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 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:26 pm
Cass had given up on the Jenga-from-hell for a while, if only to give the back of her neck a break from being sniped while playing. She really was doing bad at it, so she figured a nice romp through the dark tunnel again was in order. It had taken a few attempts, but... hey, she'd done it once, she could do it again, right?
She hoped so.
The Mist hunter sat in the observation area as another player went through it, waiting for them to finish while standing by the portal, sighing, but summoning Nicodemus even before it was time to enter. She knew well enough that she had to go in swinging and try to not get distracted. Nicodemus would only do so much for her at this point.
"Soon?" she asked the woman who was on observation. She didn't look back at her. "Yes." the woman replied, so Cass sighed and looked back to the portal and waited.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:39 pm
Jerry approached the Sun Hunter run with a look of tightly bottled terror and determination.
Draw in a deep breath.
Face your fears.
It was just a... a training exercise.
What didn't kill him would make him stronger.
Something like that.
He could do this.
Tightly gripping the whistle at his neck, he marched towards the opening doorway only to about face again and march away again.
What if it did kill him? What if-
My god you are tedious, Roar sighed in the back of his head. How old are you, six?
"Sh-shut up!" He hissed, letting go of the whistle irritably.
You're acting like this is some big deal. You were slapped into a pink dress and harassed by a giant gorilla and you seemed un-phased by that. But a few minutes in a dark room you're wettin' your pants.
"I am NOT!" He snarled, completely oblivious that he *was not alone* in the waiting area.
The person ahead was almost done. It was almost free to go in. He could hear the screams and eruptions
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:47 pm
Cass leaned away from the older hunter at his sudden outburst with...with who? She didn't know what voice he had in his head, but his 'indoor' voice was really..louder than it should have been. Either way, she reached out and tapped the older man's shoulder gently. Tap, tap, tap.
"Are you alright? Jerry, isn't it?" she asked. She wasn't 100% sure on the name, but it sounded like the one he'd introduced himself with. It was either that or 'Jarod', but she was going to hope 'Jerry' was a suitable nickname either way. Was he nervous? That was possible. Not everybody was made out of bounce-back like she was.
None the less, she pulled the chain on her waist and it broke apart, reforming in her hands. "If you need to, I'll go next and let you think about it a while longer." she offered. "It isn't really as bad as it sounds if you keep on your toes." Hey, she'd gotten through it, it was fine, right?
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:03 pm
"Huh?" He glanced over his shoulder, flushing hotly before spotting the girl and immediately his composure changed. The nervousness was there, but a bright smile suddenly firmly planted itself on his face, "Oh! Ah! I d-didn't see you th- I was ah... ahahaha... um. Sorry. Still not entirely used to- I was speaking to Roar, ahaha. Yes! Jerry! I mean, I'm Jerry, ah, nice to meet you, Miss..?" He knew her name, he was sure of it, but the impending Shadows he was about to face had stripped his brain of must everything useful. Like the language center of his brain. He remembered she was close to that fellow Marcus and- "Cassy was it?" His face lit up in a desperate attempt to save what remained of his cool.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:16 pm
Cass flashed back a grin just as bright. "Ah! That makes enough sense." She tapped her left temple, as though that was exactly where Nicodemus lived in her head. To be honest, it was sort of where it 'felt' like he was. The voice always seemed to loom there and that was where her head would start hurting first when the Tonberry got upset with her.
Ah well.
"I'll take it! Cassy is definitely something I've been called. I'm Cassandra." she introduced properly, offering him a hand to shake. "But as I was saying, if you'd like, I'll do the run first if you need a break before you tackle it. It's um.." she laughed a bit, an awkwardly nervous laugh. "I imagine it'd be easier in a group than solo, to be honest."
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:21 pm
"A group? I thought you HAD to do it alone..." The look of relief that spilled off of the man was palpable. "If... if you would like company, I would be more than glad to er..." He seemed distracted as Roar hissed something very not flattering in the back of his head, but cleared his throat, "Join in," He finished lamely.
Would having company with him make it any better?
Maybe.
Or he would just look even more of an idiot.
But he could do this. Conquer your fear.
And if you say it enough, maybe you won't make a total a** of yourself in front of some kid.
Jerry tried to not let his smile falter.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:29 pm
"You can do all of the trials in a group competitively." Cass answered. "I imagine that complicates things in certain challenges like the Deathsweeper and the Life Hunter's trial..." she grumbled something underneath her breath and rubbed the back of her neck, it throbbing sorely at her.
She pulled her hand from her neck and instead lightly punched the man on the shoulder. "Feel free to join me, I hardly ever say no to company."
The other side of the portal grew quiet for a moment and Cass waited, looking to the Sun Hunter on duty to see what she would do. The woman didn't move, and soon the previous runner stepped out of the portal on the other side of the room, seeming very... well, they'd definitely gotten chewed on.
"Looks like we can go now though, if you still want to come with me." Cass said, looking back to Jerry.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:34 pm
No, Jerry thought, but his mouth gave a tight, "Sure!" his voice a bit higher than he had hoped it would be. His palms were sweating already.
Just chill, man. We've got this. And you've got me.
"I can do this," He whispered as he meekly followed after her.
What full grown man was afraid of the dark, anyway? It was time to grow up.
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demon_pachabel rolled 2 8-sided dice:
3, 5
Total: 8 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:43 pm
The other side of the portal was dark. Not just dark, but a slithering and living darkness that took over the walls. Cass had stopped to gawk the first time she'd seen it. This time, she simply got moving, Nicodemus balanced between her two hands.
"Keep on your feet, Jerry!" she said, beginning to hum from...whatever good mood this was putting her in, raising her gun and immediately shooting two of the shadows in the head as she walked, a sort of spring in her step. It was like she was leeching his positive energy in the dark place while he couldn't use it.
Positive energy thief!Status Wave: 1Attack Dmg: 2 Total Shadowlings taken out: 2 Recoveries left: 0
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Bilious rolled 2 8-sided dice:
1, 6
Total: 7 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:47 pm
Cass's hum seemed to prompt a hum from the Sun-trainee as well, his eyes wide, his body stiff as he stepped through the portal. Roar materialized in a burst of green light in his arms. It was just... shadows. Nothing more. Just the things he had been terrified of since he could remember. The things lurking in the edges of his room. Face your fear. Etcetera. Oh, Bother. He was this close to cursing when the first wave came, Cass ahead of him slicing through several with ease. Jerry could only leap back in sudden terror as several leaped down around him- his eyes clenched shut, he fired just as one tried to close in on him. He opened his eyes. He could do this. Just. Just stay calm! "This... th-this isn't as bad as I thought? Ahahaha..." They were only getting started. Status Wave: 1Attack Dmg:1 Total Shadowlings taken out:1 Recoveries left:1
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demon_pachabel rolled 2 8-sided dice:
5, 8
Total: 13 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:55 pm
"See? There you go! They're nothing!" Cass chimed brightly to the sun trainee, taking another step before using her body to pivot into a slice through a couple more of the shadows, her gun taking up the task of the others. They were relatively small fry afterall. Especially compared to the haunted house.
Don't jinx yourself, Cassandra.
<>
Not that Nicodemus was really her 'boss' at all.
"Chin up! You'll do fine." she encouraged, the humming resuming. It sounded like 'Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide' from Pinocchio.
Status Wave: 2Attack Dmg: 13 - 6 = 7 Total Shadowlings taken out: 9 Recoveries left: --
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Bilious rolled 2 8-sided dice:
6, 7
Total: 13 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:06 pm
Jerry knew that song. Trembling a little, he pressed forward as the darkness enveloped closer around them. A slow, steady whistle started to join in with Cass's humming, his eyes scowering through the darkness for any sign of movement- THERE! The next wave hit, black arms and black faces in the murky dark suddenly leaping around him, but he was ready this time. He kept his eyes open, breathing quickening as he swung Roar around and with an earsplitting blast, Roar's attack tore through the wall that had closed between them. "Ah... ahahaha... AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA..." HE COULD DO THIS. Spirits raised a bit, he jogged to catch up with her, his voice sounding more confident as he sang along to her hum, "When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong, Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle!" He was feeling better about this. He had Roar now, the weapon was right. And why be afraid of something if you could just... blow it away? "When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong, Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle!" Status Wave: 2Attack Dmg:7 Total Shadowlings taken out:9 Recoveries left:1
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demon_pachabel rolled 2 8-sided dice:
7, 1
Total: 8 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:13 pm
Heeeyy! He knew her song! Cass immediately had a +10 appreciation stat for Jerry for that one! And while she didn't move to start singing along as well, she did make sure to hum louder, just for her lovely accompaniment. They could write a whole musical about their song-and-shoot routine they had going on.
If there was a better name for what they were doing, Cass had yet to find out.
She just gave him a thumbs up and sliced through another pair of shadows, grinning the entire time, though she did cut her pace down a little bit, if only to keep them from wearing themselves out with singing and humming and slashing and shooting all the things. If only positivity was a weapon, that would have cleaned the whole hallway out.Status Wave: 3Attack Dmg: 2 Total Shadowlings taken out: 11 Recoveries left: -
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Bilious rolled 2 8-sided dice:
7, 4
Total: 11 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:18 pm
"Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow, And if your whistle's weak, yell, "Jiminy Cricket!" " His voice grew stronger, more confident as he powered forward, a somewhat manic look on his grinning face as he fired again and again. Even Roar was surprised by his change of heart, but he was not about to start complaining. Oooh, blessed Fear coursing through him, he was feeling fantastic, and he didn't see why Jerry shouldn't as well. Status Wave: 3Attack Dmg:5 Total Shadowlings taken out:14 Recoveries left:1
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demon_pachabel rolled 2 8-sided dice:
6, 4
Total: 10 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:32 pm
It certainly was lifting the mood! Had she been expecting him to sing along in the first place? NOPE! But pleasant surprises were still pleasant things and she'd take them where she could get them. Even if it was singing songs from old Disney films while running through a dark tunnel of creatures that would eat her in a heartbeat.
Just to emphasize in a few points of his singing, she did pause to whistle before she continued humming the tune. Nicodemus was less thrilled by it in her head, but hey, if was getting her to do her job properly if nothing else. Although she wasn't doing as impressively as she had done her previous attempt.
Beggars couldn't be choosers, however, and Cass sliced through another group of shadows, practically skipping at this point.Status Wave: 4Attack Dmg: 4 Total Shadowlings taken out: 15 Recoveries left: --
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