Ad Visitatores

[animusmods]

Characters: anyone participating in the event
Setting: floor 56 and eventually other areas of the Tower
Format: either
Summary: Welcome to the Tower.
Warnings: horror/creepiness/potential danger/generally unfortunate things all possible
Notes: PLEASE GO HERE TO MAKE NEW POSTS.

A few minutes before anything happens, Ruana's voice rings out over the Tower's intercom--it manages to be louder than anything the residents happen to be doing. "Hey, everyone, there's something exciting going on at floor fifty-six! Go make sure they don't get themselves killed!"


You arrive, stepping or tumbling, in a surgical suite. It looks abandoned, with dust collecting on the table and floors. The lights flicker, and for a moment blood dripping off the table, puddling on the floor--but no, the lights are back, and surely that was your imagination. It's quiet, eerily so, but nothing hinders you, and you're free to spread out and explore. There are multiple rooms here, like in any hospital, and it's all a bit confusing. Occasionally the lights flicker, and it's a bit frightening as Things appear that shouldn't exist. Shadowy creatures stitched together and reaching for you, doctors brandishing phantom surgical tools, blood splattering the walls or floor or ceiling, how did it get there--but none are real, and all of them vanish when the lights return. Eventually you find the staircase, spiraling up and down into darkness. Approach it, though, and the thing glitters with a barrier that will push back any attempts at climbing the thing.

A girl, a teenager dressed in red and black, appears. And she does simply appear, inserting herself into the space, nearly pushing it aside to make room in it for where she is now. Her face beams with unconcealed excitement, and her words tumble out on top of themselves. "You can't go there! Yet, I mean. You'd all die!"

The girl steps onto the staircase, passing through the barrier as if it weren't there, and sits on the steps to address everyone. "Hi! I'm Ruana. You didn't show up the normal way, so the Tower can't support you yet. We got this one floor ready when I saw you were coming but, well, the Tower's kind've big, so getting all of them set up is taking a little longer than I thought." She smiles, sheepishly apologetic in a carefree sort of way. "I've got everyone coming here to visit you--or at least they know they can visit you--and I'll have someone bring food up for you. It'll be oatmeal, and oatmeal is super boring, but you have to eat it, okay? Then you can have whatever you want! The cafeteria's down on the first floor if you get hungry. We should have everything ready in a few hours. I've gotta go help with that, so you guys wait here.

"Don't worry, the monsters can't get to this floor as long as that barrier is up."

And then she's gone, blinking out of existence. The barrier will remain for three hours.

Comments

There's too many Striders here

[rememberstime]

Ain't in Kansas anymore.

[Dave glances around him. He already didn't like this floor. There's something about it that reminds him of the Condesce and it was just a rather unsettling floor in general. He keeps his hands in his pockets, keeping a relaxed stance though.]

This is some joy ride. And just a month ago I got tossed into a new world and now I'm in a huge fucking Tower. Great.

[He looked around idly to see who else was dragged in, hoping no familiar faces like his younger counterpart or Dirk was here too. Not with how this place made him a bit anxious.]

way too many

[turntechtrainer]

[It's always cold in the tower and from what Dave has been told announcements aren't the best thing to hear. He heads for the floor at a run. What he finds is...not what he expected at all. He stares at the people and his gaze snaps to the tall man that looks like him.

Is this the media director Jake mentioned before? Holy shit. He approaches quietly, and stops just a few feet from him.] I'd say welcome, but in this hell hole you don't want to be sticking around for more than an hour.

never not enough

[rememberstime]

[On the upside, Dave has already met his younger counterpart so this isn't too surprising. He can already guess this isn't the one he met seeing that he's greeted him as someone unfamiliar.]

I've probably dealt with similar shit, so I think I'm okay. I don't think we have a choice since we're here on a mission.

But thanks for the warning. The creepy surgical equipment really helped, I'll give you that.

true true

[turntechtrainer]

There's never a choice in that. [But they do their job anyway. He folds his arms over his chest and studies his older counterpart with a stoic expression on his face. He shrugs a bit and reaches up to the collar around his neck.] Hey, could be worse. You could get the fashion accessory they gave the rest of us.

[He lets go of the metal ring around his neck to stuff his hands into his pockets.] ...You're Dirk's older bro, aren't you?

[rememberstime]

Well, we had a choice to go or not. They just didn't really tell us where we were going. [But like hell Dave wasn't going. Doing shit is what he's good at.] I don't think any of us got those. [Since they didn't arrive here normally.]

Yeah. You know him? [And the unasked question is whether he's here or not.]

[turntechtrainer]

I know him, but he's not here. Last I saw him was with his friends and just chilling. [He sounds a bit relieved at that. Dirk is happy and safe in poke land. Which leaves this to be sorted out.] You know me. [It isn't a question.] But, I've only heard of you.

[From Dirk, from Jake. Dave doesn't shy away from the concept of this larger than life figure from their history. He just nods once, accepting it. He's met alt Daves before and this is less jarring than he thought it would be.] Shit, they just want a Dave party here. You make number three. We're beating out the versions of Bro.

[rememberstime]

Last I saw him was where I came from. I don't know if he's in this crowd at the moment. A lot of us arrived and there's a lot of you around here. [The way Dave says it. Considering the last time people were a thing, they were dying by the millions.] Know you is kind of stretching it. He mostly told me what's up from his point of view I guess.

[He tilts his head slightly.] I hope nice things have been said.

There's another Dave around here? Is he the same as you? [He's getting used to a bunch of younger Daves at the very least.

[turntechtrainer]

Mostly the same, he's been in this hell tower for a year. I was somewhere else for months and landed here right behind my friends. Anyway, yeah nice things were said, the word 'legend' got thrown around a bit. [But he doesn't seem intimidated or bothered by that. It's just a fact.]

Bro is here somewhere. He's always mysterious so you might see him. Might not.

but i am not a Strider

[morituramfides]

Dave?

[What...the...

uh......................

You know what, best not to think about it.]

Yeah. This place kind of has that effect on people.

still allowed

[rememberstime]

How do you know my name?

[He can guess how, but he wants confirmation anyways.]

How many people are inhabitants here? Sounds like that we're dealing with a hell of a lot more than what they vaguely told us.

yaaaay uvu

[morituramfides]

There's a younger version of you around here. [Wow this was getting to be a really routine explanation.] I know him.

[Er... could they really call each other friends? This was hard.]

Hundreds, at the least.

paps you lovingly

[rememberstime]

I've met a younger version of me. [Dave's life is going to be meeting a bunch of younger hims or something. This is weird.] I'm starting to just live with this fact, I think. I guess I'm popular in some way. Well, by me I mean him.

There's a lot of you here.

smooshes your face

[morituramfides]

Oh please. Your younger self's just a weird little dork. [He's uh...sort of grinning but it's more of a smirk since he doesn't really grin normally, but whatever.]

Yeah. This operation's been running longer than a year from what I can figure out. And this place is even older.

ouch my face

[rememberstime]

That's probably true. But that's like insinuating most teenagers of that age weren't kind of weird little dorks. Also, I think it should probably be mentioned I'm not an older him. I'm literally a different older version of him. [Like if you start talking about Dave's powers and shit and whatever, he's going to pretty much not understand at all.]

How long have you been here though.

Never

[tentacletrainer]

Ah, world jumping. [[Sorry about not wanting familiar faces, Dave, because you're certainly getting this one. She's accompanied by a purple fox like creature, who is getting real tired of the Tower's shit. Jesus christ how many Daves do there have to be? Guile loves her dad and all but this is ridiculous.]]

You are, at least, not the only one subjected to it if that's any consolation.

rude

[rememberstime]

[He met a younger Rose already, but the purple fox thing is definitely not familiar. Isn't that...forget it. He doesn't even want to know, holy shit. He does tilt his head a bit and looks at it behind the tinted plastic.]

Sounds like you've had experienced. I guess the upside is we're supposed to be allowed back after whatever we're supposed to do.

Who, me? Never. :3c

[tentacletrainer]

I have. I've been one other place between here and home, so I know the disorientation you must feel. At least a little. [[That purple fox thing is sniffing this Dave curiously, before sitting at his feet. She glances back at Rose, who stares at her a moment.]]

Good question, Guile. [[Focusing back on Dave.]]

Where exactly did you come from before? Just out of curiosity. Don't leave us hanging here, Mister Strider.

im watching you. SQUINTS

[rememberstime]

I think it's mostly just unsettling to wake up in what looks to be a horror film hospital. There's a lot of disorienting things that top this. [Like, you know, not being dead anymore.]

Honestly, I want to say Japan, but that's not it. Came from Hinoto-Ri. It's basically a self sustaining city in a pile of problems. [He nudges Guile with his foot very gently. No. Don't sit near him. He will not give into your cuteness. HE WILL NOT GIVE INTO PETTING YOU. Stop.]

Squints right back.

[tentacletrainer]

[[She's not moving, Dave. She is staring up at you expectantly. Come on. Coomee onnnn. You know you want to pet her.]]

Essentially that's where you are. I am expecting any day now for it to be teeming with demonic nurses, patients screaming in agony, the whole works. You're going to love the rest of the tower. [[Guile bumps his leg with her head.]]

Was it at least interesting? Just a single city, it must get small sometimes.

stares

[rememberstime]

[Ugh. No. Don't look at him like that. He is going to win, okay. STOP.]

Is that said in a legitimate manner or are you being sarcastic? I just always assume everything you say is kind of sarcastic. [Oh boy. This already sounds so much fun. He's so excited. Look how excited he is. He isn't at all.

He finally kneels down to start petting Guile's head. You win this time.] Well, I guess interesting is a good way to explain it. Things don't work quite right in the city and it gets dangerous at night. But...

[He pauses and his expression softens just a bit. Not that she can see the look since he's wearing fucking shades like the tool he is.] It's a change of pace to see people like this again.

no such thing

[hellacious]

Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games.

[There are strangers here- strangers and weirdos and way too many Striders. But this is a version she hasn't run into yet, so why not?]

'Course, by 'fun and games' I mean 'mindfucks and torture'.

[Sis never really bothers putting her sword away anymore, and instead of tossing it in her sylladex, she slings it over her shoulder, other hand hooking a thumb into a belt loop.]

Sup?

pretty much

[rememberstime]

Mindfucks and torture. That? I'm used to that, so I think I'll fit right into this. And here I thought I wasn't going to fit in. [Now there's a chick Strider he's meeting. Why is he not surprised. Oh, because he's talked to two different Daves and Dirk for now. Oh and two other Roses.]

Nothin' much. Just got dragged here from another place that's all. What's it to you?

[hellacious]

We fit in everywhere.

[Striders and suffering man- go together like PB&bananas.]

Ain't nothin', really. Wondering why all the people sans collars all of a sudden though.

[rememberstime]

I guess we could if we tried.

Your guess is as good as mine. I don't think we have any intention of staying here though if the collars mean anything about being permanent residents. We're here for a mission though.

[hellacious]

Ain't much to try for, most places.

Yeah I figure you guys aren't sticking around. Weird though- didn't think these guys were fans of having folks in here that they couldn't make miserable somehow.

...guess they might still be able to fuck with you even without collars though.