Run Down Visionary

[reddeadvirtuoso]

Characters: [AU1] Jade Strider and ~you~
Setting: Room 2-01, Residential Area, Mail Room, and wild card "wherever you want" option
Format: Staring prose but I'm OK with anything.
Summary: Jade got off pretty easy; she's in the group that got off the easiest, and goes about her time doing basic, mindless, worker unit tasks. Unfortunately, she's not all that mindless, and clemency seems like cruelty when you have no mouth and must scream.
Warnings: General Rebellion Event Warnings; clockwork eyes and sanity slippage for Jade herself. Details here.

[Room 2-01]

Jade woke up-- she couldn't remember anything. She almost felt the urge to throw up-- her vision was almost...dizzying? It seemed like the blood was rushing to her head and her eyes couldn't keep up with the movement, but her vision refused to correct itself, even after staying still. It was disorienting and, almost made her puke, if not for the fact that her body didn't seem to agree with that assessment. Physically speaking, she felt... fine.

If not for the ticking in her ear.

Actually that ticking was getting annoying.

Really annoying.

She wanted to bring her hands up to cover her ears, but no go-- her arms simply wouldn't comply. There wasn't any purpose in trying-- and there was more important things to do.

It was only now that she'd woken up relatively early for her usual fair. Right. Because she had stuff to do? Whether she knew what that was or not, some part of her seemed to. She was hardly thinking about it-- but there was quite an amount of time where she just rigidly stood in her room, before departing to-- well.. wherever.

[Dorm Floors / Dorm Bathroom]

She'd found herself going to help those weird, worker unit guys to help clean the residential areas-- she hadn't really been thinking about why. She was doing it and that... was about it. She didn't particularly want to, but she was hardly paying attention-- except for the fact that her pants were kinda getting wet. She had basically been using the time to thing and space out, and the rest just went on auto pilot. Thinking would've been a lot easier if she weren't so distracted by feeling like she should be getting a headache from the ticking and the fact that nothing seemed to move properly.

She hadn't stopped-- until she stood up, turned around-- and finally caught a glimpse of the gears on the wall. For a moment she genuinely did (want to) believ the mirrors were gone, that there was some kind of clockwork in the building-- but combined with only her green scarf, and the shifting image as she made to move, and the absence of her own red eyes on her face--

It wasn't possible for Jade to drop anything in disbelief. It wasn't possible for her to scream in any sort of tone. It wasn't even possible for her to let out a gasp. She could only stand quietly, and stare, her mouth hanging open just so slightly. And she could only keep her disbelief to herself.

The ticking continued to fill the room.

[Floor 78 - Mailroom]

It was only when she moved back into the hallway, to go somewhere else, that she realized the ticking was coming from her.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what she could do. She couldn't ask anyone about-- she could hardly even make a sound.

She tried to stop moving, but she couldn't even force herself to do that, couldn't even force herself to ignore the god awful ticking.

All she could do was do what she was already doing, and at the moment that was sorting the mail, it seemed-- though her movements seemed clumsy and disjointed, and the tick-tock-ticking wouldn't fucking stop, it was at least easier to sort unmoving mailboxes than wondering how the water had moved on the floor when she was cleaning.

[Anywhere Else]

In the end that was really all she could do; she couldn't stop time, she couldn't see properly, she couldn't even move of her own volition. She could be found anywhere in the Tower, wherever there was work to be done, and doing it dutifully. Of course, wherever there was something in motion constantly, she looked to be having a bit of...trouble comprehending it.

Comments

Mailroom

[ocariness]

[ ... It's the ticking that gets another Hero of Time's attention. Link knows this is another victim of Jason's, and can't help but be on edge. But all the same... there's concern. Have a Hylian hero kind of bugging you.

Is there anything Link can even do to help these people...? ]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[She takes note of...who...ever this is. Actually, she's not sure she's ever seen this person before. Maybe around, but she certainly hasn't spoken with theme extensively, as far as she can remember.

She can't exactly... talk, though. The best she can do is stand for a moment or so, staring at Link in acknowledge as the gears keep turning. Even then, she couldn't stay still for that long-- if she stood around too long, she'd get in trouble, right?

Whatever compelled her made her continue working soon after that.]

[ocariness]

[ ... Link is going to stay here and stare a bit before trying to offer a smile and a conversation. Of a sort.

There's a quizzical look and a pointing gesture; what're you doing? ]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[OK the staring actually kind of bored her for a minute-- but even if this person wasn't talking, it seemed like they were trying anyway.

When little came of it, Jade gestured back to the mailboxes in front of her, compelled to put a few more letters where they belonged, both as part of her job and to demonstrate what was up.

She was sorting the mail. That was easy enough to grasp, right?]

Bathroom

[culbutiri]

You do be getting back to work.

[Keeping the workers in line was almost as hard as keeping the residents from misbehaving. But it was her job. To make sure everything went smoothly.]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Oh that was-- surprising. She slowly feels her head turn to look at Nesir when she was addressed. She couldn't exactly look surprised and-- well she wanted to say something, but even if she could somehow talk, she wasn't quite in her right mind to say anything after jesus christ someone make the ticking shut up.

Nevertheless, though she lingers for a moment more, she carefully grabs whatever supplies she was carrying and moves to exit the Bathroom towards...whatever the hell she was supposed to do next. Though there was definitely a stall in her movements, whether intentional or not.]

[culbutiri]

[Nesir followed her, needing to make sure Jade continued working. Nothing could be allowed to disrupt the routine of the tower.] Be keeping walking.

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Oh my god this bitch--

No that wasn't nice-- she didn't have much of a problem with Nesir normally, except for the fact that she was kind of mean and they may as well be communicating in different languages. But getting bossed around by her right now-- of all times! --was not something that made her very happy. She'd very much like to scream at her actually, in hopes that it would both deter the other girl and make that infernal ticking shut the fuck up.

She couldn't do any of that though.

Instead, Jade just kept walking, as per request. What all her restraints at least did not stop her from doing, however was letting out a huff of annoyance directed at Nesir while she walked.]

Mailroom

[longwinded]

[Another person that John is familiar with, and she was affected by Jason as well. Tick tock tick tock. What could he even do to help, probably nothing.

But as with anyone else he's approached, he does it cautiously. Taking note to watch the others movements before deciding on the best way to approach her.]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[At first, she doesn't notice him, and keeps going about sorting, vastly too preoccupied by the tick tock tick tock and the only thing more distressing than the noise was the fact she couldn't reach up and claw out her temples.

When Jade's finished with whatever she was currently holding, she turned to keep more, and-- John! John, the one without Pokemon was here! And he was totally OK it seemed! On the one hand, it was a relief.

But... her momentary excitement and relief at seeing someone familiar couldn't be voice and couldn't quite make it to her expression without any eyes to show it.

The most she could do was stand there, just... staring. Gears turning.]

[longwinded]

[That is when he deduces that she may be harmless. If she's just standing there sorting mail she can't be much of a threat right? But then she looks at him- this was an interesting modification indeed.]

Is there any way I can help you?

[Nod, shake her head. Something. Something to show that she's still in there.]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[She'd be glad to tell him that she was perfectly sane on the inside, for the time being-- and she wouldn't be a threat to him even if she wasn't, as she had to gun to shoot and no ability to manipulate the time stream anymore.

Unfortunately she's sure that John's not a mind reader.

Usually it was the other way around-- all she could actually do was talk! She didn't know what to do with herself anymore.

So she just shrugs-- she has no idea, though there was a bit of a sad air of defeat to it. She gestured to her throat and shook her head, but the motion kind of made her vision swim. As much as still images could swim at least.]

Dorm Bathroom

[tohko_amano]

[It was Tohko's job to keep the workers in line, eve when they cleaned the bathroom, so when Tohko saw Jade stop for a long time, Tohko ordered her about.]

What's wrong? Get back to cleaning.

[Something inside of her wanted to cry, but it was just an old emotion. Tohko had learned to disregard those.]

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Well that... was certainly a sight to see. Jade almost forgot the fact that she couldn't actually see shit properly for a second to stare. Not that she could do much besides staring. The best she could do was her eyebrows going up a tad in surprise, both at this girl's appearance, and also where the hell did she come from?

The ticking must have been drowning out the background noise. She decided that was it.

Some part of her just doesn't want to do what this girl wants her to do on sheer principle. That's what she thought-- but she couldn't help but keep moving besides that. Though if it was possible for her to be begrudging at all, there was definitely an air of it.]

[tohko_amano]

[Hey, when you were a worker with others to supervise and keep an eye on, you tended to wander to quite a few places to make sure that everyone was working hard. The bathroom was no exception to this rule.

Sadly, Tohko didn't feel any begrudging air about the girl, but she didn't smile as the girl got back to work.]

Good. Keep it up, or else you'll be punished.

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Punished?

On the one hand-- that thought honestly terrified her! She already had no eyes, she couldn't see straight, couldn't speak, couldn't move on her own-- what the fuck else would this girl possibly do to her?!

No, that was probably a bad thought to have. On the one hand, it terrified her, but on the other, she was already mentally flipping out over everything, she kind of just wanted to tell this person to shut up.

She couldn't do that of course, and in fact continued cleaning as if prompted. But a small huff of air out of her nostrils sort of conveyed her discontent. Maybe.

Really she just wanted to punch someone in the face though.]

Mailroom

[alephbet]

Jade?

[Aleph approaches her cautiously. The gears are unnerving, but it doesn't change that it's Jade under there, right...?]

Can I do something for you?

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Aleph-- Someone that she recognized and seemed fine. Yes. That was a good start!

She stopped for a moment when she heard the voice, but continued about her work for a moment as if she hadn't.

She has one letter left, one paper left that goes in a higher up one that she left for last. When she moves to put it away, she looks at Aleph a minute instead, holding up the paper, and swiping the the paper in a line in front of her throat before sliding it into the mailbox up near her eyes.

She couldn't speak. Even if she wanted something, she couldn't say anything.]

[alephbet]

Can't talk, huh... Can I help you do your work?

[It seemed harmless enough. Though Jade seems done with this already- what Jade was supposed to do afterward may not be so benign.]

Floor 8! Because fuck yo' options

[tentacletrainer]

[[The ticking was atrocious. It was one thing when it was a clock that was making the noise, but when something that moved was making it? Annoying and irritating and aggravating. Because you could hear it pass, or you could hear it coming towards you, or just around the corner. It was coming or going rather than staying still like a clock should and it was honestly really bothering her.]]

Whoever is making that ticking, would you please stand still?

[[Finally she'd stopped in one of the floors - she was fairly sure it was the maze of the eighth floor, seeing as she'd been twisting and turning to try and find that sound - unable to take listening to it pass her anymore. She had to at least know who it was.

Or what.]]

wow ~~rude~~

[reddeadvirtuoso]

[Jade hardly had a moment to think about the request before she felt herself stop in her tracks. OK-- she couldn't move. That was..unfortunate. And a very bad sign.

She tried not to let it make her nervous.

She was left standing-- somewhere, near the mouth of the maze, stuck there until whoever had asked her to stop told her to move again. The ticking continued.

It gave her a moment to... at least try and collect her thoughts. And she was fortune to recognize who it was-- it was Rose! Right? The Rose she knew from back home wasn't in the tower, but a friend wasn't so easily forgotten, no matter how many universes of separation there was.

That... was a god sign, right?]

That's just how I roll.

[tentacletrainer]

Thank you. Now please stay there. [[Because she had to find you now. Though that wasn't going to be so easy. They say you can keep your hand on the right wall and follow a maze out, but when you've been turned around so many times it's hard to figure out which wall was the right one. Or at least which one would lead her to that ticking.

Finally, after reaching enough dead ends, she gave up.]]

Actually, if you could come to me, I would appreciate it.

[[As long as Rose remained sane it was a good sign.]]

Mailroom

[knightime]

"Jade. Come here."

If she thought the gears on her face was terrible, she'll probably not be too excited to see Dave. Dave who was completely made of gears and his own blood. His shades seemed to have been discarded at some point. He didn't need them for his duties after all. He smiled at Jade. "Jade, come with me to the workshop floor. I need to make sure my gears are all running properly."

You don't want to disobey him, right? He's your friend. It's Dave. Why would you say no?

[reddeadvirtuoso]

Dave--!

That was definitely a voice she recognized, and it almost make her feel relieved. She didn't even think about it, but Jade automatically stopped her work when she heard him speaking. She wasn't even the only one making noise anymore--!

She should've realized right then something was wrong. And when she turned around without even consciously thinking about it so she could obey his instructions and--

Oh no she should've realized already what was wrong.

But there was Dave, a veritable clockwork man, and no doubt stuck as many of the others.

She didn't like the tone in his voice. But no, of course-- she couldn't say no. Any other time she wouldn't have wanted to say no.

She didn't really like the idea of doubting him. But she still stood in front of him, nodding in affirmation, waiting for him to take the lead.

[geometry]

At that moment, while Jade was waiting like a good little drone, someone else turned up from the staircase. Of course, it was Equius, wearing the world's stupidest helmet and bleeding out of various parts of his body, but hey; he didn't check this floor yet, and knowing all the people who came through, who knew what kind of bacteria could be carried from one surface to the other. However, his attention was soon attracted to the two Time players, primarily because of the degree of filth on them. It wasn't... bad, per se. But he felt that maybe they were sick anyhow, because they were just kind of standing around doing nothing. The ticking in the room was loud; Equius spoke over it.

"What is happening here?" There shouldn't be a holdup. Jade should be working at the mail, and Dave should be... well, doing whatever Dave was assigned to do. But unless it was to stand and stare at people, Equius was pretty sure that something had gone wrong.