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 Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:07 pm
"We should grab the key now and return later." Rhiannon agreed with her twin's thoughts. "Far has some ropes and he probably won't be back until late..." There was a storm outside that would keep him with those he was visiting longer than expected and while he said to stay within the hotel and not bother the innkeepers, he didn't say anything about investigating demons. It wasn't even as if they were up to mischief, this was a matter of safety! And so she glanced around, motioning for Rhidian to keep an eye out for the innkeepers before she reached to climb over the counter. Slipping down to the floor, Rhiannon glanced around one final time before peeking through the rows of keys for the one that would be above seven.
Oh, oh. What about that one key over there? It had a skeleton head and didn't have any assigned numbers. "Perfekt." She whispered, reaching up as far as she could on tiptoe until her fingertips brushed against the key. Repeating the motion a few times the key finally wiggled free of its hook and fell into Rhiannon's open hand where she promptly climbed back over the counter and held it out towards her twin, a victorious grin on her lips.
[Rhiannon 4]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:26 pm
[Selim 5]
"It's fine." Even if it did make him uneasy it was just one number on a door. The fact that it was their number on the only room occupied at this inn...What were the chances?
"We could take turns. That way we don't go to bed grimey...though I don't think it would matter." Honestly he couldn't tell if it was the color of the blankets that made them look like they were pulled from fresh grave soil or if they actually were. Taking a deep breath, Selim dug through his things and gathered up some fresh clothes. He didn't miss a chance to grab a dagger either.
"Ready?" With their things set Selim moved back out into the hallway, but not before checking to make sure they were actually alone. When he was satisfied the hybrid walked to the end of the hall where a nice, if older, was room was waiting.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:34 pm
[Rhidian 5] As long as they stayed at the inn and didn't wreck the place he wouldn't mind. All he said was to be 'mindful of their surroundings' and behave. They wouldn't be causing problems by taking the key; there were so many rooms anyway that if someone else did stop they could just get another! Keeping an eye on the old man was easy. As soon as he'd finished up with the demons he went back to sleeping, but his wife was nowhere to be seen. Wherever she'd lurked off to she was good at keeping quiet. At one point she heard a noise from above them, and Rhidian reached back to hold a hand up for her sister to still, then relaxed when it was just sounds moving away. They're on the prowl.Good, then they could investigate in peace! Smiling broadly when she saw the key, Rhidian tugged her twin along back to the stairs, but instead of the first landing she went to the second. "Fourteen should be above Seven, right?" Then that's where they needed to make a stand.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:43 pm
"We can always sleep on our travel cloaks, that could keep our hair from at least touching anything unpleasant." Advised Cyril as he glanced about the room. It didn't stink, at least....it was just musty from the humidity that the storm had just broke. Though the fresh rain on the dirt and weeds outside only added to a wet feeling that lingered in the air and along his skin. "Yeah." He grabbed a bar of the soap that he had brought from home, just in case, and picked up his own fresh clothing for the bath.
They could freshen up, grab some of the traveling snacks he had in his bag, and then try to get a few hours of sleep before morning when they would hit the road again. For once Cyril hoped that sleep would go quickly, especially when another round of thunder shook the walls around them making the unnerving portraits rattle ever so slightly as they walked to the washroom.
[Cyril 5]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:50 pm
Rhiannon paused, her whole body tense as if ready to leap away, but then the noise disappeared and she found herself nodding. There was a creaking to the pipes, the noise swallowed up by the following boom of thunder that thankfully also covered up her own steps as she followed Rhidian upstairs.
"Yeah." Rhiannon started forward, bolder now that they were upstairs and away from where the demons were resting. Walking past the old wooden waalls with faded prints of local flora and fauna, Rhiannon only stopped after she walked past room twelve and saw the number fourteen. "I guess someone never learned to count." She mused realizing that thirteen was missing before giving a slight shrug and moving to turn the skeleton key into the lock. Thankfully it gave a nice little click and she smirked towards Rhidian and pushed the creaking door open so that they could venture inside.
[Rhiannon 5]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:12 pm
[Selim 6]
"I haven't missed being with a troupe as much as I have today." Once they were in the washroom Selim lifted a barely flickering candle from the closest table and went around the room, lighting any others he could find. While it did give a little more light to the space it also deepened the shadows which only made them jump when thunder shook the building.
"Do you think he even has a wife?" Keeping his mouth running stopped the thoughts from creeping in. A little fire near the back of the room kept some bots of water warm and it was from them that Selim filled a shallow, stone tub with water. Normally he might have tried soaking; today he was eager to get his washing done and otherwith.
Unlike Cyril, though, he didn't bring his own soap. Instead Selim reached for what was available and found...An odd, deep red bar. It smelled fine but when he dipped it into the water it spread like blood. "I'm gonna say it; I hate this place. I hate it so much."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:20 pm
[Rhidian 6] This room was much like the others, except now that it wasn't in use the only light coming into the space was from the storm laden moon. Thankfully Rhidian was used to sneaking around darkened chambers since she often played pranks on Silfi while she slept. The others were fair game too, but Silfi's reactions were always the best. Her screams could wake the village. Moving to the center of the room, Rhidian grasped the edges of an older, circular rug whose coloration might have held flowers at one point. She tugged and pulled until it was bunched up in the corner, leaving their work space free. "Gotta check and make sure we're clear." She whispered and crouched down to press her ear against the floor. No noises; she gave a thumbs up to show they were clear.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:33 pm
"Agreed. Though I don't know how well the troupe would fare in this place either." Admitted Cyril, his expression shifting even more as he thought about the question of a wife. "Possibly, the only question being if she's alive or not." He shook his head, trying to shake off the chills that the very thought gave him. Of course it didn't help when Selim used the bar of soap and the performer winced at the sight as he peeked towards his twin. "Definitely will not be adding it to our travel plans in the future." He confirmed, not even feeling inclined to truly joke about their situation after already dealing with so much travel stress.
"It honestly makes me wonder if we somehow entered a staged place, like this is some sort of production and we're just playing along." He shook his head, disturbed by the very thought. "Anyway, I would wash quickly so that red doesn't cling to your skin."
[Cyril 6]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:40 pm
Thankfully the occasional flash of lightning was a good enough light source for Rhiannon who also was accustomed to sneaking around in the darkness. She couldn't simply let Rhidian have all the fun scaring the others, after all. So as Rhidian marked the way as safe, Rhiannon found herself digging for the knife hidden beneath her tunic. It wasn't a big blade, just one she had borrowed from her far's collection for situations like this.
As the rug was pull away, Rhiannon started using the edge of her knife to look for any loose nails in the boards. After finding one she started to work at removing it, the youngling surprisingly nimble and precise as she focused on the project at hand. Soon enough the creaking board would be moveable and the girls could take a peek into the room below.
[Rhiannon 6]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:35 pm
[Selim 7]
"Don't say it like that". Spirits, if she really was dead and that old man had her body stuffed in the walls then Selim would just stab himself now. He'd rather get it over with quickly than to be tormented! With a harrowing sigh, the performer quickly slipped out of his clothes and moved into the water at a crouch, unwilling to get comfortable for a second lest he take longer than necessary to scrub off.
"Right? Places like this don't just exist do they?" He rinsed off his skin before giving a quick later to his hair. "It's next to an airship port; this has to be some kind of tourist trap." And since they were performers they should know. Once he was happy enough with the clean up job Selim grabbed the side of the basin and hauled himself out. He reached back to drain it, but even after his water was gone the red remained. "...Maybe with a fresh wash it'll come out?" Either that or Cyril would be taking a blood rinse too.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:39 pm
[Rhidian 7] The little hybrid was practically bouncing on her knees. This was already so much fun and she couldn't wait to see what kind of information they would dig up. Men like that didn't just exist. Dark eyes, one had horns and the other have knives in his head...That just wasn't normal! This was the best trip ever! "They're not bad yet," She whispered, leaning down to get a good look. "I bet they're eating the innkeeper's wife right now and using her bones to pick their teeth." She mimicked the action with a grin. "What do we do now? Go in? Or drop a spy?" There were plenty of rats and spiders to do the job for them.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:50 pm
"Just don't look too closely in any closed wardrobes and the like." Mused Cyril with a slight shrug before nodding at the tourist trap idea. "It would be an interesting experience, but I don't know how well it works for business all things considered." It was fairly empty, one would expect teens or something to be paying for a fun time but then again....he reflected on his last haunted house experience. Most did run away from that place, didn't they?
"Still, we'll see. If people start appearing the pale faces and blood dripping from their clothing let's just hope it's an act." He mused, making a face at the stained tub before giving a sigh and just accepting it. "I'll try to rinse it, but it is what it is." Cyril poured fresh water in, the color somewhat more pink in nature after a rinse out and since it didn't seem to want to completely dissipate he just decided to take a quick bath instead. He still didn't trust the bloody soap and opted for his own, the familiar forest scent somewhat comforting for that brief moment until he opened his eyes and saw reality once more.
"Alright, let's try to get to sleep." Cyril emerged from the water, twisted his hair over a shoulder and watched as the pinkish water slowly drained from the tub with a look of disdain. Surely this would be their worst stay, right? He could only hope.
[Cyril 7]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:55 pm
Even Rhiannon had to shiver at the image presented by her twin. "I don't know if that lady would be enough of a meal for them." She managed after a moment, the youngling tucking away her blade for safe keeping. If there were demons on a feeding frenzy then she definitely had to keep something to protect both her and Rhidian!
"Spies are a good idea." She replied with a soft whisper. "There's a big furry spider I saw on the wall when we walked towards this room. Should we grab it and see how they react? If they did eat something or even if they didn't, the spider should be a good snack if they are still hungry."
[Rhiannon 7]
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Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2023 11:50 am
[Selim 8]
While his brother bathed Selim dressed and did his best to comb out his hair with his mind running laps. What if someone did show up at their door, blood dripping down their face and a blade in their hand? Or worse; a severed head? I knew I shouldn't have left Belrea...
Sleep? Ha! He could only nod when Cyril suggested it because Selim knew he wasn't getting any. The traveler could only hope his body was so exhausted that it won out over his mind. By the time they made it back to their room and he slipped into bed Selim was trying his best to rationalize things. It was just a storm, that was just some weird soap, and the pillow smelled weird because of disuse. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and prayed sleep took him soon.
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Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2023 11:53 am
[Rhidian 8] "Oh, oh, oh, go get it. I'll keep watch." A spider was just the thing they needed. With all those legs it could move around without being heard and if the men really were demons it would just crawl into their mouths or something. Right? It made total sense. When she heard noises from the room Rhidian's body grew still and she kept her breathing to a minimum. They were moving an awful lot, but soon enough they started moving toward the beds and the light went out...
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