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

[snowblindmods]

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!

Comments

The Core; prophet eyes

[heroproceeding]

[ Go figure, one moment he's with someone. The next? He loses sight of 'em. That's just his luck, but then that's the luck of the lot of 'em. And now he's wandered into a place that feels stuffy. Not necessarily hard to breathe, but it sure hurts his head. His footsteps go oddly from quiet to almost echoing as he makes it to the end of the hallway.

Loud enough that apparently someone heard and is addressing him. What they say almost escapes him though when he picks up on the voice. But it makes him smile at least and his gait falls into something slightly more comfortable if a little tentative. This town's pulled too many tricks for him to think he got lucky to run into three of his friends. ]

I'd say. Feels like you're running in circles.

you spin me right round baby right round

[swatsflies]

[ There is a gash on Zell's forehead, but the bleeding has calmed down. It looks like someone took care of it earlier.

Zell visibly perks up at the response, but he doesn't move from his spot on the floor. Looking up with those prophet eyes as he gives a slight smile. ]

Yo, Zack. [ Zack can actually handle anything Zell throws at him, so he's not going to put distance between them. ]

Yeah, something like that. A big frickin' maze.

like a record, baby right round round round

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack's eyes widen visibly at the sight of that gash and it's with that where before he'd hesitated, right then he breaks the rest of the distance, coming to a kneel. ]

Zell, the hell happened to your head? [ Usually, he'd joke about how did he bang heads with someone else here? But the tension's running too high in his body and the air pressure's already getting to him. So, instead Zell's getting his personal space invaded as Zack catches the side of his head and carefully inspects the wound. Looks like it was treated at least which is good, but Zell looks exhausted.

Like he's done nothing but run and run until he couldn't run anymore. Zack lets out a slow, controlled exhale. He's already grabbing at his own pack, so he can start rummaging through it anyway. ] You have a run-in with someone here?

[swatsflies]

A ghost or some kid dropped a rock on me. Got me pretty good-

[ And then Zack is in his personal space, and the murderous urge started to rise again. Zell reaches up to place a hand on Zack's chest to keep distance from them. Shaking his head as he closes his eyes. It'll help if he can't see him, right? ]

Jim has the rock now. I can't be trusted with a weapon or near anyone.

[ Leaning his head back to bump it against the wall behind him. ]

[heroproceeding]

[ So, Zell had run into Jim, too, then. Part of him's visibly surprised they're not still together for a split second- at least until he catches up with the rest of the comment. Coupled with the way Zell pressed him back.. He pauses. ]

Why? Your eyes getting to you?

[ Despite Zell's warning, Zack goes back to digging away until he can pull out some rations to split. He holds out one to the other while the bar he tears open the wrapper of his own bar with his teeth. ]

[swatsflies]

I. I think rock did it.

[ Touching the gash with his free hand as he said it. ]

It started after I was struck. Still there. [ Poking himself in the gash as he talks. At the offer of food, he shakes his head. ]

I still have some... [ He's just not really eating. ]

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack raises a brow when Zell doesn't take it. But at his answer, he just glances over at his pack and nods. ] Then eat something of your own. You don't look so hot, buddy.

[ It's not really a request as Zack decisively takes a seat just a bit off from him. ]

So, a rock- from a ghost. I should feel like I'm going crazy for how normal that sounds anymore. [ He takes a moment to force a yawn, popping his ears, before he takes a bite of that ration. ]

OKAY Now I know more about the state he's in

[swatsflies]

[ He doesn't make a move to eat yet. Crossing his arms against his chest as he cants his head. ]

Yeah, I know. [ He admits quietly, but it's not clear if he means his appearance or the part about ghosts being normal. Zell is aware of his state, but hasn't muster the energy to really care about it. It's hard when things tasted of copper, made you dizzy, or gave you a rock to go kill happy with. ]

Jim cleaned it up for me, but I lost him. [ He's not sure if it's for the best or not. Zell doesn't like being alone, but the other was safe. Others were safe with him being away from it, right? ]

Did you run into anyone? Seen Kunsel?

A MILLION YEARS LATE WITH STARBUCKS

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack bites his lip at the sight of Zell just crossing his arms. But he doesn't push him more than that. He'll eat when he's ready. At least he's considering eating at all. That's better than before, right? So he thinks anyway.

He takes a little bit to munch on that ration some more, staring down at the floor. ]

I saw Kuns and Jim. Few others, too. [ And then he'd lost sight of them all. Good job, Zack. Way to go. But he can't focus on that- not when Zell seems pretty down as it is. It makes him want to put a hand on Zell's shoulder in comfort only to remind himself once more no touchy. But it doesn't stop him from looking up towards him with that certain determined gaze. ] Which means they're out there and alive. Just a matter of finding them again and getting out of here.

I needed that /takes starbucks

[swatsflies]

[ He does raise his brows at the lip bite, already figuring out what Zack might be thinking. Zell appreciates that he doesn't push for now as he rubs the bridge of his nose sheepishly. He knows he doesn't look good. He knows he should eat. Keeping it all down is another matter entirely.

He does breathes easily as Zack mentions seeing Kunsel and Jim. He's been worried about them. And Zack didn't start asking if Zell has hurt anyone. That brings back the fresh memory of how his parting with the short one of their group went. Rubbing at his eyes and now deciding to grab his back to shuffle around inside. It's better than thinking of things.]

Yeah, they're out there. We'll find them when this... is done. When we wake up. [ He's going to firmly believe it's a dream. It's a messed up dream spanning longer than a day, but a dream. ] Seen anything yet?

[heroproceeding]

[ When they wake up. If Zack needed anymore hints that something definitely wasn't right with Zell, that one might as well have hit him square in the face. Zack shakes his head at the question but doesn't say anything for a long minute as he processes that. As he just sits there and watches his haggard looking appearance. ]

...I haven't seen anything other than white walls and them. [ Hopefully, it'll stay that way, but then he's never been that lucky. Most people don't seem to be in this town. Zack forces himself to take another bite of his food, chewing away at it as best as he can. ] What makes you think this is a dream?

[swatsflies]

[ This is something wrong, but it's probably not what Zack thinks. He gives a vague wave around them. ]

The last thing we all remember is going to sleep before waking up here.

[ Tapping the wall behind him with his knuckles. ]

That and Winter showed a few of us something similar to this place before.

[ Hopefully whatever effects they gain from here don't transfer over to the real world. He really doesn't want to consider killing people with a sharp rock because he's all about the fist ]

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack starts to shake his head before he ends up stopping halfway. There's another moment when he really wants to put his hand on Zell's shoulder. When he really wants to ignore his warning from before, but doing that might make things worse for Zell. So, he holds himself steady. He doesn't take another bite from his food though. ]

...Maybe it is. Or maybe it isn't. I couldn't tell you one way or the other. But that's exactly why we gotta treat it like it's real. Because we don't know for sure.

[swatsflies]

[ Then Zell leans over and licks Zack's food. Haha fucker. ]

[swatsflies]

[ Shaking his head. ]

I don't mean it like that. I know what happens here can hit us when we wake up. I remember the last time. [ Breathing out loudly as he pokes around inside of his own bag. ]

I think it's like that time. When we were all stuck in other people's dreams, but this time it's Winter. [ Or Andromeda. He still hasn't seen any sign of them beside it looking like the room Winter showed them. ]

I can't... I can't believe what Steph thinks either. I have to believe we're going to wake up where we were again. [ And not all scattered across a crazy ass labyrinth. ]

[heroproceeding]

Considering that seems to be the way things have worked in the past, that's probably where we'll be when we get out of here, yeah.

[ When they get out. Not if. He's not about to abandon the idea that they'll ever escape from this bizarre maze. ]

But... who knows? You might be right about it being Winter's dream. I guess the only thing that makes me second guess is outside of all this white is there's just... nothing else I've seen. I mean you'd think she would have more memories than this, you know? It's pretty bizarre. [ And also just makes him wonder if it's another weird section of town more than anything, honestly. ]

[swatsflies]

She doesn't have a lot of memories left. And there might be something really important to learn from here. I hope it's a clue on how to break her out of here. [ He gestures with a roll of his shoulders. ] It's shitty here and we haven't been here that long. Imagine what it might have been like for her?

[ For the times she is aware or even connected to the network that is. Zell is still pretty stuck to the idea that she's a victim in all of this needing to be saved. ]

Just have to keep moving to find out eventually.

[heroproceeding]

[ To break her out of there... Zack bites his lip. That's granted she even has a body, he wants to say. But Zell's so set on the idea... and there's already so much messing with him in the maze. Zack opens his mouth. Closes it in the end, dismissing the thought. Better off not treading there.

With a sigh, he leans back against the wall and stares at the rest of his bar, not really feeling hungry anymore. Especially when he considers one other issue he needs to bring up. Shrugging his own shoulders, he hums. ] Yeah.. Just have to keep moving forward.

...But hey, Zell. I know right now, you're worried about hurting people. We've had that issue before and I actually.. I wanted to ask for your opinion on something.

[swatsflies]

[ It's on his list! Free Winter, find Andromeda, kick ass and fix everything. Finally deciding on pulling out a bottle of water to sip. He leaves the bag plopped in his lap as he looks up at Zack. ]

Opinion on something? Lay it on me, man.

[ If it's the best way to kill someone... well his rock isn't with him :( ]

[heroproceeding]

[ Thankfully, it has nothing to do with murdering people with shiny, sharp rocks.

But as it stands, he- actually feels kinda guilty for bringing this up now. Now, when Zell's actually going through his pack and taking out that water because he seriously needs to eat and he needs to drink to keep himself going there. But this still is another thing to help keep them going in the end, isn't it? This is important. So, he pushes onward, even if he feels uneasy, with a gesture of his hand. ]

It's just I've been considering what to do about it if those.. urges start again for any of us. I figure we should have a game plan. [ He pauses, taking a second to run a hand uncomfortable through his hair. ] I thought of tying each other up. But if it's happening to all of us again, it wouldn't work. One of us would be left untied and I think that person would just end up untying the rest of us. But that would work if it's just a few of us. And if we don't have anything to tie 'em up, I was thinking we'd knock 'em out.

[ Maybe not ideal... but it'd stop anything worse from happening. Any regrets, he hopes. ]

What do you think?

[swatsflies]

[ He does pause as he listens to Zack's words. For the moment, there doesn't see to be a reaction as he finally uncaps the water and takes a drink. Mulling the words over as he caps the bottle again. ]

You must have been thinking about this for a while. [ He says it quietly as he reaches up to touch the wound on his head. ] Are you going to talk about this to Kunsel and Jim?

[heroproceeding]

Already talked to both of them earlier, but I wanna get your opinion on it, too. [ It's kind of hard to depend on this as a plan otherwise. Not to mention the repercussions of suddenly putting someone in a sleeper hold without any prior warning. That might be a little drastic in appearance without forewarning. ]

I know it isn't anything any of us would probably like to do, but if it'll stop 'em from doing anything they'll regret, it would be better in the end.

[swatsflies]

[ So he did already go over it with them. It doesn't really seem like the right time or place, but at the same time given Zell's situation... Taking another slow sip as he nods. ]

I can probably shrug off hurting people in the end. Move past it because I have to for missions, you know? I'm more worried about hurting anyone trying to restrain me. [ A pause. ] I'm more worried about anyone who isn't used to it. Who can't really move past it. [ Or someone who could be bothered by how much distance they can put on it. ] Got a plan in mind or should we figure something out together after we wake up?

[heroproceeding]

Outside of that, I haven't really considered specifics. It's not really like we can assign roles with who does what. We won't know how bad it is next time and we don't know who's going to end up affected first though if anything, you and Kunsel have the experience that Jim doesn't. So, you'd react sooner than he would if something were to happen to one of us and we need to be fast in the first place.

[ Zack shrugs vaguely. No, it might not be the best timing to talk about this, but really... when does there ever seem to be a good time to talk about something like this? ]

Because the sooner we react, the less likely someone's going to end up hurt. [ Or hurting someone. And while they're all on the same understanding that it wouldn't be intentional, that still doesn't change that it would have happened... and whatever emotional repercussions come of it. ]

[swatsflies]

Right.

[ It does make sense that the three of them would react faster because of experience. ]

I have been letting him know where to hit. Jim. Just in case someone else loses contorl.

[ Like blood thirsty friends. ]

We still have handcuffs, too.

[ Just offering that in case. ]