( [A] Network; Text | Morning )

[ He missed the spotlight that morning, but he's certainly woken up to something... strange. Is that... someone singing? It's coming from his tablet. Which he's pretty sure he let it go to sleep or something. Nothing comes from it unless he activates it, he's pretty sure. But... it's also new technology. So, you never know. He'll try not to sound annoyed at least. ] hey. I'm not sure who's singing and it's not like it's bad but. could you uh. stop doing it on here? [ At least it woke him up so he can remember to footnote this though. ] by the way anyone know a place to pick up some grub? I think I'm good for a few more days yet but a guy's gotta eat you know?

still no luck on that screwdriver Tadashi?

( [B] Network; Text | Afternoon )

[ ...And that singing is. Still happening. And no one knows the source. And that should be creepy to him. Like. Very creepy. But there's also something about it... like it's meant to be soothing.

Like hell he's gonna follow it. Like hell he's gonna go crazy like Sephiroth. Especially as it seems to fight him. Makes a slow pressure start to build up in his head every single time it seems to be almost... unhappy with where he's walking. Silhouettes of someone... or something in the corner of his eye. Get a grip, Zack.

A distraction. He needs a distraction. ]

that singing's really gotta stop. it's giving me a headache. think I would rather be a frog at this point.

( [C] Network; Text | Evening )

is any [ Nothing follows after that. No correction. No nothing. ]

[ Anyone who responds to him might notice that as time wears on, his own responses slowly become more and more infrequent. Time lapses more and more between them. By the evening, he quits responding at all. Maybe he went to sleep...? Wanna leave a voicemail? ]

Characters: Alphonse Elric and Tadashi Hamada
Location O11, Building 118
Date: Day 011, Night
Summary: Some serious discussions
Warnings: Death talk

( Read more... )

[ the video opens shakily, the boy's face a little puffy and red, dark rings under his eyes like he hasn't slept over night. he's not entirely meant to turn the video on but he doesn't hustle to change it, either. it's early, maybe too early for most people to be up, he thinks. ]

What happens when someone dies? I... I have seen so many people come back, but how will we know if they will?

[ his voice comes out a little steadier than he'd thought it would, honestly. he takes a deep breath. ] How long did everyone have to wait before they came back? I... I think I'd just like to know.

And if they don't come back, what do you do then? How do you even get to say goodbye somewhere like this? Is there absolutely no way out when the doors are locked? When someone gets--

[ another deep breath. ]

Sorry.

Characters: Alphonse Elric, Tadashi Hamada, Stephanie Brown, and Mami Tomoe
Location On the border of L10 and L11
Date: Day 10, Late Morning
Summary: Two sets of wanderers spot each other going in opposite directions and team up.
Warnings: None

( Read more... )

A: Network (Voice); 8am - Open

I've been doing some thinking.

[Al jumps right into it, as all forms of 'hello it's me' he rehearsed in his head, seemed stupid and awkward. He sounds content, though determined.]

My previous advice to travel westwards and southwards may not be the best now. I've been as far west and south as I can, and I've found almost nothing in the way of food or water supplies to sustain just me, let alone more of us. We need to find a place where we can scavenge, or even hunt, and that isn't to the southwest. If anyone has found any clues to where we could find anything to help us survive, please share it with us.

I know a few of you already know this, but Stephanie started a map that we're trying to put together collaboratively. It's not an exact map, that's impossible without the dimensions of this place or a frame of reference, but it's possible for us to start filling in routes based on where we have travelled in relation to the snow wall. You can find it here. The more people that can help with this, the better for all of us.

[He pauses, before exhaling audibly.]

Finally... there have been more deaths reported, and I know at least one more of them never talked to anyone here on the network. Please, if you're out there listening, don't make that mistake. We're a team here, you have to talk to us and trust us. We need to start thinking of each other as friends, not just as strangers stuck here, and that means learning about one another. So... won't you all talk to me? Tell me where you come from, and who's waiting for you to come home?

B: Closed to Clarke (Action; Day 008)

[Aside from a brief meeting with a woman early in his travels, Al has seen nobody else in person here. So it surprises him deeply when, as he is tramping through the snow, he catches sight of something out of the ordinary amongst the sea of white.

A splash of colour.

A person!

It only takes a heartbeat for Al to start running towards her, arms waving wildly to try and get her attention.]

Here! Over here!

C: Closed to Tadashi (Action; Day 009)

[After meeting with Clarke the previous day, the two of them had struck out together under the assumption that it was better to stick together. Perhaps in the enthusiasm of seeing someone else, or perhaps just out of necessity, it was close to the warning period when they eventually came upon shelter that day.

After a quick look inside, Al has slipped out again to inspect the perimeter before lockdown. Imagine his surprise when he sees a familiar figure walking towards him. He may only have seen Tadashi over the video of the tablet, but he recognises him at once. The same probably can't be said in reverse, as Al always uses the voice function. So Tadashi may not be too happy about being charged down by a seven foot suit of armour with large spikes.]

D: Closed to house 60, square J11 (Action, Day 009

[Quite a few people are surprisingly converging on the same house this evening, all looking for shelter against the night cold. This section is an open one for all people in house 60 to interact with one another, not just Al.]

[It's been a long day. Maybe one of the longest Tadashi has experienced until now. At first he was hopeful about a rescue or finding a way out, but it's been three days now -- four days for some of the others. He's still hopeful, but the cold is starting to get to him. He hasn't found anything warmer to wear and he's fairly sure that Mochi is the only reason he hasn't frozen to death. His food is running low, too. If he rations it and is smart, he feels like he can stretch it for three more days. Which makes the looming question return every time he thinks about how light his backpack is becoming: will he find food by then? The first day will be rough, but the following days will be dangerous if he doesn't resupply quickly.

Reluctantly, despite the fatigue that's settled deep in his bones, Tadashi turns on his video feed and offers a weary smile.]

This is Tadashi Hamada. Again. And this is the end of my third day in Norfinbury.

[Since he saw that key card, he's going to assume that's the name of where they are until new evidence presents itself.]

I found a landmark today -- a veterinarian clinic right up against the wall of snow to the south. I left a message saying I'm going west, so if anyone else finds it, that's where I went. I haven't found food anywhere around it, and it had an... odd feeling about it. I don't recommend it as a base.

[He rubs at his eyes, and covers a yawn. He just has to stay awake a little longer.]

I made it to a place to stay the night and I found something. I've attached a photo if anyone's interested. It looks like it might lead to a basement, but it's sealed shut. When I tried to break it down, I realized that it's solid metal. It's too unusual to ignore, so I plan to come back if I can find any tools that might help me get inside. I guess that's all for now. I hope to see everyone tomorrow.

[He reaches forward and disconnects the feed.]

Attachment: One picture of the door in building 122

[He was not particularly fond of the fact that these devices could broadcast videos but hey it could come in handy at times. Such as this. On the screen was a bunch of snow but above that snow was a small, black card that resembled an SD card for the tablet being held tentatively between forefinger and thumb. Max had no idea what the thing was for but he took it with him anyway. A quick search of his tablet had found a slot where it might fit. But was that a good idea?]

What does it do?

[The gruff voice was short, to the point, and did not bother to clarify any more than that.]

A: Network (Voice); 11am - Open

There was a death.

[His voice is sombre, with an undercurrent of anger. How dare these faceless strangers pull people into whatever this is, and then let one of them die? He can't imagine how scared this person must have been, so far away from home and loved ones, and now he'll never see them again.]

I don't know how many of you saw that, but a man called Klaus Mikaelson has died. I don't know how, or why, or who the people are that told us this, but... But I know that he has to be the only one. We can't let anyone else die here, no matter what. We have to work together and find the answers to what's going on, so we can all get back home. I didn't speak to Klaus Mikaelson, but I'm not going to make that mistake again. I'm going to get to know every person here, because we're all in the same situation and I'm not going to let anyone fall through the cracks.

[Whether or not you wanted to be on Team Elric is irrelevant, Al will make friends with you all.]

The first thing we need to do is establish a base and start bringing supplies there. I know it's hard because none of us know this place, but we need to find a way to not keep wandering without a concrete direction. I've moved as far west and north as I could from where I got here, and I found a wall edging me on both sides. I went back a little way to a house I'd found, and now I'm moving south to see how far I can get that way. Please, if you hear this, try to move west and south... if we all do this, we'll all eventually end up in the same place. While you're travelling, make sure to leave marks anywhere you spend the night, so anyone following knows someone else has passed that way, okay?

B: Network (Voice) & Action to anyone travelling between D2 and D5; 11am - Open

[Al is struggling.

He's not moving nearly as fast as he did on the first days he was here, and he seems to be getting worse. His legs feel heavier and heavier, he feels somehow light-headed, and there are odd pains coming from his stomach. He's doing his best to ignore them, because he knows that it's impossible for him to truly be feeling anything physical, but it's getting harder and harder to ignore.

Finally, when he stumbles and lands on his knees in a snowdrift, almost passing out, he decides it's time to speak up and ask if anyone else is suffering the same things.]

Is anyone-- uh, I mean... is everyone okay? I've been feeling sort of light headed since the injections, is anyone else feeling that way?

[Except it's been since before the injections, and he knows that in his heart, but he doesn't want to admit it. Al is suffering from not eating anything since he arrived, because he doesn't realise that he even can eat now, let alone that he has to here.]

[His second morning here hasn't gone well. It shows from the bags under his eyes as the video feed starts for his network post. He's exhausted from his searching yesterday -- even if he didn't go very far. The doors locking last night put him ill at ease, and he had stayed up late, just listening for any signs of life outside all night.

This is Tadashi Hamada.

[His voice is scratchy from grogginess and he presses a hand over his eyes to try to relieve the burning that comes from not having enough sleep.

And this is day two for me. 10AM, if the clock is working. Looking at the posts made this morning, I'm going to assume I'm not the only one who received an injection. Did anyone see a face--notice anything misplaced or different from when you went to sleep until when you woke up?

[Off screen, there's a crunching sound and Tadashi glances down and to the right, reaching out a hand toward where the sound is coming from. Mochi, for one, is able to just enjoy the breakfast Tadashi found him. Tadashi actually feels a little bad for taking the cat food, but he assumes if anyone actually lived in the house, he can pay them back once he gets out of this mess.

He focuses on the screen again, opens his mouth like he's about to saying something else, then seems to decide against it. He's not sure who to trust, but this at least is a start -- he's reaching out and trying to get a feel for what's happening.

After another hesitation, he cuts the feed.]

[ Video ]

[ Steph flashes the camera a smile - she's starving and horribly cold, so it isn't as friendly as it might have been. It fades quickly. She keeps her eyes on the camera, as one accustomed to video phones. ]

Hi. I'm Stephanie, and no, I don't know how we got here, where we are or why we're here. I'm working on those last two, though. So in that interest, I have two requests. The first is that you answer a survey: nothing somebody who kidnapped you wouldn't already know or be able to find out easily. So far I haven't seen that we have much in common with each other. For that matter, it seems like we might not have, like, planets or time periods in common. [ She grimaces apologetically. ] Which is weird, so feel free to take your time with that one.

The second is this: Try to map your location. These are all going to be disconnected for a while, but given time they might come together. There's a program on your tablet that lets you draw pictures - use that. Let's assume that the sun rises in the east and north is up. Uh... if you don't usually have a north that's left-east up-north right-west and down-south. Make a note if you run into someone, and list what you find. That includes those massive snow walls people have been talking about.

On that note, a third thing: don't go wandering out into the snow if you're not sure you'll be able to get someplace warmer before nightfall. People get lost in snow easily, and tend to go a little crazy if they get cold enough. I don't know what last night was about, but it's insane to wander out in the snow at night if you don't have the right gear or know where you're going.

[ Finally she takes a breath and lets it out in a long sigh. She managed to sound pretty professional for a terrified, starving, seventeen year old girl. ]



So that was a mouthful but I'm done now. I'm going to attach the survey as text. Respond however you like, and feel free to ask if you have questions.

[ Text ]

Name:
Age: (on a scale of pubescent to menopausal, if you want)
Place of origin:
Place of kidnapping:
Year of kidnapping:
Occupation:

Name: Stephanie Brown
Age: 17
Place of origin: Gotham, New Jersey, USA
Place of kidnapping: Gotham, New Jersey, USA
Year of kidnapping: 2015
Occupation: Student