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sticksandbones2024-10-14 10:40 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-10-14 10:40 am
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?
… 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.
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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They accept the hand, because they're a little too woozy to stand on their own and it's easier to not think about his stupid sweaty hands when there's a dozen other things they have to worry about instead. Like getting to the end of this damned House, and saving everyone, and getting out of here, and not running into another demon, and not dying to something stupid at the last possible minute, and not getting the Fighter killed by something stupid, either.
The stillness of their dowsing tools doesn't go unnoticed by them. The path forward couldn't be more obvious, at least. They turn to the door.]
We shouldn't leave the Researcher waiting. Come on!
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One arm still braces around their back, light and easy to shake off, enough so it isn't too much. Keeping a gentle hold on that hand that's accepted, almost a bit nervous that if he lets go they might just disappear on him. ]
..Right.
[ That doesn't make him any less worried, but he knows they can't stand around here any longer. So he steps forward, nudging the door open to take them into the next room. ]
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There are two triangular walls on either end, framing the pointed roof. Two modestly sized paintings hang from one of the walls, though there are spaces clear of dust that indicate that there used to be more. ]
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Luckily, it's just a lot of dust and old crates up there. One of the few times they can be glad their ability to breathe is ???? questionable at best, since they have no mouth or lungs to cough up dust with. Their light fills the stale room.
...
They are. trying very, very hard, not to think about the sweaty hand still holding on to their own. But he doesn't immediately let go and they can't quite will themselves to tug their hand out of it, so they're kind of stuck like this. Holding hands. Thinking about the thing they're not supposed to think about, because he's not theirs and it doesn't mean anything and there are way more important things they should be worried about
They would go and focus in on those paintings but since they are trapped in the Fighter's ironclad grip, they just stand there staring at them for awhile. Stop thinking about it!! Say something!!!]
Who hangs up pictures in an attic?
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his expression pinches a little at the lingering dust. Ugh. Seems like nobody has come up here in ages? Or at least made use of what's here. He keeps that careful hand, and at least it is sweaty Normal (after all that fighting) and not sweaty Extreme (nervous when he actually realizes.) ]
Not sure... it's kinda weird?
[ Portraits and paintings are meant to be on display throughout the house. Not forgotten in some attic. Still, he's curious enough to peek and leads them over with that hold on their hand. Come come, let's see! ]
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Their expressions are perfectly neutral, so it could certainly be creepier. ]
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Oh. It's Odile? Looking kind of creepy, honestly. This thing gives off awful vibes.
They stare, pondering the situation for a little longer... but they're somewhat used to interpreting the Universe's silent instructions, when it so rarely chooses to guide them. And right now their gut telling them] I think we're supposed to smash it.
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Though he does wonder, had they met their demise as well, would they have showed up here too? Like some memento? A shrine? His free hand dusts off the other painting more, fingers lingering on the frame of them with a frown.
Until well, Loop says that and he sorta just "?!" ]
S--Smash them?! You think so? [ Looking back at them.... Huh. ] Like... breaking them will set them free or something?
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I think so? Maybe? I dunno!
[okay maybe they don't actually know what they're talking about but LOOK... What else are they gonna do in here? Take the creepy paintings back home? Wait for another demon to show up??
They look back up at Odile's blank expression, frowning.]
It just feels... bad, somehow? [... but maybe they're wrong, and destroying the painting will make something even worse happen, haha.] I don't know. What do you think?
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If it's a gut feeling, I'd say you're probably onto something? It definitely doesn't seem like it's a good thing... After all, they're still incorporeal with how things are now. Maybe these paintings existing may be doing more harm to them than not.
[ It'd be something different if they had to make something, so destroying something instead.. does seem like the way to go. So he nods. ]
We were led here for a reason, so I think you're probably right.
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Or they're wrong, and this will do something awful to stardust and the Researcher. No way to know for sure without trying it.
Still... they have to do something here. And if it were something complicated, wouldn't the Researcher try harder to tell them that first? It wouldn't be like her to guide them all this way and not try to explain the most important step. It would have to be something she'd expect them to figure out on their own. Isabeau could figure it out, if it not Loop, and Isabeau agreed with them...
So they should trust her, too. Because she trusted them both to handle it.
They take a deep breath, squeezing the Fighter's hand in their own without thinking. Then, they pull their dagger from the wall.]
... It was my idea, so you can blame me if it doesn't work. Here goes!
[Before they can have any second thoughts, they channel just enough Craft through their hands to slash the whole painting in two. They'll do Siffrin's next, if Isabeau doesn't beat them to it.]
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...Don't worry, I'll share the blame if something goes wrong.
[ As Loop slashes Odile's portrait, he won't leave it to them to take care of Siffrin's as well. How cruel would it be to leave it up to them entirely? No, he clenches his fist, crystal knuckles glinting lightly before he thoroughly breaks the other painting in turn with a sharp smash against frame and painting both.
With both of them thoroughly broken, he stares at it, waiting. Maybe for.. a sign or something? Anything to indicate that they did it - and hopefully nothing to indicate it was a bad thing, holding his breath. ]
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Those paintings are pretty thoroughly wrecked, though. They stand there, staring down at the ripped canvas and broken frames, wondering what kind of sign they should even be looking for... what were they expecting in the first place? That the Researcher would just, like, pop out of the broken painting? Or it would burst into flames dramatically or make an evil scream or something??
Around the 45 second mark they are starting to get anxious, but before they can turn to the Fighter and start getting visibly anxious—they jump, nearly dropping their dagger, for seemingly no reason.
The reason should be obvious soon, though, once they (finally) tug their hand free of Isabeau's hold and hastily form the Call sign, raising it to the side of their head. Several expressions flash across their face before they answer the person on the other side, tone decidedly cautious.]
... How can I help you, dear Researcher?
[A cutscene will now play, sorry Fighter they're ignoring you for the next several minutes. At most he'll get an annoyed nod or handwave if he wants clarification on how the other two are doing. Enjoy half of an audible conversation.
... and then ANOTHER cutscene will play, except Loop is dead silent all the way through this time. The talking out loud part is for YOUR benefit, Fighter, this is a private conversation between Siffrins!! Stay out!!
anyway once the timelines are all caught up again they lower their hand and stare at it like damn..... that plan sure did work, apparently]
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And then, suddenly, they seem to react and he raises his free hand in an attempt to calm them. The name starts at the tip of his tongue until that hand is given back, oops he was kinda holding that for too long huh??? Before he can apologize for that, he recognizes that Craft sign.
Oh! And then they mention "Researcher" which means- oh!! That's okay, he can be ignored, even if he kinda frets beside them, only quietly though. He's keeping pretty composed for the most part, outside the expectant "Is everything okay?" and "Are they okay??" but just droops like a puppy that's been scolded when given a handwave or nod.
The more silent conversation just has him shuffling a little beside, holding his arms with a bit of unease. But it seems... done? Over? When that hand lowers and, quietly, unsure... ]
..Loop? Everything okay?
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Oh, yeah! Siffrin's fine! [that's what he asked right] We should start moving! You know, before something else turns up and tries to kill us again, teehee~
[probably shouldn't be joking about that but hey it's good to be motivated]
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[ And genuinely, too. Thank Change for that, and of course M'dame must be fine too based on the conversation they did voice out lout with her but... ]
Though, I was also making sure you're okay too?
[ Not that he doesn't not appreciate the immediate reassurance about Siffrin, expectant as it is that he'd be worried! But after everything.. he can't blame them for being distracted. For wanting to try and go back to some semblance of normalcy. Isabeau can understand that more than anything. He offers a small smile as they suggest they move, and he gestures for the way back. ]
Right, we should definitely get going, I'll watch your back.
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They're eager to go, go, go! Back to the entrance! Before someone gets impatient and tries to follow them in, or the Researcher's doppelganger makes a surprise appearance, or something else awful happens before they can get back outside— but it's fine, it's fine. Sliding down the ladder, making a straight beeline through the shredded hedge maze back to the stairs... they are going to speedwalk through the rest of this mansion and the Fighter should consider himself lucky if they don't try to take a shortcut out a window or off a banister at some point.]
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[ Alright, he'll give them that. The sooner they're out of this place, the better. Not exactly the time and place for a deeper dive on how they're actually feeling right now.
So, he follows right after, thank you for not scaring him and jumping out the nearest window into the abyss. Avoiding a heart attack for today! Thankfully his long strides means he's capable of keeping up enough, trekking down that ladder and right on through the hedge maze. A lot of backtracking through various halls and rooms but eventually... eventually!
Door, door, door-- ] Never thought I'd be so excited to see outside again.