sticksandbones | MINI EVENT: GHOST RESCUE

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MINI EVENT: GHOST RESCUE

A HEARTBEAT BENEATH THE STAIRS

As the season turns, and blood sinks into the ground of the Grove, as monsters with your face haunt the halls, waiting to pounce, something else is creeping into light. Distantly one might see a light in the forest at night, and the next it comes closer. And closer. Until in the treeline you can see it: a pitch black manor that looks as if it’s covered in ash. The trees act as its gates, rebuffing anyone who tries to investigate, and the air smells like rot. Something watches in the windows, but vanishes when you blink.

… But not even this dark manor can stand in the way of one very angry grandfather skeleton, who will, eventually, rattle his teeth and bones in a rallying cry and urge others to follow him, sword in hand. It’s time to storm the castle, and Mr. Bone-Jangles has had enough.

The air within the manor is frigid and biting, and the inside itself is as decrepit as you may expect. Lights and candles can light the way… but only for a few minutes. The wood creaks as if the building is breathing slowly, and sometimes you here a loud thum-thump, as if its unseen heart beats while you explore.

For an already imposing building, inside seems even larger and there’s almost no end in sight as it feels like the halls wind on forever and more and more rooms, from libraries to studies to bedrooms to- … is this room dedicated to WWE Wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? … Needless to say, there’s a lot to work through, but Bone-Jangles urges you onward.

Wisps of color drift through. Are they your friends? Or something else?

A NIGHTMARE ON YOUR LIPS

And to those who have been locked away for days, perhaps weeks, nothing in this house feels real. Is it a dream? Is it a nightmare? The mere mention of a potential addition from your lips manifests another new room within the manor, but you cannot touch anything. Light hurts and makes you dizzy, while the night is painfully cold. How long has it been? How long will it be?

The burst of life is- new. Exciting. Distantly, you know these people, but the urges of death are whimsical and cruel. Part of you wants to guide them to the attic, where your souls are chained in full to a portrait of you. Break those portraits, and you're free, coming back to life outside, which is what you want, isn't it? Another part of you wants to chase them out, how dare they intrude upon your afterlife? Another yet thinks it’s time to play, but no longer remembers what ‘play’ is- so surely they can dodge the plates and books, right? Right!

And another yet wants the intruders dead. And if not by your hands, then by the demons guarding this world alongside you.

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[ Progress! ..But also sorry for his sweaty hand?? He was really crabbing nervous about this ordeal and still kinda so! Isabeau does stare at them as if surprised by that brief contact, even if he was previously hugging them not too long ago.

..Anyways!! Isabeau jumps at the tug, even as gentle as it is, and whips his head around. ] WOAH!

[ How.. gentle! Nothing that spells danger or a threat, so that's at least something. He nods, peering around before focusing more on where it felt like... to the door? Another room? ]

Seems like it? We.. probably should, right? It doesn't feel like it's bad. But we should keep up our guard a little just in case.

[ A gut feeling says it might be fine though. So he gestures for them to head that way, but he will stay semi-close to Loop, ever the shield ready to take a hit for them if needed. ]

[Their eyes dart between the blanket and the door ahead of them, still feeling uncertain... but Isabeau is right. It hasn't done anything to hurt them, and it gave them this when they broke down. Loop stares down at the blanket, tugging back lightly.

... It couldn't be...]

Stardust?

[sorry madame they think you're alive but also, they're taking the lead, still clinging to that blanket as they hurry to the next room.]

[ Something tells her that's a name. But it isn't her name. Both blankets go limp in protest.

But it's totally fine! Outside this room is a wood-paneled hallway decorated with subway maps from cities they've never heard of. There are several doors on each side, and one at the end, each with someone's name on a plaque. The hall smells like old books.

The fluorescent lights on the ceiling are all off, but one flickers dimly about three quarters of the way down the hall. ]

[ Oh, all weight to the blanket is now gone. ]

...Someone else? [ Or.. something?? Still, he follows close after Loop as they take lead, covering their back with a cautious glance backwards. So far still just them. Though, as he takes in the change of scenery...

Huh. Arms cross, head tilting as he looks to the decorated maps on the walls. Squinting at the names on the plaques, before he's quickly distracted by the one flickering light in the distance. That's probably where they're meant to go next, maybe? ]

[... they try not to look disappointed. Okay, maybe not stardust...

They slip back into old habits easily enough, slinking across the hall like they weren't a sobbing mess just five minutes ago. Isabeau behind them feels right, and that helps their nerves quite a bit. There's a comfort in footsteps following behind them, even if the number is still too small. Even if the situation itself is still too familiar.

Anyway, the flickering light must be what they're looking for. They stop to check the door's plaque before reaching for the knob under their blanket-cloak.]

Edited 2024-10-16 01:20 (UTC)

[ The name is "James Dubbeling". Probably not anything important.

Behind the door looks like it was once a wooden cabin. Almost every slat looks broken, twisted, like the building itself was ripped apart and shoved back together again. More than half of the planks are missing from the floor, opening into lightless void. There are windows where one might expect them in such a cabin, all shattered. They lead into that same emptiness.

The only furniture of note is a table with a broken leg, and a tall mirror covered with dust hanging on a wall. On the floor next to the table is a plain dagger. On the other side of the cabin is a door.

The place feels dangerous. It smells like rotten wood and old blood. One wrong step might end in you falling forever.

The blankets come to life again, giving each of them what's meant to be an encouraging squeeze. ]

[ Well, he'd understand that disappointment, while Isabeau is here to help anybody - it would help to find someone they do know. But he follows along, peeking at the plaque and raising a brow at the name. Huh. What an interesting short name.

And yet.. when the door opens, that is. Not a sight he is prepared for. The immediate damage is taken in by eyes widening. And a hand gently reaches out to tug at the back of Loop's blanket. ]

Careful, watch your step--

[ Given some of it seems to be missing. Isabeau doesn't want to chance either of them falling through those missing gaps and risking ending up in... Change knows where. His gaze flickers to the rest of the damage next, the shattered windows, the crumbling form of a table.

The smell is not good, on top of everything else. It leaves him with a bit of unease, maybe following wasn't a good idea after all? Though, right when he thinks that, he feels that squeeze and releases his held breath. ]

Right. Okay. Should we try.. the door then?

[It's pretty unnerving... but they're not unused to the scent of fresh blood. They feel that comforting tug, from both the unseen force and Isabeau behind them, and take a cautious few steps forward.

The floor creaks in a dangerous way, but they're still as light as they used to be—they hold an arm back to warn Isabeau, testing each plank with care, putting extra weight down to be absolutely sure it won't break out from under them. They find a relatively safe route through the room, give or take a few splintered boards that vanish into the abyss below. Safe enough for Isabeau to make it through, they hope.

Loop pauses at the table, eyeing the knife. Could be a trap... but there doesn't seem to be much of anything that could trigger one, unless it's weight sensitive. Quite frankly the entire room is weight sensitive and less weight wouldn't hurt. They sheathe their nicked bone knife, taking the pristine blade instead—has a good weight in their hands. They hum approvingly before looking to the door.]

Only one way to go from here. [They half-shrug back at him, then look back down at their steps. Carefully, to the door...]

Edited (words) 2024-10-16 02:19 (UTC)

[ No trap! Not beyond the infrastructure of the room- or lack thereof. There's even plenty of room to open the door without backing yourself off of the floor, or to wipe the grime off of that mirror if you were so inclined. ]

[ No reason to not let Loop go first, they've got the quick dexterity for one thing, and Isabeau is without a doubt much heavier in comparison with his size. Can't risk breaking a plank and send them both off. So he watches as they test and walk along, a bit appreciative they take the moment to put some extra weight to be really sure. Even if. That almost makes him fret.

Okay, alright, he'll start to follow that same path, being extremely careful. And fortunately all the planks seem to hold his weight fine enough. Glimpsing to see Loop help themselves to that knife, but nothing else happens so. Seems fine! He curiously peers at the mirror as he starts to pass by it at first before pausing. ]

Huh. This is probably just a normal mirror, surely nothing weird would happen if I try to perceive my own reflection?

[ Famous commentary similarly said before almost walking right into a Tear. But he's curious! What if it projects a different inside? Or maybe more of that lightless abyss? So yeah, he'll go ahead and just wipe that grime off without a moment of hesitation. Mirror mirror on the wall, what will you treat me to on this fine spooky day? ]

[ The mirror is completely normal! But the dust is pretty thick, and there's a ton of it stuck on Isabeau's hand now. There's no eerie figure looking over his shoulder or anything.

Although, if he looks at the right angle, he might spot Odile standing by Loop, facing the other direction as she watches them reach for the doorknob. ]

[They hear Isabeau's signature I'm About To Touch Something Without Considering The Consequences tone and their head whips around, a threatening glow seeping into their eyes again—sorry, but this place is already giving them bad flashbacks, they don't need to think about that kind of thing happening again.]

Be careful. [They hiss, about to reach over and gently yank him back... but they catch the reflection with their good eye, freezing halfway in the motion.

Of course, the next thing they do is look to their side where Odile should be standing... but nothing is there?

?????????????]

[ As long as they keep their eyes on the mirror her image stays there, unimpressed by their confusion. As far as she can tell everything is perfectly normal. It's only her reflection.

The second time they look, her image is gone. ]

[ Between that hiss and grime now on his hand (gross) he jumps just a bit. ]

Sorry!!

[ He isn't sure what got into him?? He just got really curious! But see, nothing happened? Except he's also just staring at that space and to where Odile should.. be? Nothing. Back to the mirror, only for her to be gone now?? ]

.. Oh, crab. Was that.. M'dame?!

[ There was a gut feeling, this past week and a half but this is. Quite possibly a terrible way to get those suspicions confirmed. ]

[Their flash of concerned anger dissipates in the confusion, so hey, at least he's not being glared at anymore. In light of this new development, though...

Loop doesn't say anything for awhile, letting the realization sink in. They've seen some other ghosts here, and it's someone who cares about them but isn't stardust, and... the Researcher was...]

Did... did anything happen to the Researcher, after? [Nervously, unsure of which answer is better. They'd be devastated if she got killed by something after Loop cursed her and hid themselves for the week, but... if she'd been replaced, and they never noticed...]

Stars, don't tell me— if that was why she was so—

[ Those are... the correct names, she thinks. They're still talking about things she doesn't understand, but that little bit of connection makes her happy. The blankets shift as she pulls them up and straightens them like coats on first Loop, then Isabeau.

If they keep looking back and forth from the mirror, they might be able to catch another quick glance of her. ]

...She did seem a bit.. off, some of the things she said I thought seemed strange from her but I just thought..

[ It was the stress. Or showing a side of her he was just not aware of, so he didn't try to look too much into it. Not when he was promptly distracted with "Siffrin" and.

Again. He failed again, didn't he? Arms come to a cross, expression pinching as his fingers dig deep into his sleeve. He takes a deep breath, some of that tightness loosening just a little as that blanket shifts on him. Right, can't get distracted by it now. It just means they have to try harder. A glance back to the mirror, trying to catch a quick glance of her and when he does - ]

Sorry M'dame. We'll fix it, I promise.

[ He stands a bit taller, trying not to hunch up into himself too much. Can't get distracted. Gently, a hand touches against Loop's blanketed side until he carefully steps towards the door. ]

Let's keep going.

[As expected, they're both getting caught in that same self-blame spiral... they jolt a bit at the unexpected touch, but it's grounding. They pull the blanket around their shoulders tighter.

...

Stars, they should just make this easier for themselves. They pause to tie the ends by their neck together, making a tight knot. Officially a blanket-cloak now! Since the Researcher seems to insist on their comfort.

They're taking this thing back with them when they leave, their's now.

Loop nods, glancing back at the mirror one more time before turning to the door... they don't apologize, because they can do that when they rescue her. Whatever it is that's trapped her here, surely they can find a way to stop it.

They go for the door again, opening it slowly with a loud creak.]

[ She isn't sure why Isabeau is apologizing. It's her own fault she's here, jumped and defeated by her own shadow. She remembers that part clearly. But it's still reassuring to hear that promise to help.

What horrors and trials await in the next room? It's...

Stairs! A huge foyer, actually. To the left you can see an office of some kind, the walls lined with bookshelves. To the right, a stylish but uncomfortable-looking living room. A narrow hall leads past the stairs next to the office, and railing lines another hall at the top of the first set of stairs. A second set above that disappears into the ceiling halfway.

There's another massive chandelier in this room, but the foyer is lit only by soft moonlight. One story above the door they just opened is a window that stretches the whole width of the room and two stories up. Outside is certainly the forest they started in, but in the dead of night.

There are a lot of directions to choose from, but Odile feels that the correct route should be obvious. ]

...Huh.

[ That is. A lot of places! Does it make more sense for it to suddenly complicate now instead of stay as simple as it was before? He glances to the office room, catching glimpses of the bookshelves. They could try to find some books.. maybe they'll find some hints there? Something of what they're meant to do.

But he addresses the rest first. The right, hmm.. Oh but there's a set that disappears into the ceiling? Is it a bad idea to consider the option of always going up? Kinda like they did with the House, floor by floor. He chews on this information, before peering down at Loop as his arms cross with thought. ]

You think it's any worth checking out for books with useful information on them?

[ Unless they have a better idea of course. He's just putting in his own thoughts. ]

[They've looped back around the way they came, almost. Loop looks down one of the hallways to see if they can spot all the kitchenware they smashed earlier... but that wouldn't be the way to go right now, anyway. They follow Isabeau's gaze to the office instead.]

I don't think the books here would be all that useful. There's a lot of junk all over the place... but that does seem like somewhere the Researcher would go.

[Maybe she can find a way to communicate with the books? Hmm.

They head towards the office, poking their head in to look around.]

[ Luckily, she doesn't have to try too hard to communicate. Loop's blanket yanks them away from the office, back to the foyer proper. Somewhere on the second floor a picture falls off the wall and shatters. A light briefly appears from where the third floor must be, then goes out with the sound of a lightbulb exploding. ]

[she gets a tiny yelp out of them ALRIGHT ALRIGHT MADAME BE GENTLE THEY'RE LISTENING—]

Not the office! Okay! To the stairs, Fighter! [Turning right back around, sorry but they're not filing the Forest's taxes today... heading towards the stairs instead.]

[ The way Isabeau agreed readily, it would be useful! A much easier method to communicate, right? He follows along like a puppy only to watch as Loop's steps towards that office get pulled back away by the force grip on their blanket. Isabeau reaches out to steady them briefly. ]

R-Right! Sorry M'dame.

[ Listen, it was a good idea! Just.. not the RIGHT idea. But yeah, just quickly following after them and up the stairs. Though he stops at the second floor. ]

Hmm.. the light went out on the third floor so maybe not there either?

[ Do not give them mixed signals, his delicate heart can't take being wrong so many times!! ]

[ Another two lights turn on and explode, one after the other.

Keep going up. She doesn't have a lot of materials to work with in this part of the house. ]

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