Event: Quarantine

[animusmods]

Characters: any characters trapped in rooms during the event
Setting: dormitory level rooms
Format: any
Summary: An unexpected series of explosions has trapped residents in the dorm rooms with no power and no way to get out. Try to communicate with the outside, deal with being stuck in a small room with other people... Deal with the really strange things that seem to be happening, too.
Warnings: typical Animus horror event warnings

[There are several more explosions, and the sound of things falling and crumbling outside. The dorm rooms themselves don't collapse or cave in, but the furniture and trunks and nightstands may be rattled and knocked about. Eventually, the lights flicker and go out entirely, leaving everyone in the dark. There are small red emergency lights lining the floors, but they don't seem to have come on all the way, and flicker on and off eerily.

After maybe twenty minutes everything falls silent. However, if you try the door, you'll find you can't get out...]

Comments

[bloodyashes]

And to think their years are only half as long as ours.

[Snippy? Damn right it's snippy. Now that they've safely laid claim to one of the beds, Van's comments about Sheba get Asch's hackles up. He knows how the man works, better than anyone, and one of those ways is by flattering the young, speaking to them as equals. It was terribly effective on Luke leading up to Akzeriuth, and on Asch himself at a much younger age.

He knows Sheba knows what Van is, but that doesn't stop him from stepping forward, partially putting himself between his former mentor and the girl.]

[seekinganswers]

[She eyes Van warily. Yes, she knows what he is. And that makes her a little concerned that Asch is speaking up for her - Van uses people, yes, but he also uses the bonds between people. Part of the reason she hadn't outright told the man of her friendship with Asch was because she hadn't wanted him to try and find some way to use it to his advantage.

You didn't spend a good year and a half getting manipulated by the best manipulator in all of Weyard without learning a few things and knowing how to recognize the signs.

She loosens her hold on the pillow with one hand and shifts to get back to her feet, reaching out with the hand she was no longer using to hold the pillow to very lightly tap Asch's elbow to get his attention. If he looks to her, he'll see that she's smiling a little - her expression very much says "Don't worry."

Then she looks to Van.]

Thinking of things you can contribute without stepping all over everyone's toes might be a good way to start. Maybe you should start thinking about what you can do that doesn't involve trying to get the people around you to dance to your tune, Van.

It isn't going to work on any of us, so you might as well stop scheming and start helping.

[gloryseizing]

Ah, and here I was thinking you'd had quite enough of seven-year-olds.

[If the years on Weyard were only half as long, then Sheba had only been alive for about as long as Asch's replica.

He watches the pair. He takes in how Asch moves to place himself between the two of them and how she tries to calm him with a touch. He listens, and he hears the tone of Asch's voice, the strain to keep himself from doing more than snapping at him verbally.

He had gathered that Sheba thought highly of Asch, but until now he hadn't believed that sentiment to be reciprocated.]

I must say, I'm surprised. I didn't think you would be willing to allow yourself to get attached to anyone or anything, after you've already lost everything once. [He looks at Sheba meaningfully. It could happen again. Will happen again, when the inhabitants of this tower inevitably part ways.]

I am not scheming, Sheba. I am merely trying to find the quickest way out. Surely you are intelligent enough to see that?

[bloodyashes]

I don't think you know how to not scheme.

[He manages to restrain himself, though, dropping back and plopping onto to the bed. It's a lot easier to pretend that he's calm like this, especially when he scoots back to lean against the wall.]

It's because you took everything away from me that I'm willing to take the risk again. I know I can survive it.

[The change of phrase isn't at all subtle.]

[seekinganswers]

I'm intelligent enough to be able to tell when someone is trying to manipulate me.

[Asch doesn't need to worry about Sheba falling into Van's trap. She's been used by Alex and by the Wise One; no way is she going to let Van use her too, not when she's already been warned about the way he is. She shoots Van a haughty look before taking her seat on the bed again, scooting back and wrapping her arms around the pillow once more.

Finding the quickest way out, hah. Finding the most beneficial way out for him, more like. Her gaze wanders to Asch, who in spite of everything seems sure of himself. "I know I can survive it" - but just because he can doesn't mean he should, and if she has her way he won't have to.]

Anyway... [Her next words aren't directed to Van, not really. They don't seem to be directed at anyone in particular; she's more musing aloud than anything.] The last time there were explosions like that, it wasn't pretty. We're going to want to keep an eye on our collars as time passes... [If she ever misses three days again - not that this is really a life, but at least she's aware of the passage of time when she's in a wireframe - she's going to be very upset.]

[gloryseizing]

I'll remember you said that.

[There is something almost sinister in his eyes as he speaks, his gaze resting on the girl that Asch is willing to risk losing simply to prove his point. It seems he wasn't able to squash the fon Fabre pride out of him when he remade him as Asch the Bloody.

But that is okay. Pride is understandable, and it makes Asch predictable. He can use that even if Asch doesn't want him to.

He tears his gaze away from Sheba so that he can look between the two of them. There is space between them, and he wonders if it is because they don't want him to know how close they really are.]

I don't know what you've been told, [His words are directed at Sheba now, though he is looking at Asch,] but it seems that you do not know the whole story. Someday, when you are ready to stop being stubborn and hear the truth, I will tell it to you.

[bloodyashes]

[It's probably a surprise that Asch doesn't react to the hanging, implied threat. Instead, he actually seems to get better control of himself, steeling and calming at least his outer emotions.

Unknowingly, Van has touched off a reminder, a little something that gives Asch strength. In comparison to before, his voice is almost serene.]

I am always willing to hear truth.

[seekinganswers]

I know the truth when I hear it. [She doesn't mean to - she just unconsciously glances at Asch as she says that, a hint of a smile on her lips, before she returns her attention to Van and narrows her eyes. That almost-smile vanishes.]

And I know it's not something I'll ever hear from you.

[Not to mention, she can rip whatever truth there is for her to hear straight out of his mind - but she doesn't want him to know about that.]

[gloryseizing]

Believe what you want.

[For the moment this conversation is over. The pair is too stubborn for him to make any progress on at present. He will have to try harder and work to whittle them down a little at a time.

Van retreats to the other side of the room, though it isn't far. A small victory for Asch and Sheba.]