Play the Game
May. 15th, 2016 07:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonFandom: Noblesse
Summary: Nine people have been kidnapped to participate in a Nonary Game, a game that puts the lives of its participants in danger, in more ways than one.
Frankenstein and Seira infiltrate the group watching the game for entertainment so they can try to find where the game is being held, hopefully before the participants start dying one by one...
Notes: Still in a 999 kick, heh. I'm only writing a snippet of all the brainstorming Myriade and I did, because there's no way I would be able to do a full 999 plot justice or to the same level 999 did. XD;
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General
Word count: 1,583
Status: Complete
Frankenstein followed the guide into the viewing room, Seira-yang's hand still at the bend of his elbow.
The room was like the rest of the mansion Frankenstein had seen so far: lavish with carved walls, sparkling chandeliers dangling above their heads. The difference between what Frankenstein had seen before was one wall was covered by a multitude of large screens, bigger than Tao's setup at home. Above the monitors were nine portraits, each face clear, and Frankenstein worked to make sure he didn't clench his jaw at the sight of them. He turned his attention to the rest of the room before his reaction gave him away.
He had tried to make sure they arrived early, but there was already a number of people dotted around the tables. Some of them didn't look away from the portraits, while others glanced at Frankenstein and Seira-yang. So they weren't the only ones eager to have a good view once the game started.
He doubted the others had the same reason as he did.
"You may sit wherever you wish," the guide told them, giving them a bow.
"Thank you," Frankenstein dipping his head, hearing Seira-yang do the same. He waited until the guide had started to walk away before looking for somewhere to sit.
'This way,' Seira-yang said, giving his arm a small tug and Frankenstein nodded, trusting her judgement.
Their phones may had been taken off them before coming anywhere near this mansion, but with the temporary link Master had helped make between their minds, they were able to communicate privately with each other.
She led him to an empty table near the back and close to the door. Good. They could keep an eye on the rest of the people there without being obvious, and could slip out a little easier if need be.
His eyes continued to drift to the portraits after they sat down, but now it wouldn't appear so strange.
They would be all right. They would be. Tao hadn't found the ship the game was taking place yet, but that was why he and Seira-yang were there, to help give Tao access to the information he needed.
Seira-yang sent agreement and Frankenstein exhaled. He couldn't allow himself to grow distracted.
It wasn't long until someone else joined their table. It was a woman a little shorter than Yuna, wearing a deep blue dress highlighted by the gold accessories around her neck and wrists. She had brown hair that was held up in a bun.
"You're a couple of new faces," she said, smiling as she sat down. Frankenstein made sure his expression didn't change. The group was close-knit enough to know when there was someone new — that could be a problem later. "But word about our guest star must have gotten around; it certainly got my interest!" She chuckled.
Frankenstein smiled. "Yes, she's the reason why we're here."
The woman's gaze drifted to Seira-yang, studying her before dismissing her as someone of interest. "And who are you two betting on?"
"Three," Seira-yang said. One corner of Frankenstein's mouth curled up — she'd walked past a group of people discussing who looked to have the best chance of surviving and made her bet with no hesitation.
"One," Frankenstein said.
The woman's lips twitched. "Everyone's betting on one."
"Ah, I think you misunderstand." Frankenstein smiled, rolling his wine glass between his fingers. "I bet that one will survive to the very end."
The woman's eyes went wide, his lips parting for a second. "You're betting Im Suyi will-"
She cut herself off when Frankenstein arched his eyebrow. "I thought we weren't meant to use the players' names if we know them?"
She waved a hand in response. "You said yourself she's the reason why you came to this game — everyone knows who she is."
"The rules are there for a reason." More to protect the betters so they could pretend to have plausible deniability than anything else. "And you never know," Frankenstein said, his smile going a touch wider, "she could be more than you've seen in the tabloids. Maybe she she has hidden depths."
The woman's huff told Frankenstein what she thought of that. Then she complimented Seira-yang on her dress and Frankenstein turned his attention back to the rest of the room while Seira-yang distracted the woman.
The room had filled some more, the air buzzing with discussions about the new players and anticipation for the game's start. Frankenstein sipped his wine as he listened in on the other conversations.
"Eight's an easy bet," someone in the table behind them said. "His face almost takes up the entire picture!"
"Which means I'll make some money back anyway."
"Not that much," the other person scoffed. Frankenstein heard them fiddle with some of their jewellery. "C'mon, take a risk some time. If they die, it's not that big a loss."
"When they die. I like playing it safe. Better to make a small profit than lose out."
"It's only money — you'll make more."
Frankenstein tuned that conversation out, listening to others as he waited for the game to start. Seira-yang had garnered the attention of a few of the other guests, but so far their table hadn't been approached yet.
The conversations started dropping off one by one and Frankenstein glanced to the front of the room again, trying to find what had signalled it.
On all the monitors was a countdown on a black background ticking down from a minute, and Frankenstein checked his watch. It was almost nine at night.
A number of the tables counted down along with it, like it was New Year's Eve.
"Three... Two... One-!"
A cheer erupted around the room as all at once, the monitors flickered, showing nine different cabins, each one occupied. Some of the occupants were already up, trying to search the room they'd found themselves in, while others were still unconscious on the bed they'd been placed on.
Frankenstein watched the players solve the puzzle to the locked door and exit their rooms one by one. He let out a soft exhale when Suyi left her room, hearing some around him grumble that they'd expected her to leave almost last.
The only cabin whose occupant hadn't stirred yet was the third's. Something was wrong — the others had woken up a lot earlier than him. He should have -
"Ah, I guess he's not going to make it out in time," someone murmured to Frankenstein's right.
'Make it out in time?'
Frankenstein pursed his lips, tilting his ear in their direction.
"Doesn't look like your three is going to make it past the first puzzle."
Frankenstein turned his head towards the woman at his table, his eyebrows furrowed. Why were they thinking that?
She blinked at him and Seira-yang, then her expression cleared. "Right, you're new to this, aren't you?" she said. "We have a few incentives in this game — it makes it more fun than if they were just trying to find the exit."
"Oh...?"
The woman smiled. "Like if one of the players were to die before meeting with the others."
Frankenstein's stomach clenched, and he went cold.
On the monitor that showed the third cabin, the port hole cracked and then shattered, a torrent of water streaming into the cabin.
"The entire deck is going to be flooded in a few minutes," the woman said, as M-21 finally began to stir.
* * *
M-21 grimaced, inhaling - the scent of salt water.
His eyes flew open as he flipped over, his ears filled with the sound of rushing water.
What-? His mind was groggy, the all too familiar feeling of being drugged crawling through his veins. He didn't recognise the room he was in, metal greeting his eyes instead of wallpaper. He was in a bunk bed, and the room was swaying side to side.
M-21 recognised that sway, not that that mattered with the sea water rushing into the room.
He was on a boat.
There was a weight on his right wrist, and when he glanced at it, he gritted his teeth.
A wristwatch was clamped there, right over his tattoo and across its face was a bold, blue '3'.
A fucking number, right over his old one. With M-21's experience with numbers, that had to mean there were others trapped there.
He'd been caught in some fucking game, and if M-21 knew the Union, there would be cameras everywhere watching his every move. He wouldn't let them know how far his abilities had progressed, that he could transform. He wouldn't give them anything.
His cabin was still filling with water, and M-21 squared his shoulders.
He was going to kill every single fucker that had brought him there.
But first, he had to find a way out.
Summary: Nine people have been kidnapped to participate in a Nonary Game, a game that puts the lives of its participants in danger, in more ways than one.
Frankenstein and Seira infiltrate the group watching the game for entertainment so they can try to find where the game is being held, hopefully before the participants start dying one by one...
Notes: Still in a 999 kick, heh. I'm only writing a snippet of all the brainstorming Myriade and I did, because there's no way I would be able to do a full 999 plot justice or to the same level 999 did. XD;
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General
Word count: 1,583
Status: Complete
Frankenstein followed the guide into the viewing room, Seira-yang's hand still at the bend of his elbow.
The room was like the rest of the mansion Frankenstein had seen so far: lavish with carved walls, sparkling chandeliers dangling above their heads. The difference between what Frankenstein had seen before was one wall was covered by a multitude of large screens, bigger than Tao's setup at home. Above the monitors were nine portraits, each face clear, and Frankenstein worked to make sure he didn't clench his jaw at the sight of them. He turned his attention to the rest of the room before his reaction gave him away.
He had tried to make sure they arrived early, but there was already a number of people dotted around the tables. Some of them didn't look away from the portraits, while others glanced at Frankenstein and Seira-yang. So they weren't the only ones eager to have a good view once the game started.
He doubted the others had the same reason as he did.
"You may sit wherever you wish," the guide told them, giving them a bow.
"Thank you," Frankenstein dipping his head, hearing Seira-yang do the same. He waited until the guide had started to walk away before looking for somewhere to sit.
'This way,' Seira-yang said, giving his arm a small tug and Frankenstein nodded, trusting her judgement.
Their phones may had been taken off them before coming anywhere near this mansion, but with the temporary link Master had helped make between their minds, they were able to communicate privately with each other.
She led him to an empty table near the back and close to the door. Good. They could keep an eye on the rest of the people there without being obvious, and could slip out a little easier if need be.
His eyes continued to drift to the portraits after they sat down, but now it wouldn't appear so strange.
They would be all right. They would be. Tao hadn't found the ship the game was taking place yet, but that was why he and Seira-yang were there, to help give Tao access to the information he needed.
Seira-yang sent agreement and Frankenstein exhaled. He couldn't allow himself to grow distracted.
It wasn't long until someone else joined their table. It was a woman a little shorter than Yuna, wearing a deep blue dress highlighted by the gold accessories around her neck and wrists. She had brown hair that was held up in a bun.
"You're a couple of new faces," she said, smiling as she sat down. Frankenstein made sure his expression didn't change. The group was close-knit enough to know when there was someone new — that could be a problem later. "But word about our guest star must have gotten around; it certainly got my interest!" She chuckled.
Frankenstein smiled. "Yes, she's the reason why we're here."
The woman's gaze drifted to Seira-yang, studying her before dismissing her as someone of interest. "And who are you two betting on?"
"Three," Seira-yang said. One corner of Frankenstein's mouth curled up — she'd walked past a group of people discussing who looked to have the best chance of surviving and made her bet with no hesitation.
"One," Frankenstein said.
The woman's lips twitched. "Everyone's betting on one."
"Ah, I think you misunderstand." Frankenstein smiled, rolling his wine glass between his fingers. "I bet that one will survive to the very end."
The woman's eyes went wide, his lips parting for a second. "You're betting Im Suyi will-"
She cut herself off when Frankenstein arched his eyebrow. "I thought we weren't meant to use the players' names if we know them?"
She waved a hand in response. "You said yourself she's the reason why you came to this game — everyone knows who she is."
"The rules are there for a reason." More to protect the betters so they could pretend to have plausible deniability than anything else. "And you never know," Frankenstein said, his smile going a touch wider, "she could be more than you've seen in the tabloids. Maybe she she has hidden depths."
The woman's huff told Frankenstein what she thought of that. Then she complimented Seira-yang on her dress and Frankenstein turned his attention back to the rest of the room while Seira-yang distracted the woman.
The room had filled some more, the air buzzing with discussions about the new players and anticipation for the game's start. Frankenstein sipped his wine as he listened in on the other conversations.
"Eight's an easy bet," someone in the table behind them said. "His face almost takes up the entire picture!"
"Which means I'll make some money back anyway."
"Not that much," the other person scoffed. Frankenstein heard them fiddle with some of their jewellery. "C'mon, take a risk some time. If they die, it's not that big a loss."
"When they die. I like playing it safe. Better to make a small profit than lose out."
"It's only money — you'll make more."
Frankenstein tuned that conversation out, listening to others as he waited for the game to start. Seira-yang had garnered the attention of a few of the other guests, but so far their table hadn't been approached yet.
The conversations started dropping off one by one and Frankenstein glanced to the front of the room again, trying to find what had signalled it.
On all the monitors was a countdown on a black background ticking down from a minute, and Frankenstein checked his watch. It was almost nine at night.
A number of the tables counted down along with it, like it was New Year's Eve.
"Three... Two... One-!"
A cheer erupted around the room as all at once, the monitors flickered, showing nine different cabins, each one occupied. Some of the occupants were already up, trying to search the room they'd found themselves in, while others were still unconscious on the bed they'd been placed on.
Frankenstein watched the players solve the puzzle to the locked door and exit their rooms one by one. He let out a soft exhale when Suyi left her room, hearing some around him grumble that they'd expected her to leave almost last.
The only cabin whose occupant hadn't stirred yet was the third's. Something was wrong — the others had woken up a lot earlier than him. He should have -
"Ah, I guess he's not going to make it out in time," someone murmured to Frankenstein's right.
'Make it out in time?'
Frankenstein pursed his lips, tilting his ear in their direction.
"Doesn't look like your three is going to make it past the first puzzle."
Frankenstein turned his head towards the woman at his table, his eyebrows furrowed. Why were they thinking that?
She blinked at him and Seira-yang, then her expression cleared. "Right, you're new to this, aren't you?" she said. "We have a few incentives in this game — it makes it more fun than if they were just trying to find the exit."
"Oh...?"
The woman smiled. "Like if one of the players were to die before meeting with the others."
Frankenstein's stomach clenched, and he went cold.
On the monitor that showed the third cabin, the port hole cracked and then shattered, a torrent of water streaming into the cabin.
"The entire deck is going to be flooded in a few minutes," the woman said, as M-21 finally began to stir.
M-21 grimaced, inhaling - the scent of salt water.
His eyes flew open as he flipped over, his ears filled with the sound of rushing water.
What-? His mind was groggy, the all too familiar feeling of being drugged crawling through his veins. He didn't recognise the room he was in, metal greeting his eyes instead of wallpaper. He was in a bunk bed, and the room was swaying side to side.
M-21 recognised that sway, not that that mattered with the sea water rushing into the room.
He was on a boat.
There was a weight on his right wrist, and when he glanced at it, he gritted his teeth.
A wristwatch was clamped there, right over his tattoo and across its face was a bold, blue '3'.
A fucking number, right over his old one. With M-21's experience with numbers, that had to mean there were others trapped there.
He'd been caught in some fucking game, and if M-21 knew the Union, there would be cameras everywhere watching his every move. He wouldn't let them know how far his abilities had progressed, that he could transform. He wouldn't give them anything.
His cabin was still filling with water, and M-21 squared his shoulders.
He was going to kill every single fucker that had brought him there.
But first, he had to find a way out.