[center][h2]The Captain & The Fixer II[/h2]

[b]Word Count:[/b] 1182
[b]EXP:[/b] +2
[b]Rapport:[/b] Roland / Captain Falcon[/center]

They’d been making pretty decent progress, all things considered. Even with his goggles debilitating his vision, Captain Falcon was for the most part able to correct himself. And then it happened. They were nearing what Cap was convinced had to be the end of these mines. He’d even managed to salvage a near-failed jump. Well… almost. His boot slipped on something liquid that was splattered on the platform’s surface. A random fish, yes a fish, which had fallen from a nearby bucket, was on the platform and made the Captain slip.

Either way, he slipped and tumbled right over the edge of the moving platform. And the slickness meant that Roland was unable to properly anchor himself to catch Falcon with the rope they were tethered by. As a result, he was yanked over the edge along with the Captain and they both went tumbling down. Down, down, and down. Pretty much all the way back to the bottom of the mines. All that time and progress, gone.

[color=1f66b2]"Seriously?"[/color] Captain Falcon grunted as he pushed himself back to his feet, He then looked around the mines a bit before saying [color=1f66b2]"Fish? The mine is for fish? How does that even work?"[/color]

Roland stood up, rubbing his head. [color=d7d7d7]”Ugh. I don’t know. I just hope we don't run into anymore weird fish in strange spots.”[/color] Roland said, a bit confused and embarrassed at the whole fish tripping situation, although he had work to do so he wasn't going to show that... and probably forget about it later.

[color=1f66b2]"Well,"[/color] The Captain said as he cracked his knuckles and neck. [color=1f66b2]"nothing for it, now, I guess. We’re just gonna have to start over."[/color] He looked toward the initial platform moving back and forth along its horizontal path. The bright side was that they’d completed many of the jumps before so they at least knew what was coming now. And who knows, maybe they would stumble across a shortcut or some other faster route that they’d missed on the first climb?

Roland nodded since just sitting here wasn’t doing them much good. With the whole blood puddle thing now something to watch out for, the two went to continue their scaling through the mines. As they did, they saw some of the Bowser troop having made it to the mines at last. Although much like Roland and Falcon, they fell trying to do a tricky jump, the girl with large hands trying to do some kind of explosive jump but missing entirely and falling back down.

[color=d7d7d7]”Hm… I guess you can do self damage if there isn’t any ‘damage’ going out, however they’re doing that.”[/color] Roland said, watching Rika and Kamek tumble back down to where Roland and Falcon were beforehand.

Cap supposed the how’s and why’s of the fish didn’t really matter much in the end. It just meant this was going to be more hazardous than it already was. They were at least better prepared for what was ahead due to this being their second attempt at it. But that also meant they’d fallen behind the leaders and would have really hustle if they wanted any hope of getting back ahead of the pack again. Of course, Falcon’s goggles in the darkness weren’t exactly helping matters. He was having to correct himself more and more often because of it.

[color=1f66b2]"What I wouldn’t give for some sunlight."[/color] Cap mused. [color=1f66b2]"I’m guessing these mines have to end at some point. Question is, when?"[/color] Then he sniffed the air and waved a hand in front of his nose. [color=1f66b2]"And I could seriously do without the fishy smell in here, too."[/color]

Roland only glanced at Falcon before saying. [color=d7d7d7]”You could lift up your goggles and you’d see better.”[/color] Roland said, a lot more used to dark environments than Capt. As for the smell, Roland was used to weird smells at this point so he didn’t really think much of it except that maybe they were near an ocean or something, how else would the mine get its fish? [color=d7d7d7]”I can lead the way if you still have trouble seeing in the dark. I think we’re close to the exit, the block cheaters are just ahead of us.”[/color]

[color=1f66b2]"And show my face?"[/color] Cap asked with genuine confusion, [color=1f66b2]"No no no. I can’t show my face unless I’ve been beaten on the racetracks. That’s always been my rule. Fans love a good mystery after all, and rivals get that much more incensed at being beaten by an unknown stranger!"[/color] He added, talking as if it was obvious. [color=1f66b2]"But go on ahead and take the reins, if you like. Let’s see those moves of yours!"[/color]

Roland nodded and began his climb, directing the Captain to do loops and whatnot as he saw them, Roland using his own clawed gauntlets to grip onto walls when needed. Still, he wondered how the bigger people would deal with this as he went through, noticing the big bee and turtle down below, the bee just using a rock to swing around and the turtle talking with his family. His name was… Bowser, right. Well, as Cap and Roland moved through the obstacle course ahead, behind and below them Bowser grew large. Roland was very confused as to what he was doing, since while he was large, the platforms kept him in place as he seemingly couldn’t destroy them. But then he began sucking in massive volumes of air…

[color=d7d7d7]”Gah, what's this giant monster doing? Is he a sore loser?”[/color] Roland said, using his gauntlets to grab onto the platform he was on to hold on while the Giant Bowser was using his vacuum inhale.

[color=1f66b2]"I guess he must be."[/color] Cap said with a shrug. If he weren’t currently under Galeem’s influence, then he would have already known about Bowser and his penchant for not playing fair. [color=1f66b2]"I imagine he’ll run out of breath sooner or later, but I don’t think we wanna lose any more time than we already have."[/color] Falcon looked around and then said, [color=1f66b2]"We’ll just have to work around it. Keep some kind of barrier in between us and Mr. Vacuum Breath down there."[/color]

Roland agreed, but they’d have to wait until he stopped, holding on while he was sucking. At least Roland had some of his weapons he could use to hold himself and Cap on the platform. In a way they were also cheating, but it was a lot, lot more fair than the pair that was making their own platforms.

When Bowser had to stop to take a breath, that's when Roland and the Cap moved, getting something done and getting into a good position before Bowser started again. They moved through the mines doing this at least until something stopped the suction entirely. He wasn’t sure what caused that, but it let them progress out of the mines near the lead as many of the others couldn’t handle the suction.