[An ideal plan? Far from it. But it was one that went off without a hitch; they made it back up the flight with no incidents. And, just as Iris recalled, the lock was easy enough to undo. She pushed open the window--easily large enough for them to fit through--and stuck her head out just long enough to gauge the distance to the ground.]
[Are you sure? She very nearly asked him, before realizing that he wouldn't have said as much if he weren't. So instead, she nodded and took a step back, allowing him the space.]
Alright.
When you get outside, try to hold onto the bottom of the window frame as best as you can, and let yourself drop.
[Somebody seemed to know a thing or two about climbing out of second-story windows.]
[He glances at her with a brief look of surprise with how well-acquainted with this she seemed. But then he simply nodded, appreciating all the help he could get.]
Sure, that sounds like a good idea... Thanks!
[Phoenix then takes a deep breath before he goes through the window and tries to follow her instructions. He holds onto the window frame, ends up hanging, and then he lets go... although he builds up fear as he does so, and thus he shouts as he drops down to the ground. He briefly lands on his feet, but he stumbles as he does so and then topples onto his rear.]
[Despite their situation, she couldn't help a smile.]
If you insist.
[She was fairly positive she could have made the drop on her own, but he looked so eager to try. So, with minimal hesitation, she stuck one foot out the window. Then the other. Kneeling against the ledge as she found a solid grip with her hands, she began to walk herself down the side of the building. Until she was hanging.]
[On a count of 'three', she let go and allowed herself to fall.]
[He just wants to be helpful... especially to feel less embarrassed about his little fall. But he'll keep his arms wide open and catch her, with just an 'oof!' and a brief struggle. He won't set her down immediately, though, to take a moment to appreciate their faces being on the same level.]
[Once the initial awkwardness of the struggle was over, and they both steadied...]
[She expected him to put her down. He didn't. And...she didn't mind. His arms were surprisingly comfortable, and with their height difference, she rarely had the chance to look into his eyes at so close a level. They tended to look darker from far away, but up close...there was that twinkle. A youthful glint that was still there from their--well, his--University Days.]
[His eyes are full of affection as he looks at her and holds her a little closer. And Phoenix ends up feeling like now's the time to say something smooth. So he smiles and speaks.]
Not really, no. [She could have been referring to any number of things. Here, in his arms...here, in the back of the apartment building...through the window...] Though I wouldn't mind if I...did.
Well... Not much. It was back when Recreare first took control of CERES, and we started seeing Mosley around. There was an announcement that they would be ironing out a lot of the flaws left in the system from the previous administration. ...And in true CERES fashion, that caused a number of odd things to happen.
Some people got trapped in ViViD, and appliances went haywire. ...But as I said, it was mostly minor scale stuff compared to what just happened. Back then, I only had to deal with one rogue iron.
[And she sounded nervous. Strange things might have been rather commonplace in Cerealia, but this was above and beyond even the ViViD games. At least, those, she could log out of if the danger grew too great for her to manage.]
Perhaps...we should avoid all buildings that contain technology until whoever is responsible has figured out what they need to 'iron out'. Or is done with their sabotage.
[It would suit her just fine, besides. She was used to living a tech-lite life.]
[Usually, when they were together...Iris didn't care about where they went or what they did. But for once, the thought of the location provided an even greater relief than his presence.]
You like Camping, Feenie?
Ah! That's right...you did come with Mystic Maya up into the mountains.
Eheheh... [He scratches at his head nervously.] Well, that mountain trip wasn't exactly my choice. And I haven't really done much legitimate camping in my life, but... the idea's sounding better and better by the second?
[She strongly suspected, given her great enthusiasm for it all, that it was her dear half-sister to blame for their trip...which meant there was every chance their mother had been the one...]
[But, no, she wasn't going to think of that. Not now.]
Oh, it's wonderful! I would sometimes sleep outside back home, when there wasn't so much snow on the ground. The air would be so crisp and clean, and I could see the stars clearer than any town or village down below.
Come to think of it, I...haven't had much of a chance to look at the stars here at night. They don't shine so brightly from my apartment window.
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bewrightback) wrote2015-04-08 12:09 am
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We'll have to be careful, but this should work.
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Great! Careful's definitely the name of my game.
I can head down first and see how things look on the ground... [And if I could help her get a softer landing!]
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Alright.
When you get outside, try to hold onto the bottom of the window frame as best as you can, and let yourself drop.
[Somebody seemed to know a thing or two about climbing out of second-story windows.]
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Sure, that sounds like a good idea... Thanks!
[Phoenix then takes a deep breath before he goes through the window and tries to follow her instructions. He holds onto the window frame, ends up hanging, and then he lets go... although he builds up fear as he does so, and thus he shouts as he drops down to the ground. He briefly lands on his feet, but he stumbles as he does so and then topples onto his rear.]
Ow. ...I'm fine!
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You didn't hurt yourself at all?
[Because that was a definite yelp of pain she just heard.]
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Well... to be honest, it hurts a little! [He says with a slight wince.] But it was just a rough landing... definitely nothing broken or anything.
[Then, he spreads out his arms.]
Hey, what if I try to catch you?
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If you insist.
[She was fairly positive she could have made the drop on her own, but he looked so eager to try. So, with minimal hesitation, she stuck one foot out the window. Then the other. Kneeling against the ledge as she found a solid grip with her hands, she began to walk herself down the side of the building. Until she was hanging.]
[On a count of 'three', she let go and allowed herself to fall.]
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[She expected him to put her down. He didn't. And...she didn't mind. His arms were surprisingly comfortable, and with their height difference, she rarely had the chance to look into his eyes at so close a level. They tended to look darker from far away, but up close...there was that twinkle. A youthful glint that was still there from their--well, his--University Days.]
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Come here often?
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Not really, no. [She could have been referring to any number of things. Here, in his arms...here, in the back of the apartment building...through the window...] Though I wouldn't mind if I...did.
[That one was meant for the in his arms part.]
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[He pauses for a moment, and sweatdrops slightly as he ponders his next move.]
You should come here often.
[...What am I even saying?
Phoenix then tries to save himself by pressing his lip softly against her cheek.]
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[She gave herself enough time to ponder that over while he kissed her cheek. Leaning in just enough to feel the delicate pressure.]
Does that mean you...want to carry me more often?
[...wild guess.]
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But, um, we made it. Guess the danger and weirdness is behind us!
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I hope so. That was terrifying.
What do you think caused all the appliances to start acting like that?
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It might have been some kind of... electricity problem? Or most likely it's CERES messing with us.
...There was one other time when some appliances went haywire, before you showed up here. But it was nowhere near this scale.
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There was? What happened?
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Some people got trapped in ViViD, and appliances went haywire. ...But as I said, it was mostly minor scale stuff compared to what just happened. Back then, I only had to deal with one rogue iron.
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[On a much grander scale.]
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[And she sounded nervous. Strange things might have been rather commonplace in Cerealia, but this was above and beyond even the ViViD games. At least, those, she could log out of if the danger grew too great for her to manage.]
Perhaps...we should avoid all buildings that contain technology until whoever is responsible has figured out what they need to 'iron out'. Or is done with their sabotage.
[It would suit her just fine, besides. She was used to living a tech-lite life.]
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Right, that's a good plan. ...Maybe the park would be safe? [A soft smile returns to his face.] Camping's always sounded fun.
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You like Camping, Feenie?
Ah! That's right...you did come with Mystic Maya up into the mountains.
[And it certainly hadn't been to train.]
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[She strongly suspected, given her great enthusiasm for it all, that it was her dear half-sister to blame for their trip...which meant there was every chance their mother had been the one...]
[But, no, she wasn't going to think of that. Not now.]
Oh, it's wonderful! I would sometimes sleep outside back home, when there wasn't so much snow on the ground. The air would be so crisp and clean, and I could see the stars clearer than any town or village down below.
Come to think of it, I...haven't had much of a chance to look at the stars here at night. They don't shine so brightly from my apartment window.
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