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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[Kairi couldn't help it. This kind of place is beckoning to see a light shine from within it, instead of being dark forever.]

Don't worry - I'll be fine.

[She's confident and speaks slowly as she walks, head up and subconsciously seeking out every spare inch of moonlight she can find.]

Kairi!!

[Kairi what are you doing, you're not supposed to get lured into dark places like this. ~~That's Riku's job.~~ Sora feels panic tighten in his chest as he reaches out for her wrist but just as he does so she's just out reach.

Following into the forest, suddenly everything is dark and moonlight. He calls out to her again,] Kairi! Where are you?!

[She turns just a quarter away from him as Sora reaches for her, walking over what she thought looked like a bridge over a small stream, but it's not anything. She stumbles down the river's edge and is glad she thought to wear sneakers today.

She comes to a stop on the edge of the water as it reflects the little light back up around her.]

I'm down here, Sora. I told you I'd be fine.

[She puts her hands on her hips and turns back to where his panicked voice is coming from.]

You can't be afraid of the dark.

[He manages to spot her just as she stumbles down to the water and he quickly bounds over to peek over the edge at her. There's clear relief on his face when he sees she didn't fall right in.]

I'm not afraid of the dark, Kairi. [He replies, looking a little huffy about that. He was when he was little ~~maybe still a little~~ but he's not anymore!] But this place is really weird. Come on let's get out of here.

[He holds out his hand to her.]

[She gestures behind herself.]

We haven't even gone that far yet.

[Then she crosses her arms over her chest.]

I think we must have different definitions of weird, because every place I've been to since waking up has seemed weird to me.

[She really doesn't want to go back so soon, but the tone in her voice isn't totally obstinate. She's giving him one last chance to get rid of his nerves before she goes back with him just to calm him down, then plan some way to come back later.]

[Sora makes a face. Did she not sense something off about this place too? Everything about it says death forest. Usually he'd be all up for exploring a whimsical new place but this place is anything but whimsical.]

I don't think Roxas would like either of us getting lost around here.

[It's Roxas' story to share but Sora knows about the forest Roxas got lost in once. He'd died. And he knows Roxas is going to panic if he learns the two of them got lost in here. And don't get Sora started on Riku's reactions.]

This pond is pretty neat, and I'm curious too about all this too but this place is packed with dark energy! It doesn't feel right.

[Behind Kairi in the water a bubbling starts. The bubbles are black and smell of rotting... Sora doesn't notice right away.]

[She looks genuinely confused at that being his fear.]

Okay first of all, if it's Roxas you're worried about, I wouldn't be. I know he's your boyfriend, but he trusts me and said it was okay to wander on my own.

[She says it all gently, because she really doesn't want to get Sora in trouble with his boyfriend, but since that person is also her god, she knows they've had conversations Sora's not been a part of either.]

But second of all, I do feel the dark energy you're talking about. I'm just feeling like... It's not as suffocating as it is around ayakashi, you know? So it's fine right now. And I know where Roxas is anyway, so we can't get lost.

[She says as if it's a perfectly normal thing, before catching herself on that note.]

Actually that's new, I didn't feel that the last time we were this far apart... but there's this pull I can feel right now.

[That's enough to keep her from noticing the bubbling water too.]

[Sora sighs, shaking his head.]

Well I am worried. I know he's going to be upset. It's fine that he trusts you to wander around, I know you can take care of yourself but...

[Sora is still going to worry about her. It's not something he can shut off. He's lost her too many times to be able to ever turn that off. But he can't say that out loud. So he just looks away, frustrated.

Then he looks back at her, eyebrow furrowed.] Huh? What do you mean? You can tell where Roxas is right now?

[The bubbling keeps going while Kairi faces Sora, trying to think about how to explain it.]

Well not exactly where he is, but... just kind of that way.

[She points back the way they came, but angled a little.]

There was another time when he wanted me to help take care of an ayakashi with a guy who'd... lost his shinki, I guess.

[Or his marbles.]

And I didn't feel this that time. I just had to use his directions.

[But she walks over towards him, rubbing his shoulder gently.]

But it's fine, if you're that worried, we can go.

[Gosh, wouldn't that have been handy for Sora when Roxas went missing on him once. But that sort of ability might give them an edge in getting out of here.]

That's pretty neat, though.

[He nods, almost vigorously, when she finally said she'd go with him. He just knows Roxas is going to be upset no matter what, and even more so if one of them got hurt.]

The faster, the-

[A cluster of fireflies flutters overhead.

The water bubbles louder now like it's boiling hot. Sora looks towards it just as a black mass starts oozing from the surface. The rotting smell gets worse. Sora immediately summons his keyblade, ready to fight.]

Something's coming!

[Kairi finally turns around when Sora reacts that way, standing beside him on the river's edge when the fireflies move like that. Instinctively, she grabs for her nose and winces at the smell.]

Ugh! Smells awful!

[But she's learned just enough that giving them some more time to prepare for what's coming - or at least one less direction to worry about - seems like a good idea.]

Let me help, then. Borderline!

[She throws her hand out in front of the both of them, creating a bright blue-white wall at the water's edge for whatever-it-is to slam its stinking face into.]

[And slam it does. The oozing mass leaps from the water just as Kairi's borderline manifests and it splatters against it with an ugly squishing sound. It topples backwards and floats on the water and as the ooze clears it is soon revealed that it's a creature of some sort. A mangled body of an old woman attached to...a giant black fish tail.]

Whoa! Kairi! That was so cool!!

[Just... give Sora a few seconds as he practically sparkles with how cool that was. He's seen plenty of borderlines but seeing hers is somehow way cooler. Is something different about it? Either way Sora's full of sparkling admiration.

The thing interrupts.] "Little girl...Little girl...Let me in..."

[Kairi jumps a bit at the impact, even if it's exactly what she wanted to happen. It's easier to look over at Sora while she has a chance, smiling at his appreciation. She's been practicing, sure, but even she was amazed that the wall actually held. It's been used as a way to visually separate people to give them some breathing room between the zombies, and she's used it the way someone would a small knife against the zombies themselves.

This is the first big evidence she's had that she can protect herself and a god - not her god here in the swamp, but a god and a friend she cares about.]

Thanks, Sora.

[Then the lilting voice comes through, but Kairi shakes her head.]

No, I'm not listening. That wall stays!

[The wall's light reflects against their bodies and shines in their eyes as Kairi tries to face the creature through it.]

Have you seen one of these things before, Sora?

[Is this what you were afraid of us finding?]

[It doesn't look like a typical ayakashi. But the way the borderline protected them seems to say otherwise. So Sora isn't sure which category to place this thing in.]

I've seen a few demons before but nothing exactly like that. But it's acting like an ayakashi too. We better watch out for anything. As soon as your wall goes down she's gonna follow us no matter what. If it gets bad, we run.

[Sora grips his keyblade and moves into a battle position. If he could beat it back enough for them to escape, that's the best plan possible.]

"Pretty little girl... Such beautiful hair... red as dried blood...Just a lock, please, little girl."

Hey! Back off! No one is touching anyone!

[If Kairi's borderline fades Sora will attack.]

[As soon as her wall goes down... That makes Kairi think of an idea.]

What if you get ready for that? And then, if you come back by me, I'll put it back up again.

[She raises her one hand that she's focusing the wall with, whispering low enough that she hopes Sora will hear and the creature won't.]

3... 2... 1... now!

[And Kairi casts her arm out to the side, the form of her fingers giving way to an open palm and the wall slowly lowering in the process. Sora could even jump over the half-fallen wall as it fades, but most importantly Kairi is watching him for what it'll look like to wield his sword for real. Nothing like in practice. And then, when he needs a reprieve, watching for him to return to her side.]

[It's a good plan. Get the jump on the creature before it can get the jump on them. Sora nods in confirmation and moves to ready himself to leap.

As soon as he sees the wall go down low enough Sora jumps. He immediately uses Flash Step to leap forward at inhuman speed. Bringing his keyblade up in a fast upper cut, Sora slashes at the demon and sets her off guard. Then continues with a barrage of fast attacks and the sparks fly off his keyblade.

The demon yells loudly in a mangled angry voice and tries to defend herself. She brings up her arms and then sweeps her mighty tail at Sora trying to knock him away.

Sora is quick to back peddle onto the water's edge. Without stopping he lifts his keyblade and casts Thundaga and it cracks loudly over the water. She screams again before diving into the water.

He retreats to Kairi.]

I have a really big feeling she's not gone yet.

Edited 2017-01-08 15:54 (UTC)

[Kairi raises her shield again anyway.]

Borderline!

[Then she holds up both hands to focus herself while talking to him.]

I don't think so either.

[It's still a brief reprieve, so she's able to give Sora a sunny smile.]

Well now I'm glad to have you as my teacher! But how long can you keep something like that up?

[Immediately after asking, she turns halfway back to the water, ready for the shield to get banged again.]

[He grins right back at her, the same boyish smugness he used to have when trying to show off to her when they were little.]

I can fight all day! Don't worry about me! This is nothing.

[The water starts bubbling again and this time it starts to grow and grow across the surface of the water. When the black foam touches land the bubbles suddenly start popping and unleash an ugly cloud of darkness into the air. It starts clouding towards them in a thick haze.]

That doesn't look good...

[She doesn't recognize the look, but it gives her a warm feeling all the same, that Sora is just proving what she'd felt initially if he was so close to Roxas - that he must be someone dependable. She's not even his shinki and he's acting like this! She smiles back.]

Alright then, just checking!

[But the cloud gets her attention.]

Maybe if I take the barrier down again, she'll come closer and we can get her that way?

[She saw people using Borderline like a weapon beforehand. She didn't perfect either technique, but there's been no downside she saw to trying it either. The dark clouds come toward them and instinctively Kairi moves back-to-back with Sora. The barrier doesn't protect all sides, so it makes sense that a fog attack would be better.]

Going down..... now!

[The bright light fades and then it's just the two of them, waiting for the slithering sound of scales on rock to stop and an attack to come their way.]

[As soon as the barrier goes down the cloud of dark smoke starts swirling over them overhead. Sora snaps his attention upwards as he tries to see something tangible to hit inside of the dark cloud. With Kairi at his back he feels confident but also unsure what he should do next.

Just as Kairi predicted, there's soon the sound of the water bubbling again and the creature emerges and leaps out of the water. Sora has just enough nano seconds to pivot and use Guard Break against it. He attacks rapidly and smoothly and each stroke has the demon screeching angrily.

Then all of a sudden the darkness above attacks Sora directly and a vortex of black engulfs both him and the fish demon. Sora screams and everything goes black.]

[Kairi and Sora are separated as he starts fighting so intensely, and it takes Kairi by surprise when he screams.]

Sora!

[This isn't good, no, no- this is a whole different kind of darkness than just wandering around the forest! She starts reaching out with her hand, unafraid of touching the slimy thing, she just wants to find her friend.

But there's a kind of light that slowly gets brighter coming from somewhere around her and she doesn't know how, but she keeps reaching out, and that queasy feeling is there. The creature from which the darkness is emanating, and it likewise shrieks as Kairi's light approaches it.]

Border...

[She raises her hand to the proper position and waits, then runs towards where she can feel the monster's black energy coming from and slices above Sora's head.]

LINE!

[It howls from the cut, a splatter of something going over her, but it lets Sora go and as Kairi grabs for him, the two of them fall into the shallows of the river along with the fish monster.]

Sora? Sora, are you okay?

[The blinding light and borderline has the fish demon reeling. It shrieks and as it hits the water it turns into black ooze and dissipates into nothingness. If it's gone for good is unclear but for the moment it seems deterred.

Sora sputters and inhales sharply like his lungs were underwater. He groans loudly next and his keyblade vanishes from his hand for easier access at sitting up.]

...Yeah. I'm okay. Are you?

[His head feels light and fuzzy and his voice is weak. But he's no worse for wear than that.]

Whoa, what did you do?

[She's likewise soaked and still trying to look around for the monster, but finally meets Sora's gaze.]

I just cut it! I didn't think it would do much... It didn't against the zombies!

[She sits up on her knees - ow - in the shallows, still looking.]

This one was brighter though, I guess...

[She assumes he means the Borderline and not how she could find him. It felt like how she'd been describing finding Roxas earlier.]

[He's not sure what happened but it seemed pretty intense. He's seen a lot of borderlines but hers seems strangly brighter as she said.

Sora winces slightly as he gets up to his feet and goes to help her up.]

Let's try and figure it out later, while she's gone I think we should make a run for it. Think you can tell the general direction of how to get out of here?

[Use that Roxas GPS, Kairi.]

[Kairi nods in agreement.]

Don't need to tell me twice!

[And she takes a small turn in a circle. With Sora practically glowing beside her when it comes to her sense of direction, it's harder now for her to notice where Roxas is, but she starts to feel out the darker spots compared to the lighter ones. After a full turn, she keeps turning a bit more and takes one more step forward, not letting go of Sora's hand.]

It's... yes, I think he's this way.

[This time she tugs on him, leading him forward between trees.]

B

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