epidemiology | EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A little too much, I think...

[It's no surprise that she would say that, though Haise wishes she reserved a little more of her consideration for herself. What she'd just been through isn't any simple matter, and he knows that well from his own experiences. All at once, he finds himself concerned for what he may leave her with when they reach the safe haven Lucina's helped to secure, and at the same time he's reluctant to bring it up here and now.

With a slowness borne of caution, Haise lifts his arms to hug Sonia around her middle, at last returning that contact in some way. It's only out of concern for her that he manages now, reminded that she might deal with something far more troubling to her than what species he happens to be]

I know what it's like to lose yourself... [More to the point-] I know what it feels like when you're alone with it. And I hope you don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control.

[It's a mercy he could never extend to himself, unable to slough off the guilt of losing control, but he doesn't want that for her]

Perhaps...

[ But is that not what caring about someone is? Besides, she might not remember all the parts of the Neo World program and only what they've been told, but disappearing often meant death. That's the deal with being put into a system that became a murder game. Not worrying would be strange.

She sighs in relief when he finally reaches back for her though, her eyes closing as she lets the hug linger. Though part of the reason for why it lasts so long is when he brings up the rest, bringing it back to how they've come to be here to begin with. ]

I... [ Saying that she does blame herself still will only bring to the surface that he isn't the only one being hypocritical here, so she just shuts her mouth for a moment. Tries to let herself think. ] I am trying not to.

[ It's a start. ]

I am not alone anymore, am I?

[There's much that Haise can read in that lapse of silence, but he won't draw attention to it. It's enough that he thinks he may understand, for now. The two of them seem alike in ways that are both comforting and worrying at once, and all he can do is make use of his firsthand experience to try and support her as she has so kindly done for him just now. Hopefully, that might be of some use]

...You're right. You aren't.

[And she shouldn't ever feel that she needs to be. There are people who care about her among their squad; he knows he's far from the only one. While he wishes her past wasn't as dark as he knows it to be, it means that he can relate to her. His own past, what little he knows of it, might avail him in this much.

He's sure that when they part ways for the time being, her thoughts will weigh on her as his do for him...but he still hopes that somehow that won't be the case]

I'd say you're pretty much stuck with me now.

Neither are you. [ She reaffirms it, giving his shoulders a slight squeeze before she slowly pulls herself back. Her hands move to rest against his arms and she takes a deep breath. For now, at least, she wants to show him that she can be left on her own and that she'll be alright. It might be a lie, but letting him see that should make his own transition smoother. Should stop him from worrying as much when he has to go back out into that mess. ]

And I could say the same for you.

I'm grateful for that.

[He means those words more than he feels able to fully express; her kindness isn't something that he would take for granted. For now, the distant pop of gunfire brings him back to the present, and regretfully, he knows that he'll have to leave her with Lucina to return to the chaos in the streets.

Much as he wishes he could be there for her while she's dealing with the aftermath of what she'd just gone through, he's got a job to do.

So for now, he offers her a hand]

We should get going.

[ Her hand reaches back, entwining their fingers together now he's finally offering the contact for himself. She gives him a small smile, much more genuine than she thought she'd be able to do right now, and squeezes his hand gently. ]

Okay.

[ She won't question him anymore now at least, which means her own steps are a lot more sure. They will be until she sits down and actually processes everything from the past hour anyway. ]

EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

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