Cabin in the Woods

"Guys," Stefan said from the side of all of them, quietly cutting off whatever Hector was about to retort with. "Uh, I just want to say something about last night... I was retarded, sorry. I've calmed down now, and I don't think it is anybody's fault that we're here. I'll help search and stuff."

The two pass Euryale & Taiyo's room, Azuma looks in and shrugs off the crowd and keeps going, Mimiru hangs back a bit longer before going into the living room.

Azuma: "Fighting again, are we?"

N"...No, I think you were on to something. Roatha probably summoned it. He was in this cult once. Their 'thing' was an orgy ritual followed by sacrificing a goat. I think the goat was involved in both rituals. It's kinda fucked up. I also heard they practiced cannibalism on the side, & Roatha had a thing for the eyes. And--"

*Nero looks back as Euryale starts reciting.*

N"Good God, that's what we're trying to kill monsters with? I think the goat is actually less embarrassing."
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R"I have to go, Nero's spinning elaborate lies about me worshiping the devil. This is Prom Week all over again."

E"Alright...I'll do it. I just need the book & some water."

*As Roatha heads out of the room, Thiera hands her these items, picking up a can off of the floor.*

E"Oh, I thought that was a drink...no harm done, I guess. 'Oh Great Ones, My Goddess and my God, I call upon you, In need of your help, Bless this water, With you power, With you purification, With your healing powers, With the water you so blessed, May this harm none, The spell is done, So mote it be and blessed be.'"

Taiyo watches the whole ordeal unsure of what to make of it.

Azuma: "Well, I'm sure if we believe it it'll work."

Hector grinned a little, and Stefan refrained from commenting.

"But I've eaten vegetarian meals before," Sab said, "I'm not really that hungry, so I'll be fine without meat right now."

*Eve doesn't say anything, but Monu and Tirea watch with great interest*

"Okay. I just worry that people feel they're obligated to eat what I do when they're around me. How about one of those salad wrap places?"
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*Roatha walks out, holding his hands out with index fingers outstretched.*

R"I just want to point out, there's no such thing as Satanic Cults. Nero is just an asshole."

N"That's exactly what I'd expect a cultist to say."

R"Shut the Hell up."

N"See? He's invoking the name of his Fatherland!"

R"I hate you."
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*Meanwhile, Euryale hands Thiera the cup.*

T"Thanks. But, don't take this the wrong way, I'm just curious: Why would you need a spell to bless water, couldn't it have been made already with special powers?"

E"That's why this is one of those things that I'm not sure if I believe."

"Actually, I'm pretty sure Satanic Cults do exist..." Hector said, still smiling. Stefan sighed.

*Cameron returns, now eating the can of beans*

Monu:<There's probably one somewhere.>

Tirea:<I'M SO JOINING!>

Monu:<Fine, when we get out of here we'll find a nice cult to join.>

*Tirea hugs Monu*

"That sounds nice," Sab said with a smile. "Oh, and don't worry about that. I never feel pressured to do anything with you. I feel really relaxed and at ease, actually. I like spending time with you."

Azuma: "You know it won't involve anything other than excessive hedonism, right? No sacrifices, cattle mutilation, or Led Zeppelin being played backwards."

R"Yeah, occasionally they'll catch some axe murderer who claims to be part of a devil cult, but said person always turns out to be a friendless nobody."

N"Which is evidence that--"

R"Shut. Up. Damn."

*Thiera emerges from the room with the thing of water.*

T"If you're all quite finished talking about something stupid, I've got the water."
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A"I'm glad to know that. I love spending time with you, too."

Eve: <(Awesome..)>

Monu:<Great! Now all we need is that monster to test it.>

Cameron:<Hopefully we won't even have to test it.>

Sab smiled for a few seconds before saying, "So, um, we should probably get going."

"Yeah, the best outcome would be that we don't need to use the water at all, but I don't see our luck being so good," Hector said. "When should we head out?"

*Nero dips his fingers in the water & flicks it in Roatha's eyes. Roatha starts wiping it out.*

R"Ah, what the Hell?!"

N"It's for protection, right? So if it actually works, we can prevent it from attacking us, instead of hoping we manage to hit it with some."

T"I still don't think this will work, but...I guess you can't be too careful, when dealing with an otherworldly abomination."

*She dips her fingers in it & applies some to her forehead. Meanwhile, the lights flicker, & when they stop, they come back much dimmer. In particular, it's difficult to see in the far corners of the kitchen.*
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*The wrap place did have a little meat, which of course Aroma didn't have. She decided to get lettuce & spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, Italian dressing, & a few red & yellow peppers. She has a little bit of the paper it was served in unwrapped so that she can much on it as they head into the campus's central building, basically a large white box with a window at every room (5 floors) & a domed roof with a clock.*

Sab has a tempuh wrap with some red wine braised mushrooms, and provolone cheese. She begins to munch away happily as she walks with Aroma.

Azuma: "Instead we can do something intellectually questionable. Or you can. I ain't going out there as I am not keen on getting torn asunder by some forest terror and it'd be best to not send everybody out into the great yonder."

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Taiyo: "How're you feeling?"

"Okay?" Hector shrugged at Azuma while applying some of the water to his forehead and cheeks.

*She lays her head back down on the pillow.*

"Hmm...I'm pretty sure I'm past the worst, but it still really hurts to move. It's tiring."
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*Nero puts some on his knife & heads to the door, brandishing it.*

N"Roatha, take my flashlight & shine it on the door."

*Roatha does so & Nero raises the knife above his head, gripping the doorknob hard enough to turn his knuckles white.*

N"Everyone ready?"
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*At the second floor is an open art gallery, with pedestals displaying sculptures & paintings. Aroma stares at a sculpture of a scowling woman carved out of black stone for a while.*

"You wonder what Noct and the others are doing?"

Hector took Astarte's knife from her and dabbed some water on it, then stood to the side of the door, "Sure."
Astarte stared anxiously at the door.

Sab looked at the statue Aroma was looking at, then giggled a bit when Aroma brought up Noct, "I'm sure they're having fun somewhere."

At that, Noct, Gabe, and Mortal walk into the gallery. "Seriously, you two," Noct starts, "You need a bit more culture in your systems. Looking at some art isn't boring, just give it a chance, you'll like it."

Mortal and Gabe simply shrug, before Gabe says, "Oh, hello you two."

Noct looks ahead to see Aroma, and smiles, cheeks tinging pink, "Hey there."

Azuma steps back to put some more distance between himself and the door. Mimiru stops heating up some beans and watches.

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Taiyo lays down beside Euryale.

Taiyo: "I bet you'll be all better tomorrow."

*Aroma waves.*

"Hi, everyone."
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*Nero jerks forward, ready to stab...nothing. The monster is nowhere in the path of the beam.*
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"I'm sorry, Taiyo, but I don't think that's going to happen."