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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 16, 2023 11:11:57 GMT -6
Zenjesi extended a hand off to the side and into the darkness. It was only as their fingers connected with the texture of the wall that they suddenly realized they could have felt anything at all. Eyeballs, knives, the open maw of some creature, waiting for an unsuspecting hand to offer itself to it... You are paranoid. It is a wall. It is a house. The satyr flexed their fingers over the surface once just to confirm it was, in fact, just the sensation of wallpaper. They shook their head. "You cannot be your own enemy," they chided themselves, this time aloud. Their fingers slid along the wall, sweeping up and down... and at last settling on a familiar shape: a light switch. Holding their breath, the satyr flipped it. Click. The sound was like a gunshot in the silence. Nothing happened. They chuckled, despite everything.
Zenjesi: 0.3 Florian: 5.2 / 4.6
October: 11
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 16, 2023 11:35:17 GMT -6
Alright, so it was reductive to classify this as merely a house. It was quite apparent there was something more at play, but... the sentiment remained the same: they should not - and could not - sabotage themselves. There would be no light. At least... not here. Zenjesi squinted around the room, willing their eyes to focus in the low light. The shadows seemed unusually deep despite the full moon. Florian was silent by their feet. They were admittedly not sure if he could see in the dark, though they assumed he could. Regardless, he could hear, and certainly his nose was keener than Zenjesi's was. Thus, the fact that he was not hissing or growling seemed a promising sign for a lack of danger. Or that was what they decided to rely on. They licked their lips once again, then urged him forward. It appeared there was a table of some sort before them, occupying most of the room. Zenjesi: 0.35 Florian: 5.4 / 4.7
October: 12
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 16, 2023 21:07:14 GMT -6
As per the usual, Florian did not move when prompted; Zenjesi instead accidentally bumped a hoof against him. Next began the awkward fumbling in the darkness to find an open floor space that was not already occupied by a Bulldozer. Finally they were able to proceed, still holding his leash blindly. They bumped into something that scraped against the floor. The impact and noise once again made them start, though more as a reflex than out of actual fear. Their hand groped around to feel the carved backrest of a wooden chair. That was reassuring; at least one thing was as they expected. From there, they could assume the table would be... Their knuckles knocked against the smooth wooden surface. Good, now what was here? They slid along, found the edge of a plate, curled their fingers up and over the edge, over the porcelain and into a slimy mass.
Zenjesi: 0.4 Florian: 5.6 / 4.8
October: 13
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 16, 2023 21:20:31 GMT -6
Immediately, Zenjesi tried to recoil from the cold, semi-wet, gelatinous sensation. This was precisely what they had dreaded! But the slime stuck to their fingers. And then somehow it grew even worse: it began to creep up their hand. They let out a hissing gasp, whipping their hand around in a frenzy. The blob detached, and they heard an unpleasant splat across the room. They shuddered, compulsively wiping their hands off on their pants. They would not usually say they were shaken by much, but an unidentifiable mobile pile of slime pursuing them in the darkness did manage to make the list. Light. They needed a light. Florian hissed, presumably at the unexpected slimy projectile that had been flung his direction. Fearful as they were to encounter more of the same, Zenjesi could see enough via moonlight to know the entire table was not covered in the substance, at least.
Zenjesi: 0.45 Florian: 5.8 / 4.9
October: 14
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 16, 2023 21:27:34 GMT -6
So they began a frantic tactile search of the table. They vaguely recalled a Vai Min Mur activity from their childhood: sticking one's hand into boxes full of wet, cold spaghetti, or peeled grapes. This was much like that, and they certainly hoped these items were also of an edible nature. Something leathery, something crusty but squishy underneath (a piece of this mysterious substance also stuck to them, though it did not try to consume them in return), something rough and crispy, and -- a clatter. The unmistakable feel of a candlestick, though they had knocked the candle out. They fumbled, finally locating the wax, feeling for the wick, jamming it into the metal divot once again. But this was only half of the battle. Now to light it... Groaning inwardly, Zenjesi continued feeling their way quickly down the table. They heard Florian advancing on them in the background. The prongs of a fork stabbed into their palm. The rattle of a matchbox. Zenjesi: 0.5 Florian: 6.0 / 5.0
October: 15
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 17, 2023 19:26:59 GMT -6
Fumbling with the box, the satyr promptly discovered they had been holding it upside down, as they heard the entire contents spill out over the tabletop. They cursed under their breath, but that was alright, they only needed one, and one was easy enough to find. It took four strikes against the box before the flame finally caught, flaring to life. They met the match and the wick, turning to face the slimy threat as they did so. Florian was squinting at them, having stopped short in his tracks as he was presented with the flame. And the blob... Something red and purple caught the light, glistening on the floor near the wall. It did not seem to have moved far from where they estimated they had heard the slap of impact. They were not sure if that was reassuring or not. "What is it, Florian?" He clacked his teeth once, as if to emphasize the absurdity of that question.
Zenjesi: 0.55 Florian: 6.2 / 5.1
October: 16
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 8:40:11 GMT -6
Of course he did not know. He was running towards Zenjesi, which -- Wait. The satyr stopped short, tilting their head as they considered that. He was moving towards them, that much was indisputable. But they had never known him to flee from a potential fight before now, regardless of the size or ability of the opponent. Certainly a ball of slime (mobile though it may be), would not register as an overwhelming threat. In fact, he likely would not have perceived it as a threat at all. And yet he had been approaching Zenjesi... when they began to panic. Their furrowed brow deepened. Well, that left two options. The first was that he was hoping to take advantage of the satyr's distraction and finally get a good bite on their ankle. Given the circumstances, they did not think that was likely. Which left the option that he heard Zenjesi's distress and was... coming to their aid?
Zenjesi: 0.6 Florian: 6.4 / 5.2
October: 17
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 8:50:16 GMT -6
As soon as they had the thought, it seemed almost equally unbelievable. But what other plausible explanation was there? That he was running to the satyr for comfort, for shelter? If that were true, then his nerves had certainly been frayed so far they were about to unravel, and he did not seem so jumpy. A small smile drifted onto Zenjesi's face, but they did not press the issue with him. Whether the Bulldozer would admit to it or not, they were bonding. That realization was enough to bolster them. "Thank you, Florian," they whispered to him, stooping to stroke the top of his head once as they passed by. He turned his head to watch as Zenjesi carefully approached the unidentified blob on the floor. It did not react. Had they... injured it? How did one injure something like this? Zenjesi leaned in a bit closer, narrowing their eyes...
Zenjesi: 0.65 Florian: 6.6 / 5.3
October: 18
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 11:28:45 GMT -6
As if it had been laying in wait, the blob suddenly moved. With an unpleasant suction noise, two little slimy arms popped up and out of the otherwise amorphous shape, reaching up towards Zenjesi. Then an opening - a mouth? - appeared, stretching wide. Zenjesi had jumped with surprise at the movement but... now settled back in and contemplated this little thing. The gesture seemed as if it was intended to be threatening, but it was followed by no measurable threat. They held their slimed hand into the candlelight for a quick review. The skin where it had latched on seemed unaffected. To Zenjesi's surprise, Florian began to pull himself over to join them, settling in beside the satyr to keep an eye (or three) on the proceedings. Zenjesi chuckled. They were beginning to see a pattern with discovering these seemingly harmless little beasts. "You frightened us," Zenjesi assured the slime.
Zenjesi: 0.7 Florian: 6.8 / 5.4
October: 19
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 13:25:05 GMT -6
While the slime's display on the floor had been far from intimidating, they were reluctantly admitting that they had been startled, at least, by the experience at the table. "Would you like to come?" Zenjesi offered their hand to the little creature. It quickly began to roll forward and onto the satyr's fingers. Easily, it adhered to their skin as they raised it off of the ground, and then it slid into their palm. Now that they were aware of it, it was actually a somewhat pleasant tactile experience to handle the little thing. Standing up again, they crossed back to the table where they could set the candlestick down. But the light illuminated other objects: leaves. Normally such a thing would not be particularly noteworthy, but there were three of these, each a different color, and each laid out on a different dinner plate. It almost appeared as if a face was torn into the center of each.
Zenjesi: 0.75 Florian: 7.0 / 5.5
October: 20
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Post by Silver on Oct 24, 2023 18:56:56 GMT -6
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 26, 2023 13:38:40 GMT -6
They tilted their head, considering this sight. Did the arrangement have some kind of meaning? Did the leaves themselves? Zenjesi reached for one, hesitated, then resolved to themselves that there was nothing to be frightened of in this place. Faces in leaves, changes of season, little hiding beasties... It was all harmless magic or props meant to play tricks on the mind. It would not succeed with them. The satyr narrowed their eyes, steeling themselves for one more moment before reaching out and plucking one off leaf of its plate. It had a slightly unusual texture, certainly not that of a leaf they had ever handled. But it did not suddenly come to life and try to snap at their fingers. It was simply a leaf, or a trinket, hidden throughout the property like... Zenjesi set the candlestick on the table, pulling their bag open with their free hand and staring in at the two snake eyes looking back at them.
Zenjesi: 0.8 Florian: 7.2 / 5.6
October: 21
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 26, 2023 13:56:08 GMT -6
"It is like a game, Florian," the satyr whispered, looking over to him. He had followed them back on their walk to the table, and now rested, watching their movements with a degree of interest they had not observed from him before now. They hoped that was due to his growing affections for them, and not some kind of trauma response, or... No, he was simply looking at the slime. Zenjesi sighed, scooping it off of the table once again and slipping it into their bag. "You will consume it," Zenjesi assumed. The Bulldozer could not be trusted with much at this stage in his life. But if this was some kind of a game... Zenjesi turned back to the table, gathering up the other two leaves and quickly glancing up to review the tabletop now in the light. It was at this point they realized their fingers were covered with chunks of rotten food.
Zenjesi: 0.85 Florian: 7.4 / 5.7
October: 22
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 27, 2023 9:22:37 GMT -6
It appeared as if a delicious spread had been served here once, though... it had been entirely untouched until Zenjesi fumbled through it all in the darkness. Their eyes lingered on the gashes their fingers had left in the bowl of moldy, crusty mashed potatoes. Well, presumably that was what that had been. They quietly picked a napkin off of the table and wiped their hands down. That probably should have been the first order, but they had been a bit preoccupied. The satyr turned back down to Florian. "You were promised food." Clearly that promise would not be fulfilled here. They pulled one of few jerky treats they had remaining from their bag, stooping to offer it to the Bulldozer. They stroked his head with one hand, held the treat in front of his nose with the other, and then tapped him gently with it. He opened his mouth and they dropped it inside. It was a developing system, courtesy of the amulet.
Zenjesi: 0.9 Florian: 7.6 / 5.8
October: 23
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 27, 2023 11:03:24 GMT -6
It was as they were standing again that they were hit by a sudden pulse of dizziness. They almost stumbled, one hand moved to their forehead as they grabbed the back of a chair for stability. No, this was not dizziness, it was a feeling they had only experienced a couple of times before, in strange, apparently unrelated circumstances. And now here. It was a sort of hunger within them. A longing, or a craving for... They did not know, but it was closer than they had ever felt it. Instinct pulled their eyes towards the source before they could question it further. Another candelabra sat on the mantle of a cold, dark fireplace. Nestled within that candelabra was a shard of glass. No, it could not be just glass. Zenjesi took the lit candle, left Florian's leash draped over the back of the chair and approached slowly, as if in a trance.
Zenjesi: 0.95 Florian: 7.8 / 5.9
October: 24
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