(open) hanging on in quiet desperation—

[coherer]

WHO: jonas and you
WHERE: all over stygia
WHEN: the duration of december
WHAT: event and notice board chaos
WARNINGS: smooches and anxiety, random possibility of shadow shenanigans

Comments

[chokuto]

[The question jolts Sasuke from careful survey of the sky above, two fists yanking him out of the poised crouch — he catches himself on his right hand, palm flat to the ground to avoid physically collapsing onto Jonas. The position is awkward, requiring bent legs to hold sharp tension, but he does not disrupt it immediately. Not with that wild-eyed look on Jonas' face.]

You speak as if you've met this enemy before. [He's seen nothing like it, not in tireless weeks he's spent scouring this world's wilderness, but he is inclined to trust what Jonas says after what he just witnessed. They're already dead.] ... If that's the case, then killing it won't be possible. We'll avoid it and escape. I can move you to a safer location.

[Unaware of the influence of the Shadow, he leans away once more, requiring Jonas to sit up with hands affixed to his shirt or relinquish him altogether. Luminous, dissimilar eyes spot the ghost as it comes sweeping back for them, wailing in that same eerie, inhuman voice. He could summon Susano'o. But he isn't certain it will hold against the spectral creature — would it simply phase through the materialized chakra? That is if the ability works at all.]

I'm going to lift you now. Stay calm.

[This is the only warning Jonas will receive before one arm encircles his middle, hauling him over-shoulder, chakra-imbued strength allowing Sasuke to take an enormous leap out of the way of the ghost's next plunge.]

[coherer]

You're actually listening to me. (there's no question here, only bitter disbelief. both his shadow and his original mind speak with genuine surprise at sasuke's willingness to hear them out—a painful first.

it's why there's no resistance in the way jonas rises with sasuke. despite being unable to help in the mobility department, as shaky as he finds himself, this doesn't seem to pose a problem; even one arm is enough to haul jonas off of the ground. he can't even muster up an indignant squawk at being treated so roughly. this is the lesser of two evils between being thrown around and being possessed again by someone—something—spiteful.

he holds on for dear life to the fabric over the small of sasuke's back.)

My place is right up the next street. We could wait them out there, or—I-I don't know! It's the shack with the smiley face!

(thankfully, the ghost has difficulty catching up to the powerful jump. jonas watches as it corkscrews higher over the harbour's buildings, joined by the spirit of another hierarchy member. he recognizes their faces as the heads he'd risen to after the headless horseman had his way with them, and the rest of the colour drains from his face.

their elongated mouths fall open, hair-raising cries delayed in their joint pursuit. his hold on sasuke turns into a twisting fist, harmlessly knocking at his spine.)

Oh, Jesus. Oh, god, I'm—I can't do this again...!

[chokuto]

[Again. That word isn't lost on Sasuke, even as the present bears down upon them in a violent start. There is no time to question any of what Jonas says — action takes precedence, and Sasuke is quick to respond, narrowly dodging another plunge of ghostly malevolence overhead. He keeps his arm around Jonas' hips, body slung over shoulder, secure in the hold even as that sinister whisper stirs within the dredges of his own mind. He's grown familiar to its influence these past several days. The thoughts are his own, taking dark root, but he knows they would not be there if not for the Shadow of this world. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲. 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦? Atonement means nothing in this world. They are all already dead.

In response to this wandering thought, his grip becomes rigid, an almost strangling pressure around Jonas' waist as he flees the area, luminous eyes hunting every door he comes across. Another street flashes past them, moving now away from the water — another wailing voice rings down from the overcast sky — and Sasuke comes to a sudden stop in an alley, shadowed beneath awnings. He eases Jonas off his shoulder onto the ground.

The shack with the yellow smile is in front of them.]

I'm going back to distract them. I'll leave a clone here with you for protection in case it finds you. [He looks into Jonas' pale, stricken face when he says this, then makes a signal with one hand. An identical Sasuke suddenly appears behind Jonas. I can't write this seriously.] I'll return after they're gone. Can you hold on until then?