[EVENT POST] I FEEL STUPID, AND CONTAGIOUS.

[dishearten]

CHARACTERS: Open to all!
DATE: 3/11-3/12, ICly
WARNINGS: Zombie attacks? Violence? Shopping???
SUMMARY: Lockdown at the mall! Grab your CDs and your soft pretzel, it's about to get bad.

LET'S GO TO THE MALL LOCKDOWN Business has been rough for Woodhurst Shopping Center ever since riots and unrest about the Bristol Virus have shunned most to their homes. Perhaps ill-advisedly, in attempts to draw a few more customers back into the polished halls of the grandest shopping experience Woodhurst has to offer, a weekend of big sales, great bargains, and fun family activities was widely advertised in the Woodhurst Watch. There was even a scheduled public concert, performed by the University Choir. The turnout was smaller than hoped, yet the air was quite optimistic. Shoppers enjoyed the day of activities and fun, and the sense of security was bolstered by the increased security detail. There was even some members of the press on hand to document this return to normality in a troubled time. Everything was going well, until a scene broke out in the food court. Security tried to quietly remove members of the choir that suddenly seemed to snap, plowing into one of the food stands and starting to feed on raw meat. However, a good handful of them escaped instant confinement, and while many of the visitors fled the mall as soon as they could, soon Police Detail arrived and put the entire building on lockdown. Nobody in and nobody out until the situation was resolved. 18:00 TO 23:00 HOURS Anyone unlucky enough to be trapped in the mall is left to their own devices, with very little knowledge to go on. This includes many civilians, as well as a small number of Audentes agents. This also includes a small number of infected, more than just the university choir. There's a voice over the loudspeaker imploring people to hide in stores, barricade doors, and stay put until help arrives. The majority of the infected seem to linger in the Food Court especially. Bad news for anyone trapped and starting to get hungry as the hours pass by, without any obvious assistance from the outside. The members of ALASTAIR have a choice, help protect or just do their best to avoid the infected themselves. Characters can get into the Security Office for a camera feed on what is happening in the mall, and potentially use it as a base of operations to work from. 00:00 TO 02:00 HOURS It becomes apparent that the number of infected in the mall are somehow increasing, despite the lockdown. It means that those that have squirreled away into stores and outlets are growing less and less safe as infected numbers multiply and they begin attacking barricades. To make matters worse, anyone that hasn't found cover will find the infected extremely reactive, and willing to give chase around the mall. The security feed indicates the infected seem to be coming in from the Parking Garage. Investigation will reveal a sewer outlet on the bottom floor. Characters will have to decide whether they should utilize the tunnel as a means of escape, or if sealing it off would ultimately leave the remaining hours of lockdown a little less violent. 04:00 TO 09:00 HOURS It's been an agonizing 12 hours, and with surprisingly little aide from the outside. With time to make preparations and put plans in place, now it's time to end this lockdown once and for all. Audentes is tasked with neutralizing the remaining infected as well as escorting any remaining civilians to safety, by any means they decide on. It is up to Audentes to decide how the end of this event plays out, be it removing or otherwise drawing away the lingering infected, or putting them down once and for all. There are plenty of civilians that have been bitten and attacked, leaving the question in the air as to whether they are infected as well. What should be done with those that could be bringing the virus back to their families? The team is going to have to decide on the answer to that.

Comments

[ex_adept136]

Agreed.

[It's all Haise says as he knocks out an infected woman who comes barreling his way. He catches her and helps lower her to the floor, as the number of attackers seems to have thinned. No doubt it's got to do with this man's efforts.

The suggestion makes him pause, jolting with his recollection that he has something they can make use of for this. Give him a moment to rummage through the pockets of his duster, and he holds up a handful of zip ties]

Here we go! [Dial down the enthusiasm a little, Sasaki] So far, I've had success with these.

04:00 - 09:00

[digiorno]

Security.

[Ordinarily, this would be focused, even reproachful. But right now . . . Right now Giorno's so tired it's honestly difficult to keep himself upright. He's got a lot of power, but he still needs to sleep, and the combination of the physical and psychological effects of this lockdown are finally getting to him.]

[He rubs at his eyes, trying not to think about how much of a wreck he undoubtedly looks. Then he offers Genos a weak smile.]

If you want to take a few minutes to rest, I can keep watch. You've been going nonstop from the start, haven't you?

18:00 - 23:00

[digiorno]

[........... well. That all sure did happen. He got a little swept away there, honestly. But now he has. More than a few questions.]

Um.

[Um indeed.]

What are 90s earmuffs? Also, I'm not going to throw you through any glass, that's dangerous.

[wyvil]

[Wylan had watched the medic attend to those with more serious injuries, not asking for any help for himself. He could deal with a few bumps and bruises, had fared much worse in his last mission with the Dregs to think resources should be wasted on anything minor. He was grateful those with more serious injuries had help, even if the medic's other plans seemed, well, a little underdeveloped.]

Do you need any help? [A supply run, at least, seems like another worthwhile idea, even if it doesn't solve what Wylan thinks is their biggest problem- Escaping without unleashing a mob of angry, hungry infected into the rest of the city.]

Me too, but I don't think the people outside these walls would appreciate me blasting a hole in the mall. We'd have an easy escape route, but so would all the infected.

[wyvil]

[Wylan opens his own eyes to find Giorno standing beside him and shoots him a small, slightly surprised smile. He was honestly not sure his aim would be that good, and he seems pleased to see the disoriented infected. He's definitely getting better at this whole thinking on your feet while facing possibly deadly threats thing.]

Thanks.

[His smile drops, more serious again as he surveys the crowd, realizing that they're far from out of trouble. He angles his satchel toward Girono, opening it enough for him to see the small collection of bombs and vials of mysterious chemicals that fill the bottom of the bag. ]

I never bring just one firework. You want one? Though, some of these pack a bit more of a punch...

[ex_adept136]

[Haise smiles at that news, relieved that Shizuo at least managed to get his purchase and it seems to be intact. He turns his attention to surveying their surroundings, thankfully far more quiet than it was just hours before. It could just be some calm before a second storm, but he hopes that they may have gotten the place under control after chaos had erupted so suddenly.

Here he'd thought they had an advantage in getting here before everything went south, but it doesn't seem they're getting all that much traction for it. He sincerely hopes that changes soon. They need it, and what's more, these people need it]

I got some zip-ties...they've been coming in handy. [There's a faint note of wry amusement, a rarity to accompany Haise's voice] That's about all I managed before people started screaming.

[ofobedience]

[For a moment Giovanni only stands there watching, his expression one of put-upon disdain-- really, his way of dealing with things would have been more efficient (so he thinks), would have had a certain kind of flair. But eventually he sighs, rolls his shoulders, moves over to where the civilians are cowering and rests one hand upon a slightly cocked hip.

His face, it's a perfect picture of displeasure.]

Come on then, will you? Follow me and no-one will be harmed. Don't keep me waiting, now.

[Some of them look a little dubious - he isn't exactly the image of a saviour, something too sharp and cutting around the angles of his face, his dry tone - but eventually they'll begin to follow him out to safety.

As for the straggling infected-- well. They're fair game. With pistols raised (and a few startled gasps and expressions of fear from those behind him) he disables them with shots to calves and thighs-- nonlethal, but damaging all the same.]

[ofobedience]

I can't say I've ever tried my hand at teaching before, but that doesn't mean I can't give it a go. If you wish it.

[it might even be fun-- he's therefore prepared to try. As for the rest, he issues another of those broken-glass smiles.]

It was the kind of childhood you might expect of something created only to cause destruction.

[only infinitely worse than that, something that haunts him even now. Still, he shrugs. Shakes his head.]


But you've yet to say very much about yourself.

[An invitation perhaps, or just testing the waters, discerning how willing this person is to speak of themselves.]

[thinhammer]

[ There's always next time for his Great Ideas. Watch out, world. ]

yeah i get it
no big deal
its just some cuts and scrapes i think
i gave them bits of my bandana to keep them from getting gunked up but i dunno how well its gonna last

[ He's got incredibly basic knowledge of how to deal with wounds simply through having a medic nin on his team, but it's better than nothing. ]

i dunno where the security room is though
is that where you are???

[thinhammer]

yep thats pretty much exactly whats happening
and now its kinda just wiggling where its at

[ And he's sitting at the top looking at it kind of helplessly. Technology is hard, especially when mixed with inflatables. :( ]

oh
im near the big fountain!!

[thinhammer]

[ The smack almost sends Naruto down on his ass but he catches himself at the last minute, flailing his arms to stop himself from toppling before he rounds on his assailant. ]

Oh- [ He says, straightening and trying not to look as tired as he is. ] It's you.

[ He looks up at Ban's full height, and it's then he notices the little sleeping form on his shoulder. ]

Did ya steal that?

[unholey]

That's me. [Literally toxic and fatal within moments of being ingested. Giorno doesn't really seem to see the humor in his username, though.] But Fugo works too. What about you? I assume hunting's a profession, not your name.

[Fugo approaches the door and examines it. He jiggles the handle, measures it with his hand, and presses his fingers in the seam between the door to get a feel for how wide it is. The door's made of sterner stuff than a hotel room; a credit card won't be enough to jiggle it open, and the seam is too narrow for a butterknife. But that's fine. That's why he made a quick stop into a crafting store. Fugo shrugs his bag off of his shoulders, crouches down to the floor and pulls out ... a marker, a pair of scissors, and a roll of thin but stiff plastic, which he unrolls on the floor.]

i'm a terrible person.

[slapfight]

I won't need it. But thank you.

[she nods firmly, but this dramatic moment she's trying to build her eventual epic heroism around is interrupted by the sound of metal scraping on concrete as an infected person clambers up out of the sewer grating, shoving it aside as he goes. his eyes light on Graham and Peridot and he moves towards them purposefully.]

Here goes nothing. [she spares Graham one more look, brows knit in worry, before shaking it off and bolting, waving her hands as she goes to move the grate back into position before any more infected shamble out.]

[slapfight]

[at first, Peridot looks at him with mild offense that he's just going to leave her to handle this alone, but she's becoming a much more sympathetic person. if Mettaton says this is what he needs to do, then she has no choice but to allow it.

besides, if you'd told her cycles ago that she'd be the type to boldly rush to the defense of people weaker than herself and put herself in the position of "hero" without selfish intent, she would have laughed.

her expression softens and she sighs, realizing the truth of it. they'll have to do their own thing and there won't be another grand team-up.] Hugfest '93 will carry on, regardless. [look she'll even use that name, even though she hates it] Don't let me down, Mettaton. It's hard to find sensible inorganic lifeforms on this team.

[slapfight]

[she's bouncing impatiently on her feet and making frustrated noises at this point, because why are you so slow, Sans, but she manages to hold in her impatience which is a feat unto itself, and when Sans addresses her, she goes ramrod straight and still, ready to leap into action.] Got it.

[she cracks her knuckles over her head- an unnecessary gesture, of course, considering she has no muscles or joints to limber up as it's all illusory but it has such a great dramatic effect- and shakes her hands out.] Let's be heroes.

[she has been hanging out with too many people who are terrible influences on her sense of theatrics.]

[slapfight]

[yes, fake!dad. MARVEL AT HER GENIUS.] Isn't it though? It would be more efficient with lasers, but I don't have the materials here.

[also lasers tend to be fatal.]

[unholey]

[Fugo makes a mental note not to mention the glitter thing to Giorno, who would absolutely pick up this bad habit and Fugo knows that with that much glitter being flung around there'd be no cleaning it up.]

No wonder Giogio likes you. [Fugo has heard, at length, Giorno gush praises about Mettaton. His taste in music, his dedication to glam, his good taste in dresses... yeah, that's all Giorno. He glances down at the offered hand, skeptical but honestly not all that surprised.] Nice try, but no. You get points for form and dramatics, but your timing's off.

I'm Fugo.

[unholey]

[Ah. He wasn't expecting that from anyone here. Fugo shoots Wylan a perceptive look, gauging whether the offer was made out of bravado or not.]

Yeah, actually, having another person to help carry things would be very helpful. Just keep in mind that I won't be able to engage the infected. [He doesn't have the energy to spare to fight in a more conventional manner or a gun. And he doesn't trust Purple Haze in an environment like this, a closed environment made up of dozens of tiny spaces, even if he weren't an excessive amount of force to begin with.] I've memorized the layout of the building and know where we can hide out until they lose interest, but if we catch their attention we'll be running.

[At the talk of an explosion, rather than recoiling in shock, there's a brief touch of humor to the set of Fugo's brows and mouth; not quite a smile, but he's amused by the thought of some Nice Property Damage being inflicted on this Shitty Hell Mall.]

Probably not. Although, on that note... it's a little odd. [Fugo drops his right hand on the counter, restlessly drumming his fingers on the surface in an odd, distinctive manner. The movement rolls smoothly through the first three lightly curved fingers and then starts all over again when he tucks his thumb under his middle finger, this time allowing the gesture to reach his pinky. When it begins again] It's been... what? Seven, almost eight hours since the exits were sealed? Logic dictates that the number of infected wandering the halls would have decreased by now, given the efforts to contain them. But I'm not sure that's the case.

[keeper]

[ ...Oh dear. ]

...Oh dear.

[ Okay. She'll have to improvise. She shuffles at an angle besides him, repositioning herself so that any curious eyes will only catch a glimpse of her back. (As for the security cameras... It's just a risk she'll have to take; she'll keep the spell as muted as possible.) ]

Where do I direct the charge?

[ That is to say, where... is his battery/charging port... ]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[It's silly and over-dramatic, but... for an instant, her expression shocks him still mid-stride. What is that look? Horror? Disappointment? He knows his cloak is still on, he's only ever shut it off twice, but that innocent, wide-eyed stare feels like it pierces straight through him anyway. It's that awe-struck, jaw-slacking gape of looking at a monster, not a star.

...Before his expression can reflect that, there's a puff of smoke and suddenly a far more rectangular and easy-to-charge robot is at her side. He reaches behind his back before pulling out a dried flower-crown and balancing it on her curls as she giggles.]

IS IT REALLY THAT SURPRISING, GORGEOUS? NOTHING THIS PERFECT COULD EVER BE REAL!!

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[...she used the name!! She HATES that name!!

His hands press against his chest, fake-tears welling up in his fake-eyes, as he beams at her.]

Here. [He reaches behind his back before pulling out a small charm and moving to place it into Peridot's grip.] It was given to me over the holidays. Something about protection, yadda yadda. But, well. You're far more shorter than I am. Wouldn't want you getting stepped on while you're punishing our friend Percy, would we?

[He's sticking his tongue out at her. Shorty.]

[keeper]

Thank you. [ ... ] Shall we?

[ Standing tall, she only turns once to nod over her shoulder before entrusting the rest to her new partner. The fresh wave of infected are still a good distance away, but she's not going to risk them coming any closer to Sakura or the other civilians.

She charges forward to meet them instead, practically throwing herself into the throng with little more than her fists, and a black flip phone. (The latter of which she holds like a taser, to trick the security cameras when she sends sparks of Thunder blazing from her fingertips.)

A few jolts knock out two of her assailants, though there's still plenty attempting to run straight past her to the larger cluster of prey waiting behind. She interrupts as many of them as she can with her sleeping spells, though it's more than difficult; she has to make everything look at least partially convincing.

A stray breaks off from the group with a loud snarl and barrels straight towards Sakura... ]

[strictdiscipline]

[The big fountain it is then!! She remembers where it is, a proud display at the center of the mall. The crowds of infected have thinned; easier to move around now without running into obstacles.]

I'll be right there.

["Right there" being closer to five minutes but soon there's a blonde woman circling 'round the corner to peer up at the escalator. There's a person near the boat, but just in case—]

Is that you at the top?

[mistruths]

[ and that's a problem, why ]

Pity. It would make controlling this situation much more efficient.

[mistruths]

[ "A childhood of something created for destruction," and it sounds all too familiar, somehow, and prods at soft spaces in Loki that he'd rather not think of. He tips his head slightly in acknowledgement. ]

I would like that. My own methods are, likewise, born from childhood habits--one where I had to learn how to keep up with others much stronger than I am. So I found ways to make myself more powerful than they.