[log] IT'S A MONSTER PARTY [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Ecks, Fiona, Francel de Haillenarte, Haurchefant Greystone, John Watson, Tifa Lockhart, Royce Melborn
Location around U4/V4, and then in various houses
Date: evening of 138 through morning of 139
Summary: various merry traveling bands are set upon and scattered by a RUDE AS FUCK anomaly
Warnings: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

Catch-all for EVERYTHING - running from the anomaly, settling in various houses, etc. Top-level and tag as you see fit.

Comments

THE ATTACK

[devoutish]

[jumpthegun]

[One moment they've met up with the other group and begun trudging toward Kesara's tunnels, the next there's something static-y and very much a problem rising up out of the snow. John's near the middle of the pack with Duster nearby. Alfie and Fiona are chattering at the back, and Haurchefant and Tifa are leading the way.

The doctor doesn't even hesitate as he calls out. There are too many of them. He'd known there were too many of them. Any more than four and it starts to be a problem. Isn't that what people have said? Even with just four, they'd had that one in the tunnels that had nearly gotten him. His tone is a military bark, the same one from underground when the anomaly had turned up.]

Solomons, Haurche... Trouble, two o'clock! [They're the soldiers in this group. His immediate instinct is to trust them most, whether he should or not.] Haurchefant, Tifa, together. Solomons, take care of Fiona! You, you're with me. [That last part is directed at Duster.] Scatter west and southeast, get inside, and check-in! Haurche, you and Tifa aren't injured. Try to draw it, but get inside before it gets either of you.

[devoutish]

[Alfie's gut tells him to avoid big groups, even outside - but it's a little hard here, when they're all moving in the same direction and roughly at the same pace. He hangs back as much as possible, hoping to avoid being too much of a group. And that's not even taking into consideration the others in the area. They're a bit of a wildcard - he doesn't know how close they are. He distracts himself a bit by talking to Fiona, but he stays hyper-alert, always aware of what's going on around him.

And when the anomaly suddenly appears, he isn't even surprised.

Watson's plan is a good one. If they all tried running to someone else - to check on them, to help them, to get in a house with them - they'd waste valuable time and put themselves in even more danger. Better to get to safety now, as quickly and efficiently as possible, and coordinate later. He doesn't even hesitate before giving Fiona a quick nod, and calling ahead:]

Tifa, listen to him!

[He can just imagine her deciding that she needs to make sure they're all safe before agreeing to save herself.]

BUILDING 90

[devoutish]

Only the dining room remains intact in this house. The table has been pushed up against the door which would have once led to the hallway, and there are chairs tumbled on the floor near the door that once led to the kitchen. It seems like they must have been stacked against the kitchen door at one point, but something pushed its way through. A sign reading "DAY 58. REACHABLE SHELTER TO SOUTH, SOUTHEAST. SNOW BLOCKING TO WEST." has been placed on the kitchen table. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, BIFF, RHYS, DAY FORTY EIGHT, TRAVELLING SOUTH-EAST" and "SHEENA FUJIBAYASHI AND ZELOS WILDER, DAY 61, TRAVELING SOUTH" have been carved into one of the walls.

[plundering]

[They make it into the building, and as soon as the door is shut behind them, Fiona leans forward, one hand on her knee and the other against the wall, supporting her weight. Her ribs are killing her, a stabbing pain in her side, and she's struggling to catch her breath without breathing too deeply.

She hates the fact that she's practically doubled over in front of Alfie, who she likes, but who she's not exactly comfortable with seeing her in such a vulnerable state yet. Fiona grits her teeth and straightens with a hiss, pushing her shoulders back. She's fine.]

Fucking monsters.

[Not super fine.]

[devoutish]

[God, it's just a single room. Why does he keep having the worst luck with houses?]

There's not much furniture to block the door.

[His voice is tight, but he's thinking clearly, and he's not panicking. He leaves the table where it is - the rest of the house is ruined, and the anomaly could still get to them through there if it tried - and focuses instead on the chairs, stacking them up against the other door.

With the way they'd been lying haphazardly on the floor, it's possible that somebody had already tried to use them for this. If that's the case, clearly they hadn't been enough.]

[plundering]

[Fiona, stubborn as ever, grabs a chair to help stack, even though her shoulder protests. She can only imagine how John would feel about that. It's not much help, but she doesn't want to be worthless. She steps back again, expression hard.]

Guess we might have to hold it if that thing comes after us.

BUILDING 93

[jumpthegun]

[The building is a standard single-story house with a kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, and bedroom. The decorations here have an Eastern European style to them--around the Baltic region, although there aren't decorations in enough detail to place it more closely than that. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, TADASHI HAMADA, STEPH BROWN, MAMI TOMOE, DAY THIRTEEN, TRAVELING NORTH" is written by the door. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, BIFF, DAY FIFTY-TWO, TRAVELLING NORTH-EAST" is carved into the wall. "SHEENA FUJIBAYASHI, ZELOS WILDER, DAY 059, HEADING NORTH" is written on the wall. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY FIFTY EIGHT, TRAVELLING SOUTH." is written on the wall, alongside "DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." "House 49 of the map" is written on the wall in marker.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce goes with Watson - not because he wants to, but because he's not stupid enough to argue when there's an anomaly chasing after them. Royce doesn't even really bother waiting, just moves. Takes off, running as quickly as he can through the snow, with his things weighing him down.

Tifa and Haurchefant are leading the monster away. Royce's chest is tight with adrenaline and worry, which he's so damn annoyed about, in a distant way. But she's safe. Not now, not from the monster, but safe for Royce. Solomons is too. Both of them are in his thoughts as he books it for the closest house he can find.

Of course, by the time they get to the house, Royce's head is pounding. He almost can't see from how badly it hurts, which means he needs to find a safe place to hide. Watson doesn't seem like the type to kill him and rob him blind, but Royce's paranoia kicks firmly into gear.

So he does. Hide. Royce heads for the bedroom immediately and curls up on the floor on the side of the bed that obscures him from being seen from the doorway. Hood up, head resting heavily against the wall, cloak pulled close and shiv in hand.

He knows he isn't really hiding, but here he'll sit until he can see straight. And, you know, not throw up. That's also a concern. ]

[jumpthegun]

[ John takes a deep breath, and instead of pursuing Royce immediately, he keeps guard by the door for several minutes, getting his breathing under control and ensuring he's not going to have to fight to keep the door closed when something comes after them. When all seems clear, though, he heads back toward the bedroom, expecting to find the other man lying down. On the bed. ]

Something wrong with the bed, mate?

[bywolves]

Floor's fine. [ Royce forces his eyes open, staring at Watson blearily. ] Don't.

evening

[ecks]

[To say that Ecks has been planning to confront Duster would be a bit generous. She hasn't planned much of anything since she arrived back at the tunnel only to find that House was dead. It has certainly occurred to her, though, and rest hasn't been her only reason for remaining in the first part of the tunnel.

When she hears the news from Watson that he and Duster are nearby, it's not planning or rational thought that has her strapping on her armor and hurrying out to meet them before lock down. It's closer than she likes; the warning has already come through by the time she slips through the front door of the house. She has enough time on the way to think about what she is going to do...but not to come to a definite conclusion on that front.]

[jumpthegun]

[John's in the kitchen and stands immediately when the door opens, hand going to the little fruit knife in his pocket as he moves quietly to the entryway. It's unlikely to be an anomaly, but he doesn't know. When there's no telltale sense of sickness or white body, he relaxes marginally. It's dim, though, and he can't make out who it is.]

Evening! John Watson and Duster in here already. Who's that, then?

ecks used sneak attack; it's super effective

[bywolves]

[ Royce finds he can't sleep very well, these days. Something just keeps him up, makes him jittery. But he's finally crashing after the day of walking and then running, which means he actually falls asleep. It's amazing that he's able to, considering that Ecks and Watson are in the house, two people he very much does not trust at all, but he knows he needs to. If he doesn't, he can't keep going.

So he dozes. Keeps his shiv in hand and sleeps sitting up, crammed into the corner of the bedroom, blanketed. There's this lurking sense of danger, though, that makes it impossible for him to sleep deeply. He's twitchy and unsettled the whole damn night.

Might turn out that the sense of impending danger is what keeps him from getting completely assaulted off guard, though. ]

[ecks]

[This is familiar in a way she has tried somewhat to pretend it wouldn't be. The part where she had to lie to Doctor Watson is new, but the long wait deep into the night is not. Neither is the slow, careful creep from one room to another, silent as a cat in her soft leather boots. The weapon in hand is inadequate, nothing but a pair of scissors, but they are sharp and they will be enough -- would be enough, she thinks.

She still does not know for certain whether or not she intends to kill this man.

Watchful, barely breathing, she insinuates herself between the bed and the wall to join Duster in the corner. Closer, closer -- no rush, no hurry when it would be at the expense of stealth. She should be angry or frightened, maybe should be shaking again, but her hands are steady from practice as she finally comes within reach of him and quite suddenly darts forward to pin his weapon hand and to press her blades to his throat.]

morning of 139

[ecks]

Ecks has been thinking a lot about the things Doctor Watson said to her. She doesn't think she's especially sorry she killed Duster specifically, but there's an uncomfortable feeling sitting in her gut when she goes over and over the thoughts of consequences and rules and trust.

It's never been like this before.

When morning comes she is up early despite having slept very little. By the light of her tablet, she is reading and rereading a page of her journal. If it was defense of another, what she did is in the rules and it is justified. If it was not defense of another...she's been holding a pen in hand for half an hour now without making a single mark on the page.

When she hears Watson stir, she looks up, hand with pen still unmoving, and stares at him, waiting.

[jumpthegun]

John's had a fitful night, just thinking about Royce's body in the other room. He'd tried to arrange it respectfully, and he'd gotten blood everywhere as a result. He feels like he covered in it. Although, that might just be the scent from his cardigan. John had tried to rinse that out, but he can still smell the blood, still feel it in his mind.

He sits up after managing to fall asleep, though. It's only a little before lockdown ends, and he looks over at Ecks. "Morning." There's nothing really 'good' about it. "Have you eaten, yet?" He starts rummaging in his own pack for food.

Building 88

[silverfuller]

((A two-story A-frame house. The first floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms. The second floor has a master bedroom, master bathroom, and balcony. This house has a working wood-burning fireplace in the master bedroom, but no wood to burn in it. The armchair in the living room has been torn open and all of the foam inside and pieces of fabric outside have been removed. A sign reading "DAY 58. REACHABLE SHELTER ALONG SNOW BLOCK TO SOUTHEAST." has been placed on the table in the kitchen. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, BIFF, RHYS, DAY FORTY EIGHT, TRAVELLING SOUTH-EAST" has been carved into one of the walls.))

[Haurchefant runs. He has Tifa in his sights before him and behind him the monstrosity with the ghastly tail scuttles across the snow drifts.

He'd taunted it with a stone almost before Watson had finished barking orders. It was instinct. If people had to run, he wanted the creature chasing him and nobody else.]

THERE!

[The elezen points a finger towards house as it looms into view.]

Go! I will be with you anon!

[powersouls]

[Tifa's first instinct, of course, is to make sure everyone else is okay, but Alfie yells for her to listen to John, so she does. She runs, trying not to think of it as leaving everyone else behind. They're tough. They can take care of themselves.

She gets to the house first, because Haurchefant is still trying to distract the thing, but the anomaly seems confused. She's grateful for it, but she's still standing just inside the doorway, tensed, her heart in her throat as she waits for Haurchefant to catch up. Calling out to him seems like a terrible idea, because it might catch the anomaly's attention, so she waits until he's at the door.]

Are you okay? Is everyone else—?

[silverfuller]

Alive.

[He hopes. He throws open the door and runs in.]

Come, come!

After lockdown

[silverfuller]

[Once the doors click shut Haurchefant relaxes and starts wandering around the house, searching for anything edible.

He isn't surprised to come up short but can't help feel a bit disappointed. Worn out spirits can be rejuvenated by warm food, after all.]

If I could cook you both a stew I would do so and we'd all have full bellies within the bell. Alas...

[He walks up to Tifa.]

Thank you for looking after my dear friend, milady.

[powersouls]

[Tifa shoots Haurchefant an automatic smile when he approaches, shaking her head.]

You don't have to thank me. He's very sweet.

[She pauses, and then:]

I should be thanking you. You're always trying to protect the rest of us.

after 1000 years of crying

[haillenarte]

[by the time he's finished talking to haurchefant, francel's eyelids and nose are blotchy and his voice still sounds nasal and pinched — but nevertheless, he's done tifa a great disservice by almost totally disregarding her up until now.

what to do, what to say? francel fidgets and fumbles, but eventually he works up the nerve to approach her, executing a very proper and lordly bow once he's close enough — though the effect is somewhat ruined, perhaps, by the fact that he has to pause to wipe his face on his sleeve.]

Um... I wished to apologize to you, my lady. [a sniffle.] For this — this most ungentlemanly display. It is unbecoming of... of a lord, and... of any young man, I know.

[powersouls]

[Tifa, for her part, doesn't look particularly bothered by the crying. The bow is a different story—it makes her fidget, looking a little awkward as she tucks her hair behind her ear.]

Oh, no, um... It's okay. It wasn't unbecoming, and... you don't have to call me "my lady".

[Do all of the men from Haurchefant's world do this?]

I'm Tifa. It's nice to meet you.

[haillenarte]

[in a word, yes...

well, maybe not from his world, but the majority from his city, yes!]

I am — my name is Francel. I... I know Haurchefant from... outside of this place.

[that's kind of an understatement.]

You — you may have gathered as much. I'm sorry.