at once short of life, and long of sorrow.

[strangerpeople]

[You are dead.




Well, obviously. You remember how you died. It was...not fun, to say the least. But hey, at least you're off that ship, right?

Except...you don't know exactly where you are now. It seems like a house, but if it is, it's...a work in progress. Most of the rooms are empty, and your steps echo up through the marble columns and down faint mosaics on the tiled floor. The few windows you find have a green light gleaming through them; you can't really see anything beyond the eerie light.

It feels like you're in a temple of some kind. The columns and mosaics seem to indicate it is something like that-it's certainly reminiscent of something out of an ancient culture, perhaps even one you're familiar with. For some reason, though, it's clear someone-or something-lives here. One of the rooms to the south is stuffed with pizza boxes. Another, larger room has a makeshift futon in one of the corners. There are imprints of multiple footsteps all through the dusty floors as you look around, many of them leading to a small alcove to the west. And-

and there's a giant van. Just. hanging out there. Completely out of place with the seemingly ancient decor. And inside, there is the sound of light snoring.



Ok then. You're apparently not alone in death, after all.]

((OoC: Map for reference.))

Comments

LET'S START A RIOT || Meeting time

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[On Sunday - seeing no other people coming to the dead - Moriarty makes a decision.

He's done sitting around and waiting, and with all the information gathered and the cards placed on the table? It is finally time to act.

He goes around to everyone, telling them all to gather in the 'foyer' of this place, where they all awake from. There may or may not be snacks. ...Depends if you like Pizza anymore.

Once they're all gathered, he claps his hands together crisply - for some of the people there, that's probably familiar - to gain everyone's attention.]

Now then! Shall we get to business?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

As all of you may or may not know, there are roots covering any potential exits out of this Underworld we all find ourselves in. As well as testimony that the roots are currently regerating far too fast for purchase against them to be made.

However.

I believe that may be the case for un-upgraded powers.

[To punctuate his point, he holds out his hand...and a miniature black hole generates just above it, hovering ominously.]

We can upgrade our abilities - focusing on communicating with the Devil Arm you are 'linked to', in a sense, along with an emotion that resonates with it, is the key for unlocking greater power.

[He closes it with a snap of his fingers, lowering his hand and looking out onto the gathering.]

I would propose everyone here - and, perhaps, the other souls deeper in, if we can locate them - do just that, and then focus all of our efforts on one single exit. With such upgraded firepower, it may just be that we can win our freedom.

Of course, I also open the floor to any thoughts on other methods of escape! Or if there is any other information you wish to share, then speak up!

If we are to rejoin the living - and break free of this mindless captured tedium - then we must work together!

[devilmehcry]

...

This includes you, Dante.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

ESPECIALLY you, Dante.

[devilmehcry]

...

[At this, he suddenly-unexpectedly-jumps, his wings flaring out. Then he floats for a few seconds as his swords jump out, freaking tiny meteors accompanying them as he throws them at the floor. The meteors trail alongside the swords, and when they hit, they explode into blinding light.]



Easy enough, for me, at least.

[carvemyname]

Who said it didn't?!

[unpossibilities]

I....okay. How do you communicate with the dumb arm thing?

[Kaito, at this point, is tired. Tired of pizza. Tired of this place. Just...tired.]

I'm fine with fighting. Fighting is something I'm good at. What I don't get is all this gobbledegook about 'devil arms' and the mystical crap and yadda yadda I just wanna punch things and get back with my girlfriend.

[This place sucks. He's never going to have pizza again when he gets out of here.]

1/2

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He knows Kaito has been tired and aimless, so it's good to see him here and ready to do things. He was getting a bit worried about the boy, but he'd left him to his own devices mostly - something he regrets, now.]

It's quite simple, my boy. Merely focus on your powers, and any emotion you feel strongly at the moment. From there, let the connection pull you to what your power most resonates with.

For myself - it was my will and discipline Yamato answered to. I do not know what yours would be, but - it's worth trying, is it not?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...And truth be told, I desperately want to leave too. There's absolutely nothing in this place, and do you understand how long I've been without a single decent cup of tea?!

[HE LONGS FOR TEA....AND FRIENDS.....MOSTLY TEA]

[unpossibilities]

That's the problem, Pops. I ain't...I ain't feelin' much of anything.

Everything around here makes me feel pretty apathetic. We died, I'm with people I barely know, the only food we have is pizza which makes me feel lazy anyway...nothing is happening!

I'm in a goddamn rut. If we'd at least genuinely, like, bitten it bitten it, fine, but we've just been stuck here with NOTHING TO DO!

[He stomps his foot. Is anger going to work? He's not sure.]

I don't even know if mine is useful, anyway! I just can dodge things!

[antiveg]

FINALLY! WE FIGHT!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Exactly!

[He fucking yells that out, hell yeah LET'S START A RIOT CHAOS CHAOS]

[antiveg]

[ That just gets her more hyped up. Power immediately brandishes the pizza box blades she's made over her time here, leaning back to stab them at the ceiling above emphatically. ]

ALL SHALL SHAKE APART AGAINST THE MIGHT OF POWER! REALITY ITSELF!!!

...

But I am merely curious. How did you go about unlocking the full potential of your ability?

[jinglebros]

I might not be help.

I've never used my powers once.

[ Sheepish. ]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Well - now is as good a time as any, is it not?

[He smiles, calmly.]

[valkavian]

Hey, join the club, I mostly just used mine for stupid shit.

[valkavian]

Gonna be honest, back home I wasn't the best at direct physical stuff. I can use a gun just fine; my packmates were usually the ones throwing the punches.

I HAD a power that made me not useless, it got taken away and replaced by glitterballs.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I understand, but your power could turn into something more viable when upgraded - the worst that happens is that we have a Dead Apostle on our side.

[He gives a small smile.]

And I'm well aware of how you can be when sufficiently motivated.

[lovedthemost]

Kira-san and I discussed this briefly before but using my own power, I may be able to help others resonate with their emotion and upgrade their power more easily.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

And your own power? Have you managed to unlock greater heights as of yet, yourself?

[Like...did you unlock upgrades during your murder, or]

[strangerpeople]

[There is perhaps an unexpected attendee.

Charon is here, briefcase in hand. Listening.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[...Oh?]

Charon? I didn't expect to see you here, good sir.

[strangerpeople]

Hhhhrrrrnnnnn...d...

[He is, as ever, hard to read. But given his apparent freedom, why might he be here?]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Finally, when powers are unlocked and plans discussed - most likely after Charon has left to do his oh-so-many duties - Moriarty claps his hands together again for attention.]

SPLENDID! It seems we have all come to an agreement on the course of action, hm? With that in mind, let me propose a time - This Wednesday!

[He'll pause for a moment, to let that sink in. And also let it sink in that he's bothered keeping track of the days since he's been here, somehow.]

This shall give me time to send a letter to the living on our plans, and give us all time to prepare ourselves for the attempt, and rest so that we are at our very best come that day!

If anyone has any issues or complaints, feel free to voice them! Otherwise, I will assume everyone agrees. I trust that is acceptable?

[lovedthemost]

It is acceptable.

[back to cool, calm and controlled, it seems.]