Sark
Im-im-impossible!!
"Protagonist, antagonist, same difference!" Arcade shrugged off Yashamaru's concern. "You'll have to forgive my slippery, slipping tongue, Old Friend. It really has been a while since we last met. It's been a grueling 21 minutes, let me tell you. Time away from one's buddies reaaalllly ages a guy.""Sorc Tormo was no protagonist."
From off in the corner of the room, a young man dressed in samurai armor spoke, having stayed out of the way of the...whatever had just happened. He'd been ready to aid Daniel and Ouka when they'd stepped in, but the two handled themselves well so there was no need. "So long, but it feels like no time at all has passed...for me, at least." He tpuched his face, just to make sure he wasn't aging like his former colleague had been. "Has it been a while, Arcade?" He can't really remember much of what happened after Prudence, whether that's by design, because of that simulation, or something else entirely.
In the meantime, another person was staying away from the rest of the group, quietly keeping to herself. No one here she recognized...she hoped that didn't mean what she thought it meant.
"Eh? Wawaztha?" Arcade hunched in Shion's direction. He cupped his hand over his ear and started to squint. "Speak up a lil, young man. You see, I spent a lot of time around explosions, back in my day. My ears aren't exactly in peak working condition. What did you say, good fellow?""You? I remember your 'character' dying, and let me tell you, it'd have been better if you stayed dead." Shion mumbled under his breath.
"Tormo wasn't really human." Ouka spoke up from where he stood, weapon still in hand as he watched the other's talk.
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"PFFT!" Arcade scoffed, falling back into his cane. "Tricks? Tricks are a young man's came! Tricks are for whippersnappers! For ankle biters! Kiddywinks! I'm past all that now. Let's all take a deep breath. Let's all take it easy. Let's all take a deep breath..." The codger patted down his jacket with his spare hand. "I could have sworn that I had a pack of bon-bons hidden away in this coat... Maybe a pack of mints or something..."As Daniel let go of the crocodiles, he gave Ouka a small glance. His heart was still racing but he managed a brief smile. It didn't last for long though as he squared his gaze on Arcade, now looking furious. Water crashed around him and he reached out toward the man. "What kind of trick are you playing now?!" Daniel demanded of him. His age and his words made no sense to the boy. "You're a bully! Why don't you just go away?!"
"Ooohhh I wouldn't worry about him!" Arcade chuckled dryly. "He's harmless... so long as you don't bring up his brother. So nobody. Nobody mentioned his brother. He doesn't like that. So don't do it. Do you all hear me? Do not mention Sean Diaz. Don't do it. Just don't. Not even once. Do not. Did you all catch that? For those who didn't: do not mention Daniel Diaz's brother, Sean. Because... if someone were to do that... oh boy..."Phi was observing casually. She did not at all like her initial impression of the old man. Even less so once he made clear who he was. Considering what everyone was saying, this was definitely a puzzle box kind of situation.
"Cut the crap," she said to Arcade. "We don't need surprises. And it looks like that kid will go nuclear on you if you don't start being more helpful. I think everyone should be frank and just state what they know."
"Eww. No." Mr.Cade recoiled, a look of disgust pinned to his face. "I haven't lied in about anything in about... a day? Scratch that. If withholding information counts as lying, then sure. I told a bunch when we arrived in District Z. Not that you were there for that, but hey. Consider this confession a sign of my honest character. I don't lie... anymore.""You're a liar, I can tell," Josuke simply says, very clearly pissed.
"Oh, I wouldn't say 'forced'. My 'guards' are-- cover your ears, Croc." Arcade presented the Croc with his orders, and the creature obeyed his commands without questions. Two, rubbery hands squeaked into place. "--They're horribly stupid. I mean, they're heads are full of air. What were you expecting? Irrefutable arguments? You could have told them anything, and they would have probably believed you. But that's besides the point. This sorry show should not have gone on for as long as it has. You'll be compensated for your troubles, and handsomely so." Mr.Cade straightened out his spine at the mention of a review. He slicked down his hear with a spit-soaked palm. "Oh, let's not talk about such things! There's no need to go that far. We've earned our Perfect Rating. We'd hate to lose it over this... petty misunderstanding. I'll reset your memories and send you back into the illusion shortly. Your holiday will continue as planned, and you'll be none the wiser. And when its done? You'll be refunded the full price of admission. How does that sound? Sounds pretty damn fine- maybe even generous- if you ask me!"Shang Tsung in turn gave Arcade a polite smile for his question. "Oh, it had more to do with the predicament we had been forced in with your...guards." A small look of disdain escaped from his face as he looked at the carnage around him before looking back at Arcade. "If you are the proprietor of this establishment then I would hope we'll be compensated...well the ones that didn't provoke these creatures after all. Otherwise well...I could even write a poor review."
"Hey-hey-hey, the Compendium Memorial Resort has a strict No-Killing-Mr. Cade policy!" Arcade stammered, his brow tensing. "And, when you arrived, you signed a very long, very detailed user-agreement swearing that you would follow said rule, just as you promised that you wouldn't break the illusion, curse, or run near the pool! I will forgive your threats this time, sir, but if you break another rule... oohhh..." Arcade's face twisted up, as if he had just sucked upon a lemon. "I might just... ohhh... I might just shake my fist in your general direction!!"In conjunction with Shang Tsung's own response, Fushimi adjusted his glasses, the lens shimmering through the light. "Yes, something like what the old man said. It would be a shame if this business took a dive... and its owners ended up sleeping with the fishes," he only said, letting Shang Tsung be the voice of diplomacy, for better or for worse.
"Forcing you? Nobody at the CMR is forced to do anything!" Arcade snickered smugly. He shook his head. "No. The words 'forced' and 'relaxation' rarely go hand in hand, good sir. 'Forcing' our guests to do anything would be really bad for business. You guys are here by your own free wills! Or, at least, by the free wills of your past selves. You don't remember signing up to the Pensioner Experience, sure, but that's the whole point! How could you possibly relax whilst thinking about all your bills and bonds! The Pensioner Experience is one of bliss. Your troubles are temporarily deleted from your memories so that you can fully enjoy the Resort. For their own safety, most of our guests are confined to the Resort's grounds." Mr.Cade fiddled with the tip of his cane. It started to beep, bubble and bop. "But, if you really want to go home... I'm sure we can make an exception. There will be a small cancelation fee, of course, but once that's been paid, I'm sure we can make an exception and send you all on your merry ways."As Arcade made his presence felt Cyborg Superman subsided with his assault.
"I do not much care for tricksters and half-truths." The glare he gave the old man would have ignited a lesser man. "Tell us why we are here and what you are forcing us to do."
It was probably for the best that Zora kept Eren from actually attacking the inflatable crocodiles, or else he would've missed another face joining in. Someone who apparently arranged all of this. He needed to get to the bottom of this now. Lowering his blade but keeping a tight grip with one hand, he moved his way angrily over to Arcade.
❝ I don't really know what you're getting at here, but you better give me a good reason on why I should stick around to begin with. ❞ Eren made his demand clear, and only spared a moment to think about his next words before continuing. ❝ Make it quick too, because I'm pretty keen on trashing your resort right about now. ❞ He was practically staring daggers at the older man, his free hand raised near mouth, steam continuing to come out of the now bruised wrist as if it was never cut at all.
Mato mentally hoped that there wasn't any further violence, but was starting to doubt it with the loss of life already with the crocodiles. Distancing herself away from the rising tensions, she heard bits and pieces about how this wasn't the first occurrence of this kind of event according to Shion.
❝ U-um... does that mean that there's more we have to be prepared for? ❞ She asks with a nervous tone.
“Y’alls bettah stop actin’ like we know whuts goin’ on, cuz we don’t,” Zora said, “We were jus’ tryna get uh grip on all dis,”
“Now, let us ahll go. Nun uhv us sahned up fo’ dis, even if yerr as truthful as ya claim,”
"Preparations..." Mr. Cade muttered to himself. "What could you possibly be preparing for? You're all guests at this fine res---" He stopped mid word. The gears behind his eyes slowly started to grind and turn. The penny was slowly dropping. "Oh! I get it! I finally get it! You guys aren't guests here! You're not supposed to be here at all! You were bought here to relax... you must be here to work!" He placed a hand upon the backs of Mato and Zora and pushed them towards the Bar and Grill. "It's the only rational explanation! Forgive me! I should have sent an emissary down here to receive you! My, you must be so very, very confused! Seeing all my inflatable laborers about the place must have gotten you all worked up! But let me assure you, they have no intention of stealing your jobs. The Crocs have their uses, sure, but they don't exactly excel in the entertainment department."
"Boss?"
"I told ya to keep ya ears covered, Croc!" Arcade shook his head. "Sorry. Where were we? Oh, yes I remember now! The bar!" He gave the pair a light push through the short, saloon doors that separated the counter from the rest of the restaurant. "Now I know that the party is supposed to be a surprise and all, but I need to see what you guys can do! I want one of you guys to prepare me a Bad-Girl-Brandy Alexander and a Yasha-Martini, and I want the other to make me a Chili-Chise-Burger, a Bacon-Hearts-Sarnie and a Kayn-bab with Rhaast Ranch Dressing! All the ingredients and tools and crap you could possibly want are under the bar! Oh! And don't forget to do all the cool crap bartenders do in the movies! Like juggling bottles and knives and shit! Go put on a show!"
Mr.Cade threw himself onto a stool and span it around on the spot.
"And you! All of you other guys! Are you guys on the waiting staff, or the entertainment staff? Can anyone here do magic? Like sword swallowing? Or escapology! Who here wants to be wrapped in chains and dropping into a box of killer bees?!"
For a quick, quiet moment, you could have sworn that you heard a voice tickling the back of your mind.
"K--- --c--e --b---, l--- -e a------. -e------, w- ---- w--- -o- -i-."
"-i-- a-----, -r -o-t. Y--- --o---. M--- -t --i--."
"---l -----e, -n- -o---- -e-- h---."
It must have been your imagination, right?
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