024 - 4th wall

[blacklodged]

[AUDIO - and this isn't Cooper speaking. It's a strange, stilted voice you don't recognise.]

You are heere an thereis no place to g o ... BUT HOME!!

[After that, have some laughter. Again, not Cooper.]

[ACTION ANYWHERE: A lot of you know Cooper, but none of you know exactly how bizarre his life actually is. If you run into him today - anywhere,

Comments

[action] normal?Coop

[memoryboss]

[She stands huddled in the shadow from a house, a bit hunched over, as if she's afraid to walk out in the sun. There's a growlithe standing by her feet, tail between its legs.]

[From afar, the look... fairly normal. But are you sure you haven't seen this girl somewhere before?]

[action] well "normal" is certainly debatable ...

[blacklodged]

[He has. In fact, it doesn't take him too long to recognise the stance, the hair, the silhouette as a whole -- but it still takes him a little longer than usual, because while he thinks it must be Heather, hiding like that is behaviour that doesn't add up to the Heather he knows.]

[At least not typically.]

[But he's gotten to know her better these past few months, gotten to know about some of her demons, so it's understandable that his first response to the sight of her - well, he does think this is her - is concern.]

[At the same time, he can't help but feel there is something just slightly off here.]

[He approaches, carefully, mindful of whatever might be going on.]

Heather?

[action]

[memoryboss]

[Her hair is black, just like Heather's was if you saw her at Halloween, but her what used to be skin is now charred tissue, scattered with numerous festering, oozing wounds all over, and her eyes are black. You can't be sure if she has any eyes at all.]

[At the sound of a voice, her head snaps up, and the growlithe, a mangy, wounded mess, steps in between, hackle raised up as it growls cautionary.]

[action]

[blacklodged]

[He stops. Stops completely. That's ... certainly not the Heather he knows, but he does recognise her - her clothing, for one, and her features are there beneath all the wounds, the burns, the ... burns. Oh.]

[He stays still for a long moment. He feels a little ill at the sight of her, her and the Growlithe, and he eyes it because he recognises a warning when he sees one.]

[After that moment passes he raises his hands, slowly. It's a universal sign for peace and despite the look of the pair he thinks they'll know it.]

[action]

[memoryboss]

[She stares back at him - as much she can stare without eyes, but she does reach out a hand to calm the Growlithe and it steps back to her side again. Not growling, but still wary and keeping its eyes on this strange man.]

[action]

[blacklodged]

[He hesitates before speaking again, since that is one of two possible things that set the Growlithe off - the speaking, or his appearance. Most likely both.]

[But there is just no way he can leave this. It's ... Heather. It has to be. He thinks fleetingly of Cheryl and how she might relate to the girl - what was once a girl? - in front of him.]

[So he tries again. Softly.]

Are you Heather?

[action]

[memoryboss]

[The growlithe stays put as he speaks, its tongue hanging listlessly between the two halves of its head.]

[She stares at him for a good while before she shakes her head and opens her mouth to say something - but not a word comes out, only a rancid smell of rotten, burned flesh.]

[action]

[blacklodged]

[He can smell it, even from that distance, and he opens his mouth slightly to avoid breathing through his nose, even as he leans slightly closer. If they accept that, maybe he can take another step.]

[He's caught off guard by it all, the whole thing is ... so unexpected, so wrong when compared to the lively teenager he usually sees around.]

Cheryl?

[action]

[memoryboss]

[He should've figured by now that this, while it sure looks like her, is not Heather.. She turns her head down as he speaks again; unsure she crouches down and writes in the snow.]

['Alessa']

[The letters are in different sizes and cases, like a child's handwriting.]

[action]

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[He tilts his head to read the name. It's a pretty one - and unusual.]

[He's certain he hasn't heard it before.]

Alessa.

[He repeats it, looks up, to be sure he's getting it right. He still has to fight the smell of her, but despite it, he takes half a step forward, trying to be as unthreatening as he can about it.]

Are you lost?

[action]

[memoryboss]

[She remains crouched a few moments while she glances around, trying to recognize the place somewhat buuut... nope. She's pretty sure she's seen this place before. Not exactly this place, but this world. The strange fire-dog does only exist in this world.]

[Said Growlithe behind her legs have gone completely silent now. It doesn't growl as Cooper approaches, but it observes him warly (or does it? Hard to tell with those gory bandages covering its head). Alessa stands back up, nodding as a reply to his question.]

[action]

[blacklodged]

[Alright. He doesn't want to get much closer now, the gag reflex would probably kick in, but on the upside he can see her more clearly now ... or well, upside. The blood and ooze and burns covering her doesn'texactly make for a pleasing image, but he makes himself take it in. It could be important.]

Do you ... is there any way I can help?

[He asks it with just a little hesitation.]

[action]

[memoryboss]

[The mutilated Growlithe starts to restlessy pace around her legs, making small grunting sounds. She looks confused- no... thoughtful is the right word for it. It's strange how she seems to able to convey emotions through her face, despite clearly lacking the skin and muscles to form facial expressions.]

[She crouches again and brushes away her name, writing a new one in its place]

'Heather

[action]

[blacklodged]

[Heather.]

[He knew she must have something to do with her.]

Are you looking for her?

[action]

[memoryboss]

[There's a long pause before she nods, hesitantly and slowly. In all truth she is not entirely sure what exactly she wants. She not even sure why she's here, but Heather's the only one she knows in this world, so maybe she knows? And if it wasn't her or Silent Hill who brought her here then who?]

[action]

[blacklodged]

[He's quiet for a moment - once again just regarding Alessa, this not-Heather, with partly a morbid fascination and partly a quiet sympathy. She looks like she needs help. And he's always been the person to turn to.]

[But regrettably, he's got bad news.]

I don't know where she is.