Palace Game 6/5

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[markofkaine]

We gotta... keep going.

[Wheeze. TRY NOT TO BARF CHALLENGE... IT'S FOR RITSUKA]

[fujimaru]

Unfortunately for them, it's not actually going to get much better.

But if they choose to persist, they do in fact reach a point where there is a crackling sound, not unlike a live electric wire.

From the darkness ahead of them, a man appears, striding towards them. He does not look terribly pleased to see them here.

[markofkaine]

[Kaine, despite the discomfort, instinctively moves in front of Minato to shield him from this menacing stranger.]

Who the ☠️☠️☠️☠️ are you?

[messianic]

[ Kaine is so good. Meanwhile, Minato peers around him with a sleeve still over his nose and mouth. ]

Ah... Dantes-san. Do you know where Ritsuka is?

[fujimaru]

The man pauses. The one bonus about being around him, as edgelord as he clearly looks, is that the smell does begin to dissipate in his presence--ozone and cigarettes are probably preferable to the stink of old blood.

"You know my name, but do not offer yours? And what business do you have, with my own accomplice?"

[markofkaine]

[Glances at Minato, taken aback]

You know this guy??

[messianic]

Um, not exactly. He was in one of Ritsuka's memories once, and she told me about him. He looks out for her, especially in places like this.

[ and to Dantes, sheepishly: ]

Sorry. I'm Minato and this is Kaine. We're both friends of Ritsuka. We're here to try to help her.

[fujimaru]

The explanation has Dantes's eyebrow rising further and further. Clearly, whatever else, he did not expect to be named.

In the end, though, he says, "That is not a name for anyone to use. That man is long dead. Rather, I have come to question you: what do you intend, setting foot on this road through Hell?"

[markofkaine]

[an overdramatic edgelord.....]

Are you hard of hearing or something? We're here for Ritsuka. We have to find-- wherever she is.

[messianic]

[ That's p much it, yeah.

It's not how Minato would've put it, but Kaine basically covered it, so he just shrugs a bit and nods. ]

Whatever it takes, we're going to find her and bring her back.

[fujimaru]

The man snorts, which grows into a full-fledged laugh, a loud cackling sound that just seems to echo, and echo, and echo. It is honestly impossible to tell just how big this cavern is.

"Kuahahahahahahahaha!! 'Whatever it takes'? 'Whatever it takes'?! This is not the Hell that is spoken of by the books of the holy men! This is the Hell that is born as the consequences of one's actions! The curses of a thousand--a thousand upon a thousand, and a thousand more! And yet, do you think that you can do 'whatever it takes'?!"

[markofkaine]

[Kaine's face twitches, pissed off.]

You think I haven't faced Hell born from the actions of my own hands? That I wasn't forced into this world already cursed with the hatred and sickness atop a mountain of dead bodies?

God's Hell can judge me however it deems right. But man's Hell is one fight every day, simply by existing. So shut up and tell us where to go already.

[messianic]

[ and, softly, at the end of Kaine's words: ]

Kaine-san's right. I do. I think we can. Please, let us try.

[fujimaru]

"Very well!" There's a frenetic energy to him, the electricity around him crackling wider, wilder, like in response to his own response. "Then go forth! Move forward, in the footsteps I leave for you! And if you can look into the sins that my fellow prisoner has committed, then I will commend you for it!"

In a snapping motion, his cloak fluttering, he strides back the way he came. Whatever it is, at least the ozone smell is stronger than the blood, and the bloody waves mostly seems to shrink away from him, leaving a slightly more defined path in the muck.

[markofkaine]

[Kaine exchanges a glance with Minato, before proceeding to follow with renewed determination - at least 50% fueled by spite.]

What a prick...

[messianic]

[ Minato's lips twitch a little despite himself, but he manages to keep a straight face and not smile. ]

Let's keep going... it feels like we're almost there.

[ at least, he sure hopes so!! Onwards, down the path that Dantes has basically left for them. ]

[fujimaru]

Well.

Kaine DID say he was willing to face whatever, so it's perhaps the expected thing that after maybe a minute or two, something makes a grab for his leg. It feels like fingers around his ankle.

[markofkaine]

[Every day on this cursed earth, I lament not having spidey-sense]

Shit--!

[His stingers unsheathe and he stabs at the hand, trying to free himself. Immediately he glances at Minato to see if he's in trouble too]

[messianic]

[ so far so good on his end and also please worry about yourself when you're being grabbed, Kaine!!!

As soon as the curse escapes Kaine, Minato whirls around to look, reaching for his Evoker. ]

Kaine-san--?!

[fujimaru]

Unfortunately, even with spidey-sense, this would be the one place where powers do not work.

Or rather, they do to some degree, but it would involve dealing with the sheer weight of everything that is here. When Kaine stabs whatever grabbed him, there's a piercing shriek in response. It sounds a lot like a young woman's voice, but it does let go, and for a moment, they can both see the very obviously human hand that breaches the surface, grabbing futilely at the air before it falls under again.

But there are more, unfortunately. Things are pretty grabby right now for Minato, too, though it feels less like a hand, more like--a beak? Somehow?

[markofkaine]

Gahh--!

[He winces at the woman's scream, and the glimpse of her face. Taking a step back, he sloshes his way over to Minato to try and CARRY HIM AWAY FROM THE DANGER. Grab the noodle teen and throw him over this shoulder.]

[messianic]

[ WELL. A few things are happening here in quick succession. The beak gets Minato to wince, but he tries to pull away as best he can, eyes still focused on Kaine and his situation--

And then Kaine grabs the noodle teen (very easy to do, he's scrawny), though Minato is probably accidentally making it harder by reaching for that woman's hand that broke the surface of the blood goop, as if to try to keep her from slipping back under again. ]

[fujimaru]

Dantes's voice is a lightning-crackle, but a beat too late: "Do not--"

Unfortunately, when Minato grabs that hand, it is a lightning-flash, a stabbing pain right behind his eyelids:

She is running, desperate, terrified, occasionally glancing over her shoulder. The entire city is in shambles around her, with strange, twisted things roaming the burning streets. Why? Why is this happening?! Wasn't the King supposed to keep them safe? Weren't the strangers from the other world meant to protect them??

So in that case, why was this happening?!

She skitters around a corner, her breath coming desperate and pained in her lungs--

--and then there is a crunch--

--and she looks down, seeing the massive claw emerging from her chest, a moment before shrill, cackling laughter fills her ears, as the last thing she hears.

[markofkaine]

Minato--!

[Trying to carry him away from the hand, wHY ARE YOU SO NICE. YOU'RE TOO NICE!!]

[messianic]

[ yeah that was a mistake. He lets go as if burned, despite himself, breath hitching in his throat.

HE NEEDS A MINUTE thank god Kaine's got him covered. ]