The escape room seemed to descend into chaos once Alex and Eiryk discovered the armchair light switch. Suddenly they seemed to be finding locks and keys everywhere. Ashe wasn't entirely sure if this was how escape rooms were supposed to work; for some reason she had seen it in her mind as a bunch of riddles and things, not literal locks, but this was just as fun. They had several myteries going at once; Rowan and Blaise were playing with the magnet, Eiryk and Alex now had the mast, and that left her and Pak to discover more.
Aishe opened a few more drawers, finding a bunch of interesting items but without knowing if they were significant at all, she didn't want to disturb anything, so she just catalogued them in her head and left them alone.
Looking overhead, she noticed several ropes on the ceiling, stretched from one side of the room to the other. She didn't know what those were for, either, but she filed that info away with the rest of it and moved along.
One the other armchair, she lifted a pillow and discovered yet another rainbow key, this time with yellow along the spine. Since Rowan had the other rainbow key, she wandered over to where they played with the box and magnet, to see what they'd figured out. When Rue turned to look at her, she opened her palm and showed him both the pink and yellow keys.
With a smile, he dropped the green key into her hand. "May as well hold on to the set," he said.
Put The Candle Back
Eiryk was quite excited about this little outing, he'd never done anything like this; not deliberately planned out with clues and for fun anyway. The opportunity had just sprung up.
He'd gotten the brewing co-op up and running and even had a few classes, his mead classes had been sparsely attended but we're growing a little as word or mouth spread. Eiryk didn't mind too much, it let him give the folks who did come more attention. Besides the beer classes and just the kitchen rentals had been very popular, as Rue had predicted, they were practically overrun with hipsters so he wasn't disappointed.
At any rate it turned out, a very nice woman who'd been part of his first mead class also ran some escape rooms down on the strip. She'd given him some passes by way of a thank you for helping her cross something off her bucket list. Eiryk had put the passes on the table for their group just to see who would/could come. It wasn't exactly the group he'd been expecting but had no doubt it would be fun, they were all clever, practical and creative he had high hopes they'd be able to solve this.
Granted he'd also not expected the first step to be for them to be handcuffed together in pairs, and even made a riballed comment to Alex, but he wasn't too worried. Not for himself anyway, he did rather worry about anyone tethered to him, terribly dangerous really, at least his husband had some experience. Ah well, they'd just have to find the keys quickly.
The door locked behind them and the sand in a giant hourglass started to fall. The room looked like an English Lord's library, something out of Downton Abbey or close enough. To those that had seen the real thing it was a reasonable replica, to those that had seen good period damas it wasn't bad. There was a wall of bookshelves full of books and curios, a gallery wall full of 'oil paintings' (inexpensive but capably done acrylics to his eye but they were only set dressing) in elaborate frames and an ornate desk littered with the trappings of a scholarly explorer (according to the movies any way, Eiryk knew he had a different opinion and suspected Rue would have a different take on it as well, but there was a sextant and a few maps among other things including what looked like a lock box or possibly a small treasure chest). There were also two high backed sofas facing each other, elegant and refined but hard to stretch out on and take a nap, some tastefully scattered faux Turkish rugs, an impressive model ship, a tea set and what looked like the dishes from a light dinner, a bar apparently well stocked with both beverages and glassware, a number of potted plants, the obligatory taxidermied animals and birds, including a fox which rather made Eiryk sad, but mostly game animals some exotic, and oddly enough an aquarium.
The door locked and Eiryk moved a bit to make sure everyone was in and comfortable. He meant to open the envelope with the first clue and the story and read it. What he did was trip over the corner of one of the reproduction carpets, stumble violently threatening to fall over and take Alex with him as his handcuffed arm trailed behind him and spun him at an odd angle.
Aishe
4 years ago
Blaise
4 years ago
That movie trope where the guy listens to a combination lock and pops it in a few twists and turns was bullshit. He'd tried to do it as a kid and had tried again as a vampire with better hearing and you just couldn't do it. Well he couldn't anyway, maybe there was some freaky old master thief vampire out there that could just crack a lock without thinking about it. Thankfully the puzzle box wasn't nearly as complicated.
For a big solid guy Blaise was very delicate with the box and magnet and fidgeted sliding the magnet this way and that feeling where it caught on things and where it slid. It was kind of a pain in the ass and a little annoying so he was easily distracted by the lights switching on and off and by Pakpao giggling. She didn't laugh as often or as easily as a lot of folks. He also found himself kind of smirking as Alexander and Eiryk worked together.
Really he was still kind of amazed at how different it was being part of Evenhet and a decent group of people was to being tied to Alfie and his madness. He liked it and hoped he never took it for granted and given the strange but generally upbeat snatches of music he was catching most of the folks in the room felt roughly the same.
But back to the box. He was determined to do something useful. Just as he was about to give up and just smash the damned thing he heard a distinct click and the lid slid open.
There were a couple of things in the box but the one thing he saw and understood right away was a handcuff key. As there was only one pair still cuffed Blaise handed to Alexander. He didn't dare toss it, not when Eiryk could still cause some random damage and possibly lose the key.
"Here. I think you need this."
Shame they hadn't found it before that rather spectacular fall but it least it got them a clue.
For a big solid guy Blaise was very delicate with the box and magnet and fidgeted sliding the magnet this way and that feeling where it caught on things and where it slid. It was kind of a pain in the ass and a little annoying so he was easily distracted by the lights switching on and off and by Pakpao giggling. She didn't laugh as often or as easily as a lot of folks. He also found himself kind of smirking as Alexander and Eiryk worked together.
Really he was still kind of amazed at how different it was being part of Evenhet and a decent group of people was to being tied to Alfie and his madness. He liked it and hoped he never took it for granted and given the strange but generally upbeat snatches of music he was catching most of the folks in the room felt roughly the same.
But back to the box. He was determined to do something useful. Just as he was about to give up and just smash the damned thing he heard a distinct click and the lid slid open.
There were a couple of things in the box but the one thing he saw and understood right away was a handcuff key. As there was only one pair still cuffed Blaise handed to Alexander. He didn't dare toss it, not when Eiryk could still cause some random damage and possibly lose the key.
"Here. I think you need this."
Shame they hadn't found it before that rather spectacular fall but it least it got them a clue.
Rowan Murphy
4 years ago
Rowan watched while Blaise attempted to slide open the box mechanism using the magnet. His attempts were slowed when the lights went off and then on, and then back off. Rowan turned to watch his friends, unable and also unwilling to hold back his guffaw as Eiryk became a light switch.
"I can't even narrow this down to one joke," he complained. "There are too many. Most of them about how Eiryk is being a total turn-off right now."
He grinned at the Viking, who was still attached to his husband - but not for long. Blaise finally succeeded in opening the box, and a third tiny handcuff key came tumbling out. It was passed off to Alex, who began unlocking his cuffs.
Pak had discovered the missing mast of the boat while the lights were off, which Rowan thought was pretty clever. Everyone was moving around the room, looking for new clues.
"We've gone almost twenty minutes," Rowan said suddenly. "We're going to lose this if we don't figure out how to get the door key."
This literally was an escape room; they had been locked into it and would win if and when they managed to unlock the door. Rowan looked around, noting the ropes that were everywhere across the ceiling. They went up and over and around the beams of the ceiling, converging in some spots and separating in others. As he walked along, following the path of one, little lightbulbs started popping up for him. This whole set-up looked familiar. He continued to scan until he found what he suspected was the solution - inside a locked cage was a large-ish key with an ornate head on it, about the size of what might fit into the door. The end of the rope was affixed to the door, and it was clear that the cage was meant to be maneuvered off of the rope before it could be opened.
"I think this might be important," he said, reaching up to the ceiling and taking the round cage in his hands, part of the rope trailing. He began to slide the rope around as if untangling a knot, looping and weaving until he hit a snag - literally. The rope was tangled and knotted, and, of course, fixed with a padlock.
Rowan was excited, though, because he knew what this was. "This is a blacksmith's puzzle," he said. "The whole thing over the top, here, it's a blacksmith puzzle and they've complicated it by throwing locks onto all the ropes."
He couldn't help the big heart-eyes he knew he was throwing. He loved blacksmith puzzles. He had a collection of them at home. He was completely in his element here.
"I can't even narrow this down to one joke," he complained. "There are too many. Most of them about how Eiryk is being a total turn-off right now."
He grinned at the Viking, who was still attached to his husband - but not for long. Blaise finally succeeded in opening the box, and a third tiny handcuff key came tumbling out. It was passed off to Alex, who began unlocking his cuffs.
Pak had discovered the missing mast of the boat while the lights were off, which Rowan thought was pretty clever. Everyone was moving around the room, looking for new clues.
"We've gone almost twenty minutes," Rowan said suddenly. "We're going to lose this if we don't figure out how to get the door key."
This literally was an escape room; they had been locked into it and would win if and when they managed to unlock the door. Rowan looked around, noting the ropes that were everywhere across the ceiling. They went up and over and around the beams of the ceiling, converging in some spots and separating in others. As he walked along, following the path of one, little lightbulbs started popping up for him. This whole set-up looked familiar. He continued to scan until he found what he suspected was the solution - inside a locked cage was a large-ish key with an ornate head on it, about the size of what might fit into the door. The end of the rope was affixed to the door, and it was clear that the cage was meant to be maneuvered off of the rope before it could be opened.
"I think this might be important," he said, reaching up to the ceiling and taking the round cage in his hands, part of the rope trailing. He began to slide the rope around as if untangling a knot, looping and weaving until he hit a snag - literally. The rope was tangled and knotted, and, of course, fixed with a padlock.
Rowan was excited, though, because he knew what this was. "This is a blacksmith's puzzle," he said. "The whole thing over the top, here, it's a blacksmith puzzle and they've complicated it by throwing locks onto all the ropes."
He couldn't help the big heart-eyes he knew he was throwing. He loved blacksmith puzzles. He had a collection of them at home. He was completely in his element here.
Eiryk
4 years ago
"Yes we'll apparently I'm a turn on as well."
Eiryk said blithely not at all bothered by his friend's joke. His self confidence wasn't shaken even one iota by Rue's teasing or Pak's giggling. He was, however, just as happy to be out of those cuffs. While he had no desire to be separated from Alex perhaps such a literal connection wasn't beneficial to either of them. Still he said quietly to Alex,
"Maybe they'll let us take these home..."
Not that Eiryk was really into bondage but they might be fun, only if Alex was interested of course.
After quickly rubbing Alex's wrist and then his own Eiryk cheerfully clapped his hands together.
"Alright then, twenty minutes it is. Although, I'm sure one of us has an axe and could free us without a key."
Actually any of them could knock the door down without a key and probably without doing much damage to themselves, but that defeated the purpose of the game.
"Let's see that mast then."
He had gone through a phase building model ships before deciding that actual ships were much more fun. He placed the mast where it fit and was totally unsurprised to feel a spring. Carefully, half afraid he'd break the mast, Eiryk snapped it into place and the "hold" obligingly opened. He rummaged about and pulled out a good sized key just about the time Rowan explained what he had found.
"Well then I think we have one now."
He said as he looked up at the puzzle. Quite ingenious actually. Eiryk had played with such puzzles from time to time with moderate success but Rue looked totally enraptured with it making Eiryk grin. He did like it when his friends were enjoying themselves. But they had other keys to find.
He didn't think anyone had really explored the wall of taxidermy or the bar. As he was fairly certain a glass of mead was in his not too distant future he gravitated toward the bar. Although he didn't open anything, undoubtedly insurance would allow them to keep actual alcohol on premise, but he did lift the bottles to the light looking through them to see if they contained anything.
Eiryk said blithely not at all bothered by his friend's joke. His self confidence wasn't shaken even one iota by Rue's teasing or Pak's giggling. He was, however, just as happy to be out of those cuffs. While he had no desire to be separated from Alex perhaps such a literal connection wasn't beneficial to either of them. Still he said quietly to Alex,
"Maybe they'll let us take these home..."
Not that Eiryk was really into bondage but they might be fun, only if Alex was interested of course.
After quickly rubbing Alex's wrist and then his own Eiryk cheerfully clapped his hands together.
"Alright then, twenty minutes it is. Although, I'm sure one of us has an axe and could free us without a key."
Actually any of them could knock the door down without a key and probably without doing much damage to themselves, but that defeated the purpose of the game.
"Let's see that mast then."
He had gone through a phase building model ships before deciding that actual ships were much more fun. He placed the mast where it fit and was totally unsurprised to feel a spring. Carefully, half afraid he'd break the mast, Eiryk snapped it into place and the "hold" obligingly opened. He rummaged about and pulled out a good sized key just about the time Rowan explained what he had found.
"Well then I think we have one now."
He said as he looked up at the puzzle. Quite ingenious actually. Eiryk had played with such puzzles from time to time with moderate success but Rue looked totally enraptured with it making Eiryk grin. He did like it when his friends were enjoying themselves. But they had other keys to find.
He didn't think anyone had really explored the wall of taxidermy or the bar. As he was fairly certain a glass of mead was in his not too distant future he gravitated toward the bar. Although he didn't open anything, undoubtedly insurance would allow them to keep actual alcohol on premise, but he did lift the bottles to the light looking through them to see if they contained anything.
Alex Aristos
4 years ago
Alex laughed at Eiryk's comment. "Of course you're a turn on," he said, with a soft kiss to Eiryk's lips.
Once they were freed Alex continued to stay close to his husband, out of both habit and desire. When Eiryk murmured about the handcuffs to him, Alex let out a little laugh and said, "We have better ones at home already. Under the bed." Which was completely true.
The axe comment made him roll his eyes. "No axes allowed. I'm pretty sure they made that clear. If any of you have one, now would be a good time to hand it over to one of the responsible parties in the room - which is myself or Aishe. Sorry Blaise, I don't know you that well yet."
Alex pointed at Pakpao, Rowan, and then Eiryk in succession. "You three, though, I know for sure should not be allowed axes in public. Nothing good will come of it."
He watched Rowan explore the blacksmith puzzle, as he called it, not really knowing what one was. As the erstwhile pirate explored his way through the ropes and little metal clips and obstacles and locks overhead, Alex sort of began to understand what Rowan meant. Or at least, he thought.
"I get it," he murmured. "So we move the cage along the rope until we can get it off, and then we can open it and grab the key."
He and Rowan were the tallest in the room, and the ceilings were somewhat high, so Alex reached up to try and help as his friend began to gently maneuver the cage and the ropes. "You're the expert," he informed Rowan. "Maybe just point me in the right direction and let me know what I need to do."
It seemed like a good enough plan for the moment.
Once they were freed Alex continued to stay close to his husband, out of both habit and desire. When Eiryk murmured about the handcuffs to him, Alex let out a little laugh and said, "We have better ones at home already. Under the bed." Which was completely true.
The axe comment made him roll his eyes. "No axes allowed. I'm pretty sure they made that clear. If any of you have one, now would be a good time to hand it over to one of the responsible parties in the room - which is myself or Aishe. Sorry Blaise, I don't know you that well yet."
Alex pointed at Pakpao, Rowan, and then Eiryk in succession. "You three, though, I know for sure should not be allowed axes in public. Nothing good will come of it."
He watched Rowan explore the blacksmith puzzle, as he called it, not really knowing what one was. As the erstwhile pirate explored his way through the ropes and little metal clips and obstacles and locks overhead, Alex sort of began to understand what Rowan meant. Or at least, he thought.
"I get it," he murmured. "So we move the cage along the rope until we can get it off, and then we can open it and grab the key."
He and Rowan were the tallest in the room, and the ceilings were somewhat high, so Alex reached up to try and help as his friend began to gently maneuver the cage and the ropes. "You're the expert," he informed Rowan. "Maybe just point me in the right direction and let me know what I need to do."
It seemed like a good enough plan for the moment.
Pakpao
4 years ago
Pak was contemplating tiny axes that would fit in a person's pocket and if they'd be worth anything when Alex decided that he and Aishe were the responsible people in the room. She raised an eyebrow but looked at Rowan and Eiryk; she thought Alex might be onto something. But she gave each of the young vampires a pointed look.
"You'll get more creative as you get older. I was pretty mature and responsible for my first century too."
Looking up at the puzzle with everyone Pak was fascinated. She'd never seen a puzzle this size. She wondered if it would be harder or easier.
"Are you sure I can't help a little?"
Telekinesis would be more than a little helpful here, but she knew Aishe would hold her to their agreement and so didn't dwell on it. Odd she was the only telekinetic in the group, or maybe she was just more used to Kem being around than not.
Another look at the ceiling puzzle and the number of locks and she knew they had to get moving. Even with Eiryk's latest and the colored keys they didn't have enough. She hadn't really paid a lot of attention to where they'd found keys. Besides, she prefered riddles to trying and finding things.
Deciding maybe they'd missed something in the early puzzles Pak went back to The Count of Monte Cristo and flipped through the pages and carefully inspected the binding. She'd have a go at the dishes next. It didn't seem logical that the keys would have just turned up randomly, they should have been there from the start. That was her take on it anyway.
"You'll get more creative as you get older. I was pretty mature and responsible for my first century too."
Looking up at the puzzle with everyone Pak was fascinated. She'd never seen a puzzle this size. She wondered if it would be harder or easier.
"Are you sure I can't help a little?"
Telekinesis would be more than a little helpful here, but she knew Aishe would hold her to their agreement and so didn't dwell on it. Odd she was the only telekinetic in the group, or maybe she was just more used to Kem being around than not.
Another look at the ceiling puzzle and the number of locks and she knew they had to get moving. Even with Eiryk's latest and the colored keys they didn't have enough. She hadn't really paid a lot of attention to where they'd found keys. Besides, she prefered riddles to trying and finding things.
Deciding maybe they'd missed something in the early puzzles Pak went back to The Count of Monte Cristo and flipped through the pages and carefully inspected the binding. She'd have a go at the dishes next. It didn't seem logical that the keys would have just turned up randomly, they should have been there from the start. That was her take on it anyway.
Aishe
4 years ago
Aishe looked around at everyone in the room and then nodded at Alexander. "Oh yeah. Agreed on all counts." She narrowed her eyes at Pak. "Stop thinking about tiny axes. I'm warning Cris, in case you ask him to make you some."
She had no idea if that was Pak's train of thought or not, but she knew where Kiamhaat would have gone with that, and he and Pak often thought along similar lines.
Musing up at the ceiling, she decided to let Rowan and Alex do their thing, not dignifying Pak's question with a response, but giving it an unladylike snort instead as she joined her friend.
"Maybe we can find the rest of the rainbow keys," she said. She pulled out a book from the library shelf and cringed as the entire row of books came - they were obviously fake. "Okay, well, not here," she said, checking behind the well-made facade just to be sure, and then the bookshelf behind it.
It did make her conscious of which books were real and which weren't, though, and she found a few more books that were potential key-hiders. She didn't find a rainbow key, however. Instead, she found a sheet of paper in one of the books which had different colored numbers written on it. She showed it to Pak.
"Is this a combination, maybe?" Then she turned to Rowan and Alex. "Are there any combination locks on that?"
She had no idea if that was Pak's train of thought or not, but she knew where Kiamhaat would have gone with that, and he and Pak often thought along similar lines.
Musing up at the ceiling, she decided to let Rowan and Alex do their thing, not dignifying Pak's question with a response, but giving it an unladylike snort instead as she joined her friend.
"Maybe we can find the rest of the rainbow keys," she said. She pulled out a book from the library shelf and cringed as the entire row of books came - they were obviously fake. "Okay, well, not here," she said, checking behind the well-made facade just to be sure, and then the bookshelf behind it.
It did make her conscious of which books were real and which weren't, though, and she found a few more books that were potential key-hiders. She didn't find a rainbow key, however. Instead, she found a sheet of paper in one of the books which had different colored numbers written on it. She showed it to Pak.
"Is this a combination, maybe?" Then she turned to Rowan and Alex. "Are there any combination locks on that?"
Blaise
4 years ago
Blaise wasn't offended. He really wasn't sure if he was responsible or not, no one had ever accused him of that.
"I pay my bills and turn in my homework on time."
That was really all he had and he was working to keep his expenses low. Beyond that he could only afford the tuition because he'd been able to access one very old bank account of Jarrod's. It hadn't been a lot but if he was careful it should let him work only part time through his bachelor's and not take out any loans, but it sounded responsible.
Of course it was really hard to take him seriously as he was saying while rummaging elbow deep in the fish tank. He'd found a glass ball that looked like it could be a magnifying glass and was just pulling the treasure chest out of the tank. In his less reputable days he'd found keys and other goodies in these things.
"Oh... and I feed Gatsby everyday."
Gatsby was a guinea pig he'd taken in. The little guy had belonged to another student who was transferring out of state and couldn't take Gatsby. Blaise had never had a pet before and since a lot of the vampires he was currently looking up to had pets, he thought he'd try it. Turned out he really liked the company and the odd little sounds the critter made.
Wow he really did sound rather responsible. Blaise was kind of pleased with himself. He was even more pleased when he did find something in the treasure chest, another little colored key. He held it out triumphantly, his hand still soaking wet.
"I've got purple!"
"I pay my bills and turn in my homework on time."
That was really all he had and he was working to keep his expenses low. Beyond that he could only afford the tuition because he'd been able to access one very old bank account of Jarrod's. It hadn't been a lot but if he was careful it should let him work only part time through his bachelor's and not take out any loans, but it sounded responsible.
Of course it was really hard to take him seriously as he was saying while rummaging elbow deep in the fish tank. He'd found a glass ball that looked like it could be a magnifying glass and was just pulling the treasure chest out of the tank. In his less reputable days he'd found keys and other goodies in these things.
"Oh... and I feed Gatsby everyday."
Gatsby was a guinea pig he'd taken in. The little guy had belonged to another student who was transferring out of state and couldn't take Gatsby. Blaise had never had a pet before and since a lot of the vampires he was currently looking up to had pets, he thought he'd try it. Turned out he really liked the company and the odd little sounds the critter made.
Wow he really did sound rather responsible. Blaise was kind of pleased with himself. He was even more pleased when he did find something in the treasure chest, another little colored key. He held it out triumphantly, his hand still soaking wet.
"I've got purple!"
Rowan Murphy
4 years ago
Rowan smiled at Alex's willingness to follow his lead, and his apparent eagerness to solve the puzzle. "Yes, sort of," he said, when Alex asked about how that was accomplished. "In many of these, you have to move the rope around too, before you can free the object attached to it."
He studied the cage and the ropes for a minute longer. "Given the time allowed, I don't think this one should be that difficult. I've had little ones last me hours, days, and sometimes weeks before I figured out the correct sequence of moves to unlock them."
He grinned at Alex over one of the ropes. "Clearly, that's not the case here. This is an escape room, not a starvation room. Though, let's be clear, if I had to eat any of you it'd be Eiryk first."
Rowan flashed a grin at Eiryk, then turned when Aishe asked about combination locks. "Several," he confirmed, looking around. "I wouldn't unlock them yet, though. What if we don't need them all, or it gets more confusing?"
He wasn't an expert here by any means, but he did conclude that the best way to begin would be by looping the cage and its attached rope over a different loop, which he indicated to Alex.
Two or three moves and one backtrack later, they bumped into their first lock. "We need a key for a plain old padlock," Rowan said to the others. "It's probably gold-toned. Short. The blade is probably only an inch long or so. No idea about the head. There's no maker's mark on the lock."
That was about all the information Rowan could glean on a cursory examination of the lock.
He studied the cage and the ropes for a minute longer. "Given the time allowed, I don't think this one should be that difficult. I've had little ones last me hours, days, and sometimes weeks before I figured out the correct sequence of moves to unlock them."
He grinned at Alex over one of the ropes. "Clearly, that's not the case here. This is an escape room, not a starvation room. Though, let's be clear, if I had to eat any of you it'd be Eiryk first."
Rowan flashed a grin at Eiryk, then turned when Aishe asked about combination locks. "Several," he confirmed, looking around. "I wouldn't unlock them yet, though. What if we don't need them all, or it gets more confusing?"
He wasn't an expert here by any means, but he did conclude that the best way to begin would be by looping the cage and its attached rope over a different loop, which he indicated to Alex.
Two or three moves and one backtrack later, they bumped into their first lock. "We need a key for a plain old padlock," Rowan said to the others. "It's probably gold-toned. Short. The blade is probably only an inch long or so. No idea about the head. There's no maker's mark on the lock."
That was about all the information Rowan could glean on a cursory examination of the lock.
Eiryk
4 years ago
Eiryk paused his inspection of the bar for a moment to smile and watch Alex go help Rue with the puzzle. Going back to his self appointed investigation he listened with half an ear as his old friend explained the puzzle. He had to bite back a very ribald comment when Rue said something about eating him. He just barely managed to apply that energy and train of thought to something a little more witty and double entendre than completely crass.
"Sorry Rue. Alex has dibs."
Well it wasn't the most subtle he'd ever been, but he'd could have been a great deal worse.
The call for a gold key was met with a frown. The key he and Alex had found in the model Bounty had been iron and rather round. Not at all what was needed.
The small bar had come up dry, so to speak, and Eiryk knit his brow as he considered the situation. It was quite stream of consciousness logic but Eiryk walked to the door and ran his fingers along the top of the door frame. Clients occasionally left spare keys hidden there so he or his designers could let themselves in (at least they had before all these remote security doorbell camera options) and they were looking for a key...
Apparently their captor was a traditionalist as Eiryk soon felt something small and metallic. Carefully, surprisingly not dropping it, he got it down and beamed.
"Just what the doctor ordered I think."
He presented the key, which looked just as Rowan had predicted, to his oldest friend.
"Sorry Rue. Alex has dibs."
Well it wasn't the most subtle he'd ever been, but he'd could have been a great deal worse.
The call for a gold key was met with a frown. The key he and Alex had found in the model Bounty had been iron and rather round. Not at all what was needed.
The small bar had come up dry, so to speak, and Eiryk knit his brow as he considered the situation. It was quite stream of consciousness logic but Eiryk walked to the door and ran his fingers along the top of the door frame. Clients occasionally left spare keys hidden there so he or his designers could let themselves in (at least they had before all these remote security doorbell camera options) and they were looking for a key...
Apparently their captor was a traditionalist as Eiryk soon felt something small and metallic. Carefully, surprisingly not dropping it, he got it down and beamed.
"Just what the doctor ordered I think."
He presented the key, which looked just as Rowan had predicted, to his oldest friend.
Alex Aristos
4 years ago
Alex had no idea if Pakpao was thinking about tiny axes or not, but he laughed when Aishe brought it up. It seemed like something she'd think about, and Aishe probably would know.
He grinned at Blaise when the other vampire came up with some kind-of convincing arguments for responsibility, nodding his head. "Okay. We can concede that you might be responsible."
The heckling between Rowan and Eiryk continued as Alex moved ropes where Rue directed. He hadn't really known what to make of Rowan when they'd first met, but now he understood his and Eiryk's dynamic better, and actually appreciated and contributed to said heckling.
"Why Eiryk first?" he asked Rowan. "Aishe's small and tender."
He turned to Aishe and flashed a smile in her direction. She poked her tongue out at him in return.
He grinned at Blaise when the other vampire came up with some kind-of convincing arguments for responsibility, nodding his head. "Okay. We can concede that you might be responsible."
The heckling between Rowan and Eiryk continued as Alex moved ropes where Rue directed. He hadn't really known what to make of Rowan when they'd first met, but now he understood his and Eiryk's dynamic better, and actually appreciated and contributed to said heckling.
"Why Eiryk first?" he asked Rowan. "Aishe's small and tender."
He turned to Aishe and flashed a smile in her direction. She poked her tongue out at him in return.
Pakpao
4 years ago
"Oh. I hadn't thought to ask Cris."
Pak said absently. Now that she had the idea she might ask Cris if he could/would make her a couple. Just little ones. As an experiment. There had to be some uses for pocket axes, even if it was just to pin things up on her cork board in a menacing fashion or maybe to give to Eiryk for Christmas or something... or maybe Kem.
Blaise made some good arguments for his being responsible and Pak was rather pleased. He really was trying, she doubted he realized how different he was from the thug that had kidnapped her. The guinea pig though, cute as he was, was odd. Fortunately Aishe distracted her. Pak nodded.
"Almost has to be; hopefully it is as straightforward as it looks. How many colors are left in the rainbow?"
Pak took the purple key from Blaise and with a little bit of stretching managed to ruffle his hair in a sisterly manner.
The conversational turn to cannibalism didn't strike her as at all odd, especially as it was driven by Rowan and Eiryk.
"Aishe is a lot tougher than she looks."
She said without a trace of irony. In fact it was a compliment. Pak had known Aishe years, even before she'd been turned. For all she looked sweet and charming there was more to her friend.
Pak said absently. Now that she had the idea she might ask Cris if he could/would make her a couple. Just little ones. As an experiment. There had to be some uses for pocket axes, even if it was just to pin things up on her cork board in a menacing fashion or maybe to give to Eiryk for Christmas or something... or maybe Kem.
Blaise made some good arguments for his being responsible and Pak was rather pleased. He really was trying, she doubted he realized how different he was from the thug that had kidnapped her. The guinea pig though, cute as he was, was odd. Fortunately Aishe distracted her. Pak nodded.
"Almost has to be; hopefully it is as straightforward as it looks. How many colors are left in the rainbow?"
Pak took the purple key from Blaise and with a little bit of stretching managed to ruffle his hair in a sisterly manner.
The conversational turn to cannibalism didn't strike her as at all odd, especially as it was driven by Rowan and Eiryk.
"Aishe is a lot tougher than she looks."
She said without a trace of irony. In fact it was a compliment. Pak had known Aishe years, even before she'd been turned. For all she looked sweet and charming there was more to her friend.
Aishe
4 years ago
"Don't you dare," Aishe warned Pak when it came to talking to Cris about any sort of miniature weaponry. She said it with a smile though, teasing her friend. She honestly wouldn't put it past Pak to have a tiny axe or five next time they all went out.
Blaise found a purple key similar to her pink, green, and yellow ones. He handed it to Pak, and Aishe met Pak so one or the other of them could hold onto all the rainbow keys.
"I guess three left, if we're taking liberties with the rainbow. Maybe pink is red? So we need orange, blue, and indigo. I wish we had a lock to use these with. It might make it easier to know what we're trying to find. We're only assuming they all go together."
She hated pointing that out, but this seemed like a fairly obvious clue so far. All these keys for one lock? Maybe they belonged to a series of locks, or maybe in a surprising twist, these keys wouldn't be used to unlock anything at all but to solve a different kind of puzzle. It would be fun to learn what that was.
"Oh thank you, Pak," Aishe said when pak said she was tougher than she looked. "But I'm pretty sure Rue meant in texture and not in character. So maybe you're both right."
Perhaps having lived with Kiamhaat and Pak long enough had rubbed off on her - or maybe everyone had discussions about cannibalism with their friends. Either way, no one in the room seemed bothered by it.
Blaise found a purple key similar to her pink, green, and yellow ones. He handed it to Pak, and Aishe met Pak so one or the other of them could hold onto all the rainbow keys.
"I guess three left, if we're taking liberties with the rainbow. Maybe pink is red? So we need orange, blue, and indigo. I wish we had a lock to use these with. It might make it easier to know what we're trying to find. We're only assuming they all go together."
She hated pointing that out, but this seemed like a fairly obvious clue so far. All these keys for one lock? Maybe they belonged to a series of locks, or maybe in a surprising twist, these keys wouldn't be used to unlock anything at all but to solve a different kind of puzzle. It would be fun to learn what that was.
"Oh thank you, Pak," Aishe said when pak said she was tougher than she looked. "But I'm pretty sure Rue meant in texture and not in character. So maybe you're both right."
Perhaps having lived with Kiamhaat and Pak long enough had rubbed off on her - or maybe everyone had discussions about cannibalism with their friends. Either way, no one in the room seemed bothered by it.
Blaise
4 years ago
"Thanks." He said to Alex with a rather pleased smile. "That may be the first time anyone has said that."
As he had no idea how many colors or what colors were left in the rainbow Blaise was very glad Aishe answered. He did, however, frown and make a face at Pakpao treating him like a kid. She did it in purpose, he knew she did, and although he'd scowl, glower and grumble about it he kind of liked it... deep down. She wasn't trying to replace his sister just occasionally act as one and that meant a lot.
The canibelism talk was less appreciated and honestly just odd. Blaise actually wondered how serious they were and if they were talking flesh eating or blood drinking. He wasn't upset or unsettled by it, more he just felt like a bit of an outsider. Still it was kind of interesting to watch the dynamics.
Since he didn't feel like he knew anyone well enough to actually participate in the conversation he just went back to trying to find something useful. He wound up back with the glass ball he'd found. And showed it to both Pakpao and Aishe.
"It's a magnifying glass but what is there to magnify?"
He put his thinking cap on and looked around the room with a thoughtful frown.
"It came out of the fish tank though so maybe it has something to do with the stuffed fish on the wall? Or a book about fishing or another painting?"
Hell maybe it had to do with the dinner dishes. That looked like it had been fish. Or maybe he was just throwing darts trying to get one even on the board.
As he had no idea how many colors or what colors were left in the rainbow Blaise was very glad Aishe answered. He did, however, frown and make a face at Pakpao treating him like a kid. She did it in purpose, he knew she did, and although he'd scowl, glower and grumble about it he kind of liked it... deep down. She wasn't trying to replace his sister just occasionally act as one and that meant a lot.
The canibelism talk was less appreciated and honestly just odd. Blaise actually wondered how serious they were and if they were talking flesh eating or blood drinking. He wasn't upset or unsettled by it, more he just felt like a bit of an outsider. Still it was kind of interesting to watch the dynamics.
Since he didn't feel like he knew anyone well enough to actually participate in the conversation he just went back to trying to find something useful. He wound up back with the glass ball he'd found. And showed it to both Pakpao and Aishe.
"It's a magnifying glass but what is there to magnify?"
He put his thinking cap on and looked around the room with a thoughtful frown.
"It came out of the fish tank though so maybe it has something to do with the stuffed fish on the wall? Or a book about fishing or another painting?"
Hell maybe it had to do with the dinner dishes. That looked like it had been fish. Or maybe he was just throwing darts trying to get one even on the board.
Rowan Murphy
4 years ago
Rowan smiled at Eiryk as he presented him with a key that looked like what they'd need. Sure enough, it slid easily into the padlock and he popped it open, freeing the knot of rope behind it for further manipulation.
He grinned at Alex's question. "Well honestly I was going to say it's because Eiryk's the deadliest one in here," he said, "but after that find we might have to keep him around. Even if he does bring the room down around us without trying."
Aside from the fact that Eiryk knew his way around weapons, he was also the one most likely to cause chaos and destruction by simply existing. Put the two together, and there would be no survivors.
"Aishe is small and tender," he conceded, " as well as feisty, but I can probably keep her out of trouble whereas Eiryk is basically an unrestrained force of nature."
As he and Alex finagled the cage through yet another knot and then switched the rope back over itself, Rowan tilted his head thoughtfully. "I was also going to add that I didn't want to piss of both Kem and Cris at the same time, which eating Aishe would definitely do, but I think at this point that would happen no matter who we sacrificed in here. So I guess we had just better escape in due course and not have to worry about it."
As he spoke, he and Alex got stuck in a corner of the room and practically knotted themselves into the rope, which was twisted around a potted plant. Both vampires, rope, cage, and plant soon turned into one struggling monster, Rowan and Alex laughing uncontrollably.
"Does anyone have another key? Or wait. It's a code. Do you see it Alex?"
Rowan caught Alex's eye as the other man just stared blankly at him.
"Code? Alex? Numbers? I can't quite reach them. Seems there's maybe a rhododendron in the way. Hello?"
(ooc: in his hysterical laughter, Rowan's accent has grown so thick Alex can't figure out what he's saying, as there are also a few scattered gaelic curses and some broken German in there as well.)
He grinned at Alex's question. "Well honestly I was going to say it's because Eiryk's the deadliest one in here," he said, "but after that find we might have to keep him around. Even if he does bring the room down around us without trying."
Aside from the fact that Eiryk knew his way around weapons, he was also the one most likely to cause chaos and destruction by simply existing. Put the two together, and there would be no survivors.
"Aishe is small and tender," he conceded, " as well as feisty, but I can probably keep her out of trouble whereas Eiryk is basically an unrestrained force of nature."
As he and Alex finagled the cage through yet another knot and then switched the rope back over itself, Rowan tilted his head thoughtfully. "I was also going to add that I didn't want to piss of both Kem and Cris at the same time, which eating Aishe would definitely do, but I think at this point that would happen no matter who we sacrificed in here. So I guess we had just better escape in due course and not have to worry about it."
As he spoke, he and Alex got stuck in a corner of the room and practically knotted themselves into the rope, which was twisted around a potted plant. Both vampires, rope, cage, and plant soon turned into one struggling monster, Rowan and Alex laughing uncontrollably.
"Does anyone have another key? Or wait. It's a code. Do you see it Alex?"
Rowan caught Alex's eye as the other man just stared blankly at him.
"Code? Alex? Numbers? I can't quite reach them. Seems there's maybe a rhododendron in the way. Hello?"
(ooc: in his hysterical laughter, Rowan's accent has grown so thick Alex can't figure out what he's saying, as there are also a few scattered gaelic curses and some broken German in there as well.)
Eiryk
4 years ago
Eiryk listened a bit to Rue ramble on and a bit to Blaise, Aishe and Pak. He thought Blaise might be on to something and went back to the art wall looking for something nautical or something with an aquarium or anything along those lines, but he kept listening to Rue.
Honestly Eiryk wasn't sure if he should preen at being called a force of nature or give Rowan greif about his sailing skills. It took a half a second but he decided to preen later and tease now.
"Been a while since you've sailed on something other than a mill pond pirate?"
He said with a huge grin even as he started poking at the paintings. Eiryk knew they had both been through their fair share of terrifying storms. He was reasonably certain they'd both been washed overboard at least once, well he had anyway. It wasn't fun.
He did agree, though, that pissing off Kem and Cris at the same time wasn't a great idea. But that just made him realize that if someone ate Alex they'd piss off him and Alfarinn at the same time and that might even be a worse idea. The thought made Eiryk strangely happy.
He stopped his artistic snooping at the sound of Alex and Rue laughing. Eiryk couldn't help but snicker at the predicament they'd gotten themselves into. He also desperately wished for his phone. He very much wanted a picture of this. He'd frame it in a heartbeat.
It took a second and a look at the blank expression on his husband's face to realize Alex didn't understand Rue. Although Eiryk had heard Rowan and his odd blend of accents for years and under many circumstances even Eiryk didn't always understand, he could usually get the gist of things though.
He certainly couldn't make out the word 'rhododendron' but once he filtered out the German and what he -thought- (but wasn't sure) was gaelic, he gathered the plant was in the way and Rue was looking for a code. Eiryk quickly crossed the room and after a second or two managed to manuver the offending greenery in such a way that Alex might be able to see something.
"Can you see the code now älskling?"
He also wondered when the last time Rowan had been in Germany was, some of the cursing was creative.
Honestly Eiryk wasn't sure if he should preen at being called a force of nature or give Rowan greif about his sailing skills. It took a half a second but he decided to preen later and tease now.
"Been a while since you've sailed on something other than a mill pond pirate?"
He said with a huge grin even as he started poking at the paintings. Eiryk knew they had both been through their fair share of terrifying storms. He was reasonably certain they'd both been washed overboard at least once, well he had anyway. It wasn't fun.
He did agree, though, that pissing off Kem and Cris at the same time wasn't a great idea. But that just made him realize that if someone ate Alex they'd piss off him and Alfarinn at the same time and that might even be a worse idea. The thought made Eiryk strangely happy.
He stopped his artistic snooping at the sound of Alex and Rue laughing. Eiryk couldn't help but snicker at the predicament they'd gotten themselves into. He also desperately wished for his phone. He very much wanted a picture of this. He'd frame it in a heartbeat.
It took a second and a look at the blank expression on his husband's face to realize Alex didn't understand Rue. Although Eiryk had heard Rowan and his odd blend of accents for years and under many circumstances even Eiryk didn't always understand, he could usually get the gist of things though.
He certainly couldn't make out the word 'rhododendron' but once he filtered out the German and what he -thought- (but wasn't sure) was gaelic, he gathered the plant was in the way and Rue was looking for a code. Eiryk quickly crossed the room and after a second or two managed to manuver the offending greenery in such a way that Alex might be able to see something.
"Can you see the code now älskling?"
He also wondered when the last time Rowan had been in Germany was, some of the cursing was creative.
Alex Aristos
4 years ago
Alex had a hard time following both the banter and the rope, so he allowed his concentration to wander for just a moment, laughing at Eiryk and Rowan. As he did, he followed Rowan along, excited when he saw that they were making progress - although Rue had warned him that they might have to take a few steps back to go forward.
"You do make a good point, but as long as we can turn Eiryk's desctructive capabilities in our favor..." he trailed off with a grin. Thwarting chaos had become a specialty of his.
As he pondered that, he realized he and Rowan were slowly becoming one with the puzzle. Literally. As they attempted to unwind the rope from the potted plant in the corner, they only succeeded in winding it around themselves. Or themselves around it. Alex wasn't sure.
At any rate, there they were, laughing their idiot heads off as they struggled with the clinging vines and twisting rope. Rowan was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes and Alex wasn't far behind.
The problem with a hysterical Rowan, though, was that when he got emotional he lost track of his English. He said something to Alex which was half gibberish and Alex tried to focus, blinking at Rowan. Rowan shook his hand a little bit and Alex flicked his eyes to whatever Rue was indicating, then squinted back at the redhead.
Just when he was about to jostle Rowan and tell him to speak clearly, Eiryk translated for him. Alex tilted his head back, turned it, and then spotted the little dials on the padlock Rowan had hanging from one finger.
"Got it, thanks babe," he said to Eiryk. Turning to Rowan he playfully groused, "You know I don't speak mumblemouth."
The same thing had happened over the years when Rowan was particularly excited about something or another, so it wasn't a surprise to any of them, Alex suspected, but he was usually the last to figure out what their chattering redhead meant.
He craned his neck. "Aishe, were you asking about colored numbers or something before? I think we might have the lock for that."
"You do make a good point, but as long as we can turn Eiryk's desctructive capabilities in our favor..." he trailed off with a grin. Thwarting chaos had become a specialty of his.
As he pondered that, he realized he and Rowan were slowly becoming one with the puzzle. Literally. As they attempted to unwind the rope from the potted plant in the corner, they only succeeded in winding it around themselves. Or themselves around it. Alex wasn't sure.
At any rate, there they were, laughing their idiot heads off as they struggled with the clinging vines and twisting rope. Rowan was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes and Alex wasn't far behind.
The problem with a hysterical Rowan, though, was that when he got emotional he lost track of his English. He said something to Alex which was half gibberish and Alex tried to focus, blinking at Rowan. Rowan shook his hand a little bit and Alex flicked his eyes to whatever Rue was indicating, then squinted back at the redhead.
Just when he was about to jostle Rowan and tell him to speak clearly, Eiryk translated for him. Alex tilted his head back, turned it, and then spotted the little dials on the padlock Rowan had hanging from one finger.
"Got it, thanks babe," he said to Eiryk. Turning to Rowan he playfully groused, "You know I don't speak mumblemouth."
The same thing had happened over the years when Rowan was particularly excited about something or another, so it wasn't a surprise to any of them, Alex suspected, but he was usually the last to figure out what their chattering redhead meant.
He craned his neck. "Aishe, were you asking about colored numbers or something before? I think we might have the lock for that."
Pakpao
4 years ago
The teasing banter between pirate and viking was comfortable and familiar. Pak was a fan, although she had to side with Eiryk as somewhere along the line she'd been adopted into team Scandinavia. Pak wondered if she'd ever have that with Kem, something that solid that real and that comfortable when they'd each known the other better than a millennium. Or maybe they already had it. She'd worry about it later right now she was trying to understand Rowan.
His accent (accents?) were charming but they could get so thick she was only able to pick out a word or two. He even sounded like that when he sent, not that she'd sent to him too often just enough to know it did not solve the problem. Cris and Eiryk seemed to manage the best and she'd gotten into the habit of waiting for one of them to translate.
Eiryk translated and Alex made a discovery.
"How many colors Alex? Do we need another three to get you two to go forward?"
Aishe was right, pink wasn't a color of the rainbow. They could have gotten the wrong end of the stick with that idea and she didn't want to run down a red herring.
His accent (accents?) were charming but they could get so thick she was only able to pick out a word or two. He even sounded like that when he sent, not that she'd sent to him too often just enough to know it did not solve the problem. Cris and Eiryk seemed to manage the best and she'd gotten into the habit of waiting for one of them to translate.
Eiryk translated and Alex made a discovery.
"How many colors Alex? Do we need another three to get you two to go forward?"
Aishe was right, pink wasn't a color of the rainbow. They could have gotten the wrong end of the stick with that idea and she didn't want to run down a red herring.
Aishe
4 years ago
Aishe wasn't too far from Rowan and Alex now, having come over to laugh at them when they managed to somehow become entrapped in the rope and the plant. Err, help. She came over to help. Certainly not to laugh.
Okay, mostly to laugh.
Once Eiryk had helpfully translated Rowan's hysterical accented laughter into actual English, everyone had a collective lighbulb moment when they all got the gist of his words. Alex asked her about the colored numbers on her sheet of paper.
"There are dials on this lock," he explained to her, "and it looks like there's a color code to them. There's a dot on each dial. A little hard to see, but is there maybe an orange number?"
Aishe consulted her paper. She shook her head. "No orange. Uh, but wait. How many dials do you have?"
"Three. Orange, green, and purple."
She looked again. "I also have three. Red, yellow, and blue. So I have primary colors and you have secondary colors on your lock. What if we add them together? Because the combination of my colors will give us yours? Does that sound too weird? I don't even know if that's right."
Aishe did love mysteries and puzzles though, so while she didn't consider herself the best one in the room she thought it was plausible.
"Can't hurt to try," Alex said.
Aishe was pleasantly surprised when Alex cheered a minute later and his padlock popped open. She grinned as her friends swiftly untangled themselves, and the cage moved a little further along.
Okay, mostly to laugh.
Once Eiryk had helpfully translated Rowan's hysterical accented laughter into actual English, everyone had a collective lighbulb moment when they all got the gist of his words. Alex asked her about the colored numbers on her sheet of paper.
"There are dials on this lock," he explained to her, "and it looks like there's a color code to them. There's a dot on each dial. A little hard to see, but is there maybe an orange number?"
Aishe consulted her paper. She shook her head. "No orange. Uh, but wait. How many dials do you have?"
"Three. Orange, green, and purple."
She looked again. "I also have three. Red, yellow, and blue. So I have primary colors and you have secondary colors on your lock. What if we add them together? Because the combination of my colors will give us yours? Does that sound too weird? I don't even know if that's right."
Aishe did love mysteries and puzzles though, so while she didn't consider herself the best one in the room she thought it was plausible.
"Can't hurt to try," Alex said.
Aishe was pleasantly surprised when Alex cheered a minute later and his padlock popped open. She grinned as her friends swiftly untangled themselves, and the cage moved a little further along.
Blaise
4 years ago
Rowan's accent... yeah. He'd grown up with and around those accents and he'd never heard them blended quite that way. It was damned hard to understand. He would have felt stupid about it but it seemed to stimey everyone, at least a little, from time to time. Laughter though, that was universal. He couldn't help but laugh along, nor could he help but cheer when Aishe and Alex solved the padlock.
But he still had his magnifying glass ball thing. He didn't know what it was for. It didn't make sense, even if they were human anything small enough to need to be magnified would probably be too small to find. Still he took it to the original letter Pak had... nothing was bigger.
"Well bugger all."
He swore softly to himself. Pak, of course, heard him and came over to investigate. He answered her unspoken question.
"It doesn't magnify."
He said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
Pak scowled at the ball and then him and he actually heard music. To hear something clearly and from Pak of all people startled him. He didn't even flinch when she let out an oath in that language of her's because he was busy listening to some very thoughtful music.
"It isn't a magnifying glass. It is a prism, maybe you could use it to focus light into a pin point, but I doubt we want to light anything on fire..."
"Okay so what is it for? They didn't just toss it in with the fish for no reason right?"
He doubted it would apply to the rope puzzle either. It was probably key to finding another key or clue or something.
But he still had his magnifying glass ball thing. He didn't know what it was for. It didn't make sense, even if they were human anything small enough to need to be magnified would probably be too small to find. Still he took it to the original letter Pak had... nothing was bigger.
"Well bugger all."
He swore softly to himself. Pak, of course, heard him and came over to investigate. He answered her unspoken question.
"It doesn't magnify."
He said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
Pak scowled at the ball and then him and he actually heard music. To hear something clearly and from Pak of all people startled him. He didn't even flinch when she let out an oath in that language of her's because he was busy listening to some very thoughtful music.
"It isn't a magnifying glass. It is a prism, maybe you could use it to focus light into a pin point, but I doubt we want to light anything on fire..."
"Okay so what is it for? They didn't just toss it in with the fish for no reason right?"
He doubted it would apply to the rope puzzle either. It was probably key to finding another key or clue or something.