[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

[manolia]

If you found the altar, you noticed personal effects scattered on it. Some were broken, some were whole, but many of them belonged to colonists. Seemingly, certain colonists who had some sort of spiritual tie were sacrificed and then disappeared. It is not just the gory details that have cast a dark cloud over this meeting.

Perhaps she meant that she might prefer a native, or someone who will not come back, but that England would be fine. But there is something more.

[Chibi looks at Hiro a beat, then smiles; at least they can feel like they're getting somewhere.] Then, let me just organize my thoughts a moment-- [He tears a page from the notebook (and places the notebook down again), takes the second pen, and begins to scribble.]

[unionjackoff]

[England considers writing something in response, but he starts to feel lightheaded again, and he thinks it's because he's been talking... thinking too much about the sacrifice. maybe there's a limit? whatever the case, he nods after what Chibi says. that sounded right. another thought occurs to him, as well, but he'll save that for later]

Is it all right if we sit down? I want to finish this conversation. [but I'm not feeling well, goes unspoken]

[zerotohiro]

[He looks up then mildly concerned before he nods and gestures to a couch.]

Come on, let's head this way. Then we can finish and go back to everything that was just written out. [Chibi, can you walk and write? Because Hiro's already leading them off even while he's mulling over that. It's possible she might prefer a native but why? And the thing about those spiritual artifacts...he still doesn't want to believe it's true.]

[manolia]

[He can walk and write! It's a little harder, since he has to keep reminding himself to write in their common language rather than Draconic, but he's still capable of it. By the time they settle down, he's gotten this much down, in a hasty scrawl but still mostly readable:]

Purpose of sacrifice?
- Stability-related - Bridge referred to instability in our code that prevented us from existing near her. Similar was referred to re: Tellus atmosphere. Some release of energy via sacrifice needed to stabilize planet or our existence on it?
- Could be ego-related, as sacrifices to gods are, but does not make sense w/ knowledge that sacrifices continued before Bridge was freed.

Why spiritual people?
-Guess: it relates to this universe's natural laws. We come from very different worlds with different concepts of possible and not. Indv w/ spiritual ties sacrificed because they do not fit this world's natural laws?
- Guess: more release of energy. Indv w/ spiritual ties 'closer' to elementals?
- Similarly, there is a difference referred to btw 'code' & 'natural' repeatedly - does this have something to do w/ it?

[unionjackoff]

[so they are sitting now, and brainstorming. England reads over Chibi's shoulder, not concerned with personal space with him. he doesn't know if he has anything to add to that, he's mostly said what was on his mind already, and writing everything out... well, it's a bit tedious, and he's not feeling well.

England will listen, and read, though. and if they have any specific questions related to him, he will answer]

[zerotohiro]

[And as Hiro also reads over Chibi's shoulder, he's making sounds of confirmation or questioning, eyebrows furrowed together by the time he finishes.]

This all looks like a pretty good start. We still have way more questions than answers but it's a path we can at least pursue and see where it leads us. [A pause.] I've thought about going to talk to Mosley and asking him myself. You mind if I use these questions to sort of feel him out?

[manolia]

As have I, when I calm down. [Chibi's face, carefully measured and calm indifference, doesn't show that he's as pissed as he is.] But it seems you've more experience with him; you'd know where to press better than I.

Feel free to use these questions, so long as you tell me what he says. [Not that Chibi thinks that'll be a problem.]

[unionjackoff]

[England opens his mouth to speak, but feels his throat close up again. dammit. so he reaches for the pen]

I'd prefer if you didn't mention me when you do talk to him. I am worried what he might do if he found out I got around his gag order.

[how silly he feels, being scared of Mosley... or rather, he's scared of CERES. England used to fear no man. but now...]

[zerotohiro]

[He can understand that fear. He still has a similar fear himself, truthfully, but he's quiet about it to most people. Instead, he offers a tentative smile (and what he hopes is a reassuring one) to England.]

Don't worry, I'm not going to mention you. I've got a few ideas to work around mentioning names at all. [And a glance to Chibi follows.] I'll keep you both informed on anything I might learn from him. This isn't really information I should be keeping to myself.