Satsu decided that escape, was impossible, so he sat there and just waited in fear. He hoped he wouldn't die mostly. "C-could these handcuffs possibly come off? Uhm they are starting to chaff my wrists…I've done nothing wrong. Why would I escape?" He can't even breath properly half the time, nevermind be brave and try to leave. He's not stupid. He just hoped they'd release his hands so they'd quit hurting.
"I'm sure," Soldier Z said, rolling their eyes.
"Z, if you speak one more time, I'm going to slap you." Soldier C scowled, looking as if they might smack Soldier Z anyway.
The first soldier just completely ignored Satsu, checking their watch. The second looked over, smirking.
"No," he finally said. "You'd better get used to them- you're gonna be wearing them for a long time."
He sighed and just sat there, staring at his shoes, tapping them together, waiting for them to get to-wherever they were going. He hummed to himself, rocking on his butt, trying to not cry.
"What is it with Author's and making their characters clueless?" One soldier mumbled. The shaken soldier shrugged, obviously not wanting to be there.
"Let's just get this over with." Both made their way over to Time, each taking one of their arms. Well, the shaken soldier gingerly put their hand on Time's arm, not really wanting to touch them.
As soon as the soldiers touched Time, they attacked. Biting the shaken soldier's hand with their sharp teeth and kicking the other in the crotch. "Let go of me." They growled, face blank as ever, even with the threat.
Cicada got an idea, a wicked idea, but it might work. She could tell the two didn't agree, and that neither was higher than the other. It was just that Z was a pushover, "Hey Z, don't let C pushed you around like that. He's not your superior. You've got some good quips in ya."
Soldier S didn't seem affected by what Syzen said, but his eyes held a bit of humor.
"One can only wish. He's actually dealing with another character right now. There's a rumor going around you two have the same Author."
The soldier smirked, making his way towards Noel.
"The rumors are true. You really do share an Author with Syzen." He chuckled. "Oh, that's not good, not for either of you."
”Oh come on, I live in a realm with over a hundred other notable ‘characters’ as you call us, of course someone else would find themselves in here” Syzen shrugged a bit.
”Also, can you get this handcuff out? It’s tightened a bit too much”
”S-Syzen? You mean that Mr. Constellation…? And how is that bad actually…?” Noel asked, standing in front of the soldier.
Eventually, the transport pulled to a stop. The driver could be heard speaking with someone before the vehicle started again, pulling into wherever they were going. The two soldiers unbuckled and stood, picking Satsu up by his arms again.
The soldier who had been bitten cried out, pulling their hand away and backing up, cradling their wounded hand to their chest The soldier who had been kicked cursed, bending over a bit in muted pain.
"O! Get the fuck out of here!" The driver rushed out, aiming a gun at Time. It seemed to be modified, but the meaning of these modifications was unclear.
Soldier Z titled their head at Cicada, thinking over what she had said.
"That's where you're-" C growled a little, slapping Soldier Z's arm.
"For the love of Christ! Shut up!!"
The driver banged on the wall, prompting both of the soldiers to fall quiet.
Soldier S thought for a bit.
"I don't see why not. You know the drill, and your Agent will be coming in this room anyway." Soldier S made his way over, undoing Syzen's bonds.
"Just try not to disappear before you're processed this time, okay?" He chuckled.
"It means both of you were purposefully brought over. If your Author is found, they're gonna face some serious consequences." Soldier K grabbed Noel's arm, beginning to pull him to the exit.
Cicada was silently laughing to herself. That worked, holy Everflame that worked. She could figure out the rest of C's statement and figured even if she was wrong, that was so worth the reaction. Too bad the driver had shut them both up.
The soldier who had been bitten cried out, pulling their hand away and backing up, cradling their wounded hand to their chest The soldier who had been kicked cursed, bending over a bit in muted pain.
"O! Get the fuck out of here!" The driver rushed out, aiming a gun at Time. It seemed to be modified, but the meaning of these modifications was unclear.
"One does not grab another without consent," Time muttered, dusting off their pants. "Now, who are you and what did you do to me?" Their eyes flashed, no magic in it, but only the promise of pain if they refused to answer.
Eventually, the transport came to a stop. Z and C stood, each grabbing onto Cicada again.
"We're here," C muttered, still upset at Z.
"We didn't do anything to you," the soldier with the gun said, not lowering it. "You're the one breaking the law. It's just our job to take you in for processing." The soldier who had been kicked slowly began to straighten, scowling deeply.
Cicada scowled as she was grabbed again, but she was in a better mood than earlier due to the amusement provided by C and Z. She kept her head up despite being dragged around by two soldiers.
The soldiers carried Cicada into the complex in front of them, a silent brooding passing between the soldiers. They moved down several corridors, each lined with metal doors with serial numbers stamped onto them. Various noises could be heard from within; muffled wailing, music, and animalistic noises. All, however, were tied by one fact- the sounds were mournful, filling the entire place with a feeling of despair.
"Where we taking it again?" Z asked.
"The holding room, you idiot. Where the hell do you think?"
Cicada felt panic rise again. This wasn't like the last dungeon she had been in, but it definitely resembled a prison structure. She growled slightly, "I am a she not an it. Thank you very much."
"You're a charrie, and charries are its. Plain and simple." The soldiers continued to carry Cicada farther and farther into the complex. Eventually, they stopped in front of a room with double doors; they were propped open, revealing a plain room with benches lining the walls. Another person was inside, sitting on one of the benches, picking at the none existant dirt under their fingernails. They pushed Cicada in, the bonds holding her disappearing the moment she crossed the threshold.
"I'd suggest not trying to leave on your own," Soldier Z noted. "Then again, you can always try. I could use a laugh."
(stalk?)
The soldier scowled, moving to strike Aron.
"E, that's enough. We don't want to be bringing in damaged goods, now do we? I'm not taking the fall for your temper again." The soldier put their arm out in front of E, blocking him from being able to hit Aron. Soldier E looked peeved but sat back.
Aron smirked at E, winking one eye and looking entirely too smug and pleased with himself. He just wished he could get his hands free. He pulled at the bonds, but was unable to free himself.
(Of course! Everyone is allowed to stalk!)
(thanks! this is super cool btw!!)
"We didn't do anything to you," the soldier with the gun said, not lowering it. "You're the one breaking the law. It's just our job to take you in for processing." The soldier who had been kicked slowly began to straighten, scowling deeply.
"You did something to my magic." Time hissed, hands tightening into fists as they stared right in one of the soldiers eyes. "Now give it back."
Cicada rubbed at her wrists scowling at the guards as they left. She spat in their direction, "Even the guards in Heilig had more respect than you."
She turned to look at the guy on the bench and sat down across from him, "Sooooo, who are you?"
(Thanks Mezzo!)
Soldier E seemed to ignore Aron, but in a flash their hand was out, fist colliding with Aron's cheek in a hook and sending him to the ground. The vehicle continued to race along, jumping a bump and slamming Aron into the floor, almost an emphasis of E's action.
"E, for the love of Christ!" The other soldier complained.
"No can do, bucko. We didn't take your magic away, and only your Author can give it back. Of course, you'll never get to them in time," the soldier with the gun was the only one speaking. The soldier Time was staring at, the one who Time had bitten, backed up a little, going to stand by the soldier with the gun.
"Now, I don't want to have to use this, but I will if you don't just calm down and come with us. We aren't qualified to explain this, and we'll take you to someone who is."
"Name's Sam," the man said nonchalantly, shoulders lopsided and legs crossed. He didn't look up at Cicada, focusing more on his nails. He was picking at them with a dagger, ruby gems sunk deep in the hilt. He nicked himself with it, on purpose, holding the finger up as if he was expecting something to happen. Nothing did, and he had a disappointed look as he continued.
Cicada pulled her staff out from behind her and ran her finger over the golden flames. She wondered if that guy knew more than she did, but he seemed pretty focused on drawing blood, "Cicada. Any idea where we are?"
"The soldiers who brought me here said this world is called Origin. I have no idea what the fuck that means, but it's all I got." The man sighed, wiping his finger off and putting the knife in his pocket.
"Did you get called a 'charrie' too?"
"Yeah I did," Cicada frowned at the name. She disliked it heavily especially the disdain that followed it. She thought for a moment, "It may mean this is the place where everything started? That's what the world means at least, so I would assume that's what this world is."
(Rules updated)
"True, but don't you think that's a little on the nose? You'd think people would be more creative than that." Sam pulled his legs up onto the hard bench, folding them underneath himself.
"What world are you from?"
"I suppose," Cicada shrugged as she leaned against the wall. She leaned her head back and looked over at him, "We call it Spiritia in honor of the four spirits that created it. What's its actual name is I have yet to be privy to that knowledge."
Soldier E seemed to ignore Aron, but in a flash their hand was out, fist colliding with Aron's cheek in a hook and sending him to the ground. The vehicle continued to race along, jumping a bump and slamming Aron into the floor, almost an emphasis of E's action.
"E, for the love of Christ!" The other soldier complained.
Aron just laughed. A strange laugh that was too harsh to be completely real. In reality, this was all he could do to keep himself from collapsing, from surrending to the fear that clawed at his insides. He let out a strangled groan when he slammed against the floor.
"No can do, bucko. We didn't take your magic away, and only your Author can give it back. Of course, you'll never get to them in time," the soldier with the gun was the only one speaking. The soldier Time was staring at, the one who Time had bitten, backed up a little, going to stand by the soldier with the gun.
"Now, I don't want to have to use this, but I will if you don't just calm down and come with us. We aren't qualified to explain this, and we'll take you to someone who is."
"Don't touch me and we have a deal."
Time didn't seem at all bothered by the knowledge that they were created by some sort of Author, they were created in a lab anyhow.
Sam nodded.
"I didn't even know there was a multiverse before I came here." He sighed once more, leaning his head against the wall and letting the air out through his nose.
"Do you have any idea why we're here?"
" Great, another lunatic," Soldier E mumbled. The other soldier groaned, leaning down and helping Aron to help to sit back up.
"E, I don't want you laying another finger on this character. And you-" the soldier looked pointedly at Aron.
"Keep your mouth shut."
"D, you're an absolute buzzkill."
The soldier holding the gun let out a little sigh.
"Fine. O, I want yu to drive. Me and I will sit with the character." The soldier who had been kicked nodded, walking with a small limp to the driver's seat of the transport. Putting the gun away, the soldier made her way over and opened the back. The shy soldier quickly climbed in, staying far away from Time.
"Let's get going."