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

opt1

[windeity]

[The tin can goes flying away from Keith and rolls to John's feet as the other guy lands on the ground. Immediately flipping the can up into his hand he approaches and just kind of stares down at Keith while his own shadow looms behind him.]

I am going to assume you of all people actually aren't clumsy and something else is going on?

[lonered]

[And Keith just stares right back up at John, groaning softly before nodding, grateful for being given the benefit of the doubt.]

Yeah, don't think I'd have made it this far if I were...

[The Blade isn't that forgiving honestly. But slowly he moves to sit up then stand, rubbing his rear because ow. Thank you.]

Something is going on. Weird things keep happening. It can't just be me. ...can it?

[windeity]

I mean it could just be you but luckily it's not. This has been happening to a lot of us around town from what I understand. [There's an annoyed little look.] Something short-sheeted my bed this morning.

[This is probably revenge for the stupid pranks John's pulled on people.] Haven't caught what it is yet though. Ghosts, maybe. [Not everything is about ghosts, and yet here we are.]

[lonered]

Ghosts...

[Keith echoes before holding up his hands in a full on I surrender gesture.] You know what? I was about to say something about ghosts being bullshit, but... I'm not going to. Because I give up on what is real and not anymore.

[Like. Really. His entire life used to be normal. Not that long ago. A couple years by now? That's it. Totally normal. And it only gets weirder and weirder and oh god okay no he's okay. Sorry, John. He's having a weird revelation of his lot in life type moment.]

[windeity]

[Keith...it's okay. Just accept that life is bullshit like John has. But he nods slowly and just...pats him on the shoulder. There, there.]

I think that is probably for the best given we woke up in a well and have been dealing with monsters and stuff. At least if it is ghosts we will have a better chance of stopping them.

[lonered]

[Thanks, John. He's good now. He's accepted the strange. No help for it.]

Yeah, we sure have. ...and for the record? Well is totally normal. It's a well. Nothing even remotely interesting down there.

[So how they got there? Total mystery. But exploration was done.]

...will we? How do you stop a ghost? Exorcise them?

[windeity]

[A shrug. The well is totally normally and he doesn't know what to do about that either. Nevertheless Keith is asking a more important question here.]

Exactly. An exorcism can't be that complicated...or we trick them into possessing other things and trap them that way. Ghosts have only one agenda and it is usually revenge. Or romance. Or both.

[While he's rationalizing this, his own shadow elongates behind him and rises up, wisp-like hands appearing to grab John's hood and drag it up and over his face to blind him.] Hey!!

[lonered]

...you... know a lot about ghosts.

[Why do you know a lot about ghosts, John. And what do ghosts have to do with romance? This is clearly out of Keith's realm of expertise.

But while Keith is trying to puzzle this out, John's shadow acts up and he actually sees it. His first reaction, of course, is to reach for his sword. It's in his hand and awakened in time to make a useless slash through it.]

...shadows.

[Not. His. Favorite. Because for one thing he can't sword them. Huge problem. That's his go to.]

[windeity]

[He hears the swish of the sword and his first response (since he can't see) is to turn into the wind and outright disappear.

Give him a second to reappear on Keith's left before his hand scrambles to pull his hood back down.]

What the fuck. [THIS IS NOT AS NEAT AS GHOSTS.] Shadows. Like. Our shadows? [He's already glancing back to see if he can spot it again.] I thought they weren't sentient or anything.

[lonered]

[What in the fuck just happened John. What did he just see. Keith tries not to jump out of his skin when there's suddenly John again.]

Yeah, like our shadows. Yours just flat out pranked you like it was seventh grade all over again.

[A frown as he looks at his own.] Mine sure never has been before. But something's happened to them.

[windeity]

[If shadows could laugh John's would probably be cracking itself up thinking it's clever. Granted, John's sense of humor is about akin to a seventh grader's half the time so whatever. He folds his arms over his chest and keeps an eye on his shadow, drifting to glance at Keith's instead to make sure it doesn't pull any funny business.]

You think something about this town's possessing them? Shadows don't have color, so maybe they are powered by that.

[lonered]

Maybe.

[Possessed shadows. This is above his paygrade. Give him aliens and space battles. That makes sense. This is all ridiculous.]

It was shadows that attacked Dave and me in the forest that time, too. They just... weren't attached to anyone at the time.

[Which begs the question. If the shadow things were actual shadows WHERE IS THEIR OWNER.]

[windeity]

Right, I remember. The shadow monsters and being yelled at not to go into the forest alone. [Or maybe that was just Dave telling John to sit down and not wander. Details. Still, he raises both eyebrows because that's a little terrifying? That's a little terrifying!]

What exactly did those things even look like anyway? If they're shadows they had to come from somewhere.

[lonered]

Dave's painting didn't give you the full picture?

[Sorry Dave. He's not knocking your MS Paint skills. OR anything. That much.]

Like shadows. They had forms but it wasn't really well defined. And they sort of had faces, but everything just sort of went through them.

Unless they wanted to touch you. [So. They had that in common with the way their shadows are acting now.]

[windeity]

I will admit I kind of only glanced at it. He's been drawing like that for years. [Dave's paint skills need help. But that...hm.]

So if they're maybe like the shadows from the woods, they've figured out how to mimic us and that is even scarier. But nothing that bad happened to you guys after that right?

[He's. Vaguely aware Dave got sick but he didn't figure that out until after it was all said and done.]

[lonered]

Well, I mean, we were alive. Which honestly, was definitely their choice. Because they had us.

[Nothing that either Dave or Keith could do about it in the end.]

The only real effect seemed to be the chill. I don't think I managed to stop shivering or feel any warmth again for weeks. Kind of made me sick too. But I recovered, at least.

[Could... have been worse?]

[windeity]

So far it doesn't look like our shadows are doing that to us. They're just being annoying so maybe that is an upgrade. I am not saying we should not worry about them, but it's still different behavior.

My only guess is maybe luring them back into the woods and hoping they will stay there.

[lonered]

Maybe it is. Hopefully it doesn't get any worse.

[He can try to be optimistic. Really. However.]

I wonder if that would work. They're sort of attached to us pretty good.

[windeity]

If we're in the woods or something, we can try to attach them to the trees or some of the animals or something. They shift with us so it makes sense. [Optimism is all he has left, Keith. Let him try.] Besides we're definitely not as interesting as the stuff that was already here.

[lonered]

How do we attach a shadow to something?

[Duct tape? Do they have that?

But well, okay. It's an idea to try, and that's more than he has.]

Can't hurt to try.

[windeity]

There was a movie once about a boy who had his shadow run away from him, so a girl had to sew it back to him. It is possible we can tie it down, maybe. [It can't hurt at least.] I can also disappear temporarily but I have no idea where my shadow goes when that happens. If it's still there, we can figure out how to trap mine at least and then figure out yours.

[lonered]

[Well. WELL. They're basing things on Peter Pan now, but Keith has seen weirder stuff happen so. Why not.]

I'm all for trying to catch your shadow. Trap it somehow.

[They have to be at least a little tangible, right? Or they couldn't mess with them as much as they have.]

[windeity]

It's worth a try. What do you know about sewing? Or trapping things in general, I guess. I don't know what your space skillset is. [He's already heading for the woods for this ill-advised plan, too.]

[lonered]

Uh... I know you need a needle and thread which I definitely don't have.

[As for trapping things, well.] I haven't really done a lot of trapping either. More space battles and stealth missions.

[But hey he's following along with John anyway because why the hell not. Keith isn't going to be the voice of reason if there's a chance to actually try to do something.]

[windeity]

Stealth might still help, Keith. If you could sneak up on a shadow we should be able to derail it and get rid of it to attach it to something else. [Into the wood and to a clearing of trees they go, John's shadow flickering and flitting about as it follows.]

...do you want me to hold your stuff since your bag broke?