Encounterlogs
Proximas Odd Encounter Sr Autumn 240120
Proxima, lounging at the bar with her milkshake, observed the comings and goings with a mixture of indecision and indifference. Gertrude, newly returned from the restroom, missed the earlier excitement of a woman being whisked away by someone called Molly. Their morning quietude is shattered when a distressed blonde, Sandra, interrupts them, searching for her lost friend Martha. Proxima and Gertrude listen, learning that Martha has disappeared after a night out with Sandra. Proxima skeptically questions Sandra's state during the disappearance, while Gertrude entertainingly considers where Martha could be—perhaps distracted by something as mundane as the bathroom.
Suddenly, Jake bursts into the scene, offering his services to find Martha, and suggesting that Proxima and Gertrude join in the search. Proxima reluctantly agrees, enticed by the mystery, while Gertrude's skepticism blossoms into concern. They follow Jake outside, where he drinks from a mysterious cup, claiming to see Martha now. Jake instructs Gertrude to look after Sandra, while he and Proxima disappear into an alley to pursue Martha. Back inside the bar, Gertrude distracts Sandra with breakfast and platitudes about her friend's safety, while outside, Jake and Proxima unknowingly step into the nightmare realm.
In the nightmare, Jake leads Proxima to Martha, maneuvering them through shadowy hands that claw at the air, threatening to trap them in the dark world. Despite her reservations and frustration, Proxima sticks close to Jake, sharing his focus on the rescue mission. They find Martha, who, confused and frightened, accepts their guidance out of the nightmare. Jake decides to use a mirror inside Rosie's Diner as their exit portal. Triumphantly, they reenter the real world and head back to the bar, where Sandra is overjoyed to reunite with Martha, oblivious to the otherworldly adventure. Proxima, internally relieved but outwardly nonchalant, makes her exit, stressing the importance of keeping the night’s events a secret. Jake reaffirms his request for discretion before departing, while Sandra and Martha, their friendship intact, walk away from the eerie ordeal.
(Proxima's odd encounter(SRAutumn):SRAutumn)
[Fri Jan 19 2024]
At the bar
This well lit area is home to a long, polished bar that stretches from
west to east along the centermost portion of the northern wall. A number of
refrigerators and shelves within have been filled with various drinks and
town memorabilia for display, but the large head of a black bear mounted
higher on the wall attracts more attention. Food for the bar is prepared on
a cast iron cooking surface behind the bar, but well within sight of
patrons. It's so large that several different meals can all be cooked at
the same time.
Starting to the side of the Lodge's entrance to the north, several booths
follow the old hardwood walls and wrap around the pool tables to the east.
Their sequence is only interrupted there by the exit to the courtyard in the
distance.
A small HD flatscreen television hangs in the southwestern corner, open to
sight for all of those at the bar.
It is about 30F(-1C) degrees.
(Your target encounters a human who's become stuck in the nightmare, lost and frightened.
)
Proxima lingers around the diner, hip leaned up against the counter, milkshake in hand, a smile which borders on a scowl accentuated by the truculent shade and manner of her makeup. She sips on the thing after lifting it to her lips, gaze cast out toward the street ever so often as though trying to make her mind up about something. That uncertainty alternating with the more indifferent shrugs of her shoulders as whatever wayward thought is ejected from her mind. Repeatedly.
Gertrude has gone to thr loo, but now returns - not knowing what has been happening during her absense.
With a few patrons waking up with the Lodge's finest coffee, it is a quiet morning for Proxima and Gertrude. While the people are minding their own business, a woman enters the bar with a look of concern. She has short blond hair and is wearing a white sweater, blue jeans, and brown boots. "Excuse me, has anyone seen Martha?" She begins to ask around.
Proxima addresses Gertrude from the counter, "You missed the feral being carried away by.. whoever that woman was just now. I am not sure I even caught her name, though she probably did say it at some point. A lot more quiet in here now." She looks around, quirking her brow in thought. "Not sure I prefer it that way though. Oh, would you happen to know where Harper's Baazar i-" The interruption by the short blond is noted, and turned toward, "Martha?"
Gertrude is walking towards the counter, surprised to not see whom she was expecting to find with Proxima - whom then addresses her and explains what happened, making Gertrude first to offer the other woman's name: "Molly. She... carried the other woman away?" She finishes her approach and nods to the question about the bazar, when there's the question from the other blonde. Frowning slightly as she tries to recall some Martha, she then wonders "..Carrol?" But then she also shakes her head and comments, "even if that's who, I haven't seen her in quite a while..."
The blonde woman walks towards the counter to take a seat next to Gertrude. "One moment I was talking with her, the next moment she just... disappeared," the woman says, tears forming in her eyes. "I've been searching for her since five a.m., and I think I heard her when I went outside. But she's nowhere to be found."
Proxima follows the stranger with her eyes, expression reflecting indifference to the situation until the word 'disappeared' comes into play. A hum which is ponderous comes from the dark-skinned amazonian woman, and she looks over to Gertrude curiously for just a brief moment. "Disappeared? Were you.. under the influence of something?"
Gertrude checks her phone, and frowns a bit as she reads what as sent to her.
"Disappeared?" Gertrude then turns a bit to better face and focus on the blonde. "I mean, I haven't seen her, but... people don't just disappear like that, you're sure she didn't just.. go to the loo or something?" Eyeing at the young woman, Gertrude then asks, "five ah am, where you... in a bar drinking?" Proxima apparently has the same idea.
"Well, we did for a while last night," The worried blonde tells Gertrude and Proxima, grabbing a napkin nearby to wipe her face. "And then we went home to my place after." After she answers, a young man enters the Lodge. "Miss Sandra?" he asks, one hand sweeping his black hair out of his face while the blonde turns around and nods her head to him. "My name's Jake and I heard about your missing friend Martha. I'm here to help."
Sandra begins to rise from her seat and turns back to look at the two women. "You you two help me as well? I'm sure Jake won't mind some extra eyes, right?" She then glances at Jake who is frowning a bit.
Proxima eyes the next stranger to enter the diner warily but after listening to the exchange between Jake and Sandra seems to ease up on the uncertainty. She gets her phone out of her pocket and checks the time before putting it back. The indifferent shrug says that she's less committed than she could be but she does respond, "The Baron would frown on me if I did not attempt to assist a lost soul in need." She smiles eerily at the frowning Jake. "I will help you."
Gertrude is listening to the explanation - frowning slightly as some guy shows up and claims to be able to help, which makes her suspicious. How did he know of Martha's disappearence in the first place? "Hm, yes... don't worry Sandra, we'll... go with you."
"Follow me," Jake beckons the three woman with one hand as he turns to head outside to the street, with Sandra being the first to follow him. "I had a friend search for her whereabouts. She's not around town but I think know where she is now." Opening his leather bag, the man pulls out a cup from it, taking off the lid before he takes a sip, causing him to blink several times before he looks eastwards. "I see her now," he whispers and Sandra's eyes widen. "Wait, is she a ghost now?" She asks Jake, who shakes his head.
"No, she is trapped somewhere," the young man says quietly. "She needs to follow us to a mirror so I can free her."
Proxima observes Jake's actions with no small amount of skepticism, though she does go along with it anyway, even looking in the direction he does after drinking the unknown liquid within his cup. She readies herself to follow after the man, indifference now replaced by a well guarded sense of curiosity. "Well this morning has surely taken a turn."
"Huh... wha- what is he talking about?" Gertrude tries to keep quiet but almost shrieks, starting to think on possible explanations. Is this is all a joke, a candid camera sort of sittuation? Are they on drugs? The guy did drink something... But once he mentions a mirror...she has an idea of what might be going on. "Sssh!" she hisses, trying to catch his attention, and speeds up her step to reach him. pulling his sleeve, Gertrude asks "are you sure you know what you're doing? Is this", she glances around, "wise?"
"Martha could be in danger if she's not saved soon," Jake says to someone while Sandra is calling out her friend's name towards nothing. "How about you keep an eye out on Sandra while I go find Martha? That way, no one else could risk getting hurt as well and she won't cause any panic." Jake then turns to run towards an alley as he pulls out a necklace. "I'll be back."
Sandra looks around with no sign of her friend, and turns to ask Gertrude and Proxima. "I don't know what that man's going to do, but I hope Martha does not get killed," she murmurs, raising her hands to cover her face.
"Martha could be in danger if she's not saved soon," Jake says to Gertrude while Sandra is calling out her friend's name towards nothing. "How about you keep an eye out on Sandra while I go find Martha? That way, no one else could risk getting hurt as well and she won't cause any panic." Jake then turns to run towards an alley as he pulls out a necklace. "I'll be back."
Sandra looks around with no sign of her friend, and turns to ask Gertrude and Proxima. "I don't know what that man's going to do, but I hope Martha does not get killed," she murmurs, raising her hands to cover her face.
"Killed? Why would she? I bet this is some sort of... young people's game" Gertrude reasons, moving to put an arm around someone. and try to comfort her and, well, keep her here and away from comments about mirrors and ghosts and other things she's better kept in the dark about.
"Killed? Why would she? I bet this is some sort of... young people's game" Gertrude reasons, moving to put an arm around Sandra... and try to comfort her and, well, keep her here and away from comments about mirrors and ghosts and other things she's better kept in the dark about.
Proxima sighs in utter exasperation at the sudden less than ideal turn of events, shaking her head before taking off after Jake. She starts running, fully aiming to catch up to him. "If I get stabbed I am not going to be very happy." Still, she goes after him anyway, the expression on her face regarding irritation more than anything else.
Gertrude frowns a bit as she sees Proxima running off after the man, but she seems happy to remain in the less dangerous side of this adventure. As for poor Sandra, Gertrude tries to lead her back into the lodge, by the counter. In fact she comments, "I bet you haven't eaten nothing in ages... why don't we get you some breakfast while we wait, alright?"
Off Jake goes deep into the dark alley, and should Proxima enters, he's suddenly gone unless she reaches out to him and ends up disappearing as well. Sandra removes her hands and glances at the alley. "Where did he go?" she wonders of Gertrude. "Maybe you're right. Probably some strange game of hide-and-seek." She then laughs nervously before she nods her head. "Oh yeah. I got so busy searching that I forgot breakfast." With a small sigh, she turns to follow the other blonde woman back to the Lodge.
Proxima allows her curiosity to get the better of her and does opt to follow him through, possibly having some idea of what's going on, possibly just that reckless. In either case the result is the same, she reaches for him and accepts that she may wind up somewhere she did not initially intend. In fact, her smile reappears. It is one induced purely by the thrill of the unknown about to be embraced.
"Look... he's probably... well, it doesn't really matter, right? He knows you are here, and where Martha is, they'll just go to their... game check point or I don't really know what he was talking about but- after that, when the game ends, they'll come here to let you know for sure... and in the meantime, it's more than time for some food" Gertrude decides, leading the stressed woman into a booth, and gesturing to call out for a waiter.
"Makes sense," SRAutumn replies with a nod towards Gertrude. "Yeah, I guess it's still time for breakfast." Sitting down across the other woman, she takes a look at the menu and says, "I feel like having eggs and sausages today. I'm hungry."
Meanwhile, Jake and Proxima manifest in the nightmare, with Jake not noticing the woman yet as he searches around the dark world down the road. "Martha? If you can hear me, I'm here to help you get out of here safe and sound."
"Makes sense," Sandra replies with a nod towards Gertrude. "Yeah, I guess it's still time for breakfast." Sitting down across the other woman, she takes a look at the menu and says, "I feel like having eggs and sausages today. I'm hungry."
Meanwhile, Jake and Proxima manifest in the nightmare, with Jake not noticing the woman yet as he searches around the dark world down the road. "Martha? If you can hear me, I'm here to help you get out of here safe and sound." (fix)
"eggs and sausages, for two" Gertrude orders to the waiter, adding "and bring us a coffee pot too, please." That dealt with, Gertrude then decides to chit chat while their wait. Stupidly, she does not choose a topic to take someone' mind off things: no, instead, she asks, "so, Martha: do you know her for long?"
Proxima doesn't announce her presence, though probably isn't the stealthiest of persons either. She follows Jake as he looks around for Martha, saying absolutely nothing. She looks around the area with a vague sense of familiarity, then steels herself, steadying her nerves for whatever might happen inside of the peculiar place.
"eggs and sausages, for two" Gertrude orders to the waiter, adding "and bring us a coffee pot too, please." That dealt with, Gertrude then decides to chit chat while their wait. Stupidly, she does not choose a topic to take Sandra's mind off things: no, instead, she asks, "so, Martha: do you know her for long?"
"Marthaaaa," Jake calls out while he looks out, and when he turns around to find Proxima, he suddenly freezes. "Oh shit, why are you here?" He fractically asks the woman. "I thought you were with the other ladies. Oh, my boss is going to /kill/ me once they find out." He clutches his head with both hands while he takes deep breaths. "How about you forget all this once this is over, righ-" But he stops again once a voice echoes across the nightmare. "Hello? Can you help me out of the nightmare?" Jake turns around upon hearing the voice and murmurs, "That must be Martha," before he turns to run towards the source.
"Well yes. Martha and I have been friends since high school," Sandra answers Gertrude with a small smile back at the Lodge. "We always help each other out with homework and stuff." While they are chatting, the waiter arrives with two plates full of eggs and sausages and a pot of coffee and sets them down on the booth table. "Here you go. Enjoy," he says before he walks away to serve the other patrons.
Gertrude might be curious about catching up with has been going on with Martha - and, for sure, she is curious to know how does her rescue from the nightmare pan out. Hoever, when her phone starts vibrating, she realizes that there is something she needs to deal with first - Sandra and Martha will have to wait. She doesn't seem to guilty as she tells Sandra "oh, I'm sorry- it is my boss, I need to pick this..." - after all, there's plenty of food around for her to distract herself with, while she waits for her friend to show up, or Gertrude's phone call to end... Gertrude stands up, picks up the phone, and is heard saying "Priestess- hi..." as she walks out towards somewhere more private.
Proxima tilts her head inquisitively upon hearing the word 'boss,' though she only answers, "Should be more careful then," as if to taunt the frantically searching man. She starts after him again when he runs toward the sound of whatever it is he's chasing, albeit with a very annoyed sigh and as she adds, "Okay track star, settle the fuck down already." Notably, the accent of the mystic which she affected back in the diner is dialed down considerably right now. The way she speaks is more raw, lacking of a filter.
While Sandra turns to eat her breakfast, back in the nightmare Jake does not reply to Proxima as they trek though the nightmare. "Wait, I think I see her," he says in a low voice, and in the distance a brunette could. There is fear in her looks and as the man spots her, shadowy hands start to appear from the darkness, clawing at the ground and air.
Proxima comes to a complete stop a considerable distance away from Jake and whatever it is that's spawning over there, in position to watch the encounter but not moving any closer. Her gaze narrows at the scene before she shakes her head again. "Would sure be fuckin' great if I were armed right now.. scratch that, might not even help." She chooses to remain silent after that, leaving Jake to his fate unless she somehow draws the attention of the entity being spawned.
"Don't worry," Jake stops running and tells Proxima, glancing behind his back. "As long as we avoid them, we should be okay." Looking back to the shadow hands, he begins to walk with caution, making sure not to step on one of them or get in their way. "Martha, we're coming," the man calls out while beckoning Proxima to follow his trail.
Proxima rolls her eyes, her demeanor becoming all the more blunt as she reluctantly, albeit ably progresses onward. She does her best to avoid the strange entities in her way, careful to follow almost the same path that Jake just did. It is a careful and slow pace, considering she's not sure where the shadowy grasps will reach for next. She seems far more pissed off than she does scared though. "Alright Jakey, you lead the way. I hope this Martha bitch is worth it."
Luckily for the two, the hands do not reach further and when they pass the last one, Martha is now in sight at a short distance. She notices Jake and Proxima and turns to face him. "Oh, you came to help me," she speaks towards the duo, her brown eyes glistening with tears. "I don't know how or why I'm here. It's so strange."
"Don't worry, Martha," Jake tells her, offering his hand to her. "We're here to get you out of here." Turning towards Proxima, he raises his other hand to point at where Rosie's Diner is at. "I'm sure that bathroom has a mirror for us to pass through. Let's go." Martha moves to take Jake's hand as he leads the way through the nightmare, passing through doors to their destination.
Proxima looks around, appearing surprised that things haven't gone more wrong somehow. That's not to say she's not pleased, she seems just fine with being able to leave, which she even makes known, "Well as long as we get out of here, right? Let's go find your mirror." She continues following, seeming to have her guard up the entire time. It doesn't make her stiff or slower to respond, despite her ignorance of things she may have seen so far the danger part seems to suit her well enough.
"Yeah," Martha agrees with Proxima while they follow Jake. As they reach the diner, they pass through the doors, finding themselves inside and the young man turns east towards the restroom where he finds the mirrors. "Hold on to me tight, ladies," he tells the women, walking towards one of the mirrors and passing through it with them at his side, leaving the nightmare together. "Never tell anyone about that place," he says to Martha and Proxima. "Now let's go meet up with Sandra."
Proxima is suspicious that she's even back in the 'real' world after doing as Jake says and clinging close to him, but when sure that she's back on familiar ground she does let out a sigh of relief. She dusts herself off like she's trying to get the stench of the nightmare off herself, then looks back at the mirror to make sure there's nothing following. She shakes her head then turns to follow after Jake again. "Lips are sealed. "
"Good," Jake replies, taking the two women out of the restroom and then out if the Diner. The group walks down across the street to the Lodge, where Sandra is finishing her breakfast and coffee that Gertrude has bought for her. Sandra turns her head at the entrance and upon seeing Martha, she jumps out of the booth and runs towards her. "Martha!" The blonde woman says as she hugs the brunette. "I'm so happy to see you again!" Turning to look towards Proxima and Jake, she smiles and tells them, "Thank you so much!"
"No problem," Jake tells Sandra with a shrug of her shoulders. "Looks like the job's done. I'll see myself out now."
Proxima walks into the diner looking no worse for wear than before, the slightly peeved expression remaining on her face notwithstanding. She simply nods at Sandra, then turns to leave herself. Her accent mysteriously reappears, "Madame Phobos is in need of a shower. Much dust, much sweat, much ick. Take care not to get lost again, ma cherie."
"Thank you again," Sandra says before she and Martha starts to head out. "Alright," Martha replies to Proxima while she leaves with her friend, and Jake watches them before he turns to face the woman. "Try not to get into trouble like that again," he tells her before he turns to head out as well. "Remember. Sealed lips."
Proxima mhm-hmmms to the affirmative, rolling her eyes only after her back is turned to everyone else there and she's well on her way out of the diner.
Suddenly, Jake bursts into the scene, offering his services to find Martha, and suggesting that Proxima and Gertrude join in the search. Proxima reluctantly agrees, enticed by the mystery, while Gertrude's skepticism blossoms into concern. They follow Jake outside, where he drinks from a mysterious cup, claiming to see Martha now. Jake instructs Gertrude to look after Sandra, while he and Proxima disappear into an alley to pursue Martha. Back inside the bar, Gertrude distracts Sandra with breakfast and platitudes about her friend's safety, while outside, Jake and Proxima unknowingly step into the nightmare realm.
In the nightmare, Jake leads Proxima to Martha, maneuvering them through shadowy hands that claw at the air, threatening to trap them in the dark world. Despite her reservations and frustration, Proxima sticks close to Jake, sharing his focus on the rescue mission. They find Martha, who, confused and frightened, accepts their guidance out of the nightmare. Jake decides to use a mirror inside Rosie's Diner as their exit portal. Triumphantly, they reenter the real world and head back to the bar, where Sandra is overjoyed to reunite with Martha, oblivious to the otherworldly adventure. Proxima, internally relieved but outwardly nonchalant, makes her exit, stressing the importance of keeping the night’s events a secret. Jake reaffirms his request for discretion before departing, while Sandra and Martha, their friendship intact, walk away from the eerie ordeal.
(Proxima's odd encounter(SRAutumn):SRAutumn)
[Fri Jan 19 2024]
At the bar
This well lit area is home to a long, polished bar that stretches from
west to east along the centermost portion of the northern wall. A number of
refrigerators and shelves within have been filled with various drinks and
town memorabilia for display, but the large head of a black bear mounted
higher on the wall attracts more attention. Food for the bar is prepared on
a cast iron cooking surface behind the bar, but well within sight of
patrons. It's so large that several different meals can all be cooked at
the same time.
Starting to the side of the Lodge's entrance to the north, several booths
follow the old hardwood walls and wrap around the pool tables to the east.
Their sequence is only interrupted there by the exit to the courtyard in the
distance.
A small HD flatscreen television hangs in the southwestern corner, open to
sight for all of those at the bar.
It is about 30F(-1C) degrees.
(Your target encounters a human who's become stuck in the nightmare, lost and frightened.
)
Proxima lingers around the diner, hip leaned up against the counter, milkshake in hand, a smile which borders on a scowl accentuated by the truculent shade and manner of her makeup. She sips on the thing after lifting it to her lips, gaze cast out toward the street ever so often as though trying to make her mind up about something. That uncertainty alternating with the more indifferent shrugs of her shoulders as whatever wayward thought is ejected from her mind. Repeatedly.
Gertrude has gone to thr loo, but now returns - not knowing what has been happening during her absense.
With a few patrons waking up with the Lodge's finest coffee, it is a quiet morning for Proxima and Gertrude. While the people are minding their own business, a woman enters the bar with a look of concern. She has short blond hair and is wearing a white sweater, blue jeans, and brown boots. "Excuse me, has anyone seen Martha?" She begins to ask around.
Proxima addresses Gertrude from the counter, "You missed the feral being carried away by.. whoever that woman was just now. I am not sure I even caught her name, though she probably did say it at some point. A lot more quiet in here now." She looks around, quirking her brow in thought. "Not sure I prefer it that way though. Oh, would you happen to know where Harper's Baazar i-" The interruption by the short blond is noted, and turned toward, "Martha?"
Gertrude is walking towards the counter, surprised to not see whom she was expecting to find with Proxima - whom then addresses her and explains what happened, making Gertrude first to offer the other woman's name: "Molly. She... carried the other woman away?" She finishes her approach and nods to the question about the bazar, when there's the question from the other blonde. Frowning slightly as she tries to recall some Martha, she then wonders "..Carrol?" But then she also shakes her head and comments, "even if that's who, I haven't seen her in quite a while..."
The blonde woman walks towards the counter to take a seat next to Gertrude. "One moment I was talking with her, the next moment she just... disappeared," the woman says, tears forming in her eyes. "I've been searching for her since five a.m., and I think I heard her when I went outside. But she's nowhere to be found."
Proxima follows the stranger with her eyes, expression reflecting indifference to the situation until the word 'disappeared' comes into play. A hum which is ponderous comes from the dark-skinned amazonian woman, and she looks over to Gertrude curiously for just a brief moment. "Disappeared? Were you.. under the influence of something?"
Gertrude checks her phone, and frowns a bit as she reads what as sent to her.
"Disappeared?" Gertrude then turns a bit to better face and focus on the blonde. "I mean, I haven't seen her, but... people don't just disappear like that, you're sure she didn't just.. go to the loo or something?" Eyeing at the young woman, Gertrude then asks, "five ah am, where you... in a bar drinking?" Proxima apparently has the same idea.
"Well, we did for a while last night," The worried blonde tells Gertrude and Proxima, grabbing a napkin nearby to wipe her face. "And then we went home to my place after." After she answers, a young man enters the Lodge. "Miss Sandra?" he asks, one hand sweeping his black hair out of his face while the blonde turns around and nods her head to him. "My name's Jake and I heard about your missing friend Martha. I'm here to help."
Sandra begins to rise from her seat and turns back to look at the two women. "You you two help me as well? I'm sure Jake won't mind some extra eyes, right?" She then glances at Jake who is frowning a bit.
Proxima eyes the next stranger to enter the diner warily but after listening to the exchange between Jake and Sandra seems to ease up on the uncertainty. She gets her phone out of her pocket and checks the time before putting it back. The indifferent shrug says that she's less committed than she could be but she does respond, "The Baron would frown on me if I did not attempt to assist a lost soul in need." She smiles eerily at the frowning Jake. "I will help you."
Gertrude is listening to the explanation - frowning slightly as some guy shows up and claims to be able to help, which makes her suspicious. How did he know of Martha's disappearence in the first place? "Hm, yes... don't worry Sandra, we'll... go with you."
"Follow me," Jake beckons the three woman with one hand as he turns to head outside to the street, with Sandra being the first to follow him. "I had a friend search for her whereabouts. She's not around town but I think know where she is now." Opening his leather bag, the man pulls out a cup from it, taking off the lid before he takes a sip, causing him to blink several times before he looks eastwards. "I see her now," he whispers and Sandra's eyes widen. "Wait, is she a ghost now?" She asks Jake, who shakes his head.
"No, she is trapped somewhere," the young man says quietly. "She needs to follow us to a mirror so I can free her."
Proxima observes Jake's actions with no small amount of skepticism, though she does go along with it anyway, even looking in the direction he does after drinking the unknown liquid within his cup. She readies herself to follow after the man, indifference now replaced by a well guarded sense of curiosity. "Well this morning has surely taken a turn."
"Huh... wha- what is he talking about?" Gertrude tries to keep quiet but almost shrieks, starting to think on possible explanations. Is this is all a joke, a candid camera sort of sittuation? Are they on drugs? The guy did drink something... But once he mentions a mirror...she has an idea of what might be going on. "Sssh!" she hisses, trying to catch his attention, and speeds up her step to reach him. pulling his sleeve, Gertrude asks "are you sure you know what you're doing? Is this", she glances around, "wise?"
"Martha could be in danger if she's not saved soon," Jake says to someone while Sandra is calling out her friend's name towards nothing. "How about you keep an eye out on Sandra while I go find Martha? That way, no one else could risk getting hurt as well and she won't cause any panic." Jake then turns to run towards an alley as he pulls out a necklace. "I'll be back."
Sandra looks around with no sign of her friend, and turns to ask Gertrude and Proxima. "I don't know what that man's going to do, but I hope Martha does not get killed," she murmurs, raising her hands to cover her face.
"Martha could be in danger if she's not saved soon," Jake says to Gertrude while Sandra is calling out her friend's name towards nothing. "How about you keep an eye out on Sandra while I go find Martha? That way, no one else could risk getting hurt as well and she won't cause any panic." Jake then turns to run towards an alley as he pulls out a necklace. "I'll be back."
Sandra looks around with no sign of her friend, and turns to ask Gertrude and Proxima. "I don't know what that man's going to do, but I hope Martha does not get killed," she murmurs, raising her hands to cover her face.
"Killed? Why would she? I bet this is some sort of... young people's game" Gertrude reasons, moving to put an arm around someone. and try to comfort her and, well, keep her here and away from comments about mirrors and ghosts and other things she's better kept in the dark about.
"Killed? Why would she? I bet this is some sort of... young people's game" Gertrude reasons, moving to put an arm around Sandra... and try to comfort her and, well, keep her here and away from comments about mirrors and ghosts and other things she's better kept in the dark about.
Proxima sighs in utter exasperation at the sudden less than ideal turn of events, shaking her head before taking off after Jake. She starts running, fully aiming to catch up to him. "If I get stabbed I am not going to be very happy." Still, she goes after him anyway, the expression on her face regarding irritation more than anything else.
Gertrude frowns a bit as she sees Proxima running off after the man, but she seems happy to remain in the less dangerous side of this adventure. As for poor Sandra, Gertrude tries to lead her back into the lodge, by the counter. In fact she comments, "I bet you haven't eaten nothing in ages... why don't we get you some breakfast while we wait, alright?"
Off Jake goes deep into the dark alley, and should Proxima enters, he's suddenly gone unless she reaches out to him and ends up disappearing as well. Sandra removes her hands and glances at the alley. "Where did he go?" she wonders of Gertrude. "Maybe you're right. Probably some strange game of hide-and-seek." She then laughs nervously before she nods her head. "Oh yeah. I got so busy searching that I forgot breakfast." With a small sigh, she turns to follow the other blonde woman back to the Lodge.
Proxima allows her curiosity to get the better of her and does opt to follow him through, possibly having some idea of what's going on, possibly just that reckless. In either case the result is the same, she reaches for him and accepts that she may wind up somewhere she did not initially intend. In fact, her smile reappears. It is one induced purely by the thrill of the unknown about to be embraced.
"Look... he's probably... well, it doesn't really matter, right? He knows you are here, and where Martha is, they'll just go to their... game check point or I don't really know what he was talking about but- after that, when the game ends, they'll come here to let you know for sure... and in the meantime, it's more than time for some food" Gertrude decides, leading the stressed woman into a booth, and gesturing to call out for a waiter.
"Makes sense," SRAutumn replies with a nod towards Gertrude. "Yeah, I guess it's still time for breakfast." Sitting down across the other woman, she takes a look at the menu and says, "I feel like having eggs and sausages today. I'm hungry."
Meanwhile, Jake and Proxima manifest in the nightmare, with Jake not noticing the woman yet as he searches around the dark world down the road. "Martha? If you can hear me, I'm here to help you get out of here safe and sound."
"Makes sense," Sandra replies with a nod towards Gertrude. "Yeah, I guess it's still time for breakfast." Sitting down across the other woman, she takes a look at the menu and says, "I feel like having eggs and sausages today. I'm hungry."
Meanwhile, Jake and Proxima manifest in the nightmare, with Jake not noticing the woman yet as he searches around the dark world down the road. "Martha? If you can hear me, I'm here to help you get out of here safe and sound." (fix)
"eggs and sausages, for two" Gertrude orders to the waiter, adding "and bring us a coffee pot too, please." That dealt with, Gertrude then decides to chit chat while their wait. Stupidly, she does not choose a topic to take someone' mind off things: no, instead, she asks, "so, Martha: do you know her for long?"
Proxima doesn't announce her presence, though probably isn't the stealthiest of persons either. She follows Jake as he looks around for Martha, saying absolutely nothing. She looks around the area with a vague sense of familiarity, then steels herself, steadying her nerves for whatever might happen inside of the peculiar place.
"eggs and sausages, for two" Gertrude orders to the waiter, adding "and bring us a coffee pot too, please." That dealt with, Gertrude then decides to chit chat while their wait. Stupidly, she does not choose a topic to take Sandra's mind off things: no, instead, she asks, "so, Martha: do you know her for long?"
"Marthaaaa," Jake calls out while he looks out, and when he turns around to find Proxima, he suddenly freezes. "Oh shit, why are you here?" He fractically asks the woman. "I thought you were with the other ladies. Oh, my boss is going to /kill/ me once they find out." He clutches his head with both hands while he takes deep breaths. "How about you forget all this once this is over, righ-" But he stops again once a voice echoes across the nightmare. "Hello? Can you help me out of the nightmare?" Jake turns around upon hearing the voice and murmurs, "That must be Martha," before he turns to run towards the source.
"Well yes. Martha and I have been friends since high school," Sandra answers Gertrude with a small smile back at the Lodge. "We always help each other out with homework and stuff." While they are chatting, the waiter arrives with two plates full of eggs and sausages and a pot of coffee and sets them down on the booth table. "Here you go. Enjoy," he says before he walks away to serve the other patrons.
Gertrude might be curious about catching up with has been going on with Martha - and, for sure, she is curious to know how does her rescue from the nightmare pan out. Hoever, when her phone starts vibrating, she realizes that there is something she needs to deal with first - Sandra and Martha will have to wait. She doesn't seem to guilty as she tells Sandra "oh, I'm sorry- it is my boss, I need to pick this..." - after all, there's plenty of food around for her to distract herself with, while she waits for her friend to show up, or Gertrude's phone call to end... Gertrude stands up, picks up the phone, and is heard saying "Priestess- hi..." as she walks out towards somewhere more private.
Proxima tilts her head inquisitively upon hearing the word 'boss,' though she only answers, "Should be more careful then," as if to taunt the frantically searching man. She starts after him again when he runs toward the sound of whatever it is he's chasing, albeit with a very annoyed sigh and as she adds, "Okay track star, settle the fuck down already." Notably, the accent of the mystic which she affected back in the diner is dialed down considerably right now. The way she speaks is more raw, lacking of a filter.
While Sandra turns to eat her breakfast, back in the nightmare Jake does not reply to Proxima as they trek though the nightmare. "Wait, I think I see her," he says in a low voice, and in the distance a brunette could. There is fear in her looks and as the man spots her, shadowy hands start to appear from the darkness, clawing at the ground and air.
Proxima comes to a complete stop a considerable distance away from Jake and whatever it is that's spawning over there, in position to watch the encounter but not moving any closer. Her gaze narrows at the scene before she shakes her head again. "Would sure be fuckin' great if I were armed right now.. scratch that, might not even help." She chooses to remain silent after that, leaving Jake to his fate unless she somehow draws the attention of the entity being spawned.
"Don't worry," Jake stops running and tells Proxima, glancing behind his back. "As long as we avoid them, we should be okay." Looking back to the shadow hands, he begins to walk with caution, making sure not to step on one of them or get in their way. "Martha, we're coming," the man calls out while beckoning Proxima to follow his trail.
Proxima rolls her eyes, her demeanor becoming all the more blunt as she reluctantly, albeit ably progresses onward. She does her best to avoid the strange entities in her way, careful to follow almost the same path that Jake just did. It is a careful and slow pace, considering she's not sure where the shadowy grasps will reach for next. She seems far more pissed off than she does scared though. "Alright Jakey, you lead the way. I hope this Martha bitch is worth it."
Luckily for the two, the hands do not reach further and when they pass the last one, Martha is now in sight at a short distance. She notices Jake and Proxima and turns to face him. "Oh, you came to help me," she speaks towards the duo, her brown eyes glistening with tears. "I don't know how or why I'm here. It's so strange."
"Don't worry, Martha," Jake tells her, offering his hand to her. "We're here to get you out of here." Turning towards Proxima, he raises his other hand to point at where Rosie's Diner is at. "I'm sure that bathroom has a mirror for us to pass through. Let's go." Martha moves to take Jake's hand as he leads the way through the nightmare, passing through doors to their destination.
Proxima looks around, appearing surprised that things haven't gone more wrong somehow. That's not to say she's not pleased, she seems just fine with being able to leave, which she even makes known, "Well as long as we get out of here, right? Let's go find your mirror." She continues following, seeming to have her guard up the entire time. It doesn't make her stiff or slower to respond, despite her ignorance of things she may have seen so far the danger part seems to suit her well enough.
"Yeah," Martha agrees with Proxima while they follow Jake. As they reach the diner, they pass through the doors, finding themselves inside and the young man turns east towards the restroom where he finds the mirrors. "Hold on to me tight, ladies," he tells the women, walking towards one of the mirrors and passing through it with them at his side, leaving the nightmare together. "Never tell anyone about that place," he says to Martha and Proxima. "Now let's go meet up with Sandra."
Proxima is suspicious that she's even back in the 'real' world after doing as Jake says and clinging close to him, but when sure that she's back on familiar ground she does let out a sigh of relief. She dusts herself off like she's trying to get the stench of the nightmare off herself, then looks back at the mirror to make sure there's nothing following. She shakes her head then turns to follow after Jake again. "Lips are sealed. "
"Good," Jake replies, taking the two women out of the restroom and then out if the Diner. The group walks down across the street to the Lodge, where Sandra is finishing her breakfast and coffee that Gertrude has bought for her. Sandra turns her head at the entrance and upon seeing Martha, she jumps out of the booth and runs towards her. "Martha!" The blonde woman says as she hugs the brunette. "I'm so happy to see you again!" Turning to look towards Proxima and Jake, she smiles and tells them, "Thank you so much!"
"No problem," Jake tells Sandra with a shrug of her shoulders. "Looks like the job's done. I'll see myself out now."
Proxima walks into the diner looking no worse for wear than before, the slightly peeved expression remaining on her face notwithstanding. She simply nods at Sandra, then turns to leave herself. Her accent mysteriously reappears, "Madame Phobos is in need of a shower. Much dust, much sweat, much ick. Take care not to get lost again, ma cherie."
"Thank you again," Sandra says before she and Martha starts to head out. "Alright," Martha replies to Proxima while she leaves with her friend, and Jake watches them before he turns to face the woman. "Try not to get into trouble like that again," he tells her before he turns to head out as well. "Remember. Sealed lips."
Proxima mhm-hmmms to the affirmative, rolling her eyes only after her back is turned to everyone else there and she's well on her way out of the diner.