CYOA - W7

[afflictionmods]

ic date: tuesday, w7
ic time: 6am - 8am

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[selfconcept]

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

Sounds like something broke...

[mirrite]

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.

[cloudalike]

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... ]

[vivens]

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. ]

[afflictionmods]

[ 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. ]

[selfconcept]

[ 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. ]

[mirrite]

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.]

[cloudalike]

[ 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. ]

[vivens]

[ 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. ]

[afflictionmods]

[ 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. ]

[selfconcept]

[ 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?! ]

[mirrite]

[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...]

[afflictionmods]

[ 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?

[cloudalike]

[ 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?? ]

[vivens]

[ 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.

[selfconcept]

[ Well. Okay. Yeah. Hien isn't gonna get out a knife right now, but. ]

What are you doing here? This place isn't good for a badger nest.

[ Said very seriously. ]

[mirrite]

[... you know what, this is not even the weirdest thing that has happened to him in his life. He can roll with this.]

Have we met before?

[He's not really expecting an answer to this, but you know what, it doesn't hurt to ask.]

[afflictionmods]

[ This is your life now, gang. The badger looks at all four of you inquisitively, before looking at the markings on your arms. ]

Hm. Perhaps. This world is barren, though. I'm surprised you've managed to survive it.

[ It doesn't sound as calm as the Lorelei you know does. It sounds a little frazzled, actually.

Behind it, the apartment complex starts to slowly crumble. ]

I'm fed up with this place, actually. Aren't you?

[cloudalike]

[ He whispered loudly because half of them were on the other side!

BUT WAIT, if this is maybe Lorelei... Chongyun covers his eyes. ]

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to stare at your bare form. Pardon. [ Said in a normal voice now. He's not exactly embarrassed, but it seems frazzled and he's trying to be polite. ] Honestly, it was a close call several times. I'm sure we're all ready to go home.

[vivens]

[ sabo will just let chongyu do what chongyun wants to do in regards to covering his eyes. he'll frown ever so slightly when the apartment crumbles behind them. was it really in that disrepair??? ]

We're a resilient group.

[ actually what is the state around them like? is it barren other than the leaves and potential crumbling buildings? ]

...but yes. I wouldn't oppose being able to go home soon.

[ granted he still wants to make sure people are all okay? there are people now wandering around estelline but it still doesn't feel right. ]

[selfconcept]

The stairs I was going down on is pretty much collapsing so it would be better to make your nest elsewhere. Let's go somewhere else. You got a name?

[ If the badger says it's Lorelei, Hien might lose his shit internally. ]

[mirrite]

[HMM DON'T LIKE THIS. Marcus eyes the crumbling apartment warily and thinks back to ten years ago as the Voidstorm spread across the world...]

Fed up with this place? Now you're speaking my language. I've been "fed up with this place" ever since I arrived.

[And he's fairly certain he's far from the only one.]

[afflictionmods]

[ It blinks at Chongyun's apology. ]

"Bare form?" What, am I not wearing any clothes?

[ ??? Anyway, it looks a little pleased at the new group's agreement, and it turns its snout towards another location: Lower campus. ]

We can go there. Though...the world may as well crumble to dust at this rate. I wouldn't complain. It sounds like you all understand.

[ It sounds quite bitter, actually, and it looks over at Hien as it gestures the group to follow. ]

You know who I am by now. Well, at least a part of me. Come on, now, let's get going.

[cloudalike]

[ Squints contemplatively behind his hands. ]

I wouldn't know. [ Is the answer he comes up with that's honest. He doesn't want to get slapped by a badger for acting crude. ] Is the rest of you there? ... Are you a spirit?

[ He has to add that last bit because /gestures. ]

[vivens]

[ ?? ???? ???

we really just gonna casually accept that the world is going to be crumbling around them like this? sabo's not thrilled about the idea of a whole ass world just crumbling like that but...he'll keep his head down. ]

Right.

[ once they eventually get started towards the lower campus: ]

Can you further explain what is happening here? It didn't seem like it was crumbling before.