[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

[ofobedience]

Well.

[And he raises both hands, palms upward]

One can't ask for more than that.

[But he turns then, heightened senses picking up on the vague sounds of a scuffle some way of, not quite discernible to human ears.]

But I suppose one mustn't spend all day chatting, pleasant as this is. Not when there are infected to be disabled. Or decapitated, in your case. Hahah.

[aspearation]

Well, it beats sitting around. C'mon!

[ That was mostly directed at the dog but also at the human. Honestly, a little of both. She seems to have a good idea of where she's going, because she doesn't even wait for him to respond before she turns on a heel to head back in the direction she came from. ]

Name's Undyne, by the way. That way you'll know who to call for help!

[ A joke. It's a joke. She's trying to lighten the mood, even though she knows the situation is serious-- or, really, because she does. It doesn't suit her. ]

[fintastic]

Yes! It was! Isn't she talented?

[ To that, Feferi beams with pride, because that's what friends do. Just friends. Normal every day alien girl-friends. ]

She does not give herself nearly enough credit sometimes. [ Aside from the, you know, bragging. But Feferi gets it. ] I left her back at the electronics store, she seemed to do be doing well on her own. I guess that is the benefit of being, uhm. Inorganic?

[ ...is that offensive? ]

[fintastic]

It is a big deal, everyone needs to be in tip top shape! We are still on a mission you know.

[ Of course he knows. She takes one of his hands between both of hers, and while her skin is just naturally cold, but more than that, the sensation they confer is almost like being dipped in cool, running water-- that's the Life powers doing their thing, so that when she pulls her hands away, the bruises are almost entirely gone, and more importantly, no longer hurt. ]

See? Not so bad, now the other one!

[ And, of course, she'll do the same with his other hand. ]

[fintastic]

Well I think it is very clever.

[ Not that Peridot needs her ego inflated even more, but... it's important, to feel validated. More important than calling someone out for bragging a little bit. ]

You're lucky, they all want to make seafood out of me! And I left my trident at home so I am kind of useless. I do not usually need rescuing!

[strictdiscipline]

[Senpai, nooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....!

Cue a wave of heartfelt tears, Riza running over to Maya's side for a heartfelt confession of her deepest feelings of admiration for her so-brave senpai. Don't leave her now, senpai, she still has so much to learn!

Or rather, that's what would have happened if Maya had actually been Riza's senpai and they'd had more than two whole conversations with each other over the past few weeks. As it is, Riza just groans silently at the act and turns her attention outwards at the approaching zombies. Maya's a smart bean (hopefully), surely she can figure out how to get back up.]

Have you ever used a baseball bat before?

[There's one laying haphazard on the floor, looking sad and forlorn. Hopefully it won't come down to needing Maya to whack a few zombie heads around, but if it does, she would rather know where Maya's skill lies.]

[strictdiscipline]

[Ah, it looks like Cool-senpai has gained a tiny religious following. Congrats on this new elevated status, Shizuo.

The unbridled enthusiasm tugs at the tangled mass of tension inside enough for it to loosen and for her shoulders to droop momentarily in relief. If children can stay so calm about things, surely there can't be that much to worry about. Surely everything will be alright.

Everything - and everyone - save for Shizuo, who seems to be dumbfounded by all the attention suddenly showered upon him. Or perhaps he's just fish-flopping uselessly on the inside trying to come up with a reasonable phrase to excuse away his super strength. Either way, it's a much needed burst of entertainment and Riza lets it drag on just a little too long before she finally steps in. (Sorry, Shizuo.)]

He did, but you have to promise to keep it secret, alright? He's a hero from another planet [not incorrect] here on a top secret mission to keep this city safe [also not incorrect from a really great danger.

[Look, the crazier the story is, surely the less their parents (and other people) will believe them.

The kids soak it up like water into a sponge and immediately push forth, asking almost conspiratorially:] Can we still get your autograph?

[prodigism]

[ He's silent a few moments longer before he looks back at her. ]

If you want. [ Hopefully she can hold her own, but if not Arima is more than capable of handling the infect as they are now. ]

There's more then enough to do. [ So he will continue to help put down infected, non-lethally, as much as possible. ]

[feytality]

[Maya side-eyes him at that..... how exactly does he know that] Do you get hit on the head a lot, or something?

[or is he some kinda thug]

[but she agrees to his terms, and nods, and grabs the guy's feet]

R-Right... okay! Let's do that, then keep moving.

[feytality]

[why are you like this, Val]

[Also, two conversations means they're totally friends, thanks. Enough for Riza to weep openly at Maya's tragic, untimely, and totally preventable death]

[Maya does manage to get on her feet, but it costs her something very dear to her.... her SNES. They're too heavy and she has to take them off, with a heavy heart.]

[After that, she scrambles up to her feet and then scrambles right over to Riza's side.]

I, um...

[Not really? Baseball isn't a thing in bumpkin mountain villages that revolve around spiritual training]

I....'ve seen people use them on TV? Like... baseball? And TV shows?

[Good luck, Riza]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Mmm, you got me there. I don't think my hair's long enough to pull off those curls. [Could you IMAGINE him with long hair, though? He'd be to DIE for.

Ha.

He's gone back to swinging his legs back and forth, lacing his fingers together on his lap.]

Here's a little advice, beautiful, from me to you: you humans die so quickly. Life is short and you're so young! Express yourself! We're in the middle of a zombie apocalypse; the scene isn't about to get any more dramatic than this.

[wyvil]

I'll give you as much warning as I can.

[He repeats the request, knowing that the warning still may not be much. In Wylan's limited experience he's learned that in chaotic times like this, there's often not much time between realizing he needs to use one of his explosives and actually using it. Still, he'll try his best to give Fugo the warning he needs.]

Does the virus do that? Mutate? Is it getting stronger?

[wyvil]

[Wylan pinks, slightly flustered, showing just how easy of a target he is. It's a good thing Giorno's being kind.]

Oh. Right. Thank you.

[He shakes his head after a moment. Why is he thanking him? He just doesn't know. The news of people openly using their powers is encouraging. Jesper isn't yet, but Wylan hopes some day he will be, that he'll be able to use this to encourage Jesper to embrace his abilities. Not that this is the time for that either.]

Worrying's natural. I have my bombs, but I doubt everyone is that prepared.

[slapfight]

[she makes a tiny grk noise of surprise- even if she can't be infected and most of the infected will realize pretty quickly she isn't made of food, she doesn't imagine that being chewed on would feel nice. as Graham comes to her rescue, she gives the vehicle another haphazard jerk and says, much quieter this time:] There's not a lot of finesse to this, just so you know...

[so please don't let her clip you, Graham. she cares less about clipping the infected.]

[slapfight]

[#AlienRespect]

They'll probably even thank me when they're back to themselves enough to remember where they got those bruises.

[slapfight]

[no, she definitely needs her ego ruffled. especially by pretty girls.

i mean... what. that was a typo.]

Oh no, I don't think for a second you'd need to be- hrm- rescued. [she scratches her chin awkwardly as she turns bluish around her cheeks, her smugness fading in her attempts to flirt.] You seem like you're part of a warrior class. Maybe not one of the more brutish types, but definitely the kind meant for speed and more delicate maneuvers. Like Percy!

[er...] The real Percy, not this fake evil one. [she gesticulates wildly.] Water is his specialty, after all. Don't forget how long he held his breath when he jumped in the lake to retrieve Paulette's friendship bracelet. He might seem like an oversensitive, emotional wreck with terrible taste, but he's strong where it counts.

1/3 oh my god

[longtempered]

[Ah, sixteen...so like, a high schooler? Basically a high schooler. But maybe not really, as Shizuo vaguely muses to himself, considering Naruto idly over another mouthful of chocolate. The kid mentions a teacher, but also a 'master'...? Which is probably not some new high school teaching trend, exactly. Well, but there's a lot of people from all kinds of weird-ass places on this team, so it wouldn't be so surprising if this kid was from a completely different kind of world...

And honestly Shizuo is almost distracted enough by this line of thinking that he probably wouldn't have noticed an attempted grab at another freeze pop anyway, but. Then Naruto's pointing and yelling about--ostriches???]

[longtempered]

[--And well, how could he not look over? There's flesh-eating people roaming this mall already, at this point pretty much anything is possible--]

--Huh, what?!

3/3 naruto why are u like this

[longtempered]

[.....Naruto lunges over to snatch up an orange freeze pop, and Shizuo whips his attention back to him incredulously.]

...Wait, seriously?! What the hell! All you had to do was ask for another! You didn't have to bring up ostriches, damn it... [Playing him for a fool...KID HE THOUGHT THEY HAD SOMETHING...HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A BOND?? WHAT IS THIS BETRAYAL?????]

rip...........

[longtempered]

[Man...didn't he do this to Lucina too, way back in Perdition's Rest? He really needs to stop doing this. Somebody's going to get seriously hurt by him doing this one of these days. So Shizuo's thinking, at the moment, as he accidentally drags down Aqua and has to go about awkwardly trying to prop her back onto her feet...

--Except there turns out to be no time to actually do that, as a couple of infected arrive in the area rather sooner than expected. Maybe they'd already been nearby, and got drawn over by the commotion--but either way Shizuo's straightening to face them, only to realize he dropped the stop sign with his recent fumble--

But that's alright, apparently, because Aqua's already leaping into action, grabbing up his stop sign to pull it off and everything. One infected trips down, another is whacked away, and Shizuo has just enough presence of mind to at least straighten and promptly slug a third incoming infected in the face, knocking that one out cold. In the resulting lull, he finishes taking a very large and irritable bite out of the last of his freeze pop before accepting the stop sign back from Aqua with a short scoff of a laugh.]

Ah, no problem. Owed you that one for pulling you over like that, anyway. Hey, you landed some pretty good hits too.

[With that, Shizuo hefts the sign easily back over his shoulder, dropping his empty freeze pop wrap and flatting it under the heel of his shoe. He turns his attention to the shop behind him, where the people within are beginning to peer out the doorway with alarmed faces at the commotion.] Alright, you guys need to shut this door and put stuff in front of it, yeah? It looks like there's more infected people coming over, we'll deal with them.

[Immediately voices start rising in alarm, some with panic. But Shizuo helps the calmer ones shut the door, leaving both him and Aqua outside.] Alright, time to get this over with...

[wyvil]

[Wylan has no reason not to help the man, though he's not interested in an argument. He wants to get the other to safety as quickly as possible.]

There're places that are safer. They're going to try barricading some of the stores...

[mistruths]

Indeed.

[ A brief pause, and then he tilts his head slightly, turning to properly face the other man. ]

Are you concerned? Don't be; I'm quite well. Perhaps you should take care of yourself first.

[longtempered]

[WAS THAT A POTATO PUN....Shizuo is going to think back on this venture sometime later today and finally realize that it probably was, eventually. But that time isn't now, unfortunately, and Maya will just have to settle with Shizuo situating her on his arm more securely so that she indeed does not end up mashed in any form. As far as Shizuo's concerned he might as well be carrying a half-full bag of groceries or something, as easy as it is to heft Maya around--except this bag of groceries is also serving as a handy mall GPS of sorts.

...That dispenses hopeful commentary, too. Shizuo blinks at her sidelong a bit.]

Ah, that'd be nice but I dunno...not sure if they're sane enough to be embarrassed by much of anything at this point. You'd think trying to eat people would be really embarrassing too.

[And evidently there's no shame stopping these guys here!! Further proven when more infected start emerging from the undergarments on sale in question, almost the moment they start entering the section. Shizuo grimaces, both at the prospect of more infected in general and the unnecessary spreading around of even more lady's underwear everywhere. He's not about this life....just let him pass through here please.......Shizuo slaps away a couple of closer infected with a swing of his stop sign, kicks away another man trying to run at them from the front, and watches as Maya kicks a skate right onto another infected's face; with their powers combined, Shizuo's able to make decent progress through the new opening that's formed, though that still only puts them at halfway through all the lingerie.]

Your armor's just falling right off, huh? Maybe we'll just get you a completely new set instead... [Shizuo spies another pair of infected lurching into view up ahead, still out of swinging or kicking range.] Think you could throw something else at those guys up ahead? [In the meantime he'll elbow another infected emerging from a rack of stockings to his left, before shoving it the rest of the way to the ground with the end of his stop sign.

Look at this teamwork...they're practically a well-oiled zombie-fighting machine....]

[wyvil]

[Wylan adjusts the strap of his satchel at the mention of taking care of himself. He's used to being underestimated, knows that he's better in a crisis (now) than he looks.

Still, Loki is weirdly calm. Too calm, Wylan thinks, for the seriousness of the situation.]

I'll be fine. Why is your plan to stay out here? Do you think you can wait things out? They're locking down the whole building.

[mistruths]

[ Maya no ]

We could kill the infected and, thus, prevent them from infecting more.