15corpses | A Reckoning...

A Reckoning...

[You are dead.

Where you awaken is not of your cabin on the train but rather firm earth, the skies above you being nothing but an inky blackness as for as you can see. And yet throughout the darkness, you are surrounded by soft lighting and peculiar music playing all around you. When your senses become less muddled, you will notice that the music playing is upbeat and joyful almost. But let's face it, you are probably thinking this is some sort of creepy hell that you got yourself into after biting the bullet.

It all depends if you find circuses to be such a place because that is where you find yourself. The setting feels more antique than what you may assume a circus to look like, more Victorian themed than what one can be called. First the sound picks up and then you can smell something delectable in the air, catching popped corn and fried sweets and maybe something to drink? It's more than likely here.

Going down the main way, you can see some classic carnival games such as skee ball, ring toss, balloon popping if you are inclined to try and take your mind of the fact that you didn't have a choice in coming here. But despite the joyous air of the circus, there are not many people here that can help you out...or are there?

Lost souls just like yourself who met with the same horrible fate...perhaps an accord can be struck. After all, it looks like you will be here for awhile.]

((OOC: Map for reference.))

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If this is an afterlife, then not finding anyone there would only be a good thing, wouldn't it? [Okay, that was a bit blunt.] But maybe there will be some other clues hidden there. [...Better.]

...There have been different games, but they've all taken place in wildly different locations. Is there any sign that the masterminds are connected at all?

Me neither. Once was enough, thanks.

[ Yeah that manor was absolutely awful. Would not recommend that to anyone. ]

Mm... Yeah not finding anyone there would probably be a good thing considering the whole... afterlife thing. Clues would definitely be good, though!

[ O h. Now that IS a good question. She had to stop to think about it, letting off a soft hum in thought. ]

Not any that I can really think of. Then again, I wasn't around very long before I ended up here.

Edited 2019-08-04 06:25 (UTC)

I've got no idea... I was around for some time but I started losing it pretty fast. Bang didn't exactly help - I was stuck in bed for a bit.

[Proto sighs with disappointment.]

So much for that, then. I was the first victim... and unfortunately, I doubt I'll be the last.

What I do know is that the Conductor serves an Empress, and they seemed all too happy to blame us for their actions.

Ah... right.

[ It's been a while so her memory's not exactly the greatest when she thinks back to that. ]

Doesn't really sound like that great of an Empress if you ask me.

She sounds like an asshole. The Stewards served their 'big sis', but I don't think she had anything to do with an Empress.

[... Rowing is tiring, ugh.]

And we never had any indication of the Empress having siblings, either. She apparently had at least one daughter, but she didn't seem to be responsible for our plight in anyway.

...So yeah, the Empress is pretty awful, all in all.

[Row, row, row ro-bot...]

Haven't even met the lady and I don't like her. Hope everyone that's alive still on your guys' side manages to take her down or something.

[ With that said she is totally still excited to check things out on the island in the meantime... ]

[He's getting tired... rowing is hard. Looks like they're just about there, though.]

I'm sure they will... our group took down the stewards, so hopefully there'll be people who aren't idiots in this group, too.

I have confidence that they'll manage to stop her, or at least make her life hell. My group is pretty good at working together.

[Oh, they're here. Proto's expression turns carefully neutral as he tightens his grip on the oars.

Time to go home.]

That's great!! Let's just hope they can keep it together and do just that.

[ Well would you look at that! She turned her gaze up to the lab, but nor had she missed the look that had crossed Proto's face beforehand. So that's why she ended up hesitating before speaking up. ]

...Okay! Whenever you're ready, we can head in. No rush or anything, alright?

[Jun heads up to the edge and hops out onto sand, grabbing one of the ropes to pull the raft onto shore. Lead the way, Proto.]

[Proto just disembarks and offers Akko a hand to help her out if she needs it. No sense in dawdling now when he had been so adamant about getting out here to search as quickly as possible earlier.

Assuming no monsters leap out and attack them along the way, it's an uneventful stroll to the front door. Thomas Light had always been friendly and trusting to a fault, so security wouldn't be an issue.

The keypad at the entrance still looks the same. Proto hesitates only for a moment before punching in his old access codes. They should still work... right?]]

Edited 2019-08-11 02:49 (UTC)

[When Proto enters his access codes, the doors do indeed open for him. Upon first glance, everything seems to be the same as he remembered; just more clean.

But the group will be able to take note of any kind of noise that happens inside...no matter what kind it is, they all sync as one.]

...Heh. He really did keep them active...

[He looks oddly wistful for a moment before turning back toward Jun and Akko.]

Well... Follow me, then.

[Proto Man steps inside and takes a look around. The cleanliness doesn't surprise him; he's learned that Roll is nothing if not fastidious when it comes to keeping her domain neat and tidy.

The lab itself manages to combine cutting edge sci-fi technology with a warm, homey atmosphere. Where there aren't computer banks lining the walls, there are framed accolades, newspaper clippings, and family photos. There's an examination table in the middle of the main lab, but all the tools and scanners have been put away.]

Doctor Light?

...Mega Man? Roll?

[Oddly, Jun seems to shy away from the technology, but...]

It seems... nice in here...

Like... a home, really.

[ Thankful for the help getting out of the boat, she'd quietly followed the other two in and mostly quiet because of her actual awe of the place as they entered. Only remembering to nod when Proto turned to them and told them to follow him.

Her expression softened when noting the light, almost soothing atmosphere that this place had on the inside. Moreso than she'd expected it would be. ]

I agree! It's very welcoming and comfortable!

Jun, is something wrong?

[His odd aversion to the tech aside, something else feels... off, somehow. Proto can't put his finger on it just yet, but it's setting him on edge.]

Well, when you work from home and want to raise a family, it happens.

[...Is it just him, or have everyone's words taken on an unusually steady cadence? Their footsteps, too...]

... I didn't exactly have the happiest of families. And the first time I died, I was piloting a giant robot.

[Maybe he shouldn't have come. This isn't his area of science, anyway... but Proto Man seems okay...]

Do you think anything from here would be helpful to take back?

[ As soon as Jun was addressed, immediately Akko looked over to him with a bit of concern on her face. She'd also kinda noticed the odd way things seem to sound here but initially thought maybe she was the only one hearing everything that way.

Then Jun'd said that, which just made her frown a bit deeper. ]

T-That... would explain your aversion to all of that, but... maybe you and I should step out for a bit if it's bothering you that much?

[ Just putting the offer out there, because Akko didn't want him to be alone after she'd heard that. ]

Possibly, but right now I don't know how much use it would have.

Heh. My family wasn't exactly ideal, either.

[Jun and Akko may notice that while there are some photos of Proto Man and an older human with a white beard, there are more of that same human with a blonde robot girl and a dark haired robot boy... and no photos that feature them all together.]

...If it helps, none of the robots built here were designed to be piloted by humans. But if this place is making you uneasy, I won't blame you if you want to go back outside.

[Jun's suggestion about bringing back anything useful does remind Proto that his buster is still missing a part. Maybe if he rummages through the drawers, he can find a replacement.

...Even as he searches, it all sounds too regular, too patterned. Proto casts a quick glance at Jun and Akko before he speaks next.]

Akko has a point. I'm not sure what use these tools c--

[And then he abruptly slams the open drawer shut. Does that interrupt the rhythm, or does it continue to follow the beat?]

[It does not interrupt the rhythm at all. But the beat goes on.

~~Hush, I know it's bad but it was right there!~~

It still follows the beat, yes.]

It's fine.

[He jumps back as the drawer is slammed, going and searching to see if there are any books around. He's been really bored, and if he can get something to read, that would be a lot better than skipping rocks all day.]

Is there something you're trying to find in particular?

[Any books in this part of the lab will most likely be scientific journals. Actual literature would be found in the more home-like portion of the building, a little further in.]

A particular computer chip. I've been missing it ever since I woke up on the train, and without it, my buster can't fire.

[The next drawer Proto opens does contain a likely candidate... but when he tries inserting it, all he gets is an error message flashing across his visuals. No dice. He bites back a frustrated groan and shuts the drawer with more force than necessary again.]

[ Still a little concerned about Jun, she almost pressed it but let it go. Mostly due to her jumping a little when the drawer was slammed shut without warning... and again shortly after. ]

Right! Let's see if we can find it, then!

[ With that, she goes to start looking through things as carefully as she can in hopes maybe they can find this thing and help him out. ]

Doubt they'd just have it lying around, though. It'd be WAY too easy.

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