[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[neverforgets]

[ Lavi isn't sure if he's hallucinating from getting hit too hard in the head by the Noah, or if they brought Road in to trap him again or what. He's never seen a place like this before. Chairs, tables, are things which are all familiar, but some of the materials and styles are completely foreign to him.

He completely ignores the "job application" once it's been skimmed, though the communicator gets a bit more scrutiny. It goes in his pocket for now, as he gets up and explores the place. If a battered-looking young man with an eyepatch opening all the drawers and cupboards seems odd, he doesn't seem to care.

Eventually, he runs out of places to snoop, and parks himself on top of the desk with a very thick-looking binder of paper. The side of the binder reads "Q4 Report". ]

[everwalking]

[he peers into the room during his tentative explorations -- he'd be calling out for Johnny and Kanda but it's weirdly quiet in this... whatever it is, and he feels uneasy raising his voice -- and then just stares for a moment, paralyzed]

...Lavi?

[no, that's not possible. that's ridiculous. right?]

[neverforgets]

[ He's not entirely sure what the company even does, but the report has lists and lists of numbers and figures, so he is satisfied with it as reading material. The attention is split, however, between reading and listening in on any conversations or the coming and going of everyone else. Subtly, though, so they won't stop when they see him.

Honestly, he's beginning to doubt this is a figment of his imagination, or something of Road's doing. Neither of them are creative enough to make this sort of place up.

But the familiar voice makes him look up. ]

Allen? [ Headtilt. He looks completely different from when Lavi saw him last. ] What're you doing here?

[everwalking]

[yeah, he's got sort of a Dickensian waif thing going on at the moment] [and a ponytail]

That's... what I was going to ask you. [now he is like three hundred percent sure this is some sort of trick or illusion or -- is Wisely doing this? does he have that power? he turns slowly around, narrowing his eyes with wary suspicion as he surveys the rest of the office]

[neverforgets]

[ Lavi's thinking the same thing -- familiar in the midst of so much strangeness just sets his hair on end -- but his choice of Noah culprit is different. ]

Been here a little while. [ Closes the binder slowly, watching Allen rather than their surroundings. ] You get hit with another hair-grow tonic, man?

[everwalking]

What? [he looks back at Lavi, torn for a second. he can't suspect Lavi. but it's not him. stop acting so innocent!!] ...Why? How long do you remember it being?

[he hasn't yet managed to recover from his paralysis, really. he doesn't know what to think, or... feel]

[neverforgets]

Last I knew, you were off to Jordan. An' didn't need a barber.

[ Allen's behavior is unsettling; not at all what he would have expected. Some of that... shine is gone. Either the somebody's acting job is shit, or something's really wrong. ]

[everwalking]

[even though that hardly proves anything -- of course Lavi would say Jordan, that was the last time things were okay, when they all divided up to handle the Noah attack, grim but determined; it has emotional impact, it doesn't require explanation of what happened after that, the thespian in Allen applauds it -- his heart still clenches in response]

...That was months ago, Lavi. [soft] You don't remember -- anything after you left for China?

[and then he tells himself, maybe it is Lavi, maybe something's been done to him, maybe he doesn't remember, and then just like that he starts to feel the paralysis melt away]

[neverforgets]

[ Deep frown, now. ]

That was three hours ago. [ There's a faint sort of panic in his voice as his own suspicions start to crumble. No one is that good of an actor to fake Allen's concern, right? Allen and Lenalee -- nobody feels that much.

But if it is Allen, then what is going on? ]

Man, I've still got sand in my boots.

[everwalking]

[.........it might be inappropriate, but he snickers]

[neverforgets]

[ ... not exactly what he was expecting! Eyeeeebrow. ]

What's so funny about that?

[everwalking]

That's just -- such a -- stupid, Lavi thing to say! [he's only laughing more now]

[neverforgets]

I am Lavi. [ HEY! ]

What, you thought I was a trick or something? [ You don't get to suspect him! For that he's going to hop off the desk and noogie you. ]

[everwalking]

[dodges nimbly to the side. no sir!]

What can I say? It's been a while since you popped up in a place where you shouldn't have been out of some trash can or window.

[neverforgets]

[ Pfff, foiled. ]

Y'know, I only started doing that stuff when I started hanging out with you. [ He was so much cooler, back then. ]

[everwalking]

Right. Sell me a bridge next.

[he has absolutely no reason not to be equally as suspicious now as he was twelve seconds ago, but he isn't! he feels much better now, and the smile he directs at Lavi is genuine, and maybe a bit relieved]

How do you -- feel? All right?

[neverforgets]

[ More sure this person is really Allen, as well. But that doesn't fully erase the uneasiness. The way the other looked before... he's never seen him like that. ]

I'm fine, man. Just kinda confused why we're not on the same page.

In addition to "where the hell are we", "did Road do this", and all that, of course.

[everwalking]

It's -- possible that something happened to you in China. That kept you from remembering. [he hesitates a beat, and then says gamely] Let's sit down. I'll tell you what I remember.

[neverforgets]

[ That makes a shiver pass down his back. Losing memories/time has only ever happened once, and the Noah were responsible for that, too. China had been bad enough without being made to forget other things, thanks.

But he moves to one of the chairs; better than the top of the desk for having a conversation. ]

Nice change, getting a story from you for once. [ Grins. Talk too much? Him? ]

[impaledcandles]

[Road bounces into the chair across from his table, neatly crossing her legs at the ankle before huffing.]

This is boring. [Her own job application is on her lap, but also left ignored for now.]

[neverforgets]

[ Not looking up from the report. ]

Was wonderin' when you would show up.

[impaledcandles]

Don't tell me you think I'm behind this. [she gives a little offended sniff.] I'd never dream up a place as dull as this one.

[neverforgets]

[ Well, that settles that, then. Maybe. Looks up with a raised eyebrow. ]

My other thought was it might be too much of a stretch for you.

[impaledcandles]

[slides off the chair, and hops over to his table.]

Maybe you should just stop thinking for today. It's not getting you anywhere.

[neverforgets]

[ Can't help but snerk. ]

What do you want, Road?