011 || (mostly) action

[common_name]

[It happened faster than the blink of an eye.

At first there was one. A thing that came out of nowhere, bit her on the leg, and disappeared before she had the chance to even attempt to figure out what it was, or the chance to gain any useful information to avoid the inevitable subsequent bite that only served to weaken her.

With a now slowly fading grip on the world, there are only two things that Julia can (barely) register about anything that's happening. One, that she's being carried somewhere, and that she doesn't have the strength to fight it. Two, that there's pain, blinding pain, throbbing on her legs and her arms, spreading through her entire body like wildfire. The kind that makes her breathing short and ragged, that makes it all the more difficult to keep her eyes open.

In one last fighting attempt to maintain consciousness, she sees something. A vague black form scurrying across the ceiling. No, make that... a very large vague black form. Possibly more than one, she can't tell. Following them. Pursuing them. But her eyes won't let her ascertain any more than that. She tries to say something, but it's too late. She's slipping, and time starts to become muddled....--

... And the last thing she knows before she fades for good is the sound of gunshots.

It's the one indicator of the scene that comes through over the journals.]


[[OOC: Sooo. Shit just got real. AKA, this is your catch-all fighting post for Day Four of the plot! This post will consist of six subthreads:

Ten Minutes Ago - The Castle - Floor Seven - Room 705 - Evacuated Residents - Journal Reactions]]

Comments

TEN MINUTES AGO.... (Closed)

[common_name]

[She'd set out without hesitation. And without forethought or planning, come to think of it.

There were a million places he could be, and theoretically, it could take her quite a while to find him if she were to be forced to comb every inch of this castle. (Which, of course, she'd be willing to do. Without question. He's in trouble, he needs her help, and logic be damned at this point.) But she'll start with the first place she can think of and work from there. Somehow.

That was what had led her to where she is now, exiting the stairwell and entering the hallway of the seventh floor, grip tightening on the gun in her hand.]

[[OOC Note: This thread is closed to Spike and Julia]]

[gottaknockhard]

[After he'd gotten over his initial panic, Spike has had one thought on his mind: he has to get rid of it. Which is where he's headed now, to take care of it before anyone sees what's inside. If he can't blow it up --

-- well, that's giving his plans for the future more credit than they're worth. He's gathered what he could find, and now it's all or nothing. He doesn't hesitate this time as he reaches the door and pulls it open.]

[common_name]

[710... 708... 706...

It's at this precise moment that she reaches her target destination. Room 705. And fortunately, when she gets there, she finds that her search is over.

Spike is standing outside, reaching for the doorknob, and as of right now, not obviously appearing worse for the wear. That's one of her worst fears eliminated in a matter of seconds. But the other one is hardly squelched. As she approaches more closely, there's a definite expression on his face that she recognizes. The one that never leads to anything good.

Her grip on the gun not loosening, and while still casting wary glances around to ascertain a full picture of the situation, she tries to get his attention.]

Spike?

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike flinches when he hears his name called by the one person he was hoping would be far away from here.]

... Julia. [His hand doesn't move from the doorknob as a bead of sweat runs down his face. There's only a thin barrier between them and what's growing just inside that room. Despite that, his voice is firmly level and his eyes stay fixed on the space in front of him.] You need to get out of the castle. As fast as you can.

The Castle

[gottaknockhard]

[Around every corner, there's a strange scuttling noise that never quite leaves your mind once you know what's making it. Black creatures move in the shadows, just waiting for your back to turn. Will you try to take them all on at once? Or are you simply going to try and get out alive?]


** OOC Note: This thread is for anyone roaming the castle looking for a lobster fight (or attempting to get out of the castle). Feel free to continue to make your own posts about this as well! But here is another option for resident badasses to contribute.

[deminuit]

[ the midnighter is roamin' a roam. he's utterly sure none of the little shits will catch him by surprise, as it's pretty impossible for most, if not all creatures. nightstick in hand, he's looking for something to squish. ]

Floor Seven

[gottaknockhard]

[Two bodies are on the ground near the stairs, but they don't appear to be completely unconscious. (One even seems to be moving still...) The walls are riddled with bullet holes and their weapons can be discovered nearby. Apparently somebody had his heart set on going down in a blaze of glory and ended up eating carpet, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

They aren't alone. Whatever attacked them, there's more on this floor than any other in the castle. But they must be coming from somewhere. Maybe that door that's left open down the hall? The one that has something black and wriggling coming out of it -- ]


** OOC Note: This is your last chance to get a word out of them. However, the first person to attempt to move Julia's body will find that she wasn't the one moving... A lobster hidden just beneath her hair will jump at the next warm body it comes across. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

1/?

[ectobabble]

[Ray's been making his way through the castle since yesterday, looking for the blobs -- but when he finds not one, but two friends slumped on the floor --]

SPIKE! JULIA! ... Oh, no ....

[for the moment, he's blind to the wriggling flood oozing out of that open door, and kneels down between them - Spike's out, but ---]

Julia? ...

2/?

[ectobabble]

[he reaches out to brush her hair away from her face, check and see if she's breathing --

and before he can even blink, it shoots out from her hair and wraps itself around his wrist. even as it sinks its ... teeth? ... into his flesh, he can't help but stare, fascinated]

Woooow, lookit you --!

3/4

[ectobabble]

[and then the damage is done, and it's gone, slithering off across the floor in search of another victim that doesn't taste vaguely of cheezits and ectoplasm. Ray gets to his feet and fumbles for his journal, knowing he's not going to have much time]

Guys, guys, guys---

[he dictates as fast as he can, until the slithering gets too loud for him to ignore, and he turns ....]

4/4

[ectobabble]

OH, SH--

[and then he's out, hitting the floor like a sack of melted marshmallows. the ensuing rush of lobsters just ... moves around him like a stampeding herd around a rock sorry Simba.]

[doublethefun]

[flash of blue light, and here's a pony standing protectively over all three of 'em. A blue spherical ward expands rapidly, tossing the mutant shellfish out and leaving them with a lobster-free area.

And she's glaring at the skittering shapes from behind her shield.]

Foals. Done hiding in the shadows, are we?

[she snorts, pawing at the floor with a foreleg. The rank smell of the creatures is simply incredible and distracting, but she turns to look at her charges. Teleporting injured humans could be risky, she couldn't just leave them, and she doesn't want to leave that room alone either.

...Anypony else want to brave the 7th floor and help out?]

[kungfuwitch]

[A moment later, Phoebe comes RACING around the corner, her sword strapped to her back. She draws the sword and neatly slices one in half before leaping and tumbling out of the way of another one. She comes up to her feet just outside the shield, a little out of breath.]

Is this a private party, or can anyone join?

...a little less than an hour later...???

[lord_wizard]

[Felix and his (unknowingly belated) rescue team arrive via elevator on the seventh floor. Felix stands near near the front, glancing apprehensively down the seemingly empty hallway]

Spread out and move towards the room. I'm not sure what we'll find one we get there...

[kungfuwitch]

[Phoebe steps out behind him, touching his shoulder and pointing]

We found them over there. We got a lot of them, but who knows how many there really are...

[lord_wizard]

[He nods and glances back at Dairine and the rest of the group]

Any shields you have, get them ready. Let's just get to the door as quick as we can.

[He flexes his fingers, and lighting crackles between them. Bring it on, you bastards... >|]

Room 705

[gottaknockhard]

[The room feels stale, and perfectly quiet except for the occasional sound of something shifting over itself, as if some creatures are reacting to their presence. The fridge is partially open, and the only light in the room emanates from the small light bulb that illuminates what's inside. Whatever these things are, this is the source. It's also the most dangerous place to be. Do they dare to approach... ]


** OOC Note: They do not need to do anything to the fridge at this time. Once they know it's there, they can always come back once a plan is formed. Feel free to plot this out. :)

Evacuated Residents

[gottaknockhard]

[Outside the castle, it seems oddly quiet. Unless they get too close to the walls... All kinds of activity seems to be going on just inside. This might be a good time to find a room at an inn, if they haven't already. (Maybe they can split the cost amongst themselves and save some money? Or maybe they took up one of the other offers for safety.) Anything but go back in there.]


** OOC Note: This thread is for anyone not in the castle, and can be used in any way you'd like!

[wastheexample]

[See Haymitch. See Haymitch chilling on a lawn chair under a tree with a box full of booze beside him. See Haymitch not giving a damn. So long as that Mutt remains in the castle, he doesn't care what it does]

I don't know about any of you people, but I'm putting my money on the lobster.

[Wait. He should probably check that Peeta's not dead or something]

[forehead]

[SHE OVERHEAD THAT MISTER]

That's not very nice. Everyone needs our support right now!

[wastheexample]

[Haymitch raises one fist, very slowly in the air. Then, dryly;]

Go team resident.

Woo. Hoo.

NOT HERE

[accidentalrebellion]

[Ladies and gentlemen, Mentor of the Year

Pity her]

[hard_talker]

[Mark's managed to park the TARDIS. somehow it's still the right way up. he's leaning in the doorway, watching everyone]

I don't know about everyone else, either, but I think that's a pretty dick thing to say.

This is not here <3

[wizard_redfive]

[He'll lose his money. And his booze.

Coward.]

Journal Reactions

[common_name]

[[OOC Note: Here's where any journal reactions can go! These two themselves will NOT be responding, as they are both out cold at this point. However, your characters are free to talk amongst themselves! :)]]