lucetilogs | Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

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Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

Who: All Draftees
What: This is your death. Followed by your time-traveling life and desperate bomb hunting.
When: From May 22 to May 20 to early May 23 (days 1-4)
Where: Zompania
Summary: Information post here
Rating: Varies on thread, please mark explicit material.

This post is for the draftee-only portion of the Zompania draft--the day 3 death, time travel to day 1, and then the events until the arrival of the reinforcements. Be sure to use the above info post for any plotting needs you might have. Enjoy!

Please note that there is a specific top-level comment thread for:

The day 3 arrival of the draftees and the 6 hours that follow until the bomb is dropped
Death--This thread can be treated as REFERENCE ONLY. Responding to it isn't necessary.
Threads prior to departing for Zompania--post resurrection freak outs, arguments over how to proceed, etc.

All other threading, from day 1 until the reinforcements arrive, should be conducted as normal.

Be sure to tag this post appropriately: [canon] character name

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[Sometime between their gruesome passage through the town square and her own, later problems, Mia sees Pilouette head into a building without a word. It takes her some time to catch up, to get through and around and into the same door, and there she finds her student, sick and crying.

Pilouette should never have had to see any of this.

Mia kneels beside her student and pulls some of her fallen hair back from her face, in case she isn't through throwing up.]

It's just me. [Because Pilouette is bound to take poorly to being 'ambushed'; Mia keeps her ears open for other possible approaches.]

[Sure enough when Mia touches her hair, Pilouette starts a bit, but exhales when she hears Mia's voice. Feelings of guilt and shame wash over her as she hunches her shoulders, her body going rigid as if trying to keep anything else from getting out.

She really didn't want anyone to see her like this. So many others are out there dealing with it all, facing it head on and here she is, crying and cowering, having ducked into this building all on her own to hide even if only for a moment. ...Some adult she turned out to be.

She briefly looks at Mia over her shoulder, before turning away again.]

Mia...Um, I just...just had to...um...

[She lets out a loud sniffle as her voice catches in her throat.]

S-sorry...!

For what? [They are already too worn, too broken from what happened to them.] For this? Don't be.

[Mia is not smiling, but there are hints of affection and gentleness in her voice. One hand keeps its loose hold on Pilouette's hair, and the other reaches for her far shoulder, an arm protectively around her back.] Do you still feel like you're going to be sick?

[There are people fighting outside. Mia turns to look at the door, which blocks her view of it, and hopefully their view of the two of them.]

[Pilouette is a little relieved that Mia is so understanding, though, she supposes it's not unexpected. She takes a deep breath to try and get a hold of herself, only to smell the stench permeating the area once again and gags. She nods in response.]

Uh...Uh-huh...

[She retches, almost grateful that there's nothing left in her stomach to come up. She breathes heavily and her body trembles as she slumps against the wall.] I...I just...all of this...! [How does something like this happen? How can people just kill so many, an entire city? Why? As hard as she tries, Pilouette can't seem to form the words, trying to keep quiet to avoid discovery.]

I know.

[Quiet out of necessity as well as gentleness, Mia shifts over to the wall as well, half-pulling Pilouette closer so she can rest a Psynergy-chilled hand against the back of her neck.]

Believe me, we all want to disappear and be sick for a while. [Pilouette may not be able to feel it, but Mia is shaking a bit herself.]

I don't doubt it.

[As Mia brings her closer, Pilouette pulls her knees up to her chest. The idea that she's not the only one that's having a hard time dealing with it all along with the cool sensation on her neck is comforting. Still, everything going on outside is more intense and horrifying than anything she's ever experienced. Her voice is quiet and low when she speaks.]

...To be honest, like, I really thought I could handle being on a draft this time. Last time was really scary, but this is...[There are a million words for what it is. Terrifying. Sickening. Gruesome. But none of them seem like enough. Instead, she just shakes her head.]

No one was prepared for this.

[Pilouette is talking now, though, in words that make sense together instead of fragmented gasps. That's better, and worse, in equal parts.]

It's horrible. I can't stand feeling so overpowered and helpless and lost. [Before two days ago, Mia might never have said as much to anyone. True or not, it is her duty to bury it and help keep everyone whole and together. Now, knowing they could still die to every world in one day's time, after more than half a night spent awake listening to the screams of these people, a mask of responsibility doesn't matter as much.]

Listen, Pilouette. It's all right to be this upset. It's- it's normal, it doesn't make you weak or useless or stupid. Promise me you'll remember that.

[Pilouette is quiet. She always thought Mia was unshakable. To her, that mask of responsibility was very real. Knowing that even Mia feels helpless in this situation is both comforting and terrifying. As frightened as she already was, that drives home just how serious the situation is. She nods shakily, a little unsure of what to say.]

Yeah. I...I promise. [For a moments, she stares ahead of her without really looking at what's in front of her. Then, blinking back tears, she looks at Mia.] I promise...!

[Immediately, she claps her hand over her mouth. That's right, she has to keep quiet.]

[Nobody is unshakable. Mia's tried to teach her that, but there is no better lesson than seeing it happen.

Then she pulls Pilouette into a full, tight hug.]

[As Mia pulls Pilouette in, she relaxes just a little. They had all died. They had died and John said in his announcement that if the bomb wasn't found, they would all die again and there would be nothing he could do about it. None of them would go home. None of them would even go back to Luceti. None of them would ever have the chance to see or speak to each other again, to say important things.

She's sure her fellow draftees will pull though, but the thought still scares her. Her voice comes out in a whisper.]

...Hey, Mia? Th-Thank you. For everything.

[Mia hugs just a bit tighter for a moment.]

I should be thanking you. But don't talk like that. [This time, she sounds more like her usual self - firm and sure of her words.] We're not giving up.

[She's not sure what Mia means by thanking her, but...the return of that familiar confident tone puts Pilouette a little more at ease. Though still very shaken, she nods firmly. Even with all the horror around them they can't just give up.]

R-Right. We all have to do everything we can. [There's a short pause as she takes a deep breath.] ...We got a second chance.

[Something that the people of Zompania couldn't have. Now that her mind is a little more together, she knows that they can't waste it. Though serious, her expression still has traces of apprehension, but she knows that talking like they're not going to make it won't help.]

[It isn't fair to Pilouette to ask her to bury her fears and reactions like this. Mia knows it isn't right. She shouldn't learn to hide everything until it bursts.

There aren't many other choices in the middle of a battlefield. They'll have to talk again later. If there's time.]

Do you think you can stand again?

[Pilouette closes her eyes for a moment and exhales slowly.]

I...I think so. [As she stands, she grabs her bag and first aid kit, holding on to them tightly. She glances at her kit, remembering when Precis gave it to her. Then she looks to Mia, who she looks up to and has learned so much from. Both of them always seemed to be confident that Pilouette could really do something and, even though she's scared and there's so many awful things happening around them, thinking about it gives her a bit of a boost. She takes another deep breath.]

U-Um, I think...I think I'll be okay.

[Mia gets up beside her, keeping an arm around her until she's sure Pilouette won't need to sit back down again.]

We'll have a real chance to talk once we're back in our village. [For just a few seconds, Mia holds Pilouette's chin gently in one hand.] Find me if you need someone. All right?

[A determined look crosses Pilouette's face and she nods. She can handle this, no matter how frightened she is. After all, she learned first aid to help people and if there was ever a time people needed to be helped, it's now.]

R-Right! [A beat.] And, um...Y-you can count on me, too!

I know I can.

[It's still a fight out there; Mia won't let Pilouette walk out of the building alone.]

U-Um, once we're able to get out of here, uh, should we split up for a little bit? ...We might be able to um, cover more ground that way.

[Besides, as much as she wants to stick next to Mia, to feel safer than she would on her own...she doesn't want to get in Mia's way, for Mia to worry about protecting her if they stayed together.]

Once we're sure of a defensible spot, I think we should try to see to as many people as we can. [Mia looks at her from the side, shaking her head.] Until then, we're all safer if we don't go off alone.

R-Right. Okay! [She's actually kind of glad to hear that. Even after what she said about being okay, Pilouette isn't completely sure she can handle being on her own right now.] It'll probably be easier to treat people with two of us, too...

I certainly expect it to be.

[Extra hands, sometimes it's all about how many hands you have to use.]

Let's try and catch up with the rest of them. Don't look, if you don't want to - focus on the ground and I'll make sure you walk straight.

[She nods. Honestly, she's sure she's seen more in the few days they've been on this draft than she ever wanted to see in a lifetime. She knows she can't avoid it, but for now at least she's thankful that she can keep her eyes away from it for a little while. But at the same time...]

Okay. I, um, I think I'll be alright, though.

[Still shaking a bit, she does her best to stand up straight. In a place like this, she doesn't want anyone to focus too much on helping her. She's sure Mia would never think of her as such, but she doesn't want to be a distraction or a burden.]

[It's so easy, to say that. Mia can't help keeping a hand at Pilouette's elbow; she's still pale and sort of looking like she might want to throw up again even if it means doing it out here.]

Well, I might not be, so you'd best be sure I don't do anything ridiculous or downright embarrassing.

[She tries to smile, too. We are here to look out for each other.]

[Pilouette can't help but let her eyes flicker off to the side to look at the horrible things around them. She's not sure she won't lose it again if she looks, but at the same time, part of her thinks she shouldn't be allowed to look away. Still, she keeps her eyes on the ground, following Mia's lead.

She smiles, just a little at her teacher's remark. Even in a situation like this, Mia is trying to be positive. Pilouette takes a deep breath. She wants to be just as strong as Mia is.]

Yeah. ...I-I've got your back!

[She's not sure how much she can actually do, but she means it. Mia has always helped her out and for once she wants to do the same for her.]

[When nobody is actively dying? She's always allowed to look away. It would hurt to hear that Pilouette thinks she must punish herself with horrors, whatever the reason.]

I already feel safer after hearing that.

[A little bit to make her feel better...but true, too. There's a streak of courage in Pilouette when she isn't trying too hard to find one.]

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ribbonbon - 2014-06-16 06:03 (UTC) - Expand

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Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

day 2

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