Between the kindness of strangers and the rumble of the road

[foolishwren]

Who: Aoko Nakamori, Crow Hogan, Harry Mason, Heather Mason, Henry Townshend, Kaito Kuroba
Where: Route 38
When: Nighttime, August 31
Summary: Campfires are interesting places. Even more interesting when the people sitting at one are a detective's daughter, a guy who plays card games on motorcycles, an internationally-wanted jewel thief, an

Comments

[1/?]

[foolishwren]

[Heather grins.]

[It's a grin that spells trouble.]

[With one hand, she removes the stick she's been holding from the flames of the campfire and turns it aside so that Cujo can happily gobble the flaming marshmallow from the end of it, which he does with gusto. With the other, she lifts Hazel the Pichu up underneath her chin in the same way one might traditionally hold a flashlight, to cast dramatic and spooky shadows over one's face. It's not quite as effective when the 'flashlight' is actually a squirmy, faintly-luminous mouse, but it works well enough.]

I'm gonna tell you guys a story... but not just any story.

This one's true.

And yeah, yeah, I know, everybody claims that about their campfire stories... but you can be sure of this one, because it happened right there in my town.

[... But don't worry. She's not referring to Silent Hill, thank god. Although her tale may still ring bells to a few of the little group

[2/2]

[foolishwren]

[Now that the backstory's out of the way, it's time for the main event. Heather's tone grows softer and she leans in to let the fire's light flicker more eerily on her face, mouth-corners still curled upwards deviously.]

A few years later... there was a girl on her way home from the mall. Right around this time of year, actually... She'd stayed out later than she'd planned, having lost track of time... by the time she realized how late it was, the sun was already setting.

Now, she could've walked home on foot... but it was already late, and the subway was way quicker, even though everybody knew it wasn't a good idea to go down there late at night... But she was like, 'Well, if I don't get home like, YESTERDAY, I will be so grounded it's not even funny. Challenge accepted!'

And down she went.

There wasn't a single soul down there that she could see, except for her... and as she walked down the dark platforms, aaaall she could hear were her own footsteps echoing...

... Until she reached the Hazel Street platform.

[... A dramatic

[no_ufo_ending]

[Henry has been listening quietly and eating plain marshmallows out of the bag with that trademark :| face of his the entire time. However, when Heather starts making her DRAMATIC CHOKING SOUNDS Henry actually chokes on his marshmallows. Burger leaps out of his lap and pats furiously at his back.]

Khff-khh-- uhhg.

[He failed to address the fact that if the girl in the story died, who would have been able to spread the story. And that was a good thing because Henry already thinks Vincent is a zombie. He doesn't need to fear Heather eating his brains in his sleep.]

Woah.

[foolishwren]

[Oh yeah. B) CHAMPION OF CAMPFIRE STORIES, Y/N?]

Yep.

S'all true, too.

Spooky, huh?

[no_ufo_ending]

Yeah.

[Uh oh....uh oh...those braincogs are a-whirlin'!]

...was somebody with her when that happened?

[foolishwren]

[To that question, Heather simply puts her hands on her knees, grins, and then does one of those ridiculous over-the-top sitcom winks.]

[Spoilers, Henry: EVERYONE YOU MEET IS A ZOMBIE.]

[no_ufo_ending]

[Henry's expression ACTUALLY shifts into a squint.]

[Either Heather was a zombie. Or she was making shit up.]

[Henry decided he'd rather not have a zombie for a roommate.]

You made all that up.

[OPEN MOUTH. INSERT MARSHMALLOW. HENRY IS NOT IMPRESS. B| YOU CAN'T SCARE HIM.]

[foolishwren]

[... Could this be their first brother-sister 'Did not/did too' fight? IT JUST MIGHT BE.]

I did not!

Every word of that is gospel truth, buddy!

[no_ufo_ending]

B/

B\

B|

[NOM.]

[You're gonna have to work a little harder if you want that argument, Heather. He already thinks he's won it. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT!]

[foolishwren]

[... How many of those things has he eaten? He's gonna be so sick tomorrow. :I]

You're just pissed because I scared you.

[She SAW that little jump when she started making ghost noises, Henry. She saw it.]

[no_ufo_ending]

[It was sort of hard to look offended with your mouth full so Henry settled on furrowing his brows and making a muffled sound of protest at her.]

[NU UH.]

[foolishwren]

Uh-huh.

[no_ufo_ending]

[Henry nearly chokes himself a second time swallowing and frowns at her properly.]

I choked. Burger jumped on my back.

[The Glameow looks up from patting at a few stray leaves, utterly SCANDALIZED. DB HE HAD BEEN HELPING.]

[foolishwren]

Nope.

Nope, you started choking before he jumped on your back. I was watchin'. The Masonator sees all.

[Poor Harry. Having to sit through teenagers (and a twenty-something) tell horror stories and talk about people making out in unconventional locations and now this.]

[no_ufo_ending]

[Burger bounds forward and places his paws on Heather's knee. DB HE WAS THE BEST HELPER. TELL HIM HE WAS THE BEST HELPER. "Oowwwlllmm!"]

Whatever.

[foolishwren]

[Awwww. Burger gets a headpat. Yes, kitty, you WERE the best helper.]

[Cujo agrees with that, because of course he immediately leans over and tries to snuffle all over the Glameow with his melted-marshmallow-covered snout.]

[Heather, meanwhile, does a fist-pump!]

The 'w' word has been used!

Victory automatically goes to meee.