[log] MINGLE BELLS, MINGLE BELLS [open]

[phaseshifter]

Characters: Bunker inhabitants! Visiting anomalies? COME SAY HI
Location: The bunker and its immediate surroundings
Date: Uhhh we can just make this the mingle for the ooc month of december? Since it's the holidays and everyone is slow and yeah
Summary: BUNKER MINGLE
Warnings: Add em in subject lines!



Bunker area setting page

WRITE YER STARTERS

Comments

Squalo

[sharktrash]

-- late 430/early 431;

[ It's almost lockdown when Squalo reaches the bunker entrance, and he practically tumbles in through the gate, still making sure to close it behind himself. The last thing he needs is Angelnomaly nesting inside here with him right now. He nearly faceplants into the mold several times until he finally makes it into one of the safe areas, possibly part-crawling at that point, and promptly passes out as soon as he's aware it's not going to fucking kill him. ]

[ Too stubborn to die, this one. ]

[ He doesn't look too well, either. His face's even paler than usual, tired to the point of almost looking older, and there's a smattering of purple glitter down his left cheek, except upon closer inspection it becomes apparent they're actually tiny shiny crystals embedded in his skin. Just like the few bigger ones on his upper arm that seem to have torn through his clothes, although the weird shape of his sleeve suggests there's more of them that haven't broken through the layers of clothing. ]

[ Care to shake him awake or wait for it to occur naturally and say hello? ]


-- onward;

[ Later on, Squalo can be found around the bunker doing bunker-y things, probably, except now he's free of the crystals and instead half-wrapped into a wide selection of bandages, band-aids and whatnot. There's more of them than can be seen, obviously, and the biggest holes in his sleeve may have been patched up by now. ]

[ He may be grumpier than usual or the opposite - just a bit too calm. Maybe someone let him into their drug supply. Har har. ]


::

[ If a few days pass and Xanxus has not made an appearance, however, he will be getting visibly restless, almost panicky, and may be spotted packing or, eventually, suspiciously hanging around the exit at odd hour in the morning, as if planning to leave. In his current state, it's definitely a bad idea. ]


-- wildcard;

[ let's plot yo ]

late 430 OBVS;

[phaseshifter]

[ Well. WELL.

This is not how Angel expected this particular reunion to go. She'd anticipated happy yelling and some fussing and maybe, just maybe being able to sneak in a stealthy hug. Because Squalo's back! And that's the best thing that's happened all week!!

But what she gets is a staggering glowy almost-corpse, and the sight of Squalo being so fucking un-Squalolike shocks her into silence. Without his usual boisterous demeanour, he almost seems like a stranger. It's horribly unsettling.

But then he actually collapses what the fuck and Angel scurries towards him with a yelp. Oh shit. Oh fuck. ]

Oh my god don't you dare die, you asshole - wake up!

[ she kneels, pulling his head into her lap as carefully as she can so that she doesn't touch the eridium and make him start bleeding, and taps at the unaffected side of his face. It's not quite a slap, but it's close. SHE'S PANICKING, OKAY, ]

[sharktrash]

[ SORRY ABOUT THAT, BABE. You can't always get what you want. Maybe later? On the bright side, he's definitely not going to resist hugs while unconscious. ]

[ Aaaaand it's gone. ]

[ The slapping's effective enough and his eyes open again, FULL OF SUFFERING except there's also a hint of a triumphant grin and oh look, he actually looks like himself there. Himself with a generous helping of glowy. ]

Told you I'd get here.

[ this asshole, ]

[phaseshifter]

Oh my god you douchebag.

[ There's a distinct lack of venom there. Probably because the worry and the annoyance are both taking up all of Angel's brain right now and everything else can eat a dick.

She kind of wants to slap him again. And also kiss him. Unfortunately for Squalo, these are not sexy thoughts. ]

Why didn't you tell me it was this bad? I'd have met you halfway or something, there was no need for - you are such an asshole!!

[ An asshole who's getting his head tilted to one side so she can look at his blingeed cheek better. It doesn't seem too bad, at least? Unlike the rest. How the fuck has he made it all the way here in this state what the fuck wHAT THE FUCK!! ]

[sharktrash]

[ Like the douchebag he is, he starts fucking laughing. ]

[ It sort of falls short with a wheeze and he grips his damaged arm with his other hand, though. Apparently that hurts. ]

Why, so you can spend a week twiddling thumbs and going out of your mind? It's not that bad. [ right? RIGHT??? he honestly has no idea what qualifies as "bad" eridium exposure but he imagines it'd be something like foot long crystals all over the body and he's pretty good compared to that, so. haha. tis only a flesh wound ]

[ look he's basically saying he didn't want you to worry that's good points right ]

[phaseshifter]

Don't laugh, you butt!!

[ Except wait. Laughing is good, right? Sort of? Despite the discomfort it seems to cause? At least he's lucid and not, like. Dying.

Oh god what if he's dying. ]

It looks... pretty bad. Help me get your coat off so I can assess it better? I don't wanna touch it until I know you'll be alright when it gets removed - I mean, can - can you handle some blood loss right now?

[ Because, you know. HALF CORPSE. THIS IS THE WORST!! ]

Onward and upward

[clowngirl]

[Wow, Squalo, you look like crap. Don't worry, Harley is going to greet you in the nicest way possible-- by cheerfully lobbing a hackey-sack at your head.]

What's up, bunker buddy?

woo

[sharktrash]

[ He looks like crap and he must be feeling like crap too, because the sack hits him on the side of head with a dull thud. He just sort of turns and looks at it for a moment, then finally remembers to get angry. ]

What the fuck was that for?!

[ Still, he's glad to see her. He likes her, it's nice that she's alive, all that. Even if... some shit had gone down. Listen, being weird as he is, getting clobbered with a hairbrush just made him have more respect for her, for the most part. ]

[clowngirl]

To see if you're still alive. [And he barely passed. No physical retaliation or anything! It's a little worrying. She plops down next to him.] What the heck happened to you?

[sharktrash]

How fuckin' nice of you.

[ There's no venom there, though. He does appreciate it, aside from being stingy with who he lets physically abuse him. She's still his friend, alright. A friend who cares, and that's just swell. And listen, maybe he's just trying to be a gentleman here! Sometimes a guy just wants a break from hitting girls! ]

[ He gives her an emphasized suffering look. ]

Y'know, it all really boils down to "I may have stuck my dick somewhere I shouldn't have".

[clowngirl]

Guys do that a lot, don't they? [But she'll attempt sympathizing by patting... well, whatever random area of torso doesn't have a bandage over it. There, there. She's such a good friend!] Come on now, tell Harley alllll about it, champ...

Flexible on day, what is time anyway. Open to everyone!

[warriorscribe]

A: ANOMALY - outside the bunker

[Enoch has always been affection-starved. But this transformation has felt more isolating than anything. Sure, there are his fellow anomalies, but it still hurts that even knowing about all of them, people are still afraid of his appearance, or disgusted by his newly liquid composition.

Surely, if he waits where people are, he will find someone who will accept him. He's waiting outside the bunker, halfway blocking the stairs, for someone to acknowledge him. He doesn't seem to realize just how well he blends in with the snow. If you're on the half he's not on, enjoy the sudden nosebleed for no apparent reason. If you happen to approach or leave from his half? Well, you'll have a nosebleed and a tripping hazard.]


B: Normal + anomaly - outside the bunker

[Enoch himself is one of those people who happens to show up when the anomaly does. Someone approaching or exiting will find him and a white blob with his face conversing outside the bunker. They give off an air of tension, both sounding quite pained.]

I thought you of all people would understand. But you're like the rest. I'm...too disgusting to consider treating like a person.

Please, listen to me, I'm trying to tell you why - you're so much stronger than you think you are. Remember what we could do with the Veil? Miller has taken the unconscious control of that strength we've always had away from you!

The only thing he's taken from me is my body! And he gave it to you. You're not even a perfect copy, you-...if you were me, you wouldn't care about my appearance.

It isn't about your appearance! You've hurt others already. Rhys, and Dumpy, and who knows who else you've encountered-

I'm not hurting anyone! It's what Miller wanted and I'm not giving it to him! It's not as bad as you say.

When-...when we find a way to fix this, you'll understand.

There's nothing to understand, other than I'm not wanted. They'll believe you over me, because you still look like you're meant to.

[The anomaly slumps, the face melting back into its liquid body.] I'll-...I'll go. If my appearance is truly that upsetting, I'll go. That, I can believe hurts others...whether it's right or not.

[The anomaly turns and shuffles off into the snow, leaving a faint trail that fills in quickly in the snowfall. Enoch folds his arms tight and draws a deep breath, shaky with restrained tears.]

B!

[phaseshifter]

[ It doesn't take long after the anomaly leaves for a comforting hand to make its way to Enoch's back. The hand is pretty firmly attached to Angel, just fyi. If that wasn't obvious already. ]

This is the worst, isn't it. For them, I mean. For us it's just the, um. Second worst. Which is still pretty freaking bad.

[ Poor Enochnomaly. Peering out from the bunker entrance is the first time she's spotted him, and she kind of wants to run and follow the trail so she can go and hug him or something.

She's not going to, but. Poor thing. ]

[warriorscribe]

[For a bit, the only reaction he has is a subtle lean back into her hand. He can be comforted. His anomaly...can't, without extreme risk. He thinks about how his instinctive response to this is to turn and hug her back. About how his anomaly would crush her if he tried to do the same. And he can't bring himself to do it.]

They are their own isolation. After whatever they endured...

[phaseshifter]

I wonder why they don't seem to stick together. Well - except for the ones who are obviously incompatible, or... or, um, overly ornery.

[ She's probably answered her own question there, hasn't she. That and hanging with changed versions of friends and family is probably a painful reminder of everything that's happened to them.

Which reminds her - crap. ]

Speaking of ones that're, um, meaner - if Beckett's starts haunting this area too, don't engage. I know that's almost too much to ask, but just. Don't.

[warriorscribe]

[Enoch sucks in a breath, also laced with further tears.]

I don't know that there's anything I can do for him in the first place. And yet- I don't know that I could simply walk away from him, either.

[He swallows down the bitter thought that the very person who has led him to embrace living forever, who himself lived better immortal to the point of discarding his original identity, has a twisted version that represents death and decay.]

We- we need to fix this, somehow, or do something.

cw: fantasy narcotics use for prompt 1? SORT OF?

[phaseshifter]

1 - late day 430; OTA;

[ Well. Angel sure is glowy this evening. Even more than usual. The soft light that normally radiates from her eyes and tattoos is both harsher and imbued with a slight violet cast - she could probably be used as a blacklight, if someone is inclined to do so.

Except maybe not. Because that would involve getting up and moving around, and it seems like Angel is perfectly content to remain slumped on the floor while she turns her tablet around in her hands. The back of it is covered in stick-on rhinestones, and apparently watching the light play across those is the most fascinating thing Angel has ever seen in her life.

Yeah. She's high as fuck. Somehow. So mysterious. She isn't too high to greet anyone who comes close enough, though. ]

Dude. Have you seen this? More things should be covered in jewels and stuff. It's so pretty.

[ RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN. ]

 

2 - any day until 428; OTA; hey it's anomalygel;

[ There's a puddle outside the bunker. A purple, glowy puddle that trails past the building and out of sight past the side of it. You shouldn't step in it, unless you want to feel weak and nauseous for the next hour or two, and you really shouldn't follow it.

Except there's a noise. The sound of a woman crying. Angel, if you know her well enough to recognise the voice.

Maybe you've heard Angel talking about how her anomaly doesn't want to hurt people. Maybe the purple puddle and the nosebleed that starts as you follow it just aren't enough to put you off helping someone in distress. Or maybe you just want to point and laugh? Whatever. The point is that if you follow the trail around the corner, you'll see this.

She seems very upset. ]

I'm sorry! I didn't - didn't know anyone was outside, um. Hello?

1

[warriorscribe]

[He doesn't know the first thing about sirens and eridium. So all he knows is...she's high on something, and he has no idea how she could have found anything that could do that to her. Except, there's vicodin floating around among people still, isn't there? Is she injured? Sick? Is that what's making her eyes and tattoos glow strangely?

Trying to hide his overt concern for a futile moment, he sits beside her with a forced smile.]

I'm sure you would get along with the old nobility of Uruk. They used gems in whatever they could.

[To flaunt their status, but...]

[phaseshifter]

[ Aww yesssss, it's Enoch. Enoch is good peoples, and Angel decides that the best way to show her appreciation for his presence is to smush her cheek against his shoulder without taking her eyes off her sparkly-ass tablet.

Awesome. ]

Like what? Oh, did they have diamond ponies? Dad had - Jack had one of those back home.

[ She frowns briefly at the slip - it's been a long time since she called Jack dad - but it passes quickly. The sparkles are still very distracting, okay. ]

She was really pretty. Not very - not very good for petting, but...

[warriorscribe]

[The slip worries him too, and that's where he can't hide it.]

Do you- do you mean a statue of a pony made of diamond?

[That would be the reasonable assumption but she's clearly out of it so he can't tell and is very much concerned. Naturally, in any other discussion of said not-actually-a-stallion, he would be perfectly willing to believe some other planet had pony-like creatures with glittery rock-hard skin.]

[phaseshifter]

What? No! No, that'd just be - I mean, that sounds tacky. And statues suck. There's no point to them? They just stand - stand there, stupidly, like big stupid monuments to stupidity. They're stupid. Where was I going with this...?

 

 

 

Oh, yeah. Butt Stallion was a living horse. Is a living horse? I guess it depends on how you look at all the - the time stuff, you know? Because we're all from different times and time lines and it's like a big bowl of time soup with stuff kinda. Floating in it.

[ She waves the hand that isn't clutching her tablet in the air to demonstrate. It's a very unsteady sort of gesture, but whatever. ]

Like that. Floating. I used to float! I miss that. I wish I'd got her to give me my wings back before she started staticking at me.

[ She being the admin. Because, uh. Angel may have been sending her messages and getting nothing but static back for several days now.

BUT WHY TELL ANYONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AM I RIGHT ]

2, sometime past 431 as discussed

[sharktrash]

[ Bitch don't tell him what he shouldn't do. ]

[ Really, Squalo's not all that excited about seeing Angelnomaly again or anything. It's just... a lot of coincidences, one after another. He likes slipping out of the bunker for a bit whenever he has the chance, getting some proper fresh air. And then there's the fact that John's come up with that plan of anomalyriddance which is... well, good, honestly. But then there are a few anomalies that don't seem to kill anyone, and their sense of self really is something. He wouldn't care to know this, but spending several days with one and no other entertainment but conversation really lets you learn a lot. ]

[ So when he spots that very, very (UGH) familiar puddle, he has half a mind to follow that slime track and see if maybe she's nearby. ]

[ When he hears ugly sobbing (UGH) in unmistakeably Angel's voice (UGH), it kind of cements that decision. ]

[ He's still giving wide berths whenever turning a corner, just to be safe and keep a comfortable amount of distance, but he's walking. Hopefully she hadn't floated off that far, considering he could hear her. That or she was crying that loudly. ]

[ The thought was gross and also made him uncomfortable in an irritating way. It wasn't even Angel, not really, not that he'd find any comfort in it if it was her; caring was stupid, and a strong preference for another not to be in pain even more so. ]

...uh. Hey.

[phaseshifter]

[ To say Angelnomaly is miserable is like saying that Norfinbury is a little chilly sometimes. Everything sucks. Everything. She hates her stupid alien body. She hates that the admin hasn't fixed her yet. She hates that Fake Angel has all her friends. She hates that Fake Angel has her tablet, even though she's in the stupid freaking bunker most of the time where she can't use it. She hates being out in the cold and she hates people being scared of her and she hates-- ]

Squalo??

[ FINALLY, SOMETHING SHE DOESN'T HATE. Someone. Whatever. She attempts to wipe away her gross slag tears with her clumsy-ass bony hands, which goes about as well as you'd expect, and she quickly abandons the endeavour in favour of resisting the urge to float over and hug him.

It's a very powerful urge okay THIS SUCKS ]

You're alive! I've been so worried!! I thought because - because you were in such bad shape and so far from other people, that maybe - does it hurt? Are you being taken care of?

[ She floats backwards just a bit, just to ensure that she doesn't unthinkingly touch him mid-fuss or something. Look, she's learning from her mistakes! Honest!! ]

[sharktrash]

[ Okay can she even feel cold though? The rest is sort of reasonable. Except that she's PROBABLY the Fake Angel here, but Squalo might actually be tactful enough not to mention it if she doesn't bring it up. ]

[ He'd be half-tempted to help her with the slag tears but 1) that would require coming into hugging distance and 2) he likes his gloves. The thought still counts though. ]

Yeah, I'm -- not dead! [ That sounds cheerful enough but a second later he senses danger and raises both hands warningly. He can practically SEE that urge in her whole form. ] NO HUGGING.

[ look what you did, Angel, he's got hug anxiety ]

I'm... fine. [ Mostly. He can move again without falling over. That's nice! ] How, uh, how've you been?

[ AWKWARD ]

[phaseshifter]

[ Welp. She puts her hands behind her back and floats just a teensy bit further away - maybe that'll be reassuring?

IT SURE WOULD HELP IF SHE COULD JUST HUG HIM BETTER, THO ]

I'm not - I'm not gonna hug you! No touching. I'll remember, this time. I promise.

[ Urgrhgrhrh. She's pretty sure that sounds even more pathetic than it feels. It might be even more embarrassing than the slag tears. ]

I've been - you know, as. As fine as it gets. [NOT FINE AT ALL.] Kinda weird being alone, but - but you know what happens when I'm not alone, so. I'll get used to it! Or get fixed. Preferably the latter.

[ AWKWARD INTENSIFIES, ]