May the odds...

[justabignobody]

Characters: Minglelog for anyone not involved in the event
Setting: During the first part of the event, in the media room or near any terminal
Format: Whatever!
Summary: As Ruana's chosen dogs set out to hunt and/or run, the rest of the tower watches.
Warnings: very possibly mentions of violence and character death? Will update as needed!

[Sometimes in the morning, strange events start to be broadcasted to the screens of the media room and the terminal, showing familiar faces, though some maybe in not quite so familiar get-ups. Looks like Ruana's game is just about to start!]

Comments

Floor 14 | Media Room | Midday on the 16th

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David isn't usually the type to swear. He's a lot more mild about his choice of language.]

[This? Is not one of those times.]

Dammit!

[That bang that accompanied his outburst would be his fist hitting the wall next to a terminal. It's not actually that hard of a punch given that he's still suffering from power donation fatigue, and his powered armor's systems are still not working like they should.]

[Regardless, he is furious. Again, he's on the sidelines and has to watch while the admins have their way with the people of the Tower. He hadn't even been aware something was amiss until he noticed the people gathered here at the Media Room!]

[And yet, he realizes ... there's probably nothing he could do to help anybody if he were chosen to go participate in that blood sport. Especially not in his condition.]

[David continues to glower at the terminal, anger and disgust all over his face—though there's something else in his expression, too. As if he were in deep thought.]

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno had been passing the media room when he heard the curse, and stopped to poke a nose in.

That's a familiar face. Stepping farther in, Reno walked over to David and touched his shoulder.]

Relax. The labyrinth isn't anything new.

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David looks over his shoulder after Reno taps him, then turns to face him properly as he tells him about the Labrynth. David responds sourly:]

Cold comfort, dat.

[He looks up at Reno more directly, though.]

Dis a regular thing da admins do, den?

[midgarhorizon]

Yeah, I know. [Face and tone grim, Reno's eyes fell on the screen.] Not regular, but it's telling she's brought it out again. Last time wasn't too long after I got here. Years ago. Same kind of deal; fight everyone, be last person standing. This is a bit different. They've got those bracelets on.

[megazero_to_superhero]

[Following Reno's eyes, David turns back to the screen to watch. He doesn't want to—but ... well, he'll bring up his idea in a moment, now that someone else is here to discuss it.]

Years ago, huh. Was it like dis—[Gesturing toward the screen, especially if any hunters are visible in the footage]—where dey just fight with old-school huntin' stuff?

[midgarhorizon]

Think so. It's been a while and my reports on it aren't as complete as they could be. The people outside could sponsor one of the participants so they'd get water and food, but came at a cost.

[megazero_to_superhero]

[Oh, he doesn't like the sound of this, and it shows—both in his sour expression and tone of voice.]

What, like an arm an' a leg?

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno's gaze drifts to focus on David.]

No. Worse. Nightmares.

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David's silent for a moment as he looks back over to Reno.]

Musta been some real bad dreams if dey were worse den losin' limbs.

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno leans down toward him, expression neutral and voice softer than it had been.]

You ever have a dream so vivid it's just as real as when you're awake?

[megazero_to_superhero]

[Well. That's a strange reaction from Reno.]

Not dat often. I usually get da kind you can't remember dat well after wakin' up.

[... but he's starting to sense where this would have been worse than being amputated.]

[midgarhorizon]

They were that kind. You been torn apart by one of the monsters yet? Kinda like that, only every time you start drifting off.

I get 'em every night. Recurring dreams, nightmares. Sure, they change over time to new things and they're not as vivid, but that's when it started.

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David shakes his head at Reno's question. So far ... David's avoided that fate, narrowly so during the glamour failure. If it weren't for Enoch, he would have.]

[But his expression turns to surprise when Reno continues.]

Wait—dat was permanent?

[midgarhorizon]

No, the others that got 'em don't from what I can tell. But me, it just kinda triggered something. Only time I don't dream is when my wife is with me.

[megazero_to_superhero]

Oh.

[David says it quietly—almost as if politely declining to voice his thoughts any further. He gets it now, though ... the nightmares probably scarred him mentally.]

[He's not sure what else to say, in fact.]

[midgarhorizon]

Don't worry about it. You stay here long enough, something's going to mess you up eventually.

[Hesitating, his eyes flicker back to the screen before settling on David again.]

You want to go have that talk now?

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David nods, pinching the cigar between his lips with a bit of grim understanding. During the moment of silence after that, David glances off to look at some of the other people gathered to watch Ruana's "game," but he looks back over to Reno when the question is asked.]

[Ah ... that talk. At least, David thinks he knows what Reno's wanting to talk about. Without hesitation, David responds.]

Yeah. Lead da way.

do you want to kinda skip to the hidden floor?

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno takes a step back, preparing to turn, and then nods in acknowledgement.]

Sorry it took so long.

Yeah, let's do it. :D

[megazero_to_superhero]

S'alright, I've been busy too. Still ain't got a solution to dat one problem.

[David's being non-specific about it, as he's caught on to Reno's not wanting to discuss anything important in the open. Just like the first time he met him.]

[Unless prompted, he'll keep his mouth shut all the way to wherever it is Reno's taking him. Working with Crimson and Indigo against the Malta Group taught him a thing or two about the kind of wars spies and secret agents fight.]

Sorry for the delay

[midgarhorizon]

[It's a quiet ride up to Floor 101, and Reno takes David right on up to the Hidden Floor before he starts speaking, himself.]

Right. We won't be overheard here. How much do ya know about the efforts the residents have been making against the administrators?

No worries!

[megazero_to_superhero]

[David takes a moment to glance around as he enters, as it's the first time he's ever been here. He doesn't rubberneck or gawk too much, though—he's got his game face on. Which means he also answers Reno's question promptly.]

Practically nothin'. All I heard was dat one of da admins was lookin' into stoppin' dat world-killing thing an' dat was it.

[midgarhorizon]

[It's a face Reno can appreciate. He's got his own professional side on, though he stands with most of his weight on one foot.]

Potentially. I'm not going to trust Riki to actually follow through if it means that or getting eaten by Ruana.

[Shrug.]

You hear of Pandora, or Ragnarok?

[megazero_to_superhero]

Nope. First time I heard of Ragnarok was from you—never heard of Pandora before.

[midgarhorizon]

[Letting out a long sigh, Reno shakes his head.]

Pandora's the other set, run by Enoch and Zelda. Me, I run Ragnarok. Sort of. We got split up into teams early on so it's kind of like resistance cells.

[megazero_to_superhero]

Wait, Enoch leads a group? He never told me about dat ...

[Then again—it took coming to this private room just to hear the full story, so the admins must have a real tight lid on security here.]