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 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:18 pm
Otto's line of sight went straight to where the light pointed after having opened his eyes again. He nodded stiffly, walking alongside Eva as she led them out of the town. She was oddly serious. So together and calm. It honestly felt better than someone teasing.. or worse, as scared as he was.
He knew it was a long walk ahead. It had taken him a while to get to the town as it was. This made him feel anxious.
Every second that passed felt like minutes. Every crack of a branch or chirp of an animal made him jerk or flinch. His brows knit together, a free hand clutching the fabric over his shirt where his heart was. It was painful how scared he was. Being with someone made it a little easier, but not by enough. If only he could teleport.
He kept his eyes focused on the spot where light was shining from the cell phone, occasionally looking up for signs of civilization. He grimaced every time there was nothing but darkness.
"D-don't...uh.." He spoke suddenly, still shuddering. "Don't..tell anyone.."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:37 pm
Despite feeling a little jumpy herself, Eva managed to keep herself together, resisting the urge to flinch every time there was any sort of noise. Instead, she gave Otto's arm a reassuring squeeze whenever she felt him jerk in response to something, a silent urging that they should continue on. She contemplated telling him not to look back, but she wondered if such a sentence would make him even more paranoid. It would sound as if something was following them, and that she was acknowledging this fact.
...No, it was best to just keep quiet.
That was, until Otto suddenly broke the silence. Eva's gaze flickered towards him briefly before she looked away, but that familiar smile--albeit a calmer and more reassuring one than usual--tugged at her lips. "I won't say a word." She promised. There was a beat, and then without warning, she snapped her cellphone shut, effectively blocking out the little object's light. Before the blond could protest, however, she lifted a hand and pointed straight ahead, where there was already light filtering through.
"Almost back!"
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:52 pm
Good. He had to ask. He had to make sure he'd asked. He didn't need Eva gushing to Reine how "aawww puppy is scared of the dark so sillyyyy". Feh.
Otto's heart practically stopped as Eva's light went away, gasping quickly ad turning to the girl for answers why. Had the battery gone out? e followed where her hand pointed, barely able to see it in the dark toward... light. They were almost there.
Otto breathed out shakily. Part of him wanted to run to the light, however, his pride wouldn't allow such an act. He could see where he was going. For now he was okay to walk.
Almost back, but not soon enough. He grimaced and rubbed his face with a free hand, continuing to move forward, a low groan in his throat.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:18 pm
Otto's fear...it seemed pretty bad, didn't it? Eva herself had a couple of things that unnerved her--spiders, for one--but it didn't seem to be at the extent as Otto's fear was. She gave his arm another squeeze, but struggled whether or not she should say anything to him. Would he complain that she was babying him if she attempting to give him some words of reassurance?
"We're almost there," She finally spoke, giving him a little grin, "Just a little longer!" To be honest, it probably was a good thing that Otto mentioned not telling anyone else about this incident: if left alone, Eva probably would have told Reine (and a part of her still wanted to). Not to make fun of their puppy, of course, but because she was genuinely concerned. Was there a way that they could help him with this fear?
...What would happen if one of those monsters found out about it? Would they try to exploit it?
She suddenly grimaced, quick to push the thought of her head. Not on her watch.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:27 pm
Otto nodded stiffly yet again. He'd never admit it, but having her grip on his arm eased his nerves slightly. A warm hand proving that there was another living human right next to him. He concentrated on that and the ever closer light source, rather than the moving shadows and cold wind.
Finally, the agonizing journey came to an end. They were back on the grounds of the Dues Ex facility. Otto calmed somewhat, but his nerves were shot completely. Being out in the dark for such a prolonged time had left his mind stuck in a state of fight or flight.
He regretted going for his walk. Exploring. It had been a childish venture, and he didn't even find anything, though he did enjoy kicking rubble over.
A thought crossed his mind as they entered the building, breathing going back to normal as he was surrounded by light. "Why were you even out there?" Otto asked in a quiet voice.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:44 pm
Eva relaxed once they reached the safety of the building, sighing in relief as she felt the warmth dispel some of the chill that she had been feeling. A glance towards Otto reassured her that the boy was feeling a bit better too, now that they were actually in a place with some light.
She had been in the middle of removing her jacket when the question was suddenly brought up. Startled, she turned to blink at him for a second, and then she smiled. "Why else? Didn't see you around for the whole day, and it was getting late." Shrugging off her jacket, she tossed it over one of her shoulders. "The fact that you didn't answer your phone didn't help matters. I was worried."
It was a good thing that she had gone out to search for him after all. She considered telling Chara "I told you so", but realized that it probably didn't matter--her weapon probably already knew what she was thinking anyways.
It was Eva's turn to ask another question now. "What were you doing out there anyways?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:52 pm
"...oh." Otto replied, kind of surprised. Why had she gone out looking for him anyway? Probably to harass him, no doubt. Still, he wasn't sure how he felt about her being worried. Was it like a nagging mother worried about being out past curfew worried, or worried he'd be out messing up all the things?
He didn't dwell. What did it matter?
"Me?" He shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Just goofin off." He mumbled, shuffling his way down the hall, heading toward his room. "It just.. got late before I knew it.."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:42 am
Goofing off. Something about that brought a smile to her face, and suddenly reached out to hug him, grinning from ear to ear. "Be more careful next time, okay Puppy?" Ah, back to the nickname. Reaching up, she removed his hat and bandana to ruffle his hair affectionately before putting both objects back onto his head.
Lopsidedly.
After a few second ticked by, her grin faded into a more collected smile. She reached out to give him another pat on the shoulder as she started down the hall with him. "Feeling better now?" She noted with relief that he didn't seem to be shaking or stuttering anymore. That was an improvement. There were some questions that she had been planning on asking--things like "when did this start" and "why are you afraid of the dark"--but she realized that she probably already had a good idea of both of those answers.
Instead, she decided to make a face at him. "Answer your phone next time."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:43 am
Hug.
...
Hug?
A hug.
Any other day and this would be met with squirming and a big old fuss from the blonde. However, Otto probably really needed one of these now. While he certainly didn't return it, he didn't move away. It wasn't even a long hug either. Tolerable.
He actually felt a little better. "Right.." Be more careful.. Bring a damn phone!
Now that he was feeling better though, the fussing returned. His hat and bandanna removed, even temporarily, had him grouching. "Hey.." He grumbled, shoulders hunching as she ruffled his hair. With a scoff he tried to fix the hat and bandanna since she'd set them back so poorly.
He gave up and stuffed the articles into his pocket.
"Yeah.. better.." He mumbled in usual Otto fashion, looking a bit ridiculous with a scarf and hats sticking from his pockets. "I forgot it.." The phone, that is.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:09 pm
Ahaha, now that was the Otto that they (and in Eva and Reine) knew and loved. He seemed a little more...docile than usual, but Eva was certain that that would pass soon enough. Once he was completely relaxed, she expected that he would go back to being his snappish, sarcastic self.
And now that they were safe and sound? She couldn't help but grin a little at the mental image of scared!Otto Puppy. Okay, it had been really, really, sad, but who knew he could be so adorable?
She sighed at the bit about Otto having forgotten to bring his phone. That explained a lot. "Oh, Puppy. Of all things to forget...your phone is kind of the most important thing to keep with you!" After all, that was how they got most of their missions--by text. She didn't linger on this for long, however, as they had reached their rooms. It was convenient that their trio lived right by one another.
Eva's next words were serious, and were meant to be helpful. Of course, asking them in the middle of the hallway was probably not the best idea. "Hmmm...do you want me to try and find you a night light? How do you even find your way to the bathroom when it's so dark in the halls at night?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:25 pm
"Yeah yeah.." He grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Ain't like I always forget it.." Otto replied to Eva's 'nagging', so to speak. That's how he saw it, but he was also a big brat.
Finally, their rooms. otto could go and pretend this never happ---godammit. Seriously? A night light!? "I ain't a ********' four year old!" Otto snapped, curling his lip at the idea of something so juvenile. Sure, Eva was making a serious suggestion. However Otto was simply disgusted with it.
He rolled his shoulders, wiping his nose with the back of his hand as he sniffled. "I just use my cell light." He admitted in a mumble. What he didn't mention was he sometimes just held it in until it was morning.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:29 am
Ooooh, yeah. Otto had definitely recovered quickly. Eva was unable to hide the big grin on her face at the boy's outburst, and she didn't even bother to try hiding it either. "I assume that's a resounding no, then?" At least, he didn't sound like he had been pleased at the offer. Still, if his fear was a genuine one (which it obviously was), it only seemed natural that they should help him come up with a way to slowly desensitize him to his fear. And--
--...did he just admit to using his cell light?
Eva stared, and then without warning, she pulled him into another hug, rubbing her cheek against his. She didn't say anything, but it was clear what she was thinking: adorable. Puppy was adorable. So, so damn adorable. Could she really not tell Reine about this? Together, they could probably come up with something to help Otto!
Or, you know. Unintentionally embarrass the hell out of him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:50 am
"A big fat no." Otto emphasized with a huff.
Another hug.
This time, Otto was squirming. He made faces to illustrate his blatant dislike of the affection, especially as she nuzzled his cheek with hers. "Guh! What the Hell, woman? What'd I do to deserve this!?" He whined adamantly.
Much like a wiggling toddler, he slipped out from under her hug and backed away. "Yer awfully touchy feely all'a the sudden." His lip curled in typical Otto fashion.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:48 pm
Eva didn't even bother to hide the grin on her face, though she eventually loosened her grip so that Otto could slip free, sparing him from any more cheek nuzzling. "I'm just glad that you're safe and sound," She answered with a bright smile. That was the majority of reason as to where that cuddling suddenly came from, at least: the other part was simply because...well, Eva was a touchy-feely person. She was affectionate, and she didn't mind showing it.
Even if the other person didn't always like her show of affection (case in point: Otto).
Buuuut, now wasn't really the time to be talking about this. Eva was all too aware of the fact that it was starting to get late as she let out a big yawn. "Mm, anyways, I should probably get to bed, and so should you--hmm." She crossed her arms, looking the boy up and down. "Are you sure you don't need a night light? Or...hey! Maybe Reine and I can lend you our phones for extra light?"
She was trying to look out for you, Otto. Really.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:40 pm
Otto scoffed, though oddly touched that she cared about his safety. Again, not like he'd ever let on. He was a very dishonest sort, unfortunately.
Bed sounded good though. Otto was tired from his misadventure, and wished severely to be asleep in bed. This day needed to end and be forgotten about. Too bad for him it seemed like Eva would not let him forget.
In fact, he stared at the dark haired girl with a rotten scowl at her helpful suggestion, as if she'd just spat on his grave.
Otto sneered, turned, and opened the door to his room, walked in, and slammed the door hard behind him.
Apparently he felt insulted.
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