EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

[futurologists]

I WANNA START A FIGHT RIOTS In the time between the quarantine and now, the virus has spread unnaturally rapidly, with the amount of the population infected estimated to be around 1.5% or approximately 3,750 people. Understandably, the panic has increased considerably. People who were taking the virus seriously before have begun to work themselves up into a frenzy, and even those who were calm are beginning to get anxious. An infected teacher went on a violent rampage at the local elementary school yesterday, leading the school board to close all Woodhurst schools for the rest of the week while the entire staff is studied for symptoms. There’s no test for the Bristol virus, however, so it’s impossible to tell for sure. This, of course, worries the parents. The unrest starts with a protest at the school, calling for schools to be closed indefinitely until the quarantine is over for the safety of the children, but it doesn’t stop there. Unrest turns to rioting before long; the majority of the riot is focused at city hall, where citizens are demanding answers, but there’s also mayhem at stores as the people of Woodhurst loot them, stocking up for what some assume is an impending apocalypse. Those who don’t believe this have locked themselves up in their homes not for protection from the infected but the rioters. Suffice it to say, most of the citizens out on the streets are of the slightly unstable variety, although some just found themselves caught up in the riots and became worked up by the crowd. Local police forces -- including ALASTAIR agents posing as police officers -- have been dispatched to deal with the rioters at city hall. Rioters who attempt to leave the city are taken care of by officers sent by the federal government to enforce the quarantine. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE It might be a good idea to see what supplies can be found at the supermarkets, although you run the risk of getting attacked by a violent looter. The police won’t necessarily turn away anyone trying to keep order at city hall, but any supernatural powers will only incite the already violent crowd, so it’s recommended characters keep from utilizing their powers if they want to stay in one piece. Then, of course, there’s always the option to protect innocents who happen to be stuck out on the streets in the middle of the riots. While the entirety of the police force is focused at the quarantine borders and outside city hall, now is possibly one of the only chances to get full access to buildings in the city. There are still some workers who haven’t been sent home and some of the buildings are locked up, but there are few police officers that can be spared to go check out a simple break-in. Now is the time to search the city, if you're feeling brave. If you’re really ballsy, you can even try to slip in through the back door of city hall and go through their records. The only important building in town that’s not able to be searched is the hospital, which is incredibly busy due to the high number of people injured in the riots and traffic accidents. Of course, just because rioters aren’t around doesn’t mean you’ll be left alone. There’s always a chance you’ll find yourself alone in a building with someone very hungry. Willing to take the chance? Submit all CYOA choices to this thread. OOC NOTES The Bounty Board is now open! If you are looking for ways to get involved in this mission's optional objective, this is a good place to start. We’d also like to remind everyone that ALASTAIR does not invent cover stories for characters -- that’s all them! The only jobs they’ll help with getting are in the police force and government; everything else is up to characters to interview for. Questions about Woodhurst can be submitted to this thread. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

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[slapfight]

[her "weapon" should be her metal powers, but in lieu of anything else, she provoked one of the stronger boys into ripping the door of an open locker off (after she compromised the hinges while everyone was distracted cheering him on) and is using it as a rudimentary shield.]

Remember, no matter how angry you are about the stupid and pointless extra homework we've been assigned this past week, it's impractical to take it out on the infected teachers.

[she may or may not be saying that for her own benefit.]

[competing]

[ slowly, comically so, four sets of eyes flicking back towards the shortest of the group, all with varying degrees of what the heck. ]

Uh — right. [ lance tries to get everyone else's attention again. ] Moving on... Everybody ready?

[ three nods at his question, each gripping their weapon tighter than the last. ]

This way then. And remember — stay quiet, and stay together.

[ with that said, he slinks out of their hiding spot, hugging the walls as he leads the way past the halls. they'll have to cross three hallways, one flight of stairs, and another two hallways before getting to the nearest exist. so far... so good... ]

[slapfight]

[Peridot scoots a little closer to Lance, holding her "shield" up to both protect his left flank and to also keep the kids behind her from reading her lips as she hisses:]

If the big one causes a problem, we can leave him, right? It's clearly what he wants.

[competing]

[ rather than seem startled by her words, lance only looks mildly aggrieved. exasperated, even. ]

Do I have to remind you about the "rescue" part of this rescue mission? Zach stays with us. [ after a second, his expression softens a little, turning back to look over their surroundings. ]

I was a lot like him, once.

[ he can't believe it's only been a few months ago that he had been proclaiming himself "the tailor" in that disastrous simulation. but like zach, he had been thirsty to prove himself, with the unfortunate over-confidence of someone who didn't have it all together like he needed. he gets it.

which is he wants to make sure zach lives long enough to get past it, like he's learning to. ]

This way—

[ he leads the group, slinking further down the halls. the further down they get, the louder a certain scraping noise becomes. but with no other exit available to them, it seems some sort of confrontation is inevitable. ]

[slapfight]

[Peridot takes a second to look back at Zach, and then back at Lance, as if calculating how the two of them could remotely be similar. for all that human emotions and nuance are still alien to her, she's still remarkably good at analysis and she can see what Lance means.]

Oh...

[at least it shuts her up for a little while. until the scraping noises get louder and she makes a startled noise... it's for the benefit of the teenagers, really. it's not like she can be infected, but they don't know that. any anxiety is just her acting. really, really convincingly.

don't fail them, Peridot, she chastises herself. You're a Crystal Gem. Protecting humans is what you do.]

We should form a strategy. I'll go first to keep them off of you, while you lead the rest to safety. And then I'll catch up.

[competing]

[ there is a flare of something inside lance that wants to argue, to insist that he be the first line of defense. he's easily the oldest of them all, regardless what peridot insists, and he's already long since taken responsibility for them all anyway.

but he also knows she is immune. and that she is a lot tougher than she looks, and that she can probably do way more damage with that metal door-shield than he can pretending all he's got on him is his bat.

his lips press into a grim line, and he reaches out to grasp her shoulder. ]

Don't show off or anything, okay? That's my job.

[ don't be stupid, don't play a hero, don't get hurt. ]

[slapfight]

[she leans forward, squinting up at him with a very serious expression on her face. at least the human cloak makes it look less ridiculous that a 4'9 green girl with a rock in her forehead is giving him the militant look of a general sending troops to war, but... it's still 4'9 worth of teenage girl in slap bracelets and platform shoes giving that look, so to the peanut gallery behind them, it's ridiculous as hell.

Peridot doesn't care.] Move it, soldier. You've got a job to do, so let me do mine.

[she takes a step back and ushers the other teens forward, giving them scathing looks of warning.] Don't make this hard on him. I would like him to return home without bitemarks, if it's all right with you.

[competing]

[ none of the teenagers are entirely sure what just happened, but later, after all this is over, troy will enlighten the other two who are only-children that it is simply a "sibling thing."

for now, though, they are quick to regather their wits. with peridot's fervent warnings and lance's own sudden seriousness, a more somber mood blankets over them all, reminding them of the true gravity of the situation. ]

All together then, [ says lance, turning back once more to meet them all in the eye. ]

See you all on the other side.