R1 DEADLAND

[lockdownmods]

[it’s strange, for the people who were already dead, the shift in scenery is sudden and complete. For those who have just arrived? It’s like you’re back where you left?

How strange.

But if you ever need her, you can always reach out to the guardian of this place.]

LOCATIONS
Note: locations lag a week behind the living counterparts

Comments

[throwabookatit]

[ She can't help but let out a humorless laugh. ]

I- I know that, I've got eyes. [ Can't help but say something like that. But- ] I meant, I- that bawbag tricked me! That's- that's why I'm here.

[throwabookatit]

[ Before... She'd heard Connor dying. His body broke and he was there in front of her, just bleeding or whatever it is androids do.

So, considering how recent this was, it takes her a few moments to collect herself at the sound of his voice. A bit of a mental double-take, if you will. ]

C-Connor... I- I missed you too, I'm... [ ...And then she remembers it. And fear and regret cross her face. ] No, I- Connor, I'm s-sorry.

[donotlick]

So Vivienne made 'er huh...

[ Oh, he doesn't like Vivienne, that's... a thing. ]

Guess she's a robot then, huh?

[childrenofinvention]

Knock yourself out. I never want to read anything like it ever again.

[To read it, this is honestly some of the dullest material yet.

exp.1.0.1 -- 02/06 -- greenlighted -- system failure -- code:209867 -- missing parameter x
exp.1.0.2 -- 02/19 -- greenlighted -- program failure -- code:2105 -- x-y+?? = ??
exp.1.1.1 -- 03/04 -- greenlighted -- connection failure -- code:9998 -- component m not found
exp.1.2.1 -- 04/20 -- greenlighted -- system overheated -- results inconclusive
exp.1.2.2 -- 05/12 -- greenlighted -- program failure -- code:3214 -- component y malfunction
exp.1.2.3 -- 05/23 -- greenlighted -- program failure -- code:2105 -- power loss

...

There's a whole lot of this, recording what had to be hundreds of separate tests. The last one however, is unlike any of the others.

exp.96.42.73 -- 09/22 -- STOP

Yet there's another page attached with "exp.96.42.73" on it. And it has a lot of unclear mumbo jumbo on it but there's one word that stands out. SUCCESS.]

[preconstruction]

[ he pulls her into a hug. she'd hugged him before, and humans kept doing that to him, so it seems right. she needs comfort. ]

There's nothing to apologize for. I have so much to tell you. About this place, about everything that's going on.

[throwabookatit]

[ Well, there are a few people here whose comfort would just make her break down into tears. Viral's one of them, and here's the other one.

Rebecca looks up at him with an anguished expression, brows knit and lip quivering. That gentle smile and warm voice wash over her, replacing the image of a broken man in a golf cart that's been playing in her nightmares. ]

Hank... [ And she just dissolves into sobs, more like a little girl than a grown woman. ]

[childrenofinvention]

...heh. Nice to finally meet you all.

[It's kind of embarrassing when it's all formal like this.]

[machrophage]

[Well, that makes her sound like her usual self - enough that Viral loosens his grip, though he doesn't entirely let go.]

Which one?

[There are a lot of assholes such insults could apply to.]

[itwasfeyt]

You...! You appeared out of thin air!

[She's both shocked!! and impressed??]

A-are you some kind of ghost?!

[preconstruction]

You said this was from the physics lab?

[ from jimmy ]

[childrenofinvention]

Sure was. From the old head honcho of the science department, himself.

[starswink]

[Payback for embarrassing him first, clearly!]

But if you spend most of your time here... does that mean you're usually invisible or something?

[preconstruction]

James. How long ago was this?

[donotlick]

Bring it here.

[ Hank pulls her into his arms, letting her squeeze as tight as she needs. He's held her through plenty of tears and sobs. He can think of no reason why this would be any different. ]

It's okay, Becks. You're okay now.

[throwabookatit]

[ When you find a person's dead body, you don't expect them to be up and walking, a few weeks later. Yes, this place is a bit different than everything she's been through before but

It's still one of the few laws of her reality that is hard to break. So Henry's got a bit of a stammering response. ]

D-- n-no, I- ... I'd- rather not. [ ... ] I just- w-want to catch my breath.

[supportrole]

Yeah! That's what I've been thinking, I don't know how I should even be calculating my age right now? Because if I'm going off of just like, Days Lived, I guess I technically turned seventeen during the entrance exam.

[ because lmfao his life fucking sucks ]

But now it's supposed to be my birthday this weekend according to the calendar here, so do I just say I'm turning seventeen again?

[ or can he just skip that whole year because it probably would have sucked anyway ]

[throwabookatit]

[ He's hugging her. She's grateful for it, because right now she could use as many reminders that she's not...that as possible, but she still shakes her head, because-- because he shouldn't be. He wouldn't do that if he knew-- ]

N-no, Connor, no I- I have. [ She tries to pull away. What's she done? How could she have done this? ]

[preconstruction]

[ of course, connor lets her go. he looks so confused by the action. had he done something wrong? was the hugging bad? ]

It's not your fault that you died, Rebecca.

[throwabookatit]

[ It's good that he's not letting go, because she's still got a hand gripping his jacket. ]

The Headmaster. James or whatever the fuck his name is.

[childrenofinvention]

Let's see... guy became headmaster about seven or eight years ago or so... I got this tid-bit right before the guy got promoted.

But the last entry there? That suspicious thing? Happened 15 years ago.

[supportrole]

You think so?

[ Has anyone ever described anything he's done as "incredible" before... signs point to no ]

Thanks.

[preconstruction]

I see. Thank you. I'm sure the others have questions, if you're amenable to them.

[throwabookatit]

I- I was- I-I was s-so--

[ She tries to form a sentence, just one damn one, but she can't. All the words are swallowed up by her sorrow. ]

[preconstruction]

I do. You could have lost hope, but you've been trying to provide it instead.

[throwabookatit]

[ She can't look at him. ]

Y- yes it was, but that's not even the point, I- Connor, I think- I think I killed him.