana

The Hub had been full of life and civilians demanding answers, most all civilians had finally dispersed and headed off to sleep.The last of the stragglers had finally turned in and Raquel decided now was the best time to get some fresh air and leave her office for a little while. Raquel liked Frank Scotsman, as well as she could have given how most of the conversations she’d ever had with him involved trading and trying to get as much out of him as she could, but now he was dead and she dreaded what that meant for their food supplies.

She makes her way towards the medical building and decides to simply hang out outside the door, leaving those inside to some peace if they have it, not interested in bothering Dee unless she comes outside. Leaning against the side of a building across from the medical doors. Raquel is lost in her own thoughts, making mental notes of more she needs to do, try and figure out a backup plan if shit goes to hell with Bridgwater, the murder happened in the Hub and she hopes things can get settled before any more tension comes to the front.

The doors open and light pours out and Raquel spots Dana leaving the building, and Raquel pushes herself off the wall and makes her way towards her friend, “you want to walk to my office before anyone sees you out here?” She knows two groups are probably getting more shit from civilians than her, the guards and medical probably have lines most the day of people demanding to be heard.

[hello-hydro-blog]

Lunch Outing [Open]

Once upon a time the market place was her home. When she had first entered The Hub. She tinkered. She fixed things, she tore them apart there just to learn how their movements inside flowed. Now Rose spent most of her time watching the water flow, tinkering inside the massive concrete that made up the Dam, the Hydro was her home now and it was rare to find that blonde haired girl outside of it’s walls.

Today was one such day, sitting in the rays of sunlight that gathered in the market place. A rather large bag between booted feet. The thing had seen better days, Rose had tried her best to patch it up over the years replacing threadbare areas with patches from old dresses, jackets and whatever she could find. Today Rose was outside in hopes to enjoy a nice lunch, which was set in her lap, in the sun, soaking up the voices of the traders that milled about.

The day was filled with many more than she was use to seeing, everything was a buzz of controlled chaos. The talk of a meeting had circulated around the hydro, reaching Rose’s own ears rather quickly, maybe this had played a part in bringing the girl down into the market, just for a peek.

A few pieces of bread were tugged from a small loaf she had tucked on her lap as a group of people passed by, a few kids, or were they teens? A few older folks had Rose wondering if they were a family looking for a new home.

[tcooper-thehub-blog]

In a Daze || OPEN

Thomas and Mornings really didn’t get along.

Actually, that was putting it lightly and with manners young Thomas didn’t have. He basically whole heartedly hated Mornings because they were bitches, each and every one of them.

It was quiet this morning; many people were sleeping in, he guessed, something he should've been doing. And in the Dining Hall at breakfast it was bare with few bodies; some looked hunched and dark under the eyes, like they had been up late last night. Thomas was one of those with an ache behind each eyeball and this sagging feeling in his face. He did not know the reasons they didn't sleep, whether it be to spend time with friends or a belly ache or whatever, Thomas just stayed up to count the stars through his window.

He probably only got a couple of hours of sleep, he mused to himself, and the way his forehead collided with the table top when he practically fell asleep sitting there punctuated the thought. Thomas gasped and whipped himself up into a straight sitting position, wide eyed with his hand lifted to his forehead. His fingertips pressed into the newly tender spot. It was then he realized that a figure nearby had been looking his way. Flustered, Thomas diverted his gaze. "U-uh, you saw that, didn't you?"

[hope-zhang-blog]

Loads of Fun [Open]

Hope stood in front of the laundry room alone, just staring at whatever had piled up over the night. Honestly, opening up is the worst when things start to pile up and smell overnight. But still, she’s much rather get things done quickly with time to spare. “G’morning laundry,” she simply waved to the loads already separated by uniforms or casual in different laundry bags. Loosing running her fingers through her bedhead hair, she trudged over to the Runners’ pile, usually what she’s in charge of. 

“If someone bleeds on their clothes again I swear I’ll just burn it and sew them a new one,” Hope muttered to herself while she settled down in her own washing station, carefully putting down a potted friend nearby. It was just a fern plant, a little strange shaped but it was harmless, at least something to keep her company and her sanity. She began on her first few articles of clothing, looking at the names tagged on as she hummed a tune. It’s like this is how she gets to know people, through their clothes. ..As creepy as that sounds.

She paused when she thought she heard the door open, and the fern seem to subtly react to the sound. Strange because most other W&Ds don’t start until an hour later, unless it was someone trying to rush in their laundry. Hope hollered over to whoever it was, amused an all as she rubbed the soap onto the clothes, “You’re too late if you wanna throw in your laundry.” Which is not true, but hey, it’s not that hard to put your dirty laundry in a basket the night before. “Unless you brought in breakfast.”

[justpierce-blog1]

Bright && Early [[Open To All]

By the time the sun is peaking over the tallest part of the Hub’s guard tower, Pierce has already ran a lap around the Hub, showered, changed, and finished some leftover reports. 

Somehow, at the end of the world, there is paperwork. They have little terminals set up, basic computers with no outside access. Pierce can save documents and type on a keyboard. He hates it. His fingers are heavy and uncertain against the keyboard, clanging about. Pierce feels like he spends as much time erasing his mistakes as he does typing them. But it’s important, so he sucks it up without complaining. Somehow the grace he has physically just doesn’t translate, at all, and Pierce’s neck flushes whenever someone peers into his office to see what’s going on.

There’s only so much of it that he can take. Pierce glances out of his door. It’s still early enough that not many people seem to be milling around, but if he strains his ear he swears he can hear Raquel already clacking away. He gets to his feet, his knees feeling stiff after sitting for over an hour. It’s something he’s not used to, having his own little desk and long-since dried paint with the word Pierce on the door. It’s a big empty space Pierce hasn’t bothered to decorate. There’s a small, plastic bin that paperwork goes in and out of, and a small section of closet space where he hangs some of his jackets and other gear. Pierce doesn’t bother to close the door behind him; there’s nothing worth stealing in there, any way.

He fiddles with the end of his long-sleeved t-shirt, tucking his thumb around the fabric as his eyes adjust back to the harsh glare. It’s the only sun that Pierce has ever known, but it is blistering in the afternoon hours when it climbs up into the sky. He shields his eyes with the flat of his palm, blinking a couple of times as the noises of congregating people rush up to meet him. Pierce’s fingers itch to grab for the sword on his back, but he bites back that urge. He’s safe, within the Hub’s walls, he tells himself. It doesn’t stop his wrist from twitching.