[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

[skelepun]

[He wasn't expecting her reaction to the plug anymore than he was expecting Mettaton to double down on her childish declaration and play the role she'd given him. But perhaps what he expected least of all was that half-step of uncertainty.

Like it or not, the Mettaton the Underground knew wasn't exactly known for his hesitation. Confetti, chainsaws, and that one jingle Sans could never get out of his head, definitely, but not nerves. The Mettaton Sans was getting to know, well... he makes a mental note.]

Got yourself a new costar, MTT? [Sans asks, slumping onto the couch and relieving the little girl of her untouched sprite.] Think she might upstage you if you're not too careful.

[He winks, but the little girl is too delighted to even notice the joke between his teeth. Clasping one of Mettaton's gloved metal hands, she jumps up and down. The night had been horrific, the brutal scenes traumatizing, but the distraction of discovering a hidden enclave of monsters? Kind ones, who just wanted to help? It was enough to make her feel like a heroine in a storybook.]

I'm not gorgeous. [She giggles, fussing with the crown but never taking it off.] You're silly.

[skelepun]

It's no problem. [Sans returns, though his expression remains unchanged. Grinning, of course, but with an element of scrutiny and thoughtfulness that goes beyond a casual you're welcome.]

Y'know, there's space in my chandelier for an extra body. [There's a sense of meaningfulness in those words. A heavy implication that the kid should take him up on the offer.] If you wanna rest a few minutes. Y'know, plan your next act of heroics, figure out what we're gonna do with these infected, whatever floats your boat, kid.

[ofobedience]

[Likewise, Loki's statements do Giovanni the same, ignite a sick twist of recognition in him that leaves an unpleasant taste in his mouth. He knows how that is, after all, to have been smaller, weaker, horribly flawed. He's not that broken child anymore, but nor is he quite what he ought to be.

There's the slight curious canine cant of his head.]

Then we shall find the time. A pleasant distraction, if nothing else. And lucky you, I suppose. No easy feat, that. Although sometimes all one has to do is outlive the rest.

[He's almost the last of his batch standing. Almost]

[feytality]

[He did this to himself.]

[Anyway, Christmas music is the most effective way to get people to stop what they're doing and suffer. It's a proven fact]

Oh? Well, I'd like to hear you come up with something better, "pops"!

[Don't insult her super awesome plans, Loki!!]

[feytality]

[At least Giorno listened studiously to her amazing plan that has zero chance of failing. Twenty points to Giornodor]

They're like earmuffs, but in the 90s! [What a truly helpful explanation...] You know, they're all big and unwieldy.

[He does have a point about the glass, but Maya knows just what to do about that--]

It's fine! I'll just curl up into a ball and smash through, that way, I won't get hurt.

[Or not]

[feytality]

[Riza clearly has no taste smh]

[But it's fine. Maya's a generous sort. She'll forgive Riza for her shortcomings -- and help her understand what a SNES is. Also: she's used to being judged, so she barely pays it any mind.]

It's a work-in-progress. Besides, the SEGO was even worse! I tried to put one on and the controller fell off. [Clearly, that's the issue here]

That's what the duct tape is for!

[feytality]

[It's true, only a heartless jerk would throw a poor, innocent, rollerblading girl into a wall.]

[Just kidding, she's durable so she's just fine, though by the time Graham makes it over to her she's back on her feet, wobbling on the skates, and trying to rub at her face -- struggling thanks to her totally practical armour.]

Y-Yeah... [She'd prefer not to be lunch, thanks. She takes his arm once againand starts rollerskating, trying to pull him with her. If he doesn't walk, it's totally not going to work...] Come, partner! To safety!!

[feytality]

Sure we can! Deep down, they're still human, they'll respond to things that drudge up traumatic memories....!

[Okay, but seriously:]

.... H-How about the bathrooms? They're pretty sealed off, so we'd just have to get them in there and block off the entrance so they can't come out...

[feytality]

[Maya lost something precious to her today, but the burger is the real hero. It sacrificed itself so these two could live.]

[But this begs the important question: where are they going to find burgers in a department store]

I hope you have a plan--!

[She may be skinny, but she doesn't have the bone or muscle or shove anyone, so she's counting on his guy's muscle to get them through.]

[She does kick at a few ankles to help clear the path, though, right up until one of the zombies grabs her fifty feet of hair]

--Gack!

the truth is harsh, omo.....

[feytality]

You think so? Thanks! [Aqua is actually just water in various other languages, but this uncultured swine doesn't know that, naturally. Nor does she know about Aqua's weaboo ice cream. But she'll find out. Soon or later, she'll find out. And then her companion's wallet will be doomed]

[If there's one thing Maya actually know,s it's the layout of the mall, so she confidently starts to lead Aqua to Borders]

Now, remember, we've got to be totally stealthy so no zombies hear us coming!

[Says Maya, who promptly stumbles over an abandoned shopping back, and yelps]

[....Causing two infected to come out of the nearest clothing store and make a beeline for the intrepid duo. Uh oh]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Of course he didn't. I'm fabulous.

[End of sentence, end of thought.

Mettaton catches the expression briefly clouding Fugo's face, but only smiles. Looks like someone has a high opinion of someone else.

Maybe even a crush? How adorable.]

How do you two know each other? If you aren't minding a little mid-crisis interview, that is.

[strictdiscipline]

[What the hell is a "duck tape", that doesn't sound legitimate at all. (Also a SEGO, but that's really the least of her concerns right now.) But, whatever, if Maya says it'll work, it can't hurt to give it a try. They certainly don't have any other options at this point, and Maya seems far more familiar with this equipment than she does.

Riza steps forward, lifting one hand.]

I'll put the tape on then, if you tell me where it should go.

[Better four hands than two, especially when it comes to affixing strange gray boxes on a person.]

[dishearten]

food court, at least for now. likely the hunger pushing them there.

if they manage to deplete those sources, though, I suspect they'll move on. we'll need to have our plans together by then.

you thought i wouldn't i bet

[dishearten]

( yeah, it's a good thing he follows, because otherwise she could have fallen all over again. the rollerskates were a real wildcard, they offered speed yet control seemed to be rather absent... in fact Graham might be the one pulling Maya after he breaks into a run, refusing to let go of her arm until they're safely in a music store.

they're absolutely surrounded by discs and cover art, and the store seems a little too exposed for perfect safety, though it's probably quiet enough for now. he slows and awkwardly keeps a spare hand out to catch the rollerblading mystic if he has to. ) Do you have shoes with you still?

( dang graham coming down hard on these rollerskates, aren't you? )

[dishearten]

( Graham considers the offer; though it seems practical, he has to frown. ) If we use the room to house civilians, I suspect such a thing would be rather upsetting to them.

( they're trying to keep a low cover in Woodhurst, and it would be a dead giveaway if they left the monkey behind. still, he doesn't see the need to suggest removing the creature right away. )

If I send any up, I'll contact you. ( the Magitek will serve for that, so he's not concerned about catching up if he has to. he nods mildly at the mention the stranger can't help finding a release, though he keeps looking himself. ) What do you have in mind?

[dishearten]

( yeah i wonder why he didn't see the humor in that one, Fugo... its a mystery...

Graham is quiet and curious as he watches Fugo work. he wouldn't have expected such supplies to be handy in opening the door, though he does seem to intend to watch and learn. might as well — he might have use of the knowledge later. a former sheriff learning to break into buildings is a bit ironic, but hey. he's a former sheriff for a reason. )

You can call me Graham, ( which is super odd wording, isn't it? so what if it isn't really his name, he doesn't have time to explain he never had one until he was cursed into a new identity and it sort of stuck. the huntsman had been as close to a name as he had in the forest; he's just not in the forest anymore. ) Is there anything I can do?

i agree i didn't ask for peri feels

[dishearten]

( the moment is over, their time is up and they're on to action. that's all right; graham has always been better at action than feelings, for obvious reasons. he nods grimly at Peridot before she starts to slowly drag the heavy metal back into place. it's just a start in blocking off the infected, and he intends to make sure she doesn't have any distractions if he can help it.

the first infected is his first priority. he lurches for Peridot first — perhaps because she's smaller, perhaps because she's more obviously distracted. either way, Graham bolts in the way before the poor soul can even get halfway. a succinct tackle knocks the man to the ground. truly, the worst part of this experience was his lack of options for removing infected without harming them.

so Peridot should not begrudge the novelty handcuffs he uses to restrain him. they work well enough, even if they're fuzzy... don't ask what store he got them from, Peridot, just don't ask!!!

he doesn't have long to drag the infected to the side, using a nearby maintenance room as a corral, before a crowd of at least three swing round a corner, attracted by the noise. ) Keep working, ( is all he mentions to Peridot. he's got this, at least for right now. he's still got some tranquilizer darts, and he never misses, don't forget it! )

[dishearten]

bandages would likely serve them better. antiseptic as well. if that's the only injuries they have, though, they might do fine with just a first aide kit. where are you? I might be able to get one sent.

yes, that's where I am. it's on the third floor, it has security cameras that give me overwatch on the mall itself.

( he'll offer a ping of the location on the Magitek, just to be safe. it's a good location to know, in the madness of the lockdown. )

[ofobedience]

[It surely does. Though the fact is Giovanni does derive some level of enjoyment from this, from the volatility, the kinetic activity. It's what he's made for, what he's conditioned to do, and perhaps there's still some level of irritation and disgust in him at the prospect of doing what he considers to be a half-arsed job, leaving them alive, when it would be better were they dead, but it's still something. Something better than inactivity and inertia.

Still, he sighs in a melodramatic way when the other man makes his pronouncement, then moves to begin the process of knocking out the infected who he'd taken down with shots to the legs. A quick, a partially restrained, blow to the head is all it takes, then he's hefting two of them up onto each narrow shoulder, lifting them with surprising ease despite the slim lines of his body.

He starts walking, expects the other man to follow.]

I hope it turns out to be worth it, after all this. That the cure is found, and that it has some effect.

[daimeinashi]

We could use it as a safehouse for our own number.

[That was more or less what he thought Graham's intentions with asking Sai to open it for him were, tbh]

There are plenty of locations we can take the civilians, but no others where we can maintain track of their positions, correct?

As for escaping forcibly, there are various options I could offer. I can create explosive tags to blast open the gates, or use fire, or ram it with another ink animal...

[daimeinashi]

[...Bonds, then? It must be bonds. So it's a part of the experience of friendship to feel concern over each other's safety, even when each other are perfectly capable? It seems illogical, but at the same time, it is only reasonable to want to ascertain the status of your allies during various points of a mission--that would be true of Konoha as well, he supposes.]

I see. [Sort of.] Well, I am unharmed, as you can see. You appear to be, as well.

[Not that he's surprised. He remembers that fucking venomous spider you created out of thin air, Giorno. He's pretty sure the other boy could wipe out this entire mall like it was nothing, if he so chose.]

...If there is anyone else you wish to locate, I can be of assistance, should you require it?

[headlining]

That's...no. You shouldn't bribe people to allow you to steal things. What's wrong with you?

[He sighs.] They might not, but you can't take that chance. Are you trying to get into jail?

[ex_mettacrusher33]

OHOHO, I BEG TO DIFFER! THAT HAIR! THOSE EYES!! NOTHING COULD BE MORE STUNNING!!

(WELL, ASIDE FROM ME, OF COURSE. BUT WHEN YOU'RE AS HANDSOME AS I AM, THAT'S HARDLY PLAYING FAIR, EH?)

[That gets another set of giggles out of her, then even more as he lifts her above his "head" and settles her down onto his metal frame. She laughs when he hands her a microphone and challenges her to a singing competition, to see "WHICH ONE OF US IS TRULY THE TALENTED ONE HERE", and shrieks in delight when he swoons and collapses in defeat when she "wins" (he caught her, thank you).

By the time she "drags" him back onto his one wheel, she's tired enough to be rubbing at her eyes in between giggles. "YES, YES, YOU MAY HAVE MY ROOM," he tells her, "BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOU DEFEATED ME!! PREPARE YOURSELF TO A SLEEPLESS NIGHT ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW, DARLING. BECAUSE YOUR VICTORY WILL BE SHORT-LIVED!"

It's when she running off to inspect her winnings that Mettaton finally turns back to Sans.]

...YOU KNOW I'M NOT STAYING HERE, DON'T YOU?

[unholey]

[Wow, it's just the truth? Why is everyone so picky, smh.]

Graham, then. [It's an odd choice of words, one that lends Fugo to believe he's been given an alias of some sorts. He doesn't comment on it, though, because after a while you get used to people giving you fake names.] You could stand on one of the corners so it doesn't curl back up while I'm working. I want it curved so, even though it's a pain to cut like this, we can't flatten it.

[Fugo himself is kneeling down on one and holding the other with his left hand. He briskly pulls the cap of the marker off with his teeth and, after one last stern eyeball at the door, draws a cut-out from the top and a circle a few inches away from it.]

[unholey]

[And he's nosy. Yeah, there's no way these two wouldn't hit it off like a house on fire.]

I reserve the right to make no comment. [Thankfully, he and Giorno have already settled on their story.] But we're friends from back home. I'm his accountant.

[He says this statement, which is absurd given their ages and how they should both be in high school, with a completely straight face and without batting an eyelash. It is either the truth or a very well-practiced lie.]