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[complices]

Who: Mosley (complices), England (unionjackoff) and some surprise guests.
When: OOC: 1/6, IC: 5/3 at 10 PM
Where: The research tower, where nothing ever bad happens ever.
What: England's been hired by CERES as a Test Subject. They've finally come to collect.
Rating/Warning: Heavy gore and death. This log is the product of player and mod contact. Please feel free to contact the mods at any time if you would like to interact with the NPCs. We're always open!

---

[ At night, the research tower is a beaming beacon of light in the middle of a rather dark district. The surrounding buildings power down and with the medical facility and the police department being just a bit too far away, it leaves the tower as one of the only open buildings during the evening within a wide span of city blocks. To some, this is a reassuring sight. To others, it is not.

As scheduled with England, Mosley will be one of the lone figures in the lobby of the research tower this evening with most of the staff having gone home hours before. Instead of standing and waiting by the elevators as is typical of him, he is sitting on top of the reception desk, legs crossed and swinging underneath him as he waits. The only sound in the lobby is the slight buzzing of the lights overhead and the steady thump of his feet hitting the back of the desk. He seems to be busy with his CereVice.

The other figure in that lobby tonight is a reception-bot, sitting behind Mosley at the desk and staring straight at the door. Once in a while, it glances towards Mosley but otherwise keeps staring at the door. They both seem to be waiting for something. ]

Comments

[unionjackoff]

[oh. a response]

So no gigantic mole aliens, huh? What a let-down. [he's back to his light tone] You know, back when I was living on earth, I would have sworn up and down that aliens didn't exist. It was quite the eye-opener, coming here, seeing them on a regular basis.

[complices]

[ They're getting lower and lower now and while it might not be completely noticeable at first, the land is slowly flattening out in front of them. Mosley makes no indication of surprise and instead keeps talking just as casually as before (if the before could even be called casual, really.) ]

What in the world are moles? Wait, don't answer that. I'll look it up.

[ He does look to England at the alien part, looking a tiny bit confused. ]

Why wouldn't you believe they exist?

[unionjackoff]

[England heaves another sigh, tilting his head upwards]

I just didn't. Probably because I couldn't see them. [he sounds... sheepish as he admits this] Back in my world, I was so busy taking care of myself and my people, I didn't have time to think about life on other planets. And now that I'm here...

[complices]

[ Mosley keeps driving but as he does, he shuffles his sleeve down a little to check the watch on his wrist for the time. 11:38. He speeds up, pretty determined to get them... somewhere quite soon. ]

It's easier to believe in something once you see it with your own my eyes. My people believed the only thing you could trust were your own thoughts and your own senses. Everything else fell by the wayside. It isn't a bad way to live, Mr England.

[ They're coming to normal ground now, turning from the mineshaft to a small tunnel that is... mostly rock? Rock with weeds growing out of the cracks in the wall. Lit torches line the walls as they pass and Mosley seems satisfied. They continue driving. ]

[unionjackoff]

[Mosley's people... huh. curious! England wants to ask him about his people, and where he lived before. but considering their previous conversation, and how he screwed that up, he decides against it. he'll continue with the topic they are currently on]

I certainly seemed to think it wasn't. [England looks around again, interested in the new tunnel] I was still fascinated by other worlds and the possibility of alternate timelines and universes, but I viewed those as stories. I think... If I am ever able to go back home... I'll be a much more open-minded person, because of what I've seen here.

[complices]

[ Mosley seems amused at England's response to that and gives him a sharp grin in reply before looking back to the road. The tunnel continues to go on but it's not nearly as long as the last one. Still, they have a bit of driving left to do. ]

Well, that's if you remember it, of course.

[ Now, why in that world is that thought so funny to Mosley? ]

[unionjackoff]

[why indeed? England is... a bit unsettled by those words]

Why... wouldn't I?

[complices]

[ Mosley just gives an amused shake of his head and carries on as if this is all quite... normal. ]

You really thought CERES would let you keep those memories for free? You have to buy the rights first, Mr. England.

[unionjackoff]

[that... puzzles him. not the fact that CERES is so cheap as to sell memories, but] ...Why wouldn't they want us to keep our memories of what happened here? I would think it would be good for business.

[complices]

Yes, because people wanting to purchase our product in universes where our product is inaccessible is definitely good for business. CERES hasn't yet expanded its reach into other universe -- we're certainly trying, it's part of the long term plan, but for now letting you keep your memories and therefore, losing profit, is not anything beneficial to us.

[ He just shrugs. Business is business. ]

[unionjackoff]

[hmmm... well, England understands the business aspect of it, at least. one could argue that these memories were theirs, and that they had every right to them. but then CERES could argue that this person would never have had these memories if they hadn't been rescued.

ugh. what a mess. he rolls his eyes a bit, annoyed, but not angry. yet]

And how much are our memories of Cerealia going to cost us?

1/2

[complices]

The price varies, of course. It's all about the quantity of memory you have. The longer you're here, the higher the price. That's why it's very important to work hard while you're here, any money you leave will be automatically paid to CERES for your memory.

[ Then Mosley makes a noise and the noise seems like a happy one. There's one last final turn at the end of their tunnel and Mosley takes it before they turn into -- ]

▶ CHECKPOINT FINAL.SAV

[complices]

. . . OLD FILE OVERWRITTEN . . . CHECKPOINT FINAL.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING SACRIFICE.EXE. . .

---

[ It's a large cave with a high ceiling and it's deep, deep underground, the walls are overrun with dead vines and the entire places smells quite earthy but seems otherwise undisturbed. England and Mosley enter the room from the front and across from them a large stone altar sits up on a stage accessible by the parallel set of stairs on each side of it. There are torches going around the room in a circle, lighting the whole place up and the altar is surrounded by candles, also already lit. On top of the altar there is a small stack of wooden bowls and some items wrapped in brown cloth waiting on the slab for them. If England looks up, he'll see a hole at the very top of the cave where they can, somehow from as far down underground as they are, see the full moon.

Mosley parks the golf cart with little fuss before stepping off of it and looking around the room. He checks his watch again, 11:46, and frowns just slightly. Then, after a moment, he takes off his suit jacket. It leaves him in just his white shirt and black tie and he sets the jacket down on the seat of his golf cart before moving to his sleeve cuffs. ]

You should get on the stage while we wait for her. Also, strip.

[ It seems like it's not just going to be them here. Mosley starts to walk over to the stage too, focused mostly on folding up his shirt sleeves to his elbows. The skin under there is even paler than the rest of him, hairless too and it looks paper thin. If England looks close enough, he'll see small veins of bright CERES blue light up under Mosley's skin in a way that is definitely not terribly human. Now, they're getting to the good part. ]

[unionjackoff]

[England is almost certain his heart stops for a second when he sees that alter. it scares him, which he finds to be a bother. England feared almost nothing, being a nation who has lived for a thousand years. plagues, poisonous animals, falling from various heights... none of that was frightening.

now that he is actually facing his own death? it's overwhelming, the sheer terror he feels. he stays put in the golf cart for a few moments, to look at the rest of his surroundings, at the candles, the bowls, finally the full moon.

Mosley's voice is dulled by his heart beating in his ears.

he finally manages to pull himself up and out of the cart, hands slowly moving to remove his cardigan. he can't back out now. he signed up for this. and it was for the good of the colony. besides, he wouldn't be dead long, right? CERES would bring him back. it would only hurt for a little while...]

Her...?

[complices]

[ Mosley will pause on his climb up the stairs to look back at England with a slight squint. Is he coming? He doesn't say anything but when England finally starts moving, he gives a nod and heads right to the altar. When he gets there, he'll reach for the bowls, unstacking them and laying them across the foot of the table. ]

At most, take off your top. I'm not going to do anything below the belt but I need to be able to get to your chest.

[ He says this as he reaches for the brown cloth, unwrapping what's inside it to reveal a dagger. He inspects it for a moment and the moonlight seems to glint off of the bone before Mosley checks his watch again. 11:49. ]

Damnit, we need to start soon. Her, as in the Bridge. You didn't think it would just be us, did you? Get on the table when you're done.

[ He may seem a little rushed now that they're here but hey, they're on a tight schedule. ]

[unionjackoff]

[sounds as though they are in a bit of a rush. England sucks in a breath before he unbuttons his shirt. if he doesn't have to take anything else off, then he won't. if he has to die, then it will be with dignity. and pants.

his heart finally stops beating loudly so that he can hear Mosley. the Bridge is coming. he doesn't know why he is surprised. honestly, he didn't know what to expect. he didn't ask a bunch of questions about this because he was trying to be brave. now he's walking up the stairs after Mosley in a daze.

when he's close enough to eye the dagger, England swallows the lump that is catching in his throat. then he will sit on the table as Mosley requested]

1/2

[complices]

[ Mosley seems pleased enough when England settles and he'll reach out to lay flat on the slab instead. His hands are cold, as they always are, but his touch isn't cruel. He glances back at his watch again. 11:51. ]

We need to draw blood by midnight. She needs to be here to witness it. We'll be fine if she shows up now but honestly, it's as if she acts like she has something better to do.

[ There's a small snap of twigs from the entrance of the cave and Mosley looks up. Is it The Bridge? ... Yes. The timing is great but Mosley only looks more displeased. He snatches up the dagger and wags it at her, his other hand moving to grab England's wrist and touch for his pulse. ]

Oh, great! Welcome to the party! It's not as if all of us have places to do and things to be!

2/2

[complices]

[ She doesn't seem pleased to be here -- but that's probably no surprise. She gives Mosley a flat glance, and then looks England over, blank-faced. ]

... Enough. I do not have to answer to you. You talk too much.

[ Another lingering glance on England. ]

He will... do.

[unionjackoff]

[oh, he'll do. fun. England mirrors her expression, biting back a sarcastic remark. he feels like... well, maybe a piece of meat hanging in a butcher shop when she says that. honestly, does she know who he is? he is a great and awesome nation!

...reduced to human sacrifice... his pride won't allow him to be just any human sacrifice, though. he's going to be the best goddamn human sacrifice they've ever seen...!

or, you know. not. because that's kind of ridiculous, England]

Would you rather have someone else? [he's not too thrilled to be here, either]

[complices]

[ Mosley blinks and looks down at England before shaking his head and checking his watch again. 11:55. ]

No. She doesn't. She's just a miserable old shrew. Don't worry, Mr. England, our deal stands -- just ignore her.

[ He holds the dagger loosely in his hand then and looks down at England's chest, giving a small frown. ]

... I should have made you shower, I think. Are you ready? Or do you have any other questions in these last... five minutes or so?

[ Meanwhile, The Bridge makes her way to them, giving Mosley an unimpressed look that stays even while she gets close enough. She won't stand next to Mosley but off to the side, rather, watching the whole thing from a distance. ]

[unionjackoff]

[they still have five minutes. so they really were following a schedule. his eyes fall on the dagger once more]

I... Suppose I have more questions. Only two, and they'll be quick.

[complices]

Ask them both at the same time, please. For convenience.

[ And then something seems to occur to Mosley and with a quick oh, he pulls out something from his pocket. It's a... syringe, a syringe with a really long needle because of course it is and Mosley pulls the cap off before jabbing it into England's throat. He doesn't even bother asking. He just tosses it to the side after before angling the dagger tip to England's collarbone. ]

It'll numb your body from the neck down. I forgot I had that, actually.

[unionjackoff]

[GKK! England makes a pained noise because that was so sudden and he couldn't even prepare for it and it hurt. needles that big should not exist on a colony that prides itself on using cutting edge technology!

wait a minute. numb him from the neck down? if he's going to be killed, why does he need to be numbed?]

Why in bloody hell do I need to be numbed? [well, that wasn't the question he was going to ask in the first place, but out it came, accompanied by a high-pitched, nervous tone. he's completely forgotten what he was going to ask originally. already, he can feel the medicine working]

[complices]

[ Sometimes you just have to appreciate the classics.

Mosley just gives him a flat look (though most of Mosley's expressions are flat) before glancing at his watch again. 11:57-- Oh wait, no. 11:58. ]

This is a sacrificial death, Mr. England. We need to remove your organs before finally killing you and you'll probably stay alive for most of it. At least with this, you'll be mostly coherent! ... Maybe a little foggy though.

[ He glances over at The Bridge. ]

A little foggy?

[ She just gives an exasperated sigh before nodding. ]

A little foggy then!

[unionjackoff]

[oh . . . of course. removing the organs. all part of a pleasant evening then! England tries to compose himself again, though he's watching the dagger with wide eyes. that was the first time he'd lost his cool throughout this whole ordeal, so he's doing pretty well, he thinks.

but who knows how well he'll do during this upcoming part]

Right. [oh, the questions he was going to ask. there's only a little time left, so he'll just ask the one] And how many days before I come back?