Nyx,
You stopped by your cave and retrieved Aubrey's book. Now you've arrived at Myrii's pond again. As you approach you see a figure on the shore. You realize fairly quickly that it's Holly, and she's getting dressed, pulling on her jeans. Myrii is in the pond itself, her arms on a branch sticking out of the water and her chin resting on her hands. Her long hair is wet. She looks better than when you saw her last.
Holly,
Nyx and Aubrey come out of the darkness. Nyx perhaps you didn't hear, but Aubrey you did.
Comments
When she hears people coming, Holly freezes. Completely freezes up like a deer. Aubrey and Nyx come through the woods to see Holly in pants, no shoes, her left arm holding her unfastened bra over her chest. She smiles sheepishly and says, blushing, "Aubrey... can you help me with my, uhm, my bra? I'm sorry, but I'm not so good one-handed."
Despite her predicament, Holly steals glances at Myrii and smiles at her, and beams at Nyx like she has a secret. Of course, the secret seems obvious.
"Holly..." I say, with an almost whimsical tone, "you may be the best possible person to find here, and Myrii... you seem to be feeling better?"
Aubrey kind of blinks back and forth and then comes over to help you, Holly. She's looking to you, Nyx.
I hold Aubrey's hand and lead her closer.
"We're going to do Aubrey's magic, now... before anything else can get in the way, there's dangers about that until tonight even I didn't' know.
I try to ignore Holly's half-nakedness, she is a beautiful girl and though I am often thinking of her, it's usually not in that way.
"Holly, it must be fate or something that you're right here where we need you... will you help us?"
"Of course I'll help, Nyx!" Holly says quickly. "I say what I mean and I mean what I say." She smiles at them both, "I know we were not best good friends, Aubrey, but I don't want you to go away.... I will fight for you."
Then she stops short for a second. Takes a breath and looks to Aubrey tentatively, "But I want to, uhm, to watch how it works. The spell, or summoning or binding or... what have you. I need to understand magic more and, and stuff." Holly steps towards them both and turns her back to them, pushing her back towards Aubrey a little, hoping she will help her finish getting dressed.
Turn Nyx On:
#DiceRoller( 2d6 )
(+1 XP)
Holly looks over her back at them, "I thought we needed everyone we could get? And, uhm, what happened to midnight?" She licks her lips and adds, "Teddy is really close by, she's at the school. I have to take her pants back to her and, she-she wants to help, too! Aubrey?"
I'm stunned for a second. Trying not to look at Holly's body as I stand here with Aubrey in this situation.
I somberly say, "I just don't want anything else to happen, for the police to come, or her parents. Maybe too many people know about this. I think we can do it if we really care about Aubrey. Haven't you seen wishes come true before Holly? I'm not all wrong am I?"
I look to Holly, at her too. Maybe I am wrong. Holly will tell me if I am.
Why was she.... with Myrii?
Nyx, take a string on Holly.
Nyx,
Aubrey puts a hand on your arm. "We have to set up the ritual anyway. Let her go get Teddy. If they aren't back by the time we're ready, we'll just do it alone."
Aubrey's touch doesn't tingle as much as Holly expected, but it does feel nice. Holly waits for her help dressing, then turns back around to kiss each of them on the cheek, lingering a bit by Nyx's cheek to whisper, "Don't start without me, Nyx." Then she's off.
Holly marked the stars and she deliberately and quickly makes her way back to the school. She's actually quite giddy about this ritual and the possibilities. When she reaches the parking lot and sees Teddy's car is empty, she heads towards the school. Maybe she's at the studio?
I'm a little deflated about it, felt almost like we were running off together. It was... exciting, romantic, hopeful.
Yeah... and stupid.
I look away from Holly towards the edge of the water, feeling Myrii's true fae eyes upon me. Feeling Hollys eyes upon me. Without looking at anyone I nod and exhale a long breath. The girls are right. I was afraid and I let it get to me.
"Ok... ok Aubrey. Let's do that. What do we need to do?"
OOC: Don't think we need to play out the prep.
Yes, I'll just describe it briefly.
Just as you are finishing this is when Teddy and Holly arrive.
Teddy and Holly,
When you get there you see Aubrey's body laid out in the middle of a smaller circle, with a larger circle around that. Nyx and Aubrey are still drawing in the dirt with sticks. Aubrey gets to her feet, finished with hers, and looks up to see you.
"Good!" She says with a subdued smile. "Thank you both for helping me." It's clear that she terrified that this won't work at all.
And I look around, see the circle and all of that. Where's Myrii? And since there's a second here, I approach Aubrey and I'm kind of not quite holding her eyes.
"Um, Aubrey? I never got to say, I uh - I'm sorry about ... about earlier. In the cave. I took advantage of, of you, and ... sorry."
Once she enters the clearing, Holly gives Aubrey a quick smile and walks over to the book and the circles. She drops to her knees slowly to avoid a jolt to her broken arm and reads everything she can in the book. This seems so alien and amazing to her. She asks Nyx, "How do the circles work, Nyx?"
I can't help but thinking about all we've been through together. Too bad Nula isn't here, and Robbie had to go, but I'm glad we're not alone.
I walk over to Teddy, not quite able to meet her eye. I'm happy she said something to Aubrey about that. That means a lot.
"Teddy, I'm sorry for before... I... I know you're trying to do what's best," I think a moment then add, "you're braver than anyone I know. I don't think I could handle what you've had to do..."
I stop. I've said enough. My tongue has a way of causing more trouble... Enough. I'm just glad they're here for Aubrey.
It looks like she can't meet yours too well either. "It's okay... we're... its okay." She says, low. I don't think she's actually figured out how she feels about it. Okay probably isn't the right word.
This is where Nyx speaks to you, Teddy.
She looks around.
"Okay, um... we need to ritually cleanse ourselves. Um... sorry, but we're supposed to be naked. Here, just follow me and do what I do."
She strips down and goes to the pond. I'm assuming you all follow, right?
After she leads you through the cleansing, which is mostly ritual washing of face and hands and body... Yes I know, you're wet again, and the air is cool. Myrii swims nearby and makes the water warm.
After that she leads you back to the circle.
"Teddy you go here" She points to a spot between the two circles, near the body's outstretched right hand. Nyx she puts you on the left hand and Holly she puts you near the feet.
Holly's eye are wide with excitement and she giggles when everyone gets naked. The whole time they're bathing, or cleansing, she's glancing at Teddy and Aubrey and Nyx. Especially Nyx. This is a bit of sensory overload, the whole experience, like she's finally part of something important, vital. She is in a circle of friends, this is life or death. And they're all so pretty!
I don't know how to answer, Nyx. I'm brave?
"I'm ... not. I'm scared -"
And I'm glad I guess that Aubrey moves things on. I strip down in the cool air, then step into the Myrii's water and follow Aubrey's example. It's not so bad. It's warm, and I think back, and I wonder about what Holly said. Am I really hurting Myrii? One more thing, then, so strange I can't understand it.
I stand where I'm put, staying a little turned away from Nyx, covering my sex with my hand. And, kind of embarrassed, I look up and watch the stars while I wait.
We're here for Aubrey.
She looks around at you all. "Magic... witchcraft is mostly an act of will. You must will me back into the body, focus on it as much as you can while saying the chant. Nyx will put the ring here." She touches the breastbone of the corpse. "You will touch.. um.. me... And you will all say the chant three times, while willing me back to life. The most important thing, is that when you feel it, you will need to hold on, don't let go of the body. It will be scary, but you need to hold on.... please."
She pauses for a moment.
"This is the chant:
By the nameless name
homeless soul
we call thee here
to make thee whole
Join this flesh
upon the earth
we call thee
to second birth
To this body
upon the ground
we call thee thrice
to be bound.
Wiggle thy toes
Open thine eyes
Twist thy fingers
Toward the sky
Life is sweet
Be not shy
On thy feet
So sayeth I"
She has you repeat it a couple of times, waiting until everyone has it, then nods at you Nyx, to place the ring on the sternum of the corpse.
You feel the energy change when you touch the corpse with the ring in place. It's weird. Uncomfortable. Nyx to you it probably feels even more foreign...even wrong. Aubrey begins the first round of the chant, gesturing for you all to repeat it.
The wind begins to pick up. Your bodies are buzzing strangely, like electric current running through you. It's weird and frankly scary.
Everyone needs to hold steady.
#DiceRoller( 2d6+1 )
(+1 XP)
Holly will take +1 Forward in this scene. She's completely focused on learning this ritual and making it work.
You know, like, in a good way, not in a zombie-movie kind of way.
So here we are, the moment we've worked so hard for. How can it be wrong? But it feels strange, it gives me a feeling deep in my stomach which I don't like. I bear with it and say the words and wish more than anything ever that Aubrey will live again. That she will heal and we all will heal and the woods will heal forever.
#DiceRoller( 2d6-1 )