Sometimes mission parameters are unhealthy. Oh well.

[cutting_edgex23]

After talking to Bucky (and reading Teja's note), X cannot ignore the sharp demands of her mission parameters anymore.

The sickness is problematic, and so is the knocking people unconscious -- particularly in the bar proper.

Which means, if this Slenderman is out there -- someone has to explain the rules. And enforce them. And since X is one of the least-affected people she's met, it seems like a not-terrible idea to be the one to try.

She brings back-up, of course. And Elle has met the Slenderman before. Maybe that will . . . aid in their efficacy.

Though the sight of the decrepit house by the lake is not particularly comforting, in that regard.

Still. Needs must.

Which is why X begins making her approach, not even trying to be quiet.

Comments

[dont_turn_around]

The house is ours silent.

[ellectrical]

Elle is decidedly not one of the least-affected people. So it's good that X isn't trying to be quiet, because about ten feet from the building, Elle is stopped by a hacking cough.

As she recovers, "What're you - going to say to it?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X pauses, reaching out to brush her hand against Elle's shoulder for a second.

"Stop making people sick."

An orator, X is not.

"And stop frightening them until they pass out. Or help us figure out how to stop it. If it is involuntary."

Her nostrils flare. It seems as if something should smell wrong, here.

But it doesn't.

It is very odd.

"You will stay here? While I knock."

She'd say 'look around', but that seems impolite.

[dont_turn_around]

[ellectrical]

"I don't -"




She cuts it off, maybe thinking she shouldn't be allowed to protest.

But then, she finishes it, anyway. "- I don't want you to go alone."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I -- "

X bites her lip for a second, visibly hesitant. But she asked Elle to come for a reason, and --

"You will stay back? A few feet. So we can both move."

Beat.

"If it is necessary."

Better to cover all your bases ahead of the encounter.

Then X turns, hands held forcibly loose at her sides -- and makes her way toward whatever remains of the front door.

[dont_turn_around]

[ellectrical]

"All right."

Like X asks, she waits until the other woman is a few feet ahead before following.

If it gets a bit colder, or if her the sparks along Elle's shoulders grow more intense, the only outward sign she shows of noticing is to fold her arms against her chest.

At least they won't need a flashlight.

[cutting_edgex23]

X appears not to notice the decrease in temperature, even as the back of her neck prickles with the feeling that someone is watching.

Goosebumps happen to other people.

Knocking, however, happens right here and now.

[dont_turn_around]

darkness there and nothing more

Silence.

[ellectrical]

Elle stays where she is.



"I don't know if he wants to talk."

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head a little, considering that.

Then --

"I do not know if that is relevant."

She knocks one more time, then pitches her voice so that it can clearly be heard. Even (probably) by someone at the far back of the building.

"You are making people sick. And scaring them. You need to stop."

Something tells her it would be a bad idea to go into the house, which is why she hasn't yet tried to open the door.

[dont_turn_around]

Rustle.

[ellectrical]

The sparks along Elle's skin flare up, casting a flash of bright light across the front of the house.

She holds herself a little tighter, and the sparks die down again.

This time, she stays quiet.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's head turns quickly, looking in the direction of the noise.

She turns back just as quickly toward the door.

Somehow -- and it is very strange --

Somehow, she has the feeling that Kimura is just seconds away from walking through that door.






It does not make any sense.

"That is not an answer."

[dont_turn_around]

A shadow moves behind a window.

[ellectrical]

Elle glances up to it, but still stays where she is.

Quietly, almost a question, "X..."

[cutting_edgex23]

X takes a step back, giving herself a better view of the window.

The one where the shadow was.

Her hands remain clenched into fists.

Her mouth is dry.

It remains very strange.

"Can you not stop? What you do. That is problematic. But I think there are ways to help. So you can stay. Here."

Only then, with her gaze still fixed on the house, does she respond to Elle.

"Elle."

[dont_turn_around]

One of the shadows inside the house is darker than the others.

[ellectrical]

Finally, Elle moves.

She doesn't say anything, but she takes a step closer to X.

[cutting_edgex23]

X puts one hand back, as if needing to feel where Elle is.

Her gaze remains fixed on the darkest shadow in the room.

"It will be better if you stop."

And not just for all the sick people. Or the ones who cannot sleep.

"Please."

[dont_turn_around]

[ellectrical]

I'm not scared of you.
You should be.



The blue-white light grows brighter again.

Elle doesn't say anything.

[cutting_edgex23]

X would like to take this as 'message received'.

But --

She can't. Not quite. Not yet.

"I need an answer," she says instead.

"To know."

Beat.

"If what will happen after is deliberate. If you will not stop."

There's sweat running down her spine, now. It is cold. She has no idea what it means.

"It is important."

[dont_turn_around]

The front doors swing open.

[ellectrical]

Again, something in Elle's mind snaps.

But this time, she darts forward, and grabs the other woman's wrist.

"X - you don't know what it'll do -"

[cutting_edgex23]

X takes two steps back, pushing Elle behind her.

Or trying, anyway.

"Elle."

Death was quiet. Combat makes sense.

And nothing she has seen about the Slenderman -- or heard -- suggests that chainsaws will be involved. Or vivisection.

Or --

The scar on her left palm burns, very briefly.

"It will be okay."

She keeps her gaze fixed on the now-open doorway. It is entirely possible that she couldn't look away if she wanted to, just now. And not only because it would be stupid.

"You cannot speak, either? Or write."

[dont_turn_around]

A piece of paper blows across the floor and stops at X's feet.

[ellectrical]

Chastened, or at least convinced X isn't going to actually enter the building, Elle steps back.

But when the paper appears, she holds one sparking hand over it.

[cutting_edgex23]

X quickly interposes herself between the paper and Elle, crouching down to pick it up. In her left hand.

Her gaze never leaves the doorway.

Though it does flick down intermittently in order to read what, if anything, is written on the page.

[dont_turn_around]

we are hungry

we are hot

we are full but hungry

Scrawled handwriting, like someone who didn't quite know how.

[ellectrical]

Elle comes close enough to read it over X's shoulder.

Then, she stays silent, but looks to X.

[cutting_edgex23]

"You can eat somewhere else."

Her hand clenches around the paper, though she doesn't let it go.

"Not here."

She takes another step back.

Then one more.

Then --

"I am sorry."

[dont_turn_around]

The doors slam shut.

[ellectrical]

Elle shoulders slump, even if they're still sparking.

But she murmurs, "I don't know, X..."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do," X says.

She might even mean it.

"I think it is good to leave. Now."

She backs up another few steps, pressing her shoulder firmly against Elle's, even with the sparks.

"I will watch our backs."

[dont_turn_around]

The mists swirl.

The ivy rustles.

We wait.

The shadows gather.

The house is still.