*a wild demon appears*
*A wild Jim blinks in confusion.*
°Hello there?°
*Knocks on the door, a bunch of stuff in hand* CJ?
°*there's the sounds of several locks being undone before the door opens. He's there, and looking more than a little exhausted* Doc? Yeah come in he is in the living room- *he moves to leave a clear path, walking over to the matress on the floor*°
*the kitten wiggled closer to him* meow meow meow meow meow meow meow?
°He will be ok, you do not have to worry..°
*the kitten climbs on Jim's shoulder* meow *he feels tall*
°He smiles softly, pulling out his phone again. Comfy up there?°
*Ťhâńķ ýøū, §īř* meow *Ī řêăľĺý ām ťhāñķfűł*
°Ok THAT he heard. Guess he did actually hear something the first night then? To be honest, it didn't surprise him as much as it should have. Maybe he really wouldn't pass out if he saw Mothman one day. It's not a problem, you have done far more for the two of us. And you do not have to call me sir, I'm not that old yet. He chuckles a little°
*the kitten wiggled after him, excited for food* meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow
°Despite everything, a soft chuckle escaped him. He rinses off the plate the kitten used last time and takes another patty out. He sets it down in front of them. Guess this is your plate now huh?°
*the kitten sat at his feet* mew mew mew mew mew mew mew
°He set his phone down, clicking the screen off. First sent, second saved.°
°..What is it little guy? Hungry? He gives Jim's pulse another check- still going- before pulling himself up and heading towards the kitchen. There's probably a little more burger left..°
*the kitten woke up next to RJ.* meow *it stretched and yawn. he looked away and saw CJ busy calling... someone* meow?
°CJ looked up from his typing for a brief moment, setting down the phone for a second. Just getting some help Snow, you have a good sleep I hope?°
*the kitten smiles* mew mew :3 *he purrs at his feet*
°CJ smiles back softly and sits down on the edge of the matress, reaching out to gently pet the kitten. There's a shuddery intake of breath, and he's looking at his phone. How is he supposed to explain any of this to 911...°
*the kitten sneezes and a portal opens to show the living room* meow *he leads the way*
°It's pretty obvious he didn't really expect that to work. Kitten is just full of surprises. He speed walks through the portal after them and into the room, moving to lay Jim down gently onto the matress. Ok, he needed to get a doctor here, where's his phone-°
*The kitten drops the box and started sniffing* sniff sniff *they smell* sniff *they smell... peppermint and Irish Spring. RJ* meow meow! *he starts leading the way*
°RJ raises an eyebrow.°
°Where are you going?°
°he follows anyway though°
*as the kitten drags the box, they see him struggle. they hope he'll be alright* meow meow
°He glances over at them, his breathing had picked up, he needed to hurry. I'm ok, we should find him soon. He begins scanning the street signs, making sure not to look directly at them for too long, least they change on him.°
*even though CJ went in this strange portal, the kitten follows happily. he still drags the cracker box*
°You are just full of determination little guy. He smiles a little at them. The kitten was like a living cat motivational poster with their crackers and sweetness. He keeps walking, the air was getting heavier.°
*They walked through the portal with CJ.*
°He glanced around, blinking in the new space. It looked like... downtown? There's a tension in the air though, and the colors are muted, like the world is a bowstring strung tight through a camera filter. It's familiar, and not just because it looks like the streets he'd driven down with RJ a thousand times.°
°...°
°He starts walking forward°
*They waited in confusion.*
°He pulls his hand out and looks at it for a second.°
°...Just testing the waters. He steps forward and slips through the portal, really hoping this was the right choice.°
Ⓐⓛⓡⓘⓖⓗⓣ. *They walk toward the portal with you.*
°CJ stops just before entering, and sticks his left hand in to test how it feels, and if something was going to eat it off.°
Ⓝⓞⓣ ⓘⓝ ⓣⓗⓔ ⓢⓛⓘⓖⓗⓣⓔⓢⓣ.
°Peachy. He goes back to studying the portals. Was there any tell to see? Or did he really just have to flip a coin, with three sides, yeah he was tired. He gently lifts up the kitten and approaches the leftmost portal°
🅘 🅒🅐🅝'🅣 🅣🅐🅚🅔 🅨🅞🅤 🅣🅞 🅨🅞🅤🅡 🅑🅡🅞🅣🅗🅔🅡, 🅑🅔🅒🅐🅤🅢🅔 🅢🅞🅜🅔🅣🅗🅘🅝🅖 🅘🅢 🅜🅔🅢🅢🅘🅝🅖 🅦🅘🅣🅗 🅜🅨 🅚🅝🅞🅦🅛🅔🅓🅖🅔, 🅑🅤🅣 🅘 🅚🅝🅞🅦 🅗🅔 🅘🅢 🅞🅝 🅣🅗🅔 🅞🅣🅗🅔🅡 🅢🅘🅓🅔 🅞🅕 🅞🅝🅔 🅞🅕 🅣🅗🅔🅢🅔 🅣🅗🅡🅔🅔 🅟🅞🅡🅣🅐🅛🅢, 🅢🅞 🅣🅐🅚🅔 🅨🅞🅤🅡 🅟🅘🅒🅚.
°CJ shifts his gaze over to the portals, eyeing each one in turn, before looking back at you.°
°Do you know where each one leads?°
🅘'🅜 🅢🅞🅡🅡🅨 🅐🅑🅞🅤🅣 🅣🅗🅐🅣.
°His expression doesn't change much. Maybe a little more thoughtful, though.°
°Acknowledged. Would you mind telling me what this is about then? I need to get to Jim.°
I’ll try my best, same goes for you! -Neb
°That is fair, thanks Neb°
*Misfortune reappears.*
°CJ jolts a bit in surprise before fixing them with a stare. You're back.°
Hey, it’s fine! You didn’t drag me into anything! -Neb
°Still, you be safe too, yeah?°
Hey, it’ll be ok. I’ll try and help in any way I can. It’s gonna be fine. -Neb
°I have to believe that, otherwise I don't think I will be able to leave. Thank you, I'm sorry to drag you into this..°
CJ?? Are you alright?? Oh no this is such a mess... Where even is this place? -Neb
°he pushes himself up, wincing slightly but nodding°
°I don't know where this place is, or what it is, I-°
°his hands drop mid sentence, there's a look that crosses his face before he forces it into being neutral. It's pretty obvious though, a flash of helplessness. He just, he wants to sleep, but he has to get RJ, he has to save him.°
°...You could say that again, about it being a mess. I'll figure it out though, I won't give up.°
*the kitten lays next to him, careful not to scare him. both are scared*
°CJ shudders slightly in his curled up position, but he recognises the kitten's shape next to him. His side hurts, but nothing is broken he doesn't think. Where are they? He needs to get back, Jim is hurt and-°
°You didn't run? Snow Ears, are we both trapped?°
*The stop talking and stare at him for a while, before sending him through a portal.*
°His eyes go wide and he curles up like a cannon ball as he falls, not knowing what else to do and terrified of what might be below°
CJ, I can’t read it that well, but the closest I can get is Ashworth and Ridge. I’m sorry I couldn’t make out more- Do those sound familiar to you? -Neb
°...Yeah, it does I think, I'll get there soon. Yell if anything changes, please? I can't thank you enough Neb.°
*The chanting stops and the entire room seems to be looking at CJ. The smiling objects seemed to be talking to each other as Misfortune's head looked from left to right.*
°CJ continues to stare, he's not wavering now°
*They continued chanting and everything seemed to smile.*
°His glare intensifies. Alright you bundle of half off kindling, I don't know what your issue is, but you are keeping me from my brother. So, either you put me down, and we both walk out of here, or I get to go anime protagonist on your ***. Your call, haybale.°
Yeah.. I.. I tried talking to him but he didn’t respond.. he was bleeding from his temple and I’m seriously worried.. -Neb
°CJ is still again. A second passes.°
°...I owe you Neb, that's two people I owe here now, thank you. We /will/ find him, my brother /will/ be ok. I just have to show this scarecrow wannabe the inside of a fireplace before I can do anything. Can you see what street he's on?°