AB Game (Round 2)

[Vulpix]

Three teams of five return to the Library through the three coloured doors.
The lights in the Library are off. That's a bit odd, you think. You do your best in the dark to retrace your steps from your door to the main hub.

When everyone has arrived, the Library explodes into light and music starts playing from a boombox.

Looking around, all fifteen people and one lobster are accounted for, although Rocky and Psychic are both bleeding profusely and Punk-02 deliriously stumbles around.

"AHHHHH! They're getting blood on the carpets!"

"I'm on it, Semi!"

Demi attacks the two bloody participants with gauze and anti-septic wipes. He bandages their injuries while Semi frantically scrubs the bloodstains on the carpets with paper towel and Mr. Clean.

There are paper party hats and fruit punch on a table. Streamers and banners are strung up between the shelves. Helium balloons are tied to chairs. One big table has a cake on it that says "Congration you done it!" and there's confetti all over the floors.

"This was s'posed to be a fun surprise party. Then you had to bleed all over our hard work..."

"You should all take the time to celebrate while you still can. Who knows how many of you will survive till next time?"

"The Round 2 AB Game is about to start. It'll be the same as last time, so I hope you remember the rules!"

The six smaller tables are already assembled into the AB Voting Booths, with three walls each and an iPad for voting.

"Grab yourselves some refreshments and ask any questions you gotta ask before you go into your voting booths. Because once those doors close behind you, there's no coming out till every team's voted!"

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

After the medical care, Psychic is able to remove his tie from around his wrist, where it had served as an impromptu tourniquet. He eyes the blood soaked garment for a moment before throwing it into the garbage.

The newly 6 fingered man sits down on a chair and munches on party snacks with a thousand yard stare.

“So, uh, what happened to you?” he asks his fellow injured, Rocky and Punk-02.

[Vulpix]

Dec 12, 2023 18:05:27 GMT -6 ⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆ said:

After the medical care, Psychic is able to remove his tie from around his wrist, where it had served as an impromptu tourniquet. He eyes the blood soaked garment for a moment before throwing it into the garbage.

The newly 6 fingered man sits down on a chair and munches on party snacks with a thousand yard stare.

Rocky moves his lobster to the big lobster tank, which now has some decor including a Spongebob Squarepants pineapple for him to hide in and a sexy lady in a bikini that bobbles under the filter's current. He then slumps down next to Psychic and starts munching on some snacks from the veggie tray.

"Got stabbed by her."

He points to Punk-02.

"So, how'd you get yours?"

He nods in the direction of Psychic's bandaged hand.

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

Dec 12, 2023 18:11:17 GMT -6 Vulpix said:

"So, how'd you get yours?"

He nods in the direction of Psychic's bandaged hand.

"O-Oh, um... well..."

Psychic considers making up a heroic lie, like saying he lost his fingers attempting to save Sam's life, but Virgilia, Defective, Enemy, and Phantom Arm are right there, and Psychic doesn't doubt that one of them will call him out on the lie immediately.

"...A crab cut them off with its huge pincers."

[Nekomaru]

What they told me back then... I'm not sure how accurate it is. But I think everyone deserves to know.
I approach the group and keep my voice low, so Semi and Demi don't listen in.


"Everyone... I think there might be a deeper reason we're here. Back in the Kingdom of Listorn, they told me of a prophecy. Part of it mentioned that the outside world is enveloped in a plague. I'm not sure why we'd entrust ourselves to these monsters, or if they're simply taking advantage of our being here... But either way, I don't know if leaving is the right thing to do. We should tread carefully."

[Sachi]

"Kaerun isn't lying. I'm still not certain of the nature of these worlds we wind up in after going through the coloured doors. But I think it's possible that there's more information to find in ones we've already gone through."

"Uh, hey, sorry to interrupt whatever you guys are yappin' about, but I beefed up the lobster tank while you were gone. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself."

The lobster tank has been given some additional decoration on the inside. There's a plastic clam that opens up to being a bed, a treasure chest that blows bubbles when opened, a lot of underwater flora dotted around, and a mermaid Barbie sitting down on a pile of rocks. There's a sign approximately where the lobster once stood that says "BE RIGHT BACK", and a piece of warning paper on the top of the tank that says "SALT WATER ONLY".

[Ame]

[Source] Nekomaru said:

"Everyone... I think there might be a deeper reason we're here. Back in the Kingdom of Listorn, they told me of a prophecy. Part of it mentioned that the outside world is enveloped in a plague. I'm not sure why we'd entrust ourselves to these monsters, or if they're simply taking advantage of our being here... But either way, I don't know if leaving is the right thing to do. We should tread carefully."

[Source] Sachi said:

"Kaerun isn't lying. I'm still not certain of the nature of these worlds we wind up in after going through the coloured doors. But I think it's possible that there's more information to find in ones we've already gone through."

"A plague? Did you get any sort of name for it? Or even any symptoms?"

Gaap looks concerned, almost scared

"I don't mean to stoke anyones fears, but the Red Door revolved around an unknown plague that caused havoc."

[Source] Sachi said:

"Uh, hey, sorry to interrupt whatever you guys are yappin' about, but I beefed up the lobster tank while you were gone. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself."

The lobster tank has been given some additional decoration on the inside. There's a plastic clam that opens up to being a bed, a treasure chest that blows bubbles when opened, a lot of underwater flora dotted around, and a mermaid Barbie sitting down on a pile of rocks. There's a sign approximately where the lobster once stood that says "BE RIGHT BACK", and a piece of warning paper on the top of the tank that says "SALT WATER ONLY".

"Oh! That's cool! So cool! Hey Demi, could you tell me all about the upgrades you made? As we go around and look at your amazing craftsmanship?"

Once Demi has turned toward the tank, she turns to Kaerun and Novella, mouthing 'I'll distract him'

[Sachi]

"There isn't much left to say, unfortunately. 'A great plague swept the land and your people took refuge in the library' - it was something along those lines."

The lobster crawls back into its tank, having left to grab some of the provided refreshments. They get a bit soggy in the water, but what can you do?

"Oh, there he is. Well, he's got a house, two choices of beautiful wife, and a lot of ways to make bubbles. He's living a better life than you guys are."

[jash]

Uhhhh God yeah my Heads still Kumaing! ringing, but I'm atleast very thankful that I finally have my wits about me. Whatever was in that Room, these crazy Kumaing! rocks, made me go crazy and stab that twerp over then.

She motions to Psychic and his hand.

But it looks like I made out better than you. What, are ya not able to read a crustaceans mind?

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

Dec 12, 2023 19:40:03 GMT -6 jash said:

What, are ya not able to read a crustaceans mind?

"It caught me off guard. Those crabs were exuding some really strong anti-esper energy, y'know? It was hard to focus on their, uh, brainwaves."

Psychic fidgets.

[Ame]

[Source] Sachi said:

"Oh, there he is. Well, he's got a house, two choices of beautiful wife, and a lot of ways to make bubbles. He's living a better life than you guys are."

"You know. That doesn't feel like a very high bar."



Gaap kneels down and taps on the glass a few times to get the attention of the lobster family

"I feel like I'm getting more use to this... whether or not I should be, is a different question."

"Say. Demi, it kinda bothers me."

She stands up, and looks at him



"Well. Not bothers me like it upsets me. But I can't make heads or tails of it."

"Why do you and Semi always welcome us back? I hadn't really thought of it before. Maybe it was a breaking-in party? My head was too frazzled to really think about it but."



"If you're our captors, why would you celebrate our continued success and survival? I'd understand a macabre or machiavellian 'good job on not dying... this time' or something malicious like that. But it feels like you're genuinely happy. That you're celebrating our success with us. But I just can't figure out why."

[Hansbulla]

(( Vulpix ))

Exvy takes a seat next to Rocky, uninterested with the celebratory elements.

"...Sorry about your injury. I should've watched my pair more closely."

[Sachi]

"Ummm... The longer you survive, the longer the game goes on for. Yeah, that's it! What, you thought we were really excited or something? Haha, no way! It just, uh, prolongs your suffering! Muahahahaha!"

Not paying any mind to Demi, Novella returns to Voivoide - through sheer coincidence, one of the same opponents she went against in the previous round's AB Game.


"Hello again Voivode. Shall we just get down to it, then? Kaerun, I hope you don't mind if we jail the Count for another round. It worked wonders for our morale last time."

[Nekomaru]

Dec 12, 2023 20:14:51 GMT -6 Sachi said:

"Hello again Voivode. Shall we just get down to it, then? Kaerun, I hope you don't mind if we jail the Count for another round. It worked wonders for our morale last time."

"That's right, I had forgotten about him! Let's get to it."
I help Novella drag Voivode into the Red Door.

[Sachi]

The pair grab one arm each of the silent vampire and chuck him through the door. There is no resistance. He might even find it funny.

No idea where you're going, Mr. Count, but I hope you enjoy your forced vacation.