Endgame: Eyes I Dare Not Meet in Dreams

[animusnpcs]

Characters: open
Setting: floor 101/hidden floor; June 2
Format: action brackets, please
Summary: Something arrives.
Warnings: psychological horror, physical horror, violence

[The thing arrives on the twenty-third floor where no one is around to see it. But even if there was anyone except the retrieval units there, they would hardly have a chance to spot a single shadow, as the Tower pushes around and caresses the thing, hiding it away. The Tower ripples, then, and delivers the thing up and up, skipping floor after floor.

Floor one-hundred and one goes dark, and the glamour fails entirely. There's a thing lurking about in the darkness, approaching the way to the hidden floor. It can't be seen in this gloom, but it can be heard taking heavy, laden footsteps.]

Comments

[wrigurun]

[The thought of Riki hadn't occurred to her yet, but the feeling made her uneasy. In this living structure there was no where to run but she could surely try. Wriggle didn't know if the others knew yet or not, was it a good idea to warn them? Would she lead that thing there? With the tower the way it was now it felt like it would reach it regardless, she might as well get a head start.

In the dark she tried to find her way to the tree using her senses and the glow from Riki's eyes. Even though she tried to avoid it the light couldn't help but catch her, if only for a moment]

[animusnpcs]

[Where the lights of Riki's eyes fall, the energy seems to vibrate more obviously to insect senses. It should be possible to avoid Riki's sight entirely if Wriggle is careful about that.]

[wrigurun]

[This is probably the most careful she's ever been in her life. Wriggle was never one for stealth missions but that didn't mean she couldn't start now. She tensed at the vibrations in the air and tried to duck below them, eventually hovering near the floor in an attempt to find the teleporter.

Whatever it was it was definitely not relying on its sense of sight alone. As she finally reached the tree she tried to get a better look at the creature, but in the dark it could prove difficult]

[animusnpcs]

[For the moment Riki is more interested in the area immediately around the entrance to the hidden floor, so Wriggle goes unnoticed. The light from his eyes illuminates him a little, enough to make out the shape of a large, humanoid skeleton made of metal.]

[wrigurun]

[Okay that's hella creepy and she want nothing to do with that!

But with so much interest around the entrance to the hidden floor getting in unnoticed would be difficult. She still had her powers, but she definitely had to be careful about how she used them. Causing a distraction with her bullets seemed to be the most obvious option, and she summoned a small familiar similar to the ones she'd used against the retrieval units. Leaving it by the tree she inched closer to the entrance, still careful to avoid the light, and when she felt close enough a small cluster of bullets burst among the branches]

[animusnpcs]

[Riki spins around, his eyes scanning the area for the source. As long as Wriggle pays attention and is quick, though, the energy in the air provides just enough warning for her to stay out of his notice.]

[wrigurun]

[This is her chance! She's quick, but not exactly careful and with such a high tension she manages to scare herself with her own attack.

That kind of thing isn't really in her mind at the moment though and she dashes as fast as she can towards the teleporter]

[animusnpcs]

[Wriggle manages to slip through--just barely.]

hidden floor

[wrigurun]

[ギリギリセーフ!

Wriggle tumbles into the floor and lets out a small victory cry. This isn't the time to be lying around though and she quickly stumbles to her feet. She came here to warn people and warn people she will]

Hey! I don't want to alarm anyone but there's something downstairs and I think it's trying to find you guys.

I might be wrong, but I think it might be the tower.

[Because that makes total sense]

[oathshackledbird]

Wriggle, what do you mean the Tower is looking for us?

[Something tightens in Diarmuid's stomach as he steps toward her when she tumbles onto the floor. After the light and glamour failed, he and Waver had decided to stay back and help guard the healers and injured. As much as he would like to be fighting, Diarmuid had been relieved Waver had agreed to stay back since the magus is still recovering from the previous battle.]

Are you hurt?

[wrigurun]

I'm fine!

[She's only shaking a little but that's more to do with the fact she's still a bit high strung]

But there's some big metal thing downstairs. The whole tower is alive, I can feel it!

[myblueskies]

[Romeo is with the fighters but he is near the back and turns round to Wriggle when she speaks, it sounded like she had found the thing making the footsteps] Big metal thing? Like a monster?

[wrigurun]

I don't know! Probably!

When is it ever not a monster here?

It was looking for something but... it wasn't actually seeing. I think it was trying to feel the vibrations in the air, wherever it looked there was this strange energy...

[She tries to describe it the best she can but the truth is even she isn't sure what she felt down there]

[oathshackledbird]

The Tower is alive. It wasn't seeing...but feeling...

[As glad as he is that Wiggle isn't hurt, her words do nothing to ease the tightness in Diarmuid's stomach. In fact, the knot only tightens when something in his mind kicks into overdrive, processing what she has said in response to Romeo.

And then, in a flash, the answer is there. Perhaps, it is just that obvious or perhaps, for once, his Eye of the Mind trait is finally working the way it is suppose to be in this blasted place. Whatever the reason, the realization causes Diarmuid to curse under his breath.]

It has to be Riki!

[myblueskies]

Riki? [Romeo looked over at Diarmuid] So he's a monster too, like Jason was?

[oathshackledbird]

It sounds like it, Romeo. I cannot think of anyone else who would have the kind of connection to the Tower that Wiggle is describing.

[It only makes sense to Diarmuid that Riki can make the Tower seem 'alive.' It's his baby, after all. In some ways, it almost sounds like Riki is using the Tower to search for them just like Waver might use his Mystic Code to do the same.]

We should pass word back to the others, so they can prepare. Do you think you guys can do that?

[myblueskies]

[Romeo nodded Riki had built most of the tower so that made sense.] Of course! I'll go this way! [He pointed] Wriggle you go the other way and we can let everyone know!