12 [Voice/Offline]

[stealsumbrellas]

[There's creaking -- scratching -- the softest breathing through the PDA network -- the steps behind you grow closer and closer, the breathing grows quicker --

And above it all, a soft voice is singing.]

Ten little monkeys, jumping on a bed~♥ One fell off and broke his head~♥

[There is a door closed with a 'snap'.]

Mama called the doctor and

Comments

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Doesn't like her tone. At all. He's already opening his door by the last line of the song, tilting his head in the direction of the stairwell.]

Rhode?

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[Rhode is leaning out of a window, her hand gripping the frame. Her skin is ash grey, she has her crown of thorns --

Rhode Kamelot is no longer a little girl.

Mainly because she has felt stalked the entire week and she's horrifically outnumbered in this place, so to hell with pretending.]

Allen~.

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Oh, just what they all need. Allen takes a quick look around the hallway to be sure they really are alone, then steps out of his room, leaving his door wide open. No words for the moment. He simply comes over, stopping a few feet behind her to look out of that same window.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

This event is stupid.

[It's said insolently, and Rhode is on her very toes to lean out the window as far as she can without tipping out.]

It's watching me.

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Watching and advancing all the time. Even as they stand by the window, he can hear the scratching coming closer.]

...It's meant to wear us down, but we've already made it this far. Two more days, Rhode. Then they'll be gone.

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[Rhode summons a candle with a snap of her wrist and sends it flying down the hall, sinking into the floor with a 'crunch', towards the sounds of the scratching.

She is slowly losing her patience. First Tyki leaves, and then this event -- along with every single person in this place staring at her, watching her, at all times, to make sure she doesn't snap and kill anyone --

She doesn't have to say it, for Allen to understand, how completely and utterly fed up with Nesreca she is.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[The line of his shoulders stiffens, but he doesn't look away. He already knows what that candle will do ― nothing. Instead, he steps to the side so she'll see the door to his room if she turns, still wide open in silent invitation. In there, at least, no one will stare at her.

Alternatively:]

...We can always go elsewhere for a while. Stay on the move so it can't catch up.

[Yes, 'we'.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[She glances over at him, eyes narrowed, at the 'we'. She didn't miss it -- in fact, Rhode fixates on it. We. Allen was aligning herself with her -- he hadn't done that before.

Maybe something had happened, when he went home. Or maybe he was just appeasing her so she didn't burn this entire damn building to the ground, where it belonged.

Either way, it ticked her off -- and soothed her, at the same time.]

... go where?

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Maybe it's a little of both, plus the knowledge that his comrades will keep things under control while he's away. He shrugs slightly and anwers with something perfectly normal.]

Does it have to be anywhere? We can just go for a walk.

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[She looks almost mistrustful -- because since when does Allen volunteer to spend time with her without pulling teeth? -- but in the end, Rhode seems to prefer his company than sitting by herself alone waiting for the noises to catch her.]

I want to go to the river.

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[The river sounds like a good choice. The running water will drown out those noises for a while, hopefully calm her a bit, and it isn't too far from the apartments should he need to hurry back. He steps up to the window beside her--]

Then let's go.

[--and right out of it with a practiced leap.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[She follows quickly -- idly, Rhode thinks that if she had Lero, it would be far easier to traverse this place, but she lands with a neat roll and gets back onto her feet relatively unharmed, to follow Allen at a close distance. She seems reluctant to stray too far from him.]

You're in a good mood.

[It's said almost flatly -- because he isn't, and neither is she, but he's being nice.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[In contrast, Allen's tone is resolutely light:] Could be better, but I won't say it's bad.

[He gives the apartments one last glance, then... Falters. Which way is the river.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

[Rhode, on the other hand, keeps walking last him.]

This way. Stupid Allen.

[Without so much as a question as to why he faltered.]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

Just Allen, thank you.

[But he'll fall into step parallel to her, Tim bobbing by his shoulder. The golem's sticking close. Even outside of the apartments, there are clear sounds of something clawing its way after them.]

[OFFLINE]

[stealsumbrellas]

So is 'stupid' your middle name?

[Rhode sends a candle flying behind her without looking. Her aim is deadly, precise -- but it sinks into the ground without hitting a single soul.

Her jaw tightens.]