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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

[BICKERING DURING INAPPROPRIATE MOMENTS IS HER FORTE, but she doesn't stick around to bicker some more. Instead, she follows the majority down the left path. Which, uh. Is fortunate, considering she ends up completely and utterly blind after a while.

At first, she brushes off the gradually growing blurriness in her vision. She rubs her eyes, keeps following the group, and then... Yeah. Yeah. It sure is pitch black in here, and she's stopping abruptly. If anyone from the group is standing behind her, they'll be bumping right into her.

That, or she'll be accidentally punching them as she instinctively gropes around.]

... What the hell? [NOT THAT ANYONE CAN HEAR HER. Oops.]

( Manfred is having a similar experience down in the other passage. At first, he watches through the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the so-called 'science' happening inside. But then it becomes more and more difficult to see, before he can see nothing at all.

He tries to back track his steps, to see if it is merely the corridor that has gotten dark. But it's not his surroundings that are affected but rather his eyes themselves.

He bangs his cane angrily against the wall as he comes to that realisation, and at the same time he thinks he hears the distant sound of some commotion or shuffle.

For the briefest of moments, he considers backtracking entirely, to regroup with the rest of the tour. But that idea is soon disregarding as foolish: if something dangerous is happening to that lot, he doesn't want to be caught up in it.

So he continues to slowly grope his way down the hallway, using his cane to help avoid any obstacles that might be in his way. He'll get out of this hell-hole one way or another, and the best way to go is forward.

He'd be loathe to admit it, but he's feeling incredibly tense. He's never been a fan of the dark.

Nothing good ever happens within it. )

[Schrodinger's ears twitch, his humming probably becoming a little more annoying and out of tune after a few minutes. He remained behind the other two, occasionally glancing back towards the direction that the old man went off in. Really they should have just stuck together since there was no telling what kind of trap they were heading into.

Once his hearing was entrely gone though Schrodinger pulled at his ears not seeing that Touka had stopped and running directly into her.]

Huh?

What was that for?

[Blinking he simply stares at her a moment, hearing muffled things but not quite being able to make out what she said.]

[Sousei's rather familiar with the sensation of going deaf by now, having experienced it himself not long before. So as his hearing starts to go, he pauses, noting the lack of the click of his boots on the tile, which had been quite audible before. He frowns, eyes narrowing, as Touka and Schrodinger collide.]

What's wrong.

[It's said shortly, and a little awkwardly--ah, he can't hear his own voice anymore.]

... I can no longer hear. If you are going to answer, it will have to be in a way other than verbally.

[If they...can even hear him. Is he wasting his time?]

[Well. She can hear them, which allows her to more or less pinpoint their location, but she's not Irimi or Hinami and it's not the same as having her eyesight. It's no wonder she ended up colliding with one of her group mates.

But if she wasn't alarmed before, she sure is now when she hears one them say that.]

What do you....? [She starts to say, before remembering that this guy is apparently deaf now. Ugh. She's not exactly good at charades, but...]

I can't — see. [Making sure to over-pronounce the words, in hopes that he can lip read. If not, she's gesturing towards her eyes and then shaking her head, just in case. Please let that get the message across...]

[Blind and deaf, what happened to one not being able to speak? Well Schrodinger's hearing had been one of his better senses so they were likely smarter for taking it though he still had quite an advantage when it came to a maze.]

Whatever shall we do? We've already lost one and now can't even hear one another's plans. The deaf leading the blind. It's a shame we can't write it down to be read.

[Unless someone happened to have a pen and some paper to take notes with.]

I wonder if that person is having the same problems?

[Despite continuing to talk he really didn't make an effort to try and gesture anything at all besides acting to scribble something down and then back towards the other.]

[ A voice rings out suddenly throughout the maze. ]

This is Mosley.

[ No shit. ]

Ms. Kirishima if you go around the corner to your left, you will find a box. In that box is a notebook and pen. You can relay my messages to the others using that. Mr. von Karma, well. It seems you have this all under control, don't you?

Nevertheless, pay no mind to the scientists as they are simply doing science. It's none of your concern. What is your concern, Ms. Kirishima, is that you will soon approach a... let's call it a checkpoint? At that checkpoint, you will need to work together to complete a task. The task cannot be completed alone but if you pass it, you will reach the exit sooner rather than later. If you cannot pass it, well, I suppose you will have to find another way?

Mr. von Karma, the same applies to you. But again, it seems as if you have everything under control. Do enjoy yourselves, you four.

[ Then Mosley's voice stops. He's right about the notepad but it seems that's all the help they're offering. Another few turns around the maze will lead both groups (if one person can be called a group) to a table. Beyond that table is one exit but currently blocked off by a set of bars. On the table, is a classic puzzle and if Mosley's right, the only way past the bars is to solve it. Good luck.

Alternatively, the groups can try to find another way around but the chances of getting lost in the maze are much higher. Time to get creative! ]

[She's aware the other two can't hear a damn thing, so when Mosley's voice rings out throughout the maze, she makes a stopping motion with her hand and then presses a finger to her lips. Here's to hoping this is a universally understood way to signal someone to shut up.

Alas, she can't really see their reactions, so she doesn't know if they caught on. For their benefit, she'll be making a show out of cupping one of her ears--as if she's listening to something. Which she is, and. Wow. No. Her eyebrows will be furrowed at the beginning of the message, but by the end? She looks absolutely livid.]

Fuck. [HISSING THIS, even if they can't hear a thing. She hopes Mosley does, though, because screw him.] Is there a corridor to the left?

[Again, exaggerating the way she pronounces each word just in case they can lip read. But, she'll be pointing towards the left and gesturing them to come with her. Even if her other senses are fine and she proceeds to make a hesitant attempt to feel out where that corridor is, she knows it's better to have someone who can see.]

[He has absolutely not idea what's happening, but at least he can understand her gestures to...some extent. To the extent that he stops, anyway, and watches her, eyes slightly narrowed. He can't lip read, alas, but he can see her point, and when he looks, there is indeed a corridor.

He sighs, softly, and moves towards her. He doesn't really enjoy personal space invasions himself, but this is just pitiful.]

I am going to take your hand. If we need to go down the left corridor, I will lead you that way.

This will take too long otherwise.

[He glances at Schrodinger, but...well, he has no idea how to communicate anything to him beyond a vague shrug. Come if you want, catboy, he has no idea why they're going this way but Touka seems to.]

( Manfred's lips purse as he listens to Mosley's announcement. The situation is becoming clearer and clearer to him: this is an experiment and they are the rats. He almost wants to find another way out of this place, just to be contrary, but perhaps playing alone has its own merits.

He's not just thinking that because he's feeling awfully claustrophobic. At least, that what he tried to tell himself. But there's no disguising how his breathing is shallow and quick as he continues down the corridor. )

If you're here, say something. ( His voice is snappy and his face is pale: this is not the face of a man in a good mood. He continues to use his cane to ensure he doesn't bump into any walls, and if he accidentally whacks one of his fellow tour group with it, all the better. )

We need to find that blasted puzzle.

[Schrodinger follows along with Touka and Sousei. It was a little strange that they were following the girl that couldn't see, but judging from her reaction he assumed there must have been a sound or something from that direction.

He seems rather relaxed about the whole thing, not seeing the reason why the others were quite so rattled. This was nothing compared to what they could have been doing, and it was rather interesting. As he follows Schrodinger resumes humming though upon spotting the notepad actually laugh a bit. Apparently they were listening in on their conversations. He scribbles out a little note while asking the same question aloud.]

I wonder what we get when we complete the maze?

[That's the million dollar question, right there. Touka's starting to think the answer might be their lives, but, hey. The faster they get this done, the better... Even if that means she has to swallow her pride and allow herself to be guided by someone else. She's going to be extra grouchy after this, that's for certain.

For now, though, all she can do is offer a shrug at that question. She's also assuming they've found the notepad, since she can hear the sound of paper, so. Uh. Sorry to say, cat dude, but she needs that without any additional random scribbles. More or less sensing where he's standing, she purses her lips and holds her hands out, making an exaggerated grabbing motion. Please get the hint.]

Hand it over.

[There's... also something else she's hearing, very faint. Like someone else. Probably that old guy? She's not sure, but she assumes this means they'll be getting to that check point soon enough.]

[Sousei watches Schrodinger write, at least getting the idea of what he's saying from that... though he really doesn't care what they get when they complete the maze. It's a maze. He's mostly concerned with getting out alive at this point.

So Schrodinger gets a shrug, before Sousei turns his attention to the puzzle awaiting them.

Slowly, he picks it up, utterly bemused. He didn't hear Mosley's announcement, and he's never seen anything like this, so... ????]

What is this... [A pause, and then for Touka's benefit--] It is a cube divided up into colorful squares, three by three.

[No please, no thanks, or anything? Shcrodinger will simply let out a sigh before handing the pad over along with the pen. Though he does at least take the time to flip the page so that she wouldn't be writing over what he had already scribbled out for the other to read.

Perhaps she had something to reply with, or knew just why they were in the maze. Then again maybe it just made the most sense since she would be able to tell them everything that had been announced.

As for the Rubick's cube, Schrodinger ignores it completely having seen the toy before at some point but never having bothered to solve one since it was pointless.]

( After receiving no distinct response to his query, Manfred continues to shuffle down the hallway, cane tap-tap-tapping against the ground. He believes he can hear muffled conversation (three-by-three), and heads in the direction it comes from. )

I said if you're here, say something.

( His irritation, frustration and anxiety are definitely starting to leak through in his tone and demeanor. He just wants this little game to be over and done with. )

[He honestly had no idea that Manfred was there until, by chance, he senses that there's another person looking at them, and that's when he glances over. There's some momentary surprise, though on Sousei's face it's just a vaguely arched eyebrow.

If Manfred is saying something, Sousei sure can't hear it, but he can see the irritation and frustration.]

... If you are speaking, I cannot hear you. [Sucks, man.] Are you capable of solving this puzzle? It is a cube that is divided up into colorful squares in 3 by 3 sides.

[Sousei's never seen it before, but he's over this nonsense and wants to go home, okay.]

( Manfred's scowl only depeens, and he waves a hand around in irritation. )

That is a Rubik's cube. A child's toy. How do they expect us to solve it when they've taken my sight and your hearing is beyond me. .

( The notion of 'teamwork' hasn't occurred to him yet and it takes him a bother moment to understand that the man can't respond to anything he just said because he cannot hear him. He lets out a growl of frustration before nodding tersely and reaching out his hand as though saying 'give it to me'. )

[Well this wasn't going anywhere fast, Schrodinger took a seat on the table as they argued over the toy. He was able to at least follow a little of what had been said from the way that the words were formed.]

Don't you at least want to know what colors are where?

[There was a glance towards the scientists while he spoke, looking a little bored a put off by the whole thing.]

[Alright, alright, he's handing it over, irritated but careful as he places it in Manfred's hand. He has no idea what he's saying, but he seems to know how to deal with the cube, which is good enough for Sousei.

Because he wants out of here, honestly.

Sousei glances at Schrodinger, eyes narrowed slightly to try to figure out what he's saying, before he gives up. Lip reading was never a talent of his, but with how much this is happening, perhaps he should learn.]

Here.

Haa... What do you think? The bastards don't care if we're able to solve it or not.

[This is... probably not going to go well at all. Not really, considering they apparently only have two people with eyesight on their side, and neither or them seem like they're going to try their hand at solving the damn thing.

She does try to get acquainted with the notebook and pen while they talk, though, running her hands down the page and trying to figure out what to do with it. She doubts the old guy is going to patiently explain what they heard, so... Please excuse her as she messily writes on the page. Some parts are going to be hecked up for obvious reasons, but she tries her best to keep everything from overlapping before holding it up in their general direction.]

Mosley said we need to solve it but didn't
say what would happen if we didn't

[She should read it out loud for the old guy's benefit, but. Eh. He has his hearing, he should know.]

( Manfred directed a look of disbelief in the girl's general direction. Being unable to read her writing, he could only respond to what she had said aloud. )

Hah! You really believe that? They're clearly undertaking some experiment; are our ailments not proof enough?

( His fingers twist at the cube in frustration. He is having the dawning realization that they are going to do one of the things that he likes least, which is work together. )

Someone who can actually see needs to tell me what colors the tiles are. ( He holds the cube aloft. )

It's not solved.

[Shrodinger had no idea what he had said, so he figured that when the man held it aloft he might have thought that he actually finished it. Why would they give them a test like this when really all it would take would be one person who can see to solve it, they weren't even really all that difficult to solve.]

If we don't then they'll probably just use more of that gas und make us go through the maze. It's pretty big und there are quite a lot of dead ends.

. . . OLD FILE OVERWRITTEN . . . CHECKPOINT #002.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING TOUR.EXE. . .

[ Eventually, even as they wrestle with the Rubik's Cube, it seems Mosley's gotten bored watching them. The PA system crackles on. ]

I'm starting to think that I overestimated this group's abilities. I suppose "basic communication" isn't one of your natural traits, hm? No matter, this isn't the first time I've had to take matters into my own hands.

[ And with that, a button is pressed and once again, the floor drops out from under them. This time, they're dropped right into what appears to be the space under the labs, all bustling technology, clearly thoroughly in use.

Unfortunately, the walkway they land on is rather narrow and precarious (they might fall, if they're not careful, though they probably want to avoid that -- look at that drop) and it also seems to be... moving? ]

Now, perhaps you'll be quick about this one. This time I will spell it out for you: find a way off the bridge or face the drop. It's up to you.

[You know what's irritating?

It's being deaf and not hearing any of Mosley's announcements, and so being dumped through the floor again is even more of a surprise than it otherwise would've been. Immediately Sousei clutches to the rather narrow platform they're on, getting an eyeful of that drop before he manages to drag himself onto said platform, knuckles almost white from his grip onto it.

They're totally moving, too, this is... well, actually, he has no idea what this is, but it can't be anything good.]

What is going on? [It's said sharply, but...a moment later, he realizes that even if Touka still has the notebook, now's a pretty poor time to try to write messages to each other.

Great.]

[Yeah. This is great. Excellent. Fantastic. Looks like she was right about this group being the most likely to get themselves killed, but that doesn't make her happy. Not at all. She has no idea where they've been dropped, but judging by what she hears around her, it's... not good. Not at all. She doesn't need Mosley's announcement to figure out they're going to meet a terrible fate if they don't get out of here.

Impatient bastards.

She knows at least two of her groupmates have no idea of what Mosley just said, so she can only hope her body language is enough to get her message across. With a thoroughly pissed off look on her face, she violently jabs her thumb in a random direction. She hopes that's an universally understood gesture for let's get the hell out of here.]

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▶ CHECKPOINT TWO.SAV

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