173rd page

[curseshit]

Moss, moss, everywhere. Luckily the terrain is getting smoother, no more sharp rocks underneath the green moss, waiting to break your ankles. The forest looks like no one has been here for ages. No B&B for you. The good news is that the animals don't fear humans and you should have no problem catching yourself some dinner.

[ mission: camp, try not to die, etc. ]

Comments

[armedarchaeologist]

I don't—

[pauses and looks over his shoulder. it's a wall. walling. as you do. swallows.]

I don't know what you'll find, It might be me. I have some really interesting theo—

Did you hear— Actually don't tell me I think I don't need to know.

[quieter:] If this is her again, Clara, I. Well. I don't know what I'll do.

[recurred]

[DONT EVEN GET HER STARTED, DANIEL. SHE'S HAPPILY IGNORANT THINKING THAT BITCH IS DEAD]

[makes a face and shrugs it off]

Don't be dramatic. Radio off, only call me when you think you've heard me....or if you're about to die violently. I'll do the same. [either one. you'll be fine]

[radio off]

[armedarchaeologist]

[professional tinhatter. literally the guy who theorized aliens built the pyramids. literally that guy.]

I'll do my best. You be careful, I'll try to be as obviously human and non-threatening as possible.

[radio off.

swings his flashlight around. frowns. picks a direction at random.]

[forestcrap]

[this never went well for the navidsons, it wont go well for you]

[you find a staircase that seems to drop into the abyss]

[armedarchaeologist]

[still frowning, but more directionally, at the abyss. shines his flashlight down into it.]

...Clara...?

[forestcrap]

[rumble from below]

[armedarchaeologist]

[nope.]

Nope.

[turns around and nopes outta there.]

[forestcrap]

[you noped right onto the wrong stone panel]





[or is it the right one]

[anyway a door swings open to your right opening up a room closer to the surface. it must be because there's some light coming from the top, or what can make it through all the vine that's growing wall to wall]

[armedarchaeologist]

[stops and makes an exaggerated :[ face of displeasure as he, Action Archaeologist who has actually run through trapped tombs before, realizes he just stepped on a pressure plate like one of the idiot rivals from an indiana jones movie.]

[cringingly looks around when he notices he isn't about to be incinerated. takes a cautious step toward the door. and another one. walks through the door if nothing dramatic happens, eyes firmly on the floor.]

[forestcrap]

[its all covered in foliage. who knows whats under there. it might not even be floor]

[armedarchaeologist]

[oh

takes really cartoonishly wincing steps forward, then, shuffling forward with one toe and all his weight on his back foot, all the grace of someone who was caught unawares by a pressure plate like an hour ago.]

[forestcrap]

[next step feels springy]

[and then the vines snap and you find your leg in a hole

[armedarchaeologist]

[throws his weight back onto his ass and sort of sits down with dramatic windmilling of arms and a newly bruised tailbone.]

I miss my machete.

[hasn't had a machete since peru. fifteen years ago. pulls his leg up, grabs a handful of vines over the hole, and yanks.]

[forestcrap]

[vines tear and snap]

[the hole seems to be pretty fucking big. like the whole floor has dropped out to the level below]

[armedarchaeologist]

Oh.

[flashlights into floor below.]

[forestcrap]

PUT THAT MUTHAFUCKA OUT

[flaps into his face before haphazardly flying out of the room]

[armedarchaeologist]

[scrambles backwards yelling halves of obscenities and wishing his flashlight was still connected to his p90.]

I FEEL A HUNDRED PERCENT LESS BAD ABOUT KILLING YOU.

[forestcrap]

AWW HELLL NAW---K

[frantic flapping noises before a death rattle from down the hall]

[armedarchaeologist]

[stops, because he. hadn't been talking to the bird. and last he checked he doesn't have the power to kill things with his mind anymore.

slowly turns his flashlight behind him, to where the bird met its presumably gruesome (but totally not his fault) end.]

[forestcrap]

[nothing but a few feathers remain on the floor where there used to be the abyss staircase]

[armedarchaeologist]

[slooowly stands up and feels his way over to where his back's against a wall. does he really want to call a tiny perky woman for help. no he does not. he does not want to call anyone for help, he would just like very much to not be in this temple anymore. and he used to like temples so much.

hey, at least it's going better than the

oh.]

[yeah genius maybe you don't need to call clara in to help you. leans in to talk to radio.]

Clara—Daniel. Listen, I think this place is moving, quickly enough to squish things, or there's... Something that just ate one of those talking birds, so be very, very careful where you step.

[recurred]

[thats enough incentive for her to turn back]

Kind of difficult when I can't see. I suppose I'll head back to where I got in.

[armedarchaeologist]

[winces.]

Right, right, sorry, I forgot. Yeah if you can still find where that is, that sounds like a really good idea. Look, stay close to the walls, pay attention to where your feet go and if you feel the floor giving way then step back somewhere you know is secure.

Are you... Are you alone down here?

[crossmyhearts]

No, I'm here too now.

[leaning over her shoulder to talk into the wrist comm, voice a little lower than usual]

Daniel, is it? How about you? Are you alright?

[armedarchaeologist]

[who the hell—

stares at his radio for a moment before he remembers the gangly guy with the bowtie and reapplies a name (sort of) and face to the voice.]

Yeah, uh. Doctor, wasn't it? I didn't catch any more than that, sorry. I'm fine, I just wanted to warn Clara that there are apparently gaping holes in the floor that sometimes eat birds, so. Both of you be careful where you step?