[network; Day 442] @betterhalf; It's been a blast. [open] [No Warnings yet]

[darkincrement]

[ Anyone in the bunker will hear the explosion. A few moments later, there will be a message popping up on the network. ]

You're welcome for a new room of mold to explore, a hallway of doors, and another locked door.

[ After a bit, there will be pictures to download. One of them include what remains of Gabriel's tablet. ]

Comments

[thewarningafter]

You didn't spend too long in it?

[Gabriel isn't actively dying in front of him, which should answer that question, but Stephen worries.]

[termineur]

[ This one was, at least, a very low chance of anything bad actually happening to Gabriel. If it did, though, he didn't want Vanitas near it. He'll accept the candy bar punishment if absolutely necessary, Vanitas.

He's just so, so happy this worked. And it was him that made it happen- well, a lot of people did, including mostly Winter. But it was his tablet. It feels good to have made such an impact. ]

No, no. Just a couple minutes. You know me, I wasn't gonna linger. And it wasn't any heavier than the other rooms.

[darkincrement]

[ And Vanitas wouldn't have let him be alone that long, but he's not going to say that out loud.

No comments from him this time. ]

[thewarningafter]

Good. And see that you don't. There might be more of it on the other side.

[He manages a faint smile.]

I'm glad. For all of you.

[Those in the bunker, he means, who have some chance of getting through to whatever the last stage of this looks like before the town loses power.]

[termineur]

[ His smile fades noticeably at the last bit Stephen mentions. Damn, he really wants to see them in person again. He tries not to let the mood shift, at least. ]

Yeah.

Keep working on getting over here. We never know what we're going to find. It's the center of town, after all- there's probably at least a space heater.

[thewarningafter]

[That startles a little laugh out of Stephen even as he feels tears threatening. He doesn't want to die out here; he just knows it's the most likely outcome.]

Punch Robert Miller for me and take it from him, will you?

[darkincrement]

Just a punch?

[termineur]

Yeah, think there'll be more than that.

[ He looks a little wistful, oddly enough. ]

But we will. That's a promise.

You stay warm, Stephen. At least until we can bring you that space heater.