( closed ) and the fever begins to spread

[sortileges]

Who: sortileges & mysophobic
When: IC morning 07/02 - evening 07/04 / OOC 05/04 - 05/09
Where: The Labyrinth
What: Leveling up using the Labyrinth as a playground probably isn't the best idea, but here they are...
Rating/Warning: Fighting, maybe a bit of gore depending????

---

[ He's been quiet since the 30th, which is abnormal enough on its own. Merlin was talkative by nature, annoyed people with endless chatter about the weirdest of things but when his mood tanks, he shuts up and goes into himself like a turtle hiding away in its shell. The journey to the Labyrinth was probably just as quiet, especially after he went and said goodbye to Athena before leaving and that wasn't exactly much better than the last time he saw her. What Shigeru might often see though is his hand reaching up to finger at a red ribbon around his neck, his palm enclosing around something at the end of it, though it's tucked away before he gets a chance to see what it is.

It's worrying, that he's asked Shigeru to go with him here when his mind isn't clear in the slightest--but that's one thing he hopes to achieve. The silence, the feeling of nothing but death in the ground and to see the destruction that once crashed its way through that land.

He isn't going without a weapon this time, meaning he's already had to admit to Shigeru that he's had some form of Excalibur all this time and hasn't mentioned it. It's strapped around his hip now, strange because while he used a sword at home it was never his own. He was always given one as an afterthought, a spare of one of the knights or such.

And he shouldn't be wielding this. It wasn't made for him, but he doesn't have the luxury of worrying about that here.

His eyes close as soon as they're actually inside the area. He hadn't actually wanted to step back here simply for the feeling it gave. Or rather, lack of feeling. In the colony there was still that buzz of life, from the park or any greenery that did exist even if it was alien. This was void of anything.

That's when he finally speaks up. ]

We should probably head further in and find shelter, somewhere to set up a camp.

[ But it doesn't hold the same warmth as it might have last week, that's for sure. ]

Comments

[mysophobic]

[ It's been about the same for Shigeru as well. Mostly it was due to his own gullibility than anything. He was probably just busy cleaning up the apartment after the mess of disposing of his robot. But when Merlin decides to leave for that place again...Shigeru couldn't help but offer. It was dangerous to there alone so Shigeru would help if need be.

He cared about the other so this is the least he could do after all the help with the robot he got. So he follows silently behind the other, his own sword and shield not out quite yet, but he's definitely on guard. This time at least he's brought supplies and things to make this place more manageable for himself and Merlin. ]

Somewhere that looks structurally sound would be best. Or at least somewhere that we can see all the openings of in case we're attacked.

[sortileges]

[ While he hasn't forgotten the incident, it didn't hit him as hard. He can't imagine having black oil everywhere for someone with a thing against dirt and germs was easy to cope with. He'd done as much as he could to help but... yes.

At least this time Shigeru can come here equipped with disinfectant things and they have food and water. It won't be as difficult to live through. ]

When we were here before I took refuse in one of the buildings with someone, we should be safe there.

[ He takes a slight turn to start walking in what he thinks is that direction. ] We'll just have to be careful of the room with the mirrors.

[mysophobic]

[ It was a rough few days lets put it that way. ]

Okay! Lead the way then.

[ Ah yes. Please do not go near that. He's had enough of creepy mirrors to last a lifetime. ]

I think that room was the scariest part about this place...

[ Well maybe the second scariest as he grimaces while trying to avoid some weird black sludge substance on the ground. ] Second scariest.

[sortileges]

[ Poor Shigeru... Hopefully there won't be anymore of that. He does as Shigeru says though, stepping around any gross splotches on the floor to head towards the area that looked more like torn up buildings. It's still cold and dark when he feels the area though, like life has been sapped away. ]

...Sorry. [ He glances back then, giving him an apologetic smile. ]

I promise I won't ask you to do this again. I just... [ His eyes dip then, finally looking ahead of them instead. ]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru looks bewildered for a moment at the apology. Then he'll just raise his hands and shake his head in a hurried sort of way. ]

You don't have to apologize! I wanted to come! I...didn't want anyone to go through this place alone. I wanted to help especially since you...helped with that whole robot thing.

[ But even then. Shigeru is a worrier and also too nice so that's a major factor too. ]

[sortileges]

[ Shigeru really is too nice and a worrier. ]

Right... [ Which he still feels a bit bad about. Not because of the robot, but because of Shigeru. ] You didn't have to though. I mean... I know what this place is like for you. Really it's bad enough for me.

[mysophobic]

[ It's just how he was made!! ]

It's okay. This...this might actually be helpful in...getting me over my phobia...

[ Exposure therapy is good that is something he knows but more importantly he wasn't going to let his phobia hold him back from something like this. ]

[sortileges]

[ A true cinnobun!! ]

Really? I mean... I don't want you to push yourself either. Not too much.

[ He's careful as he leads them between buildings, testing his weight before every step the further they get into the ruins. He eventually leads them into a ruined building that may have been an office. ]

This might work.

[mysophobic]

[ The cinnabun everyone hopes to achieve. ]

It's okay. I...I'm used to pushing myself too, so you don't have to worry.

[ Shigeru is literally fighting back grimacing as they walk through the area. He's very careful about what he touches, or doesn't touch in this case, but he doesn't seem to be backing down either. ]

It looks stable enough, so this should be good.

[sortileges]

[ Yet no one will ever achieve... ]

I'm still going to worry. You already are, aren't you?

[ And this is how they actually work well together. If anything, he can't imagine anyone else complimenting him as well out here as much as Shigeru does. They work well together, their personalities cancel each other out in a way, too. ]

Alright. We should try avoid fires for too long, so I hope we have enough blankets with us. It's still early so we can probably just set up then... start?

[mysophobic]

[ He frowns and without so much as a word he just...gives a small nod. But there's a shrug of his shoulders either way. It's true and he can't even deny it, ah. But he trusts Merlin and what he intends to do here. ]

I brought double of everything, so we should be able to keep warm even without fire.

[ Which makes sense given the size of pack he's carrying on his back. ]

But we're going to need it to eat and cook our food while we're here. But if we only use it for a little while it shouldn't draw too much attention.

[sortileges]

[ He gives a nod in return at that. ] We probably should have split the weight better.

[ But he agrees, plus if they're indoors somewhere they might be able to control the direction of the smoke. ]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru shakes his head and then points to his...back?! ]

I can store stuff inside my gate if it gets too hard to carry around. That's the nice thing about it! It's like it's very own storage facility.

[ That probably seems weird but it's the truth. ]

And none of our stuff will get damaged or harmed in transport either.

[sortileges]

Why have you never told me about that? [ Shigeru????? That sounds amazing? Why has he been carrying all this stuff all this time if you have a handy storage pack?? ]

Does it actually weigh more when you put more things in?

[mysophobic]

I'm sorry! I just...I wasn't thinking about it until now! We had to leave really quickly, so I just sort of...forgot?

[ Have a sheepish smile and shrug of his shoulders. ]

And...showing people my gate...sometimes scares them. I'm just used to not using it very much here. Back home it's not so bad around other phrobiests, but I feel like I need to be more careful where I use it here. [ But he shakes his head and smiles. ]

And no it doesn't feel heavy at all! It feels about the same, really, so there's no need to worry in those regards.

[sortileges]

Any more tricks up your sleeve? [ He's smiling at him though, don't worry Shigeru. ]

I think I've probably seen worse than your gate though, don't worry about it here--especially when we're the only ones here.

[mysophobic]

No! I mean...not that I can think of. [ He's still seriously answering these questions. Shigeru no. ]

Oh. Well if...if you're sure. I don't like making people uncomfortable with using it, so I tend not to if I can.

[sortileges]

Not uncomfortable! [ Though he is going to start going through everything he brought with him to set up a tiny camp there. ]

We may have to keep changing camps so it'll probably be useful anyway.