Big Trouble in the Big House

[divus]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

... He says as he touches it...

[he takes a step back, though he doesn't leave in case the door does something weird and they need to rescue connor??]

[requiemed]

Glowing? Wait, maybe we shouldn't—

[She says, as he immediately starts trying to pick it anyways. After a second, she follows in Ray's example and takes a step back.]

Cool.

[divus]

[The lock glows even brighter under Connor's touch, and maybe it's a good thing they let him take the door because it begins to smoke under his hand. Apparently this isn't the best way to break the lock? It'll do, but they should maybe work fast.

Also, one by one the shutters of the windows begin to slam shut. So. They should probably hurry it up and get inside.]

[tootsiepop]

[WELL. Sure is a good thing androids can't feel pain, because Connor doesn't even blink as the lock starts to smoke. There may or may not be a faint smell of plastic in the air, but. You know. It's fine? He'll work as quickly as possible until the door is unlocked, completely unbothered by the fact his fingertips are getting a liiiiittle bit melty in the process.

Anyway— Time to get inside? Let's go, go, go.]

[selfimmolates]

Hey, your hands—!

[but okay let's get inside before connor's sacrifice goes to waste. he'll go in before zoe, just in case.]

[requiemed]

Uh, if just trying to get in is going to do that, maybe we should avoid touching anything else.

[But she's coming in regardless of that concern, especially when she hears that shutter doing it's thing.]

[divus]

[With that said, once they're inside the house they'll find that the windows stop freaking out and the door shuts and locks behind them. Looking around, the group will find that there's a door down the hall that's shut, another door off to the side that's slightly cracked open, and a set of staircases that lead upward. It's hard to see, but the house seems to have four stories to it.

The interior's nice enough, well furnished and homey but also very 1980s. The house feels strangely welcoming despite the fact the door wanted to kill them, lights on and bright. Even though the windows aren't open, the group will feel a breeze that smells like strawberries, and they'll hear a faint purring noise from the room with the slightly open door.

That's probably fine.]

[tootsiepop]

[... Hm. This sure is fine.

He's taking a second to check up on the state of his fingers once they make it through. They're, uh, kind of charred. Some iPhone white plastic visible where the illusion of human flesh is no longer existent? But it's fine? So, taking a glance at their surroundings—]

Two doors, and one set of staircases. [Thank you, Nancy Drew.] Where would you like to begin our investigation?

[selfimmolates]

... Whatever's making that sound. If it's dangerous, I'd rather know what it is sooner than later.

[watch it be an innocent cat.]

[requiemed]

[She pauses, then nods.]

Just don't shoot at it until we know it's actually dangerous.

[divus]

[Once the group makes their way over to the door, it will be a simple push to get it to open.

Inside, there's a living room, except that there are grapevines curving around the walls and the ceiling, ripe, red grapes for the taking. Leather couches are scattered around the room and there's a stone fireplace that isn't lit. In the corner there's an arcade cabinet that beeps on and off by itself, and as they look up on the wall they'll find...masks....

Mardi Gras masks, Venetian Carnevale masks, wooden masks, etc. But the grand prize of the room is a large, stuffed leopard's head mounted above the fireplace, eyes staring straight at the group.

Explore?]

[tootsiepop]

... Whatever it was, it's stopped.

[This seems fine.

He gives the room a cursory glance, taking in the grapevines, the fireplace, the wall of masks... He's not going to touch anything right away, but he will keep his eyes fixed on the leapard's head as he carefully moves around the room, feeling just a teensy bit paranoid by the way it's staring straight at them.]

Do you think the masks the gods wear served as inspiration for the [uh] decorations? Or, the other way around?

[Since some of the wings have been based off stuff the gods previously experienced, or whatever.]

[selfimmolates]

No idea.

[ray will keep his gun trained on the creepy ass leopard's head, thanks.]

Don't touch the grapes. That seems like a trap, at least.

[requiemed]

...It might be the other way around.

[She doesn't clarify that, though, as she looks around. She gives a short glance to everything, but it's the arcade that makes her curious. Without coming close enough to touch it, she approaches to see what kind of game it is.]

Give the creepy leopard head some space, too.

[divus]

[The grapevines seem to snake their way around some of the masks, too, and the arcade game beeps again as Zoe gets closer. It's Pac-Man, weirdly enough. It looks like it's free to play, too.

The masks are still looming overhead, but no matter where they go in the room it feels like the leopard's eyes are watching them. There's a low rumbling coming from somewhere though, almost too quiet to hear. The vines slink to the floor, growing a little inch by inch as bushels of grapes burst from the vines themselves.

Watch your step.]

[tootsiepop]

[Hm. Don't like that!

He's about to ask Zoe for clarification, but. Uh. He stops midstep, still keeping an eye on the leopard, and holds up a hand.]

Wait. Quiet. Do you hear something?

[selfimmolates]

[it's a bit awkward, but ray adjusts his gun to grip it with one hand, as he withdraws his dagger with his other hand. (how many weapons does ray have on him? don't ask.)

he nods, quiet.]

[requiemed]

[Whispered, once she hears it as well:]

Maybe we should go.

[divus]

[The vines continue to creep along the floor, sliding around their shoes and their ankles.

Purring intensifies.

Zoe maybe has a good idea, but the vines will begin to tighten and root them into place.

Hm. Bad.]

[tootsiepop]

[Oh.

This is fine.

Connor is going to try yanking his feet out of the vines' hold, but when that obviously doesn't work—]

—Shit.

[The one (1) time he'll ever curse.

Anyway, a little help from the local braincell?]

[selfimmolates]

Damn it—!

[it takes some maneuvering, but he places his gun back in its holster. which might seem like an odd move... except it becomes clear that he wanted his hand free to, uh. pull out what looks suspiciously like a 6' utility knife??]

Zoe!

[he's going to try and pass said knife onto zoe (sorry, connor, but he cares about her more than you. also, tagging order), before he tries to cut away at his own vines with his dagger. can't exactly help the roomba until he's free first??]

[requiemed]

—Since when were you programmed to swear?!

[PRIORITIES!!

Anyways, she's taking that knife and trying not to drop it in her haste. She's echoing Ray's motions, trying to cut away at the vines enough to let her move to try and help Connor.]

[divus]

[The vines cut away fairly easily since they're just vines, but as they're cut, a red, alcoholic-smelling liquid spills from the splits in the foliage. The vines are moving faster but they're somewhat manageable. Connor might even be able to rip a vine away, but there's a new problem and it's that the leopard head mounted on the wall is eyeing them.

And roars very, very, loudly.

Hello.]

[tootsiepop]

—You had the utility knife?!

[Everyone in this group has amazing priorities.




Anyway. Connor will get down to business on his end, ripping away whatever vines he can manage. Unfortunately for them— that leopard head sure is looking at them! And it sure is, you know, growling. And doing things a dead murder cat shouldn't do.

Maybe they should, uh, get free and get gone.]

[selfimmolates]

None of that matters right now, both of you!?

[pri! ori! ties!

also yeah that leopard head sure is worrying. once he's free, he'll leave connor to zoe while he gets his gun back out, pointing it at the leopard head.]

Get out—now!

[he's waiting for you two!!]