026 ♪

[numanstan]

[Everyone else has been making long speeches and giving great advice about the hazmat men. Vince could do that too-- he was in Westport, after all, he'd always known this would happen, he should've prepared for it, should've done a lot of things-- but he's always been a man of few words. Simple, monosyllabic words.]

Don't bloody go outside!

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Comments

[numanstan]

If they don't see any lights, maybe they won't think we're home, yeah?

... Don't go outside. [It bears repeating.]

[numanstan]

Sure. Grab some sheets.

Even if y'do get a weapon, don't go. Not even to go to the store or somethin'. They ain't human in there-- just poison gas. And if they catch you...

[He absently touches his neck, something he hadn't done for months...] Westport all over again.

[toughestknd]

[Wally is looking at him like he's crazy.]

What?! But I was just getting ready to go meet with my friends!

[numanstan]

Four, I'm gonna ask y'somethin'. Would y'rather miss seein' your friends, or die?

'Cause that's what's gonna happen if y'leave. Trust me.

[toughestknd]

...well, uh. We were gonna meet to discuss this stuff. I know Numbuh One would want to talk about it--

[numanstan]

Look, I'm technically responsible for you lot, so I've got a solemn duty to make sure y'don't get chopped up or burned up by madmen in rubber suits. I've been through this before; I know what they're like. Best thing for everybody to do right now is stay inside and hope they're allergic to doors.

So, can y'do this for me? Please? I'll be well upset if I let y'die.

[stephen_owling]

So I've heard. What do these men do?

[numanstan]

Kill people. Hurt people. Explode into clouds of poison smoke. They're kinda predictable that way.

[stephen_owling]

Explode into clouds? Is there nothing human underneath those masks?

[numanstan]

Nothin'. Just smoke. Dangerous smoke, mind, but still smoke.

[generose]

Vince. . . just what are those people?

[numanstan]

Hazmats. They're well dangerous. Please stay inside, Elizabeth.

[He sounds more serious than he's ever sounded about anything before.]

[generose]

Hazmats. . . ( and that seriousness surprises her, but it also makes her realize just how bad this situation really is. ) Okay, I will. I promise. Please stay safe yourself.

[numanstan]

I'll try.

... But, if things start goin' especially pear-shaped, I want y'to go to England.

[kleptophile]

Great advice, but what the hell are those things besides bad news? Any idiot can tell that looking at 'em.

[numanstan]

Poison monsters. If they catch you, they'll kill you-- and trust me, they will catch you.

[kleptophile]

So what are you supposed to do?

[numanstan]

Hide.