[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tPO8Q9V.png[/img]
[color=DEBA42]LOCATION:[/color]The Maw
[color=DEBA42]WORD COUNT:[/color]1,126(+2 EXP)
[color=DEBA42]MENTIONS:[/color] Sakura, Rika, Bowser, Junior, Kamek
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Mirage was both glad and concerned when Larry plucked Bella from her place above the flames. They had to move, and [i]now.[/i] Unfortunately as they got closer to the butcher, Mirage realized his lack of weaponry meant piercing the boots the man wore would be impossible. But, between the chaos around them, another factor added in: Larry seemed to be surprised by something. Looking up, a familiar tail was visible and a clear indication for their attack to start now rather than later, as Bella seemed awake! Was it all a trick on her end? The girls wept to get him to take her down? They were crazy, but it worked so he couldn't argue too much with it. 

He winced at the blows Link and Geralt delivered, watching Larry tumble helplessly. Rushing forward as Bella was dragged off the table above, the pathetic sight of Larry now that the tables had turned wasn't going to get much in the way of mercy from him. Stabs, choking, and being shot were all fair game. He'd approach with the others, try to finish things so they could get the others down. Though, a certain piece of brutality he wasn't expecting came up that changed his plans.

Bella's tail digging into Larry spouted blood as the lights flickered, Mirage finding his face covered in splatter. Considering he experienced more than his fair share of close-combat situations, this wasn't anything new. But there was an odd feeling lurking in his mind, and causing a tremble straight from his gut. His hand slowly raised up to wipe a finger across his own face, observing the blood with wide and dilated eyes. His tongue slightly slipped out from between his lips, swiping to the left and catching a hint of Larry's blood into his mouth. It wasn't the same copper taste of blood, it was oddly more enjoyable. Tempting, even. Though Larry, despite his durability, seemed nothing more than human.

His eyes darted between Bella and the blood on his finger. The taste ran through his mind, as the temptation to follow after her rang out in his thoughts. But, the humanity in Mirage, as well as the horror he felt in regards to the knowledge he'd come across already, brought him to panic instead of act on these urges. He shook, as if a newfound addiction was being forced away, but tried to stand strong as the only person who could stop it was himself. And if he felt this way, something had to have changed. The food, perhaps? Regret filled his mind, he should've just trusted the others about not eating.

The only one who had the opportunity to stop Mirage at this point was himself.

Gripping the dart gun, he braced himself as he swung the pistol at his own head with full force, pain rattling through his skull upon contact. [color=DEBA42]"[i]Hell no![/i]"[/color] His shouts became less cohesive upon each swing despite being weaker than the initial one, the boy literally beating himself backwards until he was against one of the legs of the table Larry used for his butchering duties. He slid down to a sitting position, feeling dazed from his own strikes, trying to center his thoughts. He wasn't going to go that far: Something like that was beyond human, and a line he'd try and kill himself over before partaking in. He had to organize, focus on something else. Anything else. He couldn't even bring himself to look back towards Larry to see how the others reacted, or explain. Maybe it was selfish, but he didn't feel like he had a choice. He had to pull away before he made a horrible mistake. 

Slowly, he shifted away. Pushing himself up, he was stumbling but conscious. He looked up towards Sakura, and Rika. That was it, the distraction he needed to stay away from the ordeal. To keep that new developed urge from going further. It wasn't a good view of Mirage for the girls, considering he made no real attempt to wipe the blood from his face due to the previous shock. But he had a focus now, at least. Away from the human being he was quickly beginning to identify as just 'meat'.

But how the hell was he going to get them down? Scouting revealed no sinks on this floor, and he couldn't get liquid from the lower floor all the way up here. Shaking his aching head, he needed to find something and fast. [color=DEBA42]"Don't worry--"[/color] Yeah, with the stuff going on with the fat guy, like that'd do a lot of good? [color=DEBA42]"I-I'll find a way to get that fire put out!"[/color]

Keeping faced away from the gruesome display, Mirage darted off towards the explosion's source. Whoever caused it, he figured it had to be one of them, right? The door was the locked one, and apparently it was also barricaded if the site of the explosion was any indication. Any chance to avoid that terrifying hunger was ideal, and considering some of the others had partaken in food... Maybe setting another objective was a good idea, until after Larry was a Spirit. The horrific scene going on behind Mirage as his bloody-faced self ran up to try and make progress on their rescue wasn't pleasant, but he seemed more relieved to be away from the scene than bothered by the mess he currently was. [color=DEBA42]"Oh [i]man![/i] Do you guys have perfect timing."[/color] He sighed, unsure who's idea it was for the explosive, but considering Kamek's usual caution he was ruled out pretty fast. Speaking of fast, Mirage decided to throw down a quick explanation of what exactly the hell was going on.

[color=DEBA42]"Everyone's alive, but there's a fire beneath the girls. We'll need to put that out before we can get them down, the chef up here is..."[/color] Mirage didn't look back, but his expression did display some discomfort. [color=DEBA42]"Being taken care of. So no worries, there."[/color]

To get back on track, he'd have to ask: [color=DEBA42]"You guys see a sink or anything on your end? If we can douse that fire the rescue is done at least, the only water source on this side is downstairs."[/color] Hopefully they didn't end up in a dead-end scenario from lack of water, which would be absurdly painful considering they were both on a boat, and just got done dealing with a flooded area prior. [color=DEBA42]"Which currently sounds like a warzone. I'm guessing the others decided to make some noise down there."[/color]

When things were less of a panic, perhaps telling Kamek about the assumed side-effects of the food would be a good idea. But knowing Bowser and Junior had chowed down, getting them on the water effort seemed safer than them maybe falling into the interests of the Maw's live meat.