estoria | « 004 ⇢ INTERLUDE004.EXE »

Entry tags:

!event,
!interlude

« 004 ⇢ INTERLUDE004.EXE »

Who: These suckers and E R R O R
When: OOC: 5/29, IC: 7/15
Where: CERES Research Tower and Beyond
What: It seems an old friend has decided the situation is progressing too slowly.
Rating/Warning: PG-13: Violence, injuries and inevitable deaths.

▶ ACTION.EXE | IC: 7/15

For those unlucky saps who disappear today, ranging from early in the morning towards the middle of the afternoon, well...they can't be reached by CereVice.

Any attempt to do so will bounce back the message User Currently Occupied.

It's an odd message, and one that's never been used by the CereVice. How strange. It's probably nothing though, right? No contact can be established between groups or from groups to outside people in Cerealia, whether by technology or magic. You're cut off from everyone but those in your groups, now.

Otherwise, all abilities will remain intact.

As for the people who do disappear, well... things get a little hairy really quickly.

▶ RUN.EXE | MOD NOTES

This is the event log for these sign-ups! Your groups have been sorted below; here are a few handy links for you:

Group 01 | OOC plotting
Group 02 | OOC plotting
Group 03 | OOC plotting
Group 04 | OOC plotting
Group 05 | OOC plotting
Group 06 | OOC plotting
Group 07 | OOC plotting
Group 08 | OOC plotting
Group 09 | OOC plotting
Group 10 | OOC plotting
Group 11 | OOC plotting
Group 12 | OOC plotting
Group 13 | OOC plotting
Group 14 | OOC plotting
There is no tagging order, so feel free to tag in whatever way works best for you as a group.

The characters should not ICly be gone longer than 5 hours -- if they survive, of course. There will be mod involvement in each of the threads.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask them here. Please try to avoid asking hypothetical questions (such as "What will happen if my character does [action]?") as that's part of the fun and risk of the interlude! You are welcome to plot with your groupmates in this post. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

. . . LOADING HYOUBU KYOUSUKE.$$$ . . . LOADING MERLIN.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING REI HINO.$$$ . . . LOADING YU NARUKAMI.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING YURI KOZUKATA.$$$ . . . START ESCAPE.EXE. . .

[ It starts with a spark.

You pick up your CereVice, and there's a jolt of what must be static electricity. Aside from a momentary jolt, though, it's harmless. Your hair might be a bit frizzier than usual, but it's fine. No big deal.

Except then things get weird.

Buildings start to appear as code in your vision. Other people do too, little streams of 0's and 1's that shouldn't be able to hold a shape. And then, standing amidst the code, there's your friendly neighborhood creepy robot.

It waves.

And then there's a much sharper jolt and you're suddenly somewhere very different. It might be a little cramped in here with the others, too. ]

[The start of something weird is never a good thing in Cerealia, Rei's learned. The sudden shock is annoying, especially when you have as much hair as she does, but that's nowhere near as disconcerting as the code appearing all around her. She struggles, writhes in place and when the robot appears she jumps. Her stomach lurches at the shifting perspective, and in that instant she's changed, Rei replaced with Mars in the blink of an eye. This is getting to be second nature, and it's not pleasing.

In the darkness, Mars shifts to get as much space as possible and calls up light. A weird, muted orange glow illuminates the chamber, a heatless orb lazily drifting to the ceiling. Looking around, she takes a breath and flashes the friends and strangers a confident (but forced) smile.]

Is everyone in one piece?

[We'll address the cage later...]

[ Isn't Cerealia always weird? Or at least it is more often than not. This kind of situation though, is similar to the Dark City before in that they're being pulled elsewhere. The shock and shift of code gives him enough time to prepare for the shift and even grab his sword, but even then it's enough to make him want to throw up. Teleportation isn't something he's actually tried before, even if the magic is possible in his world, and with stunts like this... he never wants to again.

Thanks, Mr. Robot.

When it all finally stops, he finds in the middle of what looks like a dungeon though he just lifts both hands up and sighs out: ] Why is it always the cells?

[ Merlin...... no.......... ]

Though I think so... the others?

I'm alright.

[The disorienting nature of the change has her leaning against the wall for support while she gathers herself, but other than that she's... pretty okay. She wishes she wasn't growing used to this sort of strangeness, but she regards everything with a carefully neutral expression.

She was never one for emotional shows anyhow, but even her stoicism is taking a hit here] Is this...a dungeon? [Yuri frowns, expression... disapproving? Disappointed? Why couldn't they get teleported somewhere nice?? Like a field of flowers. Or puppies.

Flowers and puppies.

Which, in accordance to CERES< would probably end up trying to kill them anyhow. She heaves a sigh] Is this supposed to be a ViVID level?

[ This is growing old, Cerealia.

Merlin isn't the only one to have noted the strange buildings and people and thought, well, here we go. Yu, too, is armed, a katana gripped in one hand as he stands straight from a slightly bent over position and examines the cell they're in. He doesn't stay still for long; once Rei casts her light he's moving, examining their surroundings and heading for the door. The... skeleton? Is that real? In the near corner gets a passing glance, but he doesn't dwell on it. Instead he's gripping the bars of their door and peering through at what's past, trying to see what lies in store for them. ]

I'm fine, [ he confirms, turning back to his cellmates. ] As for whether or not we're in ViViD... it could be possible, but we can't rely on that. We should treat this like it's real.

[ He totally hadn't been fiddling around on his Cerevice to see if certain idiots' info hadn't shown up again on the system. Because he absolutely isn't a lonely old man with too much time on his hands. And then everything goes all Matrix, followed by his unceremonious arrival in a dungeon.

Right. Right. A magical girl, two teenage boys with swords (of course), and one other... ]

Heh. "Real." Sure it is. As real as anything around here.

[ Huh. The others are relative strangers, but he knows this Yu kid. The last time he saw him was......

Ok no, not going there. Ahem. ]

I can feel it in my - or rather his - bones.

[ And he gives the skeleton a good poke in the ribs. Because that's a completely appropriate thing to do, given the circumstances. ]

[ The skeleton's going to go ahead and fall over and hit the ground.

It kicks up a cloud of dust and unearths a small key from behind one of the ribs.

So that's cool.

Otherwise, the bars don't budge when Yu grabs them. Seems it's locked. ]

[Mars casts her eyes around at the people assembled, taking in the group. Yu and Merlin, two strangers. That's fine, she can work with that.

The key draws her focus, and she frowns.]

I guess it's our way out.

[She's quick to call out her bow, setting it into a ready position to cover the door. ]

Get it open, I'll watch for anything aggressive. After the last time I got grabned like this, I'm not going to leave anything to chance.

[Paranoia, thy name is Rei. ]

Wait. [ The key definitely helps, but Mars is right. They don't know what they're going out into. ]

Someone else can open the door, but before we step out I can look outside to make sure there aren't any traps.

[ He closes his eyes, then the next words that come out of his mouth are from an entirely different language. It's a long spell, that's for sure, but it had helped back when he was in the Dark City and alone. It might buy them extra time. ]

Wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum, þeod-cyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden. Ofer hronrade hyran scolde.

[ His eyes open again, flashing gold in the iris then a light starts to glow in his right hand, another floating in the middle of the room. ]

Whenever you're ready then.

[ He says it like it's nbd... ]

[Yuri looks between Merlin and Mars, face twitching a little into an expression of shock before she quickly covers it with a casual glance around the room.

No one else found that surprising? Anyone? Bueller?

Granted, she figures she should be somewhat more used to this crazy shit, and even though she sort of is, it doesn't make it any less baffling when it happens without warning. When did she become the normal one in almost any given group?

She purses her lips and looks at the skeleton skeptically, moving to crouch down by it as if to examine it more. She reaches out to gently touch at a rib, probing out curiously. If it's a real skeleton, from a real person, she could probably still pick up the memory of how they died or who killed it-- assuming it wasn't just starvation or something.

Still, it might give her some sort of information; and thankfully won't take long either. In the space of time it should take her to get information, they should be opening the door and walking out.]

[ Unfortunately, the key doesn't actually open the cell. Huh. It seems to be a key to something else.

But it's absolutely a real skeleton; Yuri will be able to tell that the person to whom the skeleton belongs was killed simply from being forgotten -- once locked up in this cell, she was simply left there and forgotten about, and soon starved to death.

After, of course, swallowing that key. ]

[ OF COURSE THE KEY THE DEAD PRISONER SWALLOWED DOESN'T ACTUALLY OPEN THE CELL.

As Yu will find out when he, interest piqued, heads back towards Yuri and Hyoubu and picks that key up.

(He's carefully not thinking about the last time he saw Hyoubu. Those aren't memories he wants to get caught up in right now.)

He'll turn the key over in his free hand a few times as he heads back for the door, then try it in the lock.

... ]

Whatever this key is for, it's not for this. [ He gives it one more careful twist, then shakes his head and takes it back out, turning to face the group again. ] Which just makes me wonder... why go so far to hide it? And how do we want to get this open?

[ Not how do we, but how do we want to. He knows his friends well enough to know that they will get out of here. It's just a matter of whose pyrotechnics show it's going to be. ]

[ Nice bow and arrow, magical girl! And teenage boy #1 is showing off in a big way. Magic-sounding, fancy incantation, complete with swirly light thing. It's sort of... it's sort of cute, is what it is: kids with powers showing them off, rather than worrying about them or trying to hide them.

And then there's the girl poking at the skeleton. Either she's got psychometric powers, or she's juuuuust a bit different. Well, different is okay. He's cool with different. ]

If you break anything, you know they'll bill you for it. This is Ceres we're talking about. Best not to open it at all.

[ He slides his hands in his pockets and walks past the magical girl and her magical weapons, past Yu, and through the wall next to the door. He's a teleporter and he cheats.

From the hallway, his voice echoes: ]

I'm Hyoubu Kyousuke, by the way. Nice to meet yoooou~!

[ Well, at least Hyoubu's out of the cell now.

He's welcome to the explore the corridor if he wants, since he's the only one with any freedom and all. It's just a bunch of empty cells much like the one they're all in, with a few skeletons here and there.

Exciting!

There is a staircase at the end of the hall, though. ]

[Mars rolls her eyes and steps back a few paces, putting a little distance between her and the door. Teleporting people with a bratty attitude are not exactly her favorite people on the planet. Her attention focuses on the lock. Without at least one other senshi, teleporting was out, so...]

Guess there's nothing for it. Stand clear.

[ A quick nudge of psychic energy passes over the door to check for traps or other enchantments, and if there are none? Her fingertip flicks out and sends a fine streamer of fire out into the lock, melting it unless it's made of something fireproof.

Another shove of telekinetic force and the door is shoved open without Mars touching the damn thing.]

Well aren't you clever! [ Merlin... don't fall for the taunts. At least he shouldn't in a situation like this. He could have also broken the lock, but it's easier like this with Mars melting it open and the door slamming open.

He doesn't step out just yet, but the glowing light he conjured does. No one else will be able to see the images of their surroundings, but after noting that one side is blocked he'll send it towards the staircase to check ahead. ]

I'll check ahead to see if there are any traps, we might want to be careful of pressure on the floor though.

[ A beat. ] I was in a crypt once and the arrows that shot out were terrible.

[ No traps! And the fire melts the lock without issue, the door swinging open creakily as they do.

Freedom!

Merlin's light is going to...almost alarmingly return nothing at all as soon as it reaches the top of the stairs. That seems healthy. At least there don't seem to be any traps in the place they're in now. ]

He's exhausting already... We would get stuck with one of those types... [Yuri speaks more to herself than to the others re: Hyoubu's little stunt and stands, brushing her hands off as she fought a wave of nausea. The feeling of starvation and despair lingered on her and she took a deep breath as she tried to stay it.

The display of fire abilities has her looking around awkwardly again and cast an almost-hopeful look at Yu. Please be normal, she seems to be thinking. Please don't make me the only one who can't do anything impressive here. At least he has a sword; Yuri's come into this woefully unprepared she's realizing.]

Um. She swallowed the key before she died, so... It must be something she didn't want others getting to. But, I'm not sure. I think whoever put her here forgot about her. So maybe she wasn't important, or maybe they just didn't know she had the key... [She feels strange speaking up about this, then shakes her head] It's probably not that important-- at least, not to focus all out attention on...

[They can't be getting caught up in the first few details they get and ignore everything else, after all. Yuri runs a hand through her hair self-consciously, shooting Merlin an uncertain side-glance as she prepares to leave the cell with everyone else. Crypts and shooting arrows and traps?? What. Don't give the creepy dungeon ideas, dude.]

Thank you, [ he says quietly to Mars, smiling just a little. It was elegant and simple, which is pretty much exactly what he'd expect from her, really.

Merlin gets a look, though. Mild and vaguely amused. ]

Jealous?

[ He murmurs it, but won't pursue the line of teasing, letting his friend check out the way ahead as he instead turns his attention towards Yuri. Her hopeful look just gets a gentle smile in return. She looks a little ill, so he wants to be there to steady her in case she needs it. The information she supplies is a little surprising... was she able to read all that off the skeleton? Interesting. Yu looks down at the key in his hand again, thoughtful, then simply nods and tucks it into his pocket. ]

It can't hurt to hang onto it.

[ With the way out finally secured, he'll join the others in heading out into the hallway, rolling his shoulders and sighing. ]

If we do run into traps, I might be able to spring them for us without anyone getting hurt. Merlin, let us know what you find. Unless we want to stay to check the other cells...

[ he trails off, there's really only one way to go. ]

Heh. Genius, actually.

[ This is to Merlin, as he emerges; and then Hyoubu makes an exaggerated show of ducking as the ball of light whizzes past him and up the stairs.

Next, he catches Yuri's eye, when she makes it out into the hallway. ]

Psychometry, right? That's quite a sophisticated power.

[ He'd picked up a bit of what she'd been thinking: worrying that she's the only one here without a useful ability. ]

As opposed to, you know, waving balls of light around. Any idiot can do that.

[ MAKING FRIENDS ]

[ Walking briskly out of the cell and into the hallway, she steps out of the way for the others to move ahead of her, intending to stay near the middle where she could be of the most use with her bow. She wasn't useless close in, but if something jumped her she'd be best suited with a little distance.

This is just getting stupid. Mars focuses herself on the task at hand rather than on casting shade on anyone. Or she tries, at any rate. Hyoubu gets a patient look, but it's only on the surface. There's irritation bubbling up inside, enough that she cannot resist some sort of remark.]

And yet, here we are in yet another dangerous situation, idiots and geniuses alike. We're stuck together, unless you think you'd do better on your own. If you do, then spare us the insults and leave. If not, then make yourself useful and scout ahead.

[CERES is up to something, and she's worried of course, but there's more to it than that. Small groups, danger, corridors and traps. It reminds her of last time...ugh.]

Yu, if you could do that, that'd be extremely helpful. The less risks we have to take as a unit, the better. I'd rather we all come out of this alive. Taking it slowly is best, if last time CERES split people up was any indication. Though, this is different looking than their research tower.

[Her focus shifts to Yuri, and she smiles gently.]

If you're a psychometrist, then you're going to be a huge help. The dead may have a lot of clues for us, and you've already given us more information than we had. This person died, and that's different than us. They aren't a colonist, or made of code, or they'd have disappeared. And that means this is either ViViD, or we're in an older section of the colony that's different from the labyrinth.

Edited 2016-05-30 20:14 (UTC)

[ He's half listening to Yuri as she explains what she's picked up from the skeleton, and half looks through the ball of light in his head to see what it throws back at him. It's still a bit dark, but it doesn't look like anything is up there. ]

I can't see anything much up there. Uh-- [ He glances at the others then, eyebrows raised because he's just going to ignore that remark Yu... because excuse you, if he wanted to learn to teleport he would. There just hasn't been a need for it. ] --sorry, what's your name?

[ He's looking at Yuri though as he says it. ] As honestly I'm not really fond of the idea of giving this up, but you might need it more. [ He sure is hesitantly holding out Excalibur now, waiting for her to take it. ] Plus, I might need a hand free.

[ Then he gives them all an awkward smile. ]

I can freeze objects in time so if a trap springs I should be able to stop it before it activates. I don't mind going first.

And my name is Merlin, by the way.

[ That tone sure is aimed at you, Hyoubu, before he presses his foot down on the first step, hesitant at first but then he's moving up at a faster rate. Ah. ]

[Yuri's ears begin to turn red, embarrassed a little by the fact Hyoubu so quickly called her out (not that she was particularly hiding it of course) and Rei's praise.] I-- Yeah. Something like that.

[Actually she realizes now she doesn't know anyone in this group, she she bobs her head a little in greeting] Yuri. [No need to give a last name, this isn't quite the time for proper introductions and all.

The offer of the sword surprises her and she pauses, before hesitantly reaching out to take it.] I-- Thank you. I can use it, so it won't go to waste. [I'm not fond of giving this up, he says, which makes her feel bad. Was her uselessness otherwise that apparent?] I'll make sure it's returned to you after this.

[It feels a little strange to carry it, and she refrains from trying to read anything off of it, in respect for the trust he's placed in giving it over in the first place. A part of her is itching to explore the other cells, just in case, and she glances back towards them wistfully before sighing a little.

No helping it, she supposes.] If we come across anything else, I'll do my best to get a read off of it. I work best with, um... Bodies, though. The dead. [There's no not-awkward way of putting that, honestly.] I won't drag you guys down. [Aka "I"ll keep up as best I can sorry". And she decides to follow Merlin up after that little admission because what else are they going to do?]

[ Yu waits off to one side off the staircase as everyone else ascends, the last to start to climb. Just in case this corridor isn't as quiet and abandoned and full only of the peacefully dead as it seems. Should there be any last-second surprises, he can provide any defense they'll need.

He's quiet while the others talk, thinking about the skeleton and its key and why they got transported into a dingy stone prison. Why they got transported at all. Why this place was forgotten. Was it considered unimportant? Abandoned? If so, why are they here?

To Yuri he'll finally speak up and say: ]

We'll all support each other. No matter the reason we're here, we're a team, now.

[ As the group tops the stairs into the area beyond, his voice gains a harder edge as he sighs out: ]

What I really want to know is why we were dropped into a cell in an abandoned prison.

[ What's in here, anyway? ]

. . . NEW FILE CREATED . . . CHECKPOINT #001.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING ESCAPE.EXE. . .

[ Up the stairs, and into fresh air -- or not. It's actually not fresh air at all, but it's pretty clear immediately that this is a decrepit, unfortunate place. The air is heavy and dusty, and their steps will stir up dust that has clearly not been disturbed in ages.

It's also very clearly an old prison. They're on the bottom floor, but there are rickety steps that lead up to a higher floor, and along both floors there are more cells.

The majority of these are completely empty, without even skeletons. ]

▶ GROUP 10.EXE

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▶ CHECKPOINT ONE.SAV