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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:21 pm
The boots rang with purpose as she marched. Merci reached up and adjusted the sash that carried her pistol and her sword. She wanted both in easy grabbing range for the next thing that decided to grab her. Because even if they were illusions she would feel better about filling something with holes.
Dio felt the homicidal waves coming off his guardian and he tried to soothe her. It wouldn't help to have her shooting stuff because those things might be Rhys or Tek. Though it would be the first time she brandished a gun at the two of them. He reached up and rubbed her ear gently as she propelled him along.
The ear rubs did help, and though the frustration was high she calmed a bit. Merci took every right she came too, and figured she was probably walking in some giant jagged circle. "For heaven's sake Dio do something. Your supposed to be in good with the stars, find out which way we're supposed to go. Use your star power Rainbow."
The fiend frowned, or he would have if he'd had a mouth. 'We're in a building, it isn't like they can see what we're doing. And I can't tell which direction we're going because I can't see them to guide us.' Geez it wasn't like he was some glorified compass after all.
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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:29 pm
Merci stopped at a four way intersection and she frowned. All the hallways looked the same. Part of her wondered if maybe this place didn't have walls that moved or something. She was incredibly lost and the headache from the strobe lights was mounting. "Fine fine, at least pick a direction. I've been doing all the work."
Dio looked around and shrugged, 'Lets go straight then.' All the halls looked the same, though the last time he'd picked a direction they had been swallowed by a painting. He wasn't feeling all that comfortable with his choices right now.
The fox woman almost snorted. Something about Dio and straight just didn't mesh well in her mind. Oh well at least there was some entertainment for her amidst the frustration. "Straight it is then, hold on lovely." And with that Pirate Merci and Magical Girl Dio headed onward, in a direction that hopefully lead further into the maze.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:50 pm
'Take a left at the next turn, Star-gazer,' Hawk said with a chuckle, even though he had snuck up on them. 'Though I admit I'm surprised to see you back in here - you'll ruin some people's fun.'Mostly Reyna, because neither Mystic or himself would truly let her scare Dio. Poor thing. 'Here's your first piece - again. Find the Dreamwalker and the Berserker and you'll be able to escape, never mind have enough to get another surprise from the shop.'Dropping the candy into Merci's hand, he then ruffled Dio's hair and disappeared immediately like a ghost.
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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:00 pm
Merci had nearly jumped out of her skin when Hawk showed up. For some reason he just had that affect on her today. Though she would be an idiot not to take the Seer's advice. He was after all a SEER. That implied he knew what he was talking about in reference to what was going to happen in the future. So Merci's fingers curled around the candy and she put it in the pocket of her brocade jacket. Two pieces of blue candy now.
Well she'd really just came into this one to find Rhys, and it dawned on her she probably should have asked Hawk whether or not he was even here. Oh well maybe she would get the chance to ask Mystic or Reyna if they ran into them in here.
The boy's brows furrowed. He didn't want to ruin anyone's fun. That didn't change the fact that he was definitely down as a NO next time someone mentioned a Haunted House.
Merci paused at the next intersection, and with a shrug of a shoulder she headed off to the left. Her shadow still clinging to her coat tails.
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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:21 pm
Loud, it got loud very very quickly. It had started out a tiny noise, like heavy techno. However the volume jacked up really fast, like someone turned the knob on the stereo. Merci recognized what it was, she'd heard it before with Cinder a couple times. It was Draconian classical music.
Dio made an unhappy sound and he lifted a hand up to cover one of his ears. It didn't help a lot but it at least cut down some of the noise. 'Lets go back, I don't like this.' He wasn't a fan of techno at all, and that's what it sounded like to him. He tried to tug on Merci to get her to turn around with him.
Obviously Hawk had a really horrible sense of humor.
At the tug from behind her Merci stumbled and fell against the wall next to her. "Dio stop it!" But she realized that there were more hands then just those of her shadow. Hands came out of the wall next to them and grabbed her, dragging her inside while she screamed and kicked.
He couldn't phase away from them. He watched in horror as they grabbed him by his tail, his arms and the front of his dress. Dio couldn't seem to make himself incorporeal, and he was pulled into the wall as well.
Merci landed on her a**, not for the first time that night. She wasn't outside though, thank goodness. The last thing she wanted to deal with was Dio freaking out about being in the swamp again. With the insanely loud music still blasting in the background she stood up and dusted herself off. Then irritably readjusted her clothing. The hands had practically given her a wedgie when they jerked on her pants.
Okay so hands coming out of the wall did not amuse Dio at all. Though it looked like they had to start all over again. 'How about next time we go right?' It was mostly a joke. The fiend was vain enough he straightened his dress and smoothed out most of the wrinkles in it. Then fixed his ponytail so it was straight.
Merci nodded and stalked forward, though she did wait long enough for Dio to catch up with her. "Come on princess we haven't got all night." She smirked at his glower and turned right the first chance she got.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:50 pm
Detached, haunting laughter seemed to fill the room but it was certainly no ghost's doing. Mystic phased into view and pressed a hand to his face. He wasn't so much amused by Dio and Merci's misfortune but at Hawk's failure to predict which direction they ought to go. 'You'll have to forgive Hawk. Surely he meant right rather than left. Perhaps he's developed dyscalculia as he's grown older,' the elder Fiend teased. 'Here you go,' he said as he pressed another piece of candy to Dio's hand, 'For your troubles and your bravery. Take care, Little Star.'
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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:00 pm
Dio was secretly thrilled that none of them had commented on his attire yet. He moved up next to his guardian and put the piece of candy in her pocket with the others they had managed to collect. 'Maybe if we find all three we'll find Rhys?' He sounded hopeful, because he really didn't want to have to stay any longer. One more piece though didn't sound so bad.
Merci reached a hand out and squeezed Dio by the arm. "We're doing pretty good. At least I haven't had a knife thrown at me here." Or had blood dripped on her, or any number of other horrible things that had happened before. Grabbing hands though were definately on her list of do not want to have happen to her again. "What do you say we keep going down this path mm?"
The fiend nodded and he kept a hold of his guardian's hand as they moved down the hall. 'Let's turn left this time. Maybe Hawk was right and just told us too soon?'
Merci shrugged her shoulder, luckily listening to Dio was pretty easy, even in the noise. His voice came into her mind. She didn't want to have to scream over the music so she just went with his suggestion. The next chance she got, she turned left.
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Merci` generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:07 pm
So left was uneventful, and she wandered further in. Her hand was being held by Dio's and it was the first time all night she actually felt comforted by his presence rather then nervous that she wouldn't be able to protect him.
It wasn't until two turns left and a right later that she realized that the environment was becoming... foggy. The strobe lights didn't let up, instead they lit up the mist. It only made things even more confusing. She opened her mouth to say something, but it was lost in the music. This place was starting to seriously make her head spin.
Dio wasn't worried about the mist, instead he just squeezed Merci's hand and pulled her forward. The only way out was finding the last piece of candy. Reyna was again being illusive, but he was determined to find her. Because he figured that she would let them know how to find Rhys so they could go home.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:07 am
Being elusive and hard to find was a talent of hers. As was stalking, which was what she was currently doing. The noise of the music easily covered up whatever sounds her movements made, and she couldn't help but grin. This was too easy! Carefully she followed after Dio and Merci before finally pouncing the fox woman with a cry of bubbling laughter. She wrapped her arms around her and reached to ruffle Dio's hair. "Were ya'll looking for me?" she teased as the music and strobe lights faded away, leaving them standing in an old, empty one-room house. "Last piece, huh. Well here you go," she said before handing Dio a piece of candy. Two doors appeared, and she darted to the one to the left. "Right will take you out of the house, left back in but into someone else's illusions," she told them before disappearing through the door before her.
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iloveyouDIE generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:05 am
Algie mopped his brow after he'd received the final candy. He'd exited the building and now stood on the stoop, staring out at the unpleasant swamp sprawled in front of him. Various vehicles were parked around and some which he recognized.
"All those rooms.. I haven't seen one of our friends." He seemed much more relaxed now that he had some fresh air, no matter how swampy it was. "Maybe I am taking this too hard Bloo." The wisp hovered in Algie's shadow, apparently listening to it's bond but not yet making a move. "It is supposed to just be an illusion. I'm not sure if my nerves can take another scare though. Clowns? UGH!" He shuddered. "I would have liked to see our friends though. Jasa and Ruku.. Merci and Dio.."
With the mention of the other fiends, Algie felt a ripple of daring and excitement shoot down his bond. The wisp suddenly wanted to go back, wanted to find it's friends. Without any ability to stop him, Algie stood helplessly as Bloo shot straight through the door and back into the house.
"Bugger.." Algie sighed and rubbed his face before adjusting his glasses and smoothing his costumed beard. He turned the doorknob and found himself inside of a pounding, pulsing techno club. Was it a club?
Thankfully Bloodstone had been just as surprised by the drastic change in surroundings and hovered, rather stunned, in the doorway. Lights flashed, bass pulsed and Algie tried to cover his eyes a bit from the flashing. He wasn't very good with loud booming noises.
"WELL.. THIS IS RATHER AWFUL." He had to talk loudly to hear himself over the music, if that is what it could be called. "THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GO IT SEEMS."
The pair started off down the long corridor until they came to T form and were faced with a choice of left or right. At the end of each hall was a slight fog and he was sure he could make out shadowy figures at the end of each hallway. "EENY.. MEENY.. MINEY.. LEFT."
Algie turned to his left and started his exploration. The bass beat was really starting to get to him. His head was aching and he had to cover his eyes a bit.
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iloveyouDIE generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:19 am
The hallway seemed to go in a straight line. The fog closed in around Algie and his wisp and it became hard, with with the flashing lights, to distinguish the walls from the floors and to even see Bloodstone hovering beside him. A blast of bass sent Algie's mind reeling for a moment, his only comparison being that of an explosion going off right next to him. He was being reminded of the war he'd fought in so long ago and he didn't like those implications.
The shadowy figure in front seemed to always be just out of his grasp and the music and bass was getting louder. "HELLO?" Perhaps the catch of this version of the house was just to catch the hosts to make them give up their candy.
The room was hurting his head but the figure, upon hearing his call, seemed to stop moving. The fog obscured it's features but he was now close enough to grab it. Algie reached for the person's wrist and hoped it was one of their hosts.
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iloveyouDIE generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:28 am
The wrist dissolved beneath his fingers leaving nothing but swirling fog. "DAMMIT." He groped at the fog but when he walked forward he found himself at a neon pulsating wall. Dead End.
"Bugger.." he was done yelling. He couldn't hear himself but he wasn't going to scream himself hoarse. Another blast of bass sent him reeling.
Explosions. Screaming. His robes ripped and his wand flew from his hand.
Algie regained his composure, praying that the flashbacks would not continue. He'd gone through years of treatment for just this problem but at least now could distinguish reality from memory.
"At least it's not bleeding mannequins.." It wasn't much of a comfort. he wound his way backwards through the maze but Bloodstone now clung to his finger, oozing his comforting aura into his bond. Algie smiled a bit since it did seem to be helping.
The fog seemed to thicken, to the point where it seemed a little bit harder to walk, as if it were tangible. He leaned on the wall, dragging his hand in an attempt to find and navigate his way through the disorienting hallways.
Suddenly the wall to his right disappeared and since he was leaning on it, he stumbled into a new hall, not as intense but with more flashing lights. Thankfully the booming bass had dropped down to a throbbing under his feet but the fog was thicker and the lights could probably have induced epilepsy if he weren't covering his eyes.
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iloveyouDIE generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:38 am
The flashing lights started once again to affect him.
Spells whizzed overhead and to his right he heard someone cry out in pain. His own left arm had stopped moving and he searched, in vain, for his wand. He heard his name, glancing upwards in fear, and was bombarded with spells of every color.
Bloodstone snapped him out of his memory this time. He was leaning heavily on the wall, his head covered by both of his arms. He heard his name once again but was unsure if it was the memory or the house.
"Algie.." He heard it again and knew, this time, that it was real. Lifting his head he saw a being of pure shadow. It opened a gaping hole that seemed to be it's mouth and the elder wizard was mezmerized by it. By the time he snapped out of it he realized that he and Bloo were back where they started in the first, bass pounding room.
"A maze. A harmless maze to everyone but me. It figures. This was your idea remember?" Bloo clung guiltily to his hand and definitely did seem slightly remorseful for it's decision.
"Let's move. Faster we get out, faster we get home." He squinted, trying to use Bloo's connection to bolster his concentration and help keep his memories at bay. With another shadow being in sight, he abandoned caution and started to run at it, full speed.
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iloveyouDIE generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:57 am
The shadow figure seemed to run away. Algie found that the running, despite it being futile, helped him focus and drown out the confusing and affecting music and lights.
He made a right, then a left, all following the shadowy image in front of him. It seemed always to be the same distance away and he never gained and never lost. Of course that was until he ran into a dead end. The shadow he had been chasing? His own.
Panting and out of breath he leaned his back against the wall, closed his eyes and tried to drown out the noise. The wall behind him melted away almost as soon as he'd given up chase and once more the elder wizard almost toppled over.
Stumbling back to a standing position he turned and found himself once more face to face with a shadowy figure only paces away. Shaking the ringing from his head he approached, hoping to catch the trickster once and for all.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:12 am
'Back again,' Mystic said as he crept up on Algie and Bloo. He had no need to yell given that his voice was telepathic in nature. 'Brave man.' He chuckled good naturedly as he handed him another piece of candy. 'This place isn't as bad as the other rooms,' he admitted, 'Who knew other people's brains were so warped?'He laughed again, and then disappeare into the swirling fog and constant flickering strobe lights.
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