dormheads | WEEK 5 CYOA: ICHIRO, ICHINOSE, MABEL, MANDRICARDO

...Hm? I-Ichiro? Mabel?

[Well, they're not here. Great. Great! Mandricardo gives the dark street an unimpressed, exhausted look, before turning to the entrance.]

Guess we...have no choice, huh? [And as he starts to walk, he speaks to Ichinose.] Um. Have you ridden the subway before?

[Ichinose, on the other hand, doesn't look surprised at this turn of events. Though, she does look down at herself like — huh! Still in her regular clothes, wow.]

If it's anything like the last time, we'll run into them eventually. Let's worry about ourselves first.

[After all, it's not like they can do anything for Ichiro and Mabel right now. She glances at their surroundings, trying to pick up anything of note as she follows after Mandricardo.]

Mmhm, too many times to count. It's the best way to travel, and I can get just about anywhere I need. What about you?

[ It's a neat and bustling city! Wow.

The subway is... well, a subway. It's about as dirty as you'd expect a public transportation system to be. They can hear the sound of a train passing by, but they're not close enough to the tracks yet to actually see it.

As they walk, Mandi will feel something-- someone-- bump into him really hard, like he was just run into. Neither of them will see anything though. The bat makes a displeased squawking sound. ]

I've never been, but I know what it is. Like a train underground, right?

[It's subway time! Eat fresh!]

[Mandricardo is on edge, not knowing what this subway station holds - he grimaces at the dirtiness - and as he turns to hear the train, the bump happens.]

[His lip draws back in a peeved snarl, holding the bat's cage closer to himself.]

H-Hey! Watch it!

[But...there's nothing there? He's stepping closer to the edge of the platform, confused.]

...What? I didn't imagine that, right?

[Someone, please, your infrastructure budget.

Ichinose makes a face at dirtiness of it all, but then—]

Huh?

[That sure just happened. Ichinose looks at the floor first, as if looking for something Mandricardo might have stumbled on, before she glances around. Hewwo? Ghost??]

Are you alright? What happened?

[Is there some kind of train schedule visible somewhere, though? Where the fuck are they, even.]

[ They'll hear someone laugh, and it's definitely a pointedly mean laugh. Guess someone thinks that what happened to Mandi is funny.

There's a map on the wall! Neither of them will recognize it. But, thankfully, the helpful voice rings out again. ]

Take the L train to fifth street!

[ That voice is so helpful. ]

I don't know...

[And the laugh comes - Mandricardo's anger flares, but he settles for just angrily mumbling instead.]

Bastard.

[And....wow, he's peering at the wall, and this. Makes no sense.]

These colored lines, are these the trains? Do we just...get on one when it comes?

[... Hm.

Her gaze slides away, staring at the map on the wall.]

Just ignore it.

[Placidly. Are there any viable options for them besides the L train to fifth street? Because she does not feel like obeying the narrator, no.]

But yes, that's about the gist of it. What do you say we break the script?

[ There are a few options. There's M, N, O, P trains as well that come to this station. They come in order, so they'd simply have to decide which train to get on.

The laughter quiets down... a lot. There's just silence until the bat makes another small sound. Awwww. ]

Like...go on a different train? You don't think we'll be punished for it?

[He is worried about messing up, after all. Mandricardo looks down at the bat, waggling a finger at it.]

Hey, its okay...anyways. Um. Sure. Why not...

Ahaha, maybe! But following the script didn't end so well for us last time, either.

[Might as well experiment if they're fucked either way! She leans over to wiggle a finger at the bat, too.]

Hey, we haven't picked a name for them yet. Any ideas?

[Are... Are bats even allowed onboard? Oh, well. Ichinose will lead them to (throws dart) P train. Are they allowed to board?]

[ They're allowed on board! The bat blinks his bat eyes at them.

The train is the same kind of dirty as the station. They'll hear murmuring, so they'll be able to tell that it's not an empty train despite the fact that it is, in fact, empty visually.

Good luck finding somewhere to sit then? ]

Really? Okay...if you insist...

[And he looks at the bat for a little bit, thinking.]

Hector.

[Please do NOT let him name this bat after his Iliad fanboy crush, Ichinose.]

[And wow! This is...a weird train? Mandricardo glances around, feeling the chills up his spine from all these weird invisible people.]

Um, hold some stuff?

[Which he still has from the pet store - he wants a hand free to grasp at the railing above. He'll just stand, thank you!]

[She hums, giving their baby a considering look.]

Hector, huh? [Taking some things from Mandricardo's hands, still thinking. Until, suddenly—] Yes, that's perfect! Long live Hector-chan!

[Ichinose has now decided this is a lady bat named Hector. She balances the items in the crook of her left elbow, reaching for the railing with her right hand.]

Maybe we should have grabbed some bags on our way out...

[ The train is off!

As it moves along its path, the train starts to feel more crowded, despite there being room before. They'll feel invisible bodies brush against them, either softly like it was an accident, or more hard, as if they're purposely being knocked into. No one speaks.

The same voice from before speaks from the train's intercom. ]

Where are you going?

Hector...chan?

[Okay! Sure. Lady bats can be named Hector. He will not imagine a lady version of Hector from the Iliad, no sir.]

[And wow, these people are rude? Mandricardo winces at the touches, more in pain than discomfort, as he tries to keep the bat close. At the intercom, he hisses at Ichinose.]

W...what do we say?

[I hope Lady Hector is a MILF.

Ichinose inches closer to the two of them, just in case things suddenly get dicey.]

Who knows? Let's say we're clumsy and got on the wrong train while on our way home. It's a surprise twist in Hector-chan's coming of age story that's sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

[ The voice waits for them to stop talking amongst themselves.

Well. Only for a moment. ]

Get off at the next stop and take the right train.

[Mandricardo is getting the rising anxiety of Doing Things Wrongly And Getting In Trouble For It. He'll look up at the ceiling where he thinks the voice is coming from.]

And what happens if we don't? We don't even know where home is? You haven't even told us that! We're just going to get lost, anyways-!

Whoa— [Mandi?? You good???] Come on, take it easy...

[Ichinose is just vibing with her void as always, honestly... Though she glances up at the ceiling.]

He's got a point, though. Why is it important that we take the L train? Won't you tell us what comes next?

No.

[ The voice sounds a little annoyed. ]

Just take the train. I want you to go there.

[ The train feels even more crowded. ]

I-I don't like bein' in this kinda space, Ichinose...

[He's a nervous boy! He can't help it! And wow, this intercom.]

Hey, if you won't explain, we just won't go!

[He's digging in his heels with this.]

You can hide behind me if you want.

[Use her as a social shield... or something. Either way, she tilts her head at the voice.]

You know, we're more likely to give you what you want if you cooperate with us too. You're sure you can't take a minute to explain?

[ The voice just continues to be annoyed. ]

It's late. That's the time people go home. It's been a long day. Aren't you tired?

[ The train starts to slow as it reaches the next stop. ]

Not...really? Besides, like I said, you haven't told us where home is...

[And yeah, he's shuffling a bit behind Ichinose.]

Who even are you, anyways?

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