[ Why does it always seem to come right down to picking the right path in life, or death, or... whatever the hell is happening right now? Ernesto's senses feel muddled and confused as he stands at a literal crossroads, peering off into the distance, no more swayed by one direction than the other. He can't really say what is happening here, but he can feel the indecision sit heavily on his shoulders as his gaze sweeps from one side to the other, before returning to the swirling galaxies above.
He never has a chance to choose his path at all, before something is grabbing him and pulling him away from this weighty decision by force.
So much for the old adage of taking your time. ]
I. WAKE UP
[ There's not much more alarming than waking up somewhere you didn't fall asleep, especially when that place happens to be a giant rock womb. While Ernesto is fast to start struggling once his consciousness creeps back into awareness, he's still slow to actually bust himself free from the confines of the chrysalis. Whatever has weakened him as really done a number on the man, and it feels like an eternity to him before he manages to bust a full fist through the wall.
Fortunately for him, it's a short struggle after to free the rest of him from his temporary prison, and he pulls himself out and onto the cavern floor gasping from the effort.
Damn... he's not usually this weak.
Kneeling on the ground the way he is, he's sort of managed to inadvertently cover himself up, and once he realizes he's in the buff, he grabs onto his own usually fluffy (currently waterlogged and dripping) tail to pull over his lap as he looks up to take in his surroundings. More chrysalises with people struggling inside them, and more people like him looking wet, naked, and confused by what just happened.
He'll stay low to the ground and partly covered too as he calls out to the first person he sees. ]
Hey! Any chance you happen to know what's going on here?
[ He kind of doubts it, but it's worth asking. ]
II. WE'RE ALL (UNFORTUNATELY) IN THIS TOGETHER
[ The long trip to get to these ruins was a nightmare. Between the less than friendly soldiers who decided to keep the lot of them literally tethered together, and the equally less than comfortable conditions, Ernesto feels exhausted by the time they get to their newest camp.
The group of confused people who seem to have all come from other worlds has grown to a pretty sizable number at this point, and some have the questions that Ernesto has about their current situation.
He's good at playing the waiting game though, and has been nothing but friendly and easy to deal with for the soldiers in order to build up some good will. It's easier to get away with things when people trust you. ]
A. Central Ruins
[ He'll spend some of his time exploring what little he the soldiers allow him to, not that it seems to tell him much. It still puts him away from his captors, and means that he can try and have some conversations with his fellow captives.
Right now, for example, he's leaning his forearms against a broken chunk of wall, and leaning over it to call out in a low voice to someone on the other side. ]
Find anything interesting? ]
B. Inside the Camp
[ Not everyone has decided to play the role of the suck up, and Ernesto can't really fault them for that. Hell, he kind of admires the ability to stand up to the soldiers who took them prisoner, though it doesn't seem to be doing any of the more rebellious sorts any good.
That's why he's making his way over to one now, whether they're currently bound or just a little roughed up, with a bland ration of bread in one hand. When he's close enough to have a normal conversation he'll whistle at their condition, and move to put himself on their level. ]
They sure didn't take it easy on you, did they?
[ He offers a smile alongside the bread he's holding, regardless of how receptive his new friend does or doesn't look to his company. ]
Ernesto Salas | Arknights | The Lover
He never has a chance to choose his path at all, before something is grabbing him and pulling him away from this weighty decision by force.
So much for the old adage of taking your time. ]
I. WAKE UP
[ There's not much more alarming than waking up somewhere you didn't fall asleep, especially when that place happens to be a giant rock womb. While Ernesto is fast to start struggling once his consciousness creeps back into awareness, he's still slow to actually bust himself free from the confines of the chrysalis. Whatever has weakened him as really done a number on the man, and it feels like an eternity to him before he manages to bust a full fist through the wall.
Fortunately for him, it's a short struggle after to free the rest of him from his temporary prison, and he pulls himself out and onto the cavern floor gasping from the effort.
Damn... he's not usually this weak.
Kneeling on the ground the way he is, he's sort of managed to inadvertently cover himself up, and once he realizes he's in the buff, he grabs onto his own usually fluffy (currently waterlogged and dripping) tail to pull over his lap as he looks up to take in his surroundings. More chrysalises with people struggling inside them, and more people like him looking wet, naked, and confused by what just happened.
He'll stay low to the ground and partly covered too as he calls out to the first person he sees. ]
Hey! Any chance you happen to know what's going on here?
[ He kind of doubts it, but it's worth asking. ]
II. WE'RE ALL (UNFORTUNATELY) IN THIS TOGETHER
[ The long trip to get to these ruins was a nightmare. Between the less than friendly soldiers who decided to keep the lot of them literally tethered together, and the equally less than comfortable conditions, Ernesto feels exhausted by the time they get to their newest camp.
The group of confused people who seem to have all come from other worlds has grown to a pretty sizable number at this point, and some have the questions that Ernesto has about their current situation.
He's good at playing the waiting game though, and has been nothing but friendly and easy to deal with for the soldiers in order to build up some good will. It's easier to get away with things when people trust you. ]
A. Central Ruins
[ He'll spend some of his time exploring what little he the soldiers allow him to, not that it seems to tell him much. It still puts him away from his captors, and means that he can try and have some conversations with his fellow captives.
Right now, for example, he's leaning his forearms against a broken chunk of wall, and leaning over it to call out in a low voice to someone on the other side. ]
Find anything interesting? ]
B. Inside the Camp
[ Not everyone has decided to play the role of the suck up, and Ernesto can't really fault them for that. Hell, he kind of admires the ability to stand up to the soldiers who took them prisoner, though it doesn't seem to be doing any of the more rebellious sorts any good.
That's why he's making his way over to one now, whether they're currently bound or just a little roughed up, with a bland ration of bread in one hand. When he's close enough to have a normal conversation he'll whistle at their condition, and move to put himself on their level. ]
They sure didn't take it easy on you, did they?
[ He offers a smile alongside the bread he's holding, regardless of how receptive his new friend does or doesn't look to his company. ]