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]

We have to cross it one way or the other. Fatalis was telling the truth that there's no other clear path. Let me read you the inscription again.

In times of strife, those higher up often pay less to bypass the same problem.

I think pushing the button might turn off whatever's causing the shock. Either that or it will give me a lesser shock while you pass. Better than you taking the full brunt like before.

[bestbrotherever]

Yes. We must press on. Though leaving me behind is an option... [He trails off with a grin. Coming up with Ideas, but not saying them in case not-Solar is listening in.]

[He scoots over to the eastern edge of the square.]

I am ready.

[malignstar]

I'm not going to do that. You didn't do that to me in the other room. We're going to figure this out.

[ Going to press his pedestal button ]

[bestbrotherever]

[Quietly, intensely.] We will save Solar.

[malignstar]

[ There may be some screaming. ]

... go... for it.

[bestbrotherever]

I am at the next square. It seems no different from the previous safe ones.

How are you?

[malignstar]

[ Trying to steady breathing again ]

I've been better...

... look, it was a 50/50. Do you want to end this or not?

[bestbrotherever]

[He makes a sympathetic noise. On the one hand, he'd rather someone else feel the pain. On the other, after having gone through it, he doesn't really wish it on anyone... well, not on Felix. On the third hand, Felix is probably in a safer position than Loki is...]

Did anything change where you are? No new grids of pain surrounding you now?

[malignstar]

The grid is the same as always. But now we know what to do when we reach the pedestal spots.

Do you prefer doing sections of just one direction or a lot of directions at once?

[bestbrotherever]

Hm...

I think sections of two directions would be a good balance between speed and caution.

[malignstar]

All right. Try four to the right and one north.

[bestbrotherever]

I have reached the north square without incident. [He's trying to play it cool, but there's still a sense of relief in his voice that he can't hide. Plus, if Felix was watching him, he was in a crouching scoot the whole way, not very dignified.]

[malignstar]

Looks like they went okay. Three more steps right should bring you to the next pedestal.

[ Oh joy. ]

[bestbrotherever]

So. Two east, then wait for... the signal?

[malignstar]

Nah, three east. The fourth is the pedestal.

[bestbrotherever]

Ah, I see. Tell me if I am in the wrong position so I may correct myself before you push any buttons.

[bestbrotherever]

[He doesn't even get one square before stopping and screaming, though it soon turns to curses.]

[malignstar]

Wait, what happened? Those squares are yellow!

[bestbrotherever]

Yellow... like the portal... which also hurt?

What color... were the other squares?

[malignstar]

The ones you've been using this whole time are yellow. I don't understand...

[bestbrotherever]

[A long sigh.] Neither... do I...

[He closes his eyes.] You are certain... the only path is to the east?

[malignstar]

Yeah... I can try to push my pedestal button again. Maybe that will help.

I didn't mean to get you shocked again. Was it worse than before?

[bestbrotherever]

[He shakes his head.]

It was more like the transfer between rooms.

Which pedestal button will you press? The previous, or the one I will approach?

[malignstar]

The one you're aiming for. Maybe it can do something about the squares next to it. It's all I can come up with.

[bestbrotherever]

It seems the most likely.

[He stands up and sizes up the distance between edges in his current square to compare them to his stride.]

Press it, and I will endeavor to travel four east as quickly as possible.