WEEK 5 CYOA: ICHIRO, ICHINOSE, MABEL, MANDRICARDO

[dormheads]

Comments

[dormheads]

Of course I do! It's my job!

[ The light flickers and the intercom makes a static noise. ]

Get off the train in two more stops. Your apartment is down the street on the fifth floor.

[duranduel]

I don't think I wanna follow the words of a known animal hater, even if it's their job...

[And looking at Ichinose.]

Do we disregard the script again?

[txt]

Hmm... I'm curious about our "home," buuuuut... Why not? Let's take a detour.

[What if they try to get off in the next stop instead?]

[dormheads]

[ They'll be able to get off! The station platform is silent except for some coughing nearby from an invisible source. The voice says nothing.

They can go up the stairs back to the street or they can go back onto the train before it leaves. ]

[duranduel]

Okay. Let's go, Hector.

[And honestly, he doesn't want to bother with the train anymore. He is going back up to the street up those stairs, thanks.]

[txt]

[Well.

Up the stairs they go! Ichinose keeps an eye out for anything of note as they exit at the station, and then make their way up the stairs. Hello? Any sudden muggings?]

[dormheads]

[ No sudden muggings.

They walk into what looks like a rather high class part of town. Designer storefronts like the street, the kind of places where the price tags wouldn't be on display. It's still night.

They hear a few grumbling noises when they walk out, and can hear a few footsteps going away from them-- looks like people are getting out of their way. They can hear someone mutter "disgusting."

They can either go left, right, or cross the street. ]

[duranduel]

Yeah, yeah, tell me somethin' I don't know...

[Grumbles Mandricardo, assuming they're talking about him and not poor, sweet baby Hector. Honestly, this is fine. Better less people to deal with.]

Pretty nice place, though... [He's glancing at the windows as they walk by.] I bet our so-called apartment isn't in a place like this.

[txt]

[... Hm. More invisible people? At least show your faces if you're going to be rude, damn.]

It was two more stops, right? It might be somewhere downtown.

[She follows after him, glancing at the storefronts as they walk. Unless Crystal says otherwise, I guess they're (throws dart) going right.]

Though, I'm surprised this place is nice by your standards. You're a legendary king, after all.

[dormheads]

[ They walk by a section of jewelry stores. Hector just watches as they go by, her eyes following along.

It's a quiet walk, until someone taps on Mandi's shoulder. When they look, it's a woman dressed in a fur coat. Weirdly enough, they can't seem to see her face-- whenever they try to look, they'll find their gaze glancing elsewhere instead. ]

Excuse me. You don't belong here.

[duranduel]

Well, this is the modern era. And bein' a king had its perks in terms of wealth, but that wasn't what mattered to me. Even when I left the kingdom to become an adventurer, I didn't leave with much besides the clothes on my back.

[And...oh. Huh. He's trying to peer up at the lady, but can't, and it's disorienting.]

Um, sorry? We're lost. We'll be out of your way, soon...

[txt]

Huh... I see. So even in the past, you—

[Oh. Wait. Guess they're getting interrupted by this bougie ass lady? Ichinose furrows her brow, touching her forehead as if dizzy when she tries and fails to take a good look at her.

Though... Shaking her head, she adds:]

Don't mind us. We were just leaving.

[And then she's tugging Mandricardo along, trying to walk away from the woman.]

[dormheads]

Good. Disgraces...

[ They manage to walk a few feet before a rock is thrown at Hector's cage.

Rude. ]

[duranduel]

...

[Oh, that is bad. Mandricardo's anger flares....but he just hugs Hector more tightly to himself, protectively.]

Let's get out of this place. You deserve somewhere better.

[txt]

[Ah. Bad.

Thank god this is not alpha week. Ichinose just tightens her grip on Mandricardo, keeping an eye out for any other projectiles.]

... Let's just run. There's nothing interesting here anyway.

[Cowards live?? Maybe. Time to speed up, bye.]

[dormheads]

[ And they run.

As they move forward, they hear more and more noise. It seems like the streets over here are busier, and while everything still looks fancy it's not as high end as the spot they originally arrived at. If they listen closely, they talk about some celebrity who'll be here.

Hector makes an agitated noise. Her cage is slightly bent now.

Eventually, they'll hit an invisible wall-- of people. There's a giant crowd blocking the way. ]

[duranduel]

[Aw, Hector. When they meet the obstacle, Mandricardo lets out an exhausted sigh, moving to take the bag of dried mango slices they got from the pet store earlier. He rips it open with his teeth, before pulling out one to slip to Hector through the holes of the cage.]

Why do they have to be invisible? This isn't fair...

[He's just trying to see if there's any spots he can feel through the crowd, testing with his elbow.]

Maybe we can go around?

[txt]

Oops! Sorry, sorry.

[To... this invisible crowd of people.]

Is there another way we can go...? It's too bad we don't have infrared vision.

[She will try to look for another route, but if there isn't one... Guess they'll try to go around? She will try to gently unbend whatever part of Hector's cage got damaged, too. Save their baby.]

[dormheads]

[ It's either return the way they can or try to go around the crowd. As they walk round, though, they'll feel someone just yank on the cage with great strength, trying to pull it out of their grasp.

Hector shrieks, flapping her wings, startled at the sudden movement. ]

[duranduel]

H-Hey!

[NOT LADY HECTOR! Mandricardo lets out a squawk of his own, instantly yanking the cage back and trying to put himself in front of her.]

L-Let go!!

[txt]

Whoa—!

[HELLO?? THEIR BAT BABY???? Ichinose immediately slots herself on the cage's other side, trying to block access.]

It's okay, Hector-chan... [But, uh, bad? She tugs the two of them away from the crowd.] I bet Tanaka-san is feeling preeeetty smug right now. Just how do we get out of here?

[dormheads]

[ The crowd gets more agitated. Someone leans forward to yank Ichinose's hair, holding onto it as tightly as they can. Someone else tries to grab the cage again. ]

Wow... rich people, am I right?

[ Tanaka is back. ]

There's a car nearby. You can run them over to protect Hector.

[duranduel]

Hey, let go of her!!

[Seriously getting the urge to just throw Tanaka out a window, thanks! He's trying his best to pull the cage out of the other's grip and then working on trying to help Ichinose, backing up and away from the crowd.]

I thought we were goin' home! What's all this about a car, now, huh?!

[txt]

[Ah. This might as well happen.

Ichinose yelps when someone grabs her hair, her right hand immediately darting up to try and grab that person's wrist — digging her nails into the vein with as much force as possible if she happens to find purchase.

Sorry, Mandricardo. She's a useless noodle right now.]

Can't we just drive home...?!

[Wow... Can't believe she officially hates this NPC more than heterosexuality.]

[dormheads]

You should take care of the problem first, shouldn't you?

[ Hector is just making a lot of distresses noises. Ichinose manages to grab onto the person, and she hears them let out a yell of pain as their arm becomes momentarily visible.

The crowd presses forward again, trying to grab at Mandi as he attempt to move them away. Meanwhile, them mentioning the car made some of the crowd notice that it's now convenient there. Hm. ]