06: [action - OTA]

[very_practical]

...and so the little girl took the puppy home, and they lived happily ever after. The end.

[Jane closes the book in her hands gently so as not to wake the four-year-old curled up beside her. Poor Danny. She couldn't possibly have turned him away when he crawled into her bed earlier that night, close to tears because he was feeling frightened and

Comments

[strange_ling]

[A shadow passes beyond the window, quickly enough to make Jane think she might be seeing things. But with its passing comes a creeping, unnatural cold that could only belong to one being, and she can feel it hovering just out of sight, past the edge of the window.]

[very_practical]

[The young girl wraps her arms around herself, shivering.
Goodness, it was so ghastly cold for a summer's night. Danny was certain to become sick if she didn't shut that window.

Yet for some reason she found herself terrified of approaching it now. Just the very thought of getting near it filled her with dread.]

[strange_ling]

[Whatever's out there, it isn't happy. Whispers drift through the screen and lift the hairs on the back of her head; scornful, sinister whispers, as though someone is glaring at her and talking behind her back.]

[very_practical]

W-who..? W-who's there?

[She casks her glance about the room, but sees no one. No one but her sleeping brother and toy bear.

Yet all throughout the room she can hear so many voices. They come from the ceiling, the walls, her desk, her nightstand, her bookcase... everywhere. And they chill her down to the bone far worse than the cold. She shudders, throwing her hands over her ears, but the voices don't cease.]

[strawbeary_evil]

Jane..?

[Lotso stirs from his place on the bed, turning toward the sound of her voice.]

What're you doin' out-

[He freezes, feeling the chill overcome him. Distant whispering begins to fill his mind as well, but these carry a distinct familiarity. Although he can see Jane, and feel the shared presence of Danny asleep on the bed nearby, he feels distant from them both.]

Oh, no..

[very_practical]

[She keeps her hands firmly over her ears, not hearing the teddy bear's low, frightened whisper.

Those voices... those horrible voices. They tore at her with their hateful comments. She could barely make out what all of them said, there were so many. Yet somehow she knew that it was all filled with wretched hate.

They were calling her a blind fool... a stupid, easily fooled little child.]

ARRRGHH!!

[She couldn't take it. She could only presume they came from that damned open window, so gathering up her courage she plunged forward and slammed it shut.]

[strange_ling]

[A terrible hiss issues from beyond the window, but, oddly, before Jane has a chance to shut it. What had it responded to? Lotso's voice?

The cold begins to dissipate, slowly at first, but the room eventually warms as though lit by a tiny candle emanating from where Lotso and Danny lie.]

[very_practical]

[She shrinks away from the window as soon as she shuts it and retreats back to the safety of the bed. She still trembles as she climbs back in, but is surprised by the sudden warmth.

She finally notices the teddy bear sitting up, with widened, frightened eyes. That expression on him is all too familiar to her, and she scoops him up in her arms protectively. For a brief moment she wonders if he heard those terrible voices too.]

...it's all right... I'm here, it's all right...

[strawbeary_evil]

[He hugs back, feeling an instant tether back to reality. The voices blur and muffle out into a faint ringing in his ears, becoming just a bit easier to ignore.]

I'm all right, don't you worry...

[He nuzzles closer, trying to concentrate only on her. Her body warmth creates a sanctuary for him, holding back the forces trying to claw their way back into his mind.]

[very_practical]

[As relieved as she is to hear him speak to her coherently, her worry doesn’t vanish completely.

She cradles him in her arms and begins to hum softly. She hums the first thing that comes to her mind... a silly old lullaby her mother used to sing to her and Danny in-between bedtime stories. A lullaby about Neverland and stars and other such nonsense.

Surprisingly... it helps ease her fears. And the strange warmth around them seems to grow.]

[strawbeary_evil]

[Lotso listens to her humming, able to hear it clearly as he leans against her chest. He shuts his eyes and is able to feel himself lulled to the music. His thoughts drift to the past and he doesn't feel any fear about the current situation. The tune has a fairy tale air about it that reminds him of Daisy's room, and her mother's songs and stories that would help her sleep. It's one of the first positive memories he's been able to recall about his old owner in a long time.]

[very_practical]

[She continues to hum, gently cradling him in her arms. She carefully lies back onto the bed and pulls the covers over them, nuzzling closer to Danny. The little boy still sleeps soundly, and she can’t help smiling at the sight of his peaceful face.

In minutes her soft humming finally fades, giving way to a tired yawn.]

[strawbeary_evil]

[He slowly opens his eyes, sighing a bit. Part of him wants to say something, but he knows she's getting sleepy and he doesn't want to keep her up. He hugs her closer and decides to tell her in the morning tomorrow.]

[very_practical]

[She returns the hug, smiling down at him with drowsy eyes. It dawns on her what she just did, and she gives a light chuckle.]

Goodness... I’m sorry about that. That was an old lullaby mother used to sing to me... I don’t know what possessed me to remember it now.

[strawbeary_evil]

Naw, it's alright. I thought it was awfully sweet. Brought back a couple a memories, too…

[very_practical]

[The sleepy smile doesn’t leave her face.]

Oh...? What sort of memories? ...I hope they were pleasant ones.