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« 001 ⇢ INTERLUDE001.EXE »

Who: Mosley and these unfortunate souls
When: OOC: 6/27, IC: 1/26
Where: CERES Research Tower
What: Mosley takes a few lucky souls on a tour of the CERES offices.
Rating/Warning: PG-13: Some violence, injuries and possible death.

▶ VIDEO.EXE | IC: 1/25

[ The broadcast comes bright and early for those paying attention to their CereVices; the man who appears on the screen is strikingly pale, white-haired and piercingly blue-eyed. He looks young, no more than nineteen or twenty and he's dressed in a crisp black and white suit. He stares into the screen for a long moment, long enough to be, frankly, just a bit uncomfortable.

And then white eyelashes blink and an awkward, unsure smile spreads across his face. He lifts a hand to fix his tie and speaks. ]

This is Mosley.

[ The smile drops, leaving him with a blank expression once again. ]

CERES has decided in a show of good faith to open our doors to you. I have been given the task of, [ He lifts his hands to emphasize with air quotes. ] "being your tour guide." If that is what I must do, so be it. The lazy worm does not get the apple, after all.

[ He looks down at the tablet on his desk, giving it a few taps and suddenly an icon appears on the bottom right hand of the video. ]

That link will bring you to a listing to make an appointment. You will be given a time. Show up promptly or do not, it is no matter to me. The tour will leave ten minutes after your given time and that will be that. Tours will only last a few hours so you needn't worry about the rest of your day. You will certainly return home in time to catch the latest episode of [ Air quotes again. ] "Banana is the New Black." I hear there's going to be a cliffhanger!

[ A pause and he looks oddly thoughtful. ]

I suppose you could also steal it off the internet? [ Blank again. ] Which would be wrong. Our lawyers will contact you if you do that. Do not.

[ And then another of those awkward smiles before quickly turning into something a bit startled and he taps his tablet again, ending the video. Replies to this feed have been disabled, unfortunately. Seems like someone isn't feeling very chatty. It's a miracle. ]

▶ ACTION.EXE | IC: 1/26

[ The next day, that Monday, those who take Mosley up on his offer will find that him standing there right in front of the main CERES office building, waiting. It’s with that same disconcerting smile that he unlocks the door and ushers them in.

Welcome, all of you, to our lovely CERES!

The group will find themselves standing in a lobby. Clean white walls and floors, a bright blue rug leading towards the elevators on the far wall, and a white reception counter. At the counter are two CERES robots answering calls and directing any visitors (though the lobby seems quite empty today) and on the wall behind them is a hologram of the CERES logo for all to see. Mosley stands in the center of the carpet in his usual suit and claps his hands together, putting on a smile. ]

Welcome to CERES.

[ And then the smile drops. Voice flat, he continues. ]

There has been... talk over the past few months that we at CERES have not been working 24/7 to help you, our clientele, return to your homes safely and soundly. There has also been... talk that we do not do anything. That this entire company is a farce, which is honestly quite hurtful to both me and the other hardworking staff at this company. Mr. Vincere had his way of running this place but Ms. Recreare is fond of a more hands on approach. We want to share that approach with you.

[ He spreads his hands to indicate to the building around them. ]

CERES has many fingers in many jars and they've all been sealed tight for a while. We would like to open those jars. So once again, welcome to CERES and please follow me.

[ After that, Mosley turns and begins to lead the group off. ]

▶ 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
There is no tagging order, so feel free to tag in whatever way works best for you as a group.

The tours will technically last 3 hours icly, but that may change as ic events happen; oocly, the threads will last as long as necessary, though Mosley will come and collect your characters if they are moseying around too long! There will be mod involvement in each of the tours.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask them here. You are welcome to plot with your groupmates by using the ooc top level comments linked above. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

. . . LOADING HAN SOLO.$$$ . . . LOADING CYNBEL LIGHTFOOT.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING MIA FEY.$$$ . . . LOADING MIZAEL.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING NICO DI ANGELO.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

[ To the elevators, with this group! Mosley doesn't even give them a speech, just ushers everyone into the elevator and presses for floor fifty. Soft music plays from the speakers as they go up and up and up and Mosley starts to sway to and fro along with the soft tune around floor six. As usual, any attempt to engage him in conversation falls on deaf ears.

It isn't until they're between floors twenty seven and twenty eight that the elevator suddenly stops with a jolt and the music cuts out. Mosley's eyes open and his brow furrows, looking up at the speakers before approaching the elevator panel. As he reaches over to press the help button, the lights in the elevator go out completely. He pauses. ]

Ah. It seems I'll have to take care of this myself. Someone help me up to that panel.

[ He gestures to a square panel on the ceiling of the elevator and Mosley will climb up on the shoulders of someone in the group. He gets the panel open a moment later and lifts himself up onto the top of the elevator. This is when things get... odd. Mosley flashes a very... off grin to the people in the elevator before pulling a heavy duty combat knife out of his jacket pocket. He approaches the wires holding the elevator up and begins to cut them.

Anyone in the group who attempts to stop him will just receive a foot in the face if they try to climb out of the elevator. More aggressive attempts will result in the sole of Mosley's shoe electrocuting the character, right in the face. Eventually Mosley's knife will cut right through the elevator wires and he hops out of the way pretty quickly as one... two... three...

The elevator wires snap and the elevator is sent plummeting down below, the last expression they see on Mosley's face being one of mild surprise. The group will just have to brace for impact because eventually they will hit the basement. Well, one of the basement levels. The elevator finally stalls out on B94 as read by the flickering screen on the elevator panel. This isn't even one of the listed floors but the elevator doors are open a crack, leaving the group to pulling it ajar. Miraculously, no one will be hurt aside from a few mild cuts and bruises.

The characters also might, luckily enough, find themselves with Mosley's shoe. It's his left one. A shiny black dress shoe, if anyone looks inside they will see a small button, pressing it will send an electric shock through the sole. You might want to keep it, just in case. ]

[It had to be elevators. It just had to be elevators. Nico is disliking this place more and more.

He might look a tiny bit uncomfortable as the group steps inside but he does his best to hide it, tucking himself as much into a corner as he can so he's able to see everyone easily with no one behind him. At least they're going up. It's more like going to Olympus, he thinks to himself, even though he still doesn't enjoy being in small spaces due to being trapped for eight days in a jar that he barely fit into and almost suffocated to death inside.

When Mosley starts trying to cut the cables, Nico is absolutely one of the people trying to stop him, so he ends up getting electrocuted in the face and landing on his ass. He originally went on this tour in an effort to get some more information, but he's starting to regret it now.

The elevator falls (Nico may or may not let out a scream when it does) and when it finally comes to a rest, his expression looks green and a bit panicked. He stays sitting where he is, eyes widening when people move to pull the doors apart and opening his mouth to make a noise of protest, but he cuts himself off before he inwardly admonishes himself for panicking in the moment. These aren't the Doors of Death, he scolds himself with a slight scowl. Tartarus is not on the other side of them. These don't even look anything like them, and the Doors are back in Thanatos' control. Get a grip on yourself. You'd only be seeing them again if you were dead, and you're not.

... At least he really hopes not.

He gets to his feet, still looking very much on edge but more ready to help out now however he can.]

[Seriously? Cynbel really should have expected something like this was going to happen, but he'd been hoping otherwise. So much optimism with the new management's new good will tour.

And what a tour it is, completely silent except for creepy humming and a sudden fight to escape for a malfunctioning elevator with a murderous guide. He made a swipe at Mosley's leg when he started acting dangerous, but he quickly went into "survive this, get revenge later" mode, letting other people take most of the electrocution instead.]

Why in the world did we think getting into a small box hanging high off the ground with someone from this company was a good idea, again?

[Nico's not the only one freaked out, but Cynbel needs to catch his breath (after getting a few good screams in himself) before he lets go of the handrails and actually puts his feet on the floor again. He climbed up there when it seemed likely they were going to be dropped, and it's not so easy to dig his claws out of the metal there.]

No one died on the way down, did they?

[Han had come prepared for something to go wrong. He was here hoping to see something he wasn't meant to, after all. So he's not afraid to get into the fray when it comes to it.]

Because no one learns anything without risk.

[Bothans dying and all that. Though there is some definite galaxy far, far away profanity coming from Han when the car starts plunging]

[Mia had thought that after getting another chance at life again she'd look after herself a little more carefully than the she had the first time around. No more dangerous risks and snooping into the affairs of shady individuals for her, no sir.

It certainly appeared that that particular resolution hadn't lasted long.

She's shaking a little as the elevator comes to a halt, but despite a goose egg forming behind her ear from where she was kicked by a flailing Mosley and smacking her elbow hard against the metal walls of the elevator in a manner that's bound to have left a bruise, she's more than a little surprised to find herself in one piece.]

I don't know about all of you, but I don't think I'll be risking any more elevator rides with Mr. Mosley in the future.

[She looks around at her fellow tour members in the elevator before she spots something black and shiny on the floor. Crouching down, she picks up what looks like a dress shoe.]

So. Now what?

[So this is going to be one of those days. Why is he not surprised. He has half a mind to just leave before anything worse happens...but that would mean missing out on possibly getting a few answers about everything. Staying put it is.

Mizael pushes himself back to his feet with deep scowl, rubbing his shoulder where it hit a railing on his way to the floor, and glances between the dark hole in the ceiling and the doors. Neither option looks appealing, but neither does staying in the broken box.]

Well, it won't do us any good to stay here. I say we start looking for a way to get back upstairs.

[Stating the obvious maybe, but that's pretty much what he cares about right now.]

[Nobody's dead, after all. That's good, and it doesn't seem like there's any serious injuries, either. They got lucky, and now they just need to get out.]

Well, I'd like to know what we've learned so far for our risk, but that may have to wait.

[He swings himself back to the ground, but he doesn't move any further. For all he knows, they're still dangling on a thin wire, and messing around too much could break it. He'd rather just not risk it, so he glances at the doors and then the people standing closer to them.]

We've stopped, and yet, the doors are still closed. That should be the first thing we handle.

At least that way we'll find out if we're actually at the bottom.

[Han examines the doors, looking for an emergency override of some sort or just a way to get it manually.]

There's enough of a gap to get leverage.

[He suspects no one wants them down here. Which is a good reason to get out and take a look around.]

[Nico eyes each one of the other four people in the elevator, taking note of any interesting things about them. He keeps one hand gripped tightly on the hilt of his sword, so much that his knuckles would turn white if he wasn't so deathly pale already.

As for what they should do, he agrees with the blonde-haired man.] We need to go up somehow. We're underground right now. [He's sensing some spirits somewhat nearby, but not close enough that they're the thing he's most concerned about. Getting out of the elevator before it falls again feels like the best thing to do.] Let's be quiet and listen for a moment, take a look through the crack, so we can make sure there's nothing on the other side before we open them all the way. Who knows what's down here, knowing what CERES has pulled in the past.

Edited 2015-06-27 16:42 (UTC)

[Mizael scoffs at that suggestion and immediately walks over to help with the doors. Sure, it's probably the smart thing to do, but they'd find out just as easily by just going out there and facing whatever might come of it directly.]

And what will you do if there is something out there? Just stay put?

[He slips his fingers in the crack and does a couple test tugs, although he does stop as soon as the door shifts, since, well, it is a good idea to make sure they're not walking right into something first...]

I don't hear anything.

[ The doors open surprisingly easily, as far as Mizael pulls them.

If they sit and listen, there is a complete void of noise; there is a filter of some light through the door, but it seems to be natural light instead of artificial.

Otherwise, nothing happens. ]

Now, now, there's no harm in being cautious, especially after what we've just been through!

[He waits for Mizael to open the door a bit before he leans forward, listening himself. His hearing isn't much better than a human's, but that won't stop him from trying, just in case another set of ears and eyes helps.]

I can't hear or see much, either, but... We're not up against a wall, at least.

[There's still the potential for danger, but at least they're not trapped on that side. They can work with this, hopefully.]

We should be able to open it up and see something, if we try!

Well, let's get them open sooner rather than later, I don't like the look of those cables.

[Mia glances up at the open panel where Mosley disappeared through and squints at what's left of the cables.]

We need to keep this thing balanced so it doesn't go anywhere else while we're working on getting out. The last thing we want is to turn into a pancake after we missed out becoming one the first time.

[She chews her bottom lip thoughtfully.]

This might be a good time to ask if anyone's got a weapon or anything in case we run into something less than friendly down here.

[Nico casts a flat look at Mizael.] If we stay put, there's a chance we might plummet to our deaths, so no.

[In response to Mia's question, he motions towards his sword that's in its scabbard hanging from his chain belt.] I have this. One of us should go out first and keep watch while everyone else gets out, just in case something comes up on us.

The door wasn't difficult to move. We should only need one person to open them.

[As for weapons, Mizael casually raises a hand and lets a bright orb of pink energy form in his palm for a few seconds before letting it dissipate and dropping his hand to his hip.]

I have a few other skills too. [And then he sighs and looks a little annoyed with himself, but he might as well offer...] If you're really worried we could start falling again, I can go last. I shouldn't have a problem getting out of here, and I can help anyone else who didn't get out in time.

Blaster and a vibroknife.

[There were few places Han went unarmed. And creepy company headquarters definitely didn't make the cut.]

I can cover.

Only these, unfortunately.

[He lifts a hand to show his claws more clearly, the points to Mizael.]

He's volunteered to stay, so the rest of us should get off in a way that lets us not rock the elevator as much as possible. At least one of us will have to stand to the back while one gets off, in that case. Whoever the first is will be the lookout, so I suppose it should be him, as he is also volunteering.

[He points at Han, then.]

[Despite everything, Mia has to laugh at how woefully underprepared she is as she holds up Mosley's abandoned shoe.]

I guess I need to start shopping for something to defend myself with if I'm going to make a habit of going on any more guided tours around here. I suppose I can always throw this if anything comes at us.

What are we waiting for? Let's get out of here before anything else happens.

[...yeah she probably shouldn't be saying stuff like that.]

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

[ When they pull open the doors of the elevator, they will find themselves in a rather wide, expansive, open space. It's dark, but there are some small sources of light illuminating things, so they are not completely in the pitch-black darkness.

A little ways in the distance, there are two massive doors, somewhat open, showing the way into a room that appears to be utterly trashed and in disuse.

Everything seems to have been untouched for a very long time, judging from the layers of dust and grime and rust. ]

[Han steps out into the hall blaster first, ready for anything. So far so good, but he's not letting his guard down. Once he's sure there's nothing out here but dust he waves the others forward.]

It's clear.

[Mia's only too happy to get out of the elevator, but even so she's none too thrilled with where she's going as she follows Han out into the dusty, abandoned mess of a room.

Talk about a fixer upper.]

I've got a bad feeling about this...

I'm not very fond of this idea, either, but it's still better than staying in the elevator...

[Cynbel moves out next, jostling the carriage very little, since he's the smallest and lightest. He moves to stand close to the other two, because at least Han at a gun, in case something comes at them.]

But there doesn't seem that anyone has been down here for some time, so it isn't likely they're waiting to come after us, either.

[Nico climbs out wordlessly after the others and once he's out of the elevator, he takes in a slow breath to get his bearings before pulling out his black Stygian iron sword. The blade glows with a dim purple light, and Nico uses it to try and help see better.]

[And last to walk out is Mizael, as promised and right on the heels of the boy with the sword. And he...just keeps going. He's going to walk around and look around the room a little bit, on a roundabout trip to the doors.]

[ There is indeed nobody else down here with them. It's utterly silent, almost eerily so, aside from the vague presence of spirits a fair distance away that Nico may still be able to sense. They are definitely in the direction of the open doors.

Mizael's path will take him along the walls, which are extremely run down and rusty, missing parts of them and overall in utter disrepair. There are no other doors, windows or exits, however.

Seems there's only one way to go. ]

▶ GROUP SIX.EXE

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▶ CHECKPOINT ONE.SAV

Re: ▶ CHECKPOINT ONE.SAV

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