[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tfV5JeK.png[/img]
Level 7: 11/70
Word Count: 815
Location: Dirtmouth
Points Gained: 2 (+4)
NEW EXP balance--- Level 7: 17/70 (pending)[/center]

	Jesse took a seat in the metro with the others, brushing a strand of red hair out of her forehead. She did a brief headcount.

	[i]Don’t think everyone made it to where they wanted to go. Well, I did all I could. I didn’t make the mistake of going too easy on my opponents this time, at least. I’m interested in seeing more of this beetle-topia situation.[/i]

	Jesse patiently waited her turn for the lift, observing and admiring the stately architecture of the terminus. [i]Bowser is way too big to be moving like that. It’d be unnerving if it wasn’t so…adorable? He’s like a big dragon cat turtle.[/i]

	Glancing around, she spotted a sign that gave information about the rest of the Purple Line. MTT Resort and Queen’s Station- how far away were they? There wasn’t much there in terms of usefulness to objectives as far as she could tell, though they both certainly looked like interesting places. This place, according to a dusty sign, was the Dirtmouth Stag Station…which, from what the residents at Queen’s Station had told her, was well, well above Queen’s Station.

	[i]We’re gonna have to find the Guardian somehow. But this place is ginormous. It could be anywhere, guarded by who knows what kind of freaky underground monsters. I hope it’s not just keeping its head down somewhere or this’ll be a slog. What the hell would we do if the Guardian was an immortal roach hiding under a rock in miles and miles of cave network? I don’t imagine it’s that, though, if the last Guardian was any indication. Still, there’s gotta be a way to find out what the Guardian is and a rough location. Maybe Organization 13 will help us out again, if they’re so inclined. Or maybe that Master Hand thing I’ve heard so much about will give us a clue again. I’m assuming there has to be some kind of reason for all this, but it could genuinely just be some bureaucratic bullshit in a file somewhere that mandates a certain amount of monologues and clues. Wouldn’t be the first time.[/i]

	Once they were up the lift, Jesse squinted against the sunlight and peered around at the small, sad bug town. Omori made a grand introduction. Jesse glanced over at him. “Have you been here before, Omori?” She asked off-handedly.

 Despite it being so utterly alien on the surface, it reminded her of the many forgotten towns she had passed through and stayed in during her life after Ordinary. 

	[i]Honestly? The biggest difference is that this place actually has a train line. And, from the looks of it…[/i]

	She glanced around at the very busy workers. [i]It still has an economy. Bizarre. Wonder why this place is so empty, then? Is there some magnate somewhere pushing all the locals out? Or maybe it’s just a result of Galeem’s little doll house project. Things don’t have to make sense, they just have to look the part. It’s anyone’s guess though- we’re just passing through. [/i] Jesse approached the beginning of the quarry and peered over the edge, taking in it’s massive depth with an appreciative whistle. Hearing the word ‘Dirtmouth’ she tuned into the conversation Primrose and Therion were having with the Elderbug.

	Jesse waved once to the Elderbug and nodded her head, a familiar gesture like they were old friends. Then she looked at Therion. “My best guess is that the Guardian is somewhere between here and Queen’s Station, since that seemed like the lowest level. But from what they told us there, this place is way, way above Queen’s Station. So we’ve got our work cut out for us in terms of a search.” She said. Then she glanced over at Kamek.

	“Yep. I don’t have a flashlight on me. I do, however, have a very tiny car in my pocket.” Jesse said…wisely.

	“Be on the lookout for headlamps. I imagine we’ll need our hands in order to fight all the giant monsters that are no doubt eagerly awaiting our arrival. If we brought some heavier duty lights, I could shrink them and carry ‘em with us to expand and use later, too. Though, after that, my jacket will officially be out of pockets.” She admitted. “Need a backpack or something.”

	“I’m also a little low on cash…” She said, rolling her shoulder. “So. I probably can’t pay for anything unless we want to stick around to do some odd jobs. Or just…regular jobs. I’ve been told I’m pretty good with a mop.”

	Jesse turned and saw Omori heading down a path, with some of the Koopa Troop’s minions scouting ahead. She didn’t mind that the group would spread itself out a little, but she didn’t want any member to be too isolated. From a short distance away she traced Omori’s footsteps, making her way down the sloping surface of the aptly named Dirtmouth.