idolpro | Heart Game: Talon

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!heart games

Heart Game: Talon

Was it this late when you stepped into the Game Tower...? Now the sky above is dotted with a few scarce stars, occasionally obscured by some light cloud cover drifting by. Most of the night sky has been washed out by the bright lights of the city which, by the way, is spread out far below the rooftop that characters find themselves on. There's a faint buzz on their phones. When checked, the screen shows a Game Notice:

Win Condition:
1. Locate the True Heart
Or
2. Leave a Lasting Mark

The skyscraper towers high above the streets, easily dwarfing any other building in sight. The city is some dozens of stories below, and the sound of the wind rushing by is louder than anything that can be heard from the streets. Occasionally the wail of a siren pierces the distance, but it's easier to spot the lights of an ambulance or police car zipping through the roads than it is to hear them. If you look closely enough, and for long enough, you might notice figures in the distance leaping between buildings, sometimes in pursuit of a siren or with an emergency vehicle trailing in the distance behind them.

The roof itself is expansive—the building must take up the better part of a city block, judging by the space available up here. A helipad (sans any helicopter) takes up the entirety of one side of the roof, complete with what looks like a freight elevator for moving things from the roof further into the building. The elevator itself has a keypad lock on it, but a staircase entrance beside it has no obvious lock in place.

The rest of the rooftop is empty save for a small, hooded figure perched atop one of the parapets along the edge of the roof, feet dangling over open air.

[ OOC NOTES:

1. Powers are on. THIS INCLUDES CANON POWER SETS.
2. Characters may keep any equipment they had on them when entering the heart, but there is a risk it will be taken away during the run. However all equipment taken will be returned when you exit the heart.
3. Significant changes/damage to the heart will reset each time someone new enters an area for the first time. For example, if Bob kills the sentry at the entrance of the heart, the sentry will respawn for Sally when she arrives. This way everyone can experience the different areas.
4. CAVEAT TO THE ABOVE: exceptions made for anyone specifically going through the heart with a partner(s), or anyone who requests to react to damage that's been done. The goal here is to allow everyone to have fun in the heart at the end of the day. ♥ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Wise choice. The second the Feint makes contact with the first of the bodies, another deafening explosion goes off. It, like the one before, isn't strong enough to bring the whole tunnel down, but it's definitely full of fire and shrapnel intended to maim. ]

[RIP to that Feint. It disappears in a flash of light, and Griffin is internally thanking whoever the fuck for giving him a disposable doppleganger power.

Griffin himself blocks most of the shrapnel with the broad side of his sword - picks out the rest from his jacket - and keeps going.

No time to feel bad.

Just follow the blood trails.]

[ Once he hits the cavern, the blood trails split. The smaller foot prints head for the west-most exit, while the 2 sets of larger foot prints, both still showing signs of bleeding, head for the eastern exit. The east exit is still showing signs of that green gas, while the northern exit is still faintly lit somewhere in the distance.

It's impossible to see all of the exits at once, and Joker's laughter has started up again. It echoes around the cavern, and though he still sounds furious over the earlier escape, there's an edge of delight to it ]

Oh boy. Playing at being a broken bird now, are we?

Bird? Nah. Haven't you heard of me? I'm Ten-pin, the bowling ball. Terror of the alleys. The perfect strike.

[He's gonna follow the smaller footprints, heading westerly.]

Not so terrifying when he's dead~!

[ The west path leads to a tunnel that immediately curves away to the left. The footprints have faded to nearly nothing now, and there's no sound of foot steps now.

It's impossible to see what's around the bend in the tunnel from here. Proceed? Take a different action?? ]

You're really gonna have to do better than that t'scare me.

[Feint worked as a scout last time... He sends it out again to round the bend, prepared to defend itself. Griffin's keeping a hand on his sword, meanwhile.]

[ Robin is, in fact, around the corner! His hands are over his mouth to keep himself quiet, blood dripping slowly down his face. Has he bitten himself...? His eyes crinkle a little further as if the smile is growing wider, but he makes no move towards the Feint.

The cavern behind Griffin is quiet. ]

[The Feint... carefully... moves closer.

Griffin sucks in a breath. He has to take his hand off the sword to palm the anti-toxin, but at least he still has his prosthetic.]

Hey kid. Your big bro's worried about you.

[ His hand slips. A giggle slips out, but there's something more frantic about it this time. His brother...? ]

[Hmm. Maybe he can do the luring this time...?]

Yeah, Red Hood. That brother.

He really didn't wanna see you guys hurt, y'know. My bad.

That's why I'm here. To make sure you're okay.

[ Another strangled giggle, as if his breath is catching in his throat. Tears are welling in his eyes in spite of the continued rictus grin ]

Nonononodeadeadeadeadeadeadeadead

[ There's a scraping sound behind Griffin, and he has about half a second to react before a bloodied, manic Batwoman slams into him, slashing wildly with another batarang. No stabs this time! ]

[Of course it's another trap.]

NICE TRY!

[Everyone's frozen in place as Griffin and his Feint trade places - he darts around the corner and jabs the kid with the anti-toxin, then hefts his paralyzed little body in his arms.

The Feint, meanwhile, knocks Batwoman to the ground. No infiniswords this time, he's there to parry and block her as soon as she's mobile again.]

[ WELL

Griffin has successfully obtained one (1) Robin who is both paralyzed and just starting to come down from the effects of the laugh gas, which means there isn't much he can do but cry for the moment.

Batwoman is also out of commission (safely this time!), but what about Red Robin? Better be careful on the way out! ]

[Sorry kid, you're getting thrown over his shoulder while he tries to make it out of here.

...What if he just keeps spamming Appel all the way out?]

IF ANY'VE YOU THINK THEY CAN STILL FUCK WITH ME, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING! SO GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY OR I'M BRINGING THE PAIN!!

[ There's a low rumbling in the cavern. The Joker's laughter rises to a roar, nearly inhuman in sound. ]

YOU! AREN'T! PLAYING! FAIR!!!

[ As Griffin makes it across the cavern to race back into the tunnel, another explosion rocks the area. A few stalactites come crashing down, and a cloud of laugh gas and dust surges into the air. Up ahead, the tunnel is largely closed off. Maybe if Griffin had time to dig through the rubble he could get out, but time is running unfortunately short.

Over the sound of the cave settling again, stone and gravel falling into new positions, comes the sound of foot steps. ]

YOU FORGOT ABOUT EAR PLUGS, YOU FUCKING MOCKINGBIRDIE!

[ HEEEERE'S JOKER ]

FUCK!

[Honestly, his #1 concern here is the amount of gas being kicked up, and whether Talon was breathing it in again. Was the anti-venom still active in his system, fighting it off? He had no idea. Griffin's holding him tight as rocks come down around them, trying to shield him. Did one of Robin's stupid pouches have a mask, or anything useful--?!

If that exit to the tunnel is fucked, then he doesn't have any choice but to run the other way. Forget ol' skinface, PROTECT THE KID--!]

Edited 2020-02-17 03:32 (UTC)

[ Which way is he going to try? The remaining options are east (where the gas is emanating from), north (faintly lit in the distance), and west (where Griffin just left). ]

[There's no way he can risk going east, so he's just gonna have to chance it on north.

Trying to rouse Talon as he runs,]

Hey, you with me? Giggle if you're nuts again.

[ There's no giggling. Apparently the anti-toxin is still working on him, even through the added gas. Buuut there are plenty of terrified sniffles and whimpers, the most he can manage through the paralysis. It doesn't help that the sound of Joker's laughter follows after them, his footfalls echoing through the tunnel as he gives chase.

This tunnel leads to...a dinner table? There are lanterns hanging from the ceiling to light it, and the table has been set for 6, although 5 of the chairs are now empty. The dishes are bowls of ice, each with a different face nestled delicately in the center. The only person still sitting at the table is Batman himself, still bound tight to his chair.

His eyes widen as Griffin comes racing into view, wild and frantic even under the mask ]

Robin!!

[Oh. Ohhh.

This is the memory Jason took with him.

That means-- he sets Robin down to quickly check under the chairs - they should be wired to light on fire if Batman moves, right?]

Sit tight, Bat Hood.

[ Bruce grits his teeth, but there's really not any other option here! It's far more concerning to see his son so grief stricken and disoriented, even if he's a piece-meal imitation of the actual Bruce Wayne. ]

Robin. Robin, look at me. It's okay.

[ The attempts at soothing the boy continue while Griffin inspects the table. The wiring underneath is obvious, but certainly couldn't have been reached by anyone actually sitting at the table with they way they were all tied up. The questions now are:

1. Does Griffin know anything about disarming incendiary devices?

And

2. Can he disarm it and get Batman out before Joker arrives on scene? The mad cackling in the distance is drawing rapidly closer ]

[NOPE

HE ONLY KNOWS HOW TO SET THEM OFF

He dumps Robin onto Batman's lap, and grabs the closest chair-- chucking it into the tunnel to explode. Maybe that'd hold Joker off for a second while EVERYTHING ELSE BURSTS INTO FLAMES?!?!?]

[ WELL NOW EVERYTHING'S ON FIRE

For about three seconds before Bruce destroys the ceiling to bring a ton of water down on their heads and put everything out. The benefits of saving the only other deus ex machina in this heart.

Which also turns out to be all the time they have before Joker arrives on the scene, eyes manic and rolling in their sockets, spittle dripping down his chin. The temperature of the room plummets as he steps into the room. The lights grow dimmer. And for once he has no attention to spare for Bruce—he's fixated entirely on Griffin ]

What have you DONE!?

[Good old cave water reservoir, right where he remembered it being.

Well, Joker's attention it right where he wants it, then. Maybe Batman and Robin over there will take that as the cue to fuck off. Griffin stands his ground, unfazed by the gruesome skin-mask or the lighshow.]

Oh, did I disrupt dinner?

[His brand new arm lashes out at the Joker - half prosthetic, half segmented whip sword. Like a cutting ribbon slicing through the air, he's going to try and grab the clown and dig the sharp edges into him so he can't escape.]

Edited 2020-02-17 05:03 (UTC)

[ Batman hesitates. The rules of memory say he's supposed to lure the Joker away from here. The rules of being Bruce Wayne say he's supposed to go to his son. And then Griffin whips out a chain-whip arm, and it just seems like he miiiight have a fighting chance here.

Bruce races to snatch up Robin and bolt out of the tunnel. The Joker races straight for Griffin, one hand out to actually grab the whip. It's like the pain doesn't faze him at all—or maybe he doesn't even feel it in the first place? But rather then give in to being caught he's surging forward, aiming to slam his fist and this section of Griffin's sword-whip arm right into his throat ]

Edited 2020-02-17 05:36 (UTC)

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