shitglasses (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shitglasses) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bridgescribble2023-01-05 11:26 am
shitglasses) wrote in bridgescribble2023-01-05 11:26 am
Entry tags:
don't be afraid,
COMPROMISE OR DIE
CIRCLE is a 2015 film about 50 people waking up in a room with no memory of how they got there. Slowly they realize they have to choose who lives and who dies if anyone is to escape. Only one can walk away.
Fifty people is too many for a thread, so how about two?
SUDDENLY, you wake up in a strange dark room with another person. Maybe you know them; maybe they're a total stranger. There's no way to escape and only one way to survive. You find nothing of use, no doors and no windows, just a note etched into the wall: DECIDE WHO LIVES. IF NO DECISION CAN BE MADE, BOTH DIE. YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.
Ready, set, go.
[no problem!! + aaand confrontation is at hand!!!]
It was now very, very easy to follow to the source. Snowy padded along on the floor, away from the hole, sensing the field herself, as well, although much more weakly... until she drew closer to a wall, froze, with ears prickeing at another sound and staring in shock. She said something which made Lillie blanch, but not elaborate.]
*action music begins*
What does she hear?
[He kept his voice low, not wanting to further alert their captors but any idea of what he'd be facing on the other side would help in dealing with them.]
1/2; do we need an explosion?
[Lillie said, rather breathlessly.]
…be careful.
[She had been expecting to find no one at all, maybe just controls, or perhaps one person, but multiple…]
2/2
Do you need us to frost it over for you or do it ourselves? She can give us all protection, too, so whatever happens won’t do any—or as much—damage. It won’t hold up forever, but…
[She’s being very vague with her words on purpose, fearing any might be heard and destroy their chance.]
I think so yes!
Moving away from the wall again in preparation, he nodded at Lillie.]
That's a good idea. Even a little bit of protection will help once it happens. Keep her beside you for protection after.
[He'd do everything he could to keep them away from her but with no idea of what they'd be walking into she should have every bit of protection she could.]
[give us a good show, just before the final confrontation!]
If she broke the wall down with Subzero Slammer, there’d still be the whole poem and dance… they could feint it. Face Shota to make it seem like they’re attacking him instead! Then aim at the actual target. Aurora Veil will also keep him from being hit!]
Hail, then, Aurora Veil, Snowy.
[Facing Shota, now.
Snowy frosted over the area around her (not aiming anything at Shota directly), then threw her head back and seemed to howl, as a beautiful, iridescent light glowed around them all through the cooled air. This should keep them safe from harm, diverting at least a few hits. A little extra protection. The light faded.
Then, Lillie prepared to perform the Z-Move again. Hopefully, Shota doesn’t really think she means to attack him… the Aurora Veil will redirect to from him even in the highly unlikely chance Snowy did not understand Lillie and it seemed Snowy understood the plan well!]
yessss!
Taking a half-step back, he raised an arm as if to shield himself, capture weapon still gripped tightly in readiness. He let his eyes widen, mouth opening like he planned on calling out to her but cut off as she began her... song and dance routine. It was as effective as the first time, the wall behind them bursting inwards with a shriek of metal thanks to the pair of them.
Shota was moving as soon as the ice shards hit the ground, launching himself through the narrow space and into the control room beyond. He had a bare moment to take in the space filled with large screens, a crowd of well-dressed people holding drinks and slowly turning towards the shattered hole in the wall. Then he was on the first one, full weight slamming into their chest so he could launch off and snare two more in his capture weapon, slamming them into a knot of people.
The crowd was unprepared for their captives to reach them and put up a fight, shock and panic running through the group like a current. Shota kept himself between the crowd and the gap he'd come through, but it was possible one would manage to dive through in their attempt to escape.]
[BAM!]
Indeed, until the final moment, their captors firmly believed Shota and Lillie had finally turned on each other as they had all desired them to do so. The cameras recording each of the rooms were very high quality, offering a range of angles, the production was almost cinematic. This was a high-budget operation. Someone clearly intended to edit these together, to profit off the deaths they had exhausted all efforts into ensuring would take place.
The well-dressed men cried out, many backing away, others giving up immediately, falling to their knees, begging, and pleading. One even shamelessly called Lillie a "nice girl" and asked her to spare him because he "has a family at home, too, you know, a wife and two kids."
Lillie was too shocked to say a thing. Could they not think of her or her family...?
Many of the suits were unprepared and unable to defend themselves, trying to bargain with Shota.
"We only paid him for the show!"
"We had nothing to do with it, we didn't capture you! It wasn't personal!"
"It was all his idea!"
"We only paid for the set!"
The man in question, the most cowardly one, had been the one to drive through the crowd, as fast as he could, without a word in his own defense, very nearly escaped, but Lillie had Snowy freeze him, quite literally, covering his body in ice so he froze, half-running, half-stumbling, on the way to the door in a ridiculous, not to mention uncomfortable, position.
He was either tight-lipped from experience or simply too cowardly to speak.
don't look now Lillie, 'kay?
But in that moment, it was easy. Shota had a target for the simmering anger that had been building, and he was more than happy to unleash it on the people who'd been happy to see a child murdered in front of them. He hoped Lillie wasn't watching as his fist cracked one man across the face mid-plea. Looming over several of them, he glared coldly. "You were all happy to watch. You're no better."
He left the rest of them bound together in a knot of bodies with his capture weapon, stalking over to the partially frozen ringleader. Sparing a glance for Lillie, making sure she wasn't close enough to hear and his body blocked her view, Shota grabbed the front of the man's suit and dragged him close so he was twisted in an even more uncomfortable position. Nose inches from the other man's, he activated his Quirk, his eyes turning a blazing red as he snarled quietly in the man's face. "First, you're going to tell me where there's a phone to call the police."
Wide eyes stared back at him, but there was no reply. Shota's hand curled around the man's frozen, twisted arm, pushing it further into the awkward position, still glaring as he kept up the pressure until the man cried out in pain and tried to escape the hold.
for better or worse, Lillie's a fainter
Lillie felt at ease upon seeing the men bound together, even if she still felt incredibly disturbed by their pleas. She listened, but couldn't understand how a heart could become so twisted. How could they beg and plead and look at her, searching for pity, when they had refused to see their humanity? How could they feel no shame? She still felt somewhat afraid of them and inched away, not wanting them to come loose. Realizing Lillie wasn't sure on her feet anymore, Snowy slipped out of her grasp, to put herself between Lillie and the bound men, growling and flaring her tails...
Overwhelmed by both the relief at her captors finally all caught, with freedom in sight, full confidence in both Snowy and Shota, and overcome by exhaustion from the onslaught of fear and adrenaline from earlier, Lillie fainted; although Snowy stood on her hind legs to push at Lillie's unsteady limbs and slow her fall, then carefully cushioned her with her six tails, so it looked more like Lillie had just lay down.
She might not remember any of this, having a tendency to dissociate.
At Shota's questioning and dragging, the man's breathing hitched in his throat, then he gasped and hissed in pain, the parts he could move (namely his feet, twisting around while the rest was incased in ice) writhing in pain.
When he forced his twisted arm further into an unnatural position, threatening to break it, his eyes snapped wide open, tears brimming in the corners.
"S—stop!"
The pathetic troupe of "benefactors" complained and swore at him speaking up, as if they expected him to nobly take the fall for all of their transgressions. It was an odd sight!
"N-no pnones. There's no phones here. No landline."
maybe for the better right now tbh
Turning his attention back on the man whose arm he hadn't let up on, Shota ignored the plea and the protests from those behind him, expression cold as he kept pushing on the trapped limb. Finally, the man gave in, though the answer was less than ideal. He released the man's arm and stepped back, dropping his Quirk so his eyes returned to their usual black. "You'll lead us out of here. You have a way of contacting people somewhere nearby."
Even if it was a waiting driver. A man like that didn't drive himself. The most important thing was getting Lillie to safety and getting people in to unravel the operation.
Shota returned to the bound group, checking they were all secure and not going to slip free and tied the ends of his capture cloth to an exposed beam so they couldn't try and reach something to cut the bindings with either. With that handled, he stepped over to Lillie and Snowy, scooping the girl up and looking down at the fox-like creature thoughtfully. She was surprisingly intelligent and seemed to understand what was said to her...
"Can you free him? But if he tries to run, freeze him again." The last said with a warning glare at their captive.
[oh, definitely]
While normally, Snowy wouldn’t claim to be able to unfreeze people, given how little she cared for this man, she nodded and, backing up a bit, ran at great speed to leap into a tackle, throwing the man to the ground and smashing the ice around him.
Hw looked, of course, horrified by the speed and strength of the little fox, and may have broken an arm and leg.
Snowy sat with a self-satisfied smile. She really did not like these men.
The man was quiet again and, gathering himself up, slowly moved to the same door he had attempted escape from earlier.
He made some sort of signal, while looking to the tree-covered, abandoned old side-road.
This building, too, was concealed, lacking a sign, with trees growing bent and crooked around it, obscuring it further.
Perhaps he had a ride, as Shota had hoped…
No, a backup plan, a flurry of bullets from both sides to scare Shota off, the man backing into the building. Shota might spy two cars waiting, mostly hidden from view.
Sorry, Eraserhead, they’re planning on giving you more trouble before truly giving in. At least, he seemed unable to risk running away, with his injuries.
no subject
Unfortunately, the group had the forethought to plan for their victims escaping the trap.
Following the man's gaze when he made the signal, Shota instinctively ducked back into cover. He'd been a hero long enough to know a trap when he stumbled into it, and their escape had been going too smoothly. Barely avoiding the burst of gunfire, he hunched down inside the building they'd been held captive in, gritting his teeth at the sound of bullets spraying the wall. He set Lillie down carefully, well away from the door and inched closer to peer outside.
The bullets were coming from two directions, making it harder to take out the gunmen quickly. And without his capture weapon, he was at a disadvantage. He needed something so he wouldn't get shot the second he appeared outside.
Looking down at Snowy again, he asked, "Is there some way you can stop them from seeing me?" Else he'd need to retreat and find another option. Or their ringleader would escape.
no subject
Snowy then nudged him and gestured to the door.
It’s safe! She seemed to say with a smile. Even if the veil faded from view, he’d be safe for a while. She mimed pouncing on and attacking invisible opponents. Fight!
It might disappear soon, so as a distraction hiding him, it would only work briefly, although the frost and ice will remain, but the bullets will diverge away or otherwise fail to hit, at least for a time!
The captive blanched at the Aurora Veil, much more bothered by it than the cover provided by Hail, but said nothing.
no subject
He noted the way the bullets failed to hit as he closed in on one group of gunmen, sparing a moment to be grateful for the protection. Then he was on them, kicking the weapon from one's hands and grabbing his arm, dislocating it with a pop as he threw the man into his companion. Both slammed to the ground a moment later, with Shota's full weight bearing them down, the knife slashing open the second's arm, forcing him to drop the weapon.
Kicking both guns away, Shota rolled to his feet and darted into the trees, using them as further cover as he closed on the second pair of shooters.
They knew their colleagues had been taken out and responded with a flurry of fire that ripped through the branches around him. He couldn't tell if Snowy's protection was still working or not but didn't hesitate as he hauled himself onto a branch and dropped down behind the pair. Stabbing the knife into one's shoulder, the man dropped his firearm with a shout but wrenched the blade away as he stumbled forward.
Now unarmed, Shota turned to the last one as the barrel of the gun came swinging towards him. His ears rang with the report, the bullet clipping his arm as he tackled the man to the ground, knocking the weapon away and slamming his fist into the attacker's face. Glaring furiously, he reared back and struck the man again, barely restraining himself from continuing the assault as the sudden silence hit him.
Breathing heavily, Shota took a moment to collect himself, listening to the groans of the gunmen as he slowly pushed to his feet.
[he is SO COOL, it was like a movie~]
The cowardly ringleader seemed like he might try, yet again, to escape, but just as Snowy was about to freeze him again, he heard that terrible silence and knew his gunmen were defeated. He crumpled to the ground in despair, giving up hope of escape.
Snowy froze his legs together again, just in case, then his arms to the floor for good measure, and cried out to Shota, a happy, little triumphant sound. She used another Aurora Veil for herself and Lillie.
Lillie stirred a bit, but hadn’t recovered yet.
Snowy sniffed around, then, padded carefully out, pointedly avoiding a patch or two of earth on the way (were there some hidden traps outside too?), to approach Shota.
She sniffed at the crumpled, broken gunmen, searched their pockets, looking distressed by some of the things they carried (sleeping pills, for one thing, although Snowy wasn’t sure of the purpose, it reminded her of Faba in a bad way), but tried to keep searching… until she found an old-fashioned cell phone with no GPS.
She could vaguely tell it was some kind of gadget, maybe a communicator, and barked up at Shota.
Haha, I am glad it wasn't too self-indulgent thanks!
Watching Snowy approach - avoiding a few spots he noted - he crouched down to see what she unearthed from the gunmen's pockets. Frowning at the items, too, none of them surprising for an operation like this, he breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the phone.
"Good work." Picking it up, he paused and added, "Thanks for your help before. I wouldn't have made it without it."
Switching on the phone, a quick check confirmed it would be no help in finding out where they were. With the wealth behind the operation, there was a chance some members of the local authorities were involved or turning a blind eye, meaning he couldn't rely solely on them.
Dialling one of the only numbers he remembered, he didn't give whoever at UA picked up a chance to speak. "This is Eraserhead. I've been kidnapped. I have a young girl named Lillie with me; she was also taken. I need someone to trace this signal and send a team of heroes to accompany emergency services to the location. I'll update when I have more information."
He dropped the still-connected phone into his pocket and looked back down at Snowy, tilting his head towards where Lillie and their captive waited. "Let's go check on them." And see if the ringleader was willing to reveal where they were or if he was going to be difficult.
[not at all, I think it perfectly fit the situation!! I can't do action scenes, so I'm impressed!!]
Snowy nodded and bounded back inside, deftly avoiding the possible-traps.
Lillie continued to lay as if sleeping. The ringleader no longer looked as panicked and terrified and instead, took on a very cold and severe expression, scowling into the distance. He didn't look like he might cooperate, but at least, he no longer looked inclined to run. His hopelessness has overtaken his fear, at this point.
I always enjoy the chance to write some action so I'm glad!
The pain from where the bullet had clipped him was setting in, jumpsuit sticking to his skin around the wound. The injury was minor enough for him to ignore, so he followed after Snowy, avoiding the same spots. He stopped by Lillie first, checking on her and assuring himself that she was still unharmed.
Then he turned to face the ringleader. His expression cold, he stalked over and planted his boot against one of the man's frozen arms. "Where are we?"
[^^ yup! I think Lillie could help treat his injuries when she wakes too and it'll wrap up!]
Lillie was unharmed, but stirred again when he began to check over her. She may wake soon... Snowy nuzzled her, otherwise trying to watch over Shota in case she needed to intervene.
The ringleader finally gave in and stated the location, but briefly interrupted to speak again:
"You know that just stopping me won't end this, right? As long as there's a demand for something, someone else will take the chance to provide it. Maybe they'll be worse than me. It'll be your fault. You only found me because you were brought here."
Was he seriously trying to blame Shota for this now? Or just looking for some kind of distraction... whatever the case may be, he's clearly already lost and is grasping at straws.
sounds good to me! I am also reminded of all the pokemon that started as humans now...
Fortunately, the man had some sense and gave their location without a fight. Shota stepped away from him and was reaching for the phone when he spoke again. Turning back slowly, Shota glared at him, lips peeling back from his teeth in a furious snarl. He stalked back to loom over the man, dragging him up by the front of his expensive suit and growling in his face.
"I'll hunt down the next one too. I know about your sick operation now, do you think I won't be watching for someone trying to take over after you? You were happy to see a child killed! Do you think I won't stomp people like you out as many times as it takes?"
It took more self-control than he cared to admit not to assault the prisoner, but Shota forced himself to drop the man and turn away again. Pulling out the phone, he relayed their location and ended the call, ignoring the attempt to keep him on the line.
Breathing out slowly, he reined his temper in and looked back over at Snowy and Lillie.
[yep, the Japanese version of DPPt also said humans and Pokemon used to marry in ancient times!]
“… good luck.”
He didn’t think he’d be able to do it, but also, he had entirely given up hope, so he reacted with utter apathy, hardly reacting when dropped to the floor.
“… um… mister?” Lillie asked, now sitting up, Snowy by her side, as Lillie rubbed at her eyes. “You’re hurt.”
For a moment, she didn’t realize where she was or who the people around her were, but upon seeing the restrained men and the battered ringleader with limbs frozen, her eyes widened with recognition. She might not remember all of it, but it was enough: the words on the wall, the scarf they used to track the current to the source, the scarf now restrainibg their captors… pleading men and a sick and hollow feeling in her stomach, although she’d forgotten the words.
“Is… it over?”
After the dazed little question, Lillie looked serious.
“I have medicine in my bag,” Lillie announced, but had to search a bit for it first. She didn’t carry much else with her, only a change of clothes and a well-loved Poke Doll.
She brought the antiseptic spray to Shota, eager to help. “May I see your arm?”
still not the weirdest/creepiest thing in the franchise ha
They were doubts the captive wouldn't be hearing.
Turning his back on the man, Shota's attention was on Lillie as soon as she spoke. He hurried over to her side. "Almost. People I trust are coming for us."
He crouched beside her, watching her dig in her bag. "Don't worry about me. How do you feel?"
He'd suffered far worse injuries and not let them stop him, and while he'd have to do something about the bleeding eventually, that wasn't right this instant. But she was eager to help, and it would be easier if he didn't have to waste the paramedic's time when they arrived.
Glancing at the spray, Shota offered his arm for her as he waited for an answer, the dark material doing a good job of hiding how much bleeding there was.
[well, they are *monsters* that vary from animal-like to human-like or even youkai-like~]
At being asked how she was, Lillie continued to smile and Snowy waved her tails.
“We’re alright, thank you for asking.”
“It might sting… a lot, but it stops the bleeding, too, usually.”
Lillie sprayed on the antiseptic. It should do a good job of stymying the blood flow, closing up the smaller parts of the wound entirely, but as for the more damaged points, well… that was best to leave for the professionals.
Lillie frowned a bit after applying it. “With smaller cuts, they usually disappear in seconds… ah, I have clean clothes here, so…”
She took out a fine nightgown, made of pure silk, to use as a bandage.
“Silk is supposed to be very good for skin, so I think this should do, until you get to the hospital, mister.”
She isn’t very good at wrapping bandages, it isn’t her forte at all (it’s much more Brock’s, who went to medical school!), but she did her best.
“Is the person coming for us, um, Present Mic?”
She was too shy to tell Shota she’d forgotten his name, but the importance of contacting Present Mic, should something happen, seemed to have kept it afloat over the other memories, lost in the fog.
point!
[if you prefer to keep their universes separate, ask, and she can just teleport away o/
it's good thanks, I enjoy a good canon mash-up
[sorry for the loooong delay, Ramadan just ended here, aha]
no worries at all! happy Eid(?)
[thank you very much, yes, you're right, it was just 'Eid! ^^ Lillie flying economy is hilarious!]
haha, I'm sure it would be something! did you want to wrap there or jump ahead?
[oh, I was fine with it ending earlier, but jumping to meeting her folks’d b something!!]
haha, excellent! not sure if you want to skip the flight or not so here we go
[it'd be funny/cute, so I did!]
I love it! And yes I did google what is served on Hawaiian Airlines flights...
[this is so cute!! I just looked up the length earlier, fff]
ha, yeah not a fun flight especially in economy!
[no doubt about that!]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
[after they disembark, they’ll be just a phonecall away~]
I'm sure this will go just fine...
[1/2; things for Shota to come across during his reading--with perhaps too much detail, sorry!]
[2/2; things for Shota to come across during his reading--with perhaps too much detail, sorry!]
(no subject)
[enter Lusamine, self-absorbed childwoman, but!!! Genuinely loving mother trying her best now]
ha, alas I don't know he'll have too much patience for her but maybe we'll get there
[Lusamine can be a bit more serious when it calls for it!]
and she cares about her kids so that counts for a lot!
(no subject)
(no subject)
[... yet another, MUCH longer delay, sorry!]
[well, they are *monsters* that vary from animal-like to human-like or even youkai-like~]
At being asked how she was, Lillie continued to smile and Snowy waved her tails.
“We’re alright, thank you for asking.”
“It might sting… a lot, but it stops the bleeding, too, usually.”
Lillie sprayed on the antiseptic. It should do a good job of stymying the blood flow, closing up the smaller parts of the wound entirely, but as for the more damaged points, well… that was best to leave for the professionals.
Lillie frowned a bit after applying it. “With smaller cuts, they usually disappear in seconds… ah, I have clean clothes here, so…”
She took out a fine nightgown, made of pure silk, to use as a bandage.
“Silk is supposed to be very good for skin, so I think this should do, until you get to the hospital, mister.”
She isn’t very good at wrapping bandages, it isn’t her forte at all (it’s much more Brock’s, who went to medical school!), but she did her best.
“Is the person coming for us, um, Present Mic?”
She was too shy to tell Shota she’d forgotten his name, but the importance of contacting Present Mic, should something happen, seemed to have kept it afloat over the other memories, lost in the fog.