snowblindrpg | [network] @technicalities; Attic Panic [open]

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[network] @technicalities; Attic Panic [open]

Day 26
Building114; N10

[Early Morning; Video]

[Tadashi wakes up with a start as thunder rattles the attic.

It's only been a few days since he left the company of Al and the others, and he still half expects to see one of them staring back at him, as shocked as he is after such an enormous boom. Another follows the first, shaking the already questionable walls. Mochi is the only thing staring back at him in the dim light that filters into the attic. It's only barely bright enough to see the geometric shapes painted on the floor here.

He drags himself up and staggers to the attic's window, scrubbing at the glass until he can see out. What he sees makes his expression turn grim.

Tadashi slides down with his back to the wall and pulls his tablet over and turns it on. Immediately, he sees the alert put out by the Admin and his stomach sinks.

Next, he sees the obituary and almost can't go through with turning on his video. Baelfire's name is there.

He flips his video on, fighting to say what he needs to say even as his distress is apparent.]

Is everyone okay? Where did this storm come from? Can anyone see which direction it moved in from? Has the entire town been hit yet?

[His concerned expression grows as his eyebrows knit together.]

Hey, Hiro. Check in with me as soon as you get this.

[He flips the video back off.]

[Afternoon; Voice]

Is anyone else seeing things?

[His tone is short -- clipped. Anxious bordering on afraid. And yet still with his next words, he manages to infuse more determination -- a line of no-nonsense hardness.]

This has happened before. The storm is interfering with something. We need to find the source and stop it.

[Evening; text]

i can't see the paint anymore.

I don't know where it went.

I need to leave. Someone else is here. They're behind]

[The text cuts off there. Tadashi's second guessing whether to share his fears with the network. He can't trust them, after all. Not just the network itself, which he hasn't trusted for over a week. But the people on the network. They can't all be what they seem.]

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[It doesn't take long before Hiro sees this. He's been keeping an eye on the network well enough around scavenging the immediate building he arrived in, keeping some tabs on Tadashi's progress for the most part. As soon as he sees that warning, sees the storm outside and hears that thunder, he worries. Hoping Tadashi isn't out there in the middle of it.

That Tadashi has this on video helps reassure him on that nearly immediately, but he's still worried all the same. Chances are Hiro looks about as exhausted and worried, if not moreso. He's usually more one to sleep in when he doesn't wake to an alarm for class or the like, and the thunder woke him too.]

Tadashi! I'm okay. Fine. Just--I guess this'll delay things a bit. But so long as everyone's inside and doesn't go out in that, we should be fine, right?

Yeah.

[There's no reason to lie about it. And it's easy to see Tadashi is just as disappointed that it seems like an entire day of travel is now gone. He still doesn't know for sure where he saw that area before, but he regrets more than ever the wrong turn he took yesterday.]

This complicates things. For sure.

[He doesn't have his hat on, so he's able to scuff his hand back through his hair -- the nervous habit he has whenever there's a lot on his mind.]

I'm thinking yeah. We just need to hold tight until this blows over. Are you okay on food?

Edited 2015-08-16 00:27 (UTC)

[There's a nod at that as Hiro subconsciously mimics the action, running a hand through his hair as he sighs, glancing to the side briefly as his mouth forms a slight pout.]

Complicates things. Yeah, definitely. But I think my supplies should manage for another few days. Maybe three? If not more if I'm careful.

[Because when Hiro is distracted enough, he sometimes does forget to eat. There's enough going on with searching the house, keeping an eye on the tablet that this could happen, even if he isn't outright currently working on any particular project. Generally this habit would be worrying but for now he hasn't been overly exerting himself since his arrival too much. He's trying to hold out and make it last until Tadashi can find him. It just might take longer now.]

[Tadashi takes a breath, then lets it out again and gives Hiro a level look. Call it intuition -- or simply knowing Hiro too well at this point -- but he catches on that Hiro might be slipping up about food.]

You're gonna get sick if you try to stretch it. Make sure you eat enough. If you start running out... we'll work something out. I don't want to risk you passing out when you're by yourself there, okay?

Okay. I just figured since I wasn't sure how long until we might figure restocking is all. But I'll try.

[Because it's Tadashi asking. Because he knows he will need to keep up his strength to get anywhere out in that snow when the elder Hamada does arrive. So there's a nod, they both have enough to worry about without fretting over Hiro's eating habits and distractions.]

Just assume I've got you covered.

[A brief, reassuring smile.]

I feel like I'm close. I know I've seen that place before. It can't be much farther. I just have to make certain I don't walk past it.

All right.

[There's a nod of agreement. Somehow, he's hardly surprised if Tadashi is way more prepared given how much longer he's been here to manage to stockpile some supplies at least.]

I can always stand outside when you reckon you're getting closer or something. We'll figure it, once this storm dies down.

That... we'll talk about it closer to time.

[Tadashi cards a hand back through his hair and worries at his bottom lip. There are a lot of pros and cons to the idea.]

We'll absolutely wait this storm out. Man, it came of nowhere, huh? The walls are shaking here.

Okay. Just let me know when you head out, when you reckon you're getting closer to this area and we'll see.

[Either way, Hiro's more than a little impatient by now, but knows they can't and shouldn't rush with the weather like this at the moment. He's waited this long. Never thought he'd get this chance at all. If it might potentially mean getting chilled while waiting outside for a bit when the time comes, he'd take that. Either way, it's not just yet.]

Just glad it didn't start while you were out in the middle of it. Pretty sure it's the same here. Even if the snow's starting to sort of muffle it a bit.

[Tadashi laughs nervously and rubs the side of his neck. He's far too aware of how bad it could have been if the storm struck while he was out in the middle of a hike. With how little experience he has with snow, even given the past month, he might not have caught on in time.

He might have found himself trapped in the elements with no way to safety.]

Yeah... this is the first storm that's hit. We all got lucky -- very lucky. From now on, we have to be careful about watching the skies.

Well, worrying about storms and how to tell if they're coming isn't exactly something I've worried about before but. Between everyone, there's bound to be someone with more experience. Or we figure it out if this ends up happening often enough.

[But now all they can do is try wait it out. Hopefully it won't be too long. Hiro's just relieved Tadashi wasn't out there in it while trying to get to him. That's the important thing. Depending how long this lasts, then they can worry about supplies.]

[Kunsel doesn't even bother to switch to text. He's a bit distracted right now. There's a strained edge to his voice, like a man barely keeping his head.]

If you're talking about the blood dripping from the ceiling, I am definitely seeing things here.

What do you mean, this has happened before? What details do you have?

[Tadashi tries to keep his voice steady, but there's a quiver behind it. He's well aware that his mental state is beginning to deteriorate.]

Before, there was a song. We could all hear it. It wasn't... I don't know what it was. I'm getting... Okay. First, there was a light.

[He needs to go in order -- make sense. He's fighting against paranoia and the terrifying sight of the paint on the floors slowly bubbling out of the boards. He's on top of a dusty box, because he can't bring himself to touch the floor even knowing that what he's seeing can't logically be real.]

Hallucinations happened at that time, too. Right before the pain hit. Eventually, it all stopped with an injection. But...

[Well, he doesn't have to say it. If they need an injection for this to stop, there's no real way for anyone to reach them in this storm.]

[That first part made almost no sense to Kunsel, and that fact only makes him more tense. Is this guy trying to avoid answering his question? What does he have to hide?]

What pain? What happened to cause it? Who administered this injection?

[He fires the questions off too quickly for Tadashi to get a word in between, partly because he wants answers, but also because he is desperately trying to distract himself from wondering what the hell is bleeding its way through the roof.

As another drip splatters, he mutters a curse as he has to jump back.]

[Tadashi doesn't have the answers Kunsel needs. The rapid fire questions only serve to put him on edge in return, wondering wildly if he's said too much -- if this guy might be working with Admin and trying to find out just how much Tadashi knows.]

No one knows. I didn't hear about anyone finding the light source that was the precursor. Things got bad. I didn't have a chance to follow up.

[Kunsel makes a noise of frustration, suspicion prickling under his skin that this guy is holding back. It's difficult to ignore the feeling, to give Tadashi the benefit of the doubt.]

How long did they let you hallucinate, then?

[Surely he knows and will admit to that much.]

[ Oh, he's definitely seeing things. He's seeing painting on the walls from which ghosts fliter in and out, laughing softly as they do so. So as not to alarm Zelda or Clem he's been trying to ignore them, to keep his eyes squeezed shut and not attack the same way he had, back in the tunnels when he'd seen the Wallmasters too.

When Zelda had -

Not her fault, not her fault, not her fault. He has to remember that that had not been her fault and not let the cabin fever get to him, not to turn a malcontented memory into fresh anger. ]

Seeing things.

Where do you want to look for - [ He takes a deep breath, shutting out the sound and the sight of Meg ] - the source?

[ Tadashi takes steadying breaths before finally closing his eyes against the bubbling paint on the floor. He can almost feel the heat rising -- see the flicker of flames. It brings to mind another fire. There are jagged fragments of a memory he dismissed while dealing with the avalanche of problems that life in Norfinbury has brought him.

When he keys his audio, his voice is calm. A feigned calm, anyway. ]

I don't know for sure. I just know that there's a clue here. Something's happening. What's different? How is this connecting with that day with the light?

[The last words are shoved out through gritted teeth. Every fiber of his being is demanding he run away, but he needs to push through. Tadashi can't back down from finding a way to help.]

[ Link listens, trying to blot out the rising anger he feels towards his own travel mate, and the increasing desire to... to... he doesn't even know, with Clem. He feels outrageously jealous of her, a girl older than he is but able to grow up properly. A girl about the age of Saria, who isn't here and who he can't talk to, no matter how many times he tries to play her song.

He rubs at his eyes, determined to blot it all out, but with every breath comes the twist of insidious fingers in his mind. He needs something - anything - and he snags one something. ]

What light? What day?

Tadashi?

[ Jim sounds panicky; he's seen enough on the network today to know that something's up, but that doesn't make the sound of spider-legs clicking on the floorboards any less terrifying. ]

Hey, are you still there?

I'm here.

[It takes a lot for Tadashi to send that message. His head feels like there's too much pressure on him -- the walls feel like they're closing in and he's unreasonably afraid that the paint on the floors has become hostile.]

Jim, right? I-- I'm still here. Are you okay -- are you hurt? What's happening?

Yeah, we, uh, kinda talked the other day.

[ Jim is - well. He's not sure if he's okay, or if he's losing his mind. But he's trying not to focus on that, or the occasional eight-legged movement out of the corner of his eye. ]

Is someone there? A monster?

No -- y-- I don't know.

[In the attic, Tadashi lowers his tablet for a moment to press his hands to his face, taking deep breaths as he tries to keep his head straight. Even knowing this can't be real -- knowing he needs to stay calm -- his thoughts are still jangled and jarring. Everything is too close to shattering apart and he knows it is no longer safe here.]

No. It's just the shadows. I'm okay. It's fine.

[But it's not.]

Just - regular shadows? Nothing's attacking you?

[ The last thing they need on top of the blizzard from hell is the shadow monsters. Jim hunches his shoulders a little higher and brings the tablet closer, close enough for his stuttering breath to sound staticky over the microphone before the message abruptly ends. ]

Edited 2015-08-25 03:13 (UTC)

[ Seeing things? Admitting weakness? Hah, those things aren't in the category of things Haku likes to talk about, okay, so he's just going to ignore that part in favor of what else the guy is saying. Because he wants this storm to stop too, since there's something that's making him feel more and more paranoid and he just wants out without freezing to death. ]

What would the source of a storm be in a place like this? [ Hence why he's getting directly to the point here. ]

I don't know.

[His tone is reluctant. Tadashi is itching to have access to the tech and resources that can tell him where this storm came from and when it will be over. And whether or not it's natural. The paranoia is what makes him see the storm as something sinister -- a force that needs to be stopped. One that can be stopped.]

It's strange, isn't it? I'm not the only one affected. I can't see widespread hallucinations the moment a storm hits to be completely unrelated.

[ He's been flicking through the network considering he's had nothing better to do. With that storm blowing in all of a sudden, it's not like he can go anywhere. Not that that's... anything he's all too crazy about. He'd rather be out there. Especially now that he knows Kunsel's out there as well. But hearing Tadashi serves as a reminder that he probably should have contacted him the other day to get an update on how his search for Hiro's going and give him an update, himself. Apparently, not well.

Zack doesn't think twice to hit up the older Hamada brother. ]

Not sure if the entire town's been hit, but it wouldn't surprise me. It's a storm, after all. [ At least he thinks it is. Not entirely sure on that one, what with Tadashi's own word choice. ] It was already here by the time I woke up.

[ There's a pause and some shuffling before he admits: ] Sorry, man. Still haven't found your brother.

I heard it.

[Al has been scouring the network for traces of Tadashi whenever he has a spare moment, even checking the device while walking sometimes, ever since the older boy left the group.

He's just so worried that something will happen. He'd never forgive himself if Tadashi got hurt, or worse, because nobody travelled with him to find his brother. So it's with mingled relief and concern that Al replies to him now.]

It sounds like a big storm, maybe it would be best to wait it out inside?

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[network] @technicalities; Attic Panic [open]

@newangle, video; early morning

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audio; @standardissue; afternoon

audio; @technicalities

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afternoon; @LINK

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evening; voice

voice; ID: technicalities

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sorry! this one got lost in the shuffle.

voice; afternoon (@nanny)

voice; ID: technicalities

early morning; audio; @dreamsnhonor

@LELRIC; audio