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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

You gave us fair warning, so thanks for that.

[He can hear the insincerity in that apology okay HE CAN HEAR IT--

But more importantly, Katsura already seems pretty banged up, and they can't be sure that things will stay this peaceful in the hall... The best thing to do would be to find an exit quickly, right? He glances back over toward the panel where the button is, checks briefly to make sure Vector and Hinata look all right, and then offers Shepard a smile.]

I'm fine. Um— but I'd like to go through first if we're going to try the hole. [A beat, somewhat discomforted, and then:] If something is on the other side, I'll be able to heal, so we can minimize some of the danger.

[Hinata's had way too much of explosions to last him a lifetime-- when it had gone off, he'd flung himself back as far as he could, summoned up his Aura and counted on that thin shield of light to protect him. By some miracle, it had.

His hair is looking a little singed (no the ahoge isn't gone), but he's otherwise whole as he coughs and peers at what they've wrought.

--and then he's wet so what a fabulous day.

Grimacing and ignoring the bleeding grazes in several places on him, he slowly heads toward the hole, peering at it.] I'm all right, too. [SOMEHOW.]

Why don't we go one after another? You, then Katsura, and I'd like to come too [and he thinks Bloody McBombs Away might need a little support hence why he heads toward him], and... [He pauses and glances to Shepard and Vector inquiringly.]

Edited 2015-06-28 11:57 (UTC)

[When she gets up and wipes her bangs out of her face (thanks, sprinklers), she moves them behind her ears and regards Katsura when Vector brings him to her attention. She moves over to him, and looks at him with concern.]

I have bandages, if you need them.

[She doesn't really want to let him run around bleeding, but there's always a chance that she'll still be refused.

She looks over at Oz and Hinata and frowns; she'd definitely want to go through that hole first, but standing around here and fighting about it is only going to waste their time.]

I'm coming too. I'd like to be one of the first ones to go through, just in case things go to hell again.

[She might not be the first one out, but being in the back would also drive her crazy.]

[Vector’s eyes linger on Katsura for a long moment as he ignores his apology. Instead he wonders if this hadn't been within the range of Katsura’s plans for coming here all along. The hiding place for those bombs certainly speaks for it. But then, they all seem a bit too well prepared for normal sightseeing citizens.

Speaking of the tour guide… Where the hell did that whitey go off to? His eyes dart back to where Mosley vanished and then towards the still locked door on the other side once more before they settle on the hole in the wall. Going down there seems like the most heroic, stupid thing to do. Not to mention of neckbreakingly incriminating, if this is all a trick from CERES to find out which of them aren't exactly their allies.

Realizing that he’s the last who hasn’t spoken up, he grimaces.]

I guess that makes me the only one who thinks that it might be for the best to figure out where exactly we are and where Mr. Mosley went in that case. I don't mind if you want to go explore, but I don't think I can fight or protect myself in case we meet robots like that again and-

[he raises his arms and drops them in a frustrated gesture as his voice and face fill with regret.]

-I don't want to weigh you down any more. I already pushed that button even though you said not to... I'm sorry. I'll just stay here and call for help over my CereVice. I wish you the best of luck.

_{[ His plan all along was to burn off Hinata's ahoge. Curses, foiled again (except not really.)
Katsura supports himself to his feet against the wall, a shudder passing his lips when Shepard offers to bandage him up. The biggest injury seems to be on his arm which he keeps by his side. ]}

There isn't much time for that, but ah.. I should at least cover my arm with something.

_{[ He knows how to bandage himself up from plenty of injuries he suffered in his war, then gives the hole a glance. Katsura is typically a leader, but he's willing to let whoever go first. ]}

It doesn't matter, but we probably shouldn't argue about it here.

_{[ and then, to Vector: ]}

You can't! You can't stay here by yourself, especially if you said you can't fight or protect yourself! We're in the midst of a place that has proven to be dangerous.. I won't allow that!

_{[ He doesn't know this guy well at all, but he's an ally so he won't easily be brushed off. ]}

Should we split up?

[VECTOR GOT STUCK WITH A BUNCH OF SHONENS what a terrible fate...]

If Rei wants to stay here, one other person should... [And now he's torn, because he doesn't want to leave Vector alone, but he also doesn't want anyone else to get axed if they go through the wall first?! But he knows that Katsura is right: now isn't the time or place to argue about who goes first, and they don't have spare time to putter around trying to make these decisions, either. So he glances back toward the doors on the opposite side and then moves over to the hole. If nothing is there, they can at least come back to get Vector again and focus their efforts on the locked doors in here.]

I'll go through, so whoever is coming to look, please be ready!

[And if no one else makes a dive for it first, Oz will lead the way through the hole to victory!! Or death, or maybe cake.]

[SHONEN SHONEN GO GO GO

Hinata doesn't want to stay behind, but leaving someone behind is... especially if they can't protect themselves... So while he watches Oz head toward the hole, he addresses Vector:] Katsura's right, you know. [Words Hinata never thought he'd say...] And there's no way that we can check where Mosley went with that wall still in the way.

It might be dangerous to go through that hole, but it'll be worse if you're here alone and something happens. Who knows if that button activated something else besides the sprinklers...

[He wrings out his wet sleeves, waving with his other hand to indicate that the others should go on ahead. If it comes to it, he'll hang back here while the others go ahead.]

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

[ Into the hole they go! The hole seems to have blasted their way into an old, abandoned hallway. The floor creaks beneath their feet, and everything is rusty and decayed; be careful, because some pieces of the floor may just fall out from under them, dropping into the darkness.

But otherwise, they seem alone, and it's a straight path, if they can keep going forward. While there is a door some ways beyond, in front of them, it's somewhat open already.

The lights flicker occasionally, but for now, they stay lit, if dimly. ]

[She takes out some bandages from one of her pockets, and takes Katsura's arm to quickly bandage it. Even though he mentioned that he'd do it, it was already in her hands so there was that.

But when Vector speaks up again, she's torn. She doesn't want him to stay here by himself (and let's be real she doesn't want to leave anyone in the first place), but she doesn't want the others to go on ahead and get into who knows what either.]

Look at it this way: we don't have a way out yet and who knows what'll happen between wherever we end up and here. We might not even be able to come back to get you if we find the way out -- in that case, you're at the mercy of CERES, and I'm not so sure I trust them right now.

[A beat.]

I'm not going to make you go, but I'll personally protect you if you're worried about that. There's safety in numbers, and I'd prefer we didn't get split up at all.

[She'll move towards the hole though when Hinata waves his hand, though she's still undecided...]

_{[ Katsura seems fine with Shepard's assistance, a little tip of his head to show his appreciation. He clicks his tongue together with a soft sigh, looking at Vector again.

Cue the inspirational piano music. ]}

Don't feel like you are a burden. We are all in this together. We've all come here from different places with different goals, but today, we're united under the same mercy of this place. I consider you all allies _{[ maybe a few of you are friends too ]} and as long as we are here, we should acknowledge the fact that we all have something in common.. and that is being brought to this place from our homes which are seemingly destroyed. We share these same feelings and thoughts of confusion.

Nobody is a burden.

_{[ Katsura shifts, as if he is moving towards the hole. If Shepard also moves when he does, he allows her to go in first. If not, he goes right in, but only with remarking: ]}

Ah. I also need to make sure I get home in time for Banana is the New Black. Amy-san is threatening a divorce so I can't miss it.

_{[ ??? ]}

[From the other side, Oz will call back to anyone still left behind.]

It seems clear, but keep your guards up! Um— I don't think this hall has been used for a while... There's a door, too. I think that it's open.

[Which means they'll probably have to either proceed toward it or try to blast their way back through the first set... Oz takes a tentative step out onto the floor, frowns when it creaks, and then pauses to wait for whoever else is coming. He shakes some of the water from his hair in the brief reprieve, glancing down at the spots where bullets had grazed. Nothing too hard to manage for now; definitely not enough to stop him from thinking they should try Mysterious Door 2.]

[Vector makes a face as if he’d been hit at the speech, inwardly cringing at the stupidity of it all. ]

Well, if everybody says that… [The muscles of his jaw tense.] But I don’t want anybody risk themselves to protect me. I’m weak, but I’m good at running… And even if I die again, I’d rather have that than anybody else dying for me!

[The words are vehement but low, ringing with enough determination to imply that this is something he has been carrying with him for a while now. Brushing wet bangs out of his face, he pulls his shoulders up and steps to the hole as well.]

I’ll bring up the rear. If you need something from the first room I can run and get it.

[WHILE HE'S SIGHING AT KATSURA managing to end off the end of an inspiring (?????) speech like that, Hinata will nod at Vector before he heads for the hole, crouching to duck in after the others, second to last. He spends a moment glancing up and down the hallway, sidestepping quickly as a piece of the floor crumbles underneath his foot.]

—watch your step. [Over his shoulder, but then he'll head forward.]

I guess if we've come this far, we should see what's in there...

[But, he'll just be pulling out his revolver again first before he heads in that direction, slow and careful...]

[Vector waits until everybody is through and no sudden fighting noises ensue before he gingerly approaches one of the fallen robots and picks a seemingly random piece of it up. Stuffing it into his pants' pockets, he follows the others into the hole.]

The ground doesn't seem stable. Can your chains catch us, Oz-kun?

[Kat...sura....

Well whatever, Shepard doesn't really have anything to do say, but she is relieved that they're all still together. Going where, she just doesn't know.

By the time they get to the door, she's got her pistol out this time, wary. She keeps it pointed at the floor though -- at least for now. But she'll keep going, stepping carefully towards the door.

It would probably be too much to ask if it was the exit, though.]

Yes— They can!

[HELL YEAH he can be useful in the case of a crumbling floor... But he makes his way over with surprisingly little fuss, even though he has to jump once when a piece of the floor gives way below his foot.

Once he's near enough to the door to touch it, he'll glance around to make sure everyone else is prepared.]

We're going in, right? Is everyone ready? [Double-checking... NOT LIKE THERE'S ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO. But he doesn't want to open any potential doors to a hellvoid unless everyone's ready to dive in.]

_{[ Zura has successfully made it to the wall next to the door and has his back pressed against the wall. He wants as little weight as possible on the flooring, so keeping close to the wall seems like the best.

Looks like he has his other bomb out just in case something else is lurking behind that door. ]}

Should one person go in first while the rest of us stay behind the door?

[Please don't get too throw-happy with that bomb, Zura—]

...It'd probably be best if we did take it a person at a time. [And since Katsura is injured, him going in doesn't seem like a super great idea, so he glances to Oz and Shepard.]

[While the others are busy securing the second door Vector hangs back like he said he would, waiting for them to give him the clear to come join them. In the meantime he has pulled out his CereVice and is tapping away at it.]

Huh... the communication to the outside is blocked. [No real surprise there.] But maybe... Hah! I knew it, Miza-chan is within range! He- [trailing off at the new error message, he frowns] ...why is he in the cellar? Miza, you idiot, I can't reach you there...

[Oh well. Out of reach is out of reach, and he didn't really plan on calling the dragon tamer for help anyway. Looking to the others to see how they progress, he starts scanning the place for any other possible exits that may be hidden. If they proceed he'll just follow them quietly, if he finds another way he'll go there instead.]

[By the time they get to the door and start questioning what to do now, if nobody takes the lead on going through the door, Shepard will automatically move to open it.]

If no one has no objections, I can go first this time.

[...It's her leader senses kicking in, okay. But she's also open to communication if someone else would rather go first--]

[Oz the dumb shonen would like to go first in every dangerous situation, but since Shepard is already there, he relents and simply gets ready to step in if necessary.]

Please be careful!

[He'll be following closely after, either way.]

_{[ Katsura allows Shepard and Oz to enter before sneaking up to the door and merely peering inside of it to see what is going on.

LET'S SEE WHAT'S BEHIND THIS THING??? ]}

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

[ No guns to be found here! In fact, it's almost eerily quiet, and completely devoid of people. It's clear that it's not an entirely abandoned area; it's clean, and there's not much in the way of dust.

But for now, there isn't anyone here.

Just a massive metal cage with a door inside. The door to the metal cage is oddly slightly ajar, as if waiting for them, or as if the last person there forgot to lock it up properly, but the door inside is properly locked. ]

[Hinata's sidling after Oz and Shepard, peering inside next to Katsura and...]

...

Oi. Doesn't that look bad? [A giant metal cage with a door inside??? With the door to the cage itself slightly open???? Doesn't that just scream oh come on in and open up this door I'm sure no monster is waiting inside to be released.

so who's gonna go knock on that door to see if any reaction comes from inside]

Edited 2015-07-01 16:22 (UTC)

[...She's eyeing the cage warily too. But since they haven't quite gone inside it yet, she's going to turn to the others.]

Well, otherwise it's safe...for now.

[She's squinting at the other door, and moves closer to the bars of the cage itself, but not necessarily going through the door yet.]

Everything's been open so far. Why is that one closed?

[Suspicious...]

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▶ CHECKPOINT ONE.SAV

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▶ CHECKPOINT TWO.SAV

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