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 Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:30 am
prompt You hear a weird scuttling on your rooftop in the middle of the night but it doesn’t sound like any rodent or noise you can easily identify. Whatever it is sounds like it’s doing a lot of movement—and is sizable enough to give you decent concern. Is it an animal? A robber? If you listen closely you can hear strange chattering and an odd whisper; it feels like eyes are watching you, but you can’t see anything. The noise doesn’t last for long; whatever is on your roof is moving—but, if you are brave enough to check outside you might be sorely disappointed to find that you can’t see anything but shadows. Either way, there’s something out there…and it’s not safe to stay out for long.
Nearly a month had passed since that incident happened, and Shiloh was slowly but steadily getting better. After having spent six days alone in what could only be described as a blank space his mind had all but deteriorated to the point it had been when he first graduated school. It was during that time where he felt like he couldn’t remember anything, that nothing made sense anymore and that the only firm spot in his life was his work…. And even then, things were shaky given how frequently he was left alone, head turning and flinching happening every time there was a strange sound.
The worse were the mirrors. Shiloh could barely manage to look at one, let alone do his duty of cleaning them while he worked… There was that fear that he’d be sucked in again and left to suffer and hurt all on his own. More than anything else, that terrified him.
During that month he spent recovering from the trauma, he managed to find one bit of light and comfort, and that was with his dear friend Alexei. The older judge was incredibly kind and patient the entire time while Shiloh found his bearings, allowing him to stay close and find comfort with him during the days that followed… He even gave into the young man’s whimpered request to move in with him into a spare room, where at least he knew he wouldn’t be alone anymore. That did wonders for his recovery, and… Shiloh liked to think that him being so close to Alexei provided its own sort of comfort. The Judge didn’t have to worry about him since he was right nearby, and he was able to keep track of his mental and physical state.
There was no denying that things were rough in the beginning with Shiloh being unable to pry himself away from the judge for more than a few hours… And it was especially rough the moment the judge had to go back to work, leaving him either at the old mansion alone or hovering around town near the court house. Both places had become ones of security and comfort, as he knew that he was safe there… At least in some way.
Tonight, however, Shiloh didn’t feel safe at all. Something was there, scratching and thumping on what felt like just a few feet above his head as he laid in bed. Anxiety began to set in, and his breathing became more and more eratic as whatever the sound was seemed to get closer and closer and closer… For a few terrifying moments everything went silent, and Shiloh held his breath, hoping that whatever that sound was, whether animal or otherwise, was gone.
Claws scratched harder than ever, sounding as if they dug deep into the tiled roof and tore it apart in one giant slash.
Shiloh scrambled out of bed, feet hitting the cold wooden floors and nearly causing him to face plant out as he made a terrified dash out towards where he knew Alexei would have been at. Normally, even in a state of fear which happened way more often than not, Shiloh wouldn’t have bothered the judge, especially not at 3:45 in the morning. He knew just how hard the man worked, how many people’s burdens rested on his broad shoulders. But tonight was one of those nights, and the moment Shiloh saw the man’s blond hair splayed out on his bed, he dove in beside him, arms wrapping tightly around him in pure panic.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” he muttered in his panic, face buried against the other’s chest as he tried his best to keep his words steady and clear. Another loud slashing sound appeared above his head and he prayed that it wasn’t just him going insane, not after how hard he had been trying to get better. “I-I’m so sorry but there’s something there, there’s s-something outside!! Don’t you hear it?!”
Kyuseisha no Hikari ((SORRY IT’S SO LONG, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE 500 IN biggrin ))
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:28 pm
Things had been a bit difficult with Shiloh moving in, not because Alexei minded him being there but because he had to lie about where he was at some hours of the night. It was always easy to say that he was locking himself up to do work, but powering up and leaving the house wasn’t something he could really do and keep secret. At least, not forever.
Tonight, Alexei wasn’t powering up. Tonight, he actually did have work to do. He’d made progress on it, but his mind was starting to slowly turn itself off and it was getting harder to ignore the call of his bed. He had just finished off the glass of wine he’d poured himself to try and force himself to be in the mood to sleep before finishing all of his night time rituals. He’d been in bed for all of one minute before Shiloh burst in. He raised his head and blinked in the darkness, trying to focus on Shiloh’s face.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arm around Shiloh. “It’s okay,” he responded without thinking, trying to brush aside the haze of sleep. Truthfully, he hadn’t heard anything—until now. “It’s an old house,” he tried to justify, suddenly keenly alert. His eyes narrowed at the ceiling. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a raccoon or two getting into a scuffle. The tiles up there are very loud, and the wood creaks. You know,” he insisted. “You’ve been here for a while. You know how loud the house can be.”
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Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 7:18 pm
"N-no... No, Alexei, I know what the house sounds like! It's old and it creaks and it moans but it's not that!" Shiloh felt Alexei's arms go about him and it somehow relaxed him enough that his panicked breaths slowed enough for him to form coherent thoughts and sentences.
"It was... It was right above my head... Digging and scratching and... You know youma? What if it was a youma?" The very thought of it had his fingers curling into Alexei's nightshirt in panic. It took alot to finally get him to leave Alexei's side after that mirror incident, but... After tonight, it didn't seem like Alexei was going to be left alone any time soon.
"I have... I have to check... You're... I-I can keep you safe... I just.." It was one thing to say he could go check, maybe even fight off the thing that was plaguing them tonight, but it was a whole 'nother thing to do it. The sound of another loud scratching echoing through the old house was too much for the young man in the end. Whatever he thought he could do to protect them both left his mind as he curled up around his dearly beloved friend.
"I can't, I can't, I can't! I-I'm sorry! I-i'm so sorry!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:06 am
Alexei grumbled lowly, from the very back of his throat. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said simply. There was no room for debate; this clearly wasn’t up for discussion. He wrapped his arm tighter around Shiloh in a grip that made it clear he didn’t intend to let the younger man leave his side.
“I don’t need to be kept safe. I can keep myself safe,” he promised. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up and his muscles had tense, but he hoped Shiloh would be too distracted to pick up any of those signs. It was dark, and in the back of his mind, Alexei was already making up excuses if Shiloh called him out on it.
“Don’t listen to the noise outside. This house might be old, but I’ve made sure it has the best security installed. You don’t have anything to worry about. It could be any number of things, most of which are nothing to worry about. We’ve had raccoons here before. Cats fighting. Birds. Even if it was something dangerous, going out there is just going to agitate it. Trust me.”
He moved his head just slightly and rested his cheek against Shiloh’s temple. His eyelids were heavy and he was more than exhausted. It was easy to believe his own lies and he just wanted to drift back into sleep. His voice was a bit softer, a bit gentler, but insistent all the same. “Nothing can get you in here. You’re safe. Just relax. Do you want some music? My phone is on the table, you can reach it. We’ll put on something so you don’t have to hear the noise, all right?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:24 am
There was no room for protest. There never was when it came to Alexei, and quiet honestly Shiloh found comfort in that. Though his own mind was cluttered with uncertainties and fears, Alexei's never seemed to be, and if the older man thought that what he was doing was right, Shiloh would never fight against it. Being pulled closer only reinforced that thought in his mind.
If there was any tension in Alexei's body, he didn't notice it, not with how his own heart was still racing from the panic, and now with how close he was with him. Every word he said just added more and more to the relief he felt, and the scratches that still could be heard now and then were slowly beginning to be chalked up to what he said. Just animals, nothing dangerous, nothing that could hurt them.
It was then, in that calm moment that Shiloh realized just how horrible it had been to disturb Alexei like this, and he wanted to apologize, but held his tongue. This wasn't the time for those emotions to take over. Here, being curled up and held so closely to the judge was all that mattered. He reached over, picking up the phone and fumbling with it quickly before setting it back down and curling his arms around Alexei once again. He figured the music was the best way to forget about everything else that was scratching and clawing at the rooftop.
The music that began to play was soft, filling the dark room with only a faint hint of melody. It was enough to drown out the last scratches on the roof, and leaving only a warm coziness between the two men.
"Thank you, Alexei..." He murmured softly, barely loud enough to hear though his lips came close to brushing Alexei's as he pressed his forehead to his. This would be fine. They would be fine... And for once, his mind made no excuses.
Kyuseisha no Hikari Fin for me! Thaaaank you!
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