HAWKS PALACE

[doublefried]

The process of entering the palace is... smooth. Painless.


You are falling, but it's not scary at the speed you're going. You drop through the pre-dawn sky like a feather, light and easy on a breeze, descending towards a bright and multicolored island in a sea of dark trees.

When you land, you are somewhere new.

Comments

[doublefried]

It nuzzles into his finger and is warm and soft!

[survivaltricks]

[it soothes him a bit, and he lets out another exhale. time to enter the cage and pick up the Hawks plush]

[doublefried]

There isn't a MEMORY associated with this so much as like, a feeling. It is the feeling of feeling desperately, desperately trapped.

[survivaltricks]

. . . yeah.

[he says, voice low, but there's empathy in his response]

It sucks, doesn't it?

[tucking the plush underneath his arm and moving to the next cell over. WHAT IF HE OPENS EVERY CELL]

[doublefried]

He is going to experience a LOT of ordered assassinations. A gang leader, a high-profile villain, a rogue hero - lots and lots and lots and lots.

The trapped feeling intensifies with every plush he collects!

In the final room there is a lock because there is a woman in an orange prison jumpsuit.

[survivaltricks]

[he grits his teeth throughout the whole thing, relying on the presence of the peeps to keep him grounded. once every cell door is open, he will stop in front of the woman's cell and blink at her slowly]

. . . oh. Hello.

I like your hair.

[doublefried]

"Thanks. I like your birds."

[survivaltricks]

Thanks. We're best buddies now.

[as determined by Akira himself]

What's your name? I'm Akira.

[doublefried]

"People called me Lady Nagant. Hero name, you know."

[survivaltricks]

[hmmm]

What about your real name?

[doublefried]

"You won't recognize it. Kaina Tsutsumi."

[survivaltricks]

I'm not asking because I expect to recognize it. I'm just making introductions.

[is her cell door unlocked, too?]

[doublefried]

"Fair enough."

It is very locked.

[survivaltricks]

[can heeeee unlock this one via lockpicking, too]

How'd you end up in the slammer, anyway?

[doublefried]

He can! If he tries.

"Killed a guy."

[survivaltricks]

[hesitation, but then he continues unlocking the cell door]

. . . did someone order you to do so? Under the excuse of it being "heroic?"

[once he picks the lock, he will open the door]

[doublefried]

"Yes, but I didn't get locked up for any of those. I got locked up for killing a different guy."

[survivaltricks]

[leaning against the open door, not encouraging her to exit but definitely allowing her to, if she wishes]

Who? . . . and why?

[doublefried]

She stands up, stretching out.

"You're in here looking for Hawks, right?"

[survivaltricks]

[nnnnoting that she isn't answering]

I am. Do you know where he is?

[doublefried]

"Well, he's not in this cell, but you're probably going in the right direction.

Anyway, I had his job before him. He replaced me after I went to jail. You can put two and two together from there, right?"

[survivaltricks]

[hah. . .]

[his lips curve into a wry smile]

I can, yeah. Are you two close?

[doublefried]

"We only met once."

[survivaltricks]

Soooo that's a no.

[hmmm. . .]

Even so, want to come with me to find him? You said I was going in the right direction.

[doublefried]

"I mean, I don't know if he'll want to see me, but I'm game."