[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/OoZx09i.png[/img][/center][indent][quote][b]ITEM GET![/b]

[b]Royal sceptre[/b]
[indent] A golden rod adorned by a variety of gemstones. An item fit only to be wielded by the greatest of monarchs.
[/indent][/quote][/indent]
Cyrus took a few moments to examine the item that had somehow worked its way out of the strange machine.The object was about the size of his arm, and definitely more expensive-looking than anything he ever had the pleasure of holding in his hands. It was hard to think this was essentially his payment for some legal advice… to a homicidal teddy bear. Somehow, he figured this might the most ordinary thing that would happen in this place. He kept inspecting the item as he walked further, intending to explore a different area now. Why had such an object been in a machine like that in the first place? He would hold onto this to present to the rest later. Perhaps if others collected these coins from Monokuma, they could get items that could aid them in this place. It was a small hope, but better than nothing.

The first time Cyrus really looked away was when he noticed what was essentially an enormous hole in the wall of the hospital. He stood still, gawking for a bit. Was this always here? He couldn’t remember. The politician actually didn’t visit Axis Mundi that often, so it was very possible. He then averted his eyes slightly to the side to read ‘Aladdin's Palace’ on the plaque next to it. Cyrus scratched his head before shrugging and taking a few steps in. Who knows what he could find? Perhaps even an exit? No, he wouldn’t be that lucky.

The politician managed to only peek inside the darkness for a little before he could hear another voice from entrance. He turned around with a shrug. If he was going to explore this place, it probably would be better with company. As he heard the female’s voice voice her thoughts, he felt inclined to talk as he stepped out of the darkness. [color=D1c2bf]
“I was thinking exactly the same thing. As to why there would be an actual damn cave here, your guess is as good as mine.”[/color] Cyrus kept up his dignified appearance as he talked, despite the somewhat overly dramatic appearance. Yet, leaving a lasting first impression was perhaps more important than anything else they would discuss.

The blonde woman jolted at the his sudden appearance from behind the shadows of the cave. She let out an embarrassing squeal of surprise as her head snapped towards his direction with a hand pressed against her chest to calm her undoubtedly racing heart. She stared at him for a moment as if she were trying to confirm to herself that she was in no danger, before narrowing her eyes at herself. [color=6c9b8f]“Eeee?”[/color] She shook her head. [color=6c9b8f]“God, I’ve really hit rock bottom now…”[/color] She didn’t seem to notice the pun that had slipped past her lips in the midst of everything.

There was another moment of silence as she took the time to calm back down. Only when she felt like she could, she spoke again. [color=6c9b8f]“Is the dramatic entrance really necessary, Mister bis— Brandon.”[/color] She smoothly recovered. She looked sheepish, but laughed to herself as if she was sharing an inside joke with, well, herself. She remained polite, though relaxed as she looked around the cave once more. 

When she remembered the plate of sandwiches still in her possession, Krista offered one to the taller man. Cyrus took the offered sandwich, thanking the blonde for the offer as Krista continued to question Cyrus.

[color=6c9b8f]“As for the cave… [i]why[/i] is this necessary? I mean, if the goal was to lock us up to have us kill each other, then surely this cave isn’t an escape.”[/color] She looked puzzled, an expression that never left her face since she had stepped into Aladdin’s Palace whilst exploring the resort. [color=6c9b8f]“WAIT! What if this is another death trap!?”[/color] Her eyes then widened, and she took a step back.

Cyrus only slightly rose his brow at her pun, and her nearly calling him a bishi [color=D1c2bf]”Cyrus will be fine. You are… Krista Müller, correct?”[/color] He briefly showed her a gentle smile. [color=D1c2bf]”It is a pleasure to meet you.”[/color] He threw his sceptre from his right hand into his left, before extending his hand to Krista.

Krista nodded, stepping forward once again to extend her hand out for him in return, the plate held tightly in her other hand. [color=6c9b8f]“Nice to know you as something other than the bishi contender of the year, eh?”[/color] She chuckled weakly, hoping that humour would help her in this situation. [color=6c9b8f]“Right, sorry, I’ll stop that.”[/color] 

His face then turned back into something more business-like as he focussed to the matter at hand. [color=D1c2bf]”Anyway, I sincerely doubt the cave holds something that significant. However, I think it is wise to explore our every possibility… quite literally.”[/color] He then turned to the cave. [color=D1c2bf]This place might hold something useful. A clue, perhaps? I doubt the bear had intended it as a death trap. He seemed quite fixated on us killing each other.”[/color] He paused for a few seconds. [color=D1c2bf]”I would very much welcome some company.”[/color]

She hummed in agreement. What Cyrus said made sense, but Krista still didn’t have a pleasant expression on her face. [color=6c9b8f]“It won’t happen,”[/color] she said, as if trying to convince herself. [color=6c9b8f]“We’ll all get out of here alive, there’s no need for anyone to die.”[/color] She paused, as if just realising how serious she sounded. She laughed again, waving a hand as if to clear the air before continuing. [color=6c9b8f]“Investigate the cave for a clue? Alright! Now my hours of rewatching Scooby Doo will [i]finally[/i] be worth it!”[/color] With a new spring in her steps, Krista bounded forward deeper into the dimly lit caves. [color=6c9b8f]“If we can find a clue that helps us escape, then I don’t even need to look for that music room!”[/color]

Cyrus wasn’t as optimistic as she was regarding the chances of everyone getting out alive. It only took one, and that wasn’t a lot to ask for in situations like these. [color=D1c2bf]”Scooby Doo?”[/color] Cyrus repeated, then sighing as he understood what she meant. [color=D1c2bf]”I’d appreciate it if you didn’t compare our situation to a children's’ cartoon.”[/color] He took his first steps into the cave, gesturing to Krista to follow. [color=D1c2bf]”I understand that you’re the infinite violinist and all, but I feel the music room would be a bit lower on the priority list.”[/color]

Krista made a face at his serious demeanor. Sure, the situation they were in wasn't the best, but what was the point of surviving if you couldn't have a positive outlook on things? [color=6c9b8f]"You took that the wrong way, I meant that I could finally be of use for once."[/color] Didn't matter, the joke was already ruined. She followed behind, shrugging when Cyrus gave his opinion about the music room. [color=6c9b8f]“It's not a big priority, no."[/color] She agreed. [color=6c9b8f]"But should we not find an escape route today, I figured we might have something to look forward to."[/color] Krista crossed her arms against her chest, looking around the cave as they walked further inside.

Cyrus shrugged slightly in response. [color=D1c2bf]“There are many ways to be useful besides collecting evidence. In your case, I feel you're more of a moodmaker? With the puns and all.”[/color] He told her as they entered the dark caves. [color=D1c2bf]“Don't underestimate the use of that. Even if you never know it, it might save some lives.”[/color] He flashed a grin instead of the usual, serious looks. 

The inside of the cave was somehow less scary than the evil, robot-filled hospital they had come from. And as they walked, they encountered a surprising amount of colors coming in the form of a varied assortment of rocks and crystals. Despite the dark and eerie undertones, Cyrus could not help but appreciate the beauty this place offered.

The grin took Krista by surprise, her movement pausing momentarily as she tried to recall what caused the buzz kill to suddenly [i]smile[/i]. Maybe it was the politician charm, but it caused Krista to smile. [color=6c9b8f]“Well, I have [i]plenty[/i] of jokes, though I can’t exactly promise quality.”[/color] She then hastened her steps so she was ahead of Cyrus, turning to face him whilst walking backwards in front of him.

[color=6c9b8f]“Okay, so I got this one. Tell me what you think... Why did the penguins cross the road?”[/color] Krista waited for a moment to lt Cyrus think about it, before answering. [color=6c9b8f]“To go with the [i]floe[/i].”[/color] 

[i]Ba dum tss.[/i]

A beat later, the smile died as she scratched her cheek awkwardly. [color=6c9b8f]“Though it didn’t work as well for the penguins I watched on that documentary that one time…”[/color] She added.

Cyrus swore he could hear a cicada’s chirp through the silent cave after she made that pun. He had been happy before when she seemed to cheer up, but he indeed had to question her talent as a comedian. [color=D1c2bf]“... So… what happened to the penguins?”[/color] He asked, somewhat awkwardly, to keep some kind of conversation going as they leisurely walked further through the cave.

No response to the joke? Tough crowd. Krista brushed it off, as the conversation steered from her comedic ability to the documentary she mentioned. [color=6c9b8f]“Well,”[/color] she dragged out the word, making an unpleasant expression on her face as she tried to find the best way to tell him about the documentary. [color=6c9b8f]“I watched a documentary that showed a snippet into the lives of penguins living off some island I can't pronounce, and at one point we were shown the penguins jumping off the cliff to get into the water and get food. That was cool, looked like spring breakers having fun. Well, if we ignore the misjumps and pain…”[/color] She winced at the memory. [color=6c9b8f]“But the worst part was when the penguins got the food, but had to get back up the cliff back to their young. They had to ride the current and jump onto the cliff at the right moment but... well, the water was too rough and some died… Let’s just say I did [i]not[/i] like that ending, even if seeing the penguins making it home to their babies was the sweetest sight ever.”[/color] 

[color=D1c2bf]“That's… huh.”[/color] Cyrus said, momentarily perplexed at the shift the conversation had taken. [color=D1c2bf]“I guess that is the way of nature. Though I can imagine the portrayal must've been very… disheartening.”[/color] He has a rough time trying to find his way in this conversation. [color=D1c2bf]“But all we have to do is be the surviving penguins, right?”[/color] He said, laughing a little at the ridiculousness of the statement, despite its truth.

[color=6c9b8f]“Yeah!”[/color] Krista cheered, agreeing with the ridiculously hopeful statement. [color=6c9b8f]“We should strive to be the penguins that survive the wave and go home to their young… or... er, family in some of our cases.”[/color] Krista then turned back around to walk normally beside Cyrus.  

Cyrus chuckled at the violinist. [color=D1c2bf]“indeed, we just have to survive.”[/color] He answered. [color=D1c2bf]“Whatever happens, we just simply have to. Options must present themselves eventually.”[/color]  He felt himself also growing slightly more confident at the statement. It was then that they hit a dead end. Cyrus sighed a little. [color=D1c2bf]“Well, at least we confirmed there's no clues here.”[/color]

Cyrus’s hopeful statements made Krista grin brightly, at least until they reached the dead end. Krista deflated at the lack of clues. [color=6c9b8f]“O-boe-y.”[/color] She looked around, disappointedly. [color=6c9b8f]“Will it be too much to ask for a secret trap door in here somewhere? That's usually what happens in Scooby Doo.”[/color] To make her point, she approached the wall to touch a crystal protruding from the rocks, carefully balancing the plate of sandwiches in her other hand. When nothing happened, she looked at Cyrus from over her shoulder. [color=6c9b8f]“Yeeeeeeaah there's nothing. Let's head back, maybe we’ll find something on our way out.”[/color]

Cyrus waved dismissively at Krista as she checked for secret trap doors. [color=D1c2bf]“We’d have to literally check every nook and cranny of this cave for something that might not even be there. We have no reason to.”[/color] He then lead the girl out of the cave. As they walked, they could hear a somewhat muffled voice speaking over the intercom, which was not that audible from within the cave. However, Cyrus managed to pick up it was nothing of import.

The closer they walked towards the entrance to the cave, the louder the voice appeared on the intercom. Krista’s ears perked, but realised it wasn’t relevant for her. [color=6c9b8f]“I suppose you’re right then.”[/color] Krista gave up on her mission to find a secret entrance, keeping pace with the politician. [color=6c9b8f]“Then what if I suggest we return to the lounge? I…. got way too many sandwiches and I’m getting a little tired holding this plate.”[/color] She sheepishly asked, raising it slightly to bring attention to the many sandwiches still on her plate. [color=6c9b8f]“Hell, maybe some have returned from their own investigations and found some clue outta here.”[/color]

Cyrus simply nodded in response. It was all Krista needed, smiling once again. [color=6c9b8f]“Off we go to meet with the rest of the penguins of Axis Mundi! Hopefully they might have some good news for us!”[/color] Krista laughed cheerfully as the two headed back to the lounge together.