[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

[nextlineis]

[Joseph catches the signal that they're moving away from the dead center of the store, and nods, before he heads through the door marked with a sign above it that reads EMPLOYEES ONLY. He continues down a narrow corridor that has only just enough space for two people (or one Jojo) due to the stacks upon stacks of shoes in varying sizes along one wall. The other wall is peppered occasionally with bulletin boards with various papers that remind employees about certain benefits and expectations, as well as a few messages to one another. It's at the far end of the corridor that Joseph finds what he's looking for with a small break room.]

[In the center of the room is a rickety card table and a few chairs facing a television that's seen better days. Opposite that wall is a small collection of lockers. A few of them are locked, padlocks of varying sizes and colors, but there are some that are clearly occupied and unlocked. Joseph starts there rather than trying to brute force the combinations for any of the lockers.]

[He strikes out with the first four lockers, finding mostly trash and a few forgotten papers that were clearly distributed to all employees. The fifth, however, proves useful when he finds someone's paper bag dinner still untouched with a bottle of water left untouched. Joseph snatches it, not even bothering to really closely inspect the contents of food or close the locker door, and scampers on back out to the front.]

Got it! [he calls as he hops the counter once more with a wide grin.] There's some food here, too.

[The water's what's offered to Giorno first. He'd hold it out to Fugo, but the kid doesn't look like he's really with it enough to manage that by himself.]

[nextlineis]

[Much like a dog, Joseph tilts his head to one side in curiosity.]

Who?

[unholey]

[Fugo allows himself to be led along, mumbling agreement and more nonsense as he stumbles forward. Most of it seems to be an apology of sorts in muddled Engish and Italian, although it's unclear what exactly he's trying to make up for. He keeps his balance, not somehow, but thanks to Giorno at his side keeping him steady; when it's time to sit, Giorno guides him down to the floor and doesn't let him fall or push him away.]

I just need a minute, [he plaintively promises, as soon as he gathers the presence of mind to know what he needs. His voice is soft and wheezy and he has the fingers of his near hand caught up in Giorno's shirt; he's too woozy to even put it into words even his thoughts but, after everything tonight, he desperately wants to keep Giorno close to him.] I just need to catch my breath. Clear my head.

[Stubbornly, Fugo refuses to close his eyes. He listlessly stares at the seemingly endless stack of shoes on the shelf, picking out the sizing numbers and the brand names. In the distance, someone is calling out to them. Fugo shifts in place on Giorno's shoulder to look out at the rest of the store-- the shoe store, across the plaza-- and blearily watches Joseph as he bounds over the counter and crosses the space in a few gigantic strides.

Ah. That's right. It's that asshole. Who picked them up and carried them here. Fucking him up isn't the plan anymore, but--]

Who the hell are you?

[keystaff]

You don't think that might be locked?

[She assumes so, so that customers wouldn't get in and have access to the staff's personal effects. But there might be the chance it might be open. That they might find some lunches.]

[skelepun]

[He's definitely not, but there are better ways than running.]

Sounds like fun. [Not really, but Sans was open to the idea.] Where do you wanna start?

[nextlineis]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

Might be, but I bet we can get it open.

[slapfight]

[sighs] Maybe one day you'll understand. [she can only hope. Amethyst would be nice to have around here.] In the meantime, I suppose I could help you find an exit...

[unholey]

[Fugo shakes his head.]

That's a good plan, but I don't think I could do that. I wouldn't have the stamina for it on a good day-- and tonight's not a good night.

But if we find where they're getting in, I think it would be worthwhile to try and connect with more athletic people on the network who are stuck in the mall.

[unholey]

With what you're planning to do with them. [Fugo gestures down to still-trapped infected.] Are those bones going to stay if you leave?

[His train of thought wanders, until--]

Hypothetically. How many infected do you think you could hold here?

[nextlineis]

[He frowns at the idea that he needs help finding an exit. Or rather that he's in need of an exit for himself. Don't misunderstand, he'd definitely prefer not being trapped in the mall, but the last thing he wants is for it to be implied that he can't manage himself. Joseph shakes his head a little.]

There's other people who could use that kind of help more than me.

[keystaff]

You think so? How? I don't want to break the door down or anything? But I guess we can at least have a look. I guess the staff rooms would be out the back of the store?

[She points, gesturing for him to follow as she heads in that direction, back down the aisles and away from the entrance and checkout.]

TINIEST TWO-SECOND SMILE take a picture maya

[longtempered]

[Why are both of these nerds so bad at being ok with themselves...smh.....

But oh man...oh. That's a lot easier than he was expecting it to be?? For some reason...though his own reciprocating 'woooosh' gesture is decidedly delayed and less enthusiastic, but there was an attempt! All things considered, there could probably be worse first brofists out there. His first ever brofist...

Shizuo pockets his hands once it's all over, but he does look somewhat faintly pleased about this all the same.]

Hah, that'd definitely make it a hell of a lot easier for us to get back to everyone else. Guess we should stick together until then. [It's ok Maya, your GPS skills are still appreciated...even if you'll probably nearly chatter his ear off in the process....but isn't that what any GPS worth its salt does anyway? Yes.

But oh, the rogue waiter mystery returns...Maya's questions earn a blink, and then a shrug.] Uh, not exactly training or anything...guess I did throw a table sometimes back then for stuff like that, though. [And got fired from waitering specifically for that, actually, but you know. Details...Shizuo waves a hand.] Aah, anyway. Looks like you threw all your armor away on the way here...let's go and find some more stuff for you to put on, huh? And then we'll see if we can get back to the others in here. [He turns to the dressing room door, cracking it open.] See if the coast's clear here...and we'll make a break for it from there, I guess.

[perma_banned]

Old? [Ban paused, touching his cheek. He was 23 when he drank the elixir of life. Was he older looking than he thought? Naruto's comment made him wonder if he had any wrinkles from the beginning. When he stopped and realized that wasn't the case, he leveled a brow a bit lower and sustained a bit of doubt.] Ah, not like it matters.

I'm the only one who's drunk it, so I dunno if it makes you younger. I was at least twenty-three when I drank it and I haven't gotten any older. It might make you younger if you're old--I dunno.

[He offered a wide shrug, knowing no better than Naruto did.] Course, most people wanted it for the immortality side of it--not so much wanting to be younger.

[pummelling]

[Jin huffs. Guess they have no real choice but to divide and conquer here.]

Fine. Keep 'em off us for a little longer. [He sounds less than convinced.] I'll... work it out.

[It's been a long ass time since Jin's been put upon to pick a lock-- all those years of thievery, wasted, really-- so he's gonna go for the blockhead approach himself: with a grunt of effort, he's ramming his shoulder into the solidly locked door. It isn't quite giving, but it won't be impossible with a few more good thumps.]

How're you-- [He slams his bulk into the door again, wiggling the handle fruitlessly.] --doing over there?

[scrap_metal]

Maybe the whole building could be used for exactly that- if they let the healthy civilians out first.

[ The mall is already destroyed, it's quite successful at being locked down, if they could keep the whole building as a corral it would make things easier in the future. If the cure was to be administered, of course. Or for the grim alternative. ]

...no chance for that I guess.

[ always an optimist ]

[nextlineis]

[Joseph tags along behind her, keeping watchful for any signs of movement that would indicate the infected are around among the clothing racks and mannequins. Fortunately all seems quiet so far.]

Nah, trying to break it down would draw too much attention. We might be able to find another way in, but we won't know until we get there.

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos takes a look around. Usually the crossing points in malls with ways going in all directions including up and down, there are navigation signs indicating- ]

There. [ He points at the small corridor leading to the tactically hidden toilets. ]

Toilets need to be cleaned regularly, there must be a door for the service staff nearby. [ It's better than nothing. It's a different world yes, but there's enough of familiarity to his own world that rules behind building malls should be similar. He gets up and leads them there, explaining as he goes ] That should be an entrance to the employees-only area.

[ Maybe they won't even need the map and find the phone there ]

[nextlineis]

Better than you!

[Joseph cheerfully replies with a smug as hell grin. No doubt that it looks like he's putting in a lot less effort that Jin since he appears to mostly just be standing there next to the fence and occasionally putting a hand on a section of it, but that's not entirely true. It takes a fair amount of concentration and control to keep enough hamon flowing through the fence to zap the shambling infected either back or down for the count.]

[But in an effort to continue looking like he's having an easy as heck time, he would 1000000000% appreciate Jin hurrying up. Please don't ruin his image, Jin. Jeez.]

[ex_adept136]

[Haise nods along as he trails after him, keeping a wary ear out for any hostiles that might crop up. Just because it's been quiet, it doesn't mean he's about to let his guard down]

That's good thinking. I'm sure you're right.

[And an employee area ought to have a LAN-line phone, surely]

It might save us a trip if we can locate it.

[scrap_metal]

[ Service door is there alright, but they're not exactly as expected. Genos suspected they might require a key, or card, or whatever to open them - which they would need to bypass with brute force. ]

They're open...

[ But yes, their handle is broken, and the door can't be even properly closed anymore, although it seems someone tried to barricade them from the inside with the service cart ]

We should be on guard. [ He says while taking the first steps into the narrow corridor. They might find more infected here, or people hiding. ]

it's burned into her mind forever

[feytality]

[Listen, Maya's got a Ridiculously Tragic Backstory, what's your excuse, Shizuo]

[Anyway, just the fact that he was willing to participate at all is enough to score him points. He did well. It's not like they won't have plenty of time to practice and perfect this excercise]

Definitely. That way I can protect you if these guys start trying to get their chomp on! [Yes, Maya's definitely the one protecting him... of course...]

[But the enigma deepens. Back then.... just how long has he been a rogue waiter, looking for a new restaurant to call his own? Maya feels a pang of sympathy for this man. Clearly, he was just too hardcore for his last establishment.]

Don't worry! You've got a lot of talents, so I'm sure some place will learn to appreciate you and the effort you've gone through. [He'll find a home restaurant again... she believes in him!!]

[In any case, it isn't the time to reminisce about the restaurants that got away. When he goes to check the door, Maya peers around him to check simultaneously. Seems like the coat is clear, for now...]

Oh... my armour? [She didn't expect him to remember that, let alone want to get her new armour... it's kinda cute, actually]

Don't worry about it. Believe it or not, video game consoles aren't very good at protecting you from zombies. [in all honesty, she thought giving herself an armour might help give her an edge in this zombie crisis, since she's basically a useless noodle and she wants desperately to be able to do something to help. But taping SNESes to her shoulders can't match up to super strength or super speed or any of the other amazing powers everyone except her seems to have. Besides--] Plus, I don't need armour when we're working together, right?

[keystaff]

Another way? But um, okay. I guess it'd be in the back somewhere....

[Sakura leads, glancing around in hoping to spot a door, a sign or something to indicate the staff area. Which she does. It's a door, locked though through a keypad. Her lips purse and she frowns.]

Um. If we guess the code?

[ex_adept136]

Right...

[Haise follows Genos inside, casting a glance around. Broken janitorial equipment litters the floor, strewn about in a manner that does suggest even this area wasn't exempt from the chaos that had erupted in the mall.

For a moment he pauses, a thoughtful frown on his lips, before he interrupts the eerie stillness around them]

I smell blood.

[His senses are keen enough to tell him this far sooner than a human would be able to note it. And he's quite sure the average human needs to either be quite close or be exposed to a large quantity to pick up that metallic (and fanitly, sickeningly sweet to his nose) smell]

[skelepun]

[Sans looks down at the bones, frowning. They wouldn't stick around forever, and they certainly wouldn't stick around if he left. Frankly, he sorta thought it stopped being their problem once the pair of them left.

This kid probably didn't have such a laissez-faire view of things, though. He should've expected that.]

Well, uh... a lot, probably. I was just, y'know. Gonna leave 'em. [That's vague enough.] Why?

[digiorno]

All right then. Where would you like to start?

With the things that help? [He spreads one hand out to one side, palm up towards the ceiling.] Or, [and he spreads the other one,] the things that hurt?

[Because that's not weird.]