[10: video]

[paper_knight]

"Is there a reason why everything in my room is padded?"

He thinks he knows the answer, but he turns away from the wall camera and tries the door anyway. The lock rattles, but doesn't give.

"This can't be happening. Goddammit."

Comments

[ACTION!]

[defiant_eye]

[ Clonk. Clonk. Clonk.

Clonk. Clonk.

Clonk.

BAM!

...curious what this is about? Why, just another step of the quest that started here. ]

[paper_knight]

First, there's alarm at the banging. Then exasperation at the cause--he's not at all prepared to deal with Elle right now--but then, if she's here, then he's still in Wonderland. Which, in this case, at least, is a good thing.

"...So you're here too."

[defiant_eye]

She stares him up and down with a smirk.

"Small world."

Then she turns around and begins searching for her next "exit".

"Not strapped down, huh? Guess someone's been at his best behaviour."

[paper_knight]

"Ha. And I guess you're going to escape?"

[defiant_eye]

Why yes. In fact, if Mark cares to look he will find that both her feet and hands are wounded and bleeding from her progress so far. Not that she seems to mind...

"'Course not. Just trying to pass the time before my next session with Dr. fucking Stango."

She finds the padding she is looking for and unceremoniously rips it off, exposing another air duct grille.

[paper_knight]

"Doctor. Stango."

Prose cannot properly describe the epic lineface Mark is currently making at Elle's back.

[defiant_eye]

"That's the one."

A bitter smirk, followed by a few kicks to the grille. It rattles, budges and finally gives up and drops to the floor.

[paper_knight]

"...Wonderful."

He's looking at the exit Elle's made now, weighing his own odds of escape.

"You're going to get yourself pumped full of sedatives."

[defiant_eye]

"Concerned?"

[paper_knight]

He shrugs.

"Just being realistic."

[defiant_eye]

She climbs into the vent, then looks back out.

"You coming?"

Feel special. She wouldn't just invited anybody to tag along as possible distraction.

aw damn I WISH HE COULD HE'S DUE FOR A STANGO APPOINTMENT

[paper_knight]

As a fellow inmate, he certainly feels a bit more kinship with Elle than usual, but not enough to trust her.

"I'll pass."

Maybe later. If he's feeling particularly imbalanced.

OH BOO, YOU ARE NO FUN. /VENT PARTY WITHOUT YOU

[defiant_eye]

Clearly this rejection breaks her heart, but she puts on a brave face.

"Suit yourself."

And with that she's off to another ad-vent-ure. Derp.

*CRIES FOREVER*

[paper_knight]

After she leaves, Mark does what he can to make the ripped padding and the broken vent cover less obvious.

The longer he can postpone its repair, the better, and he's interested in seeing how long Elle's escape lasts.