CYOA week 5: cloud, sebastian, bradley, jason

[guestservices]

Comments

[guestservices]

[The people are whispering like, do we need to call security?? Hello???]

Whaaaaat?

[The voice whines.]

You're really a hit at parties, huh... but all right. If you'll help me, I don't mind talking business.

I want you to help free me.

[unrecked]

[Great. This doesn't sound sketchy at all.]

How?

[But he's looking over at Bradley as if he's asking whether or not Bradley thinks this is a good idea, or is here for it. Or if Bradley even looks like he thinks it's fishy.]

[battling]

's fine. [As if a dude with a rifle saying this is at ALL reassuring to the general public.

He seems a little suspicious of the voice, but he's at least willing to listen to the kid talk.]

[guestservices]

[There's a burst of light coming from the clock, though going by the non-reaction of the people around them (or maybe they're distracted by Bradley?), none of them can see it.

When the light fades, there's a boy floating above the clock.]

I don't know. But... I'm not meant to be here.

I once belonged to a clockmaker, you see. Some of the clocks he made were for sale, but some weren't. Every clock he created was a labour of love, but the finest were the ones meant for his loved ones. I was a gift to his wife, and cherished by her.

... But people are always greedy. The owner of this museum constantly asked to buy me and he was always denied. So eventually, he arranged to have me stolen. The clockmaker tried to get me back... but the museum owner is rich, and wealth gets you further in life than anything else.

[...]

That was many years ago, so my maker and his wife—my parents—must have passed away by now. I know I can never go back to my home... but at the very least, I want to leave this place. I don't want to belong to someone who stole me against my will. I'm tired of being locked away in boxes, or being kept in a display just to be admired.

I'm a clock! I was made to tell time. I... I just want to be useful to someone again.

[unrecked]

[Inwardly, he is closing his eyes. They are waiting for the burglars here, and now, as fate would have it, they are going to be the burglars. Reaching up, he rubs the sockets of his eyes with two fingers. Okay.

Okay.]

Sheesh.

[He will let Bradley talk to the boy while he tries to inspect the clock, the case, and the surrounding area. Is it wrapped up tight? There are people, but how much security in this area? This is the worst idea ever. HE HASN'T EVEN AGREED.]

[battling]

[Bradley, immediately, perks up slightly. Does that mean they get to steal? We love crimes in this household.

What time is it? Can he tell from looking at the clock? Are there windows? Does it seem like it's midday or late evening? How crowded is this room?

His voice is soft as he speaks to the spirit.]

Want out?

[He can understand that. He wants out of imprisonment too, but that's not going to happen any time soon for him.]

[guestservices]

[NO ONE SAID YOU HAD HAD TO BE A CRIMINAL JASON maybe

The glass case is attached to the wall, probably with a small keyhole somewhere so that it can be unlocked and opened when needed, if one had the key. There are a few security guards in the area, because none of them are certain about leaving the man carrying a rifle unsupervised.

On the bright side, a lot of the common people have left! They were unnerved by Bradley and also the man talking out loud to himself. Very concerning. There are just a few stragglers elsewhere in the room at the moment.

Bradley can gaze out the window. It's sometime in the late afternoon, probably.

Meanwhile, Ben looks elated.]

Yes, please!

[unrecked]

[I know what you mean, but the idea of Jason having imprisoned AU Bradley by taking him in.....valid.]

Just hold your horses.

[He turns and puts his arm around Bradley to spin them both around and away from the clock for one second. Conspiratorially-like. Don't look, guards.]

For the record, I don't condone this. [His Bruce Wayneness. Unfortunately, Batman is a vigilante and loves to break and enter and also steal from the people who deserve it.] We need a key, [he whispers.] Or... we can wait on the ones who are supposed to filch this place, and we can take it from them. Kill two birds with one stone.

[battling]

[It's a valid take.

Also this looks so much more sus than talking to a clock. Jason may not condone this, but Bradley's criminal heart absolutely does.

He whispers back.]

You sure this clock was on their list of thefts? There's a lotta other treasures to get at.

[guestservices]

Uggggggh.

[Ben sounds so petulant but he doesn't have much of a choice! ... He might be unabashedly drifting slightly closer to try and eavesdrop, though. Because he is a child and this is what they do, they're not very obedient sorry Jason.

Also, the remaining people and guards are definitely giving them weird looks. One kind Samaritan hesitantly approaches.]

Are you two... all right...?

[unrecked]

[Me looking at Bradley's age and then closing my eyes. OH N, people. He flashes this Kind Samaritan a charming smile that he only learned how to do from his philanthropist parents.]

--Yeah. Yeah. Just... my brother [they have the same kind of hair, it works] was thinking about asking if he can donate his rifle to the museum. He kind of liked how the clock was on display.

[Bradley: WHAT]

You know where we could find the big guy in charge?

[battling]

[IS THIS AU OF BRADLEY AU-LY 600? HELP.

Bradley's eyes go wide for a split second. His gun is not for sale! He's had this since he was in his teens.

He bites down on his tongue before he can start an argument right here.]

[guestservices]

[AU Bradley is probably not 600, but maybe he's older than he looks, at least.

This Kind Samaritan is giving them a bit of a confused look.]

Um... no. You could try setting up an appointment with his secretary, but he's very busy.

[They peer at Bradley as if to gauge how valuable his gun looks.]

I'm not sure if your brother's... rifle would be up to standards, to begin with.

[Behind them, Ben lets out a snort.]

[unrecked]

[Bradley is valid. Also, he really is thinking about decking this very "Kind" Samaritan for the comment. Unfortunately, this immediate look of disapproval shows on his face briefly.

Also cutting a sharp look over his shoulder at BEN.]

It's a very expensive, very old, very prestigious family heirloom. It takes a very skilled eye to see its worth, so I can understand why you can't see it.

Well, if you'd excuse us. We'll have to talk about when to set up an appointment.

[This is his way of saying scram.]

[battling]

[I guess this Bradley can be in his 30s, that seems right.

Bradley does his best not to preen when Jason starts talking up his rifle, but he still seems a little proud. He loves his magical artifact.

He'll take Jason by the shoulder and then start heading away from the civilian(?) before somebody gets punched.]

[guestservices]

[Ben holds ups his hands, grinning sheepishly, before he drifts back.

The civilian (?) will carefully back away from these two people who are probably crazy. But if it seems like Jason and Bradley might be leaving, Ben will immediately nyoom back to them—well, sort of. He's a clock spirit, and it seems like he might be bound to his clock vessel because he quickly stops, remaining near it.]

You'll think about helping me, right? If you don't, then, uh... I-I'll become an evil spirit and haunt you! Yeah! I really will! You don't want to see how scary I am!

[unrecked]

[Thank you, Bradley. He maybe would not have fought a civilian, but he thought about it. WWBD? No fight innocent people.

He pulls Bradley to a stop so he can look back at Bradley. He still doesn't try to speak too loudly.]

Save it, squirt. [He does not believe that.] Just stay put. We'll be back. [He glances around to make sure no one is paying, like, too much attention to them.]

You haven't been in this spot the whole time, right? So where's the big guy's place? What's he look like?

[battling]

[Maybe a little fight. As a treat.

He'll stop here and lean against a part of the wall that doesn't have something on it, now it looks like they're maybe talking to each other.]

How well d'ya know the layout?

[guestservices]

[Ben looks like he's thinking.]

The big guy lives in the penthouse of the museum. He's kind of an old man at this point? I mean... he's got that 1% look to him.

I know this wing pretty well, at least. But I was kept trapped in a box when I was transported here, so I wouldn't really know much about the other areas.

[unrecked]

[Well, it's a start. The man upstairs is Bruce, a 1%er. Wonderful.]

Okay, well. We'll be back. Either with a key, or to beat the crap out of the people who may or may not be trying to pilfer you already. [Glances at Bradley.] Which we're still here to find, by the way.

Come on, let's look around. See if we can get upstairs.

[battling]

Yeah, yeah. We can do both.

[He does love stealing from the 1%. They don't need their stuff.

Bradley will start wandering around, looking for any stairs or doors that look like they might go up.

Are there elevators in this time period?]

[guestservices]

Please don't let me get stolen by random people...

[Ben looks a little distraught at the idea? He'll probably just get stuffed in a crate again?

Anyway, there is a public set of stairs nearby, and this time period does have elevators! Which also probably exist in this museum.]

[unrecked]

[They will hopefully not let Ben get stolen by random people.

He glances up at the stairs and hms. If he peeks into the elevator, can he see if the button or the switch goes to a P? Very funny if there's an elevator person in here he runs into.]

[battling]

[It'd be incredible to do a whole heist while the museum is still open. It still late afternoon.

He looks up the stairs. Do they just go up to the second floor of the museum or do they keep going?]

[guestservices]

[There is a button for the penthouse, but it requires a key. You think randos can just go to the owner's place as they please? Also yeah, there is a person on this elevator staring at Jason, waiting for him to press a button. Hello?

The public stairs unfortunately only go up to the second floor. A rando is jogging up and down them, probably for exercise. He gives Bradley an understanding nod.]