The Haunter of the Dark

[animusmods]

Characters: Destiny String Players who signed up for the maze event.
Setting: Floor Forty-Nine
Format: Any
Summary: Find the source of the problem, a few hours after the mist starts to fill the tower.
Warnings: Dungeons, Mirrors and Mazes

It looked like this little 'game' might be drawing into a close soon enough. Whatever you were supposed to be here for, you had a feeling that the taunting voice was calling out specifically for you.

You're not too sure why and how you knew this was the floor you had to be on, but going in, you had a strange sense of dread. The type that sent chills down one's spine and hairs standing on end, warning you that you'd have to make sure to be ready before stepping in there. Hopefully others would soon with you...but the cruel laughter didn't seem to stop ringing in your ears as you stepped in.

A flash of light, and what was supposed to be just a mirror maze had shifted and changed. You all find yourself stuck in a strange bottled start. Glass walls separate everyone in groups that didn't seem to have a particular pattern. In fact the angles are strange and disorienting. Stare too long and you might get sick. They all seem to be leading out to mirror-like walls...and a maze filled with mirrors and no doubt other things...

...yet there was nothing to do but press on. At least, once you've talked to each other.

Comments

[princessofheart]

Adachi--!!

[Crap crap crap. She glances between Atsuro and Link and then back towards where Adachi had run, griping the hilt of her keyblade tighter.]

Let's go, before he takes a turn and we lose track of him!

[nofairy]

I'm on it!

[His Persona appears, and Link hops on her, galloping forward and leaping over the man so he could attempt to cut him off before he ran further.]

Stop that!

[otakuro]

Tch -- !

[Near simultaneously, Atsuro plunges his hand into his pocket to activate the Awesome Video Game System of Ultimate Power.]

Shiisaa! Badb Catha!

[Two bursts of light and an Okinawan lion-dog and a raven momentarily appear before Atsuro and his party vanish into thin air. The three of them reappear in the next moment in front of Adachi to bar his path as well.]

What's gotten into you?! We've gotta stick together...!

[Come to think of it, demon summoning may not be the best thing to soothe Adachi's panic at the moment.]

[misogynistic]

[YES, THAT WAS A HORRIFIC IDEA. A HORRIFIC IDEA, INDEED. You don't just throw a bunch of demons at a hallucinating guy who was on the verge of a panic attack. F-Fuck, what did he do about that? His body was telling him to lift his gun and point it at the demons, but his legs were telling him to run run run, get the hell out. But he couldn't push passed that without them attacking him...]

No, you've got it all... [How come he wasn't hearing their voices, though? Damn it, this was so confusing, and Adachi's finger was flickering over the trigger. Come to think of it, he hardly ever got to use it, and wouldn't this be the best chance? ...Ha, right. Really, though.] How did you guys even get in here?!

[Fuck, he was going to shoot if they didn't pull him back. At the very least, he was only pointing it at the Shiisaa...]

SUPPORT | ENEMY RADAR | MOD TURN

[princessofheart]

Bind!

[Without a moment of hesitation, Kairi points her keyblade at the man and casts her spell. Adachi will find himself immobilized for the time being, wrapped up with magic.]

Geez... this must be 'His' work. Do you think you guys could hold him until he stops freaking out? He shouldn't be able to move any more for a few minutes...

[She summons Peepsta Hoo back out, casting enemy radar to check if there were any enemies awaiting them down the path that stuck by the right wall.]

[stringmods]

[A faint hum, much farther ahead..]


[So where to now?]

[nofairy]

Everyone calm down.

[Link's voice is serious and calm as he sits up tall on Epona.]

Maybe we should stop for a few minutes to try to collect ourselves.

[otakuro]

I... think we'd better take care of him before the spell wears off.

[Atsuro's gaze falls on the hopefully subdued Adachi, his brows furrowed.]

Patra didn't work during the fight with the scorpion monster, either, back during the fall. Whatever it is, it might not wear off until we beat the boss. In... game terms.

And, uh. I'll just... take that.

[He had a feeling the elf probably didn't know what a gun was. Couldn't be sure about the girl, though. Atsuro has never had his hand on one - he's been on the receiving end of bullets from the SDF, but somehow, wielding one seemed to be a different story altogether. His hands shake slightly as he reaches forward to try to disarm Adachi.]

If there's nothing we can do now... we've just got to keep heading forward. I say we continue with the 'stick right' plan.

[misogynistic]

[Good job, you prevented your magical demon dog from getting shot. Good job.]

Wh-What?

[No, no, oh shit, oh shit. Rule one when trying to calm down a panicking person: do not, under any circumstances, move to hug or bind them in any way. Rule two: don't tell said person to calm down. Of course a kid wouldn't know basic stuff like that, though! In fact, any sort of contact was a bad call... Oh, and seeing as Adachi can't move, Atsuro is able to wrench the gun from Adachi's twitching hands.] No, don't... [Oh, how considerate of a move that was. Oh, how considerate of him to take away the only bit of security Adachi had. How considerate of him to take away Adachi's precious baby--]

What did you do?! [...Stupid question, but Adachi's mind is swimming and he's fighting every bit of it. His chest is so heavy, everything is so heavy, and those mirrors are making it impossible for anything to clear up for him. Basically, the only way these kids are going to get him to calm down is to cover his face...which was technically also a no for panicking people. Tough luck, because now they have a detective on their hands who can't breathe straight.]

[princessofheart]

[Kairi lets out a shaky breath, pressing her hand against her forehead for a moment before pushing her bangs out of her face a little.]

Yeah, you're right. It's more important to make sure Adachi is okay; the path is clear ahead for a while, anyways. It's just kind of getting to me, the mirrors and the atmosphere and stuff, and I kind of want to get out of here as soon as possible...

[She turns to look at Adachi as he speaks, expression etched with worry and sympathy.]

I don't... I don't know how to help. It seems like he's having a panic attack, but...

[Her mind races, trying to remember if Sora had ever taught her any techniques for helping panicking people during her stay at Facility.]

It probably doesn't help I used bind, but I'm worried he'll try to attack us. Uhm...?

[She looks over at the other two helplessly.]

[nofairy]

[Yeah he has no idea what the gun is. He thinks for a moment, pressing his face against Epona's mane. He has to think. He's never been the best at this sort of thing. His ocarina doesn't seem to have the same effect here...]

I might be able to hold him if we need to.

[He sits up and slips on his gauntlets, flexing his fingers a bit.]

Other than that I don't know what else to do.

[otakuro]

...Status effects?

[Atsuro slowly pockets the gun, placing it into his satchel. Simultaneously, he retrieves his COMP and begins to rapidly scroll through some of the options. This continues on for a few moments before he glances up with a disappointed expression.]

Does anyone have something like a sleeping spell? I think they call it Dormina here.

Otherwise... we need him to calm down. If we let him go now, he'll probably start running again. It doesn't seem like we have many more options.

[misogynistic]

What they see:



What he sees:

[misogynistic]

[Adachi can't see the look Kairi is giving him. All he can see is a multitude of mirrors that reflect, not one brat, but two of each now. OH FOR THE LOVE OF-- THEY WERE MULTIPLYING However, he can hear her...as well as the other two brats, which only furthered his confusion.

Oh, at least one of them had a slightly good idea. Adachi would run away like a bat out of hell. Isn't that the logical reaction once you're set free?] Ngh... [He's also getting a raging headache too, like something inside wanted to burst out...] How are there so many of you? What is all this?

[Hi, he's talking to his hallucinations now, and that binding spell won't last much longer. Hurry it up, would you?]

SUPPORT | COMMLINK | MOD TURN

[princessofheart]

No, I don't have any sleeping skills, the only thing close is that bind.

[Kairi frowns, crossing her arms over her chest.]

I feel kind of bad, but I guess that's our only option. We'll have to hold onto him and keep moving forward-- the quicker we get through the maze, the quicker we can find someone who can help him. It doesn't seem like this is a panic attack caused by the fighting or monsters-- he doesn't even really seem to be acknowledging us at all. Do either of you have a way of holding him, or do you want me to cast the bind again? I don't think it'll be sticking around too much longer.

[Trailing her hand along the right wall, she moves to get them heading towards the right general direction before pausing.]

Speaking of which, I should try to see if I can contact anyone else... Persona.

[Peepsta Hoo pops up behind her, flapping around her head and chittering as she attempts to reach out to her friends.]

Hello? Is everyone alright?

1/2 COMMLINK WITH AQUA + EIKICHI + NAMINÉ + SAMUS (THE GIRLS)

[stringmods]

[Kairi's voice reaches those that she knows, and the sound comes out strangely distorted; like speaking through terrible interference and static. However, at least the contact manages to establish itself, although Kairi will hear a laughing voice in the back as the other speak.

And everyone can hear a song quietly start to play at first subdued, then starts to speed up...]

[OOC - Use this thread for the comlink, and continue on with the one below!]

[destinedwaters]

[OH GOD ALL THAT STATIC--]

Kai- [...Whadafuq.] -ri?

I'm fine. Though frankly, I am beginning to question the sanctity of commlinks if I am hearing classical music. Did we get put on hold...?

[No seriously what is this? NYARLATHOTEP WATER U DEWING DAS ROOD.]

[princessofheart]

Yes, it's me! I think it's Nyarlathotep trying to interfere with us.

[Your sense of humor, man :I]

Are you in the maze? Be careful, there's monsters around and I think there's something up with the mirrors. One of the people in my group is freaking out as well-- I think it's the maze's doing, because he certainly was okay a few moments ago. It's like he can't even see us anymore.

[Wince.]

Ugh, this static.

[deathboss]

[Static, he could do. Annoying crazy laugh, hell, he wasn't too surprised, even as he ignored the chill down his spine.

It was the song.

The song.

That son of a...

When Eikichi establishes contact with the others, all they could all hear one thing clearly and loudly, and it was a single word.]

[charmedbymemories]

I'm here too, but I can barely hear you. [A pause, laced with trepidation.] What is it, Eikichi?

2/2 - ONWARD BOUND

[stringmods]

[As Kairi talks, they continue on forward, rather uneventful, even if the mirrors are now starting to have a single reflection slowly following them from mirror to mirror...

Well that's quite unnerving.

A new pathway. Forward or turn left?]

[otakuro]

...Huh?

[Since the day of his arrival in Hinoto-Ri, Atsuro has, somehow, managed to not ever meet anyone with the CommLink skill. He glances over at Kairi for a moment before recalling back to a time when Q had felt it necessary to draw a certain group together to fight a certain monstrosity...]

You can communicate with the others? That's great! Let us know if everything's OK. ...And maybe you can ask them if they have any ideas, too.

Oh, and you should probably do another Bind.

[Adachi seemed like he was wriggling a bit.

Atsuro will continue forward as well, trailing behind Kairi. Badb Catha will caw and swivel its hand around to keep an eye on Adachi; Shiisaa, in contrast, will turn towards the mirrors. Atsuro, too, will eventually catch on to the fact that the reflections were behaving unusually now, and he'll avert his attention with a slight shake of his head. Not that he had expected anything else from a mirror maze.]

Geez...

We're continuing forward, right?

[nofairy]

I don't. I can probably pick him up if I have to, though.

[... He'd have to get off of Epona for that though and he's a little reluctant to do so. He will if it calls for it though.]

... We should keep going forward, I think.

[He's trying to ignore the mirrors. Mirrors have a tendency to be spooky from what he's seen. His Mirror Shield included. Link and Epona continue forward.]

MOD POST TIME!

[misogynistic]

[Too late. The Bind broke free, and Adachi was, as expected, stumbling forward. Guess that's where everybody will be going, huh? Because Adachi was getting the hell out of there, bouncing like a pinball whenever he got too close to a mirror. BETTER CATCH HIM BEFORE HE BUMPS INTO A MONSTER!

...Whoops, jinxed it! Through the mess of multiplying teenage brats, Adachi somehow saw something everybody could see for a change! A monster, but what was it doing...

Adachi rose his hands and...] ...What?! [...Oh, right, he didn't have his gun. WHOOPS.] ...Oh... [WELP] F... [UUUUCCCCCCKKKKK]

MONSTER ENCOUNTER

[stringmods]

[As Adachi runs forward, this time the Investigation Team isn't visible in the mirrors anymore. Rather, it's a vision of his life before arriving in Inaba and getting stuck 'in the boonies'. Remember that life, Adachi?

The mirrors shift again, and this time, it's him as chief of police. Hey! And there's Dojima your coffee bringer. Wow he tripped again, haha what a joker. There's a gigantic collection of guns behind you too, that would make Ash from evil dead proud. Yes, life is good and damn one could call it 'pretty sweet'? Just like you should have had...

...oh and if you look up from all that running, there's a twenty foot tall beast looking down on you. The head lowers itself until one eye is close to his entire face, judging.]

Ssssso. Thisss issss Adachi....the almost-world ender...

[The link was telepathic.]