damned_institute | Nightshift 33: Basement

Nightshift 33: Basement - Sphinx's Chamber

[From here]

The chamber was as she remembered it and she switched off the torch, regarding the great golden beast with awe. Even after having seen it the other night, it was still impressive and magnificent and she only took her eyes off it to glance back at Gin, making certain that he was following her. She turned back to the Sphinx and walked further into the room, going to stand in the centre. It was a little vulnerable a position, but it wasn't as though they had any choice and the Sphinx could probably do enough damage wherever they were.

She bowed respectfully to it when she reached the centre of the room, remembering how it had spoken last time. "I'm honoured to meet you again."

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Gin had to bite back a hiss when Ran hugged him, the wound on his back was still fairly tender, but he knew she was just trying her best to be of comfort. He let out a slow breath when she let go of him and followed her into the next room. One flashlight was enough for now, so he kept his tucked away.

The new room seemed well-lit enough anyway. Though the ceiling was low, the room itself was done all in gold. He might've missed the giant creature completely, thinking it just a part of the architecture, but there was life in it, and watchful, intelligent eyes.

He followed Ran's example, though his bow was nowhere near as deep or respectful. Rather than give a reply that could get them both in trouble, he opted to keep his mouth shut and tucked his hands into his sleeves at his sides.

The gold creature stirred, shaking its body and stretching on its haunches. It opened its green eyes and smiled slightly with its sharp-toothed mouth.

"Come again, have you?" He asked, looking at Rangiku. "I do believe you were cheated out of your last chance thanks to the man who runs this place and his decidedly inconsistent hours. Though..." he glanced at Gin, "I haven't seen you around here before."

After a pause of thought, he sighed, waving one large paw.

"But no matter. You remember the rules, yes? Or must I repeat them?" He didn't sound too optimistic, but it seemed the bows of respect had prevented the patients from earning any true anger or indignation from the great beast.

It would have been amusing to hear the Sphinx talking in such a derisive way about Martin Landel if she hadn't been so aware of the pressing of time and the fact that it had really really big claws.

She nodded respectfully. "I remember the rules, yes," she replied. "We can leave now of hear a riddle. If we answer the riddle wrongly, then you attack us."

Gin raised a curious eyebrow as the creature stirred. It was huge and might have been intimidating, but it took more that to impress Gin.

"Ichimaru Gin," he said by way of introduction, offering the creature what passed for a pleasant smile.

"An' we wouldn't be comin' just to walk away. So let's not get caught by those inconsistent hours. We're here t'hear th' riddle," he replied, crossing thin arms over his chest.

The Sphinx nodded at Rangiku, his expression somber.

"Yes, that is correct," he said, "for the greatest fool is the fool who cannot recognize his own foolishness. You... humans seem to know all about that, but we'll see if you two are some of the exceptions. I have to admit..." A smirk tugged at the edges of his mouth. "Punishing fools is almost as fun as rewarding the wise."

When Gin broke in, the Sphnix sighed, waving a great paw in the air.

"I suppose I can take that as accepting the challenge, though I must say that I prefer more... grace in declaring the decision."

The double doors behind the patients locked with a loud click. The monster straightened its back and stared straight ahead as it opened its mouth and its voice echoed off the walls.

"The one who makes it sells it. The one who buys it doesn't use it. The one who uses it can't enjoy it. What is it?"

The sphinx paused, then bowed his head.

"You have five minutes."

Ah, maybe she should have remembered that Gin's definition of 'polite and respectful' was completely different to the definition that everyone else used. She should have known better by now anyway. And somehow the Sphinx was now reminding her of Kuchiki-taicho but with a sense of humour.

She swallowed when the door shut and she heard the click of the lock. There was no turning back now apparently. She just hoped that they hadn't made a grave mistake coming here. She remained silent as the Sphinx related the riddle and frowned, repeating the words under her breath. It sounded like something that she should know, but she doubted that she was thinking straight considering the night's events.

She moved a little closer to Gin, close enough that they could talk quietly. "Any ideas?"

Gin was about to tell the beast that grace had absolutely nothing to do with foolishness or wisdom; as he saw it, it was just a fancy way of talking or acting to make someone think they were above someone else. Something he ignored more often than not and certainly not something he found impressive. However, Ran seemed to be taking this all fairly seriously, so he only gave a shrug and waited for the riddle.

What sort of thing would you buy for someone else, but that they wouldn't enjoy? His smile flattened for just a moment as he thought the question over. The key word was in the last sentence. Can't. The one who uses can't enjoy it. It didn't mean that they simply didn't like it, it meant they weren't capable of enjoying it. Which meant they were probably dead. Otherwise there'd be all sorts of little exceptions. So that had to mean...

A smile twitched at the corner of his lips. If the Sphinx had hoped for them to lose, it ought to have thought its riddle over a bit more carefully. Asking Shinigami about things related to death... it was almost too easy. He glanced over at Ran, giving her a reassuring smirk before looking up at the beast.

"A coffin."

The sphinx raised his head, eyes gleaming in the golden light of the room. A smile touched his lips, though faint.

"You are correct, Ichimaru Gin, though I suppose your kind would be able to understand the circumstances fairly easily, yes?" He flashed his sharp teeth with some mirth. "I always do like to see what happens when patients get far enough to challenge old Landel."

Whether or not what he implied was intentional was something left up to question. The creature pulled back a paw and revealed a small item that hadn't been lying in front of him before: a miniature shield made of silver and engraved with unknown markings.

The creature took a breath and began to speak in a ritualistic voice, as if this wasn't the first time he'd said recited these words

"This is the Coliseum Shield," he said. "I have handed out many versions of it in my long days, but I have yet to hear of a man, woman, or child for whom it has brought nothing but misery. There is nothing evil about the artifact itself, but where it will take you is certainly a place of death and despair. I warn you now, humans, that I can give you directions, but their destination is not for the faint of will and heart.

"In the ballroom, you might have noticed a door to the south--one of such intricacy that it either repulses or entices all who see it. That is the door to the Coliseum, and should you find the partner to this artifact in the east end of this basement, you will find yourself able to enter so long as you are willing to make a sacrifice. Should you survive the trials within, from which many venture but few return... You will be able to proceed further into the bowels of this heinous Institute."

The sphinx took a breath and pulled back his paw from the prize.

"That is all that I can tell you. I wish you luck."

He closed his eyes and went still.

It seemed so ridiculously obvious when Gin said the answer and she wondered how on earth she hadn't been able to get that one considering what they were after all. It seemed that the Sphinx thought in a similar way too. Her eyes widened slightly at the Sphinx's next words, and she had to wonder if perhaps it was unwillingly here too, because it definitely sounded as though it had a certain amount of animosity towards the man.

She didn't have much time to think before her eyes were drawn to the object beneath the Sphinx's paw. Coliseum shield? That sounded rather ominous. She was surprised when the Sphinx went still, as though it were stone of something, rather than a living breathing creature and it was only after a moment and a glance towards Gin that she approached it with a certain amount of wariness. She picked up the shield and looked it over. Utterly impractical in her mind, but then, she wasn't one for using a shield when fighting anyway. She offered the Sphinx a bow, even if it couldn't see her. "Thankyou."

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Nightshift 33: Basement - Sphinx's Chamber

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