(Untitled)

[machineasman]

The Machine waits.

The Machine has waited since the beginning, when it could not think. Since the time of memory, when it surfaced from the dark pool that is oblivion and thought. Since the time it became aware, and saw the world into which it had been born. Since the time of blood, and the time of walls.

And it waits still, some long-forgotten line

Comments

[somanyghosts]

Plourr was in the lobby when the change happened. The big hunk of metal and plastic on the desk -- it's a monitor of some sort, she's sure of it, and she has dedicated her time in recent days in trying to get the damn thing to work.

No luck yet.

She'd just put her hands on the casing when she hears the click, senses the movement; feels the air on her face. She's moving in a split second, ducking behind the reception desk and drawing her blaster.

But nothing comes, and she slowly rises into a higher crouch, looking over the top of the desk.

That door was always locked before.

[OOC: Anyone who wants to explode new ground? Tag in!]

[kissedabull]

Maniac was outside, but the sky seemed to be threatening rain again so he ducked back into the hotel, new (too-big) shoes making soft noises on the tile. He spots Plourr almost instantly and goes to smile, step forward and call out, when he realizes that she's in a defensive position.

So he hangs back, awkwardly. "Uh - Ms. Plourr?"

[somanyghosts]

Plourr's head snaps up. "Jeffrey," she says, and she lowers the blaster and rises. Her eyes flick toward the door again, and she takes a step out from behind the desk.

[kissedabull]

He shifts thoughtfully on his feet, takes a step forward and eyes the now-open door.

"Everything okay? And didn't that door used to be locked?"

[notanoptimist]

It's pretty fucking startling, to be sitting in the bar by yourself, not doing anything of particular interest--

And suddenly there's LIGHT and the hum of electricity and the snap of doors opening from far away and by the time it's all registered, Sokka has to sit up and look around.

Because he's hiding under the bar.

"...Hello?"

[thirdbetrayer]

"That," Ichimaru Gin observes, from where he's flattened himself against the wall, "was interestn'."

It's doubtful that Sokka would have seen him move. One moment he was outside, the next in and against the wall. Ah, the joy of flash steps.

[notanoptimist]

It helps that Sokka had spent his time during Gin's moving, diving under the bar.

Eyes on Gin, Sokka's brows lift as he starts to stand straight, blinking up at the overhead lights. Electric lights, he finds, are brighter when the originals still work and they're not powered on post-apocalyptic leftover energy.

"...I choose 'weird' over interesting," he says quietly, moving toward the window to peer out. "What the hell was that?"

[thirdbetrayer]

They are indeed bright, but fortunately, Gin keeps his eyes pretty much permanently slitted anyway. Still, the customary smile is a little fixed, hands wrapped around his sword's hilt as he looks around.

"No idea. Some kinda power surge?"