[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wP0Rsrb.png[/img]
[color=DEBA42]LOCATION:[/color]The Maw
[color=DEBA42]WORD COUNT:[/color]883(+2 EXP)
[color=DEBA42]MENTIONS:[/color] Nadia 
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As the doors closed, Mirage let the silence after Moreau's final cry linger for a moment. Against everything, they'd made it out. Equal in number, yet, still missing one. His gaze wandered in the crowded space, eyeing Sakura still in possession of the Dart Gun for a moment before deciding to look down at the floor as he thought about the events that transpired. He felt an odd confliction, knowing he saw himself-- Or a version of himself, given live in something else, get killed. It's words echoed in his mind as he pulled on his goggles, seeing a little engraved "E" on the strap, with an assortment of small smiley faces. He had to wonder if it was too far gone to realize their mission had failed, at least on it's end. That left him carrying the torch for them both now: Get out of here, find mom. Wherever she was.

In a way, the horrific experience steeled his resolve. He was starving, and just about ready to keel over from a stiff breeze, but he wasn't ready to just lay down in the elevator and die. Blazermate's healing helped with that, though he kinda wished that walking microwave came with a food-beam, too. His back felt a bit itchy, and by reaching back it was easy to find his shirt was damaged from the acid. That, and he had some sections of skin that felt a little off. As an adult, he'd gotten a bit of damage on his face, but the magazines said that gave him a 'rugged handsome rogue' appeal, so maybe a few back scars would do the same. He had time to question ladies on that after he got out alive, though. And after he got some food in his stomach.

He pulled himself up as the elevator audibly began to slow. The calm was bringing him down from his more panicked state, and he shuffled out of the elevator like a damned zombie. He eyed Nadia as she slumped over, having done enough of that in the elevator but he was only wasting whatever meager time he had left. Like it or not, hunger and thirst were killers. And as his body cried from the inside, an absolutely feral growl being what came from his stomach, he tried to keep in mind what he said to Geralt before. But that only made him think of what Geralt had said, too. Maybe being cursed was better than dead. 

He fought the two methods in his mind, a fictionalized process of Mirage and Geralt in a boxing ring with Nadia as the ring girl, staring off blankly into space momentarily as he continued walking the line between going crazy and just being himself. This broadcast was put on hold as his thoughts were interrupted by Nadia's laughter, and words that shot a bit of fear into him from the sign of her giving up. Not that he could blame her, he couldn't run anymore. All that parkour crap was long gone, and the next time they had to run, he was probably going to die. If he didn't just fall over dead first, that is.

[color=DEBA42]"As least we got to spite that creepy fish guy!"[/color] He would've wished for more revenge, but he'd take what they got. He lost, and that obviously stung more than any of the pain he'd taken. If anything, the small spiteful gogglehead was glad he'd starve instead! Doesn't give anyone the satisfaction of beating him! It just means he beat himself! Realizing his own desperation with this thought process, he deflated, arms weakly dangling in front of him as he slightly slumped forward, looking close to just toppling at some point.

Stupidity ending at a whispered word he couldn't quite hear, Mirage turned his head towards Nadia. [color=DEBA42]"Eh?"[/color] He reacted with a tilted head, following after her as she declared more clearly that she caught the scent of some food. Mirage did, too, as they got closer. Though the sight was partially disheartening as it was practically taunting them behind bars. Nadia's attempt to squeeze through made it obvious he wouldn't, and he was still not feeling right about eating, so that also halted any attempt.

Raising his hands defensively at the sight of the child on the other side of the bars, he winced at their intent to offer Nadia some food, which instantly sent him into alert. [color=DEBA42]"Wait--"[/color] It was already too late. She snacked it down faster than he could speak, and his mental state went back to the boxing match. In which Geralt was on the ground with cartoony X's over his eyes, Mirage trying to defend himself with his equally idiotic and thoughtful mind. [color=DEBA42]"I-Isn't the food like, [i]cursed?[/i]"[/color] He cautiously questioned, watching Nadia for any abnormalities. 

She just became a guinea pig to see how real of a claim that was. And that was making Mirage feel really anxious. He backed away from the bars somewhat, unsure of what the result of this would be. But, maybe it'd be a sign things were alright? Mirage had his doubts, with the hellish situation so far. He started to note that possibly he wouldn't have a choice, but while he still had a little time he'd observe. 

[color=DEBA42]"Do you feel like, weird at all?"[/color]