Let it Snow: Orange Start

[voidtreckermods]

The moment Red team jumps the voice speaks again. “Orange team to doors. Void shift imminent. Ten, nine, eight, seven...” There is a lurch and the train seems to tumble. The windows flash with the void for a second before they are once again surrounded by snow.

The train steadies, the doors open, the train is in mid-air and one step away from the train doors there is an ice platform. Crossing is not too hard, though a bit daunting. They are very high up and the ice is inherently slippy.

The platform is not large enough for them all and so the only natural way is for them to begin entering the labyrinth to allow everyone off the train. The moment the last person leaves the train it blinks away and the moment everyone has entered the labyrinth there is a grinding sound and the ice behind them closes.

For good or ill they have entered. Their goal is clear, a strange machine suspended in the centre of the maze but getting there will be a challenge. Though it looks like they should be able to merely walk towards it walls of ice stand in their way. The only way to stop any of this is to get through the labyrinth.

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

"Perfect idea, then." He mimes setting his foot at an imaginary starting mark and angles his body for a rocket start. "Ready, set, GO!"

[stealsyourheart]

”Last one back is a rotten egg!"

[so_dark_a_road]

"Get ready to be scrambled or poached!" laughs Curufin, launching himself down the passageway. He runs like seven devils are behind him, even though it's only Kaito, his good friend and currently, opponent.

[stealsyourheart]

"In your dreams!" Kaito, follows on his heels, but he keeps his eyes open - if this place isn't booby trapped he'll be very surprised.

[so_dark_a_road]

Heh, letting Curufin go ahead so that he trips the first booby trap instead of Kaito doing it himself!

Curufin grins and sings an impromptu verse, flinging it over his shoulder as he runs. "Oh, I dream of scrambled eggs instead of parties with kegs. . . " Funny how clowning doesn't make him run any slower.

[stealsyourheart]

Well of course! Adults are supposed to protect kids, yes~?

Kaito laughs back at him, but at the first fork, he takes a separate one to Curufin - it won't do them any good to go the same way, after all. They need to find the center, and fast. He leaves a squiggle on the wall - the KID's grinning signature. Conan is following behind, and will know which way Kaito went. If it leads to a dead end, he'll turn around and cross it out.

[so_dark_a_road]

Very logical! Curufin is supposed to be "the adult in the room."~

Curufin looks at the KID's grinning signature and it makes him grin too. Okay, good, there'll be a record of which twists and turns of the maze have already been explored. Hmm, they should both be doing this. Curufin pulls a marker out of his rucksack and scrawls his own mark on the wall of the fork that he is taking: the eight-pointed star of the House of Fëanor.

And then he runs onwards. Not just because they need to get to the machine fast, but because he wants to beat Kaito to the center.

[stealsyourheart]

Mazes are tricky at the best of times - but Kaito knows the basic principle of the things. Keep one hand on the wall and follow those forks until you hit a dead end, or you reach the goal. Whichever happens sooner. The marks on the walls will make backtracking easier, and allow those who follow behind that security too.

[so_dark_a_road]

And Curufin continues to hustle along, using something similar to Kaito's technique. It occurs to him that they might both reach the machine at the same time, and if so, it'll be important to deal with it and then run like hell to get back to the start before Kaito does.

[stealsyourheart]

At the end of the day, it's luck as to which of them will find it first, really. Kaito's just hoping luck will shine on him today!