network ( split up )

[amplifieds]

( Caroline Forbes is a planner. She has not one, but two witches on standby and she partnered up with a Slayer cell. It's a big secret, being a vampire, (from everyone but Xander, he walked in on a quick blood session) but not what witches are and not what she does: she founded a school for supernatural teenagers. In time, if this partnership pans out, then maybe she'll be honest about what she is. But, considering vampire slayer is in the title and sounds more glorified than anything, Caroline's not taking any chances.

Xander Harris is involved because he can read the schematics. A map was not easily found, and it's more structural - tunnels underneath the island and not a map of the island. But, Buffy trusts him and Faith is one of her best slayers. They have a 'complicated' history but they trust each other.

It's good enough for Caroline.

What isn't good enough for Caroline? Being separated almost immediately.

She's not aware that when she turns on the light on her phone (now not her phone, but a cute NectarPhone), she triggers something else.

Anybody with a NectarPhone of their own (including anybody who brought their phone in or was connected to one shortly after their arrival) gets a view of a dark tunnel and then of Xander Harris holding his hands up in front of his eye because, bright! )

Hey, hey, watch my good eye.

It's your only eye, and I offered to heal it as a gesture of good will. Buffy? Faith?

( The light whirls around again, before she turns the phone down, giving everyone a view of the ground before she realizes -- )

It's ... on? The camera's going.

( She taps the icon that switches the view to - well, her, eyebrows raised. )

What do you mean the camera's go---oing. Are you broadcasting that right now? To who?

( Her eyes travel upward. This is why she usually works alone and very briefly with other groups of people. )

If I knew the answer to that, do you think I'd be acting so surprised? It's my first time here, too. Let's just find a way out of these tunnels.

( Moving the screen closer, she successfully ends the feed. )

Comments

text

[bugie]

Not to cause you worry as you do seem lost, but you likely don't want to be in the tunnels when the tide comes in.

[amplifieds]

( Without knowing where underneath they are, Caroline has to reply on going in one direction and then finding a way out. She slows down, light still beaming in front. "Someone just sent me a message." )

Not to cause you worry might be the new 'with all due respect.' I'm going to take this how I think it was intended. Do you have a better idea of how to make it to the surface before the rising tide?

[bugie]

I was being truly honest. I'm not sure where these tunnels are, but that just seems a horrible place to be.

If you can feel a breeze, follow that. If not, try and head up whenever you can. You may already be above sea level.

[amplifieds]

And here I thought when you mentioned the tunnels, you were familiar with them. We're going to keep walking, then. Let me know if you have any more insight random person on the other end of this conversation.

[bugie]

You hear about things here, but I've never sought them out. My belief is they're under the cliffs where the hotel sits. Part of what makes up the rise it sits on.

And Nico. Not so random anymore.

[amplifieds]

The hotel is at the top of the island, so that leaves rising tide out of the threat equation. One less thing to worry about.

Caroline. And Xander.

[bugie]

If that's true. I'm in the lobby looking for maps now. I know I've seen them around. Hopefully something about them is on there.

[It's a bit of time before he texts back.]

I think there's two exits showing here, though they're not marked underground caverns. One brings you out just above the water, by the ferry dock.

The other will bring you out on the south side of the resort. It is the higher area, so head up?

[amplifieds]

You think there are maps of underground passageways just lying around.

( They're just... still walking. Light bickering but Caroline's trying to stay positive. Xander does suggest they stay down here, try to find what they need, but Caroline knows it'd be a bad idea. And they needed slayer blood. It's a wonder anything is done without blood these days. A crack from Xander and reminder that Xander is still the only person that knows what she is. )

So, we're either going down to the very bottom of the island, or up. Let me reorient.

I think it's up. Resort's better than the ferry doc.

Follow up question: There's a ferry doc? Where does the ferry go?

[bugie]

You would be amazed at the things places like this leave you, manifested by your needs. All depends on the witch that create it.

The resort has food and a bar. Also a beautiful view. Not that I think you care, but I've been enjoying it.

No idea. I watched it arrive earlier. I'm not sure how that works in a place like this.

[amplifieds]

You're right. you don't know if I care and seeing as I'm currently slogging my way up an underground tunnel, thank you for the visuals of the beautiful view and the ferry coming in. Nico, was it?

[bugie]

It was incentive? If I had a clue how to navigate caves, I would be there in an instant but given I haven't a clue what or who I'm looking for, I'm not sure it would help.

I could light a smokey fire near the entrance and hope the wind carries the smoke to you. I'm not seeing one of those map apps on here that shows more than the streets.

[ And like that he's nearly helping. ]

[pirateing]

( Glancing down, she read 'mappy maps,' before she reads 'map apps. Maybe this Nico guy can help lead her to the vampire Luccio. She's being short, it's true, but her multitasking is usually more concentrated - and delegated. So, she hands Xander the phone.

So, while it's still anonymous Caroline, it's now Xander.

He dictates his portion because he doesn't have vampire texting capabilities. )

Do not, I repeat do not, that means don't of every degree, light a fire at your end of the tunnel. On your paper app, not map app, is there any indication of anything else besides one like tunnel from the top to the bottom of the island. Because, structurally, even with the gods dishonest magic, you couldn't sustain just one. There'd have to be a series of them. Which means - secret passageways or fake walls. Do me a favor while you're not setting anything on fire, is there any part of the map you can see that may indicate detours. Because, all we're doing is moving forward.

[bugie]

[He shouldn't be amused by that response, but in fairness it pretty much amuses the hell out of Nico. He's come to this place as a sanctuary, to hide from one too many things he's done and those he's avoiding and it's going from a peaceful glade to quickly showing so many people.

The first seem to have brought at least one vampire with them. What's next?]

If you're removing my bonfire on the beach I suppose there's a few places that might be such a thing. For all we know the entire place is a catacombs.

Oh, you know, that makes sense. Let me see then.

There's a church to the south side of the island. I would bet there's an doorway there. Which means there might well be one to the resort as well. Clergy love being able to slip from places of worship to where they indulge. If there's one here, it's likely actually in the courtyard.

Heading that way now.

[pirateing]

( For the record, he reads bonfire and realizes he misinterpreted setting a fire by the entrance, but he is still glad he set the precedent. No burning passageways they're currently in. )

Church, courtyard, back alley game of Pai Gow. Head wherever if it involves getting us out of playing a game of the Ants go marching one by one. While also not burning us a live.

Please.

[bugie]

I would never burn anyone alive. Or dead, for that matter.

[ Texts in between making his way down to the courtyard, looking around the premises for ideas of what might be an entrance.

And then he finds it. A gate hidden behind bushes. Shoving them aside, he tests the handle and it swings open with a loud screeching sound.]

I found a gate! I'll go at least until it splits and I risk being lost as well, and I'll call for you.

[ So he heads down, calling out for them by the name's they'd given him. He gets to go a ways down before it splits. He pauses there. ]

Shame I didn't bring a ball of red twine. Here's hoping there's no minotaur on this island.

[pirateing]

Again. Please don't burn anyone. Alive. Dead. Between.

We'll listen!

( He hopes, hopes with everything there is not a Minotaur on the island. Sure, he's with a vampire friend and hasn't he come along way from a species-ist start. But, he'd loved Anya. Demon. Vampire. Everyone is a person. Even Dracula. He's racist, but also a person.

He's about to text, except Caroline holds her arm out, stopping him. Xander doesn't hear Nico, but you know who does? Ms. Vampire Hearing herself who speeds up and Xander has to rush to keep up behind her. She called out and soon two torches illuminate he of the crying minotaur. )

...Nico?

[bugie]

[Nico hadn't thought about how boring the island was until others arrived. He told himself it was peaceful, a chance to rest, but now that there are others here, he's seeing it for how boring it's been.

His own hearing picks up on something. Something on stone. He smiles then, moving to settle back by the entrance, leaning against the smooth, cool stone. With a wave of one hand in a flourish, he inclines his head in a bow.]

Ms Caroline and Xander. Welcome back to the sunlight. I hope I'm not the bearer of bad news that you're not in the world you knew.

[amplifieds]

( Ms. Caroline. He briefly reminds her of why she's here, the school she's left behind and her kids, too. )

Bad news? No. Old news, mostly. We meant to come here - just not -- under the tunnels. And we were with two other people.

Faith and Buffy, if you've come across them.

Friends.

( She'd call them acquaintances, Xander's the friend, but it sounds more suspicious and she'd like this guy to not keep asking questions. )

[bugie]

I've come across a few others, though I doubt the gentleman I met goes by either of those names. Though I wish he did.

[Though that means that as far as he's aware, the number of people in this little pocket has doubled at least.]

I've only met one other person here before you both, and then before that I knew there was someone staying in the penthouse of the resort, but I've never met them. Only seen the lights on in the evening.

[And he's wondered if it isn't the person that Ezra had sought blood for given he only sees signs of life at night.]

[pirateing]

Fine gentleman, was he?

( Is this the point, Xander wonders, as they reach actual sunlight. He shields his eye, turning back to Caroline. )

People stay here?

[bugie]

He was brusque and in a hurry, but fine works.

[Nico chuckles at that, answering the question]

I don't think myself and one other count as staying here, though I think it depends on what they need.

Of course, that's when another hasn't imprisoned them in places like this.

[pirateing]

What was your name again?

( He keeps talking of imprisonment. Yes, Caroline, Xander, Faith, and Buffy had traveled here. But, most end up here, or are forced here. They are looking for the same person, who has information on their big bad and Caroline's big bad merging problem. )

It was - uh, Nico, right?

[bugie]

Nico, yes. Since birth even. Not that I think they keep track of it here.

All they seem to care about is need. At least that seems to have worked for me and your travels.

[amplifieds]

Need?

They? If I wanted you to be vague I'd have gone to the Tibetan tribe of monks I had to track down. They said barely three words at a time and still they made more sense then you are. Who is they?

[bugie]

When I came here it's because I needed to get away from things in my life. I found myself here. I've heard that some worlds work that way.

[He chuckles at that.]

Someone created the pocket. I don't know who it is, but someone had to, right? How magic works.

I'm sorry, I don't know much more than that. I know pocket dimensions are created by witches. Sometimes as prisons, sometimes to hide. And apparently this was made to help others. At least it's helped me.