☆TRACK II: DISCORD AND RHYME

[interdimanagers]

Who: Kidnapped Pride Members
What: Corporate hazing, in the style of themepark murder clowns.
When: October 18th-19th.
Where: A large, empty carnival, apparently.
Warnings: This is basically Saw games for babies.

“Burning the ground, I break from the crowd I'm on the hunt, I'm after you. I smell like I sound, I'm lost and I'm found And I'm hungry like the wolf.” ☆DISCORD AND RHYME It’s your first free night after a particularly feverish series of performances. It’s a comparatively lazy Sunday evening - one that all of you are obligated to spent in the HQ. Things are normal, at least as normal as they ever are, are you’re free to go to bed early and for once have the luxury in sleeping in tomorrow. At least theoretically. Whether you go to bed or not, you’ll find yourself drifting off - and then the sound eerie, peculiar music...like the sound of an old music box, with a soft feminine voice singing wordlessly along. You’ll fall asleep, hard, and when you wake up you are somewhere else. "【Sad and Scary Song】"Come Out And Play"Creepy Music Box】[HD]" (Watch on YouTube) ☆THE SACRIFICES At first, you wake up in what seems like some kind of boiler room. Some parts of the floor are slick with moisture, and your hands and feet are bound, with your wrists locked to the industrial piping behind you. Regaining consciousness is slow and difficult, as if it wasn't meant to come to you quite yet. You can hear water and steam flowing through some of the pipes, and the complex is obviously still active with...whatever it's supposed to be doing. But maybe you're just too busy freaking out at your evident kidnapping to think too hard about circumstantial evidence. You aren't the only one in here. Whether they are awake or unconscious, four other Pride members are bound nearby. Around the side of some of the machinery, you can see the glow of computers, though you can't quite see the screens - there are chairs, though, and a cup of Starbucks that is still steaming. Whoever brought you here is probably still around, and there's no telling how long you have before they return. (Click here for your top level!) ☆THE CHALLENGERS You wake up sitting in what appears to be a bumper car of all things - you know, one of those little vehicles you drive around at carnivals to crash into each other? You're sitting in one, and your hand are handcuffed around the bar behind you. Your neck is definitely sore, like you've been sitting like this for a while. It only takes a moment to realize two things: 1) you actually are in a theme park of some sort, and it's still night time, and 2) you're not alone. At least a dozen other Pride members are handcuffed to the bumper cars around you, all pointed in the direction of an empty stretch of wheel worn floor - like an audience, intended to view a speaker. Whoever brought you here doesn't give you much time to be confused. They stride into the center of the "stage" like they own the place. They are wearing a hooded coat of a decidedly gothic style, with a hood that shadows their face. When they speak, they sound feminine - almost like the voice you remember putting you to sleep earlier. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen," they say, "to your trial by fire." (Click here for your top level!) “Strut on a line, it's discord and rhyme I'm on the hunt, I'm after you. Mouth is alive with juices like wine And I'm hungry like the wolf.”

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☆CHALLENGER INTRO & EXPLORATION

[interdimanagers]

When the hooded woman is done with you, she'll vanish into some nearby buildings. About thirty seconds later, your handcuffs will click open as if with some kind of remote device. From there, you're free to explore the theme park, and to hunt for your lost bandmates. From what your captor suggested, time may be of the essence.



This park is huge, and the entire thing is surrounded by a tall fence that you won't be able to get over despite your best efforts. There is not a single person to be seen, besides the other Pride members you woke up with - and eventually, a pair of costumed assailants that will start wordless chasing and/or mauling anyone who stays out in the open too long. There is a horse and frog. They both have taser stick which a pretty fucking painful to be stabbed with, and they are also both alarmingly strong.

It's not at all dilapidated, like the sort of theme park you might imagine something like this to take place in. There's no rust and, actually, very little wear. All the rides, though unmanned, seem to be in perfect working order, and the stands have food in their fridges if you manage to get inside. You're not sure if that makes you feel better or worse.

This whole thing is about 5 levels of ridiculous bullshit, but what choice do you have?

☆NPC ENCOUNTER

[interstellarnpcs]

Hello naughty children it's murder time.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

The last time Luci had been in handcuffs, she hadn't woken up feeling like she'd been pushed down a flight of stairs too. She also hadn't been fully clothed and crammed into a bumper car, but obviously there was a first time for everything. Luci was just fairly certain that even wasted, she wouldn't have suggested this particular fetish. She called herself a 'Carnie' like the rest of them, but this was a little too much like mixing work and pleasure. Nevermind that there were other musicians all around her-- she could even hear Xanxus' distinctive blue streak coming from somewhere. Yeah, she definitely hadn't consented to this bullshit.

Obviously the one not handcuffed was the ringleader. They looked straight out of some Halloween store, too, which Luci didn't like. Cloaks man. They always spelled bad shit ahead.

"Hey, Grim Reaper Groupie!" Luci shouts. "This seems like a really fun game-- piss off way more talent than you can handle, and see what happens when they start coming after the kidnapping asshole. Can't say I'd like to be in your spot, but mine sounds like a great way to end the weekend."

[interstellarnpcs]

The Grim Reaper Groupie laughs, in the sudden and spasm-like way that comes with not having expected to laugh, and then suddenly doing it anyway. They put a hand to their mouth, trying to compose themselves.

"More talent than I can handle? Seriously," they say, their voice more level. "Some of you have a lot of cock for the total green wood that you are."

They gesture to the park around them. "No do you want an explanation, or do you want more time to yell?"

[stylistic_disloyalty]

"Yeah, some of us do," Luci grins, all teeth. "You have to make the call if you think I'm all talk or not."

Of course, it's a little hard for her to look any more threatening when her hands are up and behind her head. Same with everybody else, she supposes.

"I'll bite--" Because there's really no other option for any of them. "--What's behind Door Number One?"

[interstellarnpcs]

"A chance for you to show us what you're really made of," they said, grinning with pleasure at Luci's ostensible acceptance of who is top dog in this situation. That's what they are choosing to believe, anyway. "No one survives this place without being willing to fight for their life. You could say I'm curious...which of you will be the ones to make the cut this time around...?"

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci narrows her eyes and looks around at the gathered crowd again. Pride, Pride, nothing but Pride. So this was some kind of targeted thing, some kind of lunatic fan's idea of 'meeting the talent'? Seems terribly specific, but hey, she's not going to sweat the details just yet.

"So what, exactly? We going to do this Thunderdome-style? Beat the crap out of each other while handcuffed to bumper cars? Sounds more like a gag reel on a nerd's YouTube account."

[campioned]

Alec was panicking, but that doesn't mean anything. His natural reaction to low and mid-level panic was to act like absolutely nothing was wrong. Which was why he woke up in a bumper car, handcuffed to a pole, and didn't scream or flail. He woke up in strange places all the time. Hasn't everyone woken up in a bumper car? It's better than a dumpster, am I right?

After all, a number of people had been chained up as well. Alec didn't bother with them, however, when the cuffs were released. He stumbled his way out of the car and the ride until he was on the smooth, flat ground of the rambling paths that wind and cross through the theme park.

He was getting out of here and going back to his room in Junkyard Carnival's penthouse, where he would have another drink and then sleep everything off. He started walking - calmly, slowly, shoulders slouched and feet scuffing - in the direction he assumed the exit should be. He's not giving the chick-monks the satisfaction of looking for them to ask what the fuck is going on. He's done, and he'd prefer to have not even begun.

[honeywithpoison]

It's a voice that comes from a way off - Richard can see the hooded figure approaching the nonchalant passer-by, and the prepared taser stick, but he's too far to do more than shout, "what out!"

He hasn't even properly recognized Alec, yet. But he's irritated enough to be willing to attract the whatever's attention to himself. Very willing indeed.

[campioned]

Alec rolled his eyes at this intrusion into his irritated solitude. So, Richard St. Vier had something to do with this evening's... festivities. He wondered if that meant all of Cosmic Indulgence was involved, having their fun at the expense of him.

He was reminded of what Luci had said, about how there was something suspicious about three members of that band taking interest in theirs. Maybe this was the sort of thing she had been trying to warn him about.

Maybe he'd rather throw himself off the Ferris wheel than admit that Luci had been right.

"Watch out for what," he asked in a droning, exasperated tone that didn't quite raise up enough to be a question. "Watch out, I'll kidnap you again and this time take you to a decrepit manor?"

[honeywithpoison]

Maybe Richard had been more than a little bitter at the rejection, even if he'd expected, even invited, it, the night of the gala. Maybe he had barely been holding back, when they were tweeting at each other, to not snap at what must have been a completely reasonable reaction to his past. But the bitterness had been there... he just did not want to show it off in public.

Yet now, with the lanky body and drawling voice right there, he couldn't hold on to it.

"Watch out, somebody's coming up from behind you with what looks like a taser. If my experience is anything to go by, they do the kidnapping while the victim's asleep, but, who knows. Just watch out!"

Nope, the figure did not turn to the side of his voice, and the last bit was called out louder, more urgently.

[campioned]

Except Alec doesn't quite consider it a rejection. Luci had cast enough doubt in his alcohol-fuzzed brain to make it seem like the rational thing to do, not showing up. The morning after, sobriety made it all seem further away than ever. He had assumed that Richard would have been as drunk as he had been.

He still ignored most of the warning, with a scoffing laugh and only the merest glance behind.

Of course, that was followed by a huge stumble followed by a tumble as his feet tangled with each other in their hurry to get away. Alec scuttled further away on the ground, towards Richard because that seemed the best way to go. If for no other reason than it allowed a 50/50 chance that the thing would chase Richard.

... except this was a prank by Cosmic Indulgence, wasn't it? Damn it.

[honeywithpoison]

Yeah, what else is it when the question was 'if you're interested, come' and ... the answer is not coming? And this is most definitely not anything set up by Cosmic Indulgence - if anything, it's a Carnival setting, for crying out loud! They'd not do it at all...

... but if they did, it'd look like nothing of this sort.

Either way, Richard's had a long night already. After Nariko has been set in the direction that seems to be the exit, he's gone against the flow, wandering around to see if anyone else needed help. (He'd promised his bandmates to come back to where they were chased away from, if nothing else. He has to try.) However, he's picked up a long pole, probably used to attach and detach the hanging parts of some stalls.

He runs the rest of the distance to Alec, waving the length of metal, with the hook facing out, over him, in the direction of the threatening figure.

"Go find somebody else. You guys kidnapped enough people to find easier catch."

Is this a good idea? Probably not at all. Still... He's got somebody he knows right there, on the ground, and he'd rather help him than anything else.

[campioned]

It made perfect sense at the time. It was the only choice that hid Alec's fear and protected his delicate ego.

Also, the carnival setting is clearly a sign that this is all designed to make Alec, and the rest of Junkyard Carnival, miserable. They are the target, because the world clearly revolves around him.

"What are you doing?" He hissed up at the man standing over him, ostensibly his 'savior.' "Is that your solution? Wave your stick at him and that will solve everything?"

Xanxus | Junkyard Carnival | OTA - tw: language, violence

[variaboss]

His head was killing him. It's like he'd just woken up with a hell of a hangover. At first, he wondered just where the fuck he was. He had been sitting on the couch. He shifts and the hell. Handcuffs? The shit? Either he had a really hot kinky night with someone or he had been arrested. One of the two.

Only it's not a cop car and he's not butt ass naked, so that means neither of these are true. He's not high either. He doesn't remember taking anything. That means one thing. Cue the very angry swearing. He's quite verbose in his usage of vulgarity, swearing right at the woman in the hood. Trial by Fire his ass. Been there, done that. He's been burned alive in a freak stage accident years ago.

He fights the handcuffs until his wrists bleed and when the finally come off, he is out of that stupid bumper car in record time. "This is bullshit. I'm out. Anyone wants to get the fuck outta here, you can tag the fuck along, but don't get in my damn way."

Then he's starting off. He doesn't yet know about the assholes in the mascot suits, but once he meets them, he won't be going down without a fight. Pride's very own Bad Boy has been in enough bar fights and back alley brawls to last a lifetime.

I'm not iconing those mascots so you'll just have to imagine.

[interstellarnpcs]

It's a short distance into Xanxus's journey away from the bumper carts that he will first see a trace of the mascot - a flash of green fun fur is briefly visible behind a nearby games booth. Then, it lurks closer - a man sized frog costume with some kind of stick.

Xanxus, you are being stalked by a furry.

I am imaging FNAF Kermit

[variaboss]

Something out of the corner of his eye. The scarred bassist doesn't really notice it as something to be concerned about right away. At the moment he's still super pissed off about this. This is so much bullshit and he's not fucking drunk enough to deal with it.

He rounds the corner and there it is again. Closer this time.

Is that a frog? Yep. That sure is a frog.

Xanxus has been in more than his fair share of bar fights. He's a big man and he knows how to kick the shit out of people that piss him off. But right now, he really doesn't want to throw down in bumfuck nowhere. Still, if it comes down to it, he'll give them a hell of a fight.

After all, he's Pride's Bad Boy and he's got the arrest record to prove it.

Terrance Ward || Cosmic Indulgence || LET'S FIGHT SOME MASCOTS and also help our friends probably

[traumatizing]

This is... It's fucking ridiculous. His head is cloudy and his arms hurt; Terry struggles ineffectually with the handcuffs the whole time he's there, barely even registering what the hooded figure is saying or noting who all else is here. He swears and pulls a little harder when he hears the phrase 'Trial by Fire,' but all that gets him is a shooting pain in his arm.

(That makes him swear again, a little louder for emphasis.)

He pauses to look around, mentally counting off anyone he knows. He doesn't exactly stop struggling, but it doesn't pick up in earnest again until he realises the whole band is here except Nariko. When the cuffs come off, he's up like a shot. Running in the direction he thought he saw the hooded figure go in, Terry stops when he realises he has no idea where they went.

"Hey!" He shouts ineffectually, if very angrily, "get back out here!"

[honeywithpoison]

"You sure that's a good idea?"

Richard's voice is calm enough, though he is angry, mostly betrayed by tension in his body. "Let's first look around for something to arm ourselves with." He's a drummer. He can punch with the best of them. But that won't be particularly fun against, say, a taser.

[twoscompany]

"...Terrance?! Richard!!"

Nearby, the very angry voice of a very familiar female echoed as the figure it belonged to practically ran over.

"Nariko! Nariko's not here...!"

[dishevelment]

"Thank god you guys are all right!"

Koumei joined them, breathless and more disheveled than normal. There was a wild, uncertain look in his eyes as he surveyed the scene.

"I haven't seen Nariko either-- where could she be?!"

....If anything happened to her......

[traumatizing]

Terry buries his hands in his hair, pressing his fingertips against his scalp as he turns from side to side, as if some solution will materialise out of nowhere.

"I don't-- she could be anywhere." He chews his lip, still looking around until he spots something and turns to stride towards it with purpose. "But someone can probably tell us."

(Somebody stop him before he tries to fight someone.)

[honeywithpoison]

"First of all, there's always the chance that she's sleeping in her bed - or in a bed, anyway. I don't think everybody got brought here." That's as far as Richard's been able to see. And he does pay attention.

"That said... I doubt that we'd be here all-but-one. And I don't think anyone will tell us, they haven't said much this far.

"Four of us. Four directions. Meeting here, say, in half an hour, or an hour, if somebody doesn't show up, the rest know which way to go looking for them?"

Is he taking this seriously? Yes, in a way. But, come on, they're kidnapped to a creepy carnival site. If they're given cliches, might as well give them some back, right?

"Or we can stick together."

[interstellarnpcs]

Everyone in the group will hear the sound of a motor revving to life nearby.

[traumatizing]

It's like he's not even listening, honestly. It's not really like him, but it's not like he's been under this particular cocktail of stress and panic before. Richard's suggestions are good ones, but he turns to try and figure out which way the revving is coming from.

"You all heard that right?" He looks back at everyone for some confirmation that he's not losing his mind.