3rd stitch sewn ≈ [action]

[affably_andy]

[Andy's door is wide open. He knows that it would probably be smarter to lock it until this is over, but everything is feeling too strange. Keeping it closed feels claustrophobic.]

[If one glances in,  one can see he's frantically tearing it apart in search of...something.]

Okay, I left it on the desk last, and I checked all around it before...unless

Comments

[sirenspell]

[Well, that's an oddity. Usually the corridors are lined with closed doors - that would attract her attention even without the rustling, searching sounds. She approaches cautiously, peering around to see...a boy who's decided to redecorate. Frantically.

She knocks against the open door to alert him to her presence.]

Hello.

[She offers a small, quizzical smile.]

Can I...help you? At all?

[affably_andy]

[He visibly jumps, whirls around and freezes in three quick, jerky movements.] I'm--um. No, I'll be fine--I'm just looking for my communicator. Well, I was looking for my coffee cup first, but then I realized I was missing that and forg--got distracted.

...I'm Andy, by the way. I don't think we've met before.

[sirenspell]

[Her smile widens and becomes more reassuring. He seems a bit flustered, poor boy.]

I'm Esmeralda. Are you sure you don't need any help finding your things?

[affably_andy]

Esmeralda? Alright. [He's not trying to sound rude, but his mind isn't as focused on tact as well as it usually is.]

I'm--I'm fine. I can get another cup later. [Fidget, fidget.]

...Could you give me a heads-up if you find my communicator, though? It has a piece of paper with some numbers taped to the side.

[collegecowboy]

[After much debate, Woody peers into the room, having stumbled across Andy's room purely by accident. Had he not heard the boys voice among his frantic searching he'd have walked right by his dorm completely. He knows he shouldn't be there, that he should walk away and use the communicator instead if he desires to see Andy. But knowing something's upset Andy holds him back, especially when he wants to help him out.

Woody patiently waits for some sort of explanation, all the while remaining low and alert.]

computer problems gdi

[affably_andy]

[And if he waits just a little longer, he'll hear the creak of Andy sitting on the bed and a half-defeated sigh.] I haven't used it in so long
...who was the last person I talked to with it?

No Probs.

[collegecowboy]

[So that's what it is. He's lost something. Honestly, he's not surprised. Andy's a surprisingly organized kid but an organized mess is still a mess none the less.

It's unclear what it is Andy's lost, but Woody's willing to bet it either fell behind his bed or was mistakenly pushed underneath it. You'd be surprised by the amount of things that supposedly 'vanished out of thin air' which could be found there. Well, with the exception of Andy's toy box. Missing keys had a habit of appearing again at the bottom of the box.

Woody presses his lips together, listening carefully to Andy's words. The last person he talked to with it... Is it his phone? Instantly, Andy's cell number jumped to mind. 555-0112 - if there were a phone near by he could use it to call Andy! And... Say what exactly when he picks up?]

[affably_andy]

[Nope, not his cell--but even if it was and Woody grabbed a phone, he'd find that he couldn't get a signal. Electronics don't really work in the Mist.]

Not that that would help, really...[Pff. He lays down totally on the mattress, deciding to take a break for a few minutes.]

[oh_icanfeelit]

[Kronk is trying to be a Good Teacher - which to his mindset means stalking the hallways with a baseball bat, trying to look tough and scare away whoever or whatever's been kidnapping kids. The clatter draws him into Andy's room, and the look on the kid's face makes him speak up.]

Huh. Maybe it's mice?

[affably_andy]

[Have an incredibly freaked-out look directed toward said bat. Then a double-take at the words.]

...Mice? Um...I don't think that mice steal communicators often. Or coffee cups.

[oh_icanfeelit]

[Kronk lowers the bat slightly, to show he doesn't find Andy a threat. He laughs softly.]

Aww, y'never know, they might wanna build a nest or something...y'okay, though?

[affably_andy]

...Not a very comfortable nest, anyway.

Um, y-yeah.

[a_strangeling]

[No, Andy, you haven't lost your mind.

Not yet.

But your security has now been compromised; so, thank you for the open door.

The bedrooms lights start to flicker as the Strangeling approaches, the air turning from the usual melancholy chill of the Mist to an icy chill, enough to see one's breath.

That mass of dark swirling fog glides silently over the floor, stopping in Andy's doorway.

It sees you, Andy.]

[affably_andy]

Wh--?

[Andy's heart starts thundering before he fully registers what's there. He shoves himself backwards, slamming his back into the side of his desk.]

[a_strangeling]

[It approaches, steadily, slowly. Its harsh whispers fill the air, though the words are incoherent and seemingly alien.

A wispy tendril reaches out for Andy.

Care to shake "hands" with the Strangeling?]

[affably_andy]

[No. No. No, he does not. But there's nowhere to run.

A tiny sound slides from his lips; a weak moan of terror.

He slides down until he's nearly sitting on the floor. He's panicking far too much to think.]