002 Rings (voice, probable action)

[savarin]

[The Caninu man's sitting in Dahak, his robot, in front of one of the many terminals on Dorm Floor 2. Originally, Red had tried Dahak's radio but found that it didn't work at all. He didn't even get static; the thing just wouldn't turn on. The terminals were his only option for communication. It took a little while for Red to get the hang of them - that and waiting for them to come online - but at last he manages to get an audio entry through. The halls were quiet, thankfully, save for some red goo monster that Dahak had easily dispatched. Hopefully nothing worse than that would show up...]

Hey, anyone in this tower know anythin' about weird blood stuff? I saw this poor girl with blood spikes stickin' out her back yesterday, and tonight somethin' in my bed stabbed me and now my blood's movin' around. Is this normal for the tower or is somethin' real strange goin' on?

Oh, and if anyone knows where a guy can get some real clothes around here, I'd appreciate it.

[Now to wait and see who would respond... or track him down.]

Comments

[wegotlucky]

Blood spikes? What are you talking about?

[savarin]

I mean exactly what I said. Spikes, made of this girl's own blood, stickin' outta her back like it's the most normal thing in the world. Ever heard of that happenin' before?

[wegotlucky]

Can't say I have.

[savarin]

Okay, well, how 'bout someone's blood wrigglin' out of a cut like a big tentacle? Because that's what's happenin' to me. Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern. There's somethin' real odd goin' on.

[At least he figured out a way to control it and it's not wreaking havoc on the immediate vicinity. Still, it's unnerving.]

[wegotlucky]

[...What?]

Is it dripping blood? Like a fresh cut?

[He's never heard of such thing, but it sounds a whole lot like some creepy dark magic.]

[savarin]

Yeah, it's a fresh cut, but it's not drippin'. I'm controllin' my own blood. If I could show ya, I would, but these stupid cameras ain't workin'.

[It's just about as creepy as you can imagine, Neal; it would also be useful except that it leaves blood on whatever it touches. Not surprising.]

You really got nothin' that could help?

[wegotlucky]

[If only he could see Neal's face of horror.]

Short of a trip to the infirmary, I've got nothing.

[savarin]

It's not the cut that's the problem! It ain't bleedin' any more than I want it to; heck, I can even pull my blood back in if I want!

[It definitely sounds like Red's just as horrified. This is not something he's ever seen before.]

Ya really think the infirmary would have somethin' to make blood stop movin'?

[wegotlucky]

I honestly have no idea.

What did you cut yourself on?

[ audio ] Sorry this is late! orz

[hemoeroticism]

Ahah, I met her, too. Poor thing. ✩

[ Before he makes his move, he needs to find out just a little bit more... ]

[ audio ] it's okay! :3

[savarin]

Yeah. Thankfully, I got her calmed down and the spikes went back in. She's doin' alright now, but I'm still pissed they'd bring a kid that young to-- to this place.

[Give him a moment. It's a sensitive subject.]

You saw her too? Did ya find out anythin' useful?

[ audio ]

[hemoeroticism]

I've seen worse! [ Like the experiments he performed on Shiro to turn her into the Wretched Egg. Totally worth it. ]

Not really. Only that more Deadmen are being made every day. I couldn't have asked for anything more. ✩

Re: [ audio ]

[savarin]

...Dead men? What's that got to do with all this? She's not gonna die, is she?!

[Wait, if that kills her, and Red's blood is doing weird things too...]

And-- and what's gonna happen to me?

[ audio ]

[hemoeroticism]

Well, that depends, really. A stupid, dead brat once said, 'The show must go on.' Maybe we'll have a whole new Carnival Corpse! ✩

[ A laugh on the other side. ]

Deadmen are people with Branches of Sin - the power to control their blood. You're one of us, now.

[ audio ]

[savarin]

[Carnival Corpse? Well, if that doesn't sound pleasant. Deadmen, Branches of Sin... it's all very ominous.]

Us? You're one of these Deadmen too-- wait, are you behind this?! Did you do all this?!

[Damn, this is bad. Whoever's on the other side, they don't exactly sound sane or comforting. Can these terminals give away his location? Red doesn't know, but at least he's outfitted for a fight.]

[ audio ]

[hemoeroticism]

Aha, no, no, it wasn't me. I was given these powers the same way you were, actually. [ ... sort of. Toto Sakigami was, but Hagire... well, that's a longer story. ]

But don't worry! I'm sure you'll meet the one who gave you those powers soon. She can't resist new toys to play with. ✩

[ audio ]

[savarin]

She? You're sayin' you know her? Who is it?!

[This is bad. It sounds like there's at least two of them, possibly working together...]

What's gonna happen when I meet her? How's she gonna "play" with me?

[Action]

[taintedwhite]

Red~

[Well, well, if that isn't the puppy Shiro befriended. Too bad this is not Shiro...]

Are you happy about your new abilities~?

[Action]

[savarin]

[Red whirls around when he hears the familiar voice. It might be a little different, but he still recognizes it as Shiro.]

Not really-- wait, how'd ya know about 'em? I just put my question up on the network...

[No, he hasn't quite noticed what's different. Give him a few moments... or perhaps start smacking him around, either or.]

[Action]

[taintedwhite]

[Wretched Egg chuckles as she realizes he still thinks he's talking to Shiro. She could try and deceive him but... No, she's not good at pretending to be Shiro. And she doesn't even feel in the mood to try today. He'll have to find out by himself.]

Ksha~ Of course, I do~ After all they all come from me~

[Even if she doesn't control what Branch of Sin people get in the end.]

[Action]

[savarin]

They come from... you? Shiro, ya gotta be kiddin' me! What's gotten into you?

[There's a look in her eye which gives Red chills. His robot takes a step back, away from the terminal, and the dog-man watches Shiro closely. Something's not right.]

[Action]

[hemoeroticism]

That's a real long story.

[ The voice comes from the top of the stairs on that floor. Red would recognize it; he's heard it just earlier that day. Mockingbird claps his hands, the excitement already getting to him. ]

Aha, you never met Shiro's other personality? ✩ That's too bad, she's a lot of fun! Meet the Wretched Egg. The Original Sin, and the first Deadman.

[ Mockingbird flips off of the staircase, landing quietly next to Wretched Egg, the near-inaudible sound of some of his stitches ripping from the effort. ]

She gave you that present in your blod. I hope you're appreciative! ✩

[Action]

[savarin]

You're tellin' me this ain't Shiro? It's-- a wretched egg?

[What the hell are they talking about? None of this makes any sense to Red, but one thing's for sure; he's in for a fight. Dahak's arms go up, ready for action, but it doesn't move otherwise. Red's waiting for them to make the first move so he can try to gauge their abilities.]

Hey, egghead! Tell Shiro I'm real sorry but I still gotta beat ya down!

[Action]

[taintedwhite]

Promises~ Promises~

[Wretched Egg doesn't make a move. She just keeps watching him through half-lidded eyes. Then her look drifts from Red to the robot.]

Red has a robot toy~?

[Action]

[savarin]

Dahak ain't a toy! Watch and learn, Eggy!

[Well, then, the other way to gauge what an opponent can do is to just start fighting! Dahak lunges at Wretched Egg, moving faster than a robot that size should be able to move, arms ready to grapple her if she'll hold still just long enough... which isn't terribly long. Those arms move quite quickly, too.]