[ they're in the fortress of meropide! because it's funny and interesting and probably the most like the dungeon she's seen thus far. they're not together yet in this au, but wrio never got together with ish, so there's nothing to feel bad about.
starting at the huge receptionist desk. she's taking it all in, watching the gardemeks patrol the area. she takes a step closer to wrio and sets a hand on his arm. ]
[ Why are they in Fontaine now? Doesn't matter, we don't think about these things. What matters is that they're in his home turf for (redacted) reason and now Marcille gets the grand tour! ....Of a bunch of underwater pipes, but that's fine. ]
They're called Gardemeks. Not nearly as complex as the ones back in Neo-Tokyo [ since this is Synflux AU ] but they do their job well and they are in high demand, which means that we can stay comfortably in business here.
[ Does it sound better if he refers to the Fortress as a factory and not a prison? ]
[ If he wants to take Marcille back to Fontaine for a tea party, he can! Or they can finally go to Chenyu Vale...
Either way, she's taking back her arm and slowly hooking it under Wriothesley's, ambling alongside him as she takes in the factory. The place is impressive and gargantuan, and while Marcille is a little overwhelmed with it at first, she's taking it in stride fairly well the more they walk. ]
Can they... hear us?
[ Are they AI... Are they just talking about the Gardemek's behind their backs... ]
[ MY CHENYU VALE….that's next on the list after they survive a (checks note) sudden uprising in the fortress for my h/c needs
For now, they're trapped in the gloomy basement, Wriothesley more than content to play both tour guide and self-appointed protector. There shouldn't be anything lunging out of the shadows to attack them, but there's never such thing as a guarantee of safety down here. ]
They do respond to verbal commands, but anything outside of their programming shouldn't have an effect on them. [ He pauses. Thinks about it. ] Not these models anyway.
[ Are there upscale models out there that've been tinkered with, definitely, but those are strictly prohibited. ]
You sure you're alright? The Fortress can be a lot to take in if you're not used to it.
Not these models? You'd better not just be saying that to scare me!
[ She tightens her grip on his arm. If he's messing with her, it's working.
Machinery and Gardemeks and roiling heat aside, the inmates and staff seem preoccupied with their duties or hobbies or otherwise. Her eyes drag over the strange contraptions with boxing gloves, the various tables and posters, the boxes with unidentifiable labels being carted off to the other ends or lower echelons of the Fortress. Steam hisses and levers turn and metal groans. Some people stop to watch them pass by, rubbing and whispering to each other. There's an inextricable sense of unease here, but surprisingly... ]
Mm... Aside from the people here, this place actually reminds me of the machinery built by dwarves deep in our dungeons. It was full of pipes and contraptions like these, even if it's way more advanced here.
[ She looks back at him. ]
Your office is here though too, right? It must be quieter than this in there.
[ Nonchalantly. Maybe to someone else, but he will be respectful of Marcille and her various anxieties. Other jokes, however, are not off the table. Thankfully for all parties involved, he's much more interested in hearing about these dungeons of hers as he leads them both towards the aforementioned office. ]
Oh? I've always imagined something more gloomy and old-fashioned, all cold stone walls and metal bars.
[ Though it's not as though the Fortress doesn't have sequestered dungeon areas of its own, but the uses for those are few and far between these days. ]
[ Wriothesley may be respectful, but she knows how facetious or glib he can be too, even to people he likes and cares for. It's all been harmless, at least in her case.
She keeps her hold on Wrio's arm, turning her head as her eyes take in every bronze-gold and coppery and whistling piece of machinery. There's even a little food area nearby... ]
Well, a lot of it is like that once you get past the first few levels. The dwarves' tunnels were made deep inside of the island during the wars between elves and dwarves. Dwarves are proficient with metalworking, and they made a lot of advances in technology.
[ She's gotten better at acknowledging dwarven feats and values and culture. Thank you, Senshi. She shrugs! ]
These tunnels ended up being integrated into the dungeon. Dungeons expand on their own, so it makes sense to use what's already there, I guess.
i want another thread, this one can be shippy unless that's impossible
[ assigns them as being at their farewell/congratulations party. it's at a small, posh, two-story bar that was rented out for the evening and expensed to the company as a team bonding experience. on the first floor is a bar with some small tables, a dance floor, and most of the food (pizza, salad, finger foods, and dessert). the second floor is reserved for lounging, karaoke, darts and pool. the balcony overlooks the coast, with sofas, fire pits, heat lamps, and cushy couch swings. a server occasionally comes by with hors-d'oeuvres and asks for drink orders.
it would be cold out if the heat lamps weren't on. that might explain why the balcony is mostly empty when marcille walks out—empty except for one couch-swing, where wriothesley is sitting now. he's not swinging, but this is the cushiest seat in the house, and he does have a glass of whatever he wants to drink.
marcille, two shots in, still walks up to him looking fairly put-together. she stands in front of his seat with her hands on her hips. ]
[ imagine i said he has a glass of fucking iced tea
no, this is a celebration so he has something appropriately celebratory (a long island................iced tea, sorry it was there and i had to take it) as he sits in the couch swing lazily pushing himself back and forward with one foot. the weather's nice and it's quiet out here, which is really the reason why he'd slipped out earlier.
though it seems like he's been caught? but he doesn't mind the company and gives marcille a small wave as she sits down. ]
Nice detective skills. [ not that it would have been a particularly hard guess... ] And what do you mean, where's your song? Didn't we do karaoke earlier?
[ he's not going to stop her if she leaves but it would be so sad if she left this party (half) for her?? what about her adoring fans? of which he definitely is one, thanks. ]
But you'd make a lot of people very sad.
[ which he also probably did by not showing up to sing but it's fine. they'll get it over it with enough booze. ]
[ it is a little funny. she's easy to placate, though, because her irritation mostly falls away. she settles back into one edge of the couch swing so she can see him a little better—rather, so she can eye him with suspicion. ]
[ marcille scoffs through her nose before taking a thoughtful sip of her drink. then she shifts, pressing her back against his shoulder and relaxing against it.
the drinks have loosened her up, but she's familiar enough with him that she doesn't think twice about these gestures. no doubt she's dragged him away by the arm or draped on his back or pinched his cheeks like they were putty since they became friends. ]
I guess I shouldn't be mad about getting my own private show. I wish we had a guitar for you too...
[ she tucks her legs underneath her too. cozy! ]
I have to think. You don't seem like you'd sing pop songs... [ she would unfortunately be a swiftie ]
Page 1 of 3