13th, late night.

[stophamatime]

There's something dangerous out in the streets.

[Ken's tone, at first, is a little bit tentative. Like he's expecting a pat on the head and a comment about overactive imaginations, ha ha, but this is important, dammit.]

It looks like all shadows except for the eyes, and it can hurt you just by touching you, and it screams like a person. It doesn't like the light.

If you go out after dark, take a light with you.

[...the more he talks, the more sure he sounds. Yeah, dare you not to believe him. Then you can see how it feels getting your arm incorporeally chewed off.]

Comments

[gitanes]

[What the actual fuck. Is this kid on drugs or what.]

Point one, describe the eyes. Point two, hurt you how?

[stophamatime]

Blue. They're the only thing that stands out.

And it...I don't know. It grabbed my arm and there's a bunch of skin just...gone. It hurt a lot but I didn't feel anything aside from hands.

[gitanes]

Blue like an animal's or like a person's? Do they glow in the dark?

What the fuck. How's your arm still on? [And does he need help, or whatever, she guesses.]

[stophamatime]

I didn't get a very good look, but I think more like a person's. The scream sounded a lot like a person.

It backed off really fast when the light hit it.

[inexecution]

If that's the case, perhaps we should avoid wandering out alone.

[He's not even going to question whether it's real or not--he's seen enough at this point to believe it's probable.]

Are you all right?

[stophamatime]

That'd probably be a good idea, too.

[He appreciates that. 8( ]

I'm okay. I got away pretty fast.

[inexecution]

There should be enough of us to assure no one has to go unescorted.

[He'll do it himself, if necessary. He's not afraid of things that lurk in shadows.]

I'm glad to hear that.

[stophamatime]

I'm more worried about lights, though.

[Buddy system is good too, but he knows exactly what saved his ass.]

I don't think it'll come too close to the streetlights? But I don't know if something little like a candle would do it, if anybody needs to go somewhere darker.

[flatteries]

[ Don't worry, Inigo has seen enough Creatures Of The Night (or whatever the hell you want to call the Risen, honestly - magical medieval zombies?) to believe the story. And immediately want to do something about it. ]

How dangerous would you describe it to be? I am fairly capable with a sword, so if it is truly endangering people, I would not mind going out to try and take care of it. [ HERO COMPLEXES UP THE WHAZOO.. and not like he expects a little kid to have been able to do much about a danger like that - sorry, eleven year old over there. ]

[stophamatime]

[shut up, swordguy, he's totally hardcore!]

You'll still have to get really close to hit it with a sword, mister.

[flatteries]

[ try using a bus stop sign and join the real grownups.

BUT HE'S BEING CALLED MISTER.. be still his beating heart, now he's definitely got to make sure that he seems cool!! ]

I've been close to more dangerous things! [ Zombies, dragons, bandits.. ladies that slapped him in the face.. you name it, he's faced the danger head on. ]

I assumed it would at least be worth a try. It's certainly better than letting other people be in trouble, at least.

[stophamatime]

Raidou-san said it didn't even have to touch him to attack.

[assimilation]

[ No, someone seems curious rather than absolutely terrified. ]

How can it hurt you simply by touching you. . . ? That doesn't seem possible.

[stophamatime]

I don't know. But all I felt were hands, no...teeth or anything.

[assimilation]

[ Oh, if he was attacked then he might be hurt. It takes her a few seconds to process that and act on it. ]

Are you alright...?

[stophamatime]

I'm okay. I got away pretty fast.

[unabatedly]

Ken--

[Maker, that sounds awful. And yet, she's already planning to go investigate it.]

How hurt are you? Do you require healing?

[stophamatime]

Naoto-san wrapped it up for me. But s...h...

[Okay, Naoto told him she was a woman, but he has no idea how she's presenting to everyone else. Crap.]

...doesn't remember being Naoto-san.

I haven't gotten the chance to try and use a spell on it yet.

[It's a little awkward to find a minute when your magic all requires firing a gun off to use.]

This should probably be set after Raidou's own bout of being magically gnawed on.

[capital_asset]

...Where are you?

[Hopefully not still outside. Moh Shuvuu is cross enough as it is.]

imma say it's before whenever he takes off from his log with naoto, if that works o7

[stophamatime]

Naoto-san's room at the inn.

Sure!

[capital_asset]

Good.

[There is a faint but distinct undertone of pain in his "voice."]

[It occurs to him that he has no idea what Naoto's status on this Jaunt is. He's been remiss.]

Are you both all right?

[stophamatime]

I'm okay. Naoto-san's an infiltrator, so I can't fix my arm until I get by myself for a little bit.

[Because, you know. Explaining. It's messy.

But he definitely caught that undertone.]

Raidou-san, are you okay?

[willyousee]

[ Seriously, after being turned into a mage and a mermaid, this surprises him less than he'd like. The first thing that's important to establish is: ]

Are you all right?

[stophamatime]

I'm okay. It only touched my arm.

[willyousee]

Ah... [ A sigh of pure relief, really. Let's not have the children be our front lines of attack. ] That is well. Have you had it seen to? I know Lady Neria is about, and I believe there are a few others capable of healing as well. Unless you think it likely that the town doctors could handle it for you, it might be best to keep this within the Travelers.