Yikes. I'm coming with a few supplies. I can guess your mood. I'll be there ASAP.
[ Previously Annie had been out dealing with business. She had recently taken over a business and had been tending to some important operation bits. She had no time to change out of the red dress she had been in so the Ring Spirit will see the bright red against the backdrop of the haunted village. ]
[ His voice seems to be coming from... somewhere a bit further down the road she's on? It's not a terribly useful response, which the Ring-Spirit seems to realize not long after - the door of one house creaks open, and a spidery gold-taloned hand is stuck out, waving slowly.
Said hand is only six inches or so above the rickety porch's floorboards. That's fine. Everything here is fine. ]
[ If her dress was longer this is where she would gather it up so that she could get to him faster. Seeing him so close to the ground like that even if it was just his hand made it feel like her heart got stabbed.
[ She brushes at her own face with a hand angrily. ]
I get it. You loved them. The idea of doing to them.... Doing that? It wasn't right. Dad.... Dad was in agony.
[ Annie can feel the tears spring in her eyes. The Ring Spirit had to deal with like, ninety-nine voices of his loved ones all in pain. ]
I'm not saying this to just anyone.... do you want a hug? You're like, on my short list. Just so you know.
[ Is Annie babbling? Oh yes. But 'Richard' is the one guy she might offer to skin someone with as like, a date. He might call her out on her straight up villainy instead of freaking out. ]
[ The first bit of that prompts another laugh for some reason, this one a little less lifeless - and a little more hysterics. ]
H-HA! They had... so much to say... about... ab-
[ The Ring-Spirit chokes on the sentence. Fortunately, Annie's babbling offers him an out and he takes it without hesitation. ]
...Yeah.
[ He reaches toward her with one arm (and a little with his wings, though they move stiffly) to ensure he's understood - he needs the out from where that earlier sentence was heading. ]
[ He gets tugged into a hug. Her pincers go around him so that he doesn't get poked by the blunted points on them from just how her carapace is shaped. Her claws are even carefully places along his back.
Annie has taken not hurting someone into consideration and worked at learning to give hugs. ]
That work?
[ She gingerly perches her chin on his shoulder. Somehow even with her monster changes he is just a bit taller than her. ]
Pffft. You still make me feel like a shorty. How is it that you're a giant and I'm this tiny little thing? Is it a bird thing?
[ He wraps his stick-like arms around her awkwardly - it's easy enough to. yknow, not injure her with his talons, but the basics of hugging? It might not be rocket science or anything, but the Ring-Spirit also can't remember if he's actually hugged anyone before.
The feathers of his ruff are soft, at least. He rests his head atop hers - while his neck rests on her shoulder... ...Yeah so, that's not a "ruff" so much as he usually keeps his avian hell-neck tucked down. ]
'M mostly heron, so kinda a bird thing...
[ He trails off tiredly and sags against her, using the hug for physical support as much as emotional. ]
...Quick question, how far can you carry me? Walking's not happening.
Of course. I would have gone with goose if you had the chance to pick. Geese are mean.
[ Annie deals with the weight by bracing herself. Due to his quasi-Avian bone structure honestly the Ring Spirit isn't as heavy as Annie would have thought. If they were doing a cheer routine? Annie could easily throw him high up in the air and catch him. ]
My.... back? Is pretty big. You could just straddle the scorpion part back there and hold on like I was giving you a piggyback ride. It wouldn't be a big deal. Arachne can move pretty fast.
[ Annie is still a bit overwhelmed with just how big he is. It's a bit crazy to realize that most people are bigger than her as monsters. ]
I guess you'd have to really settle in back there and I'd have to keep my tail up high, but it could work. I could get you back to Peace's house if you're still there?
<GODKING>
not god-dyster, ghost-dyster
[ . . .
decisions sure were made, at some point,, ]
<a.dyer> ---> action
[ Previously Annie had been out dealing with business. She had recently taken over a business and had been tending to some important operation bits. She had no time to change out of the red dress she had been in so the Ring Spirit will see the bright red against the backdrop of the haunted village. ]
Richard?
[ This place leaves her feeling a bit strange.
Like there are too many eyes watching her. ]
Where are you? It's Annie.
no subject
[ His voice seems to be coming from... somewhere a bit further down the road she's on? It's not a terribly useful response, which the Ring-Spirit seems to realize not long after - the door of one house creaks open, and a spidery gold-taloned hand is stuck out, waving slowly.
Said hand is only six inches or so above the rickety porch's floorboards. That's fine. Everything here is fine. ]
no subject
[ If her dress was longer this is where she would gather it up so that she could get to him faster. Seeing him so close to the ground like that even if it was just his hand made it feel like her heart got stabbed.
She moves up the stairs and pauses at the door. ]
I'm coming in.
What... What happened?
no subject
...How'd your family reunion wrap up?
[ The Ring-Spirit sounds like he's on the floor - and, on opening the door fully, Annie will find that's because he absolutely is.
He's not (currently) bleeding (much), but his back is still pretty badly clawwed up. Handfuls of feathers missing in random patches across his wings.
He looks more "listless" than he does "in pain" though. ]
cw: assisted suicide
[ Annie's vision goes blurry. ]
He ended up in so much pain. He...
[ Annie reaches up to touch her face. ]
He begged me. I never could say no to my parents.
[ Annie cracks the door open and winces a bit. ]
You look like I feel.
sorry I took so long,,
I couldn't do anything.
[ He doesn't react to the door opening. After a moment, he closes his eyes. ]
They started talking. [ Remember that wordless screaming? That, uh. changed. ] Had a lot to say. None of it helped.
...I couldn't.
You're okay
[ She brushes at her own face with a hand angrily. ]
I get it. You loved them. The idea of doing to them.... Doing that? It wasn't right. Dad.... Dad was in agony.
[ Annie can feel the tears spring in her eyes. The Ring Spirit had to deal with like, ninety-nine voices of his loved ones all in pain. ]
I'm not saying this to just anyone.... do you want a hug? You're like, on my short list. Just so you know.
[ Is Annie babbling? Oh yes. But 'Richard' is the one guy she might offer to skin someone with as like, a date. He might call her out on her straight up villainy instead of freaking out. ]
\o/
H-HA! They had... so much to say... about... ab-
[ The Ring-Spirit chokes on the sentence. Fortunately, Annie's babbling offers him an out and he takes it without hesitation. ]
...Yeah.
[ He reaches toward her with one arm (and a little with his wings, though they move stiffly) to ensure he's understood - he needs the out from where that earlier sentence was heading. ]
Woops got distracted by the plot
Annie has taken not hurting someone into consideration and worked at learning to give hugs. ]
That work?
[ She gingerly perches her chin on his shoulder. Somehow even with her monster changes he is just a bit taller than her. ]
Pffft. You still make me feel like a shorty. How is it that you're a giant and I'm this tiny little thing? Is it a bird thing?
no subject
The feathers of his ruff are soft, at least. He rests his head atop hers - while his neck rests on her shoulder... ...Yeah so, that's not a "ruff" so much as he usually keeps his avian hell-neck tucked down. ]
'M mostly heron, so kinda a bird thing...
[ He trails off tiredly and sags against her, using the hug for physical support as much as emotional. ]
...Quick question, how far can you carry me? Walking's not happening.
no subject
[ Annie deals with the weight by bracing herself. Due to his quasi-Avian bone structure honestly the Ring Spirit isn't as heavy as Annie would have thought. If they were doing a cheer routine? Annie could easily throw him high up in the air and catch him. ]
My.... back? Is pretty big. You could just straddle the scorpion part back there and hold on like I was giving you a piggyback ride. It wouldn't be a big deal. Arachne can move pretty fast.
[ Annie is still a bit overwhelmed with just how big he is. It's a bit crazy to realize that most people are bigger than her as monsters. ]
I guess you'd have to really settle in back there and I'd have to keep my tail up high, but it could work. I could get you back to Peace's house if you're still there?