[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/q5ZFkuK.png[/img][h1]Chasing the Sun[/h1][/center][hr][hr]Involved: Tommy, Ailet[@Force and Fury][hr]
On and on stretched Tommy's abyss. On and on it went. His skin grew sallow and his tendons stiff. The world around him, as well, began to die. The grass yellowed, birds lay dead beneath trees, and smaller plants wilted, crumpled, and browned. The water burbled as always in the streams, but it was a fool's gold: the worthless sustenance of an increasingly dead and empty world.

How long this carried on, he could not say, but eventually, even the trees' leaves began to crumple and fall away. Tommy's senses seemed to dull, but he held onto some degree of hope. As macabre as it had been, he'd seen one soul here consume another and be mostly restored. 

He almost didn't notice it, or at least not right away, when it finally happened. There was someone else there. He was lying on a hillside, in between two rocks, and he sat up and peered over. It was... it took him a moment to make sense of what he saw, but it was a woman with one leg: tall and thin and probably yasoi. She hadn't seen him yet, or at least gave no indication of such to his hazy senses.

The punished of Oraff were destined to rot, and rot he had. So disheveled he had become that the very beautiful scenery that had surrounded him had also begun to change. The intense hunger and thirst he had felt in the opening days had grown to dull throbs in the back of his conscience, an itch he could never scratch. But still, he persisted in existence though not of his own volition. It helped his mindset to think it was though, for he'd seen a potential way out earlier. The consumption of another. And as barren and desolate as this place had been of souls, one had the misfortune of walking into his midst.

Or did it? 

He'd seen three one legged girls in his time in Ersand'Enise, a few more back in Enth though for undoubtedly different reasoning. What caught his eye was the specifics here. A yasoi, reminiscent of another,  Was that Tyrel? Or Juulet? Could he eat that? He knew that woman was destined for this hell if he was here, but they were undoubtedly strong, and in his current state, he'd begun to doubt his odds. Still, there was no choice or chances. He wouldn't let the only company he'd seen, or perhaps the last glimmer of hope slip away.

He stumbled and groaned to his feet from lying in the grass, his bones and muscles barely functional at this stage. He wasn't even sure it was them moving, or if this place operated on a different spectrum. He felt as if he was being stealthy. He was not. The grass around him wilted away. The flowers turned to rotted husks. His bones creaked, his flesh squelched and his blood gurgled with every step he took. There was a moment of hesitation. He felt as if he could leap and take her out now. But something made him ask, his voice gravelly and dishevelled from the lack of moisture. 

[color=gray]"Tyrel? Please tell me it isn't you."[/color] his voice croaked. If it was Juulet, he'd at least feel better about what he planned to do. 

The woman whirled at once, a curtain of brown hair swirling about her. [color=BC8F8F]"Tyrel? You know Tyr..."[/color] From behind a pair of large round-rimmed glasses, her eyes widened and she swallowed. [color=BC8F8F]"...el.[/color] There was a pause. [color=BC8F8F]"Mother [i]Oirase[/i]."[/color] She had to work to keep her mouth from gaping open, and she was not entirely successful in this endeavour. She took a cautionary step back, drawing energy all the way, and it was clear by now that she was neither Tyrel nor Juulet. She was shorter than either - quite petite for a yasoi - and, where both of the others had a visible stump, she had no trace of a right leg at all. 

[color=BC8F8F]"You are dead but not,"[/color] she observed shakily. [color=BC8F8F]"And this isn't an illusion,"[/color] she added after a moment, pushing her glasses up her nose. There was both an instinctual fear and a wondrous burning curiosity to her bearing. Her hand snapped back to the crutch it had momentarily left and her eyes flicked over Tommy a couple of times. 

She seemed to have decided something and it was like a switch flipping. [color=BC8F8F]"So we are in a place where the laws of nature do not apply."[/color] The woman's face lit up and she smiled. [color=BC8F8F]"[i]Magnificent,[/i]"[/color] she concluded, [color=BC8F8F]"You wouldn't know where, exactly, we are."[/color]

She knew her. That was enough for him to hesitate from jumping at her immediately when she turned, and then she drew. It was strong, but not insurmountable. And the sheer amount of time that he'd had down here taught him a lot about the fundamentals of magic. Input was fine, output was... shaky at best. He wasn't the scientific mind this chick seemed to be, glasses and nerd outfit in tow, but when all he had was his own thoughts and body, trial and error was a way to stop him from going insane. Perhaps that was why he was here and not in Shune's hell.

He could win.

As she rambled, he barely listened, getting closer and closer until he was in range, that was, for a sucker punch. If the output was softened, then he could turn this into his favoured terrain. This could be his chance for a getaway. And as the last syllable left her mouth, he lunged and swung at her face, hitting her square in the jaw and knocking her to the ground. Her glasses flew off, cracking from the impact of the blow. It might have been half as hard as he could have hit in his prime, before the rot had set in, but it was more than enough to catch a loudmouth unawares. He stumbled to the ground himself, landing a couple of inches from her before he scrambled to try and prevent her from getting away, grabbing hold of whatever he could reach. Her one leg, a crutch, anything. 

He didn't pay attention to whatever one of his hands caught hold of, for he just looked at her and spoke, before rearing his fist back. Something caused him to hesitate. Was it that the sound of another persons voice filled the ever growing loneliness he held? Was it her connection to a friend(and something of a crush) of his? Or was it perhaps that something didn't sit right about this situation. Either way, it made him hesitate before throwing another punch. He waited, to see what reaction would dawn on her face. 

[color=gray]"You're right. We're both dead, and I'm pretty sure we're in Oraff's neck of the woods. But, y'see, there's a way out. I just gotta eat ya, and I'll stop rottin'."[/color] he choked out, desperation and ego filling his tone. 

The situation was not ideal. In fact, it may have rated in Ailet's bottom three, just marginally above the loss of her leg. She had hit the ground hard and now there was a zombie man on top of her, about to punch her again because once, apparently, had not been enough. Her assailant reared back, but then he hesitated, and she forced herself to regard him. She was near-sighted without her glasses, but he and his death-breath were near enough to be seen and smelt clearly. Might this have been the one? He was about the right age. He had the regionally-appropriate accent. He had responded with the expected violence. She decided to take the calculated risk.

[color=BC8F8F]"I don't think I've ever had a man offer to eat me, Tommy Kavanaugh, but if you do, I don't think you'll get what you're hoping for."[/color] She regarded him, deadpan. [color=BC8F8F]"I didn't get here by dying."[/color]

As he was about to throw his second punch, he felt a shiver at the words that this strange woman spoke. Again, he hesitated and in fact, his fist came loose. He stopped, and began laughing. The first that wasn't from madness, but from genuine amusement at her 'joke'. It wasn't particularly funny, but he was so starved of human companionship that he smiled. He let his hand rest on the ground a moment. Either this was a trick of Oraff, or she was telling the truth, and by the gods he hoped it was the second. This was punishment enough, right?

[color=gray]"That was too funny to be a trick. And if I wasn't bitter n' dead, I'd 'ave a hell of a response for it."[/color] he smiled grotesquely at the girl, and leant back. [color=gray]"Now. If ya not dead, which is probably you copin' to tell the truth, ow'd you get here? And how'd ya know me and Tyrel, but I don't know ya?"[/color] he spluttered out, coughs and raspy voice in combination. It was getting increasingly harder to speak, but the fact he still had the stomach for the conversation was promising. And as the words left his mouth, he was content to back off, and give her some space.

[color=BC8F8F][i]V for Victory[/i][/color] Ailet had gambled and she had won, though it hadn't really been a gamble at all, now had it? That had instead been an educated guess and she had simply been correct... as she usually was. She could not be smug yet, however, as this disgusting, decaying huusoi was still far too close to her for her liking. 

The yasoi scooted back the moment she was released, still holding onto most of her energy, but she didn't get to her foot and try to run. For a moment, she scrabbled about, looking for her glasses, before encountering them, more or less beyond repair. She scowled, examining them for a moment, and her darted warily Tommy's way. Then, the tossed them over her shoulder, sighed, and pulled out a second pair, settling them across the bridge of her nose.

Pulling her singular knee up and looping her arms around it, Ailet worked her jaw about, never completely removing her gaze from Tommy. [color=BC8F8F]"Well, now that I'm not on the menu,"[/color] she began, clearing her throat, [color=BC8F8F]"I suppose we should trade questions and answers."[/color] She shook her head. [color=BC8F8F]"I won't deign to speak for you,"[/color] she allowed, [color=BC8F8F]"but I've no plans on staying here any longer than I need to."[/color] The yasoi pursed her lips. [color=BC8F8F]"I had theorized this might be one of the heavens or some form of purgatory but, based on the look of you, it can only be hell."[/color] She nodded, digesting her own conclusion. [color=BC8F8F]"Oirase's hell."[/color] 

She grimaced and reached absently for one of her crutches, pulling it in towards her, before deciding to answer one of his questions. [color=BC8F8F]"As for how I know Tyrel, suffice to say that we were childhood companions."[/color] She shrugged. [color=BC8F8F]"They stick all us little monopeds together every couple of decades and have a pageant to decide which to bless with the title 'Avatar of Vyshta'."[/color] She blinked. [color=BC8F8F]"Of course, they murder her before she's twenty-five, but that's poor Tyrel's problem and utterly besides the point. We've our own to solve."[/color] She twisted, then, and pulled a flask from her satchel. Eyes flicking Tommy's way, she took a careful sip before screwing it shut. [color=BC8F8F]"I theorize that I'm not dead for two reasons: the first is what you just saw: I came here with my items intact. The second is that I got here by biting a black apple of Exiran and, no, it wasn't poisoned."[/color] She shook her head. [color=BC8F8F]"It was instant. I'd have at least felt poison work. Even the most potent magical sort takes a few seconds."[/color] She went to tuck the flask back in.

Tommy listened. He liked to talk, but it was nice to listen to someone after it'd been so long down here by himself. Multiple sets of glasses was a funny gimmick. He muttered a 'my bad' under his breath about it, but he didn't really want to show weakness to someone who could still be an adversary.

The story was interesting though, truth be told. One legged bootcamp sounded like a hell of a ride, far removed from the noble children he'd interacted with at the school. Perhaps that was why Tyrel had that sense of sadness about her. Poor chick. The girls story seemed to check out, and if she was that confident, maybe there was some truth to it. There was the very real possibility again that it was her coping with the situation, but she seemed to have her wits about her, and they'd come here under very different terms. 

He let her finish before speaking himself [color=gray]"Since we're exchangin' questions and answers, again, how'd you know me? I'd remember a girl as unique as you, n' I'm not quite rich and important enough to be remembered. Was it my dashin' victory at hte trials?"[/color] he smiled, but a cough fought its way out. Damn thirst. Then, something in his brain clicked. Abruptly, he held out his hand and gestured to the flask she drank from [color=gray]"Lemme 'ave a sip. Got somethin' I wanna test."[/color] His theory was that if this was water or something else from beyond, then maybe he could actually have a drink and not feel like death. He hoped it was liquor of some kind, but he doubted it with the way this girl seemed to be.

[color=BC8F8F]"I know [i]of[/i] you, I guess you could say."[/color] The yasoi made a face of consideration. [color=BC8F8F]"It's been over a week since you died and both Sister Laska and Desmond Catulus disappeared. Word reached me that there were some interesting circumstances."[/color] She shrugged. [color=BC8F8F]"I'm something of a scientist-in-training. I did my research and went to go find out for myself."[/color]

Then, he asked about water, and the one-legged girl regarded him warily. [color=BC8F8F]"You're... dead,"[/color] she advised. [color=BC8F8F]"Yet you still crave sustenance?"[/color] She held the flask tightly because it was her lifeline. [color=BC8F8F]"If I don't drink, I die and start rotting."[/color] She went quieter. [color=BC8F8F]"Like you, no offense."[/color]

She pushed her glasses up her nose. [color=BC8F8F]"I have, between this flask and that in my bag, enough to make it through four days, suffering from only acceptable levels of dehydration. My aim is to get out of here - past the demon barrier - by then."[/color]

Carefully, she unscrewed the flask's cap. [color=BC8F8F]"If theologists are to be believed, the only way to escape a hell is to fight your way through the layer of demons that surrounds it."[/color] She poured some water into it. [color=BC8F8F]"That should restore you, in theory, to your full abilities, but we'll be hard-pressed to make it there before I start to die and even harder pressed to defeat those kinds of enemies."[/color] Finally, tentatively, she held the water out to Tommy. [color=BC8F8F]"But I have a theory."[/color] She smiled, and he was her lab rat, unequivocally. [color=BC8F8F]"I'm willing to lose a bit of time to test it out."[/color]

Tommy cocked an eyebrow at her. She'd certainly been prepared for the endeavour, which raised a number of questions in his mind. Desmond and Laska had disappeared? So, they'd lived through the encounter? If he was pronounced dead, and the two had 'disappeared', then, had they also come? If so, where were they? Had he found this girl first by an act of happenstance? Also, there was something valuable to be learned here that his ears did not miss. A week? A joke, surely. For he'd been down here for at least a month, if not three. It was hard to tell, but his perception of time was surely not so damaged? Or perhaps time moved differently here. 

Alas, his overactive brain was cooled by her continuous conversation, and reasons not to give him the water. He shrugged at first, but then she offered it to him and he took the cap with a confused smile and very steady hands. He was determined not to spill even a drop of this stuff, even if his joints were rotten and achy.

[color=gray]"The water here's a fookin sham, y'see. You can drink as much as you like, but it won't make the thirst go away. If this is from the outside though, then..."[/color] he spoke, drinking from the cap in one straight gulp. He felt the urge to cough and splutter, but he kept it down and he felt a portion of his thirst quenched. Goodness, how long had it been since he'd had that sensation? It felt like years. He would have thanked the gods, but they were the reason he was here, so he directed it to another, this nerdy one legged girl with a thumbs up and a smile. His hands and skin had some colour in them again, and he felt so much better. Not back to 100%, but better.

Then, he had the realization that they were on limited time. He'd been scoping this place out for an inordinate amount of time, and found nothing of value, but he figured he'd share what he knew. [color=gray]"Since we're lookin for a way out of this rotting, stinking, festering fuckin' shithole, I'll key you in. Magic here works badly. Drawin's fine, but expending it is so much weaker. You've got that big ol' yasoi magic, but it's still muted I bet. I've tried walkin' around everywhere, but it's all rotting and stinky. Eatin' and drinkin, as I mentioned before, is fuckin' worthless. And everythin' seems to go on forever, so either there's some illusiony shit, or hell is fuckin' infinite. Would explain why I've seen maybe like 3 fuckers in here."[/color] he rambled his findings to the girl, hoping for some sort of scientific discovery from a brilliant mind, but he doubted it'd help. Still, he had an obligation from the water. 

[color=BC8F8F]"How do you feel?"[/color] the yasoi asked, pulling on a pair of gloves. [color=BC8F8F]"Does it match the appearance?"[/color] She leaned in [i]very[/i] interestedly and reached out to touch his arm.

[color=gray]"Way fookin better after that, lemme tell ya."[/color] he spoke, the cheeky smile of the man who once was returning to him again. Then she leaned in and touched him, and he felt an all too familiar tingle of something he'd damn near forgotten about. Even in hell, his lechery had not gone away, but he did not act. He merely enjoyed the view, and responded to her second question. [color=gray]"Sorta. Not as painful as it looks, but that might be because I'm a 'ard bastard, or cos it's a slow process n' all."[/color] She blinked. [color=BC8F8F]"Well, I'd mean in terms of the restoration, not the decay."[/color] She pushed her glasses up her nose. [color=BC8F8F]"Your skin pigmentation and firmness."[/color] He blinked right back at her, but only with one eye, before reaching out to touch his skin himself. He felt pleasantly surprised by the results. [color=gray]"Yeah, feels 'bout right."[/color] he smirked, succesfully holding in the dirty joke that was racing through his mind. He was back, at least for a litte while. [color=gray]"Should it not?"[/color] 

She glanced up at him and grinned. [color=BC8F8F]"No, this is an optimal result."[/color] The girl pursed her lips. [color=BC8F8F]"But, say, you mentioned this place being 'stinking' and 'rotting' a moment ago."[/color] She drew back. [color=BC8F8F]"That is not at all what I perceive, unless we have vastly different standards for such."[/color] She considered. [color=BC8F8F]"You're from... Brindland, correct?"[/color] 

[color=gray]"That's good news."[/color] he responded, smiling in his own right. Then came the next part - that there was something strange going on here that he had no idea how to wrap his head around. And then, she had to hit him where it hurt - his homeland. A pang of shame came from his voice, but also resolute defensiveness. [color=gray]"Yeah, and? I'm an expert on the fuckin' subject, doesn't mean ya have to say it. It's not thaaaat bad... and anyway, how the fuck would ya know different parts of Enth?"[/color] he ranted on and on, but in his mind, he came to the same conclusion as her. It was very much a case of different perception, which meant that could be a clue on how to find the way out.[color=BC8F8F]"I believe in assiduous preparation,"[/color] the yasoi replied, [color=BC8F8F]"and the power of knowledge."[/color] She waved dismissively. [color=BC8F8F]"But on the point of what we see."[/color] She sniffed. [color=BC8F8F]"That tree over there."[/color] She pointed over her shoulder. [color=BC8F8F]"What does it look like to you?"[/color] 

[color=gray]"Yeah, yeah."[/color] he said, waving his hand at her initial response, but then he gazed upon the 'tree'. Hardly a fitting word for it at this point. It looked like shit and it smelled like shit. So, that's what he'd describe it as. [color=gray]"Like I picked up a story book, and that big ol' black dragon from the Oryflam flew out n' took a shit. Fuckin' disgustin', and it reeks too. If this is an illusion or somethin', it's a damn good one because I don't know how you ain't smelling it."[/color] he went on a bit too long, and a bit too vividly just because of how fed up he was of being here.

[color=gray]"Yeah, yeah."[/color] he said, waving his hand at her initial response, but then he gazed upon the 'tree'. Hardly a fitting word for it at this point. It looked like shit and it smelled like shit. So, that's what he'd describe it as. [color=gray]"Like I picked up a story book, and that big ol' black dragon from the Oryflam flew out n' took a shit. Fuckin' disgustin', and it reeks too. If this is an illusion or somethin', it's a damn good one because I don't know how you ain't smelling it."[/color] he went on a bit too long, and a bit too vividly just because of how fed up he was of being here. 

[color=BC8F8F]"It's green and vibrant for me. There are birds in it, too."[/color] She regarded him evenly. [color=BC8F8F]"I can hear them chirping, though they seem rather... distressed."[/color] She scowled thoughtfully at the end. [color=BC8F8F]"There's not a hint of that for you?"[/color] [color=gray]"Nah. They're fookin dead... poor buggers can't even rot. Well, are they even poor buggers? If they're alive on your side, then... nah. I don't get it."[/color] he spoke, scratching his chin, utterly puzzled about how this would even work. [color=gray]"Nah. They're fookin dead... poor buggers can't even rot. Well, are they even poor buggers? If they're alive on your side, then... nah. I don't get it."[/color] he spoke, scratching his chin, utterly puzzled about how this would even work.

The yasoi closed her eyes, as if she was concentrating. She was reaching out to sense energy and, after a moment, she opened them again, satisfied. [color=BC8F8F]"I can sense no illusion here,"[/color] she concluded, [color=BC8F8F]"so that either means that there is none to sense or that whoever's behind it is simply too far beyond us to comprehend."[/color] She considered. [color=BC8F8F]"We sgould test this,"[/color] she decided. [color=BC8F8F]"The grass is all green for me. You?"[/color]

The yasoi closed her eyes, as if she was concentrating. She was reaching out to sense energy and, after a moment, she opened them again, satisfied. [color=BC8F8F]"I can sense no illusion here,"[/color] she concluded, [color=BC8F8F]"so that either means that there is none to sense or that whoever's behind it is simply too far beyond us to comprehend."[/color] She considered. [color=BC8F8F]"We should test this,"[/color] she decided. [color=BC8F8F]"The grass is all green for me. You?"[/color]There was a small pause. [color=gray]"If we're pickin options, I prefer the second on that one. Otherwise, why even try?"[/color] he gestured with his hand to the side.  [color=gray]"Can barely call it that at this point. Looks fuckin' wilted and sad. If grass could be sad, that is?"[/color] 

[color=BC8F8F]"In Mother Tarlon, grass can be sad,"[/color] Ailet replied, deadpan. She pushed her glasses up. [color=gray]"There's sad... and then there's whatever the fuck that is. Even where you're from, that can't be grass."[/color] he paused, genuinely evaluating if there was a place that he too could make fun of as an Enthishman. Then, he figured he'd play along as well in this strange game of I spy.. [color=gray]"How 'bout the stone over there? Used to be mossy for me, but now it's dead n' bare."[/color] Ailet nodded. [color=BC8F8F]"Tarlon is a... very special love child of Mother Oirase and lord Exiran,"[/color] she replied, but then she furrowed her brow. [color=BC8F8F]"Well, actually, it's due to the unique climactic factors of its position in the prevailing winds, the presence of an inland sea, and the high rainfall it experiences. The combination of these factors has triggered a cascade effect leading to greater energy availability and, consequently, a significant increase in the density of manas such that they even inhabit the vascular systems of flowering plants and trees."[/color] She reached down to toy with the grass beside her knee and, for a flicker of a moment, as it was wrapped around her pale, slender fingers, Tommy could see it: fresh and green and [i]living[/i]. Then the yasoi girl shrugged. [color=BC8F8F]"Oh! And to answer your question, the rocks are quite mossy for me. It appears, in fact, that nothing is the same..."[/color]

Tommy shrugged and let the girl rant. There was nothing wrong about loving your hometown, and it kept his brain quiet as it atttempted to keep up with hers. Then, he saw a clue to the situation. When she'd touched the grass, he saw it the way she did. [color=gray]"Hold on a fuckin' minute. It changed when you picked it up, just for a sec. Look at me, does it do the same thing for ya?"[/color] he spoke, kneeling down and grabbing a handful of the 'grass' that remained. 

Ailet stiffened for a moment, eyes narrowing as she observed. [color=BC8F8F]"The phenomenon you're reporting: I'd assumed it was just some sort of halo of death around you or something else suitably hellish."[/color] She rose all at once, bolting to her foot, and hopped three bounds towards the tree, not even bothering to gather her crutches. She placed her palm against the trunk and, before Tommy's very eyes, the tree was green and verdant. She had only to regard his reaction and her face lit up with a smug curiosity. [color=BC8F8F]"I fucking [i]knew[/i] it!"[/color] she crowed. [color=BC8F8F]"Tommy boy, get over here and touch the wood."[/color] 

He grinned at her. Halo of death sounded cool, but it was somewhat adorable seeing this nerd hop around. Then she touched the tree, and his eyes went wide again. More testing was necessarily, and some more things came to mind in regards to this little game they were playing, but then she walked, or rather, hopped right into a joke. He'd held his tongue for the first one, but he couldn't on this. [color=gray]"I'll touch the wood if you touch mine."[/color] he spoke with a smile and a hint of a giggle, before going over and laying his hand on the tree. 

Ailet blinked. [color=BC8F8F]"Mr. Kavanaugh,"[/color] she stated, [color=BC8F8F]"if you wish to have sexual intercourse with me, I'm amenable, but perhaps it might wait until your equipment is in slightly more pneumatic condition."[/color] She glanced up at the tree. It appeared to her as it usually did. The moment that Tommy touched it, it reverted, for him, to its dead state. Then, the yasoi removed her hand and she gasped. [color=BC8F8F]"How exciting!"[/color] She clapped. [color=BC8F8F]"How [i]ghastly[/i]."[/color] She turned his way. [color=BC8F8F]"I now see it as you do."[/color] 

His giggle was interrupted by her comment. Then, his eyes went wide and both eyebrows went up. I mean.... no, Laska was searching for him right? And what was that response? There was a sense of utter confusion until it clicked that she was not quite right of mind. But he didn't need someone right of mind right now, he needed a smart crazy person. And that's just what he had on his hands. [color=gray]"My mother warned me about women like you."[/color] he spoke, chuckling to himself as something immediately came to mind. They'd only considered things that they could touch. He looked up and pointed to the sky. [color=gray]"What about the sky? The sun? Look the same for ya? We can't reach up there at the same time, unless my equipment's 'new-magic' condition somehow gets to top form right now."[/color]" 

[color=BC8F8F]"Your mother was right to warn you,"[/color] the girl admitted. [color=BC8F8F]"I am not in high demand as a partner."[/color] She shrugged and wrapped an arm around her midsection, waving the comment off with her other. Then, he came up with the most intriguing proposition. Her hand snapped to her chin and she stroked it. [color=BC8F8F]"Hmm."[/color] Paradoxically, her eyes widened and narrowed at the same time. [color=BC8F8F]"Yes!"[/color] she exclaimed. She hopped a couple of steps and, then, with a pull of magic, her crutches snapped to her hands. [color=BC8F8F]"That might be the key here."[/color] 

She nodded slowly and began pacing. [color=BC8F8F]"If the Gods made this place, or the demons, or whoever - pick your religious fancy."[/color] She rolled her eyes. [color=BC8F8F]"Why, then they'd have given themselves a way in or out, just in case, right?"[/color] She grinned, still pacing, turning unpredictably on her heel. [color=BC8F8F]"An entrance to this hell's demonic layer."[/color] She stopped abruptly and fetched a second pair of glasses. These were large and tinted. She looked at the sky: right at the sun, in fact. [color=BC8F8F]"You're either a genius or an imbecile, Thomas Kavanaugh, but I've just had the most absurd notion..."[/color]

[color=gray]"Nah, she was wrong. Bad taste on her part for sure."[/color] he offhandedly commented, not staring into the sun directly. That was one that she was right about. He then shut up as she began to think of something. It wasn't answering the question, but perhaps he'd given her the fuel to do that for him as she pranced around, crutches in hand. Then, she changed the glasses and he laughed again at the absurdity of it all. Admittedly though, they looked pretty fucking cool and he wanted a pair himself. Still, he saved that thought for a more appropriate time, just like the invitation for a fun time. 

[color=gray]"Whaddya think I am? And what're you thinkin right now? Is the sun some sorta entrance? Even if it is, doesn't make me feel brighter bout the situation, y'know. It's pretty fuckin high up, no? Don't think we got the output to fly that high."[/color]

[color=BC8F8F]"From a strict perspective of physics, we've no chance in hell."[/color] She shook her head tightly, but then she smiled, twisting to face him. [color=BC8F8F]"Fortunately, we've already established that this place has some very unique rules."[/color] She switched out her glasses and began pacing once more. [color=BC8F8F]"They wouldn't want to have multiple entrances. That leaves more room for things to go wrong and bad boys like you to escape."[/color] Finding a large pebble, she kicked it his way. [color=BC8F8F]"You've been here [i]how[/i] long, you'd say?"[/color]

[color=gray]"Fuckin' months at this point, maybe two?"[/color] he spoke, and then he paused and comprehended what she was saying. It began to click. [color=gray]"Don't need that same question for ya, yer a fuckin' genius. Make it seem impossible and no-one'll try."[/color] The yasoi winked. [color=BC8F8F]"Now, Tommy-boy,"[/color] she continued, [color=BC8F8F]"What happens when you're on low ground and the sun is near the horizon?"[/color] She appeared almost giddy at the notion she was cooking up. [color=gray]"No fuckin' shot... I'm a dumbass. It's been sitting in that same fuckin' spot the entire time. Why'd I... ahhh, fuck it."[/color] he spoke, biting his rejuvinated knuckle a little in frustration. But, this is exactly what he needed. [color=gray]"I get what'cha sayin. We just gotta head that way, right?"[/color] 


[color=BC8F8F]"Yes! You've been here long enough to get the lay of the land. You know it all!"[/color] She grinned and flicked some hair. [color=BC8F8F]"We need to find the highest, steepest hill and approach it from a direction where the sun perches just perfectly on its crest."[/color]

She started moving at once, all manic, excited energy, but then she paused midstep, swinging back onto her foot. [color=BC8F8F]"Wait. Say, I haven't even told you my name, have I?"[/color] She tilted her head. [color=gray]"Come to mention it, yeah, you 'aven't. Thought you were embarassed about it or somethin', y'know. Had a mate named Herbert and he fuckin' hated it. Went by a nickname for a few weeks, we 'eard his mom call him it and that was it for him. Poor bloke."[/color] he ranted, putting his less decayed hand on her shoulder reassuringly. [color=gray]"Can't be worse than that, and I owe ya one for the quick thinkin', so I won't rip on you if it is."[/color] 

She blinked. [color=BC8F8F]"Oh, I just viewed you as a potential enemy before, and expendable, and then I forgot."[/color] She blushed. [color=BC8F8F]"It's Ailet. Ailet'yrash'andarii."[/color] Ailet shrugged and went to collect her backpack again. [color=BC8F8F]"Anyhow, you have a spot in mind? We should probably head there - maybe look to pick up some other useful souls on the way. I can't imagine we've an easy task ahead of us."[/color] Tommy crossed his arms and pretended to be upset. [color=gray]"Expendable? Thought we had somethin' special from first punch!"[/color] he laughed, and then she said the name. [color=gray]"Oh, is the middle thing somethin' special? Cos Tyrel had the same name I think, and you one legged chicks are a fuckin delight."[/color] he spoke with genuine admiration. He let his hand go, and gestured to a place he'd ventured around three weeks back, a little before he became despondent with the situation. [color=gray]"That-a-way, I think. Wouldn't get ya hopes up about others though, you're like one of three other people I've seen, and the only one that's been any conversation."[/color]

Ailet shrugged. [color=BC8F8F]"Oh, it means 'one leg', literally."[/color] She shouldered her backpack as she crouched. [color=BC8F8F]"We yasoi aren't terribly creative with names, to be honest."[/color] When Tommy gestured, she rose and her eyes followed. [color=BC8F8F]"Any idea how long a walk it is, or have you lost all sense of direction?"[/color] She adjusted the backpack's straps. [color=BC8F8F]"Any landmarks?"[/color] She took an abortive first step and pursed her lips. [color=BC8F8F]"Dare I ask what happened with the others..."[/color] she remarked. [color=gray]"Everythin' looks the same, but there was points that were higher. Think it was in this direction, and as for time, no fuckin' clue. I didn't think to keep track, just know that it's a while away."[/color] he paused his speech, but his legs continued to move. [color=gray]"As for the others, well, I got that idea to eat'cha from one of em. That fucker ate the other that I saw, n' then ran off. Didn't get the chance to ask, nor did I particularly wanna."[/color] he remembered the grisly details of the situation clear as day.

Ailet grimaced, but then she nodded, businesslike. Slipping out of the cuffs of her crutches, she propped them against her legless side for support and freed her arms. She reached up and began gathering her hair into a ponytail. [color=BC8F8F]"Well, doesn't look like we have much choice anyway, unless we're totally wrong. We need to get there and daylight's..."[/color] She let out a snort. [color=BC8F8F]"Well, not exactly, I suppose."[/color] Then, when she was done, she gripped her crutches again and started moving. [color=BC8F8F]"You lead me and I've got your back. We trust only each other, and not any others we might see."[/color]