answers and questions [open]

[animusnpcs]

Characters: Dax, Riki, Jason, and Zo; open
Setting: cafeteria, after lunch, February 10
Format: either
Summary: Some of the administrators answer questions.
Warnings: possible language, possible violence


This question and answer session was obviously hastily-planned. Ruana isn't here, but the others are, though for the most part they don't look quite at their best. Zo looks half asleep and distracted, having slid his chair close enough to the wall that he can lean on it to catch a bit of extra sleep in the middle of this session. Jason, usually improbably neat for his often messy, bloody profession looks wrinkled and tired, like he's been spending one too many nights in surgery. Dax looks entirely exhausted, and every time the lights in the cafeteria flicker that exhaustion only seems to grow worse as he looks more concerned. Only Riki seems himself--but then again, he's always been stoic and silent, so reading him in general is a difficult task. It's Dax who speaks once enough people are assembled.

"Greetings, residents--I'm sure you know the four of us by now. And guests, welcome--you probably don't know of us. I'm Dax, and these are Riki, Jason, and Zo." Dax gestures to each one in turn. "We are four of the administrators of this Tower. As you may have guessed, we weren't exactly planning on visitors, and you weren't brought through the same channels. Still, we thought this would be a good time to answer a few questions. With the network--down--we have opted to speak to you in person."

"If you try to attack us, you'll regret it," Jason says from his seat, and while Dax looks sidelong at him neither man can seem to muster the energy for a proper verbal sparring.

"Okay, the floor is open to questions," Dax says, just barely managing a smile. "We will answer what we can."

Comments

[prayed]

[Boy, these guys look awful. Kyoko, still donning the collar that marks her as a resident, can't help but find that vaguely amusing.]

Busy night?

[animusnpcs]

[Dax laughs a little--a tag hollowly, but also genuine.] A little bit, yes.

[prayed]

That girl keeping you busy? Or is it all these losers that decided to jump in uninvited?

[She's banking on it being one of those two, anyway.]

[animusnpcs]

A little of both. Our visitors put an unexpected strain on many of our systems. The Tower wasn't meant to accommodate guests in such a manner.

[prayed]

Right, they've still got a world to go back to, don't they? So, what'll you do with them?

[animusnpcs]

Ah--that depends. If they're still here by March, I'll send them back myself if I can figure it out, of course. But this month is Ruana's, and so it's up to her.

[prayed]

Say you guys find a way to fix the damage done to our worlds. You gonna do the same for us or is this a life-sentence?

[animusnpcs]

If we fix your worlds, I'll send you back.

[There's a touch of emphasis on "I'll"--as if Dax were planning on doing this regardless of the input of the others.]

[prayed]

[She nods, satisfied with that.]

That include the ones that kicked the bucket before coming here? You know, the ones that'll just go back to being dead as soon as they get out of here.

[There's a slight pause, before she adds:]

What'll you do if that happens? It seems like it'd get pretty quiet without the constant screw ups, stream of threatening letters and attempts on your life.