thenearshore | [open] If I could store lightning in jars

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[open] If I could store lightning in jars

Who: Sora & OPEN
Where: The mysterious dark forest that appeared!
When: June 1
What: Bright "fireflies” have been luring gods and shinki alike deep into the forest. People are suddenly drawn to the little spots of light and can’t help but follow. There have been reports of screams and unhappy spirits and people never returning. All you know is that the sun doesn’t pierce the treetops and it’s dark.
Warnings: There's lots of creepy demons and stuff!!

[ A ]

[A sudden cold and heavy rain starts. Light and whimsical at first before it starts to pour down in thick sheets. Gray clouds blanket the sky and the sun is nearly blotted out. The atmosphere suddenly darkens and a chill is in the air.

Through the dark Sora notices some sparks of light somewhere near. They’re like candles flickering and dancing through the haze of the rain. A small smile pulls at his lips as he’s suddenly drawn to them like a moth to a flame. All he wants to do is reach out and touch one. They look like fairies.

You might notice Sora wandering through the rain, a blurry image of him slowly walking just out of your reach. Then he vanishes into the dark forest.]

[ B ]

[Perhaps it is you that got drawn into the bright dancing lights. Pulled into the woods as it makes your heart hammer. All you can focus on is the unseen force pulling your legs as you wander closer to the woods.

And suddenly everything is dark.

Sora manages to catch a glimpse of you before you vanish and he calls out.]

Hey!! Wait!! Don’t go in there!

[And promptly chases after you to stop you from falling deeper into darkness.]

[ C ]

[As soon as Sora enters the woods the rain stops. Or so it seems that way. He can still hear the thundering water in his ears but it sounds muted now. Like someone has put a blanket over the heavens and all he can hear is the thin thudding of the rain but no raindrops touch his face anymore.

He wanders through the woods as he looks up at the treetops to find that small beams of light do flicker through. Weakly, but they’re there. The gloom is still heavy.

His feet take him in a random direction until he spots a figure in the distance… Someone already lost here like him, or is that a tortured spirit...?]

[ wildcard! ]

[something else in mind?]

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[The fireflies are going to be the death of them, he's sure of it.

Once it seems that Sora has regained some clarity, Izumo breathes out and does a scan on their surroundings.]

In the middle of the forest.

[And those fireflies seemed to have suddenly disappeared into the darkness.]

You've followed those fireflies deep into this part.

[His brain still feels fuzzy and dull. Izumo's words feel distant like he's talking from the other side of a window pane.]

But I don't remember doing that! [Sora sounds worried, because he doesn't remember. He pulls his phone out, switching it on he notices that there's no signal.]

This is weird. Do you feel weird? I feel like everything is inside a tin can.

[His eyebrows furrow.]

What do you remember?

[The rain wasn't touching them in this part, and he can fill a chill emanate from the trunk of the tree.

So, he focuses partially on releasing his Aura, allowing the dim red to provide the two of them some warmth.]

[The faint warmth is nice, Sora instinctively moves closer to Izumo. Sora has never been great with dealing with cold or cold weather.]

I remember... I was heading over to see a friend and then...

[There's a sudden static feeling in his head. He rubs his temples.]

Then I was here and you were here. [Sora frowns and looks off into the trees.]

Trees everywhere, we better start looking for a way out.

[As long as Sora's close, Izumo feels mildly reassured.

Can't lose him now.]

You were following the fireflies.

[He does give a nod, though, and looks at the trees.]

It'd be best to retake our steps, but we've wandered in too far now.

[Just don't let him wander off, Izumo, he has a tendency to do that.]

Fireflies... [He glances up almost instinctively and sees the bright little lights dancing above them. Sora seems dazed for a moment, reaching out to grasp Izumo's sleeve.]

Yeah... Let's try that. [And Sora turns to try and do just that.

Somewhere in the distance there's the sound of something... slithering...?]

[He'll make sure Sora doesn't wander.

But Sora's grasping his sleeve, adopting that dazed look again. He's sure to keep Sora close, though.]

Stay close.

[A head tilt to the side once he notices the slithering sound, clenching his jaw briefly.

What is it now?]

[There's a cloud of fireflies that drift overhead just then making Sora look up to watch them.

He doesn't notice the slithering sound at all.

Soon there's a black creature coiling around the bases of the trees nearby and a voice whispers on the wind.]

"Bad habits make for a short life..."

[Profanities run through Izumo's mind - none of them at all pleasant.

He comes to a stop, forcing Sora to stop beside him, and his Aura expands - a bright crimson shining in the midst of the dark forest. As it expands, so does the heat and Izumo focuses on the black creature warily.]

[Sora seems to just stay in a daze, lightly bumping into Izumo when they stop. His gaze shifts from the treetops to the snake and he stares, eyes like wet glass.

The creature seems to notice the aura, bright and red and dangerous, and it slithers back into the darkness so it can't be seen.

But the voice whispers again.]

"So much distrust in you... Don't you want to know the way out? The boy is awfully... tired. I could tell you how to get him home."

[Izumo unconsciously holds Sora closer, trying to keep him close in case he decides to try and wander again.

But Izumo's aura flares out and he glowers.]

No, thank you. I'd rather not take any chances trying to trust you.

"My... My..."

[The voice seems to come from all directions now. Sora gazes off into the distance, eyes suddenly locked on one particular tree.]

"I guess the boy will die then... Whatever will you do..."

[Sora then starts coughing. Small little coughs at first but soon he's choking for air. He can't breath.]

Release him.

[A growl, and the aura shifts into fireballs before Izumo fires them in the direction where Sora's staring at the tree.

He keeps Sora close, his own anger slowly beginning to rise.]

[Sora clutches at Izumo as he struggles to breathe. He shakes and coughs, lungs refusing to get any air.

Where the fire hits the tree it erupts in flames but strange black ooze starts dripping down the trunk.]

"Oh? Why? If you don't trust me how can I ever think to trust you?

[Sora tugs on Izumo. He points to another tree behind them before he falls to a knee, grasping at his throat.]

I've no reason to trust you if you're hurting my friend.

[When Sora goes down, Izumo goes down with him.

He notices where Sora's pointing, though, and he grits his teeth as he sends fireballs in that direction.

If this doesn't end soon, he'll end up having an unconscious Sora on his hands and an evil spirit trying to kill them.]

[Sora doesn't know how he's picking out the trees but each time he feels something in his lungs he feels a tug at a certain one. It's strange and painful each time Izumo attacks one. That same black ooze drips from the burning hole he leaves.

His vision starts going blurry as he struggles to inhale then he starts seeing black spots.]

"Then I suppose you'll have to die with him. I wonder. What happens to a shinki that dies a second time in a place no one will ever find his soul...?"

[With no sound at all there's suddenly a thick black snake latching onto Izumo's back. It bites into his shoulder with deadly accuracy.]

[When that snake bites into his shoulder, Izumo grits his teeth through the pain.

What kind of spirit is this?

Sora's losing conscious and he now has a black snake attached to him.

He takes a deep breath, trying not to allow himself be tugged by the pain as he expands his Aura again. It's his first time having to use it to such extent, but right now, that's not important.

Sora's not his god, but Izumo refuses to let anything else happen to him.

As if responding to his emotions, his Aura turned into fire and the flames began to expand and unleashes itself into the forest, intent on burning everything until the serpent is gone.]

[Sora has to duck to avoid the spreading flames. Not that he has much choice, his body is growing weaker and he more collapses than anything.

There's a loud screeching as the flames devour the trees and suddenly black ooze is everywhere. It drips and seeps from all the burning sections of wood.]

...Izu- [Sora gasps, getting a single saving-grace breath in somehow, as he reaches a hand out to him. In the palm of his hand a thunder spell forms and he hopes Izumo doesn't move because his eyesight is too blurry to aim well.

There's a loud crack as he tries to aim for the snake.

If it connects with the snake it'll evaporate into dust. If it doesn't...]

[Fortunately, Izumo doesn't move, barely wincing when Sora expels the thunder spell.

He lifts his head, though, when he hears the crack.

To be honest, he's not sure if the spell manages to hit, but at the same time, he can't be completely sure if the snake managed to escape from it unscathed either.

Izumo grits his teeth, sending another wave of flames out in order to be sure that the snake is gone and for all.]

[There's a loud fizzing sounds when Izumo casts out more of his flames.

As he does that Sora suddenly finds himself able to inhale and he does so with loud gasps. He starts coughing painfully, still on his knees.

Everything is quiet as the destruction settles down. The only sound the crackling of the burning trees and Sora's coughs.]

Edited 2017-01-07 18:44 (UTC)

[Izumo doesn't move, though he does feel a bit exhausted now after having exerted so much power into that last attack.

When the destruction settles, Izumo gently rubs Sora's back soothingly, hoping it would help him in some way.

It's a relief to see Sora being able to breathe properly again, and he reigns in his Aura until not even a speck of red was showing. He's still alert, though, unsure if they were safe and sound.]

[Everything seems to be quiet. For the moment it looks safe. Sora nods slowly as the rubbing on his back helps calm him down. His body feels weak and shaky from the lack of oxygen but his coughs slow to shallow heaves.]

Are you okay? [He says after a moment, concern flashing in his eyes. He glances at Izumo's shoulder where the snake struck.]

We better get out of here before something else comes after us... Roxas is going to be so upset with me...

[The relief grows when Sora's breathing steadily again before he registers the question.

He gives a quick glance to his shoulder, feeling blood beginning to pour out from the wound, though he's not too concerned about it.] I'm fine; it's nothing.

[As long as the snake isn't poisonous, it should be.

He nods.]

Getting out of here sounds like a plan. [A smile.] And he will be, especially if he finds out you nearly went unconscious for a moment there.

[It isn't nothing!! Sora stands up with shaky legs and tugs at Izumo to show him his shoulder.]

Let me see! Right now!

[Then he grumbles a little. Angry boyfriend is the last thing he needs.] Not just that but he hates dark forests. Had a bad experience before. I might need a place to sleep for a few days after this.

[Sheepish laugh.]

[There's a twitch from Izumo when Sora stands, ready to reach out in case Sora falls.

He also has a mind to refuse, but figures it'd be best not to. Sighing, Izumo shifts a bit and tugs his shirt down enough so Sora can see the injury.]

I'm sure it's nothing bad.

[A soft laugh escapes from him.] This little adventure of yours might definitely get him upset with you. [He glances at him.] If you ever need a place to stay, I'm sure my own god won't mind if you crash for a few days; though, I'm not quite sure what the protocols are for gods staying in another god's temple.

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