[PRP] tomorrow's ground is too uncertain [Alexis/Autumn]

[So Long Gay Bowser]

The smell of burning brought to mind a very specific a*****e that Autumn was NOT in the mood to deal with. As worn and tired as she was, that specific smell filled her with anger. Clenching her fist, despite the overwhelming feeling of GO AWAY, she looked around the alleyway.

"I swear to ********, if that's you again, burning dickhead, I'm not EVEN in the mood for your s**t again. Go ******** with somebody else and leave Alexis alone!" She paused, then scowled.

"Even if you're not THAT douchebag, stop being a megadouche and quit wasting our time!"

Ashdown Whaler

Daekie

 

[Daekie]

It's burning -- it's burning - it's burning -

Alexis freezes in place, desperately gasping for breath that doesn't seem to come, eyes wide-

(they couldn't say, if later asked, why it provokes this response, but it does and they can't be here right now they can't be they can't be here)

It's like all their limbs are asleep. And they're not here.

They're here, but -- not really.

Moonztone Dazzle

Ashdozn Whaler

 

[Ashdown Whaler]

There is silence for a moment, heavy and oppressive. Even the rain that is ever present has, for this area, seemed to stop falling. Heat seems to come from the ground despite that the weather is cooler here than it is in Ashdown proper.

Quit wasting our time! a voice repeats, not quite sounding like Autumn but close.

Burning dickhead! it says again, closer to her voice now.

The shadows continue to lengthen, licking at their feet now and a shadowy tendril actually closes around Alexis's foot.

Moonstone Dazzle

Daekie

 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

"Not the burning man, I'd wager," Autumn hissed, flustered and upset. Typically these kinds of things could be baited into coming out... not this time.

"Just... what do you want from us? Please." She said plainly, more tired than she had any reason to be. Combined with the magic of healing wearing her out, this was really starting to suck.

Autumn, unfortunately, did not notice the tendril snaking its way around Alexis's foot. She was distracted by her own anger and frustration, her desire to be rid of this whole mess.

Ashdown Whaler

Daekie

 

[Daekie]

"Autumn -"

Alexis is too quiet. They can barely be heard.

"Please - help me."

They don't move at all. After all, they're not here. They're barely here enough to complain.

Moonstone Daszle

Ashdown Whalsr

 

[Ashdown Whaler]

The tendril closes tightly on Alexis's foot and yanks. Soon they will be dragged into the darkness if they do not do something.

Please, perfectly in Autumn's voice but it was almost mocking.

Help me, in Alexis's voice this time.

Daekie

Moonstone Dazzle

 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

Snapping out of her stupor, Autumn turned, and- ********. Something had a hold of Alexis. She didn't think, didn't breathe as she ran over to pull Alexis from the shadows, snarling in ********, LET GO OF THEM," she snapped, livid and hateful. "Just- just let go of Alexis! Give it up!"

Ashdown Whaler

Daekie

 

[Daekie]

Alexis grabbed onto Autumn, trembling like a leaf, finally prompted into trying to jerk their foot out of the shadow - still quiet, very much so, but finally motivated into the here-and-now. "I d'serve it," they muttered, again almost imperceptibly.

Autumn didn't, though. She didn't need to see this. She didn't need to go through this.
Autumn was Good.

They kicked at the shadow harder.

Moodstone Dazzle

Ashbown Whaler

 

[Ashdown Whaler]

Weak, came Alexis's voice, d'serve it.

The shadow kept tugging, pulling, trying to bring Alexis into it. Even when they kicked it did not seem to let go at all. Instead it's grip tightened, sliding up more until Alexis's leg was enveloped.

Give it up! shouted Autumn's voice.

Then, in a voice unlike any other time, ... you are pitiful.

Moonstone Dazzle

Daekie

 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

It didn't seem like anything was working. Desperate and unsure of how else to proceed, Autumn slipped her arms under Alexis's in a mockery of a bear hug, and attempted to heave them up and out of the shadows. Maybe it was a stupid thought, but you couldn't be grabbed by something you weren't touching, right? Or at least, that was how the real world worked. Who knew about Other Ashdown Magical Bullshit (TM).

And then, there was a voice, calling them pitiful. Them collectively, or just her, or just Alexis, Autumn couldn't say. But it was the s**t like this that pissed her off about this place.

"Pitiful? That's the pot calling the kettle black. You're creeping around like an a*****e, won't even come out to face us!"

Yeah, she was pissed.

Daekie

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER lets get this s**t wrapped up!!!

Ashdown Whaler

 

[Daekie]

Alexis keeps struggling.

It isn't working, but they don't know what else they can do. They have to get out. They have to.

They need their leg - they need to get out - they need out.

Moonsssne Dazzle

Asssown Whaler

 

[Ashdown Whaler]

The shadows release Alexis suddenly, causing them both to fall backwards as Autumn continues to tug and pull at them to get them loose.

It was then that Autumn would feel it. The shadows were on her, something like an arm wrapping across her shoulders and a voice against her ear.

I am your fear, it hissed in a crackling voice of fire, and neither of you are ready.

Now it was Autumn being enveloped into the shadows, interest in Alexis lost.

Daekie

Moonstone Dazzle

 

[So Long Gay Bowser]

"Maybe I'm not ready," Autumn choked out, a sense of dread overwhelming her, "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you bully my friend." Even if she was shaking, getting more ashen by the second. Her fear of failure, fear of loneliness, fear of letting everyone down-

She swallowed.

"What is it you want?" Barely above a whisper, too scared to fight further. Enveloped by fear, grabbed by it. But she was not going to let Alexis down. Not when they had asked her to help stop this thing.

She had to help. She had to.

Ashdown Whaler

Daekie

 

[Daekie]

"L-leave her alone," Alexis called, standing on gazelle-shaky legs. Childish. Scared. "We're goin' home -" and with that they braced one foot on the wall, grabbed Autumn by the hand, and tugged - "******** off, just - just go - leave us alone!"

It was so hard. They had to. Autumn needed help, deserved help, and even though every time this thing smoke something ran feelers across their mind like a thousand burning pokers and smoke all through their lungs (and it was familiar, it was familiar, and that hurt because they didn't know why and couldn't place it) - but they had to.

Moondone Dazzle

Ashgown Whaler

 

[Ashdown Whaler]

The question of want was ignored, instead the shadows continuing to rise up and envelope Autumn. When it spoke again, the sneer could almost be heard even if it was not seen.

Why should I? You do nothing but run run run. You are small and scared. The pushing, the moment of grabbing seemed to actually pull Autumn out the shadows.

You can't save her, let alone yourself.

Moonstone Dazzle

Daekie