[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

[digiorno]

[Oh, no. That's so dumb, and weirdly charming. Giorno's grin goes sharp for one-eighth of a second--and then Sai speaks, and his tone stops all of that in its tracks.]

[Giorno understands nuance in a way that a lot of people don't. He's had to. But the nuance of possession is something special. In this case, it says two things: this is not a danger and this is mine, so you are forbidden from hurting it. Or playing with it, which sometimes means the same thing in Giorno's case.]

[It's pretty reassuring, in its way. Sai has a friend he cares enough about to want to protect from someone he considers dangerous. So, out of respect for that, Giorno turns his megawatt smile down a little bit.]

Buon giorno, Naruto. It's nice to meet you. Sorry about all this.

[Like he's personally responsible or something, this little shit.]

Mm, often friends worry about each other when something bad is happening, Sai. Or even sometimes for no reason--I tend to be a little bit of a worrywart when it comes to my friends. But certainly when there are very hungry flesh-eating people wandering around, it's a situation that calls for a check-in. Don't you think, Naruto?

[thinhammer]

[ Naruto has no recognition or idea about any of the subtleties going on between the two in all of their unsaid intentions, because Naruto is very upfront about what he feels and requires things to be upfront in order to understand them.. and honestly he's still struggling with the fact that Sai has made a friend at all. Don't get him wrong, he's happy -- even if just for the assurance that Sai is capable of making friends as well as the knowledge that Sai hasn't been totally alone here -- but it's still weird.

He leaves this awkward pause after Giorno's response because he genuinely can't process an answer. ]

U-Uh.. Yeah. I mean-- Yeah, of course!

[ He looks at Sai, maybe a bit awkwardly. Is that why Sai checked up on him today? ]

[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?

[digiorno]

[Giorno hesitates, then shrugs a little bit. He sort of wants to explain more--about what it means to be worried about someone, how it isn't always rational, how sometimes it's good not to be rational. But it doesn't seem like the kind of conversation for here and now.]

[That annoys him. He'd like the zombies to just stop for a while so he can have a nice conversation. But we can't have nice things, apparently.]

No. I only wanted to check in on you.

[Read: nobody else was as important as Sai, so he just checked on Sai. He glances at Naruto again, quirking a brow.]

You seem confused. I'd like to speak with both of you about next steps, since I know Sai's capable and if he trusts you, then so are you, but if you have a question . . .

[thinhammer]

[ What even is happening. He knows he's just struggling with how weird it is to see someone like Sai, someone so typically solitary, be specifically sought out as a companion... but in the same thread he knows he's been guilty of the same; has felt better when he's had Sai around despite all of Sai's suffocating practicality.. So is he simply uncomfortable because the person seeking Sai out isn't him? He can't really process it as jealousy, but maybe it's just his habit of being protective. They are teammates after all, and Naruto has never even met this guy suddenly approaching them before. What kind of guy do you have to be to be friends with Sai? Someone similar to him? How dangerous might he be?

Naruto shakes his head a little too intensely, defensive in the face of being found out in a state of confusion. ]

Nah, I'm good. Sai and me go way back- [ Like they're old men who've come to a natural fondness for each other rather than two kids working through both their variations of feelings. ] -so we're good at workin' together, if ya need any help.

[daimeinashi]

[Now Sai looks at Giorno, vaguely confused. If such a concern was standard in friendship, then why was he the only one Giorno was looking for? He knows Giorno has other friends, because he remembers that time they were trapped under the mistletoe, and Giorno had said he liked kissing friends.

But perhaps ... he is the only friend trapped in the mall with him? It is something he can question the other about later, perhaps. It's true that they don't have time for this kind of conversation, unfortunately.]

Yes, Naruto's skills and mine complement each other's.

...Though without Sakura, we are lacking a teammate with medical abilities.

[Which makes Giorno being here real convenient, not that Sai knows that yet.]

[digiorno]

[Sai please don't call him out on his thirst right now. They are in the middle of a crisis. A crisis which Giorno is steadfastly ignoring in favor of being nosy, but that's his prerogative.]

[The offer makes him smile. The obvious lack makes him smile wider, clapping his hands together. He loves being useful.]

Mm, I guess word hasn't gotten around to you, Sai--that's my fault, I should have just told you directly. I can heal. Please call me if you need assistance in that area. It's very quick, although not entirely painless. Better than it used to be, though.

[To Naruto, still pleasant:] You get to know, too, since you're his friend and he likes you. And you're good at working together with him, which I assume means you're good to him. So we are fine, you and I.

Neither of you are hurt as yet, are you? [Like that last thing was never even said.]

[thinhammer]

[ Naruto really doesn't know if he likes this guy, but he's definitely certain that he's weird and maybe that's just the kind of people Sai attracts - the weird ones - but either way Naruto is getting a vibe from him that doesn't sit well.

He makes a face, squinting one eye, nose scrunching up; subtleties are not exactly Naruto's number one focus, since he's shooting all these less than pleasant expressios straight at Giornio. Fine, are they? Isn't that just great. He's on call to help Sai whenever he needs it? Super. He can heal, can he? Well. Awesome. ]

Likin' me and bein' my friend are the same thing, an' I'm his friend too so of course I'm good to him.

[ He rebuffs without thinking and doesn't really bother to think about it once it's out of his mouth.. He's just. Feeling a lot of weird things right now. ]

No injuries here. [ He says, looking away and folding his arms, like he's a bored toddler. ] We're ninja, y'know, not kids. We can look after ourselves.

[daimeinashi]

[The benefit of Naruto being incredibly expressive is that Sai can tell immediately that something is wrong, when he wouldn't have picked up on anything off about Giorno's words on his own. Unfortunately, though he can tell that Naruto is upset about something, he can't quite figure out what it is.

Which leaves him a bit at a loss, here. He doesn't really know how to react or what to do, but he thinks he needs to do something, because the other thing he knows about Naruto is that he doesn't hesitate to challenge those that could easily fucking kill him--and while that's one of the things Sai unconsciously likes about him--something about him instinctively feels an urge to keep him from doing something stupid and dangerous. He might be friends with Giorno, but he doesn't know enough about him to be able to tell how he will react if Naruto engages him first.

Some kind of long-buried sense of reflex has him reach out, put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. It kind of sits there, uncertainly, as if he's not sure what he's doing with it; half a weakly protective gesture, half a vain sort of gesture toward pull Naruto back from confrontation, if he had the mind to evaluate the action deeply at this moment.]

Even powerful ninja require medical assistance at times, Naruto. That--is why Hokage-sama maintains skill in both combat and medical ninjutsu, yes?

Giorno-kun ... Giorno will be a good ally for us. We can trust him.

[And part of that is a message to Giorno, in its own way, a signal (albeit not entirely intentional or conscious) toward Sai's priorities, of Naruto taking a higher place than Giorno.]

[digiorno]

[There's Sai's weak point, then. If it ever becomes necessary--]

[He purposefully mutes the thought. It's an unworthy one, although unfortunately necessary. Mista isn't here to take care of him. He has to look out for himself--and for Fugo now, too.]

[Of course it stings a little, not being Sai's number-one priority. He's become used, in the past six months of real-time, to being the center of his own little universe. But on the other hand, it's a very good thing that someone--anyone--from Sai's own world has his best interests at heart.]

[They're protective of each other. It's useful information. And Naruto has teeth. If someone comes after Sai, even if in a way Sai doesn't understand, Naruto will be there with his claws and his teeth.]

[Giorno smiles.]

I apologize. I wasn't trying to imply that you can't handle yourselves. I fully believe you're a formidable team.

[The two of them together, pure logic and pure instinct . . . yes. They'll be fine.]

I just worry. That's all. If I can keep one person safe, or limit one person's suffering--whatever type of suffering it might be--that's what I'll strive for.

[thinhammer]

[ The hand on his shoulder is enough of a surprise that Naruto ceases firing visual daggers in Giorno's direction and turns his attention instead to give the hand a quick glance, and the same for Sai's face. It also distracts him enough that he takes a step back as if he'd taken an unconscious one forwards and lets out a sigh of ceasefire rather than defeat (which he makes clear by not unfolding his arms or letting the little twitch in his creased eyebrows subside).

He knows how neccessary and useful healers are - he's had enough exposure given that his closest friend is one, and lately he's actually been pretty interested in learning healing for himself - but Sai comparing Giorno's help to the help that Tsunade might offer to them puts a funny taste in his mouth. This guy and Baa-san are not the same, and never will be, and Naruto pretty much loathes the idea of Giorno being their team's Sakura replacement, so he doesn't relent at that either.

He does, however, soften just a little at Giorno's words... though 'a little' is probably still an overstatement. ]

That's good. [ He says, because it is. Naruto can relate to wanting to keep people safe and limit hardships, but Giorno has pet his fur the wrong way so now he's doubly wary of anything that might come out of his mouth. ] But Sai's safe with me an' I'm safe with him, an' neither of us are sufferin' so you can go find someone else to help, can't ya?

[ His shackles are definitely raised, and the way he gives Giorno a defiant look - defiant now, not the angry little scowl it'd been before - says I'm not leaving his side. As far as Naruto is concerned, if Giorno wants to be Sai's friend too, he'll have to work on his attitude and learn to share. ]