afflictionmods | CYOA

[ When Hien turns his head, he sees Chongyun. ]

... Huh. Hey, Chongyun.

[ He looks at him for a while and then the two more doors near them. ]

I'm guessing Marcus and Sabo are in these two rooms then. I hope things don't start dissolving into the void again...

it just seems like a normal apartment complex

[By now Marcus too has gotten up and made his way to the door, which he's going to be opening cautiously just in case, though the fact that he can hear Hien and Chongyun's voices out in the hall is a promising enough sign.]

Yo. Present and accounted for.

I bid you good morning, Hien and Marcus. [ As good as it gets around here, as in... it's not a bad morning yet. But as always, it's good to see a familiar face or two! He notices Hien's lingering look and tilts his head, curious. ] Is there something on my face?

[ Not morning drool, he hopes... Then the phone naturally pings when Hien types, and Chongyun startles a little. It's a strange experience to be able to talk with someone face-to-face and read their... well, their letters being sent out to to him and everyone else at the same time. Wild... ]

We're in the hallway if you'd would like to join us.

[ last to arrive is sabo since he'll be taking that peek out from the window. it is a bit of a mixed blessing that they're still seemingly in estelline, to be honest, but no time for any other thoughts as the phone chimes.

he'll exit his apartment (apparently) in short order with a bit of a smile. ]

If only all of my invitations to go somewhere could be as polite.

[ and giving everyone a quick look over. no one arrived funny, right? ]

I'm not sure how much you've all seen so far, but it looks like we're still in Estelline.

[ No one looks funny, no. So far, everyone seems to be as they usually are.

They go outside...and the four of them will notice something funny.

Their marks start to glow. Only for one or two seconds, though, before they go back to just being regular old marks again. Also, they'll notice that everything still seems empty despite there being people coming back this week. ]

[ Hien waves at the other two a little and shakes his head no to Chongyun's question. Forget about it! Hien was definitely bracing himself for pain when the marks glowed though, but when it doesn't come, he heaves a sigh of relief. ]

Let's check things out.

[ By that, he goes to check each and every door to see if it's unlocked. If it's locked, he'll simply move on. Maybe there will be something weird inside one of the residences! ]

[Marcus, meanwhile, is going to be checking out the hall. So what floor are they on here? How big does this building seem to be? Anything particularly interesting about the hall itself?]

[ ?

Tugging up his sleeve to see that his mark is glowing, too. ]

Are the marks reacting to something? [ But not the usual pain since he doesn't feel any. What did the spirit at the mall say? Something about a dark energy, right? ] We should tread carefully.

[ He'll leave his sleeve rolled up, so he can keep track of the mark. While Hien checks the doors and Marcus focuses on the hallway, Chongyun will examine the small-tablet-phone-thing he received. They must carry them for a reason. Any distinct markings on the phone? Perhaps a phone number on the back to contact the maker to file a complaint?? ]

[ sabo will also brace himself for any incoming pain given his last experience with it glowing and he is very relieved when nothing comes. the last time was less than great, and much like chongyun, sabo will roll up both of his sleeves to his elbow to keep the mark visible. ]

At least they didn't end up hurting us this time.

[ and as hien goes to test all of the doors, marcus checks the hall, and chongyun checks out his new phone, sabo will decide to go the opposite direction of marcus (if there is anything to see that way) or otherwise just join him depending on what he finds. ]

[ Hien tries to unlock each door, but everything else is locked other than their doors.

As for Marcus' question, they appear to be on the third floor! There are five floors total and there's nothing super notable about the hallway otherwise. Sabo will get the same result.

There isn't a distinct marking on the phones, but Chongyun's phone case looks like this. I make no apologies. Taking off the case, though, will just show him a very blank backside.

Something suddenly crunches, though, on the ground floor beneath them. Since it's so empty, the sound of it can be heard from where they are now. ]

[ When Hien hears that crunch, he immediately goes to the person nearest him. ]

Sounds like something broke...

Yeah. Something or someone.

[Marcus is immediately on edge. Whatever that sound was, it didn't sound good, and it almost guarantees they aren't alone in here. Who knows whether whatever-it-is this time will be as friendly as Lethe?]

I don't think I need to say we should probably go check that out.

Below us, right? So we're looking for a stairway.

[ He looks around for a sign pointing to where they can locate one. ]

... It's highly likely they - or it - already knows we're here.

[ An invitation or bait... ]

Well there's nothing this way.

[ unless there is then i'm a liar, but for now he'll look at the ground beneath their feet. sure there might have sounded like a crunch but hopefully that crunch wasn't actually under their feet??? ]

Should we come up with something to say before we go say "hi"?

[ like maybe not seek violence from the start?? sometimes it's okay to ask questions before hitting things. ]

[ There are two stairways on both ends of the hallway: to your right and two your left. Take your pick.

The crunch is coming from the ground floor, but you aren't able to see it from where you are. ]

Edited 2022-07-03 23:16 (UTC)

[ Hien isn't really for plans all that much, so he just walks ahead. However, before leaving them, he turns to look at Sabo specifically: ]

I won't hit first and ask later this time.

[ Look. He saw Sabo talking with Fai in the meeting...

Anyway, he goes down the stairs on the right. ]

I make no promises.

[Well, if Hien's got the right covered, Marcus is going to take the left just so there's no chance of anything sneaking up on them from the other side. He's well aware that Hien can handle himself in a fight, so between the two of them, they should be able to deal with anything they might run into... hopefully.]

[ Chongyun stays silent, just following Hien. But uh, he's definitely a hit first, ask questions later type of guy if the situation looks even remotely dangerous. If it's not, then... someone else can ask the questions first, and he'll be prepared to bring the fight. ]

Edited 2022-07-04 01:02 (UTC)

[ CLOSES MY EYES. love how sabo is constantly the "hey why don't we try using words before fists" in his group. ]

That's the most I can hope for then.

[ but if chongyun is going to follow hien then that means that sabo will be following marcus. (coco voice) we're not going to split them up. ...watches the group split themselves up, but they may end up on the same floor(???) so sabo isn't too fussed. sometimes you wanna go a different direction to cover more ground and see what could be lying in the wing. he gets it. ]

[ Poor Sabo.....looks at the group looks into the camera. But yes, they're splitting up and --

Hien and Chongyun will start to notice that their side of the stairwell is starting to crumble under their feet as they walk down. Sabo and Marcus will find that the railings are starting to break and fall off.

Be careful, gang. Whatever's beneath you guys sounds like it's shuffling around, now. ]

[ Well.

Hien jumps in without a word. He doesn't see any point to going back upstairs. Whatever is shuffling around doesn't scare him.

What will he find?! ]

[Good thing Marcus doesn't need railings to go down stairs! He is going to be taking it slowly, though, because it's clear these stairs aren't exactly stable even if the stairs themselves aren't falling apart.]

Talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed...

[So what are they going to find down there...]

[ Hien and friends will find...

A giant badger. The crunching is thankfully nothing serious, as it seems like this critter was just stepping on a giant pile of leaves. It's staring at Hien like it's been startled, and then it tilts its head.

Its voice sounds a little too familiar...like a certain "instructor's". ]

...Where did you come from?

[ TAKES OUT CLAYMORE? Just kidding, probably. But also whispering loudly to the rest of the team: ]

Doesn't it sound like - [ Waggling his eyebrows. You know what he means?? ]

[ why whisper if you're going to be loud about it!!! but sabo will do his best not to stare at the badger who clearly sounds like a very certain person. or, well, not stare too badly. just enough for conversation. ]

It does.

[ now time for words and not violence or throwing accusations too quickly— ]

We came from upstairs. [ ahem. ] Sorry for startling you.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject