WEEK ONE

[lockdownmods]

[ Well that Orientation... happened. Whether you feel more informed or not, the truth remains. Here you are, within Fayflower University. You have your run of the campus, indoors and out.

There's also your tablets to play with. There are several apps-- and even a game! They didn't leave you without some entertainment. The music is a bit dated though...

And should you wish, there's still time to talk to the "staff" in a more... private setting. The office. They're not hard to find. Well-- your Professor, Han and Megumi aren't. Oswald is a bit more... difficult. ]

LOCATIONS | PROFILES

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

Comments

[throwabookatit]

Ohh, why must you be so difficult? We all want the same thing, don't we? To get out of this place as soon as possible!

[machrophage]

[He was never not going to be difficult.]

But we have very different ideas of how to accomplish that, obviously.

[throwabookatit]

Apparently so. [ She drops her hand and then presses it to her head, as if trying to stifle a headache. ] Could you at least try and consult with the rest of us before running off and doing something dangerous?

[machrophage]

...Unless there's an emergency.

[That's like three-quarters of a yes.]

[throwabookatit]

And then what would you do, go gallivanting off on your own?

[machrophage]

If need be, yes.

Don't be so concerned. I can handle myself.

[throwabookatit]

I'm sure you can, but we're all completely in the dark here.

I don't know you, okay? I don't know...any of you, really. But I- I do not want to see anyone...run into something and get themselves hurt, or- or worse.

[machrophage]

...I won't claim to care about the health of any of you humans. But until we know what we're dealing with, it's better to keep everyone in one piece. I can agree to that much.

[throwabookatit]

[ That's the closest to an agreement she thinks she'll get out of him, so she lets out a slow sigh. ]

That's all I ask. For us to keep any of our number from...dying. No matter how much I like or don't like any of you, I'd rather not see that.

[machrophage]

Until we have a better idea what we're up against, anyone's skills or knowledge could make the difference between success and failure in the future.

[It's a wholly practical concern! He doesn't care at all.]

[throwabookatit]

You're remarkably coldhearted, you know that?

[machrophage]

I don't care about humans. I've hardly made a secret of that fact.

[throwabookatit]

And why would that be? You just...don't like any of us, without even knowing who we are?

[machrophage]

...I'm a soldier in the Human Eradication Army. Do you really think it's a good idea for me to get attached?

[throwabookatit]

That's- Genocide? You're participating in something as atrocious as that?! Why?!

[machrophage]

[Boy ain't that the question.]

Humans live below the ground. We only eliminate the ones who come up above the surface. As to why...

[He looks out the nearest window, nodding at the trees.]

Even with all the travelling I've done, I've never seen a forest so lush as that that spanned more than a few miles. Most of our world is dead desert. Humans did that, before they were forced underground.

[Or: canon doesn't actually tell us, but I can bullshit a reasonable enough story about it.]

[throwabookatit]

[ There's something almost sad in the way his gaze turns to the trees, to her. It does little to ease her unsettled nerves, but it's something to take note of. ]

Resource management, I... That's something that sounds almost reasonable, something understandable. But- but why must you kill people? Put them...back underground or... Why not- why not work with them to...I don't know, find another way?

[machrophage]

Such is the decree of the Spiral King. I can only assume that he tried such more peaceful means in the past, and failed.

[Boy we're not going to someday revisit this conversation painfully later.]

[throwabookatit]

[ Ohh, definitely not, nope! ]

But to resort to war... [ She shakes her head, lightly. ] Chaos, violence, death... It's a huge part of history. I know it's inevitable, in many cases, but...

...Don't you find it horrible?

[machrophage]

...I can't say I do. But that might be because fighting is what I was made to do. I'm at my best with the blood pounding in my ears.

[He doesn't have the human perspective, but he's also not just a mindless fighter, either.]

[throwabookatit]

[ Her face takes on a look of confusion, hesitance and...concern? All at once. She's not sure what to say, how to find words. It's... ]

Your world, your life... It sounds like...something I could never understand, for more reasons now. Honestly, it just sounds too sad.

[machrophage]

... No pity. It's insulting, and it doesn't suit you.

1/2

[throwabookatit]

Oh, so you know what suits me now?

2/2

[throwabookatit]

[ The almost light tone disappears as she adds: ] I don't mean it to hurt, it just... It just sounds lonely. That's what I meant.

[machrophage]

[He pauses almost thoughtfully.]

... You are the sort of person who should be looking forward. Or at least, that's the impression you give off.

[Now what does that mean?]