snowblindrpg | [log] this is snow joke, we're on thin ice

[Hefting her backpack higher up on her slim shoulders, Mami breathes in slow and deep to gather her focus before picking her way across the divide to the cafeteria. She's been quiet and withdrawn since the blizzard, speaking only when necessary and keeping to herself in a more overt manner than her usual verbal evasiveness.

But today, at least, she can't help but comment on their new surroundings.]

This doesn't look like any school I've ever heard of. The design is all wrong.....not nearly enough glass. It's very strange.

Edited 2015-09-10 03:27 (UTC)

[Freya's noticed Mami's quietness since the thundersnow incident, and she's given the girl her space. She still feels deeply ashamed about some stunts she herself pulled during that night, so she thinks she knows how Mami feels.]

[she carefully picks her way through the rubble, testing slabs of concrete and other debris half-buried in snow before she trusts them with her full weight. When Mami speaks up, she looks back up at the dark, looming shape of the school through the falling snow.]

Mm. Looks nothing like any school I've seen, either, but I'd say it's got far too much glass. ...There's probably a lot of it broken around here in this mess; watch your step.

[says the girl with bare footpaws to the girl wearing shoes, without any irony.]

[Al is awkward with them both after the thundersnow incident. He has spoken to them, but the memories of that night won't be easily forgotten, especially what happened with Freya.]

It looks little like the school I went to in Amestris, just a lot bigger and kind of... futuristic.

[For want of a better term.]

We should stick together here, a lot of people have said they've run into creatures in these hallways and it's best not to get separated in case of that kind of danger.

Of course. And you, as well.

[Hunger and exhaustion have taken their toll, but she still has enough sense of balance to step delicately through the rubble without issue. So long as her progress is slow, anyway, which she tells herself to remember; if the worst happens and they have to flee, this swathe of debris could get them killed.]

My school had entire walls made of glass. Industrial strength, you understand. And it was taller than this one, which can't be higher than two floors.

[A pause to glance skyward, squinting up at the rough outline of the school's exposed insides. Then, to Al, but without looking at him:]

If they're anything like the rest, we can't fight them. We need a plan of action that doesn't unravel into a fight for martyrdom.

[Freya nearly catches her foot on a brick when Mami of all people says that, and uses lots of self-control to keep from looking at her in astonishment, or at Al, or Ed. Card-carrying members of the foolish brave martyr club, every one. At last, she finds her voice:]

I'll say. Every one of us who goes in there is coming out again, no matter what.

What about this: if a monster spots us, we'll all make a run together for the nearest room, and block the door. If worse comes to worse, we can wait through the night. The monster that trapped Tadashi and Stephanie and me was gone by morning...

[she's forgotten for the moment that the school doesn't let people stay the night.]

[Excuse you, Mami, there are no members of the martyr club here.

He glances down at her, sure that's a dig about being thrown through the window again, but he lets it go in favour of coming up with an actual plan.]

No, that wouldn't work, you can't stay here overnight.

[He will never forget watching that footage, it's etched into his mind.]

I saw somebody try once, they were forced out into the snow with no way to get to shelter before night fell and...

[They died is implicit, he can't make himself say it.]

[#when real talk is 2 real]

...it was to their cost. Mm, the veterinary office was the same.

[She says it with the cold, blunt ease of someone used to such things, although the harshness is dampened by genuine regret. The loss of a life is a shame; they couldn't have known that the building would force them out.]

Here's my suggestion: I think we ought to search the place as quickly as we can, whether all together or in pairs. We know that we can't stay, so barricading ourselves inside the school is too risky. If we have to run away, we need to have enough daylight left to make it to actual shelter.

[She keeps looking forward, keeps walking, focusing on making it through each step and each exhausting sentence.]

If a situation calls for someone to act as bait.....we need to prepare for that ahead of time. Make a plan and stick to it. No more arguing in the heat of the moment or abruptly deciding things on our own, because that only jeopardizes things and damages the trust we need to have as a survival unit. It's bad enough that we can be turned against each other by outside influences, don't you think?

I won't pretend to be an innocent party, and I apologize for my previous actions. But in the here and now, I'm willing to compromise for the sake of the group if it will make our shared future a little less perilous.

[ Ed, for the most part, has been quiet, observing their surroundings first and foremost. the school is incredibly creepy, of course, and if they couldn't stay here overnight, they'd have to be careful how much time they spent here before the daylight ran out. ]

She's right. Pairs might be safest -- seems like some of these things are huge or they run in packs, so on our own we won't even begin to stand a chance.

[ especially since they're without weapons. ] If we need someone to act as bait, I can do it. [ after all, he has a pair of prosthetic limbs that can take a little more damage than the rest of them, though he'd rather they didn't. better than seeing the others hurt, though. ] But you're right, this place isn't... well, they're definitely trying to pit us against one another. We can't let them win.

[she shivers when Al mentions that person's fate, and then she remembers—yes, she's heard too that this school is one of those buildings that forces people out at night. Like the convenience store. The dark, broken-open facade of the school seems even more ominous in light of that.]

[she looks at Ed in surprise when he volunteers himself, but bites back the impulse to argue. It's best to stick to a plan.]

Mm. They want to break our trust in each other. And break us, altogether. [she looks up at the school and growls at it:] Well, that's not going to happen.

[she crosses a slab of concrete covered in ice, and holds out her hand to Mami in case she wants some help over it.] ...Right; a plan. I like the idea of pairing up—there's four of us, so that works nicely. We'll explore more efficiently, that way, and draw less attention.

...I also say that we look for the kitchens, take all we can carry, and leave straightaway. ...If there is food, after all.

[they've got priorities, and she's not risking her life wandering through the rest of a ghost-and-monster-infested school all afternoon if she can help it. Although, privately, part of her wants to come back here alone to snoop around, at some point.]

Edited 2015-09-12 18:04 (UTC)

[Al glances sharply at Ed when his brother offers to use himself as bait, instead of offering the more sensible choice of Al himself. But he trusts Ed, and his fighting abilities, enough to not make a scene out of it. His brother isn't idiot enough to willingly sacrifice himself, not after the punching Al had dealt out after his first fight with Scar.]

Mm, I agree, pairs will work to cover the ground a lot faster. I suggest that Brother go with Mami, and I'll go with Freya.

[His natural instinct is to stick by Ed, but the truth is that there's nobody he trusts in a pinch more than his brother. That means he'd rather there be one Elric per pair in order to protect the other person. He knows Ed will understand and probably feel the same way.]

If anything goes wrong with either group then Brother and I will draw off any trouble, and you two meet outside the school to go for cover. Ed and I will make sure to follow as soon as we can. Okay?

Supplies should be our first priority, yes.

[She accepts Freya's help without hesitation despite the awkwardness and tension, placing her feet just so to avoid having them slip out from under her. In a way, it's not too different from running along a tightrope of swaying ribbon, so she manages well enough.

Murmured thanks, then she takes her hand back.]

Anyone who is going to be bait should be whoever can run the fastest, especially since fighting ability means nothing against the creatures in this place. The goal is to be a distraction, not a sacrifice.

[A glance to each brother, one eyebrow raised.]

I don't see a reason why the two of you can't be a pair, being brothers and all. I'm sure I'll be just fine with Freya-san.

[ he does understand, of course, what his brother is thinking. they work well together and apart. but there isn't much logic to the pairings, not when they're all equally matched. ]

Yeah, we might need speed for the bait. Who's the fastest? I can be, but probably not as fast as some of you.

[ although his arm and leg are made of a lighter metal, it's still metal, which weighs him down somewhat. ] And we'll want to pick a meeting point, if we have to run, somewhere we can meet up once the danger is clear. But the kitchens are as good of a place to start as any. They might have paper, cleaning supplies. If we can find chemicals, like ammonia, alcohol... we can start fires easier.

[ he sighs, shrugging his shoulders. ] The longer we debate this, the more daylight we lose. I don't want to see this place as it starts to get dark. [ he shrugs, looking to Mami. ] I'm not that bad, jeez. [ he folds his arms over his chest. ] I'm no Al, but. [ a shrug, a small grin. they had to try and joke occasionally, right? things got too dark here sometimes. ]

[Ed's right about wasting time, so she says without hesitation:]

I'm the fastest. If trouble shows up, I'll be the one to draw it away, and the rest of you head for that little shed on the other side of the building. [she points towards where she remembers seeing it marked on one of the maps.]

I'll come and meet you once I've shaken anything following me.

[she looks up at Al.]

Alphonse—if I pair up with you, you can take my pack if I need to run. The weight would slow me down, but not you.

[she remembers how easily he scooped up Mami and ran with her. Best huge metal friend.]

[A sardonic edge creeps into her habitual little smile of polite composure, or maybe that's just strain.]

It's nothing personal, Edward-san. I just think that any pairs we form should make sense.

[However capable the brothers might be in their world, the rules are different in this one. Things have changed. She's willing to compromise, not be led around by the nose.]

The shed is a good idea, though. Maybe a tight fit, but it would suffice.

[He really isn't happy about the idea that Freya or Mami should use themselves as bait, especially since he has long legs to run fast as well as being mostly invulnerable (or so he mistakenly assumes).]

Yeah, okay, I guess so.

[He does know the wisdom of not arguing when time is short, though, he can just work on it if the need arises. But he still wants one Elric per team if possible, so he'll try a different tactic.]

Maybe I should come with you, then, Mami? Then there'll be one person in each team who can r-- [Wow, he almost said reach things high up, but then Ed might have murdered him.] --run fast.

[She takes the time to muster up a stronger smile for him, something oh so sweet and yet.....off. Edged and brittle in a way that's difficult to pin down, the suggested warmth not meeting her eyes.]

I'm likely the slowest one in the group, so I'm unfit to be a distraction no matter who I'm with.

[At least when it comes to the speed needed to survive. In terms of being expendable fodder, on the other hand, she believes she has them all beat by a wide margin.]

You can still stay with your brother, you know. You're the best at watching each other's backs, I'm sure.

Yeah, Brother and I know how to watch each other's backs, and that means we know how to watch your backs too.

[He's not giving up on this, moving to stand stubbornly next to Mami.]

Come on, we shouldn't waste more time arguing.

Not nearly as well, of course.

[Said too calmly and with such lofty certainty, this time without looking at him, and then she's walking right on ahead into the school proper.]

Who's wasting time? We're here. The cafeteria first, right? Let's see.....it ought to be this way.

What are you two trying to say, huh?

[ because really, Al, making fun of your brother who can't reach things? a quick way to be in more trouble. an angry Ed is more dangerous than a pack of monsters here. ]

We should meet back here at the entrance, once we've gotten some supplies. [ he nods, but there is a very distinct, sharp look thrown at Mami this time. ] We can watch our backs and your backs and not even break a sweat! [ prideful Elric, stand down. ] Freya and I can start on the other side of this place, if you two want to search ahead?

[Freya, already frustrated with this weird game of musical chairs everyone's trying to play with each other, takes a very deliberate step next to Ed.]

Oh, let's just get on with it, please! All right, Edward, I'm with you.

[she steps into the broken school hallway, too, lowering her voice.]

All right; there must be more than one way to the kitchens, in a place this size. Ed and I will take one, and Mami and Al, you another. [she pauses, then looks at Mami curiously.] ...You sound like you know what you're doing. Been here before?

[UGH, FINE!! Deliberately ignoring everything that's not Freya's question.]

School layouts are pretty standard, after a point. It's going to be on the first floor and near the center of the building. So, fairly close to our current location.

[She idly kicks a last piece of debris out of the way.]

We've been walking through the remains of an auditorium.

[This is going to end in a massive fist fight between Mami and Ed, isn't it, while Freya and Al facepalm on the sidelines.]

It's kind of sad to see it so broken down.

[Poor school. But he nods and moves closer to Mami, even going so far as to rest a hand on her shoulder lightly.]

Come on, we'll go left and you two go right. We'll meet back at the entrance in one hour, okay? If you need help, or something happens, call us on the tablets.

[ everything with Mami and Ed ends in a fight, of course, but luckily they're focused now on picking a direction. ]

We'll catch up with you guys, okay?

[ it's sad to see the school in such disarray, but then it's sad to see the whole city like this, to know that something very bad happened here once. he turns to Freya then, giving a nod. ]

Same for you two, Al, call us if something happens. We'll get there as quick as we can. Let's go, Freya.

[ probably better he's traveling with Freya -- they seem to get along better than Mami and Ed do. Mami and Ed would likely wake all the monsters with their yelling! ]

[Never put a cold, cynical blonde and a hot-blooded shounen blonde together, it only leads to regret.]

Mm, understood.

[There's a moment where she debates slapping Al's hand away, but it wouldn't change anything — she already fought the tide, and this time the tide won. So instead, she gives it a brief pat of acknowledgement and keeps walking forward.]

Good luck. We'll see you soon.

[she tips her hat to Al and Mami, hoping that's true, then turns and walks past Ed down the hall. She's hoping he'll let her take point without having to ask, but she's also anticipating him trying to move in front of her, too. Damn shounen protagonists.]

Edited 2015-09-25 18:05 (UTC)

general

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threadjack for group thread?

who let you people in here

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Sorry for the wait

it's all good u nerd

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should we split off into two separate threads now, if peeps want to continue?