Welcome to the Netherworld!

[lazyvassals]

[It is difficult to define what a normal afternoon is by Netherworld standards. In the dark, torch-lit halls of the Overlord's Castle, penguin-suited prinnies totter about pretending to do work, while most other vassals make no effort at all to pretend. No fights have broken out yet, but it is questionable how long that will last with the Overlord being awake. It is just the sort of calm that comes before something unexpected happens, or someone makes it happen out of boredom.

And that is precisely when the first stranger comes through the swirling vortex of the Dimensional Gate.

It doesn't seem so unusual at first, because people use that gate on a daily basis. But more people start to show up, people who aren't demons. The Gatekeeper herself has no idea where they've come from, or how they've found their way to the Netherworld.

Unfortunately, neither do the unexpected guests.]

Comments

[ladderalbeatdown]

Something he's going to regret, I'm sure.

(Oh hey, that's a familiar voice from behind Bunny. She doesn't seem to be interested in getting in the way, though.)

[something_or_other]

[She's not at all surprised when she hears Chelsea, and turns around to face toward her, momentarily distracted from the source of her agitation.]

At least you know that. [From experience, even.] But what the hell is going on here? I know I didn't somehow go and spit us into another timeline or anything. [Considering that Chelsea can tell when Bunny's using her powers, she would have noticed that if it were the case. It's not.

And then the individual who had called to Bunny before calls out again, already tired of being ignored. Knowing how much of a touchy subject it is, Chelsea could probably count down to the exact moment where she turns back around and reacts.

Three...
Two...
One...]

Stop calling me that! Or do I need to beat it out of your vocabulary?!

[ladderalbeatdown]

(Perhaps if Chelsea cared more, she might give the other person warning to not be so stupid, but she doesn't. Besides, it's better to make your own mistakes and learn from them.

Provided he survives, at least.)

Maybe he knows the answer. I bet you can beat that out of him, too.

[something_or_other]

[Chelsea. Chelsea please. That's actually a good idea, but you're already having too much fun here just by encouraging her.

That poor fool's having too much fun as well, by the way; he's started repeating the word "kitty" in an incredibly childish mocking tone, either unaware of or completely ignoring Bunny's looking angrier and angrier with each repetition.

Until he takes a spiked ball to the face with a very audible smack. Only a smack, though, and not a crack, showing that, as surprising as it might be, Bunny is capable of holding back. Besides, that guy needs his face mostly intact so he can actually talk.]

So how about you cut the kitty crap and just tell us what's going on and where we are, okay?

["You're in the Netherworld, duh. As for what happened, I dunno, it looks like the Dimensional Gate broke or something? Just please don't hit me with that thing again, ki—" He shrinks back a bit at that glare. Or the sight of the Spike Hammer. Possibly both. "—miss."]

[ladderalbeatdown]

The Netherworld, huh...that explains all of the demons and the dark aura around the castle.

(Chelsea rubs her chin in thought.)

I'm sure it's a nice place and all, but we have things to do back home. How do we fix the gate?

[something_or_other]

["How should I know— Whoa, WHOA!" Unsurprisingly, Bunny's started to advance on the poor guy. "I'm not the guy to ask about that, you'll want to go take it up with Fiona!"]

As if we're gonna know anybody by name around here. Why don't you just point us to her before you lose your teeth?

[Following the request exactly and doing nothing more than that, he points off in the gatekeeper's general direction. Which is relatively-crowded thanks to additional arrivals milling around the place.

So helpful.]