[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_mettacrusher33]

[That "lack of comment" speaks far louder than any denial. Mettaton's hands find either side of his face as he continues to swing his legs.

Giorno has a boyfriend. The fact that this didn't come out immediately is a violation of

Something.

Mettaton will figure out a way to prod him about it later.

Even funnier:] Oh my!! What you accounting for? His allowance? [It sounds like those human movies where the high school students, for some reason, have an entirely working underground economy revolving around lockers and who gets to go through the lunch-line first. It's ridiculous.

...he lets out a quiet gasp despite himself. Was that not hyperbole?

Mettaton's stare has gone from curious to intent.] Is he the popular kid you've found yourself indebted to after he stuck up for you against some wayward bullies? I need to know immediately.

[unholey]

No, his finances. He recently [forcibly.] inherited some businesses and I'm helping him wrangle their finances. The previous owner's bookkeeping was abysmal and is nigh-on incomprehensible. I'm helping him straighten them out.

[There's a note of genuine irritation there, because it's... true. God, Diavolo, how did you manage to keep Passione running and keep track of where your capital was when your records were all so awful?]

And no. I was put on a fast-track education when I was younger and graduated high school three years ago. We were introduced by a mutual friend. You watch too many movies.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Please, that's nowhere near as interesting. It makes it less of a fun, high-school romp and more of a...

Gasp.]

Did he inherit a record label?

[That's a television show, not a movie. It doesn't count.]

[unholey]

No. [LONG.............. LONG PAUSE. And then, with the most put-upon expression he can manage:] But he did recently buy the majority shares in a Sicilian radio station.

[He can't believe it. But he also can? But he's also mortified. Why is Giorno Giovanna the way he is.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[...oh, Gio.

Mettaton's hands clasp against his chest and his eyes turn to the void of the sky. Normally the look of pride now showing on his face is reserved for himself, but...]

I always knew I could count on that boy.

[He's so proud of him right now.

Mettaton flicks away a tear that isn't there and moves to pat Fugo on the shoulder.]

You're very lucky to have him.

[unholey]

[Fugo's shoulder is tight and tense under Mettaton's hand, much like the way he's frowning right now. Mettaton's more right than he knows: he's very lucky to have Giorno in his life, but Fugo has the sinking suspicion that he may have accidentally given Mettaton the wrong false impression.]

I suppose so. Yes. [How... much... is he going to regret this...] I'm grateful to not be stuck doing this alone, at least.

[This being the whole... ALASTAIR and Audentes thing. He's not having a very good time.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Aaaaaaaaaaw... The hand that isn't on Fugo has already found Mettaton's face. He's cupping his cheek, smiling to himself. Cute. How utterly adorable.

Fugo gets one more pat before Mettaton finally pulls himself away to enjoy his perch.]

I wouldn't say you were ALONE, but it's nice, isn't it? Having a familiar face around. Especially one so lively and glamorous.

[Hee.]

I'll be sure to tell him you said that.

[unholey]

[Oh, right. Here it is. His least favorite part of reporting: where people say things, ask him if he agrees, and then all of a sudden the words somehow came out of his mouth. Fugo makes a sour expression.]

You're the one who said those things, not me. But whatever.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Tomato, tomahto. If the feelings were there, you may as well have said them.

[Logic.]

Why? Is there something wrong with expressing your appreciation every once in a while?

[unholey]

You're assuming a lot about the feelings of someone you've just met.

[HARSH...]

No, there isn't. But that isn't what this is. You want to pass along a message in your words with my name attached. If I'm going to bother with something like that, I'd rather do it in person and pick what I'd like to say myself.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Oh? Alright, then.

[He swoops his arm, as if sweet, perfect Giorno is standing at his side, and smiles patiently.]

The floor's yours, darling.

[unholey]

[The very tips of his ears go red, in a very damning sort of way because it sure implies that whatever Fugo would want to say is very personal.]

Do you look like Giorno Giovanna? No.

[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.

[unholey]

[Very quickly, Fugo's expression shifts from annoyed and distantly embarrassed to ... not much all, really. The frustrated wrinkle between his eyebrows and irritated set of his mouth smooth out, leaving behind a flat expression that's difficult to read.

Express yourself. That, more than anything else, is what reminds Fugo that Mettaton honestly has no idea what he's talking about. So what's the point of getting angry about it? He doesn't have the energy to. Even if he did, it's never been safe to let himself indulge in that feeling.]

Sure. Whatever. [He shoulders his bag, preparing to leave.] You're sticking around to maintain this area, right? If you are, I'll direct anyone who needs to rest to this storefront.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Oh... That didn't land at all, did it? Or it landed too well and struck a very bad chord. Mettaton tilts his head, watching the change of expression with interest. Which one was it...?

Whichever one it was, Fugo's leaving. Sad. He was having so much fun getting to know him. Ah well. Mettaton offers him a patient smile, pressing a hand to his own mouth before blowing a kiss.]

I am. Don't worry about this little corner of heaven, sweetheart; I've got it handled.

You take care of yourself, now.

[unholey]

[Mettaton's gesture at least ... earns him another grumpy look? Fugo is at least not left wondering how one person can be so extra, because he knows Giorno.]

Right. Same to you. [And off he goes. Super bailing from the rest of this conversation!!]