[Day 2, Night - A House South of Town]

[direstnews]

[Written into the ground alongside one of the houses to the south of town tonight are a series of strange letters, forming a rough circle near the wall. A figure of approximately Loki's build, not there during the day's exploration, leans against the wall at the corner. The door to the house is open.]

[Some hours after the sudden switch from day to night, Loki stands in front of the door, a candle before him, a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other. He checks the mirror set carefully in the darkness, nothing yet visible in its surface. Then he strikes the knife with the spoon's handle, and he holds his breath - and he waits.]

Comments

[soul_sister]

[As your own senses, and the Astral behind it, probes deeper, down through the lines of magic and summoning...

Something slithers back up to meet you, surging through your own energy. It sifts through you, tasting your memories, faces of people, times around a cafeteria table, watching the officers, watching the children play trying to...

They flare up with such intensity that you could be living them, those idyllic days, and leaves you choked in its passing.

You distantly feel your knees hit the ground, outside of that deafening lack of energy. Whatever it was is gone now, leaving something terrible and empty in your chest. Something GONE and you can't quite place what it was, or why it was important.]

[overclocking]

[IT'S POSSIBLE THIS IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I WANTED

He reels back as if burned, simply kneeling for a moment with his hand over his chest.

... And then opts to stay right there for the time being and review his choices, because going back seems like a terrible idea right at this moment.]

[soul_sister]

[The sound of these boots are pretty familiar, though.]

[overclocking]

[Your timing has never been good.

Literally not ever.

After a few more steps, he drops his hand and stands, without turning. Ttttotally casual, nothing to see here.]

[soul_sister]

Chrono?

[overclocking]

[He hesitates just a heartbeat too long before turning.]

That was fast. I'm guessing everyone was cooperative for once?

[soul_sister]

[There's no answer. Just closing the distance.]

What happened?

[overclocking]

Hmm? [He flicks a glance at the now-ruined circle, then shrugs.]

Nothing.

I couldn't figure out where that thing came from.

[soul_sister]

Ready to go back then?

[overclocking]

Mm, sorry for making you wait.

[He hefts the ammo box, testing the straps.]

After you.

[soul_sister]

[GRABS YOU BY THE CHEEK AND STARTS STORMING NORTH.]

I swear! I leave you alone for fifteen minutes and you get into something! You're really hopeless without me!

[overclocking]

[jhgsj;gjslfk]

I didn't get into-- That hurts, you know! Stop! [SWATS AT EVEN AS HE FOLLOWS THE TUGGING]

[soul_sister]

I can tell, you know.

[UNRELENTING.]

[overclocking]

[... DUCKING OUT OF HER GRIP, and side-stepping slightly.]

You're overreacting. I told you it's fine.

[soul_sister]

Just tell me if it gets any worse, okay?

[overclocking]

[Waving a hand flippantly]

You're worrying too much, Rosette.