what in the longdark spitting-pit is that

[inourhead]

This was a bad idea this was a bad idea this was a bad idea.

Holly runs as fast as she can but the demon's faster. She has no idea where Lightning's gotten to; maybe he found a tree to climb. She on the other hand has been diverted into a treeless hill and she's careening down a slope, trying very hard not to trip.

And the demon's gaining on her.

She's never seen anything like it and neither has Crystal; maybe Book knows what it is but Book's asleep. It's mostly mouth - it looks like a cross between a floorlength mirror of a mouth and a snake to propel the mouth along.

And Holly's not fast enough.

The mouth catches her.





But it doesn't hurt.

Where are we?

----


with Minus (kappa)

with Mark (kappa)

with Max (Benedict)

in Terraria (kappa)

with Emma (Marri)

with Erin (Rockeye)

Comments

[inourhead]

Holly comes forth to follow along. She seems keenly interested in most of the things that are around.

[follow_the_leader]

Emma notices her fascination, but doesn't really know where to start. The city all seems ordinary to her. Large and bustling and often dirty and the same as ever. "Tell me if you want me to talk about things," she tells Holly.

But then they're passing through the main square, and Emma has an even better idea than the riverbank. "Oh, wait wait wait! We should ask them instead."

Them is three old blind women sitting in the middle of the square.

"They know things," she tells Holly and Crystal. "People pay them to know things, because they know so many things. If someone met your brother, they will know."

[inourhead]

Holly opens her mouth, decides she has no prayer of getting out a coherent version of the sentiment in mind, and shrugs and follows Emma to them.

[follow_the_leader]

"You can pay them coins or pay them by telling them new things," Emma explains. "Things about your brother might cost a lot of coins-" someone appearing via a brand new magic would be expensive- "so I will tell them about you. Is that okay?"

[inourhead]

"...They... see?" ask Holly.

[cry_me_a]

"Nope," Alli says. "People call them the blind sisters. Blind means they can't see. Is no one blind, where you live?"

[inourhead]

"...Person not see. Mouse not see, person see," attempts Holly.

[follow_the_leader]

That hadn't occurred to Emma, though she supposes it makes sense. But, she should make sure what Holly means, just in case. "Person tired, mouse not tired. Holly touch them. Mouse tired, person not tired. Same?"

[inourhead]

"Yes."

[joy_in_laughter]

"Wait, Ems, does she mean she can fix blindness?"

[follow_the_leader]

"I think so, yeah," Emma says. "Welcome to my day."

She approaches the seers and stops before them. "I have a trade to make," she says. "I wish to know if a boy has appeared in the city."

"That is very broad," one of the sisters says disapprovingly. "Many boys come to this city."

"He would not have come into the city. He would have appeared, from thin air. He would not speak Welchin, only a language never before recorded in Welce."

This causes the sisters to mutter amongst themselves. "How is such a thing possible?" one asks her finally, wary.

"...I don't yet know. But the girl with me is his sister. She appeared before me last night, and searches for her brother. If he can be found, she offers a cure for your blindness."

This causes more muttering, somewhat more frantically. Finally one- the oldest one?- returns her blank, rolled-back eyes to Emma. "We have lacked our sight for years, and fear to adjust to its return," she admits. "This will bear thought, though we much appreciate the kindness. We regret that we have heard of no such boy."

Emma hands her a quint-silver, but the seer returns it immediately. "The knowledge of this girl and her ability is payment and more. No coin is needed."

Emma shrugs, thanks them, and returns to give Holly and Crystal and her friends the bad news. "I'm sorry," she tells Holly apologetically. "They haven't heard of him."

[inourhead]

"No Praip and Fwaysyee?" says Holly, confirming sadly.

[follow_the_leader]

"No. Sorry," Emma says. She pats Holly's shoulder awkwardly.

[joy_in_laughter]

"Don't worry, we'll take care of you," Jenny tells Holly, draping her with a hug.

[inourhead]

Holly smiles tentatively and pats Jenny's hand.

[cry_me_a]

"So... no river then?" Alli asks.

[follow_the_leader]

"It doesn't seem promising," Emma admits. "Holly? Do you want to look by the river?"

[inourhead]

Holly has to look through their notes to find 'river'. When she's found it she shrugs.

[follow_the_leader]

Emma looks around. It's getting dark. "We should probably go back," she says reluctantly. "But if I don't buy anything, my parents will be suspicious. Let's stop for something quickly?"

[joy_in_laughter]

"Holly and Crystal need their charms!" Jenny points out. "Buy them bracelets!"

[cry_me_a]

Alli rolls her eyes. "And then get yourself something too. Otherwise your parents will still be suspicious."

[follow_the_leader]

Emma finds herself a new pair of gloves, since her mother had been complaining that hers were wearing out, and then they all head into a jewelry store. Shortly, Emma has two bracelets. She didn't get them in the traditional elemental colors, since Holly and Crystal haven't identified with one; she just picks Holly's in a light wood and Crystal's in a darker wood.

She offers them to the girls. "For you," she says. "Your coins, see?" She points at the charms with the blessing symbols.

[inourhead]

Holly puts a bracelet on each wrist, then, glancing around the marketplace:

"Mouse?"

[cry_me_a]

Alli looks around. "What, you want to buy a mouse?"

[inourhead]

"Mouse, mouse, mouse. Mouse sleep. Mouse not-see, mouse - more mice."