Something Unexpected

[animusmods]

Characters: characters selected to go into the elevator
Setting: the admin levels
Format: any
Summary: The admin elevator has been left open, its destination preprogrammed. Where is it going to take you?
Warnings: general horror warnings for now

The elevator doesn't announce itself when its doors slide open. There's no alarm, no message to be found about it. It sits open and waits for anyone curious enough to enter. There's a barrier on it that locks out anyone without a collar, and it isn't going to stay long, but aside from that there appears to be no security. There's nothing stopping someone--or multiple someones--from climbing into the elevator and going down.

Where's it going? Who knows.

Hub Area
A lounge area with sofas and chairs. It's large enough to hold the entire group, constructed similarly to the dorm rooms, and is connected to five doors.

Door One
???

Door Two
???

Door Three
???

Door Four
???

Door Five
???

Comments

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu was simply standing in between doors three and four, head bowed as he tried to ignore that pit in the bottom of his soul that always makes itself known when things take a turn for the worse and silently hoping for the ones trapped in their rooms. Sure, they knew the risks when they YOLO'd on into the elevator, but being unable to help them more since Alice was forcefully returned to the sea of his soul...

Yeah, he'd been even more silent than he normally is. That's why when Zelda approaches him, he's almost visibly surprised before offering a wry smile. What, she'd been keeping score?]

Don't mention it. Calling upon Kohryu was the least I could do.

[Hooray for being able to think clearly in tense situations most of the time.]

[sageprincess]

[Well, when the score is 0 to -1, it's not that hard to keep track. She clicks her tongue at his response, however, a quiet 'tsk' escaping her lips. Honestly, are all protags this humble, or is she just lucky?]

Forgive my frankness, but you summoned a giant dragon to whisk us away from a fate that would have likely been worse than death.

[Seriously, Yu. That was a thing that happened. She's still... somewhat uncomfortable, as evidenced by the way she looks down and bites her lip, but there are some things you can't come out of without liking each other just a little bit, and escaping the bedroom of one of the most feared administrators of a helltower atop a giant golden dragon is one of them.]

... You saved us. So the least I can do is thank you.

[pitiedthefool]

[The ones who aren't giant pricks, at least don't even ask. He chuckles at the bluntness though, almost as though it's just another day for him.]

...To be honest, I'm just glad I still have that.

[Because he knows what it is like back in his world, knows the 'fate' of those left behind in the world they fought so hard to protect... But was he referring to the ability to summon Kohryu (or at all), or be able to save others like he always had? It's hard to tell, and he isn't saying it. Instead, he simply smiles faintly; glad that they all made it out alive, though he knows this moment of respite may be brief.]

And I have to thank you, for trusting me in that moment.

[He wouldn't know what he'd do if he'd failed even one of them... Hopefully not break down like he had before.]

[sageprincess]

[Of course he isn't saying it; this social link has just barely been uprighted

She shrugs, glancing off to the side. Direct eye contact in this moment is still a bit too awkward, apparently, though she doesn't seem as tense as she might have been before the pink room of doom.]

Being chased by some monstrous terror is not exactly conducive to complex thinking. It was instinctive, because, ultimately... we are all on the same side, here.

[And perhaps that's a good enough place to start.]

[pitiedthefool]

[Understatement of the month.

Well, it's a start. If she looked when he glances to the other side, she'd likely see one of those rare genuine smiles he only gave when something was seriously big happened. The fact they survived and they were on better speaking terms? Yeah, it counts and if he ever sees a pretty pink princess bedroom again he is setting it on fire.]

True. But then, the same could be said for how I got this power in the first place.

[Ah, cowering in fear of Shadows until suddenly mysterious voice. Good times. Gooooood tiiiiiimes. Though thinking about it, he did always wondered how Izanagi felt running from a pissed sister-wife.... Never. Again. was he going to.]

[sageprincess]

[She will likely join him in that endeavor. Goddesses, she needs a wardrobe change after this.]

Amazing what some are capable of when death is nipping at their heels, hm?

[Fight or flight instincts are a beautiful thing. She won't catch that smile, alas - she's too busy trying to seem completely relaxed - though she does glance back after her initial response.]

... I suppose you showed me what you are capable of after all. I cannot say I expected it, but...

[Safe to say she's suitably impressed.]

[swordofzero]

[And here come team five... safely back from their button pressing adventure. Suzaku nodded at those already there and stood silently wondering what would happen next.]

[pitiedthefool]

[Good luck with that. Though he'll likely recommend a couple who he knows can sew. Just don't ask him; he can only really patch his own.]

You don't know the half of it.

[Yeah, he can't keep from hinting at that one.] ...Can't say I was expecting to show you this way either, but so long as it works out in the end...

[He's glad, especially when the others arrive.]

Good to see one more group of us has come back safely.

And here's group three!

[warriorscribe]

*When the third door glows white and then opens, three of the four that went inside emerge shortly after. Enoch looks around at the gathered people and makes his way to one of the couches, sitting down wearily. He's holding a staff that the others may have noticed Sheba had on her - and that she is the one absent.

That was...draining, in a few ways.*

[pitiedthefool]

[He isn't the only one on the couch, nor is he the only one who is weary if what most of the others gathered here seem to be. Oddly enough, one who does seem to be an exception (at least physically), is the one on the couch with him--another aspect of himself curled up above their heads.

Yes, that is the hugeass dragon who seems to be blinking its big red eyes at you before a strange healing spell falls on everyone present. Who knows how long he's been at that when the other groups have returned?]

...Enoch. [He noticed the number... he's sorry.]

I am so sorry I asked you for this tag and then the notif got buried! >_<

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch, strangely enough, had managed to escape without needing to be healed. He doesn't say anything though, not at first, simply letting the healing spell wash over him.*

Yu... I'm glad so many people seem to have made it out.

It's okay now DW is drunk... D:

[pitiedthefool]

[At this point, it's just a precaution with how the others seem to be going.]

We almost didn't and probably wouldn't have, if he wasn't here. [He nods to Kohryu and sighs, before giving him a look.] Want to talk about it?

[He did offer, once upon a time.]

Just a little code push! They're efficient.

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch looks down at the staff in his hand.* It happened so quickly. I couldn't have done anything to stop it...I couldn't summon my armor and my Arch was useless. Before I could react, they crushed her, and the other two charged in in her defense.

[pitiedthefool]

...I'm sorry. [After all, he-] I guess this means you got Jason's. He...always enjoyed deactivating powers before experimenting on the ones in the pods.

[Something he is very familiar with. Not going to mention the fact he also paralyzed them.]

[warriorscribe]

There were retrieval units there. They were resting... Without being fully rested, they could only disable our powers on contact. I wasn't fast enough.

*He hadn't noticed it had been only when the collar was struck.*