The Deadland

So, 'people of Asper'. It sounds like you're all getting the hang of fighting, and I'm sure you can be proud of yourselves for that. [ or whatever. He's hidden his sarcasm well, and mostly just sounds affable and amused. ] But we're not a pack of savages. There's more to civilisation than killing things. The theatre, for example. How many of you have even heard of Shakespeare?

[ and a brief pause later ]

What I'm saying is, who'd be interested in putting on a performance with me.

(ooc: Im assuming in the family meeting they let Patience in on their real names so they don't have to pretend in the house, but I'll correct if wrong.)

Suzaku didn't sleapt for most the night, his thoughts had been too jumbled, too confused. He instead had sat at the window his gaze drifting between the city and the soul gem he held in his hand. He was still struggling to take in everything Lelouch had told him as well as what had happened but there was nothing he could do now. So he accepted it.

He must have dozed off sometime before dawn though because he woke to the pattering of rain. Looking out the water he blinked in cofusion, instead of grey clouds like he was expecting, the sky was perfectly blue.

He rubbed his eyes and went out into the main apartment, no it was the same here. Raining but from blue sky, he had never seen anything like it before, he tapped lightly on Fletcher's door. "Come a..."

Fletcher wasn't in his bed. Suzkau frowned "Lelouch? Patience?" He went to knock on both their doors.

Radio Post a little later:

[There is a lot of crackling and static, Suzaku fixed his radio as best he could, but it still isn't perfect] H ...anyone... a little boy.... small... blonde hair... Missing... If you see... please ask... Zero

[It doesn't really matter who he was talking to. Or even what the conversation was about. Just that it was interrupted. Any individual or combination of people can be the other party on the radio.]

Dammit, these monsters are out already! [Shooting can be heard across the radio. After a couple shots, his voice can be heard again. He sounds pretty winded, and he's shooting again with one hand while talking into the radio with the other.] Zero, I'm pinned down at the co- [A screech of a monster, and silence.]

[ Static, then across all channels a voice chimes in. He's very chipper and cheerful! It's probably irritating to some. ]

Hey, Asper! How are you, how's your stay been, hope the food's been good, nice weather we're having. Now that pleasantries are out of the way, let's get to business: everyone's favorite kid has let us know something to pass onto you guys.

Expect a period of time-- an hour at least-- any time during the day for these lil critters to get especially aggressive. There's some weird mumbo jumbo involved apparently, so it said "when something weird happens, that might be the time"! Keep your eyes and ears open.

During the time that weird stuff goes down, you'll find the wildlife drops a little flask when it's destroyed. It's called Energy, and it's just a drink. You'll need this to live on here-- unless you want to be sucked bone dry, anyways! So drink some every day. That's what it told me to tell you all.

That's all!

Outside the bakery on Mercy Cross there are several bits of the attacking beasties thrown about, namely arms and legs and chest cavities and whatnot, chopped up much like you’d expect from the butcher next door. And one of the front plate glass doors is bent, tempered glass crinkling and cracked in spider-web like designs as its nearly off its last hinge. Through the blood there isn’t a trail of any footprints inward, though there is a man inside the bakery, packing loaves of bread into a large brown paper bag with a strawberry danish between his teeth. If money only mattered, he’d be into the cash register as well.

In a black long sleeve shirt, one sleeve pulled back to his elbow and a pair of dark jeans, he’s finally changed out of his white sleeved jacket to something a little more inconspicuous to rummage around the shops in. And even this inconspicuous outfit is splattered with a bit of blood.

[ when Rat can focus again against the lurch and shift of worlds and consciousness, it's the smell that hits him first. The overwhelming stench of rotten flesh and clotted blood, offal and bacteria. And the rust of iron.

When his vision slides back, he recognises the cage for what it is. What he doesn't recognise is the pile of meat that must have been a large animal at some point in the past. He's used to dead things, though, and after he remembers to breathe shallowly and through his mouth, he can occupy himself with working out a way out of the cage some bastard left him in.


An hour or so later, and he's exhausted himself trying to break the lock with alternatively a large rock and a shard of femur. It's only after this resounding failure that he deigns to try the radio. ]

Someone want to tell me why I'm in a fucking cage?

AUDIO

[ the voice that speaks through the radio is soft, polite. a girl's voice, no doubt, hardly bouncy and cheerful but neither is it monotonous. but while there is civility in the tone, beneath it lies a certain degree of distance. wariness. a girl, apprehensive and distrusting. ]

If the payment is not made fully, then the price cannot be granted fully. There's no such thing as a free wish. But I wonder -- if that child would credit what can be partially worked for?

[ if so, then i no longer mind.

she pauses. a hint of -- was it desire? longing? wishful thinking faintly laces the tone before it disappears, replaced by once more that tone of civility and politeness, followed by an awkward laugh. ]

A question of sorts though I have a feeling that I may already know the answer.

The town square is silent.

Cornelia paces, waiting for people to show up. She thumbs the hunting knife she'd picked up from a house near where she had woken up. Should any troublemakers appear, she was prepared-- unless, of course, they appeared with a gun. The city was too big to explore alone; too dangerous to wander the streets aimlessly. So that's why she doesn't have one herself. The only reason she didn't go to pick anyone up so they didn't have to traverse alone was because that would be setting herself up for an ambush. For a similar reason she waits off to the side of the square, concealed behind a food vendor, rather than sitting in the middle.

Trusting these people could be her downfall-- so she won't trust until they've proved themselves. But they're largely children. And she thinks of her late sister because of that. Euphie wouldn't want these people to go around alone in a place where any danger could be lurking. So that's her primary motivation in doing this. It's a mixture of that and the wholehearted desire to go home, to find the answers of this place. Cornelia knows returning home could be impossible with or without help, but she isn't about to give up on that hope. So she seeks help, because her chances are higher that way.

She scans the surrounding areas, alert. If that false Zero were to appear before her, she thinks, child or not-- she would destroy him. Anger swells once again, a sort of madness and hysteria that she finds unbecoming in other people. Cornelia breathes.

[ ooc: Mingling post! Starter in prose, please don't hesitate to switch to action. Cornelia isn't going to be coming out of the shadows until there are a few people there/ someone she knows appears, so please interact among yourselves!

Speaking at the Square
At the Apartments ]

[ during the first few hours of activity in Asper, you might see something a little weird. A movement out of the corner of your eye, in a patch of shadows or on a ledge just above the periphery of your vision.

If you turn to look at it, all you'll see is a flash of white as a small cat-like animal turns and scampers away. Unless your reactions are superhuman or you're a particularly wary person, in which case... who knows? Maybe you'll be able to catch a better look.

Some of you, more anxious about this strange city that the others, or more angry, more vulnerable... You might hear the creature's high, childish voice call your name. ]

[There's crackling, a voice at first too muffled to here before clarity strikes it.] ... Hello? Hello.

I know you're new here, you've just arrived. Welcome to Asper City.

[static] I'm Lara. Stay safe.