A Reckoning...

[strangerpeople]

[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.))

Comments

[strangerpeople]

[Something does feel off about the area. Mainly a small paper trail leading into the family room haphazardly on the floor.

Well, the area is mostly clean but hey, no food crumbs at least.]

[icanhearscreams]

... Is someone there?

[He heads into the drawers to see if he can find a knife to defend himself with. It'd be better than nothing...]

[notthebreakman]

[Good thinking, Jun. In the meantime, Proto will pick up the nearest paper and look it over to see what, if anything, is written on it.]

Roll? ...Rock?

...Doctor Light?

[strangerpeople]

[Nothing is written on the papers. They're all blank.

But they will hear a faint rustling noise from inside the room.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He has a knife. He inches behind Proto, using him for cover. He doesn't speak, not wanting to alert whatever's there.]

[notthebreakman]

[Proto is having worrisome flashbacks to that creature he and the others had to shoot during their journey to Victoria's Chasm. At least this paper isn't covered in gold ink-slash-blood, so there's that?

He'll grab a heavy frying pan as an extremely makeshift weapon, since it's the closest thing he's got to his shield right now. Even though Proto and Jun are both already dead, he's not putting it past this place to try to screw them over even further.

Time to carefully enter the family room and see what else is in here with them.]

[strangerpeople]

[Going into the family room, there is nothing but silence at first. Not even breathing in that same beat that's been happening. Proto will be the first to see something within the corner: a hunched figure with its back turned to them.

But there's something about that white coat Proto may recognize.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He's quiet, but nudges Proto forward. He has no idea who that might be, but he's guessing Proto will.]

[notthebreakman]

[...No. No no nononono N--

Thankfully, Jun's nudge is enough to shake Proto Man from his horror before it gets too out of hand. The odd rhythm that they can't escape, the blank papers... this whole building has felt off somehow. Why should this be any different?

(Please, please don't be different...)]

Turn around and show yourself. Slowly.

[strangerpeople]

[As if it heard Proto, the figure begins to stand slowly as it reveals fluffy like white hair in the process. It turns to face the two as the figure shows itself to be someone very familiar to Proto...after all, it would be not be hard to recognize family.

But his face shows a different side: Dr. Light's expression is surprisingly blank for this reunion and when no one bothers to make the first move, he does as he jumps and lunges for the two with palms out. As he goes for them both, the form seems to melt away and the good doctor is not among them after all. Instead, it's a rather large draconian form as its wings and claws start to smash and trash everything in its path. If you hoped to keep the room clean, fat chance on doing it. Not with this thing up and kicking.]

[icanhearscreams]

What the fuck is that -

[Nope. He's going to yeet the knife into the thing's wing.]

[notthebreakman]

[Seeing his father here is almost enough to make Proto freeze up entirely. But he's already been clinging to the hope that something is wrong, and the blank lack of recognition on Doctor Light's face is more evidence in his favor.

Still, it's a massive relief when the thing reveals its true form and goes on the attack. Despite the fact that, you know, a fucking skeletal dragon is attacking them.]

I take it this is new to you, too?

[Proto really misses having his buster right now. He'll have to settle for grabbing Jun and moving back to get out of the thing's reach.

(He'll worry about cleaning up the inevitable mess later. Sorry, Roll.)]

[strangerpeople]

[The knife connects with the wing and the dragon simply swats it away before letting out a loud roar. The roar isn't just for show as it lowers its head and out comes three decently sized red orbs, appearing in what looks like a cone-like position. But it doesn't happen once or twice...oh no, it keeps spitting them out until after the fifth.

Hope you two are good at dodging because you may need it.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He scrambles backwards with Proto Man as best he can, but his foot comes down on one of the papers and he slips, falling down and trying to let go of the other so he doesn't drag him down, too.]

Run!

[He starts trying to throw anything he can see - books, furniture, appliances... anything to hit the thing and try to stun it.]

[notthebreakman]

[Proto is a lot more stable than he looks, so he'll just dig in his heels and try to pull Jun back up to his feet.]

I'm not leaving you behind with this thing!

[Since Jun seems to have the beginnings of an offense down for now, Proto will draw the dragon's fire as a moving target. He's probably better at jumping and dodging than Jun (no offense), so here's hoping the red vest he was given on the train can grab this thing's attention.]

[strangerpeople]

[Jun's throwing anything in sight seems to pay off...somewhat. When an appliance is thrown at the dragon's head, it is stunned for a moment but the item used to stun it doesn't break, the dragon decides to use the weapon against the boy by whipping its tail around the two and smacking the item back at them in retaliation.

Yeet.]

[icanhearscreams]

[It's probably some science thing, but Jun pushes off in a burst of adrenaline and shoves Proto aside, taking it square on the back of his shoulder. He grunts in pain, but doesn't cry out even as it knocks him to the side.]

It's too fast. We need to go. Now.

[notthebreakman]

[Jun, you and Proto are going to have a very long talk about how Proto is a robot and therefore much more resilient than you, a squishy human.

...Later.]

Front door's down the hall from the kitchen. Go!

[Proto doesn't trust Jun not to pull any more stupid stunts after this, so he'll make sure Jun leaves first before following him.

...Hmm, if the dragon fires more red orbs at them, could Proto knock them back with the frying pan?]

[strangerpeople]

[The dragon screeches and rushes after the two, preparing to fire the red orbs again as it opens its mouth and out they come. But it doesn't expect to face the reflection of a frying pan as the attack bounces off like a ping pong ball and smacks them right back into its open mouth.

It screeches and falls to the ground, writhing in pain at its own attack being used against it.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He grabs Proto's arm, pulling him along as best he can towards the exit. He doesn't trust Proto to not try to be a 'hero' and try to fight it.]

[notthebreakman]

[Okay, fair enough. Proto will go along with Jun toward the door.

Seeing the dragon react like to having its own attack reflected back at it gives Proto a surge of confidence, though.]

Jun, did you see that? We may have a shot at beating this if we can keep it confined so it can't dodge!

[strangerpeople]

[Another screech as the dragon glares at the two and raises its wings up and prepares to take flight. Given that wings and closed spaces are never a good thing, it didn't care about trashing the place as it prepares another attack on them.

This time it dashes, knocking back the two and hitting them rather harshly.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He falls back on his butt, nerves starting to break down a little. What to do, what to do...]

I'm not strong enough to pull everything down onto it!

[notthebreakman]

[Oh sure, afterlife. Make Proto wish they did still have the giant disaster better known as Gamma around for emergencies like this. That's real fair of you.]

Don't worry about that right now! Just keep moving!

[Proto staggers to his feet and does his best to pull Jun up as well before the dragon can launch another attack. Okay, with their luck, the damn thing is probably intelligent enough to know not to try the fire-or-whatever-it-is-balls again. They'll need a new tactic... right after they get into a more open area so they aren't confined right next to the dragon.]

[strangerpeople]

[Wherever they go, the dragon will follow right behind and nipping at their heels. Quite literally as it is trying to do so, snapping its jaw and trying to maneuver through the hallways considering its wings are more than likely uncomfortable as it its body starts smashing into the walls like a bull in a dish store.

So far, it's at a stalemate until everyone can get out of the narrow space. Well, narrow for the dragon at least.]