hollow plots and zombens

[made_up_names]

WHO: Peter Parker, Zomben, and all sorts of unlucky people
WHAT: Hollow!Uncle Ben (aka Zomben) has started to show up on campus. There will be an open comment (for generally being chased) as well as specific prompts for pre-plotted encounters.
WHEN: Very late on January 27th, forward dated to later in the week as well.
WHERE: Campus in general, also the gazebo in Soleil.

( Prompts are below so I can set up a general timeline-ish-thing! katoptron or Rho#9327 if you want me to set up something specific. Or just zoom yourself to the open comment and we'll just have some fun there.

I will match format, so if you prefer prose, prose away! )

Comments

1/27

[planmade]

[Mello doesn't have any magic sensory abilities aside from the basic, and at night those aren't even heightened as they would be during the day. There's something about being undead, however, that connects him to those of a similar nature. If only just. He's a former detective. A hunter. He has years of training in reading people and situations. He can sometimes call a person's future actions before they've even decided to make them.

All that being said, all he feels upon meeting the strange man in the dark is a heavy feeling of wrongness. That's always the most frustrating.]

Hey. I'm gonna need to see some ID.

[He should feel dirty saying that, but he has no problem being in a position of authority.]

[made_up_names]

[ There is definitely something wrong here. Maybe it's a mundane sort of wrongness? A strange adult meandering about a school is cause for concern on its own, after all.

The man lifts his hands as if in surrender, looking a bit sheepish. ]

"I'm here to see my nephew. He goes to school here."

[ So why would he need ID for that, huh? ]

[planmade]

That's great. [He says this in the most dismissive way possible.] Now check in at the office or get off campus. Staff wasn't notified of any overnight visitors.

[Mello might not be notified about everyone that came and went during the day, but you can bet he knew who was staying past curfew. Especially if they could only be around after dark.]

I'm gonna ask again - show me some ID.

[made_up_names]

[ He definitely wasn't hanging around looking for entry earlier in the day. Only after dark, once the sun had gone down. Something is deeply, deeply wrong here.

The man takes a step forward, looming a little. The smile on his face is fixed, unnatural. ]

"Can't help you with that, kiddo. How about you let me go about my business?"

[planmade]

[One good way to get on Mello's nerves more than the man already has is to call him "kiddo". He might still be fairly young (and recently bitten so he can't even blame vampire lack of aging), but he has a hell of a lot of experience under his belt. Yes, he'll get childishly insulted about being seen as childish.]

You have five minutes to remove yourself from the premises.

[The blond is used to people being taller than him, son he doesn't find the looming nearly as intimidating as some.]

[made_up_names]

"Five minutes, huh. No can do."

[ As Ben leans forward this time, that massive scar at his throat seems to glow dimly in the moonlight. It splits, exposing a maw at the center of him - that then opens. Also there are giant monstrous spider legs coming out of him, those are unpleasant too. ]

"How 'bout I ask one more time?"

[planmade]

[Well. That's problematic.

Mello isn't really a fighter to begin with, even with the enhanced abilities he gains during the day. And this is nighttime, meaning he doesn't even have those. It means he's less likely to die, but that's small comfort right about now.

This is why he argues he should be allowed to carry his guns on campus. Not that he knows how well those will work in this situation.

The best option right now would be to run, but that would mean leaving this monster to whatever he was about to do. It doesn't seem like it's interested in giving chase, just scaring him off, so that means he won't be able to lead him away toward stronger individuals.

He stands his ground, willing the fear not to show in his face. He has a lot of practice disguising that with anger.]

So what's your nephew's name?

[made_up_names]

[ A gun would definitely do something here, so it's too bad that Mello doesn't have it now. This - person? Thing? Is starting to get annoyed now; it doesn't necessarily want to fight here and now, but it is after its prey. And if it gets another snack along the way? Well. That's all right. ]

"Peter. Peter Parker. Ringing any bells?"

[planmade]

Sure.

[Not really. He's sure he's heard the name somewhere and it might click if he had a face to go with it, but keeping track of every student outside his own classes is a pain. His old mentor could have done it, probably, but he's not him.]

And do you actually know where he is, or are just walking around hoping no one notices your particularly inept attempts at stealth?

[made_up_names]

[ He has been a troublemaker, but maybe not in Mello's immediate field of vision. ]

"Boy, if I wanted to be subtle, I would be. Best not to try my patience."

[planmade]

You didn't answer my question.

[It's a good thing Mello's spent most of his life talking down to people tougher than him. Otherwise he'd be trembling right now. Bluffing confidence means covering fear with irritation, as though this monster is still the stray family member he was pretending to be.]

Do you even know where he is?

[If he can bluff long enough, maybe someone else will even show up to help. He should be so lucky.]

[made_up_names]

[ He might even get Peter to help if he's really lucky. Pete's out there somewhere, trying to find his uncle, so...

A scowl deepens in the thing's face. ]

"If I knew, d'you think I'd be asking you?