We all float on okay

[cutting_edgex23]

X is in no way lurking in the forest.

Not at all.






Okay, fine. She is practicing her stalking skills on demon rabbits.

They have sensitive hearing.

It is useful.

(Shut up.)

Comments

[hadyougoing]

Something rustles in a nearby treetop.

It vanishes almost instantly, but leaves the impression of gray smoke.



A few moments later, there are footsteps in the distance-- pretty quiet, by normal-person standards, but far from inaudible.

[cutting_edgex23]

The wind shifts direction.

X pauses in her pursuit of demonic rabbits and sniffs the air.

Twice.

"Ava."

[hadyougoing]

Ava steps out from behind a tree, hands out in a stop-sign gesture.

"Hey, X." She's wearing a pretty necklace with three gems on it-- Sameth's Charter magic necklace that lets her see in the dark. "This a good time?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is likely," X offers, after a quick scan of the surrounding area.

"The demon rabbits do not attack me. Usually."

[hadyougoing]

She puts her hands down and comes a little closer, though she looks left, right, up. Routine now.

"I didn't see anybody on my way out."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I cannot smell anyone else," X confirms.

"Or hear their heartbeat. Or breathing."

It's something, right?

[hadyougoing]

Ava nods.

And ... hesitates.



Everything that feels so-- not overwhelming, but big-- seems to shrink down when she's with people, or at least people like Beverly and X. But she's started to realize that that doesn't necessarily mean everything's fine.

She leans against a tree, folding her arms over her chest, and tries to figure out where the hell to begin.

[cutting_edgex23]

X, after studying Ava for several long moments, moves over to a nearby tree and sits down.

Cross-legged.

They may be here for some time.

[hadyougoing]

She sighs, looking off to the side-- into the trees.

For some time.









"Sorry," she murmurs eventually. "I'll start."

A shake of her head.

"So-- Death comes here. The one from my world."

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not move.

"It wants to take you?"

[hadyougoing]

"Not exactly."

Her arms tighten over her chest.

"He did something to me, though. Said he put a mark on me so only he can reap me."

[cutting_edgex23]

X only flinches a little.

"It. Hurt?"

[hadyougoing]

Ava nods.

"Yeah, it hurt."

[cutting_edgex23]

X bites her lip.

"It still hurts? Now."

She hopes not. But. Some things linger.

[hadyougoing]

She frowns.

"No-- I don't think so? I've been having nightmares, but I don't think they're like, supernatural or anything."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Sometimes it is difficult. To know the difference."

X is concerned.

[hadyougoing]

"That's true," she sighs.

"I don't know. If it helps, I haven't lost any time, or seen anything I can't explain-- marks, symbols, creepy children, zip."

A pause.

"There's more, though."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says.

Then she falls silent again.

Because Ava has more to say.

[hadyougoing]

"Hannibal Lecter saw it happen." She shakes her head. "He threw a book at Death and threatened to turn him into broth?"

Which you kind of have to admire, just for the chutzpah of it all.

"Later he told me I should be careful, and talk to Security, because, you know, what's to stop Death from dragging me out of here and back home-- and it would be nice, except ..."

[cutting_edgex23]

"He is maneuvering."

X's delivery is flat.

"Death will not take you. You know. No one will let him. Even if it were not against the rules, I would not let him."

Just so Ava knows.

"He is stupid. Hannibal."

[hadyougoing]

"Yeah." Ava nods. "That's what I figure."

About the maneuvering, anyway.

The rest she's not so sure of.

[cutting_edgex23]

X scents the air again, as if to check.

Maybe Ava is not okay.

Or -- even less okay than X thought she was.

[hadyougoing]

"I just--"

Ava brings a hand up to her temple, brushing hair back behind her ear in a fitful gesture.


"I can handle it," she says. "But I really wasn't expecting anybody from home to get mixed up in this."

[cutting_edgex23]

"There are a lot of things. That you have not been expecting."

She pauses, looking for the right words.

"It is not going to get better. You know that. Not while he is playing. With you."

[hadyougoing]

Ava nods.

"Yeah. I know." A bit dull. "And he hasn't even done anything yet."