[I rolled a 17 but I give you full permission to strike him down anyway
Luke will lead the way, though--more alert now than he was before, his natural protectiveness kicking in. He frowns as he looks around, still searching for clues--anything to indicate what the fuck is going on.]
[AND I ROLLED A 20 OKAY you can also just ignore this sweeps it away
Dahut, on the other hand, is not looking around and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. He's saving that for another occasion, when they can think without the looming concern of being guillotined hanging over his head. FOR NOW he's just focused on booking it, hardly paying attention to the ominous red neon surrounding them.]
You'll like it even less if we don't get to the exit—!
[Actually, he recalls a short-cut that he'd taken once when he was running late to some meeting or another, so he'll abruptly start tugging Luke that way. Hopefully they fall through a trap door straight into hell.]
[once the jackass has turned to lead the way, sheba rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him. this is her compromise for not picking a fight with him.
but her expression turns more serious as she follows along and they make their way toward the prison. blood and misery? not great, but she steels herself against the stench and keeps her eyes peeled, taking in their surroundings as they head further in. any clues about what they might be in for along the way?]
[help just running straight for the coughs. fine then! i can't ignore dahut's entire fucking twenty, but i can mess around with luke's lil throat tickle that pixi has already been leading up to. his chest seizes suddenly, a pain that sets every inch of his body on fire. the convulsion is unfathomably painful, making it difficult for him to even take in the next breath.
dahut's shortcut will bring them into a different direction—but there's still no one there. not a single soul. five minutes.
as for sheba, the rattling of chains and a discordant group of voices await her up ahead. there's the gruff scolding of guards as they argue amongst one another. "why do we have to be here," one says but another just mumbles, "can it. i almost feel bad for these guys."
in front of her, she'll see a row of prisoners, linked together by cuffs at their hands. a young girl that she doesn't know, not in this life, is among their number. but perhaps something in the recesses of her mind recognize her—but not like this. not with a face covered in grime and scars littering her skin. in the line up, another man also waits, similarly in a horrific state. they're just two people out of a line-up of about seven prisoners.
the rude royal guard who brought her in turns to sheba: "We've got a different call to answer. Some stupid patrol we have to do. You're to bring these death row convicts to the Institute." ]
Or get wreckt Luke, actually. Dahut takes them down a shortcut, but it's not fast enough to beat the encroaching attack--and Luke doesn't have the breath to warn Dahut, it hits him too suddenly.]
--Ngh!
[The pain sends him to his knees, and he clutches at his chest. It doesn't matter how many times pain has wracked his body like this--it's agony every time. His vision very nearly whites out, and his ears ring; there's no way he'll make it before time is up, but he can barely think about that when every nerve is alight.
...But Luke is the sort of person who doesn't prioritize himself. So weakly, blindly, he tries to reach out--to shove Dahut forward, urging him to make it out himself.]
[UNFORTUNATELY DAHUT IS ALSO NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD JUST LEAVE A DYING LUKE BEHIND. He stumbles when he's pushed, but it doesn't stop him from doubling back to grab Luke's arm, casting a frantic glance down the hall.]
Come on, just—
[Try to stand? Try to run? He's seen how badly these attacks affect people too many times to think anything but the worst here. He's smaller than Luke and not very strong at all, but acting on instinct, he still tries to wiggle under his arm so he can try to lift him up and drag him along down the hall, keeping an eye out for doors as they go. They won't make it to the exit like this, but maybe there's a room they can hide in like FUGITIVES.]
[they're really so shorthanded that needing to go on a patrol means they have to allow a fifteen year old girl to transport a bunch of death row convicts, huh... wow, sheba is not impressed with the guards' organization.
she looks at the prisoners and something feels... well, unsettled within her, but before she can put her finger on exactly what that is the moment passes and that feeling is gone. instead, she just finds herself frowning a little at the state of them.
they might be death row prisoners, but that doesn't mean they should be mistreated before their deaths... what did they even do?]
...where in the Institute am I meant to bring them?
[oofa doofa. rough run of it for luke and dahut here. there's a few office doors that luke and dahut can make it to. all three of them are mostly unlabeled, unclear who they belong to, but they have door signs next to them that indicate their focus. 331: RESPIRATORY, 332: CARDIOVASCULAR, and 333: NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. do any of those sound good to you, sweet dahut?
what did they do? that's a question sheba might have to ask aloud if she wants an answer. but the bulk of the guards already begin to leave, heading off to that patrol now that they've handed off the goods (literal human lives). the jerk that brought sheba here will jerk his head toward the one guard remaining: "Steve will show you."
thanks steve.
but steve will start walking, bringing along the head of the line with him. the prisoners scowl, angry, but there is a sense of... they also don't know where they're going.
[wow lucky the door was left slightly ajar by the researcher who was probably leaving in a rush so they get to just open it and push right on through!
there's brains here. oh, there's just so many brains. they float in their freaky little tanks, also illuminated in those strange, fluorescent glows. there probably should be a lock in this room if only for the fact that it's fairly disquieting just to be in here.
it's only the organ, each of them also clearly labeled. they have a set of initials, a date of death, age at death, and a series of chemicals, presumably the ones that are being used to enact the experiment.
meanwhile with steve and sheba, our little s team, they are walking out of the dungeon. they proceed onward, the very, very short walk to the institute. they don't even need to go outside again for it! the prisoners will shift, looking toward sheba and then steve at the question. they would also like to know.
but steve will just say, gruffly:
"Institute. And these are the worst of the worst. They're probably more demons than they are people, kid. This guy? Got too addicted to drink and ended up slicing into anyone on the street to steal their change, until he got addicted to that high instead. And her?" He jabs a thumb in the direction of Jenna. "Maniac. Yeah, I get that her parents got murdered a while back, but she made a whole list of possible to go after and mowed 'em down one by one. Most of those people were totally innocent. We'd be lucky to be rid of them." ]
[Luke is in no state to be useful so forces Aki to-- no just kidding. As Dahut helps drag him through the doors with his little twig arms, Luke manages to claw some breath back into his lungs. He coughs, and there's probably blood on his hand from it, which is such a biohazard? Damn and here he was giving Dahut shit earlier.
But his vision starts to clear, enough for him to help push the door closed. Maybe they'll be safe in here from the... whatever. The purge, probably.
He lifts his head, then, looking at the freaky brain tanks, eyes roving over the labels as he tries to focus and regain his bearings.
Quietly:]
...Sorry.
[He's the reason they're stuck in here, now--he should've told Dahut to go ahead without him, earlier.]
Anyway, Dahut's more focused on Luke for the time being, so he doesn't give the room itself more than a cursory glance. Brains... This is fine. He'll shift so Luke can sit properly without being in some weird half-dragged pose, reaching out to help wipe some of the blood from his stupid TB mouth.
Despite the fact that he'd spend so much of the last 15 minutes yelling at Luke to gET MOVING, he immediately feels a little guilty to hear the apology and shakes his head.]
Don't apologize. I get it.
[No one controls when the TB goblin comes and hits them with a bat. At least they're safely(???) tucked away in this room now! Dahut will move to see if the door has a lock because he doesn't want to get purged.]
[sneaks in a phonetag because the person who called this meeting hasn't fckin shown up yet. anyway, she frowns a little at being called a kid, but doesn't complain about it to steve because at least he's answering her.]
What...?
[she looks to the two he's pointed out. how are they reacting to these crimes of theirs being described? they didn't really look like violent maniacs to her...]
[dahut will be able to find a lock on the door! so they can be left to privacy with all their brains and odd little specimens. however he might want to pause, because he'll be able to hear some footsteps and the clank of chains from outside....?
the clank of chains punctuate every step forward as they walk into the halls of the institute, wandering into what some might call a neat little shortcut. the two criminals who had their crimes read look disgruntled, displeased—but not in denial. these are the actions they've taken. this is what it means to live in this hellhole of an island.
jenna makes direct eye contact with sheba. and then she turns to steve as if waiting for an answer.
to which steve simply says, "A demon made a deal for them."
though he'll also pause by a set of doors (331, 332...) eyes narrowing. "There was supposed to be a scientist to meet us... which specialty was it..."]
[It's kinder than he deserves for Dahut to accept his apology, but before Luke can say or do anything else, the sound of those chains and footsteps comes from outside the door. And Luke may have been bold enough to linger here longer than he should've, but he isn't so reckless as to draw attention to them now; he has no doubt that the message was serious. So he freezes, going still and quiet, eyes locked on Dahut--he's poised to intervene if anything happens.]
[WHAT THE FCK DON'T LOOK FOR SCIENTISTS AROUND THEIR DOORS GIT. GIT!!!! Dahut also freezes where he is, moving only to glance back toward Luke. He's not RISKING ANYTHING while the sounds are so close to their door, he's just waiting for them to keep walking.]
[something in sheba's heart aches when jenna meets her eyes - but, as before, it's fleeting, and she's left feeling nothing before she can even name the feeling to herself.
she crosses her arms and looks over at steve.]
What do you mean, a demon made a deal? [...] ...and when I was on my way here, most of the researchers I came across were leaving. Are we sure this is supposed to be happening right now?
which all parties will be able to hear now, close as they are to each other. the two of them behind the door freeze and pause
but between a 6 and an 8, it's time for tb to blow their fucking cover. damn luke, crazy that you keep getting hit with these horrific coughing fits. it's like it's almost the end of your time or something. dahut..... what's wrong with you.]
[FUCKING HELP LUKE well it's okay because when Dahut turns around in a panic to try and help Luke, he manages to bump into this wall of brains just enough to send one of the brain jars crashing to the floor.]
[she hears the coughing fit and the crash and immediately knocks on the door, concerned, because it sure sounds like someone is in trouble in there. steve can the prisoners can just chill for a little while.]
Luke's head jerks up at the crash, and he looks wide-eyed at Dahut as he tries, once again, to catch his breath; he hastily wipes the blood off his mouth, stumbling back to his feet through sheer force of will.
They aren't supposed to be here--is it better to play along, or to make up some excuse, and hope that their accolades will help them coast through?]
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Luke will lead the way, though--more alert now than he was before, his natural protectiveness kicking in. He frowns as he looks around, still searching for clues--anything to indicate what the fuck is going on.]
I don't like this.
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Dahut, on the other hand, is not looking around and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. He's saving that for another occasion, when they can think without the looming concern of being guillotined hanging over his head. FOR NOW he's just focused on booking it, hardly paying attention to the ominous red neon surrounding them.]
You'll like it even less if we don't get to the exit—!
[Actually, he recalls a short-cut that he'd taken once when he was running late to some meeting or another, so he'll abruptly start tugging Luke that way. Hopefully they fall through a trap door straight into hell.]
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but her expression turns more serious as she follows along and they make their way toward the prison. blood and misery? not great, but she steels herself against the stench and keeps her eyes peeled, taking in their surroundings as they head further in. any clues about what they might be in for along the way?]
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dahut's shortcut will bring them into a different direction—but there's still no one there. not a single soul. five minutes.
as for sheba, the rattling of chains and a discordant group of voices await her up ahead. there's the gruff scolding of guards as they argue amongst one another. "why do we have to be here," one says but another just mumbles, "can it. i almost feel bad for these guys."
in front of her, she'll see a row of prisoners, linked together by cuffs at their hands. a young girl that she doesn't know, not in this life, is among their number. but perhaps something in the recesses of her mind recognize her—but not like this. not with a face covered in grime and scars littering her skin. in the line up, another man also waits, similarly in a horrific state. they're just two people out of a line-up of about seven prisoners.
the rude royal guard who brought her in turns to sheba: "We've got a different call to answer. Some stupid patrol we have to do. You're to bring these death row convicts to the Institute." ]
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Or get wreckt Luke, actually. Dahut takes them down a shortcut, but it's not fast enough to beat the encroaching attack--and Luke doesn't have the breath to warn Dahut, it hits him too suddenly.]
--Ngh!
[The pain sends him to his knees, and he clutches at his chest. It doesn't matter how many times pain has wracked his body like this--it's agony every time. His vision very nearly whites out, and his ears ring; there's no way he'll make it before time is up, but he can barely think about that when every nerve is alight.
...But Luke is the sort of person who doesn't prioritize himself. So weakly, blindly, he tries to reach out--to shove Dahut forward, urging him to make it out himself.]
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Come on, just—
[Try to stand? Try to run? He's seen how badly these attacks affect people too many times to think anything but the worst here. He's smaller than Luke and not very strong at all, but acting on instinct, he still tries to wiggle under his arm so he can try to lift him up and drag him along down the hall, keeping an eye out for doors as they go. They won't make it to the exit like this, but maybe there's a room they can hide in like FUGITIVES.]
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she looks at the prisoners and something feels... well, unsettled within her, but before she can put her finger on exactly what that is the moment passes and that feeling is gone. instead, she just finds herself frowning a little at the state of them.
they might be death row prisoners, but that doesn't mean they should be mistreated before their deaths... what did they even do?]
...where in the Institute am I meant to bring them?
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what did they do? that's a question sheba might have to ask aloud if she wants an answer. but the bulk of the guards already begin to leave, heading off to that patrol now that they've handed off the goods (literal human lives). the jerk that brought sheba here will jerk his head toward the one guard remaining: "Steve will show you."
thanks steve.
but steve will start walking, bringing along the head of the line with him. the prisoners scowl, angry, but there is a sense of... they also don't know where they're going.
huh.]
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but since is being quiet and not explaining - ]
Steve. Where are we going, and... why are we brining these people there?
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there's brains here. oh, there's just so many brains. they float in their freaky little tanks, also illuminated in those strange, fluorescent glows. there probably should be a lock in this room if only for the fact that it's fairly disquieting just to be in here.
it's only the organ, each of them also clearly labeled. they have a set of initials, a date of death, age at death, and a series of chemicals, presumably the ones that are being used to enact the experiment.
meanwhile with steve and sheba, our little s team, they are walking out of the dungeon. they proceed onward, the very, very short walk to the institute. they don't even need to go outside again for it! the prisoners will shift, looking toward sheba and then steve at the question. they would also like to know.
but steve will just say, gruffly:
"Institute. And these are the worst of the worst. They're probably more demons than they are people, kid. This guy? Got too addicted to drink and ended up slicing into anyone on the street to steal their change, until he got addicted to that high instead. And her?" He jabs a thumb in the direction of Jenna. "Maniac. Yeah, I get that her parents got murdered a while back, but she made a whole list of possible to go after and mowed 'em down one by one. Most of those people were totally innocent. We'd be lucky to be rid of them." ]
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But his vision starts to clear, enough for him to help push the door closed. Maybe they'll be safe in here from the... whatever. The purge, probably.
He lifts his head, then, looking at the freaky brain tanks, eyes roving over the labels as he tries to focus and regain his bearings.
Quietly:]
...Sorry.
[He's the reason they're stuck in here, now--he should've told Dahut to go ahead without him, earlier.]
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Anyway, Dahut's more focused on Luke for the time being, so he doesn't give the room itself more than a cursory glance. Brains... This is fine. He'll shift so Luke can sit properly without being in some weird half-dragged pose, reaching out to help wipe some of the blood from his stupid TB mouth.
Despite the fact that he'd spend so much of the last 15 minutes yelling at Luke to gET MOVING, he immediately feels a little guilty to hear the apology and shakes his head.]
Don't apologize. I get it.
[No one controls when the TB goblin comes and hits them with a bat. At least they're safely(???) tucked away in this room now! Dahut will move to see if the door has a lock because he doesn't want to get purged.]
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What...?
[she looks to the two he's pointed out. how are they reacting to these crimes of theirs being described? they didn't really look like violent maniacs to her...]
But what does the Institute want with them?
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the clank of chains punctuate every step forward as they walk into the halls of the institute, wandering into what some might call a neat little shortcut. the two criminals who had their crimes read look disgruntled, displeased—but not in denial. these are the actions they've taken. this is what it means to live in this hellhole of an island.
jenna makes direct eye contact with sheba. and then she turns to steve as if waiting for an answer.
to which steve simply says, "A demon made a deal for them."
though he'll also pause by a set of doors (331, 332...) eyes narrowing. "There was supposed to be a scientist to meet us... which specialty was it..."]
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she crosses her arms and looks over at steve.]
What do you mean, a demon made a deal? [...] ...and when I was on my way here, most of the researchers I came across were leaving. Are we sure this is supposed to be happening right now?
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which all parties will be able to hear now, close as they are to each other. the two of them behind the door freeze and pause
but between a 6 and an 8, it's time for tb to blow their fucking cover. damn luke, crazy that you keep getting hit with these horrific coughing fits. it's like it's almost the end of your time or something. dahut..... what's wrong with you.]
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—are you okay in there?!
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the prisoners rustle at the fact that they seem to be getting distracted, starting to murmur to each other. uh oh.
meanwhile steve startles, and will just move to see if the door can be opened. you've been fucking spotted you stupid brain sluts
"Are you the one we were meant to meet?!"
that would sound romantic if it wasn't about science(?)]
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Luke's head jerks up at the crash, and he looks wide-eyed at Dahut as he tries, once again, to catch his breath; he hastily wipes the blood off his mouth, stumbling back to his feet through sheer force of will.
They aren't supposed to be here--is it better to play along, or to make up some excuse, and hope that their accolades will help them coast through?]
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