i will burn my dread

[miseris_socios]

Who: Everyone!
What: Welcome to the Dark Hour!
Where: In the Strega warehouse.
Warnings: Possible blood and gore, Persona 3/general SMT-level disturbing topics, possible violence (knowing this group). Will edit if needed.


[When he first wakes up, Ken finds himself lying on a bed. That in itself isn't so unfamiliar, but this one has dents where it should, the shape of a small body pressed into it over weeks and months, and the sheets are soft and scratchy in just the right places and -]

[Oh no. He sits up and pulls himself out of bed, reaching almost automatically for Koromaru but... he's not there. Of course not. He'd been expecting the Tower, but this is worse, because they're not here because this is his Heart, not theirs, and because -]

[No. He has to think of what to do. He grabs the dangpa that Shinjiro made him and the copy of Gae Buidhe that Diarmuid gave him, strapping them onto his back. He needs to stay defended in this place, no matter what - the last Heart taught him that much.]

[The familiar pressure of the Dark Hour doesn't bother him, but it's worrying. It should be gone now. They won. It's over. Even in his Heart, it shouldn't be around. But it is, and there's a brief flare of panic before -]

[No. He needs to get going. The puzzles aren't going to find themselves.]

Comments

[miseris_socios]

[Dining Area]

[He should have expected this. He runs the tap and - nope. Blood. It's definitely the Dark Hour, though his TV is working. It must have something to do with Hearts being weird. He frowns, turns the tap off, and opens the fridge.]

[Oh. It's just Suppressants. At least Koromaru's food is here, if he exists in this place. He could have sworn he heard him somewhere... but no. Hopefully they won't get desperate, because dog food is edible. He's learned that before.]

[Electronics Room]

[Jin's room, obviously. The computers are locked, and he's not sure what the passwords are. It's not like Jin kept stuff around on sticky notes or something. The explosives around make him nervous, but they always did. Jin knew what he was doing, though. Usually.]

[The Revenge Request board makes him a little worried, though. Not that he should care what people thought of how they got most of their money, but... well. It's not something other people really would understand. He stands there for a bit, looking at the faces of the people they killed. ... It wasn't right. Was it the only way? He's not sure anymore.]

[Art Room]

[Chidori would have hated random people stomping around the warehouse. He doesn't like it either, but at least in her room he can have a moment of peace. The mannequins aren't in the best shape, but they always worked. He walks over to one of them, carefully holding the sleeve of a half-finished dress. ... Would she ever get a chance to finish all of these? It hurts to think of the time that they might not have, even as they swore to do what they could with the time they had left.]

Art Room

[800isenough]

[Easels, charcoal pencils, brushes and paper. This room must belong to an artist. Liao steps inside and gives Ken a nod in greeting.]

Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?

All Over

[worldkeys]

[ Ken will note the feeling and sound of being watched.

He will also note that as he walks and moves about, it sounds as though a dog is following him, the clacking of nails on varying floor materials close behind him. When he stops, the sound will stop with him. He will never see or feel anything to indicate the presence of a dog, but he will also occasionally hear sounds of breathing.

At times, he will feel as though there is a heavy weight around his neck, and that the room is colder than it should be, but it will eventually ease off with movement. ]

[800isenough]

[The moment his eyes snap open Liao is out of the coffin without a second glance at anything. He's sworn on his honor to Rabbit, and he treasures his honor more than anything. He will not fail.]

Entrance Hall
[Poking around the crates, Liao wonders at all these items and knickknacks and gadgets. Cautious at sticking his hand out at anything he doesn't understand though, he leaves them untouched, only investigating the boxes in hopes of stumbling upon a puzzle.]

Second floor Bathroom
[There wasn't any indoor plumping in 2nd century China, which is why he doesn't quite understand the function of this room. Those little knob things look like they can be turned though, and he places a hand on one of them tentatively.]

Open-air art area
[Paintings! Yes!! And Liao's somewhat relieved to see them framed up on the wall. Not because he has a secret artistic soul inside him somewhere, but because it's finally something that's familiar to him. Sure the art-style's really different from the traditional Chinese paintings, but anyone can recognize paint slapped on paper. He'll just take a quick look around the room, see what he can find.]

Bathroom

[worldkeys]

[ When Liao turns the handles on the tap, instead of water, blood will begin pouring out. It is clear water is meant to pour out of here, as this is a restroom, but... it is, instead, blood. Very fresh blood, it seems, as it floors rather freely.

It will continue to flow until he turns the handle back to the off position. ]

[hesmypuddin]

[ Entrance Area ]

[Harley had woken once more with a start, sucking in a quick breath as her eyes darted around. It's with a grim sort of realization (lord knows how many times her Puddin' had shoved her into a coffin or tied burying her alive over the years, the big kidder) that she notes what it is she's laying in and she makes quick work to pull herself out again. Once out of the oversized coffin, Harley's gaze moves around the warehouse. She makes rather quick work of trying the windows and front door, but it seems they are securely locked; at least for now. She moves to the crates, pulling the tarps off one at a time.]

Just like Christmas! Come ta mama!

[While her teammates may consider it with some degree of horror, Harley feels extra uneasy and is making certain to look out for number one: herself. A few minutes and a handy crowbar later, Harley has the crates open and is loading up with several favorites; don't think you'll see everything. A few knives get stowed away within her bodysuit (how???) and she's managed to find another mallet. However, she's also got a loaded .45 revolver in a holster at her thigh, the weapon looking almost too big for her petite form.]

Eat yer heart out, Lara Croft... [She smirks and begins digging through one of the explosive crates, grabbing and tossing things into a pile nearby.]

[ Second Floor Bathroom ]

[Having loaded herself down with an assortment of weapons that make her feel (slightly) less uneasy, Harley continues moving through the warehouse. She still wasn't sure what the Cat had meant about competing to get out, but she wasn't slowing down to mull over it.

If it was a competition, Harley was aiming to win.

Though, under the unease was a niggling doubt that none of this even mattered. What was there to go back to, anyway? Mistah J needed her, right? Bud and Lou? Even Pammy had to be missing her by now... She passes the dining area and stops short of the bathroom with a soft inhale, falling silent at the sound of claws on floor.]

H'lo? [It had sounded like a dog, but she doesn't hear it again. With a shiver moving down her spine, she shrugs it off and steps into the bathroom to look around.]

[ Child's Bedroom ]
[Drawn by the sound of the television, Harley makes her way into the child's bedroom in the loft. She creeps in, mallet in one hand and her eyes widen as she sees the fire escape in the other end of the room. She curses when she finds it locked, nearly stumbling as she hears the foot steps again.]

Who's there?! I heard ya, so don't try no funny business, huh???

[Not knowing if she actually heard anything besides the television, she begins digging around the bedroom for clues.]

Child's Bedroom

[worldkeys]

[ If Harley looks under the bed, she will find a sheet of paper. It reads as follows:

"Bring me to the one who understands the tale of starcrossed lovers, family tragedy, and death. This is his room, not yours."

In anyone's hands but Ken's, it is a simple sheet of paper. It cannot be burned, torn, ripped up, or thrown away. If attempted, it will go back under the bed. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Electronics Room]

[Perhaps surprisingly, Sasuke is actually up and about again. Especially odd since he never showed up for the pizza party, but... At least he seems to be in one piece?

Currently, he's looking over those photographs with the red Xs, though he'll eventually make his way to the back of the room and the locked door to see if he can't find the way to get it open.]

[Ground Floor]

[The most obvious place to look, right? He's most interested in what appears to be the warehouse exit, since doors seem to be good places to start when it comes to finding - and subsequently solving - puzzles around these places.

He has to make himself useful here, after all...]

[Electronic Room]

[miseris_socios]

[Oh... hey there. Ken walks up near Sasuke, watching him look at the photographs. Hm. Well. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised that people find it odd.]

[worldkeys]

[ Sasuke will not find anything of particular use around the doors, or in the electronics room.

However, he will notice that whenever he approaches a door, he feels an incredible sense of unease. Additionally, the entire time he is here, it will feel as though there is a very oppressive pair of hands around his neck, and a pair of handcuffs around his wrists, even if they are not present. ]

[hopedout]

[ There's an ominous feeling about this place and Hinata himself can sense it already. It's the feeling of dread that runs down his spine and feels heavy, but he decides to ignore it for the time being. This is fine. At the very least, he can deal with this kind of thing for long periods of time.

The first place he visits is the dining area, and when he find that there's no food he can't help but worry a little. This reminds him too hard of the Funhouse and he wonders if there isn't going to be anything to eat while they're there. Which is is kind of unsettling because he's... actually starved himself to near death for several days, and that isn't exactly a fun experience. That's fun.

Later, he decides to visit the electronics room and out of curiosity decides to go ahead and check the computers to see the password input screen. He isn't going to type anything just yet, he just wants to see how many characters he can put in and if there is a password hint before attempting some investigation. Of course he could always utilize Kamukura's talent as a hacker, but-- he isn't sure if he should risk that chance. ]

[worldkeys]

[ Exactly 20 characters can be entered on the computers in the electronics room, but there is no provided hint set. Everything is in Japanese. A scrap of paper can be found taped to the back of one of the monitors, which reads as follows:

"Hey, stop snooping in my shit! I'm not letting you borrow my laptop just to watch videos about cats or some dumb shit again."

... Seems whomever owned these was well-aware people liked to touch their stuff.

Hinata will also note a general sense of unease the longer he is here, as though being in this room makes him feel as if there is no hope; that he will inevitably die. That he does not feel well. In general, the hair on the back of his neck will also be standing on-end the entire time he is in the warehouse. ]

INFIRMARY

[worldkeys]

[ Now that Tartarus has been revealed, once the group makes their way to the fifth floor, they will be greeted not with more Shadows, but the familiar smell of most hospitals.

When they enter the overly-sterilized Infirmary, they will note it is devoid of any Shadows (thankfully), and nothing followed them up here. There is plenty of medicine if they need to rest, and several large beds, though it's obvious these aren't for sleeping on unless you're sick or injured.

The group will feel an odd sense of paranoia on this floor, as though they are being watched. They will also feel like they need to do something here, but are not entirely sure what it is, as though it slipped their minds. ]

[miseris_socios]

[The sight of Tartarus had been a bit unexpected, but Ken is familiar with it, at least. Fortunately Cowardly Mayas aren't at all a problem, and ht barely has to kick one to get it to either flee or die. He's armed, of course, his spears strapped to his back as usual. He's not afraid of the Shadows, though he's doing his best to keep everyone together. If someone were to fall behind...]

[... It's not a pleasant thought. Finally, as they make their way to the fifth floor, Ken freezes as he smells that sharp odor. An infirmary? In Tartarus? There shouldn't be one, except...]

They're merging. Tartarus and the Tower...

[He tries not to let how sick it makes him feel show, and steps onto the floor. If this is the infirmary from the Tower...]

There should be vials of fluid in different colors. Yellow is... probably the right color to look for here.

[That was his collar color, after all.]

On the Third Floor, locked initially to Cheshire Cat

[800isenough]

[Sometime while the group was heading up, a strong chill down the back of his spine, sending all the hairs on the back of his neck standing up on their ends. That strong sense of unease hinted that a malicious, blood-thirsty person was stalking them. And the last time he felt such a presence told him who was following them.

Although they'd gone up to the Infirmary that feeling never quite left him. So while the three were looking for a key in the Infirmary, he'd went back downstairs. Down all the way to the third floor to look for a certain Cat.]

[patchworkcat]

[ And the Cat arrives, almost as if on cue. He's just there, sticking out like a sore thumb, but now with two mismatched eyes instead of just one. ]

Yo! Lookin' for me?

ART GALLERY

[worldkeys]

[ A lone vending machine sits at the beginning of this floor after the arduous treck through the three floors of Arqa, infested by Shadows. It has various settings for foods and drinks that, frankly, a vending machine has no business having on it.

The Art Gallery itself seems fairly normal at first glance, but continue onward through it (you have no choice, really), and... well. You might regret looking too closely. The further in one goes, the creepier it gets. Eventually, the paintings will ooze blood, show realistic gore, hideous nightmare-like landscapes, and so forth. Ken, especially, will not like what he sees here.

And... did one of those paintings just... speak? ... No, it was your imagination. But it sounded an awful lot like, "one of one and three inside".

The longer one stays in this floor, the more one begins to suspect they hear voices of people they knew speaking to them, distantly. ]

[hopedout]

[ Hinata 'master of vending machines' decides to go and get something. Maybe he'll be lucky and get two somethings from it instead of the usual one that drops? (At least it isn't the Monomono Machine, Hinata, you'll be there for days...)

Regardless of that, he can't help but look at the paintings but... not feel much of anything towards them. Maybe it's because he's getting drained, or perhaps something else entirely, but he does stop at the paining that may or may not have talked. ]

Who's there?

[800isenough]

One of one and three inside... [The phrase is muttered under his breath as he walks through the gallery. The disturbing images causes a grimace or two, but otherwise he's not too perturbed; no image can ever compare to the reality of war.

He's more concerned about the next puzzle. A whisper from behind him caused him to whip around, one hand gripping the handle of the hand-axe he'd picked up from the lower levels. But there's no one there and he's only given that cryptic clue. And frankly speaking it's frustrating, because they've really been in this world for ages (the concept of time in the Hearts was strange because there was no day or night, and hunger came and went at odd hours, but it certainly feels very long). Having to deal with cryptic puzzles and aimless wandering doesn't sit well for a man of action, but he knows he can't get impatient. Still, hopefully if he explores quick enough he'll find the next puzzle soon.]

Let's look at this vending machine!

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley wastes no time at all hustling out of the infirmary, and does her share on the venture through Arqa and up the three additional levels until they reach the art gallery. Harley's sweating and a bit winded as they enter the room, but if not for the Cat having been stolen her happiness, she'd actually be looking to have a good time.

She looks around the room, eyes widening a touch and mallet lifted to rest on her shoulder as moves to look around. She brightens a bit, spying the vending machine, and makes her way over to it before moving further into the gallery.]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Lovely.

Sasuke wanders into the art gallery, eyes only glancing over the images for anything that stands out aside from the detailed gore before moving on. The voices are easy enough to ignore - for now, at least.

There's got to be an exit somewhere in here... right?]

[miseris_socios]

[Ken sighs and grabs some water and a nutrition bar. He knows what's in them, but he doesn't have much of a choice at this point. Wandering through the paintings, he tries to ignore the voices, but eventually he just sits down, staring at a gore-filled painting until it doesn't even seem to register as a picture anymore.]

[He knows the voices aren't real. He knows that he has to keep going. But he misses some of those people. It can't be so bad that he can't hear some old friends, right?]

FLOOR THIRTEEN

[worldkeys]

[ The golden hue of the room's walls, ceiling, and floor is in stark contrast to its constantly-changing "decor": bloody handprints slamming themselves onto the walls and ceiling as a constant shriek echoes throughout the room.

But whose handprints and screaming is it? No one is visible. The voice may sound like someone you know who died, or otherwise, an indistinct female voice. Either way, it may be best not to... linger.

One of the hands constantly slamming into the walls appears to have a bloody piece of paper in it. However, someone would have to catch it before it changes to another side of the room. ]

[800isenough]

[Out of one nightmare and into another. Liao is all but too happy to leave this awful place. The screams are all too familiar, and although he consistently reminds himself that none of this is real, just a devious, devillish trick, even someone as courageous as him is hardpressed to ignore what he's witnessing and hearing.

But it's in times of adversity that his bravery and determination shine through. His resolution has yet to be cracked, and he refuses to let this place get to him. That's why he's keeping eyes and ears alert for any other clues and hints. They need out of this Heart, and out fast. And then...out of the corner of his eye he sees a shred of paper caught in a hand. Immediately his focus snaps to the hand, watching print after print stamped onto the walls and floor. He inches slowly towards one wall, just waiting for the right moment to pounce forward and grab the paper the moment the the hand chooses to slam on the wall closest to him.]

FLOOR FIFTEEN (HOLDING CELLS)

[worldkeys]

[ The jail floor is filled with tables, an air of dread, and a drain in each cell for blood, as though someone has recently held people within them. Each cell contains a small table with various things scattered on it that may prove interesting if examined; there are quite a lot of cells, but they all have sequential numbers up to thirteen.

One of the cells is closed and will have to be manually opened, but it appears something on a gurney is inside of it. It is cell number 8. Being in this room will constantly increase how uncomfortable everyone is and make them feel as though they are awaiting someone to come back and do them physical harm the longer they remain in it.

There is a blockade stopping their progress, as well. ]

[hopedout]

[ Let's go ahead and search through all of these cells in order first. Hinata will start by looking through cell #1. Any clues here? ]