[Open] There's a Point Where It Tips, There's a Point Where It Breaks

[zerotohiro]

Who: Everyone in Cerealia who figured out the code words for this meeting
When: Evening of IC 5/31, after Hawke's network post
Where: Sanctuary
What: "A pizza party" aka a meeting about the new masked figure that appeared.
Warnings: N/A, maybe some talks about what Alien-kun had to say, etc.


[It's evening by the time Hiro gets to the Sanctuary. Anyone who had seen him this morning will have spotted him with Baymax, both of them sans their normal armor and Baymax carrying what looks like a giant box. They had preparations to make, after all. He makes his way in and out of the building a few times but by the time the first of their guests arrive, everything's set up.

Upon entering the Sanctuary, Baymax moves to stand guard and collect your CereVice in a box at the door. Please don't cheat, he doesn't like when people aren't playing fair. In exchange for the CereVice, you will receive a form and a pencil before Baymax cheerfully waves you away.

Hiro's sitting on a table at the head of the lounge watching people come in. Hawke had promised these people pizza and cake (Hawke why) and he's delivering on that promise. The stack is about as tall as he is, more than enough to feed everyone who's shown up. He waits until a majority of the people show up before he clears his throat to gather attention.]

...uh, hey! [Well. That's a great, confident start.] I know this was sort of last minute and everything, but I really appreciate all of you coming by and actually listening to Hawke. [Sorry Hawke. But there's a grin which says he's more than appreciative.] I know you're probably here for free food, but there's a couple of things you should know. [Sliding off of the table, he moves to stand in front of what looks like a small mechanical box.]

When we all got back a few days ago, I started thinking about the fact that CERES can watch us from...pretty much anywhere. So I took some plans for something else I've been working on, improvised a little bit and created this thing. It'll deflect the signal from our implants and block them out completely as long as we're in this room. I've tested it out a couple of time already, the whole thing gets thrown off. It's...why I wanted to meet here! Because that sort of leads right to my next point.

[There's a small sigh as he paces the room, Baymax waddling after him. He moves back to the table he'd been sitting on to pull up the mask he'd been given a while ago.]

All of you probably received one of these either from that fortune teller, Aria, or it just showed up. And while we were out there? Some of you probably found the terminal like I did and spoke with a masked figure. [A beat.] I'm starting to realize that it told all of us something different, but the most important part is that it's with the Flamine Federation. You know. The guys who supposedly destroyed our planets. Baymax gave all of you a form--um. [And here he pauses, unsure if it's really appropriate to be ordering people to share information but then again that's what they all need. He's always believed everybody needs to be aware of what's happening.] Basically I guess just...answer what you can and tack it up on the board--[A gesture to a large bulletin board he pulled from who knows where.]--and talk amongst yourselves about what happened out there? Alien...the monsters, that weird altar? A bunch of you saw that, right? What was that about?

[Dear god somebody help him.] ...look, I tried. There's free food. This is about all I could throw together so fast before something else happens here. So...yeah. Let's just start figuring out what's really happening here, okay?

[Vague hand gestures? Vague hand gestures. He shuts up after that and sort of shrinks back into his hoodie, jumping back up on the table to hand out food and keep an eye on the room. All right, colonists. You know what to do.]

[ooc: Welcome to the info-sharing mingle! The idea behind this is for characters to ICly fill out this form (coded by the wonderful Fidgey/Katsura-mun) and have it displayed for everyone to view that information. You can post your sheet in your comment or link it to a post elsewhere in your journal, or even post it in the post I made that the form's posted into. HOWEVER this is open to everyone even if your character didn't speak to the alien and just wants to check stuff out! As a note: characters will start to feel sick after about two hours in the Sanctuary due to the frequency deflector. Sorry about that! Any questions hit me up via PM or plurk at alternatively]

Master List of Forms

Comments

[sortileges]

[ He leans back into his seat, relaxes his expression so it doesn't look like things are quite as serious as they are, though the fact he isn't exactly looking at her might give it away. ]

Could we search for anything else like it? Before something like that happens again?

[faithfulflame]

We could. Though that might involve going out into the jungle again. Back down there I'm not so worried about, but the jungle is another matter.

[She does sense his unease, and she shares it, but expressing it is difficult right now.]

[sortileges]

I've heard of the jungle, but haven't seen it. For obvious reasons. ...Did it feel the same?

[ He clasps his hands together and leans forward this time, resting his chin on his hands. ]

Too many people who can't defend themselves keep getting caught in this, don't they?

[faithfulflame]

No, it didn't. It was alive. Only, we can't survive outside the colony for long. The air's basically toxic.

[That's not the whole reason, but...that's an unsettling statement she completely understands.]

They do. Far, far too many people. Children especially.

[sortileges]

Toxic? [ He glances at her finally then. He knows about poisons, if it's something similar there might be something to be done about it... But he isn't that smart honestly. Though he remembers seeing someone post about it when he wasn't using the network as often. ]

Didn't someone start making antidotes for things?

[ Sorry Rei... he doesn't know it was her friend. ]

If we could go there without the air being toxic... what else is there?

[faithfulflame]

Ami did. But she's gone now. She vanished shortly after the incident.

[Rei says that as deadpan as she can. It hurts still, but it's a familiar ache at least.]

There's all sorts of beasts, and the spirits themselves live out there, and can be as hostile as anything I've ever encountered. They can take away our powers, as well, so we can't even really defend ourselves.

[sortileges]

[ But she's gone now... Her voice is flatter than he's heard it, which is why the first word he says is: ] Sorry. [ There's a pause as he lowers his head a bit, hands shifting to rub the back of his neck. ] Did ... she leave notes or anything?

And...

[ He actually hasn't mentioned this to anyone since being here, and the item itself has been locked away in his wardrobe, hidden from sight but-- ] What if you have a sword that can kill anything. Even something immortal? [ Only it's actually only a replica......... good luck with that Merlin ]

[faithfulflame]

No. Her notes are gone.

[And she doesn't really want to say it. But it's not just poison. Code is confusing enough for her, but she doesn't want to confound him with talk of code not working away from Cerealia.

She stops when he says that, a record-scratching in her head...]

You have...Excalibur?

[sortileges]

So we'll have to start again. [ Though yeah, code is... something else. Something he'll definitely struggle to understand.

The rest though... is a strong proof of his trust for her. His back freezes up a bit, before he forces himself to relax. He nods slowly. ]

Or at least I believe it is. Gaius' grimoire ended up being real... so that should be too, right?

[faithfulflame]

[She nods quickly, keeping her voice low.]

Archer could tell, probably. Have you met Archer?

[sortileges]

[ He shakes his head and keeps his voice quiet when he talks to her. ]

I've met him on the network thing but... I can't just trust anyone near it. I won't.

You're the only person I've told that it's here. Even Shigeru doesn't know.

[faithfulflame]

[She blinks, completely taken off guard.]

I...really? Me? I'm...flattered by your trust, Merlin.

[sortileges]

[ He glances back at her with a smile, though it's a little sad too. ]

I'm not even supposed to have it. I threw it into the bottom of the Lake of Avalon. ...I don't know how they got it.

[faithfulflame]

Likely the same way they brought us. And for likely the same reason, though of course I've yet to discern what that reason is.

[Sadly...]

Still, that's a powerful symbol, if nothing else.

[sortileges]

I... I asked that alien if it cared that we might have been brought here to fight it, just to see if it'd get any reaction. It said it didn't know or didn't care.

Do you think it's possible?

[ Really he was just throwing anything at it... ]

That's the problem. It's a powerful symbol that only Arthur is supposed to wield.

[faithfulflame]

I do think it's possible. Absolutely. CERES seems to want to weasel out of their deal, and why not summon an army from another reality.

[Seriously...]

As for that, who said it needs wielding. Just it's presence might be enough of an inspiration.

[sortileges]

But what about the people here who can't fight? [ He can name a few even off the top of his head. ]

...Actually, how did you even know I meant...? [ Why didn't he question this before when she first brought it up? Mostly because he was nervous about saying he had it to begin with. ]

[faithfulflame]

There's more than fighting that needs to be done.

[And...]

Arthur's sword is famous the world over. I took a guess, albeit an educated one. It could have been Caliburn, though.

[sortileges]

I don't think the Flamine Federation are going to care about that when they try to shred people's faces. [ He says that dryly, but really... that was just aimed at him anyway. ]

Arthur hasn't even touched that sword in my time though. I threw it into the lake before Uther could take it for himself. [ ...He pauses there then glances at her. ] I shouldn't ask, should I?

[faithfulflame]

Probably not...it's just one of those things that may change from world to world.

[That's really all she's got there.]

[sortileges]

You're probably right about that.

[ A small pause follows before: ] Even then... I'm not sure I'd want to know.

[faithfulflame]

Nor should you.

[A half smile.]

Did you get enough pizza?

[sortileges]

It doesn't mean I wouldn't be tempted. [ Which probably says a lot about him, doesn't it?

Though... that's a pretty good question, actually. ]

Another one wouldn't hurt. Do you want another?

[faithfulflame]

We all would.

[Says the girl that knows her future...]

Another wouldn't hurt me either. No point in wasting it.

[sortileges]

[ Rei... that's cheating. ]

Here-- [ Did someone order flying pizza... well too bad for whoever had left a box with three slices on the side as his eyes flash and ... suddenly the pizza box closes its lid then is walking its way over to them. Somehow it manages to avoid getting stepped on, though maybe that shouldn't be the miracle here. ]

No point in moving either, right?

[ He reaches down to pick up the box, opening it to show her.

What a waste of his powers, honestly. ]