Kyriakos: OVERFLOW

[justichthys]

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[justichthys]

For all we know, we might be under-leveled! Don't tell me you've forgotten what happens in some of those games—you know, when you can access high level areas when you're still just starting out if you get lucky? [ or incredibly unlucky, depending on how easy it is to backthread. ]

[ While he's focused on that, she'll guard his back, staff up, wary. ]

[carptricks]

[the keypad cover pops open with ease, revealing a series of brown and green wires underneath]

If you're that worried about it, eat a sandwich.

[justichthys]

You're really not concerned at all? Geez ... no wonder it takes you so long to get anywhere in games.

[ RIBBING HIM ALL DAY EVERY DAY ]

[carptricks]

Long? What the heck! I'm not that inefficient.

[GRUMPS and snaps a few wires with the wire cutter that came with the lock pick tools. the keypad beeps, and the door whooshes open]

This is me reading the atmosphere and making decisions based on the game difficulty so far.

[justichthys]

Less efficient than me! You're too cocky. [ and she is a paragon of video game virtue, clearly. CLEARLY. ]

When we run straight into trouble, I'm blaming you for all of it.

[ she shifts, peeking cautiously around the edge of the now open door. ]

[carptricks]

More efficient than someone who wastes hours getting lost in puzzle dungeons!

[and JUST TO PROVE HIS POINT, he spins around and sticks his tongue out at her, before stepping into the Mess Hall. . .]

[soulping]

[the Mess Hall looks like. . . well. a cafeteria! only there are no tables and chairs for people to sit at. the room is wide, open and lined with chrome, with a few colorful squiggly symbol lining the walls. the same alien language Aoko saw on the medicine bottles earlier, perhaps?]

[on the right is a standard-looking cafeteria line where food is presumably served, complete with a plastic guard to shield the food. it's impossible to tell what the line currently has available to eat, but. . .]

[the foulest of stenches is drifting from that direction. whatever it is, it can't be delicious to humans]

[there's a door on the opposite side of the room]

[justichthys]

Oh, shut up! I found some cool stuff while I was looking around! [ "Cool" is debatable, really. ]

[ When Kaito steps inside, Aoko grabs the back of his jacket. Her nose wrinkles at the smell, but what really bothers her is how open the place is … it feels too empty. Too exposed. ]

[carptricks]

Define "cool"--

[he begins snarkily, but then the smell hits him in the face like a brick. he recoils and wrinkles his nose, his hand shooting to cover his face with his palm]

Eugh. The hell is that?

[despite the casual grumpiness in his words, Aoko may find that his shoulders are pretty darn tense as well. she's not the only one bothered by the open room]

[justichthys]

I'm not sure I want to find out.

[ Speaking through her teeth, because eugh she feels like if she opens her mouth properly she might start gagging. ]

[ Peers around him cautiously, looking between the food counter and the door. ]

... but if I had to guess, I'd say that's probably where the next puzzle piece is.

[carptricks]

Which means we'll probably have to find out.

[he keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground, unmoving. also his voice is all nasally 'cause he's covering his nose]

This is even worse than the walking swiss army knife, geez. . .

[justichthys]

[ Aoko's all for not moving. They. They can move in a minute, once they've had a chance to get used to the awful, horrific stench. ]

… You can go first this time.

[carptricks]

Not feeling so brave all of a sudden, huh.

[he teases with a snort, which he immediately regrets because the smell nearly sends him into a coughing fit]

[but once the coughs die down, he moves forward towards the cafeteria line. slowly. carefully. cautiously]

[justichthys]

Shut up.

[ Pats him on the back gingerly, making a SYMPATHETIC FACE. The smell really is overwhelming, even when she's actively trying not to breathe in too deeply. ]

[ But when he moves, she sidles along with him, keeping a close eye on his blindspots. SHE'S GOT YOUR BACK, PARTNER. ]

[carptricks]

[YOU'RE A BRO AOKO]

[nothing jumps out at them as they move, though the stench does get stronger and more unbearable the closer they get to the cafeteria line. and they'll be able to see. . . a brownish, goopy substance overflowing from the food trays]

Blech.

[justichthys]

U-Ugh … [ Aoko's voice drops to a low, queasy whisper. ] I feel like I'm gonna be sick.

[carptricks]

[Kaito's is a pained grumble]

Y-you're gonna be sick? Don't be sick all over me!

[ugh. . . ugh. but he gets as close to the cafeteria line as he can before he leans over to peer into the brown. . . slop. for any signs of a puzzle piece]

[justichthys]

Don't be gross, Bakaito! I'm not gonna be sick on you!

[ SHE HAS THAT MUCH CONTROL, OKAY. Eugh. And now it is time to stop thinking about that, because the more she does, the queasier she feels. ]

[ While Kaito's looking at the … slop … Aoko continues to keep all of her senses peeled for any sign of an impending attack. After the baby alien from the infirmary, she does not want to take any chances. ]

[carptricks]

I'm not the one being gross here!

[there don't seem to be any enemy combatants in the immediate vicinity. perhaps that's a good thing?]

[. . . but predictably, there is a sparkling piece of platinum in one of the food trays with the brown slop. it's halfway covered with grossness, and Kaito groans when the glint catches his eye]

Aoko, can I use your staff?

[justichthys]

[ It might be a good thing. Or it might be a "the slop is going to turn into a monster" thing, which, frankly, by this point? Would not surprise Aoko at all. ]

You … eugh! [ Grumpily hands it over to him. ] You can wipe it off afterwards.

[carptricks]

I don't see you leaping at the chance to stick your hand into this muck!

[takes the staff from her, though one hand still covers his face, and starts to poke at the sparkly platinum thing to dislodge it from the slop]

[. . . the ground underneath their feet begins to rumble]

[justichthys]

That's because I was the one trying to fish puzzle pieces out of gross stuff last time! It's your turn!

[ … wait. that's. ]

[ WHAT KIND OF RUMBLING IS THAT ]

[ Aoko shifts edgily, eyeing the floor. ]

If something jumps out at us, how long do I need to give you?

[carptricks]

That wasn't gross, that was just a giant monster made out of jello.

[he manages to dig the platinum piece out of the brown goop as he grumps at her. HOORAY. . . . it's totally covered in the substance, though. which is still pretty darn gross]

[the rumbling isn't very loud, but it is noticeable. thankfully it doesn't seem to be getting any worse?]

I've got it now. So if something jumps out at us, we're taking it on together.

[justichthys]

It was gross! You weren't the one who got grabbed by it.

[ Even as she grouses, Aoko looks around. Where's the rumbling coming from ...? And then she glances up, towards the ceiling. She's not exactly sure how to use a grappling gun, but up might be a good way to go if they need a quick get away. Or if the floor caves underneath them. ]

R-Right ...

[carptricks]

[there doesn't seem to be a source, but the ceiling does have a nice series of rafters that would be incredibly friendly to a grappling hook]

[Kaito hands Aoko's staff back to her, makes one last disgusted expression, and snatches the platinum puzzle piece from the goop pile. the slop squishes disgustingly between his fingers, but. PUZZLE PIECE, GET]

[simultaneously, a giant purple tentacle suddenly bursts through the chrome flooring near the entrance to the room. THERE IS. SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THEM]