Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[phaselocknroll]

[ Oh, thank god. She visibly relaxes, putting his coat away. ]

I doubt this is the Vault proper, but it will probably lead us to it. Once we get there, well, I suppose we'll have to see.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's a little puzzled by the way she relaxes, then remembers -- she's afraid of the dark.

Damn, he nearly forgot.

He holds his free hand out to her and wiggles his fingers -- best to keep it light, he thinks. ]

Maybe if we're really nice it'll let us go about our business.

[phaselocknroll]

If it comes down to negotiations, I guess I'll let you do the talking, then.

[nostalgiabomb]

And I'll let you do all the intimidating and ancient-alien-zapping.

Whoever says we don't make a good team can suck it.

[phaselocknroll]

Do people actually say that?

[nostalgiabomb]

... Not that I know of. Maybe people who don't like us?

[phaselocknroll]

Psh, please. Everybody likes us.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ -- okay, at that, he just. Gives her a Look. A very, very dubious look. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Joke, Peter. Don't give me that look.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Innocently, ] What look? This is just my face.

[phaselocknroll]

Your face with a look on it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He gives her one of his patented charming smiles. ]

Was it a sexy look?

[phaselocknroll]

It was more of a look that suggested I had suddenly started speaking Chinese.

[nostalgiabomb]

Huh. If I gave you that kinda look, you must've said something really crazy. Like, saying that we haven't made any mortal enemies, or something.

[phaselocknroll]

I think you must be hearing things. I'd never suggest something so ridiculous.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs a laugh. ] Good. We'd have to get your head check, otherwise.

[ He casts the light around, sees more of the raw eridium and rock and not much else. ]

We lookin' for something in particular? Like, a sign that says "Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here"?

[phaselocknroll]

Well... to be completely honest, Hyperion had pretty much already dug everything up by the time we got there, so I don't really know what an unopened Vault looks like.

I'm just hoping we'll run into a door or something.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ As they travel farther down the tunnel, the light from the plasma ball reveals a flat, stone surface straight ahead, etched with intricate, swirling lines. ]

Something like that, maybe?

[phaselocknroll]

Yeah, something like that.

[ Those marks seem oddly familiar, and she can't help but glance down at her tattoos.

No fucking way it could be that easy, but she presses her hand to the stone surface. Her tattoos flare to life, and blue light pours into the engravings. The door rumbles, and begins to slide open ]

... I honestly did not think that would work.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The last time he'd been in some ancient ruins, he'd quickly been attacked by a machine-headed freak and gotten launched into some weird quest to save the galaxy, so-- he quickly unholsters his blaster with his free hand. He turns to check their backs, just in case, as they wait for the doors to open.

Fool me twice, he thinks grimly. ]

You always have been good with your hands, babe.

[phaselocknroll]

Somehow I don't think the door appreciates that as much as you do.

[ the door slides away, releasing a blast of air- a little musty and cold. It's hard to see in the meager light in Peter's hand, but the cavern on the other side of the door is vast. ]

What do you think? Press on, or pick up our backup first?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ A part of him still wants to get this over with as soon as possible, which means he's favoring the idea of just moving forward, without wasting time on waiting for the others.

But that's stupid, and he knows it, but it's so tempting.

Which is why he exhales sharply and shakes his head. ]

Letting you take the lead on this one. I'm emotionally compromised, remember?

[phaselocknroll]

[ She wants to say they should call for backup, but damn if she isn't curious. ]

... Maybe just a peek.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He quirks a brow at her, but his expression is neutral, for the most part. ]

... Just a quick one, then.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She steps inside the cavern as far as she dares- to the edge of Peter's light and no further- the sound of her footsteps swallowed by the sheer size of the cave.

She's not sure what she's looking for, considering she can't fucking see anything. She has a hand out in front of her, just in case she trips or something. At the edge of the encroaching darkness, her fingers make contact with smooth, cool stone. A stalagmite, she assumes.

What happens next is instant. Like the door, blue light flows from Maya's fingertips and into the stone in swirling patterns reminiscent of her tattoos. The light spreads like a ripple through water, over the floor of the cavern, up the walls, and across the ceiling until every surface is glowing. The place is huge, with rock formations both natural and unnatural jutting from the floor of the cave. Carved archways in various states of repair alongside stalagmites. The back of the cavern gives way to a large, underground lake. The water casts reflections onto the cave ceiling to join the swirling blue lights.

Thankfully, there are no monsters present. At least none that are readily apparent.

All Maya can say is: ] Holy shit.