[Video] - Backdated to about 11:58pm on September 9th

[angryaffliction]

[The video comes on, but you don't see Alex. Instead the screen is illuminating what appears to be two crates of nonperishable foods, likely swiped from Credinta in the middle of the night.]

There's food for those who need it. Emphasis on need.

It's in the lobby of the apa-

[He jerks suddenly and seems puzzled for a moment. Strange....In the

Comments

1/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Guess who lives on the first floor, Alex. Barely a minute has passed since the feed's termination when Allen comes pelting out of room 102, door slamming hard into the wall behind him. He would've gotten here sooner if he didn't have to deal with some complications of his own. His left sleeve hangs empty, his left eye socket equally empty. The jagged scar slashing through his sunken eyelid looks tamer somehow ― faded, even, washed out from red to a pallid pink.]

Mister Mercer!? [ He's a little frantic. Alex looked like he was having a seizure. ] What hap―

2/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[It's probably kind of comical, the way he stutters to a frozen stop right along with his unfinished question. Then he shifts, stepping backwards and right into a defensive stance, lone hand grasping at his empty sleeve.

What is that thing.]

[OFFLINE]

[angryaffliction]

[It doesn't move much, although it seems to be creeping at glacier slow speeds towards the basement door. Tendrils ripple across the massive shapeless mass and a partially formed head rises from it. It's... grotesque, practically featureless aside from a mouth and one familiar pale blue eye. It mouths... something but with no air passage or vocal chords it's silent before melting back into the red and black blob.]

1/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Despite this deeply disturbing development, Allen does well at keeping his head. He makes no move to leave, but doesn't get within range either. Sharp grey eyes track the virus' progress, alert and wary―

All of that steely composure drains away alongside the colour in his face as soon as he realises there's a person in there and, worse still, it's someone he knows.]

2/2 [OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Flings himself at it, arm outstretched in a desperate bid to grab hold of the man and pull him free, even as he disappears from sight. Damn if it doesn't look like the blob just ate him.]

Give him back!

[He's about five seconds away from plunging in after 'Alex', oops.]

[OFFLINE]

[angryaffliction]

[The upper torso forms again, more completely this time. Alex even still has that stupid charcoal hood that seems fused to his head.]

Can't... retain form.

Get back. Get a- urgh!

[The torso melts back into the mass again, not like it's being swallowed but literally like it's being dispersed. It tries to move more quickly to the basement, but this isn't working so well.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen isn't even listening at first. He reaches for Alex as soon as he sees him again, but stops just short of actually grabbing him when those words finally register.

Can't retain form?

-Christ, so this is what Alex meant when he referred to himself as 'something'. Allen isn't very smart, but he's always been quick. He's piecing the rest of the picture together now - his arm and curse were taken, so Libitina probably took away their powers for the week, and in Alex's case, it's somehow affecting his ability to... Stay human? Pass for one? Who knows, but this will pass in a week.

Allen does step back then, but he's still making no move to leave.]

[ in one quick rush of breath: ] Tell me what to do. [ gaze flicking at the virus' intended destination as he cottons on ] Room 103's empty-[ and closer ]-if you need someplace to stay for the week. It's still under repair, no one ever goes in there.

[OFFLINE]

[angryaffliction]

[It was taking every ounce of his concentration to stay conscious and self-aware. Taking any kind of form right now is next to impossible.

So the mass of biomatter stops and begins to lurch in the direction Allen indicates. He needs an enclosed space where he can spread out and not risk infecting anyone.

The way he keeps his distance from Allen is a clear indicator: Don't touch.

After all, the virus has no clue what he's capable of but he has a terrible sneaking suspicion that his powers and his memories are his restraints. The memories in particular- his last link to humanity and he can feel them fading far too quickly.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen will help maintain that distance, hurrying over to open the door to room 103 and keeping a wide berth from Alex once that's done. He's talking as he goes, partly to reassure, partly to attempt guiding Alex with his voice.]

It's just a week, you'll be back to normal soon. I'll watch this room from mine and stop anyone from going in.

[OFFLINE]

[angryaffliction]

[Alex creeps along across the creaking floor, sliding past Allen into the room.

The torso forms once more, because it's Alex, and Alex is fueled by MAN!ger and he certainly has enough of that right now to take a bit of his human form.]

When this... is over...

I'm going to kill Libitina.

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Libitina is sort of already dead, Mister Mercer, but Allen will refrain from pointing it out.]

[ in a bit of a huff as he grabs hold of the door, ready to close it: ] That can wait! Just focus on getting through the week for now.

[OFFLINE]

[angryaffliction]

[The blob gives a disgruntled gurgling sound and begins to spread out across the floor, pulsating strangely.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[That gets it another tight look of apprehension. Allen takes this as his cue to shut the door before the blob can spread itself into the hallway by accident, but not before calling out one last time.]

Please be careful! I'll come check on you again.

[How he's not sure, perhaps through a window or something.]