strongroots | [thecity] inbox

[ ok wtf to all that, really. ]

some people got knocked around and say they saw things and i did too
but no one tried killing each other [ ????????? ]
lot of us got the feeling we should go to the university
think a few went
but are you still there or back out now?

I'm out
Properly
Are you still at the restaurant?

[ "saw things" doesn't sound good. ]

we told everyone to leave in case the building was messed up
i can come over to yours?

If you're okay with it
If anything happens on the way over I'll come meet up with you

i can make it

[ So he says, even though the moment he thinks about stepping out of his apartment, the idea of going to the university grabs at him eagerly, latching on like an addiction. It's an idea--or urge--idea he's been trying to push aside, though it does nothing for the restlessness that's been clinging to him all night.

He wants to say other things to her, kind of wants to call her, but it's easier to keep his hands in his pockets and to not say a word, and let his thoughts beat around in his head with the regret he's been experiencing. Worsening by the hour, even if he tells himself to be better about this. No one tried to kill each other at the party.

(It's not comforting, somehow.)

It may take longer than it seems it should, but there's eventually a knock on Tsuruno's door. If she tried texting him during his journey over, he hadn't noticed, not paying attention to his phone. But now, outside her door with an uneasiness posture and expression, he's dressed out of his cowboy outfit into more ordinary clothes. ]

[ she does send him a few texts, checking, but of course there's no answer, so as soon as he knocks, the door opens--almost like she was waiting right there or even preparing to head out.

She's since changed, to a hoodie and shorts, bandages on her legs and a bruise on her temple, but as soon as she sees Robby, she's stepping back to let him in.

And then throwing her arms around him with a noise that's half worry and half relief. ]

[ She might be the one to move first, but even before Tsuruno's arms are around him, Robby's stepping in with his own arms already ready to return the hug. He'd taken in the sight of her, and how getting banged up by her definition involving needing bandages.

He should probably be careful about how tightly he holds her, but the thought doesn't occur to him in the face of his own relief. It's a comfort to himself, too, her presence.

But he will eventually pull back, if only so he can look her in the face. ]

It was just ghosts? No one attacked you?

[ There's a concern in his voice, note tender--worry of what more than just physical bruising she could've been put through. ]

No one attacked me. [ she confirms, looking him over to make sure he's all in one piece. ]

Just... with the ghosts and things getting weird around me, I... Daan-san said even just going through a normal door got him stuck at that place, so I can't even say this'll be the last of it.

Like if I wound up going there and you got dragged into it and something happened and I tried to kill you, I--

[ She breaks off, shaking her head. But there'd been so much blood on Daan's clothes... ]

Hey. [ He's still got his hands on her (and from what she can of him, there's no visible wounds on him for her to worry about), and he squeezes her arms. ]

You said no one attacked you, and you didn't attack anyone -- but Daan got attacked by a friend? Did you meet a friend in there?

[ Let's process this, find a difference between the two events. ]

No, I wound up going through by myself... A lot of people were looking pretty hurt when I made it to the top floor, but I thought that was just because of the ghosts.

Do you think it happened because they went in together?

[ well thank god for Robby at least giving her something to focus on beyond being terrified at the idea of attacking him. ]

That could be it -- or could it've had something to do with the ghosts? Don't ghosts possess people in some stories? [ Should he just treat anything as possible??

Regardless, his point is: ] We don't know enough to make guesses. We should see if more people talk about it; maybe something happened to the friend that Daan didn't see.

But we can warn everyone about what's in there. [ ...actually, since he's saying that: ] What was in there? Was there a party?

Right... [ She takes a deeper breath. Okay. Focus on what she saw. ]

The majority of it was a haunted house--like, they set it up so you had to go through it to get to the party. Those people who chase you halfway and then go back to their places, animatronics, things like that were on the first floor, then the ghosts on the second... there were dorm rooms you could duck into to try and hide from them, but... I found Mel's tarot deck under one of the beds.

[ She's speaking a little distantly, trying to separate herself from it. ]

Third floor was the party. Music and food and drinks and also the way out of there.

[ He takes a moment to let that all sink in, the comment of Mel's tarot deck not lost to Robby, at the very least. One of his thumbs rubs temporarily, idly, against her arm, and he takes in a breath through his nose. ]

...we know they can make things appear they shouldn't have. They're always using the people we know to throw us off--I bet whatever we'd find in there would be the same, too.

[ He's not directly mentioning Mel, but Robby can guess without even thinking too hard where his mind might go if he saw something of his mom's in that place. The same thing he thought when he saw her in the mall, and went running after her. ]

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured. It just... you know.

[ Quieter, a little more subdued. Familiar faces, dead or alive... she's beginning to firmly believe it's for the best if she's the only one here from home. ]

... Do you wanna sit down? Are you still seeing things?

[ Don't think Robby is getting out of being fussed over. ]

I'll sit down if you wanna sit down.

[ There's a sliver of playfulness in his tone, but it's light in its delivery. Not avoiding the latter question, but if she wants them to move over to the sofa, they can.

A better place for continuing to share things. ]

I'm doing better. [ ... ] I'm more worried about everyone else who was there. I don't know if there were actually ghosts there, but-- something was going on. I don't think keeping it off the network made a difference.

[ She huffs a little, moving to nudge him over to the sofa because yeah. She wants to curl up because things are a little less awful with good company. ]

Well, that answers one question. And also kind of shows that they really want us to go along with their stuff.

... I'll keep an eye on the people who went to ours, see if things get any better... or any worse, I guess. And we should keep each other updated too.

I will. [ Keep her updated. Even if right now he's kind of glad to be sitting on the sofa with her, body turned to face her. He's even taken one of her hands to hold in his, and his lips are pursed, but he loosens them to speak, quietly. ]

...it isn't enough, is it? What they can do to us, and what we can do back. [ It doesn't compare--it's unequal, meaningless in comparison. ]

And there doesn't seem like there's any point to it.

[ She gives his hand a squeeze, honestly just grateful to have the additional bit of contact when things sure feel... unsteady, right now. ]

I want to say it's more than we knew, which is true...

But it's frustrating. [ And Tsuruno will admit this honestly. ] That maybe we ticked them off, but ultimately, people are still suffering. The ones who had no intention of going and the ones who decided to go.

[ They always knew. They talked about it, but it doesn't make it easier; ever since the night started, it wasn't easier. It seems useless to bring it up now when they can't change anything, only hope that things get better for the party-goers in the morning, at least (and isn't that funny, when hope has been the thing they've been banking on this entire time). ]

... Daan. You said he opened a door and he ended up at the haunted house?

Yeah. I think he said it was when he was just leaving his office.

He said he'd be on standby, if he could... that he might be really busy before this whole thing ended.

[ Beyond just fussing over Tsuruno's cuts and bruises. ]

Keeping our doors open might be a good idea, then. I mean--it can't just change into a different place if we do.

[ right??? That'd be like, breaking the rules? ]

We can definitely try. [ But-- ]

But when I said I got stuck in the closet earlier, I mean it felt like something shoved me and then I couldn't get the door open for...

... Well, probably hours. I wonder if that's also part of it. Maybe they also make doors shut so you have to open them?

[ No, you're just being Haunted.

She's also kind of grimacing, because why is it when she tries to explain things lately, it just sounds insane-- ]

[ Oh, right...someone forgot about the getting stuck in the closet part. And that it took hours? Kinda want to say something about that.....

But let's let it go, for now. It's been a hectic enough night. ]

Too easy a solution, huh. [ Well, there goes that idea. It at least puts a damper on it. ] We can still give it a go, but... well, we'll see what works.

[ It's frustrating, but that's the problem with all of this, already stated. And he wishes he had something else or more to suggest or give.

But all he feels is a low anxiety bugging at him about the night. Is everything really going to be okay...? ]

All we can do, right? Keep trying workarounds.

[ With one of her sheepish smiles, more out of habit than anything. ]

Thanks for coming, though. You're the best thing that's happened to me all night.

[ He smiles at her, a tug to one side of his mouth, playing with her fingers held in his hand. ]

...I can stay over for the night. --To be honest, [ and maybe he should be, letting go of his breath, ] I feel weird, walking the way back. I've been seeing things all night, and every time I'm out there, I keep thinking I'm gonna end up at the school.

[ But he knows what she might start to think, so the smile he gives her is more sheepish this time over. ] I didn't know how bad it was 'til I left the apartment.

[ whoops? ]

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REE GO TO BED

https://giphy.com/clips/studiosoriginals-CvF6vRAf7QUgCvQ9KK

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