Hacking Punishment

[animusnpcs]

Characters: those who participated in the hacking plot
Setting: the Tower; nighttime
Format: any
Summary: You can't go digging without a cave-in or two.
Warnings: monsters
Note: This post will not be NPCed--please play your own monsters!

[It seems almost as if they got away with their scheme. The day passes without incident, and soon night falls just as innocently. But then, no matter where they are, those who participated in either the distraction or the hacking portions of the ploy will find a floating, film-like computer screen in front of their faces. Riki stares back at them, and he looks annoyed.]

If you're gonna mess with my things, you'll get punished by me no matter whose turn it is. Feel lucky the kid wants me to go easy on you.

[All of the characters will grow dizzy and black out. They awaken on the first floor--the cafeteria. All their abilities, while not gone completely, have been severely dampened and are much more exhausting to use than normal. They cannot teleport, flash step, or otherwise travel great distances using their abilities at all. A strange, blinking light has been attached to all of their collars and cannot be removed.

They will now attract monsters--mostly uncommon and rare ones--to their location. No electronics work for them--the elevators refuse to open and will not move while they are near, even if they try to get someone else to aid them, and the terminals will not turn on and let them call for help.

The only way to get out alive will be to climb up through one hundred and one floors to the dormitory levels, where they will be safe in their rooms. Good luck.]

Comments

[bowandblade]

Since it seems there is nothing more to do with the ruse... [He trails off with a smirk, already striding after Saber.] If you think to set the pace of this climb, Saber, you will be very disappointed.

[Despite his words, his climb up the steps is fairly quick but nowhere approaching the speed at which a Servant could normally propel themselves.]

[no_longer_a_king]

[She assumes it's for Shinji's sake he's not going too fast. That's why she isn't. Still, she looks over her shoulder and calls to the boy.]

Will you be accompanying us? [She really doesn't want to leave the kid alone.]

[looselips]

[Of course he's coming, jeez! It's like she doesn't know—]

He's the one accompanying me.

[If anything about Shinji's behavior is a testament to how much faith he has in Archer's abilities, it's the how imperious he sounds as he informs Saber of this. A child his age should at least sound worried, and yet...]

[bowandblade]

[Archer smirks at Shinji's reply, looking at the boy at his side with no small amount of amusement and pride. He sweeps up Shinji with ease, depositing him on his shoulders as if it was something done with great regularity.]

Be patient with Saber. I am just beginning to enjoy her company.

[no_longer_a_king]

Oh? Is that so?

[That comment is to both their statements.

And no wonder Shinji is accompanying Archer if he sounds so imperious. He probably sees himself in the kid.]

[looselips]

[Shinji scoffs.] Only because you asked me to.

[Obviously, Saber should be very thankful!]

Well, obviously. A Servant is supposed to accompany their Master, right?

[no_longer_a_king]

[That startles Arturia. She looks over her shoulder as they head upward.]

I hadn't realized he took a Master here. [Wow. This kid must have really impressed Archer if he willingly took him as a Master. Was it the ego?]

[bowandblade]

[He laughs as he catches that startled expression on Saber's face as she looks back.]

Do not be so surprised! I know someone worth my time when I see one.

[It's easy enough to clear one floor at their speed, even slowed down. This was almost disappointingly simple for "punishment."]

[no_longer_a_king]

I know. I'm just surprised it's someone so young.

[Just wait a couple more floors. That's when the monsters will show up so we can get through some more banter.]

[looselips]

Hah, well, it's your own fault for assuming my age means I'm not twice as capable as most of the "adults" around!

[He waves a hand dismissively. Considering he has Archer here to back him up—to say he's worth his time—he responds with less irritation than he might under normal circumstances.]

[bowandblade]

[Another flight of stairs comes and goes without too much trouble. Archer is surefooted as he keeps following after Saber, lightly holding on to Shinji's legs to keep him from falling. But he is mindful of how his strength isn't at its best, and that keeps him from chattering.]

The young are full of creativity and thirst for new endeavors! [...] Very important when my last Master was such a bore.

[...Keeps him from chattering much, at least.]

[no_longer_a_king]

[When he puts it like that, Saber could see why Archer would be drawn to a child, especially one as precocious as Shinji was turning out to be.]

From what I remember of the Archer I knew in my world, he was fairly easy to bore.

[bowandblade]

[Archer's laughter echoes against the staircase and close walls as they continue to climb.]

Did he also have a short temper, as I have heard of other worlds? The boredom would explain so much!

[no_longer_a_king]

Yes, but you must take into account he refused to take no for an answer from me.

[There's a dangerous edge to her voice as she says it.] He was smart in the idea of giving me a sword as an engagement present. I could appreciate that more than jewelry.

But not when he plunges it through my thigh and attempts to skewer me alive with his entire treasury until I agreed to marry him.

[looselips]

[Um.]

[Under normal circumstances, he would probably blow that off with something like, "Sounds like an asshole," because it's true and also he doesn't care about these things, sorry Saber. The fact that they're talking about some alternate version of his Archer makes him somewhat more reluctant to do so, however—not because it would be rude, but because it makes him wonder about the other Shinji that keeps getting brought up to him by other Matous.]

[He does sound like an asshole, though.]

That's rough, buddy.

[bowandblade]

Such a callous way to show his adoration! [If it could even be called that. He smirks and looks around the new floor as they arrive, holding on to Shinji's ankles while he takes in his surroundings.]

He could shower his 'love' with gifts, but they mean nothing if he does not treat her like a queen. [He could not even begin to imagine doing such a thing to Ayaka.]

[no_longer_a_king]

And you already prove yourself a better person than he.

[Anything she could say is cut short by a Moblin deciding to charge out of one of the floors onto the stairwell, crashing into the wall before it turns, dazed, to face them.]

[looselips]

[Shinji does just about the only thing he can do in this situation—he squawks and practically jumps where he's seated on Archer's shoulder.]

[bowandblade]

[Archer's brows rise in surprise at the Moblin's entrance, but only for a moment; a smile flashes across his lips and he brings one arm up to steady Shinji while one of swords eject from its hook on his mantle. He hums and gives the blade an experimental swing, disliking how he can feel the difference in weight. Whatever had happened definitely tampered with his Servant strength.]

I would not mind having that pig beast on a skewer.

[The stairwell was not the best place to pick a fight, though.]

[no_longer_a_king]

We shall have to go through him then. [She summons Caliburn and, though she does not show it, wonders how it feels strange to her. Are those lights messing with what few powers she does have?]

Into the lounge. [They are on the fourth floor of the residential portion of the Tower. The lounge with the walls made of glass. Strange, Moblins normally don't come down this far....]