-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering entranceway 28 --

[hamburellakind]

[John looks a little distressed. His skin is pale and his smile isn't quite right. He kind of looks like he's seen a ghost, actually.]

Hey guys! Um. I'm gonna go ghost hunting on the third floor! Man, maybe I should see if I can get a Ghostbusters costume from a closet.

[A disembodied shriek echoes down the empty halls behind him. John's hair might actually be standing on end.]

So. Yeah! If anyone wants to come help out or anything...yup!

[Okay, so he hasn't seen a ghost yet.]

Comments

[hamburellakind]

Uh-- okay! Just. Promise you won't shoot anything unless you're sure it's a monster.

[learnedsomething]

How about we negotiate what or who I can and can't shoot while we look for the source of those screams?

[hamburellakind]

Alright!

[He leads the way back up.]

You're kind of hardcore.

[learnedsomething]

[A pink tinge creeps onto Kyle's cheeks.]

Thanks.

[Should he try to bolster this pretty debatable view of his personality? Yes, he should.]

I was the tough one in my boy band.

[But that was not the way to do it.]

[hamburellakind]

Uh.

[John. Really wants to make a joke. But the kid is ten and apparently some sort of child soldier or something so maybe that'd just be mean.]

Cool.

[learnedsomething]

[Kyle nods gravely, still heading down towards the source of the screams.]

Is there anyone here who you think might take to torturing people?

oops i missed this DX sorry

[hamburellakind]

Hm...

Not anymore? There used to be this mad scientist dude who was kind of a dick. But other than him, uh. I don't think so?

No worries!

[learnedsomething]

That's good. Unless...people don't come back here, do they? I mean, after they go home?

[hamburellakind]

Sometimes. But not always.

[learnedsomething]

Ugh, that sucks major balls. But at least that jerkoff scientist shouldn't be back, right?

[He tries not to think about the fact that the mansion still has hundreds, if not thousands, of warped psychotic killers to pull in at a moment's notice.]

[hamburellakind]

Nah, I think he's been gone long enough. He probably won't come back.

[learnedsomething]

Good.

[Hearing another scream, Kyle hurries over in its direction.]

How long have the screams been going on for?

[hamburellakind]

Since I got to this floor and walked this far down...

Why?

[learnedsomething]

Just trying to piece together the situation.

[He's sure the screams were coming from around here, but now they sound fainter - as though they're coming from a lot further away.]

I think we need to go further down the corridor. You got your weird throwing power ready?

[hamburellakind]

Yep. You got your, uh, weaponry ready?

[learnedsomething]

Yeah.

[He checks that the gun is loaded and the safety's off, then slowly heads forward. ]

[hamburellakind]

Alright. Feel free to chicken out here, if you want. Just saying.

[John's pretty sure he can lift the kid and fly them out of there if need be.]

[learnedsomething]

We're not chickening out.

[He focuses on listening out for any sounds that might indicate where people were - the clattering of medical equipment, conversations or, you know, screams. There's plenty of those, all of which seem to be coming from far away.]

[hamburellakind]

[Are John's knees knocking together? Yes. Yes they are.]

I-- I don't know if this is safe for you, dude.

[learnedsomething]

You can chicken out if you want. But it'll mean you're officially my third wussiest friend.

[hamburellakind]

Honestly, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you...

[learnedsomething]

[Congratulations! You've earned a withering glare.]

I don't need protecting.

[hamburellakind]

But I'd be the one who'd get yelled at if you got hurt!

[learnedsomething]

Please. Who's going to yell at you? My mom? Wait, she's not here.

[Admittedly, if she was they'd both be getting an earful if anything happened. But that's academic right now.

He keeps heading in the direction of the screams, occasionally pausing to examine some discarded medical records. He's going forwards whether John likes it or not.]

[hamburellakind]

[John follows, hands up to blast the hell out of anything that might round a corner or burst through a wall or whatever.]

I dunno. Everyone else? People might think I hurt you, for all I know.