[Text] S03E03: Shit Gets Real

[manicurious]

[Ichijou has received a very alarming message, which despite the general secrecy surrounding anything to do with Nathan he just can't keep to himself. He's trying to maintain a calm tone via text, but in person he's, well, clearly more than a little upset.]

I received a message overnight from the device of my emergency contact in response to one of my distress calls. It isn't him. I don't know who it is or what they've done with my contact. The message reads:

There is nothing for him to say as he does not know you are saying anything at all. Your words fall on ears unable to hear.

And soon, you will have no breathe with which to utter them.

I'm at a loss here. Aside from attempting negotiations, I can only think of one possible measure to take as a last resort...

Comments

[text]

[terezi_pyrope]

[welp.]

4 THR34T
UNT1L FURTH3R 3V1D3NC3 PR3S3NTS 1TS3LF W3 C4N 4SSUM3 TH4T YOUR CONT4CT 1S SOM3WH3R3 LOCK3D UP OR D34D

WH4T M34SUR3 DO YOU H4V3 1N M1ND?

[manicurious]

That's assuming we all live long enough to see that further evidence.

There's a room that I'm forbidden to enter or allow entry to on this side. I don't know exactly what is in it. I do know that it's important. Extremely important. And it's the only idea I have.

I can deal with waiting on outside interference or some sort of clue if the only foreseeable consequence is a hungry stomach. But now it sounds like whoever this is really intends to go in for the kill.

[terezi_pyrope]

1 WOULD L1K3 TO TH1NK W3 WOULD
W3R3 NOT GO1NG TO GO DOWN TH4T 34SY
1 R3FUS3 TO B3L13V3 1T!

WOULD TH1S ROOM H4PP3N TO B3 B3YOND TH3 LOCK3D DOOR?

31TH3R W4Y 1T S33MS TO B3 TH3 ONLY CHO1C3 L3FT R1GHT NOW
SO 1 SUGG3ST 1T B3 DON3
4ND 1F TH3R3S 4NYTH1NG 1 C4N DO TO H3LP 1 W4NT TO KNOW

[manicurious]

That may be true of you and the others. I don't know how much more stress I can physically handle. I've felt ill ever since I was first locked in here and I'll only keep getting weaker. The only thing that's been a source of relief is the morphine-like effect of the Chairman's wine bowl. Even that isn't worth having to listen to the disembodied voice of the worst individual I've ever had to deal with in my entire life...

The point is, if things start getting lethal I guarantee that I'll be the first or close to the first to succumb to it. That's just the way it is.

Now, the room I'm considering; yes, it's on this side. I don't know if you can do anything to help. I don't even know if accessing that part of the lab will improve anything.

[terezi_pyrope]

4R3 YOU S1CK W1TH SOM3 K1ND OF W31RD 4L13N T3RM1N4L D1S34S3?

B3S1D3S TH4T, TH1S K1ND OF T4LK 1S NONS3NS3
YOU N33D TO K33P YOURS3LF TOG3TH3R!!

R34L STR3NGTH 1SNT 4LW4YS 4BOUT R4W MUSCL3 4LL OF TH3 T1M3 4ND 1V3 S33N HUM4NS WHO H4V3 B33N JUST L1K3 YOU BUT M4D3 1T THROUGH L3TH4L S1TU4T1ONS L1K3 TH3S3 OR WORS3

YOU WONT KNOW 1F YOU DONT TRY

[manicurious]

What? No. It's not a disease, it's a result of stress. From worrying, loneliness, fear, that sort of thing. A horrible pain in my gut has always been my response to unfortunate goings-on.

And anyway
I think we've thoroughly established that I'm human and you're not.

And this is going to sound terribly rude no matter how I ask it.

But what are you, exactly?

[terezi_pyrope]

HMM W3LL TH4TS 4 COMPL3T3LY N3W CONC3PT TO M3
K1ND OF

OF COURS3 1TS RUD3 >:]
BUT 1 DONT M1ND

1M WH4T YOU C4LL 4N 4LT3RN14N TROLL WHO OBV1OUSLY C4M3 FROM 4 PL4N3T N4M3D 4LT3RN14
W3 4LL LOOK S1M1L14R
C4NDY C4N3 COLOR3D HORNS TH4T M4Y B3 1N D1FF3R3NT SH4P3S W1TH GR3Y SK1N 4ND BL4CK H41R
W3 4LSO T3ND TO BL33D D1FF3R3NTLY FROM HUM4NS

1M NOT SUR3 1F T3LL1NG YOU MOR3 WOULD C4US3 YOU TO ST4ND TH3R3 FOR3V3R OR NOT BUT TH4TS 4LL TH3R3 1S TO 1T

[manicurious]

Usually I can settle it down to some extent with medicine but of course whoever is in charge now won't even grant me that.

I do have another question about you Trolls, but I should probably save it for later...

It's amusing how you think I'd be standing at a time like this instead of, for example, curled up and wedged into a corner crying somewhere. Why do you think I'm choosing not to show my face or let anyone hear my voice right now?

[terezi_pyrope]

TH4T SUCKS >:\

1LL B3 W41T1NG FOR YOU TO 4SK WH3N YOU G3T B4CK FROM TH4T M1SS1ON OF YOURS

1 THOUGHT YOUD B3 PR3P4R1NG YOURS3LF M3NT4LLY TO V3NTUR3 R1GHT 1N 4ND D1DNT W4NT TO SHOW YOUR F4C3 1N 4 HUM4N V3RS1ON OF COOL BR4V4DO OR SOM3TH1NG >:]

[manicurious]

No, that's the exact opposite of what is happening right now. I'm actually impressed at how wrong your assumption is.

[terezi_pyrope]

1CH1JOU
1F TH3R3S 4NY 4DV1C3 1 COULD 1MP4RT TO YOU TH4T 1 HOP3 M4Y B3 H3LPFUL
1TS NOT TO COMPL3T3LY L3T YOURS3LF G3T TOO DOWN ON YOURS3LF WH3N YOUR3 1N 4 CR1T1C4L MOM3NT

[manicurious]

I'm utterly terrified and I feel like my insides are trying to escape the confines of my skin. Optimism is a bit out of my reach right now.

[terezi_pyrope]

1F NOT OPT1M1SM TH3N WOULD TH3 POSS1B1L1TY OF SOM3ON3 LURK1NG 1N TH3 SH4DOWS 4BOUT TO DO T3RR1BL3 TH1NGS TO YOU 3NCOUR4G3 YOU TO MOV3 FURTH3R >:?

4ND WH1L3 YOUR3 1N TH3R3 M4YB3 YOU COULD H3LP US 1NV3ST1G4T3 WH3R3 TH4T OTH3R SOUND 1S COM1NG FROM

[manicurious]

Well
that depends on what shadows they're lurking in exactly. Because if they were lurking nearby there is a small chance that I could take them by surprise.

And then kill and eat them.

That would solve so many of my problems at once.

Wait, what "other sound?"