bakerstreet | (no subject)

(no subject)

Ever wanted to tag a character yours has no good reason to know? Ever wanted your character to be forced to interact with someone they're supposed to hate? Now's your chance!

You character has been trapped somewhere-- and they're not alone. Pick the scenario(s) and genre(s) you're open to, and post with your choices and character's information in the subject line. Use the random number generator or your own discretion to reply to others' posts.

SCENARIOS

1. TRAPPED IN AN ELEVATOR The old standby. You're stuck until someone can rescue you, or until one or both of you can get this box moving again.

2. TRAPPED IN AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER Maybe there's a nuclear winter, or maybe you were just exploring and wandered in here. Either way? Right now, you're stuck.

3. TRAPPED IN A CAR You were driving long-distance when your ride broke down, so now you're stuck in the middle of nowhere until else someone happens by.

4. TRAPPED IN A MALL AFTER HOURS Somehow, you managed to get stuck in the mall after closing. Maybe you fell asleep in the bathroom, or were hiding in the back of the bookstore, but now the doors are locked, and you've got the whole place almost to yourself.

5. TRAPPED IN A MAZE Entering that maze seemed like such a good idea, didn't it? Only now you can't find your way out, and you're pretty sure you're not alone in here...

6. OTHER/COMBO Any other scenarios that tickle your fancy.

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[Lloyd jerks, not expecting any of that, but it's only a moment before his own temper flares to match.]

That's not what I'm talking about! I'm not talking about changing your past! I'm not talking about changing other people. I mean that everyone who is born has the right to choose their future. Even if other people try to take that away from you, even if other people try to make you be what they want, there's still decisions you can make that no one can take away from you.

[Yep, temper flaring away here]

Really?!

Then I decide not to go back to that life!

[Guys you should probably stop yelling before you cause another cave in...]

Then don't!

[Lloyd doesn't even seem to notice or care when the echoes of his shout make thin streams of grit fall from cracks in the ceiling above them.]

We united the world! We planted a new World Tree! We don't need Chosens or world regeneration! You can come back and be whoever you want to be!

Like hell! I don't believ-

[He cuts himself off when he notices the grit growing bigger, as well as the sounds of rocks rumbling. He used earth magic more than enough to know what that meant]

[Without really thinking, he responds by shoving Lloyd as hard as he can, away from the rumbling and streams of falling rocks] Move!

[Lloyd doesn't even have a chance to make more than a startled sound when Zelos rushes him before he's tackled and shoved out of the way. In fact, neither of them have much more time than that before the rock above them cracks. Lloyd's eyes widen when rocks start to fall again. Panic grips him.]

Zelos, look out-!

[He doesn't even think. His arms wrap around his friend and he jerks him even farther back, desperately trying to find a place that's safe. In a situation like this, though, there's not a chance of that. The only thing he can do is-]

Guardian!

[-is hold a shield as long as he can, no matter how much mana it takes.]

[Zelos gets jerked back easily (jeez, was he always this strong?) by Lloyd. But on the bright side, it means he's close enough to Lloyd that the shield actually protects him too. Most of the larger rocks bounce off it and fall in other directions, while only pebbles and dust gets through]

[But making sure Lloyd can hold the shield long enough without running out of mana is the question here. Having him make shields too makes little sense. Instead, he reaches out and grabs Lloyd's wrist and starts transferring what mana he can spare to the other swordsmen. It's...not a huge amount since Zelos has done this maybe a grand total of once to see if he could, but hey every little bit counts!]

[At least, this cave in probably won't go on for much longer]

[The rumbling and crash of rocks seems to go on forever, no matter that it might only actually be a few minutes. Lloyd's breath quickly goes ragged as he strains to keep the shield up and strong, mana draining like water through sand. Guardian was never meant to be sustained for very long. This... He doesn't know if he'll last.

I have to. We can't die like this.

His arms curl protectively around his friend - his friend, no matter what Zelos has done. His mana's draining fast, though. His breath catches in his throat.

Then, unexpectedly, he feels mana sinking in. He blinks, caught off guard. That's not a healing spell. It's like a breath of fresh air, like he can go on a little longer.]

Zelos...?

[He's trying not to think about about that arm that's curled protectively around him. About what it means, or the feeling that he feels safer than he would with anyone else in this situation.]

[Instead he's trying to focus on the mana transfer. It's not easy. Even if his magic power has grown through their journey and his time in Exsilium, he's still not an elf. He's already showing small signs of strain - not that he'll admit to it. Lloyd's getting the worst of this anyway.]

Just...keep it up! We're too good looking to get crushed to death!

[Argh crap- he meant to say just himself. Now Lloyd might think he cares- ugh. Whatever.]

We are?

[Lloyd grunts out a half-laugh. Even in a life or death situation, he can't just let that pass unremarked.]

You think... I'm good looking... too?

[Despite the laugh, the strain's audible in his voice now. Even with Zelos's help this is hard. Even with his own strength as an angel, there's only so long he can last, and he knows it. Won't admit it, even to himself, but the knowledge is there, looming closer with every passing second. He squeezes his eyes shut, as though he can somehow keep it from happening if he doesn't see the shield he's made fail. Another second passes. Another. A tremor runs through his arms, his legs.

Then, as abruptly as the rumbling started, it stops, until there's only the echo of shifting rocks and a few streams of grit overhead.]

[Ugh of course he caught that even though they are in a life or death situation. He needs to remember his luck is virtually non-existent]

Please shut up!

[BAKA. But he can tell Lloyd is really struggling. He's trying to give as much mana as he can, but he's too new at this to know his limits, so he keeps holding some back out of fear. Mana deprivation is a terrible way to go.]

[Then again, so is watching the one person who ever gave you true hope be crushed to death because you couldn't control your temper. That fear keeps rising in the back of his mind.]

[But luck (Lloyd's luck, probably) seems to be on their side, for once. He picks up on the sounds of it stopping first. He keeps it up for a moment or two more before finally cutting off his own mana supply. He's out of breath, sweating and probably paler (if thats possible)- but it's not nearly as bad as Lloyd]

I think it's over.

Edited 2014-03-17 13:21 (UTC)

[For a long moment, Lloyd holds still, as though he can't quite believe they're safe. Arms still around Zelos, he cautiously turns his head so he can see the rubble piling up around the edges of his shield. If he lets go of Guardian, will they just get buried beneath?

No. The rocks that fell directly on the dome slid off to the side. There's a good layer of rocks around them, maybe three or four feet deep, but not enough that they'll be in any immediate danger. Lloyd sighs gratefully and lets the shield go, the rocks on the edge collapsing down in its wake. Still shaking from the drain, he wipes his forehead.]

Man. I thought we were goners for a minute.

Yeah, no kidding.

[He takes a breath. He feels shaky and tired, but at least...they're alive. And didn't seem like they were in any immediate danger. He gives off a laugh that has a bit of nervousness to it, the sort of laugh you give when things aren't really funny- but you're still relieved that you're not dead.] Maybe shouting in a cave wasn't my best idea...

[Seriously, he can recognize that was dumb. Whether or not he was mad.]

You hurt?

[Lloyd takes a moment to take stock of himself before answering Zelos's question. In the process, he lets go of the other man - a little too quickly, as though to deny he'd been clinging to him at all. Gingerly, he touches a few sore spots where rocks hit.]

I think I'm good. Probably just some bruises.

[Well, and the cut on his head from the start, but that's been forgotten in the aftermath of the second cave in just now.]

What about you?

[Zelos isn't going to comment about the clinging. If he does, he has to think about how he didn't shove him off him the moment he clung. Best not to complicate things more than they already were]

[Just like thinking about that feeling of relief to hear Lloyd's alright. More than relief that he doesn't have to expend extra mana right now to heal him]

[He'll instead take a moment to examine himself. He's not injured beyond a couple bruises like Lloyd]

I'm fine-

[And then he notices his wings now look awful with feathers bent out of shape and covered in dirt, enough that they aren't even glowing as strongly as normal]

- Aw man! You gotta be kidding me!

[THIS IS GONNA TAKE FOREVER TO FIX]

What? What is it?!

[Lloyd straightens up with no small amount of alarm. The state of their wings don't even register to him. Since when was dirt ever that big of a problem? Especially not when much more dire things could have happened!]

[He huffs. He knows Lloyd won't get it because Lloyd is a bumpkin who thinks suspenders are a valid fashion choice]

It's nothing. My wings just got messed up.

[SO ANNOYING. Now excuse him as he tries to bend his wing so he can actually reach it to fix the feathers! Stupid. wings.]

...you're worried about your wings?

[No. No, he doesn't get it. He stares at Zelos like he said something crazy.]

Can't you just put them away if you want them clean again? It's not like your hair. Dirt can't stick if they're gone.

[Said like a guy who's never bothered washing his wings. Seriously, what's the point?]

Uh, yeah? They are a part of me.

[Even if he doesn't like it. But he raises an eyebrow and gives Lloyd a look]

Seriously? And how can you be sure the dirt just doesn't follow them...wherever the wings go when they get put away?

[HE IS SKEPTICAL AND MILDLY GROSSED OUT BY YOUR APPARENT LACK OF HYGIENE]

I'm pretty sure I would notice if I was sticking dirt inside my body.

[What lack of hygiene? Hygiene only matters when dirt can stick at all!]

Besides, shouldn't you wait until we're out of this cave before you worry about getting clean? We're just going to get dirty again digging ourselves out.

Unless you developed eyesight that can see through stuff since I've been gone, I'm gonna stay skeptical.

[He is taking no chances. Even if he almost never takes out his wings, he still likes the comfort of knowing they look damn good if he does take them out]

[But ugh, even Lloyd's stupid logic as a point there. He lets go of his wings]

Oh, right. Fine, I'll wait to preen.

[Even as his wings twitch uncomfortably because man he feels so gross right now]

Edited 2014-03-21 00:03 (UTC)

At least you don't have wings like mine. You'd take forever getting them clean like that.

[Seriously, look how many feathers he has.

Although, Zelos takes forever cleaning himself up anyway, at least by Lloyd's standards.

But speaking of getting out, Lloyd starts climbing carefully over the piles of fallen rock.]

Which way did you come in? Maybe there's more than one way out.

Yeah. I wanna shudder just thinking how messed up your wings must be.

[Between this and you apparently not taking care of them! He crosses his arms]

Uh, no way really. I just sorta...appeared here? From that other world.

[So he is absolutely no help!]

There's nothing wrong with my wings!

[It's easy to fall back into familiar bickering, easy to forget for a moment that Zelos ever died.]

Damn. I guess we'll just have to do this the hard way.

[Which means poking around the place where he came in, searching for any spots where the rubble might be thin enough that they can dig their way through.]

It's too bad we can't teleport. Man, what I wouldn't give to be able to do that. I'd be all BAM! Ten feet away!

Yeah huh, if you say so.

[Bickering was easier for him too. He didn't forget, but it was something familiar that was safe to do. It was signs of affection that he felt were trouble]

[No, he didn't realize bickering was a sign of affection too.]

[He folds his wings against his back and starts climbing out of the circle of rocks Lloyd's barrier had made. He's not exactly worried about this taking awhile. Where did he have to go?]

I dunno...if you can't see where you're teleporting to, whose to say you won't accidentally teleport into a rock?

I do.

[He flares his wings and gives them a flap just to prove his point. There's no real room to fly in here, though, so pretty soon he's following suit and folding them to get them out of his way.]

...I didn't think about that. [He's more than a little chagrined admitting that, so he quickly follows up with-] But come on, you have to admit it'd be useful! What if the way's blocked, but we can see to the other side? We could teleport to where we could see it's safe without having to dig through all that rock!

[Speaking of which, he reaches the place where the ceiling fell in initially. Gloved hands dig in, pushing rubble aside. Maybe they'll get lucky and there'll be a thin place.]