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

[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."

[cry_me_a]

"...Emmaaaa, translate please."

[follow_the_leader]

"She uses them to make herself stay awake or heal blind people or whatever, and so she needs more?" Emma tries. "The mice seemed okay when she woke me up, though, I guess it's not like... immediate mouse death."

[joy_in_laughter]

"But the cute mice!"

[cry_me_a]

"What, seriously, you were hiding from them earlier."

[joy_in_laughter]

"Well, now they're cute."

[follow_the_leader]

Emma rolls her eyes and ignores them. "We can look," she tells Holly doubtfully. "I don't know of any places that sell mice, though."

[inourhead]

"Mice or -" Vague gesture. "Small, eat small. Mice good but -" Vague gesture.

[joy_in_laughter]

After some searching, it's Jenny who finally locates the store with some caged gerbils in the back. "Aren't they cuuuuute," she purrs, scooping one up to cuddle it.

[inourhead]

Holly picks up a gerbil.

It promptly falls asleep in her hand.

She puts it back.

[cry_me_a]

Ali peers at it. "Cute," she says grudgingly, "but I like the mice better. These are too... fluffy."

[follow_the_leader]

"You're weird," Emma tells her matter-of-factly.

[joy_in_laughter]

"There is no such thing as too fluffy," Jenny tells her indignantly.