The good news was that he wasn't crazy yet. Or at least, Sharra was going to make that assumption. Eyes glimmering faintly of green in the murk, the boil carefully arose to his feet, wincing as something crunched 'neath his shoes. Well that was wonderful, he'd really best not linger on wondering just what that was for too long, in this place, he might not like the answer. Shivering, he wished again that he'd brought an extra article of clothing...Jack-dammit, he really needed to invest in a coat. Not necessarily for the warmth, but just as a comfort, something to burrow into when he didn't have anyone else around. "Ah grand..." He muttered, and began to search the area, rummaging about to see if he could find anything...anything at all to allow him to get his bearings, or perhaps something material he could pick up. If he were VERY lucky mayhap someone else would be around that he could bump into.
His own jack-damned fault for plunging headlong into the fog. But as it had slipped away, he'd pursued, not wanting to leave those who had been given over to the Insanity. He hadn't wanted to let the fog win again. And now here he was, up the proverbial s**t creek without a paddle.
"Oh looksie, fog. It's you and me again." That spoken dryly, hating how vacant his voice sounded amidst the tendrils of mist, but it was better than the silence.
Sharra had come to loathe silence.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Aksaja blinked as he woke up slowly, groaning softly. Where . . . what? Pushing himself up to his feet, the lightning dragon frowned, staring at the fog swirling around him. He remembered fighting fog-Xiu, and Junko dying but then . . .then what? He wasn't sure. Had the others left? Where was he? Taking a step forward, something crunched under his foot and the dragon looked down reflexively. Glass? That was weird. Looking up again, he thought that he saw something move close-by and called out, "Hello? Sharra? Seiji, Freya . . . anyone?"
No answer. Frowning a bit more, Aksaja moved forward into the fog, trying to see if he could find anything. Or anyone.
Frowning, the lightning dragon glanced down again when his foot hit something that rolled away. Some kind of cardboard roll of . . . something that was gone now. Pretty useless. Then a spot of orange caught his attention and he moved over toward it quickly. "Nice," Aksaja muttered, picking up a couple of Pumpkin Pills. One of them looked very strange, though. Like it was . . . rotting? And though he was skeptical of that, he pocketed it anyway. Could be useful?
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 40/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: 1 good Pumpkin Pill, 1 corrupt Pumpkin Pill RP Blurb:Like dis
And then Sharra nearly bumped into something...someone. Scuffing his shoe along the side of Aksaja's boot, he whirled, reaching out with a clawed hand to grab at the perceived threat, the brush of a body against him in the dim ambiance. Luckily for the dragon's health and the Nergal's conscience, he hadn't sunk those claws in when realization dawned upon the smaller boil in full. "Aksaja!?" There was relief and mild abashment as he quickly drew back his hand, the near-attack falling short. "Well thank Jack there's someone else in here..."
He had to take a slow breath to steady himself, able to hear the pounding of his heart, loud in his own ears. The boil hadn't at all realized just how utterly terrified being along in the fog had made him, turned him into a trembling ghoul that's what it had. Eyes lidding for a brief second, he tilted his head up towards the lightning dragon's features, "So looks like they're playing some kind of hot'n'cold game in here..."
Lips pressed together, the demon's expression grim, he weighed their options, the lights pressing through the fog...beckoning softly. Neither direction precisely gave him the warm fluffies.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:53 pm
Aksaja also jumped when he was suddenly run into and let out a low hiss, baring fangs. It was lucky for Sharra as well that the nergal boil said his name fairly quickly. Because the fog was still making the lightning dragon very very nervous and he'd been about ready to claw at whoever was here with him. "S-sharra? Gods I thought you were . . . it doesn't matter. Sorry," he apologized softly, with a little shiver. Then he noticed the lights and frowned, glancing one way and then the other.
"Those lights . . . I really don't trust them. Every time something starts whispering or feeling like 'home', everyone goes crazy." That would probably be the warm light, if he was guessing. And the cold light . . . it just gave him the creeps.
"Why don't we look for a . . . I dunno. Medium light. Or the light that says 'get the ******** out of the fog'?"
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 40/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
The nergal smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring fashion, though he had to admit there was a wry note to the expression. "It's a'right. I think we're on the same page." Giving the dragon a careful clasp on the shoulder with his human hand, he turned to regard their less than welcoming surroundings once more. Really, this place could use better atmosphere, even a Haunted House didn't need to be so bone-chillingly terrifying. Not really a family-friendly adventure, this.
"Home..." He said the word carefully, honestly somewhat relieved that no longing surfaced in his voice. "Though you have to wonder what kind of insane place we're being beckoned to. It's not...quite like the fog that took me before, more like its twisted second cousin." That a grumble, as he forcibly shoved away thoughts of floating, disembodied. Jack help him, but he could almost see those empty eyes of lost souls staring at him from the enshrouding mists.
Snorting softly at Aksaja's description of their choices, he just shrugged, "Sounds fair. Though a light like that sounds a bit too convenient for our Ol' Friend Foggy here."
Best make light of the situation. It kept a fellow sane.
They would simply keep looking for a different light. A friendlier one.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:10 pm
"Sharra . . . " Aksaja said quietly after a few minutes. "Over there. Do you see something kinda. Weird? Like a darker spot or . . . " Moving toward the odd area a little bit, the lighting dragon squinted into the fog, waiting for Sharra to catch up. Just to see if he was going crazy or something - which wouldn't be that strange in this place. Though the thought of it made him shiver a little.
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 40/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
Sharra didn't even bother with caution on this one, moving forward towards the area, brows furrowing as he leaned close...only to realize that there was a blissful sense of familiar emanating from the erected barrier...no perimeter. There had been the same sort of setup, though admittedly one less desperate, that time so long ago when Christmas went wrong.
"It's our Headquarters." He murmured, turning to the dragon at his side. "This really is serious..." Honestly the Nergal boil didn't see the need to stop now. There was the fog to deal with, and those lost within it. "I think that we should see if we can find any of the others...Seiji, Junko...maybe that spunky Valkyrie ghoul." The blonde smiled bemusedly, remembering Freya altogether too well. A spunky lass, that one.
Regardless, none should be left out here. "I would hate to see the fog take anybody else..." his words were soft, determined. For the first time in forever, Sharra had resolve, a mission. Perhaps he'd square off with the fog for good this time. Perhaps...they'd be rid of it.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:55 pm
"Mm, so it is," Aksaja murmured in reply, eyeing the perimeter with a bit of trepidation. "You're right, they seem pretty concerned about this." Especially considering that a boogeyman had practically dragged them here. he agreed with Sharra on trying to perhaps find the others they'd been with before. "Junko could be inside there, maybe but . . . not the others."
Nodding to the nergal's words, the lightning dragon looked around, then frowned slightly. "Do you hear that?" he asked, tilting head. It was almost like a song, off in the distance - that, and laughter. Walking toward the noises, Aksaja froze suddenly, staring. "It's the festival. But . . . not. This is weird." It was creeping him out, honestly.
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 40/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
Sharra barely spared a glance for his companion, simply nodding, lips compressing into a thin, unhappy line. "Nothing here is right..." It was just above a whisper, his voice sounding hoarse and hollow even to his own ears. "Which is why we have to keep going." Clenching hands into fists, the grate of his claws against one another something of a comfort, reminding him that he was material...he pressed on, wandering amongst the booths, every few seconds he glanced over just to ensure to himself that Aksaja was still there, that they were both still alive and not consumed by the nightmare around them.
He didn't know when the fog came up on them, one moment they were amidst the dim grey shapes that were nothing but mockeries of the colorful Fright Night stands, and then...then there was a rush, a falling, and for a moment he reached out, trying to grasp for something material, only to stand unsteadily as figures were suddenly arising from the mists about them, the dark one at the fore causing his heart to accelerate, body and mind remembering the terrors of the island. C'mon, Sharra...this is what you expected, and come hell or highwater, we're here.
Not precisely the standoff he'd been expecting...and as the figure spoke, that villain in the fog, the nergal demon ground teeth together, baring fangs in a blatant gesture of hostility. The line of friends, students, comrades, standing in the gloom, just out of reach, the blond boil scanned their faces, trying to find just a one of them to meet his eyes. Aksaja...
The dragon was there as well, a fact that caused Sharra to double-take violently, glancing quickly to his side, to where the dark-haired boil had been standing moments before.
Well s**t...
There were two of them. "I...I'm seeing you...back there..." It was just a whisper, too afraid to tear his eyes away from the figures again, lest they dissipate.
As their antagonist went on, the Nergal wished he could take a step forward, acidic eyes glowing green with enmity. "I have stolen nothing from you!" He snapped, "If anything, it seems that you have stolen something from us." Never once had he taken anything, and all that had happened to them, the pain...death, it had been because of these beings shrouded in fog, and the Insanity they had brought with them. "So why don't you give back those things stolen, then we'll talk."
In his experience...they could not be reasoned with, these people, nor bargained with, nor should they be. No quarter, he would give them no. damn. quarter.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:41 pm
Suddenly, there was more fog. A lot more. Aksaja froze for a moment, glancing about rapidly . . . and realized that he had lost Sharra somehow. s**t. "Sharra?" he called out, taking a few steps backwards, then to one side - the side where the nergal had been. "Jackdammit." He should have expected that they couldn't stay together for the entire time. Should have known the fog would ******** things up. Something spoke to him. The lightning dragon jumped, spinning around to see someone standing there with a weapon. A Reaper . . . ? No. More likely a Hunter. And it was talking to him. Greeaaattt.
"What am I fighting for?" he echoed. "I don't have to tell you. I owe you nothing, whoever you are." Wait. Wait, what. Things taken from him? Aksaja didn't even know who this was! Not to mention he was having a hard time keeping his eyes off the figures behind him. It. Whatever. He thought that Sharra was back there but . . . that couldn't be real. He refused to believe it, so he didn't let his gaze linger. He found out rather quickly that he couldn't move, trying to take a step backwards again. This could be bad. But he wasn't about to let the fog get the best of him again.
Thinking for a moment, he nodded slowly. "All right . . . I'll give it back but it's not here. I have to go get it." Maybe he could trick this thing. Flexing fists, he waited for the odd numbness to wear off and then charged at the figure with a roar.
Only to have the thing move impossibly fast, the weapon coming at his midsection naught but a blur. He cried out more in surprise than fear . . . and then everything went white. s**t. Was he dead? Was this what Sharra had been talking about before? He couldn't see anything, or hear anything or . . . with a start, he took a step forward, discovering that at least the ground was solid. But then he also noticed something else. Pain. Wincing, he looked down at himself and golden eyes widened at a rather large gash sliced diagonally across his chest. He was bleeding too, though he hadn't noticed until he looked. Now the wound hurt, and he stumbled slightly with the shock of it, one hand moving to press against the cut. s**t, s**t, s**t. He knew that he had the pumpkin pills but . . . he was kind of reluctant to use them just yet. This, though. This was bad.
Because now he was alone in the fog, and hurt. "Where the hell did you go, Sharra . . . ?" he mumbled softly.
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 20/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 10% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
The Nergal froze, a blood-chilling shiver running down his spine as the foe before him raise his weapon....and then was gone, the fog enveloping them. Something twinged, though mayhap it was only in his mind, and a shudder dismissed it. There was indeed, something not quite right here. But at the very least, it meant that he was alone again, not having to deal with such questions. Hah. As though Sharra Eldwaithe were a thief.
Relieved that there were no physical injuries, it took him a moment to realize that he was, indeed, utterly alone. "Aksaja!?"
And then he was kneeling.
It was a horrid sensation, to find one's hands in blood and flesh, pressed against a wound and...he just...he couldn't make the figure out. Horrified, he had to wonder if calling out the dragon's name had summoned him. Surely...surely not. Surely they would not do this to him. But that was just the sort of thing that those in the fog would do, mangle a friend and then leave him. Human hand still desperately trying to stem that...crimson? he thought the blood was red...tide that occurred despite the demon's best attempts.
Fumbling with Nergal talons, he found the bandage that he had acquired earlier. He didn't know precisely what it did, but it was what he had on him, and damn everything, it was worth a try!
Though the blond let out an almost-sob of frustration as he felt their life ebbing away, and as they thanked him for his efforts, he found himself a touch guilty for being glad that the voice, broken though it was, assured him that it wasn't his friend. "Oh Jack help us..."
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 90% Insanity Strength: 5% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:15 pm
When there was no answer to his question, Aksaja snorted softly. Why would there be an answer? This was the fog. The damn stuff existed to ******** with him apparently. With all of them. The world seemed to swirl and shift then and the lightning dragon blinked, having half a second to think, here we go again.
Then he was kneeling someone indistinct and his hands were pressed into something warm and wet . . . sticky. Blood? One hand touched the wound on his own chest, and something squirted audibly. s**t. The dragon quickly pressed that hand back down. He had no idea who this was, or what happened to them, but . . . it was pretty easy to tell that they would die if he didn't do something. Some part of his mind tried to suggest that it might be Sharra, hurt worse than he had been - but Aksaja shoved that thought away violently. No. It couldn't be, he refused to believe that. No.
He also had the fleeting thought that it could be a Hunter. In which case he should allow them to die? Help them along their way? Jack. Biting at his lip, Aksaja made a low noise of upset. No, as long as there was a chance that it could be someone he knew, someone from Halloween, he had to try to save them.
Suddenly he remembered the pumpkin pills that he'd picked up earlier. Digging into his pocket, he grabbed one of them and quickly pushed it into the person's mouth. "Come on, come on . . . " He heard their breathing slow, felt someone grab his hand, heard those last words of thanks. And he felt a flash of guilt. He hadn't been fast enough, hadn't thought of the pills before . . . now one of them was wasted. With a grimace, the dragon stood up slowly, wiping bloodied hands on his pants.
Then he blinked as the fog cleared, revealing . . . nothing. There was no one there. No blood, no body. Nothing. Just the pill that he had tried to use, lying on the floor. "You b*****d . . . I hate you," he muttered at the fog. Then he screamed, "I HATE YOU!!!" with fists clenched at his sides. He hated these tricks and illusions, the sense of utter failure and helplessly that they caused. Panting, he finally reached down and scooped back up the pumpkin pill, angry now.
"You want to ******** with me? FINE. Bring it on!"
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 20/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 10% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
Claws curled 'round the discarded bandage, chest clenching in a phantom pang of agony as the Nergal arose, only to find himself once more in an unfamiliar place, though his nose seemed more than pleased with the idea, a rather warm and soothing scent wafting into his nostrils as he straightened, blinking dumbfoundedly.
Now this was just silly. "How'd I even get in a kitchen?"
It was all he could even think to ask the figure, and yet there was no answer, no true answer, as it babbled on, speaking as though they were old comrades. Mind you, Sharra could only label the ingredients on the counter as dubious, at best. Wrinkling his nose, he realized that surely only action could get him past this test. It was a test, the fog, or something within it, malevolent or passive, seemed to be giddy with this game it had concocted.
"Er....well all right then..." Shakily, he reached out his human hand, taking that moment to glance about for Aksaja. How had he managed to lose the dragon, now really? "You'd better be all right..." That muttered as the demon boil gingerly plucked up the beaker.
When she took it from him, he almost balked, wondering if that choice had been the right one. If there even WAS a correct choice in this scenario. Then...then came the overwhelming sense of happiness, a splash of something that wasn't grey, but instead vibrant and alive. Taking a slow breath inward, Sharra felt as though...he just might be able to go on after all. Not quite invincible, but...positive. Yes, that was it, he most certainly felt positive.
"Not really sure if I should thank you..."
Not really sure of anything, let's be honest.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 90% Insanity Strength: 5% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:48 pm
And of course, the fog obliged. Now it added scent to the already disturbing mix of sight and sound. He could smell something cooking . . . an oddly pleasant aroma drifting in the air. Not that he was about to trust it, not for one Jackdamn second. He frowned as a new figure appeared, carrying a tray and babbling at him about ingredients or something. What the hell was this.
The lightning dragon eyed the choices before him . . . some kind of fluffy thing, a tentacled mass, a fish-thing, and a beaker. Really now. "This is completely ridiculous," he muttered, reaching out at random and grabbing the first thing his hand touched - which happened to be the tentacled thing. "Here," he said flatly, handing it over.
He folded his arms and watched as she put the whatever-she-was-making into the oven and waited, since he figured that he wouldn't be able to walk away even if he tried. And indeed, she eventually told him to "try it". Oh he so did not want to eat this. But still, it seemed to be a requirement . . .
Stats:
Name: Aksaja HP: 20/40 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 20% Items: None RP Blurb:Like dis
Sharra's relief to be away from that inky trap of a kitchen was but momentary, though there were still echoes of that bubbling feeling of elation. That door, mind you, had not been there in seconds previous, and it was entirely too disconcerting to ignore. Taking a step back, he tried to neatly avoid the obstruction...only for it to whir through the fog, presenting of itself a most friendly gray obstacle. "Oh come on now, that's not fair..." A bit of a groan as the Nergal studied the thing. Heh. Might as well try to open it. Claw reaching forward, the spines on his arm shuddering in nervous curiosity, he turned the knob....
...and then suddenly there were arms around him, cool and warm at the same time, a comforting, watery presence. The demon boil's breath caught in his throat as he made an involuntary noise of undisguised longing.
But it couldn't be her. It couldn't be her. Not now, not this deep in the fog, not with the door looming from the darkness. Steeling himself, he turned the knob further. "If I don't do this...I may never find myself. I am going, as the wheels are already set in motion. It is too late to stop it now." He would ne'er be a coward again.
If it were truly Yaya, she'd follow him. Surely she'd follow. He allowed himself the most tiny of hopes.
But then the touch relinquished him, the door opened, and then it was gone. He released a slow breath, relieved. All another lie of the fog after all.
Stats:
Name: Sharra Eldwaithe HP: 30/30 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 20% Items: None RP Blurb:Like this, but with somewhat longer hair, and no vest. A bit disheveled.
