Event Eighteen.

[awashmods]

Who told you so, dilly dilly, Who told you so? ‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly, That told me so.

ouch is one of the most intimate, romantic ways to be close to someone else. The Town knows this very well -- the Town wants everyone to be as close as possible. Perhaps that's why this bonding is so...aggressive. Because you're in for quite the shock on this otherwise peaceful day when you brush against the next person on your path. Maybe you're going out of your way to touch people. Maybe you've got a terrible urge to just see what's lurking in someone's heart. Maybe you trip over a conveniently placed rock -- whatever the cause, you're getting an up close and personal look into someone else's heart. Welcome to Awash's eighteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[espritdecorpse]

[ His look of relief slides into confusion, however. ]

Er, "surf'? What's that?

[scooptimistic]

[ ... What a weird expression. ]

... Like, taking a board into the ocean and balancing on it!

[espritdecorpse]

[ Balancing on a board in the ocean? That certainly sounds like something he'd do given the opportunity; but he always spent most of his life on lakes, not the ocean. Still, he thinks about how a piece of wood might bob on the waves. ]

Something like that. Just try stepping on.

[scooptimistic]

Roger that!

[ It doesn't look all that stable, but Maya will slide one foot on, then the other, wobbling slightly. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ The sword glows; it’s infused with spiritual energy, and moves slightly back and forth to keep Maya balanced. ]

Relax. Imagine you’re standing on a stripe painted on the ground. You don’t have to exert more effort than that.

[ He steps back, smiling. It’s a wistful smile, as if he’s looking at something he hasn’t seen in a long time. ]

Just think about where you want to go, and the sword will take you there. Ah — you can probably even use it to fly out of here .

[scooptimistic]

... Which is great, but what about you?

[ did you think she'd ditch you in your own heart? Please. ]

[espritdecorpse]

That sword... it’s agile but not strong. It doesn’t hold two people very well. Don’t worry, I’ll find some other way down.

[ Poor Maya, she didn’t ask for any of this. From his point of view, she should cut her losses and escape. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ There's a pause, before Maya's lips thin into a firm, determined line. ]

Then I'll head down with you.

[ She didn't ask for any of this, but she didn't ask for any of what had happened back home, either. This is just something she's decided to deal with, as always. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ His eyes widen. After the frog incident, he's surprised she's even talking to him, much less offering to find some way down the mountain with him. ]

You—are you sure? I mean, after...

[ She had ordered him never to speak of the frog incident so he doesn't. ]

[scooptimistic]

This and that are two entirely different things.

[ And that is all she will say in regards to that. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ He shouldn't say it, he shouldn't say it, he shouldn't say it. ]

In that case, I'll try to keep my clothes on this time!

[ He says it. And then he turns around and starts looking around for some way down the mountain. ]

[scooptimistic]

It's like you really want me to punch you!

[ Why is he like this. Seriously, why is he like this!! ]

[espritdecorpse]

Me? No, no. I don't really like that sort of thing. I mean, I know there are people who do, but it's not to my taste. Thank you anyway! Hahahaha!

[ He......stays out of punching distance, as he continues to poke around. Somehow, the more he looks, the less steep the mountain appears, and eventually he discovers a path that leads down. ]

Well! Look at that!

[scooptimistic]

Perfect! Let's take that and make our way down!

[ where there's a will, there's a way, she thinks. Probably a statement that especially applies to hearts. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ He heads down, looking irritatingly pleased with himself. The path loops back and forth, switchbacking down the mountain. There are all sorts of interesting things to look at: trees to climb, refreshing little creeks to drink at, holes of various sizes in the limestone, some of them big enough to crawl into, if you squeezed.

He finally pauses in front of one of the larger of these holes and asks: ]

Do you like caves?

[scooptimistic]

As long as you don't get trapped inside of them forever, yes! I think caves are pretty interesting!

[ There's very little in the world that Maya doesn't like, and she takes a step towards this new location. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ He starts to go inside, but something about what Maya said makes him turn back, abruptly. That sounded like an awfully specific concern. ]

Have you ever been trapped in a cave?

[scooptimistic]

Not a cave, specifically.

[ Just an underground bunker and a shrine on fire, and that was technically in another reality. So he doesn't have to worry! ]

So I'm sure it'll be fine.

[espritdecorpse]

[ ...






Riiiiiiiight. ]

What happened?

[scooptimistic]

Someone thought it'd be a great idea to try and get us trapped in an underground bunker with one heck of a tricky way to exit. It wasn't that fun.

[ To put it lightly. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ “Underground bunker” gets translated to his ears as “underground room.” Which, to him, is a mausoleum. She was trapped in a tomb?

“One heck of a tricky way to exit.” And… “it wasn’t that fun.” He’s had enough conversations with Maya to have a sense for her tendency towards understatement. What had it cost her, escaping from such a place? ]

We can explore it later!

[ He smiles brightly. ]

Let’s keep going down.

[ He turns away, decisively, from the cave and keeps heading down the path. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Lots of her patience, for starters. But Maya only looks vaguely surprised when he decides to just... skip the cave entirely. Which means she's probably concerned him and he's just being considerate in an overly enthusiastic way.

... It's kind of sweet, so she says nothing in protest, only trots after him with a quick nod. ]

Got it! I bet we'll find something even more exciting.

1/2

[espritdecorpse]

Of course! With me, you'll never be bored, hahaha!

[ He bounds down the path, and presently there's a buzz of voices, the sound of a lot of people milling around. ]

Hm, let's see what's going on, I —

[ Curious, he rounds the next corner... ]

[espritdecorpse]

Gah!

[ ...and stops short.

The crowd of people are holding up an enormous banner that reads "ALL HAIL THE SUPREME LORD OF EVIL, THE YILING PATRIARCH!" When they see him, they go wild.

It's him, it's the Patriarch! Yiling Patriarch, hear my plea! Curse my enemies! Teach me the mysteries of the demonic path! Patriarch! Patriarch! ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Behind him, Maya comes to a quick halt right before she slams into his back. It doesn't stop her from curiously peering around him, and...

... Trying for a very uneasy smile, because this is still Maya. Sure, they just walked into what looks like a cult mob clamoring for demonic retribution, but this is actually nothing too new to her. ]

Who knew you were so popular?

[ See? Exciting. ]