a winter labyrinth

[townmusician]

断ち切るしかないんだろ
注いだ冬は心のラビリンス
後戻りなんて出来ないから
やりきるしかないんだろ
黒い気持ちと手を繋いだって構わない
抱きしめたっていいh

I have to break free
This pouring winter is my heart's labyrinth
I can't go back anymore, so
I have to finish this
I don't care if you took my hand with dark motives
I want you to hold me close

Comments

[prozaic]

[Shalem doesn't really care for the snare trap because it could have been worse-- like a bear trap. So he just sighs and starts wriggling to get free (10). If only his tail could draw his katana but this is an awkward angle.]

He is a brat, and I have called him as such, so he knows it.

[unweathered]

[ Schneider just stays still, still swaddled by the coat (4). She really should put herself the right way up though...]

Interesting choice of words, all things considered. [ is this what you call cradle robbing?? Schneider does not know or care]

But I can see why now.

[prozaic]

[Guess who finally remembers he has a Persona? His escape is delayed because of his garbage rolls on sign-up (3)... But he summons Orpheus, who shoots an Agi at the rope keeping him suspended.

And he flops onto the ground, hard. Ow. Okay.

Sorry, Schneider, he won't be responding to that comment because he's busy blinking the stars out of his eyes.]

[unweathered]

[Oh. Hm. Schneider swings herself up to cut the rope with a pocket knife she keeps hidden but unfortunately, her extra long sleeves get in her way (9). Oops. She doesn't grab the rope in time and falls

Right onto Shalem's stomach. Enjoy the tiny 5'3" missile...at least she's fairly light]

Ooph!

[prozaic]

[Well, now he can't get up because there's a woman on his stomach! If only this was a man--

Well, there is a man he was regularly fucking but he's the owner of this damn place.

Shalem sighs heavily.]

It would be nice if we could draw him out now, but the adventure continues. Now, please get off.

[She is tiny and he is big. He can throw her off so easily, but he's being a gentleman and not moving. It's like having a cat in the lap.]

[unweathered]

Since you did say 'please'.

[She bounces off with another word. Now if only it was a beautiful woman beneath her. Unfortunately this is sausage central.]

How would you plan on drawing him out? These people all behave differently once they create one of these palaces.

[prozaic]

Haruka's attraction to me is strong enough that he'll forget how to function as a person at times. [Dropping the embarrassing Haruka lore here, as he picks himself up and dusts himself off, even taking the pilfered jacket off of his shoulders to shake it.] But first I need to know if he's actually paying attention, and if the Shadow shares that same attraction.

[He needs a few signs first, and not some damn traps.]

Hence, onward we go.

[unweathered]

[There's something completely unimpressed in Schneider's expression but she appreciates his confident. Nodding in understanding]

Thinking that you could bait him with a bit of skin then?

[ And onward they go!]

[prozaic]

It's already baited him before.

[It's going to work again! He's sure of it.

And as they walk, he catches more of the music, and attempts to hum along. Keyword being attempt.]

[unweathered]

[...SIR]

I thought you could sing.

[prozaic]

An unfamiliar tune such as this? I may have been trained as a performer like Haruka, but not in the same genres and styles. Give me a moment to learn it, hm?

[unweathered]

Do you think butchering his songs would lure him out?

[Hilarious if so.]

Or beating him at his own profession?

[prozaic]

We shall have to see about that. My actions also depend on the circumstances-- if succeeding in a performance is required to leave this maze, I will have to give it my all.

[But! Are they close to the source of the music? Is it growing stronger?]

[townmusician]

[The music is getting louder and louder, leading Shalem and Schneider to another set of doors. Just the one—a set of plain double doors, with nowhere else to go.

They've made it to the end of the maze.

They can either pass through the set of doors, or continuing exploring the maze if they want!]

[prozaic]

[Shalem looks over his shoulder at Schneider, giving her a quick nod, before he puts his hands on the doors to push them open. If there's one thing he appreciates about her, she's all business, and not at all phased by anything.]

[townmusician]

[The doors open, leading them into a backstage area. There's music coming from the stage itself, and hazy, shadowy figures in the area.

Most of them look like they've taken the form of staff, helping to make the concert(?) run smoothly. They haven't noticed Shalem, yet.]

[prozaic]

[Shalem just sidles right on in, straightening his clothes so he doesn't look like he's been running around or lying in the dirt. He's still following the music, his main priority. Ah, music, his first love.

The music Haruka specializes in may be contemporary, but that doesn't change the fact that they're both performers.]

[townmusician]

[None of the shadows try to stop him as he walks around, because he's supposed to be there, after all. He has that ticket, still!

He can manage a glance at the stage, but it's currently... empty, with no sign of any performers, much less Haruka.

Is he going to try to walk out onto the stage?]

[prozaic]

[Look, if you're making music but there's nothing on stage, it's clearly a trap, right?

A trap that Shalem is bold enough to challenge. He's getting on stage. If he can get Haruka's attention this way, yes, he absolutely will do something wild.]

[unweathered]

[ Schneider hangs back. Hmmm. Looking around to see if she can spot any traps (14) if that is even possible]

[townmusician]

[No traps! Not that she can see, at least. It just seems like... your normal backstage area, and by now she's familiar with the level of technology in the city. Nothing seems out of place, not even the shadows milling around.]

[townmusician]

[Shalem approaching the stage gets the shadows to panic!]

Sir! What are you doing?

[One of them steps in front of him, trying to block him from the stage.]

[prozaic]

[He gives a bright, guileless smile, the one of a younger man.]

Don't worry! I'm just checking out the stage-- this is where we'll be performing, right?

[townmusician]

[sir that's sus]

...It is. You've already done your soundcheck, haven't you?

[The shadow is sizing him up...]

[unweathered]

[Well since there are no traps she can see, she'll look around for something else to do. She can sing...because fucking church life...but instruments are a no go for her.

Can she turn on the lights lol]