{"id":29897,"date":"2026-05-30T06:56:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:56:08","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-05-30T06:56:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:56:08","slug":"plot-1442","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/2026\/05\/30\/plot-1442\/","title":{"rendered":"The Autumn Leaf Hairpin(Yukino)"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n    .edgt-post-text-inner p {\n        margin-bottom: 35px !important;\n    }\n    <\/style>\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong> 2026-05-29 18:34<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><span style=\"color:#008000\">               (<\/span>The Autumn Leaf Hairpin(Yukino):Yukino<span style=\"color:#008000\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#008080\">        [<\/span>Fri May 29 2026<span style=\"color:#008080\">]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#a6ceff\">O<span style=\"color:#a3ccf7\">n<span style=\"color:#a0caef\"> <span style=\"color:#9ec9e7\">A<span style=\"color:#9bc7df\"> <span style=\"color:#98c5d7\">L<span style=\"color:#95c4d0\">a<span style=\"color:#93c2c8\">m<span style=\"color:#8fc0c0\">p<span style=\"color:#8cbfb9\">l<span style=\"color:#89bdb1\">i<span style=\"color:#86bba9\">t<span style=\"color:#83baa2\"> <span style=\"color:#7fb89a\">S<span style=\"color:#7cb693\">t<span style=\"color:#78b58b\">r<span style=\"color:#74b384\">e<span style=\"color:#70b17c\">e<span style=\"color:#6cb074\">t<\/span\/span\/span><br \/><span style=\"color:#6a94e6\">Everythi<span style=\"color:#63a5ed\">ng else on this st<span style=\"color:#5db5f3\">reet moves at the <span style=\"color:#56c7fa\">edge of percepti<span style=\"color:#50d6fc\">on: storefronts <span style=\"color:#4be2ef\">that were here a mo<span style=\"color:#46ede3\">ment ago replace<span style=\"color:#41fad6\">d by the suggesti<span style=\"color:#48ffd5\">on of storefront<span style=\"color:#5bffdf\">s, the opalescent <span style=\"color:#6dffe9\">paving stones re<span style=\"color:#7ffff3\">arranging thems<span style=\"color:#85fcf8\">elves in the peri<span style=\"color:#86f8fa\">phery, cars froz<span style=\"color:#88f3fd\">en mid-turn that p<span style=\"color:#89efff\">hase through eac<span style=\"color:#94daff\">h other slowly an<span style=\"color:#9ec5ff\">d without urgenc<span style=\"color:#a8b1ff\">y. But the lamps st<span style=\"color:#b5a3f6\">and where they st<span style=\"color:#caaccf\">and, casting the<span style=\"color:#e0b6a5\">ir amber light do<span style=\"color:#f5bf7e\">wn in pools that do not waver, do not <span style=\"color:#e0b6a5\">move, do not lie. <span style=\"color:#caaccf\">The ground benea<span style=\"color:#b5a3f6\">th each one is sol<span style=\"color:#a8b1ff\">id. The ground bet<span style=\"color:#9ec5ff\">ween them is less <span style=\"color:#94daff\">certain. The clo<span style=\"color:#89efff\">ck tower is visib<span style=\"color:#88f3fd\">le from here, cou<span style=\"color:#86f8fa\">nter-clockwise h<span style=\"color:#85fcf8\">ands turned stil<span style=\"color:#7ffff3\">l. Further down, <span style=\"color:#6dffe9\">the street narro<span style=\"color:#5bffdf\">ws. The lamps cont<span style=\"color:#48ffd5\">inue, evenly spa<span style=\"color:#41fad6\">ced.<span style=\"color:#c0c0c0\"><\/span\/span\/span><\/p>\n<p>It is <span style=\"color:#808000\">afternoon<\/span>, about <span style=\"color:#008000\">66<\/span>F(<span style=\"color:#008000\">18<\/span>C) degrees, and there are clear skies.  The mist is heaviest <span style=\"color:#a6ceff\">A<span style=\"color:#a3ccf7\">t<span style=\"color:#a1caf0\"> <span style=\"color:#9ec9e8\">H<span style=\"color:#9cc7e1\">a<span style=\"color:#99c6d9\">w<span style=\"color:#96c4d2\">t<span style=\"color:#94c3cb\">h<span style=\"color:#91c1c3\">o<span style=\"color:#8ebfbc\">r<span style=\"color:#8bbeb5\">n<span style=\"color:#88bcae\"> <span style=\"color:#85bba7\">a<span style=\"color:#82b99f\">n<span style=\"color:#7eb898\">d<span style=\"color:#7bb691\"> <span style=\"color:#77b48a\">L<span style=\"color:#74b383\">a<span style=\"color:#70b17c\">k<span style=\"color:#6cb074\">e<\/span\/span\/span><\/p>\n<p>Readying his shotgun, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> looks around warily, already on alert. &#8220;I will never stop hating this place&#8230;&#8221; He mutters, sidestepping a bit closer to Yukino. &#8220;Do we have a guide of sorts?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo looks up from his phone, totally not playing Plants v Zombies while waiting for the others to arrive. <\/p>\n<p>Down, down it goes into the depths of Biringan. At least, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, Regaldo and Axle have grown incredibly familiar with the way to this particular delve now. It does not shorten the route, or makes it any quicker. Regaldo slipped through at some point, and then with the ever waiting moment, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> and Axle joined him soon, as well. And today, with them, there is also Naomi and Camila.  <\/p>\n<p>Today, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> brings out the little crimson butterfly again, which happily makes its way forward, entirely disregarding on whether or not anyone can catch up, and after the last fall, at least now, there is some mix of different parachutes that are brought along. The Crimson Butterfly leads the way down, the streets always unfamiliar, ever shifting.  <\/p>\n<p>It is then that the party reaches a new low, past the level where the buildings were constructed of silhouettes, further down&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>The street shifts.  <\/p>\n<p>And below, there is only darkness. For now, the stairs remain.  <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One finds herself a little&#8230; concerned, perhaps.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says, looking back to Axle and making a small nod. The crimson butterfly halts, and floats slightly up, and turns to face Axle. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey Om Nom.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> casually greets the butterfly, clearly assuming that that is it&#8217;s name at this point, &#8220;Why concerned? I brought a parachute and everything.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila steps off the last solid stone onto the lamplit street, eyes sweeping the shifting periphery with professional efficiency before landing on the darkness below. &#8220;Every time,&#8221; she says flatly, checking her shotgun&#8217;s chamber, &#8220;it gets worse.&#8221; She glances sidelong at Regaldo. &#8220;The parachute won&#8217;t help if the ground decides it doesn&#8217;t exist.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey spirit goddess bug.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> greets, saluting with his weapon. &#8220;Don&#8217;t lead us to our deaths? Really would appreciate it.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Naomi pulls her jacket tighter, peering down into the darkness with an expression that suggests she is actively reconsidering several life choices. &#8220;For the record,&#8221; she says, patting the parachute straps, &#8220;I&#8217;m logging this as a hostile work environment.&#8221; She checks her detection unit. &#8220;What&#8217;s down there, Yukino?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo pulls his large weapon free from it&#8217;s harness and peers off into the darkness. &#8220;Abyss, do -not- start staring back please and thank you.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The stones of the stairs and the building begin to shift and grow translucent. Both Axle and Regaldo can see, as perceptive as they are, that this does not apply to the stones under the lamplight. The street begins to shift, but there it is different.  <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> gives Naomi a blank look. &#8220;One finds it preferable to not find out.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Axle steps very purposefully onto the lamplit stones. &#8220;Oh hell, to the fuck, no.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hrm.&#8221; comes curiously from <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> as he has a rare smart moment, probably, &#8220;Wonder if we can take this with us?&#8221; as he makes his way to the lamplit stones. He tests the lamp post to see if it might be movable. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi glances down, sees straight through the stone beneath her boots to nothing, and moves &#8212; fast, no hesitation, no commentary &#8212; hitting the lamplit cobbles at a dead sprint and grabbing Camila&#8217;s arm on the way. &#8220;Move!&#8221; she says, breathless, skidding to a stop beside Axle. &#8220;Okay. New rule. We stay in the light.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila doesn&#8217;t need telling twice &#8212; she&#8217;s already moving before Naomi finishes the word, boots hitting the lamplit cobbles hard, her free hand gripping Naomi&#8217;s arm right back. &#8220;Light stays solid,&#8221; she says, breathing controlled despite the sprint, planting herself firmly beneath the nearest lamp. &#8220;Everyone count off.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Red light green light for keeps, seems like.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> reasons. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> basically just leaps over and she is safe. She will not be pummeling into the unknown darkness tonight and she finds herself breathing heavily under the stormlight, more from the sudden kick of adrenaline than genuine exhaustion.  <\/p>\n<p>Camila and Naomi follow close behind her, Regaldo does, too. And they arrive safely.  <\/p>\n<p>Then there is Axle. A stone was just at the worst angle, just moved a tiny slight bit up. He stumbles, just as he finds himself about to reach the safe space under the lamplight. The stones give way, he feels his feet begin to drop&#8230; And he holds on. To the stones that are safe; and finds he can easily pull himself up if he wanted. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fuck&#8230; no&#8230; not, again.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> grunts, muscles flexing as he tries to lift himself bodily up onto the safe stones. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wonder if we can move one of these with us.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks only to see Axle start to drop. The large man reaches out to try and grab the other man. <\/p>\n<p>Camila is already moving before Regaldo&#8217;s hand extends, dropping to one knee at the edge of the lamplight, grabbing Axle&#8217;s forearm with both hands in a combat grip. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got you,&#8221; she says, voice flat and focused, hauling back with her full weight. &#8220;Push with your legs.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing for my legs to push on.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> grunts, still heaving. <\/p>\n<p>Between everyone, including <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, moving to assist Axle to pull him up, the group between Camila, Regaldo and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> manage to do so. Axle finding himself to be quite strong helps along the way, when he finds his knee and the right hold to pull upwards.  <\/p>\n<p>They find themselves standing under the streetlight, everything else&#8230; begins to reform before their eyes. There is a coffee shop now, the way from above is gone. A new streetlight stands just ahead. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I opt.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says, hands on knees and breath a bit heavy. &#8220;We play follow the light, and not, follow the gravity. All in favor?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Naomi exhales sharply, hands on her knees for exactly one second before she straightens up, eyes already tracking the new lamp ahead. &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she says, pulling a grease-stained notepad from her vest pocket and scribbling fast. &#8220;Lamps are anchors. We move lamp to lamp, no shortcuts.&#8221; She looks up. &#8220;Everyone good to keep moving?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Aye,&#8221; comes in agreement from <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> as he begins making for the next bit of light with his large weapon being shifted back into it&#8217;s mount. <\/p>\n<p>Axle follows close behind, shotgun coming back to hand. <\/p>\n<p>someone a nod of her head. She huffs out. The Crimson butterfly stuck to her, and then begins to fly to the next streetlight, and then waits. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes to jump over, and the party finds itself rushing. And then it starts to form into a pattern, wait for the streets to collapse, wait for it to reform, rush, wait for collapse. Repeat. This goes fine, but the way seems to be unpleasantly long.  <\/p>\n<p>In the distance, the clocktower makes a TICK, trying to bash against its inverse rotation backwards, unable to move.  <\/p>\n<p>Something suddenly rushes at the party. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes a nod of her head. She huffs out. The Crimson butterfly stuck to her, and then begins to fly to the next streetlight, and then waits. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes to jump over, and the party finds itself rushing. And then it starts to form into a pattern, wait for the streets to collapse, wait for it to reform, rush, wait for collapse. Repeat. This goes fine, but the way seems to be unpleasantly long.  <\/p>\n<p>In the distance, the clocktower makes a TICK, trying to bash against its inverse rotation backwards, unable to move.  <\/p>\n<p>Something suddenly rushes at the party. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh shit!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> leaps sideways, taking a wild shot at the rushing, thing. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I hate this place.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> bitches as he tries to move his fat ass off to one side. <\/p>\n<p>BAM, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> basically reacts far too slowly, gets thrown around, manages to grab the lantern and plummets down to the ground. &#8220;Ohw.&#8221; She makes, staring up, looking entirely unhappy.  <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo finds himself to be just a little too round, something rushes right into one side of his body, and he gets toppled over, lands on the ground, but is not pushed anywhere he does not want to be. Safe under the streetlamp.  <\/p>\n<p>To both <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> and Regaldo it becomes clear that this car just appeared out of nowhere. Came manifest just behind them and decided to mow some people down. Unfortunately those people happen to be the party.  <\/p>\n<p>Axle brings spins around and brings up his shotgun, PAM, the shot hits, but it does nothing to stop the thing that he realizes is a car. It drives at him, but he rolls out of the way just in time.  <\/p>\n<p>Meekly, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> notes &#8220;One finds she hates this place.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The car catches Camila across the hip, spinning her hard into the lamppost with a crack that rattles her teeth. She slides down it, one hand gripping the cold metal, keeping herself inside the light. &#8220;Everyone sound off,&#8221; she barks, already checking her limbs with practiced efficiency, breathing through the pain. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I also find that&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> groans, picking himself up off the ground. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thirded.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grouches while sounding off, &#8220;I&#8217;m alive. I intercepted it with my big back.&#8221; trying to make light of the situation. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi, who&#8217;d been scribbling in her notepad between lamps, spins around to assess the damage, her eyes moving fast across each person. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; she says, already moving toward Camila. &#8220;Camila, let me see that hip.&#8221; She crouches, hands steady, clinical. &#8220;Regaldo, anything broken, or just your dignity?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Just my pride.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> echoes to Naomi, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> throws up her arms and wails them &#8220;One hates this place. One hates this place.&#8221; Her voice trembles in genuine anger. She stands up, moves close to the lamplight, off the street, much as she can.  <\/p>\n<p>If people were to look closely, it is not the only car now. They form from nowhere, in one second it wasn&#8217;t there. Then it is. And they drive at full speed ahead. <\/p>\n<p>Stepping up beside Yukino, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> pats her lightly on the back. &#8220;Wanna shoot them?&#8221; He offers, lowering the shotgun for her. &#8220;It might be therapeutic and all.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila waves Naomi off with a grunt, already pushing herself upright against the lamppost. &#8220;It&#8217;s bruised, not broken,&#8221; she says flatly, then her eyes track the street. More cars. Forming from nothing. &#8220;We need to move. Now. Yukino, how far to the clock tower?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> throws her arms up, directing it to the clock tower. And that answers the question. It looks like it might still be a few kilometers off. She genuinely does not look happy. She now crouches down, and makes to leap the far way to what looks like a safe part of the other side of the street by another street light. &#8220;One hates this place.&#8221; Again. Such direct words. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;So, this just turned into a very real game of Frogger.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> laments with a sigh only to ask, &#8220;Want me to shoot the clock tower?&#8221; while making a bee line towards the next side of the street, with his human legs and fat ness. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> lands safely. She calls back &#8220;One wonders if sir Regaldo and Axle might find themselves finding gaps in the movements of vehicles&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Spotting the openings, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> slips between the cars, occasionally giving one a shove to redirect himself off it until he reaches Yukino. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi watches the cars cycle for exactly three seconds, notepad still in hand, timing the gaps with the quiet focus of someone calculating load tolerances. &#8220;Got it,&#8221; she mutters, then sprints flat-out through the first opening, vaults cleanly off the hood of a phasing sedan, and lands hard beside Yukino, skidding to a stop. &#8220;Frogger. Accurate.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Ever seen a fat man panic run after the taco truck? That is essentially what <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> is doing as he stops abruptly with his arms flailing to not get hit by one car only to juke out of the way of another. He makes it, somehow, and plants his hands on his knees, panting. &#8220;I. Am. Too. Fat. For. This. Shit.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila watches the cars cycle twice more, jaw set, then moves with the cold economy of someone who has done worse under fire. She doesn&#8217;t sprint. She walks, fast and deliberate, stepping through each gap like she&#8217;s clearing a room, one hand on her shotgun. She arrives beside Regaldo without breathing hard. &#8220;You made it. That&#8217;s what counts.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The pattern repeats for a while, but now the party has some sort of sense to criss cross around and get ahead and ahead. This lasts for a while, the number of vehicles only grows worse.  <\/p>\n<p>Then, starlight starts to visibly form around <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, she is crouching down, about to leap across several more vehicles to the next street light. <\/p>\n<p>Axle stares at the starlight around Yukino, blinking hard. &#8220;Yukino!&#8221; He calls out. &#8220;Your all glowing and shit. You know that?&#8221; He himself is beginning to shade his eyes with a hand to peer through the stars at Yukino herself. &#8220;What the hell are you doing with it anyhow?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Is she evolving?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> wonders as Yukino starts to sparkle, &#8220;You can do it, sparkle shine. Become a majestic pony!&#8221; Most of this comes deadpan before he asks, &#8220;The hell is going on?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Naomi has her notepad out before she&#8217;s even consciously decided to, scribbling fast, eyes tracking the starlight&#8217;s distribution around Yukino with the same intensity she&#8217;d give a new circuit diagram. &#8220;That&#8217;s not ambient,&#8221; she says quietly, mostly to herself, then louder: &#8220;Yukino, that light &#8212; is it yours, or is something out here responding to you?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You might be onto something.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says aside to Regaldo. &#8220;Do people, do that? Evolve?&#8221; He pauses. &#8220;Don&#8217;t answer that question. <\/p>\n<p>Camila&#8217;s hand moves to her shotgun strap, not drawing, just resting there, her eyes locked on Yukino with that flat, assessing stare she reserves for threat evaluation. &#8220;Fifteen years,&#8221; she says quietly, to no one in particular, &#8220;and I still hate being the last one to know something.&#8221; She looks at Naomi. &#8220;Good question.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>leaps across, lands, stands and looks over at Axle and Regaldo. She gives Axle in particular a stare on the evolving question being responded to. &#8220;Axle&#8230;&#8221; She starts, puffing her cheeks, but then her eyes trail down along her &#8220;One finds&#8230;&#8221; Her lips close &#8220;&#8230;This might be un-&#8221; The starlight flows away from her, along the ground ground. The streets shift behind her.  <\/p>\n<p>It reforms, to an exact copy of where <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> is standing. And then where Axle, Camila, Naomi and Regaldo are standing. On the other side, in their places? The familiar silhouettes. Naomi and Camila do not have an exact one, theirs are different, more akin to people of the party that had been along just a few days ago, and the party ran into these starlight silhouettes. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What, the fuck are those?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> asks, staring at the silhouettes. &#8220;Oh shit, oh shit oh shit oh shit.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The street ahead leads to the clocktower. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo puffs out his cheeks as the silhouettes make a return, &#8220;No one is ever prepared for the second coming of Regaldo.&#8221; gets blurted out while he goes to wave at the one he considers to look like him. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi stares at her own silhouette &#8212; different, wrong, belonging to someone else&#8217;s story &#8212; and then back at Yukino, pencil hovering motionless over the notepad for the first time all evening. &#8220;Yukino,&#8221; she says, very carefully, &#8220;how long have you been able to do that?&#8221; She taps the notepad against her palm. &#8220;And why do I get the feeling this isn&#8217;t the first time?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>On the other side, the <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> sized one, crouches down, and makes to leap. Regaldo&#8217;s wave is not returned as the starlight group starts to make its way towards the clocktower. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Do we&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> trails off, already starting to move to follow the starlight people. &#8220;Guess&#8230; that way?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila&#8217;s already moving, long strides eating up the lamp-lit ground, staying deliberately within the amber pools. &#8220;Move,&#8221; she says flatly, no room for debate in it. &#8220;Whatever those things are, we don&#8217;t let them get there first.&#8221; She glances back once. &#8220;Stick to the light.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One finds herself&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> starts to say, giving Naomi a look, and then the ones behind her start moving and she looks back. Then comes Camila&#8217;s instruction. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You disrespectful shit!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> barks out as he is ignored by, well, himself. &#8220;Yea, you&#8217;re not wrong.&#8221; he agrees as he goes back to playing frogger with red light green light. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi is already moving before Camila finishes the sentence, pencil tucked behind her ear, boots finding each amber pool with practiced precision. &#8220;Yukino,&#8221; she calls ahead, not breaking stride, &#8220;that answer&#8217;s coming whether we reach the clocktower or not.&#8221; She keeps pace just behind Camila, eyes tracking the silhouettes. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> tries to compete with her other self, and while she can keep ahead of starlight others, she cannot hold up with her starlight version. Starlight <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> just gets a little bit ahead.  <\/p>\n<p>Behind her, Naomi and Camila are racing, too. And further behind, Axle and Regaldo find themselves on the last spot.  <\/p>\n<p>All the cars come from up ahead, driving towards both the party and the starlight party. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m getting real tired of this.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grouches as he keeps running while playing frogger. <\/p>\n<p>Putting on a burst of speed, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> rushes to catch himself, or, his star self, all whilst dodging out of the way of cars like its some sort of runner game. With much higher stakes. <\/p>\n<p>Camila isn&#8217;t racing &#8212; she&#8217;s running tactical, keeping herself between the group and the cars, one hand braced on her shotgun. &#8220;Hernandez, close that gap!&#8221; she barks back without turning, eyes forward on the clocktower. She&#8217;d rather arrive second and intact than first and scattered. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m working on it!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grouches at Camila as he starts losing ground with the others. <\/p>\n<p>The clocktower grows larger in the distance. There seems to be a large plaza up ahead. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh thank the gods&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> huffs, still running flat out for the plaza. &#8220;Not dead, not dead, not dead yet&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> manages to catch up as her equal self ends up rolling over one of the vehicles, slipping a little behind. Axle on the other hand gets ahead here, while his starlight version gets his hip hit by a public traffic violation.  <\/p>\n<p>And where Regaldo falls behind, Starlight Regaldo starts to measure up towards Axle.  <\/p>\n<p>The crimson butterfly moves on up ahead, towards the plaza.  <\/p>\n<p>They are almost there. They and their starlight selfs. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo starts humming &#8216;Secret Tunnel&#8217; as it&#8217;s less breath intensive than actually bitching at this point while the fat man continues plodding along. <\/p>\n<p>Starlight <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> falls further behind, finding herself behind Axle, and then, he also finds his own starlight version fall behind. Instead, there is this side-way oversized thing of a starlight humanoid ball that somehow catches up to Axle and then on equal footing with him. Further behind, Regaldo seems to really run out of breath. It&#8217;s been a long and solid sprint for a few minutes, and it must wind him.  <\/p>\n<p>With a final jump, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> lands on the plaza stone, while everything else begins to change to its opalescent shade, the plaza remains. The crimson Butterfly flies to the center of it, and then turns around. Then Axle arrives, together with the oversized starlight version of Regaldo, and it sprints outright towards the butterfly&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh hell no you don&#8217;t fake Director!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> immediately charges at the starlight ball, making to football tackle it into the stones. There isn&#8217;t much tact or thinking to it, as how could it hurt the butterfly? But oh well, there he goes, diving for the figure. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo nearly comes to a stop as he gulps in air. &#8220;Yep. That does it. I need to lose some weight.&#8221; he bitches while holding his side as he ambles after the rest of the party while considering, briefly, if he can steal one of the cars instead. <\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a moment of air time where <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> goes for a spring forward, right before man and not-man collide, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> going down on top with a thud as the starlight thing sinks into the stones, leaving <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> hugging nothing but himself and the stone. <\/p>\n<p>Next, comes the typical humanoid version of the Starlight, together with starlight <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, starlight Axle and the feminine humanoid silhouette.  <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo is almost there, just a bit more. Probably.  <\/p>\n<p>The silhouettes make to sprint at the Crimson Butterfly. <\/p>\n<p>Axle is still lying on the ground, helpless to stop more starlight people. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi hits the plaza at a dead sprint, boots skidding on the opalescent stone as she lunges for the nearest silhouette &#8212; fingers close around something that feels like cold static and then nothing, the figure sliding through her grip like smoke through a fist. &#8220;Damn it&#8211;&#8221; She stumbles, catches herself, eyes snapping to the butterfly. &#8220;Yukino, what happens when they reach it?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila hits the plaza a half-step behind Naomi, cutting hard left to intercept the feminine silhouette, fingers closing around what feels like television static before it simply *passes through* her entirely and reaches the butterfly anyway. &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she says flatly, straightening up and checking her hands like they might have answers. &#8220;What do we do now, Yukino?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Still holding his side, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> goes to try and pull one of the car doors open, finds it locked and continues on. He checks a few more as he ambles along, setting off more than a few car alarms in passing. Leaving the fat man grumbling as he works on catching up. <\/p>\n<p>Finally regaining his feet, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> lunges back into the running of protect the spirit bug! <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes to jump her starlight self, and just crashes through it. Just like Starlight Regaldo, it dissipates into the ground.  <\/p>\n<p>Along the street, there is a whole orchestra of BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEPing. Regaldo just reaching the Plaza, but not in time to change anything.  <br \/>\nsomeone Starlight Axle, the typical silhouette and the feminine one all reach the butterfly, and as they do, they all dissolve.  <\/p>\n<p>The world around the grows red, red maple leaves rise and float in the air, the plaza, for a moment, looks to not be in Biringan&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>A scream, from the butterfly, starlight starts to surround it, starts to blister and nom nom at its wings and shell and skin.  <\/p>\n<p>The whole process, the screaming, only lasts for about ten seconds.  <\/p>\n<p>The starlight begins to reform, grows larger and larger, and then massive, hovering up in the air between Clocktower and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, Axle, Naomi, Camila and Regaldo. The world fades back into its presence in Biringan, starlight everywhere. The butterfly&#8217;s wings move, more floating than flying. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes to jump her starlight self, and just crashes through it. Just like Starlight Regaldo, it dissipates into the ground.  <\/p>\n<p>Along the street, there is a whole orchestra of BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEPing. Regaldo just reaching the Plaza, but not in time to change anything.  <\/p>\n<p>Starlight Axle, the typical silhouette and the feminine one all reach the butterfly, and as they do, they all dissolve.  <\/p>\n<p>The world around the grows red, red maple leaves rise and float in the air, the plaza, for a moment, looks to not be in Biringan&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>A scream, from the butterfly, starlight starts to surround it, starts to blister and nom nom at its wings and shell and skin.  <\/p>\n<p>The whole process, the screaming, only lasts for about ten seconds.  <\/p>\n<p>The starlight begins to reform, grows larger and larger, and then massive, hovering up in the air between Clocktower and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, Axle, Naomi, Camila and Regaldo. The world fades back into its presence in Biringan, starlight everywhere. The butterfly&#8217;s wings move, more floating than flying. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi stands very still, watching the starlight mass swell and pulse overhead, one hand drifting unconsciously to the device on her belt before stopping there. &#8220;Well,&#8221; she says quietly, to no one in particular, jaw tight. &#8220;That was the thing we were trying to prevent, wasn&#8217;t it.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; shit.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> breathes as the starlight blooms. <\/p>\n<p>Camila stands with her shotgun raised, tracking the massive starlight figure as it hovers between the clocktower and the group, her jaw set hard. &#8220;Yukino.&#8221; Her voice is quiet, controlled, the way it gets when she&#8217;s already past the point of panic. &#8220;What just ate your butterfly?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Panting like he just finished a marathon, three days after the fact, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> pulls his minigun free from it&#8217;s mount with his lips pressing into a thin line. There&#8217;s no quips from the fat man, just cold silence. <\/p>\n<p>asummon self <\/p>\n<p>Spooling up, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo&#8217;s<\/span> minigun sends a burst of rounds towards the starlight butterfly. &#8220;Om Nom, you&#8217;d better be ok.&#8221; comes at a near whisper while the large man takes a few steps back. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One would prefer to know that as well&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> mentions, drawing the blade from its sheath and readying it. She also presses two buttons on her comms unit. Did help really come along somewhere at a distance?  <\/p>\n<p>The butterfly on the other hand&#8230; makes to attack, dark dark starlight flowing from it as it makes to consume its next victim&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo presses a button on his minigun causing a red laser to highlight the damned thing. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Not pleasant&#8230;<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Axle says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Fuck you, give us back our spirit bug!<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>suggests &#8220;One finds this butterfly needs dying&#8230;&#8221;(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> stars at the butterfly. &#8220;Sir Axle got this, one believes in him!&#8221;(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p>spent casings cascade from the minigun as the <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> unloads on the butterfly. <\/p>\n<p>One finds it might be best dead. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> suggests.(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> stares unhappily at the butterfly.(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> mentions &#8220;One wonders if it is edible&#8230;&#8221;(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Om Nom.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> calls out. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> did have some of her operatives somewhere. But they appear, and vanish the moment the damn corrupt butterfly is gone for. Its body, flows and falls in a perpetual starlight down to the ground before the party. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> huffs, then glances to Axle and then at Regaldo. &#8220;One wonders if sir Regaldo and Axle are alright, if it is okay to ask&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> agrees, slinging his axe and looking around. &#8220;Where did the spirit goddess bug go? She alright? After, you know, getting eaten like that&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Still trying to catch his breath, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> just gives a nod as smoke rises from the barrels of his minigun. &#8220;Is.. Is Om Nom ok?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila lowers her shotgun slowly, eyes still tracking the space where the butterfly dissolved, the amber lamplight catching the tension still held in her jaw. &#8220;Om Nom got swallowed whole and you&#8217;re asking if *she&#8217;s* okay?&#8221; She glances between Regaldo and Axle, something between exasperation and dark amusement crossing her face. &#8220;Anybody hurt?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Naomi steps out from behind a lamppost, lowering a device that looks suspiciously like a modified stud finder, her ponytail half-escaped and a fresh scorch mark on her vest. &#8220;Nobody&#8217;s hurt, Om Nom&#8217;s *inside* something that&#8217;s now definitely dead, and Regaldo just emptied a minigun at a butterfly.&#8221; She pauses. &#8220;Normal Tuesday.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One recalls this to be one of the messengers&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> mentions, staring at the starlight that now begins to flow away from the party. Forward, towards the clocktower, and then, the entire form of starlight forms into a large structure. A citadel.  <\/p>\n<p>Schools of fish start to draw from everywhere and begin to float around it. The citadel starts by being translucent and then grows opalescent until becoming solid stone.  <\/p>\n<p>Behind everyone, the stones start to grow opalescent&#8230; and begin to fall away into the abyss below. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Run.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says simply as the stones begin falling. And, with that, he follows his own advice, making for the citadel at a sprint. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nope!&#8221; peals out of <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> as he takes off at a sprint towards the solid building ahead. <\/p>\n<p>Into the citadel it goes. Axle, Naomi, Camila and Regaldo rush forward. As they make to enter into the citadel, the doors behind them BAM shut. If they tried, it can&#8217;t be opened and the moment they looked around, they find that Regaldo is nowhere to be found.  <\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, up ahead, on a pedestal&#8230; lies the hairpin. Chimes ring all around them. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Regaldo?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> asks, hands on knees as he tries to catch his breath, scanning the group in a hurry. Once. Twice. No fat man. <\/p>\n<p>For all the good it may do, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> whips out a parachute! <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo is nowhere to be seen. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hello darkness my old friend.&#8221; comes out from <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span>, sung into the void unironicly. <\/p>\n<p>Camila spins on her heel, shotgun up, scanning the sealed doors and then the empty space where Regaldo was standing three seconds ago. &#8220;He was *right behind me*,&#8221; she says, her voice flat and controlled in the way that means the opposite. She crosses to the doors, tests them hard with her shoulder anyway. &#8220;Regaldo!&#8221; she shouts. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi slams her palm against the door once, hard, then turns back to the room, jaw tight. &#8220;He was there, then he wasn&#8217;t &#8212; same as the stones.&#8221; She pulls out her modified stud finder, sweeping it toward the pedestal and the hairpin, voice carefully level. &#8220;We keep moving. Regaldo can handle himself.&#8221; A beat. &#8220;Probably.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>There is some dread in <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino&#8217;s<\/span> eyes when she looks back, the doors closed and no Regaldo. She watches when Naomi and Camila shoulder and slam the door, which does not give way. There is something cold that follows in her dark eyes, the next blink is very slow before she grows still, turns around and starts to move towards the pedestal. <\/p>\n<p>Turning around as well, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> slams his own shoulder to the door. &#8220;Damn it you fucking idiot! Get back here! You hear me? You are &#8216;not&#8217; fucking dying today!&#8221; A fist slams into the stone of the doors, over and over and over again. &#8220;Regaldo! Regaldo, damn you!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Again and again and again <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> pummels the door, to no avail. <\/p>\n<p>Camila watches Axle pound the door for exactly three seconds before she grabs his arm, hard. &#8220;Stop. You&#8217;ll break your hand and the door won&#8217;t care.&#8221; Her eyes cut to Yukino moving toward the pedestal, cold and purposeful, and something about that stillness bothers her more than the shouting does. &#8220;Yukino. Wait.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> picks the hairpin up, slides it into her hair and then turns around. &#8220;One finds herself hearing miss Camila?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Axle wrenches free of Camila with a sharp motion, the tug almost enough to hurt Camila&#8217;s hand with how violent it is. He does seem to calm slightly after that, striding after Yukino, eyes burning a hole into her until she turns around. He comes to a stop beside her, eyes narrowing, but he stays quiet. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Light at the end of the tunnel, eh?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks as he floats within the void, &#8220;To the last, then.&#8221; He tries to make his way to the light. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi steps between Axle and Yukino, device still sweeping, eyes moving between the two of them. &#8220;Axle. Door&#8217;s not going anywhere.&#8221; She looks at Yukino, at the hairpin now tucked into her hair, voice quiet and even. &#8220;What does that do, exactly?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Regaldo is gone. One finds herself not knowing what lies underneath&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says, evenly. Formal. &#8220;One notices we find ourselves stuck.&#8221; The doors are closed. There are no other doors, and there is only a large window above.  <\/p>\n<p>Nao&#8217;s question has <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> give her a look and answer &#8220;One observes we found what we came for, miss Naomi.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;So what, the hell, do you propose we do next then?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> asks, voice a bit more harsh than usual. &#8220;Just sit here and wait until we fall too? Good, we got the damn pin, now what use is it? Guessing it can&#8217;t teleport us or let us fly out of here?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One notices she happens to potentially be able to fly&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says to Axle, giving him that cold-eyed blank look. She shakes her head. &#8220;One finds herself considering&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila looks up at the window, calculating, then back at Yukino. &#8220;Window&#8217;s the only option.&#8221; She unslings her shotgun, weighing it. &#8220;You fly, you take a rope up, anchor it, rest of us climb.&#8221; Her eyes settle on Yukino, flat and direct. &#8220;Can you carry the weight, or is this going to be a problem?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Fat man coming through!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> calls out as he whips his minigun to aim beneath him, &#8220;Fuck these starlight people. Fuck this void.&#8221; the barrels start to spool up as he readies for what he might find on the other side of the window. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi&#8217;s already scanning the window, doing quick mental math on height and width. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got forty feet of paracord and three carabiners.&#8221; She pulls them from a vest pocket, holds them up. &#8220;Yukino goes first, anchors the line, we follow.&#8221; She glances at Axle. &#8220;You good to climb?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo crashes through the window like a fat Kool-aid man, even going so far as to yell, &#8220;Ooooh Yea. Not even the void can stop Gods damned Regaldo!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Just from above, as everyone looks. Someone crashes right through. The parachute hangs a bit, but who can stop the man who&#8217;s coming through? Yes, it&#8217;s Gods damned Regaldo!  <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Gods damned Regaldo!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> finds herself say, staring up. After a few seconds, she grows more aware, looks around, and seems to very much pray that no one&#8217;s heard her say it. <\/p>\n<p>Axle levels a chilling glare on Yukino, mouth opening to speak as a spark enters his eye, something almost like madness&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>Until Regaldo explodes through the window. Immediately, his shotgun is lifted, only to fall from his fingers to hang by the strap. &#8220;Gods damned Regaldo, you fucking crazy bastard!&#8221; He lets out a loud laugh. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo&#8217;s<\/span> parachute probably gets hung on the remnants of the window. &#8220;Hi guys! Miss me?&#8221; he calls down. <\/p>\n<p>Camila stares up at Regaldo hanging from the broken window frame, parachute tangled in the remnants, and something rare crosses her face &#8212; genuine relief, quickly buried under exasperation. &#8220;Only you,&#8221; she says, shaking her head slowly. &#8220;Only you would minigun your way out of the void.&#8221; She moves to help anchor his descent. &#8220;Get down here, *jefe*.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Stepping over, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> looks up at Regaldo. &#8220;Quite a damn bit!&#8221; He laughs again, reaching and making to grab Regaldo&#8217;s hanging self, trying to pull him down. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi stares up at Regaldo for a full three seconds, paracord still in her hand, then starts laughing &#8212; real, unguarded laughter she doesn&#8217;t bother to hide. &#8220;I had a *plan*,&#8221; she says, gesturing helplessly at her carabiners. &#8220;A perfectly good plan.&#8221; She moves to help Axle pull him down. &#8220;Welcome back, you absolute disaster.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> huffs in a breath, and exhales it very slowly. She palms her face with both of her hands, and turns away. Her eyes close, just for a few little seconds before dropping. There is relief and she slowly turns back, calmer. Her eyes lower, a little remnant of what was showing still in them, then rise up as Axle and Naomi. &#8220;One finds she also notices sir Regaldo to&#8230; have created a way out, it seems&#8230;&#8221; She notices, giving Regaldo just a brief look of disbelief. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Go team, good huddle.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks looking rather dumbfounded as he&#8217;s helped down, &#8220;Yea. So, don&#8217;t go the way I did. Horrible in void movie. I think it was Jeff Goldbloom shirtless for hours. On repeat.&#8221; he shudders. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; we gotta go that way.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says, studying the window as he claps Regaldo on the back. &#8220;Damn well done. Crazy mother fucker, wait till Mae hears the telling.&#8221; His grin widens even more. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo mounts his minigun, rather well spent of ammo, back into it&#8217;s mouth with his gaze rising towards where he came from. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> lowers her eyes again. &#8220;One finds herself willing to volunteer to climb above and take a look, if it is alright to suggest.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Better you than me. I don&#8217;t see my fat ass scaling a wall.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> mentions offhandedly as he takes stock of the condition of his fellows. <\/p>\n<p>Axle glances back to Yukino, nodding slowly. &#8220;Right. Need a hand up?&#8221; He asks, crouching under the windowsill and locking his fingers. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If sir Axle might prefer&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says her chin tilting up. &#8220;&#8230;he can go ahead and check it in this one&#8217;s stead, one thinks.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;right then.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> agrees easily, a somewhat brittle smile crossing his face. And with that, he turns, making to scramble his way up to that window, and out, just a bit, to take a look around out there. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Looks like we&#8217;re down a bit.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> informs the others. &#8220;Streets are still shifting. Someone toss me a rope or something if you got it? Might be as I can get up there and get us a line out of here.&#8221; He studies the streets, looking for a way to make it to one, preferably without having to frog hop it. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo strips the paracord from the totaled parachute only to bundle it up and chuck towards Axle. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi is already unclipping carabiners from her vest before Axle finishes the sentence, passing the bundled cord up with a practiced toss. &#8220;There&#8217;s about forty feet there,&#8221; she calls up to him, then glances back at the shifting street below, jaw tight. &#8220;Axle &#8212; stick to the lamp pools. Ground&#8217;s solid under them.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>It manages to make its way up to Axle. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo puffs out his cheeks as he watches the others work on getting their exfil achieved. He seems lost in his own thoughts for the time being. <\/p>\n<p>Clipping the rope onto the window, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> gives it a few hard tugs. Nodding, he takes the end in hand, studies the streets&#8230; and jumps. Landing with a roll, he turns himself around, searching for a lamp post to loop the rope onto. After that&#8217;s done and the rope is secure, he shouts back &#8220;Lets go! Ropes good!&#8221; He bounces the line for emphasis, causing the slack to swing and flail about. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Move!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> tells the rest leaving no room for argument, clearly settling to bring up the rear. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> looks at Regaldo deciding to take up the rear. She sighs, her eyes briefly lower, and then she makes to climb upwards along the rope. This is no issue for her. Following are Naomi and then Camila. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi grabs the rope and climbs with efficient, hand-over-hand pulls, dropping down beside Axle with a soft thud. She glances back at Yukino, noting the formal address, and murmurs quietly to Axle, &#8220;She called you &#8216;sir&#8217; again. You two have a falling out, or is that just how she is when she&#8217;s nervous?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila grabs the rope last after Regaldo, hauling herself up hand-over-hand with the practiced economy of someone who&#8217;s done this in worse conditions than a haunted New Haven street. She drops down beside Naomi with a quiet grunt, rolling her shoulders. &#8220;Nice work on the rope, Axle,&#8221; she says, scanning the lamp pools ahead. <\/p>\n<p>Outside, the streets and the buildings are just fine. They are on a higher floor than they had been before, and were anyone to look around, the streets find themselves shifting, and below them, there is no abyss. Instead, there is another street. And then another&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>Just maybe, the exit is not too far from here.  <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> gives Naomi a brief look, and then looks away from her. &#8220;One finds it might be time to leave. Miss Mari happens to be very good at finding the way out. Might sir Axle or sir Regaldo happen to see stairs that lead up, if it is alright to ask?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>At the question from Yukino, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> looks about for stairs. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One wonders if we should consider walking down along the streets for a while&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> mentions, looking around and then turning to Axle, Regaldo, Naomi and Camila. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s either that or we take a detour and I see if there&#8217;s enough stuff to slap together some grub.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> reasons with a weary smile. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah. All we&#8217;ll find here is&#8230; Well, I&#8217;m not sure.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> admits, beginning to stroll down the street. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi falls into step beside Axle, hands checking her vest pockets out of habit. &#8220;Down it is,&#8221; she says, then glances sidelong at Regaldo. &#8220;And if you&#8217;re seriously thinking about eating anything you find in a place where the streets stack on top of each other, I will personally confiscate your stomach.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila falls into step, eyes sweeping the lamp pools methodically as she walks. &#8220;Burger shop,&#8221; she says flatly, nodding toward it, &#8220;no stairs anywhere I can see.&#8221; She glances at Regaldo with something approaching a warning look. &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about it, jefe.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t wait to tell sobrina about this.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> tells Axle as he claps the man on the shoulder only to laugh at the threat from Naomi, &#8220;Losing my stomach might not be a bad thing, Chen.&#8221; he relates while slapping his belly while Camila gets a broad grin. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One finds it might be a terrible idea to try and eat food&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says, keeping her eyes ahead. She turns back to look at Regaldo and stops, thoughtful. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221; comes from <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> as Yukino mentions stairs and he tries to peek in the general direction of her finding. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;See them?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> asks Yukino, looking ahead himself. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> makes a little nod, and keeps her eyes in that direction. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There they are.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> confirms, quickening his stride. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo picks up the pace himself, clearly wanting to be away from this place and the void below. <\/p>\n<p>Naomi spots the stairs and immediately picks up her pace, muttering under her breath. &#8220;Overtime, hazard pay, a new toolkit, and someone is buying me a very large coffee when we get out of here,&#8221; she says, falling in behind Axle. &#8220;HR is going to *love* my incident report.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Camila moves with purpose toward the stairs, boots hitting each lamp pool with deliberate precision, avoiding the uncertain ground between them. &#8220;HR&#8217;s going to need a whole new category,&#8221; she mutters to Naomi, then raises her voice. &#8220;Eyes up, people. We celebrate when we&#8217;re through.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Think I&#8217;ve got everyone on coffee. Rum added at no extra charge.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> offers to the group seeming to share the same sentiment as Camila, &#8220;Right. Stay on guard til we&#8217;re back at HQ.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> stays for a few more seconds, watching as Regaldo and Axle pick up the pace. She considers both of them, her eyes linger first on Regaldo and then on Axle. And then briefly on Naomi and Camila. It takes a few more seconds before she follows, with quick steps, her eyes slightly lowered, her expression unreadable.  <\/p>\n<p>Soon, everyone gets to the stairs up, and back into the tunnels that split New Haven and one of the city between, Biringan.  <\/p>\n<p>And it would seem, Naomi will file a lot of commentary with Temple Security&#8217;s HR department. <br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date: 2026-05-29 18:34 (The Autumn Leaf Hairpin(Yukino):Yukino) [Fri May 29 2026] On A Lamplit StreetEverything else on this street moves at the edge of perception: storefronts that were here a moment ago replaced by the suggestion of storefronts, the opalescent paving stones rearranging themselves in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-plotlog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29897\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}