♥ v2

[screwthatnoise]

A cold, delicate hand grabs yours and pulls. It pulls, and it pulls... there's a sense of urgency in this icy grasp, as well as a trace of reluctance. Abruptly the hand let's go, right as your vision fades to black, and for a brief moment, only a brief moment, your senses disappear. There's only the eerie sensation of weightlessness before your feet are settled back on solid ground again.

(please join #echolife! ♪)

Comments

Re: entry

[glorious]

Is that so? I'm glad to hear it.

[looking up to make sure DEATH WON'T COME FROM ABOVE like the chandelier almost did]

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

Zwei doesn't respond.

Thank goodness there's no chandelier—just a short dangling rope. You came in just in time to see a drug-angel fly up and cut a mutilated stuffed animal free from a noose.

And that very stuffed animal is sitting off to the side, watching you with blank curiosity. After a moment it calls out to you.

"Selenia...!"

Re: entry

[glorious]

[blinks...approaching]

Ah, hello...

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

If it had arms it'd wave, so it only bobs its head from side to side.

"It's nice to meet you... even under these circumstances. Because you're a great friend of Hail's!"

Re: entry

[glorious]

[...chuckles softly and kneels down to its level.]

It's nice to meet you too...Can I ask for your name?

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"I am Janta, and I represent Hail's happiness."

Re: entry

[glorious]

I see...It's especially good to meet you, Janta.

[looking the bear over]

Did something happen...?

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

Janta hesitates, before turning its little head to the ground.

"Y... yes. I was pulled apart... and hung... and now... now the heart is worse than it's ever been..."

Re: entry

[glorious]

...Do you know who did it?

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"I do... But..."

The stuffed animal flops onto its side, it's unchanging expression staring into the darkness.

"It's not that important..."

Re: entry

[glorious]

...It's important to Hail.

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"Some part of Hail did this to me."

Its voice is detached, and strange, like it's saying something it really shouldn't.

Re: entry

[glorious]

[...nods.]

I'll look for the pieces and bring them.

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"Ah...! Thank you. Please don't get hurt, and, and..."

The doll trails off, but picks up again.

"I can join you! I can try to support you!"

Re: entry

[glorious]

[...carefully picks Janta up.]

I'd be honored to have you at my side, Janta.

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

If the doll could blush, it would blush.

"Thank you...! As for where to go... do you have a place in mind?"

Re: entry

[glorious]

[a pause, considering...]

I'm not sure how everything's changed...We can start with Turquoise, I suppose.

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"Ah... that place is okay! In fact, when things started getting bad, I purposefully locked the doors! It should be okay..."

Re: entry

[glorious]

Oh, that's good then.

...Is there a place where she kept her hopes for the future?

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"That would be outside... or the ballroom. But... the plants in the ballroom are dead."

Re: entry

[glorious]

Lets start in the ballroom first then.

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

"O... okay."

The bear seems hesitant, but if you want to go to the ballroom you'll have to go through that cold darkness...!

Re: entry

[glorious]

[holds Janta close]

I'll keep you safe.

[and then starts heading in]

Re: entry

[screwthatnoise]

Through the dark entry room you go, and into the ballroom, where nothing is quite the same anymore...