the-min0taur

[the-min0taur]

[Card, if it could, would give Hank a reassuring pat to the head and a sqeeze to his hand. But alas, it cannot, so it settles for lingering itself close to him.]

No, no. You will not die here. Just listen to oneself, and stay put. Oneself will see if it can... lead the Clown away from you. Distract it. And you needn't worry if Oneself gets hurt, the Clown cannot actually hurt oneself at all. Just stay put, and be quiet, Hank.

[Card moves away from Hank, and with a bit of hesitation, moves itself towards Tricky. All while wondering how they fuck it is going to manipulate and trick Tricky into either leaving Hank alone, or just generally going in Hank's opposite direction.]

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank nods, though trembling. He does as Card says- staying put.

Tricky notices the presence almost as soon as it moves. "HEY! YOU! COME TO JOIN THE FUN?" He cackles, stomping on the head of a grunt who twitched. "C'MON THEN, SHOW YOURSELF!"

[the-min0taur]

[Card lets out a low and quiet whistle, and moves back over to Hank, its electrical presence crouch down in front of them.]

Hank, you remember the clown oneself mentioned earlier, yes? Because it's what's causing that mayhem. It will be winning that fight. And will not need your help. Oneself would suggest running, but unless your leg magically heals itself enough to run, stay behind the fucking rock, and praying that the Clown does NOT Spot you. Because it cannot be reasoned with, and it will kill you. Repeatedly, more than likely, with zero fucks about the fact you cannot remember anything.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank's eye widens in fear. He draws his knees close to his chest, trembling. He looks terrified.

"Am I gonna die here?" He asks, voice shaking.

He glanced at the presence before him, frightened.

[the-min0taur]

... Oneself is going to see if there is anybody who is viable to latch onto, like how oneself is connected to you. Stay behind the rock, Hank, for your own sake. Oneself will be back to you, do not worry.

[Card's electric presence shifts and moves out from behind the rock, seeing at it is invisible and can't be seen, being a disembodied voice at the moment. Card move slowly closer, doing its best to see the fight while still being semi-reliant on Hank's poor vision.]

~ 🃏 Anon

Oh god, it's that fucking clown!

He swipes his stopsign like an axe through someone's throat, cutting their head clean off while laughing like a maniac. "HAHA! LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S LOST THEIR HEAD!"

He jumps on the severed head, crushing it into mush underfoot.

[the-min0taur]

[Card growls quietly, seeing Hank starting to go towards the yelp, and therefor towards somebody, but begrudgingly goes with Hank, nod having anywhere else to really go.]

Oneself would not recommend it. You do not know who or what it could be, if it is a trap or not. Oneself and you have now fully established you are being hunted for things you cannot remember. Oneself urges you to be careful, Hank.

~ 🃏 Anon

"I don't think it's a trap, I just..." Hank sighed, stopping. "I want to know if I can help anyone. I want to be useful, I guess." He shrugged, walking once more.

Hank hissed loudly with each step he took, the pain in his leg shooting up his side. Movement reaches his vision, and it looks like a blur from here. Maybe it's someone fighting?

Hank shuffles behind a rock, thinking to himself. I don't think it'd be smart to jump in, he thinks to himself, at least not now. He curled up. "Whoever wins, wins. And I'll help them to their feet."

[the-min0taur]

[Card inhales sharply, wincing seeing the damage. While Card's non-existent body, or rather Card's general unseeable presence, has been lingering a bit father away, it leans in close, and 'crouches' down next to Hank. It feels like pulsing and sparking electricity, not painful, just the occasional jolt through the air. Card exhales, knowing it slipped up a bit in its act, and gets back into character again. No more accidentally using 'I' when talking about itself again.]

Damn it... Oneself doesn't think it can conjure a body in this world. Rules and all. Otherwise, oneself would have helped you walk. And just generally help you with everything physical oneself hasn't been able to help with.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank glares at the presence he feels at his side. "My leg is broken, not gone. I..." He swallows thickly. "I'll be fine."

Trembling, he gets to his feet. "I need to keep going. I can't risk that... that thing catching up.

He hobbles as fast as he can, his breath heavy. He pauses, hearing something- a yelp. He... can't help but feel like he should go check it out.

It sounds nearby enough...

[the-min0taur]

Attaboy Hank! Nice job! Just run, run and hide now! Before that damn Retainer can get up!

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank doesn't look back. He just runs, not caring what happened to that... Retainer.

He doesn't stop for what feels like forever, running in silence asides from the sound of clinking chains.

Finally, he trips over a rock, a sick crack ringing out. He tries getting to his feet, but he falls over again. Hissing, he sits up and draws in his knees, surveying the damage. "Sh-shit... broken..."

[the-min0taur]

Shit-

[Card is also panicking; a damn Retainer, of course. Oh well, at least it wasn't Auditor like it had briefly thought. still not good. Now, under most cases, sure, Card would let Hank go so it could explain the situation to the Employer and AAHW Leader, but that isn't an option with Card having sworn to protect and help Hank, even if it cannot exactly do much other then spew advice, encouragement. and occasional snarky comments.]

Hank, you're gonna have to attack this thing, go for anything fleshy, kick, punch, make it as hard for that worthless brute as possible! Kill it, even! You've taken on worse and won, even if you don't remember! Use those instincts and muscle memory! The mind may have forgotten, but your body probably still somewhat remembers how to fight!

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank, in a panic, goes for the throat.

He sinks his fangs deep into the person's neck, feeling blood spurt into his mouth as he tears at the flesh. The person starts to scream, reflexively tearing Hank off of them and shoving him to the ground.

Hank doesn't stay to watch them bleed out. He gets to his feet and starts running as fast as he can.

[the-min0taur]

Oneself may or may not have forgotten you were blind, just keep running! And make sure to jump towards anything floating if you get near a ledge again!

[Card curses to itself, yes, sure, it was starting to get Hank someone on the up & up of trusting it, however being latched to Hank means its own vision is restricted to what Hank can see. Which is not good when Card is trying to help Hank, for its own means. And it knows it can't exactly go back to Deimos, else the hacker find it even more sus AND risk Deimos finding Hank. So, Card has to just do its best to guide the blind, while also being somewhat blind itself.]

~ 🃏 Anon

"Less talking, more- AH!"

Hank near screams as an arm wraps around his neck, holding him firm to a sturdy chest. He writhes wildly. "Let me go!"

"Negative." Whoever's holding him has a scarily deep voice. "Target cannot escape."

"Target?" Hank is confused. He elbows the person holding him, but it does no good. "What the fuck did I do?"

The person chuckles deeply. "A lot," It murmurs, moving to hold Hank more securely and turning to walk towards the building.

[the-min0taur]

Hank, I would suggest either attacking that person, or running as fast as you can, especially if they look like somewho who should be in a business meeting, wearing a suit and tie, and not a watseland of an afterlife. Whichever option come more naturally to you, of course.

~ 🃏 Anon

"Why do you think I can know what they look like when I can hardly see my hand in front of my face?" Hank's voice is a snarl as he turns and runs.

Jagged black rock shoots up from the ground, grazing the side of Hank's foot and causing him to stumble. He picks himself back up right as a spire erupts from the ground where his head would've been.

Holy shit, he thinks to himself, what the fuck is happening?

He looks behind him. The person is now chasing him- and seems frighteningly close and getting closer.

Hank gets back to running.

[the-min0taur]

Very well Hank, no calling you 'darling' or any other such nicknames. Oneself will still try and come up with a nickname for you though. And, oneself will do what oneself can to keep you safe and sound, even without a proper body.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank rolls his eye. "Thanks, pal," He mutters halfheartedly.

The building he was approaching finally becomes more visible to him. It seems like there's someone there, too... a very large someone. Hank pushes down his unease and picks up the pace, waving a hand. "Hey! You!"

The person looks up, spotting Hank instantly. Not like there was anyone else there... They reach for something at their side that Hank can't quite see.

Hank's heart sinks. "Please don't tell me that's a gun."

[the-min0taur]

[If Card had a face and body, it would frown and put its hands on its hips, dissatisfied its honeyed words failed. But alas, that is not the case. So, the bodyless entity simply decides to take a different approach to the cruel and manipulative game it is trying, and currently somewhat failing, to play; shifting its focus and voice back on Hank, rather than lingering around Deimos any longer when it has no further use for the hacker. After all, who better to manipulate than the one person who can only trust you and you alone?]

Hank, darling little amnesiac, oneself has found something, or rather someone. Someone you must stay away from, who aims to hurt you and possibly kill you. Keep an eye out for anybody with a visor, yellow eyes, and a rather shitty looking jacket. Not only does he aim to hurt you more than you already have been, but he works for a a man of half-truths and lies, a man who won't admit anything to anyone, not matter the circumstances.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank blinks. "That's... a familiar description..." He shakes his head. No use dwelling on foggy memories.

He puts his head in his hands. He's a bit annoyed, not by 🃏, but by this whole... situation. It's not every day you find yourself stuck in the afterlife without any memories.

"Alright," he murmurs, "I'll buy what you're selling. Not like I've met anyone else who knows this place... Much less anyone at all."

He sets off, towards that building he saw. But after a moment, he pauses. "... And, please don't call me 'darling'."

[the-min0taur]

...Well, for one, oneself lacks a physical body to be shot, but oneself like the effort and attempt. As for Wimbleton, oneself nor other did anything to that one. What happened to Wimbleton was out of oneself control. Though, stay away from the screams, nothing good can come from such areas.

~ 🃏 Anon

Deimos rolled his eyes. "Yer not my fuckin' boss. How can I even trust you to have my best intentions in mind?" He kept his gun held at the ready, finger on the trigger. "I'm going to find him."

Ignoring the voice, Deimos set off in the direction of the scream, albeit with his guard way up. "Stupid-ass voice comes outta nowhere and asks me to trust it," he grumbled, "fuckin' stupid."

[the-min0taur]

Nay oneself and others do not need help, but perchance oneself and others could help you, Deimos? What is it you seek in the wretched place? Oneself could help, possibly, if you allow it.

~ 🃏 Anon

Deimos stops Dead in his tracks. "What the- What the fuck?" He shakes his head again. "This- No, fuck, I'm hearing voices now!" Deimos slaps his face gently.

"Alright, buster, show yerself!" He grabs his pistol from where it was holstered at his side.

Deimos takes a few careful steps forward. "What'd you do with my f- with Hank?" His teeth are bared and gritted.

[the-min0taur]

hey man (deimos) hows it going

Deimos looks a bit startled, caught off-guard by the voice. "Hey? Can- Can I help you?" He glances around, but doesnt see anyone. He shakes his head, deciding that this place is getting to him.

As he walks, though, he can't shake off this... strange unease. He sighs. Get it together, Deimos. Sooner you get Hank outta here, th' sooner you can go home.

[the-min0taur]

==> TAKE NOTICE OF IT.

Deimos wouldn't call himself a fan of the Other Place. It reminded him of too many bad things. The Auditor, for one. Hopefully he'd find Hank before SHE did.

His phone was buzzing, but the only thing on the screen was gibberish. That happened sometimes- his phone was an older, unmodified model, not designed to be taken between realms.

A distant scream piques his interest. Could be an agent. Could be some other sad sap. Or... It could be Hank.

->Deimos is now conversable.<-

[the-min0taur]

Likely just an agent or grunt. Expendable beings, this place is likely filled with them, just spread out among the islands and ruins. However, and unfortunately, we won't know unless you go check it out. Beings like oneself are not exactly able to wander far once latched to something or someone. Just be ready to defend yourself if need be.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank nodded. "I see, then."

He looked around, wanting to scan the landscape before he continued forward anymore. In the distance, he spotted... something. It looked like nothing more than a hunk of rock, but...

Well, to put it kindly, Hank's eye was often wrong.

Hank walked towards it, hoping it was a building of some kind.

[the-min0taur]

If it was the zombie clown, he'll likely be chasing you down to bring you back to life himaelf, one way or another. So more likely, you blew yourself up in order to also murder one Dr. Jebediah Christoff, though that name likely has no meaning to you at the moment, with you clear lack of memories. Though, if you do find other 'living' beings, barest minimum dewcription is he has long black hair but is balking at the top of his head, a beard, and possible a yellow halo above his head. Though, in oneself own opinion, the grunt is anything buy holy.

Nevada, the place you hail from, is a confusing place in of itself. Those who know how to escape The Other Place, Purgatory, or whatever name it goes by, can crawl back from death by themselves. There are also a select few who know how to bring back those who have died. And even smaller few know how to do so withput the person becoming a zombie, or rather Zeds as they are known as.

~ 🃏 Anon

Hank glares, at nothing in particular. "Slow down, pal. I didn't even know my name five moments ago." He sighs, closing his eye. He mutters something under his breath, then gets back to walking.

"So, I'm in this... Other Place, then." He hums softly. "And... I killed somebody. And myself, I guess."

He can hear the sounds of clinking chains, and a distant scream catches his attention. "Shit. What d'you think that was?"

Maybe there are other people here after all.