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

Disinte--ehhhh? You could do that?! [Usagi's eyes widen when she reads the Cerevice with Shigeru. There has to be way more to this guy than it looks if he can do something like that? Surely. But then she's listening to the others, their ideas. How about we avoid the sacrifice idea there, Nero.....

Still. She doesn't get a chance to try and push at it before Leon knocks. Another very simple, yet usually effective idea. Which....seems to work and do something? Initially, Usagi does quickly step out of the way to allow him to get closer, if he is intending on using that weapon of his.]

Passcode? What passcode? Did anyone see any numbers on the walls or anything on the way here? Or any near the door?

[It might be hopeful, the idea that there is actually a clue around that might help them figure out the right combination. Usually these things will only let someone try so many times, right?]

[There's a significant pause from Ryuuga after he hears the voice ask for the passcode. Of course it couldn't be this simple. So disintegrating the door probably wouldn't end well, but -

That's when it hits him. It's something he hasn't used in a while, but it's not like it's an ability that he's lost at all.

At least he hopes.]

No, but ... let me try something.

[He steps forward, frowning as he puts a hand gently on the keypad, careful not to actually touch and of the buttons, and concentrates. Maybe he can pull the code off of the lingering memories of someone else who's come through - if anyone's come through, anyway.

It's better than backtracking through the sewers for a code that may or may not be there, at least.]

[ It's been a very, very long while since anyone's passed through here, but nonetheless he'll be able to pull out some numbers -- a 1, and a 3 and a 7.

There's still a number missing in the middle, though. ]

( taking a few steps closer, she raises a brow towards the male as he seems to be in deep thought of what he's doing. with a look towards usagi, the female is curious to see if the blonde is as confused as her but she has to ask to find out. )

Whatever you're doing, did you find something? ( hopefully he did so there won't be any need for sacrifices to get it open. )

Try what? Huh.....?

[She can't help being nosy and trying to watch, curious, as he places a hand at the keyboard of sorts. Usagi isn't quite sure what is going on but she might be able to vaguely guess. Since Ami is good with technology too. But it might not necessarily be something specifically to do with tech, she's not sure what he's doing exactly. But of course, Nero has already asked on if he's managed to figure anything out from.....whatever he is doing. Don't mind her as she tries to peer over Ryuuga's shoulder.]

[Okay, something's better than nothing - so this counts as a win!

Ryuuga's got his eyes closed for another moment or two, honestly he looks almost like he's in a trance. Though in reality, he's committing the numbers to memory before he turns and gives a grin to the others with a nod.]

Sorry, it's something I've been able to do since I was little.

[Though for now he's stepping back and away from the console.]

I wasn't able to get all the numbers from the last time someone went through here - it's apparently been a really long time, the memory was fuzzy. [He sighs, though he's not really surprised.] But I did get the numbers one, three, and seven from it. There's one more missing, but it's a start.

[The actual numbers don't make it through Leon's surprise at the situation right away. What the hell . . . that was pretty impressive. What's with everyone having powers, anyway? He never used to feel "left out" over it before, but the more people he gets to know, the more he feels like the only one who can't magic water, summon demons, disintegrate things, hear people's emotions with his super special hearing, or—whatever this dude just did to that keypad. That was awesome! He got the numbers 1, 3, 7—

Wwwwwwait a second.

As soon as his brain catches up to that, his expression goes from mildly awed and hopeful to tight-lipped and pale, his eyes hard. CERES, you pieces of shit. You fucking assholes.

Maybe it's not. It doesn't have to be like that, right? What are the odds of him finding this thing and that being the code? No, he knows better: they can probably do something to make it like that. Remote control it. Read it off his mind and upload it straight into the lock. Mosley had shoved him down here, so—

This is stupid.

He brushes past magical code guy and up to the keypad, muttering to himself, though tense and too-loud enough to be easily heard:]

Are you fuckin' kidding me . . . ?

[And then walks up to the keypad and punches in]

11037

[ . . . Wait. The guy had said one more missing. Oops? Was it supposed to be 1137? 1037? Or was this all just screwing with his head and it's none of the above?

Well, he already put it in. He hunches up, tense, waiting to see if anything happens.]

. . . If it's four numbers it might be . . . forget it, I dunno.

[ There's a long pause, and then a beep -- but it's not an error beep at all. Rather: ]

Restricted Access Granted.

[ Wasn't it supposed to be four numbers? There's something a little odd about that... but nonetheless Leon's 5-number code works, and the door slides open.

The room beyond looks... like, well, a normal office receptionist room, though it's empty and quiet, and a little dark. ]

[He really wishes that hadn't worked, you fuckers.

Before heading into the room, he hunches his shoulders up even harder and yells out at the ceiling, at no one in particular:]

Yeah, real fuckin' funny!

[And then he stalks into the room, head down, though he's keeping his eyes open.]

( proceeding into the room as someone seems to be a little angry about something, she is growing tired of the dark messing with their perception. ) I grow tired of this but. ( looking towards leon, she speaks up. )

If it wasn't for him ( ryuuga ) and you, who knows if we could have truly gotten that door open. ( she also would have love to see it disintegrate as well but maybe next time! ) Anyway, the numbers that you had quickly put in, do they hold some important meaning that you could tell us about? It seems that they've accomplished getting under your skin.

( it'd be nice to know, wouldn't it? nero moves over in search of desks with anything on it that she could read or something that would just stand out. ) If they were able to toy with you then.. everyone should stay on their guard!

What's funny? It worked, didn't it? Lets take a look!

[Usagi either doesn't understand the problem or implication, or she is choosing to focus on the situation at hand more. Either way, she is quick to try peek inside the room once it unlocks, her pigtail almost dragging to the ground as she tilts her head before straightening up more.]

Nobody here....but there must be a reason it was locked, right?

[ Shigeru will be in the back, watching and listening to the ongoings of the other group. He kinda wants to ask why that code worked, where the other learned of it, but he can see it's a subject best left alone for now. Besides it seems like Nero got to that first anyway. Still he'll look around with a curious glance, eyes darting about to see if there's any sort of objects that stand out, but it's all too normal for him. He types something up for anyone to read on his cerevice. ]

It doesn't look like there's much in here. But it's really weird that they would keep such a normal place behind a security locked door. So maybe there...is something in here that they're trying to hide?

[ Well, it is restricted access. As soon as they're all inside, the door slams shut behind them, and then a small cage drops from the ceiling to land over -- well, just Shigeru, since he's in the back and it's actually pretty small.

As far as security is concerned, it's kind of sadly lacking, but the cage bolts automatically to the ground, so Shigeru's pretty stuck. ]

[ Oh my god?! Shigeru lets out a surprised gasp and very nearly drops his cerevice as that cage drops down from the ceiling. Rude Ceres. What is wrong with these people?! He looks startled and momentarily scared but he immediately backs up towards the center of the cage, trying not to touch any of the bars, in case they're electrified or something else. This is not how he wanted to spend his day...gosh.

Instead of typing something he'll activate his gate, which springs up from behind him as large, purple and iridescent. It's incorporeal so the cage doesn't do anything to it and it doesn't do anything back. But he'll reach back with a gloved hand and a sword will come out of it. He will activate its power of disintegration as he takes a swipe at the bars then. Hopefully his powers will do something?! ]

[ Well, that worked, sort of.

It disintegrates the bars where it hits, which means that the cage collapses in on itself and on top of him.

Hope you don't mind a bunch of metal bars landing on top of you, Shigeru! At least he'll get out of it with nothing more than some bruising. ]

[Okay, that was a thing.

Even before Ryuuga could try unsheathing his own sword to attempt cutting the bars, Shigeru seems to have everything covered, though at the very least he's going to be trying to help pull him out of the remains of the cage.

To be honest, the reception area they had gotten into (outside the cage, of course) looked almost too normal, and it wasn't exactly giving him a very good feeling about it. In fact, if he had to be perfectly honest, it was reminding him of certain aspects of Vol City.]

. . . Hooooly shit, you okay?!

[A LOT JUST HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. Leon had still been preoccupied with how best to absolutely refuse to explain the number 11037, and stewing over the fact that it had even come up. And then—sudden cage, sudden magical light show, disintegrating sword—

At least now CERES screwing with his head is the last thing on his mind.

He takes a step towards the wreck of the cage, hands lifted, but it looks like keypad guy's got this one. (It suddenly strikes him that they haven't even introduced themselves yet. Maybe once they get a second of things not happening so much. He's sure not going to just yell his name out now.)

He wants to explore the room a bit—he's absolutely not convinced it's as normal-looking as it might seem—but he'll get to that too once he sees this guy stand up and be okay. That looked like a hell of a crash.]

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

What a sight to see! Beautiful even! Such benevolence to acquire your blade! I do love to see such beautiful things! You should do that more often!

( nero works off beauty, its something that speaks to her and she finds that it may be one of the many charm — beauty parts that shigeru has. well that happened and it's a good thing that shigeru was able to save himself from such a fate. nero would have been ready and willing to use her own weapon, but she is content with seeing such an ability. perhaps that would have been enough to handle the door if they weren't able to get in. for now, the female nods her head as she wanders off in search of something in the room. it's true, if there's such shoddy security, there must be something hiding within this place. )

Umu! If they work so hard to keep us out, something has to be hiding within this place. A normal office it seems but I wonder if they are attempting to fool our eyes! ( though it would be bad if they triggered another trap. ) We shouldn't just touch anything, who knows what other shoddy traps could be hiding within here.

[ There's plenty to poke around in in this room. Aside from the receptionist desk, there are two doors on the far wall, as well as a door to the left and a small hallway that appears to lead to an elevator on the right.

Shoddy trap aside, nothing else seems to be happening just yet. ]

[ He knew that would happen and he's honestly not all that perturbed by it either. He's definitely suffered worse in his line of work, so this really doesn't shake his resolve any. Minor bruises for him heal within minutes, so he can't honestly say he's worried. He nods his head at Ryuuga and turns to Leon with a shaky, but otherwise natural smile. He'll give a thumbs up to the rest of the group. He is totally okay, even with a metal cage falling on top of him... ]

I'm okay! Most of the bruising is already starting to heal, so you don't have to worry!

[ Shigeru please. Have more concern for your well being here?! Thank god his powers work at least...

He looks at Nero with a sheepish smile. ] I never...really thought of it that way. But, thank you. I agree with you though. We definitely need to be careful now.

[ It was a pretty shoddy defense admittedly but honestly Shigeru doesn't know what else is lurking around this place. ]

Edited 2016-05-31 03:26 (UTC)

[He lets out a breath that he really didn't realize he was holding at first, but nods all the same while turning back to the others as he scans the room again.]

Looks like we've got a couple options for where to go. I'd try the same trick I used on the keypad at the desk, but considering how fuzzy it was before, it might not really show much.

[He frowns slightly, his free hand at the back of his neck. That and the fact that's probably the farthest back he's reached with his psychometry abilities, so he's not even sure how well it would work the next time he attempted it.]

Ryuuga, by the way. Dougai Ryuuga. Figured if we're stuck together, might as well at least introduce myself.

Yeah . . . I'm Kuwata Leon.

[Good timing, probably. They have a moment for a breather here, and to think about what to do. There sure are a lot of options, more than he expected to find in a little room like this.

He glances around the room again, then back at the cage and Shigeru, considering.]

—Hey. Can you, like, cut off one of those metal cage bars for me so I've got somethin' on me? We don't all carry swords around, y'know?

[Just . . . three of us? Wow.

And he does have his knife, but he's more comfortable with things he can swing, anyway.]

We probably oughta check out this whole room and then just pick a door, huh?

Hmph. I see, you are right. You may call me "Your Emperor" if you all feel good about yourselves! Though that is no joke, Red Saber or Saber are adequate enough for you to call me as. ( since we're all sharing names here, she had completely forgot about doing so but there's not much that can be done when they're wandering around in the dark. most people don't exchange their names when thrown into a sewer hole, they normally try to figure out where they are.

walking over to the receptionist desk, she tries to find any sort of papers of who may have been here before or just anything she can get her hands on. where is all this going to lead them? is there any information on that? looking up towards the other, she nods. ) I agree. We should make sure that we don't miss a piece of information that they could be hiding from us. ( at this point, nero clears her throat as she listens to the exchange of the people she's with. )

Having a weapon on hand will be our best bet, who knows what could be lurking around here or.. ( looking towards the choices that they can go down. ) But I will do my best to protect you all, my master wouldn't want people to get hurt so I should feel the same.

Wha--?! [Okay so that was. A lot that happened all at once that it seems to take her a moment to process it all. The cage, and then his sword--? There's initial panic and the start of flailing a bit before she calms significantly at his reassurance and escape from the cage. Usagi visibly relaxes more, a hand to her chest. It dawns on her once the others start introducing themselves that....they had neglected that, in the wake of attempting to find a way out, focusing on that, their surroundings more.]

Ah, I'm Usagi. Tsukino Usagi. But...Saber...is that like Archer? He helps at Rei-chan and my place sometimes with cooking and stuff.

[But they are right. There is exploring to do, so they probably shouldn't overly linger on introductions too long. Instead, Usagi scans the room briefly, not too hopeful on any obvious weapons but knowing she has her own with her transformation if necessary. It's just a debate on whether or when to use it.]

I'll do my best too. To help protect everyone. [Even if...her civilian form probably leaves much to be desired, between her clumsiness and wailing at times.]

[ This is probably the best time for introduction, huh? Shigeru smiles a little and then he'll go over towards where everyone can sort of see his device. ]

I'm Shigeru Miyata! I'll try my best to help out too. My powers allow me to heal people if they need it, so if you're hurt you'll be okay with me around!

[ He's trying to keep an upbeat and positive attitude about the whole thing at least. But he'll turn to Leon then and nod. His sword is still out in his hand however his gate has been deactivated the entire time. But he'll activate it again the same sigil blooming into view as the sclera of his eyes turn black and his irises a purple matching his gate. He'll cut off the bar with little effort, handing it to the other. ]

Our numbers are uneven so that'll make this tricky.

[ Splitting up is really...dangerous in this sort of situation. ]

I'm not sure if splitting up is a good idea either...

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