003 - Voice

[halfnhalf]

[When the journal turns on, all it can see is nothing but the ceiling. At first, there aren't any noises, either. Well, nothing except the sound of clicking from what sounds like a mouse. After a moment of that, however, that stops, and then Teddy's voice is heard, sounding a bit unsure.]

...Billy? I think my laptop upgraded itself.

[Another sound, one of faintly playing music that might have been heard earlier, is paused as Billy's voice comes in a little further away.]

Upgraded how? Is it running better?

No, there's just... stuff that wasn't there before, like some games I've never heard of. Come here a second...

[Something's being shut and set aside for the moment, and then there's the sound of footsteps noise as Billy makes his way to where Teddy's sitting.]

Maybe it's just an added Christmas bonus. .... 'Slender'? Are you sure that's not a virus or something?

Beats me. Guess I won't tell unless I click it - I've got avast, don't worry.

...If you break your laptop you can't steal mine.

I steal yours to play Skyrim anyway, your argument is invalid. Now, let's see...

[A double click as Teddy gets the "virus" started. There's a pause, and then a rather low, unsettling sound.]

...This is not a great beginning, Tee.

The title screen's kinda flee-the-room worthy, but... hmm. Not very virusy to me.

'Flee the room' is a good way to phrase it. I don't trust those crickets.

What, think they'll jump out and eat you? All I'm doing is walking through the woods...

Walking through the woods in the dark with no music. Something is going to eat you.

Well, it's not gonna be crickets. I think I'm supposed to find the thing that'll eat me.

It said 'find 8 pages', so thanks for the mental image you just gave me. I'll never look at my bookshelf the same way.

You're welcome. ... Whoa, wait, what just - did my screen just -

[And a creak of the chair - with Billy having his arms around Teddy's shoulders and jerking back the way he did, he ended up yanking the chair a little.] Oh my god did you do that?"

No, it's - Me moving made it stop. I'm starting to believe your virus theory, B...

Then just turn it off, it's freaking me out.

Hold on, I want to see where this goes. ... Oh, a building. Not sure if want.

...Don't you dare go in there.

I'm thinking I have to. And you don't have to watch if it's bothering you, I think I'll be okay.

I'm fine, I just- no, seriously, I don't think you should go in there. That is a death trap.

There might be a page in there; that's what I'm supposed to be looking for, right? Eight pages that'll eat me...

That's still not funny. .....Why is that hallway so dark. You have a flashlight. Why is it dark.

III don't...

[Whereas Teddy sounds distracted and focused on the game, Billy's babbling is beginning to sound a little shaky. This part's seriously claustrophobic.] Why are you playing this. Why would anyone play this? ...Oh god, can you even get out of there? Did you trap yourself? You totally did, didn't you? You're gonna die.

Nnno I'm not...

[Billy's starting to breathe faster as Teddy goes around corner after corner. Teddy, however, is quiet; having Billy be scared for him helps him out during games - uh, viruses like this. But after a moment of that:]

Oh my god an exit, get out, get the hell out, this is the worst place in the world-

[Teddy, on his part, sounds amused, even if his voice is just slightly shaky: the only time Billy really swears is if he's scared, and it's funny to hear.] See? I made it out and I'm not dead. Still didn't find a page.

This is a stupid game. It's stupid and it's boring. Just play Skyrim or something, okay?

Maybe if I can find a page - oh, some tanks.

No, no, no, no no no no no no...

[Another pause, with more quiet no's from Billy and silence from Teddy... at least, until a certain point.] ... Hm.

Oh shit, what was that, what is that right there-

Calm down, just a tree, camera got weird on me.

No it's- .....um.

Tree.

Shut up.

Heh heh.

Okay... So far I'm finding nothing.

Nothing but- your screen's doing that thing again.

Yeah, I don't - [And just as Teddy lifts his hand to tap the screen - ]

What is that noise!?

Agh, it's - I can't - What the fuck -

[Briefly, there's the sound of the chair creaking - but this time it sounds like it's being forced back even further and even jostled. Following right after is Billy letting out a scream and loud, incoherent sputterings of "shit shit shit" before his footsteps are heard again, this time much louder and quicker as he runs away, and the door slamming.

Teddy, however, just breathes heavily for a few seconds... before he lets it out in one long breath, then gives a brief pause as he looks around.]

... Billy?

[And more footsteps, much softer now that Teddy's walking to the door, where all that can be heard is muffled shrieking.]

B, it's okay, it's over now - let me in?

[... At least his voice is only shaky compared to Billy's screaming.]

((ooc: As Billy will spend the rest of the time being under a blanket, Teddy will answer for the most part, though the former might interject at some points. If you want Billy in on it for a threeway thread, just say so and we'll drag him out! For the record, replies will, in Luceti time, be answered about ten minutes after the entry, seeing how they must console each other after such a near death experience.

Also, the video we used for reference. Have fun!))

Comments

[selfhelp]

[Billy is in his room hiding under about six blankets.

And no it is not over.

No you can't come in.

The monster will get him.]

[halfnhalf]

[Okay, so, going by experience.

Billy will likely put a hole through the ceiling if Teddy knocks on the door. So, though it's instinct to do so, he instead rests his palms against the door.]

Heh, Billy, come on - please?

[selfhelp]

[He is met by yet another muffled scream - the six blankets aren't there for nothing, after all, and there's probably a pillow in the pile somewhere - and then silence.

Eventually, though, comes a response, quiet, shaken, and miserly:]

...I think I left my heart in there...

[halfnhalf]

Yeah, with me. Open the door and maybe I'll give it back?

[Cheap attempt at a joke, yes. Really, he'd just like to get in that room and cuddle up to his boyfriend. Yes, that sounds perfect right now Billy pleeeease]

[selfhelp]

[He doesn't want to open the door. He doesn't want to move. He is in a cocoon of safety and warmth and no-monsters-allowed.

But.]

...S'not locked.

[halfnhalf]

... Okay. I'm opening the door.

[And with that, he slowly turns the knob to open the door, trying not to let it make too much noise. The sight of Billy under all those blankets and pillows makes his lips quirk up, and he starts to step lightly over to the bed.]

I'm getting on the bed now.

[Can never be too careful with spooked Billy.]

[selfhelp]

[Oh, Teddy. If only you could teleport. Between the squeaky knob, the footsteps, and the creak of the extra pressure on his bed, the last thing Billy wants to do is lift any of the blankets, but Teddy's here now, and Teddy means warmth and security and safe.

And yeah, it's stupid- paranoia and panic and it's just a game, but spooked is spooked, and that's what he is right now.

His hand snakes out of the pile, edging towards where he'd heard Teddy's voice come from. C'mere, BF, that was freaky as hell.]

[halfnhalf]

[Patience, patience - Ah, there it is. With a half smile, Teddy takes his boyfriend's hand in his own, first giving it a warm and secure squeeze, then bringing it up to press against his own cheek. He'll move slightly as he does so, enough to lean on his other arm and rest his side against the bed.]

Think you can let me in there any time soon?

[selfhelp]

[Well, that's sort of better. His hold is returned with something of a deathgrip - as much as a human can give a nigh-invulnerable alien hybrid, anyway - and it takes less time for Billy to respond this time. His voice is still muffled- there's definitely a pillow-to-face thing going on in his tent.]

I 'unno if'or safe...

[halfnhalf]

Give me words, Billy. Actual pronounced words.

[Nevertheless, he caught the gist. So, Teddy pulls his hand around to kiss the back of it, then run his thumb along his skin.]

I'm pretty sure I'm safe. And capable of protecting you from Slendermen. So... Do you want me or not?

[selfhelp]

...Mmph.

[But he doesn't waaaaaant to.

He relents before too long, though, pulling on his hand to slide it back under the blankets, still holding on to Teddy's as it disappears to imply that yes, okay, you can come in. If you must.]

[halfnhalf]

[That smile on his face turns into a grin as he follows the slow pulling of his hand; it's more the fact that now he, too, can hide away with his boyfriend. He shifts his weight around, using the hand that's not Billy's death grip to give him a little more room to slide under the covers, and once his head is under -

Well. It's very, very dark under here. But he can feel Billy's body heat, at least, and hear his breathing, so he moves his hand to try stroking his cheek. He'll probably get his finger up Billy's nose instead.]

Hi.

[selfhelp]

[Up his nose- or right in the eye, more like. Ow. And with one hand gripping Teddy's and the other holding his side of the blanket down, he has no defense against the sudden attack except to latch his teeth around the offending digit. Congratulations, Teddy, you've been bitten by your boyfriend, and not in the good way.

At least it isn't terribly hard, since at the last second Billy realizes who it is, but it doesn't stop him from holding on long enough to mutter in a somewhat incoherent voice (again),]

Uuh 'ot 'y eye.

[halfnhalf]

Ow.

[Yeah, just because he has super healing doesn't mean these things don't hurt. It's not enough to draw blood or anything, but a bite (and not the good kind) is a bite.

But he kind of deserved it, accidentally poking Billy's eye and all. So, once Billy lets go of him, Teddy lets out a quiet laugh - it's still a little shaky, but he's trying not to let it show - and moves his hand again, this time pulling his boyfriend close and resting his chin on top of his head.

And with Billy this close, he might feel Teddy shifting. Not much, since he doesn't want to rip his perfectly good hoodie he got from Pepper, but enough to be bigger, more capable of just wrapping his boyfriend up and keeping him safe.]

Sorry about the poke. I swear I was aiming for your cheek.

[selfhelp]

[The moment he feels Teddy shifting against him, Billy relaxes, slumping back against the blond and curling up as close as he can comfortably get. People can say whatever they want about him dating a Hulk-sized alien (though if they know what's good for them, they'll say it out of his hearing range), but nothing makes him feel quite as safe as being eclipsed and protected by the massive limbs and body of his shapeshifted boyfriend. Like nothing in the entire universe can touch him as long as Teddy's right there.

Not even stupid slender faceless monsters.

He finally pulls his face away from the pillow just long enough to bury it in the material of Teddy's hoodie, free hand clenching in the material.]

...S'okay. Sorry I bit you.

[There's something to be said about instinct, but words (for once) escape him.]

[halfnhalf]

Mmm.

[And he's silent for all of ten seconds before Teddy realizes that it's really creepy when it's so silent and dark. He turns his head as if to look for something but - oh, right, too dark to see.]

Is there a flashlight nearby? Oh, also? That's probably the fastest I've ever seen you run.

[selfhelp]

[Billy's noticed the same atmosphere, actually, edging even closer (and he's as surprised as anyone that it was even possible, squished as he already was) and lifting one hand between them. After a moment of focus, a ball of blue light flares to life within his fingers, leaving his hand to hover in front of them around chest-level. He offers Teddy a slight, miserly smile, half-muttering into Teddy's sweater.]

"Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima"?

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy can't quite respond at first, because now Billy's bathed in the blue light of his magic, and not in the obnoxious way but - it makes him seem ethereal. Especially with what little of his face he can see, considering the rest is hidden in his hoodie. And...

... Heh.]

"Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars". Nice reference there.

[He gives a more full smile as a result, before he leans his head down to whisper:]

"lle ier vanima."

[selfhelp]

[It takes a moment for the words to sink in, and immediately he's going red, though it's hard to tell in the dim blue light; Teddy might be able to feel the hotness of his cheeks against the hoodie, depending on how many layers he's got on.

Billy turns his head anyway to conceal the blush, fingers tightening in the material. Dork. Dork.]

Your pronunciation's off.

[It's an automatic response, cheeky and somewhat sullen- whether Teddy said it right or not, he needs the attitude to break his sudden fluster. It's a compliment, yes, but does he have to say... well. That? It's so...

...ugh, his face is so red. He almost turns the light out.]

[halfnhalf]

What? My pronunciation's just fine.

[He moves his head to smile into Billy's hair - It's smaller, with him shifted slightly like this, and his arm covers Billy's back, in a way that seems almost protective. Yes, it's just a game, and Teddy know it's not real and that this is a little ridiculous. Sure, he's a bit freaked himself, but definitely not as much as Billy.

But if it makes his boyfriend react like this, then it's not ridiculous at all, and he wants to do what he can to let his boyfriend feel safe again. Even from things that aren't real. So he stays, keeping shifted like this and trading nerdy phrases with him.

Actually, it's kind of seriously romantic.]

"amin mela lle."

[selfhelp]

[Oof. There goes his heart. Billy purses his lips tightly, winding his free arm up around Teddy's broad shoulders as far as it'll go. He does feel like kind of a wuss, and at least he's not shaking anymore... it's just frustrating to be so startled by something stupid.

He's certainly not going to complain about Teddy getting all hulked out and protective on him, either. Especially when it makes him feel better already.

He's still blushing, though... he doubts anything could stop that right about now.]

....Mm... Teddy, seriously...

[Despite the slightly exasperated tone, he can't seem to stop himself from echoing the phrase right back at his boyfriend. He just can't say no to Elvish. Ever. It's like his Kryptonite.]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy chuckles quietly at that; yes, he knows. Billy's probably as much of a sucker for Elvish as he is, considering how much he studied it. It's why there's a slight flush on his face, too, when Billy echoes the phrase back at him.

But, after a small pause, Teddy just has to poke at him a little, now that Billy isn't shaking anymore.]

You sure did abandon me fast.

[selfhelp]

[Billy shrinks down a little bit under the blankets, and this time it's definitely not out of fear.]

...Nnnno. I just have faster reflexes than you.

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy lifts his head out of Billy's hair now that the topic's moved on, just so that he can show he little smirk.]

No, you abandoned me. I could've had my face eaten by Slenderman-virus and you'd let it happen. Here I thought you had my back.

[selfhelp]

[Well. He's kind of got him there.]

...When it comes to Slenderman, it's every man for himself. Everybody knows that.

[...wait. He doesn't even know who the hell Slenderman is!]

You knew what that was?