kayakking | (no subject)

[ Algric won't stay long; they have better things to do, and um. Look, this is probably weird for Tim and he is very sorry about that. (Maybe Tim wants moth hugs too. A moth hug pile.)

But for a moment, Algric just needs to hold Jon and take a little quiet joy from something as simple as Jon being Big Dumb Fluff Moth and being a lovely hugger. ]

We'll save you, Jon. No matter what it costs.

[ It ... feels a little like a goodbye. A resignation. An admission that he may have screwed this up beyond repair. Whether the "beyond repair" part is too much or not, the "screwed up" part won't go away, will it. ]

[He settles for the moment to hold Algric, his fuzzy, green-scarred face by his. But he keeps his voice low, just for him:] If you're really sure that's what you want.

[He holds him close like that, soaking him up, but looks past at Tim. A third furry leg opening in a welcoming gesture. Open offer.]

[ It was quite the odd sight, a towering moth and a faded man buried in the fluff, wrapped up by it. Tim isn't... entirely sure what to think of it.

But at the open offer he doesn't find himself hesitating either. For as strange as it is... it's still Jon. He can feel that through every nerve and instinct he has.

For a moment, he sets aside the worry, the press of time. The argument that is coming for Algric. And just, wraps up both of them. ]

[The extra arms wrap around Tim, pulling both of them in tight now that he knows there isn't a danger. Holds them both close, whispering gently to them.]

I'm sorry. I'm- I'm so sorry.

[ Yeah. Algric deserves that argument. Any and all. But for now, right here…

This is good. ]

It’s okay. We’ve gotten through terrible things before. Whatever happens, we’re going to help you.

[ This is very good. ]

Right. We're all going home tonight.

[The moth nods, leaning his head against each of theirs before starting to pull away.]

Um. The... Where you have to go. Do either of you have a torch?

[ Algric reluctantly detaches then. ]

I have my mobile?

That could work.

[He's still keeping one or two hands on the both of them, like he's scared to let go now that he made contact. But he looks around because there isn't... really much of use in here. Looks back to them both.]

Then I can take you, whenever you're ready. I just can't go in with you.

[ Tim looks first up and Jon and then to Algric. There is something... safe about this area but-

the image they walked into is still bright in his mind. Oh, oh Jon is ALSO getting an argument. After they make sure his dumb ass is safe. ]

... Yeah. Yeah, I think I am.

What are we going to be up against?

I’d like to know that too.

[ Algric gets out his mobile then, and checks the light: seems to work. ]

[Jon looks to them both, antennae working as he thinks of how to... explain this.]

It- It isn't. Quite so much a... 'Final boss' sort of thing as it is... Hm. You've both walked through a lot of his-my marks already. But.

[He leans down to be eye level with them both.]

What was the first to mark us? That is what grips us. It's why we were here to start with.

[ He knows that there was a story, something that traumatized him young, the bully snatched but... No, that's not how the Eye operates, is it.

... But this isn't an area where Tim will risk a guess. He shakes his head slightly and looks to Algric. ]

[ Oh. Oh god. Algric knows, of course; he goes even paler than … well. ]

That’s - that’s going to be Web, then.

[He nods to Algric.]

Right. The Spider. So, I-i... I can't go in there.

[He starts to wring his main hands nervously, then stops and finds something else to keep them busy but two of his smaller hands lower down start to wring nervously. Hoping they don't notice.]

I'm.. Y'know, a um. Bit of a meal to spiders like this. So. I can take you to the door, just... Be careful.

[ A bit of a meal... this giant fluffy winged Jon. How big is this spider? ]

We will... but.

Before we were warned that everything in here is you. ... Does this mean no killing the spider?

[A thoughtful pause, while he considers. He can never know the 'what if' of anything, but he can speculate.]

Everything you've seen and walked through has either been a part of me, or something I carried. If there was one thing specifically you had to destroy?

[He looks Tim dead in the eyes.]

Kill the Spider.

[ God. Algric shivers at that but. ]

We’ll do it. If we can.

[ Tim's gaze remains level, and he nods after a slow moment of consideration. ]

I'll do my damnedest.

[He nods, then starts to the door waving a hand to follow him. He peeks outside it first, checking both ways, then steps out and starts leading them down. He's fine for the moment while there are still lights on the wall.

But as they start to lessen, he curls in on himself a bit. Shoulders hunched up and nervously looking in all directions.]

Keep an eye out for... Anything.

[ Algric is a live wire of nerves in turn, pulsing between being mostly corporeal or a fogbank in a jumper. ]

God. That’s not ominous at all.

Anything is a whole lot when we can't see...

Algric, you have that torch?

[ It doesn't help that as the lights fade, taking the steps is faith and rhythm. ]

[It absolutely is. And Jon, in his apprehension, is starting to slow down, his large draped wings carpeting the steps behind them. A few times he nearly jumps out of his skin, reaching for something that doesn't seem to be there.

But the further they go along, the more dulled their steps get. Walking on something soft and makes lifting their feet a little harder each step. If silent, one could almost mistake the nervous breathing to the sound of many long limbs scittering around.]

W-we're nearly there.

Got it —

[ Once it starts to get proper dark, Algric flicks on the phone light. Searching for… wellS the source of those skitters. ]

[ Tim's fire generates no light to aid them, but the more nervous his is, the warmer it is to be around him.

As the steps become stickier and stickier, he looks to Jon to make sure the moth isn't getting stuck... ]