He puts Mary in charge.

Grant can feel the others' eyes on him, and he takes a deep breath. I have to do something...she's right that things might get crazy. And the choice is obvious, really. "I hear what you're saying," he tells Amanda. "But I think I am going to put Mary in charge, here."

There's a barely felt exhale around the table as everyone nods. Grant continues: "When Mary tells you to do something, go ahead and assume that I want you to do it unless it seems actually harmful or really dangerous or something. She speaks for me and I trust her decisions." There are nods around the table again as everyone shifts in their seats, glancing at Mary with respect or wary evaluation.

Mary smiles and bows her head. "Thank you, Grant. I'm honored by your trust in me." She reaches out and squeezes his hand. "I'll do my best to keep us all safe and you happy." As Grant nods at her, she gestures at the list. "What did you think of my priorities?"

"I guess they make sense..." Grant says. "Securing the apartment, sure. "Secure exit?"

"A second and ideally a third route out of here," Mary confirms. "There's the fire escape, but since that's viewable from outside I want at least one more door. I was thinking that we can make a doorway into the unoccupied penthouse, which gives us a bit more space, another fire escape, and another point of access to the hallway."

Grant nods slowly. "And securing...building?"

"Longer term, but ideally we want as much control over the building as we can get. Having people just hanging out directly below us is a non-starter...we're never going to kick everyone out of the building, but we at least want to try to make sure they know not to fuck with you."

Grant swallows. "How do we do that?"

Mary shrugs. "It will depend on the person. Some are only gonna respond to ****. Most, I think, will be willing to work with you if you have clearly superior resources. And that's what the last items are for..."

"Food, defense...women," Grant reads uneasily. Mary nods.

"We need to stockpile as much food as we possibly can - we're already pretty well off, but we need more long-term supplies, canned goods and shit - and we need to get some sort of weaponry." She sees Grant wince and nods. "I know, I don't really like it either. But my job is to keep you alive, and..." She gestures out the window of the dining room. A plume of smoke is visible from downtown. "Some really bad shit is happening out there, Grant. I don't know how long it will take for things to settle into a new normal, but it's probably not going to be by tomorrow and it's not, in any case, going to be pretty. We need guns. And maybe more, for when the ammo runs out. And, yes, we need women. Loyal members. Group size is going to be important."

Grant nods slowly, swallowing. "All right. How do we go about...doing this?"

"We tackle as many things at once as possible. A few people stay here to work on securing the apartment while the rest of us move out to investigate the building and get supplies."

"I know where to get some guns," Jaz breaks in. Everyone turns to her, and she shrugs. "There's a store near my old place. A little ways away, but not too far. It's discreet, so probably people haven't raided it yet. If it's gotten that far...it's only been a few hours."

"Good," Mary says with a nod. "I think Jaz and I should go out and get weapons and food."

"Shouldn't I come with you?" Grant asks with a frown. Mary sighs.

"That's...what I'm less sure of," she admits. "I don't think that we can be claimed by anyone else, since we're yours. I feel that in my bones. But we don't actually know that's true, and more importantly, we don't have a way to prove we're claimed. So we might still be at risk if we go alone..."

"So why don't I come?"

"Because if you come, you're at risk," Mary says fiercely. "And because we want to work as fast as possible. Which is why I wanted you here, so that you, Mel, and Olivia could move to investigate and secure the building."

"Why does it have to be - oh," Grant says as his eyes fall on the paper.

"Exactly," Mary says with a nod. "If you're on the building team...we can grow our ranks a lot faster."

"I see," Grant mutters, subdued. He knows that Mary's perspective makes a lot of sense - they do need to work on as many things as possible - but sending her and Jaz out into the city alone still makes him uneasy.