triverse | Kick Out, Break Out, The Place That I Flee To Is Always Inside Of My Heart

[Caius says he's glad they're friends again, but... why does he look so upset?

As Caius storms off, Kor tries to reach out after him, but just ends recalling his hand instead. What's he supposed to do here? This feels like it's Kor's fault somehow, but it's not like he can just apologize for it. How can he apologize for something he didn't do?

He looks back over at the display and just... grabs the sunglasses Caius had discarded. Kor had to remember somehow, and right now, these glasses were his best shot at remembering whatever memories Caius is talking about. And whenever he does remember, he wants to be able to give these to Caius as a symbol of their reforged bond.]

[While Kor goes and takes those glasses, Caius completely forgets the main reason why he came in here in the first place and the accessory he picked out goes forgotten. He's far too busy staring at some suit or skirt or whatever he's in front of, he couldn't care less. All he's doing is looking straight ahead, fists balled up tight at his sides as he breathes deeply...

And tries not to tear up. That would only make Kor feel much, much worse if he caught Caius crying. Really he should be happy he has Kor here at all, what are the chances of him showing up in his world after all. But he's still upset. Still frustrated.

Ugh. He has no idea how he should be feeling about all this.

In the end he starts heading outside, motioning to Kor as he walks through the store that he's leaving. He'll wait outside the door if Kor needs a second to get anything, and in the mean time will be looking around for where to go next.

There are shops lining the street which seem to head all the way down to some sort of plaza. The city center maybe? There are also some pretty large... What are they, machines? One looks like a bunch of horses on a spinning platform. There's a giant wheel with carriages on in the distance too. Huh.]

[Kor too forgot about trying to find souvenirs for his friends back home, only concerned with buying those aviators. No... More like too concerned about Caius.

One quick purchase (with immense relief over them accepting gald, talk about convenient!), he comes out the door to meet up with Caius.]

So... Where to next?

[Bless currency working across words. Crazy how Gald is just the everyman's cash of choice.]

How about over there? [He points off to the plaza area.] It looks like there's some stuff going on. It could be fun.

[And it does look fun! Since its basically a small faire going on and all. Something which might not be as lavish or crazy as the festivals he's seen in Verens, but it's what his world has to offer and that makes it exciting by itself.

Also seeing kids running around having fun and people laughing is getting him excited already. His expression isn't the brightest thanks to what happened earlier, but Caius is clearly slowly bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation.]

Hmm?

[Kor looks where Caius is pointing to, off at the fairgrounds up ahead. There were rides and it looked like people were having fun... It kind of reminded him of Lion Park.

And that made it seem exciting. So while Caius may have been curbing his enthusiasm, Kor made no such effort, his eagerness to check it out made all too plain.]

Ah! Let's go check it out, Caius! C'mon!

[He's not really giving Caius a chance to consider here, because he's already running on in the direction of it.]

Hey, I pointed it out! I was gonna go first!

[Off he goes, hot on Kor's heels as they head towards the plaza area. Once there they can see more of what's on offer. More stalls, all sorts of foods, balloons being given out, a teacup ride, haunted hou--

Oh heck.

Caius purposefully decides not to give that last thing any further thought once he realises what it is. It's a small, derelict looking hut that stands out from the rest of the faire and the city itself and is probably infested with ghosts.]

Whoah, I didn't think there were places like this anywhere in my world. Kinda wish Tilkis would have mentioned this to me, this is cool! [He gives Kor a nudge.] What should we do first? If you don't pick, I'm saying the cup thing.

You mean the teacup ride? [That sure brings back memories for Kor. Competing with Hisui to make the cup go fast, Innes breaking the ride, Beryl trying to paint while on it... Riding it with Kohaku...

...Maybe he'll have to ask Kohaku to go with him to Lion Park again sometime. It might be nice with things being different for them now...]

Well, I was kinda hoping to check out that haunted house, but...

Why? There's nothing even good about a house like that.

[He folds his arms, giving Kor such a look. How could he even suggest going for the haunted house?

...!

WAIT. WAIT... THERE MIGHT BE A SILVER LINING TO ALL THIS.

Yes Kor might have lost his memories. But then that would mean that Kor also doesn't know how poorly Caius deals with anything remotely spooky. This could be a chance to make a great impression, to prove how cool he is in that he can totally tolerate a horrifying pit of the paranormal and pertubing.

His tune quickly changes.]

If that's really what you wanna do though then sure. We can do that first. It probably won't even be that scary.

[His knees are shaking already.]

[(Un)fortunately for Caius, Kor remains cheerfully oblivious to Caius' underlying fear. He's buying right into his forced bravado.]

Yeah, exactly! We'll show that abandoned creepy-looking house full of ghosts and ghouls and other spooky stuff just what we're made of!

[He's feeling pumped up here. Which isn't to say he isn't a little afraid himself, but courage is all about conquering fear!]

[Ghosts please don't pay any attention to what his friend is saying, you're all very scary and Caius respectfully asks you don't go all out to try and make Kor regret saying what he did.]

Y-Yeah! What you said! [Help.] We're going to-- Ghouls too?! Uh, yeah, we'll... We'll be the ones making the ghost scream and run away all afraid!!

[He is more than happy to just stand here and get psyched up. No actual movement towards the house is necessary. This is fine.]

Yeah! So let's get going while the going's good!

[Kor's ready and raring to go here. He wraps an arm around Caius' shoulder, ready to drag him along, practically forgetting all about how tense things were between them just a couple minutes ago. But he notices something as he does so.]

...Hey, Caius, you okay? You're all sweaty and clammy and stuff.

[WHY ARE THEY MOVING TOWARDS THE HOUSE THIS ISNT NECESSARY DAMN IT.]

I-I uh, I just... I get a little sweaty when I'm excited, that's all! Come on, stop being embarrassing pointing stuff like that out and let's go!

[And off he goes, putting an arm of his own around Kor's shoulders as they head off together!!

Except Caius' legs have locked up. The knees. They don't want to bend. When he tries to take a step foward he ends up stumbling and putting all of his weight on Kor for a moment as he tries to keep his balance.]

[Gross, Caius. Gross.

With the two of them firmly latched together, away they go! ...Or so he thinks, but when Caius stumbles, he causes Kor to stumble too. He catches himself from falling to the ground at least.]

Whoa! Did you trip, Caius? Maybe we should've been looking for new shoes for you!

[How in the world do you walk in those, Caius?]

[KOR IS GROSS.]

My shoes are fine! I don't really wanna find out what'll happen to other shoes when I-- A-Anyway, I just stumbled, it's nothing. It's nothing!

[Awkwardly, while trying not to drag Kor to the ground again, he wills his legs to work. And they do! But it's like he's doing some stiff march while he hangs onto Kor.

He looks like an idiot and he's pretty sure people might be staring their way. But they're making their way to the haunted house so he'll be dead and buried soon anyway, it's fine.]

[Kor blinks confusedly for a second. When he what? Although Kor remembers Caius mentioning having the ability to transform, he hadn't really given much consideration to what that actually entails. But okay, if Caius says they're fine. He thinks they look cool at least!

As they head towards the house, Kor notices the stiff walking Caius is doing. But he assumes Caius is just messing around now, so... He joins right on in on doing it, mirroring his stiff legged movements. So at least they're being stared at together?

Soon enough though, their stiff journey comes to an end as they stand before the haunted house.]

[They're very cool, more people should tell him about his shoes. No one really blinks twice in his world when it comes to them, and he only got weird comments in Verens about them. He thinks they're neat.

... He briefly wonders if Kor is also scared, but he knows better than that. Then he wonders if maybe his friend is taking the piss by acting the same way. But it's just Kor being Kor, isn't it? Playing along with him for the fun of it Pfft...

Memories or not, he's lucky to know Kor.

As they finally arrive at the entrance, Caius looks a little paler now. His mouth feels dry. It might be really tacky. It might be funny. It might not be scary.]

Hey, how about you head in first? I'll be right behind you.

[Don't make him go first into this thing. There might be a jumpscare right behind the front door. His heart can't take that. Even a tacky, funny jumpscare might knock a few years off his life.]

Hmm... Okay.

[He takes a step forward, gazing up at the creepy building. It sure seemed bigger up close... And creepier...

He glances back at Caius.]

But you better be right behind me. Don't go thinking of abandoning me all alone here!

I'm right here aren't I?!

[He's still stood where he was before Kor stepped forward. So he quickly shuffles along a little, trying to resist the urge to duck behind his friend.]

Here, if you really think I'm going to run off on you... [Caius grabs the back of Kor's jacket.] You'll be able to feel if I've left you. How's that?

[This is entirely for Kor's own comfort, not his own. Not at all. He already feels better for having Kor to hold on to though...]

[Kor feels the tug of Caius' hand on the back of his jacket, and already he feels better. Being alone here is way scarier to him than anything this house could actually throw at him.]

Alright, then let's go!

[With Caius backing Kor up, he feels like he's going nothing to fear, so he boldly charges through those doors, dragging Caius along with him. Bring it on, haunted house, he's not afraid of you!(?)]

H-Hey, hang on, you're going way too fast!!

[Fuck shit okay just. Gotta hold onto Kor. Head down. Don't look up, don't look around, trust in Kor to get through this...

Compared to the view outside, the inside is much larger ~~because RPG Logic~~. There are a few ruined rooms with greying and damaged furniture, cobwebs everywhere. Depending on where you walk, a bat or a spider on a string might swing down. It's all very tame.

... Except for the door in the back. There's a strange, red glow coming from it that tints the back of the house in the same colour. Every now and then, through the eerie silence of the building, there's a dull but wet sounding THWACK heard coming from this room coupled with some hard to make out muttering or groaning.]

[Huh... Man, this is a little disappointing so far. It's just some... dusty old house. He was hoping there'd at least be ghosts or zombies or giant spiders to fight! He was almost ready to just declare it a bust, but then he catches sight of that door in the back, its ominous red glow serving as a clear sign there's something back there. It was as good a sign as any, at least!]

Come on, Caius. [He gives a tug forward.] We're going this way.

[He starts heading in the direction of the door, not paying much attention to the sounds. It's just... all part of the ambience, right? Tooooootally nothing to be afraid of.

...Right?]

We're going further?! [Why though.] I mean, if you say so, it's not like I'm ready to leave yet!

[He wanted to leave the second they set foot in here. Stupid creepy atmosphere. Granted, yeah, it isn't as scary as his racing mind had lead him to think it would be. So that's something. His hands cling tighter to Kor's back all the same though, his nails turning white as he refuses to let go of his friend.

As they get closer to the door it's possible to make out a shadow being cast from the red light. This shadow is very large, and seems to be lifting something heavy above its head... Before bringing it down, that wet THWACK being heard again. Closer still, the sound of something dripping to the ground can be heard. Each drip sounds louder and louder still as whatever is causing it begins to pool on the floor.

If they make it to just outside the door? A hideous, echoing laugh will bellow out from behind the door, easily loud enough to be heard in every corner of the house.

There's nothing to be afraid of though, it's probably fine.]

[With each THWACK Kor inched closer to the door, dragging Caius along for the ride. Truthfully, despite his bravado, Kor was terrified right now. If he was on his own, Kor might very well have chickened out by now. This place was really starting to get creepy now.

But having Caius here with him? Well, it made pushing past that fear a whole lot easier. Even if they were terrified, they were terrified together.

Once they reach the door, Kor stops in front of it, that creepy laughter behind it ringing out through the house. With how tightly Caius was holding onto Kor's jacket, he might notice something. An odd trembling.]

[By this point he has his head down and pressed into Kor's back, looking exclusively at his own hands holding his friend's jacket and his feet shuffling along the floor. Every step forward is like torture. He has to wonder how Kor can be this brave over this sort of thing.

Then he feels that trembling. For a moment he mistakes it for his own hands shaking before realising what's causing it.]

Kor? [...] I-It's... It's okay.

[He was so focused on his own fears that he didn't even think to consider his friend might be scared as well. Kor never struck him as the type to get scared over this sort of thing. And with all the teasing he's had to endure over spooky stuff like this, Caius just thought he was the odd one out in his friends.

Turns out Kor gets scared too. That's.... Reassuring. Being terrified together is better than being terrified alone.]

[There's a pause. But then Kor's answer comes. Despite the trembling, his response is clear and full of confidence.]

Yeah. We're in this together, after all.

[Slowly, he grabs that door knob. And turns the handle.]

Kick Out, Break Out, The Place That I Flee To Is Always Inside Of My Heart

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