Event Three.

[awashmods]

I come at night, and in the day. I'm always there, do what you may. You may think that I hate the light, Because it is what gives you your sight. But truthfully in light I trust, Because for me it is a must. Left or right, or down below I'll follow you, fast or slow. You really can't escape from me, So tell me now, what I may be.

t's always with you. Your friendly shadow, always following you, step by step. There's nothing wrong with that, right? That could never, ever go wrong... The Town's starting to look better, the situation is starting to improve bit by bit -- there's a bit more color to be found. But it seems as though the characters' adventurousness has stirred up something that may have been better left alone, and that's caused a change in something very close to home. Because amidst all of this optimistic color restoration, something's lurking, right behind everyone's every single step -- and as the day dawns and everyone begins to bustle about, some mischief is finally, properly afoot. It might be better to stay by the light this week. Welcome to Awash's second event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

iv

[whereabout]

[ The earlier pranks were - actually amusing, in a few cases, because gluing her hand to her arm is quite Estelle enough that it hadn't yet been clear that something was wrong.

Things have been going steadily downhill from there, though.

It's not his shift to keep the fire going, but he hasn't been sleeping that well lately anyway, so after an hour of trying and failing to drift off, he gives up and comes to sit next to Estelle by the fire. ]

[brightlyshines]

[Estelle is.... achy, honestly. Things have been going downhill, and she has the bruises and bumps to prove it after a couple of days of this. Not that she was going to let that keep her down-- she's gathered a nice big pile of firewood to keep the shadows at bay from the rest of their housemates while they sleep. If they didn't get proper sleep, they'd only be at more risk, after all--

Which is why she looks a little worried, when Joshua comes over. She's noticed his difficulty sleeping lately, but....]

Can't sleep?

[She scoots a little closer to Joshua, just enough so their shoulders lightly touch as she turns her head to look at him.]

[whereabout]

Not really.

[ Said, as usual, like it's not a big deal. ]

If you're tired, I can take over for you.

[brightlyshines]

I'd feel a little bad if you did.... you haven't been sleeping a lot lately, right?

[Of course he'd view it as not a big deal, but that didn't mean Estelle didn't have some concern either.]

[whereabout]

It's not that bad, really.

[ Spoilers, he'd say this whether it was bad or not. ]

I'm more worried about you. How are all those bruises doing?

[brightlyshines]

Uh huh....

[And she knows it, too. She gives him a questioning look, but at his question she shakes her head.]

I'm doing alright. Actually, someone healed me a bit yesterday.

[After.... a window broke all over her, but still.]

It'll take more than a few bruises to put me down!

[whereabout]

Good.

[ Look, he attempted this diversion and now he's going to stick to it. ]

I know it'll take a lot more than that.

[brightlyshines]

A whole lot more.

[She shoots him a grin, but don't think she's forgotten why you're here right now, buster--]

But.... going without sleep is going to make it more difficult for you, you know. I know you're not nearly as accident prone as I am, but...

[whereabout]

I don't need much to get by. It's fine.

[ You, uh. Learn some weird shit when you spend five years being a human robot. ]

[brightlyshines]

'Getting by' isn't really that much, you know.

[She rests her head on her knees, giving him a look.]

Anything I can do to help?

[whereabout]

Just being here is already doing more than you know.

[ He really does mean it. The forest incident was enough to shake him up - badly - but no matter what effect his fears of being used again might have on him, he's sure it would be that much worse without Estelle around. ]

[brightlyshines]

[She blushes lightly at that, still taken aback at how.... forward Joshua was when he spoke about her, sometimes.]

Ah... I-I'm just....

[Gaaaaaah--]

[whereabout]

Estelle.

[ He's not trying to be embarrassing, honest!

He just doesn't think she realizes just how much she's already doing. ]

Kaoru was trying to pull me out of it, back in the forest...but I think what really got me out of it was that I started thinking about you.

[ That had really been the thing he'd clung to and managed to drag himself up from under the surface by. Without Estelle here...who knows what would've happened? ]

[brightlyshines]

I...

[It's still so new to her, Joshua saying such things. It still sends her heart fluttering a little to know he thinks that much of her. Estelle reaches over, clasping his hand with one of hers and lacing their fingers together to give a gentle squeeze.]

...I'm glad. I was worried about you, you know? Back in the forest.

[She'd known Joshua could handle himself, but she also known they knew next to nothing about what was in the forest. The ogres they'd faced had been bad enough, Estelle had counted her group lucky they'd gotten away in one piece.]

[whereabout]

[ He'd probably have to laugh, if he realized that it had that reaction on her - because it's just such a given for him. Of course she's amazing. Of course he thinks that much of her. How can he not? He was just some broken mess of an excuse for a person, and the only reason any of it changed was because of her.

He stares at their hands for a moment, before resting his free hand on top of them. ]

I was worried about you, too. But...it sounds like you did fine.

[ As opposed to nearly going down without a fight, like him.

That's what worries him, more than any fight they might find out there. They're not invincible, but he still has a lot of faith in both of their skills, especially when they're together. But knowing there's something - maybe more things, on top of what he's already seen - that can go straight to the mind like that... ]

[brightlyshines]

[Estelle smiles up at him, leaning up against him for a moment just for the sake of closeness and warmth. It wasn't fun being separated, especially after all that happened, but-- She knew they'd find their way back to each other.]

Well now we know what to do, right? I'll just keep hold of you if we ever have to go back there. I won't let go, I promise.

[She wouldn't make the same mistake again. Joshua should never have to feel alone again.]

[whereabout]

[ She makes everything sound easy.

- although, to be fair, she has already offered up one practical solution towards that, and it's an embarrassing one. ]

You're really stuck on that leash idea of yours, aren't you?

[brightlyshines]

[....She flushes a bit, shooting Joshua a small pout.]

Hey it worked, didn't it? It's not like you use all of those belts of yours!

[Though honestly, that solution wasn't what she was suggesting, and her blush deepens a little as she squeezes his hand.]

But... um, what I actually meant was...

[whereabout]

[ Please don't bully him for his aesthetic!

But it feels like she's trying to go somewhere that he's just going to derail if he says anything about the belts, so he...waits, to see if she finishes. ]

[brightlyshines]

[Aesthetic won't keep them together in the forest, Joshua! Unless you'd rather she latch onto your scarf--]

Well we could... hold hands?

[Ah, there's that shy tone she gets when she's trying to propose something lovey dovey. Clearly there's an ulterior motive here.]

I could let go as soon as we both need them free, and....

[whereabout]

...I do like that idea better.

[brightlyshines]

[Estelle blushes a little brighter, but there's a happy smile on her face at his agreement. She's kind of been wanting to try that awhile.]

Really?! Great.

[whereabout]

Why wouldn't I?

[ He's blushing too, but - gah, it gives him happy butterflies thinking about it? ]

[brightlyshines]

I mean... well. You know.

[Estelle actually doesn't know?! But. She's still new at this relationship thing, ok. She's also got happy butterflies as she goes stumbling over her words.]

....I really like being close to you.

[whereabout]

[ He still has a hard time believing that, sometimes - not that he doubts her sincerity in any way; it's just that he's so bad at seeing in himself whatever it is that she sees in him.

He looks down at their hands. ]

I know you don't want to hear me say it feels like a dream. But sometimes it's...still hard to believe I can be as happy as you make me.