deercountry | March Catch-All

[Strength is a relative term. Sometimes the weight of...but the the sound in Allen's voice is so genuine he's not going to argue.]

Listen, I'm sorry for getting you involved and putting you through this. But you've done more than enough, and

[he tugs at Allen's vise-grip gently and when he doesn't budge he yanks at his arm]
... I don't plan on dying! I could never leave you with the weight of that burden!

[It comes out quick, loud and sharp. His eyes harbor an intense look. There is anger towards himself for putting someone he considers a friend in this precarious situation and sadness for hurting the person who has done nothing but help him.]

You don't need... !!! [For fucks sake

As the mushroom hits the dark shadows of the pit, the very landscape begins to shift. Loud scraping sounds made by rocks rasping against each other screech in the darkness. The hole's two story high walls grind inward causing the ground to quake and rumble. The dilapidated sign falls to the ground and shakes alongside bouncing pebbles. The tremor is enough to violently jostle the two towards the opening.

Fearing for the worst Megumi begins to imbue and disperse his deep blue cursed energy throughout his body. Fortifying and bracing for whatever is going to happen next. Out of precaution he delegates extra energy to his head and injured arm when something unusual happens.

A bright white light sparks sending reversed cursed energy(positive energy) to the wounded area and a warm cleansing sensation rushes over the limb.

Just as this is happening the seemingly bottomless pit closes just inches away from the two, leaving nothing behind but a small red mushroom spotted with tiny white dots.]

[ Like hell he's going to let go when your arm is cut open like a gutted fish and he's still trying to get the last piece out! It's just gonna make things worse! Even if that does strike him, and Allen's eyes momentarily widen at that. "I could never leave you with the weight of that burden!" It's an unusual thing to say. The kind of thing someone brings up and says only if they already know it in some fashion.

Sadly he also forgets it a moment later, when the very ground begins to tremble and it's... cave-in?? Or at least that's what he's afraid of, glancing about suddenly in alarm. Except it's just the pit that's knitting itself back together, much like --

...Megumi's... arm? ]

Uaa... [ Don't mind Allen just... staring a little in some morbid fascination as he watches the skin begin to mend itself back together. It actually takes precedence over the fact that the pit just closed up, what's up with that. He actually looks... better?

If Megumi tries again, he'll be able to pull his arm easily from Allen's now loosened grasp. Too in awe -- also there's no reason to anymore. ]

How did...?

[ Easily pulling his hand upward, he stares at the crook of his elbow that once held a deep gash. The flesh is soft and pink like baby skin. An abrasion is still visible but nowhere near the damage originally inflicted. He moves and circles his arm around- full range no problem. Everything is working as it should. How did he??

Muffled words hit a distracted mind, not quite catching Allen's confusion.]

How the hell did you do that?!

[His tone is genuinely perplexed but very eager to know.]

Me?? [ Wait, what.

Look!! His powers might feel a little different here, and there's some weird paleblood stuff, but...! ... no, right??

Megumi does have him whipping back and forth between his left and right hands, staring in some alarm at them in case somehow they are the answer. _{They aren't, are they?!} Tim seems a little frantic too... ]

I thought you did it! [ H-healing claws??! ]

Me?! I would have used that as soon as those things came bursting out of my arm!?

[Allen's shocked expression speaks volumes. He really didn't do it or at least not on purpose.

The energy looked bright and white. Something felt familiar about it- like when Allen first cut into his arm and brought a soothing peace. The sensation was not quite the same but definitely similar.

Kage sniffs around the ground occasionally stopping to sneeze when too much dust enters her nose. Bumping into a wooden plank, she picks it up and trots over to Megumi. Taking it from her, and dusting it off. It appears to be scratched up when a riddle written in gold fancy olden time script presents it self. Okay that's weird. ~~The mushrooms are gone right??~~

Spinning the board towards Allen.]

What's going on??

Edited 2022-04-22 01:59 (UTC)

[ WILL YOU GIVE HIM A MOMENT? THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST AMAZING THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO HIM... IF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED ]

Eh? [ a sign? ]

"The kindness of the world is behind you"...? [ Hold on, let him drag his focus back to things. ] What even --

[ The lack of Timcanpy draws his attention at that moment more than anything though, maybe by a silent mental tug from his omen, and he turns around quickly. He's hovering a distance away, towards the other side of the pit that had closed up, almost as if waiting expectantly for them to notice.

And on the other side of him is void of darkness deeper even than the dim atmosphere of the catacombs so far, set into the stone wall like a grand entrance -- or exit. It has him freeze, suddenly sobering again. ]

What... is that?

Edited 2022-04-23 00:57 (UTC)

What is wha... [ looking up at the stone entrance gives him the sensation of being hunted. Invisible eyes from the dark staring directly back at him. Preying]

It looks like some sort of entryway[he looks towards the dead end and then back at the way they came.]

Considering there is nothing down that way, going in seems like the only option... [he flips his palm upward and gestures towards the creepy wall. Hopefully an exit]

After you, [he says casually before shifting slightly into a more critical tone] but be careful something is off about it.

He's not going first. Any bit of trust he has had is gone. Not after falling into that pit. Sorry Allen!]

[ ? After him? Why is it always 'after him'? ]

Thank you for that warning... [ He doesn't sound that grateful.

Still, he's also not that stupid to just go charging in without considering that fully. It looks like the void, please. Who's to say he won't just fall right off into nothingness. Though with Megumi's injuries, even partially healed as they are... it is smarter for him to go first. ]

What else did that sign say? [ He's still peering around at the edges of the doorway and anything but that blackness. ] "Hell is ahead"? "As above, so is below"... [ The rest had been broken off. Not helpful. Probably more ominous stuff though.

He turns to face the void directly. Braces himself and starts to take a step forward. ]

It sounds like "damned if you do, damned if you—" [ his eyes unfocus ]

Edited 2022-04-29 23:06 (UTC)

"...don't." [ ah

He appears frozen, trailing off abruptly and still half a stride in as he stares within that deep sort of nothingness. Eyes unfocused and blank, like someone who's just had their consciousness snuffed out and taken somewhere else.

Or like someone who's just become so cripplingly caught in his own head so as to forget the rest of the world. ]]

Edited 2022-04-29 23:06 (UTC)

[Committing the sign to memory, as Allen parrots the words aloud. And convinced that it's definitely a clue for the next phase of trials. This has to be some sort of test but for what?

Being pulled from his own thoughts,two eyes look up at the backside of a frozen silhouette whose change of speech ] what's wrong.. [and abrupt stop warrant immediate attention. Not seeing anything external that could have caused the behavior change he looks to his ally's face.

Stepping in front of Allen he is caught by a pair of vacant gray eyes. The emptiness is haunting as he sees his own reflection momentarily before reacting.]

Allen..? [His voice is calm but loud as he attempts to call him back from within himself. It's never good when one gets lost within their own mind. It usually leads to emotional and often illogical actions. He is more than aware of this considering the events that just took place.

All the while, the feeling of being stalked sits quietly in the back of his head. Better to not have an exposed back.

Kage, immediately sensing a change in the situation, trouts passed Megumi and Allen. Her posture is defensive as she sits like a statue peering into the dark guarding and ready to alert him to any form of incoming danger.

Being mindful as to not come across as aggressive, taking one hand, he gently shakes Allen's shoulder.]

Hey, Allen, can you hear me? [Two green eyes lock and stare searching for any indication of being present.]

[ The lights are barely on and no one seems home.

He doesn't respond to being shaken, shoulders uncharacteristically limp and somewhat ragdoll. Timcanpy seems concerned as well, darting to and fro in front of Allen in a bit of a panic as he tries to puzzle what's wrong as well. His cloak would still feel mildly cleansing and gentle to the touch, but that's it. Inside...

Inside is like swirling static.

"What would you do if I told you you'll have to kill someone you love?"
"You don't know what you are and you don't even try to understand. You just spread confusion and conflict... You're the worst of us all, Allen Walker."
"The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt because of me! I can't protect anyone, I can barely deal with myself! An ordinary human being like.... or you, with your shortened lifespan... I don't want such fragile people anywhere near me!"

He sucks in a breath suddenly. Loud, like a gasp. ]

I don't think I'm supposed to be around people... [ It's disconnected. His eyes technically on Megumi's, but not meeting them. Focused on something else entirely instead of the other young man, and like he's speaking to someone else. Haunted.

And then his eyes abruptly focus on the other's even if he isn't processing who he is yet, gazes locking together like puzzle pieces. Wide and bright pale grey to green with such a sudden, stark intensity in the way he comes back around. With absolute, haunting clarity -- and washing over in horror.

Actual despair. ]

I think... [ his voice pitches, becoming smaller in a quiet, soft-spoken anguish ] ...I'm dangerous.

Edited 2022-05-05 16:06 (UTC)

[ Those mirror-like eyes feel so distant- as Tim whizzes back and forth erratically marking a clear change of behavior. His eyes continue to he search the rest of Allen's porcelain doll face before jolting his head back by the sudden and unexpected intense drawing in of his breath.-Was he just released from some sort of magic?

'I don't think I'm supposed to be around people'- what or who is he talking about? This doesn't sound like the man who was just telling me about finding my own inner strength. He turns his head to see if anyone else is present, but no one, just darkness. Could he be possessed-- that gasp was very unnerving and he's not making sense. Hands still gripping Allen he nudges him once more. ]

Allen, Who are you talking to? [ His voice is direct and clear trying to discern the situation. ]

[ I think... I'm dangerous-
The pain in his voice singles Megumi to act- those words- he's not safe to himself in this state.]

What would make you say that? [ Truly asking that question ] Did you not just help save this arm? [ Pointing first towards Allen's claw then towards his battered limb ]

You told me to believe in myself and I believed you, so what in the hell gives you the right to doubt yourself now!? [ He shakes his head from side to side but his eyes are always drawn back to that tortured expression on Allen's face. ]

Who are you Allen Walker?- [ Just when i think I've got a handle on you, you go and do a complete 180. ]

'Even when it's dark and scary, and especially when things are really messed up.' You [ pointing directly at Allen each time a 'you' lands ] said you were going to look forward to seeing those you love again. Those are your words not mine. [ This time pointing back at himself ] And you told me I should too, and you know what? I believed you, again.

Now you're telling me you're going to abandon all of those people you treasure just because you feel you're a threat to them. That's not dangerous Allen, it's selfish. We don't have the luxury of thinking about ourselves when other people depend on us. That was the original principle behind your actions, wasn't it- [ it meant that to me ]? You helped save me...[ he pauses caught off guard by his own emotion as his voice cracks ] or I'd be at the bottom of a shit ridden pit covered in mushrooms rotting.
[ He takes a moment thinking he has fully composed himself. ]
Not everything that is dangerous is inherently destructive. [ Two green eyes desperately hold back a swell of emotions but are betrayed by the sound of urgency in his voice. ] And you have a choice so please [ grabbing on to Allen's hand ] don't be selfish and give up all alone. _{[ The last line said as much for Allen as it is for himself. ]}

[ It takes him a moment for what Megumi's saying to start to actually think in; it's like a background buzz at first, hearing the words he's saying but not actually processing what they are. Breath shallow and fast. He's still half lost in the overwhelming flood of those memories, until something finally kicks in -- and pierces through the veil.

"Did you not just help save this arm?"

He blinks and finally sees Megumi then, startled by that. Startled by realizing what just happened, that it's Megumi he just said that to and this is the catacombs -- and startled by what he's saying. And his eyes widen slightly when his own words and repeated back to him. When his voice cracks with uncharacteristic emotion, and Allen inhales sharply in realization.

But his throat feels tight and his eyes smart at that one thing, "Not everything that is dangerous is inherently destructive." He jolts slightly at that, surprised at just how hard that strikes as tears well at the corners of his eyes but don't quite fall. Shit...

Head bowing, he's too overwhelmed for a moment to even know how to respond. Too much of a mix of emotions and confusion himself over what he'd just remembered stacked on top of such an unexpected show of faith and frighteningly spot-on insight.

But he hit the nail on the head, "we don't have the luxury of thinking about ourselves when other people depend on us."

Aah... he's been stupid. ]

Edited 2022-05-06 02:22 (UTC)

[ Now isn't the time to be stupid.

He grips his hand in return. Tight and strong, raising his head up with tear-brightened but determined eyes. And he raises their hands up and twists them around; so as to not so much be like taking one's hand in urgency then, but to clasp together like making a strong promise. ]

I won't if you won't. [ It's thick with emotion, but unwavering. Gentle and certain. A pact; a pledge.

Don't be selfish and give up all alone. ]

I'm sorry... [ He breathes out; a little shaky, but centering himself. ] I think -- something got in my head...

Edited 2022-05-06 02:22 (UTC)

March Catch-All

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The finger pointing game 😂

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