[ prp ] spooky scary skeleton (Taymerica)

[lizbot]

The small ground of three that approached the haunted house consisted of a redhead in a sexy sailor costume, a very thin man in a red sweater and black slacks, and a spaniel wearing a felt can costume, spinach in felt letters across the back.

America tried not to think too hard about the house decidedly not being the one that was there before, though she did hope Sunny hadn't actually lost her room, or the painting that had allowed America a new view of a dead girl. Those were thoughts for sadder, quieter days, and this was a haunted house! And she was in a sexy costume with a cute dog also in costume! And also a matching boyfriend, that too.

So despite it all, the redhead was practically skipping up the stairs, entirely too much her age as she spun to grin at Taym and Ivy.

rejam

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

its in present tense cos i fail at life i'll fix it next post

Her enthusiasm was not shared by her date, at least not visibly. That is to say, the human one. Ivy is as always all big dumb dog smiles and despite having gone catatonic with confusion over the costume at first--causing Taym one of his very rare audible laughing fits--has apparently managed to fire enough of her minimal supply of neurons to connect its presence to the increased attention she's getting, and has therefore made peace with it.

For his part Taym holds America back long enough to finish his cigarette and cast around futilely for somewhere to stash the butt before field-stripping it and stuffing it into a pocket with some inaudible grumble for the inconvenience. And then some more as he casts around this time for somewhere to tie out the dog, because he is a Responsible Dog Owner who won't Expose His Baby to Trauma. Luckily Ivy has spent much of the past couple of years learning to curl up and nap wherever she's tied up, whether it's outside post offices or coffee shops or garages or campers or diners or bars, and so she navigates the somewhat novel trouble of finding a Nap Position while wearing a costume as she's tied up close to a cozy hay bale.

He touches his fingertips to hers as he takes the stairs two at a time back up to her, but also, it must be said, pinches her a** as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

"Cap'n," he deadpans, with a "ladies first" gesture.  

[lizbot]

Wriggling her hips with what is assuredly Naval authority, she gives him a firm, "Damn right!" And went first.

But only for a moment, because this was a haunted house, so of course she reaches back to hold hands with him. "Buddy System, honey bear."

The hallway open up into a room that was, in its empty normality, given a certain ominous thrill in context of things will be frightening to you. With a dramatic shudder and entirely too cheerful grin, she drags him over to inspect the furniture, barely getting a chance to comment on the woodwork as the lights flicker out.

Two glowing eyes peer at them, the taunting laughter begins before the lights turn back on, revealing a particularly ghoulish scarecrow while America jumps and clings to Taym's arm. "Ohnooo I don't have me spinach!" She wails pathetically, giggling despite the sudden goosebumps chasing up her arms.

rejam

ROOM ONE

It’s a hallway. There is only one way to go and you’re not sure how it even works because you could have sworn there were windows on either side that looked into a living room. A table sits to the side, a rocking chair next to it. The lights flicker and go out. It’s when they come back on that you realize you’re not alone.

Something is behind you and a door down the way creaks open.

spooky: 4 - A scarecrow. It’s eyes glow eerily and it never stops laughing. It’s mocking you.

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

He had decidedly been dragged into this and he isn't exactly radiating having a good time vibes, but he is garbage and therefore is lowkey pleased to have a girl leaping toward the apparent superior security of his arms. This checks a few boxes, enough to offset his general irritation with the world and with this room specifically.

Granted, there's a few hairs standing up on the back of his neck because of the town they're in and a general primal hindbrain sense of something isn't right, too, but he trusts America for that part of things and finds his focus on winding an arm around her waist to nudge her forward in a way that is both reassuring and a bit goading, a bit teasing.

"Your spinach is being spared this unimaginable trauma," he says flatly, giving the scarecrow mad side-eye on his way. "Not scared already, are you? You, of all people."  

[lizbot]

"I'm super ********' brave okay. I would totally take that thing down if it like, tried to hit on you or something, okay?" America assures him as they enter the next room, turning back to give the distant for of the scarecrow a suspicious squint before the door slammed shut.

Human-shaped wax figures are pretty much always creepy in America's estimation, from crude small ones to large lifelike one they were objects of Heebie Jeebies.

Then she caught sight of the debate, and she muttered, "Jesus wept."

The giant snake got a much more admiring, "Holy snap peas! She could eat you whole!" This time it was America's turn to comfort Taym, though maybe more for what was on the TV than any hungry snakes. "I won't let it hurt you, boo."

rejam

ROOM TWO

Lightning flashes across the sky and you can see it through the skylights that are part of the ceiling of this room. It’s a dining room with wax figures sitting at the table and forever caught in what looks like an animated discussion of politics.

You assume it’s politics. There’s a television in the corner that looks like there’s a debate playing. It’s possibly scarier than what appears next as you turn your gaze to the door that opens.

2 - Snek. A big snek. It might want to eat you.

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

He's diverted from opening his mouth for an assessment of her various folksy expletives, which put him in mind of Sarah Palin before his conscious brain catches up to why she was at the top of his thoughts.

"Do you know," he says, indignity itself, "I came here because I thought bloodshed and the undead and giant man-eating snakes and untold horrors from the Realms Beyond would be a nice light-hearted break from the unending Tangerine Nightmare that's gonna keep me awake til November ninth? Happy ********' birthday to me. Oh no. This is the part where he says something about bad hombres--can you believe that this racist dumb-a** s**t-show is--"

Oh no. He's in "yell angrily at NPR in the car" mode. Any minute now he'll start railing about how opposition to trade deals is selfish misinformed short-sighted flag-waving. Quick! To the next room!  

[lizbot]

Pulling him along, America was still grinning broadly, stopping only to pull him even closer and land a big, cherry red smooch to his bearded cheek. "I like you so ********' much."

The grinning, giggling energy shifted slightly as they entered the next room and she could tell. Ghosts, real, legit, not the sheet wearing sort, ghosts.

"I don't think those're are special effects, hun..." To be fair, it was unlikely anybody would bother making special effects this good for a group of ghosts this lazy and disinterested. Smoke inhaled by from the bong did interesting things to a semi-transparent body...

It was cool, until it wasn't, because the reality of actual ghosts made the horrific spectacle of the nurse...possibly also real.

This time, America's hand was a vice around his own, and she managed, quietly, "She looks like she's hurting...real bad."

rejam

ROOM THREE

... it’s a room of ghosts, actual ghosts. Except that they’re college students lounging about on couches. One of them is doing caricatures and another pair plays beer bong. You’re absolutely not interesting to them at all. There’s another ghost in the corner by the door that opens. It seems kind of pervy.

Also it’s pointing to something behind you.

5 - A nurse. She cries. Blood leaks from her eyes and off of her hands.

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

He's quiet and frozen for a long couple of seconds, because he's thinking how familiar this entire scene had looked to him and then the jarring presence of a something medical and scary had been very familiar too, and it's probably only the horrible reality of it that's keeping the rest of it at bay. It's too realistic to be fantastical.

"No. The dead don't hurt," he says flatly, and then, more gently as he squeezed her hand back: "Remind me to read you the rabbit ghost story when we get home, you'll see."  

[lizbot]

She gave him an appreciative look and the next room provided a much needed breath of fresh, albeit foggy, air. The moon was beautifully full and even the skeletons managed to give it a sort of romantic air. And then, suddenly there was movement and America was crying and pointing a shaking hand toward the room's unspeakable spook, "Oh my god!"

A puppy and kitten were halfway trapped under the brim of a large witch hat. When the puppy suddenly turns back into the hat, showing them its tiny, ferociously wagging tail, it's hard to tell if they want to hide or want to get out.

A killing blow has been struck this night,

rejam

ROOM FOUR

Somehow you’ve found yourself in a garden?! Fog rolls in and despite looking you cannot, for the life of you, find the fog machine. The moon is strangely full (even if it’s not the night of the full moon) and it’s reflection is clear in the water of the fountain in front of you.

A pair of skeletons sit together on a bench, their heads together as if they died while conversing with each other. You ignore them until you hear bones creak and they both point to the hidden doorway that leads out.

This time it’s something out of the corner of your eye that catches you off guard as you’re trying to slip away.

1 - A puppy and a kitten hiding under a witch’s hat. They are horribly cute and playing together.

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

"Oh nooo," he whispers, in the special voice he reserves for overwhelmingly cute things and which he'd normally be trying to filter, except that he was caught off-guard after the experience in the last room. Blessedly off-guard.

"They're so cute," he says, obeying that unwritten law of the universe that when confronted with adorable things a human being must say things that are increasingly stupid and self-evident. And then, plaintively: "I want a kitten." And then, with concern: "Do you think it's OK that they're in here unsupervised? I mean with all the--s**t going on."

This is sounding dangerously like he's already trying to plan how to smuggle them out.  

[lizbot]

They spend a good five minutes try to plan and justify a pet heist, but the fact was, both animals were fat, well groomed, and decidedly happy where they were. But the real clincher was when the skeletons both lifted their arms and made shooing gestures toward the door, as the ominous pointing had been less than effective in ushering them on in the face of playful baby animals.

"Fine, fine...we're going!" With a huff, she took Taym's hand once more with one last, adoring farewell. "Bye Cheezytot! Bye Friggetyfrack! I love you both so muuuuuuch!"

The next room, in stark contrast to the peace of the garden, was some sort of ********' rave, whaaaat?! Even if he couldn't see her, Taym would definitely be able to feel her half dancing along with the beat at his side. It was a little weird, though. You'd think they'd bump and be jostled by other bodies...

It's only at the exit that America's leg brushes against anything other than Taym. It was soft, and furry and oh god, oh godddd...

"They came to say goodbye!" The joy in her voice as she shouted over the music was total and complete.

rejam

You enter a pitch black room. The floor seems to feel solid and flat under your feet but waving your arms touches nothing. There is music blasting and the chaotic sound of many people talking; the noises of a party. You don’t touch or bump anyone, though as you walk voices get closer and farther to your ears as if you are truly passing through a crowd.

The techno music comes to a head, there is a siren, a sudden light goes off revealing the exit. The invisible crowd cheers but something grabs you before you reach the door ...

ANOTHER CAT AND PUPPY YAY!

Fear Points: 13/18  

[Rejam]

lizbot

There's a sort of Pavlovian connection between the noises around them that's overriding the creeping concern for what they've gotten themselves into. It's hard to say whether that's a good or a bad thing but the craving is intense and physical and distressing and distracting him enough to almost forget where they are and who he's with when the siren jerks him back to reality (or this particular slice of unreality at least). He barely has time to suck air in between his teeth and beg her to leave before they're blessedly disrupted again.

"Oh no," he says, with dismay this time and barely audible over the din. "Don't take the cat." It's hard to say whether he's talking to her or himself.  

[lizbot]

They take even longer to leave this time, as they give into the need to cuddle, nuzzle and pet the fat tummies of their assailants. But it's still a noisy room, and eventually the two round bodies scamper off into the dark, leaving the two humans to leave through the exit and find themselves back outside, Ivy waiting patiently and with obvious understanding of Taym's brief forray into puppy betrayal. (She must be used to it by now.)

As they leave, a brief chill hits them both, a voice whispering, “Not bad, not bad ... I’ll have to do one better next year. Hopefully you’ll enjoy your prize.”

Whipping her head back to stare at the place, America frowns with consideration before letting it go, an act always a bit easier when Taym was there.

"Okay, dead rabbits it is!"

She decidedly doesn't let go of his hand on the walk back.

rejam

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

It's just as well she gives him an excuse to keep his there, too. He's never quite gotten over his creeping unease with all this paranormal activity, even if she makes parts of it look wonderful and even enviable.

He spends the walk tossed between his jittery anxiety over the sharp nostalgic craving that--he knows from experience--isn't going to abate for hours at least, and the colder harder unease with the reminder that things, including America, are much bigger and more frightening than he can truly understand.

But that's enough to shove aside. It's a nice night, and Ivy is cute as s**t, and he wants to know where she wants to stay tonight and he wants to tell her he got them reservations at a nice place; he wants to be, for a little while, an anchor.

An anchor that does a really good Olive Oyl impression.