November 24, 2002.11.24.02. - happy dale - part 2 [decker-rune-bastion] *njb[con't, somewhere in wonderland, .11.24.02.]
(ST)
As the door pries open Rune tumbles forward onto a deep blue lush carpet. When they deign to look around they are in a child's room, the toys are slightly larger than expected as is the bed. In one corner of the room there is the sound of someone pouring water into a bowl that is already filled with liquid. It appears to be of Victorian motif. [repost](rune)
The lupus Glass Walker pads quietly through the room, nose lifted to steal scent from the air. Her senses are not as honed as the country counsins' might be, but in this form they are nonetheless refined. Carpet - toys - water, relaying the sense of the scents to Decker through the mindlink, particularly any for which she has no point of reference, citygirl that she is.(st)
Rune also smells the faded scents of rum mixed with a hearty, rich beef stew. She can hear someone quietly singing, but the words are unintelligeable and foreign.(decker)
Decker pads to the edge of the door and, there, halts. Last time they all walked one way, the passage back closed off. If he didn't move, would it stay open? Or would he simply be trapped when the door slammed shut - in a forest of fur rapidly closing in?Unpleasant prospect, that. The thug exhales shortly, nearly a snort, and shrugs his coat on closer as he steps across the threshold into the odd room.
(james)
Stay backallright.
how long?apparently not much
because he's leaning in the 'doorway' fairly soon after the lupus tumbles through
looking around as much as she's smelling
he can't help the glance to the sides of the portal, just to see if it's a door, a closet, or a damned mirror they're moving throughnone would really surprise him
making way for Decker as the Modi draws up behind him
what block's Rune's view by height, he can see right over
pretty damned wary(rune)
The lupus pads through the room, circling the oversized bed while relaying the information gleaned by her lupine senses back to her packmates. Stew, rum - some voice, singing in a foreign tongue.The wolf paces across the room to the bed, nosing beneath the ruffled sheets.
(st)
Bastian comes up behind Decker, whistling under his bretah that annoying X-Files tune on the odd occasion as he examines the furry trees that seem to have morphed into fur coats hanging inside the closet doors. He pauses in the whistling long enough to step around James, giving the Bonegnawer a faint, strange smile before taking in the new surroundings. Especially all the toys heaped along one side of the bed.(st)
As Rune circles the bed, snuffling under the frilled undersheet that reaches down the plush blue carpet with it's own pale plus color. A little ugly man in a nurse maid's outfit, complete with bonnet, smiles and waves at her, then continues to pour water from a large earthen pitcher into a bowl already containing a fair amount of the liquid. That, apparently, is the source of the trickling water sound."About time you got here!" His voice brings the memory of the goblin, Hoggle, from the Labyrinth movie to mind for any of them that has actually sat down long enough in their lives to watch such a movie.
(rune)
Well, then.Ugly man. Nurse's maid. Pouring water. In a child's room.
All this, plus a vampire in close proximity while she's in lupus. All this, and she ruined her new winter coat by shifting in the first place. Lovely.
The Glass Walker shifts then - if the ugly man was not unnerved by the Glabro Decker, or perhaps the fur-forest outside his bizarre door, which morphed into a closet and well, so on, he was unlikely to be unnerved by the sight of her shifting through her forms all the way back down to comfortable, sleek, familiar homid. Pale arms cross across her abdomen, slender hands chafing each opposite arm a bit warmer. Lifting her chin, she offers a faint smile to the - uh, man?
"You were waiting for us?" Fucking. Hell. (across the mindlink, because she must curse SOMEwhere.) "Do you know the way out?"
(decker)
Decker stares down at the half-sized man, a frown of sheer disbelief turning into a scowl of sheer displeasure. He reaches out to touch one of the fur coats as though to ascertain that it was real, then reaches out to open one of the dresser drawers at random, peering into it.He has a question for the little man, too, his southern drawl undercut by a hint of gravel, a dash of rasp. "The hell you pourin' water into that for?"
(james)
he just blinks as they all waltz inside
sound of someone singing and we just barge into the room?
this is going to go real well
the return smile to Bastion is somewhat more skeptical than strange
his head snaps up at the sudden salutation
rising up on his tiptoes to peer at the figurethe.... nurse... man....
he's seen stranger
but it still gets a brow lift
they were expected
why is that not comforting?but he's still silent
(st)
"Out of where, Miss?"But his attention was already on Decker and that wonderfully shiny wallet chain hanging at his side.
"So you can wash your hands and face like good little children." This is reply to Decker's gruff question.
(decker)
Decker catches the direction of the nurseman's glance and scowls all the more fiercely, unclasping the chain from his belt-loop and dropping it into the pocket of his lowslung, oversized jeans. A glance slices toward Rune, eyebrow cocking up. The fuck?(rune)
"Out of the bedroom, of course," Rune replies, her smile turning a sickly sort of saccharine sweet. "We're expected for croquet in an hour, but I'm not sure we're going to find our way. We've just forgotten everything, haven't we Bastian? Unless you've remembered something I've forgotten, which would be most helpful right now, if. you. have."The speech finished, she returns Decker's glance, shaking her head quietly. Fuck if I know.
(st)
"I could maybe know the way out." He says slowly, weaselling tone, as shis eyes glue to Decker's pocket where the chain vanished.Bastian, on the other hand, is inspecting the teddy hears and merely looks up at Rune giving her an infuriatingly bland shrug before going back to his inspection. He picks up one particular bear and holds it out towards James.
"Recognize this?"
The bear looked like... Dimmy's... the one she left at his feet, staring up at him with lifeless eyes, while he was having a mental breakdown.
(decker)
Decker keeps his mouth shut. Rune's game here, being the most vocally eloquent of the trio.(james)
he's still just listening
thinking
where others jump into the frey
he analyzes, firstlistening to the word game begin
watching where the nurseman's eyes have gone
he can't help the slight smilewhich vanishes immediately when he looks over towards Bastion
chin jerking in a sharp nod
how could he not?
a step finally taken towards the vampire
hand held out for the bearthough still quite aware of the conversation at hand
(st)
There is also a very small door behind the goblin-dwarf-thing in the nurse's outfit, about half again his small stature, which leads one to believe that most here being able to fit through is wishful thinking.(rune)
"You could maybe know the way out, but you want something for your troubles, right?" dark brow rising as she studies the weaselly man - dark eyes slicing to Bastian as he confronts James with the fucking teddy bear. "I'll give you a link from that chain if you tell me the way out, and leave another link for every question you answer accurately. If you help us enough, you might get the whole chain."Sorry, Decker.
(st)
Bastian hands the teddy bear over to James with a sad smile tinging the edges of his lips. The bears cold lifeless eyes look deep into James, it seems...Right before it blinks....
Then... sneezes
In a deep baritone the teddy bear then speaks... "Is there a dog in the room somewhere?"
(st
"Allllrighty!" The little man slaps his hands together, rubbing them in a greedy manner. "Now you're fuckin' talking, little miss!"(decker)
Decker moves his shoulders is a slight shrug to Rune's apology. It's a twenty-dollar chrome-plated chain, twenty-four inches long, but what the fuck. He'll just make Rune buy him another one. Silently, his hand delves into the pocket, careful to unsnap it from his wallet while both are still out of sight.Drawing the chain out of his pocket - a sussurant hiss of steel over denim - he holds it out to Rune.
(james)
whomever thought a teddy bear could be cold and lifeless?
it's something a child pours its very heart and soul into
smothering it with love and companionshipsomebody. obviously spent too much time with this one
he doesn't even flinch as it blinks
he doesn't even drop it when it sneezes
he's good at accepting, remember?
easy smile crossing over his lips"Take care. And not.... exactly. How'd you end up here?"
last he remembers is (what he thinks is) it on the floorboards of Rune's Beemer
(rune)
Arms and shoulders tightening as - well - the teddy bear wakes up. Someone please tell her they just smoked some laced pot and are sitting in the living room, staring at the lights reflected on the ceiling through the shattered, open windows.The chain clanks as she accepts it from Decker, palm curving over the middle of its length. The swinging bits of chrome-plated chain are then gathered into her palm with a satisfying hiss.
"The deal is good, solid, accurrate information. Don't try to fuck me over, or I'll keep the chain. Help me, and I'll be generous." pause, mouth twisting into a flagrantly unnatural grin. "So, first. How do we get out of here?"
(st)
The teddy bear's baritone deepens as he lifts a stubby, fingerless arm and rubs the side of his head."Well... it's like this... it was dark... it was stormy... the toilet light was dim... and the teacup was sinking. Fast."
The goblin, meanwhile, is fair on salivating over the chain clutched in Rune's hand.
"Which way?"
(rune)
Rune eyes the small door opposite the goblin and lifts her shoulders in a swaying shrug. "Whichever way we can fit - " a brief nod toward the door " - and it doesn't look like we could make it through there."(st)
Bastian arches one well defined eyebrow at the teddy bear now conversing with James. He turns around and takes a step away towards the bed. He slides both pale hands back into the pockets of his long coat, ignoring the slide of raven black hair over his shoulders.(st)
"Well, if you wash your face and hands, you'll be able to go and play."He indicates the bowl of water and then gestures towards the tiny door set into the wall. Then he shudders profusely, pointing under the bed.
"Or, there is that way."
(james)
dark eyes flick upwards at Bastion's movement
most would think it would say
..... well didn't you talk to your toys when you were a kid?
but perhaps there's something else in it, too
after a moment, it's gone, and his attention focused back on the bear
(mostly)"Have you been stuck here since?"
(decker)
Decker shifts his weight from one foot to balance between both. Decker's far from a rocket scientist, but nor was he an idiot. He could put two and two together and right now two and two equaled a very small four. I ain't likin' the idea of gettin' even littler.(st)
"Well... yeeeah. It's kinda a bit of a bummer, really. There aren't even any girl bears here and talk about trying to find a decent bar! Just tea all they fuckin' drink is tea"This was the teddy bear's conversation with James, as he was held between the Gnaswers two hands around the waist, glassy brown and black eyes blinking every so often.
Under the bed there is the faint sound of nails scraping and scratching at wood.(rune)
Rune flashes Decker a glance and nods, faintly. Then her dark-eyed attention returns to goblin, as her fingers work deftly to pry one link from the long chain. The polish gets scratched, but - suprisingly enough - she hardly notices as she tosses the first promised link to the goblin."What's behind the small door? What's beneath the bed?"
(st)
"The Hall and the band. Under the bed? Well..... ummm..." He gulps a little, looking nervously at the bed after snatching the promised chain link out of the air and wrapping a thick, chubby fist around it, so that it was out of sight."Stairs."
He then mumbles under his breath.
"And Erekia."
(james)
Alice got smaller to take the longer path..... Sarah took the path of least resistance and it became the long way to get to the castle....
apparently he is still paying attentionnodding at the bear
"So you haven't found a way back to Dimmy yet?"
(st)
"Nooooo. No I haven't"He looks around, twisting his bulbus head and 'scratching' at his cheek with one stubby paw.
(rune)
"Is there a way out of the hall?" dark eyes lowering to focus on the chain in her hand, as she pries out a pair of links and tosses them to the creature in succession. "And I'll give you three links if you tell me everything you know about Erekia."(st)
"Yes, well, right. I guess there is a way out of the Hall. Ummm... and as for Erekia. He's big. He's stony. He likes to tear things assunder... ummm... he does weird things with yogurt and goats... and don't insult his mother, he really doesn't like that."He picks at his nose, thinking a little more and you wonder just how much of his hand he can fit up a schnozz that large. He's definately giving the attempt his all as he contemplates Erekia.
"Oh and he has a door in his chest."
(james)
contemplation fills his silence
at least for a few moments"What has prevented you?"
(rune)
"What do you mean you guess there is a way out of the hall? Are there any doors other than that one?" She nods toward the door, dark hair swinging across her pale cheek, dark eyes lowering to focus on the links in her hands rather than the hand up the creature's nose."...and where does the door in Erekia's chest go?"
(st)
"No fingers." The teddy bear waves his stubby little arms around to show his point."The Hall? Never walks down it that far, how should I know?"
He picks his nose and then looks at what came out with his roughly shorn nail.
"As for Erekia, do I look like a brave man to you? I'm a lover not a fighter."
(decker)
James is talking to a teddy bear. Rune is talking to a goblin. Decker...folds into a crouch after a moment, opening the door up and looking through it at the hall.(rune)
Two more links. One more glance shearing away from the creature, as a smirk crawls across her face."You gonna eat that?" with a nod toward the uhm... buried treasure he managed to recover. (Yes, sometimes she's 12.) "Is it tasty?"
Two. Three. Four more links, tossed in his direction.
"Do you know anyone who's been that far down the hall?" Another pause, the flash of a half-smile. "And, about Erekia, how do you know he has a door in his chest if you've not been down there?"
(st)
Decker can spy a vast golden hall with no ceiling that he can percieve. Directly across from him six munchikins wave, all of them wearing heavy metal gear and tuning various instruments.(decker)
Decker gets down on all fours, putting his head close to the ground to look in through the door. Finally he calls down at the waving munchkins, "Hell's in there?"(set)
The goblin just rolls his 'treasure' into a nasty little goblet ball and flicks it across the room, all the while smiling lecherously up at Rune. Kinda that Hey baby, how ya doin'? look."I've seen Erekia, just never been through the door."
(st)
Of all the band members, one of the little white munchikins, the drummer by all appearences, seems to not be entirely confused by the question . He gives Decker a Bill&Ted type grin and thumbs up."A hall, dude!"
(james)
Decker crawling
Rune still bargaining
and the Gnawer is talking to a toy"What did you need fingers for?"
noting that, obviously, you don't always need them to open doors
wolves don't have fingers, either
and they got in here, didn't they?(rune)
Rune rolls her eyes, and settles into an exagerattedly hip-slung slouch. If the creepy disgusting little man wants to smile lecherously up at her while answering her questions, she'll give him something at which to leer."So. The door. ...is actually in his torso, as opposed to the sort of chest in which one stores treasures. Do you know where the door goes?"
(st)
"Yeah, but that door has a door handle, man." He gestures with one studdy arm towards the direction of Decker, of which they now have a nice view of his ass.Bastian, meanwhile, has stopped exploring the vast amount of teddy bears and cocks his head to one side, looking at Decker's ass as it sticks into the air.
"Yes, its in his torso. As for where it leads, that is beyond my knowledges, little miss."
He poses like a superhero in the nurses outfit, trying to outdo Rune's posturing or maybe just trying to impress her.
(decker)
Decker straightens up, about to slam the door on the munchkins, and then thinks better of it. Leaning down again, "There a way outta the hall?"Bastian had a nice view of his ass what with his jacket pulling up and his pants sagging down. The waistline of his boxers ride about three and a half inches over the waistline of the jeans in standard ghetto-thug style - until, of course, Decker feels the eyeballs and reaches back to tug the pants up.
"Like a...fuckin' exit 'r somethin'?"
(james)
a brow lifts
bears obviously haven't learned of tools or traction
he can't help but wonder if Bastion could be any more interested, perhaps if Decker's tail were flagging through the air?
(that's just wrong, James)"Do you know what's down that hall, beyond the band? Or where the door in Erekia's chest leads?"
(st)
"No one. Have you seen how high the fuckin' thing is??"The goblin seems truly amazed at the question and the sheer idea of someone managing to drawl into the bed.
The drummer, quite some distance away, strains to hear what Decker was saying and then nods slowly, almost becoming hypnotic in the gesture. Someone was definately stoned.
"Down that way." he points to the right. "for half an hour, turn 180 degrees and you'll find a laneway. If you go that way." he points to the left "That's our house."
The bear, clasped by James who hasn't learned how to use tools apparently, scratched his cheek again.
"Nope and nope. I been in here for awhile now. They done me for drink drivin'."
(james)
one can drive, but not open a door?"And what would happen if I left you here......?"
brow lifting to ask the name
(rune)
"Yeah. I saw how fucking high that thing is."Rune tosses the goblin another link, then settles her hands on the curve of her hips, fingers of her left hand still cupped carefully about the remaining links. She's turning back toward James and Decker when she thinks of another question.
"...so. Any idea what Erekia would take in trade for us going through his door?"
(st)
Bastian examines a chest in one corner, opening it and rifling through the contents which was mainly toys. A shrug, closing the chest again. He slides his hands back into his pocket, glancing over at James for a moment, shaking his head to himself at a thought that came to mind. Patience is a virtue, but in this place... this was just bizarre.The goblin, deep in conversation and perve-mode with Rune, scratches his thinning gray hair that sticks out from under the bonnet.
"Not 'less you have two cows, an oxen and a horse."
The Bear: "I'd go back to the corner."
The bear did sound rather depressedly resigned at the idea of spending more time in the company of stuffed animals.(rune)
"Do you know where I could find two cows, an oxen and a horse?" Another link sparkles end over end, as it sails toward the goblin, flung from Rune's pale fingers. The chain clinks satisfyingly in her hand as she draws it against her abdomen and glances around the room.Y'all seen any toys like that?
(james)
Got it covered
flick of a glance towards his packmates
there's a slow nod
back to the bear"Precisely.... stuck here, no girly bars, no beer, just these stuffed animals and tea..... lots of tea.... and no fingers to get you out of.... what was the name of this place again?"
(st)
"Maybe in the fields?"Did he look like a farmer to you? No... he looked like a fat little goblin in a nurse's outfit.
(decker)
Decker opens up the door again and sticks his head down near the floor to call through it."Got any cows, oxen 'n horse near yer house?"
Worth a shot.(st)
The Bear: "Happy Dales."(st)
The munchikin drummer in heavy metal gear thinks about it, chewing on a lip for a moment."No, but I'm pretty sure there are some near the laneway, dude."
(st)
Something moves apart from the munchikins, which would not doubt catch Decker's attention and imagination. There was a little guy burling down the hall, on the right for the munchikins, in a small buggy towards the laneway. The buggy is drawn by two purple cows, a giant rainbow oxen. His only passenger is a horse with a multicolored mohawk. They were moving at break-neck speeds.(st)
The drummer notices the buggy and points towards it, moving in slow motion."There?"
(james)
again, that slow nod"How was Happy Dale created, Bear?"
since he didn't give a name
and sometimes you can't help the whim questions
since it seems Decker and Rune are covering the other bases(st)
The bear shrugs stuffed shoulders. "I dunno. Do I look like I get out much?"(rune)
Rune's eyes narrow faintly, and she glances toward Decker, head tilted to catch the munchkin's reply, not wasting another question on the goblin as this point. She crosses the room and offers the remaining length of chain to Decker - his pockets are deeper, and therefore a little more convenient for carrying the last 10 inches of the chain."Thanks for your help." tossed over her shoulder toward the goblin. "One more question," she murmurs, fingering the chain lightly. "If bathe and shrink to fit through that door, can we bathe again and get bigger once we come back through?"
(st)
Beneath their feet, almost undetectable to the eye at first, the carpet slowly starts to swirl and change. The once perfectly white walls start to become smoke stained and the bed gets a hardened appearence. There was also the sound of twisting and creaking wood as the room appears to be growing in width.Bastian lifts one of his feet, looking down at where the carpet used to be under that particular spot but now has a look of brown tiles.
"Curious." Mummured to himself before he looks up at his unwilling companions.
"I suggest we pick a door and leave some time soon, children."
The bear, held still in Jame's hand, starts to warp in the Gnawers hands. His ears begint o get longer, as does his snout. A puppy like tail starts to develop, as does the soft beat of a heart.
"Should you need to. I guess so." Slowly even the goblin was changing, although not in appearence, merely in clothing. The skirt of his nurses' outfit elongating into checked pants and the bonnet rearranging itself into a chef's hat.
(james)
shoulders shrug beneath the tattered trench
mimicking the bear"I don't know, thought maybe you would have heard something, somewhere, in passing or whatever. So give me a good reason, Bear, of why I should take you with us, back to the land of girly bars and beer. You don't get out much, so you couldn't have any useful information anymore than what you've already told me..... so what would pay your trip, Bea......"
blinking
looking around as things begin to warp and change
a warmth replacing fluffy cotton against his hands"..... Puppy."
a glance to Rune
he'll fit through
hefts the be....er..... pup a bit
to anyone else it would seem like he was just pointing this oddity among oddities out, right?(rune)
"Don't refer to us as children." The wintry smirk is directed at Bastian. "Particularly when you're not doing a fucking thing to help."Dark eyes lift from the changing carpet, and her words go to her packmates on Eagle's wings. I think we do the munchkin thing, get the animals, and try to make it back to get through the door in the... thing's chest. Anyone prefer something else?"
(decker)
Decker grunts as he sees the animals waltzing past. Ain't got a better plan. Still, I don't gotta like it.What appears easiest often isn't. Nonetheless, the Modi gets up and heads for the basin, hands poised to wash.
We doin' this? Or we gonna try to send that damn dog?
(st)
The puppy, now fully formed, licks James face with enthusiasm. The floor is now almost fully tiled like that of the kitchen. Or bathroom. Take your pick. The bed has alsot taken on a very bench-like appearence and most of the toys have being converted into various foods.(rune)
"Puppy."Dark brows rising as she returns James' glance, red mouth curving into a much more generous smirk than was offered to Bastian a moment before.
"We'll take you with us if you go through the door and come back with two cows, the ox, and the horse we need. "
Send the dog. If it doesn't work, we can always follow him.
(st)
The goblin, now fully garbed as a chef, leans over to Rune and whispers."It's just a puppy."
He looks more concerned for the safety of the puppy and slightly hungry.
(james)
there's a half-smile beneath the...... bath
a pat on the head after setting the puppy down
it helps, or it gets left
(or it runs off into the distance never to be seen again)
decisions aren't his to make(st)
Bastian shakes his head again with something akin to a soft sign and walks to the basin that Decker was hunkered near. He splashes his face with water, rinsing his hands in the process.To those standing in the room he vanishes, but they can see him not outside the small door, regular compared to the munchikins.
The puppy bolts out the door, seeming to change size to equate with Bastian's on the other side of the door.
(rune)
"Fuck." Rune murmurs, as James sets the puppy down on the tiled floor, dark eyes sliding from the puppy now bolting through the door back toward the goblin. "...well, I guess we bathe."Nostrils flaring with irritation, Rune follows Bastian's example. If it's bad, I'll warn you guys when I get there. If you don't hear from me... a lilting shrug as she dips her hands into the water. ...maybe you should wait for the room to change again.
"Thanks," she flashes a smirk toward the chef before dipping her hands in the water.
(st)
Rune finds herself in the grand golden hall standing, no doubt, a little too close to Bastian for comfort. At her feet, behind her, is where she came from. A small victorian doll's house and on the wall is a picture of a door. Other than Bastian and the puppy, the only other occupants to the eyes are the heavy metal Munchikin Band and the buggy disappearing into the distance.The only thing that Bastian says, looking from Rune to the tiny open door of the doll's house is...
"How curious..."
(decker)
Decker shoots James a glance. He didn't like the pack splitting up. He didn't like letting Rune to go off alone. Nor would he like leaving James behind, alone. Nor did he like everyone marching through at once. Nor did he like--Rock. Hard place. Eyebrows rise: We stayin' or goin'?
(rune)
I'm fine. Not dead or anything. It's all rather... she takes two steps away from Bastian and toward the band, in the direction of the disappearing buggy. ...well. C'mon through before that exit disappears as well.She flashes Bastian an irritated glance, and then continues following the buggy.
(st)
Above them, the ceiling of the grand golden hall, was not blue but a strange twilight purple with clouds constantly shifting pattern across the open area and every once and awhile rain, hail, or snow would fall from the clouds onto the unsuspecting below. To watch the ceiling of the hall was akin to watching a nature video of the sky in time-lapse.The Muchikins were now staring at Bastian and Rune, stoned eyed wide and glazed... finally one of them utters...
"Gnarly..."
Bastian turns his head to watch Rune, catching her irritated glance and merely raises an eyebrow in reply. Infuriating, wasn't he?
(james)
he?
does not like this situation either
and he's half a mind to say something about it
(but knows better)
most definitely wanting to protest at that shrug
(he ..REALLY.. knows better)
sighing deeply in thought
brows raising a bit in reply
She told us to wait, but I don't like it.that's about when her voice comes through
decision made
(no, that isn't sheer relief Decker's seeing, honest)
he heads to wash in the basin(decker)
As James heads toward the basin, Decker's already washing up. Water splashes over his face and when he opens his eyes, he's the size of a munchkin, standing in front of the munchkin door.He waits for James to catch up and go through first (leave no man behind), and then the Modi brings up the rear.
(rune)
Rune flashes the munchkins the universal symbol of heavy metal rock fans everywhere (she saw it in Wayne's World. She was never into hair bands herself.) as she passes them. Her feet ring out on the gold floor, as she passes them swiftly, careful to keep the disappearing buggy in her sight.It doesn't matter that the other path is closed (maybe it'll open again?). It's just that the buggy, the cows, the ox, the horse, the price, the other door - is the only thread of logical connection remaining in the topsy turvy world. She's not going to lose that. Not yet.
Half-a-eye out for her packmates behind her, and her thoughts flow to them too.
Following the buggy. Thing. Don't think the band knows much. Ideas welcome.
(st)
Bastian, hands in pockets as always, follows Rune at a more leisurely pace, nodding his head politely to the Munchikins in passing. He starts to whistle the theme from Wizard of Oz as he continues to walk across the golden floor of the vast hall.(james)
he doesn't bother keeping a logical connection anymore
(he was just talking to a teddy bear that morphed into a puppy, after all)
jogging a few paces to catch up to Rune
knowing the Modi keeps right behind him
(a vampire and three werewolves walked into a bar....)
skirting around Bastion
only slowing when he's just to her left flank
the band was ignored
the ever-changing sky recieves only a glance
(it seems rationality and logic abandoned them long ago)
shoulders rolling in a shrug
Not. a. clue.(decker)
Maybe we oughta catch up to the buggy... The Modi's thoughts form a third voice to their two, as he comes abreast of Rune at her right side for a moment, casting a glance across his packmates before simply...dropping forward, his body swinging rigidly down as though he were a door, and his feet the hinge, as though he had simultaneously tripped on a rock and lost the ability to bend his joints -- hits the ground a grey wolf, and breaks into a steady ground-eating lope after the buggy.
(st)
In the distance, some way off and now small to the eye, the buggy does a 180 and starts to come charging back towards them. However, it doesn't grow in size as it does so, always that small size, and then...Poof
It vanishes in midair.
At this point they also pass a sign that they didn't percieve earlier that has an arrow pointing in the direction that they were already going that reads:
Laneway 20 Mins(rune)
The laneway, then.She doesn't even sound surprised anymore, not when the buggy turns around, not when if fails to grow in size as it should, not when it vanishes. Right now, she wouldn't be surprised if Decker put on a pink tutu and started belting out show tunes while perfecting his tap dancing routine and petting a bunny rabbit and making eyes at Bastian. Nope. None of that would surprise her a bit.
So, when they draw abreast of the sign for the laneway, Rune slows to a somewhat slower pace, hitching a half-step so that she and James can walk abreast as Decker forward and ahead of them. She has the sudden, strange urge to reach out and take his hand, but manages to supress it in favor of a casual brush of her hand across his shoulder, a faint twist of her torso towards his, so his swinging arm grazes her flank.
High-ho, high-ho. It's off to the laneway they go.
(decker)
...uuh.The Fenrir stops ahead of them, one forepaw raised as the words filter through his lupine senses and find meaning (of a sorts) in the core of his mind.
20 mins..?
(st)
"We're late, we're late, we're late for an important date."The words coming from Bastian as he walked behind the trio of Fuzzballs, breaking his whistling of the theme of the Twilight Zone to do so.
(james)
well, there's that too
or.... there was that... too
he hadn't quite gotten into his shift yet when the buggy turned
and charged
and fuckin' disappearedoh that's just lovely
there's just a sigh
will somebody please hand him his ruby slippers now?
Size ten and a half, please. Thank you.
It'll take 20 minutes to get there, Decker.
probably no matter how fast they move
turning somewhat to look at the vampire
a brow lifting in the frame of heavy dreads
allowing his weight to shift shoulder against Rune's"You've been rather quiet through this, Bastion. Are you going to continue to wait for us to do everything and get you back home, or are you going to start being helpful instead of contrite? Tell me about New Jersey, why he would create that little box to get us here and what, if anything, you percieve as a plausible plan for getting the hell back home."
(decker)
Even as James speaks, Decker's teeth grind together hard enough for Rune to hear. If the little vampire didn't shut it soon - or get helpful soon - he was gonna....(st)
He considered James' comment for some time, as if drawing his thoughts out on purpose or considering what he would and would not tell the trio."This seems to be far-fetched, even for New Jersey, although should this be of his construction, then even I would find even myself in fear of his whims in the future."
A pause.
"Indeed, if there is a future."
(rune)
"That?" Rune's dark brows lift as she follows James' spin, but she still keeps walking - so slowly - backwards, so as not to prolong their journey to the laneway even while chatting with the oh-so-charming leech with whom they have been saddled. "...was not helpful."The words are flatly spoken. She heard the grind of Decker's teeth. Now James can hear the grind of her own teeth, can feel - faintly - the curl of her fists swinging at her side as she continues walking slowly backward.
(james)
the Gnawer actually..... stops
rather than just looking over his shoulder
hands sliding into his pockets
dark eyes raise to the sky
contemplating the shifts of weather high above"That wasn't very helpful, Bastion."
and he just.... watches the sky
for another dozen seconds or so
musing"So why bother going home? Sort've like the Fire Swamps..... we can get used to it given some time. At least we have that here, rather than the question of whether or not the future even exists.... think about it. No wars. No sewers. Just happy little bandmembers with their happy little songs. Just happy little chain hogging trolls. We're in the happy. Little. Box."
the smile turns on Bastion
savage
gleaming"What on earth do we have to worry about.... what's your rush back, Bastion?"
(st)
"Time is only a perifial concern for one such as myself, as I am assuming you have discovered, judging by your charming sentiments towards me, my dear." That comment directed at Rune before he slowly tilts his head, studying James curiously."I'm in not particular hurry, as you have probably noticed, but I do have things to attend to that would be quite difficult to accomplish in this... how did you put it? Happy little box?"
He arches an eyebrow sardonically.
"If we are indeed in a box."
"I doubt it will relax your overt display of paranoia and annoyance, but if you must know - New Jersey is of a similar ilk as myself. Different family, same shit."
Yes, the polite well ennuciated facade of his voice dropped away towards the end of the commentary. He was no doubt as frustrated as they were, but he had more practise dealing with bizarre happenings than them.
(decker)
Decker, too, has stopped. Thus far, though, the Modi's back remains turned. Likely because the sight of Bastian's too-young too-pretty face would further inspire him to return it to so much mush."'N why would 'New Jersey' wanna put yer ass in a box?"
Besides the obvious, that is.
"'N how the did he do it?"(st)
"New Jersey is prone to do what every he wishes on a whim. His family is not known for sanity, after all. As to how he did it, I am not a student of such arts as his family possesses."A breeze picks up, stirring the clouds high above them as they take on a rainbow hue that casts a brighter coloring, almost like sunlight through a diamond, across the gold floor. The words "Belial Eborua Lovari Iravol Avrobe Laileb" whisper through their senses, followed closely by a shower of many multicolored jewels that were, at smallest, half an inch in diameter and an inch at the largest.
(james)
"I don't think it matters if Happy Dale is in a box or over the river and through the woods, do you, Bastion? What matters...."he actually takes a step towards the vampire
that same easy grin still plastered around his teeth
if someone is annoyed and paranoid?
it certainly isn't him".... is that you want to get home, too. So why not lend a hand rather than run the commentary, hm? Your normal wit and charm is not quite up to par and your avoidances help nobody."
there's only a soft laugh, then
you know when you get past the point where everything just becomes amusing?
yea."He's one of the Kooks, isn't he?"
once more, kids, those urban legends are popping up truths
but this is obviously not the work of someone that's conventionally sane
and he had heard about one branch of the family tree that was a little wobblier than the others(rune)
"Gee, that's helpful." Rune snots, turning her fucking back on the vampire and walking. the. hell. away. "...because, you know, I never would've gussed, considerign the corpse and the stink and you and the creepy bone coffin and fucking what-not. Hell, no. I never would have guessed."Actually," ...and here goes all her frustration, all her vitriol and anger, sharp words hissed past curving red lips, short and clear and bitten off. "Before you fuckin' clarified that, I was thinking that New Jersey was your blue-footed purple-nosed winged tinkerbell of a gnome boyfriend. Or, you know, a talking car. Next year from Disney? Bastian and the fucking love bug. It's the new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with a touch of fucking Lestat thrown into the mix.
"Now." still walking. Still. walking. Rune holds out her hands and watches the, ah, gems fall from the ceiling sky. Or whatever. She wasn't going to think about it to closely. Nice and calm and controlled, she continues, mostly (at this point) for her own amusement. "Lemme guess. You have no idea what those words just meant?"
(st)
Bastian is disturbed by the fall of jewels, but seems to take no harm from the hard stones falling upon them. He raises a hand to sheild only his face, frowning breifly before speaking to James once again."Completely fucking nuts is another term commonly used."
His eyes shift slowly to Rune while she was running off steam, raising an eyebrow and merely looking... bemused.
"I believe Belial is a demon of some ilk. One of the four princes of Hell, I believe. Reassuring, isn't it?"
Up in the sky is a transparent image of a small forlorn boy looking down upon them, tears streaming down his face. He mouths the words "Get the bad man away from me..." Then a taloned hand reaches out and covers the boy's face, which is pulled away from sight. In his place is the pale face of an old man with jet black eyes and teeth, two black curling horns protruding from his temples. He yells "WELCOME FRIENDS!" which is followed by maniacal laughter as he fades from few in the skyline.
Sebastian, having watched thes, pointed up to where the visages were and says far too calmly (snap).
"That was definately not New Jersey."
Then the falling jewels turn to soft, warm gummi bear lollies and throughout the land a child-like scream can be heard.
(james)
"Considering they were saying the same thing forwards and backwards it only negated itself, didn't it."shrugged
head shaking to dislodge some of the jewels... and then gummi bears out of thick dreads
the theater of the sky didn't impress him
and that scream isn't sending chills up and down his spine beneath the trenchcoat
he turns?
and just starts walking again
how far to the Emerald City again?(st)
"If you had listened closely you would have noticed that two of the words were actually different. I wouldn't count on anything being negated just yet."He slides the hand that was sheilding his face back into his pocket after picking a gummi bear out of his hair, flicking it aside before catching another in his palm and popping it into his mouth, sucking.
The puppy was still following them, running in mad circles, eating all the sticky lollies littering the golden floor.
(rune)
One foot in front of the other. The other in front of the first.And on, and on, and so on. Some demon-thing comes into the sky, and a child cries. Jewels fall from the ceiling and turn into sticky gummi bears. A puppy runs around.
Rune flips Bastian off and walks. ever. forward.
Until the sign, of course, catches her eye. Well, then. 180 degrees?
Rune spins on her heels. The laneway better be there, or she's gonna find someone's ass to kick.
(st)
When Rune turns everyone has caught up to her regardless of where they were originally, staring at her in the face (or crotch, depending on form) from only a few inches away. Behind them, in front of her, is an L turn to her left. There was a glimpse of the buggy disappearing around the corner of the L turn.
(james)
lips twitch as he repeats the phrasing again
brows lifting"You're right."
though he doesn't seem to particularly care
180 degrees, huh?
seems about where the buggy was
so he just does an about-face within step
rotating weight on the ball of his foot
he's not about to charge, though
he'll just keep walkingoh look. buggy. yay.
(st)
Sebastian turns as well, watching the buggy charge around the corner and vanish from sight again. He does a flowing, flowerly (vaguely sarcastic) gesture for Rune to proceed - since she appeared to be the one that the two boys were paying heed to.(rune)
........aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand forward march. Rune has the sudden urge to link arms with her packmates, and skip off after the buggy like an extra in the Wizard of Oz trying out for the Dorothy role. She doesn't.Instead, she walks in the wake of the buggy. around the L-turn, and so on, while fumbling through her pocket for cigarettes, lighter, little bag of pot. The last is stuffed back into her pocket as she walks onward, lighting a cigarette as she goes.
She really. really. needed that first poisoned puff.
You don't know how much she needed it.(st)
Each time that smoke falls from Rune's mouth, it emerges as smoke encapsuled in bubbles that rise upwards and upwards and upwards... and you get the idea.Turning the corner, as there didn't seem to be any other way to go, they come upon a set of Three Doors.
The one to their left was old rugged wood with the following scribbled upon it in bright colored crayon:
'Twas brillig, and the slithey toves
The right door was made of gold with black embossed letters emblazened across it that read: SCHELAGON
The door directly in the middle was nice wooden door with a stainglass window (view obscured by the pretty, frilly curtain on the other side) with a letter slot that has Tea Party on a tag above the slot. There was a fine sand spilled around the bottom of the door.
(decker)
Decker looks up at the scribblings on the wall. The writing on the wall. It's fuckin' there, he's fuckin' seeing it, and it don't make no sense.Twas brillig, and the slithey toves. SCHELAGON. Tea party.
What. The. Fuck?Someone hasn't read his Lewis Carroll. No matter if the smoke's coming out in bubbles. He reaches out, 'borrows' the cigarette from his packmate's mouth, and takes a drag. Coughs. Hands it back. Goes down smoother than pot, but he still didn't have to like it.
(james)
the vampire flounces
the Walker stresses
the Fenrir seeths
and the Gnawer?
just strollsthe same ground eating stroll they see on the Jersey streets
he can go anywhere and not look like he's putting out the effort
it's energy efficient and sufficient for his needs
it's a casual reach that stretches to steal the cigarette in its jouney back to Rune
deep drag pulled into ample lungs
the smoking stick handed back as his head, then, leans back
picing his tongue up from the hollow of his jaw
blowing smoke rings towards the ever-changing skyhalf disappointed they aren't pink
or bubbly like Rune's
then his head tilts, infront of the doors
pointing to each in turnthe slithey toves
"Jabberwocky."
schelagon
"I have no idea."
tea party
"Alice in Wonderland."another long breath
"Do we want flaming dragons or a hat tricks with a tea party before croquette with the Queen?"
(st)
Bastian gestures towards the golden door, clearing his throat slightly. See, he was going to be helpful. Wasn't he nice?"I suggest we avoid that door, on principles sake, based on the other Abramelin commentary so far. Unless you feel that a demon is the least of the three evils?"
(rune)
With three Garou sucking on the cigarette, well, it burns down pretty quickly. So Rune lights another one, ignoring the bubbles of smoke spilling from her mouth, offering it around to everyone.Well, everyone except the leech, that is. Fucking leech.
Her mouth tightens into an unattractive line before curling outward into a familiar smirk.
You've read 'em, James, haven't you? What do you think?
(You didn't think she was going to let the leech in on this conversation, did you?)
"Thanks." The curt word spills bubbling smoke in Bastian's direction. "That was somewhat helpful. So. glad you came along."
(st)
The door marked 'schelagon' opens and the little goblin from earlier in the dool house comes out wrapped in a thick, snow covered fur wrap. A mutter..."Damn that's cold. Next time they can clean theur own teeth."
He pays no attention to the four of them debating which door to choose, opens the one marked Tea Party, enters and closes it behind him.
(james)
there's a slow nod
taking the smoke for his turn
ignoring Hoggle
just as if they were passing a joint on Rune's couch back home
and the troll was just some strange cartoon at 6am
somewhat pleased the smoke comes out blue this time
Jabberwocky ends with a big fight against the dragon, I think it's a vorpal sword that kills it - which I don't think any of us thought to bring unless Bastion has one hidden up his sleeve, I don't know if an axe will do glance slid towards Decker, and the smoke handed over ..... Alice goes on trial before the Queen for the theft of tarts, so that's a battle of wits versus brawn....... and I have no idea what the demon thing is about.....(rune)
Nodding, faintly - accepting the cigarette from James and passing it back to Decker - Rune absorbs the information from James with a lowering frown.No offense, but... not sure how we'll do with wits versus brawn, unless we get to be the brawn, or you get to be the wits. Or maybe we can just toss them witless over there - faint nod toward Bastian - and be done with it. Do they find the sword in the Jabberwocky poem, or is someone just carrying it around? If it's something we can track down in there, that's where I want to go. If not, looks like it's tea time.
(st)
"Then again, I could be wrong about the Shelagon. Or I could be lying. Who knows? I am what I am, right?"Ask for help or suggestions and then exclude the guy from conversation and little huddled trio. Someone was feeling unloved, perhaps? Or maybe the icy demeanor was finally starting to chip away - after all, they were all in this together... Of course, considering what he was and what they were, it was all the be expected. But it didn't have to be liked.
He slides a hand out of his pocket with a hait tie between two fingers. He gathers up his weaist-length raven hair, tying it back out of his young, alabaster skinned face.
(james)
there's a bit of a chuckle
glancing at Bastion"We all are what we are, Bastion, the question is more whether or not you can endure the silences you treated us with while you waited.... all in good time."
the Gnawer is either asking for it
or doesn't care anymore
He already had his sword in hand while waiting by the Tumtum tree. It was a looking glass book though, read only in reflection.(st)
"Tiiiime is on my side..."A faint singing lilt to his voice, lips curling at the corners with sour bemusement. For when they were naught but bones and dust there was a good chance that he would still be there - the Watcher of North Jersey. Time was on his side...
(rune)
"They're changing the guards at Buckingham Palance," Rune mumbles - a half-remembered poem from her childhood. This is her only answer to Bastian as she takes a last drag off her cigarette and offers the remains to Decker and James. "Christopher Robin went down with Alice."The pack had made its decision. It was as much a feeling as a word, shared between James and Rune, offered to Decker, then at last voiced in their minds. Tea Party. Let's not all go in together. Give me half a minute to give you the okay before coming through.
Long legged strides, the familiar creak of leather smooth against skin. She lifts a hand and shakes it through her hair, then exhales a long breath of smoke.
"And so are we."
Hand on the door. Door opening. One Glass Walker Ahroun walking through.
(st)
Not that Bastian heard any of the plan, therefore he follows Rune through the door, perhaps glad that a decision had been made...(st)
On the other side of the door, for Rune's appraisal was an overgrown garden with all sorts of plants - from jungle to backyard. There was a mummur of a thousand voices whisperingfrom every direction that seems to grow louder as both Rune and Bastian enter via the door. Their steps take them directly onto a cracked concrete path and behind them... just the door and more garden stretching out. Through the open door, Rune can still see Decker, James and the puppy that is currently trying to attack Decker's shoes with mock ferocity. At the end of the path is a rusted gate, leaning against it on their side is... well, I guess nothing is odd here anymore, hmmm? ... the nervous little man from the bus station that had asked Rune for the time, save that he was now sporting rabbit ears and a fluffy tail. He was speaking to Mr. Tumnus, a fawn. They appeared to be sharing a bottle of elderberry whine.(rune)
S'all good guys. Well, except for the fucking leech. That's never good. But, you know. Just the guy from the bus station with bunny ears talking to a - uhm - animal. They've got booze, though, so I'm happy.Offered back at the pair of packmates through her mind. She doesn't pause to wait for them, though. Rune just continues to walk forward, offering a chin lifting nod to the nervous man from the bus station.
"Wassup? Y'all wanna give me directions on how to get back to the bus station, or should I just keep on walking?"
(decker)
James' complacence has not spread to Decker. If anything, the Modi was winding silently tighter with every passing moment, his impatience ratcheting up and up and up with every step. A snort precedes his stepping through the door.
(james)
a part of him wants to remind Bastion that even though time may be on his side
and he may still be here long after their grandchildren's grandchildren have turned to dust
(unless, of course, Decker gets hisway)
the longer he is in Happy Dale with them
the less of his important business is getting done
trifle hard to conduct business when in the happy little box
but, as with other choice phrases of the journey
he does not share it out louda slight glance to the puppy growling at Decker's boot
which probably weighed more than it
sighing a bit
Why does... time.... keep coming up.
then just steps on throughWhite Rabbit
Mr. Tumnus
someone's mixing up their books
(like that's a surprise)(st)
The White Rabbit - if you'd like to call him that as James seems to think of the nervous man - turns to Rune with a wide lopsided grin of a drunk, cheeks flushed red."Why hello Alice!" He burps and staggers against the gate, throwing up at Mr. Tumnus' hooves. Mr. Tumnus looks at his hooves, pulling a grimace and staggers back - apparently he has been deep in the elderberyy wine as well.
"Ew!"
He then looks up at Rune, swaying as he focuses his eyes slowly and then smiles.
"Hello Child of Earth and Moon." When he notices James and Decker, he corrects himself."Children of the Earth of Moon..."
He bows to Bastian, grinning like a fool still and reeking of alcohol.
"Child of Caine..." he sees the dog and raises an eyebrow... hmmm.. "And.... puppy?"
A little confusion there as he stares at the puppy then shakes himself like he were drenched in water.
"As for the bus stop, I know of none. Maybe the lovely man in the hat can help you!"
(rune)
"And puppy. Or teddy bear. He's having a bad day." Rune flashes the man a tight grin, and digs into her pocket for yet another cigarette. Lighting up, she breathes out a long stream of smoke and continues, "...well, maybe you can tell me how to find the lovely man in the hat?"Anyone else have questions to ask? It's probably best that we keep moving, given all the damn time references. Or, whatever. Given the fact that it's something to do rather than standing around talking.
(st)
"Just keep following the path, dear daughter of the earth or moon. Just keep following the path."He offers her the bottle of elderberry wine, finds a small clump of grass and promptly passes out, snoring like a small child. The White Rabbit also appears to be out for the count, mumbling "Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock" in his sleep.
Bastian approached the gate without waiting for anyone, tugging it open and accidentally, the whole gate comes away in his hand, taking the post it was attached to with it. Ahem... he slowly turns and places the gate up against one of the trees, takes a deep unneeded breath to compose himself and... walks...
(james)
white rabbit
brer rabbit
thumpereither way
the library has combined the entire children's section into one unabridged volume
(or nightmare)
he's cool with it
more for your money
bigger bang for your buck
or whatever cliche fits in this ridiculousness
he just flashes both the men that easy grin
steps over the puddle of vomit
and right on up to the gate all the staggering back made way for
and that Bastion opened...... well.... rather Decker-esquely
(how cute)
strolling on through like it's just a walk in the damned psychadelic park(rune)
Well, well, well.Rune manages a nod of thanks to the bunny-man, then follows in the leech's wake. At least if they were going to fall off a cliff or into a flaming pit of lava, the leech would go first.
That little thought brings an oddly lovely smile to Rune's red mouth, and she just... saunters on past, smoking and strolling in her James' and Bastian's respective wakes like she was walking down Fifth Avenue, heading straight toward Saks, that Silver Fang's check burning a freakin' hole in her wallet.
(st)
Minutes, minutes, minutes, minutes. They pass and pass you by... like the sands of time through the hour glass... these are the Days of Our Lives... oh wait, wrong sort of reference... but you get the point... Fatigue seemed to leach into their bones and oddly enough it even seemed Bastian was losing his vigor. A leech... getting tired... uh oh, right?The path was laid like a wave, weaving back and forth through a thick, rickly scented forest (not as thick as the original forest, no worries) until they hear the sound of clinking of china, mad laughter and really bad jokes.
(rune)
"It's either a tea party, or an evening at the improv, or a weird combination of both. Might as well check it out, mightn't you Bastian?" Rune flashes him a faint smirk if he turns around to look at her. "Let us know what happens, won't you?"(james)
he's used to walking across cities
but even he's getting tired, achey..... hungry too
not necessarily the cigarette smoker of the pack
but he damn well gets his sharelong slow breath hearing the clinks up ahead
Here we go.(st)
One voice in the distance asks: "Where are your buccaneers?"... a short pause and that voice laughs uproarishly loud... "On your buccan'ead!"
Bastian flashes Rune a look that could wither stone for a moment, then shrug and continues forwards... a lone it would seem. Through the trees and shrubbery, disappearing along the footpath into the clearing from where the voices were coming from.
Bastian's voice is faint, barely a whisper of sound, just before he disappears...
"Or I could leave you behind..."
Then he was swallowed, as mentioned before, into the clearing and the party held within.
(st)
Tick. Tock. Tick... Tock... Tick...Then there is an ugodly scream of sheer undulating delight.
"BASTIAN!"
Shortly followed by the sound of flesh hitting flesh and a sharp crack of bone snapping under impact.
(st)
Followed by girlie shrieks of dismay..."Don't hurt his hat! I made that! Oh you bitch! You hit my friend!"
After which a small rat dressed in a rainbow colored coat, white vest, white pants and spats comes flying through the trees, hitting the ground, tumbling and ending up at Rune's feet looking the worse for wear.
(rune)
Rune shrugs faintly as Bastian's voice drifts back to them. She listens for half-a-moment (no screams yet? Pity. She wouldn't mind - oh, there. That was nice. Too bad it wasn't someone else screaming.)"Well, same routine. Y'all wanna wait here for a half-second while I go see if our potential hosts have eviscerated our erstwhile companion and whether they're inclined to do the same too us?" The words are offered over her shoulder - she's already heading toward the clearing - but even as she utters them, something else comes through via the totemphone. ...promise I'll be quick. Be ready, guys.
And with that - well - she stops and looks down at the rat.
"Your friends going to kill us if we walk into the clearing?"
(james)
he just.... stares... really
joke scream slap crack fling
not like he has much else to do
a glance to Rune
a glance to Decker
a glance back to Rune with yet another nod of acqueiscence
a glance to the rainbow doormou.....rat.... doing a flying squirrel impression
and not a very good one
shoulders rolling beneath the trench
already moving ahead, but slower, giving Rune that half minute
just because he's been calmer than than a dopefiend on payday doesn't mean he's not ready(st)
The rat dressed in a rainbow coat gets up, woozy, holding onto Rune's leg for support and shakes his head."No no... we're alll friends here..." his voice slurred, considering he went sailing through the air at a remarkable speed before impacting with the ground. He then straightens up and clears his throat, regaining his composure.
"Come join the birthday party. We have tea!"
Upon hearing the word 'tea' the puppy skids the halt and charges back to quiver behind James.
There is several more sounds of flesh hitting flesh and bone breaking in the distance.
(rune)
"Great. That's just great. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone." That grin on Rune's face? It's not a pretty thing. It's stretched at the corners, fragile as fucking glass. Oh, yeah: someone could go crazy. If someone ever considered psychedelics, she's crossing them off her list.Too bad her Xanax was in the pocket of the ruined jacket.
Half-a-nod to her packmates, and Rune walks off into the clearing, long strides, wary dark eyes sweeping forward.
(st)
Rune walks boldly forth into the clearing to see Bastian in a state she has never seen before. He looks well and truly shitty.He was holding a weedy looking pale guy by the back of the neck attempting, it would seem, to drown him in a large bowl of punch, occasionally bringing him up and revealing half a crumpled face. If what Decker did to that kids' face with the wall after repeatedly smashing it into the wall looked nasty, this looked like it was done with a singular punch. The bones had caved in, the eyes was squishy goo and teeth were missing on one side of the other young man's face as blood poured out in dark waves, although it appeared to be healing of its own accord and rather quickly. The young man's arms also appeared to be on strange angles, as if broken, as were his legs.
Bastian notices Rune and takes a deep breath, rolls his shoulders back, cracks his neck and then gently places the "Man In The Hat" back into one of the large chairs around the banquet table. He removes a handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wipes his hands clean of punch and blood. He stares at Rune, unblinking.
(rune)
Rune can adapt."So, mind telling me why you did that, Bastian?" Dark eyes settle unwavering on the vampire, and her red mouth curves upward in a painful smile. "Or should I ask your friend?"
Haven't been attacked yet. C'mon through.
(james)
soon enough, he rounds the corner
and seeing what's left of the guy.....
..... has this itchy feeling to call him....Meet.... New Jersey
Bingo.
(decker)
So Decker follows in the wake of his beta, side by side with James. By the time he gets there Bastian is likely all cleaned up again, leaving the mess that is Bastian's 'friend' something of a mystery.Meet New Jersey.
Uh. Okay. Decker scowls at the venerable New Jersey, shifting his weight to balance between his feet. This s'pposed to be the fucker that landed us here? How we know if this Bastian fuck's tellin' the truth?
So he wasn't in the best of moods.
(rune)
We don't. Rune's shoulders rise and fall in a faint, lilting shrug. But, our dear leech-friend-thing beat him the hell up, so, it's not a bad guess that he's telling the truth. More or less."Hi New Jersey. How about telling us how to get out of here? Or at least where we can take a nice, safe nap in your... lovely domain. Or whatever it is."
(decker)
I meant, the mindvoice is very nearly a snarl - the Modi is tired, physically and not mentally, for the first time in god knows how long, how do we know New Jersey's the one responsible?(james)
the Gnawer is strikingly quiet throughout their little exchange
he's prefer a nice nap at home if at all possible
silently studying the pair of leeches(st)
Bone reknits itself, skin slowly regrows and a napkin plus sucking fingers takes care of all the blood hanging like a stench on the air. New Jersey's eyes were really wide like a child that has been scolded and he doesn't understand entirely way, then something seems to dawn upon him and he jumps to his feet, spluttering blood from still healing cuts and bounces like a puppy on red cordial."You found my box! You came to rescue me! Oh I love you! I love you! I love you!"
He moves like a blur that is almost too hard for the eyes to watch and grabs Rune in a bear hug that was far too strong for such a small, wiry stature and plants a sloppy, bloody kiss on her cheek and then in another blurr he is back at the table and poised to hug Bastian, save for the fact he didn't stop in time and part of Bastian's fork was embedded in his chest.
"Don't touch me..." Deadpan voice issues from Bastian as he doesn't even bother to look at New Jersey, or the fork now slid into the other vampire's chest.
New Jersey has halted and jiggles from foot to foot like he needs to go to the bathroom or he just really wants to hug Bastian, his savior, or so he thinks.
"Where do we rest in this place, whelp?" The sound of the ages weighs his voice now, age beyond anything that the Garou could possibly comprehend. Beyond anything of their lifetimes, for sure. Age and the emotions stirred by that amount of time spent in one body, one lifestyle. It all hangs there, making the young-looking man seem so much older than his appearance.
New Jersey bites one lip and bobs his head, gesturing all around him with a wave of his arms.
"Anywhere and everywhere."
(decker)
Decker takes.
One.
Step.
Forward.His voice is quiet as ice cracking a million miles away. "R
Posted by james at November 24, 2002 12:00 AM
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