towerofanimus | Collar Checkup Boycott

Collar Checkup Boycott

Characters: open to all
Setting: infirmary; around the Tower in general
Format: party-style all week; please note the date your post is taking place in the subject line
Summary: The results of the collar boycott slowly become clear...
Warnings: standard Tower warnings
Note: You may NPC your own retrieval units.

The results don't begin to become clear until Tuesday--Monday passes more or less without incident, except for the number of orange-collared residents who miss their checks. And on Tuesday, the retrieval units are out to search for them. It doesn't seem like they were meant to recover so many, though: a clever resident will be able to avoid their retrieval unit entirely. And so, some oranges continue to have escaped their collar checkup today.

It's worse on Wednesday. Retrieval units are out and about again, but this time to try and search for the yellow-collared residents who skipped the day before. No orange-collared residents are searched out at all, and even then there seems to be enough confusion in the programming of the retrieval units any boycotting yellows can run off and hide if they're careful about it.

By the time Thursday arrives, there's a general, obvious level of confusion in the retrieval units' retrieval programming. They were obviously not programmed to be searching for so many colors at once. Some residents may find themselves being dragged in for a second collar check this week, even if they went to theirs, and the infirmary seems to be working at double time. No one even bothers to search for the two wayward greens.

By Friday the retrieval units are out in a number that seems more fitting for a small militia than anything else. Still, they seem more intent on tracking down the greens--their programming still telling them to retrieve those who were missed the day before--but they don't seem to know which greens they're looking for. Anyone with a green collar may be dragged in for a collar check, possibly multiple times today.

Saturday is chaos in the infirmary. The retrieval units seem to have entirely lost sight of who they're actually searching for, and anyone brought into the checkup room will be able to see how messy and confused it looks, with no real time to clean it and orange through violet collar fluid all lined up at once where normally only the color of the day and of the day before would be out at all. Again people may be brought in for multiple checks while those intent on evading capture can remain elusive.

But Sunday--on Sunday the entire process breaks down. There's too much volume for the retrieval units to handle, and they scatter about in a strange catch and release program, dragging anyone they catch to random places around the Tower before letting them go. They don't seem to be entirely certain of what they're supposed to be doing.

Something else happens on Sunday, as well...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The box remains spilled for only a split second, then Diarmuid seems to appear out of thin air, repacked box in his hands. He doesn't hand the box back to Edgeworth, though. Instead, he gives the man a hard look.]

Something is going on. You're not acting right. This isn't the place to talk about it, though. Someone could show up at any moment. Lets get on the elevator. We can talk there. It's not like we won't have quite a long wait.

Well if you weren't in such a hurry!

[She puts her hands on her hips and scowls down at him. Her pouting doesn't last long as she lurches back in surprise at Diarmuid's sudden reappearance]

What the- How did you do that?

Of course I'm in a hurry! We need to get that wretched con- Nggggggh![It's then that he suddenly sees Diarmuid with the repacked box.....yeah, he will never stop finding that incredibly disturbing.

Unfortunately, Diarmuid's next comment really does nothing to help the situation. In fact, it just makes the other man snap back.] Th-there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. It's just your imagination.

Speed is one of my specialties.

[Diarmuid's answer to Wriggle's question is short. He doesn't mean to be rude, but at the moment he is more worried about Edgeworth's strange behavior than anything else.

He gives his roommate a stern look.]

I am imagining nothing. Certainly not my normally calm and collected roommate acting as if he's having a panic attack...

Is this weird? I thought he was usually like this.

Sneaky and looking like he's up to no good.

[Having only just met the pair, Wriggle wasn't really aware there was anything different about him]

[Were Edgeworth in a calmer state, he would have replied that the exact same thing could be said about Wriggle.

Instead, he is too busy being angry and upset about what Diarmuid has said because....unfortunately, the man is right.]

I-I am not- nggggggggh! [And with that, he pushes Wriggle out of the way and storms down the corridors to the elevator.

When you catch up with him, you will find him standing in front of the dreaded doors, staring long and hard at the Open button, while taking deep breaths and trying very hard (and failing miserably) not to start shaking. Suddenly, he moves his hand and quickly jabs the button and instantly moves his finger away, as if the button were going to bite his whole finger off.

Unfortunately, after the elevator doors open, Edgeworth just stands there, trying to gather up the courage to go inside.

He can do this, he keeps telling himself. He can go through those 100 floors. There will be no problems. There will be no earthquake, the elevator will not suddenly stop, he will not be stuck inside for hours and there will be no murder...

O-or will there?]

[When he catches up to Edgeworth, Diarmuid puts a hand on the man's shoulder to keep him from entering the elevator for the moment.]

Something tells me it's not a good idea for you to get onto that thing in the condition you are in. I don't know why you are so scared, but I have seen such terror before in the eyes of those who were not prepared for the reality of battle, so don't waste your breath telling me you are not scared. Would you rather we took the stairs? It will be more hazardous, but I can carry you both. My speed will be lowered slightly, but that will hardly matter considering how fast I am.

[He looks to Wriggle.]

Would you mind that, Lady? Super speed is my specialty as I mentioned. It might not be the most glamorous way to travel, but I don't think it's a good idea for him to get on the elevator if is it scaring him so much.

[It's like pushing something through water. She hadn't thought of him being aggressive enough to actually push his way through and the motion catches her off guard. It only takes her a moment to right herself though]

Hey! Get back here!

[She follows Diarmuid down the corridor to the elevator and is actually surprised that he's still there. While Wriggle really didn't fully understand the situation it seemed like the other man did]

I really don't care. He's your friend, you probably know what's best.

[Edgeworth tried to wriggle his shoulder out of Diarmuid's hand, not being used to being touched by other people except for a handshake or to give or receive something.

Diarmuid's comment, however, caught him off-guard. He was about to keep denying it when Diarmuid pointed out that he's seen that look on terrified men in battle.

Ugh.....there was no use denying it. Diarmuid was quite an intelligent and perceptive man. Besides, even if he were not, the way the prosecutor was shivering and sweating would have given it away eventually.

Ugh...this was utterly humiliating.]

I.....

[Edgeworth grits his teeth and grabs his arm in order to pull himself together.]......Fine. I admit it. Are you two going to laugh now? If you are, then get on with it!

Edited 2013-08-20 12:32 (UTC)

Fears are nothing to laugh at.

[Diarmuid's gaze flicks to Wiggle hoping that she will treat this situation with the seriousness it deserves. He has only just met her so he has no idea how she might react to this. Elevators might seem like an odd thing to fear, but considering the strength of Edgeworth's fear obviously something very traumatic happened to him in or near one.]

You should have just said something. There was no need for you to get yourself so upset...

[Wriggle is unfortunately not that tactful and laughs as prompted, at least until Diarmuid states there's nothing amusing about it]

Haha, well I guess those elevator things are pretty unnatural. We never had anything like this back home.

But your face was kinda funny [Smirk]

[And with that, Wriggle, all you will get in response is a very, very intimidating and ice-piercing glare. Edgeworth may not be much of a fighter at the moment but he's good at making those.]

[Diarmuid steps between them, giving them both a look that says 'settle down.']

Now is not the time to be fighting. We have more important things to deal with remember?

[Diarmuid taps the box he has under his arm.]

Unless you would rather I leave you here two here to fight like a pair of children while I deal with hiding the box?

[Even with Diarmuid in the way she still tries to glare back at Edgeworth from over his shoulder. She had to hand it to him though, he had a pretty solid glare. She was feeling tense just from keeping eye-contact]

Like I said, I don't really care what you want to do with the box. But if you need a hand I can tag along.

[~~YOU CANNOT OUTGLARE ME! 111111eleventy~~

Ugh.....This elevator was really getting to him - to the point he was arguing with a little girl. Deliberately ignoring Wriggle for the moment, he turns to Diamuid, trying to return to his normal calm and collected self.] Let's....just get out of here, first things first.

[Diarmuid nods, glad that Edgeworth doesn't seem to want to continue the fight. He really hadn't expected it from his roommate, but at the same time he hadn't expected the behavior he had just witnessed either. However, instead of speaking to Edgeworth immediately, he turns to Wiggle.]

Since we have to take the stairs, I will need to carry Edgeworth at least. How fast are you, Wriggle? If someone else carries the box, I could carry you both, but it would not be that smooth of a trip. If you are pretty fast, though, I would be glad to lower my speed so that you can keep up with us.

I'd say I'm pretty fast in the air! Dunno about on the ground though, I've never had to race anyone on foot.

Are you really that fast though? I thought you just teleported or something. So what do you need me for? Monster duty? I can stun them long enough for you to get through.

Probably.

[......Is Diarmuid really going to carry him all the way upstairs?

This really is far worse than "Not my day". Having to be carried up because you did not have the guts to board an everyday method of transport that everyone and their mother uses. Edgeworth feels as if his ~~overblown~~ ego has been destroyed within five minutes.

Hopefully nobody will see this. Especially not the other Lancer.] .....Is there really no other way to go up the stairs? Besides walking, the elevator and.....what you have just suggested? [Edgeworth realises that the answer is very likely "No" but it would not hurt to check, for the sake of his MANLY MANLY MANLY pride.]

No, everything I do is speed based. I have no teleportational abilities. When I disappear, it is because I am moving so fast your eyes cannot follow me any longer.

[As if to prove his point, Diarmuid suddenly vanishes from Edgeworth's side appearing next to Wiggle in less that the blink of an eye.]

If I have my way, any monsters we run into will be outrun instead of fought. It is just quicker that way and I don't have to worry about something happening to the container or anyone with me. Because of that, perhaps it would be best if we went our separate ways now? I know you don't really care that much about the container, but if you ever do wonder I will be glad to give you whatever information I have. You need only to ask.

[Diarmuid turns back to Edgeworth and shakes his head.]

Unless one of you can teleport and haven't told me, then there is no other way that I know of. If it is any comfort to you, Edgeworth, if it ends up only being me and you I can move so quickly no one who might be out will see us pass.

Gah!

[She lurches back, shocked at his sudden appearance. This only made her tense, Wriggle didn't particularly like things that could sneak up on her like that since she was so used to sensing peoples movements with her antennae. Better not get on his bad side]

Uh... yeah sure. I mean if it turns out to be important then I want in on the credit too.

Guess I'll be seeing you around then?

ooc [Is it okay to handwave that Diarmuid told Wriggle about the research groups then? Since I still need an IC reason for her involvement]

Hmph.....I suppose I really have no choice, then.

[And with that, he turns to Wriggle.]

Miss Nightbug, if you are going to leave us, then I have one request before you depart.

I would like you to keep our meeting a secret. Not one word to anyone, am I clear? [Yes, he's referring to both the liquid and the elevator.]

(OOC: Totally okay! It is actually what I thought would happen!)

[Diarmuid nods toward her.]

Don't worry. I will let you know about anything that comes up as a result of this. You two deserve the credit for finding the container, not me. I just get involved because I heard you talking.

[Edgeworth's sharp tone makes Diarmuid frown, though he can't argue with the man's words.]

Until we find out exactly what is going on, secrecy is probably the best idea. We don't know how the Administrators will react and I would hate for you to be harmed when you don't even know where the container is anymore.

[She eyed him smugly and folded her arms]

And what if I don't? What are you going to do to keep me quiet?

[She wouldn't really, heck she probably wouldn't remember his freak out until someone bought it up again. However with Diarmuid's words she backed off slightly. It wasn't fun but at the same time she hated the admins as much as anyone else. She wouldn't forgive herself if she actually helped them out]

Alright, fine I won't say anything. But if it turns out to be super important then tell people that I helped.

[Edgeworth was secretly relieved that Diarmuid had butted in just then. He really does not want to go into detail about his problems. However, Wriggle now seemed to get the message.

Still trying to look as dignified as possible, he turns to Wriggle.] .....I thank you. [He might as well trust her for now. She's got a good reason not to say anything, anyway.]

Of course. This is your and Edgeworth's discovery, not mine. Whatever comes of it, I will see that people know you were involved.

[It is basically the same thing he said before, but if repeating it will put Wriggle at ease as to his intentions, then Diarmuid has no problem with that.

He bows his head to Wriggle before speaking again.]

If you do not mind, then, we will say good bye here and I will see getting this hidden and getting my roommate back to the dorms. It was good meeting you, Lady Nightbug.

WB!

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Hope this is okay, guys! If it's not, I'll change it.

It's fine with me!

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WRIGGLE. SDJFLSKDJFSLDKJFS

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