Partners In Peril: Mao and Naho

[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

[hot_mess_express]

[Mao will hear something sliding and clicking in place right in front of him.]

[beeknighted]

[???]

[misinforms]

[After a moment, Yuurei's voice will return, even if it's a bit shaky.]

You... should be able to move forward now. Five steps.

[beeknighted]

Are you okay? One, two, three, four, five...

[misinforms]

I'm fine. You don't need to worry about it. When you get there, turn left and take one more step before turning right. Then take three steps and stop again.

[beeknighted]

...What happens when I stop?

One step left, one two three right. Is something going on up there?

[misinforms]

It's another of those spots like before...

[She's not eager about it.]

[beeknighted]

You need to do something up there, don't you? What is it, Yuurei?

[misinforms]

It is a simple matter of pressing some buttons, that is all.

[Uh huh.]

[beeknighted]

Then why does pushing buttons make you sound so strained?

[misinforms]

Because it's a pain.

[Literally.]

I don't like repeating myself, so listen up. If you can't follow orders than this is about to become much more difficult for you. I won't go easy on you if you aren't going to be useful to me.

[At. At least she's honest......]

[hot_mess_express]

[Another sliding and clicking sound in front of Mao.]

[beeknighted]

I'll follow your orders. And if whatever is happening up there is something you think you can handle, then I'll respect that.

But if it's too much, I have a high pain tolerance. So let me know if you need a burden shared.

What would you like me to do, Yuurei?

[misinforms]

I-If you w-w-want to h-help me th--then get through this s-s-stupid maze so we c-can get o-out...

[This time, it's a lot more obvious that she's having a rough time. The pain faded but the chattering of her teeth and shivering doesn't.]

S-six steps forward. Th-then turn l-left...

[beeknighted]

[What is happening to her up there... Moving quicker this time, his count coming faster]

One two three four five six, and left.

[misinforms]

O-one step forward, th-then t-turn right. Take one m-more step.

[beeknighted]

One, and then one right. Done.

[misinforms]

Turn left and... take three steps.

Turn left there and s-stop...

[TIME FOR MORE "FUN".]

[beeknighted]

...Okay. One, two, three.

[Stops there as instructed, waiting.]

[hot_mess_express]

[Sliding and clicking again]

[misinforms]

[There's a pause before the commands resume.]

Two steps. Turn left. Take one step. Turn right. Take one step. Turn left and take one more step before turning right.

[beeknighted]

[Oh that's a lot of steps at once, she wants to get through this quick huh.]

Okay, one two forward. One left. One right. One step left, and looking right.

[misinforms]

Now you'll take five steps forward... and wait.

[Because it's time for more "Fun".]

...think you can handle a little bit of punishment on your end?

[beeknighted]

...Yeah. I'm ready.

One, two, three, four, five.

Let's do this.

[misinforms]

Just be careful-- make sure you stay rooted to that spot. If you step off the path, I can't tell you what might happen if you step off it accidentally. Nor can I tell you what's coming.

[It's a Mystery. But it's coming.]