towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Anyone and everyone
Setting: Cafeteria, Noon, Nov 7th
Format: Anything
Summary: A party/discussion mingle after calling a meeting of the residents.
Warnings: tba

The anonymous post on the network was an invitation to gather, discuss and share information. Maybe they would get incredibly lucky and get to the bottom of things, such as who was behind the bombings or the strange things that went on during Quarantine.

Someone has been at work down here in the dining hall, moving the tables around to create a space in the middle in case people felt like dancing. Most of the chairs are around the outside and facing the middle, for everyone to see each other better. There was another space and some chairs for musicians, and a couple of the larger tables were set up with a large buffet of normal cafeteria food (because Zo wasn't likely to poison them) and resident prepared dishes, both clearly marked.

Of course, there was always the oatmeal.

[ooc: Feel free to make your own threads and subthreads!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Once again, Rick finds himself eavesdropping a bit too long on the more covert conversations in the middle of the room whilst resupplying the snack bar. At least this time his attention is taken by someone he recognizes, and is more comfortable talking to in general.]

...I-Is there a-a-any w-way to m-m-make new o-ones? Or--m-maybe a-armor, or s-s-something?

[Since he had asked Enoch about using Darknut armor, and it seemed like modifying it was somehow out of the question...maybe Diarmuid knew a way?]

[Diarmuid smiles in greeting when he sees Rick and then shakes his head.]

Not as far as I know. While it makes sense that we should be able to modify both weapons and armor with the stuff in the workshop, none of that is real. We would probably only end up weakening if not outright destroying any advantage the real armor and weapons give us if we do much of anything to them with things made of film.

If we want to do anything passed minor adjustments, we are going to have to find another way.

[Rick nods, deep in thought. Whatever little rodent is turning the wheel in the blonde man's brain has his work cut out for him.]

...W-With r-r-real tools, I g-guess. Like...w-what we h-have in the l-labs? Can we u-use a-any of that?

[Diarmuid's first thought is to say no since those tools are for research and that is a lot different than forming and fashioning weapons or armor, but then he stops himself and falls into thought.]

I honestly don't know. While I pack them up and move them all of the time, I never have really looked at them. For now, they are probably best used for the fluid research, but after that....

What do you think? You do more with the tools than I do. What kinds of things can they do?

[Rick's face flushes deep red with embarrassment.]

...Uh...I... [He shrugs helplessly.] ...s-sorry. I j-just t-t-take notes, I d-don't r-r-really...um...

[Oh now he's being very unhelpful. Rick frowns and looks away, nervously scratching the back of his head.]

...W-Waver w-would know, p-probably?

[Diarmuid reaches out and gives Rick's shoulder a gentle squeeze.]

Easy, Rick. You don't have to know everything, you know. I thought of Waver as well, but he has so much on his shoulders right now that I hate to bother him with something else. There are the other scientists we could ask, but they are likely to be just as busy.

[And some of them are a lost less trustworthy than Waver is.]

...Y-Yeah, you're r-r-right.

[Rick slumps in defeat despite Diarmuid's reassurances. He looked so happy with him for a minute there...if only there was something he was good at! Something he had some experience with, not just another idea that needed to be passed on to someone else...]

[He blinks and looks up, sharp and sudden.]

...The m-m-monsters th--themselves are r-r-real...right?

[It's more of a leading question than anything--the anxious glint in Rick's eye says he has something specific in mind.]

Edited 2013-11-10 19:45 (UTC)

They are...

[Diarmuid notices the look in Rick's eyes and a worried look crosses his face. It reminds him of when Rick had been talking to him about Ruana and if she ever came into the Tower during her games.]

What are you thinking?

[More worried, having noticed that Diarmuid doesn't look especially pleased with where this is going: ]

...W-Well...w-what if they m-m-made s-stuff for us?

[To his credit, Diarmuid doesn't immediately discard Rick's idea. However, much like his brother's idea of riding monsters, there just seems to be too many bad points to allow him to think this is a good idea.]

They are monsters, Rick. They want nothing else but to kill us. How do you plan on making them do anything to help us?

[The wheels are spinning again in Rick's mind. He ponders for a significant amount of time.]

...I'm...n-not s-s-sure.

[And no one was surprised.]

--B-But we c-could t-t-trap them, at l-least, until we f-f-figure s-something out? Maybe--M-Maybe in the, uh--cells? Er, the j-jail floor, I mean.

That implies you plan on testing them somehow.

[Diarmuid gives Rick a concerned look.]

You do realize how dangerous that is, right? And foolish. Monsters are unpredictable by their very nature. Even seemingly harmless monsters can become deadly when night falls or the Administrators get a hold of them.

[Rick's expression becomes more and more flustered as Diarmuid presses him, until finally his face flushes deep red and he breaks in exasperation: ]

--I-I know. I mean, I-- [He takes a deep, shuddering breath.] --I've...t-t-tested them, b-before. I know w-what...what they th--think.

You've what?

[Diarmuid blinks at Rick in surprise.]

What are you talking about? How do you know that? Is this something to do with your powers?

[He opens his mouth but stops, too unsettled to continue forward immediately. It's seemed like such a long time since it happened...he had almost forgotten. He could've been happy with forgetting. Still, if it helps...]

...Y-Yeah. K-K-Kind of.

[Rick shuffles his feet as he attempts to collect his thoughts. Where to start, even?]

I, um...I-I c-c-can't just...sh--shift i-into a-a-anything I w-want. I h-have to...ah...b-bond, and...their s-s-souls l-live in... [He pulls a face, points at the side of his head.] ...w-with me. I r-r-remember who...w-what they w-were, and...I thought...the m-m-monsters...I c-c-could do the s-same with them.

[The anxious look he has says that this perhaps wasn't the best decision he's made.]

[Diarmuid's expression grows more shocked as Rick speaks before shifting and growing very stern. He starts to scold Rick for doing such a dangerous thing, but stops himself after only a few words. From the look on Rick's face, it's clear that things didn't go well and he knows just how foolish an idea his plan was.

Hindsight is 20/20 after all.]

It didn't go well... What were you able to learn? Anything?

[Yeah, Rick's not terribly proud of that one. He flinches away at the first signs of scolding and remains submissive even after Diarmuid backs off--just knowing that he's a disappointment is enough to sufficiently break him.]

[Staring sidelong at the floor, Rick nods numbly.]

...Th--They're n-n-not w-what they l-look like. They um... [He squeezes his eyes shut, takes a deep breath.] ...i-i-it's l-like...they use the s-s-souls of the m-monsters as d-d-disguises. I c-couldn't even...I d-d-didn't know until a-after I b-b-bonded, and...t-too late, then.

[Diarmuid frowns at Rick's reaction and then reaches out to put a hand on either of the man's shoulders in hopes of calming him down.]

Don't mistake worry for anger or disappointment, Rick. I worry about you because you are my friend. Please, take a deep breath and calm down, okay? You aren't in trouble.

Take your time and tell as clearly as you can what you mean by they were using the monster's souls as disguises. If they are more than monsters, what are they?

[He doesn't calm down. The event was traumatizing enough, he was in trouble for a while afterwards, and worse yet, he doesn't know how to answer more concisely. Rick buries his face in his hands and shakes his head in frustration.]

--I-I d-d-don't know! It j-just--t-t-took over, and--I c-couldn't do a-a-anything--

[Deep breaths. He pauses, shuddering, and restarts.]

...They know...a-about our p-pasts. They s-seem to f-f-focus on, uh...s-s-strong r-r-relationships, lost...and our f-fears.

So like the shadow children?

[Diarmuid starts to gently rub at Rick's shoulders, hoping the motion will help calm the man down.]

Those are the kinds of things they knew about far too well. Our weaknesses, our bonds, our pasts. Do you think they might be connected somehow?

[Rick calms just enough to seriously consider this.]

...Huh. N-Now that you m-m-mention...huh.

[He doesn't give a direct answer--too busy thinking. They are awfully similar, aren't they...?]

It can't be a coincidence. Not here. What do you think it means?

[Diarmuid takes a moment to ponder this as well, but then shakes his head.]

This is not something I think I can help you with. You have experienced them both, not me. I could be just making false connections...

[He almost adds, 'again,' but stops himself and falls quiet, giving Rick time to think.]

--N-No, no, that-- [Rick shakes his head and thoroughly kneads his temples.] --th--that s-sounds right. I j-just--I c-c-can't b-believe I d-didn't see it b-before. I c-could've...we m-might h-have known e-earlier...

Don't worry about that right now. The important thing is that we have realized it. This is probably information we should make sure gets out to others. Even if you can't figure out what all it means, others might be able to.

[Diarmuid pauses to give Rick a concerned look.]

If you are okay with that. It would require you talking to people about your experiment and the results.

[Rick is understandably very uncomfortable with this. He stares at the floor and anxiously shifts weight between his feet, long in consideration (and only slightly crumbling under Diarmuid's unfaltering gaze, even as concerned for him as it is).]

[Eventually he gathers his nerves and cautiously glances over his glasses.]

...Y-You'll help?