BREAK-IN: Akira, Ash, Belph & Phoenix

[gatonina]

Comments

[slobjection]

Another callback, properly.

[ phoenix: wait, i can't read....... ]

[ but no, he's going to read the chalkboard in the hopes that it will be a vital important clue and not just kyuu being ominous ]

[gatonina]

[Akira can investigate the door on the lower right, but. Uh. Considering he has to walk past the window to reach the door? There is likely something that will catch his attention. The room beyond the window is dark, but that creates the perfect conditions for Akira's reflection to be all the more visible on the glass. A simple glance is all it takes for him to realize that he doesn't look quite human anymore. His features are too perfect. Too airbrushed. There's something distinctly uncanny about him. Doll-like, even. Ash will notice the same thing as Jan gently shoves him at the lower left room. And should the gang look at each other, they will abruptly notice the same thing. Almost like there was something keeping them from realizing it. It seems like the ridges where they body parts connect to each other isn't the only change they've experienced.

Rummaging through the bodies will reveal nothing. Except, maybe the fact that they are all slick and oily. Considering the condition of the room, that's likely not a surprise.

Since Phoenix knows how to read, he will discover the chalkboard says:]

Energy can never be created or destroyed.
It can only be transferred or transformed.
All must contribute if you wish to leave.

[survivaltricks]

[does Phoenix know how to read?? anyway Akira definitely stops when he sees his reflection, his expression shifting into something neutral as he blinks at the bit-too-perfect, bit-too-unreal features staring back at him]

. . .

Uuuuuh. Bit of advice: avoid looking at your reflection if you can.

[it's a bit too. . . uncanny, even if it isn't dangerous, so he moves past the window quickly!! TO THE DOOR]

[axilium]

[hm. bad!

belph heads to the window nearest the pile, aka the top-left.]

... Well then.

[that's... nice... can he open the door while he's here.]

[slobjection]

There's a little message for us. [ and he repeats the words on the chalkboard bc by kyuu decree he can read, allegedly ]

Aside from being generally ominous, I'm pretty sure it's the basics of this murder puzzle.

[ phoenix will try one of the other doors, too ]

[gatonina]

[The doors do, in fact, open. The lights come to life as they push the door open, and inside they will find an assembly room of sorts. Everything can be seen through the window, meaning that those in opposite rooms can see whatever is happening in the assembly room right in front of them. There is a panel attached to a podium close to the center of the room, where the machines are.

But as they head inside, the doors will swing shut and lock. Wow. This must be getting old.]

[survivaltricks]

[makes a face at what Phoenix reads aloud and, as he hobbles into the lower right room]

The more you call it a murder puzzle, the more I hate being here, you know. . .

[and then]

[the door slams shut]

[and Akira kind of freezes and then bangs his crutches against the closed door because CERTAINLY THAT WILL HELP???]

[axilium]

[well, shit. this entire room is ominous enough without being locked inside??

while akira bangs things, belph will check out the panel in his own room.]

[slobjection]

[ phoenix will check out the machines themselves and anything else bc kyuu is nice to me ]

Sorry. That's what Taako and Magnus called it, the last time we got stuck in something.

[ can akira even hear him now? oh well ]

[gatonina]

[Banging his crutches against the door does nothing. Sorry, Akira.

The machines are very... army. But since Phoenix is taking a look at them, he will they're each equipped with tools to solder, screw, mount, saw and grab. The arm that's hanging from the ceiling has a needle attached to it. That's probably fine.

Since Belph is the only one checking out the panel in his room, he will see that it's a touch screen. It reads:]

START?

[survivaltricks]

[UGH!! Akira's groan of annoyance is certainly loud enough for Phoenix and Belph and Ash to hear. . . but he eventually stops smacking the door. time to examine the panel in his room, roo. does it also stay "start?"]

[axilium]

[well, he hates this and does not, in fact, want to start, but he's pretty sure he's not getting out of this room if he doesn't.

so first, he yells—]

Hey, guys, I'm pressing START on mine, so sorry if this affects your rooms too!

[hopefully it won't? but he'll press the touch screen. can't wait to die.]

[slobjection]

We might need all need to press them!

[ phoenix will also look to see if there's a start button or anything ]

[gatonina]

[Phoenix and Akira will both see START? on their monitors as well.

Nothing happens in the others rooms when Belph presses his touchscreen. However, his own monitor will change to another screen. It now reads in the upper right corner:]

I. MAKE YOUR SELECTION:

[And below that he will see two images: One is a 2D anatomical model of a human body, and the other is a 2D model of a human brain.]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . hmmmm. . . after a moment's pause where Akira waits to see if anything happens, he calls out--]

All good in here so far!

[and he presses start as well!]

[axilium]

[both of these choices? are terrible?

...

but he'll pick the brain because if this potentially fucks him up either way then once everything is over, he can at least hide mental damage,]

[slobjection]

[ phoenix also pressing start ]

Anything happening for you guys?

[gatonina]

[When the others press start, they will see the same screen that Belph did. The text, with the images of a human body and a brain.

After picking the brain, Belph's monitor will display the following text:]

II. MAKE YOUR SELECTION:
> 🗙
> ✔

[survivaltricks]

[answering Phoenix:]

Something about a body or a brain?

[Akira is picking body because they may fuck him up physically but he will never let them fuck up his mind!!]

[and presuming that when he does he gets the x or ✔ screen, he is going to pick. . . the ✔]

[axilium]

Same! Hitting check here.

[and he does in fact press ✔.]

[slobjection]

[ phoenix is also clicking body.... what are they gonna do, kill him? ]

[ and check ]

Me too.

cw eye stuff..............

[gatonina]

[it took me twenty whole ass minutes to get back to this tag because i was too busy laughing

but anyway--

After making their last selection, the machines will abruptly whirr to life — and pin the group down before they can make a break for it. Nooooo escaping! Some of the arms will focus on holding their limbs still, while another attaches itself to their backs to keep them from moving their torsos. They will feel four pinpricks down their spine. A second later, and they will no longer be able to move. Based on their choices, the following things will happen:

1. The machine arms sort of just. Hover near Belph. And do nothing.

2. One of the arms will reach for Akira's missing eye. Pause. And then move to his remaining eye to pluck it right out. It comes out of its socket with a pop and little more. There is no blood or gore attached; it resembles a doll's eye more than anything else. Akira will, somehow, still be able to see without it. Though everything will now be slightly blurry, and in black and white. Inside his empty socket, there is the occasional blue spark. Huh.

3. Becks said Ash picked body and checkmark, so! :) The arms are going to move for his head, and peel off his face. It comes off with a bit of a schlurp, as if removing something that had been suctioned on. Now that his face will gone, all that will be left behind a mess red motor oil sluggishly dripping... and a metal skeleton. Ah.

4. Finally.............................................. One of the arms will snatch Phoenix's wig. Enjoy being bald, dad.

After this is done, the machines will let go off the group and they will regain the ability to move after a couple of seconds. The four doors swing open simultaneously, and the arms ascend through the ceiling and disappear, taking their loot with them. Seems like they can finally return to the previous room.]

[voidbreaker]

[ yeets this in while everyone sleeps i guess. everything is terrible. ]

Great.

[survivaltricks]

[this is]

[just]







[why]

PLEASE STOP GONG FOR THE EYES IT KIND OF SUCKS??

[anyway I guess he is. pushing himself to his feet and stumbling. . . into the main room again??]

[axilium]

[hm

getting restrained and paralyzed by machines was pretty unpleasant, so belph's shaking that off as he returns to the main room, but. nothing happened? so could've been worse—uh.]

What the hell happened to all of you?