[Iris nodded her agreement. Even though there was no way Phoenix would be able to see the gesture.]
[For the moment, they could only wait. A tense, sightless silence. Her head darted around. Left and right, front and back. Curious and apprehensive all at once. At one point, with her heart pounding in anticipation, she felt her fingers brush ever so slightly against Phoenix's hand--]
[Just as an image to her immediate right flashed: a giant, holographic image of a terrifying mask. The image lasted for less than a second, but it was enough to cause Iris to scream, immediately turning to Phoenix so she could bury her head in his shoulder.]
[Laughter echoed in the distance as they continued along the path, growing fainter and fainter in the dark....]
[It was such an eerie and foreboding silence... Phoenix was tempted to break it with conversation, but he did not want to let his guard down. They could even hear each other's breaths clearly in the silence, and Phoenix worried for the apprehension in Iris's. The tickle of her fingers against his hand were a light relief. Phoenix felt himself starting to settle and was about to hold her hand when-]
UUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!
[-Sorry Iris but your scream has some competition there.]
[Still, as it all dies down and he feels Iris on his shoulder, he tries to calm his breathing, and he wraps an arm around her opposite shoulder to hold her close. With his other hand, he clasped the first hand of Iris's that he could find, and he held here there in the darkness.]
It's okay. It's okay, Iris. Whatever that was, it's all over now.
[Still...with Phoenix's arm around her now...his words trying to offer as much comfort as possible in the moment...she risked peeking an eye open. Then the other. And saw only darkness. A welcome relief.]
[Her cheeks burned from embarrassment in hindsight. Just an image. They'd never been in any real harm. For her to scream in such a manner...]
[...for him to scream in such a manner, though...]
I...I'm alright, Feenie.
It just startled me, is a--
[Of course, the moment she let her guard down, three more holographic masks appeared, rushing straight towards them, only to fizzle out at the last second.]
[Iris' face returned to Phoenix's shoulder, body pressed against his arm in an instinctive attempt to hide behind him.]
[Phoenix might be comforting her for his own sake as much as hers... and trying to hope that his shout wasn't too embarrassing. But it was over now, right-
Wrong.]
HUUUAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!
[With that shout, he's sure to hold Iris close to him as he calms down from that shock.]
S-sorry. That was... It was just... it's okay, Iris. [He squeezes her had.] It's not real, s-so... no need to... fear.
[They had maybe twenty seconds of recovery time, before...]
[At least, this time, the masks that appeared were a little more...subtle. Appearing and Disappearing depending upon the angle one looked up at, they seemed to just...loom. Hovering over the two as their boat creaked on by.]
I... I don't know. [He protectively keeps one arm slung over her shoulders while trying to keep holding her hand. At least this time his heart wasn't trying to jump out of him anymore.]
I'm sorry. I should have thought that the ride would have something weird and scary.
...But it's not hurting us. None of this is real. [He tries to glance down towards her.] The only real things here are... it's us, Iris.
[She took a deep breath, tried to settle her position a little more comfortably against his arm, and nodded. He would be able to feel the movement in the darkness.]
I...I know.
And it's not your fault. I was the one who suggested it, wasn't I?
[Another pause, and she tried to sit up a little straighter. The corners of her lips twitched upward in a faint smile.]
I suppose it wouldn't have been so bad if I had known it was supposed to be--
[Two more masks dropped down from the ceiling, bounding a little as they hit the end of their line. Rather than a terrifying scream this time, however, a strange...half-laugh, half-giggle announced their presence.]
[Iris still jumped, but this time, rather than scream...she giggled too. If only to cover her embarrassment at having been surprised yet again.]
[He rubbed her shoulder lightly as he tried to help her relax and settle in. And he nodded softly as she spoke, still trying to face her in the darkness while a light smile started to stretch across his face.
He was waiting for her to finish speaking when the latest masks joined in. Phoenix just gave a light yelp this time, but his own startled reaction died out in the face of Iris's reaction. He found himself starting to laugh as well, in the face of those masks.
When it gets down to it, it's just a bunch of flying masks.]
[Certainly, the multi-colored masks floating all around, some disappearing and reappearing while others just continuing to rotate in the air, didn't see quite so frightening anymore.]
[Nor did the image of two masks kissing up ahead. Although they did come with a rather...interesting message written above in glowing red letters: Bet you two feel a whole lot closer now, don't you?]
[It was almost like a nice show now that the fear was settling and subsiding. Being close to Iris helped him to feel braver, too.
But then, that image appears with the message, and Phoenix finds himself turning red enough that he's surprised that his face hasn't become a scarlet beacon in the darkness.
It... it really is... [He spoke softly, and for a bit there, it seemed like a perfect moment. He was lowering his head to be level with hers and drawing closer-
-when suddenly a mask from nowhere. He turns and shouts once again.]
WAHHHHH!!!
[Now he just ends up gripping her more tightly than ever as the ride reaches it's end.]
[The boat pulled out of the tunnel, back into daylight. Soon coming to a stop in almost exactly the same place where they'd first gotten on. Except Iris had yet to move, her whole body still trembling with residual adrenaline after all of that.]
[He hadn't moved either, and he was still holding onto her. Possibly for himself as much as for her sake. Although now that they're in the light again, he's turning red, as he did not realize that his face had gotten this close to hers while they were in the darkness.]
[Her hands fumbled for the side of the boat, and she used it to slowly pull herself out and up. Her legs were slightly wobbly once she found solid ground, however, and she paused to sit on the edge of the dock while she waited for Phoenix to disembark.]
Forgive me, but...I think I might be done with rides for a little while.
[As for Phoenix, he takes a moment to clear his throat and then clambers out of the boat after Iris, with a light nod.]
I... I understand. It's a very mutual feeling. [He takes a moment to look around himself.] The other rides must have twists like this, too. At this rate, you'd be better off getting some rest. [That ride should have been so much better...!]
[His eyes are full of concern as he looks towards her.]
Anything that will help you feel better. [After what just happened, she probably needs her space, too.] And if you need anything from me - all you have to do is call, alright?
[She wasn't sure what she needed right then, and while a small part of her was...disappointed that Phoenix hadn't suggested the idea of walking her back...perhaps it was for the best. Considering.]
You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine. I--oh! [She glanced down and remembered.] Your...jacket.
[She was still wearing it. To cover up the outfit they'd forced her into at the start of the carnival.]
I'll make sure to wash it properly before returning it to you. As soon as I can. [Perhaps even that evening; a mindless task such as laundry would do good to occupy her mind.]
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bewrightback) wrote2015-04-08 12:09 am
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[For the moment, they could only wait. A tense, sightless silence. Her head darted around. Left and right, front and back. Curious and apprehensive all at once. At one point, with her heart pounding in anticipation, she felt her fingers brush ever so slightly against Phoenix's hand--]
[Just as an image to her immediate right flashed: a giant, holographic image of a terrifying mask. The image lasted for less than a second, but it was enough to cause Iris to scream, immediately turning to Phoenix so she could bury her head in his shoulder.]
[Laughter echoed in the distance as they continued along the path, growing fainter and fainter in the dark....]
1/2
UUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!
[-Sorry Iris but your scream has some competition there.]
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It's okay. It's okay, Iris. Whatever that was, it's all over now.
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[Still...with Phoenix's arm around her now...his words trying to offer as much comfort as possible in the moment...she risked peeking an eye open. Then the other. And saw only darkness. A welcome relief.]
[Her cheeks burned from embarrassment in hindsight. Just an image. They'd never been in any real harm. For her to scream in such a manner...]
[...for him to scream in such a manner, though...]
I...I'm alright, Feenie.
It just startled me, is a--
[Of course, the moment she let her guard down, three more holographic masks appeared, rushing straight towards them, only to fizzle out at the last second.]
[Iris' face returned to Phoenix's shoulder, body pressed against his arm in an instinctive attempt to hide behind him.]
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Wrong.]
HUUUAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!
[With that shout, he's sure to hold Iris close to him as he calms down from that shock.]
S-sorry. That was... It was just... it's okay, Iris. [He squeezes her had.] It's not real, s-so... no need to... fear.
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[At least, this time, the masks that appeared were a little more...subtle. Appearing and Disappearing depending upon the angle one looked up at, they seemed to just...loom. Hovering over the two as their boat creaked on by.]
I don't understand. What kind of ride is this?
[Where was the Love?]
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I'm sorry. I should have thought that the ride would have something weird and scary.
...But it's not hurting us. None of this is real. [He tries to glance down towards her.] The only real things here are... it's us, Iris.
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I...I know.
And it's not your fault. I was the one who suggested it, wasn't I?
[Another pause, and she tried to sit up a little straighter. The corners of her lips twitched upward in a faint smile.]
I suppose it wouldn't have been so bad if I had known it was supposed to be--
[Two more masks dropped down from the ceiling, bounding a little as they hit the end of their line. Rather than a terrifying scream this time, however, a strange...half-laugh, half-giggle announced their presence.]
[Iris still jumped, but this time, rather than scream...she giggled too. If only to cover her embarrassment at having been surprised yet again.]
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He was waiting for her to finish speaking when the latest masks joined in. Phoenix just gave a light yelp this time, but his own startled reaction died out in the face of Iris's reaction. He found himself starting to laugh as well, in the face of those masks.
When it gets down to it, it's just a bunch of flying masks.]
It's like they're not even trying anymore.
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[Certainly, the multi-colored masks floating all around, some disappearing and reappearing while others just continuing to rotate in the air, didn't see quite so frightening anymore.]
[Nor did the image of two masks kissing up ahead. Although they did come with a rather...interesting message written above in glowing red letters: Bet you two feel a whole lot closer now, don't you?]
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But then, that image appears with the message, and Phoenix finds himself turning red enough that he's surprised that his face hasn't become a scarlet beacon in the darkness.
He tries to stutter a response.]
Ob-objection! ...We already are close.
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I think I understand what they were trying to do now.
And...it did work.
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I can't say I feel thankful to them, exactly, but...
...
...but this is nice.
1/2
[And just up ahead, even, she could see signs of light. The end of the tunnel--]
2/2
AHHH!!!
[--before switching right back to the smiling face, fading up into the darkness above as they reached the end.]
[For real, this time.]
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-when suddenly a mask from nowhere. He turns and shouts once again.]
WAHHHHH!!!
[Now he just ends up gripping her more tightly than ever as the ride reaches it's end.]
Is - is it over?
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[The boat pulled out of the tunnel, back into daylight. Soon coming to a stop in almost exactly the same place where they'd first gotten on. Except Iris had yet to move, her whole body still trembling with residual adrenaline after all of that.]
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[He hadn't moved either, and he was still holding onto her. Possibly for himself as much as for her sake. Although now that they're in the light again, he's turning red, as he did not realize that his face had gotten this close to hers while they were in the darkness.]
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[Even if she didn't sound so sure.]
[Her hands fumbled for the side of the boat, and she used it to slowly pull herself out and up. Her legs were slightly wobbly once she found solid ground, however, and she paused to sit on the edge of the dock while she waited for Phoenix to disembark.]
Forgive me, but...I think I might be done with rides for a little while.
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I... I understand. It's a very mutual feeling. [He takes a moment to look around himself.] The other rides must have twists like this, too. At this rate, you'd be better off getting some rest. [That ride should have been so much better...!]
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I might...just head back to my apartment for a little while. Brew a pot of tea and....try to meditate.
[It might be a little harder than usual.]
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Anything that will help you feel better. [After what just happened, she probably needs her space, too.] And if you need anything from me - all you have to do is call, alright?
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You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine. I--oh! [She glanced down and remembered.] Your...jacket.
[She was still wearing it. To cover up the outfit they'd forced her into at the start of the carnival.]
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Oh! Right. [He scratches at his head.] Don't worry about it. You can hold onto it for now, Iris.
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...thank you.
I'll make sure to wash it properly before returning it to you. As soon as I can. [Perhaps even that evening; a mindless task such as laundry would do good to occupy her mind.]
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