Quoted By:
>Come with and assist. The debt is unfulfilled until it is repaid in full.
> 'C': Take Z'Athu'reen with you for emotional support! [55]
>Play the role of Femsona Aki Nakamura, like always. [74]
>Say Jaq sent you.
>Name the cat: Cat, Don Fluffles, Nyanlathotep
From She-Dragon's nest to a She-lions's den... Hopefully, dealing with Jaq taught you enough.
"Alright." You shot Alex with a glance. "I will take you up on your offer. Your debt remains."
Alex bows and says smoothly. "But of course." Then moves up to knock on the door. "What's the plan? And... Is the cat necessary?"
"Plan is to be authentic... I mean to the femsona! And y-yes! Z'Athu'reen's going too...Oh!?" Pained wince saves you from blushing. Alex fares no better, yet still manages to nod. Come to think of it, you might have to change the name... Later.
It's time to get your hard earned stuff back. You take a deep breath and Alex knocks.
Instantly, a startled yelp emanates from the inside, followed by a loud cough. Looking at Alex, he seems to have anticipated this, as he glances back at you and shrugs.
Quick-paced steps echo towards the doors and a shy, brittle voice asks. "W-Who is it?"
"...Shinies." You snort at that, seriously? A secret password... Actually it might make some sense here, roleplay or not...
A loud silence follows, but as Alex patiently waits, so do you, petting Your Mute Cat all the while. Actually, given how long you were lovingly petting it, a single sign of life would be appreciated, but alas.
"Must be brave to come here, and at this hour no less. Brave or foolish." Comes the late reply in sterner tone, accompanied by the clicking of a lock.
"Wait where you are." The skipping steps ring out again, this time delving back into the room, followed by sounds of hitting metal and labored grunts. Then silence... Broken by a shout.
"Alright, you may enter!"
And so you do, Instantly, a gust of dust greets you, forcing a fit of sneezing. As you try to adjust to the new environment and stop it, the voice from before scoffs.
"Heh, a new face? Welcome... Welcome to my lair!"
With your eyes finally clear, the inside of this 'lair' becomes visible, and instantly proves your previous conjectures about who is a 'dragon' and 'lion' wrong.
The 'lair' is no room, but a massive storage area with dozens of pallet racks and blank boxes scattered all around haphazardly. It's design seems a little out of place above ground with it's gray, modern and sharp aesthetics. It looks more akin to the bunker far below... or an actual dragon's lair with it's hoard.
It's evident. It's where most of the facility's equipment is kept... Wonder if it connects to the bunker too.
"Fascinating, isn't it?"
The voice comes from bus-sized Throne-like structure in the middle of the area, made out of dozens of metal trunks and containers stacked on each other. It's center covered by crimson sheet. On this contraption sits your interlocutor, proudly scrutinizing you from high above.