The Street Between the Rocky Bits and the Park, Thursday Evening

[alreadyhollow]

The going was slow when you were a fifteen-foot monstrosity made of fire and molten stone. Or, rather, it felt that way. Every movement was a slow, deliberate one, but the extra height made up for it. One could clear a lot of road in a single step, when one was as tall as some of the buildings in town, after all.

So, what was the fifteen-foot

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[gettingoldernow]

Peter had, against his better (or worse?) judgment, headed out to see if he could find any of the new people and bring them to safety. The heavy footfalls made him freeze, and dark violet energy circled one hand as he sped for shelter and made his way closer.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who it was. Peter's sanity might be in doubt, but his magic wasn't, and it told him that despite appearances this person was the same as always. "Jono."

With a crackle of green energy from the other hand, a bubble surrounded him and floated him up to face (if not eye) level. "Trouble?"

[alreadyhollow]

//Always,// Jono replied, tilting his head slightly as Peter floated up to greet him. //Though nothing any more immediate than usual. I take it you've already noticed the fresh blood?//

It would be hard to miss. There was a lot of it.

[gettingoldernow]

Peter nodded. "I felt the dimensions shift. I can tell there's more...normal, out there. I thought I'd find any I could, bring them back to the village."

[alreadyhollow]

//Any luck so far?// Jono himself hadn't found any just yet, but really, he didn't imagine many were chomping at the bit to come and greet him. He wouldn't much blame them for that, either. //You'd think they'd be everywhere. Or at least their bodies would be.//

Morbid, Jono. Honestly.

//It's as lively as it was before, here. The island is still bleeding out, but... it feels more alive.//

[gettingoldernow]

"None yet," Peter said. "No bodies, either." It wasn't morbid if it were true. "Either they're smarter than that, or they all got lured somewhere else."

He gave Jono a game attempt at a smile. "Or you scared them away."

[alreadyhollow]

//I have a funny way of doing that,// Jono mused. //It's like people don't find me approachable these days. Pity.//

He didn't seem too terribly upset. Though it would probably be difficult to tell.

//No bodies, though. That's heartening.//

[gettingoldernow]

"I don't suppose you can tell where some of them might be?" Peter asked. "I'd rather not bumble around and end up getting eaten if I can avoid it."

[alreadyhollow]

Jono was silent for a moment or two, before turning to his left, looking, more or less, toward the dorms.

//I think there are some there,// he noted. //Little close to her for my comfort, but I don't think they're aware she's up there, yet. Most of the new people, they're absolutely, utterly clueless.//

He gave them maybe a week.

[gettingoldernow]

"Figures." Peter grimaced. "I'll see if I can find any, but I'm not going any closer to her than I have to."

He glanced at Jono. "Guess you're the one person I don't have to tell to keep themselves safe, huh? How about 'keep your asshole husband safe and tell him to stop wandering around so much'?"

[alreadyhollow]

//I'd tell him that, but do you really think he'd listen to me?// There was actually some good humour in his voice at that. //It's not enough I have to listen to him all hours of the day, you want me to start chasing him down, too? Why, is he getting into trouble again?//

[gettingoldernow]

"Not really," Peter admitted reluctantly. "But we can't afford to lose anyone. Especially our only doctor."

[alreadyhollow]

//You know if ever he's in danger, I'll come running,// Jono replied. //Nobody wants to be in my way when I come running. And there are healers besides. Ones that still have their minds. Hell, maybe there are more now, maybe the island's brought us doctors with fresher minds.//

It was a nice thought.

//If they survive the night. Either way, I can't control what he does, mate.//

Sure he could. He was the bloody telepath, here.

[gettingoldernow]

"Healers are one thing. Even I can heal a bit. Doctor's still useful." Peter looked off toward the dorms, wondering, hoping, if maybe there'd be someone useful.

When he spoke again, he'd slipped into Greek. "I should try and find some."

[alreadyhollow]

Wasn't it fortunate, then, that Jono listened as much with his mind as...

... Well, even he wasn't entirely certain he had ears, anymore.

//You should,// he agreed, parsing the Greek easily. //Show them to somewhere safe. Tell them to avoid the hollows. They'll either already know to avoid the things that look like I do, or they'll be stupid enough to try to fight them. Those ones probably aren't the doctors.//

Probably. But then, this was Fandom. So.

[gettingoldernow]

Peter nodded. "If you see them, send them to the village." He blinked, realized his slip, and repeated it in English. "We'll do what we can."

[alreadyhollow]

//If I see them and they'll listen, I'll be sure to point them in the right direction,// Jono replied easily. //In the meantime do me a favour, Peter? Keep an eye on that husband of mine?//

This, of course, was said teasingly. After all, they'd just been discussing Hannibal.

There really was no making him settle down.