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 Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 6:09 pm
Questions were on the tip of his tongue. A spark? Mortals are like young he was almost used to - Sunny's words in his mind still - but the spark he was interested in. He watched as Pax leaned his head, a near nuzzle into Autumn's hair, and then it was a shift.
A warmth to the forest around them versus the chill that had been there.
It took him several moments, watching others and looking to Algie and Zac. Zac who's eyes were closed already and Algie who was dealing with Mogget shuffling about under his shirt - likely hiding from Pax. The detective took a breath. Once, twice, and finally let his eyes slide shut.
As he listened it was the steady sound of his own heartbeat, a roar in his ears, and then it faded away. For a moment he thought he heard another, a heart beating quicker and faster than his own. Then a breath that was sucked in and exhaled sharply. Words that were a near whisper and pressed to his ear. No amount of listening could make sense of them. He wanted to know, strained to understand and ...
It was gone.
It left goosebumps on his skin, a shiver up his spine.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:02 pm
It was like a warm, enveloping hug. Pax was somehow huge and yet not suffocating, just a comforting presence in a dark and unusual world. Smiling to herself, Autumn closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. Pax could hear her blood- it probably, amusingly enough, raced a bit at that comment, but it was not enough to startle her from her reverie. But then... what would she hear? She couldn't even begin to fathom. The clearing was quiet, and--
you are my sunshine, my only sunshine
you make me happy when skies are grey--
Her mother. It was her mother, singing. She couldn't put the exact time or place, but it was a voice and a song she would never forget. Autumn's chest tightened, and she ran her fingers through Pax's fur, wrapped up in the memory of home, when home was a place she knew and loved.
you'll never know, dear, how much I love you...
"Please don't take my sunshine away," she finished along shakily, voice wavering. In her mind, her mother continued humming the song, loving and soft. Waiting for her sweet baby to fall asleep so she could go back to work.
Maybe she'd call mom, when she woke up. Just to say hello.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 8:07 pm
"Kalisha, I'm glad you're here!" Asiya flashed the other girl a warm smile and gave her a wave. She was so kind to her earlier, and she was grateful for that. The hijabi did notice, however, that the star gazer did seem to be a bit on edge. Was she afraid of Pax? It was understandable, if so -- people always feared what they didn't understand and all of that. Maybe she'd give him a chance, though?
Everyone deserved a chance.
The smile on her face lingered when the forest warmed up, and Asiya sighed happily. It was nice to feel some warmth for once since arriving in other Ashdown. It felt almost comforting in a way, just as Pax voice did. When they gave the cue for them to close their eyes, Asiya did just that. She didn't even give it a second thought.
She could hear...
A crowded souq in Morroco, throngs of people walking to-and-fro and chattering amongst themselves. Vendors hawking their wares in the market. Childhood laughter filled her ears, followed by telling her parents that she loved them. Finally, a soulful and almost lonely sound filled her ears, which was also one of Asiya's favorite things in the world: the adhan, or the Muslim call to prayer.
Asiya said nothing as she heard all of these things, but she didn't really have to. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a few even dropped from them. A sudden sadness seemed to overwhelm her, and all the sounds made her realize how much she missed her family. If only she could be with them again. If only they didn't hate her.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 8:50 pm
Algie was dealing with Mogget who had found him as soon as Pax appeared, and began trying to crawl as far under his layers as possible. He hissed and tried to hold the cat in place as claws were pressing into his chest through his shirt. Only once he'd gotten Mogget pinned and held (and at least not clawing the hell out of him) did the man glance up.
It was quiet and Pax seemed almost serene as it leaned against Autumn. Around him they all had their eyes closed, even Jeremiah, and Algie let out a small huff (because despite appearances to the contrary, he couldn't trust something that the cat was terrified of).
All he heard at first was the sounds around them, forest and rustling grass, the shifting of people's clothes as they stood, murmurs from some of them, but in his own concentration Algie ended up lost in the sound of something else.
A tumult of sound, noise and smashing, like a fight.. but there laughing, so much laughing. It was a glorious cacophony, a gleeful violence, something that made his heart beat race- it was a youthful music to his ears- like a song coming on the radio that you hadn't heard in years.
But it was gone as soon as it came, like getting only a glance at a turned page or walking past an open door to only hearing a sliver of conversation. Algie was left with an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach, something he wasn't sure he could totally describe.. and he wasn't sure that he liked it.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:07 pm
Aleksy's eyes were already closed, had been closed for a good while. It didn't really help, because he could still see the thing on the inside of his eyelids. But at least he couldn't see it so well anymore. He was listening to Finn's heartbeat and trying to breathe, in and out, slowly. Whatever the point of this was, he was willing to wait for it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:01 am
Erin leaned around Asiya to look at Pax. Well... okay maybe it was okay. It was okay, even though this whole thing really wigged her out. She still kept slightly behind the other girl, but gave Pax a tentative smile. Warmth touched her skin and she closed her eyes to wrap herself in the warmth.
Hear... Feel.... Think...
is all of this real... or not?
embark on your very own Pokemon adventure!
its dangerous to go alone! take this!
It took her by surprise, gasping quietly as she lifted her hands to her ears. Music flooded her ears, a mash of every single video game theme or piece of music that resonated with her and left a mark on her. It swelled from Shiva's theme in a popular Final Fantasy game to the melodic tones of Midna's Lament from her favorite Zelda game, rising again with Kingdom Hearts, and taking her to a simpler time with Viridian Forest. So many more she could not place, could not describe, moved in and out of volume and tempo. Each one she recognized, and each shocked her very core with emotion.
Music had always had a profound effect on her - a reason she stayed away from anything horror genre related - but this... this... this was every pivotal moment, every time she hid away, every single story and game that had saved her life and gave her friends to relate to. It was.... It was....
home.
Erin trembled, tears rolling down her cheeks quietly. Her hands clung to her ears, as though she was trying to keep the music inside of them, so it would never fade.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:12 pm
Good You hear it The songYou have already kindled your spark and now you hear it Pax snuffles its way back to its feet, all too many of them. You must think of heat and of sand believethat you can see the world warm and dry believe
believeOpen your eyes, children, see what you have wrought When the group opens their eyes, they see two more have joined them: Sunny in her purple hoodie and masses of dark hair, Page with her cat. But more than that, they no longer stand in the clearing where they had first met Pax. Now they see a stream running through the clearing, a small pool from which mangrove trees (unseasonal and out of their habitat) grow. And there, among the roots of the mangrove, sits Heliodora Winters, her t-shirt torn and ice growing from a hole in her left shoulder but... She seems happy. "Oh," says Sunny. "That explains so much." Pax lopes, long-legged and lovely, to the side of its Heliodora, and curls around her back. Now you See Our Heliodora Beautiful and strong Heliodora lifts one dark-skinned hand to pet Pax's head-bits. "I'm not gonna be turning in that essay, Mr. Watts," she says. "Sorry."
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:26 pm
A deep, resonating voice called out from somewhere nearby, "Heliodora, I only found a few buds, no actual flowers yet..."
The voice trailed off as if in shock. A tiny blur appeared to dart through the mangroves, bouncing vindictively off of Pax's head bits until a small, fluffy being was sitting on Heliodora's shoulder and radiating a protective menace.
"Who are you? Why are you intruding? Go away. We don't want you here!"
The tiny creatures bright eyes touched on each of them, sizing them up. Had it been larger, or the gathered dreamers closer, they might have seen the deep sadness and sudden fear flickering in those eyes. For so many to have crossed over...
Fur rippling to briefly mimic the color of Helidora's shirt, the creature turned to glare at Pax.
"Idiot, why did you bring them here? It's not safe!"
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eldritch stardust
eldritch stardust
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:29 pm
They will help,
Pax protests, six eyes blinking quickly in distress.
They will make
the others
understand
and then Our Heliodora--
Heliodora holds out her hands for the tiny creature's offering. "It's okay, Smol," she says. "Buds work just as well as flowers."
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:40 pm
Algie opened his eyes to Pax and Heliodora, and then Smol, whatever that was and his lips pressed into a hard line, breath exhaled audibly through his nose. He didn't take the time to revel in the scenery, in the placid face of Heliodora, the serenity of Pax or the ruffled concerned of Smol. Instead his eyes dragged to Sunny. So much judgement. So much. There was another loud nasal exhale of frustration and disappointment.
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eldritch stardust
eldritch stardust
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:44 pm
"Help? Ha."
The scorn in Smol's voice was plain as it continued to bristle and glower. Then, as Heliodora spoke, it turned to her and reached out a tiny, paw-like hand to tenderly touch the tip of one of her fingers. Then, jerking back, it scrubbed furiously at it's face to hide tears before reaching for the bundle of flower buds it had tied to it's body.
"But you should have flowers, Helidora, m'dear," it murmured softly. "If anyone deserves 'em it's you."
Smol remained perched on the girl's shoulder, eyes narrowed as it turned again to glare at the assembled, daring them to say just one word.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:45 pm
It's easy to think of warmth and sand, Chris thinks, easier than he thought it'd be. He takes a breath, holds onto the thought, the belief, lets it sit in his chest and then... then he finally looks.
There's two more people in the group, another cat (what was it with people and their cats?) and.. and Heliodora. He sucks in a startled breath when she addresses him, unaware he hadn't been breathing and tries not to choke on the exhale. "That's... That's fine," He manages and oh god this was, this was a lot to take in. "I'm just glad you're..." Chris fishes for a word, finally settles "okay. Pax is um. Nice."
He blinks over at what he assumes to be Smol and gives a tiny wave and smile at him. Even with it's menace it cared about Heliodora and well. Pax wasn't all bad (even if he still really, really freaked Chris out a little).
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:48 pm
Jeremiah opened his eyes. The tranquility of the scene, the serenity, meant nothing to him. It ate him, if anything, especially when he saw Sunny, another girl, and ... Heliodora. With her missing foot and the ice that seemed to now be part of her. Pax and Smol were barely acknowledged but the detective could not help but notice that Heliodora looked at peace here. Worse that there was likely no way to bring her home. He exhaled, a sharp breath of annoyance, and his gaze flicked to Sunny. Not. Happy. This right ******** here was why he wanted answers. Instead she had dropped him in and ...<********, Sunny. Not speaking, not yet.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:06 pm
“So…. Sunny.” Zac said after a long moment, he wasn’t really sure what there was…or could be said to the little thing collecting flowers, or… to the peace that seemed to be on Heliodora’s face. “You know me…and questions.” He said with a humorless smile. “…Not surprised that you seem to know what’s going on, You…were the one making …deals with my D… with Jeremiah” He glanced at Heliodora and then back. I want to talk to you about your… ‘deal.” He said quietly. He wasn’t going to let either ‘Dad’ interfere with what he wanted to talk to her about. Especially not when just at the moment, he thought she knew more than she was letting on, and weather or not what was wished for, by her, was even possible. Something more than met the eye was certainly happening, what with her being so…sure she wasn’t going to turn in that paper.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:07 pm
Page clutched the coffee cup they were given earlier, and looked at where Sunny led them. So many people, including a few they knew. But, also a lot of really weird s**t. What... what was that deer thing? And the small fluffy thing? And the girl with ice coming out of her shoulder? Was that the missing girl, Heliodora? They scanned the crowd for the other missing teens, but didn't see any of them. What was going on? Quixote brushed up against Page's legs, bristling slightly at the creatures. Page reached to pick up their cat, holding her in one arm as they looked back at Sunny. So many people looked... angry at her? They hadn't been worried about crossing over before, but now they were rather concerned. They bit their lip anxiously. Quote: feel free to talk to them! or their cat, idk and um btw page isn't a girl... they're nb
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