[ Maomao manages to scrape by and dodge the scuttling creature closest to her when it leaps for her as she runs back the way she came. These things have a lot of motion range. That's not great. Back up the stairs she goes, but she might want to make a pit stop as three of the little rats(?) decide to team up to tackle Neverah right as she gets back to the staircase.
The first one jumps down on her from above, landing directly on her face (or what passes for it recently), obscuring about half her vision as it latches on and starts chewing. The other two land on her left leg, slowing down her steps. They are also attempting to chew through her clothes and her current metal body. What a way to find out that robots feel pain!
She can probably keep running with them on at the number they're at right now, but she should probably shake them off sooner or later.
There are currently six other rats(?) in the room with them still heading their way. ]
[bluescreens for a second before her screen turns bright red. angy.
she can deal with the two on her legs for now, but she shrieks a little when the first drops onto her face, immediately trying to pull it off and stab it with her pipe.
if thats successful, she'll run to the staircase while internally praying the other rats dont get to her.]
[ They're not too hard to shake off if you try hard enough; the trick to these is clearly for them to hunt in packs. Neverah manages to take off the rat(?) on her face, leaving behind a thin crack over the screen vertically that sometimes leaves her vision on the right side either completely dark or oddly pixelated. When it's pixelated, she will swear that she sees people she knows in the corner. These vanish whenever she turns to look.
She can stab it with her pipe, but unless she decides to leave the pipe inside the thing, it will bounce back and start approaching them again alongside its compatriots. It gushes an odd kind of goo and isn't doing well, but it has a single-minded approach to life that goes Feed Feed Feed.
Neverah makes it to the stairs with Maomao, who will unfortunately only be successful in whacking one of the creatures off her legs with that wrench.
The rest of them follow after with an excited cry, eagerly trying to run up the stairs with them. Unfortunately this is the open staircase plan without doors to let them into the floors, so they are not stopped by the stairs and will follow, though they are small enough that they are definitely slowed down by it.
They can either run back downstairs or go up to the third floor and following. Also, let me know if the girls are paying much attention to their surroundings while keeping in mind it is still Dark As Shit in here. ]
they have to go up so maomao will be heading up to the third floor. she is going to be paying attention to their surroundings to look for a door or to be sure they don't have more cursed creatures climbing out of cracks or something ]
[she does not leave the pipe inside it, so they will have to worry about one more flat. it's fine. she tries to run even with the one creature still trying to chew through her clothes - her goal now is to get as much distance as possible between her and the others.
between the darkness, her impacted vision, and the sight of familiar faces every so often, she's too distracted to be doing a great job at paying attention to her surroundings as they move to the third floor.]
[ The good news is, by the time they reach the third floor, the last creature clinging to Neverah has been fully shaken off by movement alone. Maomao is paying enough attention to notice that the walls look oddly flesh like as they climb up further on this staircase. There also something that looks like little glowing orbs growing out of the flesh above them.
The creatures are many stairs behind and seem to be losing interest the more distance there is between them and the girls at this point. At least two of them seem to have fallen off the stairs entirely in their quest to jump for them too, landing a full storey below with a splat that does not answer if they survived the fall or not. It does not seem like these creatures chase forever.
On the third floor, they have as always the option of continuing up the staircase with its growing masses or trying to cross the floor to see if there's another way up. They can observe that the third floor seems to have been dedicated to recreating an open office floor plan; empty chairs and computers lined at desks. There doesn't look to be any dead robot on the floor or suspicious non-rats on this one, but again. It's dark as balls in here. ]
[ For the damage, on top of the cracked screen, there's a small metal chunk missing in Neverah's leg. It is not leaking and there are no exposed wires though! Wow. If only you guys knew how to translate this to human wounds.
While they make their decision, there's a fun sound in the background. It seems to be coming from the flesh walls. Well, that's fine.
There is no sign of disturbance on the third floor. ]
Why is it getting louder and closer. Why are the walls getting fleshier. Why is the flesh slowly taking over the staircase. Why are there more weird glowing pustules on them. Well, surely that's not a problem.
They are now on the fourth floor! This one looks like it was meant to be the cafeteria/dining hall. Do robots need to eat? Hm. There are long tables and a canteen and even a unnamed little ROBOWAY restaurant. Everything looks in nice enough shape, and there's strangely enough no flesh around here.
A single robot sits on one of the tables with a bowl of screws in front of it. It seems to be in the center of the visible floor. It is pushing them around like it is uninterested in its "meal", and it is not looking towards the girls as they come up.
Oh, also, this is the first floor that is actually lit up outside its staircase. The neon lights flicker uncertainly and are rather dim, but they're not red! This is such progress. ]
[ The girls move away from the fleshy staircase. The fleshy staircase remains available for backing up into if they want to go say hi to the flesh again.
Going further into the cafeteria, they'll note that there are two doors visible; one completely on the opposite side of where the staircase is, and one behind the counter where you'd get your food served. No little rats(?) pop up from hidden corners this time as they walk through it. They can see enough to check that there's nothing on the ceiling of note, though now they can see the BEWARE OF RATS poster properly.
It also says, in small script impossible to read in darkness, Remember to keep the lights on!
Wow. If only they knew they had a flashlight.
They can explore the counter and ROBOWAY restaurant, try to see if there's anything of note around the tables, move on to either of the doors or go talk to the robot. Currently, the robot does not seem to have noticed them. ]
anyways she is going to head to the far door (opposite from staircase) to check it. are there any notes or locks on it? are there any weird sounds coming from behind it? ]
[ The robot looks up at Neverah. 👋 its screen reads before it proceeds to just stare at her for a good few seconds.
Then:
🆔.ᐣ
The door at the opposite end requires a keycard to get into. There is, however, a window to this one. It looks like... a different staircase? This one more well-lit. There's muffled sounds like people talking on that side as well.]
[ The robot looks at Neverah for a long time before it finally answers with its display screen:
🌸🦊
That doesn't sound entirely right. Except now that she's looking closer, the clothes he's wearing look similar to Jiaoqiu. He's even got little fox ears on top of his display screen. Was that always there?
👋
Unfortunately, with the door closed, Maomao can't overhear a full conversation. But it sounds almost like it's bustling over there. Safe. The more she tries to listen, the more she gets that feeling. If only they could get the door open, maybe they'd be safe on that side. Maybe they'd get answers on that side. Maybe the way out is closer on that side. ]
maomao will head back towards neverah, pausing to look over the counters and tables as she goes. anything on the ground? any secret maps or hints on how to use the flashlights? any extra keycards? ]
[softly, surprised. she barely registers maomao as she comes over through her own focus, absentmindedly pulling the lanyard out and handing it to her. surely this will be fine.
no subject
unfortunately she rolled a 3]
Why is always rats—
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The first one jumps down on her from above, landing directly on her face (or what passes for it recently), obscuring about half her vision as it latches on and starts chewing. The other two land on her left leg, slowing down her steps. They are also attempting to chew through her clothes and her current metal body. What a way to find out that robots feel pain!
She can probably keep running with them on at the number they're at right now, but she should probably shake them off sooner or later.
There are currently six other rats(?) in the room with them still heading their way. ]
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Ah.
[ ( O_O ;)
taking out the medium wrench to use as a bat. if nev succeeds in getting up here she will be trying to whack the flesh rats off of her ]
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she can deal with the two on her legs for now, but she shrieks a little when the first drops onto her face, immediately trying to pull it off and stab it with her pipe.
if thats successful, she'll run to the staircase while internally praying the other rats dont get to her.]
no subject
She can stab it with her pipe, but unless she decides to leave the pipe inside the thing, it will bounce back and start approaching them again alongside its compatriots. It gushes an odd kind of goo and isn't doing well, but it has a single-minded approach to life that goes Feed Feed Feed.
Neverah makes it to the stairs with Maomao, who will unfortunately only be successful in whacking one of the creatures off her legs with that wrench.
The rest of them follow after with an excited cry, eagerly trying to run up the stairs with them. Unfortunately this is the open staircase plan without doors to let them into the floors, so they are not stopped by the stairs and will follow, though they are small enough that they are definitely slowed down by it.
They can either run back downstairs or go up to the third floor and following. Also, let me know if the girls are paying much attention to their surroundings while keeping in mind it is still Dark As Shit in here. ]
no subject
they have to go up so maomao will be heading up to the third floor. she is going to be paying attention to their surroundings to look for a door or to be sure they don't have more cursed creatures climbing out of cracks or something ]
no subject
between the darkness, her impacted vision, and the sight of familiar faces every so often, she's too distracted to be doing a great job at paying attention to her surroundings as they move to the third floor.]
no subject
The creatures are many stairs behind and seem to be losing interest the more distance there is between them and the girls at this point. At least two of them seem to have fallen off the stairs entirely in their quest to jump for them too, landing a full storey below with a splat that does not answer if they survived the fall or not. It does not seem like these creatures chase forever.
On the third floor, they have as always the option of continuing up the staircase with its growing masses or trying to cross the floor to see if there's another way up. They can observe that the third floor seems to have been dedicated to recreating an open office floor plan; empty chairs and computers lined at desks. There doesn't look to be any dead robot on the floor or suspicious non-rats on this one, but again. It's dark as balls in here. ]
no subject
if it wasn't for the possible danger she would be very curious about the flesh walls.
since there are no signs of flesh creatures here, she will turn her attention to neverah to check the damage ]
It doesn't look like they are following, but we should spend too long here. Should we check for anything useful?
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[gestures to her cracked screen.]
Unless you see something you would very much like, I would prefer to keep going.
[not that she loves the idea of continuing into the increasingly fleshy staircase, but!!]
no subject
While they make their decision, there's a fun sound in the background. It seems to be coming from the flesh walls. Well, that's fine.
There is no sign of disturbance on the third floor. ]
no subject
That is true. Let's keep going up.
[ before whatever it is decides to come out. ]
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[to the next floor and away from this sound they go!! she can worry about her vision and her leg later!!]
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Why is it getting louder and closer. Why are the walls getting fleshier. Why is the flesh slowly taking over the staircase. Why are there more weird glowing pustules on them. Well, surely that's not a problem.
They are now on the fourth floor! This one looks like it was meant to be the cafeteria/dining hall. Do robots need to eat? Hm. There are long tables and a canteen and even a unnamed little ROBOWAY restaurant. Everything looks in nice enough shape, and there's strangely enough no flesh around here.
A single robot sits on one of the tables with a bowl of screws in front of it. It seems to be in the center of the visible floor. It is pushing them around like it is uninterested in its "meal", and it is not looking towards the girls as they come up.
Oh, also, this is the first floor that is actually lit up outside its staircase. The neon lights flicker uncertainly and are rather dim, but they're not red! This is such progress. ]
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maomao is going to look at the robot, then at neverah ]
This one is actually sitting up.
[ do we want to take a break from the fleshification of the stairs or push on ]
no subject
[a less fleshy way!! this is hateful. if maomao agrees, she'll move into the room itself.]
no subject
Going further into the cafeteria, they'll note that there are two doors visible; one completely on the opposite side of where the staircase is, and one behind the counter where you'd get your food served. No little rats(?) pop up from hidden corners this time as they walk through it. They can see enough to check that there's nothing on the ceiling of note, though now they can see the BEWARE OF RATS poster properly.
The now visible picture looks like this.
It also says, in small script impossible to read in darkness, Remember to keep the lights on!
Wow. If only they knew they had a flashlight.
They can explore the counter and ROBOWAY restaurant, try to see if there's anything of note around the tables, move on to either of the doors or go talk to the robot. Currently, the robot does not seem to have noticed them. ]
no subject
How are we supposed to keep the lights on?
[ maybe... maybe they will figure it out.
anyways she is going to head to the far door (opposite from staircase) to check it. are there any notes or locks on it? are there any weird sounds coming from behind it? ]
no subject
[but since maomao has the door handled she'll come towards the other robot]
Hello. Enjoying your break?
no subject
Then:
🆔.ᐣ
The door at the opposite end requires a keycard to get into. There is, however, a window to this one. It looks like... a different staircase? This one more well-lit. There's muffled sounds like people talking on that side as well.]
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22106. And yours?
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🌸🦊
That doesn't sound entirely right. Except now that she's looking closer, the clothes he's wearing look similar to Jiaoqiu. He's even got little fox ears on top of his display screen. Was that always there?
👋
Unfortunately, with the door closed, Maomao can't overhear a full conversation. But it sounds almost like it's bustling over there. Safe. The more she tries to listen, the more she gets that feeling. If only they could get the door open, maybe they'd be safe on that side. Maybe they'd get answers on that side. Maybe the way out is closer on that side. ]
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maomao will head back towards neverah, pausing to look over the counters and tables as she goes. anything on the ground? any secret maps or hints on how to use the flashlights? any extra keycards? ]
Could I use the key for a moment?
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[softly, surprised. she barely registers maomao as she comes over through her own focus, absentmindedly pulling the lanyard out and handing it to her. surely this will be fine.
she turns back towards the other robot.]
How long have you been here?
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