War Week

[mockmods]

[A week has gone and past, as has the first of your number. The Researcher revealing himself, more or less, by punishing Patches, the Trusty, for pushing an unclear boundary.]

[And yet, routine seems to have returned. The Researcher makes morning and evening announcements as if nothing has happened. Meals are served in the dining hall. The copies of Oregon Trail in the computer lab now have a text-only mode for some reason? Penny has not been seen since Friday, and attempts to access the Security Room have been fruitless.]

[But overall, life in the Facility has remained unchanged. But the atmosphere is getting tenser - sooner or later something is going to break.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday Thursday

Comments

[mightdoriya]

[So...that happened. It feels like that whole event yesterday didn't really amount to much at all, especially since the "reward" seems too good to be true anyway. At least, he doubts that anyone would actually believe the Researcher's claims as far as they can throw them, despite what he's done so far. He's not exactly in the interest of doing what's in their best interest, after all. So once that announcement has been made, Izuku leaves for the dorms, not returning until later in the day. Once everyone has dispersed, Izuku will be seeking out Shinso, stopping him whenever he finds him in a hallway, the common room, wherever.] Do you have a minute to talk, Shinso-kun? [In the evening, Izuku decides to head to the media room early before Penny's planned movie night. He won't be in the way or anything, and he'll offer a helping hand if needed, but otherwise he's seated with his head buried in his notebook again looking very pensive and wrapped up in his thoughts.]

Media Room

[in4apounding]

Salutations, Mister Midoriya.

[Penny's a little subdued as Izuku enters the media room, but it looks like everything's pretty well handled.]

[There's a cooler of drinks chilling on a table, and a popcorn machine percolating away with the scent of salt and butter.]

The movie won't be starting for another hour or so, sorry. Did you need anything?

[mightdoriya]

Hi, Penny-san. [Izuku looks about as subdued, but for Penny it's a bit more unusual. Or maybe not, given what Neku pointed out before...her spacing out, and all. It's really curious, honestly.] No, I'm okay...I thought I'd come by early since I wasn't doing anything else. ...do you need any help with anything?

[in4apounding]

Oh, no, thank you.

[She does smile a little, grateful at the offer.]

I think I've got everything well handled. Um- if you want, you could scoop out some of the popcorn into bags, once it's done?

[mightdoriya]

Of course. [He decides to set aside his notebook for the time being and stands so he can wander over to where she is, grateful for the distraction. He needs to get out of his own head for a minute.] Penny-san, if you don't mind me asking...how come you are having this movie night in the first place?

[in4apounding]

[She pauses, arranging some packaged candy on a table.]

It really was supposed to just be something nice, for everyone working so hard on the challenge.

[Penny fiddles with a packet of off-brand M&Ms.]

After- what the Researcher did, though-

[She spares a quick glance up at one of the cameras, just for a second.]

,,,I don't know. I mean- I THINK he's actually serious, and- I'm just- ...I don't know what else to do. I know this isn't- going to just FIX anything, or stop it if someone takes him seriously, but. It's something, I guess? Does that make sense?

[mightdoriya]

[...oh. Izuku blinks slowly, regarding Penny with his expression largely strained, yet sympathetic.] ...you had no idea he was going to do this, did you?

[in4apounding]

No.

[She shakes her head.]

He's my friend, he's always told me, before, what he was going to do, but this- no.

[mightdoriya]

Do you have any idea what might have made him decide to do something like this?

seeking out;

[clandestineideals]

[ At least by Team Exercise they didn't have them fighting for their lives. Though, considering what the Researcher presented, that looked like it may be changing relatively soon.

Suffice to say, he had retreated to his dorms as well, which is why it's easier to find him consequently later in the day in a hallway, after he'd just exited his own dorm. ]

I do. [ ... ] It's about what happened today, isn't it?

[ Privacy seemed lacking and though it wasn't out of any ill intent, Shinso also saw more than he supposed anyone would've liked to have anyone else seen...for the most part. ]

[mightdoriya]

It is, yeah. [As soon as all of...that went down, Izuku knew that he wouldn't be able to rest until he talked to Shinso about it. It left him unsettled for a lot of reasons. So there was one thing immediately on his mind he needed to ask.] ...do you think anyone here would go through with Rule 7, even with all of the incentives and blackmail? [There's always a chance, but he wants to hope for the best.]

[clandestineideals]

I think there's a good chance. I wouldn't know who specifically would, but after that's been put out there, someone might be tempted.

[ Shinso would like that the Researcher's bait doesn't work, however he's also being kind of realistic. People have killed for less. ]

With that in mind, it'd be best to be careful.

[ Of course he doesn't hide the fact that he's at least a little worried; there's really no point in that. ]

[mightdoriya]

[If Izuku is being honest with himself...he's not worried about himself, exactly. Even without use of his Quirk, he knows how to fight. But there are others here that he'd be worried about, both being unable to defend themselves as well as capable of really hurting someone if they had it in mind to do so.] I trust that you can take care of yourself. But...I can't say I know what's going to happen if a fight actually does break out in here. [He feels...responsible, in a way, for at least trying to prevent or even stop this sort of thing from happening. But what can he do? What could he do if something happens and he's not around to intervene?]