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

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.]

[He nods in response, not that Kor can see it but he should still feel Caius moving his head against his friend's back.]

Yeah. Togeth--

[It's as Kor grabs the knob and begins to open the door that suddenly it flies open! There's a splatter of red liquid that splashes the two of them as they're stood there, the similarly shaded red light hitting them now too.

Silhouetted in that red glow is a large man... Creature? They're wearing overalls that are ripped and torn in places, stains of red all over the material. In their hand they hold a large cleaver dripping-- Blood, it's not red liquid, it's absolutely blood. What else could it be?! It's hard to make out the expression of the being, their face is hidden behind a cracked and dirty white mask, but even in this red light it's possible to make out two bulging, unblinking eyes.

With a groaning laugh, the bloodied creature lifts their cleaver above their head and they make a slow step towards the two of them.

It's at this point Kor is going to feel the dead weight of Caius' body slump against his back and slowly slide down as Caius faints on the spot.]

[Holy crap holy crap holy crap there is an actual murderer behind that door. Kor's adrenaline is running on an all-time high here. He wasn't prepared to actually see someone here. And this guy looked pretty menacing.]

If you're wanting a fight, then you're getting one!

[Unlike Caius, whose fear is manifesting itself as fear, when it comes to fear for Kor, he just brazenly faces it head on, no matter how scared he feels. He places his hand on the handle of his Soma, ready to draw the blade, but he hesitates at first, wanting to watch the creature's movements and prepare a counterattack first.

...Until he feels Caius' body go limp against him, causing him to stumble forward. His arm jerks outward, unintentionally drawing his sword ahead of time, the golden blade shining brightly as it manifests itself in his hand.]

[What Kor said alone would have been enough to stop things. But suddenly drawing his magical glowing sword is definitely more than necessary, even if it was unintentional.

The "creature" immediately stumbles backwards, hands in the air as a sign of surrender as they end up falling over and landing flat on their back. As they fall it's easy to get a glimpse at the room behind them, which is full of... Nothing gruesome.

There's. Jello. Which looks like it was being abused to make the wet whacking sounds before. And a few containers worth of watered down scarlet paint that were being used for all the "blood" that's been splattered around.

"Alright kid, get outta here. You an' your glowstick sure showed me. You happy? Sheesh, we need a sign out there about not harassin' the actors."

The murderer on the floor turns out to be nothing more than a dude in a pretty damn good costume. Tugging off the white mask, two large glass eyes come loose and roll across the floor. Without the mask they look very much human, even with the rest of the get-up still on.

"... Get gone, scram!"

There's a harsh, piercing scowl on the mans face as he barks at Kor before slowly getting to his feet. Ah shoot, where did he drop that cleaver? The outfit might have been for show, but that thing was real and not cheap. Really helped bring the outfit together.

Meanwhile here's Caius, pooled up on the floor around Kor's feet. Sometimes his foot twitches a little, and every now and then he groans about something. It's hard to tell exactly what he's saying though. Something about 'pots' or 'stop' or something along those lines.]

...Huh? Actors...?

[Kor stares ahead at what was going on here, looking at the room that was now plainly visible. With his Soma providing some illumination, he's quickly realizing that... This haunted mansion isn't so haunted after all. It's a lot of fake props and stage magic and dudes in costumes...

It was all... fake? Just an act?

And... He just ruined it, huh?]

I-I'm sorry! I thought this was all real!!

[He puts away his Soma and then hastily bows his head in apology to the hulking man. He then turns around to see Caius, and... He's out cold. Great. He tries to get under Caius to support him and carry him out of the not-so-haunted house.]

Nngh, why're you moving me...?

[Looks like Caius is thankfully with it enough that when Kor goes to help him he responds, though he doesn't do much else than sit there while Kor goes to carry him... Wait, where was he again? Oh, right, the haunted house.

He remembers a man, them being attacked for a split second, and then everything else gets fuzzy. Stupid fainting. But there was something about that guy. Was it their tone of voice, their aggression? Ugh, his head hurts a bit.

Caius looks back at the man as Kor carries him, hoping to get a clue as to what was so off about them-- And promptly begins struggling for Kor to let him down.]

Kor-- Kor! Move!!

[With wide strides, the man approaches from behind the two of them, large cleaver in hand and raised above his head. His expression is serious, completely uncaring as he swings the cleaver down, aiming to slash Kor right down his back.]

Huh?

[Kor's head snaps around briefly to catch sight of the man speeding towards, ready for the kill. What the heck, he told them to leave and they were leaving, what's the big deal?!]

Wh-wha?!

[His shock, combined with Caius struggling against him to be let him, causes him to drop Caius. He tries to run forward, away from the man, but he ends up tripping over Caius' foot instead, falling flat on his face.]

[Ow, well okay. Maybe he shouldn't have expected something a bit more graceful given the situation. Caius hits the floor hard and then tries to scramble out of the way, only for Kor to trip over him as that cleaver comes down towards him.]

Damn it, no!! Get away from him!

[It comes in reaction to seeing his friend in danger, the sudden rush of adrenaline and heightened emotion hitting him and helping spur on his transformation. A flash of bright light fills the dingy house as Caius gets to his feet and rushes forward as fast as he can.

When the light begins to fade it reveals Caius stood in front of Kor, looking a little more beastly as he takes his Leimornean form. One of his hands is pouring blood, because stopping a blade with his hand seemed like a smart move, and to his credit he did stop it from hitting Kor! His other hand is balled up into a fist and is currently making its way towards the man's face.]

You wanna hurt him?! Then I'll tear you apart!

[The punch connects, sending the man stumbling backwards with a grunt. His nose is looking a little crooked now after that hit, and a trickle of blood comes down from one of his nostrils. That has to sting. But again the man just seems... Emotionless. Like the pain doesn't register.

With some distance between their opponent and them now, Caius glances back at his friend with a worried look. Or as worried as he can look in this form anyway.]

You okay Kor?!

[After a moment, as Caius' voice calls out to Kor, he gets up, rubbing his head. Shoot, that really hurt. He rises to his feet, looking around. That guy that came swinging was now off to the side, a bloody mess. And speaking of bloody mess, that sure was a puddle of blood there. And the blood seemed to be coming from...]

--Aah!! A monster too?!

[He lurches back. But that extra distance gives him a better look at the monster. Namely, the clothes the monster was wearing, and the fact that it didn't seem particularly aggressive towards him.]

Caius...? Is that you?

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject