deercountry | ★ OCT. (CATCH ALL); open your eyes -- don't let them feed you with their lies.

Oh no, I did. Just decided to go back to sleep. (it's not like she is a stranger of sleeping outdoors. although, jinx picks up the nerves in chizuru's voice and decides to make a better attempt to... keep herself more alert.)

Hey, it's alright. You're not alone now and I'll keep you safe. Stick with me and we'll be fine.

(a smile and then something jogs her memory.)

— Oh! I also got this glow-y thingie. Dunno what I'm suppose to do with it but it glows whenever we move.

(in fact, she pulls out the object out of her pajama pants pocket to show her.)

Ah, that's..

[ Before Chizuru can remark something about how nice it is on Jinx's end to want to help her out and keep her safe, there's the remark about the glowy thing that distracts her entirely. It feels like something important, after all.

Which means that Chizuru holds out the one she found on her as well, and when the two of them are close enough together, they suddenly jump up at each other, fusing back together into one whole compass.

It makes the girl let out a tiny yelp. ]

W-Wait, what was that? Did you see that too?! It's like they moved on their own..!

(somehow feeling the object wiggling in her own hands of its need to combine with chizuru, jinx's first thought was they fit together and needed to fuse. so the surprise didn't sneak up on her as much it did with chizuru.)

Yyyep, I did. And it makes sense now. — It was glowing 'cuz it needed the other.

(yawning and trying to stay awake, she politely takes the device out of the girl's hands to inspect it further.)

Hm, okay... So, we gotta go this way. Maybe it'll take us outta the woods if we follow it.

Edited 2022-10-16 13:45 (UTC)

[ Thankfully it's incredibly easy to just grab that device from Chizuru's hands. There's absolutely zero resistance - she just lets Jinx take it, her hand open enough that the other can just grab it straight off her palm.

The plan is met with the same lack of resistance - just her nodding. ]

Okay..!

[ It's not like they have anything else to go on, anyway. Though even as Chizuru takes a few slow steps in the direction the compass is pointing them at, she turns back towards Jinx, a little bit of something more thoughtful in her eyes. Perhaps even worried. ]

But.. what if it's instead guiding us directly towards some danger? I-- I don't know about you, but it kind of feels like we're being.. followed? [ She's phrasing it a bit hesitantly, since she's worried that she's just being paranoid here. Surely Jinx is too cool and too tough to really be worried about that in the first place, and Chizuru doesn't want to seem like a wuss here. ]

(she is listening to her concerns, really. in fact, jinx is blinking rapidly to force herself to be focus as they walk a little.

this is going to be tougher than she ordinary thought. she would do just about anything to lie back down and rest for a while.)

Could be a chance it might. As for the followin', maybe. We won't know the answer 'till we get on the other end. If there's somethin' ahead, I've... got a lil' intuition that usually lets me know.

(translation: she has voices in her head. and they usually scream at her if they see something coming before she notices. while they are a horrible nuisance, they can be pretty handy with situations like this.)

— Just keep close and pinch me sometimes if it looks like I'm about to fall asleep.

I-I can do that!

[ In fact - Chizuru seems to be working on that already. Not that Jinx already seems like she's literally about to drop over asleep, the other is looking a little bit tired, in a way that Chizuru only fully realises after Jinx remarks that about her current state herself.

So she steps a little closer towards the other, and then latches onto one of Jinx's arms. The hold isn't tight, so Jinx could easily shrug it off if she wanted to, but Chizuru says-- ]

Um, this way I can easily let you know before you fall asleep..

[ C-Clearly that's the only reason for the physical contact! It's obviously not that Chizuru is worried and a little afraid and that's why she may want the reassurance of physical contact...

.. n-not at all.. ]

(the hold is unexpected and a little alarming. the only physical contact she's been receiving so far are from her sister and her omen. so having someone she hardly knows be this close to her is horribly foreign. but it washes off of her fairly quickly with now another tease creeping in.)

Huuh? Is that all what it is? Or you just wanna be close to me? It's okay to admit that, Cutie voice. I won't tell or bite. ...'Less you want me to nibble.

Edited 2022-10-20 22:14 (UTC)

H-Huh?!

[ Of course Chizuru's instinctive reaction is that sound, as surprised and flustered as usually.

Common sense dictates that she should probably let go of someone who threatened to nibble her - if Chizuru wanted it, but still! - but the girl isn't letting go all the same. After all, she feels like Jinx wouldn't do anything actually bad to her. Chizuru wants to place that trust in the other - and that means that out of everything around them, Jinx is the only safe thing she can trust right now.

Even if the other is horribly flustering her. ]

N-No, it's-- Please don't nibble! [ Clearly this is the first and most important thing to say here, right. ] I just-- I really thought I could help you like this, and.. um, if something dangerous happens, it's also better if we're close to each other so we won't be separated..!

(if she wasn't exhausted and the circumstances were different, jinx would be way more forward and press more on the "nibble" talk. but now is not the time, she guesses. still, the smirk is dancing on her then a slight shrug of her free shoulder.)

Whatever you say, Doll face.

(yes another nickname for her. anyhow, her eyes is now back at the compass -- the needle pointing east now so she guides them to that direction.)

So, wanna tell me about yourself? Don't know much about you.

[ .. Chizuru isn't entirely sure if this is the right time to just start sharing personal details.

On the other hand, it's not like they're doing much, other than just following the compass and trying to make their way out of the woods. It'd be way more awkward to just walk in silence, right? And then there's the fact that Chizuru has a really hard time telling people 'no', which may be the strongest reason in play right now..

So she inevitably just goes along with it. ]

Um, well, I'm not sure what to say about myself..

[ She does at least mean that, rather than it being some excuse to cover up her not wanting to talk about herself. ]

After all, I guess I'm.. kind of a plain person? There's nothing really interesting about me, the way there is about other people in this place, s-so, um-- it makes it hard to think of what to say! If that makes any sense at all..?

[ Chizuru isn't sure whether it does. It's hard to put it into words. ]

I'm sure you would have much more exciting stories about yourself.

Ooooh, don't gimme that. I bet you're plenty interestin'. You gotta have some skills, right? Cooking, makin' weapons, gardenin', something like that you're passionate about.

(her attentions falls back on the compass and so far, it's still shining pretty heavily. a yawn sneaks in and a few blinks to keep her focus going.)

As for me? I'm just a girl who loves to explode stuff. Shootin' things, too.

B-But--! There's a big difference between explosions and all that other stuff, you know? [ P-Please, Chizuru's basics interests could never be as unique as blowing things up.

.. which, in itself, is an interest that Chizuru would be much more worried about, were it not for the fact that she thinks Jinx seems kind of nice.. The other is selflessly helping her get out of here as well, after all, rather than abandoning Chizuru alone in the woods.

When the other yawns, there's a slight nudge from Chizuru's side, like she's gently trying to keep the other awake. ]

I mean, I do like cooking.. and baking.. um, I actually got to the finals when they held that paleblood baking contest here in Trench, but I think that was more about lucks than skills, really..! [ It's like this girl may die if she ever claims anything special about herself, huh.

Because she seems to be trying really hard to underplay just about anything she's saying here as she speaks. ]

Ah, see? I knew it. If you were just some boring ol' cook, you wouldn't had made it to the end of a contest.

(the nudge is appreciated, honestly. jinx was on her way to stumble in her footing if it weren't for chizuru keeping her straight. but now a little more alert, she stops for a second to peer over at the girl. once again, her teasing bug is crawling in her as she leans in -- closing the gap just a smidge. raising her eyebrows and smirking, she asks:)

So ♪, will I get to taste somethin' sweet from you?

(why is she such a troll? short answer: because it's fun to mess with others. especially when someone like chizuru makes it painfully easy.)

[ Chizuru does move back a little. Not enough to step away from Jinx, since she's still holding onto the other's arm, but it's like her own head leans back a little when the other leans towards her like that. Not far enough that they keep the same gap - it's definitely smaller than a moment ago - but it looks instinctive, like the girl can't help her reaction.

A reaction that's only made more obvious when she speaks up, stammering a little, her gaze nervously darting around. ]

S-Something sweet?

[ What are you thinking of, Chizuru.. ]

Like.. um, w-what? If there's anything in particular you'd like to eat, I could make it for you..!

(oh ho ho. the set up!! it's laid out for her to just say something so sinful. and she is biting the bottom of her lip just to prevent herself from going overboard. jinx hums instead with another twitch of an eyebrow -- tapping her index against chizuru's cheek.)

Can ya make cookies? Never really had 'em back home. And I've heard there's a lotta different kinds. I'm on adventure to try 'em all!

(the blue haired girl pulls back; returning the personal space to the other -- now resuming on walking. she'll let her keep her innocence for now.)

I can!

[ Despite the fact that Chizuru has gotten some room to breathe again, she still sputters out those words slightly. It's hard for her to get rid of a flustered mood that easily, after all, and she can still kind of feel her heart beating faster even once the both of them are walking normally again.

(And all that is even with the implications from a moment ago having totally flown over her head - or it would only have been worse.) ]

.. maybe I can do that for you in return? Um, in exchange for you leading us out of here..

[ Granted, Jinx is just following a compass. That's something Chizuru could have done by herself. Technically.

But Chizuru is so nice that she sees even this much as Jinx doing a good deed for her. ]

I could bake you some cookies once we're back in Trench to show you my gratitude.

So you're no stranger to trades, huh? Smart. (she holds up her hand with the compass to cover up her mouth in a yawn.) — Buuut trades are a big thing around here, right? Guess it's expected.

( the compass, by the way, is shimmering rather vibrantly -- almost enough if someone was to stare at it long enough, it'll irritate the eye.)

Looks like we're gettin' pretty close. Shit's becomin' a real eye sore. And the sooner outta here, the quicker I can go back to sleep.

[ It's true that one simply has to get used to trading to get by in Trench - though really, it's not as if Chizuru wouldn't have made some cookies for Jinx either way, even if the other hadn't helped her here in the first place. She's kind enough to do it for just about anyone.

Chizuru's thoughts are quickly pulled away from that by the other thing the other mentions. The compass indeed seems almost blindingly bright as she looks at it, enough so that Chizuru can only manage to glance at it for a moment before quickly looking at Jinx instead. ]

C-Can you still look at it? Doesn't it hurt your eyes?

[ Especially when the other is so tired to begin with! It must be hard for Jinx to keep her eyes open already, even without the compass making it hard to look at it.

There's definitely a worried fussiness in her tone. ]

The way you're worryin' over me is adorable. But yeah, I can still look at it.

(and by the looks of things from afar, they might be reaching out of the woods? she can see lights but not from the moon or the compass itself.)

I'd say we book it but I don't think my legs will carry me over. — If you wanna go on ahead, feel free. Looks like it's gonna be a straight shot.

[ There's a moment where Chizuru does look ahead of them, spotting the faint lights. It's true that if she'd run, maybe she would arrive there pretty soon. It's probably close enough to actual civilisation that there won't be any monsters to make it harder on her.

.. and technically Jinx should be fine too, even if Chizuru were to leave the other one by herself, but.. a part of her doesn't like that idea, even though they are literally and metaphorically almost out of the woods.

Still clinging to the other's arm, Chizuru shakes her head. ]

I'm staying here with you.

[ Even if it means it'll take a bit longer to get back to town than if she were to run. ]

I want to make sure you get home, after all. [ Usually she'd have full faith in Jinx being able to do that, since she seems capable enough, but.. when she's this tired, and there's the risk of the other just falling over and dropping asleep?

Chizuru doesn't want that to happen. She wants to make sure the other is safely back at home, and then Chizuru can go back to her own house. Hopefully the streets will be quiet enough for that to happen without any trouble. ]

Oooohh, now you're my escort, huh? I'll take it.

(quite honestly, jinx is perfectly okay with falling asleep on a bench or in an alleyway like a homeless person. but then again, a bed does sound more pleasing to the ears than gravel. they make it out of the woods soon, thankfully.

and it seems they are now in PRUFROCK by the looks of things. chizuru may be more familiar with the area than jinx. there's still many spots in trench as a whole she hadn't explored yet.)

— Well, that was fun!! Looks like we're in the clear.

[ Chizuru releases a soft breath - it's very close to a sigh of relief, really. ]

I'm not so sure about the 'fun' part.. It was kind of scary. [ Look, she may be a little too honest for her own good here, but it's true! Chizuru isn't worried about admitting to ever being scared. She knows she isn't the toughest person around. ]

But.. I know you're the main reason I got out of there.

[ Since Jinx was keeping her head cool.

.. you know, as far as Jinx ever keeps her head cool. In her own Jinx way. ]

So-- thank you. [ She releases the other's arm, though mostly so she can politely bow. ] I definitely owe you some baked goods now.

Hey, it's not a big thing. But I am lookin' forward to those goods, though.

(doing a light play of catch with the compass then a flip between her fingers, jinx extends it out for the other girl.)

Somethin' to remind this night by. (a jokingly wink.) — Or I can keep it. Doesn't matter me to in the end. I can just make these babies in a snap.

Edited 2022-11-09 18:44 (UTC)

No, if you're alright with it-- then I'll take it.

[ Usually Chizuru would hesitate a little more about this sort of thing, not wanting to be too selfish. But as she reaches out to take the compass, she doesn't feel so bad about it this time. Maybe it's because Jinx is saying that she could easily make one herself - and given what the other has told her before, Chizuru is more than willing to believe that the other could.

.. Or maybe it's-- ]

I'd like to remember tonight, after all. [ She smiles at the other as she says it. ] For example.. how it started out kind of scary, but then turned out just fine in the end.

[ That's a good thing to remember, right? In case she ever ends up in another dangerous situation. ]

And how it turned out that way since we were in it together!

(she happily hands it over then buffs up her chest with her hands on her hips. her ego swelling like a balloon which can be a very dangerous thing to a psychopath like her.)

Duh! — Course it was gonna turn out okay! That was just baby kid stuff. If the "Whatevers" was going to toss us in the middle of nowhere with nothin' but the clothes on our backs, they oughta make it more of a challenge. It was puttin' me asleep. Literally!!

★ OCT. (CATCH ALL); open your eyes -- don't let them feed you with their lies.

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thanks dw for just.. sending that one early...

i dunno what happened to your tag. it poofed. i had to find it.

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