snowblindrpg | [log] Event: Lavender's Green, Part Two [open]

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[log] Event: Lavender's Green, Part Two [open]

Characters: everyone
Location: mysterious, white hallways
Date: Day 193-194
Summary: Find friends. Get lost. Don't look.
Warnings: Potential for gore and psychological horror. Please note any specific warnings in your subject lines!

While confusingly similar, the area is split into a few different sections:

The Core
The hallways here are narrow and twist at a rapid rate. With how dazzlingly white everything is, it's easy to not realize you're coming on a turn and slam right into the walls. There are no rooms here--no one starts here, though they may find it while they wander. At the center is a large, round area, like the center of a spiral. There's a lot of air pressure here.

The Inner Hallways
The largest area, filled with dead ends, gentle slopes and twists, and, occasionally, difficult-to-see drops where a higher hallway intersects with a lower one without a wall to separate them. The whole place tastes vaguely like blood. Most rooms are here--most people start here.

The Outer Hallways
The outer ring of the ball of yarn. It's not as thick with halls and twists as the other two areas, leading to a lot more boring walking in one direction. It's totally possible to circle around the same path multiple times without realizing it, as everything is so similar here. Occasionally, footsteps can be heard just outside the farthest walls. Sometimes, something breathes. There are a few rooms here--some people will start here.

Remember to note what kind of eyes your character has in their top level!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is that what you tell yourself? [It wasn't as if House could out-run him, so there was no point not needling the man. It was as close to enjoyment as either of them might have, working little ways under one another's skin. They all had so very little enjoyment in their lives after all.

Alexander moved ahead again, glancing at House as he passed.] Are you afraid, Doctor? [He slid his hand along the wall, careful to kick a foot out with each step as he made his way along and actually caught the sharp turn before he could run head-long into it. Ah good, he changed direction with the wall.] When I awoke with these eyes, I was infected with an unnamed fear. Does that happen often?

Yep!

[It's an answer to all of those questions, technically, but he's going to pretend it's only for the last one.]

They like screwing with our heads, get used to it. I guess it's basically karma for you.

[He follows after Pierce, also unwilling to mention that the artificial fear isn't actually the reason for his wariness. Even without it, they'd probably be playing this song and dance. Five months of being murdered, beaten, and having his perceptions and mind screwed with have left their mark, unfortunately. Let the man assume, though.]

You know, you don't seem like a man who believes in karma. Or religion for that matter. Am I mistaken?

[House was probably some heathen, which was fair given what he had come to see as so much distrust. This one seemed far too skeptical and rude towards an entire area that required nothing more or less than simple belief without a basis of evidence.

Besides, he didn't believe in karma or luck himself.]

It doesn't particularly bother me; I was just curious. Right now, it's within my control and that's what matters.

I believe in thermodynamics. [For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.] But no. Life isn't fair. You're some kinda Christian, believe in good and evil and all that crap?

Anyway, 'right now' is the operative phrase there, bro. Think you'll be able to handle it when you do lose control? [Because it's a when, not an if, in House's mind.]

At least you believe in something. [Even if it was the laws currently proven by something tangible. Of course, the power of belief was interesting despite not being tangible or explainable at times.] I was born to a Catholic household if that's what you're asking. But no, I don't believe in good and evil; I believe in the potential of people.

[He moved down the hallway after the sudden turn and nearly dropped into a hole but caught himself with an exaggerated windmill of his arms and leaning against the wall suddenly. He carefully felt and looked ahead and then moved down the drop and up the other side, turning to regard House.] I suspect when I stop being able to handle it is when the fun really begins. It will either destroy me, or it will destroy anyone close to me.

And it's your job or mission in life to bring out their potential? [Color him unimpressed if that's where this is going. It sounds incredibly hokey.]

Also, you have a really interesting definition of 'fun.' Pretty sure you losing it means we get Greaser McMurderface coming after everyone, too. So it's not really a 'only those close to me' kinda thing.

[House just watches Pierce pinwheel his arms when he does, doing absolutely nothing to help or hinder him. He makes his way down easily when the other man moves along. However, he does actually stop, scratch open a wound and write HOLE in blood on the floor before marking an arrow on the wall nearby. He casts occasional glances at Pierce to make sure he isn't coming close or moving off as he does this.]

No. That would be impossible. Humanity is too selfish. [He knew where limitations lay in most people; there were always a few gems in the mix. They could be useful, but as a whole, he might believe in potential but understood it required something more stick than carrot to draw out.

Alexander crossed his arms over his chest casually, tilting his head to the side, watching House mark the spot. Were they actually going to discuss the Soldier so readily? He supposed that connection was out in the open with House.] Does he scare you, Doctor House? In my world, he is nothing more than a whisper in the dark. I suppose that's what makes him potentially terrifying.

[He gestured a hand for the doctor to take the lead this time. They could exchange the role now and again.] Brawn before brains, doctor.

[Well, all right. They're in agreement there, then. House just raises a brow, more than a little skeptical. He's not sure how much of this is Pierce being honest. The guy is playing their game, and that means lies are always on the table. House certainly has no problem lying, anyway.]

I ain't scared of nothin'. Especially not some dog who keeps barking and never bites. The guy's had three chances to beat me into paste. He didn't take any of them. [Because of Ecks. Because of Clint and Nat. Because of Davesprite. House is very aware he's been incredibly lucky with that. And it doesn't diminish his actual fear of Bucky, but he can pretend, sounding flippant.] But he's murdered other people. So, apparently, I'm just special. Why be afraid of that?

[House stays planted right where he is and gestures for Pierce to go on.] You're doing so well. Don't wanna take that away from you.

[He was intent on watching House's face, aware that the man was a superb liar, but also there was a flare for drama while lying. House didn't seem to do so without the bite of sarcasm or some underplay of flare to distract from the lie itself. It was a very interesting tactic, one that he hadn't seen employed as often as one learning to do it like a sleight-of-hand. Lying was the easy part; it was being smart enough to remember each one told to carry it on for the long-term.

Of course, he read between the lines on the tale, even if the details may be wrong. The Soldier was resistant to killing for the most part, not wanting to devolve back to the purpose that HYDRA had set down after all.] So you are afraid, which is good. Fear is a good preservation tactic, as long as you know how to control it.

[He smirked at House's stubborn streak and took the lead again.] Coward.

Fear is the mind-killer. And the coward lives to see another day... Or at least he doesn't slam his face into a wall. I'm much more willing to risk you.

When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen. And the queen's the one you send out across the board, right? You should be jumping at this, gramps.

As you should. Being older and frailer, I'm far more expendable. [He always understood his limitations, but he was both willing to push them and work within them depending on the situation at hand.]

You make it sound like I'm not? Over-enthusiasm leads to mistakes. [He was moving carefully still, finding an intersection without actually falling into it either, which was no small thing. He squinted but the other entrances were actually difficult to see and not just his eyes. There was footsteps again, nothing like their own either.]

Well King, what say you on who is walking around? Mastermind to the board that you are.

[Frailer is probably debatable at this point, but House isn't going to point out that particular discrepancy.]

People not thinking leads to mistakes. I don't want you under-enthused, either. We're looking for Goldilocks here.

[He quiets at the sounds of footsteps.]

Echoes of whoever's outside the servers we're in. The banging from earlier and the breathing are probably the same thing.

[Not thinking was never a problem for Alexander; his mind was always on some matter or another, even if it was on that dastardly crossword clue he hadn't yet been able to solve on his last coffee break.]

And what happens if we find three bears instead?

[The footfalls only last for nine seconds, abruptly cutting off as if they had never been.]

Are you suggesting that we are inside a computer server?

Well, you take Papa Bear... and I'll start running. That's the trick with those things, right? You don't have to be faster than them, just faster than the other guy. Pretty sure I can outrun you.

[He reaches out to draw another arrow after the footsteps have stopped and rubs his right thigh unconsciously after that. The phantom pain has been building since yesterday, along with some nausea. He needs his goddamn Vicodin. This place should have left them with their real supplies.]

And that's exactly what I'm suggesting. You don't think this place is actually real?

Edited 2017-01-03 15:57 (UTC)

Actually, I believe the trick with bear encounters is to make yourself as big and noisy as possible to call their bluff. Running only spikes their predatory drive and then they chase you down to maul and eat you. Unless cubs are involved in which case running might be your only option.

[He noted the way that House rubbed at his leg, wondering if the man was suffering from an injury of some kind. He wasn't yet nosy enough to inquire to such a small gesture, but he was on the look out for repeats. Repetition always had an interesting story behind it.]

I was certain this place wasn't real, but inside of a computer? I expected less white in the circuitry of a computer, I admit.

I've gotten stuck in bear country. Came out alive, so I'll stick to what I know, gramps. [House scoffs as they move on, but there's another rub over his thigh. Thinking about his father and his punishments brings no particular joy.]

Why would the inside of the computer look anything like a computer? If it really is our brains in here, it's not like we've got eyes. We'll see whatever the system wants us to see.

I can't tell if you're meaning that literally or figuratively or both. [There was definitely a tale in there regardless, and he watched House give away the same tick all over again.] Something about that subject makes you uncomfortable.

[That was a fair point, but the idea that their consciousness alone was cast into this device was not one he was going to put much stock into. If it were true and they all imagined themselves in their own personal self-image, it was more reasonable they would see this place differently. No one saw every event the same.] But we should be applying our own personal perceptions on the environment as well. So that stands to reason; are we all simply hijacked and living this entire situation through mental stimulation and not at all physically?

I mean it literally... figuratively-speaking, of course. [It's an obvious deflection, but House knows well enough that Pierce probably had other things he was reading up on than Angel and Miranda's theories about his daddy issues.]

And the environment could be constructed for neural pathways. If you put us all in the same construct box, we'll see the same thing, even if it isn't what's real. The alternative in my mind is that we're all in Norfinbury and the nanites in our bodies are making us see and feel all of this while our bodies do something else. Wouldn't be the first time.

You're so smooth with your deflections. Also slipped right by me how you avoid any topic that might broach uncomfortable subjects. [It was amusing, and the more that House tried to deflect, the more interested he became to overturn that rock to discover all the details.]

But not everyone's neural pathways are hooked up the same way. There is always reasonable doubt that this is all an elaborate illusion in the first place. [And why wander about an illusion save to give one the impression that they were actually doing something productive.] So being cast from our bodies is a common practice? Seems like quite the drug trip.

I was mauled by a bear as a small child. [It's a blatant lie, but it's told absolutely straight-faced, confident. If it weren't in the current context, it might even be believable.] Aren't you supposed to be walking? Move, Old Man Winter.

There's reasonable doubt for everything here. It's why we've got a dozen different theories. They're piece-mealing us info, and even that's suspect, at best. Being pulled out of our bodies isn't common, but it's happened before. People have been possessed, and there was a night when no one remembered anything, but we call got shuffled around in the houses.

Is that why you continually rub your thigh when uncomfortable? Bear took a chunk out of you? I hope one of your parents was there to fight off the beast. [Pierce used the opportunity of childhood to poke around at the basis of House's personality quirks that he had seen.] So demanding. You should save that talk for the Winter Soldier.

[All theories and no proof. That was added complicated elements, not that he cared. He was dead after all.] Sounds like this place is here to push the mental and emotional boundaries of those trapped here. I can't wait for the end room in the game where we all have to murder each other like some blood sport.

Edited 2017-01-05 16:29 (UTC)

[House consciously stops himself from reaching down this time, and just shoves his hands into his coat pockets for the time being.

He wants his Vicodin. He wants his Vicodin. He wants his goddamn Vicodin.]

You got it, pal. Had to fight it off myself. Bare-handed. [It's a terrible, terrible pun.] And I'm guessing the 'Winter Soldier' is code for tall, dark, and 99 torture-induced issues?

You missed out on the murder night. That already happened. At least the prelims.

[They were going to play that game now? Well, so be it. His grandchildren had gone through that phase.]

That hairy situation had to be almost unbearable for you. I hope the bear was embearassed that he couldn't even eat one small cub. [Was it that obvious who he was referring to?] He used to be so much better.

[Yes, he had heard about murder night. It was for the best that he had given that a miss.] When does the next round start?

[You are getting such a look, Pierce. What is this, one-up-manship on pure horrible?]

That was painful. Physically painful. Jesus Christ, you really are a grandpa. Did you raise your kids to be manipulative bastards, too?

[He doesn't actually know when the next 'round' starts or when this one ends, so he just doesn't reply to that. A part of him hopes the answer is 'never,' but he's realistic enough to know it's 'sooner rather than later.']

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[log] Event: Lavender's Green, Part Two [open]

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