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

[hesmypuddin]

[Despite the cloying and ever growing sense of unease and paranoia, Harley is in the thick of it and rather enjoying herself. Though, to be perfectly honest, her eyes widen just a touch at that fire spell currently moving her way.

Swearing none to softly, Harley does what any normal psychotic clown would do: she races at the fire spell and the creature firing it. With a proper running start, the Cupid of Crime springs forward, using the mallet as a sort of pole vault to launch over the attack.]

Ooh, things are gettin' pretty hot now, huh? [She lands at a run and charges the Shadow, grin never slipping.]

[miseris_socios]

[Ken watches Harley leap up, and he rushes in to charge the Shadow from the side while it's distracted.]

[It's time for an All-Out Attack!

> Yes
No]

[soloactor]

[> Yes

He's been waiting for this.]

[hesmypuddin]

[A grin curls her lips as the other two fall into place on opposite sides of the Golden Shadow, surrounding it.

> Yes]

[worldkeys]

[ The Golden Shadow is surrounded by the assault! It isn't immune to any of their weapons, and it falls to their extreme ganging-up easily enough, poofing into a cloud of hazy darkness with an audible gurgling noise.

It leaves behind a Small Key, and a Piece of Paper. This probably goes to the cabinet in the Infirmary, but the paper... probably not. The inscription on it reads: "The end was always going to happen. The time we have left... what's it even worth? He forecasted it, y'know. Doom is kind of his thing. Hurry up and give this to that moron that drinks too much milk." Much like the last slip of odd paper they encountered, it cannot be torn or destroyed, and will respawn here if lost.

... Unfortunately, since the group has been chasing this thing for a little while... they will begin to hear the faint sound of incredibly loud chains in the distance, as though someone is shaking a massive pair of shackles. ]

[soloactor]

[Something about the sound of metal scraping against itself is... inherently terrifying. At least to Lalli it is. He goes to pick up the key and paper, but when the sound rings out--]

Nrrr... something's coming. We should move.

[miseris_socios]

[Ken is about to ask Lalli for them, but the sound of the chains makes his blood run cold. His eyes widen, and he tenses up.]

Everyone run! Back to the Infirmary right now, or we're all going to die!

[Or at least get knocked out... but he knows the sound of the Reaper when he hears it. He makes sure the others are running, and then starts booking it back to the stairs.]

[soloactor]

[Don't need to tell him twice. Lalli pockets both of the objects for safekeeping and sprints after Ken. It doesn't take long to pass him, actually, considering Lalli's speed and Ken's tiny child legs.]

[hesmypuddin]

What, that's it? That's all ya got?! [Harley grins, tossing her bangs back as she rests the head of her mallet against the ground, holding it rather like a cane. However, there's a rattling off in the distance and she looks off toward it.]

Huh?

[She looks over as her gloating session is cut short, eyes falling on Lalli and then over to Ken as he pales and shouts to run. She would ask what was up, but Ken knew his own Heart and knew what he'd fought both in the Tower and Tartarus. She hefts her mallet and is quick to follow Lalli and Ken, pacing Ken to make certain he doesn't fall behind. She'll grab him bodily if he can't keep up, because... Damnit, she likes kids and she's fond of Ken.]

[worldkeys]

[ After a moment, it becomes obvious what the noise is: a looming figure seems to be floating along, rattling its chains after the group. Notably different from what Ken remembers, however, is that instead of wielding the usual guns, one of them has been replaced by a large syringe. There is also a large red collar around its neck. It makes no noise whatsoever, sans the intense rattling of its chains.

It will fire its gun at all of them, attempting to hit their feet. ]

[miseris_socios]

Oh come on! I don't even have my Persona right now!

[And is that - great, more evidence that the two are being merged in here. It's even got a retrieval unit collar. But Ken's moving as fast as he can, which is surprisingly fast for a kid with tiny legs. He's definitely in the rear, but he's gotten shot at by the Reaper enough to know what to do. He starts zigzagging to keep from getting hit, and once they get closer to the stairs he takes one of his spears, plants the butt into the ground, and uses it to vault forward.]

Move, move, move!

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley yelps as the first of the bullets ricochet at her heels, sparing a glance over her shoulder. She pales, eyes widening at the sight behind them and closing fast.]

What the hell is that?! [She's not breaking stride, however, and just as she worries Ken might be slipping behind, he vaults past her and hits the stairs. She nearly stumbles, but right herself as the next volley hits just behind her. She hits the stairs at a run, taking them several at a time.]

[soloactor]

[Yeah, Lalli could stop to gun it down, but that seems like an exercise in futility at this point. So he just fucking bolts, leaping onto the stairs and totally climbing them on all fours.]

[worldkeys]

[ The Reaper will not follow them up the stairs, stopping short as it watches them scramble away. Instead, once they reach the threshold of the Infirmary, it seems to realize something and turn around, floating backwards.

It will continue to turn back, searching the floors below for any stragglers that might have been left behind in Tartarus, on this floor, or the floors below it.

The Infirmary is as it was before, and progressing any further is still blocked off. This is still the top floor, for the moment. ]

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley is panting as she skids into the infirmary, bent over herself as she gasps to suck in a proper breath. It's not that she's out of shape, but that that had been scary as fuck. She listens as the Reaper seems to turn and calmly meander off, his chains softly rattling, unlike the murderous hulking figure it was just a few moments ago.]

What the fuck?? [Harley's wide, questioning eyes turn to fall on Ken.] Why'd'e stop? *pant* Not that I'm complainin', mind... But, seriously...

[miseris_socios]

[Ken sits down on a bed and lets himself breathe, doing his best not to get shaky. He has to stay in control, or the Reaper is going to be the least of his problems.]

That was the Reaper. He always showed up when we spent too long on a floor of Tartarus. I don't know why he won't go up the stairs. The collar... it's like the collars we all wore in the Tower, except only the retrieval units had red. And he's supposed to have two guns, not a gun and a syringe.

[He looks up at Lalli.]

Can I have the key and the paper? We need to unlock that case, I think.

[not_that_sasuke]

[Hello, nice to see you're back? Judging from where he stands, Sasuke had been looking over the different color fluids.]

--You guys ran into something down there?

[Is what he's getting from this sudden conversation and the fact that they look pretty spooked. The Reaper... And two guns? That's not a particularly comforting image.]

[soloactor]

...Something bad.

[Unlike Ken, Lalli has no need to look like he's in control. He just kind of leans against a wall and slides his back down until he's in a seated position, knees curled up in front of him. He looks like he's definitely going to get comfortable there.]

[But, when requested, he hands the spoils over to Ken.]

[miseris_socios]

... Thanks. We ran into the Reaper. I don't know what it is, other than a very powerful Shadow that will kill you if you don't run. It's possible to beat it, but it always comes back, and I doubt we stand a chance without Persona or something else powerful. And even if I had mine, I doubt Dike could take it out.

[He looks the paper over. ... And then lets out a brief laugh, despite everything.]

... Thanks, Jin.

[He gets up and goes over to the case, aiming to unlock it.]

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley laughs, but it's not a funny laugh, more like an abrupt expelling of air.]

Oh, he might come back? Well, that sure ain't worrisome at all... [She hefts her mallet, moving in to look over Ken'd shoulder as he reads, wondering if the paper is another piece of his persona. She steps over to follow when he moves to the locked case, but don't mind her if she keeps an eye on the door to the infirmary, her paranoia kicking in full blast again.]

Ya don't suppose Liao an' Hinata are down there somewhere, do ya?

[not_that_sasuke]

Should we... get them?

[If there's a monster like that running around. He'll obligingly move away so that Harley can get at the locked case while he's at it.]

[worldkeys]

[ If they happen to use the Small Key on the Locked Cabinet, it will work. The key will open another cabinet higher up, filled with various other contains of differing colors, as well.

If handed to Ken, the paper will also prove to be Another Piece of His Evoker, turning into yet another Tarot Card. The person's face on it is, again, blotted out with blood, but a green coat can be made out on it, and the words "THE HERMIT."

The pressure in the atmosphere of the Infirmary will seem to increase, particularly around their necks. If they go downstairs at any point, it will dwindle somewhat. ]

[soloactor]

[Lalli makes a quiet, uncomfortable noise in the back of his throat when the pressure increases. Hasn't there been talk about "collars"...? Oh hell no, kitty is not about that life.]

...Maybe.

[He's responding to Sasuke, which can be inferred only from the fact that he's looking at the door back to the lower areas.]

If it's not too late.

[Lalli actually... sounds kind of conflicted about this. 'Concern for others' is a new feeling and makes him feel sick to his stomach.]

[miseris_socios]

... Figures it'd be him.

[He puts it in his pocket, grabs a chair to stand on, and unlocks the higher cabinet as well.

[The pressure annoys him, but he's used to it, and he looks back at the others. Dammit... fine. He'll be the leader again.]

We... we should. Dammit... Lalli and Sasuke, you should stay here. Make sure nothing else comes up here, figure out the puzzle if you can find it. Harley, you and I should head downstairs and find the other two.

[He's not leaving Harley and Lalli in the room together alone, and Sasuke needs someone around to keep him from wandering off, probably. He hops down off the chair and looks around at the group.]

Unless someone's got a better plan. I don't want anyone wandering off alone - it's too dangerous and too easy to get overconfident in either Tower.

[not_that_sasuke]

[...What a great vote of confidence. But hey, staying here to solve puzzles? He's okay with that.]

Works for me.

[He glances at Lalli for confirmation.]