towerofanimus | (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

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?

Of course.

[Diarmuid's voice is soft. Soft, and confident.]

I am not sure how much help I will be, but you know I will do all that I can. All you have to do is ask.

...Th--Thank you. [Rick blushes heavily and gives a small, relieved smile.] I-I'm...g-g-glad you u-u-understand.

[Because heaven forbid he go up to people by himself and try to explain what he just explained to Diarmuid. They will get much less out of it than the servant did, surely.]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

You don't need to thank me. You are my friend, so of course I want to do everything I can to help.

[He pauses a moment in though, and then speaks again.]

Do you think writing down what you experienced with the monsters would help you explain it more completely? Perhaps, help you to remember or realize some things you haven't before?

...Th--That w-would... [Wow, yes. That makes a lot more sense!] ...Yeah, I--I-I c-can do that.

[Diarmuid smiles widely.]

A friend told me to write things down not long after arrived because it would help. It did so much, that is why I always suggest others at least try it. It can't hurt, right?

[And the bonus for Rick is that writing is something he seems to have a talent for.]

[Rick nods, considerably more emphatic--but it's short-lived before he deteriorates into embarrassment again.]

...I g-guess I...n-never thought I h-had a-a-anything w-worth writing f-for s-s-someone. [And everything else he could memorize fairly well, so writing things down for himself also seemed rather unnecessary.]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

Sometimes we are the worst judges of what we have of worth to share with others. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I am sure you have plenty to share and you work with the written word so well. You said you work with reports and stuff before coming here, right? That is why you volunteered to help when I put the Tower Guide together and why you are helping with the research results.

[Oh no, too much! Rick blushes bright pink and looks away]

--W-Well I--I w-was only in a-a-accounting, it--i-it w-wasn't like--I j-just wrote d-down what I h-had to...I m-mean...

[The fount of bashful qualifications eventually runs dry, leaving Rick a stammering, red-faced idiot with a silly grin to match.]

...I-I'll do it.

Good!

[Diarmuid reaches out and gives Rick's hair a light ruffling in hopes of calming the man down.]

Have more faith in your abilities while you are at it, okay?