Sechs (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sixth_attack) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
damned_institute2013-07-15 07:10 pm
sixth_attack) wrote in damned_institute2013-07-15 07:10 pm
Entry tags:
Night 71: Basement: Grand Ballroom
[From here.]
Racing to leave the biting chill of the freezer, Sechs bowed his way down the darkened steps to the basement. Yet his brief moment upstairs was more than enough to trigger off the worst of his dreaded post M-U effects. All six scars left behind by that cruel doctor's syringes were searing from the frigid poison inside his spine, spreading pain throughout his nerves and muscles like cracks diverging across an icy landscape. Such agony clouded the Replica's mind, slowing down time and stretching the staircase below into infinity. Sechs' vision worsened and his hearing was overwhelmed by the drug's malicious taunting. Nearly thrown off balance with each step, Sechs forced his flashlight-wielding hand against the wall to keep himself stabilized. Refusing to give in, Sechs continued his pained journey down the stairwell, focusing on reaching warmer air than anything else going on around him.
Once he finally reached the end of the stairwell, Sechs nearly stumbled off the final step, his boots shuffling against the pristine marble floor as he turned to lean his back against the wall. By then his shivering had faded and the icy sensation that racked his spine had finally thawed. The triggering cold of the freezer was gone, replaced by the lukewarm air of the ballroom. Even though the worst was over, Sechs' nerves remained ransacked and his burdened flight down the stairs left him hunched over and panting. Standing with his head bowed over, the Replica closed his eyes tight against whatever dark hallucinations may be awaiting him, knowing they could trick him into attacking his allies.
It was then that Sechs' awareness of the present returned, reminding him that he hadn't been alone during his episode. Zero and Aigis were sure to have seen it all now. There was no doubt that they were going to ask the questions which Sechs always dreaded to answer. They may even decide to leave him behind. He was just a big liability to the group and the drug was no more than happy to remind him of that fact with a deviant cackle. All Sechs could do was catch his breath and rub his hand into the back of his aching neck, bracing for the questions to fall upon him like blasted shrapnel.
Racing to leave the biting chill of the freezer, Sechs bowed his way down the darkened steps to the basement. Yet his brief moment upstairs was more than enough to trigger off the worst of his dreaded post M-U effects. All six scars left behind by that cruel doctor's syringes were searing from the frigid poison inside his spine, spreading pain throughout his nerves and muscles like cracks diverging across an icy landscape. Such agony clouded the Replica's mind, slowing down time and stretching the staircase below into infinity. Sechs' vision worsened and his hearing was overwhelmed by the drug's malicious taunting. Nearly thrown off balance with each step, Sechs forced his flashlight-wielding hand against the wall to keep himself stabilized. Refusing to give in, Sechs continued his pained journey down the stairwell, focusing on reaching warmer air than anything else going on around him.
Once he finally reached the end of the stairwell, Sechs nearly stumbled off the final step, his boots shuffling against the pristine marble floor as he turned to lean his back against the wall. By then his shivering had faded and the icy sensation that racked his spine had finally thawed. The triggering cold of the freezer was gone, replaced by the lukewarm air of the ballroom. Even though the worst was over, Sechs' nerves remained ransacked and his burdened flight down the stairs left him hunched over and panting. Standing with his head bowed over, the Replica closed his eyes tight against whatever dark hallucinations may be awaiting him, knowing they could trick him into attacking his allies.
It was then that Sechs' awareness of the present returned, reminding him that he hadn't been alone during his episode. Zero and Aigis were sure to have seen it all now. There was no doubt that they were going to ask the questions which Sechs always dreaded to answer. They may even decide to leave him behind. He was just a big liability to the group and the drug was no more than happy to remind him of that fact with a deviant cackle. All Sechs could do was catch his breath and rub his hand into the back of his aching neck, bracing for the questions to fall upon him like blasted shrapnel.
no subject
When they appeared in the ballroom Gabe staggered, leaning on Skulduggery's arm to throw off the disorientation. Dizziness was not a very comfortable sensation. Just one more thing he wasn't used to. "Well," he managed after a moment, "that was uncomfortable."
After a moment he was able to straighten up and move away, glancing around the ballroom. It was empty, but didn't seem quite as overwhelmingly huge and distant as last time. Like someone else had been here, recently. Well, they weren't there anymore, and Skulduggery and Gabe had to choose which door to go through. There were only two. One on the right, and one on the left.
"'He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty'," he murmured, turning toward the right-hand door. His Master's Son, on the right hand. If there was any grace to be found at this place, Gabriel would look for it on His side. "Let's go right."
no subject
He was also only slightly more used to being dizzy than Gabe was, but at least there Skulduggery knew how to keep his balance. It wasn't the first time he'd been Teleported, and it wasn't even the first time he'd been Teleported while alive. He knew what to expect. There was a slight stumble as Skulduggery caught his balance, arms out, but he remained stable enough to help Gabe find his.
The ballroom was as empty as before, and it echoed as much as before. Gabe's quiet words seemed to fill the empty space, resonating with such calm confidence that Skulduggery could well imagine they'd just stepped into a holy place. A church, perhaps - a proper one, not the all-faiths demonic chapel from upstairs.
Skulduggery shook the sensation away. "As good a reason as any," he murmured. "And it's good enough for me." The air was still in that direction, or as still as Skulduggery was able to tell; he wasn't going to put much stock in that, but it was a wonderful confidence booster while it lasted.
He eyed the silver wall brackets holding candles as they approached the large brown double-doors. It might be possible to wrench one of those from the wall, and it would certainly be enough metal for what he wanted. But it would probably require magic, and Skulduggery wanted to save that for whatever they might encounter down here. The detective settled for quickly pricking his finger on one of the brackets, the same way Gabe had last night, and letting his blood drip onto the ring so it would take them back to the ballroom again tomorrow.
[To here.]