We're all Mad here [Dungeon]

Monstrosities that laid before her very eyes. It was hard not to allow her blood to start sizzling and boiling at the very peak of her innate rage. Her nostrils flared and her muscles starting to tighten, she was truly ready to begin battle again. Madness? Wonderland? She didn't care about the drivel the Psyche Terrorist was spewing from her disgusting lips. Maria wanted to destroy them... rip and tear. Just like they did to her family. It was only fair to give the same treatment, right?

But it wasn't like the nun couldn't hear a somewhat familiar voice. It may have been too late if it hadn't been Shiina's quick intervention. In fact, instead of two demons, it was actually their senior. Maria recoiled back a step upon the revelation, eyes widening at this new sudden information registering through her irises. "...Claire? I--I think we're fine. We must... have fallen for Alice's illusions. I'm sorry, despite all of our bravado, we got careless. I'm so sorry... It won't happen again."


Maria withdrew her eyes from the fellow Cadet and allowed them to stick to the ground in embarrassment. Certainly this was really pointing to the whole group that they needed to loosen up and start doing so soon. She really wanted to beat the crap out of herself for this. In fact they were about to harm their superior too, right? This was certainly unacceptable for the nun. There is so much to learn and to improve on... but so little time.


It was certainly odd that Lisa was absent. What had happened to her?

It seemed that the minor storm caused from the earlier mistake had blown over and brought itself to a calm. As things seemed to go more or less back to normal, Haru would watch Shiina’s demonstration of what she meant when she said she wished to try something. What came out of that demo was rather unexpected.

She was able to summon a card that when broken allowed her persona to shift into...a snake or rather snakes. Oh boy. While the idol didn’t show it much he would narrow his eyes the slightest bit at the creature he saw. Snakes... He wasn’t scared of them per se since he did have the tendency to run across them when he went exploring in the more quiter parts of East Eden, the idol still didn’t care for them on the best of days. Regardless of this the young man’s eyes would drift back to Shiina as she spoke vaguely on the matter of the persona she had. She believed it could help them? He would study her for a bit and then deciding to give her a little trust he would nod.

“If it helps us out of this madness, then I see no issue in using it,” he would say before becoming quiet once more and following the group. He would remain more or less quiet as they ran across enemies and in turn took up battle positions. When they did this, Haru would summon his soulbound weapon, but would not attack at first as he took in the appearance of the beasts. He wasn’t sure if it was the beasts themselves or some lingering effect of the gas they had attempted to go through, but...his stomach would turn at the sight of the creatures as something uneasy settled within him and caused him to hesitate even more. The words that followed and the strange reveal that occured thanks to Shiina using her spell, only made the feeling worse as he began to question many things he did not question before...and in turn those questions caused him to wonder about his sanity and will. Had the gas shaken him that bad? And was this person before him was really Claire? Or was he still in a dream state? He couldn’t tell anymore and perhaps that is why he was quiet as the other two pretty much asked the questions he wanted to ask to begin with..well almost all. There was still one that bothered him.

“I am not sure what is defined as okay here any longer...” he would say shaking his head a bit before narrowing his eyes to focus on Claire. He would take in her injuries and like the others already note that Lisa was gone; however, he would not question this as he instead focused on a more pressing matter. "How did you find us?” he would ask not sure if he could trust his own eyes anymore. Even so, the words were delivered calmly and without any sign of hostility as he bit on his thumb nail, a quiet sign that he was concerned about this odd situation and everyone who had stepped into this odd hell hole known as Wonderland.

Maria slowly nodded at her senior and started to relax, but she tensed upon feeling her hand on her shoulder. At such closeness, she couldn't help, but to redden slightly at the gesture of camaraderie. It was an awkward moment for the nun as needlessly strange for her it was. But she appreciated it, this was in a setting where she never expected to experience. There was something to admire at the energy that Claire was exhibiting. Did it cheer Maria up? Not much, but enough to keep her from becoming even worse. Having low morale from the start would be absolutely damaging to the mission after all.

She shook her head when Claire voiced her previous concerns about her reasons of not being open after explaining what she was capable of. Not knowing what their team members are capable of could be very costly to the mission's success and to their lives. But for this reason alone? It made her want to groan, but she kept it bottled inside. This was no time to complain about it. Maria replied with her sheepish smile slowly turning back to its serious visage, "We would have absolutely no right to judge you this early, Ma'am. But regardless of how we reacted to it, please ensure to notify us of any potential assets for the task."

To the corner of her eye, Maria noticed how Shiina was able to switch Personas and even have more than one. This didn't seem normal at all. Weren't many people only capable of one? To think that someone like her was capable of having two? Was there something that the Tsurinai was hiding? Could she be a part of the Church of Freaks like Maria was? There were questions swarming her skull, but they would have to be set aside until the most opportune moment. It was time to move out.

Maria gave a final nod towards Claire, acknowledging what she had to say. They would have to be careful now. But, like the senior Cadet said, they just needed to learn from their mistakes and move on. Any further dillydallying here would be to their detriment and to their possible hostage. She gestured for the whole group to continue the path.

Movement:

Haru would stay quiet as he simply let his mind try to adapt to this world that shifted and changed on its own accord. Being a man of schedules and order, he didn’t particularly liking the chaos found here and be honest adapting was a bit of a challenge, but he forced himself to do so since he was sure this would not be the last time he’d encounter something as odd as this. If anything the missions ahead might be worse...if they managed to get out of this one of course. While it was true the green gas had taken him for a whirl, the man kept the current struggle inside of himself, his face now calm once more showing nothing of the internal conflict within.

As the others spoke he would listen not seeming to be bother by the shift in persona from Shiina. Maybe the first time she had done it got him over that hurdle earlier...either that or he was beginning to truly accept the strange as normal. He honestly didn’t know and right now didn’t have time to mull such things over. He had a mission to focus on, so that is what he would do as his eyes drifted from Shiina’s persona back to Claire as she spoke.

He’d watch as she tried to boost morale with her talk, but for the most part, he would stay quiet until directly addressed. When answered, the usually serious Cadet would do something a bit unusual around strangers. He’d actually relax as he ran a hand through his hair before looking back at the woman with an actual amused smirk on his face as he tilted his head at her.

“I suppose we deserved that in a way. You are quite something else, but in the end we owe you for your quick response and ability. Thank you for coming back for us,” he would say truly meaning it. Yeah it was true that it was a bit unsettling she would hide her ability, but if everyone didn’t trust her to begin with then why should she give them any of her own trust? They had a rough start, but perhaps now that the other was here, they could actually fix things a bit and work better as a team. After all if they didn’t pull together now...they would never succeed in the future. Regardless of this, the young man decided to give the woman a bit of his trust as well as his team members, as he remained more relaxed than before. His face would go back to being serious, but with less of the tension from earlier.

To the words heard, he would let out a light hum of thought.

“Mmm. I have to agree running here and there is not a wise thing; however, if you can see everyone then I am sure Lisa will be fine on her own for now and if not you won’t have to go back alone if you needed to aid her. As for our lovely hostess,” Haru would let out a light sigh to this one. “I never doubted we were being watched from the beginning. The only thing that bothers me outside of the familiarity that Noah mentioned is the fact the cat seemed to have been informed by this mysterious “he” of us coming. That sort of intel slipping is...very unpleasant to hear about. Makes me wonder what else she knows about us…” he would say his eyes automatically drifting to the scenery around them as if he expected to find something there. Was he being paranoid? Not really. The action just gave him a better view of the place that both fascinated and agitated him. Gave him a better view of his enemy.

This was a very annoying game to be sure...but then again, a good challenge wasn’t always that bad. They just had to outsmart the cat and its master.

Regardless of this, he would keep quiet agreeing silently that they did indeed need to work better with one another. His lips wouldn’t part again until Claire said she was sticking with them. To this he would give a nod.

“It is good to know you are with us then,” he would say and then pondering something he would ask. “You said your ability marks allies and prey...Can you see a bit of what is up ahead from here?” he asked a bit curious about the extent of her ability. If she could see more of this place than they could that would be beneficial in planning things...Well maybe. At least it would prepare them for surprises.

Regardless of what came of that, Haru would watch as Maria and Noah set off once more. Making sure the three ladies were not being left behind he would trail along a few steps behind the leading pair.

“Let us pray for good fortune then,” he would say in response to Noah’s comment. The words were light, but had a hint of flatnes to them, a sign that while there may have been a bit of jest behind that, Haru did understand the strangeness of the situation they were in and in turn did not take it lightly.

Movement: