and when you gaze long into an abyss...

[sageprincess]

Characters: Everyone!
Setting: Everywhere!
Format: Every format!
Summary: General mingle log for the first day of the Into An Abyss event.
Warnings: General Tower warning.

[Freak out, organize, stick your hand into the tear in reality on floor 23, etc.]

Comments

[CLOSED FOR NOW - checking up on Ion + possibly Anise]

[bloodyashes]

[Technically speaking, Ion wasn't his responsibility and hadn't been for months. Asch feels obligated to stop in on him anyway - he'd been supposed to watch out for Ion in that trip down the elevators, and he'd failed there. No fault of any of theirs, really, but Asch was never the best at assigning fault.

He sticks his head in through the door, for a start, looking around the room briefly to find Ion.]

Need anything?

[fragileprophet]

Oh, Asch--

[Ion looks his way, only a bit startled, then shakes his head. He's already standing, looking a bit lost and confused in the middle of the room. He had been expecting that announcement just about as much as everyone else had been, after all.]

--no, I'm fine, thank you. I'm not so sure what I should be doing, though.

[Though it felt like he should have been doing something. This seemed important, and he wanted to help.]

FLOOR 23.

[seventhsong]

The only reason Lorelei even knows this floor is here is other people slipping in and out of it. So of course he'd had to as well; curiosity was an endless driving force and he rarely did much to try to rein it in.

Now is no exception. There was a rift, in floor 23's floor.

Everything else about the floor becomes pretty instantly irrelevant as soon as this is discovered. It's observed for a little while - other people are also irrelevant - until he's sure there's something on the other side trying to get through. And then he simply leaves.

When Lorelei returns to this normally inaccessable floor, he has a whole lot of small items in his pockets and in his arms. He settles again by the rift, setting down all these new objects. He could be learning the layout of the floor, exploring, trying to find something RELEVANT to do. But apparently he's decided feeding the rift is more important. Discovering that it's a bad idea to stick a finger in that void is pretty quick, ends in a quick violent tearing and screech of pain, bloodied hand now missing one finger cradled against his chest for several moments before the wound is simply healed over (he'll manage without one finger), eyeing the rift with a black look.

Well that was a bad idea.

Right afterwards, the lesson it seems is not learned, as all those other things he'd gotten are carefully stuffed into the rift. A candycane. A spoon. A clump of dirt. All of it is watched with avid interest.

This could take a while.

Re: FLOOR 23.

[glassceiling]

[Assassin stares at Lorelei's experiments, curious. Her interest might be no less than Lorelei's]

...What are you doing?

[kindofademon]

"Think that has a limit?"

Ryuunosuke may not know who Lorelei is - he hasn't seen him outside of cheagle form - but the cry of pain got his attention quickly. Now he's interested in both the bloodied hand and the void. And it's something that the void can compete with blood.

Anise will be tagging after me! THREE-MUN THREAD GO.

[sarcasmancer]

Lorelei is not the only one interested in Floor 23, after the power went out. He'd been told that Floor 23 didn't, strictly speaking, exist, and had tested that for himself during the week--fortunately, he had the willpower to not succumb to the urge to go up and down until he disappeared--but now that he checks it again, here it is.

Most curious. A pity there's so little in here. Even when the glamour glitches, the elevators he sees don't work. There's just that all-consuming hole and the growls from within. Others seem to be interested in feeding it.

Well, why not? It'll be an experiment.

Which is why Jade returns later with a very dead monster. He watches Lorelei's own experiments with interest, and then, cool as you please, summons his spear and slices off one of its hands. This dismembered hand, he slowly pokes through the hole. There's a violent rip, and when he pulls it back, the hand is dripping slowly from both ends.

"Fascinating," Jade says, way too cheerfully.

[taintedwhite]

[Suddenly he'd find a young albino girl peering at the crack over his shoulder.]

Mr four fingers lost his candy? ...Mister four fingers should be more careful. Those are not so easy to find in the Tower.

[Shiro's here, for now. Might as well enjoy it. Who knows how long it'll be before Wretched Egg comes out to play~]

[evokingfool]

Like Lorelei, Minato noticed the unusual number of people entering and exiting the floor. So he went to check it out, and saw he can actually enter the floor to perceive it.

Only to hear a pained cry to distract him from his thoughts. Minato glanced over and quickly made his way towards Lorelei. His eyes looked down at Lorelei's hand and up at him.

"Are you okay?"

[keybearer]

[Riku had plans. Some pretty, oh, important ones, like weapons gathering, hunting down friends, scoping out the tower given the recent announcement...

All those plans come screetching to a halt when he sees Lorelei there, stuffing his hand, candy, and other miscellaneous objects into the rift. Once his finger goes in, Riku bites his lip to suppress a gasp.

Then, after a couple seconds of staring, he zips back to the stairwell to grab some extra fodder.

By the time he finally speaks up, he's got a fistful of nutrition bars prepped and ready to go.]

Shouldn't you use more disposable fodder? Don't waste the only decent food this month.

[Open, open, and closed]

[alephbet]

[A: OPEN - hunting]
[It's winter and a Jason month - a bad combination food-wise. Aleph can be found hunting regular on floor 32 - no supernatural powers work, but he's still fast enough and strong enough to hunt down small game. It's not like he's going to be afraid of rabbits or deer. Still, he'd welcome the help to take down larger prey.

When night falls, he has different goals in mind. He's looking for weapons now, and his recent death is fresh in mind - he has all of his demons out as he roams up and down the tower. He'll immediately go for any monster with weapons on it, but other monsters he'll leave well enough alone if they aren't aggressive, and if they are he'll dispatch them as quickly as he can.

Assistance would calm his worries a little, though. Dying was unpleasant.]

[B: OPEN - distribution]
[With no administrators listening, this is a fairly easy process. Aleph hangs around areas where lots of people are - dorms, cafeteria, the like - and asks people who aren't busy.]

Do you need food or real weapons? I have some of each.

[Yep. That's simple enough.]

[C: Locked to bydefacto]
[A goodly amount of food is saved for Sealand, as any knight should think of his country and how big his country's appetite is. Around dinnertime, Aleph cooks a few steaks - he's learned how to make raw meat turn into delicious meat by now - and goes to find Sealand, carrying them on a plate.]

[bydefacto]

[Sealand is just making his way into the cafeteria when he spots Aleph. He hasn't exactly been looking forward to meal times, since all that became available is gross and bland. Candy canes soon became as boring as the nutrition bars. But he has to eat. He's spent most of the day a ball excited, fearful energy, bothering adults and trying to help however he can. He waves when he sees Aleph, hurrying over to him and noting the plate. The plate that smells... very good.]

Aleph! Hi!

[undroppedeaves]

Oh I'll take a weapon if you've got one. [Sam smiled at his roommate and nods, as far as he figures it they aren't going to get very far if their weapons are not even real.

He's been mostly trying to help where he can all day.] I can help hand them out as well if you wish.

[Openish]

[scentofmakai]

[Hey! You!

Were you chosen as a hero by somebody else in response to Romeo's letter?

Then there might be a small boy following you around and trying not to be obvious about it as he sketches your picture. Notice him or don't.

Other things can wait. This book has got to get out.]

open; floor 23

[glassceiling]

[Assassin had never been onto this floor before. in fact, she had no idea of its existence until now.]

[Looking at the elevators and the rift, it's all very unsettling.]

W-what is this, even?

open

[sageprincess]

Around Room 1-09/Dorms
[The violent electrical crackle that seems to make the entire Tower shudder wakes the Princess first, and for a moment her mind races with thoughts of another 'attack,' a new kind that doesn't involve explosions.

But all those thoughts are put aside when that voice comes over the intercom.

Aria is making her move.

Zelda wastes little time changing into what is quickly becoming her 'fuck up the admin's shit' outfit, clasping one of Enoch's cloaks over her shoulders despite the fact she can barely feel the encroaching chill, adrenaline coursing though her blood like lightning. She is not so energetic as to forget how most will likely take this, however. Before heading out to investigate what Aria might be doing, she wanders the dorms for a bit, checking in on those she's close to in case they are (quite justifiably) concerned about all this.]

Floor 81
[And oh, what is Aria doing, indeed! Where she had been making short work of checking previous floors, Zelda stops here when she witnesses what appears to be a giant steel beam floating just outside the bulging window. She watches, entranced, as it seems to heat and coil around itself, a few pieces of glass and wiring joining it. And then, just like that, it sails heavenward, out of sight no matter how she presses herself against the glass. She watches the place it disappeared to quietly for a moment, before finally whispering to herself:]

So that is how he does it...

Floor 81, this is stupid I'm sorry

[scentofmakai]

[Stop pressing yourself against the glass he doesn't need back shots :<

Zelda might have noticed a small boy following her down the last few floors, sketching something whenever they stop in one place.

Could be terrible plotting against her! Or could be totally harmless drawings for the hero book. Hard to say without asking.]

Open - Dorm Floors, soon after the announcement - PANIC

[bashfulshifter]

[Who is at all surprised that the blonde man is not handling this well. If you're not convinced, it shouldn't be difficult to find him quickly running around the first floor of the dorms--followed by the others, then back to the first--desperately looking for the people that he worries about most. Veronica and Amelia are high on his list of concerned parties, as is Yotsuba, although at least she has a large pool of reliable people looking after her apart from himself. Not to mention--]

--T-Tristan? [Where has that retrieval unit gone to? Surely he hasn't gone far, has he? Is he with Aria? This is very worrying!] A-Anyone? Where...?

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer, having stepped out of his room, is almost mowed down by the running Rick.]

Woah there! Rick, are you alright?

[Open]

[neverbeamemory]

Dorm 3-02 / Dorm Hallways 3 down to 1
[Hardly asleep anyway, Sephiroth is startled more awake in that exact moment that the lights snap off - sitting up instantly in his bed and waiting. Power loss in the Tower is hardly a new experience but what with the last few months and the various explosions; silences always seem heavier.

Sephiroth shivers as if from the cold and then all of a sudden crackling, shattering, smashing - and then an announcement. While that's going on he looks around at the other beds in the room (and Hidetoshi/Lancelot if they are there) picking around in the darkness getting dressed again. Keep Jason from interfering. - Whatever that means, it would be his pleasure.]

[After the initial shiver of the Tower and it's rumble Sephiroth heads out into the Hallways of the Dormitories, sweeping the corridors quickly on his way down to the 1st Dormitory level, murder in his eyes. He thumps at the elevator button repeatedly until it becomes clear it's not going to work and turns heading for the continuing stairwell down instead.]

Stairwell
[Look out behind you, Sephiroth is rapidly descending down through the Tower like something might well be chasing him. There isn't anything, but that's not stopping him pushing anyone out of his way, telekinetic-leaping down a whole set at a time and even stopping every so often to make sure he's counted the floors he's gone past correctly. Sometimes checking by taking a single step out onto an particular level to get his bearings.]

Floor 75 - Tower within a Tower
[Monsters. He knows where there will be plenty of them. This floor has never disappointed.

Sephiroth wastes no time in taking to the sky as soon as he gets close enough. Black feathers in his wake as he makes for the topmost floor of the Tower within a Tower. Fully intent on taking this structure from the top down, killing anything he might some across. He might then do it again but it depends on what spoils he might be able to acquire. He'd leave this floor with as many things as he could carry.

Orcs, particularly for their equipment. Who knows, perhaps there might be some Uruk-hai in the mood for a sword fight, lingering in the twenty floors here alone. The latter are difficult for Sephiroth to defeat and time-consuming by all attempts he's taken before but they are not impossible.

The last thing that he needs is to have even a chance to encounter Jason with a sword only really made of film. That, and being power-based, Masamune cannot be relied upon. But, it will be good enough to get what he might need in case of a Glamour drop.]

Stairwell

[duplicitousringleader]

Well you sure shot out of there like a bat outta hell.

[This guy's a few steps up, lounging. He didn't bat an eyelash when Sephiroth essentially leaped over him, and he doesn't bat an eyelash now.]

Something chasing you or what?

Open-Clothing and Real Weapon Distribution (Joint Post for Diarmuid & Xion)

[oathshackledbird]

(OOC: Please post in your reply subject line if you wish to speak with Diarmuid or Xion!)

Cafeteria:

One of the things that has stuck with Diarmuid no matter what has happened to him in the Tower is his belief that if they are going to get out of this, they are going to have to work together and help each other to do it. That is why it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that he has aligned himself with Reno's team and is currently helping Xion set up her clothing distribution. Once done, he will take the time to reorganize and prepare his own distribution--the weapons he and Reno have managed to gather from monsters. Real weapons.

If they are going to make the most of this opportunity, as many people need to be equipped with those weapons, since, as Xion had told him, film ones will do nothing against Jason. It has to be real or nothing. Though, real weapons won't do anything for anyone if they are all freezing to death. Thank goodness, Xion has that covered.

Once it seems like they are both set up, he gives Xion a confident grin. Time to do their part to make Jason's life just as difficult as he has made theirs.

LEARN ABOUT JASON

[attheclocktower]

[While Xion is distributing clothes, she actually has another goal in mind. Namine's pictures is a little worn but now, but still very clearly depicts the administrator as he appears without the glamour. She's steeled herself, and is ready to talk about the July infiltration, though there are still some things that will be off-limits for anybody who asks.

If she sees anybody who looks new, a face she hasn't seen before, or even if she's just never spoken to them about Jason before now (she wants to be sure everyone's prepared), she'll ask them a very clear question. As much as she hates her experience, it'll be good for others to have at a time like this.]

If you don't know much about Jason yet... I can help.

Open-Real Weapon Distribution

[puppy_lancer]

Cafeteria

[Like his brother, Lancer is distributing weapons. He figures it'll get down quicker if there's more than one line waiting for weapons.]

Alright, get your weapons here! Don't shove! Enough for everyone!

[Or it should be, seeing how there were two stashes combined.]

Throughout the Tower.

[Having spent some time in the cafeteria, Lancer has bundled up his share of weapons and started to go through the Tower, just to look for people who might not be in the cafeteria. If he finds anyone, he'll be more than glad to offer them a weapon.]

Cafeteria

[taintedwhite]

[An albino girl moves towards the table, eying the weapons curiously. There's a strange look on her face as she runs a finger down the canon of a gun.]

Are you recruiting people to make an army?

Rallying the bitties! Everywhere

[myblueskies]

Romeo reacted quickly, it was a skill learned in this tower and he got out of bed quickly, grabbing Pinocchio and his knife before heading out into the corridors. Looking for anyone he could find. Specifically he was looking for any of his and Ken's group, as well as Ken himself.

Because that was what it was for, helping each other in times like this, so he went round looking for any of the children and calling them over. They had to make plans and work out how they could help everyone while Aria kept Jason out, and what to do when he got back in. Because Romeo knew he would eventually.

[withani]

Dani would not have been one of the people Romeo has called over before, and she was surprised at being addressed now. Almost as surprised as she was at the sight of someone her own age (almost) in the Tower. Sure she'd seen some in passing maybe but. In passing. And why was he talking to her now of all times?

"Yeah?" she asked, confused.

[OU] Shiro/Wretched Egg - [Open To All]

[taintedwhite]

[In the hallways / Throughout the Tower]

[Wretched Egg is wandering around looking for new Monsters to kill and Shiro is doing the same looking for new friends since Ganta is gone. But since they're just one girl sharing one body, who's to tell which is the one you're facing right now?]

...Bored.

[Wanna take a chance and say hi to a lonely albino girl?]

[[ooc: Tell me in the header if you'd rather meet Shiro or WE and where. Thanks :)]]

Wretched Egg first! ❤

[hemoeroticism]

Bored? ✩

[ The voice came from behind her. He can only imagine why; Ganta was sent home, and it really shouldn't surprise him that what is happening to the Tower isn't even enough to pique her interest. ]

The Tower is in chaos, and you're bored? And here I thought you loved when the whole place is in an uproar.

[ His hands were already stained with blood; both his own, and an unfortunate monster that had just so happened to be in the floor below and had crossed his path. ]

I was wondering where you had run off to, you know. I got so lonely. ✩

OPEN

[keybearer]

Throughout the Tower;

[This is the moment they've waited for. Now they finally understand the source of the explosions. Better yet, they've got allies.

Seizing opportunity, Riku can be found hurrying up and down the stairs, visiting a multitude of floors all while carrying as many monster weapons as he can. His goal? To pass them out to as many people as he can; he suspects others have similar goals, but it never hurts to join a good cause.

When he's not carrying weapons, he's down in the cafeteria, snagging supplies or off fighting monsters for more goods. No matter where he goes, one thing's clear: Riku is focused. And yet, for once, he wears a broad smirk wherever he goes. For once, they might actually stand a chance.]

Floor 23;

[When all is said and done, Riku heads back up to Floor 23. Having seen the rift in passing and having seen someone stick his finger inside, he knows better than to do anything stupid. So, instead, he's humoring himself by aiming his Keyblade into the center of the rift and firing off Firaga and Blizzaga spells. He does this for a minute or two before stopping and chuckling to himself.]

Well, I know one thing for sure: whatever's in there knows how to take a hit.

[That, or it's 100% glamour proof. Should anyone else be in the area, he'll turn around and ask--]

So, what do you think's down there, anyway?

[regenleif]

[Capell had been been watching the hole grow slowly though he had wandered off to find a floor where he could watch outside, see what was happening there, before returning. He saw Riku and his strange key sword.

He shrugged when he was spoken to] I don't have a clue, but maiking it angry probably isn't smart.

Floor 23

[monstrueux]

[Gilles is in a melancholy mood after being returned to his own form. It's true, it's better this way! He must be himself. How is he to talk as a cat? How is he to write poems or truly please Ryuunosuke? He missed his voice. But still... how long had it been since he was so popular? Making people laugh and smile, being petted. It is likely that such a time will never come again, and because Gilles is incredibly self-absorbed, he's moping about it, although his eyes are rather less pronounced than usual.

He doesn't fully understand what's happening in the Tower, but the excitement cheers him up somewhat. He wonders where Ryuunosuke is. He should find him. In his wanderings, Gilles makes his way to the twenty third floor eventually, because he's curious and drawn to chaos. When he sees the abyss, he gazes into it, entranced.

There's something--there, on the other side. Something terrible. Like a monster, from another dimension, that wants to come in.

Ah--! It's beautiful!]

[culbutiri]

[Nesir had heard about the abyss and had come to see it for herself. She was stood a safe distance away watching it, wondering what it is and what was down there.

A few people had come and gone and she watched this new man as he looked down into it.] Be wondering what do be down there?

Handing out cloaks and running messages, open!

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki is in Kirin beast form, there are bags that resemble saddle bags hanging over him, ones he made to help in his job as a collar liquid mover. But today they have an array of socks, gloves and scarves. There are also some cloaks (made by Enoch) slung over his back.

When all the lights went out he had been very frightened, especially since it was a Jason month, the strange voice hadn't helped but seeing that everyone was working together calmed him a lot. And this was something he could do, he could move up and down the tower at ease, and even when the glamour flickered he was still in beast form as that was his unglamoured appearance.] Do... sorry do you need more warm clothes? [He was getting slightly better at approaching people, though it might be strange to have a nervous, feet shuffling, taking horse approach you.]

[papillonmagique]

[His appearance get a few surprised blinks, along with the ping she's getting from him. Still, it's easy enough to tell that he's friendly, so Zoe still gives him a soft smile and a nod.]

Yes, that would be very much appreciated.