[Day 59] Public Channel

[whattaprick]

[ The Nightrider’s message is brief and harried: ]

If you’re at the Carnival, stay there. If not, start heading back. Don’t go running off into the books like headless goats.

I’m going to look for the Scribe.

Comments

[soft_focus]

[Hi, Problem, big problem-] Umnh...

We started doing that when the radio started having fights on it, but...

[At the moment, Reira is somewhere...Dark. Holding her tiny shield with as much focus as can be mustered just for light, as she looks to her brother and the 'sparrow' Foster twisted up as a ride.] ....Even though we were moving really fast, we're still not back...

...None of the shelves look like the ones you'd see on the way back either...

[whattaprick]

You’re saying you’re lost, or something’s preventing you from getting back?

[soft_focus]

It's all dark, [She explains.] I made a light, because that's what my shield does, but it was still dark all around... ...but I thought, 'even if the lights are gone, the shelves aren't, so we can keep going'.

...But then... ...when we were walking, suddenly it was somewhere else in the Athenaeum.... [She remarks confusedly, the word 'athenaeum' passing awkwardly as she does so.]

...It didn't feel like we turned, or went somewhere else, but... ...I've never seen these shelves, and I looked at almost all of the ones between home and between where I started coming back...

[whattaprick]

[ Oh boy. Lambert tries to think, but it’s hard to do that while running around looking for someone he’s only seen in passing at the same time. ]

And you’re sure it’s something happening physically? Not just something messing with your head to trick you into getting lost?

[atouts]

[ God, he knows no one was supposed to leave the carnival alone, but considering the circumstances— ]

I can't reach them or the carnival. The shadows here are closed to me.

[ So here's Childermass, actually, seriously sounding distressed where everyone can hear him (even if only over a radio). ]

[whattaprick]

[ This is, on a number of levels, a nightmare scenario, but Lambert’s not going to waste his breath on arguing. ]

Do you have the bracer with you?

[ Staying put is a death sentence. Moving might be playing right into their hands. ]

Try to find the others, but be ready for a fight.

[atouts]

I do. [ But that said... ] Might be a little hard to use if I plan on being a crow for most of this, but we'll see.

[chronosynthesis]

Alone? [If Syrlya had blood pressure it'd probably be spiking.]

[whattaprick]

If I find anyone else along the way, I’ll take them with me!

[chronosynthesis]

[Not comforting!] Keep your radio on. Please. I will be trying to lead members of the carnival back to safety.

[He'd go with Lambert otherwise, but that's a task they can both agree is probably priority.]

[seniorvicejanitor]

[ rhys hasn't left the carnival. a few of tyki's warnings had gotten through and he'd just stayed there, trying to figure things out and, of course, cleaning shit up. there was always shit to clean up. ]

Does this mean I shouldn't mount a rescue attempt?

[ not that he'd been thinking about it but if he brought up the idea and someone told him not to, he could at least say he tried. ]

[whattaprick]

Don’t even think about it.

[ Rhys didn’t strike him as someone who could punch through wet cardboard. Although — ]

[seniorvicejanitor]

Well, I'm obviously thinking about it.

[ it was the doing that would be the issue. because rhys doesn't want to do it but he could act like he wanted to do it. ]

I bet I could do some good! I could help.

[ he was great at screaming and running? that counted. ]

[starseedling]

Um... I...

I think I might be lost, too.

[He'd run out to try to help Lapis, and then Peridot, and now he has no idea where he is.]

[whattaprick]

Are you alone?

Try looking for the others, if you can’t head back.

[starseedling]

I was trying to find Lapis and Peridot but now I can't see them anywhere. A bunch of the hallways look dark here, too...

I-I'll keep looking! I hope you can find the Scribe.

[prazerbutterfly]

I hope you aren't alone, Mister Ram.

[Because he understands some supervisors are special and like to go alone because they can.]

... I'm floating from group to group when I can.

[whattaprick]

I was heading out to see if I could join up with one of the groups out there before this happened.

[ So yes, yes at this moment he’s alone. That being said — ]

It sounds like the library isn’t under its owner’s control anymore. Watch your step.

[prazerbutterfly]

That seems to be the case right now. So much for sticking with a buddy. Some of my Tease have died so I've lost track of a few Performers. [And then there was Strange publicly making a fool of himself. ]

Perfect. Watch your back as well.

[spaghettimonster]

I'm already out... If I promise to keep my head on, can I do a little searching for people?

[whattaprick]

Are you running into any of these shadows other people are talking about?

[spaghettimonster]

Not yet! ...I don't think. [Reading glasses are good for reading, but not good for seeing shadows in the shelves.]

But, I am not alone, so there's plenty of eyes keeping watch!

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita's voice sounds tired and dry compared to usual.]

Hypocrite.

['Don't go running off', he says as he runs off.]

I'd give you a report, but it sounds like you already got the gist of it.

[whattaprick]

Yeah, but unlike most people, it's my job to run off and do something stupid.

[ His voice is a little strained. ]

What happened to Strange?

[anti_nonsense]

Ignatius showed up... there were about six of us there. He said if one of us offered ourselves into his service, he'd spare the rest. Otherwise, he'd kill us all.

That idiot jumped at the offer. I tried to stop him, but... [She trails off, then scoffs.]