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

[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.

[intemperiae]

Sephiroth grunted as he hauled the pup upright, but nodded in agreement. "I do know you, and I agree wholeheartedly. Someone has to ensure the civilians don't simply go wandering off alone in the dark."

Another glance around and he added, "Although keeping them from doing so is a challenge next to impossible."

[pauldrons]

Zack shook his head at that; next to impossible for anyone else, but for them? They could manage.

"That's what they said about killing a Zolom, man. We managed that pretty well, I think."

Other than a rather soiled coat, at any rate, and the thought made Zack's lips twitch upwards in a smile even as he also glances around. There are a lot of people here...maybe next to impossible is the right description.

"We're probably gonna need help to keep 'em from panicking, though. It's more than just a couple squads of trained men, that's for sure."

[intemperiae]

"Well," Sephiroth answered after a bit of silence, "we'll do what we can, SOLDIER."

He knew things here were going to be difficult, the environment alone was enough to kill, never mind the other dangers running amok in the halls.

"There seem to be a few others thinking the same." A disgruntled sigh. "Why do I get the feeling we'll be 'going recruiting' before very much longer?"

[pauldrons]

Zack nods: They do what they can because it's all they can do, after all, and that generally ends with them leading the pack. He smiles wanly at Sephiroth's disgruntled sigh, shrugging his shoulders high enough to mimic a turtle returning to his shell.

"Probably because we will. I get the feeling all these people are gonna be running around like headless chocobos before long. Especially if we can't find any food at all."

They have their rations, sure, but that's at most two days worth of just getting by for them. No way can they make that count for long. They'll need another source and fast.

[intemperiae]

Sephiroth exhaled sharply, lip twitching. "Everything the same, hm? Funny how we always come back to that, regardless of circumstance."

He glanced around a bit. "Little to be done standing here in the dark. And I seriously doubt you're going to get that console working, your expertise aside."

[pauldrons]

"It's a curse, man. Think we're just gonna have to get used to it or something." It's said with a wry smile, but Zack lets his shoulders drop back to their normal posture after another moment. The General is right, after all; it had been a random plan to try and power the terminal anyway, so he's not too upset to let it go.

"Guess so. But what else can we really do? Not like there's any monsters around at this hour, and I haven't seen many people yet."

[intemperiae]

"Well, they have to be congregating somewhere. Shiva knows only the foolish would be wandering around here alone." He spared a knowing glance at his fellow SOLDIER, figuring Zack would get the point.

"But yes, the halls seem quiet. Thankfully." He started back down the hall. "C'mon. I don't want to get separated again."

[pauldrons]

Zack did indeed get the point, and it earned the General a rather deep pout. It's not like he actually went far or anything, and the dorm floors are relatively safe in the daytime. Or at least, they have been so far. Besides, he has his materia, so what's the worst that could happen?

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Don't really want to be alone right now, either."

Hence why he falls in step behind his friend, as if they're just out on some random mission instead of locked in a tower without power. Ah, what have they gotten themselves into this time?