-[ prismic △ sanctum ]-

[SHIVERS]

You try to grab a book, but find that it won't budge. None of them seem to have titles, either, now that you look across the shelves.
It takes you a moment to realize that they're fake; just plastic props that look like books.

Looking out the window again, the 'blue glow' you see is from what you guess is dim sunlight attempting to pierce through a thick armor of rainclouds.
In addition, the garden and the fountain from the earlier window were both level with where you were in both rooms, both giving the appearance that you were on the ground floor, as best you're able to tell.

The first door was the red one you noticed just across from where you first came into the study.

You don't feel hungry... You can't even remember if being hungry is something you're capable of or not, but you head for the kitchen regardless.
As you enter, you note that the stairs are around the corner, and the other door - a flimsy-looking brown wooden door with a deadbolt on it - is just through the kitchen.

The kitchen itself is simple - cabinets and drawers, a fridge, a microwave, a sink; things of that nature - though its color scheme is odd. The tiles are purple and black, the walls just around it are painted indigo, and that odd color scheme persists throughout. Even the fridge is purple.

One other thing you note is that there's a knife block on the counter, which has all its slots full save for the biggest one, which is empty.

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CURRENT ROOM: STUDY

[knux400]

Big knife is missing. I don't like that. Real quick, what is our skin made of? How much damage would a knife that size hypothetically do?

Let's take the second biggest knife and check the flimsy wooden door. Carefully.

[seppawku]

make sure to check there’s nothing on the stairs while u go to the door, corners r a Hazard

[SHIVERS]

You aren't sure what material your 'skin' is made of, but from touching it experimentally, you wager that a knife could most likely pierce clean through.

You can see the stairs from where you are, though you have to crouch down a little to see the top.
You don't see anyone on them, or anything else suspicious.

Attempting to arm yourself, you grasp the second largest knife handle and pull, only for it to stay stuck fast.
You try every other handle, but find none will come out, no matter how hard you pull.
All the knives are fake, and the knife block itself seems to be rooted to that spot on the counter.

Giving up on securing a weapon for the moment, you walk over to the door.
While it's fairly thick, it looks quite old, not held together well at this point.



You unlatch the deadbolt and go through, proceeding with caution.

You find yourself in an alley, the sky orange in the beginnings of sunset.
There are various trash cans and dumpsters around nearby, all with sturdy padlocks.
It looks like it's rained recently, as there are puddles scattered about.
Brick buildings with boarded up entrances blockade you towards a single path, just around the corner down some steps.

You can hear a strange whirring sound up ahead.

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CURRENT ROOM: ALLEYWAY

[seppawku]

ominous, i love it! splash in a puddle for funsies (U DONT GOTTA ITS JUST RELAXING) and maybe slowly approach the noise? would be good to try n spot what it is before going too far twds it- we’re kinda trapped between alley, path, and mansion.

[knux400]

Mmm, ominous whirring. My favorite. Investigate it cautiously, and be ready to run or fight if needed.

[1011686]

Look at the architecture of the buildings around you. Do they look real, or are they fake like the books and knives? Like, do they have windows?

[SHIVERS]

You take a quick glance at the buildings in the alleyway.
You don't see any windows, but you suppose that's not uncommon, considering this is a back alley.
Tracing your hand along one of the walls, they feel solid. 
Real enough, you suppose.

You round the corner and walk towards the noise, staying cautious.
Up ahead is a wall with a fork going right and left, which you quietly approach.
When you hear the noise growing louder, you determine that whatever is making it must be getting closer, and duck behind one of the dumpsters.
You carefully peek your head out.

As you watch, a small, floating machine of some kind enters your view from the right side of the fork up ahead.
It's bathed in a sphere of red light with itself at the center, the sphere extending out a few feet in diameter, just enough to reach the walls and pavement.
You only see it for a few seconds, its movement slow enough to watch as it exits your view at the left side of the fork.
As it leaves, the whirring grows quieter, but doesn't fully dissipate.

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CURRENT ROOM: ALLEYWAY

[knux400]

Did the sphere have any noticeable effect on the walls/pavement it touched? If there are any objects on the ground, did it do anything to those?What did the machine itself look like?

If the coast is clear, continue down the fork where the floaty orb machine came from.

[seppawku]

if it’s clear u can proceed, but definitely stay out of the machine’s light. i wouldnt think it can ‘see’ traditionally outside that?

[SHIVERS]

The red sphere didn't seem to have any visible effect on what it touched, or anything around nearby that you can see.
The machine itself just looks like a metal ball, about the size of your head, with a split at its center. You think the split is lit with a red glow, though it's difficult to tell through the red tint of the surrounding sphere.

You continue down the alley, nearing the wall now, and duck behind another dumpster.
After a little while, the machine passes through the fork again, in the same way as before: coming from the right and leaving to the left.

You want to make your way down the fork - noting to yourself that you should stay away from the red light - but you aren't sure which direction you should take; left or right.

You take a moment to think it over.

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CURRENT ROOM: ALLEYWAY

[knux400]

Let's head down the left fork, towards one of the H things. The Red Ball of Death™ seems easy enough to avoid as long as we keep track of it and duck behind objects when necessary.

[seppawku]

go for right and trail it so we dont run face first into it otw left

[SHIVERS]

The next time you see the red ball pass, you stand up from behind the dumpster and follow it along the left path as quietly as possible.
You make sure to give it a wide berth, and it doesn't seem to notice you at all.

The path has another fork not far up ahead.
The machine makes its way around to the right, so you head to the left once again, shortly finding yourself at a dead end with a strange ladder.

The ladder itself isn't all that odd; it's black and metal, like one you would find leading down from a fire escape. However, it leads up into a metal hatch at the bottom of a large cube of brick wall jutting from the side of the nearby building, just big enough for a person to reasonably fit inside.

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CURRENT ROOM: ALLEYWAY

[knux400]

How fast is the red ball going? Did we have to jog or sprint to keep up with it?

Anyway, let's head up the ladder and push open the trapdoor carefully.

[seppawku]

does the hatch look like it’ll be noisy? tho ig not much choice regardless!

[SHIVERS]

The red ball wasn't moving very quickly, and you were able to keep up with it previously simply by walking at a brisk pace.

You climb the ladder and open the hatch as quietly as possible.
It's not very quiet, the hatch is old and heavy, and creaks as you open it.
You pause after the hatch noisily opens, but hear the sphere pass by once again, seemingly on its usual route.

Fairly confident it isn't following you, you climb through and shut the hatch behind you.

The room you find yourself in is lined with black tile and sloped inwards slightly, all directions leading to a hexagonal grate in the center, presumably a drain.
There is a pool one floor above you, which you have no trouble figuring out upon looking through layer of glass that separates the pool water from the room you're in.

It's hard to make out much else in the above room thanks to the constantly-moving water obscuring your view, but the pool itself is indoors and seems ordinary, resembling one you might find in a cheap hotel.
The pool room lights are the only source of illumination in this room, as well, making it fairly dim.
You find yourself watching the light swirling on the floor from the pool ripples, which is oddly calming.

Just ahead of you, past the length of the pool, is another hatch on the floor, identical to the one you just climbed through.

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CURRENT ROOM: BACKUP DRAIN

[knux400]

Are any of the tiles wet at all? Can we see any sort of locking mechanism on the ceiling that might allow it to open and let the water through? Once we're done investigating, let's continue cautiously through the hatch on the other side.

On a semi-related note, how well do we think we would do in water? Do we need to breathe?

[SHIVERS]

None of the tiles appear wet or even damp in the slightest, and you can't see any way to let the water through from above.

From what you know of botleys, they don't need to breathe and are mostly waterproof, as long as they aren't submerged for too long. 
However, there is a non-zero chance that you may be an atypical model, or just modified in some way. 
It'd be very helpful if you could remember more, and you hope you do soon. In the meantime; the less chances taken, the safer you'll probably be.

You open the hatch and descend the ladder, shutting the hatch behind you.



Once on solid ground, you check the room.
There's a chain link fence just next to you, surrounding a padlocked hatch on the floor in the corner, though the fence's gate is wide open.
Looking down the hall, you see a set of double doors far at the end.

Overall, the hall is very rudimentary and not kept up well, looking like it's purely for utility purposes.
Dust and dirt line the corners while rust coats most of the metal in the room, including the ladder you just descended, the fence, and the other hatch on the floor.

Though, the padlock on the hatch looks brand new.

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CURRENT ROOM: MAINTENANCE ACCESS

[knux400]

Does the padlock need a key or a combination? Proceed cautiously (honestly you should just do everything cautiously at this point) to the double doors and peek through.

[seppawku]

^
figure out what the padlock takes to keep in mind if we can come back, and approach the doors

[SHIVERS]

You push back the gate and kneel down to inspect the padlock.
It's got a small keyhole on the bottom, and the padlock itself is highly reinforced.
Someone definitely didn't want anybody getting in here.

With that out of the way, you open the double doors quietly and peek through.



The area outside is open to the sky, though you can't really see it through the doors.
It's dark, it's raining, and you can hear what sounds like rushing water very close by. Possibly a river? It's hard to tell.
The doors lead out to a platform of some kind - one that's deep black in color, making it quite hard to see - though there's a bit of lead-up to it, a short bit of 'hallway' (if you could even call it that with how short it is) leading to it. This makes it difficult to see anything else other than the black platform, the rain falling onto it, and dim light from somewhere above; moonlight through stormclouds, you guess.
In front and beside the platform, everything just looks black.

Not seeing any danger, and wanting to investigate, you push the door open and step outside.



You walk out onto the platform and take in the view, and lose your breath.



This chamber is massive, at least five stories tall, possibly more, you're not even sure you can see the top.
And it's even longer than it is tall, like a colossal hallway.
More impressive, though, are the rushing waterfalls spanning the entire length of the corridor, both sides pouring down into a black abyss somewhere below.

You look up, only to end up wiping the rain from your face.
You try again, shielding your face, and are given a view of a pitch-black, empty sky.
Moonlight does helps slightly, making it so the corridor isn't entirely dark, but it does nothing to--

A sudden boom of thunder and lightning overhead startles you, not merely from the noise, but the view:
The split-second splinter of light crackling through the sky illuminated the murk just long enough for you to take in the monumental, swirling stormclouds looming high above.

Fear strikes you for a moment, ringing in feelings of smallness and isolation in this strange place for the first time, but you quickly try to shake it off and steady yourself.

You catch your breath.



You know there's more to explore here - namely, the ladder somewhere behind you - but something catches your eye before you search.

A couple of stories higher than you, far in the distance on the other end of the corridor, there's another platform.
It's similar to yours, and through the darkness, you can just barely make out... a figure.

Someone, or something, standing near the edge of that platform.



You want to take just a few steps forward to look closer, though the platform is slightly precarious.
There's no railing, and the black marble is slick with rain, but the edges of the black marble have holes and ridges should you lose your balance.
You're also not very close to the edge yet, and the platform has plenty of room left for you to walk forward a bit more.

You're fairly certain you can do this safely, and you're... extremely curious.
This may be the first - or only - other person you'll see in this place. 
...But you're hesitant, still.

Should you take just a few steps forward to get a closer look?
Or play it safe, and ignore the figure on the other platform?

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CURRENT ROOM: WATERFALL CORRIDOR

[seppawku]

get a closer look... it’s risky but i don’t think we can pass it up, we haven’t seen anyone else yet

[knux400]

Take a few steps forward (but not too many so we don't fall into the abyss) and wave at the figure.

[SHIVERS]

You take a few steps forward, making sure not to get too close to the edge, and wave at the figure.
You don't see any movement, but at least now you can get a closer look.

Shielding your eyes from the rain, you squint.



It looks like... an aerosoul, you think.

They're a good deal taller than you, and just... bigger in general. 
More than a little imposing.

And you think you spot deep violet eyes on... what you assume are their hands... which seem to be staring at you.

...So an aerosoul is a fairly safe bet, although you can't make out the morph, or really any--
Lightning strikes, and a gust of wind howls, causing a significant amount of water from the falls on your right to veer off and slam against you, blinding you as it tosses you off-balance.


You gasp.


You panic.


On instinct, you let your body drop hard, landing on your bottom on the platform, which you grip as best you can.


When you feel safe enough, you wipe your eyes to find that you only moved a couple of feet from where you were standing, and you aren't near the edge at all.
You're relieved, and feel a little silly for getting so worked up.
You stand back up and check the figure, only to find that they've disappeared.
Glancing around the corridor, you don't see them anywhere, which is more than a little concerning.





Settling on the fact that the figure is nowhere to be found for now, you turn around to scan what you missed before, now that you've got the chance.

There's indeed a ladder to what is now your right, which leads up a couple of stories (by your estimate) to a ledge that runs along the west wall; above the small entrance hallway you came through earlier.
It's very narrow, but just wide enough that you believe you could safely crawl across it.

At the ledge's middle, there's a square hole just big enough for you to crawl into.
You can't really see anything inside, but it looks like a tunnel, or possibly an open vent.

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CURRENT ROOM: WATERFALL CORRIDOR

[knux400]

...Considering the wind and the lightning, maybe the hole is a little safer. Let's go that way.

[ಠ_ಠ]

before you enter the hole, take a look at how many floors the building youre in goes up. if you can get to the roof you could maybe signal for help or get a good view of the surrounding area

[SHIVERS]

Just like you were able to see before, you estimate about five stories up, if you count the floor your on as the first.
Though, it's difficult to tell exactly.
You don't see any way onto the roof at all, and judging by how inconsistent this place is with itself, you're not sure how much being up there would help, if there even is a roof.

You climb the ladder in the corner and dismount at the top, taking great care to make your way across the small ledge to the hole, climbing inside once you reach it.

It doesn't seem to be a vent, or at least not like any you can imagine; it's not made of metal, but rather some kind of white, heavy-duty plastic... you think.
Not finding anything of particular interest inside, you crawl your way through it, taking turns when you reach them.



Eventually, the hole just seems to... end, with just a wall of similar material presenting itself in front of you.
On second glance, however, you realize the 'wall' doesn't meet the edges of the tunnel seamlessly.
You push at it experimentally, and find it slides forward.

After enough pushing, the large plastic cube gently dislodges itself from the end of the tunnel, leading out into a plain concrete room.
You climb out into it, stretching your legs now that you have the chance again.

There's only one way forward:  an adjacent hall that seems to end with a fancy-patterned curtain instead of a door.
With no other way to go, you make your way down the hall.



As you near the curtain, you hear something.

...It sounds like music. 

A piano being played, you realize.



You tilt your head to listen, confused, and hear footsteps alongside the music.
They grow closer, your body tensing up at the sound. 

A large shadow appears in front of you, just beyond the curtain.
It moves forward away from you a few steps, then stops.

You freeze in place, unsure of what to do.
You don't hear any further movement, but you can still barely see the shadow ahead of you past the curtain.

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[ಠ_ಠ]

throw open the curtain and tackle the shadow

[knux400]

Does the shadow look like the figure we saw earlier? In any case, let's not attack just yet, although be ready to fight should the need arise.

[SHIVERS]

You resist the urge to spring out and attack.
However, you can't make out much about the shadow since they stepped forward.

With a piqued curiosity borne of fear and mild annoyance, you carefully pull back the side of the curtain barely enough to look out, readying yourself just in case.



Whoever they are, you doubt they're the purple figure you saw earlier.

They're garbed in a deep red cloak with a hood, and sporting some kind of gloved suit, effectively covering all of their body that you can see... except their tail.
It's big, vaguely reptilian, and curled at the end, looking quite powerful. 
You can't discern any specific species from it, as it could belong to several.

The figure is currently leaned over a railing just in front of you, focused on something else down below, though you have no idea how long that will hold their attention.
You vaguely note that this might be some kind of seating box before your gaze is drawn and locked to the large kitchen knife in their gloved claw, their other hand perched on the railing.

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[knux400]

Seems like they're waiting for something. Don't bother trying to see what they're looking at, just step back as quietly as you can and leave.

[ಠ_ಠ]

"Hi"

[SHIVERS]

You decide against trying to speak to them. 
Despite not having contact with anyone else since you got here, you worry they may be hostile.

You let the curtain go and start stepping back as quietly as you can, making no sudden movements.

However, the simple act of releasing the curtain makes it sway just slightly, the fabric retaining the movement longer than expected.
You manage to back your way a few feet from the end of the hall, the tunnel just around the corner.

The curtain opens, and the cloaked figure steps through.
"Stop." They hold their knife up.
You were already in the process of stopping on instinct alone.

You can see them entirely now: a red-colored chorosy, clad in a similar jumpsuit to the one you've got, though theirs seems to be modified to fit their species.



There's some kind of text on their right shoulder, but with their arm up you can't make it out.

"Who--"
"Hi," you blurt out.

"...Hi.
Do you have a weapon on you?
I need you to turn around so I can see."

You oblige for the moment and turn around for them, showing that you don't have anything.

"Alright, you can face me again.
Who are you?"

You hesitate.
It'd be easier to run for the tunnel facing this way.
That'd be your best chance to get away, and you'd have to do it now if you're going to.
Maybe that's the best call, but you aren't sure.
It'd be difficult to move fast enough through the vent to get away, and right after the vent is the ledge.
...And they might be friendly.


You need to commit to something now, either way.

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[knux400]

Turn to face them again.

"My name is Mantis. I woke up here a few minutes(?) ago. I don't remember anything else."

"please don't stab me"

[Lilium Mortem]

Yo, I've got a wicked case of the amnesia, no idea what's going on, and paradoxically my robot body is suseptible to stabbing, so please don't do a murder on me

[SHIVERS]

You turn to face them.
"My name is Mantis. I woke up here a few minutes ago... I think.
I don't remember anything else, I have amnesia.
...I am susceptible to stabbing, please don't murder me."

The chorosy looks you up and down, taking particular note of the text on your shoulder.
After a moment, they lower the knife.
"...Gonna hazard a guess and say the same people got you that got me.
Unless you're working with them. Not that you look the type, but can't be too careful.
Either way, I'm not gonna murder you.
Just don't try anything."
You can see now that their shoulder reads "ROUX".

They fidget, tapping their thumb on their leg.
"Did you find an exit?
Or anything useful at all? Anything that might stand out?"

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[ಠ_ಠ]

I saw a aerosoul that was purple standing on a roof and also a floating orb in red light and also i think other color orbs so i think this adventure has to do with colors since im green and youre red. Whats ur pronouns also.

[Lilium Mortem]

The floors seem to be labeled in reverse order, wait do you have a mental map too? despite being on different floors there are several windows that depict ground level in different climates, I woke up in a room where there was a big ol window looking out into a snowy landscape with a fountain. Doors can lock behind you, uh... there were these red orb sentries I had to sneak past in a façade of a city, really just like three alleys. that brings up the point that everything here seems to be built for looks only. like it's some kind of theme park and everything is just set dressing.

[knux400]

"One of the first rooms I found had eight chalices in it, with seven differently colored orbs. The ceiling was mirrored, and the reflection had the missing orb on it. I had to go upstairs to a similar room, grab the missing orb from there, and put it into the chalice on the bottom floor.

The orbs were blue, teal, purple, yellow, orange, pink, and red, and the one we had to move was green, like us.

Also we have a big plastic cube, it's in the other room. It was concealing a tunnel in the wall."

[SHIVERS]

You wonder where to start; what information might be valuable.
Ultimately, you decide to tell them everything you can remember, just in case.

"This place is unpredictable and does not generally make sense.
I've had doors close and lock behind me, for one.
When I awoke I was facing a fountain through a window in a snowy landscape, but I've also seen different climates, weather, and times of day through windows in different rooms as well as when going 'outside' myself.
Nothing was consistent, as if it was all built for looks only; just set dressing, like a theme park.
Some windows also seem to lead out to the ground floor, despite those rooms being on higher or lower floors from each other comparatively, which obviously doesn't line up spatially."

"Speaking of, do you also have a sort of... mental map? 
More than just picturing a layout in your head, I mean. I'm able to build a detailed map as I navigate. 
I've had it since waking up."

"I also believe color may hold some significance.
One of the first rooms I found had eight pedestals, with seven small spheres of different colors.
I was only able to leave when I went upstairs to a similar, mirrored room and retrieved a sphere from there to then place on the empty pedestal downstairs.
The spheres were blue, teal, purple, yellow, orange, pink, and red, and the one I had to move was green, like myself.
There was a floating, orb-shaped machine patrolling an alleyway that emitted a red light, like yourself.
I also noticed what I believe was an aerosoul with purple eyes - high on a platform above me - in a room with waterfalls just before I reached this room.
I waved at them, but they were gone when I looked back."

"I made it here through a tunnel I crawled through, just down this hallway. 
It had a large, plastic cube concealing its entrance, which I had to move.
...Also, what pronouns do you use?"



An awkward silence permeates the air for a few moments as the chorosy simply stares blankly back at you.
"That's... a lot of info. 
Probably more than I needed, but that's my bad."

"I don't have a 'map', but something else along those lines. 
Same as you; had it since I woke up."

"That 'red orb machine' you mentioned:  I turned that on by accident.
Nudged it with my foot while walking through there. I saw it float and that red light and just got out of there.
Might be red 'cause I turned it on, or could just be a coincidence."

"Either way, color definitely seems like a pattern. 
Those colored spheres; I also ran into something similar right at the beginning, but I got locked out of those rooms when I left.
Same with the fountain in the snow."

"You're the first person I've seen, though, so I don't know about anyone purple.
I know I'm not going the way you saw them, though. 
Until I know what's going on, the less people I run into, the better.
Someone must've done this to... us, so I wouldn't trust anyone, if I were you."

They turn around and pull back the curtain to leave, but hesitate.



"...You can tag along if you want. 
I don't really trust you much, but I'd say we have better odds of making it out with two of us.
And I bet that mental map you've got could help a lot with finding a way out; I've been managing best I can, but navigating this place is confusing as hell.
Us both going through that same alley, taking different routes, and ending up in the same place says to me that it'd be easy to go in circles, or get lost.
So... we could stick together til we find an exit, if you want.
Your call, since I'm on the fence about it."

"And pronouns, just... they is fine, I guess. 
Wish I could remember if that's what I used to use, but it works for now. 
You?"

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[knux400]

"They/them... I think. That's what it feels like right now.

I think our odds are better if we can find whoever else is in here and work together to get out. If they turn out to be mean, then... Sticking together will be helpful in a different way."

Since SOMEONE took the only good weapon, we may as well stop back at the previous room and arm ourselves with the wall cube.

[ಠ_ಠ]

"Do you have any theories for what this might be? Like maybe it's a prank show or something?"

Also keep in mind that while wandering rooms forever may be a good way to get more info, it would help if you could at some point determine an overall theme of this place that might point to the exit. Since you aren't likely to find an exit any time soon and there is no way to tell what is around, may as well go find any weird stuff you've already run into and poke at it a bit until you can determine something about it. That weird orb didn't hurt you so if they are willing you could go to it together and poke it.

[SHIVERS]

You really don't think the cube would work as a weapon; too heavy, too unwieldy. 
It would be helpful to find a weapon soon, though. 
You resolve to keep an eye out.

"They/them... I think. That's what it feels like right now."
"OK."
"Do you have any theories for what this might be?"
"Pretty obvious to me:  Someone kidnapped me, or us, and put us here. 
Wiped our memories, now they're using us for an experiment. 
Or maybe it's just a game to them, played with real people.
Don't really need to know specifics to know this isn't good, but I know I'm not dying in here."

"...I think our odds are better if we can find whoever else may be in this place, and all work together to get out. 
If they turn out to be dangerous, then... sticking together will be helpful in a different way."
"Look, if you're sticking with me, then we're not picking up anyone else. Not unless we're-- I'm sure we can trust them.
I don't like my odds if both of you turned on me.
And even if you didn't, if someone else did, they could still kill one or both of us.
You have that map of yours, so I'm willing to risk it with just you.
You can go by yourself if you want to pick up every stranger you meet."

"So, are you coming or not?
Need a straight answer."

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CURRENT ROOM: ???

[seppawku]

i’d say we should go with them. caution can’t hurt

[knux400]

"...I guess I'll stick with you for now. By the way, um, what were you looking at on the balcony when I found you?"

[SHIVERS]

Caution can't hurt, you decide.

"I'll stick with you for now.
By the way, what were you looking at on the balcony when I found you?"
They give you a look, but it's hard to discern.
"...Thought you might be watching. 
Anyway, I was just about to show you."
They wave you along to follow as they pass the curtain again.

You follow them out, and find them leaning against the wall beside the balcony railing.
They motion with their head for you to take a look.

As you step up to the railing and look over, it soon becomes apparent what this room is:
You are currently in one of the few seating boxes of a large - and very ornate - theatre, more seats below you and more boxed seats around the rim of this upper floor.
The piano music you'd heard before is much more audible here, and you soon see why.
Most of the theatre is quite dark, the exceptions being some yellow dot lights on the ceiling in a constellation pattern, thin strips of red lights on the floor beside the lower seats, and a single bright spotlight illuminating a piano - playing itself - on the otherwise empty theatre stage.

"It just started up out of nowhere after I started searching all these seats."



You notice that the chorosy is pressing themself into the wall somewhat, as if subconsciously trying to add a scant few inches of distance between the two of you.
"Don't think I hit anything to make it happen, my guess is someone saw I was in here and started it on purpose.
Right around the time I got worried it was a distraction to ambush me, I turned and saw that curtain move, found you.
Could've just been bad timing, or maybe seeing the knife gave you cold feet... 
Can't really say for sure."

"Doesn't matter much right now."
They put a claw to their chin.
"I'm more than a little curious about the piano, but we'd need to actually get there.
There's only one other door around this top floor, which isn't likely to even lead to a way down there, knowing this place.
It's a high drop, too. Doubt it's fatal, but might break a leg... not worth risking.
Doable with a rope, though, I bet.
...But part of me doesn't want to touch that thing with a ten-foot-pole. It turning on by itself like that doesn't make it feel safe."
The chorosy shrugs with their shoulders.

"Oh, one other thing."
They wave to catch your attention before pointing somewhere down below, prompting your eyes to follow.
"See that?
There's exit signs at the bottom, but they aren't lit up, even though the other emergency lights by the seats are all on.
...Not really sure why. Just seems weird to me.
Might be nothing."

"I shouldn't think too much, anyways:  
The other door up here seems like our only option, less risky than running into that aerosoul if we go back your way."

Show ContentMAP:

CURRENT ROOM: GRAND STAGE

[knux400]

Let's go through the door, then. Does the song seem familiar to us or to Roux?

[SHIVERS]

"Let's go through the door, then."
"It's around through here." They push back a curtain beside the one you came through, another just past it.
They stop as you begin following, giving a final note. "Not too close."

You follow, maintaining a few feet of distance.
The song catches your attention as you pass through more of the upper seating boxes, looking out on the piano. 
You don't recognize it at all, unfortunately.

"Does this song seem familiar to you?"
"If it did, it doesn't anymore."
"Fair enough."

The two of you reach the backmost seating area, and they point at the closest door.
"This is the one I came through. Passed a construction site on the way, didn't find much.
There's a couple of tunnels there, but both are blocked off. 
One caved in as I was passing through it, the other's blocked by some heavy stuff on a forklift I couldn't get working.
...Just, so you know."



"This one," they put a claw on the handle of the second door. "I didn't check yet."
They open it and step through with you in tow.

It's quite dark inside, though there are dim lights on the floor and ceiling that give you enough bearings to walk without falling.
The floor, oddly enough, seems to be sleek metal.
Roux hurries ahead after a moment, heading further down the hall.
"Think those are win... dows..." 
Their voice trails off as they reach the supposed windows, staring 'outside'.
You follow along and mirror them as you look out.

You can see... almost nothing.
Empty space. Outer space.
A scant few dots, most likely stars or distant planets, otherwise just empty black.

"...Has to be... some kind of effect. 
Maybe they're using scraps to make the rooms look like this, somehow.
I don't know. Don't know why they would bother, either.
It doesn't really matter, does it?"

Show ContentMAP:

CURRENT ROOM: STATION HALL C

[knux400]

"I think it's best if we keep going. Hopefully we'll figure this place out soon."

"...Unless you want to break the window and find out?"