everything's on fire

[krasnaya_vdova]

who: Everyone!
what: The residential building is on fire
when: ~2am, August 23rd
where: The Residential building
warnings: Fire, destruction of property, injury, general warnings for crisis situations



It's a reasonably quiet night, pleasantly dry with a slight breeze. Almost nice, for those that enjoy the hours after midnight long before dawn starts to creep on the horizon. Right until it isn't, when the air changes, and there's the scent of heat that promises smoke. In most places it starts with a flash of blue light that arcs from floor to floor as energy pulses through the building, and there's a crack of sound that follows. The power dies for a moment, and if you're one of the unlucky ones, the light that follows is a literal spark in the dark, burning to life in bright orange-red, yielding heat and smoke and trouble. The energy surge doesn't just hit the lights, but sparked flames that burst to life, and they catch quickly, spreading.

The worst of it starts on the ninth floor, where the smoke and the beginning of heat starts moments before the surge. The fire spreads faster there, people starting to startle awake and realize what's happening as the flames crackle. Eventually there's an announcement on the Network, both alerting people to what's happening and trying to organize both those that are willing to help and those that need it.

Some areas are untouched, while others are ravaged badly, reduced to ashes and crumbling ceilings, so watch your step. There's chaos, but through it there's people doing what they can to help each other, and the official fire services show up to help control the blaze. After that, it's just a matter of repairing the damage that's been done, rebuilding and putting things back together, seeing what's been lost and what was saved.

Even later, people start putting the pieces together, and there's the official investigation into what might have caused a fire like that in the first place.


[ooc: As promised, the residential building is on fire! OOC plotting post is here if anyone wants to work out some last minute plans before diving in. Plotting post also includes the relevant details. Elsewise, just top level and mingle. Try not to get burned too badly. :) Good luck!]

Comments

i.

[dancingmd]

[She wakes easily enough. With a job like hers, a life like hers, deep sleep is a rarity. So at the first signs of trouble, she's up and alert. Smoke is rapidly filling the sleeping quarters and when she checks, the door is hot to the touch. No way out there. And they're too high up for the windo--

There's a crash and a... a boy flies in. Flies. Coughing through the smoke, she wonders if she saw that correctly. And then he's calling out and the voice sounds vaguely familiar.]

How...?

[supersweet]

No time for that.

[ He offers his hand, insistent. The flames curl around his form but Jon doesn't so much as blink. ]

We gotta go. Let me take you.

[dancingmd]

[There's a moment of uncertainty, but with no other options, she reaches out to take his hand...]

[supersweet]

[ Jon takes that for the consent that it was because his grip is firm as he tugs her to her feet. Then he looks mildly apologetic because the next thing he has to do . . . she probably won't like it. He rubs at his face, trying to hide his flush. ]

So . . . I'm going to have to . . . carry you out.

[dancingmd]

[Beverly stumbles to her feet, surprised by the strength of his grip. Even so, he's so young, so little... how can he possibly carry her?

(Then again, people aren't supposed to be able fly either and yet here he is).]

Are you sure? [She coughs again. Clearly the smoke is getting to her.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon nods, moving his arms to scoop her up with ease. His face is completely red but he tries to look professional. He moves towards the window he had just broken into, glass crunching beneath his feet as he blows out a few more flames. Briefly, Jon looks out the window before leaping out and hovering in the air. Then he steadily makes his way downward. ]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly is generally a very calm and collected person in times of danger and stress. It's all part of being a doctor - and a mom for that matter. But this... this is something else.

She yells as they leap out the window. Don't look down, don't look down-

And of course, she looks down. Too high and there's no way to escape it. No doubt Jon can feel her heart racing, the panic rising. Still, she does her best to quell the fear, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon doesn't take it personally. Though he does give her a couple of concerned glances as he makes his way down. Hovering is not something he's good at but he makes a concentrated effort to come down slowly.

Finally, he sets her down, legs first, keeping his hold on her until she's totally steady. ]

Are you all right ma'am? It's okay now.

[dancingmd]

[It's not him or his skills, she promises. She just.... really hates heights. As soon as they touch the ground, she collapses to her knees, thankful to be out of there and safe. She's breathing heavily - a combination of trying to control the rising panic as they flew and smoke inhalation - so she nods in response.

Then, after a moment, she wraps her arms around him in a generous hug.]

[supersweet]

[ Oh. Hugs are nice and Jon finds it easy to reciprocate. ]

It's gonna be okay, miss. Do you need some water?

[dancingmd]

[The first time she tries to answer, her words come out as a hoarse cough. She clears her throat and tries again.]

Yes, please.

[supersweet]

[ Jon beams before heading off quickly to fetch a bottle and zooming back with his superspeed, holding it up like a prize. ]

Here you go, ma'am! Let me know if you need something else.

[dancingmd]

Thank you.

[She takes the bottle then takes a big swig out of it, gasping with relief afterwards. Calmer now, she looks at her rescuer more carefully. She hasn't seen him before... has she? Something about him just seems very familiar.]

Have... we met before?

[supersweet]

N-No? Of course not! I'm just an uhh helpful citizen. Hero. Person.

[dancingmd]

[She raises her eyebrows and her mouth quirks in amusement.]

You're very brave but you're not a very good liar.

[supersweet]

[ Jon sighs, his shoulders slumping. ]

It was worth a shot.

[dancingmd]

[Given that she only knows a few kids here and one of them is a girl and the other is British, it doesn't take much to guess who he probably is. But she smiles kindly and takes his hand, giving it a little squeeze.]

You don't have to say if you don't want to. I'm just happy you were there.

[supersweet]

It's my job.

[ Well. Job is a strong word, but that's the creed the Kents live by. Good people get involved. ]

[dancingmd]

[She nods. As a doctor, she more than understands that impulse.]

And I am sorry I panicked a little on you there. I ah... Am not very good with heights.

[supersweet]

[ Jon shakes his head. ]

It's fine. It happens a lot.

[ He assumes. Jon knows his father has had his share of scared people in his arms. ]

[dancingmd]

[Her eyebrows go up as she takes another sip of water.]

How many times have you flown people?

[supersweet]

. . . Once?

But I've carried people a lot. I've never dropped anyone.

[dancingmd]

Oh I don't doubt that!

I never realized how strong you were, before.

[supersweet]

I'm way stronger than an average human being. Probably like ten people? We've never measured it.

[ He carefully leaves out the part about being an alien. As cool as that would be to share, Jon should hold off on some truths. ]

[dancingmd]

[Except a human with super strength concerns her much more than an alien. Human's of her world are too fearful of signs of genetic engineering.]

We?