keeping busy [backdated to before the gathering started]

[pauldrons]

Characters: Zack Fair and anyone who encounters him.
Setting: All dormitory floors; take your pick.
Format: bracketspam is preferred, but I'll match you
Summary: Trying to inform people, and keep them from panicking. ...This can only end well, clearly.
Warnings:None I can think of; will edit this if something changes.


[It's fairly clear when the power goes out that something is off. It gets clearer that something is wrong when people start disappearing, one by one, and they're not the people who were brought to this tower. It gets crystal clear that something is terribly wrong when it's impossible to find any food at all in the places where it's supposed to be. That's when Zack's training really kicks in, and he starts to do something. What might that something be?

Writing signs so others can have an idea of what to do and then putting them in easy to see places.

Like above an emergency light near the staircases on every dorm level he can get to. He doesn't block the stairs as he tapes them up, and those who get close enough will be able to read his blocky handwriting. Yes, folks, he hand wrote these babies. ...at least they're legible?]

You probably noticed by now that things aren't so good in the tower. Until we can figure out what happened, there's a few things everyone should do:

Drink lots of water and stay calm. People have survived longer than a month without food, so long as they have water and didn't panic.

Try to avoid fighting any monsters; there's no one in the infirmary to help out if someone gets hurt and blood loss or broken bones won't help anyone in this mess.

Don't go anywhere alone if you can help it. There's a reason the saying goes "safety in numbers". Travelling with a buddy's also a good way to make sure nobody gets lost alone. It's easier to find your way back with a partner.

[There's probably more he could have written on those things, but the idea is to be concise and keep people calm, not freak them out more than they probably already are. Those who find the signs are welcome to tear them down, but come on. Why would you do that? Don't you want people to have an idea of what to do?

Also, those on the Third level of dorms can find him kneeling near a terminal alcove, pawing at the machinery to try and get it to work...or trying to find something near the bottom of it. Those close enough will hear him muttering to himself, as well.]

Come on...where's that access panel...

[Yeah. He's trying to pry it open. Someone stop him before he breaks his hand or worse.]

Comments

[intemperiae]

"I don't think hotwiring it'll do any good," came the familiar baritone out of the dark hallway. A heartbeat later, Sephiroth emerged from the shadows, walking easily from the direction of the stairwell, sheathing the repaired Masamune as he approached. Holding out one hand, an orb of pure materia flared in his gloved palm, illuminating the corridor a few yards in each direction.

He gave the signs decorating the wall a glance, a single eyebrow and the corner of his mouth quirked, but said nothing, turning back to the First Class, an inquiring look aimed Zack's way over the cheerily glowing ball of energy.

"All of the floors are dark, Zack Fair. It seems to be a...Tower-wide outage of some sort."

[pauldrons]

The baritone was indeed familiar, but unexpected, and Zack couldn't help but jump in surprise. Unfortunately, being neck deep in trying to find the access panel to get at the wiring left him in a rather awkward position and the sudden spook ended with him cracking his head against the terminal itself with a yelp...and a few muttered curses that would have left Angeal grumbling. He was still rubbing the back of his head as he pulled himself free, looking up at Sephiroth while he remained on the ground.

"I figured. I just thought maybe there was something left on the network. Some kind of message that would explain what happened or something."

[intemperiae]

Sephiroth snorted. "Would that we'd be so lucky, hm?" His free hand he extended to the prone SOLDIER, offering a haul upright. "Impressive, by the way," he added, "your little notes of 'do's and don'ts'."

[pauldrons]

Zack takes that offered hand, letting his friend haul him back to his feet without incident, and the General receives a nod of thanks before Zack pouts a bit, arms crossed over his chest.

"Hey, you know me. I'm not just gonna sit around when there's something I can do to help people. A lot of these guys probably don't have any idea of what to do in this mess."

Civilians, kids...if there's anything he can do to help, he'll do it and Sephiroth knows it just as well as Zack does.

[denigrator]

[He watches Zack from a distance at first. He remembers this particular experiment, but it had failed. The problem was, he'd already been a SOLDIER. Yes, he was sure that had been the primary problem.]

I would commend you for making some kind of effort, but the fact your attempt is so wrongheaded is far more laughable than laudable.

[And then he laughs.]

It's an experiment.

[And what do you mean, why would one tear the signs down? Hojo did. Well, just one, and he's holding it in his hand at the moment, peering down at it. He didn't tear it up, he's just examining it.]

Those who don't know such basic facts are likely to need more help than a note.

[pauldrons]

[The voice makes Zack jump, and though he cracks his head against the underside of the terminal, he's quick to get to his feet before he can keep his back to the mad scientist behind him.

It had been one thing to have been warned. It had been another to have warned someone else about him. But to actually hear the man? To actually see him? It's setting Zack's teeth on edge. Sorry, Hojo. He really doesn't like you]

Maybe. But that's what the rest of us are here for. To help each other out.

[denigrator]

Oh, well done.

[It's all right, Hojo doesn't particularly care for Zack either. However, he remembers working with him in another sense, as Zack rises and he considers him thoughtfully. This SOLDIER. That's right, before... In a way, he's worked with all of SOLDIER, but he particularly remembers Zack and the test programs he'd defeated, now that he thinks of it. Though that had been years ago, where he was concerned.]

You did quite well on your missions, didn't you? I seem to recall you did. There was some potential there. Don't you remember when we worked together?

Yes, indeed. We must. That's why I feel I should point out an error here. [He points down at the sheet he took down from the wall.]

Dorm 3

[midgarhorizon]

You know, you're going to hurt yourself opening that, slick.

[There's Reno, standing nearby watching Zack fumble with the terminal.]

What're you gonna do once you get it open?

[pauldrons]

[Hurt himself? Oh, that's kind of already happened. Reno suddenly speaking up makes Zack, already on edge, jump and crack his head on the underside of the terminal with a yelp, and he comes out rubbing a new lump on the back of his head as he stares up at the Turk.]

Power it up. See if there's any kind of warning or message that got left behind or something.

[Hence the Thunder materia in his bangle. It's probably just going to shock him instead of giving the thing power, but still. Worth a shot, right?]

[midgarhorizon]

[Have a sad headshake, Zack. He didn't figure on scaring him, heavy bootfalls and all.]

Tch, even if you did get it working, you'd have to get the servers working too if ya wanted to get anywhere.

[Networks and hacking were more Cissnei's suite than his, but still.]

Besides, I tried that couple days after the power went out. Might have seen me wear my hair spikier than usual. Here.

[Despite the lack of materia, the turk raises his arm like he's casting a spell at Zack's head; the green powdery sparkle of Cure appearing.]

[cutestprogrammer]

[A little crossdressing computer programmer comes across Zack trying to get the terminal to work.]

H-hello? What are you doing?

[pauldrons]

[With half his body practically wedged under the terminal, Zack had been unable to see or hear anyone coming up behind him, and so he jumps a bit, cracking his head on the underside with a yelp before gets free, rubbing that lump.]

Trying to see if there's a message on the network, or something like that. Need to figure out if I can get it powered on, though.

[cutestprogrammer]

[He jumps as well when he hears Zack bang his head..] Ahh! Are you alright?

I've been trying to turn on the other terminals too... but I haven't been able to.

[atouchofstrife]

Zack...

[ Okay the signs were pretty thought out, and they looked like they could be helpful, but seeing his old friend trying to hotwire a terminal was still an odd sight. He just watched him for a moment before sliding his main blade into his harness. It felt good to have it all back, even though he made a pretty weird shadow with all the swords sticking out every which way. ]

[pauldrons]

[It may be an odd shadow, but Zack is still torso deep under that terminal to try and find a way to power it, so he can't really see it. At least, not until he jumps in surprise and cracks his head on the terminal, flopping over to peer at Cloud like a deer caught in the headlights]

Yeah?

[atouchofstrife]

I doubt that's going to work.

[ It's not like SOLDIERs were trained to hack into those things after all. Cut them apart and maybe attach a fancy gizmo to them, but actually hotwiring it? Cloud just had to shake his head, trying his best to keep his expression neutral. ]

Maybe we should look for finding stuff that others may need like food.

[champagnedelis]

[Francisca had taken to wandering the Tower, still not completely well mentally, but had her moments of clarity. Noticing the fine rear poking out from under a terminal, she'd taken a moment to pause, admire, then frown, wondering what on Earth the man was doing. Padding over on bare feet, she crouched down next to him, hugging her knees, nightgown long enough to cover her decently. Tilting her head, she murmured:]

Careful, mon cher, you might electrocute yourself.

[pauldrons]

[People in this tower were far too quiet for Zack's taste, that was for sure. Francisca's murmur was just loud enough for him to hear while torso deep under the terminal, but he couldn't make out the words and it sounded rather disturbing. Hence his sudden jump, and the crack of his head against the terminal before he pulls free, blinking at the woman before him.]

Honestly? I'm more worried about a concussion right now.

[champagnedelis]

[Francisca paled from his jump and the loud crack, fingers clenching her knees and lips set in a thin line to stop from panicking. Breathing slowly and deliberately, she calmed again and smiled shakily at him.]

I think you'll be fine, but would you like me to take a look?

[She's dealt with enough varieties of injuries to have some medical knowledge.]

Fourth Floor

[madannoshashu]

[ Hey there, Zack. There's a dude poking at the sign you've just put up.

The catch? He's wearing a black coat and hood, and he's standing on the ceiling. ]

You really think people are gonna read this?

[pauldrons]

[Hey there, man-on-the-ceiling. Have Zack staring at you for a moment, eyes wide, before he looks at the sign. Definitely not the oddest thing you've seen, Fair, get back on track.]

Uh...yeah, actually. I kinda hope they do.

[madannoshashu]

[ He makes a habit of odd; it's kind of his thing.

Peering down at the other from his perch, Xigbar gestures casually enough. ]

And if they don't?

[justabignobody]

[The utter advantage of being a darkness user (and to some extend of just being Riku) is that lack of light stops bothering one at some point. What really 'bothers' him is the lack of food - he's checked on both the cafeteria and the restaurant and with both closed, well... He isn't all too worried about himself - he can get by - but there are others in this tower that won't have it as 'easy' as him.

He is not the only one to be worried it seems, he thinks when he comes across those notes, head tilting as he reads, then nods to himself. It seems like sound advice in general.]

[pauldrons]

[Having just returned from a lower floor, Zack pauses as he sees Riku with his head tilted. His first thought is that his handwriting is still so crappy that no one can make out what he wrote down, and he palms the back of his neck sheepishly.]

You can read these, right? My handwriting isn't that bad, is it?

[justabignobody]

[He turns towards the voice, then nods.]

I've seen worse.