[DAY 0] TDM.

[panopte]

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Error in final launch sequence:
Failed to execute MI command:
target remote localhost: 01633
Error message from debugger back end:
Cannot access memory at address 𝟹͚̽𝚡̰̍̂𝟸̠̯̘ͭͧ𝚌̭͉̺͖ͥ𝟿̳̰̒̇ͅ𝟷̦ͣ̉͌̅𝚋͓͎̈̒̀𝟻ͭ̌͂𝟷ͩ̓𝟾̦
Failed to execute MI command:
target remote localhost: 01633
Error message from debugger back end:
Cannot access memory at address 𝟹̖͇͕̃𝚡͉̹̯͇̻̉̓̂𝟸͚̹͈͓̩͚̲̼͒̾𝚌̱̠͙̝̪͇̈̌̂̃̄ͭ𝟿̱̜̪͓̳̹ͤ̊̈́ͦͥ̑𝟷͖̱̝̀̒̇̂̄̈́̓̇ͅ𝚋̥̯͉̹͛͛̊ͤͦͩ𝟻̬̮̈́̋ͯ͛̉̐𝟷̋ͩ̔̔𝟾̼
Waiting for debugger connection...
Debugger connected
Debugger connection lost.
Waiting for debugger connection...
Debugger connected
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Debugger connection lost.
Shutting down...
Rebooting
Download in Progress:
File download complete
Time elapsed during download operation: 00:12:33.131
Rebooting
Launching Demon Summoning Program. . .

You open your eyes to the end of the world, but you do not see it.

Instead what rouses you is screaming and crying, blood and tears: all around you are signs of life. Inside the overturned train, people begin to awaken, sprawled on the ground as if thrown violently from their seats, broken bones and bleeding wounds struggling to rise from the carpet of shattered glass from the windows at their feet. Emerging from the wreck, characters will find themselves at the edge of a dense forest, a towering stone wall at their backs. Bright eyes peer out from the shadows of the foliage, more and more blinking into view like stars in a darkening sky, but despite being drawn to the scent of blood that hangs heavy in the air, nothing steps out of the forest. Not yet.

None of the passengers can recall what happened, what they were doing on a train, where it was going- there's more they can't remember, but overshadowing the gaps of memory are things they have gained in return. A familiar item that is not theirs. A gemstone that feels lighter than it appears, as if hollow inside. And a device that wraps around their wrist (or rests on their head, or hangs around their neck, or however it presents itself to each character) that starts up on its own the moment the character turns their attention to it, as if waiting. Each character's COMP has a "navigator" selected at default, either "A☆L☆A" in bright neon orange, or "K5" in cool slate blue, although the presiding navigator can be freely switched between them.

Heya, boss! My name's Ala, your new navi!

You wanna know something really funny? Go ahead and touch the map on the corner of the screen to enlarge it. See all those little red dots? Those are demons out to kill you. Haha! You're surrounded!

Heya, boss! You can call me Keigo, your navigational AI.

If you touch the map on the corner of the screen, you can enlarge it and see the positions of all your allies. Looks like some of you are already heading out: see those little blue— oh. That one just disappeared. ... Try to stick together.

Along with providing a map with enemy/ally positions, the navigators will walk characters through the demon interaction, recruitment, and summoning processes, with advice varying between the two navigators (click to expand)

Just beat 'em up and force 'em to join! They can't say no if they're dead!

Nobody is immune to bribery, not even demons. What do you even have, though...? No matter what, don't let them get that life stone.

More demons incoming! Ooh, you're screwed. You'd better run! Don't worry, I won't tell.

Let's hide here. We'll wait here until that demon passes, then move!

Look, a body! Are they still alive? Wonder what's in their pockets...?

It's already too late to help. But better them being demon food than you.

Or, you could stay. There is nothing forcing anybody to leave the relative safety of the train. Those who stay behind will find the conductor's cabin empty, save for a small black cat perched on the headrest of the driver's seat that peers out with bright golden eyes at those who enter. Otherwise, there are no signs of a fight or struggle inside the cabin. Elsewhere, there is unclaimed luggage in the overhead compartments with an abundance of clothing and blankets, although characters will not find any of their own clothing except what they're already wearing. The dining cart is still stocked with enough food and beverage to last each passenger at least two days— maybe longer, if people keep leaving/dying... But at the same time, maybe shorter, considering the pervasive hunger that gnaws at the pits of everybody's stomachs, an emptiness that yearns to be filled by something... more.

As minutes stretch into hours, it becomes painfully clear that nobody is coming to help. Everybody only has each other, this town, its inhabitants. The forest is dark and unforgiving, near impossible to navigate even with a map. Strange creatures jump out from the shadows, eyes bright, mouths salivating, hungry. Strong hands claw through the dirt underfoot to grab at people's feet, pulling themselves up, mouths wide open, hungry. Sharp talons swoop down from the skies above, snatching characters up into the air, crushing skulls and snapping spines. Hungry. The demons here seem delighted to see such a feast wandering right into their home; those who are stopped for attempted conversation express surprise that characters are able to see them, but ultimately the hunger wins, and hunger does not listen to reason.

Casualties are inevitable. Blood mist permeates the air, and follows even as characters break out of the forest and across town, all the way to the fraying end of the world. Out in the open, however, the sun rays beat down bright and harsh, and those hungry eyes shy away from the sunlight to remain in the shadows, inside husks of buildings and thickets of overgrown fields. Characters will be able to find refuge in the greenhouse and the church, and some of the standing houses are truly vacant (as opposed to "surprise! there's actually a demon inside!" vacant); the only eyes that follow you are those of photographs hung crooked on the walls, of familiar strangers and forgotten friends. Look, there's a picture of you too.

Other locations require more caution to explore:

The sound of crying can be heard from the upper stories of the school building, thin wails echoing up and down the deserted halls, and human-like shadows peer out from the broken, unboarded windows, as if watching. A barricade inside the front doors makes it difficult to enter from the main entrance, and with most of the windows boarded up, the hallways inside remain dark even during the day. The smell of rot is prominent, heavy and cloying, especially in the auditorium-become-mausoleum that is littered with crushed bones, thin and brittle, every last scrap of flesh already nibbled away. A flock of demons crowd around outside principal's office, where a blizzard blows through the entire hallway, rendering visibility near zero and temperatures below that.

The hospital is also deathly cold, breath visible in puffs of mist that sometimes form into screaming faces, and when all is still and quiet, you look up and see yourself. Shadows form into mirror images of the characters who enter the hospital, silently approaching others and attacking once the person's guard is down. If a demon borrowing your face isn't bad enough, Phantoms go a step further and take the form of people who are close to your character: friends, family, foes. Exploring the hospital may or may not be worth the potential backstabbing, considering the fact that the supplies found are maybe not the most sterile, half the equipment is rusted or corroded, and a lot of the medicine is unlabeled tablets and capsules inside unlabeled bottles (essentially, take at your own risk). Moreover, hordes of all sorts of demon ghosts will bar characters' way down to the basement, gathering in massive numbers anytime somebody tries to descend. Electricity bounces around the top of the stairway down, while bright flames lick the bottom of the stairs; particularly unlucky characters may be hit with a confusion spell, liable to throw themselves headfirst down the stairs to be consumed by the waiting demons below.

Hauntingly beautiful music can be heard from within the concert hall, and listening to their song puts you fast asleep— possibly in the middle of the street if you're not careful— while those who manage to make it past the front doors are immediately frozen in a hunk of ice or electrocuted to a crisp before being kicked to the curb. The concert hall appears to be actively guarded, and it's clear that strangers are Not Welcome. Even the other demons keep clear of this building, drawn to the music but lingering far enough to not be overwhelmed. Characters may have an easier time of initiating conversations with demons from around town or inside the houses nearby the concert hall.

The crackle of electricity can be heard from inside the power plant's upper stories despite the blackout, and the entire building shakes from time to time, as if caught in a thunderstorm, or an earthquake. A slow drip... drip... drip... can be heard throughout the building, of amorphous demons clinging to the walls like mold and leaving puddles of caustic acid Everywhere. Anybody who enters the power plant's front entrance is met with a massive agglomerate of black Ooze that has expanded to fill the entire first floor from wall to wall, floor to ceiling, preventing anybody from going upstairs while it remains. Arms and legs poke out of the demon's body in places, desperately clawing and kicking, weaker, weaker. done.

OOC

»

Welcome to Day 0! What better meet-and-greet is there than everybody being tossed into the fray to fight for their lives? ('': For convenience, here are the game info, locations, and demon compendium pages; please use these as reference for what more can be found in the setting.

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The characters' COMP will turn on only after they notice and focus on it. If they do NOT activate the COMP, they will not be able to see the demons or interact with them in any way other than being killed. Activating the COMP will allow characters to see demons and somewhat understand their language, with an added effect of allowing physical attacks to harm demons, and mitigating the damage taken from demons.

»

For characters who app and are accepted, please report demon recruitment here. Characters who are just tdming do not have to report. Recruited demons are inclined to listen to their summoner, but are not necessarily friendly at the beginning: if your character shows weakness, the demon may be just as likely to eat them as they are to protect them.

»

There will be no NPCs in this game other than the two navigators and some key demons. You're on your own for now!

»

This first event/tdm is open to the public, and can be used for test driving at any time after the game starts. I'll be keeping a pulse on threads for when characters have gotten their bearings and seem to have a general idea of how they want to proceed into the next day, and we'll go from there.

Comments

Armin Arlert | Attack on Titan | ota (please see CWs in journal nav)

[thebomb]

the train;

[A sticky situation, huh? Well, what else is new? There is nothing for Armin to do but jump into action. He's a Commander, after all, right? A failed one, sure, but there is that every irritating impulse to continue fighting anyway. If he couldn't do it back home, why now?

[Because people are going to die if he doesn't.

[Amidst the panic, he tries to command what attention he can. Those beginning to spiral into distress or wander toward the forest will find him in their path, blue eyes locked on theirs.]

Please wait. I understand that you're confused, but we need to tread carefully. [His eyes move to the forest.]

Whatever they are, they aren't coming toward us. Come back to the train. Let's put together a plan.

tech support;

[Armin's never been one for pride. The device on his wrist is entirely foreign to him. Amidst the chaos, he's been trying his level best to figure out how to use the strange watch, but the technology is overwhelming at best - incomprehensible at worst.

[He searches for someone using their device and makes a casual bee line.]

Excuse me. [His voice is amicable, but serious. Tensions are high wherever they turn.] I'd like to ask for your help. I'll return it in kind, of course.

[He lifts his wrist with the attached device.] It benefits us all to work together right now. Please, allow me this lesson.

rescue; cw: violence

[He's tired of watching people fucking die.

[You've found yourselves in the claws of a demon. Armin tried to warn others not to go into the forest.

[Of course, there's a certain type of person who will always refuse to listen.

[So, he makes his entrance. With two razor sharp blades, larger than machetes, in each hand, he launches himself at the creature, severing limbs until he can reach the head and cut it off clean.

[This one was easy. This one went well. The next one might not, and Armin isn't invincible anymore.]

Please excuse me. [His voice is tight. Without your permission, he scoops you up under one arm, then uses the other to fire a grappling hook into one of the trees. The two are flung from branch to branch. Where are you headed? Either back to the train or back to the town, depending on when Armin manages to snatch you. He'll relay that information kindly, despite your personal temperment.]

concert hall cover;

[Armin learned the hard way about the concert hall. Falling asleep in the middle of the street certainly isn't ideal, but considering what he saw when someone tried to enter just before, he's actually grateful that he never made it in.

[Someone else is about to make the same mistake.

[He doesn't know how long he'll have to keep himself awake before the music takes him again too, but he's seen what he's seen - he can't let it be.

[So, he rushes over, shouting, firm, as if a command:] Hold on! Cover your ears now!

wildcard;

((ooc: Hi! I'm Panthera! I'm dying to explore this setting as much as possible and get all sorts of interactions, so please feel free to throw me anything. Armin will generally be running around trying to rescue people, tend to the injured - will also be investigating everything they can, and may come up to your character to try joining in on their investigation, etc.. If you want to plot, you can PM my journal, or catch me on plurk at pantheraliam; would love to add people planning on joining))

local fake person offers tech support

[flickerback]

[He’s chosen a decent target; Yuri’s been on her damn phone practically since waking up. She’s seated on a train car (not in the proper way, of course; it’s overturned, as with just about everything else), and the young man’s approach visibly startles her.

[From one screen-fixated fugue to another, anyway. Eye contact is fleeting and strangely difficult. There’s a delay before she remembers to speak, focused more on gauging the device he’s been left with—and whatever it may be saying.]

—Ah. Of course, the… [Another beat, and then a blatant scan of the young man.] Help with your AI, you mean?

omg u love armin

[thebomb]

[He's so terribly, terribly out of his depth; he doesn't let it show, nodding confidently, despite not understanding the question. He lifts his wrist with the device attached.]

This device I've found. I've noticed that others have similar devices too. AI - remind me what that acronym stands for, would you? I can't say I'm used to this sort of technology at all. [And maybe it's not wise to reveal that, but when the enemy is a forest full of monsters, the army becomes the people trying to survive them. He is in no position to reject help.]

concert hall

[enteloki]

Fine.

[The only goddamn reason he listens to this random kid shouting orders is because of the mind numbing drowsiness that begins to afflict him. Sound is the key, so it seems. Lullaby, maybe. No ailment reducing ability to rely on for the time being. Sleep isn't new to him. Danger less so.

He keeps going, both palms pressed tight against his ears. Time to see what's crackalackin in the concert hall, though he doesn't go to the door. He eyes the side of the building, looks high up, creeps around foliage to find anything that could be used as an entrance.]

YOU ARE A KID YOU FUCKHEAD

[thebomb]

[Armin reaches the kid he shouted orders at, palms pressed firmly over his own ears. He sees Akechi eyeing the concert hall and tries to duck to meet his eyes, gaze laser-focused, deadly serious. He shakes his head, jerking it back in the direction he came from. He mouths as clearly as he can: Talk with me first.]

rescue

[compendiem]

[ The person Armin picks up offers zero resistance to being picked up- just mild surprise at finding his feet being lifted off the forest floor, at the blur of trees that leaves him breathless. ]

Um. [ Minato had just been wandering, truth be told, taking the long way to town by trying to keep the wall in his sights and following the curve, banking on the idea that the train tracks follow the wall and therefore he could always find the train if he follows the tracks. ]

The end of the forest, I guess... How deep have you gone?

[thebomb]

Not far. [And he's not wasting any more fuel than necessary, so they're stopping wherever the tree line ends - and that's dictated by the other demons trying to snatch at them in the air. Luckily, ODM is fast, and Armin is adept.]

We're going to try to make it past the treeline there ahead. Hold on as tightly as you can. [The boy is oddly calm, given the circumstances. Armin can't help but wonder if he'd truly have been able to handle himself without help. Maybe he has experience with this sort of thing, or maybe he's just hard to shake.]

Are you alright?

train

[proposed]

That's why I'm going to them.

[ Dazai grins as he says it, seeming entirely unconcerned with the possibility of a grizzly death, though the truth of it is that he's already decided on what a safe distance would be. It's the same story as always.

What a horrible situation he's found himself in. Truly troublesome. Truly amusing. But despite his comments, he stays still, staring at the other without any real intention to argue against good sense. ]

[thebomb]

[Just as Armin has no real intention to argue against foolishness, but...the man's confidence does inspire, at least, a bit of intrigue. He doesn't seem as distressed as some of the others surrounding the train, and seems to, ostensibly, have a plan.

[Armin's face becomes a touch more mild - curious, with a slight tilt of his head.]

To see if they'll respond? [Potentially leading them back to a huge horde of people who don't want to be ripped apart.

[Selfish.]

Train

[blastoffed]

What are you even talking about? I'm not confused.

[Kaito was walking purposefully towards the forest! Ready to delve in! Backpack and all, prepared for the wilderness, when Armin stopped him. Kaito shrugs, turning back to the train]

But fine, no harm in talking it out for now. What kinda guys you think are waiting to ambush?

[...apparently Kaito is not...aware it's demons? Is that what's going on, then?]

[thebomb]

[Armin doesn't know much more than Kaito does, but he has learned about the demons, by now, after learning how to (just barely) use his device. Kaito's perceived defensiveness rolls easily off of Armin's shoulders; he simply doesn't address it.

[Lack of confusion means the presence of intention, however. This person is either competent or stupid. Armin will probably learn which soon.]

The device we've been given refers to them as demons. I'll admit, I'm not sure what all that entails.

Please, don't misunderstand - I don't intend for myself, or anyone, to remain by this train forever, but it's worth discussing who should venture into the forest, and who will be going with them. Dedicated squads would be my suggestion.

There are plenty of people here who might not have the ability to protect themselves. If we rush in blindly now, we could lure something out and put people at risk.

rescue

[smiledetector]

[ once again, 300-something years after becoming an immortal, elmer finds himself at death's door.

it's a funny thing, really. he wishes that he could have at least been protecting someone else, to be able to coax a relieved smile out of them after telling them to get away, but that's simply not the case. he's alone and having only barely wounded the creature with the stiletto that had woken up in his hand.

but as he was about to think about how it was somewhat disappointing that he'd die without fulfilling his dream, he watches as the demon bursts under the slice of weapons and he's being picked up by a stranger. oddly enough, elmer doesn't even try to resist. grinning from ear to ear, he exclaims in a whisper. ]

Woah--! Amazing! You swooped down like you were my prince charming.

[thebomb]

[Not exactly the reaction Armin was expecting, but he can't say he doesn't appreciate that the person he swooped in to save isn't freaking out. They're high up now and moving quick. Most people without ODM experience might get nervous; instead, this man calls him "Prince Charming".

[Some Prince.

[Armin keeps his eyes on the trees, glancing only briefly at the man beside him.]

Now's my cue to ask you if you're alright. [Despite the circumstances, his words are easy.] How did you find yourself in the forest?

[A question loaded with some irritation, but absolutely none of it is betrayed by his tone. Those who can't protect themselves really shouldn't be wandering away from the group to get themselves killed - then, people like Armin have to save them.

[He's just grown a bit tired of reckless fools.]

rescue

[sootprints]

[ It all happens very quickly. One moment, a demon is lunging forward, and in the next, its head is separated from its body and Kate has been scooped into the arms of a stranger and they're... flying!? ]

W, wait, what are you doing?

[ It's actually very easy to scoop Kate up under one arm; she's 135cm tall and weighs very little. She squirms for just a few seconds before realizing how fast they're going and wisely decides to stop. Instead, she grabs a fistful of Armin's clothes and holds on for dear life, and just barely has enough wits about her to remember to keep her head down so that he can't see her face from this angle. In the darkness of the forest, she might have been able to hide her shadowy appearance, but at this proximity, she has to be more careful. She's not sure what she'll do when they land, though. ]

[thebomb]

[It's dark under the canopy of trees, and Armin is focused on grappling to the right branches and not crashing, which is exceptionally difficult with just one arm to operate with. He hasn't noticed Kate's appearance yet, but he has noticed her size. He assumes she's a child, and so, his already kind voice is even kinder - soft, gentle, reassuring.]

It's alright. You're safe with me. I'm taking you out of the forest. Just hold on tight.

Are you hurt?

tech support;

[devilishkouhai]

Work together? [ BB who has been getting along pretty well with the demons because she is basically one herself, kind of gives him a flat look. Then, her eyes dart towards the watch, only to slowly move back up towards his. ] Have you tried turning it on and off?

HI BB

[thebomb]

That's right. As I said, it could only benefit us to do so. [And, in response to her question (baffling):]

It's not a matter of whether it turns on so much as how to use it. I'm afraid this technology is entirely foreign to me. [And he's in no such position to deny or hide that. He needs to know what he's dealing with - he woke up with it strapped to his wrist.]

Rescue

[sparedparts]

[You know what, Ciel is absolutely fine with being a damsel. In fact, he was actually kind of banking on it.

However, he was expecting his demon of a butler to be doing the rescuing. He’s not going to complain, and lets himself get tucked under an arm. It wasn’t like he wasn’t accustomed to the treatment, he may be thirteen but he was on the scrawny side. Not that it mattered to him, if anything it made people more apt to pity him enough to come to his rescue! How convenient.]

[So anyway, he pulls out a gun-]

[And fires two shots into the demon that tried to pursue them. He’s not sure if it kills it, but it does seem to slow it down if nothing else.]

[He’s got you bowlcut senior blonde man with large knife things.]

[thebomb]

[He had a gun and didn't--

[Sure. Fine. Armin continues on through the trees.]

You weren't able to draw in time before? [Just a guess! He doesn't sound annoyed, but--

[Well, he's been having a difficult time lately. It's not this kid's fault. It's good he helped him.]

I'm glad you have a way to protect yourself. Just hold on tight, now, and I'll get us to town.

concert hall!

[dirtdevil]

[ wow. live music. one more entry on the growing list of Fun Things to Do in Hell or whatever this place is actually called, right after "scenic train ride" and "spooky haunted forest"—oh, and who could forget "why the fuck is there a photo of me in this random fucking house: a chilling mystery game"? surely there's no terrible catch to this like all the others on the list.

you know, aside from all these people lying on the ground outside, who might be asleep but also might be dead. it's hard to tell sometimes.

before he can do any more than vaguely consider checking one of them for a pulse, though, there's something louder in his ear—something a lot more familiar, if a lot less soothing. but hey, at least Armin's voice won't do whatever the fuck this music is doing to these people's brains.

probably.

he opens his mouth to answer just out of habit, but he does as Armin says instead of trying to speak. he really would like to know what the hell is going on with these people in the street, though, so with his hands over his ears he motions with his head to one of them and mouths are they dead?

having lived through the last few hours (and also his entire life), he's just assuming the answer is 'yes'. better to be pleasantly surprised when you're wrong, right? ]

wildcard - greenhouse

[foxchild]

Guess it'd be too much to hope for anything useful...

[Shun'ya is contemplating the greenhouse, weighing the possibility that he could find some useful plants and herbs amongst the weeds inside, when he spots Armin's approach. He turns towards him with an easy smile, a pistol on his left hip and a short blade - a tanto - on the right, with a holster containing strange tubes crossing his chest.

Notably, he didn't seem to have a COMP. Perhaps it's in the backpack he was carrying...? (it was, because he hated how cumbersome it was).]

Hoy there, stranger. You come to forage too?

concert hall cover.

[theomachy]

[ the one-armed man is already in the process of lifting his hand to cover one ear and tilting his head aside to plant it into his opposite shoulder to cover the other (since he can't do it with a hand that doesn't exist) when the order comes, and he turns toward the voice before both eyebrows lift slightly.

it's armin. somehow, he didn't expect to see him. erwin's not surprised that he's actively helping people, of course, but seeing him in general is not... well, he's not thinking about that right now because there are more important things to deal with.

(more important than dying? apparently.)

the way he's tilting his head into his shoulder isn't going to work for very long though, so he inclines it in a direction away from the concert hall in a we should leave this way gesture, and waits for confirmation or at least acknowledgment of the suggestion. ]

concert hall

[uncrave]

[ Why not. Mithrun tends to follow directions unless it impedes him from exploring a Dungeon, fighting monsters, or following the rules of the Canaries. So when he's told to cover his ears he promptly does so, shooting the tallman a curious look. This means his elven ears aren't visible now, but worry about those later. Is there a reason he was asked to do this, or...?

...it's not like he hasn't followed dumb orders that have no reason behind them before. ]

Is that all? [ Not like he'll hear the answer. ]

wildcard

[rimingcouplet]

[For some reason, Alice can't stop worrying about Kate. It's stupid, she's stupid- getting out of this hellhole will be hard enough without having to lug around the dead weight of some dumb kid with backwards priorities. It's getting late anyways, the church is a good enough shelter (even if staying there makes Alice's skin crawl for too many reasons to count), and Alice doesn't want to see what kind of nasty grues will lurch out of the shadows come nightfall.

...which all means that she needs to search smart, not hard. Thankfully, Alice's first hunch bears out, and Poser leads her in the direction of the last shadow-like girl it saw outside the hospital before Alice contracted with it. She gets there just in time; only a few minutes before the sun fully dips below the horizon.

As she wonders why she's even bothering, Alice raps on the front door of the house, a bag of supplies looted from the hospital under her other arm.]

rescue

[purport]

[ One moment, the Princess was readying to defend herself.

The next, she's been picked up like luggage and hauled away. It takes her a good few moments to process what has just transpired, but once she does, she has words. ]

Do you often go around picking people up like this?

[ With her deadpan tone, it's difficult to tell how she feels about it, exactly, the thick chain hanging from her shackle swinging about as they flit between trees. ]