[ Aoko would be more impressed by Kaito's skill and speed, but she's a little busy right now. All of her focus is on the aliens in front of her. They have knives—she spotted them earlier—and now that the guns are out of their hands, they're going to … ah, no, nope, she has to move quickly! ]
Don't even think about it!
[ By the time the guns are clattering to the ground, Aoko's striking again, this time aiming to WHACK one alien upside the head and to the side. The side, incidentally, that his alien buddy is standing at—knock 'em off balance, keep them from being able to draw those knives, and maybe, if she's lucky, the hit will be enough to take one of them out! ]
[. . . well, sort of. her strike cracks over the first alien's head before it can lift its weapon, and its HP bar flickers above its head with a 25% HP remaining as it stumbles right into its companion. the force of Aoko's blow was so powerful that the collision sends the second alien askew as well. there's the sound of metal clattering against the ground as both creatures drop their knives.]
[a low growl rumbles in the second alien's throat as it lunges for Aoko, empty-handed, to maybe try to tackle her to the ground or something. the first alien is too dazed to move]
[AND MEANWHILE, IN KAITO'S CORNER]
[both aliens are hovering at about 50% HP remaining, and both of them are still armed to the teeth. as Kaito backpedals, they both swivel their guns around to take aim at him, shooting without hesitation. the magician lets out a curse and ducks behind another nearby crate, allowing the laser beams to thump against it harmlessly]
How're you doing, Aoko!
[he calls out before he ducks out from behind the crates and shoots at the aliens once again. two more direct hits, and one of them even manages to get the alien to drop his weapon]
[ Oh, wow! She'd actually done it! She'd—EEK. Aoko yelps as the alien lunges for her, backpedalling rapidly, staff swinging once more in a wild attempt to fend it off. Doesn't matter if her attack doesn't knock the alien out; she just needs to buy herself some time and space to regroup! If that thing takes her to the ground, then … then … she's finished! ]
HELP!
[ Your girlfriend is sounding pretty panicked there, Kaito! ]
[Aoko swings her staff, and the advancing alien catches it in one hand. it's nearly upon her now!1 and from this close up, she can see its ugly mug of a face, covered in gray scales but completely unprotected by any armor at all]
[. . . its eyes are bloodshot and probably very, very vulnerable]
Aoko--!
[Kaito cries out when she calls for help, and he immediately bolts out from behind the crates. which. . . turns out to be a terrible idea, because the alien that is still holding its gun immediately shoots at him. there's a surprise yell and a hiss of pain as the laser beam strikes his shoulder. 80% HP remaining]
Hang on. . .!
[he levels his weapon at the alien who just shot at him and fires, knocking that creature's weapon out of its hands as well, before he swivels to face Aoko yet again. but at this rate, he might not be able to get to her in time]
[ What an ugly face you have, Sir! Aoko stares, wide-eyed, trembling from head to foot as she stumbles into a quick backpedal. It's only a game—it's nothing more than a simulation, but it looks so real, and … … and is it just her, or are the alien's eyes decidedly bloodshot? There's no armor there … it's unprotected. ]
[ She has to ignore Kaito's yell. There's no time; if this thing catches her, it's all over! He'll be fine, he'll be fine, she tells herself furiously, before she lets go of the staff and throws herself forward, swinging her fist right for the alien's face. BETWEEN THE EYES, ASSHOLE. ]
[the alien stumbles back, its body glitching out of existence like the aliens before it had. apparently that blow was so powerful, Aoko managed to defeat the thing in one strong hit. imagine that. for her, this only leaves the alien she knocked upside the head with her staff earlier. its still lying on the ground, dazed and unable to move]
[Kaito would gape in awe, but he's still dealing with two gun-slinging aliens himself. he barely has time to say anything about Aoko's powerful punch before another laser beam comes careening his way. this one, he dodges, before he lifts his weapon and shoots the creature in the face]
[it stumbles back, glitches, and then disappears]
. . . nice, Aoko!
[two aliens left!1 but considering Aoko's is incapacitated and Kaito's has no weapons, it should be a snap to get rid of them. right?]
[ It should be!1 … … but Aoko's still hesitating, staring at the prone alien. It's down. She should finish it. But it's down … … it's just a video game, but it feels wrong to attack something that isn't attacking her. She bends to pick up her staff, staring at it the whole time. ]
[ It's just a video game. ]
[ But it's already incapacitated. ]
[ It's just a video game. ]
[ But it's still— ]
Kaito! [ Calling out, without looking. ] Do you need any help over there?
[he barely has time to finish his sentence before the other alien lunges at him, its scaly hand reaching for its knife. but Kaito, even while distracted, is quick. he backpedals just as the creature swings the blade in his direction, avoiding what would be a very messy wound if Iota wasn't censoring the violence so much by mere centimeters. he swings the handle of his laser gun forward, knocking the alien's wrist hard enough to disarm it.]
[and then he takes aim and fires off one last shot, which strikes the enemy in the gut. the alien stumbles back, glitches out. . . and disappears]
-- it! I've got it!
[meanwhile the incapacitated alien just. continues to not move]
[ God, if this wasn't such a heavily censored game, Aoko would've died of a heart attack just watching Kaito barely avoid that swing. She almost still does. But Kaito's quick, has sharp reflexes even when he's distracted, and he makes short work of his foe. It glitches out, vanishing back into the ether (or the Matrix), and Aoko feels herself breathe again for the first time in several long seconds. ]
[ One down, one to go. ]
Almost done …
[ … She's still hesitating. Her staff is up, she could strike, but. It's not attacking. It's just a video game construct, but it's not attacking. ]
[and it doesn't look like it's going to attack, either. Kaito trots up next to Aoko, his shoulder bleeding from a very light scratch he accumulated when he was hit by a laser beam earlier. his gaze flickers from Aoko, to the alien, and back again]
[ She twitches in surprise at the touch to her elbow, glancing sharply towards—ah, it's Kaito. Of course it's Kaito. Her expression falls into relief, and she immediately follows his tugging, more than willing to step away from the prone alien. ]
Are you okay, Kaito? You're bleeding.
[ Relief, relief, so much relief. She just hopes Iota'll let them through the door without getting rid of that last enemy ... the poor thing doesn't look like it's going to get up any time soon. ]
[he lets out a light, wry laugh, and tilts his head to give her a scrutinizing look]
And who was bleeding earlier after they practically got stabbed by that baby alien?
[there's a metallic sliding door in front of them, on the opposite side of the rather large room. on the ground next to it lies a glimmering, glinting object. . .]
[ That was your fault—Aoko doesn't say, because that would be rude and maybe a little unfair. She just gives him a flat look instead. ]
How much HP do you have left? There might be another boss in there. [ Or it could just be the treasure; they have no way of knowing for sure either way. ]
80%. We've still got some food, right? We'll be fine.
[he follows her as she beelines for the shiny. which, upon further examination, is in fact another piece to their 3D puzzle!! that makes four pieces that can be slotted together to make one, whole object]
[Kaito's almost surprised they haven't had to use any of their HP healing items yet, but. welp. maybe they're just THAT GOOD at video games]
[while Aoko puts the puzzle together, Kaito approaches the door. . . which slides open right in front of him]
Easy. . . [but the room beyond is dark, and he can't see into it. after a bit of fiddling, Aoko will find that the puzzle pieces link together to create a 3D capital iota symbol!!]
[ You don't live in Kyriakos for as long as Aoko has without developing a healthy sense of wariness, okay. She returns to her puzzle, trying it this way and that way, until finally—]
You say that, Kaito, but you're the one I had to rescue from a baby alien earlier. [ Arches her eyebrows at him, super archly. ] If anybody's got reason to be scared, it's you!
[ Starting forward, bravely marching into the dark unknown! ]
[. . . SNORTS, and follows her, though not before checking behind them to make sure the alien that was fallen earlier isn't getting up to go after them]
[They slip into the dark room, and the door swishes shut behind them. The only noise they can hear is something humming gently, but without any light, it's impossible to tell where it's coming from. So. . . it's a good thing that the room is suddenly illuminated by blue tinted tubed lighting snaking all around the walls, huh?]
[Each bulb flickers on one by one until the entire room is bathed in blue light. The tubes are curved into strange 'S' shapes that dance across the walls, forming weird, curved patterns as they intersect. In front of them, they can see a pathway that leads to a pedestal sitting against the farthest wall. And on that pedestal. . .]
[Sits a box, which is encased in glass. Carved into the pedestal is a small indentation that is shaped like the capital iota symbol that Aoko holds in her hands]
[Kaito ventures forward carefully, because despite the lack of hazards, he doesn't want to risk getting taken off guard by something hiding in the shadows]
I think we figured out what the weird puzzle thing is for.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Don't even think about it!
[ By the time the guns are clattering to the ground, Aoko's striking again, this time aiming to WHACK one alien upside the head and to the side. The side, incidentally, that his alien buddy is standing at—knock 'em off balance, keep them from being able to draw those knives, and maybe, if she's lucky, the hit will be enough to take one of them out! ]
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[. . . well, sort of. her strike cracks over the first alien's head before it can lift its weapon, and its HP bar flickers above its head with a 25% HP remaining as it stumbles right into its companion. the force of Aoko's blow was so powerful that the collision sends the second alien askew as well. there's the sound of metal clattering against the ground as both creatures drop their knives.]
[a low growl rumbles in the second alien's throat as it lunges for Aoko, empty-handed, to maybe try to tackle her to the ground or something. the first alien is too dazed to move]
[AND MEANWHILE, IN KAITO'S CORNER]
[both aliens are hovering at about 50% HP remaining, and both of them are still armed to the teeth. as Kaito backpedals, they both swivel their guns around to take aim at him, shooting without hesitation. the magician lets out a curse and ducks behind another nearby crate, allowing the laser beams to thump against it harmlessly]
How're you doing, Aoko!
[he calls out before he ducks out from behind the crates and shoots at the aliens once again. two more direct hits, and one of them even manages to get the alien to drop his weapon]
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HELP!
[ Your girlfriend is sounding pretty panicked there, Kaito! ]
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[. . . its eyes are bloodshot and probably very, very vulnerable]
Aoko--!
[Kaito cries out when she calls for help, and he immediately bolts out from behind the crates. which. . . turns out to be a terrible idea, because the alien that is still holding its gun immediately shoots at him. there's a surprise yell and a hiss of pain as the laser beam strikes his shoulder. 80% HP remaining]
Hang on. . .!
[he levels his weapon at the alien who just shot at him and fires, knocking that creature's weapon out of its hands as well, before he swivels to face Aoko yet again. but at this rate, he might not be able to get to her in time]
[IMPROVISE, AOKO]
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[ She has to ignore Kaito's yell. There's no time; if this thing catches her, it's all over! He'll be fine, he'll be fine, she tells herself furiously, before she lets go of the staff and throws herself forward, swinging her fist right for the alien's face. BETWEEN THE EYES, ASSHOLE. ]
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[IT'S A DIRECT HIT]
[the alien stumbles back, its body glitching out of existence like the aliens before it had. apparently that blow was so powerful, Aoko managed to defeat the thing in one strong hit. imagine that. for her, this only leaves the alien she knocked upside the head with her staff earlier. its still lying on the ground, dazed and unable to move]
[Kaito would gape in awe, but he's still dealing with two gun-slinging aliens himself. he barely has time to say anything about Aoko's powerful punch before another laser beam comes careening his way. this one, he dodges, before he lifts his weapon and shoots the creature in the face]
[it stumbles back, glitches, and then disappears]
. . . nice, Aoko!
[two aliens left!1 but considering Aoko's is incapacitated and Kaito's has no weapons, it should be a snap to get rid of them. right?]
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[ It's just a video game. ]
[ But it's already incapacitated. ]
[ It's just a video game. ]
[ But it's still— ]
Kaito! [ Calling out, without looking. ] Do you need any help over there?
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[he barely has time to finish his sentence before the other alien lunges at him, its scaly hand reaching for its knife. but Kaito, even while distracted, is quick. he backpedals just as the creature swings the blade in his direction, avoiding what would be a very messy wound if Iota wasn't censoring the violence so much by mere centimeters. he swings the handle of his laser gun forward, knocking the alien's wrist hard enough to disarm it.]
[and then he takes aim and fires off one last shot, which strikes the enemy in the gut. the alien stumbles back, glitches out. . . and disappears]
-- it! I've got it!
[meanwhile the incapacitated alien just. continues to not move]
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[ One down, one to go. ]
Almost done …
[ … She's still hesitating. Her staff is up, she could strike, but. It's not attacking. It's just a video game construct, but it's not attacking. ]
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[he reaches out to take her gently by the elbow]
C'mon. . .
[tug tug]
Let's go.
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Are you okay, Kaito? You're bleeding.
[ Relief, relief, so much relief. She just hopes Iota'll let them through the door without getting rid of that last enemy ... the poor thing doesn't look like it's going to get up any time soon. ]
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And who was bleeding earlier after they practically got stabbed by that baby alien?
[there's a metallic sliding door in front of them, on the opposite side of the rather large room. on the ground next to it lies a glimmering, glinting object. . .]
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How much HP do you have left? There might be another boss in there. [ Or it could just be the treasure; they have no way of knowing for sure either way. ]
[ BEELINE FOR THE SHINY. ]
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80%. We've still got some food, right? We'll be fine.
[he follows her as she beelines for the shiny. which, upon further examination, is in fact another piece to their 3D puzzle!! that makes four pieces that can be slotted together to make one, whole object]
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It's the last one! [ It's a cheering thought. Aoko brightens, and immediately sets about slotting the puzzle together. ]
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[while Aoko puts the puzzle together, Kaito approaches the door. . . which slides open right in front of him]
Easy. . . [but the room beyond is dark, and he can't see into it. after a bit of fiddling, Aoko will find that the puzzle pieces link together to create a 3D capital iota symbol!!]
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Too easy, if you ask me.
[ You don't live in Kyriakos for as long as Aoko has without developing a healthy sense of wariness, okay. She returns to her puzzle, trying it this way and that way, until finally—]
Kaito, look! I did it!
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[pppauses, because he's not going through that door alone, that's for certain. then he glances back at Aoko, his gaze flickering towards the puzzle]
What d'you suppose it's for?
[though that might be a question neither of them can answer right now]
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[ Puzzle in hand, she trots over to join him in front of the Mysterious Door. ]
It could be some kind of weird key. I doubt we'll know until we go through there.
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Are you scared? It's pretty dark beyond this doorway.
[he teases]
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[ Starting forward, bravely marching into the dark unknown! ]
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[They slip into the dark room, and the door swishes shut behind them. The only noise they can hear is something humming gently, but without any light, it's impossible to tell where it's coming from. So. . . it's a good thing that the room is suddenly illuminated by blue tinted tubed lighting snaking all around the walls, huh?]
[Each bulb flickers on one by one until the entire room is bathed in blue light. The tubes are curved into strange 'S' shapes that dance across the walls, forming weird, curved patterns as they intersect. In front of them, they can see a pathway that leads to a pedestal sitting against the farthest wall. And on that pedestal. . .]
[Sits a box, which is encased in glass. Carved into the pedestal is a small indentation that is shaped like the capital iota symbol that Aoko holds in her hands]
[There aren't any obvious hazards in this room]
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I think we figured out what the weird puzzle thing is for.
[he says, nodding at the pedestal]