kayakking | (no subject)

[The pit is almost completely sealed with the webbing, thick and sticky. Magnetic tape weaves through it all, being tugged and used elsewhere. Most of the spiders seem to be coming and going from this little home.

But the eyes are watching. Waiting to see what they do.]

[ That's a hell of a feeling. He hates it. He HATES it. ]

Algric... [ His voice is low, almost a whisper. ] ... Think you can frost over the windows?

[ If they're going to pull over anything on it... ]

[ Oh. OH. Algric immediately moves to the window with some relief. ]

If I can’t, I can certainly put up a layer of fog.

[ He does so quickly - frost if possible, fog if not. ]

[The frost creeps across the glass, easily enough. The whole room starts to chill with it, until the windows are completely frosted over and the spiders slow to a crawl, some even finding places to hide.

Before a loud, shrill hiss fills the air, thrumming in their ears. And the small spiders start working together to slowly build webs around the room and around them.]

[ The Spider didn't like being blinded, did it? Tim steps on one of the strands nearest around them, and from him comes a terrible heat to ignite the closest. Hopefully one with more spiders than momentos. ]

[ FUCK it does not, does it. Ice does not have quite the same effect on spiderwebs, probably, but Algric yelps and tries to put a layer of fog between himself and Tim and worst of the webs, at least. ]

Okay, I'm starting to see why Jon is afraid of these things!

[The strand under Tim's foot lights up quickly and burns faster. The spiders that were using it either jump free or ride the heat thermals to a different strand. The Spider lets out an inhuman noise the same time as the something in the pit next to them.]

You think. God, if you ever show that dancing spider video aga-

[ It's in the middle of the setting another aflame that the horrible sound wells up next to him. Tim freezes and turns very slowly. ]

... It's there. Isn't it? Tell me it's not.

[ Algric… also turns, slowing down the freezing a bit. ]

No, ah. It. It definitely is.

[The next flame catches a thread nicely, lighting up a folder on the vanity in its wake.

(Gone. Up in a flash.)

The noise from under the webbing in the pit is quieter, less inhuman. More pitiful.]

[ That's... well. Part of him really enjoyed seeing something precious go up. He stomps it down.

That sound... a trick of the Web or another Jon. Dammit. ]

I'm going to see if there's anything in here I can use to cut these blasted things.

[ And lower his own temptations... ]

[ Algric, meanwhile, lets out a little cry of distress at that sound. He immediately stops destroying webs and heads for the pit. ]

Jon? Jon is that you?

[As soon as Algric gets close, more and more spiders of all sizes crawl out from the webbing, like a wave of legs and eyes coming at him. Another loud animalistic growl from The Spider trying to watch through the webbing strands.

There are a couple blades here and there (kitchen knives, butter knives, all manner of them), the fastest thing found being a small pocketknife with some blood already stained to it.]

[ UGHHHHHH he hates this. A lot.

Algric continues to make distressed noises, brushing off spiders and/or trying to discourage them with cold. Gently? So gentle. ]

Just hang on Jon, I’m coming—

[ He’s going to try to lever himself down the pit. ]

[ In the mean time, Tim's hands wrap around the bloodied knife and... he stops. Standing still for a long moment. Listening.

Yeah, you know what? Glass freezing and heating again suddenly does shatter, doesn't it.

He walks over to the fogged, obscured glass. And there's only a second between when his waxy, boiling hand slams against the pane, and when with all of the spite and fury that comes up from the pitiful noises of Jon?? in distress, and tries to drive the bloodied knife through the - hopefully - weakened glass, and into the bulbous, spying eye of the Spider. ]

[The glass starts to crack at first under that wax hand, the lines snaking out in its own web pattern. But then the knife hits and it all shatters. The Spider closes its eye tight around the blade, hissing in pain before the room starts to rock heavily to one side before evening again.

The spiders in the pit are even worse, an uneasy squelching sound under Algric's feet on the thick web covering its entirety. There's the beginnings of a smell there, like rotten eggs and unhealthy flesh together in a pot.]

[ Algric jolts his head up at the shattering sound? But he can’t see what’s going on. ]

Tim? Are you okay?

[ He also takes an uneasy step towards the pile of… well. That. ]

I'm... FINE. [ Tim yells back, voice strained with the exertion. The rocking drags him one way, than the other but he does not let go.

The eyelid may be too tight to push further in.... But he braces his other hand on the windowsill and twists the blade, it beginning to heat up. ]

[The Spider all but screams at the pain, trying to pull away from the blade stuck in it. The smaller glass shards that fell outward scraping the other seven eyes don't help it see what's going on. Its entire attention is focused on the hot spot in front of it. Some of the larger spiders are heeding its call, coming after the one hurting it. But they don't get close enough to be hurt by the heat Tim is giving off.]

[ Oh god oh god oh god —

Algric scrabbles on this awful web floor, torn between helping Tim and staying here. None of this sounds good? Not at all. ]

Just - be careful, please!

[ He’s going to then to whoeve - whatever - is at the centre of this web. ]

[ ALGRIC SAYS GOING DOWN TO THE SMELL PIT OF DOOM ]

I'm! Very! Careful! [ He leans further out as it tries to get away, trying for any grip he can. ]

Keep your eyes pealed!

[ And if he can't keep it here, he's going to try to send as much fire and heat as he can into The Spider before it gets away. ]

[The noise it makes is nearly deafening when the flames hit. The Spider jerks its head away, leaving Tim there in the window space. Some of the flames catch and stay on its short fur as it looks to Tim again, fury in those remaining eyes.

The reaction doesn't change much of what's happening in the pit, though. The spiders are still coming and going at their usual pace. And all the visible strands are coming together in one spot: the center where a large bundle of thread sits, perfectly stationed there. It could be confused for a cocoon if it weren't for the spiders coming from inside occasionally. But the smell is drifting from it.]

[ Algric looks up nervously again — ]

All right! I will!

[ — and then shuffles forward, miserable. He already dreads whatever is in the middle of that webbing, but… he reaches out to try to break open the cocoon anyway. ]

[ Right. LOOKING FOR ANOTHER KNIFE. OR SOMETHING BETTER. Longer, preferably.

IS THERE AN AXE HERE. AN AX OF GOOD DECISIONS. ]

[In another pile on the other side of the room are some things. A lighter. A pipe. Some explosives. And sitting on top, an axe.

The threads tear under Algric's fingers, ripping with some difficulty. They weren't meant to come apart. But like opening a cast, it cracks open, the smell only worsening now becoming open to the air. A few more spiders scuttle out from the new opening and away on the strands upwards.

Inside is filled with dirt. Mud. The faint scent of blood now clearer over the rotten smell. Worms squirming to hide from the open air, deeper. And in the center, half buried in the muck and rot, Jon. His eyes nearly empty staring upward, thick strands of spider thread securing him down, and a wad of it over his mouth sealing it closed.]