the_last_resort | (no subject)

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Who: Craig Boone | Niko Bellic | Linda Esquivel
What: A Rescue / Fact Finding Mission
When: Based after Belloq's betrayal and his report of Niko's death.
Where: The jungle temple.
Notes & Warnings: Hugs and swearing and angry faces. Everything important for playing in the temple should be in the link except for the raided. Potential starters for both getting in and the state Niko will be in when he's found.

A. | Outside the Temple

[There is a reason that guides are usually used in the wilderness. It's already dark, and in the shadow of the hulking jungle trees (much larger than the ones closer to the village) there are already creatures waiting to crawl out of the dark. It's a good idea to move and to move fast.]

[But at the foot of the temple is a very good dog that is ignored by most of the things roaming around him, gnawing on the bone of some skeleton that was killed by a spider and waiting for his master to come back down. It's taking a while. longer than he thought it would, and he's wondering if he'll have to start hunting for food. When he hears people he flops his tail in a lazy way, thinking that he smells people he knew to be friendly (but then again, he'd known Belloq as friendly as well), and he shifts to a sitting position.]

[The torches have been removed, so it's a little strange if this is the location: you would think someone would leave the torches if they ever wanted to return and not run into trouble. And Boone's went through a temple before. Niko is smart. He always lays out torches.]

[At least the vines are sturdy and pretty good for climbing?]

B:| Inside is a very pissed Niko Bellic

[When it first happened, Niko dug at a brick in the building with his knife for an hour like he would accomplish anything, until long after the sounds of Belloq and milling Orions had departed. He removes one small stone, enough for air to pass through. He can even see gears through that hole, barely.]

[Then his knife breaks.]

[It's in that moment that he realizes that, even if he doesn't suffocate, he's going to die of starvation in here. He settles miserably into the corner, leaning his shoulder agaist it, tired from useless digging. He's going to abandon his friend that he promised he wouldn't. Who is going to take Snažan? She's a good, loving animal. Would she (dubiously a she) be okay in the desert? Or on any Earth? He grimaces to himself and pulls out his wallet. He has to find a picture to write a last will and testiment on the back of.]

[That's too depressing. He starts searching the room again, and leans over the chest. ...And pulls out the diamond sword? What the shit? There were two in there? That doesn't make any sense. Belloq, luckily in Niko's mind (he's glad he got out with as little as possible) hadn't waited long enough for Niko to look through the chest any more. Big diamonds, bigger than Bulgarin's ever dreamed of being. They are so gratifying to hold. Emeralds. Gold bars- heavy. He's never picked up real gold bars before. He sniffs them as if they'd have a scent- they're actually musty. And it's the best scent he's ever smelled.]

[Niko's not a greedy man but if he's going to die in here, he's going to die with all of the things Belloq can't have.]

[That hole is big enough for him to shove all of those through, both gems and gold. They clatter to the empty bit of floor in that narrow, closed off area. If they come back for them, they won't find them. They'll just find Niko sitting here with a very sharp sword ready to gut them. He presses his back against the wall again to wait for sound from the other side.]

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[The first sign that something about Belloq's story didn't add up was the lack of torches. If Niko's hound hadn't been outside the temple, Boone might have wondered if they'd found a completely unrelated one- as unlikely as that would be. It means either Niko didn't bother using any torches, which is extremely unlikely, or that someone took them. Boone doubts it was the skeletons. Luckily, Elle brought torches along with them.

Boone isn't patient enough to wait behind while Elle checks for traps and lights the way with torches. He knows he has to be careful, but on the other hand he's anxious to find Niko and make sure he's alive. If he's been through here, any traps are likely disarmed anyway. He doesn't know where he is or if he's hurt, but if he's alive he's likely still in danger, maybe still trying to fend off monsters. He can't hear any shots being fired though, and that worries him more.

He takes some torches with him before climbing up to the first floor, and asks Linda to come with him and watch his back. The place is dark and he can already hear the skeletons and spiders lurking inside, and he knows there will be creepers too. He's still looking out for traps too, though he only knows about the ones he saw in the desert temple so he's mostly looking for dart holes in the walls, or pressure plates on the floor. He pulls out his gun and throws a torch forward, keeping his voice low.]

Watch out for creepers. Can't hear them, and they're gonna blend in here pretty well. Watch where you step, too.

[He can hear activity, even through the stone. Faint words. The skeletons getting agitated. Maybe the Orions coming back? He holds the sword tighter. Like the sword is going to do him a lot of good if it comes down to a fight.]

[But then he thinks he recognizes the voice, that even tone. Determined. He thinks he does. Maybe it's a little bit of desperation. He does now remember what he asked Boone to do, but he did it suspecting that Belloq was a coward, not a traitor.]

Boone?! [He shouts from the level above them, shifting to all fours so he can put his mouth near the floor as he yells.] Boone! Is that you? [If its more assholes he's going to run them through he swears on his life. Any promises not to kill people be damned.]

[when they find Pas outside the temple, Linda is both relieved and worried--relieved because they've obviously found the right place but worried because it's just as clear that Niko must have gone in and never come out]

[she's happy to follow Boone's lead in a situation where she, admittedly, feels rather out of her depth. when he asks her to watch his back, she nods and quickly follows him, her pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other. she has a small pack of supplies on her back--water, a little food, and some basic medical supplies that she honestly brought more at the thought of the state Niko might be than for any other reason. she only hopes they're prepared enough for whatever they find]

[once they're in the temple, at Boone's instruction to watch where she steps, she frowns a little, wondering for a second what he means--until it strikes her that this place that looks like something out of an Indiana Jones movie might function like it, too] All right. [she flashes the light around as they go, trying to be watchful both of anything that might sneak up behind them but also of where she's stepping as they advance]

[all this goes out the window, though, when she hears a voice. for a minute all her attention is on the ceiling. she can't clearly make out what's being said through the rock--or who's saying it--but her heart jumps in her chest anyway] Niko! Boone, that must be Niko! [cupping her hands around her mouth, she calls back:] Niko, we're coming!

[For maybe a second, Boone is stuck in place just through sheer relief. Niko is alive. He doesn't have to carry his body out of here. Then an arrow whizzes past his head, and he fires at the skeleton responsible before moving ahead and raising his voice to answer.]

We're gonna get you outta here. Just hold on.

[He doesn't want to have to deal with all the monsters down here before going up to help Niko. They'll just keep on spawning in the darkness. He throws another torch, illuminating the way up to the floor above, and shoots down the creeper lurking nearby.]

Gonna have to climb. Be careful.

Don't go past the levers on the floor above you! There are darts! And be careful! Tell me when you're up here.

[He shuffles around then, getting the sword ready and standing near the wall that closed on him. He'll wait for them there.]

[He's already feeling relieved. He's not going to die alone and forgotten in some distant jungle. Not today.]

[Linda yelps when the arrow goes by, caught by surprise. in all honesty, she's still getting used to the creatures here, but her instincts are good, and when she catches a glimpse of another skeleton behind them, she quickly fires at it]

I will! Just keep moving.

[she doesn't want to have to fight their way up there any more than Boone does--not when they know Niko is so close. but there's no time for those thoughts. she realizes at the last second that she's about to step on an uneven patch in the floor and stumbles, dodging what she can only assume is some sort of pressure pad. that danger avoided, Linda quickly straightens, taking one wild shot at a creeper approaching behind them from a shadowed alcove before she has her balance enough to take it out]

[Boone gets a glimpse of Linda losing her balance about the same time he sees a spider coming up behind her, and quickly takes it out before it can jump at her. The way to to the next floor is more vines, so Boone figures one will have to climb up while the other keeps the monsters from getting too close. He stands by them, firing at another skeleton, and looks to Linda.]

You wanna go up first or should I?

[Linda thinks quickly] You first. You've got the torches. [not to mention he's obviously better at this, and it'll be easier for her to guard him from a partially-lit area than it will be for him to guard her from above]

[she steps over to him, taking a stand near the vines and shooting down a second spider] Go!

[He nods, pulling himself up the vines and hoping they don't decide to give out on him. They look and feel sturdy, but he's still relieved when he gets to the second floor. He throws another torch, seeing the levers that Niko mentioned. Careful to keep away from them for now, he shoots down a couple of skeletons and a creeper, then looks down at Linda.]

Okay, now you.

[When Linda gets close enough to the top, he holds out a hand to help her up.]

[since Linda is much slighter than Boone, she's confident that the vines will hold her and quickly follows at Boone's word. as she nears the top, she grabs his hand, pulling herself up as fast as she can] Thanks.

[once she's up, she immediately unholsters her gun and fires at a nearby spider] Boone, there's supposed to be-- [but she cuts herself off, seeing the levers nearby and, past them, the door. they're almost to Niko! her chest tight with excitement and nerves, she gestures at the levers] Belloq said those disarm darts and also open the door. How do we do this?

[He presses his ear to the wall to hear, squinting as he tries to remember the levers. He can remember the ones for the darts, but not the wall.]

I only remember the ones for the darts! The one for the wall is different, but you can't disable both at the same time. You will need to flip the levers until some combination of them works. Then the one for the darts is down and down and up from left to right. The wall you need to open first, and I don't know what that one is. You must try until one works.

[He wipes his hand down his mouth and wraps up the diamond sword, as he had the other one, and sticks it in his bag. He slings it over his shoulder and picks his gun up.]

[And he stares at it.]

[He thinks of how nice it would be to see Belloq on his knees in front of him. Begging. To see him spilling out all those nice pretty words in an attempt to live. Then just. Turning them off.]

[He draws in a careful breath through his nose, closes his eyes tight.]

[He forces himself to think of shooting skeletons for now. For getting out. There are people waiting on him on the other side. That's pretty new, focus on that.]

When you get the wall open, turn off the darts and I will come across.

Okay. We'll get you outta there, don't worry.

[He looks to Linda.]

Watch my back. Gonna try to get that wall open.

[He goes over to the levers, and starts randomly switching them. All three up. All three down. Down, up, up. Down, down, up... no, that's the darts. Up, up, down? No, the opposite doesn't work. He grunts to himself. Down, up, down. Up, down, up.

The wall slides open finally, and before he turns off the darts he looks over at Niko. He's glad to see him alive. He lets out a breath of relief, and switches the levers to turn off the darts so he can come over.]

[Linda can't express how good it is to hear Niko's voice, especially so close and clear now. she nods at Boone's instructions, stepping up behind him and scanning the area as he moves the levers. she fires on an approaching spider and another skeleton, but it seems less imminently dangerous here now that they've lit so much of the area]

[and at the sight of Niko, Linda breaks out in a relieved smile] Niko! You're okay!

[When he sees them he loses his dark thoughts almost immediately, cracking one of his terrible, ill-fitting grins and he can barely contain the urge to run over. He steps beyond the wall in time for it to close behind him, for the darts to turn off, and then runs across to grab Boone first.]

[He smushes the smaller man up in a tight hug (which probably looks a little funny considering he's holding the gun still), kisses him on top of his stupid beret, and then pulls Linda into the hug. He's still grinning like an idiot right then.]

[He gives Niko a smile as he approaches, one of those rare ones where he actually looks content for a moment. And then he's pulled tightly against Niko, and his beret is kissed, and his smile turns to surprise.

He's not a big fan of being touched by people. He's prone to flinching away from physical contact. He likes his space. He already forgives Niko for this hug, though. In fact, he holds onto him too, his hands bunching in his clothes. It hits him now that he really could have lost Niko for good. He could have been hauling his corpse out of this place. He's alive though, and that's all that matters right now. He thought he'd lost his friend. He thought he'd never see one of those mean smiles ever again.]

You're okay.

[It's said quietly, but he sounds relieved. Happy, even.]

[Linda holds tightly to Niko, still stunned that he's there and alive. her eyes are welling up again, but she doesn't care. she doesn't say anything for a minute, just reveling in relief and happiness, before she manages:] It's so good to see you.

[It's a big smile that stays for a moment, just because he's happy. How often is it that someone comes after him to help him? Not often. In fact, usually that's his job. But in this case he keeps hugging, but then his expression fades back into something meaner.]

That motherfucker locked me in there. He fucking left me to rot in there! Did he get out? Leave the fucking town already?

[At least his hold on Linda relaxes- it's his inclination to be a little gentler towards women whether they're capable or not. But with Boone he's now returning the favor and digging his fingers into the fabric of his uniform, clinging to it like that might be the thing that's holding him back from going and killing Belloq right then.]

[Whatever Belloq did, whatever his reasons for leaving Niko behind, Boone was not expecting it to be because he was a traitor. He'd just assumed Belloq got scared and fled, leaving Niko behind and assuming he was dead. This... this is different.]

He told everyone you were dead and that he was sorry. Said you got overwhelmed by skeletons, and he ran. He locked you in there on purpose?

[Why would he do that? What could he gain from killing Niko?]

[Linda wasn't expecting that revelation either. she doesn't really know Belloq--today was the first she'd ever talked to him--but she's always inclined to think the best of people, and he had seemed so sincere... she pulls back from Niko in shock] What!? Why would he do that?

[He pats his duffel bag.] I found something special. He wanted it. I think some sort of mix up must have happened and he thought he got it. But I still have it. [And honestly he wouldn't have given a fuck about it beyond that, if the Orions hadn't come strolling in and then he had to die for whatever reason. He was sold out.]

[But Niko isn't a sell-out. He's not going to mention the Orions- the sword is enough.] Pas. Pas is still okay, ah?

Pas is fine.

[He realises he's still holding onto Niko's jacket, and lets go finally. He looks up at him again, but now he looks angry. Belloq tried to kill Niko for treasure, and lied about it to everyone.]

Son of a bitch.

[When Boone is angry, he never raises his voice. He gets quieter. There's a growl in his words. He wants to find Belloq and make him pay for what he did.]

But...you were his guide.

[she doesn't understand. wasn't the treasure Belloq's anyway? why do something as awful as leave Niko for dead? her hand tightens on her pistol at the thought] We'll arrest him when we get back. He can't get away with this.

[at his question, she's quick to reassure Niko, too] Pas is still outside waiting. [and since she'll feel a lot better when Niko's really safe, she adds:] We should get back to him.

[He considers it quietly. Right now, the only thing that's known that Belloq did was leave Niko here to die. His jaw is tight, and he shifts his position. Clenches his eyes. Breathes in a tight breathe through his nose and shakes his head.]

No. No. Fucking leave the asshole. I just want to go home and check on my beast. She has had no one to care for her.

[He rubs Boone's back in a way almost meant to calm himself down, before letting his arm drop away. Right then he seems calm. It's a front- for anger and for confusion.]

[ At some point having gotten seperated, Ashe made his way the way he heard the noise, his long green coat flowing around him as he made his way towards the noise. Seeing Boone and Linda in the distance he smiled, Good, Niko's alive. Fuck that guy that said he was dead.]

[The missing torches don't make any sense. This is the right place, it has to be, Pas is outside, still... still waiting for Niko --

Boone doesn't wait. Elle understands, she does, because it's going to take a while to safely clear out the bottom level. Who knows how many creatures have taken up residence in the dark? And that's not even covering the possible problem of tripping into a trap in the quest to light the place up again. But, still. As Boone and Linda decide to move onward, her heart twists with fear. What if they... She shakes her head firmly at herself. No. She knows all the things Boone can survive. Believe in him. And Linda doesn't have her job for nothing. Believe in them. Don't worry too much; just do what you came here to do.

She looks to Ashe -- or, well, where she remembers Ashe standing. It's really dark in here. She flicks on her Pip-Boy light. A soft amber light glows around them.] Okay, [she says, careful to keep her voice soft.] We need to replace the torches. But there are probably monsters down here, and traps, too. So... Keep an eye out, okay? Let me know if you see anything out of place.

[ It was Ashe's nature to worry and try to help. It was half of the reason he became a dead man walking. He had stayed with Elle when Boone and Linda went on. Elle's pretty cool, he can deal with that. It's been so long since he had a gun in his hands he cant help but think back to Judah Earl and the mangy dogs he put down.

Ashe had started walking, he had his face cleaned today, a little bit of stubble but otherwise he looked pretty normal... for a guy in leather. He had his head tilted kind of funny as he blinked looking around.]

Yes, though for fire, I may be able to help there. [ He smiled some pulling out a zippo. He doesnt really smoke, not that much anyway, it was more just force of habit. Lighters were useful. His voice stayed low like hers.] We just need something flamable.

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Boone + Linda

Going to go ahead and throw Niko into this thread so they can hear him yelling

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Elle + Ashe

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