Partners In Peril: Felix and Loki

[hot_mess_express]

[Whether willing or just, there comes a magical shove to force you and someone else through the door leading down into the earth.]

[The passageway is cold, but at least it's well lit. Albeit with flames of blue fire.]

[It goes down, down, down, until you reach the first part....]

Comments

[malignstar]

You've giving me first go at the lift, it's the least I can do.

[bestbrotherever]

Many might consider me selfish, but I value pragmatism, and this is the most pragmatic arrangement.

I would recommend taking some rocks, if the lever requires extra weight to stay pulled.

[malignstar]

Good idea.

[ Going to gather some more rocks before stepping inside ]

... Uh, what's your plan for if the level doesn't do what's supposed to do. Just checking.

[bestbrotherever]

Climb down and traverse the spikes. I have done similar in the past. Often while fighting for my life.

[malignstar]

... uh okay. Long as you have a plan, I guess.

[ That doesn't sound like a plan at all. But he doesn't have a better one either. And he knows damn well by now that if he tries to offer himself instead, Fatalis would have a royal fit and probably make everything 10,000 times worse.

He takes a big breath and starts to pull the lever. ]

See you on the other side!

[hot_mess_express]

[The lift begins to move and with it, the gate latches shut.]

[It travels down the space carved out in the rock, down, down, down to the other gate.]

[There's the click of a latch here as the lift settles, allowing for the gate to be opened.]

[malignstar]

[ Well, he's not dead. That's a good sign.

Now to open the gate enough to squeeze out but not actually exit. Instead he lodges in some rocks to keep the gate from closing again, as he returns to the lever and attempts to tie it back with his jacket and a few more of the heavier rocks, to keep the jacket from sliding. ]

I really hope this works...

[hot_mess_express]

[And the lift]

[Doesn't move]

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki growls and punches the wall. Which hurts more than it should. Nice to know that he's basically human.]

Do you have another idea, or should I start the climb down?

[malignstar]

Seriously, fuck you, trial.

[ Time to kick the side before exiting through the gate ]

Maybe I can give it a push?

[hot_mess_express]

[Hey, lift just doing it's job.]

[And now Felix is on the ground floor with a bunch of spikes and the exit door.]

[bestbrotherever]

I doubt it could hurt.

[malignstar]

[ Felix is indeed going to try to push the lift back on its track or whatever it's using to traverse the distance from the ledge to the ground. ]

Come on you stupid lift, cooperate!

[hot_mess_express]

[The lift will shift and move in it's resting place, but it won't engage with any mechanism to go back up.]

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki's fuming, but he does find Felix's reactions amusing. Probably because he'd be doing the same or getting even more violent if he had been down there.]

I suppose there is nothing else for it. [Said as he gets ready to start climbing down.]

[malignstar]

[ Felix will continue to alternate between kicking the lift and pushing it. ]

This is such arbitrary bullshit.

[hot_mess_express]

[Mechanics engage under specific circumstances, those are safety features. Normally.]

[As for the spikes, there are gaps, but none of the gaps are directly in front of the ledge. To attempt to reach any of those safe spots alone would require at least something of a jump.]

[bestbrotherever]

[Picking his handholds carefully. This is a lot easier than other rock-climbing adventures, since he has no weapons or other gear to burden him. On the other hand it's more of a strain now that he's not physically a god.]

What- [catching his breath] was the point- of telling us we could return?

[malignstar]

Maybe I could try to catch you?

... Shut up. We took the lift. Now, let me do this.

[bestbrotherever]

[Glancing down and behind him at the spikes for the closest and/or largest clear spot.]

If you wish- to risk the spikes- though you are already past them.

[hot_mess_express]

[There does seem to be one or two places with a cluster of space spots nearby. Enough for two people to stand, maybe.]

[Alone is still a jump range though.]

[malignstar]

Do you really think you can make the jump on your own?

[bestbrotherever]

[Taking another long look at the clear spots.]

If I were not stuck as a mortal for this trial- I would say I could with little trouble. But I am stuck in a far weaker body and I do not know what I am capable of now. And these trials are meant to encourage cooperation, so- I would not turn down help.

[malignstar]

All right, let me see if I can find a spot that gives me a little room. In case I need to adjust my footing.

[ Going to start walking toward spikes to give them a better look. ]

... chill. A few cuts aren't going to kill us. We're not the ones jumping.

[hot_mess_express]

[There are a number of safe spots, easier to see this close. The spike field isn't risk free, to be sure, but with care, more than possible to get across it and most of the way to the ledge.]