Locked in the Tower ✪ Part Three: Bullet Time

[megazero_to_superhero]

Characters:	David "Little David" Puskás, and all youse guys!
Setting:	Floors Three, Eighteen, and Nineteen (Libaries and Study Room), then Floor One (Cafeteria), and later any floor.
Format:	Matching tagger's choice, but starting with Prose.
Summary:	David's doing some library research and looking for whoever's writing up a book on heroes. Then he gets lazy.
Warnings:	None come to mind!

Option A: Floors 3, 18, and 19 (Libraries and Study Room)


     It's been a problem that David's been trying to solve for months now. Namely—now that he's got his rifle put back together, just how was he going to get ammunition for it?

     Every piece of Little David's combat-related equipment requires ammunition of some sort; cartridges, shells, taser darts, grenades, rockets. Without them, he's little more than a clay pigeon ... well, okay, a sturdier clay pigeon, but nevertheless he can't effectively fight back against the tower's monsters or any villainous residents. Fists won't get a Blaster very far. That sword he lifted off the warband of mutilated humanoids during the glamour failure—well, it made for somewhat better odds ... but rather than seeking out a tutor on how to use it effectively as he probably should have done (whatever happened to the guy with the spear?), he's spent these past few months looking for some way to procure ammunition within the tower.

     Soon after the most recent dust-up with the Admins, David got a lucky break in the form of Waver Velvet, Lord El-Melloi the second.

     So now, David's making a thorough search of the Tower's libraries and study room, looking for anything on rifle cartridges. Any books, or even just an encyclopedia entry or two, that might give Waver a good idea of what they're made of and their general anatomy. He's also looking for anything he can find on shotgun shells, for the same reason. Having a flight system in his powered armor suit makes the job a little easier: with every flare of its plasma thrusters, David zips about from isle to isle, shelf to shelf, completely disregarding any ladders or stairs that might be needed to access the higher shelves.





Option B: Floor 1 (Cafeteria)


     Shortly before the latest bout with the admins, David had received a colorful letter with a request. Since Christmas, David's been trying to find whoever it was who sent the note. He's a little confused, though—when he reads the letter, he keeps reading "room two on floor one" as meaning the Cafeteria. It hasn't yet occurred to him to check the residential Floor One.

     David never really was the book smart type.

     Nevertheless, he's staking out the cafeteria again, with the letter in hand. He's also going to be nosing around the kitchens, looking for any signs that might help determine if the cafeteria really has a "room two" or not. So, kitchen staff, you might have a hero getting in the way of meal times.





Option C: Any stairways/floors


     Other times, of the day, though, you might find David elsewhere.

     Like napping in mid-air, in front of you, or in places that aren't the most appropriate for a nap, like off the side of a ledge or railing—and yet he'll be floating there as if he were lying back in a hammock. Legs crossed, arms folded behind his back, the plasma thrusters in his boots and on his back keeping him sturdily aloft. Not unlike a certain demolitions mech whose theme music is appropriate for this sort of activity.

     You could probably push him around like an air hockey puck and he wouldn't notice ... or would he?

Comments

Cafeteria

[myblueskies]

Luckily for David Romeo was actually in the cafeteria, with all the notes people had sent him and a piece of paper that he was copying onto. Arrows everywhere as he matched up what people had said to names, and what other people had said about them people.

He's pretty engrossed in his work though he has a carrot muffin next to him that he sometimes remembers to take bites out of.

Sorry for the delay! Posted an update at the OOC comm just earlier.

[megazero_to_superhero]

David comes floating out of the kitchen a few minutes later, thankfully not messing up anyone's cooking ... or so it would appear, since there aren't any angry staff or cooking utensils thrown his way as he leaves. He's looking a little frustrated, to say the least.

He takes another glance around before spotting the kid copying from a pile of documents. Well—if nothing else, he might have a better idea of where David should go to talk to this "Romeo." So, David makes his way over, before taking a seat on the opposite side of the table.

"Hey, kid," David speaks up as he settles onto the seat. "You got a minute?"

its okay <3

[myblueskies]

Romeo looked up and smiled at this person who was sitting down opposite him. "Of course sir!" He moved some of his notes so that the man had room at the table. "Do you need help?"

[megazero_to_superhero]

"Yeah, I'm lookin' for dis guy here," David holds up the letter Romeo had put in his mailbox. "Said to meet 'em in Room Two on Floor One, but I've been all around dis place an' I don't see anywhere marked 'Room Two.'"

[myblueskies]

Romeo blinked at the letter. "That's me!" He grinned, "I'm Romeo sir. But I didn't mean here! I meant the bedroom floors, mine is bedroom two on the first bedroom floor." He wondered if other people had been confused as well.

[megazero_to_superhero]

David's jaw drops in surprise. Not enough for the cigar in his mouth to fall out, but that dawning look of realization is unmistakable. David glances at the letter, then back over to Romeo, and then smacks his free hand up to his own forehead.

"Boy, do I feel stupid!" David chuckles, full of embarrassment. "Arright, arright, well—s'good to see ya, Romeo," He places the letter on the table as he continues talking. "I woulda written you back, but my handwriting sucks."

[myblueskies]

"It's okay sir. Writing is really hard." He smiles at him. "And you've found me now!"

[megazero_to_superhero]

David grins at Romeo's comment about writing, but it's a little lopsided. Oh, he must have well and truly vexed Paragon City's municipal government with the forms he's filled out ...

"So, uh—you were lookin' for stories about heroes?" David asks. "Just out of da people in da Tower, or anyone we woulda known back home or elsewhere?"

[myblueskies]

"Yes sir." He nodded with a smile, "Any heroes though it's going to be mostly about heroes in the tower. But if you had any great heroes at home you can tell me those stories too."

Floor 3

[warriorscribe]

With a current lack of direction, feeling like he or someone needs to get downstairs or into the terminals but Riki's watch is not the one to do either, Enoch has taken to testing his new motorcycle on various surfaces in the tower. He's currently pushing it up the stairs, and it's as slow as it sounds. Realizing he hasn't taken a look at the network today, he walks the bike off the landing...only to see someone familiar zipping around.

"David?"

And now I can tag back!

[megazero_to_superhero]

At that moment, David literally does zip past Enoch from one end of a bookshelf isle to another. Recognizing the other man's voice causes David to "slam on the brakes," though, pivoting his feet forward to bring his momentum to a halt. After which, he turns about in mid-air to look down.

"Heyas, Enoch!" David calls down with a wave of an open hand. "How's you been holdin' up?"

[warriorscribe]

"Well enough for the situation, I suppose." He smiles up at him, leaning his motorcycle against him a little. He does intend to move it soon, so no kickstand. "And you?"

[megazero_to_superhero]

"'Bout da same," David replies. His conversational and friendly tone of voice doesn't match well with that subtly grim expression on his face. "Gettin' kinda sick of watchin' things hit da proverbial fan in da Tower without havin' any real way of helpin' out."

He points a thumb behind him at the nearest shelves. "So I've been tryin' to do somethin' about it. Not much luck yet, though."

[warriorscribe]

"What are you trying to do?"

There's always the off-chance that he could help, after all.

[megazero_to_superhero]

"I put my rifle back together a few months back," David explains as he removes his Vanguard "Redding" assault rifle from its thigh mount, holding it out in front of him in a way that someone might offer a sword to another.

"Thing is, dere's no ammo for it, or for da other gadgets I got. I guess it won't mean much against da admins, since we're all just seran wrap sculptures to dem, but da Tower's got more dangers dan just dem. An' I ain't much help to nobody if I can't fight."

Which has been detrimental in more ways than one; since he doesn't know what else to do to help everyone else, he's missed a lot of the recent developments unfolding—like the breakthrough with the collar fluid.

[warriorscribe]

He takes the rifle gently, examining it briefly before handing it back to him. He doesn't quite understand what he sees, still, but he has encountered guns here before. "So you're...are you trying to find another way to fight? Or to make the ammunition?"

The first, he might be able to help with. The second, not so much.

[megazero_to_superhero]

"Mostly da latter," David replies. "Met somebody who says he can try an' do it for me, with his, uh ... magecraft. But all's he knows about ammo is gunpowder, so I'm tryin' to find him some good references."

David glances around the library for a second. "Not been havin' a whole lot of luck with dat so far. But, uh, on da other thing? I gotta look into dat too. Still got dat sword on me."

Stairways

[tempus_scorpius]

All Rolo wanted was use the stairs when... what is this blocking the way...? He pushed it away a bit before realizing, it's a person... floating in mid-air? What the-?

"Hey!"

He poked at David a bit.

Sorry for the long delay! I posted a notice at the OOC comm.

[megazero_to_superhero]

The push was enough to give David momentum to gently float forward, bumping into the underside of the spiral staircase's upper portions. Yet even that didn't get more than a soft, snorting grunt from David.

At least until Rolo started poking and calling out to him. David twitches, as if startled awake but still too drowsy for a proper reaction. After a few moments, however, he jerks his head and torso forward as if he really were sleeping on a hammock.

"Wh-wha—?!" David's head whips about as his suit's thrusters drop him into a more typical hovering posture, looking to his left (and noting the underside of the stairs so close to him), then to his right. Someone else here—is something going on—? Are there monsters nearby? David's hands reach for the Vanguard "Redding" Rifle and bring it to the ready ... only for him to remember that he still hasn't acquired any ammunition for it.

Looking a little flustered, David fumbles with the rifle until he's carrying it in a one-handed cradle position, with the muzzle pointing to the side away from the staircase.

"What'd I miss?" David asks, sounding like he's still shaking off the fuzziness of sleep, but steeling himself for a potential crisis.

It's fine esp. since I'm even later.... orz

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo frowned and tried to see what was holding this person up. Are there invisible threads somewhere or something?

But before he could find out, he quickly he stepped back, hand reaching for his hunting knife as he got ready to activate his Geass if necessary, when the other moved for his rifle.

He watched David warily as he replied simply, "You're blocking the way."

Haha, it's all good! I can backtag fo' DAYS.

[megazero_to_superhero]

No invisible threads are holding David aloft—rather, there's some jets of blue-glowing plasma emanating from his boots, and a larger trio from the backpack-like device mounted on his armor.

"I'm wha—?" David starts to respond, but cuts himself off as he takes a more measured look at the boy in front of him, as well as where he currently is. He's on the stairwell, which means the kid must be trying to—and the kid has a knife out—oh, that must be because he just—oops.

Way to make yourself a nuisance to the other residents, David.

"Hah, sorry," David finally says after registering the whole of the situation. He returns the rifle to the mount built into his thigh armor, and floats away from the stairwell just enough so that the boy can continue on his way.

<3

[tempus_scorpius]

That is most curious. Rolo eyes those rather strange looking jets of... something. He's not sure what they are and doesn't dare to reach out and touch them.

At David's question, he just repeats rather emotionlessly. "You're blocking the way."

Rolo studies him for a moment longer after the other has reholstered his weapon before keeping his as well. He is ready to descend the stairs but something is bothering him. "What's keeping you hovering in the air?"

[megazero_to_superhero]

David does notice how the kid seems to be eying his suit's flight system. It reminds him of that guy he met in the mail room just before the new year. What was his name—oh yeah! Waver Velvet ... jeez, he needs to write that down, or something.

The boy's explicit asking about the flight system brings his attention back to the here and now. "Oh, dis? It's a flight system built into my armor," David explains. "S'all electric."

[tempus_scorpius]

"Electric." Rolo takes a step closer for a better look. "Shouldn't you conserve your power while you're here though? The power here can turn off very abruptly and you won't be able to charge it for when you really need it." It really seems a huge waste to have it on while you're asleep.

[megazero_to_superhero]

"What, ya mean da glamour?" David asks, before shaking his head. "Can't do nothin' about dat anyways. All our stuff's simulated, so even if I tried conservin' power it won't help."