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The Creature in the Well (3) : While Destiny City has a modern water system, it’s not uncommon to see decorative wells around the city. Often in parks or around gardens, they grant a peaceful, countryside flair to the otherwise busy metropolis. Most days, they blend into the background. Not today. Maybe you heard a powerful, fierce splash, like something smacking violently against the water, or maybe it was the unnerving croak that echoed from deep below, but something has clearly gotten trapped in the well. Sometimes, there’s the distinct sound of something clawing, scratching, climbing–desperate to get out. The noise its making is deep enough to vibrate through the ground. If you go to investigate, you’ll see nothing but a pair of golden, snakelike eyes staring back up at you. Whatever it is, its body is completely submerged under the water, but just looking into its eyes is enough to petrify someone. There’s something hypnotic about it, something that seems like it’s drawing you into the well. And why shouldn’t you climb in? What’s stopping you? Danger is forgotten; the creature in the well has made a target of you. Hopefully you have someone to pull you out of the trance–or, maybe if you’re strong enough, you can do it yourself. If you lose the battle with the creature, you will fall unconscious just as you hit the water in the well; you will feel the sensation of something coiling around you, crushing you, and then–blackness. You will wake up in a hospital with a day lost and no memory of what happened in the well, or how you were pulled out. You only have bumps and bruises, and when you close your eyes you’re haunted by the chilling golden eyes in the well. If you return to it, you’ll find nothing but a strange, croaking echo.
The Creature in the Well (3) : While Destiny City has a modern water system, it’s not uncommon to see decorative wells around the city. Often in parks or around gardens, they grant a peaceful, countryside flair to the otherwise busy metropolis. Most days, they blend into the background. Not today. Maybe you heard a powerful, fierce splash, like something smacking violently against the water, or maybe it was the unnerving croak that echoed from deep below, but something has clearly gotten trapped in the well. Sometimes, there’s the distinct sound of something clawing, scratching, climbing–desperate to get out. The noise its making is deep enough to vibrate through the ground. If you go to investigate, you’ll see nothing but a pair of golden, snakelike eyes staring back up at you. Whatever it is, its body is completely submerged under the water, but just looking into its eyes is enough to petrify someone. There’s something hypnotic about it, something that seems like it’s drawing you into the well. And why shouldn’t you climb in? What’s stopping you? Danger is forgotten; the creature in the well has made a target of you. Hopefully you have someone to pull you out of the trance–or, maybe if you’re strong enough, you can do it yourself. If you lose the battle with the creature, you will fall unconscious just as you hit the water in the well; you will feel the sensation of something coiling around you, crushing you, and then–blackness. You will wake up in a hospital with a day lost and no memory of what happened in the well, or how you were pulled out. You only have bumps and bruises, and when you close your eyes you’re haunted by the chilling golden eyes in the well. If you return to it, you’ll find nothing but a strange, croaking echo.
Ally was walking home from an SCA event honestly - fall was certainly a good time for them. They - ANd thoise pronouyns STILL felt weird - carried their hewavy fighter gear along as they walked for home through the parkk ebhiyubg the generally quiet day and ease of transit, pickle barrel armor and heavy fighting arsenal heavy in their bag as they walked for the tginy house they occupied with Tor. A simple ring tionkled in Ally's pocket swqathed in a black velvet box, waiting for just the right moment, and in their free hand they carried a hot cup of cider from the event clean up.
It was honestly a really good day in the end.
As Ally walked they spotted something nearby, and raised their brow, approaching a well slowly and curiously before slowly peering over the edge and took a drink of their hot cider. Spices danced on their tongue as they looked into the depths of a void where water rippled and reflected light. It was like a textbook, storybook wishing well, and then Ally nearly dropped their cider in it as suddenly twin golden eyes with slit pupils like some noctournal serpent opened. Ally blinked, the only motion their throat as they swallowed cider, staring down at the eyes thoughtfully. They hummed.
And then they chugged and tossed the empty styrofoam into a trash biun, dropping their heavy fighting gear and sat on the edge, hiking their legs over the edge.
"Well I did need something to do." Ally drawled, and dropped themself onto the bucket, kettubg ut dsrio then dranmatiucally, but safely, ibnto the well for the creatuyre., Ally couldn't see a body though. Couldn't see anything but those golden eyes. Ally glowered, trying to work out how to get to it when they heard clawing and scrabbling. /And Ally froze. Claws. Scratching. Scuttling -- and they shrieked angrily as soimething wrapped around them, their feet falling out from under them as they were yanked into the water, grabbing the nucket to try fighting themself free. The fight from the appendages was intense, pulling heavily -- and Ally's fingers tightened on impulse on the bucket as it suddenly yanked up.
Ally was drenched and quite suyrprised as they were slowly pulled free by that bucket. Like some sort of raptured soul, the bucket ascended and carried Ally free of appendages and talens. Finally, at last, AQlly was fished fropm the well and blinked, looking up in surprise at their rescuer.
He was tall and wearing a Metallica hoodie and jeans in combat boots. The man was obviously a metal head and his steel toe boots hit the wellstones, a cold metal tone ringing down at the -- Ally had no idea with a sense of disdain before he set Ally down, bowing.
"Sorry. I'm Flavian. You seemed to be..." Flavian paused and sighed. "Making bad choices."
"I mean. At least everything up until it attacked liuke the godsadamn Fire Nation was fun." Ally paused. "But thanks. I'm Ally."
"...Oh,.... Kay..." Flavian sighed, blinking, then shook his head. This was a strange one. "My brother tried exploring the same well. And woke upo in the hospital a day later and started to cry. Mind, Luc gets scared really easily, but the point remains that the well's kind of terrible. You want someone to walk you home?" Flavian offered. He... He didn't want to admit it... But he was pretty sure if he didn't offer, he worried Ally might do something else foolish and he didn't want that guild on his conscience. Invited or not... Flavian was following them home. He worried about their judgements. Ally hummewd, then shrugged, heaving upo their heavy fighter gewar.
"I suppose. Stopping by work for more hot drink. What's your poison? Tê? Coffee? Cocoa? Cider?" Ally could be polite!... And this Flavian guy was giving them Deeply Concerned looks. They knew what that meant.
They ******** up somewhere.
"Hot drinks? Yeah I guess I can try it. I do like a good tea." Flavian admitted. All kinds too - green tea... Matcha... White tea.... He liked tea, and Ally nodded, leading the way for Mocha Mountain, and home. As they walked, carrying their heavy gear, they cast Flavian a sidelong glance silently. Warily. And as they walked Ally felt a bit of a humbling sense of embarressment for the moment, quietly considering as they walked along the sid3ealk, Ally's fingers twisting and clasping their supplies in awkward silence, sighing as one horrid, wretched revelation hit, hand reaching for the door. Tor wouldn't kill them. Their motgher, no. Theiur mom would kill them.
Honestly that was probably worse.
