Post- Landel's RP

[zalia]

After sustaining heavy losses in a heated battle, the patients have finally overcome the Institute - but not the magic keeping them trapped. The walls may have fallen and they're free to roam the world, their powers restored, but now there's no safe haven, even during the daylight hours - almost everyone in this world will turn them in to the

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[ park area - large city ]

[notachick]

Even after the walls fell and everyone had escaped, it seemed that the torture wasn't over. Rather than returning home like people had always assumed, the residents found themselves trapped in an even larger maze and with even less of an idea on how to escape. It didn't take long to realize that the residents of the world outside of the Institute were no more hospitable than those inside. Government warnings and rewards drove regular citizens to turn in any "patient" they happened to find, making no place a haven. So many had fled into the wilderness and even more had gone into the cities, disappearing with no traces left behind

Re: [ park area - large city ]

[notachick]

[akjja;a omfg yay]

Okita had gotten into the habit of lowering his eyes whenever people came by. He had to be careful not to be recognized or who knew what would happen to him. He hadn't heard stories of people being taken back yet (not that there was anywhere to go back to), but he certainly didn't want to be the first.

Still, he couldn't help it when his hand froze as he heard his voice. Kadaj - unmistakably Kadaj. Kadaj, who had disappeared and become someone else. He had become someone Okita had to be wary with now. Ripping off another bit of bread, Okita shredded it in his lap and scattered it across the ground for the birds to peck at greedily. "Isn't that the point of feeding the birds?" he replied, smiling faintly. "Besides, they're already rather round. I doubt a few specks here and there will hurt them any."

Slowly, he raised his eyes, taking in the man who used to be an ally. What was he now? Could he still be trusted? "It's rather dangerous to be out so close to the night, don't you think?"

[Abandoned Factory - Outskirts of a City]

[never_learns]

Apparently being a city boy had serious downsides. Yohji muttered under his breath as he struggled to light some kind of fire using bits of branches and twigs and dead leaves. Using the gas stove would have been easier, but they'd decided to save that for cooking rather than leaving it on all night. It would drain their supplies and they never knew when they'd have to move out quickly and be cut off from supplies for a while.

One of the branches caught fire, flared and then died again, making Yohji curse. It wasn't even as though he was rubbing two sticks together. He had a lighter, damn it, but apparently all of those survival programs had been dousing their stuff in kerosene to make it look so easy, because from what Yohji could tell, dead branches and leaves just weren't all that flammable.

[gotahunch]

Adam had heard about the fall of the institute on the news. In fact, it was hard not to hear about it in this place. Some of the patients had been brought in again, but of course Ryou and the people he remembered weren't among them - or if they were, the government wasn't telling

[never_learns]

Footsteps.

Yohji was too well trained, his senses too honed by paranoia, especially here, to not be able to tell when someone was approaching. Whoever it was was good, professionally quite even, but Yohji was too ready to be caught off guard.

As soon as he saw the slight difference in the shadows, he let a loop of wire fly to wrap around the person, hopefully their neck, but he'd settle for arms or chest or anything else, as long as they couldn't escape. If they were a friend then he'd apologise later.

But that voice... His grip on the wire slackened for a moment before tightening again with dangerous intent. He couldn't allow himself to be swayed. "Walk forward, hands behind your head," he said, voice cold.

[gotahunch]

Adam was expecting an attack of some kind, but not the wire until it was too late. He grunted, and out of instinct his hand shot to his throat. That brief moment when the wire loosened let him get his fingers under it but little else. Garrote wire. Better his fingers than his throat. He was sure he could break it, but not without some serious risk.

That voice made up his mind for him. Adam didn't dare believe it, but he placed his free hand behind his head and stepped forward into the open slowly, giving Ryou plenty of time to adjust his wire as he moved closer. Best peace offering he could manage.

[High School - Interior]

[byname_bynature]

Sunset always seemed to come sooner than was normal. It seemed that way to Artemis, at least. Why he wasn't back at the apartment, he still wasn't sure. Perhaps it was because he was tired of running home with his bookbag, tail between his legs. He just wanted to see the sunset.

He'd been living as Sean Malloy for almost a year now, taking classes and pretending that he wasn't a genius. Wearing a thick covering over the glow that emanated from his spine whenever it was dark. It was tiring, but the only thing that seemed to be keeping him sane was the research he performed on the side--trying to find some way to transport everyone back where they belonged. But the night was still riddled with terror. He couldn't count the number of times he'd had to barricade the door and pray they wouldn't make it through again.

Artemis rested his head on his arms, looking out the window at the sinking sun. What did it matter which door he'd have to barricade, anyway?

Re: [High School - Interior]

[faithful_frost]

Haku frowned, looking down at the man with the keys that had startled him as he tried to find a place to spend the night. He might have something of use, he thought and bent down. Key. The man had keys, but to what? Tearing away the frost covered pocket, he held up the keys.

Ah. The school. He'd seen it in passing that afternoon. That could be a safe place to spend the night. He was too far from his hotel to make it before night fall so... Lowering his body, he sprinted off towards the building, moving faster than a human eye could catch to get inside before nightfall.

The doors were locked. It seemed everyone had left for the day. That was good. He slipped his gloves hands into the pockets of the hooded sweatshirt he wore after checking and making certain the balaklav was settled securly over his head.

Re: [High School - Interior]

[byname_bynature]

Artemis' head snapped up. He thought he'd heard something. Quickly, he opened the button on his school blazer and drew the small handgun he kept there--for protection. He couldn't trust anyone, after all. Everyone was after him.

Slowly, he approached the door to the classroom and moved down the hallway, keeping his ears open for anything.

Re: [High School - Interior]

[faithful_frost]

There. A sound. Footsteps. Using a bit of chakra, Haku jumped up silently and crouched in a corner between the ceiling and the doorjam. Slowly, carefully, he drew out a knife, listening for and clues. He took great care to keep his power controlled; he couldn't give hiself away by the cold.

Come on ... come out where I can see you....

Abandoned gas station-large city

[roger_hug]

Bridget huddled below a window, Roger clinging tightly to him as they both waited for the wail of sirens to finally pass by. He wouldn't cry, he wouldn't cry. He'd spent all this time not crying that he wouldn't lose it now. A warm, furred paw tapped his cheek and he looked down into the black eyes of the teddy bear. The sirens were fading into the distance, but he didn't want to move. It was slightly warm here, he had Roger and his yo-yos... This was as safe as he could get for now.

"We'll wait here for now," he told his friend, tucking the warm bear close to his chest and under the old, threadbare coat he wore.

Re: Abandoned gas station-large city

[tofindherwings]

This was not going according to plan.

She cursed her luck, being caught out at night in the middle of a police sweep of the area and being forced to hide instead of going back to the little apartment that they had in the worst part of town. Tseng would have laughed at her.

The gas station seemed like the best bet under the circumstances. It wasn't too closed in, so she could easily make a run for it if she needed to, but the warren nearby provided a place that they'd never be able to completely seal off.

The broken glass on the lot didn't hurt eaiter. It would give her advance warning if anyone approached.

She slipped into the station through a broken window at the back, raising her chakram held ready in case there were any monsters waiting for her. A salvaged low level materia gleamed on her wristband. She frowned, hearing an odd noise from further ahead, but she couldn't really see much in the shadows. She approached the sound carefully.

Re: Abandoned gas station-large city

[roger_hug]

Roger shifted in his spot, hearing the approching sound long before Bridget, and tapped his master's chest. The bear's eyes were equipped with a number of modes, and the simple night vision was on. Something was approching. Something armed and possibly dangerous. He tapped out the warning in a code they'd come up with a few month back.

Yo-yo held tightly in one, hand, the young boy tucked his legs under him in case he needed to quickly get to his feet, and looked out into the dark.

"Who's there," he called, sounding much less frightened (he hoped) than he actually was.

Re: Abandoned gas station-large city

[tofindherwings]

Cissnei paused, raising the chakram when she heard the voice. Her eyes narrowed and she took a few more steps, then paused again, peering into the darkness. A young voice, kind of scared. Huh, she couldn't imagine anyone who was staying here would be the type to want to get in contact with the police or the military, but there were still monsters which were quite capable of deceiving.

"Just someone wanting to avoid a few people," she called out finally, although her grip on her weapon never lessened.

[forest clearing - middle of nowhere]

[winged_moon]

In the months following the Institute's fall life had only grown even more bizarre in many ways. Even though he had his powers back (much to his relief) the changes the doctors had made persisted, even growing stronger over time. Sometimes Yue privately wondered if he could even tell where he ended and his false self began at this point; sometimes it seemed shifting forms was no more than a physical disguise anymore

Re: [forest clearing - middle of nowhere]

[demon_beast]

Argilla had made short work out of the bear, the corpse of which was now little more than bones and gristle, buried somewhere a few hundred metres away for the worms to finish off. She'd dragged it away, eating her fill before bringing a few bloody chunks of flesh back to the cave for Yue and Touya. Her powers had returned at least, making her able to start a decent fire with which to cook it for the other two since they didn't seem too keen on eating it raw.

She sat on one side of the fire, knees drawn up to her chest as she watched the meat cook. Prithvi was sated for now at least, so the smell of the meat didn't affect her. The silence was much more irritating.

Re: [forest clearing - middle of nowhere]

[peachparttimer]

There was only one way to describe this situation: Awkward.

Touya hadn't been at the Institute very long, but Yue and Yukito's strange flipping back and forth and the pink-haired woman's strange appetites made for a slightly prickly situation. Especially considering... his relationship to Yukito. It was bad enough knowing Yue was always watching... but the other woman?

"So uh... is this stuff okay to eat?" Touya had worked at some ratholes before, and frankly, he didn't want worms.

Re: [forest clearing - middle of nowhere]

[winged_moon]

The awkward silence from below would never have bothered Yue before, but now...well, he found himself concerned by it and wanting to do something to fill it instead of letting the others stare at the fire in silence.

When Touya finally spoke up the guardian sighed, briefly lifting a hand to press one fingertip between his eyes as though he could dispel the hint of a growing headache. He couldn't just stay up here.

Yue stepped from his perch and glided silently back to the ground again, warning Touya of his presence with a light touch on his shoulder before moving to sit beside him. "There's little else here," he observed, tone an odd mixture of Yue's icy calm and Yukito's friendly warmth.