(no subject)

[deloreandriver]

Characters: Waver, Marty, anyone else that stayed topside
Setting: Hidden Floor
Format: Any
Summary: Let's figure out that exhaustion thing!
Warnings: TBA

[The Hidden floor is probably the safest place in the Tower right now, but "safe" is relative when everybody is starting to feel the effects of the new threat.

The infiltration team has a dangerous job, but how well can those who stayed behind prepare for the aftermath when they have their own crisis to deal with?]

[This is a mingly log! Feel free to post your own subthread!]

Comments

[deloreandriver]

[Marty's sitting on the floor, squinting at some blank papers he had taped to the wall. Some have scribbles on them, others just a mark or two.

Trying to figure out what's going on, really. What he needs is data... but that's in short supply right now.

With a yawn, he rubs his hands over his face and flops over on his back.

Poke, pester, annoy?]

[fionnuisce]

...Are these supposed to make sense?

[Waver frowned at Marty's papers--his own exhaustion was beginning to manifest as annoyance.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Once the infiltration team is on their way to look into things with Riki, Diarmuid sets his own plans in motion. Since they have no idea how things are going to go or how Riki will react, he still wants to move as many people and supplies as possible to the hidden floor. He's not going to force anyone, but he can't help but think it best to prepare for a worst case scenario. It's the Tower. They all too often happen.

However, he has only covered a few floors when he realizes that something is wrong. He doesn't feel...right. It's like his energy level is not what it should be. Immediately, he checks his bond with Waver and everything is fine there. So...what is going on?

It's only after a second pass through the Tower that Diarmuid realizes some floors cause the weakness to grow worse faster. As he arrives back on the hidden floor after his third round...he has to give in and take a break. To be honest, Diarmuid realizes as he sits down against a wall to watch those who have come up, that he probably should not make anymore rounds. He doesn't know how many total went down to infiltrate, and he can't just keep wasting energy when he has no idea what is coming next.

After he rests for a moment, he will make sure Waver and whoever else wants to know, knows about the fact that the drain gets stronger on some floors. That has to mean something, right? Even if he can see no real pattern in which floors cause it...]

[deloreandriver]

[Marty also frowns at the papers. He's tired, too, and after a year and a half of unfiltered thoughts it's kind of hard getting back into polite mode of being around people.]

They make sense to me. Did you get your eyesight checked recently?

[Working with Waver also has a strange "Waveresque" effect that steadily accrued smart remark points that results in Marty's less than pleasant side sending a few potshots back. Waver is due some.]

[deloreandriver]

Everything okay downstairs?

[Marty noticed the resting and broke off from what he was doing to wander by.]

Need anything? Some girl left tea up here.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid almost refuses the tea, but changes his mind and nods instead. With his energy feeling as off as it is, he isn't going to pass up anything that might help level it out. That includes both food and drink.]

Thank you. I would appreciate some. The Tower itself is very quiet. I've directed some people up here, but if they are all going to come, I don't know.

But...something weird is going on. Are you more tired than you should be?

[deloreandriver]

Yeah, I noticed something like that, but I slept pretty well. [He folds his arms and frowns.] Is it worse downstairs?

[provenworth]

[Elena has been a quiet, silent figure in the background, assisting people as they come onto the floor, giving them helpful instructions or information. There's an anxious, pressing feeling that she ought to have joined in the infiltration team - ought to be with Reno and Xion and Shion. But she's also very aware of her own inabilities - perceived or otherwise - and that she would more likely get in the way She's worried about them, terribly so, though she's careful to keep her expression neutral.]

....You look exhausted.

[Or something close too it. Elena is squatting beside him, arms resting loosely atop her knees.]

[provenworth]

[She's certainly not topside because she actually wanted to be, but Elena is serving as the unofficial Turk leadership presence for those who chose to stay behind. There's not much she can do on the hidden floor save pace around and worry about those who went to infiltrate the lower levels.

To keep herself busy, Elena is taking notes on anything she learns about what is happening to the Tower, keeping tabs on the state of those she comes across and the varying degrees that they present themselves. The feeling of exhaustion, which was nearly a constant for Elena given her increased insomnia, is felt but not given much consideration.

The fact that during a few rounds of the Tower she's not come across any monsters, though, is concerning. And her expression as she reads over her notes is enough to tell anybody she's got concerns.]

[fionnuisce]

I didn't expect you back this soon.

[Waver knelt down in front of him, not bothering to hide his own tiredness and concern.]

How are you doing?

[fionnuisce]

Oh yes, of course I'll just pop down to the optometrist floor--did you get your fucking brain checked?

[While he didn't exactly sound nice, there wasn't any real venom in the lecturer's words. He was far too tired for that, and besides it wouldn't accomplish much.]

Even I have the decency to make my handwriting legible when it matters worth anything.

[fionnuisce]

...Elena? [Waver leaned over her shoulder intending to glance over her notes as well. Something was on her mind, and Waver was aware that any little bit of information they could scrape together would help.]

I'd like to ask if you have anything, but the look on your face tells me I won't like what I'll hear.

[oathshackledbird]

Oddly enough, on certain floors more than others.

[Diarmuid shuts his eyes for a moment, thinking back over the list before starting to recite it to Marty.]

16, 26, 43, 44, 56, and 59... I don't know why, but I got tired more quickly when I lingered to look for people on those floors.

[provenworth]

Ah, Waver. [Her head turns slightly, forcing a weak attempt at a smile. Hands move to adjust the sheet so he can read without her hand or wrist blocking.] Probably not, but its something you'd be better of hearing so we can better figure out what's going on.

[fionnuisce]

I'm listening and bracing myself for inevitable disappointment. [Probably more socially acceptable to ask than hover over her, anyway.]

[provenworth]

Wait for it...

[Because what better way to share news than with a dramatic pause?]

I've noticed on several floors where the monsters are normally prevalent, I couldn't find one. And it isn't like I was just passing through and managed to not step into a random encounter. I mean, I looked and couldn't find any.

[deloreandriver]

[Why did Marty think this is a good idea? That rubbing of his forehead? That's not a good sign.]

I can read it, Grandpa. How'd you read Doc's notes?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid waves a hand dismissively. He is tired, but at the same time, this isn't anything compared to some of the things he has felt while here. That...and he has a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.

At least now he can tell Reno he has seen Elena. Despite all the things that have happened between the two, the red head has been worried about how long it had been since he saw her last. Diarmuid has been worried too, even if their last meeting had ended on a very tense note.]

Has anyone else mentioned noticing that certain floors drain energy faster than others?

[deloreandriver]

[He tilts his head, memorizing the floors while he shifts on his feet. When Diarmuid's done, he goes to get that tea for him. It's cold and Marty doesn't know how long it's been out, but it's better than nothing, he thinks.

Going back, he hands the cup to Diarmuid.]

Maybe you shouldn't go back down there until we find out what's happening. Whatever got rid of the monsters might be doing it.

1/2

[fionnuisce]

I'm not even thirty, you acid-washed little shit--

2/2

[fionnuisce]

[Ahem. Waver cleared his throat, toning down the obvious bristling he'd been doing.]

This isn't getting us anywhere.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, a frown crossing his face brought there both by what he had found downstairs, but also by how tired Waver already seems.]

I can't keep doing it. It takes too much energy and...I'm not finding that many people.

[Waver had made him swear not to do something stupid that could get him killed and as much as he hates it, Diarmuid realizes that keeping up his patrols looking for so few people is doing just that because of how fast it is running him through energy. He is going to have to hope that word of mouth brings those he didn't run into here.]

[fionnuisce]

So they're gone entirely. Why do I have a distinct feeling that's the opposite of good news?

[provenworth]

[For everything that had happened between her and Diarmuid, whatever anger that had been aimed at the man had quelled and died. Energy was precious and attention should be focused on more important areas than false grudges.]

No. I've not heard that yet from anybody else. I assumed that I was getting more exhausted on certain floors for other reasons, though I'm open to other ideas as to why that might be happening.

[provenworth]

That's what I'm thinking, though I'll need to make another trip to those floors to confirm. [Lips pull back in a small grimace.] A forest doesn't become empty of its creatures unless something bigger and badder is coming - be it a larger monster, a fire, or worse...