soraspace | Texts From Last Night Meme.

This is no time for sleeping! We have to figure out what's going on!

[If this mysterious purple-tasting gas has sedation properties, she and Ivan need to get out as quickly as possible. Holing themselves up in this small space was perhaps, in retrospect, not the brightest idea.

With a huff, Pao-Lin cuts her call for help and gently shakes Ivan again. First things first: they need to find some fresh air. After that, they can try again with an SOS.]

Listen — let's go find a place with windows we can open.

[ With a few more groans, Pao-Lin manages to rouse Ivan from his slumber. The air inside the small room could really be either better or poorer; it's possible that opening the door introduced enough of the purple tasting air into the room for it to knock Ivan out. ]

Okay...

[ He pushes himself up to standing, wobbling only a little. ]

If I go down again, leave me.

[She shakes her head firmly.]

No way! We're doing this together. Here, lean on me.

[Though she is absolutely prepared to princess carry him if need be. Or, y'know, drag him by his feet, but surely the princess carry is more dignified than that.]

[ Would Ivan be able to shapeshift into something smaller to be carried? Well, yes, but if he falls asleep again, he'll revert to normal. That would be an unwelcome surprise. ]

Sorry for this...

[ He hates feeling like a dead weight, but what else can he do? He's already under the effects of this purple tasting air. ]

Do the windows even open here? We might be too high up.

[ There could be some large windows which open for Sky High's use. ]

[Pao-Lin's trying to remember if she's ever seen windows open in this place. Why can't she remember where or if windows open up in this place??? Ugh.

She lifts up the collar of her shirt to cover her nose and mouth as a makeshift mask. It's a little awkward with Ivan leaning on her, and who knows if this will actually help, but it's better than nothing.]

Then let's try going downstairs. At least that way we'll be closer to the ground if we have to escape.

[~~The Origami Dragon Escape!!~~]

[ Origami Dragon start to make their escape downstairs as the rain poured outside like a broken soda machine--wait, wrong Origami Dragon. There is no rain, only the purple tasting air that gives a drowsy effect.

However, a few flights down, the purple tasting air intensifies so much that a haze of purple hangs in the air. ]

... What?

[ Ivan manages to mutter before he pinches himself to stay awake. He wants to sleep so badly... ]

[The force of the haze is such that Pao-Lin stumbles and sways a little when she catches a whiff of it through the fabric of her shirt. She manages to keep her balance, even with having to support Ivan, but...this is Bad.]

Crap! It's so strong here... [A stifled cough from her. She blinks: her eyes have started to water from whatever this is.] I guess we have to go back upstairs. Unless you think we should just barge through?

[In normal circumstances, walking the next few floors down wouldn't be anything to blink at. It would technically be possible for them to sprint/jump down.

But they're still no closer to figuring out what's going on, and the problem has only intensified, to say nothing of how Ivan is already halfway (or more) to passing out.]

I don't... I don't think I can make it if I try to barge through.

[ He doesn't even trust that he could stay awake long enough while transformed for Pao-Lin to barge through. They can't go this way. ~~Not unless Sky High comes to yeet the purple.~~ ]

Another way or...

[ And then he hears an unfamiliar voice in the purple haze. Or is it more than one? ]

[Pao-Lin hears the voice(s) too. She lifts her head, trying to discern the source — or what it might be saying.]

Hello...? Anyone there?

[Is she going to have to save another victim of the purple-tasting air? That's going to be tricky...

"...donuts...help..."

A beat. Pao-Lin glances up at Ivan in slight disbelief. Did...that person say what she thinks they just said?]

[ The way Ivan slowly turns to face Pao-Lin, pure bewilderment on his face, more than let's her know that she heard that right. Donuts were mentioned. ]

Um, donuts?

[ He has no idea what to make of it. ]

[Maybe...maybe they were trying to say "Do not..." and then just didn't finish the sentence? Listen, Pao-Lin loves food, but she knows when they have to take a (very close) second place to other priorities.

(She is craving donuts now though.)

"Please, I...croissants...butter..."

Is this a different person? It's hard to tell. The voice certainly sounds like the first, but somehow it also feels separate from that one. This is so very confusing — and mysterious.]

I can't understand you! Where are you?

[ Croissants? Butter? Are bagels and danishes next?

Ivan tries to shake more of his fatigue. This is getting stranger and stranger. ]

Do you need help? What's wrong?

[ He yells out into the haze. Is someone being attacked by breakfast? Is it breakfast time? ]

[There's no answer to Ivan's query. The purple haze swirls slightly (in response to what, it's not clear — there's no breeze in the room), but that's it.

...Pao-Lin adjusts her support on Ivan a little and speaks to him in a low voice.]

I'm gonna see if there's anyone down there. Can you hold on if I bring you back up a bit to wait?

[This is such a bad idea. But if there's a chance that someone needs help and could be saved...

No. Tell her this is a bad idea, Ivan.]

[ Pulling away, Ivan tests his steadfastness on his feet. He's wobbly, but it'll have to be good enough. ]

I'll go. If I go down, you'll still have a chance to go for help. I'm not sure if I'm in any condition to.

[ Ivan! That's not much better! He pulls out his phone and dials Pao-Lin's. Even if cell service is down, they still have wifi to fall back on. ~~idk Let's pretend this is an option or something. NEXT Plot Hole Power activate.~~ ]

Let me do a video call, so you can see what I see. You at least won't go in blind.

[~~The Plot Hole NEXT power should be used to help LinLin for once~~]

No! You're not going to last a minute down here the way you are!

[Are they really just gonna do this stupid thing together?]

[ ~~Plot Hole NEXT power seems to like OuroLinLin more because they are cool.~~ ]

Don't worry. I'll pretend like I'm photobombing the voice. I'll be fast.

[ How can someone photobomb a voice? This purple must be messing with his head. ]

But if we both go, then we're both stuck.

[~~and this thread is doing nothing to convince the plot hole NEXT of the coolness of standard LinLin~~]

What do you mean, "photobombing a voice"? That's silly!

[But Ivan does have a point. If something happened to Pao-Lin in this part of the purple then he wouldn't be able to get her out unless he could get a hold of the other Heroes or the HeroTV crew. Pao-Lin sighs slowly.]

Ugh, fine. Just...be careful, all right?

[What else can either of them do? They're Heroes; if it sounds like someone's in trouble they can't just abandon them, points or no.]

[ ~~Nope. Still not cool enough.~~ ]

I will!

[ Ivan makes a ninja hand gesture before dashing into the purple with his phone at the ready. ]

Hello? Are you in here? What's this about donuts and croissants and needing help?

[ There's also a large crash and the camera on Pao-Lin's phone does a barrel roll. ]

I-I'm okay!

[THAT IS NOT AT ALL BEING CAREFUL, WATER U DOIN]

Ivan!! [She takes a step forward to rush to his aid before remembering that she's supposed to keep watch up here.] Ivan, what happened?

S-Sorry!

[ There are a few more sounds of things tumbling and even a voice grunting. It doesn't sound like Ivan... but then who are they? ]

It's hard to see with all this purple.

[ It's some how even more purple. ]

[It sure looks pretty purple from the video feed.]

Did you run into someone there?

[Maybe Ivan tripped on the hapless victim of the purple.]

Um. Yes. Literally.

[ He tries to feel around for whatever he tripped on. Ivan finds a shoulder and shakes it. ]

Hey, are you all right?

[ The person mutters something about bear claws and cinnamon buns but doesn't stir otherwise. The man is an impossibly lanky Hero TV intern, if the lanyard around his neck is anything to go by. The intern is also glowing blue.... Wait a minute... ]

Does Hero TV have interns?

[Her brow furrows as she thinks about the question. Odysseus Communication has a few, she knows. In fact, Pao-Lin's cover story to civilians is that she's an overseas intern there.]

I don't remember seeing any...

[That doesn't mean they don't exist. It could be that neither Pao-Lin nor Ivan have had occasion to run into one. Heck, it might even be a new thing that they weren't aware of because they're so busy with their own work.]

[ Ivan can't really say either way. Helperidese Finances has interns but not in the Hero TV department which requires more secrecy than others. That said, there's nothing saying Hero TV couldn't have interns as long as information about Hero identities remain out of their reach.

He tries to get his camera to show the intern, but who knows how successful he is with all this purple. ]

I think this intern is a NEXT, but I can't wake him up.

[ That doesn't mean the intern is the problem, and it's possible the blue glow is some kind of after effect from someone else who is a NEXT. Ivan doesn't feel as sleepy as he did before either. Is the purple not the cause? ]

[Pao-Lin squints at the video feed, trying to get a better look at the supposed intern.]

Maybe... Maybe we could bring him up here, at least? Do you think you can do that, or should I go down there and help you?

[It doesn't occur to Pao-Lin that maybe they shouldn't touch the guy. It's clear NEXT powers are in effect, but much less clear is what they are and how they work. What if touching him ends up breaking something else?

But more important to her is that it seems like someone's in danger, and she's gotta try helping him.]

Texts From Last Night Meme.

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We award LinLin no points, and may the gods have mercy on their souls.