{OPEN}

[absolute_npc]

Who: Everyone/Anyone!
What: Exploring the Casino, Take 1
Where: The Entertainment District
When: after this and this

Comments

[nebenmond]

Sure seems that way. [He replied to Max as he caught the book, flipping through it with a sense of disinterest. He did stop at the last page, however, eyes narrowing slightly.] Mentions the Magisters, though. Wonder what the chances are that they all already knew about this and didn't bother to tell us.

[His retort was dry and unsurprised. Getting fucked over by the natives? Seemed to fit the necessary solving equation for a lot of things that happened in Nuadoria on a regular basis.

This was just one more suspicious piece of to the grand puzzle of Nuadoria. He handed the book off to Albedo when he approached to get a better look at the dates.

Although he was going to say something else to Elena concerning the journal that was being passed around between the three, Heine froze when he heard the sudden sound. The alarm bells in his head struck a very strong and very high chord. It was enough to give him a headache. In a second he'd drawn one of two guns, although not quite yet ready to commit to them being needed at all.

Nevertheless, he slid over to that open passageway and peer down it only to see...

...well, nothing.

(Then again, he wasn't not even sure if the sound came from that direction in the first place. But the rest of the room was all wall other than the smaller room they entered here from.)

A hallucination? Heine doubted it. Not the way his nerves were on end, not the way the hair at the back of his neck stiffened. And certainly not the way his fight or flight response was suddenly kicked into gear, heightened senses searching for the original source of noise.

The dog inside stirred, rattling its cage to be let out.

(Time to call Elena back.)]

[lolwhatfuture]

[Before she could really say much of anything there came that menacing sound, and her insides clenched in response GOOD JOB ALBEDO YOU PISSED IT OFF. Her wings, which had thus far been hidden under her clothes, jerked out from the slits in her coat and spread slightly for balance. The feathers twitched and shivered with the desire to take flight, but Max only warily watched the ceiling, perhaps waiting for death to fall upon them.

When it stopped, she let go of a breath held in and completely shed her jacket so that flight would be less inhibited were it to come to that. It seemed that things were about to pick up and take a turn for the dangerous.]

I'm guessing that's our cue to get our butts moving. [Not unlike Heine, she was ready to book it as much as attack the first thing that moved. It was that unfortunate part of an animal's instinct underneath, wasn't it, predators and prey alike, all tense and acquiver and hyper aware of the threat. Though she was less likely to go ballistic with it.

When she speaks again, her tone has turned falsely chipper, and she gave them both a bitter smile.]

So who's up for another game of Jump Into the Dark Passage and Probably Die?

[purpletaint]

[ The sound came, deep and resounding in his chest, and Albedo only thought of dragons. His eyes peered into the dark, blank and unfathomable, and briefly wondered what other ghosts existed in the dark.

His attention moved back to the book given to him. So it did. Mention the Magisters. Albedo instantly thought of Dai, but expected nothing. If Albedo had needed to know about this place, he would have. It benefited them both this way. Still, as Heine connected to the woman on the communicator, Albedo became curious. He looked at Heine, birdlike in expression. ]

What do you expect to gain from them?

[ It was clear they would give only what was necessary and barely that, whether from Dai or Caim, or any other. The "visitors" to this world were little more than playthings, and Albedo knew the concept well. Far too well, and as if to punctuate that thought, Max spoke.

Albedo smiled at her, near charmingly. ] I think you know I have no problem with that.

[ He trod forward, eyes lighting florescent as the dark overtook his frame. ]

[nebenmond]

Honestly? Not a whole hell of a lot.

[He'd been here long enough to know that the Magisters weren't exactly always helpful as they were simply expectant that the foreigners would figure things out in due time.

As far as Heine was concerned, however, he also knew asking them a direct question proved more useful concerning information rather than expecting them to give the information that should have been told to them from the beginning.

Heine waited for Max and Albedo to leave first, giving one last (highly suspicious, tensed) look around the area before stepping back and proceeding to follow the other two.]

[lolwhatfuture]

[She nodded at Albedo, perfectly familiar with just how little of a problem he'd have, but said nothing much about the matter because she didn't want to remember in detail how well she knew.]

Good. [So she followed closely behind Albedo into the darkness, which was almost like walking into a well-lit hallway of a regular old house to her eyes, and glanced back over her shoulder to make sure Heine took up the end. He was looking pretty unsettled, and she had to bite back the suggestion that he not accidentally shoot her in the back of the head. Running into a hoofed monster with a spear would be troubling enough.]

[cryptdeify]

[Another one of her games. It pissed Lawfer off to no end, the way she played around with everyone-foreigner or no (but most of all, them)-and expected him to accomplish an impossible task with an impossible time limit. It pissed him off that he couldn't do anything about it (she had given him next to no time for a counter, both verbal and physical), and the fact that he didn't know how to go about this mess.

What he did know was where he was, and he didn't like it one bit. He was armed-a shotgun, a handgun, and two knives-but it wasn't enough.

But you know, Lawfer didn't have the luxury of time to be spooked out by mere location.

Somewhere far, far away from where Max, Albedo, and Heine was wandering, he made quiet steps through the maze, careful not to catch the attention of anyone else possibly in the area, lips pressed into a thin line and with silenced breathing. It was a good thing Lawfer wasn't as completely stupid as he made himself out to be, and his memory and instinct better than most. How else would he have survived so far with such a huge handicap?

You foreigners best do the same. Maybe not. Chances are, you've already been marked.]

[purpletaint]

[ It was enough of an answer for him to accept. The man wasn't stupid, despite his inclinations.

The boy moved further in the dark, aware of the girl behind him more than anything. His senses allowed more freedom of movement than a normal human, and still it was hard to know what was before him.

In truth, it was good Albedo had went first. If he was attacked or torn to shreds, he would regenerate. He wasn't sure if he could say the same for the others.

...Ironic, that. That he even thought of that fact. The boy chuckled in the dark, and started humming softly. ]

[nebenmond]

[Something wasn't sitting right with the albino. No matter how empty the place seemed to be as he followed the two (listening intently with heightened senses for a sound only a dog would hear). The flicker of torches crackling and popping every so often was the only noise to break the silence besides Albedo's hum.

Logically, his mind told him to be cautious, but not anxious. There was nothing to warrant it.

The dog in him, however, was still growling, still rattling its cage and Heine couldn't help but find himself more and more (with each passing second) agreeing with that side.

Something wasn't right, obviously (they'd just been in a room of death), but something really wasn't right even as they wandered along this passage.

Heine only wished he could place what it exactly was.

(Or, maybe it was just all in his head, slowly fabricating into the point of hallucination.)]

[lolwhatfuture]

[It was interesting, the situation, and the lineup: the villain-to-be, the hero, and the anti-hero, leading one another on a dangerous expedition as companions. Or it would have been interesting if she really knew anything about Heine and Albedo besides what was obvious by their actions. Between the minor problem of not knowing them intimately and the potential miscommunications that might cause in a confrontation with whatever lurked in the shadows, as well as the unrelenting pressure of feeling watched and the jumpy anxiety that stemmed from wandering around in the wrongness that was this basement, Max could only assess so much of them both.

And she couldn't tell if what she did expect was promising or absolutely bleak.

So Heine was silent, and Albedo hummed, and altogether it had become a horror flick, and she had to keep herself from thumping Albedo to get him to stop. Max sucked in a breath and lightly massaged her temples as if doing so would rub away the worry.]

timeskipping a bit, let me know if this is a problem!

[cryptdeify]

[After the trio had wandered around the maze for a good amount of time, it's almost as if time stops. The smell of blood on metal, and something more foul-something not human-isn't so far off from where Max, Albedo, and Heine are wandering about. It's anxiety, pressure, and everything in between clumped into one festering sensation, as trembling footsteps not so far off begin to shake the very foundations of the walls surrounding them.

(Is this how the victims felt before their messy demise?)

Whatever it is, Lawfer's staying far away from it... except as much as he'd love to do that, it'd be a stupid move on his part.

What will you do, foreigners?]

[purpletaint]

[ Time was something fleeting, unable to be counted in the dark. Still, it passed, enough for the boy to grow impatient, to stop his idle humming, and instead feel the walls as they passed for any other outlet of area. He had no mind to think they would be stuck forever--however, much longer and Albedo would be in a horrid mood.

He started to purse his lips in annoyance, taking in the smell of blood and familiarity and still find fault--when the vibrations began to hit, shakes that became obvious footsteps, large and threatening.

His head tilted like a bird as he viewed the dark, considering the risk analysis--the amusement ratio. However-- ] Hmm.~

[ He moved forward again without considering backwards--they could remain if they so wanted. ]

[absolute_npc]

[Well you all better start moving because suddenly those footsteps get heavier and faster. It sounds similar to an animal charging at something, although that didn't make much sense, did it? The walls create the hallways and during your time down there so far, it's more than likely you've already tried breaking through the wall somehow instead of what seemed to be wandering aimlessly.

So, just more noise to scare the shit out of the unfortunate souls.

Or. Not.

Behind the three, the wall doesn't even have time to crack, it just explodes from the sheer force of the weight that struck it, sending pieces of the wall spiraling in different directions, a powdery fog engulfing the thing responsible for it.

It looks kind of exactly like this, although its back is all that can be seen for the moment.

Not for long, though, and, oh boy, does it look happy (read: axe rage swinging happy) to see the three of you!]

[nebenmond]

[WELP. That's never happened before, probably. Everyday in Nuadoria is a learning experience!

Heine doesn't move, growing tense, after turning to see what had just occurred after that sound of the wall exploding rocked itself across the entirety of the basement, most likely. He doesn't say anything either, at least until the smoke had disappeared and the monster turned around to look at the small group.]

-Oh holy shit.

[lolwhatfuture]

[What a fun day it had been, and now with pieces of wall smacking every which way and the new presence of an engulfing powder that she couldn't help coughing up made the experience all the more wonderful.

Scowling with displeasure she turned, wondering what genius could have possibly caused such a mess, but the glare fell away at the sight of the creature before them. There wasn't much to say, at least nothing much more poetic than what Heine had managed, and still even with the heart-stopping presence of their new friend she couldn't help stepping slightly closer to young Albedo, a protective gesture despite his upper hand in all this.]

Well...crap.

sorry for the delay!

[purpletaint]

[ The sound and context of an explosion is too near to a time period better left forgotten, and yet still, his eyes widened in a too bright manner, following the rubble as it lay strewn across the hall. There was a twitch in his brain, a switch in his mind, and if--

Then the creature showed itself, and Albedo relaxed. Ah, a monster. That was far more simple than the beasts of the soul, betrayers in blood and heart.

Max moved in front of him, and he was incorrigibly charmed. Even though the girl knew he was far more than capable at taking care of himself. He stepped forward, trailing his fingers against the edge of her wing as he did so in something close to affection. As he moved further, a steady violet glow began to pulse around his body. ]

...Oh.~ Am I allowed to play now?

[ The boy smiled, a cat with a canary grin. This seemed like it could be fun, perhaps a challenge if he was lucky. ]

I'll catch up, if you like. You continue on.

no worries at all *_*

[nebenmond]

[Heine knew there had been something strange about Albedo from the start. He couldn't place it, but his confidence in the impression only strengthened when he watched Albedo eventually pass him, the words from the boy reminding him momentarily of Luki and Noki.

It figured. He couldn't even say he was surprised. The only question now was did they take the suggestion from Albedo and bolt or did they stay? And if they stayed, did they only do so for backup or to actively engage.

Heine wasn't really one to retreat from a fight, but the area was narrow and it would take a lot of effort to be able to shoot at the minotaur if others were engaged fighting with it. Not to mention, he had a fairly good feeling that his bullets would do little. That really left him with only one choice (to let the dog free) but with Albedo and Max around, he refused. The minotaur would be the last thing on their minds if he let that happen.

The albino looked to Max with an almost questioning look. She obviously knew Albedo much better than he did. He was looking to her for a response to what Albedo had just proposed. ]