Re: The Gradual Massacre (GBS2G4) [Round 2: The Museum]
07-16-2010, 06:10 PM
Originally posted on MSPA by whoosh!.
Acacia's adrenaline rush began to fade out just as she slipped among a group of jet black monoliths. She spun around to assure herself that the mad axmen troupe hadn't seen her, and slumped to the floor. She stared at her gun disconnectedly, tracing the metal plates with a trembling finger. It was incredible. A few hours ago she'd been in the heart of Eden, planting bushes. And now…
Someone was dead. She didn't know who, but it couldn't have been Holly unless there'd been some blessed act of God in the few moments she was out of the classroom. She was just… ugh. At least Plags didn't get all up in your face and attempt to solve your personal issues.
A flash of a reflection in the monolith caught her eye. She twitched her gaze upwards to meet the gaze of a mad axmen, albeit reflected. But it was strange. He didn't look like he had murderous intent. Her train of thoughts was promptly derailed as she suddenly realized just how stunning the monolith was. Jet black, eerily smooth, and that shine. It probably had virtually nil friction. She stared, mesmerized, wondering what it would feel like to touch…
Her hand halted mere inches away from the black stone, compelled by the simple reason that to even go near such strange objects was incredibly stupid. She snatched her hand back, heart thudding, and stumbled away with more haste than her feet could work to.
A irresistible need to look back informed her that while the troupe had indeed caught up with her, she hadn't been the only one to get trapped by the gorgeous gloss of the monoliths. Fortunately, she had been alone in refraining. And while the automatons certainly weren't smart, they were still human enough to scream.
She was sure her hands would never be steady ever again,
Acacia vaulted over a short case containing an ostentatious hand clamp (which, after a short thought, she removed for ammo purposes), and leapt up to a higher glass case which offered a better view of the surrounding area. Most of the exhibits weren't encased, for purposes of chaos and carnage she assumed, but they were often enough that she could probably hop from case to case for a little bit. Hopefully it was strong glass. Acacia whipped off the hood to wipe the sweat off her forehead, but returned it with a discreet gulp.
As it turned out, the landing was the easy part. She didn't even make much noise with her boots still attached to her belt and the boomer's stealth setting on full power. It was the starting of the jump that brought the tears to her eyes.
After about six of these, the scientist collapsed over the delightfully graphic reproduction of a classic Jack the Ripper murder. She'd only paused for a few moments when she noticed the impressive form of Countess gleaming dully in the warehouse lights not far from her perch. She didn't seem to be moving with much purpose, merely strolling through. Acacia was content to watch through the eye slits of her hood for a short while. The Countess was a curiosity. They'd only met briefly during the birth and death of the quickly collapsed alliance, and parted ways when the elf stole her calm.
She tilted her head. Dislike of Holly was a mutual link, but she didn't trust someone who could stroll through a place like this like it was a vaguely amusing lab. And there was the other complication of the lack of a method of communication.
Whatever. It was time she actually did something.
Acacia slid into a crouch on top of the case, and tossed the hefty hand clamp up and down in her hands. Up and down, down and up… The Countess twitched those incredible legs forward just a little closer, and Acacia slammed it down at her.
There was a gleam of metal, gone in a flash, and the situation a moment later entailed the Countess holding the clamp and staring up at Acacia with those terrible blank glass eyes. The botanist shuddered a little, then staggered backwards into a standing position. The case made a mildly worrying noise not unlike a moan.
“Hey, Countess. Don't bother to say anything, I won't have a clue what you're saying. But it looks to me like you're getting a bit complacent. Don't mind me saying so, but this round is the one where people are going to calm down and start thinking, and that usually involves some form of alliance in this sort of situation. Unless those involved are marvelously brain-dead, but you'd hope that as the cream of the crop that wouldn't be the case. Anyway,†she leaped down off of the case, gasping a little as she hit the ground. “If you see Holly, shank the bitch me for me, will you?â€
It was at this point that Acacia did what everyone in such a horrendously awkward social situation should do, and futilely attempted to get of sight by running the opposite direction of said social awkwardness. That lovely section with the nooses up ahead was looking particularly inviting by comparison.
Acacia's adrenaline rush began to fade out just as she slipped among a group of jet black monoliths. She spun around to assure herself that the mad axmen troupe hadn't seen her, and slumped to the floor. She stared at her gun disconnectedly, tracing the metal plates with a trembling finger. It was incredible. A few hours ago she'd been in the heart of Eden, planting bushes. And now…
Someone was dead. She didn't know who, but it couldn't have been Holly unless there'd been some blessed act of God in the few moments she was out of the classroom. She was just… ugh. At least Plags didn't get all up in your face and attempt to solve your personal issues.
A flash of a reflection in the monolith caught her eye. She twitched her gaze upwards to meet the gaze of a mad axmen, albeit reflected. But it was strange. He didn't look like he had murderous intent. Her train of thoughts was promptly derailed as she suddenly realized just how stunning the monolith was. Jet black, eerily smooth, and that shine. It probably had virtually nil friction. She stared, mesmerized, wondering what it would feel like to touch…
Her hand halted mere inches away from the black stone, compelled by the simple reason that to even go near such strange objects was incredibly stupid. She snatched her hand back, heart thudding, and stumbled away with more haste than her feet could work to.
A irresistible need to look back informed her that while the troupe had indeed caught up with her, she hadn't been the only one to get trapped by the gorgeous gloss of the monoliths. Fortunately, she had been alone in refraining. And while the automatons certainly weren't smart, they were still human enough to scream.
She was sure her hands would never be steady ever again,
Acacia vaulted over a short case containing an ostentatious hand clamp (which, after a short thought, she removed for ammo purposes), and leapt up to a higher glass case which offered a better view of the surrounding area. Most of the exhibits weren't encased, for purposes of chaos and carnage she assumed, but they were often enough that she could probably hop from case to case for a little bit. Hopefully it was strong glass. Acacia whipped off the hood to wipe the sweat off her forehead, but returned it with a discreet gulp.
As it turned out, the landing was the easy part. She didn't even make much noise with her boots still attached to her belt and the boomer's stealth setting on full power. It was the starting of the jump that brought the tears to her eyes.
After about six of these, the scientist collapsed over the delightfully graphic reproduction of a classic Jack the Ripper murder. She'd only paused for a few moments when she noticed the impressive form of Countess gleaming dully in the warehouse lights not far from her perch. She didn't seem to be moving with much purpose, merely strolling through. Acacia was content to watch through the eye slits of her hood for a short while. The Countess was a curiosity. They'd only met briefly during the birth and death of the quickly collapsed alliance, and parted ways when the elf stole her calm.
She tilted her head. Dislike of Holly was a mutual link, but she didn't trust someone who could stroll through a place like this like it was a vaguely amusing lab. And there was the other complication of the lack of a method of communication.
Whatever. It was time she actually did something.
Acacia slid into a crouch on top of the case, and tossed the hefty hand clamp up and down in her hands. Up and down, down and up… The Countess twitched those incredible legs forward just a little closer, and Acacia slammed it down at her.
There was a gleam of metal, gone in a flash, and the situation a moment later entailed the Countess holding the clamp and staring up at Acacia with those terrible blank glass eyes. The botanist shuddered a little, then staggered backwards into a standing position. The case made a mildly worrying noise not unlike a moan.
“Hey, Countess. Don't bother to say anything, I won't have a clue what you're saying. But it looks to me like you're getting a bit complacent. Don't mind me saying so, but this round is the one where people are going to calm down and start thinking, and that usually involves some form of alliance in this sort of situation. Unless those involved are marvelously brain-dead, but you'd hope that as the cream of the crop that wouldn't be the case. Anyway,†she leaped down off of the case, gasping a little as she hit the ground. “If you see Holly, shank the bitch me for me, will you?â€
It was at this point that Acacia did what everyone in such a horrendously awkward social situation should do, and futilely attempted to get of sight by running the opposite direction of said social awkwardness. That lovely section with the nooses up ahead was looking particularly inviting by comparison.