(no subject)

[dualshadow]

OVERFLOW

Comments

Shepard

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[Miyako takes a deep breath. Okay, this woman is clearly as irritated by all this as she is, which is good. She can get an ally out of her. Her expression is still one of irritation, but Miyako's voice has become polite and largely agreeable.]

I have no desire to remain in this room and every desire to get out. I will happily accept your offer of aid. My apologies for my earlier tone.

[She tightens the grip on the back of her gown.]

While I prioritize finding a way out, if you happen to know where I may find proper clothing here, please let me know. This gown is...inappropriate.

[safeguarder]

[That's a good tone change, but she's still not going to blame her for being irritated. She would be too.]

You don't have to apologize.

[But she nods, and then takes off her doctor's coat to give it to her.]

Here, put this on in the meantime. It might help.

[dualshadow]

[She takes the coat with obvious appreciation. No more awkward almost nudity! After she puts it on, she looks less tense, albeit still far from relaxed. She crosses her arms and takes up a stance that screams she's used to being listened to.]

Thank you, I greatly appreciate it, Miss...

Ah, forgive me. I am Miyako Hotsuin. I have only recently arrived, both to this...ViViD level as well as Cerealia as a whole.

[safeguarder]

It's okay, it's a little overwhelming at first.

[She used to people who're used to being listened to...so she doesn't mind it at all.]

You can call me Shepard. We're all kind of new to this particular ViVid level -- we just have to get out of it before we see Cerealia in general.

Richter

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[That's...an interesting offer. Still suspicious, and Miyako finds it rather distasteful as well, but conflict resolution would be the best course of action. And the easiest and fastest way to resolve the conflict would be agree. There was the chance that it may end well for her to think about as well.]

There's no need to go to such extremes, but I will accept your offer. I admit that it would be greatly beneficial for me to have you as an advance guard. It will certainly make my journey easier.

I am Miyako Hotsuin. Well met.

[She would say, "Good to meet you," but, well, that wasn't exactly true at the moment, was it?]

[keep_hope_alive]

[Meeting this alter-ego in any moment is never a good.]

I'm Cerberus. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance miss Hotsuin.

[Hold on a tick. That was a japanese name.]

Pardon me if I accidentally called you by your first name. I know that it's impolite to do such a thing and I have difficulty getting used to the....pattern of which you introduce yourself.

[Cause really Inaba was just way too fussy.]

[dualshadow]

[Well, at least he's not rude, even if he's suspicious. A small boon, but one she'll accept. His name, on the other hand... Miyako's a demon tamer; she's well aware of what his name is. The question on her mind now is whether he chose that name for himself, or if it was assigned to him by someone else.]

Miss Hotsuin is quite fine, Mr. Cerberus. Thank you for showing concern over what to call me; I greatly appreciate your civility.

[Her voice is sincere. Still stand-offish, but completely sincere. She's not mocking him with her appreciation of his manners.]

Well then, with introductions out of the way, shall we progress? I imagine you also have no desire to remain here for any longer than necessary.

[keep_hope_alive]

Agreed.

[He turns around and ends up taking point anyway, mostly out of habit and dedication.]

If my compass is correct, we should be facing west right now. You mentioned that you know where you are so assume we should be able to navigate back to this particular point should we need to back track, yes?

Sousei

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[Her smile is still grim, but there's a trace of smugness in there as well. Not enough to make her look overly arrogant, but...it's there.]

Yes, but the ideal situation would be one in which such caution proved ultimately unnecessary. Alas, that was not meant to be, and there is no use on dwelling on it. All we can do is continue to proceed.

[She examines the cut as she speaks. It's on top of her right foot, but it's shallow. Only a few beads of blood have come to the surface, and the pain is nothing more than a slight tingle. It's no where near enough to stop her, but she still comes to a stop before the scattered scalpels.]

I have a theory that requires your participation, if you don't mind. Could you use your sword to tap the area directly in front of the trap? I have a feeling that there is another component we have not triggered.

[deontology]

That's fine.

[He certainly has no issues with doing so, striding out to join her where she is (he's a cheater and doesn't have to look for traps, since she's already done all of the hard work for them both.....).

Once he's made it to her side, he lifts his sword to do just as she's suggested, tapping the floor panel right ahead with his still-sheathed weapon. He's not all too concerned with the thought of yet another trap, even if there is one; he's been through worse, even here.

It's honestly more important that they just get out of here, and to do that apparently they have to take this maze step by step.]

[dualshadow]

[There is another trap. Thankfully, this new trap doesn't involve any sharp objects. It's just a classic trap door. One that's too big for someone to easily try tapping the other side of the hole with a sword again, but it could be jumped over with a running start.

Miyako sighs.]

So they planned to drop anyone who tried to step over the first trap. This is quite annoying. We have no way to test the safety of what lies beyond the trapdoor.

[There is a brief moment of silent contemplation before she gives a grim smile.]

We can either spend time looking for something heavy and large enough to throw across the gap, or I could jump across it and hope that they had not installed another trap beyond the pit. [She glances at him.] Do you have any ideas?

[deontology]

[It's reckless, to jump over it and hope that there isn't a trap there, but on the other hand, they don't have the time to look for something to throw--especially considering the only thing around them that can even seem to be picked up is paper.

Paper's not going to cut it.

So after a moment, he shakes his head; her willingness to be bait isn't unappreciated, but it's largely unnecessary.]

I'll handle it. If there is another trap like the first you triggered, having a weapon will assist me in remaining unharmed.

[If it's another pit trap, he's screwed, but he'll wager on those odds, especially because it is just ViViD; penalty games suck, but it's not like they'll legitimately die here, even if things do get that bad. As far as he knows.

So after a moment, he backs up a few paces in order to take that jump; he possesses enough athletic ability to be able to land lightly and neatly and...

Nothing happens.

How anti-climactic. He snorts softly under his breath.]

It seems they do wish us to proceed after all. [Just under incredibly irritating circumstances.]

Naoki

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[She smiles, business-like but sincere.]

That is very good to hear. Assuming that everyone who is here at CERES's behest is here for the same reason, teamwork and a sense of cohesion are absolutely vital to see these trials through. I would be concerned if people had splintered off into factions rather than help others.

How long have you been here, if I may ask?

[masakados]

There's no real reason to split off into factions, I think... Not when we all kinda agree that we just wanna get home. Now, if there was something else...

[...

Naoki knows how, given the option, people can turn on each other. But he shakes his head, happy to leave that thought aside for now. Even if it's never one that leaves.]

Anyway, it's been almost four months for me.

[dualshadow]

[that smt protag life She doesn't agree with his statement. Even when people have the goal in mind, if the methods used to reach that goal differ enough, then they will turn against one another. Perhaps not to the point where they would no longer work with one another, but complete harmony is difficult to attain, even though it is attainable.

But there's no reason to voice her thoughts—not here, at least. She's not so foolish as to start a philosophical debate in a place where danger could appear at any moment.]

Four months is a long time, yet not so long at all as well. Is this the average length of time most of the others have been here?

[masakados]

I dunno. I know there're people who've been here longer than me, but.

[Naoki shakes his head as he continues walking.] People might be here for a couple of weeks and then just vanish. Or a month and just vanish.

[So it's hard for him to say.]

Mary

[dualshadow]

(From here)

I doubt the elevators would be working, and it would be foolish to take them even if they were. Let us head up. If it is the director we ought to be taking down, then it would not be logical for them to be located in the basement.

[Smart she may be, but Miyako has no knowledge of video games or video game logic. She's applying real world logic to a ViViD simulation, which...may not end well for her.]

Are you prepared? You should be ready for combat as well as optimized for mobility. Actually, if that coat is hindering you, might I have it instead? I am afraid that this hospital gown is not...appropriate.

[her back is almost totally exposed if she isn't careful is what she's saying]

[immobileyes]

Here-- [ Well, maybe this will fit Miyako a little better. If nothing else, it will keep her derriere nice and cozy. So Mary wriggles out of it, holding it out to her. ]

I'm not sure if I'm ready, but I'm going to say I am.

[ AT LEAST SHE'S HONEST. ]

[dualshadow]

[Both the honesty and the coat are appreciated. Once Miyako gets that coat on her and buttoned up, she'll give Mary a determined look and a nod before heading to the door.]

Then let us head out. Once again, please stay behind me. I shall take the lead.

[And as soon as she opens the door... There's an alien waiting for them, sticking it's long, webbed appendages through the door gap.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME TO SLAM THE DOOR AGAIN. Except shut this time, but the alien arm makes it hard to close the door all the way. Miyako struggles with it, demonstrating more strength than she probably looks like she has. The alien is certainly unhappy with her trying to snap its arm off, and the webbed foot is trying to make a grab for Miyako.]

Ha! Have they been waiting outside all this time? They're far more [A grunt of effort.] intelligent than I had thought!

Rei

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[She would have objected if he attached a -chan to her name. She's had to deal with someone (someones) doing it to her before, and she would not have been happy to have to go through it again with someone else.]

While it is more informal than what I am accustomed to, calling me Miyako is all right. [But, wait, what's all this about a chained up lady and probes in their eyes?! Now she really has to know.]

Pay? Ah, are you an information broker?

[She'd prefer not to have to go through a broker, but she's not unfamiliar with the concept. She's dealt with worse.]

[jyajyaaan]

Cool! You can call me Rei then! Or Shingetsu, if you prefer that, I'm fine with both. [That's a lie, he absolutely hates being called Shingetsu thanks to a certain someone. But it's not like he can just go around and ask people to call him Phecda or something like that.

Her question makes him laugh in earnest, though.]

Oh no, not at all! I'm a first year student from Heartland Academy and an aspiring duelist, but neither of those are really all that special where I'm from. I don't think I could do such a complicated job.

[dualshadow]

[Sadly for Rei, she's going to call him Mr. Shingetsu unless he asks her not to. Maybe it would have been better for him to tell her to call him Phecda—although that would have gotten a raised eyebrow and a bit of suspicion from her if he did. Even if she never had to fight it, she's heard stories from her friends about the Septentrione.]

Age has little to do with getting a job done after a certain point, Mr. Shingetsu. What matters is drive and the ability to push yourself forward.

But if you are not an information broker, then why are you seeking payment for information?

Hawke

[dualshadow]

(From here)

[No, she doesn't really want to talk about the doppelgangers. But Hawke's gone all the way across the line of ignoring and into...something mildly creepy.]

You were eaten on a tour... Perhaps it was more of a threat than a tour. Our benefactors are not as benevolent as they would like us to believe, perhaps?

[SHE KNEW PARANOIA WOULD PAY OFF]

[kirkwalled]

[ if it helps, it isn't her own creepy! it's ceres' creepy. ]

Oh, they're completely awful. More amused with themselves than anything else and I can't say for certain what their goals are, but they're definitely hiding something. Whenever they talk, it's like three different meanings coming out of their mouths at once. I try not to interact with them if I can help it.

[ it isn't worth it in the end but hawke believes it's good miyako knows that now, of course. so if hawke can help, she will! geez, this hallway is long. ]

[dualshadow]

It does not surprise me that they would be hiding something, although I had hoped it would be information that would ultimately benefit us. I suppose I will have to speak with them myself to fully understand what you mean.

[There's the tiniest hint of a smile as she says that, even though she's trying to remain serious. She's used to obstructive bureaucrats; speaking to one again might even make her feel comfortable and at home.

This hallway, though, is not making her comfortable at all. Does it end? Is it looping?]

Pardon me, but would you mind if we stopped for a moment? We've been walking for some time, yet I can see no trace of an end to this hallway.