It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

[kore_npc]

Who: Maggie and [OPEN]
Where: The General Store and its immediate vicinity
When: Early afternoon on day 110
What: a delightful earthquake rocks the Cape
Notes: This post is an open catchall for anyone who wants to use it. For Maggie, please tag this thread.

It had been a pleasant morning. The power had surged, blowing out a few minor appliances, before settling back to normal. The sun had been high in the sky and the bird had been chirping. The residents of Kore couldn't ask for a nicer day, at least not if they're being realistic.

That's why it's likely a surprise when the entire town begins to shake without warning. Things fly from shelves and animals scatter as the town is overtaken by a massive earthquake.

The worst of the shaking is centered around the General Store where poor little Maggie is looking for a box of crackers. The shaking is so violent that the building itself crumbles around her and he scream can be heard echoing in nearby buildings.

Comments

[animator]

It was shortly after the shaking has stopped that Anita emerged from House 10, having kept herself relatively safe aside from some bumps and bruises, taking off in the direction of the screaming. It had been distant, but she knows she heard it all the same, and there's no telling what kind of damage an earthquake of that magnitude could have caused. Those sharpened senses that came along with being a human servant were good for something, apparently.

She kept running until the General Store -- or its remains -- came into view, quickly scanning the area for signs of anyone who might be injured. She exhaled slowly when she spotted Maggie, heading over without further hesitation.

"Hey! You okay?!"

[kore_npc]

"No!"

She was pinned under a huge chunk of wall, though she didn't seem to have noticed that despite her clothes being torn up, she wasn't bleeding at all.

[animator]

Anita pushed herself forward, closing the distance between them and falling to her knees, stooped down to try and get a good hold on that piece of wall and force it out of place. It took some doing, but eventually it started to budge, giving the girl beneath it some wiggle room.

"Here -- can you crawl out? I'm not sure how long I can hold it."

[kore_npc]

Without a second to spare, Maggie wiggled out from under the debris.

She took a deep breath and then turned to the stranger. "I'm getting real tired of that." She gestured at the pile of rubble that had once been the general store. "No one else gets trapped in buildings!"

[animator]

"This happens a lot?" Anita asked her with a raised eyebrow, the question caught somewhere between concern and sarcasm as she let the debris drop to the ground -- only when she was sure Maggie was clear of it.

"Looks like you're not injured... that's a good sign. Anything hurt, though?" Internal injuries were nothing to laugh at, either.

[kore_npc]

"It's the second time. That's kind of a lot for buildings collapsing on you, right?"

Maggie huffed before looking down at her torn clothes. "I guess I'm fine, but I'm not sure I'd say I feel lucky after that." She gestured at the debris.

[animator]

"Yeah. I'd say that's kind of a lot." Yikes. Poor kid.

Anita folded her arms over her chest, frowning and sweeping her gaze over the debris for any possible sign of anyone else that might be trapped. So far, the area seemed clear.

"What happened the first time? Was there another earthquake?" Anita herself was still pretty new -- not exactly up-to-speed on all of the happenings in the Cape.

[kore_npc]

"Yeah there've been a few. The docks collapsed under me, too. That was fun." She rolled her eyes.

"They're kinda scary. I thought earthquakes were supposed to be mostly mild."

[animator]

"I think it's safe to say that any 'natural' disasters that happen here are not only less-than-natural, but the usual rules don't apply."

She raised an eyebrow, questioning.

"Have you been at the center of every one?" That's lousy lucky, if so. Or something more?

[kore_npc]

"I... think so. Even the little ones." She looked more resigned than anything. It was just her luck.

[animator]

"Interesting." She frowned to herself, filing that away for later. That couldn't have been a coincidence. There was no way in hell. For her to be at the center every time? She could feel the beginnings of a few vague theories beginning to stir.

"I'm going to keep that in mind. ... you going to be okay? Do you need help getting somewhere safe?"

[kore_npc]

"No, I can get myself home." She fidgeted. "Uh, thanks, I guess."

[animator]

"You're welcome." It was an automatic response. "Careful of any big structures on your way there. Just in case there are aftershocks."