sticksandbonesmods | Let's go in the garden...

[He's frozen in place, eyes locked on the beast that emerges through the trees and the mist. This is hardly the first time he's faced down death. If he compares it to the enormous Nephilim, the great Behemoth, the grotesque mutants of the Cult of Henir, a creature like this hardly qualifies for more than cannon fodder. A small, trifling little beast that would fall easily to the El Search Party.

But at the end of the day, Add by himself is only one human. He know all too well how fragile the human body is, how easily such a beast could snap his neck before he could even move. He's nothing without Dynamo, and if his drones are too weak to fight...

In moments like these, someone else would always jump in. Elsword, Chung, Raven... he'd be scolded for getting too close, putting himself at risk when he's supposed to be hanging back. But deep down, they all knew he'd be safe. He always felt safe. Why take the risk, if he wasn't confident he'd come out alive?

His composure falters, one foot slowly sliding back. This time, there's no one here to save him. No matter how much he prays, Elsword won't come flying in through the trees.

... but he's not ready to give up. not yet, even against all the odds in the world—

His two dynamos slam together, and the last of that energy is spent on a blinding burst of sparks—if something catches fire, he'll take it, but either way he's taking the only option he has left. He's fucking booking it in the opposite direction.]

Edited 2023-08-14 05:43 (UTC)

Wait- no- no, no, you can't- Add- DON'T HURT HIM!

( struggling in the tree's grasp, nene reaches out uselessly- her vision already starting to blur and worse yet, even if the forest wasn't holding her in place, she wouldn't be able to look away.

stupid. stupid stupid stupid stupid STUPID- you had ONE JOB. )

The wolf is still. And then it breaks into a run. Its claws tear into the ground underfoot as it gives chase, a frenzied snarl that almost sounds like a delighted declaration, that this was just what it wanted.

The underbrush does spark into fire, but it does little to deter the beast- or rather, despite whimpering in pain (is it the fire or is it the wood and growth) it's too maddened to care.

Perhaps the only mercy is that it doesn't toy with him. It's speed far outclasses a human man, so it can catch up quickly. From there? From there it can tackle him to the ground (even the paw pads are covered in thorns and overgrown claws) and rip and tear. Thousands of needle-like teeth, the jagged bark along its legs and chest, everything digs into Add. Everything stains red. Everything tears.

Edited 2023-08-14 06:00 (UTC)

[He doesn't make it very far before he's throw against the ground, claws digging into his back with enough force to crack ribs. The plating on his arms and legs does little to help—thin, flexible material that's only meant to stop glancing blows, armor that's swiftly ripped from his body along with flesh and blood and shattered bone. Dynamo clusters around him, the remaining drones tumbling from his pockets, helpless to do more than beep and crackle with what little power they have left—the drone by Nene is the only one that hesitates, lingers, torn between its instructions and the instinctive drive to protect him.

For what it's worth, Add is able to maintain that perfect and calm image he cares so much about. His throat is torn before he can scream, limbs pinned and crushed without a chance to crawl away.

... the drones cease their panicked circling.

A few seconds pass, and... with an air of great reluctance, the ones that still have the strength to fly leave their master to regroup at Nene's sides. The other two crash into the ground along the way, lights dimmed and spent.

They take care not to get too close to the vines. It's difficult to read the emotions of a faceless, voiceless array of robots—but they're clingy, weakened, searching for some sort of direction.]

( nene is released, dropping to the floor again with an odd mix of gentleness and callous roughness. she bursts into a scrambled run to add's side, but she knows- she knows. it's too late. the wolf left as soon as add's heart stopped, leaving gore just... dropped on his own corpse.

did the forest really hate this one man that much?

and yet nene can't make herself look away from bone and flesh. not until she remembers the drones- hesitantly, she reaches up to touch one, but... they're not going to last long, are they? )

Um- I... while you can, I need help. Carrying him. I can fix this, we just have to go back to the Garden... and when you need to sleep, I'll bring you along too. I promise.

( regardless of their answer, nene sits back, and takes a deep breath before touching the earth. and it answers her call, manifesting a stick-and-woven-grass stretcher. all she can do is try and move him onto it again, just like she did last time...

just like last time. )

[I can fix this is all she needs to say. They beep in reply, an unsteady swerving flight back to their master's side to help move him. What's left of him. If they and Nene all work together, it'll be just enough.

The exhausted drones shudder, one last fruitless attempt to do their part... she'll have to pick those ones up herself. They're heavier than they look, but not by too much.

Wherever she leads, they'll follow.]

( add will, eventually, come to again in the garden. there is no mother's voice humming this time. this time, there's crying, and a weight on his chest. he'll find nene curled up, half on his healed chest as her shoulders shake in heaving sobs, one of the dynamo drones still in her arms while the others are arranged around him in little makeshift beds of flowers and leaves.

her hands are transparent. )

[His dreams are murky and formless. Dark shapes that dance at the edges of his vision, hot breath against the back of his neck. Pins and needles, slickness on his skin... a tiny pit of dread, drowned in a calming numbness. It's just a bad dream, it says. You're safe here. Go back to sleep.

He can smell his mother's flowers all around him. It must be a good dream, if it reminds him of her.

There's no alarm to wake him, this time... but as his mind starts to stir, he can hear crying. Slowly, slowly, the pleasant illusion melts away...]

Mom...? [His voice comes out hoarse and quiet. He tries to move, but between the weight on his chest and his limbs being half-asleep, the best he can manage is a tired wiggle. He blinks through filtered light, staring up at the leaves of the tree.

... it can't be mom, because she's been dead for centuries. Add groans weakly, trying to remember. Focus, stupid. Wasn't he with someone...?]

Where is... Nene? Is that...

Edited (-t) 2023-08-15 02:51 (UTC)

AH-

( she jolts immediately, sitting upright- despite the messy ordeal she must have gone through while dealing with... everything, she doesn't seem any worse for wear... save for the transparency. don't worry about it. and also the tear stains, how red her eyes are- )

A-Add- I-

( she chokes on the next word and instead opts for wrapping her arms around his neck instead, wailing with grief and relief alike. )

I won't let go again, I promise! I'm so sorry!

[He's being hugged... he still can't get up, but he manages to flop an arm against her back. His head feels like it's stuffed with cotton again, but if he pushes through the mental haze...

he remembers... the garden... he was supposed to leave if he felt strange, but he didn't listen. she took him outside, and...]

... did I pass out again? [everything past that is a blur. He groans again, groggily bringing up his other hand to rub the sleep from his eyes.] It's okay. I'm fine now... I'm the one who should apologize.

I- y-you don't remember...?

(

what... does she do?

does she tell him about the wolf and his brutal death? how she had to put him back together? how the garden wailed when they reentered, or how she had to ferry his corpse and the dynamos dropping one by one back to this little sanctuary?

her grip tightens.

she can't let him live in the dark completely. )

We- I let go of your hand and the forest attacked immediately.

I remember... we left together. You were asking about Elrianode...

[he said something, and she looked so sad... he was trying to cheer her up, and...

he sighs sharply, shutting his eyes.

he can't remember. ~~he doesn't want to.~~]

Attacked... what do you mean? We were chased back here?

It's okay now. I'm sorry for making you cry... are you alright? Did it hurt you? [he tries to sit up again, if she doesn't show him herself he'll find out about her fading hands shortly]

... No. The forest won't ever attack me like that. It... just went for you.

( there's no hiding the fade of her body even if she wanted to- she's lingered in the garden too long, and maybe mom is being a little selfish and wants to offer the only protection she can. )

It... it caught you. I- I failed my one job in bringing people back, and you died again...

—you're disappearing. [hello, something to fixate on that isn't his own demise? He grabs her hands, a concerned frown pushing aside the uncertainty on his mind.]

It's this place, isn't it? We can't stay here... we have to leave, I can get up—

[he

really can't, he's going to immediately fall over if he tries, but the spirit is there. he'll make it up on the third or fourth attempt.]

I- I can't leave you again...

( even if this will kill her. maybe it'd be appropriate- oh, but then how would he get back to the grove...?

so she'll wait until he can. )

I'll be fine. I won't leave you.

[He's stubborn enough to make it on the second try... nearly falls again, but manages to stay upright. It's at this point that he notices Dynamo and the little flower beds scattered around him. Lights blinking, no response...

with a sigh, he kneels back down in the grass. okay. it'll be the third try for sure, as soon as he gets these drones back in storage.]

... It's my fault it happened like this. I'm sorry.

No. It's mine. I'm the one who let go.

( despite how soft and broken her voice is, there's a certain firmness too. like she can't budge on this- won't. she'll greedily take all the guilt in this exchange and won't share a crumb.

but once he begins to gather the drones, she stands up. she's not so far gone that the one she's holding will fall through her arms, but... )

If I didn't need your protection, we wouldn't be in this situation... the root of the problem is my own failure. [they're both too stubborn for this

he picks up the last drone, looking at it for a moment before stashing it away... then, he reaches down to pull a knife from his pouch. he flicks it on, a faint blue glow lighting up along the edge.

just in case. he keeps it palmed, holding the other hand out to Nene.]

Come on. Let's get you out of here.

Mn... okay.

( her hand will feel cold and tingly up until they enter the nexus of the mist and fog again. she doesn't hesitate this time, nor linger for too long- the sooner add gets to the grove, the better.

that said, once they enter that nexus, her hands seem to restore themselves. )

[This time around she'll be outpacing him... he's trying not to stumble, taking it slow to compensate for his addled mental state. He holds her hand tightly, glancing down at it every so often to make sure it's really there. One step at a time, easy does it...

... he wants to bring up his request again, but the timing feels awkward now. his resolve hasn't changed, but pushing her after a mess like that won't do them any good... he sighs, letting their walk go on in silence for now. if he can get her to come willingly, great. if not...

he doesn't let go, but he weaves their fingers together as they approach the edge of the garden, the precipice of the forest. this way, it'll at least be harder to let go by mistake, he hopes.]

( nene at least slows down when she notices he's going slower as well. she can't blame him, and wishes that she could give him rest, but- no. it has to wait. they can't stay here- but.

...

nene squeezes his hand in her own. )

You'll have to pay the toll again.

[He looks at her blankly for a moment. Toll?]

... oh, right. [Nothing happened last time, so he almost forgot... well, it'll probably be fine again. He'll worry about it later. He squeezes her hand back.] I'll be fine. Hold on tight, okay?

[They'll be back in the forest soon, and this time he won't let go...]

( they won't let go. but after the attack she'd seen, she doesn't think the forest is going to gentle about it. )

... I'm right here with you. Okay?

( who's comforting who? honestly... )

[He smiles, and in his mind he's not the one putting on a brave face. He's not scared... he doesn't even remember dying. It's like it didn't even happen. Does it count, if he can't remember it and came back to life? Nene is the one who had to watch. She's the one who would've suffered, not him.

Add fidgets with the knife in his hand, testing the grip, rotating it between his fingers in a practiced motion... anyway, if something does appear, he'll be ready. He's survived on his own before. He won't let go.

Together, they step out from the mist and into the fog...

It seems the same, at first... but there's something in the air that he can't quite place. The trees hang around them like a crowd, bumping shoulders, lightly tickling at his sides... was it always so dense out here? Did they take a different path? He stumbles, squeezing her hand so he doesn't lose it, lifting his head up to more branches—scraping, leaves in his face, another root blocking his foot.

Something isn't right. He stops, raising a hand to swipe the branches away, the edge of his knife glowing brightly—]

[the branches crack and twist like hands, impossibly strong as they bind around his arm—how stupid is he, really, thinking a tiny knife would be enough to save him? And yet he still struggles fruitlessly, trying to pull away from the snare. The roots coil at his feet, more branches creeping up from behind, encircling his chest, his neck, how can trees move so fast—

The only limb left untouched is his other arm... of course, it would be a shame if Nene didn't do her job. Imagine how tragic it would be if she let go, right here, while Add is in the forest's palm? She would do good to keep him still.

He's bound firmly in place, and for a moment he wonders if he's going to die again already... but the wooden bindings tighten no further, even if it would be oh so easy for them to snap his taut neck like a twig. He's not left wondering for long as a final ragged branch lowers itself, tips sharpened to a point, winding and twisting into a single, long, thorny stick that stays level with his eyes... it sways, as if deciding between two choices, then

flicker of movement, darkness, a searing pain in his right eye

thrashing instinctively but he's trapped like an insect under a pin, thorns digging inside his skull, scraping against his optic nerve. branches rattle around him like laughter. someone is screaming. the leaves tickle his throat and he tastes blood, dripping, getting in his eyes, claws that scrape and grasp and twist and pull

he doesn't see the forest recede, taking with it its mangled prize. he only feels his legs give out when the supports are taken out from under him.]

Let's go in the garden...

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cw: wow!!!! its eye-gouging time!!!!!!!

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