SGRUB: The Prying Hackers [MOVED TO 2ND THREAD]

**Quincunx** · 01-03-2012, 09:51 PM

Aragua and Sototh fail to make each other happy:

**Fili** · 01-04-2012, 12:50 AM

Losas, pt1

CSN RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LAND OF STORM AND STONE.
CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CLA: ===--=== #The land is dark and the sky weeps tears, It is always storming on this world but tonight it seems the storms rage much stronger than usual. Rain and hail fall down, and lightning reaches for the jagged surface of the planet.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] takes a deep breath and lands directly under the gate they had passed through, then he begins to walk. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] follows behind him. She was originally going to be silent, but... --
CSN: ☄ Megduuuulll!! It's raining! Why didn't you warn me? Hnnn...
CLA: ===--===YouDidn'tAsk.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] just keeps walking, walking in the direction of his hive. It isn't too far away but it is out of sight behind some particularly large hills and things --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] is a little upset, but doesn't complain further. She instead busys herself by looking around at the world. Other lands facsinate her, due to have being in her own land for so long. --
CLA: ===--=== #The two heroes are currently on a relatively flat portion of land, rock formations jut out from either side of them. A small cave can be seen in the distance, it has been left relatively unexplored but it had also been resided in by a troll at least once.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] keeps walking, and the hail starts to get a bit worse. /-_-\ --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] is just like woah!! Her land was mostly flatland, with some mountains, as was her home on Alternia. All of these formations and stuff in Megdul's world are /so cool/ to her. But ohgodhail. Is it normal for hail to come down this hard...? --
CLA: ===--=== #No it isn't normal Juniprei, it is a lot worse than the storms here usually are.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] takes a few steps more and looks back at Juniprei. --
CLA: ===--===It is gettingPrettyBadLetsHurryUp. /o_____o\===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] stops when he looks at her, afraid she did something wrong again. But then he speaks and she nods. --
CSN: ☄ Sounds like a plan!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] takes one more step, fires up his boots and starts high-tailing it to his hive. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] panics for a second as her sandals fail to start up, but then after a half a minute they start up and she catches up to Megdul. She doesn't want to be left alone on a strange world aaaa. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't stop or notice, just keeps on a truckin' --
CLA: ===--=== #The wind blows hard, [insert joke about hooker]===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] squeaks in surprise. Holy shit, water and wind is not the best combination, she's /freezing/ now. I take it back Megdul I will never tell you this to your face but your land is terrible and cold and /MERCILESS/ --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] can see his hive in the distance, and goes in for a landing. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] lands right next to him... less than gracefully. She actually just crashes down on the ground, ow. She has a slight scrape on her shoulder, but no blood was drawn or anything. Juniprei don't hurt yourself Agatha's still gone hurting yourself won't make her come back. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] drags himself into his hive and then just keeps on going back till he is in his bedroom. Man, he doesn't even pay attention to the one or two imps that are running around. megdul --> bed. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] shuts the door behind her, and allows herself to sit on the nearest couch. She takes out Agatha's first aid kit. She probably doesn't need to disinfect it it's just a little scratch thing... so she puts it away and lays down on the couch before remembering she's sopping wet oh god what now... --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] falls asleep, oh this is actually pretty nice being in one's own bed. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] stands up, uncaptchaloging a full-length mirror. wow my hair isn't poofy I like how this looks. She changes her clothes, and wonders whether or not she should try to brush her hair.... --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] tries running her fingers through her hair but KNOTS.... --
CSN: ☄ ow!
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] then has an intense wresting match with her hair I mean she attempts to brush her hair. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity, [CSN,] after finishing brushing her hair, captchalouges the mirror and brush and sits on the not-wet part of the couch. Well what now, Megdul went off and she doesn't want to disturb him... --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity's [CSN'S] solution? Talk to herself. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] eventually builds up enough energy in his sleeping... to roll over. --
CLA: ===--=== #There are weapons on the floor, and a number of imps around... maybe they want to talk juniiii... the imps not the weapons.===--===
CSN: ☄ Oh, why did I yell, that was very uncalled for... a--
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] looks around. How the fuck did she not notice the imps until one shines light straight into her eyes. --
CSN: ☄ Hey! It would be nice if you would stop that.
CLA: ===--=== #The imp, does not stop===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] doesn't really want to hurt it! She's really tired and for some reason the cold seems to be making her shoulder ache more even though it's probably just her mind playing tricks on her. But she uncaptchalogues a yo-yo because... well I'M WARNING YOU STOP IT --
CLA: ===--=== #The imp flashes her, how lewd.===--===
CLA: ===--=== #with more light.===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] frowns. --
CSN: ☄ Okay, this is your last warning...
CLA: ===--===# the imp lunges at her, flashing.===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] just stands there, unamused. She extends the yo-yo's blades without extending the yo-yo and stabs the imp in its spotlighty face. --
CLA: ===--=== #The imp is now the grist.===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] emits a low growl. Any other imp in this place want to charge at me? --
CLA: ===--=== #Any other imps around make scowling faces but do not charge.===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] smiles sweetly. Good imps!<3 Now leave me alooone all I wanted to do was talk to myself....... She makes her way to where Megdul was walking and sits outside the doorway. She doesn't want to disturb his sleeping, he probably needs it. She keeps her yo-yo out in case of enemies but she doubts they'll attack. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] eventually falls asleep, dropping her yo-yo. Hopefully an imp won't take it and try to strangle her or anything... or get themselves stabbed with the razor attachments. --
CLA: ===--=== #Nah, the enemies probably won't do much, most of them know that this place is death for them... Though, imps are dum.===--===
CSN: #One imp tries to pick it up, but the razor attachments stab through its hand and it stabs itself in the chest attempting to get it out. They are /very/ dumb.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] eventually awakens up again, and heads to his closet. And then puts on some clean clothes. --
CLA: ===--===Mmmph.===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] is still asleep outside his door. He'll probably notice her outfit is not her usual outfit, but a plain blue dress. Not that he'll care, Agatha still just fucking died. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] opens the door and just sort of steps over juniprei. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] BUT WIAT THERE IS MORE! Megdul just sort of goes past her leaving her sleeping their. lets go do shit. ALONE! --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] doesn't wake up but on Prospit she saw Megdul leaving the hive alone but didn't wake up so WHAT CAN SHE DO... --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] gives no fucks at this time. He just sort of flies off, his tie blows majestically in the wind. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] decides that it is time to finish with this game, he is top-level and has been left waiting long enough. He doesn't know where his denizen is, but he has explored most of his world and knows where he should start his search. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] eventually lands in front of a cave. The entrance is large, many many times the size of megdul. It is perfectly carved into the shape of a semi-circle. Ouside of the cave large pillars are carved out in front of the entrance, tall and square covered in ornate designs. At the tops of the pillars are large stone bowls, each overflowing with water from the storm. The water that they spill is chan --
CLA: ===--=== #The water that they spill is channeled into the cave, flowing down and down. Inside the cave, just stairs with water trickling down them.--===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] starts his descent down into the cave. his nun-chucks in his hand and buzzing loudly, angrilly. --
CLA: ===--===# A crashing of rocks can be heard from deep inside the cave.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] eventually reaches the end of the stairs. It is dark, almost pitch black. Megdul can barely see, even with the help of a troll's nocturnal nature. --
CCS ceased responding to memo.
CLA: ===--===# despite his inability to see more than a couple feet infront of him, he can still hear noises all around him. The trickling of water, the crumble of stone, and the sounds of footsteps all around.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] readies his chucks, and walks forward. The ground is slippery, but his shoes grip the floor securely. --
CURRENT sgrubEnemies1 [CSE] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CSE: From the soaked ground comes a rumble, and the sound of heavy sloshing.
CSE: In the dark of the cave echoing groans emerge; Something slick and wet flicks into the troll's leg. Nothing harmful, but he'll feel soil and pebbles dripping...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] continues walking, but he also lifts a hand and a chuck above his head, ready to strike down on whatever it is... once it shows itself. --
CSE: Grit scrapes the edge of the cave. A screetch is produced, much like a nail across an old fashioned chalkboard. Something swings at Megdul from the shadow, something huge and heavy!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] swings his nunchucks in the direction of the sound, but is knocked down farther into the depth of the cave. --
CSE: Electricity leaps its way into the foe, at the same time illuminating the darkness for a brief moment as it lights up the water in its body.
CSE: It appears to be a strange beast; A humanoid with dangerously sharp stoney spikes made entierly of earth, grit, and stone. An unidentifiable piece of it tumbles off.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] sees the monster in that single flash of light, but still he is blind. He was knocked far, and he knows that it would be stupid to fight like this. So he runs, with what he can see he runs deeper into the cave hoping to find some place where he can actually see. --
CSE: Along the way, countless creature-like masses will try to assault the troll, but his speed may become a saving grace. Stags and dragons, tigers, humanshaped beasts and hares, they all do what they can to slow Megdul's progress.
CSE: Thankfully, a good part of them is made out of water. Attacks with his nunchucks will effectively light his way and make the enemies more visible long enough to escape or attack in the dark.
CSE: Sometimes, the heat of his electricity will even cause said water to boil, breaking them apart bit by bit as the attacks rain down.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] isn't too surprised by all of the enemies, he is flailing his nunchucks wildly, but still with purpose. Each strike he feels he strikes back, each flash of light is a god-send and he uses it to run farther and avoid more of these enemies. He will keep on going, until he reaches a large chamber. It is huge, almost like a colleseum. The ceiling above is riddled with holes that lead to the surface --
from them. It is here that he stops, a nice place to make a stand.
CSE: Another minion creeps its way into sight, but plain sight this time. In the form of a massive bear, a ferocious roar sputters from its throat, water and pebbles bouncing off of the rock floor below. It rushes at Megdul, stone fangs bared and prepared to tear him limb from limb.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] rushes back in it at turn, his eyes watching the minion as hard as he can. He turns to his side and strikes at the minion a number of times. His teeth grinding together as he moves. --
CSE: The megalith of a bear minion keeps trying to maul Megdul senseless, but his speed will provide him with a means to win this battle, although it will take quite some time to dispose of it.
CLA ceased responding to memo.

**Fili** · 01-04-2012, 05:42 PM

PART DOS!

CCS ceased responding to memo.
CLA: ===--===# despite his inability to see more than a couple feet infront of him, he can still hear noises all around him. The trickling of water, the crumble of stone, and the sounds of footsteps all around.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] readies his chucks, and walks forward. The ground is slippery, but his shoes grip the floor securely. --
CSE: From the soaked ground comes a rumble, and the sound of heavy sloshing.
CSE: In the dark of the cave echoing groans emerge; Something slick and wet flicks into the troll's leg. Nothing harmful, but he'll feel soil and pebbles dripping...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] continues walking, but he also lifts a hand and a chuck above his head, ready to strike down on whatever it is... once it shows itself. --
CSE: Grit scrapes the edge of the cave. A screetch is produced, much like a nail across an old fashioned chalkboard. Something swings at Megdul from the shadow, something huge and heavy!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] swings his nunchucks in the direction of the sound, but is knocked down farther into the depth of the cave. --
CSE: Electricity leaps its way into the foe, at the same time illuminating the darkness for a brief moment as it lights up the water in its body.
CSE: It appears to be a strange beast; A humanoid with dangerously sharp stoney spikes made entierly of earth, grit, and stone. An unidentifiable piece of it tumbles off.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] sees the monster in that single flash of light, but still he is blind. He was knocked far, and he knows that it would be stupid to fight like this. So he runs, with what he can see he runs deeper into the cave hoping to find some place where he can actually see. --
CSE: Along the way, countless creature-like masses will try to assault the troll, but his speed may become a saving grace. Stags and dragons, tigers, humanshaped beasts and hares, they all do what they can to slow Megdul's progress.
CSE: Thankfully, a good part of them is made out of water. Attacks with his nunchucks will effectively light his way and make the enemies more visible long enough to escape or attack in the dark.
CSE: Sometimes, the heat of his electricity will even cause said water to boil, breaking them apart bit by bit as the attacks rain down.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] isn't too surprised by all of the enemies, he is flailing his nunchucks wildly, but still with purpose. Each strike he feels he strikes back, each flash of light is a god-send and he uses it to run farther and avoid more of these enemies. He will keep on going, until he reaches a large chamber. It is huge, almost like a colleseum. The ceiling above is riddled with holes that lead to the surface --
from them. It is here that he stops, a nice place to make a stand.
CSE: Another minion creeps its way into sight, but plain sight this time. In the form of a massive bear, a ferocious roar sputters from its throat, water and pebbles bouncing off of the rock floor below. It rushes at Megdul, stone fangs bared and prepared to tear him limb from limb.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] rushes back in it at turn, his eyes watching the minion as hard as he can. He turns to his side and strikes at the minion a number of times. His teeth grinding together as he moves. --
CSE: The megalith of a bear minion keeps trying to maul Megdul senseless, but his speed will provide him with a means to win this battle, although it will take quite some time to dispose of it.
CLA ceased responding to memo.
CSN ceased responding to memo.
CLA ceased responding to memo.
CBJ ceased responding to memo.
CRM ceased responding to memo.
CTC ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] dashes in and out of the bear's range, smashing at it with his nunchucks. He follows it's every movement and strikes whenever the opportunity presents itself. --
CSE: The bear's swings are mighty, like a living sledgehammer, but in time, if Megdul keeps himself in once piece, the minion falls.
CSE: It's gravely remains scatter. Of course, this will not be the last enemy...
CSE: Several others of various different forms, now visible to Megdul, lumber their way into the stoney room. How much will he be able to take? Surely, he must travel to the denizen in time... but only after he slips by all these menaces.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] runas at the nearest of these minions, whatever type it might be, and he begins the process again. Though this time he is a bit more careful, he watches to make sure the rest of the enemies don't get too close. --
CSE: Grind and grind and grind the Courier of Lightning must. Earthen serpents lash at him, try to contrict his body. Wolves of mud howl, attacking tooth and nail.
CSE: *constrict
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] focuses on one minion at a time, circling around it so that it would help block of any other would-be attackers. Though, if another gets to close he has enough care to be able to swing at it. His current target is the wolf, moving with its ferocious attacks and lunges he tries to keep it between him and the serpents. Each attack knocked away with a swift flail of megdul's chained sticks. --
CSE: Megdul's attacks, when they hit a watery vain in the creatures, boil the water and cause limbs and segments to fall off, sometimes even hitting other foes.
CSE: At some point, one of the serpents falls to bits, and in turn, slips up the wolf, already missing half of its face and its tail. Out of action, its companions attack.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] falls back some putting some distance between him and his foes to get just a small breather. --
CSE: The less damaged serpent and another canine of some sort aim to persue them; At least their movements are a bit sluggish compared to the real things, but on the other hand, they're much larger...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] launches himself into the air with his rocket boots, he decides to hang near the ceiling just long enough to catch his breath. --
CSE: The minions wait patiently... It's interesting that others haven't come to join the party yet...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] launches himself at the ground as soon as he is composed. His first fight went good enough, considering he was out of breath from a shit-ton of running, but now that he has had a minute of rest... Megdul lands and digs his heels into the dirty ground below, one nunchuck over his shoulder the other at his side, come forth my enemies. --
CSE: They come to him right away. The onslaught continues.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] holds his ground, attacking in quick bursts of movement, a number of strikes as fast as he can to deflect and redirect what comes at him. --
CSE: If Megdul keeps it up, he'll fell the serpent, the canine, but as they fall more will eventually join.
CSE: In these deep chambers underneath the stone of Megdul's world, the roars and grumbles of many, many more minions are hearable.
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # Did a few of the enemies just flash white to black, then pink? Static courses through the floor of the cave, causing a tingle... and then it's gone.
CGS ceased responding to memo.
CSE: Enemy attacks aren't affected by this, and progress as normal. Time and time again, Megdul will land strikes on these enemies, even as they do their best to try and smash his bones to bonemeal.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] keeps up the fight with them, as long as their isn't too many at once he can go all day. He has done it before, albeit with less sturdy enemies, but he still keeps up with them without problem. --
CSE: Now, the clambering of countless cold and unliving limbs closes in on the large chamber as Megdul finishes off the last of his current problems... Through its holes and cavernous entrances come the flood. Minions, an assorted, deadly medley of all unearthly creatures present the largest challenge so far. They loom over the mutant troll... and attack.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't hold his ground here, he doesn't even attempt such a useless endeaver, no instead he searches for a more strategic position, or at least a strategically advantegeous enemy to take on. He rushes, runs, to the biggest slowest enemy he can see taking refuge in its easy to dodge attacks that leaves with one less side to worry about. --
CSE: That muddy slug thing... It didn't have a chance. ;_;
CSE: Otherwise, the enemies keep fighting, of course. At least now, one of the largest is gone, leaving Megdul with some most space to move around, build speed, attack, etc.
CSE: *UNDOOOOO

-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] almost ignores the big-thing, treating it like a wall. His focus, every other enemy that comes his way, most all of them are some sort of big though, so he can't have too many to worry about at once. --
CSE: The massive slug-like minion serves as an excellent backing for Megdul; It's not the best attacker, and all he has to worry about are its eyestalks and its girth, if it managed to slide its way over him.
CSE: In the meantime, as usual, the attacks continue. Something like a gorilla is the next foe he'll face in the torrent, and alongside it a humanoid ogre-shaped monstrosity. Both aim to bring their arms down on Megdul.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] is happy that it is only two at once to start off with, well not counting the slug... but really why even count that ever... Megdul focuses more on dodging than anything else, his attacks become less frequent and even less powerful as he focuses on the quick fluid motions that are natural for him. This is going to be a long battle, but he knows that if he plays it right he should be able to get o --
CLA: ===--===# This is going to be a long battle, but he knows that if he plays it right he should be able to get out mostly unscathed. --===--===
CSE: The brutes aren't going to give up as they keep bashing down at the spots Megdul /should/ have been, but he was no longer due to his superb agility. A kangaroo joins in, trying to stomp down on him as the gorilla starts to wobble on its now collapsing legs.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] hey kanga, Megdul decides to give this one a kick, activating his rocket boot right after contact. damage and wonderful inertia to help keep his slurry of dodges going. --
CSE: The roo-minion's stumbles, rocking back and forth, using its tail to keep it a bit more in check. The ogre tries to take a good swing at him.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] dodges it cleanly, not giving himself a momment to attack back... but as long as he is safe. --
CSE: *minion stumbles
CSE: The gorilla that's already down on its knees also takes a shot at harming Megdul. It takes its sizeable hand and tries to close it in around him if possible.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] hits at the hand with two chucks and jumps back, up against his safe little slug friend. WRARRGGHH!!!!! --
CSE: Fingers will fly and the foe will roar, just as so many others will endure Megdul's persistent fire.
CSE: The enemy flood will last quite some time, bordering on half an hour. Rigorous and grueling it will be, but Megdul should be able to come out on top in the end if he keeps his wits about him and continues to peck away at their defenses and health.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] does so, the sting of his nunchuck is relentless and the skill of his footwork is beyond frustrating for these monsters who wish to kill him. In the end he comes out of this with only one or two hard blows. But nothing at all serious, when the last enemy falls he sits upon the rocky ground and waits. --
CLA ceased responding to memo.

**Fili** · 01-04-2012, 05:50 PM

pt. dos

CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] dashes in and out of the bear's range, smashing at it with his nunchucks. He follows it's every movement and strikes whenever the opportunity presents itself. --
CSE: The bear's swings are mighty, like a living sledgehammer, but in time, if Megdul keeps himself in once piece, the minion falls.
CSE: It's gravely remains scatter. Of course, this will not be the last enemy...
CSE: Several others of various different forms, now visible to Megdul, lumber their way into the stoney room. How much will he be able to take? Surely, he must travel to the denizen in time... but only after he slips by all these menaces.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] runas at the nearest of these minions, whatever type it might be, and he begins the process again. Though this time he is a bit more careful, he watches to make sure the rest of the enemies don't get too close. --
CSE: Grind and grind and grind the Courier of Lightning must. Earthen serpents lash at him, try to contrict his body. Wolves of mud howl, attacking tooth and nail.
CSE: *constrict
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] focuses on one minion at a time, circling around it so that it would help block of any other would-be attackers. Though, if another gets to close he has enough care to be able to swing at it. His current target is the wolf, moving with its ferocious attacks and lunges he tries to keep it between him and the serpents. Each attack knocked away with a swift flail of megdul's chained sticks. --
CSE: Megdul's attacks, when they hit a watery vain in the creatures, boil the water and cause limbs and segments to fall off, sometimes even hitting other foes.
CSE: At some point, one of the serpents falls to bits, and in turn, slips up the wolf, already missing half of its face and its tail. Out of action, its companions attack.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] falls back some putting some distance between him and his foes to get just a small breather. --
CSE: The less damaged serpent and another canine of some sort aim to persue them; At least their movements are a bit sluggish compared to the real things, but on the other hand, they're much larger...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] launches himself into the air with his rocket boots, he decides to hang near the ceiling just long enough to catch his breath. --
CSE: The minions wait patiently... It's interesting that others haven't come to join the party yet...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] launches himself at the ground as soon as he is composed. His first fight went good enough, considering he was out of breath from a shit-ton of running, but now that he has had a minute of rest... Megdul lands and digs his heels into the dirty ground below, one nunchuck over his shoulder the other at his side, come forth my enemies. --
CSE: They come to him right away. The onslaught continues.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] holds his ground, attacking in quick bursts of movement, a number of strikes as fast as he can to deflect and redirect what comes at him. --
CSE: If Megdul keeps it up, he'll fell the serpent, the canine, but as they fall more will eventually join.
CSE: In these deep chambers underneath the stone of Megdul's world, the roars and grumbles of many, many more minions are hearable.
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # Did a few of the enemies just flash white to black, then pink? Static courses through the floor of the cave, causing a tingle... and then it's gone.
CGS ceased responding to memo.
CSE: Enemy attacks aren't affected by this, and progress as normal. Time and time again, Megdul will land strikes on these enemies, even as they do their best to try and smash his bones to bonemeal.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] keeps up the fight with them, as long as their isn't too many at once he can go all day. He has done it before, albeit with less sturdy enemies, but he still keeps up with them without problem. --
CSE: Now, the clambering of countless cold and unliving limbs closes in on the large chamber as Megdul finishes off the last of his current problems... Through its holes and cavernous entrances come the flood. Minions, an assorted, deadly medley of all unearthly creatures present the largest challenge so far. They loom over the mutant troll... and attack.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't hold his ground here, he doesn't even attempt such a useless endeaver, no instead he searches for a more strategic position, or at least a strategically advantegeous enemy to take on. He rushes, runs, to the biggest slowest enemy he can see taking refuge in its easy to dodge attacks that leaves with one less side to worry about. --
CSE: That muddy slug thing... It didn't have a chance. ;_;
CSE: Otherwise, the enemies keep fighting, of course. At least now, one of the largest is gone, leaving Megdul with some most space to move around, build speed, attack, etc.
CSE: *UNDOOOOO

-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] almost ignores the big-thing, treating it like a wall. His focus, every other enemy that comes his way, most all of them are some sort of big though, so he can't have too many to worry about at once. --
CSE: The massive slug-like minion serves as an excellent backing for Megdul; It's not the best attacker, and all he has to worry about are its eyestalks and its girth, if it managed to slide its way over him.
CSE: In the meantime, as usual, the attacks continue. Something like a gorilla is the next foe he'll face in the torrent, and alongside it a humanoid ogre-shaped monstrosity. Both aim to bring their arms down on Megdul.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] is happy that it is only two at once to start off with, well not counting the slug... but really why even count that ever... Megdul focuses more on dodging than anything else, his attacks become less frequent and even less powerful as he focuses on the quick fluid motions that are natural for him. This is going to be a long battle, but he knows that if he plays it right he should be able to get o --
CLA: ===--===# This is going to be a long battle, but he knows that if he plays it right he should be able to get out mostly unscathed. --===--===
CSE: The brutes aren't going to give up as they keep bashing down at the spots Megdul /should/ have been, but he was no longer due to his superb agility. A kangaroo joins in, trying to stomp down on him as the gorilla starts to wobble on its now collapsing legs.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] hey kanga, Megdul decides to give this one a kick, activating his rocket boot right after contact. damage and wonderful inertia to help keep his slurry of dodges going. --
CSE: The roo-minion's stumbles, rocking back and forth, using its tail to keep it a bit more in check. The ogre tries to take a good swing at him.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] dodges it cleanly, not giving himself a momment to attack back... but as long as he is safe. --
CSE: *minion stumbles
CSE: The gorilla that's already down on its knees also takes a shot at harming Megdul. It takes its sizeable hand and tries to close it in around him if possible.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] hits at the hand with two chucks and jumps back, up against his safe little slug friend. WRARRGGHH!!!!! --
CSE: Fingers will fly and the foe will roar, just as so many others will endure Megdul's persistent fire.
CSE: The enemy flood will last quite some time, bordering on half an hour. Rigorous and grueling it will be, but Megdul should be able to come out on top in the end if he keeps his wits about him and continues to peck away at their defenses and health.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] does so, the sting of his nunchuck is relentless and the skill of his footwork is beyond frustrating for these monsters who wish to kill him. In the end he comes out of this with only one or two hard blows. But nothing at all serious, when the last enemy falls he sits upon the rocky ground and waits. --
CLA ceased responding to memo.

pt. san

CSE RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LAND OF STORM AND STONE.
CSN ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CDG: # A second passes and the stone shakes, pebbles fall from its smooth surface revealing a message in the rock that wasn't there before. It simply says, "Courier"
CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] studies the word for a momment and then frowns. --
CLA: ===--===IAm.===--===
CDG: # The word melts away, and then is replaced ny another message. "Delivering or Picking up"
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] reads this message and just scowls. --
CLA: ===--===What?!===--===
CDG: # The message remains unchanged, and nothing happens.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] growls and raises a nun-chuck to the stone. --
CLA: ===--===WhatTheFuckAreYou?===--===
CDG: # Half of the stone completely falls away leaving a tall, completely smooth and flat surface. Words begin to carve themselves into it.
CDG: So you are the courrier, but you don't know your duty? Why are you here so soon, courier? Why do you act so late, courier? I am the great denizen of this planet, Garluthias, courier.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] slowly reeads through the denizen's message in this annoyingly low light. --
CLA: ===--===You are TheDenizen?===--===
CDG: Yes
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] takes one step back and makes a swing at Garluthias with all of his might. --
CDG: # A large crack appears in the stone, and one last message is sent...
CDG: THE WRONG DELIVERY, courier.
CDG: # More of the stone falls away, leaving jutting out of the ground the shape of a large hand. It begins to move, as if it is dragging itself out of the ground.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] just watches, nunchucks at the ready. --
CDG: # The hand eventually stops moving, once it has placed itselft flat on the ground... and then almost instantly an entire body is pulled up from the ground. A body of stone, disfigured with random proportions. It launches up from the ground quick, and crashes up into the cieling of the cavern... and still most of it is remains burried.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] is knocked off of his feet by the shaking of the ground brought on by Garluthias' unveiling, he is quick to his feet though, and quick to jump into and strike again. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] brings it small deformed hand craching into the cieling, and then brings it back down the swat megdul away... the courier of course hit him but not even minimal damage was delt. The hand that comes crashing down though, isn't small and deformed... in fact it was now huge, the shape of it having changed when within the stone of the cavern's walls. *swat* --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] strikes one more time before looking up and... holy fuck. He kicks off of the denizen's body and rocket boots out of the way of the denizen's massive hand. --
CDG: # The hand comes crashing into Garluthias, and it breaks him apart. Rocks and stone come down falling from the cieling while the denizen himself slowly reforms.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] turns clear from most of the fall of rocks but he clamors up to the passage out of the cavern, his rocket boots really rocketing. --
CDG: # molds himself into the form of, a lot of rocks... that plow through the caverns after megdul.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] wastes no time in booking it out of the caverns and is able to avoid his denizen's pursuit without mouch trouble. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] is left far behind Megdul... and eventually gives up the chase leaving the caverns clear. --
CSN ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] lands outside the cave. SAFE! --
CURRENT electrostaticAccolade [CEA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CDG: # A rubmling can be heard from the cave... resonating through the entire mountain that the cave was in... it gets loader and it begins to shake fearsomely all around.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] turns his rocket boots back on ready to fly up, because maybe he didn't escape the danger yet... maybe... --
CDG: # The entire mountain erupts, the cave and all that made it up is stripped from the ground and brought into the air. The looming form looming now is that of a great and monstrous dragon, with more heads than one could dream of counting. And Each lunges forward to engulf megdul and crush him.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] gets moving. /O____O \ --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] crashes all around Megdul, his heads flying everywhich way but not entirely hitting the target. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] continues to fly away and avoid Garluthias the best he can. Weaving through the hundreds of hydra-like heads that pop up from the ground is no simple task however, especially not in the hard pouring rain. No matter how much megdul likes the weather, the rain is heavy and hard to see past. Megdul slowly begins to fly lower, as he looses his bearings and Garluthias's attack continue to get closer. --
CEA ceased responding to memo.
CLA ceased responding to memo.
CDG ceased responding to memo.
CSN ceased responding to memo.

part. IV

CLA RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LAND OF STORM AND STONE.
CDG ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] avoids, and avoids and avoids some more. And then he is hit. He is knocked into the ground by one of the heads of the hyrda. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] slams into the ground, and for a second he just lays there dazed. --
CLA: ===--===nnngh...===--===
CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] should probably wake up. Everything is shaking, and it's amazing that she didn't wake up before now. She sits up, looking into the room she was sleeping next to. --
CSN: ☄ ...Megdul!
CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] combines all of his heads into one form above megdul, just one giant dragon's head. He then charges forward at megdul, to catch him in his teeth. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] waits a few seconds. Maybe he's just... nope, silence. Shit, he left the hive. That.. might explain the shaking. She quickly dons her rocket boots, as well as a raincoat. Not getting /this dress/ all soaking wet, that would be terrible. But it would be worse if Megdul was harmed, so she hurriedly exits the hive. As soon as she gets outside, she realizes she has /no idea/ where Megdul might be. Shit. --
CSN: ☄ Thinkthinkthinkthink, Juniprei...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] regains his senses as he begins to makes out the giant form above him. He rolls over and fires up his boots, screaming in pain as he flies just out of reach of Garluthias's attack... and then yelling out again as he realizes that he wasn't fully in the clear, no his foot is caught in Garluthias's teeth. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] bites down a bit harder to keep the courier in his grasp and then lifts him up into the air. His grip is strong and nearly to the point of breaking megdul's bones. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] begins to beat at the rocky teeth that hold him with his nunchucks, while gritting his own teeth from the pain. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] really has no idea where the hell Megdul is for sure. But the shaking reminds her of the tremors created by Agatha's denizen... She enters his last gate, the one that leads to the denizen's dwelling. She steps forward a few feet, frowning. The place seems eerily deserted, and she doesn't know whether to exit the place or continue on, see if Megdul is further in the dwelling. --
CBJ ceased responding to memo.
CDG: # Garluthias's teeth begin to crack, at least where Megdul manages to hit them hard... they crack and shift and his grip is loosened, ever so slightly.
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] listens, attempting to hear something, anything. --
CSN: ☄ Can't hear anything over this blasted rain...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] pulls with all his might to get his foot out of his denizen's mouth, continuing to hit at and loosen up the monsters grip. He pushes hard and manages to rip his foot from the vice that Garluthias has on it, loosing a shoe in the process... and cutting up his foot in more than one place. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] decides it would be best to go outside the denizen's dwelling, that she would have better luck out there. She quickly goes outside, and hovers up in the air. Not in the immediate area... She flies out farther, hopefully she can find Megdul... but then she wonders what she's going to do if she finds him. How would she help, she's not even at the top of her echeladder, though she's close... --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] watches as megdul falls from his grasp, and down to the ground. He yells out, a powerful and garbled roar, hard and scratchy as the the rocks that made the noise. And then he collapses, his entirty falling down after megdul. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] *entirety --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] definately hears the roar, despite the loud noises of the storm of Megdul's land. She attempts to figure out the direction of origin, and flies quicker. Can she reach him in time? She flies as quickly as she can, this question burning in her mind. --

part *****

CLA RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LAND OF STORM AND STONE.
CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] stops quickly in midair, once she sees the denizen because /holy shit/. What the fuck is that. But then she spots Megdul on the ground! --
CSN: ☄ Megdul!!!!
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] sees that the denizen is falling, about to fall on the troll. She quickly flies down, and attempts to pick up Megdul and fly him away, but the boots won't support both of their weights... she drops him and flies out of range of the denizen's body. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] likes the help up to his feet at least, agh! WHERE DID YOU COME FROM JUNIPREI! --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] runs though, runs from these falling rocks. He trying to keep an eye on juniprei too now. what is this? There is a large mountain close by, he heads for that... maybe he can hide? He doesn't even know what he is thinking... just RUN RUN RUN! --
CLA: ===--===Gahhhhh!===--===
CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] continues to fall, untill eventually his whole body has fallen back into the ground. He stays their for a while. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] sighs, cautiously eyeing the denizen until she decides it's not moving. She flies to where Megdul was running to. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] looks up at her, but he is still going, he is in fact moving pretty quick... though not as quick as he could be, due to injuries and pain but he has to keep moving. --
CLA: ===--===GetAway!===--===
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] folds her arms. MEGDUL........ --
CSN: ☄ Megdul, you're /hurt/.
CDG: # The ground rumbles, shaking like an earthquake... then it stops.
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] tenses up, looking around at the earthquake. There /better/ not be any enemies around... --
CSN: any more enemies* ))
CSN: ☄ Don't be stubborn! You shouldn't have ventured out. Especially alone, and before you've fully healed.
CLA: ===--===NoShitNowG...===--===
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] shoots up from the ground behind Megdul, the form that of a massive hammer jutting from the ground. His movement sends a ripple through the ground below. --
CSN: ☄ ...!!!!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] stumbles, catching himself before he falls to far though, and he continie to run like mad! His fists are clenched around his nun-chucks but he doesn't even think about them, He just now reaches the base of the mountain, fuck. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] begins to fall down, the face of his hammer is aimed only at megdul... but if Juniprei is too close. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] flies away from the hammer's reach, wishing so bad she could help him!! Right now she just feels like dead weight, Megdul's injured, and she has /no chance/ against his denizen whatsoever. --
CSN: ☄ Megdul, MOVE!!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't even register her words, however he pretty much knows that by now. He is already booking it up the mountain... strangely enough it has an easy to climb path carved into it... The Hammer doesn't fall the fastest at first which is also lucky... megdul is nowhere near the hammer when it comes down. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] flies even higher, biting her lip. OhgodMegdulyoucan'tdieonmenotyoutoo. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] falls down into the bottom of the mountain missing megdul by a mile, but shards of rock are sent flying everywhere and the ground shakes and the path down the mountain is now destored. The handle of the hammer starts to twist and contort... and the head of the hammer begins to elongate as the rocks of Garluthias's body become a snake... a lone stone snake. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] *long stone snake --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # That's odd... Did a small patch of rain just pass through our heroes instead of soaking them further?... There's a floating rock over yonder too, not that anyone would notice because of the... situation...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] pauses turning back to his denizen, but most of what is going on is hidden by a cloud of dirt that was kicked up from the hammer. It quickly dissipate though, but megdul is already running again by the time that happens... almost to the top already he has no clue what he will do once he is there. HE will be trapped. but all he can do now is run! --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] starts to slither sround the mountain, quickly gaining on megdul. The mountain is carved out and its even surfaces made dangerous and impassible as garluthias moves through. --
CSN ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] reaches the top of the mountain. it is a plateu wiith a couple small jutting pieces of rock but on the whole fairly flat. Though... In the middloe of the mountain's plateu top there is a large hole that goes down who knows how far, it is wide and leaves only a small barely traversable ring to stand on. Megdul moves to the opposite edge and looks down at his denizen who is moving up the mountain like a train, and then he takes just a step back. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] -- moves to the opposite edge and looks down at his denizen who is moving up the mountain like a train, and then he takes just a step back. -- --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] grips his tail along the plateu, lifting the rest of his form high above megdul and the mountain both. He looks down on the courier. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] sheds his snake-like head. The rock falling off of him in shards that are sharp like razors. What is left in the stead of Garluthias' head, is only a mouth. snake body, and a mouth. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] just watches as the rocks fall, they are all small and he isn't worried about them until one hits him. A shard of rock plunges itself into his shoulder like a knife and megdul then starts to dodge and knock away other shards... but they fall down like rain, piercing him and cutting him countless times before he can look up again to see the gaping form of his denizen slowly moving down on him. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] charges down on megdul, his mouth open wide and gaping. It resembles that of a leach with many rows of sharp teeth formed from rock. --
CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] just watches in horror OH GOD NOOO.... it doesn't cross her mind to, you know, attempt to help. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] avoids the attack by jumping on to the denizen's body, while the thing's mouth crashes into the mountain instead of him. It is here that megdul realizes that fuck, there is no where left to go. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] can't fly, he can't run anymore... so he does the only thing he can do. He tries to fight. He pounds at his denizen's body with his nunchucks, as fast as he can and as hard as his body will allow. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] rumbles a noise almost like laughing, his hard rock body is left completely unscathed. Dust works itself into the air, and sparks fly at Garluthias's wet body... but nothing penetrates his defenses. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] lifts his head up again, and again he tries to bring it down on megdul. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] keeps pounding down until the last moment, a snarl on his face and his teeth grinding down. Then as the mouth comes down again, megdul throws himselft out of the way of it landing on his stomach on some other part of his denizen. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] rumbles again and then his body collapses below where megdul threw himself. The rocks he is made of churn and suck Megdul down... and then they begin to close on him. --
CSN: ☄ OhmygoshMegduuul!!
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] quickly flies over because it only JUST NOW occurs to her to help. She's not sure how to help, but she tries to grab Megdul so he's not pulled down. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] crawls up, onto his knees and tries to push himself up away from his denizen. He drops of nunchucks and just climbs, and then he gets help... and then his foot is trapped... and then his leg... and his entire torso is closed in on. He is trapped, only his arm and his head jut out from the rocky surface of Garluthias's body. --
CLA: ===--===Juniprei!===--===
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] crumbles away leaving only the section of himself that megdul is trapped in, A giant portion of stone all the same. --
CSN: ☄ Yes, Megdul? Whatisit. You're kind of being trapped by a rock creature!!
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] stares at her, don't you know to jst fuckign run! --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] grabs his arm, trying to pull him from the denizen's grasp. Damnit I'm not leaving you here to die!!! --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] tries to say it too, but just as his lips begin to move... right before the first whisp of sound leaves his lips there is a horrible cracking sound. Megdul's eyes widen, staring up at juniprei he grits his teeth and writhes frantically for freedom before all movement ceases. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] has crushed, completely destroyed the body that was trapped within his own. With that, the rest of him begins to slowly crumble away. --
CSN: ☄ Megdul! MEGDUUUUULLL!!!
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] then realizes she had no chance. She had no chance of saving him, no chance of being able to help... and no chance of living if she doesn't hightail it the fuck out of there right now. She kicks her boots to high gear and flies back im the direction of the denizen's dwelling. Hopefully she can get to the gate before she, too, becomes prey for the creature... --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] turns to pebbles and falls down rejoining the planet below. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] just falls, falls through the ring at the center of the mountain. Down he falls to be buried in the core of his planet, at some time he lands. --
-- CURRENT denizenGarluthias [CDG] leaves Juniprei, the troll that is at his layer. She is not the courier, and he has no bussiness with her. The courier, has been dealt with... he has no bussiness with anyone, not anymore. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] ,as quickly as she can, reenters the gate that she had traversed through to get there. She enters Megdul's hive once she exits the gate, and it's only when she's out of the rain for a few minutes that she realizes what happened. --
CSN: ☄ ...dead... megdul's... dead...
CSN: ☄ ......
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian's [CLA'S] body comes to rest at the depth of his world, bed... a cocoon, that has always been there. --
-- CURRENT sapphireNativity [CSN] sits down on a couch, punting away the imp that WANTED TO BE DRAWN LIKE A FRENCH GIRL. She sits there, tears streaming down her face. She should tell someone, message someone ... --

**kittentoes** · 01-09-2012, 01:41 AM

#The Doom Is Doomed: Malhaut gathers everyone together to listen to Gallia's solution, and surprisingly, Signa is the one to speak up... well, sort of in favour of it. Joe appears as a hologram! They get health vials.

**kittentoes** · 01-09-2012, 01:47 AM

#Second_One_Down: Signa and Alcippe are hilarious, Malhaut receives news of Megdul's death, everyone is sad babies, towards the end Miriam and Quin get mentioned.

**kittentoes** · 01-09-2012, 01:49 AM

second part of #Second_One_Down:

-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] seems to have forgot her previous self-edict of not jumping and very nearly hurls herself off the stairs! She does not, however. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] ceases trolling darkAtlantis, packing her shawl's interface up and restraining a sigh. --
-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] trudges off to the guest rooms, systematically opening doors (not bothering to close them) as she checks for Aragua. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had watched them both quietly until Signa left on her way. Talk of resting only makes him want to, even with plenty of quest bread still digesting in his system. It's the injuries that make him want to sprawl out somewhere. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps closer to Malhaut when Signa starts searching out her matesprit. She reaches for one of his hands, and looks up at him, still concerned. --
-- CURRENT darkAtlantis [CDA] is in one near the end of the hall, nearly invisible under a pile of blankets --
-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] makes a small "oh" noise as she picks up Aragua's smell. It is unique, familiar, and comforting in a way she can't place. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] allows Gallia to take one without complaint. The seatroll is worn. --
-- CURRENT darkAtlantis [CDA] smells less than pleasant right now, tangy and salty --
CER: MalhauT... if we are bouTh prepared, Then There is nouThing we can dou buT waiT four Juniprei Tou arrive. Then I will have Tou see Tou her, buT unTil Then...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head. --
CER: we have nouThing Tou dou buT waiT. we should resT.
CCC: +->Aragua.<-+
CCC: +->I can smell you.<-+
CDA: ^^m?
-- CURRENT darkAtlantis [CDA] lifts her head a little. --
CCC: +->What's wrong?<-+
-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] doesn't have a whole lot of inflection to her voice. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods reluctantly. --
CNN: Jes... Perhaps ve shoould...
CDA: ...I do^'t k^ow.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] tries to gently urge him back into the guest room, still looking concerned for him. --
-- CURRENT darkAtlantis [CDA] lowers her head back down --
CDA: I do^'t feel like a^yo^e would be^efit from me bei^g arou^d right ^ow.
CCC: +->Then we're alike.<-+
CCC: +->Good for us.<-+
CDA: Do you wa^t to come lie dow^...?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does what he's non-verbally told. They'll be back in that room in a jiffy. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] closes the door behind them and guides Malhaut down to the couch again. She settles herself down, with indication that Malhaut should do the same. --
CCC: +->Why not.<-+
-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] slips to the ground next to Aragua and just...lumps there. --
-- CURRENT darkAtlantis [CDA] rolls over laboriously and puts an arm around her. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] puts himself next to Gallia, down on that couch. Instead of turning to her, he leans back against it heavily. Malhaut's chest deflates... and he closes his eyes. --
CNN: ... It has been quite ze night.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] scooches closer to Malhaut, and puts a hand around his waist. Sir you are not getting out of cuddles. --
CER: i-iT really has been.
-- CURRENT crimsonCartographer [CCC] closes her eyes. She's done. She's done, she's done, she's done. --
CTC ceased responding to memo.
CDA ceased responding to memo.
CCC ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] restrains a wince when his body shifts. He largely ignores it. All he's planning on doing is being flopped for a bit, thank you very much. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] flops on the couch next to Malhaut, breathing out the sigh she'd been holding in for so long. She can just... rest a while. And make sure Malhaut rests, which is the important thing to her. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice croaks a little, probably from a mixture of things. --
CNN: If I drift ooff, please doo noot hesitate too vake me...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's side, careful to be gentle. --
CNN: ... I doo noot vant too miss anyzing impoortant...
CER: I will wake you if anyThing coumes up... -?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gets a message! --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shifts a little so her non-hugging hand can come up to gesture at her holographic interface. --
CER: iT is nouT oune ouf ours... dou nouT wourry, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] brow stays knit as he rests, but there's a show of relief when Gallia reassures him it's /not/ another call concerning death. --
CNN: ...Zank Good...
CER: The small ourangeblooud froum AlTernia... The weak oune.
CNN: Zat oone... I doo remember him...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns as she types. She should tell Malhaut about this interloper, but... God, he's had enough already... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out. --
CER: we may have anouTher oupTioun...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] raises his left finear up some and his head tilts in his matesprit's direction. --
CNN: ?... Vhat ooptioon?... Elaboorate...
CER: The yellouwblooud, Miriam, wanTs Tou... jouin our sessioun, Tou play The game again. buT ThaT is nouT The inTeresTing Thing.
CER: she has a pouwer ouver doours... and can apparenTly oupen Them and gou inTou new places.
CER: if she houlds oune ouf Thouse doours oupen four us... iT would be a simple Thing Tou leave.
CER: if Joue doues nouT coume Through four us...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] attention is certainly caught. Still, he's not fixing to get his hopes up about anything. --
CNN: ... Jes... I see. She coould pootentially be anoozer plan if ze first fails...
CER: if you could geT in counTacT wiTh her, Tell her Tou hould ouff oun jouining us... ThaT she should help us geT ouT, in soume roundabouT way...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, though there's not much humour behind it. --
CER: I am afraid I cannouT dou Thouse sourTs ouf Things. you see, MalhauT, ThaT is oune ouf your sTrengThs.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has cracked his eyes open a smidge, although his eyelids are heavy. His interest is still held firm. --
CNN: ...I vill be sure too try and coontact her oon ze issue as soon as poossible.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shuffles around until he produces his whip handle interface. Scrolling through online usernames and contacts is what he does until he's sure he can't find "timesCompass". --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sighs quietly at the end of this few minutes, disappointed, but perhaps secretly thankful he doensn't have to deal with anyone else right now. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nuzzles Malhaut's shoulder in a quick show of affection before she returns her attention to a new message. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] diamond drops right out of her chest when she reads it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] having had no luck, decides to not even bother with putting his interface and trusted weapon away. He just holds it on his lap, eyes closed again. Sleep isn't something that wants to come to him though, or at least not that quickly. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] bites at the inside of her cheek, stroking Malhaut's side to try and get her mind off of the subject matter at trollian. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gestures her shawl away, and leans into Malhaut, snuggling up to him as well as she can while still being gentle. She's a sad puppy. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes the arm and hand not occupied holding his whip and fits that over Gallia's shoulders in the best way that he can for their positioning. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] lets the minutes pass without any urge to break the peace and quiet, although some time later, he does mumble out something. --
CNN: ...Ve are getting zat seaside garden, joou knoov, Gallia...
CER: ... we are...?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods, humming to confirm what he'd just said. --
CNN: ...Ve are...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nuzzles Malhaut's shoulder, again, in appreciation. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does the best he can to snuggle her back without moving that much. He's too lazy to right now. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice grows quieter. --
CNN: Ve vill alvays have each oozer too... At least zere vill be zat...
CER: I'm glad... I'm always glad ThaT's True...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] hums again. If left alone to relax in silence, he might actually fall into a state of slumber. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] might sleep, too... --

And Gallia's talk with Quin:

**curiousTerminal** · 01-11-2012, 12:05 AM

I'm going to copy/paste relevant bits of my conversation with CS.

[12:45] HO: Been kicked off the computer until either Saturday or the next semester, so I focus on my grades. Swinde will have to be MIA yet again
[12:48] HO: Considering I have a 7 page paper and a house to build by Friday, as well as a bunch of Flash animating to do by the 16th...
[12:48] HO: I proooooobably won't be on for a while.

Why must this continuously happen to meeee

**kittentoes** · 01-13-2012, 09:45 PM

Meanwhile, on Derse...

**kittentoes** · 01-18-2012, 11:59 PM

In #Leaving, Nibzan wants to leave, and nobody will let him. A few glitches later, he finally gets to go -- with Malhaut and Gallia babysitting him. After that... well, more glitches, which leaves everyone shaken.

**kittentoes** · 01-19-2012, 12:00 AM

#Leaving continued:

**Fili** · 01-22-2012, 07:00 PM

CLA RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LAND OF WATERFALLS AND BLOOD.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] has been flying through the empty void between the worlds, steadily chargin up as he does so. His body arcs with pent up electrical power and pure hatred as he continues on to losas. He started on derse, with an idea in his head... but as each minute passes on his voyage his motivation and his outrage grow. --
CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] is currently wrapped around the now-craggy landscape of the Land of Waterfalls and Blood. Now that many of the cliffs and rivers had collapsed, new rivers and waterfalls have formed, and different colored bloods are mixing together. He raises his large head- he senses something is coming. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] sees the world he is approaching, he is still hurt from his previous encounter with bullshit though... he doesn't it feel it he doesn't care he is focused on something else, something cold. From megdul a deep buzzing can be heard. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] curls back its lips in a snarl. He tilts his giant head up toward the sky to see what exactly is coming. He is getting too old for this job. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] continues down to the planet, looking to fnd the head of jormungandr. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr's [CDJ'S] head is located near a large black lake, a lake where all of the blood mixes into a thick black liquid. Aw man, and he was just taking a nice nap too. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] spots him and moves to him. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] lowers his head as Megdul approaches. --
CDJ: You..you were with the Duchess. What business do you have with me?
CLA: ===--===SheDiedBecauseOFYou.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] hovers in the air, not to far from jormungandr. --
CDJ: It was all part of the deal, which was carried out successfully.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] waits for a second before talking again, his body is humming furiously with electricity... and when jormungandr responded it began to hum louder as megdul looses just the slightest bit of focus. --
CLA: ===--===WhyZzThough?===--===
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr's [CDJ'S] lips curl back again, probably the giant serpent's attempt at a smirk. --
CDJ: It was to save the rest of the heroes. You should be thanking me.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] puts a fist up, as if he was going to attack, but then he lowers it at the last second... GGGrrrrrr. --
CLA: ===--===WhyDidYouNeedHerLifeWasItNecessary?===--===
CLA: ===--===WasItNEEDED?!===--===
CDJ: Her life for all of yours seemed like a fair trade. But alas, of course it was necessary. Or else death would come swiftly.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] begins to arc with much more electricity, it moves wildly across him and his body becomes quite a bit harder to see. --
CLA: ===--===SoWhatwhatPzzurposeDidHerDeathServeInThiszProce ss?===--===
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] narrows his eyes. --
CDJ: Calm your rage, Hero of Lightning. Her death was necessary because she was the Duchess of Mend. She can't completely fix things, but...she can certainly help. Even in death.
CLA: ===--===IfIKillYouNowWillItAllBeUndone.===--===
CDJ: Don't be foolish. One cannot bring the dead back. Besides, she would have survived, had she have not healed you..
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] chuckles darkly --
CLA: ===--===NoIfIKillYou will what she died for... be undone?===--===
CDJ: As I said, don't be foolish. She is gone. Killing me will solve nothing.
CDJ: What's done is done, Hero of Lightning. The deal is sealed, and it will be carried out.
CLA: ===--===IfItIsDoneThenLetUsDie.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] releases a massive ammount of lightning at the denizen. All the power that he has been storing up on his voyage had been for this purpose, and all of it goes into this attack. His injuries, he is thankful for... maybe Jormungandr will live long enough to kill him too, it should be easy. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] hisses, baring his fangs as his head topples over. He raises his tail and brings it down, aiming to knock Megdul out of the air. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't dodge, he takes it. To the ground he plummits. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] slams into the ground, and then he rolls over onto his back. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] slowly turns its head to look at Megdul. --
CDJ: Foolish Hero..! You will pay for your insolence..!
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] raises his tail once more, higher and higher until he brings it down on Megdul at full force. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] releases whatever electricity that is left in him through jormungandrs body, in an instant it happens. Then an instant later he is dead. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] cries out in pain as his large head once more falls over, making the ground shake as his head hits the earth below. The denizen Jormungandr is defeated. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] lies lifeless, for quite some time. --
CSN ceased responding to memo.

CLA RIGHT NOW opened memo on board MEGDUL GOES ON AN ADVENTURE.
Memo is now Secret by CLA
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] arises, complete with rainbow blood effects and shit. Bitches best be warry. --
CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] is already awake and looking down at the now-arisen Megdul. He doesn't seem that wary or impressed. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] looks down at himself, completely healed... down to even his clothes... and then he notices Jormungandr, and stares up at him. what you gonna do? --
CDJ: Are you quite done? If so, then leave. You've no business here.
CLA: ===--===Neither of us died, did they?===--===
CDJ: Of course not.
CLA: ===--===I should have, I hoped I would. If I let you kill me again would I die then?===--===
CDJ: You will not.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies up slowly into the air. --
CLA: ===--===I see.===--===
CDJ: I suggest you leave this place, Hero of Lightning.
CLA: ===--===Thanks, I think I was going to do that.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies up father into the air and towards whatever gate is nearest in this situation. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies towards the gate, and he gets really close to it but as he flies... he sees agatha's hive... and he keeps thinking about it... and right at the last minute he flies down instead of to the gate. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] Agatha's hive seems only slightly tilted, the obsidian-colored sand surrounding the hive must have absorbed most of the shock from the many quakes that ravaged her land not too long ago. The large mansion of a hive which was not too long ago full of the gathered heroes is now quiet and empty. Even its mistress is gone, never to return. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies down to the front door and steps inside. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] On the inside, there are medical tools which were once on the walls now scattered on the ground. Tables are toppled over, walls have claw marks in them, it seems that the imps have been here. There's some stuffing of some sort of stuffed animal they found leading up and down the stairs, littering the halls. It just looks like an overall mess. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] goes upstairs. He wanders aimlessly. Mostly he is remembering and it is a horrible feeling. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] is slowly making his way towards agatha's respite block in his wandering. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] There are more claw marks on the walls, dangerous-looking medical equipment on the floor, and stuffed animal stuffing everywhere. It's all coming from one room, the door ajar. It's Agatha's room. Or at least it was. Now there are ripped-apart books thrown about, pages littering the floor. Stuffed animals are torn apart and sopor slime is everywhere. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] walks into the center of the room, turns around... and then half-starts looking for somethign that might be intact.p --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] In a nearby desk, there seems to be a drawer left slightly ajar. It must be stuck, because it looks like the imps has a hell of a time trying to get it open. Upon further inspection, one would notice that there is something in the drawer. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] eventually comes to it. />n<\ Why couldn't they leave anything nice for him to find? He attempts to open the drawer. --
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] The drawer is insanely tough to open! It was already weakened by the imps to begin with, however, so after a while it eventually gets unstuck and opens. Inside there lays a small journal, one with just one symbol on the cover, Agatha's. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] sits there for a moment staring at the journal, contemplating whether to take it our not... he quickly decides in favor of it though... he picks it up, turns to a page near the middle and starts to read a small passage of it. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] sits there for a moment staring at the journal, contemplating whether to take it our not... he quickly decides in favor of it though... he picks it up, turns to a page near the middle and starts to read a small passage of it. --
CLA: ===--===((* oops===--===
CLA: ((* oops ))
CDJ: "I may have found a breakthrough today. I was beginning to think that it was impossible..but I may have found a cure for whatever I have. Asclepia has been bringing back more and more test subjects, the more the better. I must find some sort of cure for whatever I have..for whatever Ophanine had. I must hurry. I fear that I may not have much time left...
-- CURRENT denizenJormungandr [CDJ] the journal cuts off there. There are some faded pink splatters of something on the page where her words end. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] bites his lip, hugs the book and captchalogues it. Sure, it was a horrible passage to read, but it was still her. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] falls down onto the floor, up in the pile of fluff. --
CLA: ===--===/;n;\===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] decides to cry in her previously stuffed animal pile... that is now just stuffing. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] curls up in the pile of fluff, hugging the remains of the stuffed animals sobbing restrained sobs till he falls out of consciousness and then to sleep. --

CLA RIGHT NOW opened memo on board MEGDUL GOES ON AN ADVENTURE.
Memo is now Secret by CLA
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] rolls over in his little pile, and on his back he opens his eyes. There are little bits of fluff sticking to him, all over his clothes and his hair, but a couple of the whispier bits stick to his skin to. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] takes a deep breath, rolls right back over... and goes to sleep again. A much better sleep, one where he doesn't cry himself into exhaustion. But he is sad still, so sad and it is all he can do to dooze off without shedding another tear. He does so though. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] begins to dream of a place, dark and almost entirely silent... though not completely no. --
CER ceased responding to memo.
CGS ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] floats through the air, his wings moving him along at a barely noticeable pace. He continues on for a while... untill he spots something in the distance. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies in its direction, though he doesn't know what it is. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] flies right up until he can see what it is... a bubble a large very interesting bubble. He watches it. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] watches it and watches it for a bit, untill he accidentally flies into the damn thing. instinctively he closes his eyes waiting for it to pop. --
CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] The bubble doesn't pop, but instead he enters a very dark room, not unlike a dungeon of sorts. In the middle of the room standing next to a table, is a troll very familiar to Megdul. She looks like she did before this whole mess, she is wearing her black button-down dress and she looks frail compared to how she looked as a god tier, when she was alive. Currently, she appears to be working on something --
CTA: *Perhaps experimenting?
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] opens his eyes when the expected doesn't happen, and he looks on at the scene... is that ag... /;___;\ --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] doesn't even take in the scene or it's details yet, no his attention is instead held by her --
-- CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] is quietly working away until she suddenly has a coughing fit, and drops a glass vial she was holding. She kneels down to collect the shards of broken glass, but then notices Megdul standing there, out of the corner of her eye. She stands up, and a few moments later she turns around. There is something different about her, however. Her pupils are entirely missing. --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] reels back, surprised... entirely surprised. --
CLA: ===--===YourEyes!===--===
-- CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] looks to the side. Well, if she had pupils. Instead, her eyelids lower and she tilts her head to the side slightly. --
CTA: I suppose..this is how one looks when they die...
CLA: ===--===Agatha.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] /OnO\ --
-- CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] looks a bit surprised at first to hear her own name, it feels as though it's been an eternity because of this damn dream bubble. After a moment she smiles, just barely, and her expression turns into that of a softer look. --
CTA: Greetings, Megdul..I can't begin to explain..how much of a pleasure it is to be able to see you and speak to you again...
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] looks her over, and then goes in for a high-speed hug. WIAAAAAhhhh!! --
-- CURRENT transcendentAsclepian [CTA] happily accepts the high-speed hug! She wraps her arms around him tightly, closing her eyes. It's been so long, even though in reality it hasn't been that long at all. It's been so long, so long... --
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] holds his hug, reluctant to let her go ever. --
CLA: ===--===IsThisRealRightNow?===--===
CTA: It's real to me, but it will probably only be like a dream to you. Either way, I don't want it to end...
CLA: ===--===Ok.===--===
-- CURRENT lightningAuthoritarian [CLA] squeezes her a bit tighter, still oblivious to the world. --

**Phi** · 01-22-2012, 11:12 PM

((NOTE: The first occurs DURING #THE_JUNI_HAS_LANDED and the next occurs immediately after Signa leaves that conversation)

Signa acquires a knife to utilize as an ingredient for something she can actually USE.

And so she takes action.

And so she explores for perhaps the last time

**Quincunx** · 01-25-2012, 07:15 PM

Whoops, here's the final part of #leaving:

**Phi** · 01-28-2012, 11:13 PM

Signa's expedition comes to a close...

**curiousTerminal** · 01-30-2012, 05:45 PM

Aragua goes and thanks Swinde for comforting Signa after the incident with Malhaut.

**kittentoes** · 01-30-2012, 06:45 PM

In #Portal_Roulette, Malhaut, Nibzan and Gallia go out in search of Nibzan's world... only to find themselves in Malhaut's. They go to the submarine, and search out old resources and memories.

CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board PORTAL ROULETTE.
Memo is now Secret by CER
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] trio of travelers are on their way out of Gallia's world to escort Nibzan to his dwelling to "pick up some things". --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't fondly regard, but tolerates the overly sparkley and joyous environment of the cleansed version of the Land of Alchemy and Magic. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is just glad it's not a death-trap any more. If anyone asks, though, she'd look disgusted. Gotta keep up appearances. --
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is just dealing with trying not to look hungry and/or about to fall. The happyhappyjoy around him isn't really helping. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is keeping an eye on Nibzan, don't worry. He's her patient grrr. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] flies on, still thankful for the lack of enemies to deal with. Screw this, not having Agatha anymore. Against his will, he wishes to himself again that there was someone to take injuries again. In due time, they all come to the gate of Gallia's world that leads to Alcippe's. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # Bzzzz... This is the low noise everyone will hear. That is all though.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns. Does her new world have bugs? That would just be peachy. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] will never be alright with any of these glitches, even the small ones. Eugh... He holds back a scowl, hovering in front of the portal. He looks behind him to make sure everyone's with him. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is waiting to go through. He just wants to get to his world as soon as possible. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is right beside Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] ends his pause... and enters... --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] follows. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows Malhaut, of course. --
CGS: # They were supposed to enter and exit into Alcippe's world. The game, and the glitch, has other plans.
CGS: # While passing through, each troll will feel an unusual tingling sensation that isn't normal for passing between worlds. They'll be held in this limbo for a moment or two longer than usual.
CGS: # Instead of arriving where intended, the location our heroes end up in is a world of ear-splitting sound. The bellowing and screaming world they have entered is... LoTaD. The Land of Terror and Dismay.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] screams, hands coming up to cover her ears. After a moment she's able to think through the pain, and she forces herself to brush herself off and extract a pair of earmuffs. She's very purposefully not looking at Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] swears massively, although it's lost in the general din, and covers his ears. Since he never planned on visiting Malhaut's world if he could help it, he doesn't have anything to block out the noise. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes a sharp noise of pain and surprise when the (sadly) familiar soundblast hits his eardrums. He instinctively covers his ears and extracts a pair of headgear. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks to his side and notices... Shit. Damn, Nibzan, did you really... No protection. NONE. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] swears (quite loudly) to himself and plucks off his own gear and shoves it onto Nibzan's head roughly. --
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CHE ceased responding to memo.
CGS ceased responding to memo.
CNN ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] gets noise canceler things shoved onto him! He cautiously untucks his head slightly. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks to Nibzan, to make sure he's not staring at Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] isn't, he's taking a chance to look around the land. --
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] hastily uncaptchalogues a second pair. He's eternally thankful that he carries multiples most of the time... They're soon unceremoniously placed upon his cranium. Urgh, thank God the sound's blocked. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] still quite addled, steadies himself while also typing into his Trollian, starting a memo for all three of them. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] holds her head, shaking it back and forth until the memo pops up on her shawl. --
CNN: * Doo noot take joour ear prootectioon ooff. Zis soound has ze poover too literally render joou deaf.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gestures at her shawl. --
CER: * undersTooud.
CIM: * becauthe obviouthly we're thtupid enough to not have worked that out ourthelveth.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slides a suppressed glare over in Nibzan's direction, teeth bared but concealed behind barely closed lips. --
CNN: * I suppoose zen joou voould noot like me too infoorm joou oof ze apparitioons zat prey oon ze unvary here.
CIM: *thince that'th thomething that'th not readily obviouth, that ith in fact thomething you ought to mention. the noithe thing wath fucking obviouth.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks from Malhaut to Nibzan, trying to suppress a raging headache. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] glare becomes cold. He does the right thing though and refrains from typing in anything else having to do with it. --
CNN: * Anyvays, I am noot sure vhy ve are here oof all places. I voould razer us leave, but I doo noot trust ze poortals at ze time.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns himself and looks out upon the mountainous desert environment of screams with loathing. Not too far from where they are, there's something cylindrical. --
CNN: * Perhaps ve shoould goo too ze NautilusⅡ foor noov. Zere are many moore useful materials too salvage, and ze soound is much moore toolerable zere.
CER: * undersTooud.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] merely nods, rather than reply over trollian --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] begins to fly in the direction of that apparently massive structure. He starts off slow to type one last thing before putting on the full-throttle. --
CNN: * Be cautioous oof ze... hoovering heads.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns, and flies after Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] Nibzan, and Gallia will be fine as long as they stay away from the ground. Sometimes, they may catch sight of something terrifying down below. Strangely enough, what's seen would be different for each troll... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] seems very intent on keeping his eyes off of it, except for brief glances to make sure nothing attacks from below. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] makes the mistake of looking down, and her blood runs cold. Those... aren't heads. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks down after a while, only to stop and stare down at what's below him. okay, what the hell is going on. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] has slowed, apparently terrified. This isn't her world -- she doesn't know the score well enough to ignore it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] keeps moving until he notices the others aren't keeping pace with him. Stopping and swerving to face them, the seatroll flashes an expression that's frustrated, startled, and anxious all at the same time. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] types into his Trollian almost furiously. --
CNN: * Keep mooving.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] startles when her trollian bleeps, glancing towards it, looking away from the corpses and blood. --
CER: * I apoulougise.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head, violently, a hand coming up to her muffs to keep them on her head. She reaches over and grabs Nibzan's arm, her lips forming the unheard words, 'coume oun!' --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] tries to pull away, still staring down at whatever he's seeing. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lets him go, but moves so she's physically in between Nibzan and the ground, blocking his view. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] bites his lip in discontent and hovers over to them both, gesturing for Nibzan to get his head out of the terrorsights and follow. He appears a bit rushed... --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks away from where Gallia has just blocked his view, quickly schooling his face into it's normal angry state. Gallia might have noticed that for a brief moment he looked both scared and sad. He moves away from both off them, continuing towards their destination. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses. Sparing Gallia a look of empathy is something he planned to do, although Nibzan going ahead of them both left him to play catch-up to secure his front position. He's not willing to let anyone go through this land without his direction. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns when she sees it, but if she saw what she saw, then he must have... Gallia shakes her head and continues after Malhaut and Nibzan. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # Thrrrrrrump. Everything skips for a second, sound and movement both. Some objects and landscape features flicker, shift position, then immediately realign.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] snarls, unheard against the screaming. She looks back and forth to make sure that nothing is going to come and kill them - and gets another unpleasant glimpse of the things down below. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] startles and pauses to evaluate the situation. After taking a moment to see that nobody's hurt or flying to pieces, he moves on. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] winces as the glitch washes over the world, before continuing on his course. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] leads his pack (numbering only two) to the wreckage of the formerly proud Nautilus II. Even in its terrible state, the vessel is massive, it's surface sleek and black, except for places where meteors or large enemy attacks grazed it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] regards what used to be a functional turret, now hanging lamely off of the submarine's top as he lands near the hatch. Now, he waits for his companions to land. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lands next to Malhaut, looking down at the submarine with a mixture of awe and sadness. Here is Malhaut's previous life... and it's so ragged. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] just lands, scuffing the surface of the sub slightly with his heels --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] kneels down to start unlatching the hatch door once everyone's present. Instead of getting right to it, his fingers linger on the crank. They trace its shape delicately for no more than a few seconds before he just muscles it open. It's a good thing these materials are rust resistant... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] would speak to his fellows now, but the oddity of his world is... there is no Medium. The sound levels are still deafening and dangerous, so he types. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] feels a pang as she watches Malhaut open the hatch. Her poor matesprit... --
CNN: * Vatch joour step... Ze ladder gooes straight doovn.
CER: * undersTooud.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gestures for them to go ahead, standing aside. His face is fixed in neutrality. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gives Malhaut a sympathetic look from behind her glasses, and then heads down the ladder. Clomp, clomp, clomp. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream, [CIM,] after a few seconds, follows --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] only enters when Nibzan and Gallia are on their way down. Peeking out over the top of the hull one last time before locking the door again, he slips into the ship. The electrical systems may have died out, so everything's nearly pitch black. Only a small hole here or there in the submarine allow light to filter in. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] comes to the bottom of the ladder, and stands to the side, letting her good eye adjust to the darkness. --
CNN: ((PAUSE HNG))
CRM ceased responding to memo.
CDJ ceased responding to memo.
CNN ceased responding to memo.
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CGS ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] descends slowly enough to give Nibzan time to finish his downward climb as well. His boots will click against the steel flooring in due time. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] types into his Trollian whilst removing his headgear. --
CNN: * Joou may remoove joour gear noov, Nibzan, Gallia.
CMS ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] descends the ladder, and after checking his trollian removes the ear muff things. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] slips her muffs off and captchalogues them. She shakes her head and looks to Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slips past them both, pausing to gesture at them to follow. He knows this ship very well; It wouldn't be a good thing if someone wandered into the reactor room or some other hazardous place. --
CNN: Coome... Ve vill goo too ze coontrool deck. I vill try and turn oon ze back-up generatoor oonce ve are situated.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows him, of course. Her adjusted eye glances back and forth, taking in all the shadowy details she can. --
CER: oukay...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] follows, trailing one hand against the wall like he did in Gallia's hive. This time, however, it's more because of the darkness than to make sure he doesn't fall. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] leads them through hallways and hallways shrouded in darkness. He has to indicate to them many times to duck. The seatroll has many a "fond" memory of hitting his head on overhanging pipes and knobs when he was a greenhorn on the ship. Even if Malhaut made sure to lock up tight before leaving here, he still keeps a close eye out for any stray enemies that might have crawled their way in. So far, nothing disturbs them. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is a smart cookie, so she ducks when Malhaut tells her to duck. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes his time to make sure nobody trips or bangs their noggins. They arrive at a particular room after a good long while. It's laced with different types of computer monitors. Radar, sonar, communications, the works. Of course... everything's dark, and everything's powered down for now. --
CNN: Feel free too take a seat if joou voould vish...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sounds somewhat vacant as he continues. --
CNN: It is noot as if zere is anjoone too steal zem froom, after all.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] leans up against a wall --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] feels another pang for Malhaut, and in the darkness, she reaches out to place a hand on his arm. (At least she thinks it's his arm -- even her eyes, adapted to trollish night-life, can only make out his vague form.) --
CRM ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had already begun turning, so she ends up touching his shoulder instead of his arm. Not bad though. Malhaut... hm... He's a bit hasty today, it seems. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can feel the fabric of his coat as she strokes his shoulder. She's bothered by not being able to see - blindness is a sore spot for her - but she's adapted to having poor sight before, so she's able to function in the dark. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses at first. His body starts relaxing; It'd been uptight before, although this moment ends quickly as he moves to slip out of the room. However, the seatroll speaks up first. --
CNN: Hoopefully I can get soome poover gooing in here. Please, booz oof joou, be sure noot too tamper viz anyzing zat has mooving parts besides joour chairs.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] voice is soft as she pulls her hand back to her chest. --
CER: gooud luck...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses again, his response slipping out quietly before he disappears. --
CNN: ...Zank joou.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] echoing footsteps can be heard (almost) rushing down the corridor. Gallia and Nibzan are left alone and to their own devices. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] doesn't sit; she stands, hands laced together in front of her waist. She keeps an eye on the shadowy form of Nibzan. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] isn't doing anything, other than looking around. He does seem to be leaning a little heavier against the wall, however. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] assures Nibzan: --
CER: we will geT you soumeThing Tou eaT jusT as sooun as The lighTs are oun.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] glances towards Gallia, before looking away without a reply. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] urge to take several detours on his way to the main electrical room is strong. These urges are ignored with much mental force, and more than enough to keep him collected. Everything is so familiar here, even if the place is wrecked. Smells and sensations poke at his recollections, even as he arrives. Snooping around only brings bad news... It's just now that Malhaut remembers something important. He traded that generator to Megdul! Damn. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] growls to himself, frustrated. Both his trip and this... problem will keep him for some time. Gallia and Nibzan will find themselves alone for up to forty-five minutes... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is patient; she's able to wait. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] continues leaning against the wall, but after a little while slides to a sitting position on the floor. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] even after such a long time of searching, comes up with nothing to power the sh-... Oh, wait. Maybe something else that runs on batteries is still charged in this place. He at least finds some flashlights and a large electric lantern. The thing hasn't been used in ages, so it's still got battery life left to spare. Alchemization will allow for a steady supply of batteries in the future. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] of course, hasn't done that yet. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] isn't ready to go to that area of the ship anyways. Instead, he'll trudge his way back, and in time his "crewmates" will hear his footsteps approaching again. Malhaut enters with the light-bringing spoils. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up when she hears Malhaut's footsteps, and she smiles, though the expression is a little wan. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] entrance also brings a flood of light into the room; He's turned the lantern on. One by one, he hands a flashlight to each troll present. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] loks up as Malhaut enters, shading his eyes as the light hits then with a hiss of irritation. He accepts the torch, however. --
CNN: Sadly... I have noot been able too start ze generatoor. It is noo loonger here.
CNN: Unless I find anoozer vay too take care oof zis issue, zese lights shoould suffice...
CER: a-aT leasT we have lighT nouw...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes a flashlight with a nod to Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] isn't doing so obviously, but to some extent, he's avoiding direct and prolonged eye contact. --
CNN: Jes, zis is true...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pockets his flashlight, since he's carrying the lantern anyways. --
CNN: ... Noov... zere are proobably zings here I shoould take doovn ze coodes foor, perhaps alchemize. I vas noot vell learned in ze art upoon my entrance, soo getting said coodes vas ze last zing oon my mind.
CNN: Joou may eizer foolloov me cloosely oor stay put here...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes drift in Nibzan's direction, not showing any particular emotion. --
CNN: ... In oozer nevs... Nibzan, joou planned oon eating oonce ve arrived at joour hive. Joou really shoould have soomezing vhile joou are here...
CER: w-we should proubably sTay TougeTher... and yes, Nibzan, please eaT.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] shrugs, having placed the torch down by his feet. He sitting slightly hunched, knees up with his head tilted forward. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stands in place quietly, still looking at Nibzan. --
CNN: ...
CNN: ... Soo. Vhat vill it be?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks over to Gallia. Godamn that neutral expression, fffff. --
CNN: I suppoose joour chooices oof snacks are eizer canned food, jerky, oor soomezing moore savoory zat Gallia may have oon hand...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks to Malhaut, and she's crushingly sympathetic. Why won't she stop being sympathetic? --
CER: I have feaTherbeasT sandwiches...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] does, now, level a glare at both of them. His face seems drawn. --
CIM: i don't want anything.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] expression almost takes a tilt into a mildly melancholy state. Something about him keeps his facial muscles locked where they ought to be, or at least where he things they ought to be. The look is a bit familiar. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns to Nibzan upon his response. His voice infers an order, but Malhaut makes sure to sound like it's in Nibzan's best interest. --
CNN: Joou must eat... Have at least soomezing. Ve cannoot leave joou running oon empty.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] tilts his head back down again, looking away from Malhaut --
CIM: ... fuck off.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] isn't happy about Malhaut's flat expression, but... there's nothing she can do about it for now. She turns fully towards Nibzan. --
CER: Nibzan, you are my paTienT four as loung as you are weakened. if you dou nouT eaT, I will counTinue Tou hound you.
CIM: you do that, then.
CER: doun'T make me dou This.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] voice almost seems a little threatening. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] was hoping he could get this all done as quickly as possible, buuut it's easy to see from what's happened so far that such a thing won't be possible. Still, the flat-face prevails. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] adds in calmly: --
CNN: If joou voould noot listen too me... I voould certainly listen too ze vooman in froont oof joou.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] shrugs again; it seems like that's the only reply Gallia and Malhaut are getting. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] raises a brow and gestures to Gallia with his head without looking at her. --
CNN: ... She is quite coonvincing joou knoov.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps forward, and crouches in front of Nibzan. She reaches out to place a hand on his shoulder, in a gesture which is meant to look comforting. --
CNN ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks up, and looks like he wants to move away from Gallia, but as he's already up against the wall, there's not really anywhere he can go. --
CER: Nibzan, iT will nouT hurT you Tou eaT.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods to reinforce Gallia's statement. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks away to one side, not replying. --
CER: Nibzan....
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out. --
CER: I'm sourry abouT This.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] hand flashes the 'IB' symbol, and she attempts to drain Nibzan's stubbornness from him. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] She'll probably find less stubbornness than she was expecting, and there'll be a fuckton of apathy floating around. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns when she feels it. She redirects her vampirism from his stubbornness to his apathy. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] doesn't seem to react very much at first, but quickly he seems more alert and back to his normal self. He stands up away from Gallia, his normal glare firmly back on his face again. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] brushes herself off and uncaptchalogues a pair of sandwiches, cut down the middle and sealed in foil. --
CER: I doun'T care. jusT eaT.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] does actually take the sandwich, although he doesn'teat it, just holds it. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns away, to emphasise how few fucks she gives. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] busies himself by inspecting some of the nearby and neglected equipment. Maybe if he doesn't stare Nibzan down, he'll be more likely to eat... --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] does take grudging bite of the sandwich - and then another. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] silently listens to the sounds of consumption. Yes. He is eating. Oh yes. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] twitches an ear. She can hear him eating, but it isn't like she cares. Why would she care? Screw Nibzan. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is just gonna... keep eating, yep. He's feeling (and looking) a bit better now that he's got some food in him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] while drifting about, had come across some items that he actually /could/ use, or perhaps someone else could. After making room in his sylladex by taking out his stack of notebooks and pocketing them (They were those small flip-books), he gets the codes for pieces of cord, wiring, some pipes and screws. There were some documents lying about, all coded and put away in writing as well. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] once he's done, circles back around to this small portion of his crew. --
CNN: ... I believe ve are set too travel furzer in noov. Are joou booz ready?
CER: I guess sou.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] just nods, whether Malhaut is looking at him or not. The sandwich is finished, and the foil balled up and stuffed in his pocket. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had been, so he takes that as a yes. He starts on his way out and gestures for them to follow behind. --
CNN: Coome zen... Have joour flashlights ready. It shoould be easier viz zis latern zoough, zankfully.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows Malhaut, she /guesses/. She takes out her flashlight and switches it on. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] follows, belatedly switching on his torch and shining it around him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] continues the treck through the ship's winding corridors. At one point he pauses; There's a reverberating creaking noise that lasts for a few seconds before fading out. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] automatically slips slowly into a position that's ready to spring. It's not long before he shifts out of it. --
CNN: ... It must have been an enemy oon toop oof ze ship.
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks back ahead and continues walking. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] just keeps walking after Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] leads them to a particularly large hallway, but once again Malhaut slows, then stops. He breathes in and looks rather startled and ridged. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps up next to Malhaut, her concern overriding her apathy. --
CRM ceased responding to memo.
CPC ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slips a slight shudder; The seatroll smells a rather unpleasant smell drifting down the hall. Old blood. His now heightening sense of smell don't make things any better. This place is enclosed enough that he can even smell the barely-present scent of adrenaline. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] has stopped, and is trying to work out what's gotten Malhaut to actually react to anything. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] puts a hand on Malhaut's arm, though her nose twitches. Something smells off. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] bites the inside of his cheek hard and disguises the motion as a troubled frown only. He sounds a bit eager to divert his mind from whatever is occupying it. --
CNN: Zere are soome nearby rooms vhich joou tvoo may vish too investigate. Feel free too search zem oout toogezer foor items and coodes oof zings joou may vish too have.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gestures to a room directly to his right, and one a few more steps forward to the left. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] shakes his head, preapring to lean against the wall if there's gonna be another code-taking session. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's arm, despite a feeling in the back of her mind that this is all bullshit and she really shouldn't care. After a moment, she steps away and looks to Nibzan. --
CER: coume oun.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] leans against the wall oh yeah --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had wanted to put a hand up onto Gallia's during the stroking. It's something he doesn't end up doing. Instead, the hall in front of him is his focus, and he starts on his way down it. --
CER: Nibzan, are you couming.
CIM: if we're jutht going to be thearching for codeth, then no. i have everything i want.
CER: ... fine.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] would like to hover over them both and make sure things go alright between them, but it's important that he searches this ship for everything that he can. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] doesn't care, look at how much she doesn't care! She doesn't even really care about searching for codes, but a larger part of her is worried for Malhaut and knows that he probably wants to be alone, so she goes into a room to search for codes. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] ends up coming upon a particular hallway... and the ground is stained with something that smells foul to him. Streak marks of the dulled-out, multicolored liquids eventually lead to an exit hatch, but Malhaut isn't going to go that far. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] goes into the door to the right. --
CNN: # Gallia will be wandering into the mess hall with all its glorious eating space, tables and chairs included. Most of them aren't knocked over due to being bolted down, but some of the moveable ones are scattered across the room. There's a very large flat-screen TV hung from the wall, screen black. A serving area and kitchen will be to her immediate left. A medley of personal items can be found in here that </
were probably left out before the chaos happened. Playing cards, cracked and spilled cups of various beverages, etc.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head and goes to the kitchen. She brushes herself off to uncaptchalogue her own notebook, and sets out to gather codes for the food stocks. (She'll look for tea, of course.) --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has to work to keep his composure sound during this trek through his old home. He comes across an area where a huge portion of the hull is ripped out; This is where Pallida had left. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shines his lantern down into the depths to see the uncovered tangle of intertwining pipelines, wiring, and other equipment. He draws in a ragged breath, breathes it out, and continues. He picks up more codes as he goes to his next destination; The room he used to frequent... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes down codes for preserved foodstocks which she doesn't already have. Given that she's gone through two highblood hives already, there are things which she /does/ have -- but military stocks are still useful. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] comes to the bunks in time; They're almost as pristine as they were on the day they arrived, not counting the fact that sheets are tossed to the side from people who weren't on shift yet rocketing out of bed on the night of the disaster. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts getting codes from things of his that he hadn't bothered to bring with him, and still doesn't plan to or can't. His sylladex doesn't like anything too heavy... This leaves him unable to retrieve the codes of those sorts of items. He could get Gallia in here to help him with that, but... --
CNN: # Gallia should find plenty of cooking equipment too. Looks like plenty of grease has fallen onto the floor and dried out into sticky puddles and smudges. Anything that /was/ fresh and not preserves went bad a long, long time ago.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] would normally care very much about the state of this kitchen... but right now, she doesn't. She just takes down the codes. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is still gonna be standing out in the hallway. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes his time browsing about... that is until he contemplates looking in the storage lockers of his old crewmates. Something feels intrinsically /wrong/ about it, yet in the end, he opens the ones he can locate the keys for. Something tugs away at his vascular strings when he comes to the last locker and bunk directly above his own. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] eventually finishes with cataloguing the food on the sub, and moves back into the hallway. She looks to Nibzan. --
CER: CapTain back yeT?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks pointedly along the hallway to both side of him. --
CIM: doeth he look like he'th back yet?
CER: Tch.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] moves to that room to the left, blowing Nibzan off. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] demi-face fades away... Solemnly, he looks over the name label, then gets to looking for the key in an attempt to distract himself and get down to business. Over several minutes, he has no luck. The seatroll gives the storage compartment one last look before shuffling on out of the room. --
CNN: # Gallia will now be entering a room devoted to spare parts and tools, such as wrenches, screws, nuts and bolts, wiring, wire cutters, so on, and so forth.
CNN: # Welding equipment... Plenty of power tools...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gets to noting down those codes as well. Welding and wire cutters first, then the rest. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] walks back up the hall he'd come down to the point that his heavy footsteps might be heard, but the darkness shields him from view, unless a flashlight was shone directly down the hall. Even then he'd almost be too far away. The captain pauses and looks up a ladder alongside the wall... contemplating if he should go up it or not. --
CNN: # The room isn't that big; It's very compacted for the sake of saving space. Tools are stacked upon each other and all wall space is used with almost no exceptions. If she works quickly, it should be cleared and coded in no time.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is efficient as fuck. She's a maid! Maids are known for their deadly efficiency. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # There's a sporadic change in temperature; The heat in the room skyrockets in a matter of a few dozen seconds! The highest temperature could be equated to a burning summer's day.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had started climbing the ladder before slowing and stopping upon feeling the change in temperature. Starting to sweat he looks about, both concerned, discomforted, and confused. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] mutters to himself. --
CNN: ... Damn it all...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is well-armored -- and entirely unsuited to a hot summer's day. Her hauberk heats up, and Gallia's lips curl up in a snarl. She's unwilling to let go of her armor, but god is she hot. Almost unbearably hot. She drops into a wary stance. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is thankfully wearing fairly light clothes with no armor to speak of, but he still feels the sudden unnatural heat. He looks around himself, shining the torch up and down. --
CGS: # Over that short amount of time the temperature climbs to its maximum...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] keeps climbing, but more or less in a hurry. Damn glitches... He wants to get his business done here as soon as possible. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] leans against the door, panting. It is too... goddamn... hot. Finally it becomes unbearable, and Gallia captchalogues her hauberk. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes off his jacket, even though it holds in pretty much no heat anyway --
CGS: # ... and then...
CGS: # COLD
CGS: # BITTER COLD.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] seizes up. Why is this happening?! Gallia uncaptchalogues her coat onto her body, and hugs herself. Why cold. Why. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gasps (not TOO loudly) and coughs from the sudden change in air temperature. He holds onto the ladder tightly and his body goes stiff. He's looking almost a little terrified from the shock. He breathes out and a puff of steam follows it. This is NOT fun. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] ...okay what the fuck is going on here. He puts his jacket back on and huddles in on himself. He is not dressed for cold. --
CGS: # The temperature hovers at this level for another half a minute or so before a strobe-like effect starts up everywhere, flashing between pink, black, and white. That, and a brief humming heralds the end of the temperature change. Upon stopping, so does it. Everything goes back to normal in its entierty.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] closes her eyes against the strobing, gripping herself harder. She just wants this to be -over-. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had kept climbing up the ladder as soon as he'd gotten over some of this nasty surprise. The sudden strobing almost knocks him clean off the ladder though. Thankfully, it doesn't, and he finds himself holding on for dear life, firmly latched onto the pegs, instead of on the steel floor below. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] covers his eyes with a hand, squinting against the light. When the temperature goes back to normal, he rubs at his arms to try and get his skin warm again. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] draws in a few breaths... In and out. Okay. Thank god that's done with. He gets to the top quickly and coughs a good few times into his arm once he arrives there. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] finally feels the temperature go back to normal, and she cautiously opens her good eye. Okay... okay, good. She re-arranges her clothing so that she's wearing her hauberk and her coat, just in case the temperature returns to that unrelenting frost. (She prefers wearing her coat most of the time, anyway.) --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts moving to the-OH MY GOD --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stops right in his tracks, stiff as a board and looking like he's seen a ghost. He might as well have. There, in this area there's a pipline that'd burst and collapsed, steam-burning and crushing something... someone... underneath it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stands like a statue, staring down at the corpse of what used to be his ship's captain. It's almost beyond recognition from its state of damage and decay, but the royal emblems on his clothing and near impossible to mistake for anything else. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] holds up his whip handle interface, slides his lantern down onto his arm, and types with hands that are starting to shake. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] types to Gallia: --
CNN: * I appooloogize foor my loong absence. I may be goone foor avhile loonger still... Zere is much cleaning too doo.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is interrupted from her code-taking with a message. She gestures at her shawl. --
CER: * would you like soume help?
CNN: * I am fein, tank joou zoough.
CNN: ** Soorry. I am fine, zank joou zoough.
CER: * ... are you sure?
CNN: * I'm sure.
CNN: * ... Damn. I am still reeling froom zat temperature change a bit. Really, I doo appooloogize.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] narrows her good eye. --
CER: * MalhauT, was iT really jusT The TemperaTure?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] swallows, shivers, and... carefully weaves his way around the body to get to what had been this body's living quarters. Thankfully, the old captain had left the door open. --
CNN: * Aboout soo, aboout soo.
CER: * ... dou you wanT me Tou leave you aloune four nouw?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] closes the door behind him and lets out a ragged breath, leaning lightly against it. He's feeling a little woozy at the moment. --
CNN: * It is fine. I am still busy gazering zese zings zoough... but doon't hesitate too say anyzing if joou need too.
CER: * I will speak wiTh you when you are ready, MalhauT.
CNN: * Alright. Still, I'll try too make zis as quick as poossible.
CER: * gooud luck, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] closes off contact for now. --
CNN: *Zank joou.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out as she dismisses her interface. Something is wrong with Malhaut, and in a different situation, she might have pried further. But right now... right now she has just enough don't-give-a-damn to let him go on his own. She continues collecting codes. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes another minute to get ahold of himself before moving forward on his journey into the old captain's personal business. He first sights the clothing rack where his jacket and hat would have hung, but neither sits there. They'd been damaged along with the body. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] instead finds some of the more mundane clothing items he'd owned, like an extra pair of gloves and a windbreaker. At this point, Malhaut doesn't really care if he himself will use all these things or not. Nothing is exempt from code grabbing... He starts going through some drawers, and one by one he uncovers things that he nearly can't stomach looking at right now. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] finds dossiers; Records on most every crew member that had been in service before and during his time on the Nautilus II. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] finds passports and memoirs, documentations of seabattles and notes to friends and quadrants. Emblems, letters of recognition... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] finds an interesting piece of paper... It has a lipstick imprint on it, and it's sealed with a pretty ribbon. Malhaut dares not open it... but... something inside urges him too take out his secret box and slip this parcel inside for later reading instead of just taking the code down for it. As for the rest of everything he'd found, he'd taken codes for most all of it. What a code spree this poor guy's on... --
CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CDJ: A tremor starts. A long - low moaning...
CDJ: # A tremor starts. A long, low moaning...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up, sharply, from her notebook. What was that? --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks up and down the corridor, shining his light where he looks. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] closes up her notebook and goes back into the hall, her own flashlight shining back and forth. She opens up communications with Malhaut. --

**kittentoes** · 01-30-2012, 06:48 PM

Part 2 of #Portal_Roulette:

-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] freezes up. Finears perked, his body rotates to look behind him until sliding back into place. --
CER: * soumeThing's happening. please, coume back Tou us.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks quickly back to the drawers, /almost/ thinking of ignoring the message to buy himself a little more time with his captain's old legacy, but Gallia and Nibzan are a BIT more important than that... --
CNN: * Jes. I am oon my vay.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] closes down communications and goes to leave the room... giving it one last look, perhaps of longing and melancholy, before leaving. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stands with Nibzan, her emotional high fading in light of time and adrenaline. That sound wasn't -natural-. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # There's an weak electricity surge of some sort. Undamaged lights turn on in the submarine.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] whirls towards the light, pointing her flashlight towards it (uselessly). She's getting on-edge. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] travels past the rancid, long-gone body again. He wishes he could completely ignore it while passing through, but to no avail. Soon, he's heading down the ladder. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] presses against the wall as lights flicker on here and there. --
CER: perhaps - MalhauT found a generaTour.
CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CDJ: # Creeeeeeaaaaaak... The sound is that of ice on a pond expanding; A prolonged cracking.
CER: we will sTay here unTil he arrives.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] simply nods tensely. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] reaches the bottom of the ladder and starts on his way back down the hall. As time goes on, his pace quickens into not quite a sprint. These noises sound like they're coming from something abnormal. --
CDJ: # Then - something particularly strange. It... feels like the ship is ever so slightly... rocking?... It could be dizziness though - or an illusion made by the vibrations that are so often pulsing through the world.
CDJ: # Then, something particularly strange. It... feels like the ship is ever so slightly... rocking?... It could be dizziness though, or an illusion made by the vibrations that are so often pulsing through the world.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] skitters to a stop about halfway to the others. Why does the ship feel like it's rocking? That only happened during the most severe cyclones on the ocean... but then again, that was when it was in water. The seatroll shakes his head to rid himself of old musings and continues on his way until he meets up with Gallia and Nibzan. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks to Malhaut when she hears his footsteps, and she feels relieved when he comes into view. But she doesn't relax. --
CER: leT's geT ouT ouf here, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] probably looking a little off in terms of expression; That brain of his has about had it with Demifin-ing for the night, so the lighting in the hall lets others see his slight paleness, and he's plainly concerned about the disturbance. --
CNN: Jes. Doo joou booz have everyzing viz joou?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can see it, and she gives him a concerned expression. She nods. --
CER: I've gouT The coudes capTchalougued.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] never even took down any codes, nevertheless, he nods. --
CNN: Alright. Good.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] urges the other two trolls to follow him out the way they came. It'll take a bit of time for them to get to the exit hatch. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows Malhaut, stumbling now and then as her balance is thrown off by the swaying of the submarine. She's not a sea-troll! --
CDJ: # In the meantime, some of those odd noises and motions continue, not slowing, certainly not stopping. When they all reach a spot almost at the base of the ladder that leads to the outside, there's a loud CRACK.
CDJ: # It's the sound of stone splitting in twain... somewhere...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stops again once they reach that point. With a slight moment's hesitation, he starts climibing, but makes sure to order: --
CNN: Everjoone, get zeir headgear oon.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does so himself. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stiffens when she hears the mighty CRACK, almost dropping her flashlight. She opts to captchalogue it, figuring she won't need it outside anyway, and fumbles to brush herself off and uncaptchalogue her earmuffs. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] slips them on, and gestures for Nibzan to get on the ladder first. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] dons the ear-protection he'd left around his neck. He's already had his ear drums almost bown out once, and has no desire to repeat the experience. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] climbs quickly with as much caution as he can, taking special care to hold on tight in case something "rocks the boat" --
CIM: ((ooh sexy))
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] climbs on up after Nibzan. Why she's considering his safety enough to sandwich him between two competent players, no one will ever know. --
CDJ: # Outside of the ship starts an unearthly tearing noise so loud that the trolls can hear it /through/ their headgear, even if it's not more than medium in volume versus ear-splitting.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] grits her teeth, holding the bars of the ladder in an iron grip. It's a good thing this ship is designed with STRONG officers in mind. --
CDJ: # When Malhaut (and eventually the rest of them) surface, the land will appear to be heaving, cracks darting through the dry rock and soil, the pointiest of peaks crumbling. The audible voice of this land screams and howls as if it's being torn up from the inside.
CGS: # The land itself flickers. The Nautilus II rumbles from being vibrated.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] works himself out of the hole and stands, only to stumble and have to catch himself from falling once on the submarine's hull. Anxiety and fear is most of what he can feel right now. --
CDJ: # An eerie silence fades into the surroundings... #Something_Wicked_This_Way_Comes .

In #Something_Wicked_This_Way_Comes, disaster strikes. Specifically, it strikes Gallia - hard and fast.

CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] grimaces at the moving landscape as he climbs up out onto the submarine. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] staggers, trying to catch her balance when she finally gets up onto the submarine's hull. --
CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CDJ: # The silence endures. The tremors temporarily stop dead in their tracks. This almost seems more unnatural than normal... This land almost always vibrates at least barely from the constant sound.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] catches her balance, and swallows at a lump that's formed in her throat. This is... --
CER: l-leT's geT ouT ouf here.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes are fixed on everything around him. A shiver runs up his spine. This isn't... He should be glad that everything's calmed, but this doesn't feel right at all! It can't be! --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] reaches out to Malhaut, putting a hand on his arm and looking at him with desperation. She's confused for a moment as to why no one replies, but then she realises. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] types with her other hand in short gestures: --
CER: * please, leT's geT ouT ouf here.
CIM: * we thtill need to get to my world, conthidering that wath the entire purpothe of thith trip.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't respond at first. When he does, he doesn't type, but nods to her and Nibzan quickly. --
CDJ: # Even through their headgear vibrates a monsterous bellow!
CDJ: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRGG GGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] winces, her hand lifting from Malhaut's arm so it can curl at her chest. What was that sound?! --
CDJ: #From behind our heroes, the ground bursts asunder, rocks between the size of marbles and tractor-trailers hurtling through the air! In the midst of this, a titan rises by the power of its pure might and fury!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] whirls to face the earthquake, eyes wide. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] turns when he sees rocks flying through the air, narrowly ducking away from one of the smaller ones. Well, shit. --
CDJ: # Watch out for that sudan sized one... but it's moving fast enough that this is nearly undodgeable! Perhaps it actually IS!
CER: gh -
CDJ: # The boulder cracks into Gallia's side, but its size means the damage will be devestating... and the sheer force, plus her launch off the submarine along with said rock will spell her doom. By the time she hits the ground, her whole entier side and then some will be crushed in.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is DEAD. --
CER ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] ... whelp. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes widen as his eyes follow Gallia's fall and demise. It seems almost impossible for them to go as wide as they are, and his mouth hangs open. The devestation hasn't come yet; Only the shock. --
CDJ: THE LAND - IT SPLITS - TO HERALD - MY RISE!
CDJ: I - AM - FREE!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] roars! Janus's form resembles a double headed saurian like a triceratops. It has a skull on each end of its body, having no "back" to it. Its skulls are massive shields of steel, and metallic horns radiate out from them and spread like tendrils. Sturdy, powerful, menacing, Janus dwarfs the very hills and rock formations alongside it. The submarine is a toy to it. The trolls, termites. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] ... ... ... whelp. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] lower jaw moves, jitters, but nothing moves to form words. His vascular organ looks like it could have literally skipped a beat or two. His brain can't take this in. A giant rock just flew out of nowhere, killed his matesprit, Nibzan exists, his denizen must have just /killed/ his world, it's bigger than anything he could possibly defeat... --
CIM: * ... we're thcrewed.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] floats in his mind for some time, not noticing the blip, or anything else. One single thought rises up in his head... His denizen... it killed her. His denizen killed Gallia. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts to see red. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] face stark cold and flat, types to Nibzan, his eyes now fixed on the denizen. --
CNN: * Nibzan. I vill kiss Gallia. Joou vill vait until she returns froom Derse.
CNN: * Vhen she dooes, take her oout oof here.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] turns his gaze to Malhaut before for a second before replying. --
CIM: * ... okay.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't even wait for a response. He hovers down to the body; Only the head and a shoulder are exposed. He kisses her lips, which are probably covered in welling, bloody spittle. Frankly, he doesn't give a damn. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stands straight, flies back up to the now heavily dented hull of the sub, and looks out at his denizen. --
CDJ: FREEDOM IN ALL - THIS - CARNAGE! THE WEEPING WORLD - FALLS SILENT!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] shakes its heads to throw off all the dust and dirt it had collected. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] corrects itself --
CDJ: HAD FALLEN SILENT.
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] tilts the head down that's facing in the direction of the submarine and sights Malhaut and Nibzan. With steps that cause the earth to quake it moves forward, until its car-sized eyes can stare down at the trolls. Its gaze seems more directed at Malhaut. --
CDJ: HERO OF FORM - YOUR LOSS IS MY GAIN. I AM FREE - FREE - FREE FOREVER.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes a step back from the denizen, but otherwise stays where he is. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] kicks up off the Nautilus II and floats up so that he can see with it eye to eye. His stare is unnerving... His pupils are paper-thin slits. His whip is at his side. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] meets the stare. It doesn't emote, for it has no way to, but its telepathic voice tells all. --
CDJ: FREE - FREE - FREE - YOU HAVE - LOST. GO. LET ME ROAM - MY NEW PASTURES.
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] alternates in speech between both of its head. One is closer, one is further away, so it creates quite the odd surround-sound effect, not to mention how loudly it echoes. --
CDJ: YOU HAVE - NOTHING - LEFT TO DO - HERE.
CNN: I vill kill joou.
CDJ: THERE IS - NO CHOICE - ANY LONGER - HERO.
CDJ: I AM FREE. I HAVE WON.
CNN: I vill kill joou.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice, previously flat and neutral, is slipping into a menacing tone. --
CNN: Zere is noo chooice foor me.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] roars. --
CNN: BUT TOo KILL JOoU.
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # # There's a massive wave of static. Everything shimmers but the players and the denizen. The colors of the environment are completely reversed, making it nightmarish.
-- CURRENT denizenJanus's [CDJ'S] white pupils dialate, and it rears up on its... other front legs and bellows. --
CDJ: WHAT - IS - THIS?!
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] winces at the reversed colours, but continues keeping a watch on the denizen. There are more important things than glitches. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] lets out a battle cry deep from his chest and slashes at one of its eyes with his whip. Even in reverse colors, everything's gone red to him in his mind. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus's [CDJ'S] eye is scraped! This does Malhaut no benefit though; It still has one good eye on this side, and two on the other. Janus moves quickly for such a large beast. It flicks its massive head to try and knock Malhaut away, while at the same time nearly turning on a dime so that its other head can face him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] falls back, dodging the attack and snarling fiercely. He starts to fly up high and goes to dive-bomb its back. --
CDJ: THERE WAS - NO CHOICE - BUT SEEKER - YOU HAVE MADE ONE - FOR - YOURSELF!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus's [CDJ'S] size and disturbingly thick hide keep any and all of Malhaut's attacks from doing any real damage besides a scuff or two. It bucks again and starts to run in circles. Its horns are the flurry that make Malhaut's maneuver dangerous. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] somehow doesn't get rammed by either its heads or its horns yet, but the very tip of one does slash across an upper arm. Augh! The seatroll is too deep in the throes of rage to pay it any mind. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] keeps trying to hack away and dodge in vain. He tries to duck in towards the eyes when he can, but he's had to dodge its massive heads every time. A blunt hit from one of those could easily crush his ribs in... --
CURRENT equineReaction [CER] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] comes to the Land of Terror and Dismay, in her Dersite qipaojamas. The land is stark and negative, which makes two figures and their battle obvious... --
CER: MALHAUT-!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stares in horror, but she's compelled to land. She does so on the submarine, next to Nibzan. Her face is pallid. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] ears are uncovered, but the dead silence of the land gives her grace. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] seems more occupied with making primal noises of beastial rage than anything else. Still, it does speak occasionally during the conflict in its acoustics-obeying telepathy. --
CDJ: FOOL! - MONSTEROUS FOOL!
CDJ: I - AM - FREE!
CDJ: I CAN - DO WHAT - I PLEASE! - FOREVER!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] keeps slashing and dodging, screaming out every word even as his breathing starts to come less easily. --
CNN: BEAST! SVINE! JOoUR BLOoD VILL SPILL AND I VILL REVEL IN IT!
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] turns from watching the fight to Gallia. He's slightly unsettled by seeing Gallia alive so soon after she died, but he doesn't let it show. Seeing as how her ears are uncovered and she's not doubled over clutching her head, he cautiously pulls one of his own ear protectors away from his head, and hearing the silence, takes them off entirely. --
CIM: we have to leave.
CER: Nibzan, nou! MalhauT, we have Tou help him!
CNN: TOo MY LAST BREAZ I SVEAR IF ZAT IS VHAT IT VILL COoME TOo!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes Nibzan's arm in her hand, gripping it desperately. --
CER: please!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] roars, whips its body about, stamps, and shouts! Malhaut is no threat to it, but that one fly that won't leave you alone, the one that no matter how hard you try to, you can't swat! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] dives in for another strike- --
CIM: he thaid we had to leave once you got back. there'th not exactly anything we can do otherwithe.
CER: T-ThaT Thing will kill him!
CIM: do you want to go up and try punching it? i can't thee how that'll help.
CER: iT will, soumehouw iT will! we have Tou geT him away!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] twists its head about and up. One of its horns, as thick as a good-sized treetrunk, slams into Malhaut with huge force! The action happens so quickly that within the blink of an eye, he's already cracked him right through a portal and out of the world like a baseball bat to a baseball! --
CER: MALHAUT!
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] blinks. --
CIM: doeth that tholve the problem to your thatithfaction? can we get the hell out of here now?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes, taking a step back from Nibzan. --
CER: MalhauT... h-had beTTer be oukay...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head and swallows at the lump in her throat. --
CER: I doun'T have...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns and looks at the place where her body fell. Most of it has been crushed by falling rocks, and it's a pile of rubble, but... her feet are sticking out from underneath the killer rock. --
CER: f-fine... l-leT me gou geT my boouTs. please - counTacT MalhauT. make sure he is oukay.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods, watching the denizen, hoping it doesn't decide that now Malhaut's gone to go after them. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] starts to settle down, stamping its feet a few times and snorting. It shakes a head like a bull. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns, then, and scrambles down from the submarine. She clambers over the rubble, and it takes her some time before she reaches her body. She finds herself disturbed by the brown splatters, but she matter-of-factly tears her shoes from her own dead feet. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] opens a new trollian window with Malhaut --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] been hit #Out_of_the_Ballpark ... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] straps them onto her feet and clicks her heels. She floats into the air, though not terribly far - she doesn't want to attract the Denizen's attention - as she goes back to the submarine. --
CIM: * are you alive?
CGS: # There's a alternating flash of pink, black and white. The colors go back to normal.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lands next to Nibzan, standing behind him. She can't really see his glasses, so she's forced to ask, her voice thinner than it ought to be: --
CER: has he replied?
CGS ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] shakes his head --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] feels tears prick at her eyes - now both perfectly functional and unblinded. --
CER: w-we have Tou f-find him...
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] shakes itself off again... It's quite content, in stark contrast to Gallia's mood. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] has no business with the other heroes. It expresses this: --
CDJ: YOU TWO - ARE NO CONCERN - OF MINE.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up at the Denizen, and swallows at the lump in her throat. --
CDJ: MOVE - I MUST - CLEAR SPACE - FOR MY - NEW FREEDOM
CER: if you k-killed him - if I doun'T find him I'll - I'll kill you!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] speaks to Nibzan, then, clicking her heels: --
CER: coume oun! leT's - we have Tou gou! h-he's proubably hurT!
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] starts to nudge at the submarine. Of course, a nudge to it is a huge jarring to the vessel. --
-- CURRENT denizenJanus [CDJ] basically ignores Gallia. All it wants to do is run, and this thing is in its way! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes off as well. He's been saying they ought to leave for ages, but he keeps this to himself. He'd be happy enough to leave through the closest portal, but he hangs back to follow Gallia, figuring he wouldn't be able to change her mind on going after Malhaut anyway. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] flies through the portal Malhaut was thrown through! But... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] tumbles out in Alcippe's world. She pulls up short, snarling. --
CER: This isn'T righT.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns to Nibzan. --
CNN ceased responding to memo.
CER: we should be in Megdul's wourld - our Signa's.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods (not that he really knows the order of the worlds, but he trusts that Gallia knows what she's talking about) --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] goes higher, and searches the ground for Malhaut with her eyes. When she doesn't see him, she snorts. --
CER: we gou Through The pourTal again and Try Tou geT Tou MalhauT.
CER: perhaps iT will wourk prouperly This Time.
CER: if nouT - we search.
CIM: it'th better than not having a plan at all, i gueth. lead on.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] swoops through the portal again! This time it leads to Aragua's world, even though it -should- have led to Malhaut's. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hovers in the air, and stares down at the ice. It doesn't take long for her to determine that Malhaut isn't here. --
CER: nou. again.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] crosses his arms and follows. It does occur to him that this would be a prime time to find his way back to his world by himself, but... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] goes back into the portal! This result is Juniprei's world, with all of its hushed beauty. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] has never been here, but regardless she searches around the portals for Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] has a cursory look around him, but stays near the portal. He's not as invested in Malhaut's health as to be actively looking for him. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] snarls when she rises up again, empty-handed. --
CER: nou. again!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] dives through the portal, and this time... #Out_Of_The_Ballpark --

In #Out_Of_The_Ballpark, Gallia and Nibzan find Malhaut. After a tearful reunion, they set off to Nibzan's world... again.

CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board OUT OF THE BALLPARK.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has landed onto the cold, stoney, soaked ground of Megdul's world. He's knocked out cold. Good thing he can breathe water anyways... and its muggy here, so it's only the ground that's cold, not the air. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't respond when his whip (Which must be twenty feet away from him) blips. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] will lie there until someone comes along... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] comes tumbling out in Megdul's world, the rain driving into her. Visibility is lower here, but she still dives down to search. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] sees him, there, lying as if dead. --
CER: MalhauT-! MalhauT!
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] hovers near the portal until he hears Gallia. He flies over to join her. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] cries out and swoops towards him, landing next to him on the ground. She falls to her knees, but at least manages to use her brain - she checks his vitals, his breathing and heart rate, to make sure nothing is obstructed or failing. If she doesn't find anything... god help her. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't look in the best way, but he's certainly still breathing, which is coming with some difficulty. Same goes for his beating vascular organ. Except for a few scratches to his face and a chip taken out of the end of his left horn, any other injuries aren't visible. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] knows they must be there. She arranges his body so he'll have an easier time breathing, and then taps his cheek with a hand, not quite a slap, but tactile contact aimed to call him back. --
CER: MalhauT, MalhauT, MalhauT...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't respond much at first, but she does get a scrunching of his brow and a rising look of throbbing pain. --
CER: MalhauT, my dear, please... please...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] lands next to the pair. He doesn't make any move to assist Malhaut, but simply takes in the situation. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shifts a little and groans. God damn... urrrggh... He got hit by the equivalent of a huge steel beam, and it certainly sounds like he did. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] isn't quite there enough yet to comment. He hasn't even opened his eyes. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] chokes on a sob, leaning over Malhaut, holding him as well as she can. --
CER: M-MalhauT, coume back Tou me...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pulls him up a little, hugging him to her. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't make many movements of his own accord, because everything's horrible and everything hurts. His head is cushioned against her breasts. He grumbles, garbled by his aches and addled state. --
CNN: Ugh... b'ttr noot've...
CNN: ...urrr...dm'...
CER: MalhauT, shh, iT's oukay...
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] hair is wet from the rain, and it hangs down in long streaks. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nuzzles into her, like how a child would into their mother for comfort when they fall and scrape their knee on the pavement. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] sniffs, blinking away tears in her infinite relief. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes a few pained moans and groans once in awhile as he breathes, but that will fade when his head starts to settle back into place. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] has since looked away from the scene taking place in front of him. His mind has made some uncomfortable connections between this and his and Sicily's last moments together. --
CER: MalhauT... MalhauT...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] croaks out, now coherent at least: --
CNN: ... Good... Joou're noot dead... I'm noot dead... He's...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] tenses up a bit; His restraint's coming back by now, so he does that instead of blatantly wincing. --
CNN: ... He is as vell, jes? Ve are all alive?...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's hair, restraining herself from kissing him straight-out. --
CER: yes, my dear... he's alive...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] head leans heavily against Gallia. He looks relieved. --
CER: I'm sou glad you're oukay...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] opens his eyes reluctantly. Ugh, no stimulus, please. --
CNN: It is good too see joou alive too... noot dead...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks down at him with her fresh, healed face, wet from the rain (and from her tears). She's smiling in relief, now. --
CER: my knighT, my perfecT knighT.
CER: doun'T scare me like ThaT, please...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] lips turn upwards in the best smile he can muster at the time. Not actually trying to avoid her statement, his mind fixes on Gallia and how beautiful she looks to him right now. Maybe he's still a bit priority-scrambled right now... --
CNN: Hrnm... joou look beautiful... besides ze tears right noov... oof coourse...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes whatever hand is closest to her and touches what he can reach reassuringly, whether that be an arm, a leg, a thigh, her side, etc. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] chuckles in sheer relief and leans down to kiss Malhaut, cradling his head in a hand. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] continues not looking, even though this situation seems to have a happier ending than his did. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] accepts the kiss greatfully and spends some time basking in the glow of... not being dead, but his mental gears turn until he remembers they have a place to go. --
CNN: ... Ve still have too travel too Nibzan's voorld... vhat a detoour, heh....
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head, looking down at Malhaut. --
CER: f-firsT, you should drink soume healTh vials, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] smiles with some bitter humor, nodding. --
CNN: Heh... hn, jes... Zat voould proobably be vise...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes his hair, and helps him to sit up. Look at all the fucks she gives about showing affection in front of Nibzan. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks to be put in some good pain by such a movement. He's manly though. He'll deal with it. --
CER: T-Take Twou Tou sTarT wiTh...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] eyes scrunched, nods to Gallia. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is in nursey advisey mode. No one can stop her. --
CNN: Hngh... Look avay, please...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks away, of course! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] wasn't looking to begin with, he's pretty much turned his back to the pair. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] extracts what she'd requested him to extract: Two health vials. He'll make sure to keep the other three in storage in case they're needed for anyone later. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gets to ingesting them, having a hard time getting the bottle to his lips the first time, but doing so with much more ease the second. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's hair, even as she looks away. Her poor baby was hurt... probably because the denizen killed her... oh, Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] heals his whole body, doing so evenly. The two vials are enough to eliminate all but the deepest of external injuries, reducing the cut on his upper arm to a slight scratch. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] insides are well repaired too. Along with that scratch and a few sheets of mild bruising on his chest and side, he's left with some aches and pains. Either way, he's much better off than before. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gets up, unsteady at first, but righting himself in a moment or two. He doesn't bother doing anything with the empty bottles but leaving them on the ground. Littering? Psh. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gets up after Malhaut, hovering next to him protectively. He pretty much can't get rid of her. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] remains turned away, lost in thought. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts straightening out his clothing and making sure everything's where it should be. At one point his fingers sweep across the back of his horns, and he frowns and sighs quietly when he feels the tip of one missing. There's a frantic moment where he can't locate his whip, but he sights it a fair ways away from them. He walks to it and goes to pick it up... and finds himself saddened when he does. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks down when some glass clatters to the ground. The interface screen of his whip has been shattered and completely busted. With a frown, he tries to retract the whip. No dice. Looking further along its length, he sees that the whip blade that was once as sharp as a dagger has been chipped and dulled beyond use. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] mumbles quietly to himself. --
CNN: Toonight has been ze night foor bad luck, it seems...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps over to Malhaut, and puts a hand on his shoulder. --
CER: iT will be oukay...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] breathes, disappointed, and starts wrapping up what remains of his previously trusty weapon. He puts it back in his strife deck anyways; It may not have use anymore, but... it's still an ancestral weapon. At least Gallia's okay, and he's okay, and Nibzan's okay. It makes the blow less painful. --
CNN: Ooi vay... better zis veapoon zan anjoone's life.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slides a hand over Gallia's before looking to her and Nibzan both. --
CNN: ... It is time ve coontinued oon oour quest.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nods to Malhaut. --
CER: The pourTals may sTill be malfuncTiouning...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream's [CIM'S] still distracted by other thoughts; someone will have to either address him directly or get his attention by touching him. --
CNN: Perhaps... In zat case... ve may have too voork by trial and-...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] directs his attention to Nibzan more specifically. The captain looks a touch curious... --
CNN: ... Nibzan?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] minutely tenses before turning around. --
CIM: ... what?
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is tempted to pry, but... --
CNN: Ve are leaving noov.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] seems to consider something. --
CNN: ... Nibzan... hoov impoortant are ze items joou must retrieve?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] heisitates briefly --
CIM: ... i need thome more paintth, for my moduth.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] frowns... but seems acceptant of the answer. --
CNN: ...Jes... Joour moodus requires zat.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] isn't sure if that hesitation was just from Nibzan being a little shocked himself, or from himi covering up a lie... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] decides to ignore it for now. He's achey, shaken, and wants to get back to his crew as soon as possible. --
CNN: Let us goo zen.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is a little more angry -- all this for paint? Really? But she takes a breath and gets over it. --
CER: undersTooud...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] clicks his heels and hovers off of the ground and into the spray of rain. God he's so soaked by this time. He'll wait until the others follow. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] kicks off, hovering alongside Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes off as well, getting ready to follow. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] travels up to the gate... and idicates for them to enter as he does. It's fair to say that they'll continue doing this, back and forth, until they end up in #LoOaC . --

**Lazer Ilitenter** · 02-01-2012, 03:51 PM

Joe: Stop being Joe

You are now the STATEFUNDED SNIPER.
However, you really prefer to be called by your name, JACK.

You’ve been sitting at the top of this watchtower for, you don’t know, maybe a month now? The days just start to blend together after a while. The Queen has ordered you to stay put in this area to watch the tower as long as the child is still inside, and to report whenever it floats out or floats back. Which is bullshit, she knows damn well when it goes in and out of the tower, everyone does. She just put you up here to torture you.

But that all ends today.

You pull the radio from your back pocket and dial up your nefarious cohort, the COUNTY DEMOLITIONARY. You ask him if he’s done yet. He says he’s having some trouble finding an out-of-the-way place that would cause the whole building to come down. You say okay, fine, as long as you’re making it look like an accident. He asks why they’re killing the kid on their planet again, the queen was making a pretty big deal out of him. You say it’s none of his damn business.

He says that’s okay he just kind of liked the kid though. You say you don’t give a shit. He says one time he invited you to the tower to play Uno. You ask what the hell is Uno. He says it’s this game where you get a bunch of cards and keep playing them in order until someone runs out. You say oh, you mean Crazy Eights. He says no, it was called Uno. You say that sounds like Crazy Eights. He says it was definitely Uno, he’s never played Crazy Eights. You ask for more details about the wait a minute no you don’t give a shit what you were playing, just do your damn job. He asks if he can at least get the deck from the kid’s room. You smack your fist against the side of your head and say fine, as long as you blow the place up when you’re done.

You then radio the DIPLOMAT. You ask if the Queen is still being kept away from the fenestrated walls. He says yeah, but doesn’t know how long he can keep her. You ask if he can keep her for maybe an hour. He says probably. You ask what you got her doing anyway. He says he told her he spotted an individual with a helmet suspiciously similar to yours in the one of the lower boroughs. You say this better not come back to bite you in the ass later.

You radio the HERALDED BOOKKEEPER next. He asks if something’s up. You say actually no you don’t need him right now come to think of it. He says alright.

Everything's ready. It looks like your accomplices might be able to pull this off without incident for once. This almost seems too easy.

**kittentoes** · 02-07-2012, 03:04 AM

In #LoOaC, disaster strikes. Malhaut faints a couple of times, Nibzan attacks Malhaut and Gallia, Gallia gets stabbed and punches Nibzan to death before reviving him, and Nibzan comes back with amnesia. This is a long night, innit?

CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LOOAC.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] and this fraction of his crew arrive in LoOaC after a good four tries or so --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is quite glad when they manage to make it; That means this journey /should/ be over and done with soon. Right. Just getting Nibzan's paints, then getting out of here. Sounds like a plan. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows Malhaut, in her ridiculously purple (and still wet) qipaojamas. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] and everyone are so wet. It will probably call for a nice, dry change of clothing later on. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] doesn't have a change of clothes. So sad. --
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] reaches his world and instantly heads towards his hive, because fuck staying as a group. He's not on purpose trying to get away from them (this time, at least), but is just heading straight to where he wants to go. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows... Nibzan? Well, she doesn't want him going off on his own, tired as she is. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] mental anguish is boundless. He keeps flying, not making any attempts to chase anyone or go faster than he already is. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] will chew everything out from Hell and back... someday. Perhaps months or years from now. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] zoom zoom, biptches --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is reluctant to leave Malhaut's side, but she's quite annoyed by Nibzan going too fast. He's losing the group... not that the group can help them if it's sudden enough... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] continues moving at a steady pace on behind them. Le sigh... Mrgh... He determines that if Nibzan actually /does/ start making a break for it, he'll take chase. If he tries though, God help him. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] isn't getting that far ahead, just maintaining a speed fast enough to give him some distance from Malhaut and Gallia. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] can see his hive in the distance, and kicks up the speed a notch. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out, and follows Nibzan, with a glance towards Malhaut. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] flat-faced in the way that's not from restraint. He lets out a small puff of air to show his shared discontent. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] plans to be the first at his hive so he can... check on a few things, without having to worry about Gallia and Malhaut seeing. Recents events have unsettled him more than he'd care to admit. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns his gaze to the approaching hive. When they arrive, he spares no time in touching down. If Nibzan gets there first, well... oh well. He'll deal with it. Instead of following him inside, he'll pull Gallia over to ask her something. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] touches down on the ground, and steps over to Malhaut when he gestures for her. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] lands and heads straight inside. Normally he'd at least stop to quickly brood over the damage the imps have done to his paintings, but this time is different. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sounds a bit drained as he makes his suggestion. --
CNN: Perhaps ve shoould alloov Nibzan too gazer items oon his oovn... unless joou are intent oon moonitooring his activity.
CNN: ... If he tried too fly ze coop... ve voould be better ooff vatching froom ooutside anyvays... and enemies are still an issue.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes Malhaut's hand in hers, shaking her head. --
CER: give him his privacy four nouw... I, Toou much has happened.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] enters the hidden room in his hive, and clears a space on the floor inside so he can sit. The room still smells faintly of dried blood, but his ignores this in favour of gazing at the portrait adorning the back wall. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] gloved hands were blown dry of any droplets that had clung to them before, so what she grasps isn't moist, although that hand may feel a little shakey underneath if she can pick up on it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods in turn. --
CNN: Heh...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes what's only the shell of a laugh; A small, toothy smile tugs at his lips, but it's souless, the rest of his face pointing more towards fatigue of the heart and mind. --
CNN: Agreed...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] swallows at the lump in her throat which just won't go away, and clears the space between herself and Malhaut to wrap him up in a hug. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] draws in a breath, then releases. His own arms slide up and around Gallia as he rests his forehead on one of her shoulders. He keeps his voice down for more reasons than one. --
CNN: ... I am glad joou returned, and soo quickly...
CNN: It felt moore like a nightmare zan reality...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sighs quietly. --
CNN: ... It is unfoortunate zat it vas noot. Still, at least I vooke up too joou.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] chuffs, head resting against Malhaut. She reaches up to bury a hand in his damp hair, stroking it around his horns. --
CER: I-I would never leave you, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes a more affectionate stance that isn't just him sitting there with his head planted against her. He nuzzles the side of her face and gets to holding her tightly. Not so much that it's harmful though. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice wavers some. --
CNN: I voould never let joou doo soo in ze first place...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes a little noise that could almost be considered a chuckle, but it's diluted heavily with sorrow that he's trying to put a cap on. --
CNN: Zen again... I already let joou toonight... I cannoot let zat happen again.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's hair with a hand which shakes. --
CER: nou oune could have prevenTed ThaT... iT... iT was Toou sudden.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] voice takes on a bitter tinge. --
CER: ThaT sourT ouf Thing is ouTside our pouwer...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] squeezes a little tighter. It's as if Gallia could just melt out of his embrace at any second, or at least that's how he feels. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] buries her head against Malhaut, and her hand stills against his head. Tears prick at her eyes. --
CER: wiTh nou recourse... whaT a shameful deaTh.
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] breathes out raggedly. --
CNN: ...I shoould noot have taken zat detoour in ze first place...
CER: nou... nou, MalhauT, iT was nouboudy's faulT.
CER: you could nouT have knouwn...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shivers once, either from wetness and windchill cooling him down, or from the stress of this. --
CNN: I shoould have at least figured zat all my land coonsists oof is deaz and anguish.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shakes his head against her; His volume had started rising a little from its near whisper, but it's now restrained. --
CER: ouh, MalhauT...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hugs him tightly, her muscles still shaking. --
CER: you saw Terrible Things, didn'T you...?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses in his thought and his body, not going stiff, but sliding out of any movement he'd been doing beforehand. He breathes. Now more collected, at least on the outside, he nods with reluctance. --
CNN: ... Tvoo dead boodies and ze memoories oof doozens moore are enoough foor oone night.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut again, his hair and his ears, in a desperate attempt to soothe him. --
CER: MalhauT... you're wounderful, you dou nouT deserve all These awful Things...
CIM ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] closes his eyes and smiles with melancholy. He's practically whispering. --
CNN: Noone oof us deserve any oof ze soorroovs broought oon by zis game... Perhaps ze fev jooys it has broought us...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns his head to give Gallia a tender kiss to the cheek before he goes back to nuzzling. --
CNN: ...but noozing moore. Mine are oonly a droop oof vater in ze sea.
CER: ThaT may be sou... buT MalhauT, iT's your Tears which are impourTanT Tou me. every oune which hiTs The sea...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hugs Malhaut a little tighter - it's a good thing he's strong. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't seem to care for all his remaining aches. Another sad chuckle pops up from his throat, but it's more like a start caused from holding back tears trying to bump their way out of him. --
CNN: Gallia...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] laughs bitterly, already tearing up some. --
CNN: Ooi vay... I must stoop acting like zis...
CNN: I am soorry...
CER: shh, shh... nou oune is here Tou see, iT's oukay...
CER: Nibzan is busy wiTh his ouwn business...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] smiles, in dark humour. --
CER: I dou nouT suspecT he is spying oun us...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's hair, and turns her face to kiss his cheek. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] release of some tears seems to be helping him a bit somehow. It's probably the relief that comes from not holding himself back. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # There's a pulse, a static shower of sparks and veins through the sky, and a crackle. Nothing appears to happen.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gently kisses the tears away, but then - --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] touches his forehead to hers before he startles at the flash and looks up quickly. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up and holds Malhaut tighter as she hears the pulse. What-? --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] watches the light show as it appears and fades. His eyes linger in place, and his grip on Gallia remains. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] says with stark seriousness, even as tearstains still remain under his eyes: --
CNN: ... Ve shall have Jooe extract us oonce ve return. Oour luck is being pressed.
CER: The soouner, The beTTer...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods in silence. --
CNN: Jes...
CER: we should feTch Nibzan. he has had enough Time...
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] would let him dwell in his hive longer; He understands it'll be the last time he'll even see it, most likely... but he can't deny that they must get moving. --
CNN: Mh... Agreed...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gives Malhaut a final squeeze. She doesn't want to let him go, but the glitches have her on-edge. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slides out of the embrace when he doesn't want to either and starts wiping away the tears on his face. --
CNN: ... Let us retrieve him.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] keeps a hand on Malhaut's arm, even as she lets him go. She nods. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] rubs her hand like it's a worry stone while he finishes composing himself. He heads for the door, opens it, and invites Gallia in first. --
CNN: Too noote... ve shoould proobably change oout oof zese vet zings as soon as ve can...
CNN: I knoov I am getting a bit chilly... Joou must be too...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, though the sound is thin. --
CER: I-I lefT all my clouThes oun my ouTher boudy...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps through the door, of course. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] answers as she walks on through before closing the door behind him. --
CNN: Vell zen... make use oof Nibzan's alchemiter... I vill give joou any coodes joou may need too create soomezing nev...
CNN: At voorst, I coould get ze coode foor vhat joou are vearing noov soo joou coould make a coopy oor tvoo...
CER: T-This is far Toou purple four me...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, shaking her head. --
CER: I'm nouT really coumfourTable in iT.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pauses, then, and sounds anxious when she asks: --
CER: dou... dou you have The coude four my couaT..?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] smiles as well as he can to her and nods. --
CNN: I keep ze coodes zat I can, just as joou doo... soo I doo have at least zat, jes.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] seems relieved when she hears it. --
CER: perhaps I can coumbine Them bouTh...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stops, realises: --
CER: ... buT... I doun'T have a moudus any moure.
CER: ... I should have Tried Tou feTch iT...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] bites at his lip gently... Oh dear. --
CNN: ... I suppoose boorrooving my oovn voould be a poor idea.
CNN: ... unless joou are in soore need oof it.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks embarrassed, curling a hand at her chest. --
CER: n-nou... buT, I may need your help... I-I woun'T be able Tou Tell The coudes ouf The clouThing wiThouT capTchalouguing Them, sou...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] coughs quietly into the crook of his arm, turning his head. --
CNN: Jes... It is fine. Perhaps joou shoould change in ze vashroom and I vill take zem zroough ze door.
CER: y-yes.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] begins to make her way up the stairs, still looking embarrassed... --
CNN: ((PAUSE))
CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LOOAC.
Memo is now Secret by CER
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] follows along. If there's one thing he knows... it's that he's going to use the bathroom after Gallia's done with it. After all, the ice enemies did chill down some of the worlds, or at least parts... Brrrr... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] needs some dry clothing. He's starting to get a little shivery. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] goes to the bathroom, but she stops outside of it, and frowns to Malhaut. --
CER: dear... should you change firsT? you have clouThes...
CNN: Mh... Noo... I voould razer get joou situated first.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head. --
CER: you will be able Tou change quickly, I will have Tou alchemise...
CNN: ... Alright
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] smiles, and touches Malhaut's arm, gesturing him in. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] adknowledges her with a weak smile in return and enters the bathroom. He doesn't take long to captchalogue his clothing... but now, he must towel dry first. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] making sure to save a towel or two for Gallia, scrubs and ruffles... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns, leaning her damp self against the wall. She sighs quietly. --
CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CTC: OhOhO! MY, mY, hOw seLfLess Of YOu~
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up towards the noise, sharply, pressing herself against the wall. --
CER: whou are you?!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses in toweling his hair when he hears the voice; No, voices. Gallia's voice is what gets him uncaptchaloguing his fresh clothing right on and darting out of the room. --
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] is standing in the threshold of a door, her arms crossed. She's grinning ear to ear, showing off her sharp teeth. --
CTC: YOu'Re ceRtAinLY On YOuR wAY tO fOLLOwing in the fOOtsteps Of YOuR mAsteR... in Life And in deAth! OhOhOhO!
CER: whaT?!
CER: whaT are you Talking abouT?!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] snarls, stepping forward towards the door. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sees an unfamiliar troll talking to Gallia. His automatic reaction is to extract his jian and take a crouched, protective stance between Gallia and the mystery woman. His teeth are bared... and he looks a bit manic. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] hisses. --
CNN: Identify joourself!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is halted by Malhaut, but she still glares at Miriam from behind him. --
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] cackles. She seems to be getting a lot of enjoyment out of this situation! --
CTC: Oh, SeekeR, we've ALReAdY tALked mAnY times BefORe~
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] growls, low and steady, but his snarl fades to a grimace of contemplation. --
CNN: ... Jes... zat is coorrect.
CNN: I recoognize ze laugh... ze demeanoor.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts to slide out of the stance, but he's still on edge. Tense. --
CER: waTching us...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gets a look of dawning recognition. --
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] grins even /more/ as they finally realize who she is. Fools~ --
CPC ceased responding to memo.
CPC ceased responding to memo.
CTC ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes narrow; He watches their new guest with a wary and judgemental stare. She's scanned over, left, right, up, and down. --
CNN: ... Miriam it is, jes?
CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CTC: Yes~
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice goes business-like and flat. --
CNN: Voould joou care too infoorm me oof vhy joou are here? If zis is a simple shoov oof moockery, I vill noot take kindly too it.
CTC: WeLL it's pARtLY A shOve Of mOckeRY. OhOhO!~
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] bares her fangs and whuffs. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't flinch. He continues to stare at her, and by now he has it fixed on her, eye-to-eye. --
CNN: Perhaps oon a different night, it voould be different, but toonight is noot ze night foor such humoor too tickle me.
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] doesn't even flinch when he stares her in the eye! In fact, she returns the gaze. --
CTC: ThAt's OnLY pARt Of the ReAsOn, SeekeR.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is in eyelock. Yay! --
CNN: Goo oon zen...
CTC: YOu see, I hAve Been wAtching YOu ALL fOR quite sOme time nOw. I'm quite inteRested in this sessiOn, fOR the sessiOn I cOme fROm wAs cOmpLeteLY BROken. And I dOn't intend tO hAve this Be the fiRst gAme tO BeAt me~
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is slowly relaxing, but he stands erect and at attention. He'd heard Gallia's growl. Shamlessly, he puts a hand out behind him and takes one of her hands. Thumbrubbing ensues. --
CNN: ... I see.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes it and steps out next to him, still holding his hand. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has to force himself not to slide in front of her again. His protective instincts are still through the roof right now.. --
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] notices the handholding. Do you think she wouldn't? --
CTC: Oh, hOw sweet. ALmOst As sweet As the cAke I hAd eARLieR! OhOhOhO!~
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] growls quietly. --
CNN: ... A very good cake it must have been zen.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] says this matter-of-factly. No smiles, no frowns, just says it. --
CTC: I've hAd BetteR~
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes slowly slide down to her gut... then slowly back up. Not too noticeable, but still... --
CNN: I am sure joou must have.
CER: ThaT's far Toou soufT Tou be muscle.
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] Oh, preemptive strike! Her grin falters. --
CTC: SOft? I cOuLd sAY the sAme ABOut YOu when YOuR weRe smAshed BY A ROck! OR RAtheR...
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] grins maniacally once more. --
CTC: ...when YOuR BeLOved dOctOR shARed the sAme fAte.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] snarls! Her free hand bunches into a fist. --
CER: shuT up.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] eyes narrow greatly, and he definitely tenses, but he doesn't move. --
CNN: Zis is noot ze time.
CTC: It's ALwAYs the time tO fAce ReALitY, SeekeR. But ALAs, I'LL stOp. FOR BOth Of YOuR sAfetY~ OhOhOhO!~
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] grits her teeth, and Malhaut can probably feel her grip on his hand tighten. But she doesn't say anything. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is still staring, of course. It's just a... little more... semi-murderous. --
CNN: Zat is foor ze better. Ve must be fetching Nibzan...
CNN: Ve must be leaving soon. Zese glitches vait foor noo trooll.
CNN: Parting is a vise idea. I am sure zey coould damage joou as vell if joou are existant here, in zis place.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] glares daggers at Miriam, meeting her eyes. --
CTC: Oh Yes, Of cOuRse. ALAs, pARting is such sweet sORROw~ FAReweLL!~
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] is about to close the door, but stops and opens it again! --
CTC: Oh, ALsO, YOu guYs need tO get sOme cOmputeRs! ReALLY, I've Been tRYing tO cOntAct YOu. YOuR deAth just mAkes things sO incOnvenient fOR me!
CNN: It is alright... Coonsider joour trip too us beneficial too joour healz.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] flat --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] opens her mouth, then stops herself and closes it, glaring at Miriam. --
CNN: Soome moovement vas never hurtful, after all... I myself have hoonestly missed being able too casually travel instead oof using coomputing devices all oof ze time.
CTC: WhO needs tO tRAveL when YOu've gOt cOmputeRs? OhOhO!
-- CURRENT timesCompass [CTC] begins to shut the door. Once closed, her giggling comes to an abrupt stop. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] snarls when the giggling stops. --
CER: she waTched AgaTha...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] trails off, lips curled up to show her fangs. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't comment, but he's stuck looking off at the door where Miriam was, but is no longer. Now, he allows his opposite hand to clench... and it clenches hard; The knuckles make a cracking noise. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] squeezes Malhaut's hand - more gently than the way her other fist is balled up. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] breathing has come to a stop, but the breath is released slowly and with purpose after awhile. His muscles smooth out, and he unclenches his hand. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] voice goes back to sounding almost like it was before, if not a bit more controlled. Weary, but composed. --
CNN: ... Joou shoould proobably get joourself undressed noov... I must make nev cloozing foor joou.
CNN: Hoopefully zat annoojance oonly spies oon noormal shenanigans...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's hand with her thumb, relaxing her other fist. --
CER: MalhauT... I doun'T like her.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] grimaces to himself. Eugh. He doesn't either. --
CNN: She is clever...
CNN: ... neizer doo I.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] whuffs, shaking her head. --
CER: she reminds me ouf The ould ways.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] parts his coat to access his notebooks, shuffling around in there. --
CNN: A bitter noostalgia. Oone vhich I doo noot vish too feel foor multiple reasoons... Moore oout oof displeasure zan soorroov.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out, and covers the hand she's holding with her other hand, stroking it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] eventually gets to opening his coat pockets, finding nothing. Wa-oooh. Oh. --
CNN: ... Mh.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sighs quietly, before turning to Gallia so he can ask: --
CNN: Please look avay foor a mooment...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks away and releases his hand, stepping towards the ablution room. --
CER: I-I should change, anyway...
CNN: ... Jes. Joou shoould.
CNN: Just crack oopen ze door and hand me joour cloozing vhen joou are ready...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] heads inside, closes the door - looks back at it to make sure Miriam isn't watching - and then gets out of her clothes. It takes longer, since she can't just captchalogue them, and when she's done she rolls them all up into a neat little bundle. An arm slips through the slightly-open door, hand holding the clothes. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] extracts his wet coat, slinging it over an arm so he can go through the contents of its pockets. At least the coat /is/ water resistant... so it wasn't /that/ bad. During the time Gallia undresses, he discovers, to his contempt, that water had gotten to the notebooks he still had. Also, he gets blood on them while pulling them out from his claws scraping the insides of his palm. Daaamn... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes Gallia's clothing a bit after he salvages everything that he could. Okay, now... he captchalogues each article of clothing one by one, takes down the codes on some dry paper, then tells Gallia: --
CNN: I vill be back moomentarily... Until zen, make use oof zoose dry toovels.
CER: ou-oukay...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] closes the door, and goes to dry herself off. She hadn't realised how cold she was until now - though certainly she wasn't as bad-off as Malhaut was. She has insulation! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does his best to keep his dark purple blood off of things while goes to the alchemiter room. There, he does the alchemizey thing... and then decides that, perhaps, this Derse outfit won't do much on its own. There's no time for any real tailoring... but... maybe a few quick combinations. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes exact copies of the Derse outfit's parts, but he also makes a second copy of her coat he'd made. A black turtleneck follows. He makes various mixes of all these things, as well as some combinations involving his own clothing and trench until he's got a decent pile of things for he to choose from. Most aren't beatiful looking or special, but they'll do for something fast. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes everything back, still minding his hand. Can't go staining this stuff! He begins slipping things through the door outfit by outfit. --
CNN: I have made a fev... Hoopefully soomezing vill be approopriate until ve return too a moore suitable loocatioon.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, sounding a little uncomfortable. --
CER: MalhauT! This is far Toou much!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] still takes the outfits, though. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does just about the same in terms of laughing. --
CNN: I apooloogize... Ve have too leave soon, soo I coould noot take ze time too check vhat vill voork and vhat vill noot. Zat Derse ooutfit oon its oovn... I fear it vill leave joou too expoosed and vunerable, oor at least oon its oovn.
CNN: ... I knoov purple is noot joour cooloor eizer... but please... just zink oof coomfoort and safety foor noov.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is coddling. Coooodddllliinnnggg. --
CER: dou nouT wourry, MalhauT, I will be oukay.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] breathes out, not concealing it very much. --
CNN: Alright... Jes. I vill leave joou too it.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is still hung up on the death thing. Expect his paranoia to float around until they're out of here. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] eventually puts on a black qipao with features like her coat, and over it, she puts on a combination of her coat and one of Malhaut's. It's purple, and it has all the protection his coat offers, but in her size. Finally, she puts on the vanilla copy of her coat. She straps her boots on over black leggings, and steps out, relatively dry. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] had taken the rest of that time to bandage up his hand, cover it with an un-punctured glove, store away what was left of those notebooks and their codes, and get out his cloak and put it on over his other clothing. He can't wait to curl up and warm up properly later on. --
CNN: I hoope vhat joou have suffices...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps up and gives Malhaut a hug, primarily to help warm them both up. --
CER: yes, This will geT me back fine. Thank you, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] hugs back, although he doesn't do so too tightly... or else he'll get too invested in it and stand there with her forever. But... body heeeat... body heeeaaaatt... No, he must ignore it. That he does. --
CNN: Good, good...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] breathes out quietly and slips out of the hug, but he puts both his hands on her, one on each upper arm. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks her up and down; Luckily, it's not in the way he looked at Miriam earlier. --
CNN: Ve vill have too get joou nev armoor as vell...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shakes his head, looking a bit concerned. --
CNN: Zis vill noot doo...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] reaches up to stroke a hand down Malhaut's cheek, shaking her head. --
CER: we will avouid counflicT... iT will be oukay, MalhauT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] smiles for her sake, even if it is flimsy. --
CNN: ... Zat vill be ze plan zen.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] traces his smile with her fingers, smiling weakly in response. She lets her hand fall to his shoulder, and nods. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] moves a hand to take hers so he can give it a kiss. He separates from her afterwords, gesturing for her to follow him to Nibzan's room. --
CNN: Let us get Soomrar...
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] smile grows a little when he kisses her hand, and she follows him as he walks. --
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is still in the hidden room, having closed the door after him. If you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't notice the door at all. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # A glitch occurs; Quietly, music much like a videogame INN begins to play.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] aims to keep walking, even as the music goes... Have to get moving. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stops short, but when Malhaut keeps walking, she doesn't linger. She's going to follow him, of course. --
CGS: # Throughout the time they're going to be going into the room, doing things in the room, and leaving the hive, various musical pieces will play, skip, loop, and so on.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] pays no mind to the music - having experienced so many glitches recently, this one is hardly even a blip on his radar. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] enters Nibzan's room. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sees that he's not there... and then recalls the room he'd snuck into last time; The one Pallida waltzed into and found her doom inside. He feels out the secret door... but just in case Nibzan has a flip... prepares himself. He does have his weapon out for shanking if Nibzan tries to cut his hand off. --
CNN: Nibzan?...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is surprised to see a ~secret door~, but perhaps not as surprised as she really ought to be. She hovers behind Malhaut, peering inside. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] freezes as the light hits him. Quicker than seems possible his knife is out and he's lunging at Malhaut. There's nothing in his face but pure rage and a kind of vicious intensity. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pulls Malhaut back with a hand around his waist as soon as she sees the glint of a knife! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is shocked by both things; Being lunged at and being pulled away. A gack of surprise comes out of him, and it's only by his death-grip that he doesn't drop his jian. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] continues pushing forward even as Malhaut is moved out of range of his first strike. There aren't any particular thoughts going through his head, only the overhwelming desire to get rid of these intruders. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lets Malhaut go, maneuvers out from behind him, and aims a punch towards Nibzan! Her aim, in her mind, is to get this crazy guy away from her matesprit. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] thumps on the floor with another "OoPH!", stunned at first. He won't be on this fight from the moment he's dropped. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is knocked back as Gallia's fist grazes his face, but he's up again as quickly as he can, yellow-green blood oozing from a cut over his cheekbone. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] barks as she advances, reaching out to try and grab the enraged troll: --
CER: Nibzan! whaT are you douing?!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sits himself up, suddenly mortified. Oh God, crap, the Nibzan button's been pressed. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream, [CIM,] instead of continuing forwards tries to go backwards, away from Gallia grabbing for him. However, there's not far back he can go before he's pressed up against the wall at the end of the hidden room. --
CIM: you can't be in here!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stops outside of the hidden room, blocking it with her body, holding up her hands. --
CER: oukay, oukay, I'm nouT couming in.
CER: I need you Tou calm douwn Nibzan.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slowly stands, watching the scene intently. God, so much for paints. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] grins, a crazed look in his eyes. Now that he has a bit more space, he holds himself more confidently. --
CIM: you shouldn't even have /seen/ in here. that can't be allowed.
CIM: something has to be done.
CER: Nibzan, I doun'T wanT Tou hurT you.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] brings her fists back into fighting position, locking eyes with him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] dares not say anything, fearful of distracting Gallia and leaving Nibzan an opening. Instead, he hovers, but keeps enough distance that he doesn't get in the way if Gallia has to dodge. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes a step forward, the knife held loosely by his side. --
CIM: just you /try/.
-- CURRENT equineReaction, [CER,] her suspicions confirmed, reaches back and tries to close the door to the secret room... --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] sees the door closing and races forward, trying to get to her before it closes. He holds the knife ready for use. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can't quite get the door shut before Nibzan crashes through! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] tries to slice Gallia wherever he can, focusing only on spilling her blood. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pulls back, stepping to the side, but it's a little too late -- Nibzan's knife cuts through her coat, opening up a slash on her chest. Automatically, she lashes out with a powerful punch aimed towards his face! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is hit and well.... there wasn't much chance he was going to survive that. With a wet, final crunch he falls bonelessly to the floor, his knife dropping out of his hand as he hits the ground. --
CER: ouh goud, Nibzan!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stares in horror, and falls on his body. She kisses his lips, disfigured by his broken skull. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has almost that same look as the exact moment Gallia died. He's not going into fits of rage, but still. --
CNN: . . .
CNN: ...
CIM ceased responding to memo.
CER: ouh goud, I didn'T, Nibzan, I didn'T mean Tou -
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can see exactly how much damage she did to him, and it horrifies her. He was her teammate! She was in charge of making sure he came down from that rage! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] moves over to Gallia quickly and takes her by the shoulders, spinning her around to face him. --
CNN: ((*scratch last post))
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] moves over to Gallia quickly and pulls her up to her feet, spinning her around to face him. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lets Malhaut pull her up, and she stares at him with that horrified expression. Blood drips down from the cut on her chest, but she pays no mind to the pain. --
CER: M-MalhauT, I didn'T mean Tou, I didn'T wanT Tou kill him!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks a bit panicked, but not angry. His first priority is to automatically start fretting over the wound. He doesn't contain any emotion that dribbles out along with his speech. --
CNN: Gallia? Vhy did joou revive him?!
CER: M-M-MalhauT I KILLED him!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] vascular beat skyrockets when he sees how much blood Gallia's losing. He grabs the fabric around the area of the injury and presses it up tightly against the site to try and hold back the blood. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] keeps rambling, even as Malhaut presses at the wound: --
CER: I-I killed him when I was suppoused Tou help him, I -
CNN: Gallia!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] barks her name out as an order, but it's obvious he's distraught rather than angry. --
CNN: Quiet joourself!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up at Malhaut, scared and mortified. She quiets. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] brings her back down to the floor, sitting up, and seems intent on keeping her there. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] lets herself be lowered, and gulps back against tears. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] volume drops to normal levels, but it's no more pacified. --
CNN: Gallia, look avay.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns her head to the side and closes her eyes. The action releases her welling tears. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] extracts one of his remaining three health vials from his sylladex, opens it up, and hands it to Gallia. --
CNN: Repair joourself.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] hand closes over the vial, and she drinks it. The cut on her chest knits - it was not a deep cut, for the amount of blood it's shedding - and the blossoming blood ceases to spread across her chest. --
CGS: # Vrrrriiiim... An unknown event vibrates through the atmosphere of the game. There are no visible effects.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] feels the glass vibrating in her hand, and new panic takes her as she looks up to Malhaut and grips his arm. --
CGS: # The disturbance and noise last no longer than about five seconds; It fades in, it fades out.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is usuing every fiber of his being to keep himself from latching on to Gallia. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] just holds her by the shoulders and does his best to keep a break down away. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up at Malhaut, slipping up the hand on his arm to rest over one of his hands, and the fear and panic and shock still all show in her expression. It's almost painfully easy to see, now her face is unscarred. --
CMS ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shakes some... it's easy to feel with the way he's touching his matesprit. The small bit of relief that's found its way to his face is polluted with anxiety. --
CNN: Zank Good foor zoose vials...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] tries to slow his increased breathing rate. He's feeling quite dizzy. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] rubs Malhaut's hand with her own, her expression melding into something upset. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] actually has to catch his breath. Those sparkles have to get out of his field of view right now. At least he's not being loud any longer. --

**kittentoes** · 02-07-2012, 03:05 AM

Part deux of #LoOaC:

CNN: Gallia... I am afraid foor joou. I doo noot vant a dead member oof ze team... but vhoo is too say Nibzan vill noot try too attack joou again vhen he returns?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] laughs bitterly, coming out choked and pitiful. --
CNN: Joou have caused him too use his spare... but Gallia... joou /are/ ze spare, and joou are ze last oone left.
-- CURRENT equineReaction's [CER'S] tears run down her cheeks as she reaches up her other hand to cradle Malhaut's face. She shakes her head, too fearful to speak, but wanting to give him some comfort. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] closes his eyes to ease his spinning head and reduce stimuli... The calm is spiraling back in, but Malhaut feels like a cork bobbing in a bathtub, and the water's going down the drain. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] strokes Malhaut's cheek, blinking at her tears. --
CNN: ... Gallia... just...
CNN: Doo noot feel bad foor zis... Joou did noozing vroong... If zere vas any vroong, it vas me foor disturbing him, and his foor having a lack oof coontrool oover himself...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] trails off some on the sentence... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head, again, reaching back to stroke Malhaut's hair behind his ear. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] grip loosens. His focus seems off. --
CER: M-MalhauT...?
CNN: Gallia... I apooloogize foor bringing ze situatioon... too vhat it just vas... It vas very...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] leans forward, concerned, looking into Malhaut's eyes. --
CER: MalhauT, iT is oukay, buT whaT is wroung..?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] fights the oncoming shower of sparks in his unfocused eyes for a moment or two longer before slumping. He was long due for a good pass-out... Anemic weakling. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] catches him, and lays him down on the ground. Paniced, she takes his vitals. What is wrong with him?! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] gone a bit pale, a bit clammy, his heart rate's a bit high... but nothing seems... too wrong. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] bites her lip, and finally decides that there's nothing she can do. She gets up, swaying a little, and goes to close the door to the ~secret room~. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns, and looks at Nibzan's knife. She frowns, and cleans it of her blood by wiping it on her coat - it's already ruined - before putting it aside, in a place which isn't immediately noticeable. She gathers all of Nibzan's things into a pile. While she does all of this, she keeps one eye on Malhaut -- she's unwilling to leave him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't take that long to come back to reality, but he does so reluctantly. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] crouches beside Malhaut just as soon as she sees a change in his condition, and takes his hand. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] brow knits and he turns his head, making a discontent noise in the back of his throat before sitting up with a wabble. Most of the color has come back to his face, and he's not so clammy anymore. His pulse has defnitely taken a chill pill. Still, he looks drained. Nothing much new there though, just worse. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] supports Malhaut as he rises, with her other hand. She makes an effort not to get blood all over him. --
CER: MalhauT, whaT happened?
CNN: ... Foor ze loove oof Good...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] appreciates the extra support; It helps him sit up when he's still woozy like this. His voice fits his balance. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stares at Malhaut. She's not crying, any more, though her eyes are still a little brown. --
CNN: My... Ooi vay. I apooloogize... My head is making a pooint too spin vizoout my say-soo...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] sounds a little frightened as she asks, smoothing out Malhaut's hand with her thumb, --
CER: M-MalhauT, whaT happened..?
CNN: Blinked oout, it seems...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] blinks hard and hears the bit of fear in his matesprit's voice. He tries to allay it. --
CNN: It has been a loong night... I suppoose my boody had enoough oof it foor a mooment zere... Again, soorry. I am fine.
CER: y-you doun'T jusT pass ouT four nou reasoun, MalhauT... please, drink soumeThing, and Tell me if you feel anyThing else...
CNN: Jes... jes...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods, sitting up enough to relieve Gallia's hand of any weight against it. --
CNN: ... Alright... Just let me extract a boottle oof vater...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] sounds anxious as she looks away. She's being pushed further and further by the events of the night, and she can feel it. --
CER: I-I'll give you soume space, I should change... buT please...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] trails off. She doesn't know quite what to plead for. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes out a waterbottle from his sylladex and gets to drinking it. He just got dry, but... oi vay, doing this will help anyways. He uses the rest of the water to wet his muffler and more securely wrap it around his feathery gills. --
CNN: ... Doo noot fret... Alloov me too foolloov joou...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shakes his head and starts slowly getting to his knees. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gets to her feet, and holds out a hand to help Malhaut up if he needs it. --
CNN: I... noo, it voould noot be vise oof me too leave joou aloone, oor at least noot foolloov... Joou have already been hurt oonce...
CER: M-MalhauT...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] accepts the hand and offers his own. standing shakily at first. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes Malhaut's other hand, holding them both. --
CER: I... I'm sourry, MalhauT. I've doune you a Terrible wroung, haven'T I...?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shakes his head, swaying subtly until he gets his wits about him again. --
CNN: Noo... noo. Oof coourse noot. Zis game has doone us a terrible vroong.
CNN: Noot joou...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] squeezes Malhaut's hands, looking up at him. She feels the enormity of the situation again, but this time she's able to hold it back and control it. --
CER: I'll dou beTTer by you... I... I was jusT Trying Tou hounour AgaTha. she... she wouldn'T have killed her paTienT...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head, looking away. --
CER: I-I should geT inTou moure armour befoure Nibzan arrives. The blooud could prouvouke him.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] does his best to make his voice sound gentle and consoling during this converation. While he speaks to her, he also starts guiding her to the bathroom and out of Nibzan's room. --
CNN: It is fine... Joou did noo vroong. Joour ideals vere valiant...
CNN: ... just... please... doo noot let zat get in ze vay oof joour survival... please.
CER: I-I woun'T...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] trails off, and her voice is a little bitter as she murmurs, --
CER: ... and I didn'T...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] makes her way towards the bathroom, alongside Malhaut. The discarded clothes are still there, all folded up nicely. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] almost comments further, but decides it best to leave things as they are. Of course, when they get to the bathroom, he won't stalk her inside it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] will just insist on standing guard outside of it. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gives Malhaut's hand a final squeeze, and slips inside the room. She strips out of her bloody clothes, folding them together so that it's more difficult to see the blood. Then she slips into a plain black qipao, and puts on the thickest coat of the bunch; it's purple and black, like Malhaut's, and she has nothing to put over it. None of the other tights will fit her -- Malhaut alchemised them for thickness, which didn't translate well to stretchy leggings -- so she just straps her rocket boots onto her bare feet. It's a little uncomfortable... but she's had worse. --
CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LOOAC.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is jumpy; He's in a ready position, not quite crouching, holding onto his jian tightly. His eyes scan the hall, back and forth. Those revived seem to come back very randomly... Nibzan could pop back into existance anywhere. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps out of the room, and goes to Malhaut. She puts a hand on his shoulder, wanting to hug him, but unsure. --
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream, [CIM,] in fact, pops back into existance outside the hive. He's wearing his bright gold prospit clothes and seems to have lost his glasses. After a long moment taking in the hive and the paintings around it, he goes to the door and heads inside. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] tightens up at the touch... although he doesn't turn. He stands motionless during the physical contact... or at least until he hears another set of footsteps downstairs. His hearing caught the noise of the door opening, and now this sense has perked up considerably. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] hunches over and quietly stalks over to the staircase... --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] tries not to step out so far into plain sight as to be seen, of course. Element of surprise. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] stiffens, and goes to the staircase as well, waiting beside Malhaut. She's ready to fight - but she's prepared to grab Nibzan, not smash him. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] can be heard slowly making his way up the stairs to them, pausing every now and then. After a little while he reaches the top, and cautiously steps out into the main hall, seeing Malhaut and Gallia and dropping into a slightly defensive crouch. He looks more curious and a little suspicious than murderous. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] asks, keeping her voice even and calming: --
CER: Nibzan..?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] stance matches Nibzan's, ignoring the fact that he's not curious like his fellow troll is. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] watches cautiously... and seems to be making a priority out of not being behind Gallia. Beside, perhaps, but not behind. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is beside Malhaut, yes. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] straightens up slowly, since neither of them have made a move towards him. He glances between them and there isn't any recognition in his eyes. He doesn't speak, just continues watching them. --
CURRENT glitchStatic [CGS] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CGS: # The environment around them all gains a static effect, then goes back to normal.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks back and forth quickly, then starts rising a bit from his stance once he sees that nothing's happened. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes in Nibzan's face. Is this some sort of show of dumbness for the sake of deception?... Something's abnormal. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] flinches as the static appears, tearing his gaze away from Gallia and Malhaut to look wildly around. He seems less restrained in his reactions than normal. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] flinches when the world glitches. She rises from her stance when Malhaut does, examining Nibzan. --
CER: Nibzan... are you all righT?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks back to Gallia, giving up his search for the source of the static. --
CIM: that'th- ...? /that's/ a very good question.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] brow knits. Come on, lie! Why can't he see one?... This... huh?... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] makes a decision, looking Nibzan in the eyes. --
CER: I'm gouing Tou coume Touwards you nouw, Nibzan, and Touch your shoulder. is ThaT oukay?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] backs away slightly, eyeing Gallia carefully. --
CIM: ... why?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] glances to Malhaut, and something flashes in her eyes, indicating that he should be ready. Then she looks back to Nibzan. --
CER: I have The abiliTy Tou feel emouTiouns oun Touch. I can Tell you if you are all righT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] may be distracted by the oddness of this all, but he gives her the A-OK with his brief look too. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction, [CER,] thoughout all her talk with Nibzan, acts and sounds calm and reassuring. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] still looks cautious, but... --
CIM: ... fine.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps forward to Nibzan's side, and lays a hand gently on his shoulder. She doesn't drain anything, but just lets it all flow over her -- all the emotions Nibzan is feeling. The smorgasboard in front of her, you could say. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] There's probably little she'll recognise from the previous times she's felt his emotions. First and foremost is confusion tempered by a slight sense of worry. Beneath that is a slight undercurrent of frustration. Nothing that would hint anything of his previous feelings towards them. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps back, after a moment. (She resists the urge to snack on any of those emotions. Even though confusion is tangy, and worry is rich.) --
CER: you are all righT... jusT counfused.
CER: why are you counfused, Nibzan?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] has been searching and searching, and all this time, he hasn't been able to pick up a hint of insincerity, of anything that would suggest an attack, really. How could that be possible?, he asks himself. There doesn't seem to be a need to stand at the ready any longer, so Malhaut straightens himself out. --
CIM: ... well. it could be something to do with the question of: who the fuck are you? or it could be: where is this, and why was i told i'm supposed to be here? or, and this is the big thing, or it could be that i have no idea who i am. pick one.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] glances to Malhaut. This is a toughie. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] returns the glance. For once, he properly shows his perplexity at the situation... and mayhaps a pinch of worry. After, he looks back to Nibzan. --
CNN: ... Nibzan Soomrar... If joou have truly foorgootten, zis is joour name, but zat is vhat I vish too ask joou. Doo... joou really noot recall anyzing?
CIM: all i remember is waking up in some gold city and being told i'm meant to be down here. then i found you. that is the complete extent of what i remember.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] watches Nibzan's face. She doesn't need to sniff out his emotions to see he's telling the truth. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't drop that concern, even if his body relaxes and his grip on his jian becomes less iron-hard. --
CNN: ... I see...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks off to the side and puts a curled fist to his chin. His head rests on it. --
CNN: ... Soomezing must have goone vroong.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] bites her lip. Could she have..? Brain damage could have set in during the switch from his real and damaged self to his dreamself... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can't shake the feeling that she might have been responsible for this. Medically, it makes as much sense as the game allows. --
CIM: ... so, are you going to tell me who you are? so far you've only told me who i am.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses for a moment before answering the question. This is still so strange... The seatroll ponders if this is permanent, or if Nibzana will recover from this. --
CNN: I am Malhaut Obliquus...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] says the next few lines with a bit of a down-hearted tone. --
CNN: ... Captain oof ze grooup vhich joou are a part oof, ze oone in zis terrible place.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gestures with his head towards Gallia, indicating for her to go on. --
CER: my name is Gallia Wuquus. I... have The mousT medical knouwledge ouf The group, and I Take care ouf everyoune's menTal and emouTiounal sTaTes.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hesitates before saying she's a healer, almost as if saying it is painful to her. But she doesn't lose her calming voice. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods --
CIM: ... considering we've apparently already met, saying it's nice to meet you would probably be stupid.
CER: iT's oukay, Nibzan. These are sTrange circumsTances.
CER: buT we will help you Through iT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] smiles slightly, but sadly... This Nibzan seems more friendly, at least... --
CNN: Jes. Eizer vay, despite oour previoous meeting... it is good too meet joou as vell.
CER: yes, iT is.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] breathes out slowly. No need to restrain himself overly much anyways. He feels like he's getting a bit bad with that lately, but that could just be how the past few nights have gone. --
CNN: ...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] thinks to himself; His finears twitch up when he remembers something important. Oh God, neither he nor Gallia have a way of communication right now. What must the others have thought seeing them offline?? --
CNN: ... Coould joou tvoo vait a fev minutes, please? I vill be back moomentarily...
CER: ouf course... Nibzan, why doun'T you coume Tou The lounge wiTh me? I can answer your quesTiouns as well as I am able.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods and moves over to Gallia. He's looking curiously at the paintings on the walls around him, and seems much more relaxed - probably more relaxed than Gallia or Malhaut have seen him. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods to them both, feeling a flicker of worry come to him again at the chance of his and Gallia's observations of Nibzan being /entirely wrong/... He shoves this out of his mind. No, Nibzan's not going to stab Gallia in the meantime. You're just being paranoid. He pads over to Nibzan's room and gets to the task of opening the secret chamber to get Nibzan's computer glasses off of his body... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] leads Nibzan over to the door to his loungeroom, and holds it open for him. She can tell that Malhaut has something to do, and she guesses his task probably has to do with Nibzan's respiteblock. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] enters the room. It seems the paintings continue into here as well. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] enters after him, and half-closes the door. She goes to the couch, and sits down on one side of it. Seeing that Nibzan is looking at the paintings, she starts: --
CER: you louved Tou painT, Nibzan.
CER: you made all ouf These.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] adds after a moment: --
CER: aT leasT... ThaT's whaT I Think. perhaps soume ouf Them came froum ouTher arTisTs... buT They are proubably all by you.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] tries not to pay too much attention to the body as he... pries the damaged pair off of it. Gallia's punch had wrecked his skull and bent in part of the device, but it seems one side and both lenses are still functional. He takes them out of the caved-in tissue and bone with some sickening cracks and pops. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks a little surprised, but his expression evens out quickly as if some thoughts have connected for him. --
CIM: so... i guess this is where i live, then?
CER: yes, This is your hive.
CIM: unless i enjoyed painting on other people's stuff.
CER: buT... we doun'T spend much Time in our hives any moure.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] cleans them off with part of dead!zan's shirt and puts everything else back where it was. He moves on to the alchemiter now. Time... for some alchemization. --
CER: we're parT ouf a game called SGRUB. iT... isn'T really a game. we're playing four our lives.
CER: we mouved in groups froum wourld Tou wourld, coumpleTing The planeT's quesTs.
CIM: ... if there's a chance we could die from playing it, why are we playing?
CER: because our planeT was desTrouyed. This game was The ounly way we could escape froum The meTeours falling oun AlTernia - ThaT was our houme.
CIM: ... so basically we were screwed either way.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nods. --
CER: buT we had a chance, This way.
CER: nouw... we're planning Tou escape This game sessioun.
CER: you saw The sTaTic, didn'T you?
CIM: in the hallway? it was a little hard to miss.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nods, again. --
CER: This game is wroung. iT's falling aparT. sou we're gouing Tou evacuaTe.
CER: everyoune is geTTing Their Things TougeTher.
CER: we were escourTing you back Tou your hive sou ThaT you could coullecT painT four your moudus... iT needs painT Tou wourk, I Think?
CIM: at this point you'd know better than me.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, though the sound is a little thin. --
CGS: # Noises like shuffling and sliding happen, and these noises are of medium volume... By the time it stops, there are still no visible effects.
CER: hounesTly, you kepT Tou yourself, sou I doun'T knouw everyThing abouT you.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns when she hears the shuffling, looking up, but she can't see or hear anything indicating enemies getting closer. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] glances around the room briefly --
CIM: i obviously wasn't expecting to loose my memory. i'll have to make sure i have a plan for that this time around.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pauses in his alchemizing ventures... then gets back to it. Damn it, it's difficult to get something decent and functional out of this. Rrggh... --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] honestly laughs, that time, more like a giggle than anything. It's only for a moment, but... Nibzan made a funny! Sort of! --
CER: iT's nouT The sourT ouf Thing anyoune plans four, is iT?
CIM: not normally, i imagine.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] feels a little pang of guilt, which urges her to emphasise: --
CER: iT isn'T nourmal aT all... buT, I will help as much as I can. if you have any quesTiouns, our need any help, ask me.
CIM: ... what was i like before?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up, curling a hand to her chest. --
CER: you... you were a very inTrouverTed persoun. you liked your ouwn coumpany. you were a deep Thinker, I believe, because you usually broughT up inTeresTing pouinTs.
CIM: so... kept to myself and painted. very exciting life i must have led.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head, smiling. --
CER: I should be hounesT wiTh you... you weren'T always The easiesT persoun Tou geT aloung wiTh. you were an oupiniounaTed Troull.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] eventually makes something like a blindfold after many alchemizations. Thankfully, it doesn't actually function as a blindfold. It's more or less a long strip of fabric with a portion towards the middle that is a flexible computer screen. There's no proper keyboard, but voice recognition. Works well enough for until they get back though... --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods. He doesn't look too happy with what he's been told, but he mostly just looks like he's thinking things over. --
CER: buT, despiTe nouT geTTing aloung wiTh everyoune, I Think we gouT aloung oukay. you weren'T sure wheTher Tou TrusT me, I Think, buT I was Trying Tou prouve myself Tou you.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pauses, and then looks to Nibz. --
CER: you doun'T have Tou be ThaT persoun if you doun'T wanT Tou be, Nibzan. iT's your chouice.
CIM: conidering all i have to go on is 'painted, opinonated and kept to myslef', i don't think i could really base my entire personality off that.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] makes three, varying each's design using his fabric samples. One is the color of his coat; Black and Mal-blood blotched. Unfortunately, he's lost almost all of his fabric samples, so he had to make a new one by cutting a part of another of his jackets. The next is made of a sample of Gallia's coat he'd made her; He'd made note to cut the piece and make the sample from where her symbol is. Nibzan... um... some plain black --
made from a sample of his pants will work fine.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] smiles, shaking her head. --
CER: nou, you really couldn'T.
CIM: is there anyone else in this... team thing?
CER: There are... nine ouf us. Aside froum MalhauT, yourself and myself, There is Aragua, SouTouTh, Juniprei, Swinde, Alcippe, and Signa.
CIM: and if i asked /them/ what i was like before, what would they say?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hesitates, looking away. --
CER: soume ouf Them would hounesTly say, "he was a jerk".
CER: you were nouT well undersTooud, I Think.
CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LOOAC.
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts heading to the loungeroom with the new devices. --
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes this in without answering her. It was pretty much what he was expecting to hear, really. --
CER: iT can'T be pleasanT Tou hear ThaT, Nibzan... buT, I feel iT is impourTanT Tou be hounesT wiTh you, especially nouw.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] nods --
CIM: it's better than lies, at least.
CER: I wouldn'T lie Tou you if I could help iT. nouT when you're in This pousiTioun.
CER: if I ever couldn'T help iT...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks up at the ceiling, breathing out. --
CER: ... Then iT's a maTTer ouf greaT impourTance, you can aT leasT TrusT ThaT.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] quietly enters the room, not saying anything in fear of interrupting anything important. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks to her sharply at this --
CIM: does that imply that there /are/ 'matters of great importance'?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head. --
CER: nouT aT The moumenT, nou. buT - if iT were a maTTer ouf life our deaTh, four example.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] sees that nobody has noticed him yet... so he might as well listen for a short while... No. Curiosity has no place right now; They have to get out of here and back to there. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks back to Nibzan. --
CIM: ... alright.
CER: I would Tell you, ounce The maTTer had resoulved iTself, sou loung as I was able.
CER: I will dou everyThing in my pouwer Tou be TruThful Tou you, Nibzan.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] shuffles into view at this point, devices in hand. --
CNN: I have made us a fev coomputing devices...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] startles a little, glancing to Malhaut. --
CER: ou-ouh! Thank you, MalhauT.
CNN: It is fine...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] offers Nibzan and Gallia their respective computer-bands. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] takes hers, turning it over in her hands. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] takes his from Malhaut, looking at it with curiosity. --
CNN: If eizer oof joou need assistance in using zese, doo ask... but it shoould be simple... Zey seem too be vooice activated zoough.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns to leave the room. --
CNN: Noov... it is time foor me too make a call oor tvoo... I vill be doone shoortly.
CER: undersTooud...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] starts wrapping the device to his head as he goes. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] watches Malhaut do it, and follows his example, slipping her headband onto her head. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] leaves his off for the time being. If you're able to contact people through these headbands, he'd rather not risk someone trying to talk to him. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] laughs, a thin sound. (Quietly, she says to herself, 'equineReaction online.') She smiles to Nibzan as well as she can. --
CER: sourry, buT I should be available four everyoune, jusT in case soumeThing has happened since I've been goune...
CIM: it's fine.
CER: buT if you have any ouTher quesTiouns, please ask.
CIM: nothing comes to mind right now. although... why was... Malhaut? pointing a weapon at me when i came in?
CER: There are enemies ouTside, Nibzan. imps and ougres and basilisks. when MalhauT heard soumeThing mouving douwnsTairs, he naTurally fell inTou a baTTle sTance.
CER: you surprised him wiTh your counfusioun, sou... he was Tense, and he didn'T leave The pousiTioun unTil he knew whaT was wroung.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] would have liked to tell Nibzan the truth, but... she couldn't risk him realising why he went crazy in the first place. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] didn't tell anything more than a lie of omission - right? --
CIM: that... makes sense, i guess.
CIM: if there are all these enemies it pays to be cautious.
CER: yes, iT doues.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] decides to drop this particular line of conversation in favour of another topic. --
CIM: when will we be meeting up with the rest of the group?
CER: very sooun. MalhauT jusT needs Tou geT a few Things TougeTher... and you have a few Things you should feTch, Toou.
CIM: such as?
CER: your Things - They're all in a pile in your respiTeblouck. and, you wanTed soume yellouw painT four your moudus. I believe you've yeT Tou gaTher ThaT.
CIM: and where is my room?
CER: iT is jusT douwn The hall... dou you wanT me Tou shouw you?
CIM: please.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] picks herself up, and goes to the door, opening it for Nibzan. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] follows, passing through the door as Gallia holds it open. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] closes the door behind her, and then leads Nibzan to his respiteblock. She opens the door, glancing inside first to make sure Malhaut isn't there. Luckily, Nibzan's body is inside the Secret Room, which has been closed and is hard to see for anyone who doesn't know it's there. In a neat little pile lays Nibzan's things, and Gallia stands to the side to let him gather them. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] picks through the pile of things slowly, every now and then pausing to look at certain things. There's what seems to be a set of oil paints, along with a couple of sets of clothes and a pair of shoes. The rest of the pile is just made up of various odds-and-ends that Nibzan had captchalogued during the game. Nibzan considers everything for a while before simply gathering it all up. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] breathes out as something flashes over her headband. A message. --
CER: excuse me, Nibzan, I have a message...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps into the hall, though she still watches Nibzan from there, and mumurs something to her mystery messenger. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] inspects one of the t-shirts that he apparently owns. He notices that, like Gallia and Malhaut, there's a symbol on it. Although this one seems different from theirs... He glances up to where Gallia is standing outside before looking down to the t-shirt again, deciding to ask her about it later. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] looks kind of irritated during her conversation. Whoever it is, she must not like her. --
CER RIGHT NOW opened memo on board LOOAC.
CDA ceased responding to memo.
CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream, [CIM,] seeing Gallia's expression resolves to definitely wait to ask. At least until she doesn't look as pissed off. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] continues whispering for her headband. Frown. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] puts away the things we wants to keep and stretches slightly. Now what? --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] settles for inspecting the paintings on the walls around him. He walks around the walls of the room, stoping every now and then to inspect a particularly interesting painting. His wanderings take him fairly close to the hidden panel... --
CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] experiences... shock! Disbelief! Of course, he's in another room... downstairs, actually, so nobody can see! --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] isn't getting... loud yet... or at least he couldn't be /clearly/ heard from other rooms or upstairs. Still, his voice is raising in volume. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] thinks he hears something as he's inspecting the paintings, but dismisses it. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] volume starts increasing further; His words were coming out normal at first, but then his mouth started running off without him, and he babbles.. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] frowns, and finishes up her conversation with the mystery messenger. She goes back into Nibzan's room. --
CER: Nibzan, I am wourried abouT MalhauT... I am gouing Tou gou and check oun him. you can coume wiTh me...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] had heard Malhaut properly this time, and nods. He was pretty mcuh done with looking at paintings, anyway. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns around, and goes down the hall. She stops at the stairs, and her face is concerned. --
CER: MalhauT, I am sourry, buT whaT is wroung?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] follows her out into the hall curiously --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] talks over Gallia and to his Trollian at first, but when he does hear her, he startles with a small jump. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks extremely anxious, but not expressly upset, or is he? It's very hard to tell. He's certainly getting over excited about /something/ though. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] gestures to Gallia; He's trying to take a call!

--
CNN: Jes! Zat is fine, alright!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] takes the time to speak to Nibzan and Gallia between messages. --
CNN: Soorry! Noozing is precisely vroong, but-! Good.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] turns back and forth some as he switches between talking to his current company and who he's messaging. --
CNN: Zat is terrible, but Good bless her.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hovers at the staircase, staring at Malhaut. She's obviously worried, but after a moment, she bites her lip and shepherds Nibzan back up the stairs. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is duly sheperded, but looks slightly annoyed. He was interested in what was going on --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] raves on. Uuffhhh this is starting to get him a bit breathless. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] mumurs to Nibzan, once they're in the upper hall again: --
CER: soumeThing is gouing oun, buT... please jusT bear wiTh iT four nouw.
CIM: not much else i can do, is there?
CER: is There anyThing else you need, besides whaT you found..?
CIM: i don't think so.... actually, i wanted to ask something.
CER: yes?
CIM: what's with the...?
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] points to the symbol on her clothes --
CER: ou-ouh!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] clears her throat, apparently embarrassed. --
CER: sourry, I am nouT wearing my symboul righT nouw because my clouThes were damaged...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] basically shouts something for a brief moment, but works himself back down to... mostly normal volume. --
CER: sou, I bourrouwed oune ouf MalhauT's couaTs.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] soon ends his talk. Welp. --
CIM: but why the symbols in general?
CER: ouh!
CER: These are like our names... They shouw whou we are. They're very impourTanT Tou us.
CER: yours is oun your clouThing...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is still wearing his prospit outfit, but he's worked out she means the squiggly green thing. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] slides the headband up so it's on his forehead instead of over his eyes, not that it obstructs his view in the first place. --
CER: I mean, oun your noun-goulden clouThing. iT is a yellouw coulour, Though...
CIM: i saw it, on the shirts in with my things.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] nods. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is just about in a cold sweat. Again, he's gotten far too excited. He takes a momentary breather, wipes his brow, and starts... heading up the stairs! --
CER: I suppouse iT musT be sTrange Tou see a symboul which has nou meaning Tou you, buT which is apparenTly ouf high value...
CER: in our culTure, we always wear our symboul oun our clouThing. T-ThaT's why iT's sou sTrange ThaT I'm wearing MalhauT's.
CIM: i guess i ought to change into my actual clothes then, if i'm meant to be wearing my symbol.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] barges on over to where his two crewmembers are. He's making an attempt to not sound rushed and jumpy. --
CER: iT is all righT four nouw... we should sTay ready Tou mouve. I suspecT -
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] turns to Malhaut. THAT'S what she suspects. --
CNN: Alright, I am ready too goo vhen booz oof joou are.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] gives Malhaut a concerned expression. She's clearly worried! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks like he wants to argue his right tochange clothes, but ultimately just nods to show he's ready. --
CER: I am ready...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks like he could swoon at any moment. For what reason? Who the Hell knows! --
CNN: Good. Nibzan?
CIM: ready enough.
CNN: Alright. Voonderful.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] clears her throat. --
CER: um, acTually, maybe Nibzan should change...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] had been debating whether or not to stall Malhaut, but she came to a decision when she saw him about to pass out. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks a little irritated at this changing of minds, but not that irritated. He's a little nervous about meeting anyone else in the group, so stalling is good. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks at Nibzan. Loooooooooook... --
CNN: Joou are free too doo zis if joou vish.
CIM: i'll just... gon in here, then.
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] enters his room, closing the door behind him --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] steps closer to Malhaut, frowning. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] pushes her headband down so it rests around her neck, and looks him in the eyes. She's giving him the Nurse Once-Over. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is just gonna get changed, not bothering with inspecting the room while he's not watched. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus's [CNN'S] speech is a bit rushed. --
CNN: Excuse me, I had been rambling too looudly, damn... I doo noot favoor speech too text...
CNN: Soorry, just, too much in oone night... far too-
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] swoons. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] darts forward to catch him, distress sirens going off in her head. --
CER: MalhauT?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is conked for the moment. --
CER: MalhauT, dear, whaT is wroung wiTh you..?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] speaks half to herself, half to Malhaut as she crouches down and lays Malhaut on the ground. She checks his vitals again -- and when she finds that he's not dying, all she can do is crouch beside him, holding his hand. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] comes out of his room at this point, dressed in his normal clothes. He stops short at the sight of Malhaut on the floor. --
CIM: ... what happened here?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] can't quite conceal the concern in her voice. --
CER: he fainTed...
CIM: is... that something he does normally?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] shakes her head. --
CER: he should be up sooun...
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] grumbles, turning his head before promptly going to sit up with... reasonable success. Weebles wobble but they don't fall down, but Malhaut's not a children's toy. --
CNN: I'm alright... I'm alright. Soorry.
CNN: Just... Good damn... Atgh, noot tvice...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] looks... a little unimpressed? Their leader faints randomly? --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] supports Malhaut with a hand at his back. She frowns. --
CER: MalhauT, you musT Tell me whaT you have doune Tou have This happen when we reTurn... i-iT's a maTTer ouf your healTh!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] goes to stand, certainly shakey. Why isn't he being a smart boy and sitting for a little longer? Nobody will ever know. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] helps him up, obviously concerned. --
CNN: It... toonight has just been loong... tiring...
CER: we can Talk abouT iT laTer...
CNN: Soorry again. Truly. Too head ooff any miscoonceptioons... I did noot recieve bad nevs vhile messaging.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] stops swaying eventually... mostly... --
CIM: ... so what news was there?
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] supports Malhaut with a hand, still. She's ~worried~. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] still sounds kind of breathless when he responds, but even while speaking he's slowly gravitating away from where they are and towards the exit. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] follows closely behind Malhaut, still very concerned about him. --
CNN: Foor oone, it seems zat ve have anoozer goodtier oon ze team.
CER: whaT?! whou?
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] raises his voice, overlapping Gallia's words even if he's not trying to be rude. He's extremely fixed on getting everyone out of Nibzan's hive. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] is following Malhaut out! --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is also following --
CNN: Secoondly, oone oof oour deaz repoorts vas inaccurate!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] is basically rushing towards the door, almost jogging. --
CNN: Impulenin is alive!
CIM: ... who?
CER: Megdul-?!
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] hurries to keep up with Malhaut, while explaining for Nibzan: --
CER: Megdul was a TeammaTe - we ThoughT he'd died - MalhauT, ThaT's wounderful news!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] doesn't respond; He's clean leaped off of the staircase and ran to the front entrance, flung the door open, and exited. Believe it or not, him doing that was probably safer than taking the stairs; He can't trip on air. --
CIM: ... what.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] whuffs, following Malhaut (via the stairs). When she gets outside, she asks him: --
CER: w-was AgaTha's repourT...
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is still following along, having picked up his pace --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] /did/ stop himself outside of the door , to his credit. Part wooziness, and part consideration have made sure he didn't abandon his team mates. --
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] pants... and shakes his head. --
CNN: I am soorry... Her deaz is coonfirmed. Megdul had relajed zat infoormatioon too Sototh, and zen myself.
CER: ouh...
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] tries to hide her pang of despair with an even voice. --
-- CURRENT ironicMainstream [CIM] is lost in a cloud of /who the fuck are these people/ --
CER: a-aT leasT we have counfirmaTioun.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] looks quite hurt by both the notion that he's disappointed Gallia, and he's still upset that Megdul's lost his matesprit. --
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] reaches out to squeeze Malhaut's hand, shaking her head. --
CER: iT is oukay! leT's geT back Tou Megdul!
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus [CNN] nods quickly, setting himself off balance for a second before catching himself. --
CNN: Jes, let us doo zat, just doo noot let me run intoo soomezing like an idioot.
-- CURRENT equineReaction [CER] replies quietly: --
CER: I will Take care ouf you....
CIM ceased responding to memo.
-- CURRENT nefariousNautilus, [CNN,] Gallia, and Nibzan all head out to return to Gallia's world, braving several repeated portal entries... until eventually, they're #Hiveward_Bound . --

**Tamenthail** · 02-07-2012, 08:48 AM

Nibzan's adventures in getting back to his world (set in between him dying and returning to LoOaC)

When he woke up, the golden city almost seemed familiar. He stood at the base of a tower that seemed to brush the sky, and when he looked up he could see images moving in the clouds of people he felt he ought to recognise and places that seemed to be hovering just on the edge of his mind. After what seemed like an age he looked away from the clouds, taking stock of his situation for the first time. Name? No, that seemed to be gone. Location? Other than the frustrating feeling that he ought to know this place, nothing. With the alarming absence of everything in his mind, he set out walking along the golden streets ignoring the curious stares of the white carapace people around him. In time, he reached a shop window and for a minute stood staring at his reflection. Downward facing horns, a shock of messy black hair and… glasses? He gingerly took them off, wondering why he was wearing glasses he didn’t even seem to need. He studied himself a while longer - with or without glasses, nothing about the face before him was familiar.

He dropped the glasses carelessly on the floor next to him (they had no use, so why keep them?) and turned away from the window. A small group of the white carapaces had gathered a few meters away and were talking amongst themselves. After a few seconds of them watching him and him watch them in return, one of the taller carapaces stepped forward.

“Prince? Are you well?” He (she?) asked cautiously. The troll hesitated and shrugged.

“Where am I?”

“This is Prospit, Prince. You- you’ve been here before?” The Prospitian glanced back at the others behind it, uncertainty written all over its face. “Although… normally you are down on the planet at this time of day. Has something happened?”

“Nothing’s happened. How do I get to the planets?”

“You… go to sleep, prince. Or you could fly, but…”

Whatever the Prospitian was going to say next was cut off as the troll decided to exercise his ‘newly’-discovered powers and took off towards the planet indicated. Maybe there would hold the key to finding his identity.

**curiousTerminal** · 02-09-2012, 06:46 AM

Sayin' this now, I've gotta redesign Swinde's second session godtier design, Prince is almost exactly what it would be.

**Quincunx** · 02-14-2012, 04:55 PM

Going back a bit, Juniprei returns to Gallia's hive and brings news of Megdul's death.

**Quincunx** · 02-14-2012, 04:56 PM

And continued:

Thread: SGRUB: The Prying Hackers [MOVED TO 2ND THREAD]

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