He couldn't seem to get his heart to stop pounding. Michael's arm was solid and familiar around his waist, hauling him back, and yet Caspian could feel whatever it was cold and unpleasant in his veins. He wanted to shower, to scrub his skin until it was rubbed clean of whatever was long dead in this place, Caspian heaving in breaths of air, trying to get himself under control.
For someone who had taken on a General Queen just last year, he felt unbelievably - and pathetically - unsteady on his feet.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Caspian managed to get out as Michael towed them both down the hall. "I want to get the ******** out of here."
He didn't know where Peter was, Caspian glancing around as they approached the southern gate. Michael's hand in his was a firm grip, fingers tangled together, and Caspian reached out towards the cat, grasping onto it without a second thought.
This was a very, very bad ******** for the first time - not even for the first time that evening - Caspian leapt backwards with a pained cry, his heart feeling as though it had been boosted into overdrive. He staggered into Michael, dropping the bedpan with a clatter, Caspian gasping for breath, hands grappling for Michael's shirtfront, his arm, something to hold onto even as he tried to get his mind back into working order.
"The ******** - it shocked me - are you - are you okay?"
His voice was trembling. Caspian swallowed hard, fighting back the rising panic and the welling fear and the disgust and the uncertainty, his face paler than usual as he looked over at Michael.
There was a crackle over the loudspeaker again. Obsidian's voice, the same as before, laughingly teasing them over the intercom, and Caspian swore again, his fingers shaking as he gripped onto Michael's like a lifeline.
The night. They were stuck here for the night.
Caspian turned towards Michael, burying his face into his chest and tried not to scream.
Basil had only just reached it when the creature leapt forward, claws raking at the metal with a horrible screech of talons. He hastily retreated back several steps, holding the IV pole up as though it would do any good at all, his head tilted ever so slightly as he regarded the beasts in front of him.
Well, that certainly wasn't going to work. Basil gave a sigh and turned away, shuffling back towards the middle of the cafeteria as the loudspeaker gave a loud squawk again, the same general's voice coming out over around them all in fuzzy syllables. Basil glanced warily at the people in the room with him, then made his way towards a table, slowly putting the IV pole down onto the top of it.
He was starving. The choices were limited.
Basil wished he'd brought a snack.
Instead, he made his way over towards the back of the cafeteria, making sure to take his pole with him. There was - something - in one of the coolers. Basil pulled it out, unwrapped it, and gave it a cautious sniff, trying not to think too hard about what exactly it was. Something red - wine, maybe, or cranberry juice - was being poured out of the soda fountains.
Well, it was better than nothing. Basil made himself a small plate - a very small plate - and then took a seat at one of the tables, trying very hard not to breathe out of his nose as he took a wary bite. He wasn't entirely sure this was the best of plans, but if they were going to be stuck here for the rest of the night, at least attempting to get some sustenance in him was important.
Maybe. The food wasn't terrible. Dipping the meat into the red liquid didn't seem to be too bad, Basil thought, as he chewed slowly, then swallowed, still trying not to breathe out of his nose just to minimize the taste in case it really was something horrible.
Getting out of there was definitely a top priority, and Michael was willing to do just about anything it took.
Except anything that caused Caspian to get hurt, because that was definitely not part of the plan.
The gate shocked him too as they both grabbed onto it, and he ripped his hand away hissing and spitting curses, but also having enough sense to jerk Caspian away from the gate as well.
“I’m fine,” he promised, shaking out his hand that had been zapped, trying to get the tingling sensation to go away. He still had that weird sense of dread washing over him from the previous attempt into a room.
He didn’t want to admit that he was frightened, but the thought of Caspian and Peter being stuck in this place with seemingly no way out was, well… he didn’t like this one bit. His heart was already racing and he was at a loss for things to do. They had tried the different ways out, but they were either locked in or had missed something.
“Let me see your hand,” he said, not waiting for Caspian to offer his palm, but reached down to take it anyway. He held it up to his mouth to kiss it, his other arm wrapping around Caspian’s back as he turned to see what everyone else was doing after the voice of the General came over the intercom again.
Were they on camera? They couldn’t risk powering up. He wouldn’t risk giving away his identity when Caspian was right there.
“Come here. Stay away from… whatever s**t that is,” he said as he pulled Caspian back with him, watching as people inspected the weird food left for them. They might be better off eating, or maybe not. He wasn’t desperate yet, at least. Michael backed them up to a corner of the room, holding Caspian against him.
“We’ll be okay,” he said, hoping he would be right. It had been a while since he’d actually been afraid of something. The last time he could remember his heart racing like this was when Caspian had almost bled to death. But he wasn’t going to admit to that now, even if he was sure his fiance could tell how unnerved Michael really was.
“You should at least try to sleep,” he insisted, easing them both down onto the floor but keeping Caspian in his lap so he could use him to lean against. He knew they should probably coordinate with the others on who would keep a lookout, but he didn’t trust them and would rather stay awake, himself.
kuropeco
Guine
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Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 11:03 pm
Benji Rhodes [Choosing option two - He had cake, baby is ~fine~ ]
Peter's arms were so warm and reassuring that it only took a few minutes to finally calm down his racing heart enough to open his eyes again. Benji hated feeling so weak and useless, if he had been Chara, he could have done something to help these people. But no, he was weak little Benji who couldn't even keep his goddamn emotions in check. <********... How was he supposed to protect Peter if he couldn't even keep himself from crying like a big ol' baby?!
Still, soon enough the tears stopped and Benji just took a deep breath. It was then when he realized just how hard Peter's heart was beating as well. s**t, had the other been as terrified as he was? Maybe, but he was obviously much more composed than he had been.
"Yeah... Yeah, we're okay... I'm okay... Thanks..." He finally muttered, arms dropping down to his side. Though he didn't want to let the other go, he knew it would be best for them to not stand here too much longer. His voice dropped to a whisper, close and soft enough just for his friend to hear. "Do you think we should risk powering up...? We could get out that way... Right?"
Peter kept his arms around his friend until he was able to calm down. Heck, it helped Peter too, knowing that Benji was okay. Well, maybe okay wasn’t the right word, but it was at least better than being stuck in that dumbwaiter still. It had been a stupid idea, and it was his fault for suggesting it in the first place. And now Benji was terrified and shaking and had been holding onto him for dear life it seemed.
“Not yet,” he mumbled back to his friend as he pulled away, although he lifted a hand to brush at some of the dust and cobwebs from Benji’s hair from being in that dumbwaiter. “Give me a little while to see if I can locate the cameras they might be using to watch us. They might have night vision cameras if what that a*****e said about monitoring our progress. Besides, if this really is the Negaverse we’re dealing with, if there’s even a chance of getting out without revealing our identity, that’ll be ideal. Obviously if it comes down to it and we have to, we have to, but,” he said with a frown, which was more sad and fearful than anything.
“I’ve seen a future where I’ve had to go into hiding,” he paused and glanced towards the corner of the room where Michael and Caspian were huddled. “I’ve seen what that does to people.”
It was obvious that he didn’t really want to go into details at the moment, and instead was looking around at the others with the strange mystery meat and oozy stuff, and even Peter made a face. He would pass on whatever that stuff was. He wasn’t that hungry.
He wasn't entirely convinced that Michael was just fine, because, well...it was Michael. Caspian heaved in a breath, keeping himself burrowed against his fiance in the hopes that maybe when he next opened his eyes, this would all be just a terrible, shitty nightmare. A part of him felt unbelievably pathetic for even reacting this way; he was damn eternal senshi, for Pete's sake; he'd lived through Michael almost getting killed. He'd gone up against General Queen Apatite. He'd kicked some serious youma a** for years now, and yet he wasn't Eternal Sailor Remus at the moment.
He was just Caspian Lyons, college student and volleyball player, stuck in this ******** hospital under the control of a mad, mocking general and whoever else was his sidekicks just so he could have them all run around like mice getting ready for the mousetraps.
It was unfairly nauseating. Caspian felt Michael take his hand to look at it, not resisting the movement, and fingers brushed over his palm, making his expression soften a little, the knot of tension starting to unwind, just a little, inside of Caspian's stomach. He looked up at his fiance as Michael wrapped an arm around his back, and gave a small sigh, Caspian raking his other hand through his hair.
The stupid bedpan was still on the floor where he'd dropped it. Caspian made a noise of annoyance as he stooped to pick it up, letting Michael tow him towards a corner of the cafeteria. He could see a few others reaching for the food - was it food? He had no idea, and wasn't sure he even wanted to know. Peter was there too, arms wrapped around some kid; Caspian made a mental note to make a comment about that later.
Michael was backing up against the wall so that they were facing outwards, sliding to the ground and pulling Caspian with him. He went willingly, tired and stressed and on edge, Caspian sinking down to sit in Michael's lap, curling up with his back to Michael's chest, nestled between his legs.
"That s**t looks disgusting," he muttered, wincing a little as he saw people examining it - one or two were even eating it, and Caspian made a face, shaking his head. "I don't want to even touch it."
A snort of laughter escaped, but it lacked in humor. Caspian tilted his head back against Michael's shoulder and tugged on his fiance's arm so that at least one of them was wrapped around Caspian's waist, Caspian settling his own arm over top of it so that he was safe and protected in Michael's grasp.
"I don't know if I can sleep here," Caspian said, sounding annoyed. "But...I can at least try. Maybe."
Or maybe he'd just stay awake in frustration and fear the whole damned night. It was debatable.
"Are you going to try and go to sleep?" Caspian asked, craning his neck up around to try and look at Michael. He'd set the bedpan down on the floor beside them, hoping he wouldn't even have to use the stupid thing anymore and feeling even more pathetic that that was what he was reduced to try and using as protection.
"Or are you gonna stay awake and keep an eye on things?"
He knew Michael, after all.
guine
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 10:04 am
Benji Rhodes [Choosing option two - He had cake, baby is ~fine~ ]
"Hrm..." Benji only murmured in a soft agreement as the hand worked away the filthy in his hair, letting his eye close briefly. The feeling was gentle and familiar, like one he had known forever, even if they had only reconnected some weeks (or was it months now) ago. What Peter said had been true. There was no telling just what those Negaassholes were planning, and if it was like this here, he only pitied those who were elsewhere with actual adults rather than poor litle Amelia. Those people could have been Negaversers themselves... And then they would have stood no chance.
Scowling, he tried his best to look at all the space that was open here, to see if he could find something to hide behind, or something to block out cameras... Then again, even if he could manage that, people would be able to make the connection that the eyepatched boy had gone missing, and instead there was a eyepatched senshi among them... There really wasn't a way to go power up right now, was there?
He did notice that people were poking at some weird meat and some orange liquid... That seemed like an awful idea, and he wasn't feeling very hungry. After all, he had gotten some cake too, and fear seemed to be a great way to kill your appetite.
The mention of a future had Benji staring up confused at his friend, trying to figure out just what he meant.
"Future...? What, like you had a prediction of the future somehow? Given all this other ******** up s**t I'm not surprised, but whatever happened then, it ain't going to happen now." Even with that fear still gripping at his mind, he managed a smile and a thumbs up. "I bet your prediction didn't have me in it, and so now that I'm here, we're going to ******** up their s**t, I promise you. People will be hiding from US, not them, just you watch!"
Guine
Peter Gallo
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 11:03 am
RESULTS:
Option One:
The dark red drink appears to have been kool-aid - phew! You are relieved at that, but can't help but wonder what the gamey meat had been. Your stomach isn't feeling terribly good, but at least you had something to eat, right?
Option Two:
You rise from your resting place feeling both tired and hungry. At least you didn't stoop to eating random meat, right? You try to push on, keeping that thought in mind.
Option Three:
Well, that's one way to eat meat. Your stomach feels a bit queasy after last night's meal but you take a cup of the red drink for breakfast and feel much better.
You wake up (or stir, if you didn't sleep) to the sound of the speakers crackling once more. If your phone isn't dead, it reads 9am.
The gate on the south side seems to have de-electrified itself overnight. With the help of a handful of others, you are able to lift the gate and free yourself into the hallway.
Amelia recognizes where you are and excitedly leads you to the right, citing that it was the way to the gift shop, the entrance being nearby.
Do you...
Option One
Follow her to the gift shop.
Option Two
Head the other way, she's already caused enough trouble.
Option Three
Go back for second helpings of mystery meat.
kuropeco
Kolina
Sweenys_Revenge
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 11:09 am
Ildri Lacole - Head the other way, she's already caused enough trouble.
Waking up to that ‘pleasant’ voice was such a treat. Ildri groaned and rubbed at her eyes before slowly clamoring to her feet. People were getting themselves stirred. Some looked like they hadn’t slept at all. Ildri didn’t have the best night sleep but it could have been worse.
Once again the child was back to trying to lead people places and Ildri found herself moving in the opposite direction than the brat was suggesting. She had enough of the annoying one trying to lead them places that obviously weren’t working.
WC: 91 RWC: 842
]
Kolina
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 11:18 am
Tom Wolf: Option 1
Tom woke up the next morning feeling very groggy and wishing that he had had a pillow or something at least to sleep on. The bench had not been very comfortable. But the worst part was getting his ears blasted out by the sudden announcement, making him wish he had earplugs in also.
However, he got up and stretched a bit along with all of the others, before he watched most of them heading to the South gate. Well, he might as well join them. It seemed that Amelia recognized this next area though as she excitedly pointed out the gift shop. That was near the hospital entrance, right? Might as well follow her then.
Flo didn’t know when she’d fallen asleep, but somehow she found herself sprawled across the table top, her glasses pressing painfully into her face. A large yawn cracked her jaws and she squinted as the others began making their way out.
This whole thing was like a horror movie, and she didn’t like it. The young girl had never been a fan of horror… and she was not pleased to be living it now.
The gift shop seemed the most likely choice. After wall, Amelia probably knew the way the best of them all.
The young woman woke feeling sore, exhausted and hungry… an all too familiar feeling. At least nothing had tried to jump them over night… and she had to wonder again what the Negaverse was waiting for. What did they gain by making them all run around like rats in a maze?
She grimaced at the chipper greeting the received before she climbed to her feet, stretching the kinks out from sleeping curled up against the wall. Joining the others, she helped get the gate open and followed them out into the hall, glancing one way and then the other as options were discussed.
Amelia wanted to go to the gift shop, and Orah was inclined to follow. She was young, but she knew this place the best of all of them… and there was no way she was abandoning a child to the monsters that lurked in here.
Well, at least the kid was using her words now. It didn't mean that Rhona trusted her any more than she did before. This was a negaverse trap. Rhona had to assume that if she didn't know who was around her, they were negaverse. So she kept to herself and silent. Stay below the radar. Don't make waves.
Whent he kid began to toddles towards the gift shop, Rhona followed, careful to keep her distance. But more than anything, she wanted to keep this kid -- whatever or whatever she was -- in her sights. Keep your enemies close, after all, right?
There was nothing more they could really do for the night, so Michael settled down as best he could with his arm around Caspian, watching as Peter pulled another kid with him towards where they rested against the wall. At least he knew where his brother was now.
“I’ll be fine,” he promised, lifting up his other hand to place his palm over Caspian’s face, tilting his head back so he could rest it against Michael’s shoulder. “Try to sleep, please,” he asked, but Caspian already knew the answer to the question he asked. There was no way Michael was going to go to sleep when there were potential Negaverse officers around to steal their starseeds.
The morning came after several grueling hours of staying awake and hoping that the others were at least dozing. The noises in the hospital didn’t help, nor did the sound of other people around them, because like hell Michael trusted anyone other than himself to keep his family and friends safe.
The sound of Obsidian’s announcement had Michael scowling up at the speakers, dark(er) circles under his eyes from the lack of sleep.
“Grab whatever you can. Be careful,” he told Caspian as he helped him up from where he was sitting against him, although that was intended for Peter and Peter’s friend Benji, too. Whom he had eyed curiously but this was not the time nor place to ask questions. Not when they were all tense and on edge.
“Let’s follow her,” he suggested to Caspian, giving his fiance a quick kiss as he stood up, not wanting to let Caspian get too worked up over things that they should be able to handle. He was an eternal senshi, and Michael as a knight, after all.
kuropeco
Guine
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 11:51 am
Benji Rhodes Option one: Following Amelia - Poor baby doesn't need to go alone!
After last night's panic added on top of the fact that that blood drive the day before left him wiped out, as soon as Benji calmed down enough, his eyes grew immensely heavy.
Somehow between everything else that had happened, Peter had introduced him to his older brother, Michael and his fiance, Caspian, and to his own surprise Benji didn't make a complete a** out of himself in doing so.
Or maybe he did, he wasn't sure.
But the four of them remained close in the cafeteria, and it brought just enough comfort to Benji that he allowed himself to relax. And thank god, because he knew he wouldn't be able to keep going if there wasn't some sort of rest involved. It seemed like the brother's were quick to have everything sorted out, with Michael looking out over the three others, and Peter on the outside of their little group, squishing close to Benji and holding him tight. Even with all the chaos and crap going down, he felt safe. Safe enough to sleep. After lacing his fingers together with Peter's, telling himself that it was for Peter's sake -even though he knew damned well that wasn't the case - he was out like a light.
It wasn't until the loud voice came over the speaker that Benji stirred again, pulling himself away from Peter with a grown and a quick rub to his eye. <******** b*****d..." He muttered, rising to his feet after giving Peter a slight shake, just in case he was still sleeping.
It didn't take long at all for him to see the others get the gate open, and little Amelia darting away to the right where the giftshop was supposed to be, and he immediately grew worried.
"Come on, guys, let's go! We can't just leave Amelia by herself... She's just a kid!"
He’d talked to Benji about this, and he knew Benji knew this didn’t mean what he wanted it to mean, that he was doing this because they were friends and Peter did care about him, and that any bit of comfort would help when everything was going to s**t.
Besides, laying on the floor was cold, and another body close to him was warm, so he didn’t mind as much as people around him might expect him to mind. Benji was a closer friend to him than he’d ever had before. Somehow. Because he could still remember how roughly they’d started when they first met.
He didn’t sit up immediately when he heard the loud speaker, watching instead as Michael, who was obviously still awake from the day before, glared up at the ceiling. Peter rolled over onto his back to try and focus, although he didn’t mind so much when Benji gave his shoulder a shake. He was just trying to think.
If there were youma there. If that was what these beasties were, then they should be able to arm themselves rather efficiently.
“Stay back from the youma, if possible. I can see if I recognize any of the types. They’ve got some weaknesses I’ve observed. Don’t know how helpful they’ll be, but.”
He finally pushed himself up and followed Benji and the others towards the gift shop, his broken IV pole in hand.
Caspian wished he had had a better night's sleep. Instead, he had spent the better part of the time dozing in fits and spells, only managing to get snatches of actual sleep here and there. He was vaguely and blearily aware of Michael's continued warm, reassuring presence, the tight grip of his arms around his waist, the gentle words whispered in his ear every time he woke in disorientation.
He was also aware of Peter beside them, thankfully safe, confusingly cuddled up together with another boy, whom Caspian, for once, did not make any snarky comments towards or about. He was too tired to tease Peter for anything, and too on edge to make proper jokes about protection and caution when morning came, Caspian climbing to his feet, wincing a little at the movement.
"Ugh. That was horrible," he muttered, picking up the stupid bedpan again and wincing a little. He felt stiff and weary, Caspian reaching for Michael's hand again, fingers lacing together automatically as Michael gestured towards the girl.
"Onward, onward," said Caspian sardonically. "Let's go. Michael, check, Peter, check, Peter's little friend, also check."
Basil had spent most of the night feeling sick and displeased and cold. The cafeteria wasn't exactly the most comfortable of places to have to sleep, and he wasn't even really sleeping, instead dozing on and off underneath one of the cafeteria tables in an attempt to sort of guard himself from whatever was out there.
It did not go well. He was now bleary eyed and tousle haired and more than a little hoping that they would get to go home soon. Basil crawled out from underneath the table to the sound of the general's voice over the loudspeakers again, unpleasant and unwanted.
He let out a sigh, then gathered up some more of the food, though he didn't eat it. Instead, Basil just stared at it with a dismal expression on his face, wondering if he actually dared to put more of it into his mouth or whether he should just...walk away now.
It shouldn't have been a hard decision. Basil rubbed at his eyes sleepily, nudging his glasses, his stomach growling unpleasantly.
