just, without any words at all she's going to start trying to drag the fuckin bodies towards the teeth. with her noodle arms. she wants away from this entire place and if ichiban tries to jump in again she's going to lose her whole mind. that scream is still echoing in her head, thank you.]
depending on how you look at it, perhaps it is good news that baiken can throw an entire person with one arm. however. that person isn't usually laying prone on the ground, so that kinda sucks having to peel their dying, bleeding bodies up. she scruffs the first one and drags them to the bus. now that she's actually doing it, this feels... gross. ]
[ IMAGINE IF THAT WAS REAL. no, ichiban does not in fact repeat the same stupid mistake that cost him his life the first time around. at the same time... he still looks sickened, almost queasy at the idea of forcing another cognizant being through the jaws of mephistopheles.
but... if there truly is no other way out of here...
. . .
without another word, he casts his gaze downward as he goes to help throné with the body she's trying to carry. ]
[The engine's jaws devour their meal eagerly, crunching their way through the bodies; they're already smeared with Ichiban's blood, but it's shortly indistinguishable from the rest. One by one, it feeds on them as they're tossed in, grinding and grumbling its way along.
Finally, the driver calls out-]
Verg. Mephi's all full. Rumbling ready.
[He glances over his shoulder to her, then gestures for the three of them to follow as he steps back onto the bus. We're good to go, my dudes.]
[ghhhhh. she doesn't feel good about this. she's really kind of nauseated by watching the bus eat people, but it's fine, she'll deal. they were going to die out here anyway. just keep telling yourself that.
once they've got the bodies into the maw, she wipes her hands off on her clothes, and then goes off towards the door of the bus. she's going to sit down and try not to be too sick. like listen - it's one thing to kill people, she's done that plenty, but feeding them to a monster afterwards isn't exactly something that she can desensitize herself to without some effort.
so she just sits here and stares at the ground and makes a face like she's trying to endure a smell she really, really does not like.]
[ what must be done, must be done. if only baiken could be as cold and badass as she really wanted to be, this wouldn't affect her at all. it isn't quite guilt, but something more primal deep down that unsettles her. hm. maybe we will unpack that later.
before reboarding, she takes one last look at this sad excuse of a back alley.
then she gets back on the bus, sitting quietly in her own little row - but not without casting a nasty glare at verg on the way, because. of course. ]
[ it's almost like ichiban shuts down completely as they throw body after body into the grinding engine, his own simply moving of its own accord to get this done and over with. it's much of the same when he brings up the rear and boards last; he doesn't say anything, doesn't sit down, almost doesn't breathe.
[The bus starts up once more, then finally begins to rumble along again, deeper into the Backstreets. They pass more of the same sort of run-down areas, with the occasional person seen milling about; there's little to their expressions, seemingly just going through the motions, and some duck away after spotting their strange vehicle. Those who don't simply watch it go by, impassive.
Verg and their driver are quiet, meanwhile, up until the bus slows to a stop once more. If they look out the windows, the people here are notably different-- they have strange body parts that might look a bit familiar. They don't attack the bus, but they do linger outside, watching it.]
The facility isn't far. You'll be going by foot from here.
[Their guide finally speaks once more, glancing back to them.]
The Bough you need to retrieve is located somewhere deep in the fallen Lobotomy Corporation branch of this district. Our Before team confirmed no other major groups are present, but... that never means you'll meet no resistance.
There should be a guide for you at the branch entrance who can tell you more. That's all.
[ well if gregor is any indicator, there's nothing to fear with these other pathetic mononoke sad bug people milling about. sure beats sitting on the depressing bus ride through purgatory.
sure, they can chatter on the way. in the meantime, if there's any additional bugfolk around, baiken is gonna be giving them the stare down glare down until they're all set to go.
[ in a weird way, the "familiarity" (if you can call it that) of seeing other people with bug arms is able to bring ichiban back to reality. funny how life works out like that sometimes. he gives a stiff nod to vergilius to acknowledge that he heard the instructions, but otherwise, pays neither him nor the driver any attention.
and so they step off the cursed bus once more, on the path to find this mysterious bough. he's not even thinking about the fact that they don't even know what this thing is, let alone what it looks like, but... they'll manage. what else have they got to lose?
once again stepping forward with the intention of leading the way to draw attention away from his companions, he offers a quiet: ]
...I know you guys are gonna kick my ass for this, and I rightfully deserve every bit of what's coming to me, so I'll just go ahead and say it—... sorry.
Ichiban can apologize along the way, but they will come face to face with the bugmen shortly, who move to stand in their way despite Baiken's glare. One almost quails, evidently about to back down, but then he steels himself and stands with his companion.]
Just go ahead an' go back to your bus. Can't let ya through.
Value your life more. You normally only have one. Don't waste it on something not worth it. [she says sharply to ichiban, but. she'll take the sorry. she also does not expect him to do what she says because the partitio vibes are still so very, very strong. she stays behind him as they walk, but when the bugmen come and stand to block their path, she hisses in frustration, pushing past ichiban and baiken to pull out her knife again. she will try to knock out a bug if she has to.]
Maybe think a little before bein' stupid. [ that's saying a lot, coming from baiken, and her int stat of 10, but look. this is as close as accepting ichiban's apology as it's gonna get.
Haha... thinking's never been my strong suit. [ int 9 babeyyy!!
much like how he acted as throné's muscle during the most recent trial, ichiban stands to the side as he lets the other two attempt to handle things. "being the main character" might be on his profile, but he has the emotional intelligence to let other people do their own thing, to have complete faith in his party members (because yeah, that's how he currently sees them, how could he not?).
he slings his sheathed katana over his shoulder, standing at the ready should things go awry. ]
"We're better off takin' our chances with what we know."
They watch very warily, like they're expecting to still be attacked (largely because they do, this place sucks), and as the trio passes there's an audible sigh of relief.
Further ahead, you can see a somewhat sunken metal door, and a guy in blue standing outside.]
[thank god. she stalks past, though i can't say she doesn't do a fakeout at the one that looks the most terrified. she doesn't actually attack them, she just jerks at them. she also watches them as the little party continues, because she doesn't trust something to not attack them from behind.
anyway. off they go, down this path. she slides back to let ichiban lead, because she does not want to be the face of the party. she's not good at that.
the guy in blue looks important. maybe that's the guide...]
... There doesn't seem like there's any other place to go. Play along until we find the ship. [she murmurs to the two of them.]
[ baiken has that swagger walk, so that is how she proceeds. ichiban can be first - he is number one, after all. she doesn't pay any more attention to the bugfolk once they're allowed to pass, because they are Insignificant in the grand scheme of things. if they try shit, she'll crush them. ezpz.
and now there's this blue guy here. he has a specific vibe that makes her Tired for reasons she cannot describe. ]
[ he's dumb as shit but he's very personable!! but ok, here's a potential lead. throné gets a subtle nod while he follows baiken's lead, crossing his arms as they approach the new guy. ]
Yeah, we're looking for... some kinda corporation? [ he clicks his tongue, because he can't quite remember the rest of the name of the place... oh, but he at least has the sense to recall: ] A guy named Verg sent us, if that means anything to you.
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One body wasn't going to fuel the entire bus. If you have to throw your life away, don't do it for something that futile...
[He's just been watching all this happen, man.]
Before you complain at me about the process again, keep in mind they're not going to live long out here whether you do it or not.
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just, without any words at all she's going to start trying to drag the fuckin bodies towards the teeth. with her noodle arms. she wants away from this entire place and if ichiban tries to jump in again she's going to lose her whole mind. that scream is still echoing in her head, thank you.]
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[ she hates you so much, verg.
depending on how you look at it, perhaps it is good news that baiken can throw an entire person with one arm. however. that person isn't usually laying prone on the ground, so that kinda sucks having to peel their dying, bleeding bodies up. she scruffs the first one and drags them to the bus. now that she's actually doing it, this feels... gross. ]
See you in hell.
[ and in goes the first (second) victim. ]
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he jumps in again ]
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but... if there truly is no other way out of here...
. . .
without another word, he casts his gaze downward as he goes to help throné with the body she's trying to carry. ]
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Finally, the driver calls out-]
Verg. Mephi's all full. Rumbling ready.
[He glances over his shoulder to her, then gestures for the three of them to follow as he steps back onto the bus. We're good to go, my dudes.]
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once they've got the bodies into the maw, she wipes her hands off on her clothes, and then goes off towards the door of the bus. she's going to sit down and try not to be too sick. like listen - it's one thing to kill people, she's done that plenty, but feeding them to a monster afterwards isn't exactly something that she can desensitize herself to without some effort.
so she just sits here and stares at the ground and makes a face like she's trying to endure a smell she really, really does not like.]
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before reboarding, she takes one last look at this sad excuse of a back alley.
then she gets back on the bus, sitting quietly in her own little row - but not without casting a nasty glare at verg on the way, because. of course. ]
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man. ]
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Verg and their driver are quiet, meanwhile, up until the bus slows to a stop once more. If they look out the windows, the people here are notably different-- they have strange body parts that might look a bit familiar. They don't attack the bus, but they do linger outside, watching it.]
The facility isn't far. You'll be going by foot from here.
[Their guide finally speaks once more, glancing back to them.]
The Bough you need to retrieve is located somewhere deep in the fallen Lobotomy Corporation branch of this district. Our Before team confirmed no other major groups are present, but... that never means you'll meet no resistance.
There should be a guide for you at the branch entrance who can tell you more. That's all.
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throné does not want to go outside with the bug people. like at all. but she also does not want to stay on the bus with the driver and the guide, so. she stands, looking at the other two she knows. they don't have to go to the guide at the branch entrance, they could just sneak away and try to go back to wherever the ship is? but. she has no idea where the ship is at all.
she doesn't say a word to verg - she just tries to get past him without touching him, fists clenched.
once they're off the bus she'll be more talkative, but she doesn't like the People In Charge being able to overhear her conversations.]
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pathetic mononokesad bug people milling about. sure beats sitting on the depressing bus ride through purgatory.sure, they can chatter on the way. in the meantime, if there's any additional bugfolk around, baiken is gonna be giving them the stare down glare down until they're all set to go.
still hates verg. goodbye forever you fuck. ]
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[ in a weird way, the "familiarity" (if you can call it that) of seeing other people with bug arms is able to bring ichiban back to reality. funny how life works out like that sometimes. he gives a stiff nod to vergilius to acknowledge that he heard the instructions, but otherwise, pays neither him nor the driver any attention.
and so they step off the cursed bus once more, on the path to find this mysterious bough. he's not even thinking about the fact that they don't even know what this thing is, let alone what it looks like, but... they'll manage. what else have they got to lose?
once again stepping forward with the intention of leading the way to draw attention away from his companions, he offers a quiet: ]
...I know you guys are gonna kick my ass for this, and I rightfully deserve every bit of what's coming to me, so I'll just go ahead and say it—... sorry.
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[Forgot your UI update. Anyway.
Ichiban can apologize along the way, but they will come face to face with the bugmen shortly, who move to stand in their way despite Baiken's glare. One almost quails, evidently about to back down, but then he steels himself and stands with his companion.]
Just go ahead an' go back to your bus. Can't let ya through.
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Value your life more. You normally only have one. Don't waste it on something not worth it. [she says sharply to ichiban, but. she'll take the sorry. she also does not expect him to do what she says because the partitio vibes are still so very, very strong. she stays behind him as they walk, but when the bugmen come and stand to block their path, she hisses in frustration, pushing past ichiban and baiken to pull out her knife again. she will try to knock out a bug if she has to.]
Move.
[i would like to try to intimidate the bugs]
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anyway. me seeing flurry's roll of 18 like oh ok well at least baiken doesn't have to fail intimidation check again. throné has this handled. girl power. ]
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much like how he acted as throné's muscle during the most recent trial, ichiban stands to the side as he lets the other two attempt to handle things. "being the main character" might be on his profile, but he has the emotional intelligence to let other people do their own thing, to have complete faith in his party members (because yeah, that's how he currently sees them, how could he not?).
he slings his sheathed katana over his shoulder, standing at the ready should things go awry. ]
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They shrink back, as they mutter to each other.
"We can't, they're gonna be so pissed..."
"They'll kill us for anybody comin' through too!"
"We're better off takin' our chances with what we know."
They watch very warily, like they're expecting to still be attacked (largely because they do, this place sucks), and as the trio passes there's an audible sigh of relief.
Further ahead, you can see a somewhat sunken metal door, and a guy in blue standing outside.]
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anyway. off they go, down this path. she slides back to let ichiban lead, because she does not want to be the face of the party. she's not good at that.
the guy in blue looks important. maybe that's the guide...]
... There doesn't seem like there's any other place to go. Play along until we find the ship. [she murmurs to the two of them.]
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and now there's this blue guy here. he has a specific vibe that makes her Tired for reasons she cannot describe. ]
You look like you could be a guide.
[ he isn't bug-shaped, at any rate. ]
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Yeah, we're looking for... some kinda corporation? [ he clicks his tongue, because he can't quite remember the rest of the name of the place... oh, but he at least has the sense to recall: ] A guy named Verg sent us, if that means anything to you.
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[And then Ichiban mentions Verg, which gets the man to straighten instantly, leaning around to peer behind them.]
[He's joined by a woman in a matching uniform, returning from her patrol.]
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What are we here to do. [she doesn't want to make friends i'm sorry]
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and, piggbacking off of throné: ] Just get to the point already.
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[ like, he's still wary of the two, but again, he's the nice and charismatic one of the group... ]
The ride to get here was... a lot. [ YEAH??? ] No offense, really, but we kinda just want to make this quick.
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