EVENT ★ LABYRINTH II

[futurologists]

DEEPER Following the marked path near the lake leads Audentes (and George) further into the maze, closer to the goal found at the center. Some other inmates (including Zymandis agent Mavahari) and correctional officers follow along, having picked up on the organized manner of Audentes and figuring it’s their best bet on getting out of here alive. Unlike the dry stone and sand in the outer ring of the maze, this next section is overflowing with flora. Jungle vines cling to the walls to the point where seeing the stone underneath is a difficult task; trees sprout from between cracked tiles, bearing alien-looking fruit; branches and brambles cross certain parts of the maze, and will need to be hacked through unless you want to find another way around. Water is more plentiful now as well, since obviously the plants need it to flourish. For the first time since setting foot in the labyrinth, a rain begins to fall, drizzling and gentle. This can be a respite or an annoyance, depending on how you look at it: while it’s soothing and can make collection of fresh, clean water easier, walking around in wet clothes is probably not that pleasant. Your fellow ALASTAIR recruit George has inexplicably struck up a friendship with the Zymandis agent Mavahari, and they can often be found exploring the maze together, with Mavahari helping him due to his broken arm. They seem to be getting along well enough, but maybe checking in with George is in order. Otherwise, survival is the name of the game; though the center of the labyrinth is closer, it’s impossible to tell how close, and how long to expect to be here. Collecting water is simple enough, but food is growing scarce. The tree fruits may be a good solution, but it seems as though some have unfortunate reactions to them, ranging from stomach cramps to rashes to fever and temporary blindness. But an allergic reaction may just be the least of your worries. LOVE ME LIKE A REPTILE The monsters seen so infrequently in the outer ring of the maze are now a common nuisance. Giant insects and rats scurry about, hungry for whatever flesh they can find, but they’re easily defeated, particularly if encountered as a group. But with new terrain comes new, adaptive animals, and the labyrinth is no different. Lizards are now the main threat: enormous and camouflaged, they stalk their prey and take their time, looking for the perfect opportunity to ambush. The lizards are three-headed, with each head containing fangs dripping with venom, capable of rendering its victims paralyzed within five seconds flat. Their blood is also poisonous, capable of burning through metal, not to mention flesh. If a head is severed, the lizard will retreat back into the jungle, presumably to nurse its wounds but possibly to grow another head -- no lizard will ever be encountered with less than three heads, so it’s possible they have regenerative abilities. The best way to defeat one is to remove all three heads at once, or simply kill it in whatever way possible. The lizards are quick and mean, but not invincible. Now more than ever, it’s important to take care in exploring the maze. Stray too far from the group or try to make it alone, and you might not survive. OOC NOTES Once again, we have a plotting post here and search requests for the next ring of the maze. Please note: during the labyrinth event, all drops are ICly delayed. What this means is that characters who drop will be handwaved to still be around on auto-pilot until connection with Oska is resumed, at which point they will be transferred to a different team as usual. If you have any questions about the labyrinth that aren't answered here, please direct them to the Leramzen dossier. If you have questions for any NPCs, please direct them there as well! Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ and you may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

[digiorno]

[The metal man in question appears . . . nonplussed. Not offended, not weirded out, just nonplussed. What's a hug, can you eat it.]

[It looks over Mettaton's shoulder at Giorno with a very nearly visible ? sort of expression, then down at Mettaton. Then he pats Mettaton on the head and, yeah, okay, this is the part where Giorno just starts laughing. Help? HE WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS REACTION.]

Um, I'm sorry, that's--that's mine!

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Honestly, Mettaton should be a stranger at throwing himself into another person's arms. But here he is, having elegantly scrambled himself into a princess carry and staring in wonder at his new dream prince. He expected them to look more... human, but maybe he shouldn't be judging. After all-

That's mine!

Gigi's dulcet tones snap Mettaton out of his flower-infested fantasy and he startles, for just a second, as realizes this isn't a dream. That... explains it, then. All of the flowers. And the dress. Not really the man.

Did he... make him?

Mettaton combs his hair over the makeshift bandage around the right side of his face before going into a practiced swoon. Tilt head back, arch spine, lift leg - priceless.]

No, sweetheart. I'm sorry. We've seen the light in each other's eyes and will be married in the morning. You're more than welcome to officiate.

[digiorno]

[Gold Experience is very obedient, in fairness, which could be sending some mixed messages here. He's just patiently holding Mettaton in this princess carry while posing happens and while Giorno giggles. He seems entirely content to stay exactly where he is for as long as it's needed.]

[It's really hard for Giorno to stop giggling, as an aside.]

I don't think that's legal. But far be it for me to stand in the way of true . . . love?

[GOD. Okay, gigglebreak. He presses the back of his hand to his mouth and takes a few deep breaths. Okay.]

Also I'm not a priest. [He's too cute for those robes.] You look really comfortable, you know. What about Keats?

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Didn't you hear? It was a tragedy. A lovely robot, dumped at the altar. And for what? Some part man, part moth, all mysterious being! I thought I'd never love again!!

[He swoons again. Just for effect.

...hah. Alright.

With the same, strange level of experience he used to climb onto this strange man, Mettaton leaps back down onto the ground. He toys with the flowers wrapped around his body and gives Giorno that same, practiced smile everyone else has gotten over the past few days.]

And what have I done, to earn the honor you've bestowed upon me, dearest Gigi?

[digiorno]

My goodness.

[He makes the appropriate noises of dismay. What the hell is . . . a man-moth, though? Okay. Whatever. He'll figure that out later.]

[For now, he's gonna pout.]

I felt like it.

[What are you gonna do about it, my dude? Huh? Gold Experience pats Mettaton's head again, as if to emphasize the point.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Unfortunately, this is Mettaton's metal body. He can't feel a thing. He does however, hear the sound of something behind him touching his hair and he flinches on instinct, spinning himself forward and away from--

Oh. ...it's only Giorno's "friend".

Well!

He chuckles at himself and gives Giorno a winning smile. That didn't happen.] And I appreciate it, never you doubt that. Your taste is exquisite, as always. [To demonstrate that fact, he grasps the dress at around knee-length, then twists it to and fro. See how beautiful these flowers are in the light? See how elegantly they move around him-- what is that why can't he see now what--

For a second time in as many minutes, Mettaton startles. He swipes at his face, aiming to remove whatever is now obscuring his vision. Whatever it is falls onto the ground.

...It's his makeshift bandage. Giorno's little friend must have knocked the tie loose when he was touching Mettaton's hair.

He ducks down, quicker than he'd normally move, to snatch it back up. He doesn't want Giorno to see the damage that was hiding underneath it.]

[digiorno]

[. . . Oh.]

[He doesn't see it. Or at least not much of it. Barely anything, but there's a hint there of--hm. Something that's the wrong shape, or in the wrong place, or--just wrong somehow. Giorno's brow furrows.]

[If Mettaton's trying to hide it, then . . . then he should let it be, shouldn't he? Is that the right thing to do? He can't solve everyone's problems. And Asher said--physically, Mettaton was all right. Even if his eyes are saying something different. Wait, no, that's backwards, isn't it? That's backwards.]

[He tries to think of what Bruno would do. Only he can't. Bruno is light years away and dead, and he can't do anything. Fugo would avoid it. And Mista--]

[He's still caught in his head, not anywhere near a decision, when Gold Experience reaches out to touch the bandage. Now the Stand speaks for the first time, repetitive nonsense syllables in an undertone. As his fingers brush the bandage, sprigs of miniature purple gladiolus sprout from it.]

[Giorno pinches the bridge of his nose.]

. . . He's worried about you. [There. Plausible deniability. Maybe.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[He... doesn't understand any of that. There's a moment, like a frozen frame in a skipping video, where he's stuck between the bronze man's nonsense words and Giorno's palpable disappointment. The man is touching the blue fabric. Giorno is translating. Flowers sprout from nothing.

Mettaton leans toward the stranger.]

It's nothing you can fix, [he says gently, as if to a child who doesn't speak the same language. He pats the stranger's hand, metal brows furrowed.] Not with flowers.

[He turns then to face Giorno. He didn't lie before. Not really.] ...I'm just a robot, darling. Just metal. There's no fixing it until we go home.

I'll be okay. [Don't worry about me.]

[digiorno]

"Just a robot" . . . ?

[Giorno tips his head to one side, confused. In a near-perfect mirror, Gold Experience does the same. Something about that . . .]

[He purses his lips, then nods slowly. Carefully. Understanding, not accepting.]

I see. [Life can't do anything to fix metal. There's a brief, hysterical moment when he realizes that, all the same, Fugo could probably destroy it. He doesn't like the idea that destruction has power over Mettaton when creation does not.]

You've been hiding it. So maybe that's not the best look--for hiding. Mm.

Do you want me to get rid of them? The flowers on your bandage.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

I... [Cough. His fingers tug guiltily at the makeshift bandages, his eyes on the flowers.] I wasn't hiding it. [From anyone other than Giorno.] I was covering it. Because it's raining.

I mean, [he wiggles loose some of the flowers around his torso, enough to pull away the blue fabric he'd wrapped around his core container. Like his face, it's similarly shattered. The heart floating inside hangs low and dim.] Look at all of this! I was made to be waterproof, but not if I'm as cracked as a bad coat of paint!

[Sigh. That doesn't answer the question, does it?] The flowers are fine - they're charming.

Thank you, sweethearts. [Plural. There are two sweeties here.]