Chapter 1 - The Winter Reverie

The evening news report about the incident goes like this:

A train collision occurred when an intoxicated driver unintentionally collided with a stationary train. Miraculously, no critical injuries were reported. Authorities assure the public that this was an isolated incident, involving a lone actor named Skog Nilsson, who has been apprehended and is currently in custody. There is no need for public concern. The train involved was transporting a variety of goods including a novel type of chemical fertilizer developed through collaboration between Riksenergi and their American counterpart, DART, based in the United States. It appears that the only cargo destroyed was that fertilizer.

In terms of how the evening plays out, it's entirely up to each of you how much you want to RP or if you simply want the highlights. These are some of the high level details of what I think would start the evening.

- Tanya and Robbie's parents would ask if either of those two were in the area during the time of the accident.
- Robbie's parents have heard of the fertilizer being tested and have negative feelings towards it.
- Tanya's parents have heard of the fertilizer and have positive feelings towards it.
- I don't know if Emilia would have a chance to speak with her mother, but she would see the news report.

After dinner, the Åström family, as they often do, sit down together in their living room, huddled together on the couch under a huge blanket they all share as they watch the evening news. Robbie has been itching to ask her parents a bit about the events of the day ever since she got home, but so far, she hasn't found the right opening to bring the topic up. And then the news deliver her the perfect introduction into the topic.
"I heard about this fertilizer," she says to her parents, who both turn to look at her. "I met this nice man today who was talking about it, and about how Riksenergi is poisoning the islands." She did notice that the news were definitely lying. What happened was not an accident, and Skog wasn't even involved. Okay, maybe he was, but they were still misrepresenting him. And he also wasn't working alone, since he has this group he told Robbie about. But she isn't about to unload all of that on her parents. Instead, she asks, "Is that true?"

Robbie's father leans back on the couch, considering Robbie's inquiry. "Poisoning might be too strong of a word to use, but the truth is we don't know much about this fertilizer," he begins, his tone measured. "A representative from Riksenergi started going to all the farmers and talking about this new miracle product that will produce better crops, have no impact on the environment, and be cheaper. It sounds like snake oil to me, but I could be wrong. The truth is that I want to know more about it. Show me some data and some tests, and I'll be more open to it. I feel like we are the ones being used for the testing."

Robbie nods, then she climbs off the couch and runs out of the living room without explanation. As her parents exchange a look and a shrug, she already returns, holding one of Skog's multiple flyers in her hand. "Look, this man I met gave this to me. He said this is from a group who are worried about the dangers to the ground water and so on." She hands it to her father, then quickly climbs back under the blanket and cuddles into her mother for warmth.

Tanya listens to the media coverage with great attention, and sees straight away that the public version has been altered and simplified.

When she hears about Riksenergi and Dart collaborating, she asks her Mom, employee of the former, if she had heard of the fertiliser, and if they had problems in the past at Riksenergi with terrorists. Suddenly, she feels worried for her Mom's safety.
The traumatic attack at the train crossing has shaken her, although she tries to hide it, and doesn't mention her presence there.

Robbie
Robbie's father accepts the piece of paper from her, his curiosity piqued as he examines its contents. With a brief expression of gratitude, he responds, "Thanks Robbie. I'll take a closer look at this later." He then returns his attention to the television.

"Huh? Yes, yes, Mom..." she answers a little too quickly. Realising her Mom picked up on something, she adds, "it's just... that news about the train collision, here on our doorstep made me nervous, is all... I mean... that's VERY close, right?"

Robbie looks a bit disappointed as she hoped for a more immediate reaction, but she doesn't prod. Instead, she looks up at her mother's face. "Mom," she says. "I'm meeting Emilia and Tanya tomorrow morning. Can we get up early and bake cookies after the feed round? I want to bring them to our meeting." For one, her mother's cookies are delicious and she wants to impress her friends with them. But also, she wants to share some with Skog. He must be feeling pretty bad in a cell at the police station, so she wants to cheer him up in the morning.

Robbie's mother looks at her with a warm smile, touched by the request. "Of course, sweetheart," she replies. "We can make a batch of cookies in the morning. It sounds like a lovely idea. I'll make sure we have everything we need. Just let me know what time you want to start."

"I'll get all my chores done early so we can start early," Robbie promises. She wraps her mom in a hug. "You're the best!"