He looked back with amused interest. It seemed Marissa did not do haunted houses well and he felt glad to have taken her request to be up front to serve as a buffer between him and any jump scares. Despite being spooked more from surprised than anything else, the overall feel of the haunted house was cheesy but in a fun way. It was one thing he could mark that he had done and one more thing that could add to a history he was trying to stitch together and rebuild.
The more memories he had, the more he had to talk to others about instead of being speechless or awkward that he had no frame of reference. Recent talk at the Negaverse had been about Halloween and he already managed to make two Infirmary workers gawk at him when he said he didn't know if he ever wore a costume or went trick-or-treating before. It somehow made him come off as closed off from the world at large who could easy pick up movie references and exchange jokes about some kind of meme. He tried his best with the internet at the Negaverse computer lab but it was hard going.
The music changed to odd calliope music that was mixed with laughs. The circus portion had started and he looked as Marrisa hugged the large wolf. "I can handle monsters at least." He said with a grin.
The rooms were more optical illusion here. Checkered floors that made the room feel as if it was wavy or off center. They moved into a room that rotated while they walked on a bridge, giving the effect that you'd fall over. There were a few clown mannequins dressed up that rattled and jerked when you passed them, some with sharp teeth. There were two clown actors, but he had heard the shrieks from the group before and knew that something was coming. These two jumped out of rodeo barrels and while it gave him a start, he didn't react by strangling any of them. They then walked about them comically before retiring back into their barrels for the next group.
With all the jumps and rattles, his heart was racing high on after line from all the flight or fight triggers.
The screaming from ahead had stopped and he could hear some loud stomping about of people running around.
Soon the room widened out and light came through as they entered a large room that seemed endless as rows upon rows of mirrors warped and fractured the room into endless reflections.
Winter stopped dead in his tracks. "I-I thought the house of mirrors was somewhere else." Like in a separate house.
Wide eyes stared from one mirror to the next, and he felt his face warm as the blood drained away.
Shanyume
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:32 am
Marissa stood behind him, patiently waiting for him to continue on until she caught the expression on his face in a mirror that stared back at them. Until now Winter had the fight reaction to anything that startled him or made him jump but this was a different kind of fear she was seeing.
“They’re usually either the very first or very last obstacle to go through.” She explained calmly.
From behind one of the groups had caught up to them and one of the snarky teens in the better than thou tone, clicked their tongue in irritation and quipped, “What’s the hold up? Scared of getting lost?” There was a chorus of laughter behind them but Marissa paid them no mind and instead placed a gentle hand on Winters shoulder and stepped to the side.
“Go on ahead,” She motioned for the group of three to pass them with a wave of her other hand.One of them made a snide remark but thankfully Marissa was more concerned about Winter to pay them any attention. Otherwise, she would have snapped back with a comment of her own and gave them a real reason to be scared.
“Unfortunately we’re too far in to turn around…” It was very clear by his expression and how tense he seemed that he honest to God did not want to go in there and the only reason she could come up with was because unlike the previous rooms, this maze was much more narrow.
“Why don’t I take the lead through this part?” Marissa held her hand out to him. “You can close your eyes and I’ll guide you through. I’ll make sure you don’t run into anything.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:56 am
Her voice was distant between the sound of his own racing heart and a swelling commotion in his head. The quip from the teenagers didn't even penetrate to be recognized as his eyes flickered from one mirror to the next, catching the distorted shadows that bounced from one to another in a fractured accumulation that could well be an army swearing into the room. His eyes tried to see out where a leg stepped out onto solid ground or a hand might reach to pull someone in. Youma or not, the Dark Mirror Court had power and he had drawn blood too many times.
They could be invisible, bit in a place line this, they could be anywhere and the laughter from the teenagers that passed bounced around the room and distorted to grins and a merry woman's voice as the slick sound of blood hitting floor was followed by the gurgle of blood in a throat.
A loud intake of breath came as if coming up for air as his eyes passed over to Marissa who was in mid-talk about leading. That he could close his eyes.
Close them? Could he? How? They would see him the moment he moved in, and what of Laven. A new recruit not yet exposed to the harshness and merciless cruelties of human imagination. Like Dioptase, Helicase, and Primase. Unable to take the burden after a few days and cracking like tender eggs under a steel toed shoes. He cracked. O er and over. He could still feel the broken pieces, the hard lines fracturing his person like slivers in marble, all through him.
His breathing had spiked quickly and his waving focus returned to her, once again displaced, before he took her hand.."I can't - " There was so much he couldn't and it was hard to form words over the need to throw up. "I can't be here." The words were small, a whisper as if he could be overheard, but came with the urgency of a crying plea.
He moved behind her, and that is to their shared height, could lean against her back as he held her wrist tightly. It was a Hall of Mirrors but everything inside said it could be a million other things.
The screams from behind them jolted through him as his breathing continued to get shorter.
Shanyume
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 3:00 pm
If there was ever a moment that she felt he was merely teasing, those thoughts were immediately banished when she felt his forehead rest against her back between her shoulder blades. In his reflection she could see how ridgid his body was and for a moment she had to wonder if he’d have the courage to take a step forward.
Winters grip was tight enough that had she been a mere human and not the half youma they both were, she had a feeling he would have broken her wrist without him even realizing it. But as things stood Marissa knew that, by the end of this maze, her hand would definitely be numb.
Behind them she could hear the next group approaching by the tear-full laughter that was growing louder as a woman's voice sounded as if she was about to keel over because of her companions reaction to the clown.
Deciding it would be better to move on, even if it was at a slower pace all Marissa could do was pray there wasn’t anyone in the maze that would jump out at them because she wasn’t sure that she’d have the strength to hold him back or the speed to catch up to him if Winter ran away.
“I’m not going to leave you,” She reassured despite knowing that whatever she said between now and the moment they reached the exit would fall on deaf ears, Marissa instead began to hum an unidentifiable melody to hopefully serve as a distraction or something else for him to focus on instead.
One step after another, they maneuvered through the maze. Marissa knew the trick to such mazes, focus on the floor because it offered no reflection or echoed images all the while remaining hyper aware of the pressure between her shoulder blades. The lighter the pressure the slower she went if only to keep him from feeling like she was rushing or trying to break free of him where as if she felt the weight on her back push forward then she picked up her pace accordingly. Even though he walked behind her, she allowed him to set their pace.
Several minutes passed before they finally reached the exit. Thankfully they had made it without incident but she felt like it was less of an answered prayer and more likely that the zombie actress had forewarned the other employees not to mess with him. Either way it was for the best for everyone's sake.
The cool night air rushed past as she continued to walk down the graveled path away from the bright lights and screaming kids. Marissa paused once they had reached a quiet spot in a grassy area beyond food stalls where the lines were thinning then turned around but made no move to pull her wrist free from his hold and instead set her plushy down on the ground beside her.
Winter had been so happy and now it felt like she had unintentionally broke him. Unlike before this was not a man who was withdrawn due to the burdens and decisions of his past. No, this was true unadulterated fear of something she could not fathom. This wasn’t something her playful nature could pull him out of like last time. All she could do was what came naturally to her and carefully pulled him into a hug.
“You’re safe,” she whispered.
It was no small secret that she was viewed as soft in the eyes of both Captains. But for now, as long as he needed her here, she would remain strong enough for him to lean on.
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:12 pm
His eyes were on the fabric of her hoodie, the folds that moved as they walked. The gentle smell of shampoo and detergent. His mind went to seek out escape else it would shut down completely.
He knew as Winter that he couldn't sense energy signature and it was akin to being completely blind. What use were eyes if they saw nothing? If every reflection was a trick and a lie? If it only played you into their hand.
I tortured their Princess. Their comrades. Killed the ones I found to draw her out. They would want my blood. Take what the building's collapse didn't finish. What if they take my eyes again? Even more still. Can fully youmafiyibg even save me then? Would She even extend that to me?
They stepped and for a brief moment he faultered before taking another step to catch up. In that seperation, his eyes flashed around as images of people twisted and swirled about. Shadow's turning in the dark as people screamed in agony as bones cracked and faces pulled in grotesque shapes till their eyes popped white.
He remembered that. Screaming. Day in and Day out. His own echoing back. A chaos if sound with nothing to comfort them and know that there was no signal to the rest. Tanzanite isn't here to say you now, Wolfy-boy. She wouldn't save s**t like you now.
He'd never make it thought that again. One night of that - just one moment of it - and he'd bite his own tongue and hope to drown in his blood. Hope to go like he should have that night. Before they took fire and pipes again.
Never again would he let that happen because he knew he would never be strong enough to handle it. They wouldn't get him. Wouldn't bring him back to that hallway. Back to that chair! He'd shatter every mirror until his hands were bloody shards of bone and muscle if he had to! Paint it all red to keep it from reflecting. Anywhere away! Anywhere that had light again!
He rubbed his wrist, feeling that cold metal against him and pressed himself when he felt the air rush against him. A invisible person perhaps reaching to grab at him. Flinching, he pulled himself in tighter, curling into himself and biting the stiffed animal's head to stiffle the noises that would alert him that he was here all this time. That the eyes in the mirrors would look and they'd rush in.
And then she hummed. At first he stumbled, startled and wide-eyed as he turned about to see if Dioptase was here. A ghost floating among the mirrors. But the song carved into his ears was not this one, and as he felt Marissa move and in turn pull him from where he held her wrist, he noticed it was her. A different sound.
Why did young women know these songs? Something to comfort in darkness where the beasts nipped at your naked flesh.
And somehow they weren't inside. They were in a patch of grass somewhere else s d they were sitting now.
Kneeling down, arms moved around him and at last he let go of her wrist. His breathing was David and with the breeze, he could feel the sweat in his face as he was brought in and whispered.
He breathed, in and out and in and out before clenching his teeth and trying not to break down for ******** sake not right now. His throat felt too tight and so he buried into him to her and held her a while. To anchor the world into a physical reassurance that this was not that time or place.
I'm a captain. Look how far you've come and yet - look how little you've moved from then.
His breathing was a rattle and then a held whine before, slowly, it stopped to a steady breathing.
After a moment, he pulled back, not looking at her.
"I'm sorry."
Shanyume
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 6:31 pm
Marissa shook her head and in doing so brushed her cheek against the side of his head where his youma ears would have been perched. It was a motion similar to when she had rubbed her face against the back of his paw but the reason for it was completely different. The motion was not one brought on by joy or happiness but rather deep concern and worry because, for the first time, she had no idea how to help him.
“There is nothing for you to be sorry about.” She spoke quietly and without thinking much about the act she placed her hand on the back of his head and gently ran her fingers through his hair. “You owe an apology to no one.”
For a moment, her arms tightened around him reassuringly “Just breathe, ok? I’m not going anywhere,”
MoonKitsune
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:09 pm
He was pulled back in, but he made no effort to resist. The hand through his hair was gentle and he was reminded that it was getting a bit shaggier as of late. It wasn't like the Negaverse had a barber on staff.
Part of him wished to be back in the barracks where the energies if the Negaverse could envelope him and make him feel calm, but with each passing stroke of her hand, his breathing slowed and his mind started to realign and focus.
"You make a good stuffed animal." He managed with a weak little laugh that stopped before it had much if a chance to start.
"A real prize."
His limbs felt heavier and he blinked back the stinging in his eyes. After a moment, he pulled back again, but didn't look as small as before. It was hard to move on from moments like these.
"Thanks...for ." He made a vague gesture that barely lifted from his side.
Shanyume
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:40 pm
“No thanks needed.” Marissa released him from the hug when she felt him pull back. However, she didn’t pull away and instead held onto his hand for just a moment. “ If I can’t be there for the ones I care about then what right do I have to be called a friend?”
There was a wall barring her from ever reaching out to the ones she used to have, one that could neither be penetrated nor destroyed because it was the laws of the Negaverse that could neither be bent nor broken. Her heart ached longingly for the friends and family she had left behind when her old life was taken but found at least a little comfort in knowing that someday, if she could earn her captain rank, she’d be able to see them again even if it was only through a window as a stranger they’d never know.
“Tell me honestly, what would you like to do? You can lay down here for a little while, or we can go back ho-” Marissa stopped mid-word because even after this many months it felt wrong to call her dorm room home. “To the barracks,” she amended. “Otherwise you had mentioned playing a game together or going on the Ferris Wheel as long as you’re okay with heights.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:48 pm
"I'm okay with heights. Probably more then most with jumping on roofs. Just - can't do mirrors." One in the bathroom was enough and even those made him paranoid. Even saying it sounded crazy and probably was confusing to hear. Still, it was just one of the things that accumulated into setting him off.
Myaybe he should see a therapist. Did the Negaverse even have one if those? He couldn't just talk to anyone. How would a therapist get that there were people living in mirrors and not want him admitted.
"No. It's just starting to get dark. I'll be fine. Let's...okay a game together. Okay?" He slowly got up and was glad that his legs didn't feel as weak as they had before.
"Today's going to be fun, and I don't have enough memories. We still have a bit of time before our glamour wears off anyways. Are you okay with still hanging around?"
Shanyume
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:21 pm
Nodding her head, Marissa rose to her feet and brushed the grass and dirt off her pants. “More than ok,” she picked up both of their stuffed animals and dusted them off too. Fatigue from holding onto the glamour was only barely setting in since she really didn’t allow herself much time to recover from exercising, which included minor practice while in her water form, earlier with the exception of the shower she had taken right before he came and knocked on her door. But Marissa felt pretty confident that she had maybe an hour left before she’d need to go back; at least she hoped that she could last that long.
“I saw two games earlier that might be fun. There is a skii-ball game where you roll balls up a ramp and try to get them into a pocket, each one is worth a different number of points. Then there was also a basketball game where you try to get as many in the net before the time runs out.” Although, that last one might have to be against one another rather than teams since doubling up would be kind of cheating.
“We can also refill the lemonade cup on the way back over there if you’re thirsty; or get something to snack on if you need something to help settle your stomach?” The suggestion was posed more as a question so he knew there were more options out there.
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:51 pm
He took his plush from her to help lighten the load and turned to stuff it into his backpack, letting it's head stick out as he zipped it up.
"Skiball sounds fun, and no to eating something right now. My stomach still feels off." The last time he had a episode, he threw up and Venice had to call his boyfriend up and get them a ride back to their place.
The teleportation and the mirrors was suddenly accumulating on him but he would be damned if he didn't end this day on a high note. The sun was setting and the cool days of a dying summer were welcoming. He moved with Marissa to the game booth and he felt better with each step away from the house.
He laid the attendant and he stood beside Marissa as they were set up along with a few other people. It was getting more crowded now as more people flooded into the grounds and there was a commotion of noise and laughter's around the games and rides.
"Alright. I'm following your lead on this one." He took up one of the balls.
Shanyume
Shanyume rolled 1 8-sided dice:
8Total: 8 (1-8)
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 7:32 am
Marissa picked up a ball of her own and nudged him to the side so she could stand in front of and align herself with the middle of the Skee Ball game. “Fair warning, strength will earn you no favors in this game. Too much power behind your roll and you’ll likely only get 10 points assuming it doesn’t bounce back out; which wouldn’t be too bad because at least you’d get another try.” Although, she was pretty sure the game operator wouldn’t be too thrilled since these balls were not designed to have any bounce to them.
“The goal is, obviously, to get the highest score, but the highest numbers have the smallest holes. It’s kind of designed so that you’ll get 10’s or 20’s more frequently.” She shrugged her shoulders then brought her arm back. “Watch,” Marissa swung her arm forward and released the ball. It raced up the short lane and hit the ramp at the end giving it a beautiful arc that sunk it so perfectly into the 50-point hole.
For all the horrible luck she had in the previous games it was about damn time something went right for once. “Your turn.” She smiled at Winter then took a step away to give him room. As he got into position Marissa pulled out her phone again and set it to slow-motion so she could get a video of his first toss since she had missed getting a photo of that cocky smile of his when he just destroyed the meter on the first game he played.
Skee ball rules: 8 remaining Roll a d8 per ball 1-3 is 10 points 4-5 is 20 points 6 is 30 points 7 is 40 points 8 is 50 points
Prizes: 400-450 is a big prize 300-400 is a medium prize 150-290 is a small prize 90-140 is a consolation prize
He moved to the side and waited, watching the rather hard looking ball as it sailed up the slick path and up into the high-walled circle. Marissa made it look effortless and easy as she scored close to the middle target and his confidence at the simplicity of the game rose.
"Alright. Roll the ball into the hole. I can get that." And if the hammer game showed, he knew he could give it some power to it too.
Moving over, he picked up the ball and eyed it a moment. His focus was at the center target and he rolled it up with a little less at full power as she said not to go crazy but even with holding back, the ball sailed quickly last his target and nearly went for 10 but managed the second ring in instead.
"What? I thought the ball was heavier." But it still seemed to move too quick once it took that curve up.
He moved to the side. "Wanna bet on this? Loser owed the other a favor."
Pts: 20 Total: 70
Shanyume rolled 1 8-sided dice:
6Total: 6 (1-8)
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:12 am
“A favor huh?” She picked up her next ball and tossed it in the air as she considered the offer carefully.
“Ok! A favor it is.” With how things have gone so far Marissa felt confident enough that she could beat him at this. “To make things more fair we’ll ignore the first roll, which leaves four balls each.” Probably not the smartest offer to make on her part since she wasn’t sure that she’d land another ball in the fifty point hole again but what fun is it to start a bet with such a lead?
Like before she swung her arm back and let the ball go. It rolled up the ramp in that perfectly straight line down the center but was just shy of enough power to make it all the way to the furthest hole. “Twenty to thirty,” she said with an almost triumphant smile and handed him the next ball. “You’re turn!”
He grinned as she took his offer, finding it more fun to add more to a basic game. It was also of interest to him to see what Marissa might ask for IF she even win. Not that he'd let her as he was sure Marissa would hit him if he just lost in purpose. He wasn't the type to just flake like that anyways, knowing how insulting it would be if someone did that to him and making him feel he wasn't capable on his own.
He watched the ball with renewed interest and had to say that while his ball had managed to go to the side, her own seemed set in a hard line.
"Alright. Now that I'm warmed up." He said as he moved over to take a ball. His aim was to be more straight and as he threw the ball, it went right and again, went to 20.
"Whatever. I just need to land a 100 anyways." If he did his math okay and didn't bomb the rest of the balls, he could make it.
